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Ha ha, thanks and apologies! We're still on our way to our original goal, and there's nothing we can do about the honey prank, so I think we're just continuing on.
"I don't see any familiar sights as we make progress, but we haven't stumbled across the honeytrap again. At least we have that going for us!"
I'm good with four. Kingmaker is notorious for having its "five minute workday" issue, where even over-CR encounters are not a problem if it's the only encounter the PCs have in one day, so only having four PCs might help mitigate that somewhat.
Rowan screws up his snout in disapproval at the obsequious apology, but he certainly doesn't want to start an argument in front of whomever wants to turn Dahlia into a confection. He starts to move in the direction she indicates.
Rowan's staff whips forward into readiness as he searches in every direction at once for some sort of threat. "Is someone trying to sweeten you up?" he asks of Dahlia, not really expecting that she knows more about the situation than he does.
After spending an appropriate amount of time wondering where the drunken badger went, waiting on the drunken badger, wondering if the drunken badger will return, looking for the drunken badger, and then finally making peace with moving on without the drunken badger, Rowan encourages the group further south towards the "broken bridge" marked on their map.
Whenever he spies a bear trap, Rowan digs the end of his quarterstaff into the dirt beneath one edge. He then flips the trap upside down. And THEN:
When it starts to get dark, Rowan suggests setting up camp for the night a bit away from where the forest gets thicker, and then they can continue on in the morning.
When it starts to get dark, Rowan suggests setting up camp for the night a bit away from where the forest gets thicker, and then they can continue on in the morning.
"Now that we know what to look for, we can probably avoid or even disable more of the traps in the area. If other people are going to start travelling through the Greenbelt, we don't want these lying around. "Plus..." Rowan picks up one of the traps and proceeds to put it in his pack. "...they might come in handy."
Rowan finds the travel into the wilds fairly easy. At first. He confidently points the party in the correct direction, using his staff as a walking stick and to push foliage out of the way as he walks.
As the foliage gets more dense, Rowan has a harder time seeing what direction they're facing and recognizing the local landmarks. He tries to keep an eye out for dangers as he gets less confident that they're heading where he thinks they're heading.
"Obviously, I've never been in these lands before, but I've seen more than a few maps of the surrounding areas, so I bet if we..." Rowan begins to describe a general direction they should head in, plus what landmarks they should be on the lookout for, including the river that Oleg has mentioned.
Rowan only responds with a noncommittal, "Huh."
Squakowk lets out a long sigh, clearly wanting to continue the conversation, being drained from the conversation. The exhaustion getting the better of him though, Squakowk politely excuses himself, promising to continue the conversation at a later time should anyone be interested. He then heads to his designated sleeping quarters to rest. Rowan let the conversation end, not wanting to interrupt nor really to get involved, but as the silence after Squakowk's revelation grows, he can't help himself. "If most people who wield it never return, how do the other members of your family keep using the sword? You say your uncle was lost at sea. How do you have the sword that was with him, then?"
Rowan agrees that going after the bandits should be a priority. "If they learn about our involvement here, they'll be searching for us."
Rowan makes sure that he makes all of the appropriate comments and noises of satisfaction about dinner before turning to Oleg to talk business. "So... the bandit we captured mentioned three different crossings: Thorn Crossing, Shrike Crossing, and Nettle's Crossing. Do you know where any of those are?"
Good luck with the move, the flight, and the new home! And the internet!
Rowan nods at Svetlana's decision, but rolls his eyes at the continuing talk when there's work to be done. He finds some rope and begins the process of tying them up. "If you escape... if you try to escape, surrender won't be an option for you any more. Understand?" he explains to the two prisoners.
Rowan indicates the bandit he's been interrogating. "This one, too. Since he was so helpful about telling us where this Kressle's camp is. But we won't release them together."
"What do you all think?" Rowan asks the others. "This one has been pretty helpful. Assuming he's telling the truth."
