Tests and Trials

[Arch Lich Burns]

(The guards woke the whole party up and they had to high tail it to next town)

[Rodgeir]

((Jaq, Kroshav, Lurn and Jolly are in the army now and rode wagons to the east.

Joe and Ves are not and never slept at all after they got up. They walked to the west all night, hence the con save.

More updating later!))

[Rodgeir]

The corporal continues walking to her destination, weaving around and kicking sleepers as she goes, and responds to Jaq,

"Well Jaq, I'm thrilled you aren't here to die. Needed a scout and some range. No military experience though? Too bad."

She actually pauses to turn and give Lurn a long, incredulous glare before taking a deep breath through her nose and saying,

"If you aren't shitting me about the rocks I think that'd be useful." She gestures vaguely around her as she starts walking again, "Most of these farmers couldn't find the sharp end of a sword if it was buried a foot through their guts. Gods willing the can throw a rock. You will be showing me this trick in a few minutes. The not dying is likely going to worth something.

To Kroshav,

"Never heard of them. You look like you can swing a sword and I'm guessing you can heal. Great."

She looks over her shoulder at Jolly who gives a quiet,

"I learned to fight from him," points at Kroshav. "I know where the pointy end is on my sword." He gets only a grunt in reply as they reach their destination where ten other conscripts sit around a small cooking fire. Arbelm introduces each of you by name and then says,

"30 minutes then we are going to see who can throw a rock."

Before turning and heading back into the waking camp.

Most of the conscripts look at the new arrivals with moderate interest. The group includes a tiefling, four humans, a pair of half elves and dwarves and a halfling. The group, mostly male with only three women, and has the look of farmers or craftsmen.
---
Ves and Joe stumble into what appears to be a deserted Uppner.

((Ves and Joe both have 1 level of exhaustion unless Ves what's to burn some luck? Also a perception check from the pair please.))

[Arch Lich Burns]

Per with disadv [1d20] = 10[1d20] = 7

[thinkslogically]

((did I not succeed with the 12?))

[Dlover]

Lurn takes a seat with the group, smiling broadly, "Hello, I'm Lurn. I'm going to be keeping you alive, and enchanting the stones she was talking about."

[Rodgeir]

((Not quite, it would have been enough for Joe but with no sleep and then walking all night it didn't cut it for Ves. I scaled the DC by how much rest you'd gotten, easier for Joe, harder for Ves.))

Those around the fire look at Lurn with varying degrees of tiredness. One of the dwarves chuckles and says something to the tiefling about enchanted stones who chuckles in turn.

The other dwarf shakes his head and lists the names of those around the fire,

"Dama, Amar, Fand, Beck, Celus, Ern, Gisper, Hep, Indra and I'm Jesp. Mostly from Uppner but Ern's from Skogsur. Have a seat and grab some breakfast fellas."

[Dlover]

"I assure you, if you lack the training for using real weapons, those stones will be far more useful than you would think. Magic and divine gifts should never be underestimated."

[Rodgeir]

The tiefling, Dama, rubs her eyes and mutters,

"Bit early to be preaching ain't it Blue? How bout you wait til after breakfast?"

There are a few nods of agreement as Jesp starts ladelling out some sort of thick porridge from a pot on beside the fire.

[spiderwrangler]

Kroshav has already joined the chow line, awaiting his ladleful of porridge.

"You'll get used to it! Lurn's real handy to have at your back, and let's face it, if you're heading into war, having one of Kelemvor's chosen at your side is a fine thing."

After breakfast, if it doesn't seem that the march is beginning immediately, Kroshav will start limbering up for some training.

((He'll be looking to get them all involved, but I'll hold off on posting more as that might need some RP convincing?))

[Rodgeir]

Jesp gives Kroshav a hefty dalop of porridge. Dama grins at Kroshav and teases,

"Dunno, think I'd prefer you big boy!"

((Jolly'd help you out with the convincing. Also did you miss that Charlie was pulling a wagon?))

[Dlover]

"Having either of us by your side is a thing to be thankful for. I can say from experience that Kroshav is more than capable, and in just a couple of weeks he has trained Jolly here well enough to keep himself alive in a fight. I, on the other hand, am from an order which specialises in preserving lives. It would also mean that you aren't directly in the front lines." Lurn joins the meal, and afterwards takes a short time to collect some suitable pebbles before joining Kroshav for the training.

[Rodgeir]

Jolly scoops in the porridge and grumbles something about Ves being a better cook before standing, stretching and joining Kroshav and Lurn in what has more or less become the morning retinue for them. Those around the fire watch with varying degrees of interest, as does Corporal Arbelm who has taken her own bowl of porridge and is efficiently putting it away. Once she is done she allows the three to spar a few more minutes before saying,

"Good enough. You three, Jesp, Celus and Indra have some experience. Depending on the word we get back from the scouts we may have time for some training with the others." She gestures to Jaq and then Dama, Amar and Ern, "You three have experience with bows and I don't think I have to tell you to stay back and not shoot any of ours." Shifting her gaze to Lurn she orders, "Let's see that rock trick of yours." She shifts her eyes to the halfing, "Fand get over here. You know how to throw a rock right?"

