Valeria listens attentively to Iravon's thoughts and suggestions, pondring them for a while before standing up at the end of the table speaking. "I feel we need to gather more information about this Red Hand. We are not an army, merely a task force and we will find it hard to defend or even help Drellin's Ferry should it come under attack. If we move swiftly towards the keep we should run into forces of the Red Hand fairly soon. We will be ready and defeat them swiftly. We will interrogate any officers we find for more information about the leadership of the Red Hand and their plans for Elsir vale. We will move with intent to take Vraath Keep but will be ready to adjust our plans as we run into opposition. Remember, we are not here only to reclaim Vraath Keep but to bring peace and prosperity to this vale and it's people. The Red Hand could spell doom over all the peaceful settlements in the vale, and it is our duty to protect them. We are only the four of us, but our few numbers we make up with loyalty, inspiration and bravery." She says, looking in turn at Kiersa, Mae and Iravon. "We will be the beacon of hope the vale direly needs. We ride forth now towards Vraath Keep and may Selûne guide our way." She says, grabbing her gear and turning dramatically for the front door, ready to travel.
Mae gave Valeria a gentle smile as spoke, finishing up her breakfast and standing up, pulling her cloak around her once more. She gave Kiersa a short nod, "She certainly has a way with words too, doesn't she? Maybe some of those suitors should learn from her. Off we go then it seems!" Mae bade the owner farewell for now and made her way outside to the others and the horses. "Lovely morning! A good day to find this keep of yours Valeria!" She hopped up on her horse and got ready to go.
(Replying to Iravon earlier - outside with the horses.)
"Good to see the horses well tended to." She glances around, though she realizes any danger Iravon speaks of would likely not be visible here. "Yes, if there is trouble about best we not just sit here then! Shall we head inside to get some food then get going?"
As Mae speaks to her, Kiersa replies, "Oh yea, she always has a way with words. And with people." Her gaze lingers on Valeria for a moment after she speaks, but then turns back to Mae. "Not sure how much she would teach any suitors though. She's persuasive but always completely professional."
Then, trying to not fall behind, she quickly hurries out, helping Valeria get her horse readied before mounting her own.
Stepping out of the inn and setting off once more, Kellin waves a farewell to you from the doorway as the early morning's light wipes away a small sheen of frost on the ground. Fall, it seems, would be short this year.
As you head west, you come to the town's ferryboat, conveniently already drawn to your side as word of your plans must have spread. The Ferryman nods stoically to you all and refuses payment, gruffly thanking you for your work in clearing some of the goblins from the countryside and wishing you well by the gods, new and old. Refusing to elaborate further, he sees you off with a faroff glance towards the horizon, where the tall trees of the witchwood yawn and cast shadows in the morning light.
It is an old forest, overgrown but with clear inroads made by the hands of honest workmen and civilization. Several winding paths cut through trees of such a dark, green shade as to be thought black at a distance, or in shadow. It would be easy to hide in such woods, even for those unskilled in woodcraft. Following Norro's directons, taking an ill-seeming but sturdy woodsman's road marked as the Witch Trail, you take your first right at what looks like a major crossing.
The trail leads you to a wide forest glade where a ramshackle cabin sags in the midst of a somewhat kept garden. Nearby a skiff swims in a small channel leading into a dark grey bayou that stretches into the middle distance. The boat is moored to a stump, with various items of fishing gear strewn all across the bow and the front porch of the cabin itself. The party is about 100 ft south of the cabin. Whoever is on point, make a perception check!
"Indeed Maevla." Valeria responds with a firm nod and a quick smile, then mounting her chestnut steed as Kiersa holds the reins, giving Kellin another firm nod as he waves farewell from the doorway. She rides forth through Drellin's Ferry, trying to project an aura of confidence and hope as she passes the townsfolk on her way west. During their ride she is silent, watching her surroundings, trying to take in the lay of the land, the land she will protect. As they enter Witchwood on the woodsman's road, Valeria motions for Iravon to take point, doubly wary of hobgoblin ambushes now.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
He watches the bushes to either side of the road, behind trees, large rocks; anything which could hide a person. He knows how his kind think, the ways they would hide, and move between hiding places.
His expertise is really in closer, more detailed investigation, searching for signs of treasonous behaviour, heretical thought, but he was still a Hobgoblin, and that meant something.
