The Crucible of Freya (Inactive)

Game Master Grimmy

Sam returns with Jerrid.
"Our new friend needs a staff of arcane sight from a Cave by the Keep. We agreed to bring it back since we are going there anyway. A poor old lady should be allowed to see her grandchildren. Yes, she tugged at little Freya's servant's heartstrings."

Sam hands a potion of bull's strength to the paladin.
"I picked this giant strength potion for you as part of our advance. With a noble quest secured, our steps are blessed!"

Sam takes out his holy symbol and begins a prayer dedicating this quest to Freya.

"Recovering the eye of the norns is a great quest. We are doing something similar."

Sam encourages Leo to join hands with him in prayer.
"Freya, shine light and wisdom into this world. Protect the pure of heart and those who act in the interest of others....."

cats grace+ bull strength picked-- Sam was earnest in his promise to get her staff

Damien raises an eyebrow in Sam's direction, "Aye, and just what is supposed to be guarding this staff?"

Lannet has been quiet all day, eyes turned down to the road.

Looks like if Astor came this way he was staying off the road...

Survival: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (19) - 1 = 18

Sam scratches his head"I was so out to do a good deed, I forgot to ask about any guardians. Did you Jerrid?"

Sam adds: "Since it seems a mythic quest, I am thinking a three-headed dog would be interesting. Anyway, we gotta hurry. I'll lead the march this time."

Sam begins to whistle as he marches and swings his arms.

Link to Sam's whistle song.

Waiting for Jerrid to weigh in but I do believe we're camping for the night Sam...

Camp, hangout, I want Leo and Kev back for the next stuff.

"Iidriarog didn't say there were guards, but that is probably because a half-orc shaman does not know such. Taking a means of sight from a blind person in the woods strikes me as much less heroic for some of you hero types. That witch may know things about the Keep, Janna, as a hedge mage."

Jerrid pulls out the two potions and hands them over to Damien and Vhillish. You better have these in case we have to give them back. This one makes you stronger and this one, the blue liquid with the fishy smell, heals a little."

Damien snorts derisively in Sam's direction, "So less Cerberus and more blind old bag? My, won't we be quite the dashing heroes Master Halfling. I suppose you planned to feign surprise once you'd lured us to her cave?"

He nods appreciatively to the gnome as he takes the potion of strength, "Why Jerrid, and here I didn't even get you anything."

Leaning on his long hammer, Damien looks to Janna, "Well, daring quest or no, Kinslarn is right. If this witch lives near the tower, she might be able to give us some information at the very least. Might be worth a visit, no?"

At Jerrid's gifted potion the veteran tips his helm in thanks to the deep gnome;

"Much obliged Master Kinslarn. Here's hoping it won't be needed whot!?"

Vhillish then half-listens to the various exchanges before he settles on a place to camp;

Survival: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

"Over there near that clearing back from the track will be fit for purpose whot! Good line of sight to both the road and the forest around...

As the Serjeant-Depute heads toward the designated spot he seems compelled to chip in;

"Ladies and Gents. Don't want to be the nay-sayer in all this... but...Per'haps we're also missing another possibility... Per'haps this cave wytch was... (ahem) cursed to blindness! Per'haps she gave up her sight in some fell bargain with daemons and such! We've seen it before whot! Remember the Grimlock Matron Lieutenant sah! Blind too she was! Ate poor Smythy - that lanky standard bearer from the 45th sah! And a few score more!"

"Kev can see if she is bad witch. If she is, we get her. If she turns out to be a good witch, we talk to her. Just don't go attacking her until we have talked to her. She may be up for a deal."

Sam adds: "As for the first potion witch, Jerrid met her once. I have known her longer. Just because she is a half orc doesn't make her bad. I think we should avoid those type of judgements."

He adds: "Lannet and I and maybe Jerrid can go in and scout. We may not need to get into any of the fighting you soldiers seem to like."

Lannet spends the last couple hours of sunlight hunting rabbits.

Survival: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (17) - 1 = 16

"Aha! Look Janna! These will make a fine stew if we can find some wild onions."

Leoven internally dispair...He wants no more side quest, he just wants to complete his task in eralion keep and return to the safe and quite temple of Tyr.

As he hands over the blue healing potion to Vhillish there is a small sting in the tail, "the shaman would make a good friend or a bad enemy. I am sure you will only drink this if it needed but once that happens then Sam and I must fulfill our promise to take Iidriarog the staff. What?"

