You find out that Sirap Hilltown worked as quartermaster for Lord Kerrigan when this keep was a Korvosan army base and bought the old barracks and the old mess and turned them into a hotel and a restaurant.
But you don't really care about that.
More interestingly, you find out that Larjen Widebottom, his son-in-law, worked as a scout for Lord Kerrigan and has the very best map of the land around the keep.
Uemala orders the roast duck, and as he slowly eats he broods over the idea of bandits blaming the Shoanti for evil attacks. Uemala tries to listen for people talking about the bandit attacks.
Uemala orders the roast duck, and as he slowly eats he broods over the idea of bandits blaming the Shoanti for evil attacks. Uemala tries to listen for people talking about the bandit attacks.
You try to listen, but every time you hear someone refer to the attacks as 'the Shoanti attacks' your blood boils and you can't hear anything else they say. If only Falcon Warchild hadn't insisted you keep a low profile.
Kornelius orders the fried(or roast)chicken and sits and enjoys food
whispering to Uemala and Lion:"Don't worry i'll listen later" he says lazily.
You return to your rooms at the inn and fall fast asleep. After many nights sleeping on the caravan, sleeping indoors is strange. It is only a few hours later -- just before dawn -- when you hear the <<TOCK TOCK TOCK TOCK>> of a quiet but determined knocking on your door.
The door opens and in comes Falcon Warchild. Behind him is Larjen Widebottom with the door keys. Warchild invites him in as well.
"I'm sorry gentlemen. I intended to let you rest but our mission has become more urgent. The man you rescued awoke and told us what happened. The other people he left the keep with yesterday morning were with him when he was attacked. Both he an his horse were shot. His horse was dead and he pretended to be dead. He saw the bandits kidnap his companions. We need to rescue them."
"In the past, we have tried to trick the bandits by trying to send out some of our soldiers disguised as merchants or as a caravan. They never fall for it. We think they have a spy in the camp who tells them."
"Everyone here believes you to be part of a caravan however. I would ask you to try this. Leave this morning on the road heading south. If the bandits attack you, then try to get at least one and bring him back ALIVE so that we can find out where the camp is."
"Will you do this for Kerrigan's Keep?"
Lion nods in an irritated way."Alright, we'll do it, but at this hour!?. Why is it no one else ever needs to sleep."
Kornelius lets out a long fake yawn and says:"Now?"
"I'm soooooooooo tired."
"Wake me up in 30 minutes."
And again he let's out a long fake yawn and goes to bed.
Falcon Warchild looks glumly at the sleepy men and wonders if these are indeed the heroes he has been looking for.
"Let me know what you need. We will be getting Longfellow's horses from the stable. I've spoken to Longfellow. He will not come with us. Instead, I am asking Larjen to come. I will also ask one of the local clerics to accompany you in case those who have been kidnapped need some healing when ... if ... you find them," says Falcon. "I don't think that the female cleric will scare off the bandits. Most men underestimate women."
"It is my experience that such men only underestimate them once."
The new voice belongs to a tall Shoanti woman.
"Let the sluggards sleep Falcon Warchild. Others are ready to protect the honour of the keep. If you will permit me to add rope to my equipment, I will be ready to set out as soon as you wish."
So saying, with a backward disdainful glance at the slothful heroes, Yaja turns on her heel and leaves the room.
"Alright, alright, we'll get up." Lion says sounding harrassed."Just give me fifteen minutes and a pouch of bullets for my sling."
"It is my experience that such men only underestimate them once."
The new voice belongs to a tall Shoanti woman.
"Let the sluggards sleep Falcon Warchild. Others are ready to protect the honour of the keep. If you will permit me to add rope to my equipment, I will be ready to set out as soon as you wish."
So saying, with a backward disdainful glance at the slothful heroes, Yaja turns on her heel and leaves the room.
"Yaja," says Warchild smiling for the first time since you have met him, "Perhaps they have not understood how serious this is."
Turning back to the 'slothful heroes' Warchild says "These men the bandits kidnapped may be dying or dead. If you will help them, get out of bed and do so. If not, tell me now and we will try another way!"
"OK,OK, I'LL COME NOW." Says lion, more harrased than ever."can't even let a man sleep." He mutters
"But I still want the bullets".
Uemala does 10 push ups and some stretches and then jets himself up with his staff and says "lets go!"
"OK,OK, I'LL COME NOW." Says lion, more harrased than ever."can't even let a man sleep." He mutters
"But I still want the bullets".
Falcon reaches inside his robe and pulls out a sling and a small pouch and tosses them over with a smile "Well, that was easy. Anything else?"
He turns to Larjen and says "Could you take these gentlemen to the stables after breakfast. I want to get back to my quarters before too many people see me. Lead them on the road back towards Korvosa. If, after three hours, no one attempts to stop them, we will just have to try something else."
"If you need anything else, ask Larjen."
