Kingmaker: Varnhold Vanishing (Inactive)

Game Master BloodWolven

"If you give me around four hours, the lessons of Irori have taught me how to watch through the rest of the night. Let as many as we can get full, good nights of sleep. I can watch early, late, or in the deep of the night, as you will."

Took Ki Metabolism, so as long as Dinenen has 1 Ki in his pool, he only needs 2 hours of sleep a night (and 1/4 normal rations) to be fully rested, fed, and capable. The third hour is to fulfill his obedience: practicing, reading, and meditating. The fourth hour is just to provide a little padding.

"I can go and fetch Katrina if that is your wish? She is over with the elk off in the fields. Also I can keep watch at the gate while Dinenen is resting." He puts emphasis on the word 'resting' as he knows there is likely more than rest involved.

"No worries when the time comes we can put it on a spit or cook it in the kitchen."

"Well in the end we want information on the people that are missing. That means we are going to need to speak with those in the fort. Now that we have done a bit of scouting we could send a team to try to speak with them IF and likely WHEN they turn on us. Take it from there."

He thinks a moment, "Perhaps if we clear the crows and whatever else first they will worry about how to deal with us and might be more willing to speak?"

"Or we can wait and see what they throw at us? If they know we are here?"

St. John stays silent for a moment and then says, "Getting rid of the crows is important I think. They attacked and we don't need to be fighting on two fronts. Maybe something impressive in dealing with the crows will help with the negotiations."

"To the point St. John said, we might be best in the field of pyrotecnics. Sindri if you would fill us in on your capabilities besides a fireball. Also anyone else have some flashy spells or tricks up their sleeves?" He points out nodding to St. John and then putting his hand out for Sindri to begin explaining.

Quince laughs, "Well Fireball is an impressive display and probably blows the crap out of crows. I think we get a few of those going. Sulvanii made me a wand."

"They seem to have been paying little enough attention that my daylight wasn't noticed, so we still have the element of surprise. Obviously, we'll lose it if we treat with them, so, if we're hoping to do this peacefully, I guess that sort of display might help them talk instead of attack when we first meet them. Interesting."

"I think St. John has a point fleeing into a cloud of carnivorous crow . . . 'crow' . . . 'crows' huh." He pauses to parse the word mentally. He looks up. "Was their any sign that they might have the missing people?"

He looks around at those gathered, "What do we know of Spriggans? They are an off shoot of gnomes, they can grow large, they are evil."

GM put spoilers for Knowledge Local checks in Discussion

"We have used stealth pretty well and we aren't a small team. Let's have those who can hide shadow those who will openly and ostentatiously deal with the crows and rats. I have a fireball wand, Sindiri can use fireballs, I have a horn as well that can make some noise and do some harm to an area once per day. The rats are in the food supply. We might not want to blow that up. It can be purified. Once the crows are dealt with we attempt to make contact with those in the fort. They might not even try to parley. Once things go south. They will be focused on those of us who are attempting to parley and those that are in hiding can knock them off kilter."

"Any ideas?"

"Of course if talking fails, we can tell them we can blast them just like the crows..." He says with a snide smile!

A wand of fireball! How exciting your grace! I would love to see it sometime!" Although," he says slyly,
"No offense intended but I bet mine are bigger!"

Sindri if you would fill us in on your capabilities besides a fireball.

"Of course! I have cards printed up of every spell that I know!" The gnome pats himself down, looking in his many pockets for his business cards before deflating. "Oh. That's right. I left them all in Brevoy. Well no matter!" He promptly begins rattling off a list of spells, and their various effects.

Here's the list of spells! Keep in mind that I have blood havoc, so any damage dealing spell that I can cast adds another point of damage per die, and any fire damage spell can do half damage as healing instead!

"In the future, I hope to learn how to make myself shimmer like a heat haze, blur and to give my allies the speed and ferocity of a fire haste!"

"If they haven't noticed us already, something is wrong with them." The elf traces a route from where they are towards the castle.

"We can always go by here and the rest of us in shadows heads down in cover to their blindside." the elf pauses.

"We might leave our retreat route blocked by hostiles or maybe the those crows. Ha Ha a Murder of Crows may be persuaded to go hinder our friends in the castle instead."

"Well the crows follow carrion. Move the carrion to our enemies and they would follow." He thinks a moment, "That would put us challenging the crows anyway."

"Delilah is still scouting. Once she has returned we can make an informed decision. Though I think at this point we can take care of the crows and rats. And see if that puts those in the fort in a talkative mood."

He smiles at Sindir's bravado "Well your closer to your own." He reaches into the top of his pack. "You might like this." he pulls out a yew wand. "We had a lot of trouble with trolls in the last year. This makes a wall of fire." He takes a moment to talk through the particulars of the spell. "The word to activate it is 'Murus Ignis'." He teaches the celestial words to the gnome. He holds the wand out for the gnome. "You can give it a try. WHEN the time comes."

Wand of Wall of Fire (CL 7, DC 18, 50 Charges)

"Well we are going to likely see some action soon. These things are better shared." He reaches into his the top of his pack and pulls for another wand.

