GM DSP presents Crown's Reach! (Inactive)

Game Master Darksmokepuncher

Sloppy. Sloppy and slow and ... old.

"Gonna regret that, stonefolk," Bryce snarls as he feels his back leg swept out from under him. He drops his bow from his right hand, and draws a slim pointed dagger with his left. Even as Bryce falls the dagger slashes out in a wicked cut aimed at the dwarf's thigh. A killing cut if it hits the artery.

Shaking his head to clear the haze, Osslend pats Virgil's head and dashes toward the damnable woman, Raleigh close behind. Osslend flashes a few hand signals and the dog peels off like a bolt.

"My mind is my own!" he shouts as he approaches and launches his flail at her.

Raleigh, running, approaches from behind and bites at the woman's ankle just as Osslend's flail sails toward her head.

Frowning as the half-orc disappears, Maedoc starts to sweat nervously once more. I should have prepared for this.... he thinks to himself as he glances about for the orc. Should have readied... something... Hearing a commotion on the cliff, he glances up in time to see Bryce and the dwarf struggling. "Finish with her and find the tome!" he cries to his allies as they struggle with Sionnan before moving to join Bryce at the top of the hill. As he moves, he directs his now-fiery gaze at the dwarf. Burn, ambusher! he thinks as his eyes turn a molten red and steam comes out his ears. Even as he does so, he continues to scan for the opponent's tome. Destroy that, and all of this is done... But where is it?

Garrick continues to perch in the forest, hoping that no one will notice him high among the trees. The bird rightfully notes that he is visible once more, but continues to sit still.

Let me know if Maedoc couldn't notice what's going on up on the cliff.

Brynn slams his steel oar into Sionnan's leg this time and she cries out. The second strike misses on account of the fact that the enchantress has fallen down to her knees.

As Sionnan falls, Raleigh lunges for her but misses the mark. Osslend's more trained blow lands however. and the lady starts to cry.

Up on the cliff, Bryce produces his dagger with lightning speed and can easily see the shock in the dwarf's face. However, he is clearly a seasoned fighter and dodges the blow.

Fortitude Save 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Both Bryce and the sniper are flabbergasted as the dwarf spontaneously combusts and catches fire!

I'll post round 6 NPC actions in a bit.

Suddenly realizing the missing person, Brynn shouts almost frantically, "Where's the hostile arcanist? Wizard, what tricks do you have?"

Bryce rolls even as he hits the ground, without looking to see if his dagger strike connected. He get's a knee under him, and pushes forwards, shoulder to the dwarf's torso, trying to push the enemy backwards.

In the blur of combat he notices that somehow the dwarf has caught fire. What the... ah... magic!

I have not forgotten about you all! I was travelling yesterday and did not get to post like i thought i would. Likewise, I forgot to bring the NPC stats with me to work so I won't be able to give ya'll a real post until after 6 pm pacific time tonight. Sorry guys, I guess you'll have to deal with a figurative and literal cliff hanger a while longer.

Bryce puts his shoulder into the dwarf's chest and shoves. Staggering backwards, the sniper tries to grab hold of Bryce! Grapple 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12 He clutches at Bryce's shirt but the old man squirms away and the dwarf falls off the cliff! (J5)

6d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 1, 4, 6, 1) = 16

A bearded mass careens over the edge, slams into a tree, and hits the ground.

NPC ROUND 6

Seeing her companion fall, Sionnan moves away from Brynn a step, draws a whip, and speaks a command, "Flee."

Will Save please Brynn

The dwarf stands up, brushes himself off, brandishes his short sword, and shouts, "Sure as my name is Rognar, I will kill you human!" Then he turns and moves up behind Osslend. (J9)

The half-orc is no where to be seen.

Round 7

Good luck

Hearing the commotion behind him, Osslend's eyes go wide as the recently-plummeted dwarf stands and approaches. Shaking himself from disbelief he realizes he is in a poor position and steps to the side. He shouts words that sound meaningless to others, but suddenly his hounds snap into action.

Raleigh offers a whimper of eagerness before stepping away from the woman he had previously attacked and then dashing to his master's aid.

Virgil's powerful legs kick up muck as he lunges forward for the dwarf, jaws wide.

Osslend steps to the side of the dwarf with a sudden lunge, allowing the momentum to fuel his flail's strike as he lashes out at the dwarf.

Virgil's jaws snap hard around the dwarf's leg. He cries out and immediately stoops to pry the dog's maw from his calf. In so doing, he causes Osslend's flail to miss his head by milometers.

Will save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Should I apologize for passing this many will saves?

