Age of Darkness

Game Master Mothman

Pharris hums a little during her watch. She stands guard and moves quietly around the party and wall, trying to think through an attack and her likely lines of defence.

Spot 11, Listen 15

The girl eventually sits back with her cohort.

"So what's the plan? I don't think that Laithe and the mages need me for that but I guess I should know what they have decided."

She checks over her arrows to pass the time.

What is the weather and moonlight situation at the moment?

Busy on RL, keeping up, barely,...

The moon has set, and the clouds from the north now cover the sky, although so far there has been no more than a few scattered drops of cold rain. It is a very dark, cold night, with dawn still a few hours away.

Pharris tours the camp again, quietly doing a dance of blades kata with her greatsword as she goes. Her attention is focused inwards but her hearing remains acute.

Will I assume that Pharris is taking the last two watches on her own?

Will I assume that Pharris is taking the last two watches on her own?

I'd guess Alton would intend to take a turn at watch also, as a non-spellcaster.

Pharris will keep to the people more, if she is alone.

When and if she takes a solo watch, Pharris goes a little way from the group, sits on a piece of rubble and begins to hum as she thoroughly brushes her hair, lifting it high and allowing all the cares of the last few days to drift away.

The woman spends about half an hour doing this.

Dawn approaches.

It’s difficult to tell, given the heavy cloud cover overhead, but the sky on the eastern horizon is changing from black to grey, and the dark of night is beginning to lift. A few spots of rain drop here and there, and there is the low, distant rumble of thunder in the north, but for now the weather holds. Off in the forested hills to the west a few birds are beginning to sing.

Alton and Pharris stand watch, moving about or sitting close to the last glowing embers of Laithe’s camp-fire to stay warm. Spot: 11+2 = 13, Listen: 5 for Alton.

Suddenly, there is a flash of light from down near the base of the hill, behind one of the standing stones, and an instant later a flame arches up into the dark sky, high above the hill, before falling back down to land just outside the ruined ring of the watchtower. A flaming arrow. The fiery arrow is followed by three more that land within the campsite, one barely missing Pharris and another landing not far from Nicolai’s sleeping form.

The camp is under attack!

Pharris and Alton, initiatives and intended actions.
Everyone else can roll init too, but those sleeping will need to awaken. Listen checks to see if the noises of the initial attack rouse you.

Kajetan:

Pharris Initiative 17+3=20

She immediately grabs handfuls of earth and throws it over the nearest burning arrows. Double move action to put out one or two arrows, specifically those inside the ring first.

"Alarm! Alarm!" she shouts at the same time.

Listen Check for attack: 1d20+3=9

NIcholai starts slightly as the arrow 'Thumps' into the ground dangerously close to his blanket. But softly snores again.

Second listen roll, for Pharris' shout, if applicable: 1d20+3=19

Been busy with RL things, though now I'm fnally done moving for now. Initiative 8

When the first arrow hits the earth, Alton darts over to where Laithe is sleeping, giving him a hard nudge in the ribs to wake him up. "They're here!" he shouts, moving on to wake Keildrithe.
Alton will try to wake as many people as he can when his turn comes.

When the first arrow hits the earth, Alton darts over to where Laithe is sleeping, giving him a hard nudge in the ribs to wake him up. "They're here!" he shouts, moving on to wake Keildrithe.

Alton will try to wake as many people as he can when his turn comes.

Laithe dimly hears the sound of the attack penetrate through his sleep, and he certainly hears Pharris' and Alton's warning cries. The nudge of the halfling rouses him into action, though he is still somewhat sluggish, trying to shake off the last vetiges of sleep.

"So much for talk" he mutters, as he sees the flaming arrows falling around him. He attempts to take a quick look over the area to spot the positions of the enemy, but is forced to duck his head as yet another arrow whistles in.

Listen 15 + 9 = 24, Initiative 6 + 5 = 11, Spot check 3 + 9 = 12.

Keildrithe sleeps hard through the first volley of arrows (thanks to the potency of Laithe's spell?), but awakes groggily when Alton begins to shake him. He clumsily reaches for his sword and stumbles to his feet, hugging one of the walls...

Listen: 3 + 2 = 5; Initiative: 10 + 1 = 11; Spot: 6 + 3 = 9.

