Asgar takes a look around to make sure no one around is listening, and then steps over close to Alerian.
"At first glance, everything seems to match the signs of the killing that Poffer's widow witnessed. But something's off... Take a look at his eyes" Asgar pulls Poffer's eye open.
"And with the widow as the sole suspect to the incident, and somehow still the only one to survive these attacks, I think we should have a talk with her, before we head out into a dangerous area, with no real knowledge of what happened. Besides, we only have her word on the effectiveness of Holy Water against this entity... I'm not saying not to trust her, just that we should be careful - especially when we're supposed to be looking for some artefact while investigating this whole thing... What do you think?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PbP Character: Asgar Albrech, human War Cleric of Bahamut - Foul Times in Ashcaster
PbP Character: Autumn Sun of the Wandering Dune Clan, tabaxi monk - One Shot Adventure - House of Artwood
"Aye, Asgar is right, and moreover I cannot rule out if the attacker was an undead creature or a deranged mystic or something like that, there are signs of putative arcane energy on Poffer's body so, we have to be prepared"
"Then it's settled. We meet with the Poffer Widow to see what she knows. I'll get Lebenha, let's get going quick so we don't lose anymore time."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Characters:
Grishkar Darkmoor, Necromancer of Nerull the Despiser Kelvin Rabbitfoot, Diviner, con artist, always hunting for a good sale Bründir Halfshield, Valor Bard, three-time Sheercleft Drinking Competition Champion, Hometown hero
The four of you hurry to Poffer's farmhouse. His widow opens the door, her eyes reddened and puffy and she looks shaken and somewhat confused. After the pleasantries are exchanged she invites you inside the small, simple abode. A small fire is flickering in the hearth and the smell of smoke fills the air. She introduces one of her sons, Berk, who is staying with her for the evening. She shuts the door, sliding the bolt shut. Offers you some soup and asks what she may do for you.
What do you want to do?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
As for me, I choose to believe that an extinct thunder lizard is running a game of Dungeons & Dragons via Twitter!
"We apologize ma' me for bothering you. You are very kind for let us in. As you known we are looking for who or what has killed your husband....to give you, and the townfolks, justice and peace....so...albeit I know that its not easy for you, could you take some minutes to describe exactly what happened that night? Take your time, and even its hard, any information you could give us, will be appreciated, and of course, we hope to give you some relief thereafter..."
"Berk, boy, please bring some water for your mom don't you?"
Leb sits near the widow and tries to confort her putting her hand into the woman's arm.
Alarien sees her eyes moving across the romm, looking for something.
[I would like to make an investigation roll to see if something is amiss and an insight one when possible to see if the woman tells them all she knows. Leb's got +2 on investigation (or perception ) and +0 on insight ]
In my game you, the player, never have to ask to roll a skill check. Instead you tell me what you want to try to accomplish and how you are trying to accomplish it. Often I don't require rolls because leaving things up to random chance is a good way to get conflicting results. This is especially true for knowledge skills and such. Also, as I have show already, I don't necessarily link a particular skill with a particular attribute. If other GMs do it differently you just have to bear with it and realize that they are probably doing it wrong.
I will be posting a proper write-up a little later when I am at a proper keyboard.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
As for me, I choose to believe that an extinct thunder lizard is running a game of Dungeons & Dragons via Twitter!
[Yeah you mentioned it before, perhaps I should be more descriptive on how she tries to do that, but posting from cell phone doesn't helps sometimes ;). Let me try again. :) ]
As they enter the humble house, Lebenha trained eye looks around looking for something amiss. She used to asses the values on a hosue with a look. Normally she knows what she is looking for, but sometimes one cand find some unexpected extras if knows where to look. The devil is on the details they say, and she tries to figure out if something is out of place. If there was a fight maybe she could detect some debros leftover when a pot or vasin where broken. Some brown dust residue on that corner, some furniture recently moved. Something like that.
As the son of the Poffers goes for something for her mother to drink [Did Lebenha know him before hand?] she sits near the recent widow, and tries to comfort her. She let the others do the talking for now, but she is also looking for something. Does the woman hesitates when asked something in particular? Does she looks to the same spot during the conversation? Does she moves her hands anxiously or has her mouth dry? That are all the things Leb tries not to doo when she has something to hide. Does she has something over her clothes or skin that shoul not be ther? Like brown residues of any kind?
