Arianna Silvermane |
Round Seven:
Arianna freezes in place when she sees the swarm of spiders magically appear around the enemy spellcaster, although she continues to offer her companions words of encouragement.
Free action to maintain Bardic Performance (Inspire Courage). Delay action until after Arumil's turn and the swarm (hopefully) pursues the druid.
Can Arianna make it to the doorway in one 30-ft move action?
Number of rounds of Bardic Performance used today: 5/10
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.
Vanish (Self): Invisible; duration 1 round.
DM Haldhin |
Sorry, drawing a blank... what does DT mean?
The rubble between Z5 and Z10 is effectively 10' high, difficult terrain, and partially covered by the web.
Bridgette, you would be moving through the web, are you sure you want to do that? If so, please roll to see if you make it. CMB check or Escape Artist. :)
Arumil Amaim |
The way I see it, their is only one entrance/exit for him. The one we are at. That's assuming he survives my spiders. They wont disappear til my concentration is broken, not to mention the damage, poison, and distraction abilities piled on the old man already. >;)
Raxus Half-blood |
Raxus, lost in bloodlust takes a moment to realize that someone was speaking to him. Any other voice would probably have been ignored, but hers had a kind of power over him.
It was that thought that brought him back. She was talking to him. Asking him to help her. A flood of insecurities and things he tried to repress overwhelmed the anger. He turned away from the dead beast and looked into her eyes for the first time ever. He swallowed, then instantly regretted it. His mouth was full of fur and blood. He coughed once and nodded, then stirruped his hands for her to step into.
So, Bridgette is Delaying until Raxus' initiative, then he's lifting/tossing her up onto the walkway. She should touch down somewhere near where the Stag Lord started out and still have a Full Round Action.
Or something like that?
Any rolls I need to make?
Once she's been tossed, Raxus drops out of Rage and is Fatigued.
DM Haldhin |
Resetting initiative based on delays
Round Seven
Bydar
Spider Swarm
Raxus
Bridgette
Arianna
Arumil
Robed Man
Bydar glances around to make sure his companions are not in mortal danger.
The swarm crawls over to the robed man and begins crawling all over him.
At Bridgette's encouragement, Raxus moves around then hoists her up to the stone floor above. As soon as she's safe, Raxus exhales loudly, then slumps his shoulders as the head of his ogre hook drops to the ground.
Bridgette sprints across the floor to get above the robed man.
Arianna and Arumil, you're up. Map updated with actions so far in Round Seven.
Arianna, it's 25 feet of movement for you to stand in the doorway where the swarm was.
-----
Raxus, no rolls necessary. You're giving up your action to get her up there, and you're definitely strong enough to do it, so I'm fine with it working as intended.
Arianna Silvermane |
Round Seven (continued):
Once Arumil's swarm moves after the enemy spellcaster, invisible-Arianna nimbly sprints to the doorway. Spying the once-again-spider-covered man, she levels her crossbow and fires, causing her spell of invisibility to dissipate.
Move action 25 ft to the doorway. Standard action to fire at the druid - since Arianna is attacking from invisibility, she gets a +2 to her attack and the druid is denied Dex bonus to AC.
Light Crossbow Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 5 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 24 (invisible, inspire, bless)
Light Crossbow Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 (inspire) - well that's crappy damage!
Number of rounds of Bardic Performance used today: 5/10
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.
DM Haldhin |
Round Seven
Bydar
Spider Swarm
Raxus
Bridgette
Arianna
Arumil
Robed Man
continued
Arianna shoots her crossbow at the man, striking him in the arm.
Arumil follows her, standing by the doorway outside the man's line of sight.
With a curse, the man's form shifts into that of a large horned owl. He flies up out of the swarm, then back over the southern wall.
Swarm Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Druid Fort save vs poison: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Druis Fort save vs distraction: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
I'm going to give Bridgette an AoO since I'm going to say he would have to move through her threatened area. Bridgette, please roll your AoO.
If her attack fails, then she is going to be the only PC who can see him since he's on the other side of a 10' wall.
Arumil Amaim |
Arumil was not about to let the robed man escape. He ran up the stairs after him.
"He turned into an owl and took to the air."