Approaching the cabin in the clearing, Iravon holds out his hand, pausing the others. He trains his senses to any movement, scent or sound. They had been sent here by the town authorities, but that didn't mean it wasn't a trap. And it was entirely possible Red Hand forces had gotten here first.
Perception: 9
(Passive Perception is 17, if that helps any? I'm never sure of when Passive is more appropriate than a check.)
Mae took up the rear of the group, following them albeit rather quietly that morning. She did not gaze about as much as she might have normally, keeping her cloak wrapped tight against the encroaching cold which she felt only deepened the further into the forest they went. Her mind was drifting here and there as they made their way through the woods, and almost didn't catch Iravon's signal to stop until she had nearly run into the others with her horse. Her hand instinctively went towards the instruments at her side and back but stayed her hand enough to keep them quiet.
Kiersa rides towards the back, but keeping her eyes focused on their surroundings. She does however give several glances back towards Mae, concerned at the bard's quietness. She's about to reign back her horse some to come alongside when Iravon noticed something.
Iravon spots a few shapes lying in the shadows beneath the stairs leading up to the Cabin's door - at first looking like rough bundles, you identify them from afar as a small pack of hounds with mottled fur. Valeria spots them a moment later.
As she notices the small pack of hounds Valeria ascends from her steed, carried swiftly by her winged boots towards the cabin, motioning for Iravon and the others to stay back should the hounds be aggressíve and attack any trespassers, calling upon the guidance of her goddess before she speaks. "Greetings Jorr, I am Valeria Moonstar of Waterdeep, I am here with my companions to seek Vraath Keep. Mayor Norro Wiston of Drellin's Ferry recommended we would beseech you for help with guiding us there." She calls out as she gets closer to the cabin, hovering above and in front of the cabin's door.
Persuasion if needed: 12 + Guidance: 2 Perception to notice threats: 11
Once Mae realized there were animals nearby she would brush her bandalore and then call out softly to them (casting Speak with Animals). "Little pets? We are not here to hurt you! Can you talk to me?" She would move off to the side slightly and attempt to get the hound's attention, pulling back her hood and smiling at them, getting lower to the ground, but keeping one hand on her instrument as well, ready to get defensive if things didn't go as planned.
The moment Valeria approaches, the hounds go nuts. A wailing chorus rips the peaceful morning apart as six thick-furred gray hounds bound towards you, circling and barking at you viciously. Valeria, as you approach the cabin (pursued by 2 of the hounds) a crossbow bolt goes whizzing by you, within about 6 feet.
Your greeting is cut off by a hoarse voice from within the cabin. "DON'T Y'COME A LICK CLOSER IF'N YA VALUE YER SKINS INTACT!"
Pushing through, and invoking the mayor, the cabin goes quiet for a bit, after which a low whistle reaches your ears. In seconds, the dogs go calm, watchful but happy, and two of them approach Mae with some friendly tail-wagging. In response to her inquiry, the dogs low growls and sputters take on a semblance of language you could understand. The repeated phrase seems to be "stranger, stranger, stranger; defend defend defend; master master master" with various intervals and repetitions. You do catch another word in their "conversation," such as it is, when one of the dogs sniffs your hand before dancing back, and you clearly discern the world "Guldo?" before the dog bounds off towards its fellows, already returning to the porch.
Slowly, the door to the cabin opens and stringy human aged about fifty exits, holding a heavy crossbow with a bolt loaded and aimed somewhere between Valeria in the air above and the rest of the party. His clothing bears signs of rough use and many patches, and beneath a tight-fitting cap his head is bandaged on one side and over his left eye.
Kiersa slips from her horse and steps over to be near Mae's horse as well. She watches as the bard seems to be talking to the hounds, and smiles when the two with wagging tails approaches her. Feeling a tiny bit more at ease, she turns her attention to the human that has emerged.
Before he could stop her, Valeria had approached the hounds. Foolish! What if they were trained to attack on sight! Or they were wild dogs making their home in this cabin having killed the previous owner?
As things played out, they were extremely lucky, Iravon thought. The mayor's name seemed to mollify the woodsman, and he had a good grasp on the dogs' behaviour. But that crossbow still wavered...
"Yes," called Iravon in answer. "Lower your weapon. We were told you could assist us."
