The Heroes of Brindin's Ford (Inactive)

Game Master loimprevisto

The fair is full swing! Brindin's Ford is filled to capacity and the life of the festival spills beyond the town walls- colorful carts and wagons, flags and ribbons, and people of all sorts line the road for a hundred yards beyond the gate. The streets bustle with activity as the fair engulfs the main street through town. The street- none too wide to begin with- is narrowed further by the carts and booths along its sides. Fortunately wagons are barred, but pedestrians clog the road effectively enough. Artisans, entertainers, and merchants of every type staff the fair booths hawking their wares and trumpeting their virtues to any and all potential customers. Above it all, two notable features define the town's landscape. The walled keep crowns the hill at the western end of the town, and in the center of town a huge bell tower stands like a sentry.

Dozens of halflings in bright-colored costumes are directing the majority of the activities. A busy, lively roar of noise suffuses the fair and the smells of roasting meats, exotic spices, and cut flowers fill the air. The town guard keeps a watchful eye on the commerce with their bright red tabards and gleaming weapons, although they seem relaxed and friendly. By custom, all weapons larger than a belt knife are peace-bound during the festival.

All visible weapons are expected to be 'peace bonded'. Swords are attached to scabbards with leather straps while axes, spears, and similar weapons have a leather bag put over the blade and tied closed. Being a member of the city guard, Lummel is exempt from this.

@All: Make an introductory post IC and give a perception check (you can take 10), we'll move on from there!

Bricker hardly touches any of the food offered to him by his old "friends" though he doesn't know more than half of the crowd who have come to meet him, but this is one of those occasions where Bricker doesn't mind the company nor the coin of the unwary. He tells story's to his fellows and brags of his heroics most of witch are exaggerate or untrue and finds reuniting with old friends from Sonod Bairnell his old hometown just as memorable as any year, though they visit him every year this time at least two dozen more halflings came to meet him.

Bricker doesn't mind the company but still has a lot to do this evening and is not gonna miss a single merchants wares and tries to shoo the crowd away as best he can without telling them to get lost. After spreading storys of his heroics to the crowd he finally excuses himself and makes for the tavern he was originally headed to but not without inviting them to come after all he was not done checking all their pockets. He finds the tavern to be crowded as is and with the coming 40 halflings things were gonna get even more tight. He buys first rounds for the lot little do they now they are truly the ones paying.

Though I do love the festival, the joy, peace and especially the coin I felt that that this year was...different I just couldn't put my finger on it.

Perception:1d20 + 17 ⇒ (13) + 17 = 30
Pick Pockets:1d20 + 13 ⇒ (10) + 13 = 23

Ziz worms his way in to the crowded tavern, squirming under and over where he can, all the while holding an oversized, gnawed-on drumstick over his head. He spies bricker at the bar. He hollers out, waiving with his half eaten meat "bricksesss! Bricksessss! I'nt this a great fair? Besssst mmm hum, yip, it is. N' lookssseee, I gotss a nice new scArf, I did. I evenss seen a painingsss Of uss doing hero suff, yip. You gettin free drinkss, hmmm? Taste better that way."

Bricker turns to face the kobold as his story telling is interrupted. "Good to see your having a fine time Ziz pull up a seat and I'll buy you a drink then we can share a few tales eh."

His polished silver gauntlets glinting in the sun, Alviss' steady tread carried him among the carts and stalls. The many colors and patterns of the fabrics were a kaleidoscope for the eyes, tempting customers. He scanned the crowds while he listened for something other than the sounds of bartering and laughter.

He had not seen any signs of trouble here or at the dyer's guild's warehouse, a plain looking building not seeming worthy of attention during the joyous Fair. He ocassionally rested his right hand on the haft of his hammer, which seemed more likely to be needed than his trusty battle axe. The cloth wrapped around the hammer's head added to its usefulness today, as the town leaders frowned on lethal encounters during the Fair.

