GM Leinathan's Jade Regent (Inactive)

Game Master leinathan

Before Tallak can answer, Clara, Calder and a new woman, Vashta, come up behind the group. Vashta rides a horse, while the rest of the group is on foot.

Sandru turns and his mouth opens. "Is that who I think it is? What are you doing here?"

Apologies, I totally missed being addressed in that wave of RP between Clara and Vashta.

"What am I doing here? You wrote, darling, so I came!" Vashta responds, giving Sandru a wide smile.

"Of course, I didn't know you'd be in such trouble without me, or I'd have come even faster, but I'm here now. Now, how are we going to get out of this mess you find yourselves in? Oh, and who are these lovelies you have with you?"

Sandru is standing with a small handful of others. An Ulfen shaman carrying a wooden shield and traditional spear, an Ulfen ranger wearing furs and carrying an ornate sword, with a scowl on his face, and an Elven ranger carrying a composite bow.

Sandru's eyes boggle. "Vashta, we're on a dangerous mission. I'd love to catch up with you, but Ameiko has been kidnapped by some really dangerous men and giants and we have to go rescue her. We've already been defeated once, and I don't know if we'd be coming back."

"Well, we can hardly have that, now, can we?" the Varisian asks.

Her voice then turns more serious: "If things are that bad, you could use another pair of hands. You know I have some skills that could help you and I owe you at least that much. I've spent most of my life around dangerous men -- as if there are really any other type -- so it would be silly to let a few more scare me."

Sandru hums. "I suppose we can't turn down help." The elven ranger, Shalelu, concurs. "He's right, and we don't have time to delay either. Clara, Calder: we've picked up the trail. They're headed for nearby Ravenscraeg Castle, and we're hoping to catch them while they rest on the way."

Clara claps her hands.

"OK, well if it's official and you're really going to risk your neck to help rescue Ameiko, you deserve a free fizzy drink! One sec."

Clara looks at the various vials hanging on her bandoleer, chooses one, and holds it out to Vashta, beaming with pride. "I'm afraid I'm far from rediscovering the Ultimate Recipe that Great Great Great Grandpa Umbilicus, which was tragically lost during the Tarrasasque invasion of -632 AR.

"That said, this latest batch is pretty good. It's vanilla rose cardamom lavender blueberry birch bark honeydew licorice root oak sap paprika, plus some of that mustard-colored lichen that grows on the rocks up here."

The little gnome holds it out to the Varisian newcomer, blinking expectantly.

Vashta silently checks for magic though there's no sign that she's doing so as she murmurs, "Wow. That's quite the lot of flavors."

Assuming there's no magic...
She takes the vial and gives it a quizzical look before downing it.

Is it actually good? Because, um, Vashta's player isn't sure it would be...

Taste is in the tongue of the beholder, as it were...but her Craft Alchemy is pretty good. That said, gnomish tastes might be a bit more colorful than yours...but I tend to think her drinks can be tasty.
.
And no, this isn't magical, though her potions/extracts/and bombs re all variations of fizzy drinks.

Vashta's eyebrows lift in surprise.

"It's good!" she says with another wide smile to the gnome.

"So I know what Sandru and I can do, and have no experienced these lovely concoctions of Clara's. You two Ulfen lads look like strong, hearty types? I trust you'll handle things when we catch the villains?"

Tallak grumbles as Clara and the newcomer share idle chat and drinks. Eventually, he seethes and says, "Do you not realize we are on a hunt? And that our quarry has taken Lady Ameiko hostage? And that our best chance of recovering her is to strike before they can make it back to Ravenscraeg? We need to move. Take them as they bed down for camp. Strike quickly and quietly. If at all possible, kill their watchmen and stab a spear through their hearts as they sleep."

Ulf just grunts, maybe in agreement with Tallak, maybe as a sort of response to Vashta. He impatiently taps his sword on a rock.

Clarabibulus takes a moment to ponder: How do I explain to Tallak that the bleakest times are precisely when we need fizzy drinks the most? He's got a good heart but there's just so much he doesn't understand...

