previously... Prelude — Sandpoint

[madMonk]

Sister Azura

Azura waves back. “Good to see you, Nori. We could always use some more  help. But there’s three horses and only two of you- are you sure Ameiko didn’t fall off a while back?” she jokes. 

“How is Ameiko anyway?” the Tiefling segues smoothly. “She wasn’t at the Dragon earlier.”

 

Edited February 28, 2023 by madMonk (see edit history)

[iantruesilver]

As they ride up and slow down to keep pace with the group, Sandru is seated behind young Noriko on the horse and leading two others by their reins. He takes a quick look around to size up the party before answering Azura's question, "Yeah about that. Ameiko tasked me to deliver you a few domesticated animals to bring with you for your job."

 

Not without a suggestive pause and look at Noriko in front of him, he continues, "She'd appreciate you return them undamaged if you can."

[Inash]

Neskas Weengoditin

Neskas raises one shaggy white eyebrow, then nods.

"Of course. We'll do our best to make sure no harm comes to the horses." He says this with a completely straight face and only the very briefest of pauses that anyone might take to assume more than the horses are being talked about.

"Any trouble on the way out? We ran into an ambush attempt."

 

Statblock

Neskas Weengoditin S NG Gnome Cavalier, [B]Level[/B] 1, [B]Init15[/B] 3, [B]HP[/B] 13/13, [B]Speed[/B] 15[B]AC[/B] 19, [B]Touch[/B] 12, [B]Flat-footed[/B] 18, [B]CMD[/b] 13, [B]Fort[/B] 4, [B]Ref[/B] 1, [B]Will[/B] 1, [B]CMB[/B] +2, [B]Base Attack Bonus[/B] 1   [B]reach Lance (-) [/B] 4 (1d6+2, x3)[B]  Longsword (-) [/B] 4 (1d6+2, 19-20/x2)[B]  Shortbow (20) [/B] 3 (1d4, x3)[B]  Scale Mail[/B], [B]  Heavy Steel Shield[/B] (+5 Armor, +2 Shield, +1 Dex, +1 Size)[B]Abilities[/B] Str 14, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 14[B]Condition[/B] None 

Snappy
M N WolfDog Mount (Charger), [B]Level[/B] 1, [B]Init[/B] 2, [B]HP[/B] 18/18, [B]Speed[/B] 30
[B]AC[/B] 17, [B]Touch[/B] 12, [B]Flat-footed[/B] 15, [B]CMD[/b] 15, [B]Fort[/B] 4, [B]Ref[/B] 5, [B]Will[/B] 1, [B]CMB[/B] +3, [B]Base Attack Bonus[/B] 1   
[B]  Bite [/B] 3 (1d6+2, x2)
[B]  Studded Leather Barding[/B] (+3 Armor, +2 Dex, +2 Deflect)
[B]Abilities[/B] Str 15, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 6
[B]Condition[/B] None 

Actions Crunch and OOC

Move: 30' on mount

Standard: share teamwork feat Escape Route

 

 

[madMonk]

Sister Azura

Azura grins. “Well, you tell Ameiko she can count on me! I mean, us! She can count on us. To look after the horses. Right.”

 

[Wiz]

Noriko nods, “Sorry I wasn’t here from the start.  Ameiko had me running a bunch of errands, I was afraid she might have changed her mind.  But, here I am!”

[iantruesilver]

"Ah yes. We figured that that would've been your handiwork." Sandru nodded towards Neskas, acknowledging the gnome's informative comment, "Hopefully nothing more comes out of it, but I'll inform Sheriff Hemlock and the town guard either way."

 

Coming to a full stop, Sandru whispered something in Noriko's ear before dismounting from the horse where he was behind her. Patting the horse lightly to coo her, he rearranges the rein, splitting off one of the other horses to turn it around the other way.

 

"Well, my part's done. Be careful out there, don't do anything I wouldn't do." Dispensing that advice, he hops on and starts off the other way on a light trot.

Edited February 28, 2023 by iantruesilver (see edit history)

[Wiz]

Noriko waves to Sandru, “I’ll see you when we get back to town, thanks for riding out with me!”  Turning to the others, she nods, “So, how far are we from our destination?”

Edited February 28, 2023 by Wiz (see edit history)

[Inash]

Neskas Weengoditin

Both of Neskas' eyebrows shoot up as he realizes the local has no idea how far they need to go.

"I have no idea." 

