DM Carbide runs *! Rise of the Runelords !*

Game Master John Woodford

Now we just need someone to collect some information.

Did someone say collect information?

Cordwin will smile his smile and try to speak some dock workers about the Fort or The Black Arrows.

He will approach a dock worker, preferably one not too busy.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21

Say, Everyone knows that a dock worker is the most informed person in any town. What can you tell us about Fort Rannick and The Black Arrows?

The dock worker barely pauses his work to look at Cordwin, but he seems nice enough.

"Don't know much about the fort. Heard there is an old road to lead to it. Them Black Arrows seem to be a decent lot, but met only a few - mostly when they come down to gamble or get supplies."

As the man talks, he is moving crates, and at one point you notice something. Exposed for a moment when he bends over to pick up a crate, you notice a tattoo of a seven-pointed star-the same star on his forearm. It is the same design you have seen used by goblins and murderers over the past several weeks: the Sihedron Rune.

Aid Another (Diplomacy): 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (6) + 0 = 6 No help from me...

Druamin watches Cordwin's easy demeanor with a dock worker and approaches another. "Hey, we're new in town and looking for some information. I know you're just a dock worker so you're probably not in tight with the town's leadership and all but maybe you know something that could help us."

Thank you! Yes, do you know who in town could tell us about the fort and the Black Arrows? I really appreciate you taking the time to talk to us.

"Yah, whatever. Ya might have better luck buyin' some drinks in the pub. In fact, I am just finishing up here... wanna buy me a drink?"

"Oh, I believe I can do far better than that my friend. What sort of beer do you fancy?"

Skarn will grab a bunch of buckets off the wharf, clean them out quickly and summon some brew into them...

Taking 10...

Profession(Brewer): 10 + 13 = 23

The dock worker looks at the dwarf, quite skeptically. "What? Is that real?"

He calls over to a couple other workers. "Hey Frank! This guy is summoning beer!"

Skarn chuckles, "bring over a larger cask, and we'll see about filling it up."

Skarn can create 12 gallons per casting.

He warns the workers, "the only catch, my friends, is that in 24 hours from now, Cailean will reclaim any that has gone to waste."

Belay that! I can summon 6 cups per casting. This version of the spells is modified for we Caileanites. Still, it's a cantrip, so I can do it over and over.

The dock workers look at each other, and then at the beer. One shrugs and takes a swallow. "Hey, that's good!"

They start passing it around.

"So, about those Black Arrows, and Fort Rannick?"

Faywen, having nothing to add to the dwarf's diplomatic efforts, does her best to hide her amusement at the workers' astonishment.

Reynard smiles, but steps back from the group, the better to look around the area.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

"Ya know, dem Black Arrows usually come down to visit, a few at a time, but I ain't seen any recently. Kinda odd, no you mention it!"

"That's right! Strange not seein' one around here in a while. They are a quiet bunch anyway, they are, but seem decent enough, what with protecting our lands from monsters and such."

Then another chimes in. "Why just yesterday, some elf lass was in town asking some of the same questions. She-la-la, her name was... no, not quite right... Shalelu it was! Yah, that's it."

Hey! We know her! Do you know where she is or where she is staying? Cordwin asks.

"She don't stay in town... probably camped out near by, unless she left the area."

Away from the locals Erond says, "Shalelu ... could be good to find an ally and get some more info. We could see if we could pick up her trail or just head deep into town and try to find Black Arrow. Though that could be hard if they have gone quiet."

"Erond, you are right. Let's try to contact Shalelu. It shouldn't be too hard to find her. That's my vote. A bit of tracking outside of town should be able to pick up her trail."

"You're kidding, right? We could hardly track a mine cart on its track, let alone one such as she out in the forest!"

We can try and track her and if it doesn't work, we can try to find information at the tavern. Err...Any of you outdoorsy types want to give it a go?

I'd be +13 to track her. I want you to know, that I would totally count coup on my dwarf tracking an elf ranger in her own domain!

"In my experience, I have discovered that people can always be tracked through the local inns and taverns."

A +12 here. I agree it's a long shot but Druamin always prefers the wilderness to an urban environment so that's always his suggestion.

"Yeah Skarn, that works for some people. But me? I'd rather be out there in my element searching. Somehow it just feels more right."

So headed out of town, then?

We can try searching for an hour and see if we can pick up her trail. If we can't find it, tavern it is! Cordwin offers.

Survival: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25 +1 to track, +2 vs giants

Well, a 26 isn't horrible.

Aid Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Erond will case guidance on Skarn and give him his survival kit.

