Bluff to impersonate the Nocturne mannerisms.
Ride check regardless of whether the bat sees me as a Nocturne or as a strange rider.
" I suppose you're going to say something along the lines of ' I told you so' ? "
1d20+3 Bluff to impersonate the Nocturne mannerisms.
1d20+2 Ride check regardless of whether the bat sees me as a Nocturne or as a strange rider.
" I suppose you're going to say something along the lines of ' I told you so' ? "
" I suppose you're going to say something along the lines of ' I told you so' ? "
"The simplest solution is often the best one, Magnus," Stilgar would say, putting a hand on his friend's shoulder; the gnome's words had been harsh, but the worry in them was evident, "You have every right to be concerned for Jinjer, but she will live - I swear this. As you said yourself, this is not the time for arguing; the others are already on their way. I suggest you hurry on and let your legs carry you - I will take care of these nocturne."
Whether Magnus heeds his words or not, Stilgar would wander over towards the two unconscious nocturne, mindful of Gaius' warning - they could wake up any minute now. He did not wish to take their lives, yet at the same time, he did not imagine that the savage creatures would be very cooperative. If only he had something to bind them with...
Assuming the bat does not actively attack us again, I shall pick myself up from the ground, dust off my clothes and run down the hill to join up with the others. Aware of Stilgar's plan, Magnus tries to focus his mind on other concerns. His goal should be to prevent anymore blood shed, and his time is best served in town rather than dealing with those four Nocturne. As he scurries down, he mumbles to himself "The plan was sound, it was the execution that was wrong. "
Having changed the plan, Magnus moves downhill to join Gaius and Terrana. Brodgar will stay to assist Stilgar.
Stilgar notes that the bats do have a type of harness on them. Grabbing up a dagger from one of the fallen nocturne, it will be a simple task to cut the leather straps of the harness and bind your prisoners with them. A quick perusal of the fallen reveals that in addition to the two felled by Gaius' spell, which you've already bound up, the one that Magnus' weasel chewed up is also among the living. There is also the bat Magnus wanted to commandeer, but it doesn't look like the beast will be going anywhere soon without healing.
The wind blows in from the north, carrying sounds away from rather than towards you, however you can hear the occasional faint scream or shout. More often, you hear ululating war cries that raise the hair on your neck.
Slightly winded and still smarting from the wound to his dignity his blind flight had caused, Brodgar does little but not his assent to each plan as it comes up in turn, paying less attention than he should be.
Brodgar keeps his axe in hand, well aware the situation may call for it. As Stilgar finds the harnesses, he nods wordlessly and sets about using the creature's daggers to cut the straps and sets about restraining the survivors.
With that done, he liberates any other cutting implements they possess to keep them from freeing themselves that way.
"This should keep 'em here 'til we can get back, assumin' they've anythin' to say. Shall we go?" Brodgar takes a few steps towards the direction of town, keen to come to their aid, but waiting on the cleric.
Satisfied with the thoroughness of the knotted reins, Stilgar would give his fellow dwarf a nod.
"Even if they break free somehow, they are without mount and blade," he would say, stepping next to Brodgar and drawing the club lent to him by Magnus, "So let us make haste."
With that, he would break out into a full run, hoping that they made it to Dunshale in good time.
These creatures are rather gruesome up close. They stink. They resemble gnomes but for their over-sized eyes and ears, their pale skin and wild, knotted white hair. Their weapons and equipment appear to be fashioned using bones, skin, and sinews, some of which may well be humanoid.
It takes the party several long, tense minutes to return to the village. During this time, your view of the village is enhanced as flames begin to lick up, enhancing the light being thrown off by the festival bonfires.
As Gaius and Terrana are about a minute away, they again hear the strange, ululating cries. However, these come from high overhead, and recede northward. Scanning of the skies reveals the movement of airborne shapes high above, seen only as their forms momentarily block the stars with their passage. It seems the nocturne are withdrawing.
As the group reconvenes at the village, the scene is tragic. Most of the folk are working to extinguish fires on a few of the buildings in town, including the Flask and Flail. Others are tending the injured. There are ladders set up on the side of the general store. As you move down the road you see Speaker Chandler standing below, shouting orders to a pair of the constables up above. As you pass, they give a heave and roll a dead dire bat off the rooftop onto the ground below.
"Hey we got a wounded man here! Where do we take him?"
