As Masoir plays his music Fizban begins to hum and Masoir matches the tune. Then without warning Fizban begins to narrate while the music plays. “
Hear the sage as his song descends like heaven's rain or tears, and washes the years, the dust of the many stories from the High Tale of the Dragonlance. For in ages deep, past memory and word, in the first blush of the world When the three moons rose from the lap of the forest, dragons, terrible and great, made war on this world of Krynn.
Yet out of the darkness of dragons, out of our cries for light in the blank face of the black moon soaring, a banked light flared in Solamnia, a knight of truth and of power, who called down the gods themselves and forged the mighty Dragonlance, piercing the soul of dragonkind, driving the shade of their wings from the brightening shores of Krynn.
Thus Huma, Knight of Solamnia, Lightbringer, First Lancer, followed his light to the foot of the Khalkist Mountains, to the stone feet of the gods, to the crouched silence of their temple. He called down the Lancemakers, he took on their unspeakable power to crush the unspeakable evil, to thrust the coiling darkness back down the tunnel of the dragon's throat.
Paladine, the Great God of Good, shone at the side of Huma, strengthening the lance of his strong right arm, and Huma, ablaze in a thousand moons, banished the swarm of her shrieking hosts back to the senseless kingdom of death, where their curses swooped upon nothing and nothing deep below the brightening land.
Thus ended in thunder the Age of Dreams and began the Age of Might, When Istar, kingdom of light and truth, arose in the east, where minarets of white and gold spired to the sun and to the sun's glory, announcing the passing of evil, and Istar, who mothered and cradled the long summers of good, shone like a meteor in the white skies of the just.
Yet in the fullness of sunlight the Kingpriest of Istar saw shadows: At night he saw the trees and things with daggers, the streams blackened and thickened under the silent moon. He searched books for the paths of Huma, for scrolls, signs, and spells so that he, too, might summon the gods, might find their aid in his holy aims, might purge the world of sin.
Then came the time of dark and death as the gods turned from the world. A mountain of fire crashed like a comet through Istar, the city split like a skull in the flames, mountains burst from once-fertile valleys, seas poured into the graves of mountains, the deserts sighed on abandoned floors of the seas, the highways of Krynn erupted and became the paths of the dead.
Thus began the Age of Despair. The roads were tangled. The winds and the sand storms dwelt in the husks of cities, The plains and mountains became our home. As the old gods lost their power, we called to the blank sky into the cold, dividing gray to the ears of new gods. The sky is calm, silent, unmoving. We have yet to hear their answer.” As the words fade away the Inn is silent as everyone hears the words. There is weird feeling in the air.
Breenie settled in at the table (or tables) with her friends, listening with half an ear to the assorted conversations she could overhear. New High Seeker. Search for a blue staff. And goblins. So much going on.
With a smile and a nod toward the friend who bought the first round, Breenie ordered a single stout but merely sipped at it. Too much drink, and she wasn’t at her best. The evening’s events left her ill at ease, so Breenie situated herself where she could watch the door and the room at large, habitually scanning for signs of trouble.
By the time the old man had finished his story, Breenie’s skin was crawling. Maybe it was only her nerves, but something about the old man’s ways made his words seem like more than just another retelling of old tales. Through it all, she couldn’t stop thinking about the warning Teclis had uttered earlier. Lorival had tried talking about it to Tika, Breenie thought, but she hadn’t heard Tika’s reply to Lorival.
With a sudden surge of guilty urgency, wondering if she’d delayed sharing important information for no better reason than because Teclis had pissed her off, Breenie spoke into the lull following the old man’s story, aiming her words at whoever was close enough to hear. (If Maisor was close enough, she flagged him down so he could edge close enough to overhear even while he was working.)
“According to him,” Breenie nodded to indicate Teclis, “those goblins weren’t alone at all. There’s a big group of them not far to the east. And a whole goblin army forming to the north.”
Breenie looked around at her friends before hesitantly continuing.
“I don’t know a thing about this new High Seeker that Tika mentioned. But if his… Teclis’s information is right, I’d suppose it’s something the leader of Solace might want to know about. Don’t you think?”
OOC: Since Maisor's been back in town a little while longer than the others and performing at the Inn where he might have heard something, does he recall hearing anything about the new High Seeker? Or maybe his father has said something to him. Just in case ...
