/vx/ - Videogames and Paranormal

>>134441
>>134442
Whiskers tilts his head.
"Maybe you got some ice area of effect attack instead?"

Whiskers' ears spike at hearing his native tongue being spoken, turning to the other cat.
>"Salutations, fellow feline. It is nice to see a familiar face."

>>134447
That sounds awesome but does it have decorations engraved in it, as well as two chambers to hold everburning torches?

>>134445
The Dwarf offers to resize and refinish the new suit free of charge, provided that you give him the old suit.
"It'd only take me a few hours. Come and get it in the morning."

>>134448
"Hailstones. Same price as the fireball, if you can pay up front." The wizard says
>familiar face
>haha le funny jester joek
>"Purrrrr, greetings, stranger."
The familiar replies, gazing at him with its witch-like glare

>>134450
Brolaz accepts and hands over his current suit of banded mail.

>>134452
"Alright, come back in the morning." The dwarf says, as begins to hack the trinkets off of the old suit.
>>134436
You arrive at a circle in the woods, not far from town. A man in a white robe prays before an engraved stone.

>>134453
"Greetings" I dismount Misty and greet him.

>>134451
Completely intended.
Meow agrees to it, remembering those scary hellhounds that shot fire with their mouths, giving him chills and fishing the necessary money for it.

Being honest to himself, the cat's rather unnatural gaze was a bit unsettling, but her feline shape and knowledge on the language puts him at ease.
>"Is there something you seek from me?"

>>134454
The half-elf does not respond immediately, as he is busy in prayer.
The turns to see Chad upon his magestic white horse, a mix of awe, confusion, and brief anger cross his face
"A Valenar! I never thought I'd ever see one in my life." He cries
His face grows dark briefly
"Who. Are. You?"
>>134455
The feline brushes against him unsolicited, completely violating his personal bubble.
>"Purrrrrrrrrr, nothing in particular. Just curious, you know. i haven't seen very many of your kind around these parts..."
The witch-cat replies

>>134456
Whiskers' eyes narrow slightly at the brushing, a mix between puzzlement and suspicion.
>"You seem to be eager to know more from what I'm sensing."

>>134456
"I am Chaddy Daddy of the Pussy Kissed Mist, a druid from the mountains of my motherland."

"I come here seeking wisdom and knowledge, do you know anything of the witch-wood?"

>>134457
The witch-cat seems nonchalant, casually molesting him for a few more minutes before she hops up onto a bookshelf.
>"Purrrrrrrrr... Just curious. I prefer to size-up all the cats in my territory. You're special, it seems... At first i thought you were another one of those.."
It says, hissing at the end
>>134458
Hmmmph. A mountain druid you say? And what of this lovely lady?" He gestures at Misty, who snorts in greeting
>>134459
"I'm Avarthel, brother of the Keepers of Eth. The Witchwood is our territory..." He grumbles.
"Or at least it was, until those savages came along..."

>>134460
That last bit sparked the tibbit kitty's natural curiosity, ear flickering to reflect this.
>"Another one of those?"

>>134461
The witch-cat glares down at him, with her golden eyes
>"Another one of those pestilent sprites!"
She hisses

>>134460
"She is great and she is 8 years old, i couldn't ask for a better companion" He says after having dismounted and he scratches her neck while speaking to him.
"Do you mind telling what went down in witch-wood?"

>>134452
You arrive at what looks like a normal church of Pelor. The afternoon light shines through the stained glass windows into the main hall.

>>134462
By this point, Whiskers was hooked on this intriguing aspect, pupils lightly widening.
>"What did they do?"

>>134463
"I'm sure you wouldn't..." The half-elf mumbles, looking at the horse, failing to hide his jealousy
"Hobgoblins have swarmed the place. We used to gather once a week; now we're lucky if we can perform our rites once a month." The Druid mumbles.
"What's worse, they've bean slashing and burning even the tallest, strongest, oldest trees in the wood. Those wolves are up to something. They're preparing for war..."
>>134465
The witch-cat arches her back
>"Grrrrrr... Not three weeks ago did that thot move into my territory. She's made this side of the town her own, being doted on by travelers and alley cats alike. I'd have half a heart to know her down a peg if my master hadn't forbidden it."
The cat is visibly angry
"Now, now, Mittens. What did I tell you about fighting with other pets?" The Wizard chides
"Don't mind my familiar. She can be strange at times.." The wizard says, seemingly oblivious to the conversation.
"How's this, I'll throw in the potions of Invisibility and Cat's Grace on the house. not like I'm using them for anything...."

