[D&D 4e] Heroes for Hire (Level 1: The Zombie King)

[Camelot]

Five adventurers have been sent to the village of Graybluff to investigate claims that the dead are walking at night. According to your information, zombies have been seen at night. Nobody has been attacked yet, but the villagers have sent for help preemptively.

Upon arriving, you are greeted by the mayor. He is a thin old man who clearly retired to a position of politics after living most of his life as a shepherd, which most men in Graybluff are. After profusely thanking you for coming, he asks if you have any questions before heading out to the mountain where the zombies were seen. You also now have the chance to get information from the other villagers.

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We begin with a skill challenge! Describe what you want to do and make whatever skill check you deem most appropriate; depending on the result, I will describe what happens. Remember, using the same skill too often makes it harder to succeed with it.

[Cloudsmeet]

Kinarron Hawkcrown, the eladrin bladesinger, stands in the corner silent and aloof; he's not much of a people person. He is, however, keeping an eye out for things out for secrets and hidden things.

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Bleh, didn't even think of social situations when I made my character. He's about as socially inept as a half-orc barbarian in 3.5e.

All I can do is make a perception check:
(1d20+5)[20]

Anyway, looking forward to slaughtering some zombies (pity I didn't pick the radiant bladespell, but it's not particularly amazing).

[Leewei]

Luar looks among the villagers, seeking and holding their attention. To the assembly, he begins to speak, his demeanor both calm and stern.

"Well met, good people of Graybluff! I will be brief so that we can get to work. Undead are almost always bad news for the living. Anything you might tell us about these dead and their origins will be helpful in ending this situation."

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Diplomacy: (d20+9)[24]

If the roll is under 15, Memory of a Thousand Lifetimes: to increase it by (d6)[4]

Edit: 24 is acceptable.

[MiketheMountain]

Seregruin - Monk

Standing beside Luar is a an ashen-skinned Tiefling in a singed cloth robe the colour of a near-dead coal ember. Arms crossed within his sleeves, Seregruin closely examines the mayor, looking for any hints of deception or information being withheld.

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Insight: (1d20+6)[10]

OOC: I'll claim DarkRed for Seregruin's speech.

Character Sheet for future reference:

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Myth-Weavers Character Sheet Link

====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Seregruin, level 1
Revenant, Monk
Build: Iron Soul Monk
Monastic Tradition Option: Desert Wind
Choose your Race in Life: Tiefling
On the Run from the Devil (On the Run from the Devil Benefit)
Theme: Devil's Pawn

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
STR 11, CON 14, DEX 18, INT 8, WIS 12, CHA 16

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
STR 11, CON 14, DEX 16, INT 8, WIS 12, CHA 14


AC: 16 Fort: 13 Ref: 15 Will: 14
HP: 26 Surges: 9 Surge Value: 6

TRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics +9, Diplomacy +8, Endurance +9, Insight +6

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Arcana –1, Athletics +0, Bluff +4, Dungeoneering +1, Heal +1, History –1, Intimidate +5, Nature +1, Perception +2, Religion –1, Stealth +4, Streetwise +3, Thievery +4

POWERS
Basic Attack: Melee Basic Attack
Basic Attack: Ranged Basic Attack
Devil's Pawn Attack: Hellfire and Brimstone
Revenant Utility: Dark Reaping
Monk Feature: Desert Wind Flurry of Blows
Monk Attack 1: Blistering Flourish
Monk Attack 1: Five Storms
Monk Attack 1: Light the Fire
Monk Attack 1: Risen Sun

FEATS
Level 1: Slashing Kama Style

ITEMS
Monk unarmed strike
Dagger
Sickle x1
Cloth Armor (Basic Clothing) x1
Potion of Healing
Adventurer's Kit
====== End ======

[Camelot]

Kinarron doesn't see much of interest about the mayor, the villagers, or anything in Graybluff. However, he looks out at the mountain that looms over the village and notices that there are several caves dotting its side.

At Luar's words, a burly hunter steps forward. "After the first sightin's, I took my men to explore the bluff. At the time, we thought they was just strangers, maybe bandits. We found some at night and realized that they was the livin' dead, and we ran straight away back to town. They must not 'ave seen us, for they did not give chase, thank the gods of goodness."

Seregruin does not notice any signs that the mayor is withholding information.

