Humble's Ford
Welcome to Humble's Ford!
This wee town is home to the Halfling adventuring group, Humble's Sword!
Contents
Legends of Humble's Ford
Humble’s Ford is the middle of the three towns in Crescent Valley. No longer the center of trade for the “Biguns” [Monstrous Humanoids of the Red Hills] or the “Really Biguns” [Giants and Giantkind from the Scab], it has instead become the center of the various divine and arcane arts for the region, among other unacceptable pastimes. Anything too dangerous for the larger township of Angel Springs or not traditional enough for Hovel ends up in Humble’s Ford. The old phrase, “Be it ever so humble” has a totally different meaning when applied to Humble’s Ford by the rest of the Crescent Valley. Here it means the opposite: brash, adventurous, bold, and unseemly.
A loose group of Mages [originally meaning three] called the Second Dinner Club, live here in a ramshackle tower, which they use for experimentation. Their claim to competence, though is that they are in charge of maintaining the “Giant Towers” that keep the Giant’s Spring Raids at bay. They succeed mostly, but with difficulty. [See "Adventuring Tales," below, for more details on this!] Currently the Club is down to two mages, one having died in Koshe-Mar, and a replacement turned out to be a saboteur, who escaped, it is believed.
Despite the reputation of the Hamlet, a high-ranking priest of Flower makes her home here and serves for some time as the only temple in the village. It seems that Flower herself, while frozen at the age of 13, visited the hamlet and “loved the flowers.” Now, flowers of each season bloom in turn no matter the weather or catastrophe. She was murdered, but later returned to life, and still serves the town. Following her death, the clerics of Ffloy moved into the temple. With her resurrection, they have expanded, and together share the space at the Temple of Flower and Ffloy.
The Hairfeet clan is very busy, but no one usually can or will say what business the Hairfeet are currently up to. They have caravans regularly stopping in the street in front of their business and staying there for days despite the complaints of Mulberry Drinkwater, the town’s self-proclaimed “beauty queen.”
The town sports two inns: The Belly Buster and The Dancing Pig, which are fierce competitors. Everyone in town is known as “Busters” or “Pits” according to which pub they patron. Those who visit both are called “Pleasers.” Pleasers are often seen as disloyal, and are not usually treated as well as Busters or Pits at their respective taverns. Bartenders will give them diluted drinks, or take far longer than the norm to give them anything. Waitresses will screw up their orders slightly on purpose, or drop a plate of food on their table from time to time. It is obvious to anyone who's ever stepped foot into one of the taverns that they are fierce competitors, and both the Busters and the Pits are dead set in their minds that the other pub is full of nothing but pure evil!
It is common knowledge throughout Humble’s Ford that there are two taverns. That is, until one walks into the Belly Buster or the Dancing Pig. Once inside of either one, it is often quickly forgotten that there is indeed another pub down the street. This is due to the family-type atmosphere that is instantly felt after stepping through their doors. Everyone inside is friendly and outgoing. Almost instantly, the patrons of the chosen pub become like extended clan and family.
Both taverns are known to have different styles, though only the Pleasers have the benefit of enjoying both, or so they think. The Belly Buster is known around the valley for its spectacular dishes of everything from lamb chops to grilled salmon, from perfectly cooked chicken & eggs to finely aged cheeses of every kind! Most "Busters" can be found in the tavern chowing down on a different dish almost every night and day. The BB has a few drinks to choose from, but next to nothing compared to the Dancing Pig. The DP is named so due to its large central fancy dancefloor, and its Wold-wide assortment of ales, beers, liquors, wines, and every other tasty drink one could imagine! Most "Pits" can be seen drinking like fish and getting their boogie on in their favorite pub at least 4 nights of any given week.
The general store is owned by Pirnook Deeppockets. He is stingy to the bone; however, he is a shrewd businessman and knows which side his bread is buttered, though he hates the phrase. In fact, he keeps a list of annoying things folks say on the outside of his store with a pronouncement that they cannot be uttered inside.
