Reflex Save1d20+1
Move: Draw Stake!
Init 3 Round 6
Move to the square north of Torthen to cover his flank.
Attack the Wlf4
Halberd
Blasted doging doggies!
"Argh! My shoes!" Madeline cries as she falls.
"Let go! Stupid beast! Those leathers are expensive!"
After a night of drinking cider (spiked with whiskey of course), tales by the fire and barging with Sarianna to have her join him in his bed, Giles left alone for his room.
The next morning, Giles awoke with only a mild hangover. He splashed a few drops of water on his face before fumbling around for the silver flask. A few moments of worry were quickly pasted when he spotted it at the foot of his bed. He crawled over to it and flip the lid, taking only the very few remaining drops left. "Hells of a way to start a morning." He yawned then looked around the room.
Perception
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"An alchemically-fired piston in the
head of this two-handed hammer strikes targets with
astounding force. Successful sunder attacks made
with a piston maul deal an additional +4 points of
damage. A piston maul requires a thunderstone
to function; otherwise you treat it as a
greatclub.'
So, no, Mr. Smith does not get a +7 to damage with this weapon unless he's making a sunder attack. If you have questions, please see the Gnomes of Golarion, pg 22.
With a steady, possibly lucky strike, Mr. Smith slams the head of his gnomish maul into the creature's head, dropping it. As the wolf falls, it releases its grip on your shoe!!
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When the sun final climbs further into the sky than most of the people in Ravengro would dare call morning, a brisk knocking awakes both of you! Giles, still reeking of whiskey, manages to fumble out of his bed, knocking a silver flask to the floor as he blindly fumbles around for a drink.
Professor Vaghn der Grafft handles the morning a little better, tossing a simple sheet over his bed clothes as he answers the door. When he finally opens the latch and peaks through, he sees Sarianna standing before him, covered in soot and smirking slightly.
"Thought you boys might have died in the night, sleeping through all the bells and such. Hell, you even managed to sleep through a fire!" She smiles slightly, making it obvious that she's teasing you.
"Well, I thought you might want to know that while you slept, wolves attacked the town, and to boot, they seemed especially interested in the old Lorrimor place, which got hit pretty hard. I don't know the details yet, but I thought you might want to know. Also, I saved you some roasted duck if you're hungry."
With that, Sarianna turns and begins to walk down the hall, headed for the stairs. Before she descends, however, she turns and says, almost as if it were a second thought, "Oh, and by the way, welcome to Ravengro. We used to be a fairly normal town..."
[spoiler=Morning]
Vaghn blushes a little. "Oh! I say, terribly sorry! It was a long journey, took more out of me than I expected it would. Wolves you say? And fire? Oh my! Is everyone alright? Is there anything I can do to help?" He begins to step out into the hall and realizes his state of undress. Blushes again. "Um, perhaps I will dress first. Then, if there is anything I might do to help out, please do not hesitate to ask. Oh, and I simply must go check to make sure Kendra is alright. Er, Lady Kendra I mean!" He chuckles nervously. "I guess I should check on Herr de Savorie as well... Thank you for the welcome! And the duck, I should love some, thank you, and some hot water if you don't mind. Excuse me now, I really should put something on."
He closes the door politely and stops to think for a moment. He would have to ask more about the fire. Wolves attacking a town however? That did not seem right, and it did not sit well with him. Not well at all
Knowledge (nature):
The dwarf bellows out mightily, having seen what he did:
"There's an intruder near th' house's doors! Be aware!"
With that said, he proceeded to do all he could to end the wolf before him with the steel of his hammer.
With his attack done, the druid takes a wary step closer to the house's side, in order to get a better look.
Madeline simply rolls over, the better to see the lay of the terrain, or what has become of Torthen's pit...
Madeline looks to the small pit created by the Dwarf. "Save the trapped one! Don't kill it!" She cries.
Madeline sighs..."Such a waste..." Then sees about getting up, with out becoming Doggy nibblits. :P
Smith moves to protect/cover Madeline.
"Fire? Wolves? Sounds like it was a good thing I slept in." Giles had a rather disheveled look and smelled of booze and a general muskiness. He cleaned himself up a bit then followed Vaghn to breakfast (filling up his flask) and the Lorrimor homestead.
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Round 6
On 16, the wolf facing Smith, Rendel, and Madeline takes a five ft. free step, attacks Madeline, and knocks her prone.
On 10 Smith attacks and kills the wolf facing them.
