Blades of Cormyr

Game Master ShakaUVM

Viscountess. It says in the profile. You might also know Genta used to have two older brothers who died before they could inherit.

Interesting...

To expand just a bit on what you'd know about Edmond on that Nobility check. His father died when he was young, so he inherited his title at the age of 4. His mother acted as the Regent of their estate until he turned 16, at which point she stepped back to a more advisory role.

I love how I know all about your characters, and you know near nothing about mine

We could all roll common knowledge checks on nobility and take 10s ourselves. We just haven't. I had assumed that's what the basic intro was for.

I love how you think you know all about my character. :D

It's common knowledge that Vetinari is a Crownsilver (hence very aloof) and rarely tends to his fief. Higher DCs (EG, 15, 20) will tell you more about him. Also, you can't use knowledge nobility untrained.

Knowledge (nobility): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Ooh, I'm trained.

Per the SRD:

Untrained

You cannot make an untrained Knowledge check with a DC higher than 10. If you have access to an extensive library that covers a specific skill, this limit is removed. The time to make checks using a library, however, increases to 1d4 hours. Particularly complete libraries might even grant a bonus on Knowledge checks in the fields that they cover.

You can make basic DC 10 checks for all knowledge skills.

F~$&.

You know he's the head political strategist for the Crownsilvers, he's suspicious of this group so he joined them. He's so good at determining political strategy because he's a lore oracle who will check the results of his actions before he makes them. Also, he cannot lie.

He doesn't have any interpersonal connections out of the ordinary

Vaylan, the DC 10 is what I told you. I meant you couldn't add to the 10.

That's fair. I'm ignoring what you told Genta either way. Out of curiosity, is there a way to PM that sort of stuff, so that only one player can see it? Just to prevent meta-game.

You can use spoiler tags (see "How to format your text" below post entry screen). You can also click to someone's profile, add them to your address book, then send them a private message.

Might be. I'm fine with running the risk of meta gaming, but I understand why others might not want it.

The most I may ever do are spoiler tags, unless Shaka says otherwise.

Hopefully I made the sidebar properly.

Marcus is a 5'8" Half-Elf male. His ears are quite pronounced, and he has brown hair paired with hazel eyes. He has a toned physique, but not a muscular one.

Marcus is unaligned and is not particularly fond of either party for various reasons.

Marcus is a sorcerer.

A man of few words, Marcus simply introduced himself to the members of the Blades of Cromyr by name and title, staying out of idle chit chat of poison and bickering of party cohesion.

While the troupe was killing time and making merry the day prior, Marcus surveyed the local graveyard, paid his respects, and ensured all was in order, undisturbed.

He followed suit as the company made their way to the Count, and displayed an expression of indifference towards the Count's remarks about Parliament.

Take 10 information: It is common knowledge among nobles that Marcus previously served as a surveyor of military expenditure and implementation of forces on behalf of his family and it's advocacy of such spending. He became reserved during social gathering as a young man, but the why is foggy or unknown.

Does 15 reveal anything more?

Yes. Speaking of which, was Genta's roll on everyone or just Havelock?

Edit: I'm just going to assume it is for all of us. Here's your spoiler.

Nobility 16 being?

I thought you just took 10 for your check. I'm not seeing the roll.

Even if he took at 10, he would have a 16.

I took 10, I have +2 (Int) +3 (Trained) & +1 (Rank)

Ah. Gotcha.

The count nods brusquely. He seems a bit disappointed, somehow.

"As I said, we do not maintain much interaction with my great-grandfather. He, and his assistants, carry out research and artifice in his estate, and leave us to handle the more mundane concerns of the realm, such as patrolling for bandits, collecting taxes, and the like."

"However, we suspect that something has happened at the estate. He maintains very strong wards around it to keep out interlopers, but guards on the walls have reported seeing birds flying in and out of the estate grounds, which would normally be impossible, and have unconfirmed sightings of monsters inside of the grounds at night time. The stream, whose source lies within the estate's grounds, has turned brown and foul, instead of the usual festive colors that happen this time of year. While the deliveries of magical items still continue to our house's clients across Cormyr, I strongly suspect something is very wrong on the inside. Therefore, I am officially granting the Blades of Cormyr permission to investigate the grounds and clear out any trouble lurking within in. Try not to seriously damage the estate, and protect the lives and works of my great-grandfather and his artisans at any cost. They are invaluable to our kingdom. House Illance thanks you for your troubles."

