The All-Seer's page

Corvus, Lhain, and Bartholomew arrived at the docks an hour before midnight with Petarin in tow, bound, gagged, and blindfolded. They discussed tactics and possible hides, but in the end decided to go a more direct route and set up in plain view at the very end pier past some very narrow walk ways which created good choke points if the need arose.

At midnight Lord Belforst and an entourage of three armored and armed men strode into view. They made their way, without incident, past the narrow walk ways and up to the party. Lord Belforst greeted Corvus and said, “I see you have brought the scum.” Corvus inquired as to Belforst’s decision about extra compensation for Petarin’s return. Belforst told him he had considered it carefully, but a deal had been made and delivery of the product was no time to renegotiate terms, therefore he was compelled to stick to his original offer.

Lord Belforst removed the blindfold and gag from Petarin and produced the prisoner’s journal. He opened the book and read from a few pages detailing Petarin’s crimes against the merchant lord’s daughter, then after a tense pause, smashed the spine of the book into Petarins face repeatedly until his nose was broken and there were splits in Petarin’s brow bleeding into both his eyes. Another pause, “Anything to say for your actions, scum?” Belforst yelled at the bound murderer. Petarin said nothing; he simply looked at the ground. Belforst jerked Petarin’s head up by his hair and slammed the book into the murderer’s throat, Petarin lurched to the ground gasping for breath and gagging. The attack was not enough to crush his throat, but enough to put him in intense pain and cause and involuntary feeling of terror. The stench of soiled trousers soon rose from the sobbing murderer.

It is at this uncomfortable point that Lhain excuses himself to the other end of the pier not wishing to see a bound man be beaten in such a brutal manner. Corvus pipes up as well, “We have honored our end of the deal…” Lord Belforst shifts his focus and as if coming back from a dream seems to awaken and says, “Ah yes, payment is owed isn’t it.” He waves his hand and a sixth man emerges from the shadows. This man is dressed in dark colors, light leather armor, and a heavy cloak. As he walks up he presents a large satchel from under his cloak and hands it to Corvus. Weighing the satchel in his hands, Corvus guesses the amount should be about right and gives a nod to Bartholomew, the two walk over to Lhain and together the party leaves the pier across the narrow walk ways. Just before they walk out of earshot they hear a large splash, a man sized splash, and remember that Petarin’s hands and feet had not been untied. The tide was on its way out. Bartholomew looks back, immediately regretting the decision; he hadn’t wanted to be a potential witness. The group they left behind on the pier was one man short; Petarin was nowhere to be seen. The man who had emerged from the shadows was now wiping off the blade of a rather large knife before re-sheathing it. He looked up as he sheathed his knife and saw Bartholomew looking back at them. He held his gaze; this man gave Bartholomew an uneasy feeling, the soldier hoped he never had dealings with this man again… or Belforst for that matter.

Their work done the party returns to the tavern and splits the payment; 50gp for each member. The night passes without incident and in the morning the three make their way back to the docks, this time to find passage on a trade ship headed back to Purple Falls. The tripe takes three days and once in Purple Falls Bartholomew quickly finds a caravan headed to Bophram that has room for three more passengers.

The story picks back up in the morning at the Foam Fresh Tavern as the party wakes on the day their travel to Bophram is set to begin.

Corvus gathers up the share of money owed to Joash and Darrin into two satchels. He throws each man his due as he tells them how great they did and how he looks forward to future ventures together. He is careful not to hint at the fact that they still had Petarin in Bartholomew's room and fully intended to get yet another ransom for the man when they turn him over to the merchant lord Belforst. Neither Joash nor Darrin had seen Petarin since arriving at the tavern and both assumed he had already been turned over, their excitement over receiving 107gp each blinded them to any other possibility. Each man grinned wide as they caught their heavy satchels and heard the jingle of 107 coins. They informed the party they would be leaving the tavern and the city come night fall and going their separate ways. Darrin hinted at a woman he intended to impress back in Purple Falls and Joash said he might just take the upcoming winter months off and stay home in the warmth of his home for a season or two.

