(Moving the story along for both characters; add to the following as you see fit)
The two of you spend the next hour or so retelling the stories of being ambushed on your way to Talisten. The similarity between the two incidents is obvious, and since the incidents, neither of you have seen or heard anything to suggest that the presence of undead is known to the general population. Both of you have crossed paths with hundreds of Syndarans, but not one word has been spoken about any sort of mishaps, attacks, or trouble.
Keeping Ninlil's watchful eyes above and ahead as you go, you continue toward the festival in Talisten, passing through Yarnfeld late in the night. Your arrival there is well after most folks have snuffed out their candles; so, there isn't much fanfare when you enter the village. You take in a light meal and something to drink before resting for the night in a complimentary room in the old but tidy inn.
Several villagers see you on your way in the morning, but eventually you and Ash find yourselves alone on the road that follows the Silverthread River for many miles. After a long, uneventful day in the saddle, you pass through the South Gate and into Talisten. The capital city is abuzz with activity, and every tavern and inn is filled with the voices singing, laughing, and talking. Tomorrow is Harvest Day, the eve before the Festival takes full flight, and you can sense the celebratory atmosphere in the streets.
You arrive at the Dwarven Stout--the customary meeting place for all four Defenders--and the halfling stable boy quickly takes care of Ash as you make your way inside. Kempis the Ironfisted nods and welcomes you simply, "Good to see you, Karuk. Speak the word and we'll have food and drink for you. Rowan and Mulligan are here, in their usual rooms. No sign of Rovenna, however. I suppose she'll arrive before sunrise."
The remaining stretch of the road to Yarnfeld was fortunately uneventful and his arrival in the town was a discreet affair. At least one good thing from the ambush, Karuk could not help but think. He was shy and never felt comfortable with the attention of the title. At the inn, he asked for the best food and treatment his horse could receive but took a light meal to himself. For a moment the wizard considered telling the locals of his meet with the undead, but the creatures were targeting him. There was little chance more of them prowled the area so any comment would only sour the festive mood.
With no doubt the locals would spread that the half-orc defender treated his mount better than himself, he left for the capital. The quiet journey gave him time to think. Time and again revising the battle on his mind. I should have polymorphed Ash when he was hit by the arrow. I should have used Arcane Recovery before riding to Yarnfeld. From the South Gate he could feel the smell of dust, sweat, perfumes and spices – the scent of the festival.
“It’s good to see you too, Kempis.” He started approaching the dwarf. “Thank you for the kindness and I do have words to say, but not for food. I’ll find Mulligan. May I bother you to ask Rowan to join us?”
"It cannot be coincidence," Mulligan says with a bit of vehemence once the three have gotten together and shared stories. "And where is Rovenna? With these three attacks we must assume they were as well... which makes their not being here yet a bad sign. We should ride out to her at once.."
Mulligan is already standing and checking his gear as he says this. If Rovenna has not yet been attacked he is sure she will be. It sounds like none of them had much trouble with the undead but in any fight all it takes is a bit of bad luck to change the tide...
Rowan looks around. "For all our combined power, we really lack in the long distance communication department. Or at least scrying. I'm sure she is on her way, we all arrive at different times, but I will still go and check." and he goes over to a window, extinguishes any flames as necessary to be in dim light, grabs a hold of his cloak and turns into a bat. He then flies to the gate that Rovenna should be entering from, and waits for a short time, making sure to return to the room before an hour is up and the polymorph wears out.
(Do we know what route Rovenna would take to get here? It sounds like we each take pretty standard treks in for the festival...)
"We should do more than just wait here. Though none of us had real trouble that's no promise she won't," Mulligan argues. "We should find her on the road... Just in case."
Mulligan paces impatiently while Rowan is gone and is quick to ask "Any sign of our missing traveller?" Assuming the negative he suggests that they should head out immediately to try to find her. "She could just be the last to arrive... Or she could be ambushed while we sit here and do nothing."
(If Mulligan knows her route, or can guess at it, he would suggest he teleport them all to the last town on that route that he can teleport to. If they haven't seen her there than the one before that. "I have three jumps before I can do more again at down. I think we should use them to find her trail...")
