Ascension - Merchant's Guild

Game Master bbangerter

Amon cautiously walks over and inspects the tracks.

Survival: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 26

He is interrupted by the arcane communication. He listens quietly as the two groups agree to meet.

I don't like this.

So, we the caravan guard, do not know that Aerin and Cormick have been hired by the guild and so we are not expecting them? If so, Cindy will react accordingly. Map is not acting correclty for me at work - I can see the three small map icons to the right of the big map, but the big one is just grey.

Correct. The hall assigned Cormick and Aerin to investigate, but did not communicate that to the other three of you. They would have been required to give approval to Ashin for Cindy, Amon, and Vayga to accompany her caravan, so they certainly know you are up here as well. Intentional laspe in communication? Oversight? Other?

The guards look relieved to here it is a friend and potential ally on the cliff tops.

Cormick: you do know that aerin will not show herself until you have confirm that this is indeed the group we were told to watch for. After all we both know that people can use magical disguise, and we were send in this area to investigate.

BTW DM what info were we able to find on the attackers ? tracks that we were able to follow to a camping sight etc...

To Cormick: Come down, but be cautious. Any false moves and I will make you and your buddy my personal pin cushions!

Cormick: you do know that aerin will not show herself until you have confirm that this is indeed the group we were told to watch for. After all we both know that people can use magical disguise, and we were send in this area to investigate.

BTW DM what info were we able to find on the attackers ? tracks that we were able to follow to a camping sight etc...

For simplicity I'm placing you at the same level of knowledge as the rest of the group as to what went on at the ambush. The guild asked you to look into the ambush site and see if you could discern any additional details of what happened. Are the goblins going to be a ongoing threat in the future that need to be dealt with? Is there anything that can be recovered, the wagon? Any of the wool not taken or spoiled by goblin filth?

Cormick did deliver his secret message using bluff succesfully, so all are free to read his spoiler above.

The half-elven Aima speaks up, "This is a surprise indeed, we had not expected to find friends here at the long canyon of all places." If she meant anything beyond her words at face value she failed to provide the nuances to deliver it.

Cormick looks around for the disembodied voice, “There is no need for hostilities, we come in good faith. If I had seen you earlier spirit I would have possibly included you in my spell. I'll be down in a moment."

"While I am pretty sure you are the group I am looking for, but would you mind telling me what you are hauling in those crates?"

Cormick lowers his pack over the side of the cliff and then begins to climb down his knotted rope.

Climb: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (10) - 1 = 9

Having been satisfied that there is no immediate danger from the top of the cliff Vayga returns to the caravan as well. She is somewhat bemused to have found friends where she expected to find enemies.

Well, no chance of surprising the surprisers now. Stinking goblins have been here recently though, and based on the number of broken arrows they've left behind I'd say there is quite a group of them. Who wants to do some exploring with me? There may have been more victims than just our Miss Ashen so, with a little luck, who knows what we could find.

This time Vayga give the party a little time to decide if they want to join her before heading up into the ravine.

Jeg blir med deg Miss Dwarf. Forresten er jeg Cormick Egerton av Coran Egertons, til tjeneste. Og du ville være ...?

I'll cast another Message spell once I know who will be join us.

Cormick waits to see what other brave souls will accompany him and the dwarf into the hazardous ravine, most likely teeming with ravenous goblins, waiting to ambush him, light his hair on fire and then eat his face. The joys of a well rounded childhood.

i'll give it a few more seconds but it looks like this is indeed one of the guild's caravan.

Hold a moment Vayga. Let us parley with the newcomer before we head off to explore. And we warned, the goblins have some sort of large wolf with them, by the tracks I saw.

That might mean something to someone with more knowledge ranks than I have... hint hint

Turing to the half-orc, upon hearing this new news.

Knowledge(local): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
Knowledge(nature): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

Really... a wolf? I thought goblins hated dogs. This must be a very advanced tribe of goblins for them to overlook thier hatred.

A sudden realization that he has made a great mistake, Cormick quickly goes about correcting his actions.