Finishing with a poor mimic, the deep gnome drags himself to his rough grey winter blanket to rest again. Journal tomorrow.

Vhillish takes the blue vial with ne'er a twitch of his waxed 'tache;

"Your shaman need not worry Master Kinslarn. All things being equal it shall not be inbibed, so nor you or Master Damnbringer be imposed with such a geas..?"

The sergeant-depute weighs his parting words before heading to gather more fire wood;

"...however it is good you have the liberty to make such a decision whot?"

"No doubt, brother gnome."

Janna had contemplated what Jerrid's task was as well as sam's apparently.

exactly what staff are you to give to this alchemist? You do realize that I originally hired all of you to assist me in obtaining a staff from the Keep as well. I would hope that you did not choose to barter away what I am seeking without discussing things with me.

The night passes with only the sound of the wind rustling the tall grass.

It seems no one from Crimmor is pursuing you after all.

Kevezyat finds wild onions and rosemary and Lannet slow cooks the rabbits in Vhillish's iron pot. After going hungry in Crimmor the resultant stew is a revelation.

The night is chilly but not uncomfortable with the shelter provided by the tents you bought in Fairhill. Even old Lucky Number 7 the mule grazes happily before laying down to rest.

In the morning the road feels a little less tiresome.

The sun is shining but the dark specter of Eralion's wood looms just a few short miles north across the rolling grassland.

In a matter of hours the old broken single lane dirt road is winding north along the bank of the narrow nameless tributary that tumbles down out of the Stoneheart mountains along the western edge of Eralion's wood. Ahead of you the road forks. Across the river, six miles to the west, lies Fairhill. To the north lies Eralion's keep, his long untrodden private drive dense with overgrowth as it meanders into the ominous wood where the eccentric old staff-maker had built his lonely home.

Beyond the fork, picking their way across the river ford is a band on horseback.

You can make out five cloaked figures on horses, with a dwarf on a pony taking up the rear. Tethered behind the pony is a prisoner with a hood over his head, stumbling across the river ford thigh deep in water as two footmen prod him along from the rocky crossing.

The two footmen are large and muscular, you can't tell for sure from here but they are probably half-orcs.

Edit: You guys can finish your RP at the campsite before responding to this, but I'll leave it here for when you're ready ;)

At the Camp :

Damien shrugs as he begins unpacking the tents from Lucky 7, "Well we'll just have to hope she's a miserable old cow. I don't know about the rest of you but I can only imagine "Arcane Sight" is something that might come in handy breaking into some kook of a wizard's tower. Don't you think?"

After a peaceful night with a belly full of warm stew, Damien feels much refreshed some the morning. A stiffness in his left knee seemingly all that remains from the group's expedition to the stirge wood.

Seeing to packing the camp, the veteran seems to be less concerned with speed than the past few days. He seems relieved to seemingly be removed from immediate danger for once.

At the Ford :

As the group nears the ford, Damien ushers them to the side of the road. Leaning on his hammer in an unconcerned manner, he speaks in a low voice, "Just keep yer heads down. If anyone's to ask questions it should be Janna doing it, better received that way."

He looks to the Sorceress, "Keep it short though. Pretty or no, there's nothing more annoying...or suspicious than overly nosy civilians when you're on prisoner detail. Trust me."

Jerrid stares back at Janna, his mouth opens and closes. He eventually rolls over back to sleep.

The gnome eats some cold stew in the morning, picking out the fatty bits and giving them to Medus in tiny pieces. The snake flickers away and hides again as others make noise getting ready to leave.

Later at the fork, Jerrid slips away into the undergrowth and hides from the rear of the party. He looks for a long channel or series of humps or tussocks so he can move in cover if needed.

The gnome waits and listens.

Stealth: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34, Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18

At the camp, Sam replies to Janna:
"Is the staff we are searching for for you an arcane sight staff sight in a cave near the Keep? If so, that is not what I though we are after."

At the crossing, Sam looks around and says: "Somebody should find out if they know anything."

There is ample tall grass on either side of the dirt road for Jerrid to maneuver.

Jerrid moves closer so he can listen to the exchange near the ford.He intends to stay there so that the guards and prisoner will walk passed his position after the meeting. Just so he gets to hear any important comments from hiding.

