PrP: Perfection
Log Info
- Title: Perfection
- Emitter: James
- Characters: Barbalau, Jokul, Aya
- Place: Cave outside Alexandria
- Time: Apr 8, 2016
- Summary: Adventurers are needed to recover a chest, because there is a shortage of perfect chests in this world.
- APL: 3
- Encounter 1: Tengu (CR 1/2, 200 XP) x 2 (1/2 + 1/2 + 2 for 2 enemies = CR 3)
You are all made aware of a merchant in Alexandria with a problem. In his shop, an excitable half-sildanyar merchant greets you, his hands up, gesticulating as he explains. "It's the chest, it was stolen! I don't care what was in it, just some rations from someone in your guild. But the chest! There is a shortage of perfect chests in this world, and I'd appreciate it undamaged. I tracked it myself to a cave outside town. I dare not go in myself, so please, get that chest!"
Barbalau laughs a little to himself, "a ... chest?" The smirk on the dwarf's face turns slightly upwards as he chuckles. "Did you see who took it?" he looks for gnomes.
The Half-sil shakes his head. "I didn't! The place was busy. I was making a sale of a custom chest, and while I looked away, my masterpiece was stolen! Taken right out of the shop! I'm a fool!"
An overly excited man in search of the perfect chest. This doesn't seem terribly surprising to Aya, by some interperetations. A white brow arches. "So it is the container, not the contents, you seek. Where did you last see it? What does it look like?"
Barbalau laughs and laughs some more, setting a broad hand on the desktop he turns to ask the others "people of alexandrea, no doubt a prank has been pulled on this fine establishment, did any of you see anything?" he holds up some gold coins to prompt the crowd
The shopkeeper looks to Aya, and begins demonstrating with his hands. "The chest, it's half my size, roughly. It has a broad base, and these two, beautiful, round arches at the top. In the middle is this golden latch, suitable for the best of locks. Yes, take whateve ryou want of what's inside, if anything's left. Just bring the chest back!" He then scurries behind his counter, and brings out a parchment, where he's drawn a map to where the chest was taken, holding it out to the group. A couple other people in the shop watch in amusement as well, but they shake their heads at Barbalau. Nobody saw anything.
Jokul looks increasingly more unamused with every passing word in this conversation, it seems like. Ultimately, though... he's just a sellsword, and a job is a job. So when the map is brought out, he just steps over past Aya and Barbalau and snatches it from the shopkeeper. "Let's just... get it over with..." He mutters. He might be taking hte job, but he doesn't have to be *happy* about it.
Barbalau elbows Jokul "hey now.. dont be pushy." He moves to lok at the map "what is this a map of then?" he asks before he looks round "I dont know anything bout finding tricksters.." he admits as he eyes the shop and then outside it for clues.
The shopkeeper beams at the group. "Thank you. Handle it as you like. If I had your skills, I would take the thief and give him pain. Leave him deformed. So that every shriek of every child at seeing his hideousness would be his to cherish. Every babe that wept at his approach, every woman who cried out 'Dear Gods, what is that thing!' would echo in his ears. I would leave him in anguish, wallowing in freakish misery, forever." He then pauses. "Good luck!" He then turns to Barbalau. "The chest was dragged enough of the way that I followed the trail. But it leads into a cave, and I'm afraid of what's inside."
Barbalau calls out "Right, to the pain!" he chuckles some more and is off to follow Jokul
Aya's other brow lifts at the shopkeep's desired result. "That could be arranged." When he explains that he already tracked the trail and where it leads, she nods. "This should be easy enough." She glances to the others. Afterall, if a shopkeep can follow the trail...
"Let's hope it isn't," Jokul mutters after they're out of the shop and on their way. "If this whole job is going to turn out to just hauling some stupid chest around..."
The trail is easy enough to follow, since you have a map. The drag marks are regular, and easy to spot, since it was such a huge, sturdy chest being dragged. The perfect chest. It leads to a cave in a hill outside of town.
GAME: Jokul rolls perception: (1)+3: 4 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Barbalau rolls perception: (9)+9: 18 GAME: Barbalau rolls Knowledge/Nature: (7)+4: 11
You paged Barbalau with 'You notice a wisp of smoke coming from the cave. Also, leading in and out of it are overlapping sets of bird tracks, large ones. Some old, some new. They make a well-worn path into the cave.'
Barbalau looks to the hill as they draw near, the Dwarf says "I see smoke and.. large avian tracks weaving into the cave over on the side of the hill." he says
"...We're already there?" Asks Jokul, apparently... just a little bit surprised. For whatever reason. He's trying very hard to spot the smoke Barbalau's indicated too, but to no avail. "Think the smoke's related?"
