hogarth's Shackled City game (Inactive)
Game Master hogarth

Round 2:

18: Stone keeps readying.

17: Myv steps to the side a little, and scores a direct hit on bugbear #2! (9 dmg)

15: Daegan casts Divine Favor.

13: Gjoren fires a pair of arrows at bugbear #2, but they both miss.

11: Here come the bugbears! Bugbears #1 (the apparent leader) and 2 charge at Stone, but they clumsily get in each others' way and both miss. Stone retaliates with a powerful smash in the face of #2 (7 dmg, 16 total) and he reels in pain, staggered by the pain.

Bugbears #3 and #4 charge at Gjoren and the Ulfen receives a glancing blow on the arm (4 dmg).

6: Bron steps forward and attacks bugbear #1. His kukri misses, but he unleashes a MASSIVE warhammer smash square on the bugbear's forehead (critical hit, 21 dmg) knocking him stone dead in an instant!!

3: Flask fires his crossbow, but misses.

============

Round 3:

17: Myv casts Daze at bugbear #3. The creature stands around in a stupor for one round.

15: Daegan swings his longsword at the injured bugbear #2, but it glances off of the monster's shield.

13: Gjoren steps back and fires a pair of arrows at bugbear #4. One arrow misses, and one bites deep into the brute's chest (11 dmg).

12: Stone attacks bugbear #2, but his shield protects him yet again.

11: Bugbear #2 begins to retreat, hobbling painfully away. Bugbear #4 attacks Gjoren but he strikes only air.

6: Bron attacks wounded bugbear #4 and misses.

3: Flask fires his crossbow and misses yet again...

Round 4:

17: Myv [...]

Status: Bugbear #1 is dead, bugbear #2 has taken 16 dmg, bugbear #3 was dazed and bugbear #4 has taken 11 dmg.

updated map

Daegan takes a 5' step to the right, lining up behind the closest bugbear, the dazed #3 I think.

"Don't let that one escape, we shall hold the line here." He then swings his sword to draw attention away from Gjoren.

Attack vs Closest Bugbear (1d20+6=10, 1d8+3=7)

[ooc] I don't know if Stone can reach the fleeing bugbear, or if Myvannuii might have to take him down. Hopefully Bron and I can hold these remaining two for a moment or two.

Myvannuii watches with satisfaction as her cantrip clouds the mind of her target, rocking lightly on her feet amid the clash of steel warning her not to get careless. Daegan's shouted instruction calls her attention to the wounded bugbear's retreat, and she wheels into place beside Stone, (With a 5' step on the diagonal.) where she doesn't have to peer through the thick of the fight.
Waving almost cheerfully to let Stone know she's there, Myvannuii nocks and fires an arrow at the fleeing bugbear while she still has a clear shot. Attack and damage: 1d20+5=19, 1d8+1=5.

Waving almost cheerfully to let Stone know she's there, Myvannuii nocks and fires an arrow at the fleeing bugbear while she still has a clear shot.

Stone smiles at Myvannuii's wave and attack. "Most impressive."

Stone takes a five foot step and attacks the Bugbear nearest him with a flurry of blows.

Attack rolls (14, 20).

Damage (8,6).

Round 4:

17: Myv fires an arrow at the bugbear who's hobbling away, and it sticks right in his back. He groans, then falls to the ground motionless.

15: Daegan moves to attack the dazed bugbear, but misses.

13: Gjoren steps back and fires a pair of arrows at bugbear #4 yet again. A well-aimed shot sends him tumbling to the ground (11 more dmg).

12: Stone attacks bugbear #3 and connects with a powerful punch (6 dmg).

11: Bugbear #3 comes out of his daze and looks wildly around at his dead and dying companions. Trapped like a rat, he swings his morningstar at Stone and misses by a country mile.

6: Bron closes the pincers on bugbear #3 and hits a glancing blow with his warhammer (4 dmg).

3: Flask hesitates, unable to get a clear shot into the melee.

One bugbear left; he's taken 10 pts of damage.

Daegan looks at the beast, knowing it must surely realize its fate. Justice or death, what will it be?

Speaking common, hoping the beast will understand, "Surrender or death, now."

Daeg readies an action to take a subdual shot with his sword and gauntlet should the bugbear decide to continue the fight.

"I am no fool," the bugbear answers in guttural Taldan. "You have killed Drakthar and the others. I will fight no more."

He drops his morningstar and waits for judgment.

Sorry for the delay, was trying to catch up on some old posts to get a feel for the character.

“You are offered this one chance to redeem a life wasted, bugbear. We seek children who have been stolen away in the night.” Daeg says, the tip of his blade resting lightly on the towering brutes’ chest. “If you know anything that could lead us to these children, know that the answer we seek may buy your life. But first, tell me your name. Show me that you are a man, capable of choosing his own path, not just an animal, unable to avoid his fate.”

