Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Prymptown Courier - v. 2 no. 12


[Although dated Dec. 1999, this was clearly written in early April 2000, given the very topical announcement I made.]

PRYMPTOWN COURIER

Vol. 2, No. 12 (Dec. 1999)

EDITORIAL

I have just recently been reminded that it has been 46 days since I sent out the last Courier.  Admittedly, that is a long time for what is supposed to be a monthly "publication." Sadly, the fact is that I have grown fatigued with writing the campaign updates.  As the sessions have grown longer, and farther ahead of the updates, it has been increasingly hard to write them.  I can't wait any longer for my inspiration to return, so this issue will be the first to have an incomplete session write-up. 

Does this mean the end of the Courier?  Nah, but this issue and maybe a few after it will be a little different than usual. I'll just focus on what had been back-up features in the Courier before, like interviews and prologue stories.  I'd also like to make this a little more like other campaign
newsletters I've heard of online, which feature news items related to the campaign world.  Not that I need more plot hooks right now, but anything that fleshes out the setting, makes it all more real, sounds good to me.  Maybe I'll even surprise myself and come up with something entirely new.

Incidentally, I think I called the last two sessions "The Waffling Session" in my editorials.  No one called me on this, though.  The last session should have been called "The Reverse Session," where everyone turned around and walked right out of the Pirates of Galdol scenario.

SCHEDULING THE NEXT PLAYING SESSION

Of course, the other reason that I'm behind is that I had a kid on the way, but now MY SON TYLER HAS BEEN BORN!  And with this bundle of joy safely ensconced at home, we may now discuss when we shall play next. 

We're up to the 22nd session now, and it's the Big One!  The Provincial Army is at the doorstep of Prymp, and if the army cannot be repelled, then the independence of the Ahlissan Coast is doomed!  Cornered and out-numbered, the Band of the Grinning Gargoyle must risk all to make a difference!  And yet, lurking in the shadows, are other dangers...

I want this session to be some time in April.  The first
weekend is already upon us, so that's got to be out.  The
second weekend is not so good for me because I have to
work on Sunday, but if everybody wants to play on the 8th
maybe we can do that.  The third weekend, there will be a
convention at the College of DuPage which I'd like to attend
at least one day.  It's called Cod Con V, and costs $5 a day to
attend.  Perhaps we can arrange for some of us to attend en
masse?  Then the following weekend would be Easter
weekend, so I'm sure that's out for all of us.  The last weekend
is okay for me, so that leaves the 8th, the 29th, and the 30th. 
Not as great a set of options as I'd like, but there you have it.
All players -- write back soon with input!
 
EIGHTEENTH SESSION
Continuing Chapter Two:  "Curse and Siege."

Cast (mid-year review):
Barada, Neutral male Flannish human mercenary (1st level
fighter, 1,113 xp).  Dislikes the upstart Gabriel, but has come to
dislike the sea even more.
Alexander Petrok, Lawful Neutral male Oerdian human
templar of Zilchus (1st level paladin variant, 2,867 xp). 
Secretly likes Peri, even though he undermines Alex's
authority.  
Perpegilliam Brown, (Chaotic)Neutral male Hairfoot Hobniz
footpad (2nd level thief, 3,049 xp).  Still bitter about how the
augury mask told him he was not the coolest thief in the
world. 
Hristo Neutral Good male Wesevud ("Central") noniz ex-
town watchman and rogue (1st level fighter/1st level thief,
859/1,084 xp).  Felt concerned about the curse, but didn't
want to make any trouble complaining about it.
Vladamir Kostitov, Lawful Good male Oerdian human
prestidigitator for the Graf's Guardsmen (1st level
illusionist, 3,315 xp).  Has really come out of his shell and is
often considered the co-leader of the party with Alex. 
Gabriel Lanovastorm, Mentherim-Dwur ("Common Hill")
veteran (1st level fighter, 1,542 xp).  Is determined to show
to the others that he is the greatest fighter in the world, and
oddly hasn't been proven wrong yet.
Enlock, Neutral Good male Oerdian apprentice (1st level
magic-user, 1,214 xp).  Is just having a good time, having
found the something he likes in adventuring.
And introducing --
Andel Mooriv, Lawful Neutral male Oerdian acolyte (1st
level cleric of Pholtus, 306 xp).  A good-natured fellow
who's just eager to tell people about the One True Way.

