First Days

First Days Prerequisites: Land On The Island Stepping off the Iron Kelpie, you look around at what will become your new home for .. well .. perhaps and probably forever.  You know that not all of you will survive even the first year; maybe not even the first night.  Nevertheless a great excitement washes over the new settlers as they grab their gear and make out towards the outpost.  The Benefactor had sent ahead a group of workers to begin construction on the first buildings and wouldn't that be a welcomed sight.   Heading inland for about 5 miles, the group made their way down a simple path.  Eventually, a small building could be seen off in the distance rising up on the fertile land.  It appears to be an outpost of some sort.  It looks like workers made at least a little progress on the Island.  Past the outpost, what appears to be market stands and a small, but empty fountain.   What is concerning, is the lack of workers.  Nobody has come out to meet these new colonists.  No cries of hello.  No hail newcomers .. Just silence and the wind across the fertile plain.

Zordlon seems a bit on edge about the lack of workers "Uh wasn't there supposed to be workers here? Did they just not know we arrived?" 

Rusty puts down his anvil briefly and checks to make sure his sword is ready, before continuing on. "Keep moving, that's how walking works".

Daleira walks slowly up the path, her senses on high alert. The lack of a greeting is unnerving to the Ranger, and she slowly works her way farther up scouting in front looking for any signs of danger. Her careful eyes scan the ground ahead and the horizon looking for some clue as to what has happened.  The silence is ominous and she slowly draws her bow and nocks an arrow, just to be ready. "This seems odd, anyone else feel the hairs on their neck standing up? This just feels wrong."

As Issachar drives his wagon down the gangplank, he stands and takes a huge breath of the local air.   Ahh, home! , He thinks.   The wind smells ripe with possibilities!   He turns in the seat, looking for his new partner, Xerrack.   I hope he and his man are ready to hit the wilderness as soon as we are settled...

Wait, this is odd.  Where are the people?  EVERYONE STOP! ,   Issachar bellows, We must check the area for tracks before we destroy the tale that is told here! (Track (Survival) = 29)

Garenth see's his fellow settlers as they seem to be on high alert. Goliath lets out a loud "heeeewhaww" as they move along into the settlement. HELLLLOOOOO IS ANYONE THERE?

As Pezzack walks beside his donkey companion, he picks up on the fear and confusion starting to ripple through the new colonists. Knowing that the best thing to calm others is more information, the tengu concentrates, focusing on drawing the power of the eagle totem into his eyes, making them larger and more focused. With the eyes of a hawk, the druid looks for danger hiding around them. (OOC: Perception check 29 to spot an ambush)

Azariah swiftly comes to agree with everyone's sentiments, discomfort filling the tiefling as they moved inland. Almost instinctually, he began to alter his body, activating his aegis abilities to increase his muscle mass and make his tail a deadly weapon. With it looping side to side behind him as he walked, the tieflings eyes roved for sight of anything about to attack. "They wouldn't simply disappear... They're either out hunting, or are the hunted." He proposed, lips curling up in a little snarl as his eyes faded to yellow slits. "I don't like this, no one run off."

      No one is here.... It was an obvious fact, and it had made everyone suddenly more alert. Pezzack had started scanning his surroundings, Issachar was trying to find tracks, Azariah started altering his body and everyone else started reacting likewise. Ren was also on alert, if everyone was gone, then there are really only a handful of possibilities.... and many of them are not pleasant. However, there wasn't much they could do at this point but continue on, this was there new home.      "I really do hope for the best." On high alert, Ren continued forward.

Prytania managed to see the building. She was slowed by all the stuff she was carrying, but the faster ones of the group kindly slowed their pace to keep united. People were already commenting, it seems like the workers are missing, now that she thinks of it, they don't know anything of this world, except that a magical barrier was lifted not so long ago... (" Maybe this world has magic flowing everywhere "). She drops her things and murmurs a prayer, her eyes shift from blue to a deep purple. She picks up her things again and continues the march as she takes a good look at the surroundings. (OOC Prytania casts detect magic)

Armand hears the worried complaints of everyone about the fact that the builders are missing.  Being in the middle of a large group of adventurers takes the worry away from him.  He looks around waiting to see what the group consensus is before decided what he should do. 

As the others stop to look around Zordlon keeps moving ahead to go and check the village for signs of an attack when he gets there. (OOC forgot to put perception 23)

A survey of the area quickly reveals that the builders are missing.  The outpost is completely empty and any supplies that may have been here are also gone.  A search of tracks around the area shows that it has been a long time since any humanoid came or left this area.  Wherever they went there are no signs of them.   No dried blood either.  It is as if they just disappeared entirely.  

Garenth looks around a market stall to see if any signs of a struggle exist. He see's..............dirt. (OOC Perception Check 2 to check for signs of a struggle around on of the market stalls.)

Rusty silently frowns, his face is uncharacteristicly unreadable.

