Building a Life

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Rise of the Runelords episode
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Episode no.	Episode 68
Date	2009
Game Master	Abbe
Characters	Gloriana Honeypot Nell Velicia
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In this chapter Template:Rise of the Runelords chapter.

This is a work in progress.

I will continue to fill this page with half a year of incidents and happenings. Hopefully it will show some character development happening to Velicia, Nathaniel and Honeypot from Nell's point of view. When the last player returns to the campaign, perhaps even Dorothea gets her story told.

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Velicia, Kaven and I returned to Turtleback Ferry. Velicia even agreed to travel slowly so I could bring Creampuff, even though she rode her magical, much quicker horse. I wondered if she preferred to travel with me because of Kavens cooking. I thought that I should charge her for it too, but then that thought felt strange. Anyway... I was so glad the snow was gone. Even though Turtleback Ferry was filled with scum and villainy I felt a little more at home there than in Magnimar where I grew up. Since I had been appointed Baroness of Hook Mountain I had received a house in town. I went to look at it while Velicia took off to work on her own thing. She was very engaged in the guild she was starting. The house was one of the biggest houses in the small town after the church and a few warehouses. It had some decorations, but nothing compared to the Foxglove Townhouse in Magnimar. I suspected it had been a warehouse too far from the water, and had been rebuilt into a luxury house. It had large rooms and a hall echoing emptily. It didn't feel like home. There were two more houses included. One was living quarters for the servants close to the big house and the other was a small cabin, probably for the gardener. I really liked the small cabin. It was cozy and could be very nicely decorated. I moved in immediately. I could even consider spending the winter in it. The nice old man, Maelin Shreed commented that I really should live in the big house but I liked the small one much better. He suggested that I shouldn't let anybody know.

At that night I put on a dark cloak and visited Bottoms Up, the tavern in town. It was real nice sitting in a corner near the burning fire, watching people talking, joking, laughing, and drinking while listening to the bard playing. I almost felt as care free as I did over a year ago, when I was just an old street kid in Magnimar. The innkeeper appeared at my table asking if the baroness wanted anything, but I hushed him telling him that Sandeli Foxglove was the baroness, but I was Nell. After looking puzzled he nodded and left. Not even the cold spring rain falling when I went home late at night, could bring me down. I just thought of how warm and nice my small cabin would be with all the wool blankets and a crackling fire.

The next day all the hard, boring work started. I had to talk to a lot of people but thankfully I had Maelin Shreed with me. He knew a lot about running things and I trusted him. I let him do most of the talking but I tried to sound smart too. At least he agreed to my idea of trying to increase the trade with the miners, trappers, hunters and the gnomes around the area.

The following day I traveled to Fort Rannick. It was still in a bad shape. Both from the damages to the walls and keep but also in them still being too few to patrol the areas. They all were needed to guard the Fort. I asked Vale Temros what was needed to repair the Fort and perhaps make it even stronger. The usually quite silent and sullen big ranger lit up when talk of architecture came up. He started talking about a lot of things I didn't understand so I nodded, smiled and asked him to write down a list of what he needed. Then I remembered what Maelin had said, so I added that he had to list what he needed, what he wanted and what he would like to have. I mustered the troops and though they were few, they were strong and proud. Their spirit was surprisingly high after their defeat, but they had heard that the ogre clans had scattered and that many ogres had been killed.

I continued to Skull's Crossing, but it looked the same and even though there were lots of water from snow in the mountains still melting, it was still holding. It needed to be repaired too, but for now there wasn't enough money. Returning to the fort I asked Kaven about the gnomes, but he hadn't had much to do with them.

In the following days I visited Bitter Hollow, the gnomes in Sanos Forest and Pendaka. I still love Olam Keeche's delicious cranberry turtle pies. I tried to convince all that it was important to repair Fort Rannick and to get the commerce to flourish. It felt strange talking about these things, when I was begging for food just a few years ago. I still didn't understand it all, but Maelin would have to arrange all details.

Wizards Tower

I met Gloriana and Honeypot in Turtleback Ferry. I was a little surprised but Gloriana explained that she and Honeypot were on their way to Fort Rannick, or rather the mountains behind it. I couldn't understand what they would want to do there until Gloriana told me that she would be building a wizards tower high up in the mountains. She had seen a high cliff well away from Fort Rannick while flying over the area on her eagle. There was even a hardly noticeable trail that could be used to get there from the eagles nest, at least on foot. Honeypot knew a ritual that could create a magical tower really quick. I hoped them the best and continued on to Maelin for more boring work. I thought I should hire someone more so I didn't have to care about everything, but Maelin assures me it would get better once we got everything going.