Teric nods along to the discussion, then hurriedly stuffs the last few potatoes from his plate in his mouth. Grabbing a candle from the table he drips a puddle of wax on the plate. Pulling one of thin metal rods from his armband (ooc: darts of monkish flavor :) ) he scratches a sketch of the Sigil from the goblin's armor into the wax. Sliding the plate forward for others to see, he slurs around a mouth full of potatoes, "Alsho, doesh anyone recognize the marg those goblins were wearing?"
If Otik or Tiki happen to wander close by, Teric will ask if they recognize the sigil as well
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"So, brave knights, if you do doubt your courage or your strength, come no further, for death awaits you all with nasty, big, pointy teeth." - Tim
Masoir know that a new High Seeker recently came about 3 months ago. What has been weird is strange Clerics from Haven coming down. There have been reports of goblins and hobgoblins serving the High Seeker whose name is Toede.
Seemingly with a mind of their own, Maisor's fingers continue playing as he relays what he's heard about the new High Seeker to the group, trying to talk only loud enough for them to hear.
As the party drinks their drinks and sits in the table. There comes a noise from the front of the Inn. “The High Seeker’s guards have been murdered” says a tall Hobgoblin at the front. He surrounded by 8 goblins and at the Moment. A fat hobgoblin enters the Inn. He dressed in vestments of the Seekers from Haven. “We are looking for guilty has anyone seen any Plainsmen and their band of murders?” At this point Fizban stands up and points to the back near the kitchen. “Yes they are !”
Halfway out of his chair, dart gripped firmly in his hand, ready to throw, Teric freezes when the hobgoblin begins to speak with clam authority to the crowd as if he belongs there.
He drops back into his chair, rotating the small metal rod in his hand so as to hide it from view ( Sleight of Hand 19 )
When the old man call out and points he is not sure of the intended reaction and so he waits, poised to fight or flee as necessary.
Edit - OOC: "clam authority" is obviously a typo, but in my current, brain fried state, I find it too amusing to fix.
Teclis says in Elven "I knew it unwise to allow those three to flee. There are too many of them and we are in too close quarters to fight them here. I recommend we leave the area with haste"
OOC: I guess I should have rolled that intelligence check sooner.
As the group of Goblinoids moves into the Inn, Maisor looks again at the symbol Teric had scratched into the wax, rotating his head to visualize it from the other direction. Slowly closing his eyes, Maisor says mostly to himself, "By Branchala. Those were the High Seeker's guards." Opening his eyes again, he looks at his friends and makes eye contact with Breenie. "My father's warehouse," mouths to her. Placing his lute on the tabletop, Maisor walks across to the guards, specifically the Hobgoblin. He holds his hands behind his back and those watching see him begin to make intricate signs with them. "My friends, what is this that I hear? Something about the High Seeker's guard being ... murdered? Surely this is not so. And even if it is so, why would someone so foolish not run after committing such atrocities? Surely they have fled and are now half way to Que-Kiri."
Maisor casts Charm Person on the Hobgoblin — wisdom save 13
OOC2: If it's not OK that I'm inventing a location, just holler. If it is, what those of you who grew up in Solace know (especially Breenie) is that Maisor's parents own a shipping business. Maisor's father, Orym Ine'rizca, owns a warehouse that is located somewhat near their home. I'll let the DM decide where if he's OK with this. Teric has probably been there a time or two also. Perhaps with a stolen keg to share with other youths.
Demek slowly moves his hand down to his sword hilt gripping it with a white-knuckle grip as the hobgoblin enters, his hand loosens when he sees Maisor approach the Seekers. He looks around the Inn for an exit or diversion if possible.
18 Perception to see if I see anything exits or diversion
The old man was trying to help them. Creating a diversion.
Killian looked at the Plainsmen, actually stared at Riverwind in the eyes trying to see if he could trust him, deciding he could he throws his cape to Goldmoon.
"Take that and make yourself scares. Don't move." he adds putting his hand on the man's arm stopping him from getting up."Don't get noticed, trust us."
"Get ready to move when I tell you."
He looks at his friends trying to take his cue from them.
To Teric's thinking there were two ways this could go. They could buy the old man's distraction and rush the kitchen. That might give them a opening to make a break for the front door.
