Module: In Search
of Adventure (Castle
"Threshold! The northernmost town in the Duchy - and your last stop before your adventures begin. Threshold, the gateway to mysterious castles, lost temples, deadly caves and caverns. You have heard the stories and legends, now you wish to see for yourself."
Characters:
Ambrose the Celt: A solid and devout man, Ambrose does not
believe in bloodshed, but will bash enemies on the head to subdue them. Young,
not tonsured, although dressed as a cleric, he insists on praying for one hour
a day. He is loyal and fearless in the face of evil.
He can most often be heard
proselytizing about the return of King Halav to Traladara, in the form of
Stefan Karameikos. It is clear that Ambrose, like his fellow Halavans, deeply
believes that Traladara is on the path to the restoration of its former glory,
and that Stefan Karameikos, King Halav reborn, is the man to make it happen.
Due to the nature of his
profession, and the object of his devotion, Ambrose has little to his name
other than his leather armor and sturdy club.
Anastasia
Vorloi: Anastasia Vorloi is a fairly attractive 15 year old. She stands about 6 foot and is approximately
145lbs. She has long red hair that falls in loose waves down to her waist, and
eyes that look like pools of ink. Her smooth skin glistens like bronze in the
noonday sun.
Around the city she wears
fitted black pants that lace up the sides of her legs, a red linen blouse; a
black bodice wraps around her waits and laces up on either side. Black leather
boots come up just past her knees and fitted black leather gloves adorn her
hands. On her back a cloak, the color of her hair, falls down almost to her
ankles where it ends in a rather ragged and torn edge. She seems to wear this
cloak with the utmost of pride. There is a throwing axe and a sword on her left
hip.
Anastasia carries herself in a
proud and dignified manner. She seems confident in all she does. Her father,
Lord Vorloi, a general in Duke Stefan's army, taught her swordplay since shortly
after she could walk. While no one expected her to go through the shearing, her
father was only too proud to cut her cloak, give her a sword and watch her go
out to prove herself truly a Vorloi.
Since the shearing a few weeks
ago she has traveled to the neighboring city of
In the evenings she has a room
at a local tavern, and spends the evenings socializing with the locals, sharing
in a few drinks, and then quietly retires to her room for the night.
Gurv Mohr: Gurv was born the
son of a soldier and tried his hand at it for awhile. He chaffed under the yoke of the discipline
and decided to go freelance as a sellsword.
Nothing too risky, just an occasional bit of caravan
escorting and bully beating. When
he was in his mid-20s, he settled down with a young barmaid he met at his favorite
tavern. He thought about opening his own
inn and having a few kids. This plan
fell apart when his wife left him for a younger, handsomer, adventuring type. Now, to prove to his estranged wife and
himself that he's worth a damn, Gurv has taken up his sword for real riches and
real danger.
Gurv
is a solid, 6' tall human man in his early 30s.
He has brown, thinning hair and a thick beard. His face is of average appearance, but jovial
and usually smiling. Gurv is a bit soft
and heavy around
his middle, but has wide shoulders and powerful build.
Keelo B.
Marrows
Nahawen:
Pommeraie Sollis: is a tall (just under 6') man in his late teens or early
twenties, with tan skin, short but thick and unkept red hair, and bright cobalt
blue eyes that seem to shine with either mirth or rage.
His dress is both practical
and subdued. Redish brown wool trousers, a studded leather jacket, and a forrest green hooded cloak blend in well in the woods of
Karemeikos. His boots have the worn look of long travels. He wears a longsword
on his left hip and a dagger on his right. Under that green cloak he has a dark
green metal shield slung on his back.
Pommeraie's ancestors were
traditional men-at-arms (frequently sergeants) of the Karemeikos family. When
Duke Stephen chose to move to the new land, Pommeraie's grandfather Uhtred
Sollis went as a sergeant of the guard and took his own family with him. After
years of service, the Duke granted Uhtred a title and small holding outside of
the capital. Pommeraie's father, Uhtred's eldest child (also named Uhtred - as
are all of the eldest surviving sons in the Sollis family) followed in his
fathers footsteps, now as a knight in the service of the Duke. As the third
born male, Pommeraie was ignored more often than not. He was drawn more to the forrests. When his father stated that he planned to make
Pommeraie become a cleric in the
Sevaliar
he was a former officer/wizard in the
elfguard, then. I can't for the life of
me remember the name of the Colonel, (straight wizard, lots
of facial scarring) but for this we can bust him down to former Sergeant.
(Elves live a long time and can have a bunch of careers).
He'll still have the facial burn
scars, but not from battle or from some botched magical experiment: a village
that "didna need no fancy book larnin'" ran him out, and a villager
made sure he got cozy with a torch before he was clear. Traldaran cleric was leading the mob.
Shayesti: Shayesti
grew up in the Alfheim town of
She also
enjoyed playing with mechanical things like locks and traps.
Unfortunately,
this cost her dearly once when the lock she was trying to pick had a needle
trap she failed to find. That incident cost her an eye
and the respect of her parents. In hindsight, she probably shouldn't have been
playing with the lock on her mother's magical laboratory doors.
Soon after
that, her mother left Shieldtree on a voyage to Glantri. Her
whole caravan dissapeared without a trace one night as they camped on a misty
hillside. After that, Shayesti decided she should be the one to inform
her father of the dire news. So she took what supplies she could carry and set
out to the south on a journey to Karameikos. Eventually, she found herself in
the town of
Tacitus Aurelius: Tacitus
Aurelius, the fourth of four children, grew up in grinding poverty on a small
plot of land in the wilderness, eking out a meager
existence farming and herding sheep. His parents had immigrated two decades
before, lured by the promise of finding their fortune in a new, untamed land.
The reality has been very unlike the tales of wealth that brought them here,
however, and now they mainly work toward the day when they can bring their
family back home.
Tacitus, or "Tack"
as he is typically called, has brown eyes, stands just over six feet tall, and
weighs about one hundred ninety pounds. He is in excellent physical condition,
largely due to his hard life of farming, and his dark bronze skin reflects the
long hours spent working outside. He keeps his head cleanly shaven for reasons
that will be explained below, and typically wears simple, home-made clothing.
His dark brown tunic and pants show signs of frequent mending, as does his
black cloak. He prefers solid, durable boots for footwear, and wears a
wide-brimmed hat to keep the sun out of his eyes. He typically carries a scythe
wherever he goes, using it like a walking stick.
About a year ago, the Aurelius
home was visited by a strange vagabond asking for shelter. The man was old,
perhaps in his seventies, and had a clean-shaven head and few possessions.
Quintus Aurelius, Tacitus's father, agreed to let the man stay as long as he
pulled his weight around the farm. The old man readily agreed, and was soon
tilling and weeding like a man half his age. The vagabond took an immediate
interest in Tacitus, who at the time was a bitter, unruly young man and was
held in poor favor in the family. The old man patiently advised Tacitus,
helping him to see that he was causing his own disfavor through his intemperate
ways. After a time, the old man revealed to his young friend who he truly was:
a monk-- indeed, a master of his order that had taken to wandering the land to
help those he could.
Tacitus was fascinated by this
elderly vagabond who seemed healthier and more agile than a man half his age,
and before long the old monk, who revealed his name to be Janus, took the boy
under his wing and made him a disciple. For many long months they trained, both
while working and in their spare time, and Tacitus made rapid progress. Tacitus
learned to meditate, to keep his head shaven as an act of self-discipline, and
to control his unruly emotions through a sort of spiritual centering. Then, on
a sunny spring morning, Tacitus awoke to find that his teacher had left in the
night. Where he usually slept was a note that informed him that he was now a
monk, and that he must now find his own way. Tacitus never actually learned the
name of the order to which his teacher belonged; the old man always dodged the
question when asked.
Only a month later came
Tacitus's shearing. His family gave him some basic supplies, their sturdiest
scythe, and their blessings as they sent him on his way. Tacitus is now
determined to improve himself, make a fortune for his family, and just maybe
find his old teacher again. In the meantime Tacitus finds himself wandering the
streets of Specularum, either sleeping in out-of-the-way alleys or doing a
day's work in exchange for room and board, they way his teacher had done. He
does his best to keep himself centered, but sometimes his emotions still get
the best of him.
Introduction: Spring in Specularum; a time of great
natural beauty, especially in the port city.
It is also a time when young folk’s hearts call them forth to adventure,
or at least to travel to lands unknown.
Of course, sensible folk start small, and local. And where does one hear of adventure closest
to this area? Threshold. A logging community safely in the fold of the
Grand Duchy, and yet right on the frontier’s edge. Ably led by a Patriarch of the
Date: Lunadain, Yarthmont 1, AC 1000
Location: City of
A wild-haired man with a club in his belt walks up and down the main street of the city, energetically questioning almost every able-bodied individual he meets; “Have you heard the Word of Halav? Will ye not join me in bringing this Kingdom’s glory to hand during our lifetime? Travel with me to the frontiers so that we may beat back the bestial races and once again reclaim our native soil!”
Anastasia stops and turns toward the man.
"You seek adventure man, to push back the wilds. One might start with
grooming. Tame the wilds you have there, before you seek to tame that which is
mightier then a single man."
The wild man stops, but does not face the speaker. “Mightier than a single man? Aye, aye. But I don’t seek a single man. I seek a group, to do deeds in the name of a single man; or, more accurately, in the name of someone more than just a man.” Having delivered this last with eyes closed, and swaying slightly, he turns toward Anastasia. “Why, you’re a slip of a girl! Yet armed and sheared.” He leans in close to her and whispers, “Seek ye greatness, lass, or do you seek only to offer advice to those that did not ask it of ye?”
Anastasia: "I seek no greatness for myself, but to
prove myself worthy of my family's great name, and to prove myself a worthy
countryman of our great Duke. If you seek to prove yourself and make better
this great nation, you can count on my sword. My name is Anastasia Vorloi, and
you my rather enthusiastic friend would be?"
The unkempt man in leathers bows, his fist held against his chest. “They call me Ambrose the Celt, after my tribe’s name. And I seek not to prove myself, but only to assist those events foretold to come to be. Sword-work there may be ahead, so I welcome your offer. Mayhap we can add to our little band. I can heal and, despite what the other “churches” may say, am able to work small wonders through my faith in the Immortals, King Halav be praised.”
Anastasia: "Ambrose is it, well then it's agreed.
We'll need to find a few more if we expect success. I've seen a few around the
city that seem a bit out of place. That
might be a good place to start. Shall we split up and see whom we can gather?
We could meet up at dusk at the Long Shadow tavern, I have a room there and the
food prices are fairly good, even if the sheets on the beds be a bit
scratchy."
The scruffy fellow eyes Anastasia for a moment, then nods. “Agreed. Dusk at the Long Shadow. And may our search prove fruitful.” He offers his rather formal bow again, and meanders off into the crowd.
Time: Dusk
Location: Long Shadow Tavern, Trader’s Corridor, City of
Dusk finds the acolyte of Halav sitting alone at a table in the Long Shadow tavern. It’s a little crowded in here, and he looks slightly uncomfortable as he drinks water from a wooden mug and nibbles at a hard heel of bread (beggar’s rations). Each time the door opens he looks up quickly, only to look away again when he does not recognize the patron. It is painfully clear that he would rather be elsewhere. The conversation around the bar seems to be concentrate on the fact that today was tax day for the previous quarter, and the typical exchange of differing viewpoints concerning fiscal responsibility ensues.
The door to the tavern opens, and Anastasia enters, scans
the room quickly. Seeing Ambrose she raises her hand in greeting and heads over
to the bar. Quietly she talks to the bartender and then heads over to the table
Ambrose is at.
"Ello my friend, mind if
I sit?" Hardly waiting for a response she pulls out a chair and sits
across from the obviously uncomfortable Ambrose.
"How did you fare on the
search? I'm afraid I had little luck. I did spread the word that anyone wanting
adventure should come here tonight. I think we may have a few takers, I saw a
farmboy sleeping in an alley, I'd be willing to bet
that he could use the chance to earn some money. Now I guess that we wait and
see. Care for some drinks, they have a great mead here, and the stew is
amazing."
Anastasia gets up and walks
over to the bar. Thanking the barkeep, she pulls a few coins from her belt
pouch and takes the two bowls from the counter and the small loaf of bread. The
barkeep talking above the crowd says the drink will be brought over in just a
few minutes. Anastasia walks back over to the table and slides a bowl of
steaming stew in front of Ambrose, sits down and splits the bread in half and
hand him half of the fresh baked loaf.
"There have
some real food, that little lump hardly seems worth the effort. Now tell
me what did you have in mind for this little adventure?"
Vem (with his face covered so no one can recognize him) sits
down at the table with an empty mug...*whispers* Hey... hey Priest. What are
you doing here? Your sort will end up in the river if you're not careful."
Ambrose accepts the bowl and the bread, after tucking the crust he was worrying deep in a pocket, and lustily begins eating, scarcely looking up. He seems to have no problem talking at the same time as eating. Actually, he seems to have no compunction against it. The level of success he achieves is somewhat suspect. “Goo stew. Mmmpf. No drinks, thanmmff. Just water. *gulp*
He pays no attention when Vem sits down, but looks up sharply at his comment, an almost feral glint in his eyes. He would look dangerous were it not for the stew dripping from his beard. He glances furtively about, leans forward, his holy symbol dredging a trail in his stew bowl, holds up a stew-y finger and mutters, “People fear the truth.” He slumps back and follows up with “and this is damn good stew,” as he converts the bread to a sponge and begins sopping up what little liquid remains. You feel fairly confident he will be licking his holy symbol clean when more conventional methods begin yielding sparse results.
Once again the tavern's door opens. This time a tall,
stern-looking youth carrying a sturdy scythe enters, making surprisingly little
noise in his heavy leather-and-steel boots. As he enters he removes his
wide-brimmed hat to reveal a freshly-shaven head, and throws back his well-worn
and fray-hemmed cloak. He strides toward the bar, giving an acknowledging nod
to a couple of tables as he goes. As he sits, he rests his hat and scythe on the bar and says familiarly to the bartender,
"Peace be upon you today, my friend. Do you have any work for me, by
chance? I realize it's late, but my luck has been short so far today."
The bartender shakes his head and sighs. “You’re the third feller t’day as has walked in here wit’ a large farmin’ implement and asked me fer work. Are there no jobs in the farms and outskirts, then?”
As the bar wench delivers the two mugs of ale, Anastasia
grabs one and slides the other to the newcomer and dips a small piece of bread
in the stew and takes a bite. After she is finished with the bite she takes a
sip of ale and looks up at the newcomer.
"Well as he doesn't seem
to drink guess I got a spare. Drink up. What's your name, what’s your
business?" She then goes back to eating the stew, occasionally with some
more bread, sometimes without, but always finishing one bite completely before
moving on to the next or speaking. "Hasn't changed in all these years,
always have to come to the Long Shadow for their stew. It's legendary, and it
hasn't changed a bit, not in 10 years."
Grabbing a scrap of cloth she
wipes up some of the stew that has sloshed out of Ambrose's bowl. "I think
ya missed a spot there." She says with a chuckle and tosses the rag
lightly next to the priest bowl. "Well nothing like
a well mannered priest for dinner company."
Looking back
at the newcomer, "Name's Anastasia Vorloi, pleased to make your
acquaintance. If you’re hungry, I highly recommend the stew, and I'd be
willing to lay odds that our priestly friend here would as well. That is if he
stops licking the bowl long enough to speak."
Making note of the youth at
the bar, Anastasia nudges Ambrose slightly. Keeping her voice down "He
looks like he could use a bit of work, think I saw him sleeping in an alley
late yesterday. He keeps that up he's bound to run into trouble be it with the
law or others. Looks like he's fresh off the farm too; he's easy pickings for
some of the less trustworthy in this city."
At the mention of his profession, Ambrose stops licking the previously mentioned bowl. And mutters, “Not priest. Just an acolyte.” Looking at the bar he adds, “Big feller. Scythe. He’ll do.”
"The outskirts are the first place I checked," sighs Tack as he rests his elbows on the bar, "but all
the nearby farms claim to have too many people as it is." He glances up at
his weapon and continues, "Perhaps I'd have better luck if I had a more
conventional walking stick. My scythe seems to intimidate city folk."
Anastasia rises from the table and walks over toward the
bar.
"I got this one Sarge,”
she says with a warm smile at the bartender. "
"Come on over and sit
with us. And you might want to tuck that thing in a corner; it’s a bit big for
the tables. If you want I can store it in my room while we sit and chat."
Anastasia smiles at the
barkeep again and leads the big farm boy over to the table where her other two
companions sit.
"It's not that it
intimidates city folk, friend. It just makes you stand out a bit as being
straight off the farm. Makes you stick out a bit more then most city folk like
too."
"Heh I am not sure of this stew, it smells 'off' but
what do I know of cities... not much I'm afraid." Vem smiles, but it
quickly disappears. “I came over wondering why this poor priest was so nervous,
but was I correct in hearing there is work to be had? Outside the city walls I
hope."
“Aye lad..lads…lads and lady,” Ambrose offers, now apparently out of anything to eat. Far outside the walls. It’s the frontier we seek, if only to extend it farther than its current location.”
Tack awkwardly follows the lady from the bar to the
table, leaning his scythe against the wall as he sits. As soon as he is seated,
he glances over at the priest and blurts, "Hey, I know you! You're the
crazy guy that's always yelling things on streetcorners!" He gives a start
when he realizes what he's just said, and quickly tries to change the subject.
"Uh, anyway, your advice is well taken, my lady," he says to
Anastasia, "But I think I'd prefer to keep my weapon handy. Just as well
that they think of me as a harmless farmboy, as the prideful will often make
mistakes in their overconfidence." This last bit is said in a somewhat
recitational tone.
Anastasia:
"Well, it would seem that we are all in the market for work.
Ambrose here (she nods toward the acolyte) seems to think that out on the
frontier we might be able to test our skills, and make our names for ourselves.
I have to agree; here in the city we will find little if any real work. Certainly nothing to better our situations or prove ourselves
worthy of our great families."
She pauses for a moment, and
then continues "Threshold, we should head there, if there ever was a place
to make your mark on the world it is there. The untamed wilds just outside
there door, makes it a good place to start anyway."
She looks at each of the men
at the table in turn "What say you, do we set out as individuals striving
for the betterment of all, or do we go our separate ways and hope for the
best?"
"Oh and if ya miss out on
the stew it is truly your loss, if we hit the road you may never get the chance
to try it, and one should always set out on a warm hearty meal."
Ambrose pipes up, “The stew? Delicious. Small bowls, though, goes fast.”
Vem: "Thanks for the offer but I personally will save my
appetite for my remaining rations in my pack. They need to get eaten before
they go bad.. And they should just about get me to
Threshold. If that IS our destination."
Anastasia: "Well Ambrose I do believe that is where
you mentioned earlier, is it not?"
Suddenly remembering her
manners Anastasia looks over at the farm boy.
"My name's Anastasia Vorloi, pleased to meet you.
And you are? Hungry or thirsty, how about I order ya a beer
and some stew. If you’re the one I saw sleeping in the alley I'm
guessing you’re a might hungry."
As the barmaid walks by
Anastasia stops her “Hey Val, can you get this one a stew and ale. I've got it
covered."
Vem: "No offence my good woman, but that probably wasn't
me you saw in that alleyway, I do not imbue alcohol, and I do not partake in
charity. My rations will do me fine for the travels... “ After leaning back with a scowl on his
face a moment, he speaks again "Marcus is my name, and if you are looking
for folks willing to go to the frontier, count me in." He looks to
everyone in turn and leans back appearing like he will say very little any
more.
Anastasia: "Oh don't worry about it, I wasn't
speaking to you, Marcus, I suppose two farm boys at
the table can be a bit confusing. I meant our shaved friend here. I'm pretty
sure I saw him in the alley the other day. You already said you didn't want any
stew, your loss but he may be hungry and a good meal is always a good way to
break the ice and make new friends."
Ambrose
suddenly thumps his fists on the table and belches. “Aye, very good stew,
indeed.” He stands. “Beg pardon, new friends assembled, but I
must take my leave and get some rest.
The day starts early for the wicked and the driven, and I confess I’ve
been both in my short life. In parting I
offer these words,” he
takes Anastasia’s hand in his and leans forward a bit. “A journey into unknown territory should
always start with something that will be missed. He gazes up into her eyes. “I sure will miss that stew.” Releasing the lady’s hand with a bow, he
stomps out of the
Anastasia:
"Interesting fellow. Not quite right in the head to be sure. But he
is right, ‘tis late and if you are interested in joining us, we should retire shortly."
Looking at
the ales still sitting on the table. "Dear me, am I the only one at
this table who enjoys a nice cool brew every now and then? Ah no matter, I
guess I'll have the last of these with the Sarge, if no one else is gonna drink
up."
"You guys have rooms for
the night? The common room here isn't too expensive, or they have private rooms
for a bit more."
Tacitus makes arrangements for the common room, as Marcus stands and prepares to leave. He indicates he will sleep under the starts this evening. All make arrangements to meet back here 1 hour after sunrise.
