Aubrey's Other Eberron Campaign - The Unbinding (Inactive)

Game Master Aubrey the Malformed

Originally, Pooma wanted you to broker peace between the humans and the lizardfolk. That didn't go so well. Also, Bokehn wanted to know what was going on as it might impact on Tharashk commercial interests in the region. Arguably, you still haven't done that. On the other hand, given that everyone you meet is trying to kill you, stealing an airship and flying away is not an invalid life choice.

"Koouri gave us the means for our escape. There are Lizardfolks who want prosperity and peace. The temple raiders we see here are the start of a bloody vision. I saw that tower fall in my vision! And worse things will happen next."

"Whatever we do, we can't just bail with the airship and let pieces fall where they may!"

Cole listens to the discussions, nodding at Rehil’s practical call for rest. He cocks his head at Otto’s words, considering everything they’ve seen and experienced.

“We can bail. The question is ‘will we’. Koouri has dealt with us fairly—though I’d say we’d paid for that kindness when we fixed her old Chief problem—but your point remains. She didn’t want war. And Pooma helped us at great risk to his people. He could have refused aid, Bokehn was in bad shape.”

He shrugs his massive shoulders, “Either way, it seems the key to everything is that camp’s walls and airship. Take those, and we gain options. And this force—regardless of its arcane advantages—will be lucky not to be ground under unending waves of furious lizards.

“Bokehn wants information that is likely somewhere in that camp. If we take their ship and compromise their defenses, they may may find it necessary to negotiate with us. If they don’t, we can use the airship to keep them from sending for help … then they are besieged.”

Though either way, resting and watching is definitely step 1.

"I am not throwing my life away for some meaningless gesture." The mage notes on the subject bluntly. "I think the best we can hope for is to cripple their defenses and steal the airship and hope that they don't have the means to call in a replacement. No offense to present company intended, but I do not particularly see a problem with letting certain lizardfolk tribes and these invaders slaughter each-other."

"Well, Bokehn was the reason we are down here. I don't particularly care about the natives other than keeping the peace so Tharashk and the natives can make mutual trades. Simply stealing the airship alone would only delay them as many weeks as it takes to get the next one. That might weaken them enough for the lizards to beat, if the intruders don't have good supply lines. And if we were to use the ship to deliver scores of braves to fight them..."

Rehil's normally monochromatic voice is flatter than dead.

"If we get the ship, Zzeg's not getting scores of braves on it. I won't treat with him. Eshsheth, remind Nalverren how Zzeg treated Koouri."

"We need to think bigger picture. Though they have been exceptionally terrible hosts, if they are leading the assault, so much the better. The bad lizardfolk die in scores, hopefully achieve the objective, and then the good lizardfolk can prosper. Tensions die down and Tharashk begins profit again. We fly as far from this cursed jungle as we can."

"While the basic idea is not something I oppose. We would do well to remember the trustworthiness of said people. They can't be trusted, either they will backstab us or they wont even hear us out in the first place. However, Tharashk could very well be willing to finance an assault force, after all this does threathen their investments so far, and one could try to sell it as also improving the relations with the natives. Naturally this all would hinge on the fact that the group here does not have the means to get a replacement quick enough and that we are able to steal the airship in the first place."

"Good point. I was thinking drop off braves and leave but Tharashk would probably be better given the blow the natives have taken given their recent fracture amd reformation."

"If we get the ship, Zzeg's not getting scores of braves on it. I won't treat with him. Eshsheth, remind Nalverren how Zzeg treated Koouri."

“Agreed,” Cole mutters, but he seems distracted by his own thoughts. “I think there’s a piece of this story missing. I don’t think Otto’s visions are a coincidence, assuming they show us truth.” He nods to Otto, “No offense meant, but I’ve only recently met you and I haven’t dealt with visions much before. Tell us again of these visions. In detail. Then tell us what you think they mean. And did Kuuori have any thoughts on them?”

He looks at the team, “This conflict may just be a symptom. Surviving may require learning what is really at play here.” He shrugs, cocking his head in his usual joking way, “Or maybe all this time in the jungle is making me paranoid.”