Hopefully Happs and the other man could help as well. He noticed Bridgette had already gotten there somehow.
Should get line of sight now, he cant fly more then 30 ft unless he is 6th lvl or higher. Wait til next round. >:)
Arumil Amaim |
I assume, I know dangerous thing to do as a PC, he is a druid of at least 4th level that wildshaped into an owl. As per that ability's rules his max fly speed is 30 ft (average). Now if he was 6th level his max fly speed would be 60 ft (good). These are restrictions placed by the ability not the form, so even if a normal owl has a 60 ft (average) fly speed a druid can't reach that speed until 6th level with wildshape. At least the way I read it, don't play druids much.
Arianna Silvermane |
I could see an argument either way...
"An attack of opportunity “interrupts” the normal flow of actions in the round. If an attack of opportunity is provoked, immediately resolve the attack of opportunity, then continue with the next character's turn (or complete the current turn, if the attack of opportunity was provoked in the midst of a character's turn)."
Definition of Attack per the PRD: "Making an attack is a standard action."
Performing a Combat Maneuver per the PRD: "When performing a combat maneuver, you must use an action appropriate to the maneuver you are attempting to perform. While many combat maneuvers can be performed as part of an attack action, full-attack action, or attack of opportunity (in place of a melee attack), others require a specific action."
Grapple per the PRD: "As a standard action, you can attempt to grapple a foe. If you do not have Improved Grapple, grab, or a similar ability, attempting to grapple a foe provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of your maneuver."
Raxus Half-blood |
If you can't grapple, maybe Trip him? If he was Prone when he started to try to fly away he really wouldn't get far. He'd need to get up first, and then try to leave. Flying at greater than 45 degrees to ascend requires a DC 20 Fly check and is done at 1/2 speed. If he doesn't get very far upward, he'll still be within Charge range and you can grab him then. Regular Owls have a +7 Fly, so he'd need a 13 or better to get out of range. The odds are in your favor unless he's dumped a bunch of his own skill ranks into Fly.
The Fly rules drive me kinda crazy. >.<
DM Haldhin |
Fort save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Bridgette's fist snaps out as the owl attempts to flee, striking the creature in the side of the head. The owl squawks loudly, then falls out of the air like a rock, landing back in the spider swarm.
-----
At this point, I'm going to call the combat over. The tactical situation is overwhelmingly in your favor at the moment.
So what do you want to do with the druid?
The Stag Lord is deceased, but all of the other bandits are still alive (though some are unconscious). What would you like to do with them?
Happs and Akiros are standing around, feel free to interact with them if you want to, they might have information you could use.
Bydar |
"Those of you loyal to the stag lord, throw your weapons away, move at least a body length distance from those weapons, and lay on the ground until we tell you to rise," He calls out also to Happs, "Happs, a moment of your time."
Assuming Happs approaches, he says, "Do you know of any more dangers further in?"
Arumil Amaim |
Arumil cast a magic detection spell and starts scanning the area as he strips the defeated of everything but their clothes.
"That web will last a good while so may want to save those in it for last. Fire will burn it away, but I suggest you take your time cutting it if you do not want to set anyone or anything on fire."
Arianna Silvermane |
Web spell has a (D) after the Duration of 10 min./level, so it can be dismissed by the caster at will if desired before the duration expires (using a standard action) instead of letting it last its full duration. Not that I have any problem with leaving the bandits trapped in the webs for 30 minutes - Arianna might even be tempted to use her Silent Image spell to create the illusion of large spiders crawling toward the trapped bandits...
Raxus Half-blood |
Raxus washes his mouth out and sees to his dogs, letting Bydar and Arianna speak to the captives. He glanced at Bridgette and smiled, but looked away again the moment she started to notice his gaze.
Arianna Silvermane |
Assuming someone moves to secure the stunned druid-owl...
As Bydar speaks with Happs, Arianna approaches Akiros.
"So, Akiros, is it? You handled yourself pretty well back there. I noticed you struck without killing," Arianna observes approvingly. "Happs said you were an ally, and I hope that will continue to be the case. Would any of the other men here be willing to turn their backs on banditry and start a new, better life?"
