sunshadow21 |
Eager to get started on their journey, our heroes gather together the next morning to collect a number of last minute supplies and get to know each other a bit more. Around noon, they find themselves in a cafe just outside the ATA compound. After a brief lunch, they walk through the plaza on their way to the main office building where they have been instructed to meet with the ATA officials briefly. The plaza is filled with wagons, tack, carts, crates, ropes, tarps, and various other equipment being cleaned, repaired, and inventoried by dozens of small teams of workers. In the meeting room, they find a single official talking with a cleric wearing the robes of Tula. After quickly wrapping up whatever conversation they were having, the elven official gets right down to business. "Pardon the lack of small talk, but today is a day for action, not words, so I will get right to the point. You have been selected to see if you can find a way to strengthen our trade network beyond the southern shores of Tora. We have had some contact with a number of places to the north, but they have been sporadic and rare, and there is much wilderness in between the scattered remnants of civilization that yet remain up there. If you wish, you may take a mule and small wagon from the stables. We also will provide each of you with a healing kit to help you recover from the unavoidable dangers of the road. Do you have any final questions before you depart?"
The Voice of Wisdom |
"I'm afraid most of our regular contacts are concentrated in the Confederacy or the Midrealms, so you would be on your own to find contacts. If, after you reach a certain point, you find it simpler to find your own path and means of making a living rather than trying to rely on the ATA, don't be hesitant to do so; all we ask is that when you do have an opportunity to enhance the flow of goods between those regions and the southern coast, please do so, and encourage them to look us up when they get here. Beyond that, our only request is that you don't embarrass us. We have friends in surprising places, and we will find out."
The Voice of Wisdom |
"Mr. Athis, local project coordinator. Without knowing exactly where you will end up, it's hard to give specific help. Every time we've planned for someone to end up an a specific place when going that direction, they end up being pulled in a different direction. If you make it to the Three River's region, the Iron Valley, or the Remnant Hills, you could certainly ask around, and probably find someone who can lead you in the right direction, but there is a lot of empty space in between here and any of those places, and while we have made some inroads in that part of the continent, we still have a long ways to go before we can say we have the whole of it covered even halfway. The Great Wastes remain too unsetttled for us to make any progress, and the Feywood is full of creatures and things who are just plain nuts."
Garrett Snow |
"Mr. Athis," Garrett repeats with vigor. "A man should never go into business without proper introductions between associates. I am Garrett Snow. With me is Evrail of the Midrealms, Talalthel Allastarra and the hulking fellow here is Einar Hakon." He looks over the group as he introduces them as if it were an exercise for himself to remember their names.
"So Mr. Athis, if I'm to put this simply you would like us to head south until we come across any person or persons who may be of great or moderate use to the ATA and direct them back to this or any existing company location. I have just one more question before we hitch the mule to the wagon and head out, how do you plan to reward us for our troubles?"
The Voice of Wisdom |
"North, Mr. Snow, not south, but otherwise, yes, you have the idea." Mr. Athis clearly has done this kind of thing many times, not breaking his professional tone despite the aasimar's naive tone. "If you like the sea, the Three Rivers region is the place for you. Place has enough rivers to keep any sailor happy, not to mention the pirate infested coast. If you feel like taking on the Feywood, be my guest, there are a few dwarven clans that still cling to the mountain edge, and might be a source for trade. As for reward, just as our assistance will be limited, so will our demands on whatever you manage to acquire along your travels, and a strong lot such as yourself should have little trouble finding sufficient resources to maintain yourself properly."
Evrail |
Evrail looks at Einar "There are many creatures I have hunted and tracked. My father and all the hunters of his clan taught me everything they know of the forest. My mother who was a trapper also taught me all of what she knows of capturing beasts as well as which to keep away from."
The Voice of Wisdom |
Did you guys want to take the mule and wagon, or not?
