The Graveyard Shift - 12/07/2022 - Mendel Recounts
Jul 16, 2022 16:56:33 GMT
Velania Kalugina, stephena, and 2 more like this
Post by Andy D on Jul 16, 2022 16:56:33 GMT
Scene:
Evening, inside a forge in the Dwarven Quarter of Daring Heights
KAVEL
And you don’t need to get the forge going?
MENDAL
No dear boy! No! I can’t believe I haven’t shown you this particular divine gift I have?! I was definitely blessed by Moradin before you left for Kantas!
KAVEL
Yeah, I knew you were/are a cleric of the forge, blessed by Moradin. But, I thought all your forging was still ‘practical’.
MENDAL
Well, you are in for a treat! Takes about an hour, but with the coin you’ve provided, I’ll be able to ‘magic you up’ what you wanted - no forge, no tools required! Just me and my holy symbol.
KAVEL
Okay. Nice!
MENDAL
Now, I need to concentrate on my Artisan’s Blessing ritual, but I can still tell you about Port Ffirst too.
KAVEL
Yeah - how did you describe Castleside again? ‘Shagged by fire?’ That!
MENDAL
Exactly! Shagged to smithereens! Why didn’t anyone put more defences over there?
KAVEL
I was doing emergency carpentry here, and then I was at the Fort. I did recruit a Hellfire Engine to protect the port though.
MENDAL
Well, it wasn’t enough though, was it.
KAVEL
… what did you do?
MENDAL
Well, I helped in the medical tent here. You know I care much less about the healing and religious side of my talents than I do the crafting. So, that was good of me.
KAVEL
What else?
MENDAL
… I fought quite a bit in the McAdams Fight Pit. Strangely, there were still quite a few customers there during all the preparations.
KAVEL
How did that help the Port?
MENDAL
Shut up! Anyway, look - I got a note from someone called Vitex about helping their Circle, who seemed to live in the sewers, about helping to clean up the Port. The note said to ‘meet halfway down Old Town Road once the sun has set’. No bloody description of what they looked like though!
KAVEL
Oh. Was it easy to find this, Vitex then?
MENDAL
Yes - I guess it was. But, first I met a bunch of adventurers, who I swear you haven’t told me about, so they must be new to both of us.
KAVEL
Oh, go on.
MENDAL
First there was a crossbow-wielding, blue kobold and a black-furred tabaxi with a scar across his right eye. I asked if either of them were Vitex, and the kobold jumped a mile and scuttered away to hide.
KAVEL
How did you ask?
MENDAL
“EXCUSE ME! WOULD EITHER OF YOU HAPPEN TO BE VITEX?!”
KAVEL
I sometimes forget, because I am used to it. But, Mendel - you are very loud.
MENDAL
But still, come on!
Anyway, Prowler, the tabaxi responded and said he nor Digs, the kobold, were Vitex and they were looking for Vitex too. Neither of them had a description of Vitex to go by either. We started to think we’d been bloodied trolled! Then another tabaxi, more refined looking than Prowler and an elderly harengon lady arrived; Lucky and Boosya.
Good tip for you Kavel.
KAVEL
Yes?
MENDAL
Say yes if Boosya offers you cake. I had a very yummy carrot cake from her.
KAVEL
Okay
Mendal goes silent concentrating on a particular part of the Artisan’s Blessing Ritual
And you don’t need to get the forge going?
MENDAL
No dear boy! No! I can’t believe I haven’t shown you this particular divine gift I have?! I was definitely blessed by Moradin before you left for Kantas!
KAVEL
Yeah, I knew you were/are a cleric of the forge, blessed by Moradin. But, I thought all your forging was still ‘practical’.
MENDAL
Well, you are in for a treat! Takes about an hour, but with the coin you’ve provided, I’ll be able to ‘magic you up’ what you wanted - no forge, no tools required! Just me and my holy symbol.
KAVEL
Okay. Nice!
MENDAL
Now, I need to concentrate on my Artisan’s Blessing ritual, but I can still tell you about Port Ffirst too.
KAVEL
Yeah - how did you describe Castleside again? ‘Shagged by fire?’ That!