Quote of the month:  "I still don't believe in that curse.  I
think it was just some bad chicken!"

Setting:  Prymp and Skull Keep, Ahlissan Coast, South
Province.

Dream Prologue I

Before the seawolf curse had been lifted, Hristo again
arrived in the Dream Garden.  But this time, his sight was
hazy (or was the Garden hazy?).  Both the gnome, Pilf, and
the elven countess, Shadella, were there, leaning over him. 
Hristo was on the ground and couldn't get up.  He felt
horribly ill.  Pilf was saying something about whacking
Hristo with a club, but Shadella shushed him.  She said
there was something important Hristo needed to hear.  She
couldn't help him, but if Hristo looked for the dragon...

After mentioning the dream to Vlad once, Hristo forgot all
about it.  So did Vlad.

Dream Prologue II

On the night of the 8th day of Coldeven, Vladamir woke in
the night to see his room's door was open, but that it lead
not into the hall but into a garden.  Vlad knew something of
the Garden from Hristo, so he knew this was an invitation. 
Cautiously, he went through the door.

An elven maid of comely looks in a long grey dress was
waiting for him.  She introduced herself as Countess
Shadella.  It had taken a long time to get Hristo to describe
one of his spellcasting associates to her.  Once she knew
more about Vlad, she was able to invite him to the Garden. 
There was an important mission she needed heroes for, but
she did not think Hristo was the one she should discuss it
with. 

She asked if he had ever heard of Acererak.

Vlad responded that he had not.  Shadella explained that
Acererak was a menace who was ancient by human
standards, who had once ruled over what is now the
County of Sunndi as his own kingdom.  Acererak had long
ago vanished, but there were portents that he was
returning.  Vlad asked cautiously if she wanted them to deal
with this Acererak, but she had a smaller, somewhat more
local quest in mind.  Auguries and other divinations
revealed that Acererak had an agent who was coming to the
Sud Graufult region, southwest of the Greyflood River.  If
this agent reached it, he would conquer it in preparation for
Acererak's coming.

Shadella claimed to know no more than this, but that she
would try to find out more.  The nature of this threat was
still a mystery.  However, she was prepared to make it
worthwhile for Vlad to convince his teammates to take up
this quest.  She too was an illusionist, and she was
prepared to train Vlad in exchange for his cooperation. 
Vlad told her about his lost spellbook, and she considered
replacing it as soon as Vlad had the party at least halfway
to the Sud Graufult.  

When they had finished deal-making, the Countess asked
Vlad to describe his teammate, Alexander Petrok.  When he
was done, she led Vlad to a grassy knoll, on which Vlad
found the grass so soft and comforting that he quickly fell
back to sleep as he laid on it.

Coldeven 9th.  Sunday.

It was a cloudy, drizzly day, but a strong breeze was
blowing towards Prymp, and hopefully that meant the
Band of the Grinning Gargoyle would reach home all the
sooner.  Vlad had booked passage for them aboard The Sea
Gull, a coast-hugging cog somewhat larger than The
Cormorant which had brought them there in the first place. 

Enlock was making last minute purchases, asking every
merchant and hawker loitering about the ships' stores for
scroll cases and parchment.  There was an itinerant book
binder that some of them knew, but he was not in town, and
so Enlock was directed to some private book owners.  He
was able to convince them to part with what he needed --
though upon returning to the party, Peri offered him a
scrollcase he owned but had never used.

Hristo amused himself with playing nine men's morris
against some of the locals.  It continued to drizzle outside
all afternoon and evening, and so everyone stayed indoors
at the Happy Nymph Tavern.  As night fell, they retired next
door to the Travelers' Rest Inn.  Alexander slept soundly,
until he found himself woken up by the door to his room
opening.  Vlad had warned him a little about his own dream
the night before, and so Alex was trepidatious but prepared.

