Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch... (DM Donna) Monday March 4th, 2013 8:35:33 PM
The Heroes return to the Bar Zero Ranch to find Raeval still tending Izzak, whom now lies on the sofa in the front parlor. Raeval stands up from sitting beside his unconscious son, looking anxiously at the group as they enter the room.
"Where's Maymel?" he asks, his eyes darting from face to face. "What's happened...?"
DM OOC: the next game-advancing post will be tomorrow around this time (9pm-ish Eastern.)
Sesha [AC 18 | HP 141/80 | CMD 14] [See Invisibility] Monday March 4th, 2013 8:50:49 PM
[OOC: Quick question to the group, who should I be copying in terms of Xp? I know that I joined at the lowest xp, I just dont know who that would be as Cyniq and I joined in the same scene.]
Anrete [HP: 130/130, AC31/Touch18/FF31, CMD 29, DR2] d20+5=6 ; d20+13=29 ; Monday March 4th, 2013 10:48:13 PM
OOC: All of us get upped to level 11 just prior to the start of this module. So the only XP difference will be for the dire wolf encounter just before Cyniq arrived.
~ At the site of stamped ~
Anrete brightens as he realizes that the coward back in the ranch may be the white ranger. Mounting Copper, Anrete bellows at his companions to hurry back to the ranch.
~ Back at the Ranch ~
Anrete storms towards Raeval, before abruptly angling off to retrieve a stool. Placing the stool before Raeval, Anrete steps up onto the stool and suddenly grabs and lift the cowardly rancher to his face.
"So ye is the White Ranger! Ye has much to explain!"
Alexi AC 28 Tch 13 Ffted 25 HP 120/120 CMD 26 d8+3=11 ; d20+9=18 ; Monday March 4th, 2013 11:48:38 PM
Always impressed by Anrete's diplomatic skills, Alexi tells his barbarian friend, "Just sit him on the stool, gently, ok?" he then goes over to Izzak and prays to Domi to heal the youth.
Cast Cure Light Wounds = 11 hp regained!
With Izzak now much better off than before, much more alive, Alexi turns to Raeval, "Bar Zero Ranch, coincidently, just happens to be the same name of the bandits that kidnapped your wife. They want someone that goes by the name White Ranger. That could only be you. We don't intent to strap you to a horse hand you over, but only you can help us find them, their hideout, since the buffalo stampede wiped out any hope of tracking them."
Alexi takes a swig of water and himself sits down. "We got all the time in the world, so tell us who this gang is, why are they after you, and where is their hideout. Your wife's life lies in your hands right now, not ours."
Diplomacy +7 (+2 Hero of Bryn bonus) and any bonus for healing his son = 18 +
Sesha [AC 18 | HP 141/80 | CMD 14] [See Invisibility] Tuesday March 5th, 2013 12:13:13 PM
Sesha grumbles a bit at having to face Raeval again so soon. Still shamed by her attempt to magically sway the man to her side, she avoids him where possible.
She watches Anrete handle the man, more than a little glad to see the farmer riled. Still, she keeps that to herself and leans against the wall, watching how the others work together.
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:31/29/26 HP:103/103 Ki:11/12 CMD: 30] d20+21=38 ; Tuesday March 5th, 2013 3:05:29 PM
Garret watches the others gently talk to the man. He realizes that they have the questioning in hand and he steps outside to keep watch in case the bandits decide they want to change their mind and return (Perception: 38).
Keela [AC 17; HP 87/76] [Mage Armor; False Life] Tuesday March 5th, 2013 5:40:17 PM
"Even if you are not the White Ranger," Keela adds, "it would appear that the Bar Zero Gang believes you are. Do you know why they might think such a thing?"
Meanwhile, Still at the Ranch... (DM Donna) Tuesday March 5th, 2013 6:25:11 PM
Garret sees the approach of someone who obviously must have come from Bryn Baraz...
OOC: this isn't the game-advancing post, but the introduction of the latest member of your merry little band...take it away, Tanner..! 8D
Morgan WashburnHP 89 - AC 19/19/19 - CMD 20 - F+8/R+13/W+13 Tuesday March 5th, 2013 6:55:48 PM
Garret's sharp eyes spy a small dot on the horizon, which quickly grows and materializes into a human male flying through the air. He descends and hovers some ten feet above the ground. You see a clean-shaven man with coal-black hair cropped short, and well-trimmed mutton-chop sideburns. His eyes are the color of the sky, with small flecks of silver near the iris. His skin is pale and tight against his skin, with years of wind-burn evident in his craggy features. He is dressed in a tight-fitting courtier's outfit - a blue and white-trimmed three-quarter length coat, with breeches, vest, and gloves. He is tall and lanky, with a wiry frame and straight posture.
He holds up a hand in a show of peace and alights on the ground. His movements are quick and precise, with the bearing of a military man. He pauses a moment and gives a small crease of a smile. "You must be the adventurers the town priests spoke of. Greetings," he touches the fingers of one hand to his heart and then returns them behind his back, "I am Morgan Washburn." His voice is a rich baritone, with the crisp consonants and slight vowels of Plateau City. He looks past the party toward the ranch and his brow furrows slightly. "I am to presume that you were successful in saving the family? I would have joined you had we arrived earlier, but I am afraid that was not possible." He withdraws a small piece of paper from his belt and holds it forward. "This note from your town priests will vouch who I am. The boy explained that help was needed, and the elders requested I come and see if assistance was required."
Sesha [AC 18 | HP 141/80 | CMD 14] [See Invisibility] Tuesday March 5th, 2013 7:35:34 PM
Sesha peeks into the doorway and listens to the mans introduction.
How very odd, she thought. In the span of one afternoon, those new to Bryn Baraz have nearly matched the numbers of those who had been here for some time previous. Eager for a reason to be away from Ravael, even if for a moment, she slips past Garret and outside of the house.
She is young for an elf, not even halfway through her first century. This and other things are easily noticeable, even to a human. Her manner of dress is strange for a drow.. simple buckskins and jewelry that borderlines on a collection of fetishes. One eye is covered in a patch, and her hair is stark white against midnight blue skin.
When she steps forward, a small metal pot clinks at her side and a broom floats quietly behind her.
"Hello Morgan. I am called Sesha. I would take your papers, but they would mean little to me. We have just arrived in Bryn Baraz today. Hopefully you will find today to be as lucky of a day as I have! I shall tell the human Alexi you are here."
She steps back inside and taps Alexi lightly on the shoulder.
"Alexi, it seems your command grows larger by the hour! There is another here to throw his lot in with the people of Bryn Baraz. He has a letter from a priest."
A Suspect and An Ally (DM Donna) d20+5=15 d20+5=19 Tuesday March 5th, 2013 9:33:04 PM OUTSIDE: People get to know each other.
INSIDE: Raeval blinks in shock as Anrete attempts to dangle and then intimidate him. With almost contemptuous ease, the rancher's hands clamp onto the barbarian's wrists and he yanks himself out of Anrete's grip. OOC: Raeval's actual strength check result should be 13, but he still breaks free from Anrete.) For a moment, Raeval returns Anrete's venomous regard, dagger for dagger.
Then Alexi's use of his healing spell revives the ashen teenager on the Elven-styled couch.
"Pa...?" Izzak asks in a weakened but recovering voice. Now that the lad is awake, the change in Raeval's demeanor is quick and his love and concern for his son comes to the fore.
"Izzak!" Raeval is on one knee beside the sofa, clasping one of his child's hands within his own.
"Pa...what happened to ya? Ma an' me--we were in the kitchen with Junior...we didn't see ya at all..." Izzak's voice and face reflect his inability to comprehend just what had happened to make his father absent from the attack. One of Raeval's hands reaches out to cup Izzak's face and the man sighs, his shoulders slumping.
"I jumped into the well out back to hide from the gang, son," he says with reluctant honesty, "You see...I knew that they wanted to get me back into their life of crime."
"What...whatcha talkin' about, Pa..?" Raeval draws in his breath and then glances at Alexi and Anrete before telling the tale of a man named Raeval Marnin:
Raeval's less-than-honest career started before he came to the plains. As an accomplished ranger, it was easy enough for him organize various caravan robberies. The Bar Zero Gang eventually became intimate with the surrounding terrain and its native people long before the mining town of Bryn Baraz was founded. Raeval used to be the White Ranger, the masked leader of the gang, whose activities so plagued the more civilized cities to the south of the plains that the White Ranger deduced that the gang needed to relocate to the plains, where they could augment profits from cattle-rustling with the occasional kidnap-and-ransom plot against various Ahote tribes.
Then he fell in love with one of his intended victims, opting to allow her to escape rather than be ransomed back to her tribe.
He had a secret romance with Maymel even as he became more and more absent from his gang activities, going so far as to marry her according to Ahote custom and then legally establish this ranch for her and their growing family within the protection of the sphere in Bryn Baraz.
"I admit it was the height of folly to name the ranch after the successful gang that I started up," Raeval admits a bit sheepishly. Even though he was trying to break away from the Bar Zero Gang, he couldn't quite make a clean break of it...not until last year, when he faked his death in a bison stampede and came to live at his ranch permanently.
"I'll turn myself in to the law," Raeval promises, "If you'll just save Maymel for me. I've been happy to be a rancher and I'm hoping that I can cut a deal with the authorities that will allow my family to keep the ranch in exchange for my testimony on the rest of the Bar Zero Gang...but that's gonna be between them and me." Izzak makes a noise to protest, but his father shakes his head.
"I did the crimes, boy," Raeval says softly, "Now I have to pay the piper." He lifts his head to look at the heroes once again.
"I've been away from the gang for a little over a year now," he says, "But if you think it's going to help, I can tell you what little I remember about possible hiding places and who's in the gang, too."
Cyniq al'Lyz AC 16{20}/16{20}/13{17} -- CMD 13 -- HP 63/65 Tuesday March 5th, 2013 11:28:47 PM
Cyniq joined the others as they rode back to the ranch, she wanted to know what folly she had been dragged into herself. Arriving at the ranch, she joined Anrete and Alexi in their confrontation with Raeval.
"You will not have to travel far, you may surrender yourself to me. I will record your crimes and I may also recommend sentencing based on your assistance. I note that you were aware of who the bandits were and why they were here. Your failure to divulge this information earlier does not endear me to you. However! If there are no further omissions I will recommend a reduced sentence." It wasn't often that she had someone just hand themselves to her, she was used to having to drag them in kicking and screaming.
When Sesha announces another reinforcement, she steps outside to look at the new comer.
Stepping out of the door onto the porch, Cyniq presents the image of a lithe young elven woman, just entering the prime of her youth. She wears a well maintained but worn set of reddish brown leather clothes festooned with pockets and loops, typical of those that often must rely upon their own wits and equipment. The star and gavel of Pantheon is embroidered in silver thread on the left breast of her outfit.
Anrete [HP: 130/130, AC31/Touch18/FF31, CMD 29, DR2] Wednesday March 6th, 2013 9:42:31 AM
Anrete snorts in disgust as Raeval told his story. "Fine story. So where are the bandits now? My blade thirst!"
Anrete is a lean but muscular looking youth armed with a massive zwei-hander sword. The barbarian is armored in heavy plates decorated with numerous tiny and crude-looking trinklets and charms. His armor is completed with a full face helm that resembles a demonic ape, and a bright crimson cloak. And beneath the helm is a scarred and jaundiced face painted with gruesome-looking war paints.
Keela [AC 17; HP 87/76] [Mage Armor; False Life] Wednesday March 6th, 2013 10:54:07 AM
[OOC: If Izzak was born after the settlers arrived in Bryn Baraz, he should be a toddler. So, is this a blatant lie on Raeval's part, or more continuity re-write?]
Keela attempts to look stern. "If we think it's going to help?" she echoes. "It's your wife they have captive, and you claim to care about what happens to her. How about you give us all the information you have, and anything else you can give us, since we're the ones who are going to risk our lives to save her? Is that too much to ask?"
DM OOC: hmmm. I related Raeval's backstory as it appeared to me in the module. I will likely have to edit the passage if Bryn Baraz is that young a settlement. However, this part of Raeval's situation IS true: he was a bandit at first, but meeting, courting, marrying and starting a family with Maymel has convinced him to give up his criminal past.
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:31/29/26 HP:103/103 Ki:11/12 CMD: 30] Wednesday March 6th, 2013 12:55:56 PM
Garret moves into a defensive stance as the dot approaches and calls to the others in the building, "We've got more company coming."
After Morgan introduce himself, Garret relaxes a bit and takes the offered paper. He reads the paper as the others come out and introduce themselves. When the others are satisfied, Garret holds out his hand in greeting and says, "I am Garret Goodbarrel of the Windbourne Hills. Well-met, Morgan Washburn."
Morgan WashburnHP 89 - AC 19/19/19 - CMD 20 - F+8/R+13/W+13 Wednesday March 6th, 2013 8:27:14 PM
Morgan takes Garret's diminutive hand and gives it a polite grasp. "Well met, Master Goodbarrel. What can you tell me of what happened here?"
*Morgan listens to expository speech detailing the past few days*
He raises an eyebrow, "My, that is quite a predicament. Has anyone suggested, by chance, that this fellow deserves whatever fate his former associates have in store for him? All the better to prove his determination to save his wife and set things aright."
Alexi AC 28 Tch 13 Ffted 25 HP 120/120 CMD 26 Wednesday March 6th, 2013 8:59:11 PM
OOC: Not your fault(s) DMs. :) Bryn has only been in existence a little over a year, at best. The Mine came first. The dwarves needed a compliment of settlers to support the miners with food and other mundane equipment that they feel below their level to make themselves. The location is so far away from civilization it took about 7 or 8 weeks of travel to get there. That's why it was originally called the Uncharted Lands, that is, there was no one there and it never had been explored.
No one there but the Ahote, of course. So you seen why we are/were confused to find a bandit group in our area, since there is no one for them to prey upon. There is no record of caravans coming from Floating City to Bryn, but that may be because they are not relevant. But had there been raids on them, Bryn, and us, would have known.
