Wrath of the River King

[Yomi]

For Pat

Spoiler:

Yomi slashes the door with his scythe. He decides against climbing considering his limp.

[pat512]

Beside the pond:

Spoiler:

Cyrus, you see Yomi go to attack the millhouse door with his scythe

[pat512]

Catriana:

Spoiler:

The Reeve turns to you. "A portal in the pond? That's hard to believe. But you killed these fey, so you've earned the benefit of the doubt -- unless it just brings more fey incursions on us. They didn't come into town to make trouble before all this --" he waves vaguely, "-- happened. I'll give you three more days. If you're going to the Feywild, you'll be back by then or not at all. As for releasing a confessed murderer, there is no chance unless you find firm evidence of his innocence."

You think the Reeve has some concealed motive here, but what that would be is beyond you.

[pat512]

Pond-divers:

Spoiler:

You have begun a skill challenge to overcome the rapids. The primary skills are Athletics and Acrobatics, though you may make a case for others. You're in fast-moving water, with logs flowing downriver, and many moss-covered rocks (or underwater rocks) to be banged against. Actions.

[JZ's Bren]

Spoiler:

I do not try to fight the current. I try to avoid big rocks. When the rapid slows, I try to swim for the shore.

Athletics 14

[pat512]

Bren wrote:

** spoiler omitted **

Spoiler:

1 success -- now the others take turns

[Eglantine Prakseda]

In the pond

Spoiler:

Eglantine allows the current to carry her, while trying to position herself to protect Elias and Scathath, knowing the her trained body can take more buffeting from the water than they may be able to survive. She aims for the river bank if possible, holding tight to Elias.

Acrobatics (1d20 10=28)

[Catriana Windrunner]

In the village:

Spoiler:

Catriana proceeds to Froderick's cell, asking the guard to let her some privacy. Sitting next to Froderick, she tells him quickly of the recent events.
"Good Froderick. I'm afraid the situation has become quite complicated. I can give you my word that my friends and me will do our best to release you from this place as soon as possible, and in any case we have a week to do it. Any further knowledge you could give me would be really appreciated, and will help you as well."

Afterwards, Catriana leaves Froderick's cell and runs back to the mill where her friends are.

Diplomacy checks (1d20+15=26, 1d20+15=32, 1d20+15=23)
Insight (1d20+10=18)

Also, up to the moment Catriana left the rest of the group, no one took a short rest, right ?

[Elias]

In the pond

Spoiler:

Both Athletics: Elias - 1d20+10=30, Scathach - 1d20+9=13 Elias powers through with the strength of a natural athlete. He hopes his beast companion is not too jolted by the whole experience.

[pat512]

In the pond:

Spoiler:

That's two successes -- Elias?

Catriana:

Spoiler:

Froderick is quite out of ideas.

Has anyone taken even a brief rest since the satyr fight (other than Elias)? I don't think so, but I'm not completely certain.

[pat512]

Pond-divers:

Spoiler:

That's three successes (I'm arbitrarily ruling that Scathach's doesn't count toward the challenge). Everybody's up to the surface of the river, dodging rocks and debris as best they can, but still not to the shore. You can try other skills, too.

[Catriana Windrunner]

In the village:

Spoiler:

Catriana hurries back toward the mill, hoping she could rest a bit there before proceeding with the adventure.

Catriana didn't take a short rest yet. Whoever will be next to her when he takes his short rest would get +4 hp to any healing surge he uses due to Song of Rest.

[Elias]

In the pond

Spoiler:

Nature 1d20+9=17 Using his experience of growing up in the woods and waterways of the elven lands, Elias judges the currents to try to guide his friends to safety. "This way!"

[Eglantine Prakseda]

Pond divers

Spoiler:

Eglantine uses her finely honed muscles to guide the party to shore via a complex route through the rocks.

Athletics (1d20 8=17)

[JZ's Bren]

Divers:

Spoiler:

Bren follows Elias' lead as best he can.

Athletics 31

[Yomi]

For Pat

Spoiler:

Yomi continues to slash at the door until it breaks.