Tossing a few coppers to a gaggle of scrawny children trying to furtively (but obviously) watch an apple seller's cart, he continued making his rounds.

Perception - takes 10

Lummel likes the fair, much less his today's duty.
Since he's working he has with him the long sword and Sweet Edge, the latter mirror polished, as the breast plate to make himself recognizable in the crowd. No money with him, he knows better than carrying gold today. If needed he will set even after the end of the fair.

During the day he interacts with different people he meets for different reasons.

... no madam, is a Kobold not a critter, no, he won't bite if left alone...

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... are yo sure sir? couldn't be you sold it already? or maybe is somewhere else... yes sir, I'll look into it, but I don't think Kobolds use fashion garments...

---

No madam, that's not a Gryphon, is a lady... I'm pretty sure she use the loo like everybody else... No definitely she is not going to drop on us...

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...a scarf! Can you believe it? What in the abyss does a Kobold use a scarf for?... They are lizards, cold blooded, it would prevent him to warm up in summer and be completely useless in winter!

---

No miss, I don't like it... No the color is fine, is the length that I disapprove... Well I can have Sweet Edge shorten your legs, so they will fit. Surely is far better than what mum is going to do you if you come home with such skirt...

---

...why do I know about reptiles? I interact a great deal with the Hellknights, that's how... C'mon Jerdy, like they don't know how I feel about it... why do you think my duty today is kobold-chasing instead of garrison coordination? Lt Alaton files a report on each every two months.

---

...down this road, till you find the roaster with the yellow cart, there you turn left. Keep the tower on you right hand side and the keep in front of you. At the alchemist shop turn right...

---

...yeah, like they care about an old soldier bit**ing about. We are supposed to do it: fight and complain. That is what they pay us for. Don't worry...

at the and of this day Lummel is going to be exhausted like first day at bootcamp

Perception 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

I buy a few ribbons from a tailors near my home, attach them to my ankles and fly over the main at top speed a few times.

That done, I pop into my favourite alehouse: Hello, Tovey, a bottle of ale if you please: something strong, tasty and well-stoppered.

I enjoy most of the day from the rooftops, merrily observing festivities and calling down brief, bellowed conversations with revellers.

I'll not be down today, Lucille, it's too crowded for me! Say hello to Frome from me!

A shout from the middle of the busy fair spreads into an expanding ripple of cries and screams, accompanied by loud crashes that sound like carts and booths being overturned. These ripples soon transform into a wave of people, as bystanders try to escape whatever is wreaking havoc behind them.

The sturdy dwarf plants his feet and holds his ground as panicked fair goers rush by him. Calm yourselves and keep heading that way! Don't shove! Just keep going! he roars above the crowd tumult.

This can't be good. Does evil find root in every blasted bit of earth in this devil-fouled nation?

Continuing to glare into the oncoming crowd for some sign of what's causing such mayhem, Alviss reaches over his back and readies his shield on his left arm. Then he draws his battle axe and removes the cloth covering the blade. I don't suppose anyone will complain about this now, he mutters as he lets the axe settle at his side, gripped tightly and blade turned inward, away from the jostling crowd.

As the tide rushes at him, he looks about for any sturdy table, statue, stairs or other object that he can hop up on to get a better look ahead. Anything that obviously wouldn't withstand the onrushing horde (such as carts already pushed sideways, etc) or something cumbersome, like a tree to climb, he dismisses.

Torag's flame guide me.

(After he used a move action to ready the shield, I figured drawing and uncovering the axe was the equivalent of retrieving a stored item, for a second move action. If he has any action remaining, he plods forward into the crowd, continuing to scan for a better vantage point nearby while also looking ahead to the danger.)

"Everybody move on! Don't stop here, keep walking."

Lummel readies Sweet Edge, and tries to have people moving away from harm.
Profession (Soldier) 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18

"C'mon folks, don't stop here."

What do I know about the wherabouts of Ulila and Tolaria?

