Cult of Renati IC

[sidhe_blooded]

Kieran

Good man, I knew there was more to you than met the eye.
Kieran whispers to Rigel before turning to Skamos

Let them have their fun, after the gnolls run them through we won't have to listen to their boasting anymore
He says with a sardonic grin.

[Boggs]

With his hands folded over his mouth to cover a snicker. His amusement is brought to an end and he raises an eyebrow when Rigel calls to him. He rises from his chair approaching Rigel, "Hmmph, little one, considering what I am asking of you, I'm choosing to ignore your distasteful and insulting words."

Returning his gaze to everyone he continues, "These... machines, aren't meant to replace you. Acting as a first wave, they are there to defend while you all can don your equipment. The eight of you, are the second wave of defense. Consider them as a preliminary measure and, in case of an attack, a means to locate you quickly and efficiently. What you need to remember is, in the event of an attack, the Warforged will fall quickly... they are still in the initial phases of production." His attention now turning to Skamos, "I'm aware of the positions you've held in Oakvale. And while they will take orders, they have simple instructions not to do so unless there is combat. Otherwise, they are meant to endure the cold, keep watch in the evenings, and help make camp."

He returns to the head of the table, "Seeing as how I've answered your questions and you've settled on petty bickering, I will bid you farewell and attend to more pressing affairs. The caravan leaves at sunrise, don't forget to show up in your... casual wear." With this he exits, the Warforged remains in the room.

To Vaendor and Kieran:

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Your knowledge of the Arcane tells you there is strong presence of a form of Binding Magic. It's still an uncommon practice among the ranks of the Arcanum; however, it is a new focus for Followers of Erathis.

To Skamos:

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You too notice the Binding Magic in the Warforged. And while there are records of creatures being mechanical in design, none, to your knowledge, have been created like this... you sense an awkward perversion in the Arcane.

[Poru93]

Varis

So we are expected to not even wear our armor? That's ridiculous, but I guess if I want to be paid, I must play by his rules. Hopefully, that... thing up there can hold them off for a minute or so while I don my armor... Varis thinks to himself, still unsure about the fact that he couldn't wear his armor...

Turning to the rest of the group here, he says, "Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm heading back to my inn for the night. I suppose I'll see everyone tomorrow. Good night." With that quick and curt farewell, Varis stands up and heads towards the door, looking forward to both rest and relief from the fools in this room.

[sidhe_blooded]

Kieran

I could use a bit of shut eye myself, until the morning then
He says with a curt nod towards everyone still at the table as he gets up to leave.

[Reverent-One]

Varndor finishes his drink, setting the mug back down on the table. "Very well, I will see you all in the morning, do try not to kill each other." He says, directing the last comment at the other dwarf and the remaining elf. He leaves, heading to his inn for the night as well.

[NecroRebel]

Ealai drains the remainder of his own wine alongside the more polite dwarf and stands to leave. "Do not worry overmuch. If there is trouble, it will be because the warlock started it." He sighs, and continues, "Regardless, we will meet again tomorrow. Fare well until that time. The elf departs, leaving to return to his inn and prepare for the coming journey.

[Silverkiss]

Donal Lugh

Donal also rises after finishing his meal.

"Until tomorrow, my comrades."

Striding off, Donal goes back to the Inn he was for a good night of sleep, already reading his stuff and his bussiness for the departure in the next morning.

[Son_of_Meepo]

Barazuul enjoys the last of his meal, finishing it off with the a mug full of drink that he slowly imbibes, taking in air between gulps but never removing the stein from his lips until it's emptied.

Without another word to the elves, he wipes his mouth with his sleeve and hops off the chair, not boethering to say a word to anyone else.

[TwoBitWriter]

Rigel Marrin, Halfling Rogue

"Right-o, Sir Dukey, you can count on ol' Rigel to make sure yor lil babes are safe on 'der trip." Rigel says, with a stiff salute.

