The Once & Future KingMaker

Game Master Aest

"Hello. I suppose that you're Kressel? Would you like some help?" Elaina hops off her horse as she greets the woman in a friendly voice.

Craft (mapmaking) 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

"I'm not talking about his need for revenge," Asta says without looking to Torod, busy as she is updating the map, "but rather his entire demeanor. His wits are starting to fade around the edges and he lives all alone out in the wilds. Sooner or later, his luck will run out."

The Witch shakes her head.
"I would love to get to that Temple soonest," she says. "This journey feels as though it has taken weeks, somehow."

I am so meta. ;) *laughs*

Kressel

Seraph nods to Kressel before speaking aloud in a friendly way. Seeing as she hasn't had any negative dealings with the woman she had no reason to be rude, nore did she plan to. Hopefully. "Milady Kressel~ Nice catch you have here! Need some hands? Old Julias here won't mind carrying some for us." Julias snorts indignantly but Seraph chuckles and dismounts. She moves to assist if Kressel accepts.

"If Hunter Jhod nearby per chance?"

Exploring the plains...

At the temple

"Quite terrible actually. The one with the skill is Elaina here..." She indicates her companion as she moves to help. "... however we will need to speak to both of you together so looks like you'll have company until nightfall." She pauses looking almost sheepish as she says. "... That is. If you don't mind the company, I'd hate to impose on you~"

Survival: 1d20 ⇒ 5

It's very apparent that Seraph has little in the way of Survival skills, especially as she stares at the carcasse momentarily before trying to look helpful.

Survival (Aid Another): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

"I'm actually fairly good at it, as Seraph here says. Just don't ask me to cook!" Elaina replies with a laugh before helping Kressel with the deer.

"The name's Elaina. It's nice to meet you," She says as she pulls out her dagger.

Elaina can't help but chuckle as the paladin struggles to find a way to help. Soon, Elaina is giving her an impromptu lesson on how to clean and dress a deer.

More embarrassed after her lesson she introduces herself as well. "Seraph's the name. Nice to officially meet you~"

"How much further to the temple," Asta muses as she reviews the map. "I do hope e beat the others there..."

Mikmek looks at Asta....
"We headed to Mikmek home...."

he looks concerned for a moment and offers Asta a small moonradish
"Here this help."

"Ah, yes," Asta says, smiling a bit. "My apologies, I was woolgathering. Don't talk and work on updating maps at the same time." She politely declines the offer of the moon radish, and instead addresses Croft. "Why don't you go scout around a bit? Let us know if there is anything around that might interrupt our travels."

"To hear is to obey, oh pasha," the raven croaks sarcastically. "Oh, well. Beats sitting still the whole day. Maybe I'll get lucky and spot some fresh carrion while I'm at it."

Croft launches himself into the air and rises on the natural thermic, then starts to circle overhead, senses peeled for danger -- and food.

Perception 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

Marten grins upon hearing Croft
"I do hope we get lucky and no fresh carrion is nowhere near." he says after the raven is safely out of earshot.

Torod's group:

Here you find a soggy, abandoned remnant. A thick, sagging rope still hangs across the river, all that remains of the bridge that once spanned it. A signpost at either end of the ruined bridge reads “Nettles’ Crossing—5coppers—ring bell for service.” A rusty bell hangs by each sign. On the south bank of the river, the crumbled remains of a burnt-down wooden building are slowly being overgrown by encroaching vegetation.

Crossing the river by shimmying along the hanging rope is possible with a DC 12
Climb check.
Survival DC 12

Nettles Crossing

Marten stares at the crossing for a moment.
"We might be able to get across, but I have no idea how to get our horses to the far bank. Also this looks like a perfect place for an ambush. Once a person is climbing over the river, he is defenceless."

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

Survival Take 10 for 20 total.

Do we need to cross the river? If I see it right, we are on the north bank and could follow the river south to get to the kobold caverns.

"We will have to do something about this in the fullness of time," Asta says, eyeing the rushing waters. "Right now, though, I vote we find a way around this obstacle; I also hesitate to risk the horses or our troops on this river."

We can arrange for a new bridge to be built later.

Davik Nettles

A rotting body climbs from the rubble downstream and makes its inexorable way across the river’s surface, walking over the water towards you!
The obviously long-ago drowned, flesh putrescent and his dripping ranseur clutched in his hands walks and calls out to you!

An eerie, soggy voice, rises over the river…..“You are not my tormentors. Throw the Stag Lord’s body into the river that I may look upon his death, or join me instead.”

"This is ... most unusal. Asta, this may be the right place to use your renown negotiation skills. And let us be prepared to ride like wind if it does not work." Marten whispers to his companions.

Do we need to cross the river?
Torod waits to take Asta's lead here. He does stand ready to fight this rotting speaker though.

Mikmek pipes in
"Why not just agree?"

