Ustalav introduction campaign (Inactive)

Game Master Browman

"I will join you, my friend, and between the two of us, we should be able to hold the line!"

That should work well. Garekk has the better Survival skill mod so he does the navigation. Flandrion is better at spotting ambushes and traps. Just need to get someone with a good Perception skill mod as rear guard and the rest of the party can arrange themselves as they see fit.

I don't suppose there are any horses or pack animals for us to borrow for this little jaunt in the village, are there?

We have a mule and wagon that we can take turn riding in.. but buying mounts may be too expensive. Browman?

-Posted with Wayfinder

That should work well. Garekk has the better Survival skill mod so he does the navigation. Flandrion is better at spotting ambushes and traps. Just need to get someone with a good Perception skill mod as rear guard and the rest of the party can arrange themselves as they see fit.

I have a pretty good Perception, I can do rear guard.

We have a mule and wagon that we can take turn riding in.. but buying mounts may be too expensive. Browman?

-Posted with Wayfinder

you can find horses at the Chateau a day north, probably 3 people including Hailey can use the cart.

Draalûsh can walk until we can get horses. Forgot we had a cart available.

The party makes it to Chateau Douleurs by late afternoon. Everything here seems completely normal.

Hailey will use Detect Magic.

Hailey will use Detect Magic.

She detects no magic.

"No magic here that I can pick up. So we should begin investigating by talking to people."

Making sure passers by can't hear him Draalûsh will comment:
"It might be a good idea to not tell anyone here that everyone in Kotla just just up and vanished. Not yet, anyway. Might cause panic that denies us information."

Garekk nods to Draalush and his comment. "Very true!" As Garrek and party move through town, he keeps his ears open for rumor and talk around them.
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Once they reach a tavern, he stops the party. "I am famished, and we need to find horses as well. Lets stop here."

As IF the party enters, Garrek will find a table for the group and order a round of the basic food and ale for each before walking up to the bar.
"Innkeep! A word, if we may! We are travelers heading north and are in need of some horses. Would you know of any that may be for sale?"
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

If the part goes into the tavern:

"This reminds me of the time Hailey, Garekk and I first met." the monk says nostalgically, eyes closed, leaning back in his chair.

In a lower, hushed tone, he addresses the rest of his companions.

"Shall we devise a plan of action? Garekk is already in the process of finding us some horses. We still need some more information before heading out. I think it would be wise to catch up on all the latest news. The smallest shred of information could change everything."

He takes a long gulp of water to give someone else the opportunity to chime in.

As the party wanders through town and settles down to a meal at the Inn, Flandrion uses his Sense Motive skill to get a feel for the place.

Sense Motive check: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

While at the tavern with Garrek, Draalûsh will ask the inkeep:
"Hi! We're passing through town. Just wondering if there's been any interesting news while we've been on the road."

diplomacy (untrained): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Hailey will sit at the bar, listening to any conversations she can.

Gather information: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

She immediately regrets it because all she hears is drunks.

But at least now she knows where to go to party. :-)

Garekk nods to Draalush and his comment. "Very true!" As Garrek and party move through town, he keeps his ears open for rumor and talk around them.

[dice=Perception]1d20+5

Once they reach a tavern, he stops the party. "I am famished, and we need to find horses as well. Lets stop here."

As IF the party enters, Garrek will find a table for the group and order a round of the basic food and ale for each before walking up to the bar.
"Innkeep! A word, if we may! We are travelers heading north and are in need of some horses. Would you know of any that may be for sale?"
[dice=Diplomacy]1d20+2

You can buy either light horses for 75 gold or ponies for 30g.

While at the tavern with Garrek, Draalûsh will ask the inkeep:

"Hi! We're passing through town. Just wondering if there's been any interesting news while we've been on the road."

[dice=diplomacy (untrained)]1d20+4

"Word is some necromancer was captured a few days ago, after several people went missing south of here."

"Truly? We heard about that on the way here. Rumour is that the Necromancer, whoever he was, killed himself before being executed at the stake. Strange business, that."

"Have there been any other strange goings on round here? Me and my friends plan to travel up yonder … " indicating the general direction of the keep we're heading toward " … anything nasty for travellers like us to avoid? Bandits, or worse? Sounds like you can't be too careful on the roads these days!"

bluff: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
diplomacy (untrained): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

I know that's really close to outright fibbing, so I thought the bluff check would be needed first

Flandrion says, "We would be especially interested in any words you might have for the wise."

