Batpony 8-05 table 2 (Inactive)

Game Master Batpony

Viorec scowls. "All right. Now I may not have a spell for this, but I think there's more than one way to use one's brain to solve a problem. Who's got a damned rope? If we're a squad of soldiers we may as well act like one."

If she'll let us. :P

"We're here to test your individual competence. Using rope does not count towards your success." She threatens Viorec. "If you can't pass a simple obstacle course, obviously you're not good enough for the Ungrounded." You catch a glimpse of a smile in her.

Well, that could be a problem, given we're stuck with you, Bailey grumbles inwardly. Knowing himself reasonably well, he looks for a way around the wall, signaling defeat on that particular obstacle.

I cannot make that check, sadly. Are there any other Ungrounded about? If not, I may try to make a friend via charm person.

Haldoc is starting to get impatient with this game.

Climb, fatigued: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

I have a 40' speed (so climb should be 15'), do I need a second attempt? If so,

Climb, fatigued: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

Vagantem eyes up the wall with small degree of concern.

"Heights don't bother me."

climb: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 7 - 2 = 23

She makes it half way up...

climb: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 7 - 2 = 17

And then finds the difficulty increasing. Holding on for a moment she tries a different route

climb: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 7 - 2 = 21

And finally makes it to the top.

No one else nearby the obstacle course.

As Haldoc makes it to the top, a boulder of rocks pushes him back down and falls upon everyone else at the bottom, save for the captain who stands a fair distance away from the climbing station. Everyone is knocked off their guards and hurt badly.

rockfall attack: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24
dmg: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 3) = 8

After a while, a few have made it to the top, and some struggle. The group is slowly losing patience, and clearly so is the captain. "I've seen enough! I cannot bare to see anymore patheticness. I'm truly disappointed."

There is suppose to be one more obstacle, but i'll save you the trouble as at this time, your lack of success is already determined. it's a swim obstacle in case you are wondering.

Captain Othis orders you all to get in line and stand at attention. "Listen up, roaches. You need more than strength and agility to succeed in battle. You need to know what you're up against and how to fight it. Let's see how stupid and unprepared you really are." She explains that she will be asking a set of questions, and none of you are allowed to help the other in answering.

It's a bit tricky here, she will ask a series of questions that can either be answered by kn. planes or profession soldier DC15, since some of you cannot make the DC without being trained in this skill, she immediately berates you and asks you an easier question. I'm a fair GM so I'll say if RP is good, circumstance bonus is provided. Because you are under pressure, no taking 10 for these checks.

Her first set of questions requires some very good knowledge of the elemental planes and certain tactics used by elemental creatures, to Bailey she asks "How would you counter the typical fighting style of salamanders?" and to Viorec she asks "What are possible ways of handling being set on (elemental) fire?"

To the rest of the group, it becomes certain to her after asking the difficult questions, that you cannot answer them. She starts to berate and mock you, calling you worms and roaches before asking the each of you a set easier questions. "Tell me, how hot is fire? What are Elementals? What are Mephits? and lastly, what is one way you can travel to elemental planes?"

Choose any one to answer, but don't repeat answering the same question. Kn. Planes DC10 for the easier questions.

Bailey is down cold and bleeding out, I'll assume someone can heal him up a bit with his wand.

Knowledge (planes): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Bailey thanks whoever helped him out and smirks at the silly question. Suddenly, however, he realizes he doesn't know or remember the answer. "Um, elemental, um, cold," he stammers. "They also tend to um, fight with their tails and spears, which have a good reach over normal weapons, so, uh, don't go near them?" The ifrit's answer, while at least somewhat true, is poorly articulated and has obvious flaws, failing to impress.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

"I wander where that rockfall came from?"Savron tries to tend to his wounds and casts , cure light wounds on himself and starts to feel better.
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

"Bailey I will get to you soon." Savron looks over at Bailey as to reassure him.

"Fire it hot enough to burn you."Savron looks at Captain Othis and hoping his pitiful answer is enough.

planes: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15
"Sir.. magic will take you to other planes. Such as a plane shift spell." the bruised chef offers.

Um, Viorec is in the same situation...-1 hit points, so bleeding out. Savron, do you have enough cure spells for all of us? If not we may be in trouble!

I have 1 more left for a total of 2. Anybody have a way to heal. Which one of you is worse?

Apologies, it looks like I don't have a wand on this character. If the GM was willing to hand wave it, she would have picked one up at the start of the adventure. Knowing her, it would probably have been infernal healing

Haldoc has a wand, use that instead of spells.

So Haldoc finally succeeded at one of these challenges and it caused a rockslide that nearly wiped out the party? That could be considered as harsh, LOL.

