TheGreenTeaGameMaster |
Or does FR work differently? Resurrection and True Res can bring back people killed like this.
Oops. I misread the resurrection spell. I thought it said "you cannot bring back someone reanimated. Well then - let's just assume they tried raise dead, and they haven't tried a full resurrection spell yet because they had to send out of town for a powerful enough cleric.
The guard outside pokes his head in and looks around. "Are you all...um...finding anything? Or...everything you need?" He's young, maybe two decades old, and he looks really nervous. Assuming you all ask him questions about the murder, he replies. "The prince was found by his last guard. It was a paladin trained by King Gareth himself. He, um...well, when he found out he failed in his duty, he, ah..." The young guard swallows, and draws a finger across his own throat. "He took that failure very seriously. I was on wall duty and got placed here last night to replace him...not that there's much to guard anymore. Poor kid. He was really a sweet boy. There's no heir now, and the king has been in his room not seeing anyone since it happened. I'm pretty sure he's depressed. I mean, wouldn't you be?"
He pauses when asking about the time of the event, day, etc.
"No, we didn't have any guests. The only thing I can remember was it was so damn dark out that night. It was the night of the new moon, and I couldn't see crap from the wall - forgivin' my language, sirs. The local priest of Illmater tried to bring the boy back, but it wasn't doing. Nobody's really cleaned the scene up, except that Lady Elaine comes buy to cast a Gentle Repose spell on the young prince, so as to keep things less...decayed...until the High Priest of Illmater can arrive from his trip out west."
Flarghin is cold and quiet as the interrogation goes on, and he narrows his eyes at the window. He walks up, looks down to the ground below. "It ain't snowed since four days past. If anyone left tracks, we can follow 'em. Least I know you can, no?" He turns and looks at Lavinia and raises an eyebrow. You can see his hands lowering to the hammers at his belt, and gripping tightly to their handles. The tiefling is not the only one who has had his ire raised by this sight
Majhul |
That is a hefty DC and the other main guy who might get it rolled a 1, I'ma bypass the roll, cast Burst of Insight for a +4, and take 10 for a 32.
Majhul thinks for a moment, and is struck immobile by a peek back into his own memories. Seconds later, he gasps and shakes his head.
"Too much to be a coincidence..." he mutters.
"Feast of the Moon. Sharran blood sacrifice, takes place on the last New Moon. I imagine a high profile murder like this is even more valuable to them. It also does not bode well if this is the precursor to their plots for the next year. This could be much bigger than the death of a prince. And I don't say that to trivialize this." he relays, almost clinically.
Kurza |
Pacing about the room in obvious frustration, when he hears Majhul's comments Kurza stops and stares with the realization, "Sharrans!" he says with disgust. "Damn skulkers in shadow, the lot of them!"
Kurza then follows Flarghin's lead when he mentions Lavinia's tracking skills..."You have skill enough to track them you think?" his voice full of hope as he turns to look at the fur covered hin. "Why that is wonderful, little one!"
Lavinia Snowbeard |
Lavinia quickly reshoulders her rucksack, stuffs her braid into her hat, and ignores the silk-swaddled human’s belaboring as she wends her way between the children and follows Flarghin out the door.
Fort Save vs Cold: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 24 vs DC 15
Fort Save vs Cold: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16 vs DC 16
Fort Save vs Cold: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 25 vs DC 17
Fort Save vs Cold: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15 vs DC 18
Fort Save vs Cold: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 28 vs DC 19
Non-lethal dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 1
As they near the city her efforts of the past two days catch up to her and the night’s chill finds purchase in her flesh.
Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26 vs DC 20
Lavinia waits as the big folk shout at each other, overhearing the guards hushed discussion. The king doesn't want to be disturbed, this long after his son's death? Seems his lands can get along well enough without him. After the discussion with the steward, she follows along behind the group, assuming that the room of the murder has already been trod through enough to make picking out any tracks impossible. Once they're at the scene, she takes in the room.
Heal: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14 vs DC 20
Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17 vs DC 20
Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28 vs DC 25
As the others check the corpse and the floor, she notices something in the hearth and investigates. "Some sort of letter was burned in here," she comments, squinting at the remains of the scroll. "Don't recognize the script."
At Flarghin's prompting, she briefly investigates the sill and exterior wall, then nods. "Shouldn't be a problem." She hops up onto the sill, turns around, and hands one end of a coil of silk rope to the dwarf then drops the rest to the ground below. Grasping the rope in both hands and bracing her left foot against the exterior wall, she begins climbing down.
