>>6375905
Readying a lethal spell prepared in advance, you pivot in place, scanning the obelisk room for the new arrival. Your senses have the displeasure of being assaulted by the putrid sight of Xelthryn, Vierna's Ghaunadan spymaster. His yellow-brown oiled cloak reeking of harsh chemicals and his beady yellow eyes fixed on you, expression unreadable. At least you cannot cannot see the sheen of his bald head in this dark.

"Let us away, then, Xelthryn. Walk in front of me, and do keep your hands where I can see them lest I turn you into a toad," you demand. The tiny male laughs boisterously, which sounds more akin to a gargle, no doubt a product of whatever horrible concoctions he's inhaled over the centuries. "You wound me, Mistress Phaere! Traitor though I am, I could hardly liquidate you while you are still so crucial to our immediate plans. Right this way!"

Traitor indeed... a trait that can be leveraged in opportune times. Just as he makes to lead you further into the sweltering depths of the dwarven ruin, you gently place a hand on his shoulder, drawing him back into the obelisk chamber. "Hold a moment, Xelthrn," you command, drawing him back in with a predatory grin. "I have a plan, and it involves you."

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>>6375907
LOYALTY DEFENSE INTEGRITY

Lovingly carved from a single chunk of igneous rock, the circular stone table large enough to seat over a dozen sits at the center of the dismal room illuminated by a single torch, the Dethek runes engraved on its surface extolling the dwarven virtues. What must have once served as the central command apparatus of this old fortress of dwarves and their elven allies is now occupied by the people of Ilythiir and the orcish menace, their longtime enemies since time immemorial. How ironic.

Vierna has judiciously made the choice to exclude her daughter Vaelith from the negotiations - proof that she at has some sense, at least. Daereth, the ranger, seems to have decided against attending as well, to no one's surprise. That leaves only Vierna, Xelthryn, and yourself to shape the course of the coming campaign.

For the opposite party, there is Wurgoth Twice-Scarred, half-orcish warlord horribly deformed, who masks his mutilation behind a visage of iron. Joining him are a musclebound, blue-skinned abomination twice the height of a man with vicious black claws that could no doubt rend flesh and an array of charms around his neck - an ogre mage, or 'oni' as they are sometimes called, and a female orc clothed in an austere robe of brown-black fur, her hood concealing her features. You infer that she is a priestess, likely of Luthic, the orc goddess of healing and witchery.

>>6375909
"As was explained prior, Master Wurgoth, I will repair the Demon's Ingle mythal to support the war effort as a gesture of goodwill such that you may sustain your long-term campaigns in these lands. You and yours may also do with the city as you please once our victory is assured," you say in the surfacer tongue, speaking with a sufficient measure of deference. "Our objective is merely to recover our delinquent sibling. Are we agreed?"

Erudition confers many unique advantages, control in matters of diplomacy being one of them. Vierna's grasp of the surfacer language is too feeble to make any meaningful use of, and while Xelthryn has an excellent command of six languages or perhaps more, you've managed to buy his complicity for the time being. As the orcs do not speak Ilythiirra, that leaves you to creatively interpret the exchange and shape the outcome to your liking.

"We are agreed, drow. We can easily replenish our numbers from the scattered bands roaming in the north for our future wars. Consider this a long-term strategic investment; understand that this commitment is conditional on your repair of the magma forges and expires upon our victory," responds the warlord, his low voice carrying a metallic hum through his mask. It will last so long as you require it, though you do not vocalize this.

>>6375910
"Wonderful news, sister!" You transition seamlessly to Ilythiirra, addressing House Delyl's matron mother. "The orcs have accepted our offer and we have secured their cooperation!" Vierna clicks her tongue, a smirk finding its way across her face. "Good. Tell them that they are to storm the walls and open the way. From there, we will be able to use our superior scouting and maneuvering to terrorize the streets. From then on, it will be a slaughter," she demands.

"The Matron Mother requests your input on how best to proceed with the offensive," you tell the orcs. Xelthryn opts to remain silent, a confirmation that your plan will proceed smoothly. The half-orcish warlord leans back in his stone seat, tapping an armored finger against the rocky armrest in consideration. "I have fought with your kind before, drow, as both ally and enemy, and I admire the assets that you bring to the battlefield. Tell her that you and yours are to infiltrate the city and open the gates - we will handle the handle the rest."

