hmm, it should be an easier trek than travelling through the Folgefonna forest where I grew up.
Ready
After finishing up your affairs in Vulksberg your group begins the long trek to Falcon's in the distant mountains towards Half-Track Pass. You know from consulting maps at the Cloak's HQ that the small town is located near the headwaters of the River Orem down which they float harvested lumber, the majority of which is tranformed in to finished goods before being either shipped further down river to SkOvde or brought back South in trade caravans to Half Track Pass.
Perception Rolls:
Azzakan
Daedeloth
Jalriel not sure on your mod; check out how Azzakan is set up
Variel
Your journey is rather uneventful bu Azzakan can't help but feel that you are all being followed by "something". He even swears that at one point he saw an enormous silver haired wolf watching your from atop a small hill. Your group is fairly dubious about this as he is the most "cityfied" of the group, but he maintains his story. There is some benefit to your travels, however, as Jalriel and Variel are able to teach Azzakan and Daedeloth enough about the ways of the forest to increase their knowledge checks for forests by +1 (one added rank to that specific skill)!
Finally you reach your destination:
Perched at the edge of civilized lands, the small town of Falcon's Hollow has always had to rely on itself to solve its problems. Meanwhile, the uncaring lumber barons squeeze the common folk for every last copper, deaf to their pleas.
You can see that the town is built on the Eastern shore of the river Orem with a group of small piers where barges and small river craft are moored. Three "roads" lead in to the town, one from the North which you are currently on, and two from the South wich appear to branch out and lead back deeper in to the forest.
The town is surrounded by a rough wooden pallisade that has a few ungated openings around the road and on the North end there is a fairly well built and gated stockade on an elevated hillock.
The town awaits you!
To group: I say we head into town to get the lay of the land and seek out Magistrate Vamros Harg and Sheriff Baleson to let them know Major Kenneset sent us.
I agree, let's check in.
chris - I figured that you had my character sheet, or would you rather I just display it like Don
Clint-how about both?
As you descend down towards the town you can clearly notice that the hustle and bustle that you would expect to see in a frontier town is oddly lacking. There are few people going in to the town through the openings in the stockade and you don't see anyone working the fields.
To: jalriel... You think you know something.
I would expect the ranger to start scouting to help us now.
To DM. Private messages can occur in the game!,,
To All: you think you know me.
Is there any evidence of a recent attack? stockade damaged? fires? bodies? etc.
Ready for anything, I head down to the stockade and will ask first persons encountered:
How are things in town? Where can I find the Magistrate an Sheriff
Is there anything to be noticed about the people entering the town? Otherwise I say we enter the town and and establish our credentials.
Perception rolls!
Azzakan
Daedeloth
Jalriel
Variel
Noting that there is nothing amiss with the wood of the stockade, Daedeloth quickly strides towards one of the travelers headed to the stockade. The man notices him and cries out in panic, What in the hells are you doing? Stay away from me man! I don't want you near me! Daedeloth: Easy sir; what is it, why are you so upset? Man: It's the plague you fool! The plague has come to Falcon's Hollow! Then man sprints inside of the stockade as Daedeloth pulls up short.
Look around town for a healer, enter the stockade if necessary.
I nailed that!
Daedeloth notices that the perimeter walls are made up of lots of wood.
Peering inside the gap where the road enters he sees that there is more foot traffic than there was entering the city, but it is still very hushed especially to what he was used to in Vulksberg.
pulling my green cloak about me, "Let's go meet Magistrate Harg". If there are no other voices than I enter, avoiding contact with plagued falconeers, falconites and general falconizers.
The party manages to weave its way through the streets avoiding contact with other pedestrians as much as possible. After a few shouted conversations over distance you are finally approached by Sheriff Deldrin Baleson.
Obviously half-elven, the Sheriff greets you enthusiastically with a broad grin and makes no attempt to avoid close contact with you. I can't believe the Cloaks got our messages so quickly! Have you brought cures and a priest?
Hello Sheriff. Major Kenneset sent us but he knows nothing of the plague. I am Daedeloth and I am a cleric, my companions are Variel, Azzakan and Jalriel. We will do what we can to assist, but I am new to the priesthood and fear the plague will be beyond my limited healing abilities. What can we do to help? Are there no healers in town?
Why do all my rolls on this site suck???!!!!
100% improvement!
The Sheriff's smiles quickly turn to a glowering frown as he takes in your words. Tiamat's teets! It is NOT the plague! Or at least no plague that anyone has seen before; he adds the last grudgingly. You have clearly talked to one of our panicked citizens. Both Lady Cirantha and Laurel agree on the fact that it's not the plague, if nothing else; and who is the Sheriff to argue with the local priest and herbalist?
