Kingmaker. Footsteps to the empty throne. (Inactive)

Game Master DBH

Sense Motive DC 15: 1d20 + 7 + 1d6 ⇒ (14) + 7 + (6) = 27 (free use of inspiration)

Freya stands by, holding Fenrir at bay for the moment, paying more attention to the other lizardfolk than their deranged leader.

Readied to cast shocking grasp and touch a hostile enemy in range. Fenrir readied to bite at the same.

The Chief unleashes his Blood Caiman on you and advances with blood thirst in his eyes. The other Lizard Folk shift uneasily but don't advance this round.

Orange waddles out the gate and slip into the watery mud. Making for Darian.

AOO for Johanna.
Bite: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

The Chief goes for the obvious warrior and attacks Josef.
Trident: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26
damage: 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (6, 6) + 10 = 22

Lisl, Josef's getting punctured again.

The party may now act.

"OW! Hey! Stop doing that! Bad funky lizard!"

Josef takes his punishment as though he doesn't think he deserves it. Turning his attention to the trident instead of the lizardman proper, Josef sees if he can't put that hunk of metal on the ground, where it is far less likely to cause him pain.

Full Attack (activates Defensive Parry +1 AC to melee attacks until my next turn)
Disarm Attempt w/ Improved Disarm: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 10 + 2 = 32 Nat 20? Good timing! Since I do damage on a Disarm, do I roll a confirm? I will.
Confirm?: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 10 + 2 = 14 Meh.

Disarm Damage w/ Specialization w/o Strength: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 Primary
Crit Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7 For 13 total

And so much for drinking the potion. I should stop trying to conserve those and just drink 'em.

Darian slashes our at the crocodile snapping its jaws at him. Oh, s%@*! Didn’t expect to be fighting a crocodile today in hand to hand! Not the smartest way to hunt them, I’d wager!

The blade takes hold, slicing through the scaly armor of the beast and opening a nasty cut along its neck.
__________
Attack, IC, Bless, Bull Str: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 9 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 31
Damage, AS, IC, Bull Str: 1d10 + 5 + 2 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 13

Round 1
So Readied attack will occur on lizard when it has cover from the corner giving it a +4 to AC. AoO will occur when it is out in open in in the flank as you don't provoke if you have cover so the AoO will have Sneak attack.

Readied Attack[/dice: 1d20 + 13 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 13 + 2 + 1 = 28(Inspire, Bless)
Damage: 1d6 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 2 = 14(Inspire)

AoO: 1d20 + 13 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 13 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 29(Inspire, Flank, Bless)
Damage: 1d6 + 6 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 2 + (2, 3) = 14(Inspire,Sneak Attack)

Round 2

Full Attack two weapon Fighting

Primary Attack: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 11 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 26(TWF,Inspire, Flank, Bless)
Off Hand Attack: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 11 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 24(TWF,Inspire, Flank, Bless)

Damage Primary: 1d6 + 6 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 2 + (2, 4) = 17(Inspire,Sneak Attack)
Damage Primary: 1d6 + 6 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 2 + (4, 5) = 18(Inspire,Sneak Attack)

Johanna lets fly with a flourish of cuts and stabs as the beast moves forward threatening her new friends.

Isabel's blurring form steps forwards and sideways as she closes next to her husband. The sunlight around her dims for a moment before she unleashes a whirling burst of vivid hues.

Concentration not to provoke, D15: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

DC14 Will saves for the caiman and the chief (who I'll target with the stare). -2 for the chief and an extra 2points of damage next time he takes a hit this round.

For the purposes of color spray I count the HD limits as one higher - so its 3HD or less, 4-5HD and 6+.

As the battle begins, Freya bids Fenrir to go help Josef while she hurls a ball of ice at the front caiman.

Fenrir Bite: 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 6 + 2 + 1 = 24 (inspire, bless)
Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 2 = 9 (inspire)
Trip?: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 4 + 2 + 1 = 25 (inspire, bless)

Snowball: 1d20 + 3 + 2 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 3 + 2 + 1 - 4 = 22 (inspire, bless, engaged in melee)
Damage: 5d6 + 2 ⇒ (5, 2, 3, 1, 2) + 2 = 15 (inspire)

And once again, I forgot both the Bless and Inspire.

So, that's an additional +3 to hit, making the confirmation roll a 17.

It is also 2 additional points of damage for either 8 or 17 total (Inspire multiplies, right?)

Edit: Freya? Crit threat with the snowball. Seriously.

Hmmm...didn't notice that when I posted originally.

Confirm Snowball?[/dice: 1d20 + 3 + 2 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 2 + 1 - 4 = 8 (inspire, bless, engaged in melee)
Extra Damage?: 5d6 + 2 ⇒ (4, 5, 1, 4, 6) + 2 = 22 (inspire)

Guess we don't have to worry about that.

Will save Chief: 1d20 ⇒ 19

Changing things around as Darian and Johanna dealt with the Caiman before they got anywhere. Freya is attacking the Chief, and so is Isabel.

