Last Seen at Kerrigan's Keep -- The First day of Pharast, 4708.
It has been four months since your cousin left Janderhoff for the Mindspins. The priest who sent him is now quite mad. Whether his madness began before or after he dreamt that Torag had chosen your cousin for a mission into the dangerous Mindspin Mountains is impossible for you to know. You have been sent to seek news of him.
You have arrived at Kerrigan's Keep and have received the shocking news that he was here but has not returned. Three months in the Mindspins!! Sitting upon the enormous wagon that was left behind in the courtyard of the keep, Kerrigan offers his condolences.
But the mad priest in his ravings said your cousin was not dead but was trapped.
Sitting upon the enormous wagon that was left behind in the courtyard of the keep, Kerrigan offers his condolences.
"I be appreciatin' yur concern," Orlan responds, "But I figure it takes right more than the wilds of the Mindspins to be doin' in muh cousin Klyndak. He's one of the smartest of our clan. So he's likely still alive...and I be aimin' to find him one way or another..."
Orlan sizes up the wagon, running his rough hands over one of the wheels as if the wood itself might tell him something about his missing kinsman. The array of finely-made dwarven throwing hammers and axes glisten in the sun where they hang from the leather harness criss-crossing his chain shirt. And the massive dwarven waraxe slung across his back looks dangerous enough to cut through a swathe of enemies that might stand between him and his cousin.
"So, might there be any adventurous-minded souls in yur keep here, Master Kerrigan?" Orlan inquires, "If I'm ta be findin' Klyndak, it might make things a bit easier if I take a few others along...'specially anyone who be knowin' the lay of the land in these parts. Where might I be findin' such folk, if yuh don't mind me askin'?"
Sitting upon the enormous wagon that was left behind in the courtyard of the keep, Kerrigan offers his condolences.
"I be appreciatin' yur concern," Orlan responds, "But I figure it takes right more than the wilds of the Mindspins to be doin' in muh cousin Klyndak. He's one of the smartest of our clan. So he's likely still alive...and I be aimin' to find him one way or another..."
"You can't be thinking of going into the Mindspins alone!" declares Lord Kerrigan with some surprise.
"So, might there be any adventurous-minded souls in yur keep here, Master Kerrigan?" Orlan inquires, "If I'm ta be findin' Klyndak, it might make things a bit easier if I take a few others along...'specially anyone who be knowin' the lay of the land in these parts. Where might I be findin' such folk, if yuh don't mind me askin'?"
"Oh, we have an assortment of adventurous souls who might travel with you. They range in type from the divinely inspired to the thrill hungry to the simply mad. I prefer the latter myself as you nurture fewer illusions about them and are less disappointed in turn. ... I would suggest that you try 'The Old Mess Hall'. It's the closest thing we have to a tavern in the keep. My old quartermaster, Sirap, runs it. He can point you to a few likely candidates. On your you could stop by the chapel, the curate doesn't miss much and, at the very least, he can give you a space to pray."
"Father, perhaps I could ..." begins the man who had been introduced to you as Falcon Warchild, a tall Shoanti man dressed in simple robes.
"No, Falcon. You keep the peace here. That was the deal," says Kerrigan turning away, an expression of grief on his face.
He seems about to walk away when he remembers something suddenly "The horses! I believe there are some draft horses from that lumbering wagon. They should be well-stabled. Falcon will be sure that the stable hands know to turn them over to you when requested."
Orlan takes his leave of Master Kerrigan and Falcon, wandering the keep until he finds the Old Mess Hall. Entering the building, he searches for anyone who seems in charge of the place and asks for a table. He then orders an ale and poses a question.
"The lord of the keep, Master Kerrigan, said I might find a few adventurous sorts here," he keeps his voice low, "Folks what might be willin' ta mount a trip into the Mindspins ta find me lost cousin. There be any expressin' interest in that sort of thing or any you might be recommendin'?"
Orlan takes his leave of Master Kerrigan and Falcon, wandering the keep until he finds the Old Mess Hall. Entering the building, he searches for anyone who seems in charge of the place and asks for a table. He then orders an ale and poses a question.
