Level 4
-3Con +1FCB +1toughness + 18 = 22HP
+1BAB
+1 Fort and Will
Gain Sneak Attack +1d6
Skills: +10SP
+1 to:
Profession Soldier +8 to +9
K. Religion +7 to +8
Disguise +8 to +9
Intimidate +8 to +9
Diplomacy +12 to +13
Perception +12 to +13
Bluff +13 to +14
Sense Motive +12 to +13
Survival +8 to +9
Stealth +8 to +9
Background:
K. Engineering +4 to +5
Linguistics +4 to +5
Language: Adding Giant
Spells
Known 2 2nd level:
Have a training to go to. Will select spells later. Heading out. :)
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Okay, so, for this next part, there are several things I need to cover with you guys. If you have questions, please ask them. I want to make sure we're all on the same page.
First, I've added several links at the top of the page. They are an image of the exterior of Balentyne, a map of Balentyne, and the map of Aldencross. The part of Balentyne that is not blacked out is Timeon's crude map. Timeon was not told what each room was when he saw it, so they are named by his description of them. You'll have to figure out each room's actual function. As you discover more rooms in Balentyne, more of the map will be revealed. This is similar to the Aldencross map - as you discover what each of the numbered locations are, I'll add them to the key.
Second, you'll also notice at the top of the page a bolded "VP:". This for tracking Victory Points. As you carry out your sabotage against Balentyne, you will earn Victory Points. Once Sakkarot's attack happens, the number of Victory Points you've earned will determine the success of his attack. The more Victory Points you have, the more successful the attack. I will not tell you how many Victory Points are available, nor will I tell you how to earn them. I will also only suggest ideas if you seem to be stuck or having trouble deciding what to do next. This part of the adventure is very much player-driven - I'll do what I can to keep things moving, but if you guys don't take actions, things will bog down.
Third, I want to talk about gathering information. On the Campaign Info page, you will notice a spoiler called Aldencross Rumors. These are rumors in the town that you can discover - some are true, and some are false. I will not tell you which is which. You'll notice some are filled in already - this is based on the information given to you by Timeon. In order to learn a rumor on the table, you do NOT gather information like normal. Instead, you must spend 1d4 hours in the Lord's Dalliance Inn, and then make a DC 10 Diplomacy check. If you pass the check, roll 1d20, and I will give you the corresponding rumor. If you get a duplicate number that's already taken, you can reroll. If you spend one gold piece buying drinks, you can lower the Diplomacy check DC by 5.
Once you find out a rumor, you can make Gather Information checks about that specific rumor as normal to learn more about it. If there is something else you would like to Gather Information on that is not one of the rumors, you can make a check as normal, as well.
Fourth, I will also be adding a Calendar to the Campaign Info page. It will have your arrival date in Aldencross marked on it, Sakkarot's arrival in the valley the horde will wait in, and your deadline. As you discover other events that may occur within the time you are here, I will add them to the map as well.
Fifth, there will be some events that occur during this time. Each of these events affords you an opportunity of some kind to aid you in your mission. Once you learn of an event, I will add it to the calendar.
Now, given that I just threw a wall of text at you, does anyone have any questions?
Cheers for the overview, GM.
Are there any other skills we can use? Like stealth and perception to overhear conversations?
I think it’ll be best for Cole to introduce us — give us his name and all. 3 rooms? 1 for the merchant and wife, 1 for the two guards, 1 for the wizard? Maybe a suite for the former, if they have one.
Probably. But Lutor is playing a wizard who is not necessarily that worldly.
Cheers for the overview, GM.
Are there any other skills we can use? Like stealth and perception to overhear conversations?
Not for this, no. Fortunately, with the spending of 1 gp, the DC is only 5, so you should have a good chance of finding out rumors. Gathering information about specific rumors will work as normal.
I'm a bit confused about the geography of the region. I was under the impression that Aldencross was on the northern side of Balentyne. Is that not correct? And, if so, does Talingarde have a wall all the way along it's northern border? Or did I dream that up?
