The Little Game Master's Kingmaker (Table 2)

Game Master The Little King

The bandit scurries to Gage's side at the sound of his commanding voice, grabbing the end of the whip rope. "You 'eard 'im, don't care if 'e does sound like some nobleman o' Brevoy, eyes front!" For added scare tactics, the bandit kicks out Seleste's knees so she has to kneel in front of him while he watches the road.

Does Happs only talk like that around foxy ladies...?
"Happs" suppresses a wince as he watches the bandit kick the back of Seleste's knees.
Well, I guess that's the best I'll get. Oh wait, I didn't want that guy making noise!
"What'd I say about idle chatter? Watch carefully and keep your ears open, idiot!"

Now that I think of it
Bluff (pass secret message): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
"Who knows, something might happen as soon as I get that idiot's attention." "Happs" shrugs and then gestures towards the east, before turning to head that way.

It occurs to me that I may not have laid it on as thick when I RP'd, but Happs is supposed to be lesser educated, represented here by a slightly cockney accent. Also he probably wouldn't use phrases like "idle chatter" and the like. Just a note.

Ready. So we go loud on these and then siege the main camp? Probably better than scattering.
Mamise tenses, ready to spring into action, a spell on her lips, her sickle drawn.

@The Little Game Master: Thanks for the note ^^
Let's pretend that instead of an accident, it was because... um... because of a natural 1 on my Gage's bluff check! xD

I just have to concentrate a bit more...
"Happs," seemingly satisfied, turns his back on the bandit and "prisoners" to circle around to the other watchman.
Got to get him looking away so he at least stands a chance of not noticing what comes next.

"Happs" slowly moves towards the other watchman, squeezing by some logs on the way there.
When he finally arrives, he takes a deep breath.
Here's hoping we're far enough away from that other guy for this to work
maybe I can try a thicker accent on this guy...
"'Ey, over 'ere, wait 'till you hear about what 'appened."

As he lets go of his focus on the illusions he created, the illusory bandits and rope begin to disappear and the rope "Happs" handed off reverts to Gage's whip. Gage then concentrates to weave some magic into his words in a way that only bards know of.
Bardic Performance: Fascinate (DC 13 will or be fascinated)
"It all started when we went to visit the trade post..."

Tika creeps up on the bandits on watch, allowing 'Happs' arrival distract their attention from her movements. The darkness leading up to the bandits also helps.

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

She maneuvers slowly, at half her normal speed, to get around behind the furthest bandit on watch, the one in the back that other's won't notice go missing. When she gets close to behind him, she raises her new frying pan, touches it to her lips, and then stands up straight, bringing the pan down and grabbing the back of the bandit's armor at the same time to break his fall.

SNEAK ATTACK! (Lethal): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Pan to the head: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
SA damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

The cyan bandit holding the now whip looks down at his hand, then up at an unbound Seleste and Vitellia, and his eyes grow wide!

The Cornflower bandit is not fascinated, but still thinks Gage is Happs. He also hasn't noticed through the trees that the rest of Gage's illusion has resolved, nor does he hear the cry of the cyan bandit down there. Combat begins before Tika makes her move...luckily she's up first, lol.

The cornflower bandit hears a noise behind him while he talks with Gage, he turns to find a beautiful maiden swinging a frying pan! As he falls, unconscious and dying, she deftly softens his landing on the ground.

Gage is up

Well, that's probably two down. I wonder if I can split the remaining bandits up further, or if we're lucky enough that they're sleeping.
sneaking: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
Gage, still wearing the Happs disguise, sneaks over to Tika. He draws Seleste's sword as he whispers to Tika "Hey Tika, nice hit.
See any more of them on the other side of this platform?
Also, if they spot us, I can pretend to take you prisoner. Whaddya think?"

Tika merely smiles at gage's proposition. A kind of smile he's never seen her make before; something sinister and threatening more than happy. She holds up a few fingers to indicate the remaining bandits she's seen, then backs away from him, melting into the darkness once again.

Re-establishing stealth and moving to ambush the next vict-i mean bandit.

-Posted with Wayfinder

The cornflower bandit continues to die, as the cyan bandit is caught fooled by the illusion. The other bandits are still none the wiser.

Mamise is up, we need to stick to the order, because as soon as one of the other bandits detects anything, the order of initiative will have more bandits added to it.

They didn't notice. And the others seem to have the sentinel covered.
Lying low in the undergrowth, Mamise sneaks closer to Tika and Gage.
Stealth: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Seeing the shock on the guards face, Seleste looks down at her unwrapped hands, "Funny thing, ropes these days." To her guards eyes, the length of leather seems to shrink until the realization hits that the whip isn't shrinking, she is growing.