"Koouri asked me often about my visions. They start with the fall of the tower, but are followed by other cataclysm. I saw Thaliost burn..." replies Otto, looking straight in Cole's eyes, hoping to convince at least the Warforged to do more than take the airship.

Otto:

Rehil returns his gaze to the scene below. "Otto. Just what do you want us to do? Get into the tower and hold it against all comers?"

Aubrey, any sign of the giant border-idol? Is that tower new construction? Are they building it or tearing it down?

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29

aid another on Rehil's perception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (10) - 1 = 9

It's too dark to tell. You might be able to see tomorrow.

"The question I have is why are they here? What are they looking for? Can we ruin those plans. Then they'll have no reason to stay... I'm not sure how, but we need to explore. I say that, and I have no idea how to explore unseen... or unnoticed."

"Unless I misunderstood the lizardfolk, they were after some artifact. To ruin their plans on that front would likely greatly anger the natives." Nalverren says, looking to the others for confirmation.

Rehil scowls at all the questions. Wultram's plan to interrogate the dead warforged is looking better now than it had when the giant warforged was bearing down on them.

"We watch for a day. See what we can learn."

See if we spot any patterns or can identify a likely leader or command post. Get a sense for guards and patrols. Maybe we can grab the airship and a few prisoners to question.

"Unless I misunderstood the lizardfolk, they were after some artifact. To ruin their plans on that front would likely greatly anger the natives." Nalverren says, looking to the others for confirmation.

Otto ignores Rehil and turns to Nalverren: "You're right. We can't just take the artifact they're after... What else can we do? What if we stole the artifact, but then hand it to the Lizardfolk?"

"We'd want to know what it did first. In the lizardfolks' current state, I don't trust them making peaceful use of any kind of artifact that could be used as a weapon. But either way, the first thing to do is watch and find out what we can about those mercenaries, their activities, and their goal."

He pauses, then his voice is curious, "And I wonder if we can find any ways of using the mountain against them? How are they getting their water? Food? Is the volcano active?"

I so want to set the volcano off. I have no idea if such a thing is even possible.

Only way that I know of that might work would require earthquake and due to the small area might even require the mythic version. And even then it would be rather unlikely. I also doubt that Aubrey will have scroll of 8th level spell lying around.

Wultram mostly listens as the others talk before turning his attention to the lizardfolk present. "Any of you have faintest clue what there might be of interest to this group? I am fairly sure they are not here for religious reasons."

"Regarding the food and water, I doubt that would work, any half way decent militant group will have reserves, it seems to rain here somewhat often as well. And considering how much this operation had to cost someone based on what we have seen so far, it is not out of question that they have magical items to take care of these issues. Also at least the fighting force seems to largely consist of warforged, so at best it would weaken them."

"If we steal it and give it to them, we are still defilers. I am reasonably certain they, if the site isn't the artifact itself, would not want any artifact removed, even to give it to them."

Great roleplaying. Is a plan emerging?

"Any way of walking around without drawing attention? At least to get to that tower?" asks Otto, frowning as no real solution seems to emerge.

"How close could we get, given the cover of the jungle?"

I think we need to get some more info about the situation, before any solid plan comes along. For now it is pretty vague.

"I say keep good distance. Not getting discovered is more important right now. As we have established we have no chance in a straight up confrontration, so we can't allow ourselves to lose the element of surprise. I also fear that if a fight begins that is not on our terms, some of us will die before we manage a retreat."

Wultram then strokes his chin for a moment. "Can anyone else conjure creatures? It would be a short duration but we could manage a distraction when the time comes. Might be getting ahead of myself. Probably wise for now to rest and then scout out the camp and see what we are truly up against."

Seems like the consensus is stay under cover, rest, and observe the camp during the day. We'll be looking for patterns of movement that suggest a mess hall or commissary, a command post, barracks , privies, etc. What they are actually doing? A rough count of numbers, hopefully by species, or general model type. Are we close enough to distinguish individuals by clothing color?

"Yes, I can conjure creatures, but I need to prepare for it... And let's not forget that they already know we're here, just not where..." offers Otto.

"I ment surprise in the sense that they won't know when the attack comes. Regarding the conjured creatures, my thinking was that against a superior force I want as much chaos in the encampment as possible when we make our move. Outside of that fire is the only distraction that comes to mind that we have resources to pull of."

