Darkwing_DM's Heroes of Damara (Inactive)

Game Master DarkWingD

Perception(again?): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

The familiar-sounding tale of the puzzle drifts away from Oalin...

Int Check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Both reeling from his wounds and perplexed by the failure of the solution twice around, a dejected and angry Oalin resigns himself to being last.

Let's end it!

Finn gather his will to make a new push.

Con check: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

Feeling the last rise Freya wills herself to give it another shot.
Con: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 But the toils of the run have been to much for her and she stops to catch some breath

round 9-
Freja- Run #3
Virid- Run #3
Finn- Run #3
Mor- Run #2
Gweenth- Run #1
Daren- Run #1
Brock - Rope-
Oalin- puzzle

Brock acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Brock Str: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Staggering a bit in his injuries and not focused due to his seething rage, Oalin hamfistedly works the bits of the puzzle, uncaring at the results...

Int Check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

He throws the puzzle to the ground, kicking the pieces in all directions.

One of these others... or will I have to destroy them too?

"Let's see who is the best, guys."

Con check: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Finn try to gather his reserves but fail. He move to a crawl.

Freya shrugs and takes a deep breath.
xon: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

round 9-
Freja- Run #3
Virid- Run #3
Finn- Run #3
Mor- Run #3
Gweenth- Run #2
Daren- Run #2
Brock - Run #1-
Oalin- puzzle

Brock Con: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

One step at a time

Con check: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Oalin looks through spite-filled eyes at the few unsolved puzzles in front of him.

Perception3: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

None stand out. With a sigh of frustration, he grabs one roughly and starts randomly moving and switching elements of the puzzle, seeking some logic to their placement...

Int Check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Freya nearly vomits from the exhaustion.
Con: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Next round.
But this time she just manages to get enough second win to tumble across the finishing line
Con: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

Mro finishes the Course followed closely by Virid. everyone collapses in a heap. You see Fierarm walk up to teh group. "Congratulations Mor, my lad i knew i was right making you squad leader." Fieram holds up a beautifully well made weapon (of your choice, mor on a masterwork weapon. with a red ruby jewel on the hilt. incresing the value by another 50gp.) made of steel. after handing Mor the weapon a gaurd dressed in red comes up and whispers to Fieram. "All of you did a good job, this was a test to see how you worked together as a team, and also to see how some dealt with stress, (looking at Oalin, and Daren) and also who would take the easy way out. (pointedly looking at Virid). Over the next month I expect you to do better on the course. because you will be running this ever other day. You are dismissed for the day. please explore the castle grounds, and get to know the other soldiers." you hear Brock sigh... "congrats Mor" as he slaps you on the back.

Everyone please level up. we will be skipping ahead the rest of the training. you can imagine a dreary month of working together and getting to know your each other. If anyone wants to make ANY changes to your character including everything. You have until Friday to make the changes. in addition everyone who doesn't have a martial weapon proficiency under class skills. gain a single martial weapon proficiency of your choice. those that do a all martial weapon proficiency not just some they must have all martial weapons can gain a single exotic weapon proficiency. hp are rolled, or take half. so your guaranteed at least half the HD.

you will also be given 400gp worth of items (not gold, spend it or lose it.) magic items cannot be created though. you must pay full price for scrolls or potions that you have traded for during training or requisitioned from Gweenth (the quartermaster).

you can also talk in discussion if you want a symbol or team name added.

His angry visage stone-faced during the summary by the dwarf, Oalin does not bat an eye with the reference to his lack of self control. Throughout the rest of the day, Oalin regresses into himself, no longer reaching out in conversation or potential friendship, and mumbling only curt replies to any inquiries from his squad mates.

Since the DM has fast-forwarded, I will fast-forward Oalin as well under the default that the established amount of interaction with the squad has passed.

Over the last month, in team exercises, Oalin has displayed a willingness only to do the minimum required to move progress forward, not even acknowledging the encouragement from his team. He has never quit, but the mediocrity of his strength and constitution have betrayed him a few times. Oalin has shown no reserve of character, motivation or inner strength to tap into, “when the going gets tough.” In solo exercises, Oalin has progressed slowly. Although not as explosive as his first time out, he still loses a measure of self-control when pushed.

