Beacons of Hope: Wrath of the Righteous!

Game Master GM the Fifth

Arloric sounds his horn during the charge, and as the tiefling force breaks, he cackles and crows "FIGHT LIKE STAGS IN THE AUTUMN, SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF KENABRES!" before nodding at Irabeth's prompting and joining the others.

He tries to keep a low profile following Alexa, though that's easier said than done...

Stealth: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (17) - 2 = 15

...but surprisingly, he manages to keep up and keep quiet.

With Alexa leading the way, and Darya and Arloric providing assistance, you are able to stealthily make your way into the city. The buildings muffle the sounds of the battle so it quickly fades away as you move.

The buildings here are mostly flats and are mostly in good repair though the streets themselves are not: cobblestones are broken up, and there are several stretches where they are missing entirely such that the streets are mostly hard-packed dirt. On the main intersection is what appears to be a large, abandoned inn and two smaller storefronts.

You see signs that you are being watched as you pass. Mostly, you glimpse movement in windows in time to see curtains being pulled shut as though someone were peeking through corners, but you do see a couple of faces looking out at you. The interiors are dark so you can't make out features, but the whole picture has the look of residents worried for their safety.

At last, the bridge comes into clear view. Battlements line the sides, accessed by guard towers on either end. Towers also sit in the middle, providing a view of both the river and the bridge deck.

Four tieflings are in view, two on each side, but they are looking down into the riverbed as often as they are looking out towards the city. They seem alert, but not aware of your presence.

As for the riverbed, what seems to be grabbing their attention are four, large aurochs. Each is chained to one of the bridge towers. They are standing still, casually, as though waiting for something.

Alexa, you and Anevia estimated there were about a dozen tieflings here, based on movement along the battlements as you watched. The aurochs are in the chains that you saw through the spyglass.

You have a surprise round to act. You can run to the foot of the bridge, or you can try to target one of the visible tieflings with a weapon or spell. Assume you need a range of 100' to do that.

The battlements provide cover from those on the ground.

>>> Map is here <<<

Ignore the locations of your PC's. That's just to provide line of sight. If you run to the bridge during the surprise round, you will end up on the south edge of the map. If you choose to attack or cast a spell, you'll arrive on the following round.

"The Aurochs chained to the bridge, means that they plan to pull out the supports of the bridge as soon as anyone shows up. We'll need to take the beasts out before they can do that." Darya whispers, looking at the scene.

"Yep. Break the beasts, or break the beasts loose."

"Let me try to calm them. I doubt their 'masters' have ever shown them a kindness their entire lives," Arloric says.

”Do we have time for that?” Uriel asks, a bit skeptically.

Arloric, give me a knowledge (nature) check

"At most you'll be able to approach two of them at once. The once on the other side could still be spurred into action." Darya adds.

Knowledge (Nature): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20

Arloric shakes his head a bit sadly.

"Normal aurochs don't have teeth like that. Those are teeth meant to rip and tear meat. And there's a spark in their eyes you don't see in normal beasts. I think Darya's right; even if we have meat to bribe them with, they may be smart enough that those kinds of bribes may not impress them."

He shudders a bit, though he isn't sure why...

"We'll have to hit them all at once, either destroying the chains or dropping the beasts before they can pull the bridge supports loose." she whispers, locking a focused gaze on the feral beasts.

I've updated the map to put hazard symbols on squares with a steep slope. This is a DC5 climb check (slope <60 degrees, but unstable surface) and per the climb rules you move at 1/4 speed, so each of these squares counts as 4 squares of movement. If you decide to move under the bridge, I can add a separate map of just the slopes, if needed. Assume the slope hazards continue underneath it (so rows H-K and Z-AB).

For simplicity's sake, let's say that you can place yourself on the map anywhere along row AD or higher (so AD-AH), and that will constitute your surprise round: you can make this movement without being attacked or otherwise harassed.

The guard towers on the ends of the bridge are tall enough to block vision. That battlements don't block vision but provide cover to those on them, and can provide partial cover to someone down below at GM discretion.

>>> Map <<<

"We'll have to hit them all at once, either destroying the chains or dropping the beasts before they can pull the bridge supports loose." she whispers, locking a focused gaze on the feral beasts.

"You're right...I wish you weren't, but you are. Who wants to take which flank?" Arloric replies.