A week later I saw Gloriana flying overhead in the direction of Fort Rannick. I decided to visit her and rode up to the fort. From there I went up to the eagles on foot and found the very faint trail and tried to follow it to where the tower would be. After a few hours I saw Gloriana flying on the eagle. I waved and she saw me and landed nearby and asked what I was doing out there in the mountains. Panting from the high air and hard work it had been I answered her I came to visit her. She laughed and told me I was lost. I didn't fully agree as I knew which way Fort Rannick and the road was, but had to agree that I had no idea of where her tower was. She told me directions and after a while I could see the tower at a distance. It was a tall stone tower, almost a hundred feet high. I wondered what mighty magic could have erected that so quickly. It was round with a pair of very high, arched double doors. It had balconies and oriels but the top was flat with crenelation. I knocked on the doors and Gloriana opened the doors and I entered.

Indoor description

Whisperwood

I had spent a few days in Foxglove Manor and was on my way back to Sandpoint when I met Honeypot on the road. I was a little surprised and asked her what she was doing out there on the countryside. She said she was building a home and invited me to visit. I wasn't in any hurry so I agreed. We turned east and went past several farms. I remembered with some unease the ghouls we fought in that area. Then we left the road and continued into the wilds.

We reached the first trees of Whisperwood when Honeypot said.
"Almost there."
"You built a house in the woods without a road?" I asked her.
"No. Something much better." she answered.
We reached a glade and beyond there was a huge tree. It was surrounded by bubbling siphon springs and bathing pools. There was marked out paths and wind chimes hung from branches, but no house. There was some kind of magic surrounding the place. I guessed Honeypot had cast more than a ritual or two there. She was very enthusiastic and talked about halls made from trees and how the wind would play music through flutes. She talked of how her study of music-based rituals would catch the eye of any study of magic in the world. Her commitment was captivating even though I'm not interested at all in either magic or music. Something there made me laugh and my cares seemed very unimportant. I found myself thinking I should stay there a few days, but then some urge told me I had money to make. I didn't know where it came from, and I didn't really like the impulse but I knew I would be missed if I didn't return. I asked where she would sleep and when she talked about sleeping on branches under an open sky, I suggested that she at least should build a house for visitors. She was surprised at the idea but agreed.

I thanked Honeypot for letting me visit her budding home and told her that if she invited me when it was finished I would love to stay for a while, but now I had to continue on. As I left I felt like I was being watched. I couldn't see anyone but there was some rustling in a big thicket further away.

He's back!

I was in Sandpoint, walking down Market Street when I saw a face I hadn't seen in a long time but immediately recognized. It was Nathaniel! He had returned from the Great Kingdoms and was now casually walking around as if nothing had happened, leading his big black horse. I screamed out his name and ran up to him and jumped up into his arms. I asked him question after question before realizing I didn't let him answer. I kept silent waiting for all answers at once.
"Settle down. I'm glad to see you too, but you have to settle down." he said putting me down.
"Did you get to the Great Kingdoms?" I said, stepping back, looking up into his face.
"Yes." he answered grabbing the reins of Shadowmist.
"Did you meet my sister?" I asked eagerly almost before his previous answer and joined him as he started walking down the street.
"Yes. Yes I did. She's happily married and was sad to hear about Aldern, but had had very little contact with the family."
"What is this thing you're wearing? Is it from the Great Kingdoms?" I asked walking backwards in front of him looking at his jacket.
"No. This is a doublet! After my last duel it was the latest trend. Everyone is wearing them." he said with some pride, "You still keep your old style I see?"
"Yes. I like my clothes. Gloriana says I should wear big dresses now that I'm a baroness, but I like this better. Duels? Did you duel a lot? Who else did you meet? Did you meet anyone famous?"
I continued with my questions almost without end, but he was happy to tell stories of his adventures. He had become famous as Nathaniel, the Bold Adventurer of Perrenland and skilled duelist. During one of his adventures Shadowmist had even been blessed by a very important cleric and he had several stories of romantic and heroic adventures to tell. But those were his and I will not tell them here.