MENDAL
Exactly! Shagged to smithereens! Why didn’t anyone put more defences over there?
KAVEL
I was doing emergency carpentry here, and then I was at the Fort. I did recruit a Hellfire Engine to protect the port though.
MENDAL
Well, it wasn’t enough though, was it.
KAVEL
… what did you do?
MENDAL
Well, I helped in the medical tent here. You know I care much less about the healing and religious side of my talents than I do the crafting. So, that was good of me.
KAVEL
What else?
MENDAL
… I fought quite a bit in the McAdams Fight Pit. Strangely, there were still quite a few customers there during all the preparations.
KAVEL
How did that help the Port?
MENDAL
Shut up! Anyway, look - I got a note from someone called Vitex about helping their Circle, who seemed to live in the sewers, about helping to clean up the Port. The note said to ‘meet halfway down Old Town Road once the sun has set’. No bloody description of what they looked like though!
KAVEL
Oh. Was it easy to find this, Vitex then?
MENDAL
Yes - I guess it was. But, first I met a bunch of adventurers, who I swear you haven’t told me about, so they must be new to both of us.
KAVEL
Oh, go on.
MENDAL
First there was a crossbow-wielding, blue kobold and a black-furred tabaxi with a scar across his right eye. I asked if either of them were Vitex, and the kobold jumped a mile and scuttered away to hide.
KAVEL
How did you ask?
MENDAL
“EXCUSE ME! WOULD EITHER OF YOU HAPPEN TO BE VITEX?!”
KAVEL
I sometimes forget, because I am used to it. But, Mendel - you are very loud.
MENDAL
But still, come on!
Anyway, Prowler, the tabaxi responded and said he nor Digs, the kobold, were Vitex and they were looking for Vitex too. Neither of them had a description of Vitex to go by either. We started to think we’d been bloodied trolled! Then another tabaxi, more refined looking than Prowler and an elderly harengon lady arrived; Lucky and Boosya.
Good tip for you Kavel.
KAVEL
Yes?
MENDAL
Say yes if Boosya offers you cake. I had a very yummy carrot cake from her.
KAVEL
Okay
Mendal goes silent concentrating on a particular part of the Artisan’s Blessing Ritual
Scene fades to black
Scene:
Evening further along - we rejoin Mendal and Kavel who have now got snacks and drinks. Still Inside the same forge
MENDAL
So yes. Vitex, a half sea-elf, I believe, popped up out of a manhole cover along with three other members of her druid circle, Glass, Weed and Raccoon. They live in the sewer.
KAVEL
Urgh...
MENDAL
Exactly - and I was very pleased to find out they didn’t need our help down there. Of course I prepared some spells for the sewer earlier in the day, just in case. But, no fortunately, they had a vested interest in helping the topside, and were hoping adventurers could help. No gold reward, but they had some trinkets they could provide.
So, we first went with Glass to see what could be salvaged around part of the town. Glass was particularly interested in upcycling any clothing. There was plenty to be found. I went about fixing things like broken door hinges and the likes.
KAVEL
Did you use Artisan’s Blessing?
MENDAL
No, no. Just regular, practical smithing and tinkering. After we were done there, we went to join Weed who was busy at the harbour. Weed had wildshaped into a seal and wanted help bringing in the wreckage and getting it out of the way of the remaining, functioning ships. I hadn’t thought to prepare the Walk on Water spell, which was a bugger, but Weed was competent in that spell, which was very lucky!
KAVEL
You can do that? Make people walk on water?
MENDAL
Oh yes. If I have it prepared.
KAVEL
I thought your Forge Cleric magic meant you could cast things like guiding radiant bolts of energy, offer people magical guidance, magically bless them, spiritual stuff and in your case fiery stuff?
MENDAL
Oh yes! That too, but part of being divinely blessed means you get lots of practical magic that can be used to aid people, and not just the healing stuff. Here look, I haven't unprepared a certain spell since coming back from Port Ffirst, want some bread and water?
KAVEL
No, I’m good with what we’ve got thanks.
MENDAL
Have some anyway!