Diplomacy roll, followed by Sense Motive to determine the truth of the bugbear’s reply.

16 Diplomacy, 13 Sense Motive.

Gjoren keeps an arrow nocked, but not drawn, prepared to draw and loose at the first sign of treachery on the part of the Bugbear.

Ready attack on the Bugbear should he attempt to make an attack.

Bron stands ready with his hammer raised, his kukri held loosely by his side in his off-hand.

The bugbear growls: "My name is Ignok...Blacktooth in human talk. Drakthar, he takes cubs to Kazmojen. He lives not far from here." He waves off to the northwest, further in the direction that the bugbears tracks were leading, and from where they were returning.

"You can almost see smoke from here." In fact, if you squint your eyes, the keen-sighted among you can pick out a wisp of smoke off in the distance.

"I can go now?" Ignok asks warily. Flask, the trooper from Cauldron, scowls and says: "Just kill him already, and let's get the children. He's a mere bandit."

"Two more things Ignok - who is this Drakthar and why did he want the children?"

"One of them, weren't you listening?" Gjoren says drily, motioning to the bugbear corpses. "Whatever we're doing, let's make it quick; I doubt we'll get much reward if the kids die..."

"Stone has a point," Myvannuii says from the back of the group. "Anything we learn about their leader might help us prepare for when we find him, or to make sense of why bandits would go to the trouble of digging under Cauldron's wall."

Switching to Goblin, Myvannuii addresses Ignok directly, "Say quickly but truly: who is Kazmojen? I heard Drakthar boast of Kazmojen's luck in slaving before you attacked. She pauses to reinforce the consequence by giving air to the silence of dead bugbears, trusting it to suggest how dangerous the party is. What sort of a prey are we hunting? The answer you give will determine how we take our leave of you."

Myvannuii's highfalutin Goblin is mainly carried over from my own bumptious style, but she's also a wizard and not overtly threatening. She's trying to be brusque, and the talk of hunting is an attempt to engage with the mindset of the "cunning bugbear."

Bron fidgets, lightly transferring his weight from one foot and back the other, over and over.

"My sneaking leaves a lot to be desired and I have even less patience..."

He lets his words hang and he switches his gaze from Myvannuii to Ignok.

Ignok points at the bugbear lying dead on the ground wearing an exquisite shirt of glittering chain links.

"That is Drakthar. He was our leader. Kazmojen, he makes things like Drakthar's armor, weapons, other things. He want some slaves, young slaves. Usually we just go to city to steal, but this time we take some slaves. Ghelve was angry, but what can he do? Go to city guard?" He gives a sidelong look to Flask the guardsman whose face is cloudy with rage.

"Kazmojen has cubs now. They are still okay, although we should beat that nasty one. He bite, kick, scream, insult us...he lucky that Kazmojen don't pay for dead body or he be gone by now!"

Daegan mutters a prayer to Iomedae to open his eyes to the world beyond that of men. detect magic

He puts his sword away and reaches down to pick up the morningstar dropped by the bugbear, glancing at the glistening chainmail on the leader as he does so, to see if it has the glow of magic.

"I cannot command these others, but I will not strike you down, Blacktooth." he says, staring directly into the bugbears eyes. "There are few safe places for your people, if you continue to live life as you have until now. You could look at this moment as a gift from the gods, to no longer live life with one eye open, waiting for your allies to take what is yours by force and treachery."

He looks down at the fallen bugbears, pointedly, "I know that your kind are strong and fierce, skilled hunters and trackers, and that you regard our kind as weak and soft." He thumps his fist against his armor, "And yet, we are not so weak or soft, after all. Perhaps it is a mistake to turn your nose up at the kind of life you could lead among our kind, where your strength and hunting skills could be put to good use, and earn you strong wine, fresh meat and soft bedding. You could be a tracker, a hunter or a bodyguard, pitting your skills and strength against others. Perhaps you could even become an arena fighter, and earn new glories every day, to the roar of a crowd."

He hands the bugbear back his morningstar. "Either choose a new path, or know that you will die by the blades and spells of those weaker than yourself."

"If you wish to run, go that way." Daegan finishes, pointing away from the smoke in the distance. "If you try to warn them, it only means that you'll die with them when we bring the justice of the sword."

Daegan is attempting to persuade the bugbear to change it's ways, offering him a chance to fight alongside the local people, instead of against them. But he's also offering him a chance to just run away, which he expects is the best he'll get from the brute.

To the others he says, "We should move with haste. It sounds like at least one of the children is sorely testing the patience of his captors with his fighting spirit..."

"Maybe if we're lucky, the runt'll have killed one of the untranslatable," Gjoren says with a mutter. He then turns to the Bugbear with a scowl and continues, "I'd take him up on that offer, if I were you."

Stone bows slighty to Ignok as he speaks.

