Scene(s): Finding Mary /DONE

Campaign Pickup date: 9168, May 3rd

Mary’s finding scenarios can be scripted or played. These only have a few notes so the scenarios may last minutes, may last a couple hours. If she gets recaptured she gets angry, veins stand out and ropes are burned through. She will somehow free them with Merkaines power (she thinks Malek is actually doing it) and make way.

Hide n Seek
Mary said they had given up, and they were going to join the peace coalition
Mary is frantic, she has a wild bloodshot look in her eye. She’s not sleeping.
Malek reached out and gave Mary the inspiration and drive. His plans are in danger of being undone.

If her identity is discovered or pressed, she will have to trust the party and divulge her identity and mission.
> She can show her chain of office
“Why am I on the run? Because I’m going against Ducal orders… he wanted a message delivered and consensus of the lords and ladies, but I think it’s going to lead to many deaths. He knew I wouldn’t accept. You see, there’s been a shift in power. Our elite team was killed far away – hazard of the job. Word went out from House Malor, the duke knows and hence the disheartened announcement to allies that a peace will be actively sought,even if it means losing claim on the peninsula. Other events have been negatively affecting the war effort against Gwinn. The ducal decree, sent only to a few at this early stage, was “All allies are to not step in the way. If Gwinnn attacks, only defense, no counter attack as the negotiations will start within a month’s time.” This put me into action. House Malor was giving no details about our last team other than they were dead – and that that was the last hope to regain the peninsula by crushing Gwinn in the south. I refuse to let Gwinn turn the tide here… i’m going to find out myself what happened and somehow make it right.
—–
If asked, she will admit that “House Malor probably knows exactly where I am. Ask yourself why I’m not confined to quarters magically right now. Yeah, I’m roaming free because they want it. I don’t understand exactly what they expect, but it can’t be for me to get caught. So assume we are being watched… or at least tracked”. She looks around and waves to the air. “I’ll take all the help I can get. For Dunstrand… for the Duke. For the king… Yea, maybe that was a bit sappy, but our duty, our loyalty is our honor. I won’t see the entire history of the Gallantine washed away for nothing. This fight is personal now”.

=============== HIDE ME! ============
Overview: She escaped and is being pursued somewhere between braddon bog and torrelsons ford. The sun is going down as PCs approach the town of Mev.
Actors: 2 Gallants (disguised; Cult of the Crow), 2 bounty hunters… for tracking and guarding only.
> Motivations: orders (gallants), payment (bounty hunters)
Gallant 1 > F2 / AC 13 / HP 16 / longsword, dagger STR 15 (+2) / Second Wind, Action Surge
Gallant 2 > F3 (champion)/ AC 14 / HP 28 / longsword, dagger STR 15 (+2) / Second Wind, Action Surge
Bounty Hunter 1 > R3/ AC 13/ HP 21/ short sword, short bow, DEX 16 (+3)
=Primary Tracker
Bounty Hunter 2 > R2/ AC 13/ HP 12/ short sword, short bow, DEX 15 (+2)

=== < Encounter > ===
> Intro: Help me! I beg your leave sirs, I am Hilga, a courier from Braddon Bog, and I am pursued. Since I arrived outside of Mev, I have fled from campfire to campfire, and always my pursuers have hovered at its edges. I cannot travel, my message will be lost and I will have failed my good sira Derleth, Herald of Bar-Innis. Please, I beg you, help me. I can pay some now, more when I reach my destination. I need to leave now though sirs, time is of the essence.
[i] > Her hands are dark skinned, she keeps her face hidden. Her eyes are bloodshot. [Insight] She is telling the truth (she knows the herald, and did promise to “do something” about the situation).
===
> Main: I can only hope to draw them out in favorable circumstances once I leave the safety of town. I do not wish them dead, they are following orders and I think are victims of bad information themselves. Can you do this? Spare their lives?
— [Assume YES] —
“If you wish, I can offer you a job – help me get to the Barony of Crestwold to the south – and into its capital of Torrelsons Ford. I can offer long term employment from one of my contacts there, maybe more. I need to get some supplies though, and I must travel into Mev to do this. ”
— PAYMENT —
200 sc in a money belt
— AMBUSH? —
Hilga prefers to take her pursuers out of Mev and the land around it and ambush them. She knows of an old spot, east of town where an ambush can easily be affected using a low rise and double back to the right.

