Kingmaker AP with GM Mustache (Inactive)

Game Master Mustachioed

(Survival skill of 25)

Rai sets up an impressive camp. Some of others glance a bit enviously at it, perhaps wondering where the quiet elf picked up this particular skill.

Sigurd is glad to set up camp for the night. He sets up his bedroll under while he hopes will be a starry sky. He takes some of his beer from his pack, consumes a large pull, and offers it around to the others.

He then begins to sing, hoping to provide a bit of entertainment as camp is being set up.

Whoa... missed quite a bit.

"Haha!" Brokk'r laughs wildly. "Ye better run!"

As the wolves are taken care of and things start to calm down, Brokk'r feels a little more winded than he would expect. Must be that song to Gorum got his blood boilin'. When Arlen offers magical healing, Brokk'r accepts, though he does grumble quite a bit about it.

"I'm not one fer skinnin' 'em, but ye treat the leather proper an' I can fix ye up with some armor next I get access to tools and a workspace," he offers while the others tend to the corpses.

As they prepare to set off again, Brokk'r passes by Ike and mutters, "Well, ye didn't try te kill us." Then, he continues to the head of the group without another word.

The troupe continues on their way, and the half-elven druid gets more talkative. Brokk'r attempts to tune him out as he pesters everyone about their favorite part of the fight. After about the fifth time hearing him ask the same question, Brokk'r snaps. "Somebody shut this durned elf up before I have ta do it, meself!" he shouts, then marches on with a huff.

When they finally reach a suitable place to make camp, Brokk'r sets up his tent.

"Aye, I've got flint and steel," he says to Arlen, but seeing Rai quickly at work, "but it looks like it's bein' taken care of."

Your curmudgeonly neighborhood dwarf, at your service. *tips beard*

Every group needs one, Brokk'r!

The party sets up a nightly watch and heads off to bed. Everyone agrees that each should take a turn, and in that way each will get a full night rest, albeit a broken one for most of you.

For reasons you will learn over time, I like this method of setting watches. Casters still wake up refreshed and with their spells and every gets their level+constitution modifier in HP

The night passes uneventful, though coldly, and sometime during the night it started to rain. A miserable, chill rain that soaks through to the skin. You have a long day of travel ahead of you, and surely will be happy to see Oleg's Trading Post at day end.

After the exhausting, eventful day before, Arlen sleeps in later than anyone else, snoring loudly. Upon waking up, he drags himself around camp until he has a chance to make a cup of tea. Then he perks up and cheerfully makes conversation. Later, he sits in his tent across from Rasputin, the two gazing intently at each other. After a while, the rabbit seems to grow tired of the staring contest and nibbles on some grass outside the tent. Arlen then packs up his tent and other belongings onto Mortimer.

I am prepared to depart this lovely site! Shall we break camp?

Rai wakes early and returns his camp to nature and then he will attempt to find breakfast for the group in edible plants near the camp site with another member of the group.
know nature take 20 for 27

Diceros is somewhat pleased by the rain, if only because he noticed it in the air the night before, and meditated on his connection to fire before bed.

He walks over to the dying firepit, throws some wet branches in, and casts his Spark orison.

So he is happy to give everybody a warm fire to wake up to and eat breakfast by as they break camp.

Ike seems to wince slightly at Brokk'r's comment (being an amorphous blob once again, it's hard to tell), but takes it as a sign that he's at least willing to let him hang around... progress! He takes dutiful mental notes for encountering others like him.

As they make for camp, Ike slithers up and clambers into a pack on Pygmy's back, exhausted from his extensive shapeshifting. It was so hard to convey just how difficult it was to give someone like him, who changed forms about as regularly as one changed clothes, to maintain a form for an extensive period of time. He could do it! It was just... tough.

Ike remains in his pouch for much of the night, especially when the rain starts. Getting rid of solid contaminants was not a problem, but liquids were a bit trickier... besides, the pack is warm! Though, when folks do wake up, he pokes a tentacled limb out to observe and wave good morning, before slinking back inside.

