Bo-Dan:
Spoiler:
Currently, Bo-Dan is on a skyship, which is heading away from the Skargar Islands, and towards the capital of Menske. She has her own personal quarters, with a bed, closet, and dining table. The deck of the skyship has a giant hole in the middle, where a tornado seems to be whirling around. This is the air elemental that powers the ship. As you walk onto the deck, you are approached by the captain. "What be ye doin' on this here flight, lassie? Shouldn't ye be workin' on trainin' as a monk?" The gnome asks. He smirks, "Or, ye could be headin' for the Green Forest, eh? Want to destroy a beautiful forest?"
Hranos:
Spoiler:
Hranos is at the lumber camp next to the Green Forest. He has just registered as a worker, and begins work tomorrow. He has been assigned to work a treemauler, which is a giant machine that chops down trees, and is powered by a Large Earth Elemental. A small halfling approaches you at your tent. "Hey man, you look down on your luck. Don't worry about it, we all are, that's why were here." He smiles."I'm Eldon. I can help you out around here if you want."
Calderis:
Spoiler:
Calderis is in the market place of Menske. He owns a small, one-person house down the street. He stands in front of the "local post" a messageboard in the middle of town. One note reads "join the masses, build the road" (work on the Great Combonation Road), another "become a royal deckhand" (work the skyships), and yet another "bartender needed". With all the tough times Calderis is not sure where is future will lead him. He wonders, should he take a new job and travel the world or continue work as on the streets of Menske? As you think, you are approached by a fast-walking halfling, he bumps into you, and begins to yell: "Thief! Thief! This man has stolen my belongings! Guards! Help!" Guards rush from across the market, charging directly at you.
Celedor:
Spoiler:
You have been given a squad of five elven rangers, and sent by your superior to raid an encampment of humans attempting to destroy the Green Forest. Currently, it is dusk, and you should begin your strike when the moon reaches its highest in the sky.
Joey:
Spoiler:
I'm H, H...Hranos. How long have you b, b...been here, Eldon? Have there been may attacks by the elves?
Calderis is sure this is an unfortunate mistake, so in an ease tone talks to the guards:
"Officers, what is the matter?"
Hranos:
Spoiler:
Oh, yeah, I'm old hat at this stuff. I been here for two and a half years now. The elves? That's what you're worried about!?" He throws back his head and laughs,"That's the least of your troubles here. I heard you gonna be working with them treemaulers. You better hope you can work it out. Or if that doesn't get you, maybe the creepy crawlies of the night will. The reason you're here is because we lost Santos last week to a giant spider." He becomes serious. "But you must be wondering; How did ol' Eldon survive so long? Because of this." He points to his head. "You gotta be smart out here. If the boss is looking for extra work. Doesn't matter how much he will pay ya to do it, pass. The last thing you need to do is be caught out there by yourself. Also, you don't want any enemies out here. I learned that the hard way. One man, Avery thought I was too chipper to be working out here. Almost got us both killed when he messed with a treepuller. Now he's dead, and Eldon still be here. You stick close to me and everything will be alright."
Calderis:
Spoiler:
"This shorty here claims that you just took some money off of him. Why don't you come with us, real easy-like, okay?" Says the bigger of the two guards. The other circles around behind you, as citizens begin to stare. You feel the hands of the smaller guard clamp down around your own, and you are being pushed through the crowd of spectators.
Spoiler:
Joey: [spoiler]"Huh...how many guys are on each tree p-p-puller? And w-w-why are they making a r-road when they have skyship-p-s?"
Calderis:
Spoiler:
You have heard rumors that there are not enough workers for the Great Combination Road, and that the governor is looking for anyway to get more workers.
Hranos:
Spoiler:
"Ah, you know, the governor has some crazy ideas. He might be doing it to rid us from the elves. He has had a prejudice against them ever since them dwarves discovered those black elves. It might be so that he can have more leverage over the rest if Azemja, but whatever it is, you can bet it is because that man is greedy. Anyway, a treepuller? Has three men: one to steer, and two for safety. They have two because of the danger."
Hranos:
** spoiler omitted **
Spoiler:
"As-s-s-s-suming I am on the outside, what is-s-s-s the d-danger? Does-s the e-e-ele-m-mental get violent if it breaks f-free?"
