Kingmaker
Game Master Dreaming Warforged

Malaswyn to finish the round. It's not dead, yet...

Uh-oh.

For the record, I'm gonna add 6 hp's due to the 8 hours resting. I believe it's 1 hp/level when you rest 8 hours. And yes, I'm grasping at straws. After seeing 66 points of damage to Ember, this could be bad for Kriger. Real. Bad.

Also, this Fireballin' cleric is freakin' cool! That's gonna come in real handy. :)

Round 1 - The Leaders of Frieland
Without the magically enhanced speed, Kalsgrim would look to warily back away from the creature as he draws out his bow and an arrow. With the spell on him, however, his backward paces quickly propel him away from the beast while he looses the first of many arrows at it.

The arrow finds its way through the beast’s thick armor as it growls, its tiny eyes wild.

Servayn casts another spell, calling down a rain of glowing embers, attempting to blind the beast.

Kriger's eyes narrow in anger as he sees the bulette literally obliterate Ember. Moving at a rapid pace straight towards the beast, "BURN!" Kriger yells as his weapon catches fire.

As he first approaches the beast, it senses him and its huge mouth snaps at him like a turtle.

Astonished by the ferocious beast's fortitude, I send forth a prayer to Sarenrae for aid.

Stunned at the savagry of the creature's attack on Ember, and Kalsgrim and Kriger's brutally accurate retorts, Servayn is all-too aware that death herself must be watching this battle with measuring eyes, to take up the first to show themselves unworthy of another breath.

Round 2 -The Bulette of Dunsward
Blinded and bleeding severely, the beasts turns heel and runs for a few feet before burrowing into the ground!
Combat over, unless you have a way to pursue.

Status
Haste 1 round/6.
Prayer.
Glitterdust 1 round/6, Bulette blinded

Staring at the creature disappear into the ground, "Well crap. We almost had it." He then turns to the others, "Nice work fellas. And you, healer, with that fire blast. Nice!" He gives Malaswyn a slap on the shoulder. "Alright! Let's get moving."

"Well done, all. I wish we could have finished it so it wasn't a threat to others, but we are pretty far from any towns now, I believe." He meets the elf's gaze. "That was impressive. Very impressive. Thank you for joining us." Then turning to Servayn, "Will Ember be... back?"

Surveying the scene, Kalsgrim determines "We should walk for a while, in case it or another of its kind attacks again." If no one offers another course of action, we'll walk our horses for the next half hour with weapons ready. Then after that start riding again.

Servayn's eyes narrow at the creature's hasty retreat, and he grumbles an incantation in an unfamiliar tongue.

summon monster III SLA to call up 1d3 augmented small earth elementals for six minutes. 1d3 ⇒ 1

He scowls at the lone elemental that appears, and orders it in Terran to pursue the fleeing creature through the earth, and to attack it until destroyed.

Stats

He then acknowledges Kalsgrim's question, and replies, "Ember's material form has been discorporated, I will be able to call him forth again tomorrow. I'm just relieved that the creature did not cause such harm to one us, who are not so easily conjured back together!"

"That elemental probably won't be able to significantly harm it, if it can even effectively locate or pursue the creature, but perhaps it will aggravate the creature into surfacing again, so that we can take another shot at it."

Using earth elementals as depth charges to attempt to get a bulette to 'break surface?' Surely stranger tactics have been attempted...

I shrug off the compliments, "Sarenrae protects her serveants." Then peer into the bulette's tunnel. "A mouse can't settle in a cat's playground."

The elemental returns, caked in dry blood. It seems to have killed the bulette.

"Calistria's fickle charms!" Servayn exclaims, "I think it's dead."

He quickly switches to Terran, and kneels to address the small elemental, aware that it is not much brighter than a simple child, and may not understand his words;
Terran

"You know, that's fairly clever idea, Servayn. I hope the thing finds it and wins."

Later
"You gotta be... well I'll be a... seriously?" Waiting for him to finish speaking in an odd tongue to the rock monster, "You kow, I'm mighty glad you're on my side, buddy!" He gives Servayn a good ol' Kriger slap on the shoulder. "Well, now that that's taken care of, let's keep rollin'."

You make good speed through the low hills as they gradually turn into plains. The horses seem happy for the grass under their hooves. Clouds start gathering in the sky, coming from the west, announcing rain, but the weather holds. You make camp a stone throw away from a pond, as the sun eases in the horizon.

Map of Varnhold

You gather around the fire and share stories, getting to know your new companion and telling them all about the Barony of Frieland.

The night passes without incident, and you start anew as a light rain drizzle in a grey morning sky.

21st of Rova, 4711
Map of Varnhold
The Dunsward plains offer no cover, but for the rare copse, for the strong cold wind that settles across the plain. Luckily, you mostly make progress with it at your back, but your bones start to chill as the day passes. Finally, the rain stops, and a few hours later, still wet, you spot a group of horsemen in the distance.

