Black Tom:
With recent events, Roylenna is unsure what she should do in the event of any hostilities. She will likely hide (Stealth bonus +7) and try to figure out exactly what's going on before acting, probably trying to stay near Grond, if possible. She will use a move action to load her crossbow after hiding.
If he's attacked, she will do what she can to help with his attacker, long range using crossbow, closer range using Heavenly Fire.
She'll withhold her other spells until she's confident that it's appropriate (or someone tells her to use them). I assume her spell use last night counts for today, so she only has two first-level slots left today.
If the encounter is not hostile, she will not load the crossbow, but will likely hide or not make herself obvious, as appropriate, while watching.
The road stretches along column (?) 4567. Hank and Heather is at EF56 with the wagon at GH56. Sandros is ahead at C4, Royl is at H7 and Proteus (on Atlas) at JK4. Grond is lagging somewhat at M6.
Suddenly a hoarse screech interrupts the calm and silence and a rain of tiny darts descends upon you. Grond is hit twice and Sandros takes one to the shoulder .
Looking up, you are startled to see a number of almost human faces up in the foliage. Strangely you are being attacked by some sort of flying monkeys, almost the size of baboons, covered in brown fur and with bat wings sprouting from their backs.
The wagon comes to an abrupt stop, mules braying, and Roylenna ducks under it and loads her crossbow.
Sandros and Grond are up, then the monsters and Proteus.
Sandros' mutterings have quieted finally, but he is wiping his brow more and more frequently. The surly expression from earlier has faded to a weary concern, and he glances occasionally back at Proteus, chewing his lip. Finally, he turns back toward the rear of the procession...
...only to be interrupted by a hail of darts from the trees off to his right. One catches exposed flesh on the back of his leg, making him cry out with a surprisingly squeaky, "Ouch!"
Looking up, you are startled to see a number of almost human faces up in the foliage. Strangely you are being attacked by some sort of flying monkeys, almost the size of baboons, covered in brown fur and with bat wings sprouting from their backs.
"This has to be the strangest trip I have ever been on," Sandros says to no one in particular. He frowns abruptly and looks over at Greta. "We are allowed to kill these things, are we not?" But he isn't waiting for an answer. He raises his bow, firing an arrow at the closest flying monkey , then moves behind the cart to gain some cover .
In spite of being unsure of himself, Proteus realizes that Grond can't take much more.
Proteus fall back to ensure that the flying monkeys are not within 30 feet of him and attempts to heal Grond .
Proteus fall back to ensure that the flying monkeys are not within 30 feet of him and attempts to heal Grond .
Grond drops.
Grond drops.
Will I lose an HP next round or am I considered 'stable?'
Will I lose an HP next round or am I considered 'stable?'
Be back later.
Will I lose an HP next round or am I considered 'stable?'
Grond falls, then stands! Then falls, no wait, he stands! Yes Grond stands! Wait, what is Grond now he's doing? Why he's cringing and slinking away to the nearest shadow.
Grond drops to his knees, and quickly scans the area for the nearest cover or concealment. He will attempt to crawl, dash, lunge, roll or cavort into any protection he can find, and then attempt to hide properly until he can gain a sneak attack againt whatever fresh hades is this.
Failing all else, he will hide under his cloak in the road, whilst still clutching his falchion casually to the side.
Once Roylenna has the crossbow loaded (first round action) and has a chance to get the measure of the foes, she will, using the wagon for cover as much as possible, fire a ray at J8.
Sandros nocks an arrow and lets it fly at the nearest monkey. As it rips through its wing, said monkey screeches in surprise and pain and swoops down on him. Grond is severely wounded and tries to duck for cover, dragging himself under the wagon and collapsing in H5.
Since Greta has withdrawn into the wagon, ignoring Sandros's snide remark (again), the only visible targets are Sandros and Proteus (not counting the mules). One of the monsters attacking Sandros is slashing with an exotic-looking dagger, but misses, while the wounded one claws his cheek for 3 points. They positions are in the air at C5 and D4(wounded).
