The Way of the Manticore

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ewancummins
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The Way of the Manticore

Post by ewancummins »

Klokulf visits the chapel in the night, a candle-lit room that contains a tall cabinet filled with images of strange gods, heroes, and saints—and a steel helm inland with precious metals set on the highest shelf and flanked by twin carvings of open hands with staring cyclopean eyes set in the palms. He sees no symbol of his god here, at least, none he recognizes. The smell of incense gives this room a sweeter odor than other parts of the fort. The old man who tends the shrine seems never to have heard of the Lawgiver, but he does tell Klokulf, “There be many gods, and I’ve heard that people in far-off countries call our familiar gods by strange names.”

Everyone gets a chance for a night’s sleep in a cot, under a borrowed blanket or whatever coverings the party already possesses.

...

In the morning, the party meets briefly with the Provost. Informed of the group’s decision to go see the Governor, he writes orders for Dorn and a pass for Benn to carry.

The adventurers have time for breakfast with the soldiers and naval infantrymen stationed at the fort. The men in the mess hall keep clear of topics of conversation related to military operations, but freely discuss hazards of travel, the weather, and which towns along the road have the best inns and taverns.
To hear the men tell it, one must beware swamp monsters along the stretch of the great stone highway (the Way of the Manticore) that runs east-to-west and skirts the southern edge of the Vast Swamp.

Brigands used to be a major problem, but they don’t pose the threat they did before the Governor took office a couple of years ago. One of her first acts was to exile all the notorious thieves and robbers, ordering soldiers to confiscate their ill-gotten gains before they were allowed to leave the province. The worst of the lot, murderers and kidnappers, she didn’t give the option of exile. She hanged more men her first season in office than the previous governor did in two years, but she’s not executed many since.

In the fort’s bailey, after breakfast, the Provost shows the party a lumber cart and a pair of draught horses. Dorn’s meant to drive it back after taking the party to the town of Monksblade, which lies not many miles west down the high road.

Quietly-- so that Dorn, busy packing rations and wineskins into the wagon’s rear, cannot overhear-- the Provost tells Benn and the others:
“I’m confident Dorn will be as safe with your party as with a squad of men, and he’s bringing some men back from Monksblade along with supplies, but do keep him out of trouble in town, please. He’s got a weakness for pretty wenches and he’s been ambushed by strong wine more than a few times.”
Delight is to him- a far, far upward, and inward delight- who against the proud gods and commodores of this earth, ever stands forth his own inexorable self.

-from Moby Dick (Hermann Melville)
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Re: The Way of the Manticore

Post by Adam »

Bennedict nods. "We shall see to it that he is not waylaid. You've done more to aid strangers than could be expected. I'll be glad to return the favor."
"Of course," Benn mutters, "It would be a damned shame if we ever knew what the hell was actually going on."
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Re: The Way of the Manticore

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Raen nods. "We will do our best. What is the relation between military men and town watches and militias? Is there any kind of rivalry that would land the poor lad in hot water if he's not supported by more soldiers?"
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Re: The Way of the Manticore

Post by ewancummins »

alhoon wrote:Raen nods. "We will do our best. What is the relation between military men and town watches and militias? Is there any kind of rivalry that would land the poor lad in hot water if he's not supported by more soldiers?"
To Raen the Provost says,
''Monksbade's grown in recent years, but it's still only a town, not a city with a full city guard of its own. The sheriff and his men get on well enough with the soldiery--anything not too serious, the sheriff hands over to officers without argument, if no civilians were hurt.''

And to Benn, he says,
''If you come back this way, you are welcome to return to the fort. The location isn't something we advertise, but it's not a secret, either. Troubles breed in the Vast Swamp, and it might be your party could help us again. And maybe help yourselves, if stories about sunken bandit treasure and dragon hoards are true. But for now, I wish you the best of luck on the road to Monksblade. It isn't far, and the weather seems decent today.''
Delight is to him- a far, far upward, and inward delight- who against the proud gods and commodores of this earth, ever stands forth his own inexorable self.

-from Moby Dick (Hermann Melville)
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Re: The Way of the Manticore

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Bennedict gives a wry smile. "A tempting offer, sir, but ultimately my goal is to return to my home. If I believe we can find our way back through your swamp, I assure you we shall meet again."
"Of course," Benn mutters, "It would be a damned shame if we ever knew what the hell was actually going on."
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Re: The Way of the Manticore

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Kat eyes the pass with some interest, and listens closely to the provost's briefing. She displays full respect for the soldier's desire not to give away any secrets about the current situation, especially after she learns about Dorn's little foibles. As the group sets off she falls in alongside the young soldier, seeking some pleasant conversation to pass the time, entertain herself and the young man and set him at his ease.

Possibly sufficiently at his ease to say a few things he .probably shouldn't be talking about..
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Re: The Way of the Manticore

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Raen is blissfully unaware of Kat's efforts while keeping an eye on the man. When he gets away from the rest, he approaches the cleric.
"Greetings friend. May I see the spellbook of the Gaunt wizard please?"
Last edited by alhoon on Wed Mar 07, 2018 10:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: The Way of the Manticore

Post by Wolfglide of the Fraternity »

"Certainly," Klokulf replies, though his ready cooperation barely conceals hesitance and . . . guilt?

