[Adventure] Into the King's Forest (Judge: THB)

[evilbob]

[sblock=ooc]Ok, so I am not sure if this question is too meta or not: owlbears are magic-infused creatures, yes? Are they they type of creature that House Vadalis could have created using magebreeding, and/or could the house have created a domesticated version?[/sblock]
[sblock=nature]I am assuming it's ok to use a "passive" nature (mine is 17) - let me know if I should roll instead. If I have erred then let me know. Otherwise: would we have any indication that Luthan could be a member of the Ashbound group? I mean, he's a tribal, woodland elf who clearly doesn't care for magic or House Vadalis, he's dirt poor and his tribe is called Graythickets which could be an ash reference... I guess what I'm asking is: is it obvious, are their more signs to make it obvious, or am I just reaching?[/sblock]


[sblock=Unit 16]
Unit 16 Warforged Warden 4
Initiative: +3, Passive Perception: 17, Passive Insight: 12, Senses: Normal
AC:22, Fort:18, Reflex:14, Will:14
HP:57/57, Bloodied:28, Surge Value:14, Surges left:13/13
Action Points/Milestones: 1/0
Powers:
Font of Life
Nature's Wrath
Warden's Fury / Warden's Grasp
Weight of Earth
Earth Shield Strike
Warforged Resolve
Roots of Stone
Earthgrasp Strike
Warden's Tempest
Second Wind
Form of Winter's Herald - Form of Winter's Herald Attack

Important Stuff:
- makes lots of immediate interrupts/reactions/OAs

Conditions:

Full sheet: Unit 16[/sblock]

 

[Antithetist]

[sblock=renau1g]Jarren is accustomed to think of himself as worldly; he's crossed countries, fought for mercenaries on foreign soil and seen more of Eberron than most of his tribe could dream of. Yet still, he found himself gazing up with wide-eyed awe from the moment that Sharn's great towers came into view. Now, as he drifts through the crowds of Wroann's Gate, jostled and hemmed in on every side as he tries to admire the architecture, he can't help but grin to himself. This truly is a world apart from his homeland.

Distracted as he is, he remains alert to the subtle tug as the spirits call on his attention. In a moment he has taken in the situation, and he feels a momentary thrill in the consciousness that he has a part to play in this emergent situation. His dreamy mood is gone, replaced by surging determination as he pushes his way through to the front of the crowd. He will get as close as possible to the scene between the protestors and their current targets, straining to hear exactly what is passing between them and ready to step in if it turns violent. He's not sure yet what side he'll be stepping into, but he's confident that the spirits won't guide him falsely.


OOC: Jarren will be trying to get a sense of the situation; maybe it'll all be clear by the time he gets within range, but if not, let me know if an active Insight check would be an option.[/sblock]

[sblock=Jarren quick stats]
Jarren Star Gazer Male Shifter Shaman 4
Medium natural humanoid
Initiative +2; Senses Passive Insight 12, Passive Perception 14, Low-light vision

HP 43/43 Bloodied 21, Surge Value 10, Surges 10
AC 17; Fortitude 17, Reflex 15, Will 19
Saving Throws +0
Speed 6

Action Points: 1

Encounter Powers: Healing Spirit x2
Capturing Jaws
Certain Threat
Speak With Spirits
Bonds of the Clan
Razorclaw Shifting
Second Wind

Daily Powers: Spirit of the Healing Flood

Daily Item Powers: (1/milestone)
Potion of Clarity
Bear Spirit Armor

Consumables: Potion of Healing x2
Potion of Clarity x2
197 gp
[/sblock]

 

[evilbob]

OOC: Hiya, Antithetist, and welcome to the party!