A strategic decision lies before you. No doubt the people of Ilythiir would fare far better in urban combat than the orcish army of the Thousand Scars by a wide margin - but with geas you'll be placing on them, the orcs are just as much your assets as they are Twice-Scarred's and it is in your own best interest to preserve them. The surfacers no doubt have an array of defenses prepared along the city's perimeter, a result of their unhealthy obsession with 'building things.'

Whoever takes the walls will be incurring heavy casualties. Fortunately, you are able to shape the outcome of this discussion...
>The orcish army will lead the vanguard, breaking through the walls and affording our people the chance to slip in and raid the city.
>House Delyl's army will dismantle the defenses to make way for the orcish army.

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>>6375910
Previous Adventures:
https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?searchall=Forgotten+Realms+Adventures

The Rules™:
https://pastebin.com/VRQHDHSr

Abilities:
https://pastebin.com/FaJABuJs

I'd like to personally thank whoever archived the previous thread before my involuntary hiatus. I'll allow some time for people to trickle in.

>>6375912
>House Delyl's army will dismantle the defenses to make way for the orcish army.
It gives our actual protagonist a better chance to catch them and stop them before the gates are ever open.

>>6375914
Welcome back, QM!

>whoever archived the previous thread before my involuntary hiatus
I think that was me, but I forget, kek.

>>6375912
>>House Delyl's army will dismantle the defenses to make way for the orcish army.
Fah, imagine letting the *Orcs* hog all the glory

>>6375912
>House Delyl's army will dismantle the defenses to make way for the orcish army.
Welcome back Greenwood! Glad to see you running again!

>House Delyl's army will dismantle the defenses to make way for the orcish army.
I can’t wait to see these mooks begin to learn what they’ve been missing up here.

Welcome back. It seems that the vote is unanimous to have the Drow take on the walls and get the glory of the vanguard. But what is Phaere's real endgame?

I'll be updating in a few hours.

>>6376380
Mastery of magics unknown to the Underdark? Command of her own House? To wield power over life and death itself?! No! It’s so much more than that! It’s to find a prettier, fancier dress than either of her sisters for the next ball!

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"Their leader insists that our talents are better suited for taking the walls," you explain to Vierna. "That is another condition of their participation in this endeavor." The priestess sneers, visibly displeased with this development, although to your surprise she manages to get over it rather quickly. "Very well. Sszindra and Vaelith will be elated at the prospect of proving their worth in the vanguard, at least. Inform this creature that we agree to his terms."

The terms of the alliance take shape under your direction. In exchange for the repair of the magma forges of the Demon's Ingle, the orcs of the Thousand Scars will commit an army to assist in besieging the city of Everlund, such that Matron Mother Vierna Delyl may exact punishment against her wayward sister Jezyrene. A clause is left for the possibility of future upkeep of the Ingle's infrastructure, though you are well aware that the orcs are not counting on this as a given.

As you discuss assets, logistics, and the strategy of the campaign, it becomes evident that for all your apparent strengths, your nascent coalition is woefully deficient in many regards, specifically in the capacity to wage war. Supplies, transport, provisions, wages, coordination... the unglamorous necessities of any sustained campaign.

>>6376487
"I have other allies that we might call to our aid," you state in both your native tongue and the local surface language. "Within the Zhentarim mercenary company, I have a number of contacts that are familiar with my name. Humans though they are, they will assuredly come to our aid, provided we can offer the right incentives," you explain.

The Zhentarim, or 'Black Network,' as they are at times called, are a mercenary and mercantile organization that uses coercion, trade, crime, and diplomacy to exert their influence throughout the Realms. Despite their focus on the strategic domination of the North, including the Silver Marches region, they are quite well known for employing Ilythiiri and orcish mercenaries as proxies to do their bidding as the need arises. Ironically, they need no introduction at the war table.

"I have fought for the Zhentarim for the better part of seven years," informs Twice-Scarred. Hardly any amount of time at all, albeit quite substantial for the short-lived. "We can make use of them" You smile coquettishly, folding your hands. "I will send word for an envoy. They should be able to meet us here in a little over a tenday, less than two," you say.

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>>6376488
Sure enough, the Zhentarim representatives arrive precisely on schedule under the iconic banner of a flying serpent. Accompanied by a retinue of twenty, the duo you're to be negotiating are a familiar face, and a new one. You knew Brandt Greycastle during his younger days, as a 'darkblade' - that is, a Realms colloquialism for an amoral mercenary that will kill most anyone for pay and not ask questions of their employer. That was over twenty years ago, however. Still, you recall that he was as sharp as a human could be with an acerbic wit, a valuable asset when you needed him.

