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[Adventure]: The Missing Professor (DM: H.M.Gimlord, Looking for a Judge)
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<blockquote data-quote="H.M.Gimlord" data-source="post: 5702384" data-attributes="member: 79440"><p>[OOC]OK. Back in Business![/OOC] Three days have passed uneventfully, with good weather and time to recover from the traumatic cost of expediting their journey. The sun is rising over the eastern horizon, speckled by seagulls now visible, silhouetted against the bright morning glow, when the shout comes from the crow’s nest above, <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: DarkOrange"><span style="color: Lime">“Land Ho!”</span> </span></span></span>Jahred’s head snaps up, scanning the western waterline, “And so it is.” he mutters. Raising his voice to the crow’s nest, he shouts back, <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype'"><em><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: Red">“Good eye, Mastren!”</span></span></em></span></p><p> </p><p>Not five leagues distant, a faint, shining spire rises from the surface of the water. Aware of the adventurers’ curiosity, Albarent answers their unspoken question, <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: DarkOrange">“It’s a lighthouse. It stands five hundred, fifty-five feet tall. It’s light is visible for twenty leagues on a clear night, and five in broad daylight,”</span></span></span> he takes in a deep breath like a man who enters his house after being away for a long time, welcoming the familiar smell of his home, <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: DarkOrange">“It’s is never allowed to die, fueled by fire kept burning by order of Lord Ekton. The current is deadly to the west of the city, and the light prevents ships from getting dashed on the rocks ‘round the harbor.” </span></span></span>[sblock=The Lighthouse]<img src="http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss151/HMGimlord/Lighthouse.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />[/sblock]As the party listens to the First Mate go on, it becomes apparent that <em>The Beacon</em> is owes its name to this wonder of engineering. As the ship draws near, the party and the crew get a glimpse of how treacherous the approach could have been, had they not been warned by the tower. The current becomes strong, even at some distance, and the crew work frantically to sail to the north, giving the lighthouse a league, or so, of wide berth. The outcropping of rock on which the lighthouse stands vigil is an arm of grassy sandstone and granite that juts out in a quarter-mile arc embracing the lagoon that is the harbor of Rioc Alair. Albarent returns from his duty of directing the deckhands, <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: DarkOrange">“The white water churns against the western shore. Those rocks take the worst of the pounding. You see, two trade-wind currents come together at this very spot and the waters swirl in an eddy that arcs directly into the rock wall”</span></span></span> Albarent points to plumes of foam, that by comparison with the lighthouse appear to rise some fifty feet into the air, <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: DarkOrange">“You wouldn’t want your ship caught in that. There’s plenty of scrap wood rotting at the base of that cliff.”</span></span></span> As they all watch, the receding waters draw away to depths far below sea-level, only to allow room for the next titanic wave to assault the shore once again.</p><p> </p><p>Once to the east of the lighthouse, the waters become smooth once more, and <em>The Beacon</em> makes her way down the eastern side of the barrier arm. The harbor, hidden in the embrace of its protective peninsula is a-bustle with activity. Seven vessels are in port ahead of <em>The Beacon</em>, and Jahred orders the sails lowered and furled as two tugs row out to secure guide-ropes to its cleats. With The Beacon securely anchored, the gangplank lowers onto a wharf in full swing of a summer morning. Right on the shore of the harbor, merchants are selling their wares, deck-hands are scrambling to unload cargo, and even a few street performers are there, tempting the unwary into a game of chance or demonstrating artistic skills. The view is not entirely cheerful, though. More than one beggar is visible along the docks, and a few children dressed in rags are being chased by a constable. Many of the deck-hands and merchants are armed. [sblock=Perception DC 18]The city is obviously in its relative youth. You surmise that it’s no more than 100 years old. Even close to the harbor, there is undeveloped land, and the trees have not all been cleared from the surrounding heights.[/sblock]The crew tends to the ship as Jahred and Albarent disembark with the adventurers and lead the party up a winding pathway to the west that switchbacks its way up the side of a sandstone cliff. Prominently overlooking the harbor, this plateau houses a mercantile district of questionable repute, enclosed on two sides by cliffs that drop into the gulf, and on the other two by the city’s outer walls. The morning sun strikes the lip of the plateau illuminating lines of laundry strung between buildings and smoking chimneys. [sblock=Perception DC 25]You notice a man carting refuse turn down an alleyway and stop at a fountain. He opens a grate at the base of the fountain and dumps the refuse in. Letting the grate drop, he then picks up the cart handles and continues on his way.[/sblock]It is evident that the adventurers’ guides are more than a little embarrassed at the path they have chosen, and Albarent’s quick to explanation doesn’t make much sense,<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: DarkOrange"> “Bringing you through the harbor gate would attract too much attention.”