Kingmaker. Footsteps to the empty throne. (Inactive)

Game Master DBH

An eyebrow climbs as you quickly summarize what is obviously a much longer story. "Sounds like there's a lot more to that story if they are chasing you half-way around the word, but, I shouldn't pry, should I?" He taps the hilt of the sword a few more times before continuing. "The name is Josef, or Jo, or Dashing, or anything else along those lines." The smile spreading across his face seems real enough. "'Lord' Orlovsky? I was sent out here with instructions to claim land and riches for the family. I think they sent me to die. I plan to disappoint them. To that end, if you are the people in charge around here, what can I help with?"

Darian looks the man over, trying to gauge his own odd introduction.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

”Well, as far as in charge, this is Oleg’s home, shop, and fort. And Master Kesten is the head of the guard stationed here from Restov. As to us,” Darian gestures to the rest of his companions, ”We have been charged by Restov to explore and map the area, as well as tend to any banditry we encounter. My name is Darian.”

"Well, Darian, Master Kesten offered no resistance and no correction as you took a bound captive and executed him. You're in charge, whether you have titles or not. If you don't realize that, this should scare you as much as anyone."

"I'm Isabel," she chimes in, having walked over to join the conversation. "It's a pleasure to meet you Josef Jo Dashing." She adds as she curtseys, a distinct mischievous twinkle in her eye that Darian recognises well.

"If you truly wish to help us sir, then lend us your blade. As you can see," she gestures towards where Darian dispatched their pursuer. "We are being followed by a trouble from far away. If you would help us to track it down and resolve it then that would be much appreciated." She flashes him her widest smile, with just a hint of widened eyes to add poignancy to the plea.

Lisl picks up her brush from the table and continues the process of untangling and brushing out her long red hair. She gently takes a seat once more, now that the excitement has died down.

"As an aside," she says as an addition to the extant conversation, "the fellow probably has one of those Asmodean contracts. Likely even the power of an enchantment spell could not mitigate his fear of the consequences of breaking his contract; a peril, after all, at a cost to his immortal soul. Though that, too, is now turned to ruin."

She crosses her legs on the bench-seat of the table and tilts her head as she worries at a particularly stubborn knot.

Sorry for the delay. I haven't had a live game since before Christmas, and yesterday was suddenly available for my group, so we played. :)

Darian executes the man and returns to the trading post.

What are you doing now?

Freya looks over at Lisl curiously, "Asmodean contract?" she asks obviously confused and concerned about the concept.

Freya glances back toward Isabel, Darian, and the newcomer, "He seems...out of place here." she says, not entirely sure what to make of Josef.

Are you staying in the trading post, or back tracking the man to his camp? Who is doing the tracking?

From what Ludi has told you the man would show up in the morning, snoop around for several hours, and then leave. So you do have some time before any associates he may have come looking for him.

What are you doing now?

Darian would like to track the man back to his camp as a group.

"If you are wanting to retrace his step back to his camp, Fenrir and I can help you, Darian." Freya says.

[ooc]For when such rolls are appropriate...[/b]

Fenrir Survival (Track) Assist: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10 - success (barely)

Freya Survival (Track): 1d20 + 9 + 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 9 + (1) + 2 = 19 (inspiration, aid from Fenrir)

When the time comes:

Darian Survival Aid Another: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13 There’s another +2

At Isabel’s request for him to join us, Darian looks anxious at first, but then turns to the young Lord and adds, ”We would, of course, be glad to have you with us, if you see fit to join us. And we will see to it you were fairly compensated for the risk, an equal share in anything we find.”

Lisl finishes brushing her hair and puts away the accoutrements, then picks up her shield and joins the team in the tracking. She stays some distance behind Darian, letting Freyr and her more woods-minded companions busy about the delicate work without interference.

Isabel is compulsive about asking people to help her - we established this in Kintargo!

Isabel joins the group as a matter of course, hoping that the young man joins them too - she wants to learn more about him.

The trail is easy to follow, several miles away, amidst a small wood beside a stream is the camp your hunter traveled from.

