Pnin nods at Kael's response, and looks guiltily aside at the "shelter wanted fugitives."
Yes, Kael. I think that is a fair enough explanation. And I agree that necromancy must be snuffed out. Do pardon the question and the spell . . . as you say trust is much harder when you cannot see souls. Doubly so when we've spent our lives in Fort Inevitable.
True enough. Fort Inevitable seems to be one of the only places I can think of that makes Thornkeep look somewhat appealing. Maybe someday the blades of the righteous will rise up and bring relief to the people of both of those afflicted towns.
As for seeing souls, I may have overstated the powers Iomedae gives me. More like I can see the truth of one's nature, either for weal or for woe. It helps me look past the ferocious appearance of one of the cat-folk; your kind is well known for the murder and consumption of men and certainly many in these parts have lost kin to their depredations.
Now if none others have questions to ask of me, I must take my leave. There as still some preparations requiring my attention and while my superiors have given me leave to quest for my cousin, the responsibility I bear for those in Riverwatch does not become any less.
I'll doubly make sure to instruct the Lieutenants on keeping a closer eye on the comings and goings of visitors.
Smiling with that last comment, Kael finishes his water-Thank you Bart-putting a silver on the counter, before standing and starting towards the door.
When you are ready, head towards the gate closest the Spire. I'll await you there.
Well, I suppose we should go to find Idril and see what her read on the situation was. Clearly it wasn't good. What do the rest of you think?
Pnin will inform Sanrael if he ever makes his way back down to the tavern area. (Just to be sure it is evening? We haven't slept yet??)
Kiryl, I really would rather you stay and help us to complete our quest. If you have a say in it, I hope you stay. Imagine what we could accomplish with six of us! But I suppose the gods care no more for our desires than we for the ants.
A somber looking Kiryl looks distractedly at Pnin-It's hard to imagine that my time on this mortal plane may actually be coming to an end. All the days a slave in the quarry when death lurked at every hand I looked forward to Pharasma's judgement. Now that the end seems to be near, the finality of it is a bit sobering to say the least.
The night passes. In the morning Kiryl is teleported away. Whatever gear you wanted you were able to obtain for book price. Kael awaits the rest of the party at the gate.
Pnin is very sad. But checks to see if Kiryl left any gear we can sell.
He still checks to see if Idril wants to discuss her reservations, and if anyone else does either . . .
Otherwise he purchases some shiny new goggles and goes to the gate, bespectacled.
Kiryl’s gear departed with him.
Pnin is very sad. But checks to see if Kiryl left any gear we can sell.
He still checks to see if Idril wants to discuss her reservations, and if anyone else does either . . .
Otherwise he purchases some shiny new goggles and goes to the gate, bespectacled.
Idril of course has reservations but it does not matter. She will be at the front gate.
The group arrives at the gate where Kael awaits.
Kael smiles broadly as the party approaches the gates-Welcome companions! I hope you are properly rested and equipped?
Come Pnin, let us lead the way to the Spire, and by that I mean you lead and I'll walk with you as I have not ever been there.
Maybe you can tell me about yourself and the rest of your group while we travel? I'm happy to answer any questions about myself that you may have.
As the group walks out of the gate and beyond the walls of Riverwatch, Kael throws a nervous look back-Please goddess, keep them safe while I am gone
Curral bot:
Singing:
“On a long and lonesome roadway
East of Riverwatch
You can listen to the minstrel
moanin' out his one note song
You can think about the woman
or the girl you knew the night before
But your thoughts will soon be wandering
the way they always do
When you're walkin' sixteen hours
and there's nothin' much to do
And you don't feel much like walkin',
you just wish the Spire was through”
*apologies to Mr. Seger
Well, Kael, we've had a bit of a tough life in Fort Inevitable. Then we were sent on a mission to the Spire and things haven't gotten a lot better. I'm moderately handy with this bow and traps. You can already tell that Curral is a bard. And I'll let Sanrael and Idril speak for themselves.
Pnin keeps a lookout:
Well, Kael, we've had a bit of a tough life in Fort Inevitable. Then we were sent on a mission to the Spire and things haven't gotten a lot better. I'm moderately handy with this bow and traps. You can already tell that Curral is a bard. And I'll let Sanrael and Idril speak for themselves.
Pnin keeps a lookout:
[dice=Perception]1d20+19
Your eyeball falls out!
The group makes it to the goblin cave, need perception and survival checks for the rest of the journey to the Spire.
Kael looks into the cave ~sniff-sniff~ Ugh, that smells disgusting. This area is rife with just such types of breeding dens for goblins and other filth. I'll have to mark this area for future attention from my Order. Maybe we can hire some mages to collapse the caves at some point. At worst we'll know where future villains might try and make a home.
Kael follows Pnin's lead as they move forward, quietly chatting-Although filled with danger, I have always found these woods to be quite pleasant to the eye. Not that I can ever find my way about mind you. That's why I tend to the walls and gates and Riverwatch. Hard to get lost there; if you can see a wall or a tower it's pretty easy to find your way forward. All these trees tend to look the same to me.
Responding to Kael about the cave:
Yes, I wish our party had had help down in that cave. We had more than a few close calls and surprise attacks. Speaking of which, how's your vision, Kael?
