Author Topic: STRATA- Chapter 1  (Read 131621 times)

Offline ketaro

  • Epic Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 4241
  • I'm always new!
    • View Profile
Re: STRATA- Chapter 1
« Reply #80 on: June 07, 2014, 04:15:59 PM »
The dwarf grunts a confirmation. "Aye, sure. Why, something up?"

Offline phaedrusxy

  • DnD Handbook Writer
  • ****
  • Posts: 10708
  • The iconic spambot
    • View Profile
Re: STRATA- Chapter 1
« Reply #81 on: June 07, 2014, 04:19:38 PM »
"Here..." Matsu says outloud and then mentally to the group <There we go. Welcome aboard, Axejack.

So, the rest of us have decided to try and help this knight find his friends who went missing while on patrol. You in? We're heading out right now, before the lock the gates for the night.>
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline ketaro

  • Epic Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 4241
  • I'm always new!
    • View Profile
Re: STRATA- Chapter 1
« Reply #82 on: June 07, 2014, 04:30:56 PM »
"Aye, sounds good! Let's hurry then if we're strapped for time!" The dwarf says aloud.

Offline Raineh Daze

  • Epic Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 10577
  • hi
    • View Profile
Re: STRATA- Chapter 1
« Reply #83 on: June 08, 2014, 02:53:53 PM »
Explaining to the two merchants that she had somewhere else to be, Akemi checked her swords were in place and her armour fastened securely, then rejoined the main group.

Offline phaedrusxy

  • DnD Handbook Writer
  • ****
  • Posts: 10708
  • The iconic spambot
    • View Profile
Re: STRATA- Chapter 1
« Reply #84 on: June 08, 2014, 03:37:36 PM »
Before they head out, Matsu says through the link <If we see combat, I can cause those of you who desire it to grow in size, increasing your reach and strength. Let me know who among you would like this now.

I can also steal health from our enemies and distribute it among us.>


(click to show/hide)
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline SolEiji

  • Honorary Mod
  • *****
  • Posts: 3041
  • I am 120% Eiji.
    • View Profile
    • D&D Wiki.org, not .com
Re: STRATA- Chapter 1
« Reply #85 on: June 08, 2014, 04:32:13 PM »
It's agreed!  The party leaves the Pathfinder Agency, with the last thing the samurai sees is the census taker taking this moment to further scold his coworkers about proper professionalism.  The party gets outside to see a group gathered by one of the town gates.  There's Eldridge which you saw before, but there is also a small armored ratfolk who is being helped upon his horse, a cloaked robed man who seems to be a spellcaster of sorts, and a man dressed much like a stereotypical witch including the large brimmed hat.  He's talking to a town guard in red.  When you approach he'll notice and wave the party over.

"Mr. Gattama, you are coming after all!  I am relieved." Eldridge said.  Once you tell him of your forested intent he'll not approvingly.  "Then we head for the Marlowe territory.  I've spoken with the guards and convinced them to lend you horses.  From the looks of your numbers it looks like you have enough if you double up.  If you haven't already informed them; two of our party are missing.  You are looking for evidence of a Jingu elven woman with auburn hair, and a gnome with a black mohawk.  He's chrysanthian.  We're on a time limit, when the sun sets the gates close and the guards are loath to open them because of the shade threat, so if you are too late in returning you may be stranded outside the walls until daybreak."

"A cat'r-cousin of Sir Lacan is a cat'r-cousin of Rouet." spoke the armored rat, "Shall we maketh haste?  Whoev'r is successful, we shall both bray out upon our returneth.  But beware, f'r finding our broth'rs nad sist'rs in arms may runeth thou afoul of a dread fiend; some four legg'd black avian which may hast abscond'd 'r, dread thinketh of it, devour'd our allies. at the v'ry least, i hopeth to findeth closure if not satisfaction."

