DM Olondir presents "It's Always Sunny in the Stolen Lands" - Chapter 1

Game Master Olondir

Once Valeska lifts the bar to open the barn door, Areanna will move inside. She will follow Valeska, bow at the ready, to the hatch that was being inspected. "Someone needs help. We need to hurry." If others are with her, Areanna will create light on her bow using a spell and descend into the darkness with the others.

Ravens will move out of the building and look around for another un-explored building.

"Syra!"

Taking a deep breath (he learnt his lesson from last time), Ravens will go to S15 and try the door there.

Ravens tries the door but it seems locked. There are no signs of life inside. The brick building once had windows but smoke is pouring out of them. A trickle of blood drips from the roof of this building.

Seeing the others go inside, Vishoon will follow

Valeska calls down, "We're coming!"

To everyone else in the barn, "Light, does anyone have light?"

Can Ravens see or hear Valeska?

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

Behind Ravens you see Ser Bregan command the three knights and the doors fling open into the barn where Syra and the rest of her party was seen entering a while ago. You aren't sure how this came to be but nonetheless the rest of your group is making their way inside.

Ravens will head over to the group.

To the leader of the group, Ravens will say, "Luck the Hero-Horse, I think I heard voices underground in one of those buildings. There might be a way down someplace around here."

Ravens pets Luck's neck as he looks in the barn.

Areanna is with Valeska and has cast light on her bow.

Holbrecht watches everyone rush into the empty barn, calling out names in a panic. He lifts an eyebrow when the last one in, stops and has a quick discussion, with a horse no less. After everyone rushes into the barn, he glances between the knights and what was said to be prisoners, and the group in the barn. His curiosity getting the better of him, he decides to follow them, turning only briefly to address the horse in case it matters, "Um, if you decide to try and open the door, aim for the knob, it should be the weak point.. do you understand?" he doesn't wait for the answer "I hope talking to a horse works... or I may just be following crazy people."

Vishoon, looks at the late comer to the barn, a dwarf? he looks familiar
"You're the dwarf that touches and breaks chairs. Good trick.. And you talk to horses too...useful trick that...you must teach me that one"
He looks looks around, sighs light? people screaming? any bandits will never know we are here now.
Shaking his head have these folks never hunted others before?
As he looks around waiting for the ambush

Map

Valeska and Areanna make their way down the stairs. You turn the corner down the stairs and find yourselves in a dark, empty room. Once this space was used for storage it has all be cleared out. A small pool of dried blood is in the corner of this room. A dozen or so muddy marks are leading to an iron portiuculus in the back. That is what that thing is in EF/89 Areanna's light spell only penetrates a little further past the porticulus. Another light source is seen in another damn stone room. You can see shadows and movement on the backwall but do not see what is causing it. A dog is snarling and barking coming from that location. Its noises are haunting as its barks echos off the walls.

Ravens will follow down the stairs on his turn, that is, if Leader Luck doesn't mind.

I have a new scythe, one Magic Stone, and lots of blood on my hands. I hope I can find Syra!

Ravens is amazed that this tunnel structure exists under the barn.

Nervously, Valeska pulls forth the bow she had found earlier, trembling as she cocked an arrow. She relied on her elven vision to see what might be snarling from the corner.

You hear the sounds of feet running on stone. Several sets of feet, it seems. You hear the sound of a dog barking and biting something and the yelp of man. The shadows are getting smaller as the sounds seem louder and more clear. As if closer. You make out clearly: "AHHH! I DON'T WANT TO DIE."

"Someone's in trouble! We need to move quickly!" Areanna will move forward quickly provided Raven and Valeska are close behind. "Come on."

"Someone's in trouble! We need to move quickly!" Areanna will move forward quickly provided Raven and Valeska are close behind. "Come on."

Wishing the brave Luck were there in front of him, Ravens tries to take the lead holding his scythe in front of him.

"Uhm, I'll 'protect' you."

I think. I'll try at least. I must find Syra!