</span></span></span> [sblock=Perception DC23]You notice that, with the exception of yourselves, everyone in the harbor is human. There are no other races present. Albarent’s comment makes sense now. Gloom and Draglin would stick out like the lighthouse beacon itself in such a demographically uniform city.[/sblock] At the top of the switch-back path, the party passes a large inn that displays a placard, carved and painted to look like a hand hefting a translucent mug, filled with foaming ale. Characters mill about its entrance, while loud voices and the clinking of plates issue from the common room inside. </p><p></p><p> Once past the inn, they turn down a thoroughfare toward the city’s outer wall, and a gatehouse where several men clothed in uniforms similar to that of Jahred are standing guard. They snap to attention and salute as the captain walks by. Jahred acknowledges them and approaches the commanding officer with a hand extended, <em><span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: Red">“Erik. I’ve brought help,”</span></span></span></em> turning to the group Jahred begins introductions, <em><span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: Red">“These are is Gloom, Dante, Miss Mab, Draglin, and Max. They’ve come all the way from The Transitive Isles to aid in finding Professor Aramista.”</span></span></span></em></p><p></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: Cyan">“Well then, I suppose we might find the old curmudgeon after all,”</span></span></span> Erik bows his head politely, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: Cyan">“I am Erik Kranstil, lieutenant of Rioc Alair’s Night Watch. When Jahred and Albarent are abroad, the lot falls to me to keep the peace in the city. On behalf of all of us and Lord Ekton himself, welcome,”</span></span></span> he gestures curtly, and a junior guard falls out of rank at a run, snapping to attention upon his arrival. Erik continues, addressing the newly arrived adventurers, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: Cyan">“This,”</span></span></span> he places his gauntleted hand on the junior guard’s shoulder, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: Cyan">“is Fenkton. He’ll be your concierge while you are here. We won’t be able to spare him to follow you around, but he knows the city, and he’ll be briefing you on the situation concerning our missing professor.”</span></span></span></p><p> </p><p>Fenkton bows low to the party, <span style="color: Lime">“If you’ll follow me, I have a room waiting here in the gatehouse.”</span> Without hesitation, the young man turns and rounds the inner corner of the gate, disappearing through a small door in the inner wall. The party follows quickly into a room lit by slits of sunlight filtering through narrow windows, cutting lines of illumination through the darkness of the gatehouse proper. A long table is stationed in the middle of the room and everyone takes a seat.</p><p> </p><p>Fenkton speaks, <span style="color: Lime">“I’m not sure where to begin except to say that professor Aramista went missing almost a week ago, leaving no forwarding destination, and foul play is suspected. His things were not arranged as one preparing to go on a journey, and the last time anyone saw him, he was discussing matters of the next day as if he would be in town for quite some time. In fact, he had classes scheduled at The University, for which he did not show, and lectures on which he was delinquent. Professor Aramista has never missed a lecture or a class in all the time he has taught at The University, and that’s more than forty years.”</span> Fenkton pauses, <span style="color: Lime">“The thing we find odd is that the last day he was seen was also the day that the last party from Daunton vanished. </span></p><p><span style="color: Lime"> </span></p><p><span style="color: Lime">“They were investigating the origins of a thieving ring they had uncovered. It was learned that the thieves were being led by Lord (though I use the term loosely) Lars Hallmaster. He is the wealthiest man in Rioc Alair, save for, perhaps, Lord Ekton himself. Conveniently, Lord Hallmaster was out of town at the time, and has not yet returned to stand trial. He was traveling on business with the town armorer, a dwarf named Hankel Mast. They were traveling to Efil, a town along the gulf coast to the northeast. That was three weeks ago, but word came yesterday that neither Hankel, nor Lord Hallmaster ever arrived in Efil. </span></p><p> <span style="color: Lime"></span></p><p><span style="color: Lime">“We fear these events are related, but we do not yet have any evidence to piece together a cohesive story. To make matters worse, crime has dramatically increased in the city, so we can’t spare the resources to pursue the missing persons investigation.”</span> Fenkton, again pauses to gather his thoughts,<span style="color: Lime"> “So to sum up, we think that Professor Aramista’s disappearance, the Daunton party’s whereabouts, and the absence of Lord Hallmaster may be related to this thieving ring. Our armorer, Hankel Mast is a man of impeccable character, and I can’t imagine that he would be involved willingly, but at this point anything is possible.”</span> Fenkton lays a map of the city on the table.[sblock=Map]<img src="http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss151/HMGimlord/RiocAlairEnumerated.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />[GM]Instead of RPing the description of the city, I’ll simply name the enumerated items on the map, as what the PCs would have learned from the discussion. This map will be posted in every update until the party leaves the town.</p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">1. </span> <strong>The lighthouse.</strong> The one you saw on the way in. The Hallmasters built the lighthouse as a gift to the city</p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">2. </span><strong>The Hallmaster estate.