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Post by mister frau blucher on Sept 20, 2011 12:21:52 GMT -5
You continue along the easier path winding up the Western face. After several thousand yards the climb levels out into a flat stretch. The trees crowd closely here. Alert as you are, you do not notice the ragged men until you are upon them. Three of them stand up, a man, an orc and some kind of lizard-man. The human greets you with empty warmth.
“Well met, brave travelers! Here to visit the caprians at the top, eh? Or someone inside? No business of ours. Just collecting the toll for safe passage along the trail. A mere 5 silvers each and you may continue to the top. There’s a good lad.
"And, yes, there are a dozen more of us about the trees, here. Don't make us go all bow-happy on you.
"So, 5 silvers each and eight of you come to...um...er..."
The orc behind him sighs. "Forty silvers."
"Ah! Yes. Forty silvers, according to our accountant."
[If anyone wants to try looking for the others hidden in the trees, make a 4/IQ check plus Tracking and/or Stalker skill.]
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Post by blacknigel on Sept 20, 2011 12:34:19 GMT -5
(Apologies for the late reply - Monday Night Football is a cruel mistress)
Khanmahtt replying to Norx, “I think you and I could climb that path, but the others should not even try without our help. The winding path should be our choice.”
Khanmahtt privately replying to Enyeto, “If there is a Hue-man word to describe the users of magic, “Strange” is the one I know best. I am more at home with sleight of hand tricks than true conjuring, but have seen that some magic is not evil. Why he is familiar to you I do not know, but I smelled no fear-stink on him when he approached. That alone doesn’t make him a friend, so let’s be cautious until he proves otherwise.”
Once the party begins their walk down the easier path, and he sees Tembo engage Shadout in conversation, Rrowullh falls into step next to Reynaldo.
Trying to keep his tone of voice private and his actions nonchalant he begins, “If this Shadout is as he appears, his Magic can be valuable to us in many ways, but we should be wary of any costs. Your party now has many more skills to call upon than when you took up this adventure. Skills that the Broken Cask may or may not know you have on hand.” He shoots a look in Norx’s direction. “Has your friend said anything more about where he was during the fight? Or did the Victrolian drink slam his brains?”
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Post by blacknigel on Sept 20, 2011 12:38:32 GMT -5
[If anyone wants to try looking for the others hidden in the trees, make a 4/IQ check plus Tracking and/or Stalker skill.] [Not sure I follow the syntax here. Is it a straight 4/IQ? or a roll against those skills? Or is it a 4/IQ with a +1 modifier if you have one of those skills? Khanmahtt has both Tracker and Stalker is that 4/IQ+2? ]
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Post by mister frau blucher on Sept 20, 2011 12:42:16 GMT -5
[If anyone wants to try looking for the others hidden in the trees, make a 4/IQ check plus Tracking and/or Stalker skill.] [Not sure I follow the syntax here. Is it a straight 4/IQ? or a roll against those skills? Or is it a 4/IQ with a +1 modifier if you have one of those skills? Khanmahtt has both Tracker and Stalker is that 4/IQ+2? ] The syntax is defined in the rules, dude! There are 2 kinds of checks: "x/IQ (or x/dx) against a skill"; or "x/IQ plus skill" The first you may only attempt if you have the skill. The second you may attempt regardless of skill, but you may add the skill level to the check. So yes, 4/IQ +2 for Khanmaht. Read "Skills" in the rules, amigo!
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Post by blacknigel on Sept 20, 2011 16:44:48 GMT -5
[Yeah I boned that one up. I remembered the difference, but couldn't remember which one was which, and didn't have a copy of the rules at work.]
Rrowullh hopes the ruffian is lying but doesn't see any sign of other archers. (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3191114/ rolled an adjusted 11 against a 9 IQ)
Khanmahtt opens his senses looking for any hint of the mentioned archers but maybe the wind is against him. He can't prove the ruffian is bluffing. (http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3191117/ rolled an adjusted 12 against 8 IQ) He shakes his head in disgust, and his ears start twitching.
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Post by blackjack on Sept 20, 2011 19:43:31 GMT -5
Shadout ever so slowly backs toward the nearest tree.
Enyeto slowly pulls both tomahawks from his belt.
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Post by Lord Inar on Sept 23, 2011 12:30:43 GMT -5
Sorry all, I've been on a business trip. "A bit steep in these troubled times, don't you think? We do appreciate your efforts to keep the pass clear of ruffians, however and would gladly pay you 8 silvers, one per person for your troubles." Reynaldo keeps his distance but keeps his hands free to demonstrate his good will. He does, however, notice the positioning of his companions as he feels this will be important very soon. He does not however see any of the potential hidden foes. Tembo nods at his companions and carefully puts his hand on his mace, ready to draw at a moments notice (unless they already have theirs drawn). He is standing behind and to the left of Reynaldo. Knowing that spotting things is not really his forte, he gives a cursory glance and doesn't see anything. Rolls: invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3195156/invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/3195176/
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Post by mister frau blucher on Sept 26, 2011 10:37:55 GMT -5
The human shuffles from one foot to the other as he glances around your party, then turns to the orc behind him. The orc shrugs. The lizardman growls a bit - you are not sure if it is actual communication, but the human says, "That is a good point, Chewie."