===
> Outcome: Not trying to kill. Subdue or hide.

Next Step: She will give all her personal jewelry (450sc worth) as a starter. Mary will head into Mev, the capital of Bar-Innis – she has friends there. She stresses that she is just Hilga – a poor peasant woman disfigured by fire and so hides her face.

Ride On

Overview: News of the odd travels fast: gwinn activates 2 sleeper agents in Mev. Mary needs to get supplies and mounts. Mary uses her title and chain of office (too ugly, could not be anyone else) and gets a money lender to outfit her and companions. She gets Pony’s old mount, it wont let anyone ride it but a Gallant. It is wizard marked with Pony’s sigil. Once mounted Mary and epona make a deal – to free the horse in far meadows inland in exchange for help. The money lender informs the agents for profit as they begin to track her.
Actors: urban bounty hunters and agents
> motivations: capture Mary
F1 x 4
Agent 1 > F2 / AC 13 / HP 16 / longsword, crossbow STR 15 (+2) / Second Wind, Action Surge
Agent 2 > F3 (champion)/ AC 14 / HP 24 / longsword, crossbow STR 15 (+2) / Second Wind, Action Surge
=Primary Tracker
/Both have horses and 20 sc each

=== < Encounter > ===
> Intro:

===
> Main: Ride – no proficiency, no prof bonus mounted. Mary is. Horse takes them to a small lake, runs full tilt (DC 10 perception to see Mary confused) parallel to the river bank. Horse stops like 15 feet short sending mary hurling into the lake 25’. Pursuer charges into lake and strait into silt back – goes flying and tangled. Mary will make short work.

> Outcome: Have to haul out a stuck horse. Leaves other for pc; mary loots and searches – trouser off spread cheeks… agents have tattoo of Gwinnish sea serpent emblem there “because only the fish can see it there”.

Of Course, Why Not?

Overview: Orrish are starting to raid again.
Actors:
> Motivations: raiding for weapons; at night, take party’s spare weapons
Goblin 1-6 > Stealth +6
https://roll20.net/compendium/dnd5e/Goblin#content
Warlock 3 > AC 11/ HP 15/ Silent Image (at wall), One with the Shadows

=== < Encounter > ===
> Intro:

===
> Main:
Camp site at night is cold; goblin raid. How did they know – there’s one out there still, a fanatic of the dark gods – half ork warlock; try and help but be captured. Filed teeth. Will sacrifice himself with evard’s tentacles sprouting. In a voice clearly not its own: “we’ve watched and waited for this you ugly bitch, the dark gods and their allies send their regards!”
BOOM (chunks) everyone takes d6/3 damage no save within 30’ / DC 15 SAN check
Anxiety / Disheartened / Incredulous / Stupefied ?

Outcome:

Seems like travel by river has always been safer, I’m wondering if there’s a betting pool. I surmise from this that House Malor’s normal occult protections are not working – im sure its to make it seem believable… yea, i’m sure. That one got a little personal, but the Gallants have foiled many of the plans of those unholy shit bags…im used to their feeble attempts.

To the air she shouts “it’s a bet you wont win! How many fucked situations has our team been in? Huh? And yet here we stand. Motherfucker! It’s good to be back in the field again… just like the good ole days.” She mumbles, “I’m getting too old for this shit.”

Ewww, Gross

Lilymarch Overview: Lastly the cut through the barony of Lilymarch was slow and harsh. In Lily Rush, clothes were picked up, and the weather has been good. And by clothes, you traded yours with carpetbaggers… or was it just a beggar. Well, whatever.. a day ago and you itch all over now – very believable disguise indeed. You are in eastern Crestwold now, it’s early summer and there’s lots of traffic going west – war supplies.
Actors: Cult of the Crow agents catch up, posing as a pair of weavers going to work for the war effort in Torrelsons Ford.
> Motivations: Kill Mary – nothing else matters; use darkness as cover to slip away
Agent 1 > F2 / AC 13 / HP 16 / hand ax, crossbow (hidden nearby) STR 15 (+2) / Second Wind, Action Surge
Agent 2 > F3 (champion)/ AC 14 / HP 24 / hand ax, crossbow (hidden nearby) STR 15 (+2) / Second Wind, Action Surge
=Primary Tracker