Joining him is a halfling, or 'hin' as their species refers to themselves. While their race does have a sort of quasi-religious relationship with large meals, this specimen is nevertheless absurdly large, a suitable main course for an orcish dinner all things considered. He introduces himself as Rupert Tenpenny. Though he has no apparent useful qualities and every other word out of his mouth is a crude remark about Vierna's daughter Vaelith (your favorite being 'wanton wench'), Greycastle assures that he is brilliant in matters of finance and acquisition.

The de facto 'war room' grows ever busier as charts, ledgers, and unit lists accumulate faster daily.

>>6376489
"After much deliberation," starts Brandt, his voice sounding of poisoned wine and his Ilythiirra well-practiced if crude. "The Zhentarim will agree to finance and supply this adventure of yours, as well as deploy a company of our own under a different banner to obfuscate their allegiance. All we ask in return is that occupation of the city be turned over to us with the conclusion of this affair."

"Take it," says Vierna without a moment's hesitation. "We've no use for it." The orcish party to your alliance is not so easily convinced, however - two more rounds of negotiations follow until Wurgoth Twice-Scarred eventually agrees to cede occupation in exchange for a more durable trade agreement with the Zhentarim. The best solution for both parties that could be managed, you reason.

With House Delyl at the van and the orcish Thousand Scars as the main force, that would fittingly put the Zhentarim at the rearguard, providing logistical support and defense from the threat of being outflanked. Brandt raises the topic of his own forces, offering to contribute what he calls 'monstrous auxiliaries' to the alliance.

>>6376490
The first option are gargoyles. A 'classic' monster, you are intimately familiar with the creatures, being a magician yourself. They are stony predators capable of flight, both agile and durable. Clever and sadistic, they delight in inflicting pain on intelligent creatures, and are willing to serve for a pittance in treasure.

The second option would be trolls. Another classic monster, they are some primitive form of giant-kin with an abnormal metabolism that allows them to heal from most every injury including dismemberment and decapitation, only able to be killed with fire or acid. Though dim-witted, few in number, and driven almost entirely by their existential appetites, a handful can nevertheless wreak havoc for a short time as shock troops before they inevitably forget their orders.

Given your current army composition, you propose that...
>Gargoyles would be the strongest complement to our varied army.
>Trolls would serve their purpose for as long we we require them to.

>>6376491
>>Gargoyles would be the strongest complement to our varied army.

>>6376489
>wanton wench
Kek, the ye olde ho table?

>>6376491
>Gargoyles would be the strongest complement to our varied army.
I'd rather fight trolls, and yet can think of no good in-character reason to favor them over gargs.

>>6376491
>Gargoyles would be the strongest complement to our varied army.
Golem vs Gargoyle… sounds like a kaiju film.

Vote closed.

>>6376642
>I'd rather fight trolls
I'm not sure how you or your DM choose to run trolls, but LEMME TELL YA, you'd rather not.


Speaking of which, what tabletop game or setting would readers hypothetically like to see a quest based on run by me? I have a few ideas that I've been developing during my hiatus, but I am curious. This board gets a healthy amount of Warhammer and the occasional WoD quest, but I notice quite a few of the other popular ones missing.

>>6376816
RIFTS or Call of Cthulu could be cool. Or somthing in Ravenloft or Duskmourn would be kino.

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While trolls can pose an existential threat, what you require is a scalpel, not a hammer. Convincing your company of their merits, Greycastle promises that the Zhentarim will commit a hundred gargoyles to the cause - hardly anything in the grand scheme of things, but enough to make a difference. Moreover, a magician of your caliber may make use of them when the need inevitably arises.

You have your own ends that need accomplishing in the upcoming battle, for only under these unique circumstances might your objective be fulfilled. Here's to hoping that your planning was sufficient. The coalition will be ready to move in several months at the soonest, giving you ample time to integrate your desired modifications to the Demon's Ingle mythal and put a few important pieces in place.

The stage is set - soon, the curtains will draw back, and the actors will reveal their talents - rather, that is how you assume that it goes. A life under Lolthite dogma has deprived you of the chance to engage with surfacer entertainments outside of what you can infer from books. Alas.

>>6376880
We return now to Jezyrene...