+1 Dex
BAB +1
Fort +1, Ref +1, Will +1
Smite Good +1/Day
Channel Negative Energy 2d6
Spell Slots 2 -For now Preparing Magic Weapon and Shadow Trap
Adventuring Skills: 2+2+1+1
Bluff +2, Diplomacy +1, Perception +1, Sense Motive +1, Stealth +1
Background Skills: 2
Linguistics +2
New Languages: Goblin, Giant
Gallen, you get 1/2 HD + 1 for hit points if you roll lower than that.
Wesh, good question. Let me see if I can explain it thoroughly.
While the name "Watch Wall" would imply a massive wall along the northern border of Talingarde, ala the Great Wall of China or the Wall from A Song of Ice and Fire, the Watch Wall is actually a series of 12 fortresses, stationed at strategic points between Talingarde's northern border and the Savage North. The rest of the Watch Wall is based on natural formations - Lake Tarik, impassable rivers, and canyons - all remnants of the volcanic activity that formed the island of Talingarde. Since most creatures from the north won't use boats, if the water is too deep to ford, they can't cross there, so rather than build a giant wall, the Talireans, under King Accarius IV of House Barca, called the Architect, built the first 9 fortresses at strategic points. King Markadian I of House Darius called the Victor would later build 3 more. This allowed them to control the easiest crossing points, and prevent bugbears and other monsters from successfully invading Talingarde. Each castle has strong defenses, and with their rookeries, if one falls under attack, they can summon aid from any nearby fortress. Once summoned, aid will usually arrive within three days, so the fortress itself only needs to hold out for that long before getting reinforcements. The Watch Wall has never been broken, and has prevented every attempted assault from the north since its construction.
Aldencross itself is geographically located about a mile west of Balentyne, slightly to the south, so they aren't completely parallel. I've updated the map of Talingarde to reflect the Frosthamar's journey, as well as the locations of Sakkarot's camp and the location of Balentyne. It's on the Campaign Info page.
Incidentally, I turned myself around, and you did NOT walk past Balentyne on your way in to town. You would have come in from the other side of town.
Does that help?
Sorry. in Azure training here at work the past 2 days. Will be able to catch up and post tomorrow.
Yes, that helps a lot. Thank you!
Thanks, it can be tough to keep track between games. Updated my profile.
It's more like the Five Forts in Essos than the wall then.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Real quick bookkeeping thing, it would be easier for myself and, likely, each other if you put your alias in your quick stat line - that way you know what to refer to each other as while in disguise.
Will do!
Good plan.
Hello everyone! As GM Phntm888 mentioned a while ago, I'm interested in joining your party. Taila is currently waiting in Balentyne if you all would like an investigator who has psychic spells, far too many skills, and a terrible grudge against Aldencross specifically and Mitrans in general.
And *now* I see the discussion post. ;)
Welcome on board!
Welcome Taila! Fair warning that I play with a character named Talia in another game, so there's a very good chance I'll misspell your name at some point. Please don't take it personally! Look forward to meeting Taila in-character.
Welcome Talia
On second thought, between the Taila/Talia confusion and the fact that there's already a familiar named Faila in this game, I'll just change my name :)
'Taila' was a holdover from a previous application to a Way of the Wicked game, but I like Simra too, and it should be less confusing.
Welcome now I'm curious what happened to the captains wife :)
The information she has on Kaitlyn if true could be put to very effective ends I suspect.
My family actually lives near Captain Mott's house. One time, I saw Captain Eddarly go to the house in the evening, and Captain Mott's wife, Kaitlyn, greeted him very warmly. It seemed strange, since Captain Mott wasn't home.
4. That Captain Zack Eddarly is a handsome one, isn’t he? Such a gallant! And still unmarried at his age. He’ll make some lady of proper breeding quite a catch won’t he?
12. Have you seen Kaitlyn Mott? She’s the most beautiful woman in town! How did an ugly lump of a man like Captain Franz Mott bag a looker like her? And how does he keep her, that’s what I want to know!
