The dark mass of the Arthfell Forest looms just to the north of the trade route, an ominous wall of unbroken green and shadow. Not far ahead is the famous Travelers Stop Inn, the only safe refuge in the area. Rounding a bend in the road, you see a trio of mangy dogs playing a gruesome tug-of-war with some sort of humanoid corpse. Their snarls and barks break the silence of the otherwise calm afternoon.
This was the first time Conrad was on the road, he had been a quiet scribe working to translate dusty and old, but very interesting, tomes for his master.
Unfortunately the eldery elf, Rada, had passed away, leaving Conrad withouth a job. He had however left him Pearl, a young mule, with all of it's necessary gear.
Nothing else to do, he had decided to start traveling the world. He had gathered enough knowledge from old books and ancient scrolls, the wide world out there had even more knowledge.
Gathering up his meager belongings he went out into the wide world.
Not long thereafter he had teamed up with another group of travelers, they were also about to travel along the Arthfell forest. A forest full of dangerous animals, and there is safety in numbers, so they all had readily agreed to join and travel together.
Conrad was walking behind Kelera, who was daydreaming again, while he was taking in all the sights and smells. Picking up an odd spellcomponent here and there and making mental notes of all the animals and trees he had seen today. His mule Pearl was trodding along, tired from a long walk, he hoped he could give her a nice meal at the famous Travelers Stop Inn. Give her a good rubdown, and get an early evening of writing down his findings of today.
Conrad is looking at the sky, trying to find that elusive bird he's read about, it's supposed to be flying around here. It's feathers make great spell components, but he hasn't seen one all day.
Kelera snaps him to attention as she warns him about the dogs.
"Those dogs look horrible ... what are they eating ... it ... it looks vaguely humanoid."
Iflen has been walking along in silence for most of journey, partly because he was feeling guilty at leaving his mother behind but mostly because he was trying to think up the perfect pick up line to seduce Kelara. She was the only reason he joined this group in the first place! A stuck up elf who seems to picking up every little twig on the way and a frail old man who looks like he's going to collapse, yeah perfect companions he thinks to himself sarcastically. These two would'nt last two minutes in the sitting duck he thinks smugly.
God she's beautiful is all Iflen can think as they round the bend in the road. Kelara's comment snaps him out of his trance like state as he looks at the dogs. hmm only seen one dog before with rabies, damn dog went crazy, still just a dog though.
Iflen smirks at Conrad's comment,"Whats the matter elf man? Afraid its gonna eat you next?" he then pushes in front of Kelara and says "Don't worry m'lady I'll protect you from the savage beasts" and gives her a short bow.
In the back of his mind he's thinking about Onyx, his raven.
"That bird should have seen this and warned me ... he's probably out in the forest looking for food again."
Mentally contacting Onyx, Conrad beckons the raven to return to his side.
Looking at the brawny fellow with amusement, he replies.
"Eaten ... no ... Poisoned with rabies ... yes ..."
The dogs are wild, diseased but not rabid.
OOC:
I'll be offline soon. Later, please give me initiative rolls in case you choose to attack.
The dogs do not seem notice you or care at this distance. You can probably get as close as 15' before they respond to you.
If you choose to enter combat, you get a surprise attack.
You can also wait for the dogs to finish fighting over their meal.
"Pfft! A dogs a dog I say. Watch this." Iflen strides towards the dogs pulling the most manly pose he can think of. He doesnt walk straight up to them but keeps to the left a little, trying to walk straight past them.
Same.
The young sorcerer boldly strides down the dirt road. He is aware of the danger of coming too close to the dogs, so stays slightly off-center, as if to indicate to the canines he wants no trouble.
The dogs put an end to their quarreling when they notice the swiftly approaching human. No way are they going to let such a fine meal get stolen by some impetuous two-legger! They bare their jaws and charge.
OOC: Ilfen's approach loses the party's surprise round.
