For the Good of the People

Game Master Billybrainpan

"Who is 'they', exactly?"

We don't know exactly, we've sent scouts but none of them returned. All we know is that there dangerous.

He pauses, as if deciding if he should continue.

And brutal. Yesterday we found a village boy out in snow. He was torn in half with his limbs severed and several bites taken out of his torso.

Shao grimaces.

"I'm sorry to hear that. It's always a sad day when a child dies, much less in such a gruesome manner."

"These savages must be dealt with!" Hikage said visible distraught after hearing about the fate of the child.

It's a scrying effect but you are effectively seeing through her eyes, whatever she can see, you can see.

"That is a rather unfortunate happening, not to push the matter but did you have someone examine the body to see if the bites were that of human nature or something else? Agurah will ask before also relaying a message around to the group and replying to Hikage.

Finally, you make it to the village Vargo stops outside one of the Cabins.

You can wait in there.

He walks away without waiting for a response.

I'm trying not to rush ahead so that people have a chance to RP in between events. Would you all prefer it if I try to speed things along?

For now, maybe. There's just not much to react to at the moment, we've just kinda been plopped in here with no clue as to what's going on, so knowing more will let us talk more. As-is all we know is we're here and we've been compromised.

"That was...abrupt."

initial part of campaign benefits from some things happening in quick succession. Later it's best to wait a bit to give everyone an opportunity to act. Now we kinda have the situation set up and need to figure some things out. Apologies for possible bad spelling/grammar, iPad not the handiest for typing messages.

I apologize for the delay.

Vargo returns to the cabin.

Please follow me, the elders will see you now.

Assuming you follow him he leads you down into the cave. The inside proves to open up quickly into a massive cavern well lit with torches and lanterns. This you can see is where the majority of the tribe lives. Tents and campfires are everywhere as well as a training area, and what appears to be a sort of dining pavilion. He leads you down a side passage to a small room filled with chairs covered in may skins and pelts. Six elderly tribespeople sit in a semi-circle around you, three men and three women. One of the men speaks.

Vargo, please leave us.

Vargo slightly inclines his head and steps out of the room.

Please, be seated. We have much to discuss. I'll start from the beginning, four days ago we found one of your scouts, he had been torn to pieces and partially eaten. Shortly after, your other scout revealed herself to us. Her wounds were bad and she had contracted some sort of disease that was consuming her mind and turning her into a monster. On her deathbed she told us that if she didn't report back then the rebellion would send someone else. That is why Vargo knew where you would appear. Your scout told us that you could help.

Okie dokie this is what skill checks are for.

1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11 Know Nobiity. Does anybody that Hikage describes sound familiar?

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23 Checking the sincerity of our large sword wielding bear dude.

Berry has said nothing so far nor betrayed much if any emotion since coming down from the mountain. She absorbs the information. Unfortunate, given Berry would much rather put swords in thigns then make her brain work more than it had to. But something in the back of her brain clicked.

Berry considers this information and then says. "Ghouls? That sounds awfully like ghouls. Mr. Punchy." She says addressing Shao Jian. "Aren't you the expert? Doesn't that sound like ghouls to you?"

1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24 telepathic Bluff. :)

Forgot skills were a thing for a minute.

Shao thinks on it for a moment.

Kn. Religion: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Not sure if they are or not. Lots of things that eat people.

While he does so, he examines Vargo, trying to ascertain if he's telling the truth or holding anything back.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 33

Forgot skills were a thing for a minute.

Shao thinks on it for a moment.

[dice=Kn. Religion]1d20+7

Not sure if they are or not. Lots of things that eat people.

While he does so, he examines Vargo, trying to ascertain if he's telling the truth or holding anything back.

[dice=Sense Motive]1d20+14

But not a lot of things also give them diseases that turn them into mad gibbering monsters. Things like that stick in the memory. :)

Sorry if it wasn't clear, the person speaking is the elder, not Vargo.