After a good night of restful sleep, Sigurd awakes and says a silent prayer to Gorum that he can sleep anywhere. He is a bit chilly and damp though. He walks over to the fire and warms up while drying off. Then he packs up his things, leaving out some rations for breakfast which he eats while sitting back by the fire again.

He looks around the camp, watching as the others break camp.

"Thanks for the fire, friend." He nods to Diceros. "I don't see Ike anywhere. He's an odd sort of fellow, isn't he? I wonder where he sleeps. It's clearly not on a bedroll or in a tent. Does he sleep like the rest of us? I must admit, I've never seen anything like him in all my travels."

The party breaks camp and heads out on the wet and muddy dirt road. This far out from Restov and this close to the Stolen Lands, you are lucky to have any road, so you count your blessings.

The day is quiet besides the continutal pitter-patter of cold rain. The road ever stretches onward. On occasion the road forks with a path headed north, leading deeper into Brevoy, but you stay on the western road, following the map toward Oleg's Trading Post.

Arlen strides along cheerfully with the others, though his mood is somewhat lowered by the rainy weather. But he pulls an umbrella from Mortimor's pack and pops it up, keeping some of the rain off Rasputin and himself.

He looks at the map.

"Seems we are getting close to Oleg's. What shall our first priority to be? Stock up on supplies and see what Oleg knows of this area? Then wander into the unknown? I, for one, would love to establish a suitable center of operations somewhere in these unexplored lands."

Sigurd replies to Arlen.

"I drank my only potion during our battle with the wolves. I appreciate your willingness to heal us when needed, but I should probably restock just in case. After that, I say we head into the wilderness and see about setting up a base like you suggest. Oleg might be able to suggest a good area."

Rai perks up at the question and says,"I will hope for a fair share of coin in sale of the furs as I need a knife, some rope, some bells and string, some arrows, and a backpack to start."

Arlen replies amiably

"Of course! We all shared in dispatching the wolves so I assume we would all share in the profits! I myself could use an item or two. Are we all agreed?"

"Aye!"

The day wears on and on. Eventually the rain stops, but the lighting is dark and dreary.

Late afternoon, you round a bend and finally see it! You recall that this structure was once a military fort; indeed, Oleg’s Trading Post is surrounded by a wooden palisade that stands 10 feet high. At each corner of the palisade are 20-foot square watchtowers, each armed with a run-down catapult left over from the site’s original use. The road leads right to a 30-foot-wide wooden gate, which is open. [Roll20: moved you to Oleg's Trading Post]

You walk into the Trading Post, calling out greetings. You see a thick, tough looking man standing on the roof of what appears to be a stable, holding wooden shingles and a hammer. Even from a distance, you can see that he scowls as you enter, puts the hammer down, and climbs down a ladder. From a distance of about thirty feet, he calls out, "What? This it? Where's the rest of you? You don't look like the sort to be able to handle a bandit army. The swordlords told me to expect trained guards! Bah! This is what I get for trusting nobles."

Whoo! That dynamic lighting is cool! Here goes some low-cha diplomacy!!

The Elven librarian walks over to Oleg and bows respectfully. "My apologies for your disappointment, good sir. We are interested in exploring this fine region for academic pursuits!"

Diplomacy: 1d20 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) - 1 + 1 = 4

The old elf grins enthusiastically but probably doesn't help Oleg's frustration.

Altered what I said to fit better with such a poor roll. This is the part where Arlen learns to let Sigurd do the talking. XD

Ike remains in his pouch on Pygmy's back, content to let the rhino do the walking as he kept off the muddy ground. But before arriving at the outpost, and especially with the rain gone, Ike suspects he probably should show up as a human, not a ball of slime. Pouring out of the pouch and onto the ground, Ike stretched and shook himself free of mud and dirt as he shaped into his usual form, stretching. "Aaaaaaahhhhhhhh... there we go... thanks for the ride, Pygmy!" he says, patting the rhino's back as he walks alongside it. "Sorry, rain isn't hard to deal with, but... it's annoying. Water in general, really. It makes things so viscous and hard to hold together..."

