Atapax's Kingmaker Campaign

Game Master Aluvian

Sia's lips quirk upwards slightly. "If we can get it to sit still and listen to you that long, we may as well have it help fight the Stag Lord with us. It'll give you a proper chance to duel him while the rest of the bandits are either laughing themselves silly or being tossed around by the Trollish Swordlord."

Salinthas scratches his head as he looks through the antlers, "'Tis from a single animal I think, the mighty megaloceros, a giant elk type creature with enormous antlers. Whatever killed it, must have been powerful." He once more concentrates and sweeps through the area, followed by Gorax. His eyes following the ground, occasional footmarks. He follows them to the woods edge, where the countryside suddenly expands into rolling plains. Grasses blowing in the wind, dark clouds have gathered in the sky, grey and white clouds against the blue background. To the north you see patches of cloud falling to the earth, rain is on its way, the darker clouds are approaching. Salinthas continues on his way to the west and south, for several hundred yards, before returning. "They went that way," pointing to the west, "we must follow immediately if we are to follow the tracks, the rain will destroy them. We are already 2-3 days behind them." Salinthas waits for your decision.

Bregor grins at the succes of his joke and opens his mouth to speak, then he suddenly stops and assumes a thoughtfull mien, he appears to be seriously consider the viability of instructing a troll in the secrets of the sword.

"Ragak the Trollish sword scion...has a certain ring to it."

Kyrie shudders. "Trolls are bad news," she notes. "They're vicious and brutal and heal incredibly fast - unless they're killed with fire they'll recover while you watch."

She looks at the skull in the tree. "At a guess, that head wound up there when two trolls were playing catch and they couldn't pull it back down..."

"Ah, that would solve things nicely then, we merely have to get the trolls to duel to the death...admittedly we should bring weeks of provisions if they heal THAT fast, then whichever triumphs can become my student."

Sia stops and rubs her head. "...no." she finally says. "I don't like our odds against one of them. Two, especially if they're really this inclined to violence...We don't have a consistent access to a method of burning, and without that...we'll just have to hope that they've left the lands for the moment. Next time we return to Oleg's stock up on alchemist's fire so we can handle them from some distance. For the moment, we continue and head eastward."

Kyrie nods. "I'm in favor of not getting our heads ripped off for the next round of catch," she replies. "We'll have to deal with them sooner or later, but I'd prefer being prepared for the fight when we do."

Gorax looks up at the head in the tree, his head to one side, wondering, paused in thought, before turning to Bregor. "Looks like them trolls don't need no teaching from you, from what Kyrie says, they're nasty enough as it is. Don't want them doin' your fancy tricks as well. You wanna start by teaching our friends first, what about Perlivash and Tyg, they'd make excellent fencers... " he chuckles.

"Sia, we changing our patrol then, we'd planned to go westwards from here originally, but we can go east if you like? Back into the Narlmarches?"

[ooc]The choices before you are to head east in the opposite direction from the trolls, or continue to map the current hex, which takes you in a westerly direction.[ooc]

Sia's intention is to change the route. We can get to this hex later, after being better prepared for the encounter if the trolls are still there in a week.

Bregor does his best to feign terrible dissapointment that he will not soon face "Ragak the Troll swordsmaster", but it is painfully obvious that he is as happy as the rest to avoid this encounter for now.

The party retreats into the unexplored lands west of their current position, entering once more the forested areas of the Narlmarshes. Once more the canopy rises above you and you start the laborious task of mapping landmarks, clearings and whatever else makes movement through these forested areas easy. The forest is darker than you have known, as the grey clouds deposit rain falling down noisily on the leaves above. Occasionally a large droplet of water falls, hitting you in the face, the cold refreshing pure rain water tastes wonderful, as your tongues flick out to catch it as it slowly trickles down your skin.

As you continue, the rain makes the ground slippery, especially where the rain pours down through an opening in the canopy, revealing the sky seemingly closing down on you. Your clothes start to cling to you as they too get wet and steal the warmth from your body making the day seem colder. The horses, despite their steadiness slip and slide in the newly formed thin layer of mud. Eventually the rain stops and the light brightens as the clouds turn to white from grey above your heads.

After some time traveling like this through glades and clearings, you hear the wailing, yips and bays of a creature, not too far off. As you get closer, the series of yipping barks becomes louder. As you look around you see several disused or old trappers pits dug into the ground, their camouflage of branches and twigs long since fallen in or removed. Ahead in the clearing is another pit, it seems that is where the animals noise is coming from.