Been swamped at work and missed updating this thread, although spells are updated on Character sheet, I didn't post so on here. Spells are as follows:

Spells Prepared

If allowed, Kajetan intended to memorizes his spells then cast detect secret doors and move around the camp site and tower carefully for the 4 minute while maintaining his concentration on the spell to see if he can find a hidden way into the tower or burial vaults beneath. (You are allowed a move action while concentrating, so he could move 30' each round and with a 60' cone cover a fairly big area).

Please let me know if he managed any of this, or if he is still in the land of nod.

Kajetan had planned to awaken before dawn to prepare his daily spells and do a survey of the area. Alton awakens him about an hour before dawn on the last watch. He groggily rises, spends a short while reading his spell-book, then begins moving slowly around the camp site, skirting around his sleeping companions, muttering quietly to himself.

Kajetan:

It is at about this point that the attack begins.

Think I just need init from Kajetan now.

"Hide, and do not retaliate right away... let them think we are dead, and let them break cover and meet us here in the ruins," whispers Keildrithe to his companions.

<snore>
"Hmmm,... Wha,...?"

Initiative: 1d20+3=20

For when he finally gets around to waking up, just so you have it.

Kajetan suddenly looks excited as he discovers the trap door, falling onto his hands and knees he starts to brush the dirt and soil from the surface, a grin spreading across his face. "Hey guys I fo......"

Initiative: +1 (1d20+1=7)

He is so engrossed in his work, he is startled to see the area suddenly illuminate and the all too familiar sound of arrows zinging through the air.

Kajetan sits back on his rump, the smile frozen on his face, his sentence un-finished.

Round 1 Initiative:
Pharris: 20 (awake)
Nicolai: 20 (sleeping)
Laithe: 11 (waking)
Keildrithe: 11 (sleeping)
Bad guys: 10
Alton: 8 (awake)
Kajetan: 7 (awake)
Bad guys: 2

Laithe hears the attack on the surprise round, and begins to awaken, can act on his turn in round 1. Keildrithe and Nicolai sleep through the original attack, but either hear Pharris’ shouts or are shaken awake by Alton, begin to awaken on round 1 and can act on their turns in round 2. If you were asleep you begin prone (move action to get up).

As soon as the flaming arrows begin raining down, Pharris acts, digging up sod from the ground and flinging it onto the nearest arrow, putting the flame out. Laithe hears the whistle of the arrows and quickly shakes himself out of sleep, and gets up to peer above the wall, though he can see little in the half light.

Another wave of four arrows shoots up into the sky, one from each of the cardinal points, before falling back down to strike the ground in or around the campsite. None of them hit anyone, though some are close. It is likely that the archers cannot see individual targets within the camp, at least not clearly, and are simply aiming for the space within the tower.

Alton races over to Laithe, sees that he is already awake, and moves to Keildrithe instead, shaking him awake.

Kajetan, doing anything on round 1?

Kajetan, doing anything on round 1?

Apart from soiling his pants?

Kajetan looks around in bewilderment as the arrows rain down, with out thinking the words of a spell leap to his mouth.

Casts Mage Armour

"Pharris, I found a secret trap door, can you clear it in case we need to flee?" his voice is high pitched and whiny.

Kajetan casts his protective spell, almost be reflex.

Laithe is still looking out, trying to spot the enemies that seem to be hiding behind the standing stones at the base of the hill. He cannot see them, but he does spot something else in the pre-dawn half-light; there, to the east, topping the rise where the road climbs up onto the plateau, comes an armoured rider astride a warhorse, accompanied by a dozen armed men on foot.

They are about three hundred and fifty feet away from the base of the hill, heading this way. There is a loud peal of thunder from overhead.

Round 2: Nicolai and Keildrithe are waking up. What are they, Pharris and Laithe doing this round?

Pharris goes to aid Kajetan without a second thought. She starts work on helping him clear the trapdoor.

"What is this? a door in a hill? Some kind of jail below or what?"

Presuming a 'move action' to wake up at least. Can I still get in a motion or action? (Stand, or cast?) IF not get as close to standing as I can without getting hit!

"Mmm,.. Wha? MOther of Light!" Nicholai blurts as he blinks open his eyes and sees the smoldering remains of the flaming arrow not a foot from his face. He flails in a panic as he tries to untangle himself from his blanket.

"Wij! Stay hidden!" He cries both aloud as well as through the empathic link in his excitement.

Presuming a 'move action' to wake up at least. Can I still get in a motion or action? (Stand, or cast?) IF not get as close to standing as I can without getting hit!

Assume you actually awoke last round, you can take an action to get up this round (if you want) and still have a standard action to cast (if you want).

