GM Rednal's War of the Burning Sky (Inactive)

Game Master Rednal

Err, Umbriak, did you want to handle this, since you were the one starting the conversation?

Umbriak smiled and passed the paper to the guard. "New orders for the Captain Herreman, ye ken? Courtesy of Councilman Menash."

The guard glanced over at Umbriak, with a suspicious look... but took the papers and carefully looked over them, at one point holding them up to the light and squinting. "Well, well, well." he said with a smile. "I don't know how you got on his good side, but I suppose orders are orders. All right, men, get your lazy butts in gear! We're headed out on patrol!" He tilted his head to the side a moment later. "Ponies are over here. Let's see if we've got anything... docile." he said, gesturing for the three of you to follow.

Andulian shook his head in agreement, looking with curiosity to Umbriak and Deacon. Finally, he followed the guard and the other two. He smiled as if greeting them, still unsure if he should introduce himself.

Ridley shoots Andulian a menacing glare—Be quiet, you idiot, and don't try anything

Bluff (message): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

Just so we can laugh at the roll. I have a -3 on Sense Motive...

Sense Motive: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (8) - 3 = 5 Lol!

Nah dude, it's a bluff check to pass a hidden message, the guard rolls sense.

Heh. XD Are you sure you want to try being sneaky and pass messages? These guards are on your side, after all, but if you start being suspicious..

Eh, more of a wink really. Let's let it slide and get out of the city.

As a general reminder, if I haven't posted in 24 hours and you think I should have, nudge me. XD It usually means I forgot how many people we were waiting on. *Runs a LOT of games and can't always remember*

After a few moments of talking, the leader of the guards here sent a few of his men running, and they returned with weapons and armor quite close to their own as the steeds (mostly light horses) were readied. Thus garbed as guardsmen, it was easy to get straight to the gate - though as you did so, a single bell tolled from the western end of the city.

"The inquisitors are coming in." the guards' leader said grimly. The entire patrol swept out, thundering away from the walls and any prying eyes. It was only then that he spoke again. "You look like you've had a long night. There's a camp about a mile ahead of us, in an old watchtower that's not in use anymore. You should be safe enough there. You three ready to be off on your own?"

Yes. - Andulian replies, trying to show confidence, but with his inevitable humble tone that pulls against it.

Ridley agrees, though he's not looking forward to the prospect of a horse.

"Oh, aye, we'll be fine," Umbriak replied jovially. "But our thanks, we could nae be getting a decent kip without ye help."

The guardsman gave you a salute - a genuine one, not simply a formality - then turned around and headed off with the rest of his group. Exhaustion was dogging at your heels by the time you finally found the tower in question and were able to throw together something that at least vaguely resembled a camp.

The good news? You've reached Level 2. Post a summary of your updates in the Discussion Thread for approval, and update your aliases only AFTER they've received that approval. ^^ I highly doubt there's going to be any problems at this low of a level, but it's a good habit to be in for later, when I *might* have to reject a choice. (For what it's worth, I've only had to do that, like, once. It's the principle of the thing, really. XD)

As Umbriak cooked up a basic stew, he explained to Andulian that they were seeking aid for the city from some allies. He didn't explain they were with the Resistance, nor did he explain who those allies were, what help they could provide, or other details. Umbriak was tired and boastful, but he wasn't an idiot, and knew that simply being a mage did not make the man trustworthy. However, if he could help them...

Profession (Cook): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

While Umbriak cooks, Ridley scouts the watchtower, making sure that the party is indeed alone.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

As far as you can tell, the party is indeed alone for now. You might want to have someone on watch, of course, but at least you had a nice, defensible location for the time being.

"Right. We seem okay here," Ridley reports.

Over dinner, he explains to Andulian the general details of the party's mission, leaving out the part where we completely failed to recover vital intelligence. The man does, however, seem trustworthy enough that he covers the rest of the points: Ridley and Umbriak are two members of the city's religious community generally set against Ragesia, sent to retrieve help for the resistance from the mages of Lyceum in the city of Seaquen. It looks to be a fair ride over land, but should be safe enough, once the party gets away from the Ragesian armies.

Umbriak nodded along to Ridley's explanation of events. "All that, of course, and ye get to meet the most fabulous people." Standing, Umbriak stretched. "If it's all the same to ye gents, I'll stand first watch. Dinnae like broken sleep. Fight amongst yeself who takes second and third."

"Second, then, if someone needs to call it. Although I'm not looking forward to another day on man-sized horses."

