Aubrey's Eberron campaign. (Inactive)

Game Master Aubrey the Malformed

(Ezreal doesn't know Marrius, he just knows of Marrius. Info like that is not available, plus he is only one several members of that crew.)

I was just thinking that it would be a number of stories of the "Commander Marrius once slaughtered an entire company of hobgoblins with his trusty zweihander" or that "Captain Marrius' mastery of the arcane arts made short work of the enemy" type floating around. You know, just so we can worry more.

"I never personally met the man. By the time I was patrolling on a riverboat he was just a name cursed in hard times."

Nobility seemed appropriate for a notable individual of my home country: Kn Nobility 19+10 = 29
Aid from Kadesh 2+4 = nothing

I only saw Aubrey's reply after posting, but what the hell? It's a nice roll, maybe it will be worth something.

(Meh, OK, it was a good roll. He was ex-special forces, as were most of his crew, for what it's worth. You are making the foolish assumption that I actually know at this stage.)

"All I know is he was the commander of one of Karrnath's elite special forces until the day he broke a strategic blockade and joined Breland's navy. The resulting battle was... a catastrophe."

Init: 15 + 4 = 19.

Init 10...

0lv 3light, 2 det magic
1lv mgcwpn(x2), shieldo'faith(x2)(d)sanctuary
2lv aid,spirwpn,bulls str(x2)** (d)circleprotevil*
3lv bestowcurse,searinglite,prayer,(d)protection from energy-fire
(prepped spells; * means I've cast it.

To Buff:...

Casting magic circle prot evil and bulls str on Runzyl.
Casting bulls str on myself(woo hoo!)
does anybody want magic weapon, shield o faith, or aid?
I'm holding prayer for when we close.

I also have some bulls str scrolls.

Oh, and protection ritual on Runzyl, Trose, Ezreal, and Janosz; means I'm down 3 turn undead attempts.

Sorry for the wait; Mon and Tues bad @ work anymore.

(Meh, OK, it was a good roll. He was ex-special forces, as were most of his crew, for what it's worth. You are making the foolish assumption that I actually know at this stage.)

Best. Quote. Evar. (I can identify).

0lv 3light, 2 det magic

1lv mgcwpn(x2), shieldo'faith(x2)(d)sanctuary
2lv aid,spirwpn,bulls str(x2)** (d)circleprotevil*
3lv bestowcurse,searinglite,prayer,(d)protection from energy-fire
(prepped spells; * means I've cast it.

To Buff:...

Casting magic circle prot evil and bulls str on Runzyl.
Casting bulls str on myself(woo hoo!)
does anybody want magic weapon, shield o faith, or aid?
I'm holding prayer for when we close.

I also have some bulls str scrolls.

Oh, and protection ritual on Runzyl, Trose, Ezreal, and Janosz; means I'm down 3 turn undead attempts.

LB wouldn't say no to a Shield of Faith; though it might be wise to save some buffs for when we (presumably) go after Karile in Ashblack later in the day.

Right on.

For Ez, a Dispel Magic would not affect the elemental binding. (Just checked in the Explorer's Handbook.) For info, the hull is lighter than air already, being made of soarwood, so it wouldn't crash anyway.

Init's thus far:
Runzyl 19
Ezreal 18
Janosz 15
Lightbringer 14
Rodergo 10

We need Trose and whatever hirelings/buddies are with us. Is it all 3 half-orcs and Gnarley with us now?

14+2=16

We need Trose and whatever hirelings/buddies are with us. Is it all 3 half-orcs and Gnarley with us now?

Gnarly 11+6=17

Init:
Runzyl: 19 Bless, Bulls Strength, Magic Circle Against Evil, Protection Ritual
Ezreal: 18 Bless, False Life, Mage Armor, Protection Ritual
Gnarly: 17 Bless
Trose: 16 Bless , Protection Ritual
Janosz: 15 Bless , Protection Ritual
Lightbringer: 14 Bless, Magic Weapon, Protection From Evil
Bool: 12 Bless
Rodergo: 10 Bless, Bulls Strength
Arek: 9 Bless
Ceshto: 7 Bless

Sorry for the delay - I nearly have the NPCs ready.

It's all good.

OK, here we go with another horribly complicated map, involving a flying ship, and skytruck and a docking tower. How do I get involved in these things? Here goes....

A to KK across the top, 1 to 16 down the side. From A-KK/1-3 is the docking tower. There is a door at R3, from which extends a gangway R/4-8 to the side of the ship. The door is open, though it is hard to see inside.

And now the ship. What follows is a desciption of the exterior. It is slightly tricky to describe in coordinates, so I will draw it up in sections.

The main bit is a rectangle, H-AA/9-15. The prow is made up of two triangles, with apexes (apices?) at (triangle 1) the points in the centre of AA-BB/8-9, AA-BB/11-12 and HH-II/11-12 and (triangle 2) AA-BB/12-13, AA-BB/15-16 and HH-II/12-13. Between then runs a narrow rectangle, BB-HH/12.

