DM Dr Evil's Curse of the Crimson Throne

Game Master DM DoctorEvil

Tina hands Crux a drink to have with his meal.

DC 14 I believe or go sleepies.

Fort: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
I won't be there because I'll be busy resting.

Trinia pouts a little sighing deeply, but she recognizes the good sense of the message. As Crux drops off to sleep, she decides to also turn in early, as there is still a long ride in the morning.

Tina was just annoyed at Crux being callous with Trinia.

I try to play his 8 cha without being too obnoxious about it. So no worries.

Travigan watches the guards depart beside Marnos and mutters, "Let's hope they're not comin' back in numbers later."

As the evening advances, the blacksmith agrees to have food up brought up to the room. He shifts and fidgets uncomfortably for the whole of the evening, obviously uncomfortable with their proximity to Korvosa still and the number of eyes about. "Sooner we've put this place behind us the better. I don't like all this sneakin' around."

Marnos nods at the sleeping Crux,
"Not a good idea if we have to move fast. He may be a pain, but he's handy in a fight."

Tina will arrange watches with the others and drop off to sleep when she is able to.

Even though the careful travelers keep watch throughout the night, it passes uneventfully, and they awake refreshed in the comfortable beds of the mid-way Inn.

The next morning the group sets out for Harse, which is a rich farm and ranch land on the edge of the territory controlled by the city of Korvosa. Harse, on the wild frontier with the rest of Varisia is known for having orc and goblin raids from time to time, and the folks there are a hardy, hard-living sort. The area is controlled by a few large farmer/ranchers, and one of those, a man named Diego Seguin is where you are headed with the most-wanted woman in Korvosa.

AFter a long day's ride, you spy the wooden walls of the town of Harse on the horizon. The farm and ranch lands stretch around you in all directions, with walled compounds dotting the landscape here and there -- the homes of well-to-do ranchers and protection from humanoid raids.

Coming around the bend in the road, you see a oxcart filled with hay pulled off on the side of the track, canted to one side with a broken wheel. An elderly man in a leather jerkin waves to you asking for help.

Wary of an ambush, Marnos scans the area looking for anomalies,

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22

A groggy Crux trudges along with the group to Harse.

Tina looks at the farmer, checking for any signs that he might not be what he seems
Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

Travigan stiffens as the others shift uncomfortably at the sight of the upturned cart. With a grumble and a frown, the burly blacksmith slips free from their wagon as it slows. "Stop here. If'n it is trouble, there's little sense in driving the wagon right inta th' middle o' it. An' if it's not, a little walk will do these legs some good."

Shaking his head as he turns from the group, Travigan begins to tromp toward the older man by the cart, waving his own meaty hand as he calls out, "Ho, there! Looks like ye've had some trouble!"

As Travigan dismounts and heads over to see exactly what the trouble is, Marnos and Tina stand by observantly, while Crux still seems to nod off to sleep.

Watching carefully as he does, Marnos sees something move underneath the hay load in the broken-down cart. Not a big move, mind you but enough to raise suspicion.

At about the same instant, Tina notices the old man's moustache and beard seem to come unpeeled from the side of his face. He quickly reaches up and presses them back into place, feigning an itch on the side of his head. Enough for Tina to tell the man is poorly disguised.

WHOOP! WHOOP! GIANT ENEMY AMBUSH APPROACHING!

"There's something under the hay!" Marnos calls out and readies his bow

Crux struggles to clear his drowsy mind so that he can better react to the ambush.

Travigan stops in his tracks at Marnos' and Tina's call, his brow furrowing as he scrutinizes the cart for a moment. That moment is all it really takes for the blacksmith to lose his temper though and he charges forward with an angry bellow. "YOU ROTTEN SCUM HAVE KICKED THE WRONG HORNET'S NEST, YE MISERABLE, MUDSUCKIN' GOBLINHUMPIN' @$#%BAGS!" As he rushes the false old man, his heavy mattock swings free from its leather loop as his tirade continues to build.

Marnos raises his bow, and let's an arrow do his talking for him.

Initiative: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10drops to 8 on subsequent turns

arrow attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24 +1 if within 30'. Will aim at the faux old man - hoping to steal Travigan's thunder, lol

arrow damage if hits: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7 again, +1 if within 30'

If you do steal my thunder, Marnos, I'mma try and flip this cart over before these chuckers can get out of it!

Makes sense. Even I couldn't do that with an arrow

Init: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

Roadside Ambush - Round 1

19 Crux
18 Old Man
18 Bandit 2
14 Tina
14 Bandit 1
10 Marnos
5 Travigan

Based on initiative Crux is up first as the ruse is quickly seen through and the trap is sprung.

Wanting only to rest, Crux is in the right frame of mind to cast Sleep (DC 16) at the bandits.

Tina waits for an opening to throw her bomb

Roadside Ambush - Round 1 - continued

Crux begins casting a spell that purports to put the bandit enemies to sleep. The spell is a little longer in firing than usual.

The man dressed in an old man costume sees things go bad. He steps back from the nearby Travigan and reaches into the cart, drawing out a stylized rapier which he brandishes with a flourish. "If you won't go easily, then we will do this the hard way."

Cudgel in hand, Bandit 2 steps around the cart and swings at the unaware blacksmith, hammering him hard for 10 hp.

Bandit 2 club: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Dmg, Travigan, sneak: 1d6 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (2) + 2 + (4, 2) = 10

Tina is up against the bandits.

HP 31/31
AC 20/T14/FF16
Saves F6R7W1
Current Effects:
8/8 bombs

Tina moves so she is one square NW of Travigan and hurls explosive death at the bandanna wearing thug one square east of the cart
Fire,Touch: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 152d6 + 4 ⇒ (3, 6) + 4 = 13

Dang! I didn't realize Sleep was a full round casting time. I might haave done something else if I had.

