The Little Game Master's Kingmaker (Table 2)

Game Master The Little King

no worries, Gage isn't doing a lot at this point xD
Gage visibly relaxes as he takes in the scene.
"I suppose we should start by disarming these unfortunates. Then we can gather them into one place, and finally we can... begin the interrogation. I've always wanted a captive audience."

The last conscious bandit red says, "Do your worst, it's no better than what Happs'll do when he's through with your mate inside." He takes a swing at Tika with his sword, but his position, and Tika's readiness have him at a distinct disadvantage.

Vitellia, then Tika, then Seleste

ooh, can we say that Gage was delaying his turn?
If so:
"Oh? Still having trouble dropping your weapon? Let me help you!"
With another crack, Gage "helps" the bandit red
disarm (bandit red): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Gage fails to disarm the bandit.

can I 'disarm' the sword from the bandit by knocking the bandit off of the sword?

Tika takes offense to him not falling unconscious and pans his brainpan again.

Swat: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Pan tactics: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

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Vitellia, then Seleste

Vitellia move up and inspects Tiks's handiwork, insuring that this bandit will not be a problem in the near future.

"Enough of this." Seleste leans out tries to pin the still struggling bandit to the ground with her blade. But being tall and on the table while trying to hit a man on the ground is very unbalancing. "Miss Mamise? You alright in there?"

Enlarged Attack with Height Advantage: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
1d2d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

The westernmost orange bandit's bleeding seems to cease as Mamise threatens to attack the prone bandit. Tika pounds the red bandit into the ground yet again, knocking him out cold. Vitellia moves in to ensure that he is indeed out and is satisfied, meanwhile Seleste's attempt to finish him off is futile.

As Seleste asks if Mamise is okay, a leather clad arm tries to get Mamise in a headlock, but the kitsune is able to react quickly, pushing Happs' elbow up over her head, keeping him in front of her.

Mamise, Gage, Vitellia, Tika, Seleste

"I'm right as rain, I- Glurk! I'm rubbish at tying up people! C'mon, Happs, one against six and you're unarmed as well. Just admit that you've been... outfoxed." She chuckles at her own bad joke before gathering magic again. "Iubeo te cadere!"
Again, casting Command:Fall, Will 14 or fall prone. I have two spells left for the day.

Spellcraft to identify Mamise's spell (DC 16): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
"Showoff!" Gage grins at his own hypocrisy.

"Let me help you with... slick."
Gage casts a spell of his own, and a slick greasy patch of ground appears beneath Happs, behind Mamise.
5' step, casting grease! (Reflex 14 or fall prone immediately, if he walks on the grease then it's DC 10 acrobatics to walk at half speed ^^)

Happs resists being brought down by magic or a slippery floor.

Vitellia, Tika, Seleste

Vitellia steps past Tika, moving with determined purpose straight toward Happs. As she approaches she reaches out with her gauntleted hand, attempting to grab and restrain the brigand.

Combat Maneuver (Grapple): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Vitellia successfully puts Happs in a standing arm bar.

Tika, Seleste

Tika will notice that he's unarmed, and comes rushing in, twirling her frying pan and catching the rogue off guard with her unconventional weapon.

I have catch off guard when using my frying pan. Unarmed opponents are flat-footed against any attacks you make with an improvised melee weapon. Going for a nonlethal SA shot.

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Pan damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 Panage?
Nonlethal SA: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 1) = 2

Omg. Really? Really? Minimum damage across the freaking board.

Not sure I can fit in there for whatever reason," but when Seleste bends down to stick her head in the door, she finds things assume a more normal proportion. But she can't see much past the struggling wall of women. She is glad to see Mamise is indeed alright though, but can't do much to help.

Seleste does not use the growth power this round, so 3 of 6 used today.

Happs sneaks up behind Mamise, but gets grappled by Vitellia instead as Mamise tries and fails to bring him down magically; Gage's grease spell endangers the area, but Happs is used to a slippery floor, and it doesn't phase him. The trapped rogue takes the full bonk Tika offers and yells a hearty "Ow! No fair!" as she does. Seleste shrinks down to her normal size, and offers an added level to the wall.

Happs then looks at the ground outside and sees his best man passed out. He looks at these people around him and says expectantly, "All my men are down aren't they?"

Oleg pokes his head in the door grinning like a school-child, and says, "You bet your greasy love-joys they are!"

