Lost in the desert! The party gets separated from a desert caravan during a sandstorm. Parched and starving, they stumble on a ruined city in the middle of the desert. The pyramid at the center of the city seems mostly intact, and they find a secret door leading inside...
M Half-Elf CORE Rog 1 | HP 11/11 | AC 18 (T15, FF 13, CMD 19) | F +2 R +7 W +2 | Mv 30' | Per +9 (+10 vs traps), low-light vision | Init +5
1. The ring is once per turn, so effectively once per encounter.
60' is less than I had hoped; it looks like 160' or so from the base of the steps to the nearest hyena. 2. The stampede idea might work. If the camels are tied up that means Brathas would have to untie them. If they aren't all tied, this is easier. He could possibly untie a dozen or so while invisible, then use the Ring of Animal Control on the hyena on the south edge to have it start a stampede. He'll go to the corner downwind of the hyena pen so his scent doesn't give him away. 3. If we are frustrating the gnolls, they could threaten to kill the slaves unless we surrender. So I think freeing the slaves quickly to be important. 4. It looks like 240' from the slave pen to the base of the steps. Brathas moves 120' running, or 90' over sand. The slaves might move less due to fatigue, but we can hopefully still get to the pyramid steps in 4 or 5 rounds. Fire and smoke should buy us some time. If a diversion has pulled the gnolls east (and out of their tents), he'll make a beeline north once he frees the slaves. He'll be invisible, so if there is just one in his way, he'll stab them. 5. These distances are pretty significant. It will be hard to use flaming oil and smoke bombs from the steps. What is the range on the Ring of Sparks and on Binding? The servant spirit could pour the flasks, I think.
1. The ring is once per turn, so effectively once per encounter. 60' is less than I had hoped; it looks like 160' or so from the base of the steps to the nearest hyena.
That is correct. Note though making a beeline to the gnoll camp from the bottom of the steps leaves you completely in the open. I already explained earlier that if you circle around you will have some degree of cover approaching from another angle.
Brathas wrote:
2. The stampede idea might work. If the camels are tied up that means Brathas would have to untie them.
You haven't been close enough yet to see if they are tied up. Worth pointing out though that if you kill all the gnolls, you probably want to keep at least some of the camels.
Brathas wrote:
5. These distances are pretty significant. It will be hard to use flaming oil and smoke bombs from the steps. What is the range on the Ring of Sparks and on Binding? The servant spirit could pour the flasks, I think.
* The ring of sparks can ignite a fuel source within 5', throw a bolt of fire up to 60' as an attack, or add 1d8 fire damage to a single attack of a weapon that the user touches, which has to take place by the next combat round.
* Binding causes a spirit to appear within 30' of the caster, but the spirit can move beyond that distance once conjured as long as it remains in line-of-sight. Servant spirits can move beyond line of sight if they have clear instructions of what to do, but they are not very smart.
M Half-Elf CORE Rog 1 | HP 11/11 | AC 18 (T15, FF 13, CMD 19) | F +2 R +7 W +2 | Mv 30' | Per +9 (+10 vs traps), low-light vision | Init +5
Lost City DM wrote:
That is correct. Note though making a beeline to the gnoll camp from the bottom of the steps leaves you completely in the open. I already explained earlier that if you circle around you will have some degree of cover approaching from another angle.
True. But I was thinking of Brathas being invisible the whole time, either through a potion or through a spell from Zynazyr. That means the hyenas' ability to smell him, and wind direction, are the major considerations. Seemed safer than counting on Stealth checks. Rest of the party partway up the steps with a defensive front line.
As to the camels, I agree we don't want to lose them all. I have no idea where they would go after stampeding, or if they would return to their herd some hours after the panic had passed. I'm not an expert on camel behavior.