Haldoc is truly getting tired of playing these games. I'm no expert on mephits or elementals. All I know is that if they anger me enough they'll wish they didn't have to deal with me.

CLW on Haldoc: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

You won't be doing anything else today after the QnA. And I'm okay with the wand purchases. Also reminder that you can make knowledge Dc10 rolls unchecked, but if you don't want to, I'm good with that as well. No rolls assume auto fail.

Knowledge planes: 1d20 ⇒ 8

Lol. That's what I expected.

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
As everyone picks themselves up after the mini avalanche that Haldoc caused, Rolvark picks up one of the stones and looks up to where Haldoc was before whispering to his teammates "This rockfall is unnatural. It was probably intentionally set up to cause you to fail Haldoc." He gives a dark glance at the Captain. "Still, we can't act on this alone with further evidence or investigation"

Rolvark fishes out his wand and taps himself once, soothing away some of the cuts and damage from the rockfall.
wand of CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

knowledge planes: 1d20 ⇒ 11
Despite his distrust of the Captain, the questions stir up Rolvark's interest in the outer planes and its inhabitants. Rolvark thinks back to what he knows about mephits before answering "Mephits are the servants of powerful elemental creatures. They appear as small humanoid creature with thin, leathery wings and small horns"

...I'll just assume that someone uses a charge from Haldoc's wand on me.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Viorec groans and slowly opens his eyes. "What in the Nine Hells...was that...?" he asks hoarsely as he picks himself up. When he hears Rolvark's evaluation and sees him glance at the captain, he sharply signals to the other man to be quiet. "We can discuss that later."

Brushing himself off, and stopping his few still-bleeding wounds, Viorec takes in the questions...

Knowledge (Planes): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

"Elemental fire?" he asks, scratching his head. "Well, uh, that's not something I've run into much before...uh, you could apply cold or water or...if it's summoned flame you could apply Mordraken's Disjunction to disrupt a steady-state source...um..."

Damn! I'm a battle wizard, not an academic...

If you had had doubts earlier about how much the captain possibly hates you, you are clear of all doubts now. Clearly she finds the pathfinders an incompetent and stupid lot after the harsh words she delivers as a lot of the group fail to answer an appropriate answer.

She dismisses Vagantem and Rolvark, for adequately answering something.
"I suppose you're not as smart as you look." She says eying Bailey and Viorec. "I'll just have to stoop it down a level, Each of you, tell me two special attacks of elementals!"

She looks at Savron with the utmost disappointment, “How about a question more of your stature then, Which elemental plane do earth elementals come from: the Plane of Earth or the Plane of Fire?”

Knowledge (planes): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

Bailey rolls his eyes. "Depends on the type of elemental. I suppose you'd be curious about fire elementals, which scorch and burn their targets, potentially setting them ablaze. Those from the borders of the Planes of Earth and Fire, made of magma, can also do so, to a lesser extent. However, they are more prone to expelling puddles and jets of lava."

Whoops, meant to roll earlier: 1d20 ⇒ 10

Yay!

"Earth elementals would obviously come from the Plane of Earth.". Savron clearly agitated at the question tries to hide his frustration the best he can.

One day my hexes and spells will be beyond your comprehension. I will find my way back to this place and I will have the last laugh.

"Is this all we are to do is answer these questions?". Once again Savron tries to hide his frustration."Surely there is something better for us to do?"

I still need Viorec's roll.

After the gruelling questioning session, you are dismissed back to your barracks. The pathfinders haven't made a very good first impression on the captain. But there is time to make up for you failings, as the next couple of days, you 'enjoy' the same routine day in, day out. Which is unfortunate for Savron as there is nothing better for him to do.

While you repeat the routine for the next couple of days, no more skill checks are required. During these next couple of days before we move to the next part, is there anything extra you would like to do? You are still confined to within the barracks. If there's nothing extra, we would move straight on to the next part.

Knowledge (Planes): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Hmmmmm...is that enough? Hopefully.

"Lightning elementals can blast those wearing or carrying metal into the air," Viorec says, scratching his head. "And, uh...mud elementals can um...trap their foes in mud...? And water ones can drown you. Which is...pretty obvious."

Would Rolvark be able to discreetly search the Captain's room's or something to see if there is anything of interest? Any kind of roll needed?

Throughout the course of the week, you realise that whenever the captain is not conducting drills with you, she is only in her office, which means during the day you aren't able to normally access it without freedom. The only time it is unoccupied is when she retires to her chambers in the evening.

Her office is cramped and a walnut desk, a hard backed chair, and a bookshelf. It looks very normal from a glance.

