Arphaxad: The Awakening

Chat log started at 24.5.2007
You wake up to the sound of something heavy crashing to the ground. Looking around your simple wooden cabin, you see your desk, a simple table with a writing quill and several books devoted to both the Arcane and the surrounding elemental planes. Your quarterstaff leans against the desk, its gnarled wood darker than that of the cabin. Outside the window you can see that most of the snow that lay on the ground yesterday has melted - it must have warmed up. Nothing here looks out of place.
Arphaxad gets out of bed and reaches for his quarterstaff.
Arphaxad cautiously moves toward the window and carefully wipes the frost away to see outside.
The door to the shed adjoining your cabin is open, and you can hear sounds coming from inside.
Arphaxad quickly grabs his robe and other effects and moves outside.
GM: It's still somewhat chilly, despite the melted snow, but your thick cloak's got you pretty well protected.
Arphaxad carfully walks up to the door and tries be quit despite the sloshing of his feet on the wet ground and peers into the shed's door, with staff in hand.
Inside the shed adjoining your cabin, you see a disheveled looking man rooting through your food supplies and your library of books on the Arcane. The man has long black hair, a green hooded-cloak, and a hand-axe strapped to his side, and as you look on he turns around to face you, surprise apparent on his face.
Arphaxad corners the man into the shed with the staff pointed out at him.
Arphaxad: What's going on?!
The hunter: Oh, crap! You scared me - what d'ya want?
Arphaxad: WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN MY SHED!!?
The hunter: *Your* shed? This place's been empty for years - what makes it yours all'f a sudden?
Arphaxad: I have purchased it from the townsfolk, and regardless of whose shed it is, the items you are fiddling with are mine
The hunter: Huh. S'pose I say they're mine then, now. On account'f I'm taking them *from* you.
Arphaxad: Initiative: [1d20+3 = 19]
The hunter: [1d20+3 = 15]
Arphaxad raises his staff as the moisture in the air comes to his hand and turns to ice while he mutters the ray of frost spell in a commanding voice.
Arphaxad: [1d20+3 = 12]
Catching him before he can react, your ray hits the hunter directly in the chest, causing his armor to become coated with frost!
Arphaxad: [1d3 = 2]
The hunter recoils as the cold assails him!
The hunter dashes forward , drawing his handaxe as he approaches you -
The hunter: Handaxe [1d20+2 = 8]
The hunter swings at you as he runs, but with his reflexes slowed from the spell you easily dodge to the side.
Arphaxad chants some more words while missiles of magic form around his body.
Arphaxad: [1d4+1 = 4]
A bolt of blue energy flies from your hand and catches the hunter in the throat. He drops to the ground clutching his throat.
He passes out shortly, the handaxe falling from his grasp.
Arphaxad ties him up and takes his handaxe.
As you're tying him up, you notice something bulky in the pocket of his cloak.
Arphaxad: I wonder what a thief like this may have...something stolen no doubt, I better check it out.
Arphaxad reaches inside the coat.
A small pouch filled with silvers and a scrap of paper are all you find.

The note Arphax found inside the small pouch.

Arphaxad takes the pouch and sets it on his desk inside and leaves the man tied up out front.
Arphaxad: I'll just wait for this fellow to wake up and explain himself a little better than before.
Arphaxad: Or he can become food for the vultures and field mice
GM: Just so you know, that could take a while - you've got no healing skill, so for all you know he might die before he wakes back up.
Arphaxad goes into the shed to clean up and see if there was anything the thief may have dropped or find what he was looking for.
GM: It looks like he was rummaging around through your books, looking for something more valuable.
Arphaxad locks up his shed and cabin and throws the hunter over his shoulder and heads toward Sundown.
Arphaxad: He may be a thief, but he won't die by my hands. I will take him to the townspeople to do as they see just.
Arphaxad breathes heavily as he carries the man clear across the town to the temple for healing and judgement, thinking it must be the ruling center of the town.
The temple appears to be made primarily of wood, except that in the center is a stone altar with a golden sun and a silver tome affixed to it (the holy symbols of Lathander and Oghma respectively).
You also notice a woman with fair skin and long blue-black hair tied into a ponytail looking through a large book behind a desk.
Sintilya Foxblood: Oh! Hello - can I help you?
Arphaxad sets the man on the ground and turns to the lady.
Sintilya Foxblood: Ohh...
Sintilya Foxblood stands up quickly and goes over to the hunter.
