Prelude - Graceful Oaks: Portents and Omens

The Age of Magic is ended, Bhall, the Goddess of Fire, has succumbed to the whispers of Agares and fallen into Hell. Her worshipers and creations driven mad, and fire, which has been a powerful ally to man, has turned against him. Each good god was charged with the opposition of an evil god. Bhall was responsible for balancing Mulcarn, the God of Winter. Finding himself unopposed Mulcarn has broken The Compact and moved into Creation.

Creation was on the verge of another open war between the gods, that which they had outlawed with The Compact. To keep that from happening a deal was struck and the gods agreed that one god would enter Creation to challenge Mulcarn. That was Sucellus, the God of Nature. The two gods battled across the face of Creation, entire civilizations still recovering from the Burning Skies that marked the fall of Bhall were destroyed by their power. In the end Sucellus was killed and Mulcarn remained.

The Eternal Winter has begun...
Run by the Arch-Mage Vardaen
User avatar
Trogdor
Emeritus Admin
Emeritus Admin
Posts: 27260
Title: The Burninator
User Class: Jedi Master

Re: Prelude - Graceful Oaks: Portents and Omens

Post by Trogdor » Tue Jan 19, 2010 10:06 pm

Suli, looks at the fleeing goblin, but is unwilling to move far enough away from Celevan to chase it. Instead, the eidolon rushes over to the goblin in the fancy headdress and bites at it, trying to knock it to the ground.

The summoned dog, after supporting Suli in the attack either tries to finish the goblin off or chase the other one.

Celevan moves farther up the stream and tries a shot at long range from his sling.
Celevan
Move Action: N NE NE
Standard Action: Shoot sling at G1 (-2 for range - he's just in that second range increment!)

Suli
Move Action: E SE SE SE S W
Standard Action: Flanking Power Attack G2
+2 to hit for Flank, -1 to hit for power attack, +3 damage for power attack
Total to hit/damage: +5/1d6+6
Try and trip if successful

Celestial Riding Dog
either
Standard Action: Flanking Attack G2 with trip
or
Standard Action: Flanking Attack G2 with trip
Move Action: NE NE E NE NE E
or
Full Action: Charge attack on G1 - NE NE E NE NE E NE NE E (12/16 move) with trip attempt

Action depends on when and if G2 goes down (killed or tripped). Basically, the riding dog will attack G2 if its alive and threatening its square, and will remain near it if it's still a threat. But if it can move towards the other goblin without provoking an AoO, it will.
Celestial Riding Dog
Medium Extraplanar Magic Beast
Init +2; Senses low-light vision, darkvision 60, scent
DEFENSE
AC 13, touch 12, flat-footed 11 (+2 Dex, +1 natural)
hp 13 (2d8+4)
Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +1
Resist acid 5, cold 5, electricity 5; SR 5
OFFENSE
Speed 40 ft.
Melee Bite +3 melee (1d6+3 puls trip)
Special Attacks Smite, 1/day (+2 damage to target evil creature)
STATISTICS
Str 17, Dex 15, Con 19, Int 3, Wis 12, Cha 6
Base Atk +1; CMB +3; CMD 15 (19 vs trip)
Feats Skill Focus (Perception)
Skills Acrobatics +6 (+14 jumping), Perception +8, Survival +1 (+5 scent tracking); Racial Modifiers +4 Acrobatics when jumping, +4 Survival when tracking by scent

Trip (Ex): A creature with the trip special attack can attempt to trip its opponent as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity if it hits with the specified attack. If the attempt fails, the creature is not tripped in return.

Image

User avatar
Vardaen
Admin
Admin
Posts: 66394
Location: Miskatonic University
Title: Great Old One
User Class: Unshackled AI

Re: Prelude - Graceful Oaks: Portents and Omens

Post by Vardaen » Wed Jan 20, 2010 9:50 pm

An army unto himself, Celevan moves north along the strema's edge and takes a pot shot with his sling. The weapon spins around in his hand over his head and launches a shot high and very very wide. The stone is lost in the brush someplace no where near its target!

Suli turns from the goblin that is fleeing to flank the goblin huntkillmaster. The wolf comes in behind the antler headed goblin and snaps its jaw down on the back of it. The snaping of its spine and the screaming of its last breath rings out letting everyone know its very much dead!

The celestial dog, summoned to kill goblins, charges off across the now clear frozen field. As it comeing within range of the fleeing and wounded goblin it leaps into the air and lands with both it front paws on the small goblin. Knocking it sprawling to the ground the dog snaps its jaws on the back of its neck piercing its jugular vien and slaughtering the enemy in one powerful snap of its mouth.

The enemies are dead, the goblins and their hounds are no more.
Cevelan Move/Shoot (Range -2) 9 Miss
Suli: Move/Attack hkm (flanking +2): 22 Hit for 8 Dmg, DEAD
Dog: Charge Goblin 1: 18 Hit for 8 Dmg, DEAD!
Way to go guys! This was a rather difficult battle with the set up of the stream and the cover, yet you defeated the enemies with only minor wounds to yourselves.

