Lotus lets fly a crossbow bolt, followed closely by Liet's sling stone, both of which hit the surprised rider and spook his horse. He sways in the saddle as Bedu finishes his incantation, but shakes off the effects of the daze spell. Now seeing you, he shouts and reaches for his weapon.
Initiative order:
Lotus
Liet
Rider
Bedu
Liet loads another sling stone and whirls off another shot. Unfortunately, he rushes things and it sails far off the mark.
"By the god-kings," he mutters, "I need a lot more practice with this thing!"
While the others go hunting, Skittle will draw his bow & move in for a closer look (using pass without trace), gnome sniper style.
Round 1 attack before the riders action, so I still get a sneak attack? (1d20+5=25, 1d8=7, 1d6=4)
Crit confirmation (1d20+5=23, 1d8=2)
Things just got more dangerous for us. He should have dropped from his horse. Lotus thinks while she quickly reloads her crossbow and fires another bolt while the rider is still trying to control his horse.
Before the rider can react, Liet hurls another sling stone at him, but it whizzes past him into the trees. The rider looks up just in time to take Lotus's next crossbow bolt right in the throat. His shout chokes off as blood gushes out of his mouth, then topples from his horse, his pata half-drawn from its sheath.
Skittle:
Drawing his bow, Skittle creeps closer to the camp. In the fading light, he can't make out many details - the slaves are staking the elephants for the night and setting up camp, while the tribesmen finger their whips, overseeing the slaves and watching their surroundings nervously.
Seeing the rider go down from her (too) perfect shot, Lotus drops her crossbow and grabs her sword resting against the tree while rushing towards the fallen rider and his horse. Liet, see if you can save him for interrogation! I'll try and calm the horse.
At Lotus' words, Liet quickly follows behind the rogue, hurrying to the fallen rider's side and careful to dodge the still-excited horse. "Try and calm that thing down" he magically whispers.
As he comes upon the rider's body, the priest looks upon his garish wound with trepidation. "Ummm...wow...," he says, "Even if I do save his life, I'm not sure he'll be able to speak all that well. Your last shot took him straight through the throat."
guys my wife and I are in crisis with her pregneacy I am sorry, but this is my priority for now, I'd appreciate any and all thoughts/prayers.
Lotus calms the rider's frightened horse as Liet rushes to the fallen tribesman. A quick examination reveals that the man is very close to death, and even if healed, might never speak again, as Lotus's crossbow bolt has ripped his throat completely open.
Bedu shakes his head, chins wobbling left and right as he comes over to the body. "Well that's torn it! No Indo and yet we have something like chopped goat's liver."
He starts casting cure light wounds, muttering to himself. "You know we are outcasts and our good name is not helped by shooting first and asking questions later. Please try to be a little more careful, oh someone may want to check him over for messages and the like."
He starts casting cure light wounds, muttering to himself. "You know we are outcasts and our good name is not helped by shooting first and asking questions later. Please try to be a little more careful, oh someone may want to check him over for messages and the like."
Liet puts out his hand to stop Bedu from healing the rider. "Save it," he tells the dwarf, "This one will surely never speak again. There is nothing to be gained by saving him."
"Besides," he says, nodding back towards the recently-opened tomb, "As I said before, violating the sanctity of a god-king's resting place without one of their priests by your side makes your life forfeit. This one has surely paid that price. The god-kings themselves must have guided Lotus' shot so he couldn't warn the others, and so that...even in death...he can never boast of his deed."
The priest finally squats down next to the body and begins searching it for any clues. "This one obviously intended to go somewhere," he says, "Presumably to tell someone of their success in breaking through. Perhaps he carried a message with him. Or maybe some sign of who he served."
Bedu contiues with his healing, casting the spell twice. He then looks to make sure the man is stable and pats him gently on the cheek.
"Tomorrow I should have you back on your feet."
He then gently starts dragging the man out of the road. Not a word to anyone else.
