Watched (AT)

Watched Prerequisites: Based at Outpost Location (anyone can participate) Timeframe: Week 2-3 of Campaign Rewards: 1 KP, Secret Reward Agela had called a meeting in the town hall that had begun construction.  She had personally donated goods and supplies towards building the first rooms so there was the beginning of a structure.  She hoped completion would come soon.   Good afternoon everyone ... I am glad so many of you could attend.  There is something important we need to discuss regarding the safety of our town.  We have recently discovered that items were going missing .. and I know there was a lot of blame but we have discovered who .. or what rather is behind it.  Well .. at least we know it is not one of us .. A thief, disguised in some sort of adaptable camouflage broke in and used teleportation magic to send a flat of goods to some unknown location .. We know this much because we set up a watch and they saw it happen .. I am going to now allow them to explain further. Agela motioned to the party who had discovered the presence of the mysterious invisible thief. 

Prytania looked left and right to see if someone stepped up, but noone seemed to want to. (" Oh well, might as well do it myself and try not to spread panic around... ") " Thanks Agela. Yes, we set up a watch at the tower, and something happened very early in the morning. I was setting watch at a nearby house when I heard some noises, and after approaching the tower I could see a spell inside, a teleportation spell. Some materials disapeared in the portal, so I rushed in and there was... a presence. I couldn't see it, but it spoke, mostly in riddles " " It managed to slip out of the tower, and  before leaving, he gave us a speech... Something about broken bonds, and mistrust" - Prytania stopped for a second, trying to remember before giving up - " It seems the first builders angered these... Things and now they take from us because they "need" it or something... I don't know ". " Either way, it left a bag of stuff, as a peace offer, but I don't trust it at all. I suggest placing a permanent watch at all our storages, with bells or something to alert the rest of the settlement, in case they decide to steal again "

"'Things' yes that's a great way to speak about creatures that we might be able to negotiate with. If anything we shoud try to settle this matter peacefully first. Even though I'm saying this I agree with keeping a watch on the storehouses just because I think we should be peaceful doesn't mean we should let them steal from us." (OOC not completely sure this post is legal if so I'll take it down)

So this creature knew what happened to the missing settlers? We need to open dialogue. What do you (the party that encountered it) think are our options?  Rusty did not wait for a reply and sat back down.

"It said the settlers before us betrayed there race but they seemed open to some kind of negotiations." Zordlon seems to ponder this "They also made no attempts to attack us. I wouldn't say there easy to fight though I saw the spell and if they could do that to us......" Zordlon lets the thought hang in the air

" Well Viggo, I'm happy if we can trade and on top of it, they also proved that they can be dangerous if they want to. Yet we can't allow them to steal like this, they, if there even is a they... Have to understand that this is our home now, and should live by our rules while they are in our settlement ". Zordlon spoke: "It said the settlers before us betrayed there race but they seemed open to some kind of negotiations.They also made no attempts to attack us. I wouldn't say there easy to fight though I saw the spell and if they could do that to us......"  "And why would it fight us, it got exactly what he wanted , and left us this bag full of sticks as compensation... Compensation we did not agree on, or ask. No, that's not right"  Prytania spoke up to everyone in the meeting, slowly turning to look at everyone - " M y vote is to give them one last chance, if they come to trade we'll see what can be done, we should charge the items they took if you ask me. If on the contrary, they choose not to listen, and come to steal again... Well, we need those materials to survive. As much as I dislike confrontation, I'm afraid we will have to fight for our well-being "

Azariah stood, he was in the corner of the room, his apprentice seated beside him. "I vote to give them more than an another chance. The creature had no will to fight. Whatever it was, it didn't wish to fight us. I don't think it understood that what it was doing was stealing. We keep up a guard in the store rooms, and attempt to detain it peacefully. Explain to it our point of view. Perhaps see if we can negotiate a meeting with their leader, to sort all of this out. I think that's fair." "Plus." He grinned his wolfish grin, and shrugged his titanic shoulders "I don't know about you, but I don't really want to go to war with something I can't see."