"Lykan I believe you have some magic about you. Healing certainly when its needed can help us out. This can keep those around us in better health." He pulls out a wand of highly polished elm. "Sanitatem." He teaches Lykan the Celestial word for healing.

Wand of Cure Light Wounds (CL 1, 50 Charges)

He reaches into his pack again and pulls out a pair of horn cups they are stopped with thick corks which are held down by a leather strip. He hands one to St. John and Roland. "These should be able to handle wounds should you have the need. Moderately. I hope you never have the need."

Each of you get a Potion of Cure Moderate Wounds.

Each of you get a Potion of Cure Moderate Wounds.

By Each I meant St. John and Roland.

"Good wood." the elf remarks as he accepts the wand.

"Oh my! A wand of the 4th circle! I don't think I've ever seen such a thing before, let alone held one! I suspect I could do some serious damage with such a thing!" He pauses for a second. "Although I must admit, it will be strange wielding flames that I cannot make heal others. After all, the apology of fire runs strong within me." Then he grins. "Still! A wand of the 4th circle! Thank you my liege! And the activation phrase is in celestial, might I enquire into the creator of such an item?"

Quince smiles, "Sulvanii is a capable Smith and craftsman. However for this he granted a wish. With our struggle against the trolls in Southern Greenwatch we required many such treasures. Fire and acid can interfere with trolls healing powers. I chose the command I bear a thorn or curse from Erastil. A test, he has granted me power but in times of stress and turmoil I can only speak in celestial or sylvan."

"I hope you all speak one of these." He inquires.

"Ah, a fellow linguist! I speak both, actually! As well as Gnomish, Terran, Aquan, Auran, Ignin, Draconic, Dwarven, Elven, Giant, Goblin, Orc, Infernal, Abyssal, Necril, and Aklo, although I'm still learning Aklo, and might not be able to translate as well as might be desired I'm afraid." Sindri says this all in one breath, first sounding proud, then apologetic at his perceived failure.

"Sylvan, Celestial, Aklo, Common and Horse. I speak horse." He smiles, "Aklo is tricky. One of the professors at the Academe Sciencia in Elkheart is an expert on fey and is helping me with the accent."

NERDS!

"Oh while we are on the subject of our skills and assets I am not a werewolf." He looks around. The chuckles, "I am a Kitsune. We are a race that can shift our form into foxes and a hybrid variation. More common further east. So if and when I grow a tail and red-gold fur. Well now you know. If it wasn't common knowledge before."

Things have kinda slowed. I know Delilah is still scouting things for us. She was checking out L14 from her last post. We at the brewery have been keeping eyes pealed in that direction from the window of the brewery, the lets call it a Turret on the brewery corner roof and the gate. If in game time has gone on considerably by several hours we would start to grow concerned if we don't see her in falcon form.

Slightly earlier in the thread.
"Normal crows will flock to carrion. These chased me. They are not normal crows, somehow."

Now(ish)
"I dabble in languages as well. Let's see . . .. Celestial and Sylvan, as you hoped, plus Draconic, Dwarven, Elven, Gnome, Goblin, Halfling, Orc, Hallit, Skald, Taldane, Varisian, Abyssal, and Infernal. Irori would consider it a waste for me not to take advantage of my natural talent to learn languages as a way to improve myself, after all."

Pushes his glasses up with a single finger at the nose-piece.

As Quince describes his Kitsune visage, Dinenen cocks his head to the side, slightly. "Kitsune? Not aware that I've met one of your kind before. You look human enough."

St. John looks back and forth between all these people speaking lots of languages and says "Well, I speak Sylvan. I spent my time doing other things and talking I guess."

"Well communication won't be an issue.'

He looks at Dinenen he smiles, "Well I didn't know I wasn't human for a long time myself. My parents found me in the wild. The raised me as theirs. We figured that I was some how touched by the fey. Since then obviously I have learned different. Elizabeth the Duchess is also a kitsune. Small world that we found each other." He smiles wistfully a moment.

"I can speak both Celestial and Sylvan." Lykàn is not interested in showing off the number of languages he knows. The ones he hunts don't have a need for them after being pierced from his arrows.

"We may need to deal with the crows anyway. We give Deliah another 2 hours before we start a search for her."

DM did you miss my previous post?

Sorry, DM has been hard pressed with time... post soon to be included!

I meant was the ransacking done by the centaurs.
Perception: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (2) + 17 = 19
She flies into the weaver's cottage and automatically notices the cat and keeps an eye on it warily as she inspects the cottage, the reels and anything else of interest. If she finds anything and the cat leaves her (crow) alone she will fly out and back through the village back to the brewery, seeing no one else still scouting the village.

Landing on the planning table, she relays what she found. "I have inspected the larger buildings on the north side of the village. An Inn, the ransacked temple to Erastil and a Weaver's hut. The Inn may be of interest. Someone was studying the centaurs and there are several books and notes there. A dead spriggan is frozen in place in the common room. Strangely murdered. And another is at the bottom of the well in the center of the village. Has anyone scouted the south half of the village?" She remains in crow form for now, (though her beastspeak spell cast earlier has a 70 minute duration).