You are about 40ft from the pit in the clearing.

You will now start to map the hex on the south-western edge of the Tuskgutter's lair's hex. You have mapped half the hex on the south-eastern edge of the Tuskgutter's liar.

Kyrie dismounts and readies her bow again, then glances at Gorax and Bregor before she approaches the edge of the clearing.

Gorax follows Kyrie's lead, dismounting and readying his longsword and shield, as he hears the barks get ever more insistent. "Here Salinthas, can you take the horses again, don't want them frightened." Gorax moves up to Kyrie as they get to the edge of the clearing. The pit 20ft in front of them is definitely where the sounds are coming from, but Gorax can see nothing from this far back.

Sia quietly gestures to Kyrie to move forward, making sure to stay behind her just in case.

Bregor dismounts, hands the reins to Salintahs, draws his sword and joins Kyrie as she approaches the clearing. As he notices her bow drawn he makes sure to move a little ahead of her.

Other than the sounds of the animla and the pit in front of you, the clearing seems devoid of any threat.

Are you moving into the clearing or retreating?

Kyrie nods at Sia, then carefully advances into the clearing until she can get a good look into the pit to see what the noise is coming from.

You get the pit that once would have been covered by a layer of branches, that even in its unmaintained state has claimed another victim. Kyrie and Bregor get to the edge of the 10 feet wide pit and look down 20ft to see an odd looking creature scrabbling to get out. Its the size of very large dog, but with a slender build of a cat, heavy whiskers and dark stripes down its back. Its long tail flips as it looks up at you, its emancipated body showing its starving hungry, not having eaten in a long time. Muscular jaws open wide as stands on its hind legs as it tries to jump up in a frenzy and feed on its prey.

As you straighten up from looking down, the walls of the pit start to crumble as you begin to slide down, the recent rain, has made the earth here slippery and you try and regain your balance.

Can I have reflex saves from Bregor and Kyrie please.

Once you have finished mapping this hex, will you go? West, North-West, North-East, East, South-East or South-West? As I'm not sure of the current plan now its changed. Gorax has no preference or input.

Reflex: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Reflex saving throw: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

If that is a success and if Kyrie falls, can Bregor attempt to grab her arm and pull her to safety? This is just the sort of excuse he needs to lay a hand on her haha.

As the ground below falls away from them, Bregor and Kyrie's feet start to scrabble on the slippery wet ground surrounding the pit. Kyrie screams as her foot catches a root, which loops round her foot, throwing her even more off balance as she plunges forward and down into the pit, at the mercy of the wild, hungry creature. Bregor, looks aghast as he watches Kyrie tumble forward, as his feet search out a firm patch of ground to regain his footing. He nearly lets go his sword, as he waivers at the edge of the pit, before he is able to find ground solid enough to let him push backwards away from the crumbling pit wall. He turns back to see Kyrie at the bottom of the pit, lying down holding her ankle, her face screwed up in pain. Bregor calls out, standing firmly on a piece of fairly solid earthen wall, "Kyrie!"

Player init order: Kyrie, Sia, Salinthas, Bregor, Gorax.

Kyrie tries to scramble to her feet, only to bite down on a scream of pain as her ankle refuses to bear her weight. Instead she forces herself up on one knee, drawing both her blades and facing the cat/dog creature bearing down on her, intent on making it /work/ for its dinner.

Getting up from prone (hopefully not so close to the critter that she provokes an AoO, but this is one of those situations where there is no good alternative) and backing against the wall of the pit in a defensive crouch.

Bregor makes a wry face before muttering to himself.
"Forsoth, after I spent so much energy to NOT descend into that pit."
He then takes a firm grip of his sword and jumps down to land besides Kyrie.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

If he lands standing and can make an attack, he also strikes out, trying to draw attention to himself.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

"Please, DO not mind me; I am endeavouring to make myself into a nuisance."

Sia curses and starts sorting through her pack. She can make out that there's a beast down there from sound, but she needs to see it to actually start flinging spells at it. "Hold on a minute! She smiles as she managed to come up with a few rags and a flask of oil.

Full round action to retrieve the oil flask and prepare it to throw as a burning missile weapon

Round 1
AoO The creatures powerful jaws snap at Kyrie as she struggles onto her feet taking her defensive position against the wall of the pit. However in the animals weakened state, its reactions are not as sharp as usual, and its attack falls short. Just the saliva from its lolling tongue brushes Kyrie's cheek.

