Machines of War

[madtinker]

and grapple (1d20+6)[22] make a grapple check (base attack + strength) or he'll start dragging you to the water.

[madtinker]

I flubbed the roll. It's in the post above.

[INWranger]

Crap another grapple
(1d20+3)[9]
for my turn I stab some more
(1d20+5)[11]
(1d6+1)[4]
(1d20+4)[19]
(1d4)[4]

[madtinker]

You can't attack with a short sword, but you can with the dagger. And it finally stabs deep and true enough that the alligator is badly wounded. Leriond attack - (1d20+2)[5]damage - (1d8+2)[10] shoots, but with you in the alligator's mouth, he has to be extra careful, and he misses. But the big guy has had enough, and he releases his hold to retreat back into the marsh.

[INWranger]

I knew there was a reason I used daggers. Next time, you do the stabbing. Now lets get me patched up a little. From now on we stay away from the water as much as possible and be more careful. Now lets get to that town.

[madtinker]

Oh, it's not that bad. You'll be fine in a few days.

After another hour, you spy on the shore a small pier with what looks like a home made skiff and a small fishing boat moored securely. A small cottage sits up on the bank, well above high water, constructed of stone, with a driftwood fence and flowers under the eaves.

[INWranger]

Go up to the cottage and knock on the door. Then see if they are the operators of the boats to take us across the lake to Whisperdowns, or whatever the name of the town is.

[madtinker]

The stout, red faced woman who answered the door refers you to her husband, a gruff, middle aged man in the woodshed out back. He agrees to let his son, a lad of fourteen, row you across the lake. He assures you it would considerably shorten your journey, and you could be there by dusk. But leaving tonight would cost two gold apiece, while leaving tomorrow he would charge only one gold for the both of you.

[INWranger]

Have him take us over that night, get some decent food, recover HP etc and contact the elves in the morning, unless we see someone who can relay a message tonight.

[madtinker]

After three hours of the methodical splish, sway of rowing over calm water, you approach the town of Whisperdowns. From the shore you see a calm waterfront, with boats peacefully moored. Clieg, the boy, has been telling you everything you ever wanted to know about fishing, and more. The fish in this lake are the catfish, a delicacy you're familiar with. The town makes its living through lake fishing, farming, and as a crossroads from the Elven Empire to the other Nations east of the mountains.

You spend the night in a well kept, though not elaborate tavern with a hot meal and soft beds.

With your unit destroyed, military protocol is to report to the nearest garrison for immediate reassignment. Also, there they have resources to report any strange goings on up the chain of command. The commander of the Garrison of Whisperdowns is Fral Wintermoon, a gaunt old elf nearing retirement. The garrison is small and he runs it efficiently, and any disturbance of the peace is dealt with swiftly, mostly because the old man doesn't sleep well, and he wants peace and quiet.

[INWranger]

Report to Fal Wintermoon. The report to he or his lackey will be:Our station was destroyed in a daylight raid by Orcs who were paid by "little hairy mans". They knew that we wouldn't have sentries posted at mid day, which is against standard procedure. Also, as long as I have been here we have always had a healthy respect for each other. When we left hobgoblins were camping outside.
(Remember the Two Edged Swords were a mercenary unit monitoring and maintaining a border.)

[madtinker]

He furrows his brows. And this was how many days ago!? He starts pacing. Mercenary orcs. And obviously your little...group...has a traitor. I'll forward your report to Garinsborough, but that's all I can do. And, after a pause, My condolences.

[INWranger]

We weren't just a bunch of mercs, we were friends, even brothers. Where do I start looking for work around here? And who is the guy that knows things around here?

[madtinker]

Commander Wintermoon looks down his long nose, narrows his eyes, and grimaces. I am "the guy who knows things." And I know that mercenaries are not welcome here. You, as a whole, are wild drunkards who cause more problems than they solve. I am sorry for your loss. I will pass on your report. As the Two Edged Swords are effectively no more, I shall be dispatching a platoon to hold the outpost until another group can be hired.

[INWranger]

Well then unless you would like to tell me what a "hairy little man" might be, or have a job you would like solved quietly, I will be off.
Ask Leriond what he will be doing.

[madtinker]

He gives you a stiff bow, clicking his boot heels together, and facing his window by way of dismissal. As you are almost to the door, he remarks sharply. There is one thing you might do for me.

[INWranger]

By all means, go on.

[madtinker]

A widow on one of the outlying farms has complained of an infestation of dire rats. It isn't the problem of the military, but I am tired of her complaining. She has no family and no friends. An old hag to be sure, but it would be worth fifty of my personal gold to just get her off my case. Just murder the beasts and be gone, without her knowing anyone sent you.

[INWranger]

Consider it done. Now, where does the old bat live?
Ask Leriond what his plan is. Also, pick up some more cure light wounds potions on the way out of town. Also get healed if they have a cleric available.

[madtinker]

Her farm is about five miles from here, on Omar's bench (local landmark, you can find it).

As you leave, Leriond says quietly If it's alright with you, I have nowhere else to go. To return to my family would be a disgrace. May I accompany you, at least for a short while?

The local church has a friar that heals you, and you are able to obtain a few potions (make sure to deduct the price from your character sheet). It's still early in the day, you could easily make it to the farm before noon.

[INWranger]

Why not? The job doesn't pay much, but it might be enough to ingratiate the old man just enough to give us some info. Lets handle it as quietly as possible. In, kill all the dire rats, get out. Grab some arrows and then go out to the farm and conceal ourselves in some trees and start shooting the things.

[madtinker]

You arrive at the woman's farm. From your hiding place in the woods, you can see that no one is moving about. The cows are mooing loudly, obviously unhappy and still in the barn.

[INWranger]

Cover me. Kill any rats you see.
Get my bow out and start looking for dire rats, or dire rat tracks.
Survival (1d20+5)[25]
Spot (1d20+4)[9]

[madtinker]

There are a few signs of rats, mostly around the root cellar entrance.

[INWranger]

Post ourselves hidden in bow shot of the root cellar and wait until they start coming out at dark, or whenever they start coming out.

[madtinker]

The day grows longer, nothing stirs. The cows grow louder. No one feeds them or pays any mind.

[INWranger]

Looks like we will have to did them out of the root cellar. I will open the door and see what happens. Keep a close eye out. Go over to the root cellar and open the door and hide behind it when I open it.

[madtinker]

Alright

As you open the door, six or seven rats scatter from a pile of rags on the floor below you. Roll initiative.

[INWranger]

Initiative (1d20+4)[12]
keep the bow out until they directly attack. Once they charge I run to the open out of the path to the cellar and start slashing.

[madtinker]

DM only

Spoiler

Show

meh...have them all attack after Jaster and Leriond.

Okay, you won initiative. The rats see you, but the stairs down are only five feet wide, and staying at the top of the stairs would give you a +2 bonus, plus only one can attack at a time. But do what you like.