Defense of Brookside

Game Master caster4life

Mel hands him her cloak, the amulet, and carefully unstrings her bow, coiling the string away and stowing it in a small pocket on the side of her quiver. She undoes her belt and slips the dagger sheathe off of it as well, buckling the belt back up immediately afterwards. She bundles everything together neatly and hands them over.

She retrieves the wallet containing her student ID and passport. Tucking it away, she asks "It's getting late, and it's been a long, eventful day. What are our sleeping arrangements to be like, now that we're in your custody?"

She looks down at her clothing, covered in dust from the road, and in places spattered with blood from the fights. "Also, I could do with a bath and a change of clothes. All my spares went up in flames when the orcs burned the cottage I was renting from Goodman Golightly. Rest his cantankerous soul."

Perrin peers over the captain's shoulder at the Student ID, mouthing the words "seven books" and looking curiously at Mel as though expecting the books to materialize.

He looks a bit uncomfortable during Mel's speech about justice, but voices his agreement when she mentions the need for rest. "Sleep would be nice. And Thomas and Kelian should decide whether they'd like to continue with us - it might make more sense for them to return to Brookside, now that we have our escort."

Are they waiting outside?

Thomas nods. "Aye, good doctor. I should be gettin' home to Lily and the babes. I think I've had enough of adventures for a while."

Kelian looks a little downcast and is quiet for a bit then finally gets up his courage. "Is it alright if I stay with you? I feel like I'm finally starting to do something with my life..."

Mel smiles at the young man. "By all means, Kelian," she says. "You'll have to ask Captain Hannady if he wants to disarm you, though."

Kelian looks at the captain who nods gravely but kindly and the young man hands over his longsword and a dagger he had hidden in his boot. The captain smiles in approval at the lads preparations.

Hannady then turns back to Mel and says "We'll put you up here in the barracks." He nods at Mel. "I'll bunk with the men tonight so you may stay in my quarters with my wife. We have a bathing room you're welcome to and you can share our meal. If there's anything else you'd like, I'll have a lad at hand you can have ferch it for you." He calls in a young lad.

"This is Simon. If there's anything you'd like him to purchase for you, send him out for it. I'll vouch for his honesty that he'll bring you your change." Hannady then calls in a middle-aged woman. "This is my wife, Lucy. I'm afraid she'll have to search Melira while the men are searched in the barracks. Just a precaution, you understand."

Elrin Huff's slightly in protest while he, Perrin, and Kelian are led out to be searched.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Captain Hannady's face -- honest, if troubled -- sets Mel at ease. She submits to Lucy Hannady's inspection with good grace.

Mrs. Hannady quickly determines that Mel has no further weapons on her person. In the course of her examination, she discovers several holes in Mel's chain shirt and the blouse beneath it, now stained brown with dried blood from the arrows she took during the defense of Brookside. Her boots and trousers are in better condition, but caked with dirt from the road and grubbing about in Elrin's cave. Though her wounds are long healed, Mel is filthy.

"Lawks, dearie," she exclaims, "Looks like you've been through the ringer, for well and true!"

"It's been a rough few days," Mel replies. "I don't think I've really had a proper night's sleep since the orcs burned my house down last week. But ... others had it worse." Her face falls as she thinks of how many people died.

"Now now, I'm sure you did all you could," Mrs. Hannady assures her, patting her on one shoulder. "Terrible thing, just terrible. Now, we en't even close to the same size, but me sister Susan is a seamstress, and I reckon she has stock that will fit you just fine dearie, just fine, mayhap with a tuck here or there. Simon!"

Simon, a gangly youth in the awkward early phases of adolescence, pokes his head through the door, his adam's apple bobbing in his throat. "Yes?"

"Go fetch Susan, there's a good boy. Tell her I've a customer for her what needs two or three blouses, another pair of trousers, some socks and undergarments, and she's about Hilda's size, poor scrawny thing, need to feed you up!" Her attention shifts from Simon to Mel part way through the sentence.

"Uh, I'm going to Helm to see the Bishop," Mel hastily adds. "I may need something suitable to, uh, more formal circumstances?"