>>134466
(Cat thot, huh,) Whiskers thought to himself, intrigued yet understanding the eldritch feline didn't know much else.

Glancing over at the wizard, he nods. "I'll gladly accept them. I need anything I can get in order to stop the threat."

>>134466
"Hmm, i wonder what you could possibly be referring to" as he begins to move his fingers through Misty's mane with a grin.
"How long has been like this for?"
"Do they have a base built in there?"

>>134467
"Good luck with your travels, Sir Whiskers...?" The Wizard says, a hint of confusion in his voice near the end.

"... Those familiars get weirder every year... Just what are they summoning at the academies these days?" You hear him mumble as you go

>>134468
"They've been swarming for the past few weeks. But the really violent attacks haven't started until the last week." He says
"I haven't been on that side of the Forrest in the past month.. Soranna has kept me here brewing potions for her troops.." he mumbles something unintellible

>>134469
With a departing nod, Whiskers exit the scene.

(Now that I got something that can technically go against a sizable army of minions, I should see if I can find any exceptional individuals in that camp I should be extra wary about before evening comes and I go to the Inn to meet my dear friend.)
With that being said, Whiskers asks around for any witnesses of the more recent raids that have witnessed such powerful and unique individuals like that goblin leader.
[1d20+12 = 28]<Gather Information Roll

>>134470
"What other things have they done? How much of the woods have they stole and how much have they burned?" His face changes to a concerned one.
"Do you know any other druids that live here?"

>>134472
"I can't really say for sure. I've had to stay on this side of the forest with my initiates."
>other Druids
His face goes dark
"Beware of the southwest reaches, for that way is in the path of the Ghost Lord. Tread not in his path, or you'll surely be doomed." he says

>>134473
"Understood, is there any potions that you are willing to sell?"

>>134474
The Druid opens is coat
"... Barkskin, Cure Light wounds, Lesser restoration,
and Neutralize Poison... i can brew potions of third level or lower, but it will take me at least a day." He replies
"50 gold for the healing potion. 750 for the antidote. 300 for any of the others."

>>134475
Misty raises her ears towards the half-elf.
"What potions can you brew?"

How much gold do i have?

>>134477

I don't think you've decided how to split the gold you've collected so far
Your assets are on your character sheet.
>>134476
"Druid spells. Same as you." He says
He eyes Misty
"I'll tell you what, since you're on your way to the Witcheood, I'll give you the healing potion for free if you let me let that Valenar of yours, if only for a minute." He says, holding out the red potion

>>134478
Yeah we should probably do that.
"I will take the single lesser restoration, my good man."
He turns to Misty to see her response and she makes a grunt.
"She is up for spending the night with you, take good care of her and i will be back here at the morning twilight."

>>134479
The Old Druid's ears perk up
"For that, you can have them both." he says, tossing Chad both vials
He whistles towards the woods, and four children, two human and two half elf, come running out, carrying baskets of flowers
"My initiates and I will take good care of her tonight, much better than those dusty old stables down at Delora’s." He says gleefully
"We'll have her back to you in the morning. Take care now." He says, chiding over the children who've already blanketed misty in floral wreaths
She seems to be appreciating the attention.

He gives Misty a goodbye by scratching at the beginning of her tail before saying goodbye to the half-elf.
"Have a good night you two" as he walks away waving and laughing.

And with that, I think I'm going to end it for tonight. I'll revisit Bro and Whiskers's plot points either in the server or on Friday.
Next session we'll begin day two, and the real adventure will begin.

Until next time guys. I had fun thus weekend.
Feel free to leave any questions or comments in the original thread.

>>134483
Thank you for hosting this, all of that preparation has sort of payed off. I enjoyed it.

>>134484
That's nice to hear.

>>134483
>>134484
Same.

>>134464
I look for the dude to give my money to

>>134487
I'll finish your saga during the week or on Friday. Then you can learn all about Lifting For Pelor.

>>134488
lol ok

I will make note that the dwarf did offer to buy back those shortswords for 600 gold each.

>>134491
>one sword for 600gp
Christ on a bike that is a ridiculous amount

>>134492
They're both +1 magic weapons.

I'm going to need you guys to sort out what you're buying, what you're selling, what you gained, and who's carrying what before the start of the next session.

So far nobody has taken the initiative to keep track of inventory. Y'all need to communicate.

I'll give you all the time between sessions to strategize.

So far I got:

Loot from the Marauder encounter:
>Two +1 Shortswords
>A Heavy Mace of masterwork quality
>A set of +1 Banded Mail
>pouch with 355 gp
>a dozen longswords (SOLD)

Sales:
>Captain Soranna offered you 500 gold for the longswords, which you agreed to.