[Hope this helps better :) I understand this should be accomplished in different rounds. I pretend that she's subtle but she is not good enough to do that in just 6 seconds :) ]
Poffer's widow breaks down into heavy sobs, then after a couple of deep breaths she regains her composure. She looks at each of you, her face a mixture of grief, anger, and hope. "Last night Poffer was tending to the chickens when we heard a strange sound coming from the pig pen. Poffer grabbed his spade and hurried to the pigs, fearing it might be a kobold or coyote. Suddenly I heard him scream, it was an awful sound." At this point she breaks down again but after a moment she continues. " I looked out the door and he was on his knees, surrounded by a sickly green mist and he was clutching his throat. Then he just...just fell over. And the mist slowly changed it went from a green to yellowish and it starting drifting towards me. I just shut the door and grabbed the vial of holy water that was supposed to be for the blessing of the crops and I splashed it on the door! Then I hid by the hearth until the sun came up."
At this point she breaks down into sobs again.
Lebenha you notice nothing odd or peculiar about the abode. The furnishings are simple and sparse but nothing stands out as being missing or damaged. Also you do not get the feeling that the widow is anything but honest.
Also, the sun has fully set and it is dark out.
What do you each of you want to do now?
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
As for me, I choose to believe that an extinct thunder lizard is running a game of Dungeons & Dragons via Twitter!
Thieven leaves the widow to take her time, in silence, pondering on the words she speak. He gently take her hand and with light curtsy he adds "We thank you ma'me, thanks for all your help, I hope we will bring you justice, goodbye for now"
Thieven agrees with Leb. He will find a place in the nearby woods to rest, sleep, and concentrate for the next morning.
Alerian stalked just behind everyone after leaving the widow's home. "Does anyone else feel like there will be another death at risk? The mist comes at night, and judging by the alignment of the stars, it's currently night and we're no closer to anything other than throwing water at fog." The thought of being left without alternatives or insight was unfuriating and maddening. "I say that if you can't find an vital point, always shoot the head. Let's head straight for the sorcerer's tower without delay."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Characters:
Grishkar Darkmoor, Necromancer of Nerull the Despiser Kelvin Rabbitfoot, Diviner, con artist, always hunting for a good sale Bründir Halfshield, Valor Bard, three-time Sheercleft Drinking Competition Champion, Hometown hero
"Going to the lion's or... the mist's den so to speak in the middel of the night when that thing is probably stronger? I don't know if that is a good idea. And if you are right and it's outthere.. hunting... I don't think it's a good idea that it found us in it's lair sniffing.
The attacks never were so close one to another, so, even if I understand your doubts and frustration, I think we are good tonight and we better get some rest and try to hunt that thing during the day. Hopefully we catch it sleeping or we have some advantage due to the daylight with us. What do the rest of you think?" She says to the others.
"I wouldn't mind if we went looking for it tonight, but I also know that that is my restless side speaking, and it probably wouldn't be wise. So let's go hunting for it tomorrow. But just in case this killer cloud returns to town tonight, maybe we should take shifts patrolling the outskirts of town?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PbP Character: Asgar Albrech, human War Cleric of Bahamut - Foul Times in Ashcaster
PbP Character: Autumn Sun of the Wandering Dune Clan, tabaxi monk - One Shot Adventure - House of Artwood
(DM, was there anything else mentioned regarding the location or people involved in previous murders? Were they all killed by the mist? I'd like to also suggest checking with the town's mayor/reeve to investigate links between the murders.)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Characters:
Grishkar Darkmoor, Necromancer of Nerull the Despiser Kelvin Rabbitfoot, Diviner, con artist, always hunting for a good sale Bründir Halfshield, Valor Bard, three-time Sheercleft Drinking Competition Champion, Hometown hero
Okay, here is what you know up to now. The first killings were actually of a couple of cattle and started a few months back. Then about six weeks ago the first person was found dead, a month later a second person was found dead, then just this morning Poffer was found dead. No one saw what happened to the first two victims, but the old priest Argulan deduced they had been attacked by some sort of undead spirit.
Argus - based on what you saw you can see why Argulan came to that conclusion since at first glance even Poffer looked like he had been attacked by some sort of undead creature. And Argulan probably had no reason to suspect anything other than an undead spirit, especially since the tower has gained a reputation for being haunted ever since the old sorcerer died.