Freya can see two burly types standing watch, further back she can see two others discussing something idly.

Those on watch seem to have been picked for their muscle rather than their perception. They haven't noticed you.

New map up top. Camp Cheliax.

What are you doing now?

"Far better to work with those in charge than not. Besides, I'm no more out of place here than these delicate beauties hiding in the countryside."

---------------

"They may not be very good lookouts, but I don't know that I can sneak up on them from here. Think we can draw them out, some? DO you want to skirt around to one entrance over the other, maybe have to push through some of the brush to get there?"

Darian eyes the group of Cheliaxans apprehensively. ”I am certain I can get close and remain unseen. How about the rest of you?”

"Fenrir is far more accomplished at stealth than I am. I would only likely draw unwanted attention." the Ulfen woman says, casting a protective spell on herself.

Casting Mage Armor

"We could try a deception of some sort." Isabel suggests. "I don't need my hands to use magic, so if Josef binds my hands and escorts me in we could pretend to be a bounty hunter and prize - that might distract them enough for the rest of you to jump them?"

Darian turns to Isabel, ”Absolutely not!” he whispers adamantly. ”You and I are their primary targets, remember! They’d be just as likely to kill you on sight!”

"You know Thrune, he'd never settle for something so simple. If he's sent hunters after us there'll be a bonus for getting us alive - he'll want excrutiation. Lots of it. And I imagine a bounty hunter would want as much money as possible. But if you've got a better idea?"

Darian looks to Josef, a man he hardly knew, and back to Isabel warily. ”If...if you think it’s best. But trust me I will be very close by.”

”Everyone,” he says looking to the others, ”get into the best position you can, and be ready to cover them.”

He gives Jory a pointed look, before working some magic and vanishing from sight!

Vanish and move, by my count, easily into the brush between green and pink.

Stealth: 1d20 + 7 + 20 - 5 ⇒ (14) + 7 + 20 - 5 = 36

"Darian, please give me your hand for a moment, as I can't see you," says Lisl.

Casting bless on the party, need to be able to target Darian as well.

Prior...

Jory finds a moment during the tracking to introduce himself to Josef...

"Perhaps I've seen you about Restov? You look to be no stranger to the blade, and I've had a turn or two about the sparing circuit myself..."

Presently...

Jory catches Darian's look and, receiving Lisl's blessing, sprints out into the undergrowth, moving to cover the route into the camp with his crossbow.

Stealth: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

Freya, slowly and as carefully as she can, moves closer to the camp. Fenrir for his part stays close to his master.

Spending 1 Inspiration for Stealth roll

Stealth - Freya: 1d20 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (8) + 1 + (6) = 15
Stealth - Fenrir: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Jory, Freya & Fenrir creep closer to the makeshift camp. Neither guard notices them. Behind them you can now make out an armored man wearing the symbol of Asmodeus and carrying a heavy, spiked mace, talking with a man in mages robes, while another man in leather armor strolls around looking bored.

What are you doing now?

Can someone move my token to the bushes to the left of Pink? With my stealth roll I shouldn’t have had any issue.

Once Darian is in position, he hunkers down, sword and shield already drawn while invisible, and waits for Isabel and the newcomer to make their approach...his stomach in knots.

Once the others move into position Isabel extracts a short piece of rope and offers it to Josef. "Please don't make it too tight - it would be useful if I could actually use my hands at some point." She smiles and tries not to look nervous as her hands are bound.

"Do you want to do the talking or shall I? Imagine that these men work for Surtova and that I'm a declared enemy of the Dragonscale Throne - that should give you an idea of what we're dealing with here..."

"If you're supposed to be my prisoner, having you doing the talking would be suspicious. As for the rope . . .." Josef takes one of her hands and starts making a big knot on that wrist, with a loop sticking out of the side, big enough for her to slide her other hand through without intervention. "If I've got this right, you'll be busy convincing them you're actually bound. Anything you want me to carry where you can grab it? Oh, and I think you're giving me more than I need for the act. Little more than 'I think you're offering a bounty for this package' should be needed to get us inside and things started."

