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Angel Springs


DM Kent 
Tuesday February 18th, 2014 10:15:27 PM
As you approach the gate you can see that there is a posted force of a half dozen or so fighting me in uniform and they are checking people as they come in.

As they see Oakleaf they clear the path and snap to attention as you all pass through. You all head down West Spur Road and past a large open air merket, then you take a right onto East Springs Road at the bell tower. It is then that you realize just how large Angel Springs is compared to Humbles Ford. Through the side roads you can see what can only be an even larger market. As you make your way down the road you pass through living quarters and shops as well as several temples. Soon you see ahead of you another gate leaving the city and you turn southward where you find yourself passing by yet a third market right off the road. Moments later you pull to a stop just outside what looks to be a very large Inn like building. Next to it is another building and this one has a sign over the door that names it as Angel's Hall.

Oakleaf let's you all get out and then walks you into the inn looking building. Ok all I am going to leave you here for a bit I will arrange for three rooms for you. You may freshen up and order something to eat if you like, while I and my men take the two prisoners to where they will be questioned, drop off our casualties at the barracks for rites, and then I will go see my cousin. Hopefully after that we will have a quick session to clear all this up and let you all be on your way.



Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP21/21; AC 14/14/11 
Tuesday February 18th, 2014 10:42:39 PM
"I suppose we can't head out to visit the markets until everything is cleared up with your cousin, right Mr. Oakleaf? If everything does get resolved, it might be nice to visit them before we leave. There's no telling what interesting things they'd have in a market this size! The vegetables I've probably never even heard of! Maybe even another of the Wardd series of books," she elbows Murphy excitedly as she thinks about the prospects.

Murphy Bumblebee Leafwin Pipewood (Kim McCoy)  d20+13=16 ;
Wednesday February 19th, 2014 5:02:46 AM
Moones
"Yes, peculiar in some ways, yep," he responds to Shel. "Really would like to go there. And yes, the books! There is an observatory where you can look at the heavens through some special arrangements of polished glass at Lawni's Lens a ways north, and Selithe told me there's a library in that building, too." Murphy nods his head at Shel's mention of the pendant. "Bet we could learn more about the moons there. Um, Mungo. Mungo has lots of books, scrolls, maps. He's in Angel Springs, sometimes." He is happy to have Shel next to him, chatting about things.

[Distribution[/u]
"Whoever wants to wear the ring, that's fine with me," is all that Murphy adds to that discussion. "Anyone in the group could benefit from it."

Alouryn and Eral each have 500 in gems from the goblin leader. How about four of the 250's go to each of the rest of us, and one for party use? Unless someone wants to go to the trouble of figuring out something more even."

"Great idea, that, Eral. I think we all have at least one potion, but having two, especially for those who don't have healing powers themselves, is even better."

Into the city
"Huh. First time I've seen more than a couple of guards at the gates," Murphy notes as they pass through the gates. He glances over toward the market, noting a hammer falling on the anvil over at the smithy on the far side.

"Hey, hey everybody, the family shop is coming up on the right along East Springs Road," Murphy alerts his friends. "WinWood Toys & Music. Wait for it - there! See... all right, that went by fast."

He looks around to his companions. "We should stop there for a visit, if we can." As they traverse the whole town, Murphy looks to see if there are any changes since he was here maybe six months ago (Perception 16).

[u]Destination[u]
Though he would like to go with Shel to the markets, there is something more pressing now. "Master Oakleaf. May I come with my two friends? Anybody can ask me questions, too, if they want. I don't want to be far from them during this ordeal." He cannot even consider freshening himself up when Alouryn and Hazel are going through any sort of interrogation.

Kent: Oakleaf left you ALL at the hotel. while he and his guards went to take cae of their business.

Edric Lowbrook (Damian); HP: 12/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Wednesday February 19th, 2014 3:31:20 PM
"I'm all for that split up of the money, Murphy. Anyone disagree?"[b]

Despite having been to Angel Springs before, Edric is always amazed by the size and scope of the city on each visit.

[b]"I wish we could be backing Hazel and Alouryn right now."

[i]ooc: sorry. missed post yesterday.

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP21/21; AC 14/14/11 
Wednesday February 19th, 2014 3:58:38 PM
OOC: Just so I'm sure...the proposed split is 250 gold per person? That's fine, just want to be sure I followed the post.

Shel lets Murphy volunteer to go to the questioning. As much as she loved the others, she wasn't about to go for voluntary questioning if she didn't have to. She would hang out at the Inn/hotel until she receives some notice from the others that they were free. If they had time, she wanted to hit the markets, and that interesting observatory and library that Murphy mentioned.

Alouryn AC: 16/14/13 HP: 14/14(Vaughn) 
Wednesday February 19th, 2014 5:04:02 PM
Alouryn to Hazel: "Hazel, you know we've been through a lot the last week or so. Well, all of us have. I'm sorry you got roped up into this accusation business with me, but I'm also kinda glad it was you. Out of the whole group I think you are, well that is, somewhat, special" She blushes and turns away.

Murphy Bumblebee Leafwin Pipewood (Kim McCoy) 
Wednesday February 19th, 2014 5:21:24 PM

[based upon Kent's comment at the end of my previous post:] Ah, so Hazel and Alouryn are not being interrogated - rather Grinface and Orc. That being the case, Murphy asks, "Please, will you let us know what information you learn from them about the plans of Idefeatu, anything else about their leadership structure, and so forth? Oh, and what happened to Bingo Greenbottle - I think the human does not know, but maybe, if you can get the orc to talk, he might know something.

"We want to track down whoever it was who took the life of our high priestess, and deal with them." He also adds, "I am worried about Dxurs - the goblin who escaped during the ambush. It will be hard for him to talk, since he bit off most of his tongue, but he saw some things, and knows us."

Following that conversation, as they have some free time, Murphy asks, "Our family has a business here in town. Would it be all right if we meet you back here in, say, two hours? Or do you think three or so? We could all return as soon as we hear the next strike of the tower bell - since that is once every three hours."

If given leave to do so, Murphy invites his friends to come with him to WinWood Toys & Music. One of his older sisters, Leska Rose, and brothers, Nalfein, run the shop together. He knows that they tend to keep up on the news and gossip from around the city.

He explains to Shel, "Lawni's Lens is way outside the city, Shel - it's northeast of Humble's Ford a ways. But Mungo's place is only about twice as far from this inn as is my family's store here - about halfway between the southern Trade Gate and the West Gate we came through. He has a place in the building west of The Bell Tower, the one on the West Springs Road corner."

If not granted leave, he enjoys a meal with his comrades, and also finds someone to send a message he wrote for his sister Leska while en route for someone to take to WinWood T&M.

One more thought on the money. "If we take what Alouryn and Eral have - 1000 altogether - and add 1250 we got from the ambush gang, that's 2250. Let's say we split up 1950 six ways, so we each get 325 gold piece equivalent, then leave the remaining 300 for party treasure - reserved for things that will benefit all of us, or wherever the greatest need might be. We'll need to find someplace to convert at least two of the gems to gold or platinum so we can do equal shares. There are places in town for that. I just don't recommend doing it in the Hairfoot Market. Watch for pickpockets there, too."

Eral SunstriderAC:21/12/19 HP:16/26 Spells (4/3+1/0+0)(A. Skomrock) 
Wednesday February 19th, 2014 6:51:02 PM
Eral will excuse himself from the group. "I am happy with however the gems are split. I am heading to the Temple and Shrine of Domi to warship since I have not been at a temple in a while. Murphy if you want to go split up the gems and just let me know what I get I will probably need to stop and grab some items on the way to wherever we go.

Come get me when Oakleaf gets back with news.

Hazel 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Corsario) 
Wednesday February 19th, 2014 9:40:00 PM
To Alouryn
"I am glad I get accused with you. That way I can protect you. I wold never forgive me if anything happen to a gentle girl like you. And I hope, in time, we can, well, grow...as a couple... well..."
Hazel turns red again and stop speaking, incapable of continue.
In the town...to Oakleaf
"So we are not under arrest anymore?"
About the money: 325 gp each and 300 for emergencies sounds great.

DM Kent 
Wednesday February 19th, 2014 10:50:41 PM

Before leaving Oakleaf clarifies a few things.

"Officially, yes you are still in custody and are under my pervue, pending a meeting with the Lord Mayor, my cousin. So please do not wander off for I will come for you, in about two hours, when I have finished with what I need to do for my men, dropping off our prisoners and then talk with my cousin. Unofficially, as far as I am concerned you are cleared of all charges. That said, I am not the final word."

-------
The innkeeper looks at you all pretty nervously as you are all decked out in armor and bear weapons and several of you have what appear to be dried blood splotted around.

Umm Excuse me,

Master Oakleaf has arranged three rooms for you. One for the two ladies and then the other two to split how you like. There are adjoining bathing rooms to each room if you would like to freshen up. I can arrange to have some food and drink to be brought to your rooms, or if you would prefer you could eat in the common room. We have some roast boar and tubers today with some cooked greens and corn. Is there anything else you might need at the moment.

At Murphy's request he arranges for a young lad to deliver his message to his sister.

Murphy Bumblebee Leafwin Pipewood (Kim McCoy) 
Thursday February 20th, 2014 3:10:11 AM

"All right, sounds reasonable, Master Oakleaf. You will pass on all the things we've told you about the goblins, humans, and other races' incipient plans to take over the valley. They might go for Humble's Ford first, to divide the valley, then launch from there against Hovel, and Angel Springs. With its wall and militia and population, this city would be a challenge to take, but our little town not so tough. Sir, this is speculation, we don't really know anything extensive about what they are up to - but know there are several groups with different assignments, and are of the opinion that Crescent Valley is 'ripe for picking.'

"Let's see what we can do to help them choke on our fruit. If the Lord Mayor would like to talk anything over with us directly, we're open to that.

"And, sir, good luck. To you and all of us."

To the innkeeper, Murphy says, "Don't be worried about us, Mister innkeeper. We shouldn't cause you any trouble. We save our troublemaking for the enemies of our people. I don't figure you're an enemy, right?" he asks with a smile.

"What do you think, friends? Eat in the rooms, or in the common room? I'd lean toward the latter."

Pleased with the rooms, he enters the one in the middle, and finds the bed closest to the window. Rather laden down, he drops his backpack, a large sack, and some smaller ones, plus his weapons next to the bed, except for one bag he places on the bed. He checks the pillow and bed linens. He looks to see if the window opens, and how and whether it can be secured.

"Nice place," he offers as his evaluation. "I've got third dibs on the bath for this room."

Alouryn AC: 16/14/13 HP: 14/14(Vaughn) 
Thursday February 20th, 2014 9:36:05 AM
Alouryn notices the conversation with Hazel is a little akward, so she turns to Shel:
"Well Shel, it looks like we're room-mates, I think I'm going to lie down for an hour to just think about things, but if you want to join me, I'd love to hear more about your magic. I know some of the Halflings that studied with me at the Centre for Enlightenment were learning the arcane arts, but you seem to have picked it up on your own?"

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP21/21; AC 14/14/11 
Thursday February 20th, 2014 10:58:50 AM
"Lets go take baths, Alouryn, and we can talk. If I don't get all this muck off me, I'll lose my mind.". Shel puts in a lunch order to be delivered to the room, after the bath. Once they get to the room, Shel immediately tries to get clean.

"Yeah, the whole school thing never really worked out for me. I tried for a minute, but it was an abject failure, to be honest. My mind would wander, and I'd never get refocused enough to get any learning done. I don't know how I've picked up what I have, but it just seems natural in some way to me. If I think to much about it, nothing happens, but if I relax and just let it flow, neat things seem to happen. Heck, I've not even told the others, but I figured out how to give we and our boys some additional protective shielding with a spell. Just woke up one day with a strange thought...bam, I was able to work it out! Quite strange really. But enough about me. Tell me more about you, Alouryn. I know you have gotten very good at healing, and I know you and Hazel seem to be getting along swimmingly, but I don't know much beyond that," Shel inquires.

Edric Lowbrook (Damian); HP: 12/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Thursday February 20th, 2014 7:13:07 PM
Edric passes the time waiting in the common room, feasting on a piece of savoury roast boar and a tankard of ale. Finishing his meal, Edric gives himself a sniff, realizes that he hasn't had a good wash in some time and heads to the bathing room.

Eral SunstriderAC:21/12/19 HP:16/26 Spells (4/3+1/0+0)(A. Skomrock) 
Thursday February 20th, 2014 8:35:35 PM
Eral will share a room with edric for the night. Once the ladies are done with their own bath he will head up to bath hopefully before Oakleaf gets back. "Thank you for the hospitality and we will be paying for food and drinks to be sure. Just let us know what we owe you." Eral will tell the inn keeper.

Hazel 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Corsario) 
Thursday February 20th, 2014 10:40:51 PM
After seeing Alouryn go, Hazel feels devastated at his lack of "style" with her. He silently follows the others for a quick meal and drink at the common room, and after that goes to clean himself, not wanting to appear as a criminal before the mayor.

Murphy Bumblebee Leafwin Pipewood Letter to Leska and Nalfein (Kim McCoy) 
Friday February 21st, 2014 2:11:49 AM
The following letter is addressed on the outside paper, which itself is wrapped around the inner paper, and sealed in wax in three places with a continuous string running through each of the three spots (two along edges, one where the paper meets at the end of the foldover. In other words, one would be quite hard pressed to discern anything written unless the whole thing is opened.
Please deliver to Leska Rose Leafwin Pipewood at WinWood Toys & Music

Leska & Nalf,

Crescent Valley is a soon target of attack from the Red Hills. All sorts of people: Humans, goblins, ogres, orcs, halfling lawbreakers and who knows who else -- headed up by an ogre mage -- are fixing to attack and take over our beautiful valley. It has already started, somewhat quietly, on the edges.

I'm stuck at the inn by the Angel's Hall for the next few hours. If either of you can swing by, do so. Otherwise, I hope to catch you up -- and have you do the same for me -- in a few hours
--Murphy


Murphy Bumblebee Leafwin Pipewood Talking with a friend (Kim McCoy) 
Friday February 21st, 2014 2:22:53 AM

"Hazel, you look like you're feeling down. What is it?" Murphy asks as after he gets done with his bath. "Aside from being accused of a heinous crime which we know you did not commit. And not being absolutely certain of the outcome of that accusation. And having been smitten by so kind and generous and virtuous and innocent a young beauty that you hardly know which end is up - and suffering because she has been accused of the same thing, and is even more innocent of anything and everything than you ever will be."

Fresh clothes on, he uses such a nice towel provided by the inn to finish getting the wetness out of his clean hair. "Aside from all that, Bob, what is it?"

DM Kent 
Friday February 21st, 2014 7:01:56 AM


Just about the time you are finishing up bathing and eating, sending notes, and taking a nap (those of you who did so and definitely way before Oakleaf said he would be back.) There is a commotion at the Hotel's front door (Not that any of you know that at this point) and within moments there are 10 liveried and armored guards quickly walking through the building and stopping at your doors.

Almost uniformally they reach out and knock on your doors.

"Open up in the name of the Lord Mayor Roscoe Hairfoot."


Hazel 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Corsario) 
Friday February 21st, 2014 8:38:00 AM
To Murphy
I am a capable and brave halfling, capable of holding on my own... except near her. ear her I am a bumbling idiot incapable of putting two words together, or do something right, Just that, Murphy, just that.
When the guard come
Hazel face turns hard, and he mumbles...
"Innocent... I knew it..."
He quickly go to intercept them before they get to Alouryn's and Shel's room.
"What's the matter? What do you want? I think you are looking for me. I am Bob Danderfluff LaRue. I will accompany you without fuss. I am the good guy, finally."

Murphy Bumblebee Leafwin Pipewood (Kim McCoy) 
Friday February 21st, 2014 3:37:53 PM
Hearing the knocking at the door and the words of command, Murphy quickly takes the journals, notes and letters he has on his bed and places them in the inner backside of his coveralls, but he keeps some blank sheets in his hand. He already has ink and inkpen in a pouch.

When Hazel opens the door, he comes to the door. "Hello. Where is Master Oakleaf? He told us he would come for us himself. He said he would speak with the Lord Mayor, come for us, there would likely be a brief meeting with his Lordship, and we could go on our way. Are we now to meet with the Lord Mayor?"

Putting two and two together, though, Murphy fears that the enemies of the valley - some of whom are halflings - may have waylaid or caused harm to Morro. Who are these people? He knew things were bad, but did not realize how deeply rooted the enemy was. Someone is definitely trying to set them up. Who is pulling the strings?

He realizes that, though things were looking up, they are now looking down. Way down. Silently he prays, "Lord Eberyon and Lady Maab, grant us wisdom and protection against the enemies of this valley."

All of these thoughts, though, he does not let pass over his face. He waits expectantly for the guards to reply.

Edric Lowbrook (Damian); HP: 12/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Friday February 21st, 2014 6:56:21 PM
Edric turns to his companions: "This seems suspicious. Oakleaf should have come himself. Why would they send out the troops to come get us? Unless they're expecting a fight..."

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP21/21; AC 14/14/11 
Friday February 21st, 2014 8:27:20 PM
Shel doesn't open up she and Alouryn's door. "Sorry, Master Oakleaf said he'd be back for us. If you aren't him, we aren't coming out."

Eral SunstriderAC:21/12/19 HP:16/26 Spells (4/3+1/0+0)(A. Skomrock)  d20+5=19 ;
Sunday February 23rd, 2014 5:03:08 PM
Eral will get armed and armored up before anyone opens the door. "We will wait for Oakleaf to come back. If there is a problem with that please have the Barron or Mayor himself come to get us." Eral will talk to the guards as diplomatic as possible in this situation.

Eral will move in front of the rest of the group.

DM Kent 
Sunday February 23rd, 2014 8:42:27 PM
(Sorry all for the missed post. My dad was taken to the hospital suddenly and I had to go.)

The mayor's Guards look a bit confused at the mention of Oakleaf's name and the partial refusal to come with them and the one saying that it was him that they were looking for, but that lasts for just a moment.

You are the adventuring group from Humbles Ford known as the Humbes Swords. We are under orders to escort you across the street to the Lord Mayor's office at this time. Not in a few moments and not when Master Oakleaf feels like it.

Lord Mayor Rosce P. Hairfoot wants you in his office now. So let's be quick about it and go. If you want to leave a note for Master Oakleaf then do so, but if as you say he is heading to a meeting with the Lord Mayor, then perhaps he is already there. One way or another you are all coming with us. Now I would rather there not be bloodshed ... (he let's the phrase go unsaid).

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP21/21; AC 14/14/11 
Sunday February 23rd, 2014 10:47:40 PM
Shel whispers to Alouryn in the room. "I don't know what's going on in this town, but I know I don't trust anyone. My mind is to keep the door locked and wait until Oakleaf comes back for us. But, you're a part of this as well. If you think we should open the door and go with them, let me know now, before I get us both in trouble."

Murphy Bumblebee Leafwin Pipewood (Kim McCoy) 
Monday February 24th, 2014 1:08:51 AM

"Ah, Yes, sir, we are Humble's Sword. Not Swords. Sword. We will come with you peaceably to meet with the Lord Mayor. I think only enemies of Crescent Valley should be candidates for bloodshed - we are pledged to defend the valley, as I know you are. As Master Oakleaf told us we are under his purview, and he would take us to see the Lord Mayor himself, perhaps you will understand our confusion at this change in protocol. We do not intend to keep his Lordship waiting if he would see us now.

"But one thing I would ask - can you send at least a small contingent to look for and inquire after Master Oakleaf? It occurs to me that he may be in some danger, and we already have saved his life twice, at least."

He places across he chest his bandolier with scimitar and a few dagger, belt with pouches around his waist, as he explains Oakleaf's stated itinerary. He jots a quick note: Master Oakleaf - The Lord Mayor's guard have taken us to meet with him at (and he gives the time of day). Please meet us there if we do not cross paths before then. - MBLP "I will give this to the innkeeper on our way out."

"Let us go, friends. These look to be honorable men, in service to one who serves the valley in leadership. Fear not. Eyes alert. Heads high, for the honor of Humble's Ford. Let us go."
============
Only if the guards make a move to place hands on any of them (especially upon Alouryn or Shel) will Murphy protest, thus: "Is this how you treat those who fight to defend our valley, who are halfling lads and lasses of honor? Remove your hands. We will go, but do not embarrass yourselves by treating us with such indignity. You have my word our intentions towards you are peaceful - but we are not rebels, we will not be treated falsely as criminals of any sort. We have news the Lord Mayor needs to learn of.

Alouryn AC: 16/14/13 HP: 14/14(Vaughn) 
Monday February 24th, 2014 11:33:26 AM
"I trust your judgement Shel, we don't know anyone in this town, it could be a rouse of the enemy. Let's stay here for now if we can and wait for Master Oalkleaf."

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP21/21; AC 14/14/11 
Monday February 24th, 2014 12:32:53 PM
Shel nods. "Forget you! We aren't coming out, when Okleaf gets back we will all talk about this rationally, and if he agrees, we will leave all easy peasy. Frankly, I don't trust anyone in this town, let alone someone calling themselves guards."

Not sure what kind of door and lock situation we have, but Shel intends on locking the door and waiting. Are there other exits from the room?"

Edric Lowbrook (Damian); HP: 12/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Monday February 24th, 2014 5:07:31 PM
"We're waiting for Oakleaf!" Edric barks through the door.

Eral SunstriderAC:21/12/19 HP:16/26 Spells (4/3+1/0+0)(A. Skomrock) 
Monday February 24th, 2014 7:14:27 PM
"threatening us with bloodshed before ever seeing us? Seems a bit proactive to me. Please go find Oakleaf. We shall come peacefully if he comes..."

Eral will turn to the group and whisper "We might not want to drag this into a fight. I'm not sure if we would survive. What about one of us going along alone ?"

Murphy sighs (Kim)  d20+13=32 ; d20+5=18 ; d20+2=20 ;
Monday February 24th, 2014 9:39:16 PM

[Note: Murphy and Hazel are in one room, door open. Edric and Eral are in one room, door closed. Shel and Alouryn are in one room, door closed.]

Murphy has come to Angel Springs many, many times with his father and other family members. Does he recognize any of the guards who have come for them? Are they wearing the proper livery of the Lord Mayor's guard? [Perception: 32 (nat 19)] And are they who they say they are, and intend what they say they intend? [Sense Motive: 18]

If so, he will say, "Look, friends, I've seen some of these men before. They are not imposters. Despite the strange things that have happened over these past several days, I believe they are who they say they are, and we NEED to go with them at the behest of the Lord Mayor. Please, open your doors, and let us accompany them." [Diplomacy: 20]

Murphy sighs (Kim) 
Monday February 24th, 2014 9:44:49 PM
And if Murphy perceives they are NOT who they say they are, he says, "We do wish to avoid bloodshed, indeed," and he slams the door shut, and locks it. He gets Hazel's help to move a dresser or bed to wedge against the door.

He shouts so his friends in the other rooms can hear, "I am not fully convinced they are who they say they are!"

All the above ONLY if Murphy perceives they are attempting to deceive. Otherwise, go with the end of the previous post.

DM Kent 
Monday February 24th, 2014 11:22:46 PM
Murphy and hazel are at the open door of their room with 10 guards that seem to be presenting themselves, although somewhat forcefully, as Members of the Lord Mayor's personal guard. Though neither Hazel nor Murphy know any of the guards and really Murphy doesn't seem to recall their having been a uniformed guard for the Lord Mayor before, t(though he has been away for some time) the tabards the guards are wearing look an awful lot like what the Lord Mayor's personal seal, that is used on documents and letters and such. That much he is sure of.

They do not seem to be trying to hide anything or seem particularly nervous. They do seem to be a bit brusqe and perhaps a bit full of themselves in (OOh look at me I am in charge and you aren't) kind of way. They have the air of expecting to be listened to and compled with.

It would seem to rather peculiar for someone to walk around saying they were the Lord Mayor's personal guard if they weren't. It would seem kind of easy to check on.

In response to Murphy's question about Oakleaf the Guard replies. Last I heard he was off with dealing with his men's dead bodies and such. I am sure he will be back to talk with the mayor soon enough.

The latches on the door are very simplistic and not very sturdy. basically a pivot stick that you turn one way and keeps the door closed and you turn another way and the door can open.

Shel and Alouryn call through the door, sharing their reticence to coming out and going with them.

Edric too says that he prefers to wait for Oakleaf.

Eral is unsure but supportive of his friends and suggests that maybe one of them accompanies them.

____

Now, look you here! The Lord Mayor himself has asked that we escort you across the street to speak with him. Are you coming with us or not? This will be the last time we will ask.

Murphy Bumblebee Leafwin Pipewood (Kim McCoy) 
Tuesday February 25th, 2014 2:05:25 AM

Murphy holds up his index finger, signaling just a moment. "Hazel, we need to go with them." He goes to Eral and Edric's door, "Guys, open up, let's go. This is legitimate. Come with me, let's get the girls." He waits a moment. If they don't come out, he says, "Serious, come out, or I'll ask the guards to break the door. The Mayor is waiting."

If and when they come, he goes with them to Shel & Alouryn's room. "Ladies," he says, and he looks at the guards as he says the following to get their acknowledgement. "They will not lay a hand upon you. These are gentlemanly guards. We need to see the Mayor. He needs to know what we know for the defense of the Valley. Don't be afraid. Please, come out. Hazel, Edrick, Eral and I will escort you. The guards will escort us. Lots of escorting today. Let's go, please. Pretty please. It's me, Murphy. Be brave."

Murphy tries to figure out which one seems to be in charge. "I am Murphy. Sir, your name would be?"

He drops off the note he wrote for Oakleaf with the innkeep. "Mister, if Leska or Nalfein Leafwin Pipewood from WinWord Toys & Music come looking for me, Murphy, please let them know I'll try to see them after we meet with the Lord Mayor." He leaves a platinum piece. "For your kind service, Mister Innkeep."

Hazel 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Corsario) 
Tuesday February 25th, 2014 8:32:14 AM
Hazel, with a "I told you" face keeps silent while escorting the girls to the Mayor's place.
OOC: Couldn't connect yesterday to post, seems something was wrong with the site.

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP21/21; AC 14/14/11 
Tuesday February 25th, 2014 11:46:04 AM
"Murphy, this is a dumb idea! Who knows what those guards want with us? They could be escorting us somewhere to frame us again! I'm just about tired of being led by the nose and told where to have to be without being told why we have to be there! Some healthy skepticism might be called for, you know..."

She turns to Alouryn. "What do you want to do? It sounds like the rest of them have decided to go along with the 'guards'. Do we do the same?"

Alouryn AC: 16/14/13 HP: 14/14(Vaughn) 
Tuesday February 25th, 2014 12:40:14 PM
To Shel: "I don't want to be separated from our friends. If we end up in a fight we are better off together, as much as I don't trust these 'guards'. I think we should trust Murphy for now."

Edric Lowbrook (Damian); HP: 12/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Tuesday February 25th, 2014 2:22:49 PM
"I don't know about this Murphy... but I'll go along with you for now. The second things start to look bad though, I'm not holding back." Edric submits himself to the guards.

Eral SunstriderAC:21/12/19 HP:16/26 Spells (4/3+1/0+0)(A. Skomrock) 
Tuesday February 25th, 2014 6:14:43 PM
"I guess we are all going to go with you but do not think I submit myself to you unless you are placing us under arrest for a cause you have failed to mention." Eral will make sure he is armed and armored before opening the door with Edric.

DM Kent 
Tuesday February 25th, 2014 10:25:15 PM
Did we say anything about you being under arrest? We told you we were here to escort you to see the Lord Mayor.

There still seems to be quite a bit of unease about going with these "guards" but Murphy convinces them that they should go. Though as yuo all come out of your rooms it is very obvious that there is little trust that this is on the up and up as the group is decked out as if going into battle.

Murphy drops off his messages at the front with the Innkeeper who looks askance at the platinum. piece.

"Umm sir that is quite unnecessary all your needs are already being taken care of you do not need to pay to deliver messages."

The trip acrros the street and the half block kitty corner takes no time and the guards are quite relaxed about it other than they do keep five of them at the front and five bringing up the rear, with you all walking in between.

As you enter the building it is very onbvious that it is a busy day in the Mayor's office and that some sort of large meeting is going on in the big meeting room. The door is slightly open and you can hear snatches of what is going on and being said.

"... that is the 12th att... month... and .... getting ..ti.. of it."

"... heard tha... was ...killed .... and now ..."

"... swears there was a bi... n and that..."

"... what has gotten into these yo..ng half..... these days...."

"... Adventu... thi... they have all .. answers ....

The guards walk right up to the doors spread out on either side of them and open the doors for you to enter.

As you enter the room you see that it is six-sided with the side opposite you being long with two smaller doors in it on either side of a large central desk. The room actually looks like half of an octagonally shaped room (think half a stop sign).

The doors you are entering through lead to a central aisle that leads directly to the desk The other parts of the room are filled with four sections of chairs separated by slighlty narrower aisles. There are perhaps thirty or forty people in the room (mostly halflings). There are six or seven other liveried guards sprinkled in around the room, two right near the desk.

Behind the desk, and sitting in an overlarge raised chair sits an extremely rotund, much older halfling wearing quite formal attire, about 15-20 yrs out of date. Murphy will recognize him as Lord Mayor Rosco P. Hairfoot. There are four other gentlemen standing in front of the desk. They seem to be in a liveley discussion.

As you enter the mayor looks up and sees you enter and begins speaking very loudly.

"So here is a perfect example of what I was just saying. This generation of young halflings don't seem to understand proper behavior and decorum. Becoming adventurers of all things! Little better than Thugs some of them. And it isn't just our young men either. Look there are young ladies with them. What is going to happen to our valley when those with common sense, decency and an understanding of what is proper, are no longer around to guide them and ensure the proper ways of doing things."

He seems to be really getting rolling and worked up and then as you come further into the room he glares at you all and continues.

"I mean look where this life has gotten you. Yes you. Sure you won "The Games." But now you are accused of heinous crimes and consorting with who knows what kind of undesirable types. If you aren't careful you are going to end up in jail, or worse! I mean if there is a trial and you are convicted you could be hanged."

By this time he is truly worked up into a frenzy and people are looking around nervously. He continues.

"Ok everyone except you six empty this room! Go on get your miserable syncophantic selves out of here now. Let's go I need to get to the bottom of all this with these "Adventurers." (Everytime he says the word adventurers it seems like he is saying the nastiest word he knows.)

He actually at this time gets out of his seeat and begins waving his arms and moving toward people like he is ushering or herding them out of the room. Most people start leaving not so quietly and kind of grumpily but they do leave. The guards on the otherhand do not seem to be going anywhere. When he notices that he starts in on them too.

"You all are in my employ why is it that I am shooing everyone out. Fine then you all can leave too I want everyone out so I can speak with these Miscreants!"

The guards finally start moving and get everyone out and as the Mayor turns back around you see that one of the people he was talking with at the desk is still there leaning against the table waiting and watching along with the two desk guards. The halfling is fairly tall for a halfling standing near to 4 ft, and is very weel dressed and good looking. He seems to exude an air of confidence and competance.

As the Mayor sees him his face turns beet red. Rory Sourwood BadApple You have to go as well. You are not Lord Mayor as yet and until you are you will listen to me and follow my orders like everyone else. Now leave! guards please escort mr BadApple off the premises. Then return and wait with these "Adventurers" until I return."

With that he steps through the door in the back wall t the left of the desk.

The gurds escort Rory BadApple from the room and then return to their places by the desk. They do not even so much as look at any of you.


Hazel 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Corsario) 
Tuesday February 25th, 2014 11:31:03 PM
"What is going to happen to our valley when no one will guide us? The enemies of the Valley will come to kill all the old fat "proper" folk. And careful what you say of the girls, as they are very gentle and good, and don't deserve to be slandered by anyone!"

Murphy Bumblebee Leafwin Pipewood Humble's Ford (Kim McCoy)  d20+13=29 ; d20+6=15 ;
Wednesday February 26th, 2014 12:01:18 AM

Murphy observes those who stream from the office, checking to see if there are any he knows - or who may resemble others he knows. He marks expressions, signs of emotion, calculation, power, obsequiousness. Family characteristics are often discernible. Mister BadApple - Murphy and his friends are acquainted with some members of his family, certainly.

"Well, that was an energetic welcoming speech, friends," Murphy comments once they are left alone with the guards, and Rosco P. Hairfoot has gone out his back door. "I like our Lord Mayor. Didn't I tell you not to be afraid?" he asks his friends with a wink. Then, in a serious voice, he states, "We will help him and the valley as much as we can." He wonders how his friends will respond to the diatribe.

He looks around the room to see what he might see, just walking slowly, observing. If there are papers on the chairs, tables, or desks, he scans them with his eyes as quickly as he might. Not touching or moving anything, just using the senses available to him, taking in what he can. If there are no papers available to scan, he looks to see what is on the walls, the desk, the floor, the ceiling. And he strives to remember, that he might later write down his observations. Decor, mementos, furniture placement, artwork, any implements. The druid is in absorbtion mode, to allow for further evaluation now or later.

Halflings can be somewhat curious, right?

[Perception: 29; Sense Motive: 15]

Alouryn AC: 16/14/13 HP: 14/14(Vaughn) 
Wednesday February 26th, 2014 9:41:32 AM
Alouryn wonders to herself about the mentioning of Hanging and decides to keep her mouth shut for now.

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP21/21; AC 14/14/11 
Wednesday February 26th, 2014 6:14:15 PM
Shel whispers to the others. "Im not sure what's going on, but I'm not sure I see a reason for us to wait around and be harassed by that fat mayor. We could knock out the guards with my spells, and get out of here and be on our way in no time. The last several days have been nothing but bothersome and getting yelled at is at the bottom of my want list."

Murphy Bumblebee Leafwin Pipewood Mayoral Chambers (Kim McCoy) 
Wednesday February 26th, 2014 6:37:27 PM

"No, Shel. Have you never gone to see a play?" Murphy whispers in return. "Pretend you are an actor in a play - and you are not the one being yelled at - rather, the character you represent is the target of the loud voice of another actor. We will not be doing anything against anyone here. Believe it or not, we are on the same side - we six, the Lord Mayor, the guards, and so forth. We are against the outside invaders. No spells. Endure the bother. A polished gem goes through rough treatment, even cutting, in order to gain its lustre."

Edric Lowbrook (Damian); HP: 12/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Wednesday February 26th, 2014 9:08:45 PM
"Shel, that plan sounds more satisfying with every passing moment. But I'm still willing to play along as long as they don't raise a hand against us."

DM Kent 
Wednesday February 26th, 2014 10:36:14 PM
Just moments have gone by and yet Hazel is defensive, Shel is ready to wreak havoc on the two guards and take off.Edric seesm to be all for that as well, but is willing to let things play out a bit.. Alouryn is pondering all the Mayor said but can't seem to get past the term "hanging." Murphy scans the room and takes a look at things but the only thing of interest is a paper on the mayor's desk that has Serabella's name on it and a list of your names as being wanted for questioning in her murder.

After just a few seconds really the door that the Mayor left through opens up and he walks back in chuckling about something and then right behind him enters Master Oakleaf. The Mayor makes his way over to his desk and scooting by Murphy takes a seat in his chair. Master Oakleaf leans against the wall by the door. Turning to his guards the mayor speaks.

"Why don't you two go join your crew out front and make sure that we are not disturbed for a while."

They leave quickly and quietly and then the mayor turns to you.

"Well, lucky for you my cousin sings high praises for you. And you have my thanks for pulling his bacon out of the fire. Now it seems we have a problem, though it is I hope not with out its solution. Sarabella is still dead. You are the last to see her die and there is no evidence tying anyone else to the murder scene. I am pretty sure and my cousin here is certain that you had nothing to do with it. However there are enough people who know why you were brought to Angel Springs that I can't just let you go, without going through with a trial. And even as innocent as you say you are and we believe you to be, without evidence or another suspect or guilty party there is a likelihood that you could be convicted and hung."

Now, I am assuming that none of us want that. So here is what I propose. we have gotten some information from your prisoners whiich may lead to the person or persons responsible for Sarabella's murder. It just so happens that some of the information ties directly to a problem that I am having as well. Over the last few months there have been reports of biguns and badduns attacking trade caravans, churches, and farmhouses throughout the edges of the Valley. The name of idefeatu has come up in conection with this as well. I am also convinced that my opponent in the next Mayoral election is somehow connected in all this, but I do not know how.

Am I correct in assuming that you would like to be the ones to bring Sarabella's murders to justice?"

Murphy Bumblebee Leafwin Pipewood Mayoral Chambers (Kim McCoy)  d20+13=32 ;
Thursday February 27th, 2014 4:16:36 AM

Murphy steps around to a point a little ways in front and off to one side of the desk. "Glad to see you, Master Oakleaf. We were a bit concerned for you when someone else came to deliver us here."

In reply to the Mayor's query, the druid says, "It is true, Lord Mayor, we were the last to see an image of our town's beloved priestess of Flower, there in the temple laid out in death, and Madame LaRue weeping over her - and that illusion we saw a week after she was killed. None of us saw her die. Two of my friends were likely the penultimate ones to see her alive - whoever killed her were the last to see her alive, and the first to see her death.

"But I will first hear my friends answer to your query."

He turns his attention to those whom he is coming to appreciate more and more, fellow members of Humble's Sword.

[Perception: 32]

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP21/21; AC 14/14/11 
Thursday February 27th, 2014 12:45:01 PM
"That's fine. I'll do it for Sarabella. She deserves that. But I'm not doing it for you two," she points at Oakleaf and the Mayor. "For all we have been put through recently, I'm not going to volunteer to help either of you. To clear Hazel and Alouryn's name and to put Sarabella's killers to trial are what I plan on accomplishing. For them."

Hazel 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Corsario) 
Thursday February 27th, 2014 3:37:05 PM
"I refuse the idea that Aluoryn's name needs clearing, and mine for that matter. We didn't kill her, and lack of suspects doesn't mean that we can become your scapegoats. I REALLY don't like that you try to make us your scapegoats. And if you try to hang us Master Oakleaf can tell you that won't be easy. Nor painless. I am sure Alouryn will want justice for her friend. But not for a second think we do it for you, or to clear our names. We are doing it for Sarabella. "

DM Kent 
Thursday February 27th, 2014 10:36:56 PM

"Hmm I do not believe I ever said you would be doing this for me or Master Oakleaf, but rather for your group and for Sarabella's memory. But perhaps I was mistaken and you as a group do not want to bother yourselves with this matter. If that is the case, then have a nice day and do have a good welcome home when you get back to the Ford."

ADM Kim 
Friday February 28th, 2014 3:10:49 AM

Alouryn, Edrick, Eral - We are at another turning point in the story.

Please weigh in with your characters' voices.

Murphy Bumblebee Leafwin Pipewood Mayoral Chambers (Kim McCoy) 
Friday February 28th, 2014 5:35:24 AM

Murphy ignores the obvious mischaracterization of the group's intent. He attends to another matter Mayor Hairfoot raised.

"If one with aspirations to leadership consorts with outside enemies to effect attacks on the Valley's good citizens, then should that one not be cut off, hopefully brought to justice?" Murphy asks. He considers Mister BadApple and the character qualities of his progeny. Is it he who is among those inside the valley who is doing such? Or is he innocent in this matter? the halfling wonders to himself.

He pauses for a moment, then changes direction. "My friends and I have been treated with suspicion, were placed under the cloud of arrest for these past few days, and entered this room to hear you berating us and our kind. Perhaps the warmth of your initial, uh, words of welcome, helped to kindle the fire of my friends' replies. I would guess, Lord Mayor, that perhaps a portion of your words to those earlier assembled were dealing with political realities. Dealing straight with us will prove more productive. You may discern it is unlikely either Hazel or Shel will become sycophants.

"How about this? You, sir, Lord Mayor Hairfoot, and Master Oakleaf, and the Lord Baron if necessary, acknowledge formally, in writing, that we are innocent of the charges against us. Apologize to Alouryn Buttercup Bumblebottom and to Bob Danderfluff Larue for the mistaken accusation." He looks around at his friends.

"We already have a desire to find the killers. We had that desire when we first learned of her death, and needed no coercion to do so - who knows whether this side trip hindered us from doing so? Why in the Wold did the investigation not enlist the aid of a cleric who can speak with dead to ask Sarabella Lovesong herself who took her life? Would that have been too simple?" He pauses for breath. "And who is next on their list of assassinations?"

Looking at the blank sheets of paper he carried across the street, Murphy adds, "I have notes on our findings and observations. Perhaps I can write a summary you can pass to appropriate militia and civilian leadership. Perhaps the WLA should be included among those notified."

Hazel 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Corsario) 
Friday February 28th, 2014 8:48:35 AM
"Don't be mistaken, we will defend the valley and look for Sarabella's killer, with your help, without it, or against you, if needed. So you are the ones that need to decide if to help up, ignores us or face us. I would prefer for you to help, as we all need to stand together. But I don't fear facing you. "

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP21/21; AC 14/14/11 
Friday February 28th, 2014 11:14:50 AM
"Perhaps this group could have already dealt with this matter if we weren't trussed up, arrested, and paraded through the streets as we were brought here. But, like I said earlier, I think its safe to say that we will conduct our own search into Sarabella's death. She was kind of us, and especially to Alouryn. We will find her killer and bring them to justice whether its one of our kind, a big'un mage, or whatever."

Edric Lowbrook (Damian); HP: 12/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Friday February 28th, 2014 7:08:07 PM
"I can swear that neither I nor any of my companions was involved in Sarabella's death. She was a good woman and her killers deserve their justice. For her sake and the good names of my friends, we will find them and bring them to justice. And we can't do that while we are held in this farce."

Eral SunstriderAC:21/12/19 HP:16/26 Spells (4/3+1/0+0)(A. Skomrock) 
Sunday March 2nd, 2014 1:45:18 PM
"I agree with Murphy here. I want a written and sealed proclamation that we are innocent of guilt and then we will talk about what to do next. I do not want to be going around while still under the suspicion of being murders. We would be glad to help solve this mystery as long as we get your cooperation as well."

DM Kent 
Sunday March 2nd, 2014 10:56:56 PM
Well now a good bit of that can be taken care of now but some of it will have to wait upon your return with the guilty party either dead and with evidence or alive and talking.

I think I can speak for Oakleaf and myself, and are truly sorry for our part in the charade that brought you here, but it was necessary. Someone put quite a bit of effort into framing you all for the deed, and in order to flush them out we had to, well you know. Now, I can not speak for the Baron as he is currently unavailable. However, I am sure that we can arrange for a written and announced proclamation of your innocence once you have completed this job and returned to Angel Springs.

Now wait, there are reasons for this. It will be safer for all of you if for the time being you are believed to be in custody and undergoing questioning, as it may lull those in collusion with the responsible parties and the ones responsible, into a false sense of security, let them show their hand, and allow you to actually have a bit more freedom of movement. We fear there are plots afloat that involve the entire Valley and perhaps the destruction of the Giant Towers.

We will gladly share what little information we have and may have a few things that may help you on your way as well.

Well what do you think?

Alouryn (Kim for Vaughn) 
Sunday March 2nd, 2014 11:08:11 PM

"Lord Mayor, you don't know how much I loved my ... Sarabella Lovesong." Tears well in Alouryn's eyes.

"She gave us love, and hope, and joy. And those things are robbed by whoever took her, her life. The peace is gone. How can... how can... and then people like you, you yell, and roar - then get all nice - how can - and we get attacked - goblins, orcs, ogres, ugly dogs. Even other halflings attack us. It - it is not supposed to be that way."

The devotee of Flower tries to compose herself, but she is on edge. "For there to be love in the valley, something must be done about these who show no love, who come to kill and destroy." She takes a deep breath, and another. "I will bring healing to the valley, in Flower's name. And support my friends who defend against those who bring harm." By now, tears line her face, but her countenance is resolute.

Alouryn AC: 16/14/13 HP: 14/14(Vaughn) 
Monday March 3rd, 2014 10:39:11 AM
ooc: sorry but had another major turning point in my life last week, back now

Edric Lowbrook (Damian); HP: 12/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Monday March 3rd, 2014 4:47:02 PM
"If it means bringing her murderer to justice,we will gladly play the accused.

Hazel 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Corsario) 
Monday March 3rd, 2014 7:34:14 PM
Hazel looks mad as hell, but keeps silent.
He don't like the idea of Alouryn getting accused, nor the "blah-blah-blah" of the Mayor. But he knows he has to work with them, at least for the time being.

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP21/21; AC 14/14/11 
Monday March 3rd, 2014 10:54:27 PM
"What choice do we have? We'll play along, while finding the killers. We need all your information, so that we can figure out a place to start the search.". Shel wasn't happy, but this was the only option she saw before her at this time.

Murphy Bumblebee Leafwin Pipewood Mayoral Chambers (Kim McCoy) 
Tuesday March 4th, 2014 1:39:54 AM
Murphy takes in the revelation of Rosco P. Hairfoot. So, a charade which started with whoever did the deed against the high priestess - or was the charade instigated by Morro Goodbarrel Oakleaf when his interrogation of the members of Humble's Sword caused him to doubt that they were guilty of the deed? How deep and wide did this go?

Theadric Orgulas, Crystal BadApple and Pirnook DeepPockets were the ones who testified that they had seen us in the vicinity that night. Why did they not mention that a few members of the group there the night that Sarabella was killed were not present a week later, when the group learned of her death?

Ach. There's nothing for all this cogitation - time should uncover more pieces of the puzzle. Children - and adults - especially the older folks of the valley - have long enjoyed the mixed up wooden puzzles his father put together. Some were simple, some complex. Murphy's mother and one of his sisters painted a thin, solid piece of wood. Then his father, sometimes helped by one of his brothers, would use tiny saws to cut the whole piece into various shapes. The idea was to get them scrambled, then find what pieces fit where to re-assemble the whole picture. People call them Orby Puzzles. Orby is one of Murphy's paternal uncles - famous for making good pipes, telling captivating tales, and is considered a valley expert on cultivating nut trees - hazelnut, oaks, chestnuts, pecans, walnuts.

Stop thinking about these distracting things, Murphy.

"Shel - remember what I said about playing a role? Well, now is your chance. Alouryn - you would like to become a minstrel in time, yes? I'd guess we are at the beginning of a story that may long be told."

He turns to the mayor and the baron's man. "Not that we'll be telling the story anytime soon, except to you and those few who may need to know, and who can be discrete."

He looks to Hazel, and can almost sense a bit of steam coming from his ears. "Sirs, you said that this will need to remain hidden until the actual plotters and murderers are uncovered. We will agree to that, with this requirement. You will write a document, with your signature, Master Oakleaf, and with your signature and seal, Lord Mayor, which states that we have been examined and found innocent of the death of Sarabella Lovesong - with each of our names. You will give that to us. We will hide it away where no one may find it, and will not allow it to be revealed until we have carried out our investigation, until it be known who did the foul deed. Also, please provide it in one sealed envelope - we shall watch the sealing, and witness the placement. Then three sets of blank parchment of the same dimensions and with a similar volume of wax used by the Mayoral seal, but with this to make the impression," and here Murphy takes a hard ceramic mug from the side of his waist, and points to the round bottom, "and shall be placed in three other envelopes of the same size as the signed document. These three envelopes shall be sealed in like manner. We will take the envelope with the signed document, and two with the blank documents. You shall keep one of the blank documents. The parchment and envelopes should be small, perhaps three inches by five inches. The text is not long, so I trust it will fit in such a size."

"And, with that, we await your recommendations, plans and insights. You are older than we, and more canny in how things work in the Valley. Our ears are open."

