Doug M's Way of the Wicked (Inactive)

Game Master Douglas Muir 406

Day 7 activities included Edmin drinking with the dwarves (which got them to Friendly but has rendered Edmin useless for the rest of the day) and Jax chatting up the stagehands. The performance is on the night of Day 8.

Jax, Xen can you find out more about the play before the day is over? Who is expected to attend from the fort? Will there be a reception after?

Could we masquerade as some of the actors or stage hands?

Remember, I said the soldiers were conflicted because the patrol clashed with the performance? The patrol rides out tomorrow morning, Day 8.

Comments on the patrol are above, including how we cover up an attack on the patrol and if this is the only patrol leaving before the bugbear attack we should attempt to take them.

Xen, the Judge and Dren could find out all they can about the patrol.

Can we find out if their route, who will be on the patrol and if they are mounted.

He's always been eccentric and reclusive, and since his trip over the Wall has become even more so.

DM remember I made good Knowledge rolls regarding the Triple Empire?

I wanted to know something about them because you said the magister brought something back with him. If the Triple Empire was known for say, summoning demons or unique Ioun Stones that controlled elementals then Cуровую will have an idea of how to approach the magister.

For now we should continue to gather information for another week and not attack anyone. We have 3 more weeks to act.

Umm What's that?

I don't think that's right. We have only 18 or 19 days left. I am almost certain of this, we can ask DM. If we had more than 21 days I would not be as worried.

I think we need to significantly weaken the fort before the bugbears strike, while we can strike the night they attack, we should have plans that already well past completion stage when the army comes knocking.

Also I am fairly certain we don't have a demon we can call for aid, if the item could do that captain Odeadkickthebucket would have used it on us.

I think its 'I will take you out with me item' that may have controlled the Judge because he refuses to get rid of it or even acknowledge he has it despite my bringing it up to you guys time and time again.

A few notes. I know that Cy really likes sending a note to the chief cleric saying that Edmin wants to make up, but Edmin is a WANTED MURDERER WHO BROKE OUT OF BRANDESCAR PRISON AND KILLED ALL THE GUARDS. I rather doubt that anyone would believe this. It is just as likely to put the guards in the castle on heightened guard. If it did get the chief cleric and others out great, but I imagine that it is just, if not more, likely to only get one or two sneaky guards out of the tower to carefully investigate by taking a message to the local sherif and constable while sending a message via raven to the command farther south.
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As far as the Maralith goes, I think that the statuette can be used to summon some type of a fireball. I do believe that it is the Maraliths which would be doing the controlling, if CE demons can ever be considered in control of anything.
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I like the idea of poisoning the stew. Perhaps our chief oraclar murderer should spend a day or two doing a read on Mama and try to figure out what her habits are - how she walks, how she talks, what she wears, etc. - and then we take her out before she even gets to the castle. This way, we can make sure that the stew actually makes it in and is not checked on the way. The last thing that we want is for the fort clerics to be casting Purify Food & Drink on the stew when it walks through the front door which would destroy the poison and all the hard work planning.

We know that Mama has easy access, Xen can ask the guards about the stew and whether Mama brings any helpers to cook/serve it. A serving wench would be much easier to infiltrate and could easily carry the rat poison.
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Jax should watch the guard as it goes out on the morning of the 8th. How many are going, and what do they consist of. We know that the guard in the tower consists of 100 or so troops. If they are taking 5-10, this is 5-10%. If another 20-50 are watching the show, now we have the tower to 1/2 power, with those in the fort being grumpy and unobservant because they are not able to see the show.

I know that we are short on time, but it is possible that the evening of the 8th will be the best time to make the hit. Morsum will definitely go into the tower on the night of the 7th to investigate the layout. If the Inn passage allows for easy access, we can get in and while the forces are depleted hit the wizard, who is unlikely to be at the performance. With the wizard down, we move through the fort to the front gate and take out the gate guards leading to the town. If we can seal the gates INTO Talingarde, then all we will have to deal with are the few guards left in the fort since the majority will be locked out of the fort.

Not on call but I thought we had an item that may cause one to appear...release it in the tower and let it destroy as much as it will before returning to its normal activities was what I was thinking.

You thought DM gave us a Marlith as back up? That's another game than this one Dren. We don't even have a fiendish doogie that can hit when flanking an enemy.

A few notes. I know that Cy really likes sending a note to the chief cleric saying that Edmin wants to make up, but Edmin is a WANTED MURDERER WHO BROKE OUT OF BRANDESCAR PRISON AND KILLED ALL THE GUARDS. I rather doubt that anyone would believe this.

