Looking up at Donnie Seebo says "You too huh, I thought it was just me, after the excitement of the night.
I think we should check out the halfling body to see if it is Fenwick. Then if it is Fenwick who did Davkul meet last night? "
I thought the Nim was only down 2 points, and therefore only gave him 1 + sleep = 2 had I known he needed 2 plus sleep, I would have given him more as I had a spell or 2 that I could have used. If the GM will allow this oversight could Nim please be on full HP.
Seebo:
Since you had the spell casting-capacity left, and seem to have genuinely misunderstood Nim's HP situation, on this occasion if you make a (retroactive) DC 10 Spot check I will allow the additional cure of 1 HP to Nim to have occured before you had your morning prayers, you having noticed then that he was still slightly hurt.
Seebo:
In addition to my previous post, please roll the Spot check rather than take 10, since you will have been concentrating on preparing for your devotions at the time, and not necessarily paying attention to how Nim (still likely sound asleep) was.
With a typical brotherley touch, Seebo fixes Nim's aches and pain.
Then looks at the others at breakfast table, and without his normal pleasant demeanor states,
"look we all need to put what we know togther so we can figure out what the hell is going on here, this is what I know though I'm not sure how it fits anything:
1.whatever, those things that chased us were, they didn't like the bears' chain.
2.they were shepherding those birds. I don't know if they were trying to attack us or shepherd us too.
3 Something else caused that Midnight Cleric to rise and that wasn't a normal holy symbol for that sect.
4. there's a dead halfing, that has been dead for several days. if it Fenwick what/who were we chasing?
5. We've picked up scrolls and a satchel and a map of this town.
Would anyone like to add to this list, because I feel that there's somthing missing, but I don't know what."
"I cast detect magic before bed last night and got these results:
Satchel: Moderate aura of Transmutation
Illuminated page: Strong auras of Conjuration, Illusion, & Transmutation"
just to clarify is the illuminated page is the map of deadsnows?
"I cast detect magic before bed last night and got these results:
Satchel: Moderate aura of Transmutation
Illuminated page: Strong auras of Conjuration, Illusion, & Transmutation"
just to clarify is the illuminated page is the map of deadsnows?
The illuminated page is the old looking one with the (mostly green + gold) colour drawing on it, which Davkul drew out of the lead scroll tube, along with another (much more modern) page which was covered with scribblings (in common) and drawings of trap mechanisms (see one of the posts I made on March 16th, back on page 7 of this thread for decriptions of these). The map of Deadsnows (drawn in silvery grey, with notes scribbled on it in fey using elven alphabet, as usual for fey) was found in the satchel. There was some sort of short message on the illuminated page (and by the way no one has made any attempt to appraise the page as a whole yet, in terms of financial value as a work of art, I note) but nobody suceeded in a decipher script check to read it.
It is approximately eight minutes past eight in the morning now. Over a foot and a half of snow has fallen on the streets of Deadsnows overnight, with quite possibly more in the woods up on the ridge. Any tracks you made last night will almost certainly have been obliterated..... With regard to the question of do you have time to go off through the woods, travel maybe three quarters of a mile to locate (whilst again possibly contending with low cloud reducing visibility conditions in the upper stretches) where you got up to last night (most likely identifying the spot when you get there by the dead bear unless someone has moved that), and retrieve the metal chain (with ornamental leaf), and get back to town for noon.... well probably not (given Nim's Search & Survival skills) without help.
Davkul: I would like to draw your attention to the fact that on page 4 of this thread:
Spoiler:
Fey were mentioned several times in your conversation with Fakcal, and the church of Midnight may even have cropped up; you might (if you had not already done so) like to go back and take a look over it again.
"Do you recall what material that chain was? I did not get a good look at it. From what I can tell, something seems to be hunting those of the church of Midnight and those fae and worse are probably involved." A cruel smile flashes across Davkul's face, "Come to think of it, I wouldn't mind doing a little hunting for follwers of that usurper myself..."
"Do you recall what material that chain was? I did not get a good look at it. From what I can tell, something seems to be hunting those of the church of Midnight and those fae and worse are probably involved." A cruel smile flashes across Davkul's face, "Come to think of it, I wouldn't mind doing a little hunting for follwers of that usurper myself..."
maybe we go back and look for dis chain?? bronx is good tracker, i fink he could find der place we went to, if we are quick we could be back in an hour, maybe bronx and i go only?
nim goes over to Bronx and whispers... bronx will you go, maybe we meet some bad fairys on der way
dear Gm... if bronx agrees can you assume that we go and try to find the chain
It occurs to you that some fey who are around love woodland settings for pranks and ambushes if they’re expecting possible visitors to come calling.
