Pathfinder: Underhive

[aturin]

Jumping drunkenly on top of the table in the tavern. Hagag gestures wide with his arms, encompassing the whole place with everyone in it. "Friends I have not yet made, enemies who have not killed me, people who are seeing me for the first time."

He stops to take a sip from the mug in his hand "I greet you all as a stranger in a strange land, but one full of opportunity, and even more importantly life!" Another larger gulp this time. "mi amigos! It surrounds you, from the food up above, to the people all around, where else can you go in literally any direction and find people to see, places to be. Only the Under dark!"

Hegag pears around hoping for a rousing cheer but only getting strange looks "And so my friends I ask you to join in the most basic of all celebrations, A DANCE" With this he tosses a couple of copper coins to the resident bard.

"For what is all of life if not a dance towards the grave, we can either arrive fresh and proper or drunken and exhausted from a crazy night." pointing at himself through the haze of alchahol Hagag manages to hit two out of the three times. "I my friends choose the later."

With this Hegag stares intently at the musicians picking up the simple beat from the tapping of the feet and the rhythm of the playing and awkwardly, drunkenly starts to move with a swaying grace along the table top.

"to life! to love! and to meeting big G!" With this he throws some silver at the barkeep and says "first drink for everyone is on me."

This finally gets the response Hegag wished with cheering and a great movement of people. The first He couldn't hear even if he wished, the second he no longer pays attention to.

Atop a now empty table, Hegag focuses intently on his feet making them move faster and faster to a beat that only exists in his head. A beat he will never hear again.

[Mouse]

His entire body swung around and with all his weight the blade came down upon and invisible opponent. Hegag's spells had closed his wounds well enough for him to practice. A thrust and pull made another air-opponent go down. And he turned to face an imaginary rotter flanking him. The moves came to him naturally and in moments of clarity the blade would sometimes look like sharp, deadly liquid. For that to happen in practice was not uncommon but in real battle when adrenaline pumped and the blade met resistance of flesh, bone and steel it was much harder. Giggles had been an easy opponent but he still had difficulties fighting several opponents at once such as the one-shotters and their leader had had an easy enough challenge to finish the job they had started. He was surprised to see the roof of the underhive when he awoke once again. Letting him live was probably their biggest mistake yet. He still lived to deliver judgement upon men like the rotters.

The blade once again came down "AKI SOKU SAN!" A crowd of imaginary rotters were swung across the tunnel.

[Dudeicuf]

I will treat the in game stuff as training because I'm such a nice gm.

Jacob - DR/1 Non lethal for all the battering you've taken recently

Hegag - +2 Fortitude saves against disease

Malag - +4 diplomacy saves when chatting up girls.

Oh yes, I have given you all big things this level because you are advancing well and finally out of the introduction. No go out and work for the combat club, explore other areas, try and find a way to the surface (I dare ya) and most importantly, STAY AS A GROUP!
Making life easy for a GM is always good. Just not usually rewarding. I hope you guys are having as much fun in this campaign as I am!

[Mouse]

After several weeks of only anger. Jacob felt that he might be developing permanent frown-wrinkles on his forehead. Things were looking up now, however. He had a goal. Which gave him clarity and purpose in this Godforsaken hole. He had met kindred spirits, and given them a brutal beating. He had finally let himself smile and while he might not be on the clear about the allegiances of this "Battle Club" it had at least been his own choice to join for once and therefore he felt that he could help some of their members out without thinking it was indirect treason to do so.

Maybe in a week or so, when he started to know his way around the members of his club he might start to compete for money. The mercenaries fighting at the training ground should now know that he not only wielded a fearsome weapon but that he also knew how to use it (although, just the flat side of it so far). Giving this information to them also told them his weaknesses but he had many more strengths, at least according to himself. Now he just needed some currency then, maybe, he could start doing the Spellscourge's work where they did not exist. This realm could use some cleansing.

