Kingmaker (Inactive)

Game Master Dreaming Warforged

I’m hoping that it is several days travel away.

Lord Numesti nods at Kalsgrim and quickly organizes the soldiers to take away the barbarians and imprison them, while he assigns a few reliable soldiers to gathering the loot and locking it back in the keep's coffers.

While this is going on, the lot of you regroup and can discuss on the next course of actions. You know that about six Tiger Lords have fled, but without any obvious loot. You do not know where they are heading.

Other reminders: you found keys on Drelev, one of which opened a secret compartment under the throne. Pavetta threw herself off her bedroom's window. The Drelev kids lay dead and you promised to save them shortly. The soldiers seem to have decided to follow Numesti's orders, but Pavetta's suicide clearly shook them.

Looking over at Raveneau as he accepts the surrender of the remaining barbarians, Kriger gives a nod of agreement before turning his attention to the smaller Tiger Lord. "I'm impressed. Some of you actually have brains," he says with a wry grin as he sheaths his axe.

Kalsgrim then asks Kriger "I saw where those fleeing Tiger Lords went into the wilds. Could you track them quickly and reliably in this terrain, enough to catch up to them? I think we should try to question these that surrendered so we can whisk ahead before the escapees reach their base."

Shrugging, "Tracking them is no problem, Chief. But shouldn't we should find the children that are being held hostage. 'Cause I gotta admit... kinda ticks me off I haven't found 'em yet. I should've easily already found 'em by now as far as I'm concerned." He looks off into the distance, losing himself in thought a moment before shaking himself free from his reverie. "But if you need me to find 'em for you I can do it," he nods.

"I would agree that securing the now is worth more than pursuit at the moment. But a few evaded us... and a few can do little against this fortification prepared."

To clarify, and make sure no one is lost with the many options.

Short term: you have Pavetta who threw herself from the window and six or so barbarians that have just fled to the forest.

Medium term: you have the keep and everything in it to organize and explore.

Long term (because you have to leave the keep for a longer period of time): you have the group of barbarians who left with hostages, though you're not clear where they went, and that was many days ago.

Satisfied that Numesti is taking care of the prisoners and the treasure, Kalsgrim turns to the more immediate.

"We have much to do here still; if we cannot find clues to the location of the Tiger Lord's home among the duke's effects or questioning the captured, then we will resort to tracking those that fled. If we can find where they are, then perhaps Malswyn's deity can whisk us there ahead of them. If we leave to chase them now, conditions here at the fort may deteriorate rapidly."

Kalsgrim takes a cloak from one of the fallen Tiger Lords (hopefully one that's not too bloody). He goes to where Pavetta lies. He straightens her into a more dignified position and covers her with the cloak. He'll flag down Numesti and say "Does the fort have a crypt, or a basement that could serve as a crypt? Despite their betrayal, the duke and his wife did found this outpost of civilization and I think they should be interred here with dignity. Can you join us in the keep when you think you have things in hand?"

Then back to the heroes "We should go into the keep and check it out. We will want to have the children isolated until we can bring them back. I meant what I said about fostering them in Providence."

When Kalsgrim reaches the place where Pavetta fell, there is no sign of her.

In fact, there is no sign of someone having stepped here recently.

A sense of panic washes over Kalsgrim. He waves to the other heroes to follow him, and races inside the keep. He bounds up the stairs towards the throne room.

Kalsgrim is thinking her suicide was a magical ruse, and he is trying to get upstairs before evidence or information can be removed or destroyed.

Pavetta's room is empty. On the floor lie a few empty flasks. They radiate faint traces of the magic that was once stored in them.

A closer look reveals a few suspiciously empty spots in the room's furniture. Someone took things from them. In particular, her jewels are gone. There is also a secret compartment, located in the wall under her bed, lying open with a small key still in its lock.

"You mean to tell me she faked her own death? You've gotta be kidding me," he says, sounding annoyed that she still lives. Finding the compartment, Kriger turns the key to find out what is inside.

The compartment lays empty. It is likely that Pavetta took whatever was in there with her.

"If Pavetta relied on potions to fake her death, they she probably does not know how to cast wizardly spells, or channel godly power. She would have to escape on foot, most likely. Kriger, can you check outside the fort for tracks? Hers would obviously be much different than the Tiger Lords."

Kalsgrim again finds Numesti.

