Lucendar's Crimson Throne Campaign - Year of the Faithless (Inactive)

Game Master Lucendar

C'mon, Serry. This is you.

(Spoken to Serry, but meant to be overheard by them.) "Uh boss, I thought they wanted a way out of the City?"

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17 Bluff

"That's what I thought too. Maybe they're not interested after all, but I sure thought someone said they had a guy looking for a quick way out of town. Be a shame to come all this way to have the wrong guys!"

Bluff: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

Penance shrugs at the two giving a sideways glance inside the building to see what he can.

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

Other than the movement of the the guards behind the door, Penance does not hear anything else.

The three party members hear the unlatching of bolts and then the door swings open. Standing there are 2 men mid-20s, garbed in chain mail with long swords in their hands. The smell of alcohol is heavy in the air. In slurred speech, one of them says, "You gotta a way out? Ya needs to talk to the boss! Alright, ya can come in. But only one of ya! Pick and make it quick." The other guard looks at and around the three of you, seemingly looking for suspicious activity.

Now what?...

"Uh, boss, maybe they should bring the boss to us. We can wait here." Tristain looks to Serry.

"I ain't taking no chances, if they don't want out, then ain't nothing we can do."

Serry nods to Tristain, and stands as tall as her stature allows. "Really, now. Surely he wouldn't want to deal with anyone fool enough to walk in alone? We have what he needs. Maybe he can come to the door and talk? Or we could come in together."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

Serry will also be discreetly trying to see past the men into the shack.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13

Penance crosses his arms in a show of solidarity. Part of him just wanted to kick this mans teeth in and start firin. In fact not long ago he would have made sure to come when least expected with twice as many boys and not walkout until the walls were painted red.

Nicolae's jaw clenches as he waits discreetly out of sight, reminding himself over and over that this is the best way for him to find out what's going on with Kizzy, when he'd really rather just burst in and start bashing heads.

"As my friend says, do you really expect us to be that careless? You are the one's in need. What do you think we're going to do? Our weapons are sheathed and we came knocking on your door. Time is wasting and prices are rising as we talk."

Todor looks around for any sign of their quary.

1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 - Diplomacy
1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16 - Perception

Todor's tone angers the hesitant guards. "Bah! The boss can get out tomorrow on his own! Who needs ya?! Now get out of here before we run you young punks through!" The guards again brandish their swords.

Unless you wish to intervene..., the guard slams the door in your faces.

Tristain puts his scythe in the door.

"What do you think, boss?" Tristain addresses Serry, trying to talk tough. "Do you want to show these guys how they should talk to you? They seem kind of rude. And we's just tryin' to be nice."

The guard raises his long sword to Tristain's eye level, "Boy, you'd better move that farmer's tool out of the way now, if ya know what's good for ya! Or you and the midget's gonna end up dead tonight. What do you say?"

If you plan on combat, let me know so we can roll initiative and I can provide you with a map.

This what you saw in the room behind the guards:

Ten feet directly behind them is a counter with a bench alongside the east wall. Behind the counter, you see a marble-topped butcher's table, with various cleavers hanging on hooks on the wall. A swinging door 20' south leads to a hallway and the rest of the shop. Neither Todor nor Serry saw anyone in that hallway.

Tristain will trigger the spring in his switchscythe, bringing the blade out with a satisfying 'thunk'.

"This farmer's tool? You better watch your mouth in front of the boss or you're going to see it and feel it."

Tristain will look over his shoulder. "Nick, your time to shine. Could you learn these boys here some manners?"

Yeah, we be combating.

Question: Is the mans arm in the door?

Current Map

Ok, hopefully this helps the scene and please excuse my lack of artistic skills. Dark Orange is wall, peach is the floor, and the counter and bench are marked. The guard was slamming the door in your faces when Tristain stepped up and blocked it with his scythe. The guard then opened the door and raised his sword, telling Tristain to move his scythe or else. Right now, the door is open and there is no one in the doorway so that space is open. However, the guard is not in the doorway either so Penance cannot grab him from his current position. The other guard is pictured as well. Once you understand the scene, please confirm your intent to combat so I can roll initiative.