Purchases:
>Whiskers wanted to spend 375 gp on an arcane scroll of Fireball from , and paid another 375 up front for am arcane scroll of Hailstones

Barters:
>Morlin Coalhewer, the town smith, accepted Brozal's old set of banded mail as payment to refinish his new +1 Suit
>Avarthel and the Old Ones (or should I say the Young Ones) are gladly tending to Mistly for the night, providing the equivalent of quality stabling. Apparently the young half-elf considers time with the Valenar to be its own payment.

Gifts:
>You procured some "free" potions, Speaker Norro Wiston having put in a good word for you around town (I probably should have made y'all work harder for that; don't expect any more free shit without good Dimplomacy checks and proper roleplay). You got potions of Invisibility and Cat's Grace from Sertieren the Wise; and Barkskin, Lesser Restoration and Cure Light Wounds from Avarthel.
>Wiston also offered you each a night at the Told Bridge Inn

Offers/intentions:
>I made it clear that there are indeed mounts available for purchase in the town. Not to spoil it, but you will all absolutely want horses on this adventure
>Morlin Coalhewer has offered to buy either/both of those +1 shortswords for 600 gold each. He seems to be one of the wealthier men in town
>inb4 (((dwarves)))
>Brozal intended to make a large donation to the local temple of Pelor. I still need him to specify how much of the party's loot he took, how much of the purchases got paid for. He can donate as much as he pleases, but the party needs to agree what cut of the gold is his.

This is the only time I'm going to sort it out for you. From now on, you're going to need to come up with inventory posts and declare how you're sharing equipment as you put it on your sheets. If things haven't been communicated to me clearly and/or they're not on the sheets, I'm going to consider inventory gains omitted.
Remember, although I didn't do the one-shot, you're all assumed to have entered this game having already known eachother, and your common goal so far has been to find the hidden treasure in Vraath Keep in the Witchwood. You now have an additional goal centered around stopping/investigating the hobgoblins rallying in the Witchwood, requisitioned by Norro Wiston and Captain Soranna.

As for game-time, you've only got a couple hours of daylight left in day one. I'll do Brozal and Whiskers's cinematic RP when I have the time.

And for the record, I will consider Brozal's donations as tithes for his church. The Shining Light of Pelor also has its own decorations for charity, since I'm using The Complete Champion, so don't think I'm not counting your donations.

>>134508
It's all of the GP Brozal was paid. A.k.a. 500 GP.

Who's keeping the shortswords?

Pic is me getting into character as I realize I might have to roleplay every cat in the setting.

Brozal, Whiskers, I'd like to do your things today, so we can start the next session at the beginning of day 2.

I would like to begin early in the morning on Saturday. I cannot afford to play all of Sunday like last week.

Chad, I'm assuming you'll have retired to the Inn.

Chad, what do you have in your inventory?

Okay, the local Shrine Of Pelor is a humble building: A small temple of the same fieldstone-and-wood construction used by many other buildings in the town.

Brozal trudges along the path towards the temple unarmored, having dropped off his armor for refinishing at Morlin’s Smithy. He carries a sack of coins and two gem-encrusted Wakizashi by his side.

The temple just 50 ft or so from one of the Town Watchposts, and the Watchmen glare at you as you pass. They chatter to eachother in voices to hushed and far for Brozal to hear in-character, but I feel like posting anyway.
>"An Orc slipped past! Sound the alarm!"
>"No, wait, I the courier just said one's been commissioned by captain Soranna."
>"She commissioned an Orc? Are we really that desperate?"
>"Shhh, he's coming. Stand watch in case he tries anything."
>"I've got my eyes on that bastard..."
>*loads crossbow*
Despite this,
I totally didn't mean to do a more difficult confrontation when you were entering the town for the first time... I absolutely didn't omit that that part because I was exhausted from DMing combat all day...

Brozal enters the temple without being shot. It's quite a lovely place, though not ornate in any particular way. The windows shine the last of the evening light into the room.

>>134522
I look for the treasurer

The Temple is mostly empty, there are a few scrolls on the walls depicting figures of knights on horses with lances or armored warriors smashing skeletons with maces, in glory to the god of strength.
It appears as though Brother Derny has been trying to motivate the local guards between preaching.
>>134523
You hear a feminine gasp come from around the corner as you turn.
"Halt, who goes there!" A deep (and loud) masculine voice, calls out, followed by a loud clang

"Brozal the Fire Bringer. I have come to donate gold."

