Unbinding the Fetters - Disciples of Master Gond (Inactive)

Game Master Mark Sweetman

Knowledge(geography-untrained): 1d20 ⇒ 10

Sedeq? Glad we have magical beasts of burden. Them mountains and deserts ain't easy to cross.

"Ah yes Sedeq a wonderous town full of mystery" Torgus exclaims.

Yes Bear, we will have to buy jackets, it is cold in northern Varisia this time of year.

Bluff: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (20) - 1 = 19

If no-one has any specifics to ask Gond at this point?

A few hours of journey pass peacefully, Gond is not talkative - but does respond and asks questions of your adventures before you came to the monastery.

He is mostly bemused by the champion, and with a wry smile suggests that the orken shield technique might be added to the syllabus at the school.

The wagon then shudders to a halt and Master Gond clambers out the back of it. A wafting scent of salt laden air hits your nostrils.

"Is this a campsite or have we arrived?" Gorak asks

Gond has already scarpered out the back of the wagon, so you'll have to follow to find out....

Gond has already scarpered out the back of the wagon, so you'll have to follow to find out....

Gorak follows.

I breath deeply the salt air. Smells like the salt flats in southern Osirian. My guess is that it is the ocean.

I then follow Gorak out of the wagon.

Sorry for the weekend slow - had a busy long weekend :)

Opening the flaps at the back of the wagon, your eyes are assaulted by the bright light. You step out not into the mountains that were surrounding you at the Monastery, but into sand at water's edge. The wagon train has come to a halt on a dune just outside the walls of a decadent looking city, Sedeq.

The city itself reeks of decadence and toil in it's veneer. There are wide open manshions festooning the upper city, while the lower is squalid with slums and slaves in chains. Master Gond is talking with the other instructors a short distance away, while the rest of the students are unloading from the ox carts.

Ah, the heat of the desert. It is so welcomed.

Javi looks at their surroundings, then back at the wagon, then back at their surroundings again. "What kind of wagon is that?"

The masters break out of their huddle and the lady who led the Harrowing for you at the monastery waves you over.

As you approach "Enjoy your trip in the wagon? - they are useful on the few times we need travel. Come, we are to enter the market and secure provisions for our journey across the seas." before spinning on her heel and moving off in the assumption that you will follow.

The masters break out of their huddle and the lady who led the Harrowing for you at the monastery waves you over.

As you approach "Enjoy your trip in the wagon? - they are useful on the few times we need travel. Come, we are to enter the market and secure provisions for our journey across the seas." before spinning on her heel and moving off in the assumption that you will follow.

"I enjoy the ocean." Gorak says as he follows the master.

Suddenly realizing that he was going to have to cross from the wonderful hot sand and onto the water.

Dwarves don't float. Not looking forward to this.

The Harrower leads a brisk pace down from the rise and into the sweltering depths of the city proper. Trusting to your ability to follow, she is scratching out some items on a piece of paper with a stick of charcoal as she walks.

Moving through the streets, you eventually come to a wide open market area with a huge array of stalls and performance art ongoing. A heady fragrance of spice and cooking meat wafts toward you upon the breeze. Calls in both Taldan and Kelish climb into the air and entice you this way and that with exhortations of delights both earthly and otherworldly.

Turning to face you the harrower holds out the list of goods with a small clinking bag. "Here, make yourself useful and track down whats on here. We'll meet back at the wagon on the outskirts of town in say two hours?"

There was a smile on Cassadar's face the moment the salt air hit his nose.. Big Water. Another goal for him to reach in his personal journey, since his mental classifications of the strata that he had already passed eventually led to the Sea, as most rivers did. He was familiar with such travel magic, and took it as a matter of course, taking another deep breath of the salt air.

The city dimmed that smile some, disliking the idea of having to enter such a place, distracting them all from their study, but it was what it was, and there was little he could do against it. He took some comfort in the fact that they would not be lingering here long.

