The Forgotten God (Table 3) (Inactive)

Game Master Rednal

"Well, let's get the hell out of here. We have a job to complete."

"Aye. Might wanna finish resting once we get back, though." Vegazi agreed as she helped the old man down. After a few moments of speaking with him, she nodded and pointed to the distance. "House is that way."

You can return to the house now and finish resting - or rest somewhere else, such as your current location - or accept some fatigue and press onwards. ^^ Your choice, of course.

"Do you think the druid was related to this demon incursion?"

"Absolutely." Vegazi said flatly. "In fact, if I had to guess... it's my mother behind everything that's going on." She clenched one of her fists. "What I want to know is why. Attacking a town is a big escalation, the kind that tends to get notice from everyone else in the area. She can't be expecting this to go without a response."

"Alright. I don't think we can safely stay here. You, me, and the old man should head to our next spot. I expect the druidess will be making a report soon, and when she makes it, I don't want to be at the spot she last saw me in."

Vegazi nodded, guiding you back to the old man's house, and from there to the road looping north. By the time you finally arrived at your destination, it was about two hours past morning, and the lack of rest was starting to weigh down on you.

You are [Fatigued] until you rest for 8 hours, and have arrived at D5.

This was the home of the Turnell family, both of whom looked nervous at seeing you and Vegazi, but very reassured by the old man (despite how tired he looked - he wasn't an energetic whippersnapper anymore).

"Of course we'll go." Ort - the head of the household - said, nodding. "Only, our two young'ns just went out to play. You can wait here until they come in, if you'd like - we can at least get some food into everyone before we get marching." It was either that or going out and finding them, which would probably be faster.

"Hmm, about how long until you expect them back? I assume lunchtime? If it'll only be a few hours, I'm sure our band here would like to rest their feet. We had a bit of a rough night."

"I reckon three or four hours." Ort said, nodding slightly. "If nothing else, they'll be coming back in for lunch - however hard they play, I ain't yet seen 'em miss a meal."

"Alright, we will wait around then. Undue haste hasn't served me well on this venture."

Hours: 1d3 ⇒ 1

Ort nodded, and he and his wife set about packing things and delivering some food to help you at least fill your stomach as you waited. After only an hour had passed, two children tumbled into the room, staring slack-jawed at Vegazi. She didn't seem to mind the attention, though, and gave a cheerful wave as their parents gave a few directions. Before long, both children were carrying a few things and had gotten ready to go. According to Ort, it'd take about two hours to get to the next farm on your route - staying on the road was definitely the best option, since it was almost a straight path there.

Harath and company will indeed keep to the road, as no one would relish dragging children and elderly off the beaten path.

The journey to your next destination is easy enough. Getting the house's inhabitants to leave... not so much. This place was home to a young elf male and a middle-aged human woman (which actually put them pretty close to the same age, when you thought about it), but the woman - Rosette Vanyahara - was suffering from what her companion cited as Filth Fever. They needed to do something to stabilize her before they could leave, or the journey alone might be just as fatal as an attack by orcs.

"Hmm, I am no doctor." says Harath, turning to his adventuring companions. "Is there some remedy you can mix up?" he asks of the old alchemist man.

Grev shook his head. Ort, on the other hand, noted a few suggestions - aside from magical ways of outright removing disease, you could spend some time and try to use your knowledge of nature to collect herbs from around the area. Or someone else could try to gather them, in which case you could remain at the house to protect it. All of these had a realistic chance of working.

nature: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

Harath thought on the nature of plants that would be both helpful and nearby.

There were definitely usable herbs in the area - and what's more, you wouldn't have any trouble locating them if you decided to go out and search. Knowledge of nature was often mocked by those who spent all of their lives in cities, but at times like this, it certainly came in handy...

"Alright, the plant we need looks like (Harath proceeds to describe the plant). I will head out and search for it, Vegazi it would be good if you could join me, I think your eyes might be better than mine. Ort needs to rest here."