Bedu contiues with his healing...then looks to make sure the man is stable and pats him gently on the cheek...."Tomorrow I should have you back on your feet."
Liet shakes his head, but neither helps nor hinders the dwarf's continued actions.
"When you have him on his feet again, do you expect him to thank you for the loss of his voice?" the priest asks aloud, "And have you given thought to where you'll put him? Do you intend to hold him prisoner and leave behind some of our own to ensure he doesn't escape? Or do you intend to bring him with us and thereby split our attention between keeping an eye on him and the dangers of the ziggurat itself?"
"Nay, good Bedu," Liet answers his own questions, "Your kind heart will only bring greater risk to us all...both in the hatred this man will have for us...and the possibility the god-kings may frown upon our meddling in their just punishment...and withdraw their favor from our continued efforts."
While Liet and Bedu argue over the merits and drawbacks of saving the rider, Lotus takes that time to carefully look through any saddlebags the now calm horse carries. Anything interesting you were carrying?
Bedu makes sure that his feet and hands are tied but not causing any harm.
He considers Liet's words then smiles at the priest, "true, true and true. All good points. I do hope he can talk. I do not expect much from him. His actions are poor so far but anything he may give us in information would help. Even without speaking."
Later on round the campfire Bedu tells the bazaar coffee shop story of the Rani and his faith in religion, and how he started as a humble and just man. Now look at him each time, each step taking him away from goodness and slowly deciding that faith and power rule together.
"Consider we all rely on each other, we are about to enter a place of your faith, would you shoot us down like a dog, for your faith if we make some unknown mistake? I trust that I would be given a second chance. I know much but I did not know that we needed one of you to enter."
The dwarf waits to hear what has been found on the messenger.
Bedu heals the dying rider - he is conscious, although not fully recovered, and his throat is still damaged. He doesn't say a word as Lotus strips him of his belongings and Bedu bindss his hands and feet.
There is nothing on the horse except for a satchel containing a couple of waterskins and a what appears to be dried snakes.
The rider, on the other hand, has a leather madu, pata, longbow, 20 arrows, whip, and 8 sp.
Later on round the campfire Bedu tells the bazaar coffee shop story of the Rani and his faith in religion, and how he started as a humble and just man. Now look at him each time, each step taking him away from goodness and slowly deciding that faith and power rule together.
After storing the loot with Bedu, Lotus recovers her crossbow from behind the tree. We must get moving back to Skittle and Indo to make plans for entering the temple / tomb thing of the god kings. She mumbles her way through the stuff that she doesn't understand anyway. The potential loot is what she cares about; that and the potential information they can gather to bring down the cursed Rani.
The dwarf smiles at the rider several times as he prepares a temporary
camp for everyone.
He considers Liet's words then smiles at the priest, "True, true and true. All good points. I do hope he can talk. I do not expect much from him. His actions are poor so far but anything he may give us in information would help. Even without speaking."
"I doubt it will be anything we couldn't discern for ourselves...or by questioning one of the others in the valley," Liet quietly replies, "But as you wish, friend Bedu. I don't want to interrupt our camaraderie with an argument over the captive. My thoughts instead turn to what we will do with him after we obtain whatever information we can from him. He'll be a liability after that. I'd like to minimize it as much as possible."
Later on round the campfire Bedu tells the bazaar coffee shop story of the Rani and faith in religion, and how started as a humble and just . Now look at each time, each step taking away from goodness and slowly deciding that faith and power rule together.
"The combination of faith and power is a natural and good thing, when applied appropriately," Liet responds, "What are the god-kings if not our divinely-appointed rulers? By their very title, they are both faith and power with noble dominion over us all. I've dedicated my life to them. And I've never regretted doing so. But I do it because they've always watched over us...protected us...and provided for us."