=== < Encounter > ===
> Intro:

===
> Main: Mary freed her own horse and traded everything in for a cart of linen, leather caps, and boot sole leather, headed to Torrelsons ford. It’s been a good disguise, no one bothered you, though it is a bit smelly
Dinner couple nights – deception dc 9, performance, disguise kit

Cult of the Crow agents catch up, posing as a pair of weavers going to work for the war effort in Torrelsons Ford.
===
> Outcome:
Mary talks about the Cult of the Crow, and how she believes someone is trying to sabotage the Gallantine Order from within. “Those guys were good and experienced – lets hope they dont get much worse than that.”

This Sucks

Overview: Travel through Lilymarch
Actors: Bandits
> Motivations: Kill easy pickings, they run away if significant resistance
Bandits;
F4 x1 / AC 14 / HP 28 /
F2 x1 / AC 13 / HP 14
F1 x 6 / AC 12 / HP 8
6 self bows (d4/2 +1) with 1st shot with adv; 2nd shot end of 1st round; one at each end and 4 rush in. club, iron ‘mace’ d8/5 spiked dc 5 save or breaks

=== < Encounter > ===
> Intro:

===
> Main:
You set out at dusk, pushing hard to get to Autumnade in Crestwold after midnight. One cart wheel breaks as you travel with speed in the dark. Under a mile away from the ferry marker is when you realize that the tales about trouble must have some validity. Looking for an easy score, a group of bandits has ambushed you. These Gallantine just attract bad luck.
[FIGHT] mary yells fuck it, it was self defense as she picks up a leverage staff out of the cart (2 more and no spare wheel)

At the end “I suppose I deserve it, desperate men in time of war, should have known better. I don’t know about you, but it sure felt… right, to me. Well, don’t just stand there, let’s get these bodies out of the way – we can’t report in town for fear of being recognized. A shallow grave is all they deserve. Let’s camp and make haste at sunup.” She has to be in her 60s or 70s – hard to tell with that face, and she’s taxing even your limits.

===
> Outcome:

A Break in the Action

Overview: Mary seeks allies at Neroway Villa in Autumnade.
Actors: Belvins Brace
> Motivations: Rest

=== < Encounter > ===
> Intro:
You pass through the last real small town before Torrelsons ford – Autumnade. You stop for a drink, and Mary says to stay put.
===
> Main:

She’s gone for a couple hours and when she gets back she’s got fresh energy. “Ok, i have allies here, but we are pressing on to meet my last contact. If anything happens to me, you must seek (Jaheira and Kalid at the friendly amn inn) you are looking for Biyatch – a barbarous lout.
===
> Outcome:
Mary musters out Belvins Brace, takes 2000 silver and a bunch of mundane armor and weapons, and says to go recruit from The Saelish – who normally do not provide levies. Mary will re-up the mercenary Charter for Belvins Brace, list 2 members (Bronzemen from The Saelish) as commanders, and rest as hireling infantry.

Beware the Ferryman

Overview:
Actors:
> Motivations:

=== < Encounter > ===
> Intro: You see the keep first, gray and dower, on a hill at the north end of town – far in the distance, maybe 5km. Ahead is a fortified ferry camp on the north side of the road, next to the river.

===
> Main:
Ferry Lane South Experience – rider with a crossbow comes to meet and signals all ok to the rider at the ferry.

Ferry lane is the far side of a passage to get across the river.

There are a couple of cottages, a supply barn, a covered area with 2 more horses and a couple campsites for those wanting to take a break. There’s a couple of tents pitched near it and a few men playing cards. There’s been a few clumsy blockades and defensive positions dug. The lane goes 80’ north to the waterline of the river where a ferry dock has been built – you can see another man at waters edge monitoring the ferry crossing path. You stop to water your horses.
===
> Outcome:

Welcome Home

Overview:
Actors:
> motivations

=== < Encounter > ===
> Intro: Lots of people – more than the town normally handles – not one idle hand. You see a bunch of children playing around a watering hole as the road enters the city. “The street’s about to get more crowded” Mary says.

