Habololy Forum
Great Forest Campaign => Another Year of War => Topic started by: Asinjin on November 04, 2016, 12:23:24 AM
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To start, experience for solving the plot in Chaedsolas,
Everyone had at least one important idea and moment, so I'll make this easy and give everyone 1600xp.
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You arrive back in Balinhost on the 22nd day of the 11th month of 787.
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You have with you:
Sernene the cleric of Celetal, the impostor mayor and Mallory the grovetender of Habastly.
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Discuss:
Questions for the three you brought back
Plan going forward with the towns
How long Ajax stays and collects fey
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The impostor mayor had a magical ring and several magical muffins (potion-like).
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Discuss:
....
How long Ajax stays and collects fey
Grant will pray for several sending spells per day as needed. He thinks that they should come up with a series of five or so words that covers major points in Ajax's memory to use as a test when they contact him to make sure he is not being affected by the Fey. He also thinks they should wait no more than 3 days to Gate the first batch. He advises Ajax to start to Gate the Fey when 50 or more have been gathered, whether the 3 day time span has passed or not.
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Grant will pray for several sending spells per day as needed. He thinks that they should come up with a series of five or so words that covers major points in Ajax's memory to use as a test when they contact him to make sure he is not being affected by the Fey. He also thinks they should wait no more than 3 days to Gate the first batch. He advises Ajax to start to Gate the Fey when 50 or more have been gathered, whether the 3 day time span has passed or not.
This will be quiet the "EXPERIENCE" for Ajax.
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Can someone post a recap of what happened for Ajax.
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The impostor mayor had a magical ring and several magical muffins (potion-like).
Assuming you have three days in which to identify them, here is what the items do:
The ring allows the wearer to cast Blink at 10th level twice per day. It requires a Sleight of Hand skill check at DC 10 to activate. Activation is a move equivalent cation.
The muffins are each a neutralize poison, a total of three.
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Can someone post a recap of what happened for Ajax.
Please. Note how the impostor evaded my true seeing if known. Very worrisome.
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Please. Note how the impostor evaded my true seeing if known. Very worrisome.
He was not using any illusions or spells, he wasn't even the same race as the actual mayor.
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You note that Martin is not around for the first few days when you return. Ellic only says that he is busy elsewhere.
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After hearing as much detail as you can give about Scalehome's plan in Cheadsolas and the surrounding area, Ellic starts by saying (after several hours of contemplation).
"This is a massive project they have undertaken. Many of the communities they have swayed with fear. I believe that didn't work and couldn't work on Cheadsolas with their Quan Yin bent. Our envoys had met better results initially I think only due to its location and historical allegiance and connection to the southern forest. Perhaps there was more. Perhaps the leaders saw more of the problems that Scalehome and the Fey bring than others. I am certain they did not fear the voice and his threats as others did."
"This level of operation means that they feel Cheadsolas and its region are important. If we thwart this, they will certainly take another tact. I need to anticipate what that will be as we try to undo the damage done to the town. Will they continue their efforts once they know they have been found out?"
Later, he goes to Rompei and Vor'Ruk, "You never listed a staff that would Transport via Plants among our assets."
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Later, he goes to Rompei and Vor'Ruk, "You never listed a staff that would Transport via Plants among our assets."
Now...if we only had a wheelbarrow....
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After hearing as much detail as you can give about Scalehome's plan in Cheadsolas and the surrounding area, Ellic starts by saying (after several hours of contemplation).
"This is a massive project they have undertaken. Many of the communities they have swayed with fear. I believe that didn't work and couldn't work on Cheadsolas with their Quan Yin bent. Our envoys had met better results initially I think only due to its location and historical allegiance and connection to the southern forest. Perhaps there was more. Perhaps the leaders saw more of the problems that Scalehome and the Fey bring than others. I am certain they did not fear the voice and his threats as others did."
"This level of operation means that they feel Cheadsolas and its region are important. If we thwart this, they will certainly take another tact. I need to anticipate what that will be as we try to undo the damage done to the town. Will they continue their efforts once they know they have been found out?"
