"They are in the tree?" Azlain said, both amused and a bit impressed with their deceptive ingenuity. "Have you given thought to your approach, or reconnaissance? If you'd like, I can offer assistance."
"I believe our best bet is to rely on my creative friend here, and have her summon some help. Fire elementals to set the tree ablaze, and earth ones to burrow up to attack them from within. She can summon a horde of dretches to poison them, and lava mephits to block any known escape routes. Finally, a pack or two of fast, deadly beasts to hunt down escapees." The inquisitor explains their plan. "The only thing we might need assistance with is guaranteeing the Bellflower are indeed inside this tree."
HP 40/45, AC 21*, Fort +4, Ref +6, Will +8, ArcRes 2/8 Active Effects: Heightened Senses, Defending Bone (45), Extended Shield, Unseen Servant,
Azlain did not seem the least bit apologetic. "If you like that one, you'll love this."
The marble in his hand vanished. "Wait for it..."
Casting Invisibility on the Marble (which is actually the Foci for Spherescry.
Casting Message to allow Mindy and myself to communicate over distance
Using Share Spells to give Mindy Detect Magic.
Before she leaves, Mindy will dose herself in Scent Block
Mindy takes the invisible marble and heads to the tree, scanning for magical auras. As long as she isn't detected, she's going to take the marble into the tree, and through the entire Bellflower hideout (assuming there is one).
Azlain will cast Spherescry to see everything within 20 feet of the marble as it moves, and use Minor Image to create a 1/4 scale illusory model of everything Spherescry reveals, complete with sounds revealed by Spherescry or relayed from Mindy by the Message spell. Any magic detected will glow in the illusory model.
That should give us a map of the Bellflower hideout, a headcount of everyone revealed, plus what they are discussing and their locations at the time the marble is near them.
Invisibly, Mindy flitted away toward the Bellflower complex, scanning for magical auras, traps and foes.
Mindy's Stealth, with invisibility bonus:1d20 + 28 + 20 ⇒ (4) + 28 + 20 = 52 Plus an additional 20 while she is not moving.
Perception:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18
Any doors she runs into she will either wait for others to open and slip through with them, or turn into a something with Compression and slip through the cracks, or if no one is around, she'll just open it (picking the lock if need be).
The Bogeyman, who is accustomed to lurking in the shadows alone, is pleased to find in these new companions, able allies who will assuredly help him deliver the bloody justice of Asmodeus. He looks forward to crushing the skulls of these pesky agents. The very thought of it fills him with righteous joy.
Mendacius invisibly begins her flight to the Sycamore, no hesitation upon leaving the heavily wooded forest to the small clearing around the great tree.
At first glance she sees nothing in the tree or surrounding area that would cause alarm. Pausing, taking her time to make sure, she indeed notices two hostiles.
First, barely hiding in the branches of the Sycamore is a Halfling with a Longbow – and a bell clenched in his hand. He is vigilantly keeping an eye on the surroundings, seemingly ready to ring the bell and prepare to fire his magnificent bow.
Only a moment later she hears a rustling in the wooded area a few dozen feet out. A brown bear pads around the edge of the clearing, staying just inside the light cover of trees, sniffing the air and ground from time to time.
It's meet for me to give you a ‘take 10’ on the Perception to notice Arnam Goodkin in the branches of the Sycamore and Freedom the bear circling the perimeter.
The shaft going down below the Sycamore is nearly claustrophobic for the Tiny Mendacius. Creatures only a bit larger than she would have to squeeze through. But after fifteen feet nearly straight down the shaft opens to four Small tunnels (the human-sized folk would still have to squeeze through) that wind around, all leading to the same cavern.
This cavern would be tight for a Large creature but hum-sized ones would be fine. Maybe a dozen or so could cram together. At present three Halflings and a Half-Elf are clustered together, talking.
Two tunnels at the far ends of the cavern lead deeper into the earth. Mendacius estimates the cavern is roughly 50-80 feet below the sycamore tree.
The Halflings' conversation is about postponing or even cancelling their plans to raid a small caravan with slaves just outside of Macini (heading toward Corentyn). They are concerned by news the fourth Halfling has brought to them.
They are planning to leave the sycamore tonight and rendezvous with an ally of theirs, a Wizard named as Avalia Greenheart. The leader, a Halfling with a Trident, asks the Half-Elf to cast her "Clerical spell" to contact the Wizard Avalia Greenheart, and the Half-Elf Cleric, Amina, complies. A moment later Amina informs her Halfling allies that the Wizard is aware of 'Aaron Smallbridge's' disturbing news.
The Halflings are preparing to leave just after nightfall.
You can attempt whatever Skill checks you can think of to analyze the information Mendacius provides with Azlain's illusion. And then make plans. (I'm for putting those kinds of rolls in Discussion, leaving Gameplay with less clutter, but it's no big deal.) Obviously you can attempt other Skill checks if you think of any.