===
> Main:
Suddenly she exclaims “Ouch” and grabs her cheek as you pass through the checkpoint into the city. She just keeps looking ahead.

It feels like days to move a half mile as crowded as it is, and you finally notice 2 of the children are leading the way – though if you hadn’t seen them at the gate, you wouldn’t know it. Eventually, you stop next to an alley the laughing children run down as you near the warehouses on the docks. Mary jumps off, quietly says leave yer gear, and follows as 2 men standing in the shadows dressed as teamsters, they take control of the cart and keep going. The children clear the way for you – chasing derelicts out the far end a door opens as you pass and you follow Mary.

===
> Outcome:

A small entry leads to a plank rough room stripped of anything but a burlap bag for each of you. Mary makes no sound and strips, no one cares. If anyone looks – Mary is not ugly save her face. Unless you can’t handle all the scars, shes kickn for an older lady. You follow suit and put your old clothes in – if anyone brought gear, mary will say “i told you not to, it will be brought soon. When I give you an order, you follow”.

You can hear laughter from the entry as the 2 urchins walk in, already stripping. “Please sir! Im sorry sir! All the childs play shit was worth it hearing that big ole bitch tongue lash ‘em.” You see the obvious features of halflings putting on different clothes than you, changing from their child disguises. “Yea, can you imagine getting up the riggin with her? Man… I mean a lumbering whale overboard.” The other stops and says “hey, whales swim they can’t be overboard. Hey hag, can you swim?”

Ill fucking drown you in your own blood gopher fuckers if you dont get back to your captain and get that ship ready. Awww” they exit into a dark hallway, 2 others enter right after. One of them points to the PCs clothes… burn it. The other says “status”. It’s actually a she, she whispers along with making weird figures and signs with her hands. She looks nervous.
Mary shouts at the older man holding your disguises. “Pay her well. Double”. Mary turns to you and says “We are walking out. There’s a tavern – The Bitterwheel Tavern – a block away – Belvins Brace keeps a room rented for entertainment. I’ll walk past it and look up. That’s the one. You’ll be here for a few days, but there is someone there who knows the town and local culture. That does not mean trust them absolutely. Ask for “backroom B” when you go in.
Place is jumping packed. Above it is a sign: A cup broken every quarter hour
You push your way forward, ask for the room, and point down a doorway left of the kitchen arch. You find room B and knock. There’s a few pallets, dishes (greasy food), tankards and wine pots, dice, piss buckets, spittoon, and ropes. One man steps back and welcomes you. He sits on the floor burps and says “come on in – grab a brew… it don’t cost nothin” and chuckles to himself. It’s a rough 20×20 room. You enter and close the door.

The Rundown

She (Josey – the White Lily trade rep) says ‘I’m Josey – we will be working together in the future. Here’s what i’ve collected so far – from the last couple days.’

About 17 days ago, a robed wizard of House Malor and a smelly, unkempt barbarian named Biyatch appeared. Right next to the large and singular statue of Willam Crestwold off the town’s square. With him was a trunk of goods. Rumor has it they were met almost instantly by another wizard of the order of House Malor and the old veterans of Belvins Brace – known to guard Villa Neroway south of Autumnade a slow day’s travel east. The unwashed one stayed only for a day, and then was last seen on the road east – having just bought a new horse and tack. With silver from saddlebags stuffed with it. The night before there were only rumors, but he raved about a lich, the Blackwells destroyed it… maybe, and places far away, Many asked if it was true, because the Vale Evander is a month away, he stared hard at the barkeep and asked if he’d ever ‘magic jumped’. He said it made him shit himself with fear – and he was a seasoned warrior. Feels like the world is pulled from underneath you. Hired to return the items laid aside before the final fight with the lich, the barbarian said it was a suicide run. Apparently Star – the enigmatic ex-mercenary wizardess that led the band confided in him that she had to stick by her companions… but knew how it would end. Hell, he even said they had stumbled into the Lich’s tower initially after a wizard duel of some sort had weakened him.

