She seems facinated, "So many different peoples". Looking at Fel and then back to him. "Where your lizard peoples from?"

She looks at his arm, "Ah, you follow Gozreh's path. Think like a lizard. I do that sometimes. Lost? Listen to the whispers and they will guide you too, never be lost again."

The bartender begins to get uncomfortable with all this chatter in front of the bar. He keeps trying to glance past the group towards the door as if expecting someone to come through it at any time. You notice that he keeps one hand under the bar when he isn't pouring drinks and, if you are truly attentive, you notice that a small hole in the front of the bar has a crossbow bolt just poking out of it.

"Come on," he growls "Take it inside friends. There's a space upstairs. Keliwyn, carry these drinks for me. My leg is all turning to splinters today from the rot."

Perception 1d20+11=26

Sykala notices the bolt sticking through the hole and points it out to Ix moving if she is in the path. "Gonna shoot door", she whispers now paying attention to the door while finishing off her second ale. "More." Giving Keliwyn a gold coin while holding out her mug.

Perception (r15+11s)=26

Sykala notices the bolt sticking through the hole and points it out to Ix moving if she is in the path. "Gonna shoot the door", ...

The day, BTW, is the 15th of Sarenith in the year 4707 A.R.

Ix sees the bolt hole and notices Sykala's concern. He finishes his second cup of ale and asks the bartender for two more. Again he grabs the coin and gives it back to Sykala.

"Ladies don't pay for their drinks. Maybe we better go upstairs like the man says."

Ix sees the bolt hole and notices Sykala's concern. He finishes his second cup of ale and asks the bartender for two more. Again he grabs the coin and gives it back to Sykala.

"Ladies don't pay for their drinks. Maybe we better go upstairs like the man says."

Sykala is stunned by Ix's sudden transformation into a Goblin Snake but now understands the lizard skin much better. but seriously..

She looks disappointed at not being allowed to witness the shooting coming up but seems somewhat more relaxed and suggestable at the moment and follows the group.

Keliwyn collects his harrow deck, takes the drinks from the bartender and leads the group upstairs. "C'mon," he says, "He'll give a shout if he needs a hand."

Keliwyn collects his harrow deck, takes the drinks from the bartender and leads the group upstairs. "C'mon," he says, "He'll give a shout if he needs a hand."

Psst. Who let the goblin snake in here?

As you make your way up some rickety stairs, through one thrown together room, across a plank and into another room, you pass the entrance to one little side den that appears to have been made out of a very large crate with holes to allow the intended cargo to breath.

From within you hear the sound of bone-dice being thrown and money being lost and won.

Fippin is a little curious about the antsy bartender, but he heads up stairs without questions.

He calls to Ixius as he goes:

"See, I told you it's more interesting spending time with the riff raff."

As he passes by the crate he gives a little knock on it, and calls out

"I hope Desna's giving you some good fortune in there!"

As you make your way up some rickety stairs, through one thrown together room, across a plank and into another room, you pass the entrance to one little side den that appears to have been made out of a very large crate with holes to allow the intended cargo to breath.

From within you hear the sound of bone-dice being thrown and money being lost and won.

A hand catches Fippin's shoulder and when he turns a savage-looking creature of great stature is gazing down on him.

"Who, may I ask, is your lady companion?"

"Easy there big fella. Are you talking about the strange lass right there?"

He points at Sykala.

"I wouldn't say she's my friend. I just met her out on the street. She's more with him really." at which point Fippin points towards Fel the half orc.

"If you're interested in her, well, he'd be the one to ask."

Then Fippin quickly dances away from the big man and tries to make sure that Ixius and Keliwyn are between himself and the barbarian. He also looks to Fel and Sykala to see what their reactions are.

"I hope Desna's giving you some good fortune in there!"

Bender Bowman -- the bartender and owner of Benbow's Wheelhouse -- must like you or want you as far away as possible. The room you have been directed to is on an upper level of the tavern overlooking much of the walkway downroot. You can see the chaos and mischief that makes up much of the day-to-day traffic of Bloodcove.

It seems like we are all almost done character generation. One more thing I want is some pre-rolled initiatives and perceptions from everyone. I'll take 4 of each and randomly sort them. I will use these as we go and ask for 4 more when the time comes. You can post these in the discussion thread. It speeds things up.

Unsure of the large dark man she points to herself, "S-y-k-a-l-a, who you death man?"

Charmed, my lady. He bows his head slightly in a sign of respect. My name is Baas, I am a traveler from the north. There is a moment of silence as if he was finished and then he continues Would you be so kind as to join me for a drink?He then looks around to the others All your friends are welcome.

