The Beginning of All Things (Inactive)

Game Master Terquem

Marcus' heart sinks a bit when he hears there is nothing that can be done. He tries to think of the positives; extra manpower should the Fur..things become a problem. Possibly more manpower to help tend the crops and help Woodbridge flourish.

He sits quietly, eating and drinking, thinking about what will happen to his fathers shop. His quietness is broken by Poseus' scream. By the time Marcus gets outside, he sees Poseus gone off towards his home, at a furious pace and knows catching up with him would be nigh impossible given his head start. He looks towards the treelike to see why the haste, and Marcus can only stand silent, trying to comprehend everything going on.

Dieredon hears the scream, he picks up his commission, and rushes outside.

Come! All who can wield a sword or fight for justice!

Dieredon rushes off after Poseus.

Riku vaults out of his seat and breaks off in a sprint after Dieredon and Poseus.
I hope I'm not to late.

Calex had just opened his mouth to call Poseus back, to explain to his friend how his view of Woodbridge's traditions and way of life was all a recent lull given to them when the Imperials drove out the old warlords 9 years ago, when he hears Dieredon's shout. He begins to snap out instructions to the crowd: "Oscar! Lulu! See that the children and infirm are safe! Patricia! Organize a militia and see them equipped as a fire brigade as well! Head to MacNorra House as quick as you can get things together, and join us there! I'm off to follow Dieredon- anyone else who can, come with me!" He scoops up his belongings off the bar top and hurries out to the Gymnaga's settlement to the south. Calex's thoughts race: "We were too late last crisis to save the Castletown Lord. This time we fight for friends against fire or foe or both. By the Gods of Light on High we mustn't fail again!"

Perception, sight: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Well who would have known that a wolf would be so worldly? I envy these wolves. If they truly know their place in the world and are happy with that, they have more wisdom than most. Someday I will go exploring like you and maybe I’ll find my place in the world.

Alomar is perplexed by Darlene's remark, she always seems to be where she wants to be.

Could it be that she has the same doubts and worries that I have?

He is roughly taken out of his train of thoughts when he sees smoke over Woodbridge

"Smoke! Something is on fire in Woodbridge, let's quickly go there and see if we can help! Will you come with me?"

"What is it? That smoke, what could it be? That’s further away than Woodbridge, further south it looks like" she says and then steps back one step. "No, you go ahead, I’ll summon the Tambree Moawan, and find Cicily. We’ll follow as fast as we can. Do you think it’s a forest fire?"

Day 8, Woodbridge, Riverside

Dieredon quickly catches up to Marcus. They pause for a moment, when they hear Calex shouting instructions, and then turn to see him and the quiet stranger with the tattoos coming toward them.

Marcus knows the way, but the run is not an easy one.

Didn’t he just do this run a day before?

It will take the four of you twenty to thirty minutes to reach MacNorra House following the river. I would like each of you to post in the discussion thread if you want to confirm that you are going to run to MacNorra house.

Oscar and Lulu listen to Calex, and nod in agreement. Oscar throws off his apron, and takes Lulu’s hand as they head out southward away from the Bread and Board to warn everyone in the village.

Patricia grabs Calex by the arm, "Be careful, don’t get separated. I’ll gather who I can and follow, but Calex, the smoke, look at it, buckets won’t put that out, whatever it is." She looks to the west and points at the sky to say, "Rain, the thing we bemoan more often than we should, is coming, take heart in that"

there are dark rain clouds in the western sky

"Wait, what’s going on?" the halfling fellow says to no one in particular. "Calex, Dieredon, Marcus! I’m following you, but don’t wait for me. Patricia, there’s no time for me to get home and fetch a weapon, do you have a dagger you can spare?"

Patricia takes a long slender knife from her right boot, and hands it to Collin. The Halfling then follow the closest person he can see who is running toward McNorra house and shouts, "Where are we going?"

Poseus slides into the river just to the east of the Bread and Board and begins swimming upstream. The water is cold, but he barely notices as his heart races. Though he is swimming upstream the current is gentle and he navigates the shallows and rocks with ease. It seems like it takes forever, but only minutes have passed when he reaches the ruins of McNorra House.

