Credmoore Play by Post

[larryfinnjr]

I don't want to miss out on replying, but I'm dog-tired, and not completely up for a lot of in-character typing...hope the gist of what I'm looking to do suffices....

I'd like to use my personality and detective skills to try to gin up any information about:
- the green dragon lair
- Moon Wolf / Golden Eagle
- Necromancers of Grey Peak
- The Dungeon of Graves

I'll leave it to Bouda to work the local information (Val' Quantora / Mist that Crawls, his family, the sword, etc.) as obviously he's a little more 'at home' here than I am.

 

[whardell]

OK here we go:

- the green dragon lair, the elves have not heard anything specific, recent about the lair. They are aware of the legend of Golden Eagle and that he supposedly fought a green somewhere in the area. Moon Wolf came through asking many of the same questions and seemed to have been heading the same direction.

-Golden Eagle, same details you have heard before, Warrior, came from common stock? from the local human tribes. Fought in some battles and then adventured before settling down on the spoils of his work. Last known whereabouts was headed toward the Dragon Arcterrix.

Moon Wolf - Recently came through, Mul, Warrior, Carried a very large Hammer. Seemed like a decent fellow, fits the description previously given. He was kind to those he met, donated some to the shrine [multi-denominational]. Was very goal oriented, wanted to know about the dangers that were ahead, very much in a hurry to get moving, took some convincing to get him to stay the night here rather than push on into the valley. Left with a couple of elves that had just come of age, they were headed out into the wilds for their proving.

Necromancers of Grey Peak - Streetwise gets you some funny looks, but you do get some information. They are on the north side of the mainland continent, isolated. Apparently a group of necromancers decided to study the ruins of Sumara (think Pompeii) for the unique necromantic energies contained therein. They were fairly unqiue among their kind as they leaned more toward neutrality than evil and were generally quite lawful. Longstory short they built a city state that has one of the high standard of living in the world. Of course you have to accept the fact that their workforce consists of animated skeletons and zombies, and that when any citizen dies their remains will join them. [*GM note: Their significance to the plot is at this point nonexistent, other than they pioneered the magical processes needed to create the item that the rat was carrying]

- The Dungeon of Graves - This may be somewhat of a repeat of prior posted information: Originally the dungeon was a small complex controlled by a cult of Orcus, throughout the ages the cult grew and armies of light (mostly from the West Tower) assaulted the complex. The last great crusade was about 200 years ago... right around the time the Order of the West Tower was destroyed. Now the dungeon is a sprawling complex of more than a dozen floors (accounts vary) some say 30 or more levels. What is not disputed is that there is a vast amount of treasure to be found in its confines if you care to look.

-> Rumors you glean about the Dungeon
- A great priest was sealed behind a door with 7 arcane seals, if he could be freed good would benefit greatly.
- Demonic lizards lair in the magma pools of one of the deeper levels and supposedly one of these pools is pure molten gold.
- The great knight Bannor was overcome by a horde of enemies before being struck down by the cyclops king, his greatsword must still be in the dungeon.
- Zelkir the powerful holy wizard that once crusaded against the dungeon is now a lich and works to defend the place from adventurers.
- Inside is a corridor of white stone that is powerfully cursed. Any that walk down it will die.

 

[BoudasBrain]

Bouda spends a fair amount of time with her human kin sharing news of the health and happiness of her siblings. She tries to find out what her Lorvest cousins know of the attacks by raiders ad undead (Streetwise). Bouda then requests audience with the elven Master of the Hunt and tries to learn more about the Mist that Crawls (Diplomacy).

 

[whardell]

Re: Attacks by undead and raiders, they have been on the rise, some are starting to suspect that there is a power in these parts that is controlling the different bands and making them into a more unified force. It is unknown where a group like this might be able to grow to sufficient size without gaining the attention of the elves and humans in the area.

Mist that crawls: Tendrils of the mist range for miles and are relatively minor to deal with. The core of the mist, is a physical entity that is incredibly power, it attacks your mind with brutal visions of pain and suffering and is always accompanied by a troupe of Misty Figures that attack along side it. Anyone attempting to attack in had best come prepared. [OOC you gain the following knowledge, It is a Solo Monster, attacks will, does psychic damage, and is highly resistant to all damage]

Assuming you do nothing further, you set out the next morning into the Valley. The road is well maintained but ominous. Shreds of mist cling to the bushes and trees long after the sunlight should have burned them off. You have the sense that you are always being watched. More than once you catch movement out of the corner of your eye, but it never seems to be anything real. You also sense whispers just at the edge of hearing, like faintly burbling water that almost sounds like a conversation.

This is without a doubt the abode of something wicked. It is also again without a doubt, a very thin border between both the Feywild and the Shadowfell.

As you approach the center of the valley and the sun starts to dip behind the hills, you get a chill deep in your core. You realize that things here are worse than you had be led to believe, the veil isn't just thin, it is torn. This valley is no longer safe and the elves at the border must not be aware of it, else surely they would not have allowed their new warriors to venture here alone.