Bluff Check: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

Using Bluff to try to pass a message in Thieves' Cant. Flandrion is trying to find out what the local Thieves' Guild might have to say.

"Truly? We heard about that on the way here. Rumour is that the Necromancer, whoever he was, killed himself before being executed at the stake. Strange business, that."

"Have there been any other strange goings on round here? Me and my friends plan to travel up yonder … " indicating the general direction of the keep we're heading toward " … anything nasty for travellers like us to avoid? Bandits, or worse? Sounds like you can't be too careful on the roads these days!"

[dice=bluff]1d20+8
[dice=diplomacy (untrained)]1d20+4

I know that's really close to outright fibbing, so I thought the bluff check would be needed first

"The usual, farmers turned bandits due to a bad harvest and wandering beasts."

Flandrion says, "We would be especially interested in any words you might have for the wise."

[Dice=Bluff Check] 1d20+5

Using Bluff to try to pass a message in Thieves' Cant. Flandrion is trying to find out what the local Thieves' Guild might have to say.

"The wise gather in the presence of the gods at the appropriate time."

If anyone else would like to join me, I would welcome the company. After all, everyone knows that wandering around a strange city by yourself is just begging for a subplot!!!

Leaving the subterfuge to those more skilled in such things, Garekk takes off to find the horses that are for sale. Eventually finding his way, he greets the seller enthusiastically. "Hello! I we are in need of some horses and I was told that you were the person to speak with!"

If anyone else would like to join me, I would welcome the company. After all, everyone knows that wandering around a strange city by yourself is just begging for a subplot!!!

Leaving the subterfuge to those more skilled in such things, Garekk takes off to find the horses that are for sale. Eventually finding his way, he greets the seller enthusiastically. "Hello! I we are in need of some horses and I was told that you were the person to speak with!"

"Indeed, I have a contact at a ranch just west of here, I can arrange sale from here or you can view the merchandise there. I assume you can afford the price?"

What are the cultural issues surrounding barter? Taboo or expected?

"Of course we can afford the coin.. else why would we be here?" Garekk says with a chuckle.. attempting to offset the insult with humor. These people mean no insult.. they can not possibly know my history... he thinks to himself. "But we would like to see these horses and their temperament before we buy them."

What are the cultural issues surrounding barter? Taboo or expected?

"Of course we can afford the coin.. else why would we be here?" Garekk says with a chuckle.. attempting to offset the insult with humor. These people mean no insult.. they can not possibly know my history... he thinks to himself. "But we would like to see these horses and their temperament before we buy them."

Some barter is possible, but it isn't expected.

"Head west from town for about an hour, head south at the hanging horseshoe."

Flandrion tags along with Garekk, but also tells him, "I've got an errand to run after the sun sets."

Retcon
As Flandrion tags along, Garekk smiles and nods at the newcomer as they set off. "Glad for a trusted sword at my back! An errand? That should be no problem. As long as we are not out all night, the rest shouldn't be too worried."

When Garekk and Flandrion finally find the stables, he summons the horse master or whatever title they may use around here "Hello. We have come to see about some horses. If your stock is up to our needs, we are looking for three of them."

"Well, this innkeeper isn't very helpful! You'd think he doesn't trust people or something!"

Draalûsh, having lost interest in chatting with the innkeeper, catches up with Garekk.

"Hello, Garekk! I might as well follow you for a while. I can't seem to find out anything we don't already know from talking to that lot in the tavern."

Checking to make sure that nobody but Garekk is close enough to hear what is being said, Flandrion says in a soft voice:

"I'm going to try to make contact with the local Thieves' Guild to see if they're going to be willing to provide any information. If all goes well it shouldn't take too long. If things go poorly it could be interesting. I'd invite you along, but you are not a guilded thief and that would be a potential sticking point. Besides, being a nonhuman in a human land could be enough of a problem with the local guild."

Retcon

As Flandrion tags along, Garekk smiles and nods at the newcomer as they set off. "Glad for a trusted sword at my back! An errand? That should be no problem. As long as we are not out all night, the rest shouldn't be too worried."

When Garekk and Flandrion finally find the stables, he summons the horse master or whatever title they may use around here "Hello. We have come to see about some horses. If your stock is up to our needs, we are looking for three of them."