Cormick stands tall, puts a snear on this face, looks directly at the eyes of the half-orc and says,
Voi kyllä ​​... anteeksipyyntöni herra ... hmmm ... se on sir ei ole sitä? Olen Cormick Egerton of coran Egertons, palveluksessanne. Ja sinulla olisi ...?

She is a female Cormick. Female ...

Part of the problem can be explained by Cindy being in disguise as a male caravan guard. WE recently left a number of rogue guild members quite unhappy so Cindy is disinclined to look like herself at the moment. Oh, these rogue's guild members never actually never saw her real persona either, if that matters. Hats of Disguise are handy that way.

They do but have their limit if you don't have trained the skill :)

Well they are either don't understand what I thought would be thier native tongue or they are very unsociable persons. I have introduced myself twice and no greeting in responses. I guess this is why we were sent, to be a good face men for these thugs. Let me try one more time.

Cormick looks at the dwarf and the orc and speaks in a very slow tempo so that they may comprehend his words.

Hellllo Misss Dwaaarrff annnd Sssiirr Haaallf-Oorrrc. I aaamm Cooormmicck Eggggerrttooonn Aaatt Yoouuurr Sseerrrvvicccee. Wwhhaaat Iisss Yoouurr Nnaaamme? Aaarrre Yoouu Thhe Lleeeaadddeerrr Offff Thhe Caaarraaavvaaan?, Cormick finishes with a big smile.

Sorry Cormick, but I have lost tack of what is in the message spell and where you are. Have you joined us at the wagons? Also, the female half orc witch is magically disguised as a human male man at arms so I am unsure where you are getting your intel on her sex and race. Not trying to be non-communicative but just unclear what has happened. Last I understood you had cast message and I had invited you down.

The half orc witch, disguised as a man at arms, patrolled the back of the wagon train, quite alert and looking for signs of danger.

Part of the problem can be explained by Cindy being in disguise as a male caravan guard. WE recently left a number of rogue guild members quite unhappy so Cindy is disinclined to look like herself at the moment. Oh, these rogue's guild members never actually never saw her real persona either, if that matters. Hats of Disguise are handy that way.

I have added the bold to your quotes. This indicates what you are disguised as, not that you changed your race in your disguise. So I see a male half-orc man-at-arms. While I see you as a male, I was expecting a female half-orc per our information from the guild. As "Cindy Lu" is one of the target that responded to the secret message, I have to assume you are a guild member and possibly the half-orc I am looking for. Cormick was asked to come down and join the caravan via the message spell, which he has done as he believes this is the group he is searching for.

I have introduced Cormick out loud twice and asked for a response of the person's name, from two different characters (a male half-orc man-at-arms and a female dwarf who asked for people to join her), with no response from either.

I have also asked out loud, what is being hauled in the caravan crates to verify that this is a correct caravan we are looking for. Via the Message spell I have already indicated that I am searching for a caravan carrying new bars of smelted ore. But there has not been a response to that request either.

I am just basing Cormick's comments and actions on what I am reading. As I count it, Cormick has offered four challenges so far to verify the authenticity of the caravan.

1: Secret Message to Guild Members - Possible verification, but could be overcome with a high Sense Motive check.
2: Requested name of female dwarf - not verified yet
3: Requested name and sex of male half-orc - not verified yet
4: Requested identification of cargo being hauled - not verified yet

As Cormick has not gotten any responses to his questions, I am having him ask the questions in Common, in hopes that this will result in an answer. I am drawing out the words of the questions, because I did not purchase a Dentist Kit so I don't have a way to pull out teeth at the moment.

Hellllo Misss Dwaaarrff annnd Sssiirr Haaallf-Oorrrc. I aaamm Cooormmicck Eggggerrttooonn Aaatt Yoouuurr Sseerrrvvicccee. Wwhhaaat Iisss Yoouurr Nnaaamme? Aaarrre Yoouu Thhe Lleeeaadddeerrr Offff Thhe Caaarraaavvaaan?, Cormick finishes with a big smile.

Is that whale? I wish I could speak whale.

Aima bursts into laughter. Taking a moment to compose herself she says more seriously, "Egerton? I know a little of your family. I heard your father was not well? One of the more honest merchant families if I may say so in this company."

