557 CY - 12th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest – 11th Night of the Trip - Main Camp
This conversation is taking place out in the woods. Assume Kate is NOT there, I missed that she was invited. Our Elf and Dwarf certainly ARE there.
Marya scoffs at Fen and Gris, "Come off of it. You two are not what you appear to be either.
What I mean by "cover" is only your business if you both agree to join us. An offer I'll need to make now if there really is a Vampire out here.
I don't know what the f&*% you're implying Rhun. What fake Merchant? The man has a bit of magic that much is clear, what was in the clearing must have been a shapeshifter as it was not the Merchant, that I will agree with. Lest you forget, you forced your way onto this caravan through guile, you were not selected to be here.
I'm just not really sure what the hell you are accusing me of! But I'll tell you, if you do keep accusing me we'll settle this claw to claw". She issues a low menacing growl in addition to the verbal threat.
Raze frowns, "I don't think infighting is a good idea right now".
557 CY - 12th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest – 11th Night of the Trip - Main Camp
Rhun:
The Merchant appears to be genuinely concerned. If Igdus heard you, he does not respond, at least not yet. PC is having RL issues so I won't bot him quite yet.
As the group heads into the woods Marya stops out of ear shot of the camp and turns to Rhun, "You fool! You could have blown up our cover in its entirety! What are you blabbing about a Vampire is here, I am not sure what the hell is going on but you have foisted yourself upon us despite not voting to go with the group originally. Explain yourself".
Raze raises an eyebrow, "We can't get to the bottom of this yelling at one another".
557 CY - 12th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest – 11th Night of the Trip - Main Camp
The Merchant appears genuinely concerned, "Could it be some sort of evil fey that has taken my identity!
I agree Rhun, we should step up our watches. I say we all wait until dawn and see if the creature reappears. Then we move swiftly away as day breaks, we may not get much sleep but at least we will be away from this area where multiple threats are present".
Marya nods in agreement, "Wise strategy".
She motions to Rhun and the rest of the party, "Let's search the immediate vicinity of the woods for this thing, torches in hand. Agreed?"
557 CY - 12th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest – 11th Night of the Trip - Main Camp - Everyone
The men in the camp scramble to their feet, fear in their eyes as they clutch their weapons. Some head near where Rhun and Marya are standing. Others take a back to back stance staring out into the woods as if something will jump out at any moment.
The other passengers step out of their wagons with the man asking, "Vampires? In these woods!? I thought the bandits and gnolls we're bad enough. I think we should head back", he states emphatically to his two female companions.
Kate pushes through the soldiers and approaches Rhun, "By the Gods are you ok?"
The bodyguards bang on the door to the main wagon.
Marya scowls at Rhun, "I don't even know what the f~$$ you are talking about. If there's a damned Vampire chasing you, where'd it go?! I don't like your tone with me either. You are a passenger, don't forget it. Why the hell are you out in the woods anyway?"
Perception DC 20 All BUT Fen and Gris:
Marya is clearly trying to play this off for the benefit of the non-weres.
Perception DC 20 Fen and Gris ONLY:
She is being coy to be sure. You are not quite sure why. Remember, neither of you know yet that anyone here is a were, except Gris is pretty sure Vaki is even though he would not admit it. Rhun just shapeshifted in front of everyone so she may be too!
Vaki is still in the woods, none see him, save perhaps Igdus who watches the events unfold from atop one of the wagons.
Before Marya can respond, the wagon opens and the Merchant steps out.
"What is this racket all about!? Another bandit attack?"
Marya turns to him and then back to Rhun, "It seems your passenger here is no mere passenger. What exactly are you Rhun? A druid?"
One of the soldiers, Kravis, peers into the woods, "Did you see where the thing went Miss Rhun? If what you saw is real we're in real danger here with no cleric".
The female passenger who has yet to name herself steps forward, "I am a cleric of Istus though I've little experience in facing such a creature".
