Chapter 1 - Return to the Wold - IC

"Right, so I didn't go near it," Aliss retorts. "I figured there was a blade around the lip or a poisoned needle or something. But why wouldn't throwing fire past it be okay? Why would anyone protect something they wanted to keep safe by covering it with alchemical fire?" she asks rhetorically.

This may be a commentary on impractically-trapped chests that occasionally occur in D&D.

Riven Cambryn Human Paladin of Bahamut Current HP: 33/33 (12) Conditions:

Riven grimaces at the exchange, having tried to blot the memory from his mind. "Yes, well...let's avoid burning anything else down now. Instead let's focus on the road ahead. Besides, the from the sounds of it, the Harkenwold has had no trouble burning."

The paladin crosses his arms looking around for the missing hunter.

Rivenalis Cambryn, Human Paladin
Init +1 HP 33+2/33 Bloodied 16 Healing Surge 12 (5 used /11)
AC 22 Fort 18 Reflex 16 Will 17 Speed 5
Str 18 (+4) Con 12 (+1) Dex 10 (0) Int 8 (-1) Wis 16 (+3) Cha 12 (+1)

Melee Basic Attack (Std) Attack: +9 (+5 Str + 3 Prof + 1 Enh) vs. AC. Hit: 1d10 + 5 (+4 Str +1 Enh) damage.

Melee Basic Attack (Std),

Ranged Basic Attack (Std) Attack: +7 (+5 Str + 2 Prof ) vs. AC. Hit: 1d6 + 4 (+4 Str) damage.

Ranged Basic Attack (Std),

Holy Strike (Std) Attack: +9 (+5 Str + 3 Prof +1 Enh) vs. AC Hit: 1d10 + 5 (+4 Str + 1 Enh) radiant damage. If you marked the target, add your Wisdom (+3) modifier to damage.

Holy Strike (Std),

Valiant Strike (Std) Attack: +9 (+5 Str +3 Prof +1 Enh) vs. AC. You gain a bonus to the attack roll equal to the number of enemies adjacent to you. Hit: 1d10 + 5 (+4 Str + 1 Enh) damage.

Valiant Strike (Std),

Ardent Strike (Std) Attack: +9 (+5 Str + 3 Prof + 1 Enh) vs. AC. Hit: 1d10 + 5 (+4 Str + 1 Enh) damage, and the target is subject to your divine sanction until the end of your next turn.

Ardent Strike (Std),

Divine Challenge (Min) Close burst 5 Effect: You mark the target. The mark lasts until you use this power again. The mark also ends at the end of your turn if you didn�t engage the target, meaning you neither attacked it during your turn nor are adjacent to it at the end of your turn. Until the mark ends, the target takes 8 ( 3 + 1 Cha + 4 Str) radiant damage the first time each round when it targets any of your allies with an attack power that doesn�t include you as a target. .

Divine Challenge (Min),

Lay on Hands (2/3) (Min) Melee touch Effect: You spend a healing surge but regain no hit points. Instead, the target regains hit points as if it had spent a healing surge.

Lay on Hands (2/3) (Min),

Channel Divinity (Min) Divine Strength Effect: Apply your Strength (+4) modifier as extra damage on your next attack this turn. Divine Mettle Close burst 10 Effect: The target makes a saving throw with a bonus equal to your Charisma (+1) modifier.

Channel Divinity (Min),

Divine Pursuit (Std) Attack: +9 (+5 Str + 3 Prof + 1 Enh) vs. Fort. Hit: 2d10 + 5 (+4 Str + 1 Enh) damage and you push the target a number of squares equal to your Wisdom (+3) modifier. You then shift to the nearest square adjacent to the target.

Divine Pursuit (Std),

Takedown Strike (No Action) Trigger: You hit an enemy adjacent to you with an attack. Effect: The target takes 4 (Str) extra damage from the triggering attack and you knock the target prone.

Takedown Strike (No Action),

Blood of the Mighty (Std) Reliable Attack: +9 (+5 Str + 3 Prof + 1 Enh) vs. AC. Hit: 4d10 + 5 (+4 Str +1 Enh) damage. Effect: You take 5 damage, which can�t be reduced in any way.