As Josef & Isabel brazenly move out into the open and march closer to the temporary camp, the guards finally notice something and call out to those behind them.

Josef & Isabel moving out as bait, the camp has reacted. All moving closer to see who is coming?

What are you doing now?

As they approach Isabel's face takes on a look like thunder and the glares she shoots sideways at Josef would make a lesser man quail.

Bluff: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (9) + 15 = 24

"Hail the camp! I understand you are looking for this . . . woman." Josef pushes her, putting his hand against her shoulder blade to reduce the pain, but hard enough to knock her forward to the ground. "She was more trouble than you advertised. I want twice your advertised bounty."

Freya watches carefully, ready to cast a spell should the residents of the camp become aggressive.

Readying to cast entangle

"I see..." The Cleric comes forward, the mage following behind. "Interesting. You will be well rewarded for this."

As he gestures to the guards Isabel realizes that something has gone wrong and he doesn't believe Josef.

What are you doing now?

Isabel jerks her hands free and hurls a cone of blinding colours at the two men approaching her and Josef.

"They don't buy it! Attack!"

Move and colour spray Red and Yellow. DC14 will, Red gets -2 on his save.

Will Red: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 7 - 2 = 16
Will Yellow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Red is unaffected, Yellow is struck by the spell.

Yellow is blinded and stunned

The party can now act.

Gotta communicate better. The images inside Josef's head of pulling his sword and laying it against her neck, telling them to stop until they showed him his money, or lose their prize are gone in a puff of smoke.

Instead, he pulls the family sword from his hip as he moves forward towards the obvious grunt with an ax and takes advantage of the thug's slower reaction time.

Standard Attack against Green, Bless: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 8 + 1 = 18
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Edit: Added Bless effects that I had forgotten. Inspire Courage bump not added, but happily enjoyed if available!

If possible, Darian would activate his Inspire Courage when Isabel first called out and cast. If he couldn’t, his action remains unchanged from what I’m about to post.

Darian rushes from the underbrush at the nearest enemy (Pink), his sword raised and shield held defensively. As he prepares to strike, the blade flares white and comes bearing down at the man’s neck!

”You shouldn’t have left your devil’s den, you Chelish scum!”
__________
Swift: Arcane Strike. Move: Advance on Pink. Standard: Attack.
Attack, Bless: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 6 + 1 = 27 +1 if IC is up.
Confirm, Bless: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 6 + 1 = 22 +1 if IC is up.
Damage: 1d10 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 1 = 10 +1 if IC is up.
Crit Bonus Damage: 1d10 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 1 = 7 +1 if IC is up.

Lisl moves rapidly to close the distance.

Double move.

Freya points toward Darian's opponent, telling Fenrir to "Attack!"

Fenrir Bite: 1d20 + 5 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 5 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 31 (charge, bless, inspire, flank)
Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 1 = 6 (inspire)
Trip?: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 4 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 24 (inspire, bless, flank)

Fenrir Bite Confirm?: 1d20 + 5 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 5 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 23 (charge, bless, inspire, flank)
Extra Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 1 = 9 (inspire)

Meanwhile, Freya herself gazes at Josef's opponent, bidding him to sleep.

Will Save DC 13. Subtract the inspire from all above rolls if it was not activated.

Jory steps from cover and casts Grease centered on Green.

Blue box for Greased area

Gotta communicate better. The images inside Josef's head of pulling his sword and laying it against her neck, telling them to stop until they showed him his money, or lose their prize are gone in a puff of smoke.

Sorry! It's awkward when you're the only one to see through a bluff - I wasn't in a position to try and reinforce it!

Pink is still staggering from Darian's perfect strike when Fenrir arrives and rips his leg to the bone. Finishing him off messily.

Green Will: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

Green shakes off Freya's hex and swings at Josef.
Greataxe: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

His blow going wide.

Jory, I think you meant Red when you cast Grease. That's where you placed the box? Also please put the DC required for the save in with the spell.