[tigerusthegreat]

Turinus folds her arms and looks down her nose at the burly hunter. "Guess a strong guy like you would run at the first sign of trouble. Did you learn anything useful before running like a hatchling?" She bares her sharp teeth at the hunter.

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intimidate - (1d20+8)[11]

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Stats:
AC: 16 Fort: 15 Reflex: 13 Will: 12
HP: 11 Surges: 7/7 Surge Value: 5

[Camelot]

The hunter's face turns stony. "As if you've ever faced a zombie without fear rushin' through your entire body. If we 'adn't run, nobody 'ere would know about them!" He shoves his way out of the crowd, which begins to disperse as everyone returns to their homes.

The mayor turns to you with a forced grin. "Thank you again for your help...Maybe it's time for you to head out to the mountain?" He is clearly not used to adventurers being in the village, and hopes that everything will simply return to normal as soon as you destroy the undead. He adds, "I'll have your payment ready if...er, when you return."

[Cloudsmeet]

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I'll claim this Dark Orangeto be Kinarron's speech and thought.
I have also decided ahead of time that since his charisma is fairly low for a fancy elf, he's going to be a posh git, so be warned (or amused, it's up to you).

The elfin figure in the corner is obviously looking more bored by the minute as the hunter tells his tale and argues with the dragonborn. "Are we done yet, do you think? Can we go now?" he says, edging towards the door. "Oh, and... er..." - here he turns to the mayor for a moment - "...try to wash the coins, will you? I... er... yes. Just wash them."

Humans... he thinks to himself. Who'd want them?

[MiketheMountain]

Seregruin - Monk

As the crowd thins out, Seregruin turns and walks back towards Kinarron to regroup with the rest of the party.

Thinking on the hunter's words, Seregruin tries to recall if he has been to the bluff the townsfolk explored. With a shrug, he looks around at the rest of the group, "Any of you know anything about this area?"

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Nature: (1d20+1)[18]

[Camelot]

After the group heads out of the village and begins hiking up the mountain, Seregruin notices that the soil should be very fertile, but for some reason very few plants grow in the area. The dirt is a dull gray color, the trees are withered and leafless, yet there are very few rocks and the ground is the perfect consistency for farming. He turns his head to look back at the town and notes the green pastures on the other side of the village where the villagers keep herds of sheep.

[Leewei]

Looking around, the paladin shows some concern. "The blight upon these lands may well be a curse," he notes.

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Could it be?
Religion: (d20+7)[19]

[Camelot]

Indeed, when Seregruin shares his information with the rest of the group, Luar recognizes it as unholy magic. It seems that whatever the source of these zombies is drawing its power from the land, resulting in the wasteland that you see around you.

[Cloudsmeet]

"So... what you're saying is if we find the source of the undead, we find the source of this blight. Seems simple enough. And then we destroy it." Kinarron shrugs, unconcerned.

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Didn't actually mean I was leaving, but oh well. I'm sure we'll do fine without the information we would have gotten from that skill challenge *cough*soon-to-be-famous last words *cough*

[tigerusthegreat]

Turinus seems unconcerned at the information the group has come across. "What did you expect to find when we were chasing zombies? A health spa? Of course the land is blighted, the dead have risen up to walk the world again." Her quick, reptilian eyes dart around, looking for any signs of trouble, fingers brushing the fletchings of arrows in her quiver. She tries to remember any of the history of the area, particularly anything about those caves or the history of the city.

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I think I ruined our chances for info with that failed intimidate check anyhow.

history - (1d20+5)[17]


Character sheet for reference:

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====== Created Using Wizards of the Coast D&D Character Builder ======
Turinus, level 1
Dragonborn, Warlord
Build: Tactical Warlord
Warlord: Combat Leader
Commanding Presence: Tactical Presence
Dragonborn Racial Power: Dragon Breath
Dragon Breath Key Ability: Dragon Breath Strength
Dragon Breath Damage Type: Dragon Breath Acid

FINAL ABILITY SCORES
Str 18, Con 10, Dex 10, Int 17, Wis 8, Cha 13.

STARTING ABILITY SCORES
Str 16, Con 10, Dex 10, Int 17, Wis 8, Cha 11.