Great use of powers and spells all around.

You can return to normal posting habbits now!

The Smite Evil goes away, and the dog will vanish in like 30 seconds.
"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." - Gandalf
J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring

User avatar
Muskrat
Level 21 Elite
Level 21 Elite
Posts: 10513
Location: The Secret Places Beneath the Earth
Title: Keeper of the Hidden Word
User Class: Scholar

Re: Prelude - Graceful Oaks: Portents and Omens

Post by Muskrat » Thu Jan 21, 2010 4:25 am

Allareia looks on as the two canines slaughter the goblins. She feels like she acquitted herself rather poorly in this encounter, only scoring one strike against the enemy. Too many years with my nose in the books, she thinks to herself. Well, I will learn from this and do better next time.

She pulls herself together and says a prayer aloud, "Junil and Lugus, we thank you for this victory. May you look after the souls of the dead and may they find some form of redemption."
How does the afterlife work in this world anyway?
Her prayers finished, Allareia turns around and slogs back through the mud and rain towards her backpack, retrieving her arrows on the way. Once she has retrieved it, she says to Celevan, "That fire and tea you promised is sounding especially good right now." And to Syrronas, "Once we've made camp, let me look at your wound."
I'm a little unclear on how the Heal skill works. If I make a successful check and Syrronas gets a full night's rest, does he get hit points back?
Having retrieved her backpack, she slogs back across the river. She stops to look over the goblins, checking for any information on where they may have come from. As she does so, she murmurs another prayer, feeling a bit odd about looking through the belongings of the dead, even ones as hateful to her as goblins.

User avatar
Trogdor
Emeritus Admin
Emeritus Admin
Posts: 27260
Title: The Burninator
User Class: Jedi Master

Re: Prelude - Graceful Oaks: Portents and Omens

Post by Trogdor » Thu Jan 21, 2010 5:18 am

As Suli and the dog take down the goblins, Celevan breathes a sigh of relief. "Good job," he calls out. "See if the area is clear of goblins." Then he makes his way across the stream and helps the others across too.

"That was well done," he says to them as they plod through the mud. "I'm glad Suli and I weren't traveling alone. This area is becoming more dangerous with each passing month."

Once on the other side, Celevan works to set up camp and get a fire going. First priority is to get his companions warm and dry. Once they are taken care of and Suli is back, he looks his companion over and frowns.

"I'm sorry about the goblin dogs," he says. "That one did quite a number on you." He examines Suli's fur to see how bad the damage is. "Please stay long enough to see us settled and to make sure things are safe. Then I won't say a word against you returning to the celestial realm to heal. I don't want to see you suffering that goblin filth any longer than necessary."
Both the dog and Suli have scent. Yea, it's raining. But hopefully they can help make sure the area is clear of goblins and safe to make camp.

User avatar
Vardaen
Admin
Admin
Posts: 66394
Location: Miskatonic University
Title: Great Old One
User Class: Unshackled AI

Re: Prelude - Graceful Oaks: Portents and Omens

Post by Vardaen » Thu Jan 21, 2010 8:00 pm

Suletor and summoned dog follow orders and range out into the area around the stream to check for more goblins. Only Suli returns for the summoned hound vanishes before a minute is up. Celevan compliments the Elohim and Thelonite on their preformace and then begins to look for suitable location to set up camp to get warm and dry against the odds of the rain.

Suletor the wolf returns and keeps his distance from Celevan, his fur is mangy and infested already with fast breeding lice and a dander that seems almost supernatural in nature.

Reluctant Follower of Dreams collects her pack, but finds her arrows are ruined on the search. She comments to Syrronas that she will tend his wounds once camp is made, but before that she moves to inspect the goblins. Starting with the 'huntkillmaster' the white haired Allareia kneels at its corpse, gruesome in its death, she nonetheless, inspects it for anything that might prove usefull or information.

Rolling the corpse over she notice now on close inspection that there is a design painted on the chestplate of the goblin -- a White Hand. She's seen this symbol before. These are not just random goblins, these are Frostlings -- Servants of Mulcarn the God of Winter! These are the same beasts that killed her lover and destoryed her haven! Choking down her emotions for a moment Allariea takes a moment to process the information before acting once again.
Goblin Body Loot. Normally I'll do loot threads, but I don't see this as requiring such.

Goblins are small, so their armor and such won't fit, not that any of you would take it.

Short Bows (one with a broken string) (2)
Quiver #1: 14 Arrows
Quiver #2: 11 Arrows
Small Shortswords (2)
Light Wooden Shields (2)
16 cps, 19 sps Total
1 Dead Muskrat partially gnawed on.
"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." - Gandalf
J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring

User avatar
Trogdor
Emeritus Admin
Emeritus Admin
Posts: 27260
Title: The Burninator
User Class: Jedi Master

Re: Prelude - Graceful Oaks: Portents and Omens

Post by Trogdor » Thu Jan 21, 2010 9:02 pm

"We should take the weapons and coins, at least," Celevan observes. "Falcon's Hollow is a rough place for those without money. If we can sell the weapons we might get enough to pay for an inn for a little while. Every bit helps." He shakes his head when he sees the white hand on the armor, but otherwise makes no other comment.