Humble’s Burrow is the traditional home for the current mayor, who is Bingo BumbleLuck. A gossip and social climber of modest ability, he is the perfect mayor for a town full of halflings that don’t fit into the big Angel Springs and its socializing rich folk, or the traditionalists of Hovel. He recently married May Greenbottle. He has a grown daughter, Blossom, from an earlier relationship - who seems pleased with her stepmother having joined the family.
The Slings and Arrows shop is one of the busiest buildings in the commercial area. In a prime location on the main road running through town, it is hard to miss Hugo and Primula PipeLeaf’s place of business. Once it was just a shop for Hugo’s wooden crafts and weapons to be sold, but after he married Primula, the couple added another room onto the building to hold all of the armors and metal weapons to be held in as well. The place is always bustling with people wanting new means to protect themselves, and the PipeLeafs are well known to have the best deal in the valley for such things.
Samell 'Fingers' Pastna Pipewood, a former adventurer, builds musical instruments, toys, and, of late, has taken to larger projects. He built the 120' tall white spire on a bluff overlooking the Ford, through which air elementals cavort and make music through their interactions with the spire. He recently began work on something he calls a carousel. He tells of many animals and fantastic creatures that will be carved for it, all to be affixed to a large round platform that will rotate, allowing children and adults to ride around the colorful, musical attraction. "And some of the creatures will be able to move in place," he'll explain. Married to Bekka Lilly Burrows Leafwin Pipewood, they have thirteen children (among whom are adventurers Nalfein, Leska Rose, Kendry, Selithe, and, germane to the present, Murphy) as well as some grandchildren. Samell's workshop is just to the east of Madame LaRue's Herborium.
Characters
These are the members of Humble's Sword, characters past and present who have been featured in this game.
Current Roster
| Character Name | Player | Gender | Race | Class | Description | Companion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Murphy Bumblebee Leafwin Pipewood | Kim McCoy | Male | Halfling | Druid 15 | 3'8"; 45 lbs. A towhead – wavy light sandy hair, freckles, small gap between top teeth, a twinkle in his eye – unless he is angered, in which case some may see a glint in his eye. | (none) |
| Bliss CatBliss | Cayzle | Male | Halfling | Witch 9 Barb 3 EK 3 | Bliss is usually either a small, young, slender, male halfling or a young black tomcat, just this side of kittenhood. Both forms: bouncy, enthusiastic, and (hopefully) heroic. | Mookie, a wise-talking raven. |
| Kezzem (Blacklyng Quickfoot) | Brian W | Male | Halfling | Paladin 15 | 3'2"; 36 lbs. A red-haired halfling with brown eyes and a lithe build. He dresses in a vest (worn over his armor when worn) and simple trousers. A pair of daggers are sheathed on his belt (with several others hidden his vest pockets and elsewhere, and he carries a haversack on his back along with a shortbow and quiver. | Rumpus is his celestial pony. |
| Pressi "Diamond Dust" Silverglove [1] | Melvin P | Female | Halfling | Rogue 2 Witch 9 Just 4 | 2'11"; 30 lbs. The introduction of necromantic magics into her blood has changed her appearance to one of pitch dark short hair, even lighter complexion, and a pair of soft blue eyes hidden behind a pair of sunglasses. She remains short and light for a halfling but with a large presence. She has moved on from simple robes and boots to fancier armor, leather breeches, and fancier boots. Her charisma is back to average for a halfling, and her ability to attract attention continues to grow. In public, she will often disguise as her old red haired self - seen in simple clothing or her blue and black dance/acrobatics uniform. She has been rumored to be able to make herself look like any humanoid. She is sometimes seen in ghost-white makeup. | Harper, a brave leopard. |
| Hobie Browncloak | Nick Taylor | Male | Halfling | Fighter 5 Wizard 2 Arcane Archer 4 Eldritch Knight 4 | 3'3"; 38lbs. Hobie is fairly tall for a halfling, he wears a pretty basic looking green jacket and traveler's outfit over his mithral chain shirt. On his back he carries a bow, and a mithral shield which has been painted brown. At his hip is a quiver and sword. He has messy brown hair and brown eyes. He carries himself with an air of confidence, but isn’t overly gregarious. | (none) |