Leb - you knew all of the victims and as far as you know there is no connection between the men other than they were all farmers and had lived near the village their whole lives. But as you think about it, it dawns on you that each victim lived within an hour's travel of the tower and that each victim lived further away than the one previous.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
As for me, I choose to believe that an extinct thunder lizard is running a game of Dungeons & Dragons via Twitter!
"Perhaps fellows, we miss the big picture, actually I am not really sure that animals and people share the same slayer. What about the possibility that peasants were collateral victims? I am quite sure that Poffer died by arcane magic, and this is not align with animals slauthering, maybe, Poffer interrupted or spotted something he should not..."
Thieven wants to have a look on Poffer's pig pen, and search any sign of some clues of rituals, or even signs of someone that was looking or searching anything concealed in the pen or nearby.
" I am not sure " says Lebenha " once the farmers started to die, the cattle didn't. It seems more that our attacker has been growing bolder. And perhaps stronger. " Leb shares the information about the distance and the times.
"I htink we should head to the tower first thing in the morning. Knowing that, probably, we are going after a living arcane user killer is just a slightly better that looking for a psycopath undead creature. " she smiles to her own joke.
"Dead is dead. Sometimes dead needs deader." Humor was typically lost on Alerian, leaving him dry and cold to others. When it came to hunting evil, a glimmer of sarcastic humor peeked through. "I agree that this looks like a growing power. Cattle can die without great notice, but once people start dying, the alarms are raised. Who or whatever is behind this was making great leaps in power to be willing to come out of hiding."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Characters:
Grishkar Darkmoor, Necromancer of Nerull the Despiser Kelvin Rabbitfoot, Diviner, con artist, always hunting for a good sale Bründir Halfshield, Valor Bard, three-time Sheercleft Drinking Competition Champion, Hometown hero
Asgar takes a look around to make sure no one around is listening, and then steps over close to Alerian.
"At first glance, everything seems to match the signs of the killing that Poffer's widow witnessed. But something's off... Take a look at his eyes" Asgar pulls Poffer's eye open.
"And with the widow as the sole suspect to the incident, and somehow still the only one to survive these attacks, I think we should have a talk with her, before we head out into a dangerous area, with no real knowledge of what happened. Besides, we only have her word on the effectiveness of Holy Water against this entity... I'm not saying not to trust her, just that we should be careful - especially when we're supposed to be looking for some artefact while investigating this whole thing... What do you think?"
PbP Character: Asgar Albrech, human War Cleric of Bahamut - Foul Times in Ashcaster
PbP Character: Autumn Sun of the Wandering Dune Clan, tabaxi monk - One Shot Adventure - House of Artwood
"Aye, Asgar is right, and moreover I cannot rule out if the attacker was an undead creature or a deranged mystic or something like that, there are signs of putative arcane energy on Poffer's body so, we have to be prepared"
"Then it's settled. We meet with the Poffer Widow to see what she knows. I'll get Lebenha, let's get going quick so we don't lose anymore time."
Characters:
Grishkar Darkmoor, Necromancer of Nerull the Despiser
Kelvin Rabbitfoot, Diviner, con artist, always hunting for a good sale
Bründir Halfshield, Valor Bard, three-time Sheercleft Drinking Competition Champion, Hometown hero
The four of you hurry to Poffer's farmhouse. His widow opens the door, her eyes reddened and puffy and she looks shaken and somewhat confused. After the pleasantries are exchanged she invites you inside the small, simple abode. A small fire is flickering in the hearth and the smell of smoke fills the air. She introduces one of her sons, Berk, who is staying with her for the evening. She shuts the door, sliding the bolt shut. Offers you some soup and asks what she may do for you.
What do you want to do?
As for me, I choose to believe that an extinct thunder lizard is running a game of Dungeons & Dragons via Twitter!
"We apologize ma' me for bothering you. You are very kind for let us in. As you known we are looking for who or what has killed your husband....to give you, and the townfolks, justice and peace....so...albeit I know that its not easy for you, could you take some minutes to describe exactly what happened that night? Take your time, and even its hard, any information you could give us, will be appreciated, and of course, we hope to give you some relief thereafter..."
"Berk, boy, please bring some water for your mom don't you?"
Leb sits near the widow and tries to confort her putting her hand into the woman's arm.
