Wren Chavali |
"Days spent trudging around these caverns, and finally we have found some clues. This is something we can report to the Sheriff and other authorities. Thank the gods!"
Victor Montoya |
Victor nearly vomits at Eponine's worship of the newcomers. Mostly of Kern's. "How have we managed without you and Kern I cannot imagine." Victor mumbles in a high pitched tone, with disgust, and under his voice. Bah! I know how we have managed without them. Just fine! None of this, 'Oh Kern, I think I must swoon now at how great you are! Swoon! Swoon!'. As he grumbles to himself, he looks back down at what he has found and realizes he hasn't shared his findings with the others. "AH-HA! You all have yet to see what I, Victor Montoya, has found!" He then pulls out the items he uncovered. "You see this fine weapon?" He turns the dagger over in his hand, making sure everyone sees. "It has a raven on one side and is truly a fine crafted weapon. And this pouch, uh...well it contains gold..and uh...," he gets a little less confident, "adehtoensumbirbons. Anyway! This is what Victor Montoya has found! If it were not for I, then none of these fantastic items would have ever been found. So... you are welcome." He stashes the items in his pack. "I will hold onto these unless one of you wishes to use this fine, fine weapon... that I found. Anyone? Anyone?"
Wren Chavali |
"Might I see the powerful weapon that you discovered for one minute, so I can attempt to discern its abilities? I am sure the power will no doubt be earth-shaking. Better yet, you should keep hold of it to make sure the power doesn't overcome the rest of us," Wren says, unable to keep her slightly mocking tone in check.
Cast Detect Magic tehn use Spellcraft.
Spellcraft 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22
Kern Bevaniky |
Kern nods approvingly at Victor. "Looks like you've found yourself a fine weapon," he says. He seems oblivious to the mocking that has been going on. "I suggest we report back to the sheriff about what we've found and then follow this trail. Hopefully, Ameiko's at the end of it."
Eponine |
Good thinking Victor, Sophy. I was so focused on tracks I didn't even think to see what they might have left behind.
Eponine will look at the dagger with Wren, apparently oblivious to the undertones in the conversations. Is the raven stylized in any way that it might give a clue as to its previous owner?
After a minute pondering the dagger, Eponine turns back to Victor and asks What did you say you found in that pouch again? Gold and what?
Knowledge: Arcana 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Knowledge: History 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
Knowledge: Local 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Knowledge: Planes 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
Knowledge: Religion 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Spellcraft 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Hmm. Six checks for skills, and only one of them is a double digit roll. My luck holds!
Belril Leokas |
Belril looks at Victor somewhat scornfully, as well as the two women eagerly hawking over it.
Right- you can busy yourselves with your bauble, i'm going to report to the sheriff with Kern here and make my way back to continue our rescue attempt.
Mythril DM |
Eponine will look at the dagger with Wren, apparently oblivious to the undertones in the conversations. Is the raven stylized in any way that it might give a clue as to its previous owner?
You study the raven etched onto one side of the blade. In your long life you have had a great deal of time to study history and that knowledge is paying off now. As you look at the image you realize it is not a raven, but instead the depiction of a razorcrow. Razorcrows are half again the size of a standard raven and covered with greasy black feathers and a signature curved, jagged-edged beak. Their feathers on the leading edges of their wings are longer and tougher, and find a common use by fletchers, especially in Cheliax.
Sophy Cassell |
Sophy steps toward Victor and his find, the red ribbon still in her hand. "Could that be Ameiko's, too?" she wonders. "Has anyone seen her with anything like that?" Knowledge (local) to know if anyone in Sandpoint has a dagger with a raven or any connection with ravens 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
"You want ... to go back to Sergeant Blake?" she asks the others hesitantly. "Again? I'm sorry," she smiles at the new additions. "It's just that we've had to go crawling back beaten, without Ameiko, so many times already. Every time we go back, it feels like we're failing all over again. I suppose, though," she admits reluctantly, "it will be dark soon, and we can't follow a trail in the dark. It's just ... every time we go back to rest in safety, I think of Ameiko out there not safe."
Victor Montoya |
"Might I see the powerful weapon that you discovered for one minute, so I can attempt to discern its abilities? I am sure the power will no doubt be earth-shaking. Better yet, you should keep hold of it to make sure the power doesn't overcome the rest of us," Wren says, unable to keep her slightly mocking tone in check.
