To be A Hero

Game Master rorek55

Rory stares at the bandit, eye to eye, reading the man carefully.

Going to make a Sense Motive roll. Do I believe his story, and that he'll not pursue us for revenge?

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

If I believe him... "Fine. Be off. We never want to see your face again."

You believe it.

He walks off as Dylan recovers his mug from the leaders headless corpse, the bandits outlaying encampment is 5 mins outnof the way, their main camp Is almost a days run out of the way.

Bannock spits at the bandit's retreating form. "May my Lady let you live long enough to see the difference between 'servitude' and 'Stability'."

He turns to Rory. "Well, those bandits aren't getting any deader with us just standing here. Ready?"

Then, turning to the newcomers. "That was a right sweet bit of fighting you did back there. We're on an epic quest to bring back a dead god. Wanna come?"

Bannock says that last without a hint of sarcasm or wit. Even if it isn't true to the world, it's what he believes.

"Really? Sweet! All my stories are getting old, I need some new material."

He carefully wipe out his mug and asks plaintively, "Say, I've come down with a really bad case of sober. I don't suppose any of you brought any...." He waves the drinking vessel meaningfully

He will also search the bodies, hoping to find his lute.Anything else he finds he'll set out for the party.

Despite the grim feeling of adrenaline from telling off the bandit, Rory has to smile at Bannock's unflinching zeal. It scared him a little sometimes, but it also carried a certain charm.

To the newcomers; "Bannock's words may sound grandiose, but he's telling the truth. I am Rory, Mayor of the town of Valen. You fought like enraged ogres, which, as it happens, we've had recent experience with. Join us and we'll be off!"

Assuming they do, Rory will lead everyone toward where the bandit advised him to go.

after about 4 minutes of walking you come across what appears to be a campsite, with 7 tents set up and embers burning low. The place is a mess with things strewn everywhere, and some instrument laying on a trunk, half on the ground.

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

"Looks like someone left in a hurry... hey! Is that my lute?

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

You say it's laying on a trunk? Is that the only trunk there is?

Bannock hands the instrument to Dylan. "Mayhap. I've not the lore to tell a lute from a lyre so whatever it is its yours. Now, it seems to be laying on top of a trunk. I'm of a mind to open it, but it seems it might have been trapped. So take pause and I'll attempt to divine if it has malignant intent."

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Bannock checks the trunk for traps.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11 She sees nothing...nothing. ;)

At Dylan and Bannock's statements, Kenna's eyes strayed first to the instrument and then onto the trunk beneath it.

Kenna moved a little closer to Bannock, but not too close lest the trunk was indeed trapped and he set it off inadvertently. However, she wanted to be of some use, so she asked the priest,

"Need any help, Ban?"

Aid to Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

"What could have caused them to flee like this? This shaving-knife looks like it would be a treasured possession, and it's lying forgotten here on the ground." the Mayor picks up the straight razor, considering the gold-inlaid patterns on the handle thoughtfully. He doesn't think the trunk is likely to be trapped, but he keeps his opinion to himself in case he's wrong. Prudence was key.

The mayor focuses his senses, casting Detect Magic upon himself. Perhaps that was the secret that led to the bandits' mysterious disappearance.

The trunk is not trapped, and appears to be unlocked. It's the only thing that seems to be able to hold anything that would keep them out of the weather.

@Rory, you don't notice any magical auras or leftovers.

"Thank you, Kenna," says Bannock, feeling grateful. If the thing was trapped, he didn't know if Helreginn's grace could protect him or provide guidance enough with it.

"What say you, Mayor. Shall we sojourn on and rid the world of this nest of bandits? It may delay our question somewhat, but my Lady has lain in state this long, she shall not begrudge a bit longer, if we can do good service in the time we use.

And who knows? If we leave them unmolested, they might strike at us later. And if we conquer them, they provide more clues as to what else lay in our path. Surely they have roamed father afield than any of us village-dwellers?"

"Sound logic, Bannock. Having seen a sample of their population already, I agree that the surrounding region would be better off without them. I'm willing to make the small delay in our journey...hopefully we can wrap up our business with these ruffians quickly."

Dylan checkes the lute for damage before slinging it over his shoulder. "It was my dads." He says to no one in particular, "Only thing the old sot ever gave me... unless you count a fondness for the drink."