Hazel 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Corsario) 
Tuesday March 4th, 2014 2:58:10 AM
Hazel nods at Murphy's idea. What a clever lad he is!

Alouryn AC: 16/14/13 HP: 14/14(Vaughn) 
Tuesday March 4th, 2014 9:55:12 AM
Alouryn has learned to trust Murphy's judgement and offers no objections.

So this is how she finally gets to travel abroad: as an accused murderer of the one she loves most, in search of the true killer. At least she is in good company, and to them she must now trust.

DM Kent 
Tuesday March 4th, 2014 10:19:13 AM
The Mayor listens to what Murphy has to say and quickly responds. "I think we can agree to that."

That said he moves quickly to his desk and writes out the requested statement and both he and Oakleaf sign it and seal it along with the other requested papers and envelopes.

Handing them to Murphy, he nods. I like the way you think and take precautions, though you should now, and I am not trying to stir up trouble of in any way cause distress or distrust, but you do realaize that if you just run off and disappear or do not do what you are agreeing to, there is a faction of people out there who will not believe that note wasn't coerced, no matter how much we argue to the contrary. I mean there are six of you, well armed and young and just two of us.....

Anyway, let me tell you what we know., and or think we know. And I will be quite frank, it isn't very much.

I do not have evidence to this but I believe my opponent, Rory Sourwood BadApple, is somehow involved in all this. There are rumors that he is the head of "The Night Whisperers." knowledge local DC 15[ spoiler]"The Night Whisperers" are the pre-emminent thieves / assassins guild of the Crescent Valley[/spoiler] That said a number of things have shown up in his shop that were supposedly on some of the wagons that have been roobed over the last 10 months (of course none of them show up until months later and always with a verifiable bill of lading).

Like your group, most of the raided caravans have been attacked near the Trees of Discord. And all of the attacks including the raided farms, inns, homesteads, and temples, etc. have been right along the border to the Red Hills.

We have garnered the name of Idafeatu as the leader of this crew and that his base of operations is somewhere near the border in the Red Hills. It is said that he is an Orge Mage of some power and that his followers men orc, halfling and bigguns as well willingly follow him and all but whorship him. Normally he has his people divided up in to smaller strike forces of 8-10 people and only keeps 4 or 5 trusted people around him at the base camp. It is thought that he has around 150 folk in his "tribe" including women and children.

There is a twin brother out there somewhere, his name is Noyudint and it is rumored that there is bad blood between the two of them.

Some of the other things that we have heard but have no evidence of. In addition to his campaign of thievery, Idafeatu is supposedly trying to garner support for an all out attack on the Cescent Valley by Bigguns emanating from the Red Hills and headed up by the ogres and hill giants that are there. They feel, as there are no towers to the south, that that must be the weak spot in the Valley's defenses. And they may be right.

If this proves to be true, and their first push into the valley is successful, it is rumored that the northern giants will be invading the Culverwwod and making their way westward and around to the Red Hills to join them.

Now the issue becomes how do we get you out of here without being seen or followed or noticed on the road.

There is a tunnel from my back room to the other side of the wall. We will have seven ponies there waiting for you. On the extra pony you will find 4 hats of disguise, 4 potions that will enlarge you, and 2 potions of invisibility. Hopefully these will help you in some way. You will also find food supplies for two weeks and 4 extra waterskins.

Do you have any questions before I show you the way out.

Murphy Bumblebee Leafwin Pipewood Mayoral Chambers (Kim McCoy) 
Tuesday March 4th, 2014 3:33:44 PM

"Yes. Some of my gear is back at the inn. Can someone get those items for me and my friends?" Murphy asks.

"You do know that there is a half ogre / half ogre mage in Hovel, Lomar? He is a bard of the drum, and, after initial concerns, has become a valued member of the community, along with his goblin friend, Bobbles. No one can pull stumps better than Lomar. He may be a good resource in planning against the giants, for he loves the halflings. Has lived there for about seven years - he taught me the giant tongue.

"Also, were my messages to my sister and brother at our family store delivered, or blocked? I just want to know, and always appreciate the truth."

Edric Lowbrook (Damian); HP: 12/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Tuesday March 4th, 2014 6:22:43 PM
"I think that is all we'll need to take on the problem. We should head back to the area where our caravan was raided and patrol the area. Maybe this will bring us the lead to find this Idafeatu."

Hazel 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Corsario) 
Tuesday March 4th, 2014 7:38:20 PM
Hazel will need to ask for someone to take care of Faoil, as he doesn't know a way to take him without letting all the people know where he is.

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP21/21; AC 14/14/11 
Tuesday March 4th, 2014 9:18:22 PM
"Is there any information on the twin brother? Any information he might have could be important,especially if the two of them aren't close. If we go back, we need to be careful in that Trees of Discord area, though. Last thing we need is more trouble there. Are we going to try and push into the Red Hills, or are we just going to skirt the border? We need a clear plan before we run off all half cocked."

Eral SunstriderAC:21/12/19 HP:16/26 Spells (4/3+1/0+0)(A. Skomrock) 
Tuesday March 4th, 2014 9:27:15 PM
"I agree with Murphy as usual. Please have someone bring our gear from the inn. Also, Could you send this donation to the Church of Domi in our name for protection of us and those who need protection?"[b]

Eral will hand the Lord Mayor 30g

[b]"I think either heading off to the caravan or heading to the Red Hills would work. I don't have much knowledge of this area so I will leave the choice into someone else's hands"

DM Kent 
Tuesday March 4th, 2014 10:15:30 PM
your messages were sent as asked.
We could arrange to have your dog released outside of the city if he could find you. If not we can keep him here or send him back to Humbles Ford.

I'm afraid there is little else known about his brother.

I will ensure that you donation to Domi's temple gets to where it needs to go.

******

Questions are asked and answered. The gear you left at the hotel is recovered and you are fed an afternoon snack while the ponies and such are readied for you.

Soon you are hustled into the back room and through a trap door. You drop about 10 feet down via some steps and are soon making your way along a well made and smooth floored passage way. You seem to travel about 30 minutes when you notice that the tunnel is beginning to incline slightly.

The passage ends suddenly in what appears to be another trap door above you.

Hazel 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Corsario)  d20+11=23 ; d20+10=20 ;
Wednesday March 5th, 2014 12:57:02 AM
OOC: If possible I would prefer to keep Faoil with Hazel, if not, too bad, he will ask for them to keep it well fed and cared for here, until Hazel returns.
Hazel quietly opens the trap door and peeks outside.
Stealth Check: 23
Perception Roll: 20

Murphy Bumblebee Leafwin Pipewood Mayoral Chambers (Kim McCoy)  d20+6=7 ; d20+6=26 ; d20+6=24 ;
Wednesday March 5th, 2014 3:45:43 AM
As they wait to have their gear delivered, Murphy writes a three-and-a-half-page summary of what they have learned beginning from the night before the competition began with the wild man who warned them about biguns coming, through the attack on them along the way here.

"Mister May... Lord Mayor, I mean, this is a summary of what we have learned to add to what other things you know. And when will someone post warning signs outside of the Trees of Discord? Just wondering. Oh, and do you have any maps of the Red Hills that a few of our people can look over? Edrick? Hazel, Alouryn - anyone else take a look if there is something to see."

He hands another little piece of paper with a quick note on it, addressed to Leska Rose, WinWood T&M.
Leska & Nalf,
Sorry. Gotta run. Pray for me and my friends. Put the versus ramol puzzles out when you can.
Love,
Bumblebee
"Can you get this to my sister at WinWood Toys & Music?"

He tries on a hat of disguise. "Is there a mirror around?" He tries to see what he can do with it. He goes for a broad straw hat, then a rumpled felt hat, and a greasy cook's hat. He goes back to the rumpled felt variant.

"If we're going underground, then just bring Faoil, Hazel. Put a hat on him and disguise him as a giant badger," he jokes. "They have tunnels in Plateau City, too, according to some family conversations, and a map that Kendry laid on our table one night. I just didn't know we had any here." Then he thinks to ask his friends, "Does anyone know how to change Faoil's fur color? Shel, do you? Or Eral? Anyone?"

Before they depart, he says, "Master Morro Goodbarrel Oakleaf, thank you for your confidence in us. I am very, very pleased that you and we made it through that battle. We mourn with you the loss of your three men, and I shall pray for their families. Please keep yourself well, sir." He extends his hand to shake Oakleaf's. As they shake hands, he says, seriously, "We did not start out well. I have come to trust you," then, with a wee smile on his face, "to an extent." As he releases his hand, he gives him a respectful nod.

"Lord Mayor, we have just met. May you govern wisely as you lead our people through this troubled time. Let's see how we all do. Good luck. Wish us the same." He gives him a salute as he descends into the tunnel. He calls up, "Do we get to make up names for these ponies?"

He approaches one pony, and it rears as he comes beside it. [handle animal 7 - nat 1]. "All right, this pony does not like me yet." He quickly acquaints himself with two more. The first one he decides is quite compatible [handle animal 26 - nat 20]. He checks. "A mare. I'll call you Tulip." [or, if the ponies do not come until we are up and out of the tunnel, then save this interaction for then.]

At the end of the tunnel, Murphy asks Hazel quietly, "So, what do you see, buddy?"

[Note to DM: Can I somehow get any stuff from the Catacombs I bought as well as stuff I've won in the L&B lotto to take with?]

Kent: Yes your catacombs stuff was mysteriously with your other gear at the Hotel. :>)

Alouryn AC: 16/14/13 HP: 14/14(Vaughn) 
Wednesday March 5th, 2014 1:54:51 PM
Alouryn will drag her feet behind the group. It seems like everything that happens makes their path more dangerous. She looks forward to being outside the walls and seeing flowers again.

Edric Lowbrook (Damian); HP: 12/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Wednesday March 5th, 2014 4:39:46 PM
"Despite being let in on the scheme, I still feel like they might say we escaped and arrest us again. Is it safe to step out Hazel?"

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP21/21; AC 14/14/11 
Wednesday March 5th, 2014 6:13:12 PM
Id say the Murphy,,as leader, should hand out the magic items to the group as he feels fit.

Shel falls in line behind the others. "Sorry, guys, I don't know how to do that sort of Prestidigitation magic yet. It's not clicked for me so far. Maybe some day.". She reaches for a hat, seeing if the others,would complain if she takes one. The neat abilities of it just might be enough to shake her out of her doldrums that have had such a hold on her the last several days.

"Be careful up there. The way things are around here, we'd better make sure we aren't being set up, by going through this trapdoor."

Eral SunstriderAC:21/12/19 HP:16/26 Spells (4/3+1/0+0)(A. Skomrock) 
Wednesday March 5th, 2014 7:03:37 PM
"I'll guard our backs as we go up. I'm sure enough do not want me letting everyone in the area know we are here."

DM Kent 
Wednesday March 5th, 2014 7:34:57 PM
Murphy writes his summary of events and the note which Oakleaf says he will deliver and then says his goodbyes.

As Hazel begins to lift the trap door upward, He hears what seem to be some heavy foot steps and the jingling of metal. After a moment's pause he realizes it sounds like the scuffling of pony hooves and the jingle of bits and curb chains from bridles.

Opening the door further he realizes that he is in the rear corner of what must be an old rarely used nearly collapsed old lean-to type animal shed.

As Hazel lets everyone know it is good to go and climbs up and out, the ponies nicker and flick their ears at your arrival. In front of him ground camp tied are seven ponies tacked up and ready to go; six for riding and one laden with a pack saddle.

On the pack pony you find the hats of disguise the potions and the rest of the provisions promised.

Once you are all out and take a look around you realize that the tunnel has taken you all the way under the river and you are now on the southeastern side of the river acroos from Angel springs. If you look at the map of A.S. you are near to being between the f and the d of Defender Manor.

It probably isn't more than about 20 minutes to the Old Trader road. At best estimate you have about an hour, maybe two, of daylight left today and another long day's ride to the Trees of Discord.

Hazel 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Corsario)  d20+10=20 ;
Wednesday March 5th, 2014 10:28:54 PM
"Let's go people... we have some murderers to catch, and a valley to save!"
Hazel finds himself a ice pony, and wish Faoil is ok where ever he is. As always, he will go in front.
Perception Roll: 20

Murphy Bumblebee Leafwin Pipewood Ponies & Hats (Kim McCoy)  d20+3=8 ; d20+13=32 ;
Thursday March 6th, 2014 5:34:05 AM
Backtracking in time just a smidge
"The Night-Whisperers? Who are they?" Murphy asks when the Mayor brings up Rory BadApple's possible connection to them. [Knowledge, local: 8]

About the dog
"Say, Hazel, why not have them do that? Release Faoil outside the city. He has a good nose. Up to you, though."

Along the tunnel
Murphy looks at the construction and composition - how is the tunnel supported? Are there any obvious side-passages or doors? [Perception: 32]

With the ponies
Murphy settles on the pony he names Tulip. "Let's all choose names for our ponies. Whoever rides it gets to choose. My mare is Tulip - unless she tells me otherwise." He begins placing some of the gear he has been hauling onto the pack pony, but reserves some to carry on his pony. There he finds the hats and potions. "Tell me if you want to carry a potion." He reads the label on each

"Hazel, Alouryn - each of you need to put on a hat of disguise. Figure out how to look different from how you usually look. Now, that leaves us with two more. I'm open to whoever wants to wear one, tell me. If only one wants one, then I'll take the other - but you - Shel, Eral and Edrick - get to decide first."

He looks to see how the others are getting on with the ponies. If any need help, he assists. He'll offer what he knows about riding (a little bit) to any who don't have experience riding a pony.

"Shall we head out, then?" he asks the group once everyone look reasonably ready.

"Also - if we are travelling semi-incognito - what's our story?" He engages in conversation with his friends as they head in the direction of Old Trader's Road. "Oh, and I have a few interesting things to share with you. I'll tell you about them as we ride along."

Map of Crescent Valley where you can see Defender Manor in the lower right corner of the map.

Hazel 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Corsario) 
Thursday March 6th, 2014 6:53:05 AM
Hazel takes the hat of disguise, and blushing a little, assumes what he thinks (and no one else would) is a handsomer form, with red hair and freckles. A bad idea of what someone would think Alouryn likes in a Halfling. When she uses the hat, he will turn towards her, smiling, with a different voice.
"Hi, I am Bob! Can I tell you you are a really beautiful girl?"

Alouryn AC: 16/14/13 HP: 14/14(Vaughn) 
Thursday March 6th, 2014 11:15:24 AM
"Why thank you Bob, I am Buttercup"
Alouryn will use the hat to change her hair blond and her robes to brown. Her colourful patchwork pants and white blouse will also be brown. She will go by her middle name for now.

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP21/21; AC 14/14/11 
Thursday March 6th, 2014 3:00:36 PM
Shel helps herself to a hat. "Lets'g et going," she exclaims as she uses the hat to make herself appear much wider, and with a crooked nose, laughing at her image as she does so.

Eral Sunstrider AC:21/12/19 HP:16/26 Spells (4/3+1/0+0) (Kim for A. Skomrock)  d20=17 ; d20+1=14 ; d20-3=8 ; d20+6=16 ; d2=1 ; d20+6=10 ; d2=1 ;
Thursday March 6th, 2014 4:44:43 PM
Eral thanked the leaders for assuring him the donation would go to the temple of Domi.

He says to the druid, "I think the Night Whisperers are a group of thieves and assassins here in the valley, Murphy. Haven't you heard of them?" [Knowledge local: 17]

As he followed the group through the tunnel, he also looked around here and there to the sides and up above to see if there might be other openings along the path of the long exit. [Perception: 16]

He looks around the ramshackle shed to see if there are any things there the group might be overlooking - but it looks like they've found what is to be found. [Perception: 10] "Yeah, I don't need a hat, I think," he says.

He chooses a pony that seems at first glance to look fairly calm. [Handle animal 14] "That's a good boy." Once mounted, he manages somehow to stay in the saddle, but is none too comfortable with the experience [Ride, untrained, 8].

Seeing Shel, Eral laughs. "Looks like you've been well fed there, Shel. So, are you going to take a different name, like Bob and Buttercup did?"

Edric Lowbrook (Damian); HP: 12/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Thursday March 6th, 2014 7:31:02 PM
"Let me get one of those hats." He adjusts the hat to make himself heavier looking with chubby red cheeks and curly blond hair. "That should make me look like a harmless non-fugitive"


DM Kent 
Friday March 7th, 2014 12:01:09 AM
You each pick out your ponies and four of you put on and experiment a bit with the hats. The ponies are pretty much non descript hill ponies. Sturdy, steady and great travelers, just not real speedy. No one should take a second glance at you because of them in any case.

You all get under way and fairly quickly make it back to the trader road an you figure at a steady pace you can get another 4-6 miles down the road past the main gates before it gets to dark to set up camp and travel further.

As you reach the turnoff to the main gates that you entered before, things are starting to really get pretty tight with all the folk pushing to get inside before darkness falls and you find yourselves traveling almost off the road in single file, in the area between the road and the drainage ditch.

As the evening ends and night starts to come on you find yourselves near by an area that several small groups of halfling families are suing as a camp.

Press on into the night or stop and set up camp?

Murphy, a.k.a. Bombo Gardner Camping Site (Kim McCoy) 
Friday March 7th, 2014 2:45:56 AM
Heading to the road

"Edric - you look... less formidable!" Murphy comments as Edric adapts his looks. He enjoys seeing the changes in his other friends, too.

As they set out from the shack, Murphy begins to explain some of the 'things' he wanted to share.

"Just wanted to let you know that I'd made some quiet arrangements, and was able to get a few things dropped off at the inn with my stuff. A few items might prove useful. Plus I have a few things I picked up earlier, but have not really explained to you."

[Note: I put the dates the items were obtained from The Giggling Ghost or from the Loot 'n Booty - any of you can win weekly prizes just by following the current rules as announced at the Loot 'n Booty almost every week, and the Giggling Ghost on special occasions]

"Here is what we made the alternative seals with for the extra envelopes," Murphy explains, holding out the mug at his waist.
1. 12/15/2013 A 20-ounce unadorned yet unusually rugged cream-color ceramic mug, believed to be a Teucri artifact. Maintains beverage temperature for quite a while. Only damaged if the mug fails 'crushing blow' save (as though it were steel) three times in a row.

2. 12/21/2013 Leather bag of Red Hills jerked venison - One piece of this spicey dried venison can provide all the nutrition a person needs for a day. The bag holds 25 strips of the Red Hills' best. [20 strips left]

"Now, some of you have seen Shel's Wardd stone. I have something that might be of interest to us some time in the future. Who knows, maybe we can go to one or both of our moons."
3. 12/25/2013 Faces of our Moons' A small illustrated booklet containing detailed drawings of the surfaces of the two moons of the Wold, Kerracles and Wardd

"If someone gets real hungry, or for trading with other halflings," Murphy suggests.
4. 12/27/2013 Bread surprise. This favorite halfling treat can be a meal in its own right. What's inside? Eat it (or tear the outer crust off) to find out. Will remain fresh for up to 1 year (or 1 day after the crust is broken, whichever comes first).

"Hey - what?" As Murphy opens the top of the basket, a swift paw launches forth and swipes at his finger, just missing. "Who is that?" he asks. He reaches in, and pulls up by the nape of the neck a calico cat. As he tucks her into his arms, the cat says, "Mmrrrau?"
5. 1/4/2014 A sturdy one-pound black and gray basket, large enough for a creature the size of a cat. Contains one calico cat. Owner of prize responsible for naming, care and feeding of cat. Answers to a little bell (included), if the ringing of the bell is regularly accompanied by treats. One small bag of cat treats included. Also 1 catnip-filled toy mouse. Good mouser. [Winner can determine name and gender of animal in the basket. Prize committee not responsible - for anything]

6. 1/3/2014 Blank wizard's spellbook with 200 parchment pages, but the same dimensions and weight as a normal wizard's spellbook

7. 12/13/2013 A sturdy, darkwood gavel. Gives a very satisfying "thunk" sound when knocked on another piece of wood. It can serve as a symbol of Pantheon.

"I'm not certain we need this for where we're going at the moment," he comments.
8. 12/14/2013 A ship in a bottle. The ship flies the colours of the Pirates of Jack.

9. 12/24/2013 A wooden coin counter. Useful for sorting and counting any sort of coin.

"Alouryn, you said you might want to become a minstrel." He takes out of a case the following, and hands it over to 'Buttercup.' "Give it a strum."
10. 01/20/2014 The Baliset of El Kabong
The baliset is a nine-stringed musical instrument, lineal descendant of the zithra, tuned to the Chusuk scale and played by strumming. The baliset is a favorite instrument of Imperial troubadors.

This item is a masterwork stringed instrument. It can also be gripped by the neck and used as a weapon, acting as a masterwork greatclub. You cannot maintain a performance if you choose to use it as a weapon.

"The following could be very helpful, if used in the right circumstances," Murphy suggests.
11. 01/28/2014 Seeker Stones
Planar groups use seeker stones to locate friends and companions. These items come in a set of two perfectly clear peridot balls. To activate a seeker stone, all a body has to do is speak the command words inscribed into the bottom of the matching stone.

Once activated, a stone homes in on its match, if it is within 10 miles. A glowing arrow appears in the center of the translucent ball, pointing toward the other stone as a compass homes in on magnetic north. The arrow grows fatter and brighter as it's carried closer to its mate. When the matching stone is within 5 feet, the arrow abruptly died - if a berk can't figure out how to find the companion stone from here, he doesn't deserve to find it. If the distance between the two increases again before the enchantment is deactivated, the seeker stone flares into life again (speaking the command words in reverse dispels the power).

Either stone can be activated to seek its mate, though the uses are independent of each other. In other words, both, either, or neither one may be activated at a given time.

Although the stones have a range of only 10 miles, the chant whispers of seeker stones that can actually span planar boundaries. But don't place too much stock in the rumor, berk. No reliable blood has ever reported seeing such as set.

"Eral - this is for you, for it can go to no other." He hands him the following.
12. 02/19/2014 You win a small silver ring. Inscribed on the surface of the band in flowing script are the letters W.W.D.D., which as most Woldians know is an initialism for the humbling and thought-provoking question, What Would Domi Do? While wearing the ring, as a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity, you may rub the ring with your thumb. You become aware of any action or item that would be found damaging to or unbecoming of a follower of Domi, including magical effects. This effect is identical to the detect evil spell (CL1st). It can be used once, and becomes a mundane silver ring worth 5gp afterwards.

"So, talk it over, let me know if you want anything in particular. I do want to hold on to the cup, the cat, and the booklet - though any may borrow them from me - or play with the cat. I think I shall name the cat... Cora. Cora Callico."

Names

"So, we have Bob (Hazel), and Buttercup (Alouryn). My second name is Bumblebee - so, why not call me... Bombo? Bombo Gardner, at your service.

"Now, Edric - what name would you choose? And Eral? And Shel? Everyone choose a new name. It will help to keep people with associating us with ... whoever they may think our own names represent. And, it will be fun. Like being characters in a play." He scratches his nose. "We need to practice saying each others' names, so let's do it while we ride along."

"Also - what is our story? Why are we traveling together? Where are we going? Maybe we have been asked by an herbalist to gather some ingredients for her from the Red Hills. Does that sound all right? If not, what ideas do you have?"

Campsite

"What say we camp here for the night?" 'Bombo' suggests, pointing out a spot not yet claimed among the gathered halfling families. "We might be able to pick up a few stories from among them, make a friend or two. And get some sleep without risking falling into some ditch in the middle of the night."

Alouryn AC: 16/14/13 HP: 14/14(Vaughn) 
Friday March 7th, 2014 1:22:16 PM
"Thanks so much Murphy, that's a very thoughtful gift!"
Alouryn tucks her ribbon whip under her brown cloak and carries the string instrument instead.
" I know how to dance and tell stories now I have to learn to play this fine instrument as well."

Hazel 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Corsario) 
Friday March 7th, 2014 2:32:02 PM
'Bob' smiles charmingly to 'Buttercup'
"Buttercup? What a delightful name! May I accompany you on this trip? Please consider me at your service... "
When the night comes he seconds 'Bombo':
"This is a good place, and we shouldn't appear too much in a hurry."

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP21/21; AC 14/14/11 
Friday March 7th, 2014 5:08:25 PM
"Ive always thought the name 'Tessara' was pretty. Call me that or 'Tess' for short. Now other than names, we end to come up with a reason for travel. If we had more instruments, we could be a traveling minstrel group. Without them, however, that one would be tough to pass muster. Perhaps we could be merchants, if we don't let the wagon get searched."

OOC: we do have a wagon, don't we?

Edric Lowbrook (Damian); HP: 12/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Friday March 7th, 2014 5:09:14 PM
"I shall be Posco Bolger. And your story sounds believable, Murphy..., I mean Bombo. Let's use it." Edric yawns. "I think setting up camp might be best. We all need some rest after today."

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP21/21; AC 14/14/11 
Friday March 7th, 2014 5:10:57 PM
After deciding on her name, 'Tess' asked Murphy to see the illustration book about the moons of the planet. She leafed through the booklet thoroughly for a good half hour before she handed it back to him. "Wow, what a neat book. We've got to keep finding out more information on those moons!"

Murphy, a.k.a. Bombo Gardner Camping Site (Kim McCoy) 
Saturday March 8th, 2014 2:14:56 AM

"I'd love to listen to you play it, once you figure it out, Buttercup," 'Bombo' answers with a smile.

"Tessara - yes, beautiful name. Oh, sorry - we don't have a wagon this time, though one might be handy." He is happy to let her read through the moons booklet, which he himself studied during part of the carriage ride to Angel Springs.

"Posco? Posco it is, Mister Bolger. All right - so, we are on assignment, gathering herbs. If we are asked who hired us, it was a druid," Bombo recommends for what the group is about. "Anything else any asks you about our purpose, just change the subject and ask them what they are doing out here. You can direct them to me - I know plants pretty well, so might be able to satisfy their curiosity."

"Eral - how about you? How about you be a cleric of Domi - and we can call you... Loren?"

As they set up camp, the druid has one small tent. "The women can use this. The rest of us will need to sleep under the stars." He asks for help, then sets up the tent. "Too bad our singing friend is not here helping," he mentions with a smile.

He will spend a little time walking around the area, giving a cordial, but not too nosy greeting to those gathered here. If he sees a family that looks worn or hungry, he may offer them his bread surprise, and a few sticks of jerky. He does not extend his charity too widely - only to whoever looks to need it the most. "How are things going?" Just light conversation as travelers who share a road or a campsite might engage in. If any seem talkative, he may also ask, "You all know anything about some of the rumors going about?" Halflings love rumors. If anyone asks him, he'll say he's heard about a few goblins who were seen to the south of the valley recently.

"Friends, let's set watches. I'll take last in the early morning, and we should have perhaps three more. Who will help?"

[b]A question for DM Kent - From sunset to sunrise, how many hours pass around these parts? -Kim

DM Kent 
Saturday March 8th, 2014 11:56:06 AM
---
Murphy hands out a few little gifts

Allouryn plucks a string or two thinking about learning to play.

Names are bandied about.

Sunset to sunrise roughly 10 hours

Sorry no wagon

There was a large canvas that is intended to be used as a lean-to like structure on the pack pony.

-----------

Camp is set up and your group is kind of watched warily by several of the families with children, but noone approaches your group at any time.

The night almost passes without incident. The early morningg arrives far to early to your liking with the sounds of children and women yelling and general uproar. Horses, ponis and donkeys are all upset and trying to run.

There is also the sound of a very deep bellowing echo of a voice. "DON"T RUN! WANT FOOD!" Want Food!"

Turning in that direction what you see in the very dim light from the burned down fires and the crescent moon, is a hunch backed 10-12 ft tall shaggy and rough-haired creature, with what appears to be a couple of small bushes and moss-like growths on its two heads and shoulders. It is very hard to see in the light as it seems to blend very well with the darkness and the landscape. Knowledge nature knowledge dungeoneering DC 16 Highlight to display spoiler: { the creature appears to be a troll}



Hazel 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Corsario)  d20+5=13 ;
Saturday March 8th, 2014 12:12:37 PM
Hazel don't recognize the creature...
"Keep the families back! Keep them safe! "
Hazel moves to be between the Halflings and the creature.
" Go away! No food here! Away! "

Murphy, a.k.a. Bombo Gardner Camping Site (Kim McCoy) 
Saturday March 8th, 2014 1:07:33 PM

Murphy / Bombo reaches into his red leather pouch, turned so that the troll cannot see where he pulls it from, and takes out a strip of jerky. In his other hand he puts the bread surprise.

He walks toward the troll. In the giant tongue, he says, "I have good food. It looks small, but it fills the belly well. Eat this - chew it well, then I have more food." He holds out the jerky. If the troll swings at him, he drops the jerky and jumps backwards (defense). If the troll simply takes the jerky, he gives him a moment to examine it, eat it, whatever, and asks in common, "Is it good? Would you like more food, so that tomorrow you eat well, too?" If the troll says yes, he says, "Tell us your name, and I give it to you." If the troll gives him a name, then he offers him the bread surprise. In giant, "Wait until tomorrow, then eat it. It is enough to satisfy for a day."

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP21/21; AC 14/14/11 
Sunday March 9th, 2014 5:00:19 PM
Shel held her breath as Murphy approached the large creature. "Um, be careful what you are doing there, Mu..Bombo!" She watched him, ready to try and cast a spell to let him retreat, if the creature did not react well to the offering.

Eral SunstriderAC:21/12/19 HP:16/26 Spells (4/3+1/0+0)(A. Skomrock) 
Sunday March 9th, 2014 6:13:15 PM
Eral will move between the creature and the children. "Get the children back until we see if this creature is going to pass us by or be talked down by Murphy."

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Vaughn) 
Monday March 10th, 2014 1:33:28 PM
Buttercup waits for Bombo's attempt at diplomacy before taking any actions.

Hazel 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Corsario) 
Monday March 10th, 2014 5:25:42 PM
Hazel mumbles to Murphy, getting next to him with his sling staff ready...
"Are you sure you want to feed... That? A bear will return to where it finds food. "

Eral SunstriderAC:21/12/19 HP:16/26 Spells (4/3+1/0+0)(A. Skomrock) 
Monday March 10th, 2014 5:57:59 PM
"Yeah, I meant Bombo will try and stop this beast. Hopefully we will be long gone when he comes back. We can let the town guard know where to find this beast."

Eral previously agreed to Loren as his incognito name

Eral will name his pony Defender.

Edric Lowbrook (Damian); HP: 12/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Monday March 10th, 2014 8:14:35 PM
Edric doesn't make any hostile movements but readies himself in case he needs to draw his weapon and attack. "If it were hostile it probably wouldn't try to parlay. Be cautious and watch for the little ones. Otherwise I say we can spare a little charity."

DM Kent  d100=51 ; d100=24 ; d20+4=11 ;
Monday March 10th, 2014 10:41:47 PM
The troll comtinues moving forward swingin his club side to side nearly smashing some families in the process but just misses them. Then it stops. Both noses and all four ears twitch momentarily. Slowly it turns away from the fleeing families as well as Hazel and eral as the move to defend the families, and it focuses, if that is the word, for it doesn't appear to see all that well all four eyes are squinting at Murphy and his hand waving the jerky in the air.

"HUNGRY!" GIVE ME FOOD!"

The troll swings its left arm out and down to grab the jerky from Murphy's hand. (I rolled a Reflex save DC 10 for Murphy to avoid being accidently snatched up as well to keep this rolling)

Murphy manages to remain un grasped an just the jerky is grabbed. The Troll pops it in his mouth and while not slowly it definitely chews it a coulple of times with its very large and disgusting looking teeth.

"GOOD! WANT MORE NOW! HUNGRY!"

At Murphy's asking of its name, the troll seems a bit confused and actually scratches one of his heads.

"NAME STUPID!"

He drops his club and reaches out for Murphy vwery obviously to get something else to eat.

{Murphy 150 experience bonus for the very different troll solution}

Murphy, a.k.a. Bombo Gardner Camping Site (Kim McCoy) 
Tuesday March 11th, 2014 12:13:02 AM
"Thank you for your name. You can call me Bombo - and here is some more." He sets his bread surprise on the ground and takes a step back. (I don't even know what is inside the outer bread wrapping - bread surprise often contains meat - lamb, or beef, or goat typically, sometimes mixed with vegetables. Other times it has fruit, or sweets, or cheese - so Murphy is as likely to be as surprised as the troll concerning whatever is inside.)

As the troll takes that, and ensuring the red pouch he reaches into is out of sight of the two heads, he extracts four more pieces of jerky, three of which he tucks into his belt, and one of which he holds hidden in his hand. He asks the troll, "Do you have any friends, or a family?"

He takes several steps in the general direction he will tell the giant to continue on in a moment or two. He knows that the food, being of a magical nature, ought to fill him well enough. It might take a few more moments for the stomach to communicate that to the creature's brains, though.

Figuring the troll will ask for more food, he says, "If you will help us. I can give you more." If STUPID agrees to help, he says, switching to the giant tongue to ensure clarity of communication. "Good. First, you have to promise that the next piece I give you, you will first carry over to that bush, and then you will eat it. And you will wait there for me. When my friends are ready to go, then I will come. I will give you one more piece. You have to carry it, without eating it, for one mile. If you do that, then we will travel together, and help each other. Do you agree?"

It is likely he will need to repeat the terms, so he will do so patiently until the giant understands. If he understands, then he says, "Hold out your open hand, and I will place the next piece in your hand. After my hand has moved, slowly close your fingers until you cannot see the piece - but hold it tight, so it does not fall. Walk carefully to that bush," and he points to a bush about 200 yards away, "one hundred paces from here. Sit down, eat the food, and wait. I will be there with more food for you. Agree?"

In the halfling tongue, he asks his friends, "Tell the people to leave, and we will get this giant away from here." Perhaps his counsel to have the people leave is unnecessary, as several are running away already. "Pack up, and get ready to move. We may have a guide to our enemy, or his rival. Ask any hobbits you can talk to if they know anything about Idefeatyu, or other hostile activity."

======
If for some reason STUPID forgets his club, Bombo says, "Someone tie a rope to his club, and we'll drag it over - but don't give it to him until I ask you to. Trust me on this, if you can. Posco, can you do that?" If STUPID did not forget his club, then never mind :-)

Murphy, a.k.a. Bombo Gardner Camping Site, Trolled (Kim McCoy) 
Tuesday March 11th, 2014 12:18:59 AM
Addendum: If the troll does as asked, Bombo will say to Bob (Hazel), "Yes, a bear may come back. But also, a bear may lead you to honey."

And Murphy appreciates his friends' support in this... different situation. He works quickly with them to pack up, and go meet up with STUPID.

Hazel 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Corsario) 
Tuesday March 11th, 2014 1:13:23 AM
Hazel keeps mumbling to Murphy...
"God I hope you are right about this, my friend."
He keeps his sling staff ready, just in case.
Ready action to defend Murphy (Aid Another Defense) if STUDIP do something, well... stupid.

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Vaughn) 
Tuesday March 11th, 2014 7:03:27 AM
Buttercup holds her breath and prepares to cast Sanctuary on Bombo if this goes bad.

Edric Lowbrook (Damian); HP: 12/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Tuesday March 11th, 2014 7:32:40 PM
"A friendly troll huh?This has to be one for the storybooks." Edric is still unsure of Stupid, ready to intervene if necessary.

Eral SunstriderAC:21/12/19 HP:16/26 Spells (4/3+1/0+0)(A. Skomrock) 
Tuesday March 11th, 2014 7:51:59 PM
"Be careful my friend..."

Eral (Loren) will turn to the families, "Please everyone start moving away while Bombo takes care of the beast. Head onto where you were going and let the town guards know what happened. Keep an eye out and come straight back to us if you encounter any more."

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP21/21; AC 14/14/11 
Tuesday March 11th, 2014 7:52:26 PM
"Okay, I don't trust this thing for one minute. It might not be evil, but it'll be nothing but hungry! How do we feed that thing when it eats all of Bombo's jerky? I don't know if my spells can effect it, so we'd better make sure everyone else is clear if it gets angry and we have to make a run for it."

Shel/Tess turns and ensures everyone is heading in the opposite direction from the Stupid troll. "Go fast! He might still be hungry! Get!"

DM Kent 
Tuesday March 11th, 2014 10:26:50 PM
Shel and Eral hustle the families out and on their ways and none give them any kind of trouble or beligerance. They are more than happy to go and leave the troll to you all.

Alouryn, Hazel and Edric, are just waiting for the other shoe to fall and are planning contingencies.

No Go! Want eat food here! Why rules!

No Family! No friends!

(OOC: You do realize that 100 paces for him is likely to be closer to 600 feet than 200?)

The second time through the directions he seems to get it and once given a second strip of jerky, he moves over to the bush after picking up his club and dragging it along with him sits down and starts gnawing on it.

Good! Chewy! Why you be nice to me? You play trick? I don't like tricks. I smoosh people that play tricks.

He looks around at all of you, but seems to have forgotton all about the halfling families...

This good! Me getting full. How that be?



Murphy, a.k.a. Bombo Gardner Camping Site, Trolled (Kim McCoy) 
Wednesday March 12th, 2014 1:11:44 AM

To Bob (Hazel), Bombo answers, "Me, too." He gives Buttercup (Alouryn) a blink of gratitude for her care. He is inclined to agree with Posco (Edric), but Eral's exhortation catches his ear. "Always, boldly careful." Murphy appreciates Shel's - no, Tessara's - practical wisdom.

"Will be right there! Right, no tricks!" he hollers to the troll.

To his brave and bonnie companions, he says, "Come, friends, let's go see to the large one." Bombo quickly packs his things, puts a few on the pack pony, and a few go in his backpack. He mounts. "All ready? I'm going a little ahead, if that's all right - come up gently along, friends. Gather as we talk."

He rides to within fifty feet, dismounts (and glad for a steady pony), and walks up to STUPID. "No, no trick. You said you hungry. I give you food. If you do not smoosh my people, then I not hurt you. I have giant friend. He ogre mage. I help him, he help me.

"If you be my friend, I be your friend. If you my friend, then these others, maybe they be your friends, too.

"Different giant, ogre, he smooshed my people, I killed him. My friends and I did. Now he not smoosh any more. But you? You not need smoosh us, we not trick you, not hurt you.

"Why you get full? I tell you. This powerful food. Eat a little, it like eating a whole cow for you. Eat little, it good. Eat too much, then stomach blow up. So, eat not too much." He holds up another piece. "This for later. You put in that pouch you have there, eat when get hungry. Maybe what you have be enough for all day. Full all day."

As his friends draw near, he says, "These my friends, each one must say for self if he be friend, or if she be friend. I say them think on this, then say what they think."

As his companions draw near, he speaks to them in halfling, first telling them what he and STUPID discussed. "It is up to each of you. I propose we travel with him, and see if he can tell us about or lead us to one of the two ogre mages, or at least help us find out more. You do not have to declare friendship. I am doing so. But if you tell him you will not harm him so long as he does not harm our people, that may be enough. I do not speak for you - you each speak for yourself. Tell him what you want to - your travel name if you want, and ask him what you want to, or say nothing. You might want to keep it simple."

In common, he says to STUPID, "My friends talk to you now. Then, maybe, we walk together, tell stories. Hunt food - only have a little powerful food. Help each other."

[OOC: Yes, Kent, I do realize that 100 paces is about 600 feet, which is why in my post I said '200 yards.' :-) ]

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Vaughn)  d20+9=19 ;
Wednesday March 12th, 2014 1:05:35 PM
Alouryn is now standing beside Murphy with a Sanctuary spell on her mind

"I am Buttercup, and I will be your friend if you promise not to hurt my friends."

(Diplomacy 19)

" I am sure they will all agree to the same..."


Edric Lowbrook (Damian); HP: 12/26; AC: 21/13/19  d20+1=13 ;
Wednesday March 12th, 2014 5:32:26 PM
"Of course we can be friends. If you mean us no harm then we welcome you. Tell us more about yourself."

Diplomacy 13

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP21/21; AC 14/14/11 
Wednesday March 12th, 2014 8:25:56 PM
"I am Tess. I'll not bother you if you do the same for me. Did someone send you out here, or were you just looking for food? Maybe we be friends if you help us. We are looking for bad people to stop them from being bad."

Shel considering describing the bad people, but was afraid that if she told him they were big like him, he'd never understand that, so trouble would no doubt ensue. "You do realize how dangerous this is, don'tcha," she again warns Murphy as she stares up at the huge troll.

DM Kent 
Wednesday March 12th, 2014 11:17:52 PM
In between bites and chews of p[art of the second piece of jerky, Stupid spaeks. and looks a bit nervous and unsure as he does.

"What ogre you kill?" ::smack:: Butcup, you perty." ::smack chew::

"Ogres mean. "::burp::

"Don't like orges". :: chew chew:: Drool::

"Always searching for food. Hungry."

"Why want frnds with me?" :: BELCH::

He stops chewing for a moment and then focuses back in on Murphy.

His whole demeanor has changed. Her is suddenly more alert and while he doesn't move his eyes are suddenly darting around the area as if on high alert. His hand visibly tightens on his club. He definitely seems ready for fight or flight.

"WHO YOU GIANT FRIEND! WHO OGRE MAGE!!!"


Murphy, a.k.a. Bombo Gardner Camping Site, Trolled (Kim McCoy) 
Thursday March 13th, 2014 12:06:14 AM

Ah, pulchritude - the universal language.

"Ogre didn't say name, just try kill halflings. Since he not talk, just try smoosh us, we kill him." He gives him a rough description of the ogre, though, describes his clothing, any facial or body characteristics that might help STUPID identify him, if he knew him.

"Why want friends with you? You have no friends. Everyone need friends. So, if you want, we be friends. Talk, laugh, hunt, work, play together. Like friends do. Help each other. That is what friends do. Why we want? Rather be friend, not hurt you. Hard to play with people we hurt. We find food for you to eat, for us to eat. Like I share my food with you, now. Like friends do. You decide. If you no want be friends, then we not make you. If you want be friends, we say yes."

Ah, good, the mention of his ogre mage friend has rung a bell. He figures STUPID is trying to determine whether Idefeatu or Noyudint might be his friend. "Why you ask my friend name? Ogre mage you know not nice, maybe?" He lets that hang in the air a moment. But before STUPID can get too much more agitated, he explains, "My friend not like that. He not hurt you, if you don't hurt our people. But Lomar his name. He powerful - and he like eat fluffy sheep. Say mutton sweet. Eat deer too. He use buck antlers clean teeth."

He thinks to himself that STUPID would also benefit from the use of antlers, or perhaps some sharpened sticks, for his teeth.

"What are ogre mages you hear of? Red Hills ones not nice to you? You want us find out what they do? I think some are good, some are bad."

Recognizing STUPID's fear, he says quietly. "If you no want others than us hear," and he looks around, "you can talk quiet, quiet so far away bushes not hear what we say."

"Or, we can start walking, and talk on way. We go into Red Hills. You know good places here?"

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Vaughn)  d20+9=26 ;
Thursday March 13th, 2014 7:43:45 AM
Alouryn is quietly going to cast Guidance on Murphy to help him with any diplomacy rolls he may need to be making. (+1)

"We don't like the bad ogre mage, but we like you."

(Diplomacy 26)

Hazel 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Corsario) 
Thursday March 13th, 2014 10:51:01 AM
Sorry for yesterday's missing post... Still have Internet issues
Hazel keeps near Alouryn and Murphy, trying to protect them in case Stupid makes an agresive move. He don't say he is friend to a Troll (That day is not here yet).

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP21/21; AC 14/14/11 
Thursday March 13th, 2014 3:38:36 PM
Shel also didn't want to risk saying the wrong thing in discussions with the troll. Somehow Murphy has already starting bonding with that darn thing. Let him keep spinning the yarn. If I somehow insult it, I'd never live with myself.

She moves back to walk a bit further away from the troll, just in case it lost its temper so she could get a head start.

As she began to grow bored of the walk by herself, she twirled her neat necklace, as the Warddstone continued to point toward her favorite moon,

Murphy, a.k.a. Bombo Gardner Trollplomacy (Kim McCoy)  d20+3=13 ;
Thursday March 13th, 2014 5:37:20 PM

[Taking Alouryn's hint] Rolling for Diplomacy: 13 - let's use Alouryn's, instead. And DM may adjust to his heart's content based upon food provision, conversation. Murphy is sincere in his offer, though.

Edric Lowbrook (Damian); HP: 12/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Thursday March 13th, 2014 8:55:19 PM
Upon Stupids outburst, Edric subtly puts his hand on the handle of his sheathed axe in case things go wrong. He doesn't say anything more, fearing it might set Stupid off.

DM Kent 
Thursday March 13th, 2014 10:28:28 PM
No longer showuing any intrest in the food he is definitely very scared and on edge. and yet he doesn't seem to be working his way to violence just yet, but who knows with trolls.

"Can't go into hills. Be banned. I be killed I return. I no go with you there ever. Not unless you prove he dead first."

A spark of light of thought pops into his eyes and he looks around at all of you..

Want go home. You killed other ogre. You kill Idafeatu too? I tell where at, you kills?

He have guards everywhere around Parlay knowledge history DC 15 Know geography DC15 [spoiler Parlay probably refers to the old Parlay house.

The Parlay House, constructed for the sole purpose of hammering out a peace treaty between the Crescent Valley and the hill giants of the Northern Red Hills, was used for many years for this purpose between the various factions and races of the Red Hills. The last time it was going to be used was during a semicentenial meeting of the assorted Orc clans in the red hills to try and elect a unified clan chief. Needless to say there were issues between the clans and an all-out clan war broke out. In the process of these battles the Parlay House was pretty much reduced to ruins. Over the years, individual groups have used and rebuilt parts of the Parlay House but now it is the base of operations of the ogre chieftain Idafeatu.
[/spoiler]

Hazel 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Corsario)  d20+5=20 ;
Friday March 14th, 2014 12:27:16 AM
Knowledge Geography Roll: 20
"The Parlay House! I know where is it, I can take us there! Thanks Stupid!"

Murphy, a.k.a. Bombo Gardner Trollplomacy (Kim McCoy)  d20+2=18 ; d20+6=20 ;
Friday March 14th, 2014 1:17:42 AM

"There is saying. It says this: The enemy of my enemy is my friend," Bombo (Murphy) begins.

"We have heard of Idafeatu. The ogre we killed was sent by Idafeatu, with orcs, humans, a few others. We think he our enemy. If he your enemy, and he our enemy, then you, we be friends." The druid negotiator gives that thought a chance to sink in.

"Come, friends. Be not wary. Our friend here, we talk. All, take a deep breath." He takes a deep breath, holds it, then expels the air in a steady stream. Again, breathing in, encouraging others - halflings and troll, then out. Three of four times of that, then he continues.

"As we talk, please share your thoughts. Some of you are quiet. Be not shy. You may think of something we do not."

He looks up again at Stupid and tells him, "We cannot promise we kill him. Maybe we do, maybe we do not. He has many guards, you say. But we want stop him. He bring war against our people, against halflings. So, we want stop his war, stop him. If need kill him, if can, then maybe yes. But this not so easy as kill one ogre. Ogre mage have more powers. Can poof disappear like a mist, then poof come back behind you. So he be tricky."

Bombo asks his friends. "Have you heard of Parlay? Buttercup, you know history fairly well." He looks at each of the others. "Anyone else know of it?"

As they talk, the druid takes a stick from near the bush, and with his feet smooths out a patch of dirt. He starts sketching a map of the southern edge of Crescent Valley, and a few features into the Red Hills. He makes a little 'X' about where he figures the old meeting place to be. He asks his friends and Stupid for confirmation, or correction.