>>6376881
Hands at your sides, you observe your students as they spar in the early hours beneath the cool sky on the grass before your mansion. The Realms transition from one phase of life to another, leaving behind the warmer months for cooler ones, a period of the year which the surfacers refer to as 'autumn.' You cannot allege to understand the mechanics of this - where you are from, it is always some permutation of cold, or unreasonably hot in caverns auspicious enough to host magma flows. That the temperature changes every month is novel, unnatural in fact

Luaue is the aggressor again, favoring an offensive approach as ever. Every fighter has their peculiarities, and the girl does not manage her defenses as well as she should, a bad habit that you've been steadily breaking these past several months. Striking at Ilanis with her practice weapon, the swing goes wide, the darthiiri girl able to remain just outside of Luaue's reach. Ilanis is a prodigious fighter - even while on the retreat, she keeps Luaue at an appropriate distance, always allowing herself the room to dodge, parry, or retaliate as the need arises.

The young priestess, having internalized your lessons, eases up on her attacks, slowing her pace significantly. That is good - Ilanis has the better technique, the better strategic insight, and roughly equal athleticism, putting Luaue at the disadvantage, and she is finally a mature enough fighter to recognize this and adapt. Instead, the Eilistraean continues the fight conservatively, preserving her stamina and probing Ilanis' defenses.

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>>6376882
Ilanis remains defensively responsible, capitalizing on Luaue's less frequent attacks to sneak in several of her own. The priestess manages to deflect, dodging once narrowly, though her opponent does not make this easy. Indeed, Ilanis does a fine job of obfuscating her intent, making it difficult to read her strikes until she's already committed to them.

But fortune smiles upon the half-breed. Making a bold gambit, she ducks beneath one of Ilanis' strikes - as the darthiiri draws her arm back, Luaue counterattacks, just barely able to nick Ilanis' shoulder with her training weapon. Were it a real sword, that would hardly be enough to draw blood - but a connect is a connect. Both combatants lower their weapons, with Luaue collapsing onto the grass. "Two wins!" She exclaims, breathing heavily.

"... And twenty-seven losses, but I still won this time," she continues. Ilanis wipes the sweat from her brow, holding up better though still visibly fatigued, having managed her stamina more judiciously. "Let's make it twenty-eight wins!" She challenges in response, eliciting a laugh from both of them.

Another productive day of training. You've managed to shape both of them into capable fighters, the sort you could rely on in battle, and feel reasonably confident that you can end today's session here.
>They are ready. I want to get them outfitted with good armor, and help Ilanis pick out a good weapon now.
>Let us conclude this with an early drink and some gossip at the Dreaming Dragon. Ilanis has yet to open for the evening, so this is the ideal time to celebrate.
>We will resume again first thing tomorrow morning. For now, I would like to relax in my room. They are dismissed.
>[Write-in.]

>>6376883
>>They are ready. I want to get them outfitted with good armor, and help Ilanis pick out a good weapon now.

>>6376883
>They are ready. I want to get them outfitted with good armor, and help Ilanis pick out a good weapon now.

>>6376883
>They are ready. I want to get them outfitted with good armor, and help Ilanis pick out a good weapon now.
One last shopping trip...

>>6376883
>They are ready. I want to get them outfitted with good armor, and help Ilanis pick out a good weapon now.

Vote closed.

>>6376825
Interesting, interesting. I have seen the odd Ravenloft quest here and there, though I am surprised by how little (if any) presence that CoC has on this board, being one of the more popular tabletop games considering this is a /tg/-adjacent board.

You feel reasonably confident that your students have 'graduated' into capable combatants. You have prepared many for the harsh realities of war, and these two are more than ready, with strong fundamentals and ample room to grow. Atop that, you aim to continue their daily instruction for as long as possible. Whilst Luaue will be using the Nelgetha, her mother's blade, Ilanis will be requiring a quality weapon that suits her strengths, and both of your girls will be needing armor.

"No more for today. I have something special special planned," you state, gesturing for them to fall in behind you. "Do we get something good?" Asks Ilanis as if on cue. "Very good," you reply. "You are ready for real weapons and armor. I will get you real equipment, and I will teach you how to adapt to it. And you will be ready for your weapon," you inform the priestess, who nods solemnly.

Leading them along the road to Everlund's bell market, you turn your head upwards, noting that the wicked sun seems less cruel this morning, as if to afford you some small measure of mercy. "Practice weapons are useful, but you need to learn about the weight and balance of a real weapon. How to wear your armor and move in it. From now on, you will train only in armor, even when you are not fighting," you state instructively. "Tomorrow, we will begin by running like always, around the city each morning. Then learn how to jump and roll, and..."

