Grymp's Way of the Wicked Campaign (Inactive)

Game Master Zahir ibn Mahmoud ibn Jothan

"I'm sure Shade and Bapho can sneak in closer as well, without alerting the guards. I'll prepare to cast Silence on the camp, in case the Sleep spells fail. That way the sleepers won't be awaken by the sounds of battle"

"If we are all ready then..." Taeral whispers and then casts a silence spell on Gertrart.
Silence, 20' radius, on Gertrart, 4 rds

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On Going Effects: Silence on Gertrart, 4 rds;

"..." says the rogue. Then he grins nods, & follows Malleck toward their target. Shade & Bapho are hopefully close behind.

"Knot of Thorns kills one thousand,
Knot of Thorns kills two thousand,
Knot of Thorns kills three thousand...

For some reason, Gertrart is reminding me of the scene from Roger Rabbit.
"Let me count the ways how much i love.."
1 one thousand
2 one thousand
3 one thousand....."

Ok, so you guys right up on the fight, you're silenced for 24 seconds, you rush in in, and...

And the sleep spell casters? What's your DC for those? Which of the Rangers are you trying to catch with it, the awake guy and some others?

DC 15.
The awake one and as many as possible.

Don't worry, I've a feeling the awake one isn't going to be awake for much longer...

Will: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19 Woot!

Will: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22 Woot!

The guard on duty being awake, makes both saves vs the sleep spells!

Ok, frontal assault, make your attacks! Remember, no talking, you're silenced!

Damn your rolls. *Shakes fist in the sky*
If only i were at my full power like before, i'd incinerate them all.

Shade rolls her eyes - all of them; it takes a few seconds. So much for magic. Sometimes it's good to get back to basics. And by basics, she means hurting people.

She pounces on the guard, from beyond the range of his vision, hurtling in like something from a nightmare, all darkness and claws and terror - only without the bit where he wakes up safely in his own bed, and it was all a dream.

Claw: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Bleed: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Claw: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Bleed: 1d6 ⇒ 5 Use the higher of the two Bleed values, not the sum (alas)

Bite: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Gore: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

I know it's a bit anticlimactic, but the beast, known as Shade shreds the poor 12 hp ranger!

The others are asleep, and assuming Gertrart moved in as well, they are covered by silence and thus didn't awake.

Is there a reason that you're not going to coup them, or should we declare this scene decided and done?

Shade purrs, and licks lovely, fresh, warm blood off her claws. "Admit it, you've missed me, haven't you..."

Xeram won't waste any effort in stopping Shade.

Bloody murder on them? Sure thing.

Utter annihilation
But i would prefer them looking me in the eye as i run them through...
But still, easy win for us. And stuff

One way or another it would have ended up the same way.

Taeral takes the guard head and smashes it beyond the ability to be used with a speak with dead spell.

With a smirk he asks the group, "So we going to camp here for the night?"

One, at least, Gertrart would like to drain of his blood and put it in the decanter for later magic use. He is evil not cruel, so an efficient and quick end is preferred.

"Waste not," he says when the sound of the forest comes back. With a large grin, he adds "Anything of interest on these bodies should be gathered, but then let's hide them, less the forest's eyes report to the madman in the tower."

I know it won't work, but this is the RP part of experimenting with magic that will eventually lead to feats that do. :)

no problem. I'll post loot up, tonight.

Captain Varning had: masterwork lance, masterwork composite shortbow (+3 Str), 20 arrows, longsword, dagger, masterwork full plate, +1 heavy steel shield with personal heraldry, key to his room (4.), warhorse

Each of the other 6 Rangers had: lance, longsword, dagger, composite shortbow (+2 Str), 20 arrows, riding horse (combat trained), chain shirt, 2 week’s rations, bedroll, tinderbox, waterskin, rain cloak

Total of roll: 15d6 ⇒ (3, 4, 1, 5, 2, 4, 4, 2, 1, 5, 2, 5, 4, 6, 4) = 52 gold

Some things, including the horses, are likely recognizable as belonging to the Rangers, so be careful.

As Malleck delivers the killing blow on one of the last rangers, something very strange happens.

The entire body bursts into flames. Consuming the flesh of the victim. Malleck steps back and waves the others closer. He takes another step back as coughing begins to eminate from under the rags of clothing. He readies his sword

The imp is speaking Infernal

"ack... blehg... blasted... *cough* *cough* gah!"
Fiendish wings and a whipping scorpion-like tail lash behind this diminutive, black-skinned nuisance. And a black imp scrambles out from under the pile of rags
"oi! Hello hello! Fancy meeting you here! Blast that... hate being pulled up like that... no warning!"

