GM Niles Wrath of the Righteous (Inactive)

Game Master nilesr

Sorry I didn't post yesterday. Wound up being away from a Computer for the entire day until well into the night.

"Iti na atu rewera pono, engari ko ia he mea hanga te hara, i hanga kikokiko; rite ahau I. He tika, me te tika e te whakakahore i te ao a matou, murua. E matau ana matou i tenei, a pera he iti motuhake kaha. Ko kāore ki ētahi atu tikanga o te whakaaro i, me te pera iti taea ki te tiaki i ia."
"Ano, kei te ngana ana tonu ia ki te huna tetahi mea i ahau." Belledonna murmuers, her head now resting gently upon the Teifling's chest.

The tiefling looks around to you all, uncomfortable with Belle's presence.

Sighing, her features firming into stern discipline, Belledonna looks once more into the Teifling's eyes. "មិនជឿថាអ្នកអាចលាក់អ្វីពីខ្ញុំ។ អ្នកមិនបានឆ្លើយសំណួររបស់ខ្ញុំបានពេញលេញហើយដូច្នេះអ្នកត្រូវព្យាយាមលាក់បាំងអ្វ ីមួយពីខ្ញុំ។ ខ្ញុំបង្ខំឱ្យជឿថាអ្នកគិតថាអ្នកអាចបន្លំភ្នែកខ្ញុំ។"
"ខ្ញុំបានរកឃើញនេះ...
រំខាន" She whispers in gentle rebuke.
Sounds like; "min chue tha anak ach leak avei pi khnhom . anak min ban chhlaey saamnuor robsakhnhom ban penhlenh haey dauchneh anak trauv pyeayeam leakbang aveimuoy pi khnhom . khnhom bangkham aoy chue tha anak kitthea anak ach banlom phnek khnhom."
"khnhom ban rk kheunh nih...
romkhan."

The tiefling says អត់ទោស ជំរាបម្ចាស់ ខ្ញុំ, ខ្ញុំគ្រាន់តែ ដឹងថា ចារកម្ម ដែលបាន នៅជាមួយ ព្រះមហាក្សត្រី របស់មនុស្ស មុនពេលដែល វានៅជាមួយ អ្នក វាជា Exorius និង មនុស្សតឿ គម្រោង ព្រះអម្ចាស់។

Victrix arches an eyebrow, looking at Belle.

I've got a few concerns about your methods, Belle, but so far I can't fault your results.

Stroking the Tiefling reassuringly on the head, Belledonna rises once more. "Na, hiahia pono ahau i horo ia tatou i te rewera... " Belledonna muses briefly.
Shrugging, she turns to the others. "Aue te pai, e ia i nui ake uaua ki te uiui i.
Katoa e mohio ana ia, ko e ko te tutei i roto i te hunga i haere ki te ope a te Kuini."
"The spy is Exorius & Vhanes' creature. He," nodding to the Teifling, "knows little more than that."

"That is bad. We have a confirmation there is one, but not much else." Konny looks thoughtful.

"Tetahi whakaaro ki te haere tonu inaianei?"

A small creature enters the tent and makes its way toward Konny. "Hello, little one." Konny greats the scorpion and picks it up.

While Belle and Victrix "interrogate" the tiefling Barundar, Brighton and Konny step outside the tent and are met by Irabeth who comes running almost full tilt into the clearing.

Whaa, What was that all about? she says to Barundar You ordered us all away to the western side of the camp, saying that the Sorceress divined an attack there. We went, there was nothing. What are you getting at? Anevia notices the corpses and says What happened here?

Sosiel and Aron Kir arrive next and begin murmuring to themselves, Nurah Dendiwar arrives last, flanked by a pair of Crusaders who report We had to save this one's hide, pair o' tieflings got the drop on her. We made short work of them though.

