The Rhone Empire

[poe1849]

robhill.freeforums.net/

Hello and welcome to Robhill and the Rhone empire. Robhill is a town I have been working on for a long time over twenty years at this point, it took root when I ran an extended campaign in Rune Quest 2 for over 6 years. During that time I went through a lot of delays, mostly due to Mental Illness and Vodka. But it was always there. It became a lifeline, something that kept my mind going and it gave me hope, even though I did not recognize it, it gave me a place to regroup.







Three and a half years ago as of this edit, I came back to Robhill this time with a clear mind, and it has taken off in a big way. At first, I had the idea of writing a cookbook, using the characters, and setting of Robhill. This morphed into building this forum site and using the cookbook as a reward for donating to the site, but when we get right down to it the reason that holds gamers together is that we are story tellers. Either through our characters, the Gamemasters scenarios, or the worlds we create, we want to be part of the books and movies we love. So, in its Final incarnation I am going to create the world that I have outlined and posted it for people to play in, and hopefully come up with some stories from these runs still like the idea of a cookbook and feel this concept would be great for it, and someday I can see it happening as a stand-alone.











The site is free I will eventually ask for donations to help keeping the site, and other projects for Rhone going but will not be making anyone being forced to pay just enjoy what has been written. Please also sign up for membership as I'd like to get to know who my viewers are and what they might like to see as the site grows.







Thanks for reading my ramblings hope you like what I have written for you.







MarkC. (Poe)

[poe1849]

robhill.freeforums.net/

Tegan's Tale

I was still in Medli preparing the refugees for the 3 day journey to Robhill - when I had unexpected visitors - some representatives were here to escort us to Robhill. I, of course, don't remembering needing the services of an escort - but here they are. Beth, an Aasimar was the first to introduce herself and then she introduced her companions: Jasper, a half Elf, with flowing locks and some facial hair he must of been trying to pass off as a beard and Sonja, a Wood Elf, with whitish grey bark like skin with brown highlights and hair that resembled tree roots.



I introduced my 'rescuers' to most of the refugees and that included Aladin, a scholarly wizard, (Sonja : "more like a crazed librarian") "hush - now where was I? Oh Yes!" who's obsession with books caused me to be 2 days behind schedule. Aladin had struck up a conversation with Jasper and with his love of adventuring and Aladin's obsessions - it only took a few minutes before Aladin and the 'rescuers' were off on a fact finding mission(Sonja: "more like tending to children"). "you want to tell this part of the story tree lady? Go ahead" (Sonja: after Aladin convinced Jasper to go to the ruins of Renaldia- Beth and myself followed - for safety reasons - and we found Aladin hastily stuffing books into his bag as if the world was ending - after a collapsed tunnel we managed to pull him to safety and returned to Medli") "See, there's always a rescue".

We arrived at Robhill and after getting the refugees somewhat settled in - baths and lodging were in order.



In the Morning my 'rescuers' were off to Gault and I decided to stick around Robhill and get the refugees settled in a bit more.

Roughly a week later - my so-called rescuers had returned to Robhill and it seemed there might actually be a rescue mission in my future. A few of the foragers that went into the Annunaki Swamp looking for food and such were harassed and had their daily cache stolen.(edited)



We were asked to help with the situation - after talking to the foragers we went to Rhinehold to inquire if any of their foragers had been harassed - the answer was no.

The treaty with the Annunaki was solid - we could forage in the swamp - only take what you need. Well, if all the rules were being followed, why the harassment? We asked Rhinehold if the Robhill foragers could join them on their next trip to the swamp. They agreed.



Mr. Rhinehold suggested we find Chissell, an Annunaki Ranger that didn't seem to have the same harsh feelings, of outsiders, as his peers. And Chissell could be found patrolling the shoreline. As we spent most of the day travelling - we came across a few spiders that we easily fended off - but then we realized we were lost and darkness was closing in. Just as Beth was screaming out for Chissell - Damian heard rustling and climbed a tree to get a better view -only to find that view - was of a Spiders head. Damian was webbed and poisoned - the rest of us, on the ground, fought off the Giant Spiders the best we could. Just as we thought we might have the upper hand a Dryder appeared and shortly after that Chissell showed up.