Later as we pass the cave:
Yes, I too was trained for different sorts of activities than camping and tracking. But I know my people have a love for forests and jungles . . . It seems that love was one of many things taken from me.
I do miss Kiryl, but it is nice to have you travelling with us Kael. I can't wait to hear some of the Iomadae drinking songs. I might have to incorporate some of them into my repertoire.
Talking with Pnin-Being a slave has got to be one of the worst fates I can imagine. Growing up I always thought I had it tough because I lost my parents to the plague when I was young; but at least I had my uncle and his family to raise and take care of me. As I grew and saw more of the world I learned of the true evil that can infest the souls of men. It made me appreciate my own circumstances that much more. I'm sorry that you had to grow up that way Pnin.
~later~
Kael grins mischievously at Curral-Well I do remember a bit of a marching song from when I was a cadet at the academy....something about thrusting one's sword truly home when given the chance.-he blushes a little-Honestly it's not all that appropriate and whenever we were caught singing it, the men-at-arms would give us double drill as payment.
Truth be told, our order doesn't have any drinking songs. While my vows don't include abstaining from drink, we do strive to be moderate in our behavior. I've never really seen anyone enjoy a drinking song that wasn't in their cups. However, if you can find some followers of Cayden Cailean I'm sure they could fill up your ears. His followers have a sincere lust for drinking and revelry.
Well, I shall not double drill you, but watch out for Sanrael after a night of drinking, Curral winks knowingly at Kael and continues on, but on a serious note, this group may have had some adversity thrust upon it in their youth, yet a finer group of friends I've never had. We welcome you to our slavery-ending posse, or whatever we have become thanks to the Paralicker.
Kael turns a bit more red at Curral's double entendre but smiles good naturedly-I always welcome good company and look forward to getting to know each of you better as the time passes, just maybe not that much better. Hopefully we can find my cousin Jharun alive; he's like a brother to me and I will forever be in debt to his father for taking me in and treating me like his own son.
The group finds a way through the forest to the Spire.
The Spire looks taller than it previously did. There is also a sturdy set of double doors where the open entrance used to be. Goblin tracks abound in the area around the Spire.
Kael looks around, clearly impressed by the ruins-Is this the place? It must have been grand indeed once upon a time. Now it looks like a den for goblins and maybe other villainy.
Where do we start; a gentle knock perhaps?-he smiles at his last comment, clearly jesting.
Maybe there's a bell. Always neighborly, you know.
Pnin wonders how the Spire could be growing?
Pnin approaches the door and looks over it for any traps.
Well, Kael, to answer your earlier question. This is the sort of thing I was trained for.
Kael prepares to enter through the door once Pnin finishes working on it, saying to the group-Stay behind me and watch the flanks.
There are no traps on/near the door but it is locked.
DC20 disable device to unlock
Idril casts Mage armor on herself.
Pnin pulls out his tools . . .
There is a slight click as Pnin unlocks the door.
Kael enters through the unlocked doors per above post.
Kael opens the door, standing on the other side are a group of 8 goblins with spears. They look like a patrol just about to leave the Spire.
Everyone stares at everyone else in shock for a split second. Then Idril and Pnin recover enough to act.
Idril and Pnin action. Then goblin action. Then the rest of the party action.
Oh s~@@
Pnin opens fire
Flaming sphere
Pnin puts down a goblin with 2 well placed arrows and Idril manages to burn one goblin injuring it while another leaps aside unharmed.
The goblins strike back doubling up on the man in plate armor and the dangerous cat person. One of the goblins drives a spear deep into a joint in Kael’s armor. Others wound Idril and Pnin.
Curral
Kael
Kael
Idril
Pnin
Pnin
Sanrael
Party action.
Burning Hands on goblin who speared me.
-20HP
Kael hisses in pain as the spear pierces his flesh-Inheritor's shield!
-12HP
and swings his blade in a wide arc trying to deliver some payback
Start a bardic performance to Inspire Courage +1 to hit/damage,
Come on men, It's time to break the goblin wave. Smush em and smash em and send them to the grave!
Sanrael rushes in to the protect the parties flank on the right side
Pnin?
-10/32 HP
Pnin shoots back at his attackers:
Idril burns her attacker to death with her two spells.
Kael chops down a goblin cutting it nearly in half.
Curral sings.
Sanrael opens a large gash in a goblin's side, seriously wounding it.
Pnin hits one of his attackers with an arrow.
The goblins seeing two of their fellows go down, go into a fighting frenzy! Pnin is sorely pressed under their vicious onslaught!
Curral
Kael
Pnin
Pnin
Sanrael
Kael defends against his green-skinned foe but whips his blade at Pnin's instead of his own, hoping to take some pressure off the cat-man.
Continue Bardic Performance 2/16
Hit em on the head, stab em in the lat...We do what we must, to protect our cat
-Curral shakes his head that was pretty feeble, must study-
strike at goblin
-6 hp
Ouch!
-29/32 HP
But Pnin keeps the pressure on:
Idril looks for the most wounded to strike
Continue Bardic Performance 2/16
Hit em on the head, stab em in the lat...We do what we must, to protect our cat-Curral shakes his head that was pretty feeble, must study-
strike at goblin [dice=Longsword]1d20 + 7 + 1
[dice=crit damage]2d8 + 6 + 2-6 hp
Stab em in the behind, to protect our feline
Sanrael?
Sanrael continues to press the attack