For DM
for Cha
Did you come through Nettlewood or Mosswood?
for Cha
** spoiler omitted **
For DM
I came from Churlwood. Neither map makes it clear how I came in. My guess would be by the easiest most traveled route.
for Cha
You camped in Nettlewood on your way. As the name suggests, the forest has more than its share of thorny undergrowth which made travel through the area a bit of a challenge. As you passed through, you definitely saw many signs of goblinoid traffic. There are narrow paths through the undergrowth that look more like goblin trails than game trails. You're less worried about getting around in there now (that you have Woodland Stride!), but you're not so sure about your companions. If your search leads you there, it might be a long, hard, noisy slog through the briars.
The men assigned to patrol the road are anxious to ride ahead a little faster anyway - out as far as the Thistle River bridge. That leaves just the man with the extra horse, a member of the town watch named Sivian, to accompany you to wherever you're leaving him.
When you turn down the track he has a few words with the other watchmen, then bids them farewell and catches up to you.
The track shows obvious signs of heavy use by wagons. And they're fresh, so it's no surprise when you find the fairgrounds practically deserted.
spoiler for Sari
** spoiler omitted **
The camp is on a remarkably defensible piece of ground with a natural spring to boot.
for DM
Not sure what that was all about but I figured I would be riding the mule. As of right now i am just muscle. If you guys want me to do something let me know.
confused dwarf
Sari waves to a young woman by one of the wagons. The woman comes over and embraces Sari, kissing her on the cheeks.
"Little sister, I knew you'd come before I had to send Bertrand to come find you. We're striking camp today and heading back. Mother wanted me to talk with you before we left." She glances sideways at your companions. "Here?" she asks.
The fairgrounds itself is a dell in the Ravensroost hills that's a common gathering place for traditional Varisian wanderers visiting Sandpoint. When the place is full, as it was yesterday, it is a veritable fairgrounds. These people are merchants and entertainers - gypsies in essence - and large gatherings of them take space and leave a mark. Typically on a day so close to the Autumn festival it would still be hopping, but many of the families have recently left.
The fairgrounds itself is a dell in the Ravensroost hills that's a common gathering place for traditional Varisian wanderers visiting Sandpoint. When the place is full, as it was yesterday, it is a veritable fairgrounds. These people are merchants and entertainers - gypsies in essence - and large gatherings of them take space and leave a mark. Typically on a day so close to the Autumn festival it would still be hopping, but many of the families have recently left.
I take the hint. "I'll go have a look around." To Yod and Eberk, quietly, but so Sari can still hear, "Maybe there are some pests that need looking after." I head for any friendly looking people and start making some small talk. "Where is everyone, why is this place so quiet today?"
Several of the wagons look like semi-permanent residences, so you figure some of these families must live here all the time. Most, however, show signs of packing up their belongings and preparing to hit the road. Looks like the attack really put a damper on the celebrations.
spoiler for Sari
"Mother had a hard time letting me go when I came of age, and she's having a harder time with you. They've headed to the winter grounds, and if you're intent on staying with the family then you know where to find them. But your skills are even more advanced than mine were at your age, and the elders feel strongly that you have some bigger destiny in front of you. The way you faced those little monsters...", she beams a smile at you - obviously proud of your actions.
"Stay with aunt Mvashti if need be - she will not charge you rent while you're getting on your feet. Meet people. Look for a trade - or a even a husband. That's what I found and maybe that's your future as well."
"When the family quits the wintering grounds they're going to pass back through Sandpoint before turning to Magnimar and the spring run. We'll all meet here again, and if you want to rejoin the family, or even join my little clutch, we can figure that out then. Bertrand is the best of this bunch, but there are many southern families you haven't even met. I'm certain we can find you a proper husband if you find Sandpoint offers you nothing. Something tells me your particular story will have taken off by then though."
She looks over your shoulder at your odd traveling companions. Cha is talking to a woman you do not recognize. Eberk is having an intense disagreement with the mule. Yod is scratching his butt.
"Quite a crew you have at your tail already. Are you sure about the orc-man? And a dwarf to boot? I'm sure they must have something to recommend them."
Several of the wagons look like semi-permanent residences, so you figure some of these families must live here all the time. Most, however, show signs of packing up their belongings and preparing to hit the road. Looks like the attack really put a damper on the celebrations.
spoiler for Sari
** spoiler omitted **
for DM
Pests? Ok I'll take a look around they sound like fun.
So Cha did you see any pests? I didn't see any pests!
Better luck next time!
Back on my mule i hop
"Guess I didn't see any. Better luck next time."
Ok on the road again, lets remember to start looking for any traps our freind may have set as soon as we do leave the road.
The pests were a little young - even for Cha. Well I guess there was Sari's sister, but she was busy talking to Sari the whole time.
So back down the hill you go. The road is vacant in both directions when you reach it. Around the next bend the road plunges into and through a lightly forested valley before beginning a consistent climb. Before long, you site the first of the hills known as the Pauper's Graves. It's easy to see why they bear such a name. Each is surmounted by great piles of weathered granite blocks that make the region resemble a long-neglected graveyard of titans.
You soon come to a track winding off the main road to the south. Your guide indicates that this is the trail that leads up to the more impressive tors, and also to the Tundarok river valley.
"We're probably better off leaving the horses here. The forest will probably be thick and overgrown and the path narrow."
Off the horses and through the woods, will it awful or will it be good?
Still just following along.
Shall we sing a pretty ditty, my friend Eberk? It seems to pass the time between killings.