Later, he goes to Rompei and Vor'Ruk, "You never listed a staff that would Transport via Plants among our assets."
Vor'Ruk stands up tall, straightening all 7'6", 485 pounds of orc-cavalier-power. The finely polished bastard-sword on slung over his shoulder doesn't even come down to his waist. The LI (Legionnaire Issued) toga looks a little absurd as it is stretched and gathered over his thick broad muscled torso. He gives a quick Orcish legion salute.. the open flat hand straight, angled up.. representing the upward trajectory of the Empire as the Oldest Orc guides generations improving upon generations. (quick for orcs)
" It was not something powerful enough to move armies, It was assumed that your spell casters were a more viable and reliable means of small squad " and he gags slightly and growls out" guerrilla tactics. The staff can be used as an asset, and Rom'Pie will give you a overview of it's powers, but as always, our first loyalty lies to the Empire. If need be we will use the staff to return to the Empire. My light horse Centurion might need me"
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Vor'Ruk stands up tall, straightening all 7'6", 485 pounds of orc-cavalier-power. The finely polished bastard-sword on slung over his shoulder doesn't even come down to his waist. The LI (Legionnaire Issued) toga looks a little absurd as it is stretched and gathered over his thick broad muscled torso. He gives a quick Orcish legion salute.. the open flat hand straight, angled up.. representing the upward trajectory of the Empire as the Oldest Orc guides generations improving upon generations. (quick for orcs)
" It was not something powerful enough to move armies, It was assumed that your spell casters were a more viable and reliable means of small squad " and he gags slightly and growls out" guerrilla tactics. The staff can be used as an asset, and Rom'Pie will give you a overview of it's powers, but as always, our first loyalty lies to the Empire. If need be we will use the staff to return to the Empire. My light horse Centurion might need me"
Ellic, who smiles realizing that you are more formal than he typically gets and he is happy for it, replies, "We don't, and especially not one that can be used as often and reliably."
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Some simple questioning of Sernene reveals that even though the fey were suppressing her memories, they weren't being obvious about their activities. They weren't being blatant and then relying on the memory loss to make her forget.
She thinks to you, "It would be valuable to find the mayor magically if you can. They saw fit to not just wipe his memory. I also find it hard to believe that they were able to get to Baltemere the Sakor'akai."
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It might be worth a try to find the mayor but I think he has mostly likely met an awful fate in the hands of the dusk giants.
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Some simple questioning of Sernene reveals that even though the fey were suppressing her memories, they weren't being obvious about their activities. They weren't being blatant and then relying on the memory loss to make her forget.
She thinks to you, "It would be valuable to find the mayor magically if you can. They saw fit to not just wipe his memory. I also find it hard to believe that they were able to get to Baltemere the Sakor'akai."
The Fey told us they were ignoring the Sakor'Akai, and one of the others, i'm don't remember who.
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The Fey told us they were ignoring the Sakor'Akai, and one of the others, i'm don't remember who.
Baltemere was the one they were told to ignore, and also another female one the fey only knew by description.
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Baltemere was the one they were told to ignore, and also another female one the fey only knew by description.
Sernere thinks, "I did not notice then, but I have seen fewer and fewer of our Sakor'akai neighbors recently."
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Ellic says to Rom'Pei, "I need you to take us and a small group to Cheadsolas. I want to talk to the Taffers there and give them instructions on what to gather information on and report back."
"You said the Fey said three months. They may expedite the plans if they figure they have been discovered."
Later he asks, "Can anyone think of a reason they might want the slate mine? They would need the mine and the miners' expertise if they did, and that would necessitate them not killing anyone or making them hostile."
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I want to go and meet the taffers also.
OOC: maybe there is a chance I can replace of my animals with a taffer.
I also talk with Sernene about contacting one of her fellow clerics to help release my memories.
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I also talk with Sernene about contacting one of her fellow clerics to help release my memories.
Sernene responds, "There are many in the forest, I will start to send messages to them and hopefully one will respond. I fear that many will not come to Balinhost if they are in the northern forest where Scalehome controls. The southern forest, where the Vass and Garlaccal are, is where there are the fewest of us."