Whether you make the Wisdom check or not, Bronx:
Spoiler:
There are some additional anti-fey options available for activities which could occur to you such as:
Pooling coins and going looking for cold iron weaponry (if any) that may be available in Deadsnows.
Checking for a sage or expert in Deadsnows who knows anything about fey activity in the area.
Now that the local mercenaries seem to be taking some sort of belated interest in last night’s activities, try to determine if they (or their employers) might secretly be in league with fey- or at least demonstrating pro-fey sympathies.
”DM Charles Evans” wrote:
“I have just had a *gods awful* journey from Waterdeep, although at least the gods seemed to have had a change of their hearts and to have been looking out for me those last three miles. Some sort of nasty imp or pixie thing shot my pony out from under me, a couple of miles out from this place, and Yondalla knows what it might have intended for me if a couple of travellers hadn’t happened to be riding through the sleet only a couple of hundred yards behind me. Some sort of big-folk travelling entertainer or professional illusionist, she said she was, and her priestess bodyguard. How it screamed with disbelief as the priestess whacked the nasty thing out of the air with her staff to break-up into a puddle of foul smelling ichor on the ground- urggh. There wasn’t anything they could do for my pony- some sort of nasty poison there must have been on those darts- but they trotted alongside me, as far as the edge of town, where they said that they had to go about their own business….”
- Fenwick said something about a traveller and her bodyguard. Are these people still in town? Do they know anything useful?
Other information, equipment, (or ally???) gathering ideas may have occured to Bronx as well.
If Bronx makes a DC 9 Knowledge [Nature] Check:
Spoiler:
Bronx recalls that there are stories of particularly obnoxious ‘ice sprites’ with abilities primed to drive those whom they encounter to distraction; they are said to frequent snowy areas and dislike both cold-iron and fire. If there are any in these mountains, with all this snow around, their territory may very well have temporarily extended down the ridges with all this snow that has fallen overnight.
"Davkul, if the dead halfling is Fenwick and he's been dead for a couple of days, who were you talking to? Who did we follow into the forest?"
"Is there someone in this town that has more magical ability and appraisal skills, that we can trust?"
"This is giving us more questions than answers!"
"Donnie how long do you reckon that chain was, and given it's length, what metal do you reckon it was made from?"
"I guess we could go investigate, it probably would be better to take our mounts in order to get back in time to see about that meeting.
Didn't your little friend say something about running to a priestess with a bodyguard. I wonder if they are still around, maybe somebody should look into that. I also I wonder how much we can trust these local mercenaries, they may or may not have anything to do with what is going on, but I wonder.
Anyway if we do head out, we might want to arm ourselves with fire and cold iron, those fairies hate it, as it burns their preciously little skins. I'm out of cold iron arrows unfortunately, I wonder if anyone sells any? Though if these evil fairy creatures are as tricksy as I think, we may find all the available cold iron gear has gone missing."
you are wise bronx, i fink you can go on pony and i will walk as i am much faster at moving den u are!
maybe we can get a cold iron dagger or somefink?
i fink we not want to take long time to get cold iron becuase at noon we want to talk to dat merchant
"I have an idea, why not have 2 of us go to represent the group to this merchant, perhaps Donnie and myself or Seebo, while the others go to retrieve this chain and see what we can make of this area during daylight hours. This way, we will not have to worry about missing the appointed time."
It occurs to you that (as an additional line of inquiry) anyone intending to stay in town instead of heading off into the woods might, by asking around (Gathering Information), be able to turn up information on that big bear (and maybe the chain it was wearing) if it was a long-term resident of these parts and at all known about in local stories & gossip. Additional things which you could ask about may have also occured to you.
"Right. Nim and I will go back and check out the scene from last night. The rest of you see what you can find out here. I'll go get my mount and meet you out front Nim."
Bronx drains his cup (dropping some coins for payment if he has done so yet), stands and quickly strides out of the room. He heads to the stables and quickly puts the barding on his pony and saddles it.
Bronx & Nim head outside, Bronx to the stables to collect his pony. (Fortunately it's a hardy northern pony capable of coping with a certain amount of snow on a forested slope, although in many places Bronx is going to be reliant upon Nim or anyone else handy and on foot going in front to push/trample through any deep snow.)
