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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Manbearcat" data-source="post: 9409103" data-attributes="member: 6696971">In between firing off arrows and dodging saber swings, VORN shouts "get to the crag, I've got an abseil set up.  Clip in and rappel down.  I'll be right behind you!"  LIEF and STARN hustle to the face and everyone gets down safely in a concerted fighting retreat > rappel effort.Lady Markelhay's coachman is waiting at the bottom as a getaway vehicle!  Off they go through the Hightown Avenues!THE COACHMAN shouts over horse gallop and reins snap:  "Where to?"[HR][/HR]XP/LOOT/ETC* The parchment STARN gained from the Knight of Pelor is one of the many partially penned resignation letters the knight was preparing.  It is penned to Cardinal Erban as both resignation and rebuke.  It claims that the Cardinal is involved in dangerous conspiracies to court terrible powers both planar and mortal in attempts to overthrow Ernest Padraig, Lord of Winterhaven...to whom the Cardinal, and this Knight of Pelor through service to him, has sworn loyalty.  It is a dishonor to both Pelor and to sworn mortal oaths.The Knight claims he would be riding directly to Lord Padraig to make him aware of this and would have a day's ride ahead of any pursuit so there is no way that the Cardinal and his envoy of clergy and men-at-arms will be able to intercede...unfortunately, that has gone pear-shaped with what has just happened at Kamroth Estate!  The Knight will no doubt be on the run with pursuit fast on his heels now!* C3/Level 3 SC = 450/3 = 150 xp apiece.* C1/Level 4 SC = 175/3 = 58 xp apiece.* Combat = 125 * 4 + 31 * 4 = 624/3 = 208 xp apiece.* 416 xp apiece total.* One PC earns a level 3 or lower magic item. Describe it.* One PC gains the following boon due to the merchants, the boy, the infantry, the families of the youth in The Market Green, the coachman, and perhaps other offscreen deeds:* 120 coin total.* Take a Short Rest during your ride on the coach.* Earn a Milestone. Each PC gains an Action Point.* Generate any new Minor Quest.* Answer the coachman's question (at top) and generate a goal for a follow-on conflict.[HR][/HR]UPDATE:The half-elf coachman, NORLAMIR, listens to this trio perform introductions.  The third of their number, Vorn, a vigilante legend in Fallcrest is known to Norlamir, but clearly not known to these other two.  While the trio talk in serious terms, the half-elf cracks jokes on their hard push to Moonstone Keep in order to soften the hard edges of the mood.  There is a pervasive sense that something very dark is afoot in Fallcrest and he didn't need the bloodied, naked bodies of these merchants to tell him that.  Those he stewards with all haste have made it clear that they can't afford to bring Lady and Lord Markelhay into the fold of what is going on as of yet.  They anticipate that Armos Kamroth is likely to be at the keep soon, levying all manner of falsehoods against the heroes in order to maintain his powerful social and capitalized position in Fallcrest.  Unfortunately, they don't have time to defend their actions or names nor lay out the indictment against Kamroth.  But Norlamir insists that they let him make a quick stop off at the keep before he escorts them to the Silver Unicorn Inn.  When he returns from his quick stop-off, he's brought a servant's change-of-clothes and some bandages for the merchants and hands a folded robe to Starn."Complements of the Lady," he winks.* Starn receives:STARN quickly bandages himself up, still cursing those riders. On the ride over, realizes he can get some payback against them by helping the Knight. He feels this guy is honorable and definitely in trouble, and Starn owes him. It doesn't escape his notice that some answers might also come out of this, but Starn swears to pay his debt of honor first and foremost if he possibly can.He gets out of the coach and makes for the stables.  He turns as he does and, in a hurried cadence, tells Lief and Vorn that he'll meet them at the Silver Unicorn Inn upon his return.  He has to see the Knight of Pelor to the safety of Winterhaven; he risked his life helping Starn.  Starn Minor Quest:  Protect the Knight from the Cardinal's forces and make sure he's able to get to Winterhaven.The coach scurries away to The Silver Unicorn Inn where the coachman drops off LIEF, VORN, and the newly acquired five.  