Climb Taking 10 = 19
Survival: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23 vs DC ?; +4 if there's still snow on the ground
EDIT: I mis-remembered the effects of fatigue, have corrected for correct modifiers and changed her method of climbing down the wall.
Kurza |
If any members of the party are suffering from fatigue after our journey, Kurza will offer to use LoH and his mercy should remove that. From what I read though it seems once the non-lethal damage goes away the fatigue should as well. Happy to help either way.
TheGreenTeaGameMaster |
Majhul takes a look at the letter Lavinia found, trying to decipher it.
[dice=Linguistics or Spellcraft]1d20+13
The scroll is, or at least once was, a scroll of animate dead. It appears your theories of the body being reanimated to make it's resurrection more difficult are in fact correct.
Lavinia easily makes her way down the wall to the frozen moat below, and begins looking through the area for any tracks. It isn't too long before she's able to pick up the trail of a set of lightly pressed footprints in the hard ground. It's faint, but her trained eye is indeed able to see it coming in from the city, and leaving out, west, avoiding the city entirely.
Flarghin crosses his arms and shakes his head. "Damn girl is like a little spider monkey, climbing out like that. I'm gonna go help her out."
He turns and heads out the way you came in, running down the stairs to catch up to her the long way.
Lavinia Snowbeard |
If any members of the party are suffering from fatigue after our journey, Kurza will offer to use LoH and his mercy should remove that. From what I read though it seems once the non-lethal damage goes away the fatigue should as well. Happy to help either way.
Lavinia will take some healing if it's offered directly, but at only 1 point of nonlethal damage and fatigue only imposing a -1 to hit/ac for her, ooc I don't know that it's worth using one of your lay on hands for the day - if we don't get into combat, the fatigue won't much matter, and if we do, we'll probably need that healing more at that time.
Lavinia Snowbeard |
The ground's pretty hard. I'll have to find out what the weather was like when the boy was killed, might be able to get a gauge on the murderer's weight. She looks back up the wall as the other end of her rope comes falling down. Flarghin must be coming to have a look for himself. Or he just doesn't want to shout at each other all night.
She follows the tracks for a score or so yards in each direction as she thinks. Killer came in from the east; were they blending in with some sort of crowd, in a hurry and just arrived, or had they been in residence in the city for some time planning their attack? Barring them backtracking a ways down, it looks as if they took off and never looked back when the deed was done. Might be somebody 'round the castle's gone missin' since, if it was an inside job.
The hin squats down on her haunches next to the killer's trail, absentmindedly recoiling her rope as she starts familiarizing herself with the tracks of her prey.
TheGreenTeaGameMaster |
Flarghin arrives outside and begins to assist with the assessment of their prey. "Aye, lass, I agree with what you're saying. Our murderer clearly high tailed it when he was through. Seems like speed was the key, too...given how clean they left the scene, this was a pro, and its a bit sloppy to leave tracks after all this. Probably in a rush..."
As the two look over the tracks and compare theories, they're able to summize the killer is roughly human sized, by the look of the shoes, too heavy to be an elf, and too light to be a dwarf, though the depth of tracks indicates this is someone of a large build for a medium humanoid. Strangest of all, the culprit appears to be bare foot, despite the area's intense cold.
Isandril Velahrn |
"Hmm," Sand offers after the dwarf and the halfling share their findings, "a human? And barefoot? Considering the cold we have all experienced, would that not mean some sort of magical protection? Taking the scroll into account, whoever did it must have had such means at his disposal and there are spells to protect one from extreme temperatures."
He shrugs. "Unless whoever did it is not human but rather someone with a natural resistance to such biting cold."
Having taken 19 points of nonlethal damage and adding fatigue to that, Isandril would certainly appreciate a bit of healing. However, if we are to venture out into the cold again and more Fortitude saves await us, I wonder if the healing will go to waste.
Maybe those of us who do not have cold weather clothing should grab some before going out again?
Kurza |
Kurza turns to the elf, a look of compassion on his face, "You look very weary friend. I can offer you the touch of Tyr's Blessing to relieve you of your burden now or we can rest here for a while where it is warm and wait for the chill to fully leave your bones.'
I just checked and it would take him 4 hours to heal the current damage if he warms up and that removes the fatigue condition as well. Kurza can heal him if we plan to go on the hunt right now or we can wait and acquire the cold gear while he rests and heals, letting Kurza save the LoH for combat or on the road trouble with damage as Lavinia mentioned.
'We must be on our way soon but I think we can spare a few hours for you as I am sure others could use the rest as well, and besides we can try and find some warmer clothes for those that need them in the meantime. What say you all to that? Shall we wait or shall we press onward?"
