First adventures in Aerth; Part 1

[merctime]

Jul 1, 2015 18:56:01 GMT -5 tetramorph said:

Hallstaff studies the graffiti.

Halstaff notes that the graffitti isn't in the Common language of Man; Even chalk-written, it does have some sort of grace and elegance to it.  

((OOC:  Does Halstaff burn an in-game language to understand it?  Otherwise, he cannot read it.))

[bestialwarlust]

Sorted looks around for any signs of recent activity in the room. Looks at the ceiling for anything unusual, listening for anything odd. Can we read the graffiti before we step into the chamber?

((OOC if Halstaff doesn't want to use a language slot Sorten certainly will))

[merctime]

Does Sorten spend his time checking out the room, or looking at the graffitti and trying to decipher it?

Let's call this timeframe "exploration round 1". Each of you has one reasonably specific set of actions, but not say checking out two different things.

[bestialwarlust]

Check the room first.

[merctime]

Sorten notes that the room has had recent visitors. Muddy little paw-print type tracks, around a half dozen or perhaps a few more, are the most fresh. Other tracks may or may not be simply stains. But, this area apears... Broomed?

Also, it seems that common items have been ushered along the outer edges of the floor against the edge. Sorten believes that this is the work of conscientious creatures straightening things up. The stuff is in plain sight, and in all, he finds a glass jar of scented oil, a handful of chalk sticks, 2 feet of ruined and rusty iron chain, an iron hacksaw, 3 crossbow bolts, and a burnt-out torch stub.

[tetramorph]

merctime and bestialwarlust:

"Sorten, can you make any sense of this strange scribbling?"

OOC: Halstff's gaurdian angel has hinted that Sorten is more likely to know this than Halstaff. Perhaps we could burn a turn on it?

[bestialwarlust]

Soten will read the graffiti on the wall and see if he can make sense of it.

"I'll see if I can decipher the writing here. While I'm doing that can one of you check the tracks on the ground and see if they seem to go in one particular direction. We should all be on alert."

[merctime]

Sorten studies the graffiti on the wall, for a good few minutes. The redshirts take up positions at the corners of the passage entrances to the west, south, and east; They are alert, and do not call out about any disturbances during this time. Halstaff and Acanthophis do as they are a mind too.

Sorten determines that the language of the graffiti is Elfish, and that it says "Beware the blade of Falcor!" There is a sense of urgency to the writing in the graffiti.

((OOC: bestialwarlust, please add Elven to Sorten's list of languages))

MECHANICS

Ref declares Sorten's ability to determine and add language needs no roll due his class and attributes.
Further dice rolls by the Ref:
Sorten: Not applicable as he is currently engaged in concentrated effort.
Acanthophis: 5 on D6; Nothing unusual noted.
Halstaff: 4 on D6; Nothing unusual noted.

[bestialwarlust]

Sorten will let the rest know what it says. Do I see any signs that a battle may have taken place in here? dried blood stains?


Sorten also asks "Does the name Falcor mean anything to anyone here?"

(((ooc: language updated))

[merctime]

No signs of battle to be found. But, as you look at the graffiti, it appears that it was written to be immediately seen by anyone entering from the stairs, right away.

[tetramorph]

merctime:

Halstaff studies the tracks, burning an additional torch if necessary.

[merctime]

Jul 2, 2015 19:10:29 GMT -5 tetramorph said:

merctime:

Halstaff studies the tracks, burning an additional torch if necessary.

((This has been 2 turns of action:  

One turn to go around the pathway behind the waterfall and down the stairs, at cautious movement, and then another to enter the first room and do an action.

Sorten's action on turn 2 was to interpret the graffiti. Halstaff's action on turn 2 would be examining the tracks as you've just told me he'll do.

These turns have been exploration turns, so 10 minutes each.  You guys have been at this for 20 minutes, so you're not in danger of exhausting a torch yet.

Just a refresher; Not meant to sound insulting!))

As Halstaff studies the tracks, he notes that they are somewhat dog-like, but appear made by bipedal creatures.  They also appear about the size of a child's; Say, a small teenager.  They are reasonably fresh, as in a few days old at most.  A few older ones lead west, but the most fresh head east.  Due to his very strong intellect, Halstaff feels correct in his determination that these tracks are in fact made by the same group moving around.  So he believes that whatever made these have most recently, say within the last day, moved eastwards after exploring around a bit.

