A Monk, a Wizard, and a Swordmage Walk into a Fallcrest; a 4e Story Now game

[Campbell]

As Sariel's eyes are laid upon the translocation rune. He instantly recognizes it as the ancient elvish rune for hope and intones an incantation taught him by his father long ago which is spoken in a mix of Elven and Primordial.

"Where the heart of dawning meets firm ground will our fellowship begin."

With this group of companions are find themselves in what looks like a shrine to Pelor and an arcane library all at once. There is no ceiling above them, only the overwhelming light of the sun.

Arcana r19+11 = 30
Intent: Arrive at chamber closer to the ground level of the tower.

Complexity 2 SC, Level 2 (DCs 9/13/20)
Goal: Escape the Crumbling Tower.
5/6 Successes/0 Failures/2 Secondary Skills Available/Primary Skill Training exhausted; Perception, Acrobatics, Arcana

 

[Manbearcat]

Complexity 2 SC, Level 2 (DCs 9/13/20)
Goal: Escape the Crumbling Tower.
5/6 Successes/0 Failures/1 Secondary Skills Available/Primary Skill Training exhausted; Perception, Acrobatics, Arcana

---

Per @AbdulAlhazred

STARN immediately deploys his Dungeoneering skill as a secondary skill to better understand the tower layout and the most likely egress mode from here. DC9, he gets a 12 + 5 = 17, success. Whomever makes the next primary check will get +2.

---

"By Pelor's enlightening gaze, I have read a new tome from your ample vault that I believe you will find most invigorating Madame..." <CRUNCH> A large piece of debris falls from the sky and crushes the library steward construct, flattening it.

Starn surveils the open-air library on the back lawn of the tower which is crumbling next to them. As is typical for sorcerers and wizards, the Tower of Waiting's host has a vault for their library where they keep their most esoteric materials. Starn eyes a stone stair several paces away which invariably leads down to the subterranean section of this book repository, no doubt the foundation would be sufficiently fortified to withstand the collateral debris striking this area as the tower crumbles nearby.

Simultaneously, the whinny of the horses that Lief and Sariel used to transit the river to the tower can be heard over the cacophony of the tower's fall. No boatman would provide crossing as the local law of Fallcrest forbids access to the tower's island set in the middle of the Nentir River. The lowest point of water was chest deep for the stout horses and the crossing in the dead of night was easy enough. Given the situation, the bright steeds have torn free from their moorings and have wandered the ground in full gallop, finding their way to the back lawn to reconnect with their riders. A call can bring them near for a quick gallop away from the site to Nentir River and a horse-enabled crossing.

---

Dash and duck into the subterranean vault of the library or call the horses for a galloping getaway?

 

[Grendel_Khan]

Lief sees Starn's longing looks toward those stairs, but the prospect of spending weeks entombed with his new friends—he considers them such, assuming that this, doing dangerous things together, constitutes friendship out here in the fallen world—watching them gulp their final breaths until the stag leads their spirits into the woods, is too sad to imagine.

He makes the decision for Starn, bursting out onto the lawn and whistling for the horses like he's seen humans do. "This way!" Lief says, an insistent hand on Starn's back as he helps him onto a horse.

Nature r17 + 3 + 2 = 22
Intent: Call the horses for a fast getaway.

Complexity 2 SC, Level 2 (DCs 9/13/20)
Goal: Escape the Crumbling Tower.
6/6 Successes/0 Failures/1 Secondary Skills Available/Primary Skill Training exhausted; Perception, Acrobatics, Arcana, Nature

The trio gallops from the tower's collapse, dust pluming into the sky behind them. They splash into the crossing, urging the horses through the water and headlong into whatever lies ahead.

---

Starn gazes longingly back as they ride away, wondering if he will ever get a chance to uncover the mysteries and wonders in those vaults! Sighing, he turns his attention to the others and asks "So, what are you all doing here? You mentioned needing an Arcanist. I'm merely an apprentice, but if you help me find my master, then you will have found a true arcanist, though perhaps not one so great as the old masters."

Starn Minor Quest
Inform Lord Markalhey of the disappearance of Nimozaran, and particularly Lady Markalhey, whom he understands is related to his master in some fashion, perhaps cousins. He also suspects she may have at least one of the three keys needed to get back into the Septarch's Tower.

Lief is uncertain what to do with this information.