What makes more sense is that he lived a double life with one of the Ahote tribes we've not met yet and after all those years left the gang, and to keep the gang from going after the Ahote, came to Bryn.
But then, that would be my story, not yours. :}
DM OOC: Indeed. I edited Raeval's story a bit to make a little more sense in conjunction to the timeline for Bryn Baraz's founding.
___________________
IC: Alexi listens to the story, pensive, showing understanding, but hiding his dissaproval, not just of the way Raevel has handled this, but of his lifestyle as a whole.
"You are in luck, so to speak, Alexi states rather plainly. "Bryn already sports some reformed criminals as citizens. One suffered the Ahote Justice ceremony. But he lives here now and works hard, grateful to be alive, Alexi looks over at Keela, remembering the rogue that was involved in kidnapping the Ahote children the year before. "Isn't that right, Keela? Alexi remembers how Keela had not been able to watch the Ahote Justice ceremony, as it was brutal and left the man nearly dead. The only thing that had saved the man's life was that none of the children had suffered any physical harm from their ordeal.
"So, Raevel, what are they like? What are their capabilities? Where is their hideout, best you can remember?" Alexi asks these questions as he gets up and pulls out of his backpack a scroll case, from which he removes a rolled parchment. He unrolls the parchment on the table and uses candlesticks to hold down the edges that fight to be made flat.
The parchment is Alexi's old map of their explorations, with added new areas that had been explored while he had been away. The map shows Bryn, the cliffs around it, the pool of water on the far side of the hills that make the end of the cull-de-sac, the Twin Sisters, the Ambush Drake den, the badlands where the gnolls lived and where the Ahote children had been taken. Other cryptic spots are also on the map but Alexi's code does not reveal their purpose or exact location.
"We are here, of course, he points to Bryn. "This side canyon is the one they used to come into Bryn, avoiding the main entrance, and it is the one the buffalo stampede came through, erasing their tracks. Give us your best shot."
Alexi waits for Raevel to look at the map, study it, and give them a point of referrence.
Raeval Tells All...Almost (DM Donna) Wednesday March 6th, 2013 9:01:25 PM
In order for everyone to be listening to Raeval's testimony, everyone is now inside the front parlor of the ranch house.
The bandit-turned-rancher suffers Anrete's contempt, grimacing but otherwise remaining silent in regards to the barbarian. Instead, he addresses Keela's very logical points:
"I truly do care what happens to Maymel, ma'am...and I will do my best to help you out rather than try to cover stuff up anymore."
Cyniq's offer as a representative of justice does draw a hopeful sort of look on Raeval's face.
"I appreciate that, Justicar," he says with a nod. "As to exactly where the gang is now--I really don't know...not for sure, anyhow. If they've been following my pattern of operation, they'll be rotating camps every couple of months or so. I'm more than happy to tell you where those locations are..." Taking the map from Alexi, Raeval begins to point out a few spots on the map.
"By the way," he says heavily, looking directly at the follower of Domi, "There is one more thing you ought to know: just before I faked my death, I--" Whatever Raeval was about to confess is cut short by a hail from outside:
"Hey, the homestead!"
Keela [AC 17; HP 87/76] [Mage Armor; False Life] Wednesday March 6th, 2013 11:46:52 PM
Now that she has a moment, Keela pauses to curtsey to Morgan Washburn. "It's good to meet you, Master Washburn. I'm Keela Youngblood, a wizard. You seem to know something of the arcane yourself."
When the homestead is hailed, Keela looks at Cyniq, then Sesha, then Morgan. "Alemi's love! Not another one!" she exclaims.
Sesha [AC 18 | HP 141/80 | CMD 14] [See Invisibility] Wednesday March 6th, 2013 11:56:45 PM
Pondering Morgans comment, Sesha is deep in reflection when someone hails the group.
Smiling at Keela, she whispers to the cauldron dangling from her side; " I think we shall like this one, Pot-Pot! She is much like Larien."
Stepping back to the doorway, she peeks outside to see who is there.
Cyniq al'Lyz AC 16{20}/16{20}/13{17} -- CMD 13 -- HP 63/65 Thursday March 7th, 2013 12:05:10 AM
Cyniq takes note of the map, I'll have to get a copy of that, learn the area...
She takes a peak out the door when yet another hail comes to this rather crowded randh in the middle of nowhere. "Now who?"
Who Can It Be Now...? (DM Donna) Thursday March 7th, 2013 1:18:35 AM OOC: this is a sort of "bonus" post to inform you of what Sesha and Cyniq see. The next official DM post will be 9pm(ish) Eastern time.
A horse and rider stand in the midst of the waist-high prairie grass about twenty yards or so from the front door. It's hard to be sure (due to the rumpled/baggy appearance of the rider's clothing), but from the sound and timbre of the voice, you guess that the rider is male. Also complicating your ability to identify the rider is the fact that he's wearing his wide-brimmed hat tipped at a forward angle...and there's a rough bandana masking his lower face. In his right hand is a coiled lasso, while his left hand holds the reins to his mount in a steady grip.
"Pretty fancy stoppin' the hairies from tramplin' this place, yeah-heh," he calls out when he registers that there are people who see him, "...but there's some 'un in there we want. Jest be reasonable, an' send out the White Ranger...an' the money he stole from us...an' no one else gets hurt...'specially that purty li'l wife o' his. That's a bargain, now, innit..?"
Both Sesha and Cyniq (and anyone else whose curiosity prompts them to take a gander at who's outside) need to roll a Perception check.
Beat DC10 and Highlight to display spoiler: {you see the rustling of the tall prairie grass--but you can tell that it isn't the wind ruffling the plants, as some of the "ruffling" goes one way, and some another.}
Beat DC13 and Highlight to display spoiler: {not only is the grass moving differently in separate spots, but you can make out that each of those "spots" is obviously a person--it's hard to tell exactly how many people there are overall, but they appear to be no larger than the size of your average human.}
Beat DC16 and Highlight to display spoiler: {oh, yeah--there are at least ten skulkers (meaning 'people sneaking around using the grass as cover' as opposed to some monster called a "skulker") moving about in a wide arc--they seem to be purposely staying at least ten or fifteen yards away from each other.}
Morgan WashburnHP 89 - AC 19/19/19 - CMD 20 - F+8/R+13/W+13 d20+14=32 ; d20+22=28 ; d20+29=43 ; Thursday March 7th, 2013 10:26:52 AM
Perception 32
"It is a shame that it has come to this, that a man with ambition and drive has but himself and the fingers on his hands to work the land, yet cannot escape his past."
ooc: Bluff check 28 to send a secret message to the party concerning the contents of the spoiler. Success! Enemies can make an opposed Sense Motive check to detect the secret message.
Morgan steps onto the porch with his hands outstretched in a sign of peace. "Come, now. There is no need for further violence. We will gladly send out the White Ranger. We realize how deeply he has wronged you and would wish not to stand in the way of your justice. In fact, as a token of our concern, please accept this small sum." Moving slowly to show he is not drawing a weapon, Morgan reaches into a bag at his belt and withdraws a circular piece of gray cloth. He reaches into a second pouch to retrieve some coins and places them in the center of the cloth. He brings the edges together and ties them with a bit of string to form a crude sack. "Here, with our compliments." He tosses the sack of coins to the man on the horse.
Bluff check 43 (w/ bonus from Tricky Sting)
Cyniq al'Lyz AC 16{20}/16{20}/13{17} -- CMD 13 -- HP 63/65 d20+18=38 ; Thursday March 7th, 2013 12:34:01 PM
Cyniq takes a quick look about, counting the number of rustling grasses, probably able to tell height, weight, age, and gender of those sneaking up on the others, before ducking back inside.
Speaking softly she tells the others, "Looks like Raeval left out another important detail, the motive. I've used my flight for the day, anyone have an extra?"
She'll wait to see if one of the other casters can cast fly on her before casting invisibility on herself, followed by haste on the group. She then heads outside, and up into the air.
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:31/29/26 HP:103/103 Ki:11/12 CMD: 30] d20+21=32 ; Thursday March 7th, 2013 3:38:54 PM
Garret listens to the story and steps outside when the hailing call comes. He easily spots all the different locations in the grass (perception: 32). As the others are already speaking to them, Garret starts to move to the side of the house, preparing to slips into the shadows himself.
Sesha watches Garret shift out of the building. Even more curious, she watches Morgan throw the bandits a bag of coins. Unsure if any actions on her part will disrupt plans already in motion, she instead reaches for and seizes the first ley-line she can sense.[1]
She nervously watches the figures in the grass. [2]
Whispering to her allies in earshot, she says; "I have a very strong connection to the Woldsblood. On your signal, I shall blind the rider.[3]
[1] Move Action - Bend Leyline 37 vs DC 20; +17 to next Ley Check [2] Perception 22 vs DC 20 [3] Ready Action: Should Sesha get a cue, verbal or physical from any team mate. OR. Should any enemy make a hostile action. Cast Blindness - Ley Check 101 vs DC 20 - Spell casts without expending a slot.
Anrete [HP: 130/130, AC31/Touch18/FF31, CMD 29, DR2] d20+16=32 ; Thursday March 7th, 2013 7:42:43 PM
Furious at the constant interruptions, Anrete storms out of the ranch and glares menacingly at the bandit.
The Art of Negotiation (DM Donna) d20=8 ; d20=18 ; Thursday March 7th, 2013 10:01:47 PM
Thanks to the concept that "sharing is the best!", everyone in the group is now aware that the ranch house is very effectively surrounded by about ten gang members. The Rider on the horse is very obviously attempting to keep everyone's diverted from his fellow villains.
Morgan's impromptu pouch of coins sails through the air towards the rider who, amazingly, makes no move whatsoever to even try to catch it.
"The White Ranger..." the rider repeats, "...an' all our money...for the Ahote woman. NOW." He lifts his right hand--still clutching the coiled lasso, high, waiting for the response he wants to hear.
Here is a visual aid so that you can all get an idea of what the gang is trying to pull off.
Alexi AC 28 Tch 13 Ffted 25 HP 120/120 CMD 26 Friday March 8th, 2013 12:12:36 AM
Alexi is studying the spots on the map where Raevel is pointing, making his own marks, when the caller hails the ranch house.
Alexi does not go out, but peeks through a curtained window (if there is one) and scans around. Alerted to the hidden gang members he snorts at their attempts. "The Ahote would be out there and you'd never know it until you stepped on one." Then he comments, "Best not all go out there. Keela, do what you do best, eh? I'll try to keep hidden in here for now." To Ravael and Izzak he says, "You two stay in here but help keep an eye out on the back entrance and alert us if any gang members come poking from the back."
DM OOC: I'll get a layout of the ranch house for you to see over the weekend, meanwhile: the front door and two windows (both with curtains) face the spot where the Rider sits on his horse, although the hitching rail with the horses is in front of the windows. Regardless, it's easy enough for Alexi to see what's happening outside.
Keela [AC 17; HP 87/76] [Mage Armor; False Life] Friday March 8th, 2013 12:56:38 AM
Keela also peeks out the window, and shakes her head.
"I need them closer," she murmurs. "Closer to the house, and preferably closer together. I can't do anything from here."
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:31/29/26 HP:103/103 Ki:11/12 CMD: 30] Friday March 8th, 2013 3:18:35 PM
Garret, realizing that he is not going to be able to sneak around to approach any of the bad guys, will attempt to step around the side of the building, hoping to get himself in place should the group attack all at once.
DM OOC: yes, I noticed that Garret had started moving in the last post. Please tell me WHICH side he's trying to go around: the front of the house faces south, so there is the west side (the side closest to the damaged corral) and the east side (the other side.)
Cyniq al'Lyz AC 16{20}/16{20}/13{17} -- CMD 13 -- HP 63/65 Friday March 8th, 2013 7:30:00 PM
Cyniq cast invis, followed by haste while the party was within range. She will follow Garret, keeping a few paces behind him.
If the grass is only 3' high, and all but two are on horses, how was it hard for us to see them?
DM OOC: The Rider sufficiently diverted attention to himself at first so that he would be the first one anybody noticed; fortunately your party got high Perception checks and were able to very quickly spot the other gang members ranged about the terrain. (And the average grass height appears to be about three feet...some is higher, some is lower.)
Sesha [AC 18 | HP 141/80 | CMD 14] [See Invisibility] Friday March 8th, 2013 9:23:46 PM
When the Bandit raises both his voice and his Lasso, Sesha frowns.
"He cannot be allowed to dictate the pace of this conflict. He is either signaling or preparing to use his rope!"
[1] Sesha will release her held blind spell. Save DC 20.
Morgan WashburnHP 89 - AC 19/19/19 - CMD 20 - F+8/R+13/W+13 Friday March 8th, 2013 9:58:34 PM
Morgan furrows his brow. "There is no excuse for boorish behavior." With a twirl of his hands a few muttered words, he makes a wide sweeping motion along the ground. A great wall of ice springs into being from the earth, partitioning the party from the raiders.
Morgan raises his voice and calls out above the din,
For the Angel of Death spread his wings on the blast, And breathed in the face of the foe as he passed; And the eyes of the sleepers waxed deadly and chill, And their hearts but once heaved, and for ever grew still!
ooc: Cast wall of ice horizontally across the front of the party, 90' long and centered on Morgan [standard action]. Use Bardic Performance to active Inspire Courage. All party members gain +2 vs charm and fear, +2 attack and damage [move action].
More Visual Aids! (DM Donna) Friday March 8th, 2013 11:04:45 PM This should help you visualize the house and the front parlor.
The house itself is rectangular (70 feet east-west; 60 feet north-south); the southern face of the structure faces the dirt "road."
