Jacob Trier's RPG Superstar 2013 round 4 playtest - Feer's Crossing (Inactive)

Game Master Jacob Trier

Feer’s Crossing
==========

Before Drezen fell to the powers of the Abyss, the northern bridge was one of the main passages over the West Sellen River and into the lands claimed by the Worldwound. After the loss of the fortress-city, the Second Crusade turned the bridge into a border keep. The crusaders named this new fortification Feer’s Crossing, after the fallen general Eoghan Feer, and placed a wardstone within its walls. Today, a small garrison is responsible for holding the keep and performing the necessary prayers and rituals to maintain the wardstone working. The old stone crossing has long been dismantled and replaced with two drawbridges that connect both margins of the Sellen. Once an important passageway to the north, the keep now lowers its bridges on rare occasions; far from major settlements, the stronghold seldom receives travelers. This isolation has proven to be a serious liability: something has slaughtered the garrison over the course of a few days, and news of the massacre may have arrived too late.

Word of the keep’s forsaking reached both sides of the border at about the same time. In the Mendevian city of Kenables, messengers warned prelate Hulrun about the situation. The prelate dispatched an elite team to move in quickly and protect the wardstone, with a new garrison marching behind. On the Worldwound side, border watchers spotted the empty battlements and reported back to Aponavicius, mistress of Drezen, who sent forth her own human troops. Now, both armies race to occupy the keep.

Intro for the PCs:
You arrive at the site as the Mendevian elite team. From outside the walls, you can see the lowered bridge and the enemy army fast approaching from the other margin. You must save the wardstone and stop Aponavicius’ invasion.

Peering across at the fortification, Jawn comments ”We’d best not waste any time; I’m sorry, but I don’t have magic at the moment to spirit us across the distance. We’ll have to do it the mundane way.”

Though finely dressed and rather scrawny in stature, the halfling starts off at a strong clip.

HP 47, AC 21. Mage Armor.

Schrim can't quite keep up with the halfling, but he gets along at a decent clip. His crossbow is loaded and his trigger finger is itching for use. "We best get up that drawbridge."

Greatsword hustles as best he can in his armor, drawing his greatsword as he goes.

Are you going to post a map here, or should we be looking at the map that came with the submission?

If some fell force does occupy the crossing... Perhaps we let our two enemies soften each the other up?

I guess our fifth player didn't make it - lets move on.

Moving swiftly, you enter the keep and head straight for the bridge ward, where you know the wardstone is located in a small chapel.

The main gate is wide open, and the lowered drawbridges invite the approaching army. Outside, the cold river roars on its way southwest. The ward looks empty. On the south wing, a circular bastion overlooks the keep; from the ground, it is possible to spot the tip of a catapult stationed above it. Near the bastion, the water well emanates a foul odor.

On the opposite side, steps lead up to the splintered doors of a small chapel, where an armored man and a winged minotaur block the entrance. A faint chant comes from inside the building.

As he spots you, the armored man calls out a mocking challenge.

"So, the lapdogs of Mendev have arrived at last - far too late, I dare say. In a few moments, your precious wardstone will fail, and our troops will cross the bridge and secure this place in honor of our glorious mistress."

MAP

Initiative and perception rolls all round, please.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

"Your fell arts will not prevail against Gorum's servant! Battle for his glory, comrades!"

Are we currently on the map? If so, where?

Perception 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (5) + 0 = 5
Initiative 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

In response the taunt, Jawn simply replies "That certainly is one possible outcome. The odds are so stacked against it that Cayden himself wouldn't test them, but certainly possible."

HP 47/47, AC 21. Mage Armor.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20
Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Puffing a bit from the jog, Schrim cranks back the crossbow, ready to fire. "Not before you choke on your own bile."

You enter via the ward gate, marked "d" on the map. You are just inside the gate.

Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 24
Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

- Showdown at Feer's Crossing - round 1 -

Initiative
Egelsee Cocktail - 24
Jawn Swiftrun - 22
Schrim Daskovi - 21
Ezemael - 19
Grendel Aeleanir - 17
Greatsword McChannel - 17
Montaug - 4

From out of the well, a multi-hued mass spills out. It rises up and hurls a glob of translucent goo at your group. The glob strikes Grendel square in the face, and all of you are splattered in the stinking substance. Grendel, 4 dmg and you now suffer a minor addiction to the goo and find the smell of it very pleasing. The rest of you musk make a DC 16 Fort save or be sickened.

Jawn and Schrim are up

Fort save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24

"Gorum laughs at your puny stench!"

Schrim shakes off the unhealthy goo and takes a couple shots back at the shouting armored man in retaliation. The foul stuff did affect his shooting though as he tried to clean it off in between shots with his fingers. He cursed several times, one for each miss and a couple more for good measure.

Fort Save:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29
Attack (Deadly Aim, Rapid Shot, Point Blank Shot): 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (9) + 17 = 26
Attack (Deadly Aim, Rapid Shot, Point Blank Shot): 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (1) + 17 = 18
Attack (Deadly Aim, Rapid Shot, Point Blank Shot): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21
Damage: 1d10 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19
Damage: 1d10 + 15 ⇒ (1) + 15 = 16

Fort Save 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Fighting back against the gagging reflexes, Jawn mutters "Gentlemen, time is of the essence!"

Jawn stays where he is and casts Haste on himself and his allies.

Schrim, Jawn's higher in the initiative than you, so you should be able to add another shot to your previously posted action.

[ooc]Hit points 47/47, Armor Class 21, Sickened, Mage Armor, Haste.