I agree, we should get cold weather gear for everyone that needs it. Kurza can go without if it isn't an option since he has cold resistance 5. When we rest Kurza will pray for Endure Elements if that seems necessary.
Lavinia Snowbeard |
Lavinia sniffs the outside air and glances at the sky. "Waiting will make little difference in the tracks, except for them being easier to see after sunrise."
Survival to Predict Weather: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13 vs DC 15
I predict it will remain dark until sunrise.
TheGreenTeaGameMaster |
Lavinia is unable to predict the weather, until Flarghin, popping a thumb in his mouth and holding it to the air, nudges her. "It's blowing south, ye daft girl..." he whispers to her, and with just that much information she's able to figure that while it is not going to snow tomorrow, with the air blowing off the Great Glacier, you're looking at sub-zero temperatures when the sun sets tomorrow.
Flarghin takes 10 to give +2 aid another to Lavinia's survival.
Shops are all closed in town - if you want to buy anything, you will have to wait until sunrise. I'll let you do a Knowledge (local) DC ...let's say 30...to know a tailor who is a personal friend and thus you can bother him at his house for cold weather clothes in the middle of the night. (Since that's a pretty exceptional coincidence.)
Majhul |
[dice=Survival to Predict Weather]1d20 + 11 vs DC 15
I predict it will remain dark until sunrise.
It's a good practice always to take 10 if you can in scenarios like these. You were guaranteed a 21, why chance failing?
"I do have scrolls that will let us endure the elements. I had just assumed we wouldn't need them tonight."
"Before we rest, should we inform the steward of why the prince could not be resurrected? It might give the king peace of mind to know it can be circumvented."
TheGreenTeaGameMaster |
As the group's consensus seems to be to rest until morning, the party heads to the steward, who is in the castle's study, reading through some notes when the party arrives. Upon being informed of the reason the prince could not be resurrected, the slightest of smiles comes to the woman's lips. "Of course. Why hadn't I thought of that? It makes sense. Still, it only serves to inconvenience us more - the king will spare no expense for his only son, so what is the point? Strange." She strokes her chin thoughtfully, and remains silent. "Well, was there something else?"
Flarghin takes a moment to speak. "Beggin' yer pardon, Lady Steward, but as we hurried to make it here, we're without sleep, and were wonderin' if we could quarter in the castle so as to be close to the trail as possible when we set off at first light."
Lady Sarcim nods. "You can stay in the diplomats' quarters. It's specially kept for foreign dignitaries. I'm sure the king will be pleased to hear of his son's potential to be returned, and would not begrudge me allowing you this luxury for the night."
She leads you to another wing of the castle, to a suite of rooms that seems rather well decorated. Not lavishly, like royalty, but certainly comfortable and befitting nobility. Each one has a bath with fireplace to heat the water (though they are currently empty), elegant poster bed, and all the comforts one could imagine - though because they were not expecting company, it lacks the usual feasts that would accompany such provisions. Flarghin kicks his boots off and strips out of his armor and plops in one of the beds, tired from having gone so long without sleep.
The night passes without event, and the only sounds you hear through the night are the wind blowing fiercely outside, and the boots of the patrolling guards.
Majhul |
As the group's consensus seems to be to rest until morning, the party heads to the steward, who is in the castle's study, reading through some notes when the party arrives. Upon being informed of the reason the prince could not be resurrected, the slightest of smiles comes to the woman's lips. "Of course. Why hadn't I thought of that? It makes sense. Still, it only serves to inconvenience us more - the king will spare no expense for his only son, so what is the point? Strange." She strokes her chin thoughtfully, and remains silent. "Well, was there something else?"
"This event was a precursor to the Sharran's other plans, if it was traditional for their 'holiday'. I would not be surprised if the intent of making resurrection less timely was to keep the king distracted while they carry out some even more heinous crime." Majhul warns.
Lavinia Snowbeard |
"What's a 'Sharran'?"
***
Once in their quarters Lavinia chooses a room, where sheds an outer layer of furs. Looking over the bath she pulls at her collar and sticks her nose inside. Seems fine to me. She lays down on the floor next to the door, her rucksack within reach, and catches a couple hours of sleep.
Isandril Velahrn |
"Headstart or not, we cannot do much to find and capture our murderer if we are half dead from cold," Sand agrees with a sigh. He has to admit he is quite thankful for the warmth and the reprieve. "Or, even worse, if we are entirely dead."
"As for Sharran, I assume it refers to a follower of Shar," the elf replies with a shrug before retiring for the night. "Nasty lady. But her believers' practices and traditions are not exactly my area of expertise."