SO FAR: judging from what you've posted, I have Morgan standing in the middle of the "roadway" in front of the house (about 20-ish or so feet from the house) and Anrete standing beside him. The front door of the house is open, with Garret and Cyniq having recently slipped out the back door (logic dictates that you would do this since going out the front door would only put Garret into full visual view of the bad guys that have positioned themselves around the front perimeter. I still need Garret and Cyniq to tell me which side of the house they're trying to sneak around towards.
Alexi and Keela are on either side of the Front Parlor's eastern window, peeking beyond the horses and seeing that them sneaky raiders are obviously trying to make themselves difficult for a spellcaster to target with an area effect spell.
Sesha is at the western window, having targeted and cast her spell at the Rider (who is still about twenty yards out from the front of the ranch.)
Izzak is on the couch with his father beside him.
I'll give you until about 9pm Saturday to clarify what your PC is doing and exactly where they are on the map.
Morgan WashburnHP 89 - AC 19/19/19 - CMD 20 - F+8/R+13/W+13 Friday March 8th, 2013 11:22:22 PM
ooc: Morgan would have back-pedaled a few feet after tossing the sack. He would only be about 10 feet from the porch. No change in action.
Alexi AC 28 Tch 13 Ffted 25 HP 120/120 CMD 26 Saturday March 9th, 2013 9:00:10 PM
OOC: Looks like you got Alexi where I thought to be. I have an impression things will change real quick, though.
Time's Up! (DM Donna) d20+5=25 d20+8=10 d20+8=24 d6=2 Saturday March 9th, 2013 9:16:12 PM COMBAT BEGINS: ROUND ONE
Alexi and Keela have a quick conference, noting that the gang members are being canny and making things difficult for a wizard to cast an effective area effect spell at them.
Even as they speak, Garret and the invisible Cynix go out the back door of the ranch house and sneak around the eastern side of the building, using the shadows to Garret's advantage.
DM OOC: Cynix's Haste spell will have effected everyone in the room with her, which would have been Alexi, Keela, Sesha, Garret, Cynix and Raeval and his son. Morgan and Anrete were out in front of the house, and thus not in range. Don't forget to note your Hastened state in your Post Names.
Sesha unleashes her spell, and is totally stumped when it appears to make no difference to Rider 1 at all. DM OOC: He rolled a natural 20 for the Save.
Morgan casts his own spell and a big, wide, blinding-to-both-sides Wall of Ice springs into being. He shifts ten feet closer to the house, Inspiring his comrades for the combat to follow.
Anrete keeps step with Morgan.
Around the east side of the ranch house, Garret and the invisible Cynix see a Wall of Ice suddenly obscure most of their view, so Garret takes a few steps sideways and uses a big ol' prairie bush for cover to get a better angle of view. Doing so allows him to see Bad Guy 2 advance to the edge where the tall prairie grass meets the cleared dirt road and aims the arrow from a short bow at the ranch house. He fires off the arrow, but it falls short of the house, instead curving to land in the middle of some scrubby bush at the southeast corner of the house.
BG2 is now standing about 100 or so feet away from Garret & Cynix's position. They can also plainly see that BG3 is whooping and riding a horse towards the ranch house. BG3 is about 225 or so feet from the house.
Bad Guy 10 comes to the edge of the road and also levels an arrow in the direction of the house. He releases his missile and the arrow flies in a straight shot...hitting the wooden siding of the building with a very solid THUNK (to the west side of the window, making Sesha start a bit at the sudden sound.)
BG10 is now standing about 70 feet or so from the southwest corner of the house; Morgan and Anrete can see this (they are about 100 feet or so from where BG10 is standing.) None of the heroes inside the house can see BG10 due to the horses and the angle of their line-of-sight.
There is the sound of whooping and the telltale pounding of approaching hooves...
Keela [AC 17; HP 87/76] [Mage Armor; False Life; Haste] Sunday March 10th, 2013 12:39:15 PM
"Oh, bother!" Keela says as the Wall of Ice goes up. I suppose it would be rude to just Dispel it, she thinks.
Looking for a better vantage point, she goes out the front door and heads for Garret's position.
Anrete [HP: 130/130, AC31/Touch18/FF31, CMD 29, DR2] d20+14=32 ; d20+9=18 ; d20+4=18 ; 3d6+5=12 ; d6+5=8 ; d6+5=9 ; Sunday March 10th, 2013 8:54:19 PM
Outraged at the arrow, Anrete roars as he hurls 3 javelins in rapid succession at the bandit (BG10). Drawing his greatsword swiftly, Anrete takes an aggressive step forward, using the icewall as cover.
----------------------------- Rage remaining: 4/27 Attack 1: AB 32-6(range)=26 DMG 12 Attack 2: AB 18-6(range)=12 DMG 8 Attack 3: AB 18-6(range)=12 DMG 9
Alexi AC 28 Tch 13 Ffted 25 HP 120/120 CMD 26 d20+15=33 ; d20+15=26 ; d20+18=33 ; d8+3=4 ; Sunday March 10th, 2013 10:52:12 PM
Spells in effect: Resistance 9/10 +1 on saves; Haste 10/11 +1 Att/Ref/AC +30ft move, extra att; Bardic Performance +2 vs charm and fear, +2 attack and damage
Alexi feels the familiar quickening from a Haste spell. His original intent to use their concealment as a surprize effect gets changed when the wall of ice springs up and arrows start flying. It was a time for action now. They were never all that good with diplomacy until they had their enemies' blood all over the place.
Alexi bolts out the door and snatches up Lobo's reigns, hopping into the saddle (Move 1) Fast Mount +15 DC20 = 33
IF: Lobo is one of the 3 horses on the of the picture, BG10 will be in range: He spurs Lobo racing towards BG10 while unholstering and leveling his lance. Guide with Knees +15 = 26 ATT +14 + (+1 haste, +2 bard, +1 mounted vs foot) = 33, dmg 4
Else: Lobo is one of the other horses, Alexi will guide Lobo to the left to meet the oncoming rider BG3 (Move 35ft to the left).
FYI (DM Donna) Monday March 11th, 2013 1:08:12 AM
DM OOC: sigh. The horse to the east of the hitching rail was supposed to be Morgan's horse, but I re-read his intro and realize that he didn't ride to the ranch--he flew using a spell. So ignore that easternmost horse.
Lobo is, indeed, one of the horses at the hitching rail proper. The only horse that wasn't tied to it (per se) is Cynnix's newest Phantom Steed. It is the dark horse that is slightly west of the hitching rail.
Morgan WashburnHP 89 - AC 19/19/19 - CMD 20 - F+8/R+13/W+13 Monday March 11th, 2013 11:31:03 AM
ooc: Now that I think about it, I don't actually know the distance from Bryn Baraz to the ranch (i.e. if a fly spell could have gotten me there). It was really more for flavor than anything. How far is the trip?
DM OOC: Far enough so that you used your Fly spell to get there.
Cyniq al'Lyz AC 16{20}/16{20}/13{17} -- CMD 13 -- HP 63/65 Monday March 11th, 2013 11:31:14 AM ooc: my current mount is unfortunately only just a summoned mount.DM OOC: yes, but Cyniq didn't dispel the mount yet, so it's still hanging around a bit. Hope it can avoid getting crunched by a huge blighted earth elemental this time around. ;D
Haste; Round 1/11; Invisibility minute 1/11
Cyniq has a mild streak of deviousness that she lets out every once in a while, and this is one of those times. Seeing the course that BG3 is taking towards the house, she prepares a spell and readies herself to cast it once he is in range. She aims to place it squarely in front of the mount, while it is galloping towards the house.
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:31/29/26 HP:103/103 Ki:11/12 CMD: 30] d20+21=32 ; d20+21=39 ; d20+35=42 ; d20+16=34 ; d20+15=18 ; Monday March 11th, 2013 12:56:25 PM
Garret will move quickly towards the corner of the wall of ice, attempting to remain out of sight while moving (Stealth: 32). When he arrives there, he looks around the corner of the ice wall and prepares to attack whichever bandit appears first, trying to judge which it will be (perception: 39). He touches the tattoo on his neck as he looks around the corner (cast magic fang).
OOC: Prepared action to attack anyone who comes around/near the corner. Perhaps with a nice jump (42) if needed to attack a rider on a horse. He's going for a nice clothesline attack, hopefully. To hit roll: 34. Need a CMB? How about an 18?
Haste, Magic Fang
Alexi AC 28 Tch 13 Ffted 25 HP 120/120 CMD 26 Monday March 11th, 2013 2:47:15 PM
OOC: Lobo is, indeed, one of the horses at the hitching rail proper...
Which one. If it is one of the two on the right side of the hitching post, Lobo can make his 35' move and get Alexi in range for an attack on the one on foot. If Lobo is one on the left side of the post, then it is more than 35' to the one on foot and Alexi would probably head towards the mounted one.
DM OOC: As I didn't specify which horse Lobo is in the hitching rail group, pick the one you wish Alexi to attack; Lobo will be able to carry you to your intended target.
Morgan WashburnHP 89 - AC 19/19/19 - CMD 20 - F+8/R+13/W+13 Monday March 11th, 2013 8:26:34 PM
Morgan nods in satisfaction as the wall of ice blocks off the advance of the bandits. He turns and continues his recitation as he paces west.
And there lay the steed with his nostril all wide, But through it there rolled not the breath of his pride; And the foam of his gasping lay white on the turf, And cold as the spray of the rock-beating surf.
With a few more flourishes and muttered eldritch words, he summons another wall of ice, blocking off another avenue of approach.
ooc: Maintain bardic performance (24/26 rounds) [free action], move 30 feet east [move action], cast wall of ice [standard action]. The wall of ice is 90 feet long, running north and south. It joins the previous wall on its eastern end at a 90-degree angle.
ooc: All party members gain +2 vs charm and fear, +2 attack and damage.
Sesha [AC 19 | HP 141/80 | CMD 14] [See Invisibility, Haste] d100=80 ; Monday March 11th, 2013 8:49:16 PM
"I cannot believe that there exists in the Wold a place where every simple rancher, bandit and farm hand are beyond my sphere of control! Whats next? Heaven forbid I should have to stop a field mouse from ravaging my rations! It may just counterspell me and send me to the plane of fire for my troubles!"
Furious, Sesha kneels down near Ravael and his son, spreading both arms wide. Reaching for the nearest ley-line she is surprised again by the strength of the Woldsblood and the available ley-lines in this place. Maybe that explains the mutant farmers with indomitable wills?
"I am going out for a bit! Ravael and Keela...please tend the body while I'm gone."
Pulling the Woldsblood back near her chest, she slumps down to the ground.
[1]Move near the stairwell, away from the windows [2]Standard Action: Magic Jar [3]Ley check 80 vs DC 20. Spell does not cost a slot. [4]Scan the nearby souls as per Magic Jar - Paragraph 2, within 110 feet of her location.
Alexi AC 28 Tch 13 Ffted 25 HP 120/120 CMD 26 Monday March 11th, 2013 10:56:03 PM
OOC: The second brown horse from the right is Lobo then. Moving him 35' to the right puts him 10' from BG10, his lance reach is 10', so that works well.
Combat Round 2 (DM Donna) d20+2=9 d20=9 d20=6 Monday March 11th, 2013 11:06:56 PM
Keela hurries outside to see if there's anything she can do. She makes it to the northwestern corner of the house.
Anrete is savagely satisfied to see all three of his missiles just skewer BG10, who is dismayed to fall backwards on the ground, most likely dead.
Alexi leaps onto the back of Lobo, spurring the horse into a charge at BG10, who drops to the ground on his back, apparently dead.
Cyniq casts her spell at the furthest range she can (total range is 50 feet away for her level), grinning in anticipation as BG3 seems to be headed on a course that should take him straight through the ten-foot-square area of ultra-slippery grease.
This, the elven Justicar thinks, is no doubt the reason for the YouScry service on every spellcaster's crystal ball because this is gonna be one funny slip 'n' slide to see...
Garret hurries forward, seeing Keela get to her position as he goes by the corner of the house. He has very impressive Stealth skills, although the only thing to use for cover is the ice wall itself, really. He gets to the east end of the wall and peers around it to see Rider 1 galloping towards him!
Morgan turns to his left and almost casually magicks up another Wall of Ice on the east end of the existing one, blocking off the Bad Guys that were closest to Garret, who suddenly finds himself facing a Wall of Ice not two inches in front of his nose!
Sesha settles in to cast her spell, with a shaken Izzak standing guard near her chosen spot. The last thing she sees before she enacts her magic is Raeval turn and go through the door into the Sitting Room.
Sesha's mind ranges...here...there...wait..! There is one other--another soul within her sphere of influence...it's the first Rider--the phenomenally lucky one who managed to shake off the effects of her blinding spell before...
No matter--Sesha is in her true element now, with particularly strong ley lines powering her spell. She reaches out ephemeral fingers, easily snaring the spirit of the man on the horse and trapping him within her Magic Jar.
DM OOC: Sesha's player--expect an email from me.
MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE RANCH...
Alexi's intended foe looks like he was killed by all three of Anrete's accurately-hurled javelins. However, Alexi's attention is immediately snagged by the sight of a horse and rider coming right at him--and the rider fires off an arrow as he approaches. Fortunately for Alexi, the man's aim is horrible.
SUDDENLY Cyniq and Keela are startled by a POOF sound: the arrow that had seemingly missed the southwest corner of the house and landed in the bushes at the end of the porch bursts into flames!
Simultaneously, the arrow that had THUNKED into the exterior wall next to the window that Sesha had been standing at in the previous round also bursts into flames, scaring Cyniq's Phantom Steed into a flight response (it starts galloping west.)
The three other horses tied to the hitching rail (Daisy among them) start to scream and panic as the fire is only a few feet from their noses!
DM OOC: sorry about the incredibly long time it took me to get this up. I'll be following up this post with more map stuff and details about how close which PC is to what as soon as possible.
Morgan WashburnHP 89 - AC 19/19/19 - CMD 20 - F+8/R+13/W+13 Tuesday March 12th, 2013 1:00:06 AM
ooc: My apologies. I said he moved west, then said he moved east. He should be moving east.