"Oh, can't have you going before the Bishop in travel clothes, lordee no," Mrs. Hannady concurs, "Tell Susan to bring some nice dresses, too!"

"Yes'm!" Simon gulps, and trots out the door.

"And tell Audra to heat water for a bath!" Mrs. Hannady bawls after him.

Presented with a bedraggled young woman, Mrs. Hannady launches into a strangely hypnotic combination of ostentatious charity and naked self-interest, determined to see her charge outfitted properly (to her sister Susan's financial benefit and no one else's). Mel meekly submits to Mrs. Hannady's mother hen routine, and over the course of the next two hours she is bathed, measured, fitted, relieved of coin, fed, and tucked into a guest bed to sleep away her woes.

GM, I'm not sure how much that would cost, but according to Mel's character sheet, she has the lordly sum of 3 sp, 7 cp available. I think there may have been some party loot at some point, but I'm not sure how much fell Mel's way. Could you quote me a price for 3 shirts, 2 pair trousers, one nice dress, assorted sundries, and just deduct that the next time some loot comes our way?

Sounds like 3 "traveler's outfits" and a "courtiers outfit" for a total of 33 gp should cover it. I assume that those outfits include a fair quantity of assorted sundries. There's a lot of unclaimed loot on the inventory spreadsheet that is only being split up between Mel and Perrin at this point so grab some of that.

Perrin cleans up but doesn't send for new clothing, instead opting to stare forlornly at his Brookside garb as though expecting the cuts and tears to fix themselves. Which, after ten minutes, they do. Mending SLA.

As for budget, Perrin's spent 300 gp on crafting scrolls but everything else we've found is fair game.

The guards in the barracks mutter to themselves as Perrin fixes his clothing while Kelian changes back into his old clothes without blinking. He's much more accustomed to the odd doctor than these fellows. One of them objects "Hey now! How are you going that without moving your hands or speaking any magic words? Bother... this one's going to be harder to keep an eye on..." The guards have a very little experience guarding spellcasters.

When the searching is finished, Mel, Perrin, and Kelian are reunited. Thomas bids them all farewell. "Now don't take too long before ye all come back and visit. The place won't be the same without ya. Especially given what we lost... It's been a pleasure workin' with ya. Take care of yerselves." The halfling doffs his characteristic, weather-beaten cap and bows low to the three of you.

Great! Suspicious of the doctor when Elrin's the one who really needs watching. But alas, I don't think Mel was there to hear that bit, so she can't set them straight.

Mel arrives just as Thomas is departing. "Thank you, Thomas!" Mel says to him warmly. She just has time to shake his hand before he goes, and then Mrs. Hannady bustles in and ushers her off to her bath.

Perrin gives the guards his most innocent smile. "Oh no, that's just for fixing things and healing cuts, little stuff like that. When I make explosions it takes words and hand movements and such." He pauses. "Not that I'll be making any! Explosions, I mean. I might make some hand movements, but not the explosion kind. More like waving. Or pointing." The doctor looks down in dismay. "I'll just go to bed now, shall I?"

Sorry, Perrin's not one for making things easy on himself!

The guards stare suspiciously at Perrin then grumble and relax somewhat. After Mel's bath, Perrin and Kelian get their turns. When all are cleaned up nicely, they join the soldiers at a table with a clean-looking Erin and the Hannady's. Making conversation at this dinner is... Awkward... After a bit of silence, Captain Hannady pipes up helpfully.

"A bit rainy for this time of year, eh?"

Let's see. What season is it? Goodman Higgins was apparently taken from a field he was plowing in Post #1, which if you consult a chart of the medieval agricultural year suggests February or March. Given the vibe of the rest of the adventure, let's say he was just finishing up some final plowing for the year, which would put it in late March, and it's been about a week since then, so call it the first week of April.

"Yes," Mel says, "But thankfully the spring rains waited until after the snowmelt, so I don't think there'll be any flooding this year. Which is good -- Brookside would be a bit short-handed for sandbagging this year."

She eats a bite of salad -- fresh lettuce, radish, and peas in a light vinaigrette -- and stares daggers at Elrin.

