Artix watches the last moments of battle, preparing another arrow as the bandit starts to run, but Rurik and Las are a bit quicker.
"Murderous Demons?" Artix calls out as he reads the note. or when it's read out to everyone, however it goes."I wonder who this Fastaxe and White are, and why would they want Pathfinders dead or brought to them?"
Making your way to Trollheim, you find that the city is full of Ulfen though there are other races, they are a minority.
Asking around Las manages to find out this from Kadlin Helge, a female Ulfen Woman.
Hjort Fastaxe:
He came from a coastal village. “I heard about an Ulfen warrior named Hjort—don’t know his family name—who came here a while back after his entire village was slaughtered on the Arcadian coast. People say his rage toward the Pathfinder Society burns bright, as they were the ones who slaughtered his people—a people, I heard, that he was destined to be the jarl of. Those traditional warriors from the coast are serious brutes—I wouldn’t want to be one of their targets.”
I'm going to need Knowledge (local) or Diplomacy checks. Taking the best 5.
Once the are thugs dispatched with quick and clean efficiency, Sigrun nods approvingly to the Pathfinders she's been assigned to work with--competent lot, they seemed like. She listens to the note be read out aloud as she wipes the blood from her axe on the leader's clothes and rifles through the corpses for anything of worth.
Alas, Sigrun has been away from the North for so long that she's losing track of her contacts up here.
Rurik manages to corner Thorngrin Brightbeard, a male gnome outcast who is more than happy to share what he knows in the hope of some scrapes.
Someone named Runa White has been seen in the
markets.:
“A dark-haired Chelish woman, family name of White, has been seen about the market recently. She’s hiring mercenaries and low-life thugs for Gorum-knowswhat.
If you’re looking for her to right some wrong, I’d bring a dozen more of you—she was cornered in one of the market’s darkest corners by some of Trollheim’s biggest miscreants, and just when they thought they had gotten the drop on her, she called to her god and blasted them with holy fire. She’s tough, that one, and not someone I’d mess with.”
Sigrun finds and makes small talk with Rafarta Rannveig, female Ulfen city watch guard who greets Sigrun warmly while ignoring the rest.
Bonus for being Ulfen.
Hjort Fastaxe and Runa White have been seen together
hiring mercenaries.:
“Yeah, I know those two. They approached my friends and me and offered us a ridiculous sum to work for them. No way was I going to work for a washed-up Ulfen warrior and a foreign she-devil from the south. Hjort’s eyes told all the story I needed to know: he wasn’t doing whatever he was doing for profit—he was doing it for revenge. That business has only one path, and it leads straight to Pharasma’s ample bosom. And Runa? Well, she’s a foreigner, ain’t she?”
Hjort and Runa operate out of a shady tavern in the
market.:
“Can’t say as I remember the name of the place, but when they tried to hire my cousin, they told him to meet them at some hole in the market. You’d best do your poking around there and stop pestering the peaceful folk of Trollheim before they decide to yank your entrails out from your mouth and strangle you with them.”
Artix learns the last from Arvida Bergthor, female Ulfen saga scholar and serious alcoholic on her way back though you're not sure if it's back home or to the tavern once more.
Hjort and Runa live in rooms at the Horned Helm in
the northern part of the market.:
“Hjort and Runa, you say? Yeah, I know ‘em. I drink a beer and punch a guy in the face every night down at the Horned Helm, and they’ve been there for weeks—months maybe. I tell ya, that Hjort can throw a punch, and don’t get Runa started about religion—she’s likely to talk about it long enough it starts a fight and the way she ends fights ain’t fair, ain’t right, and just ain’t normal. Runa is a dark-haired woman from Cheliax, and Hjort is a large brute with red hair, a red beard, and a scar across his left cheek.”
Male Human (Garundi) #43870-5 | Investigator 6| HP 51/51 | Init +1 | AC: 16 T:11 FF:18 | F: +4 (+4 vs Poison), R: +6 W: +7 (+1 Trans)|+1 Adam. Stinging Whip +7(1d3+2) | Perception +11 | Diplo +9 | UMD +13 | Sense Motive +14 | Spellcraft +10 |DD +12
Active:
Darkvision 6h, Barkskin 1h, Longstrider 1h
"it would seem Runa is some sort of fire cleric. Alas, I have nothing to protect us against fire. But maybe if we can silence her...I do have a thunderstone. Perhaps someone with better aim than myself might want to use it?"