"But you know Idafeatu have brother, yes?" he asks, looking up at the two large heads of Stupid. He notes which one does more talking, and how similar the features are on the two heads. "His name Noyudint. You know where he be? I heard they be not friends to each other. Brother fight brother. Have you heard? Where be Noyudint? If you not know, we find out when we can. If you know, then that be good."

[Knowledge history: 18; Knowledge geography: 20]

Murphy, a.k.a. Bombo Gardner Trollplomacy (Kim McCoy) 
Friday March 14th, 2014 1:19:43 AM
[Sorry, Corsario - didn't see Hazel's post before I put mine up.]

"What can you tells us about Parlay, Bob. Or maybe someone else knows its history," Bombo suggests.

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Vaughn)  d20+6=8 ;
Friday March 14th, 2014 8:59:37 AM
"I'm not very knowledgeable outside of Humble's Ford and the major towns I'm afraid. That's all we learned about in the Centre for Enlightenment."
(Knowledge History 8)

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP21/21; AC 14/14/11 
Friday March 14th, 2014 8:17:46 PM
OOC: I'm untrained in those skills, so I can't hit a 15, I don't think.

Shel approaches Bombo's drawing. "Yes, Noyudint is the key. If he strong like brother, and he no like brother, he may help us. If you know about him, please tell us. I bet Red Hills have good food, Stupid. If you go with us, we probably eat good while we look for brother."

She sits down as the group takes a respite. "How about you go to Parley with us or we find brother, whichever come first? If you want go after that, that ok. But if you still want to help friends, that even better."



Hazel 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Corsario) 
Friday March 14th, 2014 9:41:01 PM
"I don't really know the story of the place, but your mark in the map seems about right... And about killing the ogre... Yes, we will kill him."
Hazel smiles fiercely.

Murphy, a.k.a. Bombo Gardner Trollplomacy (Kim McCoy) 
Saturday March 15th, 2014 7:00:29 AM

Bombo tosses out another idea. "What if we let our large friend here wear two hats to change his appearance?"

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP21/21; AC 14/14/11 
Saturday March 15th, 2014 9:34:34 AM
"He's still going to be really big, Bombo, isn't he? And he will still have two heads as well. I'd bet there aren't very many two headed giants roaming the woods. Even though he might look a bit different, he's going to be recognizable. But I'm fine with him trying out the hats, if making his face look a bit different will be useful. What do the rest of you think?"

Edric Lowbrook (Damian); HP: 12/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Saturday March 15th, 2014 1:43:02 PM
"Murphy, can the hats disguise his size and surplus head? Because traveling with a giant, two-headed human doesn't seem much less conspicuous than traveling with a giant, two-headed troll. Perhaps moving under cover of night would make it easier to hide him. Whatever we do, let's head over to the Parley house.



Hazel 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Corsario) 
Saturday March 15th, 2014 3:52:57 PM
Hazel mumbles to "Bombo":
"I am not sure he will be comfortable travelling with us... and I am sure not comfortable travelling with him."

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) Troll Makeover (Kim McCoy) 
Saturday March 15th, 2014 7:45:50 PM

Murphy / Bombo laughs at the notion that the hats would make the troll look substantially smaller, or less conspicuous. "Well, Posco Bolger," he says to Edric - hoping that the fighter will get used to using their traveling names, "Giants are not in the habit of being inconspicuous. But I think one can be made to look different, which might be enough."

He takes a moment to explain the working of the hats to Stupid. "These hats can make you look a little different. Change the shape of your faces some, make your skin a little lighter, or a little darker. Give your noses a smoother shape. Make your teeth look different. Change the lumps on your shoulder to look different. Question for you. Do you know any other giants with two heads? Ettins? We can make it so other people who know you could not tell it was you. They think you someone else. Because if we do that, maybe we could get you close to your home, but they not think you be Stupid."

He goes to his backpack and pulls out a mirror. He gives it to Shel. "Tess, why don't you and Buttercup try the hats on, use the mirror, and talk with our large companion here about how to change his look."

He caught Hazel's mumbled statement of discomfort. He looks back the way they came from where Stupid first showed up in their midst. "Ah, shoot. I think I dropped something on the way. Bob - you're good at finding things. Come with me, help me look." He says to the giant and the others. "We'll be right back. Try out the hats."

Assuming Hazel is willing to play along, once they are a ways from the others, he answers. "Like as not we will face much that does not comfort us, friend. Fact is, though, we are not a very big people. What if we can get some giants who will help us? We can be quick and sneaky. They are large and deadly. Idafeatyu is recruiting from a number of races. Can we also not do so?

"And can you see that the big fella there and we have a common purpose? He has begun to place some hope in us. Unless we betray him, he will not attack us." As he talks with Hazel, Murphy looks through the grass where the ponies walked, paying particular attention to the path his own pony took.

"You are one of the bravest friends I have, Hazel. Yet we can yield to fear if we choose. Or we can let the love for our valley and our people win out over our fears, our anxieties. Comfortable? I can't guarantee comfort. I know that you and Alouryn have borne the brunt of misplaced suspicions and accusations of late. That caused all of us discomfort, and you have keenly felt that especially for her. I heard some words said among the trees of discord - might have forgotten them had I not written them down right after that all happened. That was not a moment of comfort."

He unties a pouch at his waist as they draw near to last night's camping site, and, out of sight of the group back with the giant, his body interposed to block their line of sight, he lets it fall to the ground in front of him. After a moment, he leans over and picks it up. "I found it!" he shouts back to his friends next to the two-headed giant, holding the pouch aloft. 'Bombo' then lowers it, and reaches in, withdrawing two gems. Speaking with Hazel, he says, "These round green peridots each have a word on the bottom. I'll write them down when we get back with the group." He hands one to Hazel. "If we get separated for any reason, and you have the stone, and want to rejoin me, then speak the name I have on this stone. It will guide you back to me - or back to the holder of the stone, whoever that might be. If you want to give this stone to another, you may. If you want me to give my stone to another, ask. Will you accept this gift, Hazel?"

Whether or not Hazel accepts one of the peridots, he asks him as they slowly walk back. "If you think I am leading us wrongly, buddy, tell me clear. I have ears to listen. But I would ask, also, are you willing to try this? To travel with one who normally would be an enemy, yet may be a friend - that we may serve a larger purpose?"

Once they are back with the party, he looks to see how Stupid's makeover is going.

[Suggestion: Everyone put your alias in the Post Name line, as I did, to help us all remember what we are calling each other out here. Vaughn has already done so with Alouryn (Buttercup).]

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Vaughn) 
Monday March 17th, 2014 11:24:58 AM
Buttercup already is wearing a hat of disguise she will switch between her disguise and Alouryn's true form to show the troll how it can help.

DM Kent 
Monday March 17th, 2014 5:01:27 PM
Stupid doesn't seem to be able to get the understanding of the hats and he vehemently doesn't want to go anywhere near the Parlay House, with an "I NO go There!!"

The conversation about Noyudint is not much better. He seems to be scared of both though more of Idafeatu. You get the sense that Noyudint doesn't agree with how his brother does things and is unwilling to help him, but also that he will not confront him to stop him either. You do not get the sense that Stupid has any idea where he is or where he hangs out "so to speak."

Other information that you are able to get is that currently there are not many of Idafeatu's people at the camp as most are out on missions, so it is likely that there are less than 10 individuals at or around Parlay House.

Stupid says that most of Idafeatu's people are not of the giant folk, but that there are a few, no more than a handfull total and all ogres.

Both Hazel and Murphy know where yhe Parlay house should be located and Murphy remembers a bit of the history behind it.

You are pretty sure that it is about 2.5 - 3 days journey through the Red Hills from where you are now but would be totally across country. It might be a bit shorter if you stayed on the road and went as far as the Humbles Ford turn off and went southward on the old trail there, but you might risk running into folk that you know....

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP21/21; AC 14/14/11 
Monday March 17th, 2014 7:43:25 PM
Shel/Tess followed Alouryn and tried to talk to the troll about the hats, to no avail. "He's just never going to get it, Buttercup. Hats don't seem to be his thing."

After listening to him buck up about standing up to the ogre mages, she turned to the others. "Bombo, what do with him now? He's not going to go with us, and he's pretty close to civilization now. What if he expects the other towns to give him food the way you did? Is this going to be a disaster, or do you have a plan? Have we domesticated him too much, or is there a way to scare him off from our cities?"

Edric Lowbrook (Damian); HP: 12/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Monday March 17th, 2014 11:44:47 PM
"We could tell him never to come near people, but if he gets hungry he's not going to care. I don't have the heart to take any drastic actions though."

Hazel 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Corsario) 
Tuesday March 18th, 2014 12:37:11 AM
"Bob" plays along with "Bombo", follows him and accepts the peridot.
"I think you are a great leader. And I will follow you anywhere you lead. But I know about beasts and the wild, and wolves do not lay along lambs. Stupid is not a dog that we can train and keep as a pet. And I think he knows it too."
Hazel turns worriedly towards the group dealing with Stupid.

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) The care & feeding of your Troll (Kim McCoy)  d20+10=12 ; d3=2 ; d20+10=20 ; d20+10=14 ; d20+10=13 ; d20+10=12 ; d20+10=11 ; d20+10=23 ; d20+10=29 ; d20+10=18 ; d20+10=29 ;
Tuesday March 18th, 2014 6:23:55 AM

To Hazel on the way back. "Thank you, friend," Murphy responds. "Well, you may be right. But we can't leave him this close to our towns, can we?" He thinks. "Food is what he needs. He bashes what he needs with his club. There are lots of rabbits in the Red Hills, and other burrowing animals, some of which can quickly get out of the reach of his club. You and I know how to trap, set snares. What if we have him travel with us for a day, and we set snares along the way in likely places? We teach him to do likewise, if he will learn. Perhaps we can add to his food acquisition skills. But we also set a limit on how close to the Valley he can go.

"We tell him after a day or so of travel to head back the way he came, and find the animals caught in the snares. With his voracious appetite, if he's willing to learn, that could go a ways toward keeping him from starving. How in the Wold can I get him to work in an expanding grid pattern, and increase his scope, so he does not over harvest, within... Ah, here we are," Bombo says as they come again within easy earshot of Stupid and the other four halflings.

"So then, Stupid, you want us make safe for you go back home. But until safe, you stay away. Now, if you go to Crescent Valley, halflings attack you, because they not know you our friend.

"So, what do we do? I know, no hats. Tell me, how you get food now? Not trying to hit halflings, but what other way you get food? Use club, yes. Do you throw rocks at animals? Do you eat some plants? Do you place snares?" Without detailing all the questions Murphy will ask, he tries to get a decent overall view of his hunter/gatherer skills and techniques.

Bombo thanks Tess (Shel) and Buttercup (Alouryn) for trying to explain the hats of disguise. He tries to address the concerns expressed by his friends with a few quick phrases in the halfling tongue. "Yes, we need to keep him from the Valley, yet help allay his hunger for a longer time. What if we can have him go with us a little way - get him away from this spot - but figure out a way for him to eat, and maybe help us further?"

He then makes this proposal to Stupid. "It take three days to go to Parlay House. You no go back there now. But how does sound this? Walk with us a day. Along way, we find ways for you find food, stay full, not hurt our halfling people of the Valley. I give you some power food to help, but only have little. My friend Bob, he know good ways find food out here. So, we travel together one day, sleep one night, a little morning together, then you stop. We small ones go to Parlay House two days more, but you go back some way that we came. And some food will be waiting back the way we came."

To help him understand the concept, Bombo sketches the map from this place over to the Parlay House. He uses pebbles for the halflings, and a small rock for Stupid as markers. "We all go this far," and the pebbles and the rock go about one-third the way toward Parlay. "We sleep." He puts the pebbles and rock in a circle. "We wake up." He says. "We have breakfast. We walk another few hours," and here the pebbles and rock move a little farther. "Then, you turn around and go back. You not get too close to Parlay House. We go on." And now the pebbles move forward, and the small rock representing Stupid traces their trail back a ways.

The route he sketches does not use the road south of Humble's Ford, but rather goes cross country. Things will likely be better for halflings and for troll if they stay off the roads for now.

"Later, when things are safe, I find way to tell you."

As they travel, Murphy & Hazel will stop occasionally where there are signs of game. They will set snares, and show Stupid how they do so. As they go along, they will try to teach him how to do likewise. If they can make any headway in doing so, they want him to learn one or two simple snares he can use. They try to teach him to set it one day, then check back within one or two days to see if his snare has caught any game.

[Several Survival rolls for setting snares. Ignore d3 - fat fingered. Rolls: 12, 20, 14, 13, 12, 11 (nat 1), 23, 29, 18, 29. Doing better in the latter half of the day. Hope Hazel does better]

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Vaughn) 
Tuesday March 18th, 2014 9:50:33 PM
Buttercup doesn't have any ideas, she's never dealt with a troll before, but she suggests getting to Idefeatu quickly is important right now.

DM Kent  d100=62 ;
Tuesday March 18th, 2014 10:55:49 PM
Almost as soon as you step off the road to and cross into the Red Hills the terrain changes. The soil truly takes on a reddish hue and the plant life begins to get more scrub like. Within thirty minutes it seems like the temperature has risen about ten degrees and the air is lifeless and still.

Stupid goes along with you for a bit but is extremely reluctant to go anywhere quickly or southward within 2 days of the Parlay House. He does however tak fairly qickly to lmaking a couple of simple snares and is elated when one of them brings in a hare and then later in the day three more and a large lizard are caught.

By mid afternoon it is uncomfortably hot and sticky with not one breath of moving air to be felt. and not a sign of a fresh water source to be seen. Right now that's not an issue but it could become one if water is not found in the next day or so.

As you ride along Eral pulls along side Murphy. Umm Mu.. Bombo, I get the feeling thatwe are going to have an issue with our friend here, indicating Stupid. I know you may not like this idea but what if I were to stay with him and head eastward a bit with him and continue to show him how to live off the land and keep an eye on him while the rest of you continue on to The Parlay House. Once I get him far enough away I can swing back round and come back and find you.

(OOC All Adam is finding that Graduate school is making his ability to post consistantly a major issue and has deided he needs to take a break from the Game. He hopes to come back when things settle down.)
Late afternoon you actually come across the remains of what was fairly recently a wagon or two.

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) The care & feeding of your Troll (Kim McCoy)  d20+10=23 ; d20+13=14 ; d20+10=26 ; d20+13=26 ; d20+10=16 ; d20+13=28 ; d20+10=30 ; d20+13=15 ; d20+13=24 ;
Wednesday March 19th, 2014 5:26:35 AM

Murphy/Bombo helps keep some supply of water flowing by occasional castings of create water, producing six gallons per casting (I think he can do four per day, but he just does three). As the ponies will need a fair supply, he ensures they get about 2/3rds of what he produces. Like as not Alouryn and Eral can likewise produce water. If some unfresh water is found (stale, full of minerals, salty, etc.), he can cast purify food and drink, purifying up to three cubit feet (about 24 gallons) of water by this spell.

He is pleased that Stupid seems to be getting the idea behind the snares.

When Eral makes his suggestion to remain with the troll - training and watching over him, Murphy is taken back by the notion. "We... you mean...?" It takes him a moment to digest what Eral (Loren) is offering. "Did you decide that by consulting with your new ring, or did you... well, I am surprised. Though I know we could use your help at the Parlay House, and before and after as well - your staying with our tall companion and helping him to change his mindset - mindsets? - on some things might prove very helpful. Tell him stories of Domi, won't you? How would it be to have the Wold's first trollish follower of Domi? Though that may be wishful thinking on my part."

He gives the cleric of Domi seven sticks of the all-day stomach filling/nutrition giving Red Hills jerky. "If pickin's get slim and Stupid gets peckish, give him one of these. Eat some yourself if the need arises."

As Hazel spends a few minutes showing Stupid the proper angle to notch a fall stick on a trip trap, Murphy runs Eral's idea by his other companions, asking for their thoughts on the cleric's proposal. "I agree with you, Buttercup, that getting to the Parlay House sooner rather than later might be good. What our brave friend proposes would allow us, possibly, to speed on our way a little faster."

A little bit later he also takes Hazel aside, lets him know what Eral proposed, and seeing if he had any comments or questions on the matter. Once he has heard from them, as the sun draws near the horizon, 'Bombo' speaks up.

"All right, then. Stupid, what do you think of this? In the morning, we will say goodbye." Though earlier he had matched his syntax and grammar to match that of the troll, now he speaks in a more fluent style, but still strives to keep it simple.

"You do not want to get too close to Parlay House. We understand. Loren here says he can stay with you. You and he can be hunting partners. He knows some tricks for finding food, for finding drink. You guard each other, help each other. When the time is right, and it be safe for you, then we let you know. Until then, You and Loren help each other. He will teach you things. You will teach him things. You do not trick him. He does not trick you. Maybe you teach him giant language. What do you think? We find place to sleep near here. In morning we make breakfast. We sing a song. We make prayers. Then we part. You and Loren hunt together. I and my other friends we go to Parlay House.

"Tell us if this is good in your ears." If he does not understand, Murphy will break it down into smaller pieces until the troll seems to grasp it. He wants an assurance from the troll that he will treat Loren well, and listen to him. "Maybe sometimes you can carry him on your shoulder."

Wagon(s)
Any parts that Murphy would recognize (as in - was this the Murphy's family cart that Bingo Greenbottle drove last time we saw him, or some other wagon(s)? Regardless, he gathers what information he can. If there are survivors, or bodies, he asks his companions to render aid, or to try to understand what happened. He knows that Hazel has a gift for puzzling out what might have happened.

If there was no opportunity to cast purify food and water today, he can use a mending spell to try to piece together a wagon to make it workable - depending upon how badly it was damaged.

[Survival / Perception roll pairings for ~3 hour segments, regarding finding sources of water and food as we travel the Red Hills: 23 / 14(nat 1); 26 / 26; 16 / 28; 30 (nat 20) / 15. Last perception roll of 24 was for lookin over the remains of 'a wagon or two.']

[Note to Andy Skomrock: May you do well in your studies. We look forward to your return when you are able. -Kim]

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Vaughn) 
Wednesday March 19th, 2014 10:38:27 AM
Buttercup realizes she can cast Create Water as often as necessary and prepares that spell as well today and for the coming days.

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 12/26; AC: 21/13/19  d20+3=22 ;
Wednesday March 19th, 2014 5:13:00 PM
"Looks like Stupid is getting the hang of the snares. Maybe we won't have to worry about him too much."

Coming across the wagons, Edric (Posco) decides to rummage through the wreckage, hoping to find some clues as to who the wagons belonged to and how they came to this fate. Or maybe just something valuable.

Perception: 19+3 = 22

OOC: Good luck with grad school Adam. Considering I'm in my last semester of grad school, I can sympathize.

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP21/21; AC 14/14/11 
Wednesday March 19th, 2014 7:16:11 PM
Shel/Tess was glad to be rid of Stupid. No matter how pleasant he seemed, he was going to be trouble if he got hungry again. She hated to see Eral stay behind, but that might be for the best, if he could continue to teach the troll how to fend for himself, without trying to eat any of the halfling outposts.

That pleasant thought of the troll setting his own snares, was quickly driven from her mind, however, when the oppressive heat set in. "This is miserable. I didn't know it was possible to be this hot! Keep creating that water, guys, I think I'll have to drink my body weight to stay hydrated!"

DM Kent 
Wednesday March 19th, 2014 11:00:35 PM
Stupid agrees to go with Eral particularly when he understands that he will be going away from The Parlay House.

The inspection o the wreckage turns up that the wagons were from The Trader's Corner General Mercantile. There are no sings of any bodies or corpses, though there are a few splotches that look suspiciously like blood stains. The general thought is that this wreckage is several months old. There is the broken blade of a very ugly looking Dwarven Urgrosh and an an entire head of an Orcish double ax sticking out from under some of the wood.

The evening comes it doesn't seem to cool off at all and if at all possible the air becomes even more still.
Camp is made watches are set and the night passes uncomfortably but without incident. The next day also passes without incident though much water is created and shared out to the ponies and each other.

Late afternoon cmes and along with it is a large promising looking storm cloud that might actually cool things down a bit. And soon there is lightening and thunder and rain pouring down from above, though very little of the rain seems to be actually making it any closer than 100 feet to the ground as the air just seems to be evaporating it nearly as fast as it falls. After about thiry minutes the faux rain storm ends leaving it possibly stickier and more uncomfortable than before. To the best of you figuring you are now perhaps just under a day's journey to the Parlay house as you approach the evening hours.

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) Comments & Observations (Kim McCoy)  d20+3=14 ;
Thursday March 20th, 2014 1:47:50 AM

"That's where you can get some of the best beer in the Wold," comments Murphy. "Trader's Corner. A half orc named Brock makes it." He looks over the wreckage. Two wagons, four axles. He checks to see if any of the axles are intact. If so, he takes several minutes to fashion / mend a small flatbed cart, in case we need to carry more cargo, or people. If successful, he removes the burden from the pack pony, ties it onto the cart, and harnesses the pony to the cart. "I always liked driving carts."

Murphy gathers the things weapon bits, and casts detect magic on them. "That urgrosh you found, there, Edric. I mean, Posco. Dwarfs, now. We've already seen orcs," he comments on the weapon types.

On those occasions where they stop for food, and also after they set up evening camp, the druid jots down notes about the day, quick sketches, observations, speculations. He is particularly fascinated with the falling rain being transformed into atmospheric humidity. He occasionally pulls his clothing away from his skin as it sticks closely due to perspiration.

[Used engineering, 14, plus mending spell(s) to make out of the remnants of the wagons a cart.]

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Vaughn) 
Thursday March 20th, 2014 9:15:21 AM
Buttercup stays close to Bob now that he is not irritated by the troll.
[b]"I'm glad you and Bombo are here to help us set up camps and navigate. I really don't have a clue about adventuring outside of Humble's Ford. This is what I wanted though, just not under these circumstances. Once we clear our names I hope we can find some elves, I've always wanted to meet the elves. I just love their wine. I miss the Dancing Pig, I haven't had a reason to dance in so long. Maybe in the morning I'll look for some flowers to put in my hair, do you know what kinds of flowers grow around here?"[b]

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP21/21; AC 14/14/11 
Thursday March 20th, 2014 3:15:56 PM
Shel/Tess was specially happy for the refreshing rain to come pouring down on the group. When it didn't, she stood looking upward, confused at first as to why her hair wasn't getting wet. "Well, isn't that the darndest thing? It's so hot that it won't even rain here. That's a sign, I think. We need to be quick with our mission and get back to the Ford. This place is not meant for such as us."

She was so uncomfortble with the weather, she didn't even enjoy playing with her moon themed necklace or reading about it, either. For the lack of a better term, she sat and did nothing, but wish for real rain.

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) Comments & Observations (Kim McCoy) 
Thursday March 20th, 2014 4:36:07 PM

During one of his water creation moments, Bombo fills (among other containers) his 20 ounce Teucri ceramic cup with water. He comes up behind Shel/Tess, and pours a small steady stream down over her head and shoulders until the cup is empty.

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 12/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Thursday March 20th, 2014 10:24:19 PM
[b]"Looks like rain is here,"[b] Edric laughs

DM Kent  d100=82 ;
Thursday March 20th, 2014 11:08:07 PM
The night passes quickly and without incident and the morning comes quickly. At this point you are pretty sure that you are between 3 and 5 hours of travel time to the Parlay house. You are definitely within the perceived boundaries of Idafeatu's holdings. The day starts out quite hot and it seems like it is going to be the hottest of the three days of your traveling. Murphy's cart, whuile useable is pretty wobbly and not very fast as the wheels were in pretty sad shape and the axles are a mixed bag and miss matched. Ahead in the distance you see several, what look to be buzzards circling over something.

please make a perception roll DC 16

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) Comments & Observations (Kim McCoy)  d20+13=19 ;
Friday March 21st, 2014 5:19:23 AM

At suitable moments during the journey, Murphy will tweak and further mend the sloppy custom cart to strengthen it and to try to cut down on its wobbliness.

Murphy starts doing what he should have before now. If their story about gathering herbs is going to stand up, he needs to get some. So, as they ride along, he will harvest different desert plants - taking a few where there are many, taking one or two where there are few.

As the party spots the circling buzzards, Murphy strains to look ahead - as well as to scan the horizon in a full circle to see if there are any other creatures or points of interest. "Shall we see what draws the carrion eaters?"

[Perception: 19]

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) Comments & Observations (Kim McCoy)  d20+7=19 ; d20+10=21 ;
Friday March 21st, 2014 5:32:58 AM
Bob gives Buttercup's hand a squeeze for her kind words. "There are some elves just outside of Angel Springs, I think - druids, maybe?" He scratches his head. "The circumstances are hot and sticky at the moment. I prefer fresher air, myself. But I suppose adventuring people get used to doing things that are not so comfortable." He thinks about Stupid. "Yeah, I am a little more comfortable now that the troll is not with us. Did not trust him too far. And I hope that Eral gets on with him."

"I will look for flowers for you, Alour, er, Buttercup." If he finds a suitable flower, he carefully cuts the stem, then places it in her hair. Ah, to touch her hair. He perhaps takes a little longer than is absolutely necessary to have it just right.

When he spots the buzzards, Bob says, "Weapons ready, friends. Especially missiles and such."

Survival: 19
Perception: 21

Hazel (Bob) 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Kim for Corsario) 
Friday March 21st, 2014 5:33:51 AM
Bob gives Buttercup's hand a squeeze for her kind words. "There are some elves just outside of Angel Springs, I think - druids, maybe?" He scratches his head. "The circumstances are hot and sticky at the moment. I prefer fresher air, myself. But I suppose adventuring people get used to doing things that are not so comfortable." He thinks about Stupid. "Yeah, I am a little more comfortable now that the troll is not with us. Did not trust him too far. And I hope that Eral gets on with him."

"I will look for flowers for you, Alour, er, Buttercup." If he finds a suitable flower, he carefully cuts the stem, then places it in her hair. Ah, to touch her hair. He perhaps takes a little longer than is absolutely necessary to have it just right.

When he spots the buzzards, Bob says, "Weapons ready, friends. Especially missiles and such."

Survival: 19
Perception: 21

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Vaughn)  d20+5=9 ;
Friday March 21st, 2014 12:07:12 PM
"Thank you so much Bob, it is a lovely flower!"

Buttercup has the words of a bless spell ready in her mind as they travel into dangerous unknown territories.

(Perception 9)

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP21/21; AC 14/14/11  d20+3=11 ;
Friday March 21st, 2014 6:36:59 PM
Not much in the world matter to Shel/Tess more than that pour of water that Murphy so delightfully poured on the little sorcerer. "Ahhhhh, that hits just the spot. Thanks, Bombo. I just might survive the rest of the day if you do that a couple more times."

As the group continues their march, Shel sees the buzzards but not much else. "What do you see up there, Bob? Anything specific we need to know about?"

Assuming something troublesome is ahead, Shel will use her first spell of the day and cast Protection from Evil on Hazel/Bob.

[ooc]Perception roll 11. [/ooc]

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 12/26; AC: 21/13/19  d20+3=15 ;
Friday March 21st, 2014 8:12:59 PM
Edric is getting slightly nauseous from the bumpy ride. At Murphy's suggestion, he readies his axe.

"Probably just a dead animal, but better to be ready for anything."

perception: 12+3=15

DM Kent 
Saturday March 22nd, 2014 8:51:02 AM
Shel is thankful for a batch of water poured down his back, Alouryn is tankful for the flower.
Murphy tinkers with the cart and makes it only a little betterand then starts looking for suitable herbs. Hazel talks about elves.
And Edric is getting a bit nauseous.

Murphy's and Hazel's sharp eyes note three things.

* One the circling doesn't seem random. It almost seems like the buzzards are working a search pattern kind of like when you look for signs or tracks when you are hunting something.

* The second thing you notice is that not all the buzzards seem actually to be buzzards. Several of the birds up there are not behaving in fllight the way buzzards soar. With a couple of them there seems to be a lot more wing flapping than would be expected. What could it mean?

* Also seen is a brief puff/line/billow of what might have been smoke or maybe it was just a bit of a low hanging cloud lasting but for a few seconds coming from an area to the right of the circling buzzards and perhaps. Or perhaps it was your imagination, or a heat wave; the heat is almost oppressive after all.



Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP21/21; AC 14/14/11 
Sunday March 23rd, 2014 7:12:18 PM
When the fellas tell Shel what they see, she immediately worries. "Lots of scary flying creatures? Do we really want to investigate? If there is smoke that could mean those birds are breathing fire like a dragon! We are just a few halflings, I'm not sure we need to get involved with all that, you know."

Hazel (Bob) 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Kim for Corsario) 
Sunday March 23rd, 2014 8:03:23 PM

"We can see them, Tass. They already can see us, I'd guess," observes Bob. "Not that they are looking for us. But they are looking for someone. And they are between us and our destination. So, like I said, prepare your weapons." Bob starts picking up suitably-sized rocks and placing them in a pouch. Not quite as good as sling bullets, but it is good to have some extras ammunition.

"If we go into a fight, try to stay within about thirty feet or less of Buttercup," the ranger recommends.

He asks, "Anybody have an idea what sort of creature some of those birds that look like buzzards, but don't act like buzzards, might be?"

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) Buzzards Ahead (Kim McCoy)  d20+13=15 ;
Monday March 24th, 2014 4:05:39 AM

Earlier, Murphy obliged Shel, and anyone else who requested it, with some refreshing sprinkling of water from time to time.

Now Bombo turns the pony so that the makeshift cart aims toward where he noted the puff of smoke. "Perhaps there is someone out there who needs a rescue. Did you notice that puff of smoke ahead? As for the buzzards - you are right, I think, Bob. Maybe they are druids, or other shapeshifters. My Aunt Nilli can do that, and taught me some things that she said I might be able to do when the time is right. Whatever they are, we will have more than birds to deal with."

He thinks back to Hinn Billy, and realizes that about now, he would appreciate some inspiring music. So long as he did not mention Mulberry.

Bombo places his nice sling-staff next to him on the bench, and ties a pouch with acorns in it to his waist, the nect of the pouch loosened for easy access to the large, hard oak seeds.

[Perception: 15]

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Vaughn) 
Monday March 24th, 2014 7:45:56 AM
Buttercup keeps her bless spell ready, she is not familiar with these kinds of birds, but she's pretty sure they mean trouble. And as they taught her in the Centre for Enlightenment: Where there's smoke there's fire!

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 12/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Monday March 24th, 2014 10:22:41 PM
"Everyone be ready with some missile weapons. Those things don't look like buzzards." Edric gets his sling into his hand and gets bullets ready.

DM Kent 
Monday March 24th, 2014 10:49:32 PM
Our intrepid halflings head more soputhwest heading toward whatever the buzzards are circling /searching over and within about 20 minutes they see signs of what might have been a small two wheeled vehicle of some sort as it is burnt to a crisp and still smouldering a bit. There seems to havebeen sme sort of altercation here as well a there are a few broken barbed arrows a discarded and bloodied dagger and several sets of foot prints. survival DC 16 for tracking identifying purposes on any of the tracks

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP21/21; AC 14/14/11 
Monday March 24th, 2014 11:00:53 PM
Shel/Tess takes her usual tact, and casts Detect Magic on the scene. She advises the others if she were to find any magical auras. As she does so, she looks up to be sure none of those strange flying creatures were still stalking the scene or the group, since the space had been invaded.

"Looks like an awful fight," the little sorcerer says as she surveys the scene. "Can anyone else make out anything more here?"

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) Buzzards Overhead (Kim McCoy)  d20+10=23 ; d20+13=29 ;
Tuesday March 25th, 2014 1:57:36 AM

"Looks like whoever was here headed," and just before he indicates the direction, he considers the overseers." He gathers his fine companions about and says, quietly, "I think we can follow their tracks. But let's pretend we just want to get what loot we can, then we'll head off in the direction they went just as though that's the way we were going anyhow. But first, check out the site, see what else we can discern. Good job on the the checking what might be enchanted, Tess."

At first staying away from where cart tracks, and others' tracks are, Murphy examines the scene. Did they have horses, ponies? What size feet? Can he tell whether they are human, dwarf, elf, halfling, goblin, ogre, etc.? How about scorch marks, burning patterns? Any other items, debris, music boxes?

Survival: 23
Perception: 29

Hazel (Bob) 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Kim for Corsario)  d20+7=18 ; d20+10=17 ;
Tuesday March 25th, 2014 3:35:59 AM

About to point them out to the others, Bob refrains from indicating the direction the tracks headed away from the wreck.

"So, Bombo, you want to make a charcoal cart?" he jests to his friend. Then, for a moment, he feels a tug of sorrow that his dog, Faoil, is not with them.

"We are now just five of us, and we started out ten, if you include my dog. Do we have the, the... I don't know what - can we deal with whatever gets thrown at us?" He looks up at the buzzards, checking to see if they have altered their flight patterns any over the past 20 minutes, and especially now that they are arrived at the wreckage.

"Hey! Buzzard! What are you looking for?" he shouts up into the air - not really expecting a reply.

Survival: 18
Perception: 17

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) Charcoal retrieval (Kim McCoy) 
Tuesday March 25th, 2014 3:42:29 AM

As long as it is there, and since there may be use for it, Bombo begins to gather burnt sticks and charcoal to toss up upon his cart. If there are nails to be had from the joints, he harvests those as well, and any weapon bits lying about - first letting Shel/Tess do her thing to discern magic upon them, and the barbed arrows.

He creates some more water, sprinkles who wishes to be sprinkled, giving water to the ponies as well.

"As soon as we're done here, let's go onward." Unless there is an objection, he has his horse follow along the route taken by those who fled this spot.

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Vaughn) 
Tuesday March 25th, 2014 8:41:00 AM
Buttercup hates to see signs of any battle, but she is becoming more accustomed to it now. After Bombo collects his charcoal she will create water enough to stop the smoldering and see if this has any effect on the birds.

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP21/21; AC 14/14/11 
Tuesday March 25th, 2014 9:16:40 PM
"Bombo, a little of that water over here please. I've never been to a desert, but this is what it must feel like. I'll make sure that I never go after a couple days in this awful heat. I'd be afraid that charcoal and sticks you are gathering are going to burst into flames!"

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 12/26; AC: 21/13/19  d20=5 ; d20+3=14 ;
Tuesday March 25th, 2014 9:58:33 PM
"Looks like we missed out on a vicious fight."

Edric looks through the debris, but doesn't notice the tracks until pointed out by Murphy.

"Doesn't look like there's anything else we can do here. Maybe the tracks will lead to some clues."

Edric eyes the flying creatures warily.

survival: 5+6=11 (forgot the +6 in roller)
Perception: 11+3=14

DM Kent 
Tuesday March 25th, 2014 10:50:02 PM
There really isn't much left of the burnt hand cart and Murphy finds out that the ashes are still quite hot and smouldering and probably to hot to collect at this point.

The tracks when looked at more closely appear to be one set halfling sized and three larger manish sized.

Nothing shows of magic however there is a slight residual aura from what was probably a spell from the evocation school.

As you begin to follow the tracks a bit you soon hear a ruckus up ahead and come upon a mostly balde headed halfling with a braided strip of a pony tail moving rapidly toward you he is followed by three ugly well armed orcs.

(OOC; Welcome to the game Jon Paul)

Round 1 map

Map"]https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4J2oKls4_y5dkhDWDhMUFdDcWM/edit?usp=sharing

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Vaughn) 
Wednesday March 26th, 2014 8:44:01 AM
Alouryn/Buttercup immediately calls upon the love of Flower and casts Bless
(giving all allies within 30' +1 to all attacks and saves vs fear for 30 rounds)

ooc: Welcome Jon Paul!

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) Windy Wall (Kim McCoy) 
Wednesday March 26th, 2014 7:18:25 PM

Seeing the running halfling pursued by the three orcs, Murpy / Bombo casts a wind wall of fast-moving air to serve as a comeuppance to the big meanies who would chase someone of halfling stature. He places the winding wall to the halfling's back, and set to raise ogres' eyebrows when they plow into it in the next instant. Map with wind wall

In the common tongue, he yells, "Orcs, leave the halfling alone!" They probably will not be able to hear him over the roar of the wind. He steps five feet to A4.

Hazel (Bob) 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Kim for Corsario)  d20+6=7 ; d20+6=12 ;
Wednesday March 26th, 2014 8:14:36 PM

Bob sees the pursuit, and decides to launch a few rocks with his sling staff. The first one falls out of the missile pouch, the second one flies toward the orcs. Whether it would hit any of them is moot, as the small stone flies up into the air as it comes in contact with the wind wall. He moves to B1, readying another stone.

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) Wind Wall dimensions (Kim McCoy) 
Wednesday March 26th, 2014 8:19:44 PM

Spell area of effect clarification
The wind wall is 15 feet in height, 2 feet in width, and a winding 30 feet ribbon going from the top of G5 to the bottom of D8, a few feet in front of Orcs 2 and 3, about 8 feet in front of Orc 1, and about 3 feet behind the running halfling.

[Suggestion to fellow players - click on the links to the spell description and the map with wind wall in Murphy's prior post]

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 26/26; AC: 21/13/19  d100=60 ; d20+6=26 ; d3=1 ;
Wednesday March 26th, 2014 10:00:14 PM
"Ho, friend, we're coming for you." Edric shouts to the escaping halfling.

Edric moves to C4 and sends a sling stone through the wind towards O2.

d100 for passing thru window all: 60 = passed
Attack: 20+6=26 Nat 20
Damage: 1

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 26/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Wednesday March 26th, 2014 10:01:57 PM
Autocorrect turned "wind wall" into "window all"

Podo (Danderfluff Pipewood) (Jon Paul Ward); HP: 23/23 AC: 21  d20+11=12 ;
Thursday March 27th, 2014 12:26:47 AM
Podo continues to run towards E4 attempting to end his sprint as he spins around ready to parry with his quarterstaff if necessary.

d20+11=12 Acrobatics (I believe that's a Nat 1!)


Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 26/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Thursday March 27th, 2014 4:26:59 PM
OOC: Welcome to the game Jon!

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP21/21; AC 14/14/11 
Thursday March 27th, 2014 7:41:46 PM
Shel begins casting her Sleep spell, trying her best to catch two of the pursuers, if possible. If not,,she focuses on the furthest one from the group, still well within spell range.

OOC: DC 16 Will to resist. Welcome, JP! Glad to have you!

DM Kent  d20+4=18 ; d20+4=7 ;
Thursday March 27th, 2014 10:27:49 PM
Allouryn casts her bless spell in order to aid her friends.

Murphy casts a wind wall to help separate the orcs from their prey.

Hazel tries his luck with his sling but misses.

Edric also sends a sling stone flying and manages to connect with Orc 2

Shel casts his sleep spell and nods with satisfaction as the rear orc falls to the ground.

Podo continuing to flee sees possible salvation pop up right in front of him in the form or five other halflings. He is doing ok until he decides to come to a stop spin around and get ready to face the orcs and he trips and falls flat on his face.

***********

Orc 1 falls to the ground asleep.

Orc 2 gets hit by a sling bullet, is buffeted by the wind, and sees the approaching party of halflings.

Orc 3 seeing his companion felled and faced by now superior numbers yells something to Orc 2 and they both turn tail and flee leaving their sleeping buddy behind.

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) Wind Wall dimensions (Kim McCoy)  d20=18 ; d20+13=29 ;
Friday March 28th, 2014 3:09:10 AM

"COUSIN!" yells Murphy. He runs up to the halfling on the ground and extends his hand to help him up. Once he rises, Murphy gives him a friendly slap on the back.

"Hey, everyone, some of you may know Podo, here. He's my cousin - son of one of my father's brothers. AND - he used to adventure with my sister Selithe, and brother Kendry, and Dwight Twiggebundler, and, well, a bunch of other halflings." About to tell Podo everyone's name, it occurs to him that there is still an orc nearby. He walks over. If the orc has a weapon, he pulls it away and tosses it in the direction the fleeing orcs are running [rolled an unadjusted 18 - not trying to hit anything, just don't want him waking up and trying to hit any of us.

"How did you meet these fellas, Podo?" he asks, keeping his eye on the slumbering one.

Perception: 29 - Just because Murphy / Bombo likes to be perceptive

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) Hi, Podo! (& wind wall expiration) (Kim McCoy) 
Friday March 28th, 2014 3:15:24 AM

[Note: I figure by the time he helps Podo up, talks a bit about him, his 3 round wind wall will have dissipated - and if not, he would walk around it, rather than through it, to get to the orc.]

Hazel (Bob) 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Kim for Corsario) 
Friday March 28th, 2014 5:57:57 AM

Hazel comes forward - wanting to give Podo a proper greeting, but also alarmed at the orc - whether alive or not - might be a threat to the party. "Hello, Podo. Call me Bob. Just a moment." He gets up next to the orc. He lifts his sling staff over his head, set to strike downward. "So, do we make sure he's dead, or let him go?" he asks the rest of the group.

"Hey, Podo - do you know these orcs?"

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Vaughn) 
Friday March 28th, 2014 7:41:32 AM
"Hello Podo, it's good to see another Halfling out here, but not under such circumstances. I am a healer - are you hurt?"

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP21/21; AC 14/14/11 
Friday March 28th, 2014 2:15:58 PM
"Hey there, Podo. I'm Shel. Nice to meet'cha! What are you doing out here with those nasty things in this heat?"

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 26/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Friday March 28th, 2014 4:55:02 PM
"Any friend of Murphys is a friend of ours. Well met, Podo. I'm Edric, but if we're in public call me Posco for now."

Podo (Danderfluff Pipewood) (Jon Paul Ward); HP: 23/23 AC: 21 
Saturday March 29th, 2014 12:07:46 AM
Hello Friends of cousin Murphy! Well met! As for these Orcs, motioning over his shoulder, not sure how I met them! I do recall I was headed back to the 'Ford for a little family reunion, when I stumbled upon these critters...been running since!

As for how I am, Lady Buttercup, only my pride when I fell on my face!

DM Kent 
Saturday March 29th, 2014 12:51:21 PM
The remaining orc is asleep and Hazel has his staff raised to finish him off and is awaiting his companion's thoughts on the issue.

The other two orcs are fleeing back to ... well where ever it was they came from.

Wind wall dies down.

Family members are reunited and introduced.

Podo picks himself up and brushes himself off and looks over his cousin's friends.

He lets them know that he was on his way to HF for a family get together and had a cart full of baked goods, breads and pies etc., for the occasion, but it seems the orcs didn't appreciate them and torched the whole lot, cart and all, and then they set after him.

Hazel (Bob) 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Kim for Corsario)  d20+6=16 ; d20+6=22 ; d4+3=6 ; d4+3=7 ; d20+6=7 ; d20+6=12 ; d2+2=3 ;
Saturday March 29th, 2014 2:16:29 PM

Hazel takes a length of rope and ties the slumbering orc's ankles together so there is one foot of slack rope between the left and right ankle - allowing for a short shuffle, or hopping, but not swift running. He then takes aim, intending to give him a swift kick in the kidneys, but instead he slips on the granular surface and lands on his back (nat 1). Standing up and rubbing his own kidneys, he plants his feet more firmly, and delivers the kick (AC 12, plus 4 to 16 for the orc being prone and helpless, nonlethal damage of 3), then jumps out of the way.

As the orc wakes up, he tells the orc in the common tongue, "Destroying tasty pies uneaten is almost a capital offense among halflings. Go - find your friends, and never bother halflings again. We could have killed you. Remember this mercy. You have three minutes to get out of range of my sling. After that, I will rain stones on you if you have not left."

Just in case the orc does not understand, Hazel places a stone in his sling staff, and begins circling the staff overhead. His left hand points the direction the other orcs fled. Wherever the orc is at the end of three minutes, the ranger sends some stones in his direction. Once at least one stone has hit him, so long as the orc is continuing to run away, he will aim to have the additional stones fall near him, but not strike him. [DM Kent, you'll need to make adjustments for range depending upon how far away the orc is at the end of three minutes. Hit AC 16 for 6 hp; hit AC 22 for 7 hp]

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP21/21; AC 14/14/11 
Saturday March 29th, 2014 6:08:51 PM
Shel/Tess watches Hazel/Bob take careful care preparing the Orc. Despite herself, she couldn't help but giggle uproariously at his misstep and fall. "Watch that first step, Bob! It's a doozy," she whispers as he gets up, rubbing his ...pride.

She stays away, however as he tries to encourage the Orc to leave them be.

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Vaughn) 
Sunday March 30th, 2014 1:25:35 PM
Buttercup will encourage Bob to use Flower's blessing well while slinging stones at the fleeing Orc. She doesn't like violence but scaring away an Orc that was scaring away a halfling seems proper.

Hazel (Bob) 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Kim for Corsario) 
Sunday March 30th, 2014 5:10:10 PM
Blessing addendum:
So, that would be AC 17 on the kick, AC 17 (minus range adjustments, if any), and AC 23 (minus range adjustments, if any). Also, if the 1st rock hits, Hazel will deliberately aim just a little bit to one side on the 2nd.

"Right, Buttercup. I'm not trying to kill him - just to get him to leave us alone."

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) Invitation (Kim McCoy)  d20+5=17 ; d20+5=19 ;
Monday March 31st, 2014 3:09:49 AM

Murphy / Bombo adds a menancing stance to persuade the orc to flee. An acorn goes into his sling staff, and he beging to swing it overhead as well. "Leave us, orc."

Assuming the orc skedaddles as well as he can in his hobbled state, Bombo will cause a few acorn missiles to fly to one side or the other of the orc as soon as Bob's time limit is reached. [to hit AC 17; 19 - but aiming off to the side in both cases - and marking where the acorns land, that he might have a chance of recovering the missiles]

Once the orc is dealt with, he turns to his cousin. "Well, now, Podo, perhaps we should fill you in on what we're up to. And if you would like to join a group of putative outlaws such as us, and play what part we may in protecting Crescent Valley, then - unless my friends here have an objection - then we would welcome your company and help."

He lays out in short form the gist of what the group has gone through, and our current aim to visit the Parlay House - unless some other better-seeming idea occurs to us in the meantime.

He then asks, "Any idea how long those apparent buzzards have been flying their remarkably well-organized search pattern?"

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 26/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Monday March 31st, 2014 5:11:15 PM
Edric laughs as he watches the poor orc get chased away.

"He'll be fine. He should count himself lucky."

Edric turns to Podo."We'd be happy to have another come along, if you think you're up to it."

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP21/21; AC 14/14/11 
Monday March 31st, 2014 7:24:34 PM
"Podo, I don't know why you'd risk your neck to help us, but you are more than welcome to join the posse. We are going to fight what I assume are some big'uns, so we could definitely use another sling. But it's going to be scary."

DM Kent  d20+6=9
Monday March 31st, 2014 10:20:30 PM
The orc hobbles himself away with the aid of a few sling stones and acorns sent along after him.

Podo is informed of their doings.

The group looks around and is fairly sure that the way they want to head is of to their left a bit and perhaps less than an hour away.

After a brief break and a drink you are on your way and heading toward where you believe the Parlay house is located. Wilderness survival DC 14 for a clearer knowledge of the direction.

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) Invitation (Kim McCoy)  d20+10=20 ; d3=1 ; d3=1 ; d20+13=21 ;
Monday March 31st, 2014 11:06:26 PM

After he slings the acorns, the druid walks over to where he saw the two acorns he cast land. [I figured 2/3 chance for him to find each one - rolled well enough to find both - a 3 would have failed.]