Brozal rounds the corner and sees a stout old man, albeit a very muscular one, kneeling on one foot as he tries to get up off of a stool. Laying beside him appears to be what looks an enormous iron mace: the sound of the clanking. Two nuns, dressed in white robes, stand beside him, whispering fearfully in a language that Brozal cannot understand.
>>134525
The old Priest looks up across the temple at the Orc, the getting up as he does so. His expression appears fierce until he hears the name.
"... Brozal. Hmmph, I was told you'd come here. I take it your temple sent you here?" He replies.

>>134526
>the sound of the clanking
*the source of the clanging

>>134526
"Yes."

The old man appears to have been sweating, but quickly fixes himself up, straightening his robes, puffing out his broad chest and brandishing his holy symbol. He speaks deeply, but eloquently.
The nuns continue their whispers, but a wave of the hand silences them both.
>>134525
"Very well, charity is always appreciated here, especially in these troubled times." he says, perking up
>>134528
"And what would be your mission, brother? I take it you didn't travel all this way to appreciate the scenery."

>>134517
What time at?
>>134521
A bunch of weapons, a bedroll and a water flask or whatever.

>>134530
I'd like to start at maybe 8:30-9:00-ish, EST. The earlier we start, the more we'll be able to cover. I was hoping to get through at least four encounters per adventuring day (not necessarily combat), and at least one adventuring day per session.

>>134530
For your starting equipment I gave you a +2 Periapt of Wisdom and two Wilding claps.

>>134532
*Wilding Clasps

All three of those are leagues above what should be your item level... but they're within your WBL and should carry you for the adventure.

>>134529
"I am here to kill goblins." Brozal then dumps 427 GP onto the table.

>>134535
"Two kill goblins, you say?" The buff old man says, as he looks through the bag and pauses at fancy swords
"That's quite the odd mission to travel all this way for, but I can't say it isn't appreciated. Those savages have been wreaking havoc on all over lately. Merchants, farmers, woodsmen, and fisherman alike have been taken by those hordes. They've getting fiercer
and bolder every day; I can only imagine what's stirred them. They've been raiding these parts for centuries, but never this boldly, never in these numbers."
"The town guard are all but demoralized, and the townsfolk can't take much more of it..." He says, his weariness obvious, and not just from the oversized mace he was swinging earlier
"Word of you and your odd friends travelled here before you did. My alcyotes were even gossipping about a talking cat. Tell me, what did Wiston put you up to?"

>two
*To kill goblins
So many brainfarts today...

"To kill goblins."

>>134538
The human blinks twice
"... Very well then. Good luck with that." He says
"If you are ever in need of healing, our doors are always open." he continues, handing the sack to one of the nuns

>>134539
"I am in need of healing."

>>134540
The Cleric looks Brozal up and down, noticing the unarmored Orc's wounds.
"... Indeed you are. I'm surprised you're even standing with wounds like that."
He mutters something in an unknown language, brandishes his focus, reaches out towards your chest and taps you. A brief flash of white light erupts from his fingertips, and you feel your wounds close entirely.

Brozal is now just a couple points below full HP.

"Consider it thanks for your generosity towards our temple. Get some rest and you'll be ready for business in time for prayers (morning, for Pelorites)."

>>134541
Brozal will go sleep on the ground.

>>134542
Preferably outside the temple

>>134543
The old man looks annoyed.
"If you're going to meditate, do it in the courtyard out back." He calls out

"Ascetics.. always going the extra mile..." he mutters under his breath

>>134544
Brozal sleeps in the courtyard.

We can start whenever everyone is ready and responsive.

Whiskers elected to meet his cohort on the discord server (in part, since I wasn't exactly sure
Although interactions outside the thread are normally considered to be decanonized, I consider Whiskers meeting Princess Bagel to be "off-screen", occurring at night when the other PCs slept.
I still expect him to introduce Bagel properly in-character when he gets the chance, since he now all but controls the NPC. I have shown him Bagel's sheet and will upgrade/modify it as I see fit.
He may also rebuild his character to swap out the feats he requested earlier. Since he has elected not to attempt to attract followers at this point, no additional cats will follow him, but he may attempt to attract more at a later date.

