The Ravaging of the River Kingdoms (Inactive)
Game Master Darksmokepuncher

Lol, Josh. Nice.

Thorough though he his, Anga is unable to turn up anything of value in the dugout.

"Bravely done, Sir Eddric. I agree with the halfbreed. Southward."

"A man is glad you weren't that owlbear's next meal Sir Eddric." Wraith said as he shouldered his bow and turned toward the south.

I don't think there is enough water in this world to make eddric feel clean again.

After a rest, the five of you continue on your way. Before midday, you come along a ruined bridge that was spanned the Shrike river. The water rushes here which would make swimming dangerous. However, two parallel ropes hang across the gultch still and it looks like shimmying across could be an option.

Next to the shore is a sign that reads: Nettle's Crossing - 5 cp - Ring bell for service.

There is a rusted iron bell next to the sign.

Perception 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20 Ambush? What is across the river? Are there any buildings nearby?

"Call me paranoid if you wish, but precaution may prevent unnecessary damages. Do not touch that bell just yet."
Thaegrin mutters something under his breath as he seems to be listening (perhaps smelling?), his right palm facing outward, slightly twitching in the air.
Detect Magic. Not focusing on any one item, just the 60 foot cone. Spending 3 rounds to determine auras, if any.

Wraith stopped and stared at the ruined bridge. Crap.... What will I say my favorite color is??

There is no sign of ambush. There is the foundation of a building but it is mostly overgrown. Across the river is no different than what's on this side, but this is a crossing. Who knows if you'll find a better one? KN: GEOGRAPHY.

Anga looks around for a moment,

Perception 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

then walks up and rings the bell. Stooping down he takes cover where he can find it and waits.

Stealth 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20

A few yards down river, a fleshy form stirs.

A sodden man rises from the current. He carries a dripping, algae covered polearm in his mottled hand. His flesh is saggy and water logged: brown spotted with green. His wet hair is a drowned spider's web clinging to his balding pate. His lips have long since rotted away and his eyes are a milky white.

His intestines trail out to his knees in a grotesque sash.

He walks across the water toward the bridge.

"You are not my tormentors. Throw the Stag Lord into the river that I may look upon his death, or join me instead."

"I am Eddric, we must end the Stag Lords reign. Join me, pledge yourself to me. With your information I will end him,""(obviously the Stag Lord is a man otherwise it would be the Stag Servant!)"

I have no GEO knowledge. Anyone?
Sense Motive 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3, hostile?

"Tortured and restless soul, we seek the Stag Lord, that we may repay him for his foul deeds. Are you the keeper of this crossing? Tell us where we might search for him, so that your bones will find peace."

HIGH ROLLAH!

Nope, History and Religion only. Sense Motive 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

"Did the Stag Lord do this to you?" Wraith asked warily as he tried to determine the hostility the creature had toward them.

"Eddric..." He seems to take note of the name.

"I am the keeper of the crossing, bound in death until I am revenged. I will not help you for I do not know if you are worthy. Moreover I am bound to this place and cannot travel far in my corporeal form."

The rotting head turns to face the wizard and the archer.

"He is no lord truly, for no true lord would predicate such heinous deeds on his subjects. He is an uncommon brigand in fact and makes his lair on the tuskwater."

The keeper of the crossing's face darkens and a terrible visage climb onto his dead face.

"Do not fail to throw his body down for me to view. I will hold you to this charge, willing or no. Now be about your business or join me in the river!"

Thaegrin nods respectfully.
"As you say, keeper."

The wizard backs away, then begins to follow the Shrike river west, pondering those affected by this "uncommon brigand".

Watching the interaction from his place in the shadows Anga ponders over words said. Holding his tongue he waits till all have left and takes special note of where the river-keeper makes his home, such as it is. Once he is satisfied that the way is clear he beats it double-quick back to his companions.

Guys? You drive the story. If nothing is happening, it's most likely 'cause you haven't said what you're doing next. I know PbP is slower, but I just want to make sure you know it's all up to you.

Looks like the wizard and thief are following the Shrike River. We will set up camp at sun down.

Wraith follows them and looks for any place they can forge across the river.

"Are you guys strong enough to climb a rope across the river? A man can shoot a grapple arrow across if you think it'll work."

There is no apparent crossing north of Nettle's Crossing, nor have you yet found one south. Making a crossing of you own is possible, just let me know if that's what you'd like to do. For now, I assume you are one hex immediately south east of the crossing.

The companions sleep and wake; explore more miles of wilderness with nothing of great import; sleep again.

Hex explored. Where to now? West is the river. South is the the eastern border of the lands you were sent to cartograph.

"There's nothing here. I say we cross the river, you're confident you can make a rope bridge Bow-Devil?"