The Countess Shadella was waiting for Alexander, and
suggested they go for a walk through the Garden. 
Shadella explained to Alexander some of what she had told
to Vladlamir the night before.  It seemed to be important to
her that the Band of the Grinning Gargoyle take up her
quest to thwart the mystery agent of Acererak, and she
wanted some assurance that they would do so. 
Alexander would make no such assurance, except to say
that he would urge his fellow adventurers to accept the
quest.  This seemed to please the Countess, who
promised to invite Vlad back to the Garden the following
night to begin his training.

Coldeven 10th.  Moonday.

It was cooling off again.  It was still cloudy, and the
strong breeze continued to blow in their favor.  The band
bade farwell to Shargallen.  The Sea Gull left the docks and
sailed eastward along the coast for the whole day.  Barada
did not become sick this time, but no one was much
interested in the journey.  Even Gabriel, who loved the sea,
chose to play the passive role of a passenger instead of
involving himself with ship's duties.  That afternoon they
did encounter a single ship, which perked up everyone's
attention.  The cog bore Prymp's flag, and was named The
Scout.  The ships passed without incident.

Vlad awoke directly in the Garden.  The Countess started
his training.  She asked for Vlad to cast every spell he had. 
Lacking his spellbook, Vlad only had his Color Spray spell
to cast.  The Countess observed his casting for flaws.  She
gave him a scroll with Phantasmal Force on it to cast, and
critiqued the quality of his illusion.  Finally, she asked him
to try to gather spell components from about the Garden.

As Vlad was strolling about, the gnome, Pilf, tried to sneak
up on him.  Vlad and Pilf exchanged introductions, and Pilf
invited Vlad to explore the Garden with him.  Vlad politely
turned him down.  Perhaps some other night.

Coldeven 11th.  Godsday.

The Sea Gull had passed Skull Keep in the night, and
came into Prymp late that morning.  Everyone
disembarked and went their seperate ways.  Some of
them had important tasks to deal with, while others
retired straight to the Grinning Gargoyle Tavern.  It
should only be a matter of days until everyone was
ready to return to Skull Keep.

For Perpegilliam, the most important thing was getting
more training.  Despite how recently it was that he
trained last, he was positive that he could use more. 
And so he set about looking in all the familiar haunts for
Tilwich Tourmaline, the noniz who had handled all of Peri's
training.  Sure enough, it did not take him long to find the
gnome.  Tilwich was incredulous that Peri could be ready
for training again so soon, but Peri was persistent.
Finally, Tilwich agreed to train him for one day to see how
it went, starting two days from then. 

Andel had heard that Prymp had a chapel dedicated solely
to Pholtus, and with some brief instructions from the
others, he set off to find it.  The chapel was much smaller
than the monastery to which he was accustomed. 
However, what this chapel had which the monastery
lacked was parishoners.  Andel marveled as he watched
lay persons enter the chapel and receive blessings.

And what a crowd of parishoners it was!  At least a
hundred people were waiting in line to get in.  The
neighboring chapel was nearly as packed.  Yet Andel could
see that there was a uniform look of trepidation on all the
faces he saw.  For some reason, these people were not here
just to enjoy hearing of the One True Path!

Alexander reported to his own chapel, and saw the same
scene.  It was easier for him to get the attention of his
superiors, and soon Leris Borgev was telling him about
the troubles which now faced Prymp.

The Provincial Army had attacked Vecheld Gesto. 
Vecheld Gesto was the village to the south from which
Graf Lopozos Cranden ruled over this region of the
province.  Now, the Graf's castle was under siege, and
the people of Prymp were terrified that they were next. 

Vlad reported to Town Hall.  He did not have a good report to
make, as their mission to Galdol had ended in failure. 
However, Laird Seron Tapinov and his advisor, Nemis
Coraz, had too much on their mind to worry about pirates on
the far end of the coast.  Prymp was beset by problems from
within and without.  With Vecheld Gesto under siege,
refugees from the south had come to Prymp and set up a
small village of tents outside the pallisade-protected New
City.  Messengers had been sent to the free towns of
Porton and Shargallen to the west, asking for soldiers to
help fight the Provincial Army.  But the Laird could not
even coordinate efforts in town.  Philip Petrok -- father to
Alex, Captain of the Guard, and Chief Templar of the
Chapel of Zilchus -- was not cooperating with Town Hall,
and the Graf's Guardsmen in the Garrison were not
allowing anyone in or out at all. 