Male Human Cleric 3 Prophet Male Cleric 3 | hp 16/16 | AC 1 | F15 A15 C12 D15 H11 W13 | THAC0 Ranged 17, melee 18| Mv 15'
if Brathas can recon the camels and then untie them and then we could start a stampede, hopefully getting them to trample some folks, but most of the gnolls will be busy trying to get their camels back and then we can finish off those left and free the slaves and such. The noise of a stampede should mask our attempt to fee people. We bring the people into the pyramid and then, we can mop up the remaining gnolls or let them come to us in the pyramid. Once we finish them off they will have gathered some camels for us.
M Half-Elf CORE Rog 1 | HP 11/11 | AC 18 (T15, FF 13, CMD 19) | F +2 R +7 W +2 | Mv 30' | Per +9 (+10 vs traps), low-light vision | Init +5
I don't think we'll have that much control over the direction of a stampede, other than 'away from danger'. So trying to get them to stampede through the camp but then not towards us afterwards could be challenging. I think it easiest to just get them to go away from the camp, not through it. This means probably no trampled gnolls, but then again also no trampled prisoners. We do have a Potion of Invisibility. There is also the possibility that Zynazyr could prep a second one as backup (it's a fairly long-range spell so he could use it on Brathas from the relative safety of the steps), but he has many competing options for his 2nd-level spells so we need to know what he has prepped. I am ready to get this show on the road whenever the GM is ready. Here are my current thoughts: Brathas will become invisible, sneak around to the *downwind* corner of the camp, free ~10 camels, and try to create a stampede without breaking invisibility. If the untied camels don't break and flee at once, the PCs fire flaming arrows at them. If that still doesn't work, Brathas uses the Ring of Animal Control on the south-edge hyena to cause a stampede. Would this break invisibility? That's why I'm reluctant. I'd like Brathas to be invisible freeing the prisoners. If it does, Brathas thinks 'the hell with it' and throws the Oil of Volatilty at the shaman's tent and uses the Ring of Sparks to ignite it, before trying to hide again. Zynazyr could cover him again with a casting, but I don't want to place demands on the wizard's spell slots. If we get a stampede without Brathas having to break invisibility, that's better. During the chaos, Brathas moves to the prisoner cell and frees them. Brathas and the prisoners make a beeline for the steps. Gnolls are off chasing camels, or fleeing the fire, or trying to get organized. A few might be in our way and some prisoners might fall. Brathas will be willing to 'take one for the team' or even take two, but hopefully our diversion has cleared our path. If not, PCs on the steps shoot at any gnolls in our way, focusing on clearing the path. Once Brathas and the prisoners are closer, PCs throw Oil of Smoldering behind them so they don't get skewered with ranged weapons as they are running to the steps. When the gnolls form up to come after the PCs on the steps, Ana hits them with the scepter.
The keys to this whole plan are taking the initiative, and not letting the gnolls know what is going on. And then, of course, the huge-area-of-effect scepter of paralyzation.
Male Human Cleric 3 Prophet Male Cleric 3 | hp 16/16 | AC 1 | F15 A15 C12 D15 H11 W13 | THAC0 Ranged 17, melee 18| Mv 15'
Having them stampede through camp would be nice, but the diversion that the camels are escaping should make many gnolls run to get their camels back. The efforts of those gnolls can be used by us later so we can leave the pyramid.
Brathas will become invisible, sneak around to the *downwind* corner of the camp, free ~10 camels, and try to create a stampede without breaking invisibility.
It could be tricky to stampede the camels invisibly, though I'll have to rule on it when you try it. Any actual harm to a camel (including nonlethal damage) would break invisibility.
Brathas wrote:
If that still doesn't work, Brathas uses the Ring of Animal Control on the south-edge hyena to cause a stampede. Would this break invisibility?
The ring of animal control produces a mental attack and breaks invisibility.
Brathas wrote:
I am ready to get this show on the road whenever the GM is ready.
I will just need to know:
1. Where will everyone be at the start of the raid? 2. Who is carrying which item?
You also may want some predetermined signals if the group is going to be spread out.
