Rise of the Runelords [Sandpoint's Finest]

Game Master Evriani

Nico is impressed by Aldern's skill at hunting and tells him so, congratulating him on such a quick kill so early in the hunt.

She goes so far as including a hug in her congratulations. It's one of those one-armed side hugs that can be thought of as the product of excitement in the moment unless he thinks it's something more. That's alright too.

Lord Foxglove welcomes Nico's celebratory embrace and even turns to wrap a second arm around her, though it doesn't linger long before he steps back and announces, "There will be plenty more celebrating when we get back to town! I'll have Ameiko cook this up for us and we'll have another feast."

I know Orin is really busy IRL right now, so I'll leave a little bit more time for him to try the knowledge check if he wants to.

Orin tries to sound congratulatory, but in truth, he is just glad this is over and eager to get back to town.

"That was indeed a fine charge and keen eyes, My Lord. I'm sure the folks at the Dragon will be pleased with a feast and welcome a distraction."

Traded away bardic knowledge, so no check for me

"We should field dress it here," the nobleman answers, "that makes it lighter and easier to carry out, and it ensures no bile or urine leak into the meat and spoils it."

Pulling out a length of silk rope, he hands the blood stained end to Diego and asks, "Can you tie up its rear hooves while I find a branch to toss this over?"

Please feel free to continue RPing, and Jaymin- remember that you can take 10 while not in danger if you'd like to volunteer to help with anything.

"Field dressing a hairy pig. Are we going to put lipstick on it as well my lord?" Alistair asks getting his sense of humor back. "I'm assuming we will carry this beast out on a pole between a couple of us. Does anyone have a hand axe? I'll go get us a sapling or a heavy branch to carry the pig on. If not I guess I can dull my dagger to do it." If anyone offers a hand axe he accepts and begins to look around, otherwise he merely begins a search for a suitable sapling/branch.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

Jaymin just stares at Allistair while holding his giant axe.

Taking 10 on Knowledge Nature for a 16
”My point was that this isn’t the four-legged menace we were expecting; no offence to his lordship, but there’s no way a full-grown Tickwood Boar should have gone down to one little poke like that. This was a baby, and mama boar might be close at hand. We should carry it out of here, and do the dressing somewhere safer.”

Without delay, Diego takes the rope and ties them squarely around the boars hind legs. After confirming the rope is tight he gives Foxglove a thumbs up.

After dealing with the rope, Diego looks over at the boar. "It looks a bit large for a baby boar, don't you think?"

Lol- sorry, I meant you could take 10 on survival to help with field dressing, not to fix a failed knowledge check, but since it's already posted we'll roll with it. It does look like I need to clarify something though: there are definitely normal boar in Tickwood forest, the 'Tickwood boar' is sort of a local legend- a huge boar that hunters and lumberjacks claim roams these woods but nobody has ever captured or killed. As locals, you've all heard a story or two about it.

"One little poke?!?" Lord Foxglove scoffs. "There's nothing little about my poke. Look, I pierced its heart, any animal, no matter the size, would die from such a strike."

Once the hind legs are tied up, he tosses the other end of the rope over a sturdy oak branch and gestures for Diego and Jaymin to come pull the carcass up into the air.

Without complaint, Diego grabs hold of the rope and pulls until the boar is well off the ground.

Strength: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Once the boar is hanging from the branch, he then ties off the rope.

Nico just spectates unless she's asked to do something. She'll look around otherwise as well since it can't hurt to remain situationally aware.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Alright, I think that was a big enough window for anyone who wanted to post anything else here.

Lord Foxglove sheathes his rapier and draws a hunting knife. With it, he opens the boar's neck to begin draining it and then sets to work removing its innards while Nico stands watch.

He doesn't get very far, however, before the sound of something crashing through brush echos through the woods.

**initiative**
Alistair: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Diego: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Jaymin: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Nico: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
Orin: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

something big: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

Round 1, group A (Jaymin and Nico) is up. You can both hear something big approaching but can't see it through the brush yet. Whatever it is, by the time its out in the open it won't be more that 30-40 feet away (close enough that Jaymin can ready a parital charge if he wants).