Kneeling before him and her weapon off with 'Happs' she does the only thing that comes to her. She reaches around his legs and tries to yanks him to the ground.

Enlarged Grapple: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 (w/bonuses for size and str. to no avail)

But instead is just left making an uncomfortable hug.

Vitellia is up. Seleste, I'm delaying that action to your turn. If it turns out you can't do what you've said you're doing, then oh well.

Well, since Vitellia seems too busy to post these past couple of days, I'll bot her for a round...hmmm, now WWVD?
As soon as Gage's ruby based illusion dissipates, Vitellia wastes no time in signaling Kirby and drawing her bardiche on the other Cyan bandit.

Kirby bolts around behind Seleste and then moves to flank the bandit. Kirby gets into position just in time to distract the bandit with the sound of snapping teeth as Vitellia swings her bardiche overhead, attempting to brain the bandit.
bardiche attack: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 2 = 13
damage: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Vitellia's attack comes down hard but her movement betrayed her actions just enough to give the bandit time to move his head, but she manages to cut the bandit's shoulder deeply 6 dmg which causes him to take a half-step back still in square, no movement which makes Seleste miss her grapple.

In the woods to the east, Kressle overhears the commotion and calls the other bandits to their feet including "Happs."

Round 2 begins, exact order is no longer a big deal: Tika and Gage are up.

Tika prowls quietly into the stand of trees, keeping low and without any lights to be seen by. She will take cover against any lines of sight from the bandit camp and wait for them to come closer to her.

Stealth: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Well, not great, but not terribad either. I really should invest in better stealth skill!

Actually, we both have the stealth skill at max ranks (1) :P
Perception (to notice where Tika went): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 she disappeared like magic xD
Wow, I should ask Tika for pointers later...
Gage glances around at the foliage lit only by torchlight, contemplative.
To go back, or not to go back? That is the question...
maybe I'll just try to peek through the greenery first.
Gage takes a few steps west 5' around some undergrowth, hoping to see if the other bandit is down yet.
Perception (to try and see how the others are doing): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25 lolwut

As Tika awaits the enemy, Gage steps over and assesses the situation with his other teammates. He sees the bandit he "left in charge" draw his shortsword, and slice the outside of Seleste's neck, drawing blood crit for 8 dmg. He also knows that Vitellia and Kirby are fine, but the bandit has certainly seen better days. You can also tell that Kirby is a bit hungry, Vitellia has just finished her menstrual cycle, Seleste is a bit nippy, and the bandit is having a spot of indigestion.

Starlady, this might be bad, very very bad.
Clutching the enchanted amulet, Mamise commands it to twist her form into that of the Cornflower bandit before dragging his body into the undergrowth, as quietly as she can.
Stealth: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Mamise's fox-face flattens to an olive-cream human one; her beautiful fur leaves, and the top of her new head is adorned with short, black, greasy hair. She hurriedly buries the man whom she now resembles in a pile of leaves and branches.

Vitellia, and Seleste are up.

It appears we have hit a small hiatus, so I'd bot Vitellia and Seleste for this action.

Vitellia swings again her bardiche, working in concert with Kirby to bring the bandit down before he can make any more noise.
Attack, flanking: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 4 + 2 = 16
Damage: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Kirby's attack: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 3 + 2 = 14
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Seleste, enraged as the bandit draws her blood, takes her falcata out and swings viciously at him.
Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12
Damage: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (5, 3) + 2 = 10
Still enlarged, one less use of her growth power.

After seeing Vitellia's damage, I doubt Seleste needs to attack xD
(also Gage still has her falcata, but she can grab Gage's whip off of the bandit once he's down...)

Vitellia and Kirby's well-rehearsed, coordinated attack made short work of the hoodlum, killing him. As the corsair fell, Seleste swung her spear in a breeze over the lifeless corpse.

Kressle, running toward the sound of her underlings under attack, she spots Tika in her path. She draws one of her handaxes, and takes a swing at the girl, cutting her deep in the back before asking, "'o are you an' whatcha doin' in my camp!?" 6 dmg

The purple bandit, following closely behind his leader, drew his sword and took to her as well, bringing her sharply to the ground 7 dmg.

The dwarf-woman ran to the perch and climbed it, then drew her bow, ready to knock an arrow once she sees what Kressle heard.

The Blue bandit follows behind Kressle, drawing his bow, but finds his teammates were far too clustered to get through to/see the cause of all the ruckus.

Tika and Gage are up.

Uhh... No, I'm not up. I'm dying. As you have so indicated.