Poseus will arrive at McNorra House well ahead of any of the Humans. How long you delay is up to each of you. Do you coordinate and leave together, or take off each at your own pace?

Marcus, hearing Calex speak up puts him both at ease and tense up. He knows something is going down, but wonders what a smithy's son could do. He runs by the shop, and grabs what he can, then races off towards the towards the plume of smoke.

My plan is to run towards shop, grab my dagger, sling, and bag of bullets. I would hastily don my studded leather, but Marcus feels time is of the essence so I would forgo that.

Poseus is in real distress and searches frantically near the houses for some clue, for anyone of his people and kin to be alive and respond. He goes to his parent's house first calling out to them and searches for his little sister and brother.

"Mom!! Dad!!" He races through the stone walls of his home. "Jellika?! Revano?! Where are you?"

Poseus goes back out and calls out in a clear, but disheartened voice.
"Rosilindeae?! Anyone?!"

"Where is everyone? What has happened here?"
He sulks back in disbelief and frustration as nobody answers, taking a few moments to compose himself. A sudden burst of energy crawls into his body as he remembers seeing signs of struggle.

He goes back to the places he saw the broken fences and tries to follow any tracks that are apparent in the dirt.

Take 20 on Survival: 20 + 7 = 27

Poseus - can we allow for the others to arrive, in the interim of when you are searching and before you start to follow tracks, oh, and there are tracks!

Sure, I'm guessing I'm rather busy with looking for signs that the others have time to catch up and see me frantically looking for signs.

Terquem, will you give everyone his/her signal for when they ought to arrive on stage?

Alomar quickly casts longstrider on himself and runs towards the flames as fast as he can.

Yes, it will be a complicated post and I can either have players make rolls, or arbitrarily decide who gets there first. Really, it won't matter, as no one will get there in time to "do anything" so I'll probably put up a post soon. However, Alomar may reach MacNorra House from a slightly different angle and I might give him a chance to spot a clue. Stay tuned! And, by the way, I don't want anyone getting a feeling I am creating plots while abandoning previous ones, this situation folds into the Lyph quest for a Spell Stone nicely, if you can just hang in there with me

Day 8, MacNorra House, afternoon

Where do storm clouds hide?

It’s a question from an old children’s tale.

Alomar follows the river southward toward MacNorra house. He stays on the east side of the river, when he leaves Mingary bend. The east bank of the river, around the Oxbow Lake at Woodbridge, is higher ground, and thick with small trees, but he is confident he can make better time going this way, and crossing the river closer to MacNorra House than if he wasted time doubling back toward Lakeside, and then going south on the west bank of the river.

In the village of Woodbr9idge there is a general commotion as some people take off at once for the Gymnaga Settlement, while other’s quickly run to their homes and gather things that might prove useful in an emergency.

Dieredon outpaces all the others, his long strides and experience in the wilds carries him ahead of Calex and Collin.

Marcus calls out to his parents and when they come out of the house, he quickly, while gathering his things, explains the situation.

The tattooed stranger is fortunate that he followed Dieredon, and did not hesitate, and even though he watches Dieredon increase the distance between them with every few steps, he never loses sight of the Elven ranger.

We may have lost Caorann. I’ll send another PM

Poseus arrives first, followed by Alomar, who may be delayed on the river bank, then Dieredon, Riku, Calex, Collin, and Finally marcus

Caorann seems a little lost in the chaos that follows, unsure of what has happened until she sees the smoke rise.

When Diederon calls for swords, Caorann answers it.

"I can help! I can help!

She flies along side the others as fast as she can.

Sorry, I though I posted wednesday, but it seems that either paizo ate it or I was mistaken.

Caorann will stay between Calex and Dieredon, and also help everyone keep from getting lost, by flying back and forth from the leaders to those following slower behind - she can arrive at the same time as marcus, if that is alright?

Fine by Caorann

Dieredon arrives and begins to search out Poseus.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

Poseus!

Riku runs up behind Dieredon. "Is there anyone hurt?"

Alomar stops in his tracks as he discovers the body. He turns over the body and sees that healing is of no use anymore. Voicing a quick prayer "Elementals, help this soul on to the afterlife" and moves on to MacNorra house.