Ort looked slightly offended - he wasn't the old man - but Vegazi nodded, following you into the wilds. An hour later - about one in the afternoon - you managed to return with the herbs needed to treat the woman, and the rest of your group set to work preparing the medicine. The sick woman would still need a lot of time to recover once you reached the town, but she could at least walk on her own two feet and not slow the group too much. The question from here was whether or not you wanted to go back along the road or cut across the wilds instead...

woops, thought Ort was the old man's name. Also, if D3 is next, we will take the road. May take the off-road route between D3 and D1, since that would save a lot of time even if we went slower, i think.

You started at D5 this morning, and just wrapped up at D3 - D1 is your next destination. ^^ Offroad it is!

It was late afternoon by the time you finally arrived at the last of the households - a large horse ranch, whose occupants (father, mother, and three kids) seemed extremely willing to evacuate to the relative safety of the town. Packing things took just a few moments - the problem was when you stepped outside again, and noticed a few orcs trying to approach from over a hill 50 feet away. Taking them down by yourself wouldn't be very challenging, but the growing mass of people behind you was... not as durable.

"Vegazi, I trust you can get these folks to town without me? Alert the guard of enemies at this location, when you arrive."

Harath manifests Force Screen and his Nightmare Stone visibly absorbs a slight bit of light as darkness coalesces around his fists. (charged Psychic Strike as move action)

In the language of Orcs, Harath addressed those on the hill.

"Are you lot prepared to meet death? Or will you flee as cowards?"

The orcs simply roared at you, clearly not seeing you as much of a threat - which was their mistake. Most of them were little better than brutes, hopelessly outclassed in melee combat, and their leader fared little better as you ripped into them.

Unless you specifically want any alive, they're done for. XD That particular group was not a challenge.

The good news? You were close to the city, and it wouldn't take much longer to get back - you could definitely arrive by evening. If there was nothing else you wanted to do out here (scout the area, forage for supplies, et cetera), getting back to the town wasn't likely to be an issue.

Harath will go back to town as quickly as possible, fatigued from his trip. He will report to the official who sent him out, if he is immediately available, otherwise he finds a place to rest after leaving a note with the man's assistant.

As you were arrived, Mayor Proum hailed you, noting the weary look on your face - and smiling at all the people you'd managed to bring in. "Excellent, truly excellent." he said, reaching over and pulling out a small box. Inside, visible as he flipped the lid open, were three vials labeled as potions of cure moderate wounds. "Here, I managed to requisition these as a reward." he said.

Even as he offered the box, however, there was a cry from up on the walls.

"Thank you, Mayor."

At the scream, Harath adds, "Gonna be a long night, I take it."

As people pointed up, you were able to see a group of four infernal creatures - Gaavs - flying above you... and they let go of something before vanishing into the air.

Ten feet away from you, the mangled corpse of a guardsman hit the ground with a sickening splat, and the mouth started moving. Out from it came a low voice - definitely not the guard's. "The Hell’s Fury tribe demands the half-orc Vegazi. Until then, devils will walk among you. Refuse, and this won’t be the last body that falls."

The corpse fell silent a moment later - and Vegazi looked increasingly nervous.

Harath sighs. "I was sent to fetch the old man, to vouch for Vegazi. Now Vegazi is here and so is the old man." he says to the general area, Vegazi and mayor included.

Grev limped forward - that much walking was hard for a man of his age, but though his body was weak now, his spirit remained strong. "That's right!" he said firmly. "Sure, they might be threatening us with destruction now... but ain't that the way it's always been? Undead on one side, orcs on the other, and still we've survived... because we're willing to fight the darkness! And listen to me, you young'uns... this lady might share the blood of our enemies, but she is no ally of theirs. She's helped us in the past, and she's helped us again today... and you never abandon your allies to evil! Giving her to the orcs would be easy, sure... but it would be wrong. I say we show 'em they can't make us bow down so easily!"

Anything you'd like to add to that?

"I agree. To give her up would preface more and more bold requests."

"That's right!" the mayor said firmly. "For now, shut the gates! Nobody in or out until we get our reinforcements!" he waved at the guards, and with a heavy thud, the gates were shut. Slowly, people started to disperse - it had been quite a long few days, but on the bright side, it seemed like the inn was still available if you wanted to rest.

Harath looks to see what Vegazi does, then goes to rest.

For the most part, Vegazi seemed like she wanted to get out of the open area - away from the eyes of intruders and townsfolk alike.