She holds up her now half full third mug, smiles, and nods. Making her way slightly unsteadily over to the balcony she looks out over the roots and watches the hive of activity for a moment. Turning toward Ix, "He could show you way back North maybe." She sits on what passes for a railing near Baas and reaches to examine the pendant on his chest, "You follow great eye too." Nodding again with approval this is said more as a statement than a question.

she's getting a bit intoxicated at this point Tarren. Add modifiers as you see fit.

Keliwyn shuffles his harrow deck and looks around. "Well now, who among you has a heavy purse and needs relief?" He says with a smile before turning to the halfing and placing the cards between then. "I am Keliwyn of the Mierani, although Korvosa has been my home for a number of years now. Who are you all, and what brings you to this god awful place?"

Fippin sits down at the table where Keliwyn is dealing the cards. His stool is not properly sized for a halfling so he crouches more than he sits.

"My name is Fippin good elf. I am a professional explorer and wanderer by trade, and it is the lure of the mysteries of the Mawengi jungle that brought me to this sorid but lively town."

He keeps an eye on what Keliwyn is doing with the cards, but tries to make it look like his focus is mainly on the elf and their conversation.

Ixius looks the elf and the large man from the north. "Call me Ix. I am an archer and bowmaker, originally from Andoran."

Ixius looks the elf and the large man from the north. "Call me Ix. I am an archer and bowmaker, originally from Andoran."

Turning to Fippin, Keliwyn lowers his voice and nods toward their woman companion. "Is, uh, she going to be alright?"

"Well met, gentlemen. Ix, perhaps you could look at my bow for me, sometime. It seems to be missing the mark of late, and I'm sure it's not my skill that is lacking."

and what brings you to this god awful place?"

It is a beautiful land. I often find that the lands that seem most treacherous are also those that most easily enrapture the eye with their pristine beauty.

He swats a bug on his arm and looks at it's splattered body with disdain.

As these strangers from strange lands become acquainted, a scream attracts their attention to the roughly cut opening that passes for a window in this shack. A body falls past the opening, followed by a wet thud as it hits the walkway below. Seeing people die in Bloodcove -- and that is surely what has just happened -- is not unusual but since you were on the upper floor, this may deserve some further investigation.

My 1400th post as DM since March ;-)

Baas runs to the window, looks up, then down.

What the...

Ixius looks out the door up and down the hallway.

Are there any stairs going up?

It takes a moment for what happened to register in Sykala's ale marinated brain and for her predator instincts to kick in. The transformation is as sudden as it is shocking. Her black hair lengthens, lightens, and forms itself into feathers that spread and sprout over her body and equipment as quickly as they form. With beautiful silver, gold, and black plummage there sits a western eagle in place of Sykala that then launches itself out the window with a piercing shriek and flurry of feathers nearly taking Baas head off.

Looking down Baas, the eagle, and any others that rushed to the window see pedetrians looking up to a spot just above the window. Looking up, they see a massive reptilian beast with a long, hooked beak, leathering wings, and a long, spiked neck. It is perched on the edge of the Benbow Wheelhouse scanning the walkway below and shrieking like a wounded bird.

Okay, you drunkards. Fortitude save to see if you are sober enough for this. DC = 10 + 2/drink. Success means you can act normally. Failure gives you the 'shaken' condition. (Shaken:
A shaken character takes a -2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks.)

Fortitude save for intoxication from 3 ales DC16 (1d20+5=25)

apparently she can hold her liquor, who knew?

With the sudden adrenline rush and wind sweeping beneath her wings her mind clears to crystal clarity. Simply happy to be free of the claustraphobic box where people are dying.

Fortitide save: 1d20+2=6

DC = 10 + 3 ales * 2 = 16

Ixius is too drunk to shoot straight.

Fippin isn't a big drinker (though he enjoys socializing in taverns). He was still on his first round.

1d20+7= 16, DC 12= he's fine

Fippin is a little shocked to see Sykala turn into a bird and fly out the window. He's also probably too short to easily see over the frame, so he stands up on his stool and looks towards Baas, who was checking out the window.

"What's going on out there?"

Fort Save (1d20=10+1=11 for DC14 save - two drinks, Keliwyn hustles and plays up his drinking, but is apparently more in the bag than he thought)

"It's 'bout time," Keliwyn exclaims before getting up from his seat. "Things were getting positively boring around here."

Fortitude vs Beer (1d20+7=9)

I was going to mention baas hardly drinks, but guess that affects tolerance. How far is it to the ground?

Bass draws his bow and fires.

Not sure the order, but when my turn comes up..