Valeria keeps her calm as the crossbow bolt whizzes past her. Some mistrust from the locals during times like these were to be expected after all, and the old woodsman had obviously been in a fight recently, likely with hobgoblins of the Red Hand. She quickly glances over as two of the hounds approach Mae with friendly tail-wagging, eliciting a quick smile from her lips before returning her attention to the woodsman. "Yes, we just came from Drellin's Ferry. We're here to find Vraath Keep, but also to protect the vale from the hobgoblins of the Red Hand. You seem to have faced them bravely already?" She says, with a slight bow of respect, still hovering in the air above and in front of the man. "Will you help us find Vraath Keep?"
Mae watches the dogs run back to the house with a curious gaze and then began to message the others (casting Message to each of them in turn) and asking if "Guldo" means anything to them. She does this as quickly and discreetly as possible, before turning her attention once more to the man with the weapon, standing back up and pulling her cloak back over her form some more.
"Lower your weapon. We were told you could assist us."
"Don't 'ell me whatt'ado, gobbo." Jorr snaps, flashing a smile that is missing quite a few teeth. "Those towner's mightta missed ye fer whatcha're, but I've kilt too many'a'ye to miss the signs. Ya don't lose an eye without seeing some things." Despite his aggressive tone, his crossbow lowers further, and his grin widens. Clearly, he thinks that a party of adventurers, such as you, would pick their company carefully, giving you a pass despite his clear conflict with other goblinoids.
Turning his eye up to Valeria, he nods somberly. "Aye, and bloody its been n'these woods. Yer' lookin for Vraath Keep? Take my advice - leave it to rot. They've been runnin' in an' around it for months now, not that the towners'ould care about that."
"Good, we are looking for the Red Hand. We need more intelligence about their organization to deal with them properly." Valeria says confidently. "We will go there with or without you Jorr, but we would appreciate your assistance with finding it, and by helping us you would help yourself, and the people of the vale, as I will not rest until the Red Hand is no more a threat to your people."
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Valeria listens attentively to Iravon's thoughts and suggestions, pondring them for a while before standing up at the end of the table speaking. "I feel we need to gather more information about this Red Hand. We are not an army, merely a task force and we will find it hard to defend or even help Drellin's Ferry should it come under attack. If we move swiftly towards the keep we should run into forces of the Red Hand fairly soon. We will be ready and defeat them swiftly. We will interrogate any officers we find for more information about the leadership of the Red Hand and their plans for Elsir vale. We will move with intent to take Vraath Keep but will be ready to adjust our plans as we run into opposition. Remember, we are not here only to reclaim Vraath Keep but to bring peace and prosperity to this vale and it's people. The Red Hand could spell doom over all the peaceful settlements in the vale, and it is our duty to protect them. We are only the four of us, but our few numbers we make up with loyalty, inspiration and bravery." She says, looking in turn at Kiersa, Mae and Iravon. "We will be the beacon of hope the vale direly needs. We ride forth now towards Vraath Keep and may Selûne guide our way." She says, grabbing her gear and turning dramatically for the front door, ready to travel.
(Inspiring Leader +9 temp HP to everyone :-)
Mae gave Valeria a gentle smile as spoke, finishing up her breakfast and standing up, pulling her cloak around her once more. She gave Kiersa a short nod, "She certainly has a way with words too, doesn't she? Maybe some of those suitors should learn from her. Off we go then it seems!" Mae bade the owner farewell for now and made her way outside to the others and the horses. "Lovely morning! A good day to find this keep of yours Valeria!" She hopped up on her horse and got ready to go.
(Replying to Iravon earlier - outside with the horses.)
"Good to see the horses well tended to." She glances around, though she realizes any danger Iravon speaks of would likely not be visible here. "Yes, if there is trouble about best we not just sit here then! Shall we head inside to get some food then get going?"
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
As Mae speaks to her, Kiersa replies, "Oh yea, she always has a way with words. And with people." Her gaze lingers on Valeria for a moment after she speaks, but then turns back to Mae. "Not sure how much she would teach any suitors though. She's persuasive but always completely professional."
Then, trying to not fall behind, she quickly hurries out, helping Valeria get her horse readied before mounting her own.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Stepping out of the inn and setting off once more, Kellin waves a farewell to you from the doorway as the early morning's light wipes away a small sheen of frost on the ground. Fall, it seems, would be short this year.
As you head west, you come to the town's ferryboat, conveniently already drawn to your side as word of your plans must have spread. The Ferryman nods stoically to you all and refuses payment, gruffly thanking you for your work in clearing some of the goblins from the countryside and wishing you well by the gods, new and old. Refusing to elaborate further, he sees you off with a faroff glance towards the horizon, where the tall trees of the witchwood yawn and cast shadows in the morning light.
It is an old forest, overgrown but with clear inroads made by the hands of honest workmen and civilization. Several winding paths cut through trees of such a dark, green shade as to be thought black at a distance, or in shadow. It would be easy to hide in such woods, even for those unskilled in woodcraft. Following Norro's directons, taking an ill-seeming but sturdy woodsman's road marked as the Witch Trail, you take your first right at what looks like a major crossing.
The trail leads you to a wide forest glade where a ramshackle cabin sags in the midst of a somewhat kept garden. Nearby a skiff swims in a small channel leading into a dark grey bayou that stretches into the middle distance. The boat is moored to a stump, with various items of fishing gear strewn all across the bow and the front porch of the cabin itself. The party is about 100 ft south of the cabin. Whoever is on point, make a perception check!
"Indeed Maevla." Valeria responds with a firm nod and a quick smile, then mounting her chestnut steed as Kiersa holds the reins, giving Kellin another firm nod as he waves farewell from the doorway. She rides forth through Drellin's Ferry, trying to project an aura of confidence and hope as she passes the townsfolk on her way west. During their ride she is silent, watching her surroundings, trying to take in the lay of the land, the land she will protect. As they enter Witchwood on the woodsman's road, Valeria motions for Iravon to take point, doubly wary of hobgoblin ambushes now.
(I think it is likely Iravon that's on point :-)
He watches the bushes to either side of the road, behind trees, large rocks; anything which could hide a person. He knows how his kind think, the ways they would hide, and move between hiding places.
His expertise is really in closer, more detailed investigation, searching for signs of treasonous behaviour, heretical thought, but he was still a Hobgoblin, and that meant something.
Approaching the cabin in the clearing, Iravon holds out his hand, pausing the others. He trains his senses to any movement, scent or sound. They had been sent here by the town authorities, but that didn't mean it wasn't a trap. And it was entirely possible Red Hand forces had gotten here first.
Perception: 9
(Passive Perception is 17, if that helps any? I'm never sure of when Passive is more appropriate than a check.)
DM - Storm King's Thunder
DM - Torosevia (WIP homebrew world)
Kelytha Meliamne - Matti Silverstorm - Silver - Star-Setting-In-The-East - Tor Baltos
Mae took up the rear of the group, following them albeit rather quietly that morning. She did not gaze about as much as she might have normally, keeping her cloak wrapped tight against the encroaching cold which she felt only deepened the further into the forest they went. Her mind was drifting here and there as they made their way through the woods, and almost didn't catch Iravon's signal to stop until she had nearly run into the others with her horse. Her hand instinctively went towards the instruments at her side and back but stayed her hand enough to keep them quiet.
Kiersa rides towards the back, but keeping her eyes focused on their surroundings. She does however give several glances back towards Mae, concerned at the bard's quietness. She's about to reign back her horse some to come alongside when Iravon noticed something.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
At Iravon's signal Valeria pulls the reins to halt her steed, staying quiet and listening for sounds.
Perception: 16
Iravon spots a few shapes lying in the shadows beneath the stairs leading up to the Cabin's door - at first looking like rough bundles, you identify them from afar as a small pack of hounds with mottled fur. Valeria spots them a moment later.
What do you do?
As she notices the small pack of hounds Valeria ascends from her steed, carried swiftly by her winged boots towards the cabin, motioning for Iravon and the others to stay back should the hounds be aggressíve and attack any trespassers, calling upon the guidance of her goddess before she speaks. "Greetings Jorr, I am Valeria Moonstar of Waterdeep, I am here with my companions to seek Vraath Keep. Mayor Norro Wiston of Drellin's Ferry recommended we would beseech you for help with guiding us there." She calls out as she gets closer to the cabin, hovering above and in front of the cabin's door.
Persuasion if needed: 12 + Guidance: 2
Perception to notice threats: 11
Once Mae realized there were animals nearby she would brush her bandalore and then call out softly to them (casting Speak with Animals). "Little pets? We are not here to hurt you! Can you talk to me?" She would move off to the side slightly and attempt to get the hound's attention, pulling back her hood and smiling at them, getting lower to the ground, but keeping one hand on her instrument as well, ready to get defensive if things didn't go as planned.
