Beyond Fort Horizon (Inactive)

Game Master Terquem

Have a safe, and I don't know, enjoyable/productive/informative/nonviolent trip
See you when you can make the time for us, and I will still be here

I think I need a little clarification on the wagon piece. I know the bull/cow(s) were to go to the Johansen family; was this office the original intended destination of the wagon itself? I review the original post but I may have missed some extra information. I just want to make sure that I as a player haven't missed something that would be obvious to the character Unbolath.

So, I need to hire three or four people willing to take responsibility for the wagon, the Bull, and the milking cows. This is a big responsibility, and therefore the payment is considerable, but in order for the contract to be fulfilled I expect a receipt, signed by the Johansen family, and the elves, once all these things are safely delivered to Mystic Valley. When that receipt is returned to the me, here at the fort, in a timely manner, I will pay two hundred dollars to each person who’s signature is initialed by the customers. So if you are looking for work as escorts, I don’t need you. If you can drive a wagon, and can take care of a bull and a couple of cows for a few days, and are willing to take a contractual obligation and fiscal responsibility for the supplies, and the people travelling to Mystic Valley, I’ll hire you.

Major Finchley promised that a full contract would be made available on the morning you left (this morning actually, wow was it really only one day?) but we sort of glossed over that part.

In the above quote he indicated that he needed a receipt from the Johansen family, also signed by the two elves travelling with you.

let's assume that he did give you a multi page document, a contract for this task, and in it, it does specify that the wagon's goods are to be delivered to the office of the WEAC, and your copy of the contract must be signed by Mister Hendersen, the Johansens, and the two agents (in their guise as two young elves looking to resettle).

Got it! Thanks. I wasn't sure about the WEAC office, and given the information we uncovered after the ambush and various plot developments, I was somewhat fuzzy and what we would ultimately do with the contents, but I guess Unbolath we will proceed as planned.

I'm BACK

Don't Kill my character!

I didn't even know this game was still alive.

I'm in Kuwait, got in late last night. Will post when there's something to post in response to for Thikka. Nice to see you back Minerva.

Kk

I did post an interaction with Thikka for whenever you're ready :)

Minerva, did you have time to get caught up on some of the discussion on the previous page about the state of this game?

kinda.
lemme go back

Broken water pipe,
Be back as soon as I can

Kk

might be planning a burglary on the WEAC office of those sneaky dwarves, to look for info/any valuables Minerva wouldn't feel too guilty about stealing.

Might see if Ritmush and/or Droka wants in. (Another rogueish type and a smooth-talking spellcasting bard would be awesome.)

Unbolath has asked to be left included on the character roster, but unless he wants to rejoin the game I'll quietly leave him out of anything else going on

Valind, I think you have decided to withdrawal as well, but would you also like to be kept on the roster to follow the game?

I think you mean Sithundan, not Unbolath. I am still fully particpating.

this is what happens when I try to post from my phone, while falling asleep on the bus - sorry about that

If I am overlooking anyone who still wants to be part of this game, please let me know of my mistake

Right now, I'm not sure what Ritmush will do next

Minerva and Thikka are coming up with a plan

Portia is leading the wagon to the warehouse

Unbolath and the Agents are going into the office

Droka and Calliope are going into the saloon

Valind and Sithundan will take rooms at the small hotel, and wait to be paid.

Did I forget anyone?

Valind has politely and official withdrawn

A lot of things are happening, so I hope those of you who are still with me are following the developments.

Thanksgiving is just about a week away and I know it is a time here in the U.S. when many people spend happy times (and sometimes not so happy times, haha) with their extended families. I am off work all next week and will try to keep all my games up dated, but I expect everyone here in the U.S. will be a bit busier than normal.

Still here, just trying to think how Portia would react to the current events is all.

Portia - if there is any confusion about what is going on (and I know I am not the best story teller!) please PM me with your questions and I'll try to make it make sense.

I will definitely pm should questions arise, thanx :)

It all makes sense, just a matter of typing a response with necessary "bluff" checks to keep a straight face as I am being thrown in the middle of who/what Mr Hendersen thinks I am is all lol

miners not minors...- Dr. Lazarus of Tev'Meck

I'm going to post a little something for Portia, but I'd like to see if Thikka overhears the ranting first.