He turns back to Reynaldo. "Tough times, as you say, good sir. Very well. You are getting a tremendous bargain, but perhaps you will spread word of Lord Dougie's magnamimousness, eh? Eight silvers it is, and have a wonderful time in the montain."
[8 Silvers change hands.]
"Oh, beware of the rocktrolls another several thousand yards up the slope. They guard a bridge over an old gorge; it is the only way to progress up the mountain. Though I have heard that their cave contains an old passage leading inside, so you can storm their home if you would prefer to bypass the goaties at the top.
"If you do that, however, you will miss the goblins' camp. Those worthies truly know how to party! Should you pay the trolls' fee and continue up the mountain - or slay them and continue up, no business of mine - be sure to give my regards to the goblin king, Lord Yobs!"
[Assuming you each pay one silver, they step aside and smile politely as you walk past. If you want to ask any final questions of this guy before proceeding, ask now, otherwise we will continue along the trail.]
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Post by Lord Inar on Sept 26, 2011 11:10:33 GMT -5
"Lord Dougie, you say. I most certainly will. And to show our good will, I recognize that information also has a price." He hands over another two silvers to make it an even 10. "Thank you, and good day." Reynaldo motions for Tembo to start up the mountain.
Reynaldo will stay until the others pass (trying to make sure he keeps himself in the position that if they were to jump somebody, he would be the likely candidate, so as not to jeopardize others for his decision.)
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Post by mister frau blucher on Sept 27, 2011 10:22:39 GMT -5
Lord Dougie smiles at the extra two silver. "Ho! Ho! A pang of guilt for the steep discount you have received, eh? Nonetheless, this is a decent outcome for all involved, I would say. May your travels be profitable, fellow adventurers!"
With that, your party passes them by. Reynaldo stays wary, but they offer no further resistance. Shortly they are well behind you as you move among the grey-misted trees.
You pass through clumps of trees and rocky ridges. All the while the path is well-marked, showing signs of at one time having been paved - but this dates probably from thousands of years ago and now consists of fractured stones.
About noon you come to a deep ravine that cuts into the mountain. There is an ancient, graven stone bridge across it. There is a cave beside the bridge, and a huge boulder is rolled across the entrance from the inside.
There is only wet silence.
If this is the bridge Lord Dougie referred to, you do not see the troll on duty.
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Post by blacknigel on Sept 27, 2011 19:30:55 GMT -5
Khanmahtt begins sizing up the stone bridge and the gorge below. [How deep is, how wide is the gorge? Is the bridge is wide enough (and possibly sturdy enough) for 2 carts to pass at the same time?]
Rrowullh turns to Reynaldo, "You certainly handled "Lord" Dougie with style. Ten silvers seems a better bargain than risking his bluff. We 8 could have handled those three, but neither I nor Khanmahtt could tell for sure if he was lying about more archers. So what value do you really place on his information? Do we hazard crossing the bridge alone or do we summon the "troll-keeper?" (He snorts and whufffles his whiskers at his own joke.)
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Post by blackjack on Sept 27, 2011 20:36:07 GMT -5
Enyeto looks over the bridge. "One of us could try to cross and see what happens." "If we are quiet we may all be able to cross without warning the trolls."
Shadout walks along the edge of the gorge, studying the bridge. Looking for anything out of the ordinary.
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Post by mister frau blucher on Sept 28, 2011 8:55:57 GMT -5
[The gorge is about 60 feet across; the arching stone bridge crossing it looks well-maintained and shows no signs of cracks or loose stones despite its uncertain antiquity. Not wide enough for two carts to pass, but three armed men abreast could cross it. The gorge itself drops for several hundred feet. Shadout's searching turns up nothing that strikes him as unusual.]
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Post by Lord Inar on Sept 28, 2011 10:22:30 GMT -5
"Thank you, Rrowullh, and yes, I'm inclined to believe that Lord Dougie is at least partially right; moreso than if he had said it was clear and open." Reynaldo brandishes his rapier. "I will cross. I would like one to go with me, a fighter, and the bowmen can watch for us. Anyone with good eyes should keep an eye under the bridge. Rrowullh, you are good in a fight, would you care to join me?"
Tembo leans over to Shadout, "Reynaldo protects the healers, but he doesn't stop them either. This mace has seen a bit of action as well."
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Post by Lord Inar on Sept 28, 2011 10:28:35 GMT -5
"Wait," Tembo walks up to Reynaldo. "I remember Mother Sara said that caprians are mostly good but there is one that is particularly untrustworthy. This would be a good place for such a one to be if Lord Dougie was right about the bridge."
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