The stocky halfling with graying hair rises and walks slowly over to the Corporal who is looking expectantly at Lurn.
---
Joe and Ves are so focused on their path they give Uppner the barest of glances as they move through, it appears to have been evacuated just like Tall. There don't appear to have been any fires here though. The pair take breakfast on their feet and then lunch. Joe is clearly beginning to flag at the pace being set by that point and Ves isn't doing terribly much better.

[Dlover]

"Understood." With a nod, Lurn fishes out the pebbles he collected before placing three in one hand and casting Magic Stone on them, holding them out to Fand, "Pick a target and throw them; unless you are an expert already, my magic will guide and strengthen the throws."

[Rodgeir]

Arbelm looks around, clearly not expecting much, points out a tree stump 50 ft to the north that already has a few arrows sticking out of it.

Fand shifts uncomfortably under the attention before throwing the stones. The first one blows through the shaft of an arrow before bouncing to side with a loud crack. Fand pauses and looks at Arbelm who nods for him to continue. The second stone catches the right edge of the stump and sends up a shower of wood bits as it embeds itself and the third stone simply hits the stump and splits it.

Dama whistles and says, "Hells Fand, you been holding out on us!"

Arbelm goes to the stump and tries to pull out the rock that embedded itself but finds it stuck fast. Straightening she comes back,

"I think we can use that. Fand, Beck - you're on rock throwing duty with Lurn here. Stick with him at all times."

► Show Spoiler

Fand rock throws: 1D20+5 = [18]+5 = 23
1D6+5 = [1]+5 = 6
1D20+5 = [9]+5 = 14
1D6+5 = [5]+5 = 10
1D20+5 = [10]+5 = 15
1D6+5 = [4]+5 = 9

[Dlover]

"I don't believe they can reach so far as a bow, but it's not much less dangerous, as you can see. For those not suited to using a bow, it's a suitable weapon." Looking to the two named, the large man continues, "I can enchant three stones at once, with a few seconds between casting the spell, and it's not a particularly strenuous spell to cast, so you will almost always have a supply to throw, unless I have to fully devote myself to healing."

[Arch Lich Burns]

”Ye think we can rest in one o tha houses? Tha way no guards find us n it be saf’r.”

[thinkslogically]

”Ye think we can rest in one o tha houses? Tha way no guards find us n it be saf’r.”

"Yeah, that's not a bad idea. Don't want to break in anywhere and leave it vulnerable though. ...or get arrested. Let's see if we can't find somewhere that's been left open."

Ves starts sleepily trying doors.
Investigation: 2D20.LOW(1) = [6, 13] = 6

[Arch Lich Burns]

[url=http://www.unseenservant.com/default.as ... 81&macid=0]Investigation [1d20+4] = 5+4 = 9[1d20+4] = 2+4 = 6[/u
Joe tries to search as well, to tired to really note anything.

[spiderwrangler]

Jesp gives Kroshav a hefty dalop of porridge. Dama grins at Kroshav and teases,

"Dunno, think I'd prefer you big boy!"

((Jolly'd help you out with the convincing. Also did you miss that Charlie was pulling a wagon?))

Kroshav considers the tiefling's comment.

Insight: She hitting on him?: 1D20+1 = [14]+1 = 15


((Yes! Totally missed Charlie was pulling a wagon! Kroshav would of course have run over to greet his horse. If he's pulling another wagon, might see about swapping so he can be at least be kept close? While apologizing at the necessity for him to be literally drafted into pulling wagons.))

---

If we've a bit of time to assess the new troops, Kroshav will greet Jesp, Celus and Indra (humans?).

"You've got some experience then? Good, good! Let's start out with some movement drills, then. You have a weapon you favor?"

[Rodgeir]

After trying a few doors and finding them securely locked Joe and Ves spot a livestock shed open on one side. They just need to climb the fence and the straw piled inside looks pretty clean... in spots. It would get them out of sight of anyone using the road too.

((Else you can try to pick the locks? Either of them have thieves tools?))
---
Kroshav determines Dama is just being friendly, probably. She seems to be pretty jovial despite the circumstances.

Kroshav communicates his desire to have Charlie reassigned to their group to corporal Arbelm. The corporal takes a moment to determine if Kroshav is pulling some kind of joke on her but decides he probably isn't and gives her approval to switch one of the squad's horses for Charlie. Charlie is happy to see Kroshav but doesn't seem to understand his having joined the army. He is in good shape but like almost everyone else here is tired.

Arbelm is called away briefly but returns as Kroshav gets back. She lays out,

"Okay, we have drawn wizard babysitting duty for the time being. They are setting up over there," gestures to a flat area nearer Tall, "and we need to keep an eye on them. Any questions? Good come on." She leads the way and sets up a loose perimeter around the spot putting the more skilled fighters to the north side nearest the forest excepting Lurn who is placed south with his new companions.

"We will break into patrol teams if we get a chance later."

((Can I get a d20 roll from the army group please.))

[spiderwrangler]

Kroshav is relieved that Charlie has been treated well, considering. He'll be sure to spend some time reacquainting.

_: 1D20 = [15] = 15

[Rodgeir]

Charlie is content to crop grass and rest while Kroshav works but does seem pleased to have the dragonborn nearby.

[thinkslogically]

((Nah, Ves isnt a lockpicker. A barn is fine, and she'll help Joe over the fence))

[Rodgeir]

((How long you going to crash for before moving on? Everything helps but a long rest will chew up the daylight hours.))