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Survival check for seeing whether lighting the tree on fire and smoking them out could work.
Arnam Goodkin: The Halfling outside in the branches of the sycamore tree -- and his bear, Freedom. ....Knowledge Local for Race & Class info. Spellcraft for the Bell -- and the bow.
Avarin Littlehat: The Halfling leader with the Trident. ....Yaos and Magnius can attempt DC 10 INT check to remember something about him. Knowledge Local for Race & Class info. Spellcraft for the Bow.
Arlo Yellowknuckle: A Halfling with a Short-Spear (who was mostly quiet during the conversation). ....Knowledge Local for Race & Class info. Spellcraft for the short-spear.
Aaron Smallbridge: The Halfling who has just arrived from Westcrown, fleeing with warning that someone was looking for the Bellflower Network without any of the secret gestures or language. ....Knowledge Local for Race & Class info.
Amina: The Half-Elf Cleric who cast a spell to contact a Halfling Wizard named Avalia Greenheart. ....Knowledge Local for more Race & Class info.
According to the Halflings' conversation, Avalia Greenheart the Wizard is not present. They have used a spell to contact her letting her know of a potential 'security risk'(?) and that they are leaving the sycamore tree as soon as it's night -- presumably to meet up with her.
The only way Avalia Greenheart would be in this fight is if, upon hearing the news Aaron Smallbridge has brought, she decided to Teleport in (if she has the ability to cast the spell -- Yaos & Magnius can make an INT check to remember if she may or may not have that ability.)
She could be anywhere in Cheliax or Andoran -- maybe Absalom. Who knows.
HP 40/45, AC 21*, Fort +4, Ref +6, Will +8, ArcRes 2/8 Active Effects: Heightened Senses, Defending Bone (45), Extended Shield, Unseen Servant,
Azlain walked around inside his illusory model of the Bellflower Hideout, using hand gestures to zoom in on certain areas, or rotate the map.
"It appears your intelligence was spot on. I have seen our files on this group. They are high on the wanted list."
"The question is, do we follow them at nightfall and let them lead us to their wizard friend, or do we simply take them out now and interrogate the wizard's whereabouts from them."
"Mindy, do you think you can block those escape passages" Azlain asked his familiar through the Message link, speaking their shared language just in case the Message was somehow heard.
"Let me see what I can do..." Mindy whispered, checking over the two passages that led deeper underground.
Mindy has Itch's Haversack, a bunch of Tangleburn bags, two bear traps, some mood-altering pheromones, an unlimited supply of her own poison, and a +9 to Craft Traps. How nasty can I make those exit tunnels?
Female Half Elf Master Summoner 9 HP 65 Max 90 (9d8 + 18) Defence AC23 Touch 16 Flat Footed 18 Fort +7, Ref +10, Will +9 (+11 vs. charm and compulsion); +2 vs. enchantments Immune sleep Summoner Spells Lvl 1 7/7Lvl 2 56/6 Lvl 3 5/5 Summoning Master SLA 13/13
"I can use Dimension Door to reach the tree in one go, and I can make people invisible. The bear may hear or smell them however. Does anyone have a spell that can mask scent?"
HP 40/45, AC 21*, Fort +4, Ref +6, Will +8, ArcRes 2/8 Active Effects: Heightened Senses, Defending Bone (45), Extended Shield, Unseen Servant,
"Not a spell." Azlain said pulling a small metal jar out of his satchel. "Just rub this on your skin under your arms, on your neck and between your thighs. It will mask you scent."
"You will have to be careful of making noise on your own."
The Bogeyman applies the onguent generously. "Shall I go ahead and flush them out then? Will you prepare your ambush?" the beast of Asmodeus asks, to be sure.
Your understanding of Survival skills makes it very hard to believe that a mundane fire could smoke them out. The Sycamore is a living tree, and would take a tremendous fire to burn. Plus, it would be difficult to get the smoke from such a fire -- which would take a prodigious effort to start -- to go down the tunnel in enough volume to greatly trouble the Halflings inside. And this also does not take into consideration the two likely exits from the cavern below. Indeed, in the event of a forest fire, one would do well to survive in the cavern below the tunnels under the tree (if one was stuck and had drinking water).
Among the branches of the great Sycamore hides Arnam Goodkin with his bow, clearly of fine quality constructed by a master, and imbued with considerable eldritch power. Additionally, the bow has an almost imperceptible hum indicative of enchanting arrows especially harmful to Humans, a bane to humanity one may call it.
The Halfling himself looks the part of a Ranger equal to your own degree of abilities, but one that is an equal amalgam of Ranger and Druid -- a true Hunter. His eyes and nose, so unlike a Halfling, are featured that of a Mouse; and his ears have folds not unlike a Bat.