Date: Gromdain, Yarthmont 2, AC 1000
Time: one hour after sunrise
Location: Long Shadow Tavern, City of
Ambrose enters the tavern loudly, his gear (what there is of it) arranged on his person, ready for travel. He sits at a table, asks for a mug of water, pulls a bread crust from inside his vest, and nonchalantly begins nibbling on it.
At exactly one hour after sunrise Anastasia walks down the
tavern stairs from the private rooms. Dressed much the same
as the previous day. Today however her long red hair is pulled back and
tied with a strip of black cloth and she now has a chain shirt on under her
cloak.
"Morning all, I trust you
all slept well." Looking around seeing only Ambrose and Sarge "Humm,
guess the others slept late. What’s on the menu for breakfast this morning,
Sarge?"
Anastasia continues down the
stairs and heads over to the table where Ambrose sits. "Sleep well? "
Ambrose rises. “Well enough, my lady. What aches the hard ground may cause, an hour of prayer removes. Now I assume we’re just awaiting the arrival of the two slug-a-beds and we can be off.”
"Who are you calling slug-a-bed?"
The voice comes from a dark
corner of the common room. You see Marcus there, whittling something out of a
piece of wood.. it looks like
a Viking ship or a duck. You’re not sure.
"I have been up for a
while, and have already eaten and I am ready to go"
A scowl on his face tells he
isn’t too happy on how his carving is coming.
Tacitus enters the common room from the tavern's rear
entrance, shirtless and covered in a light dew of sweat. "Good
morning," he says as he passes the table, "I've decided to come along
on the trek you mentioned last night." He then dons his tunic, cloak, and
gloves, and joins the two already sitting at the table. "My name is
Tacitus, by the way," he says as he sits, "I'm not sure if I'd
mentioned that before. My friends call me Tack, and I'd prefer that to 'farm
boy.'"
"Well then Tack, good morning and you as well
Marcus. So we are all agreed then, we are off to Threshold?"
Anastasia gets up from the
table and fetches the small plate of food from the bar that Sarge just placed
there.
"Sarge, perfect as
always. Hey Sarge should Dad ask, and he may. Sheared or not, I still think
he's gonna wonder what I'm up to. Just tell him, I've headed off to Threshold
and not to worry. I'd really appreciate it, you know
how he can get."
Plate in hand Anastasia moves
back to the table and sit down. The small plate contains a small chunk of bread
with fresh berries spread across the surface and a bit of egg.
After quickly eating, she
returns the plate to the bar, and takes a small sip from the waterskin on her
hip.
"Perfect Sarge, you are
the master of cooking. I'll miss your food while we are gone."
Turning back to the three men
in the room, "Well if our bellies are full, and we are all packed up we
might want to head out. We have a long trip ahead of us."
With a final whittle, and a furrowing of his brow Marcus sets
his creation down on the table, slings his pack over his shoulder and heads for
the door.
Tacitus follows suit, picking up his pack and scythe from
their place against the wall as he moves toward the exit.
Anastasia rises from the table, grabbing her pack from
the floor and slinging it to her back in one graceful motion. She walks to the
door, and turns back to the old barkeep.
"See ya Sarge, I'll try
and swing back often." and with a wave and a smile she heads out into the
city street, which is just starting to come alive with the activity of a new
day.
"You
coming Ambrose?"
“Right!” replies Ambrose. “I seem to be the one holding this little party up. Off we go to do our part.”
As
you head north out of Specularum on the Duke’s Road, following the
OCC: Marcus will take a watch if needed but you can skip to
the following day if needed.
Anastasia: I'll take a
watch as needed, and then I say we kick back into our little travel up the
river.
I assume everyone east after camp is made. Everyone, that is, except for Ambrose. He fiddles about with some flowers and long grasses, chewing on what he can find, and making horrible faces in the process. The road is close enough to the river for waterskins to be drained and re-filled. Being late spring, the day, if not damp, was at least warm (about 70°) and the evening gets down to about 55°. The rain, while not heavy, was driven almost sideways by a 29mph wind from the North. The night passes uneventfully.
Date: Tserdain, Yarthmont 3, AC 1000
Time: one hour after sunrise
Location: on the
Duke’s Road, South of Rifflian, in the Radlebb Woods, Grand Duchy of Karameikos
As soon as the sun rises, Ambrose can be found in prayer, on his knees in the mud. He will keep this up for one hour, as the party breaks camp. Everything is dripping wet, and the day dawns warm and humid. But the humidity is soon accompanied by a downpour of rain; heavier than yesterday. Well at least the wind has diminished somewhat, and now blows from the south at 19mph. Today will rise to 80° and will get no cooler than 60° at night. Only Tack seems to have slept in any semblance of comfort, in his bedroll. While as damp as the rest, he seems to have less difficulty in moving and getting the pain out of his joints.
Barring
incident a good day’s travel should put you in the town of
Date: Tserdain, Yarthmont 3, AC 1000
Time: late afternoon
Location: the
town of
You arrive
in Rifflian, very wet, hungry, and slightly worse for wear.
"It looks as if you three haven't done much traveling,"
Tack remarks as they approach the town's outskirts. "I've found my bedroll
to be an excellent investment in the months I've spent wandering. You should
consider buying one while we're here."
Anastasia heads to the nearest inn, trying to shake some
of the water from her hair.
"Excuse me, Do you have a room for the night, and a hot meal would be
divine. Also good sir, could you point me to a local shop where I might buy
some goods for my travels?"
You are told the tavern does, indeed, have rooms and a meal would be no problem. Of course the smell of supper alone indicates the quality may not be up to the caliber of the Long Shadow, bit it certainly beats soggy rations. Ambrose looks uneasily about and prepares to exit the tavern, apparently not making arrangements for bed or board. The keeper of the establishment directs you down the road for a provisioner.
"Thank you sir, I will need a room and a meal. Do
you happen to know if the provisioner will be open much later, or if he opens
shop early in the morning?
“The room’ll be five crona, and one royal for the meal. The provisioner’ll be open a while yet, but closes at dark.”
Anastasia
pulls the coins from her pouch and hands them to the tavern keeper.
"Will the meal be ready straight away, or would I have time to speak to
the provisioner while it is being prepared?"
“As is your pleasure, m’lady.” Replies the hostler.
"Very
good then, I'll be back in just a few minutes."
With that Anastasia turns and heads out the door at a jog in the direction of
the
provisioner.
Anastasia enters the shop the
innkeeper had director her towards. “Good Eve Sir, do you happen to have a tent
and a bedroll I might purchase.”
The provisioner points to a
small shelf stacked neatly with bedrolls and an adjoining shelf with tents
neatly folded.
“You do excellent.” With that
she scoops up a bedroll and a tent and places them on the counter and reaches
into her belt pouch for some coin. After concluding business Anastasia exits
the shop “Thank You” and heads back towards the inn.
Anastasia enters the inn,
“Thank you for directing me there, very helpful fellow had the two items I
needed.” She talks to the innkeep as she sits down at a table near the fire.
“Oh guys they do still have tents and bedrolls, should you be wanting one, fair
price too.”
The serving girl brings over a
plate of food “Thanks Miss” and Anastasia begins eating. “Not bad, not bad.”
Tacitus, who until reaching the tavern had accompanied Anastasia
silently, casually approaches the tavernkeeper and takes a seat at the bar.
"Pardon me," he says, "I was wondering if you'd seen someone
strange recently."
The tavernkeeper ponders the tall, bald youth with the
scythe. “Err, well, mayhap yes and mayhap no.
Most travelers seem strange in one way or another. I minds me own business as much as
possible. Can ye describe this
individule?”
"He's
a fairly healthy looking old Thyatian man, shaven head, dressed in simple
clothes and barefoot," Tack says, giving a description of his old teacher.
"He was probably carrying a staff or large walking stick, and asking about
work."
The tavernkeeper looks thoughtful for a moment. “I’m sorry, lad, don’t ring no bells wi’ me. ‘Course very few linger long in Rifflian, what with the big city so close one way and th’ frontier t’other.”
Tack sighs and looks away for a moment. "Ah
well," he says solemnly, "It wasn't too likely he'd come this way,
anyway." He then strides out of the bar to find the rest of his
companions.
"Whats with those guys, you'd think that with the
rain and travel they'd at least take advantage of one night in a warm dry bed.
Oh well, their loss I guess."
Anastasia finishes her plate
of food, brings the plate back to the bar. "Thank you, it was indeed good.
Now about that room."
Anastasia concludes busines
with the innkeeper and gathers up her pack and her new purchases, and heads to
the door. "Night guys see ya at sun up or shortly thereafter. Try and at
least find a dry place to sleep."
With that Anastasia heads up
the stairs to the room the innkeeper had directed her too minutes before.
As Marcus has no money he is forced to seek shelter outside the inn, and must go hungry, as he ate the last of his rations earlier. Tack gets a poor meal and stays in the common room.
Date: Moldain, Yarthmont 4, AC 1000
Time: one hour after sunrise
Location: The
Silver Swan Inn, the town of
Upon
waking, to a much more pleasant, sunny, dry day, you discover that the name of
the
Ambrose is
waiting for you in the main hall, looking well fed and rested. He explains that, once outside Specularum, it
is common among his cult for clerics to perform ceremonies and cast spells in
exchange for food and lodging. This may
be difficult in Threshold, as the town is run by the Patriarch of the
The pleasant day, with the gentlest of breezes from the north does
get quite warm (80°), and cools to only 65°. This day’s travel along
Date: Moldain, Yarthmont 4, AC 1000
Time: late afternoon
Location: the
If Marcus needs food, Tacitus will gladly share his
rations.
Then rooms are acquired and rations shared. Once again, Ambrose heads off into the village to make his own way.
Date: Nytdain, Yarthmont 5, AC 1000
Time: early afternoon
Location: the town
of
Weather: High of 80°, Low of 70°, no wind, moderate rain (3/4”)
Threshold
5 ½ hours
of wet travel brings you to the town of
Anastasia steps up promptly, you would have thought her a
soldier in the Duke's army if you did not know better. She sounds like a
soldier addressing a superior officer when she speaks.
"Anastasia Vorloi, I'm
here looking for work and to explore the frontier." With a fluid sweep of
her hand Anastasia pulls a throwing axe from her hip, and holds it, handle out, to the guard. "Other then the sword I
have here that is my only other weapon. If you could please direct me to an inn
I will remove this armor and shield straight away."
The sergeant accepts the weapon and hands you a scrap of paper, torn in half, the other half of which he affixes to the axe. “Inns there are aplenty, down yonder road,” he gestures. “Prices vary but you can find private single lodgings for about 10 royals a week. “Course if you’re lookin’ for common quarters, they’ll run you only a crona a night.
Merchants are down that road, along with the bank. Of course the Patriarch can most often be found at the Church or at his keep, Tarnskeep, just outside of town. This bulletin board usually has notices posted of folks lookin’ for assistance. If it’s work you seek, that’d be your best bet.”
He turns to Marcus and Tack, an expectant look on his face.
Tacitus steps up beside Anastasia. "Tacitus
Aurelius," he says, handing over his scythe. "I am also here looking
for work and other opportunities. Be careful with that scythe, now." He
reaches around to the place on his belt where he keeps his sling. Holding it
up, he asks "Will I have to turn this in, as well?"
Sergeant Arthol hands Tack a slip of paper, as he takes the scythe. “No sir, many’s a boy as has one of them on his belt. We trust you won’t be causing any mischief with it. And you sir?” he queries of Marcus.
Marcus responds in kind and hands over his short bow. Ambrose hands over his club, but as for purpose of visit he simply states “Pilgrimage.”
As they stroll into the town, Tack glances at his three
companions. "Well, we made it," he says, "What do we do
now?"
"Well you heard the man, the bulletin board should
have postings of any work there may be. We should check there and then make
accommodations in town if we are going to have to stay for a night or
two."
With that Anastasia beckons
the others to follow and heads off in a determined manner in the direction the
guard had directed them only moments ago.
The bulletin board has a sort of cupola over it to protect the parchments from inclement weather. You see the following notices:
QUALIFIED EVICTION
PERSONNEL WANTED
See
WANTED: RENEGADE
CLERIC ELWYN
See Patriarch Halaran
PACKAGE DELIVERY
NEEDED TO SELENICA
See Merchant Sindar at
the Stalwart Glass Tavern
The following “news” items are also posted on what seems to be a current events/ gossip parchment;
“Goblins raiding along the Black Eagle barony border. The Baron is suspected”
“Unidentified merchant has been making inquiries about something called “The Rock.””
“Foreign nobleman who owned a whole fleet of ships was assassinated a week ago in Specularum. The Iron Ring is suspected.”
“Renowned fighter Rogahn the Fearless, long missing, is believed alive and working for Baron Hendriks.”
“Gnomes are smuggling gems down the river in hollowed logs.”
"Well then, I guess we start at the begining and see
what we can find out." With that Anastasia takes the first notice down.
"Lets find this Mr. Caldwell."
As you turn around you realize Marcus has slipped off somewhere. A previous conversation on the road alluded to the fact that he might become scarce once in Threshold, depending on which way the wind blew. Apparently it’s blowing that way.
A small figure wrapped in a heavy, grey-green cloak plods
up to the board, stopping a couple of feet back. After a couple of abortive
attempts to look past the towerin humans in the way, a heavy sigh comes from
the shadows under the hood.
In unaccented Thytian,
"Excuse me, young ones. I can't help but notice that you're newly arrived
and, unless my knowledge of local human dress customs fails me, newly sheared
as well. My predicament is...analogous to your own, and you might find my
knowledge as useful in your travels as your own...brawn. "
He flips back his hood,
revealing snow-white hair, blue eyes, pointed ears, and a massive, gruesome
burn scar covering most of the left side of his face; beginning with the ear
and stopping just shy of the nose.
"My name is Sevaliar.
I'm a teacher, and a wizard."
Anastasia eyes go wide "A Callarii, last time I saw
one of your people was knee high playing while my father and the duke were in a
meeting."
As if suddenly remembering her
upbringing, Anastasia straightens herself up and composes herself. "My apologizes, I'm Anastasia Vorloi, and these are my
traveling companions, Ambrose, Tacitus and well we seem to have lost another
somewhere around here. Please pardon my outburst, it's been awhile since I have
seen another of your people, and even longer since I've had one speak with me. You are more then welcome to join us, t'is
always safer in numbers, and we welcome your expertise and wisdom. We were just
getting ready to find this Mr. Caldwell as it seems he has work that might be
of interest."
Anastasia holds out the
posting she had previously removed from the board to Sevaliar.
Tack has apparently been lost in his thoughts for the
last few minutes, but the diminutive stranger's introduction snaps him out of
his reverie. "A wizard," he says with his eyes wide, "I've...
never met a wizard before. Can you really kill a man with a single
thought?" He seems somewhat torn between fascination and fear as he
regards the robed elf before him.
Ambrose looks somewhat uncomfortable at that thought. He mutters under his breath, yet audible enough “It must require a tremendous amount of discipline to wield such powers, unchecked as they are by faith.”
Sevaliar looks to Anastasia, "Thank you, young
lady." He looks to Tacitus "No, child, there are gestures and phrases
involved, and even then it's often a bit less certain than putting an arrow
through a man's throat." He turns to Ambrose, "discipline I have,
none who lack it serve in the Duke's Elvenguard for long."
He takes the notice from
Anastasia and glances over it. "Eviction, eh?
Hopefully outside of town limits, otherwise I'm afraid all I'll be able to
contribute is wiggling my fingers at him menacingly." He rubs his scar
unconsciously as he adds "you'd be surprised how often that works,
though."
"Oh," Tacitus says in a relieved tone,
"Good. Back in my home town they tell lots of stories about wizards. I'm
glad that one isn't true, at least." He seems to relax a bit, and in a
more even tone he asks "Why do you keep calling us children, anyway?"
Sevaliar looks up the big human with patient
exasperation. "Because elves can live a very, very long
time. I have seen more than a hundred winters. From the looks of you,
none of you three has seen so much as thirty. Given the cuts on the ends of
your cloaks, I'd wager as much as a decade less than even that."
He glances at the sheet in his
hand again. "
Castle
Finding
Clifton Caldwell is easy enough. A
couple of questions and you are directed to the merchant’s area of town. And gaining an audience with
Sevaliar turns to confer quietly with his new
acquaintances: "His offer sounds like just the sort of thing I'm looking
for at the moment: fast, straight-forward, and profitable. That reminds me, we
should work out a system for dividing what we find there. But for now, does
this work suit everyone else's needs?"
"Seems fine to me," Tack says, scratching his chin.
He turns to
Sevaliar:"Well," he glances at the two hulking
Thytians and the club-wielding priest "I think we can handle that.
Anastasia, Ambrose?"
"Indeed the offer sounds quite fair, and will
definitely fill our bellies for a moon at least. We can discuss the division of
any goods we find once we finish our business here, it will give us something
to discuss on the journey."
Anastasia looks at Mr.
Caldwell, "Sir, the job sounds to be just what we are looking for. Do you
have a map to the castle or any map of its interior? Surely any information you
can give us of your new residence can speed our job and allow you to move in
all the sooner."
Clifton Caldwell pulls a parchment from within the folds of his robe. "I have this map of the exterior, but I'm afraid I know nothing of the internal structure. And I will take you to the site myself, but I would, of course, be coming right back here to await word of your progress."
Exterior map of Castle Caldwell
http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f302/rexartur2/In%20Search%20of%20Adventure/CastleCaldwell.jpg
Ambrose nods his wooly head. “Aye. For the glory of Duke Stefan and King Halav, ‘tis a small start, but a start nonetheless. I’m in.”
"Now Sir, how long will it take us to reach this
little castle of yours? Would we be able to reach it by days end if we left
within the hour, or is this trek best left til first light tomorrow?"
Sevaliar peers out a window to check the sun's position, then says "Yes, I believe there should be plenty of
time for us to, at the least, take a look inside and get back to town before we
risk losing the twilight. In any case, we have a bargain, Merchant
Caldwell."
Clifton Caldwell rises and snaps his fingers twice. “Delighted to hear it. I really am anxious to move in to my new abode, a place of quality and all.” The way he stresses the word quality gives you the impression that Merchant Caldwell likes his surroundings grand and ostentatious. Mind you the home in which you are currently conducting your business is no hovel. Far from it.
In a moment
a servant enters bearing a small coffer.
“You have
your mission, and your ‘seed money.’ Please report to me as soon as the task is
accomplished.” Merchant
Sevaliar: "The only items I particularly want
are," the elf picks up one of the piles of coins "currently beyond my
means. So, if everyone else is ready..." He glances at the others
questioningly.
Tack leans toward Anastasia and, in a low voice, says
"We may want to purchase some sacks to help us carry any spoils we
find."
The doors of the room open and two guards stand aside to
admit another figure who glides forward to stand before the party and Merchant
Caldwell.
A slight figure not much more
than five feet tall, her shoulder length white hair flows behind her and past
her pointed elven ears. Her hair also hangs down in front, covering the left
side of her face. On the right side though you see that her
eye is a light purple color, like an amethyst gem.
Halting before you as
gracefully as she walked in, you catch a glimpse of leather armor, spiked
gauntlets, and thigh high studded leather boots which nearly touch the hem of
her side slit leather skirt. But as she stops, her heavy dark green cloak
settles around her to block all further inspection.
In a gentle but resolute voice
she asks, "Is this the place where we sign up for the job as 'Qualified
Eviction Personell'? My name is Shayesti, and I would like to apply for the job
if there is still an opening."
Anastasia: "Agreed, we gather some supplies and head
out. It may even be in our best interest to make sure we have supplies to camp
near the castle, rather then plan on traveling back and forth each day."
Ambrose stands when the female elf enters the room, a very please look on his face. “This is just the thing needed to make the movement grow. More followers! You are very welcome, miss. The more the merrier, says I. I am Ambrose the Celt; spreading the good word of Halav-reborn for these past few seasons”
Anastasia looks to the female elf "You are more then
welcome to join us, as I have said before there is safety in numbers. We were
just discussing our preparations so we could set out. Do you have provisions
for the trip? I would suggest a tent and a sleeping bag, as I think it would be
in our favor to secure a spot near the castle to camp, rather then loose half
of our days to travel."
"Mr. Caldwell we will
need another share of that money, as we seem to have gained another hand to
assist us in your job."
Clifton Caldwell doesn’t even bat an eye as he places another stack of 50 royals on the table. He repeats his brief description of what he is looking for.
Tacitus chuckles softly as he doffs his hat to the lady.
"Yesterday I had never even seen an elf, and now I meet two in one
day," he says with a smirk.
Sevaliar eyes the newcomer levelly, and inclines his head
slightly. "Welcome, fellow Calarii. I feel certain your skills will be
most useful in the work to come."
The white haired newcomer steps forward and nods her head to
the merchant
"Greetings.
Yes, let us go."
Shayesti is ready to leave
whenever the rest of the group is. She doesn't need to provision any further.
Anastasia would like to purchase two large sacks.
Then she is ready to head to
the castle
After
a brief stop at the general provisioner, and another stop at Town Hall to
reclaim your weapons, Clifton Caldwell leads you to his estate, the soon-to-be
Caldwell Manor. The trek through the
forest brings you to a clearing, in which stands a fairly impressive castle, a
turret at each corner. A slope leads up
to a pair of massive oaken doors in the front.
There are narrow windows spaced evenly around the first floor of the
building.