As Oleg comes down to scold them for not being trained soldiers, Ike blinked at him, before waving back. "Hi! Sorry we're not who you expected, but we can help!" He pauses a second. "Erm... I mean, I can help! Are there bandits bothering you? We'll kick them out! It's what we're here for!" He pauses again. "I mean! That AND academic pursuits! To pursue bandits and academics!"

Diplomacy: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (14) - 1 = 13

Sigurd steps forward.

"You must be Oleg. My name is Sigurd Jarlson. These are my companions. I assure you, we are the ones sent by the Lord Mayor of Restov. And we're more than meets the eye."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

Awesome /s

Oleg eyes everyone suspiciously. Especially Ike. There is something weird about that one....

"Not sure what you are talking about, academic pursuits. There is nothing academic about having bandits rob you and destroy your work over and over again. But you, strange one, think you can take out bandits? Hmph. Trained guards from Restov, that is what I wanted. And I get academics? Ha! Joke is on me."

A woman appears from out of a building. You see she is carrying a cooking pot, and it is full. She calls out, "Nevermind him, good folk! That man is a crab of the worst sort. Come! Have some stew. We are happy you are here. We were expecting backup, and here you are! Oleg, stop being such a bear. Maybe these folks are highly skilled warriors! Come, come. My name is Svetlana Leveton. And Oleg is my husband."

Ike listens to Oleg's issue and his mind wandered back to the day his creator was killed. The thugs bursting into the shop and wrecking the place. Bashing his creator over the head and sending him to the floor. The damage they caused as he lay bleeding out. Had it not been for them, he might still be in that bottle... but his master would also be alive.

Ike frowns, then scowls before raising his hand, pounding a fist into his palm, sending a subtle ripple up along his arm as his body absorbed the sudden impact. "Years ago, I couldn't... and it cost me my master... it won't happen again. You have my word. Let me at 'em!"

The arrival of Mrs. Svetlana seems to snap Ike almost immediately from his focus and he moved to help her carry the pot. "Oh! Hi! I'm Ike! Here, lemme help!" he offered. Not that he planned to partake... though he might try some of the bits in it!

Svetlana smiles at Ike. "What enthusiasm! I like you. So you will help us with our bandit problem? Oleg and me, we would be so grateful. Oleg, won't you tell them what has happened?"

"I'm not saying anything until they all agree to help! You are too trusting of strangers, Svelana. Hmph. Was looking forward to eating that stew all by myself."

Diceros spends the day wandering here and there along the road, scouting ahead as well as investigating interesting natural phenomenon. In natural studies, at least, he's found a mutual interest with Arlen and they compare book studies with folklore.

Upon reaching Oleg's Trading Post, Diceros is as anxious as the rest to take a look at his supplies and see what Oleg can tell them about the region. But, it appears the main talkers in his group aren't exactly impressing the trader.

"Sir! We are excited to explore your wilderness, and will endeavor to clear it from those that would despoil it. As you can see, we brought a rhinoceros to help! If you tell us what you know of the region, we will see what we can do."

Diplomacy: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (12) - 2 = 10

"Also, we are looking for a warm meal after a cold day, and eager to see your supplies!"

"Ah quit yer yammerin'!" Brokk'r says, dismissing Oleg's concern with a wave. "May not look like much, but we're what ye got."

When Svetlana appears with her fresh meal and soft tone, Brokk'r blushes a bit. "Oh! uh... sorry. We appreciate yer hospitality ta be sure."

Arlen pipes up enthusiastically.

"Oh indeed we would be quite pleased to aid you with any bandit troubles. I've dealt with miscreants for years, though admittedly on a slightly smaller scale. It is, in fact, a primary objective of our charter, in fact! Would you like to see it?"

Arlen holds it out helpfully for Oleg to see. Sniffing the stew, he turns to Svetlana.

"What a kind offer, madame! I would love to taste the delicious meal you have so thoughtfully and skillfully provided."

The old elf bows low, sweeping off his overly-large hat and with his back creaking as he bends.