END OF DAY ONE

______________________________________

DAY TWO BEGINNING

Chad would return to the grove of the Old Ones before dawn. I've taken the liberty of designating his spell prep ritual to occur at sunrise, since Ehlonna Epona is a sun goddess; if Chad's player would rather designate his daily prayer/meditation at another time, he may . He would traverse the woods without penalty, and find Misty sitting at the center of the stone ring covered in a blanket of flowers, with four children small sleeping peacefully beside her. He appears to be well-fed and rested, although perhaps a tad bit spoiled.
Avarthel, Keeper of Eth, the young half-elf Druid, is laying stones in a prayer ring and lighting some sort of incense. He smiles as Chad arrives, and invites him to join him for prayers.
At this point, Chad would spend an hour in meditation and prayer as the sun rises, and and his heart is refreshed with a new allottment of spells. As a vancian divine spellcaster, Chad may prepare any of the hundreds of spells on the Druid spell list that he is capable of casting, and I expect him to post his spell list as soon as he is ready. If he would prefer to instead roll with the selection of spells that I picked for him yesterday, that is fine as well. I will remind Chad's player that as a Druid, he is free to experiment with seemingly-useless or situational spells, since any of the spells he prepares can be spontaneously channeled into the ever-useful Summon Nature's Ally spell; complimented by his Ashbound and Augment Summoning feats.

Sir Brozal has squatted in the courtyard like a hobo accepted the accepted the hospitality of the temple of Pelor, he too instinctively awakens before sunrise (the light stinging him from his light sensitivity), and is offered to pray with Brother Derny and his two lovely acolytes.
Because I'm feeling Gygaxian, I'm going to make him roll a Fortitude save to see how sleeping on the ground without a bedroll effected him.
He would return to Morlin's Smithy shortly after to pick up his armor. Morlin has made good on his promise to refinish his looted armor, the banded mail now en-blazoned with symbols of the Dawnfather, with retina-burning continual flames lining the shoulders.

Whiskers would wake up in the room reserved for the party, and would dutifully go to the House of Sertieren the Wise. The old halfling answers the door groggily, having worked through the night scribing the requested scroll of Hailstones. He gives it to you with a yawn and mumbles something along the lines of "Tell your master I wish him good luck" before hobbling off to bed, evidently still mistaking Whiskers to be some strange familiar.
Mittens, the Witch-cat, glares at you as you leave, her golden eyes shining bright in the morning light.
Since Sharress is also a goddess of sunrise, I would assume that Whiskers prayers, should he choose to spend the time, would be completed at around the same time everyone else's would.

And none of y'all remembered to buy horses...

The party would meet at the Inn, early in the morning.
Anyone present may participate in dialogue as they wait for the other members to arrive.

>>134547
I'm here.
I will continue to use the list you made for me.

>>134548
Great.

I am here

Alright. I'm here, too.

Okay, let me check the maps for travel time... Brozal's waking speed in banded mail is 20 ft...

Did the party decide which way they were going first?

Okay Brozal will begin the morning by begging for bread in the town square. This happens after he fetches his armor from the smith and thanks said smith for his service. Brozal gifts the smith ten candles since he has no money.

>>134553
I'm going to the grove.

>>134553
>>134555
Whiskers would start to do the morning ritual of waking up, recovering his spells before following Chad along.
Misty would feel the slightest bit heavier as the kittyies hopped on her, ready to set sail.

>>134554
I was going to tip him with some gold but the candles will suffice.

>>134555
Trips checked.
I made note of that in >>134547 you would retrieve your horse around the same time that you prepare your spells.

Pardon the delay, I'm still figuring out the timeline of events...

The party moves as fast as its slowest member, which means you guys can travel about ~16 miles in one day, assuming you don't have any delays or obstacles. Dice roll says you travel along mostly farm fields with no immediate delay...

Now, if I recall correctly, you guys wanted to find Jorr before you explored the Witchwood?
>>134554
Brother Derny hands you a piece of bread and tells you not to make a scene. He then pats you on the back and sends you on your way.

I need to know if you guys are looking for Jorr.

>>134558
>>134559
iirc, Jorr's the druid, so yes.

>>134559
Yes.

>>134560
Jorr is a woodsman who knows the area.

Now, captain Soranna said this:
>If you take the Witch Trail, go left at the first big trail crossing; Jorr’s cabin is about seven miles in. Or, if you’re on the Dawn Way, take a right on a trail about nine miles from the forest edge. Jorr’s cabin is near the Blackwater.
You can either travel through the Witch Trail through the forest, or partly along the road of the Dawn Way.
Which way do you go?

I'm assuming you guys leave some time around 8-ish.

Can we make room for misadventures?

Both paths would lead you through the Witchwood.
The Witch Trail is a track that leads through the heart of the Witchwood. The Dawn Way is a road commonly taken by merchants, surrounded by forest on either side.

>>134564
Define "make room".
I don't normally plan for misadventures, but I expect them to happen.

>>134563
>>134565
Dawn Gay.

>>134568
Is that a yes or no on the Dawn way?

>>134569
Dawn way's alright.

>>134569
Yep.