"Thank you for sharing what you know - you may have helped us to save the lives of three children. Choose carefully your next actions warrior - your future is in your hands."

Stone turns to the rest of the group. "Unless you disagree - let us be off my friends."

Bron turns to Ignok. "I'll not sanction killing you in cold-blood."

"If you know what's good for you, you'll go in the opposite direction to the one that'll bring you across our path again."

Intimidate + 8: roll = 11

Turning now to Stone, "Let's go then.."

Welcome to our new players! It’s nice to have you join us!

Myvannuii is relieved that Ignok was reasonable enough to cooperate and that no one seems to expect her to execute him afterwards, but she is not so naïve as to hope for a sudden change of heart on the bugbear’s part simply because his life was spared. Considering the likelihood that his wounds will prove fatal, either by weakening his next attack or due to infection, she still finds herself wishing that she could impose a geas or at least a curse to hamper further wrongdoing. “In good time,” she thinks, acknowledging the limits of her understanding of magic even as part of her starts the mental exercise of reviewing the underpinnings she’s learned.
As the others offer their last warnings to Ignok before turning to leave, Myvannuii joins hers with a glare from narrowed eyes. Still speaking in Goblin, she simply adds, “Go. Maybe one day you will understand why we have spared you – until then, just count yourself lucky.”
She quickly takes her place in the group as everyone gets ready to leave, purposefully putting on a bright face. “That’s something at least;” she says breezily, “our good baker seems not to be so good after all. It’s more than we knew before. I wonder, though, why anyone would get mixed up in something like this.” Myvannuii steps ahead, trying to pick out the smoke of their destination, while her mood slips until she shakes her head in unhappy confusion. “Slavery!” she exclaims, like a muffled curse, unable to imagine the reasoning behind such a system.

hogarth, I have some questions about converting my character to the final Pathfinder rules and how some of them interact with recharge magic. I’ll post them in the discussion thread to avoid cluttering the game thread up with too many out-of-character concerns. (Beetles off to cast revive thread.)

Ignok quickly hustles off, favoring his wounded side and casting suspicious glances over his shoulder. Eventually he breaks into an all-out run, and he's gone.

Flask the guardsman scowls and says: "I hope the hyenas get him. He deserves no more."

Examining the bodies reveals some dingy possessions and a few morningstars and wooden shields. But on Drakthar's corpse are two items of note: a purse bulging with gold coins, and his remarkably fine shirt of mithral links. Myvannuii examines it and quickly determines that it has been enchanted with a dweomer intended to turn blades and arrows.

It's a +1 mithral chain shirt. Who wants to wear it....?

Following Gjoren's guidance, the party continues on; the tracks lead straight towards the small plume of smoke in the distance. The ground gets more rocky and less suitable for grazing, and yet it's not quite mining country; the location is fairly desolate. The party tries to stay behind boulders or crags whenever possible, and soon they are able to see a small building sturdily built out of irregular stones and mortar, much different from the sod, grass, or leather dwellings of the native Mwangi herdsmen.

How do you wish to approach?

Gjoren holds his hand up to signal a stop as they reach the end of the line of rocks they've been using. "Stay here," he whispers to the rest of the group. "I'll scout ahead and see how well the place is guarded, and if there's a way to get in quietly."

If no one else wants the shirt, I'll happily look after it for now.

I forgot -- you all get 600 xp as well for defeating the bugbears.

since I missed the beginning of the bugbear fight, do any of us need healing? Speak up, or get nuffin!

Gjoren got a little hurt. You can easily heal up everyone to full along the way.

No healing required - thanks! I'm not taking the shirt - wearing any armor is not a good thing for a monk. :)

Gjoren got a little hurt. You can easily heal up everyone to full along the way.

Aye; I hadn't gotten around to reading the entirety of the fight. I think I only took 4 damage though.

Daegan grips his holy symbol so tightly that his knuckles whiten, calling upon his faith to Iomedae to send a surge of righteousness rocking through the bodies of those around him.

Channel Energy heals 1d6 ⇒ 5 damage.

"I have to admit, that's a lovely looking mithral shirt..."

Bron stares from face to face around the group, seeing if anyone will continue the conversation.

"Looks like it's your or me looking after it for now," Gjoren says with a shrug. "You go ahead and use it for now; it'd be too much hassle to pull my own armour off anyway."

With that, Gjoren takes a trip around the building, as stealthily as he can, in order to find the entrance and see how well it's guarded.

Stealth: 1d20+9=23

"Looks like it's your or me looking after it for now," Gjoren says with a shrug. "You go ahead and use it for now; it'd be too much hassle to pull my own armour off anyway."

The grin on Bron's face threatens to split his cheeks as he handles the mithral shirt almost lovingly before replacing his current rusted armor with it.