Guild stuff

Velicia had been talking a lot about all her ideas for months. How she would create her own money and how she would build a guild for lending magical items to young adventurers. I don't really trust her idea about money. I like gold and platinum. That I trust. Sure I would have loved to borrow some powerful items when I started out but I never really made a choice to go adventuring. When all this started I had met Velicia and we both liked food and went to the festival in Sandpoint. Then the goblins came and threatened us all. It all happened quite fast without any real decision. Suddenly I found myself as an adventuress. The mayor Deverin said her nephew was the leader of us as an adventuring group. I was making more money than I ever had had before in my life. After we faced Tirana, Velicia has been working constantly on setting up her net almost all over Perrenland.

There's a building in Magnimar that had been empty for a while that she hired. On the ground floor she set up a tavern, but on the second floor she has set up rooms that would only be open to members in her guild. There was a celebration of the opening when we all gathered and had fun. There was great food and I ate a lot. Honeypot was up on stage and performed.

In Sandpoint Velicia talked to wizard and school teacher ???

The rangers

File:Keep.png

Fort Rannick while being repaired.

I was back in Turtleback Ferry. The foxgloves I planted early spring, around the small cabin had all grown tall and were starting to bloom. A summer drizzle cooled the otherwise very warm weather. There were people moving through the streets that hadn't yet turned into mud. To my mind it was as if the little town had woken from a slumber. Even in the light rain there were commerce, something I didn't see some months ago. Maelin Shreed had done well. The taxes had been enough to start repairs to Fort Rannick. Soon it would be possible to rebuild the houses in the courtyard and the tower. Perhaps even improve the gates to make them better equipped to withstand ogre attacks.

Late afternoon I wore the dark cloak and went to Bottoms Up. Not only could I be one of the people, but I could listen to rumors about what was happening in the area. Lately Kreegwood had become safer and the hunters dare to venture further north. There had been an increase in trade with pelts but there was still thoughts that there was a need for the rangers to patrol the area. I knew there wasn't enough of them and none of the recruits that had been talk about in Magnimar had yet shown up. Kaven was there too, but enjoying himself on his own. It was a very nice evening with only one fight between two drunk trappers but as nothing was broken, I didn't mind.

I had realized I had to go to Magnimar to try to get more rangers. I waited a few days until the rain let up before setting out. The trip there was mostly uneventful and in less than a week, Kaven and I arrived at the city gate just before sunset. The guards were unusually dull minded and hassled before we were let in. Heading for the Grand Arch district I had an idea. I thought of the guards and that I would remember them. We returned to my house and settled in for the night.

Next morning after a steady breakfast I went to see mayor.

bureaucracy

There have to be an easier way to get to meet the mayor. He can't be hiding behind papers all the time. I had heard rumors that there would be some concert at the theater, with some famous bards. I thought that the mayor would probably go there. I went to visit Gloriana and we decided to go there too.

At the concert I saw not only the mayor but also Honeypot. She was engulfed by the music. I found it strange. Sure it was nice, but she was completely lost in it. Afterwards I sneaked up close to the mayor when I heard that there would be a big party afterwards that he would visit. I decided to wait as it was a little hard to get any time with the mayor there.

Gloriana and I met Honeypot and together we followed the mayor to a big pompous house and easily got in passed the slightly skeptical guards. We spread out among the people and I headed for the mayor.

As I got closer I overheard two fops talking: "Have you heard, that new baroness is asking for more troops to the fort."
"Send her criminals, I say. I've heard she's a criminal herself."
"Is it wise to talk like that if she's a criminal? You never know what they might do." I said, interrupting their conversation.
"Who are you?" said with a superior look.
"I'm Sandeli Foxglove, Baroness of Hook Mountain." I said, curtsying while still staring hard into the man's eyes.

They left hurriedly

As soon as they left Gloriana started saying something, but I laughed so hard I didn't hear.

Confront mayor who agrees to ~30 troops new and continue sending criminals

Select the rangers

Bring them to Turtleback Ferry myself

Velicia

She leaves some books she suggests I should reed.

Honeypots Retreat

Revisit when more is built

Velicia done more

Even more guild stuff

Nathaniel

Made everyone use doublet here too?

Nell goes slumming

Visiting shady bars in Sandpoint or Magnimar