"Happs" takes a few steps 5' step closer to where Kressle's voice came from, thinking fast.
That sounded bad, how can I distract them?
bluff: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
"Oi! Kressle, izzat you? It's me, 'apps!
Didja see some girl 'o tried ta skewer me? Or didja 'ear any o' 'er friends o'er there?"
"Happs" sheaths Seleste's falcata while he gestures vaguely behind Kressle with his torch when he asks.
Please look away...
"Happs" gets ready to cast an illusion, hoping the bandits turn around.
Gage readies an action to cast ghost sound when/if the bandits look away or walk by

Starmother! Oh, that's a lot of blood...
Mamise's stomach churns seeing Tika going down, and she fights a wave of nausea.

"Woah, boss, y'did a real number on 'er! Darn cray gal sneaked up on us, tried to brain Mistah Happs. Doubt she'll ever get up, ah'll bury her someplace an' leave you t'your business."
Bluff: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

Provided I'm not stopped
Mamise grabs Tika's bleeding, unmoving form under the armpits and drags her through the undergrowth, trying to get out of line of sight. Gage, I'm leaving you in a bad situation, hold on. What are the other two doing?

Tika's been in a bad scrape or two in the past, and she holds on as Mamise uses her new disguise to attempt to move her. Tika's not the only one, however, as the cornflower bandit whose face Mamise is borrowing, also holds on a bit longer. Gage engages his "team" as Happs hoping to distract them long enough to enact a more complex plan.

Vitellia and Seleste are up

Welp, I'll bot Vitellia and Seleste again I 'spose

Vitellia charges double moves over the river in the general direction that "Happs" went, barking orders at Seleste and signaling Kirby. "He made too much noise, hurry!"

Seleste's adrenaline keeps pumping and she remains larger than usual as she follows after Vitellia, one hand on her wound.3/6 enlarge self iirc
Ow ow ow... weird, that doesn't feel like it's bleeding anymore Seleste thinks to herself as she once again subconsciously releases healing magic. move + CLW
Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Mamise tricks Kressle into believing that not only is she the bandit, but that this girl is actually dead and in need of hiding.
"Don't be too long, Herodion," the bandit leader croaks, "There's more of them!" with that, she takes a few steps provoking from "Happs" then deftly flings a dagger from her shoulder at the oncoming knight, but it whizzes harmlessly over Vitellia's head.
The purple bandit joins her, dropping his sword where he stood under the tree, and drawing his bow to shoot the "GIANT!" he shouts in fear, letting his startledness take his arrow high and wide.
The dwarf hops down from the outlook post, moves past "Happs" also provoking and draws her bow as well, and drawing a mark on Seleste, looses an arrow true into her thigh 5 dmg.
Finally, the blue bandit moves past "Happs" also also provoking drawing his bow, then looses once he sees the charging knight, and sticks her just above the collar of her chain mail 8 dmg.

The whole party is up. Remember Gage, you have one AoO, and after the blue bandit walks past you, you can perform your readied action. These are in addition to your turn.

Pressing her hands against Tika's breast, hoping not to be noticed, Mamise murmurs a brief player. Brilliant spirits of life and magic, grant me power to heal and save. "Cura levia vulnera!"

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Then, cupping her hands, she shouts at the bandits. "Incoming from the south! Cavalry!"

As Mamise's words ring out in the spirit realm, she sees the hands of long-dead healers cover Tika. The barmaid coughs and sputters as she sits up, wounds healed.

Tika, you can take a turn now, too! Though technically, your turn is now after Mamise's, not that it matters at present.

The vixen then shouts a ruse of a warning up to her "comrades." Gonna need a bluff check for that, Mamise.

Whoops, thought I rolled it too.
Bluff, using my Natural Divination for the day: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (5) + 20 = 25

readied to cast ghost sound, SA to cast grease, move to unsheath the sword...again. lol. I needed the free hand to grab butter and cast, right?

As the bandits pass by Gage to attack Vitellia and Seleste, Gage weaves a spell. Immediately after he finishes, the sound of four men running and shouting can be heard approaching from the east. (DC 13 will) targeting J25? (the yellow dotted outline)

"Happs" casts another spell grease (DC 14 ref) under the dwarf and the bandit next to her, hoping that they'll slip while he unsheathes Seleste's falchion again.

"Incoming from the south! Cavalry!"

"Happs" steps closer 5' and appends more shouting "Herodion's".

Gotta go to work. Suffice it to say, Kressle is altogether fooled; Purple saw through the illusion, but still thinks Gage is Happs, and believes Mamise; the dwarf is fooled and slips; and Blue doesn't believe Gage is Happs anymore, believes Mamise, and did not slip. And Tika, Vitellia, and Seleste are up.

Tika will blink, straightening as she tries to remember what hit her.

