Empire of Night: Way of the Wicked (Vampire Campaign)

Game Master Neil Mansell

Durova casts Protection from Good on Dane, making it harder for the swordsman to strike at him.

Sorry, I'm not generally online on weekends.
Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Anton mutters the words to a spell "Tnemelbeefne Fo Yar" sending a dark coruscating beam from his hand, hoping to catch the warrior off-guard and weaken his blows.

Ray of Enfeeblement: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
Strength Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
(DC 15 Fort save for half), so either 6 or 3 strength damage

Fort: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

Though he makes the save, he still feels it, and his eyebrows lower and knit as he glowers for a moment, but his concentration stays on Dane.

Dane continues his attack, appreciative of his allies assistance.

Power Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Damage: 2d4 + 15 ⇒ (2, 2) + 15 = 19

Sunder: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24
that thing: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (5, 4) + 7 = 16

This time, the sword bites, and the rhomphia is broken. He attacks:

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
Damage: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (3, 1) + 7 = 11

I won't fall without a fight!

Dane face contorts in a fierce glower at the snapping of his blade. "Then die well knowing you've fulfilled your final promise. You'll pay for what you've done." Dane finally utters the phrase as he realizes that any hope of a quiet battle is far over as he throws the now useless handle of his weapon to the ground, and lashes out with his fists, throwing blow after blow trying to strike the man.

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Damage: 1d4 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Anton curses as Dane's sword is shattered. "Rethgual Suoedih," he mutters another spell targeting their opponent, this seemingly powerful warrior.

Hideous Laughter (DC 15 Will)

Durova readies an action to cast a spell if Anton's spell has no effect.

Attacking unarmed draws an AoO...
Attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19
Damage: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (4, 5) + 7 = 16

Will: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

The big man chuckles for a moment, but manages to stay in control. All the while, he's starting to look a bit unsteady on his feet. His nightclothes are dyed red , now.

Durova cast Hold Person on the warrior, hoping he would give the others an opening.

DC 16 Will to resist

Will: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

As Durova finishes his spell, Captain Barhold, the senior captain of the keep, and one of the most respected military men in the region is as still as a statue, only sweat and blood rolling in rivulets.

Dane actually has Cestus to count as armed as a backup to the Rhomphaia, so no AoO, not that he hit anyway, but for future reference.

Dane walks forward with a smirk playing about his face. "I suppose I'll have to use your blade until I regain my own." The Iraen rolls the Captain over on his back, "Your people will die, your country shall burn, and the Iraens will finally have the vengeance we've been denied for so long. Vengeance against our oppressors." Dane wrenches the man's neck wickedly, hoping for that telling snap that would herald the Captain's death.

Coup de Grace
Damage: 1d4 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

Good deal, then...and no, it wouldn't have. OTOH, the man is remarkably resilient...though he's obviously direly injured, his eyes still hold focus. His breathing is bad, strained, but after all that, he remains conscious.

"Get him, Anton! Before he breaks free," Durova hisses at his teammate as he casts Guidance on him.

Reminder: Coup de Grace is an automatic critical hit and requires a DC 10+damage Fort save or die. So Dane's power attack cestus hit would have done 2d4+16 damage for a DC 26+2d4 results Fort save for the good captain. Given his Fort save is +8 and Dane's 1st d4 was a 2, the minimum damage would be 19 and DC 29, so only a 20 should save. But, just in case...

Anton, on the off chance the good captain had survived Dane's muscled graces, steps up to the frozen man and plucks the blade from his hands, holding it away from the man but out for Dane, should he wish it.

Disarm vs. helpless + guidance: 1d20 + 3 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 4 + 1 = 13
As the fellow has an effective Strength and Dex of 0, his CMD becomes 10 -5 str -5 dex + BAB = 0 + BAB.

The damage did look pretty low.

At any rate, Dane will finish the man off before he can do anything.

Durova quickly scans the room for any magic, with detect Magic. "I think we need to leave now! There's a chance everyone in this place heard us. Dane, do you think you could turn into this fellow, and bark some directions at the other guards? Clearly, he is of some import."

The sword has a magical aura.

"Someone should stash that sword and take it with us. It's magical! Or, it would be perfect to help us pull off an effective bluff..."

Dane shakes his head. "I'm not so talented at disguises that I'd fool the people who know him, and if anyone discovers the body I'd only be making it more obvious who the intruders are." Dane retrieves his weapon. "Come, there's still more work to do, the sooner we leave this room the sooner we will blend into the crowd."

Out in the hall again, and so far, it's still quiet.

Dane walks swiftly down the hall, and peaks into the next room. Room 5

Question, did Dane take the magic sword, since his Rhoka was sundered? If not Anton will take it, in case we need the bluff (cause he certainly won't be able to use it).

Anton quietly follows Dane, keeping an eye out.

Oops, yeah if I didn't actually post that, I did. Dane's been taking a keepsake/trophy from each Captain he's killed from the Talirean Army, and is in need of a replacement weapon for the moment, so he's definitely taken it.

Don't forget - one Make Whole, and voila! Mending isn't perfect, but does work...

True enough! It's mostly the casting time of 10 minutes on Mending that's making Dane try his hand at a different weapon for the moment rather than a true replacement. Once Dane can safely leave the weapon in Durova's care for an hour or so of repair, he'll be back in action.