"Right then - so I'll just wait here with the horses and you guys see if you can find the elf, right?" He looks around nervously and checks twice to see that his weapon is handy.
As Cha suggests, the path is narrow and overgrown with weeds. Cha picks up lots of deer and raccoon tracks, none of them very fresh. Ishah's ears are pricked and she sniffs everything twice.
You continue down the trail as it winds it's way over the shoulders of hills. It gradually bends back to the west after a while and shortly you catch a glimpse of the gorge made by the Tundarok river as it runs through the landscape to your right. The gorge walls are dark grey weathered stone dotted with the occasional defiant tree or mossy handhold. The river's roar is audible but not overwhelming up by the path. The hill face on the opposite side of the river is a sheer limestone shelf that rises even higher than the tors. This is the lip of the Devil's Platter, a region of weathered escarpments with a sinister reputation.
Fortunately, your path bears away left of the gorge and ascends toward still higher tors. The breeze is freshening just a bit, and carries the faint scent of distant rain.
Cha motions with his hand for the group to halt. Ishah has stopped and is smelling something that's apparently very interesting at the base of a tree ahead of you. Her hackles raise a little and she emits a low snarl.
On the way over to her, Cha spots several sets of prints on the ground. Small humanoid tracks and what might be a canine. You cannot tell number of individuals, or age of the track. They seem to mostly be crossing the path going to the left here. Ishah is also pointing in that direction.
"Ishah's got the scent. I vote we follow them a ways and see what we can find. My guess if there's trouble around this area the elf will be involved. I'll take post behind Ishah. We should probably agree on a few hand signals in case we need to communicate quietly."
I'm gonna move into the brush, move silently roll 16 + 7 total 23,
and hide roll 12 + 8 total 20, I'm moving closer to the tree but not all the way to it.
Spot check roll 5 + 4 total 9
Listen check roll 8 + 0 total 8
Don't forget, the guy in town seemed to say that the chick we are looking for likes to build hides up in trees.
I am hanging a little behind my worthy friends. (Worthy that is unless they are taking advantage of the town slut!) I plan on casting Mage Armor the second we meet something untoward. Until then, I will follow silently and practice being charismatic.
Ishah begins ranging around the tree until she picks up a scent and starts to follow it into the woods. She's obviously tense at the scent, whatever it is, but she's also eagerly following it.
I suppose Eberk and I should stop singing.
I'm trying to stay even with the dog and cha off to the left about 30' I do want to remain in site of the party.
I'm staying behind Ishah, keeping her in sight and keeping an eye our for anything suspicious.
Damn, I wasted to much time thinking about a ditty and now we must be quiet. Sari and I are hangin in the back until we can be of further use.
You can tell Ishah's pretty consistently on the track so you let her stalk after it. There are prints scattered around here that match those you saw on the road. Yod's occasionally visible but rarely audible on the group's left flank. The ground begins to climb toward another of the tors - visible occasionally through the canopy of forest before you.
spoiler for Cha
Movement in the brush ahead of you - perhaps 100' or more ahead - draws your eye to a particular clump of bushes and scrub trees up the slope. You see a goblin warrior armed with the trade-mark dogslicer and shield. He's facing away from you and is apparently using the brush in front of him as cover against something uphill.
Neither Ishah nor Yod have apparently spotted the goblin. Sari and Eberk are about 10' behind you.
I immediately get low and move behind the nearest cover, waving to the others to do the same then whisper "Ishah, come."
For DM
Cha - Handle Animal check please.
Cha - Handle Animal check please.
Assuming I see Cha motion to get down, I do so and try to se what he is looking at
Spot check 12 + 4 total 16
Listen check 6 + 0 total 6
If I dont see him motion I continue to move forward same direction.
|
Cha - Handle Animal check please.
Everyone catches Cha's signal and ducks down as quietly as possible behind cover. Cha gestures up slope and everyone sees what he saw .
A second goblin comes into view. He's armed similar to the first, and like his brother, he's facing the wrong way. He moves out from cover into the open, crouching behind his crude shield to minimize his profile. A long green-fletched arrow sticks out from his shield proudly. He starts advancing up the hill, away from you all.
As soon as I can, I'd like to cast Mage Armor.
I point at Yod and motion up the hill to the left. I point at Eberk and motion up the hill and to the right. I point at myself and make the same motion up the middle. I just wink at Sari. I give everyone a second to make sure they got it and Sari a chance to cast her armor if she so chooses, then I charge up the hill towards the goblins.
I call to Ishah to heel as I take off.
As soon as I can, I'd like to cast Mage Armor.
What timing.
I hang back with Sari until we decided what to do.
Sari completes her Mage Armor spell.
The three of you rise together and start making your way as quietly as a charge up-hill through thick undergrowth allows. About half-way to your enemy, the watching goblin turns to check out the source of the noise, sees Cha's fierce tattooed face coming straight for him, and lets out a high-pitched squeal of rage. There are words in that scream but none of you understands them. He's pointing at you and yelling to others, apparently unseen.
Init roll 2 + 3 total 5
Oops I guess I was still counting goblins when I recieved the signal to go.
Yod - you can still take a shot with your first action. If you win initiative, your enemy is still flat-footed and you still get your sneak attack damage.
Well I'll go ahead and take a shot with the crossbow since that was what I was planning to do before advancing and switching to moringstar.
ATK roll 17 + 4 total 21, damage if hit d10 roll = 5 damage plus sneak atk if he had worse than a 5 init, d6 roll = 2 x-tra damage.