Kingmaker AP - Into the Stolen Lands! (Inactive)

Game Master Haldhin

"I don't know if he is or not," He admits. "I had thought Happs a traitor, but if you are right then that could change everything. That fort looks hard to crack and while I am not a fan of deceit, we may have to utilize it to get in."

Arianna nods in agreement with Bydar. "So is he signaling that we should enter by way of the gate tonight at one o'clock in the morning? That's going to place us awfully close to one of those towers - we'll be in plain view of any guards there. Do we approach openly, pretending to be more bandits? Or try to sneak in and hope that Happs has eliminated any watchers?"

Bridgette adds
"So Happs is either pulling a bluff on the Staglord, or could be doing a double bluff.
But I think after seeing what we were giving him, it's just a bluff to the staglord."

"I think we should trust him."

You guys have the right idea, I just need to know how you want to proceed against the fort.

"It sounds like most of us are in agreement. Let's trust happs one more time. Does anyone have clothes or the like to make us look more like bandits?"

Bridgette replies
"Sorry, I don't have any. That and I tend to be on the larger than normal size, for clothes."

"I could use one of my minor spells to change some aspects of our appearance - skin color, hair color, clothing color, that sort of thing," Arianna suggests.

Do we still have Temerith with us as an NPC? Or did he head back to the trading post with Lanner?

He was going back with Lanner unless you want him to stick around. I'm planning for him to become a NPC going forward.

I'm good with him going back with Lanner. I know it can be a pain to run NPCs with the party.

Okay, discussion seems to have died down... What I'm getting is that the plan is to disguise yourselves as bandits, and head over to the Fort around 1am, per Happs' suggestion? Is that the correct?

I think that's what we're going with.

The group approaches the fort, watching for any sign of alarm, but trying to present a casual appearance. As you get closer, you notice a distinct lack of guards in the towers.

The gate looms ominously ahead of you at the end of the road, and it's not until you are twenty feet away that you see any sign of life from the fort. The gate creaks a few times, then slowly rises. In the dim light of the torches near the wooden gate, you see Happs and another man wearing chainmail standing by the winch. He smiles and salutes you, waving you forward.

"Glad to see you, I was hoping somebody was out there. I've been volunteering for night watch for a week now hoping to see somebody."

He gestures to the man beside him, "This is Akiros. He's an ally, if you'll have him." The bearded man nods once.

Happs steps to the side and points at the stone structure at the center of the fort, "So, that's..."

A deep voice interrupts him, "Kill them!"

With various cries, bandits appear around the fort. A large man wearing antlers on his head rises in front of you holding a longbow. From the looks on Happs and Akiros' faces, it's clear this is a surprise to them - you're caught in an ambush!

-----

Please roll initiative, no surprise round.

I'll upload a map in the shared folder. Everyone is going to start in area Z1.

Bandits 1, 2, and 3 have clear shots. The Stag Lord ("S") does as well. All of them are on the level above you, please note the ramps leading from the ground to the upper level. There is another bandit on the upper level but who does not have a clear shot at you. You can also see the other bandits on the ground floor (5, 6, 7).

YIKES!!

Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

Oh Crap

Init: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

Init: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

Round One

23 Arianna
19 Bridgette
18 Stag Lord
17 Bydar
14 Arumil
11 Bandits
10 Happs/Akiros
07 Raxus

Arianna and Bridgette react the fastest!

Arianna and Bridgette, please state your actions.

Round One:

"Take out the Stag Lord and the rest may surrender," Arianna whispers to Raxus as she touches his shoulder - causing the large barbarian to suddenly disappear!

With her spell cast, the young woman sidesteps out of the entranceway and draws her crossbow.

Standard action to cast Vanish on Raxus - he is now invisible for 3 rounds (so make the most of it, big guy!). 5 ft step to the left as you look at the map (to Arianna's right) to gain a bit of cover from the palisade wall. Move action to draw light crossbow.

Arianna's AC: 15 plus cover

How is Z3a supported?
As I'm thinking of knock it down by taking out the supports.

Very cinematic - I like it! Lets say the support is a piece of timber with obvious signs of dry rot.

Sweet

Bridgette sees a weaken support for one of the lookout posts and breaks it.

Str check or attack roll?

Lets go for a damage roll.

What dice do I use?

Unarmed damage works for me.

Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Round One
23 Arianna
19 Bridgette
18 Stag Lord
17 Bydar
14 Arumil
11 Bandits
10 Happs/Akiros
07 Raxus

Arianna casts a spell turning Raxus invisible, then takes cover behind the fort wall while drawing her crossbow.

Bridgette glances to her left and notices that one of the supports holding the tower up is starting to crumble from dry rot. With a step, she spins and kicks the timber support, showering the area with wooden shards as the wood disintegrates. The tower floor drops instantly, dumping the bandit on the ground at Bridgette's feet. The bandit on the nearby tower hangs on as the bridge between the two platforms is pulled off by the first tower's collapse!