Blood of the Mighty (Std),

Virtue (Min) Effect: You spend a healing surge and gain a like amount of temp hp.

Virtue (Min),

Bastard Sword of Defense (Daily - II) Trigger: You take damage from a melee attack that hits you. Effect: You take only half of the damage

Bastard Sword of Defense (Daily - II),

Dwarven Plate Armor +1 (Daily - Free) You regain hit points as if you had spent a healing surge.

Dwarven Plate Armor +1 (Daily - Free),

CatStep Boots (Daily - Free) Gain a +5 bonus to your next Athletics or Acrobatics check.

CatStep Boots (Daily - Free)
Notes

• Swift Recovery: +3 bonus to healing surge value
  
• Mighty Challenge: Add Str modify to Divine Challenge damage
  
• Weapon Proficiency - Bastard Sword: Ability to wield a bastard sword
  

• Channel Divinity: Once per encounter you can invoke divine power, filling yourself with the might of Bahamut. You can use Divine Mettle and Divine Strength.
  
• Lay on Hands:
  
• Divine Sanction: You are able to mark a foe with specific powers. Until the mark ends, the target takes 4 (3 + 1 Cha) radiant damage the first time each round it makes an attack that doesn't include you as a target.
  

• Belt of Vigor: +1 to healing surge value
  
• Bastard Sword of Defense +1: DR 1
  
• Dwarven Plate Armor +1: +1 to Endurance
  
• Cat Step Boots: Half damage from falls and never land prone
  

Munir Foehammer Runepriest

"Enough now, ye lads!" Munir says with that friendly yet rumbling voice of his. "A fire weakens the metal but I've seen strong men bend iron with their bare hands. No smoke doesn't mean there's no trouble." Leaning on his mighty hammer, the dwarf turns to Wik. "Oi, lass! Can ye see 'nythin' up there?"

After your brief halt for rest and refreshment you continue on your way. The joking and japing between you, serves partially to hide the trepidation you feel on the return, for most of you, to your homeland. You only travel a mile or two into the valley before trouble appears. Rounding a bend in the road, you spy a pillar of smoke climbing into the clear blue sky. The source, hidden by rolling hills, is roughly a mile along a dirt track that intersects the road.

Here you are ... Harkenwold's burning - and it's not Aliss' fault this time! Dougan's chance of punching someone before night fall just took a turn for the better. Riven must have had a knock on the head in Hammerfast - Cities? In Harkenwold? The entire population is a mere 2,000 souls - or was when you were here last - who knows now? Will Wik wend her way into wealthy wagons? Has Munir got what it takes to shape this merry band of opportunists into a Barony saving supreme task force. And where the heck is Valdred? All these questions and more, will be answered in ...

Riven Cambryn Human Paladin of Bahamut Current HP: 33/33 (12) Conditions:

Seeing the smoke on the horizon, Riven sighs and nods. He coolly draws his sword and readies his shield. He then says, "I suggest we all ready ourselves for the worst. What do you think Munir? Two scouts? Send Valdred and Dougan this time? Strictly recon. See what we are up against and report back. Then Munir can come up with a plan." He looks to the rest of the group for approval of the plan.

Riven plans to continue to move forward, but at a slowed pace to give the scouts time to do what they do best.

Valdred the Green Bounty Hunter of Marl

"That seems wise," Valdred said, disappearing into the undergrowth and moving up parallel to the road. The boy had a habit of vanishing at a moment's notice, and there were hours when the group couldn't say for certain whether he was with them or not. But he always returned. Valdred walked at a cautious pace, scanning ahead near and far, keeping his eyes open for any sign of tracks. His footsteps were nearly silent as he flitted from tree to tree, taking care not to frame his silhouette against any open spaces. He reappeared briefly down the road a ways, but within a few moments he was out of sight once again.

