Giantslayer by DM DoctorEvil

Game Master DM DoctorEvil

I don't have one, but Halgra might. Her place is super close. But can't someone cast Light? I mean, I can't, but it's a common spell. Surely someone has it. If so, we can just cast it on a coin, and you can hide the light with your hand as needed, right?

Unfortunately, you have gotten ahead of the storyteller again. We will have to imagine the conversation you had occurs on the street, and not at Zirelle's home. You can be on your way there, but before you arrive there is an interruption.

The group of investigators discusses their findings as they leave Clamor, their curiosity more piqued than satisfied. There are still many unanswered questions that they bounce of off each other as they head towards Zirelle's home. They even begin making plans for a nocturnal adventure outside the city walls.

Wolf Attack - Surprise Round

22 Red Wolf
20 Zirelle
15 Zan
11 Nakoma
7 Blue Wolf
6 Green Wolf
2 Baldek

Red Wolf charges across the darkened street, directly for the closest target, then leaps at Zan, foam flying from its savage jaws. The tracker is able to just shift his head and shoulders back enough to keep from being bitten by the powerful beast.

That was a short charge. Anyone who makes the Perception check in the prior post can act in the Surprise Round. Remember move or standard action only in Surprise Rounds. Also remember it is dark on the street, so without a light source, you are at a disadvantage against foes who can see well in the dark. If they make the check, Zirelle, Zan, and Nakoma are up next. Map linked at top of page.

Zan draws his scimitar and slashes at the wolf, in hopes of driving it back is just as important if not more so.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

[spoiler=The crit that could have been]Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Critical Confirmation: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Critical Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 7 = 16[/dice]

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

The wolves come out of nowhere, lunging at Zan from the darkness.

"Wolves!" Nakoma exclaims.

She definitely doesn't get to act in the surprise round with that roll. Haha.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

”An ambush! Torag save us!” shouts Baldek and blesses his companions.

Cast Bless in the surprise round.

Just waiting for Zirelle. She has a long way to go before I invoke the 24-hr rule.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Whew. Just squeaked by.

Zirelle runs towards the wolves, intent on burning them to death.

Wolf Attack - Surprise Round - concluded

As she spies the lupine forms rushing forward, Zirelle surprises everyone by running TOWARDS the wolves.

Zan stands his ground, drawing his weapon, readying for the fight to come.

Nakoma has a hard time making out the shapes, and loses precious secods identifying the threat, unable to act.

Blue Wolf takes a 5' step and leaps to attack Zirelle who has presented herself as a target, white foam drips from his mouth as he gets within easy sight in the dark street. The foamy jaws snap shut just shy of Zirelle's throat and the sour smell of sickness wafts toward her from the beast.

Green Wolf also continues its rushing movement with a bite at the sorceress. The wolf turns out to have a weakened bite, which clamps on the arm of Zirelle, but only abrades the skin without ripping it badly.

Reacting to the wolf attack, Baldek calls for the blessing of Torag on he and his allies in their first real fight.

End of Surprise Round

Zirelle gets hit in Green's short charge for 1 point of NL damage. The charging wolves have an AC penalty in Round 1.

Wolf Attack Round 1

Bless is in effect, 10 rounds

22 Red Wolf (-2 AC)
20 Zirelle (1NL dmg)
15 Zan
11 Nakoma
7 Blue Wolf
6 Green Wolf (-2 AC)
2 Baldek

Red Wolf continues to press an attack on Zan, even though the human has drawn his sword for a counterattack. This wolf also appears quite ill, and its lunging bite misses.

Zirelle, Zan and Nakoma are up with full round actions available. Remember the area is dim light at best, which means a 20% miss chance unless you have ability to see in the dark.

"Desna, reveal these beasts to me!" Nakoma exclaims loudly, causing the well-worn wooden holy symbol latched onto her belt to glow brightly. "There you are." she remarks fiercely, drawing her star knife.

Casting light on her holy symbol so we can see the nearest wolf clearly. I don't think I'm close enough for it to negate the miss chance on Zirelle's wolves, though. Move action to draw her star knife.

Zirelle takes a 5-foot step so that she can get green and blue in her area effect spell

Since it is an area effect, I don't think there would be a chance of missing because of the darkness, because all she has to know is general direction, which she can get from other senses. If you disagree though, please roll the miss chance for me.

Burning Hands damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2 Reflex save DC 14 for half and flammable things catch on fire.