Just putting all this information in one place - this is your one freebie for help in undermining the Watch Wall.
The Aldencross Rumors contain more than just "flavor", after all.
Very juicy rumours!
Welcome, Taila Simra!! Now we just need to rescue you. Which is, I think, probably going to mean letting them start carting you off, then following and killing all of them. Oh noes.
Finally got around to mucking with the loot, and man!! A couple things of note:
According to this post, Demlin's sap and studded leather armor were both masterwork; that's been included on the page.
We still have the masterwork longsword, heavy steel shield, and cloak of resistance +1 from the captain of the Blade; since Cole already has one such, I think Wesh would be best served with a +1 to his Saves, so I suggest he have that. I don't know if the longsword or shield have the Mitran sunburst engraved on it; I somewhat presume they do, but let's face it, a 'sun of Mitra' is probably a relatively common thing, making both of those sellable, though we could give Timeon the longsword (he already has a heavy steel shield).
I'm going to treat Demlin's masterwork thieves' tools as standard (full price) distribution on the sheet; did distribution of the potions of cure light wounds we have (3!) to myself, Wesh, and Lutor. As those are 'as needed' items, for ourselves or for whomever needs them, it's like the wand of CLW -- not actually 'distribution', just tracking. I figured that Wesh might need it for an immediate pick-me-up, and Lutor and I seem to be most likely to be able/available to get to someone to give them a dose; anyone disagrees, we'll move that around. ;)
As I don't know how much pocket change anyone has, I'm going to do a 1022-gp-total distribution based loosely off our roles, operating from the 8000gp in the lock-box and the 22gp in loose change we collected. Cole will have the key to the lock-box, appropriate for the merchant couple.
Wesh, "Torbin": 52 gp
Lutor, "Bill Cross": 255 gp
Cole, "James Thomas": 393 gp
Sir Gallen, "Jack Miller": 54 gp
Hel, "Hel Thomas": 268 gp
This is also (somewhat) in line with the current distribution balances (Hel and Lutor are currently on the downside of it), but with an eye towards needing to use that big chunk of funds as 'party funds' for the nonce. As we actually sell stuff, we can distribute more. I'm reserving most of Demlin's stuff (rapier, dagger, buckler, shortbow, masterwork studded leather and sap) now that we know about our potential recruit; hopefully we can modify the armor to fit her. ;) And perhaps she'll go for the mwk longsword instead of giving that to Timeon.
One last point, for our Lord and Master GM Phntm888: if you keep insisting we have the 3000gp worth of mithral from the poisonous bitey metal snakes, I'm going to take you up on it; this is the last time I'm going to remind you that we sold it. ;)
------------------
Regarding advancement -- I went with Craft (alchemy) instead of Perform (dance), though I'm still considering the latter relatively soon. Just wish I could use Dex instead of Charisma on that. ;)
Also: Ack! Stop spending money on information he'll give to any good citizen like we're trying to pretend to be!! :P :) Remember, bribing people also serves to make you appear as someone shady, who needs to bribe people!! This is why I didn't give you your full pay. ;) Present your most basic self to them, and let them make their own mistakes, as people will. ;)
Sounds good, Simra.
-----
Wesh will happily take the cloak if no one else wants it.
I feel I should be clear - talking with Bellam is not rumor gathering, and you do not need to spend gp to adjust the DC. The Diplomacy check was required for getting him to open up about what Simra found out that she tried to use to extort Kaitlyn with, and to give you an in-character reason to know she's in Balentyne's dungeons.
@Hel: Cheers for going through the loot. I'm fine with that distribution. And my mistake.
@Wesh: Fine by me.
@GM: Ah, I fumbled there.
