Steven Robert
United States
Altadena
California
-
This is the beginning of chapter 1 - woohoo!
It was a fretful night, but after the dreams nothing stirred in the camp.
When morning comes, Ta'el awakens to find her forearm healed. Gareth, on the other hand, is ravenous, and Kaine's voice is a weak rasp. Their conditions are worsening.
And all of you are uncomfortable, for overnight heavy clouds moved in from the west, and around daybreak the rains begin. Within an hour, it has turned into a downpour.
The group trudges through the rain, eventually finding their way onto a rough cart track leading - you believe - toward Levoca.
The going is slow, thanks to the rain and mud. Around midday you arrive at a small cluster of trees and stop for a break in the relative dryness under their canopies. You estimate it will take another few hours to reach Levoca, unless the rain lessens.
As you lay down your packs, each of you realizes that the other is humming the same melody that has been in your thoughts. Only "melody" is perhaps not quite the right word, as the patterns break and shatter as soon as you try to take hold of them.
-
Erik Berry
United States
Ellicott City
Maryland
-
"That song... where'd you hear that? I was just thinking about it, but I can't quite remember how it goes. Was it something the Kariv were playing?" Gareth says as he roots around looking for anything edible in the sheltered area.
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Unknown Ediology
United States
Tennessee
-
Kith exhales loudly as he waves a hand dismissively. Bah! Such a silly tune to be humming. The only music one needs is the rythm of a hammer pounding on metal. Oh, give me the Song of the Smith anyday over this faerie melody! Let us all forget it!
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Erik Berry
United States
Ellicott City
Maryland
-
Gareth gathers together the most edible looking things from the clearing (leaves, twigs, grass, whatever), casts a quick Purify Food and Drink on them, and begins eating. "Fine, fine..." he says between bites. Tugging his cloak closer around himself, he adds, "I've put off attending the Bear-Wakening at Griffon’s Rest for years. Nothing in my divinations predicted that I'd end up starving afterward though."
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Steven Robert
United States
Altadena
California
-
Could everybody please add TWO rolls to this post? A Perception check and a Will save. Just in case....
Expect a more substantive post later today!
-
paz AKA Matt Lewis
United Kingdom
Great Sutton
Cheshire
All hail Lord Fudge!
[PFRPG PBF Games] GMing: Crypt of the Everflame, 2x We Be Goblins! · Playing: Vestige's Margreve 'Hollow', Bearpaw's Pathfinder Society
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As the group shelters under the branches, they hear a reedy voice coming from just inside the cluster of trees: "Hello, who goes there? Do you come in peace?"
For those who roll 14+ on a Will Save:Spoiler (mouseover to reveal): You realise that this voice is not 'real'; it is created by some sort of illusory magic.
For those who roll 16+ on a Perception check:Spoiler (mouseover to reveal): You hear sounds of activity (leaves rustling and a twig snapping) some 20 ft. back within the trees, slightly off to the side of where the voice is coming from.
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Erik Berry
United States
Ellicott City
Maryland
-
Gareth freezes in place when he hears the voice. His focus quickly shifts to another spot, a bit farther back in the trees and and off to the side a bit.
He speaks to the spot that the voice issues from, but his attention remains on the deeper area. "We come only to seek brief refuge from the elements along our journey. What is your intent?"
-
Shawn McCarthy
Canada
Winnipeg
Manitoba
-
Ta'el stops near Gareth and scans off to the other side of the path, whispering "There's two nearby?" as she rolls her cloak up and pretends to fidget with her pack.
-
Unknown Ediology
United States
Tennessee
-
Kith glances at the others as they begin to talk in another direction. However, as Ta'el mentions two, Kith shakes his head. No. The voice is fake. Tis not real. It is made by some sort of magic or something. Is there another trick of the Margreve? Are there goblins nearby?
In preparation of what might be goblins, Kith wraps his hand around his axe, inching part way free. His eyes will then scan the area; darting where the others are looking.
