GM Burglar's #5–02: The Wardstone Patrol (Inactive)

Game Master mechaedd

Since it looks like everyone's punched the diplomacy clock...

Looking over the hill, everyone can see the remains of an abandoned village. It lies at the foot of the hill on the banks of the West Sellen River, its decaying structures slowly melting back into the landscape. Between the hill and the village proper lie flooded fields sectioned off by raised, earthen walkways that converge on a larger, dry area.

A group of six individuals in commoner's clothing have assembled on a larger, open dry patch in the middle of the fields. Two lie on the ground in obvious pain, while the rest stand in a circle, holding threshes, spades, pitchforks, and other farming implements. A small heap of dead bodies lies near them, though one of them seems to actually be alive, as it stands from the pile and joins the others. Ilivan watches the scene for a moment before signaling everyone to move back. "This is unrelated to our mission. Let's head back and be on our way."

Friendly tip: This is one of those times where Diplomacy isn't a 1-minute action.

"Sir Ilivan: does the Sir in your name mean you are a knight?"

Súrë legitimately wants to know but is also reminding Sir Ilivan of his chivalrous duties.

Diplomacy assist: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Edit: But Sir Ilivan just thinks Súrë is an airhead. Rightfully so.

I beg to differ Sir Ilivan. I would put forth that it is the duty of a knight to protect the folks the reside here, even if that means protection from themselves. So does not seem right. Let us go investigate.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (9) + 15 = 24

Baz's words seem to have an effect in the half-elf's mind as he freezes up physically while he tries to justify the situation to what is likely his conscious. "They're probably a danger to the patrol. Even if they're not, they're acceptable losses; this could just be one giant trap. That treachery demon could be in there. We should just go, and complete what we know we can complete and not throw our lives away..." He continues on talking to himself on the hill.

Meanwhile, in the distance, two of the peasants look to each other and their farming scythes with fear and confusion. A third nods and begins to move to the middle of the circle and seems to be laying down inside the circle of people.

Here's an example map, though I missed another enemy piece; there's 7 moving around total.

Ooooone mooooore thing! Putting together an easy copy-paste for mass perceptions/inits; What's your bird's init, Súrë, and does anyone have any variables for init that I might need to add/subtract?

If we happen to be in urban terrain (unlikely) Des gets +2 to his initiative. The way Sahrek's been played is that he basically doesn't do anything until I command him, so I've never had GMs roll initiative for him.

This isn't right. "SIR! If there is a demon in there, shouldn't we deal with it? Isn't that the point of this patrol!? They're just farmers!"

Desmond dismounts from his horse and calls to his wolf, "Heel Sahrek." Take 10 on HA for 18.

Taking a few steps towards the farmers (about 20 feet from the horse), the ranger then calls out to them, "Hello! Everything all right here!?" He blocks the sun from his eyes as he scans the area for any obvious signs of malfeasance.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

I should clarify; the horses are off-the-map; you left them about 50-ish feet southwest and snuck up here. Horses (when not awakened) are pretty bad at stealth. And the inits thing is moreso if the animal companion rolls worse than the user, the AC doesn't follow its command until its turn. I don't think it's something clarified anywhere, but it's generally how I roll with AC's, Eidolons, familiars, etc. etc.

THE BIRD* has an init of +5.

I don't have his stats up yet but will do that soon. He knows the tricks:

Attack
Bombard
Defend
Deliver
Down
Fetch
Guard
Seek

*name will come eventually. Originally ripped the name Thorondor straight out of Tolkien, as I was wont to do for my first few character concepts (only got the sylph boon last spring but had this character idea sitting around for a long time). Glaurung is another example of that (dragon from Silmarillion). Since then I've become more creative and original in my names (even if I often revert to Quenya, especially for elves). I'm going to let his name come up organically.

GM - can I reflavor my previous post, as I apparently have a reading problem? So, instead of walking away from the horses, Desmond will walk eastward from behind the trees that the party is behind. At any rate, he makes himself known to the farmers.

Yeah, that's fine. Visiting the grandma, so only mobile posts. Everybody's got an equivalent amount of action during what Des is doing.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Varg glances at Sir Ilivan, shrugs his shoulders, spits, and walks out to stand next to Desmond with his arms crossed.