Away from Arnam Goodkin, just in the treeline around the Sycamore's clearing, Freedom the bear circles, very much a Companion to the Halfling.
It's the Bell in his hands that is of concern -- it is clearly magical and the clapper, when ringing, will be heard telepathically by those who are attuned to it.
Inside the cavern the leader, Avarin Littlehat, wields a magical trident, equal in power to Arnam Goodkin’s bow and with the same Human Bane quality. Apparently a Magus, the Halfling can additionally imbue his trident with spells of 3rd Level of power and attack twice in six seconds.
Aaron Smallbridge, the Halfling who led you to this place, is clearly an Investigator, with the alchemical bombs and sharp eyes of one, though not as experienced as you, who can study a target to attack like a Rogue and swiftly create Extracts of 2nd Level potency.
Arlo Yellowknuckle, Yaos immediately recognizes this Halfling as the one who, from Invisibility, slayed the young Lord, Francesco Phandros, on the road to Gheradescci County – in one thrust as the Phandros noble exited his caravan wagon. Avarin carries himself as a Slayer, a Fighting Rogue with even more experience and talent than you all have. The Halfling's Short Spear is imbued only with minor magic.
The Half-Elf with them, Amina, is a Cleric of Iomedae, not as experienced or skilled as you, but able to cast 3rd Level divine spells nonetheless.
You know that, with your knowledge of the Layout of the cavern and labyrinthine tunnels leading to it from the base of the Sycamore, you can use Dimension Door to reach the cavern. But, because of the density of the packed earth, you would need to be closer to the hole leading down – within a few feet of the tree so as to have line-of-effect to the inside of the hole. Thus, if you can eliminate the Hunter Arnam Goodkin and his bear, Freedom (with or without him ringing the magical bell) you could Dimension Door directly to the cavern.
"Go inside, Mindy. Come outside, Mindy," the imp snarked. She invisibly flew out of the caves and found the halfling with the bell, scanning with Detect magic until she spotted it.
First, barely hiding in the branches of the Sycamore is a Halfling with a Longbow – and a bell clenched in his hand. He is vigilantly keeping an eye on the surroundings, seemingly ready to ring the bell and.
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Creature / Fiend / Monster wrote:
It's the Bell in his hands
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Because Arnam Goodkin is holding the bell one cannot attempt a Sleight of Hand to steal it; it’s not a pick-pocket attempt. One would have to attempt a CMB: Disarm. (Oddly, and I never thought of it, this means one could attempt a Sleight of Hand on his Lonbow (Small Sized as it is. I have to believe the DC to burgle his bow would be greater than the DC20 and +4 than RAW seems to indicate. But I dunno.). In any case, I know you can’t use Sleight of Hand to Disarm somebody.
Arnam Goodkin Bellflower Network NG Halfling Hunter-8
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On guard in the branches of the great sycamore tree, one of the few remaining lairs the Bellflower Network can use from time-to-time, Arnam Goodkin is not too worried about Aaron Smallbridge's report of someone poking around looking for Halflings in the Bellflower Network. It could have been anything.
But he does agree with their leader's measure of prudence, Avarin Littlehat's order to be on guard and leave this place immediately, reuniting with their powerful Wizard, Avalia Greenheart.
Arnam Goodkin allows his gaze to land on Freedom, remembering the time five years ago when he found the black bear cub in the southern Whisperwood on the Iseld River near Remesiana. Now the black bear is bigger than he is. Freedom seems calm.
Perception:1d20 + 18 ⇒ (16) + 18 = 34 vs DC 38
And Invisibly, Mendacius flutters near the Halfling, gently applying the Alchemical Glue to the bell's clapper.
Female Half Elf Master Summoner 9 HP 65 Max 90 (9d8 + 18) Defence AC23 Touch 16 Flat Footed 18 Fort +7, Ref +10, Will +9 (+11 vs. charm and compulsion); +2 vs. enchantments Immune sleep Summoner Spells Lvl 1 7/7Lvl 2 56/6 Lvl 3 5/5 Summoning Master SLA 13/13
Yaos has taken out a moment to cast invisibility on herself before the party's attack begins. Then, upon receiving news from Azlain that his familiar has disabled the magical bell, Yaos employs the Dimension Door spell to transport herself, the Bogeyman and Magnius into the tree near Arnam Goodkin.
When they have left, Pale Wing commences a full move action flying towards the Sycamore tree.
Yaos ....From her own Invisibility casts Dimension Door
Magnius ....Moving through the Dimension Door gets a Standard or Move Action. (Must attempt an Acrobatics check to keep your balance on a tree branch if you make any 'significant' Actions -- such as attack.)