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I want to go and meet the taffers also.
Ellic says, "Rom'Pei, Vor'Ruk, Saladien, me, Mallory and Ash will go."
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OOC: maybe there is a chance I can replace of my animals with a taffer.
There is a chance, yes.
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She thinks to you, "It would be valuable to find the mayor magically if you can. They saw fit to not just wipe his memory. I also find it hard to believe that they were able to get to Baltemere the Sakor'akai."
I will ask Tyrogatore to discern his location. However, since I do not know him, I will need something that once belonged to him for it to work.
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Sernene responds, "There are many in the forest, I will start to send messages to them and hopefully one will respond. I fear that many will not come to Balinhost if they are in the northern forest where Scalehome controls. The southern forest, where the Vass and Garlaccal are, is where there are the fewest of us."
Maybe Rom Pei will allow us to use the staff to get one here but I would think if they are powerful enough to do what we are asking then they would probably have means of magically getting here.
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I will ask Tyrogatore to discern his location. However, since I do not know him, I will need something that once belonged to him for it to work.
Ellic says, "When we visit, we can try to find his belongings, but that has a greater chance of giving us away."
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Maybe Rom Pei will allow us to use the staff to get one here but I would think if they are powerful enough to do what we are asking then they would probably have means of magically getting here.
Sernene thinks, "That is not quite accurate. The staff's magic to transport via plants is very powerful, faster and safer than what I think most of my fellow judges could do."
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Not immediately, perhaps after a day, Ellic asks Sernene and Mallory, "There is an Animal Guard that lives in Kennel. He watches over hunting dogs I believe. What of him?"
Mallory responds, "I have not heard from him in months, which is longer than usual, but I wasn't concerned."
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Ellic also reports later, "My information tells me that delivers of slate, wood, and other things from Cheadsolas and the nearby towns has not changed dramatically recently. I am looking more closely at it, but that will take time."
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Can someone post a recap of what happened for Ajax.
After extracting the victims from the rubble and tending to their wounds, the "mayor" and a mass of angry villagers confronted us and demanded to know our intentions. They were not very receptive to our style of diplomacy (blunt honesty). We were asked not to leave town until the local leadership could convene and sort this out. We complied, mostly because they were justified in blaming us for the improvised demolition.
We spent the night interrogating the pixie we captured. Haas exhibited tremendous restraint in his tolerance of the pixie's hostility, until the part were it spit on him - after which Haas helped it go to sleep for a few hours. In the morning, Saladien took over the interrogation (under close scrutiny), and through persistence learned that the pixies were sent by Scalehome to this town to maintain its state of perpetual blissful ignorance using their fey trickery (memory loss arrows) on all 50,000 residents. They have been doing so in this town and to 3 of the 4 neighboring villages for 9 months, and had only 3 months remaining before they were finished their deployment; this pixie had no knowledge of what was going to happen then. In return for its cooperation, we promised to get it back home to the Beastlands using Ajax's Gate ability, and figured we could thin out the fey infestation by offering Ajax's interplanar Uber services to any fey in the area that want to go home.
After the interrogation, we were summoned to the judge's hall to address the destruction of the house. A cleric of Celetal, Sernene, listened to our story and concluded that we believed what we were saying, but was incredulous about the fey infestation. She also referred to Balinhost as a foreign land, which raised our suspicion that she was a victim of the fey's memory loss. After paying a nominal fine (which Valizar will repay to Haas in hit points), Haas and Sernene spoke privately. Haas convinced her to accept a Heal spell to purge her memory loss, which was successful. The memories that returned to her were mostly dealt with external happenings (trade, Balinhost, Scalehome). We escorted her through town, where we confirmed the extent of the problem with people passing by.
We spotted the person who we thought was the mayor, but with Sernene 's restored memory, she indicated that the mayor was in fact an entirely different person. We confronted the imposter, who tried to flee ethereally. Thanks to Ash's keen senses, Grant's ability to punch people into paralysis through the planes, and Haas blessings, the imposter was subdued and restrained.