You gather your things together, and head out the next morning. The weather is great spring weather, warm but not too hot, and a gentle breeze. The road going north makes for easy travel, and there are enough farms that you don't have to camp outside yet. As evening of the second day approaches, start looking for a farm to stay at for the night, and find what looks like a cozy and reasonably prosperous one just off the road. As you turn off the main road to the lane leading to the farm house, you can see the farmer and several of his sons preparing the fields. They hear you coming, look up, and start to come over to see what business you have with them when suddenly a hole opens up beneath one of them, causing to disappear from view. The others all freeze in horror as the farmer shouts "Ankheg."
The Voice of Wisdom |
Evrail 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Garrett 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (18) + 0 = 18
Ankheg 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (18) + 0 = 18
Farmers 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12
The hedge is about 4 feet tall, and the hole is deep enough, you can't see down inside from where you are.
Combat Order (bold still to go)
Einar, Garrett, Ankheg (in posting order)
Evrail, Farmers
If you could indicate the round # in your post, it would be helpful for tracking purposes.
Garrett Snow |
HP: 12/12
AC: 16 Touch: 10 FF 16
CMD: 14
Saves: 3/0/4
Resist: acid 5, cold 5, electricity 5
Speed: 20ft
Equipped: Bastard Sword
Abilities: Smite Evil [1/day], Daylight (DC) [1/day]
Conditions: none
+4/+4 Base Total: +4/+4
Garrett rushes towards the hole he pulls his sword from the scabbard on his back and rushes foolishly to overlook the disturbed earth. "We'll do everything we can to get Ankheg out of there before any harm is done to him!" he assures the farmers as he searches for any signs of the boy's whereabouts.
Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
Double Move to G7, Free: unsheathe sword during movement.
Balmoren |
You hear the sound of whistling and see a tall thin Elf with long white hair and an odd patchwork outfit sauntering slowly up the road towards the farm. A small reptile scampers eagerly at his heels. His hair seems to blow in time to his whistling, though there is no wind. As he sights the group of armed figures in the field he calls out in a loud cheery tone, "Hello there! Need some help?" and quickens his pace forward.
Balmoren approaches from the direction of B1,2 (unless TVoW says otherwise). The hyperlinked picture is accurate, except that his hair should be much longer and thicker.
The Voice of Wisdom |
Round 1
You all hear a bellowing as the fragments of a what you think may once have been a farming implement come flying straight up out of the hole, and a young man somehow manages to emerge from the hole as his father instructs him to go warn the hamlet. The remaining farmers move to form a perimeter around the hole, spreading out and forcing the creature to surface so he can see his targets, wielding their hoes and diggers like polearms. You also see an elf and a small animal running the road behind you. Your mule, while nervous, seems to be trained well enough he isn't going to run away unless directly attacked.
Combat Order Round 1(bold still to go)
Einar, Garrett, Ankheg (in posting order)
Evrail, Farmers
Balmoren Initiative 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Combat Order Round 2(bold still to go)
Einar, Garrett, Ankheg (in posting order)
Balmoren, Evrail, Farmers (in posting order)
Evrail is up. Einar and Garrett can post as well, as they go before any of the NPCs.
Garrett Snow |
HP: 12/12
AC: 16 Touch: 10 FF 16
CMD: 14
Saves: 3/0/4
Resist: acid 5, cold 5, electricity 5
Speed: 20ft
Equipped: Bastard Sword
Abilities: Smite Evil [1/day], Daylight (DC) [1/day]
Conditions: none
+4/+4 Base Total: +4/+4
Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21
Unsure of exactly what is happening Garrett continues to close in on the patch of earth where the young boy, 'Ankheg,' has just inexplicably emerged. Following the lead of the other farmers who seem to have done this sort of thing before, the novice warrior clasps his sword in both hands and prepares to make an attack on the next non-humanoid to poke his head from the hole.
Move: H11. Standard: Readied attack against the Ankheg if it is within range.
Readied Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Damage: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Einar Hakon |
Round 2
Awaiting for a monster to come from the ground, and starting to get anxious to beat it down to a pulp. A big grin shows in Einar's face.