Seeing the blaze he quickly moves to his friend
"Poseus! What happened here? Were you attacked? Where are the other Gymnaga? Did someone forced them to leave? I saw tracks by the crossing"

Dieredon hears distant shouts before he comes into the village, but after that sees Poseus hurriedly checking the surroundings around him quickly, calling out names and then resuminga search for... what? He's looking to the ground, tracing things on it with his hand a bit frantically.

He seems pretty oblivious to his name being called from a distance and still focuses on the ground, slithering along the ground in the direction his hand indicated just before.

Edit
When Alomar approaches and calls his name, Poseus seems to snap back to his senses and looks up at him, his eyes big and full of terror and sorrow.
"They're all gone Alomar... They've taken them all... Rosilindeae, my whole family too..."
At this point Poseus looks more broken down than ever before, the loss of his entire poeple seems a bit too much for the young Gymnaga to take in.

"We have to keep following these tracks Alomar. You've found them as well?" He asks him frantically. "We have to find them, we have to find them... Find out who did this... make them pay."

No real sense is coming out of him, but he is keen to look at the tracks Alomar described.

Come quickly, let us stay on the scent.

Survival (Tracking): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Day 8, MacNorra House (Gymnaga Settlement), late afternoon

Many, if not all of the buildings smolder, and flames can be seen devouring the roofs and interior walls. The stone foundations and walls of the old ruin of MacNorra house will probably survive, but for now, everything within the buildings is lost.

By examining the ground all around the settlement it is clear that some struggles took place, but there is no sign of bloodshed.

Poseus manages to find a trail. It is almost impossible to miss, as it is dozens of markings of creatures moving on lizard (or snake?) like bodies and at least nine sets of foot prints left by different sized boots.

The trail leaves the settlement near the south end, near a fenced area where a vegetable garden has been trampled and the fence destroyed on two sides. The trail approaches a ford in the river, and then it can be clearly seen going up the bank (which is higher on the east side of the river) on the other side of the river and into the woods beyond (the ground there is a steady rise into a series of low hills).

Dieredon confirms Poseus’ findings and calls to everyone to gather and be ready to pursue, but Alomar indicates (by pointing to the north) the possibility of another set of tracks. Alomar guides Poseus to the north, to show him what was found

Collin falls behind the others, but is happy to see Marcus coming up behind him and he lets Marcus guide him to the settlement. Caorann spies the two strangers (Marcus and Collin) and calls out for them to hurry as she darts ahead of them. Marcus, Collin, and Caorann arrive in time to see Alomar guiding Poseus to the north of the settlement, while Dieredon and Riku continue to search the scene.

Caorann and Riku see each other for the first time

Suddenly a cry of “Help! Please, Anyone!” can be heard from the building in the center of the river. The voice is male, older, and faint.

The roof of the building is in flames. The stone foundation of this building rests on a series of natural rocks in the center of the river. Here the river is wider (than it is either north or south of the settlement) but it is also shallower and moves faster. The nearest part of the building is thirty feet from the shore on the west back of the river.

It seems as though the temperature is dropping fast, the sky is turning grey. Black clouds are rolling in from the northwest.

As Poseus hears the shout for help, he tursn to see where it comes from and then sees the building in the river that's on fire. He wastes no time in sprinting off towards it and dives into the cold water.

Take 10 on Swim checks for a 21

Riku is confused by the tiny creature before him but ignores it for now.
He breaks into a sprint as he hears the shout and dives into the river after Poseus.
Swim: 1d20 ⇒ 15

Marcus, still in shock that there is a fairy amongst them, he rushes towards the village. He arrives just in time to Poseus and Alomar going north, then a cry pierces the air. His head turns on a swivel, trying to pinpoint the location. After seconds, that seem like minutes, he finds it, at house in the center of the river.

Marcus, forgets all about the fairy, and goes running off in the direction of the house.

swim: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

Caorann seems to consider diving into the water, but then realizes she can just fly over it. Originally typed that she dove in

When she gets to the other side, she flies high to get a view of the situation.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

We're coming! Where are you?!

Dieredon also dives into the water and begins to swim for the home.