No one has been here in some time.  There are no fresh tracks.  We should set up a defensible perimeter so we can protect ourselves as we learn more.   Issachar clucks to the mules and rolls on into the encampment.

     Ren observed his surroundings. Zordlon had came back earlier to say that indeed all the builders were gone. There was no dried blood or obvious sign of a struggle or battle. "Whatever happened to the people who were here, doesn't seem like they were all killed in the normal way. Hey, you mages over there, is it possible that there is a powerful caster in these lands. Perhaps one strong enough to draw an entire settlement away?" Ren knew that casters had the ability to detect magic, perhaps there were signs of magic left over or something, Ren didn't really know too much about the arcane, and assumed people had already tried to detect magic and similar things, but he asked anyway.      We might want to get a couple basic rooms built. 

Harold stood in disbelief for a moment til he hears Ren talk of magic, which brings him back to focus.   I hope for our sakes that magic of that power is not at work here.  But let us see if there are any remnants of magic about.  Harold speaks quietly to himself just before his eyes glow with a faint blue light.  He then studies the area carefully. //Cast detect magic and scan the area

Several members of the expedition began scanning the area for traces of magical auras.  Even a lingering aura might offer some clue to the lack of laborers in the area.  Unfortunately, a thorough scan of magical detection finds nothing unusual.  Only the magical auras the settlers brought with them were found.  

" I can't seem to find any magic traces " - Said Prytania, shrugging as she cancelled the spell - " Are you sure this is our outpost? Maybe the builders are further away "

Flint and I will scout a little further ahead, maybe there are some clues down the trail....or at least a little game for dinner.  Anyone wishing to may join us.  The rest of you should do as Issachar suggests and set up camp, along with some fortifications.   With that being said, Harold calls Flint and prepares to set off down the trail.

"Something here doesn't feel right.... no magic or signs of a fight... what could have happened?"

Issachar immediately unhooks his mules from the wagon, but leaves them in the traces so he can use them to pull logs into camp.   We can use these to build both a fire and some fortifications around our perimeter.  I'll start hauling them here to the center, can some of you stronger fellows start building the perimeter?

Zuryana walked at the back of the group, pulling the reins of her gray mule. At first she didn't notice what the others of the group saw, until she realized everyone was stoping short of the buildings themselves. Once she realized the state of the area, and the group organizing to begin a search, she tied the reins of her mule loosely to the back of the nearby cart, and got ready to assist the others in setting up camp and to keep watch over the area, her hands gripping her quarterstaff tightly.

Pezzack looks over the outpost building, looking for roof access, but not quite finding it. "Hrmmm, this seems as good an excuse as any to try out those strange tools the octogoblins used to climb the ship." The short tengu drew out two barnacle-shaped objects, and began using them to climb up the side of the outpost. The nature-priest was careful and deliberate as he ascended, taking his time to make sure he had a sure grip with one before moving the other. If he can reach the roof, he will begin to lookout for the party, watching the land around them for danger. (OOC: Pezzack takes 10 while climbing the outpost with the barnacle grips, with a Climb check of 21. Assuming he reaches the roof safely, he watches for attack using his Totem Transformation ability to boost his Perception.)

// Note   Octogrips as you called them give you a climb speed .. if you have a climb speed you just climb at that speed without making checks.  It is like walking .. but climbing .. like if you have a swim speed you do not need to make swim checks to move in water normally. Technically you would roll but taking a 10 would make it impossible for you to fail in this case and you are not in combat. Climb Speed A creature with a climb speed has a +8 racial bonus on all Climb checks. The creature must make a Climb check to climb any wall or slope with a DC higher than 0, but it can always choose to take 10, even if rushed or threatened while climbing. If a creature with a climb speed chooses an accelerated climb (see above), it moves at double its climb speed (or at its land speed, whichever is slower) and makes a single Climb check at a –5 penalty. Such a creature retains its Dexterity bonus to Armor Class (if any) while climbing, and opponents get no special bonus to their attacks against it. It cannot, however, use the run action while climbing.

Harold and Flint set out to see if any clues can be found deeper into the island.  They travel for another mile or two, carefully examining for clues (or dinner) before turning to return to camp. // Perception 20, Survival 11

Rusty lets himself in to a building if able and checks for any messages.

Azariah follows Rusty, entering the half-finished outpost building itself, he searches for signs of disturbance or any hint as to where the builders went. Peception 20

Entering the buildings, there seem to be little sign of, well anything.  Any goods that they may have had here in the outpost are gone .. not even empty boxes or anything.  There is a remarkable lack of trash or anything.  No notes or messages scratched in the walls.  Whatever happened remains a mystery.  A quick survey of the miles around the perimeter of the outpost provide no evidence of the laborers that once called this home.  Agela, who has come up behind with a taskforce carrying goods to begin construction, remarks that the original labor force was 8 strong men and 2 headstrong women.  

