Castle Amber: A D&D Adventure

Post by **Bob the Hamster** » Sat Mar 14, 2015 8:48 pm

Tammytharn tells the farmers that they are on their way to the city of Yvones (although she doesn't tell them why) and asks if any of them have been there recently, or if they know anything interesting about what sights there are to see there.

Gizmog · Post by **Gizmog** » Sun Mar 15, 2015 5:43 am

Voulton is happy to have spent the night in the woods rather than flim-flamming some hard working family that thinks money will solve all their problems. Act civilized? Where would civilization be without wood and the men who cut it? Didn't see her lifting a hand when things got nasty with the werewolves, THAT was civilized!

That night, Voulton wonders if this adventure has been a bad influence on him, that he associates more with a werewolf zombie-shepherd than with the friendly lady-lady. Maybe he could afford to clean the blood off, shake the splinters out of his beard. Know who doesn't give a damn about their appearance? GIANTS. Mother-slimin' Giants. Mom would've gotten along peachy with Sasha...

How could she do it?! Father a child with one of those... things! And she never understood the embarassment, the shame! The priest coming around to teach everyone to read and write... being the tallest kid.. and the only one with a beard.. painful, painful memories on such a beautiful night.

Oh well. At least my family was never devoured by werewolves.
Dad was good for that, at least. He would've liked that fight.. quick and tidy. Never give anyone an even break, that's what he always said. Said it a lot, in fact. Not sure now that he ever said anything else! Maybe that's why he liked chopping wood so much... big scary man vs. the poor defenseless tree... hehe, not that I can blame him for that!

Maybe it's just the beauty of the night (this is a beautiful country, even if it doesn't smell quite right..) but Voulton begins wondering if maybe he'd misjudged his old man. Or maybe that's more evidence of this place changing him for the worst, turning him into a monster. "I've gotta get home" he mumbles aloud...

The beautiful forests of pine as far as the eye can see, the hills so steep that a log can roll for miles, the icy fresh water as it runs down the mountains. The tastes, the sights, the sounds.. it all just felt right, right in a way that you can't really appreciate till it's wrong. Even that heartless tyrant of a queen... with a body more heavenly than any astrological splendor. O' to be imprisoned under false pretenses in a homeland like that!

He fumbles around in the night for his sackful of jerky. All this thinking can make a man hungry!

Spoonweaver · Post by **Spoonweaver** » Sun Mar 15, 2015 8:28 pm

The family describes a large graveyard near Vyones and tell you all that it's haunted. Past that, they don't seem to know too much about the city, they don't seem to go there often. They mention Gaspard du Nord as the leader of the town and a person named Nathaire as the exiled clerical leader. Nathaire was exiled for exhuming bodies in the graveyard.

The night passes and the party gets going. The family suggests the party visit a nearby farm up the road and to horses. The party thanks the family and gets back on the road towards Vyones. It's not long before they come to the farm described by the family. They can see all dozens of horses here with more possibly being in the stables.

Post by **Bob the Hamster** » Sun Mar 15, 2015 9:04 pm

"We could travel more easily with horses, and we can certainly afford to buy some. I have about 10000 gold from from the castle in my bag of holding-- And that is our party's gold, not my gold."

"The real question is, will they have a horse big enough to carry you, Voulton? Or one tame enough to let you ride in your current state, Kalar?"

BMR · Post by **BMR** » Mon Mar 16, 2015 1:30 am

"If we can purchase a covered wagon or something similar, then we won't need to worry about finding one large enough for Voulton. It would also mean we won't need as many horses. However, it will travel more slowly."

Kalar thinks about the graveyard and this Nathaire fellow. Seems like things will get interesting. Further, if the graveyard is haunted, it's possible he'll be able to sneak into it at night and call some new minions to himself.

Spoonweaver · Post by **Spoonweaver** » Mon Mar 16, 2015 3:13 am

The horse farmer is gruff and to the point. Sells the party horses for 100gp each and a wagon for 200gp, which seems to be expensive but the farmer doesn't seem up for negotiation. The wagon needs two horses and can sit 5 people comfortably.