Hranos:
Spoiler:
"No, problem is, if you get in front of one, it won't stop. Teddy, over there (he points to another campfire) lost his leg when he wasn't paying attention. Thing just kept going over his leg." He shivers. "It was grossest thing I ever did see"
OK, OK, I will go...but please...I need only to make my prayings. Only a few seconds. You just need to wait a minute, I will not go anyway, just let me kneeling and pray. Calderis doesn't wait for an answer, just falls on his knees and start praying.
Spoiler:
Then I change my words and start casting Sleep.
Bo-Dan:
Joey
Spoiler:
Bo-dan looks at the captain, getting the measure of him. Sensing his harmlessness, she looks at him calmly as says "Yes.Yes. and No." At the confused look on his face she will allow herself the tiniest of smiles and continue. " I am answering your many questions captain. I am a Monk and I am training. Every breath, every moment of a Monk's life is a part of her training captain. Yes, I am heading for Green Forest. And No, I do not wish to destroy it.." and she turns southeast towards the direction they are heading "...it...it was once my...home, I Suppose one might say...a part of my past has been left in that forest..and perhaps some of my future lies there still..." As her hand moves to her breast, touching something concealed beneath her robes. She looks to him and nods, then slowly moves off to the front of the ship, making it clear that, for now at least, she wishes to be left alone...
Bodan:
Spoiler:
The captain shrugs, too dull to understand the gist of the speech. He leaves, attending to his steering wheel.
Calderis:
Spoiler:
Your spell begins, and both guards and a few civilians immediately drop to the ground. As this occurs, there are gasps from the crowd around you.
Hranos:
Spoiler:
The other guys in the camp do tell you the dangers of getting in front of an elemental, but the real trouble seems to be the elves, the one thing Eldon avoided.
Hranos:
** spoiler omitted **
Pictures would be great.
Hranos:
Spoiler:
Here they are
NOTES:
Treepuller: The driver leads the elemental along on a rope. The two supporters have "threadbenders" which are basically staffs that emit pulses of magic when they come in contact with something. These are used to control the elemental. Iron chains attached to the elemental's arms pull the lumber transport.
Here they are
NOTES:
Treepuller: The driver leads the elemental along on a rope. The two supporters have "threadbenders" which are basically staffs that emit pulses of magic when they come in contact with something. These are used to control the elemental. Iron chains attached to the elemental's arms pull the lumber transport.
Treemauler: Two drivers are on top of a riding block, located at the base of the neck of the elemental. Each hold one rope, used to control the arms. When the driver to the left pulls his rope, he can manipulate the elemental into turning left, pulling up that arm, etc. The two drivers must work in harmony for this to be successful.
I cast the spell over the two guards, the little man and as much civilians as 4 HD in total.
Calderis
Spoiler:
The spell sends the two guards, the halfling, and a civilian to sleep.
I run from the place with all my capabilities.
Calderis:
Spoiler:
You push men and women past, as you speed for the closest exit. As you run you hear cries of shock as people begin to react to what has just happened. You head to the southern entrance of Menske, and find yourself in the middle of caravan headed out of the city. One man watches you approach, and yells "Hey buddy, jump in here!" pointing to the covered cart next to him.
Bo-Dan calmly spends her time meditating and practicing some moves throughout her journey on the Skyship
Calderis thinks: "I don't have another option right now".
So he embarks with the unknown but peeling his eyes to any possible menace.
Calderis:
Spoiler:
You enter just in time to see a large man holding a club, bring it down on your head. When you recover, you are inside a small tent, with a tiny halfling (different from the one who robbed you) looking down at you. "Hey, that's a nasty lump you got on your head. I'm Eldon, and you are at the Great Combination Road Lumber Work Camp!! Sounds fun doesn't it? Anyway, you'll be fine, its lots of fun out here, and we have the perfect space for you: We need one more guy to work this treemauler. Your partner's name is Hranos, and he's new also, so you guys can help eachother out." The halfling talks fast, barely giving you time to speak.
Hranos:
Spoiler:
Eldon has just given you news: Your partner is to be a man who traveled down from Menske named Calderis
BoDan:
Spoiler:
Eventually your skyship brings you to the festering city called Menske. The ship slams into an elevated, wooden docking bay, where the elemental slowly dies away, the ship sinking to rest on the ground. You are at the northern city limit, and as you get off, you are obviously in the rich part of town. Ornate designs cover buildings which must be banks, libraries, churches, mansions and the like.But even here you notice the sewage piled up in the streets, the rags on some of the civilians, and the general downtrodden nature of the place.
