Chapter 4: Planning What to do Next: Politics, Trade and Army Building.

When the PCs get back from Shadowfell Keep, Faren Markelhay expresses uncertainness of what to do next.

“My dear friends. Thank you so much for dealing with the cult of Lord Orcus. As you know, the frequency of the Lunar Rains has increased since you last graced us with your presence. Because of these rains, I must consider what we are to do with the town. Nimozaran the Green suggests that we prepare the town to teleport to another dimension whenever the rain threatens it. Teldorthan, the owner of the local arms shop, says that we launch an expedition against the Dark Dwarfs of Thunderspire Mountain and take over the nearest underground refuge. Strongbeard, the leader of the porters Guild, suggests that we offer our services to the Dwarf Empire in exchange for underground sanctuary. Jim Flanigan recommends that we become nomadic seek shelter from the rains in Large man-powered Golems that he wants to build. I’ve talked to our dwarf visitors from Duerok, but they have no helpful advice for us and do not offer us habitat amongst their empire. They also request that we don’t give the dark dwarfs the same problems that their empire is facing by invading anyone’s homes. Mind you, our visitors are scientists, not diplomats.

If it is okay with Tara, I would like to hire eight of your fastest riders as political envoys to our world’s most prominent cities to scout the world and ask for refuge for our Town’s residents. I fear that if the rains hit here, we will not survive, so it is best to seek out a solution before anything happens. If you could stay here, I would appreciate that because I feel safer having my best fighting force with me. I will pay you well for your services. 150GP now and another 150GP once all of the messengers arrive back with their answers.

I want one rider to go to Edge, a free city established by Halflings inhabited by a mix of all races.

I want another rider to go to Glatek, a merchant city by the Lilat Forest.

Another rider is to go to Chemak, a human stronghold to the North.

I need one rider to go to Rook, the human metropolis in the Mountains on the Endless plains.

I want one rider to go to Hammerfast, the closest Dwarf city.

One rider needs to go to Stilt City, a wetland city in the middle of the endless plains.

I need one Rider to go to Bessemer, an Elven city in the Lilat Forest.

And the final rider will ride to the Dwarf Capital, Duerok.

Nimozaran the Green will be attending a council meeting with the Elves of Lebra latter in the month.

Getting a message to and from all of these cities will likely take four months. Once all the messengers come back, we will hold a council meeting to determine the future of our town. I would like you all to attend this meeting because I highly value Selena and Altair’s Judgment. In the mean time, I recommend that you all raise funds and amass an army to help with our exodus.

Later in the month, Selena’s human minion, Strum, comes up to here and says. “My lady, if we want to abandon Fallcrest in hopes of finding an underground sanctuary thick enough to protect us from meteors, why don’t we just thicken all of the walls of our existing structures and stay here. If we are afraid of flying monsters, we can construct Ballistae and Catapults to frighten them away from attacking us. I like it here. My family has made a great home on your land.”

At the end of the month, Tara’s messenger to Hammerfast Returns. “My lord, the clan leader of Hammerfast wishes us the best of luck but regrets to inform you that they have no room for refugees.”

Nimozaran the Green also comes to the Lord Warden, Altair and Selena to inform them that Lebra, the home of the white council, the circle of wizards and greatest magical library in all of the land is no longer. The great town has been scorched to nothingness and nothing stands where the library once was. “This is truly a sad time for us Wizards for no one knows magic like the elves of Lebra did.”

Month Two

At the end of the month, Tara’s messenger to Edge Returns. “My lord, the people of Edge will take us in as refugees, but that city really rubbed me the wrong way. I had to pay tolls for everywhere I went in that city. I swear I was out 30GP by the time I got anywhere near a diplomat that could help us out. I got the feeling that there were two types of people in that city. Those there to take your money and those waiting in line to take it next. Not only that, but all sorts of undesirables lived there. Honorable races such as Humans, Halflings and Dwarfs live along side sinister Drows, Orcs and Gnomes. They say it is a peaceful city but I get an uneasy feeling just looking at an Orc or Drow.”

“The city itself is quite something. There is a shanty town on the surface and the rest of the city is built into a cliff. There is also a cavern part that houses the bulk of the trade district and a large waterfall.”

Tara’s messenger to Rook Returns shortly later. “My lord, the great Human city of Rook lies in ruins. In these ruins, huge unearthly dragons now nest. I met a small tribe of Human Nomads lead by Shar Thizdic nearby Rook and his people had quite the story to tell me.”

“As Rook came under progressively heavier assaults from the invading dragons, Shar Thizdic organized his fellow yeomen to make a stand while the city’s aristocracy made plans for flight. Shar’s ragtag army of farmers, herders, miners, and tradesmen surprised an overconfident dragon that had come to raid the city. They ambushed it and launched several volleys of razor-sharp grappling hooks before it could take to the wing. It lifted off but was hauled back to earth by ropes held fast by hundreds of peasant warriors, who then set upon its thrashing, bound form with pikes, hatchets, and pitchforks. The dragon was fatally wounded, and although it escaped on the wing, it was soon found dead not far away.