Aya could follow the map. She cold probably follow the drag marks. Instead, she follows those following the map and/or drag marks. Who knows? they might lead somewhere other than their desired destination. "If someone is burning the chest, it could be related."
"We'll just have to find out," muses Jokul with a wrinkle of his nose before he sets into forward movement again. "We might as well check the cave out first. Maybe we're lucky and whatever left the tracks is still there."
Barbalau looks to the map and then he shakes his head "could be a nest of somesort, do the avians live underground usually?" he asks the group as he heads closer to the cavern hillside
The cave has nothing coming in or out that you observe. Just a wisp of smoke coming from it, as though from a fire somewhere inside.
"...Most birds don't usually make fires inside caves either, do they?" Jokul points out bemusedly before he turns his sword's weight forward and away from his shoulder. "Maybe it's another drake. Been running into plenty of those lately."
Barbalau looks round at his companions "move in or scout it?" he looks to the female of the group
Aya looks to Barbalau when she notices his question seems directed to her by his attention. "One implies the other, doesn't it? This chest doesn't look to be laying about out here..." She steps past the discussion and uncertainty to approach, and possibly enter, the cave.
GAME: Jokul rolls perception: (15)+3: 18 GAME: Aya rolls perception: (3)+12: 15 GAME: Barbalau rolls perception: (10)+9: 19
You see a campfire a hundred yards or so in. Occasional motions in front mark the presence of two dark figures. Humanoid.
"Well there's our answer," Jokul intones quietly and takes a knee with a wrinkle of his nose. "How do we wanna play this? Just go for it?"
Barbalau shrugs his shoulders "could ask for it back." he chuckles "they probably don't want the chest afterall yah?" he scratches his head.
"...It *is* just a chest, isn't it. Sod it." Jokul heaves himself up from his kneel with that, and... goes not just stomping towards
GAME: Jokul rolls initiative: 7 + 3 = 10
Aya is considering their options... when Jokul seems to make the decision for them all. Whether she agrees with said decision or not remains to be seen.
GAME: Aya rolls initiative: 11 + 3 = 14a GAME: You roll initiative for T1: Roll: 8 + Bonus: 3 = Total: 11 GAME: You roll initiative for T2: Roll: 10 + Bonus: 3 = Total: 13 GAME: Barbalau rolls 1d20+4: (8)+4: 12
As you approach, the pair notice you. Well, they especially notice the headstrong Jokul, but with the cave entrance behind you, they see the group. The pair, who are black-feathered humanoids with crow-like heads (beaks smaller and less impressive than that new Cleric around Alexandria) each draw a rapier and turn to prepare for battle.
GAME: Barbalau rolls initiative: 8 + 7 = 15
GAME: James advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 15.
It is now Barbalau's turn! Aya is next!
GAME: Note Flat-footed on Barbalau ended.
Barbalau murmers softly under his breath before he touches his rapier waiting to see if the avian's will do things peacefully. "We just want to take back the chest folks, you can keep whats inside no need for fighting."
GAME: James advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 14.
It is now Aya's turn! T2 is next!
GAME: Note Flat-footed on Aya ended.
GAME: Barbalau casts Divine Favor. Caster Level: 2 DC: 15
Barbalau moves alongside the other male in the group, hoping this dose not need to end in bloodshed over a simple chest. He watches the group ahead and those he is with.
Aya walks further into the cavern, towards the birds and their fire. "You'd be smart to take his advice..." She is also smart, and eyes to pair warily, in case they prove beligerant.
One of the two birdmen stands his ground next to the other. Watching the group charging ahead, he doesn't charge himself. But caws out a reply to Barbalau "We found it. It's ours. Go away." He then points the rapier at the group, holding it in his right hand, and nods. "And I'm not left handed."
GAME: James advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 11.
It is now T1's turn! Jokul is next!
The other Tengu also points his rapier, matching the move. "What he said!"
GAME: James advances the initiative order.
Round One - Init 10.
It is now Jokul's turn! Barbalau is next!
GAME: Note Flat-footed on Jokul ended.
GAME: Jokul rolls Intimidate: (13)+8: 21
GAME: NEW ROUND!
James advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 15.
It is now Barbalau's turn! Aya is next!
GAME: Barbalau rolls Intimidate+1: (20)+5+1: 26
"See, I don't caaaaaare," bellows the Aesir while he just calmly stomps his way through the cavern towars the birdmen, teeth flashed out in an outright feral grin. The massive sword propped to his shoulder gets lifted up just enough that he can tap it back against his armored shoulder with a *clank*. "The guy it belonged to wants it back. And you have about until you're in the range of this thing to decide if it's going to go through. That worth it?"
