4.0 A new beginning

[harknail]

Waiting to see if Zem is more interested in the close by locations or wants to continue on to the town near where Harknail was created far inland (and NOT in the forest).

I'm fine running it either way. We're in sandbox mode right now, you can go anywhere and do anything

[rhinobullet]

That is how I was reading the posts as well. Thanks Harknail. I tried to be vague enough to leave the direction open for our leader to choose. FYI while we are proceeding through the Ridge Woods, I would like to utilize my Nature skills to check for anything out of the ordinary. As a Ranger, I am assuming Vetch would want to be on the lookout for things out of the ordinary so as to prevent ambush or trap. Nature and his passive perception should be sufficient to that task. Please advise if I should roll for Nature.

[harknail]

If Zem continues to his originally planned destination, then the group will not be passing though the ridge woods (which are to the north between the plains and mountains). Instead the group will be heading west and inland over basically open plains. Not Vetch's usual terrain, but his skills will still be useful.

Also please use Lime Green for OOC comments, Green is a bit dark and is sometimes hard to read.

[harknail]

On the other hand, there were artifacts buried in the Ridge Woods that were Zem's original goal. Now that he has a guide, he might go back to looking for them. That's why I'm waiting to hear from Zem before continuing.

[(George) 3.5./ ZEM ( 4.0)]

Oct 3, 2013 9:00:12 GMT -5 rhinobullet said:

That is how I was reading the posts as well. Thanks Harknail. I tried to be vague enough to leave the direction open for our leader to choose.

As to this I like more of group input on things like this. yes he is a leader but he know the important on keeping to the groups strengths and wants their input and ideas on things. he will do this as much as he can at times to take what the group has to say and do his best to keep everyone happy. he may not be able to always do so and have to make a hard call without asking. I hope the party will understand that if it ever comes to that. He is more lead by example then dealing out orders. I do it this way for i don't want to be over barring or railroading to the party.

He does wish to continue to the original destination of Karth cause that is what the book said to go to and the only clue we have so far. Yet he want to get there as soon as possible because if things are there he needs to see what it leads to. He would be more interested in the area if he thought he had time to explore at this time. However he does not feel like we do have the time. He is not going to push the party into going at top speed for he knows we need to conserve energy in case we are attacked.

In short He is not going for the artifacts in Ridge wood even though it is tempting, he has another more important mission he must complete, for now they are safe at least he hopes so. Right now his task is not to go for them just yet, if that is ok with the party i would like to go to Karth.

[harknail]

The base of operations for whoever wrote the book is Sarnath. This was a very small town when Harknail was forged (LONG ago), located near where he was forged. This location is far inland.

Karth was a major metropolis back when Harknail was buried. It stood where the Ridge Woods now stand. What is now Moonhaven would have been on the outskirts of Karth. Karth is the location where a demigod is buried, along with his artifacts. Zem wanted to search there. It was while looking for information of Karth that Barbatos found the book which documents someones search for something, which the group believes was a different powerful artifact.

[(George) 3.5./ ZEM ( 4.0)]

I want to go to what ever location it says in the book, his quest is to find what is called Sarnath in the book. he is told the demigod is safe for now so be it, he is leaving that one alone. Right now the one in the book/notes is more important to find. when we read the book, we found 2 locations and or names: Sarnath was one and another name of a town/city near it the author spoke of. I want to go that that city/town the author talked about because they went there more then once on the way to what ever is called Sarnath. We could not find out what Sarnath means yet. yet from what it says in the book we fond a city/town close by I can't recall the name of it in the area of where we think Sarnath could be/is. We need to find more clues about the thing called Sarnath then just this book/notes so the authors last place is where i wish to start looking. sry i got confused now i understand a bit better.