"Pavetta faked her death and fled. Do you know where she may have gone? Or the route she might have taken to get out of the fort?"

"We underestimated her. We will not do so again."

Malaswyn heads straight to the children and checks on them.
Let's hope she has not harmed them.

The older warrior looks at Kalsgrim with uncertain eyes: "She- She's gone?! But we saw her..."

He thinks a bit then adds: "Pavetta's brother is- was a wizard, so I'm not sure what she knows or not. Have you found a spellbook in her room? In any case, wizard or not, I know her for a shrewd schemer. She will likely go find a court where she can reestablish her status..."

He pauses a moment then sighs and say: "And cause you pain. She relishes vengeance."

Meanwhile, Malaswyn checks on the children, which are exactly where he had left them.

Raveneau shrugs, adding his two cents "Should have given her an iron chance or seen her ended... though a hunt might stir the blood" before looking to assist Kriger in any attempt to discern track or sign of her flight.

It takes a while to search an area as wide as the fort’s surroundings. However, despite his incredible tracking skills, Kriger cannot find tracks for Pavetta, suggesting the noblewoman flew or teleported out.

On the other hand, the ranger easily finds the set of tracks of the fleeing barbarians.

Compartment
"Whatever was in here she got that too. Stinking witch. I can tell you right now there will be no faking her next death," he vows.

Tracks
Shaking his head, "Nothing. Absolutely nothing. She must've flown outta here. But on the bright side, we found the tracks of those chicken barbarians," he nods, grinning victoriously.

Compartment

"She has probably gone to side with the Tiger Lord leaders, then. If something in that compartment showed where they are based, she certainly took it. We need to go through the duke's papers and maps, looking for anything that will tell us where they are. If we are going to have any chance of beating those that fled back, we need to be able to magic our way past them."

After they start searching...

"Mal, let's see if we can get one of these Tiger Lords that surrendered to us to talk." Mal, can you aid Kal's diplomacy and give us a second sense motive check to see if he's lying to us if he responds?

Kalsgrim stalks down to where the prisoners are being held. He isolates one of them that looks less defiant than the others somewhere out of earshot of the other cells.

"You know that the Tiger Lords have been working with monstrous forces, things that are dishonorable, and as likely to turn on the Tiger Lords as continue to aid them. Your leader has been dealing with dark forces, the blackest of magics. If you tell us what we need to know, we can free to Tiger Lords from this darkness, and they can resume their previous glory. Tell us where to find the prisoners that were taken. When we've dealt with the black forces that offend us all, we can work out a way for the Tiger Lords and this town to stay strong without preying on each other."

Diplomacy 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (1) + 23 = 24, add 2 if Mal can aid his roll.

Ugh. Might have to isolate a second one and try the same speech. If that roll fails and a second one is an option, here's a roll for it.

Diplomacy 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (8) + 23 = 31, add 2 if Mal can aid his roll.

Hmm. How many surrendered, exactly? :P

Malaswyn has a +18 to diplomacy so aid another is automatic. He will also cast the enhanced diplomacy orison each time, so +4 to each check.

With Kriger

Raveneau sighs and shrugs his shoulders "A pity... though one imagines our paths will cross once more."

The barbarian is pugnacious, but the paladin's words sway him enough and he says: "You're looking for Armag and the Sisters. They have the prisoners with them. They left some time ago to find some kind of ancient tomb. The Sisters said Armag would return a god and lead us to victory! You'll see when he returns. You'll see!"

You can keep asking him questions if you want. We can assume all of you are there.

?

Sorry, the post from 11/7 didn't show up for me.

Yes, let's assume that all of us are there for this, in case anyone else has some good questions.

"Where would they be holding the hostages? And who are 'the Sisters'?"

We should find out where the hostages are being taken too.

The barbarian looks at Kalsgrim lwith disdain: ”I just said they went looking for a tomb. They didn’t know where it was. That’s why they went looking for it!?”

From defiant, his tone turns fearful as he says: ”Now the Sisters, they’re priestesses of Gyronna. They are into nasty businesses, and we all stayed clear of the tower where Drelev had put them... You would do well to do the same. They were powerful and cruel. They’ll kill you and all the ones you care about if you mess with their plans.””[/b]

"Does Armag now serve the Sisters? Does he pursue this tomb instead of leading his people when they need him?" Kalsgrim shakes his head in disgust.

"The Tiger Lords that fled here, where would they have gone? Where would they have taken the hostages?"

