Roondar flinches from the rats "Gozreh help me, but I hate rats!"
Roondar will toss a Alchemist Fire -
"Oh, this looks fun! I want to play, too!"
Totiyonce digs around in her bag and pulls out a flask of alchemist fire.
Toti and Roondar dig around in their sacks for alchemist fire while Jugger hucks one from a long way away. The swarm dodges around the explosion of fire avoiding the initial direct hit, but the splashing fire kills a couple of them.
The swarm flows forward along the ground, the rats rushing forward but weirdly passing through rubble and rocks instead of over them adding for an odd ghost-like quality to them as they blend into the flickering shadows.
Flowing over Jugger, Mo, Winter and Roondar, they nip with cold bites that suck at your soul and tug at your physical being.
piercing + Str damage and make a DC15 Fort Save or contract filth fever
Jugger rages and swings with his longhammer.
;
They were 60 feet away.
Jugger moves forward and throws, missing the rats. They swarm forward, but this time they only hit him.
Mok will get an alchemist fire out as well but will wait until Jugger gets the hell out of the way to throw it. He does have 2 listed in his quick slot
He is also ready to run the hell outside if the swarm gets close
AoO
k
You emerge from the cave, bloodied and exhausted, and are greeted with a ragged cheer by the assembled militia. Many of them come up and shake your hands and clap you on the back as you move through, picking your way to the Ramblehouse in order to collapse into a much needed rest.
You arrive as the sun begins to rise over the horizon and find your rooms to be relatively unruffled. The orcs bypassed many of the buildings on their way to the inner quarter and kept most of their localized defense near the Hopespring, now the obvious target of the raid.
Ignoring the proprietress whom you bound and tortured during your investigation, you collapse into your rooms in exhaustion and wake midafternoon after a dreamless sleep.
Chaz is about and has prepared a meal, for you, still moving nervously around you and refusing to meet your eye. You last left her in the hands of the Militia a couple days ago and haven't really heard what the outcome of that was ... but apparently she is still acting of her own free will.
Healed and rested, you quickly learn that while horribly wounded, Kurst Grath survived the night and is convalescing at the Longhouse.
]
- +1 heavy steel shield
- +1 light crossbow
- cowardly
crouching cloak - oil of shillelagh
- ring of spell knowledge
- scroll of divine power
- scroll of magic weapon
- wand of magic missile
- +2 greatsword
- potion of resist energy
(fire)
Mo can help with any assists on the artifacts, if anyone has a high enough Spellcraft to really try.
Is there anyone in town who would also be good at this?
Mo will go check in with Kurst, even though he wasn't involved in the original investigation, he spent some time in the militia and respected his brother.
Also any historians in town that might be able to help with the geo?
Everything you know about the town is in the game or here
Mok will go look for Silvermane, he owes us and has been around a long time. I want to see what he knows about the hammer and armor
How do you intend to communicate with him?
I will ask if he can understand me, and if he can understand me I will ask if he would be willing to help us research the hammer and armor, (I don't think we have posted the names on the board yet and I am assuming Roondar's spelling on the discussion tab is wrong) waiting for a nod or a head shake and then asking if it's possible for him to write or is there someone in town who can translate for him?
He is mute but he is also a strange recluse. Not what you call the social type.
We can role play it. Stand bye.
And since you apparently can't be bothered to read it, here is the excerpt from the linked player's guide above.
druid, whose weathered features mark his age as venerable
even for his timeless race, quietly watches over the
spring and its reservoir, though what purpose his quiet
contemplation serves is anyone’s guess. Dubbed Silvermane
by the townsfolk, he has resided on this hill and slept near
the spring since before the town was settled. He rarely
communicates with anyone, but on occasion has been seen
conversing with Halgra via some form of sign language. He
generally holds himself aloof from the town’s proceedings,
yet the few occasions upon which he performs magic—
healing a dying child or calling lightning down on raiders—
earn him respect from most residents, albeit mixed with
questions regarding his inscrutable motives. The most
common rumor is that he’s the only survivor of the Council
of Thorns, a fierce druidic circle whose members ended their
lives with the prodigious blood rite that gave Ghostlight
Marsh its name.
The Artifacts are Agrimmosh, the Hammer of Unmaking and Uskroth's Armor.
And Dave had requested this, although it is on Roll 20 as well:
Signed,
Grenseldek,
Glorious Chieftain of the
Twisted Hearts
It's a town of 800 people and half of them were in the militia at some point. You could talk to any of them, the innkeeper, Sarah whom you rescued and fought with and sells weapons and armor ... etc.
Roondar will take a day or two to talk to Silvermane, using Speak with animal, he will ask Winter to ask Silvermane if he knew about the Hammer and the Armor. Does he know their history? Or anything to add to the histories we already have? Also, does he know anything about why the Giant Grenseldek, would want them?
Roondar will also ask him any questions the group has.
After this, He will take his share and see about buying a Magic Scimitar, Magic Shield, and a wand of CLW. Possibly more, depending on the amount we end up with.