Vargo and the elder both seem sincere, although quite worried.

"I don't think it's ghouls. The bodies weren't rising after death, and Ghoul Fever doesn't destroy your mind or change your body while you're alive."

know local for possible cause: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8 ...screw these dice. I need new ones...

If not ghouls...I wonder what they could be. I can not recall a single thing at the moment. Sadly for Agurah she seems to have forgotten what she learned as it has been about 90 years since she last studied up on this area.

Hikage also pondered what this affliction might be.
knowledge(local): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7 seems kind of fitting as I have no clue whatsoever what affliction this might be.

"We'll want to examine the body of our scout, after we finish our discussion." The sandman turns his full attention on the elders, "So, what more can you tell us of these people and how can we help you?"

The body was burned as per tradition. As for what we know, it isn't much. We were hoping you would help us find out. We need a team to infiltrate their camp and learn as much about them as we can. If i'm not mistaken that is probably already your mission. All we ask is that you report back to us and help us learn about them so we can deal with them.

"Where is their camp? And how do you know where it is if none of your scouts have returned alive?"

Ok, let me clear something up because apparently it wasn't before. Where you appeared upon teleporting was on a mountain peak overlooking a valley. In that valley were thousands and thousands of tents, cooking fires, savage men in skins, etc. It's safe to assume that that is the army you are looking for.

I'm confused then, if the people in the valley are clearly visible then why don't we know what they are? Or at least know enough to say "I've never seen anything like that"?

Or were you just saying that they're human(oids) and we're barking up the wrong tree on the plague/cannibalism being something weird.

I think these guys are going to have to fill us in on what exactly is going on because I have no earthly idea what we're doing here beyond trying to figure out what's up and have no information to go on with that except for asking these guys who don't know anything (as far as I know).

The elders dismiss you and cargo appears at the door again to lead you to where you will be staying. They have given you a small side room off of the larger cavern.

You can stay here for the night, in the morning I think it would be good to get going quickly, we will send a guide with you, these mountains can be hard to navigate. Now get some rest, I imagine you've had a long day.

After they arrive in the room, Agurah will lean on a wall holding her head slightly as she is deep in thought Mauling over all of the confusing events that have happened. Why must everything get so complicated. She will mutter to herself.

"I'l take second watch." Berry says as she slumps down on her unrolled bed roll her naked blade very close at hand.

Shao Jian sighs as he sits down.

We accomplished little today. This situation is getting too complex for my tastes. Need to get to work properly in the morning.

"I will take last watch. I must wake that early to do my morning ritual in any case, and my eyes are not suited for absolute blackness as some of yours are."

I will take one of the later watch's as I can see in the darkest of night.

Fine mess we got ourselves in this time. Probably best to question Vargo about his brother in the morning, when we got our own heads on straight again.

"I'll take first watch and seeing as I only need to sleep for 2 hours, I will also be awake during the later watches. An extra pair of eyes is always handy" Hikage said. He put himself in a corner and did some general maintenance on his rifle and musket, making certain they could fire when needed.
"I advise everyone to put away the headpieces for now. No need for them now and we don't want anyone to listen in on our conversations." Once he's certain everyone has their headpieces tucked away he'll continue, "I will resume monitoring the link tomorrow morning. We should decide on a code message I will say when I notice they put on the headpiece again and are monitoring our activities."

Hikage Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (8) + 15 = 23
Agurah Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25

I assume it's now during one of the later watches, as only me and agurah get a check?

Yes, I skipped the other watches because nothing happened.

Aghurah turns to Hikage, she whispers Go wake the others, I will go stealth and watch to see what happens. as she continues to watch the furry man, before disappearing before your eyes into the shadows of the room.

stealth: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (14) + 23 = 37

Hikage tried to rouse the others one by one. When the person woke up, Hikage whispered Possible hostile inbound. Get up and prepare to fight.
While he was busy with this he readied his musket.

