GM Tribute |
The Captain of the forces here, Mikinus, invites you for dinner and drinks and speaks at length.
"The orcs seem to have a plan to pin us down, and that plan seems to be working. With the Keleshians abandoning their fortifications to orcs, we are now attacked by orcs instead of the bandits that we were used to."
He mentions: "The orcs prefer to fight in groups, so this massing of them is quite unusual."
As you hope for some rest, you are awakened by screaming guardsmen. A woosh and flash of light across the river is followed by a huge impact into the base of the fort shaking all the walls and dropping dust from the ceiling. The next shot arcs over the wall into the courtyard and ignites a small building. The fire brigad comes out and seems to get a handle on things, but the bombardment continues for an hour.spoii
Dolleen Mullick |
Listening to the problems facing the fort, Dolleen shook her head at the situation. She did not even consider what Lynn had just offered. That was certainly too much for them... wasn't it? Guess not.
She nods in support of Gredolynn's offer "Aye, just say the word Cap."
perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
sense motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Kaelaah |
Kaelaah, Perception:1d20 ⇒ 9
Kaelaah, sitting to one side and enjoying the food on offer, listens quietly to the conversation...when Grendolynn offers to infiltrate the garrison he arches his eyebrows in surprise...
...really? I'm fairly sure this isn't what I signed up for...let's see where this goes...
Fernand d'Apcher |
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14 Sense Motive: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (14) - 1 = 13
"Have they made any indications about what they are after?" Fernand asks the Captain. "Is it territory? Food?"
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GM Tribute |
The Captain shrugs: "Your caravan has materials for Fernand and Fort Disaster in near the village of Batlett, two other outposts that need resupply. So you will need to leave at first light. I have no escort to send, as I am critically manned as it is."
"Why did Kelesh allow the orcs to sieze a strongpoint with siege equipment intact? I fear Kelesh is waging war by proxy or the Qadirans are clever and working with their former friends in the Keleshian government. Either way, this bodes poorly for Taldor. We have no means of getting reinforcements before summer."
Jasmalus joins you for breakfast, having been absent during the evening. You are fed a hot meal from a large open mess before departing, and the garrison presses you for news about the outside. Any attempts to get information out of them are not fruitful as they are so starved for information from Greatwall and Taldor.
The departure is uneventful and you begin the trek along the road towards Fort Disaster as Malik informs you. "With the loss of goods from the raid and the need to get to the fort, I will bypass Fernand. I didn't want to tell the Captain."
Jasper seems to be getting along well with Emerald, and seems to be always in her company. After you depart, he holds up a greatsword and longsword of master work. "I am looking for a buyer for these fine weapons. It appears they have never left their sheaths, they are so new. 200 gold coins each seem to be a solid price." The sheaths are scorched a bit as it appears they recently were put in a fire.
GM Tribute |
Jasper nods and points to the burnt scabbards: "I hear that these are magic weapons, activated by the secret command words inscribed on the scabbards. Lost in a fire, it well be the lucky adventurer that eventually figures it out."
Fernand d'Apcher |
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16 Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 3
"I will let you know the moment we strike it rich along the way," Fernand replies to Jasper.
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GM Tribute |
Merry Christmas -- Advancing the story -- any fan of the movie Spies Like Us may notice a plot similarity!!
Jasper and Emerald both compare notes, and Jasper speaks to the group.
"You are the third caravan to leave Greatwall. The first one was escorted by the Lords of Leon, a company of distinguished armored knights that have significant experience. And then there was the Master of the Five Magics and his band of accomplished wizards and druids. I suspect we are but a decoy in caravan number three. That is why I accompany the fair Emerald. I feel this caravan is a pawn in the grand game."
The trek to Fort Disaster is another week. On day six after leaving the siege, your caravan descends a hill and prepared to go up another hill when you see a large orog and four orcish fire archers with shortbows waiting in the shadows of some scrub ahead on the high ground. As the orcs prepare to fire, Emerald gives warning from the lead wagon, but it is not in time.
Trying to get everyone going from the holidays, so this time we will all roll perception and initiative, DC19 perception required to go in the surprise round. Place yourself on the map
Dolleen Mullick |
"Orcs! Lets hit em hard!" Dolleen urges her horse forward with her grey cougar at her side.
She begins weaving a spell to imbue her staff as she rides.
perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
init: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
concentration DC11: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
casting shillelagh
Fernand d'Apcher |
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 - DOH!
Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
Fernand is too distracted by the sudden blessing of Sarenrae to react quickly. "Orcs? We're six days away from that con...flict..." he says, as he realizes what's happening.