When the Dryder crept back into the forest - Chissell explained: 'the refugees had the right to forage but the Annunaki don't steal'. After becoming not lost we made it back to Rhinehold where we spent the night and would head for Robhill in the morning



Arriving in Robhill we spoke to Kraicken and to the Sheriff about the Giant Spiders and the Dryder. We decided to pose as foragers and go into the Swamp and see what would happen - well it happened - we were hit from behind and knocked to the ground and our bags were stolen. Only Beth got a glimpse of them - they seemed to be Annunaki - we tried to follow their tracks but lost them - we had no choice, it was too dark to find our way back. It was Jasper who gave us shelter for the night - but on my watch that night - a huge fireball, came straight at me.(Sonja: "Yeah sure a huge fireball - perhaps the size of an apple?")"Yeah if the apple was big as a house" (Sonja sighs)



After the huge fireball struck me and the others were awakened - Damian began speaking to them - they told us to leave the swamp or die. After a few minutes of hostile conversation Damian realized that his grasp of the Annunaki language was better than theirs and they were likely imposters. As we made our way out of the swamp we were tailed by the interlopers but eventually returned to Robhill - I did a sending to Rhinehold to inform him of the imposters - his reply was "being attacked - large force headed towards us" - We arrived just in time to see a large gathering of Annunaki - they informed us the treaty was over - we wouldn't be welcomed in the Swamp anymore.

[poe1849]

robhill.freeforums.net/


It had been 3 weeks since my arrival in Robhill. I was feeling antsy and bored, surely someone needed a Copperpod. The creatures of the forest have been afraid - there are apparently Big Bears in the area - I have never seen a Big Bear so I told them I would politely ask the bears to leave the area. Not exactly a 'rescue' mission but I had nothing better to do -so I agreed to help them. It came to me, that my understanding of Dwarvish, Gnomish and Goblin are not the only languages I need to work on. The Big Bears I couldn't wait to see turned out to be 'Bug' Bears - I had, of course, encountered Bug Bears before and they are not nice - almost rude - not as rude as Humans and Chissel's but very close. I did promise the creatures I would move them along so I had no choice. A Copperpod leaves no job undone. Upon encountering the Bug Bears I explained that the creatures of the forest were scared and asked them to head further away. I only knew 2 things for sure about the Bug Bears: 1. They don't like to be bullied and 2. They usually flee when outmatched - check and check. I asked politely as not to seem bullish but when that didn't work I needed to outmatch them - well let me say - Bug Bears don't like to see one of their kin turned into a frog - uncheck and uncheck! After being aggressively manhandled they escorted me to a tent inside a cave - I have been escorted a lot lately.



I watched unafraid as one of the Bears lit a fire under a pot of water - I could smell they weren't much on bathing so the water must be for me - Oh great - eaten by a Big ugly, rude Bug Bear. Not exactly how I thought my day would end. Just as I was about to make my escape I heard one of the Bears yell 'Fire' - No idea why they needed to yell it - it was obviously already lit. I watched my capture begin stashing his horde of coin into a worn leather bag - when outmatched they flee! When I made my skillfully executed escape I saw a couple new faces - but no time to chat - apparently only my guard had fled and his comrades decided to stand their ground. I emerged from the tent and saw that it was none other than those that had 'escorted' me from Medli.



It was a hard fought battle but we managed to outmatch them and I would not be eaten today.

After the battle Beth introduced me to Krailge,the leader of the group and to Ithraiel and Drexel. Beth explained that they were looking for 2 kidnapped twin girls, Courtney and Cathy, who were taken after their father Timothy was killed - stabbed in the back(that's just rude) with a black handled knife that was identified as belonging to a group called Black Fang.



Jasper did another sending to Courtney and discovered she was still alive and being held, along with others, in a cage and guarded by spider things.

I agreed to lend my expertise to the group and help locate and 'rescue' the twins. As we made our way further into the tunnel system we, investigated deeper into the cavern and saw a bluish green glow coming from a larger cavern. As we rounded the bend we could see the remains of one of the Bug bears - well someone got ate.



Upon further investigation we came across a totem placed next to an altar - great, almost eaten and now, since I am the newest member of this group, maybe sacrificed too - this day does not seem to be getting better. Approaching the altar myself, Ithraiel, Damian and Drexel became charmed and began attacking the others - Drexel and myself went after Jasper and Ithraiel stabbed Krailge in the back(must I say it?) Beth tried to get everyone to destroy the altar but, it wasn't long before Krailge was down and being engulfed by a pile of bones left by the altar. The charm effect soon wore off and we all concentrated on the altar - as part of it was destroyed a glowing orb appeared. Beth cast a white light on the orb but that seemed to anger the orb and it pulsed with green energy - that energy caught Beth and myself - the powerful energy took us both out - Bug Bears don't like frogs and orbs don't like white light - check and check! The orb used what was left of it's energy and destroyed the altar, the totem and the pile bones that had engulfed Krailge. I, being dead, have no idea what happened or how we made it out of there - the next thing I remember was seeing my Mother and we chatted - she then handed me 6 muffins, isn't that sweet? I am dead and she made me muffins - must of known I was coming.(edited)



I learned that it was Krailge who offered up the gold to have me resurrected - his kindness must be matched - I offered him the only thing I had, a Doodad. I should really put warning labels on some of those. I also learned it was Sonja who carried my lifeless body and my Doodads out of the cavern - that kindness shall be repaid as well. So far, only Krailge has shared the story of his vision. My vision was more of a conformation that I had fallen into the right group - now as long as none of us get eaten or sacrificed - we may just stand a chance against what's to come.

