Army of Stone

Game Master Matt Adams 259



The sun is shining brightly upon the birthday celebration for Prince Zoran. All the past week, merchant vendors and noble guests have been filling up the docks of the Celestia's port for the party where the young prince finally comes of age. You start to get out of bed as the people in the city begin to file out of their homes and towards the castle.

Alcott-As you awaken within the barracks on the castle grounds, there is a knock at your chamber doors followed by a voice saying that a meeting of the guardsman who will be attending the prince during his celebration entrance will be meeting in the main hall in an hour.

Orran-You awaken aboard the ship your tribe's delegation came in on. The other warriors on board are all ready boasting about how they'll best any of the formal knights during the tournament at the celebration. They are getting their gear ready and will disembark shortly.

Vianna-You awaken alone in a cabin aboard a small boat hired by your mother. With her never remarrying, the two of you have fallen on hard times and the family's wealth has near reached the breaking point. She has sent you to Celestia to court a young nobleman to marry into his wealth and preserve the family line.

Aelwulf, Jak, and Pikpok-In the slums docks of the shadow bridge, you wake up in one of the few taverns your meager supply of coin could provide. The rooms are swollen to capacity and all you could afford was a spot on the floor by the fireplace. The dining area is becoming flooded with patrons waking up for breakfast. They begin crowding the small breakfast spread.

Orion-You wake up in the room above your small tattoo shop in the West Town district, just outside the gates of the city proper. There are already crowds of people passing by the entrance to your shop.


Small Kobold Bard ♀︎ | HP 24/24 | AC 15 (FF:12 , Touch:14) | F: +1, R: +6, W: +3| BAB: +2, CMB: -1, CMD: 12 | Init: +3 | Perc: +0 | Speed 30ft | Bardic Performance (17/17)

Pikpok stretches and sits up, checking to make sure her disguise was still intact. She rose early, unlike many of her kind, and used it to her advantage. Pikpok scrambles under one of the tables, checking her mask and hood. Once she's satisfied, the 'halfling' tries to get her mitts on some food before it's all gone.

Taking 10 on Disguise for 18. No penalties to disguise as a halfling.
Sleight of Hand: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

It's a madhouse of grasping hands and Pikpok was just a touch too slow, the small spread had already been claimed by other patrons. Stomach empty, the kobold decides she might as well get started on her patrol. Shouldering her instrument case, the 'bard' leaves the tavern, taking a moment to enjoy the morning sun.


Male Aasimar Paladin/1st

"T-thank you..", a still sleepy Alcott Halas mumbles to the castle messenger who woke the paladin. Shortly after morning prayers, the towering aasimar dressed in his under armor and civilian clothes and made his way to the main hall, where his fellow banner guards waited with a small cart of coffee and other fixings.


Neutral Half-Orc Thief HP: 4/4 AC: 13 Torches Lit: 0/6 Slots 13/16

Aelwulf wakes and secures his travelling gear. Noticing the mad grab for food he decides to skip breakfast, "Surely there will be food at the castle grounds for the celebration," he thinks to himself. As he steps out of the tavern he nearly collides with a halfling basking in the morning rays. "Morning," he says quickly sidestepping to avoid bumping into the halfling, "did ya sleep well? I think I've slept on worse floors but not by much."


Orion goes about his normal daily tasks: he gets up, does his meditation on the meaning of each rune he knows, makes breakfast, cleans himself up, then goes downstairs and checks his stock of needles and ink before setting his sign outside that indicates he's open for business.

Soon he has a couple of customers, mainly caravan guard types, waiting in his shop, while he continues work on a griffon tattoo on one of the city guards: it's an elaborate piece, with the Eagle head roaring in defiance, and the beginnings of a rider being added to it.

After about an hour working on adding the outline of the rider to his back, Orion bandages the tattoo then grabs another needle to start on the next customer.


Female Werebat-kin Skinwalker Witch (Ashtifah) 1 | HP 8 (1d6 + 1 con + 1 FC ) | Defence AC 12 (Touch 12 Flat Footed 10) [/ooc] | CMB: +1, CMD: 11/9 |FL F: +1, R: +2, W: +2 | Init: +4 | Perc: +4, SM: +0 | Speed 30ft | Hexes Slumber - DC:14, Ward | Spells: lvl0- 3 1st 3 | Active conditions: None.