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Matthew M Monin
United States
Branford
Connecticut
8/8 FREE, PROTECTED
513ers Assemble!
-
Rothar says - "Illusion - yes. More of the forest's tricks...nothing to pay any mind to."
While speaking, Rothar discretely gestures to the others, pointing in the direction where he heard the rustling.
He then starts climbing the closest tree to get a bird's eye view
-
paz AKA Matt Lewis
United Kingdom
Great Sutton
Cheshire
All hail Lord Fudge!
[PFRPG PBF Games] GMing: Crypt of the Everflame, 2x We Be Goblins! · Playing: Vestige's Margreve 'Hollow', Bearpaw's Pathfinder Society
-
The voice continues in response to Gareth's questions. "My intent? Oh, I'm just a traveller, exploring the forest. If you're fellow travellers, then I'll come out; wait a moment..." This is followed by the sound of someone, or something, crashing through the bushes (from the farther position), and getting nearer...
-
Steven Robert
United States
Altadena
California
-
As you all contemplate the strange voices, wolves howl off to the northwest. Those of you familiar with such things sense that the wolves are in some sort of discomfort.
-
Matthew M Monin
United States
Branford
Connecticut
8/8 FREE, PROTECTED
513ers Assemble!
-
Rothar takes note of the direction and relative distance of the howls, but first things first....he perches on a sturdy branch, prepared to tackle whatever Margreve menace comes at them through the nearby brush.
-
paz AKA Matt Lewis
United Kingdom
Great Sutton
Cheshire
All hail Lord Fudge!
[PFRPG PBF Games] GMing: Crypt of the Everflame, 2x We Be Goblins! · Playing: Vestige's Margreve 'Hollow', Bearpaw's Pathfinder Society
-
A small figure with flame-coloured hair comes stumbling out of the undergrowth, wearing a blue explorer's suit (covered with numerous mud and grass stains) and stout walking boots. He carries a long pole with an impressive spike on the end, but wields it more like a walking stick than a weapon.
"Oh hello, I'm Oskar! You must be the travellers I was talking to!" The cheerful look on his face falls slightly as he notices all the hands on weapon grips, but he is soon distracted: "I'm no expert, but is that a normal noise for wolves to make?"
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Erik Berry
United States
Ellicott City
Maryland
-
"No. No it isn't... Oskar was it? I'm Gareth." Gareth still looks uncertain about the gnome in front of him, but another howl makes his eyes twitch northward rather than fixating. When he looks back, he notices Oskar looking at the hands-on-weapon-grips. "You'll have to forgive my companions and I Oskar. We've recently done a few days of traveling through the Margreve, and we've come to expect tricks from the forest to be more common than a potentially friendly face. Tricks like voices coming from one place and images from another haven't been uncommon for us..." Gareth's voice falls off as he finishes, hoping Oskar explains himself a bit more to relieve some of the tension.
-
paz AKA Matt Lewis
United Kingdom
Great Sutton
Cheshire
All hail Lord Fudge!
[PFRPG PBF Games] GMing: Crypt of the Everflame, 2x We Be Goblins! · Playing: Vestige's Margreve 'Hollow', Bearpaw's Pathfinder Society
-
"Pleased to meet you Gareth, and your companions too. I agree, this is certainly an odd place. I came a long way to see it, and even now, I'm not entirely sure why..." Oskar has a far-away look on his face for a moment, but it soon passes. "I understand your caution; I've had to jump into more than one ditch on my journey to avoid bandits and suchlike. I do have some magical talents; they've helped me get out of one or two tight spots in the past, let me tell you!" Oskar chuckles slightly, as if remembering past scrapes.
-
Unknown Ediology
United States
Tennessee
-
Kith nods in agreement with Gareth's words. Yes, our friend speaks true! This forest is full of trickery. Why, I had to reason with a bear for passage! A bear! And now a gnome shuffles out of the night, at the same time wolves begin to howl? Volund be praised, but I hope you are not connected. I would hate to lay low one who seems so full of spirit and vigor!