Bregor leaps in to Kyrie's defense, landing with a thump after the fall, but keeping his feet, but after the heavy fall he is unable to bring any accuracy to the attempted thrust with his sword. The attack misses the beast, which continues to eye Kyrie as its next meal.

Salinthas finishes tying the horses to a branch, sure they are in no danger and runs over towards the pit, but Gorax shouts out "Don't go near the edge, it's dangerous. Let me hold onto you, so you don't fall in. You too Sia, let me hold you too, don't go chucking that in without me holding you back from falling in." As Gorax gets hold of Salinthas' belt as he gets to the pits edge, Salinthas' bow readied to fire.

The creatures eyes now look with longing at the cowering elf, its hunger driving it on. Once more Kyrie feels the slobbering tongue on her flesh, as its jaws open unusually wide, before they close around the young elf's neck and shoulder, ripping into her flesh, a near fatal wound. The devastating bite leaves the female lying in a pool of blood , unmoving.

AoO on Kyrie missed,
Bregor 6 non-lethal damage from jumping into the pit,
Kyrie 10 points of damage from a bite, Kyrie unconscious.
Kyrie please make a stabilization roll in a spoiler.

With Gorax holding on, you get +5 to your reflex save, DC=15. On a successful save you may have a full rounds actions as normal, if you fail you spend the round regaining your footing, but you do not fall in the pit.

Start Round 2

Just hit me right after I posted. Why would the confined space be a d4? It's not like the thing is going to bounce around - if it hits a back wall, it'll break and deal splash damage back outward.

@Sia, its a 10x10 pit, so only 4 5x5 squares, plus hitting the walls, hence the d4. If you miss, you miss the squares with the creature in, it leaves 3 squares and the walls, so the d4 determines where the flask would hit, if you miss the creature. And you get +1 for higher ground, you are really trying to drop the flask accurately, rather than throw into an area.
As you failed the reflex save, you either threw the flask anywhere, or hold onto it to throw accurately the next round.

@Sia, the other alternative is you throw the flask of burning oil down the into the pit, but you can't see your target. In this case you can throw without a reflex save. It's just I never really thought you'd see that as an option, as all you need do is roll to hit the pit hole as a target, rather than a specific creature.

"I believe I asked you to pay attention to me master...animal. And besides, I think there is more sustenance to be gained from devouring me anyhow."

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Round 2
Kyrie's chest rises and falls, as the blood continues to flow and stain the dirt around. Bregor attracts the animals attention, when his sword slices into the animal's rump, drawing blood and a yelp! Sia tries to set her flask of oil on fire, but her foot slips and she starts to tumble into the pit. Fortunately Gorax is holding onto her from behind and pulls her back, from falling in. Salinthas has no such worries the earth holds beneath his feet, and he slams an arrow into the back of the animal. As he does this he utters, "What a strange animal, never seen one of those before."

The animal turns on Bregor in an effort to protect its meal, leaping at the man, the animals jaws clasp on Bregor's armor. The armor and teeth sound a scratching high pitched squeal, as the teeth slide off the armor, with no damage done to the brave warrior.

The animal has taken 6 damage.

Salinthas Reflex Save 1d20 + 8 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 8 + 5 = 16
Salinthas Longbow Attack 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 1 = 19 includes +1 higher ground.
Salinthas Longbow Damage 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Salinthas Knowledge(Nature) 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Start Round 3

"That is right...come to my blade!"
As in the previous fight, Bregors face twists into a mask of concentration, no trace of either charm or humour remains.
Once more he strikes out, wishing to end the battle quickly so that he can move to assist Kyrie.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Forgot to ask Kyrie for another spoiler, please to see if you are dying.

Actually I misread the situation. It looked to me like the beast was 35 feet away, or outside of Sia's sight range.That pretty much reduces my options to "get really creative" because spells don't work if you can't actually see what you're aiming at (and yes, this is even true of lovely evocation standbys like Fireball). On a closer reading, I realize it's actually only 25 feet away. For ease of play though, let's just say Sia realizes that tossing the oil down there is worse than doing nothing after getting a slightly closer look.

Sia nods and takes a moment to put out the oil, finding holding onto it to be a bad idea, before looking down into the pit again and trying her 'death glare' on the animal.

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Will save, DC 14, or be panicked and flee or cower for 1d4 ⇒ 2 rounds. On a successful save is shaken and a -1 to actions instead.

For round 3:

Kyrie still lies motionless, save for a faint movement of her chest.