</strong> This is where Lars lived before he disappeared</p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">3. </span><strong>The harbor.</strong> This is where <em>The Beacon</em> is anchored, and where you arrived </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">4. </span><strong>The Crystal Mug</strong>. This is the inn seen on the walk to the gatehouse</p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">5. </span><strong>Lord Emril Ekton’s keep</strong>. Evidently the seat of authority in the town.</p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">6. </span><strong>The gatehouse.</strong> This is where your briefing was held</p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">7. </span><strong>Hankel Mast’s forge.</strong> While Hakel is missing, his assistant a ‘gentleman’ named Firebyrne is keeping the fires going.</p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">8. </span><strong>The University.</strong> This is where Professor Aramista holds a faculty position</p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">9. </span><strong>Lord Astrix’s manor.</strong> Lord Astrix serves as a political advisor and ambassador for Lord Ekton and Rioc Alair.</p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">10. </span><strong>The market and Main Gate.</strong> This is where people gather for festival occasions and public announcements. People who are not citizens of the city who wish to enter for trade or other business, must pass through this gate. You have been made an exception so as not to draw attention to yourselves.</p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">11. </span><strong>The temple of Mireva.</strong> She is the patron goddess of Rioc Alair.</p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">12. </span><strong>The bridge to the inland districts of the city.</strong> Beyond the gate, the town degenerates in amenities. It becomes hamlet of sprawling trade tenements and workhouses. Beyond that a sprawling acreage of farms. Fenkton describes the people beyond the southern wall as backward, ignorant and superstitious, but none-the-less under Lord Ekton’s care. This area is not patrolled by the Night Watch. </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Calibri'">13. </span><strong>The city forest.</strong> The fetid waters of the Ulmar River (over which the bridge (#12) crosses flow down into a cavern beneath this forest. The city left the area undeveloped so that the acrid smell would have to filter through the forest before it assailed the city. For the most part, the natural barrier does its job well. </p><p> [/GM][/sblock]<span style="color: Lime">“I’ll take you to The University so that you can begin your inquiries. Professor Masetin is headmaster in Professor Aramista’s absence. The faculty should be cooperative, seeing as they have a vested interest in recovering their ‘most valued asset’. From there, you have carte blanche within the city as honorary members of the Rioc Alair Night Watch. We will trust your judgment until we have reason not to.”</span> With that, Fenkton folds up the map, and leads them out the door, and down the street to The University.</p><p></p><p> Fenkton leads the party out onto the street that leads southward away from the gatehouse and into the city. He points out the forge of Hankel Mast as they pass where a deep-blue-scaled dragonborn is pounding away. Fenkton waves to the smith, and the dragonborn waves back.[sblock=Perception DC 20]The dragonborn’s eyebrow ridges shoot up when he notices Gloom and Draglin[/sblock]Gone are the lines of dirty laundry and narrow alleys between ramshackle houses. Every street is a twenty-foot thoroughfare and houses are well kept and manicured. A fountain issues fresh water on just about every city block. They group passes the forest, and then finally arrives at The University. The compound is walled with its back to the Ulmar River. Four towers rise some six stories into the sky surrounding several three-story buildings. Cloisters ring a main garden to which a wrought iron gate, manned by a porter provides access from the street, <span style="font-family: 'Courier New'"><span style="color: DarkOrchid">“Good morrow master Fenkton,”</span></span> the porter greets the Night Watch deputy.</p><p> <span style="color: Lime"></span></p><p><span style="color: Lime">“Hello Gymlund,”</span> Fenkton answers, <span style="color: Lime">“These are our guests who will be investigating Professor Aramista’s disappearance.” </span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Courier New'"><span style="color: DarkOrchid"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'"><span style="color: DarkOrchid">“So I see,” </span></span>the porter’s eyes go wide at the sight of Gloom and Draglin. </p><p> </p><p>Fenkton continues pretending not to take notice, but speaking pointedly, <span style="color: Lime">“I hope you will show them whatever they need with the utmost of courtesy.” </span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'"><span style="color: DarkOrchid">“Of course,”</span></span> the porter checks himself, <span style="font-family: 'Courier New'"><span style="color: DarkOrchid">“We would be happy to help,” </span></span></p><p></p><p>He swings the gate wide allowing the group to enter, and bows deeply with his arm beckoning them in, <span style="font-family: 'Courier New'"><span style="color: DarkOrchid">“Come in, please. Have a seat in the garden while I fetch Professor Masetin.”</span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Georgia'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: Yellow">“No need!”</span></span></span> comes a voice from across the garden,<span style="font-family: 'Georgia'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: Yellow"> “Hello my lady, and my good gentlemen. It is good to see that our ardent Captain Jahred wasted no time in finding good help,”</span></span></span> He turns to the adventurers, <span style="font-family: 'Georgia'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: Yellow">“I am Professor Masetin, headmaster of The University in Professor Aramista's absence. Please. Follow me.”