Thaela's Farm (SteveK) Thursday January 15th, 2009 10:49:47 PM Speck wonders if a circus performer would be required in a group with a crazy halfling in charge. The bard also contemplates what kind of undead they'll have to face. Highlight to display spoiler: { Speck seems to remember that zombies move slow, ghouls and ghasts paralyze people, and a wight's touch can even drain the very life from a person.}
Glandum talks with Speck on the way up to the farm. Once there, he stops and sets the brake, and then heads towards Thaela and waits for introductions.
Sir John gauges the farm (Spot Check please), any potential sites where attack or defense would be best. On arriving at the farm, he graciously introduces himself to Thaela. Sir John can easily see that Thaela's farm has 3 fields, a vineyard to the south-west, a barn, blacksmithy, school, winery, two lava pools and the main house. One field has grain, one is a traditional dwarven root farm adapted for surface farming, and the northern one is fallow at the moment. Her house is made of large stones as are the other buildings on the farm and all have stout wooden rooves. There is a woodlot copse of trees nearby, but nothing extensive. (Sir John Spot DC 15 Highlight to display spoiler: { The soil is so black that you can smell its richness: this is a very prosperous farm! Sir John especially notes the exceptional vineyard with lush white and green grapes. They must sell for a pretty penny. }
Nirith doesn't like going up against a horde of Undead. A stray thought goes through her head that it is lucky she has friends.
Sira is happy for once, readying to fight undead.
Ekim goes on in crazy talk about "T" shirts and turtles falling from the sky.
Marcasthai keeps his temper and looks around for undead at the farm. He doesn't find any.
.............................
When arrived, the group along with Shod are introduced to the dwarf woman in the yard. Dugan importantly makes the formal dwarvish introductions, and the companions meet Thaela, a female dwarf widow who manages this family farm. One can see that she had that infamous sturdy beauty in her past, but now is weathered and her appearance shows wear and tear beyond her years. She is very independent and has skills in several areas: farming, blacksmithing, teaching, and parenting.
"It is good that you are here. My two oldest sons, Bastion and Urdal were carried off by the Dread Undead two days ago while defending the barn at night. They were very brave and they did thier duty as dwarves." (ooc: Sense Motive DC 10 Highlight to display spoiler: { She will not mourn their dwarven bravery.}) "My 7 remaining children are all too young to fight. If the farm cannot be defended, I will have to take them to the orphanage and then return to fight for my family's honor.
Thaela points to the northern, fallow field. "The undead come against the border of my northern field, weakening the ley lines and then attacking the farm." She looks at Shod and the motley group of heroes. "A year's money from the farm for protection for the Fixer. I am glad you will help."
Cedric AC 15 HP 63/63 - Human Form | Quellis (Bear) AC 19, HP 65/65 | Character SheetCurrent Spells (Troy) d20+18=29 ; Friday January 16th, 2009 9:38:31 AM
Cedric ponders the situation a moment, then has more questions for Thaela and the Fixer.
"What type of undead have usually attacked? When do you plan to begin?"
He surveys the farmland, and begins to look for places of ambush and fortification.
OOC: Could we get a map of the farm area before the battle, to help plan tactics.
Knowledge Nature 29: On Ley lines and what can affect them. Specifically, is it plausible for undead to actually weaken the ley lines as Thaela states.
OOC: Long Strider (extended) 14 hours, SL 1, CL 7: cast in morning. Delay Poison (extended) 14 hours, SL 2, CL 7: cast in morning. Greater Magic Fang (extended) 14 hours, SL 3, CL 7: cast in morning.
Nirith Dahaka and Nekron (StevenVdB) Friday January 16th, 2009 9:44:53 AM
Nirith still isn't too fond about fighting undead but looks like there will be no alternative. First she will aid her friends with all sorts of spells and scrolls and then... she'll have to make her hands dirty...
"Well... we'll give them all the welcome they deserve... Sir Nekim... what are your commands?"
Having said that Nekron croaks on her shoulder much like laughter...