It's even worse for Proteus who is pestered by two of the flying horrors. He is hit for 8 points, and the monsters are trying to grab him, and one of them managed to get hold of his arm. Since Proteus is now grappled, you won't be able to heal Grond this round.
That means that Proteus is up, then Royl, Sandros and Grond.
One of the monsters attacking Sandros is slashing with an exotic-looking dagger, but misses, while the wounded one claws his cheek for 3 points. They positions are in the air at C5 and D4(wounded).
It's even worse for Proteus who is pestered by two of the flying horrors. He is hit for 8 points, and the monsters are trying to grab him, and one of them managed to get hold of his arm. Since Proteus is now grappled, you won't be able to heal Grond this round.
That means that Proteus is up, then Royl, Sandros and Grond.
Proteus reaches for his holy symbol, but one of the flying monsters catches and grabs hold of him before he can complete the action. He wrestles briefly with the beast, before grasping it firmly and hurling it away from him.
Sandros, for his part, grins broadly as the tiny horrors swoop upon him, and even the sudden gash across his cheek does not seem to diminish his mood. He drops his bow and whips out his rapier. "I'd much rather do this up close myself!" he says with a wicked grin, and stabs upward at the wounded monkey.
Rapier attack (1d20+5=25, damage 1d6+2=4)
Crit confirm (1d20+5=8, damage 1d6+2=7)
Oops, my bad. The monkeys are slow and clumsy flyers, so that means that the dagger-wielding monkey doesn't get to attack. Put that in H3. The other one goes to G4 and slashes Sandros's cheek.
No problem, but technically the grappling monkey would be in K4. They have improved grab, so Proteus doesn't get an AoO.
Proteus wrestles briefly with the monkey, then wheels his arm around. The force is too much for the poor monkey, and flapping its little wings futilely, it loses its grip and crashes to the ground [at K6] for 2 points of damage.
That gives Royl a clear shot with her Heavenly Fire, and fire shoots out of her hands and hits the monkey as it tries to rise. With a scream it staggers and falls over.
Sandros is gleefully swinging its rapier, and rips open the chest of the attacking monkey. It too falls to the ground, dead or dying.
Grond cowers under the wagon.
Realizing that the tide of battle is turning, the remaining monkeys take to the air and try to fly away. The dagger-wielding one manages to fly to L-1, where it has concealment from the trees, but the other monkey is not so lucky. As it tries to take off, Proteus manages to grab its wing and send it hurtling to the ground. Atlas shrugs and kicks it in the chest, laying it low.
Proteus is up, the Royl, Sandros and Grond. Just the fleeing monkey left.
Always thinking of others before himself, Proteus hurries over to Grond and lays his hands on Grond's wounds. "Curatio minorus,"
he intones solemnly, letting the healing power of Aesculapius pour through him.
That gives Royl a clear shot with her Heavenly Fire, and fire shoots out of her hands and hits the monkey as it tries to rise. With a scream it staggers and falls over.
Realizing that the tide of battle is turning, the remaining monkeys take to the air and try to fly away. The dagger-wielding one manages to fly to L-1, where it has concealment from the trees, but the other monkey is not so lucky.
Proteus is up, the Royl, Sandros and Grond. Just the fleeing monkey left.
Roylenna sees two more monkeys fall to the ground and not get up. She moves out from under the wagon and hears the fourth monkey in the trees toward her left, so she continues until she has a clear shot past Atlas and Proteus and fires her Heavenly Fire at it.
Roylenna sees two more monkeys fall to the ground and not get up. She moves out from under the wagon and hears the fourth monkey in the trees toward her left, so she continues until she has a clear shot past Atlas and Proteus and fires her Heavenly Fire at it.
Grond will go ahead and remain cowering under the wagon for now. The surge of healing from Proteus relieves him of the heaviness of his earlier pains, but scanning the battle, he sees no good way to help. He will however shift to be near the shadows cast by a wagon wheel
While not participating in the current fighting, Grond will definitely be keeping his eyes open for anything, and will use his sneak attack upon any enemy who comes close enough.
Royl rushes out and send her fire after the rapidly disappearing beast. It strikes true and sends the monkey wobbling for a moment, but it gets its act together and disappears into the green. It looks pretty badly hurt, though, and won't be back anytime soon.