"Depends on when he wants us to throw the body. You might have noticed we do not have it at the moment. And I am not going to join him, that is for certain. So out best course is to delay, I think" Marten replies.

"The Staglord is not yet dead," Asta calls out to the dead man, "but we do seek his defeat. Even now, we are gathering troops for the attack on his fortress! I have no problem with casting his corpse in the water so you may bear witness, so long as you will allow us to then send it hence so others may also bear witness.

Have you any knowledge which may aid us in our battle against the Staglord? And who might you be, and what is the nature of your grievance? Knowledge is power, and we shall need many kinds of power to strike true."

Those standing close to Asta can feel a chill as she readies her magic for battle, should the undead turn out to be... unreasonable.

"I bear witness!"

Shrieks the corpse..... Davik

"And so shall you all...."

With that the corpse dissolves into the water, disappearing from view.....

Though the specters words seem onimous the meaning becomes clear that night....

Nightmare for everyone
Later that night your dreams are troubled, a retired engineer made his way through the lands much as you had, a long weapon he carried and three hounds traveled faithfully with him through the dangerous lands. Eventually the man came to a point near the river, there he built himself a place and built a way to cross the river. He charged a small and fair fee to any and all seeking to cross the river. He worked many happy days. It was a worthwhile retirement for the man.

Then came the Stag Lord approaching the crossing like any other would be customer. The Stag Lord mocked the man and informed him that not only would the men bearing his badge be granted free passage over the bridge, but that the bridgekeeper would pay the Stag Lord two-thirds of his monthly take in return for the Stag Lord’s “protection,”

The older man not only refused the Stag Lord’s offer, but ran the bandit and his men off downriver with the aid of his three slavering hounds…..The man ate a hearty meal and went to bed
Then it is quiet and still, the dead of night, the bandits returned. Surrounding the house and igniting it in flames…….The man awakes in terror, surrounded by flames as his dogs’ bark frantically…

The man stumbled his skin burning out of his home and fled towards his bridge, the bandits awaited him. More flaming arrows rained down, killing his dogs hounds and wounding the bridge keeper.
With his nightshirt aflame, the doomed bridge keeper tumbled down the path toward the river. After dousing himself with water, he clambered up to the bridge and tried to escape to the north shore.
As the man clung desperately to his bridge, the Stag Lord cut one of the ropes that held the bridge intact. The bridge immediately collapsed, plunging the shrieking man into the deep, icy water. By the time the man had drowned, Onshore, the bandits watched, gleefully chuckling, their leering shadows dancing before the hovel’s flames as it collapsed into cinders.
Then the man newly dead and cold rises from the water, the remaining bandits argued over which of them would get to be the “boss” of the new bridge. While the men argued the corpse rose from the river, an undead spirit of vengeance. It stalked out of the water and wadded into the bandit camp, swiftly murdering every one of the bandits and dragging their bodies into the river.

Some time passed and more bandits came and once again the corpse stirred to vengeance and rose again and killed several more bandits, but a few got away from the wraith. That was long ago, but no more bandits have come.

At the temple of the Elk. The deer has long since been cleaned and the meat cut into strips and laid over the fire to smoke. Kressel continues to check and salt the meat as the sun sets. As darkness sets in Johod the Cleric of Erastil finally shows up.

Seraph stands and greets the the Priest of Old Deadeye as formally as she can while Kressel is present.

Diplomacy - Improve Attitudes: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

"Milady Asta has sent us here to call all our allies to arms. The Final Battle is soon at hand..." She looks to Kressel as she raises a hand to keep her from becoming angered with her next words. "We will understand if some cannot or will not answer the call do to their personal reasons. If you wish not to participate please speak now. However allow me to say this. Any I can spare I will, I am here to ask that Johd be there to tend the wounded and Kressel to defend him, nothing more. I request this for both sides in the coming conflict. This is not something I discussed with Milady Asta, this is my small request. With that said, shall I explain further or do you wish us to depart?" Her words were genuine, she wanted to sway Kressel with her willingness to spare lives. Despite her monstrous background and experience she wasnt one for wanton bloodshed if it ould be avoided.

Does the dream affect Seraph and Elaina as well? At least once we are asleep?

Torod wakes up even more sure that Stag Lord must perish. He pushes on early the next day, eager to get to the kobold caves and from their to the Stag Lord.

Elaina waits for the priest to answer her hands busy sharpening her sword.

"Well," Asta says, her voice cold and musical, "that explains that. We have been very fortunate, indeed."

During the day's ride, Asta keeps a good pace, but not such a fast one that it will harm her horse.

Marten awakes and after looking at his companions' reactions, he assumes he was not the only one to have this dream.

"I am glad we avoided the fight." he says.

"Hm," Asta agrees as she packs up her belongings, her face expressionless. "Let's eat and get going. We have business to be about -- and now we have even more motivation to be about it."

