Author Topic: Campaign #1 - Somewhere on the Sword Coast (Read 2206913 times)

Joy · « **Reply #540 on:** July 28, 2025, 08:43:31 PM »

[Monday, Spring 24, 09:00, -9.5, Blizzard Conditions continue][I presume this time has been busy and no actual rest has occurred yet. Except for Ashley Panther.]

Nestled under the bows of pine branches, warmed by an impossible fire, the male bandit from the wall wakes first. Realizing he's been caught he struggles to break free but that's impossible given a well endowed, large Barbarian is watching over him.

Alice looks for any creature she could catch and attach the whistle to, as absurd as it appears in this blizzard to dispose of the whistle.

[Hunting 1d20=6]

Alice finds rabbit tracks after some effort and follows it to a small bush, unable to surprise it, she doesn't manage to get it attached to the whistle before it bolts off. [Tell me where you left it ultimately.] Alice returns to the tent to find Ashley Panther lying peacefully and looking at her smugly. A simple blink is all she gets, something of a 'hello, I'm glad you're not (or we're not) dead.' Yes indeed, such high praise from Ashley or Ashley Panther is rare, savor it.

Quote from: Yulya on July 28, 2025, 05:35:16 PM

But- But... SheShe said everyone we faced was an enemy! I had wanted to parlay with them seeing they were human but it seemed pointless after this divine intervention. I hope the bandits will tell us about this man and why he was here. Oh God Freya will be mad at us again!

Thoughts fill her mind, even neutral beings can be on opposite sides of an issue.

Yulya decides to thoroughly investigate the other belongings of the Beastmaster. Additional investigation without new information yields no additional results.

A low rumble comes from a certain Panther's stomach.

[One bandit is up, the other is still unconscious, remember the warnings, gods and other beings are watching.]

Cat · « **Reply #541 on:** July 29, 2025, 07:03:03 AM »

Cat glances over to the bandit as the scent of her cooking is blown over to him by the wind
Stop strugglin' Nya and behave Nya I gotta cook Nya! If you wanna get outta here you better cooperate later Nya! For now I suggest you rest a bit Nya!

Cat prepares a meal from 3 portions of wild dog meat and one vegetable-mushroom ration, adds 1 portion of spices and 4 portions of salt, arranges hot stones around the fir branch bedding for the bandits and her party members to sit and calls over Alice when everything is ready. She leaves the rest of the pot for Ashley Panther.
You better go rest now Yulya Nya! We will interrogate them later Nya!

Joy · « **Reply #542 on:** July 29, 2025, 11:00:19 AM »

The bandit looks around and sees one of his companions looking dead and asks Cat, "is she dead? Where's the druid and the other crossbowman? What are you going to do with me? What do you mean by 'get outta here'? Where are we now?"

Alice · « **Reply #543 on:** July 29, 2025, 04:22:29 PM »

Alice arrives at the scene with her mask donned to obscure her barely human form in her abysmal shape. She looks at the bandit and tilts her head.

Lots of loyalty for a hired gun! I hope you answer as many question as you ask! Furthermore I believe in civilized worlds it is custom to introduce yourself before showering your opponent with questions. Especially in a situation as such as you find yourself in now. That appears to be a trademark of you guys. How bothersome...

Alice sits down to receive her share of the meal

Joy · « **Reply #544 on:** July 29, 2025, 05:59:39 PM »

The bandit sneers at Alice, "so then go on, if you're so civil, state your name. If you think you're entitled to a fair parley then untie me first and we'll talk like civilized people."

A growl is heard from the tent, and a chill runs down your collective spines.

[INTIMIDATION DC16 vs CHA 1d20=6]

The bandit shifts uncomfortably, "wha- what in the nine hells was that? Who are you people?"