Seeing that Bron intends to change armor, Daegan steps forward and helps him remove his scale mail, and don the new chain shirt.

Normally 1 minute to remove scale and 1 minute to don chain shirt, cut to half because of someone helping.

"The less time you spent out of armor in this uncertain place, the better," he says simply, working quickly, but attempting to set down the armor pieces carefully, so as not to make an excess of noise.

Myvannuii watches Gjoren approach the building among the crags, her hand drifting nervously between her quiver and spell component pouch, fretting about the possibility that Gjoren will be spotted despite the ease with which he slinks forward. This close to their quarry, it is a struggle for Myvannuii to stay patient, while at the same time she is not so eager to rush into danger unprepared.
Checking to see how well Bron is getting on with re-arming himself, she reflects with some satisfaction on the ease and elegance with which magic protects, but acknowledges its limitations almost instantly, wondering if she has made the best selection of her spells for the day. She then turns back to the building, making sure she notes the positions of the five men and hoping that there won't be any nasty surprises before the group is ready to proceed on its own terms.

Gjoren sneaks around the perimeter of the building. It's sturdily built, with narrow windows in each wall and with an iron-bound door. Loud clanging noises are coming from within, and the ranger believes that he sees a figure silhouetted in flickering firelight. He catches a few words as he passes:

"Ye lazy dog! Keep those brats quiet and make yourself useful. Show the little one where the cookpots are. I swear, if they aren't worth the price, I'll have Drakthar's hide, aye, and I'll stretch your hide out next to it if ye're not more diligent!"

The only response is some low muttering and the sound of children crying.

The only response is some low muttering and the sound of children crying.

Jackpot!

Gjoren frowns and makes his way quietly back to the others.

Stealth: 1d20+9=15

Gjoren makes it back to the party, seemingly unnoticed.

He explains that the windows are too narrow to enter and that the front door looks fairly sturdy. How to enter?

"I can knock doors down if you want the direct approach, but don't look to me for the cunning plan."

"Hmmm...now I wished we had asked the bugbear to come along. He could have knocked on the door and said he had more slaves to sell...

Unless we have any way to pick the lock (if it has a lock to pick)...we could just smash in. But we should make sure to strike with the maximum force and get in on the first try. Otherwise we place the children in greater danger then they need to be."

Whereabouts did I see the silhouette? Through a window, or by the door?

"Iomedae's blessing will be upon us, as long as we coordinate our attack." Daegan says confidently.

"Give me a moment to prepare just before we strike, that I might invoke her favor upon this righteous cause. We should move swiftly, before someone spots us and they think to hold the children hostage..."

Whereabouts did I see the silhouette? Through a window, or by the door?

Through one of the narrow windows. It looked like someone was passing in front of a light source, but what that person was, you have no idea.

Considering the problem of the best way to proceed, Myvannuii surveys the building again, looking for any advantageous positions. What's the roof like, and how high is it? Can Myvannuii guess how difficult it would be to climb up? She shakes her head, adding, "It appears that we have little choice other than trying to force the door and hoping for the best. It would be better if we could somehow gain higher ground and draw them out, but that doesn't seem too likely without placing the children, one of us, or both at unnecessary risk. I agree that we're not likely to get any readier, at least if I might have a moment to arm myself."

If everyone's agreed to trying the painfully direct approach, Myvannuii will cast mage armour while we form up to force the door.

The walls are about 10 feet high and are not particularly smooth. There's a peaked wooden roof (not steep), and smoke is pouring out of a hole in the roof.

The walls are about 10 feet high and are not particularly smooth. There's a peaked wooden roof (not steep), and smoke is pouring out of a hole in the roof.

"I know I'm not the ideas guy, and I know I just put this armor on, but if I took it off quietly, I could easily climb on that roof and put something over the chimney. The smoke'll likely flush them out."

At Bron's suggestion, Daegan nods, "A worthy plan, but I suspect that Stone might be even better equipped to enact it. He is already unarmored, after all, and he seems to move with the requisite stealth and athleticism."

"Very well."

Stone climbs to the roof. He removes his robe and covers the chimney with it. (He's not naked - he still has his briefs and sandales on!)

He then climbs back down and waits near the front entrance....

First climb roll = 18. Second climb roll = 21.

Gjoren sighs as Stone moves, and says, "Well, I suppose we'd best get into position. Incidentally, I don't suppose anyone's given any thought to how we're supposed to breath when we go inside for the kids?"

"Hold your breath?" Daegan suggests. He moves next to Bron, "I am preparing to call down Iomedae's favor upon your hammer, but it will only last a matter of moments, so I will cast it when we move to engage the enemy."

Ready action to cast magic weapon on Bron's warhammer, giving him an additional +1 to hit and damage. With his next action, he'll cast bless, if possible, giving every ally within 50 ft. a +1 morale bonus to hit and saves vs. fear.