Grond and Sandros spend the next few rounds finishing off the dying monkeys. This time Greta doesn't seem interested in gathering specimens, so she just observes the carnage in silence. The smell of blood disturbs the mules, though, so she drives the wagon a little bit off.
The fallen monkeys don't seem to be carrying anything, unfortunately, so you find best to continue your travels. Later in the afternoon you finally reach the Roadside Inn, where meals are to be had for 4 sp and rooms for 1 gp. It is also a place where mercenaries have been known to hang out, looking for employment, so in case you are looking for an extra sword arm, this might be the place.
As it happens you also meet a certain soldier of fortune who goes by the name of Bhanbagta Rana...
For Thalyn:
Her name, as it turned out, was Penelope Barmey, and she was looking for her husband, Fenton Barmey, who disappeared nearly a year ago while exploring some ruins west of Warwik. For some reason (possibly being true to her name) she adamantly believes that Fenton is still alive, miraculously, and that he dwells somewhere in that dungeon together with what she refers to as a "dark companion". She speaks with great conviction about how his spirit is calling out to her, and offers you her life ssvings of 50 gp if you could bring him back.
Alas, if you had some companions, you might consider it, but as it is... you had to turn the woman's offer down. She still stays at the Inn, but tends to avoid your gaze and looks hopefully at everyone who enters. So far there has been no takers.
Royl rushes out and send her fire after the rapidly disappearing beast. It strikes true and sends the monkey wobbling for a moment, but it gets its act together and disappears into the green. It looks pretty badly hurt, though, and won't be back anytime soon.
Grond and Sandros spend the next few rounds finishing off the dying monkeys.
Once the monkeys are down, Roylenna's not very interested in them. She does see the damage to Proteus and offers to use her "green fire" so that he can conserve his deity's blessings for later. Or for Grond, since she can't help him.
If Proteus is agreeable, she will back up a step and fire her ray at him from short range.
Heavenly Fire to heal Proteus (1d20+5=6, 1d6+1=6)
A visibly embarrassed Roylenna smiles and tries again.
Heavenly Fire to heal Proteus, take two (1d20 5=7, 1d6 1=2)
Now it's her turn to walk away, shaken. She'll go to the wagons and sit with Greta until the "men's" work is complete.
Later in the afternoon you finally reach the Roadside Inn, where meals are to be had for 4 sp and rooms for 1 gp. It is also a place where mercenaries have been known to hang out, looking for employment, so in case you are looking for an extra sword arm, this might be the place.
Black Tom:
Before we enter the Roadside Inn, Roylenna will try again with her Heavenly Fire on Proteus and on Sandros.
Heavenly Fire on Proteus (1d20+5=11, 1d6+1=4)
Heavenly Fire on Sandros (1d20+5=9, 1d6+1=3)
Heavenly Fire, take 2 for Sandros (1d20+5=10, 1d6+1=3)
Once the monkeys are dead, Proteus will use a channeling attempt to heal himself, Grond and Sandros all at once.
Sandros seems visibly cheered by the victory over the flying monkeys, whatever they might have been, and for a few hours his mood returns to something closer to the chipper, laughing fellow he seemed to be a few days before. As the day wears on, though, he subsides again, until he finally pauses to let the mules and cart pass him by. Once Proteus reaches him, Sandros falls into step with the cleric and begins speaking quietly to him.
When the group reaches the Inn, Sandros pays his silvers and gold with the air of a man reaching water after days in the desert. As soon as he has the chance, he disappears to somewhere he can get a bath, and eats an extremely hearty meal. He smiles and flirts with the barmaids, though it's hard to tell if his heart is really in it.
** spoiler omitted **
Proteus to Sandros:
As an afterthought, he asks: "Does Grond have it too?"
Greta has decided to sleep in the wagon. "Nay, I've seen enough of those inns", she mutters. "If you've seen one you've seen them all. I'm perfectly comfortable here. But you go ahead. You all look like you could use some rest."
