The Last Paladin IC (Frosty)

[Maquise]

The elf does not look up. His silver hair is unkempt; you suspect he has not rested in some time. "The village sent you, didn't they? I reasoned they would not be long. I am Rinẅe Dey Nyvirar, and I can explain what has happened.

I have never encountered a disease like this. It is unnatural, of that I am certain. Nonetheless, I believe I have found the cure, which is where our complications begin.

In order to create the cure, I require an ingredient called bloodroot. This plant is highly rare, but through some investigation, I discovered that these hobgoblins had acquired a sample of bloodroot. When I discovered they too had fallen prey to the sickness, I proposed an accord: in exchange for sharing the bloodroot, I would provide them with a cure, no other conditions.

When I arrived to take delivery, I discovered that there was only enough bloodroot to produce enough medicine to cure one village. The hobgoblins discovered this, and demand by force that I cure them."

[Frosty]

Greedy bastards. Karrin turns to the officer. "Fine. We all need more bloodroot. Show us where you found some. We'll all go get more."

[Maquise]

Rinwe turns to you. "I don't believe you understand. If there was more bloodroot to be had, I would have it already. The search to find bloodroot usually takes alchemists their entire careers."

[Frosty]

"And you're sure that both villages have the same disease? Do you know the origin of said disease? Is it magical in nature?" Perhaps defeating the originator of this disease may do the trick?

To Lyanna, "Lyana, do you know anything more about bloodroot? Any bit of lore would help in finding either more of it or a substitute."

[Maquise]

He turns back to his work. "I haven't the time to seek the origin of the disease; I must create a cure. And I resent the implication that I don't know what I am doing; everything I told you I am utterly convinced of, and I am hardly a novice."

Lyanna responds to you. "Everything he's said matches up with what I know. Bloodroot is highly rare; according to the legends, only one plant can grow in any area at once."

[Frosty]

The paladin sighs. "So, what do you plan to do? Create the cure, use it to cure the hobgoblins I'm sure. Then what? You going to try to do anything for the other village?"

[Maquise]

"I do not know. All I can do now is keep working; at least I can save one village. If the hobgoblins force me into their service, so be it. I won't refuse them."

[Frosty]

Karrin once again tries to question the hobgoblin officer. "I saw a lot of children who are sick. I think the situation is much the same in the ohter village. Would you be willing to reserve only enough of the cure to cure all of your children, and let the other village have enough to cure their children?"

[Maquise]

The hobgoblin looks angry. "Do you not understand? There isn't enough medicine. We would honor our agreement, but our kin must come first."

[Frosty]

"Oh I see, it's not a matter of adults and children. It's just the children and you only have enough to cure *just* your children."

She turns to her allies and the guide, takes them to the side, and converses quietly with them. "Thoughts? While the hobgonlins aren't being the paragons of altruism by hoarding the cure, I also understand why they're doing what they do. Would your village have done any different? Would you have been willing to cure only *some* of your children so that some of the hobgoblin children can be cured as well? Probably not right? This is a matter of scarcity, not a matter of good and evil."

[Maquise]

Mirabelle nods. "That leaves us with the problem of what we are going to do now."

[Frosty]

"Right. Hence I want everyone's suggestions for options. I don't think it's right to take the cure by force."

[Maquise]

Lyanna responds, "Maybe not, but I doubt they are going to give it over willingly. And the other village is not going to just let them keep it."

"If you let the villagers have the cure, your deeds will be heard by others. You'll likely not receive such a reputation letting the hobgoblins keep it."

"Hobgoblins strong. Make good fighters."

[Frosty]

Karrin frowns. "It's not about my reputation, Mira. Reputation is nice, bing *known* as a good person doesn't mean the same thing as *being* a good person. And technically, the hobgoblins found the blooroot, so they actually have the claim to the medicine."

[Maquise]

Berich responds, "Maybe, but it does make it easier to make friends. Still, it's not my decision. What are you going to do?"

[Frosty]

"Yes, and if we steal the alchemist and the cure here, I will have a reputation of being a thief and a maurader. Sengelus, I am sorry, but I cannot in good conscience steal from the hobgoblins. They have the same needs as your village, and they salvaged the necessary materials. It is rightfully theirs, and they are obviously unwilling to trade. Their children are important to them, as yours are to you. Unless your people might know of where I may help you retrieve more bloodroot, I can't help your village at this point. We should leave."

[Maquise]

SENSE MOTIVE: (d20+6)[14]

You see rage flash in Sengelus' eyes. It is all the warning you receive, but it is enough. As he lunges at you, you twist to the side, avoiding a knife to the throat. The human villager is then quickly impaled by the hobgoblin officer.

