Of Dice and Men: Episode 17

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== Synopsis ==
The "Various Operations Agency" (VOA) receives a mission from Alysha, a courier for Lord Kronwikk, to investigate the disappearance of the Akuban Knights. The knights vanished after the kidnapping of the Akuban Crown Prince by Kel Pochi, a hawkish knight opposed to the marriage alliance between Akuba and Drekis. VOA is tasked with capturing Pochi discreetly and bringing him to the city of Wikkthronrarenta. After accepting the mission, the group sails to Bon' Theris to pay off a debt, faces a storm, and encounters increased military activity. Upon reaching the Wildwoods, VOA discovers a magical sword, which they decide to return to its rightful owners. Their quest leads them to a goblin village near the Sindy River, where they face a hostile ambush but ultimately overcome the goblins and uncover a hidden chest beneath a rock shaped like a rhino.
==Recap==
===Briefing===
"Various Operations Agency" (VOA) are in a tavern in Whalers Bay when they are approached by a woman named Alysha. She is dressed as a courier and is here on behalf of Lord Kronwikk. Prince Kronwikk would like VOA to investigate what happened to the Akuban Knights.
Alysha explains to VOA the general history between Drekis and Akuba, including the The Unforeseen War centuries ago when Akuba invaded Drekis before being driven out.
Around a year ago, the King of Akuba was assassinated in Mistrya by a woman from Suulwikk. This led to the Akuban Civil War, plunging Akuba into chaos. The children of the Late Akuban King eventually found their way to Drekis. After the Akuban Knights proved their worth to Queen Vuularia Wikk of Drekis, one of the Akuban Princesses was to marry one of the Drekissin Princes (Nicholas Wikk). Before the wedding took place the Crown Prince of Akuba was kidnapped. The other Akuban Royals went to find him, but they were never heard from again.
The culprit of the kidnapping was Kel Pochi, a small-time landed knight. Kel Pochi styles himself as a "preserver of culture, tradition & honor". There are many who agree with Kel Pochi's hawkish ways and would rather see the Akuban Knights dead than married. It is feared that if Kel Pochi was arrested, it would cause internal strife at a time of war. So the Queen has decided to obtain the services of a group of outsiders. Kel Pochi's estate is north of Fen Den, but he is unlikely to still be there.
VOA must
# Find Kel Pochi's current location
# Capture him alive in secret and raise no alarms
# Bring him to Wikkthronrarenta in secret
# Smuggle him into the city without alerting the city guard
# Take him to the McGary household inside the city and use the passphrase "An old friend from home is calling".
The reward for the quest is a sizeable amount of gold as well as an unsigned royal pardon for VOA to use if they ever get in trouble with the law.
===3rd May 1512*===
"Various Operations Agency" (VOA) accept the mission from Alysha. She says that she will be heading back to Wikkthronrarenta tomorrow, but will be in town if they have more questions.
Nevets goes to the Arc Wizard of Whalers Bay to get some magical items identified. The ring he got from Zaaz is a ring of water breathing. 
===4th May 1512*===
VOA return to Kronwikk for supplies from their office.
===5th May 1512*===
VOA return to Whalers Bay.
===6th May 1512*===
VOA get on a ship headed to Bon' Theris, with the goal of paying off Toki's debt there.
===11th May 1512*===
While the ship crosses by the Cape of Arcadia at the The Frostlands, a storm develops. The ship stops sailing and everyone goes below deck for safety. 
Daff is worried the storm is because of a curse for breaking the oath with Dave. Daff decides to pray to Jexel for forgiveness. Later in the day the storm abates and the ship sails again.
Daff goes up on the deck and sees a large albatross flying above. 
===13th May 1512*===
The ship arrives in Bon' Theris and sees there are a lot of warships and other military ships in the harbor, far more than the last time VOA were here. The docks of Bon' Theris are crowded with hundreds of solders.