     Ren chose to sit against the wall throughout most of the conversation, listening to what everyone was saying. The group that was there seemed to be giving their opinions one at a time. Standing up Ren took his turn to speak, "As for whether or not we can negotiate with it... I leave that in all of your capable hands. If we can avoid bloodshed that would be best, not only because fighting can be unsavory, but I agree that these things are not to be underestimated. If because of nothing else, they can use magic and are hard to see and hit."      Ren sat back down. "Also starting a conflict with the people already here within a week of arival... what would that say about us?" 

"That we're bloodlusting warlords? I think it'd say something like that."

Well we have been going out of our way to avoid bloodshed.  Maybe we should leave a note for them asking them to meet.

"How do we know if they even read common or some other language? For all we know they have their own language they speak and write."

"how do we know they dont?"

"They were also here first, hard to call it our home now if they have been inhabiting this place long before we ever arrived." Will said as he lounged back into one of the seats in the room. That was his input on the matter and for now he had nothing more to add to this conversation.

"I agree we should find a way to communicate a meeting with these creatures whatever they are called. Don't expect them to trust us though they said they were betrayed by settelers before us. If we want them to trust us it needs to be earned."

"Well if they can speak common, you'd think they can read it." Azariah commented idly.

Rusty stands .... ...  ....  "We could make the letter in all the languages we know"... "they could help us find the colonists, we risk nothing in talking".

Harold who had been watching all the proceedings from the back of the room, pushes himself off the wall and takes a few steps forward.   I'm all for peaceful, the gods know I am.  But what happens when we try and these folks continue to take our things?   Harold takes a few more steps forward, catching peoples eyes as he speaks.   Are you prepared to do what is needed to defend our land? He points to several in the crowd.   I know we are new to this land, but we have not provoked the denizens and we should not have to pay for someone else's crimes.    Harold steps to the front of the assemblage and turns to address them.   I'm willing to let what has happened go, but we can not tolerate even one more missing item if we are to survive here.  These creatures must understand that this is our home now, and we will not leave without a fight.  So draft your letter, make an attempt at peace,  but know that if they can not accept the terms then we must prepare for war.   That being said Harold walks back to his position.

"I agree with this it may be the best idea to have peace but, that being said we need those supplies to survive and if they take them we musn't tolerate it any more."

Charles quietly stands up in the back before unleashing his booming voice upon those gathered, "I think peace is our only course of action until we know more about these... adversaries? I don't even like to use that word. We don't know the extent of what they are capable of. Beginning aggressive actions could spell the doom of this colony far quicker than them stealing anything. I won't shy away from a conflict should the need arise, but I won't jump into one without proper scouting. Who will be our speaker, though? Whomever finds them first?" He crosses his arms over his chest, his wry smirk returning to his face as he awaits an answer.

"It should be someone from the original party I think.They might trust them more besides one of them is particularly diplomatic." As he finishes saying this Zordlon makes a gesture towards Prytania "Though I also think they should have some sort of back up."

"Ren and I can go with her, neither of us want to seek this battle unless necessary, but we are more than capable of taking on anything they might throw at us."

     "That sounds like a reasonable plan. I'd like to tag along anyway." Ren stands up and nods, before looking towards Prytania. "All up to you though, seems like you are going to be the psudo diplomacy leader." 

"I think I should go as well. The being did answer me. Though whether it was as a response or it was telling us all i'm not sure."

"I can write the letter if you wish"

Everyone was watching her, everyone seemed to have some faith put her diplomatic ability, everyone was waiting for an answer... (" Wow, am I really the go-to person already?... I guess that's a good sign. Better not let them down! ") - She cleared her voice - " First of all, Thanks for the confidence you're putting in me!, I'll be happy to represent us... Hopefully, we will be more successful this time."  " I promise I'll do my best to solve this without any other issues"  - said to the friendship supporters before turning to the ones more akin to her thoughts- " But I'm not going to surrender the things we need for a creature's whim unless we are forced to. I'm sure we will make a good deal, after all we are here to stay, and I guess we will be neighbours."