"You must leave now," he says, "before I change my mind."

[Frosty]

Deftly dodging out of the way, Karrin swears as the villager is then impaled. Assuming the villager is dead beyond help, Karrin tells her companions to help carry the body. They can at the very least bring the body back to the village.

"We will leave now. Can you at least give us the location of where you found the bloodroot? Maybe it's possible you missed some of it? I can at least try to find some more. I cannot in good conscience ask you to give up your portion of the cure."

[Maquise]

The officer says, "You can look on the peak of the mountain. You have treated us fairly, at least."

[Frosty]

"If we're going to keep going farther up...hmm...may we ask you to keep the body until we get back? It'd be difficult to climb and take the body with us. We'll take the body back to his village later. Assuming we find more bloodroot, we'd want to borrow the alchemist sometime anyways."

The group gets prepared to leave, asking for their weapons and equipment back, etc. And just to satisfy her own curiosity, she scans the hobgoblins for evil. She doesn't expect much, knowing that most people appear faint even if evil unless the target is an undead or evil outsider or evil dragon of some sort.

[Maquise]

The hobgoblins as a group radiate faintly, with perhaps a few more powerfully than others. There are a few who apparently seem untainted.

Agreeing to your terms, the hobgoblins direct you to the path to the summit. You are given back your weapons, with the agreement that you would surrender them if you would desire to reenter the fort.

[Frosty]

Assuming the summit requires climb checks, Karrin says, "Alright, I say we take off ALL of our armor this time. No point in risking things especially without a guide. Let's try to reacht he peak quickly."

[Maquise]

After removing your armor, your company begins the treacherous ascent.

CLIMB (+2 rope):
Karrin: (d20+5)[18]
Trombe: (d20+7)[12]
Mirabelle: (d20+14)[21]
Lyanna: (d20+2)[10]
Grembler: (d20)[15]
Berich: (d20+11)[26]

Your party has some difficulty, but no-one is injured.

[Maquise]

Climb (+4 aid another, rope)

Trombe: (d20+9)[17]
Lyanna: (d20+4)[7]

[Frosty]

Once everyone has made it alright to the top, the search begins. They all Aid the person with the best Perception or Survival to find bloodroot.

[Maquise]

As you begin to look around, Lyanna slips on a patch of black ice and falls back down the cliffside.

As you try to help her, you suddenly find yourself surrounded by small, multicolored lizard-creatures. The kobolds pelt you with slingstones.

Take 4 damage.

Map: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/...jN3ZUVndUVvTFE

[Maquise]

INIT:
Karrin: (d20+1)[7]
Trombe: (d20+2)[11]
Mirabelle: (d20+1)[7]
Berich: (d20)[8]
Grembler: (d20+1)[5]
Kobolds: (d20+1)[13]

[Maquise]

The kobolds send another volley of stones towards you. Without your armor, the stones hurt, but not terribly.

Take 2 damage.

Mirabelle and Berich are likewise barely affected, but Grembler gives a cry of pain. His body is far more frail than the rest of yours.

Trombe moves upwards, trying to shield you.

Gain +2 AC from Aid Another.

Berich draws his hammer and casts a spell upon himself, surrounding himself in an invisible barrier.

[Frosty]

Karrin Ye
HP: 54/60  AC: 11+2 aid another  Saves: 11F / 7R / 7W
Conditions:  LoH 6/6

Trombe
HP: 55/55  AC: 17  Saves: 11F / 10R / 6W
Conditions:

Ow! Stones? Slings? What the? The creatures continue attacking, making Karrin angry, but they may just be defending their home. "Lyanna, you know what language they speak? EVERYONE, do NOT attack yet!" shouts the paladin to her allies. Then, to all, "THERE DOES NOT NEED TO BE VIOLENCE! We are NOT intruders. We merely slipped and fell in here!" The paladin attempts to look competent and fearless to let the kobolds know that this isn't a surrender, but at the same time letting the kobolds know that they come in peace. If the kobolds do not seem to understand, Karrin tries to use universal gestures of peace and non-violence. Someone with her training would surely know things like this.

Spoiler

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Karrin: Attempt Diplomacy (1d20+12)[27]

[Maquise]

Lyanna may know their language, but she fell from the peak. Berich though, seems to speak their language. He relays your message. The kobolds brandish spears and other simple weapons. You notice that quite a few of them are some shade of white or light-grey.

"They don't seem open to negotiation," Berich says. "They're out for blood!"