Splinters of Faith

Game Master Ayrphish

"Yes I think that Gow is right, we best return to the inn after Froth here figures out if there are any tracks he can find."

Sorry busy day yesterday

"I'd praise you alot Froth, if you could follow these tracks further into the town, I doubt one could make much sense of them among the many steps in the centre"
Rasim says as he points to the tracks leading away from the range and into town.

Rasim looks around the house and chicken range for a barn or other good hiding spot, perhaps with a good view on the chicken coop, to be used later.

"You're probably right about following the tracks into town. I ain't that good a tracker, but I can give it a try."

Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Nope.

I'll try it as well, though doubting it would work
Survival: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
guess not

"Everything we need to know about those tracks is that they go into town. Time to start asking questions."

Squatting on the ground Rasim looks up at the old man.
"Just be discreet about it, none have the need to know we think it is a thief rather than a fox" he pauses for a second "Nor that we aim to catch him tonight or any following nights"

He looks at everyone of the group. This 'thief' will probably bolt as soon as he hears someone aims to catch him"

"Trust me I know the sort of folk. However I don't know you, what is your name anyway, musician?"

Just as an introduction, we only heard your music, not your name

"Could these tracks be some type of diversion? After all, the tracks seem to disappear in the center of town, so they could lead out of town."

]Do we have a map to look at?

"Don't care what you call me. And it depends on yr endgame. Stoppin the thievin or retribution for said thievin?"

Gow, noticing Rasim looking around, pipes up. "If you're looking for a place to hide, you don't need to worry: I'll take care of it."

"Man doesn't care what we call him? Let's see then; old man, grey hair, blue eyes, perdy. So, should it be Geezer, Oldy, Grandpa, Silvermane? He is perdy though; especially his mouth. You got a perdy, perdy mouth, stranger. That brings a name to mind too..."

The big creature holds a straight face for a few minutes and then busts out laughing, and slaps the musician on the back.

The old man chuckles. "Boy, if you're trying to offend ...wrong audience. Though those with better vision might disagree looking at your face."

Rasim turns to 'Blue Eyes'"Catching the thief in the act means retribution and stopping the thieving, though scaring him away is a short time solution, he could as easily come back"
But it always depends on how hard they are looking for you I suppose

Hearing Forth burst out into laughing, Rasim grins as well on his remarks, but then straightens his face. "Silvermane is actually a nice suggestion Froth"
"So shall we be off? Either planning for tonight back in the inn or perhaps some of you want to ask the villagers if they have seen the fox or something last night?"

Wodin shrugs. "If we c'n find out i' any o' th' townsfolk know anythin' about 'is, i' could help us figure out 'ow t' go about 'is whole thing," the Paladin suggests.

Wow, you guys don't even need me... Sorry it has been a while i since posted, bad weather, some family issues, all at the same time, but let's see what we can do here...

The old man responds to the question, informing you that sometimes it is more than 1, and it has started in the last couple days. This is bad for him and the town, as the town relies on the chickens to eat, and he relies on the town buying the chickens.

Your attempts to follow tracks are really helpful, there aren't obvious fox tracks, and any others eventually get tangled up with 'normal' tracks back in town.

It sounded like you maybe wanted to ask around, see if you could gather some information? Or go to the Inn and make a plan...

"I wonder if there are any neighboring hostile groups of humanoids around here"

Vlagras turns to the old man,

"Does the town or the church have any enemies?"

Diplomacy = 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

"I'm going to have a chat with Birdy NumNum. Start getting him ready for tonight. Do we want to reconvene at the inn this afternoon? We can get a bite to eat and formulate a plan. Unless you need me for anything here?"

"I'll take the night's watch on the farm tonight regardless. Hopefully Birdy NumNum will offer me some assistance, I'll go along with you Gow to see him."

"If you need me along for inquiries around town just let me know, okay"

"Yes, Birdy NumNum and I will stay up with you. Anyone else want to come with?"

With that, Gow starts heading back to the inn where his companion is stabled.

"Hmm. Glowing eyes make it hard to hide in the dark, but I don't mind being nearby, especially if I get to inflict some of that retrobution on someone!"

Wodin nods, saying, "I'll come, too, lads. I don' know 'ow much 'elp I'll be, bu' I s'pose extra 'ands can't 'urt."

"I intend to capture the thief, if he attacks me or Birdy NumNum feel free to step in Froth and he is all yours. I'd like to know if this thief is just stealing for his life, for money, or something else."

"Every help would be appreciated Wodin," Rasim says as he is about to follow Gow back to the inn, "Though stay out of sight as much as possible to not alert him of our presence."

Wodin nods again. "I ain't much o' th' sneakin' type, bu' I c'n be loike a statue i' need be," he says, sounding completely serious.

The old man lets you know that he is not aware of an enemies in the town, telling you that you that the town is so small, that there just isn't room for enemies.

If you can inform me of exactly what you want to do for your plan, we can fast-forward to nightfall. It sounds like some stealth rolls will also be needed, so if you think those will be relevant for you, you can go ahead and give me those as well. Once I know what everyone's plan is, and we get the necessary rolls, we'll continue with the night?

"Maybe someone in town looks fuller than they should."

Gow will recommend hiding Birdy NumNum in/near the chicken coop. Everyone else can hide nearby within sight. He'll use silent image spells to conceal everybody.

"That's right! I can keep three such spells active at once."

Swift: concentrate 1 (Effortless Trickery)
Move: concentrate 2
Second Move: concentrate 3

My bad, I was thinking concentration worked like flaming sphere. Gow can maintain two illusion spells at a time.