"The lord of the keep, Master Kerrigan, said I might find a few adventurous sorts here," he keeps his voice low, "Folks what might be willin' ta mount a trip into the Mindspins ta find me lost cousin. There be any expressin' interest in that sort of thing or any you might be recommendin'?"
Tray in hand, the old halfling stands looking at you for a few moments with eyes that express both concern for your obviously lost sanity and pity for your loss before getting a glint in his eyes "There are a few I might recommend, if only to keep them from messing up the hall any further ..."
He uses his chin to point to a table near the far wall where a group of likely candidates sit. "Make your pitch to them and tell them lunch is on the house if they accept it and leave sooner rather than later. Oh, and I'll bring you food too; no ale without bread and meat here."
Sirap Hilltown leaves with his tray.
Tray in hand, the old halfling stands looking at you for a few moments with eyes that express both concern for your obviously lost sanity and pity for your loss before getting a glint in his eyes "There are a few I might recommend, if only to keep them from messing up the hall any further ..."
He uses his chin to point to a table near the far wall where a group of likely candidates sit. "Make your pitch to them and tell them lunch is on the house if they accept it and leave sooner rather than later. Oh, and I'll bring you food too; no ale without bread and meat here."
"Ha-hah! And no food wit'out ale, too, I hope!" Orlan chuckles.
Once the halfling departs, the dwarf eyes the table across the way, mulling his options on how best to approach them. Much like his battle tactics, he finally decides the most direct route will probably work fine. Carrying his tankard with him, he rises from his chair and crosses the distance.
"A blessin' on yuh," he says, "Master Kerrigan, lord of the keep, and the kindly 'alfling there pointed me in yur direction. Muh name's Orlan...of Janderhoff. I be aimin' to mount an expedition into the Mindspins to find me lost cousin, Klyndak. He and his party passed through these parts three months ago...but we 'aven't heard from him since." Orlan considers telling them about the mad priest of Torag that sent Klyndak on his foolish quest, but decides against it for the time being.
"Anyways," he continues, "I be lookin' for some strong arms, keen eyes, and knowledgeable folk about the lands 'round here. If yuh be trustworthy and loyal, I'd be interested in havin' yuh along. The 'alfling there says he'll throw in a free lunch fer any who join muh cause. And, considerin' muh cousin went in search of dwarven treasure, I'm sure yuh'll be well rewarded fer yuh efforts."
"Would there be any here who'd take an interest in muh offer?"
Staring into the flame of the small nub of a candle sat on the table in front of her Yin barely notices the new arrival at first.
"Trustworthy and loyal?" She repeats the dwarfs words with a little, amused smile. "Oh, yeah! I'm sure I can do just that if there's going to adventure and food provided!"
Laughing warmly her eyes sparkle at the notion of getting to see some new sights and destroy a few new things. "Yup, you can definately say I'm interested"
Sir Manfred leaned back in the rough wooden chair, moodily drinking the cheapest beer served here in this backwater of civilization. His shield with his family coat-of-arms and his lance with its pennant leaned abainst the wall behind him ready for action, yet without a horse how could he earn the fame and glory which should by rights he should receive as a knight of the realm? As it was he could barely eak out an ordinary existance as a caravan guard, a fate worse than death...
As the newcomers words sank in finally, his eyes blazed; a dangerous journey? an impossible rescue? treasure?
"A Quest!" He shouted as he lept onto the table. "I am with you Sir Dwarf!" He put his hunting horn to his lips as the servants ducked and put their hands to their ears...
The other member of the group has regarded the dwarf with steady eyes and a calm interest. After Sir Manfred agrees, he adds in a resonant voice of quiet dignity, "You will need a guide. I am the man for this. My fellows and I will aid you."
Laughing at the knight's enthusiasm Yin sits back in her seat and shakes her head a little. 'Wow, someone who's excitability exceeds my own!' She silently marvels before fixing her gaze on Kamris, a glad smile on her face at hearing him agree to join in.