Sir John (Ken M) d20+5=12 ; d20+6=11 ; Friday January 16th, 2009 10:09:48 AM
Sir John looks around, but can't get any clear ideas on where the undead may come or attack. (Spot =12)
He senses that the woman as proud of her sons (Sense Motive = 11), and he compliments her on their bravery. "Madam, do you know anything about where the boys were carried off to?" he asks. "Once the lay lines are finished, we could speak further about maybe trying to rescue them. We need to eliminate the undead threat quickly and then root them out from their lair."
He shares his tactical thoughts with Cedric and Marcus, and tries to figure out a good defense plan.
Glandum Friday January 16th, 2009 2:56:58 PM Ok. My idea. Build 3 bonfires. One at each end of the area the fixer will be and one in the middle. Making sure when it gets dark the area is well lit. Lets fortify the area with snares and traps and obstacles, to slow them down should they arrive in large numbers. And lets fight in pairs instead of a hodge podge. After a brief pause. Fortify the house from intrusions. Do not come out for anything. If you hear us calling to you for help, don't, its because we are dead and trying to lure you out to become one of us. We will use the side of the house facing the north as our defensive line. That's where we make our last stand should it come down to it. Also, turning to the lady. Take in as many buckets of water, using pots and pans and cups if need be. Should the worse happens. Also, us, grab what containers we have and Ill bless the water. May not do huge damage to em but anyting helps when you are in the last line. Put the blessed water on the northside of the house. Again, just in case. After another pause. On second thought, mi'lady, After I unload my cart, send your boy there and your children to someone you trust for care. We will do better if we don't have younguns to worry about. But you need to stay in the house. Like I instructed above.
And waits for additions.
Ekim of Arn (Cayzle) AC15 d20+10=24 ; Friday January 16th, 2009 5:29:38 PM
The halfling formerly known as Prince Lucky nods sagely at this talk of defenses and plans. "I find that no plan long survives contact with an actual enemy. But what the heck, fire and holy water sound like good things to have on hand. Thanks, Padre." He smiles at Glandum, and nods.
Sense Motive 24.
The halfling does not say anything to the famer about her loss. But privately he says to his friends, "It would be nice to recover those lads, or their remains."
Speck (Jonathan) d20+2=20 ; Friday January 16th, 2009 9:04:17 PM
Sense Motive DC10: d20+2 = 20.
OOC: a map of the farm would be very helpful, as the use of walls for defense is a key component. Does the farm have the typical low lying stone walls dividing fields?
Speck chimes in, "Dunno about traps and snares in such a short time over such a large area, but perhaps long sharp poles pointing in the direction they'll be coming? That'll be easier to put together. But I'll think on it."
Marcasthai AC 20 HP 72/74 (SteveK) d20+7=17 ; Saturday January 17th, 2009 10:23:55 AM
Marcas eyes the vinyard and even moves a few steps to better appreciate the vines and grapes that he can see. He nods at fire and holy water, and especially the battle-buddy idea of Glandum. "We may become separated and vulnerable. Having a shield-brother would reduce the vulnerable. I think a melee fighter paired with one with other skills is good." He looks around. "Nirith and I can be a team. With my reach I can also stand over the Fixer to protect him."
The North Field (SteveK) Saturday January 17th, 2009 10:45:44 AM Cedric pats Quellis the Bear and has more questions for Thaela and the Fixer. He surveys the farmstead, and concludes that it looks set up well for a farm, and lousy for a defense. The druid remembers an old, old elven druid during Cedric's training talking about "ley lines", specifically that they are concentrated cables of magic that hang invisible across the Wold. And that Cinnamon Valley is one of the places most known for these "ley lines" as the place has had dieties direct involvement quite recently, 'oh about 500 years ago'. From what he remembers, Cedric can't think of a way that the undead, unaided, could affect 'ley lines'.
Nirith thinks about the ways she can help her friends in fighting undead and then... she'll have to make her hands dirty... Nekron croaks on her shoulder much like laughter...
Sir John is thinking ahead at a rescue after the ley lines are restored. That, and to root them out from their lair.