Victor glares at Wren a moment before he responds. "Do not fret, Miss Wren, I do not think anyone will get hurt. Do you think Sophy should attempt such, though? She might be better equiped to handle such a task, no?" He smirks.
Good thinking Victor, Sophy. I was so focused on tracks I didn't even think to see what they might have left behind.
Eponine will look at the dagger with Wren, apparently oblivious to the undertones in the conversations. Is the raven stylized in any way that it might give a clue as to its previous owner?
After a minute pondering the dagger, Eponine turns back to Victor and asks What did you say you found in that pouch again? Gold and what?
Victor clears his throat. "Yes, um, gold. That is pretty much it. Yes." He pauses a moment, looks around, and notices Belril. "Did you say something Belril? I thought I heard you say something."
"You want ... to go back to Sergeant Blake?" she asks the others hesitantly. "Again? I'm sorry," she smiles at the new additions. "It's just that we've had to go crawling back beaten, without Ameiko, so many times already. Every time we go back, it feels like we're failing all over again. I suppose, though," she admits reluctantly, "it will be dark soon, and we can't follow a trail in the dark. It's just ... every time we go back to rest in safety, I think of Ameiko out there not safe."
Victor never hearing Belril, "Go back? We cannot go back! No! We must go forward! Who wants to go back?" He asks but quickly continues, never waiting for an answer. "Does not matter. We now have a new direction to explore and I say we take it! I say; We take the horns off by the bull!" He ponders that, wondering why that doesn't sound right. Mentally shrugging it off, he continues, "Now is the time. When I leave this place, I NEVER want to come back. This place is a living nightmare." He says convincingly.
Mythril DM |
Knowledge (local) to know if anyone in Sandpoint has a dagger with a raven or any connection with ravens.
Sophy Cassell |
Sophy's face goes a little pale as she looks at the dagger. "You don't think...? There's a ... a 'Stoot' that's a raven in the Rusty Dragon still, on one of the barstools," she says timidly, referring to the woodcarvings of the bird-obsessed murderer who killed her mother. "He ... he is dead, isn't he?"
Wren Chavali |
"Please, if you will 'Miss Sophy,' advise your boyfriend that the dagger he valiantly discovered is nothing but a run of the mill knife," Wren says, knowing nothing of the Stoots or their history.
Sophy Cassell |
Wren and Eponine, Sophy told you the story of Jervis Stoot three or four days ago in-game.
Sophy comes to a dead stop in the middle of the street, wondering why she had even brought the subject up. She had never spoken of it, never, not since the night of the fire when she had retreated into her books. "When I was little, there was a man who carved birds," she starts, faintly, staring very hard directly ahead of her. "Beautiful birds, funny birds: they were all over Sandpoint, in fence posts and on houses. We were known for them. Everyone loved Jervis Stoot and his birds. He lived up there," she says, her hand fluttering in the direction of the rocky outcropping northwest of the town without even looking. "Then, one winter, people starting dying, dying horribly, cut all to pieces. No one ever thought...." Silent tears are running down her face as she continues. "He killed the sheriff, and they tracked him back, back up there. A posse went, to try to save poor Jervis Stoot. They say what they found ... it was awful. No one ever told me exactly, but the children whispered what they had heard when their parents thought they were asleep. All the birds, his lovely birds ... and he was hating us all the time. Hating us and killing us." She stops, overcome with sobs.
Of course, that was 10 months ago in non-game time. :)
"Please, if you will 'Miss Sophy,' advise your boyfriend that the dagger he valiantly discovered is nothing but a run of the mill knife," Wren says, knowing nothing of the Stoots or their history.
"My.... Who...?" Sophy gasps, blushing bright red.
Victor Montoya |
Victor's freezes at the mention of the bird carvings. The look on his face is a complete blank as foggy memories return once again. Victor hears a maniacal laugh just before a voice follows it. 'This is all your fault she's dead, pathetic boy. But don't you worry, your time is near'. The raspy, dark voice tells him. '..all your fault she's dead... all your fault... all your fault...' the voice repeats. Hearing conversation between Sophy and Wren, yet not listening to what is being said, Victor snaps out of his trance, quite pale and sweating profusely. "Huh? What?" He looks around as he remembers what it was he was doing. Looking down at the knife in his hands, he immediately tilts his hand so as to let it fall. "We are wasting time here. This place is bad. We need to continue our course for Ameiko." He moves to look back toward the beach and the outside.
