Congratulations, now time for college band. Hey, you survived 4 years of band camp!
I think this may be one of those choose your own adventure choices that has no good possible choice.
Split the party, die.
Go and leave others behind, they die
Don't go, girl dies. . . Party is attacked by Margrave and die because they stayed too long in one place.
Lol very much looking forward to seeing how this one plays out.
Mean while back inside the house.
The valiant knight in shining armor looks down at the old man and hands him a giant dove. "My magic wielding, heavily skilled and magically outfitted party are riding off, but dont worry I am not just leaving you here in this troll ravaged house by yourself. Montulio this is Rose the demonically possessed thief that tried to kill us last night. Montulo, Rose . . . Rose, Montulo. There is a sleeping highwayman and an 8 yearold boy you don't know in the next room. Now if anything happens throw this big pigeon out the window."
"Okay, well that's that then we are all settled, off to save the maiden and all that. You wouldn't want to come along anyway, my teenaged ninja is moody, my two Ulfen friends have been locked in a religious argument and Ana has been really acidic lately. So, well, tuddleloo and good luck. Don't die before we get back now yah hear."
I like it
The correct choice would have been: we send the boy off to save his sister, while we stay home with Montulo and Rose to protect the house.
"Wake up! Your sister has been taken by a monster. Take your shield and bring her back. They went in that direction. Quick now. And godspeed to you."
"It's dangerous to go alone. Take this!"
10 levels later, the boy returns with all magical gear but looking pretty beat up, "You guys are @#$#s!"
10 levels later, the boy returns with all magical gear but looking pretty beat up, "You guys are @#$#s!"
That's funny
C'mon, this is ARC. Kid would toddle off into the night, never to be seen again. We come back this way to deal with Margraive, and discover Kid and Sis have taken over the joint - Kid with the troll's head on his belt, Sis has Margrave's head on her belt, and 'permanent flame' on his hands, nailed to her shield (she didn't like where he put his hands..).
Oh, then the remind us what @#$#s we are...
I would not. The hands would rot too soon. Petrify would be much better.
I stand corrected. :)
Petrified hands make great stocking stuffers!
Crap, did we just waylay Santa?
"Sorry kid, not only did we not find your sister, but it turns out Christmas is cancelled indefinitely...
On the other hand, we totally-coincidentally found some free toys! Whaddya say - friends?"
Santa - smoking! Busted!
@Ana - I think that's the opposite of 'aid another'. If you successfully intimidate the dude I'm trying to diplomacy upon, does it take 2 off my roll? :)
I'm sure by now we've been told, and I know Rutilux asked at least once in character, but I seem to have forgotten, what's the young maiden's name again?
@Isham: good cop, bad cop?
@Rutilux: I don't remember either. We could just ask him to let go all young women he abducted tonight?
The boy is Stenly, but I don't think we ever got the girl's name.
Huh. I just did a search. Rutilux asked the girl her name on Oct 22, but never got a response that I saw. Which explains why she'd been taken, she's rude!
Seriously though, I was hoping we would know even if it wasn't explicitly stated
Just finished long day with extra overtime. Too tired to post update until tomorrow.
Huh. I just did a search. Rutilux asked the girl her name on Oct 22, but never got a response that I saw. Which explains why she'd been taken, she's rude!
Heh, yeah! Or maybe she is being polite, chevaliers like rescuing young women and you are the guest.
Very suspenseful here. I have no idea what the heck Joe is or where this will take us.
Sorry I had back to back fourteen hour days. So here's the update.
Rutilux nods at what's heard, and what he sees for himself, and then answers Smokie Joe, "Because we believe you have someone who was in our charge." And he rides to the large of the bags to pick it up, "Probably in here."
to the bag he asks, "Are you okay in there."
Still say it's Santa.
Prediction:Bag is full of toys. Rutilux ends up looking silly, talking to inanimate sacks. It turns out that there is a second sled just ahead of this guy who actually has the girl. It's all a coincidence, because the encounter table looks like this:
1: Bandits
2: Dead bandits
3-17: Ice trolls
18-100: Old man, smoking, with sled and suspicious sacks
sacks full of rum. lots and lots of rum.
...turtles tied to his feet. with human hair.
Nice post, Isham.