| Succotash Slenderstick | Jeremy Canaday | Male | Halfling | Cleric 15 | Succotash stands 3'2", with brown hair, blue eyes, and a scar on his left cheek. He wears green priestly robes embroidered in gold thread with various holy symbols, over his mithril breastplate. | Valerie, a dino who thinks she is a golden retriever. |
| Tali | Jon-Paul Ward | Female | Halfling | Sorcerer 15 | At 3'4" and 33 lbs, Tali is very attractive by any standard for a halfling. Tufts of thick, curly hair warm the top of her broad, tanned feet. Her skin tends toward a rich almond color and her hair light shades of brown. She wears an interesting pair of stylish overalls and brownish green cloak and carries a backpack on one shoulder. | (none) |
Past Characters
Jack T.T. Zaragoza - Halfling Male - Arcane Trickster. Played by Jairus Houdek
Shel Breezelee Kromnite - Halfling Female - Sorcerer. Played by Gerald V
Alleah Lighttouch - Halfling Female - Mystic Theurge. Played by Rob C
Tendel - Halfling Male - Cleric. Played by Robert M
Adomorn Millstone - Halfling Male - Rogue. Played by Scott Weber
Alouryn Buttercup Bumblebottom - Halfling Female – Cleric. Played by Vaughn Mitchell (now an NPC, cleric of Flower and married to Hazel)
Bob Danderfluff LaRue ("Hazel") - Halfling Male - Ranger. Played by Corsario (David Sol) (now an NPC, married to Alouryn: They take care of Humble's Sword dwellings and visitors)
Cameron Honeytamer Steelshaper - Halfling Male - Cleric / Avenger. Played by David Feest
Edric Lowbrook - Halfling Male – Fighter. Played by Damian Clementi
Eral Sunstrider - Halfling Male – Cleric. Played by Andrew Skomrock
Flimsipold “Hinn Billy” Williewhim - Halfling Male – Bard. Played by Cătălin Neagu
Podo Danderfluff Pipewood - Halfling Male - Monk. Played by Jon Paul Ward
Odo Tosscobble Barfoot - Halfling Male – Fighter. Played by Matthew Ballantyne
Trillium 'Trill' Dragonstone Fastfinger - Female Halfling Rogue/Ranger. Played by Kent Lewis.
Zylo Runefaust - Halfling Male – Rogue. Played by Darin Williams
NPCs
Madame LaRue Owns a Tea shop that also sells magical potions and other herbal concoctions for those in need. She also reads Tarot, palms, and of course, tea leaves. Has five children all named Wyaar based on her unrequited love for a human paladin that she once spoke to briefly when she visited Hook City years ago--she is a widow. Her shop (and attached burrow) is next to the Leafwin Pipewood home.
Candy BadApple Leader of the halfling pranksters known as the BadApples. She is in mid-adolescence and is the oldest of the group, naturally making her the “face” of them all. She is an orphan, born to a rich mother and father over in Angel Springs, but when they both died an untimely death caused by their burrow caving in, Candy was forced to spend her inheritance on their funerals, and rebuilding the burrow. She still owns the burrow in Angel Springs, but would never dare tell anyone of this for fear that the other BadApples wouldn’t accept her anymore. Candy helped care for orphans rescued from a fire at the orphanage in Humble's Ford.
Hugo & Primula PipeLeaf The best known crafter in the town is Hugo PipeLeaf and he runs the Slings and Arrows shop. Specializing in slings and leatherworking himself, he decided to woo and marry the best blacksmith in Angel Springs, one Primula Pipeleaf. Primula is a beautiful halfling gal, with long flowing red hair, and big green eyes. She does not look like a blacksmith at first sight, but is nevertheless one of the best in Crescent Valley.
Mulberry DrinkWater She is Humble’s Ford’s very own “Beauty Queen.” Although her title is self-proclaimed, it seems that no one ever tries to contest her on the issue. Mulberry is indeed beautiful, and is rather obsessed with staying that way and projecting her image of her as the “Only” Beauty Queen as far and wide as she possibly can.
Pirnook DeepPockets The general store is owned by Pirnook Deeppockets. He is stingy to the bone; however, he is a shrewd businessman and knows which side his bread is buttered, though he hates the phrase. In fact, he keeps a list of annoying things folks say on the outside of his store with a pronouncement that they cannot be uttered inside. He was rescued by members of Humble's Sword when he fell off his roof in the midst of strange apparitions popping up around town.