"Sir Manfred, the wolf does not announce his approach." Kamris says seriously, "We should be as the wolf."
Orlan's dwarven stoicism helps maintain the steady expression on his face. But inwardly, he mentally calculates how to pummel the halfling who suggested he take this lot with him.
'A lass with a longin' fer the candle's flame...a bit too-eager knight with a horn to announce our presence fur and wide...and a Shoanti sportin' elf blood fer good measure,' Orlan wonders, 'Maybe that priest of Torag ain't so mad, after all. It must be me fer considerin' takin' 'em along. By the beard, cousin, what've yuh got me inta this time?'
"Right and well then..." Orlan pushes away his thoughts by forcing a smile, "It's been near three months since I seen muh cousin. Lost in the Mindspins, he is...but he left behind a strong dwarven wagon and enough horses ta pull it. So we leave tomorruh and we'll be travelin' by horseback as fur as we can. See yuh in the mornin' at sunup..."
General marching order:
Kamris (for scouting)
Orlan (for decision-making, leadership, and because he's the shortest)
Yin (in the middle for protection)
Manfred (in the vanguard position)
Kamris nods, impressed with the dwarf's manner. He turns to Yintarah and rises to leave, speaking to her in Shoanti.
Shoanti
"Be well, Sir Manfred. Let us meet at the rise of sun." he says to the knight.
Sir Manfred hesitates at Kamris' words, then puts the horn down. The servants sigh with relief as he gets down off the table.
"Yes, well, perhaps you are right Sir Kamris."
He briefly kneels to Orlan. "I shall see you at break of day, my lord." He then throws a wink at Yintarah, and while she looks around to find who he is winking at, he picks up his lance and shield and strides off to bed.
PERCEPTION ROLLS:
1d20+1=12, 1d20+1=4, 1d20+1=17, 1d20+1=13, 1d20+1=11, 1d20+1=16, 1d20+1=5, 1d20+1=18, 1d20+1=21, 1d20+1=3
INITIATIVE ROLLS:
1d20+1=4, 1d20+1=2, 1d20+1=8, 1d20+1=18, 1d20+1=9, 1d20+1=2, 1d20+1=12, 1d20+1=16, 1d20+1=12, 1d20+1=5
Sirap Hilltown, former quartermaster for Lord Kerrigan and now proud owner of both 'The Old Mess Hall' and 'Sirap Hilltown's Inn', rolls his eyes and thinks 'I will happily repay that dwarf for getting them out of this keep where they can be no longer any threat to the furniture ... as long as he returns without them.'
Smiling lightly Yin bows her head a little to the departing Shoanti man and replies in their mother tongue.
Shoanti
Caught offguard by the knight's wink she turns in her seat to look over her shoulder for who could have illicited such an action in the young man.
Failing miserably she shrugs a little and bounds over to the halfling inn keeper. "So.." She starts in a light playful tone "Mr Hilltown, this free meal. Can I exchange it for a few free beers?" She asks hopefully.
Smiling lightly Yin bows her head a little to the departing Shoanti man and replies in their mother tongue.
Shoanti ** spoiler omitted **
Caught offguard by the knight's wink she turns in her seat to look over her shoulder for who could have illicited such an action in the young man.
Failing miserably she shrugs a little and bounds over to the halfling inn keeper. "So.." She starts in a light playful tone "Mr Hilltown, this free meal. Can I exchange it for a few free beers?" She asks hopefully.
"Hmmmph," replies Hilltown, "If you wish, just remember that Kerrigan's law imposes flogging for public drunkenness ... on the third offense."
Moving things along a little:
Following the tributary to the Yondabakari as advised by the scribbled maps of the mad priest of Torag who first conceived of this noble quest and then offered a glimmer of hope that the original party might yet live, takes you through the stubby forest and then into the dry foothills of the Mindspin. The first day passes uneventfully. The rolling foothills have given way to the low (30' high) walls of a deep red stone. An attempt to take the high ground proved impossible when your draft horses showed they lacked the agility to climb over the rocks. You are forced to follow the narrow edge of the river. In two weeks, when more of the winters snow had melted, this would prove quite impossible.