Anastasia surveys the area quickly and makes note of the
arrow slots and the single entrance. "Might I suggest that our first order
of business should be to find a place near here to set up our camp? A bit off
the path so we are not visible to anyone coming or going from the castle, but
close enough that we do not have to spend much time in travel when we start to
feel a bit fatigued. Then we can at least leave the bulkier items, tents,
bedrolls and such at the campsite and not have them weighing us down as we will
most likely have some fighting in our near future."
Sevaliar nods, rubbing absently at his scarred face.
"That sounds like a workable course of action. Let us be as swift about it
as possible, though. I mistrust this place, and the sooner we can hand it over
to our for-the-nonce employer, the happier both he and I shall be."
That said,
he begins looking around for a safe, relatively dry, place to camp.
Many of the forested areas nearby the castle appear safe enough, at the moment, but dry? After the rains of the last few days, dry is not a term currently associated with anything outside shelter.
The elf mutters something about mud, then
starts walking toward a dense copse of trees on a nearby hill, making for the
side furthest from the castle.
Shayesti follows the rest of the group's lead in looking for
a campsite. She looks not at the ground though, but upward at the miniscule
trees of this forest.
"Forget the mud, brother Callari, we should sleep among the comfortable branches with
the leaves for a canopy above us."
Finding a suitable branch, she
jumps and pulls herself up until she straddles it comfortably while leaning
back against the trunk.
The wizard rolls his eyes and stomps on the dryest
portion of mud available. "My tree-climbing skills are somewhat less than
spectacular these days, and testing them on rain-slick, substandard
trees hardly seems worth the risk. This spot will do nicely."
He looks around at his
companions. "Shall we begin the work at hand, then?
Tack eyes the diminutive elven female incredulously and
says, "You can sleep in a tree if you like. I prefer to stay out of the
trees unless I'm looking for fruit. Besides, a fire's hard to control on a tree
branch."
Nodding to Sev, Tack hefts his
scythe over his shoulder and says, "I'm ready. Let's go and evict some
monsters."
Anastasia pitches her tent and places her bed roll
inside. She quickly unsheathes her sword and gives it a quick shine with the
hem of her cloak. In a confident tone and with a confident nod of her head
"Alright then lets clean some filth out of this castle." With that
she turns and heads out of the clearing and back toward the castle.
When you are ready, you may be standing before the great oaken double doors that lead into the castle.
Tacitus shifts his weight uncertainly as he gazes up at
the massive entrance. Glancing at his companions, he jokes "Should we
knock?"
Sev
cocks his one remaining eyebrow at the human, and says quietly. "It would
probably be best if someone searched the doors for traps first. Even a bucket
full of nails poised on top of one of them could let half the squatters in this
place know we're here."
He nods Shayesti toward the
door, then steps back and falls silent, flexing his fingers and staring
intently at the door.
Anastasia:
"Agreed, we must use all our respective skills to get through this.
If we keep our wits about us and work together we will all walk away from this
stronger and wiser, not to mention richer."
"I shall see what may be found, and counteract anything
harmful as well as I may."
Shayesti steps up to the large
doors and begins searching on and around them for any traps that might be
present. She absently rubs her hand behind her hair and over the patch covering
what was once her left eye. Anyone watching closely enough might even be able
to catch a glimpse of the flat silver area where that eye should be.
She also checks to see if the
doors are locked and tries her best to undo such protections if any exist.
Shayesti finds no evidence of traps. The doors are unlocked and swing easily open into a 20 foot wide corridor. There are doors to the left and the right, 15 feet in. The corridor continues for 40 feet, ends in a third door, and turns left and right.
Anastasia steps to the front, shield on her left arm and
longsword in her right hand. "I'm sure I don't need to say this, but just
in case. Ambrose, Sevaliar, stay to the back, no use having you both in a place
to take the main attacks. Tack, you look like your pretty good in a fight, feel
like joining me up here? Oh, and Shayesti stay close, something tells me there
will plenty of things we will need your expertise on in this old place. No
foolish heroics, we clean this place out, we go rest if we need to, this man's ego is not worth dying for."
Shayesti left most of her gear in her backpack hanging in a
tree back at camp. She's currently carrying only her sword, 3 daggers (one in
her right hand), a waterskin, and one ration. (OOC: Does this get her to unencumbered for movement purposes?)
She will follow the lead of
Anastasia and Tack while exploring except when she needs to move up to check
doors and such.
"Your wisdom exceeds your
years, Anastasia. Your advice could have come from the lips of my very father,
a seasoned warrior."
Anastasia chuckles slightly "It pays to be raised by
the best General in the Duke's army." Anastasia pauses slightly "Has
your father even been with the Callari contingent in the service of the Duke?
If so those may very well have been his words, I learned much watching them at
practice when I was but a child."
Shayesti: "My father was one of the first Elves in the
Duke's service I would guess, because he has been away from home for many
years. Perhaps you've heard of him, his name is Keleraan. Finding him is the
reason I left home in the first place and came this far south."
Tack silently accompanies Anastasia at the front of the
party, his scythe at the ready. He seems to be repetitively mouthing some kind
of phrase; apparently gibberish.
"Three possible doors and two other passages"
Shayesti whispers to the others, "If we move up I can check those next two
doors for traps while we decide which one we want to try first."
"Agreed, lets try our best to be quiet about this
too. No need to let everyone know we are here." With that Anastasia begin
slowly moving forward keeping an eye out for any trouble.
The party carefully moves in and Shayesti checks both doors for traps, finding nothing.
Sevaliar
nods toward the door on the left, his face stony.
Anastasia
steps forward to the left door, and after Shayesti
gives her the nod that the door is safe, she slowly pushes the door open, sword
at the ready.
Abandoned
Dining Room
The heavy oaken door opens easily onto an irregular pentagon-shaped room, 30-feet wide at the door and 4-0-feet long at its deepest point. This room appears to have once been used as a dining room. There are tables and benches scattered throughout the room, many turned on their sides or upside down. Everything is covered with cobwebs. Light streams in through high, narrow windows.
Shayesti
silently glides in behind Tack and Anastasia. With a watchful eye, Shayesti
will check around the room for any valuables if no threat presents itself while
looking for any secret doors in walls or the floor.
Due to the size of the room and the amount of debris, you estimate it could take some time to search, 10 to 15 minutes for a thorough job. How long do you wish to devote to the task?
Shayesti
has no problem taking the needed 10 to 15 minutes unless something more urgent
happens before then or her companions object. Also, Shayesti wanted to make
sure that the front doors we came through got shut behind us instead of left
open for any wandering critters to notice.
Sevaliar
waits for her to finish checking the room, hanging back with Ambrose until the
rogue completes her sweep.
Shayesti finds a large sack under one of the tables.
Without
saying a word or picking it up, Shayesti will feel the bag from the outside to
make sure it doesn't feel like some live animal or snake inside. If it doesn't
feel like something along those lines, she'll open the bag and look inside.
Anastasia
stands guard at the door, sword out and shield on, keeping a wary eye on the
door across the hall and the hall itself for any activity.
Shayesti
hesitates slightly before picking the bag up into plain view of the party. If
nothing else is found in the search, Shayesti will declare that she believes
the room to be clear of any dangers. She then brings the sack of silver coins
over to the others to show them their first claimed treasure.
"Have a look at all these
crona's. How many do you suppose there are?"
The
wizard attempts a quick estimation, (let me know if you need a die roll) then
shrugs. In a murmur, he comments:
"Hopefully a total easily
divisable by five."
Anastasia:
"We shouldn't linger here long, 'twill only be a matter of time before something
comes this way and we are discovered. Frankly, I'd rather be the one
discovering them. Ambrose, or Sevaliar, you both look like your packs could
hold a bit. Would either of you mind carrying the money for now? Then when we
go back to camp tonight we can divide this up then, and hopefully a lot more
too."
Ambrose gives a huff. “Aye, give it here, I’ll bear it fer now.” He bundles up the clinking sack and deposits in into his backpack.
Sevaliar nods and, glancing around tensely, gestures
toward the door across the hall.
Shayesti
agrees that they should head across the hall and check the other door next.
Since she already searched it for traps and locks, she will stay behind the
front-liners until the door is opened.
Tack
nods at Sevaliar and silently pads into the hallway, his scythe in his right
hand. He peers up and down the hall, scanning for any sort of movement or
noteworthy sights. After a quick glance at Anastasia to make sure she's in
position to back him up, he grasps the handle of the door across the hall and
forces it open. Once it has swung sufficiently to get a good look into the room
beyond, Tacitus assumes his combat stance with his scythe held high.
Opening the door, you see four small humanoids, each armed with a short sword. They appear to be arguing with each other, evidently over two large piles of coins of the floor. The creatures are small, about 31/2’ to 41/2’ tall and very ugly. They have pointed ears and misshapen teeth. Their skin is a pale earthy color. Their eyes are red and glow faintly. They are wearing bits of leather and metal and wielding wicked, if not rusty, short swords.
Ambrose tightens his grip on his club, mutters something about filthy beasts, and wades past his compatriots, into the room! He swings his club at one of the creatures, hitting it solidly. The creatures scream in rage, forgetting their past argument, and swarm around Ambrose. Two of the little monsters stab at Ambrose and miss. The third hits him and the fourth puts all of his weight behind his blow, luckily hitting Ambrose’s shield.
"Foul
creatures!” Shayesti shouts as she moves into the room attempting to catch one
of the creatures between Ambrose and herself to try a back attack on it with
her longsword.
Shayesti
draws her weapon and heads into the room, trying to position herself for a rear
attack.
Tack
strides into the room, his scythe held up with the curved blade arcing forward
and down; the overall impression is of a serpent, both from how his weapon is
held and how he moves, tracing a sinuous path toward his opponent. He singles
out a foe that is furthest from his two teammates and swings his scythe in a
downward arc upon it.
Tack’s blade misses the goblin, even though he was able to attack from a rear flank.
Sev
stands in the doorway across the hall, his fingers flashing in the gestures of
an offensive spell. He points at the creature Ambrose struck, and the air seems
to twist as an arrow of pure force slashes through the air and plunges into the
little beast's body with a sharp Thock.
Anastasia
draws her sword and moves into the room next to Ambrose, and attacks the same
beleaguered creature that has been wounded by both Ambrose and Sevaliar.
Anastasia stumbles as she makes her attack and instead hits Shayesti for 9 points of damage.
Ambrose grunts, “No, lass, like this!” and brings his club down on the head of the wounded goblin, hitting it, but with only a glancing blow. “Well, you get the idea,” Ambrose grins broadly over his shoulder.
All four goblins continue to stab at Ambrose, and they all completely miss. The cleric lets out a defiant, “A-Ha!”
"Aaaiie!" ,Shayesti grunts as she is hit unexpectedly by
Anastasia.
Leveling a curse in elven at
Anastasia that would make Sevaliar blush, Shayesti nevertheless focuses on
moving into range and trying for a rear attack against the goblin with her
longsword.
Shayesti’s swing from behind the goblin misses completely.
Carried by the momentum of his first swing, Tack's scythe
whispers through the air, spinning in his hands even as his body whirls around
to bring his weapon to bear a second time. With a peculiar look of serenity on his face, Tacitus again swings
his scythe in a downward angle at the goblin before him.
Tack slips in some of the blood that has been spilled on the floor and the blade of the scythe slips past the goblin, back around and straight across Tack’s brow for 14 points of damage.
Sevaliar's
eyes dart in horror at the gruesome accidents befalling his companions. He
hurriedly repeats the incantation and gestures to send another bolt of force
whistling into the wounded goblin.
The goblin yelps and falls to the ground.
Anastasia
attacks the other goblin within range of her blade, and slashes its left leg
deeply.
Ambrose’s club misses its target by a wide margin.
The remaining goblins continue to press their attack on Ambrose, but all attacks clearly miss.
Muttering a prayer to the Elven gods for protection in this
apparently cursed battle, Shayesti swings again at a goblin, from a rear attack
if possible.
(OOC: Not
sure if the one she was attacking was the one just felled or not. If so,
she will move to another one and try another rear attack.)
Shayesti’s attack completely misses the goblin.
With a
determined grimace, Tack brings his scythe around for an underhand sweep at his
foe.
Tack’s scythe catches a different head this time; a goblin’s head; but the beast stays on its feet.
Sevaliar
looks around for something he can use as a weapon, then
grabs one of the rotted benches from the ruined dining room.
Anastasia
swings her sword at the nearest goblin but misses as the little creature grins
menacingly.
Except Anastasia doesn’t see the grin because her chain coif has slipped down over her eyes. (use an action to fix it by rolling Dex or less on a d20; -6 to hit until then.)
Ambrose continues his assault, bringing his club solidly down on the left leg of the goblin he and Shayesti have been attacking. The blow elicits a howl, for which is less of an effect than Ambrose was hoping.
The goblin to the rear flank of Ambrose stabs his right arm for 2 points of damage as the other goblins’ attacks miss.
Once again Shayesti attacks her goblin from behind. She stabs it in it’s left leg, grievously wounding the creature. It collapses to the ground. Shayesti maneuvers herself to assist Tack with a rear flank attack.
Tack
changes his stance, moves his hands to different positions on his weapon's
handle, and then makes a raking horizontal sweep across the body of his
diminutive opponent. The manner of his attack is evocative of a jaguar or other
large cat.
The goblin takes the blow to his back but staggers slightly.
Sevaliar
waves the bench awkwardly in front of him, trying to keep it between him and
the two remaining goblins.
Anastasia
vainly struggles with her mail coif covering her eyes, the process made all the
more difficult as she is trying to regain her vision with a shield in one hand
and a sword in the other.
Ambrose turns his club on another goblin, but misses.
Luckily, the goblins fare no better as they cannot hit their target.
Shayesti
slashes at the goblin with her longsword hoping to end this fight soon.
The blow fails to connect.
Tacitus
winds back and brings his scythe down in an overhand sweep, attempting to
bisect his wounded foe.
Tack comes close to his goal as the wicked blade slices into the creatures left arm and buries itself in its side. With a wet sound, the monster slides off the blade and falls to the floor in a heap.
Sevaliar
continues waving the bench around and prepares to try and block the last
creature if it attempts to make a break for it.
Anastasia
struggles and finally pulls the coif back up to its proper placement.
Now that all but one of the buggers has fallen, Ambrose leads his companions in a brief prayer. “Kill ‘em! Kill ‘em all! Filthy bastards! The epitome of evil!” He seems to feel very…religious about the matter. Ambrose’s club slams into the remaining goblin’s left arm, visibly breaking the limb with the sound of a chicken bone snapping through wet cloth.
The goblin’s eyes grow wide as it reflexively stabs at Ambrose, but such is it’s physical condition that the sword turns in its hand, the weight of the weapon dragging the off-balance creature’s blade arm down, until the point pierces one of his companions, lying bleeding on the ground, obviously killing it.
Shayesti
moves around to attempt a rear attack with her longsword on the last goblin.
Shayesti’s blade slices a gash into the dangling broken arm of the goblin. It screams but fights on.
Tack
twirls his scythe and then changes his stance once more, this time assuming a
seemingly rigid, straight-backed pose. He swivels at the hips and forcefully
drives the point of his scythe directly at his opponent's chest.
In a swirl of purple and velvet, a Halfling armed with a rapier appears in the doorway, having moved up behind Sevaliar. He lunges at the remaining goblin, but fails to connect.
*Offers
a nod to Sevaliar which is made much more dramatic due to his wide brimmed
purple velvet hat* Greetings to you Elf-type! I am Keelo B. Marrows, Highway
Halfling! Surely you have heard of me! I have come to save you all from these
foul beasts!
Sevaliar's
head snaps toward the halfling in perfect shock. He only has time to offer a
strangled "What?!" before redirecting his attention back to the
remaining goblin and shifting his position to block the opening through which
the halfling lunged.
Anastasia slashes at the final enemy and misses.
Ambrose sighs and with a frightening single-mindedness, slams his club into the same arm he broke only seconds before. The goblin’s eyes roll back into its head as it collapses immediately.
No enemies remain standing.
"My goodness!
Perhaps in the future we can do more damage to the enemy than to ourselves?!", Shayesti exclaims.
She then starts examining the
room around her for the first time, initially looking for any other exits
before moving on to a thorough search of the room and it's former inhabitants.
Tacitus
bends and begins wiping the blood from his scythe-blade on a goblin's tattered
rags. As he does so he looks up at the newly-arrived halfling, and remarks
"Just what are you doing here, anyway? It doesn't seem likely that you
were just passing by. Were you following us?"
Sevaliar
puts the bench down, leaning it against the wall inside the room. To Ambrose he
says, "You may want to have a look at that nasty gouge on Tack's
forehead."
Then he turns his unblinking
blue eyes on the halfling and says: "And what, Master Marrows, would give
you the idea we need saving?"
Shayesti gives the bodies a going over and investigates the room. There are two piles of coins on the floor, one of silver, the other of copper. Between them sits a gem.
Ambrose walks over to Tack and lays his palm across the young man’s forehead. He mutters something unintelligible (well, more so than usual.)
Keelo:
*slides his rapier away with a flourish and flips back his purple cape over his
right shoulder* I guess you could say I have been following you, but it was at
the request of
(Moves over to the corner and
starts searching the room)
"Well my companions the goblins had, between them, 26 electrum
pieces, a base coin no longer minted in the grand duchy, each worth 5 silver
cronas. The piles of coins are 4,000 silver cronas and 3,000 copper kopecs. I
suppose this means we will be making a 6 way split of the treasure, eh?” she
wonders aloud as she checks out the new addition to their group.
"Sir Ambrose, could you
possibly take a look at my wound as well? It is bleeding rather much still.”
Shayesti comments with a flick of her eye towards Anastasia.
Ambrose touches Shayesti’s wound.
Keelo:
*picks up a coin from the pile* "I think not, unless you want to include
me. I may be greedy, but as a rule I like to work for my money." *flips
the coin in the air* "On the same coin, pardon the pun, a halfling never
turns down free money." *catches the coin in his right hand and slaps it
down on the top of his left, then inspects it* "Hrm.....heads. Your call
my friends."
Sevaliar
rubs the gruesome scar on his face as he says to the halfling "You
received 50 royals from Mister Caldwell, correct? That should do for now.
Although, to make the eventual division of goods easier," he looks to his
battered companions, "we might consider heading back to Threshold to trade
in the piles of coin we've found thus far -- split five ways -- for something a
little lighter, and to recuperate a bit. When we return, we can split the
take...however many ways are necessary."
"Sorry
bout that." Anastasia says as she casts an apologetic look at Shayesti.
"That battle seemed cursed from the start. Is everyone alright, nothing
that Ambrose can't mend? Perhaps we should take these coins back to our camp, I think heading back to town after less then a few
minutes here is a bit rash. I'd rather not have to spend another half a day on
travel or we'll never get anything accomplished."
Anastasia looks over at the
wine colored halfling. "Mr. Marlow, is it? Thank you for your assistance,
if nothing else your entrance seems to have garnered their attention long
enough for the tide to turn. I think Mr. Caldwell was right, more help in this
seems to be exactly what we need. Strength in numbers after
all.
Keelo:
*Flashes a wide smile at Anastasia* It's Marrows, but Keelo is fine. I'm glad
to have been of service. The camp seems a better idea to me as well. Mr.
Caldwell likely doesn't want to see us again so soon. *flips the coin back into
the pile*
Sevaliar:
"In point of fact, it's a twenty-fourth of a day rather than a half, our
current employer needn't hear of it, and, frankly, I'd rather avail ourselves of the resources of Threshold than sleep in the
mud. But if you want to push on" the elf steps out of the doorway and,
wearing a humorless smirk, waves a hand down the corridor like a manservant
"who am I to argue with one who sees her business so clearly."
Keelo:
You didn't say anything about sleeping in the mud elf-type. *eyes her, then
stands next to Sevaliar and mimics his hand gestures* I vote town for a feather
bed! This way you can spend your hard earned co-ins and je-wels on a drink or
two for your savior!
Pommeraie
Sollis: I guess
Standing in the entrance,
leaning against a stone wall is a tall, thin human with unkempt fiery red hair,
shining blue eyes, and a sarcastic smile on his tanned face. He is dressed in
leather armor, worn boots and a green cloak that have all seen better days. In
his hand is a longsword.
Pommeraie
Sollis, by the way, woodsman and general layabout. If I get a vote, I
say we press on. Your, ahem, priest, seems to have bandaged everyone up. And
this looks like a big castle...lot of work here if we're to earn our keep,
forgive the pun. May as well keep going.
It matters
not to me." Shayesti volunteers. "As far as
splitting the treasure goes, it shouldn't be hard to keep what we've found so
far separate and split that 5 ways later instead of 7 that we'll use for any
upcoming splits."
"We
should keep going," Tack says as he stands, his
wide-brimmed hat now pulled low over his forehead to hide his wound.
"After all, we have a veritable war-party now, and we only just
arrived."
Sevaliar
shrugs and steps into the room. He begins shoving the piles of coins into his
near-empty backpack. In tones of finality he says: "Very well, if one of
us falls we now have sufficient strength that we could at least get the remains
back to civilization safely." He nods toward the hall leading deeper into
the castle. "Trapfinders forward, then."
