Leinathan's Motteditor's Kingmaker PBP (Inactive)

Game Master leinathan

Agnar calls down Erastil's blessing on you as you set to work on the tree, Orin's first two arrows slamming into it, though the shafts seem to do minimal damage. It's got some DR

Spike races forward right after the arrows, his lance slamming into the creature's trunk, but his presence throwing off Kereek's aim and sending a flaming blast into the sky I think he should have a -4 due to firing into melee, as silly as that sounds with the tree being so much bigger, and that ends up as a miss even with Agnar's bless.

As Treshiell flies upward, the tree lashes out at Prazil and Spike with its scythe-like branches. The kobold's armor is able to turn two of the attacks as he deftly maneuvers the small dinosaur out of the way of a third branch.

Orin rushes up to the tree, pulling his sword as he goes. Once he gets along side the trunk he hacks with his blade, like a lumberjack.
attack roll: 1d20 + 12 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 12 - 2 = 11
...and completely misses the huge tree

Round 2, initiative 9
ac 11, touch 11, fleet-footed 14
fort +2, ref +2, will +5
cmd 13
hp 35/35
effects: fly (2/10), bless

Treshiell floats forward towards the tree by some unseen force while weaving a curse with her arcane abilities.

Move towards the tree
If I’m able to get within 30ft I’ll use Evil eye hex (will DC17) to give the tree a -2 penalty to its AC.

Prazil muses as he and Spike enter into mortal combat with the tall tree, "Hmmm. Prazil should get ax for trees. Lance am not good for chopping."

Mwk Lance: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23for: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Spike Gore: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12for: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

If Spike is hit during the combat round: Mounted Combat: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (6) + 20 = 26

Everyone gets a +2 circumstance bonus to hit the tree while Prazil threatens it in melee!

Kereek swears in Draconic as the fiery ray goes wide. He narrows his eyes and fires again! Scorching Ray: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 6 - 4 = 17 for 4d6 + 4 ⇒ (4, 1, 6, 4) + 4 = 19 fire damage!

Kereek, don't forget the +2 you get for Prazil being awesome and in melee with the tree! (though a 17 is probably enough to hit a mostly inanimate and large-sized tree =P)

Agnar watches the tree thrashing at his companions with a worried look.

"Should have brought the flamin' lumberjacks with us," he mutters. The he chants out the words of another spell. Sacred bond cast. Agnar can now cast any healing spell on Orin as if the spell had a range of 40 ft.

Agnar casts his spell as Orin rushes forward, ducking under a swipe from the tree's limbs.

Prazil smacks the tree again with his lance, but it seems to have no noticeable effect, unlike Kereek's flaming ray, which causes the thing to scream horribly, the seeming scar opening up to reveal a horrid mouth.

It seems to completely ignore Treshiell's hex as it rushes by the trio clustered around it toward Kereek, a wicked branch lashing out toward the small kobold, coming within inches of the sorcerer's head.
Orin and Prazil can get attacks of opportunity.

Kereek stumbles back as the branch whips past him. He begins chanting, casting as carefully as he can to avoid the tree's whipping branches! Cast Defensively: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19 attempting a scorching ray!

He gets the spell off, firing it at the tree! 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 7 - 4 = 12 for 4d6 + 4 ⇒ (4, 4, 3, 5) + 4 = 20 damage!

The tree screams once more as another flaming blast hits it before it falls over, most definitely making a noise.

Anti-climactic combat over...

"I would appreciate it if you turned that thing into cinders" Orin says to Kereek before going to his saddle and removing his shovel. Orin will spend the rest of the afternoon digging a mass grave for those bodies fallen around the tree. Once he's finished he will drag the remains over to the pit, keeping an eye out for anything of note or value.
Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20
Once all the remains are covered with dirt Orin will ask Agnar to say a few words over the grave.

You find in the ground where the tree had been rooted: 3 pieces of amber worth 100 gp each, a folded up bundle of cloth, a horn apparently made of a bull's horn, 42 cp, 55 sp, 6 gp, and simple a silver ring.

The horn and cloth -- which turns out to be a robe -- radiate magic.

Kereek nods in agreement, now watching the other trees carefully to see if any display signs of evil. He takes the time to burn the tree, carefully tending the fire and watching the other trees to make sure that they don't sneak up on the party.