On 9 Kendra fires a few more missiles at the wolf facing off with Torthen, dealing damage. The wolf looks badly injured.
On 8 Madeline gets up.
On 6 Tharnik limps over to help Kendra.
On 3 Creel attacks the last wolf, but misses it.
Round 7
On 16, the last wolf follows and attacks Torthen. Attack: ; damage ; Trip attack . The wolf just barely misses Torthen!
On 10 Smith...
On 9 Kendra..
On 8 Madeline...
On 6 Tharnik...
On 3 Creel...
Map here
Round 6 init 3
The snarling beast lunges at Torthen as he moves. This was a mistake. A fatal mistake. Creel steps forward and the long spike of the halberd stabs into the wolf just behind its foreleg.
"Hold fast friend. It is a strange day for callers."
Seeing a satisfying spray of blood erupt from the wolf as it whimpers and dies. Rendel picks up his sword, nodding in acknowledgement at the strange woman before casually going to lend support elsewhere.
Free: Shift stake to off hand.
Move: Pick up my sword.
Move: Move to N5
EDIT: Or nevermind I'm an idiot. Corrected.
Madeline picks herself up as the others 'finish off' the remaining wolf, though her expression is blank. For a moment she checks the damage done to her shoes and own legs, before turning to a quiescent Smith and placing another 'healing patch' upon his savaged frame.
"*Tsk! Just look at you..." She mutters under her breath, even as she adjusts the black, Varisian silk scarf she is wearing with one hand absently to keep her long midnight tresses gathered.
"Yes...Mistrss..." Is Smith's quiet reply.
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As Rendel grabs his sword and moves south, Kendra steps away from the house, aims her wand one last time, and fires off two more missiles. The magical darts fly from her hand, whisking around Torthen and striking the wolf in its chest. It drops dead at his feet.
The both of you are presented with a breakfast of cold duck, hard Varisian white cheese, and local bread, still warm from the over. A side of diced apples rounds out the meal. Fresh juice is offered, as well. When you're done eating, and cleaned up, Sarianna gives you directions to the old Lorrimor place, which isn't far from here (it is, however, across the river). She wishes the both of you well, giving Giles a curious look when he requests additional whiskey for his flask.
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** spoiler omitted **
As Rendel grabs his sword and moves south, Kendra steps away from the house, aims her wand one last time, and fires off two more missiles. The magical darts fly from her hand, whisking around Torthen and striking the wolf in its chest. It drops dead at his feet.
Round 6 init 3
Torthen can only manage to grumpf at his lack of seeing the intruder now. Still, he manages to go along and keep Creel moving with him - the timely slaying of the wolf freed him from obligations, and moves with swiftness.
Torthen can only manage to grumpf at his lack of seeing the intruder now. Still, he manages to go along and keep Creel moving with him - the timely slaying of the wolf freed him from obligations, and moves with swiftness.
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With combat ended, the smell of smoke on the horizon, and the shadow of a figure standing in the doorway before Kendra's home, all but order seems to reign on the grounds that are the former Professor Lorrimor's Estate.
As Creel and Torthen round the front of the house, shouting orders to whatever person stands there to stop, they see a startling sight. The figure, all-too dark for early morning, turns to them, opens its arms to the sky, and then fades completely from view. Unsure of what they have seen - and with each passing moment of further searching - the two discover absolutely no one present, nor any hint of a figure in or around the doorway. In fact, even after a quick search of the area, only the dead bodies of the wolves (and the large pit in Kendra's front yard) alert anyone to a disturbance at the home.
After a quick search of the home, Kendra asks each of you to help her clean the yard, raking what dirt you can back into the pit. She invites you, if it is your desire, to skin the bodies of the wolves behind the house, clearly disgusted by the idea, so that she need not see that gruesome work. She then bids you bury the bodies in the pit in the front yard, which she notes with some irony, that Torthen prepared with some foresight.
It takes your group close to an hour to clean the yard, bury the wolves, and to clean and bandage yourselves after the battle. Although she is shaken, Kendra seems otherwise unhurt. Tharkin, however, has not been so lucky. When you inspect his wounds, he bears a deep cut in his abdomen that seeps dark, thick blood. He's bandaged it as best he's able, but he's obviously pale and weak from the attack. Kendra seems a little saddened by this, but you suspect it may also be the shock of the attack, compounded by the loss of her father.
After everything is clean, the wounded are comfortable, and Kendra has prepared some food, she bids all of you enter the living room and eat a little. She offers each of you some wine with your lunch, and then, when all is said and done, speaks.
