Helikon |
For millennia, magnificent Taldor reigned as an enduring empire, praised for its culture, military, wealth, and connections to the glory of Azlant. By the beginning of the fifth millennium ar, Taldor had begun to sag under the weight of excessive ceremony and decadence. Its old rival Qadira led an invasion against its declining neighbor in 4079. Sensing an opportunity, many of Taldor’s western provinces declared their independence in what was called the Even-Tongued Conquest—a war on two fronts that the empire could not handle. Taldor repelled the Qadiran forces, but it never regained its lost lands.
In the aftermath of the war, emperors of Taldor sought scapegoats to bear the shame of their defeat. They stripped numerous noble families of their titles and lands to condemn their failures in the two campaigns. Most who suffered this punishment faded into obscurity and never rose again. For an ambitious few, reclaiming the titles they should have inherited is an all-consuming goal.
Countess Honaria Alcasti was an influential commander during the campaigns before and immediately following the Even-Tongued Conquest, yet all her skill could not make up for the shortage of supplies, and her career came to an ignoble end. When she dared to critique the crown’s strategies, the emperor sentenced her family to life as common people. Her many-times-great grandson Remaio Alcasti only has incomplete references to his ancestor’s heroism and title, and he longs to exonerate her name and regain the noble title that he believes he deserves. If he can gather the right evidence and present it in Oppara, he is certain that he will succeed. He needs the PCs’ help to follow his leads across several countries to uncover the truth and, with evidence in hand, to advocate for his ancestor’s grand legacy.
He has 5 letters for you so that you can start, each telling you what he has found out so far. Grove, Basilica, Blade, Breakdown and Homestead. You can choose the first and then after completion the next, there is no order.
Pregen with a Beard |
An older human man, his features worn by age but still showing great wisdom and strength in his stern gaze, stands before you. He listens attentively to the young man's request for aid in restoring his family's honor, then turns to the others. "It seems we have a decision to make. We must decide how best to retrace the story of this once noble family and rewrite history to reveal the greatness that remains. In my mind, the best place to begin a story is from the beginning, and every good story begins with the hero's home. I suggest we begin by investigating the Homestead. What say you all?"
Merisiel //Pregen |
"Completely agree with you, old man. Let's begin from where all began." - says an elf woman from the corner of the room juggling with a dagger.
Lini the gnome and Droogami |
A small wild looking gnome woman and her pet cat look uncomfortable in the no doubt civilized location.
"Home is where the heart is yes? Let's go investigate."
Going to alter her cantrips to Read Magic, Create Water, and Guidance.
Pregen with a Beard |
The elderly man taps his cane against the floor and grins momentarily before regaining his stoic expression. "Then we have a majority in favor of traveling to Homestead. Master Alcasti, might we see the appropriate letter?"
I'm also altering my prepared spells. Swapping out Magic Missile for Sleep.
Helikon |
Chapter 1: Homestead
Homestead Instructions
Remaio provides the PCs with a map of Andoran’s countryside and pays for their transportation costs. After traveling by boat to Almas, Andoran’s capital, the PCs journey via west carriage across the Carpenden Plains, along increasingly narrow roads. Along the way, they pass dozens of small farming villages. Vereena’s homestead is isolated, several miles from the nearest village. The final stretch of the PCs’ journey takes them on footpaths that are barely wide enough for a single horse, let alone a carriage.
Fields of overgrown crops surround a squat, shingle-roofed farmhouse. A pair of clay pots filled with cheerful yellow marigolds stands to either side of the house’s front door. Broken boards covered in graffiti are nailed over the door and windows.
Encounter Map
Lini the gnome and Droogami |
We'll need Droogami on the map as well. Can you set the map to where we can move ourselves? It makes combat easier.
What does the graffiti say?
Pregen with a Beard |
"Well this is not the welcome I anticipated," Ezren mutters. He moves toward one of the windows and tries to peer through, hoping to catch a view of whether someone is inside.
Pregen with a Beard |
Ezren looks back at the door and notices that the graffiti is, in fact, a message. "This appears to be Draconic," he says, studying the scrawled lettering closely. "It says, 'Keep out.' Well that's rather abrupt. Hmm... I wonder if there is some reason the author used this language. Magic-users like myself typically use it to record our spells..."
Ezren raises a hand and performs a series of gestures, then raises his cane and holds it parallel to the ground, scanning the doorway from top to bottom with it.
Casts Detect Magic and scans the door.
Merisiel //Pregen |
"Too quiet...i'll look around."
Merisiel carefully walks around the house from the left side.
Stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
Btw what is the time of day: morning, day, evening? What's about lightning conditions?
Pregen with a Beard |
The locks on the door give Ezren pause for a moment, before he recalls his traveling companions. Before Merisiel can entirely disappear around the house, he calls to her. "Ah, Merisiel. You seem a capable individual. By chance, could you find a way to get us through these locks?"
Merisiel //Pregen |
"Ah?" - Merisiel approaches Ezren - "Of course i could"
She draws her thieve's tools out and begins working with locks.
Disable Device: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27
"Piece of cake" she says when the lock clicks.