Glandum suggests to place three large fires where the Fixer is going to do his thing, and then to backup plans with home defense, holy water, and evacuation. Thaela nods at most of Glandum's suggestions, but balks at sending her children away. "Stout walls have kept them away, and the farm would be blessed with weapons such as holy water, I thank you. But I will not send the family away while there is hope. And that hope is speaking with me now", she adds with a humorous smile. Dugan echoes his mother. "I'm First Son now, and my honor demands I defend the family. Yep, honor!", and the boy strikes what he thinks is a heroic pose.
Ekim nods sagely and warns that "no plan long survives contact with an actual enemy". Yet the suggestions are good, and Ekim agrees with Glandum. Ekim also notes that Highlight to display spoiler: {Thaela and her brood are stubborn about staying on the farm, that Shod is pleased Theala have confidence in the Fixer and the companions, and that Thaela's eyes gleam in approval at having her boys back for proper funeral rites.}
Speck similarly sees what Ekim sees, and speculates on the type of snares he may be able to fashion.
Marcas notes that the vineyard is exceptional, growing sweet white and green grapes in fantastic soil, sure to be sold south to the Wine District in the Kingdom of New Elenna. He also suggests to act on the pairing suggestion, bringing the minotaur and Nirith together.
.................
The afternoon sun races across the sky as the farmer, Fixer, and companions take a tour of the farm to get everyone familiarized with the lay of the land. The weather becomes colder, and a wind is beginning to blow...
Shod raises a hand to forestall more speculation. "I must be close, very close to the ley lines to repair them. I'm afraid a defense of the house won't help me. Farmer Thaela, I need you to show me exactly where the undead are attacking the ley lines. I need to begin this evening, as soon as possible.
Thaela nods and gives the group a short tour of the buildings of the farm before walking them out to the fallow north field. "The undead, fortunately, are entering through the currently empty field at the northmost part of Norhig. Crop rotation leaves one of her fields empty each growing season. Ah, yes, Norhig, the name of the farm."
Thaela is proud of the farm, especially of the vineyard, the lava pools, and her family. "The family dates back before the "Farmer's Revolt" 450 years ago when they refused to leave their lands and Donyra (occ: now a dead god) blessed their lands with the ley line protections as well as the magical earth pockets, geysers, and lava pools that enrich the soil." She tells the companions that the family are Hmanas and have been traditional farmers of the earth for many generations. The Farm Estate is named Norhig in honor of the blessings of Donyra, which means spirit and heart of the land in dwarvish.
"Yes, I can tell you more on the undead", she says. "An average of 10-20 undead usually led by a Ghoul or Wight come every night to work on further weakening the ley lines so that they can cross and raid the farm. It usually takes them 2-3 hours to weaken the ley lines enough to pass through. My boys saw them use poison magic to make the ley lines glow so that they can be attacked physically. The ley lines partially regenerate during the day but damaged, they cannot fully recharge or repair themselves."
The tour of the farm is over, and Thaela (and Dugan) bring Shod and the companions to the north field, stepping over the empty, fallow ground to the north border of her land. The field is empty, devoid of fencing or other structures, and Thaela points to a place where the field stops and uncultivated grasses and bushes begin. "That is where the ley lines are", she says simply.
.................
ooc: I didn't make a map of the farm buildings since the exact layout isn't going to be that important.
Sira Nailo Saturday January 17th, 2009 12:24:02 PM
"Ghoul and Wight are very dangerous. Skeletons and Zombies are academic, but these Wights and Ghouls are more intelligent, usually, than simple automatons.
If a wight attacks and is successful, woe to the poor sod that gets in its way. If killed by one, you become one. Or so I've been told. Ghouls have a stench, a bite and a fever that are real unpleasant."
She stares into a void, thinking.
Glandum Saturday January 17th, 2009 1:14:23 PM
After the tour, and seeing the stubborness of the family, Glandum turns to Dugan. Fine, you defend the family, in the house. We dont have the time or the equipment to train and outfit you and your family to stand outside here with us. if you want to help, using my cart and mule, bring as much burnable wood and items here to me, we will make a pile here (points to one end of thefixing area, and here (middle) and here (other end)). have your mother and a couple of the younger children start filling up items with water and place them outside the door. I will come bless them in a bit.
