Chapter I: Damring Fortress, Part 1

[sulldawga]

Agrom has Fighter 4. So 4d + 1d for Harlan's help? Plus one success at the end? I am going to use my Thoughtful trait against myself for -1d.

Post-roll edit: Not that it's going to matter in the end with those rolls!

Agrom recognizes the shift in tactics from the crows, thanks to Harlan's quick warning, but he's slow to slide his shield over to the new angle, fearing that more birds will come once he turns his attention away.

[1d6] = 5, [1d6] = 5, [1d6] = 4, [1d6] = 5

[sulldawga]

Shouldn't Agrom also get +1d for being Fresh?

[Simon]

I would think so...but I also think they only had three disposition, so it would be irrelevant.

[sulldawga]

I would think so...but I also think they only had three disposition, so it would be irrelevant.

Cool, just asking for "understanding the rules" purposes. I think we killed that particular check regardless.

[Keehnelf]

Yup, you would have had a +1D for fresh there. Update later with details.

[Simon]

I would think so...but I also think they only had three disposition, so it would be irrelevant.

Cool, just asking for "understanding the rules" purposes. I think we killed that particular check regardless.

Hell yeah we did. Way to go dudes!

[Keehnelf]

12 Brightmorn, 814 - Turn 4 - The Ancient Ruined Stair

After a brief scuffle with the birds, the party finds itself with not one but two of the creatures unconscious and the rest driven off by their surprise assault. They quickly set to work binding both birds with rope so that they will not be able to escape and prepare to return to the kobold's lair.

As they make plans, one of the crows regains consciousness. Hanging upside-down from a length of cord attached to a hook on the wall, the crow makes no sound and gives no sign of struggle. Its dark eyes simply pop open and its head flicks back and forth as it calmly looks from one member of the party to the next.

What do you do?

---
Party Status:
Harlan, Atop the stair and Fresh with Candle and Sling in Hand (1 Turn remaining) (2 Checks)
Raizenbrayne, Fresh with Torch and Dagger in Hand (1 Turn remaining)
Agrom, Fresh with Sword and Shield in Hand (Lit by 'Brayne's Torch) (1 Check)

[Starbeard]

Raizenbrayne, Who Is Unforeseen

Raizenbrayne throws out an aggressive shout as he leaps up toward the fleeing crows, slashing at the air with his torch and dagger. His erratic attacks force the draping, Byzantine cuffs of his sleeves to jounce about and fly up in his face, causing him to stab more wildly at crows that are not there.

Some seconds after the surrounding commotion has already died down, the wizard finally lays off his frenetic assault to jerk his sleeves and slipped hat out of his face, out of breath and dusgruntled.

'Well, that showed them what for. Did we catch any? Ah, good!'

He dashes over to the caught crow with the steely eyes and peers directly into its face, close enough to touch nose to beak, studying its reactions and characteristics. He gives it a soft poke with his finger.

'I say, what a strange little fellow. Definitely something going on with this lot, not your ordinary crows at all. I SAY,' (to the crow), 'CAN YOU UNDERSTAND ME? Err…—WELL, NOD OR FLAP OR SOMETHING IF YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT I AM SAYING.'

[Keehnelf]

The crow blinks at Raizenbrayne.

[sulldawga]

Agrom

Well, that went about as well as it could. Why don't have a look at the 'shinies' while we're here and then head back to the shaman?

Agrom will investigate the crows' home and see if anything valuable is available.

[Simon]

Harlan Wax

Shinies! Let's have a rummage! I wonder what Chorko would give up for the amulet...

Harlan will help Agrom search through the shining mass of crow-loot.

[Keehnelf]

You'll have to scale the eight foot wall to the north to do that. Seems eminently doable, just a reminder thAt it's a different room.

[Simon]

As a player, I say we go for it. We dont have any conditions (and might still be fresh?) and haven't really extended ourselves yet. I only mention it because we might not get a chance to take a chance once the grind sets in. Also, Harlan really wants some loot.