OK, sorry for the delay. First I need everyone to make a Stealth check to remain hidden. Everyone (including the NPCs and associate undead, needs to make a Stealth check and I will average the result.

Wultram: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
Skelly: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Ashshar: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26
Eshsheth: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (15) - 1 = 14

To make it slightly easier on you 63 total, divided by 9(number of people)=7

Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23

86 total.

If ya'll take your armor off before morning and Aubrey's feeling generous, you won't suffer ACPs.

[

Stealth: 1d20 ⇒ 1

Total is 87 :(

Otto practices the tuba to while away the day.

stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

This should be good.
Stealth: 1d20 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 1 - 4 = -2

stealth: 1d20 ⇒ 12

Can Rehil be aiding others on these rolls?

Or putting Cole into sleep mode so he'll shut the freak up?

Otto practices the tuba to while away the day.

With Cole accompanying him on the drums...

Rehil can't really be watching everyone else like a hawk all day to prevent possible accidents. Average is about 13.

As the sun rises they can make out what lies within Empty Mountain. Most of the crater is filled with the lake. It is a bright, almost unnatural blue, with shores that slope steeply down straight to the water's edge. However, in a notch in the crater wall a few hundred yards wide the ground slopes much more shallowly, and it is here that Da'sheth has been built.

The site, about half-a-mile distant, consists of a cluster of buildings fringing the lake. They are quite tall - several storeys each - and narrow, smothered in creepers. Facing towards the lake is an open semi-circular plaza which steps down to the water.

Humanoid figures move around the area. They look primarily like a mixture of the warforged soldiers they met on the path and humans in dark military uniforms. Some patrol on foot, and others keep watch from the tops of the taller buildings. More stand guard on the deck of the airship, which is tethered by hawsers to the ground, with a .

Beside the airship, and standing out like a sore thumb amid the vegetation, is an odd tower of shiny metal scaffolding. Standing in the plaza, it encloses a large menhir, to which it is connected by struts and wires. More figures, seemingly more like technicians than soldiers, scurry about it.

Military uniforms as in a style of clothing or spesifically a uniform of some group/country? If the latter any chance for identification via knowledge checks or something? Also some vague idea of what kind of numbers we are talking about regarding people?

It's too far away to see any insignias, although they look similar to the uniform of the corpse you found in the river. You reckon most of the force comprises a few tens of warforged - say, forty or fifty - and about half than many humans.

Rehil can't really be watching everyone else like a hawk all day to prevent possible accidents. Average is about 13.

Sure he can, look at his perception score. And there's no 'facing' in PF. It's like he has eyes in the back of his head. :-)

...

Humanoid figures move around the area. They look primarily like a mixture of the warforged soldiers they met on the path and humans in dark military uniforms. Some patrol on foot, and others keep watch from the tops of the taller buildings. More stand guard on the deck of the airship, which is tethered by hawsers to the ground, with a .

...

Said deep, slow, teasingly A ... whaat ...?

Can we get a separate count of WF titans and the missile throwers?

Nothing more needed to be said.

Though I suppose I could have added that a gangplank runs to top of the nearest building.

You can't see any titans here. Three of the buildings have arcane ballistas on top.

Does it looks like we can approach the place, tree cover, vegetation, or is it a long walk on an exposed slope?

"The obelisk... I saw it in my vision. And the city... It fell into the lake." mutters Otto, eyes wide.

No, the crater walls are steep but wooded, much like the ridge you climbed, so you would have cover.

OK, so the plan is?

Rehil stares at Otto. He's heard enough about this vision. It isn't helping.

But the elf's voice is still a little softer than normal when he says, "We can not push the city into the lake. Can the Host provide the power? Or should we stop the city from falling into the lake? And how would we do that?"

"I don't have the answers... We can get nearer first and look for a diversion to sneak in the obelisk..." He looks over at Wultram and adds: "You're creature would be perfect to distract the guards..."

"Said creature..." The emphasis suggests that the Karn finds the term distasteful or perhaps just incorrect. "Is tied to me in a more intimate manner than usual undead, so I am hesitant to use him in such fashion, at least when such poorly equipped. But if you had something specific in mind, speak your piece."