These people know her and she seems safe here. I still don't like the idea of the troll being distracted by Klaustad here but if he say's he can get us out then we should try. Either way we can address the troll later, at least it would seem. We should hurry hopefully Zane can still manage to find somthing to track in this god awful weather.
Desmond lets down his guard and starts to move toward the rear for their departure.
"Lord Klaustad - have you found any personal possessions missing of late?" Lucien asks the man. "I have a hunch that someone may have put something of yours on the bridge in order for the troll to sense - and hunt for you."
Turning to the rest of his companions, he says, "If the good lord (pun unintended) can lead the troll away from us, then we can go about fulfilling his request. But right now, our most urgent threat is right outside that door - I don't think we can decide until we know how successful Lord Klaustad will be in leading it away."
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Zane's brow furrows when he hears Desmond mentioning tracking in this weather and at this time of the night. He simply answers: "Aye, I'll do me best, but do not expect much"
He turns again towards Gyness and exclaims briefly: "I'll go with ya...if he lures troll away, or we find some other way to get to this Low Road without troll on our backs"
Gyness turns to Lucien
I agree we must all wait untill we are sure to make it past the troll.
So if I am to understand the plan so far.
Looking to the lady of the establishment
oh my good hostess planning always makes me thirsty if you would be a dear and bring some more of that delicious hardened cider Id be most appreciative.
where was I ohh yes the young lady stays here, the Lord lured the troll, we sneak to the road and then to the bridge, find the Lords son, and set his soul free.
Looking up wide eyed Gyness calls after the hostess of the inn.
I think I will be needing two tankards my good lady
"Better make it three, dear Gyness," suggests the elf. "Don't forget that we have to subdue this undead son, somehow bring his body back to the family tomb, behead it with a silver axe, sprinkle holy water upon the headless corpse, and then adorn said sprinkled, headless corpse with that pretty amulet you got there."
He pauses, then adds. "Actually, I'll have a brandy please."
Corvus grins at her fellow adventurers. I'll stick to water, one of us should keep a clear head.
Trust me m'head is always clearer with a little nectar of my god flowing through me
Gyness flashes a big smile.
Yrena eyeballs Gyness as he orders up several drinks.
"Ye need to be attendin' to yer business, young man."
"Ah, ye'll not be travellin' after the walkin' dead without all the protection old Yrena can give ye. It's blood kin ye're after, and blood kin will protect ye."
"You, sir." She bows to Lord Klaustad. "I need a few hairs from yer head. One hair for each a these brave heroes steppin' into the teeth of the storm."
The noble does as she requests, although it's clear from his expression that he thinks this hedge magic is silly. She ties a hair in a knot around each of your wrists while muttering protective wards and words.
"There. That will aid ye."
Corvus eyes the others receiving the gift. I won't be the first to refuse but I get the feeling we're being proverbially daubed with blood, before running out upon front of the hounds. Or is that just me being paranoid? I just don't trust that woman.
Gyness will bow to the lady
Thank you any aid you give will be greatly appreciated.
Gyness awaits the gift
Desmond slings his shield over his back and receives the hair not.
Thank you Yrena, you guys ready to make our run for it.
he looks to the rest of the party.
"Oh, that tickles!" remarks Lucien as the hair is tied around his wrist.
Spellcraft:
Falling into line, Corvus reluctantly accepts the hair. How easy would this break if we snagged it? Or rather how easily can I remove it if I need to?
Gyness will go up to each member of the party and say a prayer
May the power of Cayden aide you on your journey
At each time a small glow envelopes Gyness's hand
This should aide each one of you for a short time.
@Corvus - Hey, I'm the only GM in this game :-)
You each get a +1 on one roll. It lasts a minute, which we'll say is three Rounds. (this isn't a normal round).
Initiative (in order):
Corvus
Desmond
Lucien
Gyness
Zane
TROLL
Each of you now has a hair tied around your wrist You all guess that it is some type of protective charm, though no one has any idea of what.
Yrena looks at each of you, Alayna standing by, looking at all of you with fear in her eyes.
"Now, ye need to make it to the Low Road. The path ye took here is too crooked: ye'd never make it afore the troll got ya. So, head overland and don't look back. As the legend says, the bridge troll can't go on the Road. It's not far to the bridge once ye make it."
She then gives you some directions on how to get there. She pauses:
"Ye'll pass by here if...when ye take the body to the family cemetery. I can aid ye with a little healin' if ye be needin it. May
Gozreh watch over ye."
Lord Klaustad looks to you. "Thank you. Though I dread what must come, please put my son to rest."
He then casts a spell upon himself. "I shall lure the beast away. You can sneak out the door and head to the Low Road. Good luck."
With a grim smile, he opens the door and steps outside. The troll roars louder than ever so far.
When you step out front, the troll is gone, some fallen trees evidence of his passage into the woods.
As a group, you move around the side of the building and to the rear. You push your way through a dense Hedge of Brambles (Location One).
The hedge opens onto a Narrow Path lined with dense trees, their branches forming a canopy (Location Two). There is no sign or sound of the troll.
The path leads you deeper into a Tangled Forest (Location Three)
Round One - Init 1 - Corvus - - The Blocked Path (Location Four)
The group finds themselves completely surrounded by the towering trees of the Arthfell Forest. They continue their jogging pace along the narrow path, the more fleet of foot slowing down to allow Desmond and Gyness to keep pace. However, a series of trees created by the intense storm have created a Blocked Path
DC 10 Acrobatics to scramble over the fallen trees; or
DC 15 Survival to identify a safe way around them.
Desmond would like to hold and reposition so that the more fleet of foot may help in marking the path and if need be he will hold off the troll for the others to make it. Repostiion inititive to last.
