Campaign: Without Their Rangers (Inactive)

Game Master Connor McGinnis

"Thanks for the help Darien," Daven says, wincing at the now slightly less painful bite. Suddenly, he perks up, eyes straining into the dense foliage ahead.

Is that water I hear? Could we be close to the shore that thin man was talking about?

Perception - 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

"This way boys, I think we're close."

That is indeed water. The shoreline has now appeared through the trees. You are very close to Grima's home in the woods (player knowledge).

"So...do any of you know much about the local area?" Daven asks. "I'm a long way from home...plus, I don't 'member things so good."

"Unfortunately, I'm relatively new to the area so I'm not that informed about this region. I was just passing through when those goblins attacked back in town."

"But if none of us are familiar, perhaps we simply approach Grima's house cautiously. I know I'm not willing to simply show up as if we were old friends. Plus, if we do get into another bind, my blessings from Milani are almost depleted for the day."

Sturk will gladly dip his two daggers in the Spider poison/acid if no one else would like. If it will degrade the weapon at all he's more than happy to use the sharpened bit of metal with the twine wrapped handle dagger.

"Perhaps I should try and sneak ahead for a recon? Make sure we are not going to be ambushed?" whispers Sturk as he cuts off the path and starts angling forward being as stealthy as only a street raised half orc can be...

Stealth Plus any modifiers for distance...
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Holy heck these digital dice HATE me

... whispers Sturk as he cuts off the path and starts angling forward being as stealthy as only a street raised half orc can be...

lol I have this vision of Sturk sneaking into the woods, then starting to use his greataxe to clear shrubs and vines out of his way, then sneaking some more, then cutting down a sapling, etc :)

It seems that this may be exactly what he's doing in this case... He's not at all used to being where there is no pavement. We can only hope he'll get better at this woodsy sneaking

Soo... Somewhat less than stealthily, Sturk hacks his way through the forest attempting to get additional information about the location.

Festric follows Sturk down the path he's clearing through the brush.

no stealth roll? LOL

"H'mmm" , thinks Theriandas, "Would it be in the spirit of things if I started singing "Tara from Oppara" at the top of my voice? Probably, but then again..."

Stealth 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6 The elf's even less stealthy than the half-orc - this means the End Times are upon us.

Theriandas follows on behind the others, crashing through the undergrowth and cursing loudly as he goes.

The digital dice gods frown upon us...

"Apparently this Ranger has encouraged the plants around here to grow abnormally crunchy and loud" Sturk mumbles as every second step he takes cracks a twig or requires a vine to be slashed...

Finally, and by sheer luck, you reach a small clearing. At it's center is a small cottage. This is most likely Grima's home.

From Sturk's stealth check down I was having a good time laughing at you all. You CAN roll your own dice next to you and plug everything in with the same format. It's what i'm doing, and i'm getting a lot better rolls than that. My knight with a tower shield could probably have an easier time sneaking through than you guys.

Sturk'll do a recon of the area and check for potential hazards then proceed in and knock unless we see something potentially hazardous.

hmm... Scratch that. Opening the door to Sturk would be a shock to anyone. We'll have our 'Face' Knock.

@sturk - funny that any of three people in our party could adequately serve as party face, but not one of us can tank.

…says the DEX-based Paladin

"Let me survey the area for any emanations of magic."

Festric casts Detect Magic and checks out the cottage for any magical auras.

"Also, we can knock on the door from 25 feet away. I have an incantation that will let us do it from a safe distance if necessary."

Nothing nearby detects as magic. How do you guys want to approach, or just knock on, the cottage?

Nothing nearby detects as magic. How do you guys want to approach, or just knock on, the cottage?

"Well boys, not sure how you all feel but this Grima bloke has me a bit worried," Daven whispers as he and the other party members peer through the noisy vegetation at the tiny cottage. "His friend back there tried to do for us. I say we ought t' be very cautious. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure my Da always said."

Daven nocks an arrow and looks at the others expectantly.

I'd say the safest way to approach this is to send two of us up to knock on the door, see if we can get a sense motive check on this guy while the other three provide cover from concealment in this foliage. Connor, can we get a distance to the cottage from our position in the treeline?

Just my two CP.

Nodding to Daven's words, Darien agrees, "True, I'm worried too, but I'm guessing he probably already knows we're out here... not sure having people hiding would do us any good. I say we just knock. I'm willing to do it."

Unless somebody else wants the honor, Darien will go up to the cottage and knock on the door when everyone is okay with the plan.