TheGreenTeaGameMaster |
At first light, the crew awakens to a brisk morning, but not nearly as cold as the previous night. Assuming they want to shop, its less than half an hour's work to find a tailor or furrier in the marketplace and get some cold weather clothes, as this is certainly the time and place they are in abundance.
When the party gathers back at the western end of the castle most, there they find the tracks Lavinia spotted still waiting for them.
The tracks of course lead west, and as you follow them, eventually they lead to the main road, with an attempt to blend in with the regular foot traffic of the road west to Bloodstone village.
Will require more tracking as the subject is evading tracking now. Assume +2 from Flarghin aiding another.
Everyone make a will save as you're traveling with a +5 bonus vs DC 21. If you fail, nothing happens - yet. If you pass, nothing happens...yet.
The old dwarf grumbles at seeing the tracks move back into the main road. "No wonder the bastard dinna cover his feet earlier. Planned to slip into heavy foot traffic here."
Kurza |
Kurza purchases cold weather gear as mentioned. If its common practice in the area he will get snow shoes but not wear them till necessary. Grabbing some other tools, like a folding shovel, a tent, and the like. I'm at work but I'll post details on my char sheet, spend the money etc later. posting from my phone presently.
Will save: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29 +2 vs death effects.
Isandril Velahrn |
Not wanting to once again face the cold unprotected Isandril takes the time to visit a clothing store and after a little time the elf returns with attire fit for cold weather.
"This should help somewhat," he remarks with a smile. 'Ι hope,' he adds in his thoughts at the same time.
Will: 1d20 + 5 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 5 = 20, +2 vs. enchantment
Ah, so close...
Lavinia Snowbeard |
Lavinia Snowbeard |
Lavinia stops at the road's edge for a moment, looking over the tracks. Trying to blend in with the road traffic - not a bad idea. This one could be tough. She nods to Majhul before backing up several yards and placing her own right foot into one of the right foot tracks of her prey; she then proceeds to the road in their own footsteps, albeit with a hop-jumping gait necessary to match the length of stride. Once at the road again she stands on her left leg for several long moments with her eyes closed.
One stupid yeti, two stupid yeti, three stupid yeti...
She takes a blind hop-jumping step into the road on her right foot and then opens her eyes to stare intensely down at the ground.
Survival / Track: 1d20 + 11 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 11 + 3 + 2 = 34
(+2 Flarghin assist, +3 Adaptable Luck.)
Micah Haynes |
Micah finds a warm place to lie down in the suite and promptly falls asleep. He wakes two hours later feeling warmed and refreshed. He removes some parchment and a quill and sets about writing prayers to Mystra and arcane formulae, in observation of his oaths. He completes the ritual by casting prestidigitation and leaving the page on top of an end table. Then he retrieves one of his two scrolls of endure elements and the special ink he uses for his spellbook. He studies the scroll and transcribes it into his spellbook, then sets it in his mind ready to be cast. take 10 on spellcraft to learn spell; deducting cost to add to spellbook, and scroll.
When the others rise and head out for supplies, he accompanies them. Once they are properly outfitted he smiles and says, "Welcome to the North."
Once they reach the edge of the moat, he watches Lavinia with curiosity as she tracks the footsteps. He nearly bursts out laughing as she closes her eyes and leaps, until she opens them and seems to be on the trail still...
Will: 1d20 + 6 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 5 = 28 +2 vs charm/compulsion
TheGreenTeaGameMaster |
The tracks lead westward, along the road, towards Bloodstone Village - a bit of a misnomer, as far as city names are concerned. While there is a bloodstone mine at the base of the town, it is far from a village, and more like a medium sized city, at the base of a huge wall - the Damaran wall of Bloodstone Pass.
As you head along the road, you find the trail diverts off of the road itself, and begins to trudge along the plains on a north-westerly direction, almost as if it's purposefully avoiding the village. It is a few more hours that you all follow this track, until eventually you come to a small river. The water is flowing fierce, which is preventing it's total freeze despite the cold weather (now that the sun is up it's just about freezing outside), and there, almost in the middle of nowhere, stands a small bridge - about four feet wide, crossing the water at about thirty feet long, with a lone kobold standing guard, spear in hand, looking more than a little distracted from his duty as he watches the flow of the water. A few boulders from the mountains lay scattered around the area, and the tall grass blows easily in the wind.
Kurza |
Kurza shifts his position, interposing himself between the boulders Micah indicated and the rest of his party. In a low voice he says, "I suppose we can try to keep one alive to question, though I am not promising that."