Sintilya Foxblood: Is he your friend? What happened?
Arphaxad: I found this man robbing me and well, now he needs healed and I doubt he will rob me again.
Arphaxad: Where can I find a healer
Sintilya Foxblood blinks at you.
Sintilya Foxblood: Where did this happen?
Sintilya Foxblood: Are you a traveller passing through?
Arphaxad: I may be, but currently I am staying near this town
Arphaxad: Who are you?
Sintilya Foxblood places her hand on the hunter's throat, feeling for a pulse.
Sintilya Foxblood: I'm Sintilya Foxblood, servant of Oghma, The Binder.
Sintilya Foxblood: You say you're living nearby?
Sintilya Foxblood pulls out a bundle of herbs and a cloth as she speaks.
Arphaxad: Yes, do you think you can heal him?
Sintilya Foxblood: Hmm... I can stabilize him. It looks like he's having some trouble breathing, and the marks on his throat look like they're probably the reason.
Sintilya Foxblood: He won't die though, if that's what you mean.
Arphaxad: I don't wish any harm to come to him, but I still must see that he gets justice
Arphaxad: Who is the keeper of the peace in this town?
Sintilya Foxblood: I can see to that. I'll bring him before Garret in the Chamber of the Sun.
Sintilya Foxblood: Oh, that'd be Garret Arahnrod.
Arphaxad: What do you know of Garret?
Arphaxad: Is he a fair man?
Sintilya Foxblood: Oh, very. He's a cleric of Lathander, though most of his duties to the town are actually adminstrative.
Sintilya Foxblood: If you're worried about justice, you shouldn't be. This man will be tried fairly.
Sintilya Foxblood: Were there any others?
Arphaxad: No, as far as I know, he was alone.
Arphaxad: Do bandits usually travel together?
Sintilya Foxblood nods.
Sintilya Foxblood: Well, I can see to his health and his trial. Did you need anything else, perhaps?
Arphaxad: One more thing.
Arphaxad: Have there been many bandit attacks in the area recently?
Sintilya Foxblood looks pensive for a moment.
Sintilya Foxblood: No, not really. Though...
Arphaxad: Go on...
Sintilya Foxblood: I did just send my apprentice to check on a shipment of supplies to the north. I expected it this morning, in fact I received word it was camped not far from town, but it never arrived.
Sintilya Foxblood: I haven't heard back from her yet, though she just left so I wouldn't expect to for some time yet.
Sintilya Foxblood: Why? Did this man say something?
Arphaxad: Well...
Arphaxad: He in fact said very little.
Arphaxad: But perhaps I should go and check on this shipment for you...if it is indeed worthy of being checked on.
A look of concern passes over Sintilya's face as she considers several possibilities.
Sintilya Foxblood: If there are more people like him... I'm afraid my apprentice may be in some danger. She's not the most worldly of people...
Arphaxad: I will go right away and check on her and the shipment, where do i need to go?
Sintilya Foxblood: Ah, talk to Markham at the Bit of Shade - he's the one that heard about the wagon making their camp a few hours north. He might be able to be more specific.
Arphaxad: Thank you, and we shall speak again.
Arphaxad hurries to speak to Markham.
You spot the pavilion across the market square and make a bee-line for it.
Markham Grintz: Heya stranger! Anything I can do ya for?
Looking around the pavilion you spot a halfling, about 3 feet tall, with curly black hair and an easy smile.
Arphaxad: Yes, i heard there was a shipment near town.
Markham Grintz wipes down a table with a towel he has draped over his shoulder.
Arphaxad: Do you know anything of it?
Markham Grintz: Ah! The one Sintilya was askin' about earlier?
Markham Grintz: Sure thing - a local came by, said he saw it camped a few hours north, just off the main trade route.
Markham Grintz: Why? Something happen to it?
Arphaxad: Not that is known to me, but I would like to visit it.
Arphaxad: I just make for it straight to the north?
Markham Grintz: Sure - just follow the road north and to the east, maybe three or four hours on foot.
Markham Grintz: Actually... make that six. The fella that came in was on a horse, so he probably made it a good bit faster than someone walking would.
Arphaxad: I see
Arphaxad: Does anyone here have any horses I would be able to use?
Markham Grintz: Ahh, probably not stranger - unless you can pay 'f course.
Arphaxad: I see.
Arphaxad: Do you know what the traders may have been carrying?
Arphaxad: Anything out of the ordinary?
