Mordae's New Keep on the Borderlands 3.5 (IC)

[Doomboy911]

"I do fancy myself an outdoorsman and a man who comes well prepared. If the rocks were enough to kill me than let them. I shall climb than descend than walk back up to the road. Unless you wish for me to do it as I come in." Daniel chuckles.

[Doomboy911]

"On second thought all this gear is weighing me down. I should really go see my friends." Daniel heads off to his friends to deposit his belongings.

[gunnar11]

Adomourne entered the lower level of the inn. He bought some breakfast and sat there wondering what to do next. It seemed his stubborn companions had gone into the city again, not caring about the groups integrity, or the fact that they still had to earn money or gain more knowledge...

"These morons...." he whispered to himself, and decided to take another bread and beer.

[Mordae]

After some extended discussion with the quartermaster regarding the group's intentions, they receive a copy of the local area map and the official blessing of the Citadel guard to carry out offensive actions against the threats in the surrounding countryside. Daniel joins up with the rest of the group at the gate, with no explanation as to his absence, but looking a few pounds lighter in the pack.

The weather is a little warmer than yesterday, with a few stray clouds peeking around the snow-capped crags that line the narrow river valley. According to the map, it's roughly a day's walk to the Iron Falls. There are two possible paths: one leads along the east side of the Castellan River, where the ground is low and marshy, requiring a crossing by raft of one of the minor tributaries. The other leads along the west side of the river, but would require taking the raft on the more turbulent waters of the larger river itself.

[TheTick]

As Renard stepped out of the game, he took a deep breath and smiled. While he could appreciate a decent bed and a hearth-cooked meal, he loved being on the road. Poring over the map with the rest of the team, he pointed out the marks on the large river that designated the swift moving water. "I'm a traveler by trade, but not a sailor. Unless we can hire a skilled guide with a boat, I'd rather avoid the rapids. There may be dangerous creatures the other way, but that threat I know how to deal with."

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If the rest of the team wishes to go the other way, that's fine, but he wanted to put that out there.

[Doomboy911]

"Indeed the low ground will be easy swimming for the lizardmen. Although I want to be civil with them I don't think they will. I'm willing to go that way though with my skills I might be able to set up an ambush. We can get some guards make them look so nice and when the lizards set upon them we can corner them. Which means we'll get hostages and witnesses."

[Gorgon_Heap]

Stenly raises an ayebrow. "You want to sacrifice some of the keep's soldiers so we can get the jump on some lizards?"

He ticks off fingers as he makes his point. "How do you plan on talking them into it; how do plan to get away with it; and don't you have some sort of sour feeling in your belly that it may not be a nice thing to do?"

[Doomboy911]

"No I don't want to sacrifice them and I ain't going to.They'll get some hostages from this and they'll be more than happy to catch them and if fail it won't be nice which is why I intend to succeed."

[gunnar11]

"alright alright, calm down, childs... Adomourne says, while thinking of solutions. He analizes their party, and makes a judgement.
"I, for one, do not want to die. I prefer avoiding the rapids, the extremely risky plans, and the guard-offering. Why don't we just take the long route and take our time?" he asks.

[Doomboy911]

"Long path has monsters though so expect me to hide in the trees like a brave sensible gent."

[TheTick]

"Just keep your crossbow at the ready, then. If you're afraid of a few creatures, why are you here?" There is mirth in Renard's voice, though just a bit.

[Duke of URL]

"The guards are here to guard, not be pawns in our game," Valdamian states flatly. "We have been given permission to do what we wish, but the guards are not ours to command. What we shall do, we must do on our own."

[Doomboy911]

"Why do you all think that my plan consists of having the guards die. I might be a bit off but I'm no senseless murderer." Daniel than gathers some rope his crossbow his hook his climbers kit some bolts and heads out to the open road. "If we're taking the low water I suggest we send me ahead by a good distance at the first sign of trouble I'll take to the tree while blowing my whistle as loud as humanely possible."

[Mordae]

With Daniel scouting ahead, the group of adventurers moves along the winding road leading down the mountainside from the Keep to the river. There are some signs of spider activity in the trees surrounding the road, but no webs are strung across the two-cart width of the dirt path, and the troupe passes unmolested.

At the water's edge, there is a lone barge tied to the pier--the vessel apparently belongs to a southern merchant, judging by the dark-skinned servants who are keeping watch over the unloading of barrels and crates. There are also a handful of log rafts on the bank, dragged up high enough that the tide will not lift them up from the mud and send them downriver, each equipped with a number of sturdy poles. It seems the river is crossed frequently enough that these rustic crafts are left here for common use.

It takes effort from all four party members to shove one into the water, whereupon it immediately begins trying to drift with the current.

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To pole across the river here is quite easy and can normally be done by taking 10 on four strength rolls. If one is trying to cross while being chased by monsters, of course, that's a different story

[Doomboy911]

(Is there anything like a hole that I can secure a rope onto?)

"Don't go hopping in at the drop of the hat gents we might have some need to know information."

Search check for anything scraps of clothing specks of blood

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(1d20+1)[5]

[Gorgon_Heap]

"Pthpthpth!" says Stenly, spraying spittle into the morning air as he leaps onto a raft. "Let's go already. They're rafts - nothing interesting about'em."