Nico cries out a heads up to everyone when she hears something coming through the brush. She backs away from the direction of the approach to give the spears some room and herself more time to make the target should she need to.

I think I can do this? Readied shot. She will shoot when she can identify the approaching creature as a boar or other hostile animal and within 30'.

Attack (Ranged): 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 1 = 24

Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Jaymin will ready a partial charge, indeed. Unfortunately, he forgets about his boar spear, and goes in with his great axe. It cuts a nice swath in, whatever it is.

Charge Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 2 = 26 (so close)
Damage: 1d12 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

A wild boar the size of a horse bursts through a shrub, send leaves and branches scattering about. Nico's trigger-finger is ready and before anyone can even process the sight one of her bolts is whistling towards it. This is the Tickwood boar (or one of them, are there are in fact more than one).

Jaymin is only slightly slower than the bolt and a moment after it pierces its target he drives his axe deep into the creature's side. Undeterred, it snorts angrily and tries to gore the watchman with its long tusks.

gore: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
for: 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (3, 2) + 9 = 14

Lord Foxglove drops his knife as Jaymin falls backwards off a bloody tusk. "Alistair, Diego, one of you flank it with me," he calls out as he rushes forward to the left of the boar. He draws his rapier as he moves, but does not thrust until some else is in position opposite him.

Round 1, group C (Alistair, Diego, and Orin) is up. It came out closer to the carcass, so Diego is only 15' away; the others are 20-30'.

Although shocked by the beasts speed and ferocity, Orin is quick to react to the attack. Looping around to the safe side of Jaymin, he extends a hand filled with curative magics.

move around to the side of Jaymin and cast Cure light wounds

cure light wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Jaymin gurgles as the boar gores him. His axe falls from numb fingers and he tries to hold his insides in as he crashes to the ground. Everything goes dark.

A few moments later, his eyes snap open, and he gazes up at Orin. "Not heaven, or you're one butt-ugly angel."

Orin chuckles at the jab, "Nonsense, I'm a blessing from the heavens if ever there was one!"

In response to foxgloves request, Diego carefully moves to the opposite side of the boar, giving Foxglove the flank he requested. After finding a good spot to fight from, he brings his Falchion around into a side-long swing.

Attack Falchion vs Boar (PA): 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 5 + 2 = 13
Damage: 2d4 + 9 ⇒ (3, 4) + 9 = 16

Alistair will move to the side of the pig and run it through. "Aha! Take that you slab of bacon."

Atk: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 251d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

crit confirm: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 201d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

When Diego arrives, Lord Foxglove thrusts his rapier between two of the boar's ribs, spilling a spurt of blood. The large man's falchion skitters across its hide without finding purchase, but Alistair pokes another hole in it. The creature grunts in pain and there's a distinct gurgle in its breathing that likely means its lung is filling with blood.

The boar looks as though its grown unsteady on its feet but, somehow, it clings to life and lowers its head to prepare another gore.

Round 2, group A (Nico and Jaymin) is up again. Nico, there is currently nobody standing right in front of the boar, so no soft cover to worry about. Jaymin, you're currently prone so you'll have to either take the -4 to hit or risk an AoO to stand up.

Nico quickly reload and shoots again, aiming for an eye this time.

Attack (Ranged): 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 6 + 1 = 21

Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Attack: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 5 - 4 = 5

Jaymin grabs his axe from the ground and swings from his knees. The axe gets caught on a large gooseberry bush and does little more than scatter some fruit.

The huge boar begins to swing its bloodstained tusk towards Lord Foxglove when Nico seizes the opportunity to sink a bolt into its exposed neck. Its legs buckle and the momentum its generated sends it flopping to the ground where the nobleman stood as he steps back out of the way. He smiles at her and quips to everyone, "well, this will certainly make for a better meal, a better trophy, and a better story!"

Well done! The boar has ferocity, so it was already staggered after an impressive round of attacks and Nico did, literally, exact enough damage to kill it.

