Hole in the Oak Prelude Report
General Summary
The excitement with Elara's Oprhanage is palpable as the student body gathers in the dining area which doubles as an auditorium when all of the children need to be gathered in one place. The source of the jubilent students is the announcement of who will be next years The Rite of Passage: Bearers of the Tithe.
Though many groups of eligible student applied to hold the prestige title, after vetting it was obvious that it only came down to two groups: the player character and four students collectively known as the "Elara's Errants" the bad eggs of the academic institution (who quite often is the case of bullies have managed to intimidate and charm their way into being unsuspicious to adults).
Elara the headmistress of the orphanage and adventurer draws randomly to see which group will prove themselves first....and it's the PCs.
Rewards Granted
1 prestige point per characer present - for them gaining the honor of being Tithe Bearers
1 action point per character present - for defending Adeline against the Errants
6 supplies per character pressent - you would have used 2 each for the travel to the tithing site
Meremire - manage to pilfer 10 gold off of the "Boon Campanions"
Missions/Quests Completed
THE AUDITION
The decision of who becomes the Tithe Bearers comes down to 3 rounds of skill challenges which if successful garners a point. The team with the most at the end of the tests are crowned Tithe Bearers.
Meremire Shadelights Feats of Skil
- Meremire Shadelight attempts to lift an item off of headmistress Elara with the aide of Simian Gauge (my name of monkey with machineguns character until we get a name) who cast as spark spell as a distraction = failure
- Elara states "I've been targeted by dozens of pickpocket in my career - much more adept than you"
- Meremire redeems himself as he displays his knowledge of the Dragon Ossithrax (see Tithing ceremony in intro) = 2points
- Ossithrax is an ancient Black Dragon
- Based out of a necroplis known as the Barrowmaze
- it's odd he has sent his kobold minions to the last few tithing ceremonies as he's relishes in demonstrating his power/dominance to the Tithe Bearers
- using his divine magic he demonstrates his ability purify food and water - a valuable skill while travelling through the wilds
- gains 1 victory point
- tries to impress Elara with his linquistic skills - but fails to prove value as the dragon and kobolds are fluent in the languages of the valley
- uses his diplomacy to trash talk the "Errants" bringing to light their many flaws = 1 point
- Zule also uses his word smithing to try an fluster the Errant Flagrous Grin by treating like barbaric Orc (something that the Errant is very sensitive about)
- The Delacroix twins try to impress Elara with their pyschic link trying to prove the whole of them is greater than the parts = fail
- They then try to convince her that they have experience with dragons - but the PCs manage to piece together the twins were just refering to that time the twins found tiny water lizards in the school pond = fail
- Flagrous Grin demonstrates his strength by simultaneous lifting up two chairs with students on them = 1 point
- He then demonstrates he can take care of himself by manifesting a set of vicous claws = 1 point
- Oclo Kato without a word when it's his turn simply walk up to the PC Meremire and knocks him flat on his but then slinks back to his companins without a word = 1 point
NOTE: 5 points to 3 points for the Errants (forgot where you guys got the 5th point)
OH! ADELINE!!!!
Though the test of the Tithe Bearer were thrilled with the stundent body as Elara began the more ceremonial aspects of the test she could see the students getting restless. As such, she dismisses them to the playground.
Not use to being the centre of attention the PCs are surrounded by congratulatory classmates while the Errant skulk at the play grounds edge where a studnet named Adeline approaches them.
Adeline being somewhat bratty has decided to rub the Errants failure in their faces while gushing about her schoolgirl crush on Meremire ("oh you'll never be as brave as him"). In response the Errants decide to "rub her face" in the sandbox quite literally. The PCs deciding to come to the little girls rescue (Meremire quipping it's like having a child with her around).