Mayor Bingo BumbleLuck Humble’s Burrow is the traditional home for the current mayor, who is Bingo BumbleLuck. A gossip and social climber of modest ability, he is the perfect mayor for a town full of halflings that don’t fit into the big Angel Springs and its socializing rich folk, or the traditionalists of Hovel. He very recently married May Greenbottle, daughter of Lyle and Ruby Greenbottle of Angel Springs (described 2018-09-06). May is a beauty, and looks to fit in well with the Humble's Ford crowd.
Second Dinner Club (Veseley Vortence, Tiana Taithen, and Bazeck Breezelee) A loose group of 3 Mages called the Second Dinner Club, lives here and is in charge of maintaining the “Giant Towers” that keep the Giant’s Spring Raids at bay. They succeed mostly, but with difficulty at times. One thing that often goes wrong is when powers other than their own attempt to undo their work to the towers. They reside in the tower near the northern edge of Humbles Ford, and are always experimenting with new things. Sometimes their trial and error method produces major mishaps; but it’s never anything they can’t resolve with a little further experimentation. Or so it was thought. Sadly, one of their experiments went awry. The giant tower ~10 miles north of Humble's Ford exploded. Both the Second Dinner Club and the adventuring group known as Humble's Sword were drawn into the shadowy domains of Koshe-Marr. While there, Bazeck Breezelee was slain by The Hunter with a single broad arrow shaft. During the escape from Marteaus' domain, Veseley Vortence and Tiana Taithen were enslaved by taxidermist/necromancer Uthvas Bethud, and experimented upon. Humble's Sword rescued them. A replacement for Bazeck was sought, and found in the person of Garron. The later turned out to be a saboteur in the employ of Uthvas. Work on the reconstructed tower was set back. Will it ever be repaired, as a defense from the giants of The Scab? [Note: Different names were given for members of the Second Dinner Club during the first module describing the Games. Tolman Montajay=Veseley; Amaryllis Greenbottle=Tiana; Theadric Redleaf=Bazeck]
High Priest of Flower-- Sarabella LoveSong Despite the reputation of the town, the High Priest of Flower lives here in Humbles Ford. Elderly though she may be, she is almost like the glue that holds the town together. Her daily praises and prayers to her Goddess Flower brings about the “saving grace” of Humbles Ford itself. She firmly believes that it is through her Goddess's love for the flowers of the valley alone that the town remains strong. Even through the hard times Humbles Ford has been facing since they stop trading with the Giantkind, Sarabella’s faith never wavers a bit. Early in the adventuring careers of Humble's Sword, she was murdered one night by mercenaries. The blame was pinned on two members of the Sword (Hazel & Alouryn). The group were able to establish their innocence, and uncover who was responsible. About two years later, Sarabella was resurrected, to the joy of the community - and that of the adventurers.
Humble Old One-- McGregor HeadWise The town's eldest and wisest Halfling. He lives in a burrow on the northern side of town, and for the most part, stays in his home. His living expenses are mostly paid for by the townsfolk, and they don’t mind a bit. What little gold the Humble Old One does have, it is mostly from gifts to him or tips for his advice and general help to the townsfolk. The people of Humbles Ford are very grateful to have someone like McGregor HeadWise to turn to in times of trouble or when they are in need of advice.
Genokal MoonWhisper Genokal is seen to be the “leader” of sorts to the Hairfeet Clan. He is the one that most of the townsfolk never get the chance to talk to, as when the occasional customer stops by their caravan, Genokal is always busy with something else. He’s always looking over his shoulder, seeming paranoid to most, although won’t ever admit to anyone that he’s ever doing anything wrong. He keeps a sharp eye out for the authorities, and is sure to always be doing something proper, fair and completely legal whenever they come around the Hairfeet Clans’ caravan.
