The People's Campaign - Team 1 (Inactive)

Game Master Jacob DeCourcey

Dannic is sick all throughout the third day, but not enough to lose any time. The party proceeds for two more days without incident.

Dannic, you need to make 2 consecutive days of CON checks to get better. I you get the first 2 in a row, you will be all better by the time you arrive at Falcon's Hollow. Otherwise, you will be fatigued until you make the 2 saves.

You all begin to see the first hints of Falcon's Hollow early on the 5th day. More traffic on the roads, a few farm plots along the road, but never any other travelers. By noon, the buildings of the village come into view.

Fort 1 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

Fort 2 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Thank the gods for prestidigitate

Garreck casually swings his warhammer up onto his shoulder as the travelers near Falcon's Hollow. The town seems quiet but he keeps an eye open as they move towards the center of things.

Perception > 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Survival > trying to keep an eye out for heavy foot traffic in the dirt > 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

And again as they move closer.

Perception > 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Survival > trying to keep an eye out for heavy foot traffic in the dirt > 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

Tiberius's eyes shift back and forth as they approach town. "I find it strange that we haven't seen any foot traffic at all leaving Falcon's Hollow. Normally at this season we'd expect a few traders going back and forth in a last few days. Logging towns don't feed themselves very well, after all." He keeps his weapons within easy reach.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

"I know what you mean, Tiberius. I've guided plenty of people here to Falcon's Hollow around this time of year. It's usually bustling. Well, ya know...for a small logging town." Being wary, Fell also keeps his eyes open for different signs.

Perception:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Survival:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13

Having never been to Falcon's Hollow, Dannic is a bit taken aback by the other's reactions. It does seen a bit quiet, the only thing Dannic can think is that the slavers have scared people into staying home by ambushing them on the road. "This slave ring may be a bigger problem than we thought. Tiberius, is there someone in town you can trust?"

"There's an older gentleman who I worked with. He was friends with my father during the war. Mr. Blackstone. He's always been good about keeping a finger on the pulse of the town. Since the tavern burned down, he's probably at his home. I hope. He's the only one in town that I know I can trust. The local sheriff is a good sort too, but I feel he may have too many from the slaver ring around him. He was working closely with Herod Grey, the traitor set in charge of the citizens' militia." Tiberius quickly describes a route through town to get to Blackstone's house that avoids the main square.

"Let's check on the slaver's family first. Then we should let Mr. Blackstone know you're in town and see what he knows."

Garreck nods silently in agreement to Dannic. He keeps glancing around and tightens the grip on his hammer.

Perception > 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

So, how do you intend to approach the town? And how do plan on finding the slaver's family?

That, sir, is a good question. He didn't give us an address, and you didn't mention anything about Tiberius recognizing the man or his name, so I assume I don't have any extra information. Blackstone might, on the other hand.

I figure Tiberius should also get the others caught up on what happened to him here a couple weeks ago.

As a note, I'm referring to Blackstone by his last name because his first name happens to be Garick, and that could get confusing to me pretty quickly.

As for approaching the town, I'd imagine towns focused around the lumber business wouldn't be walled, since you would probably have to move every few years to keep near the lumber camps. The camps here wouldn't move quite as fast, I suppose, since they harvest darkwood, which is harder to cut than normal timber. So a palisade could be within reason... but as we approach, do we see any sort of guards or a wall? Blackstone probably lives relatively near the center of town though, since a good place for an inn is on the main path to entice travelers, and he'd live close to his workplace.

"Best to gather allies first. They won't assume we're coming here to town. I mean, who in their right minds would attempt what we are? Getting help first could mean the difference between victory and death." He turns his attention to Tiberius and continues, "If you can give me something to convince Blackstone we're friends, I think I can get there unnoticed and bring him back here. You three can wait in a copse off the road until I return with him."

There is no wall, or any kind of defense. It is the middle of the day, so all the loggers are out and about, but you can see a bit of ordinary day-to-day bustle on the streets.

Here's a map

Building number 16 is Tiberius's old inn, and Blackstone's house is the third one to the west of that. All the other buildings are appropriately labelled. You approach from the west along the southern road, currently. Tiberius, you also know that Herod Grey's house is the grey one NE of the church (11).

Garreck laughs out loud. "Bigger town then I was expecting. Wasn't thinking it would be hard to find that bastard's family. Tiberius, unless you're expecting any kind of trouble with your man I say we all head straight there. The sooner strange faces are off the street the better."

As he glances around yet again, Garreck tugs at the tied sleeves of dark shirt he wears under his fire blackened hide armor.

Oh yeah. Falcon's Hollow practically has its own book. Too bad I didn't use it at all when I came up with Tiberius.

"Sounds good to me. Stay alert." Tiberius cracks his knuckles and lumbers forwards down the road along the river. Upon reaching Blackstone's house, he walks up and gives a short knock on the door.

Perception on the way for anything unsual: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Tiberius raps on the door, but to no avail. The house is quite empty. An old woman silently but obviously approaches you from the East.