”I’ll take whichever. It might be wise to place me and Darya on opposite flanks, so each side will have a paladin.”

"...I'll go with Darya. Speed'll be important." Alexa sighs.

"Darya nods. We'll take the right." Darya says, loading her crossbow in the hopes of at least getting a shot off before closing in, once they are inevitably spotted.

"Then I'll go with Uriel," Arloric says with a nod.

Presenting: split screen view. It's not perfect, but it will let me track folks both on the bridge and on the ground.

Decide where you want to be on the map and either move your token directly or just let me know. Anywhere at AD or higher (AD-AH).

Alexa will be on AD-15.

I moved Darya up with you, just behind you where, presumably, you want to be out of sight of the guards on the walls. @Darya let me know if you want different placement.

Looking down, you can see it's a bumpy hill rather than a smooth descent, and there are a few squares where the slope isn't as steep.

>>> Map <<<

I've moved into position.

I’m still dealing with mobile posting, going to need someone to move me. Should be around AD4, I think?

I moved you just below Arloric at AE4.

@Telerin, where do you want to be?

I moved Darya up with you, just behind you where, presumably, you want to be out of sight of the guards on the walls. @Darya let me know if you want different placement.

Looking down, you can see it's a bumpy hill rather than a smooth descent, and there are a few squares where the slope isn't as steep.

>>> Map <<<

Works for me

Botting Telerin. Moving her up behind Darya.

You hear shouting along the walls as you dash towards the bridge, keeping the stone towers between you and the guards. You clearly hear, "They're behind the guard towers!" from above as you round the corners.

Below, in the dry riverbed, each group can see two aurochs. They turn their heads slowly to look in your direction. As Alexa saw earlier, they are chained to the bridge piers, just above the pile caps. Each chain is about 15 feet long and oriented such that it can be pulled outward, away from the bridge.

This severely restricts the aurochs' movement. If they were to try and walk around the bridge pier the chain would wrap around it, not move freely. Effectively, they are restricted to 15' spread from the anchor of the chain. I've marked this boundary with yellow lines. Note that an aurochs is a large creature so that line marks the limit of the center point of their token.

Telerin starts chanting, clearly casting a spell.

She will cast Summon Monster I, so there is something to guard your backs, even if only briefly.

There's more shouting from up above, and the sound of doors being thrown open.

Round 1
tiefling 2
Telerin
tiefling 1,tiefling 4
Alexa, Arloric <---
aurochs 1, tiefling 3
Darya
aurochs 3, aurochs 4
Uriel
aurochs 2

>>> Map <<<

Remember you are climbing down a steep, unstable slope. There aren't many rules around this but I'm willing to entertain Acrobatics checks for fancy maneuvers like sliding down the slope and staying upright, or even making jumps. Assume it's about 30 from the bridge surface down to the riverbed where the aurochs are. A little higher if you are on the battlements.

Alexa grimaces and tries to slide down the slope as quickly as she can!

Acrobatics!: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

Arloric begins climbing down towards the auroch as best he can. He's nowhere near as graceful as Alexa on her side.

Climb: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

@Alexa that is good enough for me. You can move through the marked squares at half speed (so 10' of movement vs 20'). With a double move action you can make it all the way down.

@Arloric, good enough to move through the marked squares at 1/4 speed and stay upright. You'll need a double move action but you can make it to AA3 or AA4.

Will do that then.

Where do you want to end up (which square)?

X-15 please.

Alexa slides and hops gracefully down the steep hill, managing to stay on her feet all the way down to the riverbed. The aurochs watches her closely, and as she comes to a stop it lifts its head, keeping one eye focused on her warily. The beast is huge, and this close up, obviously ill-tempered. It steps towards her, pulling its chain in an arc as it approaches. The chain droops to the ground at mid-length, dragging across the rocky soil. When the aurochs comes to a halt, it considers her for a moment before baring its teeth angrily. With a loud huff, the creature angrily lunges to the end of its chain, snapping it taught as its long horns strike out towards the aasimar.

aurochs 1, gore attack vs Alexa: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Alexa moves quickly, and the horn stabs into empty air.

Up on the bridge, the tiefling watches Alexa's descent as she comes into view then calls out, "They're going for the aurochs! Give the command!" You hear another tiefling somewhere along the bridge repeat this. "Give the command!"