Gabriel was approached by Goromin Emoker, the dwur
priest who maintained the chapel of Vergadain.  Goromin
was in touch with a large number of dwarven citizens who
were very interested in engaging Gabriel for a speaking
engagement.  Gabriel agreed to do it the next day at the
Vergadain chapel.

Peri was looking for some old contacts.  He finally found a
prostitute he knew named Hindi who knew some other
thieves in town.  Peri wanted the names of anyone who
had been involved with the old thieves' guild in Prymp. 
In exchange for some coinage, Hindi gave him a few names
and other favors.

Vlad returned to the Dream Garden. 

GABRIEL'S STORY, PART TWO

The dwur known as Gabriel Lanovastorm was striding along
the path leading to Onidar at the best pace his short legs
could manage.  Every so often he would glance westward to
look for the waters of Dunhead Bay.  He reckoned that he
was at least five miles away from the shore, and it saddened
him somewhat to recall the days he spent out on the bay
living the good life of a fisherman. 

Up ahead, the land looked more cultivated than it had been
for the last fifteen miles.  Soon, he was within sight of
farmhouse.  There was a field of roses leading from the side
of the path all the way up to the house.  Gabriel snorted. 
It was just like a human to waste valuable planting time on
such things as flowers.  A dwarf would see a much more
valuable use for all that land -- strip mining. 

The village of Onidar was very small.  Gabriel suspected
there were not even 200 humans in the area.  As he came
upon the greatest concentration of structures, he began
looking for a tavern or the like in which to wet his lips. 
Unfortunately, he saw no obvious sign of one and was
getting no help from the locals.  Doors and shutters were
being closed before he reached them, and Gabriel was
beginning to think he might be unwelcome. 

He had already passed through the center of the village,
and was resolved to pass by the odd community entirely,
when he passed a young man sitting on a fence. 

"What are you?"  asked the dusty-haired Oerdian lad.

Gabriel would normally pay no mind to such a person and
move on, but since this was the first voice he had heard all
day...

"I am a dwarf.  I come from Bronzegate, far to the south." 

"Well, you should head back the way you came, because
if you head the way you're going you'll only reach trouble."

"I am looking for trouble.  This sounds good."

"If you say so," the human said lazily.  "If you're lucky,
you'll reach Galdol in a day or two.  Then you'd just have to
worry about pirates.  But if you're not lucky, you'll be stuck
out in the plains come nightfall.  And then the goblins will
rise up out of the ground to get you."

This gave Gabriel pause.  Humans had not worried him at all.
His brethren from Irongate had been humilating these South
Province men in battle for years.  But goblins were something
to be concerned about.  Long, long ago, goblins had been
such a problem in the Iron Hills that the dwarves had needed
to eradicate the entire goblin population.  Despite the fact
that the goblins were long gone, all dwarves will still trained
to fight them and their ilk. 

"And that's not the worst of it," the young man continued.
"Pirates and goblins are nothing compared to what's on the
cape."

"And what would that be?"

"You don't know about Enim Cape?  Some call it The Frozen
Tusk.  It's always winter there, no matter how hot the days
may become."

All this news both intrigued and intimidated Gabriel.  There
seemed to be an awful lot of danger here for even one dwarf
to handle. 

"Hmm..." Gabriel pondered out loud.  "Perhaps what I need
are some other adventurers to go with me.  Do you know
where I might find some?"

The human leaned back on the fence, squinted his eyes,
and mulled it over.  "Well...I don't know about that, but I
think you'll find folks more kindly to your kind out at the
vineyards.  Most other people around here probably
think you're a goblin."

"I can't imagine anyone being that stupid.  But tell me, if
dwarves are so unknown here and treated with suspicion,
then why have you been so helpful?"

The man laughed.  "I'm the village idiot!  I just don't know
any better!" 

