A Rise With A Difference

Game Master Dabbler

That's what I'm asking you. ;p

Farmer Grump said to watch out for scarecrows, and that he and the other farmers were attacked by figures dressed as scarecrows in the fields.

Speaking of which - how many scarecrows are visible in the fields?

Vaclav strings his bow, nocks an arrow, and curves a finger around it and the bow to holds it in place. He nods to the scouts.

Gornak concentrates for a moment and suddenly he's 16 feet tall!!

"Ah, that's better! Now I can see a little further."

manifest Expansion augmented by 2 pp to last 40 minutes, 3/16 pp remaining

Gob proceeds toward either the farm or nearest scarecrow, whichever is closer.

Above stealth/perception or i can reroll if needed.

Thanadros follows Gob bow drawn ready to attack anything hostile that jumps out... Scarecrows or otherwise.

Perception 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22
Stealth 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

From his vantage point, Gornak can easily see over the corn and to the farm buildings. Various trails wind through the fields.

Map. The party are entering via the northernmost track.

There are a lot of scarecrows dotted about (marked 'S' on the map). Aylmora thought one of the ones further south of you moved, but maybe it was just a trick of the light. Gob and Thanadros reach the first scarecrow, and see it is jjst what it appears to be - old clothes on a pole, a sack for a head, all stuffed with straw.

Gob falls back briefly to ask Gornak for terrain advice & gives the all clear on that scarecrow. He then scouts ahead again as per Gornak's advice.

Stealth 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (12) + 19 = 31
Perception 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

Gornak gives a description of the cornfield and even gives Gob a boost for an eagle's eye view.

"Right seems more direct and less filled with scarecrows. Let's go!"

"How many which way? If we go straight for the house could they all converge on us? It might be better to attack pockets of them piecemeal."

"I agree with Vaclav. I'd hate to find ourselves trapped in a house or barn with a horde of undead converging on us from all directions," Aylmora shudders involuntarily at the thought. "How about we start taking out the scarecrows farthest from the house first, and work our way inward? That way, if they are ravenous undead and happen to raise an alarm, they'll have to work their way across the fields to get to us, giving us plenty of time to prepare... Hopefully."

"I can see the logic behind the plan, but do you want to traipse around the fields in quickly fading light? Soon
we will not have the ability to pinpoint their locations, and the barn can be defensible... Just some considerations, I'll follow wherever."

"I can try to shoot them from here, draw them to us then we pick them off at distance. Any that get to us can deal with 'super' Gornak here. We then move forward as we take out the close ones. Although I feel a bit silly shooting at scarecrow."

Thanadros can shoot 110 ft per range increment up to 1100 ft with a -8 to hit. Should be able to hit the closer ones. Even if I miss it might be enough to draw them to us. Then we can pluck them off as they come to us! Thoughts?

"Shoot them with a bow? I like the sound of that. Why risk ourselves when we don't have to?"

"Okay, if we go that route we may want to get a bit closer, and have tge rest of us lay low and out of sight. An ogre and an archer are less threatening than a mob. Gornak, can you spot for Thanadros? I can funnel any stragglers back to you."

Gob will manifest force screen (3 min) and sneak around, hiding and shooting scarecrows with his crossbow.

Gob uses his swift action for burst to increase speed to 40; sneak at 20?

"Sounds good to me. Is this what we want to do?" Thanadros says as he Readies his bow.

Updated Map. Use this map to name your targets.

Your first shot strikes the first scarecrow solidly, and vanishes up to the fletching into the straw body. Shooting at scarecrow #2, the first shot skims it, the second slams into it solidly, vanishing to half it's length into the body.

Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

With a groan of pain it rips free of the pole and staggers wounded into the corn. If anyone with a ranged weapon can beat the scarecrow's initiative they can take a shot before it gains 100% cover.

Initiative 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Thanadros draws to take another shot at the scarecrow as it dive into the obvious corn cover. Are the corn stalks moving? AKA Is it obvious that he is moving through the cornstalks towards us? Or is it just hiding in the corn to get cover from the arrows? "...It appears I had not thought through this plan as well as I thought..."

Waiting to see what this scarecrow is going to do before declaring my next action.

Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Aylmora raises her crossbow, but the scarecrow disappears into the corn before she can fire. The young woman listens carefully in an effort to discern if the creature is approaching.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28

Init: 1d20 ⇒ 12

Gornak keeps an eye out for any motion in the cornfield.

Init 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22 Tie to the base runner? Arrow on the nock?

Vaclav watches as the scarecrow tears itself free. He draws and looses.

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24 .... damage 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

"Next one we close and fire together to make sure they go down."

Init 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

Gob is sneaking toward #19.

The ghouls is caught by Vaclav's arrow as it reaches the corn and crashes into it.

Gornak can see no movement in the cornfield.

Gob reaches the intersection of paths and takes the right hand fork.

"I don't see anything yet..." Gornak says.

"It went down with a crash just inside the corn, I'm sure of it. Vaclav's shot must've killed it - again," Aylmora replies.

Gob treks onward (peeception 30/stealth 32 as above until next set required).

Thanadros, and hopefully the rest of the group moves to #1.