Kern Bevaniky |
"We do need to continue after Ameiko," Kern says, "but I think we should report what we've discovered so far. These tracks look to be leading out of town. We need to let someone know where we've gone; otherwise they're going to start to think something has happened to us. We should report to the sheriff, maybe get a good night's rest, and then head out again. I also wouldn't mind seeing if Savah's got a replacement for my flail. That's the weapon I'm most trained in, and if you want me at my best, I need another one."
Sophy Cassell |
"You need a new bow, Victor," Sophy points out, still unable to look him in the face after what Wren said about him, "or to get your old one fixed. And none of us can see in the dark; we might lose the trail if we tried to follow it tonight, but...." She turns to Belril anxiously. "You're sure you'll be able to find it again tomorrow? What if the tide comes in? Maybe we should follow it just a little way before the sun goes down, to make sure we know which way she was taken."
Victor Montoya |
Victor turns to Sophy, unsure as to why she seems uncomfortable. I do not blame her. Especially after how terrible I treated her earlier. "You both are right. As much as I hate to stop; it is getting late. And Kern and myself are in need of some new weapons." He pulls out his busted bow and throws it on the ground. Then running his hands over his face in frustration again, he sighs. "Alright. If you all think it is best we return, then we should return." He then thinks on Sophy's idea. "You know, whether or not Belril can find the trail again, maybe we should follow it a bit and place some form of marker or something to help us when we do come back. Hm?"
Eponine |
Anger flashes across Eponine's face at Belril's comments on the knife. Don't be so quick to dismiss Victor's find. It could tell us something about who or what we are chasing, help us prepare for what we have to face.
Pointing to it, she says Look. It's actually not just a raven, it is a razorcrow; you can tell by the distinctive jagged edged beak. Their feathers are typically used by Chelaxian fletchers. Perhaps the kidnapper is a Chelaxian.
Still angry, Eponine turns to Victor. Show me what else was in the pouch. It might be important as well. She holds out her hand to Victor.
She'll add to the discussion... We should follow the trail for now. Even though the tracks are a day or two old, the next hiding place of the abductor may only be an hour or two away. If someone has any chalk, we can leave a message here in case we are gone longer, or we fail. If we don't find anything substantial in say an couple of hours, we can rest then.
Kern Bevaniky |
Kern nods as Eponine speaks. "That's a good point," he says. "If they didn't go far, we could still find them today. So sure, let's follow the trail for a short distance before resting for the night. At the very least, we can get a good idea what general direction they went in. After you." He graciously motions for Eponine to take the lead.
Eponine |
To Kern she replies Thank you, but Belril is obviously the more skilled tracker.
Eponine looks to Sophy. We will report back as soon as we can, but I am truly concerned that Ameiko may be close at hand, and it has been so long already...
Eponine will wait for Belril, but fall in right behind him to make sure she spots any traps he might miss before he might trip them.
Belril Leokas |
Frankly, its a waste of time to follow the trail for 'a little while' to 'see where it goes'- we're going to be following it at dawn either way and i'd rather not waste my time covering the same track twice. Besides, you'll only get your footprints all over my trail and make more work for me tomorrow.
He pauses, angrily kicking a pebble into the distance.
If you truly believe Ameiko to be in mortal danger, then why take the chance? We may not have the luxury of a nights rest if we want to catch up with her kidnapper. Nay, we should follow this trail now, and commit to it. Through the night if necessary!
Sorry I know everyone wants their goodies for the level up (as do I) but on an IC level Belril would not feel you have time to waste. He'll gladly accept the fatigued condition and track through the night by torchlight (or more likely, wizard light).
Eponine, why don't you go make a quick report to the Sheriff? You shouldn't have a hard time following the trail of the others following me and you can catch us up. Theres no reason why you can't make a report then catch us.
I'll be tracking at half speed for no penalty and Eponine should be able to follow a fresh trail of a large group comfortably even at a -5 for moving normal speed.
Sophy Cassell |
Sophy looks to see if Eponine will comply with the halfling's suggestion or argue. "Do you know the way back to town from here? I mean, not through the tunnels. We used to play here as children; you can just take the path up that way and go overland. Once you get out past the cliff, you'll see Sandpoint. I don't know if it's much faster, but it ought to be less ... scary than going back in there by yourself."