Please take the horses.  From the town, the forest lies off towards the path to Claverdown, near a river which eventually feeds into the ocean.  Whoever chooses to take lead be aware of the challenges ahead.  Finding the forest in a timely manner is a Survival check (DC 10, but the higher the better) and your progress will be timed.  Travel to the forest is 30 minutes if you take your usual time, you may be able to cut time further.  You have 2 hours.

When you are ready....

Quote from: After a successful DC 10 Survival...
Your trip will be unhindered by bandits and beasts, reaching the edge of the forest where the number of trees thicken.  Before you is a verdant tangle of bushes, vines, and tall trees whose cover is enough to blot out much of the sun, leaving a thousand slivers of light pouring through the canopy.  Horses may have difficulty trekking through the undergrowth, but it is up to you how to proceed.

MOTH FOREST

You may wish to search for clues of movement and activity.  There isn't obvious signs of humanoid activity on the outskirts.  Currently temperature and wind is stable and mild.  There is the faint smell of pollen in the air.
Mudada.

Offline phaedrusxy

  • DnD Handbook Writer
  • ****
  • Posts: 10708
  • The iconic spambot
    • View Profile
« Last Edit: June 08, 2014, 07:03:01 PM by phaedrusxy »
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline SolEiji

  • Honorary Mod
  • *****
  • Posts: 3041
  • I am 120% Eiji.
    • View Profile
    • D&D Wiki.org, not .com
Re: STRATA- Chapter 1
« Reply #87 on: June 08, 2014, 08:07:44 PM »
You set out, and the good doctor seems to know the way.  Diverting off the beaten path you run down a unsteady slope and through some brush which seems like a slower and more ardorous trail, only to pop up in the very place you sought in record time.

1:45:00 remaining

As you dismount, or don't, at the forest edge Matsu comes close to the forest edge.  Something is amiss, ah yes, here is the problem.  These branches, askew.  Shows sign of recent passage through them, a few branches broken.  They weren't being careful.  One... two.... three creatures, one large.  Evidence of things being dragged.  Wait, a forth creature, this one humanoid, possibly small.  Help?  It's faint, the disruption of local grit and soil is mostly expressing the presence of dragged bodies weighing about 115 lbs... another 40 lbs... the other small undragged creature must have been wearing soft shoes, its tracks are faint.  Not like the much more visible avian tracks here, and a faint black soot similar to ash.  Smells mildly of brimstone and bone powder.  Neutralized in its current state but if brought airborne in sufficient quantities certainly a deadly toxin.  Even brief contact with the spoor has caused minor putrefaction as evidence as the ochre spots on this leave easily missed for debris from some natural process.  With this as a marker tracking your prey will be easy.  And in fact look, not more than 20 ft ahead over here.  Evidence of blood.  Relatively fresh, a few hours.  This smell...  consistency... type B, female.  There's another, type O, male, slightly elevated blood alcohol content, not serious enough to intoxication in all but Diminutive sized creatures.  Excellent, it seems that in your fortune out of the possible two location for your targets you have reached the correct one.  Moreover, as of a few hours ago both are still alive.

On fire indeed, Sherlock.

You have enough accuracy to (to your knowledge) determine the exact direction, though not distance.  I suppose the logical thing would be going straight ahead, but who knows what dangers you'll face.  You suspect there was the "avian beast" you were warned of.  But also... something else.
Mudada.

Offline phaedrusxy

  • DnD Handbook Writer
  • ****
  • Posts: 10708
  • The iconic spambot
    • View Profile
Re: STRATA- Chapter 1
« Reply #88 on: June 08, 2014, 08:47:38 PM »
(click to show/hide)

The Doctor goes on in such detail about what he sees that you begin to wonder if he's just making it all up, but he doesn't hesitate long enough for you to question him about it, as he plunges into the forest hot on the trail.

