This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Carrow
Seeing Andror produce the three vials Carrow makes his way over, raises each to eye level and gives them a little shake.
Arcana:15 1st Red Liquid
Arcana:15 2nd Red Liquid
Arcana:12 Clear Liquid
"Where is the snake now?" returning the last vial to the table Carrow asks further "Should we expect a third party to arrive, with an 'agent' already here the Zhentarim could be trying to take advantage of the goblin attack and destabilize this area, we should tend to Rixton and see what further surprises this town has for us"
Vigan and Carrow remove the stoppers from each of the three small flasks and carefully examine the odor, viscosity, and appearance of the liquids.
Vigan:
He has no familiarity with the first two potions, which seem to be identical. The transparent liquid, however, he recognizes immediately. It is one of the varieties of the Potion of Giant Strength
Carrow:
After investigating the two flasks with the red liquid, he is confident they are identical potions; each one is a Potion of Healing. The third potion flask, containing a clear liquid of some sort, is quickly recognized as a Potion of Giant Strength.
With a reflective snap Carrow instantly knows what needs to be done, snatching a Vial of red liquid from the table he heads to the rogue and swiftly begins to pour it down Rixtons throat.
Moments after the red liquid trickles down Rixton's throat, he returns to consciousness. His eyes slowly open, and he emits a few coughing noises as he sits up. The deep wound caused by the worg's bite begins to mend magically. (8 hit points regained)
I inhale deeply, inadvertently breathing the liquid Carrow was pouring down my throat. I cough but the pain and tightness in my leg has my immediate attention before it rapidly fades. I sit up, trying to process where I am and how I got here.
"God's damn it all," I say as the realization hits me like a giant's club to my head.
I fall back to the table in frustration. With a sardonic smile, I say, "Did I serve as a sufficiently distracting chew toy at least?"
"You performed admirably as a rearguard" A faint smile encroaches on the Half-Orcs lips as he glances across at Vigan. Carrow then continues to fill Rixton in on the series of events that unfolded after he lapsed into unconsciousness.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Rixton:
I nod as I listen, still somewhat distracted by tightness in my leg. Looking down, I see it is tightly bound in a tourniquet. How badly was I hurt? Blood soaks my trousers and armor. I purse my lips. That gods damned armor... Something else catches my attention.
"Wait," I say as I remove the tourniquet, "Back up. Zhentarim?" I curse in elvish. "That complicates things. There is more. The goblins did not act alone. They do not use siege engines, so the boulders," I say, pointing to the one immediately in front of us, "came from some other source."
I stand, dusting myself off, looking for my sword, which seems to be missing. "And, before I stupidly threw myself into the mouth of a worg, I realized the potential target of this attack. Nightstone is missing its most important landmark, a large piece of obsidian in the town square. I think it might be the town's namesake."
I close my eyes, trying to figure out how everything fits together. The connections elude me. "We need to look around more. Give me a minute to collect my thoughts and find my rapier."
Before going outside for my sword, obviously dropped when I was felled, I go upstairs to see the Zhentarim woman. She has been moved but it doesn't matter. My comrades have everything of hers, I'm certain. Instead, I sit down on a bed and put my head in my hands. I grunt in frustration. "You had to die but I lived and I thank you for that," I say to the corpse. "You know, I have heard that monks can catch arrows with enough training. Perhaps you were not there yet, though."
Then I notice movement. A flying snake? Ah yes. I reach into my pack and pull out several bites of dried meat. "Are you the messenger, little snake?"
After seeing Rixton bolt up the stairs Carrow turns to the others stood around the table "Perhaps whoever is left up in the keep could provide further information on what has happened here, i would be interested in looking at where this obsidian stone was sat"Carrows expression darkened slightly as he looked around at his companions " he is however correct, in my experience goblins do not act alone and need to be led, these little green shits could not organize a raid like this without guidance, somebody or something guides them"
"Carrow, it's like you've cast Haste on an excitable Gnome!", Vigan laughs as he listen to the words spilling out of Rixton, and watches him head upstairs.
"What he says is interesting though, and I agree with you too. It seems like we have some decisions to make." Addressing the rest of the room in a more serious tone, the goliath continues, "Potentially the most pressing is whether we will be getting visitors from the Zhentarim anytime soon, and if so, what their reaction to us being here and one of their own lying dead, will be."
Vigan scrapes one of the chairs nearby along the floor closer to him, and sits down in it. The chair creaks momentarily under his weight. Satisfied that it won't collapse underneath him, he opens his backpack and takes a few long slugs of water from his waterskin.
I survey the scene around me. The dead goblin on the ground outside, the dead monk in the room, the shattered roof and floor. "My companions are formidable," I say to the room or the snake on my arm or perhaps myself. I feel my breakfast rise into my throat at the memory of nearly dying. I take a deep breath and stroke the snake's head. "Your monk friend could have taught me a thing or two about self-control," I tell the snake. "Then perhaps my body would not have failed me so." I look at the monk, an arrow piercing her through. "Although perhaps she would not have been the best teacher."