After the family starts doing their assignments, and the obstacles begin to be made and placed about, Glandum takes stock of what he has, and the spells he has ready for the night. Walking up to the Minotaur, Glandum pipes up: Marc, I have a spell prepared for the fight. When the time comes I will cast it upon you. It will make you grow expotentially. (Might wanna write down all the important details you will need about being enlarged for when it happens)
Once the 3 piles are made, rather large, and extra woodstuffs are set asideto feed the blazes. (I will go out with the minotaur and whoever else wants to help and gather wood), Glandum heads back to the house to Bless the water, and grab 3 buckets of said water and takes back to the defense perimeter. Placing a bucket near each blaze pile. When the Fixer begins repairing, Glandum will make a 4th, smaller campfire a little ways away from the 3, and places 3 torches on the ground next to it. to be used to light the bigger piles. Then he goes and douses the 3 piles with oil from his inventory and the groups and if needed, from the farm.
Then waits, in full armor, weapons at the ready, preparing himself mentally, physically, and spiritually for the nights onslaught.
Sir John (Ken M) Saturday January 17th, 2009 5:48:56 PM
While the group is preparing the stakes, water, etc., Sir John does two things. First, he asks "If there are two of us who can move quickly or are mounted, we should : (1) be used as either a flanking group to turn an attack, or (2) as an assault team that can single out the wight or ghoul, and charge in and hit him hard."
"Also, avoid pairing me with someone who can't move quickly, since Joshua (patting his horse affectionately) and I need the freedom to charge whoever we target."
Second, he says "I'll recon the northern area on Joshua while you all are busy. We need to get a lay of the land and I'm not worried about running into them, since I can outmanuever the undead. Also, I need to identify any obstacles to mounted movement, especially creeks, dips in the ground, boulders, etc. Does anyone want to accompany me?"
Sira Nailo Sunday January 18th, 2009 12:33:03 PM
"Sir John, if you like, I can pair with you. What is it you require, just mobility and a sense of combat or something more?"
Sir John (Ken M) Sunday January 18th, 2009 6:03:44 PM
To Sira, Sir John says "Mobility would be best, since Joshua and I can move quickly. Combat wise, your mace's will come in handy and I am honored to fighting alongside one who abhors Undead as I do (e.g. an Undead Hunter)"
Speck (Jonathan) Sunday January 18th, 2009 9:10:03 PM
Speck ponders an idea and asks Thaela how much oil does she have at the farm, then explains, "If we have enough oil, we can dig a shallow ditch and pour the oil in it. We light the oil when the undead approach. If we don't have enough oil for a circle, then at least a portion of our defense line will be walled by a wall of flames for short while."
Cedric AC 22 HP 77/77 - Deinonychus Form | Quellis (Bear) AC 19, HP 65/65 | Character SheetCurrent Spells (Troy) Monday January 19th, 2009 9:01:30 AM
Cedric considers the plans, and nods. "This will work, I think. The bonfire notion is well thought."
"We do however have a larger issue. These undead move with a purpose, and have magic. It would seem there is something behind these attacks, something behind these ghouls and wights. We will need to find the root cause and deal with it, after tonight's work is done. When you scout, look for any signs of where they come from. We may need to backtrack them if you can find a trail.
"I'll also need a hand with my barding." he says with a grin.
As night falls, Cedric shifts back into his form. Once his barding is taken care of, he prowls the close area, looking for trouble. Around the 10th hour, he recasts his spells.
Long Strider 7 hours, SL 1, CL 7: cast around 10 PM. Delay Poison 7 hours, SL 2, CL 7: cast around 10 PM Greater Magic Fang 7 hours, SL 3, CL 7: cast around 10 PM
Marcasthai AC 20 HP 72/74 (SteveK) Monday January 19th, 2009 1:15:25 PM
Marcas nods at the dwarf-cleric's wisdom. "Being even taller than I am now will allow me to stay in front of the Fixer and Nirith, and keep a very wide circle under the protection of my ranseur. If I stay still, Sir John and Cedric and other mobile people could fight around the Fixer against any undead."