Sweet. Also I get a +1 to hit with all of those as well, we'll see if it matters. Edit: Well, there it is!
Attack: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (20) + 18 = 38
Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (13) + 18 = 31
Damage: 1d10 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21
Crit Damage: 1d10 + 15 ⇒ (1) + 15 = 16

Dude, save some for me!

We get "Slimer"! And... nce Haste, was hoping!

Grendel moves 20 closer to the warrior become pin-cushion. Aiming his wand at the amorphous creature... releasing 3 force projectiles.

Magic Missile: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (1, 1, 1) + 3 = 6

Whoa, that's some serious shootin.

The boasts of the armored man are cut short by a series of rapid twangs and thuds from Schrim's crossbow. The man collapses and tumbles down the stairs as the shafts of several bolts seem to suddenly sprout from his chest and neck.

Grendel's missiles strike the ooze, leaving small holes that issue wisps of grey smoke.

Greatsword, you're next.

Greatsword raises his mighty greatsword, and calls out for Gorum to bless him in battle, then approaches the minotaur.

Cast divine favor for +3 attack and damage, move toward the minotaur. I don't think I'm threatening yet...

Fighters do damage. The rest of you are up when it comes to spells, skills, mobility, perception, conversation, and pretty much any other aspect of the game. I also want to point out that the last bolt (which critted) came via the bard's haste spell. You can give Jawn credit for that one.

Schrim curses some more in Abyssal now that the creature is down. If one knows Abyssal, evidently he is upset that it took three shots to kill the one poor bastard, and he lets him know in no uncertain terms as his spirit leaves his body, although this might be obvious to any nearby regardless of their capability with language.

The winged minotaur roars a challenge at the approaching gorumite an rushes down the stairs to meet him.

Ducking low, he slams his shoulder into Greatsword, who stumbles back. Bullrush 5 ft back.

From inside the chapel, the demonic chanting continues...

- Showdown at Feer's Crossing - round 2 -

Initiative
Egelsee Cocktail - 24
Jawn Swiftrun - 22
Schrim Daskovi - 21
Ezemael - 19
Grendel Aeleanir - 17
Greatsword McChannel - 17
Montaug - 4

The shimmering multi-hued mass slouches forward and lashes out at Grendel. Despite an almost overwhelming desire to hurl himself into the sticky arms of the ooze, the elf deftly evades the outstretches tendrils.

Jawn and Schrim are up

Schrim runs along the wall to get around Montaug's reach, re-cocking his crossbow as he moves. As he passes by, he encourages his old friend. "Just like you want, this one's yours, McChannel. Don't say I never did nothing for ya!." The added swiftness of his comrade's spell allows him to set foot on the stairs to take a look at what's going on inside. Hearing the chanting, he tries to puzzle out what they are saying for a second, but thinks better of it. "Hey, Pitscum! Next person to chant gets a extra airhole!"

Attack (Deadly Aim, PBS): 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (18) + 20 = 38
Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (18) + 20 = 38
Damage: 2d10 + 30 ⇒ (8, 4) + 30 = 42
If the one shot is an Evil Outsider, 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (2, 6) + 2 = 10 more damage. Schrim is going to be taking a shot at the first person he sees chanting in that little room the wardstone is in. If he can't, he will turn and take a shot back at the ooze. (23 damage, grumble grumble immune to crits, grumble)

Also, I don't get to complain about any more dice rolls. Dang!

Is the chanting coming from A8? Does it sound like multiple voices or one?

Know you enemies... The mantra that was drilled into his mind during his arcane studies.

Does Jawn recognize anything about the winged minotaur or the ooze? His modifier for all knowledge skills is +14, except for arcana. I'll roll twice for each foe with a +14; please add 4 to the roll if arcana would be appropriate.

Minotaur 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16
Minotaur 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15
Ooze 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 33
Ooze 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17

Jawn will cast mirror image on himself, 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6 images created.

Depending on where the ooze and minotaur are, Jawn will start to move around the courtyard toward the drawbridge. He's trying to avoid drawing extra attacks. His move is 30'.

Moving past Greatsword and the minotaur, Schrim spots a group of robed figures standing inside the chapel. Spread out in a circle around the wardstone, they are completely focused on chanting complex incantations. They don't even pause when Schrim puts a crossbow bolt through the eye of one of them, dropping him instantly.

Jawn suddenly multiplies and skirts around the ooze towards the drawbridge. Reaching the winch mechanism, he can see the enemy army moving at a fast pace towards the bridge.

Ezemael is taking a permanent, crossbow-induced nap. Greatsword and Grendel are up.

"Gorum's servant will not be so easily tossed aside!"

5-foot step up to the minotaur, full attack

Attack: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23
Damage: 2d6 + 17 ⇒ (3, 5) + 17 = 25
Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
Damage: 2d6 + 17 ⇒ (5, 6) + 17 = 28

I just noticed that the minotaur is a Large creature with a 10 ft reach. This does not change much up until now, but it means that McChannel won't be able to 5 ft step up to attack. Sorry for the confusion.

In other news, the window for voting is fast closing, so I suggest we keep going until tomorrow and then try to evaluate so we can provide some feedback while it still has some impact on the voting.

Did I miss a map? Rogues are map dependent. Charge, flank, etc..

In that case, Greatsword casts righteous might to expand to large size, and 5-foot steps forward to get adjacent with the minotaur.

Ok, I didn't get any time to focus on PbP today. I say we call it here.

Feel free to read over the encounter, in case you haven't already, and please post your thoughts to help the voting public decide.

I'm headed to bed, so I'll post my own thoughts tomorrow, hopefully before the voting closes.

Aw, man! I was just getting into it!