The Merchant approaches flanked by his two bodyguards, "What thing man? Spit it out!"
Marya gestures to Rhun, "She'll tell you".
Rhun ONLY:
This LOOKS like the man you encountered in the forest just moments before but it does NOT SMELL like him.
557 CY - 12th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest – 11th Night of the Trip - Main Camp - Everyone
Camp PCs That Speak Fox Dog Wolf ONLY:
"You f**~ing b~&~$, I'll expose you, you knew that bastard was a 300 year old vampire! Well, he's on the warpath, so you f#$#ing deal with him you traitorous b&+@#!"
From out of the brush where Marya exited a few minutes prior a fox bursts out of the clearing howling and yipping it streaks right towards Marya.
A look of rage overtakes her face, she takes a combat position in case the "fox" attacks her drawing a dagger form her belt.
"Drop that damn thing, it must be rabid!"
From behind her in the forest, nothing emerges.
The guards at the camp do not even register the disturbance as it appears to be much less of a threat than the bandits were.
Actions?
Vaki:
As you fly through the woods parallel to the dire bat that was the Merchant, it pauses at Rhun's change of tactics and then disappears in a "POP".
If you're going to kill Rhun, just get it over with. Rhun is not going to make a deal with a vampire. I really don't like games where the GM gives you a choice of 'go along with evil or die'
Well, technically, the DM can kill the PCs at any time utilizing overpowered creatures' not much fun in that. This IS a CLASSIC Greyhawk game, not all challenges you face will be your CR, there are other ways of dealing with challenges than head on :-)
This is part of the underlying plot, I don't as a rule, force PCs into a situation where they have to join or die but the PCs are the ones that forced this confrontation so let's play it out.
557 CY - 12th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest – 11th Night of the Trip
Marya stares hard at Gerwyn, "Out there with the Merchant, airing grievances I would imagine".
---
Rhun & Vaki:
The Merchant likewise takes the form of a Dire Bat!
He responds in the same "language", "Betrayed? I wish to speak little shifter, though your continued fleeing is beginning to make me hunger... stop and parley or die. I am over 300 years old and more powerful than all of you combined!
557 CY - 12th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest – 11th Night of the Trip
Rhun & Vaki:
Rhun bolts into the woods!
The Merchant chases after her, his speed is inhuman Vaki and he is right on Rhun's heels.
"Oh but my little shapechanger, we're not done with our conversation yet. Don't make me chase you down..."
Do you continue to run?
Vaki:
He smells of the dead.
At the camp site, the guards continue to load the bandits into the wagon.
The rest of the guards settle in once more after the battle. Considering how little combat they've done, they seem tired and irritable.
Tobar, and anyone else, you can head into the woods if you so choose, you see Marya walking out of them with Rhun still out there. None of you see Vaki at the moment.
Scent, sorry, just don't remember what the question was, please refresh my recollection.
Our bonus abilities only apply when we are in hybrid or animal form. I have had Igdus hybrid sheet in his profile sense we started as he gets a good boast in abilities while in his hybrid form.
Our abilities are drawn from our animals. In the case of werebats that would be the Dire Bat which has a blindsense of 40 ft.
557 CY - 12th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest – 11th Night of the Trip
Rhun & Vaki:
Marya begins to growl, a voice from the shadows stills her, "My dear. Be still. In fact, better yet, head to camp I will speak with dear Rhun". A figure steps out of the shadows, it's the Merchant.
Marya stalks off back to the camp without uttering another word.
The Merchant grins at Rhun, "My my my. So very clever. Your argument stacks inference upon inference but I suppose its logic is sound enough. Humans are so dreadfully predictable aren't they? Jumping to wild conclusions.
Now tell me, what do you think is in my wagon?"
Vaki & Rhun Perception DC 22:
It looks like and sounds like the Merchant but it does not quite smell like him.