Calderis grabs his sorrowed head while thinks "Ouch!, I finished where I did not like anyway, perhaps the Great Providence has a plan for me in that place, maybe my final destination and the place where I will find the adventures I am looking for is towards this caravane is heading".
He gets up and looking towards the halfing talks:
Tell me friend, how much will I earn working for the road?
Calderis:
Spoiler:
"HA!" Eldon says. "Pay is a naughty word here. If you talk about pay, nobody finds your body in the middle of the night. We work for free here. Not by choice, of course. But it's either work, or lose your head by word of the king. My suggestion, wait for an elven attack, friend. I plan on leaving then, while the guards are busy." He looka out of the tent after making the comment.
Take me with you I can protect you from menaces I am a spellcaster.
Calderis:
Spoiler:
"Okay, okay, buddy, just relax. I can bring you along, but we have to wait. When the next elven raid comes around, go to the southeast of the camp, by my tent, where the camp meets the forest, and we can leave then. For now, just act casual and do the work given to you."
OK, I only expect this not last too long, I don't want finishing my life cutting logs or using an spade to remove soil.
Spoiler:
Bo-dan makes her way through the city. To keep her calm amidst all this pain and suffering takes all her monk training. If she sees those who seem truly in need she will aid them with whatever small wealth she has left (actually don't know at the moment how much that is). Does she have a specific destination? If not, she will continue on in the direction she needs to go (Great Forest?) of better yet, try and hire on as a guard for a caravan which is going that way.
Hranos:
Spoiler:
You are not armed, due to lack of funding. If there is a problem, there are four people carrying "threadstaves" to control any situation. Threadstaves unravel the threads of the Azemja, pulling apart any object. This can be used on creatures to inflict pain, deformities, and damage.
Bodan:
Spoiler:
Your adventure begins down the path, south of Menske. As you leave, the sound of the city dies down, and peace remains. This is maintained until you approach the edge of the Green Forest, where you hear loud laughing, and see a fire in the distance.
Bodan:
** spoiler omitted **
Bo-Dan tries to determine the source of the laughter
Listen=26 (Natural 20!)as she starts to run towards the fire...
Bodan:
Spoiler:
As you approach the fire you hear:
"And then he jumped into the cart, and I smashed him in the head!" laughs one man. The three others with him laugh along with him.
"I bet he didn't know what was happening when he woke up in the lumber camp!" yells another, and a new round of laughing begins as he re-enacts the movements of the mugging in question.
"And then he jumped into the cart, and I smashed him in the head!" laughs one man. The three others with him laugh along with him.
"I bet he didn't know what was happening when he woke up in the lumber camp!" yells another, and a new round of laughing begins as he re-enacts the movements of the mugging in question.
Bodan:
** spoiler omitted **
Joey
Spoiler:
Oh! I thought you had meant the Forest Was on Fire! lol If it was just a camp-fire BoDan saw in the distance she wouldn't have run towards it but approached it more stealthily (no matter how well trained she may be she Is still a woman traveling alone at night) As she heard the type of conversation going on she will stop and listen to the rest. Once sure of the kind of people she is dealing with here, she will stealthily move over to first check out the contents of the carts.
Hide=15
Move Silently=24
Hide=15
Move Silently=24
btw, as it's now getting down to the crunch, in case you still haven't seen my email, you can check out the Martial Artist varient I was talking about Here. Please let me know if this is acceptable to you?
Bodan:
Spoiler:
In the carts you see a total of three, large bundles. They are oblong, and about five to six feet, by two to three feet. The men do not notice you as you take peeks into the carts, for they are to caught up on swigging beer, and being loud.
In the carts you see a total of three, large bundles. They are oblong, and about five to six feet, by two to three feet. The men do not notice you as you take peeks into the carts, for they are to caught up on swigging beer, and being loud.
Hranos:
Spoiler:
As you ask around, you hear many stories about elven raids, until one man tells you that Eldon Treebarrel was once stabbed through the chest by an elven scout. This was a month ago, and Eldon is still hurt. His friends do not think he has much longer to live
As you ask around, you hear many stories about elven raids, until one man tells you that Eldon Treebarrel was once stabbed through the chest by an elven scout. This was a month ago, and Eldon is still hurt. His friends do not think he has much longer to live
Bodan:
** spoiler omitted **
Joey
Spoiler:
Bodan will softly and quietly reach out to the bundles, touching them to try and confirm her suspicions of what they are,her anger slowly boiling as she contemplates the kind of people who would kidnap another...