M Half-Elf CORE Rog 1 | HP 11/11 | AC 18 (T15, FF 13, CMD 19) | F +2 R +7 W +2 | Mv 30' | Per +9 (+10 vs traps), low-light vision | Init +5
Brathas plans on taking the Potion of Invisibility, Ring of Animal Control, Oil of Volatility (in Flask of Recovery), and Ring of Sparks. The Rings are short-range effects and it doesn't make sense for anybody else to be close to the gnoll camp.
Zynazyr said he would prep the following:
Lvl 1: Sleep, Charm Person, Binding
Lvl 2: Invisibility, Stinking Cloud (replace with Wizard Lock if known). Brathas can get into position under cover of Zynazyr's Invisibility spell, take some actions, and then get re-covered by the potion if he has to break invisibility.
Binding is to conjure the servant spirit, to drop the Oil of Smoldering just where we want it to be (between Brathas and the prisoners on the one hand and the pursuing gnolls on the other, while Brathas is leading the prisoners back to the steps).
I thought he did learn Wizard Lock, so that would be ahead of time on the west door out of the central room on Tier 2. A wand charge to Wizard Lock the east door out of that room. We can go back and forth through the west door at our leisure.
I'm a little too tired to concentrate right now so I'll set this up either this afternoon or in the nighttime.
But I will assume: 1. First, Zynazyr casts invisibility on Brathas and binding to create a servant spirit before anything else happens. And wizard lock on the inner door. 2. Brathas heads out first invisibly and gets into position. (Where will you come from? Place your figure at the edge of the map.) 3. Once a sufficient amount of time has passed, Zynazyr orders the servant spirit to take the oil of smouldering and dump it. (Please indicate on the map where). 4. In order to remain out of sight the rest of the group will not emerge from the hole until they see stuff going on in the camp.
M Half-Elf CORE Rog 1 | HP 11/11 | AC 18 (T15, FF 13, CMD 19) | F +2 R +7 W +2 | Mv 30' | Per +9 (+10 vs traps), low-light vision | Init +5
Which way is the wind blowing? Brathas wants to sneak around the downwind side of the camp so the hyenas don't pick up his scent. Once I know that I can place him on the map.
M Half-Elf CORE Rog 1 | HP 11/11 | AC 18 (T15, FF 13, CMD 19) | F +2 R +7 W +2 | Mv 30' | Per +9 (+10 vs traps), low-light vision | Init +5
Okay, Brathas will make a wide loop around the camp and then come up on the southeast corner. He wants to lure the gnolls away from the prisoner cage.
He knows that even Invisible, enemies can see his footprints or hear him, so he does his best to be Stealthy. His Stealth is +7 (plus any bonus for being invisible), and I think you prefer to roll that in secret?
Best spot for Oil of Smoldering should be the hyena pen. About 20 seconds after the camels start fleeing. Not only should that slow the hyenas down, it should be in between the active gnolls (who are going to the SE corner to see what's up with the camels) and the prisoners.
How big a cloud does it make? Want to catch the hyena pen, not the prisoner pen.
Of course this is subject to change at Zynazyr's discretion based on what he sees.
Since I can't move while controlling the spirit, I was thinking of staying on the bottom tier of the pyramid. Would I be able to control the spirit well enough from that distance or do I need to change my plan?
Since I can't move while controlling the spirit, I was thinking of staying on the bottom tier of the pyramid. Would I be able to control the spirit well enough from that distance or do I need to change my plan?
Brathas' plan was that you would conjure a Servant Spirit. You don't have to concentrate on it; you just tell it what to do and off it goes (you can control it directly but it's not necessary). It's the Warrior Spirit that requires concentration. The Servant Spirit is a lot more flexible in what it can do but it is very weak in combat. Kind of like unseen servant except it is visible.
