Tesi |
Venture Captain Sheila Heidmarch receives you in her office, in the city of Magnimar, Varisia.
Sheila's office is richly decorated with mementos of the earlier adventures she had in the company of her husband: suits of armor, some stuffed monsters, an ornated blade. She sits behind a long ebony table, with several silver cups and a water pitcher resting on its polished surface.
Next to her, a stocky black haired woman with eyebags and a worried expression sits in silence, looking at her hands.
As soon as the door closes, Sheila speaks.
"Be very welcome, Pathfinders. The situation is dire, and a friend of the Society needs your help. This is Jeminda, she works for the city of Magnimar.”
Respectfully, Sheila sits in silence, grabbing the hand of Jeminda, comforting her.
”A few weeks ago, I discovered that the small villaje of Ravenmoor hadn’t been paying its taxs to Magnimar for several years. The village’s yearly tax has never been large, so it is not surprising that the mistake has gone unnoticed for so long.” she pauses and drinks some water, continuing shortly.”My research suggested that they hadn’t been paying taxes for the last 15 years, and while a year’s worth of taxes might not be much, over the course of several years of missed payments and penalties, the amount due has climbed to 500 gp.
Of course I didn’t want to go to my superiors with this information before I had the Money, I was terrified I was to blame for the missed payments, so I decided to contact a tax collector I could trust: my brother in law, Elias.
Elias set for Ravenmoor, and sent me a letter from Galduria, seven days after he left. It has been two weeks since that missive and I’ve heard nothing from him.
I will be now responsible for the lack of the money and the disappearance of an employee of the free city of Magnimar. Please I beg you, travel to Ravenmoor as quickly and quietly as possible, and once there I need you to accomplish two tasks: to find out what happened to Elias and to collect the 500 gp owed in back taxes.“
Jeminda looks at Sheila, eyes in tears.
Sheila looks at the group.
”Will you help her, pathfinders?”
Elris the Hawk Eye |
"My dear Jeminda, don't cry now. Elias may be taking his time to return, and hasn't been able to contact you. I'll agree to go search for him though, and hopefully find the man in good spirits."
The tall elf then looks about the room at the other before continuing with his questions.
"This Ravenmoor, what do you know about it as to give your contract knowledge of their destined location? Any particularly noteworthy tidbits of information?"
Elris tugs slightly at his ears as he asks both Heidmarch and the woman, before standing to his full height, towering the two women.
Puk Laughington |
A gnome with brightly colored clothes and a bright blue Mohawk, sits nodding along with the tale. "I for one am more than happy to help! Puk's the name and comedy the game. Its standing room only at my tavern shows guys so your in for a treat!" Puk adds the last with a flourish towards the group. "What more can you tell us about your brother in law? What does he look like? And whats up with this ravenmoor?" He asks.
Mykel Therinor |
Aye, I'm in. Was your brother in law following a particular path or schedule? It might help, but any information would be valuable. Mykel says from the back of the room. His hand absent mindedly brushes his well crafted blade fastened to his belt.
Feybella |
Wow second time in the last two days that one of my posts were eaten.
"Excuse me, excuse me." A slight red haired gnome woman makes her way across the room to Jeminda. She moves slowly with a pronounced limp. She pats Jeminda's hand, "Please don't cry. We'll find your brother, and bring back your back taxes." I've never been a tax collector before. It could be fun.
"I don't know anything about the area where Ravenmoor is. Can you tell us about it?"
Tesi |
Jeminda manages to keep her emotions at bay.
"Elias is short and stocky. The blood of the Ulfen runs through his veins. His hair is red. Not the most handsome man, the result of one too many scuffles in taverns have left a mark on his nose and mouth; his beard is coarse and patchy and has predilection for strong drink. Ever since the death of my sister a few years ago, Elias has fallen on hard times, but he had recently made great strides in kicking his drinking habit and had even been hired by the city as a tax collector."
Sheila unrolls a map on the table and speaks on behalf of Jeminda.
"We know that Ravenmoor is located almost 250 miles from Magnimar through foothills, forests, and marshland. To arrive there you have two choices: the Lost Coast Road or the Yondabakari River.