Reflex: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

I'll take a wild guess and say that will not make the save.

Red takes an angry step forward and falls over onto his back in a clatter of heavy armor.

Red is prone.

Blue casts a spell on himself and moves forward to scan the battlefield for targets.

The party many now act.

Darian rushes past his felled foe and towards the last man between himself and Isabel. He takes advantage of his attention to Josef to attempt to thrust his sword through the man’s spine!
__________
Full: Charge, moving directly opposite Josef, attacking Green.
Darian Attack, Charge, IC, Bless, Flank: 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 19
Damage If Hit, IC: 1d10 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 1 = 10

Isabel circles round the stunned figure of yellow, pulling her weapon out as she goes and tries to steel herself, ready to drive her blade into the mans throat.

Move and draw sword cane, ready to CgD next turn.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

A small part of her mind catalogs the man's spell as defensive magics.

Freya this time points to Josef's opponent and commands Fenrir to "Attack!" before she moves next to Lisl and utilizes her new pearl to retrieve one of her spells.

Using the pearl to get Snowball back.

Fenrir Bite: 1d20 + 5 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 5 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 23(charge, bless, inspire, flank)
Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 1 = 7 (inspire)
Trip?: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 4 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 27 (charge, bless, inspire, flank)

Lisl takes a step up behind Josef to one side and says in a demure tone, "Please kindly take care of this obstacle."

5' step, then using inspiring word domain power, giving Josef +2 morale bonus on attack rolls, skill checks, ability checks, and saving throws for 1 round.

Two questions. 1) Did my attack on Green hit? 2) Is Green still standing? The second is actually a far more important question. It will determine what I do next, actually.

"Certainly, Madam."

If Green is still in the fight:

Josef really doesn't have any special offensive tricks to use, yet, but he still takes a full-attack action to activate his Defensive Parry (+1 AC vs melee) for a round.

Attack w/ Bless, Flank, & Inspiring Word: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 8 + 1 + 2 + 2 = 30 Possibly with another +4 if he's prone. Wow.
Damage w/ Inspire: 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 = 4 :facepalm;

If Green is already out of the fight.

Josef will slide across the battlefield, just outside of the grease, and attack the figure having trouble standing in the grease.

Ending position would be 2 squares above Isabel.

Use the same die rolls or roll new? Same die roll the damage would stay the same, but the attack would be (17+8+1+2+4=32). I'll provide another roll since I don't know your preference.

Attack w/ Bless, Inspiring Word, & Prone Opponent: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 8 + 1 + 2 + 4 = 22
Damage w/ Inspire: 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 + 1 = 8

I hope this meets your approval for contingency posting.

Sorry Josef. You hit Green.

Green is lightly wounded by Josef, then Darian hurtles across the glade and slams his blade into his back. Fenrir lopes into the fray, tearing at his leg and sending him to the ground. Josef slashes him again as he lays there in shock.

Green is still alive.

His action for this round is to try and stand, opening him up to everyone's Aoo's. So he's dead.

Red tries to regain his feet. Reflex: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9 Failing and flailing around on the slippery ground.

Blue sidles sideways from the greased area and casts at Isabel.

Ranged touch + PBS: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

A ray of fires sizzles past Isabel, missing just!

The party may now act.

Lisl waits for Freya to make a move (so that she has an unobstructed line of fire if needed).

Delay for Freya.

Then, kicking up grass as she goes with her unnatural speed, she closes in on the enemy facing off against Isabel.

Shield attack vs. Blue, blessed: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 4 + 1 = 16
Shield spike damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

This goes after Freya does her action. Left room for Josef to enter the fray as well.

The sidestep which avoided the mage's ray was almost automatic, as Isabel's mind was far away. Taking a deep breath she rams her sword cane forward, aiming for yellow's heart. The blade slides cleanly in and out again smoothly. "I'm sorry." She whispers, unable to avoid a pang of guilt, even for a lackey of Thrune.

CDG: 2d6 - 2 + 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4, 5) - 2 + (4) + 3 = 14