@Rutilux - I think that he is standing in front of the sled, between us and the bags.
But if I can hold his attention for a few rounds... someone sneaky might wander around behind him and pop open some of those sacks.
Anyone have snow on the ground yet?
Nope
Nah.
Coincidentally, first real snow was today. We usually get something in October, but it didn't happen this year.
There's a good couple cm's on the ground now, and we have proper winter weather coming up this week.
Update inbound now that RL group has left.
Paizo was down most of the day. Hope everyone is well.
I'm getting by, but yes, it slowed some of my posting
I am betting work confirmed a crit on ARC again.
Just got back from overtime again... Sixty hour weeks plus trade school is brutal. Tomorrow is my day off so once my daughter is having her nap I'll be able to update.
After Skallang's post I feel bad about running away from combat with full HP... I'll be back soon! Didn't want Thorvald to soak yet another AoO from that guy.
No way, keep going. He was on the fence about casting Sanctuary on you yo cover tour escape. I'd say follow you're instinct to keep the child safe.
You're more than welcome being here Skallagbiorn.
Now if I was an evil DM...
And you escape with the large sack after subduing and evading whatever it was that was riding that sleigh only to find it full to bursting of children's toys, broken and ruined during your escape, and a dull sense of foreboding as the laughter and happiness of the all of the worlds children dies out.
Meanwhile deep below the surface of the ocean, farther down than any creature or even the legendary kraken have been, something moves. It starts with a mere twitch but grows into a rumble.
The oceans turn wild as tsunamis and tidal waves wrack coastlines while others watch helplessly as the waters recede for miles.
Without children's laughter the spell of slumber has finally faded and a being older than the realms and the gods begins to awaken.
Wanted to add that I'm having a blast in this group. I appreciate you all taking me on as a contributor.
You've been a most welcome addition, and I'm not just saying that because you heal horses :)
You're more than welcome being here Skallagbiorn.
Now if I was an evil DM...
And you escape with the large sack after subduing and evading whatever it was that was riding that sleigh only to find it full to bursting of children's toys, broken and ruined during your escape, and a dull sense of foreboding as the laughter and happiness of the all of the worlds children dies out.
And the Adventurer's hearts shrank two sizes that day...
Mhar just needs a teddy bear.
And you escape with the large sack after subduing and evading whatever it was that was riding that sleigh only to find it full to bursting of children's toys, broken and ruined during your escape, and a dull sense of foreboding as the laughter and happiness of the all of the worlds children dies out.
That is milk out the nose funny. The dying man in the red suit looks up and says "Dudes! I am Old St Nick, the Smokey Joe guy lives two doors down you a$$holes!"
Mhar just needs a teddy bear.
Or maybe just a Jedibear! Yes, those green or gray furred teddy bears with orc blood heritage. Prone to violent rages when their kids are threatened yet oh so hug-able, it's the must have toy this adventuring season!
(Some Merchant should cash in on this...)
Now if I was an evil DM...
You are an evil DM for teasing us with this and then not letting it happen.
When I am future protector of the northern steppes, I shall cancel Christmas!
(Now where ARE The Northern Steppes on the map anyway? I have to know where to place the anti Santa barriers)
Competing visions with Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe's Santa visit, Grinch, and Futurama's Xmas. Cognitive dissonance is rife.
Perhaps I'll hire a bard to write about this story. Hmm.. Stout brothers Jediah and Zethyris and brave men-at-arms Thorvald and Skallangbiron. The wise adviser Isham and the clownish Julian along with haughty Ana. Hmm..that sounds good!
oy! oy! we can see your thought bubbles, you know. And i am standing right here, all kinds of bard-y.
the indignity! do I have to demonstrate bard-y-ness by pitching a diva fit?
At least you got mentioned in the credits :)
Yes, you need to add in 'the noble steed Sunfire, and his rider Whatshisname'.
Loot breakdown:
706.16 gp in coin and goods (88.27 per person)
Two magic items to be identified (axe and shield)
Eleven bottles of cheap wine, no value given.
Two longspears, value of 2.5gp each if sold.
The trapper's kits could be sold for 131.5 gp each (16.44 gp per person).
Zethyris would like to cannibalize one for the tanglefoot bags, manacles, and rope.