Oog: if anyone is looking to do something specific at this time, feel free to chime in or PM me. I'll be laying out the hook for our next adventure shortly...
"Fair enough. Sharpen you blade, warrior - I'll see you in the arena soon."
An arena attendant ushers Balasar into a staging area for combatants. Does Balasar need/do/ask anything prior to the start of the fight?
Balasar spends a few minutes reflecting on everything he knows and has observed about his opponent--the state, nature, and quality of his armor, weapons, and equipment; his scars; his mannerisms; his speech; his reactions to various events in the arena--to try to gain some insight into how the man is likely to fight and what sort of adversary he's likely to be.
Several weeks have passed since the party’s exploits in the Timberway forests and everyone has gathered at The Goat and Bagpipes for an evening of revelry, beverages, and socialization. Shortly after festivities begin, however, a messenger arrives with a letter for Wendell. Upon reading it, he shares the contents with the rest of the group:
“My dearest little brother,
Hero?! A hero? Rumor has it that my favorite little wizard is a hero of the city Adaern! You’re a bloody hero and you didn’t think to write and tell me? Some brother you are! Much as I would delight in haranguing you about this, I must forego any further chastisement and ask you to come to my home in Pyrringham Village with all haste. As you might recall (even more so if you wrote more often!), my husband and I have experienced great blessings from the gods in our endeavors; we founded one of the largest farming villages for leagues around and have never suffered less than a bountiful harvest. However, our fortunes seem to have taken a turn – something has stirred up the local Ankheg population and they’ve formed into large and aggressive swarms. Several outlying farms had to be abandoned entirely and more are in danger as I write this letter. There have been two deaths thus far and, unless something is done soon, I fear there will be many more.
I seem to recall that, as a child, you once enjoyed going on “bug hunts” to protect mom and dad’s crops from pests – I hope that same enthusiasm extends to using powerful magic on really BIG bugs. I hate to ask this of true heroes, but please, Wendell, our village is in danger - gather your friends and help us before any more lives or homes are lost. Not that you have ever been one for counting coppers, but, should any of your companions be more financially-minded, we have gathered a collection from the village as a whole. We are prepared to offer you and your hero friends a sum total of 2,000 gold pieces for breaking up the swarms and an additional 2,000 gold should you discover the source of their agitation (and find a way to calm them).
No response is required if you will come – just come quickly. If, for some reason, you are unable to help (I swear, the damned Kingdom had better be burning down for you to skip this), please tell the messenger who delivers this letter and he will take our plea to a mercenary company.
Your loving sister (who is still annoyed that you didn’t think to tell her you were an honest-to-gods hero),
Pyrringham Village is a three-day ride by horseback
Ankhegs are soil-dwelling, burrowing arthropods (think of a cross between a grasshopper and a lobster) with a taste for fresh meat. Ankhegs have six legs, long antennae, and a chitinous exoskeleton which ranges in coloration from dark brown to an orange-yellow. Their forelegs end in sharp hooks adapted for burrowing and grasping prey, and their powerful mandibles can snap a small tree in half with ease. A typical specimen is 10 feet long and weighs approximately 800 pounds.
[OOG: Please note, the MM stats and details for an Ankheg do NOT apply here - I have made significant changes to these creatures. What is written here is the total of the party's common knowledge of Ankhegs. That said, with various checks (representing specific efforts made to recall or discover more details), you might learn more.]
Balasar will make a Nature check to see if he recalls any other details about Ankhegs: 18
[If a different check would be more appropriate, I'm happy to make it. None of the other skills seems immediately applicable, and the roll is the same as it would be for any generic intelligence-based check.]
After a moment of concentration, Elaric's face brightens as he apparently tracks down whatever internal knowledge he had been attempting to locate. Looking as though he is about to speak, someone else could interject first if they have any desire to do so.
[OOG] Does anyone else wish to make any checks, take actions, or say anything? Elaric will address the group and the story will move along, but anyone else could act first.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
[Balasar does not interject, but he does make a Wisdom check to see if any course of action for dealing with the problem presents itself based on his limited knowledge of the situation.]
[Balasar does not interject, but he does make a Wisdom check to see if any course of action for dealing with the problem presents itself based on his limited knowledge of the situation.]
Wisdom: 2
PM results sent.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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Oog: if anyone is looking to do something specific at this time, feel free to chime in or PM me. I'll be laying out the hook for our next adventure shortly...
