DM Morvius |
Ihon approaches stealthily and then the rest of the group follows. When you reach the clearing it is large and appears relatively non-descript. It has amble space to wait however and looks like it could hold a gathering of at least 50 people. There are stones and stumps that would allow you all to sit if you wanted to, but simply natural occurrences, nothing appears to have been arranged by people.
Devron and Andre notice that in some of the trees at the edges of the clearing are carved symbols of the Celestial alphabet. They are faint and appear more like code markings than actual text. None of you seem to notice any people and the place seems quiet and serene.
Amideo Caluzzo di Solva |
Amideo will dismount his horse and allow it to graze a bit. He smiles and remarks, Never would I have thought that a mission to root out a cult would have the unexpected benefit of providing us with a lovely clearing like this.
Sazu Magauge |
Sazu looks around, the flower the caught his interest safely stowed in his pocket.
I got a lot of knowledges, but no tracking skills. And after a terrible perception roll, I feel like I shouldn't roll another quite yet.
Andre Karoxin |
Andre looks at the trees. "Hm. There are letters of the divine language here...but just individual letters. I wonder if it's some kind of code or message..."
But Linguistics is not a skill I have.
DM Morvius |
Devron, it looks like this place gets quite a bit of foot traffic. Some of it comes from the last two days, but it doesn't seem like someone is standing immediately beside the clearing at the moment.
Phaedra, the markings are rather obviously a code. It looks like people are simply sending short status messages and when you look closely it seems like sometimes symbols are carved over other symbols.
Andre Karoxin |
Andre sighs. "Ihon, are you any good at cracking codes? If so, we might be able to glean something of worth out of this mess of tree-scratchings. Otherwise..." He crosses over to Amideo and takes a seat. "Sure, why not?"
DM Morvius |
After about two hours, a man covered in dirt and dressed in leather armor approaches. He looks like he is in his late 30s and is carrying a broadsword on his back.
What is it? He asks rather pointedly, calling out even before he reaches the clearing. His expression is one of frustration rather than rage, but his tone makes it clear that he thinks he has better things to do than be here at this moment.
Ihon Volarian |
Linguistics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29
Ihon looks around at the symbols and shrugs, They are what they appear to be. Messages. The subject of which is of little use to us now.
DM Morvius |
Ihon, it looks like people are mostly just "checking in" rather than giving any detail with the messages. Sometimes they seem to indicate numbers, but it is unclear what the numbers reference. Mostly it is just a sense of "this person arrived and left" with the age of the marking giving a sense of the time that the person was there. When covered over, it mostly seems that the same person is covering over their own marking.
Devron Marr |
Devron will look at the man, glance at Urzoth, and back at him.
"We talked with the other followers of Erastil." he says, patting his prized companion on the neck. "We're to work together to eliminate the cult of Rovagug in these parts?"
He looks to the rest of the group for some help, since he's still new to the mission and unsure what else needs to be said.
Andre Karoxin |
Sorry, been a busy week.
Andre throws down his hand of cards with a curse. "Always have to be a bastard to win at Molthuni games, anyway," he mutters. When he sees the man approaching, he clears his throat and stands.
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
"My...friend, here, is correct. We've spoken to your compatriots." Andre self-consciously adjusts the symbol of Erastil on his chest. "They were quite reasonable. We're here on behalf of the Crown, but it's important you understand: there's no reason we can't work together against the scourge of demonic worship. We'll leave you in peace when we're done. We were told to wait here--personally, I was hoping you might be able to give us a little more guidance as to where, exactly, this damned source of corruption is."
DM Morvius |
The man seems unmoved by Andre's attempt to win him over, but he speaks anyway, looking at Devron first.
I have been told of you. Did you need something? We do have business other than tending to the infernal Queen's lapdogs.
He then turns to Andre, continuing, We have marked the area where the cultists frequent and they seem to have no objections to those markings - they haven't torn them down yet. I'm assuming people like you that consort with devils don't speak Celestial, but just suffice it to say that symbols that look better than your souls mark danger. He grunts, You will need to scout inside of those signs if you want to know more. And I'd recommend you not make camp there...the land seems corrupted by whatever is inside.
Andre Karoxin |
Andre scowls. "My soul's just fine, thank you very much. I'm just as much a devotee of Old Deadeye as you are!" Calming himself slightly, he continues: "So, the area's marked by Celestial signs. Which way is it? And tell me...do you have any serious plans for what to do about these demoniacs?"
Ihon Volarian |
Ihon has the hint of a smile on his face as he listens to the conversation. If only speaking the tongue of the gods made one godly. Perhaps we could solve more problems...or perhaps not. When has a god caused fewer conflicts, after all.
DM Morvius |
The man continues speaking to Andre, You debase yourself working for a devil worshiper. And you know where the markings are. We know you've traveled there. He pauses, And I told you you can scout for yourselves. We have no movements to share with you right now.
He turns to Ihon, Coming from infernalists, I find that humorous. Now if all you want to do is chat, I have more important things to do.
Andre Karoxin |
Andre sighs, once the man has left. "Confounded fool. A fanatic, like you said, Ihon." He nods at the other man. "Well, I suppose there's nothing for it--to be sure that there's nothing terrible afoot, we'll have to investigate the place ourselves. Does that sound all right to everyone?"