Yulya · « **Reply #545 on:** July 29, 2025, 06:42:36 PM »

Yulya sighs uncomfortable with the situation.
Indeed we are adventurers from Neverwinter tasked with securing this mine for the town of Phandalin in the name of Lord Wester and Master Edermath. And believe me we will - be you orcs humans or demons. This is but a side quest for us as we are on the way to slay a dragon but that does not mean we will not take this matter seriously.

I guarantee you will be released unharmed if you cooperate. But if not - you are at the mercy of the gods. I would like to say we are not monsters but frankly none of us is human. And you are not in a position to make any demands here.

Yulya quickly eats her share without paying further attention to the man.
I shall answer your questions later if you tell us what we ask of you. Now if you excuse me. I strongly suggest you mind your manners and rest for a while. You are lucky to be alive. Or rather it is only because I stabilized you when you were on the brink of death. Few people have taken a heavy Greatsword strike from our Barbarian and lived to tell the tale.

Yulya gets up and retreats to the tent leaving the unfortunate bandit with Alice and Cat

Joy · « **Reply #546 on:** July 29, 2025, 07:24:32 PM »

The bandit sighs and rolls his eyes, again struggling against the restraints momentarily before giving in to his predicament. Mostly grumbling to himself he says, "defeated by children! Girls no less! What irony befitting of Malar, I'm sure he's laughing... even Auril isn't this cruel!" He grunts in a fit of frustration and kicks pointlessly at the dry pine needles. "And you'll give my symbol back, I might as well die than return without it." He seems desperate already, shifting nervously and periodically looking back at the tent. Rest eludes him for now. "hey! Hey!" He whispers and bumps his companion. She doesn't stir.

[I presume you looted him which would include his brooch which he called his symbol.]

[Optional Responses]

[Monday, Spring 24, 10:00, -9.5, Blizzard]

By now everyone's been fed, and Ashley Panther is asleep peacefully, now at 9/23HP. You've rested an hour, Yulya has 2MP as well as the ability to cast 2nd tier spells. Alice has recovered 3HP for a total of 9/17 and has 7THP, as well as recovering all her Ki points but still has 0/3 reflect actions and will require 7 more hours to recover the rest of those. Cat has 22/35 HP now and recovers her rage point. The female bandit is still out and will require healing to recover sooner than a couple more hours. The Male bandit is healing despite the stress.

[Interactions required]

Alice · « **Reply #547 on:** July 30, 2025, 03:03:45 PM »

Somewhat rested, Alice turns her attention to the bandits.
Well, I think it's time we had a little chat, my friends!

She looks at the female bandit.
Damn, Ashley mauled her badly. We can't interrogate her like this!

She takes out her healer's kit to see if she can get her back to consciousness. If not, Alice expends one Ki-Point for Hand of Healing

Cat · « **Reply #548 on:** **Yesterday** at 04:34:03 AM »

Quote from: Joy on July 29, 2025, 07:24:32 PM

The bandit sighs and rolls his eyes, again struggling against the restraints momentarily before giving in to his predicament. Mostly grumbling to himself he says, "defeated by children! Girls no less!

Cat's ear rotates over to the bandit while she continues cooking.
Nyaa what was that Nya?
The girls and children already defeated your troll and druid Nya. Pipsqueaks like you better be quiet Nya!

With Yulya returning and the female bandit waking up, Cat enters Rage and begins her interrogation with a show of Intimidation. The tall Barbarian moves in front of the bandits and shows off her claws

Alright Nya nap time is over Nya! You either answer our questions Nya and be released unharmed Nya - or you'll regret being born Nya! And I won't start with you Mister Nya but with your girlfriend here Nya!

Cat points a claw at the female bandit with a grin showing her fangs
You won't get a lady bonus here Miss Nya because we're all girls Nya! On the contrary Nya! The monster in our tent is always hungry Nya!

Cat steps aside and lets Yulya ask the questions

Joy · « **Reply #549 on:** **Yesterday** at 01:55:32 PM »

Alice takes the healer's kit to address the female bandit, but she's already stable and has no open wounds. Next Alice uses hand of healing.

The male bandit squirms, unsure what's happening to his companion.