Just wanted to let you guys know I'm working on a shared Google Docs spreadsheet, and I've got everything mapped out except for Kayla's position (from what I've re-read, I'm assuming she's still at the gates in E12) and Sionnan's (and therefore mine). She *was* in J11, but just five-footed away from me, I'm guessing to either K11 or J12 (as the other options were to the water or forest). Wherever she moved determines where I move for my next play, but regardless, the action is the same, so here we go.

This is also assuming I passed this will save. Feeling the tingle of magic running through his body from her word, Brynn gives the slightest grin and says, "No." He steps into her outstretched hand for yet another, and hopefully last assault toward her.

Kayla's sword takes one last swing at the woman before it shimmers and vanishes in a puff of smoke. Feeling that Brynn has the woman under control, she turn as cast a spell upon the dwarf facing Osslend.

Kayla's spectral scimitar slashes simultaneously with Brynn's sword. The cut from Kayla's spell comes close and Sionnan uses too much energy to dodge it. Thus, Brynn's heavy sword slams across her face, instantly rendering her unconcious. Brynn swings again for good measure, but its a half-hearted swing.

Seeing that the enchantress is down, Kayla pronounces a daunting doom on the dwarf.

Will Save 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

Those watching can plainly see the struggle behind Rognar's eyes as he wrestles with Kayla's power. Finally, his face tightens in rage as he shakes off the spell.

Ok, Maedoc and Bryce, finish it up for us!

Maedoc, noting the dwarf's descent, continues moving around to the top of the waterfall, still scanning the area for the tome. As the dwarf the ground, Maedoc's eyes glow with fire once more, heating the air around the dwarf.

Rognar is still on fire and is taking damage.

Reflex Save to extinguish the flames 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

Rognar finally manages to put out the fire only to have more flames threaten to burst from his skin!

New Fortitude save 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

For now, it seems he has conquered the flames.

Ok, its been almost 48 hours since we've heard from Bryce and nearly 24 since it was his turn to post. I'll wait another 2-4 hours before i GMNPC him to keep things moving.

Fear not Bryce. I'm not angry or thinking of replacing you yet. I hope you come back though 8)

Bryce stands for a moment and watches the falling, flailing, flaming dwarf plummet to the ground at the base of the cliff. The impact and the pray from the waterfall put out the fires. "That should cool him off. Osslend, Brynn, Kayla - he's all yours."

Spinning on his heel, the tall man retrieves his bow and takes a few steps to the north east. His eyes scan the surroundings, looking for a likely hiding place for the book.

The top of the cliff is lined in thick bushes. Beyond them, stretching back to P1, is a grassy plain spit in twain by a river. The stream flows from a gap in the wall at P1 and flows to K9 where it drops off the precipice. You see several sets of footprints and Rognar's rifle.

NPC ROUND 7

Even as they look at it, Bryce and Maedoc see Rognar's rifle disapear!

Rognar, pissed off and surrounded, stabs back at Virgil for biting him.

Attack 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22 for 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

The blade slides deep into Virgil's fore shoulder and the hound lets out a pained yelp.

Round 8

Kayla moves up towards the action and settles herself about an equal distance from Brynn and Osslend and his hounds and lets loose with a healing burst of energy.

No worries Kayla. Nice heal.

Everybody check the ooc thread when you can.

Brynn moves in toward the dwarf, across from Raleigh to keep this bugger surrounded, and uses the momentum from his last swing to bring in two more to the top of the dwarf's head, again using the flat of his blade.

Maedoc narrows his eyes as the rifle disappears, wondering what could have caused such a thing. Noting that Garrick is still calm, he nods to himself before glancing over the field of battle once more. The tome HAS to be around here somewhere. Seeing that the dwarf is apparently well in hand, he focuses inward for a moment, chanting one of the first phrases taught to him by Grayson before opening his eyes just as he claps his hands together. Suddenly, the world seems different, everything is outlined in silvery shades as Maedoc focues on the magic around him instead of the mundane. Nodding with satisfaction, he focuses on where the gun was for a moment, taking in the scene around him.

[spoiler=Crunchy bits]
Burning Gaze is in effect on Maedoc for the next 4 rounds.
Haste is in effect for 1 more round.
-Haste is on Bryce, Brynn, Osslend, Virgil, and Raleigh
-Haste benefits:
-- +1 Attack at highest attack bonus when making a full attack action.
-- +1 bonus on attack rolls and a +1 dodge bonus to AC and Reflex saves.
-- +30 ft. to all forms of movement.
Detect Magic Round 1: Maedoc can spot Magical Auras

Know(Arcana) check to ID what might have made the rifle disappear (although I have a sneaking suspicion...). The modifier is the same if Spellcraft is more appropriate: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26

Maedoc:
Standard Action: Maedoc casts Detect Magic. Maedoc now can see magical auras withing a 60ft. cone of him. He is looking south right now.

