Big OM's Way of the Wicked (Inactive)

Game Master Big OM

Randu notes the tapestry and stifles a sigh. Not practical to lug it along.

Agreed with the continue forward.

First a service announcement: I am going to be away from Monday to Thursday or Friday.

Even Grumblejack senses the importance and he moves up the stairs with precaution, well as much as an ogre can. The big guy blocks your entire field of view and it is only when you emerge on the second level that you see the great collection of books filling the shelves along the wall of the library.

Just so we are on the same level here. I will not post any loot, valuables or the like unless you search or it is in plain sight like the tapestries like in the previous room.

sounds fine, we will probably search after we best the wizard, enjoy your week away.

Fine by me, I just wanted everyone to be on the same page.

Continuing up the spiral staircase Grumblejack leads the way and once again blocks your vision. He pauses for a minute as he reach the landing, then moves to the side allowing you to move besides him. Looking a little confused at the doors to your left and right he asks: "Where now?

Tykk points to the left door.

Left big fella, left Drogan points as well as he speaks.

It takes concentration for Lyrysa not to hold her breath. She didn't like unknowns, and she had been subjected to them ever since being brought here. Even now, she didn't know the extent of the warden's strength. In the end though, it didn't matter. She prepares a spell as the door is indicated.

To say that Grumblejack knock politely on the door corresponds to calling a thunder storm a light breeze. The big ogre almost knock the door of its hinges as he slams it open. "Old man," he yells as he notices warden Richter standing by a desk next to the bed. (45 ft away)

Round 1
Seeing the prisoners and especially the ogre, the warden takes a step back, paralyzed a moment and the begins an incantation.

I need a volunteer to control Grumblejack. Movement 30 ft., large, unarmed attack +6(1d6+3)(provokes AoO)

Initiative:
Warden Richter 18
Grumblejack 18
Orodreth 17
Randu 17
Tykk 11
Lyrysa 11
Drogan 11

Drogan commands the mighty Ogre to charge the old man before he unleashes any magic.

Grumblejack Charge: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

If Lyrysa has spell craf and can ID the spell Gruble jack should grab him instead

Drogan follows by calling the power of the Abyss and charging himself
attack with mace in both hands: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27
damage: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Round 1

Lyrysa, seeing the warden, utters an incantation of her own, attempting to cloud the Warden's mind. Hopefully not in vain. DC 15 Daze

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

"There is a debt due between us, Warden. We all intend to collect." Randu joins in with the others as he also charges forward.
Bonuses for Charge and Favored enemy counted in. AC -2 for move this round
To hit: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16
Dmg: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Tykk, seeing the bulk of his companions charge forward, moves off well to the left, circling around the wizard.

Double move around to the side, preferably out of any "cone" spells.

The honourable warden of Branderscar prison might be a formidable wizard, but against the wrath and martial might of the escaped prisoners, he comes up short. Grumblejack slams into the poor man like an ox, swiftly followed by the biting sting of Randu's ill gotten blade. He easily shakes Lyrysa's pathetic magic, but it does him little good as Drogan ends his life with a heavy mace cracking his skull.

Saving: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

A quick glance around reveals that much of warden's possessions are not suited for the escaping prisoner. The only thing that might be of interest is his silken robes in the wardrobe. Searching the corpse however reveals 4 scrolls, a potion and a small stone.

"Hah, some wizard. Come comrades, let us loot this prison for anything of use and be off."

Lyrysa looks to Tykk, but says nothing. The failure of her own magic was a very possible outcome, nevertheless the taste was bitter. As they begin to claim what they can, Lyrysa takes a moment to look over the scrolls.

I can't find a time required to decipher a scroll, only to learn and write. If I can, I'll decipher these.

Scroll 1: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
Scroll 2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
Scroll 3: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
Scroll 4: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

FYI, you can use Perception to identify potions, if anyone with a good perception skill wants to try. I don't have Detect Magic memorized at present, so kinda SOL on anything else magic, unless Drogan has it memorized.

"We shall have to yield to Lyrysa's expertise. at least I shall...a wizard's goods are a mystery to me."

I agree, we should gather anything of use, give this tower the once over, but lets not forget about our benafactor. Someone wanted us out of her or to atleast try and get out. We should use the cover of night to start our journey. As we were to be executed in three days, I would think we have around that much time to leave this place before we are found out.

Tykk searches clumsily through the study.

Perception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0

And I somehow ignored you again sorry.

Studying the scrolls intensely Lyrysa realises that the second one must be a scroll of sleep, but the rest still eludes her, refusing to give up their arcane content. The small stone cathces her attention and she realises that there is more to the dull grey spheric stone.

Grumblejack stands a little lost looking around. The corpse of the warden doesn't interest him as much as the corpses of the guards and the sergeant.

How do you want to handle looting the tower? A longer tale, the bare facts or something in between?

other than the searching the study here, we will probably go with the bare facts and get out of here.

A brief narrative wouldn't hurt, but whatever is easiest for you Big OM.