DM OOC: I will correct his position on my map before putting the update on the Combat Page.
Keela [AC 17; HP 87/76] [Mage Armor; False Life; Haste] Tuesday March 12th, 2013 11:26:50 AM
Thinking quickly, Keela conjures up an Unseen Servant to help with the flaming arrow situation.
[OOC: I read the spell description, but a lot of it is subject to interpretation, so it's going to depend on how the DM rules. Donna, have I mentioned how cute you look in that outfit? :) Keela would like to tell the Unseen Servant to extinguish any flames that it sees. If that doesn't work (i.e., if the DM rules that it's outside the scope of what the Servant can do), she tells it to uproot the bush and pull it away from the house. If that doesn't work, she tells it to unhitch the horses.]
Anrete [HP: 130/130, AC31/Touch18/FF31, CMD 29, DR2] Tuesday March 12th, 2013 11:35:53 AM
Reacting swiftly, Anrete charges among the panicking horses and smashes down at the hitching rail with his massive blade and grab at the reins of the horses.
"Heel, Copper!"
Cyniq al'Lyz AC 16{20}/16{20}/13{17} -- CMD 13 -- HP 63/65 Tuesday March 12th, 2013 12:04:01 PM Haste 2/11, Invisibility minute 1.2/11; phantom steed hour 6/11
I had assumed that the phantom steed was squished by the elemental, since I was riding it at the time the elemental grabbed me out of the air... do I have two mounts? Because I also cast mount to ride out for the stampede, or are we going to retcon that to me having ridden the phantom steed? (Preferred) Would the steed have a fear effect? It's not a summoned creature, it's a conjured manifestation, doesn't have stats either.
Cyniq sends a mental command to the phantom steed to return and stand 10' to the side of her away from the cabin. She then casts Detect Magic and takes a look around to see if there is anything she hadn't noticed before (like invisible people, magic items on people not yet discovered, magic on the arrows now burning...)
She leaves the fires for others to deal with while she verifies the threats.
DM OOC: it had been my understanding that Cyniq had cast another Phantom Steed to carry her when the group had tracked the rustlers to where the buffalo stampede occurred. Is this not so..?
No, I cast a regular mount, only have the one phantom steed spell, plus a mount spell (need extend spell before I can get all day phantom steeds).
Alexi AC 28 Tch 13 Ffted 25 HP 120/120 CMD 26 Tuesday March 12th, 2013 1:30:26 PM
OOC: Anrete, wouldn't it be easier to just knock the flaming arrow off the wall with your big sword and try to put the fire out with a cloak to keep it from spreading? I hasn't been there long. After this round, it may be too difficult to put the fire out.
Alexi AC 27 Tch 12 Ffted 24 HP 120/120 CMD 26 d20+15=27 ; d20+19=36 ; 3d8+9=28 ; d20+15=23 ; Tuesday March 12th, 2013 2:09:34 PM
Spells in effect: Resistance 8/10 +1 on saves; Haste 9/11 +1 Att/Ref/AC +30ft move, extra att; Bardic Performance +2 vs charm and fear, +2 attack and damage
Alexi's expertise in mounted combat allow him to easily readjust Lobo's charge to face the new threat of BG9. Guide w/knees DC5 = 27 He levels his lance at the mounted archer and Charges (AC updated for Charge): ATT +14 + (+1 haste, +2 bard, +2 Charge) = 36, Spirited Charge dmg = 28 + 6 bard = 34 (Spitited charge is 3x damage but I'm not sure if it includes tripling the +2 bardic bonus).
Alexi will use his Ride-by-Attack to move beyond the impact point another 20' if possible, or 15,10,5 ft as possible, depending on his remaining Move after the impact (no AoO for this). Alexi's Stay in Saddle Ride check if necessary, DC5 = 23
OOC: if Alexi hits, don't forget to roll his Stay in Saddle Ride check DC5.
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:31/29/26 HP:103/103 Ki:11/12 CMD: 30] Tuesday March 12th, 2013 3:21:19 PM
Garret watches and his muscles coil as he watches the approaching rider. Garret steps back and listens to the approach and prepares to jump when he sees any movement. There is a flash, and Garret leaps into the air, only to find himself smacking into a solid wall of ice. As he gently slides down the ice wall and lands on his feet, he glares back at the house, trying to see who did that to him and if they did it on purpose.
As he considers the wall, he sees the flame burst near Keela, which brings him back to the present. Seeing that Keela is working on the fire, Garret looks around. He sees that while Alexi and Anrete appear to have the front area covered, he wonders if some of the bandits will attempt to go around the new wall. Garret moves quickly towards the rear of the new wall, past Keela. He peeks around the corner to see if any of the bandits are headed in this direction.
Sesha [AC 19 | HP 141/80 | CMD 14] [See Invisibility, Haste] d20+7=9 ; d20+8=22 ; Tuesday March 12th, 2013 5:25:40 PM
Though exultant in her first real success, Sesha takes a moment to come to terms with her new body. It's always tricky, this part. She tightens her gloved hands on the horses reigns once or twice before taking stock of her situation.
Two enemies, one mounted and one not. A building on fire. A wall of ice.
What to do?
Seeing the creeping bandit She stops the horse near him and tries to fast dismount. Failing miserably, she stumbles behind the man and stops.
"Howdy Parder?"
She then pounces, attempting to pin him, then eventually tie him with her lasso.
[1] Move Action - Dismount (Free action attempt failed) [2] Attempt Grapple. I don't have improved Grapple, but I'm not certain he can take an AOO if he isnt aware of the threat. [3]Hit CMD 22. Again, with this being most likely a surprise, he may/may not be flat flooted to the attack.
The Plan: Round 1: Grapple, Round 2: Pin, Round 3: Tie Up.
One to Go (DM Donna) Tuesday March 12th, 2013 9:45:00 PM
OOC: Waiting for Morgan's post regarding Round 3. Will post ASAP after he does.
Morgan WashburnHP 89 - AC 19/19/19 - CMD 20 - F+8/R+13/W+13 Tuesday March 12th, 2013 9:51:06 PM
Morgan continues his eldritch gesticulating, and suddenly lifts several inches off the ground. As he reaches into his belt pouch and retrieves another circle of gray cloth, he continues his oration.
And there lay the rider distorted and pale, With the dew on his brow, and the rust on his mail: And the tents were all silent, the banners alone, The lances unlifted, the trumpet unblown.
ooc: All party members gain +2 vs charm and fear, +2 attack and damage.
Sesha [AC 19 | HP 141/80 | CMD 14] [See Invisibility, Haste] Tuesday March 12th, 2013 10:01:37 PM
[ooc] Attack vs CMD 24 then, instead of 22. =)
Combat Round 3 (DM Donna) d20+1=4 ; d20=4 ; d20=20 ; Wednesday March 13th, 2013 1:39:08 AM
Keela doesn't miss a beat, summoning up an Unseen Servant to deal with the fires before they do any serious damage. The invisible force obligingly douses the bush fire. It's going to take another round before it can go extinguish the fire on the other side of the house.
Anrete leaps into action, smashing the hitching rail and freeing the horses so that they may also flee the fire in front of them. Unfortunately the all-consuming primal terror of the flames overrides Copper's usual compliance with Anrete's directions and he races westward with the other freed equines.
Cyniq summons her mount to her side, using her magic to make sure that there are no other unseen foes in the area. The only invisible thing she can detect is Keela's Unseen Servant.
Alexi's expertise in jousting serves him very well, as he easily strikes his newest opponent. Alexi easily stays in his saddle--but BG9 is not so fortunate, not only being harshly skewered by the knight's big pointy stick, but also getting knocked off his mount (which proceeds to run, run away.) BG9 hits the ground and does not move.
Garret relocates himself to the north end of the eastern Wall of Ice just in time to see the following:
BG1 rather clumsily dismounts his horse (more like falls off, to the monk's experienced eye) and approaches BG2 (the archer who is on foot and had fired the arrow that belatedly exploded into flame.) SUDDENLY, BG1 leaps at BG2, obviously attempting to wrestle BG2 to the ground.
Unfortunately for BG1 (Sesha), BG2 manages to resist the tactic. Now BG1 (Sesha) and BG2 are locked arm in arm, each trying to overpower the other.
"What the expletive deleted! is wrong with you, Otis???" screams BG2 as they grapple.
Morgan hovers, retrieves and simultaneously continues to inspire the rest of his colleagues.
Alexi--in reining Lobo about to see what his combat options are--notices that not only is BG7 continuing to ride away, but four other riders who had been hanging back from the battle are also withdrawing. (Alexi is now about 70 feet or so west of his newly-defeated foe.)
Alexi, Garret and BG1/Sesha happen to see BG3 gallop right into the Greased area and, sliding through it and rocketing towards the Wall of Ice. Due to Alexi's angle and BG1/Sesha's preoccupation with winning her grapple, only Garret is treated to the juvenilely-satisfying sight of seeing BG3 slamming into the unyielding Wall of Ice. The horse falls down on top of BG3 and pins the man under it.
BG3 and his horse are about 60 feet away from Garret. BG1/Sesha and BG2 are grappling with each other about 120 feet or so away from Garret.
Sesha [AC 19 | HP 141/80 | CMD 14] [See Invisibility, Haste] d20+13=16 ; Wednesday March 13th, 2013 10:31:11 AM
The rough, dusty bandit grunts with manly vigor as he tries to impose his will and bring the lesser man locked in his arms to the ground. Face to face, the two men rumble and roar, grizzly stubbled faces rubbing against each other.
Squinting as sweat from his dirty brow stings his eyes, Otis leans in close to his former partner. He breathes deep the smell of confusion and fear. Big white teeth flash in a grin. He licks his cracked leathery lips.
"Thanks cutie. I was hoping you'd say my name at least once before we parted ways. "
Then he leans his dry weathered face close, winks and blows a kiss.
[1] As controller of the grapple I attempt to pin the opponent. I must simply beat his CMD. [5 bab + 2 inspire + 3 str + 5 for maintaining control of the grapple for one round.]
[2] Most likely, Failure. Hit CMD 18 (not 16) [3] If I fail, he can attempt to beat MY CMD of 18 to gain control of the grapple.
Keela [AC 17; HP 87/76] [Mage Armor; False Life; Haste] Wednesday March 13th, 2013 12:31:55 PM
Keela has done about all she can stuck behind this wall, so now she needs to get around it. She hurries along the front of the building, past the now-empty hitching rail, until she can see around the Wall of Ice. She takes care not to move out of range of her Unseen Servant.
"Oh, no!" she cries, seeing the riders moving away. "Oh, no! What if they're going back to where the wife is being held, to kill her? We have to catch them!"
"I don't know how, though," she adds, watching Daisy and the other horses gallop away.....
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:31/29/26 HP:103/103 Ki:11/12 CMD: 30] d20+18=25 ; 2d6+3=13 ; 2d6=8 ; Wednesday March 13th, 2013 1:37:31 PM
Garret stifles his laugh, but is grinning from ear-to-ear as he moves quickly up to the fallen rider. He watches the struggle between the two other men while he attempts to kick the fallen rider in the head to completely incapacitate him.
OOC: Haste, Bard Song
Attach, non-lethal damage, hit AC 25, Damage: 13 (+8 more if Vital Strike can be used with non-lethal damage. I suppose so...)
Alexi AC 27 Tch 12 Ffted 24 HP 120/120 CMD 26 d20+14=34 ; Wednesday March 13th, 2013 8:54:25 PM
OOC: Question - is BG1 and Rider 1 the same?
Spells in effect: Resistance 7/10 +1 on saves; Haste 8/11 +1 Att/Ref/AC +30ft move, extra att; Bardic Performance +2 vs charm and fear, +2 attack and damage
IC: Alexi is not interested in taking up pursuit of the retreating bandits. The most obvious reason is that Lobo has no way to catch up with them, loaded down with barding and himself. But it also could be a trap, a tactic any cavalryman worth his spurs should easily see.
Instead, he nudges Lobo over to the two struggling bandits, (Run gives Lobo 105ft i think), confused as to why the two are wrestling. Whether he can get there in 105ft or not he points his lance at BG1 and commands "Hold it right there! Cease and Desist!" Intimidate +14 = 34 N20!
DM OOC: The Rider from before is one of the Bad Guys, so, yes, BG1 is the Rider.
OOC: Waiting to Post (DM Donna) Wednesday March 13th, 2013 10:54:47 PM
Giving the rest of the party another two hours to post. (Deadline is 1am Eastern time.)
Cyniq al'Lyz AC 16{20}/16{20}/13{17} -- CMD 13 -- HP 63/65 Wednesday March 13th, 2013 11:51:22 PM Haste 3/11, Invisibility minute 1.3/11; phantom steed hour 6/11
"On it!" the voice comes from the air in response to Keela's outburst and Cyniq mounts her phantom steed and heads after the riders. PS has a base speed of 100
Morgan WashburnHP 89 - AC 19/19/19 - CMD 20 - F+8/R+13/W+13 Wednesday March 13th, 2013 11:57:10 PM
ooc: Sorry for the holdup, very long day.
Morgan continues to inspire the party (Bardic Performance 22/26 rounds) [free action] with his recitation and flies straight up into the air (120' feet up) [double move action].
ooc: All party members gain +2 vs charm and fear, +2 attack and damage.
Combat Round 4 (DM Donna) d20=16 ; d20=18 ; Thursday March 14th, 2013 2:32:14 AM
BG1/Sesha can feel her control of the wrestling match begin to slip, so she instantly tries to employ the element of emotional surprise on BG2...and it works. BG2 had started to reverse the control, but the shock of his colleague's "revelation" completely throws BG2 for a loop and his strength leaves him. BG1/Sesha can now try to regain control of the grapple again, this time with an additional +4 circumstance bonus.
DM OOC: Sesha is eeeeebil!
