Doug M's Way of the Wicked (Inactive)

Game Master Douglas Muir 406

The big question is Ragnar and/or Grumblejack.

Xen - Stealth +13 (no Stealth Synergy)
Jax - Stealth +9
Judge - Stealth +4
Morsum - Stealth +15 (no Stealth Synergy)
Edmin - Stealth +1 (+6 base -5 MW Full Plate)
Dren - Stealth +10 (might be higher with oracle abilities)
Cy - Stealth +7

Thus, we have Cy being the Magistar. Edmin as a guard (new guard, has his dadd'y fancy armor). Judge as a guard - a little sick from the stew, but is recovering. This leaves Morsum, Dren, Jax and Xen to be stealthy. All have good stealth and Dren/Jax will get the stealth synergy better roll bonus. The Judge could also use stealth and have Grumblejack as the second guard.

Thus, we have Cy being the Magistar. Edmin as a guard (new guard, has his dadd'y fancy armor). Judge as a guard - a little sick from the stew, but is recovering. This leaves Morsum, Dren, Jax and Xen to be stealthy. All have good stealth and Dren/Jax will get the stealth synergy better roll bonus. The Judge could also use stealth and have Grumblejack as the second guard.

Edmin make sure you drape a cloak or tabbard around you!

What the Judge said.

You have one Magister, two guys who can be disguised as guards, and one or two people going invisible. There are *nine* of you -- six PCs, Morsum, Grumblejack and the dog.

Ahh.

Well we need a cover story why the guards are coming to the magister then. Let us say the magister needs men to test his cure, fair?

Cуровую made some Invisibility scrolls that some of you guys have. She also memorized it for today and has two scrolls of it, one each at caster level 3 and 4.

Just have them carry a box from the supplies area and say it is reagents for the cure. If the guards ask who we are say they are new guards that just arrived from another tower. You sent a magical message and summoned them here to help out with the tower's defense since we have so many men out and they just arrived.

Dren casts Guidance on himself then turns into a halfing just as we enter the courtyard.

stealth armor (dex) size guidance 1d20 + 10 + 2 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 10 + 2 + 4 + 1 + 1 = 35

Dren becomes the shadows and while the magister is talking to the guards will slip behind them...quiet and small as a mouse or at least the smallest Halfing he can imagine.

Carrying supplies absolutely yes, but lets hold off on being summoned guards from another tower, that may seem a little far fetched, so I don't think we should do that BUT maybe I can make Ragnar seem like a Summoned hound if Edmin does not want to leave him here for now, although leaving him here may be the better idea. At least he guards our one way out of here.

---

The 'magister' will be part hurried, part lost in complex thought, and part still feeling ill from taking some of the stew himself (cough).

Any guard that will see him will be aware that he is all business.

He will walk briskly, double moving while half muttering arcane formula's to himself, telling the guards behind him carrying supplies to keep up because time is of the essence!

The men must be saved (cough), PUT YOUR BACK INTO IT NOW!

If anyone asks where he has been, he answers, BY MITRA'S GRACE, ATTEMPTING TO FIND A CURE CAPABLE OF SAVING THE LOT OF YOU! NOW MOVE ASIDE YOU MUGGLE!

Bluff if needed (please add any bonuses given the situation if any) 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30

Okay, so the plan is

Edmin-Hat
Xen-Extended Vanish
Jax-Uniform
Dren-Sneaky Spy (done)
Grumble-Invis
Judge-Uniform
Ragnar Edmin's hound
Zimu-Magister (done)
Morsum-Dismissed or stealthy (I assume Morsum is going for stealth, with the DC 27 rolled earlier)

Meanwhile, first set of guards: 1d20 ⇒ 12
1d20 ⇒ 2
1d20 ⇒ 9

These are not the Branderscar inmates your looking for, move along.

The guards look nervous and confused, but they allow the "Magister" and his companions to pass. You're inside the keep!

Note that you've expended a Vanish and one Invisibility. Mark these off, please.

I assume you're heading upstairs to the Magister's rooms?

1d100 ⇒ 15

DM as we move can the group also make Perception checks so we can see what is going on around the fort?

Perception 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

A hurried but hopeful looking 'magister' addresses the guard on duty and stationed at the magister's room..

'Tell the lord commander I have returned with regents I need to effect a cure for our great malady. It will take some time to prepare a large enough amount for every man who fell ill. I need to speak to the commander though and presently, tell him I request him to join me as soon as he can. By Mitra's will I hope we have enough time. Now hop to it soldier!'