Before things got even uglier, we grabbed our 2 prisoners and took everyone, including Sernene and the local grovetender, back to Balinhost to regroup.
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Nice recap, 50xp to Haas.
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Was Mallory ever given a Heal spell?
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Mallory still needs one.
Part of the recap that was missed. Saladien also received a heal spell and remember some fine details of his experience in scalehome which he had forgotten. DMDerek can you recap them again. I don't remember everything from the session.
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Was Mallory ever given a Heal spell?
Haas will do that once we're back in Balinhost. I give him the standard warning.
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Mallory still needs one.
Part of the recap that was missed. Saladien also received a heal spell and remember some fine details of his experience in scalehome which he had forgotten. DMDerek can you recap them again. I don't remember everything from the session.
You remembered that there were Wugs in Scalehome (although that is not a new thing, there has always been a community of them there).
You remembered flights of Sakor'akai in Scalehome.
In general, it appears as if the existence or preponderance of certain races in Scalehome was hidden from you. You now remember also seeing Vass there as well.
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Haas will do that once we're back in Balinhost. I give him the standard warning.
The morning after you have slept a night in Balinhost, you Heal Mallory. he spends a long time quiet after the spell. When he speaks, he has a different tone.
"I do not think my brothers in Habastly will share the sentiment, but I side with Balinhost now. I can Transport via Plants, and worse." He returns leaves and goes and spends time in the wilderness.
Sernene, when she sees him, thinks to all, "I have not seen him angry in this way ever and I have known him all my life." Note that she is near 60 in appearance.
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When we are assembled in the hall, free of fey, Ajax says: "Just so there is no confusion, I cannot send the Fey into the Beastlands or Arborea for that matter. I can open a gate in the general vicinity of the Beastlands Gate, as the town has been laid waste, but both the Arborean and Beastlands gates are besieged. I bring this to your attention as I cannot lie to anyone, to say nothing of sending them unwittingly to their doom."
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When we are assembled in the hall, free of fey, Ajax says: "Just so there is no confusion, I cannot send the Fey into the Beastlands or Arborea for that matter. I can open a gate in the general vicinity of the Beastlands Gate, as the town has been laid waste, but both the Arborean and Beastlands gates are besieged. I bring this to your attention as I cannot lie to anyone, to say nothing of sending them unwittingly to their doom."
What they want you to do is open a Gate to the Seven Heavens, and then one from the Seven Heavens to the Beastlands.
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What they want you to do is open a Gate to the Seven Heavens, and then one from the Seven Heavens to the Beastlands.
They must all be aligned with the Light. If their spirits would be attuned to Limbo they will find the journey unpleasant to say the least. It would be helpful if they elected a leader who they would follow. I will not be responsible for their fates if they wander off on the Celstial Mount.
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They must all be aligned with the Light. If their spirits would be attuned to Limbo they will find the journey unpleasant to say the least. It would be helpful if they elected a leader who they would follow. I will not be responsible for their fates if they wander off on the Celstial Mount.
The idea is that the Fey that talked to them will go out and tell the others of a way 'home'. The only ones that would agree would be ones that would want to go there. No Shadow Fey would agree.
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The idea is that the Fey that talked to them will go out and tell the others of a way 'home'. The only ones that would agree would be ones that would want to go there. No Shadow Fey would agree.
Hmmmm. . . That seems foolish. Though I do not fear my own death, it seems an easy way either to go to an ambush or invite infiltration into one of our strongholds
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Hmmmm. . . That seems foolish. Though I do not fear my own death, it seems an easy way either to go to an ambush or invite infiltration into one of our strongholds
Vor'Ruk speaks up " Stubborn as always Ajax, the Fey would only leave for a way all the way home, to the Beastlands. They don't want to cross lines. "
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Hmmmm. . . That seems foolish. Though I do not fear my own death, it seems an easy way either to go to an ambush or invite infiltration into one of our strongholds
It would be, but you are still in Cheadsolas and this conversation is taking place through multiple 'Sendings'. Also, we told them it would be from a spot in the forest, not one of the towns
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It would be, but you are still in Cheadsolas and this conversation is taking place through multiple 'Sendings'. Also, we told them it would be from a spot in the forest, not one of the towns
I assume this takes place while you are still in Ajax's company, before you leave the town.