It's worth mentioning that if you are quick you can probably come out of the hole and dart off the east side of the stairs and remain unseen, but it is broad daylight and if you walk openly down the stairs they will see you for sure.
I am assuming that the people aside from Brathas are hiding out of sight and will climb out of the hole when they hear trouble? Or are hiding on the east side of the stairs out of sight? You guys will have to decide when you come out of hiding.
Brathas circles around and quietly approaches from the south. At the same time, Zynazyr conjures a servant spirit, gives it the flask of oil of smouldering, and sends it towards the hyaena pen. The camels nearby grunt and snort uneasily, clearly becoming aware of Brathas' presence, though they cannot see him.
As the spirit approaches, Brathas hears shouts in the guttural barking tongue of the gnolls. The spirit has been spotted coming down the steps! One of the gnolls to the north releases his Hyaena which races towards the spirit.
1d4 ⇒ 1 Hyaena:17 - 1d20 ⇒ 17 - (13) = 41d8 ⇒ 2
The hyaena clamps its jaws around the spirit's neck! The spirit quivers a moment and then dissolves in a wash of ectoplasm, dropping the flask onto the sand.
The other gnolls come up to the spot, looking at the spot where the spirit once was. One of them picks up the flask and sniffs at it.
Brathas, you're up! The spirit has failed, but the guards are now mostly paying attention to the north side of the camp, which means they are more distracted than before. Most of the sentries have shifted north. The one immediately to your west hasn't, but he is looking north trying to see what is going on.
TACTICAL MAP UPDATED.The spirit is dead but I left a little icon on the map so you can see where he was.
Male Dwarven Axe-man (Level 3) hp 22/37 || AC 1 || F11 A15 C12 D11 H6 W8 || THAC0 17 || Mv 20' || Infravision 60
Ducking his head back Ferrous utters a few quiet dwarven curses. Empty tankards. Well a plan well laid but poorly executed is still a plan. Spirit didn't make it. There is no cover for Brathas and his return with the prisoners. Does anyone have anything that could break that flask that's better than my crossbow bolt?
M Half-Elf CORE Rog 1 | HP 11/11 | AC 18 (T15, FF 13, CMD 19) | F +2 R +7 W +2 | Mv 30' | Per +9 (+10 vs traps), low-light vision | Init +5
Brathas moves up a bit and starts quietly untying the two camels on the east edge, reaching over the low wall. That way, if they get free and start wandering off, they don't trample him.
It's broad daylight in a hot desert so infravision probably can't pick him up. He is aware that he makes footprints in the sand so will try to walk carefully, using Stealth and taking advantage of the gnolls' distraction.
Concerned that the plan is already unraveling, Zynazyr shakes his head at Ferrous' question. "Not from this distance. If Brathas can free the animals, maybe the guards will move to investigate and we can recover the flask and still use it to help cover the escape"
Untying the camels proves to be pretty easy as they are not strongly secured; just tied down to keep them from wandering.
Infravision won't be of any help to the gnolls, not only because it is hot out but also because there is light. Infravision only works in darkness.
The only thing that has a decent chance of breaking the flask of oil at this distance is a magic missile spell. Even if one of you guys takes a shot with a ranged weapon, you are 200' away and it is a very small target.
The camels seem indifferent to whether they are tied up or not, and Brathas continues to untie them. The gnolls to the north continue to argue at the spot where the spirit died, and the other gnolls on the north side of camp continue to move towards them.
The range bands for an ordinary thrown object are 10'/30'/50'.
M Half-Elf CORE Rog 1 | HP 11/11 | AC 18 (T15, FF 13, CMD 19) | F +2 R +7 W +2 | Mv 30' | Per +9 (+10 vs traps), low-light vision | Init +5
Brathas debates a few ways to get the camels to start moving.
I don't think this stampede plan, or even the 'wandering off' plan, is going to work. Will have to break invisibility one way or the other, and those hyenas are going to smell me.