The stern is two smaller triangles and a rectangle. The apexes for these are at (triangle 3) G-H/8-9, G-H/10-11 and F-G/10-11 and (triangle 4) G-H/13-14, G-H/15-16 and F-G/13-14. Between them is a rectangle, G/11-13.

OK, hopefully now you will have a boat-shaped outline. There are control surfaces at II-KK/12, A-G/10 and A-G/14. These can be walked along, but they are tricky and would require Balance skill checks. In addition, there is a big elemental containment ring running perpendicular to the deck around the rear waist of the ship. In cross-section, it is at M7 and M16 at the level of the deck. The main strut connecting the hull to the ring is a big lump of wood at G-H/12.

There are three decks: a raised rear deck at the back and a raised fo'c'sle at the front, and a lower main deck in the middle (there being cabins under the rear deck and fo'c'sle at the level of the main deck). The rear deck is at G-L and the fo'c'sle is at BB-HH. There are stairs at M-N/10, M-N/14, Z-AA/10 and Z-AA/14 to the upper decks, and doors at L12 and BB12 to the cabins underneath. The helm is at J12. There is also a big hatch at S-U/11-13 in the main deck leading to the hold, which is open.

The pilot of the skytruck swoops up underneath the hull of the airship to avoid being spotted before bringing it up at the side, close enough to jump across. Crewmen on board, busy making preparations to leave, gawp at the skytruck rises up besides them, before they begin yelling.

OK, the skytruck is at U-X/16-17. It has double doors at V-W/16, V-W/17 and U/16-17. I assume you are leaving by the doors at V-W/16 but you can always surprise me if you wish. Jumping across to the airship from there is a DC 5 Jump check. If you fail, you don't fall to your death but simply must take a full round to get to the nearest square on the ship. If you make it, you can move normally on to the ship. The crewmen are at K10, K14, R13, V11, and CC12.

Nice setup ... now to try to map it.
Our next fight is going to be in a nice 30 x 30 room to compensate, isn't it?

Nice setup ... now to try to map it.

Our next fight is going to be in a nice 30 x 30 room to compensate, isn't it?

I bloody hope so.

Runzyl.

I’ve done the map, give me a couple of hours and I should be able to upload it and link it.

MAP

You're a godsend. Did you make it in AutoCAD?

You're a godsend. Did you make it in AutoCAD?

Yup, then converted to a jpg for upload. I have a grid set up to help me map most of the bigger or complicated combats in Aubrey or Heaths’ games … when I’m at work, have the time and can be bothered, etc etc. Half the time I just end up scribbling something up on a post-it note instead.

Very good!

As the skytruck pulls up to the airship, Runzyl glances at Lightbringer for a moment, seeming to pause as though waiting for some order regarding the fate of the crewmen. The moment passes, though, and in the blink of an eye the Valenar takes a flying leap onto the airship, his wicked blades following in his wake.

I'm assuming the crewmen are armed. If not, then Runzyl would not normally just randomly attack them.

The elf bolts forward at the nearest crewman and delivers a devastating slice before stepping to the side to permit his allies a clear shot.

Moving to V12 to Spring Attack the crewman in V11. Jump check: 11 + 14 = 25. Attack roll: 7 + 14 = 21. Damage: 1 + 6 + 10 = 17. Move to X12 (Spring Attack) after the hit. Should be only 30' of movement, and my speed is 40, so we're good.

The crewmen draw weapons as the boarder assault the airship. Runzyl bounds forward and cuts the first one down.

Ez.

Ezreal steadies himself on the Tharask transport and jumps for the airship. Landing in a crouch, he throws out one open palm and a bolt of lightning streaks out towards another crewman.

Jump 10+1 = 11
Jump to U15, target R13
Storm Bolt (reserve feat)
20' line, Reflex for half (DC 17)
Damage (1, 2, 4) = 7 (If PB applies, then it is 8. I probably can't use that on a line attack that requires no roll, but I wasn't sure.)

Gnarly hops onto the ship's deck before shooting a crewmember.

Jump 8+11=19.
Move to W13 before firing on the crewman in V11.
Attack roll 12+7+1(bless)=AC 20, damage 7+1+8(sneak attack, as we strike before the crew?)=16.

Trose.

Janosz Frogshanks wrote:

You're a godsend. Did you make it in AutoCAD?

Yup, then converted to a jpg for upload. I have a grid set up to help me map most of the bigger or complicated combats in Aubrey or Heaths’ games … when I’m at work, have the time and can be bothered, etc etc. Half the time I just end up scribbling something up on a post-it note instead.

AutoCAD... how quaint.... I should make the time to do maps in SolidWorks...

Jump 7+3=10
Double move to M14

Hey, don't knock CAD - my wife uses it every day, and she loves it.

Also, I'm officially a moron. The crewman in V11 was cut down by Runzyl, so Gnarly does not put yet another arrow in him. He shots the guy in CC12 instead.

Janosz sprints out of the assault craft, firing away at the enemies.

Jump check 10+7=17.
Move to V11.
Manyshot on either R13 or CC12, depending on which one is still standing. If, by some miracle, both are down, it's the guy in K14 gets a pair of arrows.
Attack roll 13+6+1(PBS)+1(Bless)=AC 21, damage 12+6+1(PBS)=19.

