[Completed] - Varas/Watchtowers - 8 March, 1 VC

[Keehnelf]

Round 4 Rolls:

Mr. M Initiative-
Enemy Initiative [1d6] = 5

Lieutenant Initiative-
Enemy Initiative [1d6] = 2

Lieutenant Attack-
Att [1d20+2] = 14+2 = 16, dmg [1d8+2] = 8+2 = 10

[Keehnelf]

Round 4 Summary: - March 10, 1 VC - 4:30pm

The lizard man lieutenant bears down on Dorvar and Wendall, axe raised for a mighty blow and bloodlust completely overcoming any fear he might have of far superior numbers. As he closes the gap, another arrow from Varas zips through the air, striking the lizard's hauberk and piercing it between the heart and the shoulder, sinking deep into the reptilian flesh. Dorvar quickly steps in and finishes the arrow's work, driving his sword under the mail and ending the lizard man's life before he can be a real threat.

The group, panting with adrenaline and exertion, looks about the area to take stock of the situation and sees the wolf lying casually by one of the tents, licking at his shoulder wound. The female lizard man (what a phrase) has apparently fled the scene, and all the soldiers lie dead or quickly dying. Sporadic but fading grunts of pain rise from one or two of the prone forms.

What now?

[Zhym]

Harold would offer healing to the rabbit wolf creature, but he's not sure a creature as powerful as that actually needs the meager aid Harold could offer.

"So, uh, shall we investigate the compound?"

[AleBelly]

"Well done!" cries Varas, jubilant at the party's success. "That was very impressive work, Mr. M! I feel we could learn much from you, if you're willing to part with information. Why do you guard these moors? Are there many of these evil humanoids about, etc? But before all that, I'll leave you to tend to your wounds, and thank you for leading the attack on these damnable creatures!" Varas bows to the wolf.

The tall man's eyes twinkle at the prospect of loot. He will accompany the party in searching the three tents and the bodies for valuables and clues as to the purpose of the lizard men. As they search the bodies, Varas will collect the left ears of these creatures too and string them on his leather cord. Finally, he will also try to retrieve the four arrows he fired during the course of battle - three hits and one miss.

[Zhym]

Harold also searches for his stones. Er, bullets.

[Keehnelf]

Varas is able to locate 3 of his 4 arrows--after some searching, he finds the broken shaft of the last protruding from the lieutenant's corpse.

Harold only finds two of his bullets. He finds another stone that looks like it might be a missing bullet, but in fact it's only a round stone.

[Keehnelf]

The wolf looks up at the group with languid eyes--they seem almost to smolder with suppressed heat. "Oh, there are many more. Hundreds. They come out of the sunken city to the north, but so far I've managed to keep them at bay. With each passing year, like the goblins, they become bolder, however."

He heaves his massive frame with a sigh.

"I suspect that one of the goblins' so-called Masters, whom they refer to as the Fiery Lord, is attempting to draw the lizard-men to him, to expand upon his power base and take control of this region. I don't have any evidence for that suspicion, but the behavior of the reptiles has been increasingly aggressive and organized.

"As for healing, I will gratefully accept it. It will save me a day or two of rest during which I could otherwise be hunting greenskins of various kinds."

[Zhym]

Harold heals the rabbit wolf.

Can stones be used in lieu of bullets?

[Keehnelf]

March 10, 1 VC - 4:50pm

The party ransacks the campsite, churning through everything they can in order to make off before any patrols return. They find the following items of value:

120 gold pieces in scattered denominations
An ornately-carved wooden trunk with an iron lock (locked) - would require two people to carry, has slots for carrying poles and the necessary poles.
A handful of (4) small ivory reptilian figurines, perhaps religious idols
Two silver necklaces inset with small emeralds, finely fashioned
A two-handed Battle Axe, +1, formerly wielded by the lizard man lieutenant

As the party gathers up its loot in the clearing near the middle of the campsite, the wolf warns that time is running short before trouble appears. "I would advise first traveling some miles either northeast or southwest to avoid the patrols that are likely to approach. If they catch sight of you, they will pursue."