*Keelo
moves in the indicated direction with a small throwing dagger in hand. As he
moves he searches the areas for traps.*
"Indeed,
let us press on. With half a day, I mean a twenty fourth of a day between us
and town, I see little chance for feather beds and some ale, until this job is
finished anyhow. The quicker we clear the little filthmongers out of here the
sooner we can get back to civilization." Anastasia readies her sword,
gives her coif a quick adjustment and heads out falling in place a few paces behind
Keelo.
Sevaliar fills his backpack to brimming with the electrum, the gem and all but several hundred pieces of the silver. The thousands of copper pieces lay untouched on the ground. He glares at Ambrose for a moment. The holy man bends down and starts scooping what’s left into his backpack with a heavy sigh, all the time muttering something about greed. In the end all that’s left are a few hundred copper pieces, but Ambrose’s pack is as full as Sevaliar’s.
The
wizard grunts as he stands up under the weight of the coinage. He nods toward
the remaining copper. "Tacitus, if you would?"
Tacitus
reaches for his backpack, but soon realizes that he had left it behind. He
turns to the others and shrugs.
Shayesti
moves back into the hallway with Keelo, leaving behind the sound of coins
clinking into bags. Looking around for traps and secret doors, she moves up the
hallway towards the "T" intersection. With a tight grip on her
longsword, she peeks around the corners of the intersection to see if any
immediate threat presents itself. If all seems clear, she will then check the
door at the end of this hall for traps also.
A
pained expression plays across Sevaliar's face, then
wanders off leaving streaks of resignation and impatience in its wake. To no
one in particular, he says "It's only copper, we can leave it here and
then claim it on our way out." He adjusts the straps of his backpack
uncomfortably as he heads into the hallway, to await word (or screams) from the
scouts.
Sollis
ignores the money and taking up a position parallel to Anastasia, follows a few
steps behind Shayesti, long sword at the ready.
As you leave the room it becomes apparent that Ambrose and Sevaliar are the slowest members of the group, moving about half as fast as Keelo and about one quarter the speed of the unburdened humans. As you reach the intersection and peek around you see a 10-foot-wide corridor that extends 40 feet to the left and right. To the left the corridor turns sharply to the right at the end, and angles to the left there also. The same effect (but in reverse) can be seen for the right-hand corridor. There are a total of three doors on the wall you face, each approximately 10 feet from the other. Shayesti checks the middle door for traps and finds none.
Anastasia:
"Lets check out this hallway, I want to make sure
nothing will cut us off from the entrance if we get in trouble. Why don't we
see where each of these sides leads and then check any open rooms first."
Very
well, I shall start on the left side then. *spins around to
face the hall in a flash of purple. He moves slowly down the hallway
inspecting the floors, walls, ceiling and doors for traps and/or anything
hidden*
The
mage lapses into deadly silence, his fingers once again flexing and twisting as
he struggles to move himself toward the center of the group, well behind
Anastasia and Sollis, and in front of Tack and Ambrose.
Keelo:
*quietly makes his way back to the party, using any shadows to conceal his
movement* “It seems to open into another hallway going north with five doors on
the west wall. There is another hallway to the south-west which seems to open
into a circular room. So what's the plan?”
Sevaliar
jerks his head toward the southwest passage, the tower room.
Keelo:
*without a word he stealthily heads back to the tower room, keeping his usual
"anything could be a trap" mentality. When he gets to the entrance to
the tower room, he searches it twice, just to be sure. If all is clear he
sticks his head into the room to get a better look.*
Well,
better earn my keep too. Sollis begins exploring down the right passageway,
following Keelo's example on the opposite side and cautiously looking for traps
or anything unusual.
Tower
Room
*keelo
returns to the party still moving as quietly as possible* The
room is completely empty. The room is about forty feet around and there are
about eight arrow slits. A tree seems to be growing through one of them.
*adjusts his floppy purple velvet hat and* Where to next hero-types?
Anastasia:
"Well looks like we have a good many doors to check out. Perhaps that is
the best place to start. We should try to keep as quiet as possible; there are
far too many places things can be hiding. I suggest we start with the three
doors that would block our escape, at least if we know that area is clear we
can make a fighting retreat if things go bad."
*Keelo
begins checking the doors in order methodically. First he puts his ear up to
the door if all seems clear he checks it for traps. Once he is sure there are
no traps or they are disabled, he checks to see if it is locked, if so he
unlocks it. He does this to all three doors unless Sollis checks any of them.
He does not open any of them.*
((Side note: If he notices any traps he waves people
away.))
Sevaliar
makes sure to stay at least 20 feet back from the halfling as he works, eyeing
the doors warily.
Keelo listen to the first door to the left. He turns to the group and shakes his head and then carefully tries the handle. The door opens, almost imperceptibly, without a sound. A split second later there is a banging noise from beyond the door; two short, sharp raps as if metal struck on stone.
Sevaliar
lumbers toward cover. Seeking a spot against the wall of the entryway (assuming
he can do that this round) he gestures the more combat-inclined toward the
apparent threat.
"What
in heaven's name is that noise?", Shayesti
wonders aloud while gripping her sword more tightly.
Shayesti will move up beside
the doorway if she can and prepare for combat. If she can peek around the
doorframe to see into the room she will.
Tacitus
readies his scythe, but hangs back a few feet from the door. He absently
adjusts his hat a little higher, exposing some of his self-inflicted headwound.
*Keelo
backs away from the door ten feet (toward the way we came in), and out of
nowhere a throwing dagger suddenly appears in each of hands* "Not sure,
but it could be rudimentary alarm, a door stop, a shoddily made trap or a
dragon who likes to eat elf-types and sometimes, human-types."
Sollis
was checking out the right hand corridor when he hears the banging from where
he left the rest of the party.
Damn! Missing the fun again!!!
He spins and raising his sword
and shield, moves quickly back to the party in time to see...
Anastasia
readies her sword and eyes both ends of the corridor warily. "Fall back to
the entrance hall. Even if there is only one or two we don't need to allow
ourselves to be surrounded. Casters in back, fighters in front, lets form ranks
people. Don't let them get behind you."
Ambrose grips his club and jerks his head impatiently sideways a couple of times, indicating the door.
Shayesti
uses her sword to push the door open more so she and the others can see into
the room and find out what they are up against.
Bedroom
Those of you in the doorway see a man lying on a bed, in a room that is lit by a skylight. He is banging on one of the walls with the hilt of the sword. He looks at you uncertainly.
Sollis
pushes past the rest of the party and leaps into the room pointing his sword at
the man on the bed, a maniacal expression on the ranger's face, screaming,
“Drop-the-sword-or-face-a-screaming-and-painful-death!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Keelo:
*looks at Anastasia in mock confusion* “Are ranger-types always this
excitable?”
Ambrose grips his club tighter and enters the room carefully. “Ahem, are ya all right, there, sonny-Jim? Ya seem a tad….tense.” To the stranger, “Ya best be doin’ as he says, lad. I don’t know him well enough ta vouch for his state of mind.” Out of the corner of his mouth he adds, “No offense, son.”
The juxtaposition of this behavior against that of the man while attacking the goblins is almost surreal. During that battle he was a wild-haired, foam-flecked madman, hammering his club down upon anything monstrous within reach. Now he seems almost fatherly.
Shayesti
looks at the man banging on the wall and her eyes go big. She turns to look
back down the hall towards the other two doors in this hall, one of which might
just share a wall with this room. She will keep an eye in that direction just
in case someone comes after hearing the banging...
If she does see someone
coming, she will shout a warning to the others and prepare her blade for
combat.
Anastasia enters the room quickly, muttering something about “so much for staying quiet” and “damned stealthy rangers” and attempts to knock the short sword out of the hand of the man lying on the bed. She flicks the short sword away and to the floor with her blade. Smugly she says “If you can’t use it properly, you can’t have it.”
Sevaliar
hangs back out of sight, straining to hear what's going on.
Tacitus
silently accompanies Anastasia into the room, and does his best to look
menacing as he backs her up.
Sevaliar,
er, maintains the rear guard.
Tack
scans the room for threats, with his scythe held at the ready.
Keelo
hangs back with Sevaliar
Anastasia:
"So now that you no longer have your toy, who are you and who were you
alerting. Speak fast, I do not like having our position compromised and you
better explain your actions now."
Anastasia speaks like a commanding
officer with confidence and a hint of warning in her voice, her sword poised at
the man’s chest.
Pommeraie
sheaths his sword and moves in to scoop up the dropped sword.
He looks the stranger in the
eyes and says, standing, Wise move friend. Now why don't you do as the lady
asks and tell us who you are.
Shayesti
keeps an eye and an ear focused down the hallway, nervously swinging her sword
in quick circles with her hand.
The man on the bed raises his hands and begins speaking rapidly, obviously frightened, staring at Anastasia’s sword the entire time. “Who are YOU? I’m a simple trader, and stopped in this deserted castle to rest from the road. What do you want? Are you brigands? I have nothing you can steal. Just please let me go and I’ll leave you to whatever deeds you have planned.”
Anastasia
relaxes her sword a little, but still has it poised to strike. The same
militant tone fills her voice as she speaks again.
"Why were you banging on the wall? And what kind of simple trader camps
out in a goblin infested castle? If you are a trader where are you heading,
where was your point of departure and where are all of you trade goods? Hard to be a trader without trade goods."
For those of you outside the room: the middle door opens to reveal a second human in a chain shirt, holding an axe. He stops short on seeing some of you in the hallway, saying, “What the devil?”
The man responds to Anastasia. “I was banging on the wall to call my friend. I-wait. Did you say goblin infested?” The man tenses up. “I – we – were returning to Threshold, to pick up goods.”
Sevaliar
hardly misses a beat. "We are eviction agents hired by Clifton Caldwell,
lawful owner of this castle. We're not looking for any trouble from you, but we
will need you to vacate the premises by dawn."
Anastasia
sheathes her sword and holds out a hand to help the man up.
"Sir, I suggest you
gather your things and your friend and head on your way to Threshold. This
place is not safe and it is about to become a great deal less safe, as we are
about to poke the proverbial hornets nest. We were hired by the rightful owner
of this place to clear it out, now that’s going to make it's
current inhabitants a mite unfriendly. I do not want to see civilians caught in
the crossfire, so you need to move along before the arrows start flying."
Anastasia looks at Pommeraie,
who is holding the man’s sword.
"Pommeraie, please return
his sword to him. And sir before you go waving that thing around next time, try
talking. Far more can be solved with words then with swords, and the nice part
of words most that can get hurt is feelings."
The man bows his head and nods sheepishly. He calls out “Bob! Bill!” The third door opens and a third man appears, also carrying a shortsword. They seem tense, seeing individuals in the hallway, between them and the first door. The man being admonished by Anastasia says “weapons away boys, I’m all right. But we chose the wrong place to rest. We’d best be on our way.” The others sheath their weapons as they size up the party members in the hall. “If you let us pass, we’ll leave immediately,” says the apparent spokesman for the group, holding out his hand for his sword.
Keelo:
“Oh! Of course!” *dips a bow toward them, and moves to
the side of the hall, using the swoosh of his cape to
hide his throwing knives (still keeping them at the ready)* “You human-types
really should investigate a place better before resting. There could have been
thieves and brigands in here just waiting to get the drop on you and take
you're co-ins and je-wels!” *offers them a knowing wink*
Shayesti
speaks to the two humans coming from down the hallway, "Worry not
gentlemen. We will be pleased to let you leave in peace rather than in pieces,
unlike the more monstrous denizens of this property."
The traders hastily sheath all weapons, wrap their cloaks about them and, carefully sidestepping around any member of the party with a wary eye, exit the castle immediately. Those of you still in the room are…still in the room. Those of you in the hallway now see the two open doors along the same wall as the first room that was opened.
Shayesti
will check the other two rooms for any items of interest that may have been
left behind.
Tacitus
glances over at Anastasia, saying "Here's hoping all of today's work goes
so peaceably." He smirks wryly and heads for the door, tugging down on the
forward brim of his hat.
Ambrose nods. “Aye, aye, peaceable.” He pauses a moment. “Unless it’s evil. Then we crush it, right?” It’s clear that this is a rhetorical question. “Before we press on, luggin’ all this coin has made me a might hungry.” He rubs his stomach. “Err, I don’t suppose anyone has any food they can spare fer a holy man on a mission?” Its almost as if he’s reciting something by rote.
Sollis
begins searching the room vacated by the trader - looking for treasure, food or
both!
Sevaliar
keeps a watchful eye on the retreating humans as they leave, but takes no other
action.
Shayesti
returns to report her findings...
Bedroom
Bedroom
"The
other two rooms are bare except for beds but there is a door in the central
room leading somewhere."
Tacitus
suddenly stops and puts a hand to his stomach. He then turns to the others and
grins sheepishly. "Well, this may be a good time to take a break," he
says. "I could certainly go for something to eat, and I'd like to dress my
wound properly before we press on." He glances around at the newcomers to
their little group, and says "Besides, it would be nice to get properly
acquainted with our new teammates. Shall we head back to the camp?"
Sollis
walks out of the room the trader had been laying in.
Well,
may as well eat and rest in here - there's nothing in there anyway, but the
bed.
"I suppose I could stop and eat again. All my food is back at camp
anyway and it would feel good to stretch out among the tree branches again.", Shayesti volunteers.
"Aye,
we should head back to camp then. We can hide this extra coin and fill our
bellies before we press on."
Anastasia quietly goes to each
of the doors and closes it. "No need to alert whoever is here that we've
been busy. We can quickly check them again on our way back in. Tacitus, help me
lug the goblins outside and we'll toss them to the side away from camp, that should lure any hungry animals away, and keep the
other goblins from finding them."
As there seem to be no objections, the party leaves the castle dragging their backpacks full of loot, and slaughtered goblins, with them. The goblins are dragged a short way away from the castle. What is done with the loot? And once you eat, you can proceed back into the castle, if that is your desire.
Anastasia:
Guys give me a hand, we can dig a small hole here
under the bedrolls in the tent, and hide the coins there."
Anastasia slides her bedroll
aside and begins work on a hole large enough for the groups spoils thus far.
As she covers the hole over
with dirt she pats the area down and tries to make it blend in as much as
possible to the surrounding dirt and places a small rock in the center of the
dug area and presses it in so it looks mostly buried. Anastasia then slides her
bedroll back over the spot.
"That should keep any
passers-by from finding the money."
"When we camp tonight two
people who aren't on watch can sleep in the tent and over the money. I wish we
had bought more tents, I hadn't realized their were
going to be so many of us. I don't suppose any of you have tents you
brought?"
In the process, 3 heretofore undiscovered gems are found in one of the sacks of silver. As far as mundane concerns are, umm, concerned, Sevaliar has no waterskin and Ambrose is still looking very hungry. You can hear his stomach growling every time you get near him.
Anastasia
pulls two rations and a waterskin from her bag. With a flick of her wrist she
lightly lobs one of the rations into Ambrose's lap, begins opening the other
which is in her lap.
"Sevaliar, here have some
of my water. We should look for a stream or river near here,
may even be a well in the keep. Would be unusual for there to
not be some source of water near a structure like this."
Anastasia quickly eats her rations and after a sip of water to wash it down,
looks about the makeshift camp.
"Everyone
ready for some more work? Let’s get to it, quicker we clean this place
out quicker we can get to warm meals and dry beds."
Ambrose pipes up upon seeing the food. “Halav bless you m’lady,” he mumbles through the crumbs. He begins to bow, but stops suddenly. “Ach, water. Now with that I can be of service! He walks around the group with his hands out. “Now, lend me yer empty waterskins; I’ll need Anastasia’s, Shayestis’, Keelo’s and, let’s see, Pommeraie’s. Thankee.” He mutters some strange words and waves his hands over the waterskins. In an instant they are visibly filled. Ambrose tosses Keelo’s to Sevaliar and upends Pommeraie’s over his mouth, draining it once more. The full ones he returns to Anastasia and Shayesti. “Sorry I could’na fill ‘em all.” He turns sheepish again and hands the slack skin back to Pommeraie.
Shayesti
decides to eat as well since the others are. She thanks Ambrose very much for
the filled waterskin and swallows a refreshing cold draught of the water.
She will take any shift for watch as needed and spend the remaining time up in
the branches of a nearby tree.
Pommeraie
had left the group to secure his own gear. As he strolls back into the campsite
in time to catch his empty waterskin, he asks, “So what is the plan? Rest here
or back to the castle?
Sevaliar
cocks an eyebrow, having worn an impatient look throughout the meal. "I
hardly think we're resting yet. A few of us were hungry, but we've hardly done
a thing since we decided to push on after clearing the first two rooms,
certainly nothing that would change the plan."
Anastasia:
"Indeed, back into the fray. If we push on till close to sundown, we should
be able to make a considerable bit of progress on this place and clear it out
in but a day or two."
Anastasia hops to her feet and
dusts herself off. With a slight adjustment of her belt, she nods to the
others.
"Are we ready to press on?"
Jumping to his feet, Ambrose lets out a resounding “Aye!” and begins heading back toward the castle.
Keelo:
“Of course! Nothing too much has happened yet. Pardon my lack of imput as I was
still watching to see how you all operate together. I fear I do not have a tent,
not that I take up much room in a human-type one. *searches his pack for
rations and holds his hand out for his waterskin* I shall eat on the go
friends!”
Sevaliar:
The mage falls in toward the back of the formation.
Tacitus
falls in next to Sevaliar, quiet as his name would suggest. As he walks he
finishes the last of the piece of iron rations he was eating, and tucks two
more into his pockets, just in case. He glances at the badly-scarred elf beside
him, and says "Today was the first time I've seen someone using magic, and
it wasn't disappointing in the slightest. How long does it take to learn
something like that?" Despite his hitherto-stony demeanor, Tack's eyes
take on a look of childlike wonder as he speaks.
Sevaliar's
voice takes on a slight resonance, and his answer carries as if addressed to
the whole group. "The arts of magic are extremely complex and mentally
demanding. It takes even a gifted pupil years of study
and apprenticeship to be able to influence reality in more than a trivial
manner. This timeframe is partly due to the rigors of the arts and partly due
to the habit of drilling apprentices until they are deemed capable of handling
more advanced magics without posing a threat themselves and the fabric of the
universe itself. However, once this level, sometimes termed 'medium,' is
reached, it becomes possible to rapidly accrue mystical power through practical
experience and research. This is another reason for the long apprenticeships:
once a student has graduated to the level of medium, it may be only a matter of
months before he becomes more powerful than even his former master." He
blinks, as if surprised at himself.
"Probably a more than you needed to hear, but the habit of teaching dies
hard."
Shayesti
hops down out of her tree and walks up the path back towards the Keep.
"Magic!",
she grumps. "Much good it did for my mother when she needed it the most.", she remarks sarcastically.
The
mage rubs his scar with a rueful smile. "Oh, I understand the potential
failings of magic very well."
Shayesti
blushes slightly and turns her head down. "Sevaliar, I
apoligize. I was rash to jump to conclusions and take out my resentments
on you. After so many decades with my mother and her loss so recent, my
emotions got away from me. Magic was her specialty and her mastery of it still
did not save her. I cannot continue to blame all of Magic for the affront
though."
How did you recieve your scar,
if I may be so bold?" She giggles for a moment like a small elven child
before looking up at Sevaliar with mischief in her eye, "If you show me
yours, I'll show you mine..."
Sollis
moves towards the front of the group of adventurers, partially listening to
their banter, and staying alert to the surrounding woods and the castle.
Not meaning to interrupt the conversation (in fact I encourage you to continue), you arrive back at the castle without incident (your camp is not so very far from it). Once re-entering the edifice, your choices consist of the right front tower, a left-hand corridor, a right-hand corridor, or the door in the back of the central bedroom.
Nahawen
is leaning against a tree nearby the castle entrance, tapping her staff quietly
against her booted toe. Once she spots Keelo approaching, she shakes her head. "I
thought you'd never return. I must have gotten separated from you after we
killed those first few goblins." ((ooc: She
speaks with a Russian accent, mind you)) She looks to the rest of the group,
offering them a warm smile. "It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Keelo's
companion, Nahawen. If you wouldn't mind, I would prefer to continue on with
you, rather than stand here aimlessly by myself."
Keelo:
*sweeps her an elegant bow of purple, tucking his floppy wide brim hat under
his arm with a flourish* "Ah Nahawen! It is so wonderful to see you again!
I came back and you were gone. After looking around a bit I went back to speak
to Mr. Caldwell to see if you had returned. Instead I found out he hired
another group to do his work and asked me and you if I found you to join up
with them. So here we are. *flashes her a knowing smile*
Ambrose studies Nahawen for a moment, and then smiles broadly, which is as frightening as it is warming. “Most excellent! Now we are a group worthy enough to do Halav proud!”
Anastasia:
“Indeed, we are forming quite a little army here. Certainly join us, Nahawen, mind you I'd stay toward the back so as to remain
out of sword range. Sevaliar there is in your field of study, and you already
seem to know Mr. Keelo. Fall in where you wish, we'll be getting back to the
messy bits soon enough."
Anastasia gives Nahawen a
quick glance as if sizing her up.
"Alright, the last bit
seemed to go well enough, let’s stick together, try and keep the noise down and
we might be able to clear out another side of this place before nightfall.
