IC II

[rremedio]

The Cleric of Leptar

The prisoner's dour expression lightens when he sees Meagnor enter the corridor of cells. With a furtive glance at the guard standing impassively by he motions the elf forward. "Thank the Sly One you're hear! Those fellows you handed me over to are the town guards, you fool! Are you going to help me escape?"

Meagnor the Elf stays close to the prisoner, saying: "The chest is secured. But I'm also in danger after these men caught you, my friend. I'll get you out of here soon, but I need you to take me because it's not safe for me to stay in this city anymore. I'm afraid I'm going to jail too if I stay here in this town. Where are you going to deliver the chest? May I go with you?"

[thirdkingdom]

The Cleric of Leptar

The prisoner's dour expression lightens when he sees Meagnor enter the corridor of cells. With a furtive glance at the guard standing impassively by he motions the elf forward. "Thank the Sly One you're hear! Those fellows you handed me over to are the town guards, you fool! Are you going to help me escape?"

Meagnor the Elf stays close to the prisoner, saying: "The chest is secured. But I'm also in danger after these men caught you, my friend. I'll get you out of here soon, but I need you to take me because it's not safe for me to stay in this city anymore. I'm afraid I'm going to jail too if I stay here in this town. Where are you going to deliver the chest? May I go with you?"

The Cleric of Leptar

The prisoner leans even closer and casts a furtive gaze at the guard. "The sun sets above the grave of three honest men. Look to the king of the forest!"

[rremedio]

The Cleric of Leptar

The prisoner leans even closer and casts a furtive gaze at the guard. "The sun sets above the grave of three honest men. Look to the king of the forest!"

Meagnor the Elf nods, pretending he understood the message. "Will the low man on the totem pole meet you for the chest in person? I'd like to offer my services to his cause."

[thirdkingdom]

The cleric says nothing else of interest, but instead tries to make nervous small talk involving people and places he seems to assume the two have in common.

[Finglas]

Bregalad the elf

Does Quinthos have a horse of his own? If not, then Bregalad will offer to purchase one for him.

Quinthos does not have a mount, and thanks Bregelad profusely for the gift. "Now we shall all be able to move faster than an elf could walk, and thus will reach my village much more quickly!"

Bregalad the elf

Bregalad sets off quickly to purchase and outfit a horse, and then returns to Quinthos.

He buys a horse (75gp), saddle and tack (25gp), saddle bags (5gp), 1-weeks worth of dried rations (15gp), and a waterskin (1gp), and this time remembers to include a 5 gold piece tip. (126gp spent in total, which I will update tonight on Bregalad's character sheet)

"Here, Quinthos. Like you, I am anxious to set off, and make for your village with all haste. The extra rations and water will make it so that we will not need to stop and forage for food."

[sulldawga]

Marodin finds that Black Kate is enjoying the festival. She is tall and wiry, with brownish skin and an infectous smile. She would be stunningly beautiful were it not for the fact that most of her nose is missing. "Bastard bit it off, back when I was in fighting in the ring", she says, upon noticing Marodin's look, "These are the first days I've had off in months, priest. Tell you what, though. I'll teach you what you want, when you return. It'll cost you 250 gold, at that."

Marodin the Cleric nods in agreement. "It's a deal. I'll pay some of the fee now, so you can more easily enjoy your days off." He'll leave her with 25 gold.

Marodin retrieves his warhammer without a hitch. On his way back he stops by the temple to donate some old equipment and tithe some of his treasure. Father Varis catches him before he leaves. "You'd asked about taking on an apprentice? I've got two candidates for you, if you want to come see." He leads Marodin into a back room off the church, where a number of novices are polishing silver candlesticks. "Rugard, Semele, could you come with us, please?"

Rugard is a cheerful teenage boy with curly red hair and freckles. Semele looks tough and capable, the way the middle child in a large family often looks, accustomed to fighting for food and attention. Both stare at Marodin hungrily. It is obvious that stories of the cleric and his deeds have spread to those in the church, as well as the fairgrounds.

Black Kate reaction roll: (2d6=9). Refer to page 145 for training costs. Black Kate will add 25% to the base chance. Based on the errands he is running, he can practice with his weapon by himself for six hours today. Let me know if you want to do that.
Two henchman candidates: Both are 1st level clerics. All ability scores start at 9, modified by 1 roll of 1d12-6. Note that a negate roll doesn't modify the base score down. Str, Int, Wis, Dex, Con and Cha.
Rugard:1d12-6=1, 1d12-6=1, 1d12-6=5, 1d12-6=0, 1d12-6=4, 1d12-6=3 10, 10, 14, 9, 13, 12. HP: 1d6+1=2
Semele:1d12-6=1, 1d12-6=-2, 1d12-6=4, 1d12-6=4, 1d12-6=5, 1d12-6=-4. 10, 9, 13, 13, 14, 9. HP:1d6+1=2

Go ahead and make one an offer, if you would like. Refer to the House Rules section for my recommended minimum offerings.

