Chapter 1: A Peaceable Kingdom

[Josh]

Grafth looks down the slope at his companions dealing with the aftermath of the swift attack, then quickly turns his attention back to the sleeping man, knowing he will awaken soon.

Without taking his eyes from the agressor, he shouts to the others, "Hey, down there! One of you come up and lend a hand with this man! If he wakes up with a hostile attitude, I may not be able to restrain him alone- and keep him alive at the same time."

[Paul]

Cutter looks at the dog with the rope in its mouth and decides against taking it on. He looks up at Grafth's shout and sighs.

"I'll help the shifter. Somebody else watch the other one."

On the way he passes the area he where he came to and looks for his backpack. (Or does he still have it?) If he finds it, he opens it and takes out the pair of manacles he keeps for reasons known only to himself. (Not fur-lined, in case anyone's wondering.)

[Paul]

On his way up the slope with the manacles, Cutter spots an approaching shape flying through the air. He squints but can't quite make out what it is.

"Looks like we've got more company," he calls, hurrying toward Davin

[Jeff]

Cutter approaches Grafth's position, who stands ready with his handaxe. Davin wakes with a start, tensing his body, and immediately says, "No!" Then he realizes that there is a shifter with an axe right beside him. "What..."

He makes no sudden moves, but Grafth can see his eyes darting around, searching for a way out of here. Up close now, Grafth can't tell if he's from Aundair or not. Might be Cyran or Karrnathi. He is human, probably in his late 30s. "I will go. I will leave you. Take what I have." He pats one of the pouches at his belt, which jostles with coins. "If you're thinking of taking me with you, you know I'm only going to slow you down."

Edit: At Cutter's words, Oss instinctively turns his eyes to the western sky. He's pretty sure he's looking upon a dragonhawk in the distance—the large and powerful bird of prey that is Aundair's national symbol. Wild creatures, but often ridden by wizards and master tamers. They live in mountain aeries, favoring western Aundair. In remote places, they are a threat to livestock and even the occassional people, but near cities they are infrequent. It's impossible to tell from this distance if this dragonhawk has a rider. If not, it's not terribly uncommon to see a dragonhawk; it doesn't necessarily mean imminent danger.

[Lara]

"Well met, Onin. Thanks for your help here," Pellorien says.

She takes the second potion to Kalarian, kneels beside the fallen man and puts the vial to his lips, slowly pouring the potion down his throat.

Distracted by a large shape in the sky at a distance, she looks away for a moment. About the same time Cutter speaks, she says, "Oh, great... something else is headed this way!"

To Kalarian, under her breath, she says, "Well, you, now's a good time to wake up!"
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No checks necessary, as far as I can tell.

[Jeff]

The healing potion revitalizes Kal in an instant. He still feels bruised, but the magical properties of the draught bring him to quickly, where his eyes flutter open and look up Pellorien. The first thing he sees is her look up and say, "Oh, great... something else is headed this way!"

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The potion restores 8 hit points (which also completely strips away all nonlethal damage, too.)

[Darren]

Kalarian looks around, confused for a moment. He shakes his head, clearing the fog. Then, in a sudden flash, he remembers what has happened to him. There is a coldness in his voice when he speaks. "I won't let them be proven right," he says to himself, seemingly not even noticing Pellorien's presence. His eyes burn with a terrifying, violent rage.

Kalarian springs up and runs up the hill towards Davin. When he reaches the man, he draws his longsword and places the heel of his boot on the man's throat. "Tell me who you are, and who you work for. NOW!"

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Intimidate check?

[Jeff]

Kal points his blade at the man's throat—who is still slumped (if tensely) on his horse, not on the ground. The man glares back at Kal. "What would work best for you, friend....is if you let me go. You don't want to get tangled up in this."

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To everyone: Most interaction skills (Intimidate and Diplomacy, for sure) require at least 1 full minute of interaction. This is straight out of the rules. So please don't expect immediate results. I don't want skill checks to completely replace roleplaying. They're best used in conjunction, especially in PbP games like this.

[Josh]

Grafth snarls in annoyance, reaches up, grabs the man's side, and pulls him down off the horse and to the ground. Once on the ground, he raises his axe up above the man's shoulder.

"If you don't spill your story right now, I will spill your blood."

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Grafth sucks a rolling (Intimidate = 8) but hopefully the number of angry people surrounding the guy will help.

[Darren]

Kal grabs the man and pulls him from the horse, forcing him onto his back. He THEN places his heel on the man's throat (assuming he was successful in getting him to the ground).

"You are going to die. You may as well tell me what I want to know."

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I'm guessing a grapple check will be necessary if he fights.

EDIT: It appears Grafth beat me to pulling him to the ground. The rest of my actions still apply (heel on throat, etc).

[Jeff]

Davin puts up no fight, falling hard to the ground.

Cutter steps up to the group. Davin regards the big man and the black iron manacles in his hands. He seems more nervous now.