Kurza, fights the urge to just charge the hidden ogres and instead consults his friends. "Now, just so you all are aware, I plan to rush the ogres over there and engage them, but I would suggest you prepare any defensive magic now, before I alert them."
Slowly moving closer giving his friends time, he readies himself to move and engage the ogres.
Once I know the party is ready, unless they ask me to stand down, I will rush the Ogres position, drawing my blade and casting Divine Favor while I move, and as soon as I see an ogre I will Smite Evil as a swift action changing my AC to 24 vs that target.
Lavinia Snowbeard |
Lavinia scans the scene, peering over the grass on tip-toes. These creatures seem lax and lazy, but those big ones look like they could wrestle a bear each. Why kick a sleeping wolverine?
"Why don't we ask the little one how much the toll is?"
Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16
Majhul |
"If you're insistent on such a reckless action, I can't stop you, but I'd advise against it. Perhaps a more...diplomatic approach could be advantageous."
Majhul, nevertheless preparing for the worst, casts False Life on himself. He then moves forward to greet the kobold.
"Hello the bridge!" he calls.
Temp HP: 1d10 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Kurza |
"I can wait, if you think you can reason with a kobold and ogres." Kurza reigns in his impulse to charge though he remains quite wary.
In my experience ogres tend to eat diplomats... he thinks to himself.
Isandril Velahrn |
"Oh dear," Sand quips simply as Majhul starts approaching the bridge and the kobold. The words to the same shielding spell as the cast by the human mage come to his maybe, but he does not utter them. Not yet anyway.
"Maybe we can actually talk our way through?" He is not entirely certain that he believes his own words though.
Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14
Can I sort of ready the action to cast shield at the moment negotiations seem to be failing, but before actual combat rounds start? If not I will just cast it now, but I would like to avoid using up a resource if there is no fighting.
TheGreenTeaGameMaster |
I should've pointed out that the ogres were on the other side of the river. That's the only reason they even got a 13 stealth - distance bonuses. Ah the problems with Theater of the Mind. Nevertheless, I think we'll do well.
The kobold perks up at the shout, and those of you who were able to see the ogres note they stop digging and look at each other, then one peeks his head over the boulder, and looks at the other, whispering from far off.
"Dark man say am bush."
"Am not bush. Am ogre!
""No. Dark man say wait until signal. Kobold trick dem come close. Then throw rocks."
"Dis stupid. We should smash close."
"You face stupid. Dark man say am avengers part-E. Cut if we close with many pokes."
"Am not scared of dem."
"Am scared of dark man?"
"...will wait and throw rocks."
The lone kobold looks over at the party, and then, puts his spear in a defensive position and says in clipped, broken common. "You. Pay toll! Um...ten gold! Yes. Person. Ten gold person!" He smiles, looking very sure of himself. "Lay gold on edge of bridge, then you pass. One at time. No gold, pain!"
He seems very sure of himself.
Kurza |
"That's absurd." says Kurza flatly under his breath. He looks around at his party for their reactions. He wonders aloud, but hushed enough that only his party should hear, "I wonder how strong and secure that bridge is?"
While Kurza certainly doesn't have knowledge about engineering, he hopes one or more of his friends does. Is it a stone or wooden bridge? Fixed in place or just a few boards tossed together? In good repair or ramshackle? Even he can tell things like that at least.
TheGreenTeaGameMaster |
The kobold begins looking impatient, and he backs up to the end of the bridge across the river from you. "Hurry big dumbs. Cut bridge if no pay. Long walk around. To town and back for bridge. You no catch da..." he pauses and covers his mouth with both hands, dropping his spear briefly. "Just pay!" he manages as a weak recovery.
Lavinia Snowbeard |
Damn. I swim about as well as I fly. Lavinia squats down below the level of the grass and unsheathes Clearsky, moves a short way to assure a clear shot, then peeks back over the landscape at the retreating kobold to gauge his distance and note the strength of the wind blowing through the grass. Not much I can do if those two brutes decide to take out the bridge, but I'll leave them to the toothy one. The hin calmly waits, hand ready to pluck an arrow from her quiver and fire if the kobold tries to make good on his threat.
Stealth: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (20) + 16 = 36
Lavinia will ready an action to shoot the kobold if he makes to cut the bridge down.
Majhul |
Kn. Local (Ogres): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 35
Kn. Local (Kobolds): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (8) + 15 = 23
What do I know about these creatures, BTW? Primarily culturally, since I know they're different in FR. Wonder if we have anything to bargain or intimidate them with.
Depending on what the reply is, I may advocate just capturing this kobold and interrogating him after that little slip-up.