He will causiously open the chest and take a look.

Within the chest You find a book, several smoking pipes, a leather journal, some jewelry, another, smaller ornate chest looking box with a lock, a smattering of gold, silver, and bronze coins, what seems to be a holy symbol, and a map.

Upon closer inspection, the book is written in strange writing you can't quite make out, but think is arcane writing. The leather journal appears to be a rough written journal of one of the bandits. The Jewelry includes 2 silver necklaces, a ring with a small sapphire embedded in it, and a pair of earrings.

The Ornate chest is decorated with silvery inlay that covers most of it, The lock appears to be a great quality and the steel shows scuff marks, probably from where the bandits attempted to get in. If you pick it up you realize it is made of metal and is rather heavy. The map shows you mostly what you know, it looks like yours, but has several areas circled, and one indicated as "main camp" about where the half-orc marked on your own map.

Dylan will cast read magic on the book, cast guidance on himself and check the small chest for traps: perception: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 1 = 17

You realize that the writings within are infact spells, some you can read, others, you are unsure of what their effects are. (would require spellcraft checks)

The chest doesn't seem to be trapped, magically or mundanely.

Well then, let's open it up!
dissable device: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 10 + 1 = 25 (guidence)

you try several times to fiddle the mechanism into place, however just when you think you've got it the pin breaks. You've never seen a lock of this craftmanship before. The more you fiddle with it, the more you think you may not be able to open it.

knowledge engineering: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 3 + 1 = 18 (guidance)

Dylan scratches his head, "Beats me"

A thought strikes Bannock.

"Mayor Rory, before we continue on, could you take a look at my Lady's shield? Methinks there might be magical purpose to it, but my lore in such things in not as extensive as yours."

I'm not even sure if the thing is masterwork. Something like that might be good to know. =)

Bannock gathers all the coins and jewelry and hands them all to the Mayor.

"Lord Mayor, methinks it best that you hold on to this small horde for now. We know not what trials lay before us, so let us now have but one holder of the spendable moneys, though we might divy them out once the main clutch of bandits is taken care of."

Bannock takes up the holy symbol that Dylan took out and sees if he knows anything about it.

Know: Religion: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Kenna watched as the men performed their inspections/examinations upon the items before them.

It seemed the lock would not budge beneath Dylan's exertions... There was naught she could do to help as it was not her area of expertise.

"Can you try to break the lock?" she asked the men. Looking across to the half-orc, Ragnar, "What about you, big fella? Give it a whack with one of your mighty weapons and see what happens."

The mayor accepts the gear and supplies that Bannock hands over. "We'll crack open this lock yet," he promises, with a smile. He's still under the effects of his Detect Magic cantrip, and he trains his eyes on Bannock's shield, studying it for auras.

Also, if Dylan makes it known that the writings are of an arcane nature, Rory's eyes will twinkle with excitement. "Arcane writing, you say? Highly unlikely one of these bandits used it - probably stolen off of some hapless hedge wizard or other. May I see?"

Dylan will pass over the spell book without comment.

He holds the box up to his ear and shakes it gently, It would be a shame to destroy such a fine lock box. It might be worth more that anything inside it

Rory nods. "Agreed. Perhaps we can find a master thief to pick the lock for us later, at a fee." He smiles. "Or perhaps there's a spell in this book that will allow me to unlock it. When we're at rest I will study its contents."

When you look at the shield it does exude a magical energy.

Rory keeps focusing on it, smiling in excitement. "There's definitely a magical aura on this shield. Not surprising, considering where it came from..."

Knowledge: Arcana: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31

I KNOW EVERYTHING

Well, quite frankly, It's a magical shield, not only that, it is an intelligent Item. Though aside from the minor boon of being magical (+1) shield, and being an intelligent One at that. There is nothing more you can tell, though it shines like a star when viewed (using detect magic)

Hadn't intended to tell you out right.. was gonna have a voice start to speak to bannock but, alas, you forced my hand lol. As for the item... Bannock, would you want to RP your knew items once it "wakes up" or would you rather I did that?

Bumping to the top of the gameplay threads forum so I can hide the thread, as it's no longer active. You can ignore