</span></span></span> Professor Masetin turns to go and calls back over his shoulder, <span style="font-family: 'Georgia'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: Yellow">“You may go Fenkton. Please give your captain my thanks.”</span></span></span></p><p> </p><p><span style="color: Lime">“Sure thing.”</span> Fenkton calls back and turns back out to the street. The wrought iron gate clanks securely back into place behind him.</p><p> </p><p>Professor Masetin leads the group into the main building of the compound and through an endless maze of corridors, cloisters, and stairways, finally arriving at a door with the name “Aramista” cast in a bronze plaque at eye-level.[sblock=Dugeoneering DC 23]Though the way is tortuous, it amounts to leading you in a wide arc ending somewhere in the northeast corner of the compound. You’ve actually gone down one story down from the ground level[/sblock] Inside is a room that looks nothing more than an ordinary office, though, as Fenkton indicated, the room appears as though its owner may come back in at any moment to retrieve one of the parchments lying open on his desk.[sblock=*EDIT* The Office]<img src="http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss151/HMGimlord/ProffAramistasOffice.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />[/sblock] A chair appears to have been pushed around, but only as from normal use of scooting from one table, lectern and desk to another. Parchments lie everywhere following an organizational method that only the registered occupant of the office could possibly understand. Codices lie half-open on tables, and shelves are stacked with books the order to which is not immediately (or even upon close inspection) discernable. A bed lies made in the corner with several parchments and codices scattered on it. A single, narrow window against the eastern wall of the room indicates that this is a wall office that overlooks the Ulmar River as it plunges below the city forest and disappears into the ground. Professor Masetin clears his throat, <span style="font-family: 'Georgia'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: Yellow">“*Ehem!* I can stay here to answer any questions you may have, or I can leave you to your investigation.”</span></span></span></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> [GM] <strong><u>Extended Skill Challenge</u></strong></p><p> (Stealing Iron Sky's model)</p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Objective</strong>: Find out what happened to Professor Aramista</p><p> <strong></strong></p><p><strong>Rounds</strong>: 4 (over the course of many other encounters or events)</p><p></p><p><strong>Challenge Level</strong>: 11</p><p> <strong></strong></p><p><strong>Required skill check:</strong> This skill challenge is actually the sum of all the stops you will make throughout the city, following the leads that you’ve been given. Encounters may or may not occur between stops. At each stop, you will meet someone with whom a diplomacy check is required. Each character begins the skill encounter by posting a diplomacy roll. Success on this check requires that 3 passing rolls be made at DC18 or higher. This check does not count toward your victory points, but it does determine how cooperative your host is. Success does not mean that your work will go unopposed. It just means that what you learn will be more fruitful.</p><p></p><p><strong>Round 1 Focus</strong>: Interview Professor Aramista’s temporary replacement (See “Required Skill Checks”), and search Professor Aramista’s office for clues.</p><p></p><p><strong>Round Rules</strong>: Any special rules you've cooked up for this round <I.E. non-social checks take a -2 penalty, players who speak Eladrin get a +2 bonus>[sblock=DCs, bonuses and penalties]<span style="color: White"><strong>Individuals' Skill Rolls</strong></span></p><p><span style="color: White"><em>17-</em>: <strong>0 points</strong>, -2 on next round's skill check</span></p><p><span style="color: White"><em>18-22</em></span> <span style="color: White">: <strong>1 point</strong>, -1 on next round's skill check</span></p><p><span style="color: White"><em>13-27</em></span> <span style="color: White">: <strong>2 points</strong>, +1 on next round's skill check</span></p><p><span style="color: White"><em>28+</em></span> <span style="color: White">: <strong>3 points</strong>, +2 on next round's skill check</span></p><p><span style="color: White"><em>Natural 1</em></span> <span style="color: White">: <strong>-1 point</strong>, lose a healing surge</span></p><p><span style="color: White"><em>Natural 20</em></span> <span style="color: White">: <strong>+1 point</strong>, gain a healing surge/AP/treasure parcel as appropriate</span></p><p><span style="color: White"></span></p><p><span style="color: White"><strong>Rount Totals</strong></span> <span style="color: White">(5 PCs)</span></p><p><span style="color: White">0-4 points: <strong>0 Victory Points</strong> and <strong>Disaster</strong>: -2 cumulative penalty to all future skill checks</span></p><p><span style="color: White">5-9 points: <strong>1 Victory Points</strong> and <strong>Complication</strong>: -1 cumulative penalty to all future skill checks</span></p><p><span style="color: White">10-14 points: <strong>2 Victory Points</strong> and <strong>Advantage</strong>: +1 cumulative bonus to all future skill checks</span></p><p><span style="color: White">15+ points: <strong>3 Victory Points</strong> and <strong>Miracle</strong>: +2 cumulative bonus to all future skill checks</span></p><p><span style="color: White"></span></p><p><span style="color: White"><strong>Final Victory Points</strong></span> <span style="color: White">(3 Rounds)</span></p><p><span style="color: White">0-2 total points: <strong>Disaster</strong>, appropriate consequences, 1500xp</span></p><p><span style="color: White">3-5 total points: <strong>Complication</strong>, appropriate result and consequence, 2250xp</span></p><p><span style="color: White">6-8 total points: <strong>Advantage</strong>, appropriate result and benefit, 2250xp</span></p><p><span style="color: White">9+ total points: <strong>Miracle</strong>, appropriate benefits, 3000xp</span>[/sblock][sblock=Ground Rules]<span style="color: White"><strong>Repeating Skills</strong></span></p><p><span style="color: White"><strong></strong>Repeating a skill two or more rounds in a row results in a cumulative -2 penalty to the skill roll.