Agnar assists with the remains, pronouncing a prayer for the departed once they are done. He'll take the time to ensure that the burning remains of the tree are buried and don't pose a fire hazard to the rest of the woods before moving on.

Prazil meanders about the clearing with Spike, helping when and where he can but largely spends his time trying to stay out of the others' way. "Are there more evil trees like this in Hartsland? Prazil was not knowing of such trees. We should be stopping them all if there am more."

Knowledge (nature) Check: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Agnar might tell Prazil about the evil tree and whether there would be more, or he just might nod sagely and offer a tidbit or two while someone who rolls better does so.

Kereek clears his throat and leans in close, his eyes narrowed. "Maybe all trees am evil! Maybe them only wait for us to be making misttep, then BAM!" He claps his hands loudly together. "Them am eating us up!"

In the absence of actual knowledge, always assume the worst.

While the group is cleaning up Treshiell spends her time studying the tree, the items and the nearby area. Once finished she sits crosslegged next to the trunk singing.

Knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21 (if applicable)
Knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21 (if applicable)

Spellcraft to identify the horn: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21
Spellcraft to identify the robe: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30

Knowledge (nature):: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

Orin listens to Agnar's explanations and interjects where he can, but doesn't overall add anything to the conversation. "Not all trees are evil, Kereek. Most trees are just...trees, there are even some good tree creatures in the forest."

You think the tree was a single plant monster, but there are no signs of any others around.

You believe the horn is a horn of goodness/evil, while the robe appears to be a robe of bones.

Once everyone is ready Orin will mount up and get ready to ride back to the Dryad's grove. "We should get back to Tiressia's grove as soon as possible. The sooner we get those tree tokens the sooner we can get those men out from under the nixie's thrall"

"We should be watching for more evil trees too! There am so many trees in Hartsland... bad ones could be hiding in many, many places!"

Kereek nods at Orin's words and mounts Pork Chop, ready to head back to the dryad's tree.

As you return to the dryad's grove, she greets you with excitement, clapping in joy.

"You did it!" she cries, before you even have a chance to say anything. "Thank the leaves, you did it!"

She hands over the tokens, as you agreed to.

"Also, please, I insist you take these too, as a sign of our gratitude," she says, handing over three potions, a scroll and a wand.

3 potions of cure moderate wounds, a scroll of summon nature’s ally II and a wand of cure light wounds (26 charges)

"How many of you are there? Do you govern in any way?" Treshiell asks the dryad.

"There are many fey in the forest, but we don't rule them. Still, we talk. And since you were so helpful, we can return the favor! If we hear of any threats in the Narlmarches, we will let you know so you can deal with them," she says.

This grants a +2 bonus to their nation’s Stability.

"That is good to hear. Tell me, Tiressia, what do you know about the troll Hargulka?"

1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

"I've heard of him," she says after thinking for a few moments, "but never met him. He has few dealings, I think, with my kind and we have little interest in more."

"Good to know, and thank you for these. We hope to work out an arrangement so that our people can still garner the timber we need while causing as little trouble to your folk as we can. I was thinking a sign or mark to put on the important trees--like the ones we're replacing with these--that will let our folk know not to touch them. If you could help with this, it would be much appreciated."

Treshiell looks at the dryad intently. "Few means some. Tell me, what did he want from you? If he or his kind entered the forest, would you know?"

Treshiell is ready to move back and hand the seeds over to the water lady

Prazil watches the big folk chat with the willowy wood-lady. At the mention of the troll-king, he sits upright in his saddle and looks around, as if the troll might show up at the mention of his name. When it seems clear no trolls are storming the grove, he settles back down and pats Spike on the head.

Orin nods to the Dryad "That is very kind of you. As Agnar has said people will be settling in these areas in the future. These people may be ignorant of your kind and may need some guidance and patience so that our peoples can get along. "

"Oh, no, we've heard of him, but haven't had any dealings ourselves. So far, he doesn't seem a bad sort, not like most trolls..." she trails off, dubiously, as if she can't believe it herself.

Arriving back at the nixie's stream, the two charmed loggers continue to stand guard, while Corax and his remaining companions look hopefully toward you.