Pregen with a Beard |
Ezren nods gratefully at the elf and gives her a brief smile. "Thank you very much, my dear. Now, Seelah! Lini! Would you care to join Merisiel and I as we enter this supposedly deserted home?"
Lini the gnome and Droogami |
Move around near the door. Pull myself up a bit to peek in the window.
Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21
"Do you think Yereena is okay?"
Don't forget Droogami has Scent.
Pregen with a Beard |
Ezren looks down at Lini seriously and says, "I sincerely hope so my little friend. Let's find out, shall we?" With that, he opens the door and steps inside.
Lini the gnome and Droogami |
Lini
Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23
Droogami
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12 scent
Pregen with a Beard |
Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20
"What a lovely home," Ezren declares dryly. He moves purposefully toward the fireplace and begins rooting through the discarded parchments, looking for any clues regarding Yereena's whereabouts.
Helikon |
Lini spots a wax seal with a pegasus motif on one of the papers in the fireplace. This motif matches the wax seal on the letter from Remaio that the PCs received at the beginning of the adventure. Closer inspection reveals a letter signed “Countess Honaria Alcasti”. You think there would be more to be found... but droogami looks at the door to the northwest
Lini the gnome and Droogami |
Fingers to lips then point to the door in the Northwest. Send Droogami to stealth his way near it.
Stealth at half speed: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21
I presume Merisiel and Jean-Pierre de Suis are in the room with us since they made perception checks.
Merisiel //Pregen |
Sry, had some troubles with internet access
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14 just in case
When Lini points to the door, Merisiel sneaks to it, opens it just for several inches and looks out through the gap.
Stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
Can't open the map. If there is any window to the northwest, Merisiel will look through it, being sneaky of course
Lini the gnome and Droogami |
Actually I just realized North is to the left on the map. So the North West door is the one we came through.
Helikon |
AS drrogami walks in the other room you can see the following:
A broken grandfather clock on the southern wall announces the hour with a distorted chime. Shards of glass carpet the western half of the room around a series of shattered display cases. Paintings and tapestries cover the walls from floor to ceiling. Jagged rips and tears deface a grand painting of a heavily armored human woman slaying a red dragon.
Lini the gnome and Droogami |
We entered through the door to the far left which is the NW door. Are you saying Droogami senses something at that door? Did they follow us to that door or is there confusion over direction?
Pregen with a Beard |
Ezren looks around and notices the others creeping around near the doors and windows. "Ah. Are we being stealthy now? I see." He does his best to move quietly behind Droogami and approaches the hovel's back door.
Stealth: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
...and disappears in a puff of smoke.
Once he reaches the door, he listens carefully for voices or any signs of intelligent (or at least sentient) life.
Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21
WHAT IS EVEN HAPPENING RIGHT NOW?!
Pregen with a Beard |
Ezren signals to the others, indicating that an attack is immanent. He cautiously steps away from the door and begins weaving a series of gestures, preparing to unleash a wave of sonorous arcane energy to put their would-be attackers into a magical slumber.
Move away from the door and ready an action to cast Sleep on whoever is on the other side of the door when the door is opened.
Sleep - DC 15
Lini the gnome and Droogami |
I presume Merisiel is inside the room.
Whisper to Jean-Pierre de Suis and point to the door.
"Would you do the honers?"
Merisiel //Pregen |
Yeah, Merisiel is in the house
Seeing Ezren gestures, Merisiel wonders
"What are you doing, old man?"
She then searches the room for anything eye-cathing and also trying to find out what's happened here.
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
Lini the gnome and Droogami |
Straighten the painting then examine the picture.
Helikon |
Merisiel notices a couple of Kobolds clad in ill-fitting cloaks
and helmets stolen from an Eagle Knight hiding under the bed under, in the corner and a huge pitchfork comming closer as the trap is sprung.
Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 121d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8 As she notices it, she is not flat-footed and dodges easely out of the way.
With Yap Yap yells the kobolds attack. Please iniative.
Pregen with a Beard |
Once the kobolds are visible to Ezren, he will cast his readied Sleep spell against them.
Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Lini the gnome and Droogami |
Lini
Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Droogami
Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
I'm about to go to bed so I'll preroll attacks.
Droogami will move into the room to attack the first enemy he can. This might provoke.
Lini will move up to Merisiel and cast Guidance on her. +1 on next attack, skill check, or saving throw.
Helikon |
Iniative order:
Kobolds
Jean pierre des suis
Merisiel
Ezren
Lini and after giving the attack order
Droogami
Seeing the mage cast a spell the blue kobold stands up and throws his spear at ezren.
Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 161d6 - 1 ⇒ (5) - 1 = 4 As sleep is a fullround action please a concentration check to keep the spell
The other ready their action if someone comes closer
Attackred: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 91d6 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1
Attackgreen: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 161d6 - 1 ⇒ (4) - 1 = 3
Attackyellow: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 21d6 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2
Merisiel //Pregen |
Merisiel moves to flanking position tumbling and evading and drawing her rapier and pierces the yellow kobold.
Rapier: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
dmg: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
sneak attack: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Crit. conf.: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7 not confirmed(
Moved myself into the room, coz have already been there (searching and evading traps) when the combat started. But i don't know where exactly i should be, so in case i'll move past kobolds, here are my acrobatics chekcs to avoid AOO
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27