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  1. - Top - End - #1
    Troll in the Playground
     
    madtinker's Avatar

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    Default Passage to Paradise

    Tobias, you sitting in your father's candle shop, rendering tallow and heating beeswax when your friend Sam stops in.

    "Hey, you want a chance to get outside the palisade? Old man Gunnison wants some lumber, so we're going to keep the beasties off. We could use an extra hand."
    Quote Originally Posted by The Giant
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  2. - Top - End - #2
    Bugbear in the Playground
     
    Manwhoisthisman's Avatar

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    Default Re: Passage to Paradise

    "I dunno Sam, all this wax is awfully exciting," Tobias starts with a wry grin and a tone dripping with obviously false exuberance. "Are you sure you don't want to sit and make candles with me?"
    Last edited by Manwhoisthisman; 2013-11-05 at 05:05 PM. Reason: change sarcasm to obviously false exuberance, as I think it fits better
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  3. - Top - End - #3
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    Default Re: Passage to Paradise

    Sam glances around the shop and sighs. "I forget. You're so dead set on taking over for your father you don't have time for extra jobs." He ends with a wink.
    Quote Originally Posted by The Giant
    An entertaining defeat is better than a boring victory...
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  4. - Top - End - #4
    Bugbear in the Playground
     
    Manwhoisthisman's Avatar

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    Default Re: Passage to Paradise

    Tobias laughs. "I'll go get my spear and meet you at the gate."

    Proceed to gear up
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    I should note here that he takes his spear, but not shield. In general the shield will pair with the warhammer. I noticed that using the shield with the spear gives a -1 to attack rolls, and the shield bonus to AC is removed in rounds when he uses the spear, making it just about moot.
    Last edited by Manwhoisthisman; 2013-11-05 at 06:05 PM.
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  5. - Top - End - #5
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    Default Re: Passage to Paradise

    Sam pumps a fist. "I knew my cunning argument would convince you." He turns to leave, and adds "Just don't be long. They want to leave soon so we can be back before dark."

    You wind your way down the main street of town, passing thatched roofs then the stucco housefronts on the switchbacks. Most people who make eye contact nod in a friendly way. Father Feodor nods like the rest and then notices your spear. He bustles over to you, his priestly robes flowing in the breeze.

    "Where are you off to Tobias, with that wicked implement of destruction?" His voice is friendly, but concerned.
    Last edited by madtinker; 2013-11-05 at 11:44 PM.
    Quote Originally Posted by The Giant
    An entertaining defeat is better than a boring victory...
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  6. - Top - End - #6
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    Default Re: Passage to Paradise

    "Sam came to let me know there is a lumber gathering expedition and they could use more guards," Tobias says sheepishly. "And besides, the more people there are, the safer everyone is," he adds with a shrug.
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  7. - Top - End - #7
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    Default Re: Passage to Paradise

    The man chuckles. "I should have guessed. Just remember, the pointy end goes in the beastie. Sam will watch out for you, I'm sure."
    Quote Originally Posted by The Giant
    An entertaining defeat is better than a boring victory...
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  8. - Top - End - #8
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    Default Re: Passage to Paradise

    "Thank you Father", Tobias blurts out with a grin before running to catch Sam at the gate.
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  9. - Top - End - #9
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    Default Re: Passage to Paradise

    "Good luck," he calls after you.

    The gate is to the east of town, perhaps a mile from the last house. The path is overgrown from disuse, but the lumber-wagon tracks are hard-packed. On the way to the gate you catch up with Marshall Gunnison driving his big wagon, 60 feet long with large u-shaped stays supported by wide wheels and connected by a central shaft. He squints at you as he hears your footsteps, then turns his attention back to the six ox team.
    Quote Originally Posted by The Giant
    An entertaining defeat is better than a boring victory...
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  10. - Top - End - #10
    Bugbear in the Playground
     
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    Default Re: Passage to Paradise

