Caravan to Minkai - Jade Regent AP (Inactive)

Game Master Azure_Zero

To GM: What is the terrain like here?

Looks like normal terrain, no movement costs.
Unless you cross through the water.

The goblins scatter going this way and that before drawing bows and taking aim.

Arrows fly as two of the creatures climb the railing of the bridge to get a better vantage point.

Shalelu returns their fire with two arrows of her own. Both arrows miss their mark and the elf tsks, "They need to hold still darn them."

COMBAT MAP: HERE

Natara moves to R8 and fires at the goblin at I6.

Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8

With a shout, Sir Alfric will brush by Mai on the way to charging the goblins.
Sir Alfric will charge along the (3,4) row, stopping at (L,M,3,4) and lancing the goblin at (K,3).
Charge Lance attack: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 4 + 2 = 21 for a possible 2d8 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (3, 1) + 4 + 4 = 12 points piercing damage.

A little out of order, but it'll speed things up since I am going to sleep for the night.

Mai Goes to L5
Defense Fighting (+2 AC for turn, AC now at 19).

Radok can go for round 2 and then I will go for the goblins/Shalelu and update the map. He has a clear shot to the goblin at I-6

Radko noticed an opening between the mounted sir Alfric and a second goblin, and rushed to meet him with a powerful swing of his axe.

Charge R6 -> K5, attacking J4.
Power Attack:1d20 + 5 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 2 - 1 = 11
Damage:1d12 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 3 = 18

J-6 and K-6 are actually spots in the water. There is a whole in the bridge there. Sorry. But you were right it is 40'.

You may re-take your action but keep the rolls

Oops! I've edited the original post to avoid confusion. This time I move towards K5, next to Alfric, and attack J4.

It's the goblins turn, I stated my actions in my last post.

Sir Alric's charge takes out a goblin but blocks Shaleu's line of sight. The elf moves over to the other side of the road as the goblins fire at the group on the bridge.

Her arrow takes out a critter on the railing and it splashes into the dark water.

COMBAT MAP

Natara loads her crossbow [it's light so she can fire again immediately] and fires at the goblin at I6 again.

Attack 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Damage 1d8 ⇒ 5

Sir Alfric walks Zephyr forward five feet and thrusts his lance at the goblin at (J,4).

Lance attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12 for a possible 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 points piercing damage.

Natara wounds the goblin badly and it drops it's bow looking ready to run at the next opportunity.

Sir Alric has trouble spearing the quickly little bas**** with his weapon as it dodges out of the way.

End of Round 2

Radok and Mia are up.

Cursing himself for overshooting with the initial swing, Radko used the inertia of the charge to spin around and deliver a follow-up blow diagonally upwards.
Attack:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Damage:1d12 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

Mai moves to I2 (route L5->L3->K2->I2 (5 squares))
and Attacks Gob @ H2

Atk (Katana):1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23Crit
Atk (Katana):1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14??
Dam (Katana):1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Dam (Katana):1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

I think I lopped a head off.

The last two goblins turn tail and start to run off back down the road. One still has a bolt in his side form Natara.

Natara sighs and lowers her crossbow.

"These creatures weren't much of a threat.I thought you said they were using fireworks on people. Maybe they're out of them?"

Sir Alfric reigns in.
"Hm. These don't seem to be using fireworks, so may not be the ones we want. I dislike the thought of running them down from behind, but they are dangerous vermin and need to be culled now and again."
He turns to Shalelu.
"What say you milady? Shall we turn aside to pursue the vermin?"
He stops, suddenly remembers something.
"Come to think of it, they seemed to be running from something..." He looks back the way the goblins came.

Radko returns to pick up his crossbow.
Well, that wasn't much of a fight. I'm sure these pests were not the ones we were looking for, right Shalelu? While we're in these parts anyway, we could just as well go and investigate what those wretches seemed to be fleeing from. Who knows, maybe we could find an ally?

"I think this group was more of a scavenging or hunting party of goblins.
We'll find the group with the fireworks somewhere in here.

As for the goblins, I saw we let them go.
They have in a way surrendered, and killing someone who surrendered is effectively murder."

Shalelu

Shalelu clicks her teeth at the running goblins. "You may be right," she says with a sigh. "They seemed in a hurry and from the looks of it, not armed with any fireworks."

She looks over the bodies, but doesn't search them, knowing they will have little of value on them. "More than ever I want to go talk to Walthus. Let's keep going but keep alert." she adds taking up the lead along the path.

Please roll a perception check - I will be updating further tomorrow night but they is a little foreshadowing I wish to do.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

perception:: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Everyone above 20, nice

As the group follows the relatively new trail through the swamp they hear a strange high pitched bestial cry. It seems to be coming from deep inside the swamp.

It's almost like a bird cry, but with a more feral feel to it like a predator calling at the coming night. Deep in the swamp the little bit of sunlight left gives the trees deeper off the trail a dark sinister look and almost anything could be hiding in them.

Crossing one more stone bridge the group finds the odd home of Walthus Proudstump.

