I think we can probably call time of death on this one. Thanks all.
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I'll be out of contact until the very end of July, due to a trip to Kiev followed by days spent packing up the flat i'm living in here in Ukraine followed by a 3 day bus journey back. Its easier to just declare my absence now rather than try and keep up with things during this busy time. Roll on August! That said, is this game dead anyway? Seems to have kinda faltered.
Atayos struck over Garret's head at the Troll trying to hurl him aside but his Guisarme simply arced over the troll's head.
Let them come to you lads... Atayos muttered to his ward and his brother, poised to defend them.
Round 2 Initiative Order- Theodric (action declared)
Atayos stepped up and remained just behind Rando and Garrett- keeping his eyes peeled for more Trolls and arcing his Guisarme to deflect claws and teeth away from his ward.
Atayos stood a little behind and to Garrett's right so he could properly utilise his weapon and ward off claws that might harm his ward. He only growled in annoyance at Grendal and sent his Guisarme hacking through troll flesh.
Atayos rushed the Troll with his Guisarme in both hands and forced the Troll to the floor after upturning it with the haft of the long weapon.
Atayos looked on at the man's tactics distastefully. He spurred on Midnight, reminding his ward as he charged. Stay close to me my lord.
The powerful horse galloping under him, Atayos rammed his lance into the Troll's back, the momentum adding a great deal of force to the blow. He could not help but smile as the glory was so far his and his allies. (Flanking, Charge)
Lance cradled under one arm and shield strapped to the other, Atayos spurred his mount on into a full gallop to get within seventy foot of the beast.
Atayos said nothing but was immensely pleased his ward had taken his advice. I suppose its time to hunt Troll then, my lord.
Atayos spoke, stood grimly next to Garrett and addressed his ward quietly. Theres clearly more to this tale of a sword theft than meets the eye; in particular, the woman's eye. They are hiding something- perhaps they abused more than just the woman's eye. Misdirection could serve as a useful tool here. Acquiesce to your cousin, but mislead him- buy this pair time to settle into your father's keep. That way, we can ensure we have time to look into this ourselves and seek justice.
Atayos chuckled softly in response to the man's words and the tension in the room eased a little. I am not known for dishonesty. I was nicknamed Golem, not Deceiver. Your Sarkori- they more than many, have cause to join the fight. Why do they wander, when their ancestral home has been tainted so?
Atayos had said nothing thus far and merely stood close to his ward. As the conversation began his keen eyes looked over each of the men, trying to keep an eye for obvious deceit or ill intentions.
He looked at the tattooed man with no fear in his eyes and refused to be cowed by the men before him. He recalled his lord's order to not back down and walked over slowly to the man. He cracked his bullish neck as he approached, emphasising his powerful build in answer to the question; and to intimidate the braggart. Atayos reached him and leaned in close in a friendly manner to whisper the answer to the man with the tattoo's- but raised his voice just enough for everyone in the room to overhear. I got it serving in the Worldwound. Facing down demons with true crusaders. Abyssal menaces that would make you piss in your hide boots and soil your breeches, foreigner. And I won every fight.
Sorry i've been extremely swamped past few days. Should have calmed down now. Posting shortly.
Atayos said nothing, thinking it obvious that as Sir Garrett's honour guard, his only place was by his side.
Do not be so naive the Golem scowled at the response. If your sword had time to prevent one man's abuse of one woman, or defend three lives against a sword blow, which would you choose? Right every wrong that you can- but you must spend your time with care, when time is a variable that could cost lives. Knowing that the attack could still be taking place, we wasted time conversing with two performers. I hope that decision does not later weigh on our conscience. Regardless... I think there was more to her tale. Something to do back home. As the group arrived, Atayos laid an expert eye over the scene. It looks like our delay did not cost our conscience- this time. The lesson was still appropriate, regardless. Sir Garrett, these people will be yours someday. Put your best foot forward.
Getting an actual handout is worth 50GP in-game, for sure ;).
Oops, must have crossed some wires somewhere. Can't help but think this map will be not detailed enough for when we need it, and will only provide sufficient detail when we already know where things are. Should have got my horse some armour instead :P.