Initiatives:
Dog #1
Dog #2
Dog #3
I'll also take the liberty of rolling for Conrad and Ilfen:
Conrad
Ilfen
Initiative order is:
Dog 3
Kelara Monderskan
Conrad Neficam
Ama Freewater
Dog 1
Dog 2
Iflen Wolfheart
Dog 3 moves 15' and bites at Ilfen
Attack MISS
The rest of the party may state their actions, in any order.
Everyone but Iflen can assume that they are at least 20' away from the dogs.
Ama : You do not see or hear any other dogs in the vicinity.
Ama's sling stone smacks onto the hindquarters of a dog. It turns tail and dashes into the forest, yelping all the way.
Conrad is still busy calming Pearl.
It seems as if the dogs are just guarding their food, whatever it may be.
Iflen is about to be bitten by the second dog when Kelara's Ray of Frost strikes true just in the nick of time. The mongrel howls in pain and runs off as well.
Conrad's raven caws, sounding suspiciously like its laughing.
"Damn!!" yells Iflen. Mangy thing! thinks Iflen You dont know who your dealing with!
Iflen jumps back slightly and weaves his hands symbolically in the air before plunging his right hand towards the dog and shouting Hassafle! munatre! bursts of acid shoot from his finger tips towards the dog.
Acid sizzles on the mongrel's already mange-ravaged face. The beast writhes and howls pitifully on the ground, then makes it escape as best as it can half-blinded.
The forest is quiet; the only sound is that of flies buzzing on the savaged carcass the dogs have now abandoned. It is the fresh corpse of a hobgoblin. The tatters of a chain shirt hang from its torn torso. A broken longsword lies on the road not far away. His belt pouch is turned inside out and the belt holds an empty dagger sheath. The corpse bears slashing and stabbing wounds in addition to the biting and tearing from the dogs.
OOC: 26 XP for every PC. Whee !
Conrad examines the corpse thoroughly, softly speaking to himself.
"Hmmm ... I've never seen the anatomy of a hobgoblin up close like this before."
"Interesting ... they have almost the same anatomy as we do ..."
He's startled by Onyx as he descends upon the corpse.
With a loud caw, Onyx lands on the battered corpse.
"Are the eyes still there ?"
"No, alas for you Onyx, the creature has been dead for quite some time."
"Now please stay close, we're almost at the inn."
Iflen looks with disgust but mild curiosity at the body, he's never seen a dead body in this state before. Sure he's seen the odd dead lumberjack carted out of the forest but nothing like this.
He does'nt want to seem unerved by the body though so says confidently "Well if it was a hobgoblin at least it deserved it!" and proceeds to kick the body. "Wonder if he had any coin left" he mutters and starts to look on the floor around the body and in the coin purse.
"Basterd was'nt just a hobgoblin he was a cheap one too!" says Iflen and throws the coin purse across the floor. "Shall we get going? I could use a drink and the Inn can't be far off now"
Yeah the sooner we get there the sooner I can get round to sweet talking Kelara, a few drinks down her and she'll be putty in my hands! better not try the magic though she's got some power of her own, might not work thinks Iflen and throws a charming smile at Kelara "Coming?"
If I can remember right, smiths mark their weapons with a glyph or rune or some sort of mark, don't they?
"The nine hells if I know" says Iflen "but if its a magic gylph or rune this might help"
Iflen clicks his fingers twice and swirls them in a half circle before muttering "Fluminera"
His eyes flash blue for a second and he holds out his hand to take the sword and examine it.
"Oh by the way, nice shot with the sling before old man that was some throw"
The sword was a mundane item of the very lowest quality. The craftsmanship was so bad the smith was probably too ashamed to leave his mark.
Finding nothing of interest on the deceased hobgoblin's remains, the party continues down the well worn road. A few miles later they finally reach their destination.
The Travelers Stop Inn is tucked beneath the eaves of the forest. A stable stands nearby. A hitching post at the front of the inn has several mounts, and more than one farm wagon sits in the yard. A large red sign above the door proclaims the name of the inn in gilt letters. Above this sign and stretching across the front of the building is a banner with artistic lettering stating “The Traveling Exhibition of Doctor Phineus Krane, Professor of Antiquities and Master of Shroud Artistry.” A number of colorful tents have been set up at the rear of the inn yard, apparently for this exhibition.
