Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Outside the Dungeon

Early morning, July 31 by Kingdom Reckoning

You exit the dungeon after a short rest in one of the vestibules on the stairs out of the place. Twiggy's password again works to open the ground up and you exit into the fresh air, feeling happy to be in the wide world again.

You begin to make your way north and east, back toward the mountains, with your original plan of skirting North and rounding the range back to Bremel. Kumo and Draymun and Tom all spread out in front of the party, looking for a trail, looking for water, looking for civilization, looking for the horses. You trudge 10 miles through sand up to your ankles and scrub brush that cuts at your hands. By 5 pm the party is exhausted and you begin looking for a decent place to camp but before you decide on a spot, you see at a distance of 200 feet, a group of horses and riders, back lit by the setting sun.

29 comments:

  1. "Twiggy," Thorvald says, turning to his elven friend. "Perhaps you can gain their trust with a song and dance. It might do us well to find some allies - and perhaps some horses - in these rough lands."

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  2. Rayla smiles encouragingly at Twiggy. "This group may be able to help us. Choose your words carefully and maybe we can get our horses back."

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  3. Draymun motions for Kumo to swing around in an attempt to catch a better view of the oncoming horsemen in an attempt to better assess the situation.

    //Stay alert, but don't look aggressive. The last thing we need is to pick a needless fight, my furry friend.//

    (( I've decided that // will be my marker for silent communication with Kumo, just so that I can add some dialogue and make it more interesting than hand-gestures. That okay with you, Sam? ))

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    1. That works great for me.

      Can I get a Bluff check from Kumo? d20 + his Charisma + your level.

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    2. He manages to appear unthreatening.

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  4. Shade puts up his hood and moves behind the bear to partially obscure himself from sight.

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    1. Can I get a Stealth check from you? I'll give you a +2 from Kumo.

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  5. Twiggy gives a wink to Thorvald and Rayla. "I've got just the thing," he says. "I've been working on a new song for the softer side of my repertoire..."

    Twiggy approaches the new group until he's sure they're in earshot. He calls out, "Hello, friends! We come in peace!" He launches into his song...

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2VCwBzGdPM

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    1. Thorvald follows Twiggy as he moves forward, ensuring not to stay too close. When Twiggy starts his performance, Thorvald takes a knee, to watch the show and keep an eye on the others.

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    2. Rayla will stay close to Twiggy and Thor and try not to look the least bit threatening.

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    3. As you move closer, they pull their horses closer and form a tighter circle. You do see several loose horses and you think they may be yours, but from this distance and in the failing light of dusk you just can't be positive.

      They don't attack immediately and whether they're confused or enraptured by your song, it seems to be working.

      The group of three, Twiggy, Thorvald and Rayla, are at 75 feet. I'll say Shade and Kumo are about the same, but farther to the right flank.

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  6. Tom moves back to the back of the group, taking the reigns of the mule from Rayla as he passes. He drops the reigns on the ground and steps on one end. Holding his bow at his side, he studies the horses.

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  7. As Twiggy finishes his song, Thorvald takes a trail ration out of his pack and pulls it open, taking a bite from the hard tack.

    "We are about to start first supper," Thor called out to the riders on the hill, shouting as clearly as he's able, "Come, join us and share in our food."

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  8. Rayla joins Thor. Making sure her to face the group and show her movements openly she pulls a few bits of brush and dried grass together. After sparking a fire she digs out her pot and gets some coffee going. "Come join us," she calls.

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  9. The figures stir and one guides his horse forward a few feet. Still at a distance, he calls in a gruff yet high-pitched voice, "what you have to eat there?"

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  10. "Well," Thor called back, pausing to take another bite out of his hard tack. "We've got trail rations and Iron Rations, and enough to share!"

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  12. Rayla looks up from her preparations. "As soon as I get this coffee going I'll see if I can find a little bite bacon."

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  13. With a little more time you're able to pick out 11 riders on 7 horses as well as 3 loose horses. Some of the riders are doubled up and some ride single. They seem much to small to be on regular sized horses but they seem comfortable on them. The distance is still to great to make out their race or any other decoration.

    They seem to be undecided and two of the riders are milling about nervously. The one you've picked out as the leader is arguing heatedly with them until he barks out a sharp order and they back off. He pulls his horse away from the group and turns toward Thorvald.

    "Trade, barter or swap?" he calls.

    Anyone with Knowledge Local or Knowledge Religion can make a check to see if this phrase is familiar to you.

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    1. ((Knowledge Religion Roll: 1d20 + ???
      ((16 + ???
      ((Sorry, not sure what to add. My Int and Wis modifiers are both 1. My level is 3.

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    2. (Looks like a 20?)

      Thorvald you recall hearing about a minor deity named Kygarus who is worshiped by nomads. He is the god of wanderers and the balanced scale. His alignment is neutral. Worshipers of Kygarus are generally interested in trade and fairness. It's offensive to offer them something without receiving something of equal value.

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  14. "Trade," Thor hollered back at the diminutive riders. "Our horses were scattered to the four winds and Thunor has not blessed our search. With Kygarus' blessings, perhaps we can reach an agreement that is both fair and profitable for all of us. We offer you a meal as part of our trade, in good faith. Perhaps an equitable exchange of rations would lay the foundation for our venture..."

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  15. "Come join us around the fire." Rayla gets the coffee going and then turns to her pack. She digs out some bacon and cuts a piece, then turns back to the fire and slices bacon into her skillet. Smiling, she motions them toward the fire. "I have coffee and bacon started. Come share a meal with us."

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  16. 5 of the riders dismount, one of them rummaging in his saddlebags before climbing down. The leader joins them and beckons another rider from the middle of the pack. These 7 approach about 20 feet and you can begin to make out that they are halflings. The one the leader called, a larger male wearing robes and a leather helmet steps forward and raises his hand toward the main party and begins to chant.

    They are about 55 feet away from Thorvald and Rayla and the "camp". They are almost equal with Shade and Kumo and still about 70 feet from them.
    What is the party's reaction?

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    1. Shade will watch and try to discern the actions of their leader. ((Roll 13 + 2 (lvl) ))

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    2. (I probably wasn't clear. The one who is raising his hand isn't the one you've determined is the leader. Not that it matters, just clarifying.)

      Shade thinks it's a spell, but it's not one he recognizes.

      The rest of the party can act, but the spell will go off before Shade can act again.

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    3. Rayla will stand and watch curiously but take no action.

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