The cleric looks both of the lads over and points to Semele.

"I'll wager that both of you are equal in your knowledge of the Church. So I'll take the bigger one. Life is tough outside these walls. I'm thinking you'll get a quarter share of any treasure our group finds, plus I'll pay you a monthly wage of 50 gold. What say you?"

Assuming the boy agrees...
Marodin will ask Father Varis about equipment for Semele.

"He'll need some mail and a weapon. If the equipment I've recently donated is already spoken for, just let me know and I'll get the lad set up myself. It would be great if you could spare a pony for him but I can deal with that as well. And here, take this gold. Hopefully it will ease the strain on the church after losing such a fine acolyte."

Marodin will give Varis a 50 gp donation as thanks for helping him recruit Semele.

If Semele can get equipment from the Church, Marodin will spend the rest of the day training with his warhammer. If not, he'll go about purchasing armor, weapons, and basic equipment, as well as a riding horse, for his new henchman. He'll tell the boy to spend the rest of the day getting his affairs in order, and then to meet him at the Inn that evening.

[rremedio]

The cleric says nothing else of interest, but instead tries to make nervous small talk involving people and places he seems to assume the two have in common.

Meagnor the Elf nods in agreement with anything the cleric says. Then, when he gets the first chance, he says goodbye and promises to comeback.

[thirdkingdom]

Rugard accepts the offer-- perhaps without the enthusiasm that Marodin might have expected -- nodding his head rapidly and muttering a quick thank you. Father Varis interjects, "Thank you for your offering, but I am afraid we do not have the resources to equip the lad here. That is typically something you, as his employer, must do."

Rolled a 9 on the boy's reaction roll. Accept. Semele is, of course, the girl.
Once Rugard is kitted out does anyone else have anything to finish the day with, or shall we move on to the 12th?

[rremedio]

Rolled a 9 on the boy's reaction roll. Accept. Semele is, of course, the girl.
Once Rugard is kitted out does anyone else have anything to finish the day with, or shall we move on to the 12th?

I should have added this to the previous post.

Meagnor the Elf will look for Father Varis. If he can find him, he will tell the father about the riddle and ask if he knows what it means. He will also add that even charmed, the prisoner wouldn't tell if Elwyn was set to meet him in person, or send someone else to do that.

[Bouv]

Tratiln takes a small break from his studies to grab a bit to eat and drink downstairs at the inn and will go wander around the town for a bit. In the morning, Tratiln will memorize Sleep.

@tk - still new to playing a spellcaster. So am I doing this correctly, Tratiln wasn't successful in learning Rainbow Attack so is going to try to spend another 6 hours studying it before going to bed and in the morning memorizing his new spell for the day? Or do spellcasters memorize at night and then rest?

[frobozz]

Lanny the elf

Drudsa the dabbler
"Thank you Lanny, and indeed Shield would be an useful incantation to have at hand in our travels. Let me know if you wish to study any of the spells in my books. I will remain studying here and will be ready to leave once everyone else is ready."

Drudsa will scribe Shield from Lanny's scroll as suggested. If there was any time Drudsa dedicated for study before speaking with Lanny he would have been studying Ventriloquism.

Lanny gives Drudsa his scroll to scribe, glancing over at the spellbook Drudsa is studying.

"Ventriloquism... now that is a spell I would like to learn some day, for it complements nicely the spell of Invisibility. To trick the senses of both sight and sound will help one to remain undetected... But not today, Drudsa, for there is much on my mind..."

Lanny waits for the report from Meagnor about the prisoner, and then spends the remainder of his day wandering around the fairgrounds, deep in thought about the party's next step against Elwyn...

[thirdkingdom]

Meagnor the Elf will look for Father Varis. If he can find him, he will tell the father about the riddle and ask if he knows what it means. He will also add that even charmed, the prisoner wouldn't tell if Elwyn was set to meet him in person, or send someone else to do that.

Father Varis

"Hmmm. That does not sound familiar, but I will relay it to the temples in the area to see if anyone knows more than I."

Remember, charm just means the target regards the caster as a close friend. It does not mean the target will trust the caster implicitly.