Sia manages to save her flask of oil, but cannot cast a spell as the edge crumbles under her feet. Gorax pulls her back once more.

Bregor and Salinthas use their weapons to further damage the creature.

Whilst the creature's jaws slam into Bregor body, the force of it penetrating into his flesh as its teeth cut through muscle and draw blood.

Round 3
Salinthas Reflex Save 1d20 + 8 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 8 + 5 = 32 includes Gorax's aid
Salinthas Longbow Attack 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 1 = 24 includes +1 higher ground.
Salinthas Longbow Damage 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

The creature takes 17 damage
Bregor takes 8 damage
Too knackered to embellish with narrative, sorry

Start of round 4

Bregor's face is still blank, except for his eyes, revealing his focus on the battle as he strikes out at the enmy.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Concentration Check(DC 21): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

As the spell fails, Sia curses and steps back from the ledge. [b]"Oh...this is ludicrous. Didn't ANYONE here bring a damn rope?[b] She rushes over to check the horses.

There's supposed to be a rope somewhere in Kyrie's posessions, but it's listed as being on her horse, which doesn't actually have saddlebags for that. I'm assuming she meant to move it to the draft horses, which is what Sia's going to go check. Call it a move action, and a standard action to do the search.

The blood flowing from Kyrie's wounds seems to slow and is almost stopped, as her body is slumped on the floor. The pools of red blood, seep slowly into the earth, such that Kyrie's crimson shiny carpet, turns a ruddy reddish earthly brown.

Bregor's skill as a swordsman is no match for this weakening creature, as with a desperate lunge at the man, the creature jumps towards Bregor, its teeth sharp and hot breath just inches from Bregor's face. It is then that Bregor deftly moves to the side, his trusty sword using the animals momentum to enter its flesh, and pierce it's heart. With one last spasm, before the body goes limp and slides down the sword, blood pumping out of its wounds splattering Bregor's clothes and armor.

The bottom of the pit is red with the blood of Kyrie and the beast, Bregor stands, triumphant over the dog-like animal.

Salinthas nods at Bregor, as he stands back from the pit, onto solid ground next to Gorax saying, "Its over, Bregor prevails."

Meanwhile Sia runs off to the horses to retrieve some rope.

Gorax, wipes his brow, "Yes, rope would have helped, now we just need to get those two back up and out of the pit."

Bregor looks down at the dead animal for a moment, his face betrays no sign of happiness from his victory.
He then nods, kneels down at Kyries side and chants a spell.

Cure light wounds: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

And another:

Cure light wounds: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

And a third

Cure light wounds: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

It takes Sia some time, but she finally manages to find the rope and get back to the edge of the pit. "Are you all right down there?

Bregor's first spell does little to restore color or life to Kyrie's skin. The second has slightly more success, but it's not until Bregor finishes chanting the third that Kyrie shudders and draws a half-moaned breath.

"... ugh.. wha--?"

... Near-death experiences apparently leave one somewhat incoherent.

"Oh thank goodness," Sia murmurs quietly before tossing the rope down, handing the other end to Gorax. "Hold on, I'm on my way down. Let's make sure nothing else dropped in here before we move on, at least." With that, Sia climbs the rope down to the bottom of the pit.

First, CLW spells.
CLW1 for Bregor: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

...close enough.

CLW1 for Kyrie: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Sia wavers on her feet for a moment after the healing is done, her odd technique apparently isn't as infinite as it seemed at first. [b]"Woah...okay, I'm fine...you two look okay, right? Let's....get looking around down here and then get out of here."

Perception check: 1d20 ⇒ 19

Kyrie winces as she gets up, then performs a few quick stretches and patdowns to make sure all essential bits are back in their proper places. "... I'm okay again, I think. My armor's a mess, though. Bregor, are you okay? I think the last I saw before that thing got me was you jumping down."

She nods at Sia's suggestion and helps her examine the area, not really wanting to spend any more time in the pit than absolutely necessary.
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Bregor is gazing down at the animal, his face showing sadness. As Kyrie speaks he snaps out of his contemplation and looks at her with eye that are still somewhat vacant.

"Huh? Ah..oh yes indeed Ms Kyrie, not a scratch on me any longer."

Bregor is markedly subdued, neither bragging about his victory, nor making a joke about recieveing a kiss for saving the fair maidens life.

Sia pauses her sifting through the debris for a few moments. "Bregor,you all right?"

Kyrie looks up from her inspection of the pit as well to glance at Bregor, wondering what Sia is hinting at.