Sorry, been busy in Kuwait, I'll be spotty posting until the 29th.

No worries Thikka, been busy myself, updated a couple of games yesterday but didn't get to this one, Sorry Ritmush, I am not ignoring you on purpose. I;ll try to get to this one today

No worries, just posting to ensure folks know Ritmush is still alive and very interested.

Sorry for not responding everyone, my last week :

Thursday, 2AM Kuwait time : Emergency in Calgary, we need you there Monday.
Thursday : 9 hours of work
Friday, 1AM Kuwait time : Plane delayed, wait 2 hours, take off
Friday, 2PM Central Time, US : Land
Friday, 3:30PM Central Time : Get home
Friday, 4PM : Collapse in bed
Saturday : Run around doing everything I thought I had 4 days off to do.
Sunday : Repeat running around, collapse, sick and coughing. Take nyquil
Monday : 2:30AM, get up and get ready for 5AM flight.
Monday : 4:15AM, realize I left laptop at house, no computer, call wife, arrange to have it overnighted.
Monday : 7AM, Get on connecting flight to Calgary, wait 90 minutes on tarmack
Monday : Noon Calgary time : Land Calgary
Tuesday : Noon, laptop arrives
Tuesday : 3:15PM : Post this message

I'll try to get something up tonight, but no promises. I'll be back in the states again Thursday Night, so if not tonight, Friday. Sorry again.

I hear Calgary is lovely this time of year, or wait, maybe that was Kuwait...

No worries, I have a feeling a big battle is about to occur and I need to get a map built that will show the whole situation as best as I can, and hopefully a full game post will be up in the next 24 hours.

I realize that Minerva and Thikka were plotting a break in in the warehouse, while Unbolath is marching there now with Brenda, and Portia, unaware of all this, is trying to keep her cool while keeping an eye on Henderson, with Ritmush, Droka and Calliope in the Saloon, nearby, and if things go they way I think they will go, everyone will be in on the going downs, in short order.

Gah! I suck at making maps. I really wanted to make a map that showed both the outside and inside of the warehouse, and some nearby buildings. I'd get like a third of it done then make a mistake, then end up erasing half of what I'd done trying to fix the mistake. Grrr.

I am really sorry for the delay. I'm going to open City Builder one more time and try it again, but this time I think it won't look very good, but maybe it will be functional.

Okay, there is a map up now, it is called Mystic Valley Encounter

It is zoomed way out so your tokens look small, and it shows Minerva and Thikka in an alley, Droka and Ritmush in the saloon, Portia, in the warehouse (with a wagon, Henderson, two dwarfs, a cow and a bull) and Brenda and Unbolath in the street

Any questions?

I'll zoom it in if something important starts to happen

Awesome, and I should mention that any map is better than no map. What you call crappy is still superior to the maps in my home games so im going to agree to disagree on your definition of 'crap' in this case.
Unless there is issue with it id love to interact with Droka while we both chill in the saloon, ill make sure to stick to actions that require nothing in the way of GM interaction so you can focus on the combat.

Well, I wanted to update the map last night, and try to figure out exactly how the Actions of Portia should be played out, and then, BZZZZT no go.

Now I am working again, so it will be a while before I can update.

However, I am grateful to everyone for sticking with this, and I hope what is about to transpire is fun for all of you.

Edit - EEEK , just realized none of my games are updating correctly!

Calling it now. Everyone in mystic valley is a cyborg from another planet.

Or everyone's a doppelganger. (Including the entire party).

Or Henderson is a were-cow

Or something like that, at the rate Terquem's been dropping mind-f**kingly huge revelations, I wouldn't be surprised if if we did a fade-to-black here, only to reveal that this was all a game, an immersive simulation inside a futuristic society. Everybody gets new character, and it turns into a cyber-magic D20 modern game.

I'm not complaining Terq, thus far it's been keeping me on my toes.

Calling it now. Everyone in mystic valley is a cyborg from another planet.

Or everyone's a doppelganger. (Including the entire party).