PS Thanks ;-)
PS Thanks ;-)
Bodan:
Spoiler:
Your thoughts are correct. These men have kidnapped three people.
Spoiler:
These men are most likely hired thugs used to bring more workers to the lumber camps of the Great Combination Road.
Joey:
Spoiler:
Don't they have any healers at the camp who could take care of Eldon? Are they too expensive? How long ago was the attack that wounded him? Do the elves use any special weapons?
Bodan:
Joey
Spoiler:
Bo-Dan will loosen or cut the bindings on the three unconscious people so that when they do awake they will be able to escape easily.She will Not wake them up at this point though. She will, if able, check their injuries to insure that none are serious. If they are fine, she will then stealthily make her way close enough to thugs to properly gauge their
-seeming strength,
-weapons close to hand,
-level of intoxication
-and who appears to be the leader among them.
-weapons close to hand,
-level of intoxication
-and who appears to be the leader among them.
Escape Artist?=27
Heal=21
Move Silently=8
Hide=20
Spot?=14
Sense Motive?=17
Hranos:
Spoiler:
They would not waste valuable money for the wellfare of replacable workers. Eldon was wounded a few weeks ago. The elves are more prone to using magic.
Bo-dan:
Spoiler:
There are four men, the loudest seems to be the leader, and he is the only one carrying a weapon (a club). They are all extremely drunk at the moment, and you are surprised they haven't passed out yet.
Bo-dan:
** spoiler omitted **
Joey
Spoiler:
Assuming the three people are not seriously injured? Bo-Dan will use her advantage of surprise and leap out with a flying kick to the head of the 'leader'.
Hit=9 (+surprise? or is it against flat footed?)
Dam=9
She is furious and is not pulling her punches, she means business.
Hit=9 (+surprise? or is it against flat footed?)
Dam=9
She is furious and is not pulling her punches, she means business.
Bo-dan:
Spoiler:
You dispatch the leader, and gain initiative over the drunks.
Bo-dan:
** spoiler omitted **
Joey
Spoiler:
Two more attacks
Hit=8, Dam=9
Hit=23, Dam=9
Hit=8, Dam=9
Hit=23, Dam=9
Bo-dan:
Spoiler:
You dispose of another two drunks.
The final drunk wobbles away from you, but stumble in the underbrush, and falls down, knocking himself out. The four fools dispatched, you can now focus on the captives. One is a stuningly beautiful elf. She has a large cut running down the left side of her face. Another is a male human, who is covered in bruises. The final is another human, a male. He seems much younger than the other, probably mid-twenties. You cannot find any physical marks on him. (They are all still alive)
The final drunk wobbles away from you, but stumble in the underbrush, and falls down, knocking himself out. The four fools dispatched, you can now focus on the captives. One is a stuningly beautiful elf. She has a large cut running down the left side of her face. Another is a male human, who is covered in bruises. The final is another human, a male. He seems much younger than the other, probably mid-twenties. You cannot find any physical marks on him. (They are all still alive)
Bo-dan:
** spoiler omitted **
Joey
Spoiler:
First Bo-Dan will tie up the fool who knocked himself out, she intends to question him later (she was going to leave one alive anyway ;-)
Then she apply her heal check to the three captives. Can she use the previous Heal check or you need new ones? If new, here are a few rolls
Heal=15
Heal=13
Heal=12
She will treat them in the order they seem most injured, so starting with the female elf obviously. She is not trying to wake them up at the moment though and will allow them to continue their healing sleep if possible. She will also take her time and check the cart and bodies to see if she finds anything interesting.
Then she apply her heal check to the three captives. Can she use the previous Heal check or you need new ones? If new, here are a few rolls
Heal=15
Heal=13
Heal=12
She will treat them in the order they seem most injured, so starting with the female elf obviously. She is not trying to wake them up at the moment though and will allow them to continue their healing sleep if possible. She will also take her time and check the cart and bodies to see if she finds anything interesting.
BoDan:
Spoiler:
All the bodies are treated correctly. In the cart, you find what seems to be possesion of the kidnapped. An amazingly beautiful elven blade, 5 gold, and a pearl necklace are found in one bag. Another bag holds 2 copper, rations, and a rusty dagger. The final holds only a ring and 1 silver.