Areanna and I have Low-Light Vision. The pool of blood in the corner is in dim light, but the rest of the room is like normal light for us. Is there anything more we see? Also Areanna should take a step forward. :)

Areanna is moving with Raven. Just waiting on the GM to tell us what we find. Thanks for reminding me about the low light thing though. I'm always forgetting those small rules.

The yellow light is the 20ft radius light from areanna's spell. The extra 20ft low-light vision is the gray. You could technically see further but the problem is that without any source of light any area further from the torch is darkness. The only lowlight vision you have is what extends from the torch and from whatever light sources are near the sounds. Is this correct? Naturally, if you move forward, the light would move with you and illuminate more. I was just waiting on Ser Bregan and the rest our mystery team to report before continuing.

You move forward in the stoney basement. Behind the portcullis is a roughly 10ft wide dark, damp corridor.

The dying sounds of a dog are heard from the corridor. Simultaneously you see a dashingly dressed man fly around the corner in a full sprint. "Help! Help! My name is Aldern! Don't let me die! Please!"

Holbrecht stammers quietly as he points his thumb over his shoulder at the horse "I wasn't... can't... the horse doesn't?.... the other guy just.." before turning and following Vishoon inside. Seeing that the excitement is down in the basement, he goes down the stairs. "Interesting, a series of tunnels, beneath a barn... I wonder what would compel... the craftmanship is a little lax... too basic a structure, the supports could be based better... Oh," he informs the ladies, "It appears someone is screaming for aid up ahead." He tries to adjust his dwarven eyes to see through the dim light of the spell, and let his eyes tell him what's going on down here. He can't seem to take his eyes from the poor quality of the stairs and hatch leading down.

Perception 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Vishoon seeing all the others go down, follows. Hearing a cry for help he tries to hurry down the steps but the dwarf is taking his good old time walking down likes he studying each step. Finally getting to the bottom, he looks in the direction he thought he heard the scream, and sees the portcullis down. Looking around he searches for the opening mechanism.
Perception 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

I'm sorry if the earlier statement came off as snide. I was merely saying that I was just being patient. There is no hurry.

Ah I spent 12 hours in my car on the freeway today!

Bregan follows the others down into the basement, his sword in one hand, and his shield in the other.

As he sees the man sprinting their direction, he will break his silence.

"Stop, there. You're not going to die."

Unless you're another bandit playing a trick... Bregan clutches the leather hilt of his sword tightly in anticipation.

No lever to raise the portcullis? If not on our side, he will add the following...

"If you see a winch, you'll need to turn it so we can assist you."

Valeska looked around. "Aldern? Do you know Gregan and Syra? And do you know how this portcullis works?"

She starts searching for any mechanism for the portcullis.

perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

No worries at all, Areanna! :D Now I feel bad that you thought I was being snide! lol. 12 hours in a car? ouch.

None of you spot any sort of lever or mechanism.

"AHH!" It is clear now. The yelp heard earlier must have come from this man.

As you get closer you notice a slight set of stairs leading down from. The man rushes up the stairs. The man, panting from sprinting, gets close to the porticulus. "They came to life! I got trapped behind when the rest of us escaped! Yes! I was with them! Oh gods please open this! Look for a stone! Near the door! It opens it! get me out of here! hurry! HURRY!"

+4 to checks to find the hidden lever

The marching sounds are getting louder. Coming around the corner you see a a group of stoney skeletal figures of men. The leading one is brandishing a torch. The other two that you see seem to brandishing spears. These things move in an eerie silence except for their boots hitting the stone floor.

All visible areas on the map are lighted.
Map: Bottom of round 1

Lever?

Ravens will look the lever or catch to the portcullis while moving along the walls.

1d20 + 8 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 8 + 4 = 31 Perception

"It's over here! Right here!"

Assuming he finds it, he will give it a yank.

31 eh? ain't nothin' to a boss I guess.

Ravens finds the stone and presses hard on it. It recesses back and you hear a click. The portcullis moans and begins raising.

