With a Single Step (Inactive)

Game Master Bill Dunn

"Well, We've already left dead bodies, it's only a matter of time until the corbies realize someone is responsible for their missing allies." Rawnie speaks up.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 Since no one else is going to roll one...Does it seem like Zaiobe is the type to stab us in the back once the corbies are dealt with? I see absolutely nothing wrong with trusting this woman with our lives!

Since Rawnie brought it up:

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

Oh, why not?

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

Clearly trustworthy to me. Sure, her face looks kinda scary, but I'm pretty sure that's just because she's having a bad day...

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

Sense motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

"Alright let's team up to take down this Kikonu."

With Zaiobe on the spot, a good many of you get the feeling that she's quite sincere about wanting to take Kikonu down. She veritably seethes with hatred for him.

Both Alara and Piper receive Zaiobe's telepathic suggestion (no, not the spell, just a suggested course of action), "Good! We should lay an ambush for him. Because we were once close, I can communicate with him without touching him. I can suggest an intimate meeting and draw him out without his corbies. The question is - where?"

Piper looks at Zaiobe as she sizes him and the others up. He squeezes her hand and thinks to her: <Relax, Zaiobe. There's no need to be unease or scared of us. We'll help you. But we ask that you help in return. You won't attack us. Promise?>

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (12) + 14 = 26
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

Piper once again writes on his chalkboard (in the same goofy fashion): 'She says that we should lay an ambush for Kinkou. When we get close, she can send a telepathic communication to him. She'll arrange a meeting of an... intimate nature to draw him without the corbies. The only question would be where?'

She then turns to Zaiobe: <How does that work exactly, communicating without touching Kinkou? Does it have to do with you curse?>

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 25

Piper, you don't need a diplomacy roll with every question. All you need it for is to raise someone's attitude and for really significant requests. Most other stuff is far more routine and not in need of a die roll.

In response to Piper's question about how she communicates with Kikonu, Zaiobe says, "It is how I speak - curse or gift. I seem to be able communicate easier with some I choose. I chose Kokonu when we were lovers, though I haven't tried since he betrayed me, I think it would still work."

Got it.

Piper nods, accepting the explanation in fascination.

"Well if it's an intimate meeting then we should have it somewhere there's a bedroom and just hide there until he enters and then kill him when he lets his guard down."

"So... I just hide under the bed and stab him through the mattress when it starts rocking, or what?"

"Will he buy that you want such a meeting?" he asks quietly as he looks at Zaiobe.

Zaiobe's expression is enough to convey her answer to Alara's comment, though her telepathic voice makes it absolutely clear, "Ugh, no!" But as far as Masamune's broader suggestion... "This is my bedroom." She nods toward the nest of grasses and debris. "And there are not many places to hide here. I thought the parapet on the wall might do since it gives you more room to fight. I do not know how much you need."

She lets go of Piper's hand and extends it toward Ash.

Taking her hand in his, he winces slightly at the pain of contact. "I am sorry for your loss, ma'am. I understand what it means to have a seemingly permanent reminder of higher powers," he says with a nod to his burnt hands.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

Being as it is Ash's first time actively speaking with her, I rolled a diplomacy. I don't know if we have moved her all the way up or if there is even any chance of moving her at this point, but I figured I would go for it. Disregard if it's not necessary.

Ash hears Zaiobe's voice ringing in his head, "I think he will agree to meet because he makes certain... overtures to me that I have rebuffed. And he is weak like all men when it comes to lust."
...perhaps letting him know a bit more than he wanted...

"As of yet, I have not fallen into that...perhaps it is due to my own malady. It does not mean I do not seek the companionship of a woman, but I believe it to be a bit less...burning than lust...smoldering...so that the coals will burn lower but much, much longer." He speaks out loud, so that all can hear at least half of the conversation. "How did Kokuna betray you, Zaiobe? And why stay here if he has done so?"

Masamune seems confused by the one sided conversation Ash seems to be going on, but he shakes his head and continues on.

"Well the parapets would give us more room to flank him and kill him quicker, so if you can lure him to the parapets that would be good."

"Unless he can fly...in which case we need to be wary of such things. Some of us don't have the range that others do..."

"How did Kokuna betray you, Zaiobe? And why stay here if he has done so?"

Zaiobe's telepathic voice turns angry, "He used my voice! He has his own power to steal voices, and even though I cannot use mine, he was able to steal it. He taunted me with it. So I shot him. As for why I haven't left, I don't know. I settled here as a fellow follower of Pazuzu, but I don't really fit in. I should leave, killing Kikonu will sever my last tie. Maybe then I will move on."

Nodding slowly to the harpy he gives her a soft smile, [b]"Understood. Well, we will help you sever that tie, as there is something here that is harming our friend. Then, if you wish to leave...then I can certainly understand that desire."

Piper looks at Masamune and Ash. He writes: 'And at least one of us is unable to cast magic or use their abilities.'

"How much time do we have before Kikonu gets suspicious and starts looking around for anything wrong?" Alara starts fidgeting.

There are places you've been other than the parapets or Zaiobe's chamber you could suggest if neither of those seem ideal. If the plan's particularly good, I'll even give appropriate circumstance bonuses...

Piper scratches his chin in thought before writing: 'Maybe Zaiobe could lure into the stables or maybe the courtyard... is there another place inside the keep that we haven't explored yet that could work?'

"I like the stables, as it gives us a roof to not have to worry about things as much..."

"The stable might work. We have... been... there before. But what of Flatbelly? Have you already killed him?" Ash and Alara both get a brief mental picture of the ettercap fought in the courtyard.

I'll have Piper write up a plan when the time is right. When either Ash or Alara informs Zaiobe of the ettercap's death.

"Yes, that thing...along with the spider are both taken care of."