The next day passes uneventfully and, as long as none of you have anything further to take care of in the city, we will pick up now as the sun is setting on the night you are to take Petarin to meet Belforst and his men on the docks.

Corvus succeeds in leaving the bar without being noticed, as his tail was busy being assaulted. He gets out into the crowded streets; make several twists and turns, doubling back on himself several times. Then, confident no one else is following him, Corvus returns to his friends and Petarin at the tavern.

A single Bluff check will be sufficient. Each Dwarf listening will receive a Sense Motive check in response. You aren't exactly going to get a bonus to your Diplomacy based on the Dwarves being drunk. But it will sway them in your favor. I am starting them off as "friendly" instead of "indifferent" which will drop their DCs from 14 to 9 (Due to Dwarven -2 to Charisma).

Sense Motive rolls for the group of five:
1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

Corvus approaches the table of rowdy Dwarves and spins his plan into action. His words come out smooth and convincing, he had just the right look in his eye. He could tell, the drunken group had believed his story. Now to finalize the plan, Corvus spun his words into an inspiration of vengeance. He was so distracted by the success of his lies that he almost botched the final blow in this plan. Though it was a close call, in their drunken stupor, the Dwarves believed his words and were spurred to action. They took a few moments to rile each other up and then began to push their way through the crowd toward the man who had so grievously insulted them.

Behind the closed door of a nondescript room in a nondescript out of the way tavern, Lhain pulls out his new treasure, "It's called an Ioun Torch." The small blood red gem floats gently out of his hand and up to take a slow wide orbit above his head. As it reaches the height of its orbit it floods the tavern room with a reddish light. The light burned as brilliant as a torch, banishing the shadows out of every corner of the room.

Across town, Corvus enters the Stoneforge with the beginnings of a plan to get rid of his tail. He sits down calmly, before long there's a pint of Dwarven ale in his hand and he is pursuing small talk with a fellow patron at the bar. Corvus keeps a eye on the door and before long his plan begins to pay off. He sees another Human walk through the door. This man is no longer wearing a cowl, and he comes in laughing in the company of two Dwarves Corvus saw leaving several minutes before. The man did a decent job of covering his entrance, and it's not like he and Corvus are the only two Humans in the bar so it could have been a good cover, but Corvus recognizes the man's face, he's been watching it follow him around the city for several hours now. Corvus takes a few more long swigs of ale and waits for his tail to find a seat, then considers his next move as his plan comes together.

Corvus: I will keep that diplomacy check in mind and we will address that at the meeting. Your perception rolls were excellent, you made three in a row total, which means you spotted your tail.

Corvus keeps a sly eye on his trail as he detours, doubles back, and makes a snaky path back to the tavern. Most times he feels he is overly paranoid but today it turns out to be a useful course. There is a cowled, rather nondescript, man whom Corvus had seen several turns back. He made a few more turns and one double back just to be sure. Yes, this cowled man was definitely following Corvus, attempting to stay out of sight, but Corvus' sharp eyes caught him one too many times.

Lhain: As discussed before you sell your loot, making some quite good deals as per your trait. Also, you are able to find the Ioun Torch you were looking for. Add up the total for the loot, split it five ways, and make your purchases. Let everyone know what the loot split is.

Bartholomew: Your time passes peacefully. Aside from a few groans and some wiggling from Petarin, there is nothing of note. Lhain returns hours later seemingly without any tail. Corvus has yet to return.

The roll you made to gain an extra 50gp for dealing with the gang of bandits was unsuccessful in convincing the Thaydim Captain of the Guard. He had not even heard of these bandits and while he does give you a pat on the back for making the roads safer he is unwilling to dip into their already tight budget for the service. You do, however, claim your 100gp reward for proof of Petarin's death.

Your second diplomacy roll was successful in prompting Lord Belforst to be more generous. Now you can get into the specifics of a price negotiation and this will require one more diplomacy roll.

Lord Belforst leaves you saying, "Corvus, you are an impressive tracker. I am quite pleased to have not only the man who was accused of this disgusting crime, but proof that he is guilty. I will consider your request and bring my answer to the wharf two nights hence." (Belforst will bring the bounty with him the night of the exchange and you will be paid when he has Petarin. The amount of money will be determined by your next diplomacy roll.)