As he feared, his fellow defenders had been attacked. Distinct moments and by distinct arrays of enemies. The mastermind, Karuk concluded, had the necessary resources to adapt his forces. That made Rovenna’s delay all the more worrisome. Maybe she was attacked after them, by a greater number of undead and far more powerful than those who ambushed the trio. It was not impossible she was felled in combat.
“As we wait for his return, let me give you this.” The half-orc mentioned removing a gold ring from his left hand. “I stored a Wall of Force in it. Using it to create a spherical structure around an enemy can not only limit a troublesome opponent but ensure its exposition to an area of effect of a spell and I have recently mastered Sickening Radiance. I’m counting on you to follow the Radiance with a Wall.” A combination the wizard hoped to be enough for defeating the most troublesome adversaries. “Now I’ll talk to Kempis about preparing your horses and getting me another one. Mine just arrived and is unlikely to be rested enough for an urgent journey. Besides, someone will have to contact the organization of the festival in case we are absent treating of urgent matters.”
And so Karuk left the room and talked with the dwarf, taking the opportunity to drink some water. He returned to the room as soon as he could, waiting with stoic patience.
Notes: Karuk hands his Ring of Spell storing to Mulligan the asks Kempis to ready Mulligan's and Rowan's horse. He also asks the dwarf if it would possible to prepare a third horse for him to use while Ash rests. Karuk explain the three of them may have to deal with a situation, drinks some water and returns to the room, waiting for Rowan return. He offers no resistance if the group goes through the whole teleporting action.
Mulligan accepts the ring and holds it up to eye level to evaluate it. "Very nice. Very powerful..." he says with consideration. "Are you sure it is best to give to me though? Trapping a foe inside such a thing would indeed settle most arguments but... A particularly quick and powerful foe could potentially escape between the time it would take me to use the ring and then cast another spell. If you are insistent on not wearing it yourself then perhaps Rowan would be better suited. It could be a good one-two combination to practice where perhaps I could be forming a Wall of Force even has he uses the ring?"
Mulligan isn't outright refusing the ring but rather thinking of how best to maximize it's potential...
"Have him steal a horse if he must, this is Guardian business and I am sure we can compensate anyone put out if need be," Mulligan says with a smirk to make it seem more of a jest than it actually is.
The three of you waste no words or time in making everyone aware of what has transpired on your respective journeys to Talisten. Rovenna's well-being becomes a top priority.
Rowan takes to the skies as a bat and flies straightaway to the harbor, which, unsurprisingly, is bustling with the movement of small boats and their crews who have come from neighboring lands to be part of the Festival. Despite the number of people, he knows he'll be able to recognize the keelboat Rovenna uses for this particular journey; additionally, he's familiar with Pike, the halfling sailor who captains the vessel. Making increasingly wider circles as he flies around the harbor, Rowan eventually reaches a distance that puts him a mile or so from the city. Unfortunately, he sees no indication of the fourth Defender and returns to the Dwarven Stout to inform the others.
Meanwhile, Kempis acknowledges that providing Karuk with a fresh horse is an easy matter, but Karuk can sense the old dwarf becomes quite curious about the possibility of a "situation." The dwarf resists the urge to inquire further.
Mulligan paces impatiently about the room, finding it difficult to wait for Rowan's return. A ruckus on the ledge outside the window suddenly distracts him. An owl, insistent and determined, repeatedly hammers the glass with its beak. That it wants to enter the room is obvious. It momentarily stops beating against the glass, opens its beak and allows a humanoid voice to escape it. Mulligan cannot make out what it is saying, however. The glass is dampening the sound of the voice...
(I thought we had all grouped into one room to talk... But whatever.)
"Didn't he leave as a bat?" Mulligan asks... Well, himself since he is currently the only one of the trio here. Moving to the window Mulligan quickly opens it to allow the owl entry, if that is indeed it's intention. Mulligan keeps himself ready to react, for he is pretty sure Rowan exited as a bat, but he's not too worried about the owl - Enemies rarely knock.
The owl steps through the open window and hops onto the back of a chair. With its eyes riveted to Mulligan, it once again opens its mouth to allow the message it carries to be heard:
An unknown evil is afoot, Defenders. The ruins upon Grimshard* methinks. I will watch and wait.