The tiefling takes aim with her crossbow, and lets a bolt fly, then pulls out a second to reload.

tiefling 3, crossbow vs Alexa: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
tiefling 3, crit confirm: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
crossbow bolt damage: 1d8 ⇒ 3

The bolt sinks into Alexa's armor with a loud thunk and penetrates into her flesh.

Round 1
tiefling 2
Telerin
tiefling 1,tiefling 4
Alexa, Arloric
aurochs 1, tiefling 3
Darya <---
aurochs 3, aurochs 4
Uriel
aurochs 2

>>> Map <<<

How is there a crit confirmation when the first attack is most likely a miss?

tiefling 3, crossbow vs Alexa: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12 <-----???
tiefling 3, crit confirm: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
crossbow bolt damage: 1d8 ⇒ 3

Darya climbs down as quickly as she can, trying to get down to support Alexa as the aurochs attacks.

Climb: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

Will take a full action to climb down if needed to do it in one round

How is there a crit confirmation when the first attack is most likely a miss?

tiefling 3, crossbow vs Alexa: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12 <-----???
tiefling 3, crit confirm: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
crossbow bolt damage: 1d8 ⇒ 3

What the...? The first time I previewed this, it was a natural 20, followed by a 6. And the gore attack was lower roll, too (though this one is still a miss).

There was enough of a lag between when I started the post and when I committed that maybe there was some cookie update or something. This board is quirky.

So. Nice catch, and thank you. We'll use the rolls that are posted, and that means both attacks missed.

Per the rules, a -5 penalty will let you do an accelerated climb. Modifying your roll gives you 16-5 = 11 which is more than enough to move at half speed instead of 1/4 speed.

You can get to Y14 with 15' of move left, or to X16 if you expend all of your move. In either case, you end with movement over level ground so I'll rule that you can re-draw a weapon (since you needed both hands to climb) as part of your overall movement.

Let me know where you want to end up.

Uriel takes quick stock of the hillside. Fastest way down it is. If only I had Grandfather's wings. He takes a few quick steps and leaps off the edge.
Acrobatics: 1d20 - 5 ⇒ (17) - 5 = 12

Acrobatics DC15 to avoid fall damage: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15
On the second one, GM, I want to be sure we’re on the same page: I have a -1 for Acrobatics checks generally, but a -4 to jump. My reading of the skill is that the DC15 to avoid fall damage is just a standard Acrobatics check, not a check to jump. If you feel differently, take 4 off the second result.
Assuming I still take some damage...
As he hits the ground rolling, Uriel channels holy energy into himself.
Lay on Hands: 3d6 ⇒ (3, 4, 3) = 10

X16 and draw crossbow

Uriel, my interpretation here is that it's DC15 to do a long jump of 15', and you got a 12 so you made it 10' instead. As fortune would have it, 10' puts you next to Arloric, which is a level spot. That means you cleared two, 5' squares that are about around a 45 degree angle. So 10' of vertical drop. And you rolled well enough to ignore that damage.

End result: you missed your jump, so you fall prone, but ignore the damage. And you are now at AA4, and can use a move action to stand up.

I dunno if that is totally accurate by the rules, but it sounds pretty cool and saves you a lay-on-hands.

The two aurouchs at the far end of the bridge watch as the party descends the hillside, but don't seem to take any action. The one that Uriel and Arloric are approaching, however, moves in their direction, staying near the end of its chain.

Up above on the bridge, you hear more shouting.

There's a soft pop up on the hillside as a dog appears next to Telerin.

Round 2
tiefling 2
Telerin, dog <---
tiefling 1, tiefling 7, tiefling 10, tiefling 4, tiefling 6
Alexa, Arloric
tiefling 5, aurochs 1, tiefling 3, tiefling 8
Darya
aurochs 3, aurochs 4
Uriel
Tiefling 9, special, aurochs 2

@Telerin, you are up!

>>> Map <<<

FYI. Uriel, I assume your goal was to jump as far as possible, clearing difficult terrain (or rather, landing in the last square of it, since the movement penalty is entering not leaving), which was a 15' jump.

Works for me, GM!

Botting Telerin

Climb: 1d20 ⇒ 14

Good enough for an accelerated climb.

