Mercenary Backstory: Cymbidium - Orchid Spellweaver

Far across the Misty Sea is a tropical paradise called Dendrobium. It is on those

shores that I spent much of my formative years, exploring the natural geography and getting into far too much trouble for the likes of my people. You see my kin, who can live for thousands of years, have developed a placid lifestyle and a child with an almost insatiable desire for adventure, such as myself, was a big headache.

Although there were many whom I annoyed, I developed a few strong relationships. My parents were beautiful beacons of light and shelter for their rare and wonderful orchid child. I had some teachers who were fond enough of my curious nature to overlook my propensity to wonder of from their tutelage after an interesting bug or animal. My clans elder was another who would always shake off the meditative crystals and attend my questions with a soft smile. And Tiburon, my familiar, whose mischievousness was complementary to my own and whose appearance as a raccoon confirmed to many my shame.

Why am I here instead of that enchanting place you ask? I am on a quest. It started with a cough, one no one was prepared for, one barely anyone knew the name of once it spread: sickness. My family is ill, snuffed out like that blade of grass under your shoe, and I must find their cure. My elder said that long ago our people wrote of some medicine deep within the Dagger Forest that could help us. I will do everything I can to bring it back to him.

Backstory written by Tawnya.

Week Four - Gloomhaven Warehouse (#8)

At the Behest of our mysterious contact, we decided to see if there was "something behind" Jekserah's machinations. Resting during the day and arising at night we headed off to discover any secrets the Warehouse might conceal.

We had hoped to find the warehouse abandoned, but after picking the lock on the front door we were suprised to find the first room was swarming with Living Bones! Jekserah had clearly been busy using the necromantic scroll we delivered to her a couple weeks ago. Time to "fix" our mistake...

The fight was almost easy, Tabbax opened up the action with some of her deadly daggers and Groot stepped up to block the Living Bones from advancing on the softer targets within our party. Ktzlx and Cymbidium followed up with their initial barrage and we shifted the numbers to our side.

The second round was going so well, Ktzlx decided we needed more, so he opened the door to the second room. He is nothing else if not impetuous. Cymbidium was on fire and took out another Living Bones Tabbax got bold and use her new winged boots to dash to the treasure chest (Random Side Scenario: Toxic Moor #68). amongst the crowded bookshelves in the second room.

Opening the Door worked out great because the Living Corpse's immediately started falling apart. Jekserah really needed to work on her necromancy skills. Groot true to form advanced into the narrow corridors formed by the bookcases and became an formidable barrier to our enemies advancement.

The narrow corridors made for easy picking for Cymbidium to use her longer ranged spells to destroy the Living Corpses. Ktzlx, once again, decided the battle was going so well for us that he opened the door to the back room of the warehouse.

Well, well, well, look who we found - Jekserah - and a couple huge Inox Bodyguards. She looked suprised and suggested we would regret turning against her. She threatened us with plans to raise an undead army and return to Gloomhaven. Then she backflipped out a window and disappeared into the night. Her two Inox Bodyguards blocked her escape and we could not pursue her until we persuaded them otherwise.

Tabbax went invisible, dashed into the room and managed to severely wound one of the Bodyguards. Ktzlx used some mind tricks and made the healthy Inox turn on his wounded buddy and dealt another severe blow. Cymbidium flared up and finished off the poor - and now dead - Inox. Groot stepped into the room, paused to pick up some coins off the floor, then smashed the last Bodyguard hard. Even Groot finds gold hard to resist!

By the time we finished off the last Bodyguard and made it to the window, Jekserah the Valrath was no where to be seen and would be very difficult to track. She was a wily foe and this was her neighbourhood, she was smart enough to have an escape plan for an event like this...

Her threats to raise an undead army did not sit well with us, we were the ones who almost gleefully delivered the necromantic spell into her hands. We needed the money, but what cost would Gloomhaven pay for our deed? (Reward: +2 Reputation)

Argeise the City Guard approached us soon after we left the warehouse and suggested we needed to track her down. Jekserah was beyond her network and had likely fled the city by now. She was also a city guard and had few skills for tracking her through the wilds.

She suggested we visit the Temple of the Seer (#13) and see if the Aesther enchanter can divine Jekserah's location. The enchanter is notoriously obtuse, but perhaps we can find the right ways to make her co-operate.

Argeise also mentioned that if the Seer could not be convinced to cooperate - that perhaps we could find some clues at the Vibrant Grotto (#7) or even Frozen Hollow (#14).