The voice is unmistakeable; it is that of Oda Waywocket, the gnome wizard who once wielded a fragment of Aeris. One of the few former Defenders who remains alive and in Syndaris, Oda lives in Ansora (a town on the northeast peninsula of Syndaris). As the owl finishes speaking, Karuk returns from his visit with Kempis; so too does Rowanfrom his surveillance of the harbor area.
* Tiny island off the northeast coast, it is uninhabited and home to the ruins of an ancient druidic temple.
"Oda? You seeing through the owl or just send them as a warning?" Mulligan asks the feathered guest, feeling a bit self conscious. As he waits for an answer he waves in Karuk and Rowan and makes sure they heard what he heard.
If the owl is a familiar that Oda can indead communicate through then Mulligan will follow up asking if they know what kind of evil and what makes her think it is afoot. He won't bring up undead until he has gotten what answers he can, not wanting to influence what Oda may or may not have to provide. And then, at the end, he would ask about Rovenna and if Oda by chance has heard anything from her or the Isle of Woe...
If the owl cannot be a conduit for two way communication then all that is moot and Mulligan looks to the others with a shrug. "And what do we investigate first? The whereabouts of our fellow Guardian or the vague dire chirping of an owl? Not that I doubt Oda sent the message but I must admit I am even more hesitant to leave Rovenna on her own since we have even more reason to believe she is endangered now."
Before he could have answered about Rowan’s transformation the owl started to speak. Karuk immediately recognized the animal’s behavior as a result of Animal Messenger, thought he would have liked to see Mulligan’s question answered positively by their old acquaintance. That can’t be a coincidence, thought the wizard. An unknown enemy moving by ruins as each of them was attacked, Rovenna not arriving…
“What if both things are one and the same. I mean, Oda wouldn’t have called upon us if she could have things sorted by herself and the term ‘evil’ suggests to me corrupting forces. The kind that deals in necromancy.” The of the island also sounded like an omen, but that was a thought he left unsaid. “Rovenna may be investigating it already or, in the worst case, she may be prisoner there.”
He had to agree with Mulligan, they needed to improve on the long-distance communication department.
“Regarding the ring, I am not opposed to your suggestion. If the Wall and the Radiance are well timed, I don’t think an enemy can escape the combo with speed alone, but the wall won’t prevent it from teleporting.” Maybe they should coordinate a third spell, something to cut visibility. “Either way, what you guys think? I say starting the search on the island is reasonably promising.”
"The worst case is Rovenna was ambushed like we were but not as successful in defending herself," Mulligan corrects. "Still, she IS a Guardian and we should trust that she can take care of herself. And Grimshard is near enough the Isle of Woe that investigating one may end up revealing the answer to both... Let us ready ourselves and I shall teleport us as near to Grimshard as I can."
(The goal would be to teleport all three of us and our mounts, in case they be needed. Onto Grimshard itself, if possible, or Mulligan's closest familiar point nearby.)
"I can create a wall myself without the ring so if that is the purpose of sharing it then it would be best shared with Rowan, I think. At least for now..."
The owl proves to be merely an animal messenger; so, communication with Oda is impossible.
NOTE: Grimshard, as a teleportation destination, would fall into the category of "very familiar" as explained in the rule for the teleport spell. So, the likelihood of a mishap is small.
Once the trio of Guardians is back together and have their horses ready then Mulligan concentrates a moment before telling the others to follow him closely and urging his horse into a trot. In not more than a dozen footsteps, between blinks of an eye, the scenery changes... The trio (and horses) are teleported to Grimshard. Or... At least hopefully close.
Teleportation Roll: 37 - On Target!
"Now let's see if we can find what Oda aimed to warn us about... And if it is connected to Rovenna's tardiness or not."
Before heading off, Rowan would inform Kempis, so if she is merely on her way and arrives early morning, he can inform her of Oda's message and our destination.
