Introduction Dravens is now in a different mode. Apparently 2 months of planning has been enough to raise an army, and have some in waiting. Breschka has 100k Indrasian troops being ferried over to the west, 100k Shevorth troops who came from the under realms near Dwarfsett, 40k Sehe troops on fleets heading north, 20k Mozmon worth of ships tending to pirates, and the Bonehammer nation already on alert and sending troops towards the borders. Additionally, she has potential alliances with Kantun, the Free Bullywugs, and Seddriz who all have something to gain or lose. Shevorth has a good 2-300k troops on the Vemk border if they decide to retaliate against Indra during the war. Meanwhile, Corrive is on the defensive, owing to an elemental oddity that is plaguing their north shores. In Dravens’ Port, things are different. The militia and army that gathered for preparation has now been given different instruction. While seemingly there for support, Breschka has seemingly managed to assemble an army of close to 50k troops to send towards the warfront almost over night. Meanwhile, Arieth is in the progress of raising a second group, and says a third and fourth aren’t far out. Aerith also says that armies were already in place near Dwarfsett and Halfsett and had been assembled weeks ago. Even as Dravens’ Port was recovering from the undead attack, they were already recruiting defensive forces at Oron’s insistence. Dravens troops are not hardened, trained, or skilled. But they are loyal and tenacious. Rurrick received a message during the night from the sending stone: "I stole this from Queen Lightcrown. Who has this stone. Which prince-killer is it?" Rurrick’s Response: “Your name first buddy. If you are no friend of Lightcrown, you might be a friend of mine. Peace out.” Dranburn Rurrick told the party and then they all went into Dravens’ Port to seek Dranburn, Urd’s alchemist cousin. On the way through the city, the party could see the change first hand. Recruiters out and about in the city, Nards congregating in armed groups together for safety, people talking amongst themselves about the happenings. The party made it to Dranburn’s shop, near the orphanage where they first entered the city. The orphanage is still standing and full of orphans, with Dravens military recruiters there signing up the oldest orphans who are of the age to serve. The party made it to Dranburn’s shop, and asked him about Jamesyth’s location. According to Dranburn, he had been working with Jamesyth’s network to help get alchemy supplies into Dravens’ Port, and heard Jamesyth was fleeing west further into Dravens to sow discord and reward those bringing bounties. The party bought various potions from Dranburn, with Cassius tipping him 50 gold and Dranburn giving 10 of that to Urd who won their bet. As they were leaving, the party was met by members of the royal army, who had arrived to clean out Dranburn’s shop of any unbought stock that might be useful for the war efforts. Dranburn told Ailekk that he could help him secure ingredients as needed. Kaaska The party went back to Castle Dravens, hearing rumors of discord and low morale owing to the bounty out on Nards. They arrived back in the castle seeing Kaaska in the courtyard with some young recruits, showing them how to use their swords. Ailekk greeted him, and asked if he knew of any ways that their enemies might be able to smuggle weapons or assassins into Dravens’ Port. Kaaska looked about the castle, and chuckled to himself. “Holes in security?” Waving his arms about him, “This place is more of a gazebo than a castle. Just 4 pillars and a ceiling. Getting in and out of here or the city is a simple task.” Ailekk recommended that he meeting with the people in charge and advise them, but Kaaska was concerned that his reputation would likely prohibit him from being recruited as a security adviser. Ailekk asked about the orphans, and Kaaska said he had met Newt and also given out much of his accumulated wealth to the local orphanages. Rurrick offered to give him 100 gold, but Kaaska said, “Thank you, but give it to orphanages not me.” Urd asked him about Jamesyth. Kaaska responded that after the fall of Guilds’ Town to the green dragons, the Master of the Thieves’ Guild, Gravycakes, relocated to Dravens’ Port where he had purchased a manor being disputed by the heirs of one of the killed nobles. He was currently at odds with Jamesyth’s followers. Ailekk asked Kaaska what he would do now and he didn’t have any plans at the moment. Arieth The party went and talked to Arieth, who was putting up scrolls and books as they entered. She mentioned that Feng was now back in the castle in the grand hall, and he wanted to speak with them. Ailekk recommended to Arieth that Kaaska be assigned to security, and Arieth agreed but only if Kaaska resigned as a bounty hunter. The party found out the sewers were now secured with most passages being barred except for a couple of escape routes that were locked with both physical locks and magic to prevent entrance, as well as with posted guard patrols on a regular basis. They spoke of Jamesyth and she agreed he was a problem, with Breschka having put a bounty on his head for his illegal activities. The party took leave to talk to Gravycakes, with Ailekk informing Kaaska on the way out of Arieth’s offer. Gravycakes They made their way to the Nobles Quarters, and could feel people watching them as they traveled. They reached a manor with white walls, and people busy moving things in. Out front some workers were installing a fountain with a statue of Gravycakes, nude, making the cupid pose. They entered and waited in the foyar for several minutes until Gravycakes showed up making a ruse of being upset. They went into his office, where he lit a lantern of revealing to make sure they weren’t being scryed upon. Gravycakes revealed to them that Guilds’ Town had been abandoned by the Yuan-Ti for unknown reasons, something that concerned him. He was also pretty sure Jamesyth was moving into the middle of Dravens intentionally, to sow discord but also it would be easier to get enslaved Nard children out of the west than to try and do so in the east. It