>>134566
That's fine

Alright, you guys play it safe and go the Dawn Way.

A handful of old woodcutters’ and trappers’ cabins or long-abandoned homesteads lie scattered along the length of the road, about one every 2 or 3 miles. The road crosses several creeks and boggy spots on sturdy dwarf-made stone bridges that have stood for centuries.

At the party's speed...

Oh wait, I forgot Brozal still has to make that fortitude save.

>>134573
Do we encounter anything?

Rolled a 17 on my fort save

>>134574
We did choose the safe way

>>134576
Alright.

Okay, the Dawn Way is easy terrain that goes on for about 9-10 miles
>>134574
I'm still figuring that out.
>>134575
Okay, you avoid fatigue from resting on the ground without a bedroll.

Now that I've got the party's speed figured out... You spend a considerable portion of the day travelling.
You travel along the Dawn way for ~10 miles, which takes you about 5 hours, then you turn onto the rugged trail by the blackwater, which takes you another 5 hours. I'm assuming you left at 8, so you the next scene occurs some time near the evening/late-afternoon.

>>134578
Fair enuff

About 5:00 - Day 2

The trail leads past a small cabin in a deep forest glade. A ramshackle front porch is littered with fishing baskets and skinning frames. The cabin overlooks a dark bayou or lake, with old gray cedar-trees draped in moss rising out of the water. An old skiff is tied up on the shore nearby, and a little smoke curls from the fieldstone chimney.

What was your marching order again?

Fuck it.

Whiskers, roll a Spot check.

>>134581
Oh shit.
Is it time?

>>134580
Whiskers on Misty, in the middle between Brozal and Chad.
Chad's at the back, Brozal at the front.
>>134581
[1d20+5 = 12]<Spot Check

>>134582
We'll see.
>>134583
Bagel's fur stands on end as she sees several dogs laying below the porch.

>>134584
What now?

>>134584
[1d20+2 = 6]<Balance Check for horse riding

Bagel quickly pokes Whiskers, pointing at the thing 60ft ahead of the party.
Whiskers' hair stands on end, ready to jump into action the moment something happens.

Okay, I've been reminded that Brozal is in the front of the party. He rolled a -4 on spot.
Misty halts 60 ft away from the cabin, Brozal marches forward blindly until 3 large dogs charge forward, baying furiously. They stop just 10 ft short of you.

>>134588
You slide off Misty's butt and land beside her.

Brozal takes the total total defense action.

How does anyone else respond?

>>134590
>>134589
Whiskers' back arches before hissing at the dog trio, doing his classic 'shoo dog' move.
[1d20+8 = 28]<Intimidate Check

>>134591
Okay, you were demoralizing them, so all three dogs are sent cowering before the snarling kitty, due to Imperious Command.

I want want everyone to roll intitative.

>>134593
Rolled 11

>>134590
I cast Calm Animals on the dogs
>>134593
What's the dice roll for that?

To Chad, and chad alone, the dogs are intelligible, due to his class feature.
>"Intruders! Bork bork!"
Then the cat hisses at them
>"AhhHH!" *whimpering sounds*

Brozal takes 14 damage as an arrow flies at him through a shuttered window on the cabin.

I will post the next part in just a few minutes. Family has been distracting me.
>>134595
For you, 1d20-2

>>134597
I knew it.

Okay, to set the scene, the three of you have arrived at what appears to be Jorr's cabin. Three dogs were barking at you, but are now cowering, potentially hostile in the following round. someone from the cabin just shot at Brozal.

It is Brozal's turn. What do you do?

Rolled 23 on diplomacy

"We're not here to hurt you. We're just on our way."

>>134600
>>134601
Okay. Tht's sorted out.
sorry Chad, been trying to speed things out with voicechat.

A whistle sounds from the cabin, and the dogs scurry back towards the porch, growling at the party.

The cabin’s door opens, and a lean human woodsman of indeterminate age steps onto the porch. He has a seamed, leathery look to his face and arms, and a big curved knife sits in a sheath strapped to one thigh. “Don’t get many visitors out here,” he rasps. “Who’re you, and what d’ya want with me?”
He has his longbow drawn, knocking another arrow.

"Brozal the Fire Bringer."

>>134603
He looks at you, squinting at your face beyond the torchlight and the halo.
He lowers his bow
"What be your business, Orc?"

“Kill goblins.”

>>134604
The kitty struts towards the from the middle, revealing himself to the woodsman with arched back at he stares at the dogs, still quite freaked.

>>134605
He cocks an eyebrow at the word 'goblins'
“Goblins! I just can’t stand ’em! Wood’s rotten with ’em
right now. All right, I’m your man.”
>>134606
The dogs growl at you.