Who said anything about grabbing? I was gonna snap it like a twig against the frame. But sadly that's not possible. Yeah Penance has an intent for combat.

Tristain will trigger the spring in his switchscythe, bringing the blade out with a satisfying 'thunk'.

"This farmer's tool? You better watch your mouth in front of the boss or you're going to see it and feel it."

Tristain will look over his shoulder. "Nick, your time to shine. Could you learn these boys here some manners?"

Yeah, we be combating.

Nicolae snarls, "Gladly, if they can learn; and those what can't will be a lesson to learn from." Halberd in hand, he wastes no time charging around the corner.

The charge is metaphorical, due to lack of line of sight, but the intent to combat is real. ;)

Serry sighs dramatically. "A pity you boys don't know how to conduct business properly. We'll just have to teach you." She gets out a sling stone and loads her staff, the sound of the waves growing in her ears as we brace for combat!

In Aquan:

Seems we're headed for combat and this is more of a combat move, so feel free to ignore or put off.

"We still might resolve this peacefully. You should drop your weapon." (DC 15 will save for Command)

Tristain still stands ready to fight.

As he hustles around the corner, Nicolae flashes back to when he managed to convince a hustler to turn a new leaf...

Oh come on, you can con an old lady out of all she has, but you can't act normal to your own friends?! The voices inside rise to an orcish warcry's volume. He kicks in the door. "Everybody freeze, you're all under arrest!"

Then there was that time when a woman convinced him to let her confront her abusive ex and talk the guy into admitting it all while Nicolae waited right outside. She fell off script right away, right back into her old familiar lines; godsdammit, catching him in the act wasn't part of the plan. "Stop or die, a-hole!"

His heart pounds with excitement and anticipation -- the old familiar adrenaline of the unwanted urgency.

None of your actions have yet taken place (casting spells, running around corner) so your starting positions on the map are unchanged. You may take them on your initiative count.

Initiative rolls:
Guards: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Nicolae: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Penance: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Serry: 1d20 ⇒ 13
Todor: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Tristain: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Initiative Order:
Guards
Todor
Serry
Nicolae
Penance
Tristain

Round 1:

The guard who has been doing most of the speaking says, "Helmut, call for help. I'll hold them off!" He then steps into the doorway and thrusts his sword forward into Tristain's gut, but in his drunken state, nearly topples over, with the blow missing Tristain by a mile! Helmut yells for help, saying "We got trouble at front door, 4-5 guys trying to break in", and stands ready with sword and shield in hand.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5...miss

Party is up!

On this turn, his Tristain will move out of the way, letting others closer to combat.

Withdraw to E3.

Nicolae will still be running around the corner, just with details to be resolved later.

Round 1

Todor will keep the same action.

"You should drop your weapon." (DC 15 will save for Command)

Todor will then draw his own weapon.

The odds of Serry's action making a difference in mine are small enough that I'm just going to go now.

Nicolae charges around the corner and into the doorway. "Where is she?!"

Not the most rational choice, but he's not exactly in his right mind right now. Double move to G5, still holding his halberd.

And since his thing will be unchanged...

Penance's bow is out but without a clear shot he chooses the option of remaining ready for danger.

Move: Draw bow. Total defense.

Was waiting to see what the response to Todor's Command was, but if I'm holding us up:

Serry will take advantage of not firing into melee for once, and load and fire her sling staff at the nearer guard.
Attack 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19
Damage 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

If the guard does drop his weapon, Serry will aim for Helmut instead.

Will save: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (5) - 1 = 4..failure

Summary of Round:
Guard swung sword, missed Tristain
Helmut went on total defense
Todor cast Command, drew his weapon
Serry shot a sling bullet at Helmut but it bounced off his armor
Nicolae double moved, right in front of the guard
Penance went total defense
Tristain withdrew

Round 2:
Guard, who just dropped his weapon, looks dumbfounded at the ground and then looks up to see the hulking figure of Nicolae, so he withdraws to F10. "Get him, Helmut!"

Helmut looks a little nervous, and says "Ok, Malder, but get help quick, this is a big one!" He then moves in to strike at Nicolae with his blade, but misses by a mile!

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7...miss!