We don't know news got this far nor if news was even given out.

If you were using the 'legend of inescapable Brandascar' to scare your criminals, it would do no good to get the word out that seven fools ran out. A Goblin no less!

Also you forget this simple fact -

The Cleric is LAWFUL GOOD and Edmin's true friend once.

YOU need to think like a Lawful Good Cleric who knew the 'old' Edmin before he was ... our Edmin.

Please, with caramelized sugar on top, I have tried to explain this so many times I don't know how else to go about it.

Judge Cupcake

Judge do you remember when you said this

Judge

Wasn't it a good idea I stuck to my position even when everyone wanted to got the other way and it took me eight times over two months to convince you guys?

How about we reconsider this idea a game week from now? We will have a better idea if we need to set that in motion.

You thought DM gave us a Marlith as back up? That's another game than this one Dren. We don't even have a fiendish doogie that can hit when flanking an enemy.

Actually, as I think about it, letting you guys call on a Marilith could be all kinds of fun. Hm.

For future reference, here's a protip: remember that you have resources besides skill checks. Review your magic items and your spells.

The obvious one that's getting overlooked is Charm Person -- a spell that gets unfairly neglected by a lot of players because 3.x "nerfed" it, but which is actually quite powerful if properly used. Charm makes the target Friendly; from there, it's a low-DC Diplomacy check to get them to be Helpful. It's the difference between rolling a DC 18 check, waiting a while if you succeed, and then rolling a DC 13 check -- or, just cutting straight to the DC 13 check.

It won't work on everyone, of course. It wouldn't have worked with the dwarves, because you're trying to get the whole group friendly. And you don't want to use it against NPCs with Spellcraft or high Will saves. But it's often a nice opening move.

(But note that casting enchantment spells on people without their consent or a darn good reason is a criminal offense in Talingarde! You could face a steep fine or even jail time.)

Mind, to make Charm Person really dance, you need a friend with Bluff to keep the target distracted ("pay no attention to my twitching, mumbling friend") and then a half-respectable Diplomacy bonus in your own right.

I did not forget about the spell, and actually mentioned it's use on one of the leading dwarves if Edmin had failed.

I was worried that casting spells would draw attention on us, and mind you I was not even worried about the soldiers. I really am wary of Nimpy locating us here!

And I did not want people to start realizing there may be a spell caster around, as DM said, wizards at not really openly welcome in the nation.

Honestly between DM's high saving throw rolls and things all happening at the same time, I think DM has me looking over my shoulder in character every other moment.

I actually have one plan for Charm Person but that's for later. I'm trying not to give all my plans out yet.

You could use Charm Person to get more info from the Landlord to learn about when Mott's cheating trophy will be resuming her cheating.

Also, I have found that when the DM says that it is a good idea to try something, this frequently means that it is a good idea to try whatever is being "advised".

Fair enough.

I was thinking Mrs. Mott before we found out who she was cheating with so it had proved unnecessary.

How about the star of the show before the show?

We suggest to him invite the leaders of the fort personally.

Also, I have found that when the DM says that it is a good idea to try something, this frequently means that it is a good idea to try whatever is being "advised".

Okay, I need to stop doing that.

Okay, then the Marilith statue that is some kind of fireball or destructive device still could have a fine use I just misunderstood what it was. It seemed more dangerous than that.

All these plans are pretty subjective at the moment, let's see what is beyond the door and figure out a straight forward plan. If the patrol is out just all the better to strike then. If we could do my plan to eliminate the other two captains it would leave the tower with none and down a group of soldiers.

Charm person could be used to great affect. Have someone in the tower take the statue as a gift to the tower commander and give it to him as something interesting and have him say the activation word, we could use it in many different ways...if we removed him that would just leave the wizard and the cleric.

shame xen does not have charm person.

Jax is working on the actors right now...so Day 8 where shall we send Xen? I dont mind going to the actors as well, but I can do something else also.

Charm person could be used to great affect. Have someone in the tower take the statue as a gift to the tower commander and give it to him as something interesting and have him say the activation word, we could use it in many different ways...if we removed him that would just leave the wizard and the cleric.

WOW.

Dren read my mind. Sort of 'I prepared Explosive Runes trap,' but was planning to give the figure to a Charmed servant the night of the bugbear attack, have him say the activation words in the Commander and other officers presence, sort of poetic.

Then we come it to finish the job, I did not want to state that plan yet because I'm not sure if DM has been passing notes to the Judge.