Durova follows the others, thankful that there hadn't been too big of a din raised so far.

This door is locked.

Perception 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

"There's movement in there. Let's leave them be...they might have heard something so putting some distance between us and this area would be best."

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

Dane stares at the door for a moment. If they heard something... then why wasn't an alarm raised? Why not rush to the defense? Why lock the door and stay silent? ...Perfect. Dane turns towards Durova and smirks as he quietly whispers. "It's curious that if they heard something they haven't actually done anything. Perhaps this isn't a soldier... but a valuable hostage."

For more detail Eldon, could you describe these sounds of movement for us? Is it more like the sound of heavy boots on stone? The jingle of chain? The creak of someone heavy getting out of an old bed? Bare feet on the stone floor?

...creaking...rustling...a clank or two...footsteps, some heavy...

Whelp... scratch that last post then!

Perhaps they heard the struggle and have begun arming? Locking the door to buy time? Dane nods towards Durova and sets off at a quickened pace. Heading north down the hall and away from the room at a fast pace.

Anyone got any ideas for rooms they want to investigate? Here's the link to the map again. http://duderlybob.imgur.com/all/

Durova nods and walks off at a quickened pace. "Quickly now! The kitchen is nearby. Let's head there next."

I agree with the plan Dane put forth in the discussion thread. Kitchen, then dwarves, and figure things out from there.

Anton shrugs, following the others. "Do as much damage as we can, but still leave an opportunity to escape, preferably without exposing our means of ingress. Spoil their food stores, ruin their weaponry and war machines, and the like... kill the leadership if given the chance. We can prevent them from supplementing many of those losses from the outside, now that the rookery is gone," he whispers.

Sounds good, though I don't want to get caught in here. More than what's just in the kitchen, I think spoiling _all_ of their food/water stores would do a lot to limit them (since they'd have to hunt or purchase food from the town, or send runners for supplies... the first and last mean Grumblejack gets to eat and they still don't get supplies).

Stealth: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

Mordesel steps through the door and is startled for a moment, until he realizes who is standing in front of him. Well, hello. You come out for a little adventure as well? He walks up to the group, his disguise changing as he does to match, his clothes becoming armor, the circlet a helmet. Though he keeps most of his appearance, he changes a few small things. I have some infromation concerning the gatehouse, but that can wait for later. What's the plan now? He hears Durova's suggestion of the kitchen, We're in the wrong guise for that, if we're going to the kitchen we should be servants. Mordesel quickly dons the disguise of a servant, urging the rest to do the same. Then he starts heading to the kitchen.

1d20 + 3 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 3 + 10 = 28

We're assuming 10 is the kitchen at this point, correct?

"I'd started thinking you'd left us, Mordesel. Good to see you again," Durova whispered, as he too turned into a servant, if the coast was clear. Durova hops in line, following the monk on the path to the kitchen.

Ok, tell me the path you're taking, and the precautions you want to take.

We are changing our disguise to servants and taking 8 up to 10. Mordesel's disguise makes him look like a young man, slightly crippled leg, quarterstaff looks like a walking stick. He limps along going to the door. My disguise check was the 28 above.

Mordesi's plan is good with me. Durova will go for an older servant. He won't mess with anything like an exaggerated limp, but a bit of a humped back from the wearing on him of time. I'm not sure what my disguise bonus will be, but I have a plus two for Charisma and whatever the headband gets me.

Just as you get to the door, there's a rustling, a click...and a creak...behind you.

Perception 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

Durova freezes, peeking over his shoulder to see if they had been discovered after all. He prepared to cast a spell if the group was threatened.

Mordesel looks around, but tries to make it seem natural as he continues opening the door.

Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (12) + 15 = 27
Bluff: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27
Bluff: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 24

"'I want scones' he says... I bring him scones... 'No not those flavor, get me others' he says... I ask 'What flavors then, milord?' I ask... He says 'Surprise me', he says...," Anton mutters with an air of submissive annoyance as if he were telling his colleagues of a recent serving experience he had endured.

Captain Mott steps out from the doorway.

You. Servants. I heard a scuffle. Have you seen anyone strange about?

He's armed and fully armored, and looks quite irritated.

Stuff: 1d20 ⇒ 14

He blinks his eyes a couple of times.

You must be new...

Mordesel turns to face him, crouching slightly, Yes sir. I mean um, no sir. I mean erm . . . he pauses for a moment letting his fluster show. Mordesel takes a deep breath then starts over, Yes sir I'm new here. He stops, wringing his hands around his walking stick.

Technically none of that is a lie. Do you want a Bluff roll for that?

Lol...no...you're doing fine.

Pastry? You mean all of this is over a pastry?

Now Mott looks confused as he turns to walk the other way down the hall.

Durova nods as well, maintaining his hunched over posture as he does so. As the Captain starts talking about pastry, Durova looks at Mordesl out of the corner of his eye. "What was that," he hisses once Mott headed in the other direction. "Quickly now...to the kitchen. It's getting too close for comfort in here!"

Mordesel smiles as the captain turns his back. He nods to Durova, and turns to continue to the kitchen.

We continue our journey to the kitchen.