Seeing the three 'servants' gathered, she moves over to them. "Master Cross," she begins, looking with a touch of displeasure at 'Bill's' acquisition of a glass of wine so early in the day, "with me. Mister Torbin, you seem antsy. Perhaps you can work off some of that energy by accompanying Master Thomas during his inquiries." She looks over at the aforementioned 'merchant', come down and giving her a farewell, which she returns with a clearly-only-courteous smile. "Why not walk with us to the reeve?" she suggests to him, then gives 'Torbin' a meaningful glance. Remember that you're a bodyguard, Wesh. So bodyguard. And no need for skulking yet; let's take a couple or three days before we start getting into deep trouble, shall we? Let's concentrate on gathering information first.Sir Gallen gets a different look, Hel's eyes resting on him before moving for a moment to the stairs up -- Wesh had picked a good table -- and then to the other customers. Talk some, she suggests to him, buy some drinks, but please do keep an eye on who goes upstairs. Make sure our rooms aren't broken into -- we've a good bit of coin, plenty of valuable goods for trade, and a few incriminating items that'd see us hounded were they revealed -- like Demlin's Asmodean symbol, and our copy of the Pact of Thorns.
Based on the italicized sentence, the impression I get is that Hel, Lutor, Wesh, and Cole are going to the Church of Mitra, then Cole and Wesh are heading to the Reeve while Haden continues showing Hel and Lutor around town. I was under the impression Sir Gallen was still in the Lord's Dalliance, making sure no one broke into your rooms.
my apologies. I was out of the office Friday and yesterday. My post on Wednesday had me going on my own. I was reading backwards catching up on post so that's what threw me. I hadn't got to Hel inviting me to walk along. Thanks :)
Based on the italicized sentence, the impression I get is that Hel, Lutor, Wesh, and Cole are going to the Church of Mitra, then Cole and Wesh are heading to the Reeve while Haden continues showing Hel and Lutor around town. I was under the impression Sir Gallen was still in the Lord's Dalliance, making sure no one broke into your rooms.
Well, that was the idea, yeah ... Sir Gallen to guard the rooms and maybe buy a few drinks, make that first Diplomacy / rumor roll. Which he should kill. :)
Ah ok I missed that part, been quite busy lately.
Works for me!
@All My laptop is out of commission for a bit I am afraid, still under warranty but it'll be a while. I'll sort something temporary in the next few days hopefully but things will slow down with having to use my phone.
Bot me as need.
Okay, guys. Baby is coming. We are in the hospital now. I’ll probably be quiet for a couple days, but hopefully I’ll get things moving by Monday.
All the best!
Thanks, Lutor. I'm at the dealership getting some work done on my car, so I'm gonna get an update out today.
Blessing to your family and new spawn. Hope all is well.
It is. However, I am a little sleep-deprived, which I'm told us completely normal.
Very. Congratulations, and what color sprog did you get, green or purple? ;)
And Cole, remember you’re not a noble yet. If you were a noble, you’d’ve used your title at every chance. ;)
I'm confused when I said I was just a merchant you said something about me being noble.
No no -- working on gaining a title. Basically this:
* Hel is the daughter of a nobleman.
* James is a rich merchant.
* James marries Hel for the contacts with the nobility that relationship gives him.
* Hel marries James because she's a noblewoman and her parents said 'you're marrying this rich merchant'.
* Both of them are hoping/expecting James to be ennobled sometime in the not-too-distant future, because he's rich and now has people of influence talking him up to the king.
understood :)
And apologizing here to Mme. Fieraus for how long we're taking to get to her rescue!! Thank you for your patience. :)
To be fair, there was a bit of a gap while my wife had a baby. That certainly didn't speed things along.
As you make plans, I feel I should mention that, depending on how many Victory Points you have when the invasion starts, as well as which NPCs are still alive when that happens, you will NOT have the opportunity to return to Aldencross. Anything left there may end up being the property of the bugbear army.
No worries, I knew it would be a while. I'm having fun just reading along :)
(Simra's having fun plotting the imminent destruction of everyone who's ever wronged her, or that she thinks might have wronged her, or that could possibly wrong her in the future.)
I may not get to post again before Friday evening.
Sorry for the delay, guys. Baby brain kicked in a bit. I'm updating now.
Sorry for my own missingness. RL has been obscenely uncooperative.
It happens. I've had a busy few days myself.