I guess Vitellia will go next xD

Vitellia sicks Kirby on the fallen dwarf, getting ready to strike at any of the other three that approach. move -> readied attack vs any who enter range
Kirby for his pounces on the poor dwarf, attempting to rip her to shreds.
move & atk
BITE! atk: 1d20 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 4 = 13 yay +4atk vs prone, or was it -4ac vs melee? XD
BITE! dmg: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

I'll move Seleste then.

The giant elf rushes next to Vitellia, while drawing a spear tied behind her back.
Two move actions.

Tika will also pick up her frying pan and stand up.

"Don't you run!" Kressle cries, "Remember 's no' jus' me you gotta answer to!" She backs away from her enemies visible and invisible, flinging a dagger into Vitellia's gut as she goes 4 dmg.

The purple bandit says loud enough to hear, "One of the one's to the south must be a magic-user, 'cos the eastern noise was just noise, prolly an illusion, mum." He sticks an arrow Vitellia's mastiff 2 dmg before hopping the log route detailed to get better position and cover.

The dwarf drops her bow, draws her shortsword, and attacks the dog, but her position and Kirby's reaction to being shot leave her swinging at air.

The blue bandit turns wildly about having heard Gage utter his spell, seeing Happs for who he really is...some...body else. "Oy, you're no' Happs! This here's the magic user!" he cries to the purple bandit, dropping his bow and drawing his sword to attack the illusionary interloper, but Gage is quick enough to dodge the attack thanks to the bandit's confusion.

5' step & standard attack w/ combat expertise.
16AC until Gage's next turn
Gage drops the torch he was holding, grasping the falcata with both hands, as he circles around the nearest (blue) bandit.
"Oops, did you see that spell coming?
How 'bout this blade?"
Gage swings at the bandit's guts while trying to remember how to swing something so short and heavy effectively.
Falcata (non-proficient + combat expertise): 1d20 + 2 - 4 - 1 ⇒ (3) + 2 - 4 - 1 = 0
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
strike 1! xD
Gage swings too hard and too short, a good half foot in front of the bandit's stomach.
I miss my whip...

Mamise, Tika, Vitellia, and Seleste are all up!

We had a plan. It sounded like a sensible plan. What went wrong? Why did we start swapping weapons?

Stalking towards the bandits, but keeping in cover as much as possible, Mamise points at the only bandit standing over Gage's trap (blue). With an imperious gesture, she reaches to magic twisting his mind. "Iubeo te cadere!"

Command: Fall, Will DC 14 or fall prone.

As for Vitellia, she takes a step to get into the cover of the log, so as to threaten two foes, and strikes at the one who harmed her pup (purple), while the aforementioned pup mauls the fallen dwarf. Sadly, its bite only manages to strike tough leather.

Attack(Vitellia to Purple): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Damage: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Attack(Kirby to Dwarf): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

Vitellia and Gage flank blue. There is an opportunity to flank the dwarf. Gage, I've lost track of your whip, don't you still have it with you? Also, is Kressle turning tail?

Seleste has the whip. And Kressle is behaving per her character sheet. Tika & Seleste are up.

I'm looking at the map and it still shows me by orange? Is that accurate or am I looking at an old map?

That's Mamise in disguise, but yes, you're in the right place.

@Mamise: about Kressle, your guess is as good as mine xD
Also, I guess I'll bot Seleste...
Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8 I looked it up; it's -4ac vs melee for the prone condition. Here's hoping! xD
Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (6, 3) + 4 = 13
Seleste swings her spear overhead trying to smash the dwarf that slipped in the grease.

Seleste has trouble picking out the dwarf from the rest of the grease and mud in the dark, and her spear comes down just to one side.

Tika is up.

Tika moves up at half speed, trying to get the drop on someone since she's hurting and getting hit (again) would probably spell her doom.

stealth: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

I'm doomed! :)

As Gage swings at the blue bandit, the falchion only hits air as the ruffian bites the dust prone. Gage looks over to Mamise who shrugs, grinning. That grin is quickly wiped from her face however, as she--and nearly everyone else--hears Tika snap on a couple twigs on her way into the battle. "An' 'ere I thought you was dead!" the rough little dwarf woman shouts. Kirby and his master use this distraction to their advantage as they deal out metal and tooth to the purple bandit and the dwarf respectively 7 dmg & 4 dmg respectively. Kirby's bite causes the dwarf to real, causing Seleste's spear-swing to hit mud.

Kressle takes a few steps forward to get a better look at the situation, and slings a dagger straight into Gage's spine before taking another step back crit, 13dmg Gage falls to the ground, dying.

Gotta go to work, I'll post Purple, Elsa, and Blue's actions next.