Kingmaker AP - War of the Red River! (Inactive)

Game Master Haldhin

"Raxus?" Bydar starts to follow his friend

"Someone is being hit." he rumbles.

Perception 1d20 ⇒ 9

Hoi Polloi glances at Belka -- and promptly exchanges his longbow for his greatsword. "Advaaance?" he asks. "Engaaage?"

Perception 1d20 ⇒ 9

"If it's happening behind one of those hell-doors, then... maybe not," the Kellid girl says. She unslings her morningstar. "If someone's being brutalized out on the stairs, though... Am I right?"

Perception check: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

"There are several other people as well - crying in soft voices," Arianna warns her friends as she moves to follow Raxus.

Raxus just moves faster.

Bydar listens to the others, and nods, his face growing grim, as he picks up his own pace to follow, "Neutrality is over rated anyway."

Though the platform appears to be the same size as the ones you have seen before, when you step on it, the truth is revealed. This platform is rectangular in shape, with short sides of thirty feet, and long sides of eighty feet. The staircase you came from is on the left side near the corner of the platform. You can see four other staircases connected to this area.

You see a group of creatures near the center of the platform (forty feet away from you). There are three creatures with the lower bodies of spiders, tiny claws, and eel-like necks and faces. Two headless red-skinned hulking creatures stand beside them. Cowering before them is a group of humanoids that appear to be elves, though their bodies appear to be smaller and lighter than those you have seen before.

The sounds you heard come from one of the elf-like humanoids. A red-skinned creature like those standing beside the arachnid-eels raises a meaty fist and brings it down with a sickening "SMACK!" in the center of the elf-creature's back.

So three spider-eels, three red creatures, one of which is beating up an elf-like humanoid. Several other elf-like humanoids are cowering in fear before the rest of the group.

Knowledge Planes: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Bydar hastily whispers to the others what he knows of the beings.

Feel free to read the spoilers

Ragnar hadn't known there was a word to describe owning another person until recently. He understood what it meant long before then, though.

More than anything, it was what he hated.

His eyes went hard and he broke into a run, heading for the creature who was striking the strange looking elf.

Ragnar is opening with a Charge. To him, this is one of those things that doesn't need any kind of negotiation. How do you want to handle initiative?

Heh, I was wondering if that was going to happen. :) You guys can have a surprise round, so everyone rolls initiative and gets an action before we move into typical combat.

Initiative: 1d20 ⇒ 2

Power Attack, Charge: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 8 + 2 = 22
Damage: 1d10 + 9 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 9 + 6 = 21

Initiative 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

"Wait on me!" Belka hisses, and then she chants a brief spell, directing its effects at the neogi and their droog heavies. "Pulveris nubens occaecans!"

A cloud of glittering, sparkling dust erupts out of nowhere in the middle of the slavers.

Belka casts Glitterdust on the neogi and the droog, hopefully catching all of them. DC 16 Will save to avoid being blinded to any creature caught within the cloud.

Initiative 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

A low hiss erupts from Hoi Polloi's hood, and builds into a growl. "KiiiIIIIILLLL~!"

When Raxus charges, the hooded guardian is right at his side, greatsword sweeping in an upwards angle at whichever enemy stands adjacent to Raxus' target, to prevent it from flanking the Half-Ogre together with the droog.
Sadly, the swing goes wide as Hoi Polloi momentarily skids on some loose gravel.

Attack roll 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8 for 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (5, 1) + 4 = 10 damage. Magic weapon.

Init: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Bydar casts a bless upon the group, calling on Shelyn to aid them.

+1 to hit and +1 vs fear

Surprise Round
18 Arianna
17 Bridgette
11 Belka
06 Bydar
02 Raxus
02 Hoi Polloi

Bridgette Init: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Arianna Init: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

Arianna begins a rousing song, inspiring everyone around her with courage for the upcoming battle! +1 atk, +1 dmg, +1 saves vs charm & fear

Bridgette runs up and places herself between the droog and the elf-creature it is attacking!

Belka casts glitterdust on the group of slavers:
1d20 ⇒ 1
1d20 ⇒ 8
1d20 ⇒ 8
1d20 ⇒ 11
1d20 ⇒ 16
... both of the red-skinned droog begin flailing about, and one of the neogi starts screaming in a high-pitched voice that reminds you of breaking glass.

Bydar asks Shelyn to bless his allies!