The moment Valeria approaches, the hounds go nuts. A wailing chorus rips the peaceful morning apart as six thick-furred gray hounds bound towards you, circling and barking at you viciously. Valeria, as you approach the cabin (pursued by 2 of the hounds) a crossbow bolt goes whizzing by you, within about 6 feet.
Your greeting is cut off by a hoarse voice from within the cabin. "DON'T Y'COME A LICK CLOSER IF'N YA VALUE YER SKINS INTACT!"
Pushing through, and invoking the mayor, the cabin goes quiet for a bit, after which a low whistle reaches your ears. In seconds, the dogs go calm, watchful but happy, and two of them approach Mae with some friendly tail-wagging. In response to her inquiry, the dogs low growls and sputters take on a semblance of language you could understand. The repeated phrase seems to be "stranger, stranger, stranger; defend defend defend; master master master" with various intervals and repetitions. You do catch another word in their "conversation," such as it is, when one of the dogs sniffs your hand before dancing back, and you clearly discern the world "Guldo?" before the dog bounds off towards its fellows, already returning to the porch.
Slowly, the door to the cabin opens and stringy human aged about fifty exits, holding a heavy crossbow with a bolt loaded and aimed somewhere between Valeria in the air above and the rest of the party. His clothing bears signs of rough use and many patches, and beneath a tight-fitting cap his head is bandaged on one side and over his left eye.
"Ye came 'ere from the Ferry, 'en?"
Kiersa slips from her horse and steps over to be near Mae's horse as well. She watches as the bard seems to be talking to the hounds, and smiles when the two with wagging tails approaches her. Feeling a tiny bit more at ease, she turns her attention to the human that has emerged.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Before he could stop her, Valeria had approached the hounds. Foolish! What if they were trained to attack on sight! Or they were wild dogs making their home in this cabin having killed the previous owner?
As things played out, they were extremely lucky, Iravon thought. The mayor's name seemed to mollify the woodsman, and he had a good grasp on the dogs' behaviour. But that crossbow still wavered...
"Yes," called Iravon in answer. "Lower your weapon. We were told you could assist us."
DM - Storm King's Thunder
DM - Torosevia (WIP homebrew world)
Kelytha Meliamne - Matti Silverstorm - Silver - Star-Setting-In-The-East - Tor Baltos
Valeria keeps her calm as the crossbow bolt whizzes past her. Some mistrust from the locals during times like these were to be expected after all, and the old woodsman had obviously been in a fight recently, likely with hobgoblins of the Red Hand. She quickly glances over as two of the hounds approach Mae with friendly tail-wagging, eliciting a quick smile from her lips before returning her attention to the woodsman. "Yes, we just came from Drellin's Ferry. We're here to find Vraath Keep, but also to protect the vale from the hobgoblins of the Red Hand. You seem to have faced them bravely already?" She says, with a slight bow of respect, still hovering in the air above and in front of the man. "Will you help us find Vraath Keep?"
Mae watches the dogs run back to the house with a curious gaze and then began to message the others (casting Message to each of them in turn) and asking if "Guldo" means anything to them. She does this as quickly and discreetly as possible, before turning her attention once more to the man with the weapon, standing back up and pulling her cloak back over her form some more.
"Don't 'ell me whatt'ado, gobbo." Jorr snaps, flashing a smile that is missing quite a few teeth. "Those towner's mightta missed ye fer whatcha're, but I've kilt too many'a'ye to miss the signs. Ya don't lose an eye without seeing some things." Despite his aggressive tone, his crossbow lowers further, and his grin widens. Clearly, he thinks that a party of adventurers, such as you, would pick their company carefully, giving you a pass despite his clear conflict with other goblinoids.
Turning his eye up to Valeria, he nods somberly. "Aye, and bloody its been n'these woods. Yer' lookin for Vraath Keep? Take my advice - leave it to rot. They've been runnin' in an' around it for months now, not that the towners'ould care about that."
"Good, we are looking for the Red Hand. We need more intelligence about their organization to deal with them properly." Valeria says confidently. "We will go there with or without you Jorr, but we would appreciate your assistance with finding it, and by helping us you would help yourself, and the people of the vale, as I will not rest until the Red Hand is no more a threat to your people."