While the Lost Coast route is overland, the river route is longer. Both routes meet up in Galduria; from there the rest of the journey is generally made via horseback along a well-traveled road on the western shore of the Lampblack River.
As the Lampblack curves away to the east, this road continues north along the edge of Churlwood, eventually reaching Roderic’s Cove and Riddleport. Travelers to Ravenmoor must abandon the road at this bend in the river to follow a little-used trail up along the river’s west banks into increasingly dreary landscapes of bogland and bleak moors. Come back in one piece Pathfinders."
Captain Heidmarch gives you enough time to study the map on the table, while talking to her friend Jeminda who is now completely silent.
Eramos |
sense motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21
Well, there goes my crit, lol.
"Dear girl, you look like really anxious, what is it you are not telling us?Eramos trying to put on a sympathetic face. "The more we know, the more likely this mission will go off with out any unforeseen problems"
Diplomacy if needed: 1d20 ⇒ 17
Elris the Hawk Eye |
"I fully agree with our Ulfen friend. Any other information would be greatly appreciated."
Diplomacy Aid: 1d20 ⇒ 5
The elf smiles a bit a he gets uncomfortably close to Jeminda and Sheila Heidmarch.
Tesi |
Jeminda stares at her lap, her face showing shame.
"What if he got the money and decided to start a new life with it? Why would he do something like that?"
Tears appear on her eyes again and she crumbles down on Sheila's shoulder, crying uncontrolably.
"Go. The sooner you part, the sooner you will return." Says captain Heidmarch."Go."
Eramos |
Again trying to be as caring as he can,"I am very sorry to upset you more, I will leave"
Eramos takes a good look at the map before leaving the room.
Elris the Hawk Eye |
Elris pats the woman's shoulder, "That is enough to start a new life, but if he were a tax collector, I doubt he would run off without good cause."
Looking over the map once again while bringing out a few of his maps from a survival kit to note as to where the town is. Before nodding towards the venture captain.
"We must hurry, for if he has fled, the trail grows ever the colder."
Feybella |
Faybella gives her goodbyes to the Venture Captain and Jeminda. She heads for the door.
Once everyone is outside she asks, "Time is of the essence. Does anyone know what types of potions we might need for that part of the world? Do you think we can get support from the Society for horses and gear to travel?"
"Do we want to take the Lost Coast Road or the Yondabakari River to get there? Don't worry about how fast I can move, I have Wolfie."
A wolf wearing a riding saddle walks up to Faybella as soon as she leaves the building.
Mykel Therinor |
Tough call....but if he was wanting to start a new life, a smaller out of the way town would be best I think...but that's just a guess. I think maybe the coast road is the best bet. We need horses to get there quickly.
Eramos |
"I agree the coast road. The society has leant pathfinders mounts before, hopefully they are still generous."
Elris the Hawk Eye |
"Agreed. The coastal road would possibly be the fastest route to Ravenmoor. We would have go through the Churlwood for a direct path, or we could stop at Roderic's Cove before crossing the Chavali River, and around the border of Churlwood."
Yay, survival kit maps! I guess I should get one for my hunter some time.
Eramos |
"Ah'hah!"He goes towards one of the mounts."The Society comes through for us yet again."
Eramos excitedly straps his back pack onto the mount, and climbs on.
"Let's go" He clicks an gently puts his heels into the horse to get it to start moving.
Mykel Therinor |
Aye...we must get going quickly. The fresher the trail, the better chance we have of success.
Mykel steaps his pack to his mount and climbs into the saddle.
Eramos |
"So does any one know any good traveling songs or stories to pass the time. I have a feeling this is going to be a long ride." Eramos looks from one party member to another.
Elris the Hawk Eye |
"Unfortunately I don't know many songs to pass the time whilst traveling."
Elris ponders for a minute before nodding as he starts to sing a sadder tune.
"In shadows of night, I once was called.
To bolster the might, of my family's lord.
The air was thick, damp, and cold,
For I knew what I'd be told.