Round the Campfire

Vhillish judiciously oversees equal portions of the rabbit stew before allowing seconds to any who wish it. At Janna's concerns the veteran shoots a stern look back and forth to Sam and Jerrid;

"The Lady Janna has the crux of it whot? Best we ware that counter bargains do not undermine our benefactor's own requirement for such a staff!"

At the Ford

Vhillish eyes the oncoming group with a hard look. Galvanised by Damien's words the veteran reports to his former commander, shooting a look to Janna;

"Sah! M'Lady! Permission to take up a position where my (ahem) talents may be best used whot! Into the tall grass... Should things go south... might be prudent to keep them honest!!"

Cool.

There is a fallen tree lying about 35' from the river ford.

As Jerrid gets closer he gets a better look at this band. The five on horseback have similar blackish cloaks. It looks like a familiar uniform. These might be the same agents that were in Fairhill to retrieve the gem that Lannet stole from their merchant boss.

It looks like a male human and female half-elf with black leathers armed with shortsword, dagger and crossbow. These two are in the lead.

Behind them but also already across the ford is an unarmored women with raven black hair carrying a simple black quarterstaff, and an elf with a longbow.

Behind them, the last rider is a half-orc in the same black leathers as the pair in front, but also carrying a mace and shield.

Still crossing the ford are the two half-orc footmen, and the hooded prisoner being towed along by the dwarf on the pony.

Perception:
Zalatha: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19
Vorgya: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20
Jarra: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
Darkral: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Korungra: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Half-Orcs(distracted): 1d20 - 5 ⇒ (4) - 5 = -1
Dwarf (distracted): 1d20 - 5 ⇒ (2) - 5 = -3
-3 distance penalty to the tree. DC 19 Stealth to reach the fallen tree

The rest of the party is over 100' away from the ford. The agents would be aware they are about to meet other travelers on the road, but preoccupied and distant as they are there is still a chance for Vhillish to try to slip away from the road as he proposed.

Lannet scratches his head.

Those riders look familiar...

The female half-elf in the lead calls out.

"Hail, travelers! Clear the road! We are passing with a prisoner."

She turns and says something inaudible to her companions.

DC 19 Stealth for Jerrid to reach the tree and try to hear what they are saying.

If anyone else wanted to get off the road into the grass before the hail, you can still give me those stealth rolls now.

Stealth oh no!: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15, Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32

As Jerrid hunkers down and sneaks closer his luck fails him yet again and the gnome's foot catches on a twisted and bent reed, tucked tight. He freezes and listens.

so it begins...

Before Jerrid trips, he hears Vorgya the half-elf rogue whispering to her team:

"This might be the group that went to retrieve our gem. See if they have the halfling with them. And Jarra... scan them when they get closer. They may be coming from Crimmor if they are on this road."

The raven haired woman speaks a magic command word and her black quarterstaff glows faintly.

Jerrid notices a matching glow coming from his forearm, and an emblem appears there... a golden palm. The same symbol he saw on the clasp of Wistus's cloak! Jerrid must have been branded with an invisible mark during his captivity.

Distracted by this discovery Jerrid trips, making a noise.

Vorgya's head snaps in the direction of the fallen tree.

"Korungra! Have your men check behind that tree!"

The half-orc cleric grunts his assent. "I heard it too. Bruubrah! Tranda! Leave that prisoner and go check behind that fallen tree. Now!"

Jerrid sees the two half-orc footmen leave the river ford and start walking towards him carrying their longspears.

How far from the rest of the group Jerrid gone? The riders are still about 100ft away from us yes?

I'll post soon if Janna still hasn't.

Jerrid is about 75-80' feet ahead of you, at the fallen tree. So he's about 35' from the riders. You guys are over 100' back from the riders. Actually click the battle map in a sec, I'll set up tokens, it's easier than describing it.

Eyes on the approaching riders Damien shakes his head slightly at Vhillish's suggestion, "Stay close Deputy, you're our only source of authority here. With luck we might just be able to keep things from getting ugly..."

Edit : Thanks DMG!

Not sure if it matters but deep gnomes have nondetection running on them constantly? see Jerrid's profile for a quick link. I am off to sleep soon.

This brand on your arm is more like an arcane mark Jerrid, it doesn't let them scry on you or anything. So far only you saw the mark when it appeared. The agents just heard a noise when you tripped.

Janna was with the group as Jerrid scouted ahead.

spellcraft on the magic used: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11 (do not think that is enough)

unable to discern the magic used she blames the distance from the spell being cast.