Her reverie is interrupted when she hears a booming, metallic voice shout in draconic, ::Indeed, what are you dallying for? Lady Kaijitsu, the rightful empress of Minkai, is in deadly danger!::

Clara leaps up and looks behind her, bewildered (and wondering why no one else is reacting). ”Who said that?!?”

Vashta begins to respond to to the (somewhat rude) Ulfen -- "Very well, let's move. I'm the only one who seems to have a horse, tho..." -- when she's interrupted by Clara.

"Who said what, dear?"

Clara looks left and right, craning her neck and then scratching her head.

In a chagrined mumble she asks, "Um...don't tell me no one just heard that shouting in draconic?"

Looking at everyone's face, she says, "Ahhh, um, very well then. I'm sure it wasn't important. Shall we head out to ambush these kidnappers and rescue Lady Kaijitsu? I mean Ameiko."

Voices in my head. These are the voices in my head.

Calder, are you going to say anything out loud?

"I didn't hear anything. Come here, dear. I have a little trick that might be able to help. It will only take a moment and then we can get moving again to save your friend."

If the gnome comes over...
Vashta lays her hands on Clara's head and concentrates for a moment, a cool feeling of ease spreading through the drink maker.

"You seem fine to me, dear, but hopefully that will keep you from hearing any more voices."

Touch treatment, to remove confusion, on the gnome (not that I expect it to do anything, but it's what Vashta would do).

Later, as they begin their pursuit, she'll implant a mesmeric trick on herself. Mesermic mirror

When three say that they are ready to go, we will move on. Not that I am in any sort of rush.

"Yes. Let us be on with it. Before I is on late."

Calder has been waiting impatiently, "Another old friend?" He says to Sandru in some amusement. "Is there anyone left in Sandpoint?"

When the decision is made to move he shoulders his axe and sets out. "They will be expecting us." He states, "Be ready for ambush."

Calder talks when he has something to say. :)

Clara says "Oooooh...mmmmmm..." and nuzzles her hands into the newcomer's soothing hands. "By great grampa's gutchies, yes, I do feel better. Thanks!"

Turning to the trackers, she says, "Anyway, let's go ambush these Rimerunners."

Ready to go forward.

The trackers grunt or assent by way of various methods and set off, following the tracks of the group that you all follow and dashing out into the forbidding forest that lays before you.

After about three hours though, your chase bears fruit, though sunrise is but an hour away and your muscles ache with exhaustion.

Everyone must make a DC 15 Fortitude save to resist becoming fatigued and gaining a -1 penalty to saves vs. sleep effects. These persist until you rest.

Before you lies a forest glade, a clearing from the twisted and gnarled trees that scrabble a living this far north. In the clearing are four campfires, and gathered around the campfires are an interesting assortment of creatures. Guarding the north side of the village are a massive (at least ten feet tall) bipedal humanoid bear and an Ulfen warrior. At the southern end a tengu and an Ulfen tag team guard duty. Around the fires gather tengu, Ulfen, and trolls. Ameiko's trussed and unconscious form can be seen in the middle.

Map updated.

Fort save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Vashta yawns despite herself as the night wears on, and even as her pulse quickens when they come upon their prey, fatigue still wears on her.

"That must be them from what you've described," she says quietly. "Do you have a plan or shall we just rush in? I may have some magics that my grandmother taught me that could be of use."

All of them are awake? Or just the four on guard duty?

It looks like only the ones who are on guard duty are awake, however the sleeping ones all have weapons near to hand and are all armored.

Clara rubs her fist in her eye and blinks. "Ummm...I'm awake. Totally. Nothing a little fizzy drink can't fix, at any rate."

As she takes in the camp, she whispers, "I've got enough fizzy drinks left for six fiery ones, stinky or otherwise. I'm thinking of lobbing one at that campfire on the left, with seven people around it. Or maybe toward those two trolls. They look pretty nasty!

"Anyone have something they want to do before I start chucking? Anyone want a fizzy drink that'll make you sneakier, or make you run faster?"

______________

Fort: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Have 1 extract each of Blend and Expeditious Retreat left over, which anyone's welcome to.

Tallak Fort: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Ursus Fort: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

Tallak takes a knee, running a hand through Ursus' fur as he looks over the camp. He whispers, "If we can eliminate each group of watchmen quietly, we can slip into camp and eliminate these dogs one by one as they sleep. Any of you have some magics to do that?"