Move to F12, ready attack against Ankheg if within range
Attack 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21 (Using Power Attack)
Damage 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 (Using Power Attack)
The Voice of Wisdom |
As the party and farmers position themselves in a ring around the hole, the ankheg surfaces, and goes for the largest clump. Already mad, Einar's and Garrett's weapons do little to improve his mood, and he snaps back at Einar, but the ascent and the shock of the weapons digging into his flesh is too much for him to properly orient himself to his target. The farmers also tried to strike, but missed. They continue to harass the beast in an attempt to keep him distracted enough that he can't hit back, and do so with a fair amount of success.
Einar, Garrett, Ankheg (in posting order)
Balmoren, Evrail, Farmers
Balmoren Initiative 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Combat Order Round 3(bold still to go)
Einar, Garrett, Ankheg (in posting order)
Balmoren, Evrail, Farmers (in posting order)
Balmoren
Einar (+2 AC to next attack taken)
Evrail
Garrett (+2 AC to next attack taken)
Ankheg - 21 damage (severely hurt)
Farmer 1
Farmer 2
Farmer 3
Balmoren |
Seeing the Ankheg emerge from the ground, Balmoren understands what all the fuss is about.
These round ears are more likely to help me if I help them first. Ooh lookie, a half-blood! Neat! Aloud he says to Evrail, I can do that. WAKA WAKA WAKA WAKAAAAA!!!"
He draws his bow and takes a shot at the beast.
Assuming the hedges are low enough to shoot over: Move action, draw bow. Standard action, shoot bow into melee (-4 penalty)
Attack:1d20 ⇒ 13 (Includes -4)
Damage:1d8 ⇒ 5
If I can't see over the hedges, draw bow and move to G2.
The Voice of Wisdom |
The arrow is enough to stop the ankheg as it gives one final scream before collapsing into a dead heap. The younger men continue to watch the body and hole as the father turns to you all of you. "The Fates were with us today to have you come by when you did. I am Cicero, and while we have received training on how to survive such an attack, as the actions of Brutus shows, none of us can claim to be as efficient as you have proven to be."
The Voice of Wisdom |
Cicero chuckles quietly, "That is well and good for you, but I am a simple farmer trying to take care of my family. Dying doesn't really help much in that. I'm just glad it wasn't able to do any more damage than it did. I thought we had gotten all the hatchlings and eggs for this year, but apparently not. If you want a drink, our village is down the road, and has a nice little pub. Just tell Mo, the bartender, that Cicero referred you, and you'll get taken care of fine. If you're lucky, you might even get served by his lovely daughter. A fine one, that lass is; if I was a decade younger and still single, but I digress, we have a carcass to take care of, so me and the boys had better get to it." He pulls out a hunting knife, and starts to examine the dead body, slowly and carefully removing the fragments of the outer shell from the rest of the body.
Balmoren |
Balmoren and Compy wander over to the corpse and listen to the back and forth. Compy begins to gnaw on one of the insect's legs.
"Well met Cicero, my name is Balmoren." He says, as he bows with a flourish that includes the rest of the party."Allow me to help you with that." Balmoren leaps up onto the Ankheg's back and begins to pry back chitin with his hair.
Acrobatics 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
Wonder if this is a female?
Knowledge (Nature) 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Garrett Snow |
"If you were to ask me, Cicero, I would tell you that your training was shining in your stance and resolve. I have known many men who would have lost bodily control when seeing a friend or family member harvested from underfoot such as yours. If the fates were with you in any possible way I would say it was not through our arrival but in the great fortune that the boy was spared any noticeably sever damages. If you wouldn't mind, I would like to closer inspect his wounds."
The Voice of Wisdom |
After a bit of time spent cleaning up the ankheg corpse, half a dozen armed militiamen appear from the direction of the hamlet in a wagon. The leader, a big, burly man orders three of the men to investigate the hole while the others load the ankheg into the wagon to take back to the hamlet. The wagon with the ankheg and the party's wagon head to the hamlet as the leader, a blacksmith by trade, goes to help Zhiyo and his band with their problem wagon. Eventually, several hours later, those in the tavern at the hamlet hear the traveling troupe arrive in the hamlet square.
Everyone else is that Mo's tavern, and can rp with the villagers a bit if you wish. I will move forward once Balmoren is comfortably settled into the tavern.