He moves west and throws the Oil of Volatility at the red box (this is 10' wide and 15' long, along the axis of the throw, as the item description says), using the Ring of Sparks to ignite it as he throws.
Showtime!
Ranged Attack, Medium Range (central point):15 - 1d20 ⇒ 15 - (7) = 8 Should be good enough to hit the intended area.
Male Human Fighter 3 hp 16/17, 2NL || AC -1 || F11 A15 C15 D10 H12 W12 || Mv 15'
Come on, lets go... the plan isn't work He gets ready to come out of the hole onto the stairs I'm going to make a scene... get ready with that scepter.. so that Brathas can deal with the slaves
Fire:1d8 ⇒ 6 Save 1 13:1d20 ⇒ 20 Save 2 13:1d20 ⇒ 6 Save 3 13:1d20 ⇒ 7 Save 4 13:1d20 ⇒ 12 Save 5 12:1d20 ⇒ 11 Save 6 12:1d20 ⇒ 3
The flask bursts, spewing flame all over the hyaena pen. The hyaenas begin to screech and howl; the sound reaches even the ears of the group at the pyramid above. Shouting can be heard from the tents. Brathas' invisibility shimmers and wears off.
Well, the camp is definitely roused. Only one of the hyaenas made their save against the flask. The ones with the numbers are the ones that burned, and they are also on fire. They will burn again at the end of round 1.
Initiative to follow next post. Turns out I don't have all my stuff with me so I will need to wait until I get home.
Male Dwarven Axe-man (Level 3) hp 22/37 || AC 1 || F11 A15 C12 D11 H6 W8 || THAC0 17 || Mv 20' || Infravision 60
I am with you Fistep. When you charge I will consider it an honor to be at your side.
The dwarf looks up at his human companion with a face showing deep respect. He runs a hand through his long flowing beard and then grabs his shield and tightens his grip on his axe.
Okay, I figured out how I'm going to run this... Gnolls and hyaenas will be in initiative "groups." These groups are indicated by their border colours. Slaves and camels will simply go last.
Round 1 I'm going to put all the party at the same time; some people got better rolls than Brathas but until you are in range to actually do anything it will speed things up to keep the party on the same initiative.
As the hyaenas scream and wail, the gnoll standing in front of the tent that Brathas is next to runs over, and, unsure what to do, starts scooping up sand from the ground and throwing it on the closest burning hyaena. It doesn't look like it is helping very much.
The slaves begin to wake and shout, though it seems that most of them are speaking a language Brathas doesn't speak, though he thinks he has heard it in portside taverns back in civilization.
The camels begin to grunt in fear and start getting up. It looks like those who can may bolt.
A young gnoll runs out of the central tent over to the gnoll shoveling sand, and starts shouting in Gnollish. It doesn't look like he knows what to do. Several other gnolls emerge from tents, looking around, trying to figure out what is going on. One of the young gnoll sentries on the west side tries to run towards the fire but has to climb through the camels who are in his way.
Two of the burning hyaenas, though still tied up, frantically scramble over the fence, trying to get away from the burning oil.
None of the enemies have spotted Brathas yet, lurking in the lee of the tent. But Brathas doesn't think that will last long if he stays where he is.
Everyone is up. Those of you hiding at the pyramid: your first action has to be to climb out of the hole and outside, unless you want to do something while out of LOS of the gnolls. FYI you can descend the stairs at normal speed but going up will cost double movement.
This fight will likely take a long time. I have 60+ enemies to keep track of, so please be patient.
M Half-Elf CORE Rog 1 | HP 11/11 | AC 18 (T15, FF 13, CMD 19) | F +2 R +7 W +2 | Mv 30' | Per +9 (+10 vs traps), low-light vision | Init +5
His spell from Zynazyr worn off, Brathas now drinks his Potion of Invisibility and moves away from the burning hyenas. He has to wait for the gnolls to be elsewhere before trying to free the prisoners. He'll be alert for gnoll movements so none of them bump into him as he hides in the lee of another tent.