Alternately, if Maisor was successful in grabbing their attention, maybe he could hold it long enough for them sneak into the kitchen. Teric remembered all too well the hatch in the floor where deliveries were brought in by rope. It would be slow going getting everyone out that way, but they were pretty short on options.
"Be ready to move if we get the chance."
Watching tensely for the moment they would need to commit, his mind considered a third option. It could all just go to hell and and degrade into chaos. In that case they would have a fight on their hands. A fight Teric feared they might not all survive.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"So, brave knights, if you do doubt your courage or your strength, come no further, for death awaits you all with nasty, big, pointy teeth." - Tim
OOC: I'm assuming, given the direct parallel with the first book so far, that the delivery hatch is indeed a thing. If so Teric would certainly know about it, given he was a supplier for the Inn.
If not I'll gladly edit that out.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"So, brave knights, if you do doubt your courage or your strength, come no further, for death awaits you all with nasty, big, pointy teeth." - Tim
OOC: I'm assuming, given the direct parallel with the first book so far, that the delivery hatch is indeed a thing. If so Teric would certainly know about it, given he was a supplier for the Inn.
If not I'll gladly edit that out.
I love it. I thought you had made it up, which was cool enough, but you remembering a point that actually exists in the books makes even more cool!
In addition to her short sword and shortbow with its quiver of arrows, Breenie carried a dagger in each boot. At that particular moment, none of those things made her feel any better.
Shite. And here we all sit, just waiting to be caught.
Time enough to sort out lessons learned later. First they had to get out of this.
“Numbers-wise, we might be all right.” Breenie barely breathed the words, so that no one but those at the table could hear her. “But those are hobgoblins. And the one wearing a dress worries me even more.”
As she spoke, Breenie slouched ever lower in her chair, moving slowly to avoid notice. With one hand, she reached into the pack she’d dropped onto the floor beside her. Her fingers picked through her belongings until she touched the contours of a small pouch within her pack. She drew that pouch out and held it in her hand, while she remained slouched low in her chair.
The whole time, she kept her eyes on Maisor, waiting to see if his ruse would work and how it might help them. She nodded to the others, indicating she’d heard their comments and was ready to do her part in whatever happened next.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
As the group holds its breathe while the hobgoblins looks around to the area that Fizban points out. Tika bring her tray of food over to the company the smell of spice potatoes fills the air. " Take the delivery area in the kitchen to escape, I will provide a distraction." Tika says to the group. The hobgoblins start to move towards the back slowly, when Tika drops here tray as one the goblins draws close to her. "You owe me money" She says and points to the goblin that is close to the group.
Otik's voice then picks up. "High Seeker if your men owes money then we need to talk!" The High Seeker looks confused and then tries to bully the bar owner. "You do not make demands here." He responds to bar keep. "Well he kind of does after all it is his bar." Fizban chimes in and then the crowd starts to chant. At that moment all the attention is turned to High Seeker. Tika motions for towards the kitchen. Goldmoon and Riverwind grab their stuff and move towards the kitchen.
As they enter the kitchen they see the hole in the floor with the rope. Riverwind goes first down the rope first. 16. Next Goldmoon goes down the rope 3.
Riverwind slides down the rope really fast, burning his hands. He slides down to fast and ends up letting go at certain point. Damage2. Goldmoon slides down just fine followed by...
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
In the chaos, Maisor looks over to see his party moving hastily toward the kitchen. Knowing the only means of escape from there is the delivery trap door, he slides out the front door.
Stealth: 18
He runs down and around the tree to meet those descending the rope.
OOC: If any fall while he is down there (he wouldn't be fast enough to get there before Riverwind falls), he can try to catch them. Athletics: 17
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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As Masoir plays his music Fizban begins to hum and Masoir matches the tune. Then without warning Fizban begins to narrate while the music plays. “
Hear the sage as his song descends
like heaven's rain or tears,
and washes the years, the dust of the many stories
from the High Tale of the Dragonlance.
For in ages deep, past memory and word,
in the first blush of the world
When the three moons rose from the lap of the forest,
dragons, terrible and great,
made war on this world of Krynn.
