[Pathfinder] Hewligan's Rise of the Runelords: The Hook Mountain Massacre

[hewligan]

On the evening of the first full day in Turtleback Ferry, you hear the commotion within the Inn. There has been ogre activity in some of the farm-steads. Luckily, it appears that most of the early warning systems worked (the farmsteads operate a straw-bale fire system to alert others of attack), and people retreated to safe havens, but one farmstead has been found completely gutted, with blood everywhere.

The Grauls may have gone on the rampage.

 

[Fenris]

As news of the slaughter at the farmstead trickles in, Jovik turns and glares at his companions. he says nothing but his face is full of recriminations. He flexes his hand and remembers the poison that weakened him so recently. His face softened a bit, he knew his friends did not run from a fight without cause.

Turning back to the remaining Black Arrows. Jovik focuses his anger and resentment on Jakardos."So NOW you aren't willing to abandon your responsibilities? How convenient." snarls Jovik, his uncomfortableness with this man finally boiling out.

"If you want our help you need to tell us why, and do so quickly. And believe me you need our help. Also we are NOT heading straight to the fort, we are going to take care of some unfinished business with the Grauls first, and you will help, as will you Kaven before you head south." says Jovik leaning over the table a strange fire in his eyes and an unheard of tenor of authority and command in his voice.


[sblock]
Diplomacy roll
1d20+12=32
Woot a 20!
[/sblock]

 

[Friadoc]

[sblock=OOC]Aid another on Jovik's diplomacy: I'll Take a 10, this adding a +2 to Jovik's already epic roll.

Honestly, it doesn't need it, at all, but I wanted Kael to say something, but in a supporting role, only.[/sblock]

Just to the side of Jovik, Kael adds a simple statement, "Sooner or later, everyone dies, folks, there's no avoiding it. But, we can control how we live our lives 'til that moment...myself, I'd rather be known to live on my feet, not my knees."

 

[hewligan]

Jakardos starts angrily, as if about to respond with fury to Jovik's assertion, but then the strength seems to collapse from behind his eyes, and his head drops to observe the table. He pushes a crust of bread around his plate as he speaks quietly.

"I know I should have been there, at the fort, when the attack came. And I know what I said about going out with a scouting party to find out if the ogres were mobilising. Well, that was half true. We were going to check on that, but of course, I could, should, have stayed at the fort. The thing is, Vale here had passed on some intelligence to me. My daughter ... a black arrow, like you two ... one of the ones who comes and goes, not a permanent fixture. Not some ex-prisoner who had elected to serve their sentence in the fort rather than in a rat-ridden jail. A true black arrow. I had heard from Vale that she had come back, but had refused to see me. Heck, this is why I took this position. I knew she was a black arrow. I hoped the position would give me an opportunity to mend some rather damaged bridges between us. Well, she had come back, but had not entered the fort, or at least, not openly. Vale knew her well, and had met with her in private, and then he had passed on to me that she had left again, gone on one of her missions into the forest to investigate the root of the ogre raids. Always a free spirit, that one. Well, I was worried for her. I felt she would never survive on her own against the resurgent strength of the Kreegs. So I decided that we would go out and find her.

We did find her tracks, and we were following them deep into the Kreegwood when ... well, we found that they crossed with the path of the ogre mobilisation. There was no sign of her, but as we followed the ogres back towards the fort we did see her footprints on occasion. She appeared to be being dragged along, but her small imprint against the mess of giant ogre prints, was all too obvious.

And so we raced back towards the fort, but were beaten there by them. And the fort had fallen, and the rest is true. I was enraged. I pictured my men dead inside, but also her ... my daughter. I ordered an assault - doomed to failure. And it did fail. But I saw her. I saw her inside that fort, just before we were repulsed. Caged, like a beast."

 

[frostrune]

Jokad, far more impulsive than his civilized friend, explodes from his chair at this news of Shalelu. His blood is up and he looks ready to ride on the instant.

He could care less that his shattered chair has drawn every eye in the room. There is only one person here that holds any interest. He looks to Jovik and awaits his reaction...

 

[Rhun]

Danth stands, and throws out an arm to block Jokad, worried that his companion might do something overly...impulsive. "Calm yourself, Jokad. Our duty is clear, and laid out before us." The cleric's voice is low, even, and calm. Nearly serene. "Our first task is to deal with the Graul's. We are the ones that did not finish the job, and every life that they take, every farm they raid is upon our heads." He looks at Jokad, and then and Jovik. "Once we finish we the Grauls, we can move on to the fort. And by stength, skill and faith, we will deal with the Kreegs. By Sarenae's radiant light, we will find the girl and any other survivors, rescue them, and put a bloody end to these ogres."

 

[Fenris]

Jovik's chair goes flying as he leaps to his feet, matching Jokad's. He whirls on Danth, his anger evidence on his face. "And had we stayed as I suggested, as I wanted to. Had we finished our business when there, there would not be a dead family and nothing to keep us from heading straight to the fort. But now, NOW we have lost the element of surprise, now they know we are coming. Now it delay's us yet further."

Jovik turns his fury to Jakardos. He lifts and throws the table out of the way as he heads to the leader of the Black Arrows. "And you." Jovik growls. "You worthless pile of goblin dung. I have no idea who you bribed to get this position, but you are not now and will NEVER lead this Black Arrow. Your incompetence as a leader and as a father has cost the people of these land their protection, Magnimar it's fort, and at least the liberty if not the life of one of the best rangers in these lands."