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>>6377727
"Sindiira," says Luaue, sucking in a labored breath as she still tries to recover from the day's exertions. "I am as eager to improve as ever..." she begins cautiously, "but perhaps we could take just one day to relax? Aside from the usual two every tenday, I mean. Highharvestide draws near, and it would be good for us to enjoy ourselves. Even in the Silverwood, we had food, games, competitions, everything of the sort. It's a holiday enjoyed throughout the Realms."

"Oh! Sindi!" Ilanis chimes in. "You should enter the Zzar Wrestling Tournament! You're super strong and fast, so I think you could win this year!" Your head swivels in the girl's direction as you look at her incredulously, dubious of the suggestion. "Zzar Wrestling?" You ask, slowing your pace. "Yeah! Zzar is a type of wine. You and your opponent get covered in zzar and enter a ring. Then, you have to force them to touch a red circle in the middle, but it's super difficult 'cause you're both slippery and sticky," she elaborates.

What a bizarre pastime. That surfacers consider dousing oneself in drink and grappling a form of seasonal entertainment is perplexing, to say the least. If nothing else, it would be amusing to watch as they clumsily grab at one another and- "Did you know that Aunt Ara has won the tournament fifteen years in a row now?" She adds.

... and perhaps it may be worth participating simply for the experience.

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>>6377728
"Ooh, this one looks pretty cute," says Ilanis, holding up a teal A-line dress that matches the distinct color of her eyes to her figure. "And here's one for you, Lu!" The girl displays a white slip dress with an open back that leaves only the essentials to the imagination. Luaue's features darken ever-so-slightly as she retorts, stumbling over her words. "Th-that's... Ilanis! We're supposed to be equipping ourselves for a battle n-not - whatever this is. Take this seriously!" she gestures vaguely at the dress. Ilanis retorts by playfully sticking out her tongue at the priestess, a gesture with no bite to it.

"I am serious! That's why I keep winnin'! Tell her, Sindi!"

As the two bicker, you take a moment to compare their physiques against their fighting styles. The Jivvin Golhyrr style naturally lends itself to a strong defense, and Ilanis' natural agility paired with her talent for evasion make lighter armor the obvious choice - some good leathers will suffice. Being half human and merely 'great' at protecting herself, Luaue will be needing something heavier as she will inevitably be taking hits, although it must still allow her to leverage the mobility of the Bautha z'hin style. Some good chain will do.

And while you're here, it wouldn't hurt to pick up a few additional items...

Potions
>Moonglass Philter - (Confers True Seeing for 10 minutes) - 2,000 GP
>Titan's Draft - (+8 Strength for 10 minutes, grow to six times size) - 3,000 GP
>Potion of Heal - (Fully restores Health upon imbibing, cures all ailments) - 5,000 GP

A weapon for Ilanis
>The Rose's Thorn - (Speed Rapier) - 6,000 GP
>World Edge - (Keen Scimitar) - 3,000 HP
>Kindly Knife - (Wounding Short Sword) - 4,500 GP

Other Items
>Dresses for Ilanis and Luaue - 400 GP
>Gogondy Wine (Powerful divination magic upon imbibing) - 3,000 GP

>>6377729
>Titan's Draft
>Potion of Heal
>The Rose's Thorn
>Dresses for Ilanis and Luaue
>Gogondy Wine

Now hear me out about the Titan's Draft, guys… If we can convince Arara to buy one as well, as unlikely as that sounds, we could put on the greatest Zarr Wrestling match Everlund has ever seen!

>>6377728
>"Did you know that Aunt Ara has won the tournament fifteen years in a row now?" She adds.
>... and perhaps it may be worth participating simply for the experience.
kek

>>6377729
>Titan's Draft
>Potion of Heal
>World Edge
Critmaxxing
>Dresses for Ilanis and Luaue

Do we have enough gold for all this? I don't remember how much we have left.

>>6377852
I should have posted this earlier, but it's 18,834.

>>6377729
>Titan's Draft
>Potion of Heal
>The Rose's Thorn
>Dresses for Ilanis and Luaue
Well, our prize money was going to run out eventually. Could try asking Sten if we could work for the town guard or watch…

>>6377764
>Giant elf women covered in wine wrestling each other during a festival
There’s going to be so many boys who will grow up to be macrophiliacs if we do this. We might be able to monetize it later, if we can think ahead and start up a market for giant made goods…

>>6377729
>Titan's Draft - (+8 Strength for 10 minutes, grow to six times size) - 3,000 GP
>Potion of Heal - (Fully restores Health upon imbibing, cures all ailments) - 5,000 GP

>World Edge - (Keen Scimitar) - 3,000 HP

>Dresses for Ilanis and Luaue - 400 GP

Vote closed.