[poe1849]

robhill.freeforums.net/


After the 3 of us died - Ithraiel searched around and had found some loose dirt that had been recently been packed down - she dug down 10ft but found nothing, So, apparently being dead affords you a nice long rest, muffins and clean hands...

After the 3 of us were resurrected - the rest of the group decided they could use a long rest too(Jasper: "Sorry... I needed a nap - you try carrying Krailge and his big head 500 miles") - sure, take the easy way out.



After the group was reunited we needed to get on the trail of the twins. We started back at the cavern where we left off - before my demise. Ithraiel began digging again and found a necklace - Cathy or someone who had been wearing her necklace was here. We searched the cavern and discovered a caved in area that had tracks leading behind the fallen rock. I used my 'eye' to look beyond the obstacle and found that there was a hallway - an hour or so later we managed to dig pass the blockage - and by 'we' I mean everyone but Jasper who was off playing with his Lute.(Jasper: "You needed inspiration and these hands aren't made for diggin'")We followed the hallway system until we came upon some fresh cart tracks along with foot prints - we were close, but were we too late?



It was the sunlight that finally gave us the hope we needed - along with the chattering we could hear up ahead. Ithraiel managed to stealth a bit closer and could smell smoke and hear the sounds of horses and wagons - but it was the huge log coming straight at her that really got her attention.(Jasper: "Don't run to the light - we are too young to die") The rest of us didn't see what happened but then 2 large eyeballs attached to a giant peeked into the cave. I, up to this point, have managed to stay clear of any creature that would consider me a 'useful tool' for picking their teeth. (Jasper: "You would make a great tooth pick")



I, in brave fashion, looked that giant right in the big ugly shin and used my magical prowess to 'reduce' that giant in size.(Jasper: "Hey - could you teach me that spell?") Now the rest of the group could come out safely and defeat the giant - well there was a 2nd giant too. Jasper, with a perfectly placed spell, managed to put the 'twin nappers' and their allies into a daze. With the giants no longer a problem Krailge questioned one of the men who were preparing to leave - Courtney was spotted on one of the wagons - but no Cathy. Jasper with his exceptional skills(his words - not mine) got the men to surrender and they were quickly locked in cages.(Jasper: well, I really didn't think it would work but I do have exceptional skills!") We asked the rescued people to take the wagons and the prisoners back to Robhill - while we, along with Courtney, continued North to search for Cathy.

After a few questions -Courtney could only remember hearing the word 'Neogii' - Damian knew of them as 'inter-dimensional' slave traders. A quick sending to Cathy revealed clues to her whereabouts - she thinks she's in a barn and can see 5 horses, 3 wagons and a Tavern outside the window. We headed to Trao, a small farming town about 1/2 day ride from Robhill. Upon arrival, we were greeted with pleasantries(Jasper: "About as pleasant as a spider is to a fly") - we then asked about a barn located next to a Tavern. Jasper and Ithraiel went to the tavern ask a few questions about recent arrivals - finding no answers - they joined us outside the barn and witnessed Krailge having a discussion with a man in full plate mail.



Ithraiel managed to sneak into the barn(Jasper: " And I bravely cast invisibility and snuck into the barn - like a fox in a chicken coop") while Krailge was doing a great job distracting the guards(Jasper: "Like a juggling Monkey") - once in the barn Ithraiel spotted Cathy, along with 3 others, tied up but she cut them loose as the battle had begun outside. The battle was evenly matched - however, they must of worked with Bug Bears in the past, 'when outmatched - they flee'. Deciding not to die - was a good choice on their part(Jasper: "See that big guy - I am as intimidating as you are") - after a few questions we were directed to Robhill. Ian, the Sheriff of Robhill, was in his office and agreed to let us question the prisoners we had previously locked in the cages. The prisoners told us a few things we had not known - the twins were escaped slaves and that a 'House Norton' tattoo on their arms would prove it and they were owned by a man named Randek in Virin. The prisoners knew nothing of Timothy's murder but may have seen that dagger before - carried by a man named Kryst.



After returning to Gault - with the twins safely in tow - The Longrider Commander asked Krailge and the group to stay in town for a few days until new orders could be issued.

[wildmaven]

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