mrshnigles
Approved
Currently Playing Gorien
Posts: 67
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Post by mrshnigles on Jan 8, 2019 3:55:15 GMT
(For Crucible, Astra, Smee, and Nathaniel)
South of Waterdeep is a manor by the name of Greyvale run by the widow of a noble family, madame Greyhause. It is at this house that many servants have reported figures lurking about the grounds and solicitors almost daily. The master of the house called for an investigation and now some adventurers are abound to make certain the claims of the servants and potentially serve justice. Either way this job pays a wage of 25 dragons (gp) for the adventurers presence.
After about an hour of walking the party sees the house in question, a tall and slim one with what appears to be 4 floors rising into a cone-shaped roof with a circular window looking out towards the city. Coming closer reveals a short iron gate around the home with tall hedges peeking out from behind the house, plants which were planted in front of the house have withered with the winter and adorning the doors to the front is large grey knocker in the shape of a brick.
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Post by Shaun on Jan 8, 2019 14:35:52 GMT
"um... er...... Hi... Hello...." says Nathaniel as he greets his allies before they head out to investigate. Nathaniel nervously and cautiously walks with Astra, Smee and Crucible as they arrive at the manor. He has rarely interacted with other people and so this is all quite new to him. He quietly keeps to himself and is content with listening to Smee tell his boisterous tales. He is intrigued by Astra and doesn't know just how to read her as of yet but is drawn to her aura and calmness/quietness. He is particularly concerned about the abomination and unnatural being that is Crucible although would never say this out loud to his face. It disgusts him actually.
Are there any animals in sight or around the manor? If so, Nate would like to cast a Speak with Animals spells (L1 Druid) to see if he can get any information about the strange figures that have been lurking about. He will try and cast the spell on what he feels is the most intelligent animal around... perhaps a fox or something to the like? Worst case he could reach out to a bird.
Thank you and please bear with me as I am new to PbP!
Also can you please tell me how the dice rolls are made? Something about copying and pasting some code? I would LOVE if I could make my rolls with real dice and just be honest and tell you what I got... but if that's not possible let me know the code and I will use it going forward when the time comes.
Thanks again!
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mrshnigles
Approved
Currently Playing Gorien
Posts: 67
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Post by mrshnigles on Jan 8, 2019 15:55:47 GMT
(Welcome, die rolls are made by typing [roll=quantity and type of die (1d20, 2d6, etc.) And then + or - a modifier) Looking around the manor itself reveals no animals except for some birds high in the sky as the winter has driven many animals into hiding. (You may attempt a check to track some animals)
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Alxolex
Approved
H.J. Smee, sailor and thief (3) // Caligo Drogo, ranger (1)
Posts: 41
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Post by Alxolex on Jan 8, 2019 18:55:12 GMT
"...and that be how the late Captain Copperbottom received his unique surname," H.J. finished as Nathaniel took his leave from the party to sleuth around the grounds. While the property was impressive as such things went, he couldn't understand why land lubbers willingly trapped themselves in a home surrounded by trees and hedges--or a sea of other dwellings like in the City of Splendors--where the view remained ever unchanging. "Whelp, I be on me way to meet the widow Grayhause. Any o' ye comin' to the knocker wi' me?"
Passive perception: 15
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Post by Shaun on Jan 8, 2019 20:29:23 GMT
Nate is still wondering about Astra... the less she says the more interested he becomes.
And he is still completely freaked out with Crucible... "What IS that thing anyhow?? Such aberration of nature...." he thinks to himself. Again Nate would never in a million years express these feelings to Crucible. Frankly he's scared of him.
Nate is completely overwhelmed and enthralled by H.J's stories and accent and finds it quite amusing vs. the secluded, recluse hermit-style of life that he is used to.
"Hmmmmm.... seems like there are no animals in direct sight and those birds up there won't be much use." Nate thought to himself.
Nate will attempt to track an animal, specifically a Fox as they are very smart animals and do not hibernate.
Here's my roll: (+5 with my Survival proficiency)
GYHtclt51d20+5
If it fails, Nate will sit back and wait in hiding as Smee and whoever might be joining him proceed to the front door. If it succeeds, he will actually leave the party and try to find the fox to have a chat with it to inquire if it has seen any strange occurrences around the manor over the past few weeks. (I will be happy to make an Animal Handling check if the fox is spooked and then subsequently will have to cast speak with animals when the time comes)
1d20+5
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Post by 3personal5me on Jan 8, 2019 21:17:09 GMT
Crucible plodded along with the rest, listening to the sailors story. "Copperbottom? That was my nickname in the smithy, actually. What a weird coincidence".
He took in the house before him, pondering the problem set out before them. "perhaps we should get started! At least make our presence known before we start snooping around the grounds".
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Post by pastels on Jan 9, 2019 2:27:32 GMT
Waterdeep. The City of Splendors.