"I suppose I owe each of you, especially the good Tharnik, for ensuring my safety. I'm not sure what just happened, but I sensed something unnatural about this event ...and have noted lingering auras that are ...shall we say, less than wholesome. If you hadn't guessed, Tharnik and I were out to fetch the maid and a handyman when the wolves struck. He defended me, but as you can see, took a nasty bite in the process."
Kendra looks over to Tharnik, whose eyes seem heavy with exhaustion, and nods. Then, she continues.
"He managed to defend me until we could get back here ..but as you can see, this was the focus of the attack. We may have been smarter to go elsewhere. But I thought to warn you, and to protect whatever it is that my father left."
She pauses then, sipping her wine as she looks at each of you, then continues.
"My father, he knew something was going on. I could see it in his eyes. I don't know precisely what he was investigating, but it was obviously tied to this town and I suspect this is really why he asked you to stick around. Not just for my safety, but to protect the good people of Ravengro. I think, perhaps, it is now time we go down into the basement and see precisely what it is he left you..."
As Kendra rises to go downstairs, there is a loud knock on the front door....
After eating a quick, if late, morning meal with Sarianna, the two of you depart. It doesn't take you long to travel west across town, and using the directions given to you, you cross the river with ease (taking the town bridge, of course) and enjoy a short walk to the Lorrimor Estate. As you two approach, two things are quickly apparent. First, all of the shudders are closed and locked. Additionally, it appears the drapes are drawn, as well. Secondly, there is a large, fresh mound of dirt in the front yard. Finally, the yard is torn here and there, with several areas sporting what looks like dark, black stains in the grass. You aren't sure, but it appears these "stains" trail off behind the house.
As you get closer to the front door, offering each other curious glances, you can hear Kendra speaking from inside. Right before you knock on the door, you hear, "I think, perhaps, it is now time we go down into the basement and see precisely what it is he left you.."
Madeline frowns, sad that she has no real skill at helping Tharnik.
Before dealing with the wolves.
"If you are sure it doesn't need attention Tharnik."
“You’re a tougher man than I."
While working with the others.
To all: “Who do you suppose the strange vanishing man was? And why do you suppose he was here. I mean nit must be related to the strange behavior of the wolves and the odd giant bugs last night.”
there is a loud knock on the front door....
Creel looks first to Tharnik then to Madeline and Rendal. Creel is unsure of his standing in the house and it seems to him that the others have a better claim on offering a stranger entry to the Lorrimer home.
He keeps his hand on his sword. Shield and newly sharpened axe are in the entryway.
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Kendra says, "Well, I'm not expecting any more guests, but it appears to be one of those days..."
Then, she gets up, and opens the door slightly, looking out to see who is there.
Upon seeing the man and his companion, she opens the door further, letting the duo in her foyer. You all hear the man, who is dressed somewhat haphazardly, in a scholarly sort of way, say, "Ah! Um, Miss Kendra! Hello. I'm so sorry; we left as soon as we could, arrived late last night, missed the funeral by a couple hours, and, um... slept in. Gods, it is good to see you again. I mean, good to see that you weren't hurt!"
He pauses for a second, peeking around the corner to look at you and then turning a little red as Kendra looks at him.
"I had heard there were wolves. I trust all is well now? I mean, other than..." You see him nervously wipe his spectacles on the folds of his formal Lepidstadt University faculty robe.
Then suddenly, he starts to choke back his words, obviously emotional. "I am so sorry Kendra. He was the closest thing I ever had to a father and... I want to help in any way I can."
You see him, slightly shaking, hand Kendra some flowers.
The other man, who is definitely more rugged looking, stands besides him silently.
While working with the others.
To all: “Who do you suppose the strange vanishing man was? And why do you suppose he was here. I mean it must be related to the strange behaviour of the wolves and the odd giant bugs last night.”there is a loud knock on the front door....
Creel looks first to Tharnik then to Madeline and Rendal. Creel is unsure of his standing in the house and it seems to him that the others have a better claim on offering a stranger entry to the Lorrimer home.
Madeline raises an eyebrow at Creel's question.
"Man? What man? And vanished, you say?" Madeline frowns..."This does not bode well along with the information in regards to Professor Lorrimar..." Her brows knit as she thinks upon things. At the sounding of the knock upon the door, Madeline stands and directs Smith upstairs, she following.
"I, for one, am certainly no longer fit for mixing with company. Smith needs at least a wash after being drooled upon by those wolves..." She mutters as she heads up to the rooms assigned to the pair.