Raxus charges the droog and deals a ragged gash across the creature's back. Thick white liquid oozes out of the wound, and both Bridgette and Raxus can feel the heat emanating from it. 22 damage including inspire courage

The hooded guardian follows close by Raxus, but its swing goes wide.

-----

That's the surprise round, let's move into normal rounds now. The droog that Raxus hit is hurt, but not badly injured. The slaves all retreat to the edges of the platform, so assume they are out of the way unless somebody wants to include them in something. I'll get a map up asap, but it will probably be tomorrow.

"Tarry a bit, ugly," Belka suggests, as she casts a spell directly on one of the neogi who escaped the effects of her Glitterdust spell.

Daze monster, DC15 Will save.

"Kill! Kill!" Hoi Polloi rasps as he turns, catching the droog already injured by Raxus between himself and the Half-Ogre, and hacks at it as if it were a side of beef.

Flanking attack 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19 for 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 1) + 4 = 6 damage.

Bydar moves forward to support, using the reach of his glaive to attack the same Neogi that Belka attempted to daze.

To hit, bonuses included: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
dmg, bonus included: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Possible crit? To confirm: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Crit dmg: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Raxus didn't let up. He left the wounded red thing to Belka's guardian and turned his attentions to one of the hideous Neogi slavers. Stepping toward it, he gave it a hard shove with the padded back end of his hook and slid the disgusting creature across the ground toward the edge of the strange platform.

Bull Rush, Inspired, Blessed: 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 10 + 1 + 1 = 26

Attempting to push the thing off the edge (preferably one of the ones that isn't blind). I'm assuming that the edge of the platform isn't more than 10 feet or so away. If that's not accurate I'll change my action to a normal attack and roll damage. I'm using a Reach weapon for the Maneuver so unless it has reach too, it shouldn't get an AoO.

Round One

18 Arianna
17 Bridgette
11 Belka
06 Bydar
02 Raxus
02 Hoi Polloi
01 Neogi & Droog

Putting Arianna and Bridgette in delay to give them a chance to post. Will upload the map in a few hours.

Belka casts a spell on one of the neogi:
Save: 1d20 ⇒ 4
... causing its eyes to glaze over as it stares blankly ahead in a daze.

Bydar rushes forward and brings his glaive down on the neogi that Belka cast her spell upon, executing a precise slash across the creatures long sinuous neck nearly decapitating it! 19 points

Raxus bunches his shoulders, lowers his head, and pushes against the red droog, driving the creature back to the very edge of the platform!

Hoi Polloi leaps forward and stabs the droog in the chest, causing it to overbalance and tumble off the platform into the vacant open space below.

It only had 1 hp remaining.

The unaffected neogi begins screaming in a horrible voice while holding up a clawed hand to fire a ray of crackling purple energy at Belka:
1d20 ⇒ 7
... which narrowly misses her.

The two remaining droog shamble toward Belka, Bydar, and Arianna:
1d3 ⇒ 1
1d3 ⇒ 2
1d20 ⇒ 15
1d20 ⇒ 18
1d2 ⇒ 2
1d2 ⇒ 1
1d6 ⇒ 5
They swing wildly at both Belka and Bydar, with one actually managing to strike Belka with a huge fist! 7 points

-----
I'll give Bridgette and Arianna a while to post, but I'll have the map update this afternoon/early evening.

"KEEEEEEEEEE~!!!"

Hoi Polloi charges the droog that just struck Belka, his sword swinging around in a huge, terrible arc. The noise the hooded guardian makes is utterly inhuman and nearly deranged with fury.

"KEEEEEEEEEE~!!!"

Attack roll 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21 for 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (5, 5) + 6 = 16 damage. (Magic weapon.)

"Spite!" Belka roars as she staggers back and away from the droog who struck her -- taking care not to stray too close to the edge of the platform.

"Die, you ugly piece of snake-feces!" the Kellid girl shouts, and she targets the neogi who just attacked her with another spell of confusion.

One Daze Monster, Will save DC15 to undo.

Bridgette will attack the droog that was attack the elf-thing

Atk:1: 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 6 - 2 = 5
Atk:2: 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 6 - 2 = 19

Damage:1: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Damage:2: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Round One:

Arianna continues her inspiring song as she steps back from the approaching droog. The silver-haired young woman raises her crossbow and fires at the neogi that attempted to harm Belka with the ray of purple energy, then reloads her weapon.

