Chapter 1: A Peaceable Kingdom

[Jeff]

Goran will try to offer any healing he can to the fallen soldier.

Does this mean he'll use up all 6 of his spell slots, if necessary, to awaken the soldier?

I'm all set to move things along (to morning), but I need to know Fenwolt's and the soldier's fate to do so.

[Jeremy]

Jeff, no Goran will not do this. It is too much when everyone else needs help so much. Goran will do what he can and ask for help from the others to offer conventional healing, and TWO slots of spells, to try and keep him alive. Whatever his rage might be , Goran is wise enough to know this man is probably just a hired goon like so many others, and he can't simple abandon him to die without at least a scrap of help. He will also try to see if they can leave him some water and a scrap of bread.

---

He will solicit help from anyone who might offer to make the soldier comfortable that he might recover enough to seek help, and perhaps if they reach Fairhaven or some small town or farm first, they can ask someone to send back help.

As for Fenwolt, of course that's not my decision alone. However, it we can be certain he is dead, I suggest we bury his body, after removing anything that can identify him or connect him to us. We owe him at least that much.

Goran will offer a little healing to the rest of the party, spreading it around, he will use his four remaining slots for this.

[Jeff]

Goran divvies out a little bit of healing, offering minor healing spells to those who seem to need it the most: Oss, Grafth, Kal, and himself. The last he uses upon the Emerald Claw soldier, who lapses into a peaceful sleep. The soldier is laid out on the edge of camp, safely within view of those who take watch. Fenwolt is laid on the opposite side, perhaps to be buried in the morning. None have the strength to do so just now.

Grafth and Pellorien take the first watch. Goran recruits Cutter to join him on the second watch. Kal and Oss take the third, both of them too exhausted to do so any sooner.

The night is tense, every stir of the wind or rustle in the grass a perceived threat....but it passes, ultimately uneventful. No lights move along the nearby road, no figures stir in the darkness. During his watch, Grafth hears the distant sound of of a bird's call in the darkness overhead. It doesn't sound like an owl, but other unfamiliar nocturnal creatures dwell in this land with which he is not familar. It might be one of those, perhaps even a dragonhawk borne high in the night.

Fenwolt's magical light source has long since faded, and the fire that lid Goran's blade long since extinguished. All is dark.

Nymm, the Crown, the pale yellow moon, dominates the night sky in full phase—the only source of light on the land. Slivers of several of Eberron's other moons can be seen among the black clouds.

Chief among them is Dravago, the small, pale lavender satellite often simply called the Herder's Moon. Old stories tell that Dravago is the shepherd of the other moons, keeping them in motion around Eberron. Whatever folklore says, herders, handlers, farmers, or those awkward in civilized society find a kindship with the small moon. And in truth, it brings an unexplicable comfort to those like Goran and Grafth to look upon—a constant spot of color in the black night sky.

You sleep restlessly, but you do sleep long. The day has been too demanding on you to deny you that.

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Oss, Grafth, Kal, and Goran are healed 1 point each by Goran's magic. Everyone then heals 3 hit points (and however many hit points you gain for making level!), and each is healed of all nonlethal damage.

I need Oss, Pellorien, and Grafth to roll for hit points still (see your private threads!).

(To expedite things, the nighttime shifts listed above I will use going forward on future nights, unless you decided to rearrange it.)

[Jeff]

Zol, the 3rd of Rhaan 998 YK

When dawn arrives, your party begins to awake, one by one. The sky is light, but not overly bright.

Oss, Kal, and Goran each seem to begin their days in a brief, almost meditate state. Each replenishes their magical abilities differently: Oss seems to supplicate, in a quiet manner, one or two gods of the Sovereign Host. He appears respectful, yet the whispered words sound like his own, not the litany of some city church parroted back.

Goran's patterns are reminiscent of the earth itself, almost like the soft chant of a mystic herbalist.

Kal's focus seems more inward, the arcane concentration of a dragonmarked sorcerer.

Despite the violence and weariness of last night, the bright day this dawn promises cheers you. You ache all over the place, but you feel worlds better than you did last night.

The Emerald Claw soldiers sleeps still, though he still looks in pretty bad shape, he is no in no imminent danger of dying anymore. His fate must be decided still.

Fenwolt's body remains to be dealt with as well.

[Darren]

Replacing the series of buckles and straps onto his leg, Kalarian rises stiffly. Without saying a word, he picks up his sharrash, leaving his pack where he slept, and moves a bit off from the group.

Anyone who cares to look will see that he has removed his shirt and is going through a series of intricate motions with the weapon, clearly practicing the forms that will turn his graceful movements into a deadly dance.

After a reasonable amount of practice, Kalarian picks up his clothing and weapon and returns to the group. "How about some breakfast?" he asks. He says a few words in Halfling to Tangat. Seeing the general sadness in the group whenever anyone looks at Fenwolt's body, Kalarian suggests a burial. "Our friend here," he says, indicating Oss, "seems like he may know a proper ritual. We can send him off properly."

Kal pauses for a moment to wait for the reaction of the others. "Then we can wake our sleeping friend over there," he says coldly.