"What... who are you? " the dhampire asks, lowering his weapon "Why are you here? "

The imp looks at him for a second, then starts laughing as it flits about him, eyeing him from head to toe
"Well now. Arent you full of questions...." he finally lands on his shoulder
"My name is Xixik the powerful! Xixik the awsome! Xixik the magnificent! But you can just call me Xixik. I was asked to help you and your..." he looks at the rest, up and down each... "your servants, accomplish your goals! No need to thank me, i simply had to drop everything I had planned to come and help you... so. Like it or not, for the current future, we are stuck with each other!"

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"Servants?! You're pretty lippy, for a tasty morsel..." Shade lets the unspoken threat tail off.

"Pretty lady has to catch me first!" he chimes, sticking out his flame like tongue, he blinks out of sight.

Malleck looks around, a bit confused
"Can someone explain what just happened?"

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Vosil sighs. He doesn't like to get involved in Shade's little games, but the presence of an imp changes things.

He gestures, and the imp is covered in magical sparkly dust. (Glitterdust)

Turning to Malleck, he notes drily "Looks like you have attracted the attention of a devil, albeit a minor one. Best to find out its purpose and intentions before we do anything else."

Malleck sighs just as they are both covered in magical glitter.

Xixik didnt move. He looks over to Vosil and sticks out his tonue
"You are no fun what so ever. Guess we can play chase some other time" he turns his back on both and points at a random direction
"That way! Off we go! Giddy-up!"

Malleck grabs the little imp and dangles him infront of him
"I. AM. NOT. YOUR. MOUNT. Got that?!"

The imp grins and nods
"okay okay. Sheesh. Bunch of groachy. Up tight folk..." he pouts. Arms crossed. Then after released he goes to sit on Malleck's shoulder again

i like the imagery of an invisible imp on his shoulder

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Xeram keeps his cool, he'd been dealing with (aka frame/kill) provocative snobs back home. His eyes merely have a sharp cold stare.

This...is an imp? It is quite different from those back home, more talkative for one. Who knows, it just might be more durable too.

"Shade?" the rogue asks while the party is resting under the stars and over the corpses of the bloody fallen, "Can you wear the robes of the dead mage? It occurs to me that if we get Vosil into the keep, perhaps in the dead mage's very quarters, and have him call you onto the walls, we could work some serious ghostlamp stuff. A shadowy 'ghost of the mage' could take out several wall guards. If they mount any kind of resistance you could leap from the walls and 'disappear into the either' by which I mean Vosil could cut the bond between you and send you home." The rogue continues, not in the least distracted by the conundrum 'invisible imagery' suggested by the dhampir. "We have three more nights before calling the bugbears. Even if you only remove one a night, & I have every reason to believe you can do much more than that, their numbers will be weakened. Establishing a pattern of death means their morale will be weakened. Soldiers will begin to resent wall guard duty, maybe question orders of an untried officer. At least they will be nervous about being there."

too much meta-knowledge on the eidolon's ability?

We can hobble the horses here I presume? The bodies should be disposed of and I recommend the mundane gear be put into the path of the bugbear invasion. In fact... Gertrart quickly scribbles a note and ties it around the group of swords. In goblin he writes 'bring a 30 foot climb for rose thorn's throat.'

"Three more nights? I do believe we still have a few more days left, not just 3? "

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So what's the plan here villains?

well. If we poison them, we do it last day. Also. We need to kill the head of the fort and then there is the priest... ?

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Hmhm, poisoning the stew of the old lady. The priest sounds a more easy target for a strike.

Either way, we need to kill both. can't leave any leadership for the attack. Okay, here's my idea, we kill the priest somehow, then on the day we poison the fort, we go kill their leader, as we kill him, we launch the flare? and just before we do attack their leader, ill use augury to make sure it will be a success

bury the bodies, hobble the horses, leave loot for bugbears, head back to town. Finish Xeram's anti-padre campaign, haunt the walls, for two nights. Probably sneak in and strike the mad-raven tomorrow. Poison the stew. Attack last commander that same night.
and then we rest.
and then we go back on the last day for anyone we missed, dwarfs the savatoge and other stuff.

"Shade?" the rogue asks while the party is resting under the stars and over the corpses of the bloody fallen, "Can you wear the robes of the dead mage? It occurs to me that if we get Vosil into the keep, perhaps in the dead mage's very quarters, and have him call you onto the walls, we could work some serious ghostlamp stuff. A shadowy 'ghost of the mage' could take out several wall guards. If they mount any kind of resistance you could leap from the walls and 'disappear into the either' by which I mean Vosil could cut the bond between you and send you home."