About 45 minutes out of town, you are confronted by a man in simple clothes, leather armour, a bow over one shoulder with a buckler on one arm and a wood axe in the other.

"If you value your lives hand over your money and goods."

Flandrion replies, "Wise men do not poach on other's turf, but when attacked by deer they will eat venison."

Thieves' Cant: We're thieves from out of town, not working on your turf, but if you attack we will fight.

Bluff Check: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Flandrion replies, "Wise men do not poach on other's turf, but when attacked by deer they will eat venison."

Thieves' Cant: We're thieves from out of town, not working on your turf, but if you attack we will fight.

[Dice=Bluff Check] 1d20+5

"Wiser men leave the deer when the wolves come."

They either didn't understand you or aren't part of the thieves guild.

Flandrion replies, "Those who are truly wise know wolves when they see them."

Thieves' Cant: We're thieves, you're torquing us off, it could get ugly.

Bluff Check: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Flandrion replies, "Those who are truly wise know wolves when they see them."

Thieves' Cant: We're thieves, you're torquing us off, it could get ugly.

[Dice=Bluff Check] 1d20+5

"Now this is just getting confusing, I feel like I am speaking to a noble. Give me your stuff or die."

He clearly doesn't understand thieves cant

Perception check: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

How many other bad guys are there? How far away from me is the turkey I'm talking to? And because it looks like it will be needed ...

Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

When the thief first jumps in front of Garekk, he will draw his sword, but stay his actions as Flandrion begins talking. "You are an odd duck, with peculiar mannerisms to talk such to a thief!!" Garekk says, launching an attack with the second.. and final.. threat.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

But it seems that Garekks habit of fanning air at things until they go away is still very much in evidence.

1d20+8

How many other bad guys are there? How far away from me is the turkey I'm talking to? And because it looks like it will be needed ...

1d20+4

You can only see 1.

Garrek 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Bandit 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

Flandrion will draw his longsword using a two handed grip and attack the highway man.

Attack roll: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

I assume Draalûsh was been tagging along with Garekk; if not, just ignore this and carry on.
"Maybe that idiot of a highwayman can give us some information; with some gentle persuasion."

Draalûsh will bellow out at the thief, trying to demoralize him
"Drozog, Lulvogol!!"

So sorry. I'd not had an opportunity to say I'd be tagging along, too. Hailey doesn't think drinking makes for any kind of a party, unless it's a potion-making party. Those can be fun.

"You know who you remind me of? The first man I tried my hexes on in front of my friends. Want to see something wild, boys?"

She will come to within the needed 30 feet. Then she will draw on her priestly powers. Darkness surrounds her, and the boys can feel the power of unlife around them, but doing them no harm, for they can also sense that Hailey is making it bypass them, stopping at the borders of their flesh with no effect.

But as for our adversary, he feels the full pain of her hex, as a small fragment of his own life force is (hopefully) ripped away from him by the power of negative energy.

In short: Channel negative energy. Channel negative energy: 1d6 ⇒ 5

The man retreats into the woods to the north of the road, several arrows are fired out of the woodline, appearing to be shot as a deterrent rather than to actually hit anyone.

"This is no good. We came here for information. These delicate flowers running away in't much more helpful than that barkeep."

Facing the general direction of the arrows, Draalûsh will try to decide if it's safe or not.
perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
With a roll like that; no perceived dangers whatsoever!

He will then shout at the direction the arrows came from.
"Now we're better acquainted. We're not the law. Nor bounty hunters. Nor harmless. Give us some information and we never saw you. What say you? "

"In fact, I'll even toss in 2 gold out of my own purse, if you give us some useful local pearls of wisdom."

intimidate: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22

Flandrion sheaths his sword and readies his bow. While he has an arrow nocked, it is pointed down. Otherwise he holds his position and looks into the woods.

Perception check: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Hailey thought about walking up there and blasting these people with a Ray of Frost, but she reconsidered and decided to wait until her friends started attacking first.

So instead, she will join in the search for danger.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

"Okay then. I see no need for further violence. Perhaps we have common cause. Let's discuss this matter calmly, shall we? I'm from the church of Nethys, then only tr . . . searching for the truth behind certain mysteries. Perhaps you boys can help?"

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

By the time you realize they are gone, it is too late to follow unless someone can track...

"They were kind of useless! I guess we should probably go back to town and get ready to carry on."