We were initially unsure of whom we should trust - Argeise or Jekserah, but the Warehouse proved that Jekserah was the one we should be working against -  The Merchant Flees (Global Achievement)

Despite our warehouse battle and the conversation with Argeise - the night was yet young! (City Event #26) The Sleeping Lion was crowded and the drinks were flowing. Unfortunately, the proprietors had been lax on their Tech lamp maintenance and as soon as we were served our drinks the lamps started flickering - and sputtered out. Hmmm, total darkness in a crowded bar with lots of drunk patrons - whats a scoundrel to do, what's a scoundrel to do..... 

Moments later some of the gold in other pouches mysteriously ended up in ours (Gain 10 Collective Gold) and nobody else seemed to notice!

Peace

Week Three - Barrow Lair (#2) Conclusion & Inox Encampment (#3)

Our elation was high at the end of our last battle, but faded quickly once we discovered  our quarry and the documents were no where to be found. We did, however, find an entrance to the Barrow Lair (Map Location #2) so it appears our search for our Quarry and the documents will take us deeper underground....

The stench of death and rotting flesh got thicker as we kicker past the corpses and headed deeper into the underground burial site. The stench is so thick and heavy in the air you can taste it and the vileness makes you retch to the point of being Cursed (Scenario rules: Add 3 Curse Cards)!

Picking up the muffled sounds of conversation in the distance we cautiously make our way forward and come upon a small room and a handful of Bandit Bowmen. Our earlier training and tactics conversation was really paying off now because we overcame these Bandit Bowmen really quickly. The battle became so easy that Ktzlx and Tabbax started arguing over the coins instead of priority targeting the enemies.

The second room was a little more difficult, but we focused on the Bandit Commander (our Quarry!) He was even taunting us by asking "Who are you to think you can interrupt the work of the Gloom?". A haunting thought to be sure..... Once we battered the Bandit Commander down the other Elite Bandit Bowmen bodyguards seemed to lose their will to fight and went down quickly.

Ktzlx managed to dart over to the chest and open it for 10 Gold before engaging the two Living Corpses. We prevailed, found our quarry and the documents - we won. Time to return to GloomHaven and claim our reward.

In reading through the documents we did find a map of the northern countryside with a location clearly marked. (Map Location #4 - Crypt of the Damned)  Perhaps we might want to investigate and find out more about this so-called "Gloom".

Once back at the Sleeping Lion we hooked up with Jekserah, handed over the papers and she paid us our reward of 10 Gold each. (Scenario Reward: 10 Gold and +1 Prosperity) She seemed pleased by our work and suggested we might be interested in another job regarding a tribe of Inox that has apparently been ransacking her caravans headed to the capital. She unrolled a map  that showed the Inox Encampment (Map Location #3).

She seemed trustworthy enough, had paid handsomely and without the usual quibbling we mercenaries had become accustomed. We took the job - mercenaries gotta make gold when the sun is shinning.

Cymbidium, Groot and Ktzlx all level up.

We decided to celebrate with our new coin (City Event #59) and after a night of heavy drinking we got turned around navigating the back alleys, and found ourselves standing before a collapsed section of bricked road that lead down into an underground tunnel.

Fueled by curiosity and quite a bit of liquid courage, we descended in search of adventure, Stumbling around in a vast network of tunnels proved fruitless, however, until a well-concealed passage lead to a long forgotten stash of weaponry and dried food. Groot especially seemed happy to be trolling around with a belly full of spirits - Inox can be odd creatures.

The stash would fetch a decent price at the Sunken Market, but we decided we would turn it over to the city guard whom is always in need of arms and rations. The Captain of the Guard was thrilled because the local blacksmiths were having trouble keeping up with their demands. (Gain 1 Prosperity).

The following morning we headed out to the Inox Encampment (Map Location #3). Walking through a stretch of lowlands we saw a man in armor sitting against a large boulder. He was bleeding badly from his side. (Road Event #09).

He had apparently been separated from his military detail and had an unfortunate run-in with a bear - probably the same one we came across earlier from his description. He asked for a potion to help him make it back to GloomHaven. Cymbidium leaped at the chance to help and offered one of her potions. (Collectively consume 1 Potion).

Our orders from Jekserah were clear - teach the Inox some manners and make an example of some caravan raiders (Scenario Goal: Kill 20 Inox). We entered the Dagger Forest and began to track down the encampment using jekserah's crude map. It was well hidden but following the signs outlined on the parchement we found a dense cluster of huts in a small clearing.