Mendel performs the verbal and somatic components to a spell, and casts Create Food and Water, and 45 pounds of food and thirty gallons of water appear
KAVEL
Woah! That’s a lot of bread and water!
Kavel tears off a mouth sized piece of bread from one of the many loaves, and eats it. He puts a hand into one of the containers of water and drinks from his hand.
Water’s good. Bread tastes alright - it’s bland though.
MENDAL
It’s a fucking miracle you mean! It might be bland, but you’ll never go hungry or thirsty while I’m around!
I hope you’ve reserved better praise for when I’ve finished the Artisan’s Blessing!
Anyway, ingrate…
With the Walk on Water spell casted, we helped pull in a bunch of wreckage from the harbour. Boosya got some new dye material for her knitting - Weed showed her some moss that was useful for that. Prowler found some daggers in the salvage, and Diggs learnt how to swim.
KAVEL
How long were you pulling in wreckage?
MENDAL
Couple hours maybe? We had to meet Vitex before sunrise, and we decided that rather than stay on wreckage duty, we would go find Raccoon and help with… reducing the burnt flesh stench in town.
KAVEL
Ah - not an envious job, but someone has to do it. Good for you, comrade!
MENDAL
Oh thank you, and you’re right. Someone has to do it, and I did my best to help with magic, I magically made it rain to help clear the muck faster, but even then - still had to get stuck in and scrub. After a few more hours of elbow grease, the sun was coming up and we all went back to where we met Vitex.
KAVEL
What did you receive as a reward for your work?
MENDAL
Oh, it was a fragment of a beautiful song written in beautiful notes on two sheets of parchment. It was in immaculate condition and I think it was a sea shanty. I’ll have to get one of the bards to give it a go, and see if they know the rest of it.
Lucky, the refined tabaxi gentleman was given an ornate dwarven dragon brooch. I had a look and it was not bad, obviously I could have made it better, and with an Artisan’s Blessing I could duplicate the brooch exactly! Lucky, who obviously had good taste in things, was very interested with my assessment of the brooch and what I would have done to improve it.
KAVEL
Nice! Once, when I got a non-gold based reward, I was given the deeds to an island.
MENDAL
Bloody hell, really?!
KAVEL
Yes. Ha. I’ve just got back from visiting my island.
MENDAL
What the bloody hell did you do to earn that?
KAVEL
Oh I just visited the moon with comrade Gerhard. No work.
MENDAL
Lucky bugger!
KAVEL
Ha, ha. Yeah. Hey, what’s going on there?
Kavel points at the pile of coins he provided Mendal for the Artisan’s Blessing
MENDAL
Ah! Lucky buggers’ artisan blessed item is almost ready!
Mendal performs the last parts of the ritual as Kavel’s provided coins transform into a 200lb kettlebell
There we go!
One beautifully, and magically crafted 200lb kettlebell for you lad, courtesy of one of the best crafting experts in the world and of course we give thanks to Moradin, as well.
Now, fucking hell it’s heavy! Try it out you goliath lug.
KAVEL
Kavel performs a few clean and presses with the 200lbs kettlebell
Nice!!! It’s perfect, Mendal! Thank you so much my friend!
MENDAL
Mendal waves a hand dismissively in the air
Nah, don’t mention it! Anything for my favourite mountain boy.
So yes. Vitex, a half sea-elf, I believe, popped up out of a manhole cover along with three other members of her druid circle, Glass, Weed and Raccoon. They live in the sewer.
KAVEL
Urgh...
MENDAL
Exactly - and I was very pleased to find out they didn’t need our help down there. Of course I prepared some spells for the sewer earlier in the day, just in case. But, no fortunately, they had a vested interest in helping the topside, and were hoping adventurers could help. No gold reward, but they had some trinkets they could provide.
So, we first went with Glass to see what could be salvaged around part of the town. Glass was particularly interested in upcycling any clothing. There was plenty to be found. I went about fixing things like broken door hinges and the likes.
KAVEL
Did you use Artisan’s Blessing?