Rai brings out the wolf pelts and says "we may not look like much but we took out these wolves and have the pelts to sell. Also we are here and no one else. The dwarf and I are no academics."

Oleg grabs the charter and begins to read it. His frown turns into a scowl, and he shakes his head. Exploration means colonization follows. I left civilization to get away from civilization, gadnabit!

But there is nothing he can do about it. He hands the charter back to Arlen. "If you are here to explore, you will face the bandits soon enough. Let me tell you what we have been dealing with."

Sigurd looks at Rai.

"First things first. No business on an empty stomach."

And to Svetlana: "Ma'am, that stew smells delicious. I dare say we'd help you and your husband with whatever you'd ask of us, once we had a nice bowl of that."

I'd like to roll diplomacy to flatter Svetlana with that line

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Svetlana pipes up. "More than soon enough, honey bunny. We are expecting them to be here tomorrow! All of you help us, and we will let you stay here with us as a base of operations while you do your explorations!"

To Sigurd she says,"What a nice boy you are. Eat up! Eat up! Oleg will tell you our story while you all sit here and have some hot stew." She gives Sigurd a double portion.

Oleg looks at his wife in annoyance. He doesn't want full time guests, but on the other hand... their presence would be useful.

"Fine. But hold your horses, Svetlana. Let me tell the tale my way."

"They first visited us three months ago; not too long after we arrived in the first place. There were a whole bunch of 'em, probably ten in number, led by a cloaked man armed with a bow, and a woman who carried two small hatchets. They lit torches and threatened to burn down the place and... take Svetlana and do things to her back at their camp if we didn’t agree to hand over all of our few measely furs and trade goods we brought with us. What choice did we have? We handed it over. Then they pulled Svetlana's wedding ring of her finger; an old family heirloom, worth quite a bit of gold. Laughed the whole time, those bastards. And then they left, and we figured that was that."

"But then they came back. Every two weeks since. They don't take everything from us, anymore, since they know that this would merely make us pack up and leave. But they always want their "taxes", a bit of this, and a bit of that. We have given up resisting... ever since that one time they pinned me down and the hatchet woman threatened to "shorten my reach". Now we just leave the gates open, hide in our house, and they grab their taxes and go."

"Since we stopped protesting, they have been sending fewer and fewer men. We haven't seen the hatchet woman in a month, and that cloaked man comes with just a few goons. And now they will show up again tomorrow, morning, most likely. Your timing is quite... lucky. Maybe Erastil himself is looking out for us."

"This is what I think. We leave the gates open, all seem normal. They will leave a cart here in the courtyard, and go into our stores and start taking what they want. Sometime in here, you jump out at them! We have rope, we have a barrel of oil... a longbow, two dozen arrows... a scythe, a hand axe... You are welcome to use it all to set a proper ambush. Since you are doing the fighting, you decide for yourself how best to spring the trap!"

"My friends, if I may be so bold, I vote we follow this plan of Oleg's and restore justice and peace to this homestead!"

"Also, I have a few Druidic tricks that I may meditate on tonight if you all desire. The very weeds here may grow at my touch to entrap their feet, while we attack from afar. A blinding flash borrowed from the sun may dazzle their eyes and leave them momentarily confused! Perhaps even some oil set alight by a spark would serve these criminals justice!"

I may not have much time until tomorrow night to post, so I am just throwing a few preparations down. these should happen when it's appropriate for them to happen, unless the day takes a surprising turn before sundown

(some time later, after dinner and before bed) Diceros decides to take Pygmy for a short walk outside, and takes some time to search for some more berries.

Survival Check: 1d20 + 2 + 2 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 2 + 2 + 3 + 1 = 27 +WIS +Nature Sense +Class skil +rank

Goodberry Creation: 2d4 ⇒ (1, 1) = 2 Goodberries were created, just in case anybody needs some small bits of healing tomorrow, or doesn't like Svetlana's breakfast. (But after that supper, Diceros can't imagine that would be a problem.) Diceros can't wait until spring, as the berry harvest is not yet very strong.

He also asks Oleg if Pygmy can stay in a spare horse stable for the night. Dice roll needed? and does his nightly Druid meditation, being awestruck by the vast wilderness before them.

