Kingmaker: The Stolen Lands [Gestalt]

Game Master Æroden

Arvangail also smiled at he could image Valisia walking in the bandit's camp and making that "generous" offer

"The bandit camp has been... I can't think of a word, we have already taken care of the bandit problem in this area. The Stag Lord and his underlings are dead or working off time at Oleg's. Then we follow the path." Krazok says as he looks to his right and left obviously trying to remember something. "We should have had Selena come with us she knows of the groups happenings before me."

Yes that is all true Krazok but unfortunatly she isn't. So onward it is he says

The group heads out down the trail, Florian makes sure the group knows about upcoming traps from the marked trees on the way. Between Blienka and Krazok they stop each other and pointing out the traps to each other before one of them stumbles into one.

The group passes over the Thorn river where some stones seem to be placed in strategic spots to cross. Your group finds three pits traps and four dead falls. The last one appears to have already been sprung, you find it on the South side of the Thorn river, yes you cross it again.

The hunter seems to have overstepped his skill and was pinned to the ground by several large logs when his half-completed trap collapsed on him. Out in the open likely the hunter's hatchet is stuck in the stump of a tree a few feet from his dead body’s outstretched arm, the hand axe appears to be of good craftsmanship.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

Almost as soon as she sees the longs piled upon the man, she notices the rope.
I don't think that this was an accident of any sort. Look at the rope. Someone appears to have either cut it while he was building his horrid trap, or possibly before if he was that unobservant. As a trapper, I doubt he would have been that neglectful as to have not checked his rope. Thus, it appears we have a murderer somewhere. The questions is, who is the murderer, and why did they decide to kill this hunter?

"The word you're thinking of, Krazok, is 'neutralized'. And even if they have been neutralized, it seems they were not the only mischief maker in the woods. We must be cautious."

Florian shares the map findings with the others,

"A stealthy foe is indeed a dangerous one, we should stick to travelling in pairs should we split up again, the foe may be watching us as we speak here and now. I am no stranger to close combat should it come to that, however my wilderness skills are lacking."

Looking around as if he could find the hidden foe.

"Neutra... neu-tra-lized?" He cocks his head at the word then continues on the line of thinking of the group. "I am sure we can handle any simple murderer." Krazok says as he hefts his great axe, the blood on the blade slipping off and landing on the ground beside him.

"Now that we have spent several hours on finding these traps, should we spend the rest of the day exploring this region? Yes we should stay at least in twos if not more." He asks the group then looks at Arvangail at the end.

He walks over to the hatchet and pulls it free, in a more jovial manner he asks, "Anyone have use of this hatchet? Otherwise I will add it to my armory."

Valisia waves her tiny hand. "I have no need of it, although it might make a handy tool for wood cutting."

Blienka nods in agreement:
While I am no druid, I have some experience in the wild. I agree that we should stay in twos. However, I wonder who or what cut that rope.

She goes over and carefully examines the rope. Does it appear to have been cut with a single hack? Slowly sliced as though by a smaller or weaker creature? Was the blade serrated? Rusty? Sharp?

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30 <-- if there is another applicable skill, please let me know
I guess that is the end of my good rolls. For some reason this does not seem like the most opportune time to be wasting double natural-20s.

Looking to Arvangail,

"Where do we head to now?

"You have the right of it, Krazok, but one who would murder an honest trapper, perhaps even stalked him for some time, waiting for the right moment like this, presents more than just the normal problems of needing to be handled. We can only hope to outwit him before he attacks us, perhaps at night, and slays us in the most dishonorable way possible.

I've no feelings against continuing to explore, but I trust to Arvangail to know what is best."

As he can't tell if anyone did so, Imrael will check the body of the woodsman.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

After carefully examining the severed rope, Blienka returns to the others.
The murder is not human, or likely even humanoid. It appears as though something very small bit through the rope.

We continue exploring forward. We Might find some more information on who did this

"Did you see tracks Blienka, or maybe feathers or something that would give us an idea of what to be looking for?"

Nodding to Arvangail,

"Let us move on from this place then and placate the area."