The barbarian grows once more defiant: ”Armag is leading his people to glory. Soon he will return as a god and kill the lot of you! The Sisters are his allies.”

He calms down a bit and answers the second question: ”I don’t know. We got the word to get out fast. That’s it. They’re either heading south or they’ll try to find Armag in the hills.”

Raveneau stands to one side and listens, features even and unconcerned. To attempt to provoke an outburst he says overloud as an aside "A pity we only kept the least of them, this one is clearly but a follower"

With Kriger

Raveneau sighs and shrugs his shoulders "A pity... though one imagines our paths will cross once more."

Previously

Currently
"Yeah this one's no help. Sounds like to me we track these barbarians and get the information from them. Or kill 'em. Or both. I'm fine with either," he nods as a matter of fact. "And me and Rave found the tracks so I say we move out and catch these scum."

"Maybe Numasti can find out some local knowledge about these Sisters?"

I don't mind a hunt, but Mal is low on spells now. How wild is the local wilderness?

When asked about the Sisters, Numesti can only confirm what the barbarian had mentioned: ”Yeah, they were bad news. No one dared go near their tower.” and he points the north tower as he speaks.

”Strange noises came from the tower at night. Freaked everyone: militia and Tigers the same.”

Raising an eyebrow in intrigue, "Orrrr we can check out this tower. That sounds like a problem that needs taking care of. Plus... now I'm curious."

"Yes. And if the Sisters are helping find this tomb, there may be more about it there. We should move on it quickly. Let's find somewhere to lay the Drelev youth and explore the tower. And we may want to check the rest of the keep for clues as well."

”Is anyone in need of Sarenrae’s healing before we go on?”

Raveneau shakes his hed and answers "I can turn to the dance again as needs be. Shall we to the tower?"

The northern tower looks rather grim. It is squat and barely rises above the battlements. From the courtyard, an iron reinforced door, standing four feet tall and almost four feet wide, guards its entrance.

Kalsgrim makes sure Numesti has what he needs to work on restoring the keep's operations. We'll make sure the children are locked in a room that only Numesti would have the keys for (the duke's chambers, maybe?).

When those points are addressed, we will gather in front of the Sisters' tower.

"I think we are ready, then. We can work out more details on what we are going to do after we see if there is anything to be learned from the Sisters. Remember, any sort of documents or maps that might lead us to Tiger Lord camps or where the Sisters are searching for this tomb are vital. Kriger, lead us in."

Malaswyn knocks an arrow to his bow.

As you move towards the tower, you can see that it seems more ancient than the rest of the fort. It probably was integrated into the battlements when they built the fort. Its walls are made of greyish bricks. The tower has a square plan and rises three levels upwards, with few narrow windows further barred with metal grids.

Marching order as you enter the tower? Kriger, Raveneau, Kalsgrim, then Malaswyn? Malaswyn, is your guardian still there?

Only hr/lvl buffs are still active.

No, it’s gone.

Nodding, "Let's move." As they make their way to the door, Kriger checks to see if it's locked and/or trapped.

Take 10 for 38. Unless I have to roll then... Perception: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (4) + 28 = 32

Kriger finds nothing amiss, but the door is locked.

And none of your keys fit the lock. It appears as though the Sisters kept their keys with them.

"It is fine if we make some noise going in, and break down the door. The garrison should know that we are clearing out the Sisters' influence here. But be wary of alerted guardians."

I don't think we have any disablers amongst us.

You make short work of the door, despite its iron reinforcing, but as Kriger pushes what's left of the door to cross the threshold, green crackling energy courses through his arm.

Kriger: Will save please.

If it is against fear or charm, Kal's presence gives you a +4 morale bonus to the save.

Ok, I'll it into account if it applies. All of you can roll spellcraft.

"What in the blazes...," Will: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15 Ah crud.

A dark whisper is heard, a female voice, angry and filled with pent up violence, sends a shiver up your spine.

Though you cannot make out the words, you know it for one of the dark tongues.

Kriger's knees buckle from underneath him. He waxes pale and greenish as he stands on all four; a rare sight.

Beyond, the light of day filters through the thick air to light the room and reveal a barren squat with two scrawny bedrolls and a wide candle half-eaten by rats. The smell is musty and musky. A wooden staircase leads upstairs, another downstairs.

spellcraft: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (7) + 16 = 23