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Messages - Teshi
476
[Insight check: 17+5=22 for if it seems there's more to his son's disappearance than he's telling us]
You can tell there's more to the story, but you don't pick up on any of the shame or disapproval that might accompany the sorts of untoward scenarios you were imagining.
477
"Sir! Permission to ask a question, sir!"
"Granted," ir'Dulinch replies.
478
The party composition adds a fair bit of extra dimension to the story, really.
479
"If people took your son, m'lord, you just want him back, or d'you want who did it dead too?" I ask practically.
"Live captures are preferable for intel gathering purposes," the general replies, then adds, a chill humor in his eyes, "but in your parlance, yes, they are wanted 'dead or alive.'"
480
Military form be damned. I offer the general a deep bow. "You must be very worried, sir. Trust that I will act to the best of my abilities to fulfil the mission, of course, but with the further thought in mind of restoring a son to his father. It is an honourable quest."
ir'Dulinch gives her an odd look - perhaps this reaction was unexpected - and says, "Thank you, Major. I pray you will succeed.
"Given the classified nature of this artifact and its location, you will not depart through the usual egress. Lieutenant Zecklin will escort you to the caverns under the fort, via which you will proceed to a lookout point on our northern perimeter. There, supplies and mounts are readied for your departure, and maps with key locations indicated. You are also to be issued funds to resupply in Lakeside if necessary. You will leave immediately from here.
He looks them over. "You will leave your uniforms and insignia at the lookout point, and travel in the guise of civilians. While I expect you to observe the spirit of martial propriety and maintain the chain of command, this will, of course, require you to suspend military etiquette and refrain from addressing one another by rank. I leave the details of this to you. Logistical inquiries may be directed to Lieutenant Zecklin; at this time you may ask me any mission critical questions you have."
He looks hard at the group.
482
Ugh, AND an escort mission? Unoriginal, that.
483
One of the coldest places in Karnath. In winter.
Aloud I say. "I hope we are able to requisition sufficient quantities of wool, General."
He gives the major a sharp look. "You will not doubt my commitment to properly supporting your team after I tell you the secondary objective." He continues, in chill tones, "Three months ago, we dispatched a team with the same orders. The last report we had from them was at Irontown. After that, they went silent. We have, however, indications that they advanced at least as far as the alpine tundra north of Lakeside; after that, the trail is lost. Your secondary mission is to locate and extract the original team, or failing that, discover what became of them." He pauses, then says in a hard voice, "The leader of the first expedition was my son."
484
What is this nonsense? A McGuffin?! Lazy DMing, I say.
485
"Of course I volunteer, General. I love these missions."
The general nods acknowledgement, and, after fixing the entire group with a weighty look, goes to the map table at the side of the room, unrolling a large map of Karrnath and stepping to the side slightly in an invitation for the team to approach.
He taps a location. "Here," he says. "In the Icetop Mountains, north of Lakeside. The objective is reported to be at the source of the Iceflow River, but I expect it will not be so simple to locate. You are to recover an artifact from an ancient site there." He grimaces. "Yes, it sounds like archaeological nonsense better suited to those Wynarn pixies, but the nature of the artifact makes it something our army has a special interest in obtaining exclusive control over." He draws out an additional paper, what looks to be a recent hand-copy of a much older text.
He points to the sketch in the center of the page. "It has the usual array of fanciful names, but to us, it's just Object 17. The intelligence our researchers have uncovered is reliable enough to make an expedition a valid expenditure of resources. Your primary task is to obtain it. Failing that, if you locate a site of interest but not the object itself, you are to return a full report for our researchers to follow up on."
486
Finally. I was beginning to think I'd have to steal every teaspoon in the Fort and hide them under his mattress. Again.
"Wait, what?", I call out from the darkness. "Why would you do that? I thought we were friends!"
"Field testing to see if you have any practical utility," he replies, then growls, turning to face the shadows, "And if you do not, I am melting your key down, forming it into a bullet, and shooting it into the arsecheek of my worst enemy."
487
The key looks mundane and has no markings, but you notice that it feels cold even after it's been in contact with your body for long enough to warm it.
488
My head whips over to the corner the laughter came from and I peer into it instead, hand unconsciously straying towards one of the handaxes strapped to my side.
[Perception: 11+10=21]
Nothing there, as far as you can tell.
489
ir'Dulinch removes it without comment, very, very calmly. Then his eyes narrow in thought, and he actually...not smiles, but something akin tugs at the corners of his eyes and mouth. He goes to his desk, opens a drawer, and draws out what looks to be a perfectly ordinary steel gate or door key. He hands it to Leatherleaf.
"Take this with you on your expedition. It may prove useful." The he grits, sotto voce, "Or you can drop it down the first bottomless pit you find."
"Take this with you on your expedition. It may prove useful." The he grits, sotto voce, "Or you can drop it down the first bottomless pit you find."
490
"Gods, don't get it started," the general mutters, in a voice so low you weren't really intended to hear it.
491
The book... someone's trying to tell us something. I stare fiercely around the room. What is it saying, this flying book? Who else is here?
[perception 5+19 = 24]
You don't spot anyone. Weird. The books appears to be just opened to some random page in the middle.
492
A few notes on religion and general views on the undead in Karrnath:
As far as I can tell, the bulk of the zombie and skeleton troops are not what you'd call sentient, but there are some exceptions, and of course, there are other types of undead as well, with varying levels of self-determination.
