The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
[PbP] [IC] Where is The Gold?
Carnarvon
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Herein lies four intrepid adventurers and their trepidatious ventures.
Faren Wanderer, the Ranger @AustinP0027
A'ras, the Bard @admanb
Gunbjorn, the Sorcerer @Brody
Asuzan, the Occultist@astrobstrd
I respectfully ask that all OOC talk be directed to the OOC thread, and that non-players please do not post in this thread.
Players: Please post your character name and current HP at the top of the post in bold. Whenever you make a skill roll, do so in a spoiler at the bottom of the post, listing the background you're using and a breif explanation on why it's applicable. E.g.
Beefcake the Mighty - HP 69/666
Beefcake tries to drink all the ale.
Faren Wanderer, the Ranger @AustinP0027
A'ras, the Bard @admanb
Gunbjorn, the Sorcerer @Brody
Asuzan, the Occultist@astrobstrd
I respectfully ask that all OOC talk be directed to the OOC thread, and that non-players please do not post in this thread.
Players: Please post your character name and current HP at the top of the post in bold. Whenever you make a skill roll, do so in a spoiler at the bottom of the post, listing the background you're using and a breif explanation on why it's applicable. E.g.
Beefcake the Mighty - HP 69/666
Beefcake tries to drink all the ale.
Geth roll 1d20+6
Beefcake's Won Second Place at Billy's Drinking Contest That One Year +3 background is applicable because he got second place that one year.
Beefcake's Won Second Place at Billy's Drinking Contest That One Year +3 background is applicable because he got second place that one year.
1d20+6 19 [1d20=13]
0
Posts
THE BAND IS LOUD AND THE CROWD IS ROWDY; girls of all ages are dressed their finest, and the men are shaved with oiled hair. The whole center of camp is beautifully decorated with ivy, graveflowers, and gourds of all kinds. Mulled spirits and wildflower tea replaces weak ale and old coffee, and pumpkin served a thousand ways pushes aside the beans and potatoes of past five years. Even dour Belit was coaxed into to giving up his stores of sugar and molasses.
"ALLOW NOTHING TO INTERFERE WITH DRAKKENFEST" was the command from the half-orc. "A ton of grain can feed an army, a sharp weapon can kill a man, and a skilled commander defend against ten times his number; however, morale wins the war" was a quote from the late Wilson, and his son made sure to repeat it as often as necessary. A few hours into the party, though, even Danis has fallen into his cups. "Just wait..." he says to the flock of women at his table, "...until we show the surprise."
Here's a place to roleplay out your characters together a bit before the action happens. The next part should be coming tomorrow night, or the day after (hint: I work afternoons). Again, feel free to take liberties with the setting; it's purposefully a bit vague.
In a small community like this, its hard to cheat. Well, to cheat, while still having someone to play with. But to be honest, these guys were all chumps, and as long as Gunbjorn loses every once in a while, no one asks too many questions. Well, and as long as he doesn't try anything will Billy. Best not to test it.
And it's not like there is much to bet. Food rations, odds and ends. Pipe-weed. And other than the pipe-weed, it was easy enough to acquire whatever he wanted.
Sitting on the edge of the party, playing with the regulars, letting the dice run things for once.
Trying as hard possible not to think about dragons.
The Monster Baru Cormorant - Seth Dickinson
Steam: Korvalain
Asuzan has been careful this evening not to over-indulge. She can't help but to go back for seconds on the berry cobbler, though. She mixes at the periphery of different groups: children playing at war, the soldiers telling bawdy tales, and the cooks and serving staff making the feast possible. Such a day of joy brings to Asuzan's mind the persistent thought of what today stands in contrast to. She sips at the same glass of wine for nearly an hour, eyes occasionally darting nervously to the walls of the camp for signs of trouble.
To any who speak with her, she is careful not to let her apprehension show. Surely, everyone else was owed a time of celebration and relaxation.