At Kal's words, his eyes narrow. "You're telling me you're going to kill me, and you still want me to tell you more? Take it easy, friend. We can sort this out. But maybe it's best to get out of here first? Unless you want the authorities to sort this out?"
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Another point of interest: some skills can be combined. For example, Kal can make the Intimidate check and Grafth can "aid" him. In thise case, Grafth would need to get a 10, which would give Kal a +2 circumstance bonus on his check. However, Grafth's roll wasn't quite good enough.

[Darren]

Kalarian applies more pressure on the man's throat. "I'm going to sort this out myself. And unless YOU want the authorities to find you here, you better tell me who you are and who sent you here."

The fire in Kal's eyes now looks like a murderous rage. It is pretty clear that he intends to kill this man.

[Jeremy]

Goran, meanwhile, is sort of paying attention, while simultaneously hallucinating about pink elephants and lightning bolts (he HOPES he's hallucinating, anyway)

The half-elf has just enough of his wits about him to notice burning holes in stereo on his chest...and chooses to do something about it before he collapses. He looks around, sees that the other wounded are being tended to, and decides he can worry about his own wounds. He gently places his bow on the ground and sits next to it, for the most part ignoring the histrionics over by the captives, and casts a little magic for himself. Before he casts the spell, however, he speaks, as loudly as he can and slowly so he'll sound coherent,

"Kal, Grafth...you've got to offer him his life...or something else, if you want information. Just a suggestion, my friends."

Then Goran attends to himself.

---

Jeff, Goran casts Goodberry, and takes full advantage of their healing powers. Yum.

Assuming it works, of course.

[Jeff]

Goran fishes out a handful of berries from his pack, then mutters a brief chant over them.

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Goran has enchanted 5 berries with Goodberry. Each one will heal 1 hit point (as well as providing the nourishment of a full meal). How many will he eat? All of them?

[Jeremy]

Ah what the heck. Goran eats four of the Goodberries and offers the fifth to Pellorien to give to whomever is still the worst wounded.

[Jeff]

Goran is restored 4 hit points, and also heals 4 points of nonlethal damage. Pellorien now holds a small, lustrous red berry that will provide nourishment and heal 1 point to whomever she gives it to.

[Paul]

Cutter shoves Kal aside. "Haven't you ever interrogated someone before?"

He kneels down and claps the manacles on Davin. Then he takes hold of Davin's small finger.

"As you can probably tell, we're an impatient bunch. So if you like your fingers all pointing in the same direction, I suggest you talk. Now."

[Lara]

admin said:

Goran is restored 4 hit points, and also heals 4 points of nonlethal damage. Pellorien now holds a small, lustrous red berry that will provide nourishment and heal 1 point to whomever she gives it to.

Understanding from Goran that the berry has some healing properties to it, Pellorien considers who needs the help the most before offering it to Grafth.

"Take it, or pass it on. Your choice," she says. "Thanks go to him." She points in Goran's direction.

"Have you noticed the large bird on approach? You might ask him what he knows about it."

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The dice roller wouldn't work. Please do a randomized roll on a d4 where 1=Cutter, 2=Grafth, 3=Kalarian, 4=Oss, and the berry goes to the number.

[Darren]

paulcrilley said:

Cutter shoves Kal aside. "

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Jeff, I think you're going to need to make a grapple check or something. Kalarian will not allow himself to be moved.

[Josh]

Grafth steps aside as Cutter and Kal vai for the charge of the scene. Looking down the slope, he sees the rest of the party busying themselves with the wounded and each other. A thought seems to dawn in his mind.

He jogs down the slope, shouting to the people below, "Is anyone looking after that other fallen rider?!"

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Grafth is heading toward the other rider, who he inexpertly attempted to attack earlier.
If the man is moving to escape, he will attempt to knock him unconscious with the butt of his axe.

[Jeff]

Despite being obviously stronger than Kal, Cutter moves to shove the Deneith heir aside. His footing on the slope isn't good enough, and Kal's rage keeps him firmly in place. However, this doesn't stop Cutter from stepping in front of him and closing the manacles on Davin's hands.

Grafth sees the captive watch the brief exchange between Kal and Cutter and he can see the amusement in his eyes. Davin seems genuinely wary of Cutter's presence and his arrival....but the whole thing looks undermined by the lack of a united front. Then Grafth heads back down the slope.

"Listen," Davin says when Cutter positions his fingers. "I understand your frustration. This is all...complicated." He looks up at Kal. "I really am with the Merevind militia. We came to investigate...and I mistook you all for looters. Scavengers, taking advantage of this catastrophe!" He looks back at Cutter. "I'm talking, I'm talking! Ease up!"
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Since this isn't a real tussle, I just made Cutter's/Kal's moment a standard grapple check (Base attack bonus + Strength modifier + any size modifiers) rather than all the layered steps. Cutter got a 13 and Kal got a 16.

Kal's Intimidate check is 23. Cutter's Intimidate check (to "assist") is 21, which grants a +2 bonus to Kal's original, resulting in a total of 25. Nice! However, Davin's resolve is firm and the struggle between Kal and Cutter worsened the attempt.

[Jeff]

The other rider, who wears chainmail and has a longsword at his hip, still lies unconscious from his injuries. Grafth stands over him.