I will need four more perception rolls from you to cover the entire walk from the meeting with Lord Belforst back to the tavern, to include detours. My potential tracker's stealth rolls and DCs for Perception are:

1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14: Corvus wisely keeps a sharp eye on his trail as he makes his way from the meeting with Lord Belforst. Before long he believes he has seen someone keeping a suspicious eye on him.
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

Summery posts look good. Thanks Matt.

The caravan journey to Thaydim takes 13 days after the defeat of Petarin and his gang. The journey continued without incident and the party makes it to the city safely with Petarin bound and unconscious. At Corvus' urging the party agreed to conceal the bandit leader's presence for a time, hiding him under the furs collected from his gang when they reached the gates of Thaydim.

The journey ends with the party having rented out several rooms in an out of the way tavern inside the walls of Thaydim. Petarin has been successfully spirited away from his hideout back into the heart of the very city he had tried so hard to get away from.

Corvus in the mean time has gleaned much information from Petarin's journal. He has confirmed that it was in fact the ex-captain of security who had murdered Alyrah, the daughter of Merchant Lord Belforst of the Golden Hand Trading Conglomerate. He had been obsessed with the girl and killed her in a fit of jealousy after she rejected his advances and attempts at courtship on several occasions. After having realized what he had done he fled. His misplaced anger led him to blame Belforst and other rich merchants like him for instilling a sense of entitlement and elevation in Alyrah, causing her to reject the lowly guard captain; thus his decision to join with common highwaymen and push their gang to more daring yet more successful raids on those merchants Petarin hated so much.

Then early in morning on the ## day two strangers approach during breakfast and requests food.

It was the morning of the third day after two days of travel from Purple Falls.

As the morning passes with fresh Ale and idle talk Lhain and Bartholomew reacquaint themselves and talk of all the events of the time since they saw each other last. The caravan captain, Joash, sits back and relaxes by the fire while his food and ale settle. Before long Joash rouses himself, stands and says, "Boys, I'm glad we're here and safe, but it's been a long trek and this old man needs a proper bed." Joash begins to walk away, then snaps his fingers in remembrance, "Here, before I turn in we better get settled up," he says to Bartholomew and tosses a heavy bag on the table (The bag contains 42 silver pieces. 3sp/day for 14 days, as is paid skilled hirelings). With that Joash leaves to purchase a room from the tavern owner and get some much needed rest.

Corvus listens intently from the moment the two strangers come in the door. There is something about the yunger one, he's seen battle, he has blood on his hands. This man, Corvus thinks, could prove just as useful as fearless Lhain.

Perception Check to hear the details of discussion between Lhain, Bartholomew, and Joash: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 8 + 2 = 15 (+8 for your Perception skill, +2 for the favorable conditions of an otherwise empty tavern) Corvus hears the details of the conversation, keying in on the particular parts that include recent battles.

Dawn is breaking as the sun crests over a thick forest canopy. It is a cool, crisp morning and the song of birds is loud in the nearby trees as the population of Purple Falls Trading Post rouses to wakeful activity.

Bartholomew breaths out a long sigh of relief at the sight of the familiar trade town and another trip that saw no bloodshed as his caravan trek comes to a close. It is rather chilly this morning and the breeze makes it even more so. Though it is only just dawn, Bartholomew is tempted by the warm hearth, filling food, and familiar comfort of the Foam Fresh tavern.

Lhain spends this morning as he has spent most mornings in the last month, walking through the doors of the Foam Fresh tavern the moment they open and sitting down for a good large breakfast. He notices a rare occurrence; someone else is up just as early and is already seated at a nearby table sorting through papers and nibbling at what’s left of what looks to have been biscuits and gravy with rabbit.

Corvus was up before the sun this morning. He has been on the hunt for some weeks trying to find any clue where his prey may have run off to hide. An upstart gang in Purple Falls seemed to be his best course; so here sits Corvus, in Purple Falls pouring over local maps and his own notes, racking his brain for any idea of where Petarin might be.