Does this work? Sure, bads aren't on the map yet, but PC placement can happen.

Bah, mobile app is useless for permission stuff! I'll get it fixed at home if I can't get the web app to run the desktop version of Drive.

How 'bout now?

Baz shakes his head and starts walking down toward the men. Suit yourself Ilivan, but we are are going to adhere to our morals and tenets.

I requested access.

Did the knight respond to Omrax or did I miss it, or he ignored him?

“Sir Ilivan, with the grace of the Goddess and support of my companions at the time, I have faced down a Demon of Guile and dispatched it back to the Abyss. Although, I cannot claim the event left me unmarked, I have also received certain gifts in return.”

She smiles now. “Feel free to approach me on this matter at another time. Despite my reputation, I take the vows of the Confessional most seriously.”

Assist Baz’s Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 1 = 16

Luisila moves to a position behind Varg, Des and maybe Omrax as well.

“Omrax, do any of the villagers detect as evil?”

She calls out is a friendly tone to the locals, “Might pay to come over to us. I can attend to your wounded here where there’s more space to operate.”

Luisila drops her backpack and appears to fuss inside it, ready to remove any medical kit.

Take (10) Perception + Guidance: 10 + 16 + 1 = 27
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

I think we are too far away to Detect Evil.

response?

Oops, must have missed that between work runs and post edits.

Ilivan actually turns to look to Omrax, actually makes eye contact and returns salute. "At ease, fellow crusader. I must say, quite the list of accolades you have there. Knowing another of the Inheritor's is among the group is reassuring, knowing there's another who understands the importance of following orders. May She fortify our shields and see us through to the end."

-Posted with Wayfinder

Omrax looks at the commander in disbelief.

• I will learn the weight of my sword. Without my heart
to guide it, it is worthless—my strength is not in my
sword, but in my heart. If I lose my sword, I have lost a
tool. If I betray my heart, I have died. .

He nods to Bazresh and states matter of fact as he strides beside the Teifling.

"If these farmers need our help, we will defend them. If there is a demon here, we will destroy it. Iomedae does not let me walk away from either. "

Detect Alignment?

Yup, too far for either you or Omrax; they're a 60-ft cone.

Bazresh moves closer to the group of farmers and tries to detect evilness.

Just realized I hadn't picked out Súrë's spells for the day yet.

I am a little confused on the map. What is the gap in the land moving forward? Water? Forest?

Yes, that's water.

@GM: I may need a token for BIG BIRD. He's medium size. At this point Súrë would have told him to land and walk up with the rest of the crew. Don't want a giant bird flying over the farmers to spook them. . . at least not yet.

Luisila stands and stretches out her arms – her eyes and palms raised up to the Maelstrom that is the Worldwound's sky.

“Goddess of Elysium/burning an unquenchable flame/the summit of beauty and lust/Calistria’s Her name … bless this gathering. May all present receive a rightful reward for their actions.”

*Casts* Bless

EDIT: @Varg. Yes. If I'm understanding correctly, they are more-or-less directly to the north of us standing on an 'island' separated by some water from the peninsula we're standing on.

So, the villagers are on the other side of the water?

So, the villagers are on the other side of the water?

Yep. Though my elderly eyes had trouble reading it, I believe the light blue is difficult terrain and the dark blue requires a Swim check.

Well, are we gonna stand here and yell across, or are we headin' over?

Omrax will walk forward 20' along one of the dry land areas and then start detecting evil towards the farmers, watching the pools for movement

"Aye Sir Varg, let us see what we can do for these farmers. "

perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Successfully prevented killing anyone with an unofficial "Paizo AP Book 2 End Boss Equivalent." So that was kinda a win. Will update map with farmers and slam some inits before sleepies. Sorry for the delay, though it'll be regular for Thursdays.
But yes; Deep blue water is a swim check and light blue is difficult terrain.

As the group approaches the villages and Luisila tries to talk to them, a few just keep their wicked grins and watch the party move closer.

As Luisila begins to cast, however (so right before bless), two of the frightened (not happy) ones react to unheard words in a panic. "Aah! A-alright, alright!"[/smaller] as they make motions to move forward and brandish their farming scythes!