Lightbringer.

Jump: 14+2-5 = 11

Lightbringer jumps out of the skytruck, landing heavily on the (now splintered) timber deck of the airship, then begins lumbering towards the centre of the deck, sword in hand.

move to S14. If the crewman at R13 is still standing after Ezreal’s bolt, Lightbringer will swing at the guy with the flat of his blade.

Greatsword, subdual: 10+10+1 (magic) +1 (bless) –4 (non lethal) = 18.
Damage: 11+5 = 16 subdual.

If the guy is already down, he begins Detecting Evil instead.

Either way he booms out “Where is Marrius? He must pay for his crimes!”

The tar yelps as Ezreal hits him with the electric bolt. Gnarly and Janosz perforate two crewmen and they fall. Lightbringer yells out for Marrius to show himself.

Only two crewman upright: K14 and K10.

LB:

One of the crew flips a potion from his belt. He grimly says to the other, "Get out of here, Nef, this is too much for you to handle," drinks the potion and vanishes from sight. The other crewman nods, runs and leaps over the side by the tower, shoving a hand in his pocket as he does so.

Bool, then Rod, then Arek and Ceshto.

I'm working on it...gimme a hour; work sucked today.

Jump checks worked for Bool, Rod, Arek, and Ceshto.

Bool double moves to m10, pulling his melee weapon.
Arek to o10, pulling his melee weapon.
Ceshto to o14, pulling his melee weapon.

Rodergo moves to q13 with his morning star at the ready.

my only question is this: from my understanding of the round's actions, the guy who took the dive is out of range before he can be shot with an arrow or have a hold person spell cast upon him, correct?

Correct.

“I read no evil intentions,” says Lightbringer, glancing back at his companions. “It is Marrius we want. If these ones surrender or flee, let them.”

The door beneath the fo'c'sle opens and a dwarf with a shield and a waraxe clasped firmly in his hand, the slabs of his heavy armour rasping against one another, steps out. He glances round and then looks at the boarders.

"Well, what have we here?" he says in a thick Mror accent, "Ye must be the ruffians that yoong Cannith bint had hanging roond. Well, cutting down friends o' mine ain't the way to make a friend o' me."

Why do all dwarves talk like that? Blame Salvatore.

See tha' blage? Ah belt tha blage, brlick ba brlick, ae mah oon tui ands. Yih thenned cool mah Maechaemmaer tha blage baldah.

Hey, don't knock CAD - my wife uses it every day, and she loves it.

I work for a company that sell SolidWorks, so knocking ACAD is a job requirement.

We are still on initiative, so we are back to Runzyl.

Runzyl hesitates, glancing to Lightbringer.

Delaying. Runzyl knows that sometimes, not often, but sometimes killing everything that moves isn't the right answer.

"Why, laddie," says the dwarf laconically as he sees Runzyl hesitate, "Scared of one old dwarf?"

As he speaks, two people dash across the bridge from the tower. One of them is a stauesque woman in a shining breastplate, blonde hair streaming behind her as she runs. In her hands she holds a two-handed sword which glints as she charges at Rodergo, yelling a warcry. She swings at him, connecting with a brutal blow. She charges to R12. 20 points of damage.

Behind her is a man in light chain, hir hair dark and his features sharp, duelling prominent scars on his face and a rapier in his hand. He looks at the carnage on the deck and yells in fury, "This will not stand! Repel the boarders!" He is at S10.

Ezreal:

As he speaks, the elemental ring of the ship roars into life, the air elemental within it causing a strong breeze as wisps of cloud begin to whip around it at very high speed. Then the ship lurches suddenly to one side. There is the sound of hawsers and docking ropes snapping as it heaves sideways, crashing into the Tharashk skycoach with the sound of splintering timbers and sending it plummeting.

Balance check, DC 15. If you fail, you fall prone. If you fail by more than 5 you fall prone and slide 5' to the right (or starboard). If that slides you off the side, you get a DC 15 Relex save to avoid going over the edge. The ship has just moved 10' starboard, though don't worry too much about mapping it. However, the skycoach is in the process of falling like a stone, with the pilot inside.

The man, the woman and the dwarf stayed on their feet.

SWEEEET.

to his attacker:
"do I know you?"

Init:
Runzyl: 19 Bless, Bulls Strength, Magic Circle Against Evil, Protection Ritual
Woman with big sword: 18++
Man with rapier: 18+
"The ship": 18
Ezreal: 18- Bless, False Life, Mage Armor, Protection Ritual
Gnarly: 17 Bless
Trose: 16 Bless , Protection Ritual
Janosz: 15 Bless , Protection Ritual
Lightbringer: 14 Bless, Magic Weapon, Protection From Evil
Bool: 12 Bless
Rodergo: 10 Bless, Bulls Strength
Arek: 9 Bless
Ceshto: 7 Bless
Dwarf: 5

Now Ez (or Runzyl, if he chooses to stop delaying).

edit...."AAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!"

Balance:17-5 = 12

As the ship lurches, Lightbringer tumbles to his rear, only just managing to keep hold of his sword.

Anything anyone can do for the pilot?

I'm open to suggestions.