Asuzan ends up near the bonfire. Her shadow flickers behind her in rhythm with the dancing flame.
With feasts, there were a hundred different reasons to not attend. Most of them were people. Faren disliked the large gatherings, disliked packing everyone into one space, and generally, disliked being in attendance. And so, often he would take someone else's guard duty as an excuse to not be in attendance. He had built up quite the list of favors over time.
And so, he finally had a good reason to call some of those in. You see, there was one thing about this feast that could overrule his inherent distaste for gathering amongst the group. The food. Faren had seen what was being prepared, and had begun immediately swapping out favors in order to get himself free for the feast. And it was completely worth it.
His belly full from what was at least one trip too many back for more, Faren casually skirted the perimeter of the gathering, eyes passing over those in attendnace. They eventually landed on a more familiar face (not that everyone in the small camp wasn't known to him already) sitting by the fire. Faren wandered over closer, taking a seat and feeling the sudden warmth wash over him.
"Evening Asuzan. Fine night for a feast."
A'ras was in his element at the feast. Moving from group to group learning about people, making friends, and identifying risks. In the Elven court your status (which was almost as important as your life) lived or died on your ability to work a party. The people were happier and tongues were looser.
He had just shifted out of a conversation with an intriguing young woman who had deserted the forces of the High Druid. She was explaining some particular trait of marmots that made them useful allies in the fight against undead when he was distracted by Gunbjorn's game of dice. He made his apologies and excused himself, first making his way towards the feast tables but then slipping through the crowd to the gambling table.
"Ahh, dice! I love dice!" he exclaimed as he sat himself down at the table. A'ras was a fantastic and frequent loser. He gave Gunbjorn a sly smile as he joined the game.
A'ras finds himself at Gunbjorn's table, along with a former dwarven smith, nicknamed Coke, as well as a halfling cobbler (and notorious card cheat) named Rill.
"Your best hand in ten games was a high card," says the halfling cooly, in between puffs of a thick, dwarven cigar. "I'll feel bad for you, sure, but pity isn't going to get your father's belt back. Maybe your next hand will be better?" Rill says through a tight, sly smile as Coke practically vibrates in anger. "Oh, if it isn't my good friend A'ras!" Rill begins shuffling the cards in a showy way. "You haven't been out of the gates lately, have you? Find anything interesting?"
A'ras' smile vanishes at the halfling's question, but returns a moment later. "Come on, Rill. We're at a feast -- now is not the time to talk about what's beyond the gates."
"If you want a story I can tell you a story -- from happier times."
Smiling at Rill's overwhelming confidence, Gunbjorn decides maybe it's time for Coke to catch a break. It shouldn't be hard for a Drakkenhall gambling house native to turn a small time shark like Rill into a minnow.
As a child growing up on the seedier side of an all around seedy city, cheating games if chance was the whole point of games of chance.
The Monster Baru Cormorant - Seth Dickinson
Steam: Korvalain
"Good evening, Faren," Asuzan smiles. She makes room for him on the log by scooting down.
"It is a good night for a feast, but...," She lets that sentiment trail off. But what? The guilt she felt enjoying herself while people outside the wall suffered? Her apprehension that such a joyous occasion was ripe to be spoiled by further tragedy? Her shadow flickered beside her and seemed to grow and pulse as she worried.
"I think I had too much of the cobbler," is where she settled.
"Danis has really outdone himself. I doubt there is anyone in the camp who isn't grateful for a small piece of respite."
A change in the music nearly startled her as the band switched from a ballad into a waltz. Getting off of her ass and moving seemed to be what she needed to overcome her melancholy. "Faren, come. Let's have a dance."
The night air seems to still for a scant few seconds as Rill reveals a bit of his past, but then the music starts again. It appears a number of couples asked for something a bit more formal.
