2-01 & 2-02 Before the Dawn (Inactive)

Game Master P33J

Bones, you are most definitely more than 5 miles from Bloodcove.

Vanya eyes the chain shirt carefully:"Honestly I could use something like that. I guess I could use something better than this..." Vanya finishes pointing at her studded leather armor.

Vanya could benefit from that since she's a swashbuckler and meant to be in melee, and she can't use anything else from the loot. Yet a +1 item is good, so... how do we decide?

"You get up close and personal more than I do, it's all yours." Tori says as she hands the armor to Vanya.

Tori is ranged so you can use the armor, no problem.

Ryjel gladly takes the scrolls from Bones.

Thank you my good man. These will come in handy. Although I certainly agree this brigand is trash, we should not treat him as he would have treated us. I say we ask him questions and if he cooperates, cut him loose. If he does not cooperate, let him stay tied up here in the wilderness and let nature takes its course.

Remembering about the scroll case give to the group at the start of the mission, Bones opens it for the group to see before rousing the prisoner.

The Dwarf makes sure the captured captain is tied securely to a tree, before using cast CLW on him spontaneously converting a protection from evil spell. CLW: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5.

Bones stands watch while the others questions him.
perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

"Ryjel, why don't you do the honors?" Tori inclines her head towards the prisoner, "Could you find out his name, who he works for, and why he was trying to kill us?"

"Captain, you have two choices before: you can readily and honestly answer my questioning and I will untie you and set you free on your way. Or you can refuse me and remain tied to this tree and mother nature will have her way with you. What is your decision?"

Intimidate: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

the dwarf grumps "Be a waste of a perfectly good rope."

Thanks Tori!

"Indeed!" Vanya gives the captain a feral grin and moves near unsheating her rapier.

"Well, Captain? My friends grow impatient and I am really not sure how long I can try their.... patience."

Haha, sorry I had to make a run to Milwaukee yesterday. The Captain, is stoic to a point.

"We're just hired guns. Nothing more nothing less. We got a contract from the Aspis to overtake and take out the supply caravan heading to Azlant Ridge, before you got there. We're not the only ones they hired. And every second you waste on me is another second lead they gain on you."

What did we learn from opening the scroll case?

Haha, sorry I had to make a run to Milwaukee yesterday. The Captain, is stoic to a point.

"We're just hired guns. Nothing more nothing less. We got a contract from the Aspis to overtake and take out the supply caravan heading to Azlant Ridge, before you got there. We're not the only ones they hired. And every second you waste on me is another second lead they gain on you."

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 2

Bones reads: Pathfinders, the key you carry opens a magically sealed portal within the ruins our camp on Azlant Ridge is built on. Within this portal, we believe are powerful Azlanti artifacts that have sat unmolested by raiders or weather for several millennia. This site represents the legendary, first Azlant settlement in Mwangi and a source of knowledge that must be protected from the mercenary interests of the Aspis and the fell desires the the Ape Men who wish to control it's power. Your job is to bring the key to Juliet Dias, and assist her in securing the site.

Ryjel, you aren't even sure if the man spoke :D

Bones waits to see if anyone else has a question for the captain.

Vanya considers the captain for one long moment, then she shrugs:"I'd say your tale is quite likely to be true... but then, please explain me why do you think we should keep you alive?"

"He sure is loyal to his employer for a hired mercenary." Tori observes with a shrug.

"Hmm your story maybe true or not. If I free you, how does that help my cause?

"Keep me alive," He laughed. "I figured you were going to kill me. So I was honest, thinking it might save my life. If you stand around here waiting for me to reveal some big plan, you're going to have to fight through a larger contingent of Aspis agents than just the four of us. Our job was to harry you, slow you down, let the other riders get out ahead of you and cut you off before you got to the ridge. If you let me live, I just go back to Bloodcove, collect my gold and wait for the next job. You kill me, you're still wasting time and the additional blood is eventually going to attract the Ape-Men and then all of us are going to die."