Keela is clearly dismayed that most of the party's horses are gone with the wind, making pursuit of the fleeing bandits nigh-impossible. Behind her, the Unseen Servant has finished putting out the fire at the southeast corner of the house and is now dousing the other fire.
From out of the ranch house strides Raeval. He glances around, sizing up the situation and chooses to hurry westward, shouting something in a voice that sounds to everyone else's ears like persistent whinnying. Miraculously, the fleeing horses slow down and take a wide U-turn. They look to be returning to the ranch house!
Garret kicks BG3 into submission, ignoring the poor injured horse.
Alexi and Lobo loom over the two grappling bandits, and the warrior for Domi is VERY intimidating when he demands them to stop fighting.
Even as Keela looks helplessly upon the retreat of half the bandit gang, she sees (and hears) Cyniq's apparently riderless Phantom Steed gallop by her, saying that she (to judge by the female voice) is right on top of the situation. The Phantom Steed starts to gallop south.
Morgan ascends to a towering height even while he continues his recitations so that the rest of his allies may benefit. He is also in the perfect position to see something that isn't quite apparent to those on the ground: the five fleeing gang members are splitting up into five different directions.
Anrete [HP: 130/130, AC31/Touch18/FF31, CMD 29, DR2] Thursday March 14th, 2013 8:37:02 AM
OOC: Sorry. Was totally worn out by 3 cats.
"COPPER!!", Anrete howled as his steppe pony fled with the rest of the horses (yup, Copper is slightly smaller than a regular horse).
Looking around for someone to bash, Anrete roars as he storms towards the nearest bandit
----------------------------------------------- Rage remaining: 4/27 Bardic Song: +2 vs charm and fear, +2 attack and damage.
Morgan WashburnHP 89 - AC 19/19/19 - CMD 20 - F+8/R+13/W+13 Thursday March 14th, 2013 10:42:23 AM
ooc: Where are the fleeing gang members on the map?
DM OOC: the retreating villains have had a good three-round (minimum!) head start on everyone, so they are at least three to four hundred feet away...in five different directions, of course.
Sesha [AC 19 | HP 141/80 | CMD 14] [See Invisibility, Haste] d20+11=12 ; Thursday March 14th, 2013 10:53:59 AM
As Alexi bears down on her and her opponent Sesha TRIES to maintain her grapple but cannot seem to stop giggling.[nat 1] The possessed Otis, realizing he cannot pin the other man, raises his arms in the air and takes a few steps backwards. (Unless he is armed with a melee, I don't think I provoke an aoo)
"Hey Alexi, if you don't mind, I should like to attend my body. You know, the one I dropped off a broom after my first round of wine in It'lal?"
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:31/29/26 HP:103/103 Ki:11/12 CMD: 30] Thursday March 14th, 2013 2:29:35 PM
Garret, seeing that the others have the bandits in hand, will start dragging the unconscious one back to the house to be tied up and questioned.
Keela [AC 17; HP 87/76] [Mage Armor; False Life; Haste] Thursday March 14th, 2013 2:52:01 PM
Keela looks from Morgan, up in the air, to Garret, heading back into the house, to Anrete and Cyniq, charging off in different directions.
"Yes, fine!" she says. "Let's all split up and head in different directions. That's sure to end well. Garret, I don't think we have time to question anybody. Raeval, we have one chance at this--where would they be holding your wife?"
Cyniq al'Lyz AC 16{20}/16{20}/13{17} -- CMD 13 -- HP 63/65 Thursday March 14th, 2013 3:10:17 PM Haste 4/11, Invisibility minute 1.4/11; phantom steed hour 6/11
Cyniq will continue to chase one of the horsemen. Once she gets within 100', she will cast black tentacles. Concentration for casting while riding is DC 10+spell level=14, concentration check is caster level plus int mod= +18, auto succeed. Her invisibility remains active. She aims the black tentacles centered just in front of the fleeing mount.
Note her PS can traverse most difficult terrain without penalty.
"You shall not flee justice!"
Morgan WashburnHP 89 - AC 19/19/19 - CMD 20 - F+8/R+13/W+13 Thursday March 14th, 2013 3:52:04 PM
Morgan raises an eyebrow at Keela's comment and calls down. "Shall I give pursuit? I could easily catch one of them."
Alexi AC 27 Tch 12 Ffted 24 HP 120/120 CMD 26 Thursday March 14th, 2013 9:09:59 PM
Alexi feels that, idividually, each one of them is the greater match to each one of the bandits so he says nothing to Morgan or Cyniq to return.
For his part, as one of the struggling bandits calls him by name and makes a reference to a brom, his puzzlement is mostly solved. 'I'll find out how later,' he chuckles to himself. "By all means, Sweety," he replies with a wide grin.
Of course, Alexi has no idea what had just transpired between the two bandits, so any reaction from the other bandit will probably only add another level to his puzzlement.
He turns to the other bandit and sheaths his lance, then draws his flail. Casually swinging the spiked head, he orders the bandit, "MOVE! To the house!"
He then yells over the Wall of Ice, "Anrete! Quit playing around and come escort these two!" then he chuckles at what will be Anrete's reaction.
Morgan WashburnHP 89 - AC 19/19/19 - CMD 20 - F+8/R+13/W+13 Thursday March 14th, 2013 9:37:27 PM
ooc: I assume most of us are out of combat.
Morgan watches as the riders flee in separate directions and gives a gentle sigh. "I almost broke a sweat." He descends lazily to the ground where he tossed the gray sack to the bandit leader, retrieving it and placing the coins and cloth back in his belt pouch. He then drifts over to the ranch house, lightly floating above the ground. "Let's hope the master of the house is now more forthcoming. I would hate to think his wife has been abused or murdered as a result of his recalcitrance."
Morgan WashburnHP 89 - AC 19/19/19 - CMD 20 - F+8/R+13/W+13 Thursday March 14th, 2013 9:49:38 PM
Morgan stops mid-step. "Ah, right." He turns and gives a dismissive wave to the walls of ice. "Go on, go away." They shimmer and evaporate in the air, and he turns and continues toward the ranch house.
Combat Done...Right..? (DM Donna) Thursday March 14th, 2013 11:48:37 PM
Anrete rages at the thought that the battle has ended, stomping about to see if there wasn't someone he could still chop up.
Alexi sees the Rider--a.k.a. Bad Guy 1--immediately surrender, but he hears words that only his group's newest female arrival could utter. He has to smile a bit at the way magic can be used these days and orders Anrete to stop sulking and help round up the prisoners. BG2--clearly out-gunned and rapidly becoming completely out-numbered--yields to common sense and follows Alexi's demand to march towards the house.
Garret drags the unconscious BG3 back to the house, still completely ignoring the injured horse (although the horse has--completely unassisted, mind you!--managed to struggle to its feet and is limping towards the horse that used to be BG1's mount.)
Keela wonders if it's not too late to go back to the Big Float and find another adventuring team that doesn't seem to suffer from tunnel-vision when it comes to the pursuit of bad guys who are scattering to the wind. Then she thinks to ask Raeval if he has a clue as to where the gang may be hiding Maymel.
Since Cyniq's Phantom Steed is easily twice as fast as a non-magical horse, her tactics net her one Black-Tentacle-entangled gang member (BG8), who glares sullenly at the Justicar. Now it's merely a matter of how BG8 will get transported back to the ranch house.
Morgan asks Keela about pursuing the fleeing bad guys, although since he does so from the relatively safe height of 120 feet up, it's kind of hard to tell if he's being slightly mocking or genuinely trying to be helpful. Then he dismisses his two Walls of Ice, confirming that he is trying to be helpful. After descending from on high, he spends the next five to ten minutes looking through the tall prairie grass to retrieve the bundled-up coins he had attempted to distract BG1 with at the start of all this.
Raeval turns to Keela.
"Believe me, miss," he says sincerely, "If I knew for sure, I'd go riding out after Maymel myself...but I bet we can get these guys to 'fess up to where they got Maymel."
DM OOC: so, to recap--the group has BG1 (presently being possessed by Sesha), BG2 and the unconscious BG3 as their prisoners, with Cyniq having nabbed BG8 farther away from the house.
Anrete [HP: 130/130, AC31/Touch18/FF31, CMD 29, DR2] d20+13=26 ; Friday March 15th, 2013 11:47:47 AM
Snarling like a rabid beast, Anrete jabs and shove savagely at the bandits towards the ranch.
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:31/29/26 HP:103/103 Ki:11/12 CMD: 30] d20+18=21 ; Friday March 15th, 2013 1:47:44 PM
Garret smiles at he drags the man back to the house. He turns to address Anrete, to suggest that he be the one to question these guys, but sees that Anrete has already started in on them. Garret drops the man and looks around the back side of the house to be sure this wasn't all a setup (Perception: 21).
Keela [AC 17; HP 87/76] [Mage Armor; False Life; Haste] Friday March 15th, 2013 5:11:57 PM
Keela moves back into the house, but she is clearly anxious to be gone again.
"How much time would it take to murder a helpless, bound woman?" she asks. "Not much, I'm thinking."
Sesha [AC 19 | HP 141/80 | CMD 14] [See Invisibility, Haste] Friday March 15th, 2013 6:50:14 PM
Sesha walks back to the house, staying near Alexi in case there are any issues. As she enters, so responds to Keela in a heavily accented drawl she isn't quite used to.
"These be bandits, Keela. I imagine that they care more about money and life than they do about revenge and a reason for us to come lookin' for their blood."
She scratches, not quite used to her current anatomy, then begins to disrobe, pull off the host's chainmail armor and removing all of his weapons and items, being sure to explain her out-of-body experience should anyone not have figured it out by this point.
"Alexi, do you want me to keep this body or switch back to my own? My fight with the captive may have been spotted by the fleeing bandits. For subterfuge, there may not be much purpose in this form anymore. Plus, the spells range has limits. We must either carry and protect my body or I will be shunted back to my spells focus crystal."
She will either submit the hosts body for tying and questioning, or begin casting detect magic on their gear to see if they have anything that might be helpful or dangerous to those left behind to guard.
Morgan WashburnHP 89 - AC 19/19/19 - CMD 20 - F+8/R+13/W+13 d20+21=35 ; d20+22=23 ; Friday March 15th, 2013 7:35:20 PM
Morgan walks slowly into the ranch house, returning a moment later with a chair. He places it on the ground in front of one of the bandits and slowly sits. He regards him for a moment, then leans forward slightly and speaks very calmly. Calmly in an almost bizarre fashion, given the recent battle.
"I'm sorry we had that misunderstanding earlier. We had a breakdown in communications that escalated to physical violence. Very unpleasant. I sincerely wished to entreat your leader. We could have reasoned with each other as gentlemen. As equals. But I am afraid that is no longer possible." He leans forward a few more inches and lowers the volume of his voice. "For you see, we are no longer equals, you and I. You are our prisoner. Not simply our personal prisoners, but a criminal in custody for crimes against the citizens of Bryn Baraz. You have lost your grounds for negotiation." His voice drops again, almost to a whisper. "I need you to listen to me very carefully. Do you see these people? Your captors? They are good people. They are people of principle, of ethics and morals. But they will bend those principles, set aside those ethics, and rationalize their morals for you. They will hurt you, do terrible things to you, until you tell them everything that they want to know. If you stall, and we do not recover the woman alive? Then they will return, and hurt you for spite. Part of you may not believe me, thinking that they are not willing or able to do such things." His voice drops again to a whisper. "But we are far from witnesses, and your screams will go unanswered."
Morgan leans back and sits upright again. "The choice is yours. You can tell us everything you know, or you can spend the last hours of your life in such hellish agony as to make you curse the day of your birth, followed by a shallow grave with only the wind to remember you."
ooc: Intimidate 35, if necessary Bluff 23 but I think the Intimidate check should be sufficient. :)
Alexi AC 27 Tch 12 Ffted 24 HP 120/120 CMD 26 d20+7=15 ; Friday March 15th, 2013 9:24:39 PM
Alexi notices the limping horse but knows the horse will survive and when time permits, he can heal it. For now there are captives to interrogate and a woman to rescue.
Alexi ignores the words of profanity from the bandit and whispers to the bandit with the female gait and unmanly wobble of hips, "I'd prefer you the way came". While Morgan gives the concious ones something to ponder, Alexi gathers up their weapons and armor and stows them in another room. "He's a little verbose," Alexi says when Morgan is finished. "The short of it is, either it's the mines or the noose. You help us, you visit the mines for a little while. You don't help us, you dance the Dead Man's Dance at the end of a rope." Alexi isn't bluffing. Diplomacy +7 = 15
Cyniq al'Lyz AC 16{20}/16{20}/13{17} -- CMD 13 -- HP 63/65 Friday March 15th, 2013 10:34:18 PM okay, weird, now ahd two posts disappear...
Last post had Cyniq pulling up, pulling manacles from her bag, dropping the invis, and suggesting the bandit roll onto his stomach, cross his legs and stretch his arms out.
Provided he cooperates, she'll drop the black tentacles and bind him before throwing him over his own horse for the ride back to the cabin.
Sesha [AC 19 | HP 141/80 | CMD 14] [See Invisibility, Haste] d100=7 ; d100=29 ; Saturday March 16th, 2013 1:14:00 AM
At Alexi's suggestion, after Otis is tied and submissive, Sesha closes her eyes and breathes deep.
Then the spell is cut. She passes quickly through the silent, dark, cold void as her soul retreats to it's receptacle briefly, then returns to her own body.
Pleased that she is neither burned nor butchered, she winks at the teenage boy and dusts herself off. Glad that she is not a human any longer, she rejoins her companions... and of course, detects magic as previously hinted.
Let the Interrogation Begin! (DM Donna) Saturday March 16th, 2013 1:24:11 PM
Cyniq very easily binds up and escorts her prisoner back to the ranch house to join the three others that have been captured. Of the quartet, one is still unconscious thanks to Garret's well-aimed foot. After Sesha releases Otis back to his own body, it is clear that he is not happy with this newest situation...especially after first Morgan and then Alexis make clear what the near future is going to hold for the prisoners.
