Frack tipped his oversized helmet to the councilman and followed Thelonius. "Good day to you, sir."

Eveline followed after the monk and paladin, giving a curt nod to Edweard as she did. Once the councilman had rounded the bend, she whispered to the others. "That was not at all usual. Where was he going? There's nothing out this way anymore, and he wasn't packed like he was heading to Landon's Point. So what was he doing out on the road?"

Frack adjusted the ill-fitting helmet on his head. "Should we follow him?"

"No, Frack," Eveline sighed as the stared back toward the departed councilman. "Willis is in danger. We need to find him first."

She turned to Thelonius. "Lead the way, tracker."

Thelonius examined the tracks, and while the prints along the road got busier as the near the city, it was easier than he expected to follow them. "Three sets, one of the them dragging his feet. I suspect that's your friend Willis. The good news being he is still alive."

It wasn't long before they arrived at the doorstep of a house. Willis could be seen through the window.

Perception/survival. Can the footprints be tracked to a location?  DC19. Advantage for help.
21:31, Today: Thelonius rolled 35 using 1d100.  Chaos.  21:25, Today: Thelonius rolled 25 using 2d20+5, dropping the lowest dice only with rolls of 20,13.

21:44, Today: DM rolled 3 using 1d100.  Destination. House (25%)? Definite yes. Willis can be seen in window.
21:45, Today: DM rolled 50 using 1d100.  Is the house of somebody known (25%)?
 
This message was last edited by the player at 02:51, Mon 28 Aug 2023.

The tracks led to a house on the edge of Tukoa. It was a simple place with a door in the front and a window on either side. The back of Willis' head (as identified by Eveline) was visible through the window on the right. He was seated on a wooden chair. Another unknown figure (maybe more than one) could be seen passing by both of the windows from time to time.

"Wait here," Thelonius instructed the others as he approached the house to get a closer look.

21:19, Today: Thelonius rolled 12 using 1d20+5.  Stealth - peak in through window.
21:19, Today: Thelonius rolled 91 using 1d100.  Chaos.

Thelonius creeped toward the first window. As he did, he spied not only Willis Redmane, bound to a chair, but two kidnappers, armed with short swords. One sat on a chair against an adjacent wall while the first continued to paced. As Thelonius took in the scene, however, the pacing !an turned unexpectedly toward the window spotting the monk peeking in.

"Hey," he called, placing a hand on the hilt of his sword and running toward the door next to the window where Thelonius looked in.


21:56, Today: DM rolled 75 using 1d100.  Are there 2 kidnappers (80%)?
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:48, Fri 22 Sept 2023.

Seeing the approaching kidnapper had no ranged weapon, Thelonius calmly stepped away from the window, hands raised in a non-threatening manner.

Hearing a shout from the house, then seeing his new friend raise hands and back up, Frack concluded his assistance was needed. "Trouble," his gasped to Eveline, already scurrying forward before calling over his shoulder. "Wait here!" He drew his scimitar and raced ahead to the doorway, stopping a ways from it to confirm the intent of the kidnappers before stepping in.

A rough looking man appeared in the doorway. He stopped once outside, leering at Thelonius angrily, but not quite mad enough to charge. He held a sword at his hip. "What are you doing here?" he questioned in a gravelly voice. "This ain't your house!"

13:16, Today: DM rolled 61 using 1d100.  Does first thug charge in (50/50)?

Thelonius kept his hands raised and spoke calmly, looking straight into the rough man's eyes. "We are just here to see a friend."

While the first man stood roughly in the doorway, the second, armed with a crossbow stepped out from behind him. Instead of following the rough man's gaze toward Thelonius, however, he looked straight away from the building, his gaze landing on Frack.

"Goblin!" he shouted, and lacking the restraint of his companion, let loose the quarrel from his crossbow.

21:07, Today: DM rolled 13 using 1d20+3.  Light crossbow vs. Frack.
21:34, Today: DM rolled 82 using 1d100.  Chaos.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:35, Mon 02 Oct 2023.

Frack's eyebrows disappeared under the rim of his helmet as the kidnapper fired wildly past him. The goblin sprung forward, swinging deftly at the crossbow wielding man and striking him with his trusty scimitar.

22:05, Today: Frack the Faithful rolled 24 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 19.  Scimitar vs. kidnapper 2.
Today: Frack the Faithful rolled 5 using 1d6+3 with rolls of 2.  Damage. – 5

21:53, Today: Frack the Faithful rolled 19 using 1d20+3.  Initiative.
21:53, Today: Thelonius rolled 11 using 1d20+3.  Initiative.
21:56, Today: DM, for the NPC Kidnapper 1, rolled 12 using 1d20+1.  Initiative.
21:56, Today: DM, for the NPC Kidnapper 2, rolled 4 using 1d20+1.
21:57, Today: DM rolled 194 using 4d100 with rolls of 9,81,26,78.  Chaos.

