You find no more in that hex.
We place a crude sign by the trail stating "This is what happens to bandits" before piling up the charred corpses against it in gruesome display.
The false wagons make camp for the night before moving onto the next area in the morning.
You are not disturbed that night.
You are not disturbed that night.
Nothing. In the next hex you are not attacked.
"This seems to be a waste of time. We are going to need more feet on the ground."
Riva turns the hunting expedition homeward.
You arrive home without trouble. There seems to have been some trouble well you were gone. A very talented yet very stupid thief broke into the banks vault. The trolls killed him, but now they are loose killing everything they can get there hands on.
So they only kill the thief.
Also an messagers has come from Brevoy.
"We have lost all contact with Varnhold. [1]. Last mouth we stopped receiving any word and all messagers sent have disappeared. We would like you to take a look into it. We think it might be Nomen centaur tribe of the eastern hills"
[1]
Varnhold is another starter up kingdom that go started about the same time of you Kingdom by a group of mercenaries led by Maegar Varn and that his band was called the Varnling Host. Like the PCs, they were one of the initial groups selected to colonize the Stolen Lands.
After reading the letter aloud to the Caerulian Council, Riva explains who and what Varnhold is to any who are otherwise ignorant of that information.
"Though we have Brevoy to thank for our start, we are an independent people, and are not beholden to them any more than we choose to be. Neither should we feel beholden to helping our neighbors in the Nomen Heights. Nevertheless, if something has gone wrong on the other side of the Crooked River, helping them just might allow us an opportunity to make some new allies, and to open up new trade routes with our neighbors. What say you? Should we investigate the matter personally?"
Toran considers for a moment, I'd say that at the very least we should look into it ourselves seeing as it may well be dangerous. That said, we also need to decide whether this is more important than dealing with the bandits because I can't be in two places at once and I need to lead the army.
The Nomen Centaur Tribe are big time isolationists. Also most of the them are rangers or druids.
...I can't be in two places at once and I need to lead the army.
"Perhaps not, but you could appoint a different commander to the militia for the time being. General Valek Steelspike perhaps? He could root out the remainder of the bandits while we reconnaissance the Varnhold situation."
He would be an excellent choice, I'd be fine with him dealing with the bandits.
[dice=Perception check]1d20+11
You don't find much, but you have people to that looked into it too.
He stealth in during the day. Disabled the alarm spell and rusted away the vault door somehow.
You don't find much, but you have people to that looked into it too.
He stealth in during the day. Disabled the alarm spell and rusted away the vault door somehow.
"Hmmmmm rust monster larvae I'm betting. Or a scroll. But larvae are easier to use."
Yes broken.
Yes broken.
"Shall we head North East until we hit the South Rostland Road and then take the road to Varnhold, or should we 'rough it' up the Shrike River, down the Crooked River, and through the South Eastern mountain pass? The former is the longer route, but will be easier and safer by far. It might give us the opportunity to check on old Oleg. The latter is shorter, but more perilous and will likely take longer. Taking the mountain pass will also allow us the opportunity to explore some of the Kamelands and to investigate the pass to see if a viable road to Varnhold might be possible construction possibility in the future. Which route do you think would be best?"
You haven't heard from Oleg for awhile.
You haven't heard from Oleg for awhile.
You set out in your boats (Please describe boats). The first hex you explore is 42D. Which turns out to be a very boring plane. Plain is the word for it. Gain 25 xp for clearing the hex.
The next stop down the river is E43. This part of the river sharp turns You see a beautiful women ahead of you in the river. She does not seem to know how to swim and is panicking and splashing in the river.
Riva stands up, taking care not to rock the boat, places her hand to her forehead to keep the light from her eyes, and peers out at the drowning victim.
"Would one of you boys be a gentleman and go help that poor girl? Vallissa and I will be ready to cover you should it be a trap."
Ever skeptical, Riva wonders if it's some fey trick, and tries to identify the woman's race.
Riva also scans the banks of both shores. If someone threw the poor girl into the river, she'd like to know who.
Riva prepares and casts water breathing on the party.
"Just as a precaution."
Seems to be drowning. The human appears to be human. About 20 feet from the boat.
Toran shrugs, dropping out of the rowboat , and tries to swim towards the woman, promptly sinking.
The current is slow here about 5 feet a round. It is clear. The women suddenly stop splashing and dives toward Toran. And attacks with a claw-like hand.
initiative
Round 1
Women
Riva
Toran
Mallichatti
Elhedril
It misses.
Please look at Underwater combat
Toran, struggling to move in the water, pulled his polearm from his back and brought it in a slow slash towards the woman, churning the water with bubbles.
It is difficult terrain I think so no 5 foot stepping and you miss.
Seeing the woman slash at Toran, narrowly missing his throat. Riva casts blindness against her, before demanding her surrender,
In Aquan, then again in Sylvan:
"Only cowards blind with fear ambush the unwary. So be it! Be blind then! Surrender yourself or feed the fish of the river this day!"
Yes you go first. But if you go first then how would you see her slash at Toran?
So Mallichatti's Turn.
"Damn it Toran I'm not dragging your carcass out of the f+!*ing river"
Jump in, drawing axe. Rage. Swim.
Swim.
You swim well.
Elhedril's turn.
Elhedril casts magic missiles at the women.
The women claws at Toran again.
make a DC 16 Fort check or take 2 str damage
Toran makes it.
Round 2
Women
Riva
Toran
Mallichatti
Elhedril
Riva's Turn.
Riva casts blindness.
Toran strikes again with his warhammer,
The crit does not Confirm.
The women dies her skin turning Green in death. Seems she was a Green Hag under the effects of alter self. You all gain 400 xp.
You find nothing else in this hex. You all gain 25 xp for clearing the hex.
As you move go down the river in Hex 44D you notice the river is picking up speed. There is also a load rumbling sound from up ahead.
Perception checks
You all see that the river drops off into a huge waterfall 50 feet ahead the boat is moving at a rate of 30 feet per round.
"Get the boat to the shore if you don't want to get wet, gentlemen."
Riva prepares feather fall.
If you want to get the boats to shore in time please make a DC 15 profession sailor check.
"Get the boat to the shore if you don't want to get wet, gentlemen."
Riva prepares feather fall.
Swearing profusely, Toran attempts to paddle towards the shore
If anyone else wants to try something they better do so before tomorrow. The boat goes over the waterfall then.
Mal does his best to get the boat away from the water.
Pro Sailing.