Before Otis can do more then breathe in to make his response, Raeval's hands shoot out and, clamping themselves onto the front of the prisoner's tunic, the rancher hauls up the outlaw so that Raeval is hissing into Otis' face:
"I was dead to you, for all you knew! Where is Maymel...and why are you hounding me to go back???" Otis looks back at Raeval with emotionless eyes, then snorts.
"Hells, Whitey," he replies, "Ya think yer soooo clever! Yeah, we thought you was dead...until that big ol' weddin' in Bryn Baraz last month. Da twins snuck inta town an' reckon'ized ya. They high-tailed it back ta Twoblades an' flapped their yap-holes all about how ya was livin' it up with that Ahote squaw--" Otis' words are cut off when Raeval hauls back and punches Otis dead in the face.
"Do not talk about Maymel like that, or--heroes or no--I'll skin you alive!" The rancher's face is livid. BG2 shakes his head.
"Don't matter none how we talk about her, Whitey," he says, "Twoblades is the leader now--an' she's the one as told us we hadda come out here an' git ya back even if we hadda burn this place down around ya." A mocking grin crosses his face. "The rest o' us just want the money--Twoblades wants a lot more'n that..."
Raeval's attitude goes from outrage to shock to silent self-recrimination. He drops Otis back onto the floor and turns away, looking very guilty.
DM OOC: oh, and the prisoners have no magic items left on their persons.
Morgan WashburnHP 89 - AC 19/19/19 - CMD 20 - F+8/R+13/W+13 Saturday March 16th, 2013 6:04:17 PM
Morgan draws his dagger and tests the blade with his thumb. He looks to the rest of the party. "Normally I would let isolation and sleep deprivation soften up an interrogation, but it appears we have little time and an innocent woman's life on the line."
He crouches down and regards Otis. "Hello, Otis. Tell me where to find Maymel or I will cut off your right ear."
Alexi AC 28 Tch 13 Ffted 25 HP 120/120 CMD 26 Saturday March 16th, 2013 7:14:59 PM
Alexi rolls his eyes at Morgan. "Don't cut it off. Just see if you can shape it like a goblin's."
Then he turns to Otis, "Well, looks like the value of Maymel has gone up. Say, from some coin to the value of your life. That is if you put any value on your life. After you die, your soul's fate is up to the demons and what torture they thrill in. While you are alive, there still is hope.
Your choice. Death and demon torture, or life and freedom, oneday. Tell us where to find Maymel, your fate, maybe for the last time, is in your hands."
Keela [AC 17; HP 87/76] [Mage Armor; False Life; Haste] Sunday March 17th, 2013 8:12:39 PM
As the tough talk continues, Keela decides she's better off guarding the horses.
She flees the room.
Sesha [AC 19 | HP 141/80 | CMD 14] [See Invisibility, Haste] Monday March 18th, 2013 12:04:16 AM
Sitting on her knees, still by the staircase, Sesha is glad to once more be in her own body. Weakly, she places a hand against the wall and climbs to her feet. Shaking off the last traces of her out of body experience, she hears voices in another room.
Walking towards them, she is very nearly flattened by a fleeing Keela. Curious, she listens for a moment to the men inside threatening all manner of evils upon Otis, and very quickly she is glad she did not linger in that body.
Deciding that Alexi and Morgan likely have the captives in hand, Sesha instead chooses to follow Keela outside.
"Keela?"
The question is timid and soft spoken.
"Would Alexi allow Morgan to inflict torture? I would not have thought him to use such a tactic."
Troubled, Sesha absently rubs away a chill in her dark arms, despite the warm breeze in the mid afternoon.
"In my time among the tribes, I have beaten criminals, failed warriors, unsuccessful hunters, and slaves alike. It was simply a duty of the Shaman. It has been 3 years since I left my tribe. I do not think I could do those things again...I know that Little Spirit would not approve. And likely, Pot-Pot would not either."
Cyniq al'Lyz AC 16{20}/16{20}/13{17} -- CMD 13 -- HP 63/65 d20+18=26 ; d20+18=31 ; Monday March 18th, 2013 12:31:50 PM "Have a seat!" Cyniq pulls a chiar and motions for her captive to take a seat. Eyeing the other bandits against the wall Cyniq takes stock of the interrogation about to begin.
"I have found that pain, while satisfying, rarely divulges the needed information. They tell us something, we find out they were lying, we chop off a finger and feed it to them, it just gets nasty and messy. I mean what with loose bowels as they mess themselves when their intestines are slowly pulled out. I just find that there are such cleaner and neater ways of getting the information we need." She has aimed her discourse at her companions, she knows this is a road they don't want to go down. She is more concerned with pausing their intentions than trying to scare the bandits.
Cyniq eyes the bandits and selects the one she brought in. "This one runs at the first sign of resistance, he'll be easy." Kneeling down so she is eye level with the bandit, she places one hand on his knee, and looks him over. "My companions are excited, Raeval is, well I am sure you can understand how he is. Now, I'm a justicar, and I know you know what that means for you and your friends. I have more than enough evidence already. However, I have some discretion where enforcement is concerned." Cyniq pats his knee, "See, I need a friend, and Raeval needs one too. I am sure you can understand how easy it is to make things better to help your friends and I know you want to help your friends so be a good dear, and help me, help you."
Blending the words of power into her speech to the young bandit along with a few surreptitious gestures and Cyniq completes the casting of a charm spell.
Charm Person, will save negates, DC 18 Diplomacy=26; Bluff to hide the spell casting=31
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:31/29/26 HP:103/103 Ki:11/12 CMD: 30] d20+10=14 ; d20+10=16 ; d20+21=36 ; d20+21=28 ; Monday March 18th, 2013 1:43:12 PM
When Keela runs outside, Garret takes a quick look around and realizes that the others have the interrogation well in-hand. He slips outside, checks on Keela, then scampers up to the roof of the house (Climb: 14, 16). He heads for the center of the roof and scans the horizon in the direction the bandits fled for any sign of them (Perception: 36). He then turns a slow circle, watching in all directions (Perception: 28).
DM OOC: okay, I'll bite. How does Garret manage to "scamper up to the roof"..?
Sesha [AC 19 | HP 141/80 | CMD 14] [See Invisibility, Haste] Monday March 18th, 2013 7:14:53 PM
( I think they decided that, as core, we could not use the bluff skill to hide a spell. That's what I was told anyways. )
Morgan WashburnHP 89 - AC 19/19/19 - CMD 20 - F+8/R+13/W+13 Monday March 18th, 2013 10:21:07 PM
ooc: Waiting for DM update. ;)
Even More Info (DM Donna) Monday March 18th, 2013 10:59:56 PM
Otis finds himself receiving the concentrated attention of both Morgan and Alexis, while Cyniq speaks directly to the bandit she captured. The two outlaws exchange long-suffering glances before Otis speaks up.
"Lissen..." he says emphatically, "...ain't none of us here dedicated to Twoblades so's that we can stand up to torture, so here's the lowdown from the beginnin': we was a gang that Whitey here use'ta lead. We did pretty good while he was the head honcho, so it was a real bad blow when we all thought he got hisself killed inna cattle stampede. After he 'died,' Twoblades took over an' ran the gang about the same way Whitey did. Then the twins found out that Whitey wasn't dead. Twoblades has been having us rotate around the different camps...but now she picks the new locations. She's the only one who knows where the Ahote woman is now. By the time any of you can even get to where our last camp was, Twoblades will have moved the gang and that woman to her newest camp."
"Twoblades got a real bee in her bonnet about how ya left us high 'n' dry, Whitey," the bandit captured by Cyniq adds earnestly. "She won't stop until she gets ya back inta the gang...she was even talkin' about gettin' some outlander allies just to storm this ranch if we mucked up gettin' ya this time around." Raeval's head snaps up.
"That means we can't stay here," he says flatly. "She'll be getting a veritable army together just to overwhelm the ranch. We need to fall back to Bryn Baraz--it's the only place we can make a fortified stand."
Alexi AC 28 Tch 13 Ffted 25 HP 120/120 CMD 26 Tuesday March 19th, 2013 12:22:01 AM
What the bandits said about the camps rings true according to the information Raeval, or Whitey, had given them. But Alexi didn't like what Raeval proposed.
"Your cooperation will mean a lighter sentence. We'll see to that," he assures the bandits. Turning to Raeval, he says, "I belive them when they say this Twoblades would already have moved camp by the time we reach it. But we aren't the type to sit back and wait. We believe in taking the battle to the enemy.
We'll need you and Izaak to take these bandits into town and warn the town to be ready. For our part, we'll discuss this and decide."
Anrete [HP: 130/130, AC31/Touch18/FF31, CMD 29, DR2] Tuesday March 19th, 2013 4:28:22 AM
"Good that dinner is serving themselves.", Anrete proclaims to himself as he proceeds to sharpen his greatsword.
Alexi AC 28 Tch 13 Ffted 25 HP 120/120 CMD 26 Tuesday March 19th, 2013 9:34:22 AM
Assured that the bandits are all tied up nice and tight, Alexi calls for a meeting outside to discuss what to do. "Do we go after these bandits and chance not being in Bryn if this Twoblades brings in a horde against Bryn before we can find her? My preference is to continue the hunt. Bryn will be warned to be ready and they are well trained. Anyone have any ideas?"
Morgan WashburnHP 89 - AC 19/19/19 - CMD 20 - F+8/R+13/W+13 Tuesday March 19th, 2013 11:07:53 AM "My colleague, Master Whitesmith, should be able to assist us. He is a skilled wizard of divination. He can use his scrying mirror to find her." He turns to Raeval. "We will need her hairbrush. The hairs will greatly assist him in locating her." He turns to the rest of the group. "While her current location is uncertain, the danger to Bryn Baraz is certain. I suggest we return to town and prepare defenses while allowing divination magic to locate her true location."
Cyniq al'Lyz AC 16{20}/16{20}/13{17} -- CMD 13 -- HP 63/65 Tuesday March 19th, 2013 12:05:26 PM "If she has moved from where you last saw her, then how were you going to meet up with her?" Cyniq directs her attention to the ganger that stated Twoblades had likely moved.
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:31/29/26 HP:103/103 Ki:11/12 CMD: 30] Tuesday March 19th, 2013 12:41:45 PM
Hearing Alexi and the others step outside, Garret listens, then says, "I agree with hunting these bandits down. I don't want to bring them to the town, they've suffered way too much. If there's any way we can find them quickly, we should do that before they have time to gather reinforcements." He turns to Morgan and says, "How quickly can that spell work?"
OOC: I dunno, I figured the farmhouse was made of timber, mud, and straw, so that it would be easy to climb up the sides. If not, no big deal, Garret can move around the house once, taking a look around.
Keela [AC 17; HP 87/76] [Mage Armor; False Life; Haste] Tuesday March 19th, 2013 4:12:13 PM
"I don't know," Keela says in answer to Sesha's question. "Not normally, I guess, but we've seen a lot out here. The Ahote, for example, are not exactly merciful with transgressors."
Luckily, no torture needs to be employed, and Keela is soon able to talk with the rest of the group.
"This Twoblades person," she says. "I get the feeling that her interest in Raevel is more than professional. I think maybe she's miffed because he went and married somebody else. That being the case, I don't like the idea of leaving Maymel in her hands."
Sesha [AC 19 | HP 141/80 | CMD 14] [See Invisibility, Haste] Tuesday March 19th, 2013 7:16:56 PM
Stepping quietly over to the others, Sesha stays silent while the others speak. When they have finished, she adds.
"If you are of Bryn Baraz, then it is true that you are responsible to them, not responsible for them. The ranch is not defensible. It is not unfair to take a better position in the town. Using their buildings for shelter is only a small price for the risk you take on their behalf. An empire isn't made only by it's ruler, but by the efforts of all it's people."
To Morgan, "If the agreement is that we hunt however, I can perform the divination without us trekking back to Bryn Baraz. It will take only a few moments."
Decisions, Decisions... (DM Donna) Tuesday March 19th, 2013 8:24:57 PM
Garret's instinct to try to scope out where the fleeing bandits may have gone to is a logical one, but the five fleeing men have disappeared in their five different directions. There is no sign of any of them on the windswept prairie.
Otis huffs a breath when Cyniq asks about how his squad was supposed to meet up with Twoblades and the rest of the gang.
"Twoblades don't have the same head for tactics that Whitey does," he says, "But she can be clever--she was gonna tell us where to meet up usin' Message spells, but only if Forty sees we're all okay."
"Sees..?" Raeval echoes sharply. "You mean she's using a crystal ball to watch us now..?"
"Nope," Otis replies, "Only while we was attackin'. No doubt she saw us get our butts handed to us an' won't be sending any messages to us here what been captured." Raeval rubs one hand over his face, clearly vexed at this news.
"I'd rather take the fight to the gang, too," he agrees with Alexi's instincts, "But there isn't any feasible way for us to track the ones that got away. The only real alternative is to return to town--so that this Whitesmith person can actually pinpoint where we need to go to find Maymel."
Alexi AC 28 Tch 13 Ffted 25 HP 120/120 CMD 26 Tuesday March 19th, 2013 8:58:25 PM
There was another time when they were supposed to find something and knew not even where to start. They had Fatine's dream to guide them then. What did they have now?
Alexi looks kindly at Sesha, "Bryn Baraz proper is not just the village enclosed by the walls but every homestead out here too. The Barazites, that being us too, depend on these farmers and ranchers for the food as much as these homesteaders depend on the safety of the walls. So, we are responsible to Bryn and for Bryn. Either way, you are right that none can stay here.
Then he turns to the group, "As much as I'd rather be out there sniffing out their tracks, being able to pinpoint where Maymel is and heading straight there instead of eating bugs in this tall, dry grass, is preferrable. If Sesha can find a suitable answer to our inquiry, then I say let's go for it. If she can't, then I suggest we all head back to Bryn. If this Twoblades woman is going to kill Maymel, there's no way we will be able to get there in time as it is. If we are to meet the rest of her gang and any others she gathers to her, I'd rather be better prepared."
