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Post by Admin on Aug 15, 2013 3:25:09 GMT
Matteo Anafesto traces his lineage to the first Doge of Venice, as an illustrated tapestry of his ancestor on the wall details. The man before you, however, looks almost lugubrious compared to the spartan old man on the tapestry. Matteo Anafesto is covered in rolls of cellulite, but his broad arms look like they may still easily swing a sword. His gaudy red and purple robes would put a number of kings to shame. The office itself is a rather cramped environs, and you silently wonder how he could pass through the narrow door in. He stands by a wooden desk with an open ledger, as his brown beard vanishes into the folds of his robe. He holds a small chest beside his left hand, before setting it on the desk before him.
"Ah, bene," he says as you arrive. "Before I start, introduce yourself to the others."
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Post by sternold on Aug 20, 2013 8:48:05 GMT
Nobody comes forward. Orgoth is the first to do so. He looks around the room. Magic-users. One guy seems to be able to use a bow. This doesn't look like a group of bandits. This looks like a group of cityfolk. "Me is Orgoth. I come from dark and cold place very far away." Orgoth sits back down again.
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nexus
New Member
Posts: 18
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Post by nexus on Aug 20, 2013 9:03:59 GMT
"Darian."
The cleric smiles warmly at everyone. What an eclectic collection of people. He almost rubs his hands together in glee as he thinks about the information he's going to get.
"I'm from England and I've been travelling Europe for the last ten or so years, finding out whatever I can about the world we live in. I also follow the teachings of Hermes, however I won't bore you with the details."
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Post by teodoro on Aug 20, 2013 14:44:50 GMT
Teo is quietly staring at the first half-orc he's ever come across in his travels. When he notices the others had already started their introductions, he jumps up on his chair and exclaims: "Hola mis amigos! I'm Teo!" He holds his right hand out and snaps to produce a quick, white spark. He smiles broadly at everyone in the room and continues, "I can't wait to meet everyone and begin our grand adventure!" He sits down and seems to vibrate with enthusiasm.
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Post by henwen88 on Aug 20, 2013 14:52:04 GMT
After a moment of awkward silence, a druid reluctantly steps forward from the corner he was secluded in. "I'm Leath MacCluin," he says, "Nearly the last of the O'Feileagh clan of druids, our survivors now scattered across the continent. Ireland is no longer safe for me. This city is, but I find it unpleasant after years in the woods." He strives to conceal his disgust at the corpulent shape of Matteo Anafesto. Citydwellers let themselves get so fat. A time in the forest would do this one good, strip him of that fat and earn him lean, hardy muscle, make his body suited for its original animal purposes again. "I hope whatever we've been called here for gives us a chance to travel." He averts his eyes from the unpleasant spectacle of the fat man and looks cautiously at the rest of the group. A dumb barbarian--at least he knows the Wild. A cleric--at least there is another scholar here. There looks to be a woodsman among the rest, and a magician or two. They suit me better than the merchants that clog this city, whose hands are fit for no more than passing bags of gold, and whose minds dwell on nothing but figures, black and red.
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Post by tengen on Aug 20, 2013 16:49:44 GMT
Sets an appraising eye over the odd group assembled and raises an eyebrow at the Sorcerers enthusiasm. They were an odd sort but not wanting to burn bridges with potential work associates she decided to keep it short and civil. She could easily guess the reason for everyone's hesitation being similar to her own in finding measure in their present company. Not wanting to be perceived as rude when an opening in the conversation presents itself she gets up and gives a small curtsy to Matteo with almost mechanically practiced ease.
"I am Alicia Moon, from London." She says looking at each individual in turn. "It is a pleasure to meet you"
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Post by zackmon on Aug 21, 2013 4:43:05 GMT
"Cumberbatch's the name. Milford Cumberbatch. I see that I'm in the company of a fellow Englishman, and a lady of our fair London, no less," he says in a gruff voice. Milford takes a deep, awkward bow, "Always a welcome sight."