"By the way, Podo," Murphy explains, "due to the specious charges against us, we are traveling with slightly different names on this journey. Since my middle name is Bumblebee, I'm going by 'Bombo.' Hazel, as he told you, goes by Bob - which is not really too incognito, since that is his real name. Shel is Tess. Alouryn is Buttercup. Edric, as he let you know, is Posco. You can stick with Podo, unless you want to join in the fun of renaming yourself."

As more water is produced by those who can do so, the ponies watered, people's thirst slaked, Shel (& others) cooled off again, Bombo cools off one of the smouldering lengths of charcoal left from Podo's food cart. Once it stops smoking and steaming, he lifts it supported by the flat of the blades from a couple of daggers, and places it on the cart. He then pours a bit more water on it, to ensure it is safe to take along.

"I think we need to head off thataway," Bombo says, pointing a bit to the left, and recalling what he might from the map of the Red Hills he poured over a couple of years ago.

[Survival: 20; Perception: 21 - how are the buzzards doing? Do any seem to be taking note of us, or are they flying away? - and, if so, in what direction(s)?]

Podo (Danderfluff Pipewood) Acceptance of Invitation (Jon Paul Ward); HP: 23/23 AC: 21 
Tuesday April 1st, 2014 8:51:00 AM
"Thank you, Cousin Murphy for the invitation. After the episode with those Orcs, my appetite for adventure has been wetted. I accept your invitation! Thanks again!" replies Podo to his cousin.

Podo settles into his new traveling troop off to offer a hand at whatever my come their way.



Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Vaughn) 
Tuesday April 1st, 2014 5:01:46 PM
[b]"Bob, I'm glad you didn't kill that Orc. I don't like Orcs at all, but I like violence less. I think there will be plenty of violence for us all soon enough. [b]

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP21/21; AC 14/14/11 
Tuesday April 1st, 2014 6:03:28 PM
Shel/Tess again flopped down as the group discussed Podo's plans. "It's soooo hot! At least in the Ford, we could go swimming when it got hot. This is just terrible. You have any more of that water, Bombo?!"

Hazel (Bob) 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Kim for Corsario)  d20+7=20 ; d20+10=25 ;
Tuesday April 1st, 2014 9:25:48 PM

"Well, I didn't see a need to kill him, I suppose, my Buttercup. And, seeing how Bombo turned that troll into an ally of sorts - I still refuse to think of him as a friend - maybe showing mercy to an orc may bring us a small bit of luck in time," Bob shrugs.

"And, besides, my foot of doom failed," he says, jokingly feigning misery, remembering his first attempt to kick the sleeper awake, as he lifts his right foot and gives it a disapproving stare.

The ranger concurs with the direction Bombo suggested.

"All right, kids, let's go!" he says to make sure everyone gets moving. "That includes you, Tessalina."

As they walk along, Bob explains to Podo some of the skills the group has and tactics they have been using. "I'm a ranger - I use my sling staff from a distance and up close. I have a dog, but he's back in Angel Springs, far as I know. My, um Buttercup is a devotee of Flower. A right good cleric, you know? She helps keep us alive by healing. If you keep within about 25 feet or so of her, you might find a lift from her direction if you got hurt some by an opponent. Edric, no - Posco - is a fighter with a good battleaxe and shield. And Tess the Hot is our sorceress. She's the one who put one of your orcs to snoozing, Podo." He nods toward Podo's cousin in the cart. "You already know Bombo, seeing as you're cousins and all. But in case you haven't kept up lately, he's a druid. He does these little lightning arc things, and summons some air creature that can kick up whirlwinds. If there are plants around, he might cause them to grow and tangle people up in them."

This being a fairly long speech for the ranger, he drinks deeply from his waterskin, then offers it to the newcomer. "All right, Mister Podo - what skills do you bring to the group? If we get in a tangle - and there might be biguns - giants - even an ogre mage that can do tricks - what kinds of things can you do to help out?"

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) Rainman (Kim McCoy) 
Tuesday April 1st, 2014 9:33:26 PM

"What, you want another shower, five minutes after I already gave you one?" Bombo asks Tess. "Get up on the cart, and you can fill my big cup with water from one of the full waterskins here - there are five full just under the canvas - and cool yourself off again, sissy."

DM Kent  d2=1 ; d2=2 ; d2=2 ; d2=2 ; d2=2 ; d2=1 ; 2d6=6 ;
Tuesday April 1st, 2014 10:28:37 PM


You all are just tooling along making good time in all the heat and discussing your individual talents and skills. perception dc20

If you make your perception roll Highlight to display spoiler: { you see something strange about the ground right in front of you. }

If you don't make your percetion roll Highlight to display spoiler: { you have discovered a pit trap in a very unfortunate manner. Reflex dc 20 to avoid falling in. Otherwise you fall and take 6 points damage.}

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 26/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Tuesday April 1st, 2014 11:51:00 PM
ooc: Sorry, I flaked today. I'll post shortly.

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) Foreground, and background (Kim McCoy)  d20+13=20 ; d20+6=24 ;
Wednesday April 2nd, 2014 12:18:17 AM

"Whoa everyone! - Stop, NOW!" Bombo calls out, reining in his pony. "Weapons ready - there's something under the sand there."

Perception: 20; Handle animal: 24

Backstep info
Earlier, along the way, Bombo said, "Oh, and, Podo - you might already know this. But the place we're going - The Parlay House, was built years ago to be a place to work out a peace treaty between our Crescent Valley and the hill giants of the Northern Red Hills. It was used for many years for this purpose between the various factions and races of the Red Hills. The last time it was going to be used was during a once-every-50-years meeting of the assorted Orc clans in the Red Hills to try and elect a unified clan chief. But, orcs being the peaceful and reasonable folks they are, a few issues came up among the groups and an all-out clan war broke out. In the process of these battles the Parlay House was put in bad shape - mostly ruins were left. Over the years, individual groups have used and rebuilt parts of the Parlay House. Now, we just learned, it is the base of operations of the ogre chieftain Idafeatu."

He opens his backpack, and pulls out a collection of papers. "Podo, these are some notes I've been taking. Feel free to read up."

[Jon-Paul - to get more detailed information, I'd recommend reading through the archives - most of the things there you can read in the journal that Murphy wrote - or, maybe you already have!]

Hazel (Bob) 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Kim for Corsario)  d20+10=22 ;
Wednesday April 2nd, 2014 12:54:45 AM

Bob notes something odd ahead. He whips the sling staff he has been using as a walking stick out in front of Buttercup to keep her from going forward more. "Watch it!" he says at about the same time as Bombo calls out.

Once he's sure she's safe, he says to the rest. "Let me check this out, friends."

He crouches down, and uses the sling staff to probe ahead, poking at the sand, ready to jump back or roll out of the way if something jumps out - or counterattack if necessary.

[Perception: 22]

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 26/26; AC: 21/13/19  d20+3=10 ;
Wednesday April 2nd, 2014 6:50:39 AM
"What's happening? I don't see anything.."

Edric draws his axe.

Perception: 10

Kent need your reflex save please......

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Vaughn)  d20+5=19 ; d20+5=20 ;
Wednesday April 2nd, 2014 6:56:17 AM
(Perception 19) (Reflex = 20)

Buttercup narrowly avoids falling in the pit trap thanks to Bob's warning.

"Whew thanks Bob that was close!"

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP21/21; AC 14/14/11  d20+3=12 ; d20+5=17 ;
Wednesday April 2nd, 2014 8:28:58 PM
OOC: away from my computer today, but I assume from prior posts I need a reflex save. Perception 12 Reflex 17.

"I don't see anything. What's going on here?" Typically unobservant as usual, Shel didn't see anything, and tried to keep from falling into the sand.

DM Kent  d20+9=14
Wednesday April 2nd, 2014 10:22:35 PM
riding along quietly and moving still toward the area where the "buzzards" are cicling, though wait are there one or two less? Perhaps they landed and are eating. who knows.

Suddenly the ground opens up beneath the feet of Shel, Alouryn, Podo and Edric just as Hazel and Murphy call out warnings.

Somehow Alouryn, and Podo manage to react in time to avoid a fall, but both Edric Reflex 14 and Shell find themselves nearly geting squashed by their ponies as they fall thirty feet to the bottom of the pit. Luckily there were no spikes at the botom or things could have been quite dire. As it is both Shel and Edric take 6 points damage from the fall.

And now the question begs how are they and their ponies going to get back out?

Podo (Danderfluff Pipewood) Acceptance of Invitation (Jon Paul Ward); HP: 23/23 AC: 21  d20=6 ; d20=14 ;
Thursday April 3rd, 2014 12:19:43 AM
{Perception: d20=6+8=14 | Reflex Save: d20=14+9=23 }

Although Podo doesn't catch on to what's afoot, he does manage to squeak by without falling in to the pit. "Whew! That was a close one!" "GUess we need to be more careful on this journey! "

Once clear of the pittrap, Podo will ready his Qstaff.

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Thursday April 3rd, 2014 10:06:29 AM
Unfortunately for Shel/Tess, she discovered teh pit trap the hard way, knocking the wind clean out of her. "Augh, that hurt," she yells, still lying on her back in the bottom of the pit.

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 20/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Thursday April 3rd, 2014 6:31:07 PM
With a wrong step, Edric realizes what the others were aware of, but too late. he can react, Edric and his pony are plummeting into a pit. He hits the bottom with a sharp pain. After recovering his wits, he checks Shel and then calls up to the light above him. "Anyone have a rope?

DM Kent 
Thursday April 3rd, 2014 10:36:02 PM
Podo, Alouryn, Murphy, and Hazel gather around the edge of the pit and look down on their friends as Edric calls out for someone with a rope. Shel aching from the fall is lying in the bottom of the pit. The two ponies are limping around in the bottom but for the most part don't seem to be permanently injured, though how you are going t get them out is certainly a puzzle.

The pits (there are a series of 8 of them in a staggered line) are 30-35 ft deep and roughly 15-20 ft in diameter.

ADM Kim to Kent 
Thursday April 3rd, 2014 11:24:56 PM
Important question: How deep and wide is the pit? We need dimensions.

ADM Kim to Kent 
Thursday April 3rd, 2014 11:31:08 PM
Oops - sorry - my bad - 30 feet deep - shoot - I'm usually more attentive, but missed your edit of the earlier post, Kent.

Never mind - carry on, all :-)

--Kim the momentarily obtuse

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) Pit Rescue Part 1 (Kim McCoy)  d20+13=15 ; d20+13=20 ; d20+3=23 ;
Friday April 4th, 2014 5:08:09 AM
"Shel!" Murphy calls out in alarm, totally forgetting the whole name switch notion in his panic at seeing her and her pony disappear from sight. He moves the pony just a bit farther from the edge of the pit - maybe 20' away, so it doesn't inadvertently go in, too.

After setting the brake on the wheels, he takes up his sling staff, then steps down and runs over to the pit. "Shel. Edric - are you all right?!" He hears Shel's wheezy reply. "Oh, my. Oh, my." And Edric asks for rope. "Rope? Yes. Yes, I have rope, Posco. Tess - just rest a minute. We'll get you out." He takes a quick look at the dimensions of the pit - width, length - circular or rectangular or some other shape? [Perception: 15]

Then he heads back to the cart, and takes up two coils of silk rope (50' each), two coils of hemp rope (50' each), and the 4'x5' tarp that covers the baggage resting in the cart. "Someone give me a hand over here," he calls out. In short order he has handed out two shovels, two picks, a sledge hammer, and a folded canvas. He himself bears a block and tackle.

Murphy surveys the scene with greater care [Perception: 20]. He measures with his eyes the width and length of the opening of the pit, and notes whether there is a slope to the sides, or if they are sheer and vertical. He observes whether the sides are just dirt, or if the diggers of this trap lined the walls with anything at all. Can we see the layers of soil? Is it rocky, or solid dirt? Do the walls look stable? How many square feet at the bottom.

"First, I want someone on watch. This could be a setup whereby, as we are busy rescuing our friends, someone comes along and ambushes us, trying to knock the rest of us down," he begins.

"Second - someone poke around the area around us - see if there are other nearby pits, or if we managed to find the only one.

"Third, we want our two friends here and their ponies pulled safely out of there. Tess and Posco should be easy - the ponies will take more work." He calls down. "Eh, Posco? Would you be willing to be the last one out? We'll need someone to help harness the ponies to get them out. We can get Shel - we can get Tess first."

Why is it so hard to keep using the new names? he thinks to himself.

"Well, I have 100 feet of silk rope available, and 100 feet of hemp rope, too. I have some shorter pieces of rope, too. Wish I had a second block and tackle, but I think we can make do with this one. I have to prepare the ropes."

The druid takes and end from each of the 50' silk ropes, unbinds and unwinds the thread which keeps the ends from fraying, then uses the mending cantrip to bond the two ropes to each other in a fairly seemless manner. For good measure, he uses the thread to strengthen the bond, and ensure it is as strong as the rest of the line.

Then he threads the silk rope through the block and tackle. Then he takes some of his shorter pieces of rope, then ties them to the four corners of the canvas, and then together as a means to fashion something that could go under the ponies' bellies. Canvas under the bellies, with some rope to fortify under there as well, and rope on top to attach one end of the silk rope to.

As he does so, he says to his companions, "If anyone has a better idea, or some suggestions on this one, I'm all ears. I could call an air elemental and have it whirlwind our friends out, but they'd get knocked around some in the process - and I don't think it could pick up the ponies as well. Or, we could invoke the create water spell until there's enough water in the pit to float them out, but they might drown by the time we had enough. We could use the picks and shovels and dig a stairway down to them. We could break up the wagon and make ladders.

"What other things could we try?"

Success at fashioning a workable lift system using the block and tackle rig - Knowledge, Engineering: 23 (nat 20)

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Vaughn) 
Friday April 4th, 2014 8:44:30 AM
Buttercup makes a silent prayer to Flower for inspiration on how to save these poor ponies.

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Friday April 4th, 2014 1:56:37 PM
"I don't care what you try Bombo! Just get us out of here! We can try to tie the ponies off, but I'm afraid being tugged up will really hurt them. Edrick, do you think you can truss them fairly well, so their weight is distributed and they will be okay? I'd be happy to try and help you, if you could give me some pointers."

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 20/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Friday April 4th, 2014 7:11:28 PM
I think I can truss these ponies. Never had to tie something like this." Edric takes the ropes and with Shels help manages to secure them as well as possible, in spite of the cramped working and poor lighting.

We've got it. Bring us up and we'll help you with the ponies."

Hazel (Bob) 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Kim for Corsario)  d20+5=10 ;
Saturday April 5th, 2014 2:28:00 AM
"Kosh-Marr, Bombo, but sometimes you over think things."

Bob takes his canvas, rolls it into a tube about 3-1/2 feel long, then ties the ends together in parallel. He runs some silk rope in a stout knot around that. The other end of the 50' silk rope he ties to the pommel of his pony's saddle. He lowers the rope with the canvas down to Tess. "Get your head and arms up through the canvas loop, Shel, so the canvas supports you around your back, and up and under your arms. Hold on to the knot at the front. My pony and I will slowly pull you up. Bombo, Podo, Buttercup - be there to help her up over the edge.

"Tess - try to lean back and sort of walk up the wall so you don't go scraping yourself against it. As soon as you're ready, say so, and I'll start the pony walking forward, and get you up and out."

Rather than riding the pony, he uses the lead rope to get him to walk forward. [Handle animal: 10]

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11  d20+1=13 ;
Saturday April 5th, 2014 6:50:35 AM
Shel takes the offered rope and truss contraption, and tries to use it as a brace, climbing up the side of the wall, while she was being pulled up.

OOC: Climb 13, not counting bonuses from the rig.

Podo (Danderfluff Pipewood) Acceptance of Invitation (Jon Paul Ward); HP: 23/23 AC: 21 
Saturday April 5th, 2014 8:04:06 PM
Podo follows his cousins lead and assists with the rescue of his new traveling companions from the terrible pit trap.

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) More Pony Power (Kim McCoy)  d20+3=4 ; d20+6=18 ; d20+3=4 ;
Sunday April 6th, 2014 2:01:50 AM

Bombo takes a moment to cheer on the raising of Shel, and to assist as he is able. Once she is up top, he gives her a hug. "Where did you get hurt, Tess?" he asks her.

After talking with her briefly, he gets back to work on setting things up to rescue the two ponies in the pit. He asks for a couple of friends to help him, then sets things up so that a team of four ponies can be harnessed to the wagon, two by two. Part of the wagon bed is cannibalized to make this possible. He decides a bit of practice would be good, so, without the rescue rope attached, Bombo has the ponies start out for a slow walk.

He finds he made a terrible mistake somewhere, as most of the back of the wagon drops off as the ponies begin to plod ahead, a few slats still dragging behind the bench. Perhaps he scavenged the wrong pieces. [Knowledge, engineering: 4 - nat 1]. "Ow! he calls out, and the ponies pick up their pace. Bombo is bounced up and down on the hard bench seat as it is pulled over the ground.

"Whoa, there, ponies, whoa!" he calls out as he pulls back on the jerry-rigged reins. [Handle animal: 18] The ponies comply. Bombo heaves a sigh.

"All right. I think they can do it," Bombo says. He gets out and leads the ponies back around to a place about ten feet from the pit, then gets the lead two ponies to walk away from the pit a bit. He stops them, then gives each a little feed. "Podo - can you hold the reins of the lead pony for a moment?" Once Podo has them, he carefully ties the pulling ropes to the back end of the harness set up.

Then, he tests how well he did it, pulling hard. He pulls, and falls backwards with a mess of rope in his face [knowledge, engineering: 4 nat 1, again]

Not wanting to spook the horses, he stifles a yell of frustration.

"Can someone help me put this contraption together the right way?" he asks, plaintively. "Does anyone have spikes or pitons?"

Summary: The block and tackle are absolutely fine (earlier engineering roll of 23 - nat 20). He needs help in making certain the ponies are pulling together, and that the ropes are firmly affixed.

He walks over to the side of the pit. "So, Edric, did you get that harnass I put together well fixed around your pony?" He lowers one end of the rig down to him, which has a sturdy hook. "Put the hook through the bunch of ropes at the top."

DM Kent 
Sunday April 6th, 2014 5:05:46 PM
While not vertical the sides of the pits are quite steep and somehow quite fixed with no sand sliding down from anywhere.

The bosun chair works well for the halflings and soon they are up and being treated for their wounds mostly scrapes cuts and abraions.

The ponies n the other hand are posing a more difficult puzzle, as Murphy is having some difficulty making his modified and hjury rigged cart work the way he would like it to.

Edrik has managed to rigg up some sort of rope sling support for aising the ponies in their climb but they are going to need help.

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Sunday April 6th, 2014 9:32:36 PM
Shel was happy to be out of that cursed pit. "Thanks everyone! That was awful. It'll teach me to pay more attention, I guess.". She peers down into the area, "Im not sure if we are going to be able to get those ponies out. They are just so darned heavy! We can't just leave them here. They'll thirst to death in no time."

Hazel (Bob) 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Kim for Corsario) 
Monday April 7th, 2014 12:43:58 AM
"Listen, Bombo," Bob says. "That is a nice block and tackle and all. But listen to this. We have between us, what, 250 feet of rope, plus other bits for another sixty or eighty - mostly used in the stuff you did for the harnesses.. Tie two fifty foot silk ropes and one hemp rope to the axle going one way. Take four twenty five foot sections of rope and tie it to the ponies' harness on their side and to the axle on the other side. The three long side ropes hook to the rope and canvas thing you made for carrying the pit ponies.

"Now, you asked if we have spikes. I have ten pitons - climbing spikes. Do you still need them?" Bob asks.

He gives Bombo a hand with all this, He cuts some of his canvas into small strips. He wraps some of the strips the canvas around the spots where the ropes will be tied, so as to cut down on the friction of the ropes against the axle. Then he ties short bits of rope snugly on either side of each of the seven ropes, to keep them separated.

So the ropes are arranged as follows, one side to the other:
1. 25' to pony team connection point (team)
2. 50' to pony lift connection point (lift)
3. 25' to team
4. 50' to lift
5. 25' to team
6. 50' to lift
7. 25' to team

"If you have a more complicated idea, say it. Otherwise, let's get these ponies out of the pit."

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) What he said (Kim McCoy)  d20+12=15 ; d20+6=23 ;
Monday April 7th, 2014 4:23:24 AM

Bombo listens to Bob's plan. "That... that is... yes." The druid works together on the rigging suggested by the ranger. [Survival: 15 [Maybe I should take 10 for a 22 - because he is going to be very careful to do things right and verify each rope is properly secured.]

Once the ropes are all tied in place, the longer ropes are about 45 feet from axle to the pony lift.

"Posco, stand next to the edge and ropes on the left. Bob, spot the ropes on the edge to the right. Shel and Alouryn, see if you can help calm the pony once it's gotten to the top.

"Podo, keep an eye on the wheels and axle - let me know if anything starts going crooked, and I'll stop the ponies from pulling."

So, once the ponies get moving, the wheeled axle should start moving slowing away from the pit (It starts about 15' or so from the edge).

"Ready all?" Bombo waits until everyone agrees we can go ahead (or at least does not object).

Then he talks gently to the ponies. "We're going to walk slowly, and get the other ponies out of that nasty pit." Of course they won't understand his words, but he wants them to listen to his voice, to have their attention. "All right, hup!" he says with a gentle tug on the lead reins. The ponies go at a good pace. [Handle animal: 23]

If the first pony gets up safely, then the adventurers repeat the process on the second pony - checking the ropes first to make sure they are still safe.

Once every creature is up top, Bombo, rejoices, then says, "I wonder if there are any secret openings down there."

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Vaughn) 
Monday April 7th, 2014 2:10:13 PM
Buttercup continuously gives both Bob and Bombo Guidance from Flower as they assemble their rigging.
(+1 to all skill checks)

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 20/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Monday April 7th, 2014 2:58:37 PM
After the heavy lifting is over, Edric sits down out of breath. "Never had to lift a pony before."

"We didn't see any opening down there. Of course, between the fall and trying to get the ponies out, we didn't do too much checking. Shall we lower someone down to thoroughly investigate?"

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Monday April 7th, 2014 7:43:57 PM
Shel moves over to try and assist Alouryn to calm down the skittish ponies. "It'll be okay, princess. Stay calm and we will get you right out of there." If one gets clear, Shel will walk it to a safe distance from the pit, and keep cooing to it.

Podo (Danderfluff Pipewood) (Jon Paul Ward); HP: 23/23 AC: 21 
Monday April 7th, 2014 9:20:19 PM
Podo continues to assit where he can feeling a bit overwhelmed that he doesn't yet know his way in this little group yet!

DM Kent  d2=2 ; d2=2 ;
Monday April 7th, 2014 11:25:06 PM

A good forty five minutes to an hour later the ponies are safely back up on the surface and miraculously neither on is even a bit lame, though both understandably are a bit leary about moving on with someone on their back.

Murphy wonders if their was any type of openings or such in the pit and is told that none were obvious but that noone was really looking for them at the time.

Podo helps with the ponies and such but is still a bit uncomfortable around his new companions.

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) Quick explore (Kim McCoy)  d20+13=22 ; d20+13=21 ; d20+13=14 ; d20+13=18 ; d20+13=16 ; d20+13=32 ; d20+13=28 ; d20+13=31 ;
Tuesday April 8th, 2014 12:28:45 AM

Murphy says, "I'm going to take a quick check down below. If anyone wants to help, come on down." He takes with him a pick and shovel.

He explores each quadrant of the pit - first the bottom in quarters, then along the wall as high as his shovel and pick will reach (maybe 5 or 6 feet max), looking along a quarter of it at a time. [Perception: 22, 21, 14 (nat 1), 18, 16, 32, 28, 31] If he finds something, he will let the others know - then get some help getting back up.

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) ... and discovery (Kim McCoy)  d20+6=23 ;
Tuesday April 8th, 2014 4:36:03 AM

Gang: Having spoken with Kent...

Murphy finds wrapped in oilcloth two items:
1. A thick and luxuriant fur hat. As a standard action that provokes an attack of opportunity, you can pull the hat tightly down on your head and rub your hands together. You gain resist energy 10 against cold for 10 minutes. This effect is identical to the resist energy spell (CL1st). After one use, the hat becomes mundane. If not used by March 23, 2015, it also becomes mundane - yet still a good hat.

2. A single, solitary gold coin... of frost giant mint. Roughly the size of a dinner plate, this coin was minted by a kingdom of frost giants living in the Ice Vein mountains of the Southern Continent. One side bears the noble profile of a famous jarl, while the reverse shows a muscled arm holding a warhammer. (10lb, 50gp)
Once hoisted back up, he says to Edric, "Since you two 'found' this pit - here, Posco - this hat is for you. You'll look great in it."

Then he takes the fair-sized coin, and says to Shel, "Tess, you can use this to eat off of, no?"

[Note: These items were picked up in the Loot 'n Booty.]

He disassembles the extra harnesses. He casts mending a few times. He ends up with a small rickety uncovered one pony shay with a wide wheel base. There is only room for a driver, perhaps one passenger, and a tight stack of bags. He wonders if it will last for the short distance they have to go. At least the pony seems all right pulling it. [Handle animal 23]

"Shall we make our way to the Parlay House? And who would like to look ahead to, uh, probe for more pits and the like?"

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Vaughn) 
Tuesday April 8th, 2014 12:20:58 PM
"I, for one would like to finish this business as quickly as possible. I've much grown tired of being a wanted Halfling."

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 20/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Tuesday April 8th, 2014 7:27:34 PM
"Thanks and well found, Bombo. I've always wanted a fancy hat. How do I look?" Edric laughs as he tries on the hat.

Agreed, we've lost enough time between falling halflings and falling ponies. Let's keep moving.

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Tuesday April 8th, 2014 9:14:14 PM
"Bombo, thank you for the offer, but I can't lug this big coin around. It's neat, and I'd like to look at it, but it must weigh ten pounds! In this heat, I'd keel over in no time trying to pack it around. I think one of the stronger types need to use it. Or at least carry it. Thanks for the offer though, that's very nice of you. But let's get to the Parley House. If we can stop this monster, perhaps we can get back to the town, and be done with this awful stuff.."

Hazel (Bob) 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Kim for Corsario)  d20+10=26 ; d20+7=13 ;
Tuesday April 8th, 2014 9:51:12 PM

"You look fuzzy, Posco, positively fuzzy," Hazel tells Edric.

"Tess, just toss your plate on the little cart," suggests Hazel. "You can have Bombo here cart it around for you."

"I will take the lead," he answers Murphy. The ranger walks ahead of the party about ten to twenty yards, checking for like traps, as well as looking from side to side - and occasionally up in the air.

Perception: 26; Survival: 13

Podo (Danderfluff Pipewood) (Kim for Jon Paul Ward); HP: 23/23 AC: 21  d20+8=23 ; d20+1=3 ;
Wednesday April 9th, 2014 1:49:04 AM

Podo says, "I'll watch the left side." The monk walks about 10 - 15 yards away from the cart pony off to the left.

"You were right about it being hot out here, Tess," Podo says over his shoulder.

"So, Bombo - I only read a little of what you gave me. So, Idafeatu is the one we are going for?" he asks. "Are we supposed to kill him? Or capture him? Or convert him? What is the plan?"

Perception: 23
Survival: 3

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) The Plan? (Kim McCoy) 
Wednesday April 9th, 2014 2:41:18 AM

"The plan, Podo?" Murphy/Bombo replies. "Find out what's going on at the Parlay House. Outwit him, and others there, if we can. Really won't know until we get there, though."

DM Kent 
Wednesday April 9th, 2014 7:38:37 PM
The next couple of hours pass quickly and you find yourself coming to the bottom of a nice sized hill on which the side you are approaching seems to currently being used as a dump for garbage and other junk, it kind of stinks to high heaven and you see a number a rats scurrying around. Directly above you see those marvelous vultures. You also see several on the ground in the middle of the pile of garbage.

There is a very small and pale stream of smoke rising into the air from somewhere on the other side of the hill. You are pretty sure that the Parlay house is likely on the other side of the hill.

perception DC 20 Highlight to display spoiler: { You just happen to catch the sparkle of the sun shining off of something shiny on the top of the hill}

Knowledge Dungeoneering DC 17 Highlight to display spoiler: { If it were you the hill would be a great place for a lookout of some sort.}

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11  d20+3=18 ;
Wednesday April 9th, 2014 9:03:18 PM
"First the heat...and now this smell? Please, someone put me out of my misery! We have been cursed for some reason. That can be the only explanation. Bombo, do you know anything about those strange vultures? They seem to love it here," Shel groans.

ooc: perception 18.

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) The Plan? (Kim McCoy)  d20+13=16 ; d20+2=18 ;
Wednesday April 9th, 2014 10:06:22 PM

Borbo stops his pony. "So, here is where the vultures gather. Hello, vultures! How is the grub in these parts?"

He looks up the hill. "Having their garbage dump here might help keep the smells from reaching them easily," he notes. He wraps the reins around a post used for that purpose on the shay, and climbs down. He takes a few steps in the direction of a feasting vulture (not drawing too close), then stops.. "Do you understand the sylvan tongue?" If not, he asks, "Do you understand elvish?", If needed, he will ask, "Do any of you speak the common tongue?" If not, He switches to the giant tongue. "Do you understand the giant tongue?" He knows some of the vultures were displaying non-vulture-like flight characteristics. Is any one of them willing to attempt to communicate, he ventures to discover.

If a vulture responds in a suitable manner, he will attempt to communicate. If not, then, glancing up the hill, he says to the party, "We might want to come just shy of cresting that hill, then inch forward until we can take a good gander at what's on the other side."

Hazel (Bob) 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Kim for Corsario)  d20+10=20 ; d20+5=23 ;
Wednesday April 9th, 2014 11:04:11 PM

Hazel hears Shel, then watches Borbo. "I guess he didn't hear you, Tess," he says, shrugging his shoulders.

He looks up the hill. "Hey - did you see that?" He shifts his position, then moves back to where he first noticed it. "Something shiny up on the hill, there. Buttercup - come here - do you see the - it's a reflection of the sun off of something.up there." He helps Alouryn until she can see it, too, standing close behind her and pointing up the hill.

"Yep, Borbo. Decent idea. I want to see what that shiny thing is."

He comes over to Edric. "You want to come with me? I wouldn't mind having you by my side when we get near the top of the hill, Posco."

The ranger also turns to Podo, the new guy. "Podo - you seem really fast on your feet - the way you were staying in front of those orcs. You wanna come up with Edric and me. We can be the lead scouts. You take the left flank, I'll go up the middle, and ... Posco can go on the right side."

He checks with the others. "How about Podo, Posco and I go a little ahead of you three. We can check out what the shiny thing is up on the hill. Maybe we can see the Parlay House from there, too. You three come up behind us. Sound good?"

He looks around the garbage dump. "Mind the rats. They may want to contest our crossing over their place here, or may just let us through. Weapons and spells ready, just in case."

If everyone agrees, he moves forward to climb the hill.

Podo (Danderfluff Pipewood) (Jon Paul Ward); HP: 23/23 AC: 21  d20+8=12 ; d20+8=26 ;
Wednesday April 9th, 2014 11:57:51 PM
{Perception = 12 & a 2nd perception roll while ascending the hill in reconnaissance maneuvers)
Podo listens to Bombo, Shel, and Hazel as they assess the stinky situation all of the halflings now find themselves in. Thinking to himself, Podo wonders why, "his cousin wants to communicate with carrion feeders?" Shrugging, Podo thinks to himself, "Heh, to each their own..."

Podo, turning to Hazel, answers, "sure thing, I'll help!" Podo takes the left flank, weapon ready, and minding the rats, proceeds carefully to approach the "shiny thing" up the hill while beging careful to avoid the rats, vultures, and any other hazard that might present itself in this garbage pile. Using his perception skills to avoid hazards and ascent the garbage hill without detection.


Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Thursday April 10th, 2014 8:40:48 PM
Shel/Tess follows the others, watching with a fascination as the group attempted to communicate with those vultures. Assuming no response, she looks around and makes sure the animals were not chasing or paying particular attention to her.

"Those things are quite creepy. Let's hope they stay here with the rats while we take care of our business. Shoo vultures! Shooo!"


Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 20/26; AC: 21/13/19  d20+3=9 ; d20=10 ;
Thursday April 10th, 2014 8:56:11 PM
Edric covers his nose as he is hit by the intense smell.

"I've heard of talking birds, but never talking vultures."

Edric follows Hazel. "I don't see anything up there but I'll take your word for it. Let's go check out that hill." Edric spreads out to the right, as per the plan and readies his axe and shield.

Perception: 9
Dungeoneering: 10

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Vaughn)  d20+5=25 ;
Thursday April 10th, 2014 9:37:06 PM
(Nat 20 on Perception) "Yes Bob, I noticed that a minute ago, but I have no idea what it is. Hopefully not a scout!"

DM Kent  d3=2 ;
Thursday April 10th, 2014 11:35:30 PM
The vultures do not seem to understand Murphy at all and only ruffle up and spread their wings in a threatening manner when he comes closer to them as they feast upon what is some sort of very dead flesh.

Several of you see the flash of sunlight on what could only be metal of some sort coming from the top of the hill, and Hazel Podo and Edric set off to investigate.

Coming up from three sides they approach the top. Perception DC 17Highlight to display spoiler: { you definitely hear the sounds of soft snoring coming from the crest of the hill, though it seems fairly loud to you.}

Podo (Danderfluff Pipewood) (Jon Paul Ward); HP: 23/23 AC: 21  d20+8=16 ;
Friday April 11th, 2014 12:06:16 AM
{Perception = 16)

Not seeing much of anything other than glints of a metallic object, Podo with ready quarterstaff in hand, proceed cautiously forward towards the object on the hill.

Hazel (Bob) 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Kim for Corsario)  d20+10=25 ;
Friday April 11th, 2014 3:21:59 AM

Hazel holds an index finger to his lips to indicate silence. He mouths the word 'Bigun', then places the palms of his hands together, and rests his left cheek on the back of his right hand, as though sleeping.

He motions to the women and the druid to come up the hill, quietly. He then moves forward, cautiously, toward the sound of the snoring. The 50' coiled rope he recovered following the pony rescue he has back on his hip. He ties a small loop in the end, then pushes some of the rope through to form a lasso.

Hazel signals for Edric to continue along the right side, ascending, and for Podo to continue as he is going.

Perception: 25

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) 'Bye, vultures. Hello, hill (Kim McCoy)  d20+13=14 ; d20+6=12 ;
Friday April 11th, 2014 3:27:12 AM

Murphy, realizing the vultures down here at least seem to be normal vultures, backs off, climbs back up into this shay, and has the pony ascend the hill. He thinks about what they've been through, wonders how Eral, the cleric of Domi is faring with the troll, 'Stupid.'

Aside from keeping the pony going in the general direction the halflings in the lead took, he is uncharacteristically inattentive to much else in his immediate surroundings.

Perception: 14 (nat 1)
Handle animal: 12

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Vaughn)  d20+7=16 ;
Friday April 11th, 2014 11:54:59 AM
Buttercup will tread as quietly as she can in the unfamiliar terrain until she is close to Bob then wait for further instructions.
(Stealth 16)



Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11  d20+7=8 ;
Friday April 11th, 2014 8:50:37 PM
OOC: Stealth 8, including a natural one. Oh lord...

Shel sees Hazel's silent pantomime of a warning. She attempts to creep quietly up to the halflings ahead of her. As she silently steps, she catches her toe, and let's out a little squad, ruining any attempt at being quiet.

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 20/26; AC: 21/13/19  d20+3=4 ; d20-1=9 ;
Saturday April 12th, 2014 2:26:31 PM
At Hazel's signal, Edric readies himself. He continues following up the right side of the hill.

Perception: 4 (nat 1)
Stealth: 9

DM Kent  d100=68 ;
Monday April 14th, 2014 6:58:21 PM

The group makes their way up the hill trying to move as closely as possible and they all seem to be doing a credible job until Shel trips on a loose stone and lets out a little squawk. From above there is a louder snort and a loud grumble and everyone freezes still waiting to see what is going to happen. A few moments later the sounds of snores are once again heard. (I hate the dice roller. :>))

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Monday April 14th, 2014 8:53:57 PM
Shel pauses, not trusting anything until she again heard snoring. She continued to move into position with her allies and leave whatever big'un was over the hill resting peacefully. Sleep well big'un! Leave us be.... On e she made it to the top of the hill, she looked over the other side with the rest of the group.

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Vaughn) 
Monday April 14th, 2014 9:19:41 PM
Buttercup pauses waiting for an all clear before trying to see what is causing the snoring.

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) Close to the Crest (Kim McCoy)  d20+13=19 ;
Monday April 14th, 2014 9:37:18 PM

Bombo's pony draws near to the crest of the hill, when he hears a snort and a deep-voiced grumble. He turns the cart so that it is at 90 degrees to the downslope, and sets the brake. Grabbing a few items - ropes and such, he gets off the cart and walks quietly up until he can see the source of the snoring. He keys on Bob for direction at this point.

Hazel (Bob) 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Kim for Corsario)  d20+10=18 ;
Monday April 14th, 2014 9:41:38 PM

Bob moves forward. Based upon the sounds, he expects to find a slumbering sentry giant. He waves his friends to move in a position to surround the creature and prepare for action. How to keep the slumbering one from waking, or making too much noise if he does awaken?

Perception 18

Podo (Danderfluff Pipewood) (Jon Paul Ward); HP: 23/23 AC: 21  d20+8=28 ;
Monday April 14th, 2014 10:24:00 PM
Podo hearing the grumbles, snorts and snores freezes until someone gives the all clear!
Pausing while waiting Podo will view the situation and the surrounding area with his well crafted skills
Of perception (Nat 20!).

Believing these snores are of a Bigun', Podo quickly assesses the area to gain a vantage point in which to gain the upper hand.

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 20/26; AC: 21/13/19  d20+3=8 ;
Tuesday April 15th, 2014 1:49:05 PM
Edric keeps his weapon ready as he approaches the source of the snoring. He wonders if they are going to have to dispatch the bigun', or just sneak past.

DM Kent 
Wednesday April 16th, 2014 8:00:07 AM
Having traveled up the 30 degree slope to a height of about 300 feet, Hazel peeks over the top of the East side of the hill Hazel spies an ogre leaning against the wall of a slighty dug out hill top fortification.

The pit fortification is roughly 30 feet sqare and 8 feet deep. There are 3 foot long ledges built into the sides that would allow archers to be able to see over the walls on all sides. There are steps down into the fortification leading down from the West wall. There is a small smouldering fire pit in the center, with a several small casks and a storage trunk against the North wall. The south wall is bare of anything not hill.

The ogre is most assuredly asleep as his snores can attest to, but it is obvious he is a fairly light sleeper if Shel's stumble and squawk woke him.

The ogre is wearing a fairly nice but mismatched mail, but is sleeping in it, so is likely to be a bit stiff and sor when he wakes depending on how long he has been asleep. At his side lying on the ground are two of the largest weapons you have seen outside of that tree trunk of a club you last ogre used. The polearm at this ogre's side is easily 8 feet long with a blade and a hook mounted at the tip. The other weapon looks like an orcan double axe only much larger and the blades on both weapons are all serrated. These are most definitely weapons made to cause great pain and damage.



Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Wednesday April 16th, 2014 7:27:21 PM
Shel waves at the group to take a few steps back, where they might be able to whisper without being heard.

"As ugly as it sounds, we might have to try to make sure he doesn't wake up. Y'know, like forever. If we rush him and Posco, Bob, and Bombo hit him before he gets up, we might be able to dispose of him quickly and silently. If he picks up those weapons, though, we are in ahead of trouble. We could also try and sneak by him, but if he wakes up and gets to those weapons, we are done for. What do the rest of you think?"

Podo (Danderfluff Pipewood) (Jon Paul Ward); HP: 23/23 AC: 21 
Wednesday April 16th, 2014 10:55:38 PM
Podo seeing Shel's gestures will take a few steps back and get close enough to hear her.

Not knowing the best course of actiont o take, and being new in the group, Podo will air his thoughts last.

Hazel (Bob) 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Kim for Corsario)  d20+11=14 ;
Thursday April 17th, 2014 12:07:33 AM

Quietly, he concurs with Shel that something needs doing while the ogre sleeps. Bob signals to Edric and Podo to take the hooked polearm and carry that a little ways down the hill. He asks Shel and Alouryn to help him take the double axe to a different point down the hill. "Do we cause him to sleep forever, or talk him into helping us? I would prefer the former." He says to Murphy, "You be ready to deal with him if he wakes up sooner than we want."

He takes the shaft just shy of the axe head part of the weapon, letting the women carry the handle part. He is strong, and should be able to handle the heavier section.

Once it is about 70 to 80 feet away from the ogre - and, if possible, out of line of sight of the ogre, he gently sets it down, then comes back up the hill, ready to do what they decide to do next.

[Stealth: 14 - Not bad, but not perfectly silent.]

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) Let sleeping giants... (Kim McCoy)  d20+13=26 ;
Thursday April 17th, 2014 4:35:46 AM

Murphy considers his assignment. Aside from the weapons which are being moved a ways from the owner, he looks over the ogre - sees the patchwork mail he wears. He looks to see if he has any pouches, rings, other items.

He elects to enter into the fortification, and gets onto the 3-foot archers' walk along the edge. He gets to a point directly above where the giant lays his head along the wall. He prepares a tanglefoot bag, a couple flasks of alchemist's fire, a couple of thunderstones, and two of his three flasks of acid. He does not use these yet - they are just there and available.

He actually needs to get up on the top of the wall to be able to look down on the sleeping ogre. Noting the casks and storage trunk, he thinks of how one or two former party members might have done well at opening and exploring what is inside.

Yet he focuses his attention on their somnolent host, ready for conversation, attack, spell, or what have you, depending upon how things go.

Perception: 26

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Vaughn)  d20+7=21 ;
Thursday April 17th, 2014 7:00:47 AM
Alouryn is able to stay quiet while carrying the heavy axe with her comrades.

(Stealth 21)

DM Kent  d100=14 ; d100=2 ; d20+3=9 ;
Thursday April 17th, 2014 8:49:31 AM
As Podo, Edric, Hazel, Shel and Alouryn make their ways up the steps and out they realize that there can clearly see what can only be The Parlay House and is accompanying dilapidated out buildings fifty feet fromthe bottom of the hill watch post you are on.. You can also clearly see at least two more ogres doing chores and occasionally go into or call into the largest of the buildings.

You hope against hope that they don't look your way for there is little to no cover.

Murphy ponders the situation below him as he lays out an assortment of materials for possible use on the sleeping troll.

For a moment Murphy believes he is in serious trouble as the ogre makes a grwoly grumble and stretches out both of his arms as if first waking up, but then turns on his side and returns to a semi peaceful slumber.



Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Thursday April 17th, 2014 9:08:45 PM
OOC: I'm not sure our party can take on one ogre, let alone with a couple others running around up here. Are we going to attack him, or try and sneak by all of them?

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) Let sleeping giants... (Kim McCoy)  d20+13=14 ; d20+13=17 ;
Friday April 18th, 2014 12:44:54 AM

Murphy gets down on stomach so as to minimize his silhouette above the wall, and looks down at whatever activity is visible around the Parlay House. He mentally maps the scene below, trying to figure out which buildings may house what.

However, mindful also of matters closer at hand - once the weapons are moved away at Bob's direction, he points - trying to do so in a way his friends can see, but also so as not to be observable by those in the Parlay House - he points toward the chest, signaling that someone ought to take a look inside. The more information the party can gather before the ogre awakens (whether he does so of his own accord, or through the encouragement of one or more party members), the better, the druid muses to himself.

Until Bob is ready with whatever he has planned, after that signal to his own party members is accomplished, he returns his attention to listening to and glancing at the ogre, and soaking in the activities at the House.

[Wow - he is nowhere near as observant as he usually is - Perception 14 (nat 1), and Perception 17.]

Hazel (Bob) 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Kim for Corsario)  d20+10=11 ;
Friday April 18th, 2014 12:56:09 AM

If Podo and Edric have finished moving the big polearm well away from the ogre (and at a spot well away from where he and Alouryn and Shel placed the axe), he quietly asks, "Where did Bombo go?" He has no idea where Murphy is, even though the druid is up on the wall waving his arms and trying to get their attention. In the halfling tongue, he whispers, "If he doesn't show up, then we are going to have to gather around and deal with this ogre, I think. Unless anyone has a better idea."

[Perception: 11 (nat 1 - sheesh!)]

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 20/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Friday April 18th, 2014 1:19:50 PM
"Whatever we do, we have to do it quickly and quietly. We can't arouse a pack of ogres. Should we move in and all strike?"

Edric helps carry away the polearm.

[i]OOC: sorry for missed posts. bad week.

Podo (Danderfluff Pipewood) Let sleeping...(Jon Paul Ward); HP: 23/23 AC: 21  d20+15=18 ; d20+8=11 ;
Friday April 18th, 2014 3:09:58 PM
Using stealth(Stealth: 18), Podo help carry away the weapons and in the direction of his helping team mate. Using his Perception(Perception: 11), Podo will spy what else he may do to assist his friends.

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11  d20+7=15 ;
Friday April 18th, 2014 8:35:56 PM
While the others were doing their own thing, Shel understood Murphy's pantomime perfectly. She quietly moved to the chest, hoping it would not be locked, and tried to open the lid.

OOC: stealth 15. Hope that keeps the ogre asleep!

DM Kent 
Friday April 18th, 2014 10:44:55 PM
Pole arms moved safely out of the way Murphy takes a look at the Parlay house area and is pretty sure that only the big house is actually useable for anything other than livestock or perhaps basic non perishable storage. He tries to signal his group about some other things. Some of the message gets through others not so much.

Shel on the receiving side of comprehending Murphy's pantomimes makes her way back to the fortification and somehow manages to make her way to the chests and casks and is disappointed to find that they simply contain food stuffs, water and ale. On the positive side the ogre didn't awaken.

The decision now comes to a head. What to do about this sleeping ogre?

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) Vs or With? (Kim McCoy) 
Saturday April 19th, 2014 1:55:52 AM

Murphy whispers down to Shel, "Let's wake him up, and tell him it's time to escort the trade delegation to Idafeatu. If he's real nice, we won't let on that he was sleeping. Pass it on to the others. Have them give him some room so he doesn't squish anybody when he wakes up."

Once he has told her that, he returns to where he can look down on the comfy watchguard.

He motions for his friends to make room. He waits until they are more or less surrounding him, but not too close.

Only after that happend, In the giant tongue, he starts making a chant that Lomar taught him last year. Lomar said it was a favorite among the ogres - most of them grew up with the chant, which their mothers sang as a lullaby. He begins softly, then slowly increases the decibel level.

[The 'x' makes a sound like the German ch - Bach, or the Scottish ch - loch, or the Spanish j - jota
I take my favorite club - XUH!
I swing it at the stone - XOH!
It flies across the field - XAI!
And splashes in the pond - XEE!

It lands upon the fish HEAD
And makes the fish to float DEAD
I walk across the field STRONG
And drop fish down my throat LONG

My club can SMASH
My club can DASH
My club can CRUSH
My club can KILL

If you want to play a game
I'll use my club to make you lame
If I want to eat a beast
I'll smash it wish my club at least

For...
My club can SMASH
My club can DASH
My club can CRUSH
My club can KILL
If the giant looks like he's going to make trouble, Murphy has his array of alchemical items to slow him up... but hopes to use some sort of alternative pursuasion. If he awakens, though, he says in common, "It is time for you to escort the trade delegation to the Parlay House. We decided not to kill you - even though you were asleep on guard duty. Now - we can keep that between us, and not tell your boss. Get up, and take us down there."