Baz: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Des: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Sah: 1d20 ⇒ 4 Plus whatever
Lui: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Omr: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Sur: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Sur Bird: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Cle: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
B1: 1d20 ⇒ 20
B2: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (4) - 1 = 3

Omr: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

Sur: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
B1: 1d20 ⇒ 20
Baz: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Des: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Lui: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Sur Bird: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Cle: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Sah: 1d20 ⇒ 4 Plus whatever
B2: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (4) - 1 = 3

Order is as follows!

Omrax, upon seeing some if the men approach in hostile fashion, will stride boldly forward (double move) to cross the shallow water and prepare to meet the attackers on their island.

"You! Yes YOU! Stand still with it!"

I am certain something bad will leap out of the water and grab him, but hey, that is how Omrax rolls.

Sorry Burglar - I put Sahrek's initiative in his little spoiler on my info line. And Omrax, I always heard the line as "Stand still laddie!" But its an excellent line to use at any rate.

Hah, Desmond, you are right. I wanted to direct that to Linnea after her "Bird" reference but that is a different place with a different bird. :-)

I just realized that you're Fendahl. I keep forgetting how interconnected we all are.

Who, me? Over analyzing something? That doesn’t sound like me at all … much … ;)

Luisila, now you are over analyzing. :-)

Yeah, Des, we are like some sick and twisted West Virginia Mountain family...lol! No offense to anyone actually from WV, just taking advantage of what I am certain is a longstanding, general misconception. ;-)

Miniupdate! (I like to little, mechanics-only posts between big-and-fluffy posts to let everyone know how the rest of the PC's turns have gone, and because I tend to forget what's going on/to describe something properly.

Súrë casts a protective spell on BIG BIRD (shield companion) and orders the bird to attack the grinning farmers.

Here's a minor mockup of that corner for editing purposes (since I can do excels on skydrive at work.) Either move yourselves and let me know you've got the moving done (as well as shifting other people if you want) or just change the excel.

Not sure which ones are grinning and which are being forced numbers-wise but BIG BIRD has 80' movement so can get to which ever grinner is closest.

BIG BIRD takes off from the ground and flies straight at the crazy farmers, his handler cheering him on!

bite power attack: 1d20 + 8 - 1 ⇒ (14) + 8 - 1 = 21
damage: 1d6 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 2 = 6

GM Burglar, gonna retcon the Bless if that’s OK and instead …

Luisila stands and stretches out her arms – her eyes and palms raised up to the Maelstrom that is the Worldwound's sky, and calls down her Goddess’s white hot wrath on all of the enemy except #1.

*casts* Burst of Radiance between #3 and #4. 10’ radius should engulf all of them except #1, while leaving BB unaffected.

The priestess then moves the equivalent of 30' closer to the action.

DC 15 Reflex Save ; Evil Creatures take Damage: 5d4 ⇒ (1, 1, 2, 2, 2) = 8 whether they make the save or not.

Knowledge?: 1d20 ⇒ 1 +10 to planes and religion, +9 to nature and dungeon

Baz draws back and arrow and fires at the grinning men. (#4)

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Arrows are CI

Varg will move forward with his Cold Iron Axe drawn in a Omrax's footsteps.

Desmond steps forward, following Omrax towards the farmers. As he approaches, he draws his longbow. He fires off an arrow, trying to aim for a vital organ to end this strange episode quickly.

Deadly Aim Attack & Fav. Enemy: 1d20 + 11 - 2 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 11 - 2 + 4 = 25
Damage: 1d8 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 4 = 11

Preview-vision!
---

Sorry, I was trying to post while also getting breakfast ready for the gremlns. Yeah, I'll just aim for the closest one.

Súrë pulls out his shield and then moves up next to Desmond, drawing a cold iron shortspear along the way.

35' movement. Can't move token from phone.

Omrax will swing his sword at one of the grinning ones he can reach.

"Stop your grinning. This is no laughing matter.."

+1 longsword : 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27 for 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

If I missed that some one shared cold iron needed, Omrax would have switched to morningstar. Take -1 to attack and damage in that case as well as-2 mentioned due to bad mojo.