I drink from my waterskin and it eases my nausea. "My mother would think me a fool for chasing a paltry sum of coins like this. Maybe she is right." I stand, collecting myself, saying, "I hate it when she is right, though." I leave the grisly scene and head back downstairs.
"Thank you gentlemen, for the few minutes to wrestle with my mortality," I say. "And for saving my life, of course. You've done a remarkable job and I owe each of you a great debt." I look to the door. "Shall we see what else this horrible little town has in store for us?"
Rixton's examination of the snake doesn't reveal anything of significance. The serpent's scales and wings are bright green; so too are its eyes.
During the course of the past few minutes, while the members of the party have been inside the Nightstone Inn, the weather has worsened. The rain is falling harder and faster, and the wind has picked up.
I settle into a chair. My companions probably need a rest and the rain beating on the roof is a good reminder of that. "I have been pondering this as well. I'm not sure we can complete it. We must rid Nightstone of the goblin menace to do so. Perhaps we are too late? And does the goblin menace encompass their allies? I'd wager it was giants rather than trebuchets that struck this town. The pattern of boulder strikes is far too precise. Not that giants and goblins allied makes much more sense. And we know two other things that make no sense. No, three. The town's namesake has been stolen from the town square. The townspeople are nowhere to be found. And the zhentarim are involved somehow."
Carrow removes all his weapons from his person the longbow from his back, two goblin stained shortswords one from either hip and the heavily wrapped longsword from his back. Laying them out he begins to clean any dirt from his weapons. His cloak and pack join them on the table, between sips of water and the howling wind Carrow talks to his companions "We need a plan to further secure the town, if a giant carried a piece of obsidian away from the town I may be able to track him. My main concern is Nightstones immediate security, that fort" he says taking another sip of water and motioning towards the window "could still contain survivors, or better still more goblins"
"If the obsidian was the target of this raid, the the town's in no further danger and to fulfil our word on this contract we should shut that draw bridge and sweep this whole town of goblins, Zhentarim or not"
Vigan
"I'd wouldn't like to assume the contents of the vials based entirely on their colour", the goliath muses.
Arcana: 20 1st Red Liquid
Arcana: 17 2nd Red Liquid
Arcana: 4 Clear Liquid
Carrow
Seeing Andror produce the three vials Carrow makes his way over, raises each to eye level and gives them a little shake.
Arcana:15 1st Red Liquid
Arcana:15 2nd Red Liquid
Arcana:12 Clear Liquid
"Where is the snake now?" returning the last vial to the table Carrow asks further "Should we expect a third party to arrive, with an 'agent' already here the Zhentarim could be trying to take advantage of the goblin attack and destabilize this area, we should tend to Rixton and see what further surprises this town has for us"
Vigan and Carrow remove the stoppers from each of the three small flasks and carefully examine the odor, viscosity, and appearance of the liquids.
Vigan:
He has no familiarity with the first two potions, which seem to be identical. The transparent liquid, however, he recognizes immediately. It is one of the varieties of the Potion of Giant Strength
Carrow:
After investigating the two flasks with the red liquid, he is confident they are identical potions; each one is a Potion of Healing. The third potion flask, containing a clear liquid of some sort, is quickly recognized as a Potion of Giant Strength.
Carrow
With a reflective snap Carrow instantly knows what needs to be done, snatching a Vial of red liquid from the table he heads to the rogue and swiftly begins to pour it down Rixtons throat.
Moments after the red liquid trickles down Rixton's throat, he returns to consciousness. His eyes slowly open, and he emits a few coughing noises as he sits up. The deep wound caused by the worg's bite begins to mend magically. (8 hit points regained)
Rixton (6 pages later):
I inhale deeply, inadvertently breathing the liquid Carrow was pouring down my throat. I cough but the pain and tightness in my leg has my immediate attention before it rapidly fades. I sit up, trying to process where I am and how I got here.
"God's damn it all," I say as the realization hits me like a giant's club to my head.
I fall back to the table in frustration. With a sardonic smile, I say, "Did I serve as a sufficiently distracting chew toy at least?"
"You performed admirably as a rearguard" A faint smile encroaches on the Half-Orcs lips as he glances across at Vigan. Carrow then continues to fill Rixton in on the series of events that unfolded after he lapsed into unconsciousness.
Rixton:
I nod as I listen, still somewhat distracted by tightness in my leg. Looking down, I see it is tightly bound in a tourniquet. How badly was I hurt? Blood soaks my trousers and armor. I purse my lips. That gods damned armor... Something else catches my attention.
"Wait," I say as I remove the tourniquet, "Back up. Zhentarim?" I curse in elvish. "That complicates things. There is more. The goblins did not act alone. They do not use siege engines, so the boulders," I say, pointing to the one immediately in front of us, "came from some other source."
I stand, dusting myself off, looking for my sword, which seems to be missing. "And, before I stupidly threw myself into the mouth of a worg, I realized the potential target of this attack. Nightstone is missing its most important landmark, a large piece of obsidian in the town square. I think it might be the town's namesake."