Male Human (Garundi) #43870-5 | Investigator 6| HP 51/51 | Init +1 | AC: 16 T:11 FF:18 | F: +4 (+4 vs Poison), R: +6 W: +7 (+1 Trans)|+1 Adam. Stinging Whip +7(1d3+2) | Perception +11 | Diplo +9 | UMD +13 | Sense Motive +14 | Spellcraft +10 |DD +12
Active:
Darkvision 6h, Barkskin 1h, Longstrider 1h
"Actually, Runa wanted all of you killed but to have me brought to her. I'm going to assume I would not have survived the meeting."
Las was making a bit of joke which he figured Rurik was smart enough to get.
"Now, if you saying we should capture her alive, I can see the merit in that approach. Between Hjort and Runa, I'm betting Hjort does all the heavy lifting."
After their canvassing of the town (she particularly enjoyed chatting with Rafarta Rannveig--always wonderful to speak to a fellow shield-maiden and hear the oh-so-melodic Skaldic tongue yet again), Sigrun spends some time considering the information they'd picked up.
"If she's from Cheliax, my money's on a god-damned diabolist," she mutters scornfully with a shake of her head. "But what's their big problem with Pathfinders? Maybe Skagni knows something about them we don't..."
Sigrun cracks her knuckles and sets to hefting the ridiculously weighty chest once more. "Guess our first stop is the Horned Helm. Sounds like a rough-as-guts kinda place--you sure you're gonna be alright, scrawny?" She grins at Las.
Las excellent deductive skills with the clues gathered thus far bring you the simple fact that everyone knows that the Horned Helm is dangerous and that rarely a week goes by without someone finding their end on the edge of a knife or with their brains smashed in by a chair.
The Horned Helm is a low-slung, two-story building of questionable construction leaning heavily over a shoddy corner of mud and brick in the dankest, filthiest parcel of land in all of the market. It has no windows, as they’ve all been broken and boarded over; its only door looks like a simple plank of wood covered in scratches, burns, and probably blood stains.
Noise, heat, and smoke pour out from under that door and rise to a staggering crescendo of laughter as the door swings lazily open and two bodies are unceremoniously dumped into the rutted, frozen mud streets outside. A battered sign hangs above the door, swinging on two chains, one shorter than the other. It bears the faded image of an Ulfen helm with two ridiculously large horns.
Male Human (Garundi) #43870-5 | Investigator 6| HP 51/51 | Init +1 | AC: 16 T:11 FF:18 | F: +4 (+4 vs Poison), R: +6 W: +7 (+1 Trans)|+1 Adam. Stinging Whip +7(1d3+2) | Perception +11 | Diplo +9 | UMD +13 | Sense Motive +14 | Spellcraft +10 |DD +12
Active:
Darkvision 6h, Barkskin 1h, Longstrider 1h
Las offers the woman a simple smile. "Sigrun, it warms my heart to think of you as my personal shield maiden. If the locals can't control themselves don't be surprised if you find me hiding under your kilt."
Las wasn't entirely worthless in combat, but he had no problem with the Ulfen woman trying to protect him or any of the others, for that matter.
Las continues muttering to himself, "I still say we should pick up a scroll of Ant Haul so whoever has to carry the chest is not burdened..."
Male Human Fighter (4) HPs 18/31 AC 22 FF 19 T 12 CMD 16 Fort +5, Ref +3, Will +0 (+1 vs. fear) Init +2 Per +2 Bluff +7
Not worth it IMO. Falcon has a move speed of 20' anyway due to heavy armor so going into heavy encumbrance isn't a problem. Free action to drop the chest. With the description it doesn't sound like the thing will bust open from dropping it. If the chest does only contain documents then the content shouldn't be a problem either.
Careful Sigrun, I'm not sure that hiding is the only thing he wants to do under your kilt Falcon jokes Couldn't resist :)
And I wouldn't worry about this chest. It seems well made, and as long as they are truthful about it's contents there won't be an issue.
"So we have a Ulfen who believes that the Pathfinders killed his family and village and wants us dead, and a Chelix cleric who wants one of us alive. Neither of them sound like the greatest of options, but one does wonder why Runa would want one of us alive."
Artix mulls the gathered information over as the group talks. He can't hide the smile at the conversation between Sigrun, Las, and Falcon.
Once they start heading to the Horned Helm, Artix makes sure to have his shield ready, since it sounds like a fight is going to happen even if they try not to get into one.
"This place looks a little ruff, even for Ulfen standards."
Male Human (Garundi) #43870-5 | Investigator 6| HP 51/51 | Init +1 | AC: 16 T:11 FF:18 | F: +4 (+4 vs Poison), R: +6 W: +7 (+1 Trans)|+1 Adam. Stinging Whip +7(1d3+2) | Perception +11 | Diplo +9 | UMD +13 | Sense Motive +14 | Spellcraft +10 |DD +12
Active:
Darkvision 6h, Barkskin 1h, Longstrider 1h
Falcon Dragorion wrote:
Not worth it IMO. Falcon has a move speed of 20' anyway due to heavy armor so going into heavy encumbrance isn't a problem. Free action to drop the chest. With the description it doesn't sound like the thing will bust open from dropping it. If the chest does only contain documents then the content shouldn't be a problem either.