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) Vs or With? (Kim McCoy) 
Saturday April 19th, 2014 2:00:09 AM

Fourth line in the game stanza should be:

I'll smash it with my club at least

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11  d20+4=10 ;
Saturday April 19th, 2014 7:57:14 PM
As Murphy's song continued, Shel put the lid down on the chest and moved away from it, not wanting to anger the ogre more than he might be in any event.

Shel put on her best smile at mUrphy's words. "Yes, big guy. We no tell your boss about sleep. If you take us to see boss. We want to go to Parlay House. If you be nice, we be nice, too. We already been nice by not attack you. What you say?"

Diplomacy 10.

Hazel (Bob) 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Kim for Corsario) 
Sunday April 20th, 2014 7:13:23 PM

That is not quite what Hazel had in mind. Singing to a sleeping ogre?

Bob directs with his hands people to encircle the ogre at a distance of maybe 25 feet away, each. He himself puts himself in the direction the shut eyes of the ogre now face, sling staff in hand with a bullet ready in the pouch, should combat prove necessary.

"I can imagine a mother ogre telling her son after singing such a song, 'Now, go to sleep, dearie. Father will beat you in the morning,' he whispers to Alouryn, whom he directed to be about even with the ogre's waist, and 25 to 30 feet away from the beast.

He pointed Podo to the feet, Shel near the wall on the back side of the ogre's head, and Edric opposite Alouryn with the giant's backside pointed toward him.

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 20/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Monday April 21st, 2014 7:50:01 PM
Edric moves into position, readying himself in case the plan goes awry.

Podo (Danderfluff Pipewood) (Jon Paul Ward); HP: 23/23 AC: 21 
Monday April 21st, 2014 8:09:04 PM
Podo readies himself with Quarterstaff in hand and makes his way over to the Ogre's feet hoping to trip the Ogre if he awakens and ruins the groups plans.

DM Kent  d100=80 ; d4=2 ;
Monday April 21st, 2014 10:16:30 PM

Ogre stirs. Ogre growls and sits up. Ogre sees halflings and reaches for now nonexistent weapons. Orge growls louder and leaps to his feet. Ogre doesn't look happy. Ogre moves toward the steps and Alouryn.

Map https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4J2oKls4_y5aUlscmlySm9sNGM/edit?usp=sharing

Murphy / Bombo Gardner (Kim McCoy)  d20+5=17 ;
Tuesday April 22nd, 2014 1:43:17 AM

[I thought Murphy was directly above where the ogre's head lay. Also thought ogre was lying right outside the edifice, rather than inside... but am glad we have a map now to clear up such misunderstandings.]

Tanglefoot bag, ranged touch attack, AC 17.

In the giant tongue, then in common, Borbo says, "Sit down or we will hurt you." In halfling, he says to his friends, "Do whatever you need to slow him or stop him."

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Tuesday April 22nd, 2014 11:23:25 AM
"Hey Ogre, me hurt your eyes, unless you be nice to us," Shel yells as she casts Color Spray on the beast.

OOC: Dc 15 Will save to resist.

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 20/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Tuesday April 22nd, 2014 7:06:06 PM
"Calm down, Ogre. We don't want to have to hurt you. Edric hefts his ax to show the ogre he means business.

DM Kent  d100=27 ;
Tuesday April 22nd, 2014 9:51:48 PM

The ogre looking around realizes he is un armed and facing at least five foes that he knows of and sits back down placing his hands folded on his head.

Murphy / Bombo Gardner (Kim McCoy) 
Wednesday April 23rd, 2014 3:20:50 AM
Murphy is pleased that the ogre has complied, at least for the moment.

"Thank you for taking a seat. We are here to see your leader.

"But, first, we need to agree. We could have taken your life. We did not. We did not come here to kill you. We came here to solve a problem.

"To do that, we need to talk with your boss.

"Now, promise you will take us to him, and that you will not harm us. If you keep that promise, we let you live. Who knows? Maybe we can even work together."

Murphy says this first in common, so his friends know what he is saying, then says it in the giant tongue, so that the seated ogre clearly knows what he is saying.

Then he asks, "So, what do you say? Will you walk with us down the hill, and take us to the leader of Parlay House?"

"Do you promise not to hurt us?"

Hazel (Bob) 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Kim for Corsario) 
Wednesday April 23rd, 2014 3:31:58 AM

Hazel had noticed that the ogre a moment before was going toward Alouryn. But now that he is seated, he takes advantage of the moment to walk around the inner perimeter of the wall, passing by Murphy, squeezing by Edric, and ending up opposite Alouryn on the wall at 4F. His sling staff is still at the ready should the ogre try something he does not like.

[Did Murphy's tanglefoot bag get the ogre? Did Shel's color spray do anything to him?]

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Wednesday April 23rd, 2014 2:45:08 PM
OOC: Hazel, I'm assuming that the ogre sort of complied, so that our actions did not actually go off.

Shel nods at Murphy's words and closely watches the ogre for a reaction, prepared to use her Color Spray if the situation called for it. "Be nice big fella, and we be nice to you," she coos, not wanting to anger him and get smashed for her trouble.

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 20/26; AC: 21/13/19  d20+5=11 ;
Wednesday April 23rd, 2014 4:42:41 PM
Not understanding the giant tongue, Edric continues to stand over the ogre, attempting to look as intimidating as possible.

Intimidate: 11

DM Kent  d20=17 ;
Wednesday April 23rd, 2014 10:37:12 PM
Of course the ogre didn't have a whole lot of choice other than to sit down as his legs while not glued to the floor are kind of stuck together.

His overall demeanor is not one of pleasantry and helpfulness in fact you get the feeling that were he free he would probably be trying to tear you all each limb from limb. But you also get the sense that he is also a very practical military type who understands that life and capture may aloow for future actions or at least life.

Shel hold her spel for the moment but has it at the ready.

The ogre looks to Murphy who has spoken in Giant and replies tersely. "Should have killed. Now I surender, You no going to kill. But, I no help you." He follows that by spiting on the ground off to his left side.

As Murphy tells him how he could help him the ogre smiles. "You no want go there. Idafeatu make snack out of you."

Podo (Danderfluff Pipewood) (Jon Paul Ward); HP: 23/23 AC: 21 
Wednesday April 23rd, 2014 11:52:08 PM
Podo holds his action of trying to trip the Ogre if need be, but as his legs are stuck together, it would be almost too easy to achieve.

Podo wonders where this is going to lead us.

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Thursday April 24th, 2014 10:21:08 PM
"Murphy, ask him if he'll agree to leave us be once we defeat idafeatu. No one needs to know he let us slip through his guard. That way, he doesn't get in trouble, and we don't have to try and take him down. Wonder if he'd know how to get by those other ogres wandering around out there?"

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) (Kim McCoy)  d20+5=20 ;
Friday April 25th, 2014 3:09:54 AM
[Sorry, gang - running multimedia for all day & into night conference, and six-hour city meeting last night - I usually don't miss posting -Kim]

Murphy considers the ogre's words and demeanor, then Shel's suggestion. He shifts five feet toward the entrance, along the wall at D1.

"How long until your watch is over?"

Murphy looks back the way they came, and picks a small hill with a few gnarled bushes on it about three miles away. "You will walk to that hill. Take some food and water with you. When you get there, eat your food and drink your water. After that, you can come back here, or go anywhere you want. If you come back here, we will leave a map to where your weapons were sent.

"If you do not give your oath you will do that, then your other option is that we bury you alive in this keep. Maybe you can dig out, maybe not.

"If you are worried about getting in trouble for leaving post - we wiggled our fingers and said some strange words, and suddenly you thought it was a real good idea to take a picnic over there." Murphy wiggles his fingers and says, "Br-r-rfsk."

"Which do you want? Walk to that hill and eat? Or be buried alive here?"

As he talks, Murphy is ready for action if the ogre makes a sudden move, and will throw a thunderstone next to where he sits at D4. [need to hit AC5 or better - hit AC20] If the ogre makes no aggressive moves, then Murphy holds that action.

[THUNDERSTONE: You can throw this stone as a ranged attack with a range increment of 20 feet. When it strikes a hard surface (or is struck hard), it creates a deafening bang that is treated as a sonic attack. Each creature within a 10-foot-radius spread must make a DC 15 Fortitude save or be deafened for 1 hour. A deafened creature, in addition to the obvious effects, takes a --4 penalty on initiative and has a 20% chance to miscast and lose any spell with a verbal component that it tries to cast.

Since you don't need to hit a specific target, you can simply aim at a particular 5-foot square. Treat the target square as AC 5.]

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 20/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Friday April 25th, 2014 3:40:24 PM
Listening to Murphy's threats, Edric shudders at the thought of having to dig an ogre sized hole. He stays ready for any moves the ogre might make.

Hazel (Bob) 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Kim for Corsario)  d20+5=8 ;
Saturday April 26th, 2014 12:57:01 AM

Hazel asks with a bit of excitement in his voice, "Do we really get to bury another ogre alive? The last one didn't last too long..." He says to the giant, "Choose burial. It is my favorite."

His sling staff is at the ready.

[Intimidate: Not very intimidating at 8]

DM Kent 
Monday April 28th, 2014 5:44:54 PM
[ OOC: Sorry All, Life has decided I am its personal whipping boy!!]

Ogre doesn't seem real impressed with your threat of burying it alive. And at the question of when the watch was over the ogre looked up at the sun and then tells you that watch change occurs anytime within the next 30 minutes or so (or that's it seems to equate to).

When given his option to take a hike he shrugs moves over to the barrel and chest picks one of each out and then steps out over the wall and starts walking toward the hill that was pointed out.

Him taken care of, now thoughts turn to what / who lies below in the Parlay house and how to go about defeating them and or bringing them to justice.

Hazel (Bob) 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Kim for Corsario)  d20+2=15 ;
Monday April 28th, 2014 9:22:25 PM

Bob realizes that the ogre did not seem overly concerned with the threat of being buried alive [Sense motive: 15]. So, as the giant decides to go with the suggestion to have a picnic - once the ogre has gotten a hundred yards or so away - the ranger heaves a sigh of relief.

"All right, now, that was easy." He looks across the opening over at Alouryn. "You cannot believe how my heart dropped when I saw the ogre try to head in your direction a few minutes ago, Flower lass."

To the rest of the party he says, "So, what now? Do we serve as tasty treats for the head guy? Do we wait until the changing of the guard - make snoring sounds in this little keep when the new guy comes, then ambush him? Or have a few of us try to sneak in below, and see if we can get a lay of the land before we try to take them on as a group?"

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) 1 down, ?? to go (Kim McCoy) 
Tuesday April 29th, 2014 3:48:12 AM

Bombo watches the giant walk down the hill. "Thank the heavens for that."

Who among us might be good at sneaking in unnoticed? Does anyone have a potion or a spell that would allow one or more people to travel invisibly?" Looking down the hill, and considering the canvas they have, he offers, "Or we could make wings and fly down." He lets that one sit out in the air for a moment, then comments, "It would likely take too long to build proper wings."

"So, what options have we before us? Bob mentioned a few. Any other ideas? And let's keep in mind the relief watch-ogre could be showing up an any moment."

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Tuesday April 29th, 2014 9:22:49 AM
"I don't have anything that would make me Invisible, but I do have a few of those Squinky Sneak pills left, that makes us a bit more stealthy. It wouldn't guarantee anything, but it might improve our odds just a bit."

OOC: I have five of those which give +1 to a Stealth check. I also have a Ninjabread cookie that gives a +5 to Stealth. No guarantees, but it might work, if we have no better option.

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 20/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Tuesday April 29th, 2014 12:45:02 PM
"Perhaps one of us should sneak down, while the rest of us wait in case the new watch shows."

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) 1 down, ?? to go (Kim McCoy) 
Tuesday April 29th, 2014 6:39:23 PM

"If we send one down, or two - who will go, and how shall we prepare them, and us?" Murphy asks his friends to consider.

"Alternatively, what if we walk down the hill, say, along the left side, keeping ourselves from being seen from the Parlay House, and then come upon them that way?" he wonders aloud.

"Can we set any traps for the replacement guard up top here? What if we put up a trip wire just the other side of the hill that we came up, get his attention, and have him chase after us? He chases, gets tripped, then, wham! we hit him hard, after the ground has hit him first."

[Let's see if we can get one or a pair of plans formulated by Thursday at the latest, figuring about five minutes of talking among us per day of posting - unless our DM hurries things along more quickly.]

Podo (Jon Paul Ward); HP: 23/23 AC: 21/15/17 
Tuesday April 29th, 2014 7:43:24 PM
That show down over, Podo gets close enough to the rest of the troop to see if he can finally get a chance to help out!

DM Kent 
Tuesday April 29th, 2014 10:16:58 PM
Options for being sneaky are discussed and Edrick suggests that one of the group go on down and spy out what goes on while the rest wait for the next watcher.

A couple of mentions are made for setting a trap for the next watcher and Podo comes close to lend an ear and perhaps his thoughts on the situation.



Murphy (Bombo Gardner) 1 down, ?? to go (Kim McCoy) 
Wednesday April 30th, 2014 3:23:27 AM

"From what I've heard about you, Podo, you can walk fairly softly when the occasion calls for it," Murphy 'Bombo' says. Turning his head, he says to Hazel, "And, despite that both of us have spent a fair amount of time in the forest, I'll have to admit that Bob is quieter than I am when he is trying to be stealthy.

"You, Tess, and Buttercup and I are all right at moving reasonably quietly - except when you tripped coming up the hill, Tess-aroo," he says with a wink.

"But as for you, Edric, we should wrap you and your armor in cotton balls. You sound like a sledgehammer and spike driving competition when you hustle in your armor, protect you though it does."

"How about we all work our way either down the side of the hill, or down the back and skirt aroud the left side?"

[Mister DM: Which way is West - where the sun will eventually set? Is there a map of the layout we can see below? Can we find a good place to leave our ponies, and the cart?]

DM Kent 
Wednesday April 30th, 2014 2:46:14 PM
(OOC: West is toward the palay house. I will post a map his evening if I can get it finished. You know how I am about my maps..... as for you ponies you have the hill top fort he bottom of the hill or the area around the parlay house .)

Map of area https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4J2oKls4_y5Z3FSdTZxZWxCZG8/edit?usp=sharing

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 20/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Wednesday April 30th, 2014 4:51:27 PM
"I hate to leave my armor, but it may be better if I leave it behind for now. Trying to sneak about in armor will get us all killed."

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Wednesday April 30th, 2014 9:09:39 PM
Tess/Shel looks around nervously. "I'm losing my nerve here, guys. Even if we four make it down silently, what then? How are we four going to take out at minimum one big'un Mage? Let alone if he's got bodyguards, which I'd guess he does, looking at all the regular big'uns prowling out here. Right now, I'm more worried that we might succeed and get to big ole what's his name, rather than we make too much noise and not get there!"

DM Kent 
Wednesday April 30th, 2014 10:28:36 PM
ideas are shared as well as some cold feet as you look down over the habitation from above It is getting to be quite warm up in the fortress and it is only likely to get hotter.

Funny though you haven't seen either of the bigguns that went inside earlier come back out.

Perception DC 25 Highlight to display spoiler: { there is something odd about the wall where the barrels and trunks were. In fact it kind of looks like there might be a hidden /secret door there. }

Hazel (Bob) 17/13/15 CMD:16 HP: 33/33 (Kim for Corsario)  d20+10=27 ;
Thursday May 1st, 2014 4:03:34 AM

"I don't know, Edric. Maybe you should keep the oven gear on a while longer. I mean, Posco."

Bob notices something. "Uh, hey guys. Lookee here." Hazel points to where the ogre took a barrel from next to the watch fort's walls. He gets closer to it. He begins to probe around. "Looks like a secret opening to me. Maybe this would give us a way inside, without having to march down the side of the hill in the open. Or, maybe it's something else." He pushes and pulls, trying to open the door / latch / wall.

[Perception: 27]

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) Parlay House Watch Fort (Kim McCoy)  d20+15=17 ;
Thursday May 1st, 2014 4:08:25 AM

Murphy Bombo would have had no idea of any secret door had Bob not pointed it out.

"Uh, you sure?" Murphy tries to help his ranger friend find a way in, but is not extraordinarily successful.

[Perception: 17 - rolled a 2]

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 33/33 AC: 17/13/15 
Thursday May 1st, 2014 2:15:25 PM
Hi Guys! I am back! I still have slow and limited internet access, but I am determined to continue the campaign. What did I miss? Are we still level 3? Has Alouryn accepted his advances? Who is still on? Is Podo a nice guy? Got any new equipment? What are we currently doing?

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 20/26; AC: 21/13/19  d20+3=20 ;
Thursday May 1st, 2014 7:00:43 PM
"I wouldn't have noticed that Bob. Good eyes. Shall we take this path?"

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Thursday May 1st, 2014 8:22:21 PM
"Hopefully we can avoid the other big'uns by sneaking in this way. The less of them the better, you know." Shel waits for the others to open the door and lead the way in, as she looks around nervously, hoping no one had seen them as of yet.

DM Kent 
Thursday May 1st, 2014 10:37:43 PM
(OOC: Anyone heard from Alouryn???)

The hidden door, once open seems to lead to a passage or at least there are stairs that go downward. At first look it is very obvious that noone has been down the steps for a very long time as there is easily nearly a full inch of dust settled on the step surfaces. It appears that the steps go down at least 45 feet, perhaps furhter down as they begin to curve a bit and the bottom is not visible. The stairwell is roughly 8 feet wide and it is very dark after the first part which is lit from the sun above and behind you. From what you can tell from the lay of the land and what of the passage you can see, it seems as though it may lead toward the Parlay House area, though where it comes out exactly, or if it still does, is anyone's guess.

Podo Danderfluff Pipewood (Jon Paul Ward); HP: 23/23 AC: 21/15/17  d20+8=26 ;
Thursday May 1st, 2014 11:33:15 PM
(perception = 26)

Podo looking notices something odd about that area of in the distance, "maybe a door?" Perhaps we should investigate?


Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 33/33 AC: 17/13/15  d20+10=14 ; d20+11=30 ;
Thursday May 1st, 2014 11:51:15 PM
"Perhaps we must... wait for a minute, let me scout ahead..."
Hazel looks at Alouryn for a second, winking at her, before lighting a candle and going into the tunnel. He feels the spider webs and dust on his feet, which makes him feel bad... but he continues into the dark...
Perception: 14
Stealth: 30

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) Watch Fort back door (Kim McCoy)  d20+13=27 ; d20+6=9 ; d20+6=19 ;
Friday May 2nd, 2014 4:25:46 AM
[A HUGE welcome back, Corsario! We're still level 3, the relationship with Alouryn has room to develop - that will be on your shoulders, buddy; Podo's a nice guy; Hazel is wearing a hat of disguise (as are Alouryn / Buttercup, Shel / Tess, and... Edric? Lastly, we are at the Parlay House, where ogre-mage Idafeatu is headquartered, trying to spy / confound / confute / vanquish / or whatever we can get away with vs the Bad Guys. I suggest you do some reading over the next few days as you are able to catch up in more detail regarding what we are up to. Also you can click at the link at the top of this page to the Woldipedia page, which, among other things, has the current roster. -Kim]
"Great, Bob! Podo - mind following him so that he doesn't get in trouble by himself? And don't go too far before the rest of us can join in, eh?" Bombo says. He examines the doorway now that it's open, and takes a moment or two to determine how Hazel opened it. "I'll be back in a couple of minutes. Edric, you mind helping? Need to grab some things from the cart, and unharness the pony. Let's take one of these barrels, fill it with water, so they can drink, and let them roam the back side of the hill. I don't want to tie them down, lest a giant or the like try to go after them."

He asks Shel and Alouryn if they want to get anything from off the ponies, and suggests we take all of the saddles and tack and hide it inside the hidden tunnel for later retrieval.

As he goes to take the cart pony out of its harness, it seems a bit skittish (handle animal: 9). He takes a break from that, and enlists Edric's help. He tries again (handle animal: 19).

He locks the wheels, and ties the cart down so it won't go rolling away. Once the water barrel is set for the ponies and they are shown where it is, he also gives them some food, and hauls, with help from Edric (and whoever else wants to help) the horse gear and the party's gear over to the old passageway.

Murphy suggests they get the horse gear carried down into the stairway so it's no nearer than about 35 feet from the entrance, so that it won't be readily visible or reachable from the opening.

"I have torches, and a few lightsticks."

He enlists his friends' help, too, to erase halfling footprints from inside the watchkeep and all the way back to the steps.

Once everyone is ready to go inside, he sweeps away the last few footprints.

"Help me with this, Tess. You be inside, and I close the door. See if you can open it from inside."

If she can open it, good. If not, then he will take additional steps to figure out if they can open it from within.

Finally, he makes sure the gear the giants stored near it are put back in roughly the same arrangement as they were before, but ensuring there is enough room to open up the door at least enough to squeeze through, does one last footprint sweep, lights a candle attached to some headgear, places it on his head, then shuts the secret door from the inside.

"Should we rope together like in the swamp, in case any stairs give way?" he asks the group. If they concur, he quickly ties six loops in a rope. "You can put it around your neck and under the opposite arm, or just hang on to it, as you choose."
========
Perception: 27
Handle animal: 9. Sigh. Getting some help, and trying again: 19

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 33/33 AC: 17/13/15 
Friday May 2nd, 2014 9:59:51 AM
"Thanks for the welcome Kim, and thank you very much for taking care of Hazel while I was unable to connect. I have been reading what I missed.

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Kim for Vaughn  d20+5=7 ;
Friday May 2nd, 2014 6:50:24 PM

Alouryn is concerned about Hazel going too far down the secret stairs. "Wait for us before you go too far, Hazel. Bombo wants some help with the ponies. I will do that, then let's do this together."

As devotees of Flower are to show kindness, even to creatures, she helps Edric and Murphy with the ponies - taking off their saddles and tack. She helps water the horses, drinks a lot of water herself, and carries saddles back, one at a time, to bring them down the stairway.

Alouryn performs a dance as she helps to remove evidence of their footprints, Then she joins everyone in the stairway down. She takes a sunrod, and strikes it once to cause the light to appear on it. "This will give light for the next six hours," she tells her companions.

[The sunrod sheds normal light in a 30-foot radius and increases the light level by one step for an additional 30 feet beyond that area (darkness becomes dim light and dim light becomes normal light).]

Perception: 7

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 33/33 AC: 17/13/15 
Friday May 2nd, 2014 6:56:22 PM
Hazel smiles at Alouryn warning, before entering the shadows.
"I'll be careful, I promise."

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Friday May 2nd, 2014 9:37:37 PM
Shel watches. Murphy as he deals with the animals. "Are you sure you want to take everything off the ponies? We might need to escape in a hurry, with a couple big'uns chasing us....are we going to have time to reequip the animals?"

Assuming the group is convinced in that idea, she follows the others and tries out the door from the inside. "If we can't get out from this side, it doesn't make much sense using this door, I agree.".

Assuming the door works, she turns and begins to follow the others, wondering where the path is going to lead.

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 20/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Friday May 2nd, 2014 10:10:03 PM
Edric carries the barrels down and fills them with water from the stream and lugs them back to the pony. Seeing Murphy struggling with the pony, he lends him hand in getting the pony under control. After cleaning up, Edric wraps the loop around his hand.

"All ready, let's go."

DM Kent 
Sunday May 4th, 2014 8:15:04 PM
Hazel heads into the dark, with Podo a bit behind, for a bit of scouting though truth be told once out of the way of the little bit of light being let through the door there is no light at all until he lights his candle and then there is the littlest bit of light being shed as he moves forward through what has to be 50 years or more of dust and the occasional crunching small bone.

The path does indeed curve a bit abd even heads downward a bit more but seems to be heading toward the Parlay house compound. The floor while not perfectly smooth only has the ocassional rough spot, though with the poor light and the dust they can't be seen.

One thing Hazel and Podo notice almost immediately is the amount of dust being kicked up as they move particularly now that the door is open and there is just a bit of a little breeze coming down and through. Within just a few moments the dust is getting into their eyes and noses and both Hazel and Podo find themselves getting ready to sneeze.

Meanwhile back at the top Murphy, Edric and Alouryn quickly take care of the setting up a space for the ponies complete with water and food, and then return with the tack and harnesses to store them inside the passage.

She plays around with the door and easily finds how it works from both sides and is sure that unless messed with or blocked, it should function perfectly well.

Murphy too lights a candle and offers torches or light sticks to people as they get wait to hear back from Hazel or head down into the dark as well.

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Sunday May 4th, 2014 10:21:36 PM
Shel hunkers down close to the door, nodding at Murphy as he lit his candle so they could see just a bit. She dared not speak, waiting on word from the scouts before deciding on any course of action. She knew there were bound to be biguns about, and she was terrified.

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 33/33 AC: 17/13/15  d20+10=15 ; d20+11=16 ;
Sunday May 4th, 2014 11:42:56 PM
Perception roll: 15; Stealth roll:16
Hazel presses forward, when suddenly let's out a sneeze because of the dust. He sees his is candle flicker, while trying to see if his sneeze has been heard by someone up ahead...

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) (Kim McCoy)  d20+13=19 ;
Monday May 5th, 2014 12:58:29 AM

As the dust begins to rise, Murphy thinks for a moment.

"Hold up, guys," he calls forward to Podo and Hazel.

He digs into one bag that he was going to leave with the saddles, and pulls out a change of clothing. He looks first at the trousers, then at the shirt. He reaches in under his coveralls and under the shirt he wears beneath, fiddles around for a few moments near the left side of his lower back, then pulls out a small set of scissors. He cuts off a good portion of the legs of the extra set of trousers off so that, were he to wear them now, they would come to mid-thigh. He then begins to cut rectangles of cloth. From his backpack he gets a ball of twine. After measuring, he cuts off lengths of twine. He twists one side of a cloth rectangle, and ties an end of twine to it. He places the cloth over his mouth, the twine going around his head, and just above each ear. The other end he brings around, and tries to tie it to the other end of the cloth rectangle.

"Tess. Would you mind helping me with this? With the dust kicked up, we should wear masks over our mouths. Could you tie off the end? - make it fairly snug, but not so tight that it squeezes my eyes out." Shel can likely see by his eyes that Murphy is smiling as she goes to help him.

He tries breathing through it - the cloth is not so dense that one cannot breathe through it, but it does keep out the dust.

He enlists Shel's aid, and Alouryn's, if she will, to make the masks. He has observed them both long enough to know that they are nimble enough to do good work. Along with the six for the party, he helps to make six extra. In case there is a need, each person will have a spare. He also assists party members in donning the protective gear. And, he gives each person a piece of white chalk. "If you need to mark the walls or something, use this - write words in halfling - not many people can read it - but we can."

"Sorry, friends, - I have no goggles. Just keep your eyes kind of squinty to try to keep the dust out. If you get too much in your eyes, use your water skins to wash out your eyes. Maybe once in a while use some water to clean the cloth masks, too. Also, if we each step in the footsteps of the person in front of us, that might help keep too much dust from being kicked up."

Just then there is a small meow from a basket at the top of one of Murphy's bags. "Cora. Cora Calico. You want to come, too?" As he had not made a big thing of it, some members of the party may have forgotten about the calico cat that Murphy found when they picked up the horses. He has been quietly feeding it and giving it water along the journey through the Red Hills.

He pulls her out, and pets her. "Sure, we'll take you along." He looks down at the thick dust. "Better to carry you for now, I think." He tucks her under his coveralls, outside his shirt. "You can peek out the side if you want, or just get comfortable inside as we walk along, missy." He comments to the others. "A note said she's a good mouser."

He feeds her a little bit, gives her some water, then prepares to move along. "Shall we keep Bob and Podo in the lead? I'll go middle or last. Posco - do you want to be closer to the front, or provide defense if something or someone comes up from behind? Ladies, what are your druthers?"

[Suggested marching order - suggested - but tell me if you want different:
1. Hazel/Bob
2. Podo
3. Alouryn/Buttercup
4. Murphy/Bombo
5. Shel/Tess
6. Edric/Posco
"If you want to swap positions with me, Posco, just let me know."

Perception: 19

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 20/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Monday May 5th, 2014 3:34:56 PM
"I'm fine with the back. Need someone strong watching the rear."

Edric sneezes as the dust reaches him and he quickly wraps his face with the cloth.

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Monday May 5th, 2014 8:10:44 PM
"Very clever idea about the masks. Hopefully we won't disperse too much dust, but if so, protection is always welcome. Last thing we need is to give away our position with a hacking cough.". She tears rough bits of cloth and does her best to make a mask as well as she could and hand them out to the group.

[b]"Um, well, I guess there's no time like the present, huh? Let's go clear our names."[b]

DM Kent 
Monday May 5th, 2014 10:20:09 PM

The tunnel is fairly easy to manage and with just a couple of trips and a stumble or two you find yourself having covered the 100 yards to the compound fairly quickly. The path hits a very short and genlte incling for the last 30 feet or so and rather abruptly ends in raw rock wall with a bunch of gravel and dirt piled up.

Perception DC 20 Highlight to display spoiler: { above the rock piled up you think you can just make out what might possibly could be the top half of a door. }

Does the door open inward or outward? Where is the latch mechanism? Is it locked? Is all of this rock material going to have to be moved? Is this a dead end? What is on the otherside?

Please make 2 additional Perception rolls

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Kim for Vaughn  d20+5=12 ; d20+5=14 ;
Monday May 5th, 2014 10:29:18 PM

Alouryn decides to carry the Baliset Murphy gave her a week or so ago. And then the people in front of her stop their progress. "What is it?" she whispers to those ahead.

[Perception 12, 14]

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) Rocky pathway to Mystery Door #1 (Kim McCoy)  d20+13=33 ; d20+13=27 ; d20+3=11 ;
Monday May 5th, 2014 10:40:42 PM

Murphy looks ahead as those ahead of him draw to a stop. "Hey, look," he says, not too much louder than Alouryn spoke. "The top of a door. Shall we see if we can tell whether the hinges are on this side or not? If they are on this side, we will have to clear most all of the rocks so we can pull it open. If they are not on this side, perhaps we can push the door open, and see what is on the other side. After listening carefully, taking due precautions, making full preparations."

[Perception: 33 (nat 20); 27; Engineering: 11]

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 33/33 AC: 17/13/15  d20+10=16 ; d20+10=13 ;
Monday May 5th, 2014 11:21:49 PM
Hazel thanks Murphy for the mask, and wears it. He accepts taking the lead until they reach the end of the tunnel.
He leaves Murphy to check it while he goes back to Alouryn. He sees a mote of dust has fixed on her red hair, and takes it out gently. He talks to her with his voice muffled by the mask, which also covers his sincere smile at being next to her.
"You had something gin your hair. Are you ok? Want so water?"
He tries to check the door to understand its workings.
"Additional Perception Rolls: 16 and 13"

Murphy AND Alouryn - additional perception rolls  d20+13=22 ; d20+5=7 ;
Tuesday May 6th, 2014 12:43:39 PM

Kent - I just realized your post might be asking for a total of 3 perception rolls. I rolled only twice for Murphy and Alouryn. So, here is an additional roll for each character

Murphy Perception [already: 33, 27]: 22
Alouryn Perception [already: 12, 14]: 7

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 20/26; AC: 21/13/19  d20+3=21 ; d20+3=18 ; d20+3=21 ;
Tuesday May 6th, 2014 6:30:45 PM
"I see it too Murphy. You think anyone is behind it?"

Edric climbs up to investigate the door, checking for hinges, latches, knobs, etc.

Perception = {21,18,21}

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11  d20+3=17 ; d20+3=9 ; d20+3=15 ;
Tuesday May 6th, 2014 6:40:45 PM
Shel focuses and tries to see what the others were talking about. However righteous amounts of concentration have never been her strong suit. "What are you all going on about," she whispers through her makeshift dust mask.

OOC: perception rolls 17, 9, 15.

DM Kent 
Tuesday May 6th, 2014 10:18:17 PM
Alouryn and Shel have a difficult time even seeing where the door is even when it is shown directly to them.

The others also can tell that the hinges are not visible, and that the door probably opens outwards. Though that begs to answer where all the debris inside piled up against the door came from.

The debris is packed fairly solidly and should stay in place when the door is opened but will mean that the group is somehow going to have to climb out the door through a slightly larger than halfling sized space.

A bit more looking around and both Edrik and Murphy believe they may have found the latch trigger for the door just about at the same location as the other door.

So final decisions must be made on how the exit will be made etc.

Parlay passage map https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4J2oKls4_y5SnJQakhMdUVQMnM/edit?usp=sharing

Parlay precombat map https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4J2oKls4_y5bFRlVjNXY3FTSWs/edit?usp=sharing

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 33/33 AC: 17/13/15 
Tuesday May 6th, 2014 11:34:21 PM
"I say we try to open it quietly, and peek a little before entering. I can look first, and if you see me enter, then you can follow me. If you see me scream... well, you get the idea..."

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Kim for Vaughn 
Wednesday May 7th, 2014 1:10:39 AM

Alouryn allows Hazel to take the dust out of her hair, then gives him a look. "About the only thing on you, mister, not covered with dust, are your eyes." She takes her waterskin, uncorks it, and says, "So, shut your eyes. And mouth." She takes off his mask. Alouryn pours water over his head. Dust turns into rivulets of muddy streaks, until more water descends, then a bit more, finally running clean. She takes the palm of her hand, and runs it down from his forehead to his chin, getting some of the excess water off.

She takes her extra mask, and fastens that around his head, tying it snugly. "All right. Open your eyes."

He see her eyes now are smiling.

Then she turns him around, and gives him a gentle nudge toward the door. "Now, it's time to be brave. And smart."

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) Rocky Doorway (Kim McCoy) 
Wednesday May 7th, 2014 3:53:24 AM

"Perhaps, Posco," Murphy answers Edric. "We are apt to find out soon."

He considers the placement of things. "Halflings knew this place - this is where they negotiated with the giants. Like as not some of them helped get the rocks in place to allow them a way to escape that would be too hard for the giants to enter," surmises Murphy. Some people have to come up with explanations for everything, even if they don't really know the answer.

He takes the looped rope. He looks to find a place to anchor it on the tunnel side of the rock pile, with the other end hanging down near the door. "The looped rope is help for climbing quickly out if we need it. And, if we do, then Tess was right about the saddles. Speaking of," he says, and gently takes Shel by the elbow, leading her, if she will, to a good vantage point. "See the latch? And up there, the top of the door? That's what we're talking about."

Murphy glances discreetly in their direction as Alouryn drenches Hazel. He turns away, stifling a laugh.

"All right, soggy one. How 'bout I step right behind you?"

He turns to Podo. "Would you change places with me for the moment?"

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 33/33 AC: 17/13/15 
Wednesday May 7th, 2014 10:34:57 AM
Hazel feels cold and wet when Alouryn purs water on him, and then a huge chill over all of his back when her hand touches his face to clean him up...
When he open his eyes and see her, in the candlelight, he is only able to avoid letting his mouth fall open and drool.
"Buhhh... Ahhh... Ohhhh..."
He seems incapable of speech for a second, before Alouryn helps him by pushing him towards the door. He thanks her a lot for that, as he is able to save some dignity.
At Murphy's comment he is only able to muster:
"Am I covered in dust?"
You all recon he will get back to normal in a couple rounds...

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) "Not anymore" (Kim McCoy) 
Wednesday May 7th, 2014 12:49:38 PM

Answering Hazel's query about whether he is covered in dust, Murphy replies to his friend, "Not anymore."

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Wednesday May 7th, 2014 1:04:28 PM
"Aha! I see it," Shel blurts out, after being led to the door, by Murphy. "Hazel's right. Crack the door and do a quick bit of scouting. We can slam it back and run for our lives, if necessary, I suppose!"

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 20/26; AC: 21/13/19  d20+3=10 ;
Wednesday May 7th, 2014 4:30:39 PM
"There's only one way to find out what's behind that door."

Edric climbs the rocks and attempts to open the door, just enough to peek through the door.

Perception=10

DM Kent 
Wednesday May 7th, 2014 9:40:56 PM
the door actually opens pretty easily considering and Edric takes a peek through the door crack. A bit of sand covered rock floor can be seen as well as lots of sunlight and the heat comes at you hard. Beyond the floor area you see some sand and weeds and maybe perhaps another piece of a ruined building or two. About 150 to two hundred feet away you see what must be the Parlay house with it's wooden doors closed.

Parlay passage map https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4J2oKls4_y5SnJQakhMdUVQMnM/edit?usp=sharing

Parlay precombat map https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4J2oKls4_y5bFRlVjNXY3FTSWs/edit?usp=sharing

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 33/33 AC: 17/13/15  d20+11=28 ; d20+10=13 ;
Thursday May 8th, 2014 12:31:14 AM
Hazel tries to compose himself, makes a sign to his companions to wait for him, and tries to sneak towards the ruin in the middle of the Parlay House distance, clutching his sling staff and will try to peek from there for enemies.
What ever he says he will make signs to his friends to let them know. (Number of enemies with his fingers, position pointing at them, or a "come over here" sign if all is clear).
Stealth Roll: 28
Perception Roll: 13

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 20/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Thursday May 8th, 2014 7:29:44 PM
Edric moves out of Hazels way and awaits a signal.

"Just give us a sign and we'll come running."

DM Kent 
Thursday May 8th, 2014 10:24:13 PM
No visible enemies to be seen at this point which I guess is a good thing. the area seems to be clear and Hazel hears nothing out of the ordinary either.

Parlay precombat map https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4J2oKls4_y5bFRlVjNXY3FTSWs/edit?usp=sharing

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Thursday May 8th, 2014 10:32:59 PM
Shel doesn't need to be told twice. She hunkers down and waits for a signal from Hazel before she advances to join him. "Be careful, Hael," she whispers as she holds her breath.

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 33/33 AC: 17/13/15  d20+11=23 ; d20+10=16 ;
Thursday May 8th, 2014 11:13:18 PM
Hazel signas silently to his friends while trying to reach D9, crouching there
"So far so good..." - He thinks for himself.
"Stealth Roll: 23"
"Perception Roll: 16"

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) Arena scamper (Kim McCoy)  d20+10=19 ; d20+13=30 ; d20+6=9 ; d20+6=14 ;
Friday May 9th, 2014 10:17:10 PM

Murphy says to those still at the door, "We need to be ready for several possibilities. If we can remain hidden, find out more about them, good. If we need to attack or defend, let us do that. If we end up getting into a cordial chat, well, that might happen, too. I'm heading over there now." He points to the ruins shown on the middle right of the map.

Unless someone holds him back (verbally or otherwise), he heads toward F13, running lickety-split.

Survival: 19
Perception: 30
Stealth: 9 (while running, I suppose - then 14 while crouching behind the wall)

DM Kent 
Friday May 9th, 2014 10:25:55 PM
Hazel and Murphy head out into the Parlay grounds while Shel Podo and Alouryn remain in the tunnel near the entry.

Just about the time Both Hazel and Murphy get settled into their new spots the door to the Parlay House opens and an ogre steps through the door and looking up at the lookout tower Calls back over his shoulder to someone inside and then starts moving at a jog in the direction of the tower.

Rd 1 map https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4J2oKls4_y5R2dtOURLcE5IQnM/edit?usp=sharing

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 33/33 AC: 17/13/15 
Saturday May 10th, 2014 9:54:03 AM
Hazel quickly makes signs to Murphy about attacking the Ogre, flanking him while it passes...

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 33/33 AC: 17/13/15 
Sunday May 11th, 2014 10:55:51 PM
OOC: Seems we have lost Vaugh, and in consequence Alouryn... A big hit to Hazel. What are the plans in this case, so I can think how Hazel will react?

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) Cat and Ogre (Kim McCoy) 
Sunday May 11th, 2014 11:07:54 PM

"Hey, big guy. Do you know where I can get some food for my little cat?" Murphy asks in the giant tongue, looking up at the ogre. He holds Cora Callico in his arms, stroking her head. "And some water? She is rather thirsty, she is."

He stands at the corner of the little ruins. If it looks like the ogre is going to take a swing at him, he will dodge left or back, depending upon on direction of the swing, so that the edifice will help to provide a bit of protection. If the giant engages in conversation, instead, he talks with him.

If he does engage the giant's attention, he figures his friends will get into place quickly. Or, he himself may end up squished.

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 33/33 AC: 17/13/15 
Monday May 12th, 2014 1:21:55 AM
Hazel quickly prepares for action... if he sees the giant move towards Murphy he will let two stones out as soon as he is able.
Damned! I am supposed to be the crazy one!
He things for himself.

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 20/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Monday May 12th, 2014 6:18:46 PM
"Looks like this is happening then."

Edric hoofs it over to I7, sling loaded and in hand.

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Monday May 12th, 2014 9:08:50 PM
Shel waits, wondering how the repartee would play out between the group and the ogre. She begins moving forward, not sure what she'd be able to accomplish, but not wanting to leave the two alone against the huge big'un.

OOC: advance 15' toward the action.

DM Kent  d100=43 ; d20+7=27 ; d20+7=14 ; d8+7=13
Monday May 12th, 2014 11:30:56 PM
(OOC. Yes, I am sorry to see Vaughn go and sorry to lose Alouryn. We will exit Alouryn from the game as we can and possibly in a way that will allow her to exist as an NPC within the confines of Humbles Ford if we can.)

Shel, Edric, and Podo all move out to help how they can with Edric taking a double move to get further out while Alouryn stays looking out from the entry way watching and waiting.

Haxzel shakes his head as Murphy steps out to greet the ogre with nothing but a kitten in his hands and prepares a couple of sling stones.

Murphy indeed steps out a hails the ogre in giant. The ogre in turn stops and looks around for a moment with a baffled look on its face. "You not sposed to be here." "I have to squash you now."

Reaching over his shoulder he pulls out a very large club and takes a 10 ft step toward Murphy to F11 and swing his club AC 27 Natural 20 crit threat AC 14 for 13 points damage

Map https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4J2oKls4_y5T3ctanBCTGRxZVE/edit?usp=sharing

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Kim for Vaughn  d20+6=22 ;
Monday May 12th, 2014 11:58:35 PM

Alouryn sees the Ogre, and so close to Hazel. She decides it is time to act. With ribbons weaving fluidly, she dances forth and sings in the common tongue:
Some come to kill, destroy and maim
Causing fear in innocents

Flower's ways are not the same
She brings joy to supplicants
She brings peace to disputants
She ends up at about C9

Performance: 22

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 20/26; AC: 21/13/19  d20+5=15 ; d3=2 ;
Tuesday May 13th, 2014 7:02:10 PM
Edric moves to E9 and let's loose a sling stone towards the ogre.

Attack 15
Damage 2

Ooc:
Whoops, thought our starting position was the "1"

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Tuesday May 13th, 2014 8:35:54 PM
Shel moves 5' closer to the ogre, and tries her best to blind him for a scant few seconds.

OOC: cast Color Spray DC 15 Will to resist.

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) Ouch! I don't dig that, Ogre (Kim McCoy) 
Tuesday May 13th, 2014 11:37:46 PM

[Kent: From my earlier post, I had described what should have placed him at the upper right corner of F13 - not remaining where he had been earlier. This post will assume my placement at that spot, a little bit to the right of where you left him planted, errantly unmoved, from the earlier round before his last action. I won't quibble that that would have left him just barely out of reach of the giant's club - since he rolled a nat 20 - his reach is that stretchy :-)]

"Ay!" Murphy cries in pain. "You are fatally mistaken," the druid says in giant. He casts expeditious excavation directly under the ogre's left foot, opening up a five foot cubic hole beneath said foot, and kicking up an enormous dust cloud of dirt and debris for 1 round around the ogre in a 15'x15' column surrounding where the pit was dug, obscuring the ogre's vision, as well as providing him concealment (roll to hit, then roll d100 - if a 1 to 20 on d100 is rolled, hit is missed due to concealment). As the ogre's right foot is still on solid ground, it may or may not be unbalancing to him, at the DM's discretion.

His cat he had cast to the side immediately prior to the club's impact (he did anticipate the ogre might attack rather than palaver), as he has regard for her life. She landed on her feet and scampered to the corner of the wall in the lower middle left of F13, back to the wall.

Murphy turns and dashes to the upper left corner of G15, next to the wall, aiming to get out of range of the ogre's effective club.

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 33/33 AC: 17/13/15  d20+6=21 ; d6+2=5 ; d20+6=13 ; d6+2=6 ;
Tuesday May 13th, 2014 11:51:05 PM
Hazel quickly let's a couple of stones towards the Ogre.
Attack Rolls 21 & 13; Damage Rolls 5 & 6

Cora Callico (Kim McCoy) 
Tuesday May 13th, 2014 11:54:39 PM
For clarity, the cat, Cora Callico, is at the inner 90 degree angle of the outside wall of the ruins, not at the open 90 degree outer corner just south. She has very few hit points.

And Murphy's stats should read as: AC 15/13/13 HP 13/26

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Kim for Vaughn)  d100=26 ;
Wednesday May 14th, 2014 12:39:52 AM

Alouryn casts hold person on the ogre, then moves over to D8. Why must so many giants attack without thinking? (In case penetration of concealment is necessary, made the roll - 26/100.)

Podo Danderfluff Pipewood (Kim for Jon Paul Ward); HP: 23/23 AC: 21/15/17 
Wednesday May 14th, 2014 12:46:50 AM
Podo moves to E14, quarterstaff in hand.

[This post in case JP does not post - his post will supersede this one if he does post]

DM Kent  d20+3=5 ; d4=2 ; d20+3=16 ; d3=1 ; d20+3=11 ; d20=12 ;
Wednesday May 14th, 2014 7:04:42 AM
Alouryn ponders the nature of the giant kind while she dances and then casts hold person on the giant.

Podo moves forfard staff in hand ready to confron the beast.

Attacking from behind, Edric sends a stone flying and smacks th e beast in the back of the head with one.

Shel casts color spray at the ogre in hopes of blinding him.

Hazel sends acouple of sling stones at the ogre also connecting once.

Murphy casuses a big dust up with his excavation spell.

***********************************************
The ogre roars as he is struck by the sling stones and roars again as he is attacked by the color spray. There is a momentary pause in his movement as it looks like Alouryn's spell is going to take hold but you soon see him start thrashing around blindly with his club. he is making quite the racket. With his blindness, being struck from several directions and the loss of footing under his left foot, the ogrge topples to his knees. you hear him coughing in between his yells.

Ogre takes no action this round (stunned)

Map rd3 - https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4J2oKls4_y5LVFmaWE1N0FQWGs/edit?usp=sharing

Ogre AC 17 - down 7, blinded for 2 rounds, stunned for 3 rounds

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 33/33 AC: 17/13/15  d20+9=26 ; d4+6=7 ;
Wednesday May 14th, 2014 9:18:34 AM
"Never hit the guy with the cat, ogre... Your big fat mother should have told you that!"
Hazel charges against the prone ogre, hitting it with all his Strength.
Charging power attack: 26; Damage: 7
[i]OOC: About Alouryn... maybe she can stay to reorganize the church after Sarabella's passing, becoming the main cleric in time... [/ooc]

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 20/26; AC: 21/13/19  d20+3=9 ; d3=3 ;
Wednesday May 14th, 2014 3:42:46 PM
Edric continues his advance towards the ogre (to F10), unleashing another sling stone at the now-helpless ogre.

Attack: 9
Damage: 3

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Wednesday May 14th, 2014 8:41:32 PM
Shel remains at a safe distance from the ogre. "Pile on it! Keep knocking it down! If it gets up, we are all in trouble," she shouts, surprised at how bloodthirsty she seemed.