Vianna wakes and takes stock of her surrounds of her possessions and location. She packs her gear, such as it is, in her backpack, carefully stowing most of the coin in the middle of her backpack. She greets the sailors on the boat, telling them she is going to look around the town.

Vianna moves cautiously through the unfamiliar town of Celestia, trying to gain the lie of the land and seeing if she can locate the young man she is supposed to be here to marry.


Male Aasimar Skald 1 | HP: 11/11 | AC: 15 | T: 10 | FF: 15 | CMD: 14 | Fort/Ref/Will: +5/+0/+1 | Init: +0 | Perception: +3 | Sense Motive: -1

Orran readies his gear and joins his tribe on the deck of their ship to gaze at the city over the bustling port below. A hand claps him on the shoulder as his closest friend joins him.

"A fine day for battle," Behrka says with a grin.

Orran grunts an agreement. "They are not prepared," he replies, and they share a laugh.

The camera zooms out to give an aerial view of the activity on the ship before switching to a scene of Celestian knights training for the upcoming melee. JK, but the post felt short.


Within the dining hall, Alcott's superiors take his team through their drill for the celebration one last time. Once that is done, the lieutenant approaches the paladin. "You have good form there. I actually have a job for you before the prince makes his way out to the courtyard. A merchant has set up shop right next to the stage where the Prince will be making his speech. Make sure he isn't there when it's time for His Highness to speak."

Orran's laughter is interrupted by the ship's captain. "All right. Enough dawdlin'. Let's show these fancy jousters what a real fight looks like." You disembark into the city proper with it's sturdy buildings of wood and stone. The crowd parts easily around your warrior clan as they march through the streets. After a while, you find yourself facing down warriors in armor of all colors and styles as men from many different kingdoms are eagerly awaiting their turns in the ring.

Vianna finds herself among a parade of carts and horses all decorated with aristocratic crests. As she looks about for a special seal, a young man finds her first. "Excuse me, madam. I can't help but notice that you wear the style of veil commonly worn by the women of Crete."

Pikpok walks through the streets on his way to the main fairground where he is sure to get an audience. However, he is stopped by a pair of burly humans before he makes it there. "Hey there, shorty. I don't remember seeing you around here before. We just wanted to let you know that we're the local tax collectors and by law all musicians are required to pay us 10 gold pieces for the pleasure of playing in the royal festivities."

Aelwulf the halfling you saw in the tavern last night is being heckled by some of the local thugs.

As Orion is finishing up with one of his customers, a man with dark blue hair and golden eyes enters his shop. The customer is wearing worn travelers clothes, and though he knows most of the tailors in the city, he can't place the style. The patron holds up a picture of a strange rune. "How much do you charge for a tattoo of this?"


Male Aasimar Paladin/1st

The aasimar gives the lieutenant an exasperated look. "I shall see to the matter immediately, sir", Alcott said with military decorum. Being as tall as he is, his superiors often sent Alcott to help in situations where some manner of 'gentle convincing' was needed.
The paladin makes his way to the merchant's tent, thinking that the best case scenario is to help move the temporary shop several feet over.


Small Kobold Bard ♀︎ | HP 24/24 | AC 15 (FF:12 , Touch:14) | F: +1, R: +6, W: +3| BAB: +2, CMB: -1, CMD: 12 | Init: +3 | Perc: +0 | Speed 30ft | Bardic Performance (17/17)

Pikpok was a little surprised, the tallfolk had caught her sunning like a common lizard. She stumbles to one side and turns to face Aelwulf. The disguised paladin sizes up the man, glancing over his equipment and person. This one seemed friendly enough. Needs to watch his step though. "Aye, I'd say the same. Almost makes sleeping in the wild seem comfortable."

'His' stomach grumbled as the 'bard' spoke, prompting a followup. "I think the noble folk have paid most of the cooks in town to prepare food, might head up to grab a bite before I do anything." Too hungry to really wait for a reply, Pikpok makes her way toward the festivities.

*********

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 2 She's kind of a dope.

"I wasn't aware there was an entry fee! But... I'm not looking to play, I just wanted to enjoy the festivities. Besides, this old thing isn't really in any shape to make music." She jostles the instrument case and something rattles inside. "See? It's no good!"


Orion considered the rune, then looked at the man.

Is the rune one of the words of power, a normal magical design, or is this just a bro trying to get a little Chinese character tat to impress teenage girls?