Before Rigel gets any shut-eye he's gonna try to get a servant girl to spend the night with him, laying it on thick about how important a man he is to rub elbows with the Archduke

(Bluff Roll: (1d20+11)[17])

In the event that he does not succeed, or after he is finished, then Rigel will sneak away and attempt to meet up with his Guildmaster to inform him of the evening's events. He will show all the proper respect for the Guildmaster as he holds him in much higher esteem than the Duke. He knows that he screwed up bad getting caught, but he hopes to make up for it by accomplishing something for the Guild and will inform his boss as such. Maybe by establishing another chapter of the Guild in the new city being founded.

[Boggs]

To Rigel:

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Approaching the servant girls, they snicker coyly at your attempt. Perhaps a bit confused, you continue to lay on the flirtation until a hand grabs your shoulder and spins you. Now you're face-to-face with a rather old Human. He looks to the girls then back to you, "You'd be wise to clear the halls quickly. These women are not only the Archduke's servants, but also virgin patrons of Pelor... if he found you courting them... well... he might not be too pleased." He finished by escorting you out of the castle.

When you attempt to go to the Guild, you're stopped near the entrance by a tall Human, "It's Rigel, right?" He continues without waiting for the answer, "I've been charged with tracking you since hearing of your release. As of now, you're not permitted access to the Guild chambers. There's been quite a stir since your capture. Nearly a dozen others have been arrested in the last few days, I've been told to tell you that the Guild will keep in touch."

Dawn approaches and you meet outside the city stables. Many people have already gathered around the caravans while the last caravan is still being stocked with food. Near the caravan is the Human, Avery Lankhannen, he has before him 12 Warforged guards and is giving them their orders. Each of you has been assigned to accompany a caravan, an attempt to spread out the secondary defenses. Upon entering them, you realize some intense magic is at work, for the insides are on a much grander scale than the outside beguiles.

[Silverkiss]

Donal Lugh

Donal aproaches, riding his camel, with every possession that he has. He will not leave anything behind. Besides the Archduke's order, his sword is still at his side, and he doesn't mind it. If anyone asks, he will explain that it is a treasure to him, a ceremonial blade passed down as a heirloom from his family. It wouldn't be of much use in a battle anyway, and he isn't even proficient with it. After all, he is just a settler venturing on unexplored regions in the Archduke's command. His armor hidden beneath normal traveling cloths, Donal just stands absent-minded, waiting for the departure of the caravan.

[TwoBitWriter]

Rigel Marrin, Halfling Rogue

(To the Old Man that Night before being escorted out)

"Surely a god like ol' Pelor would appreciate a bit o' fertility, eh? Being the god o' growin' things..." Rigel says to the old man, winking at the girls while being dragged away.

(The next morning)
Disappointed, and more than a little worried, that he couldn't enter what had been his home for several years left Rigel a bit downtrodden as he was preparing to leave for his journey.

Dressed in a simple, but loose-fitting, traveler's outfit, Rigel looked nothing more than a Halfling commoner at first glance. However, only the trained eye had the chance to notice that he had a kukri concealed in his back-waistband. He sees the caravan and mutters a short prayer to Sehanine to keep shadow over him, to shield him as he journeys through the day.

Rigel leads his mount, a riding-pony, to the caravan. He sees the wizard and calls out to him. "Oi! Mr. Wizzer! You's comin' wit' this lil expedition?"

When choosing his position on the caravan, Rigel will pick a Halfling family if possible, otherwise he will stick to the Food cart.

[sidhe_blooded]

Kieran

Kieran walks towards the caravan, still in his human guise. He sees Donal with his blade at his side and just shakes his head.
Good morning Donal, you certainly seem prepared.
He says as he looks around, marking everyone's face.
Ah, Rigel, good morning to you as well, you wouldn't happen to know when we'd be expecting everyone else would you?

[NecroRebel]

Ealai approaches the caravans, mounted on his own horse and garbed in simple, but well-made garments befitting a well-to-do traveller including a plain grey hooded cloak covering his head. Behind his saddle are a pair of saddlebags, obviously loaded with food, other clothing, and other simple supplies, a leather flute-case, and an oil paper-wrapped cylindrical package. Unlike Donal, the elf has followed the Archduke's requests to the letter; his blade isn't evident, and he wears only cloth to protect him from the elements and any trouble that may emerge. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, he looks extremely wary and on guard for trouble to begin at any moment.