The Judge may not part with the item at this point, Judge are you still yourself?

Who are we going to get to take the statue? And what are we going to do to conceal it? As far as I recall, it is not exactly the type of statuette that a bunch of lawful goodie goodies would have.

Judge r u goin to take my suggestion p f setting up nimpy

I'm worried about the halfling as well.

Which suggestion? I must have missed that one.

Hey I had to spend a feat to get it at least and it is a big part of my character concept you guyshad to just show up :)

Jax Naismith wrote:

Time sensitive things:
Poisoning Mama Kola's stew - we obviously need to do this. We should use it to make Mama kola look evil. Perhaps hiding a symbol of Asmodeus in her room/home.

The stew goes up at the new moon, which is Day 12.

Note that you are really uncertain what will happen if you poison the stew, as none of you have Craft (alchemy). Once you have more information (how much stew, how many soldiers usually eat it, etc.), you could maybe try a Heal check.

Well..now that you mention it, Jax has Craft alchemy of +7 :D

I set up the innkeepers room to look like a small person ransacked it. I suggested that yoy drop in his hearing that you saw someone looking like nimpy snooping around upstairs...and you don't appreciate them letting rif raff in, or whatever

nothing huge, but could start something if he shows up later

No one showed interest in us using the Innkeeper. I was going to replicate Nimpy and become the crime boss telling him we have his stuff and telling him we will require his assistance once we decide he is useful...I am worried about him freaking out and acting out of sorts giving himself away and eventually getting the attention of someone.

If he "knows" who has his stuff he will still be worried, but at least we can control him.

well just so long as someone does something, since I set up the room and it is obvious

Mama Kola' stew is delivered on the 12th. That;'s a fair bit of time before the bugbears attack. Poisoning it is not likely to incapacitate them for a period of time that will be useful for the bugbear attack. At least those are my impressions on it.

Um... the bugbear attack comes when you set off the signal rocket. Was that not clear?

Mama Kola' stew is delivered on the 12th. That;'s a fair bit of time before the bugbears attack. Poisoning it is not likely to incapacitate them for a period of time that will be useful for the bugbear attack. At least those are my impressions on it.

Could we delay the night the stew is brought in?

I know we can light the rocket sooner but we need more time as it is.

I need a refill.

The Judge takes and looks at the bottom of his glass of wine.
I think your glass has a hole in it.

He's funny when he wants to be.

Could we delay the night the stew is brought in?

I don't know. Can you?

Note also that you don't need to kill everyone in Balentyne and burn the place to the ground. What you need to do is to weaken it enough that Sakkarot can take it. Naturally, weakening it enough so that he can take it quickly and easily is to be preferred, and will gain you more points with the Cardinal. But anything beyond "it falls" is gravy, while anything less than that... earns you the Cardinal's displeasure.

Weakening it might include:

-- Killing, removing or incapacitating enough soldiers so that the walls cannot be manned
-- Killing, removing or incapacitating enough leaders so that the soldiers cannot be effectively commanded
-- Eliminating key support personnel (clerics, the Magister, others?)
-- Eliminating key strategic assets (the rookery and its comm ravens, others?)
-- Eliminating key tactical assets (siege defense engines, others?)
-- Opening the portcullis (and keeping it open until the bugbears arrive)
-- Lowering the drawbridge (and ditto)
-- Other: Demoralizing or otherwise reducing the defenders effectiveness? Somehow blasting a big hole in the wall? You tell me.

You have a way in now, and you have a lot of information. (Though you can reasonably assume that there's also information you don't have...) And the clock is ticking.

So, what now?

Some thoughts on next steps:

Scout out the interior of the tower.
Develop a plan to eliminate some key assets.
Develop a plan to weaken the soldiers through poison and the waters.
Develop a plan to open the gate for the bugbears...and in a way they don't try to kill us as well :).
a)Can we drop the draw bridge and weaken/destroy the mechanism to raise it. Scouting mission part 2.
b)Determine if we can raise the portcullis in a way that it can't be lowered again (jam the mechnism?) Scouting mission part 2.
Poison the rookery when we poison the soldiers?
Coordinate some attacks from inside the tower as soon as the budbears begin their attack.

I think a lot of this is contingent on scouting the tower though.

Don't forget, I can summon flying creatures. As far as the rookery goes, I could summon several eagles to attack the rookery. They are native to this part of the world most likely and an attack by birds would probably not raise eyebrows as much as many other techniques.