Kajetan casts his protective spell, almost be reflex.

Laithe is still looking out, trying to spot the enemies that seem to be hiding behind the standing stones at the base of the hill. He cannot see them, but he does spot something else in the pre-dawn half-light; there, to the east, topping the rise where the road climbs up onto the plateau, comes an armoured rider astride a warhorse, accompanied by a dozen armed men on foot.

They are about three hundred and fifty feet away from the base of the hill, heading this way. There is a loud peal of thunder from overhead.

Spotting the coming attackers, Laithe immediately grabs a handful of earth from the ground and begins a prayer to his patron goddess "Ehlonna, bring nature's wrath down on these men, who hold little respect for that which sustains them."

He casts the handful of earth in the direction of the South East stretch of the wall. Immediately, a strip of earth 10ft wide and 40ft long softens and turns to powdery sand. Laithe glances up at the thunder clouds and adds quietly "and Ehlonna, bring on the rain."

Casts Soften earth and stone. the spell covers a 40 sq ft area. It follows the arch of the wall, starting from the wall edge and pushing out 10ft. It begins 10ft west of the South entrance to the tower, and ends 25ft to the east of the entrance. Hope that makes sense?

Kajetan smiles grimly at Pharris as she moves over to help, "I am not sure trapping our selves in a donjon is the greatest idea I have ever had."

The close proximity of the tall Amazonian like woman seems to give him some courage and he risks a glance around at his companions, "Can you see how many there are Laith?"

I assume no one else has seem the armoured knight and his footmen?

Can I have a description of what Pharris is uncovering? Is there a way we could enter the trapdoor and close it camouflaged, for instance.

Can I have a description of what Pharris is uncovering? Is there a way we could enter the trapdoor and close it camouflaged, for instance.

Your spell discovers one concealed hatchway, a stone trap-door in he floor near the centre of the tower, cleverly crafted to look like another part of the floor, and covered with a thin layer of dirt and debris besides. Just after you discover this is when the attack starts. Please roll initiative and let me know your intended action.

Thankee DM!

Nicholai finally struggles to his feet, his fingers starting to move of their own accord. But he stops the waggling with a determined effort, and even doubled over to stay hidden, his sense of decorum and self-control remanifest themselves on his features, starting with his usual half-smirk.

Nicholai blinks the last of the sleep from his eyes and looks around again, noting what Kajetan and Pharris are doing. He grins.

"I'm not certain it's your best idea either Kaj. But I'm willing to put it in your top 5 if it prevents us from being used as target practice!" He quips, Then looks to Laithe.

"Laithe! Can you see them yet? I don't want to waste any spells we might need later!" He stage whispers across the base of the shattered tower. "I can bring a fog to hide us, but it would appear that any arrow that strikes us now would be blind luck as it is!"

'Wij'kan! Can you see them? Stay Hidden!' He sends down the empathic link, his concern for his friend outweighing any hope for information.

If he can tell where they are, next round I will cast Ghost Sound to create the sound of running away from another direction, hopefully causing them to at least waste a turn shooting in that direction!

Casts Soften earth and stone. the spell covers a 40 sq ft area. It follows the arch of the wall, starting from the wall edge and pushing out 10ft. It begins 10ft west of the South entrance to the tower, and ends 25ft to the east of the entrance. Hope that makes sense?

I think so, so it sort of covers the approach and the entrance through the wall and some distance to either side, skewed east? The patch of soft earth is 10 ft deep ('north' to 'south') correct?

I assume no one else has seem the armoured knight and his footmen?

Once Laithe points them out, anyone who stands and looks over the wall can see them. There is one rider and perhaps ten or so on foot, it is a little hard to be certain in the dark.

Pharris Cophalis wrote:

Can I have a description of what Pharris is uncovering? Is there a way we could enter the trapdoor and close it camouflaged, for instance.

Your spell discovers one concealed hatchway, a stone trap-door in he floor near the centre of the tower, cleverly crafted to look like another part of the floor, and covered with a thin layer of dirt and debris besides. Just after you discover this is when the attack starts. Please roll initiative and let me know your intended action.

That's right. It will take two move actions to clear the dirt and rocks enough to try to open it. Once cleared but closed, the trapdoor itself is still 'concealed' (by virtue of looking veryu similar to the rest of the stonework) ... however, a patch of cleared dirt is likely to look very obvious, it would probably not take a searcher long to find it given that.