His words, recorded by Ackey the skaald, in between drinks, were as follows (reading from a scroll)

“All i can say is that Star and her band were on some mission begun in Dunstrand. Through this, seeking power, one among them had triggered the notice of a being they were siphoning power from unobserved. It became observed when they went for more. They were sent on a mission by this being, and ended up in the Vale Evander because the previous servant of this being had betrayed its master and the party was to finish the job and kill the necromancer. Something about the necromancer finding some new way to become a Lich, unnatural (like theres a fucking natural one), and an affront to whatever this entity they were drawing power from. That’s when I met ‘em. Just traveling through. We wuz just scouting, poking around. Then we got to that lab… all sorts of experiments. It was then that wizened old bag of bones tried to hail us, coming down the stairs from the tower above. I did not wait to become another display in the collection. I threw my spear and caught him square in the chest. A killing blow. It stuck out of him like a toothpick. Holy fuck everthing went bat shit crazy after that… We made it out, laid claim to some fucked up sacred chamber that was part of an underground maze attached to the tower. Eventually it and us made peace in order to do stuff that was supposed to help both sides. Even traded with it. Star said no good would come of it – that they had pet a burning dog. And everyone ended up planning treachery. And everyone knew it. It was fucked. The woman-wizard’s dedication was impressive. She made her arrangements with me and I left at night. Well, I watched from a distance. Zombies shuffled from the town, I watched them throw themselves into the fissure into the sorceress chamber the party was in, and crept to the edge. The battle in the chamber below went to the advantage of Star and her crew – as she said it would. They pursued. And never came out of the tower or tunnels. Two days later, animals returned to the fissure area and a message was delivered to the town announcing the necromancer’s victory. I beat feet after that.”

He did not want to go into detail. He left early, before anyone could pry the idiot with more drinks.”

So ends the chronicle of the Blackwells.

Mary’s energy is obviously fading quickly, she will ramble about a woman named Geraldine and how it “had to be her” I know it was her, looking out for us one last time. A pale woman in a hooded cloak” the cloak, it wassss well, not something she would wear – that bitch brought a lot of class to this outfit. Absolute terror and class wrapped in an evil beauty. Hey, someone has to balance out my looks. Forget it, gray rough cowl – it was a dream or vision. I don’t know – ohhh what time was it?

She looks at the man that was here when you came. “We good for time? He glances at some faint chalk marks wiped hastily off the wall and nods.

Taking Vows

I don’t need the book, I’ve done this too many times. You are about to jump in the pool with the big fish. Won’t always seem it, but shit does roll downhill and while we are not the bottom, we are certainly not at the top. You are about to take two steps up.

Hand over heart! Repeat after me
Good Standing Duke Aemond Forthright

Gallantines!

She unties the parcel, and pulls out a tabard. It’s dark blue. It has a gold and red phoenix on top, with a crown of flames. To each of you she throws a tarnished chain necklace with a figure attached same as the emblem. “See this? Someone died for this. The dead pass them to the living now – we’ve only been using these for a couple years. We have a limit on agents we can field so we’re not a threat to the lords and ladies of the realm. Exactly one hundred and fifty, includes the chamber pot cleaner. We don’t have the space for farriers, teamsters, and all that. We have soldiers only. Everyone cooks, cleans, pisses together, fights together, and dies together. Around the west of the duchy, everyone knows us as well as they can find their outhouse in the dark. All the fine lords and ladies of the east know it too. So does Umbak these days. You wear it, you aint ours, you die. We have House Malor on that shit”, she says with a vicious smile.. She tosses each one to you, it’s heavier than it looks. “Steel” she says. “You don’t need the duke’s colors. We serve the family directly now. That word was sent out last year, in all directions from the capital for 500 miles.”