[pat512]

Divers:

Spoiler:

Need two more successes. Failures have consequences, so we need to roll it out. Next two to post.

Pondside:

Spoiler:

Need Cyrus's reaction to Yomi's assault on the door.

Catriana:

Spoiler:

It's going to take a little while to get you back in, I'm afraid. Need to hear more from Cyrus and Yomi, at minimum.

[JZ's Bren]

Divers:

Spoiler:

Athletics 23

[Catriana Windrunner]

Pat

Spoiler:

Ok, i'll hold then.

[Eglantine Prakseda]

Divers

Spoiler:

Hand over hand, Eglantine works her way towards the shore, trying to find a safe passage.

Acrobatics (1d20 10=17)

[Cyrus the Mentalist]

Pondside:

Spoiler:

"Yomi, what's going on?" Cyrus yells as he chases behind Yomi to the door.

[pat512]

Status:

Divers are waiting on me, which might or might not happen tonight.

Catriana is letting time catch up with her.

Cyrus and Yomi are slowly interacting.

[pat512]

Pondside:

Spoiler:

Yomi, disregarding Cyrus's question, hacks enough through the door to force an entry.

Divers:

Spoiler:

Sorry for delay; will try to catch you up tomorrow. Today got away from me.

[pat512]

Divers:

Spoiler:

First, each of you (including Scathach) make a DC7 Endurance check or take 11 damage from exposure to the frigid water.

With the skill of Elias and Eglantine, you reach a pool in a bend of the river, where the current is less fierce, and are able to reach dry land, more or less. At this point, a horn sounds deep in the woods, ten quick muffled notes. The water of the river begins to boil and bubble. Map coming soon. The area you are in at the moment is mud.

[Eglantine Prakseda]

Divers

Spoiler:

Endurance (1d20 3=4)

With a shudder, Eglantine sits down, wrapping her arms around herself and realising just how cold she is.

Can I use second wind? She's on 8hp. Feckless girl.

[pat512]

Eglantine Prakseda wrote:

Divers** spoiler omitted **

Spoiler:

Yes, you have time for Second Wind

[Eglantine Prakseda]

Divers

Spoiler:

Although she looks a little better, it's clear that Eglantine could use some help.

"That bear has paws bigger than plates. And the cold water is just the finishing touch. Some day I need to learn to stop and think a bit," A broad grin brightens her face.
"Hey - someday. Probably not this one though."

She's blooded, at 18hp, but that will have to do for now.

[Yomi]

Cyrus the Mentalist wrote:

Pondside:

** spoiler omitted **

"Cyrus! You surprised me. There is something inside. And I suspect that it is related to our mission."

[Elias]

Divers

Spoiler:

Elias - 1d20+3=14
Scáthach - 1d20+3=15

Hauling themselves out, Scáthach and Elias catch their breath. "Eglantine, are you alright?" Elias asks.

[JZ's Bren]

Divers:

Spoiler:

Endurance :1d20+10=12

Bren emerges from the water hunched over and shivering, a stark contrast to his usual swaggering self.

"Damn it! Why did I have to touch that stone? Eggers, you don't look well. Wait ... that sound. They know we're here!"

The warrior grasps his waraxe, which miraculously was not torn away from him in the rapids.

Was I able to keep my pack?

[Cyrus the Mentalist]

pondisde:

Spoiler:

I will aid Yomi in breaking down the door and follow him inside.
1d20=18 to aid another (Yomi) in breaking down the door.

[Eglantine Prakseda]

Divers

Spoiler:

"I'll be fine as long as nothing hits me for a bit. Bren, my lamb, do us all a favour and just shut up if talking starts."

Her affectionate tone robs the words of offense and she holds her hand out to him. "Help me up will you? I'm frozen."

[pat512]

In the mill:

Spoiler:

A young boy steps out of the shadows, and a breeze rushes through the mill, banging the shutters. "What are you doing in my house?" says the boy. He can’t be much more than 12 years old, unless he’s an especially tall halfling. His eyes are as blue as cornflowers, or flax.

Divers:

Spoiler:

No, you didn't lose any gear. Thanks to succeeding at all the skill checks. Still working on prepping combat.