"The Rani has done none of those things," the priest asserts, "She abuses power...and with it, her people, as well. Thus, any faith she wished others to place in her is misplaced. It only allows her to bring further ruin and cruelty. That's because her power comes from deep-rooted malice and jealousy. It should be opposed. She should be opposed. And as a servant of the goodly god-kings, I will apply myself and their teachings in doing so."
"Consider we all rely on each other, we are about to enter a place of your faith, would you shoot us down like a dog, for your faith if we make some unknown mistake? I trust that I would be given a second chance. I know much but I did not know that we needed one of you to enter."
"I believe that's why I'm here," Liet explains, "The god-kings saw fit for me to accompany you, because your cause is just. And because I can guide you in making the appropriate choices before you make any such mistake. It is the will of the god-kings that we succeed. Together we'll assess this tomb and find what we need to oppose the Rani and save Iskandria, returning it to their rule. And all will be better for it."
"But we must enter this tomb with an appropriate mind," Liet advises, "It is holy ground. Would you walk into a god-king's final resting place and avail yourself of his treasures without properly honoring his divine spirit and thanking him for that which he provides? I think not. For to do so would be folly. It would bring the god-king's anger and punishment with certainty. The guardians of his tomb will rise up and smite you. That is the fate of these grave-robbers making camp within sight of a temple and a tomb they neither understand nor respect."
"So say I...Liet Kynes. Favored son, learned scholar, and devoted follower of the god-kings. May I sing their praises long and loud. And bring their benevolent spirit back into this world."
Skittle joins the others as they are making camp, and he immediately saunters over to the rider, now bound, and drops his gear as he walks.
My thoughts instead turn to what we will do with him after we obtain whatever information we can from him. He'll be a liability after that. I'd like to minimize it as much as possible."
Nodding at Liet's words, the gnome draws his kurki and sits down in a straddle over the prisoner's legs. "So, then we kill him," he says with a shrug. "If he helps us, maybe we let him go, with some water and without his horse. Even if he makes it through the jungle, it's not like he's going to be talking very much." Peering in to his mouth, the gnome continues, in a mumble, "'course, we could always cut out the rest of his tongue."
Later on round the campfire Bedu tells the bazaar coffee shop story of the Rani and faith in religion, and how started as a humble and just . Now look at each time, each step taking away from goodness and slowly deciding that faith and power rule together.
"The combination of faith and power is a natural and good thing, when applied appropriately," Liet responds, "What are the god-kings if not our divinely-appointed rulers? By their very title, they are both faith and power with noble dominion over us all. I've dedicated my life to them. And I've never regretted doing so. But I do it because they've always watched over us...protected us...and provided for us."
"The Rani has done none of those things," the priest asserts, "She abuses power...and with it, her people, as well. Thus, any faith she wished others to place in her is misplaced. It only allows her to bring further ruin and cruelty. That's because her power comes from deep-rooted malice and jealousy. It should be opposed. She should be opposed. And as a servant of the goodly god-kings, I will apply myself and their teachings in doing so."
Skittle sits in the low branches of a tree, the better to see anyone approaching. His bow is close at hand, with two arrows stuck in the branch next to him. He doesn't add very much to the conversation, but at this last go around between Bedu & Liet, he scowls. When they are finished, he exclaims, "Bah! Gods & kings & rani! What use do I have for such things? I grew up and lived in the jungles, and have no need for the cities or those that would try to rule them!"
"I believe that's why I'm here," Liet explains, "The god-kings saw fit for me to accompany you, because your cause is just. And because I can guide you in making the appropriate choices before you make any such mistake. It is the will of the god-kings that we succeed. Together we'll assess this tomb and find what we need to oppose the Rani and save Iskandria, returning it to their rule. And all will be better for it."
"But we must enter this tomb with an appropriate mind," Liet advises, "It is holy ground. Would you walk into a god-king's final resting place and avail yourself of his treasures without properly honoring his divine spirit and thanking him for that which he provides? I think not. For to do so would be folly. It would bring the god-king's anger and punishment with certainty. The guardians of his tomb will rise up and smite you. That is the fate of these grave-robbers making camp within sight of a temple and a tomb they neither understand nor respect."