"How much noise and commotion would your drinks make, dear? That's the last thing we want to do. Tall, blonde and handsome over there has the right idea. You have to get past the watchdogs to get into the camp. Not wake everyone up...

"I do have a nice trick that might be able to help make them tired and easier to get past, two of them maybe if I can get close enough ... which, let's be honest, I should be able to do. I could also maybe try to get one of them to go check on his friends, which could perhaps let us deal with just one and then a second..."

"I can also implant a trick in one of you that could perhaps help if things don't go well."

I can use vanish to get close, then my stare and lullaby, which would give them some Perception penalties, if we want to try to sneak past them or up to them. I have a number of other enchantment effects -- sow thought, maybe, to get one to move away (or perhaps toward us). Could also do mental block to try to stop one from being able to use any ranks in Perception. Charm person, though that seems unlikely to work in this situation.

Fort save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24 Calder shrugs off the nights efforts, knowing he'll pay for it later, but ready to fight.

Studying the camp he speaks in a soft voice. "Ameiko is our first concern. If we could get someone in to carry her out? The others could be ready to hit them with spells and Clara's fizzy drinks."

Stealth in, get Ameiko out and hit them hard if spotted is Calder's suggestion.

DM, are we upwind or downwind from the humanoid bear? Scent could be a problem.

"I can make someone invisible, but it only lasts for about half a minute," Vashta replies.

She hesitates.

"If we move quickly, I could make two of us invisible and we could sneak in, I could turn Ameiko invisible too and we could sneak out, but it would be cutting it close..."

I have vanish, but it's a max of 30 seconds. That's potentially enough time to get someone in and out quickly, but I have no way to make Ameiko invisible without going in myself.

Clara cocks her head. "Can you cast a spell without making a sound? If so that might be able to work...but for how long?

"I think the idea of trying to take out the watch first might possibly work...but I think it might be riskier to sneak out with Ameiko than to actually fight those guys."

I'd vote against grab-and-run since I think they'd catch us even if we succeed, and the battle will still happen, just in less advantageous conditions.
.
I'm open to trying to take them out stealthily, but I'm not sure we have that ability. Can we reliably take two people out in a round, quietly? I just read Lullaby and it's pretty cool. Given a duration of 6 rounds (without concentration), I guess Vashta could spend continually drop 10' bursts of lullaby on the two groups of guards and the three campfires without ever running out of gas...but if anyone makes their Will save then they'll know something is up and probably sound the alarm.
.
Short version: if someone can propose a way to stealthily take out the guards, I'm into it...but if we think they're going to get to sound the alarm anyway, we might as well coordinate for Clara do smoke out some foes in the same surprise round that one or a few of us try to take down the nearer guards.

"Of course, darling. That's how the best magics work," Vashta replies.

I think your arguments against grab-and-run are smart.

I like the idea of trying to use sow through to get one to think he needs to come here to go to the bathroom and then we can try to take them out one at a time. If I combine that ability with mental block and/or lullaby, I could make it harder for the guard who gets left alone to hear anything going on.

So I guess my proposal would be I'll sneak up, in conjunction with lullaby. Use my stare to reduce one's will and then sow thought to make him think he needs to relieve himself over in the woods where everyone else is hiding. I'll then use my stare and mental block on the other to reduce his chances of hearing anything, and hopefully we can take the first one out without alerting the guards on the far side. I could then repeat the sow thoughts on guard No. 2 and try to lure him farther from the camp. If we can then have some similar success on the other side of the camp, we can figure out some way to deal with everyone else here, or perhaps even sneak in and do some damage to sleeping foes before dealing with the other two guards.

Do we have any other spellcasting options from various NPCs? A silence spell would be optimal. Calder and Tallak, anything you guys could do to hopefully take one of these out quietly.

Tallak has the following spells prepared: calm animals, divine favor, shield of faith, hold animal, weapon of awe, spiritual weapon, stone shape, dominate animal, and dispel magic.

Shalelu has resist energy and entangle prepared.

Ulf has endure elements and keep watch prepared.