DM Haldhin |
Happs looks at Bydar, "There aren't any more bandits or animals, if that's what you're asking. Though we need to go into the cellar and deal with the... um... remains. A number of people were captured by the bandits and brought back here." He glances at Arianna and Bridgette, and in a softer voice, Happs quietly confides, "The lucky ones died quickly."
Arianna speaks to Akiros who scowls, "Aye, I'm no saint, but I ain't a murderous bandit either. If you're looking for a sword arm, and you can put a roof over my head and some hot food in my belly, then I'll work with you. But I ain't one for telling others what to do, or being a bully for somebody else like that."
He looks around at some of the other bandits, "I've only been here a few weeks, but if you ask me, then no, none of them would do it. Every one of them is violent or insane, or both. To stay here, they had to be initiated - kill somebody with their bare hands. The Stag Lord told me that I was going to be initiated when we attacked the Trading Post up north... Anyway, they'll tell you what you want to hear, but if you give 'em a chance, each one of them would bury a knife in your back."
Bydar |
Happs looks at Bydar, "There aren't any more bandits or animals, if that's what you're asking. Though we need to go into the cellar and deal with the... um... remains. A number of people were captured by the bandits and brought back here." He glances at Arianna and Bridgette, and in a softer voice, Happs quietly confides, "The lucky ones died quickly."
Bydar nods, "I think I owe you an apology sir, for a moment, I suspected the worse of you. Forgive my doubts."
Arianna speaks to Akiros who scowls, "Aye, I'm no saint, but I ain't a murderous bandit either. If you're looking for a sword arm, and you can put a roof over my head and some hot food in my belly, then I'll work with you. But I ain't one for telling others what to do, or being a bully for somebody else like that."He looks around at some of the other bandits, "I've only been here a few weeks, but if you ask me, then no, none of them would do it. Every one of them is violent or insane, or both. To stay here, they had to be initiated - kill somebody with their bare hands. The Stag Lord told me that I was going to be initiated when we attacked the Trading Post up north... Anyway, they'll tell you what you want to hear, but if you give 'em a chance, each one of them would bury a knife in your back."
Overhearing that, Bydar frowns."I like to give everyone a second chance, but I'm not sure how far we should go with that if it will put the brotherhood in danger to live nearby them."
For now, he ties each one up , stripping them of their weapons, gear, and armor. And yes, he's very careful not to leave his back exposed to any of them.
DM Haldhin |
Happs waives away Bydar's apology. "Nothing to forgive. I had to act the part, else I would have been discovered. Even so, they didn't trust me with a weapon until this evening. Happy coincidence that you chose tonight to attack."
In a more serious tone, he says, "I'm not one for words, really. But you all gave me another chance, and I'd like to do better with this one."
Akiros nods at Bydar's comments, "I understand, Happs has told me about his own situation, and those of the other bandits... former bandits... that serve you. Believe me, I know about second chances, and I think you're putting everyone in danger by giving these men a second more to live."
Arumil Amaim |
Sense Motive vs DC 15: 1d20 ⇒ 16
Arumil over hears the conversation near by.
"It seems to me as if you know more about second chances then you would like to admit. May be that failure is bitter but then again if it was not it would be cause for concern."
He looks over the other men.
"I would advise careful consideration. Their are children back at the post now. A repeat of past events can not be allowed."
Bydar |
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
He nods at Happ's words, "So many in the Brotherhood have done well, not just for themselves, but our community that it strengthens my faith in the good."
Akiros nods at Bydar's comments, "I understand, Happs has told me about his own situation, and those of the other bandits... former bandits... that serve you. Believe me, I know about second chances, and I think you're putting everyone in danger by giving these men a second more to live."
"I would advise careful consideration. Their are children back at the post now. A repeat of past events can not be allowed."
"Yes, there is more at stake than ever. I'd like to hear what the others have to say on the matter but it will need to be resolved today I think."
Raxus Half-blood |
Raxus wasn't much of a philosopher. He listened while the others spoke and looked at the captured bandits. Dragging the corpse of the Stag Lord over to the subdued group he dumped the body in front of them so they could get a good look at the massive hole Raxus' hook had punched in the side of his head.
"This is what rule by violence gets you. The biggest gets to be in charge until someone bigger comes along."