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 1

looking for something to climb or stand on

Ziz swivels his bar stool, pauses mid sentence and licks the crease from his chops. "bricksessss, you.....you hearin' that" a sideways glance at his companion confirms his concern. He focuses for a moment, harnessing the arcane energies coursing through his blood and channeling his ancestral power to cling to sheer surfaces. "i'msss goinsss to lookssssseeee. yip!" he skitters across the bar and up the wall, then towards the closest open window or door.

spider climb (2nd level): 50 mins

"Damn, what a horrible time for something to go wrong." Bricker says to no one in particular. "Ziz, I am going out to see whats causing all the commotion." Bricker rises from his chair and calmly walks out the front entrance and begins his trek to investigate what is going on. He will try to attract as little attention as possible to himself.

Perception:1d20 + 17 ⇒ (1) + 17 = 18

To keep eye out for the source of all the commission or notice anything out of the ordinary. he will also look for a place to get a good look at what is happening.

Perception: 1d20

looking for something to climb or stand on

Forgot to add 2 (wis mod) to my stellar roll of 1, for a 3.

Forgot to add 2 (wis mod) to my stellar roll of 1, for a 3.

oh, in that case...

I fly over to a nearby rooftop, unslinging my bow and looking to see if any lives are under threat.
knowledge (nature) 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

I also whistle for Selveshanea, but he is at home and I don't expect him to hear much over the noise.

I'll ignore the rats, since a blade is not going to do any good, and I'll try to reach the humanoids causing the havoc.
If I have any mean to call out for support from other patrols, like a whistle, I'll use it.

To identify the critters
Kn Local 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Kn Dungeoniring 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

"Stand down! Stop right now, you are under arrest"
trying to make them stop by authority
Pr Soldier 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25

Alviss grunts at not finding a better vantage point as he plods forward.

At least I can see over these wee halflings, he thinks as dozens of the little people continue flowing towards him and away from the danger.

He pushes his way forward, resembling a metal salmon swimming upstream as panicked fairgoers continue to rush past. He angles towards where the greatest disturbance seems to be coming from, whether sounds of violence and destruction or screams of pain.

Ziz realizes he has no hope of moving against the surging crowd, so he will provide what help he can from the top of the Stony Gaze.

perception to determine general information about the tactical situation (e.g. approximate number of humanoid attackers, point of origin, closest humanoid attacker, appearance/armaments,& defenses/allies in place).
1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

casts prestidigitation: booming voice when touching throat (aka megaphone).

spider climb: 50 mins
prestidigitation (megaphone): 60 mins

Bricker attempts to slip through the crowd and get a better look at the scene.

Escape artist:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30

@Elesandira: Lives are definitely under threat. There is a lot of blood visible and several bodies in the street. You can begin making attack rolls if you like. You are still fairly distant, it will take you a minute or so to fly to Eastgate and close into bow rage. We will not be starting formal initiative just yet. You can make several attack rolls outside of initiative if you decide to go that route, start with 3 attacks. Knowledge: Nature (25) The creatures are wererats in their hybrid form. You have heard that they can speak with vermin, and it is likely that they are directing the large rats to cause chaos in the crowd. Silver weapons would almost certainly drive them off if you could bring them to bear.

@Lummel: Keep in mind these rats are the size of large dogs. A polearm could definitely be an effective weapon against them. If the creatures hear your admonishments, they give no sign of it. [ooc]The guard will definitely respond to this disturbance. You sound your whistle as a matter of form, but you are confident that the disturbance will bring the attention of the patrol in Eastgate in a matter of minutes. You know there is a patrol of 4 guards in the area. Knowledge: Local (18) The only complaint in the city lately has been of some sort of organized crime. Some of the homeless and poor have complained of [/i]things[/i] in the night, and you suspect these may be connected- even though they are not the most reliable witnesses.

@Alviss: The going is slow, but you make steady progress against the flow of the crowd.

@Bricker: You deftly slip between the legs of the larger men as you work your way toward the source of the disturbance.