Ulf claps Calder on the shoulder and murmurs in agreement with him - "I agree with Calder. I think our best bet is to make full use of the element of surprise and hit as many of them as we can with everything we have, killing as many as possible before we even have to fight them face-to-face. Does anybody have a spare ranged weapon?"

Shalelu is thoughtful. "I don't exactly have the tools to help out with any plan, but I will target whomever you believe is a worthy target. If you want me to help take out the guards, I can do so on command."

Sandru agrees with Calder as well, on one point. "Ameiko's safety is paramount here. I agree that we should at least get someone to her side, get her up and moving, and get her out of the chaos of battle. If she were to be killed by a stray arrow or bomb, all would be for nothing."

Ulf vs. Tired (DC 15): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Sandru vs. Tired (DC 15): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Shalelu vs. Tired (DC 15): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

Doublepost!

I just checked and noticed that Shalelu has ten sleep arrows, which she is happy to use or let other people use on request.

Those could be really useful, though are also not the most powerful items. I'd suggest maybe using them in conjunction with luring out one of the others. If we use that as the last shot in the ambush, there's a chance it knocks him out if we don't do enough damage to do that outright.

The entangle could be really helpful on one of the groups around the campfire if we can't get to them in their sleep. How hard is the ground here? Could we try to stone shape something that would hold people to the ground (i.e. around their legs)?

Stone shape is touch-ranged, but yes, you could mold some kind of restraint for somebody.

So, what are we actually doing? Full-on attack? Grab Ameiko and beat a retreat? Vashta's plan involving luring the guards using magic? Something different? Three agreements or one explicitly stated action, and we can start.

I like lure with magic as many awake guards as we can one by one and assassinate them quietly.

"Before we go any further, I can give some minor aid to one of you, if you would like," Vashta says, quickly explaining some of her talents.

I can implant one trick in someone. I have mesmeric mirror, shadow splinter, false flanker and mask misery. Did someone also have expeditious retreat available? Might be wise to designate our "runner" to go in and get Ameiko if the poop hits the fan and have that spell/extract available to that person.

Also, GM, I'm assuming using hypnotic stare would break invisibility? I'm for the plan as outlined in the discussion thread. I'll start by using lullaby (DC 14) from some distance, then close in after using vanish on myself, use hypnotic stare on one foe (-2 to Will saves) and then sow thought(DC 15) on one of the guards to make him think he want to go relieve himself in a designated spot that would be far enough so no one can hear him doing so (i.e. where everyone else is set up to hide).

Stealth: 1d20 + 7 + 20 ⇒ (10) + 7 + 20 = 37 Let me know if you want any other rolls to help speed things along.

Lure with magic is good, especially with one person ready to get Ameiko the moment it seems we've been detected. Calder has no spells sadly.

If somebody wants a trick implanted in them, please let me know now. I am executing the plan. If somebody wants one of Clara's extracts, say so now. Vashta, hypnotic stare would not, but sow thought would.

Casting from afar, Vashta begins by attempting to magically induce sleepiness in two of the guards - the watchmen on the southern side of the camp.

Ulfen Will: 1d20 ⇒ 2
Tengu Will: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Both of them begin to yawn and slouch, too tired to stand up straight or focus. As Vashta invisibly sneaks closer, they are too tired to even think about taking any notice. When she gets close enough to use her second spell, she does so, targeting the Ulfen guard first.

Vashta Stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
Tengu Perception (Sleepy): 1d20 + 9 - 5 ⇒ (14) + 9 - 5 = 18
Ulfen Will (stare, DC 15): 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (15) - 2 = 13

Vashta's stealth skills are good enough such that even without the benefit of vanish, the tengu guard doesn't notice her. Better yet, her enchantment is powerful enough to implant an idea in the Ulfen guard. He turns to the tengu, points a thumb in the direction of the party, and says, "Be right back, gonna take a leak."

He wanders over past Vashta's hiding place in the bushes and towards the rest of the party. Sandru steps up, ready with his scimitar. "Maybe somebody should pull him in before we kill him. Into the undergrowth that we are in, that is. Calder?"

Also, I can't seem to use the map right now, so... we'll just have to deal for a couple of days. Who is participating in the assassination? What is Vashta doing next?