We'll double check the rooms we cleared earlier, make sure no new residents
have moved in, and move on to the right. Let's back into the fray then!"
It's obvious from Anastasia's tone and the look on her face that this is what
she was raised for; she looks and sounds just like a general.
It is obvious to all that in the short hour you have been gone, no new inhabitants have trespassed on the rooms you have already cleared out. Heading to the right, you have a choice of the tower or the long corridor with five doors on the right hand side.
"Let's
check this tower for any enemies. The we'll move down
the hall."
Anastasia readies her sword
and adjusts her grip, and moves in.
Tower Room
We’ll assume everyone is falling in line. You see a circular room, about 40 feet in diameter, with eight openings spaced evenly about the outside wall. The windows extend from about waist height to about head height for a normal human. These are obviously ports through which arrows can be fired. The room appears to be empty.
Shayesti
will search around the room to make sure it's empty, and then move on to the
first door in the hall to check it for traps.
I’m going to assume (for the sake of time in the dungeon) that everybody helps with the searches unless instructed otherwise. The tower room is completely empty.
The first door in the hall is completely trap-free. (Another assumption I will make is that once a door is searched and listened at, a fighter-type (will then open the door.)
Utility Room
The far wall of this room has a ledge about seven feet from the floor, with two small windows above the ledge. The room appears to be empty except for a statue of a shepherd in the far left corner.
As the
party shuffles into the room Sollis will hang towards the rear of the party, near
the spellcasters, keeping a watch on the hall.
Pommeraie Sollis: You know, since Anastasia likes to lead from the
front, winking at the female fighter, we ought to have a fighter watching our
backs, especially when searching rooms. I'll keep a look out while you folks
search. What say ye?
Nahawen
will stay in the doorway, looking around with suspicion, tapping her fingers
along her staff quietly.
Based on last time posted, all but Nahawen and Shayesti enter the room. As you do so, the statue says, “Greetings. May I help you?”
*Seemingly
unconcerned Keelo looks up to the statue and sweeps one of his gracious bows* You certainly may, I however am not the one to be speaking
to unless it concerns co-ins and je-wels. *looks over to Anastasia*
((If anyone else begins
conversing with the statue then Keelo will begin a search of the room))
Not
missing a beat, although a brief look of confusion does cross her face,
Anastasia steps forward to the statue. "You may indeed; we are looking for
the leaders of the unlawful inhabitants of this keep. Do you know where they
are?"
The statue replies; “Yes. The unlawful inhabitants of this keep are not organized. There is a bandit leader in the second room to the left of the northeast tower. In the dungeons below there is a berserker leader in on of the caverns to the back and right.”
"Thank
you very much. I do have one other question; do you know how many unlawful
inhabitants are in the keep at this time?"
The statue
replies; “Yes. There are 34
unlawful inhabitants of the keep and its dungeon at this time.”
Keelo:
"Hm...that makes me wonder. Are they aware of our
presence?"
The statue
replies; “No. They are not.”
Anastasia:
"Many thanks kind Shepard. Now let us get back to our duty, and rid this
place of those that would unlawfully claim it as their own."
Anastasia looks at the group
confidently.
"One
more thing," says the mage, addressing the statue more or less through
Anastasia "how many goblins are with the bandit leader, and how many are
in the adjacent rooms?"
The statue remains silent
Keelo:
*Looks at the statue and nods his thanks*
“One
last question before we go. Have they trapped the way?”
The statue remains silent
Shayesti
listens with interest and wonder as the statue gives up some detailed
information on the occupants of the keep. Hearing that it has stopped divulging
secrets, she decided to move down the hall and check the next door for any
traps while leaving Keelo to search the current room.
Sevaliar's
eyes narrow and he says testily. "Apparently this enchantment is keyed a
limited number of uses or some such. Under other circumstances I'd take it
apart to better understand its workings, but for now we'd may
as well move on."
In the interest of moving things along, and because there’s no real reason not to, I’m going to enact the “stealthy person listened and checked door – strong person opens door” protocol. The longest not heard from….Tack. Tack opens the next door.
Store Room
The far wall of this room has a ledge about seven feet from the floor, with two small windows above the ledge. Except for some trash on the floor, the room appears to be empty.
Tack
glances around the room for a few seconds, then looks back at the others and
quietly intones, "Nothing in here." He then returns to the hallway,
his face bearing no expression.
Anastasia:
"Lets give it a once over make doubly sure there is nothing in here and
we'll move on then."
Pommeraie:
Uh, hey. If we now know there is a bandit boss in the tower - why not just go
there now? Do we really need to check all of these rooms?
Shayesti
will search the room to ensure it is empty.
Nahawen
stays near to the back of the group, keeping an eye behind them.
Keelo:
*gives the room a quick search, watching the statue the whole time*
"If
we just go to him now and he calls for help we will have to fight all of his group at once, and risk alerting the other group
as well. If we take out any resistance we come across as we go, we'll have less
problems in the long run. A dozen little battles are far easier the one large
war."
Anastasia tries to get to a
position where she can see all of the ledge.
"As of yet our plan has
kept them from being alerted to our presence. As soon as they discover that we
are here, things are going to get far more difficult. The simpler this stays
the better chance that none of us will get hurt. We know their numbers, we know
there are two who are more of less in charge, and we know their locations at
the moment. That is information we are fortunate to have, but I do not think we
should charge in just because we have it."
Both rooms are, in fact, completely empty, except for the statue in one and the trash in the other. Nothing is on the ledges, either.
Sevaliar:
"Lovely. If you're quite done stirring up the dust, shall we proceed to
the other side? As little appeal as a pitched battle holds for me, I'd rather
we didn't give them too many chances to become aware of our presence before we
bring the fight to them."
He glances around the group.
"Besides, I think Ambrose
might burst a vein if he's not allowed to cleanse some evil forthwith."
Ambrose is, in fact, rocking slowly back and forth on his heels, eyes half-closed and lips moving in silent prayer. It is the sort of state of semi-awareness one would expect of a fanatic about with nothing to fanaticize.
Pommeraei
just shrugs at Ana's response. Either way makes little difference to him...but
he looks over to Ambrose with a sympathetic glance. It is obvious that Sollis
would rather be busting heads.
Smiling,
Shayesti tells Anastasia "That sounds JUST like what father would have
said. I happen to agree in this case as well. It is almost always better to be
hidden unless you want to be seen."
Shayesti then moves on to the
next door to check it for traps.
Store Room
Shayesti finds no traps around the next door and hears nothing. Opening it reveals that the far wall of this room has a ledge about seven feet from the floor, with two small windows above the ledge. Except for some trash on the floor, the room appears to be empty. A thorough search reveals nothing at all. The party repeats the process on the next door down.
Store Room
Shayesti finds no traps around the next door and hears nothing. Opening it reveals that the far wall of this room has a ledge about seven feet from the floor. There are two small windows above the ledge. Except for some trash on the floor, the room appears to be empty. Except for two long tables along the south wall, the room appears to be empty.
As you enter the room (assuming Shayesti and Keelo in front, checking for traps; followed by Anastasia and Tack, with Ambrose, Sevaliar, Pommeraie and Nahawen hanging back in the hall, keeping an eye out) you hear the sound of small wings. From up near the ceiling dive three small creatures, appearing to be some horrid combination of bat and mosquito. They have long proboscides and make a buzzing sound as they fly. Catching you by surprise, one smashes into Shayesti’s head (a critical hit for triple damage) for 6 points of damage. The other two each hit Anastasia and Tack’s right arms for 2 points of damage. Anastasia, Shayesti and Tack may each submit a strength save to keep the creatures’ beaks from penetrating, or I can roll them.
Initiative order will be Anastasia, Sevaliar, Pommeraie, Shayesti, Nahawen, Ambrose, the monster, Keelo and Tack.
The beast attacking Anastasia fails to imbed its proboscis in her and hovers about her.
Sevaliar
gets out of the doorway.
Pommeraie rushes into the room and strikes at the
creature attacking Shayesti with his longsword.
Pommeraie’s blade slices across the back of the creature attacking Shayesti, mildly wounding it. The elf was able to keep the creature from imbedding it’s beak in her flesh and may now take an action.
With a
shrill scream, Shayesti swings her sword at the flying creature with all her
might.
"Ewww,
I HATE bugs!!"
Shayesti’s blade slashes the beast for 4 points of damage, severely wounding the stirge.
If able
to see a creature through the doorway, hopefully the one already injured,
Nahawen will use her "magic missile" spell on it.
If not able to see one of the
creatures, she will wait for the more-able fighters to get up close before
getting in their way.
Nahawen’s magic missile flies from her hand and strikes the wounded stirge for 4 points, giving it a life-threatening injury.
Ambrose steps into the room and swings his club at the same stirge, completely missing.
One of the stirges flies down and latches on to Pommeraie’s head for 2 points of damage, but does not remain there. Pommeraie suffers only a minor wound.
A second of the creatures swoops at Pommeraie but misses him.
The third creature lands on Anastasia’s head for 2 points of damage, and succeeds in sinking it’s beak into her neck. Anastasia currently suffers from only minor wounds.
*Keelo take a step away from the creatures (making sure to stay out
of their range but within the range of his throwing knives) and lets a throwing
knife fall into his hand. Then with a quick flip of his wrist he lets it fly at
the injured creature.* ((If that creature is not a valid target he'll strike
another one))
"Anyone have any guesses
as to what these are? Strengths? Weaknesses?
Anything that especially affects halflings?"
Keelo’s knife misses the stirge.
“Ouch!!!
Hey, magic types! Can't you cook these giant mosquitoes or something!!!!”
Pommeraie looks for a swooping
giant mosquito to hit with his sword.
Tack's
stony demeanor slips slightly as he watches the bizarre vermin bury its beak in
his comrade's neck. Letting his scythe fall to the ground, Tack strides up to
the attached monster and takes hold of its body, attempting to pull it free
before it inflicts further harm.
Tack succeeds in pulling the stirge off Anastasia, but she suffers a point of damage as its claws tear her flesh. The beast wriggles free from his grasp and takes to the air again.
Anastasia swings her sword at the same creature that attacked her.
Sevaliar
continues to be constructively unobtrusive.
Based on his last post, Pommeraie tries to hit a giant mosquito with his sword, but misses.
Shayesti slashes
at the beast nearest her again with her blade.
"Why...won't...you...just...DIIIE!!??"
Shayesti’s blade slices into the already wounded beast and it falls to the ground with a wet *plop*, no longer moving.
“Blast!”
Pommeraei curses as the stirge dodges his sword, “We could really do with a net
right now!”
Without
any other spells prepared, Nahawen steps up toward the most injured creature
and attempts to belt it hard with the butt of her staff.
Nahawen’s staff misses the smaller of the two remaining stirges, both of which are uninjured.
Ambrose giggles with glee as he tries to club the same one. His giggles turn into a stream of invective not normally associated with a holy man.
The larger stirge dives down at Ambrose, but fails to grab hold through the cursing Celt’s leather armor.
The smaller creature flies down at
Pommeraie, but it, too, encounters armor.
*Keelo
moves toward the same monster as Nahawen, drawing his rapier as he goes. Then
makes a simple yet elegant thrust toward it underbelly* You
know, you do have darts silly wizard type. *Motions to the darts at her belt*
Keelo’s blade misses its target.
Tacitus
crouches low and then springs into the air, attempting to take hold of the
largest monstrosity by its leathery wings.
Tack is unable to hold onto the creature.
Anastasia slices into the smaller stirge for 10 points of damage, severely wounding it.
The
unarmed elf continues to, er, keep watch down the
corridor... Yeah, that's the ticket.
Sollis,
still moaning his lack of a net, strikes the nearest remaining stirge with his
sword.
The elusive creature dodges the blow.
Shayesti
moves (if needed) to strike out at the next creature closest to her.
"I have more of the same
for you, overgrown mosquito!"
Shayesti’s blow also fails to connect.
The
half-elf woman attempts to give the flying bug a good smack with her staff,
cursing it quietly under her breath as she does.
Nahawen’s staff parts the air before it, but nothing else.
Ambrose swings at the wounded creature, but stumbles in some of the blood on the floor, and falls down, stunned.
The unwounded stirge swoops down on Nahawen, attaching itself to her and burying it’s proboscis in her right arm. Nahwen takes 1 point of damage.
The wounded creature attacks Tack, attaching itself to his head for 1 point of damage. Tack manages to push the creature off before it can stick him with its beak.
*Seeing
the stirge attached to Nahawen, Keelo moves behind it and slashes down at it,
from his right shoulder to his left leg*
Keelo successfully sneaks up behind the creature on Nahawen’s arm and backstabs it for 12 points of damage, severely wounding the previously un-damaged stirge.
Tack
curses as the beast slips from his grasp. He crouches low on the balls of his
feet, watching the creature move, and then springs forward again, this time
grabbing for its neck and midsection.
Tack succeeds in grabbing the other creature and is holding it as it violently tries to flap away.
Anastasia takes a flanking position next to Keelo and attacks the stirge attached to Nahawen, but misses.
Sevaliar
keeps an eye on the corridor, silently praying that the ruckus in the room
doesn't draw the attention of something nastier than big bugs.
Shayesti
slashes again at the flying creature with her sword hoping to bring it down.
Shayesti inflicts a critical hit for 24 points (triple damage), killing the creature attached to Nahawen.
Letting
out another curse, Nahawen tears the creature out and off of her. Nodding in
thanks to her companions, she steps closer to the last creature, which is being
held. Dropping her staff she also grabs a tight hold on the creature, taking
extra care to secure the beak away from anyone it may be able to impale.
"Someone stab this horrid
creature."
Taking careful aim with his longsword (so as not to hit
Nahawen), Sollis skewers that last mosquito.
Once Pommeraie pierces the beast, it goes limp in Tack and Nahawen’s arms. You are left breathing hard and, after about 40 seconds Ambrose groans and sits up on the floor, rubbing his head. Looking about he mutters, “Blast the luck!”
Assuming the standard retrieval of dropped/ thrown weapons and searching of the room, you find, on the ledge (easy enough for all but Keelo to reach) 3 gems.
Keelo:
"Ah! Jew-wels! It may be trapped! Maybe I should have a closer look at these jew-wels! To make sure of you safely
retrieving them, of course."
Anastasia
gives Keelo a boost up to examine the ledge. "Feel better now that you've
checked? I'd be willing to bet that those wretched things were the trap."
After helping Keelo back down, Anastasia surveys the damage.
"Is everyone alright, not to shaken I hope?" Anastasia checks the
wounds on each person, including the rather large bump on the top of Ambrose's
head. "Got a little caught up in that last swing, didn't ya?"
Looking
around at the scratched and bloody group, "If you're all feeling better we
should press on, we'll just need to remember to be on the look out up as well
as ahead from now on. Guards up everyone, we go back into the
fray."
The
mage rolls his eyes and says, "yes, quite. Let us
continue our slow, noisy progress."
Leaving this room, you reach the last doorway on this wall, at the corner of the northeast tower. Around the corner you see the rear hallway, with four doors on the right and three on the left before that hallway angles right to the northwest tower and turns left to head back toward the front door along the west side of the castle.
Shayesti finds no traps and hears nothing on the other side of the door.
Tack opens the door.
Chapel
The far wall of this room has a ledge about seven feet from the floor, with two small windows above the ledge. There’s a small altar on the diagonal wall to the left. There are several long benches in the room. Two of them have been pushed together in the far right corner to form a rude bed. A woman wearing armor and carrying a mace kneels at the altar.
Anastasia
stands in the door way sword out and pointed at the woman. In the most militant
voice you have ever heard leave her mouth (which is saying a lot considering
militant is her normal tone) Anastasia addresses the woman.
"You there, by order of the true and lawful owner of this keep, you are
ordered to vacate this place at once. Should you be unwilling to leave, we have
been authorized to remove any inhabitants by whatever means necessary. What is your name and your business in this place?"
The woman, startled out of her contemplation, stands and studies you for a moment. Taking stock of the situation, she bows her head slightly and says, “Very well. I shall go. I had no idea the old place was habitable, let alone “owned.” Before I leave, may I lead you in worship, so as to bless you future endeavors?”
In a
lighter voice Anastasia looks over at Ambrose "Ambrose, what say you, as I
suppose you would be our spiritual advisor on this little endeavor. Mind
someone momentarily stepping on your toes, as it were?"
In as low a voice as possible
while she faces Ambrose, Anastasia whispers "And if anything sounds out of
place, I want you to alert us at once. This seems far too simple. Stay
alert."
In the light almost casual
voice again, as Anastasia turns again to address everyone and look back at the
woman in the room, "What say the rest of you, I know little of your
varying faiths, so I suppose each here must make this choice for
themselves."
Ambrose looks uncomfortable for a moment, and then states, “Nay, do as ye will, but I’ll be in the hall. I don’t take to yer heathen religions.” This last was said to the group at large.
Sevaliar
inquires, of the armored stranger, "Who, if I may ask, would be blessing
us?" He then nods toward Ambrose's back, rolls his eyes, and mouths the
word "Halavic" in an exasperated manner.
"A
prayer of blessing I will accept from any god or goddess. May your journey also
be blessed as you leave this place." Shayesti
says to the cleric.
The cleric raises her arms and begins intoning a prayer. Within seconds Ambrose is standing in the doorway, his hand held forth, palm outward, as he yells, “STOP!” He glares at the cleric. “Those were words of chaos, were they not!?”
The cleric nods, hands still raised. “I did not realize you would find my faith offensive. Please allow me to gather my things and leave.”
Unless anyone does anything to prevent her, she does just that.
Sevaliar
gives her as wide a berth as he can manage with the crowd of adventurers in the
hallway.
Sollis,
guarding the party's rear, will watch the cleric to ensure that she does leave,
alert to any signs of treachery.
The woman leaves without further incident. A search of the room yields naught, save for 2 vials found in a cabinet under the cleric’s makeshift altar. They are filled with some sort of liquid.
"Well,
someone scoop those up and we'll move on." The mage says dismissively.
*With
out a word, Keelo checks the area around the vials then takes them once he is
sure it is safe*
Sollis:
Lotsa rooms left. No fair Tack opening all of the doors. Why don't I take the
next couple?
Tower Room
The northeast tower is a circular room about 40 feet in diameter, with eight openings spaced evenly from about waist height to about head height for a normal human. These are obviously ports through which arrows can be fired. The floor of the room is covered with rubbish.
“Unless
someone would care to dig through the garbage, on to the next room...”
Sollis turns and walks out,
opening the next door...
Sevaliar
shrugs, nods to the rogues, and keeps an eye out in the hallway.
Shayesti makes a quick search of
the rubbish before leaving the corner tower room.
She whispers to herself "Never know what interesting t'ings might be found in
other peoples garbage..."
Anastasia
stands guard in the corner of the hall, watching both branches of the hallway.
"Good catch there Ambrose, something about her didn't sit right with me.
If nothing else, by letting her show her true colors, we were able to avoid any
unnecessary blood shed. Thanks for watching our backs in there."
Ambrose grunts in response. You hear his stomach growl. “Ye wouldn’a by any chance have any chicken about yeh?”
Anastasia
reaches into her bag and pulls a piece of dried beef from a ration.
"Sorry, not chicken, but if your hungry, help
yourself. That stomach of yours is louder then Pommeraie's battle
cry earlier. You're liable to rouse the whole complex on us." The
last bit said with a hit of a chuckle, which sounds almost alien coming from
Anastasia's normally stony and militant demeanor.
Ambrose shakes his head. “Nay, nay, but my thanks for the offer.” Then, under his breath, “leave it to a fighter to not know the difference between beef and chicken. It’s all hack, hack, hack, it’s dead, Jim, take it’s stuff, just another body to them mmmmbblrmlmbr.”
Shayesti looks up to the others saying, "Remember
everyone, the statue said that a bandit leader was in the second room down the
hallway from this tower. We better stay
quiet and careful here."
Pommeraei
looks at the group and whispers,
So,
do you want to go after him now?
Sevaliar
nods, with a look on his gruesomely scarred face reminiscent of the ones
librarians give to noisy patrons.
*In
hushed tones Keelo says* "Quiet is my middle name. As
well as a few others." *Keelo smirks then moves silently down the
hall to give it a better inspection and to see what he can hear*
Now
let’s not go rushing into things. We need to stick to our plan so we don not
get surrounded. We clear the doors leading to the room first. Keelo, if you could please stand guard at the leader’s door
and alert us if anyone sounds to be approaching the door. If we keep to the
plan that has worked thus far, we can keep ahead of this situation. Cool heads
will keep us alive."
Anastasia takes up position at
the next door and motions Keelo on to the leader's door, and gives a nod to the
others.
Taking
care not to tap her staff and use it as a walking stick, Nahawen follows in the
rear of the group, her usual place as a mage.
*A
dagger appears in his hand before Keelo sets himself up at the leader’s door,
taking care to move quietly. Before putting his ear to the door he makes a
quick inspection to make sure there are not traps. If all is clear he
concentrates on any sounds coming from the next room.*
I’m afraid my question as to where everyone was positoned got lost in the posts. While Shayesti is taking a look in the litter-strewn tower room, A group of 4 goblins appears at the far end of the hall not yet explored, some 60’ away from Keelo and Ambrose. Their short swords are lowered and they stop at the far end of the corridor. First round, initiative order is Tack, Keelo, Nahawen, Ambrose, Anastasia, Sevaliar, Shayesti, Pommeraie.
