Doug M's Way of the Wicked (Inactive)

Game Master Douglas Muir 406

Morsum will be staged and ready to go downstairs as early as possible. I do not know whether I can summon him behind the door the basement. I know the way well at this point, but am not sure whether I need line of sight for where he appears.

If my understanding is correct, you do not need line of sight, but you do need line of effect.

(What's the difference? You can summon him in darkness, or while blind; line of sight not needed. You can not summon him on the other side of a wall; line of effect needed. A transparent barrier like a Wall of Force spell would block your summoning. On the other hand, a wall with a window in it would not, even if the window were too small for you to crawl through.)

Also, don't forget the effect that summoning him has on you.

DM and Xen please read two posts back because I lost my first post and it took nearly an hour to get back on the game thread.

I've trained myself to hit "Ctrl-A" immediately followed by "Ctrl-C" any time I get past a couple of hundred words.

Cуровую will cast See Invisibility before retuning to the inn. She will search for unseen things in the storage room and the main inn. Like a hidden halfling bard.

Clever!

Nothing there.

Cуровую will give the items to those NOT staying at the Lord's Dalliance because there is a snooping innkeeper and its best that he not find the wine and disguises.

Duly noted.

Cуровую will use Knowledge Nobility and use the cardinal's book and Inspire Competence to 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 8 + 2 + 2 = 28 find the proper way to create formal documents of introduction and a suitable persona Cуровую can easily assume given her features. Indicated before she is looking for a Female Noble, well connected, very keen on the arcane and the Triple Empire.

With that knowledge she will use Linguistics to forge letters of introduction and credentials as well as instructions of assistance, again with Xen's aid and she will cast Fox's Cunning with her bonded item as she puts pen to paper

Linguistics for forgery 1d20 + 8 + 4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 8 + 4 + 2 + 2 = 35 DM if there are any bonuses for the Knowledge Nobility roll please adjust

Remember that I'm supposed to roll Forgery -- you /think/ you've done a good job...

I'm guessing that Xen probably suggests he can best Inspire Confidence through a glass of wine, some incense, and a nice neck massage.

She will give the letters to either Jax or Xen and in the morning Cуровую will cast Mount well away from the eyes of the fort and ask either Jax or Xen to deliver the letters to the magister and the head cleric in the disguise of the noble blooded but snobbish Lieutenant.

Mmkay. Jax, Xen, you good with this? You'll need a Disguise roll.

That's part of the notes that got lost, Cуровую will give the messenger a scroll of Disguise Self to use. She has two scrolls, caster level 1 and 3.

DM for Forgery I thought we still make the roll adding the bonuses, then you make a secret roll to see if we get it wrong somehow.

Cуровую will still ask for Jax to help or create similar documents.

Lady Viola Sackville-North is one of the many (like, twelve) acknowledged bastards of the late Lord Sackville. Neither the prayers of priests nor the threats of outraged husbands could restrain Lord Sackville's ardor, and by all accounts he seems to have enjoyed an unusual degree of success in the fields of love -- aided, no doubt, by boundless energy, a remarkable gift for flattery, and an immense inherited fortune.

To Lord Sackville's credit, he provided all his various offspring with modest fortunes in their own right, and often arranged handsome marriages for them. Lady Sackville-North is married to Lord North, who is a respectable member of the nobility, an Ambassador, and currently engaged in a diplomatic mission on the mainland.

(Lord Sackville is real; you're just giving him one more child. Lord North is also real; his second wife died a few years ago, so it wouldn't be a great surprise if he had remarried.)

Pros: Lord Sackville was quite determinedly eccentric, and dabbled in everything from poetry through magic to watercolors, so it won't be surprising if his youngest daughter turns up with similar odd and broad interests. You're in the lower ranks of the nobility; one family is quite wealthy, the other quite respected and well connected, so you should be treated with a fair amount of deference.

Cons: As always, a sufficiently high Knowledge (nobility) roll will smell a rat. Also, the reputation of Lord Sackville might make some view you askance, while others may wonder why you're so far from the capital (and your husband).