Mythril DM |
Here is a map to help show you where you came out in relation to the rest of Sandpoint. The North Gate is at the top right. The Cathedral is there to the right and the Old Light is on the left. The building with the 10 on it is the Garrison.
The Map; Circle marks the party
Sorry I know everyone wants their goodies for the level up (as do I) but on an IC level Belril would not feel you have time to waste. He'll gladly accept the fatigued condition and track through the night by torchlight (or more likely, wizard light).
FYI: I reward players who make choices on what the character would do.
Eponine |
Eponine looks deep in thought at the suggestion.
That may be the best compromise. Kern and I could go back to town, share our findings so far and perhaps quickly get some equipment. Everyone else could go with Belril and follow the tracks, just in case you find trouble before those of us going to town catch up. I think it is also important that the watch knows there is an exit to the warrens on this side of town so it can be watched until it can be blocked over.
At that, Eponine's face firms in conviction. To Kern, she says We should leave quickly. The sooner we start, the sooner we can catch up. To the rest she says What all do we need to bring back with us?Anything other than a bow for Victor?
Victor Montoya |
"Here," He holds out the pouch to Eponine. "take this with you. And..." He digs in his pack for the gold he found amongst the goblins. "Take this as well. I found it amongst the goblins we killed within the glassworks. Hopefully it will help. There was some silver and copper as well, but not enough to make a difference. Unless you think you will need it. Oh! Also, be careful removing coins within the pouch. There are bones of dead animals in there." He says as a matter of fact.
The pouch has 12gp in it. The money that was found on the dead goblins is on Victor's profile at the bottom. I know there's 15gp.
Wren Chavali |
"Let's get to it then," Wren sighs, knowing there was to be no bed for her anytime soon. "Let's find her and whomever might have taken her. And deal with them harshly. "
Kern Bevaniky |
Sophy sighs. "A regiment of soldiers from Magnimar?" she asks hopefully.
"If there happen to be any in town, we'll bring them back with us," Kern says with a smile. "No promises though."
He turns to Eponine. "Shall we?" He starts out in the direction of Sandpoint.
Eponine |
Eponine looks at the bones in the pouch Victor offers. Are there teeth marks that she might be able to identify? Do they look like components to a spell she might have heard of?
Spellcraft 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Knowledge: Nature 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Based on those rolls, clearly she learns nothing. She quietly takes off after Kern, making sure he's not ahead too far so she can warn him if she spots and traps along the trail.
Mythril DM |
Eponine looks at the bones in the pouch Victor offers. Are there teeth marks that she might be able to identify? Do they look like components to a spell she might have heard of?
Mythril DM |
The group is ready to move out and follow the trail of Ameiko captor. Eponine and Kern will report in and follow along a soon as they are able. Belril and Eponine agree upon a trail sign that Belril will leave along the way to aid Eponine in finding the advance party. Once everyone is ready you head out in separate directions.
You all turn north and cross the beach and follow the trail along the cost for about an hour. Belril stops occasionally to mark the way for Kern and Eponine. You have traveled about half a mile when the trail turns east and leads into the forest.
Belril's survival check 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
Together you climb back up to the town of Sandpoint and make your way to the Garrison looking for Sargent Blake. You find him with several of the town guard in the common hall sharing the evening meal. When they see you, dirty and covered with dried blood a sense of tension fills the room. Blake stands up concerned, "What happened? Where are the others? Are they...." He doesn't say but you can tell he is assuming the worst.
Sophy Cassell |
Wren Chavali |
Belril's group:
Eponine |
Giving Kern a chance to describe the cave location and add any details he thinks important, Eponine looks around the garrison for equipment. She is looking for longbows and arrows. Preferably two bows. Ostensively one for her and one for Victor, but really she’ll carry an extra since she has seen how he is on his gear. Since Sargent Blake pointed out their rough appearance, she’ll use Presdigitation to clean both of them and their gear so they are less likely to alarm townsfolk as they go about their business.
In addition, she will run past her room, collecting her pet monkey now that she’s been able to re-establish her arcane bond with it.
Kern Bevaniky |
When Eponine starts looking for bows and arrows, he'll suggest trying at Savah's, especially since they need to go by there in order to get a new heavy flail for him. He doubts the garrison will have one as it's not a typical guard's weapon. "Besides, seeing as the proprietor is my sister, I might be able to arrange a special deal."
When she comes out with her monkey, he stares at it for a moment. "A monkey?" he says. After a moment, he nods approvingly. "A monkey suits you, I think. What's his name?"