[HEAL 1d6+WIS=6] [Some time passes as the one useage if hand if healing wasn't enough but if I forward time half an hour and Alice does it again (5 HP this time), she's left with only a 1ki point deficit as expected.]

[Monday, Spring 24, 10:30, -8, Blizzard]

Alice doesn't have long to wait until the bandits are both finally up. The female bandit opens her eyes and immediately struggles and grunts against her restraints.

"Shit! Gods be damned! Why am I tied? Where are we? You! (To Alice) Who are you?" She smells the food cooking and glances over at Cat "Damnit we lost." She lookes over at her companion, she whispers harshly at him, "Where's Alric?"

The male bandit just shakes his head.

"Crap." She sobers and takes in her situation.

She looks at her captor and calms, "I respectfully request parley, and that my restraints are loosened a little, I can't feel my hands."

A low growl comes from the tent.

She looks down, visibly taken down a notch, she knows the sound of the creature who fought her, "My name is Daniella Baker originally of Baldur, I was originally of the Somerset militia called to Triboar in the year of Great Harvest. We were rushed by bandits and my troop was killed, the women, including me, were... recruited. I will offer that my allegiance to the Cloaked Wolves was predicated on Alric's vision. If he's dead then..." she looks genuinely saddened.

The male bandit becomes agitated, "are you insane? Don't tell them anything!"

She snapps back "I'll do as I wish! You hold no power over me in your current state." She turns back to Alice's expressionless mask. "... if I'm treated with dignity, I'm willing to deal."

"Traitor! The Black Spider will hear about this!" The male bandit spits.

"Do you think we're not dead to the Black Spider already? We failed, even with Harvey Epstein we couldn't hold the line. Without even Alric... we're nothing to him."

She hangs her head in contemplation.

[Hidden rolls]

You have no reason not to believe she's speaking genuinely.

Quote from: Cat on Yesterday at 04:34:03 AM

With Yulya returning and the female bandit waking up, Cat enters Rage and begins her interrogation with a show of Intimidation. The tall Barbarian moves in front of the bandits and shows off her claws "Alright Nya nap time is over Nya! You either answer our questions Nya and be released unharmed Nya - or you'll regret being born Nya! And I won't start with you Mister Nya but with your girlfriend here Nya!" Cat points a claw at the female bandit with a grin showing her fangs "You won't get a lady bonus here Miss Nya because we're all girls Nya! On the contrary Nya! The monster in our tent is always hungry Nya!"

[It was a high Intimidation roll and made more effective with the noisey neighbor in the tent.]

The female bandit looks up at Cat, "I'm willing to say what I know given your conditions that I be released unharmed given I have my suit to survive this tempest."

The male badit shakes his head, and looks down, speaking to his companion, "you've signed your own death warrent, the Black Spider will know."

[Make your moves here or any point prior. Yulya didn't technically make any moves very recently but moving the timeline ahead just gives her more options.]

Yulya · « **Reply #550 on:** **Yesterday** at 03:18:23 PM »

Quote from: Joy on Yesterday at 01:55:32 PM

The female bandit looks up at Cat, "I'm willing to say what I know given your conditions that I be released unharmed given I have my suit to survive this tempest."

Yulya looks down at the bandits with an unreadable expression. She tries to act as cool and serious as possible to overplay her anxiety and prays this is enough to make the captives talk.
So it shall be if - and only if you answer our questions and speak the truth! What you do upon your release is up to you and I cannot say what fate awaits you then. But I can tell you that if you return to join those still in the mine this will be your certain demise. Take the hand I am offering you and I shall do my best to bolster your chances of survival!

Now let me introduce myself! I am Yulya, Peace Cleric of Eldath, Adventurer of Neverwinter, leader of this party, here on behalf of the town of Phandalin. We did not come here to slaughter humans so I would like to avoid that if possible. Yet Alric Edmond chose the wrong side and was judged by the Gods accordingly. What a shameful end to a former hero! You shall be judged depending on your answers so choose wisely. Know that no lie will escape me. Answer briefly and on topic!