GM Tribute |
Recap of the Story So Far
The party had been recruited to escort a caravan through hostile territory straight from a night in a common bar in Greatwall. Not overly experienced adventurers, maybe novices, they were given a good payment to escort what was a crucial caravan to a series of military outposts. After fighting off an orc ambush, they realized they were attacked after the orcs had hit an earlier caravan killing a man resembling Jasmalus, one of the three leaders of the caravan. Making a fort under siege and delivering crucial supplies, Jasper and Jasmalus had disappeared for a time. Jasper, the scoundrel and native of Greatwall, informed you two distinguished companies were escorting two earlier caravans. He mused that you might be decoys. Now, short of the second crucial destination, the caravan is ambushed again.
The orcs fire a volley of fire arrows.
Two arrows strikes the forward wagon and two the second wagon. The wagons quickly begin to burn as all three arrows ignite quickly.
Those in bold are up -- the orcs fired in surprise round, such good perception I give all a surprise round action
ORDER OF ACTION SURPRISE ROUND STANDARD
ENTIRE PARTY
ORDER OF ACTION ROUND 1
Orcs and Orogs
GM Tribute |
We got 4!!!! I was thinking of merging groups.
Kaelah and Amarasina prepare for missile fire, a shield appears around the holy lady as she touches her holy symbol.
Dollen, friend, and Fernand move to the orcs.
Halvor puts out the fire with the teamsters, they are barely fighting it off.
Jasper and Emerald shout and point to the ground ahead of the rushing druid and companions. "A pit trap on the road ahead."
The ruse discovered, a mass of earth erupts as four orcs jump from the ground with long tubes they were breathing through in their hands and draw weapons. The forward two orcs hold halberds and the two behind them glaives.
Map updated
Order of Action
Kaelah, Amarisa, Dollen, Jimbli and Fernand
Orcs and orog
Kaelaah |
Kaelaah, Crossbow vs Nearest Orc: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15, 1d8 ⇒ 4 on a Hit
Kaelaah, once again cursing the level of planning that the orcs seem to have, fires at the nearest of the ambushers...
Dolleen Mullick |
Dolleen drops from her mount and skirts around to attack one of the halberdiers. She tries to duck below his guard, and strikes at his belly.
ride swift dismount: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21
acrobatics to avoid AoO: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10
Staff attack: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 3 + 1 = 20
damage: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (4, 6) + 3 = 13
Jimbli comes up by her side, and attacks the adjacent glaivewielder.
Jimbli acro to avoid AoO: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
bite: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
plus trip attempt if hits: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10
GM Tribute |
Jasper sprints down the road to catch up to the druid. The druid, animal companion, and crossbow bolt strike true. Two orcs swing at the druid and miss. The sling bolt fired hits true!! roll damage The exertion causes the one with the crossbow to fall down incapacitated.
One of the four polearm wielding orcs is left up. Three fire arrows head toward Jimbli and all miss!! The orog fires a crossbow at Kaelah and, behind cover, it knicks him (2hp).
ORDER
ENTIRE PARTY
Orcs and orog
Kaelaah |
Moving forward cautiously, Kaelaah looks to get within range of the orcs...arcane mischief in his heart...
Kaelaah takes Total Defense (AC for round is 17) and moves forwards...he is aiming to get within 30ft or so
Fernand d'Apcher |
Fernand changes direction, away from the archers and towards the remaining orc, steering around the pit, rapier in hand...
Rapier, mounted w/bless: 1d20 + 3 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 3 + 1 + 1 = 15 for damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
GM Tribute |
Fernand takes out the last orc wielding a polearm. As the orcs realize their demise is imminent, they attempt to strike a deathblow before falling silent. The fair priestess fires a second sling bullet that misses, unlike her first one that helped fell one of the orcs that Jimbli appeared to get.I looked at the acrobatics roll, my mistake.
orc vs Jimbli: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 91d10 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
orc vs Dolleen: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 51d10 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
orc vs Fernand: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 231d10 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Fernand takes a glancing blow.
The lone orc strikes at Fernand with his glaive.
orc vs Fernand: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 181d10 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Fernand is stricken from his horse.
Jasper throws a dagger and hits the orc in the vitals and he falls mortally wounded.
Emerald calls a warning as four orcs rush from behind the hill you just came down on the wagon!!! "We got his!!"
ORDER
Party and caravan
orcs and orog
Dolleen Mullick |
"Oopsie" Dolleen rushes to Fernand's side. She takes a sprig from her braids and slaps it onto his wounds. She grumbles a few quick words....
