Awaiting a response from Thaddeus or a distress call from Jacques, Agathon will pull out one of the snacks that he just bought and will hold in place, keep looking about slowly, and keep at least half an eye on the little guy while he slowly munches on the sweet meats.
This is awful, I can't hear anything. I wonder if I'm going deaf? Perhaps I should buy an ear horn. Trying to remain unobtrusive, I'll follow the large half orc if he goes anywhere, but keeping an eye on my companions to make sure I don't lose them.
knowlege (local history) (1d20+3=21)
Through the message spell
I'm pretty sure that big half-orc is Gorgathor. I think we need to link up with Jacques and find out if he heard anything. Then we will be able to decide whether to retire for the night or continue following these spies...or their master.
Jacques hears Gorgathor mention something to the halfling and the fat woman about Dunstan's "land grants could set you up and get ME back into that city" as he jerks his thumb back at the walls of Knurl. Jacques clearly hears "go to the meeting tomorrow."
With that the woman and halfling scurry off to two nearby tents, sitting outside lighting a pipe and pulling out a wineskin.
You three hear the gates about to close and head back inside Knurl.
Gentlemen, let's get back inside the gate before it closes. I have no overnight equipment with me and have no intention of staying out here tonight. We have an early morning meeting tomorrow that we should be sharp for.
I suggest we return to the Gnoll's Head and exchange what all we've learned tonight, so that we may sleep on the information and perhaps come up with some ideas prior to our meeting with Sir Gendar.
Agreed, best we return to the GnollsHead. I didn't hear enough, but I am formulating a theory that Gorgathor is merely a mercenary, seeking to get back into the good graces of this city. Our first impressions of the halfling and his rotund escort could have been mistaken, first impressions are often wrong. If I'm right about Gorgathor, it makes me even more curious about the elven woman.
Hmmm. Sounds good to me. I too am poorly provisioned for camping and would much prefer the cheap straw bed that awaits me to the ground! Perhaps we can spend a little time by way of fully introducing ourselves as well... It is important to know who you are working with...
You gather at the Count's castle in the morning, readying for Sir Gendar and Count Dunstan's arrival. The hall is nearly empty. Guards mention that the infamous Slasher orc tribe was spotted to the North by fleeing farmers yesterday. Refugees are streaming into town from Knurl's few outlying regions remaining.
The fat woman and the tattooed halfling are in the hall. They see Agathon, Jacques and Thaddeus and come over to introduce themselves. The woman's name is "Erin" and the halfling calls himself "Bramble Burlyfoot" which seems a ridiculous name for someone so muscled up, scarred and full of war paint looking tattoos. They mention that they saw you at the Gnoll's Head last night and comment on how few of the drunks from last night actually showed up this morning.
"Not much stock is being put into the Count's promise of land grants," Bramble mentions.
Thaddeus' Knowledge Local:
Thaddeus suspects that Count Dunstan is going to request adventurer's help to clear out the Blemu Hills, for rumors of undead and arcane creatures in league with the humanoid chieftains infiltrating the hills to pin down the defenders have increased in recent months.
“Good morning to you both. I am called Agathon. I saw you as well last night. Yes, it did seem that many were there more for the ale than the message of the meeting.”
Looking about at the scant response to the Knight’s summons for recruits, Agathon will say, “It does appear that Sir Gendar has a general lack of local interest here this morning… I wonder why..."
“So, are you here to aid the Count in his cause?” To Mr. Burleyfoot, Agathon will say, “You appear to be capable with a blade… And you, Madame, if you will forgive me for asking for I am from other lands and not familiar with local custom in such matters, in what way do you intend to serve yonder Knight?”
Having spent the previous evening adventuring with both Agathon and Thaddeus, as well as probably the evening meal and conversation late into the evening, Jaques feels confident they are indeed here to help with the campaign he came to join. He knows that he is not much of a smooth talker, and his austere expressions can put people off , so he will just let the other do the talking, and stay alert. He knows he is the one who's weapons are always "at hand".
"My name is Thaddeus. I am sure that many of the patrons last night were looking for a more portable form of payment for their services rather than land grants. The Count makes good on his obligations, have no fear of that - but if we do not win the coming conflict, there will be no land grants for anyone."
Sir Gendar and Count Dunstan walk into the hall, accompanied by six body guards. Their faces look grim and they look like they've been awake all night.
Count Dunstan wastes no time.
"Thank you for coming. We've called on independent mercenaries and adventurers to listen to an offer from me that I've dreaded making, but hard times are here for Knurl.
Our troops are all tied up keeping the enemy from laying siege to Knurl and cutting off our last supply routes of food from Nyrond. Unfortunately we're running out of gold because our gold and silver mines in the Blemu Hills can't consistently get their ore out to us.
