From Breland Forth

Game Master therealthom

"People, even good people, will do terrible and drastic things in times of war they feel they have no choice. Good people may do these things to put an end to the war as quickly as possible. Now the war is over and we all have choices, join a small farming village and make your living instead of destroying what others have made..." Jamorin sighs and shakes his head "You all need to get out of the fantasy, stop trying to fabricate some enemy you can defeat in the name of glory, you will find an enemy, but I doubt you will find much glory fighting tired farmers, and retired veterans. For argument's sake let's say you get your war, and win it, now you've killed all the farmers, all the artisans, the trappers, and hunters you've burned the fields and destroyed the crops. Now what? There's no food left to steal, you didn't learn to farm, learn to survive, just learned killing what will you do when winter comes and there's no crops to fill the food stores?"

Cass looks up, but quickly returns to studying his boots.

The cook shrugs and motions toward a bedroll, " Mind if I catch some sleep?"

Pol shifts under his blanket and moans.

Groom remains out cold.

The fire, tiny when you first saw it, sputters the last of its flame and is reduced to a small pile of coals.

The bandits' horses stamp at their tethers.

Your other companions set to work, caring for your own horses, gathering more firewood, and supplementing the Cook's pot.

feel free to talk as long as you like. It's the best part of the game for me. Let me know when you're ready to move on or want more from the prisoners.

"Sleep if you can," Aljohar tells the cook, hefting her healer's kit and kneeling to check Pol's and Milkrun's injuries and give them better leeching than the quick and dirty first aid they'd been provided so far.

Heal Treat Deadly Wounds Milkrun: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23
Heal Treat Deadly Wounds Pol: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

Takes 2 hours and 4 uses of healer's kit. They get back 1 hp/creature level, then will recover more from the night's rest.

Nice healing rolls, Treppa, but not enough to win the wisdom bonus. Anyone else care to Aid Another?

Milkrun is the only one that Treat Deadly Wounds will work on. Pol's injuries are more than 24 hours old. So that will save you a couple healing kit uses. Treat disease would be more appropriate for Pol. You may keep the roll and I'll factor it into his morning save.

Cass sits by the fire while Aljohar tends Milkrun. When she moves to Pol, Cass rises and kneels anxiously beside her while she tends his brother. If permitted, he tries to help.

Since you've pretty much dropped quiet, I assume you're ready to move on. Please post any overnight actions, a watch list, etc.

Linokashtai holds anything that Aljohar needs holding, occasionally making comments, though her perspective on the matter is purely academic, so she seems disinclined to touch anything.

Heal (Aid Another): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
Heal (Aid Another): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

That gets Aljohar her wisdom bonus to HP healed. Milkrun is still in bad shape, but much better. (- a few hp instead of several)

Other overnight actions and watches?

Lydia goes about setting up camp, and ensuring the prisoners are disarmed and watched. She'll take a watch rotation herself, having low-light vision.

Treppa had proposed this list as standard at the sculptor's house: Lydia, Jamorin, Uthar, Aljohar. I will roll with that. Aljohar had proposed 2 man watches. I'll put Lino on with Lydia; Karl on with Jam; and redshirts with Uthar and Aljohar.

Sounds good.

Holidays with guests have ended. I should be back to normal now.

The first two watches pass uneventfully. In the third shift, a light misting rain drifts over the campsite. Uthar and his fellow watch-keeper are disturbed by a series of whinies and restive movement among the horses.

Nils, who had been kneeliong to feed the fire, stands and looks toward the horses, then toward Uthar. His hand goes to the hatchet hanging from his belt.

Suddenly a whiny pitches into a scream of pain. The horses mill and circle. Four break their tethers. Two of those dash into the woods and two charge through the campsite.

"Everybody UP, WE HAVE GUESTS" Although he suspects that most have already been woken by the miniature stampede.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10 "Nils, check our new friends are where they should be!" As he squints into the mist and dark, trying to sight whatever has assaulted the horses.

Uthar is drawing his Greatsword and moving towards where the horses were tied up. He'll attack if he gets in range, but I'm assuming this is a surprise round and all he'll be able to do is draw and move.

