Airwalkrr's 4e Game IC: Ch 1 Sedition

[airwalkrr]

Celen seems at first disappointed at your mercenary attitude, but shrugs and quips, "I suppose well-paid lackeys are the most loyal. Fine, have it your way. I am prepared to offer you two hundred and forty pieces of gold which you can divide amongst you however you see fit. Sixty berans apiece if that suits you. I was going to give it to you anyway. But at least you are up front about your expectations."

GM: The Beran is the highest value piece of currency used in common trade. It is 1/8 of an ounce of gold. The only other currency that competes with it is the Imperial, which is issued by the Empire of Johak. Both are worth roughly the same, but use of the latter in the Republic is somewhat frowned upon as the money is considered to be of potentially dubious origin. Other currencies common in Berandal are the Shelan (silver), the Penny (copper), and the Bit (bronze). Johak has similar currencies of the same value and also uses the Common (iron). Of course, as adventurers, your wealth will generally consist of gold.

"Now as to how you choose to infiltrate the Silver Mantle Company, I leave that up to you. You can pose as mercenaries for hire for a caravan and then go snooping about once your are in if that is your style. Or you could try to sneak into their enclave in the dead of night and have a look around that way. Any other method you might prefer is fair game as long as it gets the job done."

"I expect there to be a certain amount of 'collateral damage' in the process. However, these are still citizens of the Republic, and as such have certain rights. Unless we have evidence of their collaboration with adverse forces any action taken against them will be seen as illegitimate and therefore a problem for Parliament and the law in prosecuting this case further. So in the event you find yourselves in a skirmish, I recommend non-lethal use of force to be on the safe side. However, should you find monsters at hand, rest assured that the powers that be will care little about your means of disposal."

GM: As an aside, all races found in the Player's Handbook, with the exception of tieflings, are commonly found among the citizenry of Berandal. All other races are either very rare, or considered monstrous. Orcs, goblins, and the like do not find themselves very welcome in the Republic as they are widely seen as tools of the Empire. Indeed, the largest part of Johak's armies are made up of orcs, goblins, and creatures of monstrous origin. With the exception of gnomes, all the races found in the Monster Manual as possible player races are either disliked or shunned. Gnomes bear special mention. They are particularly rare as those who live in Khareb make their home in the Naeci Forest and seem loathe to leave it. Your characters are likely to have heard of them but never seen one, Lia included, as she is an Urban Elf. Concerning tieflings, they are the descendants of those who made dark pacts with Dezmaeron and are shunned and distrusted by humans all across Khareb. Even the Johak seem to dislike them.

Celen then has each of you recite an oath of loyalty to the Republic of Berandal and Parliament. After reciting your oaths, he retrieves a parchment from a scroll case hanging along a bandoleer he is wearing. The parchment is a blank letter of marque granting those undersigned to act on behalf of Parliament in the investigation of the Silver Mantle Company and grants dispensation to use all necessary force should foul play be discovered. Celen performs a short ritual that undersigns each of your names on the letter and then gives it to you.

"I recommend you don't just go waving this about if you want to be discreet. But should you find yourself in dire peril, presenting it might grant you some reprieve. After all, no one wants to kill official agents of Parliament as it is a capital crime. It also grants you immunity from charges in any Berandali court of law for offenses constituted in all good faith for the accomplishment of the mission. The parchment is magical, and shouldn't tear or be stained easily. But you might want to protect it inside a scroll case nonetheless."

"Now if you have any questions for me, I'll answer as best I can. Otherwise I will leave you with the key to this room and allow you to rest up as needed and make your plans accordingly."

GM: I'd like a post from everyone including your questions or if not, that you have no questions. Once I have a post from everyone, I will move things along to the next day and you can plan your mission. Scouting out the Silver Mantle Company enclave would be a good place to start.

 

[drothgery]

"I was going to ask about that." Lia said after reading the scroll. "We will do our best to bring anyone involved back alive, but trying not to kill someone with an arrow is a bit difficult."

"How should we report back? We could have information, prisoners, or bodies and evidence. Or find a trail leading where we cannot follow." She asks.

 

[wolfattack]

''Do you know anything about the place where the Silver Mantle Company is? you have any map of the place,even a scratch? besides this,i think is all clear for me.''

 

[airwalkrr]

"I was going to ask about that." Lia said after reading the scroll. "We will do our best to bring anyone involved back alive, but trying not to kill someone with an arrow is a bit difficult."

"Oh come on now. You've already demonstrated your significant skills to me. I'm sure if need be you are capable of striking to wound and not to kill. Accidents do happen of course. No one is perfect. But as long as you are reasonably cautious, I imagine things will turn out fine."