Or Henderson is a were-cow

Or something like that, at the rate Terquem's been dropping mind-f**kingly huge revelations, I wouldn't be surprised if if we did a fade-to-black here, only to reveal that this was all a game, an immersive simulation inside a futuristic society. Everybody gets new character, and it turns into a cyber-magic D20 modern game.

I'm not complaining Terq, thus far it's been keeping me on my toes.

hahaha...wait, can you see my notes? No, seriously. Watch what happens to the Goblins in "Say your right words" when they finally find and pass through the door that leads to "The Here"

but, also, Minerva, what am I supposed to do if those dwarves are, let's say for arguments sake, well, both!

Cyborg doppelgangers?

Hmm, have the guy Minerva's grappling do a 360 degree head-spin like the exorcist?

Proceeding then to laugh in Minerva's freaked out face as her sword fails to even scratch his robo-balls?

Cue romantic music as they embrace...

moments before someone yells 'CUT!' From offscreen

The world dissolves as the entire cast break down into giggles. Terquem the director stalks onto set.

He's laughing a little himself, but still ranting on about how they're supposed to be 'professional actors' damnit; can they film /one/ scene on the holo-deck, just one, without pulling shenanigans.

Alright people, take five, when we come back, can we /please/ pull off one last fight scene today?

No, no, no, I meant for Thikka, sorry

gravediggers and Privy Pit Workers,

sorry for the confusion there

I think she's basically checking if the dwarves are in on it

i.e. grave-diggers (digging humanoid sized holes, possibly with rope and gags nearby for burying peeps alive.)

Or privy diggers. Who were innocently digging a trench to go toilet in.

If by both you mean that they're planning on digging s trench, dumping bodies in it /then/ using that trench for a toilet, that is a whole other level of disgusting.

Both would be both, and Thikka would go with the Gravedigger argument, as she would rather not take on 3 to 2 odds.

I am so sorry but I have to make a sudden emergency trip out of town tomorrow morning, and if everything is fine, I hope to be back home Sunday, I know this is a bad time to delay, but I can't get out of it, again, very sorry.

Thank you for keeping us in the loop.

Minerva - It is often wonky to try and work these sorts of dramatic events out with "rounds" and "weapon damage" and such things.

You have the initiative over the dwarf you are holding, Thikka is impetuous, so, things are going to happen. You can automatically do damage to the Dwarf equal to the maximum amount you could normally do.

Now this, because of the way hit points work, will probably not kill him, but if you decide to take this action, he will fall, bleeding out.

Now, I, personally, would like you to think long and hard about this action. What Thikka has done, given the very little you know about these dwarves, was a little questionable on the whole good/evil axis, but I am not going to make a big deal out of it. However, murdering this dwarf, when you only suspect he is a danger to you, is highly questionable. I won't punish the character for doing this, but it is something I don't personally like to see.

Thikka has already done perception to determine that these guys were digging graves for the people in the warehouse (her allies), and that they were lying about being willing to run away.

Chaotic Good does what they think is best, not what is necessarily honorable. She is outnumbered, and the dwarves are (A) Murderers (or allies of murderers, which is the same thing), and (B) already lying about their willingness to flee if allowed. If they aren't going to flee, they are going to fight. Ergo, from Thikka's mindset, they are dangerous and need to be dealt with quickly. She is willing to let them live, if they were going to run, but not if they weren't. The ends (saving allies lives) justifies the means (attacking them first).

If she were neutral or lawful, she wouldn't have attacked first. But chaotic good says attack evil before it can attack you.

edit : And I forgot she got reset to NG when she joined this game. *sigh* She was originally built as CG. I might ought to change her back, as that's how I've been playing her.

That is all very clear and makes sense, however, you are making some leaps there. yes they are digging graves (most likely by the size and shape of the holes, and they will probably build a privy over them, yuck!) but for who those graves are for is Thikka's speculation (even if she is right, she doesn't know she's right, see what I mean).

I think you played it well, and who knows, maybe they will survive, then you can fix them up, and smack them around for explanations.

However, again, setting out to kill before you really know your life is in danger isn't exactly good in my book, just so you know.

*chuckle* and once this is over everyone in town will be getting into arguments over who shot first.
Didn't know Thikka's last name was Solo.