Then you need to wake up!

Don't worry about me, Crux; Travigan's half-elfiness makes him immune to sleep. And sleeping would-be ambushers are easier to splatter than awake ones, so I'm totally ok with you carrying through on that sweet, sweet lullaby-action.

Roadside Ambush - Round 1 - continued

Tina rushes to the side of the wounded Travigan and lobs one of her explosive concoctions at Red Bandit. Neatly landing the bomb behind the cart and on top of the bandit, Tina smiles as the man is engulfed in her explosion.

More than a bit wounded, Red Bandit leans against the cart and reaches for his small potion vial, downing the contents quickly, as he tries to stay in the action.

Red Bandit CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Marnos and Travigan up to end the round

Marnos shoots at the old man again.

adding +1 to hit and damage for being within 30'

Longbow: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 1 = 13

Damage if hits: 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 1 = 8

Travigan shoots a blood-chilling glare at the would-be bandit who stabbed him then takes a quick steps toward the older man and swings his hammer with a furious roar. "I am gonna pound yer sorry arse inta PULP!"

Intimidating Glare: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (4) + 18 = 22 vs 10 + Target's HD + Target's Wis Mod; success = Target shaken for 1d4 rounds (+1 rd for every 5 over DC)

Earthbreaker: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14for: 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (2, 3) + 9 = 14

Swift: Controlled rage
Move: intimidating glare
Free: 5-foot step
Standard: Hammer swing

Roadside Ambush - Round 1 - concluded

Marnos glances off the old man's clothing which appears to hide some fine leather armor underneath.

Travigan though gets right in the old man's face, intimidating with his fiery affect, but even though the man is shaken, he still avoids the powerful hammer blow from the blacksmith.

End of Round 1

Roadside Ambush - Round 2 - concluded

19 Crux (casting)
18 Old Man (shaken)
18 White Bandit
14 Tina
14 Red Bandit (10hp dmg)
10 Marnos
5 Travigan

The spell from Crux finally triggers causing all of the enemy belligerents to become sleepy. Slowly, and with great big yawns, all the bandits drop their weapons, then fall to the ground sound asleep.

End of Combat

Old Man DC 16 Will, shaken: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (5) - 2 = 3
Red Thug DC 16 Will: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10
White Thug DC 16 Will: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

"Please bind them so they can be questioned."

"HA!" Travigan shoots Crux an affirming nod before glancing from his hammer to the collapsed man beside him.

"If it's not that scumbag Lamm it's mudsuckers like these."

Is there any kind of town guard or jail or some such in this settlement we're headed to? Would we expect there to be one at least? That'll influence Travigan favoring the lawful thing to do (turn the fools over) vs his desire to do the pragmatic thing (off 'em!)

Tina helps tie them up.

Tina moves diligently to tie up the fallen bandits. She knots the rope extra hard on the man who was in disguise and setting the trap.

The man has a very nice rapier and leather armor under his disguise. The two more thuggish sorts have homemade clubs and chain shirts. None of the stuff appears magical. The wagonload of hay and associated dray horse still stand on the roadside.

Within sight distance of Harse, you would fully expect to find a sheriff or outpost of Korvosan Guard in a town that size that sits right on the border with the wilderness.

Marnos will search the wagons, etc.

Tina keeps an eye on the nasties.

Stuffed under the hay, Marnos finds a waterproof bag with a drawstring at the top. Uncinching the knot and opening the bag, the inquisitor finds a small stash of loot like taken from previous victims of the roadside bandits.
- a silver holy symbol of Torag (a small hammer)
- 2 matching lapis lazuli bracelets
- a gold locket
- a pewter mug with a family crest on it
- assorted coins worth about 150gp in all

Forgot to mention that defeating the bandits resulted in a gain of 350xp per player. That moves the cumulative total to 7253/10000 or about 31% to level 5. Are you planning on keeping the loot, or turning in with the prisoners?

"Do to our particular circumstance, I would advise against turning these brigands into the authorities. I suggest we 'dispense justice' to them and be on our way."

Let us examine the area first, if there have been victims, them I am fine with having them meet the same fate. If not, turning them in is better.

"Ye mean bodies, lass? Ye're wantin' ta see if there's bodies?" Travigan frowns and rakes his thick fingers through his beard, scratching his chin. As his anger cools, the blacksmith stares at the bound would-be bandits for a long minute as he considers Crux's suggestion.

Eventually, he offers, "I dunno, Crux. Wi' these fools tied up like hogs? Killin's... it's different like this. How about Marnos an' I take these trussed up mudsuckers inta town usin' their own dumb wagon and turn 'em over. The rest o' you can make for wherever it is our wealthy friend expects us to go. We can meet up again after Marnos an' I have made the deliv'ry." He looks up then, his eyes meeting and holding everyone else's in turn. "How's that sound?"

Marnos shrugs.
As good a plan as any. Besides, I would like to know where the Sherriff is to have allowed bandits free reign within sight of the town. He thinks to himself.

That sounds fine to me.

"That sounds like you have lost sight of our mission." Crux responds to Travigan. "I would also like to point out that I never said to kill them, though they deserve nothing less. We can pummel them and leave them trussed up as we continue on our mission to save a certain woman's life. However, I will not stop you if you wish to be so uncommitted to your word and turn these hooligans in for the bounty."

How about a drink Crux?

DC 14

Crux looks from the offered beverage to Tina. "That is disappointing. He says. He then goes over to stand next to Trinia, "I would continue to guard our charge rather than leave her unguarded or lead her into the dragon's den."