"Then you know what I am," the lich says tiredly. "I don't know how I came to be here, and I have only a faint idea of why, but you have done me no wrong that would provoke my wrath. All I need now are a cloak to wear and staff to use as a focus for my power... though before you get any ideas, there are many spells that I can still cast without the use of such a focus."
You find a chest full of garments, shoes, cloaks, hats, scarves, skirts, dresses, rough sewn but functional and warm. There are multiple walking staffs, clubs and cudgels, but also a rare druid staff, indicating that the witch is actually a druid. If you spend more time, searching her hut, you will find two healing potions and several scrolls written in druidic. There is also mutton stew on the fire and the makings of an alchemical kit.
The undead wizard takes his time to go over the place with a fine-toothed comb (metaphorically), in which time his disguises almost certainly will fade, revealing his true undead form. He does his best to watch the old woman carefully, making sure she doesn't run to alert everyone to his presence. Once he is finished, he returns to her, now clothed and carrying a staff that can be used to focus his power.
"Thank you for everything," he says, trying to be gentle as a terrifying lich-necromancer can be. "I do apologize for the circumstances or my arrival... but I was being honest when I told you that I have no desire to cause you harm. Now, please, just don't tell the other inhabitants of this little town what you know about me. If you were to do so, it is almost certain that many of them would be hurt, possibly killed, and neither of us want to see pointless bloodshed. Now that that's out of the way... I do owe you something for your hospitality. Tell me, is there anything that I could do to repay you? I dislike having unpaid debts, so please, think of something that I could accomplish on your behalf."
"Just leave, you have my word. I won't tell a soul." cries the women under the mattress. She begins to wonder what a reasonable monetary ask might be. She thinks, then says, "A gold for the rags and staff."
"Very well," he says, taking a moment to cast disguise self again. "I will do my best to return in a reasonable timeframe with a piece of gold for your troubles. It may be a day, perhaps a month... maybe even a year, if I am particularly long delayed. But you will get the coin that I owe you."
With that, he leaves, trusting that the poor woman has been terrified into submission. He considers what to do next... he needs money, and he wants to obtain it without resorting to tactics as crass as robbery. After a few moments, he decides to do what anyone else down on his luck would do... check the local inn's noticeboard for mission postings.
Not far from the Witch's hut, is a tavernhall. Standing outside of the tavern, you notice that all the buildings in this small town are tents, huts, or made hastily with inadequate materials.
But the Tavernhall stands tall with banners flying many colors, including a fine flag of a house seal, a gold lion on azure. With a 3 foot tall stone wall base and fine timber coming to a sloped roof, you can tell that it was built to last.
Upon entering the tavernhall, you get glances from all manner of soldiers and trainees. All but the barkeep and serving girl wear soldiers uniforms, heavy hide armor, shields and short swords. One captain sits in the back wearing chainmail with a longsword at his side.
There are no bills posted, but judging by the levels of rowdy language and drunkenness, it seems all too clear that there is work to be had and jobs to be done.
Standing at the bar, you can overhear multiple soldiers complaining about work.
"Caravan duty is the worst. It takes nearly a week to guard supplies down the dusty trails and there is never any orc activity anymore, not since the massacre at Big Tree"
"Orc actively, are you kidding. Join the Darkwood Sweepers. We go along the tree lines and run into orcs all the time. They don't come out of the forests no more but we still seem them and they see us, not to worry."
"My squad is moving out in the morning. We're done with training and heading farther out to the next settlement. I hear they eat beef ribs every night cause it's all cattle farms way out there."
The wizard considers for a moment, then approaches the men discussing orc entanglements. And he suddenly gets an idea.
"Excuse me," he says. "I hear that you have an issue with orcs. Would you be kind enough to tell me more about these orcs? I feel that I might be able to offer some assistance to you if they are causing a problem."
The wizard considers for a moment, then approaches the men discussing orc entanglements. And he suddenly gets an idea.
"Excuse me," he says. "I hear that you have an issue with orcs. Would you be kind enough to tell me more about these orcs? I feel that I might be able to offer some assistance to you if they are causing a problem."
"Orcs? They leave us alone, and we keep them in check by patrolling our borders along the Darkwood. Everyone knows that, we've had peace for twenty and something years. But talk to the enrollment officer. He's sitting over with the captain. Join the troops, they'll take an old guy like you, since you are already way out here on the rim."
