Navero 27
From: dparsons@jarthur.claremont.edu (Daniel Parsons) Newsgroups: rec.games.frp Subject: Navero XXVII Keywords: Navero, of the Correct and Unalterable Way
- Navero, male human cleric, 4th level
- Dania, female 1/2-elf MU, 4th level
- Kortul, male human fighter, 3rd level
- Razuli, male human fighter, 3rd level
- Arlor, male dwarf thief, 3rd level
- Kory, male elf bard, 2nd level
- Topash, male elf druid, 3rd level
The next day dawned bright and clear. Arlor showed up out of the limbo he had wandered into, and after much searching (and a hint from the GM) found Kory at the Bristling Bandicoot Inn. Kory, to his great surprise, got a very early start on his day.
Arlor: (Enters Kory's room) "What are we doin' today?"
Kory: "gmmgfphh."
Arlor: "Who's she?"
Kory: "Wha...? Oh. Go 'way."
Arlor: "Should go visit a sage today, yup. Need that Orb."
Kory: "Tha only Orb ah care about iz tha one whats gonna bounce off your head in a minit'."
Nameless Female: "mph?"
Kory: "Good mornin', my dear. Sorry to wake you."
Nameless Female: "Bet you are. 75gp for the night, buddy."
Kory: (Suddenly very awake) "WHAT!?! Why...! My honor is insulted! I had absolutely NO idea! I'm sorry, but I CANNOT, in good conscience..."
(*THWACK!*)
Nameless Female: "100gp; you bruised my knuckles."
Kory: "I fink you bwoke my chaw... Gee, you were such a nice little girl last night..."
Nameless Female: "And what am I now? 125."
Arlor: (Quietly leaves.)
Kory: "Just a moment. I never did play that song for you..."
(*CRUNCH!*)
Kory: "AAHHH! Stop that this INSTANT!"
Nameless Female: "Oh, you're a real charmer, are you? Forget it. Give me 150, NOW, and you can keep your arm."
And so, with the cries of roosters and larks and bards filling the air, a new day began for our heroes. One high priority matter was locating the Orb of Spheres. There were a couple of sage-types in the area, but both specialized in local affairs, (I believe they would be the equivalent of gossip columnists) and were unlikely to know anything about the item. The City itself probably had more respectable fonts of information, but that was obviously a last resort unless we could find a way to enter the city safely, which meant illegally. Getting illegal things done is usually either risky or expensive. So, various party members happened to meet each other and converge on the low town information bureau.
(Razuli opens door to small shop. Finds it filled with indecorous pictures of local nobles, together with names and short descriptions. A very thin man with a long nose stares distastefully from the back.)
Man: "Yes?"
Razuli: "Hi! Hurtgo the All-Knowing?"
Hurtgo: "Yes. Welcome to my humble shop, brave adventurer. Do you seek information or enlightenment?"
Razuli: "Info. What do you know about an Orb of Spheres thing?"
Hurtgo: "Hmph! I am afraid I do not do research in artifacts, or indeed, anything that would be of interest to a person such as yourself. I am a seeker after higher things, the joys of the contemplation of matters of the dialectical philosophic. You would not understand, of course."
Razuli: "What's with the pictures? Real, enlightening, if ya ask me."
Hurtgo: (Temperature in room drops 20 degrees) "I ask you nothing. I merely support myself by following the misdeeds of those in the public eye. You may go now, and please do not lean on that; it may stain."
Razuli: "Right. Fuck you very much!" (Leaves)
(Elsewhere. A very worn sign outside a small house reads
Curses Removed Fortunes Told
Magiks of All types Investigated
Kortul knocks, enters, with Arlor following. Inside is a very crowded room, with papers old and new in a great pile on a large table. Shelves line the walls with scrolls and loose paper. A bell sits on the table.)
Kortul: (Rings bell)
(After a long pause, an old man comes through a door in the back wall.)
Kilgurian: "Yes? What is it?"
Kortul: "Kilgurian?"
Kilgurian: "Yes? What do you want?"
Kortul: "Looking for an item. Orb of Spheres. Heard you were sage."
Arlor: "Yup. It's kind of important, sir." (Tries to look pleasant. Kortul couldn't look pleasant if he tried.)
Kilgurian: "Ah! Information on an artifact! I thought you were from... eh, let me see... Glorb of Tears?"
Kortul: "Orb of Spheres."
Kilgurian: "No need to shout, no need to shout... mmm... I'm afraid I can't quite remember anything off hand about it, eh... a bit out of my specialty, I'm afraid. Did you hear the latest on Princess Fytalior?"
Arlor: "No."
Kilgurian: "It was a Lizard-man this time. Indeed, I'm really not sure why His Lordship puts up with it. She is a willful lass, and not at all inclined to listen to her father. So often a problem among the young these days... why, when I was a lad, I always listened to my elders, and with RESPECT! Well... maybe we had a little harmless fun, but nothing like what they do today..."
Kortul: "Hm. Anything here?" (Indicates grand mess)
Kilgurian: "Hmm? Oh, you're still on that Orb thing. There might be, might be. I'm getting all this cataloged right now, it's not usually this much of a mess. Um... It'll take a little while to sort through... Why don't you come back tomorrow, and we'll see? Eh, er, uh, 10gp fee per day, what?"