"For the fight then, Sir John, Lucky, and Cedric are one team to be fast and mobile.
"Glandum, Speck, and Sira are one team to use magic, missles, and fire.
"Marcus and Nirith are one team to be beside the Fixer and keep any undead away.
He looks around to see if there are any objections to the order of battle.
Glandum Monday January 19th, 2009 2:13:40 PM How about me and you big guy. Your swatch and my turn can keep undead away from the fixer. And anything that gets past you has to get past me and my axe.
Ekim of Arn (Cayzle) AC15 Monday January 19th, 2009 5:21:10 PM
The halfling is glad to help the dinosaur with his armor, a job he has done before, most willingly.
"Okay-dokay, Sir John! I'm with you and Tyco here. Too bad I wasted some of my best spells on that big cow-head over there earlier today!"
[List of spells prepped TK.]
Preparing for Battle (SteveK) Monday January 19th, 2009 6:30:31 PM Farm Battle
ooc: attached link for upcoming battle should be published for everyone to see.
ooc2: Players have opportunity to identify where you want your character to begin the battle. Please use Letter-Number squares in post.
ooc3: Large fires are unlit. There is a small fire with three unlit torches beside the center woodpile. ..............
Combat preparations go underway, and Cedric begins thinking about what happens next. The druid feels certain an expedition into the Dread will be necessary to stop the attacks on the Cinnamon Valley and the ley lines.
Thaela doesn't have a huge quantity of oil and frowns at a channel of oil in her soil. "More like the oil will only drink the oil and you would still have to light the fires yourselves. She is able to provide a small cask holding one quart of oil that can be poured over the firewood to make lighting the bonfires easy.
The group gets ready. Thaela organizes her family to provide all available firewood up to the north field and places them in three large piles in a line. Shod the Fixer is the one to identify that line. "I must be within 100 feet of the damaged Ley Lines to repair them. It is an effort that will take all night."
And night is coming fast. Sir John has a little less than an hour to travel on his reconnissiance travelling along the fenceless border between the farm and the Dread, and even going into the Dread itself for a little ways. The terrain looks brush-filled and gently rolling hills. He can't find any undead lurking about, nor any animal alive at all. The most important thing that Sir John finds out is that living beings can move through the "ley lines" without a problem.
Before the last rays of the sun fall, Thaela blesses the group with the name of Donyra. Then she brings her family into thier waggons and returns to thier stout home and barricades themselves inside.
The Fixer places himself near the center unlit woodpile and begins his work. Shod is soon lost to all senses save what he himself can experience...
Sir John (Ken M) Monday January 19th, 2009 8:50:09 PM
As Sir John returns from his recon, he reports his findings to everyone. He also nods at Marc's plan for a mobile strike team and says "We'll be ready for them to arrive. I guess all we need now is to wait for their arrival. Let's hope they pick tonight to skip, but if not, then I'll look forward to ending their miserable existence."
(OOC = He'll stay somewhere near the flanks at H18, resting and waiting for the fun to begin.)
Speck (Jonathan) Monday January 19th, 2009 10:07:18 PM
Speck is a little discouraged that a fire ditch is out of the question but takes what little oil is given and puts it near the near the center wood pile.
He then joins Glandum and Sira. "Just put us where you think best, then I'll spread these caltrops in front of us." He holds out two bags of caltrops which will cover 10x5 (two 5x5 squares). "Don't know how much pain in the feet undead have, but it is worth a try, unless you'd rather me not put them there, or put them elsewhere, say, around the Fixer?"
He then verifies that all his weapons, potions, and wands are all in place and readies his sling.
Finally, he searches his memory for a tune appropriate for a battle against the undead. 'Not very many of them, I'm afraid,' he muses. 'Bound to be one, or I'll just have to make one up!'