Any of you can roll Sense Motive to assess this guy's attitude

>>134607
[1d20-1 = 2]<Sense Motive just for kicks

Whiskers' back arches further, hissing at the dogs further to cement his dominance towards them.

>>134607
"Do you know of any Goblin camps around here?"

Initiative has ended, combat effectively paused, as the woodsman doesn't appear aggressive.
>>134610
“I seen worg riders and troublemakers all over, especially along Dawn Way.”

>>134611
The mention makes Whiskers stop his hissy fit, turning towards the woodsman. "So you've tussled with those green humans?" he proceeds to ask.

>>134611
"How many?"

>>134613
The woodsman continues, scratching his head.
"They live up yonder in the Wyrmsmokes, but seems like we got a big war party in the forest. Maybe they come down the Old Forest Road, or might be they came by the Skull Gorge. My money’s on the Skull Gorge. I can't say for sure how many, but there's been too many.”

Brozal pushes the cats to the front to do the talking
>>134612
"Greens, reds, blues, browns. You name it."

>>134614
"What sort of defenses do they have?" Whiskers asks, awed by the heroics this man proudly displays

>>134614
"A big war party of goblins?"

>>134615
"I can't say for sure. They've got camps scattered all over these parts." He says, oddly not at all perplexed by the talking cat
>>134616
"Ah' reckon that's what they've been up to."

>>134617
"Well, you seem to got a good eye, knowledge on the area and the capacity and will to fight," the kitty continues "and you want those goblins out, correct?"

>>134618
"I've been wagin' a one-man-war on those red bastards for years now." The woodsman says proudly.

>>134617
"We would be willing to get rid of a couple of those camps for you, do you know exactly where they are?"

>>134619
"How about we strike them down for good together?" Whiskers offers with a sly cat smile "We're a bunch of cool adventures trying to make this area a better place."
(And easier to search through, but that's minor details), he thought to himself

>>134621
The woodsman slings his bow over his shoulder.
“All righty. I want 5 gold a day, or 10 if you’ve got a mind to go off someplace dangerous.”

>>134622
Can i roll a persuasion check or something? And what would the dice roll for that be?

>>134623
Go ahead and roll.
You might want to mention where you're going first though (it's in the OP).

>>134623
Roll your Diplomacy mod. It's 1d20+1 for you.
In the future, I want you to keep better track of your skill modifiers.

>>134622
Whiskers puffs up his feline chest. "We're mainly going for Vraath Keep, but we figure we should take down these goblins along the way because these goblins are not cool at all. Not even the blue ones."
He glances up at Brozal. "Save for him, they are pretty cold."

>>134626
He cocks an eyebrow
"Vraath keep, you say? I recon ye' already know where that is?"

>>134627
"...no," Whiskers lets out as he licks his little cat nose.

>>134628
The woodsman lets out a sigh
"Go west on out to the big road; keep’s maybe eight miles north of there. Wouldn’t surprise me if some of the goblins are holed up there. Just the sort of thing damn goblins would do..."
"I'll guide you there myself, if y'all will pay."

>>134624
>>134625
>>134629
[1d20+1 = 20]
"How about 7 gold? And you can have a 14% share on the spoils of war"

>>134629
"We could say by killing off the goblins, your woodsman activities will be easier to do," Whiskers presents with a mewl "so that's quite a pay, right?"
[1d20+23 = 38]<Diplomancy Roll

>>134630
>>134631
"9 gold a day, if y'all want to go to the keep."

>>134632
"Okay then, we will follow you as you lead the way."

>>134632
Whiskers harrumphs dramatically before looking up at the woodsman with an extended paw, expecting the usual human handshake. "Fine," he mutters "but you better take good care of the shinies while we're travelling."

>>134633
"Alright. Feel free to camp. We'll leave in the morning."

>>134635
"Hmm, in the meantime can you help us clear out a couple of goblin camps that are close by?"

The woodsman retires to his cabin.
>>134636
"In the mornin'. It's late, nd you don't wanna fight those goblins at night."

The party is free to make camp. Once you're all settled, we'll begin day 3.
... You did pack camping equipment, right?

>>134637
"I totally knew that."
I have a bedroll.

>>134638
Roll Survival.
1d20+13

>>134637
Whiskers prances up to the woodsman, looking up at him with beady eyes. "Surely you don't mind if I sleep inside your gracious for this night, right?"
[1d20+23 = 25]<Diplo check

>>134640
Ah, you're able to make ample camp for yourself and the party.