Milford eyes the Half-Orc and the spry little gnome suspiciously. He then turns to the druid, and gives him a thoughtful look for a moment before addressing the rest of the group.
"I am.... or was a sailor..." Milford pauses, "Now I suppose I am simply a man of the sea." With that, Milford conjures up a small, churning ball of water in his hand. It dissipates into steam.
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Post by elgeon on Aug 21, 2013 4:58:13 GMT
Until now, Elgeon was standing slightly behind everyone else, and had been waiting and observing each person as they introduced themselves. Spellcasters, most of them, along with a tough-looking half-orc. Finally, the ranger steps out in front, no longer standing apart from the group and speaks up. "My name is Elgeon. I was born and raised in the woodlands of Lorraine, but I have since spent too much time in cramped and murky cities. I most certainly hope this meeting leads us out of here..." During these last words, he had turned his gaze towards the fat merchant.
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Post by Admin on Aug 21, 2013 10:37:55 GMT
"Bene," Anafesto sets down his small wooden chest on the table, in full view of the group. "I thank you all for answering my call."
Red velvet lines the interior of the the small chest, worn away by frequent wear. Matteo Anafesto carefully withdraws and object from within and sets it on the table before them. The object resembles a small bell, only slightly elongated with a set of holes near the top. There is a strange smell coming from it, and worn arcane glyphs cover the body of the odd vessel.
Matteo then produces a radius and ulna, definitely human in origin. Sandwiched between the bones is a small note. The flabby merchant waddles back to his desk to retrieve a set of reading glasses before he skims over it. "This artifact was found on the road leading to the Vizzini Estate east along the coast, past the village of Scalo Est. I was with a convoy when we were beset upon by brigands and walking dead, seeming to work in tandem with each other and wielding strange magic. I barely made it out alive with a handful of others, but the cargo was totally lost. I all returned with was this curiosity, discarded in the chaos. I know not what it does, but I will reward you to find out."
"The strangest part was the cargo was of animal manure, to be sold to farmers," Matteo said. "Upon further investigations, I found locals had reported the brigands trying to start fires in seemingly random parts of the wood, before returning to collect the burnt remains."
He pauses for a moment before continuing. "In addition, bodies have been vanishing from local cemeteries, regardless of age or condition. Brigand attacks have also increased along the road, strangling trade. Two farms were also stripped bare by bandit raids, with livestock and their inhabitants mission."
Matteo unfurls a map on the table, so the group can see it. It details the coast heading northeast from Venice along the Adriatic. A crescent shaped shore separates land and ocean from each other, but a few areas are marked. One is a small village called Scalo Est, while another is on a forested peninsula close to it. The other location, marked by a needle, is labeled 'Damien Vizzini's Estate.' Smaller pins, each with a different color ribbon, denote the locations of bandit attacks, kidnappings, forest fires, and cemetery raids. They radiate outwards from the Vizzini Estate like rings in a tree, as if it was broadcasting malignancy upon the region.
"I would say Damien Vizzini is a two legged snake, but that would be an insult to snakes," Matteo unfurls a small picture of a man, a wood carved portait of Vizzini. It shows an aquiline nosed, bald man who is almost grotesquely thin as Matteo is fat. Unlike Matteo's modern robes, Vizzini is clad in tattered rags. You imagine he smells worse than any picture would indicate. "He's consorted with bandits and pirates before, but I'd have originally thought such brazen activity was beyond him."
Damien sets down the portrait face down on his desk, noticeably less stressed in its absence. "He has powerful friends here in La Serenìsima, so I dare not publicly accuse him. However, trade from the east is being strangled, to say nothing of the forest fires or possible necromancy," he stops rambling for a second. "What I ask of you, is to infiltrate his estate by whatever means you can, discover his plans, and stop him however you see fit. Should he be innocent by some miracle, find out who is responsible and stop them."