Happs stops resisting and says with a sigh, "I surrender."

End Combat

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

Not releasing her grip, Vitellia presses Happs about his response to the situation: "You almost sound glad to throw up the white flag, bandit."

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 8
"It'll be best if someone else ties him, I'd say I'm not practical. Hey, Oleg! You wanna chat a bit with our friends here?"
Stepping back into the open and stretching her back, she turns to her companions. "Anyone hurt? Do you need healing?"

Happs shrugs, putting his arms behind his back to be tied up again; "Some men choose this life because they love to lie, cheat, steal, and hurt people; me I didn't have much choice. I don't mind it, obviously, but I'm not about to die for it."

Oleg spits when he hears Happs say he didn't have much choice, and grunts humorously when the bandit says he doesn't mind it. Oleg shoots Mamise a confused look when she asks him if he wants to chat, then walks back to let his wife know they're safe.

Svetlana runs out and all but kisses each one of you; the tears in her eyes and quiver in her already nigh-unintelligible accent convey the message that she is immensely grateful and feels as though she'll never be able to pay you back. Oleg "gets something in his eye," which tells you he feels the same way.

No good guys sustained any damage, but the Orange bandit will eventually die if you leave him alone. The unconscious bandits will be at the mercy of the Levetons if you leave them be, which is not a good fate.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Gage answers Mamise while eyeing Happs
"I myself am feeling fine. Though I wonder how cooperative slick is feeling.”

Gage squeezes through the packed entrance way and walks carefully across the greased floor to grab the same rope that Happs escaped from moments ago. Gage then returns and hands the rope to Vitellia.
”Would you do the honors?”

Gage then steps out and gestures towards the rest of the bandits after trying to accept Oleg's and Svetlana’s thanks.
”What should we do with these fools? I’m inclined to leave them at the mercy of our kind hosts.”

"Well, one way or the other, we'll have to get the location of the stronghold out of them. And we may need Happy as a bargaining chip." says Mamise, getting her sickle back and looking at the other bandits. "I'm a bit uncomfortable with the idea of hanging them, but it could be just me being squeamish... Hey, this one's bleeding!"
Heal: 1d20 ⇒ 5
Instinctively, Mamise's inexperienced hands try to staunch the blood flow, to little effect.

Vitellia accepts the rope and binds Happs' hands as securely as she is able.

I believe, if Gage is correct, that means a DC 24 for him to escape.

"I suspect, given their absolute and total failure here today, that whoever is leading these bandits may not want them back."

She pauses in response to Mamise's concerns. "I have never been particularly taken with capital punishment, though neither am I a lawmaker. It is possible that, were Happs and his ill-fated gang to provide the information we seek, that authorities in Restov would consider our suggestion of an alternate sentence. Perhaps conscription into the militia?"

"It would be hard to attract colonists if we have a rep of easy executions." Tika observes. "I mean... Theyd have to find out... But still... Doesn't sit right with me."

She sighs. "Maybe we can have them work for us instead? Better benefits, job security... Actually pay them? I mean, lootings fine, but then what points money if there's no one around who'd trade with you?"

I am of course, suggesting we hire them to bandit for US instead. Leave our holdings alone, and they get better rewards as we expand. I think the term is privateering.

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"Wait! We are not killing them? We are giving them jobs? We are turning them loose on someone else? No way...OWWW!" From the doorway, Seleste's tirade is cut short as she grows and her head connects with the lintel. She sprawls into the dirt of the courtyard and sits there rubbing her head while very confused.

Growth Power 4 of 6

"Calm down, Seleste, I don't think that we will hire bandits. Tika, first, we have no capital. Our demesne will be contingent to eradicating the bandits.
Second, we obviously can't trust them.
Third, we've just beaten them without getting a scratch, they'd be useless.
And finally, I don't really see the use of having bandits around, especially since we'd like commerce to flow.
I'd say we squeeze information out of them, then send them to Restov with the next patrol."
Heal: 1d20 ⇒ 9
"In the meantime can you help me cure this bastard here? I can use magic but I'd rather save spells, and I don't want to have a person bleed to death wit no good reason."

