Indeed, to celebrate and mark the occasion, the Duke prepares a magical meal that others find bland, but he finds to be quite nutritious.
During the days of kinging, Unrak searches the town for someone able & willing to enchant his armor...
and succeeds. he gets his armor strengthened
You begin your work of exploring the area around Talon Peak early on [color=teal]10th Erastus[/color]. A crumbling tower stands atop the high mountain here. Known locally as Talon Peak because the jagged ruins of the tower look almost like a sharp claw protruding from the peak, the mountainsides fall sheer for nearly 250 feet from the tower's foundations on the summit. Why, and how, someone would erect a structure of quarried stone in such a locale bewilders the mind.
"So, my friends. From what I can tell, this tower is the perfect roosting spot for a giant bird. This area is also reputed to have a 'Giant Black Bird' that has haunted this area for years. I am just warning you to look around above and not just below. If you want to reach its nest, you will need to do some serious climbing. I'm just glad that I picked up my potions of spider climb when I did."
"Good catch Bytor. Now, everyone gather 'round."
Your magic readied, you begin the climb. The wind howls in your ears and your breath gets increasingly short from the dizzying vertigo---but your fingers still stick to the stone.
In short measure, you reach the broken tower.
In the shell of the tower is an enormous nest, made not of twigs or string, but of whole trees uprooted from the earth. The nest is presently home to gigantic eggs of a dusty brown color, each more than 4 feet across and likely weighing about 200 pounds.
Unrak peers about, using the tower's higher vantage point, to see if this big ol' bird is anywhere nearby.
He rumbles Hmm...are these the kind of animals that could be trained as mounts? I mean, who here couldn't see ME riding an effing roc into battle???
He muses, looking at the huge eggs. With this climbing magic, I wonder if we could strap one of these to my back for me to bring it down...
Bytor tries to recall any information about this tower.
”It looks like this tower was made by elves long ago.”
John faces outward while the others ponder the eggs. He scans the horizon and the surrounding area for dangers with an arrow at the ready.
With no outward indication other than a slight head movement, John listens to the discussion behind him. He is concerned about their exposed position.
What sort of a schedule do these things keep? As in... when will it be home for dinner?
"Let's not find out." Taranis puts an egg* in the bag of holding.
In older editions of the game, realism was dismissed for Middle Ages story tropes. You could do things like, win a dragon cohort by beating it with the flat of your blade.... and you could take an egg and rear it. If the former, 1 egg. If the latter, 2.
As the egg(s) disappear into the bag, the tower goes dark for a barely-noticeable instant. On the lookout, John turns his gaze towards the sun and gives a sudden shout of alarm!
+2 if Surprise
+2 if Surprise
Bearing down on you from above is a massive bird of midnight black, dark against the sun. Its outspread wings stretch nearly 100 feet across, and its razor-sharp talons like giant scythes come racing towards you.
Surprise
1. John
2. Roc
Round I
1. John, Augrym
2. Roc
3. Bytor, Unrak, Taranis
His gimlet eyes are creased against the sun, and his bowstring is already taught.
In the scarce seconds before the creature descends John cries the alarm!
His cry of alarm sounds odd though... it trails off almost... thoughtfully.
Wisps of black smoke snake around the bow and in the blink of an eye have completely gilded it with a twisting aura of power. The smoke caresses John's hand almost lovingly, and guides him to a realization that his departed bride - always with him in his heart - is now quite literally with him in spirit.
John is amazed and thankful... But his attention only wavers for a moment and he steels himself to release his arrow!
John has only a moment before the pitch-black roc descends on him like an oppressive shadow, blotting out the sun and casting his world into darkness. Merciless talons dig into his flesh and grip him tight. A screech of avian fury pierces the air for miles around.
HIT PLUS SUCCESS
The bird hardly slows down, and already John is inches away from dangling over the precipice.
Round I
1. John (57/76 hp, grappled), Augrym
2. Roc
3. Bytor, Unrak, Taranis
FATHER!"
