Age of Darkness

Game Master Mothman

As everyone is loosening weapons, readying attacks and generally preparing for trouble, I will call for an Initiative roll at this point. Note that we're not actually acting on intiative at this point, this is in anticipation of this turning into an action scene and / or a fight.

Laithe's Initiative 13 + 3 = 16

18+3=21, initative of Jirkin

It is my intention to circle around the house, looking for a back way in. Initiative: 23 (15+8). How long will it take me to get there?

Jirkin cautions as he looks behind him to make sure that there is no creaures or evil around. [spot 14+3=17] Jirkin follows the others

Alton creeps through the trees, stepping over a small stream that runs from behind the clearing towards the open fields to his right.

After but a few moments he emerges behind the small cottage. A tiny waterfall cascades down some boulders at the rear of the cottage, forming a small pond, and the source of the stream.

The cottage appears to have a back door - small, barely 5 feet high, almost halfling sized. It is closed. A small wooden outhouse leans against the back of the cottage

Jirkin cautions as he looks behind him to make sure that there is no creaures or evil around. [spot 14+3=17] Jirkin follows the others

You see nothing sinister behind you.

I approach the door cautiously and stealthily. I come to the door and begin searching it for traps or anything suspicious (I'll give you the Search check results as soon as I get back to my computer). Is the door locked?

I approach the door cautiously and stealthily. I come to the door and begin searching it for traps or anything suspicious (I'll give you the Search check results as soon as I get back to my computer). Is the door locked?

Alton's search result: 8

You search the weathered timber of the door, and the surrounding walls, but find no evidence of traps or other dangers. Gently trying the door's rusted iron handle you discover that the door appears to be unlocked.

With my weapons drawn, I try to open the door as silently as possible. What do I see?
Move Silently 17 (10+7)

With my weapons drawn, I try to open the door as silently as possible. What do I see?

Move Silently 17 (10+7)

It would seem that the partially rusted hinges of the door have not been oiled in many years. As you attempt to open the door, as slowly and stealthily as you can, the hinges let out a large creak. You stop, hoping that if anyone is listening they would mistake the noise for something else. The door is now open enough for you to peer into the cottage, but it would be a very tight squeeze to enter.

Peering in, it takes a few moments for your eyes to adjust to the darkness within. You begin to make out the impression of cluttered, broken mess on the floor … and the dark outline of something which might be a humanoid figure, standing against one wall, holding a weapon of some sort … until your eyes adjust, it is impossible to make out more detail, confirm what you are really seeing – or know if the figure – if that’s what it is – has seen you.

I wait outside the door, waiting for my eyes to adjust.

You wait, crouched in the shadows of the cottage interior, wondering what these men want, and what you should do – greet them, fight them, wait for them to come to you… All of a sudden you hear the handle of the small back door to the cottage creak…

I turn to see who is coming into the cottage. I ready my mace and hold it in view of the door. I also make sure that my symbol of Arton is visable.

Physical description pending.

I slip in the door as quitley as possible and attempt to hide in the shadows while I study the person in front of me.
Hide 22 (13+9) Move Silently 17 (10+7)

Jirkin not thinking and becoming more paranoid by the second, seeing no traps, opens the door holding his quarterstaff and ready to cast a spell slowly creeps into the building. move sliently- 15+2=17 "He then whispers "Hello, is anyone here we mean no harm... " Jirkin takes off his mask. ".................." Jirkin walks toward whatever is in the cottage, then manages to remember that this "person" may be an enemy Hide- 8 +2=10 but sadly he trips blowing his cover and falls to the ground.

Laithe watches intently as Alton melts off into the shadows and then turns his attention back to the door. With no further sign of movement within, he scans the surrounding foliage once more, seeing if he can catch a glimpse of the halfling. He whispers back to Keildrithe "Can you see him?"

Distracted, he fails to notice Jirkin slinking off from behind him towards the cottage. As his gaze returns to the cottage door he sees Jirkin reaching it and creeping into the building.

"Ehlonna help us! what does he think he's doing?!" he jumps from where he'd been squatting, dropping his sling and grabbing his spear & shield from where they have been resting and runs to the door of the cottage, hearing a crash and seeing Jirkin fall to the floor.

