This week we kick off the dice-ember adventure strong with the Missing Lord which… is a misleading title and I’ll own that, but it does set the scene of the adventure and the objective for the party. The party are going about this business preparing for their own festivities as they are abruptly apprehended and… well the rest is soon to come.
So sit down, rug up with a seasonal beverage and let’s kick into tonight’s adventure!
The Missing Lord
449MoDe242
The party marvelled at what the markets this time of year with everything from clothes, weapons, potions, lotions, scented candles and more! As merchants hawked their wares and the public did the best to avoid being roped into another stall amongst the gathering noise and chaos there were moments of delight.
As party walked away with something new which they had spent their hard earned gold on they became increasingly aware of the hushed voices amongst the stalls. ‘Have you heard, the Red Lord’s missing. I heard it from a friend who cleans at the temple of Tyr and they know what’s happened. He’s dead, killed. A deity killed just like that. I suspect it’s a rival’ one muttered to the other hurriedly as if even speaking of the rumours was treason.
‘Dead? No, he’s abandoned us due to our wicked ways. I tolds’ ya, we need to show him that we are deserving! That’s why my house is covered in red cloths.’ one man barked a laugh but the mirth didn’t reach his eyes. It wasn’t the first time they had heard some of these rumours and the absence of the red-cloaked hymn singers was concerning as singing joyous choruses was part of the season. However there wasn’t a single one of the devout followers of the Red Lord.
As they neared a troupe of bards performing a classic named after the lesser deity of Judgement and Mercy, The Red Candle, they stopped and watched as someone sold chunks of charred vegetable and meat on a thin wooden stick. The play was about the first coming of the Red Lord, once a high priest of Tyr he grew tired of passing judgement on the wicked and naughty and instead he started to rule that mercy and second chances was best. His broken oath saw him thrown from the church but he dedicated the rest of his mortal life to forgiveness and mercy.
His teachings were widely received and soon vicious crimes were decreasing and especially when food was plenty, just after the harvest, he taught of celebration and mirth as the best way to spread his teachings. As his hair and beard grew long and white he began to wear a heft red cloak so that people could always find someone to defend them and to provide a second chance at mercy.
However he was eventually struck down by a deity who had been shunned, ignored and locked away. The Forgotten One, a deity of isolation and the pain of banishment was losing those who prayed to anyone who would listen to them when they were alone, banished or isolated and during the harvest festival where the now Red Lord used to share his table with any and all the isolated and banished were even welcome at the grand feasting tables.
Sick of the imposition into her domain she struck out and mortally wounded the man after taking the form of a one of the forgotten who was at his table. As the man lay dying he offered his murder, the Forgotten One, a candle as a sign of forgiveness. The candle instantly burnt bright and red casting back the illusion that the deity had cast upon herself and he ceased dying. Invigorated with divine magic he ascended to become the Red Lord who spread forgiveness and mercy to any and all.
As the crowd cheered on the performers are great procession of the kingdoms guards appeared with several clerics of Tyr amongst their midst. As they marched through the plaza they stopped in front of the party before calling them out. ‘You all are under arrest for the murder of the Red Lord. Your guilt has been divined and your evil deeds in silencing the season of forgiveness, mercy and mirth is undeniable. You are to come with us as you have been granted a trial by the teachings of the deity that you have murdered. If you try to escape or resist your guilt is sealed and your punishment will be decided. Come with us not peacefully, though many of us deem you not worthy of mercy.’
The party heard an audible gasp as the crowd of people around them had the message sunk in. They were innocent, they had no means or desire to kill a deity as powerful as the Red Lord and yet their guilt was already decided. As they were marched down the street with a dark metal cuff around their wrists chaining them together they wondered what had gone wrong. They had to clear their names publicly if they ever wanted to walk freely in civilisation again as they were accused of murdering hope and mercy itself.
Leading the charge into a rather large adventure we have the opening scene with a wrong conviction and long journey ahead to clear their name. Don’t forget that this is just the first week of Dice-ember and that we have a lot of content coming daily for the next few weeks. So don’t forge to come back daily so you don’t miss a thing and, as always, don’t forget to roll with advantage,
The Brazen Wolfe
Brazen Wolfe Tabletop 