"Pygmy, stay!"
Handle Pygmy DC:10: 1d20 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 4 + 3 = 24 +compentency +skill

Reserve the right to retroactively still participate in the evenings dialogue, if I find some time.

"Aye, keep the rhino in the stable. I've no qualms with that plan."

Rai will take the two dozen arrows saying "is there a way to get me on the roof? If we hit them on the way in outside I can use bombs and arrows to bring fire upon them."

Ike used his spoon to pull chunks of meat, potatoes and vegetables out of the stew, placing them in his mouth one at a time, but not really swallowing. After a moment, he puts another in, the previous bit gone completely. Listening to Oleg's story, he scowled a bit, even more eager to give these jerks the boot!

"I can hide in the stores!" He says, after a moment of thought. "I can shrink down and hide myself inside! When they come in... BOOM! I'll slime them!" He pauses, eyes darting to Oleg and Svetlana before adding hastily. "I-I mean, like, grab 'em! You know, like... like a slime! You how you touch slimes, and they won't let go? That's what I meant..."

Oleg looks at Ike oddly. This guy has a lot of enthusiasm, but... still something off about him.

But he responds to Rai,"Yes, you can get on the stable roof easily enough with the ladder, and that would it be close enough to where they park their cart to throw a bomb or two. Bombs! I love it. Maybe I underestimated you fellas. You would have to lie prone so they don't see you, of course. We need to make sure that they don't see any of you, or they might not even enter the fort."

Roll20 note: Technically the cart on the map isn't there yet. That is where the bandits like to park their cart when they arrive.

Sigurd is only half-listening to Oleg's story. He is much more interested in his double portion of stew and has put most of his attention to his meal. When he finishes, he takes a long drink from his beer jug, and finally turns his attention to the conversation and planning that his new friends are having.

He listens intently, carefully considering what his part in the battle might be. At last he speaks up.

"I have some spells, but they aren't likely to be of much help during battle. I'd prove more useful if I were to sing and then start hitting these ruffians with my hammer.

I'm not greatest with large group tactics like these though. Although I do think Ike here would give them quite a scare if he were to pop out of the very things they were trying to steal."He turns to Ike."No offense friend, but you're...unique. I'd bet my father's best beer that they've never seen anything like you before."

Now he looks at Arlen."Arlen, you're the librarian here. Have your books taught you anything about battle tactics?"

Sigurd is only partially right about his spells. He does have one called Timely Inspiration. It allows allows the target to retroactively reroll a failed attack roll or skill check.

"What do you all think of the timing of our actions? Entangling these bandits with weeds once they are inside may be effective, but those same weeds could entangle any of us that would like to engage them, though I am not sure they could stop Ike. I fear if we bomb them too soon, they will run off and bring back their friends, yet do we dare throw bombs inside the Oleg's Post?"

Would Entangle spell effect Ike? I see no exceptions to the spell but if he jumps out of a vase and right onto them, the roots wouldn't get him. Plus, wouldn't he just ooze through them?

"I agree with Sigurd. Our librarian may be our best tactical leader and I yield to his plans!"

Arlen is taken aback at the idea of being any sort of tactical leader.

"Really my friends? Honestly I'm quite unaccustomed to being asked for anything but an academic opinion."

He thinks to himself for a few moments, recalling the countless narratives of military engagements he's read over the past two centuries.

"My readings lead me to believe that surprise, positioning, and prioritization of targets will prove most key. Entangling our opponents in vines sounds perfectly helpful. I may provide some aid by casting a spell on our Dwarven friend to increase his size and power. I agree with Rai that he would serve well from on top of a roof, especially if he is able to place a bomb in the center of our adversaries before we are too close to them. Ike will prove quite a surprise that they will be ill-prepared for. The trick will be creating the entangling effect where it affects our opponents but not ourselves. I believe that we should hide to the north of the courtyard and create the entangling ground on them and to the south of them. Then an enlarged Brokk'r, a singing Sigurd, and charging Pygmy, and a debilitating Diceros will attack them while they are caught off guard. The key will be to have Rai signal us to begin by planting a bomb in the middle of our adversaries. Rai will prioritize any with ranged attacks while our melee allies will prevent them from engaging with us too easily. But, my friends, I rely heavily on your input for this operation."