That's part of the notes that got lost, Cуровую will give the messenger a scroll of Disguise Self to use. She has two scrolls, caster level 1 and 3.

Again, the downside to disguise is the very high penalty for trying to emulate a different race since Jax is a tiefling and I don't know if any disguise attempts would just be hidden by his illusion thingie :-\

I am good with it, Xen uses his hat as always for his disguise

Xen wil try to approach the actors with wine after the show...if that is possible.

Also to wrap up my Mama Kola failure Xen will look dissappointed, but will gush about the soup.

He will inquire if maybe a special soup day could be arranged if he got the approval.

He will inquire if maybe a special soup day could be arranged if he got the approval.

Mama doesn't actually make any real money on Stew Day -- it's a kindness that she does for the brave young soldiers, and she's basically providing the stew at cost.

But if you could get the necessary authorization, and were willing to throw in a few extra gold pieces... well, maybe.

She does mention in passing that civilians aren't allowed in the Tower without permission from the Commander.

Xen thanks her and asks her for a hug before he goes. He misses his grandma.

======

Am I able to do the letter thing disgised and meet with the players with wine ?

Meanwhile: opening night! Well, and closing night to.

Quite a crowd is gathering outside the gates of the Tower tonight. It's not exactly black tie, but everyone is dressed as well as they're likely to get.

Dren will ask Jax how the inside of the tower was lit? Conventional method like torches/sconces or continual flame/the like?

Dren is going to visit the innkeeper with Grumbles, he needs to get out anyways.

The performance is taking place in the Great Hall. And now you finally have a chance to see the layout of Balentyne Tower.

The "Tower" part is really the Keep, a squat stone building about 70' on each side and 50' high. The Keep sits in the middle of a courtyard surrounded by 40' high walls. (There are a couple of other, smaller buildings in the courtyard as well.) On the east and north sides, the walls overlook the gorge down into the river. The main bridge runs across the river from the subterranean level; the smaller bridge runs from the top of the walls. Across the river is the much smaller gatehouse.

The Great Hall takes up the entire ground floor level of the Keep. It's quite full -- about seventy soldiers have shown up (basically, everyone who's not on duty) and about twice as many civilians. Captains Mott and Edderly are attending, as is Sergeant Barhold.

Father Dunnigan is there, beaming happily. (Edmin would notice that he's lost most of his hair, but otherwise looks fit, cheerful, and full of life.)

A strange-looking character in blue robes is greeted with murmurs and sidelong glances. He sports a wild mass of red hair just beginning to go grey; his robes are streaked with red and orange, as if just bursting into flame; his fingers are heavily beringed. Surely this is none other than the famous Magister Tacitus.

SoH1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30 Xenfal makes his way near the Magister and lifts his spell book, and moves away then puts it in his haversack

muahahahahahahaha OMG I can't belive that worked! aww DMDM is totally going to kill me

...

No.

oh come on.. at least give me something from him :( now i am pouting

Finally comes Lord Sir Thomas Havelyn -- Commander of Balentyne, Alerion Knight and Protector of Aldencross County.

Sir Thomas is a tall man with pale eyes and long, drooping mustaches. It's hard to guess his exact age; his face is lined, and his hair and beard are going white, but he has not begun to stoop and he moves easily -- indeed, with grace. He could be anywhere between forty-five and seventy.

No.

By the same token, if you say "I do something silly and impossible" and then roll a 1, I won't make you suffer the consequences. But I'd prefer that people not post things that are silly or impossible.

Meanwhile: Xen came by earlier that same day, wearing the face of Lord Ivan St. Austell-in-the-Moor Biggleswade-Brixham. Lord Ivan, in a dreadful hurry en route from Over There to Somewhere else, dropped off a note that the Lady Viola will be swinging by the Tower for a day or two, and the authorities should render her all reasonable hospitality.

[roll roll]

[roll roll roll]

Captain Mott blows out his mustaches; he's obviously displeased, but knows better than to complain in front of a well-connected officer like Lord Ivan.