He bursts in through the door, spear and shield at the ready, moving to shield Jirkin from any imminent attack.

It all happens very quickly. Alton, thinking that he has seen a figure within the cottage, squeezes through the partially open backdoor, moving stealthily as normal, managing to get through without causing the hinges to squeak. As his eyes adjust to the darkness, he sees that there is indeed a humanoid figure within the cottage – tall, human in shape, holding some sort of weapon, a club or mace – a glint of light sparks off a silver star hanging at the figure’s breast – a star like the one worn by the Artonites in the village.

Before Alton can react – or indeed be sure whether or not the person has seen him slip into the room – the partially open front door of the single room cottage is thrown open, shedding light into the room. The light reveals the figure as a mail-clad human, and also reveals Jirkin standing unmasked in the doorway, an instant before he trips over some of the clutter strewn over the cottage floor and sprawls into the room.

There is a shout from outside, and Laithe can be seen running towards the doorway, weapons to hand.

Initiative order is:
Alton: 23
Jirkin: 21
Keildrithe: 17
Laithe: 16
Yruch: ? (please roll)

We are acting on initiative from now for physical actions, I will allow brief (one sentence) shouts, warnings, conversations etc out of initiative and of course you are free to hold your action (dropping down the initiative order).

I’m aware that Arctaris’ and Dirk’s internet access might be a little sporadic this week, so bear with them if things slow down a little.

Initiative=7, evidently I am very surprised.

I wait to see who these strangers are (on both sides). I am unsure of which are friend and which are foe.

"Greetings, I am Yruch, knight of Arton." he says, a bit heasitantly.

Perhaps a sense motive might be advantageous. 11 for Alton and Jirkin, 22 for the chainmailed figure. On my turn, of course.

Perhaps a sense motive might be advantageous. 11 for Alton and Jirkin, 22 for the chainmailed figure. On my turn, of course.

The chainmailed figure is you!

"Greetings, I am Yruch, knight of Arton." he says, a bit heasitantly.

This happens just ahead of Alton's turn. If everyone chooses to down weapons and talk at this point, we will drop the initiative order.

i drop my intitatiate and say "Why are you here sir?"

i drop my intitatiate "Why are you here sir?"

wrong alias /avatar AWED!

i drop my intitatiate and say "Why are you here sir?"

Laithe rushes into the hut, and stops abruptly, seeing no immediate threat. Lowering his weapons slightly, he turns towards the stranger in armour and echo's Jirkin's question "Who are you and what are you doing here?"

He sees the symbol of Arton hanging from the stranger's neck and his eyes narrow slightly, weapons coming back up at the ready. "Are you one of Vorn's lackey's?"

Laithe attempts to read the man; Sense Motive 9 + 3 = 12

Keildrithe shoulders his pack and makes his way to the cottage to join the rest of his companions, looking over his shoulder in each direction to make sure that no threats lurk in the woods behind them.

He stands in the doorway and leans against the frame with arms crossed, his sling hanging limp in his left hand. He looks at the stranger in chainmail and sighs, discouragement stamped all over his face...

"Champion of Arton... has the lady Gosia not suffered enough? First, your clergy and their lackeys beat her and drag her back to town to be burned at the stake for crimes she did not commit, based on hollow evidence. Now, you squat among the ruins of her violated sanctuary, waiting for what... signs of her 'witchery' to manifest themselves? Have you no shame?"

He pauses, then, practically sneering in disgust... "Has the church also produced a 'deed' to her home? I think my friends' concerns are valid, and I also would like to hear their questions answered. Has Vorn sent you to keep an eye on us, or to hinder our investigation even? Are you now tampering with the evidence?"

Sense motive: 18 + 4 = 22

Keildrithe, you watch the Artonite closely as you speak, looking for reactions, clues to what he might be doing here. The man has a proud and noble bearing, but you pick up something else in his demeanour – a weariness perhaps, or a sadness. You do not sense any of the haughty superiority that Vorn conveyed.