Bones uses his warhammer with a non-lethal blow to knock the captive out, "Looks like we've learned about as much as we going to, lets get back to the caravan and get moving."

warhammer nonlethal dam: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

The dwarf retrieves his rope before leaving the thug.

Once the group is back at the caravan Bones informs the caravan leader Scevola about the attack and the information the captive told us. Speaking with Scevola "Do we push on this way or do you know of another route there?"

Vanya laughs:"Hei Bones" Careful with that warhammer of yours! I like him! At least he has his priorities straight enough for a mercenary!"

Scevola looks at you and shakes his head; "If what he says is true, we're going to have to ride through any form of blockade the Aspis is forming. There's only one path up the ridge. Going through the jungle is worse than suicide, it's swarming with Ape-Men and if we're in the undergrowth, we'll never see them coming."

Bones, might I assume you shared the contents of the scroll case?

"Hey chief," Tori says to Scevola, "Can you tell us anything about these ape-men? I was going to ask the merc back there, but he's sleeping now."

"All I know about the Ape-Men, is I don't want to meet them. Those who've encountered them and survived talk of beasts who tear the flesh of men and eat it while you'll still draw breath. Powerfully strong, wickedly cunning, savage beasts."

"I guess it was too much to hope that they were an understanding, Aspis-hating sort of people. I guess we should get moving then."

(yep shared the scroll case with the group. "Bones opens it for the group to see before rousing the prisoner.")

Bones agrees, "Yea, Zye said king Ruthazek was some sort of intelligent gorilla that rules over a race of sentient ape-men. Well we best get moving"

"Yeah, I guess he did. A lot has happened since then." Tori says with a shrug.

Do you press forward?

(yes)

Unless Bones knows of any other ways.
knowledge geography: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Bones shakes his head at first unable to think of another way, then taps his head a few times to knock a few extra bits of information lose.

(reroll using Recall cleric memory domain power)
knowledge geography: 1d20 + 7 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 7 + 3 = 21

Bones does not recall any other way.

Scevola presses the caravan hard through the jungle and as you approach the pass that leads to the switchbacks up the mountain, you see coming from the west a company of riders, flying the Aspis insignia. They appear nearly a mile off.

"We've beat them to the pass, there's no way they'll catch us now."

And he pushes his team up the winding switch backs that climb through the great green forest.

The riders continue their hell ride pursuit, but can't seem to gain on you, Scevola's skill in driving even allows you to gain some ground.

As you crest the top of the forest canopy, you look out and see the Aspis riders are being harried by thousands of screaming Ape-men, their howls piercing the sky. The Aspis riders are no longer watching you, but rather riding while they look over their shoulders in pure fear.

As you reach a plateau, you see a hastily fortified camp and Scevola rides hell bent for the makeshift gate.

"Open the gates, the Apes are on our tail!"

A solitary voice calls back from the wall.

"Captain says no one gets in without proven' they's a pathfinder!"

Bones cuses under his breath, "Who else would be bring tons of supplies to the middle of nowhere? Tell Juliet Dias that venture captan Zye sent us!"

diplomacy : 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (14) + 0 = 14

The dwarf looks to Vanya, Tori, and Ryjel for help.

"Venture Captain Zey gave us the key to the doorway, we know what symbol is on the door." Tori adds, somewhat cryptically.

Diplomacy (Aid Another): 1d20 ⇒ 7

"my good man, open the door. We come with supplies, information and assistance from the society. Captain Zye has sent you the very best of the society."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

Any of you happen to have wayfinders?

(Bones does not have a wayfinder.)

Sadly Ryjel has no wayfinder.

Neither does Vanya

"What the short one said: we are your best chance for supplies and none of us looks like an ape... well not too much anyway. So, open up before you make a mistake you shall not live long enough to regret!"

Diplomacy check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Tori, you're Wayfinder was brought to you by Ryjel lol, when he joined up with you outside the city. Deux Ex Machina!