It appears that your ruse has worked -- so far.

(Hours later, attending the play and seeing Commander Havelyn for the first time, Xen realizes that Captain Mott is trying to copy the Commander's style in facial hair. It's not a success. Somehow Lord Havelyn makes long drooping mustaches look badass. Captain Mott just looks like a walrus.)

Jax will aim to sit somewhere in the back, where all the other peasants are.

honestly I did not think i was being silly. it seemed reasonable to me. we are in a crowd lot of people why not try to lift it if he has it on him. i am ok with you saying it is not possible, but i just want to point out I am not just being wanker :( i tried to post that earlier but it did not seem to take. If it is not possible to get close to steal somethign from someone important then he will just watch and cheer loudly

Um... why would a wizard take his spellbook to watch a play?

(Incidentally: can you guys remind me again who is staying at which inn? I can go back and rummage, but I assume y'all remember?)

if he is anything like a PC it is always on him. Anyhow like I said its fine it doesn't work just pointing out that I wasn't being a jerk, since it seemed like you thought I was just wasting your time

(Incidentally: can you guys remind me again who is staying at which inn? I can go back and rummage, but I assume y'all remember?)

Believe Jax and Edmin is at the middling inn, Judge and Cimu at the Dalliance. Not sure of the others.

Xen, and Zimu is at the bug infested one (though I was pretty sure Zimu was not happy with that). Edmin and Judge at the nice one, Grumble at the middling common room type one

I don't assume that PCs always have their spellbooks on them. (Although if you want to carry your spellbook around when you're in the market shopping for carrots or whatever, sure, go for it. I can work with that.)

I get that you weren't joking or wasting my time. But... even if he did have his spellbook on him (which he doesn't), you'd need at least three rolls: one to spot where he has it on him (presumably he wouldn't be walking around swinging it on a cord, right?), one to lift it off him unnoticed, and a third to successfully hide it on yourself.

Well I guess I am sure he doesn't have it on him then :) I also probably know what he had for breakfast from what is on his robes still. All the home games I have played in people always swear it is right there and easy to grab for whatever reason. I dunno, I always play spontaneous casters. Anyhow sorry to make a stink...

Zimu, now that Xen has brought it up... what is your default with your spellbook? Carry at all times? Keep locked up in your room sometimes? If carry, how?

A lady never tells

Well I guess I am sure he doesn't have it on him then :) I also probably know what he had for breakfast from what is on his robes still. All the home games I have played in people always swear it is right there and easy to grab for whatever reason. I dunno, I always play spontaneous casters. Anyhow sorry to make a stink...

No, no stink -- just a misunderstanding.

And definitely, PCs do tend to insist "oh yes I have my spellbook RIGHT HERE". Or at least, they do until you start throwing pickpockets at them. Or city guards with stop-and-frisk authority and orders to confiscate suspicious items. (I once got a group of PCs to basically blow themselves up using that one.) Or using the old 1st and 2nd edition rules whereby, if you got hit with a fireball or whatever, any items on you took full damage if you failed your save... mm. Good times, those. Good times.

Even in 3.0, I did freak the hell out of a PC once by pointing out that if his wizard character jumped into that river and spent half an hour swimming across, his spellbook would logically be a soggy mass of pulp long before he reached the other side. Poor fellow.

Anyway, so far it hasn't been an issue -- nobody on the Frosthamar would be interested in Zimu's spellbook. Still, worth thinking about going forward.

So, the lights go down and the play begins.

It's a complex plot involving star-crossed lovers against the background of a doomed city. There are comic bits and tragic bits. The male lead (who is also the director and co-owner) has a commanding baritone and uses it; he has several long, loud speeches. The female lead is very attractive. The costumes are good, and the small orchestra (very small) knows its business.

It's long -- three hours, including a ten-minute intermission. Since you're inside a fort, you can't wander beyond the courtyard. You can wander freely within the courtyard, though, so if you want to talk to anyone now you can.