Markham Grintz shrugs nonchalantly.
Markham Grintz: Just some supplies as far as I know. Sintilya's got something on there, so maybe some books'n herbs or something like that.
Arphaxad looks at the sun, trying to determine how many hours of daylight remain.
Quite a few - it's still before noon.
Arphaxad: Perhaps I should speak with Sintilya again.
Arphaxad: Thank you friend.
Markham Grintz: You seem awfully interested in this caravan, if I may say so - anything up?
Arphaxad: Sense Motive [1d20+1 = 18]
You notice Markham has a look of curiosity, and his eyes show a shrewd glimmer.
Arphaxad: No, I just needed some supplies and things for my spells which I have not found in town.
Arphaxad: Thank you for your help
Markham Grintz: No problem. Come on back if y'ever want food, drink, or entertainment!
Markham Grintz waves to you.
Arphaxad: Indeed I will
Arphaxad waves back as he turns toward the temple.
Sintilya Foxblood steps in from a back room in the temple.
Sintilya Foxblood: Oh! It's you again.. um... what did you say your name was again?
Arphaxad: Arphaxad.
Arphaxad: Has the bandit awoken yet?
Sintilya Foxblood: Ah, Arphaxad. So, did... oh, no I'm afraid not.
Sintilya Foxblood: Whatever you did to him, he won't be up for an hour or so still.
Arphaxad: I see.
Arphaxad: What is it you were getting from the caravan?
Sintilya Foxblood: Primarily herbs - I'm running low on some of the plants that aren't locally available.
Sintilya Foxblood: I have a friend who brings me the ones that grow here, but the others are awfully hard to come by.
Sintilya Foxblood: There's also a book or two on the creatures that used to live in the area.
Sintilya Foxblood: Garret has asked me to look into something for him.
Arphaxad: What is that?
Sintilya Foxblood: Surely you've heard about the footprints that have been cropping up near town?
Arphaxad: Actually, i haven't been around town very long...what footprints are you talking about?
Sintilya Foxblood: Oh, well... several hunters and farmers have reported some unusual footprints. They've tried to follow them, but they always disappear after a short distance.
Arphaxad: Are they human or halfling?
Sintilya Foxblood: As far as we can tell, neither.
Sintilya Foxblood: They're about the size of a halfling, but the feet appear to have talons on them.
Sintilya Foxblood: At least, so go some of the stories...
Sintilya Foxblood: Others say they're much larger.
Sintilya Foxblood: Which is why I've been told to look into all the possibilities.
Arphaxad: And what have you found?
Sintilya Foxblood waves a hand dismissively.
Sintilya Foxblood: Unfortunately, most of the books we have catalog only the animals that are around right now.
Sintilya Foxblood: And none of them fit the bill.
Sintilya Foxblood: So, I sent word with a merchant that I needed some older books from one of the libraries up north. Hence this shipment.
Arphaxad: I see, well, I will keep my eyes open for you if I come across anything.
Arphaxad: By the way , how long ago did your apprentice leave for the shipment?
Sintilya Foxblood: That would be appreciated.
Sintilya Foxblood: I'm... a bit more worried, the more I think about it.
Sintilya Foxblood: Ranja really is a bit... scattered.
Arphaxad: Perhaps you should give me something she can recognize?
Arphaxad: If I do come across her, I would not want her to mistake me for a bandit.
Sintilya Foxblood slips a hand into one of her belt pouches and pulls out a wooden holy symbol with the symbol of an open book carved into it.
Sintilya Foxblood: Here, show her this. That should convince her that I sent you.
Sintilya Foxblood: And... here.
Sintilya Foxblood pulls out a small vial from the same pouch and hands it to you.
Arphaxad: What is this?
Sintilya Foxblood: I don't have many of these... but it should heal you of some wounds, should you encounter trouble.
Sintilya Foxblood: It's rather costly... so use it only if you have to.
Arphaxad: Thank you very much, is there anything else I should know before I leave?
Sintilya Foxblood: Oh, Ranja has dark blond hair and green eyes. She'll probably have a symbol similar to the one I gave you, too.
Arphaxad thanks Sintilya and heads towards the northern gate.
Sintilya Foxblood waves to you and steps back through the door into the back room.
About two hours or so out of town....
As you're walking through the trees, you spot a man dressed much like the one in your shed, a loaded crossbow in his hands. Just beyond him, a small black-haired girl is evenly matched against a second hunter while a wolf circles the two of them.
END SESSION