(click to show/hide)

As he bends over the tracks, he says telepathically <It seems the creature projects an airborne toxin. If you have means of protection against such things, I'd suggest you use them.> and he readjusts his own mask, to make sure it is seated properly.
« Last Edit: June 08, 2014, 08:54:27 PM by phaedrusxy »
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline Raineh Daze

  • Epic Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 10577
  • hi
    • View Profile
Re: STRATA- Chapter 1
« Reply #89 on: June 08, 2014, 08:52:33 PM »
Unsheathing her swords, Akemi used her legs to guide the mount onwards--there was no sense in dismounting whilst it could still be useful. Plus it was good practice; not owning a horse left her rather rusty when someone else didn't supply her a ride. Some day... some day she would find the perfect animal.

Offline FireInTheSky

  • Epic Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 3870
  • "Insight is the sudden cessation of stupidity."
    • View Profile
Re: STRATA- Chapter 1
« Reply #90 on: June 08, 2014, 11:47:49 PM »
Berid dismounts, unlimbers his bow, and moves off into the foliage, fading into the background as he goes. <I'll stay parallel with you guys, approximately 25' to your left, and keep my eyes peeled. Give me a mental holler if you see something; I'll do the same.>

(click to show/hide)

Offline Frogman55

  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 806
  • I'm not very new!
    • View Profile
Re: STRATA- Chapter 1
« Reply #91 on: June 09, 2014, 10:31:54 AM »
Ptembridge has been characteristically quiet as they ride forth. Though inexperienced on horseback, he found that the balance was relatively easy. With a gentle motion, he pushed his horse to the front, poking at the brush with his halberd as they went.

(click to show/hide)

Offline SolEiji

  • Honorary Mod
  • *****
  • Posts: 3041
  • I am 120% Eiji.
    • View Profile
    • D&D Wiki.org, not .com
Re: STRATA- Chapter 1
« Reply #92 on: June 13, 2014, 07:16:20 AM »
Analysis of the area seems to suggest the fight did not take place here.  The bodies being dragged were not fighting back, at least not at this point.  Its possible that the report they got was true on both accounts.  They were on the road near the Marlowe Estate and ran into trouble.  The subsequent chase or fight somehow got them closer to the forest, and were dragged the rest of the way.  Though, if what Achenar was suggesting was true, these black avians had no reason to be that far out.  Unless something was up.  And who is this soft shoed being?  There was no further clues on the matter, and so the party pressed on.

Tracking was going well.  Much of the party bunched up ahead and fanned out to maximize their performance.  Though slower than the brisk pace they were going at, it was still an effective time spent on the hunt.

1:30:00 remaining

As you follow the trail which starts to become oddly distorted as there seems to have been more recent activity here (perhaps just wildlife or more creatures, you cannot tell right away).  Ptembridge and Berid were acting as scouts as the doctor was fuly focused on the task of tracking and both picked up the low rumble of hostility ahead.  In the distance the ground rolls into a mound of earth, but much closer than that and much closer to you a mass of brown bristling fur pushed through the deep brush and stood upon hind legs as thick as tree trunks....

"Grrrrggl..."

Oh crap what is that?  Does anyone have Bear Lore!?  Who knows what destructive abilities they have!

But in all seriousness, the bear has noticed the approach of intruders and has risen up in a show of aggression.  This is a problem, the trail leads right through where the bear is standing and coming closer will surely aggravate it.  You could try and go around but you risk losing the trail.  To your left there is more forest, largely unremarkable but certainly off track and entangled in vines.  To the right, the hill which may be difficult to scale on horseback in its steeper slopes.  You could follow the slope, but that leads you dangerously close to a cave which may or may not be safe.

(click to show/hide)


Mudada.