Nico lowers her crossbow and walks over for a closer look.

Damn! This thing is huge!"

She offers Jaymin a hand up.

"You alright? That was a hard hit you took."

With the large boar dispatched, Diego slides his falchion back into its scabbard and then looks over at foxglove. "What are we going to do with this one?"

Jaymin accepts the hand up. "I was wondering what my guts looked like. It's been ages since I'd seen them last."

"Wow, now that is a hairy pig. I didn't know they got that big. I thought people were just exaggerating." Alistair says pushing the thing with his boot. "We're not carrying this thing out on a stick. Anyone know how to make a litter? We could bring the horses back in here and pull it out." He then suggests.

"Yeah, it'll take the horses to move it. I can make a sledge for the horses to pull while the rest of you dress the boar out, that'll lighten the load."

She draws out her short sword and, after a look at it, turns to Jaymin.

"Actually your axe will be better for the poles. They'll need to be stouter than anything I can cut down with this. How about you fell them and I'll trim them ready for lashing?"

Survival (making a sledge): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

"We will need the horses, yes," Lord Foxglove answers with a smirk. "I'm not sure dressing it here is a good idea though. If this boar's mate is anywhere nearby we might not get so lucky the next time around."

While Nico and some of the others construct something to drag the enormous boar out on, the nobleman takes an escort and hustles back to the horses. They return fairly quickly and, working together, get the heavy carcass on to sledge and out to the edge of the woods. There, its hind legs are tied and the horses haul it up to a thick, sturdy branch to be drained and cleaned. It takes a bit of time but, with help from Nico and Jaymin, the retainers have the boar broken down into small enough pieces to be carried back to town on the horses by the early afternoon. "Well," Lord Foxglove announces, "unless anyone has an urgent desire to look for one more, I think we'd best head back while there's still enough time for Ameiko to make a fitting dinner for us?"

Jaymin is happy, both to help Nico build the sledge and to head back to town ASAP. He has no interest in seeing just his large these boars can become.

Thinking back on the last fitting dinner Foxglove provided left little hesitation for Diego to prepare for the road back. "If the meal is anything like that last one, I'm truly looking forward to it."

"All the boar you can eat!" Lord Foxglove promises as they set off galloping back towards Sandpoint.

The trip back is faster than the trip out had been, and when they arrive at the Rusty Dragon Ameiko seems almost to be waiting for them. She looks at the assorted huge pieces of boar and remarks, "It looks like you've had a pretty successful outing. I guess I should have expected nothing less from Sandpoint's finest." Picking up one of the hunks she turns toward the kitchen door, calling back, "I'll have Bethana bring out some water so you can all wash up a little and then you can come in and get started on some drinks and the first course."

A moment later the aging halfling emerges with a pail in her hands which she sets at their feet. Once they've all cleaned up some, they head into the inn's common where a table is set for them with a jug of ale and bottles of red and white wine. They've barely gotten themselves situated when a platter arrives with thin slices of seared tenderloin wrapped around a stuffing of goat cheese and herbs.

Near the bar a group of young woman keep looking over at the table and giggling.

Make one sense motive check and read whichever applies-

Ugh.

Nico ignores it all. She doesn't know what it's about and she doesn't care to. She keeps her attention on having a good time.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

Alistair looks over at his friend to see if he is looking particularly handsome today or has entrails in his hair. Then, seeing neither, he goes back to his food. "I dare say that was exciting. I still prefer going after people, but it was exciting. Didn't care for the ticks though."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

As the group nears town again, Orin looks to Jaymin's remaining wounds and does his best to clean them up. "No sense letting on about that business you nearly had with the reaper."

Cure light wounds on jaymin: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 sorry, close

At the Dragon, he tries to keep quiet and keep an eye on things.

sense motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Orin laughs just a bit at the attention from the girls, but says nothing.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

Jaymin enjoys himself and the meal. He notices the girls giggling at Diego, but that’s nothing new.