This was a straight up bare knuckled fight - the Inox are worthy fighters. Tabbax used her nimble skills to jump over some totems and open the door at the back of the encampment leading to their Shaman and a chest with a helmet in it (Chest Reward #65 - Horned Helm).

Unfortunately a twinge of conscience hit Tabbax when she also noticed a huddled bunch of children. Having set the "example" we fled through the forest, leaving behind the smell of burning flesh. This just didn't feel right for some reason.

Our feelings must have been obvious to Jekserah because when she handed over the bounty (Scenario Reward: 10 Gold Each & +1 Prosperity) she told us "They were thieves and marauders, they deserved what you gave them".

I also have one more task I would like you to preform. she continues, I require a diamond of considerable size for a customer, but I cannot find one anywhere in the city. There is a diamond mine in the southern mountains long since lost to the wilderness. I have heard reports that it is now overrun with Vermlings. No doubt with some other more intelligent force behind them. If you can fight your way in and grab the biggest diamond you can find, I will give you a considerable reward. (Party Achievement: Jekserah's Plans) (Diamond Mine #9).

Outside, contemplating our new task, a small figure approached us and said "She's not looking for profit, you know." A Quatryl, clad in dark leather armor and holding a curious contraption of gears and hoses, stepped out of the alley and introduced herself as Argeise, city guard. I know I don't exactly look the part, but if anyone isn't what they appear to be, it's that Jekserah you've been talking to. Sure, she's a merchant, but she is up to something far more sinister..

She's been trying to overthrow the military in Gloomhaven for as long and I been here and we are very curious about what her current machinations are.

Look, you can do her bidding like a good little puppy if you want, but if you'd rather actually help this town keep the peace and not get overrun by the wilds I have a different idea. We'll get to the bottom of Jekserah's plans and expose her for what she really is. Argeise told us the location of her Gloomhaven Warehouse (#8)

It seems we have more to contemplate....

Tabbax levels up

Peace.

Week Two - Black Barrow (#1) Redux

We sure got our butts kicked the first time we entered the Black Barrow (Map Location #1)!

We had to retreat outside, bandage some wounds, and have a chat about some new battle tactics. It was obvious that, though we were all capable on an individual basis, we had to find some way to become an effective force fighting together. Our synergies needed to be worked out - we needed to use our individual strengths to overlap our individual weaknesses.

Fortunately, our foes did not follow us in our retreat. Even with our defeat, we still did a lot of damage to their hideout and thinned their ranks quite a bit. No doubt they knew we had only retreated temporarily and were already bolstering their numbers for the inevitable second fight. We needed the mercenary money - we were still broke.

Heading back down the worn stairs, the stench of death was just as putrid as the first time. They had indeed replenished their guard Bandits in the first room and either our tactics chat worked or these were the rawest of the recruits they could find after our last attack. The story I will regale in the pubs later will be focused on the battle chat version because these Bandits were dispatched very quickly and easily.

The second room was still a bit of a battle though, those Archers at a distance gave us a bit of trouble. This time though Cymbi did not just charge through the door, she was more cautious and took advantage of her ranged capabilities. Groot went full on tank and lead the charge, taking a bit of damage, but effectively blocking the Archers from attacking the softer targets in our group.

The Archers tried throwing some traps around the room, but Glint took a break from looting and disarmed the important ones. Ktzlyx was also in grand form and managed to get one of the Archers to walk into his own trap - poor fellow lost his leg, then his head.

Third room is a charm! The Skeletons were still there, much to our disappointment, blocking the entrance, much to our disappointment. The Archers behind them take advantage of their wall of bones and were peppering us with deadly accuracy. Groot once again stepped forward and become our wall of protection. They had a solid defence, but a few rounds later we managed to defeat them all.

Excited by our first real win together we scrambled around looking for the thief and the documents. Our elation was dissolving quickly when we realized neither the thief nor the documents were anywhere to be found. The only thing we found was a small entrance leading further down into the Barrow Lair (Map Location #2). Montag's Marauders had taken their First Steps (Party Achievement) on what is likely to be a long road and exciting adventure.

This ended our Second game session. Folks needed some time to adjust to the game system and the subtleties of the combat system. This session was far more satisfying and we are glad to be progressing the story. First Steps indeed.

Peace,
Brent