Barundar frowns, shaking his head. "We gave na order o' ony kind. While ye wur awa', th' true attack cam 'ere. A demon tried 'n' his band tried tae ambush us wi' a pairtie o' tiefling attackers, bit we wur able tae slay a' th' tieflings 'n' force th' demon tae bolt. We hae at least yin o' thaim living 'n' in custody. Belledonna is..erm...having a private chat wi' him in th' tent."

Pulling Irabeth closer, so he can speak to her alone, Barundar further whispers, "So far we hae discovered that thare is at least yin traitor tae th' Crusaders wi' us, bit we hae yit tae discern who it is. Ah think it wid be wise fur we 'n' ye tae come up wi' some sort o' code word, lassie. Tell it tae na yin. If ye git anither report o' us cawin fur help 'n' th' code isnae pairt o' it, then ye ken it wasn't us that tellt it. Dinnae tell it to anyone; not e'en other commanders. We dinnae know who we kin trust."

Dinnae tell it to anyone; not e'en other commanders. We dinnae know who we kin trust."

Somewhere in the Worldwound Areelu Vorlesh smiles.

Eyes narrowing in concentration, Belledonna turns once more to Konny and Victrix. "I roto i te mua o te herehere kahore he wahi mo te aparauraa mahi. Mai kua meinga matou i...
tenei," Her gestures taking in herself & her companions, hinting at their shared experiences, "Kua kitea e ahau e karanga teka ki ahau."
"Na, e matau ana ahau ki te hunga e kore e ki te ui, ka kitea e ahau i tenei tutei."
GM Niles, is the total number of Crusaders, including non-combatant personnel such as teamsters, armorers & such less or more than 200 people? If more, how much more?

200 sounds about right. 100 Fighting men/women and about 100 service oriented professionals

"How have you received the order to move and expect an attack?" Konny asks Irabeth whispering.

Irabeth responds to Konny The Stonelord himself came to us and told us, said I was to lead the defense of the Eastern camp. she narrows her eyes a bit Seems that it was some foul demonic magic, they meant to lead us away to strike you down here unmolested. Irabeth takes a look around and offers a lopsided grin They didn't respect you Heroes enough it seems.

Anevia adds They aren't stupid though, they won't make this mistake again. Our enemies are evil and ruthless, and they possess cunning. We need to root out this spy and expose them.

Irabeth turns to Anevia and says You're beginning to sound like Hulruun....

Belle, I think we might be holding everyone else up. Go ahead and post your entire plan of action, make whatever assumptions you need to make and I'll adjust accordingly. Everyone else if you have some way you want to investigate or even if you just wanna move forward let me know so that I know what is next. Just describe your actions and let me know which skills/abilities you use, you don't need to roll, assume successes based on your bonuses and associated actions.

"No one leaves." Belledonna declares as she exits the tent.
Yes, I do realize she potentially left a dangerous prisoner unguarded and unattended.
"I will ask each of you a simple, yes or no question. No one else will answer or comment. We will eliminate the possibilities and move on." She continues as she strides forward, stopping before Sosiel. "As I have already asked your lover this question, I will begin with you. Are you the agent of Exorious & Vhane?"

Belledonna's plan is simple. All the best ones are. She will ask each of those present who she has not yet eliminated as possibilities the same question she just asked Sosiel. As the only people present who aren't crusaders who arrived with Queen Galfrey are the PC's, Anevia, and Irabeth; and because she has already eliminated Aron as a possibility, this shouldn't take long unless they start prevaricating. As far as she is concerned, andything other than yes or no is prevarication & she will respond acordingly.

Victrix keeps an eye on the prisoner, letting Belle do her interrogative work.

All of the people present answer no, you get no sense that any of them are holding any information back.

"Thank you." Belledonna offers once all present have answered her question. "Master Vaenic, Master Kir, Mistress Dendiwhar; would you please stay as I inquire with the other Commanders and key personnel? I'm certain your presence will aid in minimizing hurt feelings or misunderstandings."
"Oh, would you two," indicating the Crusaders who accompanied Nurah, "stay as well? It frees us from needing guards once the spy is found."