Tallak will join in the grabbing and pulling into the brush, assuming we can, as part of said action, slap a hand over the man's mouth to prevent a call for help. Anyone else willing to join in?
__________
CMB vs (hoping) flat-footed guard: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

Calder will be in on the killing, once the guard is unable to make a sound Calder will cut his throat. Not something he enjoys, but they have constantly attacked us, and kidnapped Ameiko so he's prepared to grit his teeth and do the job.

Do I need to make any rolls?

CMB or attack/damage, depending on if you want to help move or kill him. In order to silence someone, someone needs a free hand.

Im kinda going with the grab from behind, hand over mouth style.

Calder grimaces but tries to slit the mans throat cleanly.
Dagger - PA + Favored enemy: 1d20 + 10 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 10 - 2 + 2 = 20 Damage + PA + FE: 1d4 + 4 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 4 + 2 = 14
Dagger - PA: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9 Take it that's a miss.

Is this a Coup de grace, or just murder?

Vashta stays put for the moment, turning her stare on the other guard as she listens for any noise from behind her or any sign that they've been discovered.

Coup de grace only works on enemies which are helpless. For example, all of the sleeping guards. This guard is flat-footed.

Sandru swoops in with Calder and Tallak to try and help kill the first guard who comes over to relieve himself, slashing low while Calder goes high.

Sandru vs. Guard: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Tallak comes out of the undergrowth, grappling with the guard while Calder comes in from the other side, dagger headed towards throat. While the guard is taken entirely by surprise, Calder's dagger doesn't strike head-on. The blade slides along the right side of the guard's neck, spurting blood everywhere but not taking out the guard immediately, while Sandru's blade catches on the guard's armor. Ulf swoops in, stabbing with force using his blade.

Ulf vs. Guard (FE): 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 9 + 2 = 18 Damage (FE): 1d8 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 2 = 8

Ulf's blade snuffs out the first guard's life, making it easy for Tallak to drag him out of sight into the undergrowth. The other guard doesn't seem any the wiser, though he'd surely grow suspicious after not too long.

After a minute or so has passed with no outcry from behind her, Vashta turns her stare on the other guard and then tries to manipulate his thoughts: Maybe you should make sure he's OK. He's been gone a while, but you don't want to wake up the rest of the camp for a false alarm.

Swift action, hypnotic stare on XXX; -2 to Will saves and attack rolls
Standard action: Sow thought, DC 15

Tengu Will (stare): 1d20 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 1 - 2 = 16

The tengu feels the spell affecting it, but resists its effects. As it shakes off the spell, it squawks loudly, yelling, "Spells! Spells! Somebody is trying to ensorcell me!"

Post #2 with the first 5 actions incoming.

The giant bear on the other side of the camp turns from the direction he was facing at the tengu's squawk. His voice booms across the camp - "Argh! I knew that we wouldn't have the whole night to ourselves!" He wards himself with a spell, and those with particularly good vision can see his fur growing close together, getting more matted, and shiny, and tough.

He then pulls out an axe - a huge battleaxe sized for a giant, with a handful of skulls hanging from its end, tied by ropes through the eye sockets.

Ulf growls, his weapons already at the ready. "I knew we should have attacked full force," he grumbles, and charges forward into combat.

Shalelu strings three arrows onto her bow and lets loose, the arrows flying with great velocity and speed into the body of the tengu guardsman on the south of the encampment.

Shalelu vs. Tengu (Rapid Shot): 1d20 + 11 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 11 - 2 = 25 Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Shalelu vs. Tengu (Rapid Shot): 1d20 + 11 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 11 - 2 = 13
Shalelu vs. Tengu (Rapid Shot): 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 6 - 2 = 7

Two miss, arcing away into the darkness, while the third finds its mark in one of the tengu's little bird-legs.

Sandru tenses up and then springs into combat, speeding across the battlefield and into the threatened zone - around some of the Ulfen sleeping near one of the campfires. It is clear he plans to take maximum advantage of their compromised positions.

The Ulfen warriors that were still sleeping stir, and groggily begin to come to, though many are trapped within sleeping bags and are definitely not fully awake yet. The one that stood guard with the werebear begins to run into battle.

Up first is Vashta and Clara.