Gwen Portrow's page

Gwen waits and listens in a half crouch, her spear in hand. When the ogre's tread is so loud that it seems she can distinguish each bit of gravel grinding underneath its foot and its bulk blots out the stars below the roof of the hut, she spring forward driving her blue, flame-licked spear at its abdomen.

Then she sidesteps clear of that position and drives the spear forward again.

AoO, Mindblade: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16 … damage: 2d6 + 5 ⇒ (1, 2) + 5 = 8

5' step as shown.

Mindblade: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21 … damage: 2d6 + 5 ⇒ (4, 2) + 5 = 11

Seeing the hounds largely neutralized, Gwen says, "The danger lies with the ogre."

Gwen dashes along the wall of the slave hut. Pulling up short at the corner, she peers with one eye around its edge. Then she takes a step back and readies her spear.

Double move as shown. No actual readied action.

peering stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

"But kill the ogre! Maybe the hounds will run wild without him controlling them."

Init: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Gwen's location as drawn is as good a place as any to start.

"What are those things?" Gwen notes that the far right hut now has its door webbed shut.

"Let's try to get the slaves out of this hut." She points with her spear to the closer hut on the right.

Yeah, I'll take the cover from their fire.

Pilot Initiative: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

Gwen shakes her spear. "If they get past your spells, I'll stick them. But are we going to something besides fight? Like try to free some slaves?"

Nice work, guys.

"Let's hurry. Who knows how fast the other ogres will respond."

leinathan, how many people can our ship carry?

Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

Ogres

Gwen crouches beside Murob, peering at the illuminated ogres. It was too dark to move easily and her crossbow would take several shots to bring them down. The spear would be fastest to the kill.

She grips the handle of her spear and gives it a small shake, she waits for the signal to attack.

Good to go.

After waiting a few moments in silence, Gwen breaks the ice.

"I'll follow Murob."

"Are we going?"

"All right then. Let's go back."

Gwen shimmies in reverse until she's sure she's got cover, then she stands and begins the walk back to the others.

"I think we need to know a little more about what's on the other side. If we bring the others through and there's trouble Sulan's likely to end up in an ogre pot. He's too slow and in his armor, I'm not sure he'll be able to shimmy under the wire. "

"Fa'zakar? What's it going to be?

"You're a spellcaster?! Why didn't you say anything on the voyage?"

Surprised by the revelation, Gwen loses focus. "Is it flashy? If it's not very noticeble, why not? The wires may be warded or watched somehow. It would be good to know if there's an alarm if they are disturbed."

" I agree. It would be hard to sneak through here. It's so open. The guards would see any escapees or us. " Gwen surveys the area.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Mown grass, fields. That's a tough stealth approach. Are there any dips or ridges in the terrain that might mask movement?

Gwen would prefer to go, but will stay if it's in the best interests of the group. She'll certainly defer to the cleric's judgement.

Fa'zakar is clearly on the stealth team. Ehiz, Victor, and Gwen are all equal, +7 and 30' move.

Gwen stares at Sulan, then barks a short laugh when she gets the joke.

The armor penalty can be fixed, but Sulan would still be sitting at 0.

Party of 4 to scout? We can leave the others a few hundred yards back in the woods. How's everyone's speed if we need to run for it? Gwen's 30'

"I grew up in the woods, but I can't see in the dark. I'm happy to scout by day, but will be a sight less useful at night."

Gwen sits on a rock and extinguishes her torch.

"The folk down there aren't interested in helping us. They do some raiding on the gillmen, so there's likely some trails from here down to the city. That might make our way a little easier.

"Now what we need to do is get down there and scout. There's no use making plans until we know more about the spread and where their weak points are."

Gwem shrugs. "If they don't want to help, we should just leave.

Gwen holds her torch high and leans on her spear, trying to follow what the others are saying.

And like Fa'zakar, hoping for a translation.

"I thought fey could speak the languages of man. How else would they trick you into a bad bargain like in the stories?"