Since I picked your starting equipment, I probably should have added a standard adventurers pack, which includes a tent.
>>134641
The woodsman allows you to sleep on his gracious porch.

END OF DAY TWO

>>134642
Are we ambushed in the night?

According to the dice, nothing comes to chew your faces off in your sleep during the night
You go to bed early, hoping to beat the morning light. I'll say you get up around 6:00

Alright, getting up early saves you some time to travel.
Were you all looking to progress towards Blackwater?

Oh yeah, everyone gets 225 Ad hoc XP for contracting Jorr.

>>134644
>>134645
Whiskers wakes up in seemingly thin air on Bagel, yawning softly. He soon practices his cat rituals before awaiting at the porch.
He'd definitely push for anything that could eliminate the threat on his livelihood in the area first before setting forth to his main objective, so if that is the way to end the green menance, he'll go there.

>>134645
Is there anything else we can do before heading towards Blackwater?
Maybe clear a few goblin camps.

Alright, you travel miles back towards the dawn road, and another 2 miles north towards Blackwater Causeway to cross the river. The trip takes you about five hours with Jorr leading you, and you arrive at the bridge at 11-ish.

A wide expanse of dark water has flooded the woodland in this low valley. Trees still protrude from the calm, dark waters here and there, but many large reaches seem to be little more than open pools of algae choked water. The trill of frogs and the whine of insects fills the air. The forest road leads right down to the edge of the flooded section, up to a rickety-looking causeway made of thick planks of wood lashed together with mossy rope. The wooden causeway runs for several hundred feet through the boggy patch, only a foot or so above the water.

>>134647
You don't know where the goblin camps are right now, but it can be assumed to be near Skull Gorge or Vraath Keep, or elsewhere in the Witchwood.

I'm was just checking your travelling speed. I didn't expect to do this timeline with Brozal travelling on foot..

Up ahead you can make out the wreckage of a wagon, lying on its side and half-sunk in the flooded forest, about thirty feet from the causeway.

I have it with Brozal marching first, holding up the line, followed by Misty, then Jorr and his dogs.

so, you guys just going to cross the bridge?

>>134649
>>134648
Whiskers, being the curious kitty that he is, carefully trudges towards the wagon alongside the invisible cat.
He makes sure to check his surroundings at every step for any signs of danger.
[1d20+1 = 2]<Spot roll

I’m going across the bridge.

>>134649
>>134651
Currently working out how to do a spot check, wait a second and tell me if i did it right.

>>134649
[1d20+14 = 18] (spot)
Is it 14 OP?

>>134652
Ugh oh.
>>134653
I rolled your check.
>>134647
>>134654

Alright, due to splendid a splendid roll, you are all flat-footed this round as several enormous reptilian heads charge out of the water and snap at you.

Whiskers takes 8 Bludgeoning and Piercing Damage.
Brozal takes 21 as two serpents bite him
Chad takes 10
Misty takes 18 as two bite into her flank
Jorr is also bitten.

Chad needs to make a Ride check to stay on Misty. Roll 1d20+5

Everyone roll initiative. A massive multiheaded monster has charged out of the mire from beneath the wagon and attacked you as you cross the bridge.

Everyone roll initiative.

>>134657
[1d20+2 = 7]<Initiative

13 on init

Whups, Jorr wasn't actually bitten, now that i look at it.
"Blasted serpent! Lookout!" Jorr shouts out, unhelpfully.

I already know that Chad's initiatve is 19 or less.
The monster rolled 21, so it goes first this round while we wait for Chad.

So far it's:
Monster
Jorr
Brozal
Whiskers
Chad?

(ride check)

I was trying to figure out how the skill modifiers work.

The monster moves closer to the bridge and snaps at Brozal, clanging off his armor. Another head snaps at him and deals 11 damage
>>134661
You manage to stay on your horse, but another head snaps at you and wounds you for 6 more damage.
Misty takes 13 damage, and you're going to need to make another check

I'm going to set your initiative right after Whiskers

>>134664
Ride check?

>>134666
You keep stealing all these trips

Brozal's Furious counterstrike triggers.

Whiskers takes another 13 damage as a serpent bites him.

Jorr manages to be bitten before he can move.

Jorr takes a 5 foot step back, moves out of the monster's reach, and looses two arrows, that pierce into the hide of the monster.

Brozal's turn.

Rolling

Rolled 29

>>134669
I use revitalizing strike on the first serpent head

>>134670
11 damage healed 14

>>134670
Okay, 11 damage to the enemy.

Whiskers is near the wagon on difficult terrain in the mud. One head is pointed towards him.

Whiskers turn.

>>134666
Sorry, meant to say you avoid falling off your horse.