is possible he would even make his way to Trymmond city. The party offered to help mess up his network, Gravycakes said he would have a map drawn up of areas where Jamesyth’s lackies could be found in Dravens’ Port. He also gave the party a speech on not doing one thing at a time and the troubles of war, suggesting they do as much as possible when they traveled. He said he would have a map with the locations of Jamesyth’s thugs on it drawn up and left with Clyde the leatherworker in the nobles market. Feng The party returned to the castle to meet Feng. In the grand hall were dozens and dozens of knights with Breschka, Feng, and 4 ogres. Breschka greeted the party, saying that she had decided to name Feng Royal Commander, and she would not be directly running war efforts. Likewise, Arieth is in charge of intelligence and Ma Thornberry in charge of magic. If the party had requests, they should seek out the appropriate person. She then excused herself. Feng opened up with saying that Rurrick was not allowed near the front lines until first blood had been drawn, and that they needed to retake Guilds’ Town. He said he was sending some troops to investigate today. He said he wanted the party to travel Dravens over the next couple of weeks, rallying recruitment for the war effort but also drawing out assassins and agents of Dree as they did so. He would be sending two of his children, Madormi and Olzion to fly them about (something Breschka would not approve of). Two of the ogres flew in the air and landed by his side. He said them going to Trymmond to search for Jamesyth wouldn’t be a problem, and Madormi and Olzion could probably help them get in. He laid a travel plan out for them and asked if they wanted their arrival to be announced? They said yes. Ailekk asked about returning to his monastery, Feng revealed that Rirre is staying in Bonehammer to attend the election of a War Chief for Bonehammer. After their parade around Dravens, maybe Ailekk could meet up with her on the front lines. Until then, he’s not sure what he could do to help, but if anyone could help him return to the plane of air it would be Rirre. Further Messages Over the next 3 days, Rurrick received the following communications from the stone: On the other side of the stone: "Who killed Prince Raffolk?" Rurrick: "I'm Rurrik. it was a team effort. I was part of that team, and the most fragrant. Now who in Hades am I talking to!?" Unknown Person: "I assume you know who I am, charmer, but I dare not say my name. I'm sure you are glad I'm so far away." Rurrik: “Whetever you say boss. Surly not-orc is in charge. We're going on a parade to the southwest and hoping to step on a rat.” Unknown: "Give your stone to not-orc. Have no other easy access to send messages out. Will begin sending troop movements soon. Miss you, boo." Rurrick then took the stone to Arieth, explaining the situation to her. [Urd said something that I remember was semi-important but I’ve since forgot what it was] Post Game Rurrick scrying on Jamesyth. Is he scrying on anyone else? Ron learning spells from Ma Thornberry, Eric can tell me what spells he wants to learn and I’ll tell him if those are available (100 - 10 * spell level chance she has that spell as a scroll he can learn). Example, 90% chance of 1st level spell, 80% chance of second, etc. She’ll charge him cost + 10%, so 27.5gp for a 1st level, 275 for a 2nd level, 550 for a 3rd level, 2750 for a 4th level, and 5500 for a 5th level. Ailekk is making 3 healing potions. What is Urd doing? What is Cassius doing? Are Rurrick, Ron, and Ailekk doing anything else? Character Side Stories Rurrick gets visits from defector Thrinegrove elves. They have volunteered to help guard parts of Dravens as they begin amassing armies. If Rurrick has any requests, they’ll do what they can. They tell him that Elfsett in the north party of Dravens will be sending quite a few soldiers to the war, they defected from Thrinegrove centuries ago and have no desire to return. Ron finds out that Pixi has stayed, although he will be leaving shortly to meet up with the Indrasian troops at the Battle of Kiernard. Ron also finds that more apprentices and mages have been arriving every day from Kytt and other places around Dravens. The royal mage academy is now taking up almost the entire northeast tower (including basement levels) except for Ailekk’s alchemy lab. He finds Uhklak, the Kiernard wizard who has been working on some divination magic. Apparently, Uhklak ran across a crazy man in the streets of Dravens who proclaimed that Kiernard is still around. Uhklak knows of a teleportation circle in the underrealms of Kiernard but there used to be a powerful guardian to it. He’s curious if the crazy man might be right. Urd gets a visit from Joyce Orcshammer, she is leaving to join the war. She says a War Chief should be elected and should be sending emissaries to work with Feng soon. Homgiz, Homguz (wizards) and Homraz visit Urd, they are enjoying the excitement in the castle. Urd spends some time cracking heads of Jamesyth thugs, with options to do what he wants to them. Ailekk meets with Kaaska who is now in a specially modified army uniform with a lieutenant insignia, he looks uncomfortable but happy. He tells Ailekk that he spent the first two days in the sewers, pointing out security flaws. Without a city wall, he has suggested to Arieth and Breschka that they send a few thousand troops to Guilds Town to secure it, he has volunteered to go help. Since Guilds Town has walls and tunnels underneath, it would be a more secure place for citizens and refugees if it is now safe. Plus many of the guilds are eager to return home, Arieth has put him in charge of this project for the moment. Cassius has a moment with Volandra. She tells him she knows where Kalrithni is, who has an amulet of undetection at the moment. She plans on meeting up with her and traveling to Trymmond city. As a neutral city, she believes it will be not only the safest place for them to hide, but also a good place for her to gather information about the Vemk empire that she can then send back to Arieth. She says that when they are ready to head west, meet with her there.