Unable to find any characters in game 11469

Unable to find any characters in game 11469Unable to find any characters in game 11469

Wik Halfling Rogue

Wik pouted as she fell in beside Aliss, following Riven and Munir down the road and waiting for Valdred and Dougan to return with a report. This "scouting" and "planning" stuff was far more organized, and dull, than her usual approach to life's challenges.

statblock:Dougan Throckmarr

Dougan Throckmarr, Half-Orc Monk
Init +5 HP 31/31 Bloodied 15 Healing Surge 7 (0 used /9)
AC 20 Fort 16 Reflex 17 Will 15 Speed 6
Str 16 (+3) Con 14 (+2) Dex 18 (+4) Int 10 (0) Wis 13 (+1) Cha 8 (-1)

Std: MBA +9 vs AC, 1d8+4 damage. Monk Unarmed strike

Std: MBA,

Std/Mv: Five Storms At-Will Full Discipline, Implement, Psionic Standard Action Close burst 1 Target: Each enemy you can see in the burst Attack: +7 vs. Reflex Hit: 1d8 + 5 damage Level 21: 2d8 + Dexterity modifier damage. Five Storms [Movement Technique] You move like a whirlwind, spinning as you unleash an array of kicks and punches, which slam into your foes like a storm crashing onto the shore. At-Will Full Discipline, Psionic Move Action Personal Effect: You shift 2 squares.

Std/Mv: Five Storms,

Std/Mv: Dragon's Tail At-Will Full Discipline, Implement, Psionic Standard Action Melee touch Target: One creature Attack: +7 vs. Fortitude Hit: 1d6 + 5 damage, and you knock the target prone. Level 21: 2d6 + Dexterity modifier damage. Dragon's Tail [Movement Technique] Your hand lashes out like a dragon’s tail, and with the lightest touch unleashes power that knocks your foe to the ground. At-Will Full Discipline, Psionic Move Action Melee 1 Target: One ally or one prone enemy Effect: You swap places with the target.

Std/Mv: Dragon's Tail,

Std/Mv: Open the Gate of Battle Encounter Full Discipline, Implement, Psionic Standard Action Melee touch Target: One creature Attack: +7 vs. Reflex Hit: 2d10 + 5 damage. The target takes 1d10 extra damage if it was at full hit points when you hit it with this attack. Open the Gate of Battle [Movement Technique] Your sudden movement catches your foe unprepared, and you launch into your attack. Encounter Full Discipline, Psionic Move Action Personal Effect: You move your speed + 2. During this movement, you don’t provoke opportunity attacks from the first enemy you move away from.

Std/Mv: Open the Gate of Battle,

Std:Masterful Spiral Daily Force, Implement, Psionic, Stance Standard Action Close burst 2 Target: Each enemy in the burst Attack: +7 vs. Reflex Hit: 3d8 + 5 force damage. Miss: Half damage. Effect: You assume the spiral stance. Until the stance ends, your reach with melee touch attacks increases by 1.

Std:Masterful Spiral,

'II: Endure Pain' Daily Immediate Interrupt Personal Trigger: You are hit by an attack Effect: Until the end of your next turn, you gain resistance to all damage equal to 5 + your Constitution modifier. (7)

'II: Endure Pain',

'Std: Disrupting Advance' Encounter Martial, Weapon Standard Action Melee weapon Target: One creature Attack: +10 vs. AC Hit: 2d8 + 5 damage, and you push the target 2 squares. The target and each enemy adjacent to the target at the end of the push are slowed until the end of your next turn.

'Std: Disrupting Advance',

'Fr: Furious Assault' Encounter Free Action Personal Trigger: You hit an enemy with an attack. Effect: The attack deals 1[W] extra damage if it’s a weapon attack or 1d8 extra damage if it is not a weapon attack.

'Fr: Furious Assault',

'NA: Flurry of Blows' At-Will Psionic No Action Melee 1 Trigger: You hit with an attack during your turn Target: One creature Level 11: One or two creatures Level 21: Each enemy adjacent to you Effect: The target takes damage equal to 3 + your Strength modifier (6). If the target wasn’t targeted by the triggering attack, the damage increases by 2 [8] (4 at 11th level and 6 at 21st level). Special: You can use this power only once per round.