You almost expect Gaius' voice to boom like thunder but it doesn't. He just shouts.
Keeping an eye on Jinjer and the others, Magnus moves quickly through town, searching the faces of the crowds for a specific human family who he spoke to earlier, and also listening for the voice of Corbin, the Seer. No doubt, he will have something important information for me.
Perception Check
A solemn expression on his face, Stilgar would head straight to the chapel, remembering that a great deal of the commotion from earlier that day had been there.
A solemn expression on his face, Stilgar would head straight to the chapel, remembering that a great deal of the commotion from earlier that day had been there.
Sighting the Dwarf Cleric. Gaius sets off after him.
"Come on, temple will be the best place for him1"
Tarrana follows. "That's debateable." She comments.
Tarrana follows. "That's debateable." She comments.
"I'm open to suggestions."
Tarrana follows. "That's debateable." She comments."I'm open to suggestions."
"None that will help our little friend here. Let's keep moving." She pauses and seems to lsiten to something before speakin again. "And you be silent, I've not the time for you right now."
"I'd think he's pretty well off'n Brother Stilgar's hands," Brodgar remarks as he trots along after the temple-bound party, surveying the damage as they pass by.
The damage seems minimal. The rapid response by the villagers has the fires under control. From the look of it, they were set ablaze from above. Among the wounded are two of the constable's deputies, one of which is unconscious, probably under the effects of the same poison that felled Jinjer.
As the party returns to the chapel, they pass Speaker Chandler, who is addressing several of the villagers.
"I have sent runners to inform the Thane of the attack, and to request soldiers from the Jarl. I am officially ending the festival. First we will assemble here on the green. We shall take part in the traditional burning of the masks, a sign of our devotion to Baal, and a petition that he protect us from these evils out of the dark. Then you shall all retire to your homes. We shall persevere, as always. Baal give us strength."
Magnus: You see Seer Corbin standing off to one side with some of the other village elders, listening to the Speaker. No immediate sign of Willem or his parents.
Stilgar & Terrana: With the end of the festival and the disposal of the masks, Terrana is going to stand out like a sore thumb, or more accurately, like a horned, red-skinned menace.
With the end of the Speaker's declaration, I shall join Corbin and speak with him " Are you alright, sir? I wanted to ensure your safety and be certain that the events of the night do not change your command that I work with Brother Stilgar. With your permission, I shall return to him presently and be under his leadership while we make repairs to the town and its people."
Self consciously Taranna looks for a place to hide adn seems on the verge of panic, never mind that she was mostly immune to simple flames.
Self consciously Taranna looks for a place to hide adn seems on the verge of panic, never mind that she was mostly immune to simple flames.
Recognizing the hunted look in Tarana's eyes and remembering the lessons learned when the Gracci needed to evade the official eye, Gaius speaks.
"This way o flame of distraction. The temple will be the last place they look."
"Yes, the temple should prove safe enough," Stilgar would say to Tarrana and Gaius, as he surveys the area, "Take refuge in my chambers if too many people are there; the door should be unlocked. I should be able to join you shortly - now, I have business with the Speaker."
Waiting but a moment, Stilgar would approach Chandler, whom he had met earlier that day. The dwarf had been meaning to make amends for his overly snide remark, but now was not the time for such trivialities.
"Greetings, Speaker. I am glad to see that you are well, though I wish I could say the same of everyone," he would say, in all sincerity, "Were any lives lost in the midst of it all?"
"Aye, we'll keep yer head down, Tarrana," Brodgar remarks. As Stilgar leaves to talk with the speaker, Brodgar waves the remainder of the party onward, leading them to the temple. Once there he'll show Tarrana to an out-of-the-way room and get Jinjer set up with a sickbed.
Magnus: Corbin turns to you, the lines in his old face seeming more deeply etched. "Ah, it is good to see you are alive and well. Yes, I think it best you stay with Brother Stilgar and provide him what aid you can. Here, I have something which may help you." He reaches into a pouch at his side and produces a glass globe. It appears to be filled with an amber liquid, and a dark needles floats at the center of the globe.
"This was given to me by my former master when the role of village Seer was passed to me. It is good for finding that which is lost. Simply speak the name of what you seek, and it shall point the most direct path to it. Be specific in your requests, or it may lead you to something other than what you seek."
Stilgar: The Speaker turns to you and gives you a look of relief mixed with frustration.