Mythril DM |
Sargent Blake immediately orders some of the guards to go and secure the entrance of the smugglers cave, "I hope that Belor is able to secure more men from Magnimar, we are getting stretched thin here. Good luck and I hope you are able to bring back Ameiko safety."
At Kern's suggestion the dynamic duo leave and head over to Savah's Armory. Before Eponine can mention to Kern that she want's to make a stop off at her current residence she hears a familiar chattering. Turning she looks to see her companion monkey scurrying down the street headed right for her. It seems to have sensed she was looking for it, and came looking for her instead. With time saved you quickly make your way to the weapons shop.
It is late for business and the shop is closed, but Kern uses his key to let the pair of you in. Savah comes down the stairs from the apartment above, alerted to your presence by a bell attached to the door. "Trying to sneak a lady friend in dear brother?"
Eponine |
To Kern after the monkey finds them. His name is Camlo. I named him after a Varisian member of the Sczarni that was also cute and mischevious. I picked him up when I was travelling on the Mwangi coast. The monkey that is, not the Varisian. Eponine seems quite light-hearted and animated now that she is back inside the town walls.
At the shop, Eponine just gives Kern a bemused smile when he is confronted by his sister.
Victor Montoya |
Coming to the edge of the forest, Victor can only shake his head in frustration. "Well? Now what do we do? Do we continue on, or wait for the others? Who knows what we might run into in there." He takes a deep breath, trying to steady himself.
Victor Montoya |
Oh that's just great, now we are 'Belril and his minions'. You know this is gonna go straight to his head. We'll be pawns forever now. (I must say, though, it is quite funny.) :)
Victor jumps as Sophy attacks him with a whispering fury. He looks back towards town and then at her, speaking in an invisible voice as he shrugs. "What?" He then double checks again, as if maybe they might have, then just waves it off.
An invisible voice: I'll mouth words(or just pretend to) to my daughter sometimes(she's 8) and she'll then immediately tell her mother, "Mommy! Daddy's using an invisible voice!" Cracks me up.
Kern Bevaniky |
Mythril DM |
Oh great! The next 150 posts of nothing but spoilers! Man I hate spoilers.
I quite agree with you, and I certainly hope that this isn't 150 post all in spoilers. I don't use them because I want to keep things secret from players, anyone can open them so it realy is a trust thing. I try use them they way I use notes at the gaming table. Whats in a bag or the effects of failing a save. Things that are not apparent to everyone so that the player who is in the know can reveal it in character. It is my hope that it will encourage role playing...ie Victor mumbles under his breath about the contents of a pouch "adehtoensumbirbons." It also lets characters share knowledge they have with the other characters instead of me saying Victor tells you all XXX, I give the power of how and what a character reveals to the PC so it can be done in character. In this case with the party split I decided to do it for two reason. 1) easier for me to keep track of and 2) I hope then when the party regroups, the PC's will share In character what happened instead of assuming all the players know. Again I hope it fosters an opportunity for you all to help Write the story we are telling. In my RL games splits like this would be done in two parts, one group goes and gets snacks while I work with the other and then swap. Then when they regroup the learn in character what is going on and my players seem to enjoy that.
I dislike lengthy party splits so I will work to get the party back into one group quickly with out railroading the group to make choices. Please dont take as a rant demanding you use the Spoiler tag, feel free to use it or not. I just wanted everyone to know why I was using it and that I hope to not use it in this capacity very long.
Eponine |
But she will add We can work on the specifics later, but if you'd like, you can hold onto this until we get back as collateral. From her pouch, she offers the tiara taken from the quasit.
Barring any other combat encounters during our side mission, I will work to rejoin the two groups quickly. I think it is a necessary evil and fun in small doses, but I don't think it will end up being overly drawn out.
And Navior, you got off lucky there. Of all the actions Eponine couldn't have taken there... The possibilities were awesome! :)
Sophy Cassell |
Mythril DM |
You quickly gather up the gear and head back to the beach and go north. The trail is easy to follow and in about an hour you come to a spot along the coast where the trail turns and heads into the woods to the east. It appears the others stopped here for a moment and then continued on into the woods
You can get one longbow, one heavy flail, and a quiver with 20 arrows in it.
Belril leads the group into the forest following the trail. After about fifteen minutes Belril curses under his breath. It appears that he has lost the trail.
Belril's Survival Check 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11