3. Foul weather

Foul weather


  • ::A figure rides into Norwick, mounted upon a massive steed, in the figures arm is a Banner bearing the symbol of the Order of the Divine shield. Behind him are several other armoured figures, their armour resplendent in the light. Those that come near them feel a sense of courage return to their hearts. Dismounting the Figure makes his way to the Town Hall::


  • _Several times in the past few days, a chill, clammy fog has drifted into Norwick, freezing the marrow from anyone caught in it. Most people start barracading themselves in their houses the moment it appears, especially when word gets around of the shapes in it.

    Unnerved townsfolk and farmers huddle in the Grapevine, talking of ghostly wolves loping down the middle of the town through the fog, and of clumps of mist that suddenly attack, draining the life from their victim.

    Several mages and defenders have fought such horrors and worse as the fogs persist; some hopefully say that ways have been found to temporarily disperse them.

    On top of this, word spreads that demon-tainted goblins have used the fog to slip into town over the walls, the mist hiding them from the normally watchful guards. Hunted down and killed, they nevertheless slew five commoners first.

    Oldtimers speak grimly of the last killer fog to hit Norwick… Old Norwick, the now-abandoned town. Hesitantly, more and more people start to speculate that the new town may need to be abandoned as well; that the town is doomed._


  • @2d3ee80a8a=ArUlric:

    _Adding to the bizarre assaults on Norwick in the last days, weeks and months, a fresh hell and new horror has been visited on the slack-mandible locals of the burgh. Carrying a rusty-rustic looking scythe, a blonde dwarven figure waddle-pegs around town brashly hauling strangers and introducing herself as "Telli". No simple blonde hair this, however, but a radiant, candy-bright corkscrew curl wig framing Mercy's puggish ugliness in lewd and ludicrous parody of the authentic Telli. Draped in a filthy, greenish cloak, the stealthy Mercy proceeds to dispense medical and agricultural advice in Telli's name.

    These include, amongst other suggestions, inciting those suffering from the pangs of hunger to "prod them a pinecone up yer corkhole tae keep'ee feelin' full durin' th' lean weeks o' summer, yarr? Yon be a free drop o' advice fer Telli, yer favourite titstand an' cockroacher." To another, she suggests that simple manuring of crops is insufficient, and instead the Goddess suggests that local babies should be lashed to "shite dispensers" around "Chauntea's holy … er ... planty things" and regularly squeezed better to restore the nutrients to the soil. Added to these fraudulent Chaunteaisms, Mercy - the blonde bombshell - also makes a bold and sticky stab at hawking "holy" vials which she claims are curative but also have erotic applications. Close inspection of these bottles - which contain a phlegm like, viscous substance - will reveal a label marked

    "Telli's Weepin' Gash Ungent. Free refill. May contain nuts..."_

    Word of Mercy's buffoonery finally reaches Telli as she waddles the farming area making sure the hag's venom hadn't spread too far. Those claiming vile sickness are restored as soon as she's able.

  • H

    _Meye Spark is seen to spend lots of her time in Norwick, having a faint smile on her face most of the time. Whenever she notices any of those visitors, she greets them and introduces herself, after which she takes them aside for discussion.

    She can be heard offering them possibility to be escorted to the cave, even though she states that there are still some construction works on going and if they wish to stay there before those are finished, they may camp outside.

    For those who are not wishing to camp outdoors while waiting she points to the inn which she is heard to tell to be very high quality one._


  • Telli notes a lot of the newcomers and waddles off with purpose to find Dwin as soon as she can.


  • There seem to be an increasing number of visitors in town prone to wearing white and blue, many with a snowflake motif. Most seem uninclined to cause trouble, but several can be heard inquiring of guards or shopkeepers about the location of a cave in the woods, and what dangers they can expect traveling there.


  • At times another Legionnaire, Yngdír, will visit Telli in the fields. He is known to return straying livestock at times - and warn farmers of loose fences. He visits her frequently with all manner of strange infusions - or teas. Ranging from common nettle or spruce, to a thin soup made from fish-stock and wild mushrooms - and things easily foraged.

    Mostly, he just keeps Telli company - although quiet, he is at least a friendly presence. Other times he demonstrates simple ways to keep warm to the same people that Telli orders about the fields - his more traditional ways of checking sores, and soothing bruises are also applied when time permits, or necessity demands.


  • With increased talk of a strike on the Hungry-One's quarters, Telli's instructed farmers, workers and their kids to bundle up and begin packing hay around the edges of each farming field. Telli stands at the altar often throughout the day with her head cocked to the sky waiting for any signs of change in the weather. One things evident, without someone of capable hands to releave her of her duty Telli plans to keep her stalwart battle drawn at the Norwick farmlands.


