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Post by at on Jul 14, 2011 10:01:04 GMT -5
Outside the inn the rain hammers down relentlessly, quickly soaking the party through as Vadania shelters under her shield and the rest find what cover they can under the buildings. A thin sheet of water runs along the surface of the cobbles as the group makes the shallow ascent towards the town keep and the central guard house.
Thankfully the guard on duty does not waste time with formalities and waves you into a covered bailey where a fire burns fiercely against one wall. A number of guardsmen are here, either drying from the rain or preparing to depart.
You are advised that the guard captain is busy but has been made aware of your arrival. The guards themselves do not appear panicked, but Rolan would have expected far more of them here.
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Post by at on Jul 17, 2011 10:29:17 GMT -5
The group warm themselves before the fire for a few moments, until the sound of movement draws their attention. Several oddly dressed individuals emerge from a side room and make their way out into the storm.
A guard approaches and leads you into the room where you find two men studying a large map of the steadlands. As the guard closes the door behind you one of the men speaks in a matter of fact tone, "A caravan from the west is late and I cannot spare the men search for it. The pay is one gold per man, per day, two days out and two days back along the south west trail.".
The man points towards a trail on the map and looks towards the group for acknowledgement.
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namklim
Veteran of the War
Posts: 240
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Post by namklim on Jul 17, 2011 20:07:11 GMT -5
Rolan is willing to join the search. He is a bit curious as to why there are so few guard here, but figures he can ask about it after the briefing.
How often are caravans late in the area?
Knowledge local if needed:
[dice=20] +4 = 12
[rand=38219294483520627015814254193418753591645614230383407185937885917981]
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Post by at on Jul 18, 2011 3:45:44 GMT -5
How often are caravans late in the area? (Knowledge local)
There are less travelled paths that skirt through the edge of the fell though; the routes are shorter and no bandit in their right mind would lurk in the fell but caravans must ever be alert for the lizardmen and other inhabitants of the fell. Woldegard guild mercenaries will not travel with such caravans as they are often used to avoid the tithe on goods between Woldegard and Merebas, or to transport stolen or illegal goods. |
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namklim
Veteran of the War
Posts: 240
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Post by namklim on Jul 20, 2011 4:03:53 GMT -5
In the case of trouble a runner or outrider would be sent ahead for help. Rolan thinks to himself... Then looks to the guard, " There was no runner sent ahead of the caravan?" |
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Post by at on Jul 20, 2011 8:05:22 GMT -5
" There was no runner sent ahead of the caravan?" The man shrugs, "It's is not common to send a runner so close to the fell, a lone man is not safe" |
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namklim
Veteran of the War
Posts: 240
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Post by namklim on Jul 22, 2011 3:24:54 GMT -5
"How large was the caravan?" Rolan asks, a small one would be difficult to find, and a large one hard to lose.
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Post by at on Jul 22, 2011 5:25:12 GMT -5
"One, perhaps two carts and a dozen men. It may be nothing more than a broken wheel or bolted horse, or perhaps the caravan was otherwise delayed. Nevertheless the road must be searched before these storms wipe away any evidence of it's fate and I cannot spare the men to do it".
Glancing at the others, "your silent companions do not fill me with confidence, but I do not have the time to wait on others." He scribbles something on a piece of parchment, "this is a warrent for payment upon return, if you have more questions ask them of the guard outside".
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namklim
Veteran of the War
Posts: 240
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Post by namklim on Jul 25, 2011 0:25:15 GMT -5
"Very well then," Rolan says as he takes the warrent.
Turning to his new companions, he asks, "Is there anything else that you would like to know?"
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Post by at on Jul 25, 2011 5:32:29 GMT -5
"Is there anything else that you would like to know?" |
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Post by harknail on Jul 25, 2011 14:57:50 GMT -5
"Did the last caravan to come by this route report any problems?" asked Vadania.
Sorry, missed that a new thread had been started. I'm mostly counting on the bookmarks to watch for new messages.