What our public charter does not state is that we are entitled to a small band of… troubleshooters. Their business is the dukes business. House Malor is the keeper that holds their leash and the private charter. Wizards. Magic always is a dual edged sword. Their motto is “Security Through Information”… and when they need information in hostile places, who doya think fetches it? Mostly they just tell us to go somewhere, and trouble finds us. Expensive bait. When the academy needs the proper, or the pushy, the the… unusual services of a group of irregulars, they turn to this band. That, is you. And what is it exactly that you’re getting out of this? Safety (some of the time), every item a normal crafter, scholar, or warrior could need for free (eventually). Repairs and healing. Travel (you don’t get to choose where you go). Lodgings (sometimes that’s a tent). Good food and wine (compared to eating out of the gutter). Healing (not the sexual kind). PRI-or-ity. Horses when we can afford them. Fancy duds once in a while. Notoriety… the common folk love us and we stay generous to them. Danger for sure – that’s our middle name. Chicks, shaving ads, all that sort of stuff. The thing I love the most is the power – you get both responsibility AND the authority. You are bannermen – everyone is watching. But no pressure! All for half of what you loot. As the loot gets better, the supplies and services do, soon enough everything costs nothing (wink). If you make it to retirement, you get land. A pension. Servants. Safety and comfort. Maybe even a fancy title (and a partner to go with it).” She turns away, obviously believing it’s an offer that won’t be refused. If anyone has other plans, now is time to voice them.

Welcome to the gallants. We have a swag bag for attending this event. You can get it as you leave. Now if you’ll excuse me I have a boat to catch so.. Let’s open the q and a.

I need you to prove Gwinn can be stopped. I need you to wrack up some victories – fast. I need you to bring Crestwold to vote with me. Find that way. The Barons must vote unanimously, for the Earl to vote with the Duke. There’s tension in the air to say the least.

in fact after she swears each in as a Bannerman of the Earl and a Gallant, she will collapse.
Her shadow will look like cowled figure, and it will be gray not black (Malek)
Sensing her demise if Lucky smuggles her away, Malek draws Aerna’s notice.
She gets up unsteady, and suddenly the area grows comfortably warm. Light suffuses the room, and Mary stands tall, her eyes drawn to a figure only she can see.
She slowly nods, and then the light is gone and she collapses.

Mary Arrives in Crestwold

Her face is twisted – half her face paralyzed from stroke, but she is vehement: “I assume you see the dreams clear? Fuck, there is some shit coming and no one can see it. This shit storm will hit us, and we have to be ready. Our allies in Dwindor grow quiet. Geraldine is no longer around to run her schemes and plays, no more civil wars to give us a platform. We’re on our own right now. ”
This war is taking its toll. Duke Aemond looks weary beyond his years, it’s not tenable. The voices of peace at any cost have begun to bend his ear dangerously. To the extent that Tarmysia may be sacrificed for peace – it never generated more income than it cost to maintain. If it is given up on, I believe the division of the duchy is written in stone. Like dominoes it will all fall. The river run counties will break away, alliance with Richfield shattered and Cerrans Grant will be the site of the next war as the leftovers are fought over by desperate folk. This cannot happen, it will impoverish too many and only add to the misery of tens of thousands. Not to mention unleashing Gwinn upon the north, unrestrained.
You are a last gambit. We have no more whose loyalty is above reproach. I will take your oaths personally, if you will follow the Gallantine creed. After that, I need you to push hard to finish up here. Our allies positioned us to stop whatever is happening in these lands and now our hand is almost played out. Crestwold needs stability – find it, impose it, enforce it. Just as you would the Gallantine creed. No doubt, once the south is secure, the focus of the enemy will shift north and you will likely be sent there.
What the fuck is in the company house in Neroway Villa? Those older gentlemen? They are paid out and retired in Lily March… you got new recruits that she personally brought with her. You will find equipment, fresh riding horses with company colors, and a special surprise. Go there, others are waiting, I will meet you there after I see the baron.

At the Company House/Villa

Writ – bearer has done what they have done for the good of the duchy – Duke Aemond Hoareth Forthright of Dunstrand

The Baron is off, something is wrong. Our allies in Dwindor were right, there’s a rot here, something foul. Root it out, excise it. You are starting from scratch though, but this time you will be kept from having to work directly with the army. We will need a means of channeling aid – find a faction we can depend on that can front the aid to be repaid later – the army coffers are no longer a resource.

SHE TAKES THE OATH

One last thing.. It’s time to go old school. By whatever means, no mercy.

Leaving Satchel of Mogg; embroidered now with the names of annalist

Give me your squad name. It will be recorded. You are sworn bannermen of the earl of Bar-Innis, his lordship ____ there is no probation. Go, and don’t make me regret my decision.