Leaving others to debate the merits of vanishing men and the damaging of a half orcs pride, he took to the dirty work of dealing with the wolves. He was the first to admit his knowledge of the natural world was lacking (a problem that would need to be rectified) but even he knew wolves did not enter towns or attack people in broad day light.
He skinned only the ones he had a hand in killing or personally dealt with himself taking care to notice any peculiar details, markings, strangeness about them. When finished he threw them into the pit along with their apparent leader.
After doing that and ensuring their burial he threw a few words over the graves not entirely sure his god even particularly cared. But it seemed to be the thing to do.
He then took care to get himself cleaned of the blood that covered him. Finding it personally amusing that the paladin did not seem to get a drop of blood on him despite having personally slain the leader. Was that his lot then? He would take care of the bloody and thankless work while the paladin took the glory? Perhaps it made a certain kind of sense. Iomedae herself was a paladin, or so the legends say. He washed himself for the second time that day letting his mind drift back into memory.
"What are they doing?" Rendel asked.
His father, a red bearded giant of a man nodded towards the figures. "What your mother told them to do I suspect. That's good. It'll teach them to fight their own battles. The fire will take care of the shambling fleshcrawlers easily enough. The bony ones on the other hand.."
Rendel's father reached by his saddle and pulled a large warhammer, hefty by any standard and tested its weight. "I'm afraid I'll have to deal with personally. They're too fast and too dangerous to let the villagers risk their lives in handling. Still, this shouldn't be too difficult, the priest had a long time to work but he was never particularly powerful."
Rendel looked on as the figures formed a complete circle around the graveyard and within moments a ring of fire encircled the graveyard as he saw the first signs of movement from within, slow shambling figures began to crawl their way through the ground and move slowly towards the fire.
"Why do the dead walk?" Rendel asked innocently.
His father sighed adn shook his head sadly. "The man your mother hanged was a cleric of Lamashtu, a mad god whom we strive against daily. The townsfolk didn't know their priest as anything but a humble man and by all accounts he was good for the town. In truth if he hadn't... done things to that girl he may never have caught my or your mother's notice. He may yet have a spot of revenge though. He turned all those bodies he put into ground into the walking dead to come out and avenge him upon his death. If your mother had not gleaned that information from him I deeply suspect we would not be so fortunate as have the town rally to defend themselves so easily."
Rendel looked on for a few more seconds before he heard his father detach somethign from his belt and felt the hard leather of the scabbard touch his arm. Reaching up he saw his father handing down his personal sword.
"This won't do me much good down there, I have somethign a bit more suitable. Now watch carefully. This is how men crush nightmares."
With a kick the horse exploded downhill and into the battle. As rendel watched bony figures started to claw their way out of the tombs.
Finishing his second wash of the day he wandered into the home in time for kendra to drop her veneer of total security. He crossed his arms and bit back harsh words simply allowing her to finish. He had questions but was interrupted by the knock at the door.
He watched the scholarly mans display in mild amusement though he was starting to lose his patience. His gaze turned to the other man. He took note of their appearance, and their timing. Debating whether he should leave them be, kill them on the spot, or put them to interrogation.
Perception
Sense Motive
He is currently wearing a well-kept scholar's robe bearing the crest of what you may or may not recognize as Lepidstadt University. He seems to be freshly washed and groomed, and his face shows earnest concern.
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Kendra looks at the group and offers a little in the way of explanation.
"Oh, this is... uummm... Mr. Vaghn der Grafft of Lepidstadt University, a colleague of my father. We studied together. I do not know the other man, but I presume he is a friend?"
With that, Kendra studies the other man briefly before shutting the door and inviting them in.
"Please, join the others. We were just discussing the strange occurrences that have taken place here when you arrived.."
"Name's Giles," he said, pushing his way through to find a comfortable chair. Giles was in his mid to late thirties, stood at six feet tall and has a thin build. He brushed a hand across his short dark brown with grey flecks, before reaching into the pocket of his blue and black overcoat for a silver flask. "Giles de Savorie," he repeated his full name and took a swing of the contents of the flask. "Yes, that Giles; privileged company, no doubt." He didn't really expand on his comment, but it was rather clear (at least to him) that he was often known by name.
"Knew Prof from way back; used to work for him in fact." He took another sip from the flask. "And what's this I hear about fire and wolves? Legs back at the inn was mentioning some sort of racket this morning."