  • The farmlands of Norwick are abuzz…nearly all the Semi-hardy and Hardy vegetables have been planted. Once the final fields finished the farmers meet near the Altar built to Chauntea as they unite in hand. With a firm nod and waddle to her step Telli takes her place infront of the Altar completing the chain of workers, farmers, adventurers, and anyone whom helped in Norwick's dire season. A final prayer is offered up to the earth mother as each whispers in their own accord.

    @a3f119599e:

    Plant Growth
    Transmutation
    Level: Drd 3, Plant 3, Rgr 3
    Components: V, S, DF
    Casting Time: 1 standard action
    Range: See text
    Target or Area: See text
    Duration: Instantaneous
    Saving Throw: None
    Spell Resistance: No

    Plant growth has different effects depending on the version chosen.
    Enrichment

    This effect targets plants within a range of one-half mile, raising their potential productivity over the course of the next year to one-third above normal.

    As the altar shimmers and some of the vegetation and fauna begins to trickle out from the altar across the farmlands people are instructed and reminded to pull vegetables as soon as they begin to show signs of ripeness and beyond.

    Farmers are reminded to share any odd happenings around their farms with the pair of legionaries accompanying Telli or Telli herself.*


  • *Telli stands there on one of the hills on the farmlands watching the wrath taking place on the southeastern skies. Leaning against her scythe she watches the lightening bolts slam to the ground as she hopes and prays the wrath unleashed doesn't undo the progress they've been going through in Norwick.

    With tired eyes she walks the farmlands in the morning with some of the farmers as they begin to pick up debree and other loose branches and odds and ends scattered about from the previous nights maelstrom.

    With the farmlands finally blessed with Hallow blessings, Telli continues to help coordinate and direct farmers to appropriate locations to make sure the fields are being tended to properly.

    Rumor has it one of Norwicks Milita by the name of Crux Kurukusu has been seen in the farmlands patrolling more often then normal. When approached her response is somber and to the point.*

    "Repaying a debt to the Chauntean priestess…"

    Her steady eye scans the farmlands each morning, afternoon and evening she's scheduled as her hand rests firmly across the hilt on her hip.*


  • _A stormfront boils out of the now perpetual mist and overcast hanging over the southeastern Rawlins. It heads west towards the looming bulk of the giant tree the druids planted some years ago, the Irmunsul.

    As night sets in, the shrieks and howls on the wind make it clear that the storm is no natural one.

    From the woods, light flares and flashes split the sky as magics are unleashed and lightning bolt after lightning bolt strikes down from the sky. With each flash, the terrified guards at the gate can see dozens of winged, leathery shapes circling and diving nearer and nearer to the lightning-wrapped tree, like moths round a lantern.

    And then, like moths, they erupt in flame and fall burning, as the strokes of lightning increase tenfold. The ground shakes and objects fall from shelves; some citizens awake thinking a second Cracking is upon them.

    Then, abruptly, the lights cease and the shaking stops. The storm recedes, the howls and hooting calls die away from the wind. An uneasy peace falls again on the forest, except for the angry tree, glowing and sizzling in the distance like an enraged firefly.

    Few people sleep that night in Norwick._


  • Telli spends the following day standing at the Altar whispering prayers and praises to Chauntea waiting to see a divine sign of the earth mothers approval or disapproval of the Altar erected. As the day progresses the area of snow around the altar begins to melt and as wel as any accumulated ice. Soon the wilted dying grass begins to grow… flowers bloom and the area around the altar looks warded and thriving. Nothing flashy from the nature goddess, but evident signs indicate her approval. Telli nods pleased as she stands there with her hands on her hips. Suddenly a farmer comes rushing up to her and Telli’s disposition turns from one of praise and adoration to one of rage and discontent. Apparently a group of demonic goblins broke into the farming fields and unsanctified her efforts in one of the fields. The next day Telli fixes the field messed with and begins the rigourous task of completing the last of the fields Hallowing spells. As one farmer walks by she grips the mans tattered clothes to stop him uttering the following.

    “Hey ders feller… woulds yuhs pass da words ta all da famers and workers dats we mightededs be gettings somes helps soons froms a couple a priest and priestesses. Tell ems ta be on da lookededs outs fer a Mr Leogold and a Miss Yllalynn… Deys a couple a Chauntea follers dats livings in Norwicks nows…

    we sure coulds usededs ders hands… in facts…. Fergets keepings a looks outs fer ems…why don’t yuh go see if der at Friar Fred’s nows… da fellers a humans…and da girlies a half-elf Telli tinks… if der willings ta helpedededs tells ems ta head ta da fields and lookededs fer Telli eh?”