Tacitus
raises his scythe and darts forward, his face grim and eyes blazing. He charges
toward the nearest goblin, apparently set on bisecting it shoulder-to-hip.
*Seeing
that their swords are not raised in a threatening posture, Keelo holds a moment
to get an idea of their intentions. Hoping against hope that Tack will notice
this too*
Nahawen
steps to the side of the hallway, allowing those better for fighting to go past
her if need be. Otherwise she waits; though she readies her staff to deliver a
good smack and peeks behind them down the hall, making sure nothing has crept
up behind them as well.
Tack’s blade slices exactly where he aims, for 10 points of damage, severely wounding the slack-jawed goblin.
Ambrose gives out a short, “Yes!” as he follows suit and charges the goblin next to Tack’s target. His club swings ‘round and bashes into the left leg of the goblin for 9 points, but this goblin is only moderately wounded.
Anastasia
moves in behind the others keeping a wary eye on the leader’s door.
Sevaliar
does his level best to keep the people with swords, clubs and scythes firmly
between him and likely sources of danger.
Shayesti
moves quickly forward towards the goblins.
Seeing
that Anastasia is moved effectively out of the immediate fight and watching the
bandit lords supposed door, he quickly guesses that the party will be short of
front-liners.
With a firm grip on shield and
sword, Pommeraei charges toward the group of goblins with a battle cry!
The goblins’
slack-jawed expressions turn to terror as they are attacked. The wave their hands in the air, screaming in
an unintelligible language and turn around and make a guarded retreat around
the corner, heading south down the west corridor..
Anastasia
will hold, until there is a spot free to attack from.
She will continue to keep a
wary eye on the leaders door.
The goblins have retreated around the corner. There is space if you move in front of the group, but you would have to go down the corridor and undisclosed distance to engage.
I will
advance, and attack if possible.
Anastasia disappears around the corner, but the nearby screams give a fair indication of where she is. Anastasia delivers a mortal wound to one of the fleeing creatures, and it falls to the ground bleeding.
Seeing
Anastasia moving into action gives Pommeraei a feeling of action, realizing the
short width of the hall will only allow two fighters abreast, he races
alongside Ana to engage the retreating goblins...if he can reach them, he will
strike with his longsword.
Pommeraie gets to Anastasia’s side, but has to move too far to get an attack.
Two of the goblins break into a full run. The last one carefully backs 10 feet away from Pommeraie, waving his short sword in a defensive manner and in a breaking goblin voice crying out…something. Although in my own head it’s the voice of the Tick yelling, “no me molesta, no me molesta!”
The
mage's eyes widen and he hustles as best he can after the front-liners,
hopefully putting one or more of them between him and the known threat of the
boss' door.
Shayesti
will move forward and see if she can cut off the escape of the slower goblin.
Threatening it with her sword, she hisses "Shut up or I'll cut ya in twain
you little creature!"
If succesful in cutting off it's escape and subduing it, she turns to the others asking
"Do any of ya speak this thing's foul tongue well enough ta question
it?"
Sevaliar makes it to just behind Ambrose. Shayesti advances but is still 10 feet away from the nearest goblin.
At that moment a door, the door identified as the bandit leader’s by the statue, opens. Out come 2 humans wearing leather armor and armed with short swords leading a mule laden with sacks. A third human with an ornate short sword remains in the doorway, apparently having been the one to open the door.
Nahawen
sighs slightly, not liking this at all. She takes a moment to concentrate and
then casts her Ghost Sound spell just behind the humans and the mule. She
manipulates it so that it sounds exactly like a lion giving a fierce roar,
hoping it will spook the humans and the mule as well as get the attention of
the rest of the group. ((If she needs to step to the side to do so, she will))
She will also attempt to stay as far away from these enemies as possible.
Nahawen
gives Keelo and Tack a wink, before turning a smirk to the humans.
"Now, if you'd like to see my pet face to face, I will be more than
willing to make him appear to you. Or you could just drop your weapons now and
I won't let him eat you alive."
Nahawen smiles oh-so-sweetly
at the frightened humans, slowly dipping her fingers into her pocket again, waiting for their move.
Keelo sees Nahawen pull what looks like a piece of wax from her pocket as she makes an odd gesture and softly speaks a word. The resulting roar causes all three of the humans to start and turn round in fear. The mule seems unfazed.
Tacitus
glances in the direction of the sudden clamor and, seeing the two men, darts
down the hallway shouting "Halt, intruders! Surrender now and we will not
harm you!" He stops just before reaching the open door, his scythe held
high and ready to strike.
He glances over at Keelo and
gives him a small nod.
*catching
the nod from Tact, Keelo speaks to the intruders in an unconcerned manor* You heard the man. Drop your weapons and you will not be
harmed. Otherwise we will have to run you through. *With the ease and grace of
a practiced swordfighter Keelo draws his rapier and drops into an en garde
postion*
Ambrose barely starts at the noise, but advances on the nearest goblin and attacks. Ambrose misses completely, but swung with such ferocity that his club shatters on the stone floor.
Anastasia advances 10 feet and strikes at the goblin, slashing its chest for 12 points of damage, a life-threatening injury.
Sevaliar
shouts a curse and twists to look in the direction of the lion's roar. He does his best to make sure neither the human bandits nor the last
remaining goblin can easily reach him.
Tacitus
maintains his steely gaze and threatening pose, mustering every ounce of
intimidation he can and directing it at the two (he glances to the left through
the open door-- make that three) apparent looters. "We come on behalf of
the true owner of this place," he says to the trespassers, "And if
you leave behind your plunder and temporarily surrender your weapons we will
escort you out of the castle and send you on your way. We are skilled
mercenaries, so don't bother trying to frighten us with whatever beast you have
in that room." He pauses, lowering his weapon slightly. With a fiendish
smirk, he concludes, "will you comply, or will you bleed?"
Ambrose!
You are disarmed, step back!!! If Ambrose steps back, Sollis will replace him
(next to Ana) and attack the goblin.
Shayesti
turns at the sight and sound of others entering the hallway. Making a quick
calculation, she decides that three armed humans are more of a threat than a
lone goblin so she reverses course and heads back up the hall towards the
humans and the mule. Holding her blade high, she speaks "Listen to my compatriots gentlemen. Drop your weapons and you will live.
Do otherwise and you will not live to regret it."
The human holding the door, visibly shaken from the roar and the coordinated containment by the party, says’ “Hold up lads, afore they set their invisible beast upon us. Sheathe your weapons now, they seem to be on the side of law. My apologies, good gentles, but I be the leader of this small band of travelers. We knew nothing of rightful ownership of this place, and, if ye’ll allow us, will make a hasty exit with our property.”
Ambrose pays no heed to his companions as he tries to punch the goblin but misses.
The goblin turns to flee and Ambrose swings again, this time catching the goblin in the back of the head with a blow that lays him flat. Pommeraie and Anastasia watch as the remaining two goblins turn the corner of the front hallway at top speed.
Nahawen
raises a brow at the humans. She shifts and leans against her staff lightly,
fiddling in her pouch of components. She gives Tack and Shayesti a look of
"what do you think?" with a smirk.
The other 2 humans sheathe their swords with shaking hands.
"Wise
decision gentlemen and it will be even wiser if you take only what is
yours." *Gives them a knowing look* "The rightful owner would be
loathe to find his valuables missing."
The human with the ornate sword addresses the halfling, “I’m not sure what you mean, small sir. We are the rightful owners of the gear, having won it through hard battle and exploration.”
Anastasia,
seeing the goblins have gone well out of sight, and having heard the lion's
roar, rounds the corner on to view the encounter with the bandits.
"And what have we here?
More unlawful occupants, did you give them their notice of eviction?"
This is said in Anastasia's normal militant tone, but a hint of a sneer crosses
her lips, and her sword still glistening with blood is held menacingly in her
hand as she advances to join the others.
Tacitus
glances back at Anastasia. "Yes," he says, "but they insist on
keeping the goods they've pilfered from the estate." He gestures at the
laden donkey for emphasis, and then returns his eyes to the two bandits, his
scythe still held ready to strike.
“Ahhh,”
says the man who has been speaking, obviously the leader. “I misunderstood. You used words that led me to believe you
were lawful. You are bandits, after
all. Very well, we cannot resist you as
we are outnumbered. If you will have our
possessions there is naught we can do but give them up. But you are perpetrating a crime upon the
innocent.”
"No
one here is speaking of anything unlawful. We are however going to ask that you
show us what you claim to be "yours". Should we see anything that
belongs to the rightful and lawful owner of this keep we will be escorting you
to town and the nearest jail. As I know how the locals feel about bandits, I
would suggest you voluntarily leave anything you claimed from this keep at
once. You have this one opportunity to do this before we press the issue and
you will be escorted to town, where I am sure the owner of the keep would love
to be able to personally watch you hang."
Anastasia's eyes are hard and
unforgiving and she does not flinch even a moment during her little discourse.
It is painfully she is deadly serious in her intentions.
The leader bows his head slightly. “Alas, while we have many goods, none were taken from this place, but how are you to believe me?” he walks over to the mule and starts opening sacks. Besides their gear (bedrolls, foodstuffs, etc.) You see six large sacks filled with silver and a small wooden box which he opens to reveal six gems and two pearl necklaces. “As you can see, luck has been with us. But none of this comes from this place, I swear to you.”
"They
have said they will leave without out further trouble. We should escort them to
the main road and see them on their way. I saw nothing clearly identifiable as
belonging to Mr. Clifton, as such I would say we have
no right to commandeer their possessions. We were hired to evict and as they
are willing to leave freely of their own accord, we can move on and continue
evicting the other fouler creatures that have infested this place."
Anastasia looks to the others
in the group and knows that they are all wrestling with the thought of the
money in the saddlebags.
“You are a woman of impeccable morals. I’m glad you are in charge of this militia.” The leader bows low and then begins closing up the sacks.
*Eases is rapier back into its sheath, all the while letting a
dagger fall hidden into his hand* "Well then, let us be on the way. We do
not with to detain you any further."
Nahawen
only keeps her smirk, tilting her head a bit as she watches quietly.
Unless anybody wants to do differently you may escort the humans out to the main road without further incident.
Sevaliar
for one will stand at a distance and watch as his burlier affiliates gently
evict the unwanted tenants.
The “guests” are escorted to the road and leave. Returning to the castle you begin with the open room the humans were occupying.
Storeroom
The north wall of the room has a ledge about seven feet from the floor with two small windows above the ledge. There are pallets near the north wall. There does not appear to be anything else in the room.
Sevaliar
nods the rogues forward.
Shayesti
will check out the room and then move on to check for locks or traps on the
next door.
Tacitus
resumes his position just behind Anastasia, muttering darkly about
"nimble-tongued bandits" as he grips his scythe tightly.
Keelo and Shayesti find nothing of interest in room 15. The party backtracks a little and listens, searches and opens the door to room 13.
Utility Room
The north wall of the room has a ledge about seven feet from the floor with two small windows above the ledge. The room appears to be empty. A search confirms that fact.
Assuming the party doesn’t wish unknown doors to be in front and behind them, room 14 is next.
BedRoom
Except for an unoccupied bed, this room appears to be empty. The room is lit by a skylight in the southwest corner of the room.
As the rogues enter the room, a large 5-foot long spider drops from the ceiling, it’s body camouflaged to match the color of the castle’s stonework. Luckily it does not catch Keelo and Shayesti by surprise.
Anastasia is up first and at the first sign of trouble, hurries into the room and attacks the spider, but her sword slices nothing but air. The spider tries to bite Keelo, but the Halfling raises his buckler and fends off the bite.
Tacitus
spins his scythe as he advances, bringing it into position for an overhand
swing with the blade facing forward. When he reaches the spider he brings his
weapon down, attempting to impale the vermin on his curved scythe-blade.
Tacitus’
scythe slices across the head of the spider for a minor wound.
*Keelo
draws his rapier and thrusts at the spider in one fluid movement. Then takes a
single step back*
Keelo’s blade pierces one of the beast’s legs for 2 points of damage, mildly wounding the spider.
Sevaliar
steps back to the other side of the hallway and watches the proceedings.
If
possible, Nahawen will enter the room and go around to the side of the spider,
attempting to crush it with the end of her staff.
Nahawen’s staff makes a sharp sound as it connects with stone floor, missing the spider.
Pommeraie
will try to hit the spider if there is room to strike without hitting his
companions. If not, he will guard the outside of the room.
Pommeraie takes a position on the flank of the spider and his blade slices into its head for 7 points of damage, moderately wounding the beast.
Shayesti
lashes out with her sword hoping to destroy the foul beast quickly.
Shayestis’ longsword slashes one of the spider’s legs for 5 points of damage. The spider is now severely wounded.
*Keelo
performs a full volte, trying to confuse the spider. Then makes a quick thrust
at it.*
Unfortunately, Keelo’s attack results in a Coup passé, and the spider is untouched by the rapier.
Sevaliar
believes the armed people are in a better position to dispose of this threat,
and therefore does nothing.
Tack
wrenches his scythe free of the creature's body and then drags the blade
backward, raking across its hairy abdomen.
The blade digs deeper that even Tack expected. Tack scores a critical hit for triple damage and slays the creature.
Tack
pulls his weapon free once more, and then pauses to peer curiously at the
quivering spider. "Never knew they could get that big," he muses.
"I wonder if there are some enormous flies or grasshoppers in this castle,
too." As he speaks he kneels down over the widely-split body of the beast,
and then begins to pry its abdominal wound open wider with a dagger, as if he's
expecting a foot-long fly to tumble out of its innards.
Nahawen:
Raises a brow, looking on silently.
Is that
the only one? What a big nasty, almost as nasty as playing with dead bugs Tack.
I doubt you'll find any gold in there. But what about in its
nest or web?
With that Pommeraie begins
looking and searching where the giant spider came from, sword ready in case
there are more...
Tack
stands back up, his curiosity evidently sated. He goes to sheath his dagger
but, seeing it covered in... gore, opts to first wipe
it off on a nearby curtain. When he is finished he returns to the hallway, now
scanning the ceilings as he goes.
There is nothing of interest in the room that housed the spider. Moving down the hallway, the next door is an interior one, marked room 16 on the map. Shayesti and Keelo do their listening and searching routines. Keelo hears whispered voices but cannot make out what they are saying.
Anastasia
gets into position and raises her sword to a readied position. And motions the others to get into place and silently mouths
"Time for some more eviction."
Of course, this is translated by others as everything from “Time to bed the vicar’s mum” to “Rhyme the bum, poor pickle’s son.”
Sevaliar
sidles toward the back of the group.
*Keelo
quietly checks the door for traps.*
*After
finding no traps he then gives the party a thumbs up*
Shayesti
wipes her blade clean and readies it for more use while standing beside the
doorway.
After
standing in the back for so long, not getting to slay a fast running goblin,
and only cutting a giant spider, Pommeraie makes his way to the front of the
party and prepares to charge the room sword swinging...
Nahawen
remains more so toward the rear of the group, waiting and watching.
Sevaliar
rolls his eyes and nudges Anastasia toward the door bodily.
Tack
glances around at the others, sighs, and strides toward the door. With his
scythe at the ready in his other hand, he unlatches and opens the door in one
swift motion.
BedRoom
The door opens to reveal a room containing three small humanoids with scaly, rust-brown skin, dog-like faces and no hair. They are armed with spears. There is a door at the far end of the room, flanked by small windows high up on the wall.
You seem to have caught the creatures by surprise.
Tack
grins and starts to move forward as if to attack, but seems to have second
thoughts before he gets through the door. He raises a hand in greeting and
formally intones "We come on behalf of this castle's true owner. Please
leave this place at once."
*Keelo
casually takes a side step out of the doorway*
Shayesti
crosses the threshold, bumping through behind Tack to stand on his left flank.
Her sword at the ready, she stays quiet to give him a chance with his diplomacy
figuring that one way or the other combat would soon erupt. Letting humans walk
out was one thing, she didn’t think that Ambrose would allow these creatures to
leave peacefully.
Nahawen
stays in the hallway, listening quietly to the on-goings, staff
at the ready to smoosh something.
“Kobolds! Take
them!”
Pommeraei leaps forward
attacking the nearest kobold with his longsword.
Pommeraie’s sword glances off the creature’s scaly hide.
One of the kobolds moves forward so that two of the creatures can strike out at Pommeraie, both missing completely. The third kobold opens the far door. It opens on a grassy courtyard, open to the sky. Six doors, including the one just opened, line the walls. Two large wolves are standing in the middle of the courtyard and turn, growling, as the door is opened. The third kobold joins his brothers in a line.
Tack
grumbles and darts forward to the door that the third kobold opened, attempting
to close it (and stand in front of it) before the additional wolves can arrive.
Due to the close quarters, as Tack moves around one of the kobolds, it lashes out at him with its spear, but completely misses. Tack is able to close the door.
Shayesti
moves around the opposite direction of Tack, trying to end up with a kobold or
two pinned between them before lashing out with her blade at one of the small
ugly creatures.
"So much for the
diplomatic route, I suppose."
Shayesti’s blade fails to strike the kobold between her and Tack.
Anastais moves into the room, weapon drawn, and attacks the kobold on Pommeraie’s right. Her blade bites deeply into that creature’s tail, a mild wound.
Nahawen
will advance closer to the room, staying behind Ambrose to look into the room.
She readies her staff but, otherwise, does nothing yet.
* Keelo
Moves in next to Sevaliar and performs a punte reverse on the kobold*
"These creatures are bound to have at least a few co-ins."
Unfortunately, Keelo’s attack misses.
Pommeraie
will continue attacking the kobold to his front, he'll worry about the others
and wolves when he finishes this one off...
Pommeraie’s blade slashes across the chest of the kobold for 7 points of damage (including +1 for his combat marauder ability)
*Keelo
slashes with his rapier from left to right attempting to gut the Kobold*
Keelo’s blade rakes across the kobold’s belly for 4 points of damage. The creature is suffering from life-threatening injuries.
Nahawen
waits where she is, keeping a look out down the hall.
The weaponless Ambrose keeps Nahawen company, alert to any calls for whatever minor first aid he can provide.
Pommeraie’s blade flashes once more, slashing across the left leg of the kobold in front of him, taking the unfortunate creature down.
The kobold being attacked by Anastasia drops his spear and backs up into the corner, cowering.
The other kobold thrusts his spear at Shayesti, piercing her left leg for 4 points of damage. Shayesti is severely wounded.
Anastasia
moves in on the one still attacking Shayesti and swings her sword at the creature’s
small body. The sword hits its target and cuts deeply into the creature.
Just as Anastasia swings, the creature ducks, and ends up taking the force of the blow to his head. The strike almost kills the kobold.
"By
the gods!", Shayesti exclaims as she recieves a
major wound. Deciding to give Ambrose something to do, she
backs carefully out of combat till she is next to the big cleric.
"Would you have any further healing available perchance, good
cleric?"
Ambrose looks at a loss (a first for him). “Nay, lass, I can stop ye from dyin’, but I cannot heal your wounds.”
Tack guards the door, making sure the kobold that retreated into the corner doesn’t try and open it.
Keelo
brings the slash out in a wide arc and uses the momentum for a lunge at the
same beast*
Keelo’s blade catches the kobold’s right leg for 5 points of damage. The creature falls to the ground, bleeding.
You are left with a whimpering creature, cowering in the corner.
Tack
cautiously cracks the door open to check on the wolves outside.
As soon as Tack pulls open the door, it is hit by an immense weight as both wolves try and force their snarling snouts through. They seem to be trying to chew the very air as you hear their claws scrabbling on the other side of the door. Tack is able to force the door back closed, but just barely.
Tack
clears his throat. "Ah, we still have a problem to deal with, here,"
he says.
"Indeed
we do. For now perhaps we should leave the door shut and take care of any
problems that can open doors on their own, and leave the pups for tomorrow,
when Ambrose can get Shayesti back on her feet."
Tacitus
looks around for something heavy to brace the door.
The only things in this room are the two dying and one living kobolds. The door does have a latch so, despite the thuds and scratches coming from the other side, it would appear that the wolves cannot open it on their own.
Anastasia
tries to pick up the whimpering kobold and escort it out of the keep. Then I
say we press on with the last few door on the exterior of the hall and call it
a day there, and retire to our camp.
"Allow
me to search for Value-ables! The beasts might even be carrying some of the
co-ins and je-wels on their persons!" * *Keelo makes to search the bodies first then moves on to the room*
Keelo finds nothing of value on the kobolds or in the room, but the time spent is more than enough for Anastasia to escort the kobold out. Just before it leaves, it turns and licks her hand. It might have been a quaint gesture of animalistic gratitude, if she didn’t catch sight of it licking its lips as it leaves.
Storeroom
The next door is room 17 on the map. A listen and search yield nothing and the door is opened. The north wall of this room has a ledge about seven feet from the floor, with two small windows above the ledge. The room appears to be empty. Keelo and Shayesti confirm it to be so.
Bedroom
On to room 18. Except for an unoccupied bed, this room appears to be empty. The room is lit by a skylight. It contains nothing but the bed.