</span></p><p><span style="color: White"></span></p><p><span style="color: White"><strong>Action Points</strong></span></p><p><span style="color: White"><strong></strong>Action Points may be spent to roll an additional skill roll for the round. It must be different from the skill already used.</span> <span style="color: White"></span></p><p><span style="color: White"></span></p><p><span style="color: White"><strong>Aid Another</strong></span></p><p><span style="color: White"><strong></strong>PCs may take -3 on a roll to gran an ally a reroll this round.</span> <span style="color: White"></span></p><p><span style="color: White"></span></p><p><span style="color: White"><strong>Heroic Effort</strong></span></p><p><span style="color: White"><strong></strong>A PC may decide to expend a healing surge to gain +3 to a check before it is rolled or to apply +1 to a check after it is rolled or both for two surges.</span> [/sblock][/GM]</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="H.M.Gimlord, post: 5702384, member: 79440"] [OOC]OK. Back in Business![/OOC] Three days have passed uneventfully, with good weather and time to recover from the traumatic cost of expediting their journey. The sun is rising over the eastern horizon, speckled by seagulls now visible, silhouetted against the bright morning glow, when the shout comes from the crow’s nest above, [FONT=Palatino Linotype][SIZE=3][COLOR=DarkOrange][COLOR=Lime]“Land Ho!”[/COLOR] [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]Jahred’s head snaps up, scanning the western waterline, “And so it is.” he mutters. Raising his voice to the crow’s nest, he shouts back, [FONT=Palatino Linotype][I][SIZE=3][COLOR=Red]“Good eye, Mastren!”[/COLOR][/SIZE][/I][/FONT] Not five leagues distant, a faint, shining spire rises from the surface of the water. Aware of the adventurers’ curiosity, Albarent answers their unspoken question, [FONT=Palatino Linotype][SIZE=3][COLOR=DarkOrange]“It’s a lighthouse. It stands five hundred, fifty-five feet tall. It’s light is visible for twenty leagues on a clear night, and five in broad daylight,”[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] he takes in a deep breath like a man who enters his house after being away for a long time, welcoming the familiar smell of his home, [FONT=Palatino Linotype][SIZE=3][COLOR=DarkOrange]“It’s is never allowed to die, fueled by fire kept burning by order of Lord Ekton. The current is deadly to the west of the city, and the light prevents ships from getting dashed on the rocks ‘round the harbor.” [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][sblock=The Lighthouse][IMG]http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss151/HMGimlord/Lighthouse.png[/IMG][/sblock]As the party listens to the First Mate go on, it becomes apparent that [I]The Beacon[/I] is owes its name to this wonder of engineering. As the ship draws near, the party and the crew get a glimpse of how treacherous the approach could have been, had they not been warned by the tower. The current becomes strong, even at some distance, and the crew work frantically to sail to the north, giving the lighthouse a league, or so, of wide berth. The outcropping of rock on which the lighthouse stands vigil is an arm of grassy sandstone and granite that juts out in a quarter-mile arc embracing the lagoon that is the harbor of Rioc Alair. Albarent returns from his duty of directing the deckhands, [FONT=Palatino Linotype][SIZE=3][COLOR=DarkOrange]“The white water churns against the western shore. Those rocks take the worst of the pounding. You see, two trade-wind currents come together at this very spot and the waters swirl in an eddy that arcs directly into the rock wall”[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] Albarent points to plumes of foam, that by comparison with the lighthouse appear to rise some fifty feet into the air, [FONT=Palatino Linotype][SIZE=3][COLOR=DarkOrange]“You wouldn’t want your ship caught in that. There’s plenty of scrap wood rotting at the base of that cliff.”[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] As they all watch, the receding waters draw away to depths far below sea-level, only to allow room for the next titanic wave to assault the shore once again. Once to the east of the lighthouse, the waters become smooth once more, and [I]The Beacon[/I] makes her way down the eastern side of the barrier arm. The harbor, hidden in the embrace of its protective peninsula is a-bustle with activity. Seven vessels are in port ahead of [I]The Beacon[/I], and Jahred orders the sails lowered and furled as two tugs row out to secure guide-ropes to its cleats. With The Beacon securely anchored, the gangplank lowers onto a wharf in full swing of a summer morning. Right on the shore of the harbor, merchants are selling their wares, deck-hands are scrambling to unload cargo, and even a few street performers are there, tempting the unwary into a game of chance or demonstrating artistic skills. The view is not entirely cheerful, though. More than one beggar is visible along the docks, and a few children dressed in rags are being chased by a constable. Many of the deck-hands and merchants are armed. [sblock=Perception DC 18]The city is obviously in its relative youth. You surmise that it’s no more than 100 years old. Even close to the harbor, there is undeveloped land, and the trees have not all been cleared from the surrounding heights.