-
paz AKA Matt Lewis
United Kingdom
Great Sutton
Cheshire
All hail Lord Fudge!
[PFRPG PBF Games] GMing: Crypt of the Everflame, 2x We Be Goblins! · Playing: Vestige's Margreve 'Hollow', Bearpaw's Pathfinder Society
-
"Well, from my point of view, the wolves started howling just after you came down this trail, forcing me to hide. How do I know you're not connected to the wolves?" Oskar grins at Kith, before continuing. "To be clear, those wolf noises are nothing to do with me. I mean, I could try to use my magic to make a sound like that, but I'm not sure why anyone would want to."
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Shawn McCarthy
Canada
Winnipeg
Manitoba
-
"To keep us turning in circles and paying attention to everything except the one spying on us from the bushes..."
Ta'el looks sheepish. "I apologize, stranger. We have been through an interesting trek these past few days, and it shows no signs of becoming easier or more sane... but that's no reason to be unkind to you. Now, have you any idea why those wolves are calling out?"
-
Unknown Ediology
United States
Tennessee
-
Kith lets out a loud, deep laugh as he listens to the gnome's sly words. Ah, you speak true! I, for one, will welcome you to our fire. Volund teaches we must be kind and show charity to others, after all!
-
Matthew M Monin
United States
Branford
Connecticut
8/8 FREE, PROTECTED
513ers Assemble!
-
"No using magic in these woods, gnome!". Rothar speaks in a huff as he descends from the tree.
"And we're in danger of making a bigger racket then those wolves. They've done us a favor in announcing their presence to us. I wouldn't be so quick to repay it, though. Best we go investigate. Either those wolves have found trouble or they will be trouble, but in either case it's trouble that can just as easily find us. Best we discover its nature on our terms."
-
paz AKA Matt Lewis
United Kingdom
Great Sutton
Cheshire
All hail Lord Fudge!
[PFRPG PBF Games] GMing: Crypt of the Everflame, 2x We Be Goblins! · Playing: Vestige's Margreve 'Hollow', Bearpaw's Pathfinder Society
-
Oskar turns to Ta-el and Kith, and replies "Well, thank you for the warm welcome; it's always good to find friendly faces on the road! I'm afraid I'm no woodsman; I've no idea why the wolves would be making that noise. Shall we go and find out?"
Slightly surprised by Rothar's appearance, he responds "Oh, hello! Why should I not use magic? I haven't had any problems so far. In fact, the magic seems to come to me more easily here than anywhere else. Oh, and the name's Oskar."
-
Steven Robert
United States
Altadena
California
-
The wolf howls stop after a minute or two. They seem to be coming from some distance away - though it is difficult to tell in the rain - and from the general direction in which you are traveling (that is, toward Levoca).
-
Matthew M Monin
United States
Branford
Connecticut
8/8 FREE, PROTECTED
513ers Assemble!
-
Rothar splashes water into his eyes and blinks a few times as he sizes up (hah!) the gnome. Yup....still there.
"Hrmph. Playing with magic in this place is foolish. We had a companion skilled in magic. And she disappeared. The woods took her for her use of those arts, I suspect."
Rothar snaps his fingers twice
"Do your tricks at your own peril, but not around me. Now let's be off. Time's wastin."
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Erik Berry
United States
Ellicott City
Maryland
-
"Oskar, meet Rothar. And this is Ta'el, Kith, and Kaine," he adds, gesturing to his companions. "Given our recent travels, if you were a trick of the wood, something nasty would've happened by now. Since it hasn't, I'll take you at your word that you're a fellow traveller."
Gareth's stomach growls audibly. "Since you seem interested in the wolves as well, and we generally seem to be going the same direction, perhaps we should investigate together."
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