@Ziz: You can pick out 4 humanoids wearing light armor and carrying swords. There is no definite point of origin, it looks like they just picked the busiest part of the street to begin their rampage. At the moment, the overturned carts and the few fair-goers still fleeing the creatures provide them with some cover. You note Elesandira distant in the skies above, and Lummel pretty much where you left him, on the streets below. There is a rather heavily armed and armored dwarf attempting to make his (her? You recall that dwarven women have beards too) way against the crowd, toward the creatures. [ooc]I couldn't find a mention of a relationship between you and Alviss, we can edit the above if you know him by sight. Regarding prestidigitation, it is handy but quite limited in its effects. I'd allow an effect like you describe to double the volume of your voice (+10 dB), it would provide a +2 circumstance modifier for someone to hear you. I usually limit prestidigitation to a +2 modifier, almost always circumstance.

"Big as they might be, these pest are just animals, after the initial havoc they can be taken care of by few equipped people. These humanoids, on the other hand, are clearly in charge, and, as Sg Instructor used to say -cut off the head and chance are the body will fall.-"

Lummel swings Sweet Edge.
"So, you gentlemen do not speak my language? I have a friend here who can speak almost every tongue!"

Lummel prepares himself for the incoming slicing activity.

thats all i was going for/expecting with prestidigitation. the penalty for a panicked crowd is undoubtedly much higher than that, so any little bit counts. i probably wont end up using the ability, but in the event that ziz needs to communicate at a distance or would like to speak to the mob it could be useful.
as for alvis, they have met, but only briefly to exchange information. ziz knows him by reputation and has seen him on the road, but wouldn't be able to pick him out from a crowd, so the text fits.

Ziz is concerned about his ability to navigate the stampede without being trampled, but sees little choice if he is to investigate further. he will climb to street level, then cross to the nearest building and climb the wall to bypass the crowd. he will use this method repeatedly to approach the humanoids.

escape artist
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
EDIT: ouch. trampled it is.....

The pandemonium showing no signs of ebbing, Alviss continues to stride forward, kindly but firmly brushing aside those that impede him, trying not to knock anyone from their feet.

As a dwarf, he is aware that his mass is much greater than the fairgoers' and he doesn't want to cause halflings and less sturdy humans to be trampled. He continues moving straight ahead, but he's not throwing elbows to move people aside.

Let me pass! Keep moving that way!

He continues scanning left to right, looking for the cause of this mess.

What are ye running from? Where is it?

I could use Binkee right now.

With no desire to fire wildly into a crowd and no silver weapons, I concentrate upon getting close. Flying fast and low across the rooftops.

Elesandira zips over the rooftops toward the creatures threatening Eastgate. As she closes the distance she notices a few figures fighting their way *toward* the carnage. The striking red tabard of the guardsman with the halberd catches her eye first, and it is by sweet edge that she recognizes Lummel charging into the fray. Behind him is an armored dwarf that can only be Alviss, while from the other direction a familiar kobold skitters along the walls and darts through the crowd to get closer to the wererats.

We can roll for initiative now. Elesandira will enter combat whenever she wants, if she wants to do so immediately she can take a surprise round before she and Lummel take their start the "first round".

I will take the surprise round.

Attacking from the rooftops, striking the nearest foe:

longbow attack with deadly aim
attack1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21
damage1d8 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

@Elesandira: Please give an initiative roll too, for the rest of the combat.

Initiative 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

How big is the "combat field" what distance there is between me and the critters?

Initiative
1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

initiative 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Init:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

initiative: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20

The street is 35' wide, which includes 5' sidewalks on either side. This part of the street is overlooked by 3-story rowhouses with businesses on the 1st floor and residences above. Between the street vender's booths and the injured townsfolk, the sidewalk counts as difficult terrain. There are also several overturned carts in the street that count as obstructions and can potentially provide cover. The nearest creature to Lummel is 20' away and is flanked by two of the large rats, they all hiss menacingly at you as you pronounce your threat.