557 CY - 12th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest – 11th Night of the Trip
Rhun + Vaki:
Marya narrows her eyes at you, "What the f+#$ are you taking about? We are making great progress. Not a single death, a damsel in distress rescued from the dark forest. Bandits and Gnolls slain and prevented from preying on further caravans. Helping out travelers in need.
What the hell else do you think we need to do out here?"
---
The Rest of the Group Back at Camp
Perception DC 25:
You hear from within one of the wagons a slight "POP" sound. An odd sound to be sure.
557 CY - 12th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest – 11th Night of the Trip
Fenrarem, Gerwyn, and Griswold come together to converse among themselves. As they do so the human guards begin to get back to their bedrolls and sleep.
The prisoners are thrown in the wagons, tied up and their mouths bound. The bodyguards take positions near the wagon as the Merchant heads inot his own sleeping wagon.
The rest of you watch Rhun stalk off, clearly upset, Marya follows her into the woods.
You may follow if you wish.
Once the ladies are out of earshot,
Rhun +:
Marya follows you and after a safe distance speaks, "What exactly is it you're not "ok" with?" The look on her face is a hard one.
557 CY - 12th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest – 11th Night of the Trip
Yes Vaki, he certainly does mean the wagon from which the Gnoll corpses were removed.
Marya nods at Igdus, "The value is to be split among all guards. I am fine with you taking what you want from the pile now, the rest can be split. After all, you've all earned it."
The rest of the guards do not grumble, either they are satisfied with getting anything or Marya has them all cowed into shutting up if they're not satisfied.
The two bodyguards approach and pick up two of the Bandits with ease...
I have returned from a rough patch there and will begin regular posting once more. Will get to IC probably tomorrow on this one.
FYI, there are no sacred cows in this adventure. No NPCs are above being slain if the PCs attempt to do so.
The purpose of this trip is to destroy an evil fey who has been threatening trade routes, this caravan is full of "witnesses" to your heroics. Through said heroics, Marya will request a charter from Dyvers to ore fully clear out the woods of "evil" and perhaps form a small satellite settlement which can "protect" trade routes. Run by, you guessed it, Lycans.
Will destroying the Merchant aid or inhibit this plot? Well, that is up to all of you to decide. Remember, this is CLASSIC Greyhawk so threat levels may not be exactly level friendly. If there is a Vampire in there, it'll be tough to beat by night.
557 CY - 12th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest – 11th Night of the Trip
Many, but not all, of the daytime guards finally have weapons at the ready and seem relieved that the fighting is already over.
As Marya is about to speak the Merchant makes an appearance, "Excellent work. I see a bonus at the end of this trip for the night guardsmen". He turns to his bodyguards, "Place them in the wagon. You can question that at your leisure.
The spoils of their bounty are yours. Should you choose to divvy them up with your fellow guards, I leave you to decide".
The daytime guards react with a mixed bag based on their facial expressions but none speak, after all, none of them bled or even swung a sword during the fight.
LOOT:
Weapons: 6 sets of leather armor, 8 daggers, 6 longbows, 27 sheaf arrows, 2 longswords, 2 battle axes, 2 short swords, and 1 warhammer. Gear: 10 wine and waterskins, 4 50' lengths of hemp rope, 25 days of rations, 8 whetstones, 6 quivers, 47 torches, 6 sets of flint and steel, 5 caltrops, 1 crowbar, 6 backpacks, 6 bedrolls, 6 blankets, 2 (large) tents. Treasure: 285 GP, 360 SP, 480 CP. 1 Diamond. 1 Emerald.
The gear is piled up of that there is no doubt.
Pause here to see if there are reactions to the Merchants order before I move on.
557 CY - 12th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest – 11th Night of the Trip
Rhun's shot is the death of her foe as he slumps down dead, shot in the back!
Raze and Valar manage to capture one and Vaki and Tobat capture yet one more!