How would you like to approach her room?

"I think we should short-sheet her bed." suggests Vagantem.

"Although maybe that wouldn't do well for getting us in her good books. We are supposed to be making a good impression after all. She does anything like that rock slide again and maybe we should leave your pet scorpion in there instead."

"My scorpion is always up for such a task. Let me know what you need of Him."
Savron sounds excited at the possibility at getting back for all this nonsense we have been doing.

Once they're in private, Viorec turns to the others. "Now, hold on just a second. Let's step back and look at this logically. Why do you think Captain Othis would be sabotaging us? What does she possibly stand to gain from hurting her own troops?"

He looks around at the others, waiting for an explanation. "I mean, I dislike her too! But you're supposed to dislike your Basic Training captain. And I just can't see why she'd do this."

"Perhaps that is something we should figure out. Maybe the other recruits would know? Besides, we can wait on whatever revenge we deem necessary until it is time to leave."

As you ask around about Captain Othis, you're not surprised to find out that she is indeed mean spirited, and acts like she hates everyone in the barracks. No one likes her. Asking about the possibility of sabotaging, you don't get a clear answer, but a few of them say. "hmm, maybe likely I guess, it wouldn't be unusual of her."

Perhaps its her way of weeding out the weak. It could be nothing more than that.

"Likely." agrees Vagantem.

"Why the captain on the ship I served on..." she shudders as she thinks of him.

Asking around, she inquires "Did anyone else have a load of rocks dropped on them during the climbing wall? That felt a little more than basic training meanness. Somebody could have been killed there."

Still, she is just too tired to inquire too hard, that bed looks mighty inviting. After she has polished her boots and folded her uniform nicely of course.

once burned, twice shy

Rolvark address Viorec "I wouldn't act if its just the Captain carrying out basic training, but sabotage is another matter altogether. And I do not have any vendetta agaisnt her. If there is nothing then we would need to search for the true culprit."

During one of the evenings, Rolvark quietly goes to the room and thoroughly searches the whole room for anything unusual.

Let me know if any other checks are needed. Taking 20 for perception for total of 27

I'm assuming Rolvark heads off alone at this point. You'll still probably have opportunity to attempt this again I'm future, but going move to not hold rest of group.

The group continues to undergo some rigorous cleaning, chanting and training the next couple of days, without too much trouble or complexities.

On a evening, Rolvark engages in some sleuthing, and his inexperience has let him down. To his surpride, the doors to her room are locked, and he neither has the tools or skills to unlock it.

The next day, instead of the obstacle course, you are lead to new form of training.

Just outside the mess hall, an oval of hard-packed dirt surrounds four columns made of black stone. Gray stone benches encircle the training ground, providing a clear view for nonexistent spectators. A raised balcony made of blue and purple crystal emerges from the stands. Dummies made of stuffed burlap sacks affixed to posts are scattered throughout the field, some wearing crudely painted smiles and posed in offensive gestures. Captain Othis stands in the crystal balcony, a mischievous grin on her usually stern face.

"Today wimps, you shall be doing a combat training, the rules are simple, use of spells or combat-enhancing items, such as potions or flasks, is forbidden, refrain from using lethal force or face the consequences.” The armory before you is a bunch of training weapons. Captain Othis allows you to select a blunted weapon of choice from the armory. The collection includes all martial and simple weapons.

PCs using these weapons do not take a penalty on attack rolls for dealing nonlethal damage. Only pick one weapon, all are not masterwork quality.

Vagantem picks up a pair of Kukri.

I'm not sure if we are allowed two weapons if that is our preferred fighting style, but Vagantem will try for two unless she is specifically told she can't have them.

"Those dummies don't look very dangerous..." she says.

That's okay, more on the lines you can't take a spear and a greatsword and a crossbow.. just one fighting style.

The captain chuckles, "You be a fool to think I'd put you against dummies. You shall be facing another bunch of worthless recruits."

"Let's hope they are better at climbing walls and balancing on beams than they are at fighting."

Looking around the rest of the team she suggests.

"Maybe I should go front and center. Rovark and Haldoc, keep a gap between us but you take my left and my right. The rest of you maybe form a second rank. Grab a spear if you can. If they ignore the front rank and try to get to you we'll punish them, if they try to take us out... then give them a jab with the spear."

"Of course no magic, because gods forbid magic be used on a battlefield, or soldiers taught how to fight against it," Bailey grumbles under his breath, selecting a light crossbow. "I could lay a small squadron low with a single color spray and here I am."

Haldoc will select a blunted falchion for this task.