Well, call it a hunch, but I would expect the scenario to penalize us for being heavily encumbered at some point, like if we had to retreat or cross a river. But hey, Las isn't carrying it so it's all good :)
Sigrun laughs at Falcon's jest, all the while smirking at the scrawny investigator. "Don't think he'd have much luck with that, Falcon," she snorts, pushing the door to the Horned Helm open without a care. "Just remember--don't back down, don't make yourself seem weak," she mutters to the others as they stride on in. "They'll leave us alone if they think we're too strong for 'em, but weaklings?... yeah, perfect targets."
Striding confidently towards the bar, Sigrun says to the others over her shoulder, "Wanna pull up a table?" She then approaches the barman with her coin purse jingling in her hand. "Halló, vinur!" she greets the barkeep with a toothy grin, making sure the assorted weapons she wears aren't hidden by her thick winter jacket or furs. "Hvað er bjór þinn eins og í dag? Get ég verið með fimm?"
Skald:
"Hey there, pal! How's your mead today? Can I get a round for five?"
She glances around the tavern as she waits for a round of drinks for her group, looking for anyone that matches the descriptions they've been given...
Inside the Horned Helm, the the party find an unfriendly crowd. Despite having Ulfen with you, it doesn’t matter; the crowd immediately starts up cat calls and hurls drunken insults their way.
The bartender is the worst. This enormous, bearded man wearing leather armor and conspicuously missing his right arm is the loudest and most vile—every insult he slings is met with raucous laughter from the crowd, who in turn insult the bartender’s insults and then hurl more at the party, paticularly the weaker amongst them.
The temperature inside the Horned Helm is stiflingly hot—nearly 100° F. This is because of two enormous iron furnaces crammed full of coal, wood, and anything else flammable that radiate the scorching fires of Hell themselves. Most of the crowd are sweating excessively, which only adds to the room’s dank stench.
Sigrun gets a glare and no greeting from the 'friendly' barkeep as she looks for her quarry but sees no sign of him.
You may be right Las. But I suspect that a bar brawl may be inevitable. Still...
When the bartender chooses to ignore Sigrun and instead joins in the general heckling, Rurik looks around to find a table whose occupants are both participating in the rude behaviour and who have relatively full mugs. At which point he walks over and takes a mug off the table and begins to drink it while staring down the man who it belongs to.
(skald)Ah, that's better. Didn't think you'd mind. Since the bartender is the sort of donkey's ass who can't pour a beer, I figure we're just supposed to take them from whichever weak little children haven't got the stones to stop us.
The Tavern goes silent at Rurik's Words. This enables Falcon to spot what seems to be Hjort himself sitting at the table. (D)
The drunk men seem to tense and the atmosphere changes as Rurik's words pierce through their drunken minds. Even the barkeep glares despite having only one arm.
Leaning in close to Falcon, "This actually is pretty friendly."
Artix nods as Las and Rurik mention sterner methods and that a brawl may be coming, but he isn't ready for Rurik to take someone's drink. His eyes quickly moving among the crowd watching for who was going to throw the first blow, knowing it was coming.
The entire tavern explodes in action as the Ulfen whose drink is stolen throws the first punch, his movement sending a tankard squarely onto another's face. This escalated the fight and men sitting beside each other throws punches at each other in the spirit of things as other throw themselves at you!!!!
Met with cajoling and insults, Sigrun scowls, but doesn't have enough time to come up with her own retaliation before Rurik sets off a sudden brawl. She turns around to use the opportunity to break the a**hole of a barkeep's nose, but he's a wily one and has wisely backed off. She turns back to her allies and shouts over the din, "WHERE THE HELL IS HJORT?!"
Sigrun will follow Falcon as he chases after Hjort.
Falcon has noticed Hjort who has backed himself into a corner near the bar table. He seems more intent on defending himself though than entering the bar.
With a grunt of disgust, Sigrun pushes one of the idiot drunkard tavern-goers away and stomps on over to the man Falcon points out to her. Before he can run away, she tries to grab his arm and twist it behind his back to stop him from bolting. "We've got some questions for you," she snarls in Hjort's ear.
Move beside Hjort and grapple him!
Grapple:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
I believe none of these actions provoke as everyone is flat-footed. If I'm wrong, well, I'll eat the AoOs.