Bow attack vs flying creature (1d20+6=17) actually 15 with the lack of sobriety

Keliwyn 20 (NOT SOBER)
Baas 13 (NOT SOBER) -- ACTED / hit / (Roll for damage Baas).
Ixius 13 (NOT SOBER)
Fippin 12 (SOBER)
Sykala 11 (SOBER) -- ACTED
Big-ugly-flapping thing 5

The creature is about 20' off the ground on a ledge close to and above your window. The-eagle-formerly-known-as-Sykala has flown out through the window. Baas has announced he will make a bow attack out through the window but it would get crowded for all of you to do so.

It is possible, if you wish, to attempt to jump from window, to ledge, to walkway (DC 12 Acrobats check to avoid damage). You could also use the stairs.

Feel free to post actions out of order but try not to post actions for the next round (unless you intend to be away). I will put them into order. It speeds up combat quite a bit.

Keliwyn stands and says, "Might as well see what all the fuss is about." He grabs his wine bottle in one hand, draws his rapier and takes his time sauntering downstairs and out to the street.

Baas clearly needs to lay off the rotgut. What is directly below the window? Is the creature close enough to grab?

Composite Longbow (+3 Str) damage vs flying creature (1d8+3=4)

Also will try to identify the creature if possible:
Knowledge (Nature) (1d20+9=21) Actually 19, forgot to modify again

Baas clearly needs to lay off the rotgut. What is directly below the window? Is the creature close enough to grab?

Composite Longbow (+3 Str) damage vs flying creature (1d8+3=4)

Also will try to identify the creature if possible:
Knowledge (Nature) (1d20+9=21) Actually 19, forgot to modify again

A NOTE ON SPOILERS: We all read them. Admit it. Just keep player knowledge and character knowledge seperate. ;-)

Baas clearly needs to lay off the rotgut. What is directly below the window? Is the creature close enough to grab?

Composite Longbow (+3 Str) damage vs flying creature (1d8+3=4)

Also will try to identify the creature if possible:
Knowledge (Nature) (1d20+9=21) Actually 19, forgot to modify again

Ixius sees Bass shoot at something. He draws his bow and moves to the window next to Baas (if there is room). If he can get a shot in he shoots at what Bass is shooting at.

Ranged attack (1d20+5-2=8)

and being buzzed misses.

The creature ignores the arrow that sticks in its side the way an elephant might ignore a thorn. It launches its enormous serpentine body into the air, cracking the wall of the room you are in as it does so. It flies off with an angry squawk towards the walkway level.

As it passes by the eagle, she gets an Attack of Opportunity.

Round 2 map.

Round 2
Keliwyn 20 (NOT SOBER)
Baas 13 (NOT SOBER)
Ixius 13 (NOT SOBER)
Fippin 12 (SOBER)
Sykala 11 (SOBER) (also has AofO)
Big-ugly-flapping thing 5

Sykala does nothing to it. It looks angry and hurt, the victim may have provoked it. She'll continue to follow it however to see what becomes of it.

Can she tell anything about it?

Knowledge nature to tell about flying critter (1d20+10=17)

Sykala does nothing to it. It looks angry and hurt, the victim may have provoked it. She'll continue to follow it however to see what becomes of it.

Can she tell anything about it?

BBCode Knowledge nature to tell about flying critter (1d20+10=17)

Fippin isn't being threatened by the creature, and has no real reason to waste arrows on it, so he continues to stand on his bar stool and look out the window from a safe distance. He probably can't see much with Baas and Ixius both firing arrows out the window.

"What's going on out there guys?"

my internet connection went out on me at home yesterday for no particular reason, and I'm still trying to get it back on line. I came to an internet cafe this afternoon to check my e-mail and this thread, so I'm not sure how much I'll be able to post over the next two days. However, Fippin is pretty content to follow along with the rest of the characters. He has a good first impression of Ix and Keliwyn, but isn't sure what to make of the other three yet. He doesn't go looking for fights, but he is looking for work.

Since the creature isn't threatening him, and he is too drunk to shoot straight, Ixius just watches it, also looking for the bird Sykala turned into.

How big is it? And how far away? Do I see Sykala?

"There is a big flying reptile thing out here!" he tells Fippin.

assuming the knowledge nature wasn't an action in of itself

Sykala will shriek and unleash a lightning arc at it to get it to follow her back into the jungle when it cannot be further harmed. She feels that she can easily out manuvuer it amongst the dense foliage with size, manuvuerability, and her wodland stride ability. She move 30' toward the trees after the arc shrieking the entire way.

lightning arc is a supernatural ability so I think I can do it even when I cannot speak.

Touch attack for lightning arc and damage (1d20+5=21, 1d6+2=3)

...He doesn't go looking for fights, but he is looking for work.

Knowledge (local) DC 10: