Cautiously, Eva moves closer, her eyes fixed on the crouching bandit.
[She moves to within 10 feet of the bandits while making a insight: 13 + 1 (Knowledge from a Past Life lineage trait: https://www.dndbeyond.com/races/706719-lineages#Reborn) to determine if the crouching bandit is giving off sincere, trustworthy vibes.]
Greth'g'kareecocks his head towards the pleading bandit then fires a shot into her leg (the healthy one doing the talking). "Fine. Stay there." He then keeps walking past them.
To Hit: NAT 1... Damage: 11
(( The Dice Gods were displeased with Greth's cold-hearted response! ))
When Greth’g’karee pulls back the bowstring to release the arrow, the crouching girl seems to accept her fate, just looking down and sniffling to hold back tears. When the string breaks in his hand, the snap rings out loudly. The girl flinches at the sound. Surprised to find herself alive, she breaks down in sobs and clings to the fallen bandit.
"Your sister is beyond help now—beyond life. Beyond suffering. Say the word, and you can join her. Or you can redeem yourself by telling me everything you know about Zara Teargut and her gang: where they are camped, who put them up to this, and Zara’s connection to Torrga Icevein and Sephek Kaltro. If you surrender yourself and this information in good faith, perhaps the people of Good Mead will go easy on you.”
Based on the directions they have, the party imagines they'll be at Tond's house in 5 minutes.
Naraeld:
With a look of determination, Sephekpresses the attack. Twice he swings at Naraeld. Twice Naraeldmanages to dodge out of the way just in time. (Note: Sephekgot a nat 20 both times he rolled, but with disadvantage...)
Map!
Greth'g'kareeand Eva
The girl, for Eva and Greth'g'kareecan both see now that it is a girl, likely no older than 15, says, "It wasn't supposed to be like this. We were just gonna come and show Good Mead that they were no better than Dougan's Hole. Nobody said anything about killing or robbing."
Looking up at Eva, she says, shakily, "I'll take you to the rendevous point, but we had better hurry. There's no money to divvy up and a lot of the locals are going to be upset with Zara and Jotann. You're more likely to find a fight than a smuggler's den." Her face has taken on a grim resolve. It strikes the companions as likely she will shed no more tears.
((My choice of action is vindicated, and now have to work out how long I can realistically keep doing this for))
"Hah, come on Sephek, I thought you wanted to kill me? It'll take more than wafting that icicle around." Naraeldmocks the mercenary watching how he responds, hoping to rile his opponent. Setting his stave to the floor nonchalantly he continues to insult his opponent, dismissing Sephek's self-significance. "Your job as errand boy seems to have you out of your depth, I'll wager you don't even have the faintest of clues as to why. You just follow your orders blindly, yet what do you get for your troubles? You don't exactly strike me as a religious zealot hungering for the favour of the Frostmaiden."
Naraeldshifts his stance again, relaxing and inviting Sephekon, ready to again dodge the swings of the icy blade.
Wait, another village is behind this? The people of Good Mead need to know.
Eva turns to Greth: "I doubt I can dissuade you from your course. However, we might be better served by bringing this girl before our comrades."
She returns her attention to the girl, "You still haven't explained Zara's connection toTorrga. However, a better question might be [Eva is kicking herself for not asking previously]: What isZara's connection toShander?" (Eva briefly describes Shander to the girl, careful to distinguish Shander from Torrga, "the surly dwarf with the eyepatch".) "Answer forthright, and I shall make every effort to see that no harm comes to you."
The girl says, "I don't know anything about a Torgra or a Shander. It was Zara and Jotann who recruited us this morning. Times being what they are, jobs are scarce on the ground. We could have used the money they were offering. They said all we had to do was stand there and look tough. They'd do the talking. Probably 15 of us from the Hole and the rest were already with Zara and Jotann. A chance to take Good Mead down a peg and get paid? No wonder it sounded too good to be true."
Naraeld:
"You play a good game, boy," says Sephek, "But I'm older than I look and I have the goddess on my side." He slashes at the half-elf twice more. Naraeldeasily sidesteps the first blow, but realizes too late that it was a feint. The second thrust enters Naraeld between his ribs, perforating his right lung (15 hp of damage). He gasps as blood starts to fill his mouth, trying to stay upright, but slowly collapsing to the floor. The last thing he sees is Sephektaking Elk Running's limp body into his arms and disappearing in a cloud of mist.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
@LTG
As he hits the floor, he tastes the blood in his mouth, the metallic tang washing over his tongue. He reaches for his staff... When had he let it go? Though his eyes see Sephek leave with Elk Running his mind barely registers it as he relives his other deaths over again.
Death Save: 10
(Edit: mistyped the die roll code, rolled 10 on a d10 before)
I show you rolling a 10. Is that what you rolled? If so, one in the positive. I don't really trust the "forum" roller anymore. I've seen too much weird stuff.
The party arrives at Tond's house, finding the front door swinging open, a small bank of snow preventing it from closing. Inside is a small infirmary and a couple of tables and bookshelves. Lying between the beds of the infirmary, his staff lying beside him, is the body of Naraeld. There is a pool of blood beneath him, but as you examine him closely, you realize that he is, just barely, breathing. There is no sign of Sephekor Elk Running.
Sabetha, arriving first, stands within Tond's house, chest heaving from the sprint and visibly shaking with rage. Her scarf somehow even darker than it had been. She kneels beside Naraeld's body, forcing herself to unclench her fists as she attempts to stabilize her unconscious companion.
Medicine: 11 ((barely succeeds in case needed, rolled at advantage assuming help, but higher of 2 low rolls was first anyway.))
Straightening, she stalks frantically around the house, searching for clues, then outside for footprints. Too agitated and frustrated to effectively find where Elk Running and presumably Sephek Kaltro have gone, Sabetha screams long and wordlessly. Not a scream of sorrow. One of hatred.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Running in shortly behind Sabetha. Aubin scowls at the scene before. "I am glad Naraeld still live, but we must find Sephek"He will also look around for any signs of Sephek in the surrounding area
(OOC - I can't speak for your storyline but what I know of the scene at hand there wouldn't be any particular evidence. Of course Naraeld could confirm this... if he wasn't sleeping on the job)
"What is your name, child? I am Eva. Come with me." Eva holds out her hands toward the girl. "Return with me to the Mead Hall and tell the citizens of Good Mead what you have told me."
Blackberry gasps as he sees his friend unconscious on the floor of the building, and hastens to help Sabetha as she administers first aid.
(OOC Sorry with all the spoilers, I've lost track... do we know that Sephek was responsible for Naraeld's wounds?)
Sabetha certainly feels as if she knows, perhaps because she is finished being slow to judge and circumstantial evidence is enough for her. She lays most of her thinking out in post 1042 for Blackberry and Aubin. Combined now with seeing Naraeld stabbed and Elk Running gone.
Sabetha at least is convinced it was all Sephek (attacking Naraeld, carrying off Elk Running) based on:
Elk Running had confided in Sabetha at length about the Frostmaiden invading Elk Running's dreams, marking the eladrin for one of her own, whispering of endless winter and perfect ice sculptures, pristine and terrifying in their beauty
Hlin Trollbane had accused Sephek Kaltro of being a servant of the Frostmaiden in carrying out his murders and who knows what else.
We just found a perfect and pristine ice sculpture of an Elk exactly where Sephek was last seen in Mead Hall. This is exactly why Sabetha made a beeline for Tond's home - to protect Elk Running from being carried off or killed. She did not know Naraeld was there at the time, though.
Elk Running is now gone and Naraeld is lying stabbed on the floor. Sabetha puts two and two together to see that Sephek has carried her off or killed her on behalf of the Frostmaiden. Rightly or wrongly, she is one hundred percent sure of it in her mind.
She assumes the obvious: that Naraeld was present when Sephek arrived at Tond's home and stabbed for being in the way, nothing more.
See post 1042 for where Sabetha speaks to the first three bullet points above to Blackberry and Aubin, back in Mead Hall before taking off.
"My name is Mallifyr. That was my sister, Adella. Please take me with you to kill Zara and Jotann. The folks in Good Mead will kill me and right now I don't blame them, but I'd like to avenge my sister before I enter the next life."
The Hut(t)s:
In their searching of Tond's hut and the surrounding area, Sabethaand Aubinfind no tracks and no other evidence to indicate where Elk Running has disappeared to. You do find two more vials of the herbal remedy that Tond gave you in the Mead Hall. (Blackberry, you are welcome to search as well)
@LtG and Greth'g'karee:
What would they do? What would they do?
Cautiously, Eva moves closer, her eyes fixed on the crouching bandit.
[She moves to within 10 feet of the bandits while making a insight: 13 + 1 (Knowledge from a Past Life lineage trait: https://www.dndbeyond.com/races/706719-lineages#Reborn) to determine if the crouching bandit is giving off sincere, trustworthy vibes.]
Greth'g'karee cocks his head towards the pleading bandit then fires a shot into her leg (the healthy one doing the talking). "Fine. Stay there." He then keeps walking past them.
To Hit: NAT 1... Damage: 11
(( The Dice Gods were displeased with Greth's cold-hearted response! ))
Greth’g’karee and Eva:
When Greth’g’karee pulls back the bowstring to release the arrow, the crouching girl seems to accept her fate, just looking down and sniffling to hold back tears. When the string breaks in his hand, the snap rings out loudly. The girl flinches at the sound. Surprised to find herself alive, she breaks down in sobs and clings to the fallen bandit.
Tamryn - lvl 4 Wood Elf Rogue - Circle of Light Campaign || Drusilla - lvl 1 Half-Elf Ranger - Sleeping Gods || Grrzark - lvl 1 Goblin Barbarian - Danger at Darkshelf Quarry || DM - LTG - Curse of Strahd
@LtG and Greth'g'karee:
"Your sister is beyond help now—beyond life. Beyond suffering. Say the word, and you can join her. Or you can redeem yourself by telling me everything you know about Zara Teargut and her gang: where they are camped, who put them up to this, and Zara’s connection to Torrga Icevein and Sephek Kaltro. If you surrender yourself and this information in good faith, perhaps the people of Good Mead will go easy on you.”
[That's Eva's turn—and some.]
Without a word, Greth begins restringing his bow.
Sabetha, Blackberry, and Aubin:
Based on the directions they have, the party imagines they'll be at Tond's house in 5 minutes.
Naraeld:
With a look of determination, Sephek presses the attack. Twice he swings at Naraeld. Twice Naraeld manages to dodge out of the way just in time. (Note: Sephek got a nat 20 both times he rolled, but with disadvantage...)
Map!
Greth'g'karee and Eva
The girl, for Eva and Greth'g'karee can both see now that it is a girl, likely no older than 15, says, "It wasn't supposed to be like this. We were just gonna come and show Good Mead that they were no better than Dougan's Hole. Nobody said anything about killing or robbing."
Looking up at Eva, she says, shakily, "I'll take you to the rendevous point, but we had better hurry. There's no money to divvy up and a lot of the locals are going to be upset with Zara and Jotann. You're more likely to find a fight than a smuggler's den." Her face has taken on a grim resolve. It strikes the companions as likely she will shed no more tears.
Tamryn - lvl 4 Wood Elf Rogue - Circle of Light Campaign || Drusilla - lvl 1 Half-Elf Ranger - Sleeping Gods || Grrzark - lvl 1 Goblin Barbarian - Danger at Darkshelf Quarry || DM - LTG - Curse of Strahd
@LTG
((My choice of action is vindicated, and now have to work out how long I can realistically keep doing this for))
"Hah, come on Sephek, I thought you wanted to kill me? It'll take more than wafting that icicle around." Naraeld mocks the mercenary watching how he responds, hoping to rile his opponent. Setting his stave to the floor nonchalantly he continues to insult his opponent, dismissing Sephek's self-significance. "Your job as errand boy seems to have you out of your depth, I'll wager you don't even have the faintest of clues as to why. You just follow your orders blindly, yet what do you get for your troubles? You don't exactly strike me as a religious zealot hungering for the favour of the Frostmaiden."
Naraeld shifts his stance again, relaxing and inviting Sephek on, ready to again dodge the swings of the icy blade.
Bring out your inner chatacter class...
@LtG and Greth'g'karee:
Wait, another village is behind this? The people of Good Mead need to know.
Eva turns to Greth: "I doubt I can dissuade you from your course. However, we might be better served by bringing this girl before our comrades."
She returns her attention to the girl, "You still haven't explained Zara's connection to Torrga. However, a better question might be [Eva is kicking herself for not asking previously]: What is Zara's connection to Shander?" (Eva briefly describes Shander to the girl, careful to distinguish Shander from Torrga, "the surly dwarf with the eyepatch".) "Answer forthright, and I shall make every effort to see that no harm comes to you."
Greth'g'karee and Eva:
The girl says, "I don't know anything about a Torgra or a Shander. It was Zara and Jotann who recruited us this morning. Times being what they are, jobs are scarce on the ground. We could have used the money they were offering. They said all we had to do was stand there and look tough. They'd do the talking. Probably 15 of us from the Hole and the rest were already with Zara and Jotann. A chance to take Good Mead down a peg and get paid? No wonder it sounded too good to be true."
Naraeld:
"You play a good game, boy," says Sephek, "But I'm older than I look and I have the goddess on my side." He slashes at the half-elf twice more. Naraeld easily sidesteps the first blow, but realizes too late that it was a feint. The second thrust enters Naraeld between his ribs, perforating his right lung (15 hp of damage). He gasps as blood starts to fill his mouth, trying to stay upright, but slowly collapsing to the floor. The last thing he sees is Sephek taking Elk Running's limp body into his arms and disappearing in a cloud of mist.
(OOC: please make a single death save)
Sabetha, Blackberry, and Aubin:
Tamryn - lvl 4 Wood Elf Rogue - Circle of Light Campaign || Drusilla - lvl 1 Half-Elf Ranger - Sleeping Gods || Grrzark - lvl 1 Goblin Barbarian - Danger at Darkshelf Quarry || DM - LTG - Curse of Strahd
@LTG
As he hits the floor, he tastes the blood in his mouth, the metallic tang washing over his tongue. He reaches for his staff... When had he let it go? Though his eyes see Sephek leave with Elk Running his mind barely registers it as he relives his other deaths over again.
Death Save: 10
(Edit: mistyped the die roll code, rolled 10 on a d10 before)
Bring out your inner chatacter class...
Naraeld:
I show you rolling a 10. Is that what you rolled? If so, one in the positive. I don't really trust the "forum" roller anymore. I've seen too much weird stuff.
Tamryn - lvl 4 Wood Elf Rogue - Circle of Light Campaign || Drusilla - lvl 1 Half-Elf Ranger - Sleeping Gods || Grrzark - lvl 1 Goblin Barbarian - Danger at Darkshelf Quarry || DM - LTG - Curse of Strahd
Sabetha, Blackberry, and Aubin:
The party arrives at Tond's house, finding the front door swinging open, a small bank of snow preventing it from closing. Inside is a small infirmary and a couple of tables and bookshelves. Lying between the beds of the infirmary, his staff lying beside him, is the body of Naraeld. There is a pool of blood beneath him, but as you examine him closely, you realize that he is, just barely, breathing. There is no sign of Sephek or Elk Running.
Tamryn - lvl 4 Wood Elf Rogue - Circle of Light Campaign || Drusilla - lvl 1 Half-Elf Ranger - Sleeping Gods || Grrzark - lvl 1 Goblin Barbarian - Danger at Darkshelf Quarry || DM - LTG - Curse of Strahd
Sabetha's actions (for DM, Blackberry and Aubin):
Sabetha, arriving first, stands within Tond's house, chest heaving from the sprint and visibly shaking with rage. Her scarf somehow even darker than it had been. She kneels beside Naraeld's body, forcing herself to unclench her fists as she attempts to stabilize her unconscious companion.
Medicine: 11 ((barely succeeds in case needed, rolled at advantage assuming help, but higher of 2 low rolls was first anyway.))
Straightening, she stalks frantically around the house, searching for clues, then outside for footprints. Too agitated and frustrated to effectively find where Elk Running and presumably Sephek Kaltro have gone, Sabetha screams long and wordlessly. Not a scream of sorrow. One of hatred.
Perception: 9
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
Running in shortly behind Sabetha. Aubin scowls at the scene before. "I am glad Naraeld still live, but we must find Sephek" He will also look around for any signs of Sephek in the surrounding area
Perception Check
21
Blackberry gasps as he sees his friend unconscious on the floor of the building, and hastens to help Sabetha as she administers first aid.
(OOC Sorry with all the spoilers, I've lost track... do we know that Sephek was responsible for Naraeld's wounds?)
(OOC - I can't speak for your storyline but what I know of the scene at hand there wouldn't be any particular evidence. Of course Naraeld could confirm this... if he wasn't sleeping on the job)
Bring out your inner chatacter class...
LtG and Greth'g'karee:
"What is your name, child? I am Eva. Come with me." Eva holds out her hands toward the girl. "Return with me to the Mead Hall and tell the citizens of Good Mead what you have told me."
Wisdom (Persuasion) check: 5
Sabetha certainly feels as if she knows, perhaps because she is finished being slow to judge and circumstantial evidence is enough for her. She lays most of her thinking out in post 1042 for Blackberry and Aubin. Combined now with seeing Naraeld stabbed and Elk Running gone.
Sabetha at least is convinced it was all Sephek (attacking Naraeld, carrying off Elk Running) based on:
See post 1042 for where Sabetha speaks to the first three bullet points above to Blackberry and Aubin, back in Mead Hall before taking off.
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
(OK, thanks for walking me through that, that seems like it would be convincing to Blackberry, at least as an initial working hypothesis).
Eva and Greth'g'karee:
"My name is Mallifyr. That was my sister, Adella. Please take me with you to kill Zara and Jotann. The folks in Good Mead will kill me and right now I don't blame them, but I'd like to avenge my sister before I enter the next life."
The Hut(t)s:
In their searching of Tond's hut and the surrounding area, Sabetha and Aubin find no tracks and no other evidence to indicate where Elk Running has disappeared to. You do find two more vials of the herbal remedy that Tond gave you in the Mead Hall. (Blackberry, you are welcome to search as well)
Tamryn - lvl 4 Wood Elf Rogue - Circle of Light Campaign || Drusilla - lvl 1 Half-Elf Ranger - Sleeping Gods || Grrzark - lvl 1 Goblin Barbarian - Danger at Darkshelf Quarry || DM - LTG - Curse of Strahd