DML ONLY:
Reflex save 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Igdus slows one down preventing him from getting away while the rest of the group is restrained. By the time he has worked himself free, he's surrounded and surrenders.
Marya exits form one of the wagons as the prisoners are dragged or carried before the fire. With two dead and four captured, it seems that this particular band has been broken up!
The bravest of the bandits retains a stiff upper lip as the other three go silent, "You got us, now whatcha' gonna do?"
I try to run even mooks as reasonable people. After three of them wnet down and none of you went down AND they had advantage, only the dumbest Goblins would stick around.
557 CY - 12th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest – 11th Night of the Trip
Round 3
Rhun's shot slams into the Bandit but the stubborn bastard still won't fall!
Griswold's strike brings down the bandit he is facing leaving the man unconscious. As does Gerwyn's, this bandit though is without a doubt dead.
Fenrarem blade misses his foe though with the violent death of his cohort, he seems a lot less interested in fighting right now.
Valar and Raze both manage to miss the bandit they locate.
Igdus, are you going to get in a wagon?
The bandits begin to lose nerve! One shouts, "Fall back! Slim picking to be had!"Full withdraw action from all. All bandits are now 30' away from their current positions.
Uh, Lycan, I'm up in the trees, have been since before the fight broke out. I even stated that earlier. Sorry if my last post wasn't clear, I had included the acrobatics check in case I needed to jump among the tree branches
Ah, assume it was an arrow then and the damage is reduced to 7
Sorry for the radio silence on my part. Work is really a dick and it's been hard to balance it, these RPs, and the other stuff I have in life at the moment.
That being said I seem to be getting better at managing it. Soooo if I'm not removed from the game I'll be happy to take Valar back and hopefully add the potential storytelling of the only not-werewolf in a group of werewolves back into the mix.
Valarie is still here and he's up in combat having just located the guy shooting arrow at him.
557 CY - 12th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest – 11th Night of the Trip
Round 2
Gerwyn's swing misses the foe this time around.
Rhun's shot strikes the tree next to her foe splintering it but not him or her!
Griswold's attack hits the mark spilling the man's blood and getting an "Ugh" in response.
Fenrarem's fire once more strikes the foe he faces, despite his screech of pain the man manages to stand.
The camp begins to come alive at the sounds of fire and fight!
Igdus stays put as Vaki moves away from the safety of the camp.
Raze and Valar rush into the woods but seem unable to locate the bandit firing in their direction.
Round 3
Vaki sees one and before the man can fire again a giant snake slithers out from the camp and ensnares the bandit squeezing and the biting the life right out of him!
Vaki's foe manages to track him, these guys can't shoot but they can sneak and see! He drops his bow and draws an axe moving to melee range with the werebat - the axe strikes and Vaki takes a nasty hit. 9 damage.
The bandit firing at Rhun, once more misses as does the one firing at Valar.
Fenrarem's fiery foe moves forward to engage and misses, no doubt the pain affecting his ability to fight right now.
Griswold's foe is unable to land a hit with his axe.
Amazingly, the bandit firing at Igdus manages to hit despite his cover. Take 2 damage.
Finally, Gerwyn's attacker manages to catch his axe on low hanging branches missing.
Bandit 8 HP = 13/13 - vs. Raze Not Represented Yet. 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12 - Damage 1d8 ⇒ 3.
Bows twang but yet again, the Bandits prove to be lousy shots. Each one charged drops their bow and draws an axe from a side sheathe. They prove to be inept melee combatants as well but for the one that stands toe to toe with Gerwyn, that one manages to land a solid blow! Gerwyn takes 8 damage.
557 CY - 12th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest – 11th Night of the Trip
Rhun fires into the Forest and hears a man cry out in pain for her efforts. Added a line showing the one you fired at Rhun. Yes, in that instance cover makes sense.
Gerwyn's night eyes located the Bandit that shot at him, he charges and lands a solid blow eliciting a grunt from his foe.