[rhinobullet]

OOC I am fine with taking a look around the ruins and then going to Sarnath. I suppose we could RP this discussion and then let Barbatos either (a) agree; (b) get angry and change our minds or (c) kill us

[(George) 3.5./ ZEM ( 4.0)]

vetch, harknail, Barbatos here is the thing guys. As much as i want to go into the ruins and find loot, It will take up to much time that we don't have. The object down there is safe for now, yet i did promise you payment so if we go down there consider it being paid in full. However there is one that is not safe and it need to be. My missions are up to me for the most part as you know. Right now my damage assessment is keep the worst ones out of enemy hands. So my original target is down graded to not likely used or found. One in this here book is high priority and if i could send for back up i would. I promise we can come back and look at the ruins when we have more time. We need to find out what Sarnath is before others do. If it can do what it says in the book no town or city is safe if evil get a hold of it and to lag about ruins as fun as it is will not bring us closer to our goal. Yet this is up to a vote for i can't force my team. you all heard my side. I'm voting we head to go find Sarnath first then come back, to be fair in case there is a tie we flip a coin and Harknail flips it. ( there is 4 of us ). also dont use the one that says i found it is too dark, we all found over the use of posts the one at the very bottom of the colors drop down it should say right below maroon and Navy.

[rhinobullet]

Vetch looks at the elf curiously and wonders to himself what he has gotten himself into. He looks about the group and then back to the elf and says:
"It matters not to me where you go. You hired me to guide. I will guide you through the Ridge Woods as safe as I can. I'll go with you to this Sarnac, though once away from these woods, I may not know the paths half so well. But if its this Sarnac we go to, best be on our way as we are wasting daylight"

[at]

Barbatos peers up from his book, "Sarnath it is then"

[(George) 3.5./ ZEM ( 4.0)]

As we continue on Zem is still keeping an eye out on the road from time to time. (22 passive perception).

[rhinobullet]

As Vetch would note that the elf is on guard, he would focus on his nature skills, looking for the best trails, and attempting to make sure they aren't surprised by any of the denizens of the forest.

[harknail]

Instead of taking the path to the Ridge Woods, Harknail directs them to take the path west towards Elkridge. This path parallels the ridge that is the southern bound of the Ridge Woods.


After several hours they came to the first place where the trail crosses a stream. Just before the stream were some burnt out and fallen trees, an erect statue about 20' from the path, and some small bluffs. On the other side of the bridge was a live tree and a fallen statue about 10' from the path.

When the bridge comes in sight, Harknail comments, "There be bandits here last time I cometh this way. We slayeth them all."

[rhinobullet]

Vetch looks suspicously at the bridge. He says "Are you sure you got them all? Best we are careful here."

Vetch Dismounts and approaches the bridge cautiously, checking for any recent markings, footprints etc. His intent is to check this side of the bridge for recent activity, and to determine whether the cart can cross the bridge safely. He will also inspect the statute

[(George) 3.5./ ZEM ( 4.0)]

Zem will get out, he will also go over but not that close to the statue like stays about 20 feet from it, " If he says he got them all then he got them all, but that does not mean other things are not out here. It is a great spot to attack people. the trees that are burned here are a great example." using religion on the statue +8
looking at the spot he sees that things are off.
" ok one is about 20' from the path,On the other it is only 10'. ok it may be a trap so stay back but try to see if they are connected somehow. See the dead trees and alive one on the other side was a give way to me. there has to be a reason to why one side is like that, while the other is not. my question is why this is so what would trigger on one side and not the other. it had to be set up by something, one smart to 10 feet off, but why? I think if we move it or touch it triggers? but that is a shot at the dark. Wizard any spells u know that can do this? Any ideas on the burned trees cause this looks odd to me."

[dice=20]+8= 26[rand=8722863732837141838287625461816854215993499383338572788329329342]

[at]

Barbatos stays with the cart, an elevated and protected position should trouble break out and also the most rapid means of escape.

[harknail]

OK, I think it's time to pull out a map. Unfortunately the map for this area was created in a program I can no longer run, so I'll need to recreate it.

Meanwhile, are there any images that you would like for Zem and Vetch? I've been using head images of the characters as Icons for the maps. I have icons for Harknail and Barbatos, but need to make them for Zem and Vetch. If you can find an image on the internet that you think looks something like your character, I can use that.

[harknail]

Map

SPOILER: Click to show

I used the images from Character Builder for your characters, let me know if you'd prefer a different image.

[rhinobullet]

my pic from char builder is fine by me

Vetch looks around as the elf moves up and says "I agree that this looks suspicous. were these statues here when you fought the brigands?"

Vetch waits on a response before approaching any further, and begins looking closely at the ground and surrounding areas, attempting to see if there are newer tracks or markings that would indicate a new threat
Nature roll:
[dice=20][rand=844797287491961389154428274349310368497221881994858724324091293112]