In case you missed my edit, Atayos will consult his map to find the homestead. I believe the Cerwen's were a noble family, so I also rolled a Knowledge (Nobility) check to represent knowing where their lands began etc.
Atayos spoke a little louder, no longer whispering. As you say, my lord. I would not recommend we waste time delegating a scout duty; we are few as it is. We should ride in force and not spend time dallying with peasants- not with urgent matters at hand. He addressed Sir Albercroft's younger brother with less deference in his voice, but still in an advisory capacity. Lord Randofrain, your concern is a virtue but there is a time and a place for it. Innocents of the barony could be being put to the sword while you offer to heal a black eye. If you feel the woman is being abused, you shall have a chance to look into the matter at your leisure; at your father's birthday celebration. The unfriendly scowl on Atayos' face as his ward's cousin dared to lecture him made his displeasure plain, although he said nothing in that instance.
Atayos consulted his detailed map of the barony to find the Cerwen homestead.
Atayos' frown had only deepened and he rode his horse close to his ward, speaking quietly and only for his ears. They presume to address your people, in your stead? In particular, your uncle forgets his place. He is here as your guest.
Atayos' face wore a heavy frown as the Golem looked at Torrin's back.
I have to say i'm not really too keen on just assuming we can take stuff from the Barony etc- not without it being very clear from the GM what is at our disposal.
There is little time Atayos spoke quietly, but with authority. Have one of the men gather the others and join us. We should ride and they can join us later, if they have no mounts- we must respond swiftly he advised his ward.
Atayos had tensed up at the approach of the unknown man Garrett declared to be his cousin, but fell once more at ease as his ward appeared to know the man. Atayos had only been back inside the Barony for a little under six months and was not entirely familiar with all of the family- at least not with their faces anyway. He could impeccably recite their heraldry, names, titles and lines of succession.
I just realised Atayos has better clothing than Garrett, but clearly hes too polite to out-dress his lord. He has a noble's outfit to Garrett's courtiers and 100gp of jewellery :P. So when he begins to recommend local outfitters for Garrett to commission a royal or nobles outfit, know that there is no ulterior motive in his mind at all ;).
Weren't there 5 of us? I'm seeing me, Gerald, Talomyr and Torrin, who was the 5th and what was he pitching? Still trying to decide what teamwork feat to take and it does depend significantly on party makeup. At the moment, i'm leanign towards duck and cover. As Garrett is intending to use a shield, it lets Atayos get some benefit from sticking close to his ward as well as his ward benefiting staying close to him- helps us against reflex saves and I would also get a bonus to AC (which Atayos will sorely need as he'll rarely don his shield) as long as he had the shield out. Also helps with reflex saves, can be a life saver VS evocation effects in particular. Tal, I assumed you've had a good look at Atayos' feats etc. already. With combat reflexes and Bodyguard, Atayos can improve your AC by 3 points for any hit with one of his AOO's, as long as your next to him. Can also boost your AC when Atayos issues a challenge, again dependent on you being adjacent to him. So try not to run too fast in combat. This full plates heavy! Edit: Also, leaning towards Shield Wall but only if more party members actually use shields. So far its just the heir, which is useless on his own.
Atayos had nodded in greeting to Randofrain but said nothing. He liked Randofrain- the boy had a natural way with people, perhaps even more so than his older sibling; unburdened as he was by not worrying about the weight of responsibility on his shoulders. Wary as ever as the rider arrived, the Golem studied the boy carefully. Sense Motive.
I did, my lord Atayos answered in a firm voice, tending to his own horse much as Garrett looked to his. And you? he remembered to ask. What does the day have in store for us today?