Gunbjorn notices immediately that his hand has been tampered with, seeing as he has already put the Ace of Clubs up his sleeve. Rill hasn't seemed to have made you yet, and Coke is too busy staring daggers at the shortest man at the table to notice you. A simple bump of the table could switch your hands...
Faren was about to comment about the foot, particularly the amounts that he had recently consumed, when Asuzan changed the subject suddenly on him. Let's have a dance.
Faren froze. His profession dealt in carefully stepping through the wilderness to track others while leaving no trace behind himself. His weapon of choice required a high level of dexterity to be able to accurately defend himself and others. And yet, with all of this, he never quite had figured out dancing.
Something about the rhythm required to move carefully in time with music.....it just never clicked. "I, uh, well...that is." How could he explain this in a way that wasn't embarrassing. He wracked his brain for a response but the awkwardness of the moment let the words slip before he had a chance to fight them. "Alright."
A few moments on the dance floor revealed that Asuzan's dance talents were not going to win any competitions. Her enthusiasm outstripped her skill by a wide margin. Still, she managed to lead Faren by counting to three and turning in time to the music. It felt good to simply move and following the rhythm kept Asuzan from thinking too much about the state of the world and the possibility of attack.
As the song ended, she thanked Faren for being a good sport and decided that she would have that second glass of wine. "Let's find A'ras," she suggested, "I wouldn't mind hearing one of his songs before the night ends."
Luckily, with a party like this, it wasn't hard to find a distracting moment, in this case a drunken reveler knocking into the table, spilling Rill's beer. While everyone was busy cursing and scrambling to wipe off the table, Gunbjorn set Coke's hand up nice, leaving him set to sweep the board. A pity that A'ras would be losing in the exchange, but, well, that wouldn't be news to anyone.
The Monster Baru Cormorant - Seth Dickinson
Steam: Korvalain
"Sorry to hear that" A'ras said as he threw a few more coins into the pot, barely looking at his cards. He grabbed a beer off a passing tray and set it down in front of Rill.
"I suppose compared to that, this would be an improvement."
Gunbjorn, aware of the outcome before the bidding started, folds quickly. A'ras bets more heavily, still not looking at his hand (consisting of a pair of threes), while Coke begins taking off pieces of clothing to match Rill's pile of coinage.
The mostly-naked dwarf locks his steel-grey eyes onto Rill as the halfling reveals his hand. A'ras tries to match Coke's intensity, but despite his best efforts in dramatism, he is entirely ignored. "Full house, kings and aces" says the smug halfling as he reaches for the pile on the table. The dwarf looks dejected and defeated, until he realizes he's won. "Ah-HAH!" he explodes, nearly upsetting the table a second time. "READ 'EM AND WEEP, YA' SHARK!" Coke yells as he throws down four twos on the table.
Rill blinks, defeated, and lets down his arms at his side. Coke's elation turns back to anger as he sees a slew of cards fall out of Rill's sleeves. "Why you little-" the dwarf starts as Rill grabs a pile of clothing and gold off the table and runs, being chased down by the raging dwarf in a loin cloth.
Faren and Asuzan spot the two running, and look back to see Gunbjorn and A'ras sitting at the table.
The Monster Baru Cormorant - Seth Dickinson
Steam: Korvalain
Asuzan was clearly leading as they danced, but Faren wasn't sure what he did could have been considered following. Only his natural grace allows him to avoid stepping on her feet and his attempts to follow the rhythm were poor at best.
She suggested finding A'ras and he agreed, but a commotion nearby found the high elf for them. Approaching the table, another large imposing figure sat with the elf.
"A'ras, Gunbjorn. Greetings to you both." Faren took a seat but didn't touch the cards that were still scattered.
A'ras watches the chase with interest until Faren and Asuzan arrived. "Even in these dark times we can still find light stories to tell, I suppose" he says to no one in particular. In his head he was trying to compose a poetic rhyme for "loin cloth."