Zan swings his scimitar at the wolf in front of him as he calls out to the others "Help Zirelle, I'll keep this one busy!" The blade comes down hard on the canine's shoulder.

Scimitar: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Confirmation Roll: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Critical Damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (6, 1) + 6 = 13

Zirelle takes a 5-foot step so that she can get green and blue in her area effect spell

Since it is an area effect, I don't think there would be a chance of missing because of the darkness, because all she has to know is general direction, which she can get from other senses. If you disagree though, please roll the miss chance for me.

[dice=Burning Hands damage]1d4 Reflex save DC 14 for half and flammable things catch on fire.

I am troubled about your move and cast. First, from your location, I don't think you can get a 15' cone that captures both wolves. Second, by staying adjacent to green wolf, you provoke an AoO when you cast. Are you sure that's what you want to do? I am going to make a command decision, and move you 5' east instead of NE, which allows you to catch both wolves, and removes you from a threatened square while casting. If that's not right, then let's discuss more...

Wolf Attack - Round 1 - continued

Stepping back from the attacking wolves to get some casting room, Zirelle unleashes a torrent of flames from her outstretched hands, which catches both the wolves full force. Each remains a bit singed by the spell, but still is in the fight.

Behind Zirelle, Zan brings his blade down forcefully on the other wolf, his skilled attack cleaves the beast nearly in two, and it dies with a mournful snarl though its foaming and sickly jaws.

Reaching out to Desna for some divine aid, Nakoma is able to conjure some light on the subject which illuminates just how sick the attacking beasts appear. Stepping forward a step, she draws out her starknife, ready to either stab or throw it.

Blue and Green Wolf continue to press the assault on Zirelle, her fiery counterattack notwithstanding. The first attack misses, the second clamps down on her shoulder savagely, rending and shredding flesh creating a significant wound with its sickened mouth.

Zirelle is victim of a critical hit, which causes 4hp dmg, that stacked with her 1 NL last round, puts her perilously close to passing out. Baldek is up to end the round. Don't forget Bless is in effect...

Zirelle, really hurt, but apparently not wise enough to run away screaming, steps back and tries again.

Burning Hands damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4 Reflex save DC 14 for half and flammable things catch on fire.

Sorcerers as front-liners! New tactics?

"Zirelle! Move back!" shouts Baldek as he rushes forward and throws a javelin at Green Wolf.

Javelin, Bless: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 161d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Nakoma dashes into battle, rushing right up to the wolves and beside Zirelle. She swings her star knife out in front of her in a wide arc, spinning it as she slashes at the wolf.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 3 + 1 = 16
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Move action to get beside Zirelle, standard to attack.

Can't edit the map currently. Moving him between Zirelle and the blue wolf

Zan moves infront of Zirelle and one of the wolves trying to repeat the strike.

Scimitar: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Sorcerers as front-liners! New tactics?

"Zirelle! Move back!" shouts Baldek as he rushes forward and throws a javelin at Green Wolf.

[dice=Javelin, Bless]1d20+1; 1d6+3

Not sure how you have a javelin in hand, and if you move and draw a weapon (also a move action), you don't have an action to throw it this round. You could 5' step and throw, but then take a range increment penalty. Additionally, you take a -4 penalty for throwing into melee (which this is before Zirelle acts in Round 2. I will assume you move and draw javelin but don't throw it yet, since that becomes a miss.

Wolf Attack - Round 1 - concluded

Rushing forward, Baldek unlimbers his javelin and readies but is stymied from throwing by the combat of Zirelle and the wolves. He holds off for fear of hitting the wounded sorceress, and gets closer instead.

End of Round 1

Shoot, I forgot I still have BAB 0... Right, then I'll throw after five feet and take the penalties.

Wolf Attack - Round 2

Bless is in effect, 9 rounds

20 Zirelle (4hp dmg, 1NL dmg)
15 Zan
11 Nakoma
7 Blue Wolf (2hp dmg)
6 Green Wolf (2hp dmg)
2 Baldek

Her wounds nearly overcoming her, Zirelle steps back and lets the wolves have another barrage of flames from her hands. This time Blue Wolf is able to dodge most of the effect, but Green takes the full brunt.

Hurrying to get between Zirelle and the savage beasts, Zan is able to slash a death blow to Blue Wolf, the beast dying with a new surge of sickly foam on its mouth.

Her starknife poised to strike, Nakoma leaps into the fray also, driving her weapon down into the back and neck of the remaining wolf. It's not the cleanest blow she's ever struck, but with the fire damage already taken, the last wolf succumbs to her holy weapon.

