Rollohi-ep10-script

10.1 after the gnolls

Are the 3 fleeing laborers safe yes

Elyn rounds them up.

Loot

1d8 000copper 1000

1d6 000gold  2000

1d8 jewelry 4 worth 610 total

Lets give the copper to the bereaved families no but most of it

 

[noting this clan was on the move... probably ejected from the plateau]

 

Is the lord's lodge a watch or less away (if they force march) yes but they will suffer exhaustion and the wounded may get worse

 

With Elyn quite badly hit and a laborer wounded, they vote to camp down in a cold camp.

No encounter (but there is night life/scavengers at the bodies)

 

10.2 visitors after three days

Dawn

Weather Nowhere near as good, also strong winds

Moon a fat half, waxing

No real chance of getting lost, they are inside the hunting preserve of the vicomte. The patrols do (eventually) spot them and ride out.  Safety! But the bodies of the dead are lying out a league away, there was no way to bring them back. 600 copper coins for the families of the dead.

 

The party is welcomed, but there is a feeling they are pushing their welcome hard. Now, they need to sell their goods, buy rations, and hire any specialists on behalf of Ajiwe.

 

So we're heading straight back?

Yes but we need to secure Ajiwe's staff first and let Elyn recover.

Three full days later, halfway through the moon's waxing gibbous phase,

 

10.3 the specialist needs work

Has the lodge had any luck advertising no

Has it heard from Stoutheart yes

So we need to travel to Stoutheart no but matters will be quicker and cheaper!

 

The trail known will only take a watch on horseback right yes and time for sightseeing

 

get lost? No

Yes encounter again! 4_4 Hawks course. The vicomte is hunting nearby.

Do we meet the vicomte no

The journey to Stoutheart ends uneventfully

 

A high ranked specialist female concierge is available. She is alone and eager for a job away from Central areas

 

Name Eikpe

Age 22

S09 i13 w15 d14 c15 c16

 

No transport and no real belongings!

Yes, you can ride a mule or go pillion with Kylie

Kylie doesnt look too pleased but nor is she making that I'll kill you face

 

10.4 the acolyte at the lodge

Weather even worse though the wind is no stronger.

Lets rest one more day.

Traveler at the lodge, an acolyte.

Is he in any way related to Eikpe yes and is an investigator

Elyn recovers 1 more hp and the party parts with 38 gold for bed board stabling and rations.

 

Does Eikpe ask for a loan no but it's obvious she is lacking. Jack takes an interest. Does she remind him of someone no but his superstition kicks in and he is heroic. He offers a loan of 30 gold. She gratefully accepts.

 

10.5 return through the forested wilds

The two mules are now readied with 58supp 330 gold. The party needs to move with confidence on the plateau!

 

Day 1

Watch 1

Weather much improved

Moon the final waxing before 1st full

Forage no but water is OK

Getting lost yes and turned around.

Losing one full watch.

Encounter no and they find the trail

Watch 2 no change uneventful

Watch 3 no change uneventful

Watch 4 perfect evening, they reach hidden springs

 Has anything happened to Ajiwe and Ygyourn yes and it's dire!

10.7  What is the evidence of hidden springs

1. Absolutely nothing
2. Few visible traces
3. Traces but mules bodies are there
4. Traces that only patient tracking can solve
5. Bodies
6. Bodies and telling evidence of the responsibility

2, few visible traces. It could be that the people have been taken as slaves and the mules taken as transport?

 Tracking the mules and prisoners CiedPod do a fantastic job, Elyn isn't bad either.

 "We have a lead. Its slim, but they could still be alive. We move out at dawn"

1 2 Plateau (roundabout)

3 4 Further east

5 6 Swamp

6, it's the swamp!

excursus - the challenge around rescuing Ajiwe

What kind of creature is ultimately responsible.  

Is it the black dragon no 

Is it a swamp living creature yes but requires habitation 

Is it human 5 real or Neanderthals the latter 

Is it magic using yes but not guild magic 

Is it a witch no 

Druid no but similar 

So a shaman yes and he has a great plan 

 

Rolling for barbarian Neanderthal swamp tribe. There are 20, and a female shaman and male warchief 

 

Age of lair 1 just recently built 6 unimaginable ancient 1, they built it. 

 

Means of defense 1 just them, 6 concealed parhs and poisons  5 most complex beyond poison traps

back to the game...

Part 2: Quest for Ajiwe

10.2.1 Make like a croc

 Day 1

Watch 1

Weather a little worse

Moon full

Forage yes and full rations supplied

Tracking 3/4 of the trackers keep to the trail

Is it more than 1 watch no

Encounter yes 6_2 crocodile 4 crocs, 2HD

Highly aggressive! They will burst out of dormant ambush if possible.