Socially, Oalin has become brooding and petulant. Despite the earlier offers to teach Finn his herbalist strengths, he now finds or creates weak excuses to avoid interaction or engaging with the bard and the rest of the squad. He deflects questions and outreaches from the team, preferring to go off on his own with Thing whenever the opportunity arises.

GM: Is a ranged weapon in the cards? If so, composite longbow +3 strength, please. If not, falcata it is.

Morgabir takes the month's training seriously, striving to get himself into peak physical shape. He also practices his stalking and outdoors skills, and bones up on his marksmanship.

As far as being "squad leader", he takes that less seriously. He listens to the higher ups and follows their instructions, trying to help everyone fit in and make sure they all stay out of trouble. Other than that, he doesn't really give orders or ibstructions, but tries to lead by example as music as possible.

The training regime force Finn into learning several physical skills. In the meantime he pester the other soldiers to learn tales of their lands (close and far), try to learn alchemy, healing and herbalism from Oalin and to avoid as much hard work as possible.

He tries to gain some money singing, writing letters, mending clothes (with Mending) and doing other jobs that don't require intense physical labor for other soldiers .

He send home as much as he can of his earnings.

I would have taken most of the physical skills even without the training, but it is a good roleplaying reason to get them. I suppose that the 400 gp are in equipment and that we can't send any of that home.

Having been suitably chastised by the dwarf’s assessment of his cleverness as being “the easy way”, Virid determined to do better in the future. He spent free time in the evenings reading about engineering and how it was used to create puzzles, and painting portraits of his squad mates to stay connected to Sune. He was too embarrassed to ever hand them out directly, preferring instead to slip them onto their owners’ bunks when everyone else was out.

While wandering the camp one after training one day, he saw a squad practicing battle maneuvers. One of the men held a defensive position behind his shield before abruptly whipping his arm forward and letting the shield spin toward a wooden target. It struck with enough force to leave a deep line in the oak.
Now that, that I could use. A shield that I can quickly shed in case I need my hand free for a spell.
After talking with the man, and making sketches of the unusual straps on the shield, Virid took the plans to Gweenth and asked her to have the quartermaster make one like it.

After the training finished, Daren didn't speak to anyone, not even to respond to any barbs. Instead, Daren found himself focusing on improving himself during the month of training. Despite apparently being a team building exercise, Daren simply continued doing his own thing, with the goal of being the best cemented in his mind, unable to bear being any less.

Despite not learning to work with the others much, nor getting along with them, he spent less and less time throwing insults and demeaning comments at the others and more time focusing on his results instead. While there was still a feeling of being superior over the rest, Daren stopped haunting it over them as much, so the team cohesion still went up somehow.

After a while, Daren realized his own weapon was getting worn out from the constant recent use, unlike before, so he put in an order with the blacksmith, who didn't like Daren much after his last attempt to 'order' a weapon. Though not nearly as ornate as Daren wished it to be, especially compared to Mor's, he found that it worked quite well for it's purpose.

Essentially, Daren is becoming a bit less talk and a bit more show. Still not exactly pleasant to have a conversation with nor to try to give orders to.

For equipment: masterwork rapier and a set of explorer's clothing.

During the months of training Freya takes care to work with the teambuilding and trains hard with the others.
She bonds with those that are willing and regrets the unwillingness of the others.
While Bjoern is still a strange sight the others after a while accept the bear.

One night, as the team is getting ready to bed down, Morgabir tries to gather everyone in the tent and speaks quietly.

"I know none of us really asked for this, and it's not exactly what we'd want to be doing, but I am really pleased our crew has been put together like it has. You all have your own strengths and skills, and if we continue to work together and look after one another, I think we'll make it out of this whole mess just fine. I'll be keeping an eye out, if anyone needs help or has a problem, I'm more than willing to help. Just say the word, all right?"

Without belaboring the point, Morgabir makes ready for bed and lays down quietly.

During the month of training Finn is protective of Oalin. He don't help him during the training course unless he is in real trouble, but during the off duty hours he keep an eye on him and intervene if someone try to bully him.

- * -

When Finn found the painting that Vir made, you see him studying it intently, while moving his hand on his face, like he was trying to find the traits he see in the portrait.

He approach Mor showing the portrait: "Hi Mor, what do you think of it? It is s good likeness of my face?"

Vir, can you check how good is the portrait?