Harlan Wax

Ag! You want to give me a leg up this wall? Maybe I can get a better look from up there.

[sulldawga]

Agrom will give Harlan a boost up the wall to have a look.

[Starbeard]

Raizenbrayne, a little disappointed that the crow didn't at least talk back or something, stands around wistfully watching Harlan disappear over the wall to go find exciting things. He occasionally cures his boredom by fidgeting with the crows to make sure they can't get away, or picking away at some creeping lichen.

Presently the heavy wooden double doors at the end of the room catch his attention. Is there light coming in from the other side? Perhaps it leads outside into the inner courtyard: he decides to go check. Taking one last glance at the crows to make sure they're secured tightly, Raizenbrayne finds a crack between two rocks where he can wedge the torch to keep Agrom and Harlan well-lit, and wanders over to see if he can peer through the large doors.

[Keehnelf]

Agrom boosts Harlan up on to the wall and his earlier impression of vast mounds of metal goods remains intact.

There are huge heaps of tarnished silver, slightly corroded iron and even a bit of half-rusted metal scattered here and there among the other, more intact items. It certainly seems worth a look--at the very least you can stuff your packs with old silver and pawn it off when you return to town. There is a heavy wooden door on the right-hand wall of the chamber standing slightly ajar (metal objects cover the floor there and would make it noisy to open or close the door more), and in the wall directly across from Harlan there is the obvious outline of the door frame set into the stone surrounding an expanse of blank wall that appears to be on the exterior of the keep structure.

Yes, somehow everyone is still Fresh since no one has earned a condition yet! Time for things to get tough, I suppose!

[Keehnelf]

Raizenbrayne, a little disappointed that the crow didn't at least talk back or something, stands around wistfully watching Harlan disappear over the wall to go find exciting things. He occasionally cures his boredom by fidgeting with the crows to make sure they can't get away, or picking away at some creeping lichen.

Presently the heavy wooden double doors at the end of the room catch his attention. Is there light coming in from the other side? Perhaps it leads outside into the inner courtyard: he decides to go check. Taking one last glance at the crows to make sure they're secured tightly, Raizenbrayne finds a crack between two rocks where he can wedge the torch to keep Agrom and Harlan well-lit, and wanders over to see if he can peer through the large doors.

Just to confirm, you're leaving behind your light source to make sure that the others are lit?

[Starbeard]

Yep. I am, after all, both Foolhardy and suffering from an adolescent immortality complex.

[Keehnelf]

Raizenbrayne wedges the torch into a gap in the wall at the base of the stair so as to avoid leaving Agrom in the dark, and drifts quietly out of the torchlight toward the southern doors. Without disturbing their position, he peers around the nearest side toward the gentle light beyond, and sees a large chamber open to the sky like all of those they've found so far. Along the opposite wall, a number of looming bookshelves stand illuminated by waves of gentle blue light emanating from a small stone that floats approximately a foot from the floor in the center of the room.

The floor here has been meticulously cleaned, and a vague impression of some kind of pattern is engraved into the middle part of the floor across an expanse of approximately ten feet. The portions of the room to the right and the left are not visible without either moving the door or attempting to slip through the opening into the space beyond. By the time Raizenbrayne has been able to take this all in, he he become aware of a vague humming sound, probably emanating from the floating stone. The light given off by the stone, while pervasive, is only Dim.

[Simon]

I've got a sneaking suspicion things are about to get very interesting.

Harlan Wax

Ha HA! Ag! Raize! Loot! Even if we can't find the damned amulet, I think it's worth our while to do a bit of rummaging. Here, Ag. Let me give you a hand up!

Harlan is eager to do some scavenging. His prime objective is to locate the amulet with the help of Agrom, but failing that he'll at least want to grab a bauble of silver or gold. Dreams of getting into the black with his debtors dance before him.