As night fell, however, there was a quiet knock at your door - and it didn't seem to be your half-orc companion.

Harath came to the door, but not before ensuring he was focused and his fists psionically hardened.

"who is it?"

The door opened to reveal Terrin Shaw, head of the scouts. He looked a bit nervous, even as he cleared his throat. "Sorry for showing up so late at night." he said. "I didn't want to speak up when the Mayor was still around, though. He's content to just sit in town for now, waiting for reinforcements, but my scouts are still out there and might need help. We need to put a stop to this mess once and for all."

am i no longer fatigued?

Harath asks the man a battery of questions while considering the answers to each carefully, painting the battlespace in his mind.

"What are the details on the situation?"

"Are reinforcements confirmed to be on their way? How many and how long until arrival?"

"Where are the scouts and how do you know they are in danger?"

"How are you proposing to end this once and for all if that was not possible before?"

You haven't rested yet. No worries, though - you'll have the chance to after this.

...For clarity's sake, I mean after this conversation. He's not asking you to go out again tonight.

"My scouts failed to meet me at the rendezvous. They're good, experienced men - not the type to be caught by traps so easily, even with orcs helping them. The mayor wants to quarantine the town, doesn't want anyone going in or out - but I know of one way to get outside the town, at least. The reinforcements will be coming from Vigil, but I don't know how soon they'll get here or how many there will be. As for ending things, that's what my men should have found out. Getting information is their job, and they're pretty good at it."

"so your plan is for you, I, or both of us to leave and... find them somewhere? Retrace their steps?"

"Perhaps interrogate some of the orcs, see if they know something about what's going on." Verrin suggested. "I know it's not much, but it's all we have to go on. If you're up for it, meet me downstairs tomorrow morning - I have a key that'll help you get outside." With that, he left - and it didn't seem likely anyone else would be disturbing your rest.

Harath sighs, before going back to bed. In the morning he will meet Terrin downstairs after grabbing some food.

After a good, long rest - wiping away your fatigue and restoring your energy (and HP) - morning arrived. As promised, Terrin was waiting downstairs, and he quietly set an old iron key on the table. "I'm not saying there's a hidden passage under Arwyll Manor, or that a key is needed to unlock it, but if you really wanted to get out of town without anyone seeing..."

"Would you be giving me a tour, or would I be wandering on my own?"

"You seem pretty good at not being spotted. I'd rather not be seen with you later in the day, just so nobody starts asking me about where you've run off to." Terrin explained quietly. "I'm sure they will anyway, of course, but the less we're seen together until the scouts are back, the better."

"Alright. I suppose I will need directions to the rendevouz where they did not appear, then."

"It wasn't too far from the city, actually." Terrin explained, giving what details he could to help you locate the place. Information really was the most helpful thing in situations like this... the more you had, the easier it was to make plans for resolving your problems.

Harath will head over to where his key may or may not be of use, then toward the location specified by way of the secret passage.

The passage itself seemed to be located in an old cellar of the manor - out of sight and out of mind for most of the town. Blankets, broken bottles, candlesticks, and other detritus litter the unfinished cellar room. The walls are made of stone and packed dirt, and the only obvious exit is the crumbling ladder leading up to a trap door in the ceiling (which you'd come down through to enter the room. A large flat stone has been propped against the northern wall. The eastern corner of the room glows lightly with warm yellow light.

perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12 can i see a secret door or lever?
know arcana: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16 is the warm yellow light magical?

The light doesn't seem to be magical (though a detection power is the only way to be absolutely sure). As for secret doors... well, it's kind of hard to call that flat stone secret, precisely, as it's jarringly out of place in comparison to the rest of the world. A quick check reveals that it seems to be the back side of a hidden passage, and leads out into a rather larger chamber.

no detection powers.

Harath will continue through the special door of sorts, and look around the large chamber, while trying to remain in shadows where possible.

The larger chamber has openings to the north and the east, heading away from the entrance. (Up on the map, by the way. ^^

The ceilings outside of the room are 20 feet high, and made out of stone. Staying in the shadows isn't difficult - aside from the lamp, there are no natural sources of light down here. Not a problem for your Darkvision, of course. As you carefully move forward, you can hear voices from the southeast.