[Elias]

Divers

Spoiler:

"The Wild Hunt..." Elias mutters to himself in an almost reverie like state.

[Yomi]

In the Mill

Spoiler:

"Boy, do you live here? Speak quickly. There are nasty things walking about... us excluded."

[pat512]

In the mill:

Spoiler:

The boy looks aggressively at the intruders. "Where is my father?" Then, after a pause, looks at Yomi, "Can you swim in that armor?"

I'm bringing Catriana in now

Catriana:

Spoiler:

You arrive back at the mill. None of your companions is in sight, but the door to the millhouse has been shattered.

You're now with the mill group, or close enough.

[Yomi]

In the Mill

Spoiler:

"Look boy. I've been fighting monsters the whole day and I don't have time to talk trivia. Now, what is the name of your father and perhaps we can sort this out?"

Gotta leave for the office.

[pat512]

Yomi wrote:

In the Mill** spoiler omitted **

Spoiler:

"My father is the miller!"

[JZ's Bren]

Divers:

Spoiler:

Eglantine Prakseda wrote:

Divers ** spoiler omitted **

Bren helps Eglantine up. "Alright, you do the talking. But no way am I putting down my axe."

[Eglantine Prakseda]

Divers

Spoiler:

"I know you better than that Bren. Do you sleep with that thing under your pillow?"

Putting a bold face on her state of health, she looks around. "What was that about the Wild Hunt Elias?"

[Elias]

Divers

Spoiler:

"Nothing, it may be nothing. Tales, stories. Let us not be too hasty.

[Catriana Windrunner]

In the mill:

Spoiler:

Catriana enters through the shattered door while Yomi is talking to the boy. Not understanding exactly what happened and where are the other three group members, she doesn't say anything yet.

[Cyrus the Mentalist]

In the mill:

Spoiler:

Cyrus asks the boy, "Do you mean Froderick is your father?" and now to Catriana and Yomi, "I don't remember Froderick mentioning anything about a son, do you two?" Cyrus waits for a reply and the asks more questions, "Does the reeve know you are here alone, I can't imagine he would jail your father and leave a young man to fend for himself?"

[Cyrus the Mentalist]

In the Mill:

Spoiler:

I have a "make whole" ritual that I will attempt to repair the door with once we figure out whats going on here with this boy.

[pat512]

Mill:

Spoiler:

"Yes, Froderick is my father." There was no previous mention of a child. "Are you the new owners of the mill?" Then, peering at Catriana, "You're an odd one -- what Court do you belong to?"

Divers:

Spoiler:

My apologies for the continued delays. I'm leaving in the morning on an overseas trip, and it's been a timesink. I'm going to rule that time is running differently in the Feywild and give the others a chance to catch up somewhat, if I'm unable to get the encounter started before then. So please hang tight.

[Catriana Windrunner]

In the mill:

Spoiler:

Catriana quickly tries to recollect whatever she remembers about the feywild and any mention of courts there.
History check: 1d20+10=20

[pat512]

Catriana Windrunner wrote:

In the mill:** spoiler omitted **

Spoiler:

It's actually Arcana, but that's the same roll for you. Different fey powers hold courts, with attendants and such. Think in terms of our sidhe, but without the Seelie/Unseelie dichotomy -- lots more.

[Yomi]

In the Mill

Spoiler:

"Do you have other relatives, boy? If you're Froderick's child, then who's taking care of you?

[Catriana Windrunner]

In the mill:

Spoiler:

Catriana answers the child: "I'm from the Windrunner court. You probably haven't heard of it, as it's pretty small so far. Which courts do you know? Which one is your mother's?"
Bluff;Diplomacy (1d20+10=15, 1d20+14=16)

[pat512]

In the mill:

Spoiler:

At Catriana's question, the boy seems to become nervous. "Can you protect me from the fey? The River King’s servants are goblins and ogres and much, much worse."

You realize the boy acts much older than his apparent age, and speaks with an antiquated vocabulary. Whatever he is, he’s not human, and likely enchanted or fey.