Rowan and Mulligan
(Moving the story along for both characters; add to the following as you see fit)
The two of you spend the next hour or so retelling the stories of being ambushed on your way to Talisten. The similarity between the two incidents is obvious, and since the incidents, neither of you have seen or heard anything to suggest that the presence of undead is known to the general population. Both of you have crossed paths with hundreds of Syndarans, but not one word has been spoken about any sort of mishaps, attacks, or trouble.
"They are targeted attacks I believe. The wight said Aeris before dying. We need to discuss this with the other two when they arrive."
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
Karuk
Keeping Ninlil's watchful eyes above and ahead as you go, you continue toward the festival in Talisten, passing through Yarnfeld late in the night. Your arrival there is well after most folks have snuffed out their candles; so, there isn't much fanfare when you enter the village. You take in a light meal and something to drink before resting for the night in a complimentary room in the old but tidy inn.
Several villagers see you on your way in the morning, but eventually you and Ash find yourselves alone on the road that follows the Silverthread River for many miles. After a long, uneventful day in the saddle, you pass through the South Gate and into Talisten. The capital city is abuzz with activity, and every tavern and inn is filled with the voices singing, laughing, and talking. Tomorrow is Harvest Day, the eve before the Festival takes full flight, and you can sense the celebratory atmosphere in the streets.
You arrive at the Dwarven Stout--the customary meeting place for all four Defenders--and the halfling stable boy quickly takes care of Ash as you make your way inside. Kempis the Ironfisted nods and welcomes you simply, "Good to see you, Karuk. Speak the word and we'll have food and drink for you. Rowan and Mulligan are here, in their usual rooms. No sign of Rovenna, however. I suppose she'll arrive before sunrise."
The remaining stretch of the road to Yarnfeld was fortunately uneventful and his arrival in the town was a discreet affair. At least one good thing from the ambush, Karuk could not help but think. He was shy and never felt comfortable with the attention of the title. At the inn, he asked for the best food and treatment his horse could receive but took a light meal to himself. For a moment the wizard considered telling the locals of his meet with the undead, but the creatures were targeting him. There was little chance more of them prowled the area so any comment would only sour the festive mood.
With no doubt the locals would spread that the half-orc defender treated his mount better than himself, he left for the capital. The quiet journey gave him time to think. Time and again revising the battle on his mind. I should have polymorphed Ash when he was hit by the arrow. I should have used Arcane Recovery before riding to Yarnfeld. From the South Gate he could feel the smell of dust, sweat, perfumes and spices – the scent of the festival.
“It’s good to see you too, Kempis.” He started approaching the dwarf. “Thank you for the kindness and I do have words to say, but not for food. I’ll find Mulligan. May I bother you to ask Rowan to join us?”
"It cannot be coincidence," Mulligan says with a bit of vehemence once the three have gotten together and shared stories. "And where is Rovenna? With these three attacks we must assume they were as well... which makes their not being here yet a bad sign. We should ride out to her at once.."
Mulligan is already standing and checking his gear as he says this. If Rovenna has not yet been attacked he is sure she will be. It sounds like none of them had much trouble with the undead but in any fight all it takes is a bit of bad luck to change the tide...
Rowan looks around. "For all our combined power, we really lack in the long distance communication department. Or at least scrying. I'm sure she is on her way, we all arrive at different times, but I will still go and check." and he goes over to a window, extinguishes any flames as necessary to be in dim light, grabs a hold of his cloak and turns into a bat. He then flies to the gate that Rovenna should be entering from, and waits for a short time, making sure to return to the room before an hour is up and the polymorph wears out.
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
(Do we know what route Rovenna would take to get here? It sounds like we each take pretty standard treks in for the festival...)
"We should do more than just wait here. Though none of us had real trouble that's no promise she won't," Mulligan argues. "We should find her on the road... Just in case."
Mulligan paces impatiently while Rowan is gone and is quick to ask "Any sign of our missing traveller?" Assuming the negative he suggests that they should head out immediately to try to find her. "She could just be the last to arrive... Or she could be ambushed while we sit here and do nothing."
(If Mulligan knows her route, or can guess at it, he would suggest he teleport them all to the last town on that route that he can teleport to. If they haven't seen her there than the one before that. "I have three jumps before I can do more again at down. I think we should use them to find her trail...")