Eldon and Cora TossCobble Eldon (age 70) has served as the town’s “handyman” for as long as any halfling can remember. He and his wife Cora (age 72) were married at a young age and are just as much in love as they were when they first met . Although aged, both have an unrelenting glow and charm that brightens anyone’s day who runs onto them. They are both huge supporters and fans of the “Games of the Little Ones”, as Eldon used to be “quite the athlete in his younger years” according to Cora. The couple picks a team every event and shows them support by having them over for dinner. Eldon takes the mealtime to give advice for the games and show off his medals and “lucky copper coin”. The TossCobbles sponsored Humble's Sword in the Crescent Valley Games. In the latter part of the games Eldon was captured and imprisoned by goblins. The Sword rescued him. They gifted one of their two burrows to Humble's Sword.
Theadric Orgulas Theadric (middle-aged) is one of the few, tragic characters in the Ford. Once a daring explorer, Theadric traveled the Crescent Valley with his brother, Bolger. It was after his brother’s death, while exploring the Red Hills, that Theadric’s spirit (most believe) was forever shattered. This once halfling adventurer now spends his days as a “pleaser”, travelling between bars and getting free drinks out of pity or respect, from those who know of his loss. Few have the nerve or bravery to approach this man. For as he is considered nothing more than a drunk by casual observers, those with a keen eye know that a resourceful and deadly warrior still lurks behind the dead, pale, blue eyes of this broken halfling.
Rosco Hornblower Rosco (age 60) is the head of the town’s guard. He is friendly in casual conversation, but serious and determined in matters of the law. Rosco commands a small troop of halfling soldiers known simply as “The Guard”. He rarely has issues greater than bar fights and drunken nuisances, and usually only has his guardsmen escort the offenders back to their respective homes. He has no concern with issues outside of the town and will never send his men to help in such situations. When the “Games” are in full swing, he also serves as a referee, by watching for cheaters. He is a strong believer in fairness in all aspects of the town’s daily life.
Halfred Humble Halfred (age 78) is a kind old farmer, adored by all. Halfred’s family started a sprawling farm across the river just north of Humble’s Ford, generations ago. It was their discovery of the shallow ford in that very river, that led them to start the town that it was named after. The Humble family has used most of their wealth to develop the town. They are loved by all and considered to be the backbone of the community.
Blossom BumbleLuck – The mayor’s daughter. Very full of herself quite snobby and bossy. She and Mulberry Drinkwater are sometimes rivals. She is pleased her father married her stepmother recently.
Geography
The Belly Buster The Belly Buster is known around the valley for its spectacular dishes of everything from lamb chops to grilled salmon, from perfectly cooked chicken & eggs to finely aged cheeses of every kind! The BB is a comfortable place for dining and drinking where any Halfling can enjoy gourmet-style food of their race's most favorable choices. Most "Busters" can be found in the tavern chowing down on a different dish almost every night and day. Despite being the home of all of the best dishes in Crescent Valley, The BB has only a few drinks to choose from, but the few that they do have are high quality, fine wines, liquors, and ripe fruit drinks for the children that come with their parents.
The Dancing Pig The Dancing Pig is named for the wild hog that the local hunters tried to bring in for years. When they finally got him, he was trapped instead of killed and set loose in the DP kitchen causing several injuries. The DP, however, after killing it, embraced the pig, cooked him and took on their new name: The Dancing Pig. No one even remembers the previous name of the inn anymore, since all they talk about is the story of how it got its new name. It has a large central fancy dance floor, and a Wold-wide assortment of ales, beers, liquors, wines, whiskeys, rums, and every other tasty drink one could imagine! Most "Pits" can be seen drinking like fish and getting their boogie on in their favorite pub at least 4 nights of any given week.
The North Tower Home to the Second Dinner Club, this is where many of their experiments are tried, tested, and sometimes failed. Instead of living in the side of a hill in a proper Burrow home, the mages built this tower with their own magic, to resemble the Giant Towers to the north. Many times, there have been seen small explosions heard coming from the tower, and small fires or smoke billowing from its windows at odd hours of the day and night. Since they managed inadvertently to blow up one of the Giant Towers directly north of town, their numbers dropped to two, then three, and now two again.
