[Game Thread] Chapter 11: The Road to Sembia

[Edo]

The older man shakes his head. "No, unfortunately I do not! If I did, as the local Lord of Dhedluk, it would be my responsibility to have them arrested, or worse!" he says.

[dupin]

“How does the information that is known about this group come about?” Tursin asks. “Has there been some anonymous messages? Have one or more nobles benefited more then any others seemingly by chance? Is there a certain time of year when these, hunts, take place?" The young mage inclines his head and says thoughtfully, “You mentioned cult. Is there reason to believe there is more at work here beyond a more barbaric version of noble’s politics?”

[Edo]

Thiombur replies, "Well, at first, we only knew that these murders were always done in a similar fashion and to nobles, and only once or twice a year. However, a year ago, one of their victims apparently escaped and was trying to hide in town; the cultists emerged to chase him down, causing much chaos that night, bringing their 'Hunt' to us! We managed to save that noble that night, fighting those cultists, and then learned what he knew about the cult from him; however, a few days later he disappeared again, never to be found! Some of the cultists displayed magical powers of a priestly sort; as a result, we suspect that they may have a patron god of some kind."

[dupin]

“How is it that not one of the others were identified when they came into town?” Tursin asks. “Were they disguised?”

[Edo]

Thiombur says, "Besides it being dark with only moonlight to see with, the cultists wore masks of some sort to prevent us from identifying them... many of them wore masks with some kind of stag antlers on them. We did almost capture some of them, but then some of the cult members used some kind of holding spell to stop us in our tracks, allowing them to get away!"

[Syka]

Ceclit tries to think of any religious group that has connections to a stag.

[Edo]

Ceclit notes that a very similar ritual with the same name (i.e., "High Hunt") exists in the evil faith of Malar, the Beastlord (who is an enemy of Silvanus, as his merciless, bloodthirsty view of nature conflicts with the more wild, natural view of the Oak Father). The High Hunt as held in the Malarite faith is held by Malarite clergy (not nobles), however, and the victim is often a druid (not of the Malarite faith, obviously). The Malarites wear various headdresses in the ritual made from creatures that they have personally slayed (including, but not limited to, stags).

As Malar is a god of hunting (not direct killing, although killing is involved), the Ceclit notes that the High Hunt allows the victim arms and armor, after which the victim is released in a set area and then hunted by the priests; if the victim manages to escape those boundaries somehow or survives for a day and a night (marked by the next sunrise), the victim has "won" and can never be hunted again. Those who are successfully hunted and slayed are burned to ashes as a meal for Malar and thus cannot be raised from the dead!

[Syka]

"Guys, it may be a good idea not to mention my faith to others until this cult is dealt with. And I do want to stop them. This is too important not to pass up."

[Balinor]

Balinor puts a finger to his temple. "Hmmm, I recall hearing something similar to this too. but If I recall correctly, it was mythical or magical hunting party." He continues to try and recall his old story.

[dupin]

“Deranged cult or brutal nobleman’s games,” Tursin says, “In Mystral’s name we shall deal with them.”

[Edo]

OOC: I haven't handed out XP for a while, and it's been quite a while now, so... (drum roll) As we have not had any combats or monetary treasure lately, all XP given this time is for role-playing/participation (not for combat/treasure/etc.), so the PCs receive only flat amounts (without bonuses for prime requisites) as such:

Balinor, Ceclit, Tursin, Barakk: 400 XP
Providence: 200 XP
Jonathan: 0 XP

Providence has sort of disappeared at some point - anyone hear from her player lately? If he reappears, I am willing to give another 100 XP or so to the silver-haired elf as a good-will measure...

Jonathan has, of course, been abandoned by his player for quite a while (making the DM think about ways to smash him/retire him (boulder? beholder?), except that he is being quite helpful in the party in his own way)...

But anyway, the new XP allotment gives Ceclit enough to reach level 3 - so, feel free to roll a 1d8 for new hp (and note that you now can memorize one 2nd level spell! Yaaay...)

[Syka]

HP roll:

Dice Roll:

(as this is an older post, these rolls are interpreted by the older (more basic) dice roller code)
d8-1:	(1) - 1	Total = 0

[Balinor]

OOC Syka whats with the -1 on HP???? that smells like a re-roll to me....

Balinor finds the barkeep, Thiombur, and tries to convince him to spar....lightly...

[dupin]

Tursin studies the little glowing orb beside him for a few moments,” Excuse me.” He says before heading back to his room.

[Edo]

OOC: Damn... That was a crappy roll for Ceclit You wanna reroll that? (The -1 penalty still applies, though.) Everyone else seems to have great rolls for their HD in general... (Also, let me know what spells Ceclit memorizes today.)


Thiombur protests, "What - now? I, I haven't even stretched this morning - I'll pull something, or worse! I - I think I've misplaced my magic sword, too - ma, maybe another day would be a better time..."