As he feared, his fellow defenders had been attacked. Distinct moments and by distinct arrays of enemies. The mastermind, Karuk concluded, had the necessary resources to adapt his forces. That made Rovenna’s delay all the more worrisome. Maybe she was attacked after them, by a greater number of undead and far more powerful than those who ambushed the trio. It was not impossible she was felled in combat.
“As we wait for his return, let me give you this.” The half-orc mentioned removing a gold ring from his left hand. “I stored a Wall of Force in it. Using it to create a spherical structure around an enemy can not only limit a troublesome opponent but ensure its exposition to an area of effect of a spell and I have recently mastered Sickening Radiance. I’m counting on you to follow the Radiance with a Wall.” A combination the wizard hoped to be enough for defeating the most troublesome adversaries. “Now I’ll talk to Kempis about preparing your horses and getting me another one. Mine just arrived and is unlikely to be rested enough for an urgent journey. Besides, someone will have to contact the organization of the festival in case we are absent treating of urgent matters.”
And so Karuk left the room and talked with the dwarf, taking the opportunity to drink some water. He returned to the room as soon as he could, waiting with stoic patience.
Notes: Karuk hands his Ring of Spell storing to Mulligan the asks Kempis to ready Mulligan's and Rowan's horse. He also asks the dwarf if it would possible to prepare a third horse for him to use while Ash rests. Karuk explain the three of them may have to deal with a situation, drinks some water and returns to the room, waiting for Rowan return. He offers no resistance if the group goes through the whole teleporting action.
Mulligan accepts the ring and holds it up to eye level to evaluate it. "Very nice. Very powerful..." he says with consideration. "Are you sure it is best to give to me though? Trapping a foe inside such a thing would indeed settle most arguments but... A particularly quick and powerful foe could potentially escape between the time it would take me to use the ring and then cast another spell. If you are insistent on not wearing it yourself then perhaps Rowan would be better suited. It could be a good one-two combination to practice where perhaps I could be forming a Wall of Force even has he uses the ring?"
Mulligan isn't outright refusing the ring but rather thinking of how best to maximize it's potential...
"Have him steal a horse if he must, this is Guardian business and I am sure we can compensate anyone put out if need be," Mulligan says with a smirk to make it seem more of a jest than it actually is.
The three of you waste no words or time in making everyone aware of what has transpired on your respective journeys to Talisten. Rovenna's well-being becomes a top priority.
Rowan takes to the skies as a bat and flies straightaway to the harbor, which, unsurprisingly, is bustling with the movement of small boats and their crews who have come from neighboring lands to be part of the Festival. Despite the number of people, he knows he'll be able to recognize the keelboat Rovenna uses for this particular journey; additionally, he's familiar with Pike, the halfling sailor who captains the vessel. Making increasingly wider circles as he flies around the harbor, Rowan eventually reaches a distance that puts him a mile or so from the city. Unfortunately, he sees no indication of the fourth Defender and returns to the Dwarven Stout to inform the others.
Meanwhile, Kempis acknowledges that providing Karuk with a fresh horse is an easy matter, but Karuk can sense the old dwarf becomes quite curious about the possibility of a "situation." The dwarf resists the urge to inquire further.
Mulligan paces impatiently about the room, finding it difficult to wait for Rowan's return. A ruckus on the ledge outside the window suddenly distracts him. An owl, insistent and determined, repeatedly hammers the glass with its beak. That it wants to enter the room is obvious. It momentarily stops beating against the glass, opens its beak and allows a humanoid voice to escape it. Mulligan cannot make out what it is saying, however. The glass is dampening the sound of the voice...
I believe the window would have been left open for Rowan to return. Unless the others got cold and shut it
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
(I was thinking Rowanbat exited from his own room, rather than Mulligan's. I should've considered the other possibilities)
(I thought we had all grouped into one room to talk... But whatever.)
"Didn't he leave as a bat?" Mulligan asks... Well, himself since he is currently the only one of the trio here. Moving to the window Mulligan quickly opens it to allow the owl entry, if that is indeed it's intention. Mulligan keeps himself ready to react, for he is pretty sure Rowan exited as a bat, but he's not too worried about the owl - Enemies rarely knock.