He stops talking, realizing he has been speaking largely to himself. I'm sorry friends! You are surely tired from the road and have already indicated that Kenneset has sent you here to help us, even though he did not know we would need aid so soon after the last of you Cloaks departed. Let me take you to the Magistrate's house and there we can discuss what else is to be done about this "plague"
Sheriff, could you also take us to meet Lady Cirantha and Laurel? I would like to learn what they know about this sickness.
Sounds like something to look into, lead on good sir.
The Sheriff nods All in good time Daedeloth, although I'm sure I can tell you just as much about what's going on as anyone else at this point. You don't get to be Sheriff by sticking your head in the sand when trouble comes to town. At least not in Falcon's Hollow.
As you start walking the Sheriff speaks The sickness starts off with a small cough that gets worse and worse. Eventually the sick start coughing up blood as their bodies tear themselves apart from the coughing. No one has died yet from the "wheezing death" but I can only imagine it's just a matter of time. It only seems to be affecting the young, old, and those already sick and it is only occuring in the poorer sections in the East end of town.
Everyone make a nature or heal check, whichever has a better bonus.
Variel:
I have not heard of this in the forest
Finally a decent roll!
You hear Variel muttering to himself ...sounds like they ingested blackscour?...I could see someone eating some by mistake, especially townsfolk, but not this many...no it can't be blackscour there's just no way for that type of fungus to be eaten by this many folks...
After hearing Variel mutter to himself, I ask the sheriff Is there anything that the townsfolk all consume?
Sheriff Baleson: What? Things the townsfolk consume; guessing games is it? Oh sure: Air, water, food, my damnedable patience...BAH! He smacks his fist into his palm in frustration.
To DM: knowledge nature check
18 + 8 = 26
Do I know anything about "blackscour?"
If they've been snacking on your patience, that could be why you're so irritable. I look at him with my most innocent face...
Jalriel: The Sheriff looks over at you with a sly look I guess I have been a bit short tempered lately. Maybe I should feed them a piece of my mind, eh? A more serious look comes over his face Maybe not so funny if you saw people you have known and looked after for years doubled over with blood heaving out of their mouths and there was nothing you could do about it. He fixes you with a steely glare; Hope you Cloaks are worth my time...
Sorry sir, my mouth tends to get me into trouble at times, straightening up, I meet his gazeWe shall do everything in our power to help you and your town
I don't know why that posted.
The Sheriff doesn't look any happier and hurries along Let's pick up the pace; the Magistrate's house is close.
After a few more minutes the group walks in to an open area that in better times would be considered a market of sorts but now stands mostly empty, a few desperate eyed merchants manning their stalls The Low Market for your review the Sheriff mutters as he walks towards a large manor at the edge of the market circle. Watch what you say around Vamros. He's a good enough man, for his part, but he's also known to be in the pocket of Kreed and the Lumber Consortium. I'm sure he wants to resolve this illness as much as anyone; just keep a tight lip about Kreed. Pauses and straitens his tunic Here we go then. He knocks on the door.
The door opens and a freckly faced, red headed, pre-teen boy says Morning Ser Sheriff! It's good to see you. Come on in and I'll let the Magistrate know you are here. His huge smile is set off by the fact that his top two front teeth have been knocked out. He finally notices the rest of you and pauses Is everything OK?
You notice a wave of fondness wash over the Sheriff's face, the first time you have seen such an experession from him, Everythng's fine Hollin. Go let Vamros know I'm here with a group of Cloaks from Vulksberg, and they are going to help us with the sickness
The lad trots off upstairs and the Sheriff escorts you in to a sitting room and pours some water for each of you from a copper pitcher.
Now we wait
I don't know why that posted.
Jalriel's pretty sure he's just gonna keep his trap shut...
Jalriel's pretty sure he's just gonna keep his trap shut...
doesn't pay to get cute with a charisma of 10...
I quietly warn the others not to drink the offered water. And tell them that the illness could be the result of a contaminated water source.
Daedeloth: Don't know if you took any ranks?
What's that? Not thirsty after your long trip? Or have the ways of "civilized" folk changed since last I was in Vulksberg?
He proceeds to take a long draw out of the glass he poured himself; eyeing you stonily.
doesn't pay to get cute with a charisma of 10...
Sheriff, what if the sickness is caused by contaminated water? Where does the town get its water?
The Sheriff frowns and his face darkens Tiamat's teets! You have the right of it!, he barks out and pounds the table in frustration.
Right at that moment a small blond, finely dressed halfling walks in to the room with Hollin at his side Not the way you usually greet me Deldrin, but hello anyways. Lookaing at the party I assume you are the Cloaks Hollin here mentioned and that based on the good Sheriff's reactions you have brought even more trouble to my town?
Deldrin waves a shushing motion at the Magistrate and continues to look at Deaedeloth, brow furrowed in concentration That side of town gets its water from Brookman's Well. I'm not sure how people could be getting sick from the water as it is spring fed, but that would explain why only those that get water on that side of town are falling ill. What do we do now?
DM: it was my intent to ask the question to the sheriff before anyone in the house took a drink.