Said comfort was quickly dispelled as they entered the city, and he looked between those that had come with them to see who would take the money and list. The words that were shouted at them made no sense to him, and he tuned them out with barely an effort, though there were likely a few things that he would like to see while he was here.

While Javi had never been to Sedeq, the name was an immediate memory trigger. Even more striking to Javi is the city's personality; there was a feeling about this city that was somehow very similar to the city of his childhood, Katapesh… and it was called slavery.

The youthful, curious Javi you'd come to know seemed to shrink within an older, more guarded version of the Vudrani half-elf. He watched every local, every armed person, and especially every slave, his dark eyes smoldering with an inner fire. Through it all, though, he keeps his mouth shut.

Into the mouth of the lion, he thinks.

When you arrive at the market, and the list is offered, Javi doesn't hesitate to take it. As he looks around the loud, beehive of the foreign market, you get the distinct impression he is a fish now reintroduced back to his pond. He beckons to anyone who wants to join him, "Will someone come with me? It's always good to have a second pair of eyes in markets such as these."

Taking 10 to both find the items and use Diplomacy to drop the price (if possible).
Both will result in an 18.
Wouldn't mind some Aid Another actions from anyone willing. :)

Javi wastes no time, using the list as a map of sorts as he begins looking for the right vendors and merchants. His tone turns friendly but business-like as he haggles for both information and goods in the clipped tongue of the locals.

"I will come with you Javi, but the nature of merchants is not my strong suite. I typicall hunt and gather. "

Javi smiles as his dark eyes scan across all the open-air booths, "What? This is practically just like hunting... just a different type of jungle. Keep your eyes open for the things on the list. You might surprise yourself."

And I wouldn't mind having all the Aid Another's I can... it doesn't have to be a trained skill, after all. :)

Javi smiles as his dark eyes scan across all the open-air booths, "What? This is practically just like hunting... just a different type of jungle. Keep your eyes open for the things on the list. You might surprise yourself."

And I wouldn't mind having all the Aid Another's I can... it doesn't have to be a trained skill, after all. :)

"I imagine most trinkets don't run for the underbrush if they hear you lilke rabbits do. However, I do have good eyes." Gorak says as he glances over the list

Javi and Gorak head into the market. What about the others?

I shall join you. This is much like Ossirian where I was raised, although most of my time was spent with my dwarven caste.

Aid another: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

Javi and Gorak head into the market. What about the others?

** spoiler omitted **

"Isn't this expensive?" Gorak points to the saffron on the list. "I believe we're being tested, yet again. I wasn't aware haggling was on the curriculum."

Edit Diplomacy Aid another 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (19) + 0 = 19

So javi's Diplomacy rolls (one to locate the best vendors and one to charm them down to a lower price) both equal 22 now. Voice, is that enough to buy what we need for the amount of coin in the bag?

So javi's Diplomacy rolls (one to locate the best vendors and one to charm them down to a lower price) both equal 22 now. Voice, is that enough to buy what we need for the amount of coin in the bag?

Actually I screwed up, that was a perception check by me, here is the Aid Another for Diplomacy.

Aid Another Diplomacy: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (17) - 1 = 16

"Hey lads, let us seek out a tavern before the market then we could truly test our skill and then I can show you my diplomacy technigues." He says with a excited growl.

Javi - you gauge that even if you get a good deal, you likely will come up short by a reasonable quantity.

Just a short pause to let someone reply to the Bear before things move on...

Javi - you gauge that even if you get a good deal, you likely will come up short by a reasonable quantity.

Just a short pause to let someone reply to the Bear before things move on...

"Any thoughts on our apparent financial issue? "

I look at Bear - Unless your tavern can turn a little money into a lot of money, I think that we should avoid drinking at present.

Also, were we supposed to purchase these goods? The harrower instructed us to track them down. We have done so, and cannot afford them. We have followed her instruction to the word.

For clarity - I'll have a post up soon with the start of your buying spree - but you haven't outlaid any money at present.

Opportunities for financial gain will present themselves....