First week of April sounds good.

Elrin nods sympathetically. "Truly a blessing for which we can thank the gods. From what you've told me about the events there, a flood would cause additional losses of property and, gods forbid, of life in a community that has suffered too much already."

He solemnly pushes his food around on his plate.

Hannady nods at the conversation, somewhat relieved that it's mildly peaceful, though he's not oblivious to how Mel is looking at Elrin.

"The roads are going to slow us down a bit tomorrow. You four will be riding in the wagon. If we get stuck too many times, we might have to stop at an inn along the way. Normally, we'd make the trip in one day without a problem. It's only about 8 miles or so."

Perrin perks up with interest at this. "Hmm... how many horses will we be taking? I think I know a spell that could let them go faster - if it's alright with you, I mean."

Hannady's brow wrinkles in concentration for a minute as he counts. "Well, I'm thinking that I and the ten guards will be riding. Two pulling you four in the wagon... And we'll want at least 7 spares. So... A score."

Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18

Mel notes the Captain's cautions with appreciation, but privately resolves to keep a close eye on Elrin anyway, continuing to eat without comment.

"I'm sure he'll try something," she thinks to herself. "It's just a matter of when. He can't afford to be interrogated by anyone who can magically determine the truth of his words."

I really should have made this alias a long while ago but I wasn't sure we'd continue the adventure to make him a significant character.

The meal continues for a while with awkward snippets of conversation made here and there. When all finish eating, Hannady nods to a few guards. "My men will show you to your quarters now. We'll leave at first light tomorrow morning."

Elrin bows gracefully as he gets up from the table. "Ah yes. I look forward to seeing Lake Halden. I have heard much of its humble charms."

Hannady shrugs and nods. "It's a pleasant sight, sure enough." He gets up from the table and heads to his quarters while the guards lead you to your respective sleeping arrangements.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22

Perrin frowns at Elrin as they stand. "Maybe we shouldn't go too near the lake. Still water is a haven for insects that spread disease, you know, and we wouldn't want your guards or horses to get sick." With that, he follows the guards to his room.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

Mel's weariness gets the best of her towards the end of the meal. She is nodding off almost before the plates are cleared, and gratefully follows Mrs. Hannady to the guest room. She is asleep almost before her head hits the pillow.

The guards keep watch in shifts as you rest. The weight of the last few days is slowly easing off your shoulders. Your current situation is grave, but it is less immediately pressing than the lives of friends all around threatened by swinging axes. When morning comes, you are ushered into the rear of the wagon and given a couple of pitchers of milk and a hunk of black bread each.

You have straw to sit on in the back of the wagon. It is clean and fresh so you are relatively comfortable as you ride through a calm a modestly beautiful part of the Bishopric with small hills, farmlands, and a few trees. But the going is very slow, as Hannady feared. The horses slog through deep mud, struggling to drag the wagon along.

I'm assuming the wagon is open to the sky, not closed in like a Conestoga wagon.

Mel resumes her head scarf in the morning. As the sun brightens, she pulls a small leatherbound journal from her pack and begins writing. Have to get everything from the last few days down while it's fresh in my head, she thinks.

But the unevenness of the ride renders this task hopeless. After dealing with two blotches of ink caused when the wagon jerks forward after a moment's stillness, she gives up, caps her ink bottle and puts pen and journal away again.

Instead, she leans back against the wagon's wall, assuming a meditative pose, and focuses her attention on Elrin, watching vigilantly for any attempt at escape, magical or otherwise.

GM, can I just take 10 on a Perception check for that? It'd be 24.

You can certainly take 10, since your steadily watching him. And yes, open wagon.

Mel stares at Elrin very awkwardly and consistently across the wagon. Kelian squirms a little in his seat, unsure how to deal with this enemy who is so polite and smooth all the time.

Mel's minute attention to detail notices the tiniest protrusion of an ink tattoo on the lower part of Elrin's neck. The rest of the tattoo is covered by his robe. She also notices that he seems to be noting the landmarks as you pass them and looks a little please. His fine Elven leather boots look very clean this morning. She suspects he cleaned them using magical means. His grey eyes have very small flecks of gold in them when he stares back at her.

