Interlude 1: The Blizzard

[NukeHavoc]

The icy talons of winter are crushing the fledgling city of Obsidian Bay. A freak blizzard pummeled the city with nearly two feet of wet snow. Dozens died when their ramshackle structures collapsed; dozens more died from exposure as the wind ripped away their tents or piles of snow collapsed the flimsy structures around them.

As the city digs out, many fear that the estimated death toll of 200 will climb rapidly as the town deals with a disaster it could not predict, and is ill-suited to respond to.

To be sure, factions within the city are organizing to help. The Griffins Guild's arcane and divine spellcasters are hastily constructing additional primitive structures with summoned wood and stone and is sharing its own scant shelter -- including the uncompleted guild hall -- with the homeless. Their efforts are bolstered by the Church of St. Cuthbert, who evoked the divine will of their god to feed as many people as possible and heal the worst cases of frostbite and exposure.

Many businesses have followed the lead of the Griffins and Cuthbertians, with inns opening their doors and providing free food to as many as they can, and warehouses being converted to impromptu shelters.

Many of the city's adventuring class have spontaneously decided to help, augmenting the cudgel-thumpers patrols to ensure that the most desperate cases are taken care of ... and that no one tries to take advantage of the situation. Burgel Nackle, a gnome adventurer, has been working with the local mercenary and labor guilds to organize a relief mission and bring in much-needed supplies from Gradsul.

It is not enough. In the wake of the blizzard, temperatures have risen into the low 40s, and the melting snow is adding to the misery, particularly overnight when the muddy slush re-freezes. The city's food reserves -- never extensive to begin with -- are running low. The corpses are piling up faster than the ground can be thawed to bury them. The lack of warm shelter is the city's biggest challenge; many of the refugees' tents and wooden shacks were crushed beyond repair, and there are not enough supplies in the city to build sturdier structures for everyone. People have been reduced to sitting in the freezing mud, unsure what to do next.

Today, three days after the storm, the emergent nobility of a unified populace is giving way to frayed nerves and opportunists ... not all of them human. Scavenging hyenas sneak into the city at night looking to dine on unburied corpses, while a pack of wolves hunts the perimeter looking to take down the week and unwary.

Broken Hills giants, long fearful of the might of the Griffins Guild, raid the city's nascent farming settlements. There are reports of warbands of orcs and gnolls clashing with one another over the right to raid and plunder the stricken city. Some claim to even have seen ol'Triple Threat -- the ancient wyvern -- flying high over the city eying up an easy meal.

The circling predators have forced Obsidian Bay's foragers and hunters to spend more time fighting off attacks than looking for food, and forced them to enter the field in groups of 10 to 15. It has also cut off the flow of much needed firewood and building materials from the eastern hills.

Meanwhile, in the cramped inns, taverns, and warehouses of the city, there are murmuring that someone should do something. That Samuel Longriver should declare himself Lord Mayor and take control of the situation.

And if he doesn't ... maybe someone else should.

[NukeHavoc]

Not sure if we'll game on Sunday given sickness and weather but assuming so ... it would be helpful to know what the group would like to do next. Everyone is in Obsidian Bay, having fought their way through the blizzard to get to the city. It's three days after the blizzard struck, and the city is (as described above) still reeling.

[setanta14]

Well, we had gone to the druidy tree huggers, and they would just assume that people starve to death according to the laws of nature.

Tanevir would be interested in joining any hunting parties sent out to hunt game, etc., or accompanying any voyages to Gradsul or Gryrax to act as an ambassador (and also to be able to use his treasure to buy relief supplies, since money is now essentially useless in OB).

I also remember some adventure hook regarding going to the west to spy on the Purple Squid Hobgoblins, but don't remember the details.

[EvilGenius]

I don't know if I'm going to continue with Sir Mopey the Paladin. I was thinking about trying out Warlock.

[EvilGenius]

Or maybe I'll try straight-up cleric again.

[Lars Porsenna]

Burgell would still be organizing the expedition to Gryrax to buy relief food. For gaming purposes, we could say that one of the guilds, prominent citizens or sea captains sent a delegation along to complete the task, so that he can be available for gaming...

Damon.

[NukeHavoc]

Bob -- either's fine with me.

Nate -- The party encountered the Purple Squid hobgoblins scouting parties near the abandoned cave. Rumor has it they were worshipping some sort of sea demon, though right now everyone's focused on the various wolves -- real and figurative -- circling the city after the blizzard.