Obviously your own characters' views will vary based on their backgrounds and belief systems
Personally I find all the grimness hilarious, ymmv
Quote
The worship of the Sovereign Host dominates the
land of Karrnath, despite almost a hundred years in
which the Blood of Vol was the national religion. Boldrei,
Dol Arrah, and Dol Dorn are seen as the patrons
of the land, with a strong emphasis on the virtues of
honor, strength in battle, and love of community.
Divine spellcasters are rare, and most priests fall into
the category of expert, aristocrat, or fighter.
The Blood of Vol still has followers at all levels of
society, because some have ignored Kaius III's restrictions
concerning the religion...Many of the common
folk who revere the Blood see life as a constant struggle
against death, believing that undeath is one way to win
the battle. They know little if anything about Vol or her
plans, but they treat any of the higher forms of undead
(vampires, liches) with reverence and great respect.
Quote
The people of Karrnath are grim folk, hardened by
military service and the harshness of their land. Order
and stability are considered to be vital to society, and
the average Karrn tends to hold a lawful outlook. A
Karrn is expected to stand by his word and to protect
those beneath his station. As a military dictatorship
since the start of the Last War, the country has created
a stoic, battle-hardened people. They are proud
of their history and their military tradition, and they
feel that every hardship they must endure simply makes
them stronger...
The Karrns have grudgingly accepted the use of
skeletons and zombies as frontline troops because in
many ways these creatures epitomize the ideals of the
nation; they are strong, tireless warriors that serve
without fear or doubt. While others see Karrns as cold
and ruthless, the people of Karrnath have a softer
side that they conceal from all but their closest family
and friends. When they gather around a roaring fire
on a dark, cold evening, tankards of Nightwood ale
accompany laughter, tales of past glories, and songs
that praise the heroes in their bloodlines.
Earn the friendship of a Karrn and he will stand
with you against any foe. Cross a Karrn, however, and
you gain an enemy who will battle you to the death--
and, perhaps, beyond.
Quote
Early in the Last War, plague- and famine-ravaged
Karrnath resorted to using undead soldiers in its army--a
desperate decision that might have saved Karrnath from
utter ruin. Even today, Karrnath keeps undead legions to
defend its borders and to use in case hostilities resume.
Karrnath is not, however, a place where the
undead are integrated into society (unlike Aerenal,
for example, where the undead and the living coexist).
During the Last War, the undead formed separate
military units from Karrnath's living soldiers, and
only rarely performed in joint operations. Today,
the legions of undead remain hidden, both from
the average citizen and the eyes of the other nations.
A relative few Karrnathi skeleton and zombie troops
patrol the borders and serve as special guards in Korth
and Atur, usually at facilities tied to the crown.
The average Karrn finds the intelligent undead
to be at best creepy and at worst completely terrifying.
Karrnathi soldiers have better tolerance, but few want
to socialize with the undead. Everyone appreciates
the role that the undead play in defending Karrnath,
however, and the typical soldier feels a sense of pride
in knowing that he or she can continue to protect the
nation even after death.
As far as I can tell, the bulk of the zombie and skeleton troops are not what you'd call sentient, but there are some exceptions, and of course, there are other types of undead as well, with varying levels of self-determination.
Obviously your own characters' views will vary based on their backgrounds and belief systems
Personally I find all the grimness hilarious, ymmv
493
General ir'Dulinch nods to both of them, then looks to Valenae and Astra. "And you, Corporal? Soldier?"
494
As I wait for the others to all play along with the general's game and pretend they want to go, I scan the room slowly and carefully, looking in particular for any clues as to what this might really be about.
[Perception: 20+10=30]
The room is very impersonal, which perhaps tells you something about the general in itself. The furniture made of solid, heavy dark wood, which appears to come standard in these halls, although the general's is slightly more ornate and polished, as befits his rank and class. There's a single large painting on the wall, an odd choice - it appears to be a stylized rendition of some sort of cataclysm, painted in the Karrnathi style, but definitely not generic military wall art standard. The books on the shelves are...well, you can't read the titles, can you? Some of them have gold leaf, so there's that.
Lurking in the darkest corner of the room, far from the fire, you think for a moment that you catch a glimpse of...motion? But no, there's nothing there, you decide.
495
ir'Dulinch is a canon character! I read all the things, and retained at least, oh, four or five percent of them.
496
"A high-risk mission, General? What danger will we face? And to what end?"
By Kol Korran, I silently pray. Let it be gold. Lots and lots of gold.
"Personnel and materiel recovery, Captain," he replies. "I'm sure you appreciate that I cannot share further details until you are committed."
497
[It's all the same. Bad. *sigh* Diplomacy. 1d20+3. 8+3 = 11]
"Sir! I ... um ... in my other uniform, sir!"
Otto, why do you forsake me?
The general does not snort, not being the snorting type. "Lt. Zecklin will see that your team is well-outfitted," he replies.
498
[Speech check, I think, chaos.]
[You want a diplomacy or some such check?]
[Up to you
]
499
Crap, I forgot about themes! Oleg is themeless!I love themes. Give that man a theme.
500
"Sir! Thank you, sir! Sergeant First Class Palitinate, Antigone, Special Forces, Otto's Scythes formerly declaring acceptance of the mission as assigned, sir! Requesting permission to requisition all gear and weapons as assigned on last tour of duty with Lieutenant Otto Constantine, sir!"ir'Dulinch nods approval at this. "Noted, Sergeant Palitinate." He adds, rather dryly, "I expect you have that list to hand?"
Go big or go home.
[Speech check, I think, chaos.]