Masamune involuntarily shudders at the thought of the spider-man, and spider again.

Alara beams and nods. "Yep--they're both squashed."

Piper then writes out his plan: 'So, the plan is that while Zaiobe distracts Kokonu in the stables, we hide out of sight and make sure the bodies are gone. While he's fully distracted, Alara will sneak up on him and attack him. That's when we all move in.'

Zaoibe nods while Alara and Ash "hear", "Then let us go get ready in the stable. I will greatly relish Kikonu's destruction." A grim smile spreads across her face.

It only takes a matter of a short while to retrace steps back to the stables. Since you had already cleared the courtyard of bodies, there is no external sign of trouble. That leaves setting up in the stable. Fortunately, with all the dusty webs, there is a lot of concealing material to work with as well as doors on each of the stalls. There is no hay mow or other second story area.

You have plenty of time to set up an ambush. I don't consider taking 20 an option for opposed checks since you have to expect failure before ultimate success, but good plans and prep time gives you a chance to rack up some circumstance bonuses - right now, if Piper's current plan of having everyone hold back until Alara (your best hider) strikes, that's good for a +4 circumstance bonus on stealth because you're keeping the worst hiders farther back with less exposure. I can increase that with additional good ideas.
Aid another is also possible, with potentially everyone aiding the first person hiding by helping set up obscuring material and camouflage, then everyone except the first person helping the second, and so on, until the final person hiding has no direct help. If that's a route you want to take, I'll have the dice roller come up with those in one fell swoop and report final Stealth modifiers. Then you can either roll or take 10.

Does anyone have any additional ideas?

Ash looks to the harpie and then to their ninja friend, then to Piper. "My friend, you will not like it, but I do have an idea. Do you not have a spell that causes carnal desires? Could you cast that upon Kikonu and have it target Alara. Alara and Zaoibe can entice him close and then that opens him up to a quick assault. At which point we can have Rawnie and my brother buried beneath straw so that they might leap out and sandwich the poor lecher before he has a chance to respond. You can be present as the musician to help with the mood of the moment, since Zaoibe has brought Kikonu a plaything as an offering of peace." He shudders at the idea, but thinks it a sound concept. "If he carries a weapon, I will wait for Rawnie to hit with her electric touch...then I will use his weapon against him and have it cause to his hand the very pain I live with day in and day out..."

When Jacen makes his suggestion, Piper's posture straighten and bristles a bit. From the frown on his face, he's not happy with that idea. However, he remembers something. He writes: 'I'm sorry, Jacen. But I can't cast any of my high level spells. I need a day's rest. If we are able to take a rest, then I can do that tomorrow. Or... I could try to set a mood without magic.' He thinks to himself: 'Thank the gods that I'm out of spells.' He bites his lip a bit in nervousness and looks at Alara.

"I too am low on spells, perhaps we should rest before taking on this Kikonu." Rawnie suggests.

Alara shakes her head. "Besides, Ash, I have standards."

Letting out a sigh. "It is called a ruse. No one is expecting you to have to do anything."

"I'm more worried about what would happen if Alara did show herself. Would this Kikonu not question the appearance of another woman in this castle with no explanation? I think Alara should simply hide herself close to Zaiobe and strike when ready. The rest of us can move forward and strike afterwords."

Letting out a sigh. "It is called a ruse. No one is expecting you to have to do anything."

"I know, Ash. And no, I'm still not going along with it." Alara folds her arms.

"I'm more worried about what would happen if Alara did show herself. Would this Kikonu not question the appearance of another woman in this castle with no explanation? I think Alara should simply hide herself close to Zaiobe and strike when ready. The rest of us can move forward and strike afterwords."

"THAT I can definitely get behind." Alara nods, her mood visibly brightening.

Piper smiles at Alara as she refuses that plan, slightly relieved. When Masamune comes up with his plan, Piper writes: 'Maybe I should be right by Alara. I am one of the better hiders after her... not that good, but still decent.'

As the group heads to the stables, Piper thinks about how he'll be able to hide himself. When they arrive, Piper takes a look around the stables. He looks at each of the stables and judges the materials in them. He decides to pick the second stall in. He walks around the stables, gathering straw and webs. He walks into the stall and uses his gather materials to put together a makeshift pile disguise, going into it and hiding himself. He then waits for the ambush.

The materials in the stables make it fairly easy for each of you to help construct "blinds" of webbing, dust, and debris (+2 to help hide). Add to that the general plan (+5) and the final hide check modifiers for people are:

Rawnie +12
Ash +12
Masamune +10
Piper +9
Alara +14

I got some really good checks for help with hiding out of the die roller, so PCs able to get a lot of help really got a lot of it. Rawnie and Piper both placed their markers and I've put Zaiobe on the map about where she will be. I've put Masamune, Ash, and Alara on the map based on the general plan and on typical aggressiveness of the PCs and their relationships.

Let me know if you want to roll the bones, take 10, and/or any other prep you want to take (if any buffs apply). You'll hear Kikonu's approach since he will be happy and singing about gettin' it on with Zaiobe.

I'll roll, also making sure, the doors we are all behind are closed, correct?

Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30

Rawnie waits for the sign quietly.

I'm not going to risk screwing this up. Taking 10 for 24.

The doors are in that gaming quantum state in which they provide concealment terrain to facilitate as much hiding as you need to do without really getting in the way. ;)

1d20 + 1 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 1 + 12 = 32

Ash finds himself a comfortable and discreet place.

So, swift action to move them to ambush then? :)

Stealth: 1d20 + 2 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 9 = 19

Piper manages to help everyone else with their own hiding. He then tries to hide himself in his pile of material. He draws his rapier and gets ready.

Masamune will just take 10 as well for a total of 20