"The only spirits I honor are those of my family, priest, and I'll bow down before no god, king or otherwise. I don't care for him or her or their treasure. I'm simply here for the barber's cooking, and because there is nowhere else for me to go. How long I'll be with you, I don't know, but if your god-kings decide to send me to the next world because I've offended them, then so be it."
"So, then we kill him," he says with a shrug. "If he helps us, maybe we let him go, with some water and without his horse. Even if he makes it through the jungle, it's not like he's going to be talking very much." Peering in to his mouth, the gnome continues, in a mumble, "'course, we could always cut out the rest of his tongue."
"No," Liet shakes his head, "If Bedu has seen fit to save him, we'll not kill him in cold blood. Or mutilate him before sending him on his way. It's one thing for such circumstances to play out in the heat of battle...as unfortunate as they may be. And it's also different to allow someone to pass on rather than take steps to save them...in my mind, at least. But once the decision is made to save such a one as this...it is for the god-kings to decide when his life becomes forfeit again."
"Bah! Gods & kings & rani! What use do I have for such things? I grew up and lived in the jungles, and have no need for the cities or those that would try to rule them!"
"In my experience," Liet shares, "I've found the use that we have for such things isn't nearly as important as the use such things have for us. And, if we want to make certain we aren't used or mis-used in ways we disapprove, we should make it our business to prepare for...and influence...such things before they impact us."
"The only spirits I honor are those of my family, priest, and I'll bow down before no god, king or otherwise. I don't care for him or her or their treasure. I'm simply here for the barber's cooking, and because there is nowhere else for me to go. How long I'll be with you, I don't know, but if your god-kings decide to send me to the next world because I've offended them, then so be it."
"I pray for the opportunity to intercede on your behalf before something like that happens," the priest smiles.
Once everyone is done discussing and getting ready to rest, Lotus sits down next to Liet. I don't know much about gods and stuff. Growing up where I did, you don't really have the time, opportunity or reason, but I'd like to hear more about these God-Kings of yours. How do they help make life better for the poor?
Bedu looks at Skittle in the tree and shakes his head. "You and Liet are as different as a dwarf and a genie. It's not words that matter it's actions. I healed him not to cause arguments but to find out information."
Indo hears the discussion of the rani and the destiny of Liet to assist his god-kings. Abruptly, he stands and heads toward the trail the rider was intent on. As he leaves, he says to the priest, It will be exciting to compare notes with your holy tomes, Liet. I wonder if my people have always observed different gods or if we can identify your god kings as the same heroes our tales remember.
Moving to the trail, Indo gets down on all fours and begins to look for wheel and hoofprints. He focuses on the similarities between the rider's marks and older ones.
It will be exciting to compare notes with your holy tomes, Liet. I wonder if my people have always observed different gods or if we can identify your god kings as the same heroes our tales remember.
"I suppose that's entirely possible," the scholar replies, "The legends and myths of those indigenous to Iskandria have often crossed cultural boundaries. And the exploits of the god-kings are long and storied, indeed. It wouldn't surprise me at all to learn your people revered them one and the same."
Still apparently not able to speak, the rider watches and listens to your discussions. His black eyes reflect the firelight, shifting back and forth between the speakers. When Skittle sits in his lap, his eyes widen, and he shoots a glance towards Bedu, but makes no other moves.
Indo studies the rider's trail, and is able to ascertain that riders along this path are somewhat regular, though it's impossible to say just how frequently people pass along it.
Watching the camp, Skittle thinks it might be possible to slip into the tomb unnoticed. The tribesmen's camp is far enough from the entrance that darkness should cover the approach, and the noise of the slaves and animals in the camp might mask any sounds the party makes, as long as they try to be stealthy.