The INSTANT he's grabbed I cast Liberating Command on dad.
- Round the First
- Current HPs: 57/76
- Grappled
- Warrior Spirit - 10 Rounds
John is startled out of his reverie by the fearsome attack, and wriggles desperately to escape!
John prepares to use his newly acquired Feather Token to avoid splattering all over the ground. (Readied action to use if he gets dropped)
Then he makes one more effort to escape, but finds the talons simply too powerful.
Aided by his son's arcane interjection, John struggles mightily against the bird's grip. Yet those talons are strong enough to crush an elephant's ribs with ease, and he is held fast. John readies a failsafe if the worst should happen.
Round I
1. John (57/76 hp, grappled), Augrym
2. Roc
3. Bytor, Unrak, Taranis
Draw my wrist crossbow, study the target, add Bane.
Augrym gets ready to open fire...
... while the roc gets ready to let its cargo make friends with the mountainside far below. The titanic bird hurries over the edge, nearly knocking everyone down with the power of its beating wings, and, with another thunderous screech, lets go. John feels the insanity of vertigo for an instant.
He speaks a single word of command.
Wings sprout instantly from his back. He arrests his freefall before it starts! The roc screeches in anger and wheels about for another attack!
Round I
1. John (57/76 hp, hovering), Augrym
2. Roc
3. Bytor, Unrak, Taranis
Unrak roars out IT CAN'T GRAB ME!! LET IT TRY!!
he muscles to get himself between the roc and the rest of the group
He pulls out his bow, and an Animal Bane arrow, and lets fly
"Gozrek, hang on a moment! I'm going to summon them close. Haste us, and I'll get in there!" Taranis loses his fire snake spell for some allies! [ooc]Switching for Summon Nature's Ally V to bring forth
Bytor wastes no time and casts haste upon the company and then begins to inspire courage among his friends .
"The huntsmen are the true rock of this kingdom and they will rise this day and every day to vanquish that which opposes them!"
Gozrek keeps his eyes on his father, but listens to his mentor, readying a spell.
so, technically, Bytor goes before Unrak--meaning Unrak's shot should be a 21, for 21 damage
Bytor brings his potent magic to bear, as Taranis and Gozrek get ready to do the same! Unrak sends an arrow flying towards the roc, but it sails a few feet wide.
Round II
1. John (57/76 hp, hovering), Augrym
2. Roc
3. Bytor, Unrak, Taranis, Gozrek
- Round the Second
- Current HPs: 57/76
- Inspired
- Hasted
- Warrior Spirit: 9/10
- Wings: 9/10
John is a bit unsure if he believes he's alive... and that he is flying. Without delay he wills himself back toward the tower, just like the lass at the magic shop told him. Vertigo and the enormous monster behind him serve as all the motivation he needs to learn quickly!
With his wife's spirit still guiding his hands, John resists the urge to fire as soon as he alights on the solid ground in favor of taking a moment to let the beast come a bit closer.
for damage
Activate the Stag Helm.
Reload.
"Rage filled friend Unrak. Do not take it personally, the roc is likely only trying to grab you because of how tiny you are."
Activate the Stag Helm.
[dice=Attack]1d20+13; 1d4+5+5d6Reload.
"Rage filled friend Unrak. Do not take it personally, the roc is likely only trying to grab you because of how tiny you are."
Unrak looks back, smirks, and makes a rude gesture at Augrym
John hurries back to solid ground and waits to launch a shot. Augrym fires off one in the meantime, punching through the bird's massive wing.
SUCCESS
The roc twists gracefully in the air and streaks back towards the tower, talons outstretched...
John puts another arrow in it, but that does not stop the talons from closing around Bytor!
Somehow the old professor manages to duck at just the right time! The bird screeches in anger and passes overhead!
Round II
1. John (57/76 hp, hovering), Augrym
2. Roc (47 dmg)
3. Bytor, Unrak, Taranis, Gozrek
The old professor grins as he narrowly dodges the claws of the great bird as he pulls out his longbow and fires off an arrow!