Servayn calls forth Ember from the dying dregs of the night's campfire, and the brute emerges from the hissing embers to the feel of rain skittering off of his smouldering scales.

"The world weeps for me. As it should be." Ember grunts before stalking away, apparently wishing to speak no further of the previous day's defeat.

....

Later in the day, Servayn peers through the drizzle, attempting to determine if they are seeing 'horsemen' or 'horse-men.'

Perception 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Noticing the horsemen, "It looks like we got company, fellas." Kriger peers into the distance to see if he can discern exactly "who" might this company be.

Perception: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (7) + 19 = 26

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

"Looks like we got centaurs, fellas. And I've got no idea whether they want to befriend us... or behead us. I'd highly suggest we figure on the latter and arm ourselves, hm?" Without waiting for any sort of reply, he immediately draws his axe.

Ember grumbles, "Horse people count as people, not horses, don't they?" in a dour tone.

Servayn replies softly, "Yes, you can't eat any. And you aren't supposed to be eating horses either, remember?"

Kalsgrim keeps his bow out, but no arrow nocked. He shakes his head as he gazes out. "I can't believe you can see that much detail that far, Kriger. Let us know if you can tell if they're getting hostile, otherwise we should try to talk to them." Kalsgrim raises a hand in a broad gesture of greeting at the distant folk.

I look on, watching quietly for the centaurs.

perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28

"I can't seem to get a read on 'em at all, Kals. Let's see how they respond to your hail. If they charge this way, I'm guessin' they're not too friendly." He continues to survey the area, keeping an eye mostly on the centaurs as he speaks. "You fellas think we ought to head their way real calm like, and see what happens?"

"I suggest we stop moving and let them come to us. Give them the sense that they are in control of the timing of this meeting, which they kind of are..."

"Magic armor?" Ember queries low, and Servayn shakes his head in the negative. "They are close enough to perhaps spot the signs of spellcasting, and I don't want to provoke them any more than they already may be, if we are intruding on their lands..."

"Alright then, let's see what happens."

The cenaturs start to ride towards you at a slow pace. You count fifteen of them. They carry spears and short composite bows. They all have their bow in hand.

Aboyt a 200 feet from you, they stop and spread a little.

sense motive: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

A long minute passes in complete silence as they study you from a safe distance. You can tell their leader by its greater size and the tall feathers that fall back with his long hair and his tail. All the centaur warriors are muscular and most seem to have seen many winters in these plains.

Knowledge (nature) DC 15 to recall important facts about centaurs.

Servayn attempts to recall if he's ever heard of what god the centaur-folk follow.

Knowledge (religion) 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

No Knowledge (nature), so improvising!

Knowledge: (Nature) 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

"I gotta bad feeling about this. Be ready, fellas. I'm afraid this is gonna get ugly." Kriger grips his axe just a little bit tighter.

"The Nomen are Desna worshippers, so freedom from restraints, a casual attitude towards authority figures that they don't recognize and respect for boundaries may be very important to them. Even having reins on our horses might offend them, on some level, if they are looking for excuses to pick a fight." Servayn says in a soft voice to Kalsgrim.

"Well, Desna worshippers is a good sign in my eyes. And I don't have any need to be treated differently because of my job back in Providence. If they are spoiling for a fight, we'll defend ourselves. But I don't see any reason to provoke them."

We will wait until they approach within comfortable hailing range or decide to wander off.

The centaurs are in hailing range. Please make appropriate social rolls.

Kalsgrim lowers his arm and calls out. "Good day. My name is Kalsgrim. We've come from the northwest and are heading east. We mean you no harm, and we do not mean to intrude if you have claim to this land. We are here seeking more of our kind that lived west of here but have seemingly vanished. Can we impose on you to ask if you know anything of it?"

Diplomacy 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14

Now that they are close, can Kalsgrim tell if they are leaning toward hostility?

Sense Motive 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

The leader raises his chin and presents his hind legs as he vociferates in anger: "మీరు భూమి కోసం మరియు మీ గుర్రం గౌరవం లేదు చూపించు. అది మీది ఉంటే మీరు మా భూమి ఇవ్వండి. మీరు స్నేహం ఆశించడం కానీ దాని సారాంశం భూమి దోచుకుంటున్నారని వస్తారు. మీరు ఇప్పుడు వదిలి, మీ జుట్టు మరియు మీ దంతాలు మంచి ఫిషింగ్ టూల్స్ చేస్తుంది!"

The other warriors yell in unison, supporting their leaders, they shake their bows and show their hind legs.

"Mighty plains warriors, we seek one who may be foe to both our peoples. Speak you the tongues of men," Servayn begins, in the Taldan tongue, before switching to Auran "Or the words of sky" and then Terran, "Or stone?"