End of Combat

Shoot, I forgot I still have BAB 0... Right, then I'll throw after five feet and take the penalties.

That becomes a miss then. Doesn't matter, the others cleaned this up in Round 2.

Please see the post-combat summary post in the Discussion tab. That is a regular feature after fights in my games, to make sure we are all on the same page.

Nakoma looks around warily, ready to fight off any other wolves. Finding nothing, she turns her attention to Zirelle.

"Hold still," she says, reaching out a hand to touch Zirelle's bite wounds. She speaks quietly in a foreign language.

Casting cure light wounds on Zirelle.

Healing: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9 of both lethal and non-lethal damage.

As Nakoma speaks, Zirelle's wounds heal completely.

"Done." she announces. After a few moments of silence she adds, "I know little of sickness, but those wolves looked ill. You should see a doctor come morning."

After Zirelle's healed, Nakoma stands over the dead wolves with worry. "We should see if there are any more in town."

Thanks, Nakoma.

Where did they come from?

Satisfied that Zirelle should be alright for the moment Zan starts carefully examining the area trying to follow and find tracks. "I don't mean to sound paranoid but what if it's connected as well. Starving a few wolves, giving them a little drug laced food and leaving them in a spot where they are bound to wander into town would be a good way to keep us off balance."

Survival: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 1 = 9

Off balance for what reason? If they are trying to keep the whole town off balance, do you think someone is planning an attack, or do you think this was meant specifically for us?

Zan searches three area where the wolves first appeared, but in the dark and on the hard-packed village streets, there is no real trail to follow.

Though they are numerous in the wild environs of Belkzen outside the walls, you have never heard of wolves entering the city or attacking its citizens before.

"I've never heard or seen any wolves getting inside the walls. Wolves getting inside could have us looking inwards instead of outwards. The grounds too hard packed and poorly lit for me to pick up a trail."

"Several half orcs entered town and put up signs, a signal for others? Noting targets or another means of co ordination. Of course we assume half orcs, a little magic could obfuscate their true nature. That mystery man for example could be a full blooded orc. I've got no real answers to give the highers up though, we don't even know who killed Rodrik. I want something more substantial before telling the higher ups... and if I spread around idle speculation it might get people worked up." Zan bends over one of the wolves. "Right now it's just suspicious activities and my gut."

Hmm. You might be right. Maybe those cross/swords are markings telling people where to attack. Do you think those would be strategic places to attack though? Why would you attack a church or sanctuary?

Anyway, what next? You still want to hit the Plague House tonight, or should we wait till morning?

"A church of Iomedae will have warriors and healers. If you were going to launch an attack it'd be a good place to target or at least keep an eye on. It would be obvious to anyone that in the event of an attack, the followers of the Church of Iomedae would try to rally a counter attack."

Heal: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

Zan's eyes narrows "These wolves were poisoned, they weren't rabid." He looks at the others "That settles it then, no chance they got inside the settlement and were poisoned with someone orchestrating it."

Baldek looks to Zan: "By His Hammer, you're messing with my rain Zan? Did you just say that you think someone got those wolves inside the town for nefarious purposes, or did you just say that it's unlikely that someone got th- well, you know!"

"I am saying three wolves coming under the effects of a drug and then wandering past the walls and patrols without anyone noticing is quite unlikely. Nefarious seems to be the word we are looking for Baldek."

"Poisoned?" Nakoma confirms. "That's not good."

She looks at the wolves, then at the surrounding roads. "We need to inform the guards on duty. And check the streets in case there are more!"

Nakoma gives the others a moment to follow her, if they want, then hurries off to check the streets in this part of Trunau for dangerous animals, or suspicious people. By this part of Trunau, I mean the entire area between the front gates at 1, and the stone walls leading into the Inner Quarter.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

If Nakoma passes any guards she tells them: "Poisoned wolves just attacked a group of us inside Trunau. I need you to get word to the Longhouse. We'll need help to check the city for more. Hurry!"

If Nakoma passes any citizens she warns them: "Dangerous animals have gotten into the city. I need you to round up your family and get home. There may be more out on the streets tonight. Hurry!"

Zirelle really isn't up for running all over town again after almost getting herself killed, but she doesn't feel like she can just say she's going back to her house as they planned rather than helping, so she reluctantly tags along, keeping an eye out for any other wolves, but mentally reviewing the stew that she was going to make, and wishing they could sit down and talk.