He draws a dagger, and gently presses it along the map as he glides it down the coast. He stops for a moment at Scalo Est, before pressing the blade deeper as if plunging it into soft flesh. "There are two primary ways into his estate, by land or by sea," he says. "The estate is located near a peninsula, covered by ample woodlands. I believe that this group is more than able to deal with sea, forest, or both. He'll likely have guards, but I do not know what you will find in his estate."
He sits back down, and pulls out a small bound book, a ledger of dealings he's made. "Would any among you like to take charge of this venture, or would you prefer to sort that our later?" he sets the book aside. "I will pay each of you 500 pieces of gold for successful completion of this task, including whatever you can take from the estate. Do you have any more questions?"
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Post by sternold on Aug 21, 2013 10:51:03 GMT
Orgoth laughs. "Ha! You cityfolk are easy target. No guard will stop Orgoth, and when pirate-man sees Orgoth he will tell all you want to know." Orgoth grabs his giant axe and holds it in front of him. He's already getting in the mood for killing, and this sounded like it'd be both easy and fun. The 500 gold wasn't bad either. It's more then he usually gets. "But Orgoth need no leader. Take care of himself." It wasn't so much the leader part that bothered him; he had had leaders before. Hell, without one he'd probably screw up the mission. But the idea that a magic-user or an Elf would be in charge of him infuriated him.
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Post by henwen88 on Aug 21, 2013 14:43:21 GMT
Leath speaks quietly, so that one almost has to strain to hear him after Orgoth's loud boast. "I'm not one to take charge--someone else can take the responsibility, if we need a leader." (At least the orc's not claiming the role, he thought.) "I'd like to vote for the forest route, though. I took a ship once and felt helpless, cut off from the earth that is the source of my power." His piece said, he steps backward into his corner, looking furtively at Elgeon the ranger for backup.
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Post by teodoro on Aug 21, 2013 14:57:42 GMT
He smiles hopefully at the half-orc. He'd like nothing more than to investigate his first case of necromancy with his first half-orc friend. A day of firsts! How rare!
"Possible necromancy?" Teo exclaims, "Any degree of potential of necromancy is easily interesting enough for me to investigate!"
But he is concerned with Orgoth's unwillingness to conform to a group, so he attempts to cajole the brute. "Orgoth, my new friend, I have no doubt these brigands will weep with fear at your mighty appearance! But truly we should work as a team to make sure our other new friends here stay safe on our dangerous trek, no?"
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Post by zackmon on Aug 21, 2013 15:40:21 GMT
"Hmm, the gnome's enthusiasm doesn't overshadow his caution! That's a first." Milford smiles. Maybe this Spaniard is not so bad. Not so sure about the brute though, he seems like a liability. Better keep an eye on him. Teo seems to like him, maybe he can keep him in check.
"Well, it goes without saying that I'd rather sail. I'd like to hear a little more about both routes first."
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Post by tengen on Aug 21, 2013 16:05:51 GMT
She gives a slight nod to the gnome. "Indeed, Mr....Teo" She say giving a slight pause to his name as she wonders if that is his first or last name. "To keep it civil, for now I would suggest keeping such matters to a vote. " She says looking to the group at large "The choice of method of confrontation would be a deciding factor for me in route choice ."glances slightly at the to the barbarian as she says this already knowing his answer, then to turns back to the man that was hiring them "What other evidence do we have of Mr. Vizzini's guilt?" She says to Matteo with general curiosity. "It feels like poor planning to leave such obvious clues leading to his home.
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Post by elgeon on Aug 21, 2013 17:00:05 GMT
A small sigh escapes from Elgeon, as he fears that things can easily get out of hand in such a group. Especially the half-orc, as useful as he could be swinging that big weapon, it might turn out hard to keep him under control... Suddenly, he realises everyone has turned their attention to him after that sigh he let out. "I am not here to lead a group, and as long as noone has proven their worth, I'd rather we stick to voting. But first, shouldn't we consider the possibility of spliting the group and use both routes?" Having said that, he already hoped he would be going for the woodlands in such a case.
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