Talk to Lieutenant Grimes, "Ah, yes, new recruits report to the training grounds at dawn in the morning. If you pass basic physical tests, you can join the Sweepers or take a tour with Caravan Duty. You must complete the comprehensive training to be shipped off to the outer rim, way out in cow town, Old Big Tree."
The lich considers the idea... it would be difficult to hide his true form for an extended period of time... but there might be a way (if he can swap out his 1st level Spell Mastery from Shield to Disguise Self with 8 hours of contemplation and study).
"That might not be such a bad idea... it's been a while since this old man has seen a good fight, but I think I may still have some fire in these old bones," he says. "Though my best quality is not my physicality... I know a few spells that could prove an asset to your company. Shame that I lost my little tome filled with my meager scraps of learning, but I still have a few of the good ones in here."
He taps his head to indicate where he keeps those spells that he still remembers after the 'loss' of his tome.
The lich considers the idea... it would be difficult to hide his true form for an extended period of time... but there might be a way (if he can swap out his 1st level Spell Mastery from Shield to Disguise Self with 8 hours of contemplation and study).
"That might not be such a bad idea... it's been a while since this old man has seen a good fight, but I think I may still have some fire in these old bones," he says. "Though my best quality is not my physicality... I know a few spells that could prove an asset to your company. Shame that I lost my little tome filled with my meager scraps of learning, but I still have a few of the good ones in here."
He taps his head to indicate where he keeps those spells that he still remembers after the 'loss' of his tome.
* Feel free to RP more in the Taverhall * Take shelter in the barracks with the other recruits, RP here * Fast forward to the Dawn, to start the Skill Challenge needed to pass * Think of something else, outside of the box
The wizard decides to take shelter in the barracks for the night, making sure to quietly cast disguise self every hour. He's slowly forming an idea... if he can become a well-respected member of the military, he may be able to rise through the ranks and take control in that manner. He just hopes that he'll be able to do it without much bloodshed.
He settles in at one of the dinner tables with the other recruits for dinner (presumably, anything he 'eats' will be absorbed into the shadow essence that animates his skeletal body).
"Well young gentlemen, it seems that I have found myself in a most interesting situation," he says with a chuckle to the others at the table. "I may have fallen on some hard times and have found few places to turn to for respite. But I certainly hope that I can prove my worth in spite of my age."
"We don't care about that garbage. Do you hate orcs? You do? Then the next question is... do you have coin to gamble on dice?"
* RP talk with the other recruits * RP play dice * Fast forward to the Dawn, to start the Skill Challenge needed to pass * Think of something else, outside of the box
"Well... I'm afraid I don't have a lot of coin," the lich says with a sigh. "There's a reason I signed up for the first job I could find... so I suppose I'll watch you young'uns for the time being."
Let's go ahead and skip to the skill challenge and see what we're dealing with.
Dawn on day two, you are woken by the toots of a military horn. Recruits assemble in the yard and are asked to run and jump over obstacles to warm up.
Skill check options One Success at Athletics, Acrobatics, Deception or Performance DC 14 10 Pushups Con Save DC 11 +10 Pushups, Con Save DC 12 +10 Pushups, Con Save DC 13 +10 Pushups, Con Save DC 14 +10 Pushups, Con Save DC 15 Jump Check, to clear increasingly high obstacles, make x4 Athletics checks Strength Save to wrestle DC 14 Shooting Arrows Longbow, Crossbow, light crossbow vs AC 14 Running Obstacle Course, make x4 Athletics or Acrobatics checks
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Lieutenant Grimes says, "I've definitely seen worse. Caravan Duty will pay 10 gp for 1 week of work, report to the Wagon Master immediately. The empty wagons go back to get more supplies in an hour."
You report to the Wagon Leader, he is a dwarf named Thom. You and seven other recruits join to guard 12 wagons, each with two horses.
You leave for Caravan Duty.