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On that first night, the Fey comes back to Ajax (who is alone in Cheadsolas) that the word is being spread. The is an excitement among some of the Fey. Most don't believe it, but some are willing to take the chance.
Do you only want to give the Fey one night to spread the word of the escape to the Beastlands, or multiple nights?
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To start, experience for solving the plot in Chaedsolas,
Everyone had at least one important idea and moment, so I'll make this easy and give everyone 1600xp.
Message me if you got a level.
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Grant will pray for several sending spells per day as needed. He thinks that they should come up with a series of five or so words that covers major points in Ajax's memory to use as a test when they contact him to make sure he is not being affected by the Fey. He also thinks they should wait no more than 3 days to Gate the first batch. He advises Ajax to start to Gate the Fey when 50 or more have been gathered, whether the 3 day time span has passed or not.
By the end of the first night, 25 Fey come to Ajax to be taken away.
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Hmmmm. . . That seems foolish. Though I do not fear my own death, it seems an easy way either to go to an ambush or invite infiltration into one of our strongholds
They would not be coming back to Balinhost. You are waiting in Cheadsolas until you deem there are enough Fey to go to the outer planes. You Gate from there.
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Ellic questions the fake mayor the next day in the secure building. He invites Grant and Haas to attend along with the two clerics from Cheadsolas. You put up a zone of truth and a detect lies. Four competent clerics in the room makes this not difficult. The battery of spells he is subjected to: psionic, clerics, and druidic, as well as old fashioned intimidation make him compliant.
Q: How long have you been impersonating the mayor?
A: Three months.
Q: Why did they not make him forget like the others?
A: Someone needed to guide the new memories and have answers.
Q: What were you before this?
A: An actor in Scalehome.
Q: What are there plans for the towns at the end of a year?
A: To control them.
Q: Who do you order to?
A: The voice.
Q: Is there a cure to the memory loss?
A: I don't know.
Q: How many others are allied to Scalehome in the towns like you?
A: At least a few in each town.
Q: What was your goal when talking to the people?
A: To keep them thinking this is all normal and everything is okay. That the town has always been this way. That Scalehome and Dukalia are our allies. That the gnolls are monstrous.
Q: Why are you doing this?
A: Treasure.
Q: How long before you are missed by your superiors?
A: Three days.
Q: How do they contact you?
A: Sending and other magic if necessary.
Q: What will they do when you don't respond?
A: Come looking for me.
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A: Come looking for me.
Vor'Ruk punches his fist into his other hand when he hears about this.. Causing little bone slivers to fly around the room from the turkey leg he just pulverized. " YES! (spewing yet more turkey) This solves our problems, let the enemy come to us! Where we can meet them at the sharpened point of a heavy lance and trample them under the hoof of the light cavalry charge. "
An audible but distant "oorah!" greats your ears as a unit of orcs reply to their commands cries from outside.
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Vor'Ruk speaks up " Stubborn as always Ajax, the Fey would only leave for a way all the way home, to the Beastlands. They don't want to cross lines. "
I don't take your meaning.
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Ellic questions the fake mayor the next day in the secure building.
Ask about the 2 sakorakai in town that the fey were instructed to ignore.
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Ask about the 2 sakorakai in town that the fey were instructed to ignore.
A: One is loyal to Scalehome. The spellcaster is being paid to not interfere.
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Valizar would like to know what The Devourer is up to and where to find him. Where does he fit into the grand plans of Scalehome?
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Valizar would like to know what The Devourer is up to and where to find him. Where does he fit into the grand plans of Scalehome?
A: I don't know. We don't talk about it in polite company.
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A: I don't know. We don't talk about it in polite company.
Valizar doesn't care much for this answer. Unless Haas or Grant subdues me, I slap the taste out of this guys mouth. Subdual damage of course.
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Valizar doesn't care much for this answer. Unless Haas or Grant subdues me, I slap the taste out of this guys mouth. Subdual damage of course.