"I charge 5 silvers for a day's tattooing. Depending on where you want that done and how big you want it, it shouldn't take more than a day or two. If we need to arrange it, I am willing to hold collateral if you're from outside town, or if you're a local I can accept a payment arrangement. How big do you want it, and where are you looking to have it put on?"


Male CG Ranger 1 Human | HP: 12/12 | AC: 18 (15 Tch, 13 Fl) | CMB: +4, CMD: 19 | F: +3, R: +7, W: +2 | Init: +5 | Perc: +6, SM: +2 | Speed 30ft || Active conditions: None.

Shortly after the hafling minstrel and the fair skinned youngster sharing his spot by the hearth begin their morning, Jak opens his bed roll and sets aside the longsword he’d been sleeping with. Were the rest of the tavern’s patrons seem to be in a rush, the bare-chested man starts his own routine with a slow and deliberate care. After securing his bedding, he cleans himself with a well-used hygiene kit stamped with the seal of the royal army. He pays special attention to his feet.

When the halfling scrambles under a nearby table he pauses his maintenance to watch her with idle curiosity but offers no comment. Perception vs Disguise: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16.

As his mohawked neighbor finishes packing his traveling gear, Jak starts applying a light polish to a pair of boots that while well-made have been re-soled at least once. When he finishes the boots, he moves on to his sword, methodically oiling and sharpening the blade.

When the crowd starts to thin, he dresses in a fine linen shirt and starts donning a set of armor that seems just a little too ornate for someone sleeping on the floor of a tavern in the slums of shadow bridge. Unlike the rest of his gear which seems to have seen hard use, the breastplate bearing the seal of Thethambia that he straps over his chest is a pristine as if it came from the smithy only yesterday.


Female Werebat-kin Skinwalker Witch (Ashtifah) 1 | HP 8 (1d6 + 1 con + 1 FC ) | Defence AC 12 (Touch 12 Flat Footed 10) [/ooc] | CMB: +1, CMD: 11/9 |FL F: +1, R: +2, W: +2 | Init: +4 | Perc: +4, SM: +0 | Speed 30ft | Hexes Slumber - DC:14, Ward | Spells: lvl0- 3 1st 3 | Active conditions: None.
Goldmyr wrote:
Vianna finds herself among a parade of carts and horses all decorated with aristocratic crests. As she looks about for a special seal, a young man finds her first. "Excuse me, madam. I can't help but notice that you wear the style of veil commonly worn by the women of Crete."

"Your eyes do not deceive you sir. I have just this day arrived in Celestia from that distant land. My name is Vianna. And who would you be sir?" replies Vianna with a friendly smile.


Neutral Half-Orc Thief HP: 4/4 AC: 13 Torches Lit: 0/6 Slots 13/16

Aelwulf approaches the shakedown attempt,"Oi! Tax collectors, is that your play? You boys are looking pretty ratty for agents of the crown. Look, there are plenty fat pockets ta be picked today, just let the halfling be on their way an' go finda half drunk noble to pilfer."
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15


Male Aasimar Skald 1 | HP: 11/11 | AC: 15 | T: 10 | FF: 15 | CMD: 14 | Fort/Ref/Will: +5/+0/+1 | Init: +0 | Perception: +3 | Sense Motive: -1

As they march through the streets, Orren leads his companions in a song of praise to their mighty patron.

Perform (sing): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14


Small Kobold Bard ♀︎ | HP 24/24 | AC 15 (FF:12 , Touch:14) | F: +1, R: +6, W: +3| BAB: +2, CMB: -1, CMD: 12 | Init: +3 | Perc: +0 | Speed 30ft | Bardic Performance (17/17)

The tallfolk from earlier today! At Aelwulf's words, Pikpok looked more closely at the thugs that were accosting her. Her left hand instinctively moved closer to the short blade she kept hidden under her cloak. If there was trouble, she was ready to draw.


Small Kobold Bard ♀︎ | HP 24/24 | AC 15 (FF:12 , Touch:14) | F: +1, R: +6, W: +3| BAB: +2, CMB: -1, CMD: 12 | Init: +3 | Perc: +0 | Speed 30ft | Bardic Performance (17/17)

Pikpok's stomach growls uncomfortably loudly.

Are we waiting on anyone? It's been almost a week!


Just waiting for the next update.

Community / Forums / Online Campaigns / Play-by-Post / Army of Stone All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.