First 1d100 to hit Day 2, Caravan 1, Orcs attack 91+, 83 Day 3, Caravan 2, Orcs attack 81+, 18 Day 4, Caravan 3, Orcs attack 71+, 45 Day 5, Caravan 4, Orcs attack 61+, 45 Day 6, Caravan 5, Orcs attack 51+, 10
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Bernard Fermier
Human, Fighter 1 (16,11,16,10,14,10)
AC 12 (hide leather), HP 13, Init +0, Speed 30 feet
Senses: Investigation 10, Perception 14, Saves: Strength +5, Constitution +5
Soldier: Animal Handling +4, Athletics +5, Intimidation +2, Perception +4
Fighting Style: Protection, Second Wind (1d10+1)
Spear +5 (1d8+3), Common, Goblin
Baba Nana
Human, Druid 1 (10,11,10,16,,16,14)
AC 10, HP 8, Init +0, Speed 30 feet
Senses: Investigation 13, Perception 13, Saves: Intelligence +5, Wisdom +5
Hermit: Animal Handling +5, Insight +5, Medicine +5, Religion +5
Cantrips: Druidcraft, Mending, Spellcasting: (2) Animal Friendship, Cure Wounds, Goodberry, Healing Word
Club +0 (1d6), Common, Druidic, Elven
You find a chest full of garments, shoes, cloaks, hats, scarves, skirts, dresses, rough sewn but functional and warm. There are multiple walking staffs, clubs and cudgels, but also a rare druid staff, indicating that the witch is actually a druid. If you spend more time, searching her hut, you will find two healing potions and several scrolls written in druidic. There is also mutton stew on the fire and the makings of an alchemical kit.
The undead wizard takes his time to go over the place with a fine-toothed comb (metaphorically), in which time his disguises almost certainly will fade, revealing his true undead form. He does his best to watch the old woman carefully, making sure she doesn't run to alert everyone to his presence. Once he is finished, he returns to her, now clothed and carrying a staff that can be used to focus his power.
"Thank you for everything," he says, trying to be gentle as a terrifying lich-necromancer can be. "I do apologize for the circumstances or my arrival... but I was being honest when I told you that I have no desire to cause you harm. Now, please, just don't tell the other inhabitants of this little town what you know about me. If you were to do so, it is almost certain that many of them would be hurt, possibly killed, and neither of us want to see pointless bloodshed. Now that that's out of the way... I do owe you something for your hospitality. Tell me, is there anything that I could do to repay you? I dislike having unpaid debts, so please, think of something that I could accomplish on your behalf."
"Just leave, you have my word. I won't tell a soul." cries the women under the mattress. She begins to wonder what a reasonable monetary ask might be. She thinks, then says, "A gold for the rags and staff."
"Very well," he says, taking a moment to cast disguise self again. "I will do my best to return in a reasonable timeframe with a piece of gold for your troubles. It may be a day, perhaps a month... maybe even a year, if I am particularly long delayed. But you will get the coin that I owe you."
With that, he leaves, trusting that the poor woman has been terrified into submission. He considers what to do next... he needs money, and he wants to obtain it without resorting to tactics as crass as robbery. After a few moments, he decides to do what anyone else down on his luck would do... check the local inn's noticeboard for mission postings.
Not far from the Witch's hut, is a tavernhall. Standing outside of the tavern, you notice that all the buildings in this small town are tents, huts, or made hastily with inadequate materials.
But the Tavernhall stands tall with banners flying many colors, including a fine flag of a house seal, a gold lion on azure. With a 3 foot tall stone wall base and fine timber coming to a sloped roof, you can tell that it was built to last.
Upon entering the tavernhall, you get glances from all manner of soldiers and trainees. All but the barkeep and serving girl wear soldiers uniforms, heavy hide armor, shields and short swords. One captain sits in the back wearing chainmail with a longsword at his side.
There are no bills posted, but judging by the levels of rowdy language and drunkenness, it seems all too clear that there is work to be had and jobs to be done.
Standing at the bar, you can overhear multiple soldiers complaining about work.
"Caravan duty is the worst. It takes nearly a week to guard supplies down the dusty trails and there is never any orc activity anymore, not since the massacre at Big Tree"
"Orc actively, are you kidding. Join the Darkwood Sweepers. We go along the tree lines and run into orcs all the time. They don't come out of the forests no more but we still seem them and they see us, not to worry."
"My squad is moving out in the morning. We're done with training and heading farther out to the next settlement. I hear they eat beef ribs every night cause it's all cattle farms way out there."
The wizard considers for a moment, then approaches the men discussing orc entanglements. And he suddenly gets an idea.
"Excuse me," he says. "I hear that you have an issue with orcs. Would you be kind enough to tell me more about these orcs? I feel that I might be able to offer some assistance to you if they are causing a problem."
