The party is complete. I'm going to be referring to everyone as their character names from now on, so here's a reference:

Alecs - Female Gnome Bard (somnophile@gmail.com)
Aurowscar - Male Elf Ranger (fhenk18@gmail.com)
Brandt - Male Shifter Fighter (monomachy@gmail.com)
Cain - Male Minotaur Barbarian (ursarkar8787@yahoo.com)
Marekh - Female Deva Invoker (kindleblossom@gmail.com)

I am not going to invent a backstory for why you are all working together. That will take place in this first e-mailed story section. So keep in mind, as the first skill challenge is presented, you have arrived in town completely on your own. Without further delay, let's get this started off!

Entering Woodgate:

                Only a handful of cities remain in the once great human empire. In the east, the Tiefling lands have fallen into complete disrepair, though their rumored village of Bridroon is said to be cursed, never appearing in the same place twice. The Dragonborn in the west have gathered in the great city of Stonehold. In the central lands, two human cities remain that stand out among the rural villiages and hamlets. In Kranthia, a few noble families have managed to carve out a safe haven. People can live out their lives in peace and happiness, atleast compared to the rest of the kingdom. The other major city, Woodgate, offers a different advantage...

                Some people roam the lands in search of adventure and danger. Some fight for good, others for money. Adventurers search for glory, or to fight back the tide of evil monsters. But no matter what they seek, at some point their journey takes them to Woodgate.

                The slums on the outskirts of town are bustling when you arrive. Runners for the local guilds pass notes meant for secret meetings, merchants are calling out above the din, and a vast array of warriors and mages make their way through the crowd. It is no surprise that you have so much competition. Notices were posted across the land that heroes were need in Woodgate. The promise of wealth and fame, along with the chance to “save the realm” has drawn all types. Each poster held one cryptic message “Find Havreed in Woodgate”. The question now is simple. What can you do to find Havreed before anyone else?

SKILL CHALLENGE: What tactic will you use to ‘Find Havreed’. Be clear which of your skills you are using. Feel free to send a backup plan, to use in case your first attempt fails. If not, you will keep using the same skill until the challenge is either completed or failed. Do not send rolls. I will do that on my end when you have selected tactic and skill.

Send me your skill challenge choices by Wednesday. I will post the results Thursday, and then we will start the game proper on Saturday!

Also, please send me a picture for your character. I’ll turn it into a pog for Gametable.

- The DM


*


Brandt did not like cities. Even with a kerchief across his mouth and nose, the smell of the place offended him.

The crowds were not much better. Twice already he had felt a tug at his belt and looked down to see a cutpurse already vanishing into the bustling throng. He had little enough that was worth stealing, and wore none of it on his belt, but old habits died hard. Still, a few years ago he would have seen them coming, rather than going.

A noble's carriage rumbled down the street, the coachman cracking his whip showily above the heads of the crowd, by turns demanding that the crush of people make way for his lord and cursing those who did not jump quickly enough for his liking. Brandt grinned. The man would not do too badly as a soldier, with a voice and a vocabulary like that.

Digging in a pocket of his coat, he produced a much-rumpled poster and did his best to smooth it out. Now that fool young men ran off to slay dragons and be heroes instead of becoming good, honest robbers or highwaymen like they used to, bounty hunting work was thin on the ground.

He was not so young as he used to be, and he liked to know where his next meal was coming from. Besides, it's been a while since he had a chance to "save the realm". He shook his head, smiling. Havreed. Unusual name. A man like that couldn't be so hard to find, even in a city like this.

First, he would- spinning, he caught the hand of a third cutpurse in his. A human child, grubby but well-fed. With a frown, Brandt plucked the knife out of the boy's hand and threw it up onto a nearby roof, then released him and watched as he darted off into the crowd, rubbing feeling back into his hand. His smile broadened under the kerchief. Not so old after all. Squaring his shoulders, he strode further into the city.

I'm going to use Streetwise to look for Havreed. Anyone who puts up posters like that probably isn't hiding too hard. If he is, as some kind of initiative test, or if I'm just that bad at asking around, I'll look for taverns where would-be adventurers might be drinking and try to listen in on likely-looking conversations with Perception.