Offline phaedrusxy

  • DnD Handbook Writer
  • ****
  • Posts: 10708
  • The iconic spambot
    • View Profile
Re: STRATA- Chapter 1
« Reply #93 on: June 13, 2014, 08:26:57 AM »
The Doctor projects telepathically to the group <Everyone stay back. We can perhaps use this creature as an ally!>

(click to show/hide)
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline Frogman55

  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 806
  • I'm not very new!
    • View Profile
Re: STRATA- Chapter 1
« Reply #94 on: June 13, 2014, 10:00:57 AM »
Restraining himself from charging the bear, Ptembridge didn't back away, either. Instead he hopped off his horse and held himself ready.

Ride for Fast Dismount, DC 20 1d20+5 : 9 + 5, total 14


Initiative 1d20+7 : 12 + 7, total 19

Offline phaedrusxy

  • DnD Handbook Writer
  • ****
  • Posts: 10708
  • The iconic spambot
    • View Profile
Re: STRATA- Chapter 1
« Reply #95 on: June 13, 2014, 10:22:48 AM »
Glancing over his shoulder at the dismounting Tengu he says mentally to the group <No weapons or threats please... It will spoil the effect.>
I don't pee messages into the snow often , but when I do , it's in Cyrillic with Fake Viagra.  Stay frosty my friends.

Offline FireInTheSky

  • Epic Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 3870
  • "Insight is the sudden cessation of stupidity."
    • View Profile
Re: STRATA- Chapter 1
« Reply #96 on: June 13, 2014, 01:44:29 PM »
When the bear rises from the undergrowth, Berid immediately has an arrow nocked to his bow as he gives it an assessing glance, but after hearing Matsu's warning, he lowers the bow. <Hmm, that's interesting. It's unusual for bears such as this to act so aggressively unprovoked. It's possible that this bear has been displaced from its lair by nearby civilization. I wonder if Limen is close enough to have caused this, or if we're approaching some other settlement, however small.>

Having been keeping parallel with the rest of the group, Berid uses his extra distance from the bear to keep him hidden while he takes a quick look around for other possible threats or clues.
« Last Edit: June 13, 2014, 02:44:22 PM by FireInTheSky »

Offline SolEiji

  • Honorary Mod
  • *****
  • Posts: 3041
  • I am 120% Eiji.
    • View Profile
    • D&D Wiki.org, not .com
Re: STRATA- Chapter 1
« Reply #97 on: June 13, 2014, 05:02:47 PM »
It was a staredown between the doctor and the bear, and tension rose between the party and nature.  Who will win, who will come out of this with their organs still intact?  The doctor could feel the resistance and...

The bear blinked.

The bear's form relaxed and landed back on all fours, through still staring intently at the party and determined to hold its ground.  Without much difficulty a mental connection is established introducing you to the strange and primitive world of the bear's mind.  It doesn't 'speak', but concepts should be able to pass over just fine.

As the party engaged their questionable new ally, Berid slips off to the side.  Civilization from Limen may be too close, it's difficult to tell to be honest.  You made it here so quickly your sense of distance might be a bit distorted.  There is plenty to look around, the question is did Berid go off to the left into more woods, or the right towards the hill?  More information forthcoming.
Mudada.

Offline FireInTheSky

  • Epic Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 3870
  • "Insight is the sudden cessation of stupidity."
    • View Profile
Re: STRATA- Chapter 1
« Reply #98 on: June 13, 2014, 08:16:24 PM »
(click to show/hide)

Offline SolEiji

  • Honorary Mod
  • *****
  • Posts: 3041
  • I am 120% Eiji.
    • View Profile
    • D&D Wiki.org, not .com
Re: STRATA- Chapter 1
« Reply #99 on: June 13, 2014, 08:51:18 PM »
Heading towards the right Berid must face a unfriendly slope which will require a bit more than gravity to surmountClimb DC 5, easy.  The bear seems to be aware of you and is getting uneasy as you continue to move in that direction.  You're not to a great vantage point yet, but something about this area that bear really doesn't want you to be in...

It might be that cave that's embedded in the hill up ahead.  You spotted small fish bones.  It's probably the bear's cave.
Mudada.