Beyond that, he seems surprised at being confronted here. But his stance is not hostile or aggressive, more wary than anything else. He seems somewhat taken aback by your accusations.

Now that everyone is inside, and there is more light coming into the room: The interior of the cottage is a mess. Clothes, blankets, foodstuff, torn paper, cooking implements and utensils have been strewn all over the floor. A large wooden bookcase has been toppled over by one wall. A wooden chest has had its lid smashed open. Chairs are knocked over and broken.

The cottage is one large room, a kitchen in one corner near the large stone fireplace. A steep, ladder-like stairway leads up to an open loft level, about a quarter of the area of the main floor below. A mattress half hanging over the banister indicates that this upper level may be used as a bedroom.

Although the cottage interior is reasonably large, about twenty feet long by fifteen feet wide, it now seems somewhat crowded with so many people in the room – Alton lurking hidden somewhere near the back door to the north, the Artonite standing warily in the center of the room, and Laithe, Keildrithe and Jirkin clustered near the front door at the south end of the room.

This is assuming that I'm still hidden.
I stay in the shadows, watching the Artonite in case he should show hiself to be a foe.

This is assuming that I'm still hidden.

I stay in the shadows, watching the Artonite in case he should show hiself to be a foe.

As far as you are aware you are still hidden - although the man presumably knows there was someone or something coming through the back door.

Jirkin stares at the Artonite, "I have a funny feeling," Jirkin then ignores the fact if the Artonite is friend or foe, and searchs search- 1(never mind)+3=4 the room "There has to be something here..or not," he then looks at everyone, "Well, we can't just let some stranger stop us, i couldn't find anything," Jirkin pauses then looks at the Artonite. " Looks like you had fun trashing this poor woman's home, or was it someone else who did this? I must tell you first i hate liers. Sense motive-19+2=21 (that is when he answers my questions.

Jirkin then ignores the fact if the Artonite is friend or foe, and searchs

The extremely poor search result is due to the fact that you don't yet have the time or opportunity to physically search the room just yet. The search you described was just looking around from where you are standing.

I'll give Dirk a bit more of a chance to reply before moving things along too far...

Jirkin stares at the Artonite, "I have a funny feeling," Jirkin then ignores the fact if the Artonite is friend or foe, and searchs search- 1(never mind)+3=4 the room "There has to be something here..or not," he then looks at everyone, "Well, we can't just let some stranger stop us, i couldn't find anything," Jirkin pauses then looks at the Artonite.

Keildrithe leans closer to Jirkin. "Friend Jirkin," whispers Keildrithe into the wizard's ear, curtly. "I think it would be prudent to NOT search for anything while in the presence of this stranger, much less to hint that there is something of potential value to our quest to be found here... If you know what I mean..."

There are several beats of silence as the stranger seems to digest the accusations laid against him, and struggles to formulate a response. The man seems about to open his mouth to speak, when the silence is shattered by a mournful howl from somewhere outside the cottage. The loud howl continues for several moments before trailing off – it sounds as if it has come from somewhere nearby, within – or close to – the clearing.

The man seems about to open his mouth to speak, when the silence is shattered by a mournful howl from somewhere outside the cottage. The loud howl continues for several moments before trailing off – it sounds as if it has come from somewhere nearby, within – or close to – the clearing.

Laithe awaits expectantly for a reply from the armoured man, weapons still at the ready. He starts slightly as the howl breaks the silence, and, seeing no immediate danger from the man quickly ducks out of the cottage and back into the clearing trying to gauge what manner of creature let out the howl and which direction it came from.

Knowledge Nature check 18 + 8 = 26 (assuming it's a natural creature that is). Not sure which skill is best for determining direction - Listen or perhaps Track (survival) would do it - might leave it to you to roll that one Mothman.

Assuming he can determine the direction of the sound, Laithe starts in that direction

The howl sounds like that of a wolf, although something seems just a bit … off, wrong. Indeed, on dashing out of the cottage, Laithe sees that he was correct. A large, dark furred wolf has just padded into the clearing, from the direction the group had approached.

