DM Zyren/ Heart of Light |
The judge raises his arms and one by one the other contestants fire their arrows after Narumek. Everyone passes into rd 2 even though Narumek is not the only one who had to use one of his gilded arrows.
The judges now extinguish some of the torches and move the hay bale some metres away (now 30m and DC 12).
Narumek is the first to shoot and hits the bale without problems. Now it's Solaric's turn. One per round is enough :)
-----
Johenric's spell unravels the magical fabric around the door and soaks up the power of the warding spell. It should be safe to open the door now.
------------
Isabel smiles and leads you and Kirk back to the entrance
Best of luck for the two of you - If you need further help, Kirk knows where to find me.
GM Harpwizard |
Solaric steps forth and pulls and arrow from his quiver. Drawing it upon his bow, he pulls it back to his ear and concentrates.
"Blessed Inheritor, guide this arrow that it may strike true upon its target. Let your will be done!"
Longbow 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
The dark elf let's the arrow loose and it flies to its mark.
DM Zyren/ Heart of Light |
Aramis grins as his gaze follows Solaric's arrow
Not bad, elfling - but I guess you will run out luck once the targets become harder to hit, mhm?
Then he also nocks an arrow and aims
Aramis attacking Hay Bale 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
Piece of cake!
After the other contestants have also fired and the first one has lost all his gilded arrows, the bale is drawn further away (50m) and even more torches are extinguished
AC 14 - 13 for Solaric
-----
The door is void of any magic now - you guess it should be safe - at least when it comes down to magical traps.
-----
Victoria meets Harl at the archery range of Pettoria academy where the flickering torches bathe everything in a mysterious shadow play.
'Countess' Victoria |
"To find out about what Aramais is really about. Turns out that he's a bastard pretender just like I thought, although that is less important as he's not holding a winning hand, what IS important is that he has mercenaries infiltrating the City Guard. Can't suppose that has good intentions written on it. I have a lead though, fancy talking a walk to have a pleasant conversation with some Ulfen?" Without really waiting for a response, she half nods [b]" Thought so, bring your blade"
And anyone else who wants to come. With that, time to go have a chat to this commandery type
DM Zyren/ Heart of Light |
Hey Narumek, hope you saw Solaric's shot - I think he's much better with the bow than you!
Aramis shouts.
------
Victoria and Harl make their way though moonlit Karcau to the barracks of the city guard - a long, rather low building that huddles against the northern city wall. Some of the windows are lit, but most of the guards are either on duty or already asleep.
A young conscript stands watch at the main entrance of the structure.
'Countess' Victoria |
"You start, best to start off strong, we can always be more pleasant afterwards. If we start off too pleasant they might confuse politeness for weakness"
DM Zyren/ Heart of Light |
Waiting for Narumek.
-----
The door opens with a low squeal - and...there's no trap. You sigh in relief and enter the small study behind it. The room is dominated by a large ebony king-size bed, a closet and a desk made of the same material. Violet carpets lie on the ground and a painting showing a swampy landscape hangs above the bed.
-----
The young guard nearly falls over backwards as the grumpy dwarf bellows at him
I...uh mean, not I...surely not I - it's quartermaster Lector Stradi who is in charge, sir!
DM Zyren/ Heart of Light |
There are no obvious trasures in the room, but as you switch into the meta-magic-sight you suddenly notice a purple vapor drifting through the room.
Pass a Fort save DC 15
-----------
The young guard isn't even able to answer and just stammers
Yes sir! I...we...follow me!
then he leads you into the barracks, past two guard quarters and a small armoury to the office of Lector Stradi.
That's his room, master dwarf!
the boy says proudly.
-----------
Narumek's arrow whirls through the darkness and hits the bale in its centre.
The judge nods and signals to his helpers to rearrange the bales.
For the next round the target is 200 ft away and its armour class is 16 - 14 for Solaric
DM Zyren/ Heart of Light |
We take the last roll for Narumek, but you may then start with the next round.
----
Johenric coughs, but the magical vapor only forces him to yawn once - this must have been some sort of sleep trap. Now that it slowly dissipates you can concentrate on the other magical auras in the room. These is one inside the closet and the painting emanates a strong one.
Harl Marrhammer |
"That's enough. You've done an excellent job. Now get back to your post before someone thinks that your absent without cause. Go, Go, Go.", Harl says as roughly handles the youth again spinning him around in coupleof circles then pushing off down the hall. "If any suspicious looking fancy men come calling, do not let them in!", he calls after the guard. Harl cast Vic a wink, "How you wanna handle it from here? We takin' care of this fella or switchin' him to our side?"