Yet out of the darkness of dragons,
out of our cries for light
in the blank face of the black moon soaring,
a banked light flared in Solamnia,
a knight of truth and of power,
who called down the gods themselves
and forged the mighty Dragonlance, piercing the soul
of dragonkind, driving the shade of their wings
from the brightening shores of Krynn.
Thus Huma, Knight of Solamnia,
Lightbringer, First Lancer,
followed his light to the foot of the Khalkist Mountains,
to the stone feet of the gods,
to the crouched silence of their temple.
He called down the Lancemakers, he took on
their unspeakable power to crush the unspeakable evil,
to thrust the coiling darkness
back down the tunnel of the dragon's throat.
Paladine, the Great God of Good,
shone at the side of Huma,
strengthening the lance of his strong right arm,
and Huma, ablaze in a thousand moons,
banished the swarm of her shrieking hosts
back to the senseless kingdom of death, where their curses
swooped upon nothing and nothing
deep below the brightening land.
Thus ended in thunder the Age of Dreams
and began the Age of Might,
When Istar, kingdom of light and truth, arose in the east,
where minarets of white and gold
spired to the sun and to the sun's glory,
announcing the passing of evil,
and Istar, who mothered and cradled the long summers of good,
shone like a meteor
in the white skies of the just.
Yet in the fullness of sunlight
the Kingpriest of Istar saw shadows:
At night he saw the trees and things with daggers, the streams
blackened and thickened under the silent moon.
He searched books for the paths of Huma,
for scrolls, signs, and spells
so that he, too, might summon the gods, might find
their aid in his holy aims,
might purge the world of sin.
Then came the time of dark and death
as the gods turned from the world.
A mountain of fire crashed like a comet through Istar,
the city split like a skull in the flames,
mountains burst from once-fertile valleys,
seas poured into the graves of mountains,
the deserts sighed on abandoned floors of the seas,
the highways of Krynn erupted
and became the paths of the dead.
Thus began the Age of Despair.
The roads were tangled.
The winds and the sand storms dwelt in the husks of cities,
The plains and mountains became our home.
As the old gods lost their power,
we called to the blank sky
into the cold, dividing gray to the ears of new gods.
The sky is calm, silent, unmoving.
We have yet to hear their answer.” As the words fade away the Inn is silent as everyone hears the words. There is weird feeling in the air.
Breenie settled in at the table (or tables) with her friends, listening with half an ear to the assorted conversations she could overhear. New High Seeker. Search for a blue staff. And goblins. So much going on.
With a smile and a nod toward the friend who bought the first round, Breenie ordered a single stout but merely sipped at it. Too much drink, and she wasn’t at her best. The evening’s events left her ill at ease, so Breenie situated herself where she could watch the door and the room at large, habitually scanning for signs of trouble.
By the time the old man had finished his story, Breenie’s skin was crawling. Maybe it was only her nerves, but something about the old man’s ways made his words seem like more than just another retelling of old tales. Through it all, she couldn’t stop thinking about the warning Teclis had uttered earlier. Lorival had tried talking about it to Tika, Breenie thought, but she hadn’t heard Tika’s reply to Lorival.
With a sudden surge of guilty urgency, wondering if she’d delayed sharing important information for no better reason than because Teclis had pissed her off, Breenie spoke into the lull following the old man’s story, aiming her words at whoever was close enough to hear. (If Maisor was close enough, she flagged him down so he could edge close enough to overhear even while he was working.)
“According to him,” Breenie nodded to indicate Teclis, “those goblins weren’t alone at all. There’s a big group of them not far to the east. And a whole goblin army forming to the north.”
Breenie looked around at her friends before hesitantly continuing.
“I don’t know a thing about this new High Seeker that Tika mentioned. But if his… Teclis’s information is right, I’d suppose it’s something the leader of Solace might want to know about. Don’t you think?”
Breenie Wrynn (Half-Elf Rogue/Arcane Trickster), Dragons of Despair
Runa Barnatsdottir (Human Fighter/Eldritch Knight), A Journey Across the Planes
Tia Cabrera (Human Sorcerer/Wild Magic), Kingdoms of Magic: Tinseltown
Lenore (Dwarf Cleric/Forge Domain), Threnody of Neverwinter
OOC: Since Maisor's been back in town a little while longer than the others and performing at the Inn where he might have heard something, does he recall hearing anything about the new High Seeker? Or maybe his father has said something to him. Just in case ...