The inn is not very crowded, but there are some people about, mostly listless mercenaries and adventurers by the look of it. Two people seem especially interested in your arrival. One is a short, swarthy man with a black beard and a long mustache, obviously Tharbrian. The other is a middle-aged homely woman who looks strangely out of place here. She looks about to rise, but then glances at the dark man, sighs and thinks better of it.
Proteus to Sandros:
** spoiler omitted **
"Does Grond have it too?"
Sandros shakes his head, looking a little pale again. "No idea, but if it's contagious or something, maybe you should find out."
** spoiler omitted **
Proteus and Sandros:
Proteus and Grond:
Roylenna pays for two rooms, one for her and one for Grond. After cleaning up, she will get a hot meal and socialize in the common room. If she noted the two that paid interest to our entry, she will make a point to chat them up.
"There was someone in the common room when we came in? I didn't notice anyone."
She will buy herself a meal (and Grond, if he wishes) and socialize for the evening. She'll still visit with folks, but she's not "targeting" any in particular.
Grond happens to be the poorest theif on earth. He will gladly accept Roylenna's ministrations and will follow her about while keeping a discrete distance, as he doesnt like his orcish side to be shown. He keeps his face cowl-hidden.
You decide to spend the night at the inn. After these last few days, a soft bed - or just not being attacked by any strange abominations for a change - is hard to resist. The innkeeper is not very chatty, and you spend a rather quiet evening.
Warwik is about 1 day away, and the road is fairly well travelled, so you should be fine, if you want to go on. If not, you will have to renegotiate your pay.
Roylenna pays for two rooms, one for her and one for Grond. After cleaning up, she will get a hot meal and socialize in the common room. If she noted the two that paid interest to our entry, she will make a point to chat them up.
"There was someone in the common room when we came in? I didn't notice anyone."
She will buy herself a meal (and Grond, if he wishes) and socialize for the evening. She'll still visit with folks, but she's not "targeting" any in particular.
Given a chance and a willing conversationalist, she might try to get some information about the known threats on the road, anything in general about the Fool's Pass, information about the "orc ruins" or the crypts.
Diplomacy to gather information (1d20 3=17, 1d20 3=16, 1d20 3=22, 1d20 3=17)
She will make a point of being the center of attention at her table to distract from the hooded half-orc if he's hanging around with her. She might even make something up about her friend's "burn scars" being sensitive to light, just for the fun of it.
Bluff regarding Grond's keeping cover (1d20 7=25)
"It's the most terrible thing, to save all those widows and orphans, only to be disfigured so drastically. If we can raise enough money, we'll be able to make a sizable donation to the church and get him healed. Until then, he keeps the hood pulled down else the burns blister and spread. Terrible thing, really."
Black Tom:
Rana gets up from his table and with mug in hand walks over to where the halfling and her companion are sitting. In a strangely accented voice he says,"That is a most distressing tale young one! Perhaps then we can help each other if you but give me a moment of your time?"
"I'm no young one, if it's me you adress," Grond says, hunched over his tall dark goblet of brew. "Which it better be." he finishes.
Peering up from the brim of his cowl, Grond sees first travel-stained boots, then sturdy legs and an armoured body. Then that smiling cunning face of a mercenary. Grond sees in him the perfect chance to escape front-line duty.
"What do you think, Roylenna, should you give him the test by fire? Har har" He looks over to BhanBhagta, ever been tested by mage flame, mercenary?" Obviously the tall mug of brew may have gone to Grond's battered skull a bit. he really feels schnockered yet strangely okay about everything.
Proteus and Sandros:
** spoiler omitted **
"I'm no young one, if it's me you address," Grond says, hunched over his tall dark goblet of brew. "Which it better be." he finishes.
Peering up from the brim of his cowl, Grond sees first travel-stained boots, then sturdy legs and an armoured body. Then that smiling cunning face of a mercenary. Grond sees in him the perfect chance to escape front-line duty.
"What do you think, Roylenna, should you give him the test by fire? Har har" He looks over to BhanBhagta, ever been tested by mage flame, mercenary?" Obviously the tall mug of brew may have gone to Grond's battered skull a bit. he really feels schnockered yet strangely okay about everything.