The Bogeyman ....Moving through the Dimension Door gets a Standard or Move Action. (Must attempt an Acrobatics check to keep your balance on a tree branch if you make any 'significant' Actions -- such as attack.)
Azlain ....From several hundred feet away in thick cover, can take a Standard or Move Action in the Surprise Round.
Arnam Goodkin ....Flatfooted
Freedom ....25 feet away from the tree, Flatfooted
Yaos ....From her own Invisibility casts Dimension Door
15.3} The Bogeyman .... Standing firm on a tree branch viciously attacks the Hunter. And misses
Magnius .... TBD
Moves through the Dimension Door and gets a Standard or Move Action. (Must attempt an Acrobatics check to keep your balance on a tree branch if you make any 'significant' Actions -- such as attack.)
Azlain .... TBD
From several hundred feet away in thick cover, can take a Standard or Move Action in the Surprise Round.
Arnam Goodkin ....Flatfooted
Freedom ....25 feet away from the tree, Flatfooted
Magnius, on shaky legs, manages to gain his balance long enough to cast a spell, summoning a pair of ghostly chains. The first one lashes out at Armin, but the second one attempts to pull him down.
If the first attack hits, he needs to make a Will save DC 15 or be shaken for 1d4 ⇒ 4 rounds. If the attack misses, he needs to make it for the trip attempt being successful. Of course, it's entirely possible he's knocked off the branch, so that could suck, for him.
Yaos ....From her own Invisibility casts Dimension Door
Needs to roll Initiative
22.6} Magnius ....Standing firm on a tree branch, casts Spiked Chains
The first chain lashes out, cutting a thin line of blood on the Halfling's arm. The second chain tangles the Hunter's ankle, dropping him from the tree to the earth below. Hitting the ground neck first:1d6 ⇒ 3 (There are three Chains -- you can have the third attack also.)
16.2} Mendacius ....Steals twenty of Arnam Goodkin's arrows, still Invisible
16.2} Azlain ....Spurs his skeletal mount forward to 180 feet from Freedom, 205 from the Sycamore where combat is beginning
15.3} The Bogeyman .... Standing firm on a tree branch viciously attacks the Hunter. And misses
Seeing three hostiles pop out from nowhere right in the great and wise tree near his bonded alpha-male companion, Freedom charges forward to attack -- uncaring of his lowered defenses when he makes such a charge -- and pounces on one of the three hostiles.
random PC (in alphabetical order):1d3 ⇒ 2
The end of his charge taking him the first five feet up the trunk of the great and wise tree, reaching above himself at the hostiles above him.
EDIT: Attacking Magnius!
Shaken and lying prone, the Hunter is now Sickened as well as the Bogeyman clubs him -- and stands between the Halfling on the ground and the small hole leading under the tree.
Freedom roars in frustration as the Bogeyman doesn't jump close enough to his bear's claws to provoke a swing.
Female Half Elf Master Summoner 9 HP 65 Max 90 (9d8 + 18) Defence AC23 Touch 16 Flat Footed 18 Fort +7, Ref +10, Will +9 (+11 vs. charm and compulsion); +2 vs. enchantments Immune sleep Summoner Spells Lvl 1 7/7Lvl 2 56/6 Lvl 3 5/5 Summoning Master SLA 13/13
Yaos is acting on the same initiative as Freedom, which means now.
Yaos, remaining invisible, conjures a force of small Earth Elementals down in the tunnel below her. These will use their burrowing and earthglide abilities to move into the earth floor of the tunnel, then move toward where the remaining Bellflower Agents are. They will use their tremorsense to locate the Bellflower agents and circle behind them, remaining underground. If they are in suitable position the elementals will attack the Bellflower Agents from the rear next round, hopefully cutting off their escape. If not in position they will continue towards the Bellflower Agents to get into position the round after. If the Bellflower Agents flee, the elementals will pursue.
Pale Wing started 300' back, near Azlain. Pale Wing spent the last round full moving to where Yaos is, his full move is exactly 300' and is now hovering in the air 10' above Yaos.
No of Small Earth Elementals:1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Small Earth Elemental:
XP 400
N Small outsider (earth, elemental, extraplanar)
Init –1; Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 60 ft.; Perception +4
DEFENSE
AC 17, touch 10, flat-footed 17 (–1 Dex, +7 natural, +1 size)
hp 13 (2d10+2)
Fort +4, Ref –1, Will +3
Immune elemental traits
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft., burrow 20 ft., earth glide
Melee slam +6 (1d6+4)
Special Attacks earth mastery
STATISTICS
Str 16, Dex 8, Con 13, Int 4, Wis 11, Cha 11
Base Atk +2; CMB +4; CMD 13
Feats Improved Bull RushB, Power Attack
Skills Appraise +1, Climb +7, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +1, Knowledge (planes) +1, Perception +4, Stealth +7
Languages Terran