Inititative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 For when its needed.

Whinnies, galloping, shouting distance. Sleepers, please make 2 perception checks v DC 5 and 8. (I've already considered the sleeping penalty; do not factor that into your roll. ) If you pass either one you are awakened by the noise and prone. Give me your locations around the campfire. I'll clean up the map tomorrow. Oh, and roll initiative. If you beat this: Init: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3, take your round 1 actions. The yellow area is illuminated by campfire, beyond that is darkness.

Nils follows Uthar's commands. He dodges a horse and steps quickly to where the prisoners lie.

"They're still here!"

Uthar charges to the west edge of the camp with his naked sword in one hand, a burning brand in the other. He tries to make out what id going on among the rearing horses.

Uthar, your surmise is correct, surprise round for now. What you see will depend on how far you go to the west. Let me know.

Perception check #1: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
Perception check #2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

Perception 1: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
Perception 2: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23

Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Updated Map

Yellow squares around fire are dim light. Darkness beyond. Burning branches in the fire are available as torches.

To save time, I've taken the liberty of placing everyone. I will go ahead and roll initiatives too for those that haven't rolled yet.

To further save time, let's try this combat with rolling initiative. Everyone above the threat in the list below can post regardless of rolled order. Remember everyone except Uthar and Nils starts prone. For now your prisoners are not fighting. Should that change, I'll roll them in. Let me know if I've left anyone out.

Uthar still has to let me know how far he went in the surprise round. His current position on the map is his starting position before the surprise round.
Initiative Order:
Jamorin 23
Karl 17
Lydia 12
Aljohar 8
Uthar 6
Syrus 12
Samantha (R2)

The threat? 3

Lino 2
Nils (R1)

20 ft to AD14, just outside the light of the campfire, 5ft stepping down-right first not at the end, just in case there is anything behind that tent corner. I'll base my next rounds action off of what I see.

Updated Map

Lydia reacts to the alarm almost before she is aware of doing so, snatching up her bow and rolling to her feet in one motion, peering into the darkness (low light vision).

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

I'm going to assume that it's going to take people this round to get oriented I'm going to 5-ft step left so I have some more light to work with I'll hold an action to attack (I'll drop the torch to use my great-sword properly if I need to attack)

"Geroff that horse ya bleeding great cats."

Yelling loudly, Uthar hopes he can distract the cats from the horse. His teeth grind against one another in annoyance and frustration, he really wants to pulverise whatever these things are, but he's also not going to charge off into the night without support.

Anyone else?

Too smart for my satisfaction, NUtter.

Lydia, have a look at Uthar's spoiler 3 posts back. And you may take your round 1 action if you want. Uthar's waiting for support.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

"What's going on?" Karls says standing up at the sounds of the horses and commotion.

"Who goes there? Friend or Foe!" He calls to the darkness.

Lydia races to Uthar's side, notching an arrow as she moves.

Karl and the others gathered around the fire hear a hissing snarl returning his challenge from the area where the horses are picketed.

Everyone gets out of their bedding and readies themselves. Except Samantha, the other townsperson who accompanied you, she remains asleep.

Updated Map

Yellow shaded areas are normal light. For simplicity we'll assume all unshaded areas are dim. Same as before light brown is brush. It is difficult terrain and penalizes ranged to hit rolls at -1 per 2 squares crossed. Trees are dark brown. Horse at AI8-AJ9 is dead. Black squares are your catlike foes.

Initiative:
Jamorin
Karl
Lydia
Aljohar
Uthar
Syrus
Samantha (R2)
Lino
Nils (R1)
Two Black Cats

Jam wakes with a start as Uthar bellows he shakes his head and grabs his Sansetsukon next to his bedroll and clambers to his feet "Wha? Cats? What's going on?" he asks and makes his way over to Uthar and Lydia and peers towards the cat creatures.

Aljohar surveys the situation and, still in her bedroll, grabs a nearby rock there are always rocks in campgrounds, generally under one's bedroll, and taps it with her holy symbol, chanting a few clear words. The rock begins to shine as if it were a lighted brand.