Free action to continue Bardic Performance (Inspire Courage). 5-ft. step back from the approaching droog. Standard action to fire light crossbow at neogi spellcaster. Move action to reload crossbow.

Light Crossbow Attack: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 1 + 1 = 15 (inspire, bless)
Light Crossbow Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Rounds of Bardic Performance used today: 2/13

Bydar considers creating water for a moment, as he knows of their weakness, but decides instead not to risk making their own surface any slipperier than they are.

He settles for lashing out at one of the droog with his glaive , probably the one advancing on him.

To hit: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
dmg: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Round One (retcon)
18 Arianna
17 Bridgette
11 Belka
06 Bydar
02 Raxus
02 Hoi Polloi
01 Neogi & Droog

Arianna shoots her crossbow at one of the neogi, sinking a bolt deep into its distended midsection below its serpentine neck!

Bridgette attacks the droog twice, connecting with one of her attacks and causing the creature to stumble and fall to one knee.

Belka casts a spell on one of the neogi:
Save: 1d20 ⇒ 4
... causing its eyes to glaze over as it stares blankly ahead in a daze.

Bydar rushes forward and brings his glaive down on the neogi that Belka cast her spell upon, executing a precise slash across the creatures long sinuous neck nearly decapitating it! 19 points

Raxus bunches his shoulders, lowers his head, and charges into one of the neogi, pushing the smaller creature scuttling backwards and flying off the platform with a high-pitched wail. The sound quickly disappears as the spider-eel plummets into the unknown depths below. As the sound of the neogi fades, one of the blind droog begins flailing its arms around in either agony or confusion!

Hoi Polloi leaps forward and takes advantage of Bridgette’s position to slash the suffering droog across the back. The red-skinned creature collapses in a heap.

The lone remaining unaffected neogi begins screaming in a horrible voice while holding up a clawed hand to fire a ray of crackling purple energy at Belka:
1d20 ⇒ 7
... which narrowly misses her.

The crazed droog sprints to the edge of the platform and leaps into the air, apparently following the path of the neogi Raxus pushed off the platform. The remaining droog shambles toward Belka, Bydar, and Arianna:
1d3 ⇒ 1
1d20 ⇒ 15
1d2 ⇒ 2
1d6 ⇒ 5

Swinging at Belka and striking her with a huge fist! 7 points

---

Sorry for the retcon, but my misunderstanding of Raxus action significantly changed the combat so I thought it was for the best. If you have already posted your action for Round Two, please feel free to change it. Map is updated in the shared folder.

I'll stand by my action. ^^

Raxus was very surprised and confused when the red creature threw itself off the platform after the slaver-monster he'd pushed off the edge. Suddenly second-guessing himself, he decided to go with the more direct approach and turned to swing at the remaining spider thing.

Power Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
Damage: 1d10 + 9 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 9 + 6 = 22

I'll stay by my action as well then.

I'll stand by my action as well. ^^

Round Two:

Arianna continues her inspiring song as she lowers her crossbow and draws her rapier. With a fierce battle cry she steps forward to stab at the creature battling Belka.

Free action to continue Bardic Performance (Inspire Courage). Move action to draw rapier. 5-ft step to square G,9. Standard action to attack droog.

Rapier Attack: 1d20 + 3 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 3 + 1 + 1 = 17 (inspire, bless)
Rapier Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Rounds of Bardic Performance used today: 3/13

I'll stay by my action as well

Round Two
18 Arianna
17 Bridgette
11 Belka
06 Bydar
02 Raxus
02 Hoi Polloi
01 Neogi & Droog

Arianna continues inspiring her comrades while deftly skewering the remaining droog.

Bridgette follows Arianna and manages to land another blow on the droog.

An angry Belka lashes out with a magical attack against the neogi...
Will save: 1d20 ⇒ 20
which somehow manages to fight through it.

Bydar's glaive flashes as it scores a solid hit against the advancing droog.

The neogi is not as lucky as Raxus' heavy ogre hook slams into it, dropping the spider-like creature to the stone platform. Dead

Hoi Polloi's inhuman voice pierces the air as it rushes to protect Belka, deeply cutting into droog across its broad red back. The droog clutches at the cut along its back before sinking to its knees, then toppling over. Dead

The remaining neogi glances around before making a break for one of the staircases, scuttling along its needle-thin limbs.