Jugger spends the downtime doing maintenance on his weapons and fitting his new armor. He goes to find Sarah. "G'day lass. I would like to help you rebuild your forge."
Jugger wanders over to Clamor with Mo to touch base with Sara Morningstar and they encounter her wife, Astrid Staginsdar, on the way in with a large push cart filled with potions, scrolls and other items. She appears to be setting up a stall/tent outside of Clamor.
She rushes over to grab Jugger's hands with both of hers, "Jugger, truly our savior. Thank you so much for helping me save Sara. I just don't know what I would've done without her. I hope my grandmother's pearls are serving you well?"
Roondar and Mo head to the Hopespring to see if they can find Silvermane. After 10 or 15 minutes of searching, you begin to give up when the pool ripples and the elf emerges from beneath it, taking a great gasp of air and then striding out of the pooling water ignoring the water as it drips off of him and his drenched clothing.
He spies you as you approach and patently ignores you as you approach him with your attempts to communicate via animals and shoving paper and pen in front of him.
About to depart in frustration, he turns with a slight widening of his eyes as Mo mentions the artifacts and he holds up a single finger and crooks it back towards him to beckon you back. He points a the hammer on Mo's belt and raises a questioning eyebrow.
Mok smiles, finally having at least generated a reaction from the elf, "Yes, this is what I was trying to explain, we know this is significant, as a student of history and artifacts, I know what this is, but I can not for the life of me figure out how to unlocks it's secrets, it's beyond me." Mok shrugs, "You have been here for a long time, I was hoping that you would know more about this and the armor we found."
"Can you help us?"
Diplomacy -
Mok grins at what he assumes is an awkward situation for Jugger, he doesn't seem to be a people person "Aye lass, Jugger is a bonafide hero. You should ask him how he almost single handedly held off the horde at the main gate and allowed the militia time to get there and re-enforce the breech"
After waiting to see what Jugger does he will then ask "Is Sara is around? We have found a couple of things and could use both her and your expert opinion on them."
Jugger nods, "We put the necklace to good use in the battle, yet it still pains me to take a family heirloom. If ye'll not take them back, then let me at least help ye rebuild yer shop."
He looks around Clamor. "We have a lot of things to sell, and I need a fine set of armoring tools."
The druid looks at Mokroka without expression for a long, lingering moment and then nods his head slightly and holds out his hand for the hammer, then dismisses the two party members with a wave.
"You are too kind, Jugger, but I have another home," she glances at Sara, who is just now emerging from the forge.
"Many of the others in the Inner Quarter are homeless now. If you want to help, help them first. I can set up and work here just fine for some time. Let me know if you see anything you like or if you need any assistance with identifying magic items, I can at least offer you that last bit in return for your service."
Sara comes out wiping her brow, her arms bulging from recent hard work at the forge. She takes a quick expert appraisal of the things you have and gives you an offer and then adds, "Look, the orc weapons, I'm just gonna melt into raw materials and remake, can't give you more than half for them, but the other weapons I'll take 1 for 1 in trade if you see something you like in the shop. Over the next week, I can reforge any of these large items into normal size for you and I can upgrade any of your existing weapons or armor with Astrid's help for the cost of materials."
"I am familiar with armoring techniques as well. I can help you with the work, if you need it."
"I could use your help with this." He unloads his pack onto a table, revealing the armor of Usgrath. "We claimed it from the dead in the cavern below town. It belonged to a giant hero named Usgrath. I know it is a powerful artifact, but I know nothing of its powers."
Roondar spends the next few days assisting the townsfolk to rebuild. He can use 3 2nd level spells and can use wood shape, and soften Earth and Stone. He can try to help patch holes where he needs.
Sara whistles as she looks at the armor, "Fine craftmanship. I don't recognize the style. Must be ancient. Give me an hour, Asteid and I will figure out its enchantments."
Yeah Mo doesn't really trust this elf yet, he will try Sara and Asteid first
"It intrigues me as well, despite its giantish taint." Jugger offers to help with the armor.
Jugger works with Sara and Astrid, and is immediately impressed with how the two fall into working alongside each other often communicating without speaking and just understanding where to be through prwcticed effort.
He finds the toil of working in the forge to be a nostalgic one and is reminded of different times.
Before long they have the armor figured out ...
his battered, well-used suit of +1 half-plate
automatically resizes itself to match the size
of its wearer. Once per day on command,
the armor can bestow upon its wearer
the effects of righteous might for
15 rounds. The wearer’s alignment
determines the DR gained from
this ability. A good wearer gains
DR 5/evil, an evil wearer gains
DR 5/good, and a wearer who
is neither good nor evil chooses
which DR to gain the first time
she activates this ability—once chosen, it
cannot be changed.
Price is 11,235 go. CL15
The team turns to the hammer and it is readily apparent to even Jugger that the enchantments not only confound the two but they resist at being analyzed and understood.
Eventually, Astrid collapses in exhaustion.