Pellorien offers Grafth a bright red berry.

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Lara's random roll is a 2 (Grafth).

Grafth has little knowledge of particular spells (no Spellcraft), so as far as he's concerned, that's just a berry she's offering.

[Darren]

While Cutter has been placing the manacles on Davin, Kalarian has moved the point of his longsword up next to his heel. Increasing the pressure of his boot heel, he slowly slides the blade into Davin's neck. He hasn't quite pushed it far enough to kill him, but it would only take a little bit of pressure to finish the job. He removes his heel, keeping a hand on the blade. He leans down by Davin's face, speaking with a cold menace in his voice.

"You're not going to be able to talk much longer if you keep this up. Start talking faster."

[Lara]

Over her shoulder to the puzzled Grafth, Pellorien says, "It's got some sort of healing properties. Probably tastes good, too!"

She strides toward where the others are confronting the leader of the men who attacked them.

"Look," she says to Kalarian, "I'd be a little angry with someone who knocked me on my butt, too, but I don't think you're helping this situation. We've got injured folks to take care of here, yet it looks to me like you're more interested in creating even more injuries! If there really is more trouble on the way, like you said, then we need to get people moving so everyone has the chance to get out of the way of it."

[Josh]

Confused, Grafth accepts the berry, scrutinizing it for a moment.

"Yes... this is a... nice... berry. A good specimen. Thank you."

He places it in his pocket, and looks around. He whistles to Tangat. "Friend, can you help us?" he calls to the dog. Then he bends down to inspect and disarm the assailant.

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If Oss is looking this direction, Grafth signals to him to join them.
He also searches the body of the unconscious man.

[Jeff]

Pellorien makes her way up the slope to where Kal and Cutter are interrogating Davin. She sees the brief scuffled between them and Kal's sword at the man's throat.

"Damn it!" the captive hisses. "If you're going to kill me, kill me. Then you can go from unfortunate passenger to murderer, and you will find yourself on the run from Fairhaven's watch. My death will set new enemies against you, I assure you. I advise you to walk away. Make a clean run from here, where none will follow."

The only thing Grafth finds on the unconscious man at the bottom of the slope is his longsword, the light crossbow (which fell nearby), a quiver of bolts, and a sunrod. No identification papers at all, which is odd in a time of peace. Usually the only people who don't carry any such papers are peasants with no need to cross national borders or otherwise expect to be questioned by authorities.

[Darren]

"Fine," says Kalarian, ice in his voice.

He plunges his sword into the man's throat.

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Combat roll?

[Ed]

Oss eyes the approaching dragonhawk, barely aware of what his fellow travelers are doing until he hears raised voices and watches the Deneir dandy plunge his sword into the prisoner's neck. He stairs at the Deneir man for a long moment, a mixture of disbelief and pity on his face.

"You fools! We need to be gone from here, now. Anyone who doesn't want to either tangle with the law or end up as that thing's dinner," he says pointing to the approaching dragonhawk, "ought to come with me, now! Especially since he," indicating Kal, "just committed murder."

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He will head away from the rail, into some nearby cover. Woods, perhaps?

[Jeff]

Davin struggles to dodge, eyes bulging, but with Cutter holding him still he is unable to avoid Kal's blade. The aim isn't perfect, and it only slices into one side of his neck. However, it severs part of the man's jugular vein. In a gurgle of blood, he convulses and gasps for air that won't come. Then he lapses into unconsciousness and falls limp in Cutter's grasp.

It is clear Davin will bleed out in a matter of seconds.

Tangat, who has been sniffing the ground near Grafth suddenly looks up the slope where his master is. He whines a bit and then breaks into a run up the hill, ignoring Grafth for the time being.

Oss looks across the countryside. There are a scattering of trees here and there, but nothing like a forest or even a thick copse. The nearest shelter are farmsteads. There is one not far—precisely in the direction that Grafth determined the gnome's tracks lead.

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Kal's attack roll is a mere 5, but it doesn't matter. He deals an automatic critical hit, doing 10 damage. Combat is mute, as this single "surprise round" pushed Davin into negative hit points. He is clearly dying.

Ed: I think you mean "Deneith," not "Deneir" (or Denier). Too much Realms in your head!

[Darren]

Kalarian cleans his blade on Davin's clothes, then calmly returns the sword to its sheath. Ignoring the man's possessions, he walks back down the hill and retrieves his scythe.

He turns to the others, calm, but with the previous rage that filled him gone. "If you wish to take him with us, fine," he says, indicating the other attacker who is still alive. "Otherwise, I suggest one of you finish him off, as well. Either way, I think we've wasted enough time here. Grafth? Tangat? Have you got the gnome's trail? Let's be off."

Before leaving, he turns to the halfling and speaks in her language, the coldness gone from his voice. "If the authorities question you, answer as you see fit. I am sorry we cannot be of more aid to you right now. If you are well enough to travel and wish to come with us, I would be happy for your companionship. If you would rather stay here and wait for help, I understand. Either way, I wish you well."

When he's done speaking, Kalarian heads off in the direction that Tangat (hopefully) is leading him.