Viorec nods sagaciously at Bailey. "I'm in agreement with you, Bailey." He seizes a blunted fauchard, and twirls it expertly in his hands. "Fortunately, though, the army insisted that even their battle mages know how to at least point a weapon at a foe...I'm no great shakes at hand-to-hand combat, but I can probably plant a few raw recruits on their butts, if I need to." He nods to Vagantem. "Your plan sounds solid to me!"

"Of course no magic, no hexes, no spells. Where is the fun in not cursing someone."
Savron picks a crossbow. "Better I try and keep my distance. I am not a combat fighter.

This scenario really has it out for you guys huh!

After picking your weapons of choice, you are lead into a practice arena, where you are met with four other recruits. All of which are Oread's and one whom you recognize as Dell Darkblade, the recruit that showed you around on your first day here.

The captain screams. "Well! What are you waiting for! Useless Worms."

Combat Round 1

Rolvark
Recruits
Bailey, Vagantem, Viorec, Savron, Haldoc

After the failure of his late night excursion, Rolvark returns to his companions and reports what he has found the next morning "I tried to have a look around but security is tight around here. Didn't want to rouse any suspicion so I couldn't damage anything. Does anyone among us have any skills in...persuading locks to open?"

After the Captain's briefing, Rolvark nods at Vagantem's tactics and selects a suitably large sword and gives it a few practice swings "Let's do this." while studying the recruits opposite them.

Can Rolvark see what weapons the recruits are carrying?

Rolvark waits in formation for the recruits to charge the Pathfinders, ready to attack the first opponent that comes into range Must keep them away from our casters...

Ready action to attack the first opponent that comes into melee range

The Oread's all carry the same weapon, which is a scimitar. Rolvark doesn't have to wait very long as they immediately attempt to break the lines of the pathfinder's by charging in. They each try to spread out and take separate targets. Their swings are mediocre and make no impact to Rolvark and Vagnantem, but one of the hit's Haldoc, and unbeknownst to him, it was coated with something! It starts to run through Haldoc's skin attempting to effect his head. Dell Darkblade, the so call leader of the group, attempts to flank around the sides.

Assuming Rolvark's attack doesn't take him immediately out.
vs Rolvark,charge: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 2 = 121d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

vs Vagantem,charge: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 2 = 101d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

vs Haldoc,charge: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 2 = 161d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8 Haldoc make a Fort DC13 Save or immediately fall unconscious.

This is a poison effect, and only has a single dose.

Combat Round 1/2

Rolvark (Ready attack & Round 2 attack)
Recruits B (charged) O (charged) R (charged) G
Bailey, Vagantem, Viorec, Savron, Haldoc -6 NL (Fortitude Save)

Vagantem steps forward and slices at the green Ored, trying to make space for the rest of the team to stay safe in.

attack,TWF: 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 6 - 2 = 8
second attack,TWF: 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 6 - 2 = 13
damage1: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
damage2(doubleslice): 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

"Pull back, they have the advantage while we are surounded."

Action's gonna depend on whether Haldoc falls unconscious or not. :P

Rolvark swings out at the first opponent in reach with all his strength...

readied attack w power attack: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (12) + 5 - 1 = 16
greatsword: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (2, 3) + 7 = 12

If the first opponent goes down, Rolvark will move and attack the next guy. If not, continue hitting the same target

round 2 attack w power attack: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (17) + 5 - 1 = 21
greatsword: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (2, 5) + 7 = 14

Fort: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

What did you... did you poison me? With that revelation, Haldoc flies into a rage and tries to render the offending enemy unconscious!

Blunted Falchion, Accurate Stance, Raging, Power Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22 for NL Damage: 2d4 + 11 ⇒ (4, 4) + 11 = 19

Vagantem's slice & dice does not meet with the Oread as he skilfully dodges it. Rolvark is able to put in two good swings before knocking one of the recruits unconscious. As Haldoc flies into his rage, the Oread shakes himself and finds himself soon on the floor after been knocked unconscious by Haldoc's swing.

Combat Round 1/2

Rolvark
Recruits B (unconscious) O (charged) R (unconcious) G
Bailey, Vagantem, Viorec, Savron, Haldoc -6 NL

"Well THIS is going better than that damned obstacle course, at least," Viorec says with a chuckle. Seeing that two of the oread recruits are already laid out, he abandons his initial plan to trip his foe and just swings over Vagantem's shoulder at the orange recruit.

Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10 Urk. And not sure whether he gets soft cover from Vag or not...I'm bad at that positioning.
Damage: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Having taken his swing, he circles warily north of Vag to form a small, tight knot with Bailey, Vag, and Rolvark. He watches the recruit to the south warily.