 

Statblock

Neskas Weengoditin S NG Gnome Cavalier, [B]Level[/B] 1, [B]Init15[/B] 3, [B]HP[/B] 13/13, [B]Speed[/B] 15[B]AC[/B] 19, [B]Touch[/B] 12, [B]Flat-footed[/B] 18, [B]CMD[/b] 13, [B]Fort[/B] 4, [B]Ref[/B] 1, [B]Will[/B] 1, [B]CMB[/B] +2, [B]Base Attack Bonus[/B] 1   [B]reach Lance (-) [/B] 4 (1d6+2, x3)[B]  Longsword (-) [/B] 4 (1d6+2, 19-20/x2)[B]  Shortbow (20) [/B] 3 (1d4, x3)[B]  Scale Mail[/B], [B]  Heavy Steel Shield[/B] (+5 Armor, +2 Shield, +1 Dex, +1 Size)[B]Abilities[/B] Str 14, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 14[B]Condition[/B] None 

Snappy
M N WolfDog Mount (Charger), [B]Level[/B] 1, [B]Init[/B] 2, [B]HP[/B] 18/18, [B]Speed[/B] 30
[B]AC[/B] 17, [B]Touch[/B] 12, [B]Flat-footed[/B] 15, [B]CMD[/b] 15, [B]Fort[/B] 4, [B]Ref[/B] 5, [B]Will[/B] 1, [B]CMB[/B] +3, [B]Base Attack Bonus[/B] 1   
[B]  Bite [/B] 3 (1d6+2, x2)
[B]  Studded Leather Barding[/B] (+3 Armor, +2 Dex, +2 Deflect)
[B]Abilities[/B] Str 15, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 12, Wis 12, Cha 6
[B]Condition[/B] None 

Actions Crunch and OOC

Move: 30' on mount

Standard: share teamwork feat Escape Route

 

 

[farothel]

Statblock

Darhana
Female CG Half-elf Ranger (Guide), Level 1, Init 3, HP 12/12,Speed 40ft
AC 17, Touch 13, Flat-footed 14, CMD 15, Fort 3, Ref 5, Will 1, CMB +2, Base Attack Bonus 1   
2-handed longbow (60) +4 (1d8, x3)
Longsword +2 (1d8+1, 19-20/x2)
dagger (cold iron) +2 (1d4+1, 19-20/x2)
Studded Leather, light wooden shield (+3 Armor, +1 Shield, +3 Dex)
Abilities: Str 13, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 13, Cha 10
Condition: None

"Somewhere between four and five miles if I've read the map right," Darhana said, "I'll take point again, okay?"

She would move to the front again and start moving off, looking around for any ambushes or strange things along the way.

[madMonk]

Sister Azura

Azura continues walking behind Darhana, not wanting to take a horse when someone else might want it.

 

[Wiz]

Noriko takes a moment while riding Sandru's warhorse.  Looking inside the sadllebag, she searches arouond to be sure she has food for her mount on this adventure.

[Naimless]

Kaichar

Keenly aware of the effect he tends to have on animals, Kaichar hangs off to one side of the group, keeping his distance from the steeds the group has brought along on their journey. He sports a pair of javelins that were once borne by the orcs that recently fell afoul of their little band, seemingly content to just carry them in his hands.

[iantruesilver]

Following Lost Coast Road for roughly another ten minutes, the terrain bends around between the base of the hills and inward up the north bank of Cougar Creek. Those familiar with the geography of the area will know that pretty soon there will be a river crossing.

 

As well, any who are familiar with local businesses and events will note that Cougar Creek Mill, one of the region's flour and grain mills, used to be further upstream, and was one of the sites that was unfortunately mysteriously claimed by fire several years ago, now leaving Scarnetti Mill as the only functioning grain mill in the region.

 

Having trekked for more than an hour since leaving the ambush, it seems this might be a good time as any to take a break. As well, after crossing the creek, there may not be any more easily accessible sources of freshwater on the way to the Pyre.

 

Noriko Only

Rummaging around inside the saddlebags, Noriko finds that they've been kitted out with some feed, as well as what feels like a blanket for the horse.

 

Wrapped underneath the first corner fold of the blanket, her knuckles brush across something stiff. The item once revealed, is a polished wand of twisted dark mahogany, approximately 14" in length, and with a round-knobbed handle.

 

As well, perhaps only because it hadn't occurred to her before, but she only now realizes that the horse is wearing a fancy scalloped breast collar with ornamental buckles. Burned into the leather at the back of the collar, are the four letters L U C I.

 

Edited March 1, 2023 by iantruesilver (see edit history)

[farothel]

Statblock

Darhana
Female CG Half-elf Ranger (Guide), Level 1, Init 3, HP 12/12,Speed 40ft
AC 17, Touch 13, Flat-footed 14, CMD 15, Fort 3, Ref 5, Will 1, CMB +2, Base Attack Bonus 1   
2-handed longbow (60) +4 (1d8, x3)
Longsword +2 (1d8+1, 19-20/x2)
dagger (cold iron) +2 (1d4+1, 19-20/x2)
Studded Leather, light wooden shield (+3 Armor, +1 Shield, +3 Dex)
Abilities: Str 13, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 13, Cha 10
Condition: None

darhana took a drink from her waterskin before she refilled it from the stream.

"Best do the same," she told the others, "there's not much places we can fill up before we get to our destination."

[Wiz]

Noriko quietly uses her detect magic spell and spellcraft to determine the properties of the wand.  Shortly afterward she will use detect magic to see if the collar itself is magic, or if the word on it might just be the command word for the wand.

 

FOR DMIf the wand's spell is 1st or 2nd level, she identifies it.

Edited March 1, 2023 by Wiz (see edit history)