Seeing them both quiet she takes it as a leave to continue. "We plan on fighting the Stag Lord, we head towards his domain and we are preparing for the last battle. This will end with either the security of these lands or our downfall. However as I said before we only need you as support, I hope to keep you out of the fighting entirely."

Looking to Kressel she frowns, more in worry then in disapproval to Kressel. "I have heard of your prior oaths and do not wish to press you, hence my hesitation to mention the coming attack." She regards her quietly for a moment before clarifying. "My hesitation isn't becuase of who you once served or what you once did because when I first met you Kressel I could not sense a darkness in your soul, the stories I heard didn't dissuade me from believing that you are a good person on a hard, lonely path. However I will not ever ask you to betray someone who trusted you. But I do not wish to leave Jhod exposed. Ultimately the choice is yours but I for one trust you with this knowledge."

Depending on their answers I guess we can get to riding onward to the Sootscale camp and let the two of them gather their things. Seraph will inform them of the details and where we all are going to gather~

Only the group that encountered D. Nettles has the dream as it is the nightmare spell.....

Beyond the river crossing, Torod's group finds more land. Mikmek is facinated by the bridge and the restless spirit so near his home.
"We knew of the bridge and the man and Chief Sootscale forbade we swim so far and leave the man in peace. Tha Staglord was not so inclined."
Mikmek seems to be improving his grasp of common...

At the temple of the elk.

Johod
"It seems this course of action is decided amongst you, I will provide support Kressel will do as she likes."

Kressel @ Johod
"You smelly old badger! You won't be shed of me so quickly!"

Johod glares back at her with thick tension, before they both laugh joyfully...

"Thank you for your help you two! We'll be gathering near the kobolds tribes caverns so see you tomorrow." Seraph was pleased at this development, happy to see Kressel and Johod getting along so well. It was quite unexpected but having their aid would be a great thing. She looks to Elaina then. "Up for a hard ride? We're going to have to if we want to beat the others..."

"And it is one more thing added to the list of his crimes," Asta says, her voice icy. "Depending on how the dead bridge-builder responds to having his corpse hurled into the water, it may cost him a grave as well."

Torod continues to brood.
Nothing to add. Just wanted you to know I'm still here.

"I was not looking forward to the digging anyway." Marten tries to lighten the mood a bit.

The next day finds those headed for the sootscale tribe arriving at the destination.

The tiny guard atop the hillock of the mine squeks in surprise as you approach.....

Those at the Temple of the Elk find Kressel and Jhod packing up to travel with you to the Sootscales.

Jhod
"I am most interesed in these kobolds they seem to practice much that Erastil would approve of..."

Sorry, posting may be spotty from me for a while. I'm dealing with some issues in real life, and it's going to take some work.

"They are interesting, that's for sure." Elaina smiles as she remembers the feast and all the tasty dishes and colors.

"Friends and allies, I bid you greetings!" Asta calls to the guards. "Is the Chief here? We bring tidings of opportunity - and peril."

[ooc]No worries I just went through a week plus of being sick, so no worries...[ooc]

The sootscales welcome the party to the caves, once again the chief is near the mountains and not with the tribe.

It must be hard to lead a tribe of kobolds!

The next morning finds the other group ready to head for the sootscales as well.

Johod and Kressel seem a bit sad to leave the shrine although it is much improved from the way it was found.

Seraph and their party ride to the kobolds tribes caves.

Those at the kobold caves are welcomed heartily by the kobolds who report that the mites have been very quiet for some time.

One of the kobolds heads to the foothills to get the chief.

Those starting out from the temple note a chill in the air and are glad for the forest that seems to be held back by the forests.

"Then it seems the treaty is holding -- for now. How gratifying," Asta murmurs, a subtle smile on her lips.

As soon as the Chief returns, Asta tells him about the campaign against the Staglord and asks if the group's dragon-blooded allies will help in the capacity they're hoping for, cutting off the bandits' line of escape.

"Feels like winter's setting in." Elaina observes as the group rides out to the Sootscales' caves.

Torod is more friendly with the kobolds this visit than he was in the last, but he is still not very sociable. He'll pitch his tent outside the caves and spend his time hunting with Strawberry Deathstrike. When the Chief returns, he will attend the meeting.

Torod's hunting proves fruitful as he finds a persimmon tree nearby, though SDS smells the strange fruit and passes on eating any of it.

The caves are a respite from the cold elements of the early morning chill and the kobolds have plenty of warm blankets and furs.

Those leaving the temple of the Elk head into a nearby hex.....what was the Thorn River Camp of the bandits. It appears mostly abandoned.

Seraph, rides ahead and checks the camp to ensure no surprises await them...

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

If nothing holds up their progress they continue on to the Sootscale caverns as planned. Better they get there quickly.