"There is some size manipulation energy useable, but I cannot figure out how to trigger it. You will need someone more versed in the lore. But there is a vast reservoir of locked.power deep within the Hammer. It calls for something ... another artifact or person perhaps that with it will allow some truly spectacular arcane energy release. I wish I can tell you more, but I am afraid I am not strong enough."
Mo thanks them both for the assistance
Mo will ask, "Do you trust the elf? I went to him first but he wanted me to leave while he looked at the hammer and I wasn't comfortable doing that."
Jugger wipes his brow and runs his fingers through his beard, "Thank you for trying. If we find out, I'll let you know. I suspect this Grenseldek may know more."
Totiyonce accompanies Jugger to visit Sara and Astrid. She doesn't speak much, preferring to admire Sara's sweaty biceps from as close up as she's able to get. "Oh, my. I think I should like to buy you two a few mugs of ale as a token of our gratitude. After all this hard work, you must be thirsty."
Jugger blinks at Toti with his good eye. "Good thinking, lass. As long as the ale is dark and strong. Not the local watery piss."
Astrid watches Sara as Toti brazenly approaches her and the two of them share a knowing smile. Sara looks to Jugger and states simply, "It would be our honor to share some time and drink with you all, especially our newfound friend here who has turned from saving my life to saving our business.
The two beg off to finish up work and promise to meet you later at the Killing Ground.
Toti floats through the Commons, but finds it a bit quiet with a large part of the populations spending the daylight hours working to help each other recover from the raid.
Roondar moves amongst the repair teams, providing aid and enabling Winter to provide excitement and fun for some of the children and elderly. A tremendously resilient population, their lack of despair and general good cheer in the wake of near complete devastation for some families is incredible.
Not to say there aren't those that are despondent, the Flames of the Fallen stays lit day and night as funerals services are held nearly non-stop over the course of each day.
Toti and the others meet up with Sara and Astrid at the Killing Ground and are greeted by a wide cheer as they enter the tavern, with cries of "Orcslayer!", "Tell us about The Crusher's End!" and "Giantbane" leading the pack. You all are clapped on the back often and couldn't buy a drink if you wished as many folks come and ask you to regale tales that they'd heard.
Toti is easily able to take to the stage and the crowd listens with rapt attention as she sings about the raid night, many of the Militia men nodding and indicating the parts they witnessed or were a part of to their comrades and others around the room. Turns out nearly everyone in the city was able to watch the battle at Hopespring with the cave giant, referenced now and evermore as The Crusher.
The evening carries on happily. Sara and Astrid drink comfortably but responsibly most of the evening, smiling at the party's burgeoning fame, and after deflecting Toti several times, eventually turn in early, citing opening early tomorrow morning for repairs and weapons replenishment.
Toti for her part, gets so drunk that she can't figure a damn thing out from anyone ... many of whom are more than willing to provide information and eventually wakes up in her room at the Ramblehouse with 3 other men and women, with no memory past her last drink the night before.
Of note, Gorkis Meeson at That n' Such can make a potion a day to order. So regardless of availability, you may purchase 7 potions at market price for the first week.
Toti is unable to determine anything else about the Hammer of Unmaking.
You wake up early in the morning to a messenger bearing a letter.
Loyal friends,
The Council of Defenders requests you accept our humble invitation to discuss our recent findings in light of your discoveries the night of the Battle for Rodrick's Revenge. Please come by the Ivory Hall late morning as you are able.
Chief Defender Halgra of the Blackened Blades
Ok, Roondar will be there, he will speak to the Astrid and Sara about reworking the +1 spear into a Scimitar, and then getting the a +1 Hide armor made as well. If he has enough Money he will get the +1 Shield. I vote for getting all the Potions the man can create.
Jugger enjoys the company of Astrid and Sara, and even lets a rare laugh or smile come through in their presence. The new friendship also highlights other, underlying issues: as he drinks more, he lapses and more than once calls Astrid by his sister's name.
In the morning, he returns quietly to Clamor, spending the downtime working on Uskroth's armor, including making sure it is properly cleaned and oiled, and newly fit to his size. He works during the day at the workshop, putting his new tools to good use. In the evenings he practices with his new armor and shield, sparring with whomever is willing.
**
Most likely the early riser of the group, Jugger acknowledges the letter with a grunt, then proceeds to knock loudly on everyone's door. Especially Toti's. "Get up and get pretty, lass. We have a summons from the Council. They want to meet us mid-morning."
Jugger helps Sara repair and refit the militia armor.
Mok would like to spend 5 days retraining a feat.
Remove Cleave (I thought this was like it was in DnD, it is not nearly as cool)
Add Raging Vitality
Mok will track down a scroll of ID and focus on learning more about the hammer
Spellcraft -
UMD Scroll DC 21-
Mok will also ask Sara and Astrid who may be able to help us learn more about this geode
Mok will spend socializing time with the town, enjoying the attention and heaping praise on his new found friends bravery and skill.
Nope, still no Toti ...
Mok waits for an answer to his question about the elf and his trustworthiness
Also on his question about who could help with the Geode
Mok goes to the meeting as requested...