But basically, I kind of think of them like ancient Mesopotamian kings mixed with Egyptian pharaohs - mortal kings while alive, but deified after death. And it's not so much worshiping one god-king, as all of them together as a pantheon, almost like a kind of ancestor worship. I think they'd be more of an urban thing - the city dwellers venerate them, maybe with a small household shrine, and certainly there are (were) big temples run the old priestly bureaucracy, of which Liet was a member.
But I don't think they would be seen as having much direct influence on daily life. The god-kings are there to provide legitimacy to the status quo (or at least the way it was before the Rani seized power) - that of the current god-king and the priest-bureaucracy. They represent tradition, and probably a lot of conservatism, too. Liet, being one of those priests, however, would probably have a very different view of the god-kings and just what they mean.
So basically, feel free to run with it, or expand upon it however you want to. If you go way out in left field, I may step in, but it's not like I have stranglehold on *my* creation. Certainly, based on the current situation in Iskandria, I could see priests like Liet doing everything they could think of to "sell" the god-kings to people like Lotus so that they can return to the way it was.
Hope that helps. If you have any other questions, I can try to answer them!
Wow, I'm just absolutely stunned, Larry, and don't know what to say. Although I only know you from posting on these boards, I really feel for you and your wife. If there is anything at all I can do, please don't hesitate to ask. You are both in my thoughts and prayers.
Still apparently not able to speak, the rider watches and listens to your discussions. His black eyes reflect the firelight, shifting back and forth between the speakers. When Skittle sits in his lap, his eyes widen, and he shoots a glance towards Bedu, but makes no other moves.
Indo studies the rider's trail, and is able to ascertain that riders along this path are somewhat regular, though it's impossible to say just how frequently people pass along it.
Lotus listens to Liet explain the benefits of the God-Kings for a while before changing the subject to the matter at hand. So what's next guys? We now have a prisoner that can't talk and we can't kill him in cold blood. Then we have a tomb we need to explore with the protection of Liet's faith and we have a group of people outside who won't want us in there.
RPG Superstar 2013
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We will remember your family when we pray, Larry. I wish there wasn't sickness in the world, but at worst, you have friends (and not just gaming buddies) who will pray for you and otherwise lift you up, and I am moved by the way you describe your short time with your son.
If it's not too personal, I think I'd like to know his name when I pray.
If there's anything my family can do, after prayer, please ask.
All right guys, let's get this thing started again. As Lotus said, you've got a prisoner who can't talk, a camp full of jungle tribesmen and slaves, and tomb to explore. It's dark and you're all wearing sunglasses. Hit it!
Seriously, what's the next step?
Here are some options:
1. Camp and wait for morning.
2. Try to sneak into the tomb tonight.
What are you gonna do?
Sometime later that evening, Liet approaches Bedu and gestures towards their prisoner. "So, have you decided what we'll do with this one?" he asks, "If we let him go, he probably goes off and warns the camp or whoever sent them here. If we leave him tied up, there's a chance they'll find him anyway...or if he gets free...or some wild animal comes along. And, if we take him with us, he could easily give us away as we try and enter the tomb."
"I've been thinking," the priest suggests, "If we can somehow frighten away the workers, maybe it'll help simplify things for us. I'm hoping Hammurabi or Indo or maybe even you, might have some kind of magic to scare these people into thinking they've unleashed a bunch of ghosts by opening the tomb. Then, if we can get them to pull back, maybe that'll make it easier for us to slip inside...whether we take that one with us or not..."
"What do you think?"
"Hmmph," Skittle grumbles from his perch on a low tree branch. "May as well slit his throat and leaving him for the jungle. He's not going to do us any good."
I don't care what we do now, but before we leave here, those slaves are free. the young rogue states to whomever wants to hear it.
"None of you think that this one should live? That he is a danger to us all? Then let us vote I will abide by the majority. Lotus is right we cannot leave those slaves in this predicament. I was intending to take him back in the jungle a mile or so and make him talk tomorrow. But that will take a day at least and I'd need help, probably from Skittle. The rest of you can start the games that Liet suggests, which is a good idea."