[Dudeicuf]

As the crowd moved back to the manor, the old man remained behind at the forge building. The crowd reached the Manor and already the great feasting hall had been cleared and been set up for marriage. There were many chairs out, most with plates of food and flagons of drink, read for the post ceremony snack. Lord Ironhouse wondered off to polish his armour, which was ripe with grease and ale and most of the guests took places amongst the seats. Occasionally an Ironhouse squire would come along and ask someone to move to another place, to avoid the inevitable Orc Warchiefs fighting their neighbour or in hope that the Drow wouldn't be able to reach over and stab another in the back during the ceremony.

Back at the forge, the old man went into Janthyra's room. For about 30 minutes there was no noise coming through to Malag's room. The old man knocked on Malag's door, the guard opened and they exchanged places. The old man spoke to Malag "Ah, Young Teken'ar, I am Dolzgrim Loreblood. I am the chief Runepriest of Underhive. Even though I am not a local, I do know of some of your exploits. It is good to meet such a promising young lad. I Know you are destined for great things. Now, this armour, it surely is proof! How you ever managed to forge that much magic into it is a mystery, the gods must be paying attention, or some other power... What does it have to say about this? St... Stingforge is it? Ah, well speak up, the boy will want to hear you!"

The priest went quiet... But there seemed to be someone else in the room. "Hi Malag. I'm Stingforge. Your Armour." Malag heard in his head.

[Deth Monkee]

Malag was so surprised by the speaking armor, that he forgot that the old man had emphasised an intimate knowledge of Malag's future. "Err, nice to meet you Stingforge. I'm not entirely sure why or how you're sentient. Perhaps you can shed some light on this?"

[Dudeicuf]

"Ah, well that's easy. Someone has what you could say is... A 'vested interest' in you. They wish to see that you do well in your life and so I've been sent here to protect you. I'm good like that. I'll grow with you and do what I can to protect you how you'll need me to. Whatever Runemaster Loreblood over there does to me will stick too, as will anything else you decide to add to me. But, I must say, you'd better not let us down, or we won't be happy."

Dolzgrim stepped up to the armour. He has a look on his face like this had happened once before and he was trying to remember it. He pulled out a shard of blue metal and a pitch black hammer and started to chisel in runes on the armour. It made no sound but as the runes were completed, they started to glow blue.

He spoke "This armour will serve you well. You've made it light enough to move in but strong enough to protect you. Its made of the finest Dwarven materials that will only develop and strengthen with age. I add the powers to bring you back should a war every be declared, that you may fight for the Ironhouse's against our foes with ferocity and strength unseen in your kind before. I also, for your own sake, glamer this armour, for you are one who hides in plain sight, through style and bravado, and suit of Dwarven armour can only hinder these skills. Stingforge will at times disagree with you for it is an agent for another being, and when those times come, you shall have to fight for independence, however, it is your armour and your armour alone, no one else may wear it and gain the abilities it possesses. Go well and with Honour"

By the time the old man had finished speaking, the Runes were all carved. He turned and nodded his head to Malag, before leaving swiftly, with one final bit of information "Suit up Malag, the guard can help you, for the wedding is in less than an hour."

[Dudeicuf]

That night the group rested near the outskirts of the cesspit that is the underdocks. The stench of stale beer filled the tunnels and the noise of brawls and drunken arguments could just about be heard. They had learned alot in the last few days. By chance encounter, Malag had bumped into an extraplanar merchant by the name of Marco, who offered them any item from this dimension or the next. They had all now met the Library. An intelligent being formed of it's own dimension. It holds all the books that have been written, are written and ever will be written, from all dimensions and planes. And for some reason, it won't let Jacob in until its finished teasing him. Then there was the case of this mysterious letter. Someone clearly wanted to get hold of them. Desperately so infact. More importantly, they knew who Jacob really was. Despite all this, the group slept well that night.

Apart from Hegag.

Hegag woke up in the middle of the night. Not in the tunnel he fell asleep in, but on top of a mountain. It was barren and cold, but there was a great hall in front of him, with a sign on the door, saying 'Lufthild! Welcome! Come join us!'. The smell of delicious food wafted from inside, filling Hegag's nostrils. Even someone so hesitant to eat good food could not resist such wonderful smells. There was something else too. The sound of laughter and music. Hegag could hear.

