GREYHAWK CY963 GOLDEN ERA CAMPAIGN: HEROES OF DYVERS: CHAPTER 4

[redraider629]

Thallok turns to Vale and responds "In the Pomarj army, there is a group of elite scouts known as Winged Death. They are chosen from among the best warriors, and they ride specially-trained Manticores that have had similar training to that of a War Horse; These Manticores are much more brilliant than your average war horses as they can predict reactions and use tactics. This orc group travels in groups ranging in size from 2-4. They sometimes travel in full flights of 6. They are often used for long-range operations, especially when such operations require quick completion times. They are hit-and-run types of units. Their entire purpose is to travel and kill anything they come across quickly. I will say it is safe to assume we certainly could encounter them."

Thallok then turns his attention to the group and says "I know that some would like to travel south and go to Gorna, however, I must protest. Judging from where we are, which I would guess somewhere in the Oyt woods, traveling to Gorna would be a long journey. At best we are 120 miles northeast of Gorna, and at worst we are much further. I do not think going to Gorna would be a good idea at all. I suggest we go north to Nosnra's fortress. There is rumored to be an overlook which we could make camp. The overlook is not guarded because it is a wooded area, and infested by large spiders. I think we could deal with them though, or even avoid them. This will give us a good view of the fortress compound. Those are my thoughts."

 

[Tellerian Hawke]

More Supplemental Information

"Excuse me. Um, could someone help me decipher the script on these arrows. If they are truly magical, I would surely like to have a quiver of them to help in our battles against any new foes we may encounter during our adventures."

Vale's Axe (hereafter referred to as "Val," which is short for "Valoran") says: "I read the runes through Vale's thoughts a few moments ago. The runes say, 'Fly swift and true, seeking the heart of evil, and strike with purity born of righteousness.' That's fancy, Elf talk for an arrow that's been blessed and made holy."

GM: To expedite things, Vale knows, and relays to Tam, that a normal "blessing" bestowed upon ammunition consists of: +1 To Hit & Damage (vs. all foes) +1d4 additional Holy Damage (vs. evil-aligned foes) There are blessed ranged weapons (bows and crossbows) which bestow a greater blessing upon their ammunition (+2d6 Holy Damage) but such weapons are rare.

"There, there. I know this hurts. I shall endeavor to make it better."

GM: Horse #1: 17 hit pts (out of 22) Horse #2: 20 hit pts (out of 22) Horse #3: 19 hit pts (out of 22) Horse #4: 19 hit pts (out of 22) I will rule that Vale's healing is sufficient to enable the horses to pull their full, max load; 5 hit pts. (or less) can be represented as soreness / bruising, but the horses feel ten times better than they did a few moments ago, and are happy to be healed. Vale's check is sufficient to calm the horses, and combined with the healing, makes the horses well-disposed and cooperative to the party.

GM: Useful Info for the party: The wagon is double-sized (normal width, extended length), and weighs 800 pounds empty. The wagon will hold 10,000 pounds worth of goods, plus seat 2 drivers and 4 passengers. The light draft horses can each drag 3,450 pounds, which means that in order to pull this wagon fully loaded, you'll need at least 3 of the horses, maybe even all four, depending upon how many party members choose to ride in the wagon.

 

[Sylvar B.]

Sylvar stops loading the wagon, wipes his brow and takes a drink of his water skin. If we are going to head north towards the danger we should leave the wagon and most of the goods. We take the horses and use them as pack horses to carry the gold and gems, the most valuable and the magical items, and the rations. We need to be mobile, and that wagon is decidedly not. Whatever it is we must decide, we stand around blathering and wasting time, all the while increasing the probability of getting caught in the open.

 

[MacConnell]

Thallok then turns his attention to the group and says,
"I know that some would like to travel south and go to Gorna, however, I must protest. Judging from where we are, which I would guess somewhere in the Oyt woods, traveling to Gorna would be a long journey. At best we are 120 miles northeast of Gorna, and at worst we are much further. I do not think going to Gorna would be a good idea at all. I suggest we go north to Nosnra's fortress. There is rumored to be an overlook which we could make camp. The overlook is not guarded because it is a wooded area, and infested by large spiders. I think we could deal with them though, or even avoid them. This will give us a good view of the fortress compound. Those are my thoughts."

Lathir responds.
"I am not familiar with this area. I did not realize the distance was so great. This overlook of which you speak, it sounds reasonable. Normal spiders or of no concern to me."

Lathir uses what remaining cure spells as necessary to recover the horses. Afterward, he too helps load the wagon, tethering a team of horses to it and taking the time to comfort and calm the animals, readying them for travel.

GM: Sorry, I missed this part somehow. Lathir casts 4 cure light wounds spells (1 for each horse) which at minimum (1d8+5 = 6 pts.) will put all of them up to full hit pts. Lathir then manages to calm the animals even further, forming a bond with them that will ensure their full cooperation.

 

[Sylvar B.]

Sylvar looks at Lathir like he as gone mad, then looks around for a post of some sort. There is nothing in the ground, and nothing in the wagon. Perhaps we should take the wagon so you can lie in it Lathir, it appears that the heat is affecting your mental capacity. If Gorna really is 120 miles south then it will take us a very long time to reach it, in that time many things would have happened that we could have prevented. Having given it some thought I believe heading north to take out the camp will be our best option. Once we get to the outcropping we can decided what to do based on enemy numbers.

Sylvar looks at everyone else just standing around then hops in the drivers seat of the loaded wagon and heaves off, turning the wagon to head south, He yells at everyone else, but especially Thallock, we travel south until we find a way out of the canyon then we turn back north into the woods to find this outcropping of yours, Thallock

 

[MacConnell]

Sylvar looks at Lathir like he as gone mad, then looks around for a post of some sort. There is nothing in the ground, and nothing in the wagon. Perhaps we should take the wagon so you can lie in it Lathir, it appears that the heat is affecting your mental capacity. If Gorna really is 120 miles south then it will take us a very long time to reach it, in that time many things would have happened that we could have prevented. Having given it some thought I believe heading north to take out the camp will be our best option. Once we get to the outcropping we can decided what to do based on enemy numbers.

Lathir laughs.
"Maybe I am water logged or all this shapeshifting has begun to take its toll."

He laughs again.
"I just caught what Thallok was explaining. I think this overlook is our best choice."

 

[Tellerian Hawke]

OOC: Because Thallok started his career as an NPC, he knows a few things that his player doesn't. When possible, I will simply tell RedRaider what he needs to know, and let him relay it. But in this instance, I am going to reply directly, to speed things along.

Thallok says, "We won't need to leave the canyon; the overlook is actually a switchback that goes up the right-side canyon wall. It's located about 2 miles before we would reach the outpost. All we have to do is head north, and take the switchback when we see it."

 

[Sylvar B.]

Sylvar stops the cart in a huff, gives Thallok the stink eye then turns the wagon around and heads north.

 

[Waynan]

Tam-Tam grabs two quivers of the magical arrows and stuffs what is left of his quiver (I believe about 10 or less, now), into the wagon. He puts one across his back strapped to the outside of the backpack for quick running draws and the other on a thong so that it hangs from his hip for quick, stationary draws.

He beams with a jaunty grin and cock of his chin, patting his bow: "Whichever way we choose to go, I am ready."

 

[redraider629]

Kleborn scratches his beard a little, and says "north it is, let's go." He then begins heading north.

Thallok gives Sylvar a little smile as he walks north.