  • *Days pass and Norwick is abuzz… Workers set foundation of rocks forming a small table in the center of the farmlands. Telli was hopeful to see Master Z around to help her design and orchestrate the construction of this beautiful monument. Sadly he never showed and Telli set into motion the following…

    Workers began to carve out a round cylinder out of the center of the main stone top. A basin was measured and formed to sit within the cylinder hole with precision and care. Another stone slab was set against the back of the altar as Telli began to whisper blessings of ”Stone Shape” pulling out small shelves that overlapped one another from the top to the bottom…

    Small groves to catch rain and funnel it down the altar into streams were carved out. And the altar looked nearly complete. Standing back Telli smiled her second altar dedicated to Chauntea much more elaborate then the first if a little haphazardly constructed. She had the workers tip the back stone down against the ground as she waddled over and chiseled Chauntea name into the top of the altar for all to see.

    As the workers shifted and hoisted the stone backing back into place Telli whispered a final blessing of ”Make Whole” hoping to solidify and complete the project at hand giving it some stability. All that was left was to set a candle atop the altar lighting it as she began to pour a pile of grain near it offering prayers of thanksgiving and praise.

    She began scattering rose petals about the altar with care and a blessing from Chauntea requested with each petal set.. Finally she asked the tallest of those gathered to pour a few canteens of water down the altars water containers as she uncorked a vial she received from Master Z years ago. The vial was nearly empty but she shook out yet a single drop of Chauntea’s blessings from that bottle into the pool of water settled at the basin below.

    Telli stood back as the altar glew lightly smiling from ear to ear going quiet as others gather around to observe the spectacle. Norwick and more importantly its farmers finally had a place of refuge and solace to go to when their crops were under strain and on the verge of destruction. Telli couldn’t help but stand there in reverence reflecting on how far she’d come since her loss of Chauntea and reaffirming of her faith…*


  • After about a weeks worth of routine hallow blessings Telli abruptly changes her pattern and course of actions. Townsfolk rumor that Dwin and Telli had a serious conversation days after their joined crop blessing. Dwin walked off tired and looking a bit sore while Telli seemed to look around almost looking for something. She would stop in between farms looking around measuring with her hands and counting out foot steps before shaking her head and moving onto the next location. Finally a location was selected as Telli began motioning over four to five of the stronger workers gathered around. One of the Legionaries accompanying her has recently shifted to take over leading the small band of workers. With Dwin's approval and consent it looks like the forming of an altar are finally underway…

  • The Halfling Defence League

    A rather oversized Fox is sighted in the fields from time to time. It seems to be helping out too, by dealing with any small animal pests.


  • After the long day, Dwin thanks Telli for showing him what she's doing, and quietly prays to Vergadain, the Trickster, to grant this over-worked dwarf a better sense of humor and a thicker skin for future well-meaning, albeit sarcastic remarks.


  • @30e2360720=Clan:

    "I asked the Grapevine to start rationing their supplies, but it seems someone is eating them out of house and home every evening… all but the peas...

    I hope folks in Norwick like peas..."

    Telli sighs and goes about her meditating and praying over the field for the evening. Once morning comes Dwin is given a note from one of his gold cloaks with the following inscribed…

    @30e2360720:

    _**"Dear Dwin,

    Please join me out by da fields dis mornings… Telli wanna invitedededs yuhs ta takedededs parts in dis mornings rituals in da fields we pickededs outs dis mornings...**

    If Dwin does not show Telli goes about her business as normal blessing the next field, however if he does show she goes on as follows…

    "Glads yuhs coulds makededs its Dwinnie... Telli wantededs ta invitededes yuhs outs.... since yuh talkedededs abouts da altar and erectings ones... thoughts yuhs shoulds be aparts a dis next rituals...

    Know Dwinnie not always tink a da words he says... Telli likedededs dats sometimes toos... buh dose words abouts some'un eatings too much in da Inn... dey hurts... and Telli know yuh juss kiddings... buh stills... would really appreciate it if yuh went through da rituals wid Telli todays so you not only know what Telli going through ta do Chauntea's will dis day....buh so yuh can also keeps any folks off me back if dey starts boderings me's....cause yuh'll undastands juss how gruelings and hard dis jobs is on da mind...and…body."

    *Telli motions him along and from seven in the morning till nine the pair lay out a mixture of grain, seeds and herbs. Telli does the majority of the praying although she allows opportunities for him to chime in if his heart so feels led to do so.