Flower Temple Dedicated to the Goddess of Love herself, the people of Humbles Ford built this Temple long ago after Flower came here and “Loved the Flowers of the Valley.” It is ran by the High Priest of Flower, Sarabella LoveSong. A good majority of the townsfolk come here often for services, love each other, and to give praise to, or pray to, and all-around worship their Goddess; Flower, the Goddess of Love. Flower / Ffloy Temple So, following the murder by hired outside assassins of Sarabella LoveSong, the temple was purchased by followers of Ffloy. Many were disgruntled at what seemed a usurpation of the followers of Flower. One day, nonetheless, the Powers saw fit to resurrect from the dead Sarabella LoveSong. The temple was expanded, and now serves as a place of worship for Flower, and of worship and commerce for the followers of Ffloy. They seem to coexist in relative harmony.
Center for The Enlightened Spirituality & Arcane Arts Located near the Flower / Ffloy Temple, this is a place for parents to send their children to come to learn more about the Gods of the Wold and for those who wish to further their education of Arcana. The CESAA is run with funds provided by the Temple and the 2nd Dinner Club. Whether the student is a book-worm Wizard in training, studying spellbooks hard day and night; a neophyte Sorcerer, just learning how to harness their magic; an aspiring Bard, or a Witch experimenting with different mixtures and concoctions, or even a young cleric-to-be, this all-in-one center of mystical arts is the place to be for a young Halfling just getting started on a path to magical greatness!
General Store The General Store is owned by Pirnook Deeppockets. He is stingy to the bone, and never lets anyone slip through the door without parting with some gold if he can help it. He keeps a list of annoying things folks say on a sign outside of his store with a pronouncement that they cannot be uttered inside. The General Store is one of the bigger shops on the commercial street running north to south in the center of Humbles Ford.
Humbles Burrow Humble’s Burrow is the traditional home for the current mayor, Bingo Bumbleluck. It is arguably the largest dwelling in the town, aside from the North Tower, but few can say they’ve actually seen the inside of it. Its many windows, several chimneys almost always billowing out smoke, and larger-than-average round double doors set it apart from the other burrows in the northeast residential area of town.
Slings and Arrows The Slings and Arrows shop is one of the busiest buildings in the commercial area. In a prime location on the main road running through town, it is hard to miss Hugo and Primula PipeLeaf’s place of business. Once it was just a shop for Hugo’s wooden crafts and weapons to be sold, but after he married Primula, the couple added another room onto the building to hold all of the armors and metal weapons to be held in as well. The place is always bustling with people wanting new means to protect themselves, and the PipeLeafs are well known to have the best deal in the valley for such things.
The Humble Farm This farm is the major provider of livestock, fruits, vegetables, and textiles for Hovel, Humble’s Ford, and Angel Springs. It gathers water from both the mountains to the north and the river that it borders. The farm stretches in a long strip of land from the Hovel to just west of Angel Springs. Many halflings make their living working on the farm or by transporting/distributing its plentiful bounty.
Smallholding Farrier Owned by one Primula Pipeleaf. Primula is a beautiful halfling gal, with long flowing red hair, and big green eyes. She does not look like a blacksmith at first sight, but is nevertheless one of the best in Crescent Valley.
Madame La’Rue Herbarium Herbs and teas and concoctions of all sorts show up on Madame La'Rue's shelves and display cases.
Humbles Field The Grange Battlefield is the site of a historic battle during the last giant incursion. The site for the war games held every three years here. On other years it is held either in Angel Springs or just outside Hovel.
Air Elemental Spire
This 120-foot tall spire is finished to a pearly white, coruscating with rainbow hints when the sun strikes it at certain angles.
Ground level to 40': Four spiral ridges rise right to left, two full twists working their way around.
40' to 60': A cylinder in main, but on the two sides are vertical ridges taking up 1/4 of the cylinder. On the regular round portion of the cylinder are images in tans and greys of various creatures of flight, from butterflies to dragons, hawks and sparrows, a flying fish, an air elemental on each side - one side facing over the cliff, the other on the back side, a flying squirrel, a pterodactyl, and other birds and such. On the front, smooth cylinder side, are percussive plates, capable of producing drum sounds.