The PCs would prove to be victorious over the Errants by some adept manuevers including:
- Simian Guage using an enrage spell to force Oclan Kato to strike out at Fragous Grin
- good use of stealth, flanking and sneak attacks by Meremire and Zul
- Meremire convincing Fragous Grin to stand down as "it's not worth the trouble"
- also see character interacted with section below
TRAVEL TO THE ALTER - PITSTOP - THE TOWN OF HELIX
- On their way to the Tithing Alter test run the character pass through the village of
(closest town to the orphanage)
- Simian Guage makes his way to the Helix Church where he silently prays for guidance on the trip the party is taking
- Mermire makes his way to the The Foul Pheasant where he encounters the Boon Companions (see characters interacted with below)
- Zul seeks to understand the market forces within the village by scoping out The Silver Standard Merchant Co. and Turgen Trade Goods
- Wanting to reach the foot of the Cairn Hills the PCs rush through Whitesparrow
- however their are two structures which can't be helped to be in awe of:
- The Temple of Pholtus (currently closed) and the The Cyclopean Palm
- after asking around the party discovers currently no threats in the region but the going into the Cairn Hills proper one can never be too certain
- Recently to the North there was a bru-ha-ha in the town of Barlox where last years Tithe Bearers put to rest a vengeful mummy (deceased owner of one of the rivaling wineries in the region who came back for vengence against those responsible for his murder)
- as nightfalls the party camps out at the base of the Cairn Hills and in the morning make the final leg of the journey to the Tithing Alter
- once there a thorrough investigation of the area reveals that someone in the past had set up hunter "blinds" position to be the perfect ambush spot facing the alter - they've been around for awhile - perusmably since the last Tithing ceremony
Drawing their weapons the pounce upon origin of the sound only to find Adeline in the bushes. The little girl followed the PCs because she wanted to be part of the adventure. Stunned at how she could keep up she only states "I"m a really good swimmer. I followed the river instead of the road." If this were true her swimming must be supernatural for her to keep up with the pace the party was keeping.
Trying to maintain a balance of being chastisng but not too hard on the girl the PCs state that they need to bring her back to the orphanage; which she has no probelm with as she gets to hang out with her "love" Meremire.
THE HOLE IN THE OAK
Camping at the foothills once again (Adeline though supernatrual swimmer still was exhausted from her journey) the characters yet once again have an uneventful night only to be rudely awakened in the monring by the screaming of Adeline.
Not too far from the campsite an ancient oak stands. At it's based among a tangle of roots is gaping hole leading into a cavern system (think Return of the Jedi and the root cavern where Luke faces visions of Darthvader) an somehow the little girl lost her footing and found herself trapped in the pit like entrance.
Feeling somewhat responsible of the girl Meremire descends into the cave where he discovers it connects to what must be a relatively large system of chambers. Where the cave branches at a "t" intersection in the distance he can hear the rushing of a river to the NW and an eerie green glow emenating to the SE.
After a serious fall trying climb out with the girl; Meremire with the assitance of his friends finally extricate the wayward waif from the pit.
After confering amongst themselves the party decides to return the little girl before delving into the caves deeper; as far as they're aware this entrance into the underworld is unkown to the residents of the Helix Valley (what treasure lay beyond - well they're about to find out).
Character(s) interacted with
Elara
- extremely proud of the PCs for not only their success at the tests but also standing up for those weaker than them (Adeline)
- she hints that if the actual Tithing Ceremony (a year from now) goes well it bodes well for them being accepted into Elara's Alumini
- The Delacroix Twins seemed to act as a singe unit enhanced by their psychic bond
- Oclan Kato so far seems to be the toughest of the Errants - a master of pugilism and grappling
- during the scuffle in the schoolyard Flagrous Grin seems not to be a reluctant participant in the deviant behaviour that the Errants quite often engage
- PCs figure that they may be thorn in their side (note: these are rivals not outright enemies - as of now)
- not much is known about her she was abandoned at the orphanage when she was a baby
- she's definitely not a normal kid (maybe some investigation is needed)
- click The Boon Companions for description while checking out the Foul Pheasant Meremire is mistaken as a bus-boy and is ordered around by the travelling pair
- deciding to play along Meremire gleen some information from the duo (as well as slipping some coin they left on the table for himself)
- as he's leaving the party rogue manages to overhear the two lamenting that they need to find an alternative adenturing site and get a few hireling which they will have to pay - but what site
- impress with the PC Zules interest in the market of the area he encourages him to hook up with the Silver Standard Merchant company if the young lad really want to be a player in the economy