"If anything, a man can at least stretch a rope across the river. A man has two.... we COULD send two across, one to stand on, one to grasp as you walk across." Wraith mused.

That already exists at Nettle's Crossing.

"Well lets be quick about it, I do not trust the rope by the dead mans crossing."

Ranged attacks per arrow. How well you hit will determine the DC to cross the rope.

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

Ok. Climb checks from everyone, please. Roll 5 checks and I will take them in order to determine how long it takes you to cross. I also need a crossing order. I will assume you cross one at a time unless told differently.

"So I'll need to take my armor for this." Eddric removes his armor and attempts to cross.

If ya'll want to help me that'd be great or BRT in a few hours.

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

The knight makes it across almost flawlessly and begins donning his armor.

"This is ridiculous. Remind me to task builders to this river. It needs a proper crossing." Thaegrin mutters to no one in particular.

Climb 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 Climb 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18 Climb 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 Climb 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18 Climb 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14

Can I make acrobatics checks to run across the rope like a highwire walker?

The Half-Elf looks at the span, steps back a few paces, and then sprints for the other side of the river.

Acrobatics 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
Acrobatics 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18
Acrobatics 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
Acrobatics 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
Acrobatics 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

If not

Anga sprints across the gap, barely touching the ropes.

Thaegrin slips on his first grab, gathers himself and make some good progress on the second try. Unfortunately, the exertion is too much on the book worm and he falls!

Give me a swim check Thaegrin. We going to do a modified initiative here. Thaegrin will make swim checks and then the rest of you will have a chance to save him. Rinse and repeat as needed.

Swim 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
"Damn-!" is all that escapes the wizard's lips before dunking below the current.

...

Thaegrin disappears from view beneath the waves.

Wraith drops his bow and his gear, but grabs his rope. Running along the embankment, he ties one end around his waist and races ahead of the bobbing, drowning wizard. Wraith loops the other end around a tree and then dives into the river.

Swim 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

Eddric drops his armor and goes after him.
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

HAHAH Double post

Good job Wraith, that is two actions though. For now you've secured yourself to the tree.

Eddric, Give me a swim check

Eddric is able to make it to Thaegrin!

Anga gets a turn, Audrey will not help here. After that, Thaegrin can grapple Eddric or wait for Eddric to do the grappling.

Anga watches the wizard bob down the river. Chuckling to himself he walks over to where Wraith secured himself to a tree. Folding his arms he spits into the reeds and smiles.

Lazy Ass does nothing.

Ok. Wraith makes it to Thaegrin and thre 3 swimmers can climb out of the water. However, I need a swim check. I don't care who makes it, but only one of you can roll. The other 2 can aid. DC 10 gets you out on the wrong bank, DC 15 gets you out where you want to be.

Aid to Swim 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

Swim 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

[b]"Toss a man his things, if you would!"[/ooc] Wraith hollers over the embankment after dragging the others out of the water.

Leaning over the thief begins to pass the belongings to Wraith. Casually looking through them as he does so.

Sleight of Hand 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

"My god man, your how old and your such a terrible swimmer. I think you should spend a little less time reading, and maybe a little bit more time out in the world." Eddric climbs up the shore with the others.

"How are you going to get your armor over here?" Wraith inquired.

"Damn it! Damn it all!" Thaegrin coughs and heaves several times, cursing in between. After a few moments, he catches his breath.

"Don't touch me!" Thaegrin disentangles himself from the archer and knight. He shuffles a few hurried steps from the others. His robes, pack, bedroll -all of it soaked. But the worst, with the very horror written on the wizard's face, is his spellbook. Walking a good twenty feet from the river, he cradles the tome as one might a wounded animal. He carefully sets it on the ground, and with a small measure of relief, finds one of his scrolls of Mending dry within its case. Cast Mending on the spellbook.

A deep, blue-green liquid seems to pool from the scroll and thinly coat the spellbook. Through the transparency the water damage seems to simply disappear, the cover and binding return to form and the soggy pages straighten. As the magical coating evaporates, a spellbook is left behind that appears as new as the day it was sold. Thaegrin visibly relaxes, though a smile is still far from his face, and begins shaking the water out of the rest of his possessions.

Some time passes before raising his voice to the knight, as though it just occurred to him that he was spoken to. "I am one-hundred and seventy-seven years old, swordsman, if you wish to know. My intelligence is at the disposal of this fellowship, and I pray you not take it lightly."

He inhales as though to say more, but refrains, and mutters under his breath as he busies himself with the drying of his things.

"My first priority was the wizard, but alas that is a good question."

"Where" is Eddric in relation to the armor.

I thought Wraith rolled high enough to make to the correct side of the river, the side you crossed over to. I think your armor is on the same side as we?