If anyone else wants to go with them, if they could please indicate so by the end of this weekend, after which spoiler tags for actions are going to be requested all round if different PCs are going to be engaged in different activities in different places.
On our way out of town, Bronx and Nim (and anyone else that might join us) will stop and see if there are any cold iron arrows (20 for Bronx) and a medium cold iron dagger or something (for Nim). Since cold iron is only twice the price as a normal item, we should probably be able to afford some of those, at least I think Bronx has 2 gp left for his arrows. If there are any in town and available.
On our way out of town, Bronx and Nim (and anyone else that might join us) will stop and see if there are any cold iron arrows (20 for Bronx) and a medium cold iron dagger or something (for Nim). Since cold iron is only twice the price as a normal item, we should probably be able to afford some of those, at least I think Bronx has 2 gp left for his arrows. If there are any in town and available.
Actually, given the geography, (Mrs. Prestwick's boarding house being on the edge of town, the ridge you want to look at immediately behind it) it will require *going into* town to find a gear store or workshop which might stock such items. Do you want to take your pony with you back into town, Bronx, to tie at any hitching post or the like in the snow-covered streets outside any store or leave it at the stables at the boarding house to collect on the way back out to the ridge?
While I am not going to go with you, I will add 10g of my own funds to assist the pair of you in purchasing some Cold Iron armaments, since my own armaments primarily come from my own spellbook. That should be enough to maybe even get Nim a glaive instead of just a dagger.
That having been said, I would like to make an inquiry about purchasing a Cold Iron shaft cap for my quarterstaff, just in case I ever get into dire straits again.
While I am not going to go with you, I will add 10g of my own funds to assist the pair of you in purchasing some Cold Iron armaments, since my own armaments primarily come from my own spellbook. That should be enough to maybe even get Nim a glaive instead of just a dagger.
That having been said, I would like to make an inquiry about purchasing a Cold Iron shaft cap for my quarterstaff, just in case I ever get into dire straits again.
Davkul:
If Bronx indicates that he accepts the donation, please make the necessary deduction from the funds in your profile. Also could you please clarify are you interested in going out to the store with Bronx & Nim, or in waiting behind to discuss things with the others, and going looking for gear if/when they decide to move?
im happy for any kind of weapon rather than a glaive (as carrying two would be dificult) my ideal would be a cold iron greataxe (i could trade in my current one ) i am inteested in any cold iron weapons that are available
Bronx will take the extra money and leave his pony, and with Nim run to the nearest smith/shop that might sell cold iron weapons. Looking to purchase some arrows and a dagger/greataxe/whatever.
Seebo gives Nim 10gp "here see if you can get anything to help you with this".
"I'm going ask around about the merchant in the meeting and maybe find out some other info, scope the town that sort of thing"
Bronx & Nim: I will start dealing with your trip as soon as Donnie confirms if he is staying with the others, in town, or looking to go off with you two- unless the next twenty-four hours sees no response from him, in which case I will start posting for you anyway. Nim, please make sure you have added the 10 GP Seebo has just given you, to the inventory in your profile.
I will start dealing with your trip as soon as Donnie confirms if he is staying with the others, in town, or looking to go off with you two- unless the next twenty-four hours sees no response from him, in which case I will start posting for you anyway. Nim, please make sure you have added the 10 GP Seebo has just given you, to the inventory in your profile.
DM Charles!
check out our discussion thread!!
it looks like donnie is dropping out! a shame!
Will post again later today, after giving thought to the situation with Donnie's player having bowed out. Apologies for this hold up on my part. At present, Nim and Bronx are outside in the street, looking for a store, and Seebo, Donnie, and Davkul are inside, still discussing what to do (in game) for the rest of this morning.
"Before I go into town, I'm going to talk to Mrs Preswick and maybe Black Baz, about the merchant. Maybe they have heard rumours that may help"
"Nim be careful, and don't waste that money"
The last thing Nim and Bronx hear, as they finish their breakfast and set off, is Donnie professing apologies that following the events of the previous night he would prefer less of a hectic time and that the rest of you should carry on in his absence.
Nim & Bronx
Spoiler:
You head out of the boarding house, onto the streets, and go in search of a place that looks likely to be able to supply your needs. The snow has been trampled by passers by along the middle of the streets to an extent now, making passage easier for folks such as gnomes and halflings who might otherwise be upto their waists in the snow.