Also, this is basically the end of the second turn, considering that Acanthophis still has a general action to provide (Or I can move it forward a bit to help the game on)

[tetramorph]

merctime: w/ regards to the torch, I just meant I was willing to burn another if I needed to increase the light.

Halstaff indicates that he is ready to follow the tracks.

[The Red Baron]

Acanthopis asks the redshirts if the name Falcor rings a bell, studying their faces rather than their replies, for any sign of recognition.

[bestialwarlust]

If the name seems unfamiliar to everyone I say we move on while we still have torches. If no one has a particular direction I saw we move on the left.

[merctime]

Jul 3, 2015 15:14:00 GMT -5 The Red Baron said:

Acanthopis asks the redshirts if the name Falcor rings a bell, studying their faces rather than their replies, for any sign of recognition.

It doesn't appear, even from body language, that any of the redshirts recognize the name.  One suggests asking 'old Muggert'; An old hermit who lives in seclusion in the wooded hills east of the Last Hill Inn and Tavern which is south of Locksley village  ((Map here; Hermit's location not listed)).

MECHANICS

Ref calls for a reaction roll to determine if the redshirts have heard of this name:  2d6 = 5; Negative reaction.

((Excellent idea on the facial recognition, however, in my opinion))

[bestialwarlust]

We can always get more information later on the name. Unless anyone feels it's really important. Sorted would really like to explore a little.

[merctime]

Ok, are we wanting to go west (Away from the tracks, left on the map as your looking at it on the computer, not 'as your character', or east (right on the map as you look at it, towards/with the tracks), or south (Down on the map as your looking at it)?

I really need to update that map with cardinal points But, yeah, the top of the page is north, left is west, right is east, bottom is south. Sorry guys!

Edit because I'm a twit and Bestial caught it; See below

[bestialwarlust]

If we agree on the top of the map being north. My vote is east.

[merctime]

Ok, thank you for the catch bestialwarlust.

The river is at the top of the map. As it is oriented to the rest of the world maps, that makes the top of this map SOUTH, the right of the map WEST (towards the tracks), the left of the map EAST and the bottom of the map NORTH.

This is the final, correct answer. Sorry guys... Glad this got caught early though.

[merctime]

Just then, the redshirt and Theodoric who are watching the stair entrance make a call of challenge!

"Halt! Who goes there! "

As the group turns to see what's up, Theodoric the Cleric turns quickly and says quietly, " A lone Elf clad in Mail armor and brandishing a sword approaches! "

[todd]

Draca approaches carefully. When he recognizes a cleric and sees no hostile actions, he sheaths his sword. "I did not expect to find other than vermin in this place. You are well met."

[merctime]

"Who be you, Point-Ears!" says the redshirt with Theodoric, perhaps out of turn.

[tetramorph]

"Ahem," Halstaff clears his throat, "hail fay adventurer, well met indeed."

"Are you friend or foe to other adventurers?"

[todd]

Ignoring the redshirt, Draca addresses Halstaff. "I am friend to friends and foe to foes. However, I do not make foes needlessly when I can make friends instead. The quarry that brought me hither were kobolds. They attempted to waylay me and failed. Now I have tracked them here."

[bestialwarlust]

"Could be a clever ploy" Sorten eyes him cautiously. "How many made the attempt? So far we've not seen these creatures."

[todd]

"I am uncertain of their numbers." Draca scratches his head. "The tracks were confused and I followed them in haste. If this is their lair, there will surely be more than whatever troop was dispatched to harass honest folk. But perhaps they simply fled here for safety or shelter. The truth is, I know not much other than their breed and the path their tracks showed me."

[merctime]

((Well played with little info to be had, Todd))

[tetramorph]

Halstaff nods to Sorten a look that acknowledges the validity of his doubts, but adds, "anyone who finds kobolds his enemy is a friend of mine when traveling through the fell underworld. We have nothing for you nor against you, Draca our new fay friend, but join us and perhaps we can eek out some kind of fame and fortune together."

Halstaff sheathes his sword and extends his hand in a gesture of camaraderie.

[todd]

Draca accepts Halstaff's hand. "Fortune has not often shined kindly on me. I hope today her light shews true."