Telerin instructs the dog to attack any tieflings that come this way, then deftly follows Alexa and Darya down the hillside, turning near the bottom to slip under the bridge deck.

The dog readies an action to attack if any of them get within 5'.

tiefling 1, attack, crossbow: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 3 - 4 = 12

A crossbow bolt whizzes by Daria, seemingly shot from up along the bridge, and embeds itself in the soil. You hear running up above, and then two voices shouting out what sounds like some sort of command, loudly and clearly.

Handle animal vs aurochs 1: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (11) - 2 = 9
Handle animal vs aurochs 2: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (8) - 2 = 6

The two aurochs at the north end of the bridge stiffen up at this, but the two on the south side seem to ignore whatever was said.

tiefling 6, climb: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

A tiefling emerges from the southwest guard tower, slips around it and starts a fast descent, stopping just short of Uriel and Arloric.

________
Round 2
tiefling 2
Telerin, dog
tiefling 1, tiefling 7, tiefling 10, tiefling 4, tiefling 6
Alexa, Arloric <---
tiefling 5, aurochs 1, tiefling 3, tiefling 8
Darya
aurochs 3, aurochs 4
Uriel
Tiefling 9, special, aurochs 2

>>> Map <<<

Alexa attempts to tumble into a flanking position...

Attempting to move to (V13) without provoking AoOs.

Acrobatics?: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15
Mythic Boost: 1d6 ⇒ 4 Final Result: 19

...and stabs when she gets there!

Flanking Stab: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25
Damage?: 1d6 + 2 + 3d6 ⇒ (5) + 2 + (1, 2, 2) = 12

Arloric rushes forward gives a deep low hum to get the attention of the aurochs, and begins singing a low Hallit chant.

Arloric uses fascinate! The aurochs must make a DC 16 will save to avoid being fascinated.

Was I the only one having trouble connecting today?

Alexa sinks her blade into the tough hide of the aurochs.

Arloric, I'm assuming you wanted to target the two closest. If not, let me know.

Will save, aurochs 1: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Will save, aurochs 2: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

Not that it matters

Neither aurochs seems impressed by Arloric's chanting. The one he approaches eyes him menacingly.

dog, bite attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
bite damage, smite evil: 1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 1 = 5

You hear the dog snarl and bark, followed by the yelp of surprise from someone up on the hill. That's followed closely by a short scream.

dog, AoO: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
bite damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

And then again by a cry for help.

tiefling 5, attack, crossbow: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

The aurochs next to Alexa and Darya lashes out at them. It bites at Alexa and tries to gore Darya with its longhorns.

aurochs 1, bite attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
aurochs 1, gore attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

They both easily dodge its attacks.

tiefling 3, attack, crossbow: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 3 - 4 = 11

Another crossbow bolt thinks into the soil next to Alexa, shot from the tiefling along the bridge.

________
Round 2
tiefling 2
Telerin, dog
tiefling 1, tiefling 7, tiefling 10, tiefling 4, tiefling 6
Alexa, Arloric
tiefling 5, aurochs 1, tiefling 3, tiefling 8
Darya <---
aurochs 3, aurochs 4
Uriel
Tiefling 9, special, aurochs 2

>>> Map <<<

Taking a quick step back and dropping her crossbow, Darya draws her sword, striking at the feral beast.

+1 evil outsider bane longsword/Flanking: 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 12 + 2 = 21
Magic: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

If the aurochs counts as an evil outsider +2 to attack/ +2d6 + 2 ⇒ (3, 5) + 2 = 10 to damage

5ft step, drop crossbow. Draw sword/step forward and attack

It is not an outsider. You don't need to step to drop the crossbow. Which is good because you can't step twice.

Darya slashes into the aurochs.

aurochs 3, strength check: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
aurochs 4, strength check: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

On the far side of the bridge, the other two aurochs surge forward snapping their chains taught. The piles shake, kicking up dust as the chains yank at them.

________
Round 2
tiefling 2
Telerin, dog
tiefling 1, tiefling 7, tiefling 10, tiefling 4, tiefling 6
Alexa, Arloric
tiefling 5, aurochs 1, tiefling 3, tiefling 8
Darya
aurochs 3, aurochs 4
Uriel <---
Tiefling 9, special, aurochs 2

>>> Map <<<