Guardroom
The next door (19) is neither trapped nor locked. Opening it, the north wall of this room has a ledge about seven feet from the floor, with small windows above the ledge. The room looks as if it might have been a guard post. There are a few beds, some pegs on the walls for clothing, a rack to hold weapons and a long table with a drawer that might once have served as a desk. There are moth-eaten clothes on the bed but the room otherwise appears to be empty. In performing the search, Keelo finds a small sack under the bed that contains 100 silver pieces and 20 gold pieces.
Ambrose holds out his hand. “I’ll carry it lad. Might as well, I’m not much good for anythin’ else.”
Tower Room
Scouting out the northwest tower you see a circular room about 40 feet in diameter, with eight openings spaced evenly about the outside wall. The windows extend from about waist height to about head height for a normal human. These are obviously ports through which arrows can be fired. The room appears to be empty except for the remains of a skeleton on the floor. What do you do?
*Keelo
hands over the pouch with a sad manner about him. Then moves on to search the
circular room for traps*
With Shayesti’s help a search takes about 6 minutes. No traps, nor anything else are found. The skeleton appears to have been here for some years.
Ambrose looks closely at it. “Looks like he was here
long before
Locked Door?
The door to room 21, while not trapped, cannot be opened, no matter how Keelo and Shayesti try.
"Perhaps
there is a lever or some other mechanism to open this door, or perhaps there is
another way in all together. We should press on and once we know the area is
secure we can examine this area in more depth."
Store Room
The door to room 22 is also not trapped, and this one is not locked. The west wall of this room has a ledge about seven feet from the floor, with two small windows above the ledge. Except for some trash on the floor, the room appears to be empty. As soon as Keelo and Shayesti enter through the door, however, it is painfully apparent that the room is occupied. What appears to be a large brown-furred rat with a long snout appears from the corner of the room. The creatures squeaks a couple of times and with surprising speed it rushes forward to attack Keelo, leaping at the halflings head and shoulders with a terrifying ferocity. The first bite is a critical hit and strikes Keelo’s right arm for 2 points of damage; only a minor wound but causing such pain that the arm goes limp for a moment. Keelo may not make an attack this round. The creature’s second bite misses.
Keelo is terrified by the attack and turns to run, the creature nipping at him as he goes, luckily missing the terrified halfling.
5/20@ 7:37am: Tack: last logged in on 5/18@3:51am; last posted on 5/17@5:41pm
Tack moves into the room, positioning himself between the giant shrew and Shayesti, and brings his scythe down, but the blow misses the animal.
5/20@ 7:40am: Pommeraie: last logged in on 5/14@3:33pm; last posted on 5/14@3:35pm
Pommeraie moves into the room and attacks the shrew. Pommeraie’s blade slashes into the shrew’s left rear leg for 6 points of damage, mildly wounding the fierce creature.
5/20@ 7:47am: Sevaliar: last logged in on 5/17@7:33pm; last posted on 5/10@11:07pm
Sevaliar waits.
5/20@ 7:48am: Nahawen: last logged in on 5/20@12:37am; last posted on 5/15@12:16am
Nahawen
makes a quick grab for the running halfling, trying to grab him tight and keep
him close.
"Hold up, Keelo. Don't
you like rats?" Winks playfully at the poor halfing, tugging him close.
Nahawen grabs Keelo. Anastasia moves into the room and attacks. Her blade slashes into the body for 8 points of damage, causing a life-threatening wound to the shrew.
Shayesti
moves up and swings her blade at the giant rodent hoping to bring it down soon.
Shayesti’s attack misses the shrew.
Pommeraie
will continue to attack the shrew, forcing his body between the raging beast
and the wounded Keelo.
Shayesti’s attack once again misses the shrew.
Pommeraie’s attack misses its mark as well.
The shrew leaps and attacks first Anastasia and then Pommeraie, but misses them both.
Nahawen
smiles down at Keelo and patting him on he head
playfully. Feeling him stop shaking, she lets him go and turns her attention
back to the fighting, staff ready to smoosh.
*Keelo
slips a dagger into his hand and with a flick of his wrist, lets it fly at the
creature* ((That is assuming he can get a clear shot))
"Might be that I'll stay
ranged for this one."
There is too large a press of melee fighters around the beast. Unfortunately, there is no shot for a ranged attack.
*Seeing
he has no clear shot, Keelo then decides to watch the hallway*
Anastasia
attacks the shrew swinging for it's foul face, but
misses as the sword swings just over the creatures head.
Tack swings his scythe at the beast. The blade catches the throat of the shrew and slashes it open (a critical hit). The beast falls to the ground, instantly dead.
"Finally! That
thing was rather nasty for such a small beastie."
Shayesti starts looking around
the room to see if she finds anything interesting.
A search of the room turns up nothing but a hole in the west wall. It looks like it was burrowed and is not large enough for a human to fit through.
"I
could have a look. However...I'd prefer not to. If I must go, I insist that you
tie a rope around me so you can pull me out if need be." *an unhappy look
crosses his face*
"It...might be wisest to hold off on that for the moment. What
with the only scout who can weasel his way in there wounded and the healer's
daily allotment of miracles exhausted."
*Breaths
a heavy sigh of relief* " I fully agree! What
next then!"
Pommeraie
pulls out a rag and cleans shrew goo from his sword, looking at the others.
Press on or rest? I volunteer to open doors if the rest of you choose to press
on.
Nahawen
gives a small shrug, leaning on her staff idly.
"Whatever you all prefer,
either way is fine by me."
Store Room
After a search and a listen by the rogues the door to room 23 is opened by Pommeraie. The west wall of this room has a ledge about seven feet from the floor, with two small windows above the ledge. Bookshelves line the north and south walls; a few motheaten books remain on them. Two huge beetles sit on the dusty carpet in the middle of the room. They are each about 2 1/2 feet long. A glowing light comes from a spot behind each of their eyes and another spot near their backs.
As soon as the door opens, the beetles stop eating the carpet and begin scuttling toward you.
Keelo, Pommeraie, Sevaliar and Shayesti are up.
*Keelo
throws a dagger at one of the beetles, but makes sure to leave room for a
fighter type to get by and in front of him*
Keelo’s dagger buries itself into the beetle’s thorax for 4 points of damage; a mild wound.
Sevaliar
glances quickly into the room, gauges the threat, then
starts watching the flank down the hallway.
Shayesti
moves in and takes a swing at the injured beetle with her sword.
Shayesti’s blade misses the beetle.
Pommeraie
swings at the beetle (or whatever it is) with a dagger sticking out of its
back.
Pommeraie’s blade bounces off the beetles carapace.
The wounded beetle attacks Pommeraie, but misses.
The second beetle bites at Shayesti but also misses.
Anastasia
advances and swings at the beetle (preferably the wounded one, but either is
fine) The swing is off however and misses it's target.
Posting for Tack (last log-in 5/23). Tack moves into the room and also attacks the wounded beetle. His scythe slashes into the beetles leg for 5 points of damage, moderately wounding the bug.
*Nahawen
moves in attempting to bring the butt of her staff down on one of the beetles*
Nahawen finds space to attack the uninjured bug, but her staff fails to connect.
Anastasia
will try once again to hit the oversized firefly with her sword.
The beetle knocks Anastasia’ hand with its mandible and her sword flies back out of her hand 10 feet.
Sevaliar
scoops up the flung sword and holds it out, pommel first, to Anastasia.
(Needless to say, he does his best to stay out of mandible range in the
meantime.)
"Stupid
Bugs...but they are no match for my so fine rapier blade!" * Keelo moves
in and attacks the the wounded beetle with his rapier*
Keelo can’t make it to attack the wounded bug, but there is space to attack the fresh one. Unfortunately, Keelo’s attack misses the beetle.
Shayesti
redoubles her efforts. Concentrating as she aims her next strike, she swings
with thoughts of her father's instructions echoing through her head.
"I do not kill with my
sword. He who kills with his sword has forgotten the face of his father. I kill
with my mind!" She whispers fiercely.
Apparently Shayesti’s mantra worked as her blade slashes into one of the beetle’s legs for 5 points of damage. The beetle now has life-threatening injuries.
The injured beetle tries to bite Shayesti, but her blade must have done even more damage than apparent, for as the beetle puts its weight on that leg, it slips and falls to the ground, stunned.
The other beetle backs away into the far corner of the room.
“I'm
getting tired of fighting BUGS!!! Pommeraie shouts as he thrusts a downward two
handed blow with the point of his sword trying to skewer the beetle in the
corner.
Sentiments notwithstanding, Pommeraie’s blade fails to connect with the beetle.
Nahawen
will try to squish the injured bug, trying to finish it off.
Nahawen’s staff crashes down on the bug for 2 points of damage. It twitches once, and stops moving.
Posting for Tack (last post 5/17; last log-in 5/23). Tack advances on the beetle in the corner and brings his scythe down, but he misses.
Shayesti
moves in to slash at the remaining bug...
Shayesti slashes one of the beetle’s legs for 4 points of damage, a mild wound.
*Keelo
tries to stick the bug with the pointy end...*
Keelo tries to attack the beetle but Tack, Pommeraie and Shayesti have it in a corner and there is no room.
Sevaliar
continues to hold out the sword for Anastasia. If her taking it leaves him
time, he'll ooze back away from the front line and into the hall.
Anastasia accepts the sword from Sevaliar with a curt military bow of her head, a gesture meant to imply both thanks and “We shall never speak of this again,” and approaches the fray. Like Keelo, however, she has no room to attack.
Posting for Tack (last post 5/17; last log-in 5/23). Tack slashes at the beetle, but misses by a dangerously wide margin.
Tack’s attack brought his head low enough that the beetle snaps at it for 5 points of damage. Tack is now severely wounded.
I am
getting damn depressed. Must be the sorriest ranger in the world if I CANT EVEN
KILL VERMIN!!!!
And with that Pommeraie again
hacks down on the beetle with his sword...
Although it can safely be assumed that the beetle wishes no further mental anguish be suffered by the ranger, it ducks out of the way of the blow.
With this particular battle, with space being what it is and no chance for ranged combat, and spells being all but exhausted, I’ll just continue the attack sequences on. If you would have wanted to do something differently just let me know. This is not a reflection on frequency of posts or anything else. Just speeding up a relatively mundane encounter.
Shayesti attacks the beetle, hoping to finish it off. She slashes another leg for 3 points of damage.
The beetle again chomps at Tack, but misses.
Pommeraie’s slash misses the beetle again.
Tack’s scythe fails to make contact.
The beetle’s mandibles close around Tack’s left arm and deal 6 points of damage. Tack’s wounds are now life-threatening.
Shayesti’s blade slashes the creature’s leg again for 4 points of damage, severely wounding the bug.
Tack carefully withdraws from the battle, nursing his wounds, allowing Keelo to dart in and attack. His so fine rapier blade deals 6 points of damage as it pierces one of the bug’s legs. The bug now has life-threatening wounds.
Pommeraie’s blade makes contact but bounces off the creature’s shell.
Pommeraie’s next blow fails to connect.
The beetle bites at Keelo, but the Halfling deflects the attack with his buckler.
Keelo answers with a quick thrust to another leg for 2 points of damage. The bug falls over twitching.
"Well,
that was gruesome." Sevaliar looks around the hallway again. "I
believe we've nearly cleared this floor, and I'd like to suggest that, given
the fact that some of us have already sustained punishment that'll take days to
heal -- even with Ambrose's help -- we depart as soon as that's done, if not
before.
Pommeraie
looks down at the giant beetle. That was
ridiculous. Well, maybe there's some truth to eating your enemies...
With that he reaches in his
backpack and pulls a sack from within. He then secures the two (if the bag is
large enough) dead beetles. Standing, with the sack over a shoulder, he
addresses his companions.
Much as it pains me to say
this, I think Sevaliar is right. After that last, way to long combat, I'd say
that we all need a break from eviction work. Heck, he says shaking the bag,
I'll even cook dinner!!!
No
beetle for me, thank you very much. I much prefer mutton, or pork, or chicken
or fish or beef or cabbage or carrots or potatoes... *Suddenly realizing he
hungry Keelo pulls a ration out of his pack and begins to munch* "A hot
meal, a nice warm bath and a bed sounds good right about now. I think we've earned
at least that much, eh? Time to spend some of out hard earned
co-ins."
"Perhaps
it is best if we head back to camp and break it down. We can head back into
town, Ambrose you can get yourself a new weapon, and perhaps they have a
midwife or field medic in the town that we can ask aid from. We can also give
Mr. Caldwell an update on the progress in his keep. We should not delay getting
back to our task any longer then absolutely necessary. The longer we delay the
more of the work we have already done may be undone. And I personally do not
relish the idea of having to clear out all those room again."
Maybe
we should check those last two before we call it quits, that way we will not
have to worry about anyone or thing in them going for reinforcements or alerting
those on the lower levels. Anyone who is badly wounded stay
back. Odds are good they may be empty, a good amount of the rooms have
been. We can listen at them and get an idea of occupants and decide if we clear
them out after we have heard whatever there is to be heard."
Anastasia looks to her
compatriots, who look a bit worse for wear "What say you?"
So much
for my famous giant beetle stew!
Pommeraie dumps the beetles
out of the sack and tucks the emptied bag into his belt. He pulls out his sword
and turns for the door.
I'm with you An. Two more
rooms, it is.
"I am
game as well for the final two rooms." says Shayesti to the others.
Moving on to the next door, the rogues check for traps and listen carefully, but hear no sounds. Tack, gone even more sullen and quiet, says he will open the door.
Pantry
The west wall of this room has a ledge about seven feet from the floor, with two small windows above the ledge. Cabinets and shelves line the walls. In the middle of the floor lies the body of a goblin with a horribly swollen arm. Trash and old sacks lie scattered about the floor.
Ambrose, heedless of any warnings given, enters the room with a slow but steady pace. He crouches and investigates the goblin’s arm with a morbid curiosity.
“Snakebit, he was. See here, the puncture marks amid the swelling.”
"Now,
when you say snake, do you mean a normal little garden snake or a ginormous
monsterous snake? Please say a small one..." *Keelo shivers at the thought
of a giant snake*
Still looking at the wound, Ambrose says, “Looks small enough.” He gazes at Keelo from under his arm as he’s crouched over, “Bigger to you, perhaps.” Ambrose stands. “But poisonous I’d wager, by the looks of that arm.”
"Right,
keep alert, any sign of the slithering fiend and we keep a careful distance.
For all we know it may have already left, but it could still be in the room, or
elsewhere in the keep. Let's seal this room up tight and not stir up any
trouble in here. Last thing we need is for someone to be poisoned."
Anastasia motions Ambrose
back, her hand on the door. "Come on let’s get these guys patched up and
see if we can buy some anti venom in town before we tangle with this
thing."
*His
eyes widen at Ambrose’s words* "I'm in full agreement with Anastasia, lets
go. *Nods his head frantically in agreement then bullies his way to the door*
You exit the castle and head back to your camp. As you make arrangements to leave, Tack clears his throat. He explains that he must leave you as the thoughts of this teacher have been weighing on his mind heavier as each day passes. Having exercised some of his martial training, and feeling a need for more of it, he would like to continue the search for his mentor immediately. He says he will help the party return the loot to the town, and would like his fair share, but hands Anastasia the 50 gold royals given him by Clifton Caldwell. He explains he cannot take money for a job he will not be completing.
The trip back is uneventful, and you arrive in Threshold around supper time. Once again the guards ask for your larger weapons.
The following XP has been earned (I’m giving this out but training between adventures is not possible unless the CK says it is – just an FYI )
Ambrose earns 394 xp
Anastasia earns 415 xp
Keelo earns 178 xp
Nahawen earns 178 xp
Pommeraie earns 183 xp
Sevaliar earns 370 xp
Shayesti earns 375 xp
Tack earns 335 xp
Party loot gets divided as follows:
Ambrose, Anastasia, Shayesti, Sevaliar and Tack each receive 600 cp, 911 sp, 10 ep, 2gp and have left to divide among them 4 gems, 2 ep and 4 sp
Nahawen and Pommeraie each get 12 sp and 2 gp
Keelo gets 13 sp and 2 gp
The entire party has to divide 3 gems, 4 sp and 4 gp.
This is the split based on who joined when. How all this actually gets split up is entirely up to you (although Tack insists on keeping his share, he forgoes a split of the gems.)
Sevaliar
will see if he can pick up a composite longbow.
And arrows.
Sevaliar buys comp. longbow for 153gp and 20 arrows for 3.96gp
Pommeraie
returns to his campsite and digs up his stash. Brushing the dirt off of his
shortbow and bedroll, he decides to go with Sevaliar and make a purchase of his
own; a backpack.
Shayesti
makes the return trip to Threshold in silence. Taking her share of the loot she
decides to buy nothing more than a hot meal and some wine for the night.
Perhaps a soft bed to rest in as well since the few trees within the town's
wall are not very good for sleeping in.
During the night though, she
is somewhat restless and goes outside to explore the darkness of this town.
Ascending to the rooftops if she thinks she can do so without causing an alarm,
she will enjoy the sky and stars. If the rooftops seem too big a risk, then she
shall just wander the streets and alleys till morning's approach. At that time,
she returns to the inn and joins her companions for the trip back to Castle
Caldwell.
Anastasia
would like to look around for some Anti-venom and healing salves or potions if
she can find anything like that I would like to buy some.
Also she will go to Mr.
Caldwell's house give him an update on their progress at the keep, and give him
back Tack's share and explain that Tack will be unable to see the job through
to it's completion.
There is no such thing as anti-venom, per se. Those sorts of cures are still primarily trusted to magicks. Potions are only rarely available and cost 1,000 gold pieces each and higher when they are.
Mr. Caldwell appreciates the party’s integrity.
The sale of the gems, after subtracting the 1% appraisal cost, and purchase offered at 80% of appraised value (the standard method, you are assured) yields an additional 124 gp for each person in the party.
Everyone ready to head back to
You order dinner and spend the night at the inn (except for the tree-friend types) and awake to a fresh day. After breakfast you make your arrangements to return to the castle. I’ll need spells for the day from Nahawen and Sevaliar. And some of you are a wee bit burdened. Copies of character sheets being mailed to you (they’ll also be posted on the site, but probably not until Monday)
Ambrose purchases a Morningstar for 12 gold, 7 silver and 2 copper, gets ride of his battered wooden shield, sells his leather armor for 5 gold and buys a chain shirt for 152 gold.
Anastasia sells her chain shirt for 50gp and buys a suit of chainmail for 238 gold 5 silver. Anastasia also pays to have her coins converted to the highest denominations.
Nahawen purchases the components necessary for an identify spell.
Time: Loshdain, the 6th of Yarthmont, AC 1000
Location: the
town of
Weather: High of 80°, Low of 65°, 10mph wind from the north, light rain (1/2”)
Current status:
Ambrose has 5 points of damage
Anastasia has 6 points of damage
Keelo has 1 point of damage
Pommeraie has 1 point of damage
Shayesti has 13 points of damage
I’m going to assume Sevaliar prepares 1 each of the spells he knows.
A tall,
bulky man approaches the group. Wearing a suit of well-maintained yet
ill-fitting brigandine armor and carrying a worn halberd, he is clearly a
fighting man. His barrel shape shows a life spent enjoying a bit too much ale
and rich foods, but his wide shoulders and heavy frame reveal strength as well.
He wears a thick brown beard and his cloak hood barely hides a nearly bald
head. The man is grinning amiably but his brown eyes show a bit of sadness and
not a few sleepless nights.
"Hello, all. Name's Gurv Mohr. I talked to Clifton Caldwell and he said
you might need another hand. Mentioned a monk who left the
party. Well, I'm not the lightest on my feet, but I hope I can be some
kind of substitution."
Anastasia
gives the man a once over and nods approvingly.
"Yes, you'll do, another
bit of muscle will indeed be useful. Glad to have you aboard. I'm Anastasia
Vorloi, pleased to meet ya."
Anastasia thrusts her hand out
and gives Gurv's hand a firm shake.
"We're on our way back to
make camp outside the keep, if you don't have them already I'd recommend a
bedroll and a tent, you'll get a much better nights
sleep if you are fully prepared. Although we may be reaching
a stage where we can actually claim a room in the keep to sleep safely."
While back
in town... "Ambrose, pray tell is it possible to receive some healing from
you again? My wounds are rather numerous currently."
Unless anyone has any
other purchases to make or instructions to give, I’m going to assume that after
breakfast you travel back to Castle Caldwell, make camp and re-enter. I’ll also assume you’re giving the snake room
a miss for now and are proceeding to the next door.
You set up your camp as before. Please let me know of any equipment you wish to leave at camp beyond the obvious (tents, bedrolls, etc.).
Pantry
After the rogues perform their listens and searches, the door to the last room is opened. The west wall of this room has a ledge about seven feet from the floor, with two small windows above the ledge. The room seems to be a kitchen. It contains four tables, a pump, and an old stove. A large leather chest rests by the middle of the west wall. Following the initial search of the area, it can be seen that the chest is closed and strapped with leather belts.
Anastasia
speaks but it's not so much a question as a statement of the obvious.
"Shall we see what warrants a chest in this place?"
Anastasia moves forward toward
the chest "I will open it but first, does it look like it could be trapped
in anyway?"