I close my eyes, trying to figure out how everything fits together. The connections elude me. "We need to look around more. Give me a minute to collect my thoughts and find my rapier."
Before going outside for my sword, obviously dropped when I was felled, I go upstairs to see the Zhentarim woman. She has been moved but it doesn't matter. My comrades have everything of hers, I'm certain. Instead, I sit down on a bed and put my head in my hands. I grunt in frustration. "You had to die but I lived and I thank you for that," I say to the corpse. "You know, I have heard that monks can catch arrows with enough training. Perhaps you were not there yet, though."
Then I notice movement. A flying snake? Ah yes. I reach into my pack and pull out several bites of dried meat. "Are you the messenger, little snake?"
Animal Handling: 13
Rixton approaches the flying snake, and although it shows no interest in the food, it seems docile enough.
Rixton:
I invite the snake to my arm, trying to pick it up.
Animal handling: 22
Carrow
After seeing Rixton bolt up the stairs Carrow turns to the others stood around the table "Perhaps whoever is left up in the keep could provide further information on what has happened here, i would be interested in looking at where this obsidian stone was sat" Carrows expression darkened slightly as he looked around at his companions " he is however correct, in my experience goblins do not act alone and need to be led, these little green shits could not organize a raid like this without guidance, somebody or something guides them"
Amenable to Rixton's attempt, the flying snake coils itself around his arm.
Vigan
"Carrow, it's like you've cast Haste on an excitable Gnome!", Vigan laughs as he listen to the words spilling out of Rixton, and watches him head upstairs.
"What he says is interesting though, and I agree with you too. It seems like we have some decisions to make." Addressing the rest of the room in a more serious tone, the goliath continues, "Potentially the most pressing is whether we will be getting visitors from the Zhentarim anytime soon, and if so, what their reaction to us being here and one of their own lying dead, will be."
Vigan scrapes one of the chairs nearby along the floor closer to him, and sits down in it. The chair creaks momentarily under his weight. Satisfied that it won't collapse underneath him, he opens his backpack and takes a few long slugs of water from his waterskin.
Rixton:
I survey the scene around me. The dead goblin on the ground outside, the dead monk in the room, the shattered roof and floor. "My companions are formidable," I say to the room or the snake on my arm or perhaps myself. I feel my breakfast rise into my throat at the memory of nearly dying. I take a deep breath and stroke the snake's head. "Your monk friend could have taught me a thing or two about self-control," I tell the snake. "Then perhaps my body would not have failed me so." I look at the monk, an arrow piercing her through. "Although perhaps she would not have been the best teacher."
I drink from my waterskin and it eases my nausea. "My mother would think me a fool for chasing a paltry sum of coins like this. Maybe she is right." I stand, collecting myself, saying, "I hate it when she is right, though." I leave the grisly scene and head back downstairs.
"Thank you gentlemen, for the few minutes to wrestle with my mortality," I say. "And for saving my life, of course. You've done a remarkable job and I owe each of you a great debt." I look to the door. "Shall we see what else this horrible little town has in store for us?"
Rixton (I forgot something):
Offhandedly I check the snake coiled around my arm for a tag, attached note, or notable markings or brands while I stroke its head.
Ladrian
"So what do we know so far and what's missing to complete our mission?" Ladrian lazily asks
Rixton's examination of the snake doesn't reveal anything of significance. The serpent's scales and wings are bright green; so too are its eyes.
During the course of the past few minutes, while the members of the party have been inside the Nightstone Inn, the weather has worsened. The rain is falling harder and faster, and the wind has picked up.
Rixton:
I settle into a chair. My companions probably need a rest and the rain beating on the roof is a good reminder of that. "I have been pondering this as well. I'm not sure we can complete it. We must rid Nightstone of the goblin menace to do so. Perhaps we are too late? And does the goblin menace encompass their allies? I'd wager it was giants rather than trebuchets that struck this town. The pattern of boulder strikes is far too precise. Not that giants and goblins allied makes much more sense. And we know two other things that make no sense. No, three. The town's namesake has been stolen from the town square. The townspeople are nowhere to be found. And the zhentarim are involved somehow."
Carrow
Carrow removes all his weapons from his person the longbow from his back, two goblin stained shortswords one from either hip and the heavily wrapped longsword from his back. Laying them out he begins to clean any dirt from his weapons. His cloak and pack join them on the table, between sips of water and the howling wind Carrow talks to his companions "We need a plan to further secure the town, if a giant carried a piece of obsidian away from the town I may be able to track him. My main concern is Nightstones immediate security, that fort" he says taking another sip of water and motioning towards the window "could still contain survivors, or better still more goblins"
"If the obsidian was the target of this raid, the the town's in no further danger and to fulfil our word on this contract we should shut that draw bridge and sweep this whole town of goblins, Zhentarim or not"
Rixton:
"Yes, the drawbridge. That might solve the soon-to-arrive zhentarim concern as well."