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27

Konny notices those weird bodily functions, but remains silent for the moment. Silent but vigilant. He follows Bel's lead.

How long before nightfall, GM Niles?

While waiting for others of the Crusaders to come forward, Belledonna turns to Sosiel and Aron. "You showed...
notable Fortitude, for a Mendev, when last we spoke." It is clear she isn't comfortable with small talk, or trying to set allies at their ease, or apologizing. "I can see how it would be...
difficult, to return to being suspect after having worked so hard to prove yourself once more."
Finding herself with little more to say, Belledonna turns her attention to Nurah. "It must take considerable resolve to daily face this constant fighting when one is so small."
Yes, she did just say that. You will notice she has no skill points in Diplomacy.
"How long have you been in Queen Galfrey's train? Did you have any plans for...
after?" You think she is asking if Nurah, or the others, intend to stay & fight the Worldwound for the rest of their lives, but by this point, this is the longest any of you have heard her talk about anything that wasn't directly related to fighting the Demons or recovering Sarkoris or the Green Faith, so this is a completely different side of her. You suspect it might be a different side of her than she is used to.

It was close to midday before the fight, I'd say that only 20-40mins has elapsed.

Sosiel accepts Belledonna's words with a nod but Aron speaks first
We have been Galfrey's men for years, this suspicion is exactly what they want. They want us watching each other, so we don't see them sneaking up on us!

Nurah speaks up saying I first came here with the Baron of Isger, but he was slain and Queen Galfrey gave me a purpose. She has been kind and loyal to me, so I have returned the favor.

It is definately possible that the Crusaders are under Endure Elements, a detect magic spell might be useful in that regard.

"Are there many te iwi iti...
Small folk, in Isger. Is it far south of Mendev?"
Did someone go off to collect more Crusaders?

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25
Victrix almost misses it, but... did the Crusaders' eyes twitch at the mention of Galfrey?

She fixes them with a look. "What, yeh don't quite agree with the Queen? If yeh've got concerns, yeh may as well speak of 'em now."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Barundar seems oblivious to what the others are noticing; perhaps the thickness of his skull has some detriment to go along with making him tougher-than-the-average-dwarf.

Nurah responds to Belle Isger is indeed far to the south. I came to the Worldwound with Lord Axilar Trezbot. He was here to earn glory as a youngest son and I was here as...his scribe. There are indeed many halflings in Isger and Cheliax, our position there is...subservient. What does this have to do with a spy?

The two Crusaders simply stand there looking blankly at Victrix. We have no problem with the Queen. But yonder lady is making us uncomfortable...

Where is the tiefling? Still in the tent?

Vic's holding onto him.

"Well, if yeh answer her questions truthfully, I imagine yeh'll 'ave few reasons for her ta make yeh uncomfortable." Victrix replies, one hand still firmly holding the prisoner in place.

Though clearly heartened by Victrix' words, Belledonna shakes her head mildly in disagreement. "In truth, I make everyone uncomfortable. As it should be. I should not be," shrugging in acquiescence, "but I am."
Turning once more to Nurah, "I...
apologize. It had nothing to do with a spy. As my companions will attest, my...
personable talents, are lacking. I was attempting to improve them. Obviously I failed. Did you think I was continuing to press?"

Victrix nods at Belle. "Of course... I could 'elp yeh with that, if yeh want."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15
Knowledge(local): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

"Yeah, she is more a kick-butt person than lets-have-a-beer-together person." Konny nods at Bel's words "But uncle Anvil always said, practice makes perfect... sometimes"

Nurah says I do not understand what you are getting at? Do you think one of us a demon worshipper? We were sent here by the Queen herself, how could we be traitors!? We are all in this together, forged by fire and blood into allies! You think one of us is the traitor, but as Kir said, this is what the Demons want! Perhaps there IS no traitor, perhaps the demons simply want you to believe their is so you spend your time and energy looking for phantoms and ghosts while they caper in delight at our misfortune.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19
Victrix's eyes flash as she recognizes what Nurah's doing. SPELL. STOP IT NOW!