60' to 110': Three ridges spiral rightward ascending. On this portion at various places are hollows and tubes through which air elementals can dance and move air to produce beautiful tones. The front side produces a five-tone scale, covering four octaves. The backside allows for an eight-tone scale, also covering four octaves. One lever on the backside allows those cavities to open, or shut. Another lever does likewise for the front sound chambers.
110' to 120': On the left and right sides are smooth white cylinder walls, with some holes to allow sound to pass through, laid out in a spiral pattern. Within is a gold-plated strong metal framework, and a dual spiral of a total of 24 bells are mounted, capped by a gold-plated dome. In the center of the dome is a tapered metal rod that extends 8' above the crest of the dome. Attached to the base of the rod is a high-grade, 1.25-inch diameter round copper wire. It passes, submerged a few inches through the surface of the spire, to extend deep into the earth off to one side of the buried base, to convey any lightning strikes at the top, to dissipate harmlessly into the earth. A lightning rod, it is.
Signage at 5' to 8.5': A brass plaque is on the curved front, and another one on the backside, each 3.5'x5'. The one on the front is in the Auran tongue on the left, and halfling on the right; on the back in Common on the left, and Elvish on the right. It reads (here in Common):
Who Came to the Aid of Humble's Ford
In the Year that the Volcano
Tried to Bury The Town
---
"Dance With Joy
On a smaller plaque, in the back, beneath the main one, is a plaque, in Common, which reads:
Painting Artist: Leska Rose Leafwin Pipewood
Assistants in Design:
Humble's Sword members Pressi Silverglove
& Murphy B. Leafwin Pipewood
Other Members of the Sword That Day:
Bliss
Hobie Browncloak
Kezzem
Lance Foxwell
---
Constable Roscoe Hornblower & The Guard
Also in Memory of Those Guards Who
Gave Their Lives in Defense of the Ford:
Balen Thirstquench Barrowhut
Selan Barrow Hamsell
---
Thanks as well to Mayor Bingo Bumbleluck
& many other leaders and citizens
Below ground: The foundation sinks to about 70 feet into the earth, with a cylinder going about 30' deep, and continuing onward, and from 30' to 70', seven equally-spaced legs extending out, slanting downward, to broaden the base, in a horizontal radius of 60' from the center. Many helpers, installers, spell casters, wooden shaft removers, painters, and others were involved in the complex formation and placement of the spire.
Party Mechanics
Typical Marching Order
To be added These days, the marching order varies situationally. Tali generally is floating up off the ground. Murphy is often wild-shaped. Pressi has her broom for flying. Hobie flies up to gain advantage on loosing arrows. Succotash rides on his velociraptor, Valerie. Kezzem has a celestial horse, Rumpus. Bliss takes many forms. We will see how Nikolai and Prudence handle themselves.
Typical Watches
PCs need 8hrs rest every night to avoid gaining the 'Fatigued' condition. Many casters require an extra hour to recover spells.
Old schedule, characters...
- 20:00 - 22:00 : Tendel, Murphy, Sky, Meko
- 22:00 - 01:00 : Kezzem, Shel, Alleah
- 01:00 - 04:00 : Pressi, Alleah
- 04:00 - 07:00 : Bliss, Mookie, Alleah
After spending the first watch preparing spells, Alleah uses one of her Calming Touches to remove the Fatigued condition from herself and thus doesn't require sleep.