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Kal is asking Tangat if he can maybe hunt some small game (rabbits, etc.) for breakfast for the group. If Tangat can't come up with anything and if no one else can, either, Kalarian will eat some rations (gotta keep up one's strength!).

[Lara]

Pellorien wakes a little stiff and sore. She stands and stretches as she looks about the makeshift camp.

"Food sounds wonderful. It was supposed to be a short trip, so I didn't really pack anything to eat. But if you can tell me what to look for, I can try to find berries or mushrooms or something like that."

[Jeff]

Indeed, yesterday's events didn't do much for your appetite, but each of you wakes this day with a serious craving for food! Tangat looks expectantly to Kal to see to breakfast.

Most of you possess traveling rations; if not appetizing, they'll certainly do the trick.

[Darren]

Giving his friend a roll of his eyes ( :, Kalarian digs into his pack and breaks out some rations for himself and to share with Tangat.

[Jeremy]

Goran also eats a little from his rations, sparing as his appetite will allow, however. Until they are actually in Fairhaven, who knows how long his food will have to last.

"I think we should leave the soldier. A change has come over me regarding these men of the Emerald Claw badge. I think they have a fear of their leadership that is greater than anything we here could threaten them with. I know little about it, but I sense it."

He sits again, cleaning his blades and generally repairing his kit. His clothes are a mess from the fighting and he tries to repair them or at least artfully rearrange them a bit.

"...and the less killing we do, the better off we all will be. None of us hesitate to slay when our lives are in immediate danger, but I won't kill a wounded, helpless man, whatever threat he might remain."

He pauses, and looks at Kal.

"You are right about a proper burial for the gnome. I will help you."

---

Goran will actually defend the soldier if anyone tries to kill him. If I don't get a chance to say this, before the group leaves Goran will leave a bite or two of food for him, and if possible a little water in whatever sort of vessel he can scrounge (maybe Fenwolt had something?).

[Darren]

Kalarian studies Goran for a moment. "You aren't curious to know how they knew where to find us, or, more important, WHY someone is trying to kill US? Who are we but a group of strangers?" Turning his gaze towards Fenwolt, he adds, "Unless, of course, they were here for him."

Finishing the last bite of his breakfast, Kalarian rises to his feet. "Well, if you choose not to question him, I will abide by your decision. Let's leave him and get to Fairhaven as quickly as possible. Maybe we can get some answers there."

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Kal's ready to go whenever the rest of the group is. If a burial is prepared for Fenwolt, he will help out. Anything anyone does regarding the soldier he will stay out of.

[Lara]

admin said:

Most of you possess traveling rations; if not appetizing, they'll certainly do the trick.

Pellorien doesn't. As I tried to express, she wasn't expecting to be away from civilization. She's packed for a trip, not an expedition. At least she's wise enough to recognize that she's unprepared for this sort of travel: she has no ranks in Survival, so picking berries or gathering mushrooms without some guidance as to what not to eat is a less-than-good idea.

[Jeff]

Hence, "most." Pellorien is the only one who does not have rations (and the only one willing to admit that she's not just an everyday adventurer!)

As soon as there is some concensus and action regarding the soldier and the gnome, I will move things on!

[Lara]

Whenever Goran goes over to Fenwolt's body, Pellorien follows. She tries to keep her head averted from the body, focusing her attention anywhere else.

"His papers have an address in Fairhaven on them," she says. "And he told me he has a brother. A priest. Shouldn't we... Shouldn't we try to contact him? I mean, he might want to know what's happened to his brother. It might be nice to give him Fenwolt's things."

[Darren]

Coming up next to Pellorien, Kal hands her some of the rations from his pack. Looking down at Fenwolt's body, he says, "She's right. We should look for his brother nd his address in Fairhaven. But we can't carry him the whole way there. We'll bury him here, and we can let his brother know where he is in case he wants to move him."

[Paul]

CUtter gingerly pats his injured side and finishes up his rations.

"What are we doing then? If we're burying the gnome let's get it done before the sun gets any higher."

He nods toward the soldier. "And I still think we should question him." To Goarn: "You can do it yourself if you don't trust any of us. But if he thinks he's going to die, he might tell us something."

[Darren]

Kalarian merely nods at Cutter's words.

[Jeff]

If the soldier is to be questioned, he will need to be awakened. His injuries are no longer life-threatening, but they've sufficed to keep him under for a while. Force, or perhaps something very cold, could possibly bring him to.

[Lara]

Pellorien's eyes widen as Kalarian hands her some rations.

"Thank you," she says, starting to eat. "I'd be happy to replenish your supplies whenever we get to a place where I can purchase something."

[Ed]

Oss joins the party after waking, having stayed quiet until this moment.

"We will question the soldier. I don't much like being jumped on the road and I want to know why," he says.

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Oss will attempt to bring the soldier to. If Oss believes a cure light or two will help in this, he'll do so. I'll post again once I know the result of the soldier waking.

[Jeff]

Oss is unable to wake the soldier by standard means, so he intones a simple healing spell. When the soft glow of his spell diminishes, the soldier wakes suddenly in a grimace of pain.