She watches as Cormick slides down his rope. "What... what are you doing out here?" she shakes her head in wonder. "Us though? We've a shipment of ore for Akleta."

Those heading into the canyons in a moment here, which one did you want to explore?

Crap and i think those things are rather intelligent too.

DM did we search the nearby area for a possible ambush in the last few hours or are we thinking that for the moment its rather safe?

Well you may assume half orc, but you would be incorrect. Since my goal is to blend in Cindy would be disguised as a human caravan guard, like the other caravan guards. Cindy is not about to divulge the contents of the caravan to a random person hiding on the trail along their path. You have the advantage of expecting us, and maybe knowing something about us, while Cindy is expecting both caravan ambush and rogue abmush, so is doubly on guard. And while I saw you post you would be down in a moment I am still unsure if you have joined us at the caravan. Part of my problem is that I am unable to view the maps other than to see an unpopulated but very large area. So I never saw how far away you were or even where our dwarf wandered off to. I am perfect willing to talk, but do not expect me to trust too soon. Your story, while true, sounds more like the beginnings of am ambush to Cindy.

Cormick, if you be a friend of the merchant then come down where we can see you well and talk with us. Let us hear your story and give us a chance to learn as much about you and why you are here as you seem to know about us.

Cormick has already climbed down from the cliff, and is standing in or next to the caravan. Based on comments so far I would say Cormick is somewhat equal distance from the half-elf, the half-orc, and Vayga the dwarf (as named by the half-orc when the dwarf was told to hold up). Cormick has avoided using names so far,as no one has given thier name to him as of yet, so I have to to rely on his deductive reasoning.

Cormick turns and bows to the beautiful half-elven maid, "Miss Aima, I presume. I am glad a little levity has been able to shine through in what was starting to become a tense moment."

"Thank you for your concern for my father's health and your praise of my family business practices. He has his good and bad days, but he is a determined man and a little sickness will not keep him down for long."

"As to why I am here, The Guild thought it best to send additional sets of eyes to your caravan's previous ambush site and provide whatever assistance was needed when you arrived. So here I am, Cormick Egerton at your service."

Cormick nods his head slightly to the dwarf direction, "As I believe I am go exploring with the dwarf, Vayga I believe, in a moment, could I bother you to send one of your guards to go fetch my horse. He is hidden just head on the path. If you guard whistles the chorus of The Three Maids of Coran Harbor as he approaches, he should have no problems with him."

Just made up a song name of a common tune sung in Coran for flavor.

Well met Cormack. If you are with the guild you are welcome indeed. It is sure that your eyes and your sword and spells will be of use if the signs are right and a goblin host, perhaps mounted on wargs are near. Cindy steps forward and lets her disguise drop for a moment. I am indeed the half breed you seek. For various reasons I choose to maintain my disguise while out and about. Tell me, have you come all this way alone? The roads of late are not safe to travel. With a wave of her hand and effort of will she once again resembles a human caravan guard.

Speaking loud enough for anyone within a couple of hundred feet or so, but not yelling.

"Oh what joyous news, to have completed my Errand and found the caravan I seek. If only there was a way to untie my rope from the top of the cliff. It would be such a waste to leave such a good rope behind.".

Bluff/Secret Message for Aerin: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (17) + 21 = 38
DC20 Bluff for complex messages to be delivered to Aeirn.
Sense Motive vs Bluff to determine message

Cormick turns toward the shifting image, "Alone? Well hopefully in a few minutes my horse will be here."

Sorry, I thought I had corrected your character name.

Aering will stand up from her hidden position. She is a young female elf. blond rather well dress for the situation. She is wearing no armor just a plain dark colored robes that seem to bland in color with its current surounding. She makes a hand signal toward cormick the agreed message received signal + cast message spell Her only weapon seems to be a rapier at her side.

Cormick spots Aerin standing and continues speaking, "And there is also my other traveling compainion, Aerin. Oh look, there she is now."

Cormick points at Aerin on the cliff while fumbling with the copper cord holding his flute around his neck. Cormick casts Message on Aerin.

"Just shocking how she pops up from time to time", snickers Cormick.