Knowledge(nature): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Blienka shakes her head:
Not sure. If any of you can identify the teeth perhaps. Whatever, or whoever, it is, it is not very big. There are fey about, I suppose one of them could have malevolent intentions toward this trapper. Or, perhaps it was the trapper who was harming fey, and the fey decided to take the law into their own hands.

Valisia scoots over and examines the severed line to see if she can deduce anything about how it may have been bitten.

She then scours the area around it, to see if she notices anything new or unusual, perhaps a track or other clue or something dropped.

Knowledge Nature: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

No tracks and no feathers were found in the area.

-----

20th day of (March), Food for 11 so far... so 5 rations left from the foraging. Exploring Area F.

The group stays in groups of at least two and explores the region. The Thorn river coils around in this region and even starts in a clear pool about 50 feet in radius. The forest is much cooler than out in the plains and the cloak around your shoulder's might not be enough to keep the chill off your back. A light drizzle starts up halfway through the day and comes and goes for a few hours. At the end of the day you have seen the traps multiple times and the river but luckily no threats. Some deer and much wildlife.

Which way do you want to explore tomorrow? B or E? Everyone for my sake please tell about your attire and such, before I assume that everyone has a hat or such article of clothing.

Valisia wears a traveller's outfit. Knee high boots, woolen skirt and woolen shirt, covered by her chain shirt. Hooded cloak.

Blienka wears colorful light clothing. It looks good, but does not constrain her movement. It is also fairly rugged, as she spends much time in the wild.

Looking at the map, Blienka confers with the others.
Lets head northwest next. Pointing at the hex marked B. Then we can proceed west before returning back to the south. This way we will completely cover this area and not have to return at a later date, at least not to map it out as we are now.

Blienka is good with moving slower to get food if necessary.

Florian wears tan, brown and grey heavy silken clothing, light boots

"It would be wise to forage as we travel if there is no reason to move quickly, I would like to learn some of your tricks as we go too."

I may want to pick up some ranger levels at some point so I am trying RP that in case I do

Imrael wears a full-length multi-layered robe of purest white, and often has the hood up to cover his bald pate. He habitually casts 'prestidigitation' to keep it spotless.

"That is a fine plan, Blienka."

21st and 22nd day of (March), Food for 5 still on hand. Exploring Area B. The group will take 2 days to explore it while foraging. Survival checks please.

Your group finishes exploring the forest but before leaving Imrael finds his hood being tossed back, with no apparent reason why. A moment later Valisia's hat pulls free of her head and soars away landing on a branch 15 feet off the ground.

Then venture out into the plains once more. The great expanse of plains with a few rolling hills and a few small groves of trees spotting the horizon. These groves could be explored but nothing of interest can be seen from a distance.

Survival for foraging: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Krazok finds a deer and takes it down with one of his javelins before it gets away. First he takes a few good bites then lets his Axebeak enjoy the neck and skull of the beast.

Bringing 6 equivalent rations to the group.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

As the group leaves the forest he looks around confused concerning the movement around him. He growls out, "What is this all about?! Who is giggling?" He looks to the small one in their party then recognizes it is not her. Then he slowly growls out looking at the forest floor, "Sly where ye be at?"

The little green yellow lizard zips up, he appears to have some red stuff on his lips which he quickly licks off. In his sqeaky little voice he pipes up, "I be here, what you want?"

Arvangail is wearing sturdy but well made clothes, mostly in the green / brow colors

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

I hear wings flapping also. Kinda faerie size i would say

Valisia tries to help out with foraging.

survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

"Look, this mud might be edible."

Later...

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

As her pony wanders amiably along, Valisia nods in and out of sleep. Scarcely noticing her hat gone missing. Technically I don't think she has a hat, just a hood, but that could be flipped back, or I can go with she has(had) a hat :) "Whaa? hmmm?"

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18
Survival: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

Blienka also hears the muffled giggling, but is more interested in finding secluded places where nature's beauty has not be destroyed by the ravages of man or beast.

When Krazok and Arv begin to speak, she looks about, suddenly realizing that she two heard the muffled giggles.

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

"Eh? What are you people on about? There must be some blasted wind in this forest," he says, putting his hood up again.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

"Come to think of it I think I heard some giggling also, what do you suppose is playing these jokes out in this forest?"