He smiles at the two new arrivals and gestures at the table, "Our game appears to have ended, but we could start a friendlier game -- maybe a round of Chase the Elk? Or..." he trails off, distracted by the sound of breaking glass as Coke sideswipes a crowd of revelers in his chase.
However, ever the outlier in the group, Faren looks skyward and notices smoke. Not the normal kind, of kindling and fresh cut logs, nor the deadly rush of wildfire, but the thick, tar-black smoke of that which is not meant to burn.
As his eyes drifted skyward, all of that ended immediately. There was smoke above, the deep, dark smoke that indicated that tar was burning along with it. With a bit of effort, his nose picked out the scent, one that was just off the normal smell of burning legs that washed over the feast.
"Something's wrong." His voice softly broke the silence among the four of them, his hand raised skyward as he stood to his feet. "There."
Asuzan sighs a little to herself. She had hoped her fears of danger and guilt over worrying throughout the party would be ill-founded, but now it seemed that they may be confirmed. Still, she steels herself and projects confidence. Grasping her staff and checking in briefly on her shadow, she echoes A'ras's sentiment, "We are needed."
Watching as the group gathers themselves for what can only be the ever anticipated "fun," Gunbjorn gathers up the deck of cards, and hands some a copper to haul all the stuff Rill and Coke left behind back to Cokes tent.
"Well gents, and lady. Looks like its time to get a little rowdy."
The Monster Baru Cormorant - Seth Dickinson
Steam: Korvalain
YOU FIND THE KITCHEN TENT SMOLDERING, in the distance. A straight shot from where you are now, you thank the heavens that the blaze hasn't spread. Sprinting towards the kitchen, you hear the moans of the injured before you see them, men and women badly burnt and apparently gored by beasts. You think to stop and help them, but hear a familiar voice coming from behind crate.
MO'OOR'S BODY LAYS BROKEN ON THE GROUND, the warrior's arms are bruised and bleeding, with fingers missing, and her legs are broken and lay at odd angles. You rush to aid her, but only now see her worst wounds as her belly has been split and stained with dark blood. Somehow still clinging to conciousness, she moans. "Behind you."
A TERRIBLE BEAST OF ASH AND FIRE TEARS ITSELF INTO VIEW, flanked by a number of small beasts made of tusks and fur. Skinned bare and roasted, the giant monster squeals in rage as the coals in its belly fall to the ground and smoke billows out its nose. You've found Billy's surprise.
Initiative for the Undead Boar
Geth, roll 1d20+8
Initiative for the Boar's Host
Geth, roll 1d20+2
Roll Initiative.
edit: My bad. Subtract 1, so 14.
Geth roll 1d20+2 for initiative
Geth roll 1d20+2 for Quick to Fight
The Monster Baru Cormorant - Seth Dickinson
Steam: Korvalain
The massive zombie boar charges at Gunbjorn, goring him with his tusks.
Geth, roll 1d20+7 for AC: 8 damage.
Burning coals and ash spread everywhere as he charges, covering Gunbjorn.
Geth, roll 1d20+7 for PD: 5 ongoing damage.
8 Wild Boar Mooks - 48/48
The apparently living wild boarlings charge about the back line, attacking your legs and belly with their tusks as they run by.
Faren:
Geth, roll 1d20+7 for AC: 4 ongoing damage
Geth, roll 1d20+7 for AC: 4 ongoing damage
Geth, roll 1d20+7 for AC: 4 ongoing damage
Asuzan:
Geth, roll 1d20+7 for AC: 4 ongoing damage
Geth, roll 1d20+7 for AC: 4 ongoing damage
A'ras:
Geth, roll 1d20+7 for AC: 4 ongoing damage
Geth, roll 1d20+7 for AC: 4 ongoing damage
Geth, roll 1d20+7 for AC: 4 ongoing damage
25 vs AC for 8 damage
13 vs PD for 5 ongoing damage
Faren:
20 vs AC for 4 ongoing damage
27 vs AC for 8 ongoing damage (Crit)
19 vs AC for 4 ongoing damage (killed by Faran)
Asuzan:
19 vs AC for 4 ongoing damage
26 vs AC for 4 ongoing damage
A'ras:
15 vs AC for 4 ongoing damage
9 vs AC for 4 ongoing damage
21 vs AC for 4 ongoing damage (killed by Faran)
With a blink of his eyes A'ras vanishes from the swarm of boars and reappears a safe distance away, his violin already in hand. He begins strumming and dirt swirls in a circle around him as the music pulls magic from the air. Right as the music hits its peak and the air around him begins to vibrate, he shifts his energy forward and all the power he had gathered blasts into the furious beasts sending them flying in all directions.