Melianse smiles as you activate five of the tokens, new trees shooting up to fill the space created in the canopy above by the felling of the previous trees.

"Thank you," she say, smiling and gesturing toward the two loggers, who suddenly blink and look around in confusion. "As promised, you can have your stinky tree killers back."

"Yay! Everyone am good now, yes?" The plucky kobold looks hopefully from Agnar to Orin, then from Treshiell to Kereek. After a few moments he scratches his head and then looks around in mild bewilderment before asking, "Now, which trees am we for marking to not be for chopping? How am we for telling if they am evil trees or not? Evil trees should am definitely be chopped, yes?"

"An image that could be deceiving", Treshiell replies to the dryad. "If he comes, please let us know. What can you tell us about this forest?"

Kereek nods at Prazil, still watching the potentially evil trees around the wet lady's pool.

"You are worried. Why?" Treshiell asks and looks the kobold's up and down.

Kereek doesn't look away as he replies. "Trees. They am EVERYWHERE. How of trees am evil? How many am watching us RIGHT NOW?"

Treshiell looks at the kobold with her eerily still gaze, head slightly tilted. "You probably have to find answers to those questions if you want to remain safe", Treshiell tells Kereek. "Or perhaps fire will keep you safe. Trees burn. Good as well as evil. Whether they eat you or not."

So, continue the plan we had before we stumbled upon the hostage situation?

The problem seemingly solved for now, you continue exploring the area, taking several days to map the areas you rushed through en route to first the dryad and then the scythe tree.

Continuing southwest, you see a ruined, circular keep loom out of the forest, surrounded by towering, ancient trees draped with hanging moss. Four circular towers sprout from the cracked walls like the trunks of great trees, at least one crumbled into rubble. Twisting vines and thick moss cover the walls in a coat of verdant green, blending the ruins almost seamlessly into the surrounding woods. The overgrown remains of a path lead to an open, arched gateway gaping in the keep’s eastern wall, its doors long since rotted away.

"Old", Treshiell says after looking at the keep for a moment. "What did it protect who from?" she asks surveying the area.

"Kereek not know, but it make for good city one day!"

"A small city. Perhaps for kobolds. Do you build cities above ground?"

"Come into my parlor said the spider to the fly" Orin can't help feeling as he looks at the open gate. Dismounting he says to the others I'll be right back." before disappearing into the woods.
Stealth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30

As he makes his way around the keep he will look for another way in as well as for any signs of recent activity or signs of life within or around the walls.
Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 26
Survival (track): 1d20 + 10 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 10 + 3 = 18

Coming full circle he will report what he's seen to the others.

Agnar will dismount as well, drawing his bow and will await Orin's return.

Prazil misses the last of Treshiell's comment as soon as she suggests it might be a castle fit for kobolds. The Marshall of Hartsland's eyes glaze over then as his imagination is suddenly filled with visions of a renovated woodland castle manned and defended by kobolds mounted on wyverns, giant turtles, and warsheep. Kereek stands mightily atop the central battlement throwing lances of fire through the air as Prazil splits his time between tending a radish garden in the courtyard and felling trolls while astride Spike. A tiny line of drool and a soft "Ooooooo" escape his mouth as he stares doe-eyed at the dilapidated gate.

Treshiell dismounts and sneaks up beside Prazil. She places her head nexts to his and looks down the kobold's field of vision. "He is seeing something we can not", she remarks.

Orin returns from his circuit around the tower, not finding any other signs of life or activity beyond normal plants.

He does however find two possible other entrances, one a small crevice you could squeeze through to the west, the other a large hole in the wall to the south.

Combat map is updated to give you a better idea of the spaces.

Kereek smiles at Prazil, perhaps sharing his dream of a kobold citadel. "Kobolds am very adaptable! We am for making city over ground, underground, even side ground! This am good outpost for Hartland. We am exploring it now?" Kereek smiles, then slinks into the shadows to slip inside for a better look.

Stealth: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (11) + 18 = 29

Prazil shakes his head as Treshiell's words and proximity startle him out of his daydream. "Ack! Treshiell! You am sneaky and quiet like Kereek! Prazil was for thinking how wonderful this place am for being turned into kobold castle. But we am needing many wyverns and turtles. Am you for knowing where we can be finding baby wyverns or giant turtles?"