Laithe is something of an admirer of wolves, and would certainly appreciate their predatory beauty. But there is nothing beautiful about this animal – powerful and hostile would seem more appropriate descriptions. The beast pulls back its scared muzzle and growls deep in its throat, teeth bared, padding towards Laithe.

Laithe,

Laithe is something of an admirer of wolves, and would certainly appreciate their predatory beauty. But there is nothing beautiful about this animal – powerful and hostile would seem more appropriate descriptions. The beast pulls back its scared muzzle and growls deep in its throat, teeth bared, padding towards Laithe.

Laithe backs slowly to the door of the hut being careful not to make any threatening movements.

"Something is not right here" he whispers back to the others "wolves usually hunt in packs..." Ushering the others inside, he speaks soothing words to the wolf, attempting to calm it "easy there, we are not a threat to you, and you gain nothing by attacking us here. Find your brothers and hunt with them"

handle animal check 13 + 3 = 16 .

Meanwhile, he tries to position himself so he can get inside the hut and close the door, should the beast attack.

handle animal is not the right skill. You probably need to use Animal Empathy for this. Are you doing the standard one minute (ten round) check, or trying to rush it in one round? Also, I believe you need to stand firm to try to influence the animal in this way, won't work if you are also retreating into the hut...

Laithe, you also know that a standard wolf is quick enough in a hunt, that should it wish to attack you, it could probably reach you near the door of the cottage in one round.

Also, remember that the cottage door has been smashed, and is currently hanging open by one hinge.

We’re again in a potentially hostile situation here, and once Laithe (and possibly the wolf) act in this surprise round, we will be going on initiative, I’ll use the same initiative order everyone rolled before:

Alton: 23
Jirkin: 21
Keildrithe: 17
Laithe: 16
Yruch: 7

Note that Laithe is currently outside the cottage (near the front door), Jirkin and Keildrithe have clear access to the front door, Alton is near the back door, Yruch is in the center of the cottage.

The wolf is about 45 feet away from Laithe, at the edge of the clearing, opposite the front door of the cottage.

handle animal is not the right skill. You probably need to use Animal Empathy for this. Are you doing the standard one minute (ten round) check, or trying to rush it in one round? Also, I believe you need to stand firm to try to influence the animal in this way, won't work if you are also retreating into the hut...

Yep, you're right. Wild Empathy is the correct ability that I was thinking of. According to the desription, I also have to be within 30ft, so if you'll allow, I'll revise my last action posted, as below

Laithe stops outside the hut, studying the wolf. He whispers back to the group to stay back, and assumes a non-threatening stance. Seeing the wolf is approaching, he waits till it gets a little closer (around 30 feet) and then speaks soothing words, attempting to calm the threatening animal.

I'll use the same roll, but different modifiers 13 + 1 - 1 = 13

I'll use the same roll, but different modifiers 13 + 1 - 1 = 13

Ok, so you are beginning a 10 round action (rushing the check to one round incurs a -10 penalty). Note that there is nothing to stop the wolf attacking you - if it is inclined to do so - in the meantime...

Laithe Greycoat wrote:

I'll use the same roll, but different modifiers 13 + 1 - 1 = 13

Ok, so you are beginning a 10 round action (rushing the check to one round incurs a -10 penalty). Note that there is nothing to stop the wolf attacking you - if it is inclined to do so - in the meantime...

That is not my interpretation of the ability. I thought you started the process and assuming you roll successfully, the animal hesitates on the attack while you interact with it and then it's attitude is altered at the conclusion of the minute. Assuming you have failed the attempt then yes, the animal would attack well before the minute is up. Otherwise the normal, minute length ability would only be useful against restrained animals, and how likely is that in the wild?

I assumed the quick version would be for when other outside factors may influence the encounter (i.e. you have a need for haste and need to make friends quick, or the animal is already in combat or something along those lines? Am I completely off track with this interpretation?

DM Mothman wrote:

Laithe Greycoat wrote:

I'll use the same roll, but different modifiers 13 + 1 - 1 = 13

Ok, so you are beginning a 10 round action (rushing the check to one round incurs a -10 penalty). Note that there is nothing to stop the wolf attacking you - if it is inclined to do so - in the meantime...