Some thoughts on next steps

I think a lot of this is contingent on scouting the tower though.

Let's get as much done as we can this night, without pressing our luck.

Tomorrow night may prove more advantageous to search -

a. A patrol is leaving which will lessen the number of soldiers.

b. Certain officers and hopefully several soldiers will be attending the play, that will lessen the number in the fort even greater.

We should check the officers, clerics and magister's rooms that night.

Let's find out how long the play runs, maybe Xen can even stall the curtain raise to buy time.

Scouting expedition.

Morsum goes through rooms with link to the Judge, followed two rooms back by Jax followed one room behind by Cуровую and Dren. This way we know what's up ahead while we can take turns searching and mapping.

Does that work?

Works for me.

That's fine, I still think we should use Invisibility, but since no one else is worried about it...

The only problem with Invisibility is that it only lasts 4 minutes at this level. Unless the scout is moving very quickly through rooms, that is only scouting one or two before the invisibility wears off.

Morsum has +14 and can be "removed" from the area as a standard action so that the sleepy guard will hopefully just be confused and thing that he had a nightmare or saw a shadow.

Agreed with Judge.

While we continue scouting a little this night, we should think about what to do tomorrow.

Tomorrow the patrol leaves and the play occurs. I agree with Dren that this is prime scouting potential--however, I think we should have someone or someones go to the play and also have some go out to murder the patrol.

I mean..maybe. Splitting three ways is -incredibly- dangerous. But I like to gamble so.. that's just my opinion! (So far Jax's g ambles have turned out well! A free rogue level, some extra spells from the Warden book)

xen play
jax and dren scout

rest murder

On second thought, even if the scouting party gets wiped out you can still do this. So: [roll roll]

You can feel the love.

Hm..somehow I missed that invisibility is a magus spell. He will prepare some and definitely go exploring with Dren the next day.

Edit: Its not in his spellbook so he'll have to copy it from Cimu.

Add to the list of spells stealing from Cimu, if she'll let Jax: Invisibility, Alter Self, Eagle's Splendor, Levitate, Fox's Cunning, Pyrotechnics, Communal mount.

On a random note, How the HECK did I not realize Magus's had so many polymorph spells? And levitate? And regular invisibility? Fail..So much fail.

Alter self + frigid touch + turning into a troglodyte makes for a lot of frostbite touches.

Tomorrow the patrol leaves and the play occurs. I agree with Dren that this is prime scouting potential--however, I think we should have someone or someones go to the play and also have some go out to murder the patrol.

I mean..maybe. Splitting three ways is -incredibly- dangerous. But I like to gamble so.. that's just my opinion! (So far Jax's g ambles have turned out well! A free rogue level, some extra spells from the Warden book)

PLEASE READ

I can feel DM smile at the prospect of splitting the party three ways.

I propose this scenario, just so that Bref waits for us a little longer.

The fort will have less men the night of the play and the patrol's departure.

Search party night two if we survive tonight, Morsum (in contact with the Judge), Jax, Dren and maybe Cуровую. The group is ready and under the tower (past the tunnel) 20 minutes before curtains up for the play.

At the play, Xen who hopefully met some of the actors before the play starts, the Judge (in contact with the Morsum) and possibly Cуровую. Those attending do not attend the play as a group. The Judge can tell the scout group through Morsum when the play is halfway done.

Keep Edmin AWAY from the Cleric. Have him spend the next evening with the dwarves again, with very watered down ale. The man does not have to drink himself to death, I mean we'll be adding alcoholism to his list of virtues if we keep this up. And we need him against the patrol.

The patrol, in the morning before all of the above those with Survival, Cуровую and Edmin I think, watch the patrol from a distance, and try to make a best guess of where they are headed. Morsum using stealth follows them to the extent before he loses his connection to the Judge then dismiss him.

We as a group follow the patrol by mount after the play.

I am game for whichever, both are delightful ideas...zimus is smarter...but WIS 7

Anybody up?

I would rather stick together or avoid the play entirely.
What purpose does going to the play serve?
In case the bard is a government spy or in league with Nimpy we should be close enough to each other to support each other. When the play winds down we can go to the tower again OR we can head and and find the patrol and destroy those guards.

The play has a lot of unknowns right now, but it will draw some of the officers and soldiers out of the fort, part of why Cуровую may not go on the second scouting trip is she may have Knowledge skills that are useful while those from the fort are in attendance.

The Judge through Morsum can communicate who is at the play and who may have remained at the fort, the Judge and Xen can also look and study the officers and clerics who may be attending the play.