"Thank you thank you thank you!" Aldern keeps looking back at the skeletal men coming towards him and down at the now slowly raising portcullis.

"I thought I was going to die!"

"Where is Syra? Have you seen her? Was she with you?"

Ravens words blurt out, dripping with worry, but hoping this fop has seen his beloved recently and this is not just another goosechase.

Usually goosechases are fun, today's have been less fun...usually I get to eat goose at the end of a goosechase, but today I've barely had a chance.

With the noble man through the portcullis, Bregan pushes the stone that Raven discovered a second time while keeping an eye trained on the advancing constructs.

"What are those?" he wonders aloud.

Yes! I did! They're safe I can take you to them! I think! I don't know! They became active after I was looking for a torch! Why is this thing not going up any faster!?!"

I purchased my copy of UC. Paizo's store is currently overloaded and I can't download anything just yet but later today I'll go over the archetypes..

"Syra is here?!"

Ravens both relaxes and panics...that means they need to get through those long-dead warriors in order to find her.

I wish brave Luck were here to help us.

Ravens reaches into his pouch to pull out his last Magic Stone. He can feel its magic about to leave it.

I should use it soon.

"They left through another passage! It's my fault! I got left behind! I know where they're going. I can almost squeeze under this..I can take you there. I don't want to die!"

Vishoon ponders What are those things? Odd looking skeletons
He moves to F6 and waits for the skeletons to move closer

Areanna tries to calm the man down. "Relax, your going to be okay. We'll get you out of here."

Diplomacy to Calm:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

After Areanna's attempt she looks at the rest of the group as she points an arrow in the direction of the monsters. "I don't know what they are but I'm going to try and take them down." With that she enchants an arrow and lets it fly.

Attack:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7 For:1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7 Counts as magic
First miss I'm sure :P

Not sure what else to do, Valeska waits for Aldern to be pulled to safety then starts firing her bow at the... things? Skeletons? What sort of wedding is this, anyway?

Attack: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (9) - 3 = 6

The arrow tangles in the bowstring. "How are you supposed to fire this thing? And what are those? Why are they here? What's going on?" She tries to fight down her panic.

Are we going? I've been waiting for the monsters to do something, they go first right?

I forgot to mention to ya that we all agreed on doing a block style initiative system, Holbrecht. I sincerely apologize for not mentioning that when you joined. Since the monsters went first (and moved to where they are now), it is now your all's turn. I'm referring to parts of rounds that you act on like baseball innings. The top of a round is whichever side got to go first while the bottom of a round is other set. Since the skeles went first and actually moved to where they are now. Now it is everyone's time to act and hence the map-link is named, "bottom of round 1". Hope I cleared things up for you, buddy!

Holbrecht, interested by the level of quality of the hidden mechanisms for the porticullis more than the man speaking, moves forward to get a good look at the thing as a whole. As he gets closer he notices the things in the hallway, most likely what the frantic man is going on about. He muses on their existence "Unusual, that.. making a skeleton out of stone... structurally less viable... the legs of stone cannot effectively hold the mass of the frame above it the same as that of the lighter frame of bones, on bone legs." Louder he sites "You know, if I wanted to topple one of those, I would go for the area where the leg meets the hip. Poor functional craftsmanship choices, I say." At a second glance, he thinks they might be mindless guardians, and it's much better to be safe than sorry. He draws his short sword, in the off chance they are violent.

Move to D8, Draw short sword

Ah, in the case of tactical combat, Bregan would move to E-8 and ready his standard action to swing against one of the constructs.

"Ravens, once this man is through close the portcullis again, and we can pick these creatures off with ease."

"Uhm...yes! I shall defend your back."

Ravens stands behind Ser Bregan, away from the approaching horde, using Bregan as a shield.

I wish Luck were here.

The creatures fill the ten foot hallway with expressionless faces marching ever-closer to the even more frantic than before Aldern.