Krillo was the elderly patriarch of the family which owned the
local vineyards.  Though some distance east from the center
of town, the path there was well-trodden for Krillo's house
was the closest thing to a tavern this tiny community
possessed.  Krillo knew something of dwarves, and out of
curiousity offered Gabriel a bench to sleep on for the night.
Krillo was also fairly knowledgable about the goblins to the
north.  Apparently, it was a small band which had harassed 
the village for years.  While dangerous to anyone who
strayed too far north, the goblins never ventured into the
village except to pilfer the occassional cow or goat. 

However, Krillo had heard of a tinker named Orlo who had
tried to reach Galdol just eight months ago.  This poor man
had been captured by the goblins.  They took everything he
had, roughed him up, and may have killed him had their
leader not appeared.  While the other goblins had yellow
skin, this one had black skin.  He called himself Jurid, and
gave Orlo his life in exchange for the task of returning to
Onidar and warning the humans there never to venture
north into the goblins' territory. 

Gabriel had heard enough.  He vowed  to face these goblins
the very next day.

AN INTERVIEW WITH PHILLIP PETROK

Not long after the Band of the Grinning Gargoyle returned
from their journey to Galdol, and before they set out to
return to Skull Keep, the Prymptown Courier was lucky to
be granted an audience with one of Prymp's most
prestigous citizens.  Phillip Petrok has the distinction of
being not only the Captain of the Watch, but also Chief
Templar to the Chapel of Zilchus, and father to Alexander
Petrok -- an adventurer finding enough reknown these days
that an interview of him may be necessary soon as well.

Phillip Petrok was generous enough to receive us at Petrok
Manor, one of the finest homes in Prymp.  He was clothed
in a simple white cote, and black tabard and hose.  A red
silk scarf descending off his hat and curling around his
shoulders was his only display of wealth.  He cut a
commanding figure, though, even without the platemail
armor we would surely have seen him in at Prymp Keep.

PC:  We thank you greatly for this audience.  It is a rare
treat alone merely to be allowed in Petrok Manor!

PP:  Well, yes, it is much more rare for me to be having
guests, though it is not so uncommon for Ingrid.

PC:  And Ingrid is?

PP:  She is family.  Godmother to my son, Alex.  Ingrid is much
more sociable than my wife and I.  We prefer our privacy with
what time we have together.  

PC:  Yes, you are quite a busy man.  And we understand
that there is much needing your attention these days.

PP:  Oh...how so?

PC:  Well, rumors abound that the Provincial Army is already
on the move, and may be already attacking Vecheld Gesto. 
That is only a day south of here.

PP:  I am well aware of the distance, young man.  But there is
no reason for concern.  Remember that this land belongs to
the Herzog, no matter how much the merchant class might
wish otherwise.  It is his lawful right to have his troops here,
no matter who it might inconvenience.

PC:  We understand that steps are being taken here in Prymp
to prepare for the possibility of either an attack or a siege of
the town by the army.  Can you verify this?

PP:  I think you speak out of turn.  I had thought the notion
of letters of news was a suspicious one, but the laird assured
me that this was just some new way of sharing tales such as
bards do.  Yet the sort of questions you are asking seem
most impertinent from a civilian man. 

PC:  We are sorry to offend, sir.  Perhaps if you told us what
we can inquire about?

PP:  Well, certainly.  Perhaps you would like to ask about
my son, Alexander.  He is about to lead another expedition
to Skull Keep, you know.

PC:  Yes, there has been much interest of late in Skull Keep,
which until recently had been assumed abandoned.  Does
the fact that Skull Keep is in fact monster-infested account
for the town's interest in it, or are there other motives
involved?

PP:  The presence of so many monsters so close to town
has been both surprising and disturbing.  I am sure we
would all sleep sounder at night when we know that Skull
Keep is abandoned again.

PC:  Yet Skull Keep, if the upper levels were rennovated,
would make an excellent stronghold to defend against the
Provincial Army crossing the Ahlissan Coast.  Conversely,
if the Keep fell into the army's hands, it would be able to
cut off Prymp from its allied towns -- Porton, Shargallen,
and Dargvonessa.

PP:  Your words sound dangerously close to treasonous
suspicion of your leaders.  This audience is at an end.

THE END
  

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