    From nine to ten in the morning Telli shows Dwin how to sprinkle the oils and incense just right praying specifically for the needs of the farmland. Both in protection to endure the cold but also to endure the negative energy compelling cattle and others to turn into undead abominations against the town.

    From eleven to one she shows Dwin how to pick up handfuls and where to toss them just right to help progress the blessing. No hand of grain, seed, herb, incense, and oil mixture is tossed without care. Each is measured out and tossed at specific angles and intervals.

    From one to three in the afternoon Telli invites Dwin to waddle from the center in a clockwise direction as she scraps the butt of her scythe into the ground underneath their feet. They continue till they cover fourty feet in diameter.

    Telli takes a swing from her canteen and motions it over to offer Dwin before waddling towards the center of the crop field again.

    From three to six in the afternoon Telli offers up prayers of thanksgiving and protection to the fields as she's mindful to offer opportunities for Dwin to aid in his prayers as well.

    From six to nine Telli and Dwin circle around the perimeter then counterclockwise circle back to the middle of the crop field. Telli uses the butt of her scythe to put in tics near the marks she made before.

    From Nine to Twelve midnight Telli prays whispers of productivity and abundance.

    From Midnight to three the pair walk the perimeter one final time to complete the markings and etches lefts in the dirt. As Telli gets to the last of the marks circling towards the middle again she contemplates screwing up one of the marks to show Dwin the futility of this blessing if its done on an empty stomach, or fatigued body and messed up. As she hovers her scythe over the ground looking to the nearby farmers she thinks it best to complete the hallowing for the evening so the farmers can continue their progress without any delay. The final mark goes in the dirt as the pair circle around to the middle of the crop section.

    And from three to seven Telli offers up the final request for prayers and blessings in this short time of dire need.

    Telli yawns looking Dwin over after a full days work is behind them.*

    "...If one mark....juss one mark messededs ups....or on grain or seed or herb outta place... da whole durn tings gets messedededs ups....

    so if it seem like Telli eatings a lot.... den Telli sorry Dwinnie... buh... Telli ain't gonna let no empty stomach or tired feet or noffings causedededs her ta messedededs ups.....not when yuh…dese farmers…and Chauntea herself is counting on Telli ta gettededs dis rights…."

    Telli eyes him over intently looking a little more worn around the edges then normal.

    "...Telli also didn't askedededs fer any pertections on eder a us...so yuh can gets an idear whats its feels likedededs ta do one a dese blessings... Telli askedededs fer blessings cause......wull....dat was one days work Dwinnie…. and all we blessededs was one field….one field ain't gonna helpedededs yuh feed yuhs folks in dis dire times…"

    Telli motions around to the dozens of fields around and then to the only handful of ones she's blessed thus far for emphasis.

    "So now... if yuh don't mindededs.... Telli's exhausted and hungry as hells... gonna go try ta snags six hours a sleeps or sometings and dens starts ups wid da nexts crops field...."

    After a restful sleep Telli waddles back out to the fields to begin a hallowing blessing on the next field down the line as farmers begin to work more unified finally finding a routine to till and plant on the newly hallowed fields. Rumors circulate that Telli continues to use the Inn's baths offered by miss Scuttle. However, the Inn's storeroom is left undisturbed for the days to follow. Those who inquire to Telli's state and provisions quickly find out that she's requested a third Legionnaire to help assist her in the Norwick Hallow Farmlands Project. His sole responsibility is to make sure the Chauntea devote is amply stocked with water, food and snacks to help her keep to her task at hand. The provisions coming from Peltarch and the Legion towers personal storage bins..._


  • _Telli's efforts to encourage Chauntea to bless the crops and livestock are bolstered by the two strangers staying upstairs at the healing house of Kia and Tristina.

    For the better part of a tenday, at dawn and dusk each night, the brown-robed pair give each farmer a clay disk with the image of a red rising sun carved into it. They lead the Norwickian farmers in reciting prayers of growth to the Earthmother, and prayers for sunshine and protection to the Morninglord. The clay disks are wrapped with straw and placed in the fields and pastures around Norwick for protection._


  • …at the suggestion of storing food, Dwin smiles and nods...

    "I asked the Grapevine to start rationing their supplies, but it seems someone is eating them out of house and home every evening… all but the peas...

    I hope folks in Norwick like peas..."


  • *Telli stands admists a field one afternoon whispering as farmers toil in the fields she's blessed so far. Those paying attention and inclined to blessings of divination notice Telli's change in blessings as the days pass. As day in and day out become more routine, she begins asking for blessings of barkskin, stoneskin, and energy buffer to combat the almost mocking cold breezes and harsh bitter snapping of the wind. The two Legionaries whom accompanied Telli to the farm lands seem to shimmer with blessings of elemental protection each day as they begin their task to offer aid to those farmers requiring it.