Shayesti
volunteers to check the chest for any traps. "I shall see what may be
seen. Pardon me a moment while I check."
Shayesti discovers that the chest is, in fact, trapped.
"You
may be better at this than
"I
shall attempt to remove the trap from this chest. You should all stand back a
bit...and wish me luck." she says while pulling back the hair covering her
eyepatch. "Last time I tangled with a trap I wasn't so lucky."
Ambrose says, “Aye, lass, but I should only call on the power once, as I’, limited as to how much healing I can provide each day.” Ambrose heals Shayesti for 7 points.
As Shayesti tries to disable the trap, there is a hissing sound as a cloud of gas issues from the chest. Shayesti fails to resist the poison gas cloud and takes 7 points of damage. Ambrose rushes forward as soon as the cloud dissipates and heals Shayesti again, this time for only 4 points. Shayesti having determined that here was only 1 trap, and that trap having been activated, it is now safe to undo the leather belts. Unfortunately the chest is entirely empty, but does look large enough to hold about 2,000 coins.
The only remaining areas are the central rooms (including the wolves’ courtyard), the room with the snakebit goblin and the room with the stuck door.
*Keelo
obligingly takes many steps back*
"Well,
I suppose that chest will come in handy later, but who traps an empty chest? You alright to press on Shayesti? Perhaps it is time for us
to kick those mongrels out of the courtyard. That would make an ideal area to
camp, but before we try that I want to check something."
Anastasia goes back to the
room where the helpful statue resides.
"Have any new creatures
moved into this place since we last spoke with you?"
There is no reply from the statue.
"No matter, figured it was worth a shot. Back to business then."
So off to the central courtyard where you saw the wolves?
Yes
indeed.
"Verily,
we should press on. Thank you Anastasia, but with Ambrose's help I believe I'll
be alright to continue."
She lines up with the others
and gets ready to face the wolves...
16. BedRoom
Once more you find yourselves in the room where you fought the kobolds. The two bodies still lie on the floor. There is a door at the far end of the room, flanked by small windows high up on the wall. This is the door the kobolds opened to try and let the wolves in.
What do you do?
"Alright
then, lets get into position. Fighters
up front so that we can surround them. Lets
make it so we only have to deal with one at a time. Keep a spot just inside the
door clear, make it come to us. Those who are badly injured,
and the wizarding types to the rear. Ambrose if you still have healing, you
need to stay to the back, if not take up a position so you can get in a few
good hits. If anyone can't get in the front line, be ready to switch out with a
front liner should they take a beating."
"We can do this they are
just a pair of mongrel wolves. We have tactics on our side, let’s use them. We
do this right and we have earned a much safer place for our beds tonight."
Anastasia is back to her normal
militant self, barking orders like a general who has been at this much longer
then she has.
*Moves
in a position to the side of the door, rapier in a low ward*
Gurv
straps his new shield to his left forearm and pulls the strap tight with his
teeth. He then draws his bastard sword and throws the group a nervous smile.
"Nice
to meet you all. We can talk more if we survive."
He takes position in front of
the door and awaits a sign of readiness from the group.
Nahawen
keeps a position in the back, letting the fighters have as much room as they
need. She gets her staff ready, just in case, and fiddles around in her
component pouch just to be safe.
Shayesti
moves into position between Keelo and Gurv at a corner spot within reach of the
door. With her longsword at the ready, she prepares to face the wolves.
"Good luck to you all."
Sevaliar
takes up a position just outside the door, his fingers weaving.
Pommeraie gently moves Shayesti behind him so he can take a position in front, explaining that she is wounded and will be needed for tasks he could not hope to perform.
Pommeriae then opens the door. It opens on a grassy courtyard, open to the sky. Six doors, including the one just opened, line the walls. Two large wolves are standing in the middle of the courtyard and turn, growling, as the door is opened. The first is 10 feet away from the door, the second is 10 feet behind the first.
Initiative order is Gurv, Nahawen, Sevaliar, Keelo, Pommeraie, Shayesti, Anastasia and Ambrose.
Gurv
holds his ground, waiting for the wolves to approach. He whistles to taunt them
and get their attention.
"We'll take 'em one at a
time as they come through the door. Don't let 'em get behind you.
When a wolf comes with in
sword range, Gurv will attack with an over head attack, then
push his shield between himself and his enemy.
Nahawen
will hold for the time being, not wanting to be the center of the wolves'
attention.
Pommeraei
readies his sword and shield for the wolves onslaught,
tossing his shortbow and quiver to the side for increased mobility - no need
for ranged weapons at this point...
The hungry-looking wolves rush the door. Both attack Gurv (looks like the whistling worked). The first wolf bites nothing but armor. The second wolf ends up0 slamming it’s shoulder into the door frame and receives a minor wound. Gurv’s sword comes down at the wounded wolf but misses completely. Keelo stabs at the same wolf from around the corner of the door, his rapier jabbing into the wolf’s head for 4 points of damage, mildly wounding the animal. Pommeraie attacks the other wolf from ‘round the other corner. His blade just barely clears the door as it slashes into the wolf’s leg for 9 points of damage; a moderate wound. Anastasia attacks that same wolf, but it dodges her blade. Both wolves again attack Gurv. The first misses completely but the second bites into Gurv’s right leg for 6 points of damage (a minor wound.) The beast shakes his head violently, trying to drag Gurv to the ground, but the stout fighter keeps his feet.
Anastasia strikes at the wolf in front of her again, and again it evades the blow.
Pommeraie, Nahawen, Sevaliar, Gurv, Keelo and Shayesti are up.
Pommeraie
continues to attack the first wolf that he hit, moving into the courtyard if it
will give him a better target (and if he can!).
Pommeraie loses his grip on his weapon (critical miss) but is able to recover.
Oowps!!!
Pommeraei overextends a lunge with his longsword, while trying to advance
though the doorway into the courtyard. At the last instant the wolf moves to
attack Gurv with a snarl. The tip of Pommeraei's blade strikes stone tile
instead of soft wolf flesh. For a moment, the hilt of his trusty blade
reverberates out of the ranger's grasp. Although not artful, the young warrior
quickly recovers and resumes his grip on the blade and fighting stance, now
(hopefully) behind the wolves and in the courtyard.
Close one...
The wolves are blocking the door. There is no way past them.
*Keelo
makes another quick strike with his rapier*
The wolf dodges Keelo’s so fine blade.
Sevaliar's
fingers twist violently as he again hurls a Magic Missile between the bodies of
his allies and into the wounded wolf.
The missile of energy (4 points) moderately wounds the wolf being attacked by Anastasia and Pommeraie.
Shaking
off the pain from the bite to his leg, Gurv attacks with anger, slashing at the
face and neck of the wolf whom attacked him.
Gurv’s blade fails to find purchase in the animal’s hide (9 rolled)
*Thinking
a new tactic is in order, Keelo feints with a low thrust then sweeps his rapier
up for a quick slash*
Unfortunately the new attack misses as well.
Shayesti
stows her blade and tries a different approach. Pulling out a dagger, she flips
it and throws it overhand at the wolf which makes the best target.
Shayesti draws the dagger, waiting for an opening. There is none at the moment as the front-line fighters are blocking all lines of attack.
Sevaliar
maintains his focus on the wounded animal, sending another sorcerous projectile
of unadulterated force hissing past his allies.
The missile of energy (4 points) strikes wounds the wolf being attacked by Anastasia and Pommeraie. It is still severely wounded.
Gurv
holds his ground, slashing at the wolf with measured swings. He seems
determined to maintain his position and not fall off balance with unstable
attacks.
In retaliation for his own leg attack, Gurv slices into the leg of the wolf (13 rolled) for 4 points of damage, mildly wounding it.
Anastasia
swings at the wolf closest to her hoping her blade finds it's
mark.
Anastasia’s sword strikes the head of the wolf for 10 points of damage, bringing it down.
Nahawen waits for now. She watched carefully as the others slash at the
creatures, since they are much better at that than she is.
Recovered
from his earlier mishap, Pommeraei tried to bring the blade of his sword to lop
the head off the nearest wolf.
Pommeraie now moves into the courtyard so he can attack the last wolf. His attack misses (rolled an 8)
The last wolf bites into Gurv’s right leg once more for 2 points of damage (a mild wound). Again it tries to drag Gurv down, and again Gurv keeps his feet.
Sevaliar, Anastasia, Shayesti, Ambrose, Nahawen, Keelo, Pommeraie and then Gurv are up.
Anastasia
moves to a position to hit the remaining wolf and swings down at it.
"Not good" Anastasia
says as the swing goes wild.
Anastasia loses her grip on her weapon and drops it.
"I
almost wonder if we should have tried to let them out. Maybe they wouldn't have
attacked us. But alas..." *Keelo sighs, then thrusts his so fine rapier
blade at the remaining wolf*
Keelo’s attack misses by a wide margin (2 rolled)
Sevaliar's
hands stay poised in case more magical assault is needed, but he holds back his
spells for the moment.
Shayesti
will maneuver for any attack she might be able to make, with either thrown
dagger or sword.
Shayesti re-draws her rapier and maneuvers herself into the courtyard. She’ll have to wait until next round to attack.
Pommeraei,
at last in the courtyard!
The young ranger turns looking
and waiting for an opportunity to strike the remaining wolf harrying Gurv. When
he sees his chance, he lunges into the cur with the point of his trusty
longsword!!!
Pommeraie’s thrust misses (10 rolled)
Gurv
swings a horizontal slash low at the wolf biting at his legs, hoping to
dissuade it from hamstringing him as much as damage it.
Gurv cuts into the wolf’s leg (17 rolled) for 5 points of damage, moderately wounding the animal.
The wolf bites back but misses.
Anastasia, Ambrose, Keelo, Gurv, Pommeraie, Nahawen, Sevaliar and then Shayesti may go.
Anastasia carefully bends down to pick up her sword while the wolf is slavering at Gurv.
Pommeraei
swings at the wolf again..and misses again...
Shayesti
swings at the beast with her sword. "Die you foul creature!"
Shayesti stabs the wolf in the tail (11 rolled) for 7 points of damage; a life-threatening wound.
Keelo reaches around the corner and stabs the wolf in the leg (18 rolled) for 6 points of damage, and the best is felled.
You stand in the courtyard, with 2 doors on each side and a door at the far end. There is also the room with the snake-bitten goblin and the room with the door you could not open. Where to?
I have to admit that I like the sound of
"the door that could not be opened, Pommeraei says although he returns
first to the room and retrieved his shortbow and quiver, set aside in the fight
with the wolves.
"Well,"
comments Sevaliar as he eyes the dead wolves thoughtfully "I'm not sure
we'll have a much better time opening it this time, but I can't see that we've
anything to lose by trying."
You gather up your gear and return to the stuck or locked door.
Sevaliar,
Gurv, you’re big guys. Give me a hand and let’s see if we can break this door
down.
OOC: Could
we have another look at the map of this place by chance? Just wanting to check
of maybe the locked room could be accessed from one of these doors off the
courtyard. Not bringing it up in character because she would know or not if
it's possbile but I'm not sure myself.
Shayesti will search the
courtyard and the dead wolves for anything worth finding before falling in to
follow the others to the next door.
Nothing is found on the wolves or by a quick once-over of the courtyard, other than the doors leading from it.
Gurv
limps to the door, looking upset with the damage done to his leg. As he reaches
the door, it appears he tries to "shake it off" and he smiles.
"Well, I'll give that
door a try. All this extra weight doesn't help me much but it occasionally
comes in handy for knocking things down."
The door seems to resist all manner of pushing and shoving.
"Perhaps
we should check out the courtyard and the doors off of it, and we can then move
our camp there once we've cleared it out. That'll give us a far better area to
defend from where we are currently set up."
"Sounds good to me. Do you think that statue could open that door for us? Or
tell us how?"
You may converse as you wish during the following operations. I’m going to assume the standard “rogues search doors, rogues listen, if no traps bug fighter-type opens the door, rogues search the room” operating procedure.
27. Bedroom
No traps, no sound. This trash-filled room contains an empty bed. The bed clothes are rotten and decayed. The room appears to be otherwise empty. A door on the east wall is flanked by two small windows about seven feet from the floor.
Does anyone want to search the rotten, decayed bedclothes?
Pommeraie
stands back and prods the bedcloths with the tip of his longsword, hooking them
and lifting them off the bed for inspection...
Pommeraie finds nothing. On to the next room, unless told otherwise.
28. Bedroom
This trash-filled room contains an empty bed. There is a chest next to the bed.
Otherwise the room appears to be empty. A door on the east wall is flanked by two small windows seven feet from the floor.
Gurv
heads over to the windows and peers out, leaving someone else to check out the
chest.
"How long you have you
people been exploring this place?" he asks no one in particular.
Shayesti
will help search the bed before moving on to checking the chest for traps.
"Perhaps the stuck door
requires some magic to open it? I'm not skilled or knowledgable about such
things of course, but others might know more than I."
Hidden among the bedclothes, Shayesti finds a large sack containing 50 gold pieces and 300 silver pieces. Who would like to carry it?
The chest is not trapped nor even locked. It is, in fact, empty.
A further search of the room yields nothing.
Pommeraie
replies to Gurv, “Uh, forever? No, really, just a few days. We're mostly done
with the ground level, but I am sure that there is a lower level and the towers
to go.”
"For
now why don't we put it in the chest and finish searching the remaining areas
off this courtyard. Once we clear the area, we can move our camp here, and not
have to worry about lugging this stuff around. These rooms look like they would
be a secure place to store our goods while we explore, and the courtyard is by
far big enough to make a decent camp."
Anastasia looks around the
courtyard and nods ever so slightly "Aye this will do, defensible, yet has
a means of retreat should we need it, and has rooms which can be guarded easily
enough. All we need is a water supply and we could defend this place for
months."
A light rain has started again and can be felt in the courtyard. The chest appears to have seen worse. Moving along…
29. Bedroom
This trash-filled room contains an empty bed with all its slats removed.
The room appears to be otherwise empty. A door on the east wall is flanked by two small windows about seven feet from the floor. A search yields nothing.
30. Bedroom
This trash-filled room contains an empty bed. There are scorch marks on the
wall. The room appears to be otherwise empty. A door on the east wall is flanked by two small windows about seven feet from the floor. A search yields nothing.
The other door off the courtyard goes into room 4 (you’ve already searched that one.). That just leaves the unsearched snake room and the stuck door.
"Why
don't we move our camp, to one of these rooms, and then go check out the snake
room. I'd rather we have a base closer to fall back too in case we need to do
some immediate triage if someone gets bit by that viper."
Anastasia begins moving some
of the debris and the empty bed across the courtyard to the scorched room, she
continues until the room is clean enough to make a suitable camp, and moves on
to the next room, and brings the trash and debris again to the scorched room.
"Do we have any pots or
buckets? Catching some of this rain would take care of our water problem. What
about that room that looked like a kitchen any pots in there?"
"I'll
have a look." *Keelo moves to the kitchen and looks around for some
buckets or jars or anything clean that'll hold water*
The best you are able to find are some of the larger broken pieces of crockery. Not perfect, but serviceable.
Pommeraie
figures its a good time to put his ranger skills to
practice and helps others make beds and tries to make the camp a little more
defensible (noise traps and obstacles by the entrances).
You all take a little time and have made the camp as safe and defensible as you think possible under these conditions.
Gurv
does his best to help out, lifting beds and the like. He makes small talk with
his new party, trying to figure out what's happened up to this point.
Pommeraei
chats with Gurv while working, filling in the blanks on the
delve thus far.
Assuming you are moving onto the snakebit goblin room:
Pantry
The west wall of this room has a ledge about seven feet from the floor, with two small windows above the ledge. Cabinets and shelves line the walls. In the middle of the floor lies the body of a goblin with a horribly swollen arm. Trash and old sacks lie scattered about the floor.
I hate
snakes...Pommeraie looks up first to make sure the snake is not clinging to the
ceiling and then along the walls.
Once satisfied that a monster
snake is not going to drop on his head, the ranger moves through the room,
moving debris with the tip of his sword, ready to either jump back or strike if
he finds a snake-surprise...
There’s nothing on the ceiling or walls. As Pommeraie moves a sack against one wall, there is a hissing noise and a 3’ long grayish-white snake slithers out. It spits at Pommeraie, but the venom misses. Nahawen, Keelo, Anastasia, Ambrose, Pommeraie, Shayesti, Sevaliar and then Gurv are up.
Nahawen
jumps back a bit, taken by surprise. Passing her staff into one hand, she
whispers an incantation and sends a magic missile flying at the big snake.
The missile of energy strikes the snake for 3 points of damage, a minor wound.
Anastasia
steps forward and attacks the snake with her sword.
Anastasia stumbles (critical miss) and is stunned.
*Keelo
looks a little unnerved upon seeing the snake. He quickly steels his resolve
and advances the snake, taking a guarded thrust*
Keelo’s thrust misses (rolled a 2).
(Auto-posted). Pommeraie moves into the room and attacks the snake (19 rolled) for 9 pts. Of damage.
(Auto-posted). Shayesti moves into the room and attacks the snake (13 rolled) but misses.
(Auto-posted). Gurv moves into the room and attacks the snake (13 rolled) but misses.
Keelo, Shayesti, Pommeraie and then Gurv are up.
*Keelo
makes another attempt to strike the snake*
Keelo’s attack misses (4 rolled)
Sevaliar
recoils and somehow manages to speak the incantation as precisely as always,
hurling a bolt of force at the serpent and retreating a bit.
Sevaliar’s magic missile does 2 points of damage, nearly killing the creature.
Gurv
waits for the snake to recoil to strike, then brings
his sword down on it hard.
Gurv’s blade slices into the snake (13 rolled) for 4 points of damage, killing the creature. Anastasia recovers in a about a minute.
"Well
that was graceful of me. Oh well even the greatest fighter is bound to have an
off day, and I am by no means the greatest, so I guess there is no shame in a
mistake or two."
Anastasia looks down at the
dead snake and looks around to make sure no one has been hurt. "Good work,
dead snake and no injuries."
"The only question now is
how do we open that sealed door? And better yet where is the entrance to the
lower level of this place?" These questions seem to be asked more of
herself then of anyone else in the room.
A thorough search of the room yields nothing. Where to now?
Gurv
checks the edge of his sword, wiping off any blood it has accumulated.
"I know I just got here,
but have you guys been everywhere yet? I mean, gone through every door you can
open?"
"So
far as I know, we have. I was wondering if the mage types maybe knew something
of magically sealed doors. Or maybe our good employer has a key of sorts."
*After a final thrust to the already dead snake, Keelo sheathes his blade and
looks at the mage types*
Pommeraie
looks at the deadsnake and his intact party-mates, Well,
that went well...for once.
Having not made a map of the
earlier explorations, Pommeraie listens, pretty sure that they have been
through everything on the first level...
Shayesti
breaks her silence also, "Keelo is right, we will need magic or possibly
some key I suppose. We know that there is a lower
level to this place, but have not found a way down to it yet correct? It is
regrettable that we used our questions for the statue prior to knowing we had
such a mystery. Such is life though."
As you discuss the situation you realize there is one way you haven’t tried to open the door – brute force.
Not
paying complete attention to who said it, Pommeraei mutters to himself that, actually, he had tried it. But the experience
left his shoulder still a bit sore. Thinking that there might be a better way,
Pommeraei thinks about a battering ram, or if there were enough ropes a pulley
type system. He looks around for raw materials...
There are no such materials that have been seen. There were some benches in the room from which the cleric was ousted, one of those might serve as a battering ram.
Gurv
starts looking around the explored sections that he did not participate in.
"You guys kill anything
with weapons. We could just hack at the door until it falls apart, right? Sure,
it will blunt whatever we use, but if it's some dead guy's cruddy axe or sword,
no big deal."
I am
certainly not the brawn of this group. However I am willing to put my back into
it. Lets go. *Keelo moves to get one of the benches*
Anastasia volunteers to grab the bench and try battering the door down. The bench shatters under the continued assault. It would seem this is no ordinary door. Given your current level of skills, you believe you have fulfilled your contract with Clifton Caldwell to the best of your abilities. Perhaps it would be best to simply report the final stumbling block in the completion of your task to him.
"Well,
we seem to have done all we can. Might as well make our way
back to the boss type. It's a shame we couldn't get in though, I bet
there are some co-ins and je-wels down there! Shall we?" *Keelo motions
towards the door*
Gurv
nods.
"Feels like I just got to
the tavern to just miss last call. Sorry I wasn't here to help earlier. I'm
especially sorry because that seems like when all the treasure got found."
With a sigh, Gurv checks the
wound from the wolf's bite.
"At least I got something
to remember this little expedition."
You return to your camp, pack it up and travel back to Threshold and Clifton Caldwell. Upon hearing your report, the merchant asks that you stay in town for a day or so, so that he may verify your findings. He requests the name of the inn at which you are staying and informs you he will send for you when he is ready.
While waiting, you at least can divvy up the spoils you found on this last excursion. Each of you gets 6 gold pieces and 62 silver pieces, with 2 gold and 4 silver left over for a group fund.
That very evening, you receive word that Clifton Caldwell seeks an audience. He pays each of you the balance of your promised fee, 50 gold pieces. He also asks you to perform another service for him, on the morrow.