[NukeHavoc]

Tanevir would be interested in joining any hunting parties sent out to hunt game, etc., or accompanying any voyages to Gradsul or Gryrax to act as an ambassador (and also to be able to use his treasure to buy relief supplies, since money is now essentially useless in OB).

Burgell would still be organizing the expedition to Gryrax to buy relief food. For gaming purposes, we could say that one of the guilds, prominent citizens or sea captains sent a delegation along to complete the task, so that he can be available for gaming...

The Scorpion -- a well known trade ship and sometime privateer -- has been secured to make the run to Gradsul. It's captain, Raris Armbruster, is promising a swift run down the coast, sea monsters and aquatic goblins be damned! The ship's rigging and one of its masts were damaged in the storm, and they've spent the last few days clearing ice and making repairs.

Burgell, eager to see the ship off, is surprised when a towering human wearing battered, gore-stained platemail armor approaches the dock carrying a huge wooden chest. He's escorted by a contingent of equally exhausted looking warriors dressed in functional, austere chainmail and dented helms.

A massive steel-bound cudgel hangs from their leader's belt, and under the layers of grime and blood you can barely make out the symbol of St. Cuthbert.

"You there. Burgell." he drops chest at your feet. It makes an impressive thud, and you can hear a significant weight of coins shifting as they settle inside the box. "I am Johann, leader of the Church of St. Cuthbert. You do good work on behalf of your community. This will help you do more." He taps the chest with a toe. "This is the Griffins Guild's contribution to your worthy goal. Augmented by tithes given to the Church by the good citizens of Obsidian Bay. The not-so-good ones gave as well. Newly repentent you see" he says with a grim smile.

He looks to the Scorpion. "A good ship. Dependable and solid, even if her captain is a bit ... rakish. As you assemble your diplomatic team for this voyage, I ask that you allow Billet Reginald to join you on your quest. He is a stalwart member of my church, and a Griffin in good standing. Further, Lord Súlimëtasar asks that you allow his protegee, Tänévir Calywyn, to join the expedition as well."

"You've done good work here, Burgell. Your city thanks you."

[Lars Porsenna]

"Your contribution to this venture is much appreciated," Burgell says as he examines the chest. "No doubt this will save quite a few lives. With this contribution, how could I ever deny your representative, Billet Reginald a spot on this team? And Tanevir is well known to me, his support will be welcome as well. But we will need to move fast if we can get to Gryrax and back in time..."

Damon.

[setanta14]

Is it a voyage to Gradsul (largest city in the Kingdom of Keoland, and HQ of the Royal Navy) or Gryrax (regional capital of a much smaller country)?

Gradsul is probably a better destination, even though probably a day farther away, as more supplies would be readily available since they have such a large country to draw resources from (and further deliveries could be arranged more easily). Plus, Keoland is predominantly human, as OB is, while Gryrax is dwarven, so a more smypathetic attitude is likely to be found in Gradsul.

[NukeHavoc]

As the last of the repairs continue on deck, Raris Armbruster nods thoughtfully. "Your assessment is more or less accurate my new elven friend, and your time estimate true, but consider this -- both ports are open to us. It would not cost us much to sail to Gryrax, make our inquiries, and then go on to Gradsul. Even a small supply ship would help the city, and there are those in Gryrax who are sympathetic to Obsidian Bay's cause, and would see the Poor March liberated from the humanoid menace."

"You should know too that the Scorpion, she's not what you'd call a blue water ship. Oh she'll dip her toe in the deeper waters, but she's happiest when the coast is just out of view."

[NukeHavoc]

If you're not playing tonight, feel free to continue the Interlude posts. There's plenty to do in OB in the aftermath of the storm.

[NukeHavoc]

The Scorpion is a cog, a basic medieval-era sailing ship. It is a double masted sailing ship with a round, sturdy hull. It has a partial deck (the waist of the ship is not decked over, but the ends are and the raised bow and stern platforms are open, as opposed to being enclosed like a true forecastle or sterncastle. It is seaworthy, but not very handy in adverse winds. Its base sailing speed is 4 mph in light winds. She has a crew of 20, a watch (the number of people on deck) of 4, and can carry 40 tons of cargo (more than 20 tons of cargo slows her speed to 2 mph).

Her main sail is emblazoned with a stylized black scorpion.

Stinger -- a tried-and-true ballista -- is mounted on her foredeck to discourage pirates.

She is carrying several bronzewood, steel-banded chests filled with gold and electrum coins, as well as one water-tight steel locker filled with platinum. The stored wealth comes to about 15,000 gold pieces and weights approximately 375 pounds.