The rest of you go ahead, mark a trail if you have time, but if need be I will buy you the time to make it.
Desmond leaves his shield on his back hoping to flee instead of fight but prepares for the worse.
Desmond straps his shield to his back and uses his mighty muscles to shove aside enough branches and logs to create a small break in the barrier. This will allow the others to move more easily.
Being slow of foot but quick of mind and seeing Desmond marking the trail Gyness looks for a way through.
Gyness carefully picks his way through to the next part of the trail
The cleric, muttering under his breath about all of this exercise, pushes and pulls at some fallen branches about 20' yards to the right. Using his large frame, he gets through the barrier.
To summarize:
Corvus is re-rolling;
Desmond stays at the Location after making it easier for the rest of you;
Gyness made it around/through to the next Location.
Lucien and Zane. Then the troll.
Corvus with the agility one would expect from her lithe frame, scrambled up the densely packed barrier, hands and feet a blur. She reached the top and leapt down to the other side, nimbly landing on both feet.
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Cursing the bad weather, his destiny and all the trolls in the world, Zane moves behind Gyness mumbling under his breath incoherently.
He goes around the fallen trees rather certain in his abilities to find a good way around. However, ranger hits a dead end, seeing that the way round he has chosen leads to a very deep and dangerous looking precipice.
His next curse is very loud, and it coincides with one of many thunderous booms coming from the sky. With his armour and equipment encumbering him, he decides to try and climb the fallen trees. Slowly, and very precariously he manages to get over the trees, all the while poring a barrage of expletives, completely redefining the meaning of "bad language".
Lucien, seeing the fallen tree, straps everything down tightly to his body before making the attempt. "I once knew a man who fell pretty hard doing this..." He says. "He could sing pretty well though, especially his high notes.
Acrobatics vs DC8
The bard manages to scramble across safely and looses a sigh of relief. "I did enjoy my bass tones."
Gyness gives a hearty laugh out loud as Lucien makes it accross and makes hos comments.
Leave it too a bard to stare danger and trials right in the face and crack jokes. But that's when you know their good I say.
Gyness will give a wink and a nod to Lucien.
Corvus, alert to her surroundings, hears the ranger clambering over the blockage, twigs snapping and branches falling loudly enough to wake the dead. Or the undead...
He finally reaches the ground again, following Gyness towards the rogue.
Lucien goes straight ahead, not quite as smoothly surmounting the obstacle as Corvus did, but making it none the less.
Round One - Init Last - Troll - The Dense Hedge (Location One)
The party hears a roar from the Troll. It comes from back near the inn and doesn't seem to be immediately behind you.
Round Two - Init 21 - Corvus - - Treacherous Path (Location Five)
The last few fallen trees create a Treacherous Path across a swollen brook.
DC10 Acrobatics check to balance on the slippery logs; or
DC15 Swim to make a quick swim across the brook.
Looking back towards the Inn
It seems our distraction of the troll is over lets move it before the cursed thing can catch up.
All right there my friends we need to be careful but I believe that we can make it across by going over these rocks here or swimming over there where the current is not as strong. I’ll wait here for our mighty fighter. Go now get over there before that troll sniffs us out
Corvus' attention temporarily switches to the roar of the troll before snapping back to the matter in hand. She mentally picks a route across the stream before launching herself onto the fallen trees.
Desmond hears the roar of the beast on their trail and tries to swiftly move along.
[ooc] yeah, sweet rolls[/dice]
Lucien starts to cast Ghost Sound, in an attempt to throw the troll off the track and give his friends more time to get away.
Corvus, nimble as a, well, whatever runs across logs, quickly scurries over the stream, hopping onto the opposite bank without a drop of water on her.
Lucien, in no hurry to have a troll catch up to them, sends sounds of the party scampering through the woods off in another direction.
The bard yells across to Corvus,"I'll catch up!"
Gyness, not seeing any sign of the troll yet, makes the crossing easier..
Desmond, deciding discretion is the better part of valor, climbs/bulls his way through the blockage. Following the sounds of his companions, he hits the log bridge running and moves right over the stream, waving at Gyness as he passes.
Summary:
Corvus - Across to Location Six
Desmond - Through and across to Location Six
Gyness - Still at Location Five (-2 DC but -2 movement penalty on roll)
Lucien - Still at Location Five (-2 DC)
Zane - Still to roll
I'll post the next Location after Zane goes.
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Not really being threatened by the troll (hell, he could barely hear the creature in the distance), Zane still tries to exert himself and to move as farther away as possible. Although encumbered by his armour he pushes himself forward, hoping to mark the trail ahead for the rest of the party, and "return the favour" in a way.
i understand it is off borh.
@Zane - Everyone gets the benefit of someone marking the trail. It applies to that Location for the rest of the chase. So somebody who is "behind" gets it when they arrive as well.
Round Two - Init Last - Troll - The Dense Hedge (Location One)
Gyness and Lucien are still at the crossing and do not hear any sounds of the Troll getting closer.
SUMMARY
Corvus, Desmond and Zane are at Location Six
Gyness and Lucien are at Location Five (trail is marked here)
Troll is somewhere behind: not seemingly too close
Round Three - Init X - Corvus, Desmond, Zane - Angry Snakes (Location Six)
Corvus prepares to lead the smaller group forwar, continuing to angle towards the Low Road. She pulls up short in surprise; for across the brook lairs a nest of [b]Angry Snakes.
DC 15 Stealth check to quietly slip past the nest
D 15 Fortitude check to shrug off any bites and continue on without delay.
Round Three - Gyness, Lucien - Treacherous Path (Location Five)
The last few fallen trees create a Treacherous Path across a swollen brook.
DC8 Acrobatics check to balance on the slippery logs; or
DC13 Swim to make a quick swim across the brook.