Shade smiles. "I like this idea - but I can't go too far from Vosil without taking damage - we've never tested the exact range, but it's not far; maybe 100 feet?"

Eidolons lose 50% hit points if they go more than 100 feet from their summoner, so Vosil would have to be close. I like the idea -though, why not try and get into the dormitory, set Shade to CdG them while they sleep, before she vanishes?

bury the bodies, hobble the horses, leave loot for bugbears, head back to town.

Consider this done! You guys grabbed the magic and other special loot right?

I know someone was wanting a strength bow and such.

done. Lets get this last bit of the show started

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"The rooks are still alive, aren't they? I wouldn't mind some birds for dinner"

Since we have the key, let's check Varning's room for loot as well

"Oi! Oi! Hello hello! Havent seen you in a while! So hanging with mortala now? " came Xixiks voice

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Taeral helps gather up some of the items of value and helps stash the rest away.

Gathering all 7 bows, the lance, full plate, heavy steel shield, key and gold coins. Will use my blanket and sacks to bundle and conceal the armor and shield. If I don't feel that will suffiecently disguise/conceal them, Taeral will don the armor and shield and then use the Iron Circlet to disguise the items to look like his own.

"Oi, brother. Here I am. Boss thinks someone's gotta look after these morsel... eh.. mortals. And you, what brought you here?"

I'd have fried your scrawny hide for that insult.

"Mostly same... have to keep an eye out on the big one... luckely not too long... boss says he can change the eyes he wants on him every so often... so just hanging here and see what fun they are up to"

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He sighs and grabs his gear
"Let's go, we have wasted enough time with this lot..." he points to the corpses
"We have a town to burn" with that he starts to head back.

"Burn burn burn, whole night it will burn!" Xixik adds his sing song voice to the travelling, still invisible

Taeral has the right of it for items that can be worn, they can be modified to appear not quite like the ones from the guards and such. The warhorse and such, well those seem difficult to handle, so hobbling them, and getting them later, or letting the horde have them seem a good solution.

Ok, so back to the town.

What now?

Shade smiles. "I like this idea - but I can't go too far from Vosil without taking damage - we've never tested the exact range, but it's not far; maybe 100 feet?"

Eidolons lose 50% hit points if they go more than 100 feet from their summoner, so Vosil would have to be close. I like the idea -though, why not try and get into the dormitory, set Shade to CdG them while they sleep, before she vanishes?

By my reckoning from Taciturn's room you can cover the south wall, Actually I figured if you bullrushed one off the wall he would land and die, Shade would poof away at 1000 feet. :) But we could try a different location. If you want the barracks, I will get you in there. (all I need is a tub, 12 toothbrushes and that guy's leg). Building a ghost rumor will be harder in their cozy beds then staring out over a wall, but either way, I say go for it.

After returning to town, Gertart shall procure the largest loan he can without regard to the interest rate.

In all seriousness he shall help Taeral (Xeram?) with his plans for the priest, Vosil's plans for the ravens, or Malleck's attempt on the last captain. If none of those plans exist, he shall work again with any of the dwarfs. Let me know where I am when I get one of them alone.

lets remove the dwarfs

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Vosil nods. "Why not get the good citizens to remove the dwarves for us? A few rumours, some petty thefts with things being found in their rooms, that sort of thing. Either they get arrested, driven out, or they get fed up and leave of their own free will."

"Not a bad idea... our invisible companions can do the thieving"

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"Heyyyy... I like that plan! Me and Xixik go steal stuff, and then plant some of the stuff on the dwarves. Afterwards, can we go nuke the birds, pleeaaase?"

Nuke the birds now, no need to steal stuff.

EDIT: but would you kindly stash all the stuff Taeral is carrying in their rooms? And grab me a boot too? Then we offer the dwarves thirteen jugs of rotgut (we may as well use it). While the sleep, lead a horse back to the city. I kept a vial of ranger blood. A dwarf bootprint in blood on the horse, some more leading to the inn, the rest of it spilled on their gear.

We'd framed before we even knew it :)

EDIT EDIT: petty thefts will take too long & we are on day 11 of 14. But murder? Should be good enough to lock them up for a few days at least.

Would you kindly get me a mithral golfclub, to whack the leader in the face?

"You and your friend go steal stuff anyway. Gold if you can. Things that can't be traced?"

Xixik gets a big grin on his devilish face
"Sounds great boss! Come on Bapho!"