'Countess' Victoria |
"Well we can play it as we find it, though such a man can't be trusted by anyone, seems he is quite happy to take coin to sell out his current paying employer, no point in us expecting any real loyalty toward us once we had him onside. I suspect this might be a bit more blunt than he'd have liked, but we need information and names, and he will divulge them to us. I will try and break his mind and will, and if the gods are merciful then this will be all the suffering he feels as he succumbs to the warmth of magical embrace; if not then you might have to break something more tender with something far less warming."
DM Zyren/ Heart of Light |
@ Narumek: Yup, last gilded arrow now.
-------------
When Victoria opens the door, you're quite surprised by the scene behind it - a sturdy man in his forties with a large scar running over the back of his hand, pulls up his trousers while a maid gathers up her skirt and tries to get it in order. The man needs only a second to roar
Who are you!? I told the guard commander that I'm working on advanced cavalry strategies!
-------------
@ JO:
Do you just open the closet?
Harl Marrhammer |
"Shut yer trap, pig-kin!", Harl roars right back as slams the door and bolt. "I'll cut you and that "horse" of yer's down right now un less ye be hearing the lass here out. GOT IT!" Letting his fine, dwarven waraxe slide into a comfortable position in his hand, Harl glares at the two manlings before him.
Dwarven Diplomacy (Intimidate) 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
DM Zyren/ Heart of Light |
Will save1d20 - 2 ⇒ (17) - 2 = 15
I...uuuhh
the girl slumbs to the ground while the blanched soldier sits down on his stool
Please - what do you want, there's no need for that axe!
the man seems genuinely terrified by your axe and doesn't even realize that the maid just became unconscious.
------
There are innumerous stories about strange things happening at Vizyalesh acedemy, but you've never heard of an enchanted picture. However, as you take a closer look at the closet you notice a coat of arms you have already seen before - it is the one of the Jarovich family.
Johenric |
Once Johenric has noticed the coat of arms, he moves his head towards the enchanted picture and finally he takes a closer investigation on the picture as well.
Prescience 1d20 ⇒ 11
Perception 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
In total 19 and 3 uses of prescience left
In addition Johenric asks himself if he knows the scene or the person mentioned on the picture.
Knowledge local 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
Knowledge Arcana 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27
Knowledge History 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
'Countess' Victoria |
"You know full well why we are here, so please do not waste our time any further. We are here about your business arrangements" Victoria paints a warm smile upon her face...
Hex:Charm DC17
DM Zyren/ Heart of Light |
Will save1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
The soldier regains some of his self-confidence and answers
Business agreements, what the hell are you talking about?
Then he raises his voice and says
I get it, you're not here in some kind of official mission, you are just some mercenaries, eh?
----
The painting shows a swamp - a forlorn place. Snow still clings to the branches of weeping willows and the pale disc at the grey sky seems to bestow neither warmth nor much light. As you look closer you can also make out some small huts, the foot of a mountain range and a small castle at the very right side of the painting.
Knowledge Geography could help
'Countess' Victoria |
"Harl, omlettes" then as an afterthought "Just not his jaw, I need him to be able to talk"
"Oh we aren't mercenaries, mercenaries get paid. We're here for our own reasons... and unfortunately your dealings with Aramais interfere with our purpose"
"Anyhow, Harl will fill you in on our requirements"
DM Zyren/ Heart of Light |
The arrow flies through the darkness and for a second is seems like it will miss the bale of hay, but then it hits the target and some of the other knights clap approvingly.
A short break! the judge calls out while his helpers move the bale even further away.
250 ft, AC 18 - 16 for Solaric
Gonna be tough... Stephen Livgrace remarks as he checks the string of his bow.
-----
Waiting for Harl
------
You heard of a small village, lying in the shadow of a castle in the fringe of the Kronstein Ridge. It's called Jarovicha and is the home demesne of the Jarovich family - this could be the region portrayed in the painting.
Harl Marrhammer |
Lashing out with his axe. Harl looks to adjust the Ulfen's attitude."I told ya to mind yer mouth,manling." With that, Harl lashes out with his massive warblade.
ATK 1, Waraxe 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13 DMG 1d10 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
ATK 2, Waraxe, Non-lethal 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10 DMG 1d10 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10