"I cannot decipher the others without more time, but this appears to induce sleep in others. It may be useful." She then turns to examining the stone.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Barebones is good.
Randu stays on guard, and tries not to grow impatient.
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

And... I haven't posted here for way to long, sorry. I'll try and pick up, but it might take a little time before I am back to once a day.

Turning her attention to the stone, Lyrysa soon learns that it is magical, upon activating her magical sight it is confirmed, the nature however still elutes the wizard.

Done with the warden's chamber you cross the small landing to what turns out to be his office. This is the first beautiful thing you have seen in this hell hole. Hard wood is the theme of the office and a massive oaken desk commands your attention. Going through the desk an unlocked drawer contains a map of the surrounding lands and a locked drawer yields a cerulean leather covered book, this is the warden's spellbook.

[ooc]I'll be bac with the rest of the tower later, in the mean time think about how you want to move on from here, ogre and all.

Leaving the razed upper floor behind you, the middle floor reveals a well stocked library upon closer examination. Given the number of books the warden has collect, it is difficult to identify anything of proper value. It would surely be an impossible task to remove all, but a search might reveal the hidden gems of the collection.

And that calls for the following checks: Knowledge (Arcane) DC 15 / Appraise DC 20; Knowledge (Geography) DC 15 / Appraise DC 20; Knowledge (Nature) DC 20 / Appraise DC 20.

Knowledge Nature: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5+2 if somehow bonus vs humans applies

"Not my forte," Randu says as he glances over the books.

Eagerly taking up the Warden's spellbook, she keeps it held tightly as they continue to move about. With her own tome gone, this might be the only way for her to regain her own spells, depending on what spells the Warden had kept.

Down a floor, Lyrysa moves about the books, hoping to find other worthwhile volumes on the shelves. "It is mine.

Knowledge (Arcana): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Knowledge (Geography): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Appraise: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19 Aww, I was on a roll too

"No argument from me. I have MY prize, after all." He gestures to his acquired sword, "Besides, the stronger each link in our little group is, the stronger we all are as a whole."

Sorry friends, I know not of any of these books. Lyrysa take what you see is valuable and let us make on our way.

That is what I have for this tower.

I am moving tomorrow and don't know when I have internet again hopefully by Friday

good luck on the move. See you when your back on line :)

"Two of these tomes are valuable. To the right person that is. Worth taking with us, and less likely to draw attention than a cart of weapons. Hopefully it should help us get a new start in life."

Also eagerly awaiting your return Big OM!

I am back. By my recollection, you were just done with the tower, so what now?

Then plan is to make our way to the meeting point given to us by the lady that visited.

You are not able to walk out of the prison just yet. There is a guard post at the end of bridge.

At this point you say we've done the tower. Have we checked all the rooms in the main building? And do you guys think we should make a circuit of the walls?

I think we have all we can cary, We have food, we have weapons and we have some valuables. We need to make our way to the guard tower and finish this.

Agreed. In fact, that sounds like an off stage prompt to me ;) I think I'll steal it :D

Randu nods, "If we're done here? Let's make our way to the guard tower. It is time to finish this."

Also agreeable to leaving.

Just so we understand eachother, You are aware that you have to cross an open bridge to get there? How do you want to handle that?

Its dark right? Is the bridge lit up? If it is lit up how? torches? Can anyone else see in the dark besides me and Grumblejack? If not Grumblejack and I will advance as a scout team, I will creat water along the way over torches to put them out. Randu should put the green cloak on and lead the party by a rope, they can trail back behind him out of his tourch light and they should be say 200' behind myself and Grumblejack.

Yes it is still dark. You haven't seen the bridge during the night so you don't know about the lighting.

Thats fine the lighting is secondary, I was just giving you the plan to move forward, we are heading toward the bridge and out of here.

I misunderstood.

Exiting the warden's tower everything is quiet save the soft thunder of the waves crashing on the rocks. The sound of your feet on the gravel path seems alarmingly loud, that however must be a figment of your imagination.

Nothing blocks your path as you walk past the centre building housing your old cells. As you approach the main gate a barking interrupts your inner peace. It originates from a wooden building next to the main gate, perhaps a kennel.

Dogs? Those need put down. Let us take care of this.

Drogan approaches the Kennel's with the others. We will kill the dogs from outside.

"Killing the dogs would hinder any from giving chase, though I don't believe many have been left alive, at least none that we should worry." Lyrysa will help as best able, using the acquired bow.

"I detest killing animals... it is their owners that bear the blame if any." Randu states.

The two dogs barks louder and louder as you approach the kennel. Placing a foot securely Drogan slides the door open so weapons can pass. It is a dirty business slaughtering the helpless animal, but they finally pass into the great beyond.

160xp each

Randu scowls as the dogs are killed, and has no part in it. It's clear he wasn't sure that was necessary.

Not sure is we got xp after the mage, I had been adding it all, adding the 160

Sorry Randu, I took no plesure in that, but we do not know this prison, new guards may come in the morning. I would not want to leave them these dogs to aid in their tracking. So better safe than sorry. Come now let us leave this forsaken place for good.

Plan cross the bridge is a go :)