Looking to Blienka as he asks.

Knowledge(nature): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
--> any clue what might be playing jokes and laughing?

For those who can hear the giggling it continues as Imrael's hood quickly slips back again.

You did say that Valisia has a traveler's outfit which has a hat included right? Your choice play it either way.
So the group has 12 equvalent in rations from the foraging, after the two days there is no more excess.

"Well it is not Sly, what did you say we have something up above?" He asks as he looks above in the trees. Waraxe held in one hand and resting on his shoulder, blocking the bit of sun with his other hand as he looks up.

reverting to common some tiny faery of sorts i'll wager he replied to Krazok before reverting back to Sylvan and addressing them again

You don't necessarily have to show yourselves, but since i know you are there you don't mind answering me ? We are just travelers looking to explore this area

Hmm traveller's outfits don't come with a hat that I can see, but she is of gnomish culture and heritage, and gnomes love hats, so I will say she has a stylish hat. :)

Grumbling, Valisia notices her hat laying on a bush. She stops her pony and dismounts to retrieve it. Listening to the others it seems clear now there are some mischievous entities in the forest.

Valisia takes her small rubber ball from her pouch, and bounces it off of a tree. "Yooohoooo! I sure wish there were some people around who liked to have fun as much as I do....." She also takes her set of marbles and places them in a flat rock or stump, shining in a beam of sunlight. so sparkly and enticing.

Not much value to them, but they sure are shiny and cool looking..

She bounces her ball off of a further tree...

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Imrael notices nothing and automatically puts his hood back up. Assuming that the wind that keeps knocking it back is also making him dirty, cassts prestidigitation on his already spotless robe.

Never having been one for jewelry, preferring the more natural artistic talents of people and nature, Blienka reaches into her pouch, which is carefully concealed beneath her clothing, and takes out 10 gold pieces. She walks over to a large rock and sets the coins down.

She then calls out in Sylvan.
Please come out. We would like to talk. I know you mean us no harm, and am hopeful that we can be friends.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23 <-- plus any bonus for the coins

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

*Cast Dancing Lights*

Moving the lights between all the baubles and trinkets

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Arvangail feels a slight tug on one of his sleeves. When he moves to see what it is, nothing is there to see or feel.

Even moreso Valisia since your hat is 15 feet up in a tree, hanging on a thin branch.

A shrill sound can be heard coming from the ground and then a bubble forms near Arvangail's head. Either he pops it or it slowly descends and pops with a small friendly voice saying, "We are watching."

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Imrael sighs, clearly unable to perceive whatever there is to be...perceived. "Am I to gather that there is some invisible trickster floating about us? Alas, but it does not seem interested in talking to us. Perhaps if we carry on it will leave us alone?"

"Or perhaps it will drop a tree on us or worse, I think we should discover this creature before serious harm befalls us as did the ranger, I am sure he was familiar with these creatures and may have thought the same thing."

Valisia retrieves her hat with Mage Hand, and secures it in her belongings. She leaves the marbles and gets back on her pony seeing as no one came to greet her.

So rude

Then the same small voice comes from the bushes, "Ye be not bandits nor that nasty hunter, we will see you again when you back in forest."

Very well replied arvangail to the invisible Fae. We shall continue our exploration of the area and leave you be he concluded smiling

Blink calls out to the voice, hopefully before it completely disappears.
Why do you call the hunter nasty? What did he do?

No response comes at least from the invisible fey...

survival check DC 10: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

"Blienka most trappers would leave a sign of some kind to alert explorers or other trappers that a trap is near or below the signal. That trapper left the traps in a malicious way likely to harm two legged folk as much as any beast." Krazok says as he spits on the ground. "Let's be off, these must be the fey I have encountered before. They are good humored if not always playing pranks."

agreed krazok.

Blienka nods in understanding,
Yes. If the trapper was seeking to harm, and not just catch animals for his own needs, then I see no problem with his death. This is a lawless land, and it sounds as though justice was brought down upon him.

Lets map this hex, and then move to the next unmapped hex, A I think.