Sariel, brimming with confidence as usual, doesn't hesitate:

"My eldest brother, Riandris, Rain Falls Among Us, has absconded to The World after a failed coupe attempt on my father, the Ghaele of Winter. My father divined that we three are linked by the stars and that you Starn might have knowledge of the peerage of Fallcrest that might aid in my search for my brother's whereabouts. I seek for signs of my brother's agents.I do not come to The World in search for an arcanist, Starn. I came to this tower for you specifically."

Sariel Minor Quest
With the help of Starn's knowledge of mortal politics, search for signs of unseelie influence in Fallcrest.

"Ah, in that case, let us proceed to Moonstone Keep and see if we can get an interview with the Lord," Starn says. He figures there's at least a fair chance he might get to talk to the Lady as well. Bringing what appears to be an unusual set of visitors seems to him like a good in.

Lief pipes up, too loud. "Moonstone Keep sounds very fascinating! Could we maybe swing through town first? Just an errand I have to run. A quick one!"

Lief Minor Quest
Anonymously leave some coin for the widow of Renne, the Loremaster's apprentice who Lief kidnapped for the cult, to tide them over a bit longer. And while he's there, make sure the Elect or anyone else hasn't hurt that family even more while Lief was away.

"Oh," Starn says, "I think that won't be a problem!"

 

[Manbearcat]

XP/LOOT

* Level 2/Comp 2 SC = 250/3 = 83 xp apiece.

* 60 coin

* One character gains a level 1 magic item.

---

As the sun crests its zenith in the sky, the weary heroes look forward to a much needed, good night's rest. But first, Starn and Sariel head to Moonstone Keep, the seat of Lord Warden Faren Markelhay, to seek an audience with he and Lady Markelhay. Starn impresses upon the small window of time that they may have to secure an audience at Moonstone Keep. Lief reconsiders his accompanying them there, advises he isn't cut out for courtly affairs, and will instead attend to his affairs now and rendezvous with them at the Silver Unicorn Inn this evening. Starn excitedly endorses the offer!

---

LEIF

Complexity 2 SC, Level 1 (DCs 8/12/19)
Goal (Staged): Anonymously reinforce the coffers of Renne's widow and household, surveil for hostiles, and route them should they emerge.
0/6 Successes/0 Failures/1 Hard DC Available/2 Secondary Skills Available/Primary Skill Training exhausted; na

The Autumn day in Fallcrest. Its cold. The stones underfoot are cold. The windswept streets are cold. The grim-faced folk offer only coldness.

The walk to eastern side of the Bluffs is a relatively pleasant respite for Lief, but when he arrives at the small cabin that marks his destination, the respite ends. A small child plays at the feet of his mother on the stoop. In her hand she holds a rope to a starving goat. She beseeches a dairy trader to take the creature. Surely he can sure up its body, restoring it to its prior status. June (the goat) was a fine producer only two months prior. She'll trade June right now for a single bottle of milk.

She's desperate and near tears.

The trader inspects the goat with a face that betrays neither charity nor interest.

Across the way, on the other side of the dividing dirt road, an abandoned manor lies in molded, decrepit ruins. In a large, prosperous city it would have been condemned and leveled. Here in Fallcrest, it persists as a constant reminder of the hard times, the squalor, the decay. Beyond the fieldstone wall, in the shadow of the open, creaking door of the once fine house...the haunting, long face of the stag stares at Lief in either silent judgement or instruction...perhaps both. It turns slowly...disappears in the manor house.

What do you do, Lief?

---

SARIEL AND STARN

Complexity 3 SC, Level 2 (DCs 9/13/20)
Goal: (3 Successes) Secure an audience with the Lord and Lady of Fallcrest. (5 Successes) Suss out the presence of malign fey influence in Fallcrest and convince the rulers to lend aid to Starn's ingress to the Septarch Tower and in Sariel's search for his missing brother.
0/8 Successes/0 Failures/2 Hard DC Available/3 Secondary Skills Available/2 Advantages Available/Primary Skill Training exhausted; na

* Wager an Advantage on a High DC for 2 x successes.

* Spend an Advantage to step down a Medium DC Primary Skill Check to the Low DC.

* Refresh a Primary Skill Training.

Their horses' hooves clatter off the cobblestones as the pair climb the steep-sided hill overlooking Fallcrest. The old castle of Moonstone Keep jutts skyward before them, hidden behind the outer bailey. The smell of stale straw, dung, and woodsmoke. The sound of weapons clashing, soldiers milling, orders given and received.