It is with regrets that Torthen has to bury bodies, wolves as they may be, and give them such an unpleasant burial at that. Here he does indeed assist in the placing of spare dirt back into the hole, from which he expertly carved. He utters a prayer of sorts after the burial, noting that Rendel has done the same - though the dwarf had not participated in the skinning of the beasts. It wasn't right, in his mind.
When they had been brought to food and drink, he was more than eager to accept, since he had worked up an appetite to boot. Even when newcomers walked in the door, he kept on eating his meal calmly, slowly, as if savoring every bite though it were a gift nature.
He gave a solemn nod to the newcomers, and put a fresh fruit into his maw, keen on enjoying every bit of this meal, as though it were his last. After all, it wasn't as though he asked for thanks for any of his assistance - merely hoping they knew that he felt some way about how the wolves acted - and then, began to theorize.
It is with regrets that Torthen has to bury bodies, wolves as they may be, and give them such an unpleasant burial at that. Here he does indeed assist in the placing of spare dirt back into the hole, from which he expertly carved. He utters a prayer of sorts after the burial, noting that Rendel has done the same - though the dwarf had not participated in the skinning of the beasts. It wasn't right, in his mind.
When they had been brought to food and drink, he was more than eager to accept, since he had worked up an appetite to boot. Even when newcomers walked in the door, he kept on eating his meal calmly, slowly, as if savoring every bite though it were a gift nature.
He gave a solemn nod to the newcomers, and put a fresh fruit into his maw, keen on enjoying every bit of this meal, as though it were his last. After all, it wasn't as though he asked for thanks for any of his assistance - merely hoping they knew that he felt some way about how the wolves acted - and then, began to theorize.
1d20+7
Rendel, covered up to his elbows in dirt and gore helps torthen shovel the dirt back into the pit the skins of the wolves drying nearby in the sun. They worked silently before Rendel cut into Torthen's thoughts.
"These wolves didn't attack us out of hunger, fear, or malice." Rendel said. "In fact, I don't think they were truly alive to begin with. Their eyes..."
Rendel trailed off giving the dwarf time to see for himself.
Torthen nods firmly at the words of the inquisitor. He considers it deeply, and before he realizes it, he's backtracking to the combat not long past. He is not quite as clean as the paladin, but he has less bloodshed on him than the inquisitor.
"Aye, lad. Now that ye mention it, Ah can recall a look o' some greater work. Per'aps they're not so much wolves as much as they were servants of some arcanist, or worse, per'aps a blighter."
He lets his words ring, and looks to him firmly, a serious tone over his features.
"If it be a blighter, Ah warn ye now - they are as powerful as those of my calling, only they taint th' land rather than cure. If that's what it is, Ah recommend we focus our efforts on rootin' it out, if ye catch my drift."
** spoiler omitted **
Tharnik has revealed little of himself, but I harbor no ill will to a man who admits his sins and defends women.
Madeline is strange but her companion... he does not eat sleep or beathe. And for certain he does not bleed."
After doing her best with what she has left of her travelling gear at fixing both hers and Smith's attire, Madeline straightens her scarf (Smith mirrors his Mistresses actions) and returns to the company down stairs.
Wincing only slightly as she puts weight upon her twisted ankle (From being nibbled upon by the Wolf). She smiles to the two new comers as she moves slowly across to be seated.
"Well met, kind sirs." She says to them with a slight smile. "But I fear things are moving to some one else's pace. This figure that people saw along with the strange wolf attack, plus the tale of the late professors....passing." She pauses as she settles her own emotions.
"I think we must all compare notes and try and see how much information we do have between us all..." She finishes looking to Kendra with an expression that perhaps she should begin.
Vaghn's smile becomes somewhat confused. "Er, well met fraulein, herren. I am afraid you have me at a bit of a disadvantage. I had heard that the estate was attacked by wolves this morning. Most peculiar behavior, that. Is there aught else amiss? Oh, look at me, how rude. My apologies. As the gracious Lady Kendra said, I am Vaghn der Grafft, pleasure to meet you all. I take it you were all friends and associates of the dear, departed Professor? Perhaps then you all might be interested in a venture I have in mind, with your permission of course, Kendra, something to honor our late friend and mentor?"
"Well met friends. Introduction all round I think. The tall quiet man is Rendal, the person enjoying the apple is Torthen, that's Tharnik in the corner, he did an excellent job fighting off the wolves, my name is Creel, and just coming down the stairs is the lovely Madeline and her manservant Mr.Smith."
"We are all associated with the late professor in one way or another. Indeed we are here at his request, but we can go into that later. What is this venture you mentioned?"