I briskly thank the Count and assure him that we will do our best, already starting to gather my things so as to start my work.

And now I begin my efforts to kill the rest of you.

"Count Illance, my charter demands I aid you. The blood of my House compels me to take up the task. The name Marcus binds me to these words. In all that I am, I accept these troubles with no heavy heart. Good health to all our Houses. Marcus formally bows, and returns to his docile, relaxed demeanour, turning to his Lords and colleagues. "Shall we away?"

Just bury me properly.

"I believe we shall, Marcus, my friend!" he smiles cheerfully. He, too, prepares to head out.

Rude.

"Well, if all the cool kids are doing it, might as well dive headlong into a potentially magic monster infested estate, I'm in. Sounds like fun."

My plan to escape your traps

Don't worry, I'll sell your items for a high price. (And if you honestly can't tell, I'm not serious)

"Many thanks." He produces a large key, encrusted with rust. "This will open the gate to the estate. If you leave it open behind you, I will guard the opening with Purple Dragon Knights. They are good soldiers - but poor adventurers. Do not count on them navigating the hedge maze to rescue you."

He drums his engloved fingers on the book, again. "Also... be cautious of the ward line. While it appears to be inactive, when it is operational, it delivers a lethal shock to anyone attempting to cross it. I recommend sending your manservant across first," indicating the dwarf.

One further bow from the count, and soon enough you find yourself through the gate, looking at a delightful two story estate house, and examining the wards etched into the stone every ten feet in a wide perimeter around the building. They lead right up and across the brown stream, where you can see a large tower and a tall hedge maze on the other side.

A covered bridge connects the second story of the estate house to some sort of wooden building on the other side. The bridge is both roofed, and drops down to the surface of the stream below.

-Posted with Wayfinder

I wait for the dwarf to go.

"Hmm..." Edmond looks around for a stick or something to toss across the ward line. "No sense in wasting a dwarf on a ward line, when he's better used inside the place."

Hugh looks to the group "Do the wards keep out just organic material or anything?" He pulls out one of his daggers. "Because if it's the later...."

I make a knowledge arcana check on how the wards work, taking 10 on a check, 16.

Genta also examines the rune markings.
Knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24

For my next level in skill points, should I assume you have knowledge arcana, knowledge the planes, and Spellcraft covered?

Your choice, but sometimes it helps to have two people who are good at something. I may not always roll high!

Well, there's other things to rank up.

While Marcus considers the possible effects of the wards,Knowledge(Arcana): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25
he suggests, "Supposedly, birds flew overhead, and monsters have potentially been seen on the grounds as well. There may be a break in the system. A ward whose strength has faded due to a mistake in the markings, or a disruption from an external party."

Marcus casts Detect Magic, concentrating to determine the strength and location of each ward's aura.

Do we have a map of this location OOC?

The way Shaka described it, that the map is old, makes me imagine that we can use the map from the wiki: http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20081014082233/forgottenrealms/images/9/ 95/Cormyr_-_1479_DR_copy.jpg as a fairly accurate map to that which we would have on hand in character.

I'm not exactly sure where Tilverton is, only Tilverson Scar.

I meant the estate, for position purposes and whathaveyou. Visualizing can only go so far, but we can pen and paper it too, if need be.

I'll put up the battle map on roll20 soon enough.

Looking closely at the runes, you see they are all marked with the symbols for lightning and enemy, and have linking runes to connect them to their neighboring runes to the left and right. Destroying them would require a disintegrate or similar magic. They do detect as magic, with a weak abjuration aura.

When you get close, the hairs on your arms raise a little, but the stick and dagger seem to cross it without incident. Who will step over first?

I'm not exactly sure where Tilverton is, only Tilverson Scar.

Tilverton is built inside of the scar, which is the site of the old Tilverton before it exploded in the 1300s.

I stick my left arm through them, and if it passes without incident, I walk over.

You stick your hand in and take Electrical damage: 1d3 ⇒ 1 damage.

Do you continue through, or pull your hand back out?

I rush through as quickly as I can.

Ok, you make it through without further damage.

The "lethal" shock was not quite as lethal as it was reported to be, for whatever reason.

"How did that go for you?"