Janna advances along side Damien, should I greet them? or do you suspect trouble. she whispers to the soldier obviously seeking his advice.

Damien hisses as he hears the riders discover Jerrid, "Well, that's not going to do us any favors. Move up. If this does go south we want to be closer to that fallen tree. Limit their advance."

Moving forward with Janna, he whispers to his employer, "Probably trouble but we might salvage it just yet. Make an excuse for the runt. No threats just yet."

Damien keep his posture non-threatening, hammer held as a walking stick in his left hand. He remains ready to advance should the riders attempt to move forward, even casually.

Alright, your show ma'am!

Janna?

Sorry, decide to play a card game with my son..we seldom get to spend time together

Janna approaches the other group.

Greetings, I am Janna of the Academy Magika in Reme. these others are travelling with me toward farihill.

Janna keeps herself a reasonable distance to prevent arousing suspicion and tries to keep attention off of any of her more questionable companions.

diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

Excellent when the situation calls for it :)

Noting the half-orcs, Damien adds to Janna's words, attempting to diffuse the situation, "Hold there. No reason this can't all stay civil. That's one of ours. Insisted on trying to flush a hare. Seemed awkward to announce himself once you'd arrived, no?"

Bluff: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

Edit : There you are ma'am!

Nice guys. Teamwork.

As Janna and Damien get closer and interact with these riders, there can be no doubt. These are the same agents who were lurking around Fairhill looking for Lannet. The ones who were sent by the merchant from whom Lannet stole the prismatic gem.

Vorgya shouts back to the pair of Damien and Janna.

"Well met, Janna of the Academy. Tell your friend to come out from behind that tree then. Slowly now... lest my men run him through with their spears!" Her tone is jovial.

Sense Motive:
Zalatha: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25
Vorgya: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Jarra: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Darkral: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Korungra: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
close!!!

Close indeed! Luckily I'm the trustworthy sort.

Damien chuckles, "I doubt even a couple holes could make him look any worse but I imagine he'd prefer we not test the theory. Come on out now. With all the excitement, your prey is undoubtedly long gone."

Moving closer to the downed log, Damien waves Jerrid over to him.

Janna stays where she is keeping a wary eye on the other group looking for the potential spellcasters.

perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19
sense motive: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (3) + 0 = 3

Wait is that.. could it be.. oh shit!!

Lannet tugs on Sam's shirt-sleave gesturing towards the riders with his chin. His eyes go wide with apprehension.

"Sam? Deputy Vhillish? What should I do?"

@Janna: The black-haired woman with the quarterstaff that flashed (Jarra) looks like a likely sorcerer, and the half-orc with the shield and mace who ordered the footmen to grab Jerrid (Korungra) looks like a likely cleric. The rest you can't be sure, the elf with the longbow (Darkral) wears no armor so maybe...

Sam was glad he had given the cloak of the elves to Lannet.

He hisses, "Go to the ground Lannet and stay hidden till they pass."

Sam hastily hides too stealth: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 19 careful to let the group pass.

Sam begins to alter his appearance to appear more like Lannet. He brushes his hair like Lannet and begins to adopt Lannet's mannerisms.
disguise: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Taking 10 for 20 to identify if there is anything their posession related to a religion.

leoven is uncofortable with the situation, in the couple of days in this group he hav seems too manyheavy armed people.

Sense motive: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

Leoven will need to get a little closer, but when he does he will be able to ascertain what god the half-orc cleric follows.

Leoven gets the feeling these are the type of people who will kill without a second thought.. but he also senses that they are at ease with Janna after talking to her.

Lannet watches Sam dive into hiding.

"He's right Deputy Vhillish. With my cloak I can definitely escape them if I run away. But they'll blame you and Miss Janna if you let me leave right in front of them..."

Lannet starts pulling anxiously at his beard.

Run?: 1d100 ⇒ 5

"Sorry Deputy Vhillish! Maybe they'll follow me and leave you alone if you give them back their gem!"

Lannet wraps his elven cloak around him and follows Sam into the tall grass.

Stealth: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (19) + 18 = 37

Vhillish mutters a sharp aside at Lannet;

"Hold laddie! Just hunker down like you've been told and we'll handle the rest. You are my responsibility by jingo... so stay put!"

The veteran curses under his breath as Lannet disappears into the undergrowth;

"Balderdash!"

afore turning his attention back to the parley further ahead.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10