Descending unto the market in force, the party is able to quickly fulfill most of the mundane requests for items such as flour, olives and dates without any issue. Organising with the stall owners, you have them arrange to deliver the goods to the wagon train outside the city.

However when the time comes for fulfilling the order for saffron and the dyes, your pouch is getting lean. The saffron will run to 200 in gold and the dyes another 80, though there is but 30 remaining in the pouch given by the Harrower.

Javi turns to the rest of the companions to discuss the issue....

Perception:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13 <-- I know nothing, I see nothing.

Perception 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15.

"Well, this is gonna get interesting, it seems that -- HEY!"

Javi bursts into motion, chasing a small small child into the crowd, "THAT KID JUST STOLE OUR MONEY! GRAB HIM!"

He switches to the local tongue as he sprints in pursuit.

Chase Scene:

Ok, so the kid has a small head start on Javi plus whoever else makes the Perception check.

Frakdar and anyone who fails the Perception check start a turn behind the others.

This will play essentially just like the chase rules in the APG.
You make a choice of attempting to move 1 card or 3 cards each round.
Moving 1 means pick one of the two options, and make an appropriate skill / maneuver check - success means you move 1 card.
Moving 3 means you make an attempt at both of the two obstacles - and can potentially catapult three cards forwards. However if you fail both checks, you get stuck and need to waste a turn to unmire

If you are on the same card as the Kid when you get to make an action - you can instead try to disarm / grapple / attack / etc him.
If you get ahead of him, you can make an AoO as he tries to pass / or ready an action and wait for him.

Questions to be answered as we play it out and as they come up.

Kid Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Climb: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

You can just spy the kid nimbly climb up the side of a stone building in the square so that he can make quicker movement unblocked by the crowd.

Obstacle 1:

The narrow market stalls are crowded with people milling about making purchases.

Ramming speed: try and push your way through the crowd, or nimbly slip through spaces between people (Bullrush or Acrobatics)

Make Way, Make Way: get the obstacle to move aside for you (Bluff, Diplomacy or Intimidate)

Status in Round 1:
On Obstacle 1: Frakdar, Gorak, Javi, Cassadar, Torgus
On Obstacle 3: Kid

Bold means yet to act this round, Italics means you get to act only if you beat the Perception target.

Gorak makes note of the Blodied Brow but turns to see what Javi is yelling about.
Perception 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Since I flunked my perception check.

Round 2

Trying to move 3

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
Intimidate: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

Outta da way - Dwarf coming through.

Perhaps posting early, but here it is
Round 2

"MAKE WAY!!"
Acrobatics1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Intimidate 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

Perception:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

Round 1

"Make way for the Champion!" Torgus Shouts as he charges through the crowd

Bullrush:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14
Intimidate:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Progressing, and Cassadar can catch up when he's able.

Kid's Acrobatics: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31
In the distance you see the kid drop from the stone roof and vault over a pen of livestock to get a shortcut through the market.

Frakdar bellows at the shoppers before diving nimbly through the gaps that appear, making good time and getting to a position where he can head off the kid.

Torgus gets people to pay attention, but too many gawk at the Master of the Orken Shield and he has some difficulty pushing through the mass of people. Passed the Intimidate, but failed the Bullrush by less than 5 - means you advance only 1 card instead of 3

The shoppers must have been too overwhelmed by the assault of a bald dwarf and hairy giant, and Gorak finds their attention difficult to garner. This also makes it hard for him to slip through the crowd, instead he is penned in by an ornery camel. Failed both obstacles - so you are mired, meaning you have to waste round 3 getting unmired before reattempting obstacles in Round 4

Status in Round 2:
On Obstacle 1: *Gorak*, Javi, Cassadar
On Obstacle 2: Torgus
On Obstacle 3: <None>
On Obstacle 4: Frakdar, Kid

Frakdar is at 22 in Initiative to the kid's 20, so you can choose to take an action against the kid this round instead of attempting the obstacle if you like.

Gorak unwedges himself from the crowd.

