(081) Journeymen Returned

Waysoftheearth's Hinterlands PBP

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Post by mushgnome » Thu Oct 06, 2016 10:39 pm

Re: (081) Journeymen Returned

Invisible Highbouh proposes to invoke The Acclivitous Smaze* to create smoke stairs, allowing him to effortlessly scale the ridge and waft like a feather into the stockade. To the casual observer, he would appear as no more than a wisp of fog rolling down the hillside. If there is no danger, then Highbough will open the front gate and signal to Wen and Dorgan. If there is trouble, he can use his cloud steps and/or blinking power to escape. Thoughts on this plan?

(* Assuming the winds are not gusting.)
[f=59]Stern (Strong Hero, MV 9′′, AC 3, HD 4, hp 20, FC 4 men/hero, SV F4, L)[/f]

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Post by waysoftheearth » Thu Oct 06, 2016 11:54 pm

Re: (081) Journeymen Returned

There is only a light and occasional hint of a breeze. Highhbough's plan is a magnificent example of problem solving in the episodic style; surely worthy of a Vancian-style post to make it all happen in game :D
[f=32]Golgildir the Elf Medium (MV 12", AC 9, HD 1, hp 1/1, AL N) great cloak, lantern; spells: color spray; scrolls: sleep, sleep, charm person
Hirelings: Georges; torch[/f]

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Post by sully » Fri Oct 07, 2016 1:56 pm

Re: (081) Journeymen Returned

Dorgan grunts in approval and moves toward a spot where he can see the entrance to the stockade while hopefully not being seen himself. He waits there for Highbough's signal.
Thanis [Stealthy Hero, MV 12′′, AC 7, HD 4, hp 16, FC 4 men/hero, SV F4, N]. Hooded cloak, padded armor, sword, longbow +1 & quiver of arrows, dagger.

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Post by mgtremaine » Fri Oct 07, 2016 7:40 pm

Re: (081) Journeymen Returned

Wen smiles as Highbough invokes the magical staircase, truly a feat to behold. "Be ready, who knows what he'll do in there"he whispers to Dorgan.
[f=4]Wen the Pale, Elf Hero/Spellbinder (MV 12", AC 9, HD 4/2, hp 11/11, FC Hero, L) helm, bow[/f]
[f=47]Kiplyn Sorefoot, Hobbet Thief (Lv: 4 AC: 5 Hp 12) Leather+Shield+Dagger, Sling[/f]
[f=59]Tass Purrfoot (Agile Hobbet Varlet, MV 9′′, AC 7, HD 2, hp 8, FC 2 men, SV T7, N)[/f]

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Post by mushgnome » Sat Oct 08, 2016 5:01 pm

Re: (081) Journeymen Returned

Sensing his friends' approval, Invisible Highbough speaks the infernal words of The Acclivitous Smaze, binding the spirits of the air to his service. He conjures a series of smoke-puffs, like the steps of a staircase. As Highbough strides from cloud to cloud, the vapours dissipate behind him, and new steps appear before him. Through concentration, he can make the staircase ascend, descend, and turn left or right. Travel by Smaze isn't quite as liberating as true flight, but it allows Highbough to walk at his normal pace over the roughest terrain. He hovers just above the rocks and trees, following the contours of the hillside down into the stockade.
[f=59]Stern (Strong Hero, MV 9′′, AC 3, HD 4, hp 20, FC 4 men/hero, SV F4, L)[/f]

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Post by waysoftheearth » Mon Oct 10, 2016 11:33 am

Re: (081) Journeymen Returned

Invisible Highboug glides down 50ft of perilous rock face upon a roiling wave of misty vapor to alight silently inside the stockade compound. It is a 20 yard wide semi-circle of barren rock; relatively level but strewn with discarded bones and broken junk. All is still and silent but for the low murmurings emanating from the bleak cave-mouth behind him.