The portculis struggles to open at first but then rises up at a steady-pace. Aldern did not wait for the portcullis to be fully up. He quickly dove under it first chance he got. The monsters marched and the torch-bearing leader took a swing at him but hit the portcullis as it was raising. Aldern scurried on the floor near Vishoon. [He just takes a deep breath and praises everyone, "oh thank you thank you thank you thank you". Areanna and Valeska both let arrows fly. They wizz past Aldern and Ser Bregan but fly straight past the armed construct's heads who remain unflinching as they press onward.

The skeletonal construct to the left of the torch-bearing one is brandishing an old shortspear. He lunges the spear attempting to hit Ser Bregan.
Attack:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Damage:1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

The monster's joints sound like stone grinding on stone and its thrust was clumsy. Ser Bregan knocks it away. The rest of the soldiers remain in the hallway awaiting the opportunity to advance.

Bottom of Round 2
Map

The sound of weapons hitting weapons spooks Aldern who quickly runs past Areanna to be away from it as best he can. He looks half scared out of his wits and half-onward at his rescuers as they save him from these stoney warriors.

Acting quickly before others engage the skeletons in combat, Ravens will throw his last Magic Stone at the closest enemy.

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22 to hit;
2d6 + 2 ⇒ (1, 6) + 2 = 9 damage if the baddies are undead.

First here's the readied standard action from last round.

Attack (1H bastard, readied): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Damage (1H bastard): 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Bregan, continuing to block whatever skeletons snuck past the portcullis, slashes with his sword again.

Attack (1H bastard): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Damage (1H bastard): 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Valeska tries to get another arrow to cooperate in the bow, but noticing the sheer number of people gathered to fight off the skeletons, she relents, stows the bow, and approaches Aldern.

"Are you all right? Have you been hurt?" she asks, as she pulls out an herb and waves it over Aldern.

Sheathe bow, cast Detect Poison.

"Oh, they do mean harm. Their legs at the hip, at the hip. It's the weakest structurally." He decides to swing, more as an afterthought. Sadly, his evaluation is more effective than his aim.

Attack around the corner 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (10) - 3 = 7

Sorry for the delay, work was in the way.

Areanna takes a five foot step next to Valeska and enchants and fires another arrow.

1d20 ⇒ 17 She's firing into combat so no +4. 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Vishoon goes forward 10 ft and attacks with the spear
Attack 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Damage 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
thinks he wants the LUCKY LONGSWORD back

Sorry. I was exhausted yesterday and went to bed at 8pm EDT and woke up today at Noon. Are the forums acting sluggishly today for everyone? Correct me if I am wrong, but firing into melee incurs a -4 to your attack roll and your ally in melee is providing the enemy a +4 soft cover bonus to their AC?

Valeska rushes to Aldern. I accidentally typed detect "poisson" into d20pfsrd and was about to say you found no fish. Aldern is neither poisoned nor poisonous from what you can gather. He is very shook up but otherwise unharmed. "No. Thank gods I'm fine. My dog, Vors, gave his life for me..." He stops and looks deep into Valeska's eyes. "Gods you're beautiful.." He clears his throat. "Vors was such a good dog."

Where did you move to, Areanna? Areanna's shot flies true into the skeleton with a torch but the shot merely skips off its stony surface doing no damage. It did not flinch at your strike.

Ravens' stone appears to do the same thing as Areanna's shot. The strikes are hitting their clay-stone exterior harmlessly.

Holbrecht's and Vishoon's strikes both get parried by their stoney skeletal enemies. The torch wielding skeleton tries to hit Vishoon but Vishoon parries the construct's own blow.
1d20 - 2 ⇒ (10) - 2 = 8
1d3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

The spear-wielding skeleton stabs Ser Bregan.
1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Both sides are locked in combat.

Bottom of Round 3
Map

Vishoon attacks the skeleton in front of Ser Bergen (hoping team work can put 1 down)
Attack 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Damage1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
And 5 fts back to let another get an attack in if the wish
Why did I drop that sword