"Orcs? They leave us alone, and we keep them in check by patrolling our borders along the Darkwood. Everyone knows that, we've had peace for twenty and something years. But talk to the enrollment officer. He's sitting over with the captain. Join the troops, they'll take an old guy like you, since you are already way out here on the rim."
Talk to Lieutenant Grimes, "Ah, yes, new recruits report to the training grounds at dawn in the morning. If you pass basic physical tests, you can join the Sweepers or take a tour with Caravan Duty. You must complete the comprehensive training to be shipped off to the outer rim, way out in cow town, Old Big Tree."
The lich considers the idea... it would be difficult to hide his true form for an extended period of time... but there might be a way (if he can swap out his 1st level Spell Mastery from Shield to Disguise Self with 8 hours of contemplation and study).
"That might not be such a bad idea... it's been a while since this old man has seen a good fight, but I think I may still have some fire in these old bones," he says. "Though my best quality is not my physicality... I know a few spells that could prove an asset to your company. Shame that I lost my little tome filled with my meager scraps of learning, but I still have a few of the good ones in here."
He taps his head to indicate where he keeps those spells that he still remembers after the 'loss' of his tome.
Consider the retcon approved
* Feel free to RP more in the Taverhall
* Take shelter in the barracks with the other recruits, RP here
* Fast forward to the Dawn, to start the Skill Challenge needed to pass
* Think of something else, outside of the box
The wizard decides to take shelter in the barracks for the night, making sure to quietly cast disguise self every hour. He's slowly forming an idea... if he can become a well-respected member of the military, he may be able to rise through the ranks and take control in that manner. He just hopes that he'll be able to do it without much bloodshed.
He settles in at one of the dinner tables with the other recruits for dinner (presumably, anything he 'eats' will be absorbed into the shadow essence that animates his skeletal body).
"Well young gentlemen, it seems that I have found myself in a most interesting situation," he says with a chuckle to the others at the table. "I may have fallen on some hard times and have found few places to turn to for respite. But I certainly hope that I can prove my worth in spite of my age."
"We don't care about that garbage. Do you hate orcs? You do? Then the next question is... do you have coin to gamble on dice?"
* RP talk with the other recruits
* RP play dice
* Fast forward to the Dawn, to start the Skill Challenge needed to pass
* Think of something else, outside of the box
"Well... I'm afraid I don't have a lot of coin," the lich says with a sigh. "There's a reason I signed up for the first job I could find... so I suppose I'll watch you young'uns for the time being."
Let's go ahead and skip to the skill challenge and see what we're dealing with.
Dawn on day two, you are woken by the toots of a military horn. Recruits assemble in the yard and are asked to run and jump over obstacles to warm up.
Skill check options
One Success at Athletics, Acrobatics, Deception or Performance DC 14
10 Pushups Con Save DC 11
+10 Pushups, Con Save DC 12
+10 Pushups, Con Save DC 13
+10 Pushups, Con Save DC 14
+10 Pushups, Con Save DC 15
Jump Check, to clear increasingly high obstacles, make x4 Athletics checks
Strength Save to wrestle DC 14
Shooting Arrows Longbow, Crossbow, light crossbow vs AC 14
Running Obstacle Course, make x4 Athletics or Acrobatics checks
1 Acrobatics: 11 plus 2 from Knowledge from a Past Life
Con save: 25
Athletics checks (Ohhh boy... this could suck)
Check 1: 18
Check 2: 1
Check 3: 3
Check 4: 20
Strength save: 16
Longbow: 3
Crossbow: 20
Light crossbow 16
Obstacle course (another one that may suck...)
Acrobatics 1: 19
Acrobatics 2: 21
Acrobatics 3: 16
Acrobatics 4: 7
Ouch... at least he did 40 pushups and hit the target once with the arrow.
Lieutenant Grimes says, "I've definitely seen worse. Caravan Duty will pay 10 gp for 1 week of work, report to the Wagon Master immediately. The empty wagons go back to get more supplies in an hour."
You report to the Wagon Leader, he is a dwarf named Thom. You and seven other recruits join to guard 12 wagons, each with two horses.
You leave for Caravan Duty.
First 1d100 to hit
Day 2, Caravan 1, Orcs attack 91+, 83
Day 3, Caravan 2, Orcs attack 81+, 18
Day 4, Caravan 3, Orcs attack 71+, 45
Day 5, Caravan 4, Orcs attack 61+, 45
Day 6, Caravan 5, Orcs attack 51+, 10