GM: Just a note, in 4e, any time you strike a blow that brings your opponent below 0 hit points, you can knock them unconscious instead of killing them. If that blow happens to be a crit, they will begin dying, but you will have the opportunity to tend to them if you get to them soon enough.

"How should we report back? We could have information, prisoners, or bodies and evidence. Or find a trail leading where we cannot follow." She asks.

"A good point. The owner of this tavern, a fellow named Rorsh the Red, is an informant of mine. Anything that you have, bring it to his attention. If it's prisoners simply make sure they are in a secure place and inform him of the location; I will make sure it is taken care of."

''Do you know anything about the place where the Silver Mantle Company is? you have any map of the place,even a scratch? besides this,i think is all clear for me.''

"Well according to them, they deliver supplies to Berandali frontier forts and settlements. Their enclave in this city is a hub where all their caravans stop off. The enclave includes a couple of warehouses, one contains live animals, beasts of burden and such. The other is for dry goods, arms, and the like. Between them are the offices which handle all the administrative affairs for the company."

 

[drothgery]

GM: Just a note, in 4e, any time you strike a blow that brings your opponent below 0 hit points, you can knock them unconscious instead of killing them. If that blow happens to be a crit, they will begin dying, but you will have the opportunity to tend to them if you get to them soon enough.

OOC: I realize that's true for game mechanics purposes, but it's a lot easier to visualize knocking someone unconscious with magic or unarmed combat than even with blunt weapons. Even with a sword you can handwave bopping someone with the flat of a blade or the hilt of a dagger. But with an arrow or a crossbow bolt? Really?

 

[airwalkrr]

OOC: I realize that's true for game mechanics purposes, but it's a lot easier to visualize knocking someone unconscious with magic or unarmed combat than even with blunt weapons. Even with a sword you can handwave bopping someone with the flat of a blade or the hilt of a dagger. But with an arrow or a crossbow bolt? Really?

GM: If you aim at a non-vital area, certainly. Hit someone in the shoulder or thigh and you can cripple them without killing them. There's a bit of abstraction of course. But by the time you are dealing the final blow to an enemy they are usually pretty wounded already and an arrow to a non-vital area is just enough to send them reeling to the floor. In the case of minions, they aren't too tough to begin with so a single hit to a non-vital area causes them enough pain to knock them unconscious. It might get a little more complicated when we have things like fireballs, but even then you could explain it as the wizard aiming the fireball so that it will just singe and not fry. Anyway it's a lot simpler than having a separate non-lethal damage system. It's one of the areas where I think 4th edition improved upon the concept of knocking out foes with the intent to take them captive. Rather than have a sub-system with separate bookkeeping, the assumption is that the heroes are skilled enough to maim without killing if such is their aim. Of course bear in mind unconscious foes are easier to rouse than dead ones. An ally of an unconscious monster could rally it with any ability that lets it spend a healing surge.

 

[Voda Vosa]

"Fine then, I suppose we have strategies and plans to make. I t'ink t'is room, sealed from curious will be the ideal place." offers Petron. "We could use a map of the area, if you happen to have one, but regardless, I think we can come up wit' somet'in'" he adds, looking at the half elf.

 

[Walking Dad]

Erik

"I'm all for infiltration. With our background, being mercenaries is more than believable... and I'm just not good at sneaking around.
Let them pay us as we spy on them."
Erik adds a wink to his last words.

[sblock=OOC]



[sblock=Mini stat block]
Eric Apeldan
Perception: 17 Insight: 17 Normal Vision
AC 17 Fortitude 13 Reflex 15 Will 15
Initiative: +1
Hit Points: 24 / 24 Bloodied: 12
Temporary Hit Points: 0
Resist:
Saving Throw: -
Action Points: 0 Second Wind: 1
Healing Surge:6 Surges per day: 8 / 8
At-Will Powers: Magic Missle, Stoneblood, Thunderwave
Encounter Powers: Staff of Defense, Leaden Transmutation
Daily Powers: Slimy Transmutation

Condition:

[/sblock][/sblock]

 

[Voda Vosa]

"Yeah, I was t'inkin' about the same, although it will look suspicious if a well armed mercenary band presents t'emselves asking for whatever job t'ey have. It would look too good to be true... We should figure out somet'in' else...a good reason for them to come to us... Perhaps, if we could take a caravan, and blame some monsters of t'at, t'ey'll have to come to us, in search for t'eir goods... I dunno.." offers Petron

 

[airwalkrr]

"I do not have a map," Celen says, "but hopefully my description helps. You could also examine the place for yourself from the outside."

"If you sign on to defend a caravan you might learn something from the caravan master about why his goods are being cut. However there is the distinct possibility that caravan masters are being cut out of the process. Nevertheless, I imagine you will find the most revealing information in the enclave itself. Thus finding a way to get into the enclave should be your primary goal."