I can enlarge Brokk'r, Diceros, or Sigurd. I don't think I can enlarge Ike. XD. Whomever I enlarge will get a doubled reach to help shut down their movement and ranged attacks. The best way for an enlarged person to spring into the action would be from the stable, I believe, as the door is made to allow passage by enlarged creatures. So that person and myself would be in the stable. Rai would drop a bomb on them then Diceros would pop the entangle on and behind them to debuff them and keep them from running away. Then Ike pops out of a barrel, Sigurd, Brokk'r, Pygmy, and Diceros charge from the stables or hiding on the north side of some of the buildings while Rai and I give them trouble from distance. I'm just trying to think of how to use the barrel of oil. Seems like the alchemist with "throw anything" and fire bombs might have the most fun using that.

"Seems like a sound plan to me. I'm wondering if we should take the oil and pour it out near the entrance. When all the bandits go to the cart, we can ignite the oil and block their retreat. Either that, or some of us should be prepared to hide ourselves and attack from the south so they're caught between all of us. I could do that but we might have to drag some barrels or crates or something that I can hide behind."

We'd have to drag a lot of things. Sigurd is terrible at stealth.

There is no rules reason why you can't cast enlarge person on Ike. Technically he is a human. As for the oil, if you take Sigurd's plan, I will allow it to be a low powered firewall, with enough oil in the barrel to make a 30 foot wall (some changes added from the 4th level spell:

An immobile, blazing curtain of red fire springs ignites. The wall sends forth waves of heat, dealing 1d4 points of fire damage to all within 5 feet. The wall deals this damage when it appears, and to all creatures in the area on your turn each round. In addition, the wall deals 1d6 points of fire damage to any creature passing through it. It lasts for 4 rounds.

"I was wondering the same about the oil. The difficulty seems to be that I suspect they would notice oil poured out on the ground and grow suspicious. Also, if my understanding of Diceros' magic is correct, the vines will spread out to cover an area 80 feet across, making it difficult for any of us on the south side of the vines to participate in the engagement."

It is reasonable to assume I will let the bandits have a perception check to 1)anything out of the ordinary, 2) any PC who is not in full cover.

"I suppose then, if Diceros places those vines in the right spot, they themselves might sufficiently deter the retreat."

To Diceros "Where would you have to be to cast that spell most effectively?"

"Pygmy and I have been scouting the entrance to the post. If you were to come with us into the yard, we will position ourselves. Pygmy stands where I hope Nature will sprout the weeds, about 10 feet outside the gates themselves. This will cover 40 feet south, limiting the criminals escape. Northward, it will reach to the edge of the stable, right in the opening where the bandits are most likely to park their cart."

"I myself can be quite a long distance away, though I'll need to be able to see my target. Perhaps I could also be on the roof with Rai. If I stay within about 25 feet, I can also attempt to further confuse them with my flare, or reach a few with my javelins."

You are able to put notes or draw boxes in roll20. In the journal tab, there are various spell effects you should be able to drag into the fight. 40 ft radius is huge, twice as big as a fireball. I will probably have to make that spell effect specially. Also, everyone should position themselves where they want to start.

Brokk'r, want to be enlarged? If so, I'll start with you in the stables and enlarge you once I hear the bandits outside so you can charge out the door once the bomb goes off. Otherwise, I'll hang out somewhere a little safer to buff/debuff. GM, how high are the buildings around the main courtyard?

"The roof might be a good idea. That way, there's two of you who don't have to worry about getting caught in the spell. I can stand just inside the bunkhouse to the east. That way I'll be able to flank with, Arlen and whoever he's going to enlarge coming from the stable.

Would Pygmy stay with Arlen? I'd imagine that an enlarged rhino would do a fair amount of damage to these bandits. Although Gorum would certainly bless a large dwarf too."