Rusty's concern shows on his face , "we don't know enough"..."before we take drastic action we should ensure our safety, then find out what we can".... just realizing he spoke aloud..." at least that is what I think".  with great discomfort he speaks again, picking up speed towards the end. "I'll help get everyone inside and with the watch tonight, but my vision is only human"

     Like everyone else, Ren was poking around investigating the houses and area around it. Rusty spoke, ."before we take drastic action we should ensure our safety, then find out what we can ..... at least that is what I think". Rusty looked around, Ren figured he was thinking out loud. A little nervous he continued, "I'll help get everyone inside and with the watch tonight, but my vision is only human".      Ren looked around, "No, I think this man makes a reasonable point, we don't know much about what happened, setting up a night watch would be a good idea for these first couple days that we haven't gotten everything organized yet." Some people seemed to be missing, perhaps in the other houses or exploring the nearby area. 

Seraphina feels uncomfortable with everything, from the departure of the ship onto this new land to the lack of workers at the outpost. Even Shepard, her tiger companion seems uneasy. Since so far nobody can tell what has occurred here she agrees to stay near Ren and Rusty to help with the watch but in the morning it is time to explore nearby area for clues, if any exist. 

Harold and Flint return, munching on some trail rations as the hunting was poor.  At least it was a good stretch of the legs and a little time alone, always a good way to clear ones head.  As they enter camp they see rudimentary fortifications well underway and others starting to settle into some of the buildings.  After asking around he discovers that Rusty is organizing the guard duty for the night so he heads over to volunteer.  While his senses may be hampered by the darkness, he knows that Flint will not have such trouble.   

Pezzack stretches his legs as he sits on the outpost roof, keeping his eyes open for danger. He looks out over the side, yelling to those below that "I'll take first watch..."

Rusty reveals a system track everyone on watch"  No lights outside" Rusty sets up a few equal piles of rocks, organized by type. Pointing"take one at start of watch" "stay in groups, bring all the rocks back, the rock type will show your location" talking about rocks seems easier than people dying. As Rusty sees anyone with children volunteer, he suggest they stay inside but prepare to help if an alarm is sounded....looking at the fireworks...it would draw to much attention. " Perhaps a few of you can be runner teams, to carry messages if needed."

Zuryana volunteers to take a watch during the night, demostrating her ability to light a magical torch-like light on demand, and the range at which she can make the light move, for those more tactically-minded to know and make use of her skill.

Rusty heads out side and starts offering to help carry things. Making friends by being helpful, but also getting to know everyone's face and where they are setting up.

Kellen stretches as he climbs down from his perch among the crates on deck, and begins shoveling paperwork into his backpack. As the crew begins unloading crates, he gathers his things and hurries down the gangplank excitedly.

Charles hoists his bag under his arm and follows Kellen off the ship. "Let's see what we have here. Gonna have to find a place to sleep and eat." He strolls off toward the nearest buildings.

Kyros lands and takes off his boots, letting the feel of grass tickle his feet. "Oh, gods, finally! Finaly off that stupid wretch of a ship..." He enjoys the feeling for a few minutes, then gathers his things and sets off to the town. "Let's see this wild new land. The endless possibilities as they say."

A pair of soldiers wearing abadaran gear greets the newcomers and takes a list of names for each person, directing them anywhere they ask about.

Eilife walks down the gangplank, suspiciously with a large gap between her any anyone else getting off the ship. She gives her name to the soldiers, but then wordlessly walks off into the outpost.

Carefully walking off the boat, holding a nearly packed satchel. She walks up to the soldiers, "excuse me I am miss Ms. Daianaid, nice to meet you" watching them take her name, correcting spelling if needed, "can you direct me to where Rusty's armory is? I am his new scribe".

The guards pull out a small map (courtesy of Kellen) and point her in the direction of the armory, and then flip to another page and spend a minute reading. " oh, that rusty, i guess you havent heard what happened. hes in the forge but he may be a bit more....gruff than normal."

Two gnomes come sauntering off the boat, they are dressed in many bright colored clothes, the male wearing an extraordinary hat with a bright purple feather sticking out and the female with an incredible hair due with several pins sticking out of it.  The male whistles and a giant gecko about the size of a small horse comes plodding off the boat behind them, clearly burdened with carrying their belongings.  The male walks up to the guard taking names.   Hey-oh there, Fizziwik at your service.  This beautiful lass is Poppy.  And don't mind the gecko, he is with me.  We need a place to set up, maybe a place with a forge...Poppy here likes to work with metals.   The guard writes down their names and flips to another page, looking over the information.   Once you get into the outpost, look for Weincrest Leathers.  The owner recently passed away while exploring and there is a vacency.   Fizziwik thinks for a moment, That'll work, come on Poppy, let's go check it out and meet our new neighbors.

"Thank you..."  pausing and looking at the guard for his name. She will wait a moment then leave if he doesn't reply. "I don't want to keep you from your task, good day"

the guards looks surprised she asked his name, "Oh, the names Elery, why do you ask?"

"The name's Kyros, and I'm looking for a place with deer, wolves, and berries. I doubt that'll be in town." he says, while walking past the guard.