Over the coming weeks, Ealai will spend most of his time among the humans and will try to avoid the elves without being obvious about it. He is still technically on the run from his family, after all, and it is less likely that he will meet someone who knows of the Bluewoods' rogue son if he is not among his own people. However, he will not hesitate to play his flute and sing around anyone's fire; in fact, he will do so every night, keeping an ear open for any information that may be important. In regards to his duties as a covert defender of the column, he will mostly try to stay with the residential wagons, riding his horse rather than the vehicles themselves, and will sleep near the animal picket lines beneath the caravans themselves.

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Perception during journey - (1d20+11)[15]
Insight during journey - (1d20+8)[14]

[Poru93]

With the sun climbing in the sky, Varis sets out from his inn to meet up with the caravans. He carries a somewhat large and bulky pack that contains his broadsword, his longsword, his armor, and his normal supplies. Slung across his shoulder is a quiver and an ordinary looking longbow. If any one happens to ask why he carries the bow and arrows, he will merely reply that it is for hunting once the caravans stop for the day. Other than that, he is dressed in plain green-gray clothes that allow him to melt into the woods.

As he nears the caravans, Varis sees the vulgar halfling, the two other elves in the group, and the Genasi from the previous' night's dinner.

"Good morning, I see a few people aren't here yet. Well, more gold for us if they do not show." Varis says to the gathered secret second defense.

After greeting them, he moves over towards the side and awaits a command from the Archduke as to who he should travel with. He stands alert and ready, watchful for anything that may happen.

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Perception for the journey: (1d20+12)[29]
Insight for the journey: (1d20+5)[10]

[Reverent-One]

Somewhat later than most of the others, Vaendor arrives at the caravan. In no hurry, he had taken his time getting ready in order to make sure he had all the materials he might need on this quest. He is still dressed in his leather armor, though that it is not easy to see, as any view of his clothing is obscured by his cloak and the the large number of pouches he wears, in addition to his backpack. His rod is hanging from his belt, though his warhammer and hand crossbow are nowhere to be seen.

"Good morning all." He greets the other mercenaries. "This should be an excting journey, should it not?"

[ninja_penguin]

OOC: ((Semi placeholder here. I posted a question about how I want Skamos to be disguised in the OOC. So Boggs, if you need to move along, go ahead, I just want you to know I'm not neglecting the thread.))

[Boggs]

Avery continues speaking to the Warforged before turning to Rigel, "Sorry, friend. I'm only here to give mission orders in the Archduke's absence."

With this he looks to the group and, now, everyone hears his voice in their head, "To keep things simple, try to give the appearance that you're preparing your belongings; just use your thoughts to communicate." He checks everyones eyes for confirmation of your understanding then continues, "We originally had each of you assigned to a specific caravan. However, I have decided to leave that decision in your capable hands. There are six in total, only four carry citizens. None of them are confined to the caravan, thusly, some of you may want to take shifts on outside patrols. It's a long voyage to Mossbury, our last successful group of settlers arrived in approximately six weeks. May Pelor guide you. Are there any questions or concerns?"

[Poru93]

Varis

"Alright then. I'll be guarding the large belongings caravan, so if you could, let the rest of the group know." Varis thinks to Avery, still a little surprised at what they were doing. However, Varis was level-headed enough that rarely anything bothered him.

Hoisting his pack onto his shoulders, Varis begins walking towards the large belongings caravan.

[Reverent-One]

"Well then, I noticed a family of Dwarves in one of the caravans, I'll stick with them. Though if we set up shifts for outside the caravan, I have no problem taking such a shift for a time." Vaendor doesn't leave for the caravan imediately, waiting to see how things end up here, making it look like he is checking his pack.

[TwoBitWriter]

"Well, mates. If'fn it be your pleasure, I'm a bit o'a scout myself..." Rigel says. "'owever, my talents are best suited for more... eh... internal observation. So, uh... maybe I should stay in the carts... Besides, I don' do to well in the cold night air."

[sidhe_blooded]

I think I'll stick near the food, although if we do set up a rotation that's fine by me

[Son_of_Meepo]

Barazuul made a few last minute purchases that he'd reserved the evening before and quickly made his way to the caravan. He was unscrupulous, but not stupid enough to just run away with the Archduke's money.