Total of +5 from me.

As you traipse around the woods, you do find a few clues that your quarry was here. She is good, but not perfect... and perhaps she wasn't even trying to hide her tracks. As you are sure you are getting close, you hear a voice in the trees above. "Looking for me, my friends?"

Shalelu Andosana is exactly how you remember her. She drops to the ground gracefully.

"I heard you were coming, and interested in Fort Rannick. It seems again our paths align, as I am headed that way and would love to accompany you. I have business to settle."

Well met Shalelu! Yes! It is fortunate that our paths cross again. What have you heard about Fort Rannick and the Black Arrows?

"Well! There you go." Druamin chuckles as he sees Shalelu drop from the tree branches. "We guessed that we'd be able to find you. Weren't sure if the town or the forest would give us better luck. Looks like the forest won out this time."

Well met Shalelu! Yes! It is fortunate that our paths cross again. What have you heard about Fort Rannick and the Black Arrows?

Druamin nods in agreement. "Yes. What have you heard?

"Haven't heard much - which is sort of the problem. I am actually here in search of one man in particular, a Black Arrow named Jakardros. Heard of him? I was considering trekking up to the Fort to track him down."

Knowledge (Local): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Cordwin thinks a moment about what he might have heard in their brief amount of time in town.

We were going to find you and failing that, we were going to go to the tavern and see if anyone has heard anything.

Corwin has not heard the name pop up yet.

"Go on, if you like. I will wait on the trail that leads to the fort for you, but if you do not come in two days tiem, I will go on without you."

You might think she is being rude, but those of you who know her, this is just her normal demeanor.

I'm sure we will be done before then! Cordwin says with a nod.

Compared to dwarves, she is warm and welcoming! :D

Faywen nods in acknowledgement before following the others to the tavern. "Hopefully they have good food, at least."

"If we happen across Jakardros first what would you like us to do? Pass a message, ignore them, open fire? I would prefer to leave the last one to someone else."

"I have nothing back in town to go for. Why should we not go straight to the Fort?"

Trox eyes Shalelu, as always, unsure what to say. He nods mumbling.

"Two days and were back I am sure."

Skarn's comments get a shurg, he is not to worried either way.

"If you find him, well, just let me know. He doesn't need to know I am coming..."

Shalelu departs up the path, and you are confident she will wait, but only for 2 days.

Skarn - you go back or hang with Shalelu?

I'm sticking with the group. After several weeks off, I'm not sure, but yeah, with the group.

With so much IRL time to rest up, I'm certainly of a mind to get straight to the fort!

OK, with all the delays, let me kick start this game back up. You go back into town, rest a day and resupply. Give me any purchases you want to make (but remember, this is a small town, so only basics available).

Ready to head out again, you find Shalelu where she said she would be.

The simplest route to the fort is to follow an old road leading up along the banks of the Skull River. The road crosses an old wooden bridge to the western shore about 3 miles north of Turtleback Ferry, and from there heads all the way up to the impressive Thassilonian ruin known as Skull's Crossing, an immense stone dam that holds back the waters of the Storval Deep. A side road branches off about 3 miles before the dam, and a crooked wooden sign pointing up this trail proclaims "Fort Rannick."

As you are crossing the old wooden bridge, Cordwin stops you, hearing something odd. Then you can all hear it, faintly. It sounds like a yowl of pain, maybe from a big cat.

Investigating could take time and be of no use, but you never know. Moving on or investigating?"

"That sounds like something in distress. I think we have to check it out."

Knowledege(nature): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16 Not sure if Knowledge(nature) will do anything here. Trying to see if I recognize the sound more precisely.

Hard to say (with a 16). Could be a firepelt or a cougar. Doesn't seem exotic, though - you figure it is likely a native species to this area.

I think we should help it as long as it does not eat us! Cordwin offers.

Reynard closes his eyes and concentrates on the sound, trying to recall if it sounded like anything he'd heard before. Over the years, he had experimented on a remarkable variety of animals, and heard sounds of pain from most of them.

Knowledge(Nature): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28

Erond sends this bird up keep an eye above. "Come tell me if you see whatever it is making the noise. She we keep moving and see if it tracks us?"

Familiar Perception: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (15) + 18 = 33

Erond and Reynard are able to confirm the yelp was that of an injured firepelt, and Erond also hears dogs barking in the distance. The bird takes flight, and starts circling an area not too far away.

Speaking quietly. "If were going to check it out lets go, ear to the air is all well and good but lets not wait too long."

Trox gets impatient shifting from foot to foot.