"I am bigger and I do not like any of you."
"Tell my why I should let any of you live."
DM Haldhin |
Akiros eyes Arumil, then nods. "Yeah, but sometimes people fail and learn to do better, change how they live, try to be positive forces for others. Some fail and learn different lessons..." He pointedly looks at the bandits.
Raxus drags the Stag Lord's body in front of the other bandits and demands that they account for themselves. One of them, with long black hair and tattoos covering his neck and face, quickly speaks up, "He forced us to do it! The Stag Lord, he threatened us, said he'd kill us if we didn't listen to him! He... he abused us if we didn't listen!"
Two others chime in to agree with the man, "Yeah, the Stag Lord, he beat us and stuff! Don't kill us, we'll be good and do what you say. You killed him, so we serve you now, Lord!"
The others simply look at the Stag Lord's body, then smile at Raxus while nodding their heads.
Arumil Amaim |
Sense Motive vs DC 15: 1d20 ⇒ 19
Linguistics vs DC 12: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27
Arumil looks at the latest display, both from the bandits and Raxus. He catches the clear lies and lack of understanding.
"They are lying. Not a very innocent action I may add. By the way those two do not even understand what you are saying. We may want to find out their language or if they are akin to Yiv."
He points out the pair.
Dare I say, dice are being nice.
Raxus Half-blood |
Raxus' face was calm and impassive. He nodded at Arumil's words, unsurprised and resolved.
He looked back to Bydar. "They have made their choice. Would you offer them mercy?"
Bydar |
Sense motive: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
Linguistics: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Bydar looks at each of the liars, "You are clearly lying. Had you been honest with me, I might have considered mercy despite the advice of others to take no chances. Instead, your attempts at deceit reveal you as clinging to darkness even as repentance is offered. I will not let you prey on the good people of this land any further. I will not risk loving families , nor the beauty we are building. The only mercy granted you will be thus...
A quick death , and I shall pray for each of your souls."
he looks to his allies, "But for the two that do not speak our language, they I would at least want to hear and understand our questioning. Let us spare just those two for now. Unless any disagree, that would be what I'd want one"
Raxus Half-blood |
Raxus nods and turns back to the condemned men. He grabs the first one and hauls him into the small nook where he'd first engaged the Stag Lord.
He threw a sword into the corner and cut the man free of his bonds. Then he waited.
"This is your way. A person should be willing to die for their beliefs. Pick up the sword, or turn around."
We don't have to play it out if you don't want, but Raxus is going to fight each one in turn. If they won't fight he'll turn them around and coup de grace them.
DM Haldhin |
The first bandit drops to his knees and begins pleading for his life. To hear him tell it, he was abandoned by new fewer than four fathers and six mothers. But when Raxus begins raising his weapon, the bandit leaps backwards for the sword in a surprising burst of energy.
He doesn't live much longer after that.
The rest of the bandits suffer similar fates. Only one of them purposefully grabs the sword then bows slightly to Raxus. He raises the weapon, but it's obvious that he doesn't intend to defend himself - he closes his eyes as Raxus strikes. At least he died facing his fate.
Happs and Akiros both appear uneasy with your reticence to deal with the two bandits who don't speak Common, but they keep their opinions to a minimum. But they do suggest that you keep the bandits well away from Bridgette and Arianna.
They also warn you about the small graveyard behind the fort. Apparently some of the bandits have been hearing sounds coming from that direction.
Finally, you find remains of at least a dozen people in the cellar. Even to untrained eyes, the people were tortured and physically abused before death claimed them. (Most of the crates containing trade goods were also found in the cellar)
-----
You have captured the druid and two bandits, and killed the rest. What do you plan to do with the druid and the bandits, and the bodies?
Does not need to happen immediately, but thought you would want to know. I'm giving you this spoiler so you can share with the rest of the group.
Arumil Amaim |
Arumil looked over the druid, making sure he was bound and gagged properly for a spellcaster.
"I would advise dealing with the druid quickly. A fathers revenge does not fade and no good will come of letting him live. A clean strike to the neck should do it."
He thinks about Raxus sense of fair play with the bandits.
"Do not give him any sort of chance. He will use it to escape and I doubt anyone here could follow considering his abilities."