Rasim will probably be somewhere near the chicken coop, hiding behind a pillar or something. If there is no pillar he'll be up on a roof near the chicken coop

When night falls and everyone gets to his place, Rasim gets his chain shirt off and stows it with his comrades, then climbs/hides away waiting to ambush the chicken thief. Eagerly waiting and listening for any signs of someone approaching.

If I could take 20 on this I would take it, preparation and all

Stealth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15
Perception (listen): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

rats, hopefully his perception sucks...

Ill allow you take 20, so we'll make that a 31?

Yes, yes it would be a 31

Wodin would likely be sitting still somewhere inconspicuous, possibly even under the effects of Gow's silent image spell. Would he be able to take 20 on his stealth check, too? Or does it need to be trained?

Gow will put one silent image (sleeping chickens) in front of the chicken coop - concealing Birdy NumNum and possibly Rasim. The other image can be whatever's needed and will go wherever the rest of the party is hiding (I have 6 10ft cubes worth of image to play with). If either image is interacted with, the DC is 17.

Stealth Checks (untrained, but taking 20)
Gow: 22
Birdy NumNum: 24

Perception Checks
Gow: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (2) + 0 = 2 I guess he's totally focused on maintaining his illusions
Birdy NumNum: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

First-level Spells remaining: 3

Taking 20, Wodin's Stealth roll is a 17. Hopefully that's enough to hide in a silent image.

Froth will wait in the nearest place with enough cover to conceal someone his size, such as in the farmhouse or in the woods (if any).

Vlagras finds a place near the chickens. Her eyesight maybe able to catch something.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

sorry got caught with school work yesterday

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 Stealth Taking Twenty is 24.

The old man stays quiet but his thoughts are elsewhere.

Ok, as the night progresses, lights around the town start to turn out, and darkness really sets in. The stars and the moon are lost behind some clouds, making it even ominously darker.

It almost feels like nothing is going to happen, when slowly and cautiously a humanoid figure emerges near the chicken coup.

He looks both ways and slowly starts to climb over the fence toward the birds, and empty bag in one hand.

I think Rasim would be on the roof of the chicken coop

Rasim readies himself to jump off the roof on the figure, using acrobatics when the humanoid figure reaches the Silent Image of the sleeping chickens cast by Gow.

Acrobatics (to fall softly): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
If need be an acrobatics check to cover 10 feet: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
Rasim jumps off the roof gracefully and lands on the thief.

I'll attempt to land on him and grapple him: 1d20 ⇒ 12
He tries to grapple the humanoid figure, but can't seem to grab him as tightly as he wanted to

"No escape for you!!" Rasim shouts as he lands hoping to alert the others

I just realized I don't know what sort of pistol I can start with? I pictured a revolver, but never asked what you'd prefer.

A single shot, muzzle-loader is standard...

Glowing balls of light suddenly surround Rasim and the would-be thief. The image of the sleeping chickens vanishes, and Birdy NumNum and anyone else using it for cover is revealed. He squawks angrily. Everyone using Gow's second image for concealment is still hidden.

Spells Remaining
SLA: dancing lights 0/1
SLA: ghost sound 1/1
SLA: prestidigitation 1/1
SLA: speak with animals 0/1

First-Level 3/5

The old man draws his pistol and holds it directly at the robber's head. "Not an inch."Intimidate: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

Froth will leave his hiding place and move cover the escape. He stands there looking menacing, with his huge sword held casually over one shoulder.

Vlagras pops out and casts light on her longsword to reveal the humanoid's face.

The intruder freezes immediately, clearly surprised by Rasim's acrobatics and the appearance of his armed party.

Whoa whoa whoa... No need for all the weapons, I ain't in the mood for fightin' tonight...

The man surrenders and identifies himself. He tells you that he was hired by "some creepy guy in robes" to stand guard at an unearthed burial site on the other end of town. He went down to investigate about 3 or 4 days ago and no one has heard from him since. In that time, he has been sneaking into the farm to steal chickens to feed the hired hands. No one has been willing to go in after "the creepy guy," and they were given explicit instructions as well as a decent payment to simply wait his return.

He continues to tell you that the site is guarded, and isn't sure if the rest of his party will be as willing to stand aside as he is.

Froth leans close to his nearest companion and whispers, "So, he's guilty, right? Can I heap retribution on him now?" He adjusts his grip on his sword in preparation, the hints of a smile starting to curl his mouth at the corners.

"So you are a thief and accomplice of a graverobber" Rasim shakes his head "My, my, I wonder what the town's sheriff has in mind for you. You do know that he is a very strong man, right? Hate to see you all lose your face about that"

Bluff: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

Thought I had Intimidate, using Bluff instead

"I think that we should let the farmer decide what to do with our thief." Gow whispers back to Froth. "After all, he's the guy who's been losing chickens. Of course, it's sounding like this guy's buddies might be needing your kind of retribution."

Wodin looks furious at the mention of graverobbing. "Ain't a soul aloive 'at 'as th' roight t' disturb th' rest o' th' dead. Take us 'ere, lad. I don' care if yer fool companions wan' t' git in our way. 'is injustice won' stand," the Paladin states, gripping the chain of his dorn-dergar.

"I would feel more comfortable handing him over the local authorities, however, since this seems more then just a chicken thief problem, I think we should hand him over to the farmer to keep as many people uninvolved."

Vlagras tries to recall anything from her dream. She remembers the billowing clouds that rumbled over the area. She had a bad feeling about this grave-robber.