The Chiefs reign seems to be coming to an unpleasant end, disarmed by Josef, shaking off Isabel's Color spray only to be blasted by Freya's Snowball he is then put on his back by Fenrir.

Just as things seem to be going your way though:
touch: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (20) + 16 = 36
touch confirm?: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (2) + 16 = 18 No crit. :(
Damage: 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (6, 8) + 2 = 16

Darian jolts as he is attacked by a small glowing ball that appears behind him, brushing against him and sending electricity through his body. The watching Lizard Folk gasp in superstitious awe as they see the thing appear.

What is the party doing now?

"And stay down. Please." Josef tries to put his blade in the prone lizardman.

Full Attack (activates Defensive Parry +1 AC to melee attacks until my next turn)
Attack w/ Bless & Inspire vs Prone: 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 10 + 1 + 2 = 25
Damage w/ Inspire: 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 2 = 12

"Does anyone know what that was on Darian?"

Darian wheels around, clenching his teeth against the pain the thing hit him with. He stabs at it with his sword in retaliation.
__________
Attack, IC, Bless, Bull Str: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 9 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 16
Damage, AS, IC, Bull Str: 1d10 + 5 + 2 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 5 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 20

Isabel pulls out her wand and levels it at the glowing ball attacking her husband. IT responds to her touch, firing two ripples in the air which slam into the ball of light!

UMD: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 10 + 2 = 25

MM: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (3, 1) + 2 = 6

Johanna turns on the new threat as things seem to have went pretty smooth at first.

Move 15ft, 30ft in swamp. Triggering an AoO from the thing. Will attempt parry and riposte if it takes it.

Parry: 1d20 + 13 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 13 + 2 + 1 = 33
Riposte: 1d20 + 13 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 13 + 2 + 1 = 29
Damage: 1d6 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 2 = 9

Attack: 1d20 + 13 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 13 + 2 + 1 = 36
Attack Confirmation: 1d20 + 13 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 13 + 2 + 1 = 30

Damage: 2d6 + 12 + 4 ⇒ (3, 1) + 12 + 4 = 20

The chief slumps under the water dead when Josef gives him the final cut. The glowing orb glows brightly when this happens.

Darian swings at the thing, but misses.

Isabel sends two Magic missiles zipping through the air to slam into the strange being.

Johanna sloshes through the mud and reaches it, expertly evading and countering it's attempt to touch her. Her blade cuts into the glowing orb twice.

Startled it darts back a step and vanishes!

What are you doing now?

”What was that thing!?” Darian asks, holding his sword and shield ready.

Knw Dungeon: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

"A will-o-the-wisp I think!" Isabel responds. "Nasty things, can turn invisible when they want to. It's probably still here, somewhere! Be on the look out!"

"Willow what? Everyone alright? Let's move to stable ground."

Johanna begins making her way inside the gate to solid ground.

"Someone who can speak to these guys should maybe come put them at ease."

Darian nods and turns back to the gathered lizardfolk.

"Will o' wisp? Looked like nothing more than a light . . .." Josef keeps his immediate thoughts to himself as he cleans his blade before sheathing it again. Looking down at the chief, he looks at the tribe, standing there, then back at Darian. "Anything we should do or help them do with their chief at this point?"

”Just keep an eye out for that thing. It likely still has it out for us,” Darian replies.

Touch: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (16) + 16 = 32
Damage: 2d8 ⇒ (7, 3) = 10

Things turn nasty when the glowing wisp appears behind Freya and brushes against her with shocking results.

What are you doing now. The Wisp is visible for the moment.

Difficult Terrain, right?

Isabel, who was waiting for the creature to reappear, snaps her fingers and coats the creature in bright particles, causing it to glow like a minature sun!

"Quick! Attack while its visible!"

Will DC15 with a -2 to avoid blindness. Regardless of that it now has a -20 on stealth checks, effectively cancelling invis!

Go get it guys!

Johanna double moves to get over to engage the creature.

”Form up!” Darian calls out, moving over to the fight as well. ”Stay close together!”

Double Move as well.

Freya yells out in pain as the electricity courses through her body. Gathering her senses, Freya glares at the creature, cursing it with her very glance.

Evil Eye DC 14 Will Save or take -2 to AC for 6 rounds. Success reduces the duration to 1 round.

"Fenrir! Flank and attack!" she shouts to her companion.

Bite: 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 28 (inspire, bless, flank)
Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 2 = 7 (inspire)
Trip N/A

Lisl rushes with her supernatural speed past Darian and Isabel, past Josef, touching people with her holy symbol of Abadar as she goes, ending next to Freya and Johanna.

Casting communal resist energy: electricity. Everyone but me gets electricity resist 10 for 10 minutes.

Assuming difficult terrain, the move is a double move AND I can not charge, so, basically, Josef moves diagonally adjacent to the wisp thingie and THEN tries to tumble around it to block a line of escape.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24

That probably does it, so I'm putting Josef in the target square.