"I would appreciate it if you would find a less obnoxious way to pass the time on this journey than staring so rudely at me."

Perrin, how are you spending your time?

Perrin wakes just before dawn. Under the suspicious glances of the guards, he crosses to the window and gazes out at the night sky as it begins to fill with light. A small bat flies up to the window and flits around his face. Preparing spells for the day.

Over breakfast, he whispers to Mel, "Keep an eye out around Lake Halden, I think Elrin might try something there."

On the wagon, Perrin sees her keeping Elrin under a close watch, so he elects to spend his time on other pursuits. He pulls a slim volume of Elven translations from his bag and awkwardly mouths the phrases within, oblivious to any judgment from the two native speakers sitting next to him.

In a pleasant, conversational voice, Mel says, "And I would very much like the lives of those who fell at Brookside returned. Alas, we do not always get what we want."

After a moment's pause, she adds: "There is something I want you to remember. When we first caught you, I wanted to execute you on the spot for your crimes. The people of Brookside wanted the same once we got you there. In both cases, it was Vors Falchen who talked us down. Even though you tried to kill him. Even after all you've done, he wanted to see that you got a fair trial."

She leans forward a bit to lock eyes with him. "Remember that, Elrin Weh -- every breath you draw from now to the end of your miserable life you owe to the nobility of Vors Falchen, a humble human villager whose boots you will never be fit to shine."

She leans back again, and resumes staring at him.

Sorry for double post, but some more things occurred to me. This can happen any time during the day before we reach the lake but after the above conversation.

Part way through the morning, a thought occurs to Mel calls Captain Hannady over. "Captain," she says. "I know we told you that Elrin is a spellcaster, but perhaps it would be useful to tell you exactly what kinds of magic we've seen him perform. He can render himself invisible. He can create highly realistic illusions of people and things, or change his appearance entirely. When we finally caught him he wore the seeming of an orc warrior. He also has some mind-control magics; at one point in our fight he rendered Vors and Hirda temporarily insane, causing them to alternately babble nonsense and attack one another. It worries me that he is free to speak and gesture; one well-placed spell could cause chaos among this entire contingent."

"Also, he seems smug. I think he's got something planned." Although this would ordinarily be something she might hurl at Elrin, she instead looks steadily at the Captain, gauging his reaction. "I urge you, Captain, to bind his hands and gag him for the duration of our trip. I will willingly accept similar restraints."

Attempting a Diplomacy check, and also a Sense Motive check to see if Captain Hannady is under the affects of mind-affecting magic. This is generally a static DC 25 for most enchantment effects, or 15 for Dominate spells, though there are feats that can modify the DC that Elrin may possess for all we know.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Sigh. It's nice to have a +6 instead of a -1, but rolling in the single digits never helps.

[ooc]Haha. Oh man that is great, Perrin. And a STINGING rebuke from Mel./ooc]

Elrin sniffs at Mel's response. "I suppose there's no trying to pass the time with an anti-social vigilante who leads to conclusions."

Hannady eyes Mel hard. "I'm in a hard situation, Melira. I'm trusting you folks a heap that this fellow needs to be held captive. But there's a world of difference between my taking an elf in custody to Helm and my gagging and binding him the whole way. If you're wrong, I could be endangering our entire country, not to mention my own career."

Hannady considers carefully. "Any choice I make is a risk and I appreciate your reciprocal offer. But I don't think I can take this risk."

Resignation paints unaccustomed lines on Mel's face. "I understand, Captain," Mel replies. "Then, will you consider sending one or two men a short way ahead of the rest of us, as scouts? Within easy shouting distance. I worry that he may have accomplices who could attempt to ambush us -- the mud makes us slow."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Regardless of whether Captain Hannady agrees to that, I'd like to specify that Mel has a readied action: if she sees Elrin attempt to escape, whether by casting a spell or otherwise, she wants to kick him in the goolies, and you can resolve that any way you'd like -- straight attack/damage, a CMB check, some kind of skill or ability check, whatever suits your fancy.