[Keehnelf]

Cure Light Wounds [1d6+1] = 5+1 = 6

The wolf is almost entirely healed.

Yes, you can use that stone as a bullet if you prefer to use generic-brand goods.

[AleBelly]

"I have no use for the axe, but one of us should take it" suggests Varas. He scoops up the ivory figurines and necklaces and stuffs them in his backpack. "Very disappointing to not find a key to the trunk" he laments. "Can someone else grab the gold? I'll help carry this trunk to get it somewhere safe where I can take a more careful look at the lock."

Varas quickly inserts the poles into the slots and grunts as he lifts one end off the ground. "Wendall, I think you'll have to help me with this. Dorvar is too short and I think our friend Harold here is too frail."

As they gear up to leave, Varas turns again to Mr. M. "I wish we did not have to depart so quickly - I have many questions. Can you tell us how far north the sunken city is? I would surely like to join forces again in the future to wipe out some more..as you call them...greenskins. How do we find you...or will you find us?"

Addressing the rest of the party, Varas's face turns grim: "We should hurry along. If that female lizard finds a patrol she'll be able to lead them straight here."

[Keehnelf]

Mr. M nods. "The sunken city lies roughly seventy miles to the northwest, across a low-lying swampland. That is where the lizard folk call home. To tell the truth, I would prefer not to ally with anyone in activities like these again.

"Tell your Duke that if he cedes the moor to the east of his hamlet to the wolves, including the southern forest and the crystal lake, and fortifies this region against incursions of the lizard men, I will do my part to keep the goblins and their masters at bay in the north so that we all may live in some semblance of peace. I grow weary of patrolling such a large swath of land."

With that, he lopes off over the ridge to the northeast.

[Zhym]

"From what I've heard of the duke, he wont be keen on ceding anything," Harold tells the empty air where the wolf just stood. "Even if it would be in his best interests."

Harold knows he'd be no help lifting the chest.

"Let's get out of here," he says.

Southwest?

[OGRE MAGE]

Wendall grabs on to the trunk poles and tests its weight.

I will help carry this for as long as I hold out. Maybe once we get it opened we can lighten the load if there are items inside that are of little or no value to us?

[AleBelly]

Wendall's words make Varas think. "I think I'll try to pick this lock now. This chest may slow us down too much. The patrols may have an easier time catching us if we 're trying to carry this thing."

Varas suspects the lock is trapped, since the lizard men had no keys and it remains locked. He'll check the lock for traps. If he finds none, he'll carry the chest with Wendall, heading southwest per Harold's suggestion.

[Keehnelf]

March 10, 1 VC - 5:00pm

Varas checks the chest over for traps but finds nothing suspicious.

Varas [1d100] = 76

Before you leave this location:

No one has declared they're taking either the cash or the axe--if you've updated your sheet to add an item, please also declare in-thread. Even if the wealth is irrelevant, leaving those behind amounts to almost 300 lost xp per character (only time I'll remind).

[AleBelly]

I think Scott's limited this weekend. Dorvar is the most likely to use the axe, so can we assume he takes it? As for the gold maybe Harold can take it since he isn't carrying anything?

[Keehnelf]

BtB dwarves can't use two-handed weapons but after considering for a bit, I'll allow battle axes.

Let's assume Dorvar has grabbed it for now.

[Zhym]

Harold will grab the cash if no one else does.

[Keehnelf]

March 11, 1 VC - 7:00am

The party travels southwest at top speed until just after dark, hoping to escape the notice of any lizard man patrols. They are fortunate, and see no sign of any enemies. The night also passes uneventfully.

Random Wilderness Encounter [1d6] = 4

In the morning, the party has a bit more leisure to inspect and/or make a try at opening the chest. If their estimates are correct, they are approaching the southwest edge of the same hex.

All party members please deduct one day's rations and add loot from the day before to your character sheets if you have not already done so.