Although it would be good to keep the kingpin dwarf alive so as to abuse the various truth telling spells pathfinder has to offer so as to extract valuable information. The dwarf workers are more than likely not going to have much to say in comparison.

People who kill others, and bury them under latrines, are not good at the very least, and dangerous. You can run it however you want, of course, but requiring good people to wait until the bad guys finish digging graves and then try to put them in it is, to me, unreasonable. The intent is there to murder people on the sly (legal executions don't require hidden graves under outhouses). Murder is, by definition, evil. Ergo, people who are plotting murder are at the very least, not good, and most likely evil. Stopping evil actions is good.

Yeah, I'd prefer Minerva (or anyone in the party) to remain unmurdered/captured/maimed, especially if being so is followed by being buried in a toilet.

Standing up from prone provokes an AoO from anyone who threatens, including those on the ground (Portia).

Tripping Portia provokes an AoO from anyone threatening Henderson (including Portia and Umbalath), unless Henderson has Improved Trip.

Henderson has a -4 to his BAB (And thus CMB), as he's prone. Making it harder for him to trip Portia.

Henderson has a -4 to his AC (and thus CMD) vs Melee Attacks, because he's prone. This makes it easier for Portia and Umbalath to hit Henderson, not for Henderson to trip Portia.

Thus, when Henderson attempts to Trip Portia, he's at a -4 CMB, against her full CMD. He also provokes, and Portia (and Umbalath) get an AoO on him with his AC at -4. If he survives both AoO, then he can complete the trip attempt (again, with a -4 CMB vs her full CMD).

If she falls, then Henderson can stand up. Doing so provokes another AoO (if someone has Combat Reflexes). Portia would then be at a -4 to attack him (Note, Henderson would still be at -4 AC, as he hasn't stood up yet). Umbalath would again get another attack, with Henderson being at -4 AC.

He does have improved trip, so only the standing up provokes, but it looks like that didn't happen

His trip attempt should have been at a +4, and not a +8, but it looks like that didn't happen

Portia's grapple would have succeeded (and does not provoke, as Henderson is still Flat Footed)

Now here is where I think it gets fuzzy - does Portia become Prone? Or Does she lift Henderson from the ground as part of the grapple attempt

If you successfully grapple a creature that is not adjacent to you, move that creature to an adjacent open space (if no space is available, your grapple fails).

what doe we call "Adjacent"

Portia is Grappled, she can take a move action, and lift Henderson, or I think she is going to have to get down on the floor, but that is sort of a judgment call on my part, and I'm open to suggestions here

Unbolath can assist in the grapple, or move and deal with the other dwarves, still waiting on him

Thikka and Minerva, I think they are done this round

Thank you Thikka! I'll recon that post as soon as I can

Portia can be standing, while Henderson is still prone. Here's someone pinning another, while retaining their footing. The victim is prone, but the person with the pin has both feet on the ground, and can still move. Not as good as normal, but that's why grapple has a penalty for both.

They are adjacent if they are in five foot squares that are contiguous. So there's no need to move Henderson. Basically, he's still in his five foot square, just at the edge of it near her. And she's in the edge by him. Same as if they were kissing or shoving knives into each other. :)

Henderson is basically in a major bad position, with two opponents and him on the ground. It's never a good position to be in.

The quoted text about 'adjacent' when grappling is handling the case of someone with reach, like a giant, or a froghemoth who grapples with tentacles. In those cases, the giant or froghemoth grapples at range, and then drags the target up against their side.

Portia, not having reach, had to be adjacent to Henderson to get the grapple/pin in the first place.

I had wanted to get back to updating my games on Friday, and instead ended up in the emergency care center getting eight stitches in my left hand. Now, I’m not the best two handed typist by far, but the whole situation (frozen water pipe for the second time this winter, flooded basement window well, broken window and the cuts to my hand) put me in an awful mood.

So here I am typing this with the right hand and one finger of the left, and letting everyone know I’m back and going to try to get things moving again.

Thanks to each and every one of you, you’ve been great players and very patient with me.

Let’s find out where we were and get going again.

Thanks again, Thikka, your references are very helpful

No problem, and condolences on the hand. Been there/done that with the freezing pipes. Glad I live in the south now. :)