High Bluff, high bluff! 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30

Xen returns the Extend rod, and reclaims his hat, feeling whole again now that he has it back.

spell use marked

Oh hey. 1d100 ⇒ 40

DM I rolled a Bluff for the guard to request the commander's presence and a Perception on the way here above while we were all posting.

Guys, was it Cуровую who cast one of the Invisibility so I can mark that off or someone else?

I think it was a scroll

I don't mind casting it I just wanted to know. This way whomever can save the scroll for now.

Who has the highest Perception? He should watch for the commander when the guard leaves.

Do you guys want to chance the Golem or just ambush the commander in the hallway outside the Magisters room?
Xen can pretend to be the guard outside his door and the door could be open with various stenches coming from Xen and the Magister's room. Otherwise we should have someone in the hallway to let us know when we hear people coming, we close the door and cast some prep spells.
Or use the guard to warn us when the commander approaches.

DM I rolled a Bluff for the guard to request the commander's presence and a Perception on the way here above while we were all posting.

The guard looks at you in confusion. "Um... yessir." He heads off towards the southeast tower (area 32, the hospital).

I assume you proceed towards the Magister's rooms from here.

Area 31 (the Great Hall) is not empty. Several men from the village are there, talking among each other. When you enter they break off talking and stare at you openly as you pass by.

What are they doing? Perception 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

They're talking quietly among themselves. (And you already rolled a Perception check a while back.)

Going up the stairs, you pass once again the dwarves and guards in area 34. There's a bit of a crowd there -- five dwarves and two guards. (One of the dwarves is the leader -- Barnabas Eisenbach, Senior Engineer. You remember him from the Dalliance.) It looks like they partially dismantled the mechanism (whatever it was), oiled it, and are now putting it back in place. [ooc]Zimu, before you ask: Knowledge [Engineering] 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

As you hurry past, they also stop and stare openly at you.

Er, that's two groups who were staring at us, well those of us they could see. Can those in the group with better Sense Motive's please try and figure out what is going on?

Sense Motive 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Seeing the preparations being made, Cуровую fights the urge to curse out loud and thinks to herself, well what is left of the leadership are no fools ... best let Edmin and the others know of that contingency as soon as we clear this area.

They seem very surprised to see you here.

Okay, up the stairs to the Magister's rooms...

Surprised?

As you come up the stairs to area 39, you see that things have changed since your last visit.

There are six people here: four guards, an acolyte, and an officer. It is Captain Varning. (You may recall that he came back from the patrol just this morning, to sit in judgment on Captain Edderly.) The door to the Magister's laboratory is open; the guards are outside it (area 39), while Captain Varning and the acolyte are inside (Area 40).

One of the guards says, "Captain Varning! Sir! It's... uh, it's the Magister, sir!"

DM you sly dog you. Bref can you please pass the copy of Jade Regent player's guide.

Somewhat surprised of the number of men in HIS private area, but throwing a look of being hurried and annoyance for good measure, as he enters HIS rooms the 'magister' reacts.

'Eh ... Captain, what's all this then? And why are my PRIVATE doors open?'

The 'magister' gives an impression of his private area being trespassed on.

The 'magister' will gauge the reaction of the captain BUT will not hesitate, these ARE his rooms after all. He has his rights accorded to him as the magister of the fort!

Sense Motive 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

The 'magister' will wait for an answer and react accordingly but still head straight to his quarters to make sure his experiments and belongings are in order. Why would anyone come to MY quarters after I said NOT to be disturbed?

He will raise an eyebrow and give a stern reprimand if the room has been searched.

'Well then?'

Bluff (roll high roll sexy!) 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32

almost! Don't roll a 20 captain!

Captain Varning and the acolyte stare at you. Then the acolyte suddenly blurts out, "But... but if this is the Magister... who is this?" He gestures at the pile of ashes on the floor that is all that's left of the late Magister. (The nauseating scent of the Bref-bomb is still sharp in the air.)

The 'magister' would normally have more courteous demeanor, but the rude and pompous Lady Sackville, the horrid effects of the stew and now this clear intrusion of his private space have taken its toll!

'Your obviously have NO qualifications in Arcana! That was obviously the remains on my minor Simulacrum, do you think I would try and attempt to find a cure for our grave condition by testing elixirs and antitoxins on myself??!'