Completely ignorant of the girls attention, Diego pulls his plate over and begins to enjoy the meal. "I have to say Foxglove, you handled yourself quite well out there. Once the word gets out that you took down the Tickwood Boar, your reputation as a swordsman will become legendary." Diego states while filling his mouth in-between each sentence. Within moments, he begins looking for a tankard of ale and another full plate. " Surly your cook was sent her by the heavens!

The courses keep coming and Ameiko shows her cooking brilliance not only in the quality of the food but in her understanding- having started slow dishes like braised shank and smoked ribs right away and then bringing out very quick dishes like the tenderloin and skewers of crispy grilled cheek and belly with a sweet and sour sauce while everything else is cooking. Food, and drink, continues arriving until full bellies and early morning patrols conspire to see the watchfolk struggling to stay awake. Finally, sensing the sleepiness that's set in, Lord Foxglove calls for a end to the courses, much to Bethana's relief.

The nobleman sighs and remarks to his escorts, "that meal was nearly as memorable as our hunt, though I suppose there will be more stories told about the hunt, and our victory over the famed Tickwood Boar! I'd hate for Belor to regret letting you join me though, so perhaps we'd all better turn in for the night. I don't have my coin purse on me, but if you'll return tomorrow after your patrols I'd be happy to give you something for your services today."

"Thank you my lord. The meal was as delicious as you are gracious." Alistair says standing. Looking to Bethana, "My compliments to the chef." Then turning back to Alistair, "And to you my lord a goodnight." With that he retires from the room. From there, Alistair will walk up to the White Stag, visit with his parents for a moment or two as well as visiting with the patrons. He has a rare inspiration of stories, jokes, and friendly banter that carries him to closing time. Then he heads to the barracks and slips off to sleep.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

As the night concludes, Diego stands and begins to head out the door behind Alistair. Just before making the door, he turns to face foxglove. "The meal was amazing. Tell the chef she is supremely gifted." After making a small attempt at being polite, Diego heads out the door and back to barracks.

As with the previous dinner, Nico lingers on until she's the last. She finds ways to cover what she's doing as best she can making small talk with Aldern, or helping a little the stack plates and such to be carried away. When she's finally the last one remaining, she thanks Aldern again for organizing the hunt and adds "you promised an adventure and a good time, and you certainly delivered. I like a gentleman who keeps his word... How much longer will you be in Sandpoint?"

Jaymin lingers as the other men bid good night. He lingers…and lingers…and lingers…continuing to make pleasant small talk, until Nico is practically squirming in her chair, before he finally bids them good night.

<Sigh> What a tool. And to think I bought him pancakes out of my own pocket just a few days ago.

Orin stays longer at the Dragon than he had planned, but makes no attempt to chat with Foxglove. Once they are free to go, he excuses himself, gives Nico a 'behave yourself' grin, and heads home to regale his little brother and aunt with the day's adventure.

Jaymin, don't forget to update your banner with the second Cure light wounds (for 3). That and rest tonight should get you close to full

By the time Jaymin leaves, Aldern seems to be growing a bit impatient too. He smiles at Nico's praise but it falters at her question. "Sadly," he replies, "I really need to get back to Magnimar to deal with some business concerns... I'll be leaving tomorrow after I've had the chance to pay you all."

He falls silent for a moment while holding eye contact with the watchwoman then adds, "but I'm sure I'll be in need of someone to watch over me next time I come to Sandpoint."

With full bellies, nobody has any trouble falling asleep and they all awaken early the next morning feeling refreshed, and still a bit full.

Anything anyone wants to do before/during patrol today?

Nico forces a smile.

"Oh, yes, of course. I expected you would need to leave soon."

Nico stands and picks up the scarf she's using as a shawl.

"Well, it's an early morning tomorrow so I should be going. Thank you again for the entertainments and meals you gifted us. You are very generous."

"Perhaps we will come across each other the next time you are in town. It would be nice to see you then."

Nico beats a hasty retreat back to her place.

I'm good here. Ready for patrol.

all set to go to work!

With the medics at the garrison, Jaymin is finally back to full health.

He takes his new, unused boar spear with him in addition to his axe as he readies for morning patrol.

Ready to get to it.