User avatar
Muskrat
Level 21 Elite
Level 21 Elite
Posts: 10513
Location: The Secret Places Beneath the Earth
Title: Keeper of the Hidden Word
User Class: Scholar

Re: Prelude - Graceful Oaks: Portents and Omens

Post by Muskrat » Thu Jan 21, 2010 9:50 pm

Allareia feels rage blaze through her when she sees the white hand and her lips peel back to curse the dead. She catches herself in time though and takes a deep breath. Her teeth gritted, she says, "These are not just random goblins. These are followers of Mulcarn. They may be nothing more than common bandits, but they may be a sign of something worse afoot. We should remain wary." She refills her quiver from those of the dead goblins. Remembering the teachings of her order, she forces herself to arrange the dead bodies in a respectful position, their hands clasped on their breasts, and gives them a basic covering of broken branches. She would just as soon spit on them.

She helps Celevan collect the weapons and coins, saying of the latter, "Shall we split them three ways?"
A dead muskrat? :o :lol:

User avatar
Trogdor
Emeritus Admin
Emeritus Admin
Posts: 27260
Title: The Burninator
User Class: Jedi Master

Re: Prelude - Graceful Oaks: Portents and Omens

Post by Trogdor » Thu Jan 21, 2010 10:18 pm

Celevan nods at Allareia's rage. "We've seen them more and more lately around Falcon's Hollow. Not a lot. But enough to be troubling. Yet another thing to have to worry about." He sighs.

"Yes, split evenly is fine. It'll go quickly enough once we get to town in any case."
Call it 5 copper and 6 silver each. We can give the odd copper coin and silver coin as an offering to Lugus or Junil when we get to town.

It might be worth the handful of gold we'd get to bring the swords and bows too.

I've updated my sheet with the coins.

User avatar
Wayloss
Level 15 Elite
Level 15 Elite
Posts: 4565
Location: Rochester
User Class: Outlaw Technician

Re: Prelude - Graceful Oaks: Portents and Omens

Post by Wayloss » Fri Jan 22, 2010 8:33 am

Syrronas pays little head to the arrangement of the dead, but chips in on the prayers. The red-haired elf is gazing off without focus in the direction that the goblin was trying to flee. He shivers but turns to take the weapons at the practical Celevan's suggestion.
"I'd be as likely to throw them into the river, but we will need currency. Being practical is better then being cold and hungry."

User avatar
Vardaen
Admin
Admin
Posts: 66394
Location: Miskatonic University
Title: Great Old One
User Class: Unshackled AI

Re: Prelude - Graceful Oaks: Portents and Omens

Post by Vardaen » Fri Jan 22, 2010 10:30 pm

The three split the coins, the minting on them is from old Braduk. Which Falcon's Hollow was once affliated with so its not odd to see that minting on them.

I'll put the weapons on Syyronas sheet.
Sayrronas collects the weapons at the suggestion they might sell for a few coins, enough for a night or two of lodging in the human town. The coins are split up, a few extra given to Dreams for donation to her faith. The group is now cold, wet, and bleeding slightly. The day is starting to wan, and here is as good as place as any to stop. Celevan explains that tomorrow you'll cross the Darkmoon Plain, a place of geothermal instability. Gysers and mudpots are prevelant, having formed after the fall of Bhall at the fringes of the Burning Pit. Travelers, even skilled one, sometimes fall pray to the hidden dangers, and traveling tired or in the dark would be dangerous even for the elves. So you set up camp, a small fire is barely started with the wet wood, but soon you are sitting around talking about what is to come. Tomorrow, after navigating the Darkmoon Plain you'll reach the River Foam and the town of Falcon's Hollow on the other side.
Geothermal Activity: Various forms of surface-level geothermal activities exist all throughout the plain, particularly in the areas south of River Foam and between it and the Burning Pit. Explorers after the Fall of Bhall in the area faced'€"in addition to the usual dangers from monsters, wild animals, and savage humanoids'€"the hidden hazards presented by subsurface mudpots and hot springs. Many early expeditions lost men or pack animals when an unsuspecting victim stepped on a particularly thin bit of ground and fell into the superheated mud or water underneath. Modern guides know of these dangers and lead their patrons around such obstacles, often following game trails. Unfortunately, even the most experienced guides sometimes lead their employers astray, as the geologic activity beneath much of the Darkmoon Plain remains relatively active and constantly shifts.

Most of the geologic features of the plain remain in plain sight, however, and announce themselves regularly or continuously. Many of these exposed geysers and mudpots attract the attention of people and creatures drawn to natural displays of beauty and heat!!
"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." - Gandalf
J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring

Locked