Diplomacy 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 25

"The leader insults us and threatens to kill us if we do not leave. Apparently we do not respect the land or our horses. He is a rousing speechmaker."

I shake my head, in exaggerated sadness.

No idea how to add crazy fonts to a board post, very cool though.

diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20

I would guess he's using Google translator and copying/pasting.

"The Nomen are Desna worshippers, so freedom from restraints, a casual attitude towards authority figures that they don't recognize and respect for boundaries may be very important to them. Even having reins on our horses might offend them, on some level, if they are looking for excuses to pick a fight." Servayn says in a soft voice to Kalsgrim.

"And they love battle. It's what they're good at. There really isn't a lot more to 'em than that. Outside of the fact they outnumber us nearly three to one." He shrugs.

The Nomen leader spits on the ground and raises his chin as he speaks in an angry voice.

"మేము పురుషుల తెలుసా వారు మా భూమి గుండా. వారు వరించింది. వారు లాఫ్డ్. వారు బహుమతులు అందించారు. వారు ఆహార మరియు ఆశ్రయం అంగీకరించారు. వారు మాకు భూమిని సీక్రెట్స్ నేర్చుకున్నాడు. అప్పుడు వారు మాకు బలవంతంగా. వారు మాకు పోరాడారు. వారు మాకు చాలా మరణించారు. వారు మా భూమిని మాకు దోచుకున్నారు!"

They don't seem about to attack, but they certainly are ready to fight.

I use Google Translate. Telugu for Sylvan. My Dreaming Warforged page has the list of languages I use.

Kalsgrim, taken aback by his inability to win over the centaurs, stands quietly while the others speak. They seem to be having more success. If any look to him for guidance or approval, he gives a discrete silent nod of approval. Seeing the effect Malaswyn is having, he thinks Perhaps if we survive and make it back to Providence, I can recruit him as an ambassador...

Servayn is distinctly uncomfortable with 'the new guy' they just happened to find a day or so ago being the only one who can communicate with the Nomen, remembering the damage that well-chosen words could cause to their fledgeling nation at the hands of that rabble-rousing bard back in Frieland. They clearly have enemies they do not yet know of, what if this was no convenient encounter of chance?

His brow furrows as he attempts, in vain, to divine some glimmer of meaning from their conversation.

Linguistics 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Sense Motive 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (6) + 0 = 6

It is not enough to have the ability to persuade others, I must cultivate the skill to know what they may be hiding, as well...

I speak softly to my companions, They are complaining about the men, I don't know if that would be the people of Varnhold, or whoever caused the disappearance.

ఈ పురుషులు కోరడం, మరియు వారు స్నేహితుడు లేదా శత్రువు ఉంటే ఇంకా తెలియదు. వారు వెళ్లి ఇక్కడ మీరు తెలుసు?

further diplomacy, if needed: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21

As Malaswyn speaks to the centaurs, Kriger leans in close to the others. "Don't know about you fellas, but how about the timing of this new fella? None of us can speak their language but he can?!?! Timing I tell ya." He winks and leans back out.

The centaurs seem to relax a little. Their leader addresses Malaswyn: "Mīru talli mūn yokka kumārte māṭlāḍaṭaṁ uṇḍāli. Mā śibiranlō māku anusarin̄caṇḍi!"

My computer doesn't take the font for Telugu...Doing it phonetically instead.

The centaurs turn back slowly and proceed south.

Kriger looks perplexed as they seem to be turning and leaving. As a smile slowly creeps upon his face, "HA! HA! I told ya, fellas! Timing!" He nods triumphantly. "Wait a minute," he says, suddenly realizing they need information. "Did ya find anything out?" He asks the newcomer.

"They're going to introduce us to someone who can help. We should follow."

I nudge my horse on after the centaurs.

"You had some knowledge of the people of Varnhold: would they wage war upon the centaurs?"

"Ambition and greed can drive men to do terrible things. The land we were given to settle was inhabited by those who survived by robbery and murder; it was a boon to the land that we came to it. I would admit to no surprise that if they did war upon them."

Kalsgrim grimaces. "If it is true, we may have to mete out justice to those responsible. But I have to believe there were many innocent amongst the settlers of Varnhold, and we must pursue their disappearance on that hope. "

We'll follow the centaurs, but not let our guard down.

The centaurs and you ride through the rolling plains. A small rain starts to drop from the grey ceiling above. The smell of earth and fresh grass rises from the ground and fills your nostrils with a sense of calmness. Despite the rain, despite the disappeared, despite the Nomen threat, you find yourself smiling...

Perception please.

Sense Motive 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

Perception 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (19) + 0 = 19

Perception 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
Sense Motive 1d20 ⇒ 18

Survival 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

sense motive: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
Perception: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (1) + 19 = 20

Survival: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (14) + 17 = 31

All of you notice a dark spot in the sky. It moves fast and is coming closer. It looks big. Very. Big.