Garreck turns his head towards the old woman as she approaches. Once she gets a little closer he says "Good day" to her. (Or whatever appropriate time of day it is.)

Turning back to Tiberius, under his breath, "There someplace else he might be or just wanna try the door?"

Tiberius mutters back, "I'm not sure where else to find him, but we can't just break in with someone watching." He turns to face the approaching woman, trying to see if he recognizes her. "Can we help you, miss?"

The woman moves closer, still silent until she's just a foot away from Tiberius. She says, in the quietest whisper, He's in the abandoned lumber camp. Follow the path to the northeast. Be careful when you pass the Lumber consortium Camp. Don't stay here. She quickly shuffles along before you have a chance to respond.

Dannic looks around at the others, "I guess we know where to go now. She's right, we shouldn't stay here." Dannic shrugs and starts to head off.

Garreck nods. "I think it won't be long before we're in bloodied combat again. Let's get to that camp as quickly as we can. Things are worse here than I'd have imagined."

Correct me if I'm wrong... You proceed along the road, exiting the town to the northeast. It's a day's journey to the lumber consortium camp, and half a day past that to the abandoned camp. You will have to make camp somewhere along the way, just tell me where.

I figure we should stop a couple hours short of the lumber camp and try to avoid drawing attention.

As the group travels along the road, Tiberius explains what he knows of the situation in Falcon's Hollow.

"...and that's why I don't trust anyone here but Blackstone right now," he closes. The party heads off the road several hours short of the lumber camp and heads into the forest to make camp, hopefully hidden from prying eyes. "I'm not sure if staying off the road will really help much tomorrow, since many of the lumber consortium members will be out in the forest itself."

See Tib's backstory for details.

Garreck listens silently as Tiberius tells his story. When the man finishes he just nods and doesn't say a word. Once the group makes camp, he does what he can to help make the site more comfortable and then lays back to try and get a few hours of sleep. Won't be calm much longer.

Since we packed rations for the initial journey, and we lost some on the way from spoilage, I figure we'll end up trying a bit of hunting/gathering now in the forest.

Survival: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

And apparently we move at half speed while foraging?

If you plan on staying a ways shy of the consortium, moving a half speed should be about perfect. That way, you can make a whole day's travel tomorrow and arrive at the abandoned camp by nightfall.

After a good night's sleep, the party continues on to the abandoned camp. At mid-morning, a light rain begins to fall, and persists throughout the remainder of the day. A few hours before dusk, the party arrives at the abandoned lumber camp to find it not nearly abandoned. Two guards stand on the sides of the road, and as you approach, they move to block your path and shout Stop right there! What business do you have here? A third guard stands up from his seat on the ground, and runs back into the camp.

Garreck smiles and tries to look friendly. "We're here to see ..."

He falters and turns to Tiberious, "Who's your friend?"

His right hand drops down and rests on the blade of his throwing axe.

"Garick Blackstone. We heard he would be here. I'm his friend." Tiberius scans the faces of the guards, trying to see if he recognizes either of them. He stands carefully with his arms to his sides, trying to not betray that his hands are itching to hold a weapon.

The taller of the two guards steps forward and says Tiberius Badaxe. I never expected to see you again. I'm Elric, remember, I used to come by your bar all the time. When Harold and those blasted crime bosses took over, I came out here with Blackstone and some other fellows to get away from it all. There's about 20 of us, now. Come on, I'll take you to Blackstone. Elric turns to lead you into the camp.

Slowly taking his hand off his axe, Garreck obviously tightens his grip on the warhammer thrown over his shoulder. These guys seem to know Tiberius but I certainly don't know them. Or him.

Perception > 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Just keeping my eyes open. (Badly)

Breathing a sigh of relief, Dannic follows the guards and whispers a prayer in hopes the group is not being led into a trap. Listening to the guard's speech he relaxes slightly and starts to ask about what's going on, but quickly shuts his mouth when he realizes the problems that could arise from being overheard by the wrong people here. Blackstone will tell us what we need to know when we get there, he admonishes himself silently.

"Thank you," Tiberius says gruffly, relaxing a bit and cracking his knuckles as he follows the guard through the camp. Twenty isn't quite an army, and odds are against there being an Eagle Knight around, but things are looking possibly hopeful.

The guard marches you through the abandoned lumber camp, which is really no more than a collection on dingy tents and a cabin. Along the way, the man introduces himself as John, and informs you about the general state of the camp. That building is where we keep most of our equipment to keep it dry. We decided it wouldn't be fair to have anyone live there, since there's only enough room for 3 or 4. Blackstone's tent is right here. He may be out hunting, though. John yells towards the tent Hey! Blackstone! Tiberius Badaxe and some friends are here. After a few seconds, he calls again, but to no avail. Well, he must be out. He can't be too much longer, though. It's getting dark. Feel free to go around the place while you wait. We're a free society here. If I see Blackstone, I'll have him find you. John jogs back up the path to return to his post. Around the small camp you see a group of women washing clothes with buckets of water, 2 teenage boys practicing with swords and bows, and a handful of children playing in some mud.