Conquering the Stolen Lands (Inactive)

Game Master dunebugg

Forcing gameplay forwards to the next morning; it is now 2 days after the bandit attack.

Svetlana returns to the guest house to clean up another delicious breakfast enjoyed thoroughly by all (including Gordon, who Svetlana actually seems to not mind having around.) As she's cleaning, she turns to the party and inquires "Are you all heading out today? The horses in the stables seem to have finally gotten over being spooked by the fire. The bandits left 5 war-trained horses for those of you who want one. I know Amoonrann loves her horse far too much to "trade up"," she says with a smile in the tieflings direction.

If the party is leaving right away, Gordon agrees to stay behind and do what he can to help around the fort. Svetlana and Oleg wish the group luck on their campaign to settle the area, and let them know they always have a warm meal and bed waiting for them should they ever need it.

"I would love a wartrained mount. I can leave you Bella in its place. It's not an even trade, but she's a good horse. Thank you Svetlana for everything you've done." Her smile is heartfelt as she embraces the woman. Turning to the others Grendolynn says, "Lets head out, we've already wasted enough time."

"Thank you both for your hospitality, I hope we'll all see each other soon. I would like to borrow a wartrained mount and leave Crestor here until we return." Roga says while shaking their hands. He walks over to one of the bandit horses inspects it and starts to saddle it.

"Eh a horse, perfect! I've been walking here and there with my feet, a horse would be nice."

Elros thank Svetlana and went over to the one that seems the calmest.

"I'll take this one. What do you think Jimmy?"

Elros seems to be talking to his hawk that are resting on his shoulder.

Yeah I've changed my familiar, since I didn't realise initiative would not be efficient unless we all take it. So my Compsognathus magically turn into a hawk after I felt unconscious =p

Just so I understand it, Day one arrive at Oleg's, Day two, bandits at dawn, Day three, rest and skip, Day four, Dawn now. Are we assuming that everyone is healed up then or should I roll for day three healing?

"No need Elros, we're all in this togther, just cast your best spells at the bad guys. Ha!" Stellan smiles.

Stellan comes out dressed in blue-dyed buckskins, the cold-weather gear left behind.

"That's very kind of you Svetlana, I'm not sure though if I can handle a warhorse. Those of you with some experience, what do you think?" Stellan will take a warhorse only if a real rider/handler reassures him it would be for the best, if so he takes the next calmest.

Edit:cancel this line... not proficent.
"Amoonrann, mind if I take one of the shortswords, you gleaned? If I throw my shortspear, I'd like to have a better backup than a dagger."
Edit cancel above line ... not proficent.

"Just hope the bandits don't have a hidden scout out there, and ride in after we leave. I guess we are going to where the camp is or at least was?"Stellan grumbles, worried about everything. "Have any suggestions as to how we can avoid being ambushed? If I understood the count right, we face anywhere from seven to ten bandits, that are expecting trouble."

Stellan picks Vinur up and places him on the chosen horse. He mounts and rides with the others.

You can assume that everybody is back to full health.
I need to know where the party is headed, and we can start the main part of the adventure path: hexploration!!

"You're half right Stellan, warhorses are normally feisty creatures, but it would actually be easier for you to control one of them in combat than a normal trained riding horse. You'll however not be able to use it to its fullest potential." Roga answers the question.

Grendoylnn will attempt to track the bandits SW toward their camp.

Survival (Track)1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

Well. Think we'll be able to find them. :)

Triaxus makes sure the few things he'd unpacked are securely stowed away before heading out to meet the others at the stable. At the offer of one of the bandit's mounts, he considers it, but allows sentimentality to rule the day. "Thank you for the offer, Svetlana, but Aballon was a gift from a good friend; I'd feel as if wronging him to leave him behind." He pulls himself up into the saddle, taking a moment to try and feel comfortable, before following Grendolynn out of the gate to assist her in tracking the bandit's trail.

Tracking (Survival+1): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

I'm more than willing to take the composite bow that Happs dropped, unless someone else wished to put a claim on it.