[/sblock]The crew tends to the ship as Jahred and Albarent disembark with the adventurers and lead the party up a winding pathway to the west that switchbacks its way up the side of a sandstone cliff. Prominently overlooking the harbor, this plateau houses a mercantile district of questionable repute, enclosed on two sides by cliffs that drop into the gulf, and on the other two by the city’s outer walls. The morning sun strikes the lip of the plateau illuminating lines of laundry strung between buildings and smoking chimneys. [sblock=Perception DC 25]You notice a man carting refuse turn down an alleyway and stop at a fountain. He opens a grate at the base of the fountain and dumps the refuse in. Letting the grate drop, he then picks up the cart handles and continues on his way.[/sblock]It is evident that the adventurers’ guides are more than a little embarrassed at the path they have chosen, and Albarent’s quick to explanation doesn’t make much sense,[FONT=Palatino Linotype][SIZE=3][COLOR=DarkOrange] “Bringing you through the harbor gate would attract too much attention.”[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [sblock=Perception DC23]You notice that, with the exception of yourselves, everyone in the harbor is human. There are no other races present. Albarent’s comment makes sense now. Gloom and Draglin would stick out like the lighthouse beacon itself in such a demographically uniform city.[/sblock] At the top of the switch-back path, the party passes a large inn that displays a placard, carved and painted to look like a hand hefting a translucent mug, filled with foaming ale. Characters mill about its entrance, while loud voices and the clinking of plates issue from the common room inside. Once past the inn, they turn down a thoroughfare toward the city’s outer wall, and a gatehouse where several men clothed in uniforms similar to that of Jahred are standing guard. They snap to attention and salute as the captain walks by. Jahred acknowledges them and approaches the commanding officer with a hand extended, [I][FONT=Palatino Linotype][SIZE=3][COLOR=Red]“Erik. I’ve brought help,”[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/I] turning to the group Jahred begins introductions, [I][FONT=Palatino Linotype][SIZE=3][COLOR=Red]“These are is Gloom, Dante, Miss Mab, Draglin, and Max. They’ve come all the way from The Transitive Isles to aid in finding Professor Aramista.”[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/I] [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=Cyan]“Well then, I suppose we might find the old curmudgeon after all,”[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] Erik bows his head politely, [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=Cyan]“I am Erik Kranstil, lieutenant of Rioc Alair’s Night Watch. When Jahred and Albarent are abroad, the lot falls to me to keep the peace in the city. On behalf of all of us and Lord Ekton himself, welcome,”[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] he gestures curtly, and a junior guard falls out of rank at a run, snapping to attention upon his arrival. Erik continues, addressing the newly arrived adventurers, [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=Cyan]“This,”[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] he places his gauntleted hand on the junior guard’s shoulder, [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3][COLOR=Cyan]“is Fenkton. He’ll be your concierge while you are here. We won’t be able to spare him to follow you around, but he knows the city, and he’ll be briefing you on the situation concerning our missing professor.”[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] Fenkton bows low to the party, [COLOR=Lime]“If you’ll follow me, I have a room waiting here in the gatehouse.”[/COLOR] Without hesitation, the young man turns and rounds the inner corner of the gate, disappearing through a small door in the inner wall. The party follows quickly into a room lit by slits of sunlight filtering through narrow windows, cutting lines of illumination through the darkness of the gatehouse proper. A long table is stationed in the middle of the room and everyone takes a seat. Fenkton speaks, [COLOR=Lime]“I’m not sure where to begin except to say that professor Aramista went missing almost a week ago, leaving no forwarding destination, and foul play is suspected. His things were not arranged as one preparing to go on a journey, and the last time anyone saw him, he was discussing matters of the next day as if he would be in town for quite some time. In fact, he had classes scheduled at The University, for which he did not show, and lectures on which he was delinquent. Professor Aramista has never missed a lecture or a class in all the time he has taught at The University, and that’s more than forty years.”[/COLOR] Fenkton pauses, [COLOR=Lime]“The thing we find odd is that the last day he was seen was also the day that the last party from Daunton vanished. “They were investigating the origins of a thieving ring they had uncovered. It was learned that the thieves were being led by Lord (though I use the term loosely) Lars Hallmaster. He is the wealthiest man in Rioc Alair, save for, perhaps, Lord Ekton himself. Conveniently, Lord Hallmaster was out of town at the time, and has not yet returned to stand trial. He was traveling on business with the town armorer, a dwarf named Hankel Mast. They were traveling to Efil, a town along the gulf coast to the northeast. That was three weeks ago, but word came yesterday that neither Hankel, nor Lord Hallmaster ever arrived in Efil. [/COLOR] [COLOR=Lime] “We fear these events are related, but we do not yet have any evidence to piece together a cohesive story. To make matters worse, crime has dramatically increased in the city, so we can’t spare the resources to pursue the missing persons investigation.”