The sandman blinks awake and looks around, as if trying to confirm this strange situation isn't reality... and is disappointed with the results. He gets up and readies himself for whatever comes next.

BErry hops up quickly blade in hand. Shuffling her buckler into her freehand she waits close to the entrance of the tent. "So what we got? Pack of rapists? Zombie horde? Orcs?"

Initiative please, and stealth (DC 22) for those of you who want to hide.

Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21

Agurah will ready her rapier from the shadows ready to flank if he attacks.

initative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16 will be holding action on her turn until she can flank him.
stealth roll: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (9) + 23 = 32
Ninjaed

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11 Initiative

For future alacrity when I DM pbp I just keep a list of everyone's initiative and roll it with the initial combat starting post.

DC 22 Stealth is impossibru for Shao, so I won't even try.

Shao rolls out of bed and enters a combat stance.

1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

GOOD ROLLING!

Initiative 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Initiative: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
Stealth: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (18) + 18 = 36 +1 extra if he can use his Highlander trait

How much distance is there between him and us?

There is about 50-60 ft. from you to furry.
Hikage and Agurah get a surprise round.

Initiative
Hikage: 24
Furry: 17
Agurah: 16
Kidhir: 12
Berry: 11
Shao: 4

Surprise round
Hikage started aiming at the skulking furry man closing in on their position.
He is starting the full-round action Dead Shot, one of the lvl 7 gunslinger deeds.

Round 1
Hikage waits with pulling the trigger until the man shows a sign of aggression towards his allies.
Readying a standard action to finish Dead Shot on the skulking man, if he behaves aggressively towards us. As I assume he can see most of my allies, his intentions should be clear to me on his turn. I'll make the rolls for the attack already as I'm not certain if I'll be able to post later and I don't want to make people wait on my actions.

Deadly Aim Deadshot
musket attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 301d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23 Should normally be against Touch AC, 40 ft normal range + 50 ft from the gloves
damage: 2d12 + 9 ⇒ (1, 2) + 9 = 12 [ooc]If only 1 hits, substract second die from damage. If he has moved within 30 ft before I get my shot of, +1 to the attack rolls and the damage roll.

Surprise round

Agurah will wait in the shadows with her rapier drawn waiting for him to get flaked.

Round 1

When he is flanked and showing hostility she will come up behind him to try and stab him from behind and cause bleeding damage.

to hit: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23
damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
stealth: 3d6 + 3 ⇒ (1, 5, 3) + 3 = 12 the +3 is from bleeding attack, he will continue to take 3 bleeding damage per round unless he makes a Heal check Dc 15

Furry charges at shao with a battle axe, taking a bullet to the shoulder from Hikage as he runs.

Attack: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (11) + 17 = 28 Damage: 1d8 + 17 ⇒ (4) + 17 = 21

Agurah gets in a good shot from behind and you can see the fur stained red around his side where she stabbed him.

Kidhir: 12
Berry: 11
Shao: 4

I suggest folks with useful Knowledge skills make some rolls to ID this guy.

"Try to keep him alive for questioning." The sandman incants a spell quickly and sparkly dust rains down on the strange creature, seeking its eyes.

Working without a map here, I'm assuming I can cast Glitterdust without hitting an ally. If not, let me know. Also, is the battleaxe haft made of metal?

Cast Glitterdust
RANGE: 100' +10'/lv ; 10' radius spread
DURATION: 1 rnd/lv (7 rounds)
EFFECT: Will Save vs DC:16 or blinded (new save @ end of turn)
BLINDNESS: -2 AC ; Lose DEX bonus to AC ; -4 on most STR and DEX checks w/ opposed Perception ; 50% Miss

Will: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
The bear-man is coated in sparkling dust but he shakes his head and avoids being blinded.

Hikage and Agurah can both make a knowledge local check if they would like.

Knowledge(Local): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18