The enemy or someone working with the enemy has put small raider teams of well-trained humanoids, undead and even some were rat bands into the hills to root out our mines and forts and systematically destroy them. I can't spare the troops to go after these threats, so I'm offering up the only thing I have left to get help. Land.
If you help us clear these hills so that our mines can go back into full production I shall award each of you land grants and titles in the Bone March once ultimate victory has been achieved. Anything of value you find among the humanoids is yours to keep, since I can't pay you in gold for at least a couple of years, it looks like. If you find any Bone March nobility heirlooms, I will pay you for those, however.
I'm asking a lot for very little initial return. That's why so few of you are here today. Your ultimate pay off depends on our ultimate victory, which is in doubt. I can supply normal equipment and non-magical supplies to include rations, rope, tack and saddle (but no horses). You can stay at the Castle barracks for free if that's an issue and you're able to comply with our behavior code.
If you stick with us till the end, you and your families can achieve what many find the ultimate goal--nobility status and land ownership. We'll use magical verification to ensure your claims of kills and deeds are accurate and the grants you receive will be commensurate with your accomplishments. If all you do is go out and kill a few orcs and zombies now and then, the least land grant you'll receive is a small farm and no title. If you consistently venture forth to slay our enemies and work diligently to clear mines, forts and chase down the humanoid bands, you'll receive a small land grant of at least 25 square miles and the baronet title. Once the Bone March is cleared, the lands will increase in value greatly and you should be able to sell the land for a good deal of cash if you choose to do so, but that won't happen for at least a few years even if our most optimistic projections come through.
If we get the mines opened up again, I can buy food for the people stuck in Knurl and hire some of the roving bands of now leaderless Aerdi mercenary troops to help recapture the Bone March once and for all.
Register with Gendar here as an individual or group if you choose to take part in my offer. Thank you."
"As I said last night, Sir... My sword is yours... May it prove worthy of your cause."
"I am with those two gentlemen."
Spot check while others sign up... (1d20+2=4)
Sense Motive roll While people sign up... (1d20=11)
Agathon certainly seems eager to sign up! I do believe he'd have pushed me out of the way in order to be the first to volunteer. Listening to him last night it seems that he's quite impressed with Sir Gendar.
I don't see Edgar or Kendra anywhere. I'm disappointed and I know Cephali will be too. I hope they're just staying on to train with her for a little longer. If they decide not to sign up, then not only will a year of Cephali's training have been wasted on them both, but that training could have been focused on me instead, thus fashioning me into a better weapon with which to defend Knurl.
I have to admit that the prospect of becoming a titled and landed noble is an exciting one! I hadn't thought very far beyond the mere survival of Knurl. Could I become a noble? Could we beat back the humanoid flood enough to restablish the monarchy of the Bone March?
"I'm sorry that the other two aren't here. I know that Cephali will be disappointed. I offer what arcane skills I have for the defense of our home. I'd like to serve with Agathon and Jacques; we seem to have a good rapport with one another."
Trying for the silent and enigmatic look to cover his lack of people skills, Jaques nods toward the noblemen and stands close enough to Agathon and Thaddeus to indicate "he's with them".
Erin and Bramble also stand up and state that on behalf of "Gorgathor's Raiders" they will take the Count's deal.
Sir Gendar laughs "Gorgathor, eh?...well, it seems he's finally using the small muscle between his ears instead of Kord's brawn. What a way to try to get back into the town walls. What do you say, Sir Dunstan?"
Dunstan: "Gorgathor was banished from Knurl for his constant brawling and that unfortunate incident with Guard Captain Hamrick's niece, but it has been a couple of years now and if he is willing to help us fight the evil now before us, his banishment is lifted temporarily until he has accomplished enough to lift it permanently."
Sir Gendar acknowledges Thaddeus, Agathon and Jaques. "They are young, but we know young Thaddeus and in their youth might lie our hope. I welcome you all."
Gendar and Dunstan shake everyone's hands. There are a few other small troupes of mercenary types who fill out forms with the Count's clerks, as do all of you.
Gendar will provide maps of the hills and tell you that you can report to the castle quartermaster for provisions and supplies in the morning.
"Sorry, fellas. One of you will have to cook should we decide to hunt for any of our food. In my experience, it is better to down it raw than allow me to attempt to burn it over a flame..." He states with an apologetic half smile.
CY 577 9th day of Flocktime
The abandoned coal mine is on the map about 4 miles north of Knurl. You follow the Blemu Pass road north out of town. The stream of refugees has turned into a trickle. Most of the hillfolk have sought refuge in town or moved west into Nyrond. When you left Knurl there was quite a bit of river boat traffic as some folks seek refuge in the Adri Forest to the south.