Alrighty then...I'll roll a Handle Animal check to train Arathiul for the day we missed: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13 also, depending on when we're leaving, I'm rolling a second Handle Animal check for this actual day of play...1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10...for whatever its worth, I think it takes 3 weeks in game to train a mount from riding to combat trained and I'm assuming I roll every day to see if that 'session's' training was successful.

The Tiefling came out of the stable with Arathiul in tow and wearing her clothes in such a way that she looked like a Half-Elf again. She figured it was a wise idea because while the group didn't seem to have issues with her heritage, she couldn't promise others would be quite as accepting of her demon-tainted blood. She overheard bits and pieces of the conversations here, and there, but was otherwise more focused on getting ready to head out.

In all honesty, she was looking forward to heading out of the fortress. Not because she was really looking for justice or to save Olegg and that far too pleasant woman from some dark terrible fate. Indeed, she couldn't really care less about them, despite their obvious generosity concerning pretty much everything. She was keen, however, to be in the wilds again: in nature, where she belonged. Playing games of hunter and prey...

A memory suddenly flashed before Amoonrann's eyes; she was running through the forests back home, playing with her brothers. She was laughing in that way that only siblings can laugh with one another, as though the laughter itself is a language known only to her, and her brothers. She bit her lip, and clenched her fist, closing her eyes for a moment as she remembered that she alone knew what was said in their laughter; their secret language. But even now, it seemed like she was forgetting how to speak it.

The memory had lasted only a moment, but a moment too long. She wanted to forget this ache in her heart, this overwhelming emptiness she felt over the loss of her brothers. But such was not her fate. No, instead, she was to be pursued by unknown assassins paid to kill her for some idiotic reason or another. The whole thing becomes a vicious circle: the anxiety of being hunted recalls the memories which leads to anxiety, which leads to memories, and so on.

And then, as quickly as it came on, Amoonrann regained her composure. She released her lip, relaxed her fist, and opened her eyes. Thinking about it no more, she hoisted herself upon Arathiul with practiced ease.

"Once more unto the breach, dear friend," Amoonrann cooed into Arathiul's ear, stroking the side of his neck as she spoke. Waiting on the others to decide when this voyage of the damned was to commence.

Disguise Check on looking like a Half-Elf:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
I f!*&ing hate these dice...3 dice rolls and the highest is a 10? Know what the odds are on that?

Is Roga saying that to get me killed or ... no I don't think he's that duplicitous. After a second of doubt in Stellan's eye, he takes Roga's statement at face value and says, "Then I graciously accept this mount, please take good care of Hjarta. my horse, she's more a brood mare than a working beast. I'll reclaim her when things are more settled. Thanks you."

Image of how Stellan currently looks.

Survival 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9 Assisting with tracking, avoiding trouble, checking weather, travelling in general.

Perception1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10 Spot it before it spots us, whatever "it" is.

Standard spell selection

Revised due to typo dice roller went nuts. Rerolled correctly.

Stellan is not off to a good start!

Idle Chatter - Guest House

"Well, I guess you, in a weird way. When you mentioned your background, well, I always kinda thought of the ice witches of the north as this incredible force. You know, plant-life crumbling to frost, a chilling fog, waterskins freezing to solid rock as they passed, implacable stares, that sort of thing. Yet what I've seen is you mostly pottering around as a hospitaller, and you're one of the most open among us." He pauses for a moment to dig a dark colored scarf from his pack and ties it around his hair before continuing. "It's like when you were a kid, finding out the neighbor's 'worg guard-dog' is really just a mutt. A relief, but still kind of a let down."

Something I need to know before you begin to travel: whether you are simply passing through a hex, or attempting to explore + chart it.

Idle chatter - Guest House.

Stellan laughs, "Well I hate to disappoint! I suppose winter witches are people... though I was told not to not 'pay bards to sing of my witchery'; some would believe I would do ill just because I can. As though any man can't do ill if they choose."

