A Tale of Two Orphans — IC

[BartNL]

"The knight confessed to having been in a brawl. My best bet is that he is involved in the fighting rings. A good place to make a name for oneself, though unbefitting of gentle blood.
Why would anyone have such a man at their side, if not as a guard or manservant, mother? Yet why would the lady Galben need a defender in the city?" Her icy stare alone does more than any brute could. Hellenbert replies, repeating his mothers question.
"This famous knight nobody has ever heard about until a month ago arrives to the city, makes a name as a fighting man, and befriends the lady Galben in a matter of days. A fairy tale is unfolding before our eyes, and only the writer knows what is going to happen in the next chapter."

[Scratcherclaw]

Caelen nods to Drake, stifling another yawn. "Aye, and we have an even longer day tomorrow," the young elf says, already looking forward to a plush bed beneath his worn body. I wanna do the best I can... I hope I can prove myself.

[Namelessjake]

"One that we would benefit from being well rested for," Drake says, concurring with Caelen as the trio make to leave the home and return to their rooms at the inn.

[ratwizard]

"Nothing left but rest and preparation," Valcus agrees, feeling one weight lifted from his shoulders only for another to press down. The Brandts can be trusted, but now we must prove ourselves as dependable leaders and warriors tomorrow. It is not just glory or honor that depends on it, either.

[Fialova]

The Princess' Tournament, Day 1

Caedus

OOC

I am now skipping the game forward to the next game day and the start of the tournament. I am happy to continue RPing this scene in full with you in discord if you would like. If so, just let me know and we can continue from the last post and finish up Caedus' evening events there before transferring the text here. Otherwise, the gist of the evening - unless you would choose to act against this - would be Caedus enjoying a finely-cooked dinner with the Galben family in their dining room before retiring to your room for the evening. 

After perhaps the most luxurious evening you have experienced in a very long time, you are awakened in the morning by a gentle knock on the door, which is followed by the bright sunlight streaming through the large windows of your guest bedroom. "Excuse me, sir," comes the voice of the young man whom had been assisting you last night, who after the evening's events you now know to not be a servant of the house, but in fact Johanna's younger brother Joachim. "Johanna asked me to wake you, it is not long now until the tourney begins. Did you need help donning your armor?"

Hellenbert

OOC

I am now skipping the game forward to the next game day and the start of the tournament. I am happy to continue RPing this scene in full with you in discord if you would like. If so, just let me know and we can continue from the last post and finish up Hellenbert's evening events there before transferring the text here. Otherwise, the gist of the evening - unless you would choose to act against this - would be Hellenbert finishing his gossip with his mother and father before retiring to his room for the evening. 

You awake in the morning, and you can already hear from outside the clamor of the crowd gathered outside the nearby cities walls, eager to watch the opening ceremony and first competition of the princess' birthday tourney. As you rouse and begin to prepare yourself for the day, you hear a rap at your bedroom door, immediately followed by a familiar voice. "Good morning brother. Are you already awake?" comes the voice of Engelbert, whom you know to not be residing in the family estate currently, but instead at the tower's dormitories for mages working in an official capacity, where he can more easily assist his current master.

Everyone Else

You all return to the inn and spend your evenings however you see fit, waking up bright and early the next morning ready for the day's festivities. As each of you make your way downstairs from your rooms to the dining area below to enjoy breakfast, you'd find that three of your companions from the caravan are waiting for you: Ser Daria, Rorin, and Embla. They are already enjoying some food provided by the inn at your arrival, looking up to spot each of you as you arrive. "Good morning," Ser Daria offers with a smile between bites. "These two wanted to tag along, hope that was alright."

OOC - All

Welcome to the first day of the tournament, and with it the official swap from dnd 4e to WWN as our game system. Please make sure your character sheets are fully updated and finalized for your WWN builds if they were not already. Please also make sure to convert items and coin to the new standard for WWN.

For combat gear, I have already pinged each of you in discord what you should have currently, though if anyone has questions or requests, please let me know before much gets under way. Keep in mind that while armor will be simply what is listed in the handbook, weapons have a separate homebrew chart listed on the forums for this and other WWN games.

For mundane/rp items, feel free to just 1:1 convert what you had in 4e (and still want) into either personal belongings or caravan supplies. For Hellenbert and Caedus, feel free to have some mechanically-insignificant items that are relevant to your roleplay goals/background if desired, otherwise don't worry about non-combat gear for now.

For gold, we will be converting gold from 4e at a rate of ten times its value in WWN silver (not WWN gold). For the primary/original party, this will be a straight conversions. For Hellenbert and Caedus, I will be working with each of you in discord to determine an appropriate starting amount, since each of you currently don't really have any spending money.

For any questions or help with this conversion, please let me know, so we can get everything squared away soon. 

[BartNL]

Why, knock. I am no child to be summoned no more. Hellenbert frowns and grits his teeth, now feeling rushed while putting on his second boot. Wait... is that Engelbert?! Hellenberts frown fades into a confuzzled, though happy expression. Out of his four brothers, he least expected to see Engelbert today. If there'd only be single able bodied Menoran that stayed inside during the festivities, Hellenbert would have put his money on it being the 4th Brandt brother. Why is he here, did something happen? Hellenbert shoots up, and kicks his boot on.
"Come in." Hellenbert replies. Today will be a day of many mysteries.

[Namelessjake]

Drake awakens feeling well rested and eager for the tourney games. "Good morning Ser," Drake says, giving Ser Daria a nod in greeting. "And by all means, it's been strange if anything not having you two around the last couple of days," he says turning to Embla and Rorin.

[Scratcherclaw]

Caelen wakes with a whine, rolling around in the plush, warm bed with little desire to leave it in that moment. Yet, his eyes shoot open in an instant as realization hits. Oh, the tourney's today! Feels like we've been waiting years for this.

