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TreasureBay

Wizard Campaign

Rockwell

Quitris finds himself aboard a train, headed down the mountains to the coastal port city of Clearwater. It's fall in the mountains and the cool air whips through the open windows of the car. What was he doing up in the small mountain town of copperton?

Train going down the mountain.

TreasureBay

"I can't remember the last time I had a decent cup of coffee... was it Dunshire, with the woodland folk all those months ago?..." his thoughts trailed off to a dreamy other-world while he tried to concentrate on the notes he scribbled out the night before.

A greying, old, wandering bard floating through the town of Copperton, had fumbled out a few lyrics between two tankards of malt during the night's frivolity at the Stout Duck Tavern. When Quitris heard them, it seized his attention...

...
"A summer shine, oh, quite devine,
As Excelsa drips fall on my lips,
and chase the sleep behine'
...

He had only heard tales of coffee made from the Excelsa bean, and how highly it was praised and sought after. Once the singer had finished his melodious tale, Quitris implored him for more information about the song. The bard explained that some days ago he happened upon a shop on a corner in Clearwater that had this most exquisite drink. It inspired him so much, he wrote the lines for his song. Quitris offered him another ale for instructions on how to find this shop, which he scribbled quickly in the edges of his spell book.

He hoped his master wouldn't find out about the scribbled notes and this side quest... it had just been so long since his last good cup...

Rockwell

There's a brass-colored dragonborn in red and blue heavy mail sitting across the aisle from you, with a sword and shield in the seat next to him. He speaks up. "I know the look of a man pining for flavor! My stomach has quite the imagination as well! Is it food or drink you're missing?." A conductor enters from the front of the carriage to start checking tickets, and a gentle rain begins to fall on the glass ceiling above you.

TreasureBay

Quitris is slightly startled from his day-dreamy trance as he stretches open his eyes. The night prior has not been kind to him this day, but he does his best not to show the struggle. He takes a pause to gather his wits... He hadn't expected casual conversation while taking the train into the city. People tend to keep to themselves in metropolitan areas for fear of brigands taking advantage of the weak. From the looks of this dragonborn, though, he can probably take care of himself.

Quitris, introvert that he is, tries to practice being sociable when he gets the opportunity. Conversation and connection with others has the power to unlock the mysteries of the known world, so he never withdraws from a good natured conversation about his passions... coffee, for sure, being one of them.

"Good day, friend. I am indeed pining for a very specific drink before the day is done, though, I've never sampled this specific stock before. Tell me, are you familiar with the enchanting world of coffee?"

Rockwell

Roscoe

At that moment the door slides open and what at first looks like a dwarf, who is small even for a dwarf, clambers clumsily into the compartment.
"Do ya mind if I bunk up in here? Everywhere else is occupied." he says in the unmistakable accent of a halfling. Without waiting for an answer he settles onto the bench next to the bronze dragonborn. He sets his pack down on the floor a few inches beneath his dangling little feet. Pulling back his purple hood and setting his large brass staff aside he leans back and fishes a small wrapped package from inside his shirt. He quickly unravels the little package and begins munching on what looks like a large square biscuit. Crumbs tumble down into his large, healthy beard with each bite.
"Sorry for the intrusion. I fell asleep in the last compartment and...uh..well...anyway there's webbing all over the place now so I've been relocated. I don't mean to be a snoop but were you talking about coffee?"

Rockwell

His scaly face lights up. "Yes! Our friend here seems to have a mighty craving. Luckily i have something for just such an occasion" He flags down a steward for some water and pulls out a small set of cups and an Ibrik from his pouch. Reaching into a pouch, his hand comes out with a small amount of coffee which he dumps in the Ibrik with water, then he holds the Ibrik over his hand conjures a small flame to start it boiling. "OH! forgive my manners, i get so excited about preparing food and drink!" Tarragon Garam Togarash, Prince of Markash, at your service! What are your names?" The coffee in the little pitcher-pot boils over, and each time it does, he pours the boilover into a cup.

Roscoe

The halfling watches greedily as the aromas from the Ibrik start to fill the compartment. "No worries there my friend! I'm always open to both food and drink! I'm Roscoe Boar'roarer, very good to meet you." While exchanging greetings Roscoe pulls a small pewter mug from somewhere inside his shirt and holds it ready to receive whatever is on the menu.

TreasureBay

Thrilled at the smell of bubbling coffee, and intrigued by his new friends... "Delighted to meet you both! Quitris Qualanthri, and yes, Roscoe, you did hear coffee conversation."

Quitris reached for one of the hot cups prepared by Tarragon.

"I am on a quest, as it were, for a rare bean that may be hiding somewhere in Clearwater. ... and I'm sorry ... did you say webbing was all over the last compartment?" He was unable to let this lone detail slide by without comment...

A tingle traveled down his spine at the thought of giant spiders wandering the train cars....

