[PBP] Tholestia Chapter 1: Minotaur trouble and a failed ambush

[Sullaf]

"You have answered my question very well. Indeed, Deepwinter 7 is a force to be reckoned with. Please keep in mind with all your "pleasant" chit chat, that he is a convict. As I stated before, for now he earns my trust, but I will keep an eye on him. The ever living one is not a concern to me: he is a Lord and bound by his words. There should be no complications on his side."

Roland looks around if anybody is too near and then continues: "It's not that I don't trust the cook. I just want to know what I'm up against, I want to be prepared. What if some crazy wizard, no offense of course, befouls his mind to turn him against us? What should we expect from him? If he really can make men out of thin air, then maybe he can create an army in a matter of seconds... What are our options then? So you see my dilemma?"

Roland lets out a small sigh and begins to smile: "On the other hand, why do I worry? Heironeous has always been kind to us. If the situation should arrive, I'm certain he will guide us. After all, who am I to judge if one is good or evil. That is only for the Gods to decide!

 

[Bacter]

Diactum adresses to Roland:

"Alright, Roland, when more mentally-chalanging times come, we will see if boldy-locks will act the way he says he will.

For now... let's move quickly to Highloom and find out what evil awaits us there!!!

 

[Sullaf]

introduction

/OOC/ Please note this is not roland posting but Wulf (casper) whose login procedure is more troublesome than expected /OOC/

Suddenly the young man accompanying the party until now opens he his mouth and speaks with gentle though slightly timid voice:


I sincerely apologise for being silent until now but the new circumstances I am confronted with have required all my attention until now. Allow me to explain and introduce myself.
My name is Wulf and I prefer to leave my second name unknown due to a situation I will expand on later. I now am twenty-one years old and have lived under safe guard and guidance of my parents until some time ago. They too were engaged in practices similar to ours, they were adventurers, as a common man would say. My father was a skilled master of the art of magic and my mother was a valorous sword wielder. It is from them I have learned the skills I possess now. Thanks to them I am able to combine the subtlety of spellcraft with the brutal strength of my two bladed sword.
It was at my twenty first birthday I was given the command to leave my elderly house and find my own way in this world. I was bided not to return until my reputation had preceded me. I was given a range of useful equipment and the blessing of both my parents and set out. So now travel these lands in search of adventure so I can come back home and claim my position as a true son and my rightful heritage. This might also explain why I prefer my second name to remain unknown for I am no longer a true member of my honourable family…..

I wish to thank you for taking me with you on your quests for I have no doubts they will be of great allure yet filled with many perils. But I will do my outmost best to bring them to a good end. I know I ask much of your trust but I vow I will not let you down!! My sword and spells are yours…….

OOC/ sorry people but here I finally am.....
Casper/OOC

 

[Bacter]

ooc Ah!!! It speaks!!! /ooc

 

[Ravellion]

Earthday, Evening of Harvest the 27th.

Your mounts carry you over the crest of a slightly wooded hill and in the twilight most of you can just barely see a village, which you expect to be Highloom, lying in a valley about a mile away.

Ilan and Deepwinter 7 (with the aid of his facial mask of light amplification) have less problems making out the details of the village. They estimate that the village consists of about forty houses and farms, and a single windmill. The village and the farms are surrounded with fields, some of them with fullgrown wheat, most of them with sheep which you can hear bleat every now and then. A few Gradean Shepherd Dogs can be spotted by the keen eyed elven ranger, though he stops investigating the village and starts to scratch the back of his hand, which is apparently quite itchy all of a sudden.

The village of Highloom gets its name from both being quite high up in the hills, but also from the many looms, processing the wool for sale in the larger walled cities such as Delarom.

OOC: Any questions before you ride towards the village?