GAME: James advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 13.
It is now T2's turn! T1 is next!
Barbalau rumbles his deep dwarven voice calls out - with the fierce strong tone. "Listen, Birds should be above ground not below, this is /not/ the fight you are looking for, not today!" he moves with Jokul his rapier out but he dose not look like he wants to use it.. "Go now and never return". Well that might be from a different movie but Barb is scary!
GAME: James advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 11.
It is now T1's turn! Jokul is next!
GAME: James advances the initiative order.
Round Two - Init 10.
It is now Jokul's turn! Barbalau is next!
"You found it, and now we did." Aya calls to the shadows against which the fire flickers. The shadows answer, deepening, thickening, and flocking to her until they suppress the light in her vicinity. "Is it worth your lives?" comes her voice again, now moving nearer to the bird brains.
Ordinarily the birdman would charge at you in return, especially since Aya's only 20 feet away. But you guys are scary. They really are. And now it's dark. They have low light vision, but... this is ridiculous. Their rapiers are out, but they don't... do anything. They just watch, not sure if they want to see what happens nextor not.
GAME: NEW ROUND!
James advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 15.
It is now Barbalau's turn! Aya is next!
With everyone getting gradually closer, Jokul finally turns the weight of his sword away from his shoulder, and grips onto the hilt with his other hand, too, calling out a warning of "You're running out of distance," to the birdmen.
Barbalau moves slightly aside to make room for the bird folk to leave if they wished as he moves to attempt to get the chest. after all they have not attacked them yet.
GAME: James advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 14.
It is now Aya's turn! T2 is next!
"You're time is up," comes the harsh whisper from behind one of the avians. Just before he catches a fist in the back.
GAME: Aya rolls melee: (9)+6: 15
GAME: Aya rolls 1d8+2+4: (8)+2+4: 14
GAME: James rolls 1d20: (8): 8
GAME: James advances the initiative order.
Round Three - Init 13.
It is now T2's turn! T1 is next!
T2, clobbered by Aya's stunning fist, falls unconscious, clutching his side and dropping his weapon.
GAME: James rolls 1d20+1: (3)+1: 4
The other birdman turns, cawing in anger as he sees the other fall. "Hello, my name is Montalon. You killed my brother. Prepare to die!" He then moves right up to Aya, and stabs... missing completely the nimble monk.
GAME: Jokul rolls melee+1+2: (4)+6+1+2: 13
GAME: NEW ROUND!
James advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 15.
It is now Barbalau's turn! Aya is next!
GAME: Barbalau rolls weapon1+1: (9)+4+1: 14
GAME: James advances the initiative order.
Round Four - Init 14.
It is now Aya's turn! T1 is next!
One drops, the other threatens his friend.. at least for the moment. "I said...../no fighting/" and its with a great sadness he turns and charges Montalon. His rapier ready ...and swiftly aimed but swiftly missing
GAME: Aya rolls melee: (15)+6: 21 GAME: Aya rolls melee: (20)+6: 26 (THREAT) GAME: Aya rolls melee: (10)+6: 16 GAME: Aya rolls melee: (4)+6: 10 GAME: Aya rolls 1d8+2+4: (7)+2+4: 13 GAME: Aya rolls 1d8+2+4: (6)+2+4: 12
"And you're next," comes Aya's retort from the shadows. Next comes a fist, an elbow, and a knee. Despite her statement, however, she did not, in fact, kill anyone. This is only to the pain, and only minimally so. As the other makes an unpleasant noise and crumples, she looks to the males. "They choose poorly."
Two unconscious tengus lay there, rapiers beside them. A campfire is setup, with freshly cooked rations, half eaten, sitting nearby. The perfectly curved chest sits open in a corner, empty.
Barbalau looks to Aya, no he was not coming to rescue her, nope! We wont mention that both of her would be rescuers missed the mark and the girl dropped both of the avians no we shall not. Barb coughs and nods turning away from her fast and blushing slightly as he dose so. He looks for the chest and then looks for anything intresting these would be thieves.
The pair have pretty standard adventuring kits. Packs with ropes, rations, whatnot. They had leather armor for each, but it was off to one side. Each also has a pouch full of coin.
"Well," sighs out Jokul after he's set his sword leaning back against his shoulder, seemingly disappointed. "That was boring. Let's just take the damn chest and get back to that odd shopkeeper. ... What's so special about this thing, anyway?" Cue a kick of his boot against the aforementioned chest.
The chest is incredibly sturdy, and the lid doesn't even move against a casual kick.
Aya rolls her shoulders, though they are not visible until afer the gesture, when the shadows disperse and lighten. "It is special in that we were offered a reward for its return. That is all we need to be concerned with."