”If this old prof can show some fight, just think what all you young whippersnappers can do!”
Bytor freely maintains his inspire courage. He also tries to recall if the roc has any weaknesses.
“Above all else, don’t get snatched up by its talons!” Bytor declares with certainty.
Bytor wings the bird, but cannot recall any specific weakness of the species.
Round II
1. John (57/76 hp), Augrym
2. Roc (55 dmg)
3. Bytor, Unrak, Taranis, Gozrek
Unrak drops his bow, and flies into his customary rage. Find some cover! Let it try to get me!!
He then casts a spell and draws his greatsword, which floats in his hands.
BYTOR! I've got one more Animal Bane Arrow, if you want to grab it
The INSTANT the elementals appear, I cast Haste, hitting:
A quartet of Air Elementals appear, surrounding the roc. They all open with battering attacks:
for
for
for
for
for
for
for
for
Taranis then casts Freedom of Movement on Unrak
- Round the Third
- Current HPs: 57/76
- Inspired
- Hasted
- 8/10 Warrior Spirit
- 8/10 Wings
With his feet underneath him, and his breathing getting under control after his terrifying flights, John settles into a rhythm of pulling and releasing his bowstring. Arrow after arrow caressed by the black wisps of smoke streak across the divide toward the Roc.
First Attack:
for damage.
Second Attack:
for damage.
Rapid Shot:
for damage.
Haste Attack:
for damage.
Luck is with the elementals, and they land a number of blows, each small in its own right, but the toll accumulates.
Doubt enters the mind of the roc, and it considers abandoning its nest, but John does not afford the titanic bird that chance. His very first shot sends two arrows crashing through the roc's skull, killing it instantly; yet before the archer even learns his first arrows fates, two more barbs thud into the roc's body to accelerate its fall, and in a single breath the bird's ruin is smote upon the mountainside far below.
After the relief and pride of your survival subside, there is a tinge of sadness, for a bird of prey of such grandeur and grace will not be seen in these skies again for many long years.
"Well done, Huntsemen! That was a mighty foe and although some may be sad to see its departure from this realm, I think it will be safer for those who live in this kingdom."
"Tis not a cause for true celebration friend. I think we must think carefully. I propose we turn one over to Jamery Gorbasken. I prose we offer one to a neighbor - preferably one of like mind who would appreciate the gift...."
Taranis thinks long and hard on the last, "And I prose we care for and raise the third."
Taranis leads the party to search the tower area, and to consider its strategic location. He asks Bytor to discern the tower's history. Once done, he directs the party north
A search of the tower yields little but the locale's true treasure, the three eggs. Collecting these, you climb back down the cliffs and proceed to further explore the mountain, verifying the maps left behind by Varn and his team. On [color=teal]13th[/color] Erastus you follow the edge of the Tors north until you meet the outflowing Crooked River, and then follow it out into the hills, where you make camp as evening falls.
Let's explore here. With each journey, we learn more of the land, and it learns more of us."
The team sets to work. The hills here are craggy but lush, and the Crooked River valley makes for an idyllic landscape as it flows placidly north. By midday on [color=teal]15th Erastus[/color], you have finished verifying Varn's map of these hills, and consider your next destination.
West!
Crossing the Crooked River, you strike west until you reach the Shrike, then follow it north. Here you come upon a magnificent waterfall, where the Shrike plummets 50 feet over a high cliff.
Though the sight is breathtaking, this waterfall is among the reasons why the river trade has traditionally preferred the Sellen over the Shrike, as only small craft can be ported upriver, and even then only with great effort.
You take your time to explore the area and extend your maps; by [color=teal]17th Erastus[/color] you feel ready to move on.