[aturin]

Could it be? Hegag thought to himself. He tried a little chuckle, delighted in how it sounded into his ear he started laughing louder and louder before shouting out his name loudy HHHHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEGGGGGGGGGGGGAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGG. Ancestors that felt good he thought, then said it out loud so he could hear it just for the thrill of it before humming an old shanty he remembered to himself and dancing his way towards and into the hall.

[Dudeicuf]

As Hegag entered the Hall, he saw a long feasting table, full loaded with all sorts of meats and breads and cheeses and other delicious treats. Flagons were overflowing with beer and mead and cider and sitting around the table were 40 old men. All of them cheered and shouted with mouths muffled with food and drink 'Welcome!', 'Good man!', 'About time old chap!' and other such greetings and as he entered and beckoned him to join them at the head of the table closest to the door.

They came from all sorts of backgrounds, and Hegag could only recognise about a third the different creeds and races they represented from his travels. Some of them were singing songs, some telling jokes and laughing, some feasting on the bounty in front of them. It was a merry time. All the men, despite being very old, were full of life, and as Hegag sat down they all raised a toast. 'To Lufthild! Hegag! Whatever he goes by these days! We've waited long enough and hes finally come back to visit us! Let us drink now in his honour!'

There was a loud Hurrah as they all raised there drinks. The feasting went on for a few hours before it started to settle down. Some of the men were fallen asleep, using their beards as pillows. Some were getting more rowdy and having long debates with others about the nature of the world. Some were just sitting, staring at their bellies in amazement they could have eaten so much. Right at the opposite end of the table, almost out of view from Hegag, a man rose. And started to walk down to his end. He was too and old man, but much better built than the rest. His long beard flowing down, and his cloths stained with grease and beer.

As he got closer, he proclaimed across to Hegag 'Come, join me to the side old friend, we have much to discuss'. And he indicated off to some large armchairs by a fireplace off to the side of the table. There was a small table with what looked like some biscuits and tea. Although Hegag could still not make out the mans face in the gloom, it seemed as though this man was definitely friendly and he suddenly felt again as though he had room for tea and biscuits. The old man sat down in one of the chairs and started to pour out the tea.

[aturin]

Hegag sits in the other face filled with a warm glow from the good cheer and good food he has been enjoying and leaning in, asks the man "so who are you? where are we? and who is the Lufthild they keep mentioning? Not that I am unappreciative you realise, in fact quite the opposite and if there is anything I can do to repay this kindness, just ask”.

[Dudeicuf]

The fire blazed up, making the area a lot lighter than before. As the old man passed Hegag a cup of tea, he could see it was the High Priest. Its me of course. Wait, I get it, you don't remember do you. What happened upstairs... Oh dear... You don't remember anything do you. Hmm... What a shame. We'll have to sort that at some point. Oh well. Well no time for all that at the moment. Just call me Kur... Umm Robert, in fact Bob will do, just call me Bob. Anyway... We're just in the ancestral meeting grounds. Just our Annual get together, discuss what everyone's been up to, you should know that. Uh... yes, memory, lack of... Right... I guess we should discuss the matter of your leg. Yes, well, we couldn't have you return to us you see, so some of the boys got together and did that, to keep you about. So apart from you main mission, which its clear you're still on, so there's no need to talk about that again, thank me. Ha ha ha... You'll need to do something else. Down in the deeps there is an Orc Warlord. He seems to be having some troubles. Go give him hand. I know you don't deal with Orcs, your all for Humans and all that, but you see, we wouldn't want this going on while you're in the area. Good man.

As He finished speaking, Hegag heard a loud bell ring. He could just feel this was all about to end and that he may just be able to get one quick question or two out before it all was over. Some of the men had already started to get up and say goodbyes to each other.

[aturin]

quickly spilling the words out almost tripping over them in his haste to speak hegag asks "How will i convince the others to come with me? when will i come back here?"

[Dudeicuf]

'I don't know, what are the young'uns interested in these days? Money? That'll probably do... To get back, all you need to do is...'

Hegag awoke back in the tunnel, cold, hungry and tired. Exactly the opposite of how he had felt in the feasting hall. It was early morning and Jacob was still asleep while Malag was communing with his familiar

[Dudeicuf]

When are you all free to start playing again