-----

The neogi is obviously trying to escape, but it would be very easy for your group to stop it. Do you want to stop the creature from escaping? If so, do you want to kill it or capture it?

The rest of your opponents are defeated. Unfortunately, they do not have anything in the form of treasure. The slaves huddling at the far end of the platform are still around if you want to interact with them.

Finally, the ivy you have been following is clearly visible wrapping around one of the staircases. Judging by the increased growth compared to earlier in your journey, you would guess your destination to be close at hand.

Let me know if there are any other questions.

Hoi Polloi shoots a glance at Belka, then takes a leap -- and cuts off the neogi, threatening it with his sword.

"Sssstaaaaay," the hooded guardian growls. "Heeeeeelll. Obeeeeey! Or dieeeee..."

Intimidate 1d20 ⇒ 3.

"Best listen to my partner, 'less you want to go the way of your eight-legged kin, bug," Belka says, running up to flank the neogi with Hoi Polloi. She bounces her morningstar on her palm a few times and grins. "Don't think I wouldn't enjoy it. Yield."

We could mine the thing for some info, perhaps? Also, there might be a way for it to bring in reinforcements, so best not to let it run off just now... Intimidate 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Bydar frowns, "We mustn't let it get away." Shelyn forgive me, but if this thing is a traveler from some other plane as I suspect, and it should go to its people, possibly with numbers we can't count, and they decide to avenge themselves on us we'll be facing a whole another army. Is it fear or love that drives me to protect our young homeland from an invasion I'm only imagining?

Seeing how fast it moves, he switches to a crossbow and fires at it.

Light crossbow 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
dmg: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Let's catch it,
How far is it from Brigette

Don't worry about distance, it's only got a 20 move. You can easily catch it, and if you don't immediately kill it, the neogi (more or less) surrenders.

The larger issue is what do you do when you've caught it? It doesn't speak/understand any languages your group knows. Does anybody have comprehend languages?

Brigette goes for a Grappling the neogi
Grapple: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

comprehend languages is a first level spell for all classes, Bydar could get it after he rests

Let's truss and gag it up securely and stuff it in a backpack for now. We can interrogate it later.

Once the neogi is subdued, Belka slowly 'holsters' her morningstar and makes her way towards the slaves, her hands raised in a placating gesture.

"Can you understand me?" she asks.

As her companions deal with the neogi, Arianna moves to check on the prisoners. "It's alright. We're friends," she says in a calm, soothing tone, first in the Common tongue, and then switching to Sylvan, Draconic, Gnome, and even Aklo if they don't appear to understand. "You're free now. Are any of you injured? Where are you from?"

Raxus wanted the thing in Bridgette's hands dead. He stared hate at it, but said nothing and waited.

Bydar wipes his brow, and talks to the former slaves, trying Celestial, <"Are you okay?"> and yes, he tries Elven as well.

The elves remain huddled together, giving your group furtive glances from time to time, but showing no recognition or understanding your words.

Based on the comments above, I'm going to assume the neogi is restrained and under your control until further notice. I'll remind you periodically since it's disposition is of some (minor) importance.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16
Sense_Motive: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

Bridgette upon looking at them while keeping her foe pinned.
"What were you doing with them, They look like they are in their late teens, and have been underfeed and over worked.
I'm guessing you did some horrible stuff, so much so they are afraid of everyone."

Yes, sorry, bind it , gag it, and if we could bag it. And yes, strip it of all components and weapons

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24

"They're definitely scared of us. I wonder if they have a home to go back to that won't end up in chains again?"

Perception 1d20 ⇒ 6, Sense motive 1d20 ⇒ 8

"Wouldn't know about all of that," Belka says, shrugging. "But underfed, I can help do something about."

The young Kellid woman reaches into her pack and takes out her pack of trail rations. In full sight of the Elves, she bites into one, chews and swallows it, then offers the rest to them.

11 trail rations left for the Planar Elves. Let's hope they're not allergic.

Perception 1d20 ⇒ 12, Sense motive 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

Hoi Polloi glances at the ex-slaves with limited interest, then returns to watching the neogi - and pressing the tip of his blade against the creature's throat, reinforcing Bridgette's control.

"Roooope," the guardian wheezes at Bydar, holding out a 50-ft. coil of tightly wound silk from his backpack. "Trusssss."

"Yes, thank you, Hoi. I'm not the best with rope, but I'll try to help out with that."