Surprise: the crocs arr surprised not the party. In this case do they really want to try?

"If we have croc skins we can sneak" suggests Umbert

"That sounds like something you read in a book" says Ingle

Party will look at CHA Umbert 13 Ingle 06

They will try to evade.

Do they get enough distance no.

Distance 150'

Crocs 30/rnd ac5 9hp

 

Bow range reminder

Longbow 140 (210)

Shortbow 100 (150)

Sling 80 (160)

Kylie hits with 2nd shot, 2dmg

Crocs move 30 all characters loose (4 shortbows)

All but 1 bow hits total 4

1 sling total 3

Longbow again 1, 1 croc dead

Croc morale 6, the next 3 advance 30=60

Bows loose again 9dmg 2nd croc down

Crics advance =90 of 140

Party retreats and looses slings 3

Shortbows 3 longbow 2

Crocs advance 30=120 of 170

Slings 4 shortbows 4 longbow 3 both remaining crocs dead

 

Skinning out will take three watches

10.2.2 surprise help

Night: encounter, pixie attitude 9 curious. Adjusted to 10 for Kylie

Do they reveal yes but only to Kylie

Kylie CHA 05! Yes, the pixies will guide her, not even needing payment. They just want the new tribe gone.

Is there a back way where we have surprise yes

 

Is night the best time yes

Hastily covered with croc hide the eight adventurers head in!

 

Do pixies understand what to avoid across the marshland no

 

Night 1

Moon full

Weather clear, but some cloud

 

Watch 1

Encounter no

Are they at the secret yes

Do they still need croc disguises no and can't bring them

 

10.2.3 The lair

How many HD are near the secret passages entrance in the lair roll 1d6

6HD or 3 Neanderthals

Jack hide in shadows 15 % move silent 25 %

No and no.

Surprise monsters are surprised. Distance 10'

Surprise round jack wounds one, finished by Cied, then Kylie and Eryn kill a second, while Xantu wounds the third with max damage.

Round 1 both sides go same time. The neanderthal might negotiate but has to defend himself. Of the six fighting him he chooses Xantu, and nicks the dwarf for 1 dmg. While Xantu finishes him with a 6.

I'm now switching to using Jon Cohen's One Shot in the Dark card based exploration.

The trap

The next juncture is a trap. Jack makes a great 10% or 02 disarm traps on his 15% chance! They can move on silently.

Next comes a t-junction, but the right-hand end has not yet been excavated, or has collapsed.

Is there a body under the earth yes and... it's familiar. It's Ygyourn. He's been enslaved as a laborer.

The opposite direction is a normal passage through the earth to sleeping quarters.

Are these the slave quarters? No but those are not far – this must be the guard station. Roll 1d6 for sleeping 2HD or 1 Neanderthal. Jack uses his short sword to strike for 5 and crits with his power d4, these are doubled, so this Neanderthal which has 14hp is dead!

Next is "treasure" and the next is "prison" so this is Ajiwe right? Yes. Are there any other slaves? No.

Should we keep slaying? No, let's get Ajiwe and get out before dawn.

 

10.2.4 get out of the swamp

Is the pixie still there to guide Kylie? No but she can remember the turns involved and navigates back.

Loot: the class C loot includes 2000 electrum, and 2 magic items. These are +1 chainmail armor, and a staff of healing.

Part 3: Gnolls at Hidden Springs

10.3.1 Watch 3 of night 

Weather turns to high wind and sheeting rain, washing away most traces of the party. 

Encounter yes 4_7 or 6_4 gnoll 

Are these a related clan yes but it's accidental. Once again there are 8 and once again their attitude is 7 

This time however there are no juicy horses but only heavily armed adventurers. 

Surprise the gnolls are surprised  

Are they blocking the line of march no but they are getting close to hidden springs entrance 

The scout, Cied, watches them. Do they keep sniffing the trail? Yes but it looks as though they don't find it 

Cied waits. Are they moving on no and they will be in hidden springs in a short while 

 

10.3.2 We must attack! 

 

Original range 80yds 

Move silent on DEX is fairly successful, except for Xantu, who rolls a 16. 

Gnolls hear him at 110' 

Inits characters 3 gnolls 4 

 

Rounds 1-2 Gnolls shake out into couplets and triplets. Once they feel they have some backup their confidence rises and they start advancing in rushes from cover to cover. 

Rounds 3-4 The characters unleash a stream of arrows, taking down three gnolls 

Round 5 Still with the initiative characters kill a 4th. Having lost half their number the remainder flee. They are still 80' or so from the characters so the party, worried that Eikpe and horses are in danger, do not pursue. Instead, they hustle into Hidden Springs to find Eikpe in hiding. 

Loot on the 4 dead gnolls 15 gold coin 

 

As they make introductions.