    Any with keen enough eyes will note that the two legionaries sport ornate necklaces from Telli herself. The intricate pattern across the necklaces match Telli's and seem to draw the cold bitter wind into them as ice forms around the edge of the dangling orbs by the end of the day. Farmers are instructed to band together and help with the farming effort to prepare Norwick for this early winter. However, both legionaries are instructed by Telli one morning to be on the look out for farmers pushing themselves too hard and to inspect gloves regularly to avoid rips that might allow frostbite to set in.

    Telli looks up one morning as she finishes tossing out her last handful of herbs, seed, incense, and oil mixture as a familiar dwarf strolls up to her to offer aid and encouragement.*

    @bf0d1677b4=Clan:

    Lass, I can't thank you enough for this hard work. What can we do to help? Need anything?

    I've decided that we'll build a shrine to Chauntea as soon as this has all passed. It will be built to your design, and in any location you choose. Tis the least we can do, and frankly, we shoulda done it long ago.

    Telli smiles at the warm words and the thought of building another altar in Chauntea's name. Chauntea's teachings and Jerrick's reminder whisper across her ear as Dwin finishes his expression of gratitude. "Chauntea does not abore destruction outright Telli… but with destruction... there must be rebirth... it is only natural and in balance for something new to take the place of something destroyed... to deny that tenant of Chauntea is perhaps one of the worst follies." Oscura's farms were left to thrive, however thorns began to grow and the city had little need for Chauntea's grace within. Her altar all but collected dust and many neglected it. But in the altars somber fading a new one would be built and one to show Norwicks true nature. A nature to endure hard trials and to come back stronger and more abundant, a nature that showed that despite however mangled and damaged the surface got, its roots stood firm in solid ground. Many of these thoughts fluttered across Telli's vacant stare until she snapped out of it looking at Dwin.

    "Dat'd be greats Dwinnie… an altar out here woulds be greats! We shoulds builds its nows... rader den laters... Not whens tings is goings goods... ands folks'll fergits da wonderfuls tings Chauntea dones... buh now... in da midst a hard times when da folks a Norwick need reminding dats ders someone outs ders dats cares whens der crops is dyings, witherings, and hurtings. Mebbe we cans gets Mr Z ta comes outs ta buildededs its while Telli prepares dese fields. He gots a fountain in his house wid blessededs water froms Chauntea herself. Would be a wonderfuls ting ta havedededs flowings in and throughs da altar ta da earth moder. Will yuh lookededs fer Mr Z... ain't seens hims around in a bits... sures coulds see's hims arounds here fer somes morals supports and a strongs back ta helpededs somes a dese weaker backed fellers dats comedededs ta helps.

    Oh yuh... and ders anoder ting yuh can starts plannings... Telli ain't knows no numbers a how many folks yuhs gotta feed and how much dey normally eatededs... yuh should runs da numbers and starts organizing how much we needededs ta stores a dis harvests comings ups ta helps feed da entire town. Da worst case scenerio we don'ts killededs dis Hungry One we gonna needededs ta makedededs dis food lass fer a good long times... bestests case scenerios... we kills hims fer good... and... den we smacks dab inta winta wid a few harvests missedededs dis year....eder way.... it gonna be hardededs ta feed everyone if we don't starts plannings nows."

    With that Telli begins her stroll around the field making her way around the border then circling into the center where she perches for some time whispering prayers of thanksgiving and kneeling until another friend waddles up to give her warm gratitude.

    @bf0d1677b4=Grivel:

    "Telli, I applaud your efforts to aid these farmers. You do your Goddess proud. If there is anything you need from the Circle, please ask. Our main focus now is to end this problem of the Hungry One, which in itself will be a help to you."

    Telli scraps some accumulated ice from her eyes as she squints watching the girl approach…

    "Hey ders miss Malika... yuhs doing all yuhs can ta helpededs. Keep gaderings dats informations as ta da weaknesses and whereabouts a dat hungry'un... Mr Grag and I and a bunch a oders saws hims in Jiyyd da oders day... he's a big fark. Telli gonna keep on keepings ons out in dese fields till deys ready fer her ta movedededs ons... yuh keep doings whatcha doings and when da day comes ta strikedededs... lemme know and Telli'll offer her Scythe ta puts da cold bitter heartedededs bear ta his final chilly slumba...."

    With a stern nod Telli goes back to whispering in the middle of the field as snow and ice begin to accumulate around her feet. Her necklace glowing bright as its taxed heavily by the early winter weather.