Murphy (not his full post, just a quick shout) Kim 
Wednesday May 14th, 2014 9:03:01 PM

"Throw some daggers, Tess!" Murphy hollers in Shel's direction.

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 33/33 AC: 17/13/15 
Wednesday May 14th, 2014 9:38:09 PM
"I will Shel, I will keep this one down!"

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) AC 15/13/13 HP 13/26 - Flame On! (Kim McCoy)  d20+5=24 ; d100=17 ; d6=6 ; d6=5 ;
Thursday May 15th, 2014 12:11:39 AM
"Tess - your steel cable - around the neck! Toss one end over - Edric - go around and grab the other end, and put your weight on it, both of you!" In a human, the esophageal region of the front of the neck can be crushed with only five pounds of pressure. Surely more would be required for an ogre's throat - but it might bear trying.

Murphy takes out a flask of alchemical fire as he draws closer to the kneeling giant (back to the edge of the upper right corner of the ruins in F13), and hurls the chemical concoction at him, trying to avoid the area Hazel is in. The throw would have been good enough (AC 24, ranged touch attack), but the dust and debris now beginning to settle down was just enough to cause the trajectory to be slightly miscalculated (concealment). It would have done 6 points of fire damage this round, and 5 next... but instead it strikes his club, lighting that up in the waning dust cloud, and doing 1 hp damage to the ogre. (So, club takes 6 fire damage, next round 5. Maybe the flames will touch his hands, or hair, or clothing, as he flails about?)

Podo (Danderfluff Pipewood) (Jon Paul Ward); HP: 23/23 AC: 21  d20+8=18 ; d4=1 ;
Thursday May 15th, 2014 12:29:45 AM
Podo dashes forward to the stunned giant. Then, rather than striking him with the quarterstaff, he brings his fingers gathered together at their tips, driving into a soft spot on the giant's body.

All right, so giant's spots are not so very soft - yet his thrust does 1 hp of damage versus the brute. He calls to Shel, "Give me that cable Bombo mentioned. I'll see if I can put it to good use."

ADM Kim - header change request for anyone with DM editing privileges 
Thursday May 15th, 2014 12:32:35 AM
Above header for post on Thursday May 15th, 2014 12:29:45 AM should have been:

Podo (Danderfluff Pipewood) (Jon Paul Ward); HP: 23/23 AC: 21

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Kim for Vaughn  d6=6 ; d6=1 ; d6=6 ;
Thursday May 15th, 2014 12:45:32 AM

Alouryn skips over to E11, and channels positive energy to her companions (not to the ogre) for 12 points of healing (should heal Murphy to all but 1 hp of his normal capacity).

"Defeat the ogre, yet not to death - to sleep perhaps, to painful dreams, but not to end his days."

Cora Callico (Kim McCoy) 
Thursday May 15th, 2014 12:47:13 AM

The wee cat sitting in the shade of the corner, despite sounds of battle, determines this to be a good time to lick her fur.

DM Kent 
Thursday May 15th, 2014 6:35:47 AM
Yelled at, hit with stones, punched in the gut, blinded, stunned, and with his club on fire. The fire giant lets out a yowl to rival any large cat.

Murphy yells to Shel to throw daggers and then to throw a cable.

Podo waits for the cable oafter striking.

Alouryn sends healing energy through to her friends.
________________

Giant drops club and staggers a few steps to the side.

map https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4J2oKls4_y5N1RGQS1nSWxxNEk/edit?usp=sharing

Ogre AC 17 - down 22, blinded for 1 more rounds, stunned for 2 more rounds

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 33/33 AC: 17/13/15  d20+7=27 ; d20+7=26 ; d4+6=7 ;
Thursday May 15th, 2014 9:18:21 AM
Hazel thinks for a second what Alouryn says, and quickly shakes his head. Not to kill it? It's like finding a scorpion at home and let it be! It is bound to sting you later! You have to kill it... It is the only way!
At seeing Podo "poke" the ogre he screams at him...
"Quit fooling around and use a weapon!"
He tries to achieve a final blow by putting all his Strength in a hit to the head.
OOC : Power attack: 27; Critical Hit confirm: 26; Damage: 7 (not considering Critical hit)

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Kim for Vaughn) 
Thursday May 15th, 2014 12:12:49 PM

Alouryn realizes her companions need every help they can receive. She prays blessing upon them, which will last for three minutes.

(Bless fills your allies with courage. Each ally gains a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects.)

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 33/33 AC: 17/13/15 
Thursday May 15th, 2014 12:47:44 PM
OOC : Quick note, the quarterstaff critical multiplier is x3.

Go ahead and roll your damage twice more. Kent

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 20/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Thursday May 15th, 2014 7:56:58 PM
Edric moves in (F11) to grab the cable and with the help of Tess, attempts to wrap it around the ogre's neck.

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Thursday May 15th, 2014 8:28:27 PM
Shel hands the cable to Podo and to Edric, allowing them to try and garrote it. Seeing Hazel jumping into the face of the ogre, Shel holds her dagger, waiting on a better shot to present itself when Hazel had moved to safety.

Podo (Danderfluff Pipewood) (Kim for Jon Paul Ward); HP: 23/23 AC: 21  d20+6=24 ; d20+11=13 ; d20+11=26 ;
Thursday May 15th, 2014 8:59:13 PM
Podo takes one end of the steel cable, and climbs up the back of the giant to the top of its head, using its greasy, sweaty hair to reach the top [climb: 24]. He yanks some of the cable up and in front of the brute's face, drops to the shoulder, trying to shake the ropey steel down around his neck [Acrobatics: 11], then jumps off the back as hard as he can, holding tight, his arms wrapped around the cable. [Acrobatics: 26]

Who knows? Maybe it's pulled his lower teeth down instead of grabbing his neck.

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) Ogre Eye Zap (Kim McCoy)  d6+1=7 ;
Thursday May 15th, 2014 9:07:28 PM

Just after Podo leaps from the ogre's shoulder, Murphy sends a lightning arc to strike on or near the giant's left eye for a full 7 hp of electrical damage.

He moves to the upper left of G13, right next to the wall, standing or crouching so that only his eyes and the top of his head might be visible should the ogre look his way, and ready, if necessary. to tumble back and around the corner to a spot not too far from where Cora Callico bathes herself.

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 33/33 AC: 17/13/15  d4+6=9 ; d4+6=7 ;
Thursday May 15th, 2014 10:12:11 PM
OOC: Extra critical damage, 9 and 7, for a total of 23.

DM Kent 
Thursday May 15th, 2014 10:26:49 PM
Hazel steps in and very clearly crushes the ogre's head which Edric and Podo realize as they begin to wrap the cable around its neck. Murphy gets readuy to cast a spell but realizes the target is now and well deceased.Alouryn casts her spell and everyone feels much brver than before which is probably a good thing as the door to the Parlay house just slammed open.

_____

Map rd 5 https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4J2oKls4_y5cGlyLXhlTDdwTUk/edit?usp=sharing

Ogre 1 - dead

Ogre 2 -

Idafeatu -

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) Hi! Talk or Fight? (Kim McCoy)  d20+13=33 ; d20+2=14 ;
Friday May 16th, 2014 2:56:45 AM

Rather sad that this ogre thought trying to kill him was more important than helping him with his cat, Murphy can't help but notice two more big creatures coming to the party. [Perception: 33 - nat 20] He climbs up on the wall of the ruins [Climb: 14 - these are ruins, should be easy, no?]

In the common tongue, he says so all can hear, "You must be Idafeatu, no? Just about every giant we meet thinks he'd rather try to kill us than just to talk. Do you and your companion plan to kill us, or do you suppose we might talk, instead? I didn't want to kill this brutally dead ogre. I asked him for help. He said he must squish me, instead.

"So, master strategist - will this place live up to its name - Parlay House? Or Attempt to Squish Halflings House?"

Murphy stands, hands on hips, awaiting a response.

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Kim for Vaughn) Facing the Giants  d20+5=7 ; d20+1=15 ;
Friday May 16th, 2014 3:11:06 AM

Alouryn moves over to D9, climbing up on the rubble there. As she goes there, she dons her Ice Vein Handwarmers - beautiful finely embroidered long white elkskin gloves which cover from fingertip to elbow.

"Giants - who killed Sarabella Lovesong?" she asks of those who just came out the door.

[Perception: 7; Climb: 15]

ADM Kim - Hero point nomination 
Friday May 16th, 2014 3:25:40 AM

DM Kent: I nominate Hazel for a hero point, due to his getting up close and personal with the ogre, inside his striking range, and delivering a giant-ending blow with his quarterstaff. This is the stuff of which heroes are made. -Kim

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 33/33 AC: 17/13/15  d20+6=13 ; d3=2 ; d20+6=23 ; d6+2=7 ; d6+2=4 ;
Friday May 16th, 2014 10:37:05 AM
Thanks Kim for the nomination. Every halfling would have done the same. And more if the Ogre is prone and blinded ;)
Hazel smiles fiercely at the Ogre's dead body, mumbling.
"Fell the power of the flower... that was for Sarabella..."
He turns towards the other two ogres, without losing his smile.
"Surrender... nah, forget it, I think I prefer to kill you both, on Sarabella's name!"
He will ready his rapid-shot attacks for when Idafeatu start to do anything, aiming to interrupt any spellcasting, or interfere with his actions.
Will roll them as for not stopping the action, but he will do them until the Ogre acts...
Attack Rolls: 13 and 23
Damage Rolls: 7 and 4
I have no idea where that d3 came from...


Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Saturday May 17th, 2014 6:56:33 AM
Seeing reinforcements heading in their direction, Shel realizes that Hazel will again have to take on the ogres up close and personal, so she casts Protection from Evil on the halfling.

2nd first level spell.

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 33/33 AC: 17/13/15 
Saturday May 17th, 2014 8:14:59 AM
OOC : Very considerate from Shel's part, thanks.
Is she hurt?

Podo (Danderfluff Pipewood) (Kim for Jon Paul Ward); HP: 23/23 AC: 21 
Sunday May 18th, 2014 1:46:00 AM

Podo runs to E6, and at the end of his run, does a mini vault with his quarterstaff, and lands in a horse stance, right foot closest to Idafeatu, left foot farthest away. Two small clouds of dust rise up around his ankles. He turns his head to the right, and says to the giant at I7, "Talking might be the wiser choice." He twirls the staff overhead, then brings it to a stop, left hand holding it near his left hip, and right hand holding it near chest level, pointing in the direction of that giant.

As he stands there, and notes Hazel's readiness, it occurs to him that he is related to the ranger. Danderfluff. His mother has some sisters - and one of them somewhat shamed the family, in having a child, though she had no husband. Is Hazel that kid? Podo himself was a youngster when he happened to overhear some of the adults talking about the scandal. What was he - seven, eight years old? He heard some mention of it later, too, and began to understand a little better.

If this is his cousin - Podo is impressed with how he has turned out. Bold and courageous, facing down wicked giants. He thinks as some of these thoughts flash through his mind that he needs to have a sit down with Bob Danderfluff LaRue when they can find a quieter moment.

But for now, Podo, focus. These are giants. They can squash careless halflings.

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 33/33 AC: 17/13/15 
Sunday May 18th, 2014 10:06:13 AM
Hazel looks at Podo charging and then talking to the Ogre...
"Are all of this guys mad!?!? Let's kill them already!" - He thinks for himself

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Sunday May 18th, 2014 8:10:50 PM
Yep, Shel's still dinged up from falling in the pit trap earlier.



DM Kent 
Sunday May 18th, 2014 9:54:37 PM
(OOC. Hazel is awarded hero point)

Positions and attitudes are changed as the first ogre is put out of action and two more make an appearance. One is definitely a thug type with the other is covered with a number of tatoos, is larger and is extremely well dressed (particularly for an Ogre)

Idafeatu looks over at Murphy then over at Alouryn and then Podo.

"Well, you are amusing at least. Though I doubt that we have anything of import to say to each other that we can or will agree upon. Say your piece if you will but if your two friends get twitchy, you will not like the results."

Map - https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4J2oKls4_y5V3VLU0JPMEdxTFk/edit?usp=sharing

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 33/33 AC: 17/13/15 
Sunday May 18th, 2014 11:34:20 PM
OOC: Hero point! Yoohoo!
Hazel remains on guard, with his sling staff ready to let swift justice fly if any of the Ogres make a move...

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 20/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Monday May 19th, 2014 6:40:12 AM
Edric allows Murphy a chance to speak to the Ogres, but readies himself for what he views as an inevitable battle.

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Monday May 19th, 2014 8:56:30 PM
"Yes Murphy, perhaps we can figure something out, and leave these three big'uns to their business. Clearly a nonviolent arrangement can be reached."

I hope, the tiny halfling thinks as she looks up and sees all the huge creature looking at her. As she does so, she pulls out three of her Squinky Skill Pills, ready to aid Murphy's attempt upon it beginning.

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) 1 down, ?? to go (Kim McCoy)  d20+2=10 ; d20+2=19 ;
Tuesday May 20th, 2014 2:23:41 AM
Seeing as how there is a pause in violence, Murphy seeks to expand on that. "There are some things we have to discuss with you. I will begin with the first - though it is not the first in the hearts of my companions - but I ask my friends for patience, and for them to hear me out, as I ask you, Warlord Idafeatu - to hear me out." He knows that Sarabella Lovesong and Idafeatu's role in her death are foremost on their minds, but he hopes they will allow this longer gambit to play out on the way to that goal.

"This is the first thing:

"We have heard and seen that you are making war on Crescent Valley.

"Now, you know that this place we are at was built as a place of peace. Our ancestors - and I include many of your followers in that word 'our' - met together here to discuss a mutually beneficial relationship. Crescent Valley halflings traded with Red Hills giants and other inhabitants. And for some time, the trade was good. The people of Red Hills gained. The people of Crescent Valley gained.

"With the trade agreements, and the terms of peace ratified, there were long periods of peace and prosperity.

"Now, if it is true you intend war - and evidence of your actions in that direction are beginning to mount up - then you look to gain through force what could better be gained through peace, through negotiation.

"Do you think that Crescent Valley would produce as much as it does were ogres to be placed in charge of the farms? Or would they be more likely to destroy the farms, damage the soil, ruin the land? There are things they are good at - but I have yet to hear of a serious ogre farmer - let me know if you are acquainted with any.

"With halflings maintaining the valley - they are provably well suited to growing things - that land may continue to prosper.

"So, war and destruction against the halflings of Crescent Valley is shortsighted - ultimately foolish. The riches of the valley will be damaged, destroyed, and no longer produce the abundance they now offer forth.

"So, I ask you this: Can you find among giantkind and others in these hills those who are smart enough, and wise enough, and have enough sway over their people, to effect trade relations? I am not speaking of you or them lording it over us - we will not allow that. I am speaking of setting a time to meet here, to rebuild these ruins, to have this be a place where the good of times past can be renewed for these times.

"Do you have any openness in your mind to consider using the Parlay House as it was established - for different peoples to talk with each other, and to hammer out plans and purposes which will benefit not just one side, but both sides - or many sides, if additional parties are included?

"This is the first thing I put forth. We will hear your answer, then talk about a second matter."

[Diplomacy 10 for starters. Then I used a hero point to reroll - and forgot to add skillpoints from Shel's Squinky's skill pills to the roll. So... 22 Diplomacy?]

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Kim for Vaughn) 
Tuesday May 20th, 2014 6:14:32 AM

Alouryn wonders what in the world Murphy is doing. Shouldn't we be talking about Sarabella Lovesong? This is the one who sent people to kill her. Whom did he send? We need names. And what sort of agreement can we come to with such a creature?

Alouryn, seeing the tatoos on Idafeatu, involuntarily shudders.

Podo (Danderfluff Pipewood) (Kim for Jon Paul Ward); HP: 23/23 AC: 21 
Tuesday May 20th, 2014 6:19:34 AM

Podo maintains his horse stance for the first several words that Murphy speaks. As he hears the words, 'peace and prosperity,' he begins to think that many of the sons of Aunt Bekka and Uncle Samell have the ability to talk a lot. He relaxes his stance, then changes into an upright stance, trying not to look like he is about to attack. Oh, if need be, he is ready. But the horse stance is unsuitable for long speeches.

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11  d20+4=24 ;
Tuesday May 20th, 2014 7:33:04 PM
"Murphy's right. I can only imagine you big'uns eat a lot. We are good farmers and have been raising crops for hundreds of years. Our village is darn good at it...just like a ton of other halfling villages."

Turning to the well dressed ogre, Shel inquires, "do you know the best way to raise a good squash? If they aren't treated just right, they'll never amount to anything and no one will get to eat them! And no one wants a good squash to go bad, do they?"

Diplomacy Aid Another: natural 20 for a total of 24!

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 33/33 AC: 17/13/15 
Tuesday May 20th, 2014 10:01:45 PM
Hazel marvels at Murphy's capacity (and audacity) to talk to the Ogres, but nothing had him prepared for Shel doing such a good work trying to convince the Ogres not to attack Crescent Valley.

But he still keeps his weapon ready, You can't talk a wolf into sleep with the sheep, right?

DM Kent  d20=11 ; d20=16 ;
Tuesday May 20th, 2014 10:29:52 PM
Idafeatyu looks a bit perplexed as Murphy and Shel speak and then shakes his head.

"Are you telling me that you have killed my people along the road and here in my own compound just so you can talk to me about trade agreements and gardening?" It is very true about what is said, that you little folk have no true sense of rightness and talk of us bringing war to you.

"Do you see any kind of army here? Besides it is you and your allies that erected those blasted towers so that we can not visit our northern kin. It is you that have relegated us to this infertile, inhospitable, wasteland of desert and scrub. It is you and your allies that harrass and hunt us as we try to go about our daily lives and make our livings. And you want to talk about us bringing war to your valley." We can not even set foot in your valley. You and your pet wizards have made sure of that."

"So explain why you are really here killing my people when they were simply defending their homes from what they deemed as a threat of invaders?"

You can see that while he is remaining calm that his words are definitely firing up his henchman and he is getting very antsy. While Idafeatyu's club is relaxed and hanging in his hand along his right leg, his henchman's club is at what might be considered at a ready position for defensive or offensive manuevers. Both clubs are extremely large, but Idafeatyu's seesm to have some sort of symbol or crest upon it.

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 33/33 AC: 17/13/15 
Wednesday May 21st, 2014 9:13:00 AM
"Invaders! Us? They are the invaders, and we will get rid of them and all his kin... " - Hazel thinks for himself, while getting ready to interrupt any spellcasting the Ogre might try.

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) Setting the record straight (Kim McCoy) 
Wednesday May 21st, 2014 8:15:49 PM
"If you cannot set foot in our valley, then what were people you sent - including an ogre - doing there? They showed up on the portion of Old Trader's Road within the south end of the valley. The giant's two surviving companions acknowledged you sent them. They set an ambush - they felled and laid trees to block the path of our carriage along the road, lacerated our people with arrows, and came in to try to mow us down, to slaughter us. Yes, that ogre we killed, as he and his companions initiated hostilities.

"Another giant at the south edge of the valley came upon a group of halflings screaming he wanted food, and began swinging his club, nearly killed a family. We stopped him - not with weapons, but with food. He was hungry. We fed him. To the best of my knowledge, he is alive and well. We spent a few days with him, showed him certain kinds of food he can find in the Red Hills, and how to set snares to catch game to eat.

"Another ogre we found. He wanted to battle us. We stopped him without harming him, and sent him on a picnic, with food and water.

"This poor fellow here I did not want to kill. My friend over there," and he points to Alouryn, "pleaded for us to take care not to kill him. But when someone is trying to slay you and your friends, sometimes a hit may be stronger than one intended. I am sorry he is dead. I am not sorry that we defended ourselves, else some of us may have died.

"When I spoke with him, though, I did not threaten. I asked for help. He said he must kill me, and hit me with his club.

"So, two giants who would not be dissuaded from attacking us, we killed, yes. And two giants who agreed not to attack us, we treated with kindness.

"But we come here since, according to the witness of many people - goblins, orcs, humans, and other giants - since YOU, Idafeatyu, are gathering people about you to invade OUR homes. And already have killed, through your agents. And, they say, you seek to gather giants from various tribes to come against us.

"So, we all have choices to make. Do you continue your agents' forays into and near the valley? Do you subvert our land through spies, and by bribes and corruption?

"The way you first got our attention was by sending people to kill Sarabella Lovesong, high priestess of Flower.

"If you will tell us who did that deed, then perhaps we can work something out.

"But if you - just a moment." He looks over to Hazel. "At ease, friend. I think I know how you feel. But, peace, unless they attack."

He turns back to look at Idafeatyu. "I am asking my friends to calm down. Will you ask your companion to do so, as well?" he asks, nodding in the direction of the ogre. "I really prefer we talk. I really prefer reasonable negotiations. By the way, you can call me Bombo.

"Again, though: Can you tell us who was sent to attack the priestess of Flower? Or do you know who might know?"

Podo (Danderfluff Pipewood) (Kim for Jon Paul Ward); HP: 23/23 AC: 21 
Wednesday May 21st, 2014 8:19:43 PM

Podo leans upon his staff, and tries to stifle a yawn. The yawn comes anyway.

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Kim for Vaughn) 
Wednesday May 21st, 2014 8:29:15 PM

Alouryn attends closely to what is being said. She thinks to herself. If peaceful relations require talk, then it certainly can take a lot of talk. Where is Murphy looking for justice, though? Ah - he is trying to find out whom Idafeatyu sent to kill our mother in the faith. Yes, it would be good to learn who that was. But, it was Idafeatyu himself who sent them to do this deed, was it not? Shall not he answer for this wicked act?

She voices a prayer in her mind, "Flower, oh Flower, please grant me wisdom to know what to do, what to say."

"Yes, who attacked Sarabella Lovesong?" she asks the tatooed giant again.

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Wednesday May 21st, 2014 9:25:05 PM
Shel didn't press her luck. She had helped with a few words earlier, but as things were still tense, she was afraid to blurt out something that would come out wrong. Murphy was much better at this than she. Perhaps it wasn't he that ordered Ms. Love song to be killed. Wouldn't that be an interesting development...

Shel didn't completely relax, preparing to cast Color Spray at the closest big'un, if things fell completely apart.

DM Kent 
Wednesday May 21st, 2014 11:11:13 PM

"As far as I am aware none of the giant folk have crossed the river, without permission, as per the old truce agreement. However the area south of the the river to the old trade road was deemed free for travel by all. I myself, along with a companion was attacked by a large group of goblins along a stretch by the remains of the Forest of Discord."

"It is always possible that some few of my men could overstep the bounds of courtesy and perhaps lean toward criminal activities. Can you not say the same of individuals that you are aware of?" I can assure you that they were given instruction not to harm anyone unless provoked or attacked."

"Ah so you met Stupid did you? He is one such that mention. He has been outlawed by me and is not exiled from this area. I am sorry to hear that he has been causing difficulties. While I am not surprised that is not a problem I can control nor can you lay at my feet."

Looking over at Hazel and then the indicated fallen ogre.

"Would you not, if confronted with 5 strangers that appeared suddenly skulking around in your abode, several with weapons drawn and at the ready, defend you home and family?" As for my companion here, I can only try to calm him down but that may be a bit difficult as you have just killed his brother."

He barks a quick sentence or two in ogre to his companion, who replies similarly but does lower his club a bit.

"Now then, You keep mentioning this gathering of people to invade your Valley. Again I ask you, if that is so where is this horde you speak of, and who are these witnesses?"

"I can truly say that I did not order the death of High Priestess Lovesong, though I did not disapprove of the contract that was put out on her, nor did I stop any of my people who pursued it. I must say though that some of my people brought me the information after havng procured it from hmmm ... an eventually willing goblin source. And I was not unwilling to profit from it.

And apparently at the time, the fee was worth the risk for those of my people that took advantage it on."

Turning to Allouryn as she repeats her question, he continues.

"However, I am sad to have to report that the people actually physically responsible for her death are currently being hosted by Marteus himself.
"I can also honestly say that I have no idea who put the contract out, though I can tell you it wasn't the goblins. But even if I did I would not pass that information along to you."

"Now then are you all going to leave my camp or must we resort to bloodshed?"



Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 33/33 AC: 17/13/15  d20+2=21 ;
Thursday May 22nd, 2014 2:56:07 AM
Hazel tries to see if the Ogre is telling the truth.
Sense Motive: 21

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) AC 15/13/13 HP 13/26 - Clarification; Appeal (Kim McCoy) 
Thursday May 22nd, 2014 3:57:02 AM

"About some things I may have been mistaken, then. About at least one thing you are. We were not all standing around with weapons drawn, though one had his weapon at the ready should trouble arise. The unfortunate ogre saw only me, holding a cat. I asked for help. Had he chosen to help, then no harm would have come to him. As far as it looked to him, it was only I, and my cat, when he chose to attack. I promise you, had he not said he would kill me, and tried to do so, and struck me with his club, he would still be alive."

He turns slightly to face the brother of the deceased.

"I am sorry it was your brother. I will set down my weapons." Murphy tosses takes his sling staff off his back and tosses it to the ground. He removes the bandolier which holds daggers across his chest, and lays that on the earth.

"All of you, please, stay back," Murphy says to his friends. "Do not defend me. Do not harm these two."

He steps over his weapons, and takes about three steps beyond, then stops.

In the giant tongue, he says to the brother of the dead ogre. "I am sorry. To lose a member of one's family, one's brother, brings pain." He says, slowly, and distinctly, first in the giant tongue, then, telling the ogre he will translate into common so the rest will understand, [b]"I am willing to appeal to Gargul on his behalf. Will you join me in the appeal? The God of Death and Life may say yes, or he may say no. But I will ask if he will allow your brother to return to you."[/i]

He takes a few more steps forward, and he drops down on one knee. "My name is Murphy, of Crescent Valley. Bombo is my travelling name. Will you tell me your brother's name?" he asks the bereaved ogre. "Will you come with me to ask of Gargul? This is no trick. I mean what I say." He turns his head slightly, projecting so his friends can hear. "If any of you are willing to join the appeal, that is up to you. There is no requirement." He drops his second knee to the ground, and spreads his hands.

"If you would do this thing with me, let us draw near the body of your brother, and ask Lord Gargul to hear our petition."

If the ogre seems willing to do so, Murphy goes with him. Otherwise he awaits the response of the two biguns.

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 33/33 AC: 17/13/15 
Thursday May 22nd, 2014 8:21:27 AM
[i]"That is it! He finally lost his marbles! "[/b]
Hazel thinks for himself while he moves 5' towards Murphy, ready to defend him if the Ogres attack.

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) AC 15/13/13 HP 13/26 - Clarification; Appeal (Kim McCoy) 
Thursday May 22nd, 2014 9:49:11 PM

The beautiful young priestess of Flower, accustomed to goodness, kindness, generosity, cleanliness, and courtesy, observes the tableau in front of her. Here they all are in the midst of a ruined place, in a place of intense heat, in a barren land. Hostile ogres, and an ogre mage who disclaims responsibility for what many have accused him of. She is certain that some of what he says is true. She thinks that he also is obscuring some things.

But Murphy thinks there may be a chance to change things. Where, though prepared to fight, even to kill, if necessary, one looks for a different way where possible. Where enemies become allies. Will this always work? No, not always. Sometimes Hazel's approach may be the easier, the more practical. But might it sometimes work? Look what happened with Oakleaf - at first thinking us guilty of a crime, then coming around, and offering us support. With Stupid - ready to kill people, now trained - at least somewhat - to care for himself. Could the Red Hills giants - and other inhabitants of the place - be persuaded to... play 'nicely' with Crescent Valley halflings?

"I do not speak his tongue, Idafeatyu," Alouryn says to the ogre mage. "But would you tell him that I, too, will stand with him, and appeal to, uh, the god of life and death? To ask for his life back? I am jumping down - don't worry - I am not attacking." She crouches down from the partially eroded wall on which she stands, then drops to the hot red ground beneath. She walks with beauty and grace toward the fallen ogre.

"I will stand for him." She softly, tenderly, places a hand on the shoulder of the ogre. Tears come unbidden to her eyes as she looks up at the living brother.

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Kim for Vaughn) 
Thursday May 22nd, 2014 9:52:29 PM
Above header reading Murphy, etc., time stamped "Thursday May 22nd, 2014 9:49:11 PM" should read:

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Kim for Vaughn)

Cora Callico (Kim McCoy) 
Thursday May 22nd, 2014 10:00:34 PM
The cat spoken of a few times, satisfied for the moment with her cleaning, decides it is time to find the person who gives her treats. She comes out from behind the ruins which had given her shade. She walks next to the wall, and rubs up against it as she walks in a sinuous pathway slowly forward. She gets past that wall, and takes a few more steps toward her food provider.

"Mao? Br-r-r-rup?" she says, and then leans her paws on Murphy's left thigh. She bumps her head against his left elbow.

Podo (Danderfluff Pipewood) (Kim for Jon Paul Ward); HP: 23/23 AC: 21 
Thursday May 22nd, 2014 10:09:10 PM

"Uh, say there, Bob. Murphy said to stay back, I think. Is that what you said, Murph?" Podo asks. Following Murphy's lead, but not completely, he lays his quarterstaff at his feet, then stands up straight again, watching what is going on. "Am I suppose to help with - how do you appeal to Gargul, anyhow?"

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 20/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Friday May 23rd, 2014 12:12:04 AM
Edric approaches Murphy. "Are you sure this is a good idea. They're giving us a chance to leave and they don't sound like they're responsible. Perhaps we should get out of here while we have a chance?"

ooc: sorry i've missed a bit. my classes were wrapping up and i got buried in work. all done with school now so I'm ready to play again

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Friday May 23rd, 2014 7:37:41 AM
Shel nods at Edric's suggestion. "I'm not sure about this either, Edric. Involving gods to bring back an evil big'un who tried to kills us? Sounds kinda goofy....but they haven't attacked us so far, so maybe crazy Murphy has hit on something.". She waits pensively, still prepared to blast a baddie, if the circumstances called for it.

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 33/33 AC: 17/13/15 
Friday May 23rd, 2014 8:52:53 AM
Hazel don't know what to think about Alouryn suggestion. Dropping an Ogre wasn't so easy... Do they really need to bring an enemy back? But he is unable to speak against it to her... More with his friends there...

DM Kent 
Friday May 23rd, 2014 6:49:48 PM
The other ogre looks at Murphy and over at Alouryn and tenses up again.

Idafeatyu barks out something and then answers the halflings. His brother's name was Rahshnek and he is with Marteus now as he would wish although perhaps under different circumstance. There is no desire for him to be brought back as you soft-folk often plead to your Gargul for.

So do you choose to leave or do you choose to die? Now is the time for choice.

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 33/33 AC: 17/13/15 
Friday May 23rd, 2014 8:12:00 PM
"Maybe we can help you guys go make him company..."

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 20/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Saturday May 24th, 2014 11:11:07 PM
Edric whispers to the others, "I don't see much to gain from staying and fighting, perhaps we should leave?"

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 33/33 AC: 17/13/15 
Sunday May 25th, 2014 12:28:24 AM
Hazel mumbles back:
"We are here already, this will be our best chance for this."

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Sunday May 25th, 2014 10:28:04 PM
"We are throwing our life away against these odds. Perhaps some agreement can be reached. Instead of everyone killing everyone, let's figure something out, and be on our way."

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 33/33 AC: 17/13/15 
Sunday May 25th, 2014 11:53:04 PM
Hazel turns towards his companions, uncertain of what he is hearing.
Do they really want to leave them escape?
The murderers of Sarabella Lovesong?

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) (preparing to leave?)  d20+13=16 ; d20+5=9 ; d20+5=20 ;
Monday May 26th, 2014 3:56:17 PM
[OOC: Sorry, friends - twice this weekend I had posts almost fully formed, and lost them - so here is my third attempt - blessedly much shorter than the other two :-) -Kim]
[Kent - as Murphy speaks the giant tongue - he learned it mostly from a half ogre/ogre mage - it seems that he would have understood perfectly well those things that Idafeatyu spoke to the ogre. Would you be so kind as to let me know what he said to him those two or three times he spoke?]

Murphy walks over and retrieves his bandolier, slinging it back over his left shoulder, the lower end resting on his right hip. He takes up his sling staff. He feeds his cat a little treat. As he does so, he hears the spoken and some of the whispered words of his friends.

"Very well. You have a mixed review in my mind, Idafeatyu. You did not order the murder of our priestess - yet neither did you oppose it. You claim not to know who ordered it, but you know those who carried it out have left this life behind. And, though you deny having an army, you speak of not stopping 'your people' from pursuing this murder.

"I leave it up to our friend here, whose mentor and trainer was murdered in the temple. If she is satisfied, then we leave, and avoid further bloodshed. Oh, by the way - Rory Sourwood BadApple may have sent his greetings." When he mentions that name, he gauges Idafeatyu's reaction.

Then he nods towards Alouryn. "Speak your mind."

[Prepared action: If he sees either giant moving to attack, he tosses Cora to the left, and himself tumbles to the right out of the way of the attack, coming back to his feet in the tumble.]

[Perception: 16; Sense Motive: 9; Acrobatics: 20]

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Kim for Vaughn) 
Monday May 26th, 2014 4:15:29 PM

Alouryn takes a deep breath as she sees Hazel's bloodlust, Shel's fear, Eldric's concerns, Murphy's relentless questioning and positioning.

"My first question stands unanswered. Who attacked Sarabella Lovesong? You say someone paid them well, and you know they are with Marteus - dead. Tell us who they were, or from whom we can find out. If you do that, then we leave, and avoid further bloodshed here today.

In a voice uncharacteristically bold, she now projects her voice as though she were a professional actor - or prosecutor in a court of law: "Idafeatyu, - who attacked Sarabella Lovesong?"

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11  d20+1=11 ;
Monday May 26th, 2014 7:17:58 PM
If an answer is forthcoming, Shel tries her best to judge the ogre mage's response. She kept her attention focused, ready to blast one of them, assuming the query was responded to with violence.

Podo (Danderfluff Pipewood) (Kim for Jon Paul Ward); HP: 23/23 AC: 21  d20+11=12 ;
Monday May 26th, 2014 8:30:49 PM


Podo notes the ebb and flow of tension among the various partipants in this conversation. "Is this what they call a 'parlay'?" he asks.

Thinking that they'll either get a good answer soon, or people will start hitting each other, he stands there, ready, he thinks, for anything.

[Readied action: Acrobatics: 12 (nat 1). If a bigun moves quickly in his direction, Podo will perform the astonishing move of falling face down into the red earth. Otherwise, he will just stand, waiting for the conversation to continue.]

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Monday May 26th, 2014 8:42:42 PM
OOC: in my last post the 11 was for a Sense Motive roll. Forgot to add this in.

DM Kent 
Monday May 26th, 2014 11:08:27 PM
(OOC: Kim - Ida was basically telling him to stop whining and grow up.)

"Again I tell you I do not know who put out the contract on your priestess. And I thought I made it pretty clear who actually did the killing as well. And yes I have lost no sleep over her death and am not sorry she is dead."

"And when I speak of my people I speak of the fourty or so who are part of my ... "tribe" ... so to speak. Though apparently your group is responsible for whittling that number down by a dozen or so. You don't see me coming to you looking for answers to why, or hunting you down, do you?"

sense motive rolls (ooc: Again you get the sense that generally everything he is saying seems to be truth.)

Perception roll Just as Ida finishes speaking Rahshnek's brother lets out a roar and tries to club Murphy, but misses.

Map rd7 https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4J2oKls4_y5MGJ5UTdQZnctTUk/edit?usp=sharing

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) Targeted again by The Brotherhood of Ogres (Kim McCoy) 
Monday May 26th, 2014 11:58:41 PM

As stated in my last post, as the ogre leaps to attack him, Cora is tossed off to the left, and he cartwheels off to the right, ending up about smack dab in the middle of F12 - between Rahshnek's body and an opening to the L-shaped building to his left.

"Stop the brother, don't kill him!" Murphy shouts. "This is the Parlay House - it's purpose needs revival!"

In the giant tongue, he shouts to the giant, "Do not try to join your brother today. He died because he chose killing, rather than help, or peace. Back off, brother of Rahshnek! I would not hurt you, but will if you continue!"

Cora the cat lets out a snarl as she is launched through the air, and lands, turns and spits. She sees the shadow of the ogre, and looks up. She crouches down, the hair of her back standing up, tail down. Cora makes low growling sounds.

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Tuesday May 27th, 2014 9:17:52 PM
OOC: is it initiative time? Can Shel move forward and take her readied action to color spray the brute? If so, that's what her plan is. Will DC 15 to resist.

"I'm not going to hurt him, but I'm not going to let him hurt us!"

Podo (Danderfluff Pipewood) (Kim for Jon Paul Ward); HP: 23/23 AC: 21 
Tuesday May 27th, 2014 9:40:29 PM
Podo doesn't see anyone coming his way, but does see someone going Murphy's way, so he does not now attempt acrobatics (whew).

He does call out to Idafeatyu, saying, "I think we can stop him without much more than maybe a few bruises. Do you want to help stop him, too? I agree with Murph - talking is better than killing." He heads over in the direction of the incipient combat - going to narrow spot of the building at the bottom of D9, just above E9, cutting through the corner there, planning to come around - but also aware that the building provides some cover should the ogre mage decide to begin blasting. His turn ends at the far side of that edifice, behind where Alouryn is shown on the map (though she really should be shown closer to the combat, as she had moved by the fallen ogre earlier).

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 33/33 AC: 17/13/15  d20+6=10 ; d3=1 ; d20+6=16 ; d6+2=6 ; d6+2=8 ;
Tuesday May 27th, 2014 9:50:01 PM
Hazel ready his action, when (if) Idafeatyu tries to cast a spell he will let a couple stones his way, to interrupt spellcasting.

If the other ogre approach, he will take a 5' step away to prevent AoO.

Attack Rolls: 10 and 16
Damage Rolls: 6 and 8

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 20/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Tuesday May 27th, 2014 11:32:37 PM
"Murphy, if you want a peaceful resolution you had better hurry. Otherwise its a fight."

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Kim for Vaughn) 
Wednesday May 28th, 2014 1:46:56 AM

[Computer problems: A fairly nice post from Alouryn got blown away. Here is a less elegant post on her behalf.]

This is what Alouryn wants to say: "People whose names we do not yet know, killed her, and themselves died, somehow, somewhere. WHO WERE THEY? You told us nothing about them, other that they were paid well. What races? What names? Where from? Give us something to know WHO did this. Do you not know these things, or do you simply decline to tell us? I believe what you have said, but this one thing more ... Who were they? THAT is what you have not said. Who were they?"

However, she does not say all that. Because the ogre has started trying to kill Murphy.

She looks to Idafeatyu. "You help us stop him - we do not want to kill him, or you - and we will depart in as much peace as we can muster. I am going to shield Murphy with a spell - I'm not hurting your friend."

She casts shield of faith on Murphy (3 minutes, +2 deflection bonus to AC).

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) AC 17/15/15 HP 25/26 (Kim McCoy)  d6+1=2 ;
Wednesday May 28th, 2014 1:57:00 AM

"Yep, Edric."

If the ogre does not appear to halt his attack, Murphy says in giant, "Here is tiny sting, to get your attention," and a lightning arc does a light 2 hp of damage to the ogre's right knee. "You do not want my full power." - But if it appears he is stopping his attack for any reason, he does not cast the spell.

DM Kent  d20=3 ;
Wednesday May 28th, 2014 11:22:07 PM
As Rahahnek's brother completes his swing and murphy sends his bolt of electricity Ida raises one arn closes his fist and rapidly brings it downward as he calls out a single word in ogrish Highlight to display spoiler: {"Zeharvash!" } and almost immediately a collum of fire falls from the sky and engulfs the other ogre.

When the fire dies there is nothing left but a bit of ash. (reflex save 3)

Ida stands there as if nothing untoward happened.

"He should not have disobeyed me. Now where were we? Ah right, you were having a hard time understanding what I have told you and were deciding whether to leave or to fight."

"So what is it going to be?"

Sense motive DC 16 Highlight to display spoiler: { You are now pretty sure that Idafeatyou is perhaps just a little bit more than a tiny bit insane and sociopathic.}

Map rd 8 https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4J2oKls4_y5eGd3ZDluT3J4Tzg/edit?usp=sharing

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 33/33 AC: 17/13/15  d20+2=20 ;
Wednesday May 28th, 2014 11:41:16 PM
Sense Motive: 20
Hazel glups at the power display of the Ogre mage, but realizing hw mad he is only steels his resolve.
"I say we can take him... Is not a good idea to let him loose."
Talking in halfling, of course.

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 20/26; AC: 21/13/19  d20+8=23 ; d6+3=9 ;
Wednesday May 28th, 2014 11:44:10 PM
Edric moves to E4. "I don't want to hurt you but I will stop you.", readying his axe. If the ogre doesn't stop his attack, he swings at the ogre.

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 20/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Wednesday May 28th, 2014 11:45:25 PM
ooc: I was typing my post before I saw Kents post, so retract my last post

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Kim for Vaughn)  d20+5=10 ; d20+7=19 ;
Thursday May 29th, 2014 2:12:28 AM

Noticing some motion from Idafeatyu, Alouryn tries to see what he is doing (perception 10). As a column of flame descends from the sky, the jumps back.

The devotee of Flower hears what the giant says, and notes that he does not seem to be moved by the loss of another follower. She begins to realize that this creature is far off balance. Perhaps Hazel is right, yet they learned much from the ogre mage. Not all that they could wish. And she does not want to lose Hazel, or any of her other friends here.

"I - I see you - you helped us stop him. So, as I said, we will leave."

In halfling, she says to Hazel, "If you do, I will heal where I can," and she brushes his arm with her hand as she passes by him. "But I think it wiser to go now, dear one. We need to find who ordered our priestess' death - it was not this one."

She begins to walk, slowly, toward the hill, though not so fast that she yet leaves any behind.

Perception: 10
Sense Motive: 19

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) AC 17/15/15 HP 25/26 - Flame out (Kim McCoy)  d20+13=33 ; d20+5=6 ;
Thursday May 29th, 2014 4:37:31 AM
Murphy's eyebrows were singed by the intensity of the fire. For a fraction of a moment he wondered whether his lightning arc had been greatly augmented - but his mind pulled together the events of the last several seconds - he had heard Idafeatyu shout "Zeharvash!" and gesture as though to pull something down from the sky. [Perception 33: nat 20]

His ability to sense motive [5: nat 1] may have been thrown askew by the proximity of the deadly strike in front of his nose.

However, they do have a choice now. Leave, or fight. Hazel wants to fight. Idafeatyu had come to his defense - however curious his motives may have been. Perhaps there may be a basis for future engagement ... Murphy truly wants to see the Parlay House brought back to its former usage. He knows he would like to get some clarification, but that is unlikely at the moment.

"Idafeatyu, we shall now depart."

He answers Hazel in halfling, "I understand, but cannot agree. Let us talk later."

And in common he says, "We go now. I must fetch my cat." Cora, coincident with the falling of the sky flames, emptied her bladder, and crouched, trembling. Murphy now approaches her, makes soothing sounds, and picks her up. He tucks her under the upper part of his coveralls. He has to rearrange her a few times so that her claws do not dig into his skin.

He says so all may hear, "Come, friends. There has been enough death today. Up the hill." He deliberately avoids returning through the tunnel, so as not to reveal it to the current lord of these ruins. "Back up, and onward."

He makes sure that the others come along before he gets too far.

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) AC 17/15/15 HP 25/26 (Kim McCoy) 
Thursday May 29th, 2014 4:53:51 AM

[Oh, oh - I forgot one thing I wanted to use the above perception roll for - to get a good view of the symbol on Idafeatyu's club. During the course of the conversations, he wants to observe it well enough to be able to draw it later.]

Podo (Danderfluff Pipewood) (Kim for Jon Paul Ward); HP: 23/23 AC: 21  d20+5=6 ;
Thursday May 29th, 2014 5:20:46 AM

Podo comes around the corner of the building and - whoosh! - up goes the ogre in flames. He watches as ashes float to the ground in the air perturbed by the column of fire.

Boy - was that something!

The monk then thinks about the different notions as to what they ought to do at this point. He has a measure of sympathy for Hazel - who, with some justification, wants to end the life of this evil creature. He does not quite understand just how Murphy plans to turn his continued existence into a benefit, but - he does remember about Lomar, the friendly ogre, who was brought into Hovel by Murphy's sister, brother, and some of their friends years ago.

He does not think that Lomar and Idafeatyu are much alike - though Lomar is half ogre mage. All right, they are both alike that way, but not much else.

So, Alouryn wants to leave. Murphy wants to go. Though he, himself, would be willing to fight if the others wanted to, he guesses that may not be happening in the next few minutes. So, he slowly moves the direction that Alouryn has headed. He tries to keep his wits about himself, alert in case Idafeatyu changes his mind about things. Otherwise, he will head up the hill with the others.

[Sense motive 6: nat 1]

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 33/33 AC: 17/13/15 
Thursday May 29th, 2014 9:16:37 AM
Hazel is secretly glad they retire, as the ogre showed up some very serious tricks up his sleeve. But he will go the last, don't taking his eyes off Idefeatu, ready to warn his friends if he tries something.
"Today is your lucky day, ogre."

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Thursday May 29th, 2014 10:46:29 AM
Shel looked in horror as the mage had smote his compatriot in one fell swoop. We aren't prepared to deal with that. Right now, at least. She turned as soon as the offer was made and scurried out to where the passageway they came in was located. She didn't stop moving until all the halflings were in that tiny tunnel. "Wow...that could have gotten really bad back there. That ogre mage is the most powerful creature I've ever seen!"

Alouryn 
Thursday May 29th, 2014 12:34:03 PM
The moment she sees Shel heading toward the passageway, Alouryn calls out, "Tess! Tess! Don't run away! Come. Up the hill." She points the way the first ogre they killed was heading to climb the hill on the surface.

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 20/26; AC: 21/13/19  d20+1=14 ;
Thursday May 29th, 2014 2:42:49 PM
The heat of the column of fire shocks Edric as much as watching the ogre mage turn on his comrade. He accepts, however, that it is not his problem. "We're leaving Ideafatu. If we find you've lied to us, we'll be back."

Sense motive: 14

Murphy, supplemental 
Thursday May 29th, 2014 4:51:56 PM
Murphy also ensures (as indicated above) that no one goes back to the tunnel, but climbs the hill on the surface. Including Shel.

DM Kent 
Thursday May 29th, 2014 9:35:05 PM
(ooc: go back and carefully read, look at the wording of what Ida has told you. You should be able to figure out what he said.)

Idafeatyou looks a bit shocked that you are actually leaving. And stands there looking at your retreating backs for a moment.

"See I was right, no spines. How pathetic. Are all halflings as weak willed as the bunch of you? You set out to clear yourselves and solve a murder and you can't even do that. I wonder how you will enjoy being hung by the neck. That is still how they deal with mureders in the Valley these days is it not? I do hope the trip back to Angel springs is a pleasant one for you? Or will you slink back to Humbles Ford in the hopes that you can live off of your competition victory... Perhaps if they chase you off, you might comeback this way and join up with me. I seem to be in need of some new recruits. I do accept criminals and I do not judge so long as you follow my orders....

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 33/33 AC: 17/13/15 
Friday May 30th, 2014 1:24:02 PM
Hazel clench his jaw, but doesn't answer Idafeatyou. Rage pours out his eyes.