Garrick:
Still hiding 100' in the air, and probably liable to get shot if what I think happened happened.
Stealth Check: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Hearing his hound yelp in pain, Osslend shouts commands to Virgil before his own posture drops to a stoop, his jaw slides forward and his body twists back as far as it can as he swings at the dwarf who would dare strike his friend.

Virgil, begins to back away as his master commanded before feeling the healing energy from Kayla. Renewed in body and never lacking in spirit, the hound lunges in for the dwarf, jaws trying to clamp on ankle.

Raleigh growls low and darts in with another bite. If Brynn didn't know better, he might have sworn the smaller dog gave him a nod of satisfaction when he moved into flanking position.

If Brynn didn't know better, he might have sworn the smaller dog gave him a nod of satisfaction when he moved into flanking position.

<3

Brynn, Osslend, and the hounds completely destroy the dwarf. He crumples in a bloody heap, barely breathing.

Maedoc sees three auras: 1 is a standard weapon enhancement bonus, 1 is an illusion school, and 1 is a transmutation school.

Watching the dwarf crumple, Osslend shouts with spittle foaming at the corners of his mouth, "ORC! Show yourself!"

Figured a free action would be okay.

I'm NPCing Bryce just so we can get out of this combat.

Perception 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30
Acrobatics 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Grapple 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Bryce sees the gun disapear and he flies into action. The old ranger leaps off the cliff!

A second later, Bryce is grasping on to the half orc in mid air: a look of pure shock on the wrinkled gray face. "How did you see me!" He roars.

Slowly they descend until both are locked together on the grass, (both of them are in J5) Rognar's rifle lays in the grass at their feet.

NPC Round 9

Break Grapple 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

The half orc struggles as hard as he can, but Bryce manages to hold on. After a moment, the scrawny sorcerer surrenders.

End of combat. Good job! Go ahead and roleplay this out and the superiors will be along soon.

Now that the fighting appears to be over, Kayla goes to check on all their fallen opponents to see if any of them can be saved.

Nice! Much cleverer than what I was planning. For reference, right now is 7 pm my time, so is a typical time for me to post after work. I often try and post earlier, but it depends on how work goes.

"I don't need to see you if I can out think you. Shoulda left the weapon alone," Bryce drawls.

Panting, Brynn looks at the tangled mess of half-elf and orc and starts laughing. "Did you honestly just do what I think you did off that cliff?! Bryce, I think..." Brynn catches his breath a bit. "I think we may become fast friends if you keep up that kind of stuff."

Still laughing and panting a bit, Brynn smiles at the rest of the party. "Barely took us a minute. But did we find that tome?"

Bryce pulls the half-orc's arms roughly behind his back, and locks a pair of well made manacles around his wrists. He does this quickly and proficiently, a task repeated many times before, and answers Brynn over his shoulder at the same time. "Invisibility spells have a little tell-tale shimmer. Can be enough, sometimes. Ah no, no sign of the book yet. I think Maedoc is still looking at the top of the cliff."

Seeing the Orc well in hand, Osslend takes a deep breath before kneeling down to congratulate his hounds on jobs well done. He inspects Virgil's wound with care and delicacy, deciding that it's not very bad.

"Bryce, your daring and aim impress me. Brynn, remind me to never be on the wrong end of that blade of yours," he says with a smile.

Standing and look around, he speaks out to his other companions, "Kayla, Virgil offers his thanks as do I for your divine intervention. Maedoc, your array of tricks seems boundless. Well done, all of you. Maedoc, if you do not find the tome where you look, perhaps my friends here could find it if you could offer them a different tome of your own for them to scent from."

Turning again to face the Orc, Osslend steps forward and adds, "Then again, maybe this man might tell us where to find it."

Barely noticing Bryce's moment of glory as he considers auras, Maedoc frowns at the transmutation aura and moves closer for a better look. "Ah, thank you, Osslend. You and your hounds were quite effective as well. It looks like there's something that's been transformed here, but I'm not sure what it is... Might be the book." He shrugs slightly as he considers the aura. "I doubt it's a trap, anyways. I can try and dispel it, but one never does know what might happen. Any preferences?"

Looking up from her assessment of the wounded(dead?), My vote is for going ahead and attempting a dispel. Smiling at Maedoc, I promise to heal you if anything goes wrong.

Now regaining his breath a bit, Brynn turns to Kayla with a question. "You know, even though it may not matter now, do you happen to have a spell that may replenish my tiredness in the future? I tend to get a bit fatigued after losing myself in my combat focus."

Looking at Maedoc, "I give my trust to you in those matters, wizard. Whatever you think is best."

@ Kayla: Only the halfling is dead. The rest can be saved.

@ Bryce: No worries, and thanks for the heads up on the time difference. I will try not to NPC players when there is a battle going on as a rule. However, that one was basically over anyway...