    I wave jovially at Marshall as I jog past and shout over my shoulder, "See you out there today!"
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  11. - Top - End - #11
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    Default Re: Passage to Paradise

    By now you've caught up with Sam. The shadow of the valley wall is just reaching your position as the sun climbs higher in the sky. "What took you so long?"
    Quote Originally Posted by The Giant
    An entertaining defeat is better than a boring victory...
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  12. - Top - End - #12
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    Default Re: Passage to Paradise

    "I got stopped by Father Feodor, I haven't missed anything have I?"
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  13. - Top - End - #13
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    Default Re: Passage to Paradise

    "Nah, Gunnison's still not here. But hey, meet the fellas. This is Tom, he's in charge." Tom is a large man with scarred forearms and a jovial face. A lollipop stick hangs from the corner of his mouth. He pulls out the sweet with one hand and offers the other for a handshake. "Tom Swayback. Glad to know ya."
    Quote Originally Posted by The Giant
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  14. - Top - End - #14
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    Default Re: Passage to Paradise

    "Glad to know you, Tom," I say back casually. "I passed Marshall on my way over. Looks like he is expecting quite a haul today."
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  15. - Top - End - #15
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    Default Re: Passage to Paradise

    "Oh, he's got the big wagon out? Probably after ironwood again. Stuff's heavy." He pops the lollipop back in his mouth and takes a look over your shoulder, fingering a necklace strung with five large talons. "this your first time outside then?"
    Last edited by madtinker; 2013-11-08 at 12:04 AM.
    Quote Originally Posted by The Giant
    An entertaining defeat is better than a boring victory...
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  16. - Top - End - #16
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    Default Re: Passage to Paradise

    "Nah, I've been on a few of the lesser hunts (who hasn't?), but this'll be my first time guarding."
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  17. - Top - End - #17
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    Default Re: Passage to Paradise

    "An old pro then. Glad to have you along."

    Sam continues the introductions. "And this is Petr and Georg." He motions towards two young men, almost identical in height, build, and looks. The one called Petr wears an eyepatch, but that's the only difference you can see. "Recruiting again Sam? At least this one brings his own weapon."
    Quote Originally Posted by The Giant
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  18. - Top - End - #18
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    Default Re: Passage to Paradise

    Sam just grins as Gunnison creaks up in his wagon. Only now do you notice his two assistants riding just behind the driver's seat.

    "Well Tom, you ready to open up and head out?"

    "Ready as we'll ever be. Tobias, go see if anything is close by."

    He indicates a ladder on the inside wall of the stockade. The wall is braced from the inside by large trunks of trees, and is made up of thirty foot tall stakes, woven together with branches in a sort of wicker fashion. The gate is a crude drawbridge riding in greased wooden bearings and drawn up by a capstan.
    Quote Originally Posted by The Giant
    An entertaining defeat is better than a boring victory...
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  19. - Top - End - #19
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    Default Re: Passage to Paradise

    I climb up the ladder and peer out (1d20+4)[23] (+2 extra against animals).

    edit to add: guess it helps to clarify, that was a spot check.
    Last edited by Manwhoisthisman; 2013-11-12 at 09:04 PM.
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  20. - Top - End - #20
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    Default Re: Passage to Paradise

    As you peek over the wall, you see the vast jungle of the crater. Huge trees rise above the brush of the forest floor, leafy branches swaying in the wind. Birds screech and call to one another in an eerie chorus.

    Immediately below the wall is a large ditch, running along the stockade. Large trees and brush have been cleared away from the stockade to a distance of at least a hundred yards. A small flock of glidewings is roosting in the trees near the edge of the cleared area, and far off in the distance you hear the low bugle of a thunderherder.
    Quote Originally Posted by The Giant
    An entertaining defeat is better than a boring victory...
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  21. - Top - End - #21
    Bugbear in the Playground
     
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    Default Re: Passage to Paradise

    Tobias sighs contentedly and thinks why would anyone ever want to stay couped up behind these walls with all of that so close. After gazing in silence for what must've been too long, Tobias casually says, "It's all clear," without bothering to turn to the people below.
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  22. - Top - End - #22
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    Default Re: Passage to Paradise

    You hear Tom from below "Alright, keep a lookout while we lower the gate."