"So, you gentlemen do not speak my language? I have a friend here who can speak almost every tongue!"

No sooner do the words leave your mouth than one of the humanoids to your right sprouts an arrow from its chest. It pauses for a moment in shock, then frantically looks to the skies and pulls out a crossbow from beneath its cloak. A quick glance upward reveals the shining form of Elesandira streaking through the sky, already prepared to loose another arrow.

@Ziz: I forgot your higher base land speed for a small character and did my math wrong. You will be arriving 3 turns after Lummel, if you keep your planned pace.

The "combat field" is approximately 100' x 50'. I'm still working out the best way to depict it, I will improvise with a google docs spreadsheet if I can't find a program that works for me. I haven't had much luck with map tools, it seems... unintuitive.

I attack the same foe again, firing two arrows.

attack1 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
damage1 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13
attack2 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
damage2 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

As Alviss is still three-plus turns away from the nearest enemy, he will just continue to push forward against the crowd flow, scanning for the cause of the disturbance, while bellowing "Remain calm" type statements. I will respond accordingly if something changes, but it seems silly to post the same "Alviss is coming!" post three more times.

Brushing off panicked folks running into him, How many people are at this Fair? I've waded through rockfalls faster than this!

MAP Round 1, missing Elesandira position.

MAP Round 1, missing Elesandira position.

I'm guessing I should be on P4, ish

Those who are advancing on the action don't need to post each turn, just chime in if you want to do something like a spell or ranged attack on your initiative.

@Lummel: At a barked command from the creature with them two of the large rats skitter toward you, approaching on either side and climbing nimbly over the rubble. The others have moved to take cover and raised their crossbows, they are firing up at Elesandira. One is visibly bloodied from her arrows- with a snarl it tears them from its hide and returns fire.

When the two rats try to move around Lummel to flank him he swings Sweet edge in one smooth movement targeting both critters.
Combat Reflexes, I have 3 AoO in one round.

Rat in L5
Attack 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20
Damage 2d4 + 7 ⇒ (4, 4) + 7 = 15

Rat in O5
Attack 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
Damage 2d4 + 7 ⇒ (3, 2) + 7 = 12

My next action depends on the result of the 2 AoO.

MAP update (red dot injured)

Demonstrating his skill with his weapon, Lummel neatly decapitates one of the rats, and takes a leg off of another.

I *love* combat reflexes when you get a chance to properly apply it! Both rats are out of the fight.

As Sweet Edge ends whistling in the air and the two rats drop on the ground Lummel steps forward and attacks the nearest Wererat.

Moving to L8 and attacking Wererat in N9
Attack 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17
Damage 2d4 + 7 ⇒ (1, 3) + 7 = 11

Map updated, previous one was without coordinates

Ziz will continue to advance until he is within 80 ft, or so. as he does so he will use "megaphone" to speak to the crowd with the intent of calming and reassuring them.
diplomacy(+4 cha +2 trait): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

"do not worryssss, Ziz n Bricks n' Elsasss is on the way! pleassse no pushhh, yip! calm, yip, calm! walk nots run!"

3 rounds remaining before he arrives (possibly longer, if it is ruled that crowd management slows him).
spider climb 49 mins
megaphone 59 mins

@Lummel: The creature is wearing armor under its bulky cloak, and sweet edge fails to bite into the things flesh. With a hiss of rage the beast closes the distance between you and attacks! You're menaced from all sides as more of the large rats creep out from cover to bite at you, but you keep them at bay with your weapon's haft as you focus on the humanoid. Given its fury, the rat-thing wields its sword with surprising grace and almost quicker than your eye can follow its sword bites deeply into your thigh. 18 points of damage

By my count, you should be getting +11 to normal attacks and +12 to attacks of opportunity: +4STR, +5BAB, +1Enhancement, +1Polearm Training, +1Steadfast Pike (on AoO). Am I missing a penalty?