She shoves the prisoner into Barundar and sprints at Nurah, intent on grappling her and stopping her spell!

Grapple: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23
"And perhaps yeh should have care where yeh throw yehr spells..." She growls, very much incensed.

Trying to cast a spell. Reaction to questioning. No reason to do so; if she was telling the truth, she wouldn't need to resort to such measures. Unless...

"...traitor."

Victrix charges forward and grabs Nurah! 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23
Blades rasp from scabbards as everyone is armed!

Round 1
Konny
Nurah
Sosiel
Barundar
Aron
Victrix
Crusaders
Belle
Brighton

We will be doing things in initiative for a while. Whether Belle makes that Perception/Sense Motive makes a big difference.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

Not knowing why Victrix has suddenly turned aggressive, but trusting the barbarian woman's judgement without question, Barundar catches the prisoner and shoves him to the ground roughly, his hammer lifted into the air and poised to bring it down in a crushing blow to the tiefling's center of mass.

He stands there, still as a statue, clearly ready to drop the hammer (pun intended) on this enemy at any moment. "Dinnae move. Dinnae breathe too hard." he says in a crisp, low voice, his tone entirely serious, but probably unnervingly calm, given the situation they're all in. His eyes flick rapidly back and forth from the tiefling at his feet to Victrix and Nurah, waiting for any sign of what his next move should be.

If you'd like a roll for throwing the tiefling to the floor like that, please let me know. I figured that if Victrix had just shoved him off of her, he'd already be off-balance and probably not difficult to just throw to the ground. If you roll for it and it succeeds, Barundar readies an action to attack if the tiefling tries to escape or make any aggressive movements.

No rolls needed for that.

Thanks!

untrained Perception plus Mythic Surge: 1d20 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + 1 + (5) = 10
Dammit!
Sorry, I only have my phone right now so my posts will be short & to the point.

Kinda waiting on Konny now to see what happens next....

Round 1

As everybody prepares for battle, Konny leaves the halfling in Vic's care for the moment and instead closes with and attacks one of the suspicious guards, hoping he judged them right and they are enemies.

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
Damage: 2d6 + 5 + 3d6 ⇒ (3, 2) + 5 + (4, 1, 5) = 20

Not waiting for their response, he swiftly attacks again.

Surprise Strike Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
Damage: 2d6 + 5 + 3d6 ⇒ (4, 2) + 5 + (3, 3, 3) = 20

AC 20
MP 6/7

Round 1
Konny surges forward and attacks twice, wounding the crusader critically. 40pts.
Nurah Murder, Murder! Nurah cries as she tries to escape from Victrix's grasp. 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20 She wriggles from away from Victrix and 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19 dodges nimbly away. She stops at the tent flap and fumbles with the laces to open it!
Sosiel What madness is this! Sosiel yells as he channels, healing everyone. 3d6 ⇒ (5, 4, 3) = 12
Barundar
Aron
Victrix
Crusaders
Belle
Brighton

Still trusting Victrix's judgement infinitely more than any of the other crusaders who are around, Barundar immediately abandons the tiefling, targeting Nurah and attempting to knock her back away from the curtain flap before she can successfully open the laces.

Bull Rush: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

If he is successfully able to shove Nurah away from the tent, he immediately sets his feet in a defensive position in front of the exit, spreading his stance and holding his glowing, golden warhammer in a threatening position

"NO YIN LEAVES 'TIL WE FIGURE THIS S!@&E OUT!!" he shouts in a booming voice, uncharacteristically authoritative and defiant for the normally milder, if gruff, dwarf. His hammer is raised in a posture that obviously indicates he intends to bring it down on anyone else who would try to escape.