Anrete [HP: 130/130, AC31/Touch18/FF31, CMD 29, DR2] d20+12=25 ; d20+13=28 ; Tuesday March 19th, 2013 9:01:51 PM
Anrete glares at the prisoner.
"So what now? He is as useful as vinegar in a wineskin!"
"Let's sate my blade's hunger and be on with it.", Anrete draws his sword lazily.
------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sense Motive: 25 (is the bandit lying? about the message thingy?) Intimidate: 28
Sesha [AC 19 | HP 141/80 | CMD 14] [See Invisibility, Haste] d20+19=26 ; d100+6=84 ; d100=42 ; Wednesday March 20th, 2013 2:15:35 AM
"Right then."
Sesha unhooks Pot-Pot from her belt loop and sets the tiny cauldron gently on the ground. Then she returns to the house and pulls out all of gear she confiscated from Otis as well as the large map that Raeval had shown them earlier.
"Enlarge..."
At her command the black iron cauldron grows, expanding until it is at the very least large enough to hold several of their company within its black maw. With some expressed disdain, she lifts the heavy chain mail and tosses it and the bow into her spirit familiars hold.
Next, she lights some incense and leans over the cauldron, chanting softly. As her spell continues she begins to slide her small ebony hands through the air, caressing the ley lines so strong in this place. Finding one suitable, she gently guides it into her cauldron, wraps and winds it through the offering of armor and weapons, and back out again. The water is the cauldron is begins to bubble softly, echoing loudly within.
Sesha quits chanting and squeezes the ley line tightly, feeling the woldsblood as it runs over her delicate fingers.
She whispers, a smile on her lips.
"Little Spirit.. it is with with great enthusiasm that I again seek your voice. I have traveled far from the Drow City and have finally arrived at my new home for some time, Bryn Baraz. Like the lands of my blood-kin, this home too seems to be in constant danger. Even now bandits take an innocent wife, the mother of a child, and threaten wrong upon her. It is possible they may soon move against all of Bryn Baraz.
She licks her lips, then continues.
"Please, nameless spirit. Although you have yet to fully reveal yourself to me.. please. Which enemy camp is holding Maymel? Can we reach her before Bryn Baraz is attacked? What would you have your Shaman do, so that she may please you best?"
Sesha places the map on the ground and then kneels near it. Behind her, the cauldron bubbles wildly, slopping some water over it's sides. Sesha runs her fingers through the mud and holds her hands close to the map, hoping for some sign or guidance from her matron.
[1] Bend Ley Line, 26 vs DC 20. +6 to next ley check. [2] Cast Divination - Ley check 84 vs DC 20 - Over 80%, no slot used. [3]Divination 1-88 Success; Result 42 = Success.
Morgan WashburnHP 89 - AC 19/19/19 - CMD 20 - F+8/R+13/W+13 Wednesday March 20th, 2013 12:04:22 PM
Morgan raises an eyebrow at the witch's incantation. "Well, if you can divine her location, then by all means."
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:31/29/26 HP:103/103 Ki:11/12 CMD: 30] Wednesday March 20th, 2013 12:46:57 PM
Garret steps back as Sesha breaks out her pot. He wanders over to the window and thinks about another who carried such a pot with the group and wonders how he is and where in the Wold he has gotten off to.
Keela [AC 17; HP 87/76] [Mage Armor; False Life; Haste] d20+22=39 ; d20+22=39 ; Wednesday March 20th, 2013 1:32:22 PM
Keela watches Sesha's preparations with interest. She has never seen anything like this ceremony. Perhaps she can pick up a few pointers....
[Just for fun, Spellcraft 39; Knowledge Arcana 39]
The Divination (DM Donna) Wednesday March 20th, 2013 8:43:55 PM
Everyone has a front row seat to the spectacle of Sesha using her cauldron to divine the party's next move. The heroes and both Raeval and Izzak hope for something constructive, while the criminal captives are clearly nervous about what may happen next.
For a moment all is still--nary a breeze stirs the tall grasses of the prairie and the very insects in the area seem to cease their barely-audible buzzing and chirping.
Then...
...from within the cauldron a plume of glowing purple mist billows up, forming puffs of what most would call "smoke" and yet its other-worldly glow makes it very clear that the effect is not due to anything that is actively burning. A breathless, almost child-like voice whispers in a soundless voice--Keela can automatically liken it to some sort of Telepathic Link, although this time the voice has an eerie quasi-echoing effect as it speaks:
"Maymel is safe so far...green eyes will do anything to behold the public humility of white...go home now! Go home--there is danger hidden within!" There is a brilliant explosion of energy...and then the pot is empty and silent once more.
Alexi AC 28 Tch 13 Ffted 25 HP 120/120 CMD 26 Wednesday March 20th, 2013 9:12:58 PM
Alexi watches the ceremony and secretly worries over his map! 'I hope that cauldron doesn't slop any disgusting goo on it...'
However Alexi is pleased that the ceremony with the cauldron did not involve blood, like the other one they had half a year ago.
When it is over, Alexi sighs. "Well, that's it then. We'll have Raeval gather up what little belongings he and Izaak can carry and well head back to Bryn. Our captives should find a nice home in the mines where Al Mathir kept the slaves while they controlled the place. We can discuss any preparations with the Captain of the Guard.
He gathers up his map and instructs Raeval and Izaak to gather what belongings they can carry and prepares the captives for the long walk to Bryn.
Sesha [AC 19 | HP 141/80 | CMD 14] [See Invisibility, Haste] Wednesday March 20th, 2013 9:38:44 PM
As the mist clears from her cauldron - so too does the haze clear from her mind. She is dimly aware of Alexi as he reaches for the map before her. Instinctively, her mud covered arm snaps out to his, grasping him by the forearm.
She looks up at him, then back down to the map. Seeing that her mud-stained fingers had not been guided to draw on the map or to encircle any camps, she takes a moment to recall the words of Little Spirit, then releases her grasp from the man and smiling weakly in apology.
Sesha stares into the clouds, lost deep in her thoughts. Little Spirit had referred to Bryn Baraz as home, which confused her a little. She had never exactly fit in with the other drow in the city of It'lal, although she had forged friendship with it's protectors. Who knew?
Standing, she considers her own resources remaining.
"I believe I am able to support us for some time in a drawn out battle. Before the battle begins, I will be able to grant either a boon of health, strength, or agility to all of us at once. I can only do this once, however. I think that the endurance would benefit us all, as would the extra agility. The strength would only benefit a few. Still, I will take suggestions with an open mind."
At this point, Sesha gathers up her broom, re-shrinks pot pot and gathers her belongings and prepares to head out with the others.
"How far is the trip?" she asks. What a first day!
Keela [AC 17; HP 87/76] [Mage Armor; False Life; Haste] Wednesday March 20th, 2013 10:59:48 PM
"Danger hidden within?" Keela repeats. "What could that mean?"
"Anyway," she says, more confidently, "we should head back to Bryn Baraz and discuss what to do next."
If there are no other preparations to be made, she climbs aboard Daisy and follows the others back to town.
Cyniq al'Lyz AC 16{20}/16{20}/13{17} -- CMD 13 -- HP 63/65 Thursday March 21st, 2013 1:01:55 AM "more'n likely, it means that there are already bandits or sympathizers in town ready to strike."
Cyniq sighs and looks about, "well, seems I have two mounts, so I can toss a couple of the bandits over one of them for the trip to town."
Anrete [HP: 130/130, AC31/Touch18/FF31, CMD 29, DR2] Thursday March 21st, 2013 3:37:35 AM
Anrete mounts Copper and prepares to set off.
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:31/29/26 HP:103/103 Ki:11/12 CMD: 30] Thursday March 21st, 2013 2:49:00 PM
Garret agrees with the others. "Let us then head back to the town and prepare for whatever it is that's coming against us. And certainly we should watch for others inside the town that will be working with the enemy. That sounds rather serious."
Cyniq al'Lyz AC 16{20}/16{20}/13{17} -- CMD 13 -- HP 63/65 d20+18=26 ; d20+18=38 ; Thursday March 21st, 2013 2:59:04 PM
Cyniq secures the bandit she captured, "Its for your own good, be steady and you may have opportunity to redeem yourself." She then grabs another and gets him secured as well. Taking them outside, she searches them, then gets one on her mount, followed by the second bandit. She ties the hands of the first behind his back, and the hands of the second in front of him. She uses the manacles around the left wrists of both bandits. And she finishes up with making sure they are secured in teh saddle before mounting her own phantom steed.
Perception to search them, 26 on the one she captured, 38 on the other
Clarification Needed (DM Donna) Thursday March 21st, 2013 9:18:17 PM
By my count, the heroes have four prisoners (Otis/the Rider/BG1; BG2; BG3 (who is definitely hurting from having his horse pin him and then Garret kick him in the head until he was unconscious); and BG7, whom Cyniq captured.)
Just how are all of these people going to be transported back to Bryn Baraz? (Cyniq is putting two prisoners AND herself on her Phantom Steed? That's a bit hefty, don't you think?) Not to mention that Raeval and Izzak will be coming along, so that makes a total of six extra people needing to get to Bryn Baraz.
Sesha [AC 19 | HP 141/80 | CMD 14] [See Invisibility, Haste] Thursday March 21st, 2013 9:23:45 PM
[ooc] Cyniq has an extra horse, captured from a BG. It seemed like Rav's whisper brought back all the horses, including Otis and the Ice-wall collision horse.]
DM OOC: so, the tally of available mounts should be: Lobo, Daisy, Copper and Garret's mount (sorry, didn't catch that one's name); Cyniq's Phantom Steed; Sesha's flying broomstick; the horses from Otis/BG1, Cyniq's captured BadGuy, and the injured horse that crunched BG3 around the edges, right?
...and Morgan flew to the ranch, so he will need to find a ride back to town as well...
Alexi AC 28 Tch 13 Ffted 25 HP 120/120 CMD 26 d8+3=11 ; d8+3=5 ; Thursday March 21st, 2013 10:31:45 PM
OOC: not all need to ride. Raeval and Izzak can take Cyniq's capture horse. Garret walks as fast as the horses, Alexi can heal the injured horse and Morgan can take that one back, Sesha uses the broom. The prisoners walk back. If that sounds good to you, DM, we'll do that.
Alexi casts CMW on the injured horse: 11 + 5 = 16 points healed
Alexi gathers up any of the items taken from the prisoners that are left over after Sesha's divination spell and then sets out towards Bryn, pointy lance keeping the prisoners moving at a good pace.
DM OOC: as long as you definitively post exactly how your group is getting from the ranch back to town, it doesn't matter whether *I* am happy with it (nor the prisoners, I expect.) ;D
Morgan WashburnHP 89 - AC 19/19/19 - CMD 20 - F+8/R+13/W+13 Thursday March 21st, 2013 11:24:38 PM "We need rope and a wooden pole. You place the pole on the shoulders of the prisoners and tie their hands above the pole. A separate length of rope is looped around their necks and secured to the pommel of a lead horse. That keeps them from falling down to try to unseat a rider, keeps them from scattering, but prevents them from being strangled."
Cyniq al'Lyz AC 16{20}/16{20}/13{17} -- CMD 13 -- HP 63/65 Friday March 22nd, 2013 1:38:27 AM Cyniq did cast "mount" when she thought the PSteed had been squished. So she has two magical mounts and the one she captured from the bandit.
DM OOC: the original Phantom Steed DID get destroyed. There is only the second conjured Phantom Steed...unless Cyniq had a third Phantom Steed spell memorized...?
I think I see the confusion... prior to arriving at BB, I cast Phantom Steed, I was flying on the PS when the elemental grabbed me. I teleported myself out, there was no mention of the PS, I assumed it was squished. When we rode after the bandits, I cast a mount spell, not PS. This is where things got confused as the PS was mentioned as hanging around the cabin after the battle, which looks like it should have been the mount.
If the PS was squished, then i only have a mount available, I could summon another PS with the arcane bond but would rather not.
I also tried to send you an email, but the one on here bounced back
Keela [AC 17; HP 87/76] [Mage Armor; False Life; Haste] Friday March 22nd, 2013 11:32:23 AM
[Daisy is a heavy riding horse and Keela is an unarmored wizard. Granted, Keela is a corn-fed farm girl and not a skinny little stick, but still, somebody could double up with her.]
Anrete [HP: 130/130, AC31/Touch18/FF31, CMD 29, DR2] Friday March 22nd, 2013 11:48:47 AM
"A couple of us can easily march the prisoners back, while the rest of ye warn the town.", Anrete suggested.
"And my blade thirsts.", Anrete looks meaningfully at the bandits.
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:31/29/26 HP:103/103 Ki:11/12 CMD: 30] Friday March 22nd, 2013 1:17:54 PM
Garret looks around as they prepare to depart and says, "Hey, White Ranger? This is a farm, right? Don't you have any wagons for moving supplies around? Surely we could hitch up a couple horses to a wagon for the ride to town, right?"
:)
Morgan WashburnHP 89 - AC 19/19/19 - CMD 20 - F+8/R+13/W+13 Friday March 22nd, 2013 9:29:46 PM
Morgan will ride wherever there is room.
Morgan WashburnHP 89 - AC 19/19/19 - CMD 20 - F+8/R+13/W+13 Monday March 25th, 2013 8:58:43 PM
ooc: Checking in.
Sesha [AC 19 | HP 141/80 | CMD 14] [See Invisibility, Haste] Tuesday March 26th, 2013 2:24:21 AM
ooc: Same. Donna, I assume it's safe to say we are all mounted in some fashion, be it a paddy wagon, doubling up on brooms/mounts/horses. I would be okay with you making a common sense ruling in order to make things hop along.