"There you are! I've had people looking for you. We have injured that need attending to. No one was killed, thank Baal. A strange, fiery premonition lit up the sky shortly before they attacked, so we were wary. They managed to make off with three villagers. It would have been four, but we managed to kill one of those monstrous bats. Blasted thing landed on the roof of my shop! The deputy they had captured rolled off the roof, but he lived. Might have broken something in the fall though. Constable Jeron is taking a head count to figure out who we lost. I'll send the apothecary to the chapel to help you with the wounded. Now that you're here, I'll have the injured brought there for you."
Brodgar, Terrana, & Gaius: You return to the chapel, where you find several people already in attendance. Some are weeping, others are praying. Shortly thereafter, the wounded are brought in and made comfortable on the pews. Most appear to sport minor injuries: grazing wounds from weapons, cuts and bruises from falls, minor burns from fighting the fires. The unconscious deputy is laid near Jinjer. A bald fellow with a busy mustache examines his wound, and then Jinjer's. He chews on the ends of his mustache as he works.
"Looks like blue whinnis poison. Not fatal, but they'll be out for a while. Could be as long as a few hours."
"Aye, I will head to the chapel immediately," Stilgar would say, turning to leave. However, he would then glance towards the direction of the hill he had arrived from, hesitating momentarily before speaking again, "You should know - Brother Brodgar and I encountered several of those creatures on the hill to the north," he would begin, thinking it best to keep the other members of his group in confidence - especially Tarrana, "We managed to render three of them unconscious, and bound them together. I do not know if they have awoke, but they are without armaments. Perhaps it would be in our best interest to send someone to detain them for questioning, should the Jarl's forces indeed come to our aid."
Regardless of Chandler's response, Stilgar would accompany the apothecary to the chapel, where he would use any resources and abilities at his disposal to assist the wounded.
Tarrana keeps to herself the whole time endeavoring not to be seen as much as possible. Difficult given the circumstances.
At this point, Tarrana is still safe. The unmasking hasn't occurred yet. When the time comes, Stilgar has private quarters in the chapel itself. Also, the cover of night and a deep hood could help, so long as no one is looking too closely.
"This was given to me by my former master when the role of village Seer was passed to me. It is good for finding that which is lost. Simply speak the name of what you seek, and it shall point the most direct path to it. Be specific in your requests, or it may lead you to something other than what you seek......They managed to make off with three villagers."
[spoiler= If I did hear the above] Magnus, I'm pretty useless with the wounded but if we can find Jerol and he has even one of the captured peoples names then your little bottle imp can lead us straight to the nocturnes nest. I suspect the Jarl would like that information. [\spoiler]
Otherwise. Keep out of sight O ornament of the eastern sky. I need to check on some friends at the Flail. Anon. Gaius quickly crosses the square to the flail looking for mule and his band.
I will thank Corbin with a great flourishing bow, that leads into a friendly hug then stash the unusual item in the bottom of my bag for the time being, telling Tuboo to keep an extra close eye on it. I will then join up with the rest of the group at the chapel and inquire as to the information they have gathered so far. Once I hear of the kidnap of the three people, I will leave to canvas the crowds and find out if anyone knows who was taken.
Diplomacy to gather info
Magnus: The people taken were: Esther Volk, the wife of a local prosperous farmer; Landon, constable's deputy; and Willem, the young man of your recent acquaintance.
Gaius: Gaius notes that Mule, Sable, and Wolfe are nowhere to be found. Asking around, folk remember seeing them earlier that day, but not much longer after the time you spent speaking with them.
In private I shall contemplate the next action I must take, searching the night sky for the answers. In a snap, I shall break into a sprint, looking for Willem's parents, taking Corbin's gift out of my bag, almost fumbling it to the ground in my enthusiasm.
Oh, as I wander the night, I shall examine the object more closely to learn the nature of its magic.
Perception to find Willem's parents
Spellcraft for more specifics
Magnus is able to find Willem's parents readily enough. They are, understandably, rather distraught. As for unique objects, the only thing his mother can think of is a striped scarf he was wearing that she knitted for him.
The "finding sphere" is an unusual item. It seems that by naming a particular person or thing, the magic will activate and the needle will point in the direction of the named target. It will continue to point towards its target until it comes within a few feet of it, at which time it deactivates.