The portcullis is down. The heavy wooden door that accesses the interior wall firmly shut. No grim-faced guards man the parapets. The stable connected to the exterior wall features a young boy and girl, the pair brushing and caring for several horses. The girl stares heavily at the odd pair as she goes about her work, not listening to the boy's excited news.

"Did you hear? I mean...you had to have heard. All of Fallcrest could hear the sound was so loud. What I mean to say is, did you hear that Garrison Commander Edmunds is going to be leading a full platoon of soldiers and engineers to the isle of The Tower of Waiting to inspect what happened?"

He regards the absence of the girls attention. "Are you listening to me at all, Gwen? This is serious. Ill-tidings, there can be no doubt."

What do you do Sariel and Starn?

 

[Grendel_Khan]

LIEF

Lief watches the miserable scene from a remove. He cycles through a handful of unwise impulses, but remembers his training. Locate potential threats to His will. Seek the highest ground.

He walks down the dirt road, then pivots back toward the abandoned manor, stepping between the dry, fallen leaves scattered between him and his target. Lief drops lower as he goes, becoming more animalistic without realizing it, sniffing the sharp wind and wet mold as he leaps to the crumpled roof.

Intent: Look for anyone threatening or surveilling the family within the manor—failing that, find his own surveillance and overwatch spot.

Secondary Skill use to buff Primary skill—leaping onto the roof with Crane's Wings.
Athletics r4 + 6 = 10 vs DC 8. Success: +2 to Stealth roll.
Stealth r20 + 11 + 2 = 33 vs DC 19. Success.

The Elect are here. And trained like Lief to secure the high ground. He watches two of them through a hole in the roof, one keeping an eye through a cracked window on the widow and her diminished goat, the other preparing a rude meal of jerky and cold tea. Someone else would think them squatters. Lief sees their shirts and pants tied off at the cuffs with leather cord, and smells the ash from burnt offerings soaked into their matted hair. From the looks of the room they've been here for days, chalking out a ritual across the floor.

The Elect must be using this place as a base of operations in Fallcrest.

Lief tries to calm his breathing, and himself. It isn't working.

---

Complexity 2 SC, Level 1 (DCs 8/12/19)
Goal (Staged): Anonymously reinforce the coffers of Renne's widow and household, surveil for hostiles, and route them should they emerge.
1/6 Successes/0 Failures/0 Hard DC Available/1 Secondary Skill Available/Primary Skill Training exhausted; Stealth

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

Starn approaches the guard at the gate and do his best nervous and enthusiastic, but polite routine. "Hello Mr Gate Guard Sir! We just came from the Tower of Waiting, Sir. I'm sure the Lord and Lady will want to hear from Sir Sariel (gestures at Sariel) and Myself. Also, I am the apprentice of Nimozaran, and he's disappeared! Much strangeness is afoot, Sir. May I please enter?"

Diplomacy Medium DC(13) . I roll 14 +5 (trained) = 19, success.

The guard has seen Starn before and recognizes him. Eyeing my somewhat disheveled garb and visage he grunts " Both of you, in here! John, make sure they stay put, I'll get the Captain." We are ushered through a postern into a small guard chamber, where a large man, John presumably, watches us with a curious but not unfriendly expression.

Secure an Audience (Sariel and Starn)
Complexity 3 SC, Level 2 (DCs 9/13/20)
Goal: (3 Successes) Secure an audience with the Lord and Lady of Fallcrest. (5 Successes) Suss out the presence of malign fey influence in Fallcrest and convince the rulers to lend aid to Starn's ingress to the Septarch Tower and in Sariel's search for his missing brother.
1/8 Successes/0 Failures/2 Hard DC Available/3 Secondary Skills Available/2 Advantages Available/Primary Skill Training exhausted; Diplomacy

 

[Manbearcat]

LEIF

Complexity 2 SC, Level 1 (DCs 8/12/19)
Goal (Staged): Anonymously reinforce the coffers of Renne's widow and household, surveil for hostiles, and route them should they emerge.
1/6 Successes/0 Failures/0 Hard DC Available/1 Secondary Skill Available/Primary Skill Training exhausted; Stealth

From Leif's hidden perch, he can clear make out the following:

* The surveilling pair of Elect members (Minions; one a Lurker and the other a Controller...clearly the Ritualist) go about their activities. The Ritualist is having trouble perfecting their circle and the wreckage of the effort betrays a start-and-stop effort for days. As the figure prepares the crude meal, he thumbs back-and-forth between pages of a codex, intermittently making frustrated noises.