Gage kneels down to give Mamise a hand in applying pressure to the bandit's wound.
Heal: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9 -2 for not having tools?
It's apparent from the way he tries that he doesn't know anything about medicine.
"I believe the rule to follow was 'unrepentent bandits' should be executed; as long as they turn away from thievery, I think it would be okay to not execute them."
Gage pauses, rubbing his chin thoughtfully
"I just had an amusing idea, what if they could guard this place against robbery as indentured servants?
It's not like they're burglars after all...
Either that or we can do what Mamise suggested."

Seleste, back to normal size looks down at the attempt to save the Bandit. "Sooooo, we want to heal him so he is healthy when we kill him. Right? Or Rostov. Rostov can kill him. Yeah, better they do it." She shakes her head at the bard's suggestion of toothy servants and even more so at his ministrations, "Mister Gage, it looks like you are trying to give him a Centaur Rub. You can't make the blood go back in. Here let me."

heal: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

She holds her hand over the wound, pressing but also bringing the wound to a close allowing the blood to hopefully clot. She had seen her Mother work on many a wound, never one this bad at least in Seleste's company. The thought of her Mother fills her with warmth. She always knew what to do. She taught Seleste well, so now the daughter knows what to do as well The Voices seem to know it too, and fall silent for once instead of their constant advice, either content to watch or wait.

The warmth spreads down Seleste's arms and into her hands.

When she senses the pressure had been sufficient, she asks Gage to make a bandage from the bandit's sleeve. But when she lifts her hand to apply the bandage, she recoils in horror, "What have I done? Where is the wound?" She sits back staring at her bloody hands, "What have I done. I am a monster. How can I heal a man that might have killed my mother? How can I heal? I was thinking of her and then this...Well, Tell me!" Seleste seemed more questioning herself until that last bit.

Oh, and Bandit Healing: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Gage leans back with a puzzled expression, listening intently.

Mamise finishes tying the bandage that Seleste had almost applied, then speaks softly to the girl. "Seleste, girl, I'm sorry for your mother, I really am. But letting a man bleed to death in front of your eyes, whatever his misdeeds, is an evil act. It won't make you feel better, it'll just eat at your soul. They'll face retribution for what they did, but not through petty revenge."

Tika watches the happening with a sense of disappointment. "Yeah. What Mamise said." she sighs. "If you let him just die, you'd be just as bad as he is. Neat trick, healing though. Would be helpful in the future."

Vitellia nods approvingly. "If they meet their deaths in open combat, then that is fair. But once the dust settles, we must see to it that survivors stand trial. If we plan to settle and annex this land, we must make a clear distinction between ourselves and the brigands that currently infest the area."

"I know, I know, we can't even kill them just a little bit. Still doesn't make it fair."

Seleste gets back to her feet and comes back to look at the bandaged bandit, "I thought my parents would have wanted this man dead too. But I think my Mother healed him...or least her memory did. And if that is what she wanted, I won't go against her. And deep down, I know this one would not have been the one who killed my father, for he was skilled with bow and sword, unlike these lackeys for the real bandits." She looks back to her bloody hands, "I just hope I can repeat that healing thing when it is one of us. I am going to go get this blood off."

She wanders off to the bunk house, her hands gesticulating as if she were in an argument and trying to get a point across, until she disappears from sight.

"Well then..."
Gage trails off as Seleste walks away to wash with Tika I presume?
"Well, that settles that. Hmmmm, I forgot to ask about her height issues. Maybe later."
Gage stands up and then casts a spell. prestidigitation
Dust and blood start disappearing from Gage's hands and clothes as he saunters over to Happs.
"So, Happs, just how cooperative are you feeling today? We need the location of a certain hideout. I'm sure you know the one, your ex-boss lives there."

Oleg rolls his eyes when he hears the final verdict, and his unspoken frustration puts him in a fit when Seleste accidentally heals one of the bandits.

When addressed, Happs says, "As long as you take me into custody first, I'll tell you exactly how to get there." Trusting that you will take him to Restov, and not with you to the camp, he shows you on your map where the hideout is. See your "table." "It's right here, where Thorn River enters the Narlmarches, in a clearing just inside the treeline. There are eight other men, and Kressle; she's the one you want to look out for, it's her band. Anything else? Can we go now?" He starts to look impatient, keeping his eye on Oleg, "I'd like to be brought into custody now please."

"I think so..."
Gage turns away from Happs asking loudly
"Anyone know the next time that soldiers from Restov would be passing through? Or do we need to take these prisoners all the way there ourselves?"

Vitellia grimaces at Gage's inquiry.