Alarien sees her eyes moving across the romm, looking for something.
[I would like to make an investigation roll to see if something is amiss and an insight one when possible to see if the woman tells them all she knows. Leb's got +2 on investigation (or perception ) and +0 on insight ]
PbP Character: A few ;)
Frandal,
In my game you, the player, never have to ask to roll a skill check. Instead you tell me what you want to try to accomplish and how you are trying to accomplish it. Often I don't require rolls because leaving things up to random chance is a good way to get conflicting results. This is especially true for knowledge skills and such. Also, as I have show already, I don't necessarily link a particular skill with a particular attribute. If other GMs do it differently you just have to bear with it and realize that they are probably doing it wrong.
I will be posting a proper write-up a little later when I am at a proper keyboard.
As for me, I choose to believe that an extinct thunder lizard is running a game of Dungeons & Dragons via Twitter!
[Yeah you mentioned it before, perhaps I should be more descriptive on how she tries to do that, but posting from cell phone doesn't helps sometimes ;). Let me try again. :) ]
As they enter the humble house, Lebenha trained eye looks around looking for something amiss. She used to asses the values on a hosue with a look. Normally she knows what she is looking for, but sometimes one cand find some unexpected extras if knows where to look. The devil is on the details they say, and she tries to figure out if something is out of place. If there was a fight maybe she could detect some debros leftover when a pot or vasin where broken. Some brown dust residue on that corner, some furniture recently moved. Something like that.
As the son of the Poffers goes for something for her mother to drink [Did Lebenha know him before hand?] she sits near the recent widow, and tries to comfort her. She let the others do the talking for now, but she is also looking for something. Does the woman hesitates when asked something in particular? Does she looks to the same spot during the conversation? Does she moves her hands anxiously or has her mouth dry? That are all the things Leb tries not to doo when she has something to hide. Does she has something over her clothes or skin that shoul not be ther? Like brown residues of any kind?
[Hope this helps better :) I understand this should be accomplished in different rounds. I pretend that she's subtle but she is not good enough to do that in just 6 seconds :) ]
PbP Character: A few ;)
Poffer's widow breaks down into heavy sobs, then after a couple of deep breaths she regains her composure. She looks at each of you, her face a mixture of grief, anger, and hope. "Last night Poffer was tending to the chickens when we heard a strange sound coming from the pig pen. Poffer grabbed his spade and hurried to the pigs, fearing it might be a kobold or coyote. Suddenly I heard him scream, it was an awful sound." At this point she breaks down again but after a moment she continues. " I looked out the door and he was on his knees, surrounded by a sickly green mist and he was clutching his throat. Then he just...just fell over. And the mist slowly changed it went from a green to yellowish and it starting drifting towards me. I just shut the door and grabbed the vial of holy water that was supposed to be for the blessing of the crops and I splashed it on the door! Then I hid by the hearth until the sun came up."
At this point she breaks down into sobs again.
Lebenha you notice nothing odd or peculiar about the abode. The furnishings are simple and sparse but nothing stands out as being missing or damaged. Also you do not get the feeling that the widow is anything but honest.
Also, the sun has fully set and it is dark out.
What do you each of you want to do now?
As for me, I choose to believe that an extinct thunder lizard is running a game of Dungeons & Dragons via Twitter!
Leb hughs the widow and whispers some words of comfort to her.
"We should get going. Tomorrow we will have a hard day. " she says to the others when the young Poffer takes her of her mother.
PbP Character: A few ;)
Thieven leaves the widow to take her time, in silence, pondering on the words she speak. He gently take her hand and with light curtsy he adds "We thank you ma'me, thanks for all your help, I hope we will bring you justice, goodbye for now"
Thieven agrees with Leb. He will find a place in the nearby woods to rest, sleep, and concentrate for the next morning.
Alerian stalked just behind everyone after leaving the widow's home. "Does anyone else feel like there will be another death at risk? The mist comes at night, and judging by the alignment of the stars, it's currently night and we're no closer to anything other than throwing water at fog." The thought of being left without alternatives or insight was unfuriating and maddening. "I say that if you can't find an vital point, always shoot the head. Let's head straight for the sorcerer's tower without delay."