His eyes upon and fix on Oss, his expression puzzled and discomforted. Although the soldier is weaponless, he hands are not bound and you can see his bruised and aching body tensing up. He rotates his head slowly around the helmet and cloak that serves as a makeshift pillow. He glances around at those who stand over him.

"I am...alive." There is stubborn defiance in his voice. "I...know how this goes. You want answers...or you'll kill me."

He forces a chuckle, but there is no humor. "The last one didn't do so well at this, I'm guessing. Killed in cold blood by an honorless coward....so I hear."

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Oss's Heal check = 12.
Oss casts Cure Minor Wounds on the soldier, healing him 1 hit point. He is at exactly 0 hit points (considered disabled), so a slight injury would push him under again. His actions are limited.

[Darren]

Kalarian steps forward towards the soldier. "Oh, no. Davin's blood was quite warm when I killed him." He leans over the soldier.

"I'm not going to kill you. My travelling companions won't let me. Soft hearts. So, no. You won't die." Kalarian places the shaft of his sharrash onto the man's chest, pushing down hard. "But you will feel pain. Now, I have a few questions for you. Who sent you to find us? How did you know where we'd be? Were you looking for us, or for the gnome?"

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Beginning an Intimidate check.

[Jeff]

The soldier holds Kal's stare for a long while, then looks down at the butt of the sharash on his chest, then away. "Fine. For what good this will do you..."

He takes a deep breath, reaching a hand to his head as if he's got a severe headache.

"The gnome. He was linked to us, so he needed removing. You're getting yourself into this. Walk away, and the Order will leave you alone. The more you see, the more you know, the more you are a problem for us."

Another deep breath. He looks to the others arrayed around him. "We don't care about you. I don't care. We're under orders, and that's all I know...all you'll ever know. Leave me here, I'll go my way and you go yours. The gnome was all we needed. We won. You won. So just...live on."

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Kal's Intimidate check = 19

[Darren]

Walking away from the soldier, Kalarian stands next to Goran, his back to the soldier, but his voice loud enough to be heard by everyone. "I think that's probably all he even knows. A low-level servant like this one wouldn't be privvy to any details of the plans of his superiors." Kalarian grins, hoping that his words have hit a nerve with the Emerald Claw footman.

[Jeremy]

"Fine" replies Goran, his eyes fixed on the soldier. Now that the man is awake his rage has begun to grow, but this time a cold, focused hate. This is what he was afraid of, and why he didn't want to wake the wounded man.

"What he says appears to be true. Several bolts that could have been aimed at you or me, and saved at least one more of their lives, were instead aimed at the gnome."

His back to the soldier, Goran looks at Kal and Oss, sharing a meaningful glance as if to say 'just go along with me on this'.

"We're going to let you live, soldier. And your "Order", such as it is, needn't be concerned with us. We liked the little bugger, but none of us are ready to continue dying for him. We have our own business, and it has nothing to do with you. We'll be leaving this place very soon."


He turns to the others and mumbles...

"Unless anyone has anything else, let's get the hells out of here." and heads to his gear, getting ready to leave. He looks at Grafth...

"Do you want to take point first, or shall I?"

[Darren]

With the friendliest (and most smug) smile he can muster towards the soldier, Kalarian says, "Best of luck to you. May we never meet again." As he walks past the man, he adds, "If we do, rest assured that you will end up like Davin." Kalarian doesn't look back as he follows Grafth and Goran.

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Out of character....we haven't dealt with Fenwolt's body, but I don't think now is the time to bury him (especially since this soldier knows where the body would be, and Fenwolt would likely end up burned and without a head). Somebody should probably carry the body with us, for now.

[Ed]

Oss nods at the soldier's words. "Figures," he says before he raises the butt of a dagger and clubs the man on the forehead.
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Non-lethal, subdual damage to knock him out but leave him stable.

[Jeff]

The soldier's expression is tough to read when Kal and Goran begin discussing it. Then Oss cracks him on the head with the pommel of his dagger, sending him into a forced sleep once again.

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Oss's nonlethal attack deals 1 point of nonlethal damage.

Hey, Oss and Grafth: roll for your hit point "raise"!

[Josh]

Grafth, having been sitting quietly where he slept, writing in his journal and eating half of the semi-stale roll he pocketed the day before, seems to be lost in thought. At the sound of his name, he is alert. Closing his bound pages and replacing his belongings into his pack, he stands and addresses the group.

"So, we move on? I see no reason to avoid the path right now. The daylight hours will allow little in the way of an ambush in this terrain. However, we should stay alert, and deviate from the path when necessary."


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Grafth rolled, punk.
Grafth suggests that the party move on, with Goran and Grafth "leading". If there is trouble on the path, he will suggest they deviate to the east of it, followint the river to Fairhaven.

[Jeff]

All the remains is Fenwolt's body: will he be carried back to the city or buried somewhere along the way? Grafth estimates Fairhaven is only a few hours away now.

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Grafth's hit points have been updated, schmoe.

[Darren]

I'd say we should take him back to the city, but we'd look pretty conspicious walking around with a dead gnome. I think we should move off a bit and bury him, and just remember the location for anyone who wants to come back for him.