Vorn drops 4 coin for himself for a room and then 8 more for a few rooms for the merchants and the boy to lie low while "things are handled."Vorn communicates that he knows where to find some good old troublemakers to create a diversion for the pair as they assault Tombwood <players have elected to go to Tombwood to locate and slay the cult leadership therein rather than take an Extended Rest in order to avoid the condition of -1 ATK and Primary Skills (save ends) as the cult of The Elect would have made preparations after the loss at Kamroth Estate>.Vorn returns in thirty minutes having spent coin to grease palms for the necessary arrangements:* Vorn gains the Fallcrest Tactics Boon outlined above.* Vorn pays 52 coin to hire out a diversion on the periphery/just inside Tombwood.  The mechanical benefit will be 2 x Successes on their first Primary Skill Stealth in Tombwood (describe how the diversion helps you).With the mid-day sun cresting, the pair of skulkers head to Tombwood; a haunted, isolated, large thicket in central Fallcrest, along the southern slopes of Moonstone Hill.  It served as an old cemetary with tangled paths and battle-mounds dating back centuries.  The unkempt, completely untracked wilderness at this point and fraught with peril.  Even in the middle of the day, its canopy prevents much of the light from the sun to pierce its dark fold.  Like Kamroth Estate, its a Point of Darkness in the midst of Fallcrest so it is no surprise The Elect cell has taken up there to spring its fell purpose...among which obviously includes bloodletting racketeering of merchants in Fallcrest to build out its ability to summon The Mogul or increase its breadth of influence.[HR][/HR]LEIF & VORNComplexity 2 SC, Level 2 (DCs 9/13/20)Goal: Slay whoever's running the Elect cell in the Tombwood before they reinforce or relocate.0/6 Successes/0 Failures/1 Hard DC Available/2 Secondary Skills Available/1 Stealth Advantage for 2 x Success Available/Primary Skill Training exhausted;The dark woods in the middle of Fallcrest is composed of overgrowth, tangled briars, and gnarled water oaks that bend and coil and reach like a living thing.  As Lief and Vorn surveil the periphery, the immediate question becomes obvious:Do they (1) endure the trackless razorvine and briars on the ground and attempt to locate a left trail which will lead them to The Elect operators and their lair...or is it better (2) to scale one of the more robust water oaks, and brachiate through the maze of tangled limbs, using the small amount of light which limply penetrates this dense canopy to spot the lair from above?(1) comes with the danger of injury from the razorvine and briars...the possibility of an unfortunate encounter with the spooks and haunts of the ancient cemeteries...or an increased likelihood of getting regrettably lost in such a foul place.(2) comes with the danger of avian or ambush predators who use the trees and a brutal fall leading to the affliction of a condition on the disease track for an injury if a saving throw isn't successful.Both are MEDIUM DC.[HR][/HR]STARNComplexity 2 SC, Level 2 (DCs 9/13/20)Goal: Acquire a horse and sprint the King's Road between Fallcrest and Winterhaven in order to chase down the Knight of Pelor (3 successes) in order to see him to his destination before Cardinal Erban and his posse can catch him (6 successes).0/6 Successes/0 Failures/1 Hard DC Available/2 Secondary Skills Available/0 Advantages Available/Primary Skill Training exhausted;The young brother and sister stablehands at Moonstone Keep alert the horsedealer, farrier, and stablemaster of Starn's excited state.  The middle-aged human woman hollers for Starn to come into the back as she's hip deep in hoof care and has a particular bastard of a stallion charmed enough to do the good bit of work he needs done."Have you the coin?  These horses don't come cheap.  Especially, the fastest one.  Any of our bunch will get you there...wherever that might be...in a hurry...but Hat-eater (I suspect you can figure how he got that name) will give the Pegasus herself a run for her money."1) 75 Coin for a Riding Horse (see below).2) Alternatively, you can spend 75 x 2 = 150 coin for Hat-eater + gain 1 success in the SC due to his speed.What do you do?</blockquote>

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