Andulian shakes his head, slowly absorbing all information. He follows up briefly telling his story, and how fortunate he was their fate crossed.

I will cover the last shift, my friends. - he finally says.

"Next village we stop at, we'll see if we cannae find ye a better mount. What's yer preference? I once saw a Gnome riding a giant rabbit, but I dinnae think they're common these parts." Umbriak leaned against one of the walls, axe to hand.

"Do they make half-horses?"

"Aye," Umbriak replied, "Ponies."

"Right, that's the one. Not a lot of stables where I grew up."

Giant rabbits were, indeed, not especially common in this region. The night passed without incident (a few small scares that ultimately turned out to be nothing didn't count - hooray for nerves), and morning came quite early in the day. If you had any preparations to make for the day, now was probably a good time - otherwise, it was time to be moving on.

Andulian did his prayers at night as usual, but repeated them on the morning while meditating. Finally ready, he stood up from his knees and got back to the road with his companions. He knew the Monarch would guide their way.

Ridley's got nothing much to prepare. He does seem a bit on edge, but that's most likely because he's never spent much time outside of the city.

Umbriak prayed, and cooked breakfast. Mostly because he liked a good breakfast, and intended to get it. Once they struck camp he bundled what he didn't feel like carrying onto his mount, and off they went.

As you moved away from the city, the ground slowly sloped into a canyon, with the walls rising high on either side. There was limited vegetation here, and most of what was present looked a bit brown and dry.

Umbriak squinted for a moment, making sure he was seeing two people and not two peopled-shaped rocks or bushes - he'd never been allowed back in the inn where he'd made that mistake last - before calling out to them, "Ho there! If ye be heading to the city, ye may wish to rethink. We heard that there was some problems last night, and had to come away from there." It was technically true, after all. And this way, if these two were up to no good, the others knew of them already.

"What sort of problems!?" one of the figures up ahead called out, shuffling back slightly to remain as concealed as possible by what vegetation there was. (Bushes, mostly.)

"Military sort," Ridley replies, joining into the conversation. "Fighting, armies, Ragesia flexing their muscle."

"Even saw some shenanigans in the sky," Umbriak added sagely. "Dinnae want to mess with flying beasties. Sky's too close already. Any issues down this trail that ye seen? We'd appreciate the knowing of such."

Bump? Are these guys bandits?

I'm betting they're perfectly lovely and wish for us to join them for second breakfast.

Hey now, Mr. Dwarf, that's *our* word. No appropriating Halfling culture!

You're all pretty short from up here. Can't we all just get along?

"Unless a landslide's happened in the last day or two, the road should be pretty clear." the figure in the bushes called back. "I'm not going anywhere near the city if Ragesia's finally moving, though... you'd be wise to keep going."

"Thanks!" Ridley shouts back. "You lot seem pretty fond of the bushes—you're not a gang of highwaymen waiting to jump us as we ride past, are you?"

Diplomacy (to seem like a joke if they get offended): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28

Andulian laughs nervously and almost silently, while looking at Deacon from the back of the party.

Umbriak glanced over at Ridley. And people think I'm not very diplomatic...

Well, it would certainly find out if they were looking to fight. Either because they were bandits or easily insulted, of course, was another question...

If they were planning to fight us, now they've lost the element of surprise... and are probably too confused to be tactical...

"Uh, honestly, I like living..." the speaker answered, chuckling slightly. "I'm happy to stay well away from danger."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

"Right, then. Well, I'm sure we're all heavily armed here. We'll be riding along, then?"

Umbriak nodded cheerfully. "Aye, ye dinnae want to die. I hear it's all very nice in the next life, but ye wanna be finished with this one before ye find out, ye ken? Jumping folks on the road would certainly be one way to find out about it fast, though. Ye never know when some handsome Dwarf with an axe shall split ye in twain. Now, have a cheerful day gents, and dinnae get too close to the city." Whistling cheerfully, Umbriak moved off, unless someone else wanted to add something.

Sense Motive: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (2) - 3 = -1 Lol!

Andulian doesn't have the faintest clue if the hidden men are sincere or not. In silence, he follows behind Umbriak - almost hiding! - and shakes his head slowly.

As your group moved forward, a pair of small objects came hurtling through the air and smashed against the ground, erupting with a truly cacophonous noise just behind your horses - who let out loud whinnies and were clearly only moments away from bolting.

Everybody, roll Ride. XD

Ride: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

In Mortal Kombat voice: Impressive!

Ride: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 3 - 4 = 18 Whaaat

Ride: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

*Sigh*