After about 3 hours of easy travel, you stop for lunch and spot the overgrown path that leads off the Pass road to the abandoned coal mine. Moving cautiously with the tactical protocol you worked out last night over mutton stew, you move up into the rugged hills, making slow progress. You spot some small humanoid tracks but can't really make out what they belong to or where they lead, since none of you ever learned to track.
It's still early afternoon when you arrive at the edge of a bowl shaped depression with abandoned and rusting mine equipment in it. A mineshaft leads off into the hillside on the east side of the bowl.
Jacques spots a small humanoid creature, dressed in hide armor and armed with a morningstar and a light crossbow, sitting inside an old mine cart, looking around with bored disinterest. You spot no other guards at this time. The creature apparently has not spotted you. You are about 200' away and 80' above the creature, at the edge of the bowl shaped depression. There is a path that descends into the bowl, but you can probably slide down anywhere into the bowl without too much trouble.
This is likely a sentry. We need to take him out quickly, and silently. Let me try to creep up on him and do this with a quick blow to the throat. If you agree, stand ready with missile weapons to kill him quickly should I fail.
Agathon will silently nod his agreement and will slowly and carefully pull out his long bow and position his quiver so that he can easily get at his arrows.
Agathon thinks to himself… “I certainly hope that Jacques can get down there okay and do this quietly… I do not know if I can get a clean quiet kill at this distance… Oh great Light… Grant me a steady hand…”
Two arrow shots at 200 foot range (-2 range mod included in roll) (1d20+1=4, 1d8=3, 1d20+1=2, 1d8=1)
Thaddeus will also nod his agreement, move to a place of concealment, and take a bead on the sentry with his light crossbow. If the sentry tries to run or raise an alarm or anything, I'll drill him.
Jacques creeps down into the bowl, apparently undetected. As he approaches the creature stealthily, he dislodges a rock, making a small noise. He freezes and notices no reaction from the creature, now only about 50' away. He looks around again and notices the creature is a mannequin dressed up as a goblinoid type creature. Its head is moving around in a predictable pattern.
Neither Thaddeus nor Agathon notice this, as they are still at the top of the bowl.
Jacques is amazing! He's doing a great job of sneaking up on that sentry, who is taking no notice of him. Humanoid pretzel any minute here.
I look back, see my companions haven't noticed, and momentarily struggle with the impulse to leap on the mannequin and make a great show of triumphantly beating it senseless. After overcoming this self-admittedly juvenile instinct, I carefully look to see if the thing is under observation from another point, or trapped.
Agathon thinks to himself... "This Jacques fella is really quiet. He got all the way down there without being heard or seen by that guy!"
Taking a quick side glance at Thaddeus and noticing his own approving look, Agathon will go back to covering the bad guy and await action or signal from Jacques.
Jacques notices the top of a spearhead sticking out between a crevasse and some abandoned mining carts. He hears some suppressed rapid fire speech, like someone is arguing with someone else while trying not to be heard. You don't know what language is being spoken. The spearhead moved out of sight before the conversation is over.
I note the movement, and consider whether to attempt communication with my comrades by pointing out the location to them. I discard that idea, and assume I am under observation myself. In case I am not, I attempt to return to my teammates hidden and silently, where I will convey to them what I have seen. Mental note to work out hand signals with these guys.
What the...? Something must be wrong. That's the only reason I can think of that he'd turn around and come back. He's not making a big effort to be stealthy either. I should have cast a message spell on him before he went. I'll have to remember to do that next time.
Agathon thinking to himself… “Uh, why did Jacques just stop? He’s pretty close now… Hmmmm. What!? The route looks clear toward the guy… Wait a minute… He is looking back up here… Why did he turn around and start coming back? He didn’t signal for us to shoot…”
Agathon gets nervous a bit and starts looking around the ‘bowl’ (with emphasis to the area immediately around the mine entrance) to try to see what is up.
Spot Roll for Agathon looking about the bowl... (1d20+2=16)
Jacques trips and falls backwards trying to move out of the bowl. He lands on his ass, making a huge dustup and noise. Two goblinoid looking small humanoids in leather armor and wielding spears pop up about 60 feet from him. One of them whips out an atlatl to sling a javelin at Jacques.
After the shots you all need to roll initiative.
"Get the guy with the spear thrower!", Thaddeus says, squeezing the trigger and loosing a bolt.
The result...
And my initiative roll...
As Thaddeus shouts, Agathon fires his bow at the foe with the spear thrower (the atlatl).
Launching attack at my attacker with a shuriken throw, since that is what's at hand. I assume it would take me a round to get my sling out, whereas shuriken are kept in whip-throw position by nature.
The crossbow shot nicks the first goblinoid, who yelps in suprise but remains standing.
