Event Title: Archimedes the Old is Missing!

Event Date:June 22, 2004 - June 29,2004

Shard: Baja

Estimated # of attendants: 100 +

Key Participants (3-5 character names/acct #’s)

Main Characters (EM/GM Controlled):

Judge Julius Dryden

Archimedes the Old

Event Fiction Overview:

Players took six days to find the Leader of the Royal Guard, Archimedes the Old, trapped on Lenmir Antinmolas in Ilshenar, trapped there by Judge Julius Dryden who sent him on a false trail after a baker that supposedly could make blackberry pie. The players also had several days to uncover the secret plans of both Archimedes the Old and Judge Julius Dryden. The BNN informant (GM placed house in Britain) had a bullitein board to keep track of those people that solved the quest first.

Event Recap (the writeup):

Royal Guard

Forgive my absense the past week, for it seems I was played quite the fool and unable to communicate to the Royal Guard for almost a week! All I can really say is at my age, one can be very gullible with their passions, and my greatest passion in life is a good pie. So, let me tell you of what all happened with me last week.

I was finishing up some paperwork in my office one night, and I thought I would go visit the Moonglow Baker and get myself a fresh apple pie. He said he was sold out, that I should inquire elsewhere. He seemed quite rude, I know in the past he has asked if all I do with the Royal Guard treasury is buy pies, and I am begining to think he just doesn't want to sell to me anymore. However, he then said that he heard rumors of a blackberry pie! Well, I have never heard of such a culinary delight, but I was ready to try it!

I went straight to Britain to inquire at the most popular baker in all the land about this pie. He stated that perhaps his new talented apprentice would know something about it, as he was now very popular with his very new fresher tasting food. My hopes were high, and even though I sensed some jealousy in the baker's voice, I had to inquire where this popular baker was, then was quickly off to Skara Brae.

 

I reached Skara Brae at what seemed to be the end of a large party. Outside, the city was still under attack by Dryden's forces (Evil Mages and Brigands) however the Paladins I arranged to protect the city were doing a fine job and the party went off without any problems.

I could not believe my luck! I just missed the baker, who was a popular attendant to the party, and he went to Jhelom to try and broaden his customer base. Well, I headed off to the moongate hoping my old knees would not give out before I find him.

The baker in Jhelom was quite irate with me, I learned he was the normal caterer for Skara Brae, and the baker I was following replaced him as the main supplier! Well, I tried to contain my enthusiasm and inquried where this man could be,even claiming he was needed for questioning! He was no help, so I checked the local Tavern where I was told to head to Serpent's Hold.

I found the baker in Serpent's Hold, but I felt something wrong about him. It seems he didn't care for this baker at all, and not only was he inhospitable, but sent him to the one city where surely nobody would welcome his serverices. I sensed deceit from the man, however had no choice but to travel to Wind, the hidden city of Mages.

I was told that the Baker decided to sail to Wind, so I got myself some supplies before heading out. Interesting enough, the baker stopped by the magic supply store and picked up a very large quantity of reagents, which started to raise suspicions about his food. However, I still had to confirm if he had a blackberry pie, so I set out to sea in hopes to catch up to him.

I finally discovered the name of this Baker, Vinsent! His boat was abandoned on the shores north of Wind, with a journal he wrote during his trip. I blocked his boat in, in hopes to catch him if he would come back here from Wind.

Just as i suspected, the baker in Wind was not receptive to Vinsent whatsoever. I was a bit furious at his attitude, but understood as now I have learned Vinsent's secret - all his food is magically created! Well, the mages in Wind have done the same thing for many years, but have learned how to fine tune their magic much better,. Vinsent's food was quite inferior to theirs, so it's no surprise to me they turned him down rudely. I did inform the Wind backer of the Blackberry Pie rumor, and he regrets now not knowing where exactly the baker would be.

I didn't have much choice, so I began to search all the Inns in hopes to find him sleeping or resting up before his next trip out.

I was, once again, too late in catching this man. Surely Vinsent is a young man and very able bodied, so it's understandable that an old man such as myself can not keep up with him. However, he left behind a journal, where he wrote that he plans to travel to Ilshenar to find fame and fortune. His first stop would be the home of the Gargoyles.