[/COLOR] Fenkton, again pauses to gather his thoughts,[COLOR=Lime] “So to sum up, we think that Professor Aramista’s disappearance, the Daunton party’s whereabouts, and the absence of Lord Hallmaster may be related to this thieving ring. Our armorer, Hankel Mast is a man of impeccable character, and I can’t imagine that he would be involved willingly, but at this point anything is possible.”[/COLOR] Fenkton lays a map of the city on the table.[sblock=Map][IMG]http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss151/HMGimlord/RiocAlairEnumerated.png[/IMG][GM]Instead of RPing the description of the city, I’ll simply name the enumerated items on the map, as what the PCs would have learned from the discussion. This map will be posted in every update until the party leaves the town. [FONT=Calibri]1. [/FONT] [B]The lighthouse.[/B] The one you saw on the way in. The Hallmasters built the lighthouse as a gift to the city [FONT=Calibri]2. [/FONT][B]The Hallmaster estate.[/B] This is where Lars lived before he disappeared [FONT=Calibri]3. [/FONT][B]The harbor.[/B] This is where [I]The Beacon[/I] is anchored, and where you arrived [FONT=Calibri]4. [/FONT][B]The Crystal Mug[/B]. This is the inn seen on the walk to the gatehouse [FONT=Calibri]5. [/FONT][B]Lord Emril Ekton’s keep[/B]. Evidently the seat of authority in the town. [FONT=Calibri]6. [/FONT][B]The gatehouse.[/B] This is where your briefing was held [FONT=Calibri]7. [/FONT][B]Hankel Mast’s forge.[/B] While Hakel is missing, his assistant a ‘gentleman’ named Firebyrne is keeping the fires going. [FONT=Calibri]8. [/FONT][B]The University.[/B] This is where Professor Aramista holds a faculty position [FONT=Calibri]9. [/FONT][B]Lord Astrix’s manor.[/B] Lord Astrix serves as a political advisor and ambassador for Lord Ekton and Rioc Alair. [FONT=Calibri]10. [/FONT][B]The market and Main Gate.[/B] This is where people gather for festival occasions and public announcements. People who are not citizens of the city who wish to enter for trade or other business, must pass through this gate. You have been made an exception so as not to draw attention to yourselves. [FONT=Calibri]11. [/FONT][B]The temple of Mireva.[/B] She is the patron goddess of Rioc Alair. [FONT=Calibri]12. [/FONT][B]The bridge to the inland districts of the city.[/B] Beyond the gate, the town degenerates in amenities. It becomes hamlet of sprawling trade tenements and workhouses. Beyond that a sprawling acreage of farms. Fenkton describes the people beyond the southern wall as backward, ignorant and superstitious, but none-the-less under Lord Ekton’s care. This area is not patrolled by the Night Watch. [FONT=Calibri]13. [/FONT][B]The city forest.[/B] The fetid waters of the Ulmar River (over which the bridge (#12) crosses flow down into a cavern beneath this forest. The city left the area undeveloped so that the acrid smell would have to filter through the forest before it assailed the city. For the most part, the natural barrier does its job well. [/GM][/sblock][COLOR=Lime]“I’ll take you to The University so that you can begin your inquiries. Professor Masetin is headmaster in Professor Aramista’s absence. The faculty should be cooperative, seeing as they have a vested interest in recovering their ‘most valued asset’. From there, you have carte blanche within the city as honorary members of the Rioc Alair Night Watch. We will trust your judgment until we have reason not to.”[/COLOR] With that, Fenkton folds up the map, and leads them out the door, and down the street to The University. Fenkton leads the party out onto the street that leads southward away from the gatehouse and into the city. He points out the forge of Hankel Mast as they pass where a deep-blue-scaled dragonborn is pounding away. Fenkton waves to the smith, and the dragonborn waves back.[sblock=Perception DC 20]The dragonborn’s eyebrow ridges shoot up when he notices Gloom and Draglin[/sblock]Gone are the lines of dirty laundry and narrow alleys between ramshackle houses. Every street is a twenty-foot thoroughfare and houses are well kept and manicured. A fountain issues fresh water on just about every city block. They group passes the forest, and then finally arrives at The University. The compound is walled with its back to the Ulmar River. Four towers rise some six stories into the sky surrounding several three-story buildings. Cloisters ring a main garden to which a wrought iron gate, manned by a porter provides access from the street, [FONT=Courier New][COLOR=DarkOrchid]“Good morrow master Fenkton,”[/COLOR][/FONT] the porter greets the Night Watch deputy. [COLOR=Lime] “Hello Gymlund,”[/COLOR] Fenkton answers, [COLOR=Lime]“These are our guests who will be investigating Professor Aramista’s disappearance.” [/COLOR] [FONT=Courier New][COLOR=DarkOrchid] “So I see,” [/COLOR][/FONT]the porter’s eyes go wide at the sight of Gloom and Draglin. Fenkton continues pretending not to take notice, but speaking pointedly, [COLOR=Lime]“I hope you will show them whatever they need with the utmost of courtesy.” [/COLOR] [FONT=Courier New][COLOR=DarkOrchid]“Of course,”[/COLOR][/FONT] the porter checks himself, [FONT=Courier New][COLOR=DarkOrchid]“We would be happy to help,” [/COLOR][/FONT] He swings the gate wide allowing the group to enter, and bows deeply with his arm beckoning them in, [FONT=Courier New][COLOR=DarkOrchid]“Come in, please. Have a seat in the garden while I fetch Professor Masetin.”[/COLOR][/FONT] [FONT=Georgia][SIZE=3][COLOR=Yellow]“No need!”[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] comes a voice from across the garden,[FONT=Georgia][SIZE=3][COLOR=Yellow] “Hello my lady, and my good gentlemen. It is good to see that our ardent Captain Jahred wasted no time in finding good help,”[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] He turns to the adventurers, [FONT=Georgia][SIZE=3][COLOR=Yellow]“I am Professor Masetin, headmaster of The University in Professor Aramista's absence. Please. Follow me.”