Aubrey's Rise of the Runelords campaign (Inactive)

Game Master Aubrey the Malformed

It takes several hours but eventually the top is reached. To the west, the Storval Deep sparkles in the sun and Hook Mountain looms in the haze. Northwards, conifer-clad peaks like jagged knives stab at the sky, and eastwards they obscure any view of the plains beyond. To the south, the summits swiftly descend like craggy steps to the Varisian lowlands, and beyond them a broad smudge of dark green marks where the forests of the Sanos and the Ashwood lap at the base of the cliffs.

The way onwards is the top of a wafer-thin ridge, descending gradually to the south-east into the forested valley below. From there, a route needs to be found to cross the next line of mountains at the far side.

"It is beautiful, no? Keep your eyes open, though - Cinderlanders are a notoriously surly bunch, and I'm sure they descend down here to hunt occasionally."

Survival: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19

Perception Dravite: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31
Surviival Dravite: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

Perception Camlo: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (15) + 15 = 30
Survival Camlo: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15
survival: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25

If that survival is to avoid becoming lost, there's a +2 for the Wayfinder, and a local map (if you want to adjust for it.)

Perception check: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (10) + 17 = 27
Survival check: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

Dravite, Camlo and Asher spot small black dots circling some of the mountains in the distance. As Dravite said earlier, these peaks are called the Wyvern Mountains for a reason, and a flight of the titular dragons are soaring in the thermals and updrafts. They are not close but nonetheless as intelligent and remorseless predators represent a real danger even from this far away.

However, the route ahead is clear. The height here provides a view of the way forward and Ivori, with his map, can identify the notch between to tall crags on the far side of the valley through which the adventurers will have to pass. From there it will be a zig-zag descent through rocky canyons to the Cinderlands.

But that is for the future. In the meantime they need to descend the narrow ridge they are on to the valley bottom. While Crag is laconically sure-footed, the horses are balking at the narrow way ahead with its sharp drops on either side.

Handle Animal checks, DC 15. If anyone makes the check:

And Ride checks, DC 15. If you fail, the horse will not be riden down the slope and will need to be led on foot, which will mean you spend longer on the ridge. If you fail by more than 5, the horse panics...

Handle Animal: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

Nice!

"Blinkers. Horses get as nervous looking down steep slopes as we do. If we limit their vision, they won't know that the ground is dropping away right next to them."

Handle Animal: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Ride: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8Camlo wont think about blinkers, so another 5 if someone thinks of it for him.... Oh, and that's untrained...

Yu can thank me later for clearing the 1's out of the system....

"Ah. Good idea, Alwyn."

ride+blinkers: 1d20 + 4 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 4 + 5 = 27

Camlo wont think about blinkers, so another 5 if someone thinks of it for him.... Oh, and that's untrained...

"Get the blinkers on the horse first. Unless you fancy a long tumble off the side of the ridge." Alwyn looks worried about the ride, and Camlo's nonchalance isn't making him happier.

Ride: 1d20 + 1 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 1 + 5 = 12

Alwyn and Camlo both fail the check, but only by 3. Thanks, blinkers!

Sefayll continues to use her magic to fly, so she is leading the horse by the reins.

Where I’m from, blinders are used to keep a horse from seeing startling distractions. Seems like a great idea, whatever they are called.

Handle Animal: 1d20 + 3 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 3 + 5 = 20

You don't all have to think of using blinkers (or blinders) individually, I assume that you will consider telling one another. Otherwise Camlo will be ridden off a cliff and Alwyn will go, "Eh, wouldn't have done it that way myself."

Eh, I'm not riding, but I thought I would still have to show some success at keeping the animal on the right track.

Handle animal: 1d20 + 9 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 9 + 5 = 27
Ride: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11

I planned to be flying by this point. I was thinking giant vulture if I could. Otherwise just a hawk I suppose.

Tikrok flies closer to the group as the trail gets more treacherous. He'd rather have less distance to dive if something goes wrong.

I was wating for a few more people but then I realised the party is now quite small.

The horses are skittish but don't actually fall over the edge. But it is too dangerous to ride them for Camlo and Alwyn, even with the blinkers, as they are hard to control for relatively inexperienced riders. So in the end they end up leading their mounts down the ridge. This leaves the group out on the exposed ridge for longer than perhaps they might like with aerial predators circling in the distance.