A light spell isn't flammable, but I'm sure that someone has flint and tinder, and I'm not gonna be a dick about lighting a torch.

...

Wasn't saying she used the light spell to re-ignite the torch. I meant that with the light she'd be able to see to light the torch using her flint and steel.

"The way back is that way," Gwen breathes as she stoops to relight her torch in Ehiz's conjured light.

"Stepping blind into a den of vengeful fey ain't the smartest move," Gwen agrees with Victor.

"This is gettin' more than a little creepy. Can I relight the torch?"

Gwen shifts in dark, sand scraping gently under her soles.

At the first edge of darkness, Gwen lights a torch, then holds it aloft to light their way.

At the door
"Is this magic or craft?" Gwen reaches out to touch the stone, feeling for a seam or crack.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

"It might just be a hole that they hide in. If there's anyone down there, they probably won't be friendly."

The cave.

"Maybe they are escaped slaves themselves. They might be able to give us valuable information about the gillman and their guards."

Gwen holds her spear overhead with one hand and gives it a twirl. "I'm pretty good with a spear. I've got this crossbow, but I'm no marksman. I'm not a real woodsman, but I've spent plenty of time outdoors. I can get around. "

"All alone disguised as a slave seems a likely way to end up one, Victor. Save that plan for when we know more about this place. Meantime, I agree with Jim. Let's scout the perimeter and see how their guards are placed, and how alert they are."

"If we think we're going to use the cave, we should scout it too. Something unpleasant might live there, or there might be another exit."

At the peak Gwen stretches while she takes in the view. She lays her spear across her boot toes and, legs straight, touches her fingertips, then knuckles, then palms to the ground on the oter side of the spear. After straightening, she tries a few lunges, then twists at the waist.

"It is beautiful up here. No doubt Ehiz is having more old man's thoughts." A smile accompanies the words to take out any possible sting. "The open fields are going to make our approach more difficult."

***
After a little, she wanders around the peak. Shortly she waves the others over to a cleft rock.

"Look at this. The crack here opens up a little deeper into the hillside. Maybe we could use the cave for shelter."

I think 2 hours rest is worth it .

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
Climb: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

Gwen follows Fa'zakar up the hill. Her muscular legs move her tirelessly. Her spear is a handy walking stick or climbing prop when the trail gets steep.

"If we climb, we'll have a better view. We might be able to see our enemies before they see if. If we stay on the beach we will be exposed.

"That's just what I think. We need to stick together. What do you others say?"

Gwen stows her gear in her backpack and wraps her mail in the sailcloth she took the night before. She follows Victor down the ladder and holds her gear high while she pushes through the waves, kicking water in the last few steps before striding onto dry sand.

Once on the beach she moves quickly to the tree line, intending to don her armor and stow the sailcloth in some bushes.

Once she set and everyone else is ready, she looks to the others.

Victor shrugs "Heirlooms exist, and more ways besides." he replies to the uproar at the thought of it being magical "Are you saying that glowing aura around it when you dived in was your doing then?" he inquires, his curiosity yet to be sated.

Gwen laughs again. "You're seeing things, my lord. There's no glow. Steel catches the light is all."

Although 'my lord' is a bit of a taunt, she seems otherwise completely sincere.

"The Point Man's got a short keel. We can take you in close enough that you can just wade... this ship's got no boats. You'll get wet, but what are you gonna do, eh?"

"Dry my gear out again."

Gwen throws her head back in laughter. "Magic!? How would someone like me get a magic spear?" She shakes her head almost regretfully. "It's only steel and wood."

"We're at the center of the spider's web. All our choices are dangerous," Gwen muses. "Maybe we should think about them less, and act faster."

Sailing ship's often had a galley below decks. I'm rolling with that, and a big communal table for our last 'safe' meal.

Gwen delicately nibbles her first bite of fish, then wolfs the rest down, slowing only on to test for bones on the first chomp of each bite. When the flesh is gone she scrapes her fork repeatedly over the plate to transfer every bit to her mouth. "Fa'zakar, it's so good! I'll fish the whole trip back if you promise to make it again."