Grant is getting exceedingly tired of Valizar's antics. He does restrain him as he is about to strike the Impostor. In deference to Haas, he does not take further action against Valizar without Haas' permission. But, he does not allow Valizar to strike the impostor
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Grant is getting exceedingly tired of Valizar's antics. He does restrain him as he is about to strike the Impostor. In deference to Haas, he does not take further action against Valizar without Haas' permission. But, he does not allow Valizar to strike the impostor
Valizar does his best "bad cop" impersonation and allows Grant to restrain him while taunting and intimidating him. I won't actually follow through with the attack.
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Valizar doesn't care much for this answer. Unless Haas or Grant subdues me, I slap the taste out of this guys mouth. Subdual damage of course.
To be clear, I wrote earlier that it is Haas, Sernene, Grant and Ellic in the room questioning him. Ellic specifically keeps others out, but you are free to send submit questions.
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Also keep in mind, with the array of spells going on, there is simply no way for him to be telling anything but the truth.
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Vor'Ruk punches his fist into his other hand when he hears about this.. Causing little bone slivers to fly around the room from the turkey leg he just pulverized. " YES! (spewing yet more turkey) This solves our problems, let the enemy come to us! Where we can meet them at the sharpened point of a heavy lance and trample them under the hoof of the light cavalry charge. "
An audible but distant "oorah!" greats your ears as a unit of orcs reply to their commands cries from outside.
Q: Will they come here looking for you?
A: No, they will try to find me in Cheadsolas. Once they figure I am been captured, I don't think they will come here.
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A Timeline of events:
20/11/787 Morning - You leave Balinhost via Tyrogatore's Breath
20/11/787 - Afternoon - You arrive in Cheadsolas
20/11/787 - Dinner - Eating with the mayor
20/11/787 - Night - Find the fey and destroy the house
21/11/787 - Morning - Trial
21/11/787 - Afternoon - Find the fake mayor
21/11/787 - Evening - Return to Balinhost
21/11/787 - Night - Ajax has the fey gather more fey
22/11/787 - Morning - Interrogate the mayor
22/11/787 - Evening - Small group returns to Cheadsolas to talk to the taffers
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Posting xp:
Grant 25
Saladien 20
Vor'Ruk 20
Ajax 25
Haas 15
Valizar 15
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Before you get to Cheadsolas, Ellic has a Sending sent to the Taffer leader near Cheadsolas, whose name is simply Em. She will meet you outside the town far enough as to not alert anyone.
Rom'Pei, Vor'Ruk, Saladien, Ellic, Mallory and Ash go near 8pm on the evening on the 22nd.
Using Rom'Pei's staff, they travel there and Mallory casts several spells to keep you hidden while Ash scouts the area and keeps watch.
Only one Taffer arrives, the leader Em. For those having never seen one before, she appears as a large squirrel, perhaps two feet long without tail. She is dark brown in color and is carrying a back pack. Her hands appear opposable, her eyes steadier and grey. Only an expert could spot that she is female.
As soon as she arrives, Mallory casts a few more spells, and then nods to proceed. Not one day removed from his Heal, the grovetender appears older than before, more worn and more serious. Ellic begins the questioning (however if anyone has any questions, he relays them).
Em speaks in squeaking common.
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Ellic, "Thank you again for your help and coming here to meet us Rani Em." He nods in respect. "These are my advisers, Vor'Ruk of the Orcish Empire and his Cleric Rom'Pei."
Ellic is wearing his battle gear; one horned helmet, axe on his belt, rectangular scale mail.
"You know Mallory. Our hunter Ash is watching us from a distance. This is Saladien, an expert in animals and weather."
She squeaks, "Well met, let us be quick."
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Please tell me that you allow Taffers as playable characters. ;D
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Please tell me that you allow Taffers as playable characters. ;D
I will consider it in the future, they are new on the stage of Habololy.
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I will consider it in the future, they are new on the stage of Habololy.
Nice. I sense an all Taffer campaign in our future. Would you be able to post their stats somewhere? No rush, it's not important at the moment. Just throwing the request out there.