Jovik leans in dangerously close to Jakardos "I will retrieve Shalelu. If I am too late I shall hold you fully responsible and shall butcher you worse than those ogres could ever think of." Jovik looks to the other two Black Arrows. "I suggest you both come with us, you will not leave a Black Arrow behind Kaven, if you run I will cut you down myself right here right now."

Jovik turns to his friends, quietly but with a grim purpose in his voice he says: "My friends, not one ogre shall stand before our fury, not one enemy will be spared our avenging fire. We shall crash like a wave of Shoanti upon these foul creatures and we shall wash away their stench from this land. I ask you to come to finish purging this evil. But I will go and time is of the essence. I leave in an hour."

And with one last murderous glare at Jakardos, Jovik turns and storms out of the inn.

 

[hewligan]

OOC: Oh, gosh, even I am a little afraid of Jovik, and I am the GM

If you leave now, then Danth will have to cast 2 restore spells the next day. Shall we assume Danth cast 1 restore on Jokad, and 1 on each of the 3 men, with Jovik and Jokad still partially weakened?

Please be sure to incorporate the reduced strength score into your rolls for the next day in-game.

Are you all in agreement to get ready and head back to the Grauls?

 

[frostrune]

OOC: Oh, gosh, even I am a little afraid of Jovik, and I am the GM

If you leave now, then Danth will have to cast 2 restore spells the next day. Shall we assume Danth cast 1 restore on Jokad, and 1 on each of the 3 men, with Jovik and Jokad still partially weakened?

Please be sure to incorporate the reduced strength score into your rolls for the next day in-game.

Are you all in agreement to get ready and head back to the Grauls?

OOC: From the PFSRD Heal skill... Long-Term Care: Providing long-term care means treating a wounded person for a day or more. If your Heal check is successful, the patient recovers hit points or ability score points lost to ability damage at twice the normal rate: 2 hit points per level for a full 8 hours of rest in a day, or 4 hit points per level for each full day of complete rest; 2 ability score points for a full 8 hours of rest in a day, or 4 ability score points for each full day of complete rest.

So we each should have 2 pts back at minimum and maybe 4, depending on when we decide to leave.

Beased on this info, Jovik should be fine without any spells. One lvl 4 - Restoration spell will get Jokad to full (lost 7 STR). (3) lvl 2 - Lesser Restorations may or may not get the other Black Arrows back into form. If they can come with us great, if not, I doubt we will be waiting for them.

Perhaps we can meet them on the road to the Fort tomorrow? We can sweep through and finish the Grauls before moving on.



IC: Jokad feels the sting of Jovik's words even though they are not necessarily directed at him. He needed to retreat. He is part of the reason for delay. Then and there he silently vowed he would give his life to win Shalelu's freedom.

With a nod to Jovik the hulking shoanti turns and briskly walks out the door heading for the stables. His mood is foul and at one look from the normally amiable giant the stableboys jump to their work. Knowing that the horses would be readied to his satisfaction. He moves on to the task of grabbing some extra provisions and gear for the other Black Arrows and Shalelu.

He stalks into the general store and starts grabbing the best of whatever he can find.

Ideally he is looking for:[sblock]

(4) longswords, (4) throwing axes, (4) longbows, (5) quivers of arrows, (4) chainshirts, weather appropriate clothing for 4, backpacks and sundry gear for 4, provisions for 20 days.

grand total about 925 gp

He has no where near that amount of money (138 gp total) but he throws his coins down anyway and tells the shop keep to take up his gripe with Mayor Grobaris in Magnimar. If the man protests or tries to stop him he will use his intimidate (+13) to cow him. Should that fail to work, he will use force if neccessary. Laws be damned!

Kinda fun being a little bad..[/sblock]

Come hell or high water he and Jovik will be ready to ride within the hour. The rangers can gear up and follow on foot.

 

[hewligan]

OOC - correct on Heal, so should be fine.

The shop keeper looks aghast at Jokad.

"You are crazy, boy!" shouts the old man.

"Armour, in this back-water dirt-hole? You can chop me up into a thousand little pieces and feed me to that bear I hear you guys brought into town, but that aint going to magic up any sort of armour for sale in Turtleback ferry."

The old man laughs - a dry, croaky laugh.

"Geez boy."

Seeing that Jokad isn't in a joking mood, the old man's face darkens.

"You are not stealing anything from me. Over my dead body. Literally if that is what you want. This here cow-pat hamlet is a tough town. I worked here forty years. I been stabbed three times, beaten unconscious twice, and had someone threaten to slice up my daughter once. I am still here. Those peoples ain't!

Now look, I thinks you means well, but perhaps your brain is a bit small for your skull. I can do swords, sure, and axes too - but they ain't for throwing - just for chopping things with, like lumber - you know - don't worry lad, that's just a posh word for wood.

I can do you warm clothes, and bows, and enough arrows to keep you happy, but you are paying for it. FULLY. And if you don't have the cash, please feel free to leave one of your pretty trinkets with me as collateral and you can pay me nice and proper when you come back with that dragon's treasure, or whatever other madness it is you are off to do.

Better be a bloody good trinket, mind!"

OOC: You are free to take the stuff and walk off, or kill the old guy, etc., but it will not be consequence free.