Updated Map

Party is up!

Round 2

Tristain will cast Magic Stone, holding one stone in his hand, his 'scythe in the other.

Round 2

Todor steps over to H4 to see where the swordless guard is fleeing. He then tells the new guard in the doorway. "You should drop your weapon, too." (DC 15 Will save)

I'd tell the fleeing one to drop, but he is out of my range.

Will save: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0..failure

Another sword drops to the floor. Helmut looks up and says, "What the hell is going on? I couldn't help myself!"

Serry will move to F6, brandishing her staff, and ready the action to attack (melee) if Helmut picks his weapon back up.
Attack roll, if needed: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

The waves pounding hard in her ears, she cocks her head and says, in Aquan,

Stats:

Will save: 1d20-1..failure

Another sword drops to the floor. Helmut looks up and says, "What the hell is going on? I couldn't help myself!"

"Or anyone else," Nicolae agrees. Disgusted at facing a nearly-helpless foe, he takes his stronger left hand off of his halberd, draws the sap off of his belt, and brains Helmut with it.

Nonlethal power attack vs. favored enemy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 241d6 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Yeah, I screwed up. No one else can really do much of anything. I'm very sorry, I understand what happened now, and I won't do it again.

Penance delays...

Nicolae bashes Helmut's head, causing a painful welt.

Summary of Round 2:
Helmut swing and missed
Malder withdrew
Todor cast Command again
Serry readied an action
Nicolae sapped Helmut
Penance stayed in Total Defense
Tristain cast Magic Stone

Round 3:

Weaponless and with his head throbbing, Helmut withdraws to G10, next to Malder. Malder nervously and frantically loads the crossbow dangling at his side, and takes aim at the imposing figure of Nicolae, while he yells out, "Karralo, Parks, get the boss, we got trouble out here..and they have magic!"

Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8..miss!

Malder curses, as the shot is wide and the bolt gets stuck in the wall!

Party is up!

Updated Combat Map

Initiative Order:
Guards
Todor
Serry
Nicolae
Penance
Tristain

Tristain will wait to post as he wants to see where others move.

Sorry about that wasn't even aware it was my turn.

Penance moves into the room and fires preparing to put even more shots into the pair.

Move to E9.
Fire at F10
Perfect Strike:
1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10
OR
1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

1d8 ⇒ 7 Damage

Nicolae is glad that he finally learned how to use RSS, or he might not've known that there were updates today. Why am I bothering with these yahoos? Nicolae shoulders his way past Helmut and Malder. Kizzy! Where are you?! Double move to F11? Run to F17 or beyond? Whatever's the most he can do.

Before Penance, so not firing into melee! (assuming Todor doesn't move there)

Serry can see Malder yelling, but the pounding waves drown out any sense of what he's saying. But it's a fair guess he's yelling for help, or for something, and two guards is probably enough to handle at once!

She'll load her sling staff and fire at Malder (F10).

Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Later, as Nicolae pushes past, she blurts out, in Aquan,

I really shouldn't post that late at night -- especially not after celebrating my birthday in the traditional manner. I think that was inconsistent with the character. :( Since Todor hasn't posted yet, I hope it isn't too late to change this. Nicolae wants to just push past both guards, even pictures himself doing it; but no matter how desperate he is to find his sister, he knows that he can't leave an enemy at his back. He moves to the other end of the room (H9) and tries to brain Helmut again.

Power attack vs. favored enemy: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 3 + 2 = 16 for 1d6 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 2 = 12 nonlethal damage.

<headdesk> I mean, Nicolae makes a double move to stand in the doorway at F11 -- next to the guy who just shot at him with a crossbow -- and drops his sap, gripping his halberd with both hands. So that I can AoO him if he tries that again, and get closer to my objective at the same time. I swear, I will remember how to play this game.

Round 3

I feel a bit guilty about it, but I'm happy to resolve this without words.

Todor draws his mace (move action) and walks into the room up next to Helmut at H9 (standard action).

Elric used to draw his weapon while moving. Maybe I'll learn to do that someday.

Tristain will move to G7 and toss a stone at the soldier in F10.

1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 3 - 4 = 17 to hit;
1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 damage.