Marcasthai AC 20 HP 72/74 (SteveK) Monday January 19th, 2009 11:10:49 PM
Marcas thinks for a few moments and then waves Glandum, Sira, and Speck all in near the central fire area. "Let us all stay here to begin with. Once Sir John, Cedric, and Lucky tell us where the undead are coming from, then we can light the two flanking fires and move the team to whichever one is closest to the undead.
"I think at nightfall, we will have the center fire lit for light if for nothing else."
He readies his ranseur and takes his place in front of the Fixer (ooC: V,16- to W,17)
Cedric AC 22 HP 77/77 - Deinonychus Form | Quellis (Bear) AC 19, HP 65/65 | Character SheetCurrent Spells (Troy) d20+22=26 ; Tuesday January 20th, 2009 7:32:14 AM
Cedric nods his head at Marcasthai. He then points his snout over to the large bear laying by the fire. Giving a strange call, Cedric springs over to towards the paladin. Quellis follows with a snort. He listens for sounds of movement and gets ready for a long night.
OOC: Cedric starts at K-21 Quellis starts at H-21 / H-22 (He's large, 10x5)
Listen: 22
Long Strider 7 hours, SL 1, CL 7: cast around 10 PM. Delay Poison 7 hours, SL 2, CL 7: cast around 10 PM Greater Magic Fang 7 hours, SL 3, CL 7: cast around 10 PM
King Culrique (Cayzle) AC15 d20+8=15 ; d20+8=16 ; d20+8=22 ; d20+9=23 ; d20+9=28 ; d20+9=12 ; d20+5=16 ; Tuesday January 20th, 2009 11:52:04 AM
[OOC: Do we expect the undead to come at us from the top (north) of the map or from the bottom (south)? Lucky Eddie will ask the Fixer to stand so that the bonfires are between him and the undead.]
Curlie figures that if he looks around some, be may find something that will be useful for the battle, who knows. He wanders through the farmhouse, out in the fields, and even where the battles took place before. He is not looking for anything in particular, but you never know! Even a rusty knife or an old farm sickle might make a good weapon in a pinch, or some of that holy water Padre Glamdring is brewing up. Lucky will grab a couple vials of that if he can. Maybe there are a couple bell jars he can score lightly so that they'll break on impact. Maybe he'll find something broken that the Fixer could fix up quick.
And who knows what else he'll find? Mendicants often get lucky! [Mendicants on luck quests are automatically proficient with anything they find on their quests.]
Lucky Eddie thinks about what he's heard about undead critters like the ones we may face. Is there any danger in touching them? Either to deliver a touch spell or to make an unarmed attack? [Know Religion check is a 16]
Then there's the luck you make for yourself! Lucky gets a couple big barrels, or maybe a farm cart, and leads them up with dirt and rocks. He scatters them around the field. You never know when you might want some hard cover. He might need a hand with that, please.
[OOC: How about 13K, 15R, 17J, and AA14 for good spots to throw some cover?]
Ekim of Arn has a final thought. If he casts Protection From Fire on himself, how long could he stand in a bonfire and hurl burning sticks at undead things? Just planning ahead, chaos-style.
Finally, as the sun is setting, Eddie mounts up on Cedric and says, "Tyco here is pretty fast. How's about he and me stand out front and keep watch. When we see some undeaders, we'll high-tail it back and give the alert."
"Who's job is it to light the bonfires? With that oil, they should go up fast. Maybe a farm hand can be ready to light the fires and then run back to the house."
Search Checks: 15, 16, 22 Spot Checks: 23, 28, 12
Spells prepped [underlined = cast] 0: Virtue, Inflict Minor Wounds, Create Water, Virtue, Detect Poison 1: Shield of Faith, Magic Weapon, Entropic Shield, Detect Law, Entropic Shield 2: Eagle's Splendor, Aid, Hold Person, Aid 3: Wind Wall, Inflict Serious Wounds, Protection from Energy
Magic Stone Tattoo used: 1 of 3 today Wand of CLW used: 1 of 50 Current Luck Point Total: 4
Sira Nailo Tuesday January 20th, 2009 12:02:47 PM
The drow is unsure where to go, but follow Sir John. She said she was his 'wing man'.
LOG ON