Knowledge (Nature), DC 15:

Perception checks, please. If you get 15 or more:

If you get 25 or more:

know nature: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (6) + 16 = 22
perception: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (5) + 17 = 22
fly to hover DC 15: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Tikrok tries to hover close to Seyfall so she can use her helm on him but the large wings are unwieldy and he can't maintain position without spooking horses. Instead he starts squawking and moving his claws very unlike a natural vulture. Suddenly Tikrok's voice come out of the beak of the vulture as he flys over the group. "Two wyverns approach from the south! Prepare yourselves!"

Cast beastspeak first. Casting barkskin as the wyverns approach. Prepare to cast extended strong jaw when they get closer

Roll initiative.

initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

Kn/Nat: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Prc: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Init: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 32

Init: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14

Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

Init so far...Character Init
Ivori 19
Asher 16
Camlo 14
Alwyn 13
Tikrok 13
Sef 10

Wyverns 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
Dravite 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

Initiaives
Ivori 19
Dravite 18
Asher 16
Camlo 14+
Wyverns 14-
Alwyn 13
Tikrok 13
Sef 10

Map.

OK, the map depicts the ridge down which you are taking your horses. The light brown is the ridge 'path' - it is relatively level (albeit sloping downwards from west to east) but nonetheless difficult terrain. The dark brown is sharply sloping downwards on either side of the path and requires Climb checks to traverse.

Please place yourselves and your horses (I've done Dravite, who is out at front). If you are riding, you need only place your horse (with you on it). If you are leading your horse, you need to place you and them separately (a bit like I have with Dravite). Note that parts of the path are only 5' wide - these will require the horses to squeeze to get through safely, or you can try a Ride check of varying levels of difficulty. If you are flying or whatever, you can be where you like.

You will also notice green blobs. These are fir trees by the side of the path. You can use these to hide behind, climb or whatever. The wyverns cannot fly through these squares.

Ivori.

I’m still only showing ‘view only’ on my end for the map. Place me at W17, with my horse behind me, please.

Asher pulls out his crossbow and fires at the closest wyvern, looking mildly terrified.

I'm the only one who can make changes to the map, it's much easier that way for me to keep tabs. All the maps are like that. Look on the bright side - in the old days I had to describe the map and then everyone had to draw their own version.

R-S/18-19 for me please

QR/14-15 For Cam’s horse, P15 for Cam please....

Please put me in M/N-14/15, on my horse. After a move, Ivori will be in O15

"We'll need to show 'em there's no free lunch here..." Ivori mutters, easing out of the saddle. He keeps the trace - with a generous amount of slack, looped loosely around his left forearm as he pulls his bow.

Alwyn's in M14. His horse is behind him in K/L 13/14.

Asher intends to shoot down the closest wyvern as quickly as possible with his crossbow. He uses a Full attack action with his Rapid shot feat and Deadly aim feat. He reloads as a Free action.
First shot: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20 for potentially: 1d10 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12 damage, and
second shot: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31 for potentially: 1d10 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17 damage, and
third shot: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9 for potentially: 1d10 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15 damage, and
fourth shot: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13 for potentially: 1d10 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15 damage.

I think we have some horses and characters in the same squares already, so I will wait to see the current state of the map before I muddy things more. Sefayll's horse will be late in the line and Sef will be flying at more or less the same level close enough to hold its reins. Before or beside, it depends on the available space.

I didn't make it clear but we are looking at an ambush with a surprise round.

Dravite will ready his bow, and Camlo will ready his crossbow (for all the use it will do) if we are on reduced actions.

Asher will take the single shot, then.

Currently looks like....
Round: 1 (Surprise!)
Initiaives
Ivori 19 (Waiting for the wyverns to get closer?)
Dravite 18 (SA: Readying Bow)
Asher 16 (Fire single shot)
Camlo 14+ (SA: Ready Crossbow)
Wyverns 14- (Not Surprised)
Alwyn 13
Tikrok 13
Sef 10

Wyverns up

Ivori's single action would be move/draw to dismount and pull the bow.