AC: 16 Fort: 15 Reflex: 13 Will: 12
HP: 22 Surges: 7 Surge Value: 5

TRAINED SKILLS
Endurance +4, Intimidate +8, Athletics +8, Diplomacy +6

UNTRAINED SKILLS
Acrobatics -1, Arcana +3, Bluff +1, Dungeoneering -1, Heal -1, History +5, Insight -1, Nature -1, Perception -1, Religion +3, Stealth -1, Streetwise +1, Thievery -1

FEATS
Level 1: Hurl Breath

POWERS
Warlord at-will 1: Paint the Bulls-Eye
Warlord at-will 1: Direct the Strike
Warlord encounter 1: Warlord's Favor
Warlord daily 1: Inspiring Shot

ITEMS
Hide Armor, Longbow, Greataxe
====== Copy to Clipboard and Press the Import Button on the Summary Tab ======

[MiketheMountain]

OOC:

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I wouldn't over-think the skill challenge at this point. We don't know if there was much more to get out of the townfolk (especially since I blew my Insight check as well ), and there may still be more involved. We haven't found these things yet...

[Camelot]

Turinus recalls that the village of Greybluff got it's name from the dead, gray soil of the nearby mountain. The village has been around for over one hundred years, but nobody has ever explored the mountain due to superstitions surrounding the reasons why the dirt is gray.

At this point, you find one of the caves that dot the bluff. The dirt turns into stone at the lip of the tunnel, and rivulets of rainwater drip downward into the mountain.

[Leewei]

Turning to the other adventurers, Luar says, "Well friends, it is now time to show our mettle."

Smiling at his pun, the paladin draws his sword and moves to the entry. Once others indicate readiness, he leads the way inside.

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Someone needs to produce light. Luar is willing to do so, assuming he can get away with tucking a sunrod into his belt. (He's a sword and board sort of guy.)

[Cloudsmeet]

"Well, one cave I suppose is as good as any other," Kinarron says, scratching at the dirt with one boot. "Lead on, my friend. Lead on."

He draws his longbow and follows right behind Luar into the darkness.

[MiketheMountain]

Seregruin - Monk

Seregruin takes a deep breath, tries his best to calm his nerves (or at least not let them show), and closes his eyes, listening intently at the mouth of the cave for any sounds from within.

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Perception: (1d20+2)[20]

[Camelot]

Seregruin hears the dripping of water, and deep down a branch of the tunnel, the soft splish, splash of a puddle. Then he hears it, very faint, but definitely there: a moan.

However, traveling through the cave is not easy. The tunnel branches in many twists and turns, and everything is caked with cave slime, making slipping easy.

[MiketheMountain]

Seregruin - Revenant Monk

With a faint whisper, the monk warns his allies. "Noise up ahead... I think we're in the right place. Be ready."

Seregruin draws a sickle and dagger from his belt and steps to the side wall, trying to move quietly in hopes that he sees whatever is there before it sees him.

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Stealth: (1d20+4)[6]

[Cloudsmeet]

"I'm with you."

Kinarron nocks an arrow to his bow, and checks that his rapier is accessible for easy and quick drawing, then follows Seregruin into the darkness.

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Stealth: (1d20+8)[10]

EDIT: Well there go our chances of sneaking up on them.

[tigerusthegreat]

Turinus keeps her eyes open, bow at the ready. Whatever was ahead, she wanted to be ready for it.

[MiketheMountain]

OOC:

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EDIT: Well there go our chances of sneaking up on them.

Yeah, I'm picturing the two of us deciding to sneak off into the darkness and walking face-first into each other... Oh well, maybe whatever's up ahead isn't that perceptive.

[Leewei]

The paladin winces a bit in sympathy with the scouts. Looking about, he attempts to discern the best way forward.

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Dungeoneering: (d20+4)[19]

[Camelot]

Luar helps guide the group through the tunnels safely, while everyone attempts to sneak up on whatever creeps ahead.

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Can everyone else also make a Stealth check for a group check? You need an 8 or more, so you only need 2 more successes for the group check to succeed.

[Cloudsmeet]

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We... succeeded. Despite apparently running full tilt into each other in the darkness. I mean, we were surely making enough noise to wake the dead (ho-ho-ho)!

[Leewei]

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Here's to sneaking up on zombies.

Stealth: (d20-2)[17]

[MiketheMountain]

OOC:

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Of COURSE the heavy-armored Paladin would ace his stealth roll while the super-agile clothy monk stubs his toe on a rock and drops his weapon... Just need one more success.

Hey, has anyone heard from our Wizard? Cilvyn hasn't posted once yet.

[tigerusthegreat]

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here is hoping for a good roll
stealth - (1d20-1)[10]