Intelligence: 2
Teric nods along to the discussion, then hurriedly stuffs the last few potatoes from his plate in his mouth. Grabbing a candle from the table he drips a puddle of wax on the plate. Pulling one of thin metal rods from his armband (ooc: darts of monkish flavor :) ) he scratches a sketch of the Sigil from the goblin's armor into the wax. Sliding the plate forward for others to see, he slurs around a mouth full of potatoes, "Alsho, doesh anyone recognize the marg those goblins were wearing?"
"So, brave knights, if you do doubt your courage or your strength, come no further, for death awaits you all with nasty, big, pointy teeth."
- Tim
Masoir know that a new High Seeker recently came about 3 months ago. What has been weird is strange Clerics from Haven coming down. There have been reports of goblins and hobgoblins serving the High Seeker whose name is Toede.
Seemingly with a mind of their own, Maisor's fingers continue playing as he relays what he's heard about the new High Seeker to the group, trying to talk only loud enough for them to hear.
As the party drinks their drinks and sits in the table. There comes a noise from the front of the Inn. “The High Seeker’s guards have been murdered” says a tall Hobgoblin at the front. He surrounded by 8 goblins and at the Moment. A fat hobgoblin enters the Inn. He dressed in vestments of the Seekers from Haven. “We are looking for guilty has anyone seen any Plainsmen and their band of murders?” At this point Fizban stands up and points to the back near the kitchen. “Yes they are !”
Halfway out of his chair, dart gripped firmly in his hand, ready to throw, Teric freezes when the hobgoblin begins to speak with clam authority to the crowd as if he belongs there.
He drops back into his chair, rotating the small metal rod in his hand so as to hide it from view ( Sleight of Hand 19 )
When the old man call out and points he is not sure of the intended reaction and so he waits, poised to fight or flee as necessary.
"So, brave knights, if you do doubt your courage or your strength, come no further, for death awaits you all with nasty, big, pointy teeth."
- Tim
Teclis says in Elven "I knew it unwise to allow those three to flee. There are too many of them and we are in too close quarters to fight them here. I recommend we leave the area with haste"
Initiative roll (just in case): 8
Teclis Nightbreeze (High-Elf, Ranger), Dragon Heist
Arik the Wise (Human, Wizard), Dragon Heist
OOC: I guess I should have rolled that intelligence check sooner.
As the group of Goblinoids moves into the Inn, Maisor looks again at the symbol Teric had scratched into the wax, rotating his head to visualize it from the other direction. Slowly closing his eyes, Maisor says mostly to himself, "By Branchala. Those were the High Seeker's guards." Opening his eyes again, he looks at his friends and makes eye contact with Breenie. "My father's warehouse," mouths to her. Placing his lute on the tabletop, Maisor walks across to the guards, specifically the Hobgoblin. He holds his hands behind his back and those watching see him begin to make intricate signs with them. "My friends, what is this that I hear? Something about the High Seeker's guard being ... murdered? Surely this is not so. And even if it is so, why would someone so foolish not run after committing such atrocities? Surely they have fled and are now half way to Que-Kiri."
Maisor casts Charm Person on the Hobgoblin — wisdom save 13
OOC2: If it's not OK that I'm inventing a location, just holler. If it is, what those of you who grew up in Solace know (especially Breenie) is that Maisor's parents own a shipping business. Maisor's father, Orym Ine'rizca, owns a warehouse that is located somewhat near their home. I'll let the DM decide where if he's OK with this. Teric has probably been there a time or two also. Perhaps with a stolen keg to share with other youths.
Demek slowly moves his hand down to his sword hilt gripping it with a white-knuckle grip as the hobgoblin enters, his hand loosens when he sees Maisor approach the Seekers. He looks around the Inn for an exit or diversion if possible.
18 Perception to see if I see anything exits or diversion
The old man was trying to help them. Creating a diversion.
Killian looked at the Plainsmen, actually stared at Riverwind in the eyes trying to see if he could trust him, deciding he could he throws his cape to Goldmoon.
"Take that and make yourself scares. Don't move." he adds putting his hand on the man's arm stopping him from getting up."Don't get noticed, trust us."
"Get ready to move when I tell you."