In the shadowy stone-walled world of this gorge, Orlan begins to sense the presence of ancient ancestors. His meditation, however, is disturbed when his companions hiss in surprise. Dark shapes have dislodged from the walls of the gorge and are gliding towards you.
Kamris' sharp eyes have given you the chance to seize the initiative.
It is the fourth day of Pharast 4708 and the moon is half in shadow.
Kamris draws a bead on the closest batrider and lets an arrow fly.
Attack vs batrider (a further +1 if within 30 ft) (1d20+4=18)
Damage (1d6=3)
Kamris draws a bead on the closest batrider and lets an arrow fly.
Attack vs batrider (a further +1 if within 30 ft) (1d20+4=18)
Damage (1d6=3)
"Arrrr-hah!" Orlan snarls. Even as Kamris lets his arrow fly, the dwarf goes on the move, drawing his waraxe along the way. Once a bat flies within reach, he attempts to shear off a wing and bring its rider down to earth.
Orlan's attack and damage on the bat... (1d20+4 = [16, 4] = 20 to hit, 1d10+3 = [7, 3] = 10 damage)
Is it even possible to fight while mounted on a non-warhorse? Do we need a Ride or Handle Animal check, or do we need to dismount to fight at all?
Overexcited at the sudden turn of events Yin grins at the targets to practice her spells on it takes her a moment to pick a target, by which point everyone else has acted.
Picking a batrider (or bat if there aren't any riders left, as long as it's an enemy and range - she's not picky!) she unleashes an enthusiastic ray of fire.
Spellcraft to cast from mount (1d20+8=11)
Ranged touch attack (1d20+1=18)
Fire ray damage (1d6+1=4)
IF
conditions are right for a charge, Sir Manfred cannot resist couching his lance and charging...
Control Mount: 24
1d20+5=24
Attack Roll: 15
1d20+7=15
Damage if hit: 18
(1d8+3)*2=
IF
conditions are NOT right for a charge, Sir Manfred will use his lance as a reach weapon still mounted, unless his mount bolts or dies or the enemy comes at him on the ground, in which case he will dismount and use his bastard sword with honor.
Control Mount: 17
1d20+5=17
Attack Roll: 8
1d20+4=8
Damage if hit: 9
1d8+3=9
Kamris manages to shoot an arrow into the closest batrider, who responds by cursing in goblin but remains in the saddle.
Orlan leaps from his horse and draws waraxe, slicing into the soft underbelly of the bat as it attempts to grab onto the dwarf's shoulders.
The batrider that Kamris struck responds by pitching a javelin at the half-elf but staying on his mount is a struggle enough for the wounded goblin. The shot goes wide but the goblin remains on the bat. Kamris, however, is not so lucky and is pitched from his horse
The other batrider fires a javelin at the spellcaster in hopes of disrupting her spell. The small javelin pierces her thigh.
While the bat's rider was targetting Yin, the bat swooped toward the paladin-in-waiting, trying to pull him from his horse. Neither the bat's talons nor Manfred's lance manage to meet their mark and the bat flies up quickly taking up the slack on the cord connected to the javelin stuck in Yin's side.
NEW ROUND
Kamris
Orlan
Batriders
Manfred
Bats
Yin
Kamris tries to control his steed, but the horse frights at the sight of the bats and pitches him!
I should have refused the horse he thinks bitterly after landing badly.
Spellcraft to keep the spell (1d20+8=27)
"Ha!" Yin manages to declare through the pain of the small javelin piercing her thigh as she manages to get off her fiery spell.
That bats have swooped over and are turning around for another run at the party.
Orlan makes ready to chop into another bat during its fly-by. Once he notices the goblin-rider atop its back, he feels an extra measure of hate boiling up inside.
"Come down here yuh coward!" he taunts.