Sturk currently has no valid ranged weapon so he's willing to go to the door.

He'll keep his Great Axe in hand but not at the ready as he accompanies Darien.

"I'm not affeared to go tap on this man's door," Daven replies, puffing his chest out indignantly. "I'm just sayin' we be careful is all."

"If things go south lad," he continues, patting the scrawny half-orc on the shoulder, "I hope you'll be ready to use that axe."

Daven unstrings his bow, replacing it on his back. As the three men walk across the small clearing to the front door, his hand hovers expectantly at his hip, where his handaxe hangs.

Darien wasn't trying to slight Daven's courage - sorry if my post made it seem that way.

"Always ready"

Don't worry about it man, totally fine. Daven's just a dumb farmboy. He takes offense at any perceived slight to his manhood.

Festric nods his head as if to say I'm ready

Are there any windows we can peer through first? If not...

Theriandas will hide in the foliage, crossbow at the ready Stealth 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19 Wow!

Cool, just making sure :)

Darien knocks on the door.

"Halt! Who are you, and just what the devil are you doing here?!", someone says quietly.
Standing on top of a thick tree branch (jutting about 5 feet out into the clearing) is a green cloaked man, longbow at his side.

It's about 30 feet from the treeline to the house.

Turning to look at the man, Darien responds, "My name is Darien Coldwater, and we are looking for Grima Ardent. We were told he could be found in this general area, and we thought to ask at this house. Are you familiar with him?"

Diplomacy - 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

"We didnt mean no offense ser," Daven replies in his most ingratiating tone. "It's jus' like my friend here says. We're lookin' fer Grima is all. Can you help us?"

"Well, you found him.", the man says slightly louder, hopping silently down from the branch.
"What's your business with me, and who sent you?"

Sturk lets the face people answer but keeps an eye out for any other people or dangers.

Perception 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Sturk hears nothing out of the ordinary.

"Albatros Finch sent us to you, telling us you might have work for people of our talents. He also gave us a small box to deliver."

"We're the heroes of Selsey. If you weren't there." Says Sturk as he stands up straight and as tall as his small frame can be made...

This wanker's little pet almost did for us in the forest! Why does it seem my new mates are so eager to kiss his green-frocked arse???

Daven sets his jaw and locks eyes with the Ranger. "'And just what might those talents be?' you ask?" he says in a mocking tone, not even bothering to contain the anger that's bubbling up from within him. "Jus' ask yer friend back there in the woods if our talents were up to snuff!!!!"

I didn't ask.", Ardent replies steadily, "And those spiders are no friends of mine!"

"Who said anything about spiders?"

Thinks to himself Has he been watching us for some time? or is he just making an educated guess?

The Paladin nods at Festric's words, but says nothing. His gaze never strays from Grima.

"Albatros Finch. Ring any bells?" says Sturk stepping forward. "Less manliness gents. Let's chat"

I went back through the thread but couldn't figure out who took the box, so...

Darien steps forward with Sturk and retrieves the box, holding it out for Grima. "This is what Mr. Finch asked us to give you."

If somebody else has it, Darien would instead urge them to give it to Grima

"This ain't about manliness mate. After what happened to us in the woods back there, what that note said?" Daven puts particular emphasis on the word. "I just aint so sure one of us won't get our arse feathered by this one if we was to turn around."

"Arse feathered?!?" guffaws Sturk... "You GOTTA show me which whore houses you frequent when we get back home"

After a short pause...
"If we turn around no less! Oh. ho ho ho.. yer a funny one Daven. Levity. I LIKE it!" Sturk pounds Daven on the shoulder with laughter tears coming to his eyes...

Hahahaha....i knew someone would go there.

Ardent takes the package in one gloved hand and tucks it away on his belt.
"I know who Finch is, and I was expecting a package, but what note are you talking about?", he asks.
"As for the spiders, they are the only things around here that would actively try to trouble you."

"Except for that black-cloaked little friend of yours back there you mean? The one I shot full of arrows."

"We were ambushed by a man back in the woods. We found a note on him that seemed to be written by you."

Darien pulls the note out and holds it out for Grima.

Grima takes it.
"That was one of my men. He must have thought you meant to kill him, or me. His death does not exactly endear me to you."

"His attack from shadow does not exactly endear you, to us." retorts Sturk. "We walked upon a clearly marked path and he did not call out to confirm our intentions. Are you and your men engaged in banditry out here in the wild?"