He looks at his friends trying to take his cue from them.
Writing a Story
https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/d-d-beyond-general/story-lore/27837-magister-reborn-story-thread
Or crap, thinks Lorival to herself.
Carefully easing her seat away form the table for a clean get away if needed she prepares the spell Sleep.
To the group at the table she quietly says, "If things go bad, I will try to put them to sleep, well as many of them as I can."
To Teric's thinking there were two ways this could go. They could buy the old man's distraction and rush the kitchen. That might give them a opening to make a break for the front door.
Alternately, if Maisor was successful in grabbing their attention, maybe he could hold it long enough for them sneak into the kitchen. Teric remembered all too well the hatch in the floor where deliveries were brought in by rope. It would be slow going getting everyone out that way, but they were pretty short on options.
"Be ready to move if we get the chance."
Watching tensely for the moment they would need to commit, his mind considered a third option. It could all just go to hell and and degrade into chaos. In that case they would have a fight on their hands. A fight Teric feared they might not all survive.
"So, brave knights, if you do doubt your courage or your strength, come no further, for death awaits you all with nasty, big, pointy teeth."
- Tim
OOC: I'm assuming, given the direct parallel with the first book so far, that the delivery hatch is indeed a thing. If so Teric would certainly know about it, given he was a supplier for the Inn.
If not I'll gladly edit that out.
"So, brave knights, if you do doubt your courage or your strength, come no further, for death awaits you all with nasty, big, pointy teeth."
- Tim
In addition to her short sword and shortbow with its quiver of arrows, Breenie carried a dagger in each boot. At that particular moment, none of those things made her feel any better.
Shite. And here we all sit, just waiting to be caught.
Time enough to sort out lessons learned later. First they had to get out of this.
“Numbers-wise, we might be all right.” Breenie barely breathed the words, so that no one but those at the table could hear her. “But those are hobgoblins. And the one wearing a dress worries me even more.”
As she spoke, Breenie slouched ever lower in her chair, moving slowly to avoid notice. With one hand, she reached into the pack she’d dropped onto the floor beside her. Her fingers picked through her belongings until she touched the contours of a small pouch within her pack. She drew that pouch out and held it in her hand, while she remained slouched low in her chair.
The whole time, she kept her eyes on Maisor, waiting to see if his ruse would work and how it might help them. She nodded to the others, indicating she’d heard their comments and was ready to do her part in whatever happened next.
Breenie Wrynn (Half-Elf Rogue/Arcane Trickster), Dragons of Despair
Runa Barnatsdottir (Human Fighter/Eldritch Knight), A Journey Across the Planes
Tia Cabrera (Human Sorcerer/Wild Magic), Kingdoms of Magic: Tinseltown
Lenore (Dwarf Cleric/Forge Domain), Threnody of Neverwinter
As the group holds its breathe while the hobgoblins looks around to the area that Fizban points out. Tika bring her tray of food over to the company the smell of spice potatoes fills the air. " Take the delivery area in the kitchen to escape, I will provide a distraction." Tika says to the group. The hobgoblins start to move towards the back slowly, when Tika drops here tray as one the goblins draws close to her. "You owe me money" She says and points to the goblin that is close to the group.
Otik's voice then picks up. "High Seeker if your men owes money then we need to talk!" The High Seeker looks confused and then tries to bully the bar owner. "You do not make demands here." He responds to bar keep. "Well he kind of does after all it is his bar." Fizban chimes in and then the crowd starts to chant. At that moment all the attention is turned to High Seeker. Tika motions for towards the kitchen. Goldmoon and Riverwind grab their stuff and move towards the kitchen.
As they enter the kitchen they see the hole in the floor with the rope. Riverwind goes first down the rope first. 16. Next Goldmoon goes down the rope 3.
Riverwind slides down the rope really fast, burning his hands. He slides down to fast and ends up letting go at certain point. Damage 2. Goldmoon slides down just fine followed by...
In the chaos, Maisor looks over to see his party moving hastily toward the kitchen. Knowing the only means of escape from there is the delivery trap door, he slides out the front door.
Stealth: 18
He runs down and around the tree to meet those descending the rope.
OOC: If any fall while he is down there (he wouldn't be fast enough to get there before Riverwind falls), he can try to catch them. Athletics: 17