Kortul: (Gives him 2gp) "Hope for good info. Tomorrow." (They leave)
Kilgurian: "Hey, what... oh, well..."
Others spent the day in other endeavors. Armor was dropped off for repair, swords sharpened, arrows replaced, and backpacks stuffed with useful items. Kory, after a buying new clothes and a hat, went into the main city to get another lute (his old one now being permanently warped out of tune) and to look for training to go up a level. Navero spent a lot of his time in the local Temple of the Unalterable Way, praying and working; he enjoyed the time he spent there, and only occasionally thought of the party and the outside world. Topash wandered out into the wilderness to commune with the local natural forces. He was not seen again for some time.
Later, in the evening, several party members again found themselves in that same tavern. This meeting carried a slightly different flavor to it, though. Dania had had the entire day to rest and recover, and so was not quite so distracted as last night, and Kortul was there. Topash was nowhere to be found, Arlor had gone to investigate something on his own, and Navero was probably out being pure in some temple someplace. This left these four alone together in a relatively non-threatened position, and so with plenty of opportunities to kill each other in safety. For whatever reason, they did not do so, but settled down for a drink and a friendly chat.
Razuli: "Wizzerd! Fancy meeting you here!"
Dania: "Hmph."
Kory: "So, Dania, on these Priests of Gothard: I have never been a religious person, but how would one go about joining this little group?"
Dania: "Oh no, gods help us all."
Kory: "Amen! Do they allow singing? I understand sensitive and dexterous lips and tongue can be quite an advantage in their business."
Razuli: "Bard, judging from your pants size, you're not well armed enough. Ferget it."
Kory: "Oh, so! It's not what you have but how you use it!"
Dania: "I guess you're short on both counts, then."
Kory: "And how would you know? Been fantasizing? Dearest darling little Dania, when o WHEN are you going to realize you're madly in passionate love with me?"
Kortul: (*sigh* How did I ever link up with these people?)
Dania: "Kory, be quiet. Just go away. Out of my life. Leave. Desist, and begone. Slip of this mortal's coil and rid my sight of your presence."
Kory: "Are you trying to tell me something?"
Razuli: "Yea. She said she loves me and wants you out."
Kory: "She did not!"
Dania: "Kory AND Razuli, get out of my life."
Kory: "Oooh, I love it when you talk dirty to me, baby..."
Dania: "Will you leave me the FUCK alone?!"
Razuli: "What's that? You'll leave to fuck alone if Kory doesn't get out?"
Dania: "WILL you BOTH get your <censored> assholes off the <censored> and quit BOTHERING me?!"
Kory: "HA HA! SHE'S BACK TO NORMAL! Hooray! Ah, sweet success, hee hee..." (To Razuli) "Many thanks, I couldn't have done it without you."
Razuli: "S'ok, my man. Wish I could say the same about you, though."
Dania: "grrrrr....."
Kortul: "Are you drinking?"
Dania: "I am now. BARKEEP!! Get your strongest over here!"
Kory: "Aww, you aren't mad are you?"
Razuli: "You know we all love you, doncha?"
Dania: "Keep your fantasies out of this. Goddamn you both."
Kory: "Oh? Barkeep! Bring four of what she's having! Well, Dania DEAR, if you're that upset, you can at least put your money where your big mouth is. I propose we drink until only one of us is conscious! If it's you, we'll both leave you alone. OK?"
Dania: "That sounds JUST FINE. Prepare to die, Bard."
Kory: (To Kortul) "You in on this?"
Kortul: "Sure. First to drop pays."
Kory: "Done!"
Barkeep: "My strongest, sirs and lady; White Ice Ale. 2gp apiece, if you're interested in knowing."
Razuli: "Bring four more back quick. We're gonna have a Drinking Contest!"
Barkeep: "May not be a good idea with this, Sir. But, have it your way."
(Round 1 *DING!*)
Game Master: OK... Everybody roll a d20 when you drink. If you get greater than your Constitution, you go down.
Dania: (Makes roll easy) "Ahhh."
Kortul: (Barely makes roll) "Urk... Rargh! Not... bad."
Kory: "Having trouble there?" (Makes roll) "Hm... interesting."
Razuli: (Makes roll easy) "Next round!"
(Round 2 *DING!*)
Game Master: Now, it's CON-4.
Kory: CON-4? Damn, this is good stuff!
Game Master: Truly his best. Ready?
Dania: (Rolls an unfortunate 19) "U-URP..." (THUD)
Razuli: "I knew she couldn't hold her liquor!"
Kory: "Oh, she can hold her liquor, but she usually holds him by the ears, which is just one more reason why elves make the best lovers!" (Flubs his roll) "Oh, my go..." (THUD)
Kortul: (Makes roll easy) "Go."
Razuli: "OK, OK, don't rush me now." (Makes roll)
(Round 3 *DING!*)
Game Master: Now, CON-10.
Razuli: (Approaches glass rather unsteadily) "Yu an me, yer buffness... (Rolls an 8) "Aw, shit." (THUD)
Kortul: "Hmph." (Rolls a 7, barely makes it) "Very... good..."
Barkeep: "Will that be all?"
Kortul: "... Yep. Shlee's paying." (Makes DEX check to crawl outside and throw up.)
Dan Parsons
"Jeff, could you come up with some realistic rules for drinking contests?"
"I'll try to think up something. I'm pretty sure we'll need them. But for now, goodnight."