Fenrarem's spell strikes yet another Bandit.
Griswol's charge is reckless as is his axe swing, still, now the bastard has to stand toe to toe with the tough dwarf!
Igdus keeps himself stationary and silent, for now.
Tobar changes shape and is under a wagon, safe at least from arrows.
Vaki, based on what you've seen from your allies, at least as many as all of you!
DM Lycan ONLY:
Bandit 1 HP = 13/13 - vs. Vaki Not Represented Yet.
Bandit 2 HP = 8/13 - vs. Rhun YELLOW
Bandit 3 HP = 7/13 - vs. Fenrarem RED
Bandit 4 HP = 13/13 - vs. Valar Not Represented Yet.
Bandit 5 HP = 13/13 - vs. Griswold BLUE
Bandit 6 HP = 13/13 - vs. Igdus Not Represented Yet.
Bandit 7 HP = 7/13 - vs. Gerwyn NORMAL PIC
Bandit 8 HP = 13/13 - vs. Raze Not Represented Yet.
Round 1 -
Vaki, Valar, and Raze - GO! Tobar's Round 2 Action has already been resolved.
Rhun has lowlight and darkvision, if they are within 60 ft, she shouldn't have dark penalties, and beyond low light might help, with that, is 17 enough to see a target?
Yes, DC 15 if you have low light vision. Go ahead and attack! They are forming a horseshoe around the group so you can attack in the direction you feel like, just let me know which way you shoot and I'll place your target on the map.
Round 2
Tobar - GO!
the Bandits
Vaki, Fenrarem, Gerwyn, Griswold, Igdus, Rhun, Valar, and Raze
Perception checks DC 18 to spot where the Bandits fired from within the Forest. It's dark and prior to firing their Stealth was superb. Only Igdus has eyes on them currently.
557 CY - 12th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest – 11th Night of the Trip
Igdus' perception must be superhuman as none of you can see the Bandits despite the warning! Still, you are not taken unawares and that is what matters most.
I wouldn't call myself an irregular poster. perhaps by character. I check the boards every day i just kinda dont have much to say with Tobar. I don't clash with other PCs like some in here and i probably shouldnt have made him the secretive sort as i have problems with "lone wolf" types. but yeah i read all new posts daily barring the occasional day off.
I meant Tobar not Tenro :-)
It's what I would expect from a WereSpider!
That said, I get the sense we lost Fury. I know I've been sick and pretty much inactive for the most part for the last two weeks but he has not posted since August 31 in character or with his default board alias. Regardless, if he has not posted for two months, I'll remove Valar from the game.
OK, I am alive and we are updated. Now onto the Tyrants game!
557 CY - 12th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest – 11th Night of the Trip
Raze whistles, "Not so boring after all eh?" He elbows his cousin, Valar remains silent.
Marya narrows her eyes, "We are here to aid this caravan in moving forward to Dvyers. Along the way, we are to attempt to disable the operations of these Fey that threaten the road.
If these wild accusations you claim are true, are true, the fire by day may slay the creature but what of his living minions? The Merchant and his two guards? Do we slay them as well? Can we?
Do you believe we can turn a dozen mercenaries who are being employed by the Merchant against him without him getting wind of it from one loose tongue?
Think about it.
This is indeed an untenable situation but for now I agree that doing nothing is the wisest course of action. The next group of foes we face, we had best take prisoners...
Now, stay quiet and alert and keep doing what you are doing".
Unlike the prior night, the camp grounds at this break point are substantial. The night proceeds without incident and Creighton is the man on patrol this night along with all of you. He walks the perimeter along the forest but within the firelight. Running an opposite circuit from him are Raze and Valar.
As per normal, the rest of you stay within the confines of the wagon. This time, the bodyguards shoo Rhun, Igdus, or Vaki off of the top of the two middle wagons citing unusual circumstances of the last night that allowed any of you up there at all.