There is no way to turn back, you must press forward, the sun is only half above the horizon when the first arrow comes whizzing by your mounts. Your hear a startled yell, "Arkiel they obviously aren't the creatures, they are riding horses! They must be the help that Zeriah and Jania went for."

Two young warriors step out from behind some overgrown hedges, both carry longbows, and they look at you expectantly, they seem crestfallen when they realize you are alone.

"Who are you, and where are our friends?"

 

[BoudasBrain]

"I am Bouda Lorvest, eldest of Kael and Eikreen of High Rock; Knight Daughter of Chauntea." [Insert Xaal's introduction here.] After we are allowed to approach; "I'm sorry. We saw no one on the way here. Tell me gwanur [brother], what is happening?"

My immediate intentions are:
-Find out how many remain and organize an effective defense.
-Treat any of the injured. [Heal]
-Try to assess the threat. [Arcana, Religion, Insight]

 

[larryfinnjr]

While Bouda deals with the elves, I turn my focus outward, on guard for problems and "creatures." (Nature and Perception checks)

If attacked, I will make myself obvious to whatever evils threaten this place and try to keep it/their attention focued on me. (Readied action - Mounted charge / Warsong Strike)

OOC: 1 and 20? Seriously?! LOL!!! (You are POSTIVE you see leaves, feel breeze, hear birds, etc....)

OOC: And now -I- didn't get any messages saying either of you had replied.... guess we'll have to just check each day.

 

[larryfinnjr]

/bump

 

[whardell]

The two elves seem exhausted, scared, and more than a little on edge. "What is happening is that everything has gone drow! We have been attacked nonstop by the Mist that Crawls. Moon Wolf took a nasty wound in the initial ambush buying us time to take firing potions. He was fine for a time but then he dropped into a fever and collapsed. We thought it was just some bad luck and that we could handle it, but we eventually realized the Mist is more powerful than it should be. We couldn't risk losing the Mul, so two of us went for help, I am guessing they didn't make it since you didn't run into them."

-Find out how many remain and organize an effective defense. Moon Wolf is down, alive barely, sick or poisoned.

Your Heal Check stabilizes him, you have never run into a poison this intense before, your kit had enough to treat several people and yet it was barely enough to stabilize the Mul. (You think you remember passing the herbs you need just a quarter mile back.)


-Try to assess the threat. [Arcana, Religion, Insight] Very solid rolls, What seems to be attacking the elves are groups of "Mist Spawn" potent monsters but only fragments of the Mists power, You know the creature is a natural beast, fey, shadow. It deals and is resistant to cold damage, it shifts and flows across the field and is hard to pin down. Per the Elves when the mist attacks in full there will likely be several waves, often undead make up the bulk of the forces, but dark fey creatures are common also.

@ Xaal, you keep a good watch, you don't detect any movement or any attack at this time. You do spot a couple of promising brambles and piles of rock that could swing the battle in your favor if you want to spend 5 minutes to prepare the area a bit.

*** The fight is imminent, you have according to the elves, about 5 minutes to prepare (the monsters attacks have been maddeningly predictable). Take this time to try to do anything you can think of to tip the odds in your favor. Ideas that have or will be presented:

* Healing herbs for Moon Wolf, at a dead sprint one of you can run to the herbs, pick them, run back, and heal Moon Wolf for the upcoming fight. [Athletics Check], [Nature or Heal Check], [Endurance Check], [Heal Check]

* Preparing the area for battle, Search for usable terrain/items [Perception], Use either your surroundings or your knowledge of battle tactics to postion yourselves [History/Nature], Drag items around or deftly set up some trip lines [Athletics/Acrobatics], Hide yourself or figure out the likely angle of attack[Stealth/Insight]

If you have any other ideas, figure them out and present them in similar format.

 

[larryfinnjr]

"Men, it is here we will make our stand and live to tell the tale. Steel yourselves for the battle to come and know we will prevail!" [Diplomacy to inspire]

"You - pull the Mul into that copse of trees and ensure he is well hidden from the enemy, then remain hidden to take advantage of surprise. And you - take up position in that blind to flank the enemy when it presents itself. I will make myself the obvious choice for its initial foray, giving you each the opportunity to surprise it." [Insight for tactics]

"Bouda - even if we were to fall here, I believe Moon Wolf has a destiny to fulfill and should be given every opportunity to survive. I will hold the line here if you will consider making the effort to obtain the herbs you mentioned."

"Now quick, tell me how this creature appears so I am prepared for its arrival" [Perception when ready to anticipate its arrival and hopefully gain surprise]

 

[BoudasBrain]

Bouda looks at the copse of trees where Xaal told the young elves to move the mul. [Insight - tactics] "That area is not safe, put him next to the boulder."

Bouda turns to Xaal and says "Guard them well." and then spurs her warhorse, hugging its back to avoid low branches, and charges towards the herbs. [Warhorse Athletics]

When she arrives, she recovers the herbs. [Heal]

Then she pushes her horse to the limit on the way back. [Warhorse Endurance]

When she returns, she administers the herbs to Moonwolf. [Heal]