'NA: Flurry of Blows',

'Mi: Rain of Hammers Ki Focus' Implement: Ki focus Enhancement Bonus: attack rolls and damage rolls Critical: +1d6 damage per plus Property Whenever you reduce an enemy to 0 hit points or fewer, one enemy adjacent to you takes damage equal to 2 + this focus’s enhancement bonus damage. (3) Power Daily (Minor Action) Make an at-will attack against an enemy that you already hit with an attack during this turn.

'Mi: Rain of Hammers Ki Focus',

'NA: Flowform Armor' Armor: Cloth or leather Enhancement Bonus: AC Power (Augmentable) Encounter (No Action) Trigger: You're subjected to an effect that a save can end. Effect: You make a saving throw against the effect. Augment 1: You gain a bonus to the saving throw equal to the armor's enhancement bonus.

'NA: Flowform Armor',

'Mi:Cloak of Resistance' Neck Slot Enhancement Bonus: Fortitude, Reflex, and Will Power Daily (Minor Action) Gain resist 5 to all damage until the start of your next turn. Level 12: Resist 10 to all damage . Level 17: Resist 10 to all damage . Level 22: Resist 15 to all damage . Level 27: Resist 15 to all damage .

'Mi:Cloak of Resistance'
Notes

Dougan looks over at Valdred as the man disappears, as is his wont.

"I can do quiet." the half-orc murmurs, slightly surly, and then slides into the undergrowth. All it took, sometimes, was remembering what it felt like to be insignificant. To be nothing. Remember the way the bullies and the human bigots made him feel, reduced to a shadow of what he was. The half-orc was hulking and conspicuous, normally, but he knew how to shrink back inside himself, to escape notice not by hiding, but by simply remaining unseen and unnoticed. Not that Dougan would ever explain it this way. He takes one last swig from his flask, and then sets off down the road.

Perception:
Dice Roll: 1d20+2
d20 Results: 13 (Total = 15)

Stealth:
Dice Roll: 1d20+10
d20 Results: 15 (Total = 25)

Dougan and Valdred set off swiftly but silently along the dirt track towards the pillar of smoke. They are soon out of sight as the rest of you make your way more slowly down the rutted path that surely leads to one of the many steadings that lay scattered across the Harken Valley. Typically home to an extended family that work the surrounding farmland, these dwellings form the bedrock on which the spirit of Harkenwold is founded. Many a hero or heroine of the vale has been produced from just such places.

A tipsy breeze frolics chaotically in the wild pastureland through which you traverse, sending clouds of spore from the many wildflowers that thrive in the loamy soil. A few tired looking tan-brown cattle graze over in the far side of the field. The fluttering of early summer butterflies, above the hawthorn hedgerow that borders the path on either side, is mirrored by the growing knots in your stomachs as you imagine what you may find at the end of the track. For two of you that imagining is about to come to an end. The odd pair of Bounty Hunter and Barroom Battler creep into position for an unimpeded view of the source of the choking column of smoke and the source of a family's anguish.

Valdred the Green Bounty Hunter of Marl

Brigands with torches, about to burn out farm-dwelling folk. This cannot stand, and Valdred wasted no time thinking about it. In one smooth motion he unslung his arbalest, nocked two bolts, and fired at the nearest wolf-and-brigand pair. While the bolts were still in flight he gave a sharp whistle, hoping both to attract the attention of his companions and to distract the brigands from their murderous errand.

Unable to find any characters in game 11469

Does Valdred recognize the black cloaks with a gray ring device?

Standard Action: Valdred attacks the nearest wolf and brigand with

At-Will Martial Standard Action Personal Effect: You make a ranged basic attack with a weapon against each creature in or adjacent to a square within the attack’s range. You take a -2 penalty to the attack rolls.

Rapid Shot

Attack Brigand H8 (AC):
Dice Roll: 1d20+12
d20 Results: 8 (Total = 20)

Attack Wolf I9 (AC):
Dice Roll: 1d20+12
d20 Results: 7 (Total = 19)

Damage:
Dice Roll: 1d10+5
d10 Results: 8 (Total = 13)

Damage:
Dice Roll: 1d10+5
d10 Results: 8 (Total = 13)