"I would not say mother was extremely good-hearted, not like Da who married a mysterious stranger with a baby in arms. But she did not do ill to any in our little stead. I do remember one raid where the Bloodworm Clan of the White Tigers broke through the palisade. She stopped healing the warriors then, well, she gave an implacable stare. The largest Orc I've ever seen froze and I mean encased in ice froze. Then she cast on his clan-mates and ice and snow pelted them till they died. Da went to her, they spoke softly and she seemed better about it. But for a moment she was really scary. But in all the years she taught me, she never told me to do any wrong with my skills and Da always said that I should do what's right in Erastil's eyes."

Stellan is now deeply sad. "I miss him so much..."

Passing through I'd think until the bandits are caught, what say ya'all.

Following the tracks, we can explore later. Unless I'm massively out voted.

Brilliant, I just about forgot how Stellan looks, then he stares right back into my soul again. =p

@exploring vs following tracks, I believe we are going to exterminate the bandits first, before we start off our exploration, so yeah what Gren wants.

Could I please assume that the horse I rode is Gordon's horse and he called it Rufus Maxwell

As Elros walks out with with the once bandit horse given to him by Svetlana, he encountered Gordon.

Gordon begins with greeting Elros and when he saw that Elros is taking the horse with him, he hesitated in persuading Elros to choose another, but rather told Elros that the horse's name is Rufus, Rufus Maxwell. He says that the horse's been a great companion and asked Elros to take good care of it. Elros promised, and followed Grendolynn as she tracks the path back to the bandit camp.

Thirding the vote for bandits first, exploration on the return trip.

Idle Chatter - Guesthouse

Triaxus winces slightly as Stellan's cheerful demeanor fades, and after a moment's hesitation, stands from his bed and walks over to put a hand on the other man's shoulder. "I'm sorry Stellan, truly. Even with all the good they may leave, it's never easy to lose someone like that. If it's of comfort, I know he must have been a good man. It shows." Not wanting to risk further rubbing the wound, Triaxus then returns to his bunk, idly fiddling with his scarf as he goes.

First of all, I'm also gonna toss up the rolls for survival to track the bandits 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15; and a Perception to spot anything that needs spotting 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26.
Next

The party departs Olegs Trading Post with their new horses, some leaving a few close friends behind. The party tracks the bandit trail through one Forested hex in the South-west direction. 8 hours of travel will bring you to the second Forested hex in the SW direction from Olegs, but the bandits trail is getting hard to follow, even for seasoned trackers. A day of exploration will be needed to locate the bandit encampment. You can continue to search throughout the evening, but you will need to finish in the morning.

The night passes uneventfully, save for the distant howling of wolves. I'm assuming that the party is setting out guards, and using a small or no fire.

Close to supper time the following day, you can hear the voices of a few people through the trees. However they are too far off to make out what they are saying.

Perception 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (9) + 0 = 9

Completely focused on the voices Roga shuts his eyes, trying to discern what is being said. After a few moments he whispers: "I think we're approching someone, but I can't make out what they're saying."

Cocking his head to the side, Triaxus tries to pick out the sounds Roga's hearing.
If Favored Enemy bonuses apply, +2 to the result: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

"There's a few bandits through the trees up ahead. Look like they're on alert." he whispers.

Perception Check:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

With the sound coming from the trees, Elros could just about make out that there is indeed several bandit, and exactly as Triaxus said, are on guard. Elros whisper to the group.

"What should we do? Should we lure them out of the camp into a trap, or simply just charge in."

Elros then looked at Roga and still whispering,

"Sorry Roga, but I don't think persuading them would be effective here."

"Don't mean to inflict my melancholy on you. He was indeed a good man but we have tasks at hand." Stellan gets to them.

Perception1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

"Hear them too..." Stellan whispers and concentrates on what 's ahead.

"Yes, three I think, maybe more about, lots of trees in the way, looks like a wagon across a stream. They look ready to fight, not run to me."

Stellan goes beside Triaxus, "Do you think it worth the risk to try scouting more closely or make entry right here? There should be more about if what Gordon said was true."