The owl steps through the open window and hops onto the back of a chair. With its eyes riveted to Mulligan, it once again opens its mouth to allow the message it carries to be heard:
An unknown evil is afoot, Defenders. The ruins upon Grimshard* methinks. I will watch and wait.
The voice is unmistakeable; it is that of Oda Waywocket, the gnome wizard who once wielded a fragment of Aeris. One of the few former Defenders who remains alive and in Syndaris, Oda lives in Ansora (a town on the northeast peninsula of Syndaris). As the owl finishes speaking, Karuk returns from his visit with Kempis; so too does Rowan from his surveillance of the harbor area.
* Tiny island off the northeast coast, it is uninhabited and home to the ruins of an ancient druidic temple.
"Oda? You seeing through the owl or just send them as a warning?" Mulligan asks the feathered guest, feeling a bit self conscious. As he waits for an answer he waves in Karuk and Rowan and makes sure they heard what he heard.
If the owl is a familiar that Oda can indead communicate through then Mulligan will follow up asking if they know what kind of evil and what makes her think it is afoot. He won't bring up undead until he has gotten what answers he can, not wanting to influence what Oda may or may not have to provide. And then, at the end, he would ask about Rovenna and if Oda by chance has heard anything from her or the Isle of Woe...
If the owl cannot be a conduit for two way communication then all that is moot and Mulligan looks to the others with a shrug. "And what do we investigate first? The whereabouts of our fellow Guardian or the vague dire chirping of an owl? Not that I doubt Oda sent the message but I must admit I am even more hesitant to leave Rovenna on her own since we have even more reason to believe she is endangered now."
Before he could have answered about Rowan’s transformation the owl started to speak. Karuk immediately recognized the animal’s behavior as a result of Animal Messenger, thought he would have liked to see Mulligan’s question answered positively by their old acquaintance. That can’t be a coincidence, thought the wizard. An unknown enemy moving by ruins as each of them was attacked, Rovenna not arriving…
“What if both things are one and the same. I mean, Oda wouldn’t have called upon us if she could have things sorted by herself and the term ‘evil’ suggests to me corrupting forces. The kind that deals in necromancy.” The of the island also sounded like an omen, but that was a thought he left unsaid. “Rovenna may be investigating it already or, in the worst case, she may be prisoner there.”
He had to agree with Mulligan, they needed to improve on the long-distance communication department.
“Regarding the ring, I am not opposed to your suggestion. If the Wall and the Radiance are well timed, I don’t think an enemy can escape the combo with speed alone, but the wall won’t prevent it from teleporting.” Maybe they should coordinate a third spell, something to cut visibility. “Either way, what you guys think? I say starting the search on the island is reasonably promising.”
"The worst case is Rovenna was ambushed like we were but not as successful in defending herself," Mulligan corrects. "Still, she IS a Guardian and we should trust that she can take care of herself. And Grimshard is near enough the Isle of Woe that investigating one may end up revealing the answer to both... Let us ready ourselves and I shall teleport us as near to Grimshard as I can."
(The goal would be to teleport all three of us and our mounts, in case they be needed. Onto Grimshard itself, if possible, or Mulligan's closest familiar point nearby.)
"I can create a wall myself without the ring so if that is the purpose of sharing it then it would be best shared with Rowan, I think. At least for now..."
The owl proves to be merely an animal messenger; so, communication with Oda is impossible.
NOTE: Grimshard, as a teleportation destination, would fall into the category of "very familiar" as explained in the rule for the teleport spell. So, the likelihood of a mishap is small.
Once the trio of Guardians is back together and have their horses ready then Mulligan concentrates a moment before telling the others to follow him closely and urging his horse into a trot. In not more than a dozen footsteps, between blinks of an eye, the scenery changes... The trio (and horses) are teleported to Grimshard. Or... At least hopefully close.
Teleportation Roll: 37 - On Target!
"Now let's see if we can find what Oda aimed to warn us about... And if it is connected to Rovenna's tardiness or not."
Before heading off, Rowan would inform Kempis, so if she is merely on her way and arrives early morning, he can inform her of Oda's message and our destination.
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)