Its duration seems unlimited, however, the reservoir of power that initially activates the item is greatly drained by the act, and needs time to recharge before it can be used again. The longer it takes to reach the target, the longer it takes to recharge.
I will return to the group at the chapel at this point, thanking Willem's parents and attempting to console them as best I can. Once the party is gathered together, I say:
"It appears that the town shall mend itself. I suggest that we canvas the people in order to gain knowledge of any unique objects the captured villagers had on their person that we may use to divine their location. We should leave as soon as we are all prepared. " I glance to Jinjer, ask if we expect her to arise soon, then get back to the task at hand. "We will need some transport to speed our journey. I will attempt to procure some horses, but we should all be on the lookout for other possibilities. Once we are all prepared, we should ride for a distance in the direction the Nocturne ventured to see if they have left a trail. Is this plan agreeable to all members? "
Tarrana appears grateful but is otherwise silent as she's led away to Stilgar's sanctuary. Curiously sheets of paper flitter about in her presence and candle flames seem to dance joyously at her passing.
I will return to the group at the chapel at this point, thanking Willem's parents and attempting to console them as best I can. Once the party is gathered together, I say:
"It appears that the town shall mend itself. I suggest that we canvas the people in order to gain knowledge of any unique objects the captured villagers had on their person that we may use to divine their location. We should leave as soon as we are all prepared. " I glance to Jinjer, ask if we expect her to arise soon, then get back to the task at hand. "We will need some transport to speed our journey. I will attempt to procure some horses, but we should all be on the lookout for other possibilities. Once we are all prepared, we should ride for a distance in the direction the Nocturne ventured to see if they have left a trail. Is this plan agreeable to all members? "
I doubt the flying bats left much of a trail in the upper roads, but you are right about needing speed. Why do we need to find objects associated with the abductees?'
"Specifically, it must be objects that they may still have on their person. As you are familiar with magic, I'm sure you're aware with a spell called "locate object" ? I may be able to duplicate this effect and help us discover the den of the Nocturne. " with this, Magnus pulls out the finding sphere for Gaius to see.
"Specifically, it must be objects that they may still have on their person. As you are familiar with magic, I'm sure you're aware with a spell called "locate object" ? I may be able to duplicate this effect and help us discover the den of the Nocturne. " with this, Magnus pulls out the finding sphere for Gaius to see.
'Perfect, that should help. Nocturne tend to be communal so I expect they are taking the captives to the same place. Do we have any information on any of the folks who were taken?'
Following his dicussion about the nocturne's attack on the village with the Speaker, Stilgar would immediately retire to the chapel, where he would offer any assistance needed by the injured. Looking over them, the cleric would grasp the wooden holy symbol that hung around his neck, murmuring a silent prayer to Baal. "It is by your will we survived, but now I ask of thee - relieve those that suffered by evil's hands, he murmured, calling upon the power of Baal to invigorate as many people in the chapel as possible. He hoped that in tandem with the healers' efforts, it would be enough to stave off anyone that had come in harm's way.
"We do. I know the young man, Willem, who was taken. He was the winner at the races earlier this day. It seems a very long time ago. Also, from what I have gathered, a farmer's wife and the deputy to the constable were taken. Shall we move out as soon as Jinjer has regained her faculties?"
After channeling his deity's power, Stilgar would excuse himself before retiring to his chambers, where the others were residing. Upon entering, he would remove Magnus' club from his belt, handing it back to its owner, offering a nod of thanks. He would then approach his bedside, leaning over to lift his warhammer off the ground. He silently vowed to never leave home without Baal's iron again.
"If this device of yours does at you say it does, then locating the captured villagers should not be too difficult," he would remark, stroking his beard in thought, "I do not believe procuring horses should be a problem. However, given the nature of the nocturne's mounts, any lair they might have could be more than a day's travel away at ground speed."
Jinjer comes around about an hour after she initially collapsed. Once your intent to go after the missing folk becomes known, Esther Volk's husband, Gregor, offers you the use of all the animals at his disposal to speed your journey: three light horses, a pony, and two mules.
Jinjer comes around about an hour after she initially collapsed. Once your intent to go after the missing folk becomes known, Esther Volk's husband, Gregor, offers you the use of all the animals at his disposal to speed your journey: three light horses, a pony, and two mules.
Tarrana will stay out of sight until it's time to leave and be happy when they leave town before the mask burning.