"Grond, a girl's got to have some secrets." Roylenna winks. Turning to the warrior, she invites him, "Pull up a chair, stranger. As you've no doubt gathered, my name is Roylenna, but my friends call me Royl. My companion here is Grond."
"You have to r-r-r-roll the r."
Proteus and Sandros:
Rana:
Royl's sprightly conversation quickly makes her the centre of attention. Most of the patrons are mercenaries or merchants or their associates, and she learns a few interesting things:
- There is another Inn at the south of Warwik, known as the King's Road Inn. It's a little more rowdy and has been known to serve gnolls on occasion.
- There are some caves in the hills to the west where adventurers have occasionally gone to seek treasure. the caves were once the home to a band of orcs that were driven from their lair by the forces of Warwik. There is rumored to be a vast labyrinth of tunnels and chambers beneath the caves.
- Some well-organized bandits have been waylaying merchants on the road outside Warwik recently. A reward is being offered by Bragger Bondhome (the captain of the guard) in the barracks for their capture and demise. They seem to be called the Greentree bandits.
Black Tom:
Rana sits down at the table and faces Royl. "Your friend seems to have been drinking quite a lot. I'm not sure that I appreciate his tone."
Some well-organized bandits have been waylaying merchants on the road outside Warwik recently. A reward is being offered by Bragger Bondhome (the captain of the guard) in the barracks for their capture and demise. They seem to be called the Greentree bandits.
Grond's ears will perk up at the mention of this tit-bit. The idea of pay always makes a mission more attractive. He is however, up for anything.
Grond does not react to Rana's jibe, but he remembers it. He seems to ignores the mercenary, but will be signalling Proteus and Sandros to join them at the table when he spots them in the room.
Looking at Rana after he has been there talking to Royl for a few minutes, Grond will suddenly inquire. "Do you know anything about these Greentree Bandits been raiding herabouts? Seems there's a reward offered." He watches Rana with suspicion.
A reward is being offered by Bragger Bondhome (the captain of the guard) in the barracks for their capture and demise.
Rana:
Rana sits down at the table and faces Royl. "Your friend seems to have been drinking quite a lot. I'm not sure that I appreciate his tone."
Roylenna treats the swarthy warrior with an angelic smile. "Don't mind Grond. He's really had a rough couple of days. With a little less luck, he wouldn't be here now."
She looks at him quizzically, "You've heard my tale, but you haven't shared what help you seek. I guess the question is, 'What is it you think we might be able to do for you?'"
After a good night's sleep and a hearty breakfast you set out for Warwik.
For Sandros:
make a DC 20 Fortitude Save or become fatigued.
For Grond:
You take a –2 penalty on Perception checks related to sound.
It's a beautiful day, and you trudge effortlessly on, even if Sandros seems to be lagging somewhat. By the afternoon you reach the gates of Warwik. The city is surrounded by a 20 foot-high stone wall, complete with parapets and walkways. Since Warwik is trying to assert its independence from the City State of the Invincible Overlord, it is rather heavily garrisoned.
The city gates are a pair of stout, iron-bound double doors, manned by a pair of polite but efficient soldiers. A placard announces an entrance tax of 1 gp per cart and 3 sp per beast of burden. Grumblingly Greta pays up .
The buildings tend to be made of wood with peaked, thatched roofs and shuttered windows, except for some of the more imposing buildings that are stone.
Inns range from the posh Black Sheep Inn (3 gp or more a night) to the aptly named Ramshackle flophouse (2 sp).
The most important temples are the temple of the Sun and the temple to the Moon . There is also a small temple to Asclepius, run by a single priest by name of Beamus Cain.
Shortly after the gate Greta reins in her mules and after some more rummaging produces a box containing four little vials. She gives one to Royl, Proteus, Sandros and Grond, keeping the fifth for herself. "Oh, no, I ain't paying anyone for getting themselves killed for no good reason, I ain't." She climbs back into the wagon and says to noone in particular: "I'll be staying here until I've sold my goods. If you need me for anything, you can leave a message at the temple of the Moon. I might need escorting back to Seahill in a few weeks if you're still looking for employment. Goodbye and good luck."
With no further ceremony, she disappears into the bustle of the busy street.