The stag lord yells, "Unleash the beast!" back toward the bandits at the rear of the fort. Raising his massive bow, his hands become a blur as he sends arrows streaking at Happs!

Attack, Rapid Shot 1: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Attack, Rapid Shot 2: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

Damage, Rapid Shot 2: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Happs curses as one of the shots strikes him in the shoulder.

-----

Everyone else can post actions. Bandits 2 and 3 are going to be picking themselves up this round and not attacking. The stag lord has partial cover from the ruined building he's standing on. Raxus, assume your dogs are doing whatever you want them to do. I'm honestly not sure how they would react to you being invisible.

Round One

Bydar chants "Shelyn grant thy lifting grace."

Bless spell, plus one to morale saves and to hits for the party and its allies

Arumil takes something from his pouch and rubs it between his fingers as he speaks a few words of magic. Finishing by flicking it towards the entrance of the bandits the stag lord calls.

"They will not be unleashing anything for a bit. Your on your own."

The gray ball spreads open into a massive web. It blocks the entrance from the room the other bandits were in, effectively sealing them in. Arumil takes cover by moving to the side and withdrawing his own crossbow, no need to make himself a target of any arrows.

Cast Web. Good luck trying to cut thru that, webs are sorely underestimated things. ;)

Raxus moves forward as his body ripples and fades from view. He rounds the corner of the wall in front of him and shoulders in between the stone and the wooden support, knocking over one of the storage barrels.

Then he jumped up, reached with his hook and tried to snag the Stag Lord and drag him down.

Acro (Jump): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Trip (or Reposition or Drag?) vs. Flat Footed: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 8 + 1 + 2 = 23

Basically, I'm trying to drag the Stag Lord off his perch. That jump, plus my height and a Reach weapon should get me high enough to grab him.
My movement should end where the rightmost barrel is. If this works, the Stag Lord will end up falling onto the other barrels in front of me.

Round One
23 Arianna
19 Bridgette
18 Stag Lord
17 Bydar
14 Arumil
11 Bandits
10 Happs/Akiros
07 Raxus

Round One - continued

Bydar calls down the blessing of Shelyn on his allies, while Arumil fills the air with words of Power. At his gesture, a mass of sticky webbing appears to block the bandits from unleashing the beast.

The three bandits try to get through the web, with two of them becoming caught while one manages to avoid the threads but his struggles to get through keep in inside the web's area.

The bandit #1 in the tower shoots an arrow at Bydar which clatters harmlessly off his armor. The bandit #4 in the rear tower runs forward to join his companion in the front tower.

The bandits on the ground pick themselves up and draw short swords, both glaring at Bridgette with hatred in their eyes.

Happs moves and takes cover from the Stag Lord while drawing a dagger, and Akiros draws a longsword and moves to help Bridgette by facing one of the bandits #2. He punches forward with the hilt, catching the man by surprise and knocking the bandit unconscious.

As the battle becomes more and more fierce, the Stag Lord cries out in alarm as he falls over and off the ledge into the barrels below. Cursing and spitting, he stares up at Raxus as he kicks out of the ogre hook that pulled him down!

-----

I'll update the map when I get home today.

Raxus, I decided on drag since that seemed the most appropriate. The stag lord fell onto the barrels and is currently prone.

Please provide DCs when casting spells. Small thing, but it's a big help to me! :)

Round Two:

Arianna quickly loads her crossbow and fires her weapon at the other bandit threatening Bridgette.

Move action to load light crossbow. Standard action to fire crossbow at bandit #3.

Light Crossbow Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 5 + 1 = 21
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 7

Number of Bolts used: 5/20

Buffs in Effect:
Bless (Party): +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and saves vs. fear effects.

Round Two
23 Arianna
19 Bridgette
18 Stag Lord
17 Bydar
14 Arumil
11 Bandits
10 Happs/Akiros
07 Raxus

Arianna fires a bolt at the bandit nearest Bridgette, hitting him in the thigh and eliciting a squeal of pain.

Bridgette steps forward and sends a kick flying at the bandit, but he manages to duck and avoid her strike.

The Stag Lord growls and curses in a slurred voice, then pulls his sword and attacks Raxus with a wild swing that shatters one of the barrels!

Raxus, he provoked an AoO from you.

-----

Everyone else can now act.

Arumil spies one of the bandits moving through the web towards the beast pen.

"I did warn you."

He cast a spell, summoning forth a ball of fire upon the bandit and igniting the web as well.