(You can also try slipping away during the play to explore, but I'll note that there is only one visible exit from the hall, and it leads to the well-lit courtyard which is watched by sentries.)

So: do something during the play, do something during intermission, or just sit tight and observe and go home at the end?

The Judge sits back thinking about what needs to be done enjoying the play.
Interesting, but love is so short lived. These humans, always thinking only of the present.

At the intermission, the Judge seeks out Captain Mott:
Captain, it is a pleasure to meet you. I represent [insert name of lord I supposedly work for, not sure if we ever gave him a name] . I am seeking interesting items from the north for his collection. As I am sure you know, he has a beautiful wife. With your renown in the area, I am sure that you know of the best places to acquire the type of trinkets that beautiful women like. I only ask this as my Lord would assuredly like to be able to gift his bride a beautiful gift from the north.

So, the lights go down and the play begins. So: do something during the play, do something during intermission, or just sit tight and observe and go home at the end?

Sorry guys! I was hoping we would get to the play before or after the weekend, just like my trip to Asia when we fought the captain, I seem to always miss the good bits. I was asked to work straight through brunch to dinner so I can't really post today, apologies.

I would expect us to be posting until early Tuesday about actions during the play, is that fair? Do we not go after the patrol before the play then?

DM, please amend that before the play Cуровую purchased two outfits, and her letters were sent the day of. Also, somewhat important where is the bathroom/privy for the guests?

Xen while in your Disguise did you want to banter with the soldiers before they left for patrol?

Guys we should take the opportunity to explore, while the play goes on. Morsum, Dren, (Jax?) through the secret tunnel and the rest of use during the play, perhaps towards the middle. Let's try to interact with the members of the fort as well. Xen and the Judge have Diplomacy.

----

DM I'll assume I used the level 3 Disguise Self scroll which I would have given Xen, and had cast Mount for the day. Fair?

As stated Cуровую has been staying at the Lord's Dalliance and has not physically interacted with the party in the inn. We are also ALL keeping an eye out for Nimpy.

I think that the Judge, Edmin and Cy were at the Dalliance. Dren and Grumblejack at the least expensive place. Xen and Jax were at the mid-priced place.

Edmin is at the kings. I still dont think he knows the preist is his old friend. He was drunk during that time.

Guys we should take the opportunity to explore, while the play goes on. Morsum, Dren, (Jax?) through the secret tunnel and the rest of use during the play, perhaps towards the middle. Let's try to interact with the members of the fort as well. Xen and the Judge have Diplomacy.

Jax wouldn't miss the chance to see a well-known actor play, especially when he's already made some of the actors friendly with diplomacy rolls a few days earlier. Since Dren can use disguise self easily, he would make the best scout (plus he has a higher stealth as well).

Edit: Dm, Jax will be using perception checks (+7) to look through the crowd and actors for anything out of the ordinary. Like halflings or short people.

At the intermission, the Judge seeks out Captain Mott:

Mott's kind of cranky, so his default is Unfriendly. You'll need a Diplomacy roll (and a Bluff, of course).

Guys we should take the opportunity to explore, while the play goes on. Morsum, Dren, (Jax?) through the secret tunnel and the rest of use during the play, perhaps towards the middle. Let's try to interact with the members of the fort as well. Xen and the Judge have Diplomacy.

Jax is attending the play. You want Dren and Morsum to sneak in through the tunnel while the play is going on? What would be the goal of that, exactly?

Either would still need invisibility to get past that hall due to the guards and the would still see the door open and close and raise an alarm.
The best bet for getting around the tower is probably pretending to be the servant.

Bluff: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 22
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29

The lies are going good, the pleasant - I will eat you later - attitude is going great.

29 is actually what you needed to move him from Unfriendly all the way through Neutral to Friendly. Captain Mott knows *everything* about keeping beautiful women happy! You put them in a nice house and occasionally buy them pretty things. And, of course, you yourself must be an important person, and /show/ your importance. Women love a man who is fully charged with the dignity of office.

(So, where are you going with this...?)