Hannady nods with a wry smile. "I was worried about the same thing. You were a bit busy staring daggers at that fellow so you probably didn't notice the two men I sent ahead."

Ok Mel. I'll resolve it as an unarmed strike, should that arise.

Perrin nods happily at Hannady's answer, then looks pointedly up at the sky. "Nice to know that someone is keeping an eye on things." He gives a deliberate cough, which turns into a sort of high-pitched wheeze.

Asking his new bat familiar to help scout for us. He's got +14 Stealth, +15 Perception, a 40-ft. flight speed, and 20-ft. blindsense.

Also, can we get confirmation on whether we ever found spell components with Elrin or his gear?

You did find a component pouch. Scouting familiar is fine.

Kelian turns to Perrin "I thought your familiar died?"

Perrin's new familiar warns him of 16 cloaked figures in the bushes up along the road a ways.

I'll probably have the map ready tomorrow morning.

My mistake. Familiar sees 10. I often forget to impose distance penalties on perception. They're about 40 feet along the path. The Astin scouts are right in the middle of the ambush without knowing it yet.

"Pebbles? Yeah, he -" Perrin's hand instinctively starts toward his neck, reaching for the amulet he retrieved from his familiar's remains - only to find it absent, having been handed over to the captain. "I think his spirit maybe went back into the earth when his body was destroyed? I don't know a whole lot about summoned elementals." He looks miserable for a moment. "Just enough to get one killed."

He perks up a bit when he sees the bat fluttering back toward the wagon. "But Ev, well, he found me. I guess you could say he's... huh. I don't really..." At that moment, Ev comes within earshot and lets out a rapid burst of squeaks and sharp clicks. Perrin freezes.

"Hey, um, guys?" he calls to the guards. "Can we stop for a moment and call back the scouts? We've got a bit of a problem."

Hannady freezes and draws his bow, scanning the area. In a harsh whisper "What is it?!" He points to a coupl of his men and signals for them to pull the scouts back. They return after a minute or so.

Map updated. Your belongings are in a locked trunk on the wagon with you. The trees are difficult terrain. The bogies Perrin's bat spotted are up 15 foot hills behind cover.

He motions for Hannady and Mel to lean in. "Cloaked figures up ahead. Ten of them. Hiding in the bushes."

Mel never takes her eyes off Elrin as she leans over slightly. "Figures," she says, and makes no further comment.

I'm sensing an initiative roll in the immediate future, and I don't think there's anything else Mel can do to prepare. She'd appeal to the Captain to secure Elrin for the duration of the fight at least, but that would undoubtedly trigger the fight anyway. So ... banzai!

They haven't struck yet. Do you guys want to do anything right now?

Perrin looks to Captain Hannady, who for the moment is calling the shots. "Can we turn back? Maybe find another way forward? I don't want anyone to get hurt."

"I would be happy to help defend the caravan, but there is little of use I can do without my bow," Mel says.

See discussion.

Hannady looks around warily while speaking out of the corner of his mouth."We could bind him temporarily. And give you your weapons. Or we could try to fall back. There is another road but it will take a little longer."

Mel nods gratefully. "They've undoubtedly seen us at this point. I doubt we can fall back. They'd just attack. Binding him temporarily -- with a gag, please! -- is probably the best bet. And yes, I would appreciate having my weapons back when we're about to get jumped by ten people. Even if they're run-of-the-mill bandits rather than accomplices of his."

Emphatic nod from Perrin. "Yes, please! If someone could tie up Elrin and pass me my pouch, I think we'd be a whole lot safer."

He sets down his book and eyes their prisoner warily. Readying an action to cast bestow curse on Elrin if he tries to cast or escape.

Hannady nods grimly. He tosses a key from his belt to Kelian, who unlocks the chest in the wagon. He ties Elrin's hands while one of his men gags him.

You can each grab one thing from the chest before inits!

Mel rushes to the chest and seizes her bow.

Can I also have some arrows? If not that's fine, I'll just spend a move action to grab my quiver in round 1.

Yeah arrows separate. You can also have Kelian hand out two things per round with his move and his standard.