Once Vaclav, and Aylmora if she wishes, are ready, they shoot at #3

Rapid Focused Ranged Mwk Composite Longbow(+2) 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9 | Damage 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10 | Crit: 20/x3 }Precise Shot, Psionic Shot

Don't remember how we deal with nat 1s, here is a dex check.

Dex 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

The shot flies wide into the corn.

Gob is nowhere to be seen.

Standing alongside Thanadros, Aylmora fires her crossbow at the same scarecrow as the Shoanti.

Crossbow Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 7

Gornak keeps looking out for movement. "Gee, I hope Gob is okay..."

Vaclav watches Gob disappear in one direction and Thanadros walk another. Devils take them. We need to stick together.

He stops to consider. The enemy is clever, mixing decoys and real threats. They might just be a tripwire. He nods to himself. We make sure of the known threat. Try to keep the enemy blind.

"We're with Thanadros. Goblins are best at skulking. Hopefully Gob gets back to us with more information about the enemy."

Vaclav follows Thanadros, closing the distance to scarecrow #3.

I'd like to close to 30' or until #3 starts to move. Then fire.

Longbow 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12 ... damage 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8 Did not add in my +1 to hit and damage . Please add them if I close to 30'.

Are the fields difficult terrain? Can I see 4, 5, or 6?

Gornak follows Vaclav and Thanadros, lumbering along with his head and shoulders sticking out of the corn.

Aylmora's shot strikes home, and the 'scarecrow' jerks and struggles. You are still a good fifty feet away as Vaclav shoots and scores a hit before it can break free. The scarecrow slumps on the poles like a crucifix, thick, rotting black blood dripping slowly from it's wounds.

Vaclav has a third arrow on the nock as quickly as he can pull it from his quiver. He starts looking for the scarecrow that jumped down along the right side of the path.

"Gornak, keep an eye out for any moving scarecrows. Thanadros, Aylmora do either of you see that scarecrow that ran into the corn or his trail?"

Are the fields difficult terrain? Can I see 4, 5, or 6? Can we see a, hopefully dead, body near the #2 scarecrow stake?

The fields are indeed difficult terrain, a medium sized creature can move between the rows of corn without making too much disturbance, but visibility is limited and the corn is over head-height. If you position yourself to look along the rows, you can see ahead a good 10-15 feet, otherwise visibility is 5-10'

As you advance you see the grey-skinned feet of the dead ghoul projecting from a row of corn, a small pool of rotten blood beneath it. You can now see #4 where the path forks.

"Hold here."

Vaclav stows the arrow in his quiver and pulls his mace from the loop at his waist. He steps up and drives the mace into the torso of the undead. When he's sure it's really dead he bends to examine the body.

So, I don't have to know (religion) to figure out it's a ghoul? Or was that a descriptive slip? Just in case. take 10 for 16 or 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12 if I must roll instead. The rest of the post is contingent on knowing what it is.

Vaclav grunts and steps quickly back from the body. "Corruption! They are undead. Fell foes these. They live to eat dead men's flesh and breed unwholesome humors. Do not let them touch or injure you if you can help it." He pauses. "Gob ..."

Dabbler, left it pretty generic in case you want to stipulate what Vaclav knows.

Once everyone is ready Thanadros loses an arrow at Scarecrow 4.

Focused Ranged Mwk Composite Longbow(+2) 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25 | Damage 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10 | Crit: 20/x3 }Precise Shot, Psionic Shot

Gornak keeps a lookout, his hammer at the ready.

They've been eating people, and they are clearly undead, I think that working out they are ghouls is a DC5 check by now. Vaclav can tell the basics about ghouls to the party.

Thanadros nails #4 squarely between the eyes. It hangs still, the arrow lost up to the fletching.

"Ghouls. They will fight savagely with tooth and claw. Worse, their touch can leave you paralyzed. Worst of all, if we fall, we will join them in their feast of the dead. Gornak, make sure of each one as we pass and watch especially to the right where Gob went. Alone he will be vulnerable."

****

Vaclav would have drawn and shot alongside Thanadros. 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16...1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 +1 each if we got inside 30'.

Do we see 5 or 6 from 4? Also, Vaclav will cast guidance (+1 on one roll or until a minute passes) on each of us when we get to shooting range. It will be like a poor man's bless.

"Good idea, Brother Vaclav!"

If Gornak passes any ghouls, he'll give them a quick smoosh with his hammer, just to be on the safe side.

#4 is clearly straw.

From #4 you can see #5 and #6 off to your left.

Thanadros draws and attacks #9

Focused Ranged Mwk Composite Longbow(+2) 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21 | Damage 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14 | Crit: 20/x3 }Precise Shot, Psionic Shot

Vaclav draws and fires at #5 alongside Thanadros.

Assuming T's #9 was a typo. Seems a shame to waste the ammunition when T is driving nails into them, but that was the procedure V set up.

1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 1 = 7 .... 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

4 arrows down

Aylmora holds her fire, waiting to see the results of Thanadros' and Vaclav's shots.

Once again Thanadros nails his target, this time in the throat. The arrow vanishes to the fletching, and once more the scarecrow does not so much as quiver. Vaclav's shot skims the scarecrow's hat.