It was a tall claim. The place was… fair. It was no Silverymoon; no delicate, twined arches gracing the skyline, or carefully planned rotundas around crystalline fountains. Sunlight shone directly upon the people on the streets. There were no raised faces brimming with wonderment at the sight of scattered rainbows filtered through hanging glass prisms, each in their own open cage, gently swaying in the breeze. Ah, and the music! To hear even a strain of the songs from the temples is to catch a glimpse of the divine.
Needless to say, Astra spent her time in Waterdeep reminiscing and stewing in dissatisfaction. If she was feeling particularly masochistic, she would visit the Castle Ward and wait. A guard would usually come to shoo her away within minutes, no doubt summoned by a noble disgusted with her rags. It was a middling source of fun, for a time.
The City of the Dead was a favorite among the Wards; Mitja was free to antagonize the other birds perched atop the gravestones while she sat somewhere, savoring the peace and silence only the dead can bring. There, she was safe from prying eyes. She needed the privacy.
One could never tell when It would speak to her.
Those moments were always an exercise in fortitude, which she—nursing the wounds and aches of so many conflicts—often failed. The damnable Entity never learned how to communicate without causing the recipient of Its message to wish she were dead. She had a nagging suspicion It enjoyed sending her plowing into a steaming pile of shit, or straight through a cavalcade of puffing city guards. If It had a sense of humor. In any case... After too many instances of collapsing in the middle of a street and inevitably dealing with the resulting fuss from nosy passersby, Astra took to herself.
So, then. There was that. Stewing in dissatisfaction and resentment, bleeding coin from every pocket. When she was down to a miserable amount, she decided to take on jobs. Anything to while away her time until It issued one of Its cryptic demands again.
This newest group was simply another in the line-up, and it was no more impressive than the others. A timid human; a rather rotund, ruddy ex-sailor (she clued in on that during his first story); and a Warforged. The last one was most interesting. If they weren’t tasked with protecting a noble’s house from unwelcome visitors, she would have sat down and studied the creature.
“Go on to our employer. I will follow, after I see if we have company.” Her voice was rough and silent from disuse. Compared to her more colorful allies, Astra was a picture of grim pallor with her dark robes and rigid posture. She raised her hand, and a sleek, odd-looking raven jumped onto it from her shoulder. It swiveled its head, ruffled its wings, then took flight. She stood deathly still in the snow, eyes turning all-white as Mitja surveyed the house from above.
Perception Check: X3v6meNY1d20+31d20+3
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mrshnigles
Approved
Currently Playing Gorien
Posts: 67
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Post by mrshnigles on Jan 10, 2019 16:43:24 GMT
Nate, looking about and walking around the grounds found no animals in the yard, but did find several corpses of small rodents under the bushes with barely discernible features as they appear to be mutilated. Looking about the yard, some of you notice curtain suddenly draw closed. Making the eerie feeling of this neglected estate even more pronounced. The raven familiar soars around the house using its potent sight to discern tiny details about the surrounding area: at the large circular window at the top floor of the house the raven sees a shadow of a humanoid with a faint red glow standing and watching the adventurers from above. Also peculiar is the many burnt patches of grass about the home which seem to be centered here and extend out into the landscape becoming less and less as the raven peers over the landscape.
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Post by pastels on Jan 10, 2019 19:04:40 GMT
"Mitja." At the whisper of its name, the raven glided once, twice around the manor spire before heading down to Astra. The elf blinked-and there. Her eyes were back to normal; warm gold chipped with aged amber, which for a moment was shadowed by slight concern. Then the moment passed, and it was gone. Astra shook her head and raised her forearm halfway up, her familiar readjusting to the moving perch with an almost comical wiggle. The action was rewarded with a quick, comforting brush across the wing. Nothing but a display of affection between a purported wizard and her familiar. At least, until she casually turned towards Smee and Crucible and muttered, voice hard as flint, "Do not at all react to my words. We are being watched. Top floor, human-sized form. Strange light around it." Astra glanced away from the bird, her gaze settling on the land beyond the manor. "Burnt land all over there too, despite the snow." Their last ally was on the back of her mind, and she did have the means to silently warn him... But that might prove more detrimental than not. She would rather repeat herself than suffer the risk of a meek man panicking over telepathy. The fact of the matter is that all of them were hired to protect the manor. Unfortunately, before they had even arrived, the grounds showed signs of damage and the employer turned (at best) into a recluse. That Madam Greyhause, if the figure was indeed her, stood there and watched their movements in silence was most curious; nobles do not simply miss the chance to flaunt at their hired swords. She should know. At worst... Well. Astra suppressed a sigh. Her old, war-tested instincts were narrowing their eyes at this very moment. She had better be on her guard. "What do you propose we do?" (Sorry for layout, on mobile at the moment. DM, tell me if I need to roll Deception for the figure! )
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Post by Shaun on Jan 10, 2019 19:44:36 GMT
Nate returns back to the party at the exact moment that Astra finishes describing her familiar's findings. Although he didn't quite hear the full explanation, judging from her expression and her cold concerned gaze he knew it wasn't good.