As Invisible Highbough turns to hone in on these sounds, the earth suddenly thuds and he almost has to jump aside to avoid being walked into by a grouchy giant who strides carelessly right through the spot where our Elf had alighted. The great oaf is muttering spitefully to himself as he lumbers toward the stockade with some iresome load and then--reaching the stockade wall--proceeds to empty a detestable chamber pot over the wall.

This grim task done, the ignoble creature turns about to return from whence he came...
[f=32]Golgildir the Elf Medium (MV 12", AC 9, HD 1, hp 1/1, AL N) great cloak, lantern; spells: color spray; scrolls: sleep, sleep, charm person
Hirelings: Georges; torch[/f]

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Post by mushgnome » Mon Oct 10, 2016 8:03 pm

Re: (081) Journeymen Returned

Highbough takes a look around the giant's stockade. Does it have any kind of door or gate to the outside world? Or does the giant simply step over? Are there signs the giant shares the compound with other inhabitants or pets? What about the giant itself? Does it look like the same giant that attacked the party at the gatehouse? Is it carrying weapons or armor? Does the entrance to its lair have any kind of door, or is it a simple cave? Is the entrance proportionate to the giant's size, or must it stoop and squeeze to enter. Finally, what material is the chamberpot?
[f=59]Stern (Strong Hero, MV 9′′, AC 3, HD 4, hp 20, FC 4 men/hero, SV F4, L)[/f]

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Post by waysoftheearth » Thu Oct 13, 2016 11:40 am

Re: (081) Journeymen Returned

The Giant certainly looked giant-sized when he was about to walk into Highbough; but from a safe distance the elf can see he is "only" about 8ft tall and four times as massive as a regular fighting-man. As he stoops into the broad cave mouth, Highbough notes he is wearing coarse, blue coveralls and a filthy bear-skin cloak, but no proper armor to speak of. He also has a heavy looking cudgel dangling from his belt. The makeshift "chamber pot" he drags carelessly behind him might have once been a brass bathtub belonging to some petty lord or inn-keeper among Dwarfs or Men.

As for the stockade; yes there is a broad gate to its front which is apparently held fast by a heavy chain looped over a steel peg, at about 6ft above ground level. Highbough hears echoes of crude voices from within the cave, but notes archly that he is alone in the enclosed yard, for now...
[f=32]Golgildir the Elf Medium (MV 12", AC 9, HD 1, hp 1/1, AL N) great cloak, lantern; spells: color spray; scrolls: sleep, sleep, charm person
Hirelings: Georges; torch[/f]

Posts: 2843
Joined: Tue Sep 17, 2013 11:12 pm
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Post by mushgnome » Fri Oct 14, 2016 1:18 am

Re: (081) Journeymen Returned

Any sane Elf would immediately smaze over the stockade and cloud-step far, far away from the giant--or giants, plural. But Invisible Highbough's curiosity gets the best of him and pulls him toward the cave mouth. How many individual voices can his keen ears distinguish? All giants, or mixed species? Does he understand what they are saying? Can he see what's going on inside?
[f=59]Stern (Strong Hero, MV 9′′, AC 3, HD 4, hp 20, FC 4 men/hero, SV F4, L)[/f]

Posts: 16902
Joined: Thu Sep 05, 2013 1:15 am
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Post by waysoftheearth » Mon Oct 17, 2016 11:59 am

Re: (081) Journeymen Returned

As he approaches the cave Invisble Highbough makes out at least two voices distinctly; they're speaking a crude dialect of the Illiberal tongue.
"Gimme that piss bucket ya goon, I'm bustin'" snarls one voice.
"Fetch it yerself, ya lazy nob!" retorts another.
Then there is a clatter as if the empty chamber pot were thrown across a room. A bout of raucous laughter follows...

From the sound of that, Highbough estimates there must be at least four of them in there, but he can't quite see inside. The brightness of the day outside is dazzling his dark eyes.
[f=32]Golgildir the Elf Medium (MV 12", AC 9, HD 1, hp 1/1, AL N) great cloak, lantern; spells: color spray; scrolls: sleep, sleep, charm person
Hirelings: Georges; torch[/f]

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