Issachar, seeing the matter was decided, pats Harold on the shoulder and walks out without a word.  The wilderness calls...

"It's not confidence. Your just the only one here who has some semblance of tact."

Agela takes the stage again ..  We thank you for your input .. It has been discussed and it sounds like we will first attempt a diplomatic solution .  She motions to Prytania, should we run into them again we will let Prytania talk to them if they will allow for a dialogue.  We will put signs up in common on the warehouse and in the market that we wish to discuss a trade with these people and we will see if they respond with favor.  We do not know the kind of problems that the original builders ran into so we probably shouldn't jump to conclusions, except to note that they are gone and these others knew them and set up some kind of trade or something .. I guess a lot remains to be revealed.   As Agela adjourns the gathering, some remain to talk but eventually the partially finished building empties as people return to their chores.   

In a very short time, signs are erected and placed in the market and the watchtower.  They contain a message for the "others" that reads We wish to trade and not fight Please send someone to meet with us We want to talk A watch is placed over the watchtower as guards take turns.  2 inside and 2 outside In the morning, A bag is found, leaning against the marketplace sign. It was never seen how it got there but it is of the same white material that the "others" had left before.

Armand wanders over to the bag and picks it up to examine it.   Hmmm I think I will need to spend some time examining this to figure out what it is.  Angla , Tania do you mind if I take this to examine it?

"Is there anything we don't particularly need we could send back?"

" Well, maybe it's just like the other one they left here last time... let's take a quick look beforehand... " - Prytania grabbed the bag, and placed it in a central spot where all the magic users could take a look at it before opening it. (OOC: Prytania casts detect magic; Spellcraft checks with 2 helpers, Charles Dane and Kellen: 27, 30, 19 , took more rolls just in case the bag seems safe. In that case, we'll open it and check what's inside with the remaining rolls)

Kellen, recently finished with his forge time, went to see what the commotion around the watchtower was. If there is trouble surely as the local abadaran authority he should be involved.

Prytania, Kellen, and Charles stand around the bag left behind. "Whats in the bag?" Kellen inquired. "We don't know." replied Prytania. "Why do we think its magical? Just open it. Wait thats a bad idea." "If there's not dangerous magic in the bag I'll open it... last one was magical." "Was it dangerous?" "No." Prytania stated flatly. "What did it do?" "We don't know. Make things lighter it seems..." "What did they take?" "Building materials, oh and wooden toys, the monsters..." she added with a tone of disgust. "I could make more toys if that's what they want," Kellen added, hoping to be of service. "Magical bags that help carry stuff seems like a fair deal to me." "Yea, well, it's not about the deals. It's about the manners. I mean, it's all well and good. But they ARE walking around taking what they want." "I agree they need to be stopped, but I figure the first step is to get our building materials safe." Kellen was being quite pragmatic. "We are working on that. Agela has placed a watch armed with a trade message and a bell, just in case." Prytania informed, letting Kellen know something was in the works. "Ahh, seems good." "I guess all that's really left to do then is wait," the voice of Charles Dane finally chimed in. "Waiting just feels too....passive," Kellen remarked, slight irritated that he didn't suggest more. "Waiting may be passive, but I don't think there is anything proactive that we can do at this point. I wish there was, too." he replied. "That's our best bet, yes." Prytania affirmed. "Well, once my companion arrives, the construction of the vault will not be far behind. At that point it should be difficult for them to take from us." Kellen added confidently. "You heard what happened, they are invisible, and use teleport magic." Prytania interjected. "They teleport?" Kellen asked, obviously not aware of all the details. "Yes, we found out that's how they take away things," Prytania informed him. "I couldn't identify the spell, but it was clearly a teleportation spell" "Sounds like some sort of outsider," Kellen posited. "Yea, that makes sense." Prytania scratched her head. "We will need to do more than just BUILD a vault. We will need to find some warding spells to place on it as well, I think." Charles put forth as if it weren't obvious. Kellen crossed his arms. "Agreed, but that's not something within my power. I may be an abadaran, but that is usually left to the priests." "I could spend some time researching warding magics, but it is not my forte..." Charles trailed off. "This would be simple if we could at least speak to them. If nothing else than to learn what they are," said Kellen, somewhat exasperated. Too bad things couldn't just be easy. "Hence the passivness. We don't know how to contact them," Prytania offered. "IF it's a them" "Well if its only one, it shouldn't be able to take much each day," Kellen replied. "The creature spoke about them, but it also spoke in riddles... It was hard to make sense of anything," Prytania was deep in thought about this. Then Kellen offered an idea. "If we can distract them with unimportant objects then we can probably continue construction undisturbed." "Hm... That's interesting, maybe we could lure them into something too hard to pass on if it turns out that trade doesn't work." Prytania thought Kellen was on to something. "They were interested in toys and building materials, we may also consider that they have to put the materials SOMEWHERE, it may be miles from here but the exploration squads are getting around pretty quickly." Kellen was on a roll! "Yea, we should make them look around," Prytania thought out loud. After a few more seconds of thinking, this time quietly, she added, "They DID leave us some wooden stuff... maybe someone can identify the wood. That would be a very nice lead." "That way we can find out what region they are from!" Kellen blurted excitedly. "Perhaps the bowyer... what was his name?..." Charles questioned. "Issachar?" Kellen reminded. "Isn't he out with the scouting groups? I heard a few were on their way back." "Yes, issachar. He IS out of town, I'm afraid." Prytania added. "Yes! That's it. Issachar. Well it's a shame he's not around." Charles looked a little defeated. "Do we have anyone else that would know wood that well?" Nobody had an answer. The silence was answer enough. "Well, this can be big. We better get the word moving. I'm fine if we can trade peacefully, but we must act preemptively and have a plan just in case." Prytania declared. She was certainly ready for the planning to end and wanted to get the solution underway.