Pick up rock (move) and cast light on it (std). Next round: rise (move) and throw rock into darkness past the horses.

Lino's up. Karl can still take action too because the verbal challenge would be free.

Aljohar's rock lands short of big cats, but provides a wash of light to give you your first good look at them. They are about the size of pumas and cloaked in jet black fur whose gleaming highlights shift unpredictably. Sinewy flesh hangs from the mouth of the farther one, perching on the motionless body of a horse. The near one hisses its growl at the party. Over the backs of both cats lash long tentacles which end in spiky pads.

"We'll watch the prisoners. You take care of whatever it is," Syrus assures the party.

Updated Map

Inititiative:
Karl
Lino

Two Black Cats

Jamorin
Lydia
Aljohar
Uthar
Syrus
Samantha (R2)
Nils (R1)

Linokashtai concentrates for a moment and there is a shimmer around her as she manifests inertial armour, she moves towards the cats to try and get within 30 feet of them and draws her crossbow.

I don't see the cats on the map, but I assume that would be movement towards the east.

The tentacle cats are the black rectangles. You can easily get within 30'; but there's a thicket between you and the cats. Movement is difficult through those squares and they provide a penalty to ranged shots through them. DO you want to go through them, around to the north away from the rest of the party or south to end up near your other friends.

The map link seems to have gone south. Try this one. ( Lino's movement has not been plotted yet.)

The Kalashtar's movement or the light from Aljohar's stone seems to annoy the cats. Both bare their fangs in a hissing growl and the nearer one springs forward a few feet and doesn't quite land where you expected it to. It's tentacles lash out at Lydia.

The nearest horses whinny and shy and rear. One pulls its pickets and bolts straight toward Uthar.

Tentacle v Lydia: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17 ... damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Tentacle v Lydia: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27 ... damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Uthar I'm treating this as an accidental overrun attack. I'll give you a DC 15 reflex save to avoid it all together. Otherwise you take a bull rush to knock you prone. CMB to knock prone: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 5 - 2 = 11

Edit: Tentacle v Lydia, crit confirm: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20 ... damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Lydia goes down under the double blows before she can draw her bow back. Medic! She's on -1 hp! Next time remind me to put Uthar between me and the enemy!

Sorry, Dabbler. When do I ever roll like that!? Ya'll are up. Get to it.

Aljohar sees Lydia drop and rushes towards the fallen hunter, holy symbol in hand, and prays for healing before she even reaches her downed friend.

Yeeps! Can't double move and cast a good spell, so moving to square northwest of tree (Q17?) and channeling to try to keep Lydia alive.

recover hp: 1d6 ⇒ 4

That will keep Lydia on her feet. Jam, Karl, Lino?

Seeing the shifter falter, Syrus shouts for the other two townsfolk to watch the prisoner and rushes forward to help.

And Uthar. Sorry, man, 'cause this could be your moment.

"Wha..." Lydia's head clears as she mentally berates herself, but she stays down so as not to attract the cat's attention.

Sorry about the delay, Linokashtai moves to AB13. She's not trying to get close for the cross-bow's sake, so line of sight is more the concern. It's just in almost every case, it's better to be holding a cross-bow than not!

Reflex: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13
CMD 16 I'll add that to the huge list of things in my info-bar. Also apologies for the delay.

The horse merely clips the man, not quit powerful enough to knock him over but certainly enough to be felt, as he drops his torch and bellows a war-cry as he steps over Lydia to attack his opponent. Uthar is now Raging

Greatsword: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Damage: 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (4, 1) + 10 = 15

"I'll have you for that!"

Know (local): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

"A black cat at midnight. ♪" Karl sings as he gets out his flute and starts to play a soft melody that drifts amongst the trees as a wane mist to permeate and pervade the hearts of the defenders and inspire them to combat.

Move: grab Flute
Std Action: Start Inspire Courage (+1 to hit & damage)

A snaky tendril whips at Uthar as he closes.