Highblood Teleport so I'm Far Away from the boars. Cast Soundburst targeting as many mooks as possible.
Geth, roll 1d4 for how many times I hit the mooks
Geth, roll 1d20+5 for PD
Geth, roll 5d6+4 for damage
Faren draws his bow as the boars charge. They were getting in close, but he had enough experience in pinning targets that he wasn't overly concerned about hitting them. He raises an arrow to the string quickly and fires, targeting the boars that were charging him directly. He would clear the space around himself first, then worry about helping out his allies.
Geth, roll 1d20+5 for PD (Crit range is 18+ with First strike)
Geth, roll 1d8+4 for Damage
Staggering as the boar hits him, Gunbjorn is not off balance long. Shaking off embers and ash as he rights himself, Gunbjorn slides one of his axes from his harness, and swings at the son'bitch that had just rammed him.
Geth roll 1d6+3 for damaging the broadside of a boar.
Triggers carve an opening
The Monster Baru Cormorant - Seth Dickinson
Steam: Korvalain
Asuzan's eyes glow briefly as a golden aura surrounds her. She tries to back away but can't; so she takes a deep breath and finds her center, ready for whatever comes.
Geth roll 1d20-1 to disengage from the mooks.
Take 2 opportunity attacks as I gather focus.
Geth roll 1d20 for save 2.
Asuzan takes no opportunity attacks and gains her focus, but takes 4 damage from Aras' Sound Quake.
Gunbjorn absorbs the blow of the undead abomination, getting covered in hot ash. His weapon fails to pierce the demon's hide.
Gunbjorn takes 8 damage, and 5 Ongoing damage.
Geth, roll 1d20 for Gunbjorn Onging Damage Save (11+)
Faren takes 12 Ongoing damage.
Geth, roll 1d20 for Faren 4 Ongoing Damage Save (11+)
Geth, roll 1d20 for Faren 8 Ongoing Damage Save (11+)
Asuzan takes 12 Ongoing damage, saving for 4 Ongoing damage. Asuzan takes 8 Ongoing damage, saving for 4.
Geth, roll 1d20 for Asuzan Ongoing Damage Save (11+)
A'ras takes 4 Ongoing damage.
Geth, roll 1d20 for A'ras Ongoing Damage Save (11+)
Gunbjorn is Engaged. Faren, and Asuzan are Free. A'ras is Far Away.
Initiative Order:
1. Faren
2. Boar Monster
3. A'ras
4. Gunbjorn
5. Asuzan
Zombie Boar - 46/60
The hellboar continues to swing his tusks about, trying to tear open Gunbjorn's armor.
Geth, roll 1d20+7 for AC: 8 damage.
The ash in its belly continues to coat Gunbjorn.
Geth, roll 1d20+7 for PD: 5 ongoing damage.
Faren's shots land, and two boars fall. Before he had a chance to fire again, A'ras had taken care of the remaining boars, freeing them all except Gunbjorn.
His hand had already moved back to pull another arrow to the string, and he redirected his aim to the boar monster that was attacking Gunbjorn.
Geth, roll 1d20+5 for PD (Attacking the Boar Monster)
Geth, roll 1d8+4 for Damage