"Those crows are a hinderance and if they will not leave then we shall make them leave." The elf glances at Sindri.

"This one can send fire down on them."

"Alright so team 'Gnome with a Flame Tosser," He indicates himself, St. John, Jorne, Sindri, Ike, Layla, and Roland (if the last three are still with us) "Will fantastically deal with crows and attempt to parlay with the Spriggans. 'Shadow squad'." He indicates Dinenen, Lycan, & Delilah, "Watch our flanks and when things turn south, unleash hell."

Quince looks to Cleo, "Are you with Shadow Squad or Flame Tossers?"

Quince turns to Delilah, "Thank you for scouting out. We have several threads to pull on when we investigate." He pulls out an ash wand from his pack. "I believe you are a healer? This might serve us well for you to have. This will help cure light wounds if you have other need of your magic."

Delilah gets Wand of Cure Light Wounds (CL 1, 24 Charges)

Seeing as Roland is no longer a PC can we recon him getting the Cure Moderate Wound potion. Quince would have passed it to Sindri instead.

"Easy enough. Looking at the map, where do you propose approaching from, and waiting, so that we can work out the best area to stage ourselves?"

Earlier GM you mentioned rats at L14. I thought it had something to do with grain. Justed wanted to confirm.

Quince points to the stable where the crow swarm is, "Well while we are making a show of it here. Once done we can follow the path toward the gate. You can stay hidden perhaps among these buildings the closest is this one L11. But this is a fluid situation. Opportunities will arise and you might think of things I don't."

The elf studies the map and points to a location.
L2 buildings towards far end of the map , close to L16

"With all the light and show, the guards should be distracted enough. I'll attempt to move towards this spot from here."

L2 near the river.

"This would give me a vantage point to see if there's any more guards and whether they're coming out. It'll also give me ample time to lay down some cover fire and yet ample space to withdraw."

Delilah takes the wand in her claws. "I have some skill with healing." +10 to heal checks

"Once the crows are driven away, Iodren and I will hide and await your signal. We will attempt to flank if they come out of the castle."

"Oh boy! I've felt so useless recently, I can't wait to show you what I can do, my Lord!"

"Alright lets go." He nods to those gathered and makes his way to the ford itself and looks out over the town on the far side. He drew his wand of fireballs. "The Fireballs have a good bit of range on them. If I shoot one from the edge the explosion will be seen and heard and it might disperse the crows. When they chased Dinenen they did not cross the river. Nothing is guaranteed but we can engage them long before they engage us. However if they rush us hitting a wall of fire might hurt." He smiles at Sindri. He looks at the others to check if they are ready.

Fireball has a long enough range to reach the area around L8 & L9 from the our side of the river.

Satisfied that the group is ready he waves the wand and utters the command word sending the small ball of fire into the heart of the pile of carrion. Hoping to hit the heart of the raven swarm.

Fireball (CL 5, DC 16): 5d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 1, 6, 6) = 20

To Lykan, Dinenen notes "That's close enough to where I was looking that the difference shouldn't matter. Let's work our way around to there and be waiting for the fireworks. If things go well, we can move up here to be close enough to the discussion, in case." He indicates L14.

Delilah watched on a perch nearby as fireballs were hurled at the crows. In crow form herself, she flinched a little as feathers sizzled. She wouldn't use her entangle spell to hold them there and hoped they scattered instead of flying towards the fireballs. "Be careful if they try to swarm you."

Perception 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27
Stealth 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14

Keeping any eye out for any changes in the fort and also as they group tries to murder a murder of crows. Lykàn makes his way through using the buildings to take cover from.

St. John stands ready to protect those throwing the fireballs if needed.

Rats at L14. Yes the grain house.

Roland keeps the cure mod potion.

----

As the fireball hits the murders of crows many begin to disperse. The animals don't seem to know where it came from but hundreds of them take flight, nearly all of them.

So not the weaver?

Sindri's fireball is slightly staggered, waiting for the lead of his party leader. He aims for the same spot, hoping to hit before the crows all get away.
Fireball damage, DC 20: 10d6 + 10 ⇒ (1, 4, 5, 6, 4, 2, 5, 5, 2, 5) + 10 = 49

With the second fireball most of the crows are toasted, and any that remain disperse around the village. Many fly off away. You believe the crow swarms are gone.

Any sign of activity change at the fortification? After 2 fireballs just went off?

"I will see if that brought any attention our way." Delilah flies off her perch with the crows and circles high above, watching the Fort.

Perception: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (4) + 17 = 21

"Our 'friends' at the fort await." He nods to the to others and starts across the ford. "There was a trap on the other side of the ford. Perhaps our path to the fort should be just to the side of the path. And keep your eyes peeled." He crosses the ford and moves to the right side of the path through town and a few paces into the grass.

You think some movement is happening at the fort. But nothing comes out.

Being to the right side of the path you can see the swarm of rats roiling over the grain in the storehouse but they don't bother to leave it. There are dead crows everywhere, those that are alive and come back down to perch begin to eat.