Round 1
Konny surges forward and attacks twice, wounding the crusader critically. 40pts.
Nurah Murder, Murder! Nurah cries as she tries to escape from Victrix's grasp. She wriggles from away from Victrix and dodges nimbly away. She stops at the tent flap and fumbles with the laces to open it!
Sosiel What madness is this! Sosiel yells as he channels, healing everyone for 12
Barundar rushes forward and shoves the Crusader guarding Nurah aside. The Crusader responds with a strike of his Longsword Longsword: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13 but Barundar swats the man's blade aside with a gauntleted fist.
Aron says Stop this, Stop this now! and hunkers to defend Sosiel. Readied Action
Victrix
Crusaders
Belle
Brighton

Vic you're up

Would I be able to use Display of Charisma to intimidate everyone else here into staying?

You could use it to Demoralize everyone. Using it to just intimidate take 1 minute according to the description of the Intimidate skill. Are you trying to cow them into stopping resistance?

-Posted with Wayfinder

That's what I'm planning.

Ok, gonna make up some rules here on the fly. If you use a mythic point and roll for Intimidate, not take 20. I'll have Nurah roll a will save or be stunned. The Will save will be based on your intimidate roll. This sound fair?

That'll work.

Round 1: Actions
Standard Action: Intimidate Nurah with Display of Charisma
Move Action: Move as close as I can to Nurah

"ENOUGH!"

Victrix's voice booms from the confines of the tent. The very air seems to stop moving as she locks eyes with Nurah. A frothing, seething *anger* is in her burning green eyes, somehow kept in check.

"First, your men--" She shoots a glare at the two Crusaders with Nurah before turning back to her. "--waver in their loyalty to Galfrey, then you have the audacity--the sheer AUDACITY--to cast a spell while we question you." She starts walking slowly towards the halfling. "Oh, don't act so surprised. Queen Galfrey has dedicated her very life to fighting the demons from beyond this mortal plane--she has suffered too much and sacrificed too much in the name of all that is right for any one of you to question her. I see it in their eyes." Another contemptuous glance at the Crusaders. "I saw the twitching in your eyes when you heard her name--ones borne of fear or hate of her, not of loyalty."

"If your loyalties truly lay with us, Nurah, there would be no need for such... foolishness. Unless you have something to hide." Another step. "Your casting of a spell, coupled with your words, have roused my suspicions." Yet another step. "Come to think of it, I never once saw you in the aftermath of our first battle together. Neither did anyone else."

"And now you come on the heels of an attempt against our lives, once the other Crusaders have been called away... called away by ourselves, when we would have NO reason to do so." She focuses on Nurah with a glare that would slay a dragon. "You are going to stay here. You are going to answer our questions truthfully. And you are going to do so without any magic."

"Have I made myself perfectly clear?"

Intimidate *Display of Charisma*: 1d20 + 12 + 20 ⇒ (8) + 12 + 20 = 40

Throughout all this, Victrix's accent has disappeared.

I would say crystal clear does not really cover it, but that may be just me. Konny thinks in response to Vic's question.

Round 1
Konny surges forward and attacks twice, wounding the crusader critically. 40pts.
Nurah Murder, Murder! Nurah cries as she tries to escape from Victrix's grasp. She wriggles from away from Victrix and dodges nimbly away. She stops at the tent flap and fumbles with the laces to open it!
Sosiel What madness is this! Sosiel yells as he channels, healing everyone for 12
Barundar rushes forward and shoves the Crusader guarding Nurah aside. The Crusader responds with a strike of his Longsword but Barundar swats the man's blade aside with a gauntleted fist.
Aron says Stop this, Stop this now! and hunkers to defend Sosiel.
Victrix shouts her mythic command 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 141d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21 One of the Crusaders goes to his knee Green, a shimmering presence seems to hover over him Kn:Planes DC 19 to identify Nurah 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18 shies away from Victrix's display.
Crusaders only one resists still Red , he grunts and slashes at the tent flap 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10 the flap is rent open. He says Get free Songstress.
Belle
Brighton