'Wij'kan! Can you see them? Stay Hidden!' He sends down the empathic link, his concern for his friend outweighing any hope for information.

I'm guessing the bird was sleeping, either perched somewhere on the wall close to Nicolai, or else somewhere amongst the trees nearby to the west. Nicolai's emphatic burst probably awoke him, but he can't see much from his position.

I' was presuming that Wij was perched in the nearest trees. So that will be fine, thank you.

NIcolai looks at the patch of ground they are clearing.

"Quick, clear a larger area! and pull your sleeping blankets on top of it!" He hisses softly.

"Try to make it look like we cleared a spot for sleeping! Maybe they won't see the trapdoor then!" He adds as he moves to help, moving dirt to the side with hasty sweeps of his hands.

"Once we get ready, I can make it sound like we are running away through the brush down the hill, maybe they'll think we ran away while invisible!" He shrugs, and then continues moving dirt.

"It's worth a try anyway!" he adds grimly. "Then maybe we can take them from surprise once they leave?"

"So we fight and we have a ready made escape. Or we just go inside the hole and see if there is a tunnel to safety. I should be using my bow, this is not work for a warrior."

The woman keeps digging next to Kajetan, "remember stay close whatever happens. have to keep important people alive."

Once Pharris has finishes she will move back to the wall.

The woman keeps digging next to Kajetan, "remember stay close whatever happens. have to keep important people alive."

Kajetan stops his digging for a moment to look at Pharris in confusion, before carrying on the work.

"Great idea about the bed rolls," he whispers.

I' was presuming that Wij was perched in the nearest trees. So that will be fine, thank you.

NIcolai looks at the patch of ground they are clearing.

"Quick, clear a larger area! and pull your sleeping blankets on top of it!" He hisses softly.

"Try to make it look like we cleared a spot for sleeping! Maybe they won't see the trapdoor then!" He adds as he moves to help, moving dirt to the side with hasty sweeps of his hands.

"Once we get ready, I can make it sound like we are running away through the brush down the hill, maybe they'll think we ran away while invisible!" He shrugs, and then continues moving dirt.

"It's worth a try anyway!" he adds grimly. "Then maybe we can take them from surprise once they leave?"

Laithe takes another look at the approaching men, then shakes his head at the others. "We don't know what's down there, and I don't relish the thought of finding ourselves trapped in a hole with Atrek behind us and the unknown before. I say we make our stand here; I'm sick of running! Prepare the trapdoor for an escape if we need it. Pharris, get your bow over here and let's put some pressure on their approach."

He takes another quick look at the clouds, trying to gauge when the rain will fall.

Mothman, that is what I intended with the soften earth and stone. Knowledge Nature check 14 + 11 = 25. Who's actual action is it?

Nicholai glances at Laithe with a half-grin and a speculative look, as if re-appraising the druid. He nods once.

"EVer-practical. But try not to make it TOO difficult for them. We don't want them to spread out. MAny of our little surprises only get one chance, and we need to affect as many as possible at a time." He adds as he shoves another armful of dirt aside.

MEtagaming for just a sec, IF they make a charge/run at us, approx how many rounds would it take them to reach the wall? Trying to get my in-character timing set up. I don't want to 'wait' and find that they are on top of us!

Is this round 2 yet?

Nicolai, the archers seem to be hidden at various points around the hill, behind the standing stones. They are not clustered together, but there appears to be one somewhere to the north, east, west and south. The hill is approx. 360 feet in diameter and approx 150 feet high, so the archers are at least 180 feet horizontal and 150 feet vertical away from you.
The rider and footmen are 500 feet away (horizontal) and will be slowed down somewhat if they attempt to run or charge up the hill.

Still on round 2:

Pharris and Kajetan clear the last of the dirt and rocks away from the trap door that Kajetan found.

Laithe casts his spell.

Keildrithe pulls himself to his feet, grabs his sword, and moves close to one of the surrounding walls.

You half expect another volley of flaming arrows to come, but none does.

Alton and Nicolai’s Round 2 actions?

You half expect another volley of flaming arrows to come, but none does.

Seeing no more arrows fly in, Laithe chances another look around the hillside, trying to spot anyone approaching who may not yet have been seen. He then mouths to Nicolai and Keildrithe "Talk?", shrugging the question. Finally, he rummages around in his pack for his sling and bullets, readying them to throw.