Igdus:
Until 1 am you see nothing. Then it happens, several figures begin to move through the forest. They are good, damned good. You barely noticed them in time. Had they opted to fire at you all instead of get up close and personal you might not have. Their loss is your gain.
I am alive just have tonsilitis so I've been very much out of it the past 8 days. I am HOPING I can get some IC posts up tomorrow here as well as in many, many other games I run [many of which most of you play in besides this one ;-)]. I believe Tobar is with us, he can be a bit of an irregular poster. Valar even more of a sporadic poster.
557 CY - 12th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest – 11th Day of the Trip
Marya listens to what Rhun has to say off to the side before the caravan rolls out, "I'll call a meeting before next watch to discuss this. For now, say nothing to anyone".
The caravan rolls along all day, the Lycan's under tension as some know and some don't and feel tension only because of the dangerousness of this journey.
The day goes by uneventfully and the Night Watch gains much needed rest.
---
557 CY - 12th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest – 11th Night of the Trip
As the group wakes, Marya pulls you all into conference in the woods while the day shift sets up camp. The dirty looks they receive from the rest of the mercenaries are ignored by all.
"It seems that some of you found some disturbing evidence last night. Please go ahead and share it with everyone Rhun and Vaki".
Raze grins, "If this trip continues to be this boring it'll be disturbing for sure..."
557 CY - 11th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest – 10th Night of the Trip
As Rhun walks by the wagon, the scent of death is muted but there. One of the Bodyguards steps out from the back of the wagon and grins at you Rhun. It's the first emotion you've ever seen from one of them and without question it is the grin of a predator.
He says nothing, just watches you walk away with that alarming grin on his face.
---
Kate nods in response clearly worried but trying to hide it. You understand her concern, the group is out ion the middle of dangerous woods and if there is danger within and without, only a fool would not be concerned.
---
Rhun Jin Rong wrote:
Will wait for that IC then.
[ooc]Assume Vaki relayed to you what he relayed to Griswold in the spoiler above. I will assume you won't tell Kate that particular information![/spoiler]
557 CY - 11th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest – 10th Night of the Trip
End scene from the night before. Assume only Vaki and Griswold know about the inspection of the body ATM. If you want to bring it up though, before the night crew retires for the day is the time!
-------
The camp is nearly packed up and ready to go. A single line in many ways led to a tighter formation and less sprawling so a quicker time to get things re-packed and ready to move in addition to the fact that time need not be wasted realigning the wagons.
In the morning Kate approaches Rhun, "Why the tension last night? Did something happen?"
557 CY - 11th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest – 10th Night of the Trip
Vaki & Griswold - Last Night In the Woods:
Vaki approaches the contents, after the guard leaves. The package is not reduced to ash but is burning steadily but not so steadily that there is nothing left, the amount of oil poured on the body was just not enough for such a result.
Griswold, you rush through the woods until you come to the edge of the clearing. You see Vaki kneeling down inspecting the source of the burning smell which you can see quite clearly is a larger than human sized sack. Enough of the sack has burned away that you can identify the body of one of the gnolls, badly burned.
Vaki Heal Check DC 15:
The body has been pierced many times by small cuts as if from a stiletto dagger.
Heal DC 20:
The body should have more blood than this unless much of it was left inside the wagon the fire would not have boiled so much of the blood. Perhaps Igdus or Rhun smelled blood within the wagon?
557 CY - 11th Day of Coldeven - Gnarley Forest – 10th Night of the Trip
Soon enough, the bodyguard returns from his jaunt into the forest, none the worse for wear.
Those who are paying attention see a whips of smoke emit from the forest but nothing else unusual catches their attention this night nor do any threats rear their heads this night.
The sun's rays begin to crest from the east and the camp comes alive once more...
Rhun does not see Kate but a brief walk to the wagon they share finds her there taking a nap as the girl is not used to staying up late the way she has with Rhun for the past several days.