Balasar spends a few minutes reflecting on everything he knows and has observed about his opponent--the state, nature, and quality of his armor, weapons, and equipment; his scars; his mannerisms; his speech; his reactions to various events in the arena--to try to gain some insight into how the man is likely to fight and what sort of adversary he's likely to be.
Balasar also inspects his weapons and gear, making sure they're ready for use.
Is Balasar's opponent in the same staging area, or is he in a different one?
A different area.
Balasar asks one of the attendants how long his opponent has been frequenting the arena.
The attendant doesn't know. "He comes and goes."
Shortly after, another man enters the room. "Are you ready combatant? Has anyone explained the special rules in effect for this match?"
Balasar thanks the attendant, then turns his attention to the other man: Nobody has explained this to me. Please go over the rules.
Several weeks have passed since the party’s exploits in the Timberway forests and everyone has gathered at The Goat and Bagpipes for an evening of revelry, beverages, and socialization. Shortly after festivities begin, however, a messenger arrives with a letter for Wendell. Upon reading it, he shares the contents with the rest of the group:
“My dearest little brother,
Hero?! A hero? Rumor has it that my favorite little wizard is a hero of the city Adaern! You’re a bloody hero and you didn’t think to write and tell me? Some brother you are! Much as I would delight in haranguing you about this, I must forego any further chastisement and ask you to come to my home in Pyrringham Village with all haste. As you might recall (even more so if you wrote more often!), my husband and I have experienced great blessings from the gods in our endeavors; we founded one of the largest farming villages for leagues around and have never suffered less than a bountiful harvest. However, our fortunes seem to have taken a turn – something has stirred up the local Ankheg population and they’ve formed into large and aggressive swarms. Several outlying farms had to be abandoned entirely and more are in danger as I write this letter. There have been two deaths thus far and, unless something is done soon, I fear there will be many more.
I seem to recall that, as a child, you once enjoyed going on “bug hunts” to protect mom and dad’s crops from pests – I hope that same enthusiasm extends to using powerful magic on really BIG bugs. I hate to ask this of true heroes, but please, Wendell, our village is in danger - gather your friends and help us before any more lives or homes are lost. Not that you have ever been one for counting coppers, but, should any of your companions be more financially-minded, we have gathered a collection from the village as a whole. We are prepared to offer you and your hero friends a sum total of 2,000 gold pieces for breaking up the swarms and an additional 2,000 gold should you discover the source of their agitation (and find a way to calm them).
No response is required if you will come – just come quickly. If, for some reason, you are unable to help (I swear, the damned Kingdom had better be burning down for you to skip this), please tell the messenger who delivers this letter and he will take our plea to a mercenary company.
Your loving sister (who is still annoyed that you didn’t think to tell her you were an honest-to-gods hero),
- Bruna”
Common knowledge for the group (as a whole):
[OOG: Please note, the MM stats and details for an Ankheg do NOT apply here - I have made significant changes to these creatures. What is written here is the total of the party's common knowledge of Ankhegs. That said, with various checks (representing specific efforts made to recall or discover more details), you might learn more.]
Balasar will make a Nature check to see if he recalls any other details about Ankhegs: 18
[If a different check would be more appropriate, I'm happy to make it. None of the other skills seems immediately applicable, and the roll is the same as it would be for any generic intelligence-based check.]
Nature check for Guan Hao: 11
Results sent via PM.
History 14
For previous Ankheg attacks of note and information regarding how they were dealt with
Nature 23
For information regarding Anhkeg feeding and hunting habits.
Survival 20
For precautions the villagers can take while we work to clear the threat
Elaric's rolls:
Nature - 22
Wisdom - 12
[OOG] NATURAL 20!!!! WOO!
After a moment of concentration, Elaric's face brightens as he apparently tracks down whatever internal knowledge he had been attempting to locate. Looking as though he is about to speak, someone else could interject first if they have any desire to do so.
[OOG] Does anyone else wish to make any checks, take actions, or say anything? Elaric will address the group and the story will move along, but anyone else could act first.
[Guan Hao does not interject.]
[Balasar does not interject, but he does make a Wisdom check to see if any course of action for dealing with the problem presents itself based on his limited knowledge of the situation.]
Wisdom: 11
PM results sent.