A muddy trail leads up to a swampy lagoon. The open ocean is visible just beyond these shallow waters, while an old two-story building, its walls soggy with moss and its roof sagging with age, sits on the lagoon’s eastern shore.

Shalelu moves up to knock on the door and after a long wait and more banging it opens to show a bedraggled halfling ranger.

"Sorry I'm in no mood for visitors, please go away."he says with the door only half open.

Before he can shut it Shalelu puts a foot to the door and says. "We need information and a place to stay for the night Walthus. You have both you know."

Little diplomacy help if you will.

Mai does a slightly more flirty version of standing and says
"We would appreciate it, greatly. And it would give you company for a time."
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

Sir Alfric dismounts and bows formally.
"Our apologies for interrupting you sir. There is a danger to the people, and you are our only hope."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20

Radko keeps silent. He is mostly busy with not looking at Mai.

[b]"Indeed, Sir Warden, we would appreciate your aid and your knowledge of the swamp and it's goblin inhabitants."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

She gives a formal and polite bow.

Radko keeps silent. He is mostly busy with not looking at Mai.

she is being subtle firty, enough that it's not obvious, but enough for the subconscious to pick up.

I like my new Kindle fire but I can't use it to check this thread, I've been checking since 6:30 PM Eastern and it never showed the posts after Sir Alfric's perception roll. Sigh.

I know about that to a degree. Try viewing posts on a PSP, you have to do some monkey work with the settings to get to be useable on the site.

"Walthus." the halfling says as if confused. Then shaking his head he steps back opening the door the whole way. "I'm sorry. I not feeling well. Please come in. Come in."

He eyes the female members of the party with a sideways glance (especially Mai), before closing the door and asking, "May I get you something to eat? I was about to make a pot of soup."

Shalelu

The elf enters unworried by the strangeness of the strange little man. "None for me. But please make your dinner we can discuss why we are here over it."

Anyone wish to elaborate why you are here? Also roll Sense Motive checks. Not for the above (pretty sure you understood that) but for what is to come.

"Walthus-san, we appologize for disturbing you, however the the matter that brings us here is urgent. Of late, it would seem that the goblins of this swamp have somehow gained fireworks as weapons and are using them on travelers on the main road. We are acting for the town, in an effort to stop them before they become bold enough to assault Sandpoint itself. Is there anything you can tell us about the gobins? Where they reside, how they might have acquired those fireworks? Any small item might be of great use in our quest.

She gives him another polite bow, observing him closely to determine the effect of her speach

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

She enters and bows politely

sense motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Yoink

Sir Alfric dismounts and pulls off his greathelm. Sweeping his hair from his eyes, he executes a formal bow.
"I am honored to be under your roof sir."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19

Radko comes inside last, somewhat sheepishly.
"Please excuse us, sir Walthus, but we have come too far from Sandpoint while looking for those strange goblins. We don't mean to be a nuisance. I hope you don't mind us spending a night here too much?"
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

Taking the group towards the kitchen the halfling starts to oddly prep things for dinner. He takes and opens the back door leading out of the house, but shuts it quickly before walking over to the only other door and opening it revealing the pantry.

He spends a minute looking around before coming out with an armful of vegetables. He places them on the table and moves towards the fireplace that holds some pots and pans on the wall and floor. He grabs a large pot and drops it almost immediately.

"Darn snakes!" he yells stepping back from the pot.

The group sees a small black and red stripe snake wither out of the dropped pot and slither quickly towards a hole in the wall before disappearing. Rubbing his arms the halfling glares at the hole for a minute before going back over and picking up the pot and setting it near the table.

The oddity of his actions has you all wondering. Why didn't he know which door led to the pantry? Isn't Walthus some sort of snake-wrangler? Before you can say anything Walthus speaks up.

"Need to get some water. I'll be right back." the halfling then takes the empty pot and heads outside, leaving the group to themselves.

she whispers to the group
"Something is off, that is likely not Walthus-san."

Natara nods to Mai and moves through the room observing it, positioning herself so that if it comes to a fight, she can flank with her companions.

"Because of the snakes? Aren't they supposedly his pets?"

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

She's looking for signs of a struggle or any indication of a second person in the house.

"I hope your friend is all right."

"Should we go out and grab him now, or wait for him to come back? There are questions we need him to answer." Sir Alfric grips his sword tightly.

As Radko ponders sir Alfric's question, he is overcome with a strange feeling. Alfric's voice echoes in his head, twisting, ringing, until suddenly he sees himself and his companions as if from under the roof. The halfling returns and they all gang up on him and tie him up. Then the vision dissipates as suddenly as it appeared.
Using Fate inquisition - Augury as a spell-like ability. The question is: Should we attack the impostor of Walthus?

"It does seem -odd- that he seemed to not know his own house, but if he's ill or hurt that might account for his actions. Still, someone keep an eye on the back door...just in case."

She pushes open the pantry door and glances inside.

while sitting at the table she stealthily draws her Wakizashi and keeps her left hand and Wakizashi under the table.