Kim 
Friday May 30th, 2014 7:22:59 PM
will post late tonight... on the road

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Friday May 30th, 2014 8:59:50 PM
"Don't listen to him. Don't listen to him. Don't listen to him," Shel kept whispering her refrain as she headed in the other direction with the group. She knew other had a shorter temper than she and didn't want to risk Hazel getting burned by one of those columns of flame, for instance. "Don't listen to him," she continued.

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 20/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Friday May 30th, 2014 9:28:13 PM
Seeing that none of the others are responding to the insults, Edric keeps quiet and follows the others out, not wanting to be the only one to rush into a fight.

Kim 
Saturday May 31st, 2014 1:50:45 AM

In quiet halfling, Murphy says, "Let's clear ourselves, eh? Be brave, and ready."

Turning to face Idafeatyu, the druid responds, "So, did we tell you we set out to clear ourselves? I don't think we mentioned that. You are more well informed about some of the goings on in Crescent Valley than you were admitting earlier.

"But, as long as we are here, you mentioned the possibility of employment." Murphy says, "C'mon guys, let's look into this offer." He turns around and heads back down the hill, hoping the others will follow.

"What sort of mission would you have in mind were we to accept your offer of recruitment? What is the next step in your plans, and how do you think we might best advance your goals?"

ADM Kim - appropriate quote from a halfling from the Windhorn Hamlet / Grey Knights game about Marteaus 
Saturday May 31st, 2014 1:53:14 AM
Whoever chooses to keep following the so-called 'Dark Lord' is a fool, or evil, though in some cases it's hard to tell the difference.
-- Bill Troublefinder, Grey Knights


Podo (Danderfluff Pipewood) (Kim for Jon Paul Ward); HP: 23/23 AC: 21 
Saturday May 31st, 2014 2:06:37 AM

Podo, thinking they were going to continue the climb - he does not really care what a stupid giant thinks - finds himself stopping at Murphy's words.

Oh, boy... he whispers. In halfling, he counsels his friends, "Stay spread out." He comes down the hill, standing to the far left of Idafeatyu, about 30 feet away. He addresses the giant, "So, what's in it for us? Is there someone we're supposed to report to, besides you?"

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Saturday May 31st, 2014 10:00:52 AM
"No Murphy, I think this is dumb. I don't plan on listening to any idea from this guy. You saw what he just did to his friend. I'm not going to wait around and let him set fire to me as well." Shel shakes her head, and moves away from the ogre mage.

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 33/33 AC: 17/13/15  d20+1=16 ;
Saturday May 31st, 2014 9:23:47 PM
Hazel thinks he knows what Murphy's move is... let's try to et some intelligence from the Ogre.
"Damn! I am a wanting man down there. Maybe there is a new start for me here. At least you know I am a match for any of your ogre friends. So, what is the work, and what is the pay?"
Bluff aid another Check: 16

DM Kent 
Sunday June 1st, 2014 10:31:02 PM

Plans? How many times must I say that I have no plans. I am simply trying to make a living in my own way. Which now I find myself in need of some new compatriots to aid me in that endeavor.

But why should I take you on? Wwhat have you done to warrant such a boon from me? And why should I trust you as you have cost me or killed a goodly portion of my men? I believe I make it a count of at least 10 now that you are responsible for. Leaving me now, parhaps, with a mere handful, that are out collecting tithes, so to speak. Though I do expect them back relatively soon.



Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Kim for Vaughn)  d20+9=17 ;
Sunday June 1st, 2014 10:35:10 PM

Alouryn says to Shel in halfling, "Do not leave entirely, friend. Come what may, we need to stay together for the moment."

She moves so that she is within 30 to 35 feet of Hazel and Murphy, yet farther away from Idafeatyu. In common she asks, "Is there anything you can have us do, giant, to help the Crescent Valley halflings, and the Red Hill giants, at the same time?"

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 33/33 AC: 17/13/15 
Monday June 2nd, 2014 8:15:24 AM
"Besides getting rid of you..."
Thinks Hazel for himself...

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Monday June 2nd, 2014 9:20:15 AM
Shel pauses at the top of the hill, looking back at the group before continuing her retreat. This waiting and attempting to outfox him is nothing but folly. We need to get while we still can, she thinks to herself.

Murphy for the Prosecution AC 17/15/15 HP 25/26 (Kim McCoy)  d20+5=16 ;
Monday June 2nd, 2014 10:12:25 PM
Even if he die, Murphy believes that truth, in the end, is paramount, and justice must be served. He is unaware that Shel has decided not to stay with them, as he is counting on her abilities to help should this lead to a fray - as it very well might. But his focus is Idafeatyu - and Murphy promises himself that this hulk of a creature will face, one way or another, the justice he deserves.

"Well, here is how I see it, Idafeatyu." Murphy clasps his hands behind his back, and declares, "You are in need of new compatriots because you sent some to kill Sarabella Lovesong, and they died - though they carried our their plan. You sent some to kill us, and they died. I am thinking that some of the same people who killed the Lady Lovesong, also attacked us. As you have shown you are aware that WE were accused, and possibly subject to death by hanging - you also now know that Your people, who murdered the priestess, were killed when they tried to kill us.

"Your people are dead, because they carried out great evil, and then sought to compound their wickedness, by arranging to kill those falsely accused, and their guard." As he talks, he paces to and fro, pausing in his pacing from time to time, as though speaking before a judge, a jury, and the accused.

"These were Your people, Your responsibility. You acknowledge that You supported the plan to assassinate the good priestess, that Your people accepted abundant payment to do so. Since they were under your command, you could have told them not to carry out such a plan. Did you? Did you? No - out of your own mouth you tell us you did NOT dissuade them. You encouraged them. You supported them. So, even if You were not the first one to propose her killing, You are as responsible for Her death as the one who proposed it, and as responsible as your Flunkies were for performing the foul deed.

"So, all in all, it appears you are a leader whom it is unsafe to follow. You tell people to war against the halflings along the outskirts of Crescent Valley, and now that you support an act of war against the people of the Valley by sending in assassins.

"You are in league with enemies within the Valley, as well. And I have a good idea who the ringleader of those enemies might be. It would take such to have the intelligence to know that the murdered priestess was aware of plans for invasion by inhabitants of the Red Hills.

"You have decried being cut off from your brethren to the north - against whom towers were raised by our ancestors to block their proven murderous ways against us.

"In summary, you conspired against Sarabella Lovesong and the people of Crescent Valley. You are complicit in her murder, and it was your people who carried it out. You have been directing your other people to harry and harrass and attack and kill people trying to carry out business in the northern part of the Red Hills.

"And you tried to have us killed. That makes it rather personal.

"Did I leave anything out?

"So, why should you take us on? Really, all things considered, we would be foolish to serve under your direction.

"On the other hand, would you be willing to serve under ours?" He leaves that question hanging in the air for a moment.

"IF you chose to confess your crimes, repent of your ways, and turn to do something positive for the peace and prosperity of BOTH the Red Hills and Crescent Valley, THEN perhaps we have something to talk about."

Murphy figures the ogre mage will likely decide that it is time for bloodshed. The giant has strength and powerful abilities on his side. The halflings outnumber him - but all of them together do not come close to outweighing him. They also have some skills and abilities, though perhaps a fraction of the power he possesses.

"Your thoughts?"

[Conditional - Acrobatics: 16 - to tumble out of the way should Idafeatyu's club head his direction, or the like, and, as is becoming a habit here at Parlay House, to separate his poor little cat from his own threatened person.]

Podo (Danderfluff Pipewood) (Kim for Jon Paul Ward); HP: 23/23 AC: 21 
Tuesday June 3rd, 2014 3:25:28 AM

Podo listens, though his attention wanders occasionally from what Murphy is saying to observing details of the ogre mage. He observes the tatoos, and also tries to figure out the symbol or rune on Idafeatyu's club.

If the giant starts to attack, Podo plans to run around to his back side, to offer flanking opportunities for his friends. If the giant decides to repent, well, Podo will be absolutely amazed.

DM Kent  d20+9=10 ;
Tuesday June 3rd, 2014 7:36:46 AM
Podo sees an obvious motif in Ida's tattos and the club. It kind of looks incomplete as it is half of a skull cut vertically along the nose. It is repeated several times on his body.

Skull tattoo https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4J2oKls4_y5cmM1UXZ5XzBUY3M/edit?usp=sharing

Serve under you? What fun that would be. I thiink I would rather go back and live with my father. Now he was a real piece of work.

Ida does indeed take a swipe at murphy wioth his club but misses badly, in fact his reaction time might just be looking a tad slower than before for whatever reason.

Give me some coordinates where you are on the map and I will post with next post.



Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 33/33 AC: 17/13/15 
Tuesday June 3rd, 2014 8:13:50 AM
Hazel, as usual, would be point, around E10, trying not to be close to his companions, so they can't we all caught in the same area of effect.

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 20/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Tuesday June 3rd, 2014 3:29:39 PM
Edric didn't think talk would go well, and Ida's response confirms it. He readies himself for battle at E7.

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) AC 17/15/15 HP 25/26 (Kim McCoy)  d8=3 ;
Tuesday June 3rd, 2014 6:35:03 PM

Murphy was on the right side of G10 as he asked for Ida's thoughts. As the ogre mage moved forward in an attempt to strike him with his club, the little druid tumbled back to G12 (using end-of-last-post conditional acrobatics roll of 16) (with Cora the cat tossed relatively gently to the side toward H12). Murphy casts sound burst to go off about 3 feet in front of and above Idafeatyu's face for 3 points of sonic damage, DC 15 fort save or be stunned for a round (affects anyone within 10 feet of the blast, but with the blast point about 15 feet above the ground, halflings should be outside the range of the sonic burst, so no need to save).

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Kim for Vaughn) 
Tuesday June 3rd, 2014 6:58:54 PM

Alouryn listened to Murphy's recounting of things the giant had told them. That is right - he is guilty of her death. Perhaps more needs to be done to learn if there was another who came up with the idea - but the ogre mage is as guilty as any of conspiring and supporting those who killed her kind and loving mentor. There is no repentance on his part, no remorse. And it seems he will continue to do what he can to cause trouble for her people. Perhaps Pantheon might support their attempt to carry out what justice they can against this strong foe.

But, Murphy gives him one out - to serve them - and the good of both valley and hills. Will he?

-No. True to nature, Idafeatyu scorns and attacks.

Alouryn is in the upper left corner of F13. From there, she calls forth a spell she already cast, removing lesser restoration from her memory and casting for the second time this day (using her hero point) hold person on the ogre mage.

Podo (Danderfluff Pipewood) (Kim for Jon Paul Ward); HP: 23/23 AC: 21  d20+8=14 ; d4=3 ;
Tuesday June 3rd, 2014 7:09:59 PM

Bald, except for a single lengthy braid of hair emanating from the top of his head, Podo the monk dashes forward to attempt a strike at the right Achilles tendon of the giant with the hard edge of the bone just below his own left elbow. He started at I9, ended where Ida is (likely G9 or G10).

Attack: AC 14; Damage: 3

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Tuesday June 3rd, 2014 8:33:02 PM
Shel will probably need a round getting back to the far corner of the map. Retreat, fight, retreat, fight! I just wish the boys would make up their mind! They are going to get all of us killed, she thinks as she turns and runs back to try and help her doofus friends against the massive ogre Mage. "Hold on, I'm coming!"

DM Kent  d20+8=12 ;
Tuesday June 3rd, 2014 11:23:05 PM
Murphy casts his spell and the big boom goes off and while it was loud the halflings suffer no damage.
Ida however ssmes absolutely surprised that the vermin has dared to attack and is standing there stunned.

Alouryn casts her spell and almost immediately she knows it didnt work. It was almost like the spell didn't rcognize ida as a humanoid creature.

Hazel and Edric prepare for the upcoming battle.

Podo leaps forward and due to ida being stunned manages to connect.

Shell turns and starts running back to the group.

Ida takes no action due to being stunned.

Map https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4J2oKls4_y5dXlLTzhvSUVkMUk/edit?usp=sharing

Podo (Danderfluff Pipewood) (Kim for Jon Paul Ward); HP: 23/23 AC: 21  d20+5=12 ; d20+5=17 ; d4=2 ; d4=3 ;
Wednesday June 4th, 2014 12:48:38 AM

Podo works on that Achilles heel once again with a flurry of blows. Podo has seen what this fellow can do. He is doing as much real damage as his little limbs can deliver.

Hit AC 12, 17. Damage 2, 3 (forgot to add on attack rolls for stunned condition, so AC hit should be 17, 22. Also, if Ida is stunned, he likely dropped his weapon)

Murphy Bumblebee Leafwin Pipewood AC 17/15/15 HP 25/26 (Kim McCoy)  d20+7=25 ;
Wednesday June 4th, 2014 1:10:36 AM

Murphy dashes forward to G10, and launches his last tanglefoot bag at the ogre mage.

[b]"Deliver the same judgment he gave to Flower's servant!"[b] he shouts in halfling to his friends.

Attack 23 (added 2 from stunned condition, forgot to subtract 2 from 20' distance, rather than 10' for ranged touch attack)

Podo (Danderfluff Pipewood) (Kim for Jon Paul Ward); HP: 23/23 AC: 21 
Wednesday June 4th, 2014 1:16:21 AM

Addendum on Podo's placement - He should be at far right edge of G7 or the far left edge of G8 at this time in order to attack Ida's Achilles tendon, rather than in front of him.

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Kim for Vaughn)  d20+6=19 ;
Wednesday June 4th, 2014 2:33:03 AM

"He is not a true giant! He is something else - perhaps an outsider!" exclaims Alouryn in halfling.

"Oh, Flower, grant me wisdom to help my friends. Bless them, Dear Lady, in this struggle." She takes out her ribbon whip, and begins a dance with ribbons flowing in complex, fluid pathways. She dances for Flower, for love, remembering what Sarabella taught her and the other acolytes through the years about how love can conquer hatred, and is stronger than cruelty, and weaves trails of justice, and pathways of mercy.

Her dance weaves around E & F, 10 & 11. Perform dance: 19

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 33/33 AC: 17/13/15  d20+6=12 ; d20+6=8 ; d6+2=3 ; d6+2=3 ;
Wednesday June 4th, 2014 6:43:05 PM
Hazel prepares a pair of rapid shots as soon as Idafeatyu tries to cast of tries to draw / recover a weapon or item.
Attack rolls: 12 and 8
Damage rolls: 3 and 3

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 20/26; AC: 21/13/19  d20+6=19 ; d6+7=13 ;
Wednesday June 4th, 2014 7:38:15 PM
Edric moves towards a stunned Ida with his axe and slashes viciously towards him with a Power Attack.

Attack: 13 + 8 - 2 (power attack) = 19
Damage: 6 + 3 + 4 (power attack) = 13

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Wednesday June 4th, 2014 8:46:35 PM
Shel moves 15' to her immediate right, and tries to line up an Acid Splash spell. She fires a little glob of acid, trying to set up a more powerful spell in the upcoming rounds.

Ranged touch attack [dice]1d20+5-4[/dice]

Damage [dice]1d3[/dice]

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11  d20+1=2 ;
Wednesday June 4th, 2014 8:48:11 PM
Ooc: just had Paizo on the brain, I guess in my last post. My attack roll is a natural one...oh great. Not good.

Cora Callico (Kim McCoy) 
Thursday June 5th, 2014 3:22:33 PM
Cora earlier landed on the red earth at G11. She decides to explore the adjacent rubble. She appears to be getting used to being tossed aside. The cat is looking for mice, or lizards, or something to chase / hunt / investigate / pounce upon among the crumbled ruins. She is getting used to loud noises after her master tosses her aside. Young and adaptable...

DM Kent  d4=4 ; d4=3 ; d20+3=10 ; d20+10=23 ; d20+7=23 ; 3d6+7=15 ; 4d6=8 ; d6=1 ; d6=5 ;
Thursday June 5th, 2014 10:50:01 PM
Alouryn dances for guidance and to inspire.

Murphy's aim is dead on with the bag and entangles ida gluing him to the ground for the time being.

Hazel Podo and edric all connect for damage though hazel only connects one time.

Shel tries to get off a spell but in her rush nearly spills acid down her own front.

Whle cora frolics in a corner.

+++++++++++++

Ida comes out of his stunned states only to see a tangle foot bag come flying, he attempts to remove hinself but due to no real notice of what was coming can do nothing about it and is truly gooped up. Reflex save 10 He does however quickly break out of being stuck strength roll 23 and letting out a frustrated roar he casts a spell, concentration 23. A cone of ice sprays out from ida in a quarter circle and extends out 60 feet cating everything in its path.

Murphy, Shel, Alouryn, Hazel and Edric and Cora take 14 points damage reflex DC 16 for 7 points

Map https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4J2oKls4_y5X3pXMGdFX2kzcG8/edit?usp=sharing

+++++++++++++++++

Ida AC19 (now 17 due to tanglefoot bag) - down 23


Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 19/33 AC: 17/13/15  d20+6=7 ; d20+6=18 ; d20+6=8 ; d6+2=4 ; d6+2=7 ;
Thursday June 5th, 2014 11:06:36 PM
Reflex Save: 7
Hazel, trying to avoid the cone of cold, jumps instead into its path, taking the full force of the spell.
He can only pray his aim keeps true even with the numbness in his hands and face.
Again, HE WILL READY HIS ATTACK TO TRY AN DISRUPT THE OGRE MAGE CASTING.
Rapid Fire attack rolls:18 and 8
Damage Rolls: 4 and 7


Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Kim for Vaughn)  d6=6 ; d6=5 ; d20+5=23 ;
Friday June 6th, 2014 12:49:28 AM

Alouryn hears the ogre mage's roar as she dances, and sees him fling forth a spell. Her lovely white elkskin gloves shield her face, and her body spins, deflecting a portion of the icy spell (reflex save 23), taking a chilly 7 hp damage. "Thank Thee, Flower, for Thy Healing Warmth!" she calls out as she sends a healing burst (11 hp of healing) touching all within 30 feet of her - except she does not extend this grace to the wicked giant, for he will not repent, and aims to slay them.

Edric, Shel, Hazel, Murphy and Cora (and of course Alouryn herself) are within the area of effect. Podo may be just barely outside the area (DM call) - though he was not injured by the frosty blast in any event.

She continues her dance. "Give up, giant, return to your Outside! Welcome are you no longer."

Podo (Danderfluff Pipewood) (Kim for Jon Paul Ward); HP: 23/23 AC: 21  d20+8=12 ; d3=1 ; d20+8=15 ; d4=3 ; d4=3 ;
Friday June 6th, 2014 3:09:57 AM

Podo tries to knock the giant about the leg some more, but, after momentarily appearing stuck fast, the giant moves a bit...

His first blow misses, but the second one connects for another 3 hp damage - this time on the outside right of Idafeatyu's right ankle.

He hopes their opponent soon will have no leg to stand on. He is mindful that the giant may try to kick, but his own hands and feet are available to help deflect such a blow. He remembers sparring once with a man who stood seven feet tall. It's like that, only the ogre mage is even bigger. When the man tried to kick him, he broke the man's big toe - then apologized.

Attack: 14, 3 hp - miss (12 +2 for flanking)
Attack: 17, 3 hp - hit (15 +2 for flanking)
[No save necessary for cone of cold - outside area of effect.]

Murphy Bumblebee Leafwin Pipewood AC 17/15/15 HP 26/26 (Kim McCoy)  d20+4=21 ; d6+1=5 ;
Friday June 6th, 2014 3:37:01 AM

Murphy manages to dodge some of the icy blast (Reflex save 21, 7 hp damage), and feels gratitude for the healing surge from good Alouryn (back to full hp). Murphy moves to I9 and zaps Idafeatyu on the chest with a lightning arc for 5 hp.

Trying to draw the warlord's attention from his friends, Murphy taunts, "So you approve of assassinating sweet elderly women, do you? Are we still so soft as you think, murderous one?"

He thinks he may soon summon an air elemental against the monster - especially should the ogre mage try to go misty on him, as Lomar can do. If Ida does not first turn Murphy into a campfire or block of ice, that is.

Cora Callico (Kim McCoy) 
Friday June 6th, 2014 3:45:26 AM

[As Cora Callico had left G11 to explore in H11 earlier (following the record - including the earlier Private to DM post, Cora landed on the very top of H12, walked more or less along the bottom border of G11, then went exploring in the rubble of H11 prior to the cone of cold...) she should be at least a bit outside the area of the cone of cold.]

Cora turns her head for a moment as a whoosh passes by behind her, then resumes her hunt among the hot rubble.

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11  d20+5=7 ; d20+5=9 ;
Friday June 6th, 2014 8:43:19 AM
OOC: the dice roller here hates me. Reflex: 7 so takes 14 damage, but healed for 11 means current HP is 12/21.

Shel moves to E6, trying to spread out the targets for the mage's powerful damage cone. She again uses her Acid Splash spell to try and damage him.

Ranged touch attack 9, but I forgot the minus four for firing into melee, so it is actually only a 5, another clear miss.


Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 12/26; AC: 21/13/19  d20+5=10 ; d20+6=16 ; d6+7=10 ;
Friday June 6th, 2014 1:36:47 PM
Edric takes the full brunt of Ida's icy blast. He reels from the freezing pain. He recollects himself to unleash another Power Attack on Ida.

Reflex: 10
Attack: 16
Damage: 10

ooc: added 6 to Edric's hit points, as the damage was from over a month ago and I assume it has healed by now.

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 30/33 AC: 17/13/15 
Saturday June 7th, 2014 3:16:38 PM
Hazel feels Alouryn's blessing as if it were her sweet embrace, and knows that as long as she is around, nothing will be able to stop him.
HP: 30/33

DM Kent  d20+7=23 ;
Saturday June 7th, 2014 9:01:34 PM
Both Podo and Edric notice, as they are up close and personal with Ida, that several of the wounds that are being inflicted on him seem to be healing almost as quickly as they are caused.

Alouryn relieves some of the agony from the icy damage,

Murphy send along a little arc of lightening

Podo chops away with his hands while Edric chops away with his ax.

Hazel sends a few more stones Ida's way and Shel is having difficulty with her spells.

*********************************

Again concentrating to ignore that which is happening to him Ida again casts a spell concentration DC 23 And Murphy feels a compulsion start to each at his mind. will save DC 16 or be charmed

Map https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4J2oKls4_y5X3pXMGdFX2kzcG8/edit?usp=sharing

=======================

Ida AC19 (now 17 due to tanglefoot bag) - down 30


Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 30/33 AC: 17/13/15  d20+6=19 ; d20+6=7 ; d8+2=4 ; d6+2=7 ; d6+2=7 ;
Saturday June 7th, 2014 9:57:20 PM
Hazel keeps timing his staff sling shots to make Idefeatu lose his spells.
Attacks Rolls: 23 and 7 (Nat 1 :( )
Damage Rolls: 7 and 7
Sorry, I rolled a 1d8+2 by mistake. Ignore it.

Murphy (Bombo Gardner) AC 17/15/15 HP 25/26 (Kim McCoy)  d20+12=23 ; d20+5=8 ;
Saturday June 7th, 2014 10:13:42 PM

Murphy saw something - a twinkle in the eye? A friendly grimace? on the ogre mage, directed his way. He plays along [successful will save dc 23 (+5 added to +7 due to fact that giant damaged him and his friends about six seconds ago - save was 18 if +5 not included)].

"You know, Idafeatyu, this could be a really fine place again. What do you think about rebuilding it to its former glory? Eh - watch it - there's a..." he tosses a flask of acid, winding up to make it look like he is trying to throw it far over and beyond the giant, but for all his theatrics the flask falls well short even of the giant. "Watch it!" He points up in the air above and behind the giant. "What is that?" There really is nothing to be seen - yet. In the giant tongue, he asks, "How may I serve you?"

He is thinking "well done" might be a good answer.

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Kim for Vaughn)  d6=4 ; d6=2 ;
Saturday June 7th, 2014 10:24:10 PM

Alouryn dances over to E9, just to the right of the building - taking advantage of it for concealment from the giant, and sends out another healing surge (+6 hp to all party members within range - I think that includes everyone this time). She looks at Hazel, so brave, sending his missiles time and again against the wicked giant. She prays for him inwardly.

Podo (Danderfluff Pipewood) (Kim for Jon Paul Ward); HP: 23/23 AC: 21  d20+10=27 ; d4=4 ;
Saturday June 7th, 2014 10:41:41 PM

Podo sees a spot at the back of the knee as an inviting target. If he hits that just right, he might stun the giant, or perhaps make him wobbly. He leaps, and, grabbing the stout hairs on the back of the giant's calves, flips his body up, and his kneecap strikes solidly the back of the giant's knee (AC 27 for 4 hp damage). He flips back down, and sets a stance as a foundation for his next attack.

[Idafeatyu must make a DC 12 fortitude save or be stunned for one round.]

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11  d20+1=18 ; d3=1 ;
Saturday June 7th, 2014 11:32:06 PM
Feeling mostly helpless, but encouraging by the healing burst from Alouryn, Shel again tries to Acid Splash the ogre. She is successful this time, as a tiny drop makes its way through the defenses, for all the good it does.

Current HP 18/21. Ranged touch attack 18. Damage 1.

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 12/26; AC: 21/13/19  d20+8=16 ; d6+3=7 ;
Monday June 9th, 2014 3:10:48 PM
"This beast is healing himself almost as quickly as we attack! Keep up with the acid!"

Despite the regeneration, Edric continues his assault on Ida, viciously swinging his axe towards the ogre.

Attack: 16
Damage: 7

DM Kent  d20+8=18 ; d20+7=17 ;
Monday June 9th, 2014 11:17:37 PM
The damage definitely rocks Ida this time and while not stunned from Podo's blow, the combined attacks are enough to disrupt ida's concentration for casting his next spell

Podo (Danderfluff Pipewood) (Kim for Jon Paul Ward); HP: 23/23 AC: 21  d20+8=24 ; d20+8=24 ; d4=3 ; d4=1 ;
Tuesday June 10th, 2014 2:39:49 AM

"Acid? What acid?" Podo wonders to himself. So, these people carry acid around?

Podo strikes twice this time, for a total of 4 hp damage to the giant. He is impressed with how much stamina the wicked leader of giants and others has.

AC 26, 3 hp; AC 26, 1 hp

[Note: rolled d20+8 - forgot to add +2 for flanking, so AC 26 hit, rather than AC 24]

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Kim for Vaughn)  d20+5=11 ;
Tuesday June 10th, 2014 2:45:44 AM

Alouryn remembers that Idafeatyu said some of his people were coming back soon. As it would be quite unfortunate were allies of the ogre mage to arrive to aid their leader at this time, the healer takes a look around - up the hill, then around the ruins, just to make certain that no one else is showing up. She moves to D11 as she looks about - sometimes getting a slightly different angle can help.

Or perhaps the angle of the sun makes it difficult to notice anything but the most obvious.

[Perception: 11]

Murphy Bumblebee Leafwin Pipewood AC 17/15/15 HP 25/26 (Kim McCoy)  d20+5=19 ; d4=1 ; d6=3 ;
Tuesday June 10th, 2014 3:04:52 AM

"But may I suggest we serve you up medium rare?" Murphy asks in the common tongue just after hurling a flask at their harried foe.

Said flask (alchemical fire) contains a mixture of volatile substances. It strikes Idafeatyu on his left side, doing 3 hp fire damage (with 1 hp of splash fire damage to Edric - sorry, Edric). Unless extinguished, next round it will do an additional 1d6 fire damage to the ogre mage.

[Used splash damage rules, divided big square giant is in into four 5' squares, started numbering in upper left on the map to determine adjacent 5-foot-square splash perimeter - that came up for Edric]

Ranged touch attack: 17 (forgot to subtract 2 from attack for additional 10' distance in die roller)

[With acid last round, and fire this round, that should, I think, preclude regeneration for the moment]

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11  d20+1=3 ;
Tuesday June 10th, 2014 6:06:17 AM
Shel again tries to shoot her glob of acid at the ogre Mage, but she misses wide to the right, due to the distraction of the halflings gathered around the legs, running to and fro.

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 30/33 AC: 17/13/15  d20+6=12 ; d20+6=14 ; d6+2=5 ; d6+2=7 ;
Tuesday June 10th, 2014 12:34:44 PM
Worried that he is getting short on ammunition Hazel's next to shots are wide. He moves 5' to get a clear path to charge the ogre when the time comes.
Sorry I can't see the map, but take the 5' into account.
Attack Rolls: 12 and 14
Damage Rolls: 5 and 7

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 12/26; AC: 21/13/19  d20+8=13 ; d6+3=8 ;
Tuesday June 10th, 2014 7:10:37 PM
A bit of Murphy's burning oil splashes Edric, searing him.

Pushing through the fiery pain, Edric makes a clumsy attack on Ida.

Attack: 13
Damage: 8

ADM Kim 
Tuesday June 10th, 2014 9:00:40 PM

Edric - you should have 25/26 hit points - just down 1. Alouryn has healed twice - for 11 and 6 points. You took 14 from the cone of cold, but got back 17 (so, back to full), then took the 1 hp, so, down one.

DM Kent  d20+9=22 ; d20+4=7 ; 2d6+5=9 ;
Wednesday June 11th, 2014 6:21:18 AM
Ida takes more damage and seems to be healing less efficiently or perhaps not at all though it is hard to tell with all the stuff going on.

With a grunt and a roar Ida reaches over his shoulder and pulls out something from off his back which as he swings it becomes a very visible greatsword which catches Edric solidly AC 22 for 9 points damage

Podo (Danderfluff Pipewood) (Kim for Jon Paul Ward); HP: 23/23 AC: 21  d20+10=25 ; d20+10=27 ; d4=1 ; d4=1 ;
Wednesday June 11th, 2014 6:55:36 AM

Podo hits twice again, yet with small effect.

AC 25, 1 hp; AC 27, 1 hp.

Podo (Danderfluff Pipewood) (Kim for Jon Paul Ward); HP: 23/23 AC: 21  d6=2 ; d20+3=4 ; d3=3 ; d4=4 ;
Wednesday June 11th, 2014 7:04:19 AM

The alchemical fire which Murphy threw last round burns for an additional 2 hp damage to Ida.

Murphy decides to try to throw a dagger at the giant - but fumbles as he tries to extract it from his bandolier, and instead manages to cut himself along the ribs for 3 hp damage (nat 1, rolled d3 for damage, d4 for location (1-head; 2-arms; 3-legs; 4-torso). "Oo" is all he says.

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11  d20+3=18 ; d3=3 ;
Wednesday June 11th, 2014 10:58:26 AM
Shel again fires a glob of acid at the big'un. She strikes this time, hearing a satisfying sizzle as her spell works effectively.

OOC: Talked to Kim, who found the rule that since the ogre is more than two sizes larger, I only take a -2 for firing into melee, rather than the -4. I have made that adjustment for this round, and any other round Shel survives for! Ranged touch...18. Damage...3.

Alouryn (Buttercup) AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Kim for Vaughn) 
Wednesday June 11th, 2014 10:08:10 PM

"Save Edric, love." Hazel of a sudden feels a bonding between himself and Alouryn similar to what he felt, what was it, now, only about three or fours weeks ago as they play battled the Bad Apples during a game of capture the flag in Humble's Ford. The young cleric established a connection with the ranger, such that, should he be hurt, she herself would bear and alleviate about half of the damage he otherwise would have borne all by himself. "Behold, the one who set us on this path. Humble the mighty, Hazel. Bring him down."

Shield Other +1def +1save, share 1/2dmg at will 1hr 30'.
Hazel - remember +1 def (AC 18/14/15) and +1 on saving throws. Half the damage you take Alouryn bears.

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 12/26; AC: 21/13/19  d20+8=15 ; d6+3=6 ;
Wednesday June 11th, 2014 10:19:38 PM
Edric tries to avoid the greatsword, but takes a direct hit. His vision blurs as the sword bites into his chest. Blood drips down his mail. He manages to recover his wits enough to return the attack.

Attack: 15
Damage: 6

ooc: forgot to change hp, thanks for reminder.

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 30/33 AC: 18/14/16 (Shielded)  d20+9=27 ;
Wednesday June 11th, 2014 11:48:45 PM
Thanks Kim!
Hazel feels the bonding with Alouryn fills him right away, and he feels invincible.Nothing can stand in his way now.
"Humble's Swords!"
He charges the ogre, all his might in one hit, with his Sling Staff.
Sling Staff Power Attack: 27
Sling Staff Power Attack Damage:


Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 30/33 AC: 18/14/16 (Shielded)  d4+6=7 ;
Wednesday June 11th, 2014 11:49:40 PM
Sorry, forgot to roll for damage with the excitement of the 27!
Damage: 7

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 30/33 AC: 18/14/16 (Shielded)  d20+7=23 ; d4+6=8 ;
Wednesday June 11th, 2014 11:53:10 PM
Let's see if we can finish this!
I want to spend Hazel's Hero Point to make another attack. I roll in case it is allowed.
Extra Power Attack: 23
Extra Damage: 8
"I am the king of the Wold!"

ADM Kim to Damian 
Thursday June 12th, 2014 1:01:56 AM

Damian: FLANKING: Edric is on one side of Idafeatu; Podo is on the other. You get a +2 flanking bonus in your attack rolls. Therefore, instead of 1d20+8, it's 1d20+10. So, you hit with your 6 hp damage, as you got the requisite 17 (rather than 15, as your post indicated).

Corsario: You betcha!



DM Kent 
Thursday June 12th, 2014 6:41:38 AM
With a final flurry of attacks the ogre magi hits the ground, or at least you think he does. you hear a thump, Podo and Edric feel the vibrations and there is even a bit of dust and detritus that puffs up from the ground, but you see no body, no sword, nothing. It is like de vanished as he hit the ground. No wait that is exactly what it appears has happened.

The stalwart crew of halflings is nowstanding in the middle of the Parlay grounds, having disposed of the individual responsible for Sarabella's death if not the one who ordered it and or paid for it.

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Thursday June 12th, 2014 7:04:42 AM
Shel casts Detect Magic, hoping some telltale aura that might yield a clue to what just happened would remain behind. "I've heard tales of stronger mages than I being able to turn invisible. I wonder if that is what might have happened here.". She readies an action to cast a spell if the ogre pops back into view.

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 30/33 AC: 18/14/16 (Shielded) 
Thursday June 12th, 2014 3:26:18 PM
Hazel runs towards Alouryn, embraces her and spin her around!
"We got him! We did it! Hurray!"

Murphy Bumblebee Leafwin Pipewood AC 17/15/15 HP 22/26 (Kim McCoy)  d20+13=22 ;
Thursday June 12th, 2014 4:39:34 PM

"You may be right, Shel," Murphy says. "Perhaps something like that."

Murphy knows that ogre mages can change themselves into a gaseous form for a period of time. He draws close to where Idafeatu fell, and looks about, to see if he can discern any waves in the air - when Lomar does it, the air gets a little blurry where his gaseous substance is.

If such be the case, he tells people to get back, summons an air elemental, and has it go into whirlwind form in the area of the gas, so as to break down the integrity of the gaseous creature and harm it further.

If he does not discern any such ripples in the atmosphere, he joins in the rejoicing. Not finding any gas, he will say, "Humble's Sword - I think we did it!"

Perception: 22

Cora Callico (Kim)  d20=13 ; d20=1 ; d20=12 ; d2-1=0 ; d20=6 ; d20=4 ; d20=2 ; d20=7 ; d20=8 ; d20=1 ; d20=7 ; d20=5 ; d20=12 ; d20=5 ; d2-1=0 ; d20=15 ; d20=15 ; d2-1=1 ; d2-1=0 ; d20=20 ; 3d2-1=3 ;
Thursday June 12th, 2014 5:36:04 PM

The callico cat has been prowling the ruins. At last, she finds prey - a lizard, lying in the shade of an overhanging rock. She stalks it, moving forward a few feet at a time.

The dark-skinned spiny lizard seems totally unaware of the presence of the cat, apparently sleeping.

After getting close enough to do so, Cora pounces, and bats at the lizard. No harm is done, but the lizard awakens immediately, scampering from under the shelf and running. The creature eludes the cat for the moment. Both cat and lizard scamper about, with no harm coming to either for a while. One of Cora's paws manages to swipe at the tail, but no harm is done.

She finally pounces, landing with both feet near the neck. The lizard responds by trying to bit the cat, but gets only a mouth full of fur.

Cora bites down in the chest and shakes her head back and forth. The desert lizard's little heart is punctured, breathing grows shallow for a few breaths, then the critter goes limp.

Cora picks up the lizard and carries it over the broken stones. She then lays it down a moment, and cleans herself off. That duty done, she picks up her victim, and soon pads from the ruined building out onto the red earth.

Cora Callico (Kim) 
Thursday June 12th, 2014 6:36:24 PM

Desert Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus magister)

Alouryn Buttercup Bumblebottom AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (Kim for Vaughn)  d6=2 ; d6=3 ; d20+10=20 ; d20+12=23 ;
Thursday June 12th, 2014 10:38:06 PM

Alouryn allows Hazel to twirl her around. She lifts up one leg behind her as he does so, and, as he sets her down, gives him a quick kiss on the cheek. "You were wonderful, Hazel!" Then she kisses his other cheek, and pushes away for a moment.

To all, she says, "Gather 'round, friends, if you have suffered any injury." She releases a light surge of positive energy, healing 5 hp damage to each person. She looks over the sword cut which Edric received, and uses her healing kit and skills to effect some additional aid (Edric +3 hp from this check, total +8 hp of healing from surge and healer's touch).

She also will check with each of the other party members, applying her healing touch where needed - bringing Shel back up to full health.

"I am glad that Idafeatyu used his fire from the sky on his own man, rather than upon one of us," she comments to no one in particular.

Podo (Danderfluff Pipewood) (Kim for Jon Paul Ward); HP: 23/23 AC: 21 
Thursday June 12th, 2014 11:10:38 PM

Podo looks at the settling dust. He sees the scattered ashes of the brother of the dead brother - also reduced to ashes as the 2nd ogre stood almost atop his brother when Idafeatu flamed him.

"Ogres clean up nicely, don't they? Shall we push their ashes into this hole, here, that Murphy made, and cover them over with dirt?" he looks around for a loose stone with a long flat edge from among the rubble. Finding one, he picks it up, and uses it to scrape the ashes into the five foot cubic hole. Once he has gotten most of the remains, he pushes dirt into the hole.

Murphy Bumblebee Leafwin Pipewood AC 15/13/13 HP 26/26 (Kim McCoy) 
Thursday June 12th, 2014 11:22:19 PM

Murphy helps Podo out on the burial detail, and, as they finish, speaks up.

"Say, friends - shall we go look inside the building they came out of? I want to write everything down before I forget it, and make some sketches," Murphy announces. "I think we should talk to the Burgomeister and lordly types about rebuilding the Parley House. Also, among some druids I've heard ways of making an oasis in the middle of a desert. We need to find out where the water comes from here. Does someone want to see if there is a well, or a covered cistern or pond or the like?"

"Also - I think I'm going to do away with my traveling name for now. Just call me Murphy. But if you forget and call me Bombo, I'll still answer."

He sees his cat standing at his feet with a lizard in her mouth. "Well, brought be a present, did you? Good cat you are!" He reaches down to pet her on the back of her head. She goes to drop the lizard at his feet, and uses one paw to help get it unstuck from the right side of her mouth, then takes a few moments to rub up against Murphy's ankles and receive additional pettings. "What a fine lizard you've found! A bit bloody in places, but, a fine catch. He picks up the lizard in one hand, finds it's skin a bit rough, pretends to take a bite, then sets it back down in front of Cora. "Thank you. You can have the rest - you hunted it!"

Murphy Bumblebee Leafwin Pipewood AC 15/13/13 HP 26/26 (Kim McCoy) 
Thursday June 12th, 2014 11:25:36 PM

"Oh, and, we might have the picnicking guard ogre show up again - or the other members of Idafeatyu's retinue show up - as he told us they are due back soon - so we probably should have someone outside keeping an eye out for any who may approach," the druid advises.

"Also, and very important: Thank you all! Each of you pitched in. Each of you defended the rest of us, and helped to bring down some mighty foes. It is an honor and a privilege to be in your company."

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 12/26; AC: 21/13/19  d20+2=8 ;
Thursday June 12th, 2014 11:44:38 PM
"Thanks for the healing. I needed that. This was quite a battle and everyone should be proud that we took out the dangerous beast. Let's look around and make sure that the disappearance isn't a trap."

Perception: 8

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Friday June 13th, 2014 7:36:04 AM
"Are we sure we need to dawdle here for the time? If he might reappear, I think it might be for the best for us to make one quick pass then maybe make ourselves scarce. But a piece of evidence or two that he had something to do with Sarabella's death would be nice too, so that all the rumors would go away."

Murphy Bumblebee Leafwin Pipewood AC 15/13/13 HP 26/26 (Kim McCoy) 
Friday June 13th, 2014 4:07:27 PM

"Shel, taking an hour or so to look this place over is not dawdling. It is due diligence. We're going to go into that - well, at least I am going into that building there they just came out of, with whoever wants to join me, and we will see what's inside. Oh, you did say one quick pass. What if they are holding prisoners? What if they have gold and such they have been using to finance their thuggery?

"I agree, though - I don't expect to stay here for days. I see two options - we bring our ponies down here, load them up, and ride out within the next few hours, or we stay overnight and head out in the morning. We won't know which makes the best sense, though, until we have taken a look around. And I'd like to see if we can find any evidence that Rory Sourwood BadApple has left a footprint here, so to speak.

"I have a feeling he is gone. Idafeatyu, that is. If he is not, though, do you think it likely he'll try to attack us again real soon now?"

After all this, Murphy looks at Shel, and says, "Has anyone ever told you that you get a cute look on your face when you throw things at monsters?"

ADM Kim to all - OOC comments, queries, news, changes 
Friday June 13th, 2014 4:22:49 PM

For the sake of efficiency in wrapping things up, can we assume that our troupe does the following, our DM gives the results, and we then move on to the next module, for DM Kent's sake?
Explore, retrieve, document
* We explore the remaining standing buildings, search them carefully (Murphy would be especially interested in discovering if there might be any secret doors with passages into / out of the other buildings, similar to the one we found from the lookout post down to the remnants of the building below).
* We find and share out any treasures found (coins, gems, jewelry, artwork, books, magic, etc., etc., etc.)
* Gather any documents found
* See what other supplies (food stores, equipment, transport, etc.) are to be found at the place
* Murphy will take the time to at least quickly measure (42 paces by 68 paces by 18 feet tall - that sort of thing) the exteriors and interiors and sketch out the main building, and any other semi-useful buildings
* He wants to find where the water is kept here, and how it is delivered (drawn from cistern? plumbing?)

Travel itinerary
* If there is enough light left in the day, we head out, back the way we came. Maybe we'll camp overnight at the ogre's picnic spot. Perhaps a whirlwind will pick us all up and deposit us in Kansas.

Personnel changes
* As Jon-Paul Ward told me he will not be able to start posting again until later in July, Jerry Phelps has asked me to have Podo leave the group for now.
* As all of you know, Vaughn no longer plans to play Alouryn - and Jerry also wants her out of the game by Monday (he said by today, but Monday is the absolute deadline - I think a bit of weekend role-play with Alouryn and Hazel (and whoever else wants to join in) might be appropriate). DM Kent - any deus ex machina thing you want to work out to facilitate Alouryn's exit? Might Flower or one of her servants show up to tell her she is needed elsewhere?
* With us down to four players - feel free to recruit for Humble's Sword

* Any other things any party members wish to accomplish?

[And, Mister DM Kent - what time of day is it? Where is the sun in the sky? By my reckoning, I'd guess about 2 or 3pm, but please correct me if my sense of time is off.]
Freestyle Weekend?As this is a time of departure, and we are out of combat, may I propose free-style posting (post multiple conversations, actions, etc.) for now through midnight Sunday? Say what your character is doing, interact with each other to your heart's content, get things out of your system ("Say, Murphy, why do you have to talk so long before we just kill the monster??"), have a group hug, etc.

Last:
Thank you, Kent Lewis, for your DMing over the past several months. I know you've had much to deal with outside the game, but you've hung in there, and you have our gratitude and appreciation.

Next week, we can welcome back co-DM Steven Van den Bremt (a veteran player from the first Crescent Valley game) will be back to introduce us to the next module in the Humble's Ford game!

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 30/33 AC: 18/14/16 (Shielded) 
Friday June 13th, 2014 5:04:35 PM
I was thinking in the idea of "reopening" the Parlay House. What about Alouryn staying to set it up, a new place to foment peace between small folk and bigguns in the Crescent Valley? Sounds something Alouryn would like to do, the Flower followers can get behind, and that requires her to stay. Also I think I like the place (after remodeling) for the wedding. What wedding? This wedding!
Hazel drops down Alouryn and kneels before her.
"Alouryn, I know I don't have anything but my love, but I have seen that is enough for anything. Will you marry me?"

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Friday June 13th, 2014 9:32:29 PM
OOC: we gain a level at the end of the month,correct?

Pre proposal:

"I'm going to throw something at you, doggone it Murphy, if we change plans in the middle of a retreat like that again! It took me forever to get back and help.". Despite herself,a Shel can't help but blush a little at the compliment. "Thanks...I'm glad we all ended up okay.

Post proposal:

Shel stands agog with her mouth wide open at Hazel's words. He wasn't a wordsmith, but it seemed to do the job. She geared up a bit at his prooclamation of love, and she waited without moving for Alouryn's response.

Alouryn Buttercup Bumblebottom AC: 16/14/13 HP: 21/21 (ADM Kim) 
Saturday June 14th, 2014 5:07:00 AM
Alouryn is taken aback as Hazel kneels before her and proposes. Her face flushes, and she smiles, and bites her lip. Her hands go to her cheeks, and her brows knit briefly in a furrow, then relax, then raise. She looks absolutely beautiful and alive.

"Wh- wh- what?" What is that crossing her face - concern, consternation? Hope? Confusion? Joy?

"Oh, oh Hazel. Oh. I... Oh, dear. Oh, you dear one, you. I will... pray. Let me - let me pray to Flower. You are such a - Hazel! How could you?! Oh, so sudden - but, but, yes, I will give you an answer. First, though, first," and she takes his hand and draws her up to her, then her face comes close to his, then, she draws back, putting her hand before her, to forestall him trying to kiss her. "Oh, love, I must pray. For I cannot answer you, much as my heart might say. If... if you love me - can you wait for my answer?"

Podo Danderfluff Pipewood Departure (Kim for Jon Paul Ward); HP: 23/23 AC: 21 
Saturday June 14th, 2014 5:59:47 AM

Podo offers to get the ponies and bring them down here, if someone will help him also get the saddles and gear. He waits a few minutes until he sees who will help him, then sets out to do so.

Upon his return with ponies, tack, and other gear, he announces, "Well, folks, this has been an interesting time. You helped rescue me from some baddies. A few of us fell in a pit, then got out. We found vultures and rats in a garbage dump. We climbed a hill together, talked an ogre into deserting his post for a picnic, then came and conquered two ogres and an ogre mage.

"You are an interesting group of people. Hazel, did you know I think we are cousins, of sorts? Through the Danderfluff line."

"Much as I would like to stay and help you folks some more, I have a sense there is something else I need to be doing for a bit. Hope to travel with you again one day! But for now, let me shake your hands, and then I shall be on my way."

The mostly bald halfling monk extends his hands to shake the hand of Murphy, Hazel, Alouryn, Shel, & Edric. "Alemi's wisdom, Domi's courage, and Wardd's luck be with you all. Fare well, friends!"

And with that, Podo heads off, no back up the hill but rather past the lower building the group came through, and on into the Red Hills from there.