@ Maedoc: Have you come down the cliff to be with the others then?

The half orc fumes as Bryce locks the manacles around his wrists.

"I am a servant of the Crown and a decorated soldier! How dare you cuff me!"

He grows quieter as Osslend steps up and asks about the book.

Whispering "Why would I tell you that when even now, a friend of mine is retrieving the scroll for me?"

Osslend's eyes go wide as he shouts to Maedoc, "Secure the scroll, Maedoc! It may be in danger! It may be a ruse to bring it to the open, I cannot be sure yet."

Sense Motive to see if Orc is telling the truth.
Roll: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Osslend: this Orc is cunning. You are not convinced that he's telling the truth, but neither are you sure that he's not.

In english, your sense motive wasn't high enough to tell.

Osslend steps in coolly to the Orc, waving at the hounds who begin to growl low. Nose to nose with the Orc he says in a soft voice, "Tell me. Who or what seeks the scroll? Tell me now."

Intimidate check: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 19

Maedoc shrugs at the Orc's comments. No way that he knows where the scroll is... and we've already cleared out all five of them. Let's see here... what is that aura though.

He approaches the transmutation aura to examine it further. Might be it... but let's take a better look.

The half orc averts his eyes from yours. "I...There is nothing seeking the scroll."

@ Maedoc: The rifle is near Osslend. The aura is coming from it.

As maedoc studies the aura, he determines that the gun itself is magical, but there is also an aura inside the gun. A reflection of transmutation spells tells Maedoc that shrink item is employed here.

Would someone assist me by binding our opponents and gagging the woman? I would hate to assist them and then have them attack us again. Assuming someone does assist with that, Kayla will channel energy to stabilize them.

If required, Kayla will attempt a dispel next round.

Kayla finishes her administrations to the downed opponents. Everyone but rognar the dwarf is now awake but weak. The poor halfling is still dead.

As she returns her attention to the task at hand, she sees that Maedoc is attempting to dispell something and decides to help him out.

The rifle begins to quiver and suddenly, the cap on the butt of the gun flies off and a rapidly growing tome appears.

The book is bound in black leather and adorned with the ruddy red claws of what could only be a dragon. A single eye peers up from the center of the cover.

Maedoc nods thankfully to Kayla and smiles slightly, pleased to see the tome at last. "Quite clever work there, I must admit. Now let us bend to destroying it, shall we?" With that, his eyes, which still burn with an inner fire, light up and target the tome, causing it to burst into flame. "Quickly now--the quicker we finish, the better our performance, I believe."

"I should think we have adequately demonstrated our performance to those watching, Maedoc. Nonetheless, I agree there is no point to further delay. Now, you are certain that you have found and destroyed the correct book?"

At Maedoc's assumed confirmation, Bryce produces a small silver key, and releases the half-orc wizard from the manacles. "My apologies for the indignity, Ser. Even alone you posed a considerable threat to us, and the bonds seemed kinder than rendering you unconscious."

Bryce pauses for a moment, then continues, "If you believe we have unfinished business, I will not be hard to find when this trial is over. Look for Rosewood. Bryce Rosewood."

Dismissing the vanquished foe from his mind, Bryce addresses the gathered team. Team..? Yes, team, already. "Well done everyone. That was unexpectedly effective given our short time together. I am genuinely impressed."

Brynn suddenly realizes he's been smiling for more than a few seconds and tries to cover it up, gaining his battle hardened, mostly emotionless face once again. "Indeed. True combatants, all. Even you, priestess. I can sense your time in combat may be mostly limited to what we've seen here today, but your heart is surely in it."

Still wielding his sword, Brynn takes it to the edge of the water and begins to wash the blood off. Crouched there, he looks at the bloody mess of a halfling and the water muddled red around it. I didn't need to kill this man, even given it was honorable combat. Brynn speaks up, "Sionnan...I'm..." Brynn gathers his words. "Given that this was honorable combat, a test of life and death was given to each of us today. Our party originally planned to spare your lives, but in the heat of battle, I lost my wits. I would like to offer my apologies." Brynn looks to the rest of the group. "That is, our apologies."

With a sense of finality to his words, Brynn sheaths his sword on his back and stretches out a hand in hopes of a handshake.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

Maedoc unleashes a fiery gaze on the tome.

Shockingly, the book absorbs the flames and grows slightly in size!

Sionnan opens her mouth to answer Brynn, but the big fighter steps in front of her.

"I am Drugan. That 'loss of wits' cost my friend his life. As this was a sanctioned match, I'll not gut you here as I would like. But you should know... he looks straight into Brynn's face...all will be settled."

He walks off, dragging Sionnan with him. She looks back as if to say, Please don't start anything, I'm sorry.