Rowan hooks a thumb over at Kizzirark while looking at the bandit he's interrogating. "Better answer quickly and thoroughly. Give me a reason to try and change their mind."
"Where is Kressle's camp?" Rowan demands of the bandit he's been questioning.
Gang, I'll be travelling all day on the 27th, and will be unable to post, most likely. Once I get to my destination, I expect to be able to post as normal or close to it.
"T-that's Happs'," the captive bandit replies, eyeing the talisman. "He gots it from Kressle, I thinks. All the big-shots gots 'em. Means the Boss puts 'em in charge." "And where are Kressle and the Boss?"
Rowan comes over and drops the shovel covered in grave dirt close enough that the surrendered bandit can see it, but not so close that he can scramble to pick it up and use it as a makeshift weapon. He pulls out the Silver Beetle Amulet. "Where'd you get this?"
Oleg nods again satisfactorily to Kizzirark, then ducks into the nearby shed before emerging with a pair of shovels, one of which he holds out to anyone willing to take it. Rowan takes one of the shovels and helps Oleg bury the corpses. He picks up on the other man's need for silence, being familiar with the need himself.
Silver Beetle Amulet I love this change, GM!
Thanks for starting a loot list, Dahlia! And for offering to maintain it. What is the intent for the individual tabs?
Standing up from where he was securing the second bandit, Rowan's face goes stone still as he watches Kizzirark kill the bandit captain. He stands slowly, not disguising his cautious gaze at the badger before it turns to to the dangling amulet. He pulls the amulet free, and holds it up so everyone can see. "Anybody know what this is?"
"These fine folks didn't have th' courtesy t' send you straight t' Hellgates where y' belong." Rowan pointedly looks at Dahlia.
"Oh! Um, is anyone going to go with him?" Dahlia catches her breath before checking that the two remaining rats are also still breathing. ”While it is easier to slay those who oppose us,” she murmurs, "it is better to offer them the chance at redemption, while justice is served upon them by the authorities. I suppose that is Oleg, here.” "Well, let's disarm them and take their packs before they wake up, at least. I'll go ask Oleg or Svetlana for some rope to tie them up." Rowan goes to find either of their hosts to let them know that the fight is over and to ask for some rope. He keeps mum about letting them know that they will have to decide if the two prisoners live or die.
Rowan yanks his staff out of the beetle's guts, swinging one end away from the others to flick off the gore. "Two of them are getting away. Should we try and pursue? One of us would probably need to be versed in woodcraft if so."
On the one hand, Rowan is concerned that Kizzark has fallen, because if his next blow hits, it might draw the beetle onto him. On the other hand, the oracle's healing energy makes him feel a lot better. And it's not like he was going to not attack the rampaging beast in front of them. He twirls his staff above his head to get some momentum, one end flaring with arcane energy as he does so, and brings the staff down onto the beetle.
Rowan regains consciousness with a panicked start, and he scrambles back to his feet before he's even fully cognizant of what's going on. He sees the beetle and Kizzark focused on each other, so he maneuvers to be able to attack the beetle from it's other side.
Yeah, I don't even see it as a mistake, but good role-playing. :)
Dang, you're right. Oversight on my part. But... if I were GM, I wouldn't let me re-do my action...
Rowan takes a step back and casts color spray at the beetle's head, hoping to take the beast out of the fight before it lashed out at an ally.
The bandit leader turns in place and begins shouting at his own people. "Wake up, you inshufferable bogdrinkers! How hards is it ta hit a standin'-still target?!" "Here, let me show them how it's done!" Rowan offers before rushing forward and striking at the bandit leader with his staff.
Nice work! Who are we waiting on?
Rowan jumps down from where he was sitting on the wagon, staff in hand. He feigns a confused look on his face and then turns to Tawnystripe. He lifts his upturned claw towards the cat in a universal "Do you know what this is about?" gesture. Obviously, he's stalling for time so that the river rats don't opt to open fire before more targets, er, his allies reveal themselves.
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