She responds to Zan and Baldek before setting off. Okay, that makes sense about the church as a target. Why the wolves though... trying to distract us from something? Do you think an attack is imminent? Maybe that's what got Rodrick killed. He somehow stumbled into the threat to the town? ... And more importantly, if so... what do we do? How do we defend the town?

Moving around the lower quarter, warning townsfolk, the group gets some strange looks, but most listen and move inside. There is no sign of other wolves however no matter how much time is spent looking for them.

By the time the searching and warning is over, it is very late. Most are now indoors and in bed. The town gate is closed for the night, so leaving for the Plague House this evening seems out of the question, unless you plan to spend the night there...

Zan will sick close to Zirelle as she's getting jittery, understandably so after the wolves. "I think we've gotten the general word out. As for Rodrik... if I had to guess he came at this from a strange angle and misunderstood it's nature, that's why he seemed so enthusiastic. Accidentally he came to the attention of whoever is behind this, presumably for the moment one of the Orc factions but that's not guaranteed. Quickly silencing him and making it look like a suicide would buy them some time. Him being clearly killed or disappearing would raise the alarm too much."

"I'm not sure if we should enter the Plague House tonight but perhaps we should watch for a while tonight, see if anyone or anything is going in or out."

Nakoma nods. "I think you're right. The town should be safe, and we've informed the guard... Let's do another patrol before turning in for the night. We can talk discuss out investigation while we walk."

Do we want to have our conversation while we walk, or head to Zirelles to speak? Nakoma will go along with either.

When the conversation turns to the Plague House, Nakoma shakes her head. "It's too late to go tonight. But we can check it out come morning."

Do we really need to do another patrol? We still haven't eaten. Zirelle knows it probably sounds whiny and selfish, but she's really hungry.

"How about we head to your house and once we see you safely there you might do up something to eat while we finish up the patrol. I'm appealing to your hunger and my own self interest in getting to eat sooner too?"

Nakoma considers this, then nods. "That's fine with me." she remarks, agreeing with Zan.

Zirelle goes home and makes stew for everyone.

As Zirelle finally retires to her home, she brings out a stock pot and starts making a meal for her fellow investigators. Those worthies take another stroll around the Upper Quarter, and then return to dine.

It is already late in the night when the meal begins, and it is the wee hours when the party splits up for the night the soldiers heading back to the barracks at the Longhouse, Baldek to his camp near the new smithy he is establishing, and Zirelle comfortably at home.

You may have your internal discussions here, if any. Tomorrow I will post the actions that occur early in the morning. If no further discussion, then rest until then.

Well, we can have our conversation from before here. I don't think Nakoma has much to add.

"Those wolves..." she muses aloud. "Something is strange with those wolves... Poison could have been accidental, but for them to be poisoned and somehow end up inside town is unlikely.... I think you're right, Zan. Someone might have smuggled them in and unleashed them on purpose."

"But why?"

"If it's related to Rodrik, what could he have discovered that would cause such a strange response? And if it's not relate to Rodrik, what is it related to? Just to cause chaos? Or to harm the citizens? Is there something illegal going on in Trunau that these wolves were a part of? A... poisoning... group of... I don't know."

"It's late."

Sorry for the delay, found some time while on this trip, finally.

After dining and discussing the investigation, and agreeing to meet in the morning at the Longhouse, the group has an uninterrupted rest. Just after dawn breaks, a stirring ripples through the Longhouse, which Zan and Nakoma pick up on. Apparently, Omast Frum, the watch-sergeant, has been found.

According to the story told in the barracks, Frum is apparently dangling from the South Tower of the inner wall, working vigorously to scrub the white-painted graffiti from that place. Further it seems, he is stinking drunk while doing so.

Horrified, the two rush to prepare for the day, and coincidentally bump into Baldek and Zirelle who were just coming to meet them.

The nighttime break allows for re-set of daily abilities, healing of damage, changing of prepared spells etc. Please leet me know of any changes to prepared spells (if applicable), after next post, they will be assumed to be the same.

"Lets go find Omast. Either he knows something or decided to do a drunken spot of cleaning. He's down by the South Tower of the inner wall, trying to remove the white paint there."

As Nakoma slips out of the Longhouse she grabs a roll and stuffs it into her mouth. Still chewing when we run into Baldek and Zirelle, she just nods in agreement. She waves her hand in a 'Come on!' gesture, and walks down the road towards the South Tower.

No changes to spells today.