AoO: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23 ... damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

He deals a mighty blow at the cat ....

miss chance 1-50: 1d100 ⇒ 42

And the blow that looked sure to cut the cat in twain lodges in the ground to the left of the cat's paws.

Syrus comes running forward to help.

The first cat glides away from Uthar and it's tendril lash out again, this time at Aljohar.

Cat 1 tentacle v Aljohar: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 7 - 2 = 9 ... damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Cat 1 tentacle v Aljohar: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 7 - 2 = 19 ... damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

The second cat leaps forward from the dead horse to assault Uthar.
Cat 2 tentacle v Aljohar: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20 ... damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Cat 2 tentacle v Aljohar: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20 ... damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

From behind you, the prisoners shout, "Let us loose. We'll help fight!"

Updated Map

These beasts have a 50% miss chance. I rolled for Uthar to save time this round, but please roll with your attacks.

I took the liberty of moving Karl closer to the fight too, but still behind the others.

ANd you all are up again.

Lydia rolls away from the semi-felines 5' step/move to AD14 and scrambles to her feet, bow still in hand.

Acrobatics (if needed to avoid AOO): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Aljohar hisses as the stinging tentacle whips across her flesh. NOW I remember the not fun parts of war.

She reaches out to touch Lydia with Dol Dorn's holy symbol, watching out for those tentacles.
Concentration DC 17 to cast defensively: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
burn inflict for cure light: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Drawing her longsword, she moves back to a position to heal the group without helping the damned cat-things. Move to AD17 with a draw. Provokes.

There's a crackle in the air around Linokashtai's eyes as she focuses on the nearest of the cats as she pours extra focus onto the psionic assault.

Augmented Mind Thrust: 2d10 ⇒ (10, 3) = 13
DC 14 will negates

She loads her crossbow and says of the prisoners to Syrus with a grimace, seeing how easily the cats are injuring her allies, "Free them! We may need the extra hands."

5ft Step to AD 11

Uthar presses forwards, even under the blows of the cat, grunting at the heavy bruises surely being inflicted through his armour.

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Miss Chance 1-50: 1d100 ⇒ 89
Damage: 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (4, 5) + 10 = 19

"Stay still you blasted beasts."

I'll assume those second cats hits were truly intended for me, despite the dice naming Aljohar, otherwise Aljohar is about to have a really bad day.

Jam and Karl are up. -- Right you are, Nutter. Good catch on my cut and paste error. -- I'll update the map tonight.

Lydia gets to her feet and gets ready. Aljohar provides her with some healing and removes herself from harm's way. Lino tries a mental assault, but her target shrugs it off. Uthar wades in with another powerful swing, but the cat once again eludes his ax.

Syrus relays Linokashtai's command, "Nils, Sam! Cut 'em loose," before launching a magic missile at the first cat. The normally reliable spell fails as the missile flies wide.

Behind you the other two townsfolk begin cutting your prisoners loose.

No one trying knowledge checks? Not that it will help.

Knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 Just in case although I don't think it comes under this...

Jam and Karl are up.

Know local or arcana apply. See my Jan 24 post. Remember anyone can always try know local untrained.

Treppa, didn't you get a CLW wand when you left Haltwhistle?

Map Updated

I did, forgot to mark it down. Thanks for the reminder.

Jam hustles over to join Uthar "Let's see if we can get surround them, take advantage of our numbers." He tries to get around to the other side of the black cat Uthar's engaged with.

I'm not totally sure if Jam can make it far enough to flank, but he'll go as as he can, and attack the kitty.

If the cat goes for an AOO Jam at +4 AC and will retaliate with Panther Style
Panther Style retaliation: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Miss chance: 1d100 ⇒ 37
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Sansetsukon strike: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Miss chance: 1d100 ⇒ 32
Damage: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

'It'll give the prisoners a chance to prove their loyalties & hopefully tie them closer to us, than their old military.' Karl thinks as he manoeuvres around the forest, following Jams' advice.

Free: Continue Bardic Performance (7/9 left): +1 to hit & damage.
Move: Double to AH14, drawing rapier.