    Most of the men below go into a small hut that you presume houses the capstan, and the gate creaks downward. Gunnison hurries back to the wagon and drives the team across the bridge while Petr and Georg keep a close guard. When they're clear of the bridge, it begins to rise again.

    When the gate is fully closed, Tom, Sam, and the others emerge from the hut and climb up the ladder towards you.
    Quote Originally Posted by The Giant
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  23. - Top - End - #23
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    Default Re: Passage to Paradise

    I look for a landing or something similar to hop onto.
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  24. - Top - End - #24
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    Default Re: Passage to Paradise

    Oh, forgot to mention that you are standing on a landing at the top of the ladder. There is room for a few people, and there is an anchor for a rope ladder.

    When Tom reaches the top he secures a rope ladder to the anchor, taking care to make a sure knot. He drops the rope ladder down the palisade wall. "Well rookie, youngsters first."
    Quote Originally Posted by The Giant
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  25. - Top - End - #25
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    Default Re: Passage to Paradise

    Tobias nods, climbs down the rope ladder and then walks across the ditch and begins climbing out.
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  26. - Top - End - #26
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    Default Re: Passage to Paradise

    The others follow. Tom descends last, and with an expert tug, the ladder falls free. Tom bundles it up, stows it in his pack, and everyone assembles wagonside.

    "Alright," Tom begins, pulling the lollipop from his mouth, "Petr and Georg are on point. Sam, you take the left, Tobias, you take the right side of the wagon. I'll bring up the rear. You see or hear anything, give a shout out."
    Quote Originally Posted by The Giant
    An entertaining defeat is better than a boring victory...
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  27. - Top - End - #27
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    Default Re: Passage to Paradise

    I'll fall into place beside the wagon and happily walk along, looking at all the sights and hearing all the sounds.
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  28. - Top - End - #28
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    Default Re: Passage to Paradise

    Gunnison bawls at his team to "get on up," and the wagon rolls towards the timberline several hundred yards away.

    The ground beneath your feet is covered with creeper vines in bloom with blue and orange flowers, giving the air a heady aroma. Overhead the glidewings circle, playing in the warm updrafts over the clear-cut. Insects buzz and chirp in the heat.

    It doesn't take long to reach the edge of the jungle, and the wagon turns left to follow the treeline away from the crater wall. Gunnison squints at the trees close to the jungle's edge, apparently searching for the right tree to harvest.

    OOC:
    Make spot and listen checks. Or if you like, I can make them for you and we can speed up play, but I always feel like things are a lot more arbitrary when I don't roll the dice myself. Finally, if you could add a link to Tobias' character sheet in your sig, that would be very helpful.
    Quote Originally Posted by The Giant
    An entertaining defeat is better than a boring victory...
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  29. - Top - End - #29
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    Default Re: Passage to Paradise

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    "spot" - (1d20+4)[7]
    "listen" - (1d20+4)[17]

    For rolling, I don't have a strong preference. I have some rules of thumb for when I'm DMing and I tend to stick to those:
    Player rolls if (1) they are actively doing something or (2) they are making a saving throw. DM rolls for passive effects (like elves finding secret doors, there is no spoiler alert quite like "Ok, all the elves in the party, roll for secret doors")

    Until I edit my signature, here is the link
    http://coyotecode.net/profiler/view.php?id=15406
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  30. - Top - End - #30
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    Default Re: Passage to Paradise

    Seeing anything in the undergrowth is difficult, but you can hear something to your right, in the jungle, moving at about the same pace as the wagon.
    Quote Originally Posted by The Giant
    An entertaining defeat is better than a boring victory...
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