Spot check as a swift action (quick recon feat), 4 + 9 = 13. Mothman, are the men we can see Lichford soldiers, or dressed as mercenaries (as was previously the case with Atrek's men?). Also, any word on the rain; is it immiment or still a way off? (rolled a knowledge nature check earlier).

Alton's expression turns to a worried frown as the expected arrows don't fall. "Is it locked? I don't like being out in the open like this." Holding his blades at the ready, he looks around, listening for any sign of their opponents.
Spot 7; Listen 19

Clarification: the tower is an empty shell without any kind of roof or ceiling left to provide cover?

Seeing no more arrows fly in, Laithe chances another look around the hillside, trying to spot anyone approaching who may not yet have been seen. He then mouths to Nicolai and Keildrithe "Talk?", shrugging the question. Finally, he rummages around in his pack for his sling and bullets, readying them to throw.

"Too late for that, I think... but if we concentrate our efforts on incapacitating Atrek, perhaps we won't have to slay so many of these other miserable, misguided souls..."

Laithe thinks that it will likely start raining in earnest within minutes.

Given the distances involved and the dim lighting conditions, no one can hear or see anything of their opponents, except the group of warriors beginning to hurry across the plain towards the hill. It’s hard to make out whether or not they are uniformed.

Correct, all that remains of the tower is outside walls to a height of three to four feet – there is no roof or upper floors remaining.

Argh! My only defensive spell is too short in duration! I'm gonna hold off for now!

NIcholai takes a breath, and risks a peek over the top of the wall's remains. He quickly pops back down. He looks a Laithe and frowns petulantly.

"I'd LOVE to talk!" He whispers, "HEavens knows I love the sound of my own voice! But personally I think that Keildrithe is right! I don't think they're really interested." He says softly but tensely. He sighs, "Still, no harm in trying I suppose." He mutters, then clears his voice and calls out in his strong baritone,...

"HAlloo! Hold your arrows! What in the name of Arton is going on?!? Who are you people?!?" He cries.

"I feel it only fair to warn you, If your bandits, I have nothing of value. Besides my devastating good looks, and I'm very loathe to part with them! Can I interest you in a friendly, fat merchant? I saw one yesterday heading towards the town, if you hurry, you might catch him!" Nicholai cries.

"HAlloo! Hold your arrows! What in the name of Arton is going on?!? Who are you people?!?" He cries.

"I feel it only fair to warn you, If your bandits, I have nothing of value. Besides my devastating good looks, and I'm very loathe to part with them! Can I interest you in a friendly, fat merchant? I saw one yesterday heading towards the town, if you hurry, you might catch him!" Nicholai cries.

Despite the levity of the situation, Laithe can't help but grin at Nicolai's questions.

To the others he whispers "I'm heading out, stealthy like. Defend the tower; I will aid with magic from without and ensure Atrek sees some of the action. If things get hairy, use magical mist and the trap-door to escape. I will follow."

That said, he mutters another quiet prayer to his Lady. "Ehlonna, lend me the colours of nature that I may pass through it unseen". He finishes the casting and his skin and clothes instantly begin changing colour, to match the colour of the stone wall against which he crouches. He then slinks across the tower and slips over the wall on it's Western side, sticking to cover wherever possible.

Turn 3 action. Casts Camouflage, granting +10 to hide checks. Move action out of the tower over the Western wall, hiding and moving as silently as possible. Hide 17 + 10 + 3 = 30, Move Silently 14 + 3 = 17.

Round 2 action:

Kajetan takes a break from his frantic digging to draw on the powers of necromancy to bolster his own life force. Dabbing a strong smelling alcohol on his body into faintly glowing runes and arcane symbols.

False Life

The fell energies swirl though his body, he lets out a little whimper of excitement as the feeling grows to a crescendo, then the runes fade leaving only a crooked smile on his face.

Extra HP from False life. (1d10+4=10)

New HP total is 21.

"We are going to fight them?" he asks, his voice sounds somewhat more confident than normal, "Pharris, let me continue here, you get ready to defend the wall."

Pharris grins at the Kajetan, "magicks again!" She legs it to where Laithe was stood and prepares her bow, scanning the area for targets, squinting in the poor light.

Spot 4+1=5.

"The archers are too well hidden. How did they get here? How? Do we have something on us that they can follow?" Frustrated Pharris slams a fist on the low wall.

"Can someone help Kajetan open the escape, that door may be heavy. You know I think we can take them. But shouldn't ignore a piece of luck like that trapdoor." She finishes raising her bow.

Tell me when the rider is within range (if I can see him).