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Post by Rojito on Jul 25, 2011 19:58:48 GMT -5
sorry been distracted with rl crap lately
Salyyn shakes his head and says, "humans, likely they just got lost. We should quickly go and retrieve them and return."
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Post by at on Jul 26, 2011 9:30:27 GMT -5
The guard shakes his head at the elf's distain and turns to Vadania, "the last caravan reported tracks across the path, lizardmen, and a lot of them". He scratches his beard and glances back towards the map "we don't know where they are going in such numbers or what has riled them up, but I hear they are fond of elf flesh so you'd best pay attention to your work"
The last comment is directed towards Salyyn, though it sounds more like bluster than fact.
As he speaks a second guard appears at the door, "the trader Warrin is here to speak with you". And with that the meeting is over, you are hussled back out of the office as another man is escorted in. Beyond the protection of the bailey the rain and wind continued unabated and the clouds obscured the mid-day sun - the weather does not look like it will clear any time soon.
(You can leave now or wait for the weather to clear. You can also trade on the warrent as a marker with the local merchants, to a degree. Once you are ready to leave assign a marching order and any other considerations, and also state how long you wish to travel for - into the night or into the fell lands for instance)
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Post by harknail on Jul 26, 2011 11:17:26 GMT -5
Does Vadania have any idea how long the rain is likely to last? At this level we couldn't see anything anyway. Knowledge Nature (+5) or Survival (+6) roll: [dice=20]
Also, what time of day is it?[rand=34669562941417107332492317073047524041304830461719687793916091323]
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Post by at on Jul 26, 2011 11:48:25 GMT -5
Does Vadania have any idea how long the rain is likely to last? / Also, what time of day is it? |
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Post by harknail on Jul 26, 2011 12:12:14 GMT -5
Once back by the campfire, Vadania confessed to the others, "I don't like this storm, it just doesn't feel right. I can't tell how long it will last but it's washing away any signs of what happened to the caravan."
OOC: Not going to be making any tracking rolls after a storm like that!
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namklim
Veteran of the War
Posts: 240
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Post by namklim on Jul 28, 2011 0:17:04 GMT -5
"Going out in a storm like this may not be safe, but at the same time, we need to find the caravan. If the storm isn't ending soon, we can't wait it out, it'll most likely be too late to help them if something did happen. My vote is we leave as soon as we can."
Rolan then looks to the others for opinions.
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Post by Rojito on Jul 28, 2011 2:58:02 GMT -5
Salyyn looks at everyone and speaks up again, "The sooner we finish this the sooner we can be done with this mess. Let us quickly venture out into the storm, find the caravan, and return."
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Post by at on Jul 28, 2011 6:24:34 GMT -5
Deciding to brave the storm the group head out, the wind has died down somewhat but the rain continues unabated. Travelling through the town's southern gate you begin to see more of the town's guards and though the gate itself is not closed there are men standing nearby as if in anticipation of attack.
No army waits for you behind the gate however, as you descend towards the borders of the fell lands.
Hours pass, and the skys darken. The hammering of rain and the sounds of distant thunder are the only sounds that interrupt your travel. At length you decide to make camp under the shelter of trees near the road with Vadania doing what she can to light a small fire.
(ooc - Salyyn needs to fill out his spellbook. Last chance to buy anything on the way out of town)
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Post by harknail on Jul 29, 2011 1:11:03 GMT -5
Out in the wilds Vadania was in her element. She knew how to survive out here, even in this horrible storm. She knew which type of tree had branches shaped to shed rain to the edges and keep dry underneath. She knew how to build a small fire of dried sap and tinder, digging a hole to keep it from spreading and igniting their shelter. No one would call this shelter comfortable, but most like the others hadn't expected to find a dry shelter in the rain drenched country side.
OK, that was just repeating what the GM said with some googled details added.
Although visibility was poor, especially while hiding in an evergreen tree, Vadania kept alert, starting at any unexpected sound. She had no desired to be ambushed like her parents were so many years ago, or like the caravan likely had been.
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