Falcon nods to all of you and smiles again at Yaja.
AARRRGH!!
Keep it down,lion!!!!!!!!!!
FINE I'LL COME TOO!!!!!
Yaja pops her head back around the door.
"I will be leaving in 5 minutes. If you want your wounds healing, you will keep up with me. Be warned. I ride fast."
You soon find yourself, a little sleepy but fully dressed, at the stables. Larjen Widebottom is making a fool of himself dressed in Longbottom's much more expensive clothes. He does quite a good impression of the cunning merchant Longbottom.
Four horses from the caravan are saddled and brought over to you. Ogre, Longfellow's riding dog, is reluctant to let Larjen on him at first but, when Larjen whispers in his ear, soon treats the halfling like an old friend.
A guard brings over some backpacks and says quietly "Captain Warchild could not come. He thanks you and gives you this food and some extra supplies just in case." The backpacks contain water, rope, blankets, and some trail rations.
Larjen suddenly remembers something. He pulls out a map and shows it to you. "We're here," he says pointing at the keep. "The bandits usually attack riders who travel west of the old watchtower or just past here, where the road starts to turn south."
Kornelius grabs a...
...bow and arrow.
[4, 2] - 6
[4, 2] - 6
[14, 2] - 16
The only above 15's are 17 from me and 16 from Yaja!!!
Yaja remains stoic about these things. We have weapons and we will survive if Irori so wills it.
You travel by horse, out of the keep, and along the path heading west. You pass an old battered bridge that Larjen told you headed into the bogs and was no longer used. You pass a Watchtower that has been half destroyed during the wars and has yet to be rebuilt.
As you approach the point where the river nearly meets the forest just past the watchtower, Yaja sees three men on horseback attempting to to cut you off.
[19] = (19)
Yaja readies her crossbow.
"Gentlemen, we have company. Prepare if you please."
Uemala rips out his staff and says "I will now avenge you Sklar-Quah."
Uemala rips out his staff and says "I will now avenge you Sklar-Quah."
[5,2] = (7)
(My ride check for using a Non-Warhorse and charging is a 20 Total-I stay on my horse and I attack:
1d20+3+2 (Charging) ?¨ [16,3] = (19)
"YEAH!!!"Shouts Kornelius.
1d10+3=9
"Woo Hoo!"Shouts Kornelius.
"Get the guard first!" barks the bandit in the center.
Yaja has the chance to act before Kornelius.
Kornelius charges into combat with a shout. His horse, untrained in combat, is surprised but reacts as commanded. One of the riders falls from his saddle dead. Another bandit slices into Kornelius' side and Kornelius falls wounded from his horse as well.
Uemala knocks another rider from his horse with his staff but his horse is frightened.
"Irori guide my hands" she says quietly. (Whichever situation she is facing)
Kornelius remains still on the ground as Yaja's shot skims over the shoulder of the remaining bandit.
"Hold," shouts the masked bandit "You attack us on our lands! Who gives you the right?"
1d20+2 ?¨ [2,2] = (4) ride check Uemala falls off.
Lion of Irori braces to hit him."Well, what gives you the right to stop us."
spoiler for Yaja
C'mon heal me again.
Lion of Irori braces to hit him."Well, what gives you the right to stop us."
The bandit looks like he's about to speak but then the real reason for his statement becomes clear. He was stalling!
Another group of three bandits approaches the party on foot from behind. They must have been hiding in the bushes and not been seen as you past.
Now you have four bandits to contend with, one on horseback and three on foot.
Grimly Yaja aims her crossbow at the bandit on horseback.
If it hits that's [3,1] = (4) damage.
Risking a glance at Korney, she calls "Courage comrade, I will attend to your wounds as soon as it is safe."
[16,1]=17)Damage: [1,2] = (3)
"Well, forget the last thing I said then. Oh and dont worry, you won't have to try very hard". Lion says as he clobbers the one he originally adressed.
Yaja's crossbow bolt whizzes over the horse's ear and catches the bandit in the shoulder. The whistling of the bolt surprises the bandit's horse. The horse rears throwing the bandit.
When the bandit picks himself up, Lion unleashes a furry of blows on the bandit hitting with one of them. The bandit, bloodied, but not dead clenches his fist and draws a dagger smiling grimly at Lion "You and me then!"
Meanwhile, the other bandits are rushing towards Uemala, Larjen, and Ogre.
Tarren the DM
Yaja will miss the next turn to heal Korney. She will use her domain power CLW for this. At the top of the next round I'll post all this on the thread, but just so you know in advance. She does a remarkably good job too - [7] = (7) which gets Korney back on his feet.
EDIT - forgot to switch avatars
Kornelius succeeds on his 'lone wolf' stabilization check. He does not drop any more hit points before Yaja gets a chance to heal him.
Uemala whips his staff several times in a menacing fashion at the nearest bandit."You dare impersonate Shoanti, you scoundrels!!?"