The Storm in Isger

Game Master Sigil

In response to Harlynn's question...

I am not sure where everyone is. If I have not heard from you by my next post, you are with Elinor, outside of the ring of stones watching carefully. I am going to use that as a default to keep the action moving. The default will be no action, optimized for your logical benefit. :)

That is true for Narnel, and he was using stealth to hide behind one of the stones. The roll is up above, but I can re-roll here.

Stealth: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

I am looking back and realized I think it is just Bryn I am unclear on. Everyone else should be all set.

Taedric's going forth to talk to the hermit.

hmmm....lightning biter and carrion eater. Somehow I dont think we will be invited to sit for tea.

Are the buildings inside the stone circle? Is there a back way out of the building into which they're going for 'tea'?

Yes, the building are in the stone circle. From your perspective there are no other openings to the building.

Taedric, Aidan and Seneca follow the man into his home. The building is sparse, but exceptionally tidy. Everything in the place speaks of function. But all of that sterility at once has a certain aesthetic appeal.

On entering your noses are assailed with the scent of cinnamon. Levi gathers the "implements" of tea. Sit! he says suddenly, and then looking off, he mumbles, No, the polite way is please have a seat.

The tea it turns out is made hot by putting stones from the fire place into the pot. There is no fire now, but plenty of coals. I dropped a piece of charcoal in there once. Not an improvement! He hustles about setting out the tea. Suddenly he turns and though no one said anything he says loudly, What? He stares at you.

Outside things are less domestic by a long shot. One of the bears moves away from you and begins to amble out of the stone circle. Soon it has moved in a wide ring so that the bears now surround the group in a fairly wide ring. The one outside the ring seems to smile and the effect is anything but mirthful.

"F&^kity f^%k f^%k f^%k," says Elinor cheerfully.

She'll slowly ride around the stone circle counter direction to the bear to get a look at the house from the other side. (And to see what the bear does if the group separate).

And try another detect magic.

Spell failure 1d100 ⇒ 49 (Success).

Tell you what oh great Lightning Biter and Carrion Eater. I am here to negotiate a deal with you. What say you? Here our terms and conditions? Harlynn says as she rides closer to the stone circle.

Keep calm this is what you were trained to do. Negotiations in our favor for their serivice

diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22

I take it Harlynne is speaking infernal? So the rest of us can't hear her selling us out...

All four bears are now surrounding us? Or just the one that first wandered out.

Am I still hidden, or do you need another roll? Just in case...

Stealth: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19

Taedric says, "I didn't hear anything, personally.", and smiles.

He watches the strange man carefully, trying to look for any sign that this man might not, in fact, be the Levi the lady sent him out to find.
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7 Yikes. Ok, then.

He smiles again and waits a moment on the tea, before standing in his saddle. "Thank you for your hospitality, Levi. I am Taedric Starfell, in service of Haugin's Ear. The Lady's asked us to come and warn you about some things that have been happening in the area, and to extend an offer of sanctuary within the town."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

Yes, talking in infernal.

Narnel also studies the nearest bear carefully making it his Favored Target of choice.

Harlynn directs his words to one of the bears inside the ring. The bear does not answer, only stares back. Elinor works her mount around and away from the bear outside the circle and it follows her with it's gaze only. The cottage seems to have no other exit.

It is hard to know if Narnel is hidden. The 4th bear comes up to the stone he is behind and begins scratching it's back.

Inside the cottage Levi produces a fresh loaf of brioche (hermit and baker?). To Taedric he says, I don't know any "Lady". Will you hurt me if I choose to stay? He sits and he seems tired suddenly.

Taedric shakes his head, "No, not at all. It's completely your choice.... we will not take any action against you -- but at the same time, we cannot stay here to defend you either. And, to complete the warning we were asked to bring, I will point out that the walking dead are growing in number, and possibly power as well -- I fear that they, and their allies, may become numerous enough to vercome even your powerful friends outside."

He then smiles and says, "Strange, because she knew you by name. Perhaps it is the honorific that is causing trouble. When I say the lady, I refer to the Lady of the Tower, Ilyssia, who has protected Haugin's Ear with magic."

Seneca watches silently with the others converse with Levi, trying to determine whether the man speaks true.
Sense Motive 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
Seneca does not speak Infernal

Come now! I know you aren't the dumb bears you are pretending to be. We have initiated a negotiation it's rude not to talk back.

They might be, as a side note. Celestial and Fiendish templates in PF don't bump int to 3 like they did in 3.5.

The mecurial man in the cottage turns to Taedric. His hands grasp the edge of the table and veins on his arms and eyeballs in his head bulge. His face is red and twisted.

I am trying to be polite. I said I know no Lady! Certainly not her. Where she goes hell and death follow. If you were half as smart as you are tall you would be running. And you would not stop until you were in Taldor. And you would wonder all your days if you ran far enough!

He suddenly is meeker; and looks at Taedric with rheumy eyesPlease let me alone. if you are not here to hurt or rob me, please leave an old man to his memories.