Evening is drawing on as the party arrives, and several curators are securing the tents for the night and locking up their wares in large trunks. The patrons of the exhibit are either dispersing to their homes or heading to the taproom for dinner and drinks
Business is brisk as the long shadows of evening slant through the taproom’s open windows. A bald, red-faced man wearing an apron works behind the bar and several young girls carry platters of food and drinks to various tables. Most of the crowd seems to be local farmers and traveling merchants, although clustered around one table sits a rough-looking group of mercenaries, one of whom is a short, black-cloaked figure who might be a goblin. They huddle over their drinks in quiet conversation, occasionally raising a head to eye the crowd. At a table nearby, a bespectacled scholarly looking fellow discusses a piece of decorated linen spread across the tabletop with a small group of onlookers.
The innkeeper laughs heartily (but not condescendingly) at Ama's proposal.
"Well this a rare honor. It's not everyday we have an expert drop by our lonely little tavern out here by the woods. And I would take up your offer if most of my stock weren't so shoddy. Yet I don't want ye leaving feeling that we didn't have something for even a most discerning traveler like yerself. Here, let me fill yer kingly cup with Kortos Dark. I had it shipped all the way from the Kortos Isles, you know."
The drink is a smoky, full-bodied ale with a hint of berries and walnuts. When offered payment the innkeeper declines.
Conrad tells Onyx to stay near the inn, and be in the stable the following morning.
He then stables his mule and takes off her packs.
"Just a minute Pearl, I'll be right back."
Conrad enters the Inn after Ama and waits patiently while he talks to the innkeeper. He looks around the inn, most notably at the spectacled fellow.
After Ama gets his free drink, Conrad beckons him.
"Good sir, I have stabled my mule in your stables and I would like some feed for her. I'd also like some lodgings for the night, preferably a private room."
"After I have settled I'd like a hot meal, what are your specialties ?"
A young man with a lute sits down next the hearth and performs a song ...
"Twas Fireday morn when we set sail
And we were not far from the land
When the captain, he spied a lovely mermaid
With a comb and a glass in her hand
"Good sir, I have stabled my mule in your stables and I would like some feed for her. I'd also like some lodgings for the night, preferably a private room.""After I have settled I'd like a hot meal, what are your specialties ?"
"Ah, sir elf, please take a seat and make yerself comfortable. My stable boy will take care of yer steed and one of my maids will take yer order. She'll tell ye about the tasty dishes we have on offer, and not one of them cold, I guarantee! And I must apologize, we have no private room tonight. We've been very busy of late, you see."
The musician continues playing
"O the ocean's waves will roll
And the stormy winds will blow
While we poor sailors go skipping to the top
And the land lovers lie down below, below, below
And the land lovers lie down below
As Kelara stands near the young lute player she feels something tugging on her cloak. She looks down to find the goblin from the mercenary group behind her. He winks suggestively and grins.
"Ah, sir elf, please take a seat and make yerself comfortable. My stable boy will take care of yer steed and one of my maids will take yer order. She'll tell ye about the tasty dishes we have on offer, and not one of them cold, I guarantee! And I must apologize, we have no private room tonight. We've been very busy of late, you see."
"Ah .. hmm .. No private rooms .. oh dear .. Is there another place I might find some peace and quiet ?
"In your fine establishment ofcourse, I'm willing to pay a little extra for your trouble."
"Ah .. hmm .. No private rooms .. oh dear .. Is there another place I might find some peace and quiet ?
"In your fine establishment ofcourse, I'm willing to pay a little extra for your trouble."
The innkeep considers this for a while. Then he replies, "aye, sir elf, aye. You can have my private quarters for the night. But you'll have to wait for me to prepare it, which won't be until after I've closed the taproom."
Swallowing her instincts, she tactfully pretends to ignore his advance and asks, quite politely (which makes her very proud): "Yes?"
The goblin's grin turns into a smug smile. He points to the tavern exit while still clutching Kelara's cloak.
"Eh?" grunts the goblin, confused. "No talking! We go now!"
The goblin's party does not seem to notice what is happening.