[sblock=nature]Here's a curious question: would the Ashbound find my character reprehensible - since he was effectively born of magic - or somewhat tolerable - since he is a primal-powered class? In other words, is race or occupation more important?[/sblock]

 

[renau1g]

[sblock=ooc]Ok, so I am not sure if this question is too meta or not: owlbears are magic-infused creatures, yes? Are they they type of creature that House Vadalis could have created using magebreeding, and/or could the house have created a domesticated version?[/sblock]
[sblock=nature]I am assuming it's ok to use a "passive" nature (mine is 17) - let me know if I should roll instead. If I have erred then let me know. Otherwise: would we have any indication that Luthan could be a member of the Ashbound group? I mean, he's a tribal, woodland elf who clearly doesn't care for magic or House Vadalis, he's dirt poor and his tribe is called Graythickets which could be an ash reference... I guess what I'm asking is: is it obvious, are their more signs to make it obvious, or am I just reaching?[/sblock]

[sblock=Unit 16]
Owlbear's are indeed magical infused creatures. House Vadalis does have a dark side, the Seryan line of their House has always been interested in the dark power of the natural world. During the Last War this line focused on experiments with displacer beasts and dire wolves. It is certainly possible that they acquired an owlbear egg (very costly, but a House likely has the resources to acquire one).

re: Ashbound group/Luthan - let's see.... well he's not wearing a badge that denotes him part of it, but your analysis isn't "reaching"...let's leave it at that

oh - they find all civilization to be a blight. Warforged wouldn't be hated by them, but wouldn't be loved either
[/sblock]

 

[evilbob]

[sblock=ooc]Does it mean you're jaded when you automatically assume all NPCs are lying to you?

So now Unit 16 is thinking: is this a trap set by Luthan and the Ashbound group to catch heathen adventurers using a House Vadalis abomination as bait, or did House Vadalis set a trap for the Luthan and the Ashbound tribe and now we're walking into it for him? Either way:
[sblock=you know what's coming]

[/sblock][/sblock]

 

[Mezegis]

[sblock=Bluff... sort of]Here's the check: 1d20+1=8 Should be a 10 with the +2 RP bonus. Though, I should point out, Ryda thinks Unit 16's insistance to get into Melee with this thing will amount to suicide, so she really isn't bluffing when she says she's leadig him to his death... lol[/sblock]

 

[Mezegis]

Responding in whisper to Unit 16 when she gets a chance, Their wounds are their own making, it matters not to me how long they heal as long as they do not impeed me. That man complains about a warforged taking his father's job, I bet that was because one worked harder than the other. He is using the fact that it was a warforged as an excuse for his weakness.

 

[renau1g]

The rabble looks at the trio, but with the many guards around seems to rethink their actions as the looked to be ready to start some trouble. You continue out towards the main gate, passing through without difficulty.

[sblock=Ryda/Unit 16]
I'm assuming Unit 16 first, Luthan, then Ryda? You can walk three abreast once you get out of the city proper area[/sblock]

[sblock=Jarren]
You feel a light pull towards the trio, not the rabble[/sblock]

 

[evilbob]

Unit 16 is thoughtful as they move past the crowd and out the gate. "Weakness... yes. That human's job was taken by a warforged likely because he is weaker. But he is made weaker still by untruths designed to misappropriate his blame from the true source onto another," Unit 16 whispers to Ryda. "It is a strange thing, to blame others for one's own weakness." Unit 16's gaze moves to Luthan and lingers a moment as they follow him out the gate.

"So, elf: how long have you disliked House Vadalis?"

[sblock=order]16 is nothing if not direct.

I'm always happy to walk up front but I would imagine for the moment Luthan is leading us (otherwise 16 doesn't know where to go) and Ryda and 16 are talking. If you need a marching order for battle, 16 is always fine to be up front.

So was 10 enough for the bluff then or the situation overruled? [/sblock]

 

[Mezegis]

[sblock=rabble]I think it wasn't enough, but they weren't going to start the fight with so many guards around, and since we were clearly not going to fight, r1 let it slide.[/sblock]

Susan, at least call him by his name, it's rude if you don't. Now whether or not this has anything to do with Vadalis, that's not really a concern of mine. I'm not planning on dying, so if this is a grand ploy to get me to kill one of their pets, fine, as long as I get paid. If it's not a scheme, which is the side I'm thinking is more accurate, then we save a village and have stories told about our bravery and fierce fighting styles! Either way, the path is the same, is it not? Ryda states matter-of-factly, trying to deflect the conversation away from anything that might touch a nerve.

[sblock=Marching Order] Ryda will generally trail behind the leader, 2 back and one to a side. When outside the walls she will have her bow strung and in hand, but no arrow nocked.[/sblock]