'By Mitra's wrath why don't you make yourself useful where you can do good! You obviously don't know a thing about Arcana!'

for good measure the magister spits out some Arcane equations

Arcana 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

While the magister is running around, fuming and looking through his valued possessions he cracks the door to room 41.

'Your obviously have NO qualifications in Arcana! That was obviously the remains on my minor Simulacrum, do you think I would try and attempt to find a cure for our grave condition by testing elixirs and antitoxins on myself??!'

Niiiiice.

My Sense Motive sucks

Yes -- Captain Varning is still staring at you, not saying anything, and you have no idea what's going on in his head.

You do realize he's seeing some "soldiers" he's never seen before, and a really creepy looking dog.

Well to be fair I would assume the group REMAINS outside the private rooms. Just before are 39. They are intelligent enough for that after all.

edit - On my post above I did say it was the magister who enters his rooms.

Area 36 is a stairway, so they could be down there. (We may need to work out where the sneaky people are -- they would need another set of stealth checks to get up here past the dwarves and all. A high one, because they'd have to sneak right through a well-lit room full of people. No, don't roll yet.)

'Is there anything else?

Clearly the 'maigster's' patience is near its end, while these men are fine, fine soldiers, not even one of them would have the intellect that could cast a minor cantrip to save the kingdom.

I am rather busy with the simple matter of trying to complete and finalize the extracts that will form the basis of the cure, and I requested that the commander meet with me shortly, and there is MUCH to do before then.'

The 'magister' tries to sound understanding,

'Look all our nerves and constitutions are frayed at the moment, let us each do what we can to safeguard the men under our command.'

But still miffed, the 'magister' adds,

'Perhaps next time we can have a lovely gathering in YOUR rooms?

Diplomacy 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

Xen wilts under the glare of the commander. He shifts the cauldron on his arm.

Oh good grief, I completely forgot about Xen. Hum, tomorrow.

that does not bode well for dens immediate future. I guess I should start prepping my next char. How about the alchemist rogue hybrid class

Somewhat surprised of the number of men in HIS private area, but throwing a look of being hurried and annoyance for good measure, as he enters HIS rooms the 'magister' reacts.

'Eh ... Captain, what's all this then? And why are my PRIVATE doors open?'

The 'magister' gives an impression of his private area being trespassed on.

Xen wilts under the glare of the commander. He shifts the cauldron on his arm.

Well let's be fair here a moment, there are several people who have not posted yet.

The entire group (less Morsum but including Grumblejack) has Message cast, you all are intelligent enough and would not blunder blindly in further when you hear Cуровую's side of the conversation. I said the 'magister' is entering HIS rooms, there are guards outside the door in the hallway on duty, you all do NOT have to follow me, in fact I would expect you not to.

Also several of us suggested Ragnar stay in the hidden area at least momentarily, or Cуровую could cast Invisibility on Ragnar if Edmin insisted he come, or even make it seem Ragnar is Summoned, we are waiting on Edmin to post regarding that call. You can see three posts where I offered to use the spells I have and ask if I should mark it off.

1d20 ⇒ 13
1d20 ⇒ 9
1d100 ⇒ 78

As you pass the dwarves (area 34) they stare at you openly. Then, their noses wrinkle. As you are going up the stairs (Area 36) they are frowning.

As Zimu/Magister Tacitus is yelling at the hapless acolyte, the door at the bottom of the stairs opens. Two dwarves are standing there. They stare intently at the group on the stairs, breathing hard.

Just start fireballing

Please remember they do not see all of you, those they do see are in Disguise, and that you can use Message to quickly confer amongst ourselves. Combat is not the only option, and it may be suicidal if we start now.

----

I am curious how DM would have planned the assault on the fort if roles were reversed.

They smell me

But don't see you, that's a key point, I don't want to suggest what you should do next and risk offending anyone, but they do NOT SEE you.

You can even recast Vanish as needed.

Xen you will also note I posted this

While the magister is running around, fuming and looking through his valued possessions he cracks the door to room 41.

Cуровую opened that door knowing some of you would need to slip in there undetected.

Well, his Vanish is going to run out in... [counts on fingers] actually, it's running out this round.

"A... a simulacrum?" The acolyte looks confused. "Um, well, does that -- "

Captain Varning raises a hand. "Magister Tacitus. The people who were visiting you earlier this evening. When the Commander sent me to your quarters and I found... this... he had me send a runner to the Lord's Dalliance to bring them back to the fort.

"They're not there. In fact, they're not anywhere. They seem to have simply... vanished.

"You wouldn't know anything about that, would you, Magister?"