[Jon-Paul Ward is on walkabout for now. Perhaps later in the summer he may rejoin us. -ADM Kim]

DM Kent 
Saturday June 14th, 2014 8:57:38 AM
Shel is pretty sure that somehow Ida turned invisible.

During Murphy's waving about, he actually trips over and lands on something big hard unyeilding, unseen and unmoving. (probably an invisible Idafeatyu)

Alouryb cheers and heals.

Hazel proposes

Edric is thankful to be healed.

A decision is made to search the main building

**************************

The main standing building is basically 3 rooms. there is the main room in the middle which is full of tables and benches enough for 40-50 folk.

Along several walls are a few personal packs bedrolls and the such.

To the left is a door which opens into a storeroom filled with food goods and some miscellaneus items (nothing much of import) and in the corner is an open hole that goes deep into the dark. Beside the hole is a 100 ft rope attached to a bucket.

Opposite this room is another door. When opened it is very obviously Ida's office/bedroom.

Within this room you find a number of intersting things.

1500 gps worth of gems(15) in a bag. Also in the bag is a note.

Idafeatyu,

Your people did indeed accomplish what they said they would do. Nice timing too, allowing for the accusing of those pesky Swords. Please find inside the amount promised.

"B"

Also inside is a very crude information sheet putting a 1000gp bounty to be paid for the death of one Sarabella Lovesong of Humble's Ford (This sheet is written in Goblin).

In other areas of the room you find bags of things and some weaponry.

Bag 2 - Coins - 500 gps,
Pouch 1 - (5 gems) - 400 gp and a ring of protection (+1)
2 short swords (+1)
2 light repeating crossbows
4 five bolt clips (+1)


parlay house interior https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4J2oKls4_y5bE9WX1BXX2s4LVE/edit?usp=sharing

**************************

Notes taken, grounds searched and mapped. Podo announces that he is going to head out on his own and hopes that he may someday meet up with the group again.

The party moves out back the way they came but find no sign of the picnicing ogre just an empty water keg.

The trip back to Angel springs is quick and uneventful, though just outside of the city you have a momentarily startling ancounter with an overly enthusiastic beast that leaps out of the bushes and knocks Hazel down. Hazel finds himself being sat upon and his face being licked by his exuberantly happy pup.

You enter angel springs easily and make your way yo the lord mayors office. You are ushered in quickly where you show him the documents and proof that you have found that you all are innocent.

He sets you up for the night and feasts you in private and in the morning you are handed a writ signed by the Baron and the lord mayor exonerating you of the charges against you. You also hear that the same is being announced by criers in the town and that there are posted bills proclaiming your innocence and the fact that you brought the real culprits to justice all over town.

In a hurry to head home you break your fast and are mounted on your ponies when the Baron himself shows up. He personally congratulates you and thanks you and he has his pet sorcerer cast a special spell on your mounts that will allow them to get you home in 8 hours instead of 2 days, and you are off.

****************

Upon your arrival home, it is now about 5 in the afternoon, you find that someone obviously was expecting your arrival as there are welcome back signs, streamers, and everyone in town is there to greet you. Even the small celebratory band is there playing for your arrival. mayor Bumbleluck is there and presents you with keys to the city. And Crystal BadApple is there in her robes, tears flowing down her face as she greets and holds tightly to Alouryn.

Your families and friends are all there cheering you and an impromptu parade begins that winds all the way through town, ending up at the Dancing Pig where the Mayor announces that from now on today's date will be known a Sarabella's day and will be a celebration of her life and accomplishments. And then the party really begins.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Please move your experience point totals to 9150 (level 4). Please update your PC sheets as quickly as you can.

The other treasure from earlier in this module that you all have is listed again below.

Hats of disguise (3),
enlarge potions (5)
10 gemstones - 250 gp
Coins - 50 gp,
5 gemstones - 250 gp
4 potions (cure moderate x2, resist fire, blink),
+1 ring of protection


Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Saturday June 14th, 2014 8:57:55 AM
Shel was quite surprised at Alouryn's lack of an answer. She had seen the way Hazel and she had stolen looks at each other throughout their adventures together. She figured the decision was a no doubter...wonder what was going on in Alouryn's mind?

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 30/33 AC: 18/14/16 (Shielded) 
Saturday June 14th, 2014 10:46:17 AM
Hazel, still very exited from the battle, doesn't mind the request for time.
"Of course I can wait! Think it good."
He shakes hands with Podo. About his reference to their family link he smiles.
"Well, thank for treating me as good as you did. I would like everyone in the family do the same."
He also hugs Murphy and Edric.
"Good work Edric! Sorry I took so long to go and help you!"
He also go to Shel, and a little ackwardly, gets her up and give her a couple of spins as he did with Alouryn!
"We won! We Won! You are the best looking magician I have meet, you know?"
Hazel seems happy to leave the "Bob" behind and for everyone to call him Hazel.
"I feel more comfortable with you calling me Hazel."
He embraces and rolls with Faoil when he meets him, laughing.
"How have you been? Found a nice dog-girl to keep yo company? Here, come say hi to Alouryn, and the rest."
Level 4! Well done guys!
I think we got 2,950 gp, between the four of us, so its 737.5 each, and with 272.4 Hazel had his new total is 1009.9.
About the magic items he wouldn't mind one of the two rings of protection, The other for Edric. The crossbows would be a waste on him, he is better with the slingstaff. The can also make a good use of the Enlarge Potions (as would Edric).

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11 
Saturday June 14th, 2014 10:46:27 PM
OOC: what are everyone's thoughts on what second level spell Shel should pick up? With us having a smaller group, should I look for something like SMII to provide melee support or a more evocation type spell like a Scorching Ray or a Flaming Sphere? Or should I pick up Invisibility to try and let our little group be more sneaky? Any thoughts?

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 30/33 AC: 18/14/16 (Shielded) 
Sunday June 15th, 2014 12:25:20 AM
My vote is for fire... firepower.

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 43/43 AC: 18/14/15  d10+2=9 ;
Sunday June 15th, 2014 1:40:49 AM
Hazel HP Roll (1d10+2) : 9
+1 Favored Class bonus he goes up from 33 to 43 HP
+1 To DEX, up to 16
+1 BAB, +1 Fortitude, +1 Reflex
Ranks in: Acrobatics, Climb, Handle Animal, Perception, Ride, Stealth, Survival
He gains 1 Ranger Spell Level 1 (Magic Fang Normally)
He finally gains Hunter Bond, which of course is Faoil.
Faoil, now as Animal Companion, gains:
HD: 2
BAB: +1
Fortitude: +3
Reflex: +3
Will: +0
Skill Ranks: 2 (Perception, Stealth)
Feats: 1 (Dodge)
Natural Armor Bonus: +0
Str/Dex Bonus: +0
Bonus Tricks: 1 (Aid)
Special: Link, share spells
I'll go buy him a Masterwork Chain Shirt Barding, And for Hazel a Masterwork Lance and an engagement ring.

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 43/43 AC: 18/14/15 
Sunday June 15th, 2014 1:53:20 AM
Character Sheet updated

Murphy Bumblebee Leafwin Pipewood AC 15/13/13 HP 26/26 (Kim McCoy) 
Sunday June 15th, 2014 4:51:32 AM

At the Parley House site:
Disposal of Idafeatyu
"What do you know - you were right, Shel - here is Idafeatyu, invisible!" Enlisting the help of other party members, he sprinkles dirt and dust to outline the body, locates greatsword and club, pulls them away. He gets some oil, and pours it on a few places. Then lights the body on fire. "Whether or not he has been regenerating, I want to ensure his remains do not remain."

Serious Proposal
Murphy is pleased at the interaction between Hazel and Alouryn. He looks forward to finding out how this story resolves. When they have a moment relatively unobserved by others, he gives Hazel a friendly punch in the arm. "Wise choice, you rascal. Am rooting for the two of you."

Buckets of Water
The druid verifies that one can draw water from the bucket in the Parley House. He samples it to see how it tastes.

more later...

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 43/43 AC: 18/14/15 
Sunday June 15th, 2014 10:33:55 AM
Hazel thanks Murphy.
"You'll be my senescal (best man for halflings) for the wedding, of course!
Murphy notices Hazel is certain of Alouryn's answer even before she has giving it to him.

DM Kent 
Sunday June 15th, 2014 10:52:39 AM
(OOC hey guys we have at least one more joining the group real soon and possibly two.)

Ida burns nicely. The water tastes fine. The party is roaring.

Shel has a numbner of local boys hanging on her every word. She is asked more than once to dance.

Edric and Murphy too are surrounded as well by the ladies who seem to be waiting for something from them.

Hazel to has the ladies coming up to him but something in the air makes them not stay around him long. It could be the undisguised stare he keeps sending Alouryns way as she sits and talks with Crystal. Every now and again she glances up catched Hazel's eye and sends him a sweet smile.



Murphy Bumblebee Leafwin Pipewood AC 15/13/13 HP 32/32 - Quick post (Kim McCoy)  d8=5 ;
Sunday June 15th, 2014 12:10:51 PM

Murphy says, "Edric, you and Podo were the first ones to get right up close and personal as we battled Idafeatyu. I really admire your courage - and strength of arm. You aren't much for talking. But, when it comes time, you certainly are great at doing."

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 43/43 AC: 18/14/15 
Sunday June 15th, 2014 2:18:40 PM
"Quite right! You are the sword of the Humble's Sword! Cheers! "
Hazel raises his mug to Edric.

Murphy Bumblebee Leafwin Pipewood AC 15/13/13 HP 32/32 - Treasure; Angel Springs 1 (Kim McCoy) 
Monday June 16th, 2014 3:20:25 AM
On Division of Spoils
Murphy quietly asks Hazel whether they ought to be dividing the found treasure six ways, rather than four. Podo left after the grounds were searched - and Alouryn definitely, as a contributing party member, ought to have a share.

"Besides, Hazel, if she says 'yes' - then that will increase your own household's wealth," he says with a smile.

Split six ways, that is 492 gp each (because Murphy throws in 2 gp to make it divide evenly).

On the other hand, Murphy might argue that since the 1500 in gems was blood money - paying for the murder of Sarabella Lovesong - that perhaps they should turn that in to the authorities as evidence. "Perhaps the gems could be traced to Rory BadApple - or to whoever 'B' was."

If they choose that way, it works out to 242 gp per person (again with Murph tossing in an extra 2 gp)

Murphy feels that this suggestion might not sit well with his companions, but he argues that it may reflect on our integrity. "My father used to tell me, 'A good name is better than great riches.'" Then he adds, "Besides, the authorities might tell us to keep it as a reward for taking down the bad guys. I know, that last one is a weak argument."

Murphy also feels that his suggestions for treasure division might not win him a popularity contest with his companions. Everybody loves loot, right?

With the Dignitaries
Murphy says to the Lord Mayor, "Your Lordship - 'B' in that pay-off letter is most likely Rory Bitterleaf BadApple. I don't know whether you have some way of proving that fully... but he has motive, held a petty grudge against Humble's Sword for beating his children's team, was willing falsely to accuse and open us to slander, and - aspects of his character and associations are known.

"He is responsible for arranging for Sarabella Lovesong's murder, as far as I can tell. If I am wrong, I will apologize to his face. If I am right, I would see justice done."

If the party has agreed to show the payoff gems to the authorities, Murphy will say that he has something to show both the Lord Mayor and the Baron, together, when they can be together. And then will show the gems that were paid to Idafeatyu. If the party does not agree to this, then not.

When he sees the Baron, Murphy repeats in effect what the told the Mayor.

And, he thanks him for his support, and the Baron's sorcerer (whose name Murphy requests, as he offers him/her his own name) for the travel assistance.

Murphy Bumblebee Leafwin Pipewood AC 15/13/13 HP 32/32 - Angel Springs 2 (Kim McCoy) 
Monday June 16th, 2014 3:42:07 AM
Super Fast Stop at WinWood Toys & Games
However, before they leave Angel Springs, Murphy absolutely insists that he and his friends stop in for 'just five minutes' to WinWood Toys & Music to introduce his sister and brother to all of his friends. "One, I promised them I would see them as soon as I could. And two, I want you to know their faces, and they yours - for both have been adventurers in their own right, and they helped my siblings in a time of real trouble several years back."

As the five friends enter WinWood Toys & Music, on the left side of the shop are all kinds of toys - mostly wooden, but many also have metal, glass, leather and other components. The right side of the shop is filled with musical instruments - harps, drums, flutes, lutes, some zithers, violins, gambas, mandolins, cymbals, zil, a few chalumeaus, dulcimers, lyres, pan-pipes, recorders, a bladder pipe, a pair of kortholts, a very nice organetto, a rauschpfeife, a mute cornet, several sackbutts, a lysard, a corna muse far too large for a halfling, a shawn and its cousin a dulcian, and - well, many more than will be enumerated here - but that's not to forget the harpsichord tucked in the far corner.

A colorfully painted metal cylinder has very hot water inside, kept that way by three wicks burning below it, and a spigot on the side. It is topped by a small, equally colorful tea pot. Nine matching teacups hang from small hooks near the top of the cylinder.

A rosy-cheeked auburn lass looks up - perhaps in her late-30's. She wears a green dress with an ivy motif in the embroidery above bare feet, and a sprig of ivy in her hair.

"Oh, my word, little brother!" She skips up to the druid and plants a kiss on the right cheek, the left cheek, the right cheek, the left cheek...

"We got your notes, and hear all kinds of rumors. You're back safe! Oh, thank heaven above!" Leska exclaims.

"Allow me to introduce my oldest sister, Leska Rose - what are you, 99 years yet?" Murphy teases.

Leska scrinches her nose at him.

"And this is my brother, Nalfein," he says, indicating the wirey fellow with tousled hair who just came in the back door. "He and Kendry and Selithe adventured together for a time. And, he has very clever fingers for making things, and occasionally breaking them."

Nalfein raises an eyebrow. "Yet another of our clan causing trouble throughout the Wold, Murph?" Then he strides over and gives Murphy a hug, followed by a noogie. "I'm sure you needed that. We've gotta stay humble, us hero-types, right, Bumblebee?"

"Uh, yeah, Nalf," answers Murphy, putting his hand over his head where his brother just briskly rubbed it.

"Anyway, these are my friends. This here is Edric - he really helped take down a couple of ogres, and is great with the sword. Oh, and goblins and such.

"This is Shel - she and Selithe have similar magic styles in common. But I can't tell you how much I appreciate her - and her good sense.

"Next is Alouryn. She's a devotee of Flower - and, well, you likely have heard a good part of her story. Leska, she reminds me of how well you can heal - and she really kept us going when the bad guys were getting to us.

"And my old buddy, Hazel - did you know he grew up and became a ranger? Yep. Oh - and this is his valiant hound, Faoil. Mind the tail, Faoil."

"And, sorry, we'd stay and talk, or have some tea, but my friends are awfully anxious to get back to Humble's Ford right away." He gives his sister a hug and a kiss on the cheek, punches his brother in the upper arm (and gets a punch in return), then opens the door.

"Oh, so fast?" asks Leska Rose, looking a bit concerned. Yet then, with a warm and friendly voice, she says, "Well, nice to meet you Edric, Shel - I remember you from around Humble's Ford - you, too, Alouryn. And Hazel - you stayed at our place a few times, so, it's good to see you again. Ranger, eh? Good choice."

Nalfein says, "Hello everyone. Goodbye everyone." He laughs, then says, "You're worse than Kendry, Murph."

Murphy Bumblebee Leafwin Pipewood AC 15/13/13 HP 32/32 - Angel Springs 2 (Kim McCoy) 
Monday June 16th, 2014 6:09:33 AM
Best... Seneschal
"Seneschal, eh? Yeah, has a nice ring to it, Hazel - and I would be absolutely honored to serve in that capacity." With a wink, he adds, "Just let me know when she says, 'Yes.'"

Home at Last!
It is nice to be welcomed back home so warmly, especially in view of the manner in which they left - in a barred carriage, under guard.

Greeting the crowds
"Remind me to be careful about arriving with an orange face again, friends," he says with a smile to some of those who saw him and some of the others enter a fortnight or so ago on the night they were framed for Sarabella's murder.

"Thank you, good Mayor Bumbleluck, for honoring us with the keys to the city. All of us want to keep Humble's Ford safe and secure. My friends, here, and others, have taken some important steps in that direction. Our beloved Sarabella Lovesong, whose day this is and evermore shall be, we remember with sorrow that she no longer is with us. Yet we also remember her with joy and love for the things she taught us, her good counsel to husbands and wives, her special touch with beautiful flowers, and the training she gave to acolytes and devotees of Flower." He pauses for a moment. "Perhaps there's a young family here who may give birth to a girl child." He smiles warmly. "I wonder if we might have a wee Sarabella or two running around our village before too long."

A moment for family
Murphy sees his parents, and a few siblings, with hugs and kisses shared liberally. "Say, can Hazel stay with us for a while? Say, Pa, do you suppose we can start working on a new burrow for a couple which may soon be getting married? Don't tell anyone, but Hazel proposed to Alouryn out at the Parley House. She hasn't said yes, and hasn't said no... but I'd bet a bread surprise that she'll say yes in her good time."

He calls Edric over. "You know Edric. You would not believe this fellow in a fight against the bad guys. I certainly would not want to get on the wrong side of him in a battle! Edric - my Pa, Samell, and my Ma, Bekka. Ma, you're going to invite him to lunch tomorrow, right? And... maybe a few of my other travelling friends?"

At the party
He enjoys the party. "Say, Edric, you'd better dance with at least half these girls, because I can't do so all by myself!" But he makes sure he gets the first dance with Shel and a few more for good measure later on. And at least one dance with Alouryn - with Hazel's leave. As he dances with Alouryn, he whispers, "I hope we find out your wishes soon regarding a certain matter. I'll send some prayers to Flower on your behalf, too." Then, in a more serious vein, "It certainly is a momentous decision, one on which one must choose carefully, choose wisely... then commit fully - it's for a lifetime, girl."

Murphy then enjoys dancing the floor with many others. He makes a special effort to make certain that the shy girls, and even homely girls, get a chance to circle the floor.

Looking for Madame LaRue
If she is among those who came out to greet them, at some point Murphy tries to talk with Madame LaRue for a few minutes. He will ask how her family is, and how is business. Then he gets to the point. "The orange ointment that Sarabella Lovesong prepared - do you know the fashioning of it, or know of someone who does, or know where the ingredients and process might be written down? This still may be an item of concern."

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 43/43 AC: 18/14/15 
Monday June 16th, 2014 8:11:08 AM
Damn you are right... Yes, should be split 6 ways, and the "blood money" are not for us to keep. Hope the is a ransom somewhere, or Hazel will have to settle for a cheaper engagement ring. :P
Nice RP post, by the way.

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP15/21; AC 14/14/11  d6=3 ;
Monday June 16th, 2014 9:59:04 AM
I will try and get Shel updated tomorrow. Here is her hit point roll, if we are allowed to do it in thread. I'm in favor of splitting things six ways. She isn't quite as keen on handing over the gems as the others, however!

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 43/43 AC: 18/14/15 
Monday June 16th, 2014 3:15:36 PM
If no one says otherwise Hazel will get:
- Ring of Protection +1 (I say the other for Edric)
- 1 Enlarge Person potion (2?)
- 1 Cure Potion
- 1 Hat of Disguise

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 43/43 AC: 18/14/15 
Monday June 16th, 2014 3:29:40 PM
"This cat needs some discipline. "
Hazel will also sped some time teaching Cora the cat some tricks.
Use his Handle Animal Skill to teach her the "Perform" set of tricks.

Murphy 
Monday June 16th, 2014 5:41:45 PM

"Shel, what if we provide the gems to the authorities as evidence? - I would love to see Rory BadApple's face were someone to accuse him of the murder, and to show him the note, then have the gems poured out from the pouch he sent.

"And we could request that the funds be used to do two things. First, a monument in her honor. And second, defenses for the town she loved and was working to save."

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 43/43 AC: 18/14/15 
Monday June 16th, 2014 6:11:33 PM
"Yes Shel, Murphy is right, we can't keep them."

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 12/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Monday June 16th, 2014 6:14:17 PM
"I'm not usually one for jewelry, but I would be happy to have a ring such as that one."

Arrival at Humble's Ford

The sight of the cheering crowds is a happy change from the hatred Edric felt here previously. He absorbs the adulation joyfully. After the ceremonies finish, Edric arrives at the Dancing Pig.

"Cheers to us all. We fought hard and we were victorious. We should all be proud!"

The night is a whirl of dancing, drinking and festivities. Edric engages the many friends and wellwishers in conversation.

Podo's Exit

"Farewell Podo. I'll always remember our battle with Ida."

Murphy Bumblebee Leafwin Pipewood AC 15/13/13 HP 32/32 (Kim McCoy) 
Monday June 16th, 2014 10:46:41 PM

At party
"Cheers, indeed, Edric, cheers indeed!" Murphy responds.

--------

Sitting at a table with the resident sorceress, the druid explains, "You see, Shel, by talking them to distraction, we ended up not having to fight both ogre and ogre mage at the same time - and the latter killed the former, using up a spell which surely would have killed one or more of us.

"Anyway, a light came on in my mind as Idafeatyu taunted us. Suddenly, everything he had told us before came together - and indeed, I realized, he had confessed. Like a dullard, I did not see it at first. So, sorry about the back-and-forth, and the interrupted retreat. Thanks for rushing back when we needed you most! I can't promise something similar may not happen again. I don't want to take the life of another if it is not necessary, and especially if it is unjust. But, would you not agree, that, in the end, justice prevailed?" He offers an impish grin, adding, "Despite how frustrating my palaver may have been?"

He turns his left shoulder toward her. "If you want to slug me, go ahead," pointing to the same spot that Nalfein had nailed the day before with his fist.

How goes the Greenbottle family?
If he sees Eldon and/or Cora Tosscobble there, first he thanks them for their great support, and asks after their health and welfare. Then he enquires after Lilly Greenbottle, and her missing husband, Bingo. "Has Bingo yet been found, or heard of? We tried to find out what happened to him, but do not know anything for certain. Has Lilly had her baby, yet? She seemed awfully close to delivery when we left a few weeks back. Is she all right? Tell me all you know, for we are concerned for them." If a visit to Lilly seems in order, he will ask Shel if she will come with him. Now, if Lilly is actually at the celebration, then he will ask, gently, how things are, and lend as much support as he is able. If the news is good, then he will rejoice with her.

DM Kent 
Monday June 16th, 2014 11:50:20 PM
The Mayor listen to Murphy's thoughts about Rory but explains that without evidence and proof there is no way to arrest him without evidence. They look at the gems and nod but are pretty sure that it will be nigh impossible to trace anyone from them. But on the off chance that they can they will indeed keep them as evidence. The Mayor does hand you several sacks that contain the Angel springs portion of the reward money of 1000gps.

*********

As the party goes on and as the story gets told soon there are several that are trying to put your deeds to song and rhyme.

Bingo Greenbottle actually makes a short appearance to thank the group and to let them know that he is indeed a new father of a bouncing baby boy named Bertram (Bertie for short). And that should they have time over the next few days that they should drop by for a short visit.

Mayor Bumbleluck overhears your discussion of turning the gems over in Angel Springs and mentions that there was also a 500 gp reward for the killing or capture of the guilt parties from Humbles ford that they are to receive.

Over at separate tables are two halflings that while watching the celebration with interest aren't really participating and seem to be strangers to Humbles Ford. One most certainly is male, but the other is kind of hard to make out dressed in grey and sitting in the shadowy corner.

RobC - Alleah Lighttouch AC 15/14/12 -- CMD 13 -- HP 28/28 
Tuesday June 17th, 2014 2:30:35 AM
"And then the half-elf says 'And that wasn't my finger!'" Alleah chuckles as she finishes the punchline to the joke.

The young halfling girl finally pulls down the hood of her robe, as she takes a sip from a small mug of cider. She's quite young to be an adventurer - late teens perhaps? Dark hair, fair skin, flawless complexion.

"Ahhh. It is good to relax. Are you sure we are in the right place? Things seem quite jovial here" she asks her travelling companion. Alleah slides a small plate of biscuits and cheese across the table to her miniscule partner-in-crime. Reach can be a problem for Bliss when he chooses to 'hide' himself.

Murphy Bumblebee Leafwin Pipewood AC 15/13/13 HP 32/32 (Kim McCoy) 
Tuesday June 17th, 2014 3:26:24 AM
With the Lord Mayor
We thank your Lordship and those who provided this reward. It was a perilous undertaking, but we found favor, it seems, with those who keep a watch over such matters."

When the Lord Mayor mentions his doubts about the usefulness of what they gathered in considering charges against Rory BadApple, Murphy says, "Evidence and proof? How about you find something with Mister BadApple's handwriting, and compare it to what is written here? If they match, then that is some pretty strong evidence. If they don't match, then either it was not him, or he did a good job of disguising his writing. Now, no one can argue that he is not an intelligent man, so that is possible. But, at least do that comparison.

"Yet, if you really think that the gems themselves will be untraceable, then let us take them and we will do with the funds as we stated: To build a memorial to our priestess, and to put the rest to use in building defenses for Humble's Ford. If you keep the stones, though, to use as evidence, or as a test to confront the man, then, when that is done, or immediately after trial, please get the gems to us, and we will ensure the proceeds are used as I have stated."

Murphy awaits the Mayor's response. He will likely go with what the Mayor requests, but, if the gems are kept, he also requests assurance that their equivalent value be conveyed to Humble's Sword or their stated agent to ensure that the aforementioned goals are met - and asks for a receipt, "Which we shall guard discretely." If a gem expert be brought in to verify their value, a reasonable fee (like, 1% or less, I figure, of the value, this being official government business) might be given to the expert who certifies them.

With Mayor Bumblebottom
"That would be most appreciated, your honor," Murphy says when the Mayor of Humble's Ford mentions the 500 gp reward, "as we do not think that trouble with the Red Hills is over, and that will help us to resupply some of what we used in bringing Idafeatyu to a just end."

At the party
"BINGO! Bingo Greenbottle, you canny survivor you - and a papa, to boot! Ah, praise the heavens above!" Murphy almost dances with delight at learning this wonderful news. "We must see the wee Bertie, then, perhaps on the morrow? And the missus, of course. Ah, you have a wonderful, loving, loyal wife, you lucky hobbit, you. What say you? Might we come for second breakfast? We'll bring the food, tell your dear Lilly not to worry, it will be our treat - and you must then tell us your story. Sound fair? Oh, we must invite Eldon and Cora, too, if it's not too much trouble. Now, if it is, tell me, for, though I am anxious to learn all of what happened, I am afraid my request might, unintentionally, be a bit of a burden?"

A bit later, he overhears the phrase, 'And that wasn't my finger,' Murphy glances over to see a hooded... young halfling girl, it turns out. He does not stare, and turns his attention back to his tablemates, but - she seems somewhat familiar. Has he seen her somewhere before? Then he recalls a dream. Yes, he saw her face in a dream... he thinks, a bit puzzled at the connection. But - wait - the really small one there. Can't be.

Now, Murphy does not drink heavily, and has not been doing so, despite all the drinks proffered him. But he wonders if he needs to get some kvass. No more of that good-tasting ale tonight.

Bliss (proper header to come) (Cayzle) 
Tuesday June 17th, 2014 8:08:29 AM
Bliss laughs at Alleah's joke. When he has his breath back, he grins, and says, "Okay, um, that was funny, but why did the zebra want to eat the pudding? And I don't get the finger part."

He is tiny, even for a halfling, sittiing on a pot on his chair that the serving guy was kind enough to bring out -- kind of like a booster seat. He takes a sip of cider the guy brought -- he wouldn't bring ale or wine, probably because Bliss looks too young, but that's was probably for the best. That stuff makes him way loopy.

Loopier.

Bliss is about the same size as the raven perched on the back of his chair, actually. The raven that is rolling his eyes.

Then the bird talks. "Jeezum Crow, Kid! I can't take you anywhere."

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 43/43 AC: 18/14/15 
Tuesday June 17th, 2014 9:01:42 AM
Hazel hears the crow, and approaches the newcomers. He seems very happy.
"Hello! My name is Hazel, and I heard your bird talk. I like animals, and I am interested in knowing how you teach it to talk."
He stands next to the raven.
"Or is it a magical bird? Hi "feathers"! How are you today? Want some food?"
He starts talking to the crow.
OOC: Welcome to the game guys! Thank you for coming and keep us company!

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP26/26; AC 14/14/11 
Tuesday June 17th, 2014 9:31:54 AM
OOC: Shel is updated. +1 BAB, + 1 Will, 1 point added to Charisma, HP 3 +2 Con modifier, skills: Diplomacy, Know. Arc., Acrobatics, Spellcraft, Spells Added: Read Magic, Scorching Ray.

Bliss (proper header to come) (Cayzle) 
Tuesday June 17th, 2014 9:36:22 AM

Mookie cocks his head in an imitation of dumb animal and declares, "Pretty Boy! Pretty Boy! CAW! You're clever! You're clever! Pretty Boy!"

The bird hops onto the table and pecks at an imaginary crumb.

Bliss starts laughing, then composes himself and says to his familiar, sternly, "Mookie! Stop fooling around!"

The bird fixes Hazel with a steady, beady, intelligent eye. " 'Feathers' !" he says scornfully. " 'Want some food?' huh. Yeah I want some food. Go tell the cook to fry me up some worms, my good little miss. The help in here is slow as shinola."

Bliss looks shocked. "Mookie! Come on!" Then to Hazel he says, "I'm really really sorry. Um, hi. I'm Bliss, and Mookie is my familiar. This is my new friend Alleah."

Sitting down it is hard to tell, but Bliss can't be more than a foot and a half standing up. He's wearing some kind of military uniform, but no armor, with a tiny crossbow hanging from his belt.

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP26/26; AC 14/14/11 
Tuesday June 17th, 2014 9:37:07 AM
Shel almost bumps into Hazel making her way to the talking bird. "Hi bird. I'm Shel. I've never met a magical bird before...scoot over Hazel, let me see it! I've heard a bird sing, but never talk before, of course. What do you like to talk about? Do you ever talk about the Wardd moon? Can you see it better from high in the sky?"

Those who know her would notice that the old happy Shel is back. Apparently clearing the group's name, and surviving an encounter with three big'uns has done wonders for her foul mood.

RobC - Alleah Lighttouch AC 15/14/12 -- CMD 13 -- HP 28/28 
Tuesday June 17th, 2014 9:43:45 AM
"Ugh, please don't encourage it" Alleah says with a dramatic roll-of-her-eyes "It's hard enough getting it to stop talking".

To show no ill will, Alleah breaks a small piece off a bit of a cracker and tosses it in the air towards Mookie.

"Pull up a seat, guys." Alleah takes her feet off the nearby stool and gestures to it "Folks sure are friendly in these parts. Any reason for the festivities?"

Is it strange to have a teenager offering a stranger a seat in a tavern?

Bliss (AC22, HP23) (Cayzle) 
Tuesday June 17th, 2014 9:44:23 AM
Mookie looks scornfully at Shel. "Yeah, I talk about the moons all the time. Whenever the loonies come out to play. Sheesh, is that why they call it Crescent Valley? You all love some crescent moons? More like Valley of the Dolts, I say."

Bliss starts to smile, then looks scared as the insults come tumbling out of his bird's mouth. He hops on the table, tackles the raven, and physically holds his beak shut.

"I -- I'm sorry. He's been in a foul mood ever since we deserted. Sorry. Nice to meet you. I'm Bliss."

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP26/26; AC 14/14/11 
Tuesday June 17th, 2014 1:08:25 PM
"Well, I happen to enjoy talking about the moon, chicken. I know the chefs around here...I could have them put a special "Foul talking fowl" on the menu tonight, Mr. Smarty Pants," Shel pouted as the beast hurt her feelings.

RobC - Alleah Lighttouch AC 15/14/12 -- CMD 12 -- HP 26/26 
Tuesday June 17th, 2014 2:43:52 PM
Alleah takes a sip from her cup and smiles. This should prove interesting...

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 43/43 AC: 18/14/15 
Tuesday June 17th, 2014 3:18:24 PM
"Deserted? From where?"
Hazel tries to figure out the uniform, without luck. He grabs a seat from Shel and for himself.
"Thanks, I am Bob Danderfluff LaRue, but you can call me Hazel. And this lovely lady is Shel Breezelee Kromnite, the prettiest wizard in the valley. We are celebrating we are no longer accused of murder!"
He roar a loud laugh.
The he approaches, conspiratorially.
"And also that I am going to get married."
He smiles, not a care in the world.

Murphy Bumblebee Leafwin Pipewood AC 15/13/13 HP 32/32 (Kim McCoy) 
Tuesday June 17th, 2014 5:13:07 PM

With Shel and Hazel taking the initiative, Murphy says to whoever may be at his current table, "Excuse me, folks." He heads to the kitchen. "Hi, great job you are doing tonight. I have a request which I am certain will sound strange. Could someone dig up a dozen or so worms, then lightly fry them, and take a plate to the table with the raven? Oh, and put one barley cracker on the plate, too." He tosses them a silver piece. "That's for going off menu - and thank you."

He then heads over to the raven's table. He nods to Alleah, and waves to Bliss, then says, "Hey, Mookie. Good to see you." He takes a seat.

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 43/43 AC: 18/14/15 
Tuesday June 17th, 2014 8:22:45 PM
Hazel smiles.
"So you knew this bird? I don't think I like Mookie... He needs a proper name! Eye bane! Something like that..."

Bliss (AC22, HP23) (Cayzle) 
Wednesday June 18th, 2014 12:37:19 AM

Murphy arrives to find Bliss wrestling his familiar on a table and physically holding the raven's beak shut.

His jaw drops when he sees Murphy. "HEY! Mister Murphy! From the Yule Party! Look, Alleah is here with me, and she was in the party too! And wait a minute! Miss Shel, you were there too, remember!"

"I thought it was just a dream, but look at all of us meeting like this!"

Sending a super strong message via his familiar link, Bliss lets Mookie know that there will be no more shenanigans.

"Please everybody, can we start over? Let's don't call names! I'm sorry for Mookie, but can't we all be friends, like we were in the Yule Party dream?"

He looks up at everybody, earnestly.

Edric Lowbrook {Posco} (Damian); HP: 12/26; AC: 21/13/19 
Wednesday June 18th, 2014 1:39:06 AM
Edric approaches his friends at the table of the 2 unknown halflings. "Well met. The name's Edric. Pleasure to meet you both"

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP26/26; AC 14/14/11 
Wednesday June 18th, 2014 7:07:02 AM
"Ah, the Yule Party! That was quite a bit of fun. Sorry, I didn't place you earlier, but I was having so much fun trying to chase those cookies around that I didn't pay attention to much else. What are you two doing here?"

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 43/43 AC: 18/14/15 
Wednesday June 18th, 2014 9:03:26 AM
"I think I missed that party, but of course we can be friends. And I think I like this small black fellow."
Hazel keeps looking Mookie all around.
Eye Bane, tell me, do you know tricks? I can teach you some if you want?

RobC - Alleah Lighttouch AC 15/14/12 -- CMD 12 -- HP 26/26 
Wednesday June 18th, 2014 9:44:47 AM
"Wardd is my guide. I trust that he will deliver me where I need to go. And as it turns out, he chose to send me to a tavern" Alleah says with a smile as she raises her cup.

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 43/43 AC: 19/15/16 
Wednesday June 18th, 2014 9:48:02 AM
Updated my sheet adding:
- Ring of Protection +1
- 1 Enlarge Person potion
- 1 Cure Potion
- 1 Hat of Disguise
- Masterwork Chain Shirt Barding for Faoil
- Lance

Bliss (AC22, HP23) (Cayzle) 
Wednesday June 18th, 2014 9:50:58 AM
Hazel's comments leave Mookie's feathers ruffled, to say the least. The raven glares at his master, then GLARES at Hazel, then flies to the rafters of the establishment and perches almost out of sight.

Bliss sighs. "My new friend Hazel, please be nice. Everybody can be friendly, right?"

"Anyway, I'm sorry for saying things. Please do let's get along. Mister Murphy and Miss Shel are the first familiar faces we've seen since we got here, right Alleah? That's like, um, a good ... omen?"

The one-foot-five-inch halfling returns to his chair with the pot serving as a booster seat.

OOC: Still tweaking my PC sheet, but it is almost there.

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 43/43 AC: 19/15/16 
Wednesday June 18th, 2014 9:51:05 AM
New link to Character Sheet

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 43/43 AC: 19/15/16 
Wednesday June 18th, 2014 9:52:58 AM
"What did I say? Sorry Mookie! I mean, I didn't want to anger him. Hey, Mookie, want me to buy you a... beer?"
He turns towards Bliss.
"Does he drinks beer?"

Bliss (AC22, HP23) (Cayzle) 
Wednesday June 18th, 2014 9:57:16 AM

Bliss responds to Shel's comment ... better late than never!

"Well, I've come a long way, From Farungia to my Aunt Pris's house to Dirt City to South Port to Plateau City. That's where I met Alleah, and it was sure nice to see someone I knew after that long trip. She was headed to Crescent Valley too, so we travelled together to get here."

Bliss looks around and his voice drops to a whisper: "I'm on a secret mission!"

To Hazel, he says, "Oh, just let him cool down. Maybe later? Thank you!"

Murphy Bumblebee Leafwin Pipewood AC 15/13/13 HP 32/32 (Kim McCoy) 
Wednesday June 18th, 2014 11:36:25 AM

Murphy smiles. "Yes, yes, I remember all three of you. Alleah, am happy to see you again outside of the Ghost. Say, do you still have that lanyard with all sorts of things dangling from it? And, Bliss, it is a pleasure to meet up with you here in our hometown. Well, mine, and that of some of my friends. You're from Farangia? I don't know anything about Farangia, but would love to learn. Alleah - were you in Dirt City for a while? I remember you saying something about dirt.

"But I've been twice to Plateau City - once with Uncle Orby and my father about six years ago, then again a little over a year ago with my Aunt Nilli. I'm a druid, like her. We met some druids in a wooded section of the city. But I know there is much there I have not yet seen.

"Would love to hear more about that, uh, task, Bliss, but perhaps it would be better discussed in a less crowded place. Say, do you two have a place to stay? Because you're welcome to share my family's burrow while you're here in Humble's Ford. Lots of my siblings have moved out, so there's no lack of bedrooms and bed space."

He lets Mookie take time to settle down. Those feathers are ruffled enough for now.

"Oh, you asked what all the celebration is about?" Murphy says. "A few weeks back some assassins snuck in late at night and killed our beloved priestess of Flower, Sarabella Lovesong." At the mention of her name, he raises his glass of kvass, and takes a sip in her honor. "Well, we were accused of the foul deed. Hauled off to Angel Springs for further investigation - and ambushed along the way by an ogre, orcs, humans and miscreant halflings - the authorities decided that perhaps we were innocent, and gave us a chance to clear our name.

"One ogre mage, name of Idafeatyu, was headquarted at the Parley House in the Red Hills. We travelled there, met a two-headed troll whom we helped feed - and got him to leave other halflings alone. Then some of us fell into a pit, got out, ran into an old friend - Podo, a monk, persuaded an ogre to leave his watchpost for a picnic, asked another ogre for help, then killed him when he tried to kill us. Some more giants showed up." He takes another sip from his drink. "Maybe another member of our group can fill in the details after that."

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 43/43 AC: 19/15/16 
Wednesday June 18th, 2014 2:33:27 PM
Hazel smiles.
"After that I got in love with a divine creature and I will marry her!"
He let's a loud laugh again!
"Want to see the ring I got for her? Is that beautiful girl over there, Alouryn. "

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 43/43 AC: 19/15/16 
Wednesday June 18th, 2014 7:19:10 PM
Hi co-DM! Kent and Steve, first let me thank you for the great game, second... which are your emails so I can sent you the Catacombs "receipt"?
Ticket #1386
************************
***SALE RECEIPT***

***Sold to Hazel***
350 - Chain Shirt Barding for a riding dog
010 - Lance (Small sized)
150 - Engagement Ring

Sub total from purchases = 510.0 gp

Total due from Hazel = 510.0 gp

***SALE RECEIPT***
************************

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 43/43 AC: 19/15/16 
Wednesday June 18th, 2014 7:29:07 PM
No problem, I think I got it! I guess Hazel can start using his new equipment now, right?

Shel Breezelee Kromnite (Gerald) HP26/26; AC 14/14/11 
Wednesday June 18th, 2014 7:41:20 PM
Okay, exactly how much did each party member get from the loot take? Shel doesn't need any of the items, except maybe a healing potion. It might be time for her to look for a magic item or two, if we have enough gold.

Shel shoes the nasty bird away that hurt her feelings. She was glad to see it fly up to the rafters. "Bliss, tell me more about your secret mission," Shel says in between a cross between a squeal and a whisper, trying to keep her voice down, but being louder than she probably should have. A mystery would be a wonderful thing for Shel to focus on for a bit.

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 43/43 AC: 19/15/16 
Wednesday June 18th, 2014 7:43:54 PM
We each got 492 gp

Bliss (AC22, HP23) (Cayzle)  d20+13=23 ;
Wednesday June 18th, 2014 7:49:11 PM
Bliss looks around for eavesdroppers, obviously relishing the subterfuge. Perception 23.

"It's so secret, even *I* don't know what it is!" he whispers to Shel. "Alls I know is Lord Gargul wants me to come out here and then we'll see! He's my witch patron, you know."

RobC - Alleah Lighttouch AC 15/14/12 -- CMD 12 -- HP 26/26 
Wednesday June 18th, 2014 7:53:40 PM
Alleah tries not to eye Hazel with obvious suspicion. "Did he just say they are no longer accused of murder? Because they're innocent? Because no one will testify against them? Not enough evidence? I knew I should have prepared a detect evil spell today!"

"Congratulations my friend. Since you still have the ring, would I be right in guessing you haven't propositioned her yet?"

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 43/43 AC: 19/15/16 
Wednesday June 18th, 2014 7:58:08 PM
OOC: Alouryn https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3remN6x6UdMcjQ2VzdUN2NvVnM/edit?usp=sharing
Engagement Ring: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3remN6x6UdMMERMUlgwTkd2Z1U/edit?usp=sharing

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 43/43 AC: 19/15/16 
Wednesday June 18th, 2014 8:01:09 PM
"Well, I proposed to her in the heat of the victory of our last battle, with that Idefeatyou Ogre. But I just got the ring with the reward they gave us from nailing him! I need to give it out to her, but I need to find a good time. Maybe we need to go find another Ogre Mage to fix!"
He keeps laughing at his own jokes.

Murphy Bumblebee Leafwin Pipewood AC 15/13/13 HP 32/32 (Kim McCoy) 
Wednesday June 18th, 2014 11:20:48 PM

Murphy laughs along with Hazel. "Well, I can tell that Hazel's mind is focused on one thing. So, I'll fill in the missing gaps.

"So, it turns out the ogre we beat at Parley House was the brother of one of the two giants who came out. We spoke with them - and figured the tatooed fellow was Idafeatyu. He restrained the ogre, and listened to us for a while. We talked back and forth. After a bit, the brother ogre attacked me. Idafeatyu called down fire from the sky, and turned him to ashes. He said he did not like disobedience.

"This gave us some gauge of his power. The conversation ensued, but the long and short of it is, he admitted that the people who killed Sarabella were his, and that he approved of the plan, encouraged them to do it. Now, someone else," and here his voice drops, and he says, "we figure it's someone here in the valley - and have our suspicions, but are not yet certain - someone else actually asked for her to be killed, and was pleased that the act was pinned on us. He sent a pouch full of gems in payment to Idafeatyu for success in the killing for hire." He appears sad for a moment, and looks down at the table.

"Sarabella Lovesong is one of the best people any of us know, or have known. That such a wicked act could be carried out in our own village is a travesty."

Despite his sorrow, Murphy orders a large plate of boiled turnips with onions and carrots and garlic. "Idafeayu offered to hire us for his work. We refused, and he attacked me - so, we took him down." He takes a last drink from his glass of kvass, and signals for another one. His face, somewhat darkened, begins to lighten considerably. "Then Hazel proposed to Alouryn - and she didn't say yes, and didn't say no - but, I think we could all sense her desire to say 'yes' on her face. But she asked for a chance to pray to Flower, and asked if he would wait." He laughs. "He'll wait!"

Then he added, almost as an afterthought, "Oh, Shel said she thought the giant had gone invisible, then I tripped over his body. We pulled away his great sword and huge club, then we burnt Idafeatyu to a crisp - because ogre magi can regenerate. Podo left to go out on his own, and we came back - Angel Springs first - where the officials recognized and declared our innocence, and then home here to Humble's Ford."

The towhead halfling scratches his head. "Why do they always swing their clubs at me first?"

Murphy Bumblebee Leafwin Pipewood AC 15/13/13 HP 32/32 (Kim McCoy) 
Wednesday June 18th, 2014 11:27:46 PM

"And, Bliss, that is amazing to hear. I'll be curious to learn, if I am allowed to, the nature of the secret, too. Here, try these turnips."

Seeing that another plate arrived along with the turnips, he says, "Mookie, your fried worms are ready. And some sort of cracker. And a sprig of parsley. I don't know if you like parsley. Come on down, if you want to tuck in."

Bliss (AC22, HP23) (Cayzle) 
Thursday June 19th, 2014 6:47:19 AM
Bliss looks at the ring and admires it. "Hazel, that's beautiful! Wow! I hope she says yes!"

He listens to Murphy's story with rapt wonder.

"Wowsy, you guys have had great adventures! We met a giant once, but he was a friendly circus giant. We fought were-rats that one time, except not all of them were real were-rats, they were rat men. And dire rats. I slept some of those. Well, one. Did you really just talk to the ogre? You must be great at talking, like Lindy. Once I talked to some bad guys, but they ended up almost killing me, so now I just shut up and lay low with my bah."

You note that every minute or so, Bliss says, "excuse me," and casts a spell on himself. He does it often enough that anyone with a modicum of spellcraft will eventually catch on ... he's casting Reduce Person.

After a decent interval, Mookie flies down and deigns to tuck into the chow. He remains uncharacteristically silent.

Bliss, still telling his adventuring history in his disjointed fashion, mumbles around a mouthful of turnips, "... and we fought gnolls and we won a contest and solved a mystery. That's it really."

Murphy Bumblebee Leafwin Pipewood AC 15/13/13 HP 32/32 (Kim McCoy) 
Thursday June 19th, 2014 7:29:37 AM

"A friendly giant? We have one living in Hovel, over to the west side of Crescent Valley. Everyone calls him 'Lomar, the friendly ogre,' - he is half ogre mage, but not a whit wicked. They use his strength on big projects, and digging, and such. He is a bard of drum, too. Maybe you can meet him some day. There's a song about him, too," Murphy mentions.

"Oo - were-rats. We fought dire rats, but were worried about some of them maybe being were-rats. Some of them had thunderstones inside of them, which is unusual, I think. Gnolls? What kind of contest did you win? And what sort of mystery did you figure out?"

Hazel (Bob Danderfluff LaRue) HP: 43/43 AC: 19/15/16 
Thursday June 19th, 2014 10:11:34 AM
"Yes, we did all that too!" - says Hazel after Murphy ends the narration - "Aluouryn will say yes, no doubt about it, but she needs time after all we have been through! But I will wait, for as long as she want."
He raises his glass.
"For waiting!"
He sits after his toast.
"And I need to start saving... weddings can be very expensive. I want a great wedding for her. And a dress. Shel, do you know about dresses? Or do the girls take care of that? I don't know anything about wedding dresses."

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