She then hollers in his face... "Y'are gonna be just fine! Bless nature's divine bounty! Now walk it off!"
Cure light wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Fernand d'Apcher |
"Ooof... what happened..." he mumbles. Realizing where he is, he rises to a kneeling position and retrieves his shortbow, using the horse as cover against the orcs.
Move to rise to kneeling position, move to draw shortbow, done.
GM Tribute |
Jasmalus casts with Kaelah and two orcs fall sleep and two resist sleep and the daze.
Amarisa takes an orc fire archer down with her sling.
The three orcs left return fire.
att: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 3 + 1 = 171d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 3 + 1 = 151d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 1 = 7
A single arrow strikes Amarisa for 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Reflex DC13 for Amarisa to avoid being on fire per alchemists fire
The orog advances with a massive poleaxe the size of two men!!! Not liking the magic, two orcs charge Jasmalus and Kaelah with falchions and miss.
charge vs Kaelah: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 112d4 + 3 ⇒ (3, 2) + 3 = 8
charge vs Jasmalus: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 62d4 + 3 ⇒ (3, 1) + 3 = 7
Malik takes a massive crowbar and tries to help Jasmalus. He hits him in the back and orc fights to hit one more time.
att/damage: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 231d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
conf?/damage: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 91d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
hp: 1d8 + 1 - 6 ⇒ (1) + 1 - 6 = -4
ORDER
PARTY TO GO
Orcs and orog
Dolleen Mullick |
Dolleen winks to Fernand and clucks her tongue for her little cougar to join her. She skirts around so the orog gives her some cover from the ranged attacks, and prepares for his advance.
"Ugh... hello there big and ugly. Come to mama."
GM Tribute |
The battle in the back proves desperate as the orcs try to hit the mages.
vs Jasmalus: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 122d4 + 3 ⇒ (1, 1) + 3 = 5
vs Kaelaah: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 212d4 + 3 ⇒ (3, 1) + 3 = 7
confirm vs Kaelaah: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 212d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 1) + 3 = 8
Jasmalus avoids a falchion swing, but Kaelaah catches the swipe of falchion in his thigh causing massive bleeding. The caravan master advances with his trusty crowbar.
crowbar: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 181d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
reflex: 1d20 ⇒ 42d4 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6
Jasmalus and Malik bring down the last orc with a fan of flames and a crowbar to the head. Now only the orog and his orcish fire archers remained.....
Kaelaah |
Kaelaah was too slow to avoid the falchion wielding orc, and when the blade crashes into his leg his world spins…and then goes black.
Kaelaah is now at -6HP, DC10 CON Save to Stabilise (-6HP): 1d20 + 2 + 1 - 6 ⇒ (11) + 2 + 1 - 6 = 8, Failed
Kaelaah is now at -7HP
Fernand d'Apcher |
Fernand grits his teeth and exhales, wondering how much favor Aroden has for him today...
Stand up, 5' behind horse, then shoot at orog...
Shortbow, blessed: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17 for Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5
I'm on my phone, so I can't move my mini on the map just yet.
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GM Tribute |
The fire archers see the approach of the dwarf and her animal with some fear. The orcs fire a volley of arrows that cause a huge smoke clouds to appear in a wall of impenetrable black. The orog rushes through the smoke and seems to be in full retreat with the fire archers. As the group returns to the caravan, a huge hole in the last wagon is discovered along with another mass of large boxes and supplies.
Returning to the caravan, everyone feels the sense of accomplishment of defeating such a well planned ambush.
Time to level to 2
The caravan is readies for travel, and the last few hours to the village of Batlet is thankfully without incident.
The dilapidated hovels surrounding the fort are the home for about one hundred hardy fishermen and farmers. The fort in the center is officially known as Border Fort Three, but the residents call it by another name: Fort Disaster.
These small border forts didn't have much and were not even named as they provided basic local defense and protection for caravans plying the local trade route. It seems to have suffered much damage from a recent raid, and the damage has yet to be repaired. The centerpiece of the fallen walls and broken gate is a thirty foot high tower in the center with a massive ballista and small catapult. You sense the desperation of the locals and the garrison, placed on the frontier to provide local defense, when what you have seen are highly organized orc war bands.
GM Tribute |
As the adventurers move into the 'fort' they see a group of spearmen, mostly local fishermen with long sharp sticks, and a few militia in poorly maintained scale mail.
The locals press you for information about the outside world and the war in the south, which you know has been going quite poorly for Taldor.
An old man with scars and a large net approaches. "Is this our relief? Is this is all that is coming?"