That is not my interpretation of the ability. I thought you started the process and assuming you roll successfully, the animal hesitates on the attack while you interact with it and then it's attitude is altered at the conclusion of the minute. Assuming you have failed the attempt then yes, the animal would attack well before the minute is up. Otherwise the normal, minute length ability would only be useful against restrained animals, and how likely is that in the wild?

I assumed the quick version would be for when other outside factors may influence the encounter (i.e. you have a need for haste and need to make friends quick, or the animal is already in combat or something along those lines? Am I completely off track with this interpretation?

I'll answer on the discussion thread...

Ok, so you are beginning a 10 round action (rushing the check to one round incurs a -10 penalty). Note that there is nothing to stop the wolf attacking you - if it is inclined to do so - in the meantime...

Ok, now that I understand the ability better, can I choose to change my action again (i.e. not use it!) This time for sure...

Seeing that the creature is already hostile and unlikely to be reasoned with, Laithe lifts his eyes to the sky and calls on the power of nature "Lady, restrain this wolf that would attack alone and unprovoked". He holds his arms out towards the bushes, trees and grasses close to the wolf and closes his fists, willing them to rise and hold fast the predator.

casts entangle, centred on the forest edge behind the wolf so the 40ft radius would end about 5ft in front of Laithe's current position.

Cool. I'll describe the effect soon. What is everyone else planning to do?

Keildrithe draws his longsword from the sheath on his back and stands facing the doorway, just inside the entrance. "Someone, prepare to shut the door should Laithe need to rush back in. It will be difficult to hold it in place because of its broken hinges, but it may still create enough of a barricade to impede the beast... I will strike it, should it make it through the doorway..."

He holds his sword up, ready to swing, while clenching his teeth tightly. "Grandfather, guide my blade," he whispers...

Readies an attack -- will strike as soon as the beast sticks its head through the doorway...

As Laithe finishes his appeal to the Goddess, the grass, weeds, shrubs and vines covering the ground in most of the clearing in front of the cottage begin to writhe and move – as do the branches of the trees in the forest beyond. Shoots and creepers snake up from the groundcover, ensnaring the snarling wolf, wrapping around its paws and legs, entwining themselves into its fur. The wolf snaps and snarls, straining to break free, but is held fast for now. It lets out another howl.

Laithe, your spell lasts for 10 rounds (including this). Moving into normal initiative order, Alton’s turn.

Readies an attack -- will strike as soon as the beast sticks its head through the doorway...

Cool - given that the beast appears to be ensnared - for now, you can alter this action on your turn if you wish.

The door is in poor repair, and would make a temporary barricade to a determined assualt at best, but with some work, bracing, propping, jamming, might be made more secure - this would take time.

I step out of the shadows right behind the paladin and say "Are we going to kill it?" Then in a whisper I say to the paladin "If you betray us I'll kill you. Keep that in mind before you continue whatever you're plotting on behalf of the Inquisitor. Just so I make myself clear."

I step out of the shadows right behind the paladin and say "Are we going to kill it?"

I take it this question refers to the wolf? (rather than the paladin)

A moment after the entrapped wolf's howl, answering howls come from the forest - on both sides of the clearing...

Keildrithe Oldsun wrote:

Readies an attack -- will strike as soon as the beast sticks its head through the doorway...

Cool - given that the beast appears to be ensnared - for now, you can alter this action on your turn if you wish.

Keildrithe cautiously lowers his sword and peers through the doorway, staring with apprehensiveness and wonder at the fearsome animal that Laithe has ensnared before scanning the clearing and surrounding forest. He maintains a tight grip on his blade, ready to resume his defensive posture. "Friend Laithe, I am in awe of your spiritual powers. As one who is in touch with the Old Ways and harbours the ways of beasts within his soul, speak you also their tongue? Know you why these wolves threaten (or feel threatened by) us, and whether they act at the behest of some greater and malevolent will?"

As Keildrithe is merely speaking for the moment, I hope this post is not considered out of turn... If so, please let me know... I've never gone through an initiative sequence in play-by-post yet...