* A stray dog rustles about on the bottom floor beneath them, chasing some vermin for a meal.

* Rolled vellum, half-unfurled and held down by rubbish as a paper-weight betrays a map of Fallcrest and some markings of specific locations.

---

SARIEL AND STARN

Complexity 3 SC, Level 2 (DCs 9/13/20)
Goal: (3 Successes) Secure an audience with the Lord and Lady of Fallcrest. (5 Successes) Suss out the presence of malign fey influence in Fallcrest and convince the rulers to lend aid to Starn's ingress to the Septarch Tower and in Sariel's search for his missing brother.
1/8 Successes/0 Failures/2 Hard DC Available/3 Secondary Skills Available/2 Advantages Available/Primary Skill Training exhausted; Diplomacy

Before I move the situation beyond the gate and into the bailey, here is something for you to ponder for Sariel @Campbell:

The gawking girl stablehand, Gwen, whispers back to the boy as Sariel and Starn are about to be ushered into the bailey (I'll get to that interaction and new situation later):

You remember the one who came through here few days past? How could you forget that otherworldly look; the eyes, the white skin, the ears? The one who was all cloaked head-to-foot and ducked into the stable asking for charcoal and dung?"

The boy glances at Sariel.

"You're right," he says. "You think they're kin or something?"

Gwen shoots back "doesn't matter...keep your mouth shut. That one looked and felt dangerous. This one too."

Let me know if you want to interact with the children or if you're content to move things along to the bailey. Getting anything from the children is going to be at the HARD DC (20). They're frightened...they don't want any trouble...and they've got an entire garrison to protect them if they feel threatened. If something goes wrong here, I'm taking another HARD DC for your challenge and I'm escalating the situation either in the bailey or spilling out here.


<I'll change this situation-state once I get confirmation about a prospective move (or not) by Sariel>

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

While Starn is waiting for the guard to come back with the Captain he recalls that as they were all hustling out of the library portion of the tower he grabbed SOMETHING, instinctively and stuffed it into his bag. Taking it out now, he notes that it is a fairly modest tome, similar to the one he uses as an implement. Examining it carefully with his Arcane senses he detects a fairly straightforward, if weak glamour on the volume, it's an enchanted tome! It's magic resonates cleanly with his own, and he quickly attunes his arcanum to the book, feeling how it slightly enhances his powers. This will be handy if there's another fight like the one with the constructs!

Starn now possesses a +1 tome implement, which he will equip by default.

 

[Campbell]

SARIEL AND STARN

Sariel seizes upon Gwen's words. Without hesitation he runs forward to the stable, winds propelling him forward, feet barely touching the ground. His words reflect someone who is used to getting their way and has little regard for the implied threat behind them. Such was the attitude one had to develop when you have more 50 brothers and sisters all seeking the approval of their father.

"Mortals, you saw someone of my countenance travelling through these parts? You must tell me what they looked like and where they went."

The authority behind Sariel's timber is almost too much for poor Gwen and her companion to bear. Gwen responds with trepidation in her voice as she falls to her knees.

"See, Roderick I told ya they was kin... Same look. Milord, I did not see much of her face, but she wore the same neckleace as you. Had a grace about her she could barely hide. Moved like the wind as well, though more with the current and less against it like you do my lord. Headed towards the castle my lord."

Sariel nods to Starn, letting his companion know he is ready.

Intent: Reveal the stranger that was mentioned was one of Sariel's siblings.
Secondary Skill Check: Athletics r9+7 = 16 (+2 to Primary Skill Check)
Primary Skill Check Intimidate r19+9+2 = 30

Complexity 3 SC, Level 2 (DCs 9/13/20)
Goal: (3 Successes) Secure an audience with the Lord and Lady of Fallcrest. (5 Successes) Suss out the presence of malign fey influence in Fallcrest and convince the rulers to lend aid to Starn's ingress to the Septarch Tower and in Sariel's search for his missing brother.

2/8 Successes/0 Failures/1 Hard DC Available/2 Secondary Skills Available/2 Advantages Available/Primary Skill Training exhausted; Diplomacy, Intimidate

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

Starn views Sariel more curiously and a bit more carefully. What am I getting myself into here? Ah well, we're committed to this audience now at any rate, and things have gone pretty well so far...