Yulya casts Zone of Truth on the bandits and asks them 10 questions. They have a minute to answer each. As Danielle appears to be willing to cooperate (much to Yulyas relief) this is mainly to test if they are attempting to lie or evade answering.

- Who and how many are inside the mine and for what purpose?

- Who are the Cloaked Wolves?

- Who is the Black Spider and what are his goals?

- Why are you so afraid of him?

- What nobility is involved in your organization?

- What is the significance of your Symbols and why are they so important to you?
Yulya holds up a brooch

- What was Sir Alrics role in your organization and why did he side with bandits, What vision did he have?

- Are you aware of his equipment and abilities? If so what abilities did his rings and mantle grant?

- For what purpose do you use the Whistle of the Lost Sailor and where is the counterpart of the one Sir Alric had?

- And finally - what do you plan to do upon your release?
Yulya pays close attention to both of the bandits reactions as one is speaking and tries to estimate their intentions even if one passes the CHA test of Zone of Truth

Alice · « **Reply #551 on:** **Yesterday** at 07:30:05 PM »

Quote from: Joy on Yesterday at 01:55:32 PM

Alice doesn't have long to wait until the bandits are both finally up. The female bandit opens her eyes and immediately struggles and grunts against her restraints.
"Shit! Gods be damned! Why am I tied? Where are we? You! (To Alice) Who are you?" She smells the food cooking and glances over at Cat "Damnit we lost."

Alice leans over her
I'm Alice! I healed you back to consciousness, you were pretty mauled and out for a while. I'm surprised you survived that!

Quote from: Joy on Yesterday at 01:55:32 PM

She looks at her captor and calms, "I respectfully request parley, and that my restraints are loosened a little, I can't feel my hands."
"My name is Daniella Baker originally of Baldur, I was originally of the Somerset militia called to Triboar in the year of Great Harvest. We were rushed by bandits and my troop was killed, the women, including me, were... recruited. I will offer that my allegiance to the Cloaked Wolves was predicated on Alric's vision. If he's dead then..." she looks genuinely saddened.

The male bandit becomes agitated, "are you insane? Don't tell them anything!"
She snapps back "I'll do as I wish! You hold no power over me in your current state." She turns back to Alice's expressionless mask. "... if I'm treated with dignity, I'm willing to deal."

Alice nods and is easily won over
The Cloaked Wolves? Do they have wofl cloaks like mine as well?
You appear surprisingly reasonable compared to the other bandits we had the pleasure of interrogating. I like that!

With nimble fingers, Alice slightly loosens the rope that binds her but makes sure there's no way to slip out of it.
You gotta excuse Cat, she has no sense for what's appropriate when roping people up. Guess you can call that a curse of strength...

Quote from: Joy on Yesterday at 01:55:32 PM

The male bandit shakes his head, and looks down, speaking to his companion, "you've signed your own death warrent, the Black Spider will know."

Alice chuckles
Ohh, the Black Spider will know!
Tell you what, a while ago we cleared out a certain goblin den and there was a painting of a giant spider on the wall. I defaced that on a whim. I hope the Black Spider knows that too!

So what's with that guy? Why are you so afraid? I can respect if you are loyal because of your ideals and convictions - but out of fear? You will probably get killed as well if you return there, right? So what's the point? You're given a genuine chance - a last chance here. You can do as you please after we release you. But if I ever catch you doing bandit things again...
Alices mask forms an eerie grin
...I will do things to you that will make that spiderguy look like a saint!

Alice cheerfully hops into the background and takes a seat on the fir bedding to watch Yulya's magic show

Author Topic: Campaign #1 - Somewhere on the Sword Coast (Read 2206913 times)

Joy

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Cat

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Joy

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Alice

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Joy

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Yulya

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Joy

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Alice

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Cat

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Joy

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Yulya

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Alice

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