When the heir to the Albercroft house eventually made his appearance, he was accompanied by his honour guard- an older Taldan man of a little over 30 years known as Ayatos Olytrius. He had awoken some time ago to groom his black warhorse Midnight and run him through his paces but had returned in time to be present when his ward left his chambers. He hovered close to his ward, posture more relaxed than he would have been anywhere else but still unconsciously looking for threats. The men of Hawkhaven had affectionately nicknamed the tall knight "The Golem", a reference not only to his physically imposing body and stone-faced, scarred visage; but also for the uncompromising enforcement of Baron Albercroft's defence and because he followed his lord much like a wizard's golem. Atayos was a little over six feet tall and broad shouldered, built like a heavy set blacksmith but a little quicker than you might expect from his size. The man was often serious and rarely smiled; in fact, the stoic expression he usually wore was another cause for the nickname he had earnt. He kept his brown hair flat and well groomed and sported a very small and humble beard. A ferocious scar covered most of the right hand side of his face, although the groove of his eye socket had spared his sight from whatever creature's claw had brutally ruined his features. His hands and forearms were similarly scarred with marks of war; he had earnt these marks fighting with the Mendevian crusaders far to the north and he was proud of them. As he was 'on duty', Atayos was clad in a full suit of full plate armour that seemed to hinder him little- this armour proudly bore two crests, one small and one large. The smaller crest was his own family's, the Olytrius'. Based a little to the north of Albercroft Keep, his family's small manor's noble family crest was a grey steel shield with a knelt man emblazoned on it; a particularly humble crest. The larger crest was Albercroft's own and was larger by design; to remind Atayos that his loyalties were ultimately to his liege lord, even over his own family. Atayos was never more than a few paces from his ward although he was discreet enough to give him a little more distance if it was clear his presence was becoming intolerable.
Still need to know what we're doing for HP.
Oh, and despite Atayos' grim visage, scars and natural lack of social skills he has been trained to overcome this. Although his charisma is 7, he'll be taking ranks in many social skills (has already, in fact) and should come across as fairly eloquent.
Will go for a vassal angle, have a lot of ideas for it already in my mind, just want to give Talomyr time to finalise his background etc. before I do mine. Basic concept is that the Albercroft house raised up the Olytrius one generation ago from their humblest of noble houses to the ranks of the bearded at great expense (essentially they made them vassals and granted them a small estate), and the small Olytrius household have never forgotten it. The family pledged Atayos to the Albercroft family to serve indefinitely, although it is expected that if the current heirs fortunes rise, Atayos' will too (eventually he would hopefully act as a kind of Castellan or Hand). The Albercroft family paid for a crusader's education in Lastwall where he was classically schooled, but he would often visit as he watched his future charge grow to manhood. He returned a year or two ago when words reached him that Garett had reached majority. He came back a little grizzled and with a ferocious facial scar, a courtesy of his time in the Worldwound, to serve as Garett's honour guard. P.S- What is the name of the duchy etc. that the Albercroft family are part of? Or the county. I've bought an area map for Atayos but don't know what the area is called. I assume said area map wouldn't be for all of Taldor but the local Duchy or County seemed appropriate.
Torrin, your looking at the wealth for NPC's, not PC's. Follow this link- Here and the table shows that 3rd level PC wealth should be 3,000GP.
AK here with my Cavalier. Teamwork feat might change but most everything else should stay. Waiting to see what changes Talomyr makes etc. and will write full backstory when he gives me the nod.
Its not too late to give up your companion Edric! Sir Vislinsky says grimly as he closes the distance. Theres no need for any of you to die needlessly here with him.
Vaysh looks to the approaching rider, I would question in what manner the Swordlords have been treacherous to you and your families. Mayhaps there has been some misunderstanding, I yearn for news of what has happened to bring you here in such a rush, and then wish to spirit our companion away from our company. Vaysh sounds very concerned at the claim of the rider. The north and south are at war- Rostland against Issia. The Swordlords have betrayed House Orlovsky by surrendering to House Surtova, but we have found ourselves new allies to aid us in the fight... Edric, come with us and we shall ride into glorious battle together! Sense Motive DC19: Hes sounding more and more desperate for Edric to come with them, and although his claims sound plausible, there is a ring of dishonesty to his words.
The entourage moves forward as Sir Vislinsky smiles in response to Vaysh. Malthir they have just moved into Detect Evil range if you wish to use it. You are most kind My Lady. But I'm afraid we cannot tarry, Edric is urgently needed to the north and the longer he spends here in these Stolen Lands at the behest of the Swordlords, the further he strengthens those treacherous backstabbers! War is coming to the north, and the time is coming for all to choose sides...
Sir Vislinsky shows no emotion as he replies- Thankyou for your offer, but my home and my family are at risk even as I ride here. Edric, you must accompany us now- say your farewells to your fine companions and be ready to ride hard and fast north to Brevoy.
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