Cormick now has two Message spells going with the following groups. These will last for the next 60 minutes.
MG1(Message Group 1): Myself and 6 Caravan Members to include Cindy Lu
MG2(Message Group 2): Myself and Aerin
Cormick can whisper once and both groups, if within 160ft, will hear my whisper.

To Cormick We have bigger problems than anticipated. I know what is leading these goblins and its bad news for everyone. its a barghest from the outer planes, known to be able to shape change into the form of either a wolf or a goblin. They come to the prime material plane to feed, and to grow in power. Its very intelligent. The way i see things is since that group was charges to look after the caravan then that is what they should keep doing, we will go along with them. Either we meet him on the field here or the Guild will have to send a hunting team later. I can't stress enough how deadly this creature is especially since it use the goblin tribe to keep feeding and getting more powerful. Just a private info if it engages any of you except for the dwarf and i, your in big trouble.

Cormick whispers via the Message spell, "I will defer to your judgement, as you are the warrior and I am the peace maker. Are you coming down to let us know if you found anything, or would you like for me to relay any of your possible findings to everyone?"

Whisper was sent to MG1 and MG2

Amon listens intently to Aerin. When she finishes: I have found a print that may be the one we are looking for. We could try to track the print?

He whistles and his large cat comes to his side sniffing in the air at the newcomers. Whispering: Sekhmet, we may need to track the prints. Prepare yourself.

He walks back toward the print and points down. Have any of you seen a print like this before. It appears to be from a small creature. Maybe a goblin?

Sekhmet follows Amon over to the print and turns to look at the new comers.

Amon, pretty sure Aerin only included Cormick. When he replied he included everyone.

Um, Cormick, If there are findings relevant to the safety of the caravan I have to insist you and your friend share them. Cindy says out loud.

Jeg blir med deg Miss Dwarf. Forresten er jeg Cormick Egerton av Coran Egertons, til tjeneste. Og du ville være ...?

Hail Cormick, you have very flowery speech and I am not a flowery dwarf. I welcome your company and the entertainment you provide just by being yourself however. I'm sorry to have offended you. Let us hunt down these goblins!

Crap and i think those things are rather intelligent too.

DM did we search the nearby area for a possible ambush in the last few hours or are we thinking that for the moment its rather safe?

No one has had a chance to really scout anything out yet, other than the shattered arrows Vayga found and the prints Amon has found. This should get everyone on the same page with what little information has been gathered so far.

Aima signals to one of the guards, who begins whistling a tune, badly. It might be The Three Maids of Coran Harbor, but it is hard to be certain.

Whether Cormicks horse can't tell one tune from another or it just had to get the sound to stop it trots over near the guard but stops a short distance away from the unknown fellow.

Map

Note I've placed everyone on the map near Amon and the waterfall. I'm not assuming everyone actually went over to look, but I needed to get a zoomed in map to see if Cindy can see the characters on the map - I'm quite puzzled that she would be able to look at the maps but not see the characters on them.
@Cindy, are you using a small monitor or phone to view the map? Is it simply to zoomed out to view the characters? Can you see them now on the much closer zoom?

Aima waits by the caravan while those wishing to follow Amon for a closer look at the prints he found scaling the cliff wall do so.

To cormick there is already one of their party that is in position to follow the tracks. If the caravan mistress is ok to call for a halt we can scout ahead a little bit. But the other group's priority should be to help it make it trough.

----------

forwarding as aerin would get cormick and hopefully everyone else to investigate the water fall while the caravan is resting where it is at the moment

at the waterfall

Give me a few minutes to see if i can find the secret entrance if it is here she says to everyone

Cormick walks over to look at the footprints, kneels down to look intently at them and ponder what they could have come from for a few minutes. The expression on his face look as if he is having a mental battle with himself, as he tries to remember some critical information.

Finally Cormick raises his arms in defeat and says, "Sorry, I have got nothing. I really wish I would have bought one of those footprint books I was looking at last month. But I don't remember if there were entries for Goblin, Wolf and Barghest, or if there were only entries for Goblin and Wolf."

Standing and turning to the others, "Would someone please remind me next time we run across a footprint book, that I should buy it. Maybe Alketa will have a local copy."