Perception 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Grendolynn points upward and says quietly, "There are two more up there in the trees. This is our chance to set up the ambush I talked about, doesn't look like they spotted us yet. We can back off a little ways, get hidden and lay down a couple traps and then I can circle around and ride through their camp drawing them into the ambush."

Can we please get some more specific descriptions and numbers? How many, for example, is "a few?" Also, is this a large campsite -- as in, big enough to be the main one we're looking for -- or is this somewhat small -- like something a scouting party or whatever would use? I'm getting the sense its the smaller one...but everyone else seems to think this is the main bandit campsite.
Perception:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29 I may as well get that roll outta the way but my actual response will come when you answer my questions.

"Lookouts, you say?" Triaxus asks quietly, drawing his newly acquired bow and looking up into the branches. "Trap sounds good, I can't really make out how many bandits there are through the trees."

"Shame we all aren't as equipped for night-fighting as Grendolynn, Amoonrann and myself. We could just wait a few hours and knock out their fire. Easy pickings. Oh well, can't have everything handed to you I guess."

Triaxus has the right of it - you are too far to determine definite numbers. The campsite is for sure the one you are looking for. 5 bandits can be seen through the trees, all male. If you want to get any closer I will need stealth checks.

Okay, and how big is the camp? How far away are we from the camp? How far away are the towers from the camp? Which direction is the camp from us? Which direction are the towers from us? What're the towers made of? Is the camp on a road? In a clearing with a river running through it? Are there obvious avenues to approach from or is it just surrounded by trees? Is the campsite just a fire pit, some tents, and the wagon across the water or is it fortified somehow?

What about the area we're in? Is it a clearing? A road? Are we bushwhacking our way along? Are there obvious avenues to approach from?

"There are other ways to lure them out," Amoonrann said finally as she surveyed the situation. "One or two of us could stay here making loud noises for them to investigate," Amoonrann suggested. Her eyes looked to the towers with the bandits keeping watch. "But those towers should be our biggest concern..." she trailed off, thinking for a moment before she perked up again, "burn them down."

"Either way I would prefer if we meet them on our terms this time." Roga says, while rubbing of of his still sore wounds. "Perhaps it would be best to follow Grendolynn's suggestion and lure them out of the camp, but I think you're right Amoonrann in that the towers are going to be trouble."

Are the towers actual structures, or it just a couple of deer stands up in the trees?

"I'm assuming you can do that at range, Amoonrann?" Triaxus asks. "Perhaps we don't need to fall back as far. Grendolynn, if you could set the traps not too far ahead of us, we could knock the watchmen out of their trees, which I dare say would gain the camp's attention. The bandit we captured told us that the leader prefers axes, so it likely the remainder would try to close with us, and that would cut any attempts at a charge." He shoots an apolegetic grin at Grendolynn. "It would also cut any need for a single person to go charging into the camp as a lure, which admittedly still has me concerned."

Stellan speaks quietly, "If we wish more information we may need to get closer. I could sneak ahead and learn but I should have someone with me that can sneak as well, in case something goes wrong. They all carry bows it appears, I suspect charging is not what they want to do. We might need to find a place where arrows are blocked by dense foliage before attracting their attention."

At Amoonrann's burning idea, Stellan starts, "Uhm, burning trees is not easy usually, I don't think there's been a drought around here and there is a stream nearby. And I'd like not to start a forest fire while I'm within miles of it. Or ever."

It appears Stellan's the tree-hugger of the group!

"Wish the bandits were more bunched up, I can see only one or two within a area of my casting. Hmm!"

Of the bandits I do see, how close do they get to each other, how close to the trees containing lookouts? Can I have several in one sleep spell?

"If you want to get closer Stellan..."

Elros took out a case from within his backpack and inside the case is a scroll. He took the scroll out and put the case back into his backpack.