Time: approximately 08:50, 30th Nightal, 1383 DR
Nim and Bronx soon locate a workshop which looks like it might be promising, smoke pouring from a forge chimney, the ring of metal upon metal emerging from inside, and the signboard by the 'customer entrance' announcing 'Gedrik Ironfounder & Family'. Entering to the 'clang' of a bell arrangement above the door, rigged to sound as the door opens and closes, the wave of heat which hits you is in sharp contrast to the crisp winter chill outside on the streets. Inside the building is something like a small barn, with various anvils, workbenches, and cupboards littering the roughly tiled floor, with posts of ironwood propping up the smoke-stained crossbeams and the roof. Various tools and suits of armour hang from hooks, and racks of hunting and kitchen knives, metal collars and pins for wheel axles, nails of all sizes for building purposes, fire irons, cauldrons for cooking, and even the occasional metal bath are strewn about the room. The centre of the room is dominated by a large forge and bellows arrangement (and its attendant chimney stack). Several dwarves in working clothes are moving hither and thither about the area. One of them having noticed the clang of the bell on the customer entrance (as you came in) comes across to stand on the workshop side of the customer counter (which has two surfaces- one for gnome & halfling sized folk, and one for 'bigger folks') from you. It's difficult to make out beneath the grease and sweat much about the dwarf although he has dark eyes and is (probably) one of the fair skinned (at least when they're cleaned up, anyway) 'shield dwarves' normal to these parts. His beard is tucked carefully behind his overalls.
"Yes?", he growls in a somewhat dour tone.
The PCs are currently split into two groups who will have little idea of what is going on with each other- Seebo & Davkul, and Nim & Bronx. Please post with spoilers addressed to the other person(s) in your group and to me appropriately.
Seebo & Davkul:
Spoiler:
Time: approximately 08:40, 30th Nightal, 1383 DR
If the pair of you could please agree where you're going to be going and doing what, first? Black Baz, by the way, being the night porter, will likely have retired to his own home and bed by now, although you could ask around here to try to find out where he lives. Mrs. Prestwick is likely to be in the kitchens, supervising the clearing up operation from breakfast, for sometime yet. It is possible that some of your fellow boarders may have third or fourth hand information, if there are particular questions which you're interested in pursuing.
If Mrs. Prestwick and Black Baz are indisposed at the moment, perhaps an efficient use of our time would be to visit the blacksmith first, then ask around the locals for any rumors about the merchant once we are done there.
heading for the blacksmith is fine by me, it seems as good a place to start as any. Maybe we can check out any of his holdings around town while we're at it.
Bronx looks over the shorter counter at the dwarf. "We want to purchase some weapons out of cold iron. Preferably some arrows for me and something bigger for my friend here. You got anything like that?"
“Arrows. Cold iron tipped, sized for gnome sized bows. Also ones sized for larger folks' bows.”, the dwarf bends down under the counter, rummages a moment, and brings up a bucket, which he dumps onto the gnome height counter. “Crossbow bolts. Also cold iron tipped, and likewise sized for small and larger crossbows.” He brings up another bucket which he dumps on the counter. He seems exceptionally angry, and peering into the buckets, Nim and Bronx can see that they are full of the broken and charred remains of dozens of snapped arrows and crossbow bolts. “Fey pranksters broke in last night and smashed, snapped, and burnt our entire supply of prepared cold iron tipped arrows and bolts. Word is now on its way to Citadel Adbar requesting the services of a senior cleric of Moradin. Once he arrives next month and wards us- touch granite- one of those wretched fey won't be able to come within thirty paces of this place. Tell me what you're looking for in the melee line and I'll see what we've got- we tend to keep most of that under lock and key. And I will be delighted to offer you a discount on the purchase of any cold-iron melee weapons, my friends, if you can solemnly promise me that you're seeking them to drive those wretches out of this area.”
Davkul & Seebo:
Spoiler:
Time: approximately 08:46
You have concluded your breakfasts at a leisurely pace and are on your way out of the dining room, when, her face as white as a sheet, and in an apparent state of some distress one of the halfling maids comes stumbling into the dining room from the hall. She collides with one of the other staff, and you overhear her communicating to her fellow worker something about ‘He’s dead... Mr. Pophilov... I went to give him his wake up call and he was just lying there... it’s horrible.’
Davkul:
Spoiler:
You recognise ‘Pophilov’ as being a slang term from the Undercommon language for ‘nobody’- although it is seldom used as a name for that very reason, except perhaps amongst criminal/clandestine fraternities where it sometimes stands in as a joke alias.