Outside the bears all eye Harlynn. Suddenly one of them makes a noise that sounds like a growling sneeze.

Hell and death are coming, whether you like it or not.
Aidan looks at the man piercingly.
This is not an evil you can hide from, nor one we can outrun. It must be confronted.
Though not by sick old men that wish to die in their huts, he says with disgust.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15 Is he actually upset, or just reacting out of hurt?

Taedric winces at Aidan's tone, and then says in a more gentle tone, his voice a little timid, "She asked me to be sure that you were safe, Levi, because she cares about you."

He then takes a draw from his tea and adds in a stronger voice, "I cannot flee a darkness that threatens to overtake the land, Levi. I am of the Order of the Shield, and sworn to protect those who cannot protect themselves. That may mean I'm neither smart nor tall, but it is the life I chose... one of service."

He sighs, his expression torn, and then he stands in his saddle, gently placing down the cup, his voice showing naught but respect and concern, "If it be your will, then we shall take our leave. Thank you for your hospitality. The tea was a pleasant interruption from the death that is overtaking this land.... and will, sadly, reach you here, ending both your life and your memories...."

He pauses for a moment, and then adds in a voice little more than a whisper, "...Sadly, I fear that that in making this choice, you are robbing yourself... both of sanctuary and the ability to make new memories... especially if the old ones displease you so."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

I told you the Lady was a wrong 'un.

I didn't know that about celestial/fiendish templates. Wonder why they made that change.

I think because it made Summon Monster a mite powerful -- you could, at the cost of 1 language slot, *perfectly* direct all your summoned animals.... (who also would qualify for non-animal feats, which might also have been an issue). But, I'm not sure. I wonder if there's a reference to that anywhere in the playtest forums..

At Aidans word the old hermit balls his fist and leaps from his seat. OUT!!!! OUT!!! YOU DAMNABLE ASHSTAFF. LEAVE MY HOME. He quakes with rage.

He draws his fist back, but Taedrics words cause him to turn his head. Stay gnome of the Order of the Shield. Stay. But make him leave!!!

He is paying Seneca no mind.

The bear waits for Harlynn's words.

Aidan shakes his head sadly.
This is no home, it is a tomb, and you are welcome to it, he says as he departs.

Narnel, from his position of hiding, carefully watches the closest bear ready to fire upon any threat to him or his companions. He then sees Aidan exiting the shack.

Hmmmm...Aidan must not have made a good impression.

You all would have heard the man shouting.

If anyone looks as though they are about to draw weapons after this development, Aidan silently shakes his head at them.

Taedric sits back down in his saddle and says gently, "As you wish, Levi." He then lifts the teacup he sat down and takes another sip while watching the strange man, waiting for something else to respond to.

Abbas continues to watch and wait. He tries to focus on his bear and makes sure he is close enough to run it down. But the sound of a man screaming at the druid does somewhat make it hard to concentrate.

Got to trust them. Taedric is sensible and doesn't spout hurting words.

After the druid leaves, Levi looks at Seneca and asks What do you see when you look at me? All the passion is gone from his voice. He might as well be asking about the weather. He sips his tea quietly, while keeping his eyes on the cleric.

Elinor shrugs at Aidan as he leaves.

"You found a gadgie grumpier than you but."

Harlynn will tell her weasel to fetch Senaca...quickly.

"I see a man of the land. But you also reflect defeat. What do you have to say of her, hell and death? What do we fail to understand?"

Seneca waits for a moment, hearing the sound of Aidan's departure move further away. The familiar form of the gnome, Taedric, next to him. "We will hear you out. Please, take your time."
Diplomacy 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

The weasel is unsuccessful in retrieving Seneca. The bear regards Harlynn for a moment.

Suddenly the door to the shack closes, though there is no noise from within.

Elinor will wait for the screaming to begin before she does anything...

After a period of time the door to the hut opens and though there had been intermittent bouts of yelling from inside, everyone seems calm now.

Oh, I forgot to ask, is anyone interested in something to eat? Levi asks.

"Can we go? These bears are bad." Abbas turns for a moment then fixes his attention back on one of them, his lance held low and ready.

Taedric pops his head out and waves at the others, to ensure they don't think anything... untoward... happened within.

"Its ok everyone. Are you sure you don't want lunch with Levi?"

Narnel emerges from the shadows, and carefully makes his way to the dwelling.

Sure, I could go for a bite. I will join you.

Quite sure. There are people that want to live out there, we ought to be helping them, not tarrying about this place.

"Unusually, I find myself agreeing with Mr Grumpy. Let's be on our way."

"Levi, sounds like we'll be moving on. Good luck."
Seneca joins the others to leave the hermit's home sure that we'll be back.

Alright, then, my meal will wait. Let's mount up.

The old man watches you leave as do the bear creatures.

Can you believe in such a short time you are headed back to that bastion of the dead that so recently you fled? It is early afternoon when you see it looming in the distance. A mass grave that the Hell Knight mourners have not yet left.

Taedric bows formally, "Thank you for your hospitality, Levi. Should you change your mind, the city will be open to you."