I met with the Gargoyle Innkeepers, and it seems as fate would have it, I missed Vinsent. I began to question the validity of the existance of this Blackberry Pie, after knowing his talents are nothing more then knowing mere magic.

However, inspecting his room I learned his next stop would be the Savage Camps. I wish I had my horse with me, for Vinsent could be in serious trouble now if entering the Savage Camps without protection or ccamouflage!

I reached the peremiter of the Savage Camp and realized I lacked any Savage Kin Paint. However, I smelled myself as was quite clean and neutral, so risked polymorphing into a Gorilla to search the camp.

Under an exotic tree, I found yet another journal written by Vinsent thankfully showing he had the ingeniuity to polymorph himself to be safe! He outlined his next course, and I set out quickly before my spell expired.

In the icey pockets of Ilshenar, I found an old camp of Vinsent's, with more information on his travels.

I found some help in the City of Meers, and it seems the baker once again failed to establish any business here. However, his fate was once again in jeapordy as I learned he was heading towards Mistas, the city of Juka! This man has no idea what trouble we have been having with Juka as of late, so I rush as best I could with my old legs to save him from a most certain gristly fate.

Mistas is normally under occupation by the Juka, so it was very suspicious when I walked into the middle of the city without any trouble. Once far enough inside though, Juka swarmed out of the buildings and I could not set out enough spells to protect myself. I heard screams about taking the prisoner to the cannon, and soon found myself overwhelmed and being dragged to the back of the city. There I was shoved into a cannon, with only my head sticking out.

That's when Judge Julius Dryden appeared before me. He thanked me for my easily predictable and manipulative gullibility, and explained that the baker honestly was unknowing to his involvement to lead me here. I was going to be detained for quite some time, so I could not interefer personally with his plans. He then assigned a large Golem Guard to the cannon, and ordered him not to allow anyone to use it unless they supply the password, one which I recognized to be one of Blackthorn's personal passwords before his journey to Trammel so many years ago.

Before I knew it, there was a deafaing roar, and I was shot from the cannon! High above Ilshenar I flew, till I finally landed on a remote and unfamiliar beach of Lenmire Antinmolas.

Oddly enough for such a remote location, there was a hammock on the beach for me to relax; perhaps a compassionate gift from Dryden, knowing I would be stuck here for many days. I survived on the bananas and coconuts scattered under the trees, and hoped that the Royal Guard could find me. I didn't anticipate their rescue, and began to work on my means of escape.

After six long days on the beach, I was able to create a magical teleporter through the mountains to the west on the beach. Right before I stepped through the gate, I saw overhead what seemed to be a body of an adventerer no doubt fired from the cannon. As much as I wanted to stay and see who it was I had to get back to my office and find out what was going on.

The baker was nowhere to be found now, and I do beleive he was nothing more than an unknowing pawn in Dryden's plans. I did search the Castle Blackthorn in Felucca, and confirmed there was indeed information here with the password for the Golem.

It was covered in dust, but I saw the hallways were heavily traveled in the past few days, so I am sure it was overlooked by many looking in here for answers.

I also checked at the BNN Informant's House and discovered that many Royal Guard were searching for me the entire week and did the best I could have ever asked for. However, most distressing is that someone exposed my plans for the Crystals! However, Dryden's plans were already revealed so there would be no consequences to the Royal Guard.

So now there's only one question left on my mind, what of the Blackberry Pie? I visited other backers in the land and discovered that the mages in Ocllo years ago created a magical Crystal Ball, one that would show types of foods from another land and realm. It was created in an attempt to assist chefs to create new foods for our lands, but had one major flaw - we lacked may ingredients in our lands that were available in the others. I am afraid that there is no such thing as blackberries in Britannia, therefore, there really was no blackberry pie.

Well, I have been gone a week, and will call the Royal Guard soon to reward those that solved this past weeks' mysteries, and others for their fine detective work. However, I am afraid Dryden has had a week to put his final plan in motion, and he will be dealt with very soon.

Archimedes the Old