GM thunderspirit's Online Gameday PbP: Burnt Offerings (Inactive)

Game Master thunderspirit

"I'm happy to be of assistance, but the healing I gave the group wasn't actually a spell. I can explain in more detail later if you're interested." She says to the Halfling, "But yes, let's continue moving north if everyone is feeling healthy again. Please be careful when scouting, Quiven."

Ready

Ready.

Carl is ready.

Yep, ready.

Ready!

Spent much of today doing my David O. Selznick impression today (i.e., Gone With the Wind). Hope all who might've been affected by the volatile weather in the Midwest are okay.

Just past another abandoned watch post to the east, the party breaks through the dense thicket to see a rope bridge spanning the gulf between the cliff on which you stand and a roundish, flat-topped island sixty-some feet to the north.

(Image)

Thick patches of nettles and briars grow here and there atop the island, but its most impressive feature is a wooden, one-story stockade. Two thirty-foot tall watchtowers guard the facade facing your direction.

The rope bridge itself is made of hairy rope and thick wooden planks; the whole thing creaks and sways in the wind above the churning surf eighty feet below.

I hear voices...I think they know we're coming.

We got lucky. The tornadoes passed north and south of us, but I did spend about two/three hours watching weather radar today.

Yep. We're about three hours NNE of Peoria/Pekin/Washington, so we missed the worst of it up our way. Still had some crazy 70 mph winds and power outtages all over.

Got family in St. Louis and Carbondale, so hearing the damage in Washington County wasn't thrilling either. No one in our family seeems to be hurt, but people in SOMEONE's family certainly have been. :-|

Dink lets out a whistle seeing the big head in the ocean staring at him from across the rope bridge.

"1-2-3. Not it."

I hear 'em too. Do we have to go over there? Quiven looks over his shoulder and up at Ander.

"Would it be possible to create some type of illusion that might distract them until we get across the bridge safely?" Maddie suggests after a moment.

"I don't hear anything. Why don't we just walk across? Come on, let's go."

Beleg will lead the way unless the party is doing something fancier with illusions or whatnot.

Ander uses his power pearl to recharge his failed spell.

I have a spell that will make me invisible for a very short amount of time. Could we go across and make a diversion? Dealing with goblins, I'm wary of traps, seeing this is the only way across.

Carl can go first, or last, or in the middle. 1 at a time or all together?

Quiven looks at Beleg and starts to follow him. But I heard something! Really! Are we just gonna charge them?

"If you need an illusion, I think I know where we can find a raging giant panda..."

Dink whips out his wand of Silent Image.

"When we're ready, I'll cast Ghost Sound, then send forth the panda to storm the rickety bridge of gnome death."

Carl chuckles Dink, you sure know how to make this old farmer laugh. I love the idea

Me too. I think Dink has a whole new schtick to bring to future tables. LOL

MAP

Dink conjures up another panda, and sends the image dancing across the bridge.

After a series of goblin screeches and shouts, a rain of arrows from the nearest tower (to the right of the bridge) falls on the image as it is about halfway across.

See all those arrows? They came from over there. How are we going to make it across?

"Perhaps we should move over the bridge now while the goblins are distracted by the illusion?" Maddie nudges the others.

So there are goblins across the bridge and some below? Maybe send another panda next to where the arrows came from then run across the bridge.

Okay, ready to move along. What's the plan on the bridge?

I vote for sending a panda across to absorb most if the arrows while we follow behind.

Let's do it!

Maddie nods in agreement with Beleg's comment, and waits for a brave and fit person to take the lead.

Carl volunteers to be the one going across the bridge. However, he asks that people stay back to cover him.

The goblins humbly request someone more squishy.

Can we see any goblins from here, especially the archers?

I won't ask for Perception checks, I'll just assume you guys take 20.

Beleg will follow right behind Carl, realizing that he should probably upgrade his armor if he makes it out of here alive.

Ander casts Vanish and rushes across the bridge to the double doors and checks them for traps and locks!

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17

4 rounds of Vanish would equal 240 ft with double moves.

As Carl walks towards the bridge, he feels a brush of wind run past him. He looks around then understands what Ander has done. Carl backs up to watch.

Quiven will duck in behind Beleg, the Human Shield for Halflings, and move with him across the bridge.

The party hears a soft crunching sound, then hears Ander shout from across the bridge span, Little help over here!

Show me how your PCs move on the bridge, please.

Ander yells back to the party. Help needed! I've got myself into a pickle here!

Quiven will run down the left side of the bridge, staying further away from any arrow sources he knows about.

Maddie quickly scans the source of Ander's voice to figure out what the issue is. "Can anyone tell what's going on? Will someone follow me over there?"

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30

Ander has crossed (and claims to be in a bit of a pickle.)
Quiven has started down the left side of the bridge.
Carl and Beleg both stopped when Ander raced over.
Maddie is concentrating hard, focused on the other side.
Dink, at this time, is along for the ride.

Each member of the party gets to take a standard action, then the goblin guards get to react. Consider this your surprise round, triggered by Ander. (You can thank him later, LOL)

Apologies for Ander's rash behavior, he's not normally so reckless.

How sturdy does the bridge look?

Kn: engineering check?

take 10 for 10! :)

It creaks and sways in the wind, but looks perfectly safe to Carl. ;-)

Carl runs across the bridge.

Assuming Quiven can't see an enemy to fire an arrow at he will move up to the end of the bridge on the right side now and try to stealth behind the trees/shrubs/foliage there and take a look at the situation.

Stealth: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 19

Maddie stops concentrating and moves to the southern end of the bridge.

Sorry for the delay; I've been traveling this weekend.

Beleg will cast [i]shield on himself to ready against the inevitable volley of arrows.