Zynazyr frowns when he sees the fire start. "I suspect Brathas is either in trouble or trying to create a diversion. Either way, we will need to get closer to help him. Let's see if we can split the gnolls up."
Cantrip:1d6 ⇒ 3
He says a few words and motions towards the opening and creates a puff of smoke just outside. He then steps through the smoke, waving his arms frantically. Pointing at the camp, he laughs loudly, trying to give the impression that he set the fire.
Brathas turns invisible again, and pulls back behind another tent. Meanwhile, the rest of the group emerges from the tunnel but does not proceed down the stairs.
Mayhem erupts in the camp. More gnolls pour out of the tents, many poking their heads out and standing in shock as they see the conflagration at the hyaena pen. Others dart back inside to grab their gear.
Some gnolls emerge from the central two tents; the ones from the larger tents have hyaenas with them on leashes and seem to be better equipped than most gnolls (these are the purple ones). Three other gnolls emerge from the smaller of the two central tents, and these gnolls are adorned with fetishes made from bones, feathers, furs, and who knows what else (these are the blue ones).
The slaves wake up and begin shouting, adding to the confusion, while the camels that have been untiled begin to flee in panic. Those that remain tied are now struggling trying to get free so they can escape the fire.
Fire:
1d8 ⇒ 4
FYI: The gnolls that appear on the squares within the tents have emerged to look around, and then went back into their tents. You believe there are probably still gnolls you have not yet seen in some of the tents.
Those on the Pyramid are about 200' off the tactical map. You can move down the stairs at normal speed but going back up will be at half speed. FYI The maximum range of a longbow or light crossbow is 210 feet. A shortbow can hit out to 150 feet.
Ana: the wand of paralysis affects enemies in a 60' long cone (30' wide at the end), so you are well out of range and need to get much closer to use it.
M Half-Elf CORE Rog 1 | HP 11/11 | AC 18 (T15, FF 13, CMD 19) | F +2 R +7 W +2 | Mv 30' | Per +9 (+10 vs traps), low-light vision | Init +5
Brathas sees he can't get to the prisoners just yet, so he slips around to the south, hiding in the corner formed by a couple of walls. He doesn't want any gnolls bumping into him as they are checking out the blaze.
Those on the Pyramid: I am including an indication of how far you are off the map in the initiative count. Remember that if you do nothing but move on your turn you can move 3x your normal move. Ana's move is 15' so she moved 45' down the stairs.
Seeing how slowly his armored companions are moving, Zynazyr decides to try to draw the gnolls towards them. He moves ahead of the group, hoping the gnolls can't get to him before the rest of the party catches up. When he reaches the bottom tier, he moves off the stairs to the west. "Maybe a few arrows will get their attention," he thinks to himself. Move 120'. I put a yellow circle where I think I can get to. Adjust as needed.
The party begins running down the stairs. Zynazyr, not wearing armor, gets the furthest, while the others try to keep up.
Gnolls continue emerge from tents, while others dart back in to the tents to get their gear. More "boss" gnolls and "shaman" gnolls emerge from the central tents. There is a lot of shouting in the central square, and it looks like an argument is brewing, but Brathas cannot understand their vile language.
The hyaenas have stopped burning though bits of flame still flicker on small pools of burning oil on the ground. They hyaenas continue to howl in pain, however.
Some of the gnolls break off to chase the fleeing camels, though the pursuit is not very organized. Other camels break loose and flee the site of the fire.
Ana and Ferrous are up. Those who are not up can post an action if they want; if it is something that would be invalidated by what the gnolls do I will allow retcons.
Those on the Pyramid: I am including an indication of how far you are off the map in the initiative count. Remember that if you do nothing but move on your turn you can move 3x your normal move.