He slowly holds up both of his hands which are holding several small horrifically mutilated rodents by the tail (his hands are in fists and he is holding the rodents by the tails so they are dangling from his fists if you know what I mean).
Nate quietly and nervously awaits the more confident ally's responses to Astra's question while he quietly and delicately returns the dead rodents to the earth hidden in a bush nearby.
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Post by 3personal5me on Jan 10, 2019 20:38:52 GMT
The warforged stood quietly as the woman talked. His hand tightened almost imperceptibly on the grip of his mace upon hearing they were being watched. He fought the urge to react. For once, he prayed that his unique nature would help hide his reaction. He closed his eyes, concentrating for a moment as he tried to think of something. "By now, whoever is in the window is more than aware of our presence. The fact that we stand here unimpeded and uninjured cannot be chance. I propose we investigate the burned land first, before moving on to the building itself". He looked around at the others as he spoke, struggling to keep his tone of voice neutral. Part of him, a small part of him, was always afraid when he went adventuring. Another, much larger part, was very excited.
"If the fire was caused by combat, or defense, that would be very useful to know. I, for one, would not want to be on the receiving end of a surosied immolation just for knocking on the wrong door. I trust that your... Ahh... Avien friend can keep an eye on the house while we are gone? Letting us know if anyone arrives or leaves".
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Alxolex
Approved
H.J. Smee, sailor and thief (3) // Caligo Drogo, ranger (1)
Posts: 41
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Post by Alxolex on Jan 12, 2019 3:16:52 GMT
H.J. thought highly of Mitja. It was like a parrot with less color but more cunning. And Mitja was much less annoying than any pirate's familiar he'd ever encountered, whether they be feathery, hairy, scaly, or slimy. He listened to Astra's deductions from what the bird had seen and saw the mutilated remains of rodents Nate had found. "Pah! Don't get yer breeches in a knot. So Lady Grayhause be waiting for us with a candle in the window. Seems sensible to me, with all her drapes shut 'gainst the winter sun. She prob'bly not opening her door yet cuz it be cold." He rubbed his hands together. "A cat obvioulsy likes to be playin' with its food. And the Lady be mad at some yellow-bellied mongrel that be ligthin' bonfires at night on her property? Prob'bly just some poor vagrant tryin' to keep his remaining toes from fallin' off, savvy?" He adjusted his belt, pulled down his leather armor under his cloak, and dusted a shoulder. "Whelp, I be gettin' outta the cold and in front of a blazin' hearth. And maybe wooing a widow in distress," he winked. Not waiting to see if anyone would follow, he made his way towards the porch with the firm intention of rapping that brick-shaped knocker.
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Post by 3personal5me on Jan 15, 2019 4:16:46 GMT
Crucible shrugged, watching the man approach the door. At least he could back him up. Doing his best to not look threatening, he joined at the door and stood aside, waiting.
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Post by pastels on Jan 15, 2019 11:19:00 GMT
Astra silently watched as older human sauntered over to the door, apparently letting no warning stop him from resting in front of the nearest hearth. The Warforged showed an unsurprising lack of commitment; at first, it suggested investigating the charred land. In the next breath, the construct was plodding after Smee, feet crushing long drifts onto the glittering snow.
Now… To be perfectly fair, those were valid points. But there was a nagging feeling she couldn’t shake off—she simply had to know more about what she saw. Call it instinct or pure paranoia. Both were frowned upon among her kind. Elves, especially the sun elves, were supposed to act “above” their short-lived brethren, foregoing passion and anger for the cold certainty of a well-planned coup de grace. As the People, they poured centuries into spinning masterpieces, perfecting their chosen skills, and weaving spells that took generations to blossom.
But there had been too many times in her life where she regretted not following up on a “mere” feeling. She refused to make that mistake again, consequences be damned.
Mitja didn’t spot anything dangerous within the property… At worst, it could be vandalism. That would be important to know. Rivals resorting to arson are dangerous—and the four of them could do much to protect against that magnitude of enmity.
In one fluid turn, Astra switched her full attention on the quiet man. Rose. “I will investigate. I will welcome another pair of eyes with us, but I do not fault you if you seek the comforts of the fire as well.” Without another word, she stalked towards the nearest spot, body tense as a bloodhound on the scent.
(Upon immediately reaching the spot, Astra would attempt to determine the cause of the fire and if there's time, try to deduce if there's a pattern to the affected places or if it's just random fire-throwing. What should I roll for this, DM?)
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Alxolex
Approved
H.J. Smee, sailor and thief (3) // Caligo Drogo, ranger (1)
Posts: 41
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Post by Alxolex on Jan 23, 2019 0:52:02 GMT
H.J. rapped the brick-shaped knocker four times.
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