But it would prove to be a hollow victory for Shar. The mortally wounded dragon collapsed from the sky directly atop his family’s cottage. All of his family was crushed beneath its dying weight. The next day, five dragons arrived on a revenge mission. They utterly destroyed the city, toppling its buildings to the very foundations. Shar Thizdic was one of the few survivors. He fled to the endless plains as his home, family, and community smoldered behind him.”

“Shar offers to take in our humans as refugees, which, he added, is much more than Duerok was able to offer his people. When he went to Duerok for help, the Dwarfs took up arms against him and chased away the survivors of Rook.”

A third messenger comes back, but this is the one that Tara sent to Glatek to talk to her father. “Tara, Your father isn’t mad at you for not reinvesting the profit into trade. In fact, he says it was a wise decision. The spices that made your family rich are no longer flowing from the Lilat forest. It has been two months since an elf trader has come to your father and he fears something must have happened to the elven cities in the forest. He offers his love and hopes that your spice customers are happy with their product because that was probably the last shipment of spices that we will ever get.”

Month Three

At the end of the month, Tara’s messengers to Stilt City and Duerok Return.

The one from Duerok states, “My lord, the people of Duerok won’t take us in. They realize that times are difficult but they can’t help us. They say our best hopes lie with Stenian, a Dwarf scientist and engineer assigned to solve the ‘surface dweller’s’ problems. Stenian is the Dwarf staying in town with Nimozaran as his host. I have been instructed to tell Stenian that his projects back at Duerok are running on schedule. Durgan-Lok along with its fleet of Juggernauts, Arbitrators, and Lancers has established the first safe zone and Nedderpik is set to launch next week. What that means… I don’t know.”

The messenger from Stilt City says “My Lord, Stilt City is built on 3 levels of stilts. The place is camouflaged and has survived both the lunar rains and lunar dragon attacks. It is predominantly human and the lord of Stilt City offered to take us in and give us homes in the lower levels of their town and occupations as farmers and garrison guards. I then learned from the city’s citizens that the lower levels are flooded two-thirds of the year and for part of the year, the water level even raises as high as the third level standing at 30’ above the ground. When I called the king on that, he informed me that our citizens will move up levels during the year into more and more cramped living conditions until the time of the year when we can move back to the lower level. These conditions are too cramped. I don’t want to live there if I can help it.”

Month Four

Late in the Month, Tara’s messengers to Glatek, Chemak and Bessemer all return.

The one from Glatek reports… “Tara, Glatek is under siege by Lunar Dragons. Every night 2 or 3 of them circle the city blasting at the city’s defenses. The Ballistae hold the monsters at bay, but still, half of the city’s population has been killed. Your father is fine and the wealthy have moved deeper into the underground while the poor are being forced to the surface. Glatek is in no shape to take us as refugees and if we go there, we will certainly have a fight on our hands. I would have to say that the future of the trade city is now uncertain. I was able to sneak away during the day because the Lunar Dragons lay siege by night.”

The one from Chemak reports… “Chemak is Stronghold city predominately populated by humans with a few elves here and there. They are highly militaristic and have little use for the people of Winterhaven or Fallcrest. Every citizen of Chemak serves the military and they only take in those born of Chemak descent. While I was there, three Lunar Dragons waged attack versus the city but the defensive fortifications held strong and after many volleys of Ballista and Catapult fire, one of the dragons fell dead 200 yards from the city. The other two flew off after that. They treated me well, but declined to help our situation and warned me that if our exodus comes anywhere near their city, that they will not hesitate to attack us.”

The one from Bessemer reports… “ There is nothing left of Bessemer. All of the huge trees that once held the splendid city in the air are now just charred out stumps. There is no one there that could help us.”

8 Days from now, Lord Warden Faren Markelhay is to call his council together to vote on which option to follow.

What the PCs did with their 4 months of time…

Orla… Bought a trade business in Duerok and sent 2 wagons of trade goods to the city. She also took on one Dwarf Bolter apprentice. Spent 850 on business and trade goods. Bought one more horse and wagon set for the business (100GP). Total Spent… 950GP -> Return at end of Four Months… 2040Gp Trade… 100GP from Shops. = 1190Gp

Tara… Bought a messenger business in Duerok and sent 2 wagons of trade goods to the city. She also took on one Elf Scout apprentice. Spent 550 on business and trade goods. Bought two horse and wagon sets for the business (200GP). Total Spent… 1000GP -> Return at end of Four Months… 2040Gp Trade… 190GP from Shops. = 1230Gp

Osgrym… Trained 1 Dwarf Hammerer and 4 Human Rabbles. Bought one Horse and wagon set with trade goods to go to Duerok. Total Spent… 350Gp -> Return at end of Four Months…1020Gp = 670Gp

Selena… Trained 12 Human Rabbles and 2 Human Guards. Bought one Horse and wagon set with trade goods to go to Duerok. Total Spent… 350Gp -> Return at end of Four Months…1020Gp Trade… 360Gp From Fiefdom = 1030GP

Altair… Sat on Political Counsel for Pay and took on an apprentice Human Mage. Bought one Horse and wagon set with trade goods to go to Duerok. Had to pay fees to be in Mage guild (400Gp) but made 400Gp sitting on counsel. Total Spent… 750Gp -> Return at end of Four Months…1020Gp Trade… 400GP Counsel = 670GP

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