Breaking in the new brushes, Virid attempted to capture a likeness of Finn.
painting: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 4 + 2 = 18

Daren listens to Mor's pep talk without comment. It seemed typical that these commoners wanted to make it out instead of up, but Daren was starting to get used to their linear thinking. Not that he could quite understand it, but it was what separated him after.

Artistry (House Crest): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

After the pep talk was finished, Daren returned to his bunk to lie down, the mysterious portrait of himself on a makeshift stand next to him. He wasn't sure who had made it, though he knew why of course. Why wouldn't they want to capture the perfection of nobility. It could even be compared to his new buckler bearing his family crest that he had made himself. The symbol was a gold griffin, or his best impression of one having never seen one, on a blue background. A noble beast for a noble house.

Now the only question was when something would happen so that they would stop training and actually do something that would get him recognized.

Daren's Shield/House Crest

Brock spends the month exercising and getting back into shape, you see that the few extra pounds he did have melt off as he gets into the rhythm in the Militia, you find out that Brock was a carrier soldier-for-hire, and entertains you with many stories. Apparently a steadfast grunt he doesn't like thinking about big picture items, and prefers being told what to do.

Gweenth spends the month writing to here family and her betrothed. As your official quartermaster she was a large part of helping everyone receive their equipment. she did her best to provide everything that you wanted, you find out that she is a pacifist preferring to do no harm, but willing to fight if necessary. You find out she has competitive nature always will to test her skills.

Fierim comes to your group short after the training congratulating everyone for completion. after you have gotten to know several people in the militia during the few months. "Well now group, I'm glad to see yall getting useta each other. It makes a old dwarf proud to see a good soldier. Well its now time for you to start taken shifts like the rest of us. there is always something to do around here. the goblins are continuing to be a problem so look out." Fieram reaches over to grab some paper out of a assistants arm.

"hmmmmm what to give you." he hands Mor several sheets of paper. "Let me know tomorrow which one you want, Mor. I got a good feeling with you guys."

this will be your first choices to see how the campaign will go. Like I said there is no railroading which ever of these sound the most interesting give it a shot. everyone gets one vote on the adventure. you can discuss it in character in the barracks. for the next few days, you can also choose one NPC to help you. out of Gweenth, Brock, VI, or Carth from Cormyr. Make the choice wisely, all of them work toward the overall story arch in different ways. after choosing one you may not be able to do it later. Because something else could happen because you didn't check out some. And I'm not opposed to "selling" votes, (you help me do this one and I'll vote where you want next time.)

#1 sheet- you can take a scouting turn in the woods looking for any issues, the area however, is close to where Darens friend was from so you can go to check it out without any issues. (see daren quest unlock letter)- if chosen by group talk to Fieram for additional info.

#2 Sheet- Lord Markam insists on sending a group of people under cover to a town called Lowick, he received word that the Tax collector "Randar" is dirty and he wants evidence before doing anything.- if chosen talk to Markam for additional info.

#3 Town of Bear Den, originally ran by the family of Isendale ruled the land and now its ran by a government official after the family went missing many years ago. The official sent word for assistance to the militia there has be several raids at night by a unknown source. if chosen by group talk to Fieram for additional info.

I am open to all but as a druid one sounds most interesting. Second would be mission 2

"Well, team, what do you all think? Scout in the woods, maybe get some info on Daren's chum? Investigate a dirty tax collector? Or check on some nighttime raiding taking place, with a direct request for assistance?"

Morgabir looks over their group, thinking about their strengths and weaknesses.

"I think we can perform any of them, but the one in town seems like our strongest play. Between Daren, Finn, and Virid, we have lots of talking skills, and being in a town might not be so bad for a short while."

"Cough, cough." Earing Mor last phrase Finn start coughing and look in disbelief from him to Daren and back.

"Oh well, the first is mostly follow orders, probably little glory, a lot of boredom and and some moment of high risk if we meet the enemies.

For me, I will suggest to pick Bear Den or Lowick as a second choice."

"Lowick. The tax collector one, let's definitely do that one," Oalin blurts out, getting up from his bunk to engage with the others (and showing a level of interest that should surprise everyone.)

"Then we should do the tax collector!"