The guard spots Tori's Wayfinder and shots down to her.

"What's the job of a Pathfinder?"

Works for me!

Tori buffs her Wayfinder, happy to have it reunited with her. She shouts back to the guard, "Explore, Report, Cooperate!" To her companions she adds, "The guard needs to learn to do more of that last one."

Bones grins at Tori "Aye, your right about that."

The Dwarf calls up to the guards, "How do we know you are Pathfinders and not apes or Asps in disguise? Can you answer this: How many make up the Pathfinder Decemvirate and name one of them?"

"on the account my archers haven't killed you yet," a second more feminine voice responds. "Open the gate."

The gate swings out wide allowing the caravan to enter . Inside the camp is a grim reminder of their lack of supplies and support as fresh graves litter a makeshift cemetery to the south and the bones of horses are piled up to the north.

"Jaymes! Aruel! Get those potions to Muriel now! And get that damn get closed and barred we've not got much time."

The woman turns to you all and grunts.

"You said Zey sent the key? Show it to me."

"How about you identify yourself first." Tori asks with a smirk, "Apparently you can never be too careful nowadays."

Sense Motive on whatever she says: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

;)

"We don't have time to soothe your bruised egos," the Venture Captain spits at Tori. "I'm not sure if you fools noticed, but there's about a thousand screaming Ape-Men and a hundred Aspis riders bearing down on us. So you can show me the damned key, or we can let you back outside to fend for yourselves."

The 30 or something seasoned Pathfinders still healthy aim their bows at you.

Vanya raises her eyes to the sky, annpyed:"Yes, yes, yes... we can lose more time and maybe even kill each other, OR we can get to the point. We were sent here to help you, provide you with provisions AND to give you the key to this... tomb... I guess? WE have done that and at no small personal cost I might add. Anyway those were our orders and we abeyed them. YOU on the other hand could at least TRY to show US a modicum of respect, for the sake of our mutual commitments if not for gratitude. Now.. Tori please, hand over that key and we can call our mission a success"

"And now we just need to figure out a way to live to tell the tale of our success..."

"I apologize. We've been dealing with the Charau-ka for months. Hundreds at a time and everytime they close, that..."

She pauses and points at a huge metal orb in the center of the camp, which is starting to glow uncomfortably bright.

"Thing lights up like the star stone falling through the sky. My men and I are exhausted and, well to put it frank, afraid."

As she calms, her emaciation and scars become more evident, as well as her lack of sleep. This woman is on her last legs.

"Let me try this again. I'm Juliet Dias, I'm the senior researcher at this site and by default, the commander of this makeshift fort. That key, should open the tomb and allow us sealed passage way and secure whatever it is down there."

As she speaks there's a commotion at the gates. A beleaguered guard rushes toward the captain.

"Juliet, the Aspis Mercenaries are at the gate, they've thrown their weapons down and are begging for sanctuary from the Charau-ka, there's thousands of them this time. More than I've ever seen. And something else, there's something BIG with them out there."

The Officer sighs heavily and turns to you.

"I can't ask you to die here, but we can't let this site and whatever is in the ruins fall into Aspis hands. Or worse, those damn, dirty apes." YES! She looks at you. "Someone has to enter those ruins and get what's buried down there before we're completely overrun. If you can get what's down there, we'll hold them off long enough for you to get out of here."

Bones nods "We are all tired, here is the key for what good it does." The dwarf pulls out the key and hands it to Juliet Dias.

sense motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

Shrugging the cleric agrees, "Seeing how disparate things are, and you ask so nicely I'll be happy to go into the ruins to get whatever it is you need."

Tori wisely holds her tongue, allowing Vanya to express her feelings perhaps more constructively than Tori would have.

"Yeah, we'll take care of it." She agrees simply, "Just show us the way."

"We are all weary, yet our tasks seem to just be starting. We will descend and recover what needs protecting. What else needs to be done?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

(Is this still the same day that we got ambushed on?)