Agathon's first bow shot is a perfect chest shot, dropping the small humanoid with a satisfying meaty thud.
The wounded goblin yelps in surprise and bolts for the mine entrance about 100 feet away. Due to rough terrain (scrambling over mine equipment and loose rocks) he doesn't quite make it there.
Agathon and Thaddeus--the goblinoid thing (you're pretty sure it's a goblin from the tales you've heard describing them) is now 250' away from your position.
Jacques goes before Agathon and Thaddeus goes. Jacques estimates he can catch the goblin since his route to the mine entrance is not quite so blocked by equipment and loose dirt, but then he'll be very close to the entrance of the mine....
Jaques briefly considers running after the goblin, but when he realizes he would then be engaged in melee, at the mouth of the mine, and subject to being pulled into the mine if he were to be knocked out, he decides a nice hurled shuriken would be the better part of valor.1d20 3=23, 1d20=4, 1d3 1=2
As Jacques hurls something at the Goblin guy while it is running toward the mine, Agathon will loose two arrows at it as well.
Second Shot at Goblin (with Critical Roll) (1d20-1, 1d20-1, 1d8, 1d8=[2, -1], [5, -1], [5], [1])
One getting away, better kill him before he can alert the others...cocking lever...bolt...this thing is s!#@ for rate of fire...some extra lead...more elevation...squeeze...
light crossbow shot at 260', +2 skill, -6 range. (1d20-4=14, 1d6=1)
Jacques realizes that the goblin is too far away for his shuriken, which has a 10' range increment and thus a maximum range of 50' for thrown weapons, so he doesn't throw. Jacques looks around and notices that the mannequin has a wire leading from it to the position where the real goblins were hiding.
Agathon's first shot nails the goblin as he is about to scramble into the old mineshaft. Pinned in the lower back, the goblin drops motionless in mid-scramble.
Thaddeus crossbow bolt shatters right next to the goblin's head, close but no hit.
No targets in sight. No noise or sound of alarm comes from the mine shaft.
"Outstanding shooting! Listen, that sentry in the cart must be a decoy - see how it isn't moving and didn't do anything during the battle? Jacques has lost all interest in it. I'll go down into the bowl first since you're clearly the better marksman. Watch for my signal."
With a clap on Agathon's shoulder, I'll pick my way down into the bowl, leading my pack mule. I'll tie the mule off on the other side of the central rock pile from Jacques - out of sight of the mine entrance - and make my way to Jacques' position. Once I get there, I'll reload my crossbow, make sure I can cover the mine entrance, and wave Agathon down. Once we're reunited we can share observations and decide what to do next.
Agathon will tell Thaddeus, "Thanks!" As he reloads his bow in case other foes should emerge, he will nod to Thaddeus and will 'cover' him as he makes his way down to Jacques. Upon Thaddeus' signal, Agathon will himself come down to their position and will end up between them by the rocks.
I note the wire and look to see where it leads, informing Thaddeus when he arrives. If the wire leads to a location that it out of shuriken range, I'll prep and load my sling, holding place with Thaddeus.
Taking up positions in the bowl, Thaddeus and Agathon watch Jacques disappear into the mine shaft.
Here's a map
The piles are coal, there's a torn up minecart track going deeper into the mine shafts. Old equipment and mine carts are scattered about.
Jacques appears not to cause any attention to himself, but he doesn't enter the room. He hears movement and scratching sounds from among the mine carts and equipment, but can't tell what is making the sound.
I will stay alert, crossbow loaded and ready. I'll find a place of concealment near the mine entrance (message has a limited range, after all), watch for returning patrols or hunting parties, and listen for anything from Jacques.
Agathon will take up a position opposite Thaddeus and will put his bow away and pull his sword. He will get into a comfortable position and await word from Jacques that things are either clear to enter peacefully or if I need to come running for combat. Agathon will smile at Thaddeus (revealing his youthful excitement at being a part of this adventure)
Assuming I'm coming from the left side of the map, I attempt to move hidden and silently to the first (and larger) rubble pile, using it for cover. If that is clear, I would then move to the second (smaller) pile of coal/rubble using it as cover. From that vantage point I would attempt to further ascertain whats going on down by the carts. I respond describing situation to any message from Thad via "message".
Jacques moves silently into the room, shuriken at the ready. Between two equipment carts, he spots a trio of goblins with spears. Two of them are busy working on some sort of large wine jug. One of them is smearing it with what smells like pitch and the other one is busy trying to get a spark going with a tinderbox.
The third one spots Jacques, but Jacques gets a surprise action, since he moved in silently . Jacques yells out a quick alert to Thaddeus and Agathon and throws his shuriken, wounding the goblin who spotted him in the arm.
I've marked the goblin's location and everyone else's location on the map.