 

[Deepwinter 7]

"Let's not bother with attending the village of Highloom tonight. It's people will be better of when not distracted from their nightly slumber" Deepwinter 7 says with a disdainful glance at the village "No doubt that the villagers will have a use for us, or will plead us to a worthy cause, but if this will interfere with our task at hand it will cause delay. So let us be cautious in our interference with the villagers and try to stick to those that might seem to actually know anything at all. Let's aim directly for their leader and leave the rabble to their rabbling"

While unmounting his horse Deepwinter 7 adds:

Let's sleep in the open tonight. Our friend Wulf here has experienced the luxury of a bed and shelter for far too long now and should learn to live in the wilds as we do. This time he can help me with dinner"

Looking at his friend Ilan and walking up to him

"Shoot me an elk and find me some kingsfoil. Together with the wild mushrooms I found this morning, I will make us something special"

 

[Sullaf]

"I agree with Deepwinter 7. Let's set up camp a bit further down the road, out of sight, and tomorrow we will start the investigations. The watches will be as followed: I will take first, then Tristan, Ilan, Deepwinter 7 and last watch will be for Wulf. Diactum needs his rest, as you all well know. And by the way... from now one all cooking activities will fall under the jurisdiction of our bald cook here. He is not as ugly as my friend Tristan, but a fine cook none the less" Roland smiles at Deepwinter 7.

OOC: Assuming nothing happened:

The next morning after camp has been broken up and everyone is ready to go...

"Lord Ilan, do your Elven eyes see any sign of a battle? Maybe a scorched mark in the field. If four knights were ambushed here, we might spot some signs. Did any of you see any people? Farmers or shepherds? They might have seen something, which could help us."

Roland climbs on top of Simba and he turns to the rest of the party: "I think it is best if we are cautious. I do not believe we are dealing with mere thieves here. There are not many humans capable of dealing with four knights of Amstrad, so be extra alert for ambushes or anything out of the ordinary. I suggest we walk in pairs with at least about 20 ft between the horses, so we are more difficult to ambush. Let's go to the village first and question the inhabitants. Lord Ilan if you would accompany me at the front. We could really use your sight now. Tristan and Deepwinter 7, you 2 take the middle. Wulf and Diactum will take the back."

OOC: I would like to remind the DM that I have Darkvision 60 ft... Probably not enough to see everything, but I should be able to make out at least some shapes.

OOC: Roland is looking for people and anything out of the ordinary. Spot 7(roll) +8(skill) = 15

 

[Ravellion]

After a few minutes of travel after breaking up camp, you reach the same high vantage point as yesterday. There are apparently some people working in the wheat fields, but if the number you see accounts for all of them, you have no idea how they are going to get their work done before harvest festival tomorrow. However, considering the fact that it is freeday today, it is rather surprising that there are people working at all. From this distance, not even Ilan with his keen elven eyes can see whether there is something going on in the village, though you do see a few plumes of smoke coming up from chimneys.

As you travel down the dirt road towards Highloom on the dirt road, you are greeted by many bleeting sheep. A shepherd with a darkblonde trimmed beard hails you. The man could not be older than 30. he gets up and jogs towards you, trying to cut off your path. If you all speed up you could leave him standing in the middle of his flock of sheep.

 

[Bacter]

Thank you Roland for mentioning the party that I indeed need 8 consecutive hours of sleep to benefit the party with my magical capabilities.

Diactum turns to Wulf, to start a conversation about metaphysics:

"Say, Wulfie, How is it that you are so young a magicuser and still seem to be so experienced? It took me quite a lot of time, to become a magical craftsman. I was just curious through what burdons you have gone to become the present 'Wulfie'... Let us prepare our spells wisefully, gnar gnar, for the upcoming events are of great unknowingness.

OOC: maybe it is wise for the DM to await everyone's (or 80% of the pc's) posts before posting again

 

[Sullaf]

Roland makes a stop sign with his fist to the rest, gently lets Simba stop and hails the shepherd while making a greeting sign: "Hi there. Let me introduce myself. I am Roland Goldsteel the second and these are my friends. We are on a noble quest to retrieve valuables that were taken some time ago. About two weeks ago a tax levying party under the crown of Amstrad visited your little village. We haven't heard from them since. There was a search party of four knights send to this area but alas they disappeared as well. Do you have a knowledge of these events, or do you know anyone who does?"