Taranis takes some time to enjoy the falls before moving north
Proceeding north along the Shrike, you come to another series of beautiful waterfalls, each dropping some 20 or 30 feet, five falls in total over the course of a mile where the Crooked River joins the Shrike. The smaller river joins the larger about halfway through the Falls. Here marks yet further reasons why the river trade between the River Kingdoms and Brevoy does not rely on the Shrike for transport.
Nevertheless, both the Shrike Cascade and the Crooked Falls would make fine additions to the Duchy.
You take your time exploring this last northwestern spur of the Tors, then follow the Shrike again until it meets the South Rostland Road. This you follow in its bend northwest until you reach the plains.
With this corner of the map filled in to your satisfaction, you take counsel over breakfast on [color=teal]20th Erastus[/color].
"Unless someone objects, this is a vista worth soaking in before returning home. Let's return and add these lands to the Duchy. We can enjoy the trip home."
Mmmmmm...then we should start work on the new settlement. What should we name it? Newport or something?
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"I do enjoy travel, but I think I enjoy rest even more. I agree. Let's head home."
"Mmmmmm...then we should start work on the new settlement. What should we name it? Newport or something?"
"Newport sounds a little simple. How about we name it after you and call it Unrakport?"
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"Newport sounds a little simple. How about we name it after you and call it Unrakport?"
The big man barks out a laugh. Hah!! Why??? "Huntsport" is more appropriate...
The journey southwest is easy and carefree. You make quick progress across the plains, joining up with your own roads near old Nettle's Crossing, crossing the Thorn River at the ford and so following the Shrike back to the capital. The trumpets heralding your arrival at Castle Redleaf is a welcome sound to your ears; they portend a few days of well-earned rest in these long summer days.
Downtime Day 1 of 7
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[blue]Phase 1 (Upkeep):[/blue] Pay costs associated with maintaining completed buildings and organizations.
[blue]Phase 2 (Activity):[/blue]Perform downtime activities, such as constructing a building, recruiting an organization, or retraining.
[blue]Phase 3 (Income):[/blue]
[blue]Phase 4 (Event):[/blue]
Downtime Day 2 of 7
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[blue]Phase 1 (Upkeep):[/blue] Pay costs associated with maintaining completed buildings and organizations.
[blue]Phase 2 (Activity):[/blue]Perform downtime activities, such as constructing a building, recruiting an organization, or retraining.
[blue]Phase 3 (Income):[/blue]
[blue]Phase 4 (Event):[/blue]
Downtime Day 3 of 7
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[blue]Phase 1 (Upkeep):[/blue] Pay costs associated with maintaining completed buildings and organizations.
[blue]Phase 2 (Activity):[/blue]Perform downtime activities, such as constructing a building, recruiting an organization, or retraining.
[blue]Phase 3 (Income):[/blue]
[blue]Phase 4 (Event):[/blue]
Downtime Day 4 of 7
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[blue]Phase 1 (Upkeep):[/blue] Pay costs associated with maintaining completed buildings and organizations.
[blue]Phase 2 (Activity):[/blue]Perform downtime activities, such as constructing a building, recruiting an organization, or retraining.
[blue]Phase 3 (Income):[/blue]
[blue]Phase 4 (Event):[/blue]
Downtime Day 5 of 7
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[blue]Phase 1 (Upkeep):[/blue] Pay costs associated with maintaining completed buildings and organizations.
[blue]Phase 2 (Activity):[/blue]Perform downtime activities, such as constructing a building, recruiting an organization, or retraining.
[blue]Phase 3 (Income):[/blue]
[blue]Phase 4 (Event):[/blue]
Downtime Day 6 of 7
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[blue]Phase 1 (Upkeep):[/blue] Pay costs associated with maintaining completed buildings and organizations.
[blue]Phase 2 (Activity):[/blue]Perform downtime activities, such as constructing a building, recruiting an organization, or retraining.
[blue]Phase 3 (Income):[/blue]
[blue]Phase 4 (Event):[/blue]
Downtime Day 7 of 7
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REST, 190.3 Personal Gold Paid