Virid inwardly winced at the thought of interacting with people in a new town.
Makes sense that out of everyone, Mor would be the least likely to notice. But I doubt I’ll be able to gather any helpful information unless it’s a whole town of half-orcs.
I...think I’ll let Finn handle the information gathering. I’m...shy.

Having half-heartedly thrown his vote in with the rest, Vir decides to walk around the camp a bit. sense motive for mood of militia: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
If he runs into Carth, he’ll stop and strike up a conversation. Otherwise, just observing the camp as a whole, seeing if other groups are similarly being presented with new orders, etc. pick up a feeling for the general mood of the militia.

Daren closes his eyes a bit at Finn's reaction to his obvious abilities, but lets it slide for now.

"I doubt Tarquin would have too much of value hidden in his basement," Daren comments. "It would be worth a look, but if Lord Markam desires us to head to Lowick, I believe that should be our destination. Most tax collectors like to hide a few coins under the table during deals, and more than a few 'recipients' would be willing to rat them out."

So two, with one being second. Seems we're leaning toward two mostly.

As for NPC's, Brock seems like a follower and brute type, while Gweenth is more of a self-starter, pacifist type. Might be best to bring Gweenth on a more intrigue trip.

@virid- you manage to see Carth Lounging on one of the castle walls, pipe in his mouth puffing contentedly. He appears to not pay you any attention to you as you walk up but once you get close he says "Evenen, Orc....." with a think common accent. after a moment he offers the pipe, "Smoke? cant do it out in th woods you know..."

you get the mood that there has been several scraps with the goblins but very few deaths, morale appears to be pretty good, during the months training you get the feel that Markam lets Fieram control almost everything in camp, and Fieram is well respected for his competence.

@everyone- "bah, sneakin around at night sounds no fun to me, make my vote the Scouting trip. at least then we get to see the countryside." Brock says from his bed. he doesn't really get a vote.

Gweenth abstains. "I know I would like to see my brothers, but unfortunately they aren't on the way to any of those."

@carth
I suppose not.
Virid accepts the pipe and gives it a couple tentative puffs.
So, how did you get caught up in all of this? Doesn’t quite seem like your kind of place.
Course, I don’t know if this is anyone’s type of place. Except maybe Brock.

"Definitely the tax collector, guys. Maybe when we get back the other two options will be completed and there will be better choices, eh?"

Oalin falls well short of demanding, but is animated about his vote.

"it seem it has ben decided, then. Probably Daren is the best for speaking with the local mayor or lord, while I will speak with the common people."

I’m down with the observation that Gweenth is likely to be more useful for an intelligence mission than Brock, and mission #2 sounds more like intelligence than brute strength.

"We should hear the available information first, then choose who will come with us, but probable she will be Gweenth."

A buoyant Oalin heads back to his bunk.

This is good. We choose the one with the least likely chance of getting killed or embarrassing myself in a fight. And when we get back, hopefully those others are already done and there will be other things to do with no fighting also…

Oalin seems oddly happy with himself, quite a change from the previous month.

"Well then Mor you should talk to Markam about the details!"
The young druid stretches and has another look at her gathered items, cleaning them before working on Bjorns fur.

"Fair enough. I'll be back shortly."

Morgabir heads out find Markam, eager to get the mission started.

"Hoy, Markam, we heard that there's a mission involving some taxes coming up light? Maybe a certain collector skimming or such? Our squad is ready to roll, whenever you say the word."

Lord Markams tent is a small affair with a front room with chairs and a table to hold meetings, two guards stand outside the tent. You walk into it ducking your head when one of the guards opens the flaps. Lord markam is standing over the table. when Mor steps in a announces himself. Markam say "Excellent, Mor? was it? please don't talk to loudly about that. You see people have trust in their representatives, and I would prefer to keep this as quiet as possible." walking around the table hands behind his back he continues "The tax collectors name is Randor, the word we have been hearing is that he has been skimming taxes, I've met the man, he is very intelligent and has been covering his tracks good enough that we cant find any proof so we don't have a crime yet. If you are going to get him i would prefer him alive if possible with the proof of his crimes. As a representative of the crown I will expect those of your group to hold themselves accountable to the highest standards. Any Gold from the tax payroll must be brought back, however you can have anything outside of this that he might have acquired for hazard pay. Use your best judgement Mor, you will be held accountable for any actions your team does basically your free to do what you want, but I better agree with it.."