Our enemies from the forest deep,
Has besieged our ally's keep,
They showed no remorse for the young and old.
My love this was said,
Out of my wounds I have bled,
To make it safe, for when we wed.
We push on, against the horde,
O' Treerazor's mighty force.
The air is cold, and the ground is damp,
Dear please love, blow out the lamp."
Feybella |
"What a sad song." She's riding wolfie. No reason to take a pony when she had a ride. She did take the packs off the pony. No reason to pass up food and drink for free.
She begins a story, "It's probably not very good. There was this one time a group of Pathfinders and I had to cross this 10 foot break in a floor. This big heavy guy stepped on the only board that went across and broke it before I had a chance to try to cross. For some reason everyone was worried how I'd get across."
She pats her lame leg. "I was trying to tell them it would be ok. I could make my way when this really dark guy who worships a nasty god jumped back across picked me up and carried me like a loaf of bread. That's one way to make it across a 10 foot break in the floor when you are under three feet tall."
Mykel Therinor |
Don't know any real stories....just the run-in we had with a minotaur during one mission....tough one, he was. Then in Kassen we had a devil of a time exploring a crypt...lost 2 if our group there. Mind you, we went in with no healers or such. All sword and shield types...not recommended.
Eramos |
"Could your wolf not make the jump with you on it?" Eramos asked while looking down at Feybella.
"Mykel, I too, have lost comrades on these. It truly a rough business."
Feybella |
"The wolf wasn't allowed in the Tavern at that time. I didn't have him with me until after we found the secret room. We had another hunter, and she got both animals in somehow."
She laughs, "I did ride him out when we left. I don't think I'm welcome at that Inn anymore."
Teena Akash PFS |
Knowledge geography 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
The quiet sylph had been lost in her thoughts during the meeting. She tries to determine the best way to get to Ravenmoor considering what she knows of the area.
"Does this seem like a strange request to anyone else," she asked breezily. "Using the Society as tax collectors. It seems as if they suspect something really bad has happened there. Our talents are usually better used in other types of situations.". She. She spoke, it seems as if a soft breeze was whispering in a woman's voice.
Feybella |
Faybella shrugs, "I got sent to get wine for Drandle Dreng the other day. I've also been a baby sitter for a teenager who wanted to visit a destroyed school. They use Pathfinders for all kinds of tasks. I don't think about it too much, because it's always something new and exciting."
Elris the Hawk Eye |
Elris chuckles a bit before adding in, "It seems that we all were sent to do things of various nature. I recall being in the Mwangi Expanse helping a hunting party once, exploring one of the newly opened towers around Absalom, and helping one of the Blackros children with an issue involving something she found. That last one was interesting to say in the least."
Tesi |
Several days of stories later, ground starts to become a soggy mush, air grows stale, clouds of mosquitoes buzz around you and the stench of the bog becomes obvious.
An almost faded sign covered in moss reads "Ravenmoor, 39 souls", pointing to the right in a crossroad.
At least you seem to be on the right path.
Half an hour later you hear water running and you see a house half a mile ahead.
From the high grass surrounding you you hear the sound of a young boy’s voice calling out:
“Aaaaaaplesaaaauce! Here boy! C’meer boy!”
Then followed by some whistling, as if a child were seeking a missing puppy.
This comes from the tall grass growing to the left of the road.
Roll for Perception, folks!
Feybella |
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
Yep good food and good fun. My neighbor does competition BBQ and we got to taste test experiments.
Tesi |
Mykel Therinor |
Mykel moves forward and prepares to fend off an attack.
] on my phone atm....could you place me one square to the left and one up of Puk please? and will set up a parry and riposte if attacked.
parry: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
riposte: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 281d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Eramos |
Move to the stirge
power attack(furious focus)
not going to rage yet
greatsword: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
damage+ power attack: 2d6 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (3, 3) + 5 + 4 = 15
Feybella |
Faybella pulls out her sling and chucks a sling stone at the creature. She laughs at PUk's joke.
Sling Attack with IC: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 4 + 1 = 221d3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2