Sazu Magauge |
Sazu pipes up.
"Works for me!"
He takes a look at whatever sky he can see, gauging the time left for the day.
"Should we have a base camp away from the danger then? Or would it be better to return to town after each excursion?"
Amideo Caluzzo di Solva |
Amideo contemplates for a moment, "A base camp would certainly be more time efficient, but would leave us more open to attacks than heading back to town. However, I for one think that setting up a camp would be the better option, as trekking back and forth is a tremendous waste of time."
Andre Karoxin |
Andre nods. "That makes sense...as long as we don't have to worry about bad weather for the next day or two. I'm afraid I didn't bring any serious camping gear." He squints up at the sky.
Survival to predict the weather for the next 24 hours, DC 15: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24 Excellent, that should get us 48 hours' info.
DM Morvius |
Andre, the weather will be cloudy for the first 24 hours with showers for the subsequent 24.
Using the basic map you were given, you expect that the travel to where you saw the warning signs will take you about an hour and a half, and the map itself certainly makes that navigation easier.
You guys can give me either Survival or Knowledge (Geography) rolls if you'd like to come up with good places to set up a camp should you choose to do that.
Devron Marr |
Devron watches the man leave and chuckles, turning back to the group.
"He seems the sort to try to eliminate us once we've done the work taking out the Rovagugites." he says with admiration in his voice. "Got more in common with us than he thinks."
He will walk up to Andre and Amideo. "Let me see that map. I think I know what to look for."
Survival: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23
He points to a few places with a gloved finger. "Here, here, and... here would be good places." he offers.
Oscar Whitehall |
"Grrwwl..."
The large reptile will lay down near Urzoth and await their final decision.
Andre Karoxin |
Andre takes in Devon's suggestions with interest...
Survival (Aid Devon): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21 Brings it to a 25!
"Aye, those do seem like they'd be good spots," he murmurs. "Let's head for the nearest one and then see what we can find within the ring of corruption, eh?"
DM Morvius |
Devron, with the assistance of Andre you are able to find a small cave on the map that is slightly further into the forest than the Celestial-marked area. Assuming you head in that direction, it looks like a cave that was previously occupied by a bear or other large creature that has long since died or moved on. If you want to make camp here, it will fit all of you, has a single entrance, and should protect you from the rain and make it easier to avoid the cold.
Ihon Volarian |
Ihon quietly goes about unpacking his bedroll and blanket. His small companion hops down from out of the back of his cloak and flits about the cave looking for a spot to curl up in. After finding one, Ihon joins the creature and lays down his equipment.
Andre Karoxin |
Andre, rolling out his own bedroll, snorts. "If it does, I imagine that," he jerks his head at Devron's "pet," "will deter it. And we can take care of ourselves, I'm confident of that much."
Since the group appears to be bedding down for the night, he takes off his hide armor, stretching once it's all off. "Getting too old to sleep in that nonsense..."
Sazu Magauge |
Sazu, happy that they've discussed the base specifics, keeps talking as he wrestles himself out of his armor.
"Investigating first thing tomorrow then?" Sazu mumbles.
It is time for bed right? Or perhaps we take the rest of the day to plan?
DM Morvius |
I'll assume that you all want to sleep.
The evening passes uneventfully, though in the morning you are greeted with increased cloud cover and a bit of a chill. You are able to eat, prepare, or take any time you need and the map shows that it should take less than half an hour to travel to the marked area should you wish to begin your exploration.
If you do head in, please give me Perception checks! Also, if you are attempting to be stealthy, feel free to roll for Stealth.
Oscar Whitehall |
Urzoth will wander around the cave, sniffing. Eventually she will turn to Devron, who scowls at her and makes a commanding non-word. She huffs and goes outside the cave and relieves herself in several places outside. She returns and looks at Devron expectantly.
At his order, she goes back outside and disappears into the forest.
Devron Marr |
He turns to the rest of the group while she sets off into the woods. "She's marked the territory. She's the only superpredator in the vicinity, so most anything else will leave us alone... and most humanoids lack the sense of smell to be warned by the signs."
he shrugged. "I sent her out to hunt, get herself something to eat. She'll be back in half an hour, food or no food."
Ihon Volarian |
Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
Ihon follows along, staring off into the forest as usual.
DM Morvius |
Though entering at a slightly different point, the markings for the area are immediately obvious now that you know what you are looking for. And just like before, the area seems to grow in decay the farther in you move.
1d20 ⇒ 15
1d20 ⇒ 10
1d20 ⇒ 16
After about 15 minutes of walking, you are greeted by the laughter of a tiny red-colored human-shaped demon with bat wings as it flies in to attack you.
Please roll initiative. Knowledge (Planes) is the appropriate knowledge to identify the creature. Ihon, you may act in the surprise round as the creature flies out of the trees.
Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Surprise Round
The creature casts Hold Person on Amideo. DC 13 Will Save or paralyzed for 5 rounds (with a new save each round as normal).
Amideo Caluzzo di Solva |
Amideo feels the movement of his limbs slow, before shaking his head and snapping out of it. "Ha, you'll have to do better than that to stop me! Yalla Mahouf, let us fight for honour, glory, and her Royal Majesty!
Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21
Will Save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21