How far away is the kid?

Distance is fairly fluid in a chase scene, but I'd say roughly 30 odd foot per obstacle would seem fair.
Going by that logic, he's about 90ish feet from where you are Gorak... however whether you can easily target him is a bit dependent on what you intend to do ;)

Sorry for the lapse... stupid work.
Round 1 Javi goes for both.
Ramming Speed - Acro 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28.
Make Way! - Bluff 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27.

Javi races forward, juking one old man out of his way while using the horizontal shade bar on one of the vendor's stalls to vault himself toward the roofline the kid went for.

If I can get an update, I'll post round 2 for Javi... again, sorry for the ill-timed lapse.

Distance is fairly fluid in a chase scene, but I'd say roughly 30 odd foot per obstacle would seem fair.

Going by that logic, he's about 90ish feet from where you are Gorak... however whether you can easily target him is a bit dependent on what you intend to do ;)

Flight came to mind, but I haven't decided if it's worth it.

Quick off the mark, Javi easily outpaces the kid. Judging the likely path of the child's flight, he makes for the other side of the livestock pen... and lays in wait.

Javi - you can ready an action to take against the kid in Round 2 when he moves into your 'card'.
Gorak - I'd say wait until you're up again in Round 4... it may not even make it that far at this rate.

Round 3

If he is still up I will attack him with Scorpion Strike.

Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9 --> non-lethal, using Scorpion Strike - Fort Save DC 15 or his speed is reduced to 5' for 3 rounds

Perception:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

Having been looking the other way, Cassadar jerked his head towards Javi, then in the direction he pointed, trying to spot just exactly who he meant, but then the others took off after him, and it was either follow, or get left behind in an unfamiliar city, where he did not speak the local tongue.

Deliberation was really not necessary.

(RND2)3card Acrobatics:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16, Climb:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
The crowd was no different than a river, in fact, they were somewhat easier, since they had gaps that could be threaded through.. The only disadvantage to that is that if one followed the gaps left in the crowd, it was entirely possible that you would lose more ground than was gained. Still, that did not stop Cassadar from smiling as he took off after the others, the faces of the patrons of the market blurring as he began to only see them as obstacles to be avoided.

The climb-- 'Ever out of water and onto rocks', he lamented-- was something that did not go as well, his skill in climbing evident as what he gained in slipping through the crowd, he lost in scaling the building.

Javi - your action would go first given that it is readied, unless you would like to delay to after Frakdar?

Will roll in Cassadar's actions in next update - though if it was a three card attempt - it needed to have a social skill as the second skill attempt, not climb.
Will assume a 1 card Acrobatics; 3rd round - single card climb unless otherwise informed.

Hmmm, readied action, huh? How about a trip? :)

Javi finds the spot he's sure the kid will have to pass, setting himself up to trip the kid as he moves by.

Readied Trip (which should provoke an AoO from the kid) 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8.

Javi attempts to trip the kid as he lands after vaulting the pig pen, but misjudges the attempt. The kid does not respond with an attack of his own, as he jumps barely clear of Frakdar's strike. As Frakdar's fist barely deflects off the jingling chain shirt beneath the kid's clothes, he tries to continue fleeing....

Spinning in place he whips a jewelled dagger from within his clothes to defend himself.

Gorak slaps the blocking camel's rump and unmires himself, while Cassadar tries and fails to climb the shopfront.

Status in Round 3:
On Obstacle 1: Gorak
On Obstacle 2: Torgus, Cassadar
On Obstacle 3: <None>
On Obstacle 4: Frakdar, Kid, Javi

Frakdar's Round 3 action was the Scorp Strike, while Javi's was readied - so Javi still has an action that he can take in Round 3.
Frakdar is at higher initiative - so will get to act before the kid in Round 4.

So do I have a full round of actions left? Or only a move action? And is the kid still within melee of Javi?

Perception 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16.

Javi's eyes narrow as he consider his options, and he hisses out to Frakdar, "It's no kid... he's a halfling!"