Characters:
Grishkar Darkmoor, Necromancer of Nerull the Despiser
Kelvin Rabbitfoot, Diviner, con artist, always hunting for a good sale
Bründir Halfshield, Valor Bard, three-time Sheercleft Drinking Competition Champion, Hometown hero
"Going to the lion's or... the mist's den so to speak in the middel of the night when that thing is probably stronger? I don't know if that is a good idea. And if you are right and it's outthere.. hunting... I don't think it's a good idea that it found us in it's lair sniffing.
The attacks never were so close one to another, so, even if I understand your doubts and frustration, I think we are good tonight and we better get some rest and try to hunt that thing during the day. Hopefully we catch it sleeping or we have some advantage due to the daylight with us. What do the rest of you think?" She says to the others.
PbP Character: A few ;)
"I wouldn't mind if we went looking for it tonight, but I also know that that is my restless side speaking, and it probably wouldn't be wise. So let's go hunting for it tomorrow. But just in case this killer cloud returns to town tonight, maybe we should take shifts patrolling the outskirts of town?"
PbP Character: Asgar Albrech, human War Cleric of Bahamut - Foul Times in Ashcaster
PbP Character: Autumn Sun of the Wandering Dune Clan, tabaxi monk - One Shot Adventure - House of Artwood
(DM, was there anything else mentioned regarding the location or people involved in previous murders? Were they all killed by the mist? I'd like to also suggest checking with the town's mayor/reeve to investigate links between the murders.)
Characters:
Grishkar Darkmoor, Necromancer of Nerull the Despiser
Kelvin Rabbitfoot, Diviner, con artist, always hunting for a good sale
Bründir Halfshield, Valor Bard, three-time Sheercleft Drinking Competition Champion, Hometown hero
Okay, here is what you know up to now. The first killings were actually of a couple of cattle and started a few months back. Then about six weeks ago the first person was found dead, a month later a second person was found dead, then just this morning Poffer was found dead. No one saw what happened to the first two victims, but the old priest Argulan deduced they had been attacked by some sort of undead spirit.
Argus - based on what you saw you can see why Argulan came to that conclusion since at first glance even Poffer looked like he had been attacked by some sort of undead creature. And Argulan probably had no reason to suspect anything other than an undead spirit, especially since the tower has gained a reputation for being haunted ever since the old sorcerer died.
Leb - you knew all of the victims and as far as you know there is no connection between the men other than they were all farmers and had lived near the village their whole lives. But as you think about it, it dawns on you that each victim lived within an hour's travel of the tower and that each victim lived further away than the one previous.
As for me, I choose to believe that an extinct thunder lizard is running a game of Dungeons & Dragons via Twitter!
"Perhaps fellows, we miss the big picture, actually I am not really sure that animals and people share the same slayer. What about the possibility that peasants were collateral victims? I am quite sure that Poffer died by arcane magic, and this is not align with animals slauthering, maybe, Poffer interrupted or spotted something he should not..."
Thieven wants to have a look on Poffer's pig pen, and search any sign of some clues of rituals, or even signs of someone that was looking or searching anything concealed in the pen or nearby.
" I am not sure " says Lebenha " once the farmers started to die, the cattle didn't. It seems more that our attacker has been growing bolder. And perhaps stronger. " Leb shares the information about the distance and the times.
"I htink we should head to the tower first thing in the morning. Knowing that, probably, we are going after a living arcane user killer is just a slightly better that looking for a psycopath undead creature. " she smiles to her own joke.
PbP Character: A few ;)
"Dead is dead. Sometimes dead needs deader." Humor was typically lost on Alerian, leaving him dry and cold to others. When it came to hunting evil, a glimmer of sarcastic humor peeked through. "I agree that this looks like a growing power. Cattle can die without great notice, but once people start dying, the alarms are raised. Who or whatever is behind this was making great leaps in power to be willing to come out of hiding."
Characters:
Grishkar Darkmoor, Necromancer of Nerull the Despiser
Kelvin Rabbitfoot, Diviner, con artist, always hunting for a good sale
Bründir Halfshield, Valor Bard, three-time Sheercleft Drinking Competition Champion, Hometown hero
So, to be clear, the four of you plan on finding a place to rest for the night and then start out at first light toward the Sorcerer's tower?
If so, I need a list of prepared spells from both Asgar and Theren.
As for me, I choose to believe that an extinct thunder lizard is running a game of Dungeons & Dragons via Twitter!