Bedu walks around the rider as he speaks, "this is a distasteful situation. I should have let him die, in that you are right Liet. But I am a weak-hearted soul and my natural reaction is to heal first and think second."
"But here we are now and I know not the right of it, and do not wish to see our journey damaged, so I ask openly for everyone to vote on this man's life."
Bedu stands before the man and calmly ticks off the choices with his fingers, "One I kill him cleanly here and now. Two I set him free perhaps far deeper in the jungle to let fate take its course. Or Three I take him deeper into the jungle to further heal him and interrogate the man once he can talk."
He turns back to the rest, "I vote for three, what do you all vote?"
"One, kill, two free, three heal and interrogate."
"None of you think that this one should live? That he is a danger to us all?"
"He's certainly a danger," Liet nods, "But killing him now would be wrong, I think. Your decision was made earlier when you chose to save him. There's no going back on that now."
"...let us vote I will abide by the majority."
"If that is your wish, so be it. You saved him. So I'm willing to allow you to decide the path his fate takes next."
"Lotus is right we cannot leave those slaves in this predicament."
"I'm inclined to agree," the priest notes, "However, we have no knowledge of who these people are...and whether the slaves would greet us as liberators or not. I think it's probably wiser to finish our expedition into the tomb first. Then, when we emerge...and hopefully with the full blessings of the god-kings...we'll be in a better position to free them than now."
"I was intending to take him back in the jungle a mile or so and make him talk tomorrow. But that will take a day at least and I'd need help, probably from Skittle."
"I don't think we have time for that," Liet advises, "This rider intended to tell someone of their success in breaching the tomb. Presumably, even if he fails to deliver his report, they will eventually come looking for him. Also, he is but one rider. There are others like him commanding the slaves below. I would imagine they'll enter the tomb on their own while we're away and interrogating him. That's too much time lost when we could be investigating the tomb ourselves...ahead of them."
"The rest of you can start the games that Liet suggests, which is a good idea."
"Very well. Who has magic that can frighten or confuse those gathered below? I'm afraid the god-kings do not favor me with such deceptions. But many of you are skilled in that area, I believe?"
"This is a distasteful situation. I should have let him die, in that you are right Liet. But I am a weak-hearted soul and my natural reaction is to heal first and think second....But here we are now and I know not the right of it, and do not wish to see our journey damaged..."
"Don't worry yourself over it," Liet encourages, "It is part of what makes you the good friend you are to everyone, including us. The god-kings teach us that actions have consequences, however. You have acted. Now we must deal with the consequences. But that doesn't mean an undoing of the action...or the decision...you made."
"...I ask openly for everyone to vote on this man's life....One, I kill him cleanly here and now. Two, I set him free perhaps far deeper in the jungle to let fate take its course. Or Three, I take him deeper into the jungle to further heal him and interrogate the man once he can talk...." He turns back to the rest, "I vote for three, what do you all vote?"
"I vote for something completely different," Liet replies.
"I say we take him with us. Into the tomb." He looks around at everyone else. "And we let the god-kings decide his fate. How better to do that than to take him into the very tomb he and his men violated? And, while there, we can interrogate him if we want. Or have him lead the way. Either way, we don't lose time backtracking through the jungle. We go inside the tomb now, before any more of his friends arrive."
Like I said before, we cannot kill him now. Lotus listens to Liet's suggestion and nods her agreement to the priest. That sounds like a good plan. It's not like the guy is going to shout out a warning to his buddies.
I do suggest we go into the tomb under the cover of night.
"So Liet and Lotus want to take our prisoner into the tomb with us. My vote is for taking him back into the jungle and having a quiet chat. Indo? Skittle? What is your decision? You now have four choices, kill him, free him, interrogate him or take him with us. Know that I will abide by the majority but this is too important a decision."
Bedu smiles a the rider, sort of like a cat that knows where the mouse is hid and just waits.