Campaign: Without Their Rangers (2nd Group Gameplay) (Inactive)
Game Master Connor McGinnis

Lead on,then

Nimt will use Acid Splash from behind the other party memebers to help clear the path.

You go a good distance down the path when the burly man with a handaxe (the one from the inn), steps out of the bushes.
"Stop!", he calls to you.

Nimt stops to talk with the man
Hello there! What business do you have with us ?

Perception 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20 to see if the man is alone.
Sense Motive 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 to sense the man's intentions.

I also scan the area.
perception:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Touchstone loads his sling and pulls his dagger, awaiting the man's response. Ready action to attack with sling if the man shows himself to be an enemy.

The man's cloths are dirty and grass stained, as is his hatchet (obviously used to clear a way through the forest). He looks a lot like Touchstone's profile picture.
He seems to be telling the truth and he seems to be alone.
"These woods are perilous!", the man says, "Albatros Finch has sent you on a wild goose chase! I have been after him for a while, yet each time I found him, he has eluded my grasp."

"Why would he do that?"

Sense Motive:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Used Silver-Tongued Haggler to get a +1
5 more uses left.

Why are you after him, and what will you do when you catch him ?

How often may I use Sense Motive ? Everytime after I say something (to assess a npc's reaction), or is that too much ? .

You can use sense motive however often you want. It seems like this guy is telling the truth.

"One of Grima Ardent's men is about a day ahead of you. You did see the black cloak talking with Finch? That man will likely report to Grima, then come back to ambush anyone tailing him. I have no idea if Finch is simply testing your abilities or trying to kill you off, but you should leave now, before it is too late!"

The woodsman does not answer Nimt's question and instead waits for your response to his warning.

Thank you for this valuable information, sir
To the others : So, what do we do?

Touchstone pulls out the box from his pack. Well, I don't know what else, but I'm certainly opening this.

If it's locked or trapped or something:

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
Disable Device: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Reflex Save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Fort Save: 1d20 - 0 ⇒ (12) - 0 = 12

In the package (which opens easily with the disable device check) Touchstone finds a small glass vial holding a green substance. There is nothing else inside.

Can anyone identify this? I don't know a darned thing about alchemy.

I am assuming it is knowledge arcana or nature. I don't have either one.

Nimt winces I hadn't even thought of opening the box. That's why I prefer to work in a team..

In response to Brevan; I suspect that alchemical knowledge would help as well.
I will endeavour to pick up some alchemy knowledge in the future.
For now, we'll have to rely on my knowledge of spells..

Spellcraft 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
But how does identifying.the vial help us with our decison ?

Touchstone ponders Nimt's question briefly, then answers Well, I guess if it's poison or something that would pretty incriminating. I don't know, really. I'm just curious, and this seemed like as good an opportunity as any to check it out.

Touchstone turns to the axe-man Who are you? And how do you know Grima and Finch? Why are trying to warn us?

Nimt waits for the axe-man to answer (or to not answer), then follows up with a question some of his own
And are you part of any organisation ? And are you a follower of any religion ?

If he is the follower of a good-aligned deity, that will improve my attitude towards him

The substance does identify as poison.
Here is the reply to all the questions asked between the two of you.
"I am Balinor Shieldheart, and I am a woodsman. I knew Grima when he was a true Ranger, and Finch when he was a revered Sorceror. I warn you to protect you from almost certain death. I refused a Ranger's advance, and am not a part of any organization. As for religion, I follow Erastil. More questions later! What is your decision?"

"It seems we will have to deal with Grima and Finch anyway. They do seem like problems that will go away on their own, if they have a grudge against us."

"You intend to go farther into the forest?!", Balinor asked in surprise.

Garovic nodded. He'd preferred letting other speak so he could evaluate the people around him, but he was beginning to feel that this was truly a group that would work well together.

"We do. But thanks to you, we know to expect trouble. We will be more prepared."

would you come with us? You are obviously more aware of the dangers within.

"I will join you. Though I cannot promise you will be any safer then before, I will do what I can to help.", was the reply.

In that case, we continue on along the path. Touchstone now walks with a sling bullet ready in hand.

Perception 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

With Balinor as a scout and guide you are able to cover much ground. All you see with any perception checks are the obvious things (shrubs, trees, and thick webs). Balinor will tell you if he spots anything out of the ordinary.

I don't have anything else that I want to do before we arrive at wherever we're going.

Does anyone else want to do anything before we move on?

No. I think it's safe to assume that if someone wanted to do so, they'd have posted by now.

Sorry I have no time to respond to your comments guys. I am going to be unavalible from now until Thursday. No one post until then! I want as little as possible to have to answer to after I get back from camping. You know how it is. Thanks!

You soon reach a large clearing with a small cottage in the middle. It all seems a little too perfect.

Touchstone investigates the area around the house briefly Perception 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23, the approaches a window to look in, sling drawn and loaded.

There seems to be nothing out of the ordinary surrounding the house. I'd like anther perception check for him to spot anything inside the house.

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17 Touchstone is specifically looking for signs of who lives/lived there and how long it has been since they were there.

From outside the window this is what you can tell:
There is a small wooden table (possibly a desk) with a candle at it's corner and a straight backed chair under the window.
There seems to be a hammock in the far corner.
There are no signs of dust on anything, showing that someone does indeed live here and was here recently.
Any sort of out-in-the-open evidence of who lives here is currently missing.
No one is home right now.

Nimt would like to look if there are any tracks leading away from the house ?
[b]Garovic, Ballnor;please help me determine if somebody left just now.[
Balinor do you know if this cabin belongs to Grima./b].

Anyways...

Touchstone marches up to the front door and knocks politely three times. If there's no answer, he will try to open the door. If it is locked, he will attempt to pick it. Taking 20, hopefully, if I have time, for a total of 27, or if not 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

There is no answer, but just as Touchstone is about to open the door he hears a voice from behind.
"Halt! Who are you, and just what the devil are you doing here?!", someone says quietly.
Standing on top of a thick tree branch (jutting about 5 feet out into the clearing) is a green cloaked man, longbow at his side.

Touchstone readies his sling if the man proves hostile. Who's that? Do you live here?

"Indeed I do.", the stranger replied cooly. "Now you must answer my questions."

Well, we were hired to bring this box of poison to some fellow named Grima. Of course, we didn't know it was poison to start with. Would you be the man of the hour, then?

"That I am.", he says, jumping down from the tree branch. "THrow it here."

Now, wait just a minute. What business do you have with this poison? And why was our errand made to be so secret?

Where is everybody?!?!

Geez, I'm away for a week and only one guy stays active. I agree, people need to get back on track here.
"My business is just that, my business.", he replies (voice deathly low), "And I think you can guess why this was all secret. Now throw it here."

I..tend to agree with Grima. If an employer doesn't want the couriers or others to know about the contents of the cargo, then that is his right

well, what is Balinor's reaction

I guess Balinor doesn't have anything to say.

Meh, alright. Touchstone tosses the box up to Grima. We were told you would have payment.

"Come inside.", the Ranger orders. "I'll give you your money, as well as a proposition for such folk as yourselves."
He seems to eyeball Balinor, sizing him up, before striding in himself.

Nimt follows Grima inside. and glances back over his shoulder to Touchstone.

Touchstone follows Nimt, but whispers to Balinor [b]Do you know this man?

Apparently our fearless guide has been scared senseless.

Touchstone shrugs and follows Nimt inside.

Balinor's hands are clenched and trembling. It looks like he wants to throttle Ardent as he purposely waits to be the last one inside.