"Well lets wait and see if our trackers can find anything."
Cormick watches as others investigate the area closer.

After a few minutes of watching and loosing interest, Cormick casts Detect Magic to help him deal with his boredom.

@GM Ascension, does Cormick detect anything? Not focusing much effort on the party members unless he sees any necromantic auras.
Cormick's Spellcraft: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13

GM Ascension, at work I see a grey screen in the large photobucket window on the left. But, strangely I see three thumbnail maps to the right, and the leftmost one must be out map. I can almost make out characters on it but can certainly see the waterfall. Both monitors are large - a 24' dell at work and a 27' Apple Thunderbolt at home. I have not tried to see the lastest map at home but expect it will work fine.

Probably has to do with your work's firewall. I know mine doesn't let me access any Drive material etc...

Cindy Lu, I just sent you the map via email. Lets see if you can open it that way.

I can view that fine Cormick. Thanks! Sorry for the extra trouble. I am sure Aerin is right about the firewall

Being away from the caravan in an area known for goblin activity has Cindy a little spooked. She will go ahead and cast her Mage Armor Spell.

Perception to notice spell casting: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

SpellCraft to identify spell: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26

Cormick makes a mental note that Cindy Lu can cast Mage Armor.
That could be a useful spell, I will need to talk with her later.

Cormick is tracking other character's spells incase he needs to momentarily Spellsteal them later.

Map works fine from home. :)

just to give you a warning i am going to cast a magic armor protection spell. Mage Armorshe says to everyone and no one in particular.

ok then lets get this show on the road, you should all get your defensive spell now. I think i see something

Aerin will take her time to climb the rocky part of the waterfall.

after climbing more then her height she stops and looks at the waterfall with intense concentration.

Well just as i suspected. There is a small opening behind the rushing water, perhaps 3 and a half feet in height and it's a narrow squeeze. But someone daring enough to make a quick leap through the water could squeeze themselves into the hole. Since goblins are small creatures the fit in there quite nicely.

She ponders for a few more seconds.

I am going to go in the rabbit hole and explore a few feet inside and deal with any posted entry. In the mean time get up here and inside the structure.

no idea if a roll is needed there DM but if it does you can make it for me :)

DC 15 climb check to climb the rocks, but you can take 10, so a trivial climb for Aerin.

And a DC 15 acrobatics check to make the short leap through the water into the small cave opening. Again you can take 10 making for an easy jump for Aerin, but failure would result in a plunge of 15 to the river below.

15' overhead Aerin leaps into the waterfall, disappearing behind the freezing cold wall of water and out of sight.

tks DM

Aerin once inside will explore a bit inside the entrance both in order to get room for the rest of the party and to find any sentries.

Cormick looks at the wall of rock in front of him in despair.
Mother told me there would be days like this. I knew I should have bought a scroll or wand of Spider Climb.

He watches and listens expectantly for any sign from Aerin indicating her success.
I hope she remembers all the nasty traps goblins can make. (Images of about 2 dozen goblin traps flash through Comick's mind, each more horrific than the last.)

Taking the newcomer at her word, Cindy will cast her False Life spell and ready to activate her Natural Armor hex.

False Life: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10 [[ooc]Duration is 6 hours. What time of day is it?[/dice]

@GM Ascension, if you don't mind I'll take 10s on my spellcraft checks to identify spells the other party members are casting, until I have a chance to talk with them about my Stealspell ability. That would give me a DC 22 Spellcraft for spells of 7th level or lower.

The combination of horrific images and comprehension of Aerin's comment about someone daring, Cormick begins to psych himself up for the upcoming exploration into the unknown.
"All right, I can do this. Goblin lairs... pah, no sweat. Goblin traps... child's play. Squeezing through small, nasty, trap filled tunnels... well maybe not so much."

Cormick casts Heroism on himself. 60 minute duration
Cormick casts Message on Amon, Vayga, and Sekhmet (just because he has available targets). 60 minute duration, all party members now have an active Message spell with Cormick.

Emboldened Cormick repeats, "One more time, I will do this. Goblin lairs... pah, no sweat! Goblin traps... child's play! Squeezing through small, nasty, trap filled tunnels... bring it on!"