[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] Professor Masetin turns to go and calls back over his shoulder, [FONT=Georgia][SIZE=3][COLOR=Yellow]“You may go Fenkton. Please give your captain my thanks.”[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [COLOR=Lime]“Sure thing.”[/COLOR] Fenkton calls back and turns back out to the street. The wrought iron gate clanks securely back into place behind him. Professor Masetin leads the group into the main building of the compound and through an endless maze of corridors, cloisters, and stairways, finally arriving at a door with the name “Aramista” cast in a bronze plaque at eye-level.[sblock=Dugeoneering DC 23]Though the way is tortuous, it amounts to leading you in a wide arc ending somewhere in the northeast corner of the compound. You’ve actually gone down one story down from the ground level[/sblock] Inside is a room that looks nothing more than an ordinary office, though, as Fenkton indicated, the room appears as though its owner may come back in at any moment to retrieve one of the parchments lying open on his desk.[sblock=*EDIT* The Office][IMG]http://i571.photobucket.com/albums/ss151/HMGimlord/ProffAramistasOffice.png[/IMG][/sblock] A chair appears to have been pushed around, but only as from normal use of scooting from one table, lectern and desk to another. Parchments lie everywhere following an organizational method that only the registered occupant of the office could possibly understand. Codices lie half-open on tables, and shelves are stacked with books the order to which is not immediately (or even upon close inspection) discernable. A bed lies made in the corner with several parchments and codices scattered on it. A single, narrow window against the eastern wall of the room indicates that this is a wall office that overlooks the Ulmar River as it plunges below the city forest and disappears into the ground. Professor Masetin clears his throat, [FONT=Georgia][SIZE=3][COLOR=Yellow]“*Ehem!* I can stay here to answer any questions you may have, or I can leave you to your investigation.”[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [GM] [B][U]Extended Skill Challenge[/U][/B] (Stealing Iron Sky's model) [B] Objective[/B]: Find out what happened to Professor Aramista [B] Rounds[/B]: 4 (over the course of many other encounters or events) [B]Challenge Level[/B]: 11 [B] Required skill check:[/B] This skill challenge is actually the sum of all the stops you will make throughout the city, following the leads that you’ve been given. Encounters may or may not occur between stops. At each stop, you will meet someone with whom a diplomacy check is required. Each character begins the skill encounter by posting a diplomacy roll. Success on this check requires that 3 passing rolls be made at DC18 or higher. This check does not count toward your victory points, but it does determine how cooperative your host is. Success does not mean that your work will go unopposed. It just means that what you learn will be more fruitful. [B]Round 1 Focus[/B]: Interview Professor Aramista’s temporary replacement (See “Required Skill Checks”), and search Professor Aramista’s office for clues. [B]Round Rules[/B]: Any special rules you've cooked up for this round <I.E. non-social checks take a -2 penalty, players who speak Eladrin get a +2 bonus>[sblock=DCs, bonuses and penalties][COLOR=White][B]Individuals' Skill Rolls[/B][/COLOR] [COLOR=White][I]17-[/I]: [B]0 points[/B], -2 on next round's skill check [I]18-22[/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=White]: [B]1 point[/B], -1 on next round's skill check [I]13-27[/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=White]: [B]2 points[/B], +1 on next round's skill check [I]28+[/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=White]: [B]3 points[/B], +2 on next round's skill check [I]Natural 1[/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=White]: [B]-1 point[/B], lose a healing surge [I]Natural 20[/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=White]: [B]+1 point[/B], gain a healing surge/AP/treasure parcel as appropriate [B]Rount Totals[/B][/COLOR] [COLOR=White](5 PCs) 0-4 points: [B]0 Victory Points[/B] and [B]Disaster[/B]: -2 cumulative penalty to all future skill checks 5-9 points: [B]1 Victory Points[/B] and [B]Complication[/B]: -1 cumulative penalty to all future skill checks 10-14 points: [B]2 Victory Points[/B] and [B]Advantage[/B]: +1 cumulative bonus to all future skill checks 15+ points: [B]3 Victory Points[/B] and [B]Miracle[/B]: +2 cumulative bonus to all future skill checks [B]Final Victory Points[/B][/COLOR] [COLOR=White](3 Rounds) 0-2 total points: [B]Disaster[/B], appropriate consequences, 1500xp 3-5 total points: [B]Complication[/B], appropriate result and consequence, 2250xp 6-8 total points: [B]Advantage[/B], appropriate result and benefit, 2250xp 9+ total points: [B]Miracle[/B], appropriate benefits, 3000xp[/COLOR][/sblock][sblock=Ground Rules][COLOR=White][B]Repeating Skills [/B]Repeating a skill two or more rounds in a row results in a cumulative -2 penalty to the skill roll. [B]Action Points [/B]Action Points may be spent to roll an additional skill roll for the round. It must be different from the skill already used.[/COLOR] [COLOR=White] [B]Aid Another [/B]PCs may take -3 on a roll to gran an ally a reroll this round.[/COLOR] [COLOR=White] [B]Heroic Effort [/B]A PC may decide to expend a healing surge to gain +3 to a check before it is rolled or to apply +1 to a check after it is rolled or both for two surges.[/COLOR] [/sblock][/GM] [/QUOTE]
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[Adventure]: The Missing Professor (DM: H.M.Gimlord, Looking for a Judge)
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