She looks around the table, pauses after gaze slides over to Victor. She looks down, then back up." Thank you, Victor. I didn't know someone like you would know how to cook. It's very good."

"Torches would just make us targets. Let's get some sleep and land at dawn. Now, do we all go, or leave a watch on the ship?"

Gwen reappears on deck, barefoot and barelegged, under the sailcloth wrapped around her chest and falling to her knees. She looks at the glowing western sky, the luminous headstone for the buried sun, then turns to the others on deck.

"Ehiz, is right. We need to get back to business. We need a plan. Is everyone coming or are we leaving a watch on the ship? Do we anchor the ship here, or let it sail offshore and return once in a while? Are we better off landing by day, or by night?"

leinathan said the sun was setting when the devilfish attack began. Someone, I think Peet, brought up low-light/dark vision for our adversaries. Does anyone know whether they have it? Would we be better off in daylight when we can see as well as them? Do we want a rest and to start fresh in the morning?

Once her gear is dried, Gwen is ready to continue.

"I just followed Sulan," Gwen replies while she picks up her gear. She tsks momentarily at the state of it. Thanks, Fa'zakar. I'll need to get all of this dry. Let me get down to my cabin and I'll shake out of these things."

On the way down, she pulls some spare cloth from the sail locker, both ot have something to lay her gear out on, as well as to wrap around herself.

So glad Sulan's also crazy enough to jump in.

Gwen drops the crossbow and snatches up her spear leaning against the bulkhead. She steps back, dashes 6 quick steps, vaults to the rail and leaps for the prickly squid.

Not sure hoe far she'll get. It's a move action to manifest her mindblade. The leaves a move action to make the jump over the rail. You'll probably want a acro check or two.... Ideally the jump would be part of a charge, and I'll put an attack roll below but since the rail obstructs her route to the squid, I won't be disappointed if you rule she has to wait a round to attack.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Attack v squid as charge: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 7 + 2 = 26... damage: 2d6 + 5 ⇒ (3, 4) + 5 = 12

If charge is allowed her AC drops by 2 til next round.

Diving in is too much like crazy.

Gwen leans over the side to see what's grabbed Victor. "Haa?!"

As quickly as she can she loads her crossbow, sights down its length and fires a quarrel at the sea monster.

MW L. Crossbow: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20 ... damage: 1d8 ⇒ 4

, x3, 60' ... 19 quarrels remain

"Ogres can sweep your head right off your shoulders like knocking pumpkins off a fence. Didn't your mother teach you anything?" Gwen teases Arven before becoming more sober.

"Davos is right. Hopefully there's an anchorage on the far side."

On the voyage over, Gwen tries her luck with a casting net.

Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15 Fresh fish for supper!

Added a couple mundane items to Gwen's equipment.

"Like this warrior, I can live on the land. I need only a couple days food in case my luck is bad." Feeling the awkwardness of addressing Sulan as 'this warrior'. Gwen adds, "You can call me Gwen."

Gwen has +6 survival modifier.

The wiry woman steps up with Fa'zakar and leans on her spear. "I'll go too. You're gambling with all our lives. The common settlers need a voice too."

Gwen nudges Fa'zakar. "Someone should go with them. Aristocrats and adventurers. They might bring ruin on us all."

Beside Fa'zakar stands a thin and wiry woman with mousy brown hair and green eyes. She is plainly dressed in sturdy traveling clothes. It's easy to see the spear she uses as a walking stick and the crossbow slung on her back, but you have to look just a little harder to see the sea-tarnished chain shirt under her cloak.

"It might be time to meet our brave protectors and see what they are really like." Fa'zakar knows Gwen isn't talking about the Blades. She doesn't think much of those young soldiers. They were bold enough at fighting, but otherwise seemed to idle about when there was plenty of work to be done. "Let's get closer."

She edges closer to the discussion, getting there in time to hear the last few remarks.