Racing to meet the others, he's gives a grin to companions who have decided to join them. "Morning! Today's the day."

[ratwizard]

Valcus wakes early, spending a quarter hour in silent prayer, calling upon each of the Pantheon for wisdom and reassurance. He washes, trimming his beard by the reflection of the bucket. Just the simple act of self-care, something he had had little to no time for since fleeing east, gives him some peace for the time being. He steps down the stairs and joins his companions with a warm smile on his face.

"Good morning," he greets the newcomers. "I was beginning to wonder if you'd ever make your way inside the gates. How fared the refugees last night?"

[FinalTemplar]

Caedus

Caedus awakens with a start, his wonderful night ended by horrific nightmares. He pats himself down to make sure the wounds he suffered during his rest were not real.

He calls out; "Yes, please. I would like assistance donning my armor." He responds, sliding out of bed to get himself dressed.

[Fialova]

Hellenbert

The door opens quickly, and is closed just as quickly behind, your brother now standing in the room before you. He is dressed more nicely than usual, possibly an indication of his intention to head to the tournament, though possibly not. "I trust you received my letter? Did you find anything?" he asks, seeming eager to hear your response. He walks across the room to the nearest chair and sits, placing one leg over the other and his chin in his hand while he waits.

Caedus

The door opens soon after you answer, the young man quickly stepping in and closing it behind him. He seems pleased to see you again, as he makes his way towards the table where you have placed your kit for the evening. "I know there are many competitors that will be competing today, but I will be wishing you all of the luck, ser, and cheering you in the stands. It is not often we have house guests from outside the family, even less likely famed knights. I am eager to see what you can do. Which events will you be entering?" he asks, as he begins by helping you into the cloth under-layer of your armor.

Everyone Else

"Things have been better since the princess aid arrived yesterday," Ser Daria responds, a proud look on her face. "Happy to report that there have been no deaths in the past night, nor any worsening of illnesses that I am aware of."

"There is a strange new woman in the camp, though," Embla chimes in, as she casually picks at her food. "Says her dad is a mercenary or something, I didn't really catch all of it. The more surprising thing is that she was escorted there by a knight, some guy from a nearby town. Tanon, I think?"

"Oh, yes," Daria adds, before taking a drink of some milk. "Esmé was her name, I believe. She seems to know the mercenaries from Serra that are traveling with us, and stayed overnight in the camp in one of their tents. I believe she is also competing in the tourney."

"Whenever you are ready," Rorin interrupts, seeming to have been waiting for his moment to speak the entire conversation thus far. "I have a very interesting report to make, about your request," he says with a wide grin, looking eagerly towards Valcus and Drake in particular.

[Namelessjake]

"Esmé," Drake repeats. "Sounds like an Imardanian name - and given where Farjad's allegiances laid, we should probably speak to her. And we've heard of a knight from Tanon already - the tourney has no doubt attracted many knights from outside of Menora, but could it be the same man?" the young lord ponders, his thoughts flashing back to the image of the Talon's bloodied face just before Drake dealt the knockout blow in the Pinnacle arena.

"Excellent," he says, turning his attention to Rorin, glad the spy seems to have turned something up in his investigation.

[ratwizard]

No deaths. A relief for once. The Princess has saved many lives, Valcus realizes.

"Agreed, the mercenaries' deeds may be nearly done but perhaps their services could come in handy soon. As for the Talon of Tanon, I've met him. A man of few words, and doubtless involved in this complicated weave." I don't believe he was very fond of me, either.

Valcus turns to Rorin, eyebrows raised. "I'd be happy to hear it. Though perhaps we find some place a bit quieter?"

[Scratcherclaw]

Caelen smiles but remains quiet as their companions brief them on the events of the night. Finally. Those poor people have suffered enough. I can only hope they're finally safe now. His smile turns to a frown as he recounts the loss they've endured to get here. And I hope their sorrows can end here.

He looks to Rorin, cocked head, curious what the spy has discovered.

[Fialova]

Drake, Valcus, Caelen

"Yes, yes, somewhere quieter, of course. Wouldn't want to let all of our secrets be known," Rorin responds, a small frown on his face, his eagerness to speak hampered by the relatively public nature of the dining area. "Where would you prefer? Back in your rooms? Somewhere else? I know you have a tournament to get to so we shouldn't take too long. We also should be getting back to the camp soon, can't be absent too long, right? Something might happen, and Karmin can only do so much on his own. Just let me know where we should go so we can head there soon and I can give you the update," Rorin continues, as Embla rolls her eyes before taking a bite, this time of some of his food while he is distracted.

[ratwizard]

"My room — it's close, and it's safe. And yes, I understand haste and brevity is a concern. We have business to take care of before the tournament as well," Valcus reminds himself and others.

He watches Embla take a bite of the man's food, and grins, though he dares not mention a word.

[Namelessjake]

"Upstairs then, we can eat after" Drake says, eager to hear the Pelothian's report.

[Scratcherclaw]

"Aye, let's not waste time," Caelen adds, not wanting to be late for the tournament's events.

 

[BartNL]

Letter? The letter! It was him. Hellenberts face turns bright red, almost glowing, and his frown returns as soon as it went a minute ago. Hellenbert rises, dwarfing his scrawny little brother. Yet it is the 'Flaming Sword of Menora' who feels trapped like rat by the small man in his chair.
"So, you've had me do your dirty work!" Hellenbert replies, trying his best not to shout. Out of all the schemers in Menora, it was Engelbert. Hellenbert's head is now so bright red, that it could light a dark room. "Spit it out."

OOC

Pyre of Heaven Style 1 allows me to actually glow like a torch at will.