Gathroc The Betrayer |
Any chance my wearing the mask will give me a head? Also, I was thinking of shifting some skills around, and putting ranks into a Knowledge(Strategy), but since that's not a normal skill, would I gain any benefit from it? Such a skill would really fit me, but if I don't get some useful bonus, I can pass on it. Just idle curiosity.
DM - Voice of the Voiceless |
From a general geography perspective. You are currently in the NW of Nex.
I got the direction a little wrong before, and Solku is in the SW mountains in Katapesh. So you need to travel North and across a river.
There are no major settlements, though I'm sure you could stumble across some minor villages / towns. Probably nothing with a well stocked library though.
Solku itself is a large city, so you can likely get inside it 'reasonably' easy for some closer recon on the Lambent Citadel.
Gathroc - I don't see why the mask shouldn't give an illusion of a head.
Knowledge (strategy) I'm not sure about - what sort of uses would you be looking for it?
Vesta Shadowbane |
Presumably the castle falls in the background while everyone is safely outside chatting except Vesta. As the dust is settling Vesta floats over to where everyone is and says the line above about "History has taught me..."
She then says,
"So what's the plan now?"
Vesta Shadowbane |
"That sounds like a really good start Daemon. I suggest making out way to Solku first, and then figuring out where we go from there. Vesta, as you can posses mortals to appear normal, I request use of that fancy mask you found upstairs."
Vesta pulls the mask out of her vest and tosses it to Gathroc.
Vesta Shadowbane |
If the consensus is to travel Northward towards Solku (which I believe it is), I just need a general idea of how you are travelling.
During the day, at night, avoiding contact with locals - or riding direct; that sort of stuff
Vesta suggests, "We still have the skeletal horses, though we probably shouldn't ride those into the good aligned city. I suggests that we ride to the nearest farm. I'll posess someone and we kill and/or raise the rest. We'll need live horses so we take those leaving our undead horses and whatever humanoids to protect the place. Then in our disguises we ride to the city. Everyone who can't pass for living needs to be in our travel packs or otherwise hidden."
Ignác Takács |
"Even if we disguise ourselves, the animals may not react well. I believe we should ride most of the way there, and whoever is going to be out will dismount within a few days walk of the city. Fatigue isn't an issue, so we can cover more ground than most anything else."
Gathroc The Betrayer |
Gathroc closes his eyes and the same summoning circle appears beneath his feet as he calls forth his mount. "I do not need to worry about my mount fearing me. I shall be among those going into the city, and can carry Gabriel on my shoulder. We can make use of his abilities, including being basically invisible to the enemy."
Ignác Takács |
A small summoning circle appears next to me on the ground, expanding until it reaches about 8 feet in diameter. Upon it,with a thunderous crack, materializes a horse, with a black head and body,a grey mane and tail, and dark grey hooves. In its eyes are a faint crackle of electricity, only seen if you pay particular attention.
Gabriel Helminth |
I am happy to be one of those who sneak into the city. I agree with Gathroc, that I am not particularly noticeable; however, I should probably not rest on his shoulder whilst going through the streets, as I dare say a peasant is bound to notice a severed hand on his shoulder. Perhaps an undone saddlebag would be better?
@DM - Voice: Gabriel has attuned to the Gnome as his Quarry, because he damaged him, so let me know if I am ever within 960' of him ;-)
DM - Voice of the Voiceless |
Moving on...
The group leaves behind a fallen tower of rubble as it continues Northwards towards Solku. Travelling with the endurance of those that need not concern themselves with rest the group makes good time. Most of the area around the tower is relatively barren, and you don't notice any settlements for a few days.
At twilight on the third day, you notice some interesting tracks. You pass by the scene of a battle, though no bodies remain. It would seem that a party of men met a party of larger foes... perhaps ogres. The ogres were triumphant and left easy tracks to follow. You also gauge that you could back-track the path of the men if you wished.
Vesta Shadowbane |
"I'll check from higher ground." Vesta says as she begins to move upward than vanishes.
Vesta is simply flying up invisibly and looking across the horizon for signs of civilization such as campfires, buildings, smoke columns from fires, etc.
Perception 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30
DM - Voice of the Voiceless |
Gabriel is able to pick up tracks of what seems to be four or five ogres heading away from the area.
Just a quick confirmation you're heading to ogre-town?
DM - Voice of the Voiceless |
Gabriel scurrys over the ground leading the group onwards like a macarbe hunting dog. The night has descended before you reach the hills Vesta spied.
The tracks lead toward a cave opening on one side. In front of the entrance is a large black pot-iron cauldron set on a fire that has dwindled to red embers. When you peek within gives some clue as to where the humans ended up. Apart from general ogre detritus and bits of clothing there is nothing else outside the cave.
Daemon Son-of-none |
Just a quick mechanics question, do I need to rest to restore spells since I have no need to sleep anymore? If so can we say we stoped so I could rest at some point between the wizard tower and now otherwise I will have about 2 spells for any upcoming battles...
Vesta Shadowbane |
whispering to the others, "I had thought to suggest that Gabriel and I stealth to find the Leader so I could posses him, but then it occurred to me that I don't speak Orc. Does anyone have a better plan or should we simply murder everything and animate it later?"
Daemon Son-of-none |
"I speak orcish, I don't know how that will help at all."
I will have my newly learned spells up in a few hours, I am finding that due to my spell handicap I will make a much better buffer/debuffer then a damage dealer so it will be quite the change up from my last selection
Vesta Shadowbane |
"I speak orcish, I don't know how that will help at all."
"Why don't gabriel and I find the Chief. I will posess him then march him out somewhere so everyone can kill him. THen you, Deamon, can use the mask we found to take on his appearance and rally the Orcs to do whatever we want?"
Daemon Son-of-none |
"Why don't gabriel and I find the Chief. I will posess him then march him out somewhere so everyone can kill him. THen you, Deamon, can use the mask we found to take on his appearance and rally the Orcs to do whatever we want?"
"This sounds like it could be a good idea."
Daemon Son-of-none |
"Or we could simply murder all of them and use their undead corpses to raid the human village." Vesta says casually.
"While that would be fun, it would not be practical, I can only raise so many undead, and skeletons and zombies are only so strong, plus they are unintelligent. Let us see if we could strike a deal with them, then we can kill them if they try and attack us, the best of both worlds as it where. Either way we get them as minions."
Vesta Shadowbane |
Sleeping Ogre: *SNOOOOORRRE*
Looking at the noisy ogre when he makes noise. Then back to the group "Perhaps we're thinking too much about this."
Vesta reaches into the sleeping ogre's chest and squeezes it's heart.
Corrupting touch Coup De Grace. 9d6 DMG normally, but the Coup De Grace should make that sufficient to kill the creature unless it has quite a few class levels.13d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 5, 3, 6, 5, 5, 5, 1, 4, 1, 3, 3) = 48 DC 58 fort save if he survives the damage or he dies anyway.
As a full-round action, you can use a melee weapon to deliver a coup de grace (pronounced “coo day grahs”) to a helpless opponent. You can also use a bow or crossbow, provided you are adjacent to the target.
You automatically hit and score a critical hit. If the defender survives the damage, he must make a Fortitude save (DC 10 + damage dealt) or die. A rogue also gets her extra sneak attack damage against a helpless opponent when delivering a coup de grace.
Delivering a coup de grace provokes attacks of opportunity from threatening opponents.
You can't deliver a coup de grace against a creature that is immune to critical hits. You can deliver a coup de grace against a creature with total concealment, but doing this requires two consecutive full-round actions (one to “find” the creature once you've determined what square it's in, and one to deliver the coup de grace).