Falcon's attack cleaves into one of the brawlers in two and teh bar goes silent before erupting into bellows and cries of Murderer!!, the tavern goes berserk as men attempt to turn their anger upon the party.
Sigrun easily throws off her attacker as she makes her way to Hjort. To her horror, the look alike instantly begs for mercy was the entire tavern erupts into violence. Tables and chairs now used as makeshift weapons.....
Init Order
Falcon
Sigrun
B1
B2
Las<---We are here
Rurik
Artix
Male Human (Garundi) #43870-5 | Investigator 6| HP 51/51 | Init +1 | AC: 16 T:11 FF:18 | F: +4 (+4 vs Poison), R: +6 W: +7 (+1 Trans)|+1 Adam. Stinging Whip +7(1d3+2) | Perception +11 | Diplo +9 | UMD +13 | Sense Motive +14 | Spellcraft +10 |DD +12
Active:
Darkvision 6h, Barkskin 1h, Longstrider 1h
Wow. I really thought we were going non-lethal here. @Night, I assume these are all non-lethal attacks which means none of them have Improved Unarmed Strike so they can't take AoO's. If these are lethal attacks, I'll do something different.
The kick is painful, but Las has felt worse. With his attacker unarmed, Las moves around to flank him, pulling his shortsword as he moves and attacks the flanked thug to subdue him.
And then sidesteps further into the bar to clear the way for anyone who wishes to leave. (And to get out of being flanked) Not going to take any AoO triggered by people trying to flee. Unless it's Hjort.
Other than the axe, everyone else is doing non lethal. Yes They all have improved unarmed strike. Don't ask me why a buncha of drunkards have that feat. Let's just assumed they do this pretty often. :P
Las smacks his assailant with the flat of his blade but only manages a yelp from his foe who collapses after a slap to the side of his head from Rurik. However not without the drunk throwing another kick as Las moves.
Kick Aoo 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 111d3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Init Order
Falcon
Sigrun
B1
B2
Las
Rurik
Artix<---We are here
Grunting as he's hit from behind by something, Artix turns and studies the strange man for a moment. Activating Favored target on the mime looking guy. Then with bit of a growl, lashes out with his shield.
Round 2
Init Order
Falcon <---We are here
Sigrun
B1
B2
Las
Rurik
Artix
Artix's shield heads for the man's face but his face turns green as he leans over to the side to puke the contents of his stomach out even as the whistling shield flies over his head, missing him.
Sigrun stares agape at the bloodshed caused by one of their own, and she glares profusely at Falcon. "YOU IDIOT! What the HELL are you doing, pulling a sword on some drunken idiots in a tavern brawl?! Bloody hell!" The shock of Falcon's actions combined with trying to keep Hjort from squirming out of her grasp earns her a nasty couple of blows, to which she curses. They'd leave a nasty bruise in the morning for sure. "Someone stabilise that poor bloke! He didn't do nothin'!"
The Ulfen shield-maiden frowns at the man she thinks is Hjort, and says, "You're Hjort, right? Hjort Fastaxe?"
If he says yes?:
If he confirms that he's Hjort, Sigrun pins him to the floor and pulls out her rope to tie him up next round.
Grapple (Pin):1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
If he says no?:
If not, she lets him go in disgust, shoving him away with a roll of her eyes. "Get outta here then, ya idiot!"
She then turns to the drunken idiots attacking her, pulling her axe from her belt and attempting to conk one over the head with the flat of the blade.
Male Human (Garundi) #43870-5 | Investigator 6| HP 51/51 | Init +1 | AC: 16 T:11 FF:18 | F: +4 (+4 vs Poison), R: +6 W: +7 (+1 Trans)|+1 Adam. Stinging Whip +7(1d3+2) | Perception +11 | Diplo +9 | UMD +13 | Sense Motive +14 | Spellcraft +10 |DD +12
Active:
Darkvision 6h, Barkskin 1h, Longstrider 1h
Sense Motive:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Las heard Sigrun call to try and save one of Falcon's victims. But judging by the results of Falcon's sword, Las was certain the man was beyond help. Las calls back to Falcon, "why do you think this is a setup?" Las was worried Falcon was out of control. But Las figured the safest thing to do was disable the drunks as quickly as possible to stop Falcon from killing them.
Las pulls out his whip and tries to drop the drunk next to Rurik.
nightdeath, fyi, so since this guy didn't confirm that he's Hjort I let him go last round and whacked one of the others. Thus I'm not grappling and have no more penalties to my AC, etc etc. Anyway, point is, no crit confirmation.
Sigrun grunts in pain as another fist makes contact with her jaw.
Missed your post. All those dice took a while to type. It makes sense that grapplers don't threaten, I just couldn't find in the rules where it says so.