Morgan WashburnHP 89 - AC 19/19/19 - CMD 20 - F+8/R+13/W+13 Tuesday March 26th, 2013 10:40:48 PM
ooc: Checking in.
Cyniq al'Lyz AC 16{20}/16{20}/13{17} -- CMD 13 -- HP 63/65 Wednesday March 27th, 2013 5:46:49 PM Checking in
Sesha [AC 19 | HP 141/80 | CMD 14] [See Invisibility, Haste] Wednesday March 27th, 2013 6:23:06 PM
ooc: braaaaaaiiiins....
Alexi AC 28 Tch 13 Ffted 25 HP 120/120 CMD 26 Wednesday March 27th, 2013 8:11:10 PM
OOC: we can get poles from the busted hitching post. Since our lost time, I'd suggest just putting us back at BB, since how we ALL get there isn't really an issue,
Keela [AC 17; HP 87/76] [Mage Armor; False Life; Haste] Wednesday March 27th, 2013 9:20:46 PM
[OOC: It may be an issue if we're ambushed on the way. Just sayin'. :) ]
Morgan WashburnHP 89 - AC 19/19/19 - CMD 20 - F+8/R+13/W+13 Wednesday March 27th, 2013 10:26:50 PM Cue traveling montage...
OOC: Thanks for Waiting! (DM Donna) Thursday March 28th, 2013 10:41:02 AM
As the title says, people: thanks for waiting while the Wold recovered from that pernicious hack-attack on the website.
Now...returning to the game...
Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch (Again)... (DM Donna) Thursday March 28th, 2013 10:45:46 AM
Plans are made. Prisoners are secured. Horses are mounted and everyone sets off for Bryn Baraz, keeping an eye out for any more bandits that might try to bushwack the party during this strategic retreat.
Fortunately, the ride (while fraught with nerves) proves to be uneventful and everyone is at the gates of the town with a good hour until sunset to spare.
What is to be done with the prisoners now that you're here?
What is to be done with Raeval and Izzak?
What is for dinner--you've gone practically all day long without eating a thing!
Cyniq al'Lyz AC 16{20}/16{20}/13{17} -- CMD 13 -- HP 63/65 Thursday March 28th, 2013 11:32:06 AM This town have a stock? Once we get these prisoners secured we can see to ourselves.
Did I successfully charm the one bandit? Initial duration is 11 hours.
Een though it's a magical conjuration, Cyniq still pats the horse as she gets off and takes her first real look at the town of Bryn Baraz. So this is going to be home... She gave the town a measured look from the cliffs that surrounded the town to the temple dominating the center.
I have no doubt this place is festooned with taverns, do any of them have rooms to rent?
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:31/29/26 HP:103/103 Ki:11/12 CMD: 30] Thursday March 28th, 2013 1:48:23 PM
Garret lets the others head into the town while he starts checking the outside of the town's defenses. He looks over the gate, towers, and checks with the guard. He also looks around for good ambush spots where he can set up an ambush. He says, mostly to himself, "We need to have an alert watch on guard tonight. There's no telling when this attack will come."
Keela [AC 17; HP 87/76] [Mage Armor; False Life; Haste] Thursday March 28th, 2013 10:21:03 PM
"I'm afraid we haven't had time to build a jail or anything like that," Keela tells Cyniq. "There may be a storage shed or something we could use. Or perhaps there's something in the mine."
"We do have an inn," she adds. "I guess the folks we don't lock up could stay there."
Mostly, Keela is anxious to get back to her husband.
Sesha [AC 19 | HP 141/80 | CMD 14] [See Invisibility, Haste] Thursday March 28th, 2013 11:12:36 PM
Sesha begins to speak, but is interrupted by a rumbling in her stomach. Embarrassed, she grins and puts a hand on her dark belly.
"After I tend to some base needs, I'm willing to stand one of the later watches as needed. The night does not disturb my vision as it might others. I will warn however, I am not too familiar with watch standing. Usually there were others to do it for me, whether in It'lal or with the Ga'alin."
She considers her companions for a moment.
"I believe it's probably best to place me and Cyniq on different hours, so we can spread out our night vision."
Sesha glances at Cyniq and sighs. If anything, right now she and Cyniq are more alike than any two of their bloodlines ever have been before. New in a place, sent to it's aid, away from any like themselves...
"Cyniq asked a good question however. Where do you stay? Where will we stay? I imagine there are not too many unoccupied houses available. Also, is there a certain authority here? I have matters to discuss on behalf of It'lal."
Alexi AC 28 Tch 13 Ffted 25 HP 120/120 CMD 26 Thursday March 28th, 2013 11:51:54 PM
Alexi, like Garrett, takes on the task of securing the town's defenses. He first alerts the guards at the gate to shut it once they are in. He then sends a guard to ring the town's alarm. Messengers, local youths, are sent to warn the homesteads. Each farm passing on the waring like wildfire in dry grass.
He expects Keela can handle getting the prisoners to a secure room in the mines since there is no 'prison' to speak of in town.
OOC: DM, the Al Mathir used rooms in the mines to hold the slaves, that should be good enough to hold three tied up prisoners too.
Alexi then relates the events to the Captain of the Guard and what to expect in the next coming days, or even hours.
Then he asks his friends, "Shall we hide out at the druid's grove and hope to ambush any from there or stay behind the walls?"
Morgan WashburnHP 89 - AC 19/19/19 - CMD 20 - F+8/R+13/W+13 Friday March 29th, 2013 12:28:26 PM
As the party approaches Bryn Baraz, Morgan clears his throat. "We will run into my men soon, just so you are aware. I wouldn't want you thinking they were invaders."
The eastern side of town is in a hustle and bustle as a train of wagons and handcarts lines the main avenue of town. Each is filled to the brim with crates and barrels, branded with the words, Property of the Sages Guild, Plateau City. Numerous men and women unpack the cargo, revealing a variety of tools and implements for cleaning and repairing a building. The newcomers, about 50 by your count, mill slowly towards the old abandoned temple on the outskirts of town, carrying the contents of the wagons with them. Directing them all is a thin, exasperated-looking man shouting directions and waving a baton to direct traffic. He wears severe robes in red and purple and tries his best to keep the long line moving. "Take care to your utmost, good man." He calls out to one of the workers. "These instruments are invaluable to our work here." He waves the man forward.
Morgan turns to the party. "And now for a proper introduction. Greetings," he touches the fingers of one hand to his heart and then returns them behind his back, "I am Professor Morgan Washburn, Lecturer First Class of the Sages Guild. My team and I are here to found an institution of learning and refinement, the first of its kind in these parts of the world. The Bryn Baraz Academy." He holds out his arms to encompass the mill throng. "And this, is the beginning."
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:31/29/26 HP:103/103 Ki:11/12 CMD: 30] Friday March 29th, 2013 1:04:12 PM
After checking the defenses with Alexi, Garret gapes openly at Morgan and his supplies and people. He says out loud, "Here? In this remote and incredibly dangerous area?" He gestures towards the outlying area and continues, "Even now we expect an attack! You must be crazy!" He shrugs and checks again with Alexi, "I think we would do better if we could set up some sort of ambush or attack so that when the enemy comes, we strike them from more than one direction at once. But without knowing their size, number, or type, I hesitate to leave just the town guard here in town. What say you?"
Cyniq al'Lyz AC 16{20}/16{20}/13{17} -- CMD 13 -- HP 63/65 Friday March 29th, 2013 1:14:01 PM Might want to consider building the academy inside the town wall, just sayin'. 'Course I prefer the long standing traditions of the Star Tower myself. I do plan to enjoy watching you refine a bunch of dwarven miners, should make for interesting times. Cyniq grins with mirth while she settles her haversack on her shoulder, lead on to the inn, i am hungry, tired, and in need of a bath.
Sesha [AC 19 | HP 141/80 | CMD 14] [See Invisibility, Haste] Friday March 29th, 2013 3:27:20 PM
Sesha in incredulous at the quick and uninterested dismissal of Morgans addition to the town.
"I think it is an invaluable service Morgan. I have met one of your Sages before. I met him on the road as a traveler. Often in It'lal I wished for my blood-kins history in a book other than the barely legible journals of drow long dead. To have knowledge of a thing without having to see the thing firsthand is not much different than divination, in my opinion. My first-kin, the Ga'alin, did not have a knowing of the written word. Only Kamali and I, as witches and our peoples shamans, had ever been required to learn it."
She considers Morgan a moment longer before leaving for food, whistling all the while.
Alexi AC 28 Tch 13 Ffted 25 HP 120/120 CMD 26 Friday March 29th, 2013 7:43:10 PM
OOC: abandoned temple? where? we only have one, and it certainly isn't abandoned...
'The first of its kind?' Alexi repeats to himself the description of this academy. "Bryn Baraz is the first of its kind out here. Ma Belle's was the first of its kind out here. Practically anything you build that we don't already have will be the first of its kind," Alexi burst out laughing. "Welcome to Bryn, glad to have you."
OOC: The population of Bryn just doubled with all these workmen!
Alexi answers Garrett, "Precisely why I was thinking of hiding out at the druid's grove. It is only a few hundred yards from the walls and backs up against the side of the cliffs."
OOC: over the weekend I can pull up the details of the grove where the druid and Fatine lived. Keela and Anrete are familiar with it.
Alexi points Cyniq to their inn where they are all staying. "When you get there, tell Hope that Alexi sent you" he grins.
Tying Up the Loose Ends Before Dinner (DM Donna) Friday March 29th, 2013 7:58:34 PM
Cyniq's spell target is, indeed, charmed.
The clerics of the temple direct the new Sage Guild arrivals to temporarily park their supplies and such over at the Still Very Active, Rather New temple, because the town will have to have a meeting about where to allow the Academy to be built. Meanwhile, Professor Morgan and his troupe are offered the hospitality of the temple until that matter is settled to the town's satisfaction.
The lockable rooms in the mine still exist and are perfect for the interment of prisoners--exactly who do you wish to put in the makeshift jail and how will they be guarded?
The tavern does have a couple of small rooms available for Cyniq and Sesha should they choose to rent them.
Hammer out the details over the weekend--and everyone gets to add 1000xp for defeating the bandits at the ranch. You also get to figure out what to do with two big ol' rubies (worth 5000gp each), 4 mail shirts, 4 short bows, 4 quivers with arrows in them, three lariats and a pouch of chewin' tobaccee.
Post the particulars over the weekend--now I tip my hat and bow out, leaving you to the tender mercies of DM Jon come this Monday....
8)
Alexi AC 28 Tch 13 Ffted 25 HP 120/120 CMD 26 Friday March 29th, 2013 9:50:16 PM
OOC: I vote to give the tobaccee to Anrete. He's always hungry for something anyway... :)
Tying Up the Loose Ends Before Dinner Part 2 (DM Donna) Saturday March 30th, 2013 12:20:40 AM
...and the horses you captured along with their tack. Mustn't forget about those...
AND Hero Points--please email me (or DM Only Post) with your nominations for Hero Points.
Morgan WashburnHP 89 - AC 19/19/19 - CMD 20 - F+8/R+13/W+13 Saturday March 30th, 2013 2:46:24 AM
ooc: It's the Sages Guild, not the Star Mages Guild. But hey, their names rhyme and both end in 'guild.' :)
DM OOC: sigh. Error corrected.
Cyniq al'Lyz AC 16{20}/16{20}/13{17} -- CMD 13 -- HP 63/65 Saturday March 30th, 2013 11:48:40 AM
I wonder if this town be big enough for two guilds...
How tall are the hills? cliffs? surrounding the town to the north, east, and south?
Cyniq will take her cut in coin, she isn't interested in anything else that got looted.
Alexi AC 28 Tch 13 Ffted 25 HP 120/120 CMD 26 Saturday March 30th, 2013 7:10:57 PM
OOC: was that 4 horses?
DM OOC: nope. Only three of the bandits had their horses with them when they were captured--so your group has those three riding horses.
Keela [AC 17; HP 87/76] [Mage Armor; False Life; Haste] Saturday March 30th, 2013 11:44:12 PM
Keela watches in slack-jawed amazement as the people from the Sages Guild practically double the population of the town.
"An academy?" she repeats in disbelief. She's beginning to think Sesha's not the only one of the newcomers who's mad. Is there something in the water, maybe? "We don't even have a grammar school, and you're building a magic academy? Where are you going to get students?"
[OOC: So, we still have competing visions of what this town looks like, and it's getting relevant. If the "old-timer" players are correct, and this is a town of maybe 300 people who all came here in the same wagon train a couple of years ago, then everybody knows everybody. In that case, it would be safe to allow Raevel and his sons to just stay at the inn, because everybody would know them and nobody would allow them to get away with anything because everybody would be watching them.
If, on the other hand, the new vision is correct, and this is an old, well-established town with a population in the thousands and two magic guilds, then Raevel at least would need to be locked up, because not everybody would know him and we couldn't afford to take the chance of having him run around loose.
So I don't know what to have Keela say, because I still don't know what the environment is like.
On a tangential note, if the town has been here for years and years, and Keela, Alexi, and Anrete were present at its founding (which we were), then we should all be much older. And Keela, for one, would probably be retiring right about now. So we do kind of need to resolve this.]
Alexi AC 28 Tch 13 Ffted 25 HP 120/120 CMD 26 Sunday March 31st, 2013 9:06:30 PM
OOC: from my calculations (guess work at best), Bryn Baraz has been around no more than three years. One year setting up, the second year was under the Al Mathir dominion, then this past year when Keela got married.
When Bryn first got started, all the people pitched in to build the buildings and walls, including the farm houses, so everyone got to know each other very, very well.
Cyniq al'Lyz AC 16{20}/16{20}/13{17} -- CMD 13 -- HP 63/65 d20+18=31 ; Monday April 1st, 2013 4:25:07 PM
Cyniq enjoys her warm meal and bath. While there is yet day light, she takes the late afternoon to walk around town checking it out. She knows that if it is attacked, knowing what is where will be important.
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