He grabs a pole and waits for other to help him drag the thing back into the water ... takes his 10.

[Doomboy911]

"Those are some real famous last words there." Daniel the cautious helps shove off making peace with his own deity.

[TheTick]

Renard eyes the water for signs of animals as he helps guide the raft into the water.

[Doomboy911]

Daniel searches along the shore for any footprints.

[Mordae]

The team guides the raft carefully across the slow-moving waters, poling to the other side without much difficulty. The ground on the far bank is marshy, with reed-choked sand concealing small pools of water and the occasional mire. Daniel hops about, looking for footprints, but there don't seem to be any in the immediate area.

The larger river is about a quarter mile to the west, while to the east the ground slopes upward to the treeline about a half mile away. To the north is the vast expanse of fens.

[gunnar11]

"I suggest we move towards the fens. Following the river will only lead us to the sea, while the woods, as everyone knows, is the number one place to be ambushed. "Adomourne said as soon as he stood on firm ground. He had never liked water, being one of the most difficult elements to control. It could take on any shape, and it could envelop many different characteristics. Water was different in each place.

Adomourne looked at the party. Everyone seemed in good spirits, of course because they hadn't encountered any monsters or evil yet. The journey had just begun, but soon everyone would fall either tired or wounded to the ground. He knew from experience that tired people liked to complain, and so fights would start. It was therefore necessary to select a leader. Someone who not only looked tough, but could also act it.

Adomourne himself wouldn't suffice , as he was physically frail. Nor would the roguish Daniel. Although very cunning, not so trustworthy, it seemed. It had to be Stenly or Renard, and of the two, Adomourne trusted Renard the most. Besides, Renard was holy.

"Renard, why don't you lead the group. You're physically able, and I as a caster am much more appreciated somewhere in the center, I might believe." and as such, as soon as the line formed he placed himself somewhere in the middle.

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Quick question to the DM:
In a post on 26 June you said "all four party members". Was I excluded from that list? Am I still on the game, or was I already removed? Or were you talking about someone else?

[Mordae]

OOC:

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No, I apparently can't subtract 1 from 6 and get 5...

I think we still have 5...
Duke of URL
gunnar11
Gorgon_Heap
Doomboy911
TheTick

[Doomboy911]

Daniel ensures that he follows behind one of the others stepping in each of their footprints. "Head towards the tree I need to get off the ground as soon as possible." Daniel pulls his hood down a bit more to ensure his features are covered. "I figure I'll scout ahead I figure that the scalies want the land not the people. What they're using could spell a serious difference. If they got siege weaponry or area effecting weapons than they want the place destroyed but if they're dressed in something stealthier they might just want the people gone. That is if the brave leader wants that of me I have many uses at his disposal." Daniel says from atop a tree.

[TheTick]

"If Daniel is willing to scout ahead from the trees, I can lead the brigade on the ground. It is good to be moving again, at any rate."

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+3 Listen, +3 Spot

[Doomboy911]

Daniel does a little bow than hops along the branches

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Climb 3 jump 1 (1d20+3)[22]
(1d20+1)[9]

[Gorgon_Heap]

Stenly watches the others plod along for some minutes, and turns red when Adomourne starts calling out directions. When Daniel takes to the trees the gnome's face scres up and he eyes the wizard and Renard with jealous suspicion.

"Hey, bookworm, that's great. While he's off climbing some trees your wilderness expert'll just take a nap, huh? That's OK. Thanks."

He shambles along, affronted and grumpy and steadfastly refusing to be of any further use.

[TheTick]

Renard winces at the now-obvious affront. "Stenly, if you wish to lead the ground procession, feel free. I would not allow anyone to walk towards danger before me without volunteering, is all." He pats his crossbow. "Besides, I can be as much use in the middle or the rear."

[Gorgon_Heap]

"Oh, no no," Stenly says glumly, in pantomimed and sardonic contrition.

"I'm just as happy as you to rely on my bow and remain at a safe distance from any expected attack."

He smiles happily - and smugly - and swaggers alongside Renard through the field.

[Doomboy911]

"You know if I was a bunch of lizard gents I'd be specifically avoiding the group of well armed people as oppose to perhaps a bunch of folks in robes or normal blokes but hey that's just me I'm weird like that." Daniel says before slinking off

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+11 to hide and Move silently apparently.
(1d20+11)[22]
(1d20+11)[15]

[Mordae]

With Daniel scouting from the trees, the rest of the procession proceeds along the edge of the forest, keeping watch for the lizardmen. There aren't any sightings, though, as the ground slowly slopes upward underfoot.

After five or six hours of steady march, the trees give way to jagged shale-rock hills, and the roar of water crashing down from above can be heard from the north. There is no more high ground for the eager trapspringer to use, so he keeps about fifty yards ahead and is the first to crest the last little mountain.

The Iron Falls stretch the entire length of the wide river as it ambles southwest, cascading in a series of small rapids before plunging almost a hundred feet into the slower-moving pool below. Above the falls is a relatively placid lake held back by rocky ridges on the south and west. The southern face is quite sheer, though there are jagged cracks and ridges along the face in which trees and other undergrowth have taken up residence. The western face is not visible from this side of the river.