The crossbow firing kidnapper dropped his weapon as Frack's scimitar cut deeply. The other kidnapper retaliated quickly, striking the goblin with his sword. "Get out of here goblin scum!"

22:11, Today: DM, for the NPC Kidnapper 1, rolled 22 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 19.  Sword vs. Frack. Hits for 4 dmg.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:23, Tue 16 Jan.

The kidnapper before him turned to strike Frack. Maybe the way he cursed at his friend drove him to unusual anger. Whatever the reason, Thelonius unleashed a wicked attack with his quarterstaff, striking the kidnapper squarely across the head, dropping him where he stood.

22:12, Today: Thelonius rolled 17 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 12.  Quarterstaff vs. Kidnapper 1. – 17
22:13, Today: Thelonius rolled 11 using 1d8+3 with rolls of 8.  Damage. – 11

Bleeding profusely from his arm and seeing his companion limp on the ground, the 2nd kidnapper fell to his rear and offered no further resistance. Instead, he applied pressure to his wound, eyes darting rapidly between his bleeding arm and the goblin who caused it. He breathed loudly but said nothing.

22:25, Today: DM rolled 45 using 1d100 with rolls of 45.  Kidnapper 2 surrender? 75% chance.
22:26, Today: DM rolled 174 using 3d100 with rolls of 13,63,98.  Chaos.

Frack winced as the first kidnappper's blade cut through his armor, but before he could turn to defend against another attack, Thelonius had dropped the man to the ground with a single crack of his quarterstaff. The goblin looked at his companion and then to the lifeless kidnapper with some level of concern. "He's not breathing! We need to help him."

Action: Lay on Hands for 1hp of healing to the first kidnapper.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:41, Sun 21 Jan.

With the help of Pholtus's blessing, the first kidnapper began to breathe again. The breaths were shallow and accompanied occasionally by a long, low moan. He didn't look at all comfortable, but Frack was confident that he would survive. As they tended to the unconscious kidnapper, however, his partner scrambled to his feet and ran for the road, still clutching his wounded arm as he did.

11:03, Today: DM rolled 37 using 1d100.  Does kidnapper 1 survive (80%)?
11:04, Today: DM rolled 42 using 1d100.  Does kidnapper 2 run away (sure thing - 95%)?

Thelonius observed the retreating man and considered pursuit before he concluding their original goal, the safety of Willis Redmane, was more important. "Let him go," he told himself, observing long enough to see which way the wounded man ran before entering the house. He checked for other kidnappers, then advanced to Willis to untie him. "Don't worry, Willis Redmane. I am here with your friend Eveline. We've come to free you."

While shaken from his recent abduction, Willis still looked in fairly good shape. Once Thelonius removed the gag from his mouth, he heaved a heavy sigh and muttered a low thank you to the monk.

12:42, Today: DM rolled 22 using 1d100.  Is Willis healthy (50/50)?

Frack dragged the remaining kidnapper into the cabin, no small feat due to their respective sizes, and then struggled him into a chair. "Hand me that rope once you've untied Willis. We'll see how he likes being on the other side of that!"

Once the dust settled, Eveline appeared, carrying the covered cage. "Oh Willis," she cried, seeing him still partially bound. "Are you all right? Why would they do this to you?"

She turned a sharp eye toward the groggy kidnapper and scolded him. "Why would you do this? Willis is a harmless man and you kidnap him?"

After an extended, sharp stare at the kidnapper, she turned to Willis. "Oh Willis, you poor soul! What did they do to you. Who are these terrible men?"

19:05, Today: DM rolled 52 using 1d100.  Does Eveline know the kidnapper (unlikely 45%)?
This message was last edited by the player at 22:33, Sun 10 Mar.

"I'm alright, Eveline. Thanks to you." Willis dusted himself off, attempted for a moment to rise, but then thought better of it, sitting himself back down in the chair as he continued to regain his bearings. "I don't know neither of these men. They just come in while I'm trying to eat and drag me outta' my house. Didn't say what for!"

17:30, Today: Willis Redmane rolled 76 using 1d100.  Does Willis know either of his kidmappers? (very unlikely).
This message was last edited by the player at 22:38, Sun 10 Mar.

Thelonious tossed the ropes that recently held Willis in place to his goblin companion. "It appears that the only one who knows who who this is," he gestured to the groggy kidnapper. "Is he himself."