Bliss's Adventuring Tales, Part One
A pint-size halfling and his raven familiar are happy to join you for a dessert of pie at The Belly Buster or The Dancing Pig. "Sure," the young halfling says around a mouthful of pie, "I'll tell you all about our adventures. Okay, so you know that there are lots of giants north of here who would love to take over and eat us all, right? And we got these magic towers on the border between us and the giants. And the towers keep giants out. And there are three mages who keep the towers running. That's the Second Breakfast Club. ["That's the Second DINNER Club, Kid" interjects the talking raven.] Yeah, the Second Dinner Club. So anyway, one day we heard they were having problems with one of their towers, so we figured out how to get in the tower just in time for the whole thing to fall over, with us inside it. As the tower was collapsing, we had the chance to escape alive by falling into a magical gate the Breakfast Club ["DINNER Club"] Dinner Club was fooling around with. So we fell into the gate and it took us to Koshe Marr, the land of nightmares, with the Second Dinner Club along for the ride. Only Mookie had ever been there, and we had to deal with the Hunter fellow and the Forest of Glass and some goblin kids we found. One of the Second Dinner mages died, and another was lost, and we got one out with us. So we escaped and brought the goblin kids home. Turns out when we escaped from Koshe Marr we came back to the Wold deep in Izen and six weeks BEFORE we left! We rushed back home to stop the tower from falling before it fell down. We were delayed by orcs and fairies and we did not get back in time! Then we got a message from the lost mage, and we went to rescue him. He was being held captive by a weirdo necromancer, who changed me into a bird, and who we had to kill, but in the end we rescued the mage. Now we need to find the right third mage and get the Dinner Club to fix the broken tower, but in the meantime giants are invading so we have to fight off the giant invasion while finding a mage to help us fix the tower that fell down. [Mookie caws, "Take a breath, Kid. No one understood that."] So that's the story, except for the details like friends we met and lost and how I learned to be a shadowdancer and the cold iron merchant and the giant we rescued ..."
Bliss's Adventuring Tales, Part Two
(Part Two takes place about a half a year after the telling of Part One.)
"Does anyone have a rough idea of how much time has spanned between our adventures?" asks Hobie.
Bliss thinks back over recent quests, tests, and misadventures. It makes him feel close to his friends, even though really they've only been together for a short time. The little guy sits down and dives into memory, thinking out loud and putting his thinking cap headband to good use ...
"Well, What's-His-Name from the Second Breakfast Club blew up the Giant Tower and sent us into Koshe Marr. That was probably only a couple of days, but who knows how time goes by in Nightmares. Me and Mister Murphy are the only ones here who saw it." [early 2015]
"Then we emerged in the past by the goblins on the far side of Izen and had to race back to return before the tower blew up again. For the first time, I mean. Time travel makes it hard to figure, but if you are looking at elapsed time as we perceived it, call that a few weeks, right, by way of the Culverwood? That's when we met Miss Pressi and Sir Kezzem, but he was no 'sir' then!" [late 2015]
"Oh! I remember that guy's name! Veseley! 'Veseley Crusher' we called him, after he crushed the tower. Everybody hated that guy. And Miss Tiana and poor Bazeck of course. Cause when we got back we found out that Taxidermy fellow had kidnapped them, and we only managed to get Vesely and Tiana back, but Bazeck got killed. That Taxidermy guy was the worst, right Mister Murphy? Well, that musta been a few weeks to travel to the Taxidermist's town and back again." [2016]
"Aroundabouts then is when Vesely brought on the new Second Breakfast Club wizard, Garron, who ended up being a traitor. That was just about the time we heard about the giant and ogre army that was going to invade because the tower defense was down, and we went out and defeated the army before they could get here by assassinating all the leaders. That musta taken a few weeks." [2017]
"When we got back, the orphanage burnt down and undead showed up, and it was all part of that traitor Garron's plot, but we beat him down and foiled his plans, though I'm not sure we ever really figured out what those were. It was Hobie who we just met who gave us our first clue about that villain. That was also when I first learned how to change into a cat! And Vesely was so ashamed of messing up for the second time that I do not think we've seen him since. Call that a few weeks." [OOC: We never got a formal exit for Vesely, but the last time a DM has mentioned him was May 2017. Hobie joined in Sept 2017.]
"So Miss Tiana is the only member of the Second Breakfast Club left, but that's when the bloodgrass invaded and the demons and the elementals, and then we travelled to the Sargrass, met Sir Succotash, helped kill that giant god thing in the Southern Continent. Then we met Miss Talia and Jack. Call that about four weeks, right?" [2018]
"And that side trip to the Culverwood for Wulpertingles."
"And finally that Iron Giant also showed up to take advantage of the Tower Defense being down, so, a week more?"
"Add in say a month of downtime, I guess, plus training and a couple weeks of feasts, a few weddings, and that's ... (Bliss counts on his fingers and toes -- that's why he's sitting down) ... I reckon it at 24 weeks, say, or like about half a year since the Giant Tower blew up."
"We sure have been on the go since then! Time is funny, huh!"
History
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