Gizmog · Post by **Gizmog** » Mon Mar 16, 2015 4:13 am

OOC: Voulton's only 7 foot tall and 260 lbs. Wilt Chamberlain was pretty close to that on both counts when he was in Conan the Destroyer and he rode a horse without much problem. Those were generated with the thingy here.I have no idea if those are too big for a horse or whatnot,

"Smart farmer to know the value. This wood's more than 80 years old and the finish is still like new. They don't make 'em like this anymore. Probably been in his family for generations. Makes you wonder why he'd need 200 gp bad enough to part with it." is Voulton's appraisal of the wagon, whispered to the others where the farmer can't hear. He'll chip in for the cart and two horses from his own supply of PP, leaving Voulton with an even 20. Voulton smiles as he looks at one of the coins for the first time in a long time, each side bearing a more than flattering portrayal (front *and* back) of a Queen this farmer's never heard of. Hopefully the platinum's as valuable here as it was on the other side. Hell, he'll even give the guy a pat on the back before they go. "One day, you'll remember this as the day everything started to get better."

BMR · Post by **BMR** » Mon Mar 16, 2015 4:21 am

"Excellent."

Kalar is pleased at this. At least now, he'll be able to travel within the wagon and out of casual sight from people on the road.

Kalar thinks for a while. Well, at least for when they're on the road. Once they get to the city, he won't be able to enter as he is now. Perhaps as a dog, but that raises problems of it's own. If the graveyard is outside of the city though, that might be a good place for him to hole up while the others enter the city to gather information.

*Incidentally, what sort of wagon is it? The type where it's got an bunch of canvas covering it? Or one of those open ones?

Post by **Bob the Hamster** » Mon Mar 16, 2015 5:28 pm

Seeing how comfortable Voulton is around horses, Tammtytharn apologizes for implying he would be too big to ride them.

"The horses I am familiar with from back home in the Flannish hill country are mere ponies compared to these. I suppose my own knowledge of horses is quite limited."

Tammytharn payes the rest of the price from the gold in her bag of holding

EDIT: horse price discussion moved to meta thread

Spoonweaver · Post by **Spoonweaver** » Mon Mar 16, 2015 7:08 pm

Everyone gets a horse with only Hrulgin and sometimes Kalar riding in the back of the wagon so as to not slow the wagon down too much. The party then takes turns driving the wagon or riding a horse.
Doing this they are able to increase their movement. They head towards Vyones with new found vigor. They reach the time when they would normally break for camp. The party discusses whether to push ahead and tire their mounts out or break normally.

Post by **Bob the Hamster** » Mon Mar 16, 2015 8:52 pm

"Lets camp, and let the horses rest." suggests Tammytharn. "We are making great time now, so I see no need to work the horses to death. Besides, we are probably safer encamped than we are riding the road in the dark."

Spoonweaver · Post by **Spoonweaver** » Mon Mar 16, 2015 10:41 pm

While the party is pulling their mounts off the road to camp. Kalar smells several human in the woods.
Hrulgin and Voulton both spot robed men darting around from tree to tree. The party begins to prepare for what seems to be a coming attack.

Master K · Post by **Master K** » Mon Mar 16, 2015 10:55 pm

Lynda readies her bow, anticipating conflict.

"Perhaps the cultists we were warned of?" She says warily.

Post by **Bob the Hamster** » Tue Mar 17, 2015 12:07 am

Tammytharn casts Clairaudience in the direction of the robed men. She will repeat aloud anything she hears

BMR · Post by **BMR** » Tue Mar 17, 2015 12:52 am

Kalar holds his tower shield at ready, facing the direction the scents are coming from. "Hrulgin, get up a tree and provide cover with your darts. If you get the chance, pounce on one, paralyze him, and drag him off for questioning later."

Hrulgin nods and scampers up a tree. He readies a dart, getting ready to snipe the first hostile he sees. He keeps an eye out, looking through the darkness and checking for anything he picks up with his vision that the others might miss.