MENDAL
No, no. Just regular, practical smithing and tinkering. After we were done there, we went to join Weed who was busy at the harbour. Weed had wildshaped into a seal and wanted help bringing in the wreckage and getting it out of the way of the remaining, functioning ships. I hadn’t thought to prepare the Walk on Water spell, which was a bugger, but Weed was competent in that spell, which was very lucky!
KAVEL
You can do that? Make people walk on water?
MENDAL
Oh yes. If I have it prepared.
KAVEL
I thought your Forge Cleric magic meant you could cast things like guiding radiant bolts of energy, offer people magical guidance, magically bless them, spiritual stuff and in your case fiery stuff?
MENDAL
Oh yes! That too, but part of being divinely blessed means you get lots of practical magic that can be used to aid people, and not just the healing stuff. Here look, I haven't unprepared a certain spell since coming back from Port Ffirst, want some bread and water?
KAVEL
No, I’m good with what we’ve got thanks.
MENDAL
Have some anyway!
Mendel performs the verbal and somatic components to a spell, and casts Create Food and Water, and 45 pounds of food and thirty gallons of water appear
KAVEL
Woah! That’s a lot of bread and water!
Kavel tears off a mouth sized piece of bread from one of the many loaves, and eats it. He puts a hand into one of the containers of water and drinks from his hand.
Water’s good. Bread tastes alright - it’s bland though.
MENDAL
It’s a fucking miracle you mean! It might be bland, but you’ll never go hungry or thirsty while I’m around!
I hope you’ve reserved better praise for when I’ve finished the Artisan’s Blessing!
Anyway, ingrate…
With the Walk on Water spell casted, we helped pull in a bunch of wreckage from the harbour. Boosya got some new dye material for her knitting - Weed showed her some moss that was useful for that. Prowler found some daggers in the salvage, and Diggs learnt how to swim.
KAVEL
How long were you pulling in wreckage?
MENDAL
Couple hours maybe? We had to meet Vitex before sunrise, and we decided that rather than stay on wreckage duty, we would go find Raccoon and help with… reducing the burnt flesh stench in town.
KAVEL
Ah - not an envious job, but someone has to do it. Good for you, comrade!
MENDAL
Oh thank you, and you’re right. Someone has to do it, and I did my best to help with magic, I magically made it rain to help clear the muck faster, but even then - still had to get stuck in and scrub. After a few more hours of elbow grease, the sun was coming up and we all went back to where we met Vitex.
KAVEL
What did you receive as a reward for your work?
MENDAL
Oh, it was a fragment of a beautiful song written in beautiful notes on two sheets of parchment. It was in immaculate condition and I think it was a sea shanty. I’ll have to get one of the bards to give it a go, and see if they know the rest of it.
Lucky, the refined tabaxi gentleman was given an ornate dwarven dragon brooch. I had a look and it was not bad, obviously I could have made it better, and with an Artisan’s Blessing I could duplicate the brooch exactly! Lucky, who obviously had good taste in things, was very interested with my assessment of the brooch and what I would have done to improve it.
KAVEL
Nice! Once, when I got a non-gold based reward, I was given the deeds to an island.
MENDAL
Bloody hell, really?!
KAVEL
Yes. Ha. I’ve just got back from visiting my island.
MENDAL
What the bloody hell did you do to earn that?
KAVEL
Oh I just visited the moon with comrade Gerhard. No work.
MENDAL
Lucky bugger!
KAVEL
Ha, ha. Yeah. Hey, what’s going on there?
Kavel points at the pile of coins he provided Mendal for the Artisan’s Blessing
MENDAL
Ah! Lucky buggers’ artisan blessed item is almost ready!
Mendal performs the last parts of the ritual as Kavel’s provided coins transform into a 200lb kettlebell
There we go!
One beautifully, and magically crafted 200lb kettlebell for you lad, courtesy of one of the best crafting experts in the world and of course we give thanks to Moradin, as well.
Now, fucking hell it’s heavy! Try it out you goliath lug.
KAVEL
Kavel performs a few clean and presses with the 200lbs kettlebell
Nice!!! It’s perfect, Mendal! Thank you so much my friend!
MENDAL
Mendal waves a hand dismissively in the air
Nah, don’t mention it! Anything for my favourite mountain boy.
Scene ends