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Not being build for water Alomar stands waiting long moments at the water's edge. He is anxious and hopes that the person in the building can be rescued.

I am going to try and describe this strange building in the middle of the river. There is a crude map posted at the top of the page. If you have questions, please ask

Day 8, Macnorra house

No one has ever been able to figure out exactly what function or purpose the strange structure in the middle of the river was built for.
It is a square structure, made from close fitting solid pieces of stone. The stones are placed on a part of the river bottom that is solid rock. The water here is about eight feet deep and the stone structure is a full twenty two feet high (eight feet of the stones are under the water while the walls rise fourteen feet above the river). There is no apparent way to enter the structure. There are no “doors” of any kind, but the water of the river flows through the structure through four holes, two in each wall that face up and down river. These holes are fully under the surface of the river, so in order to access the inside of the building one could swim through these holes if they were able to hold their breath.

There are two small, two foot wide, stone ledges that are about two feet higher than the river on the outside of the structure. One is on the western wall, at the north end of the building while the other is on the eastern wall near a strange hole that is above the river and is in the center of the eastern wall (if one swam to the eastern side of the structure and climbed up onto this ledge then climbed through this hole they could also enter the building).

Inside the building there is another stone ledge that is also two feet wide and is all along the inside perimeter of the structure. On the center of the western wall, inside the structure, the Gymnaga folk have built a short wooden platform that is anchored to the wall but that floats in the water. There is also a second wooden platform just to the north of the one in the center of the wall, and these platforms were put here for ceremonial purposes, where Rosilindeae performs special blessings and ceremonies.

When the structure was put to use by the Gymnaga folk, they erected a semi-enclosed roof, made of wood, on the top of the walls. This roof is supported by thick trusses and angles upward sharply, but the very center is an opening to the sky above that is about twelve feet square. This roof is currently on fire.

Poseus is the first to reach the structure.

He can take 10 and easily swim to the inside of the structure

Dieredon is close behind him, as is the tattooed strangerRiku

Poseus does not know who this tattooed stranger is

Marcus is right behind Riku

The DC to enter the building from the river through one of the holes in the walls below the water line is 18. A Swim Skill Check is required. If you fail, you surface near the wall, if you are upstream, or if you are downstream you surface ten feet away from the building. You can try once per round to enter the building. Round one, though there is no combat, begins now. Poseus can enter the structure automatically, in round one, if he wants to, and I will wait to see what everyone will do, before I describe the inside of the building.

Finally

Alomar stands on the western bank of the river. Here the bank of the river is a straight, worked edge of stones. A Halfling approaches him, the small Alodoan is panting for breath. Alomar is watching the people he knows swim the thirty feet of the river toward the strange structure, and trying to keep track of everyone and when the Halfling speaks it startles Alomar slightly

Hey, Maetaur, what’s going on? Why are they swimming out to that building? Should I go after them?

Although I don't know Riku, Poseus is in no mood or state to chit-chat with him now. He's having an adrenaline rush and knows only one thing: to save the ones inside the building.

Poseus enters the building through the quickest way he knows how and dives under the water and enters the the structure below the waterline.
The others see him dive under, but don't see him resurface, but then he calls out from inside.

"Help is here. Where are you?!" He calls out when he's resurfaced inside the structure.

Alomar involuntarily takes a step to the side, away from the halfling.

"Obviously the roof is on fire and we heard a voice from inside! Whether you should follow or not is your decision, not mine to make."

Alomar then goes back to peering over the waters, willing Poseus to rescue the person they heard.

Please help that poor soul.

I can't swim down there.

Calex arrives at the river edge in time to hear Riku's comment. He steps beside Alomar and lays a reassuring hand on his friend's shoulder before turning to the village new comer, and says "You may not have too. Surely the gymnaga didn't haul everything over there by swimming. There may be a raft or boat nearby, if you help us look. I could be wrong, but if we can find such we can also use it to get anyone injured to the river's edge for safety and healing."
Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Riku is on the island, he just can't swim down to the hole.

D'OH!

Friend? I do not think we have been properly introduced ;-)

Alomar shies away from the hand on his shoulder, stepping closer to the halfling again.

