A New Friend

June 12, 2007

Deuce had settled down and after his adventures being lost with only the lions on some plane, became quite the whittler. He opened up a shop and his creations sold. At first, being a Hero of Cormyr, they sold because people wanted something from him. After several years of proving himself, though, now people are interested because he is good at carving. He decided that he was going to expand his area and take some wares to Suzail. He had recently met some contacts there and now was the time to use them.

Reece has only been back a year. After being sold into slavery and then having to fight his way back, he arrived home to find he had twins waiting for him besides his eldest son. It was a joyful reunion and he was glad to be back. For a year, he told his stories, re-acquainted himself with his family and lived the peaceful life. However, he has been getting restless. He keeps hearing rumors of bad things happening and knows he can help. When Deuce comes to him about a trip to Suzail, he accepts to be on the road again.

Marcus has a great gift. Actually, he has many. He is a very good potion maker. He can make most minor potions, including healing and blessings. He is also a priest, and from his god Ilmater, he can relieve the suffering of others. However, his most powerful gift is the visions he receives from Ilmater. Most priests of Ilmater can feel suffering around them. For Marcus, it is more than that. He feels it as they feel it and can sometimes sense it miles away.

As Marcus walked the streets of Suzail, around the palace, he thought his visions were going to drive him mad. He knew that something has happening here, he had been receiving visions all day, but he hadn't figured out why. When he saw the couple, a man and a woman dressed in good clothes, fit for wealthy merchants, he felt the suffering they had caused in others. He received a vision of suffering they had recently caused. It oozed off them and he couldn't help but see it. It turned his stomach but he knew something must be done.

Marcus was about to follow them when he felt a call to the tavern nearby, called the Dragon's Claw. He didn't know of it but hurried inside. Marcus couldn't believe his luck! There was a hero of Cormyr! This must be why he was led to this place. He hurriedly asked for help and Reece agreed to go with him. Deuce was out on business and this seemed more interesting. Besides, it left the crowds wanting more. Promising more, Reece hurried out with Marcus.

They had barely traveled a block following the couple when they noticed Deuce was following them as well. They caught up to him and he explained as they went. Deuce had had some things revealed to him, and he knew these two were going to kill soon. He was hoping to stop them. So, the three of them kept going.

They follow the group to a back alley. Deuce, in creeping forward, sees that they are about to attack, or perhaps are already attacking, some of the people there. He summons Kall and Mym and the battle is joined.

The only bad part of the battle was the fumble of Marcus'. He practiced a lot in throwing his paralytic potions at his chairs and other pieces of furniture. However, throwing them during combat was a different matter. His first throw hit Deuce on the back of the neck and the liquid rolled down Deuce's back. Deuce had time to look surprised before the potion took effect and he slumped to the ground unable to move.

Reece cast a few fire spells and they worked but not as well as he hoped. He pulled out a wand and activated it. The green blast disintegrated the male. And part of the wall behind him. Seeing this, the woman spoke a word and disappeared.

Marcus healed the minor injuries the group had and gave Deuce the antitode. Deuce wasn't happy when he could move again and Marcus apologize profusely. Reece was staring at shock at the building. He went to look and saw a support beam was gone as well. And then the floor it was supporting collapsed.

When the guards arrived, they recognized the Heroes and asked what happened. They thanked them for fighting the monsters, whatever they were, and then asked about damages, although reluctantly. Reece agreed and settled up with the guards.

As they were talking to Marcus, and were thinking of asking him for help, Deuce suddenly saw a temple to Shar. The woman who got away was being chastised by another women on a raised dais. Deuce couldn't see the priestess' face. Further, the couple had been a tough fight and the fact that she was cowering before someone else, made Deuce pause. There was more to this than met the eye.

Notes

• Actually, this was a rough start. The players were still trying to figure out everything about their characters, new or old, and it was a bit tough. I also didn't have the best handle on what I wanted to do for the adventure, and specifically the plot for tonight. However, it was quite fun for not having played for two months.
• Another thing that was fun is writing this, as a new campaign, but with the background of the characters there. I like being able to write things that the players told me happened during the seven years that we skipped.
• Hmm. I am not happy with this write up. It covers it but not as well as I would prefer. I think I made the couple more scary and I don't think that is coming across here. When Deuce's player realized that the woman was cowering before someone else, he really didn't want to meet that someone else.