Toki goes to pay off the debt with the Baroness. Lennie carries the money and acts as her escort. At the keep, Toki is told by the Chancellor that Baroness Bee is in a war council, but Toki can give the Chancellor the money for the debt. Currently, the Mistryan forces are moving against the siege at Old Vodan. They end up leaving the money with the Chancellor.
Nevets and Daff are in a tavern drinking and talking. Daff believes he is no longer curse. Nevets thinks Daff should go to a cleric to get it resolved. They go to the main temple in town, which is a generalist temple. Daff goes into a confessional booth to talk with the High Priest. He is honest about what he has done with the Priest. The Priest says that Daff must make amends to lift the curse.
VOA meet up. Tensions are still high. Nevets suggests they go after one of Zaaz's treasures as a way to relax. They have clues to a treasure near a rock shaped like a rhino near the Sindy River. 
===14th May 1512*===
Daff wakes up and finds much of his hair is falling out. Daff panics and prays to Astair, the god of order and law. Daff begs for forgiveness. The prays are not answered, so Daff shaves his hair very short.
VOA buy some supplies and set out into the Wildwoods.
During the trek though the Wildwoods, VOA rest by a pond. Daff sees something metallic and shiny in the water. He thinks he is just seeing things, so he says nothing. Nevets then spots it and informs the party. Lennie volunteers to go into the water. The party tie a rope to him and he goes into the water. He pulls out a sword in a scabard. The pommel of the sword has a family crest on it and the scabard has a rosebush engraved on it. Toki recognizes the crest as belonging to the Ceraks, a Noble Family near Gumpbrun. The blade is made of a alloy with a slight reddish tint to it.
Lennie and Nevets spar with the new weapon and discover that it is a magical +2 sword. Lennie really likes the weapon, but Daff says they have to return this sword to the rightful owners. 
===15th May 1512*===
VOA arrive at the edge of the Lorwurp River, which is 80 feet wide at their location. The Sindy River is further south so the party need to cross the river. Toki casts "Water Walk" and VOA cross the river.
===16th May 1512*===
VOA arrive at the Sindy River. They walk up river and are spotted my a female goblin filling a vase with water. The goblin flees. Toki casts "Water Walk" and the party cross the river and continue going up river.
VOA arrive at the fork in the river. They don't see the rhino rock or the ruined goblin village. Nevets goes to walk across the river when he is hit by magic missiles from a goblin sorcerer in ambush. Other goblins throw spears and shoot arrows at the party, knocking Daff and Nevets unconscious. Lennie grabs Nevets from the river and pulls him to cover. Toki heals Daff, who wakes up and casts sleep on several goblins. Toki then heals Nevets. VOA retreat.
The party camp some distance away and plan their revenge on the goblins. Daff, depressed over his own situation, is against fighting the goblins.
===17th May 1512*===
Daff casts clairvoyance on the goblin village. It appears to be built over some older ruins. There is a reed building still under constriction. The goblin sorcerer is standing beneath the rhino rock.
The party approach the village with Toki casting "Pass Without Trace". Daff casts sleep on the guards on lookout, and the party charge in. Toki turns into a bear, bursts into the finished Reed Hut, and roars at the sleeping goblins inside. Daff casts shatter inside the tent, killing seven goblins within. Lennie goes inside and slays goblins with his sword. The surviving goblins drop their weapons go to flee. Nevets ambushes the fleeing goblins, killing two. The sleeping goblins are all slain. Only one goblin in the camp is left alive as Lennie's prisoner. Lennie names the prisoner "Dave".
The party go to the rhino rock and start digging. Toki digs as a bear and the others use shovels, but Toki ends up doing most of the digging. They reveal a buried wooden chest. After pulling the chest to the surface, Lennie orders "Dave" to open it. 
== Experience ==
No exp given on air.
: *Dates are extrapolated from a previous mention of an exact date.
Category:Of Dice and Men Episodes