Why can't those twoleggeds understand that we consider it threatening to be hemmed in on both sides?

Stepping back he nods "I will start looking for a boat or raft"

Dieredon attempts to follow Poses inside.

swim: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

swim: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 vs dc 18

Starting to cough from the smoke, Caorann goes back down where it seems safer. Seeing no safe way in, she yells inside.

People are coming to help from the river! Yell so they can find you!

She flits around frantically around the building, trying to figure out how to get in.

Day 8, MacNorra House (Gymnaga Settlement), late afternoon

The flames burning away at the roof of the river house begin to take on an eerie glow as the sky continues to turn darker shades of grey.

Caoraan flies up t the top of the building but cannot brave the smoke that billows out of the fire. She circles the building calling out to those inside with words of encouragement and hope. When she rounds the building on the eastern side she notices a hole in the wall, a round hole no more than a couple of feet in diameter just a few feet above the water.

Poseus disappears under the surface of the water and Marcus and Dieredon try to follow. A life growing up on the river, and a body built for swimming the swift currents makes it easy for Poseus to find the hole in the wall and he pumps his tail powerfully to drive himself into the building and then surfaces with a shout.

Marcus misjudges the hole and runs out of air before he can navigate the opening. He surfaces near the wall and clings there for a second. He turns to the left and the right to get his bearings and sees that Dieredon has also misjudged the placement of the hole and the swift current. Dieredon has surfaced a few feet down river from the house and then with a grim look of determination the elf throws his arms into high strokes as he swims back upriver toward the house.

Meanwhile on the shore Calex meets Alomar for the first time, and even though their meeting is awkward, the two understand each other after only a few words are spoken and the two begin searching for a boat.

Collin cups his hands and calls out to the tattooed stranger who is now climbing up on the small stone ledge on the western side of the outside of the river house.

”We are trying to find a boat, we’ll be there soon, just hang on.”

When Poseus surfaces he is immediately assaulted by the intense heat. The fire of the roof is causing a whirlwind of air to spiral within the building drawing moist air from the water and filling the building with blinding steam and smoke. He coughs, gulps air, and strains his eyes.

There, just a few feet from him is Finnos Amodrae. He is one of the oldest of the Gymnagaopthians of the community, an elder that Poseus knows well. Finnos is thin, and his age shows in the bend of his shoulders and the silver in his remaining hair. The old man clings to the central pier of the building with his tail firmly wrapped around a thick piece of the wooden supports, while he floats on his back barely able to keep his head above the water. In his arms the old man holds two infant Gymnaga children. Finnos cannot see Poseus. While Poseus struggles to keep his lungs filled with air, he watches as Finnos seems to lose consciousness and the infants spill out of his arms and float toward the north wall crying loudly. Finnos’ tail is still wrapped firmly on the pier, but his head slips below the water.

Round two starts now. Poseus must make a Fortitude Save, the DC is 15. If he fails he begins coughing and choking, but as the smoke is filled with steam it does not incapacitate him as severely as dry smoke and he can take one move or one standard action this round. The others can attempt to aid each other in getting through the wall. One man can hold the wall and guide a friend toward the hole, when the first man has found the hole he pulls the other through. Working this way, Dieredon and Marcus can try again, and get a +2 to their swim Skill Check to get inside the building

Fort Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Though he is buffeted by the heat and warmth from the steam inside the building, Poseus can easily distinguish the shape of Finnos Amodrae slipping into the water. Poseus finds it impossible to decide to save the crying children or the old man who is about to drown if he doesn't help him.

Poseus decides that he could save the kids sooner as he sees Finnos's tail wrapped firmly around the pier still. Judging it might take him too long with the kids still in trouble he swims as fast as he can towards the kids and tries to grab them and swim back.

"Hold on kids, we're here to rescue you. Grab ahold of me tightly and I'll get you outside."
Swim check: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22

Move action to reach them, move action to swim with them back to where I entered the building.

Come, Marcus, let's go together.

Swim: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 2 = 10

man, you guys just can't catch a break on those swim skill checks can you?

Unbelievable...at least the bad rolls are not in combat.

Hopefully you can do better when I bring those kids out, you can bring them to shore and I'll head back for the old Gymnaga.