"Unfortunately I didn't prepare a Vanish spell, on the bright side this scroll over here is a scroll of Vanish, I'll lend it to whoever's going to scout out the enemies, in case they are spotted they could use the scroll and it may buy him/her about... 6 seconds perhaps?"

Elros is ready to lend his scroll to whoever's going to scout.

"Alright, lets back off a ways and get set up. Then we can creep forward and take out the treetop sentries at range and draw them out of the camp that way, to lead them into the trap."

"I'm decently stealthy (+7), who else can keep hidden?"

Sorry for double post, just thought to ask.

"Lure them out? If they are aggressive that will work well, but what's the backup plan if the bandits decide to do something else?" Stellan frets again.

"Had to learn to avoid the critters in the Branthlend Mountains, so I'm OK at sneaking (+7)." Stellan says quietly.

"They're bandits, not highly trained soldiers. That man we spared back at Oleg's was barely more than a peasant. If we pop out of hiding and drop their lookouts, then sprint off into the woods I'm guessing at least a couple of the dumb ones will follow. And if they don't we haven't really lost anything." she whispers.
"Either they hole up in their camp, or they come out of the camp and get ambushed. What's the alternative? I'm not going to try to talk to them, look where that got you guys last time. If we mount a direct assault on their camp without taking out the lookouts we will be in a much worse position that if we had simply lost the element of surprise in an attempt to lead them into our ambush. They will only have seen two of us. We can then simply wait for nightfall and with the advantage of darkness, strike."

"I acknowledge that was a bad move to try to "convince" them to surrender. However I don't believe they are all evil. If someone could sneak in to find the leader, and assasinate or incapacitate her, what's her name again Kress something, Kressle? The female leader of the bandit wielding axes. I'm sure we could persuade the other to surrender, consider we just took out their leader."

Then thinking about what he suggested, he changed his mind,

"I guess it is up to the group, and luring the bandit out does seems to be the solution for the problem we're currently facing."

"I'm not hearing any real disagreement. Lets get to it." Grendloynn motions the others to back off and once they find a suitable location, sets up her traps. "Alright Stellan. I guess you catch the sentry and as many of the others as you can with your sleep spell. Lets go." She slinks off silently into the underbrush, a spear drawn.

Okay well, it seems like everyone is in agreement DM. We move back and find a spot suitable to ambush them as I diagrammed in the discussion thread. I will set the two bear traps a little ways into our ambush, I'll also set my once/day snare trap to string someone up to a tree. Then Stellan and I will stealth up to as close to the two tree sentries as possible, before taking a surprise attack on them. I'm just gonna include my rolls in this post.

Stealth to within 20' 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Attack w/ thrown spear 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Damage 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

"Are both sentries close enough for one spell to take them? I can put the spell so that everybody within 10' is affected - if the spell works on them."

If he can't get both sentries try for the nearest as to not get too close to the center of the camp. Otherwise exactly as Grenndolynn says.

Stealth 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

Perception1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

If Stellan does not find something that could change his targeting, go for sentry/sentries and as more as possible with is one sleep spell. He make sure he know where everyone is.

"Remember everyone, if you get hurt, I'll try to keep track but calling for help is good."

Stellan vanishes into the woods, his dark blue clothes blending into the shade cast by the trees.

After seeing both Grendolynn and Stellan almost disappearing before his eyes, he walks over to his hiding place waiting for the plan to take effect. He however manages to place himself in such a way that he is clearly viable.

Stealth check 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (1) - 3 = -2

Take 20

Stealth Check: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

Triaxus grimaced at Roga's poor positioning as he crouched behind some brush, longbow at the ready. 'Too late to call out now. Best keep him covered.'

Well if it is not to late I would like to take 10 or 20 :D

Hiding in the location discussed, Elros cast mage armor on himself, and wait for the next move.

Take 20 hiding, if possible.

Moony is gonna do much the same as everybody else. Hiding, waiting, etc...taking 20 for the hiding, if possible. Otherwise, 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Also, I'm assuming horsies are somewhere that is not here...

Also before casting the sleep spell, Stellan will cast his Mage Armor extended.