He draws the spellbook out of the left pouch of his pack, then opens it up. "There is a warning in the front, but it is some sort of trick. It can be ignored safely. So far, I have read through several minor magical tricks and these six spells." He points them out as he hands the tome over to Raen, "There is a charm, a ward against evil, a conjuration, a spell to descry hidden portals, an incantation to frighten victims, and a hex to bring deathly cold to the fingertips."

His hands slide slowly off of the book. "If you find anything of interest, I am amenable to it being removed, but I would like the majority of the grimoire back."
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Re: The Way of the Manticore

Post by ewancummins »

TRAVEL




KATRINA sits on the buckboard with Dorn while the others ride in the back.
Twice on the soggy trail through the blue-leaf forest, party members must climb down and push the wagon wheels out of muck.

The path firms up as the wagon rolls onto slightly higher and drier ground.
Bright morning sunlight shines in widening patches on the wagon and its occupants as the trees thin out.
Within an hour or so of departing the fort, the forest gives way to open country. Dorn urges the team onto a rutted track that continues the narrow forest path. The track runs only a spear toss through the grassy fields before rising over a cut in the low embankment that forms the shoulder of a long highway, which runs as far as the eye can see, east and west.
One the paved road, the horses have an easier time of it, and the wagon rolls along at a steady pace, boards rattling gently.
Dorn keeps an eye on the road, clear and sunny and peaceful though the day is---but the young soldier seems distracted by Kat, who sits beside him, chatting.
Kat spots the rubble in the road before Dorn does, but there’s no danger of rolling into it of a sudden, at this speed—

The huge, horny beak thrusts up from the broken pavement. Steel teeth flash in the rising dust. Bloodshot eyes stare out from armored brows on a head like a mad fisherman’s nightmare of a snapping turtle, shifting rapidly between the horses, wagon, driver and front passenger.

The horses whinny, snort, kick and sidle in harness.
Dorn shouts commands, controlling the frightened beasts as best he can.
The burrowing monster scrapes against stones and soil as it pushes up and clear far too quickly for something so big and ungainly-looking!

Image
Delight is to him- a far, far upward, and inward delight- who against the proud gods and commodores of this earth, ever stands forth his own inexorable self.

-from Moby Dick (Hermann Melville)
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Re: The Way of the Manticore

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Raen, having returned the spellbook to the cleric for the time, backtracks once the huge thing comes out of the ground. "By the shield of Ezra! What... "
Raen gets off the wagon as quickly as he can without landing on his face and drops in spellcasting. Soon, a blue energy appears, covers him and dissipates.
Last edited by alhoon on Thu Mar 08, 2018 7:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: The Way of the Manticore

Post by ewancummins »

alhoon wrote:Raen, having returned the spellbook to the cleric for the time, backtracks once the huge thing comes out of the ground. "By the shield of Ezra! What... "
Holding his horse by the reigns, he dismounts as quickly as he can without landing on his face and drops in spellcasting. Soon, a blue energy appears, covers him and dissipates.

DM note: Where did he get the horse?

The two horses are pulling the wagon.
Delight is to him- a far, far upward, and inward delight- who against the proud gods and commodores of this earth, ever stands forth his own inexorable self.

-from Moby Dick (Hermann Melville)
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Re: The Way of the Manticore

Post by Lord Skybolt »

Alain just stays sitting and leans over and casts a spell* at the Land Shark .
"Evil only endures when good people remain silent ."
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Re: The Way of the Manticore

Post by Wolfglide of the Fraternity »

Klokulf extricates himself from the wagon and pulls a scrap of parchment from one of his pockets. He murmurs a prayer of protection, consuming the scrap, as he assesses the monster.
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Re: The Way of the Manticore

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Katrin gazes at the thing for a long moment, an expression of bemusement across her face, then shakes herself and dives out of the cart, drawing her rapier and seeking an opening!
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Re: The Way of the Manticore

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ALAIN'S twin rays leap from his fingers and sting the creature, leaving smoke curling from its carapace.

BENN conjures his fiery orb, bringing it rolling over the broken, sunken burrow of the monster and against the beast's armored rump.
The creature leaves off attacking one of the horses and scuttle forward rapidly, coming closer to the wagon even as Dorn struggles to back the horses and turns them and the cart away from the monster.

Sir Clive unlimbers his great sword and hops down, stepping clear of the moving vehicle and its panicky team.

He strides toward the hissing beast and lays into it with his blade. Sparks fly from its scorched, sooty carapace, but it seems little harmed by the knight's double-handed blows.

Kat darts in as the knight's onslaught keeps the monster busy, needling to no effect with her sword—too much plating on this horror!

Sir Clive lands a hasty blow, the blade chopping off a few scales this time.
The monster suddenly leaps up, passing clean over the knight's sweeping blade and crashing down onto the man!
The knight falls amid the clatter of armor and the horrid scrape of claws on steel plate—but rolls clear before the weight of the monster crushes him helpless in the road.He snaps to his feet with his sword lifting back en garde.

The shrieking horses pull so hard away from the monster that Dorn tumbles from the driver’s seat.

The soldier lad lands on his backside right between Sir Clive and the monster.

The team keeps running, hauling the wagon off the road. Alwina falls out into the field beside the road with Benn, but Alain keeps his grip on the sideboard of the rocking cart.
Last edited by ewancummins on Fri Mar 09, 2018 1:20 am, edited 1 time in total.
Delight is to him- a far, far upward, and inward delight- who against the proud gods and commodores of this earth, ever stands forth his own inexorable self.

-from Moby Dick (Hermann Melville)
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