Barazuul being somewhat of an anti-social malcontent keeps his distance from the people (or little sacs of temporary hit points as he might be inclined to think of them in one of his more psychopathic moods).

Turning to Varis with a smarmy grin and that ever annoying tone of derision in his voice, "perhaps it be best I keep on eye on things back here with you. I wouldn't want you to die without gettin' a chance to spend some o' that coin that's weighin' down your pockets. You do trust me to have yer back don't you," he finishes with a wide grin of ochre-stained teeth.

[ninja_penguin]

Skamos Daios

"I agree that we should rotate rounds" Skamos said as he arrived with his gear, disguised as winter clothing and blacksmith's wares. "It will keep things fresh, and more alert"

[Poru93]

Varis

"But of course I trust you, Barazuul. Whatever would give you the idea that I didn't?" Varis says sarcastically to the dwarf. Turning back around, Varis continues heading towards the large belonging caravan, annoyed with the dwarf. Shaking his head, Varis puts the detestable dwarf out of his mind and begins to think about what he wants his future to hold...

[Boggs]

After choosing stations, the caravan leaves, at sunrise, heading East. Varis and Barazul tend to the wagon holding possessions, Rigel and Kieran with the foods, Ealai and Vaendor with the settlers, and Skamos and Donal rotate amongst the wagons. While all of you receive strict assignments, you are also asked to keep a keen eye on the children and are requested to have someone outside when they venture outside the wagon.

When heading East, you eventually have to turn North to avoid going through low mountains. While winter, most of the heavy snow has passed. While traveling there's a constant fall of light, powdery snow. Throughout each day and night, the Warforged Soldiers remain alert, always within feet of the caravan and settlers.

((OOC: At this point, I'm declaring the campsite session for the first week of travel. Here you can do a bit of roleplaying, have mechanics-based duels, make any skill-based checks. Just let me know your goal with each roll.))

[Reverent-One]

Throughout the week, Vaendor has been studying the Warforged whenever he has chance, seeing what powers them and how imanimate materials can move of their own volition.

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For all intents and purposes, this is really just for roleplaying, so I can say Vaendor learned how to create his own self-moving artifices by studying these warforged when I get such powers in later levels, but here's my arcana roll anyway
(1d20+14)[18]

EDIT: Dang, horrible roll there.

[TwoBitWriter]

Rigel will idly chat with other party members, but will eventually sneak around the caravans and keep an eye out for trouble. He doesn't entirely trust the mechancial men to do the watching for him. He will also keep an eye out for any easily-pocketed trinkets in the caravans.

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Stealth:
(1d20+12)[30]

Perception:
(1d20+7)[18]

[NecroRebel]

Ealai will sit around a different campfire every night, playing his flute or singing tales for the people in an attempt to keep their spirits high, while also keeping his eyes and ears open for any suspicious behavior among the caravans. The elf will mostly remain aloof from the various groups, only really being part of them to entertain and not to really socialize.

During the night and during travel, he will mainly try to remain awake for longer than most of the settlers, staying aware and alert for any signs of danger, including any suspicious tracks or trails that might indicate another group shadowing us. However, despite this Ealai will not allow himself to become sleep-deprived; he will still sleep at a somewhat-reasonable hour and awaken rested.

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Insight for noticing suspicious activity - (1d20+8)[17]
Perception for noticing any signs of enemy forces - (1d20+11)[31]
Diplomacy for entertaining the civilians - (1d20+2)[9]

Hmm... Slightly-bad rolls for insight and diplomacy, but at least I'm probably noticing anything and everything hostile around here!

[Poru93]

Varis

Varis will remain separate from everyone else during campfires. He will sit by the fire itself, eat his meal, and then retire quickly to bed. He will speak to very few people and only exchange pleasantries if he must. During the day, he will walk by the caravans, alert for any signs of trouble. If asked to help with something, he will do so quickly and as soon as the job is done, return to the large belongings caravan.

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I already rolled for Varis, he had a 29 for Perception and a 10 for Insight. Can't think of anything else that needs to be pointed out for him... can't wait for the first encounter.