"You're right. We don't have proper facilities here for holding them prisoner. If there isn't a patrol expected soon, we'll likely have to backtrack to turn the bandits over."

Gage turns to Oleg expectantly.

Svetlana answers Gage with great gratitude, "Yes, if you'll recall, the Lord Mayor did promise us a squadron of guards; and you all are more than welcome to stay here--free of charge--until they arrive."

Svetlana and Oleg then go about the business of relieving the bandits of their weapons, armor and other valuables. They find two vials of alchemist's fire and a silver amulet in addition to the leather armor, bows, arrows, trail rations, daggers, and swords. She of course offers them to you before claiming what's left for the Trading Post.

They then tie the bandits up in the stables, Oleg is not shy about the joy he gets from sitting the bandit that had a knife to Svetlana in a pile of horse dung.

"Trail rations will be useful if we're going to explore" says Mamise, looking through the pack of items. "Alchemist fire is nice to have just in case, and- ooh, pretty! Magiam reperi! Is this... a stag? Whatcha think, sacred symbol, just jewelry?"
Casting detect magic.

Mamise's eyes aglow, detecting any magic, see no aura coming from the pendant. It appears to her to be a simple trinket, of no tactical value.

"Did you say jewelry? What kind of bandit wears jewelry? Can I see that?"
Gage leans over Mamise to take a look.
knowledge (religion or maybe history I'm guessing): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15 yay Bardic Knowledge
"Also, would you like the liquid fire, Mamise?"

"I'd take one, if you don't mind. Wild animals and other creatures loathe fire, not to mention what it can do to palisades. Oh, and this trinket's not magical."
She rises and stretches.
"Now, let's say that we err on the side of caution and Happs lied to us. There may be more bandits, or the address may be entirely someplace else. This gives me an idea... Oleg, Svetlana, don't be afraid and trust me." She steps in sight of Happs and raises her voice, loud enough to be heard by the bandits, while shifting to her fox form.
"But I don't believe that he would lie. Knowing it or not, when he surrendered he entered an agreement with a fey, and telling a lie or witholding information would bring on him a death most painful in a few days."
Bluff: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28 Did I sell my soul for these rolls? I'm going to fumble all my saves, I just know it.

Know (Local) would probably fit best, but Bardic Knowledge...

Gage can't say for certain that it's related, but he heard rumors at the tavern in Restov about a bandit leader called the Stag King who makes a home for himself somewhere in the Greenbelt.

Happs' eyes widen when he sees Mamise change form. This stress is slightly alleviated when the fox-lady makes her threat, making you think he told the truth.

Tika will select a dagger and its scabbard, setting it against the small of her back where her apron straps tie, concealing it from casual observation.

"Looks like we have a few days to keep track of these hoodlums." Tika says. "I suggest we keep watch out until Restov's reinforcements arrive."

Seleste comes back cleaned up, "We can help Oleg with his repairs until then."

She goes and looks over the items, "What? Why would I want that?" After a moment she sheepishly turns to the group, "Um, would it be alright if I took a bow and some arrows. It should be better then than my sling I grew up using. In any event my father was pretty good with a bow and he might have taught me a thing or two."

Will take 1 longbow and 20 arrows.

Mamise shifts back to human form with a scoff. "Bah! You can't even trust thieves to lie, what has this world come to? Oh well, I'm taking the pendant to, perhaps we can trick the bandits with a disguise."
She looks at Gage with a wicked grin, formulating a deeply embarrassing plan.
"But for the time being, I agree with Seleste, having the catapults up to shape would be nice."

Gage returns Mamise's grin with a slightly concerned look.
Before that grin I was about to say 'we think the same way'...
"Dare I ask?
Also I agree about the catapults, lobbing big rocks at any attackers sounds like fun. I've picked up a thing or two about machinery, maybe I can give it a shot. Heh. I suppose I'll take the other flask of fire too."
Gage gestures to magically remove some of the blood and dirt clinging to Mamise before addressing Seleste.
"By the way Seleste, I've been meaning to ask you about your... height issues. And do you have any friends that are... very good at hiding?"

Loving the roleplay guys, I'm gonna wait to see what everyone does before I award bonuses; just so I can get specific.

That reminds me: XP! You've all received 121 xp, and Mamise gets an extra 12 for her wiles.

Tika will help however she can around Oleg's trading post. She's not incapable of physical labor, but she's obviously not built for heavy construction.