Flaming Sphere (DC 17): 3d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 3) = 9

Web: 2d4 ⇒ (2, 1) = 3

Bandit 7 is the target. Reflex save for flaming sphere damage but he cant avoid the fire damage from his square. Don't know if he is set on fire too so if he moves he may or may not set more web on fire. ;)

Darn it the board ate my Round 2 post. which was a grapple

Round 2
Bless spell cast, Bydar aims at the nearest bandit not engaged by a melee combatant, and fires.

To hit(Bless inc) 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
dmg: 1d8 ⇒ 2

AoO vs Prone, Bless: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 8 + 1 = 17

Damage: 1d10 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Round Two
23 Arianna
19 Bridgette
18 Stag Lord
17 Bydar
14 Arumil
11 Bandits
10 Happs/Akiros
07 Raxus

Retcon: Bridgette has bandit #3 grappled.

Raxus takes advantage of his position and attacks the Stag Lord as he draws his weapon, scoring a hit on the man's right side.

Bydar fires his crossbow at the bandit on the tower, but the bolt clangs off the wall around the platform.

Arumil casts a spell causing a large flaming sphere to appear on top of the bandit trying to move through the web. Trapped as he is, the man cannot avoid the flames, and screams as the web itself catches fire!

The webbing also covers the door to the beast's pen, but it manages to remain intact!

With one bandit writhing in pain, the two in the tower begin firing at the heroes! Bydar takes an arrow in the shoulder (5 points), while another arrow aimed at Arumil hits the wooden gate and drives deep into the wood.

Happs continues his slow movement along the wall, while Akiros rushes past Bridgette and runs toward the stairs.

-----

Raxus, you're up, then back around to Arianna and Bridgette.

Round Three:

Arianna rushes through the entranceway to take up a position behind Raxus. "Beware, Stag Lord! Your end is nigh! You face the Mighty Raxus, Slayer of Tatzlwyrms and Defender of the Greenbelt! Surrender now if you wish to live!" the young woman cries out, bolstering her companions' courage.

Move action 30 ft to the square NE of Raxus as you look at the map. Standard action to begin Bardic Performance (Inspire Courage), granting all allies a +1 competence bonus to attack and damage rolls, and +1 morale bonus to saves vs. fear and charm effects.

Number of rounds of Bardic Performance used today: 1/10

Buffs in Effect:
Inspire Courage (Party): +1 competence bonus on attack and damage rolls; +1 morale bonus to saves vs. fear and charm effects.
Bless (Party): +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and saves vs. fear effects.

Attack: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 8 + 1 + 1 = 17
Damage: 1d10 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 7 + 1 = 17

Raxus swings again, and then steps back to take better advantage of his hook's longer reach.

Is he still armed with a bow?

Bridgette pins the bandit

CMB:Grapple: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

Round Two
23 Arianna
19 Bridgette
18 Stag Lord
17 Bydar
14 Arumil
11 Bandits
10 Happs/Akiros
07 Raxus

continued

Raxus scores another hit against the Stag Lord, then steps back to brings his weapon's reach into the battle.

He dropped his bow and pulled a longsword on his last action.

Round Three
Arianna moves and begins to inspire her allies to even greater feats of courage!

Bridgette pins the bandit she is currently grappling.

The Stag Lord stands up provoking an AoO from Raxus, steps forward toward the half-ogre, and attacks with his longsword! 11 points damage He screams in a slurred voice, "I'll never surrender to scum like you!"

-----

Everyone else is up; the two bandits are still standing on the tower, one more is on fire suspended in the web, and nobody can see the other two that were trapped beyond the doorway.

Round 3
Feeling a growing confidence despite his earlier bad shot, Bydar fires at the bandit on the tower who is not encased in webbing. The music of their bard livening his hopes...
Bonuses for bless and inspire included
to hit: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
dmg:1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Arumil directs the flaming sphere at the stag lord then cast another spell sending a pair of sapphire eagles from his hand at the bandit.

Flaming Sphere (DC 17) vs Stag Lord: 3d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 3) = 7

Magic Missile vs Bandit: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 51d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Don't know if bandit 7 survived, taking 12 dmg after all, so if he is dead my target is bandit 1. If he is not then 7 and 1. Remember anything hit by flaming sphere catches fire. ;)

Arumil, #7 is down, so you're targeting #1. But I don't think you can move the flaming sphere to the Stag Lord. He has a wooden wall on one side, a rock wall on another, and Raxus blocking the only way in or out of the "alley". If he wasn't trapped like that, he would have tried to escape from Raxus by now. :)

Thinking you could "jump" it over there, but that would be more than 30' of movement, so it would take two rounds. Let me know.

Cutting corners it could get to the stag lord sense jumping would be part of it's movement. If not then I don't suppose it could be directed towards bandit 5. Again if no then I will have it wait outside the web near Raxus this round. To go after the stag lord next round or deal with any web walking bandits that try to release said beastie.