Thaumont 12, AC 1000

The adventurers wake to another beautiful spring day. Last minute preparations are made, saddles cinched and audieus are bidden. The companions ride out of town and back along what is becoming the familiar western trail. Not long after leaving the main road and entering the hill country the party comes around a bend in the path to see a pair of wolves lying to the side of the trail, gnawing on a half-eaten deer carcass. It appears to be the same two wolves that paced the party on their previous trip. They seem intent on their meal and do not notice the party immediately.

Weather: (1d20=9, 1d20=5, 1d20=3)
Random encounter (1-2 on 1d6): (1d6=2). Yes.
Type of encounter:1d8=1, 1d100=63. Animal, wolf. Huh. Reaction roll: (2d6+1=5). Huh. Surprise, PCs first, then wolves. Surprise on 1-2: (1d6=6, 1d6=1). Wolves are surprised. I am not rolling for the number of wolves appearing as we have already encountered two wolves.

[frobozz]

Lanny the elf

Lanny wakes at dawn to begin his preparations for the day. Before leaving town, he makes two stops. His first stop is to see the armorer.

"My friend, here is the 20 gold pieces I promised you, for completing my friend Tratiln's plate mail armor on time. And another 5 gold pieces for providing me with the location of the orc caves. You have proven yourself a valuable source of information. We are leaving town again this morning... Please keep your eyes and ears open, especially within the next week or so. If you pick up any rumors in the tavern, particularly regarding any questionable clerics or magic-users in the area, please let me know when we return to town. I shall of course return here for an 'armor adjustment'. Farewell my friend..."

- - - - -

Lanny's final stop is at the western gate, where he asks to speak to the captain on duty.

"Sir... My adventuring company has had the good fortune of finding great wealth in our short time together. As an aspiring member of the Duke's Elvenguard, it is my passion, and indeed my duty, to support fellow guard units stationed throughout this great country of ours. Your men not only helped us to secure the prisoners we captured, but they also protect Threshold and keep it safe both day and night from invasion. They deserve the best armor and weapons that money can provide. Therefore, I would like to make a donation to the Threshold Town Guard in the amount of 500 gold pieces. Please use it to repair or replace their armor or weapons, and kindly give each man a small bonus. If anyone asks, please tell them it is a gift of thanks from 'Aleena's Alliance'. Farewell my friend..."

Memorized Magic Missile. @TK: What are the names of the armorer and the captain of the town guard that Lanny would have encountered this morning? @Everyone: Just FYI, town guards and similar units will be Lanny's preferred "charity of choice" when it comes to making contributions towards his XP Reserve.

I will post about the wolves a little later tonight.

[Bouv]

Tratiln has a slight grin on his face as they ride past the wolves, seeing that they have finally been successful in their own hunting and takes it as a good sign for the day. However, he does keep a day's ration close at hand, just in case they feel the deer isn't enough for them.

Quinthos, we've encountered those wolves once before and they were a bit more hungery that first time. Since you desire to stay out of the caves, I would just let you be warned of those wolves, especially watching the horses. Perhaps we'll rig some stuff up to help protect your and the horses before we venture into those caves.

[thirdkingdom]

The armorer, Mandos, and gate guard, Quintas, are both extremely pleased with Lanny's generosity. Both men assure the elf that he will be the first to be notified of any interesting rumors or tales they hear.

That's the kind of money being thrown around that I like to see!

[rremedio]

Father Varis

"Hmmm. That does not sound familiar, but I will relay it to the temples in the area to see if anyone knows more than I."

Meagnor thanks Father Varis before leaving, then visits the Moneychanger's Guild for a small deposit.

tk, if Quinthos won't accept Meagnor's scale mail, Meagnor will offer it to Marodin to equip his henchman. Meagnor will deposit 125gp plus his sword and short bow (4gp tax) which he intents to sell or donate later.

--------------------------

While passing near the wolves, Meagnor stays ready for using his bow. He is quite apprehensive for entering the caves and finally facing combat in this new adventuring life.

[frobozz]

Lanny the elf

"Keep moving and keep the horses calm, gentlemen. Let's give these wolves a wide berth..."

Lanny readies an arrow in his bow and will fire if the wolves attack.

[zebediah]

Drudsa the dabbler prepares his daily spells, goes fetch Sugarfoot and leaves for the caves with the team.

[thirdkingdom]

The companions skirt cautiously around the two wolves, who look up from their meal, bare their teeth and snarl, but seem disinclined to challenge such a large group, stinking of metal and magic.

The party arrives at the caves just after noon, encountering no further incidents. From the valley floor nothing appears to have changed.

By the way, congratulations, guys! I see that although thus is one of the newer games we no boast the second higher post count. Let's keep up the good work.

[rremedio]

Meagnor the Elf

"My friends, where did you leave the horses last time you entered this caves? Are we going to use the same spot this time?"