Roscoe

Roscoe takes a deep drink of the hot coffee to buy some time. "Right, uh it's the cloak you see. I nicked it off of a prick wizard some years ago. And well..." The halfling raises his hand and points to the ceiling with his index and pinky finger. A blur of white flashes from his hand and ceiling is suddenly coated in a layer of whitish-green webbing.
"I've never been able to get it right, but the cloak is great for keeping rain and a chill away." he chuckles nervously and takes another deep drink of the coffee.
"What about a rare bean?"

Rockwell

"Yes, do tell, Quitris!" Tarragon listens to you intently. He absentmindedly snaps his fingers and the little pitcher becomes clean and dry in an instant. He packs it up and begins sipping from his own cup.

The train continues to happily chug along the mountainside.

TreasureBay

"That is absolutely fascinating!"

Quitris completely forgets he is holding the coffee, which he has been pining for months and is immediately drawn into the possible formulas, incantations, regants, and knowledge it would take to make such a wonderful cloak.

"I would surely love to study your cloak should the opportunity arise. I am a collector of strange and fascinating knowledge, you see."

"To your questions... ah, yes, my mystery bean... In addition to being a collector of the strange and fascinating I also have a penchant for coffee, and it just so happens luck may have smiled upon me yesterday. I stumbled upon an elder bard at the Stout Duck Tavern in Copperton who made mention in his melodic tune of a rare bean I have sought after for quite some time. It is called the Excelsa bean. I have heard rumors the flavor it produces is so unique, travelers have been known to go on pilgrimage just for the experience alone. With a little persistence, he revealed the whereabouts of the corner shop where I might procure my prize. If I were being honest, though, I shouldn't be on this little side-journey. I just couldn't resist after such an opportunity revealed itself. I pray i can make it back before my absence is discovered."

"Well enough of my story .... tell me what brings you both to this train."

Roscoe

"Well as it happens this is my first time on a train. Can't say I enjoy it all that much though, very cramped. I've been...uh...semi-retired in a way, living in the Burstpine forest north of Copperton. Don't have any trouble with the townsfolk, I keep to myself for the most part and they keep to themselves all the same. " He self-consciously brushes some dirt from his trousers. "Anyway...we've been having some trouble in the forest. That's me and my friend Maggie, we've been noticing a lot of predators moving into our area as of late. We tried to understand why they've changed territory, because the branch of the forest we live in can't sustain the amount of wolves and...other things...that have moved in you see. Looks like Copperton is expanding and pushing many of the animals and other beasties out of their homes and into mine. "
After he finishes his little biscuit he produces another from inside his shirt and gets to work on it. "I went and spoke with the rangers who maintain the border up there, and they said it's not something they have any say in. So I went to talk to the alderman or whatever she's called in Copperton and she said that it's above her pay grade and that I'd have to go and speak with the magistrate in Clearwater. So here I am and between the three of us here this is far more of the civilized world than I have a taste for so far, so I'm not particularly looking forward to going to an even bigger settlement to deal with some bureaucratic quill-clencher."
He drops the biscuit and hops off the bench to retrieve it. The movement puts his little arms on display, showing him to be the most muscular halfling either of you have ever seen. He hops back up into the bench.
"What about you Master Gourmet, are you procuring some kind of exotic ingredients?" he says to Tarragon.

Rockwell

"Well, you see, I'm rather 'in the doghouse' so to speak with my family, bunch of poncey aristocrats. So I've been sent out into the reaches of the world as an 'ambassador.' But really just to stop me embarrassing everyone i suppose. I am always in search of new tastes though!" His hearty chuckle is cut short by the lurch forward of the car as the train brakes rapidly, and your coffees spill all over. Other passengers start chattering and looking out the windows for what might be happening.

TreasureBay

Quitris, absorbed in his new companions stories... is taken by surprise by the sudden halt of the train. Without thinking he waves his hand over the coffee spills and instantly the coffee, cups, and table are clean. He helps collect the cups, and hands them to Tarragon.

While everyone's attention is drawn outside the rail car, Quitris silently summons his raven familiar from its pocket dimension. Quillian the Raven, appears perched on the top of his staff. In an instant through their shared telepathic link, Quitris shares the events that just transpired, and impresses on the raven to fly out the open window and seek further notions of what may be happening by flying the length of the halted mechanical beast, looking in the widows and around the outside of the cars.

Rockwell

Quillian sees, ahead of the train, a rockslide has blocked the track. Above the train is an airship, and Men are rapelling down on to the train! ROOOLLLL INIITTTTIATIVE

TreasureBay

22 (Natural 20)
"Gentlemen, ready yourselves... we have company..."

Roscoe

6!
"I'll go say hello."
Roscoe grabs his staff and springs up until he is crouched on the ceiling of the compartment. He crawls on all fours across the ceiling and slinks out the window onto the roof.

Rockwell

Quitris acts first! Roscoe is scuttling out the window, and Tarragon has stood up, his sword and shield magically teleporting into his hands. You hear the thuds of boy boots hitting the roof, and yells and screams from the cars ahead of you.