Working together, the group tried to identify the object but without knowledge of such strange magic they were at a loss.  They could manage to figure out it was some sort of combination of magic they understood and something else entirely.  Then they opened the bag.  A scroll held together with a simple string read: A gift to trade again we try But do not break the treaty more Items in the watchtower all belong to us each week In exchange we offer you the things you do not understand In payment you can use our things to survive this world you call strange Command the bags with the remotes Simple sticks with buttons 3 Take the orbs and use them well Honed to your watchtower they see But use them not too often friend Unexpected you will find Results of tampering about with space and with tim e Inside the bag were several of the strange "remotes" and a pile of stranger orbs that looked like obsidian hemispheres with a compass on the bottom.  The compasses of all the items pointed to the watchtower.  The center of the compass looked to be a button.  

"tampering about with space and time?!?! What does that mean? What sorcery could this be?!?!" Zordlon seems very upset about the idea of this

Kellen inspects one of the hemispheres, careful not to press one of the buttons. "i have never seen a device such as this, the button probably activates a spell of some kind, there is no way anything mechanical could be so small." (OOC Kellen attempts a disable device and perception to try and figure out what the button activates / does , Kellen has trapfinding, so can see magical stuff, and rolled a 25 disable device, adn a 30 perception, or ill just read the new items post)

"Whatever is in thhe watch tower is theirs... I guess we have to move whatever we want to keep out of the watch tower, make a new storage room, and accept the watchtower as a trade hall with these creatures unless we wish to fight them."

You guys can continue posting the story here .. but at this time all participants receive 1 KP and every player receives a Honing Stone who wants one .. Players who participated may roll a 1d20 and post your roll..  The highest roll will win the anti-gravity bag.

(OOC rolled a 19 for the bag of no physics)

(Rolled 13 :C

(Rolled 3) Taking a Honing Stone.

ooc Rolled 2

Everyone gets a honing stone .. (even players not in this thread) they are passed out to everyone in town.  There are even extras (for new players) Kellen wins the bag of no physics, as he calls it.  Unless this is contested it is his

(rolled a nat 8. made so much worse by the barely roll over nat 20 3-d dice and i'll take one of them homing stones)