Orlan's next strike against the flying bat... (1d20+4=[11, 4] = 15 to hit, 1d10+3=[5, 3] = 8 damage)
Orlan misses his strike but the rider of that bat tries to target Orlan but ends up hitting his own mount instead when the mount flicked left to avoid the axe.
The other batrider yanks the cord of his javelin pulling it out of Yin .
Both bats are coming straight down at the party for another attempted grapple.
Kamris picks himself up without a word and fires again, in a way glad to be free of a mount. He again shoots for the rider, reluctant to fire at a dumb beast.
Attack roll (further +1 if within 30ft) (1d20+4=19)Damage (1d6=5)
Kamris picks himself up without a word and fires again, in a way glad to be free of a mount. He again shoots for the rider, reluctant to fire at a dumb beast.
Attack roll (further +1 if within 30ft) (1d20+4=19)Damage (1d6=5)
One of the goblins falls backwards in his saddle struck for a second time by Kamris.
The bat, not yet realizing his rider is dead, continues to swoop towards Orlan for a grapple attempt, having just dodged his axe.
Sir Manfred reigned in at the end of the charge. He exulted at the feel of charging on horseback again (even if it was a miss).
"Well done Tankard!" He patted the horse affectionatly. He tried to get him to rear up, but the horse just looked at him with a puzzled expression. "Ah well, we'll make a warhorse of you yet. Just give it time."
Wheeling about he looks for more targets, only to see Kamris unhorsed and a barbed dart yanked out of Yintarah's leg...
The bat that deftly avoided Orlan's axe attempts to grapple Orlan but only succeeds in shaking his rider loose. Severly wounded and no longer compelled to attack, the bat begins to fly into the dusk.
The other batrider has decided to follow the age old principle of taking out the ones who shoot fire first (particularly when they've pissed you off by shooting fire at you) and urges his mount to grapple Yin. Yin is grabbed.
Spellcraft to cast whilst grabbed (1d20+8=15)
Doing her best to ignore the pain of the extraction of the javelin Yin winces and is caught offguard by the grapple. Aiming upwards she casts a cone-shaped burst of flame from her fingertips, hoping to catch both the rider his bat in the blaze.
Burning hands damage (1d4=3) (DC 15 Reflex save for half & any flammable materials on the rider & bat are alight)
"A rescue!" shouts Sir Manfred as he charges back towards Yintarah, lance couched and aimed at the bat.
Kamris' eyes widen at seeing Yin in trouble (although he should be used to it by now). Unwilling to fire into such a confusing melee, he draws his sword and runs towards the fight.
ROUND SUMMARY
Orlan has missed his strike against the bat.
A batrider hit his own mount while trying to shoot at Orlan.
Yin has taken an extra point of damage.
Manfred attempts to charge with a draft horse but 'Tankard' refuses and stomps the dark earth certain that he knows better than the silly, shiny man.
Kamris finishes off one of the batriders he shot at before.
The bat attempts to grapple with Orlan, fails, shakes his rider loose and then flies up and out of the gorge.
The other bat succeeds in grabbing Yin who responds by shooting it with a cone of flame. The fur of the bat catches fire which should concern the rider but does not ... yet.
Orlan drops his waraxe and runs to assist Yintarah. On the way, he draws one of his light hammers, preparing to throw it if he sees an opening...or to use it the midst of the grappling tangle of bat, human, and goblin. Upon arriving, he attempts to overrun the goblin rider...
"Aargh!" shouted Sir Manfred in frustration as Tankard placidly munches the grass. "On Tankard! Our compantions need aid!" He tried one more time to kick Tankard into a gallop.
Control Mount: 1d20+5=10
"Aaargh!" Dreams of charging glory evaporating, he leaps off the immoblie mount and charges into the melee... on foot.
Orlan drops his waraxe and runs to assist Yintarah. On the way, he draws one of his light hammers, preparing to throw it if he sees an opening...or to use it the midst of the grappling tangle of bat, human, and goblin. Upon arriving, he attempts to overrun the goblin rider...