Working his way through the swamp, Josef pulls his blade, again, hving it in hand by the time he tries to work his way around the glowing thing. Once in place Josef holds the blade at the ready, looking to keep the creature from simply wandering off.

Will save - 2: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 9 - 2 = 12

Suddenly blinded and outlined by Isabel's spell the Will-o-wisp is helpless as Fenrir snaps it out of the air, killing it easily.

A murmur goes through the Lizard Folk as they watch you kill what they believed to be the spirit of an ancestor. A divine being that had guided their tribe for some time.

What are you doing now?

Johanna looks around a moment assuring things are over.

"Good doggy. Lets hope they will have peace now."

Darian sheaths his sword and raises his hands placatingly to the tribe. ”Lower your weapons, but keep an eye out...”

Shaking his head as he puts the blade away, again, Josef tries to politely escort the nearby women to the higher, dryer land. "Them not having charged out and started attacking already is a good sign, right? Right?"

After a few moments the pale and shivering Tyg is produced for you. He looks badly traumatized and the Lizard folk look somewhat guilty about this.

It seems they caught him while out hunting and bought him back to eat, however one of the glowing spirits they worship made a rare appearance to the tribe and insisted they keep the boy alive. It seemed to delight in the boy being placed in constant danger while it hovered close by?

While they are a pragmatic race and have no problems with eating other races. "Meat is meat!" is the saying with them. Being deliberately cruel has been dividing the tribe.

This particular tribe worshiped the eerie witchlights that glow and dance above Candlemere’s central island, believing them to be the spirits of fallen lizardfolk heroes. The tribe’s current leader, Vesket, spoke to one of these spirits. He believed it to be a revered ancestor and held
its advice in high esteem.

The Wisps behavior has slowly eroded most the the Lizard folks reverence though. Seeing it enjoying the suffering of a child, human or not, has turned the tribe against it.

The Lizard folk are not evil, but will attack anyone entering what they regard as their lands. They also will eat humans quite happily.

What are you doing now?

Isabel immediately gathers the boy into her arms, the maternal feelings she has been putting off rushing back in a cascade when she sees just how thin he looks.

"There there Tyg. It's all-right, you're safe now. We'll have you home to your parents soon!"

Looking up from the pale and exhausted child she nods to her husband to convey that the boy is unharmed.

"We will respect their territory if they respect ours. We should make some sort of signal or passcode if we need to send representatives to them."

Darian nods to his wife, but then turns back to the lizardfolk.

If the new chief allows it, Darian will work some magic (Share Language: Common (Taldane)) on the lizardfolk leader. ”Thank you for your trust, Chief. My companions and I appreciate the show of good faith you have given us. Is there someplace your people normally conduct important talks, or do you approve of discussing such matters here?”

So, If the new Chief let’s me, the spell let’s him speak and understand Common for 24 hours. Here are two potential deals I’d like to work with him (open to suggestions/requests from the team here):

1) Trade/Peace - they claim that “meat is meat.” However, we obviously don’t share that view. So, Darian’s first proposal is for trade. In return for 1 BP of foodstuffs each month sent to the Lizardfolk, they will trade 1 BP of building supplies. Ends up being a net - 0 arrangement by the numbers, so it’s really just RP. Also, part of this arrangement would allow for safe travel of our people through their lands, and their people safe passage through ours. We could make arrangements to keep them informed as to our boundaries as we expand.

2) Peace/Avoidance - If they do not want to engage in the above trade deal, Darian still would want peace between us. We would avoid their people, and they could avoid our lands. In time, maybe a more open relationship could be earned through trust. Darian will point out, though, that this will limit their hunting grounds, in an effort to encourage them to take Option 1.

Freya smiles and nods approvingly as Darian tries to negotiate with the lizardfolk.

Reaching into her pack she retrieves a bit of food in the form of some of her rations. Walking over to the boy over she says, "Here you need to eat and rest."

Whistling for Fenrir to come over she adds, "Fenrir here will carry you home, won't you boy." patting the wolf on his broad back.

Lisl notes that Isabella and Freya have Tig well in hand, and she remains reined in as always, watching the proceedings coolly.

Once it looks like Darian will, again, pull off talking to things which would normally be trying to eat him, Josef finds a dry looking patch of ground and takes a seat while he waits to find out what all the unintelligible noise is deciding.

The Lizard folk after some discussion select an older Male as their new Chief, unlike the last leader this male is a Swamp Druid, accompanied by his crocodile companion.

Vashant Seems to be of a calmer nature than the last chief. There is a long discussion among the Lizard folk over the merits of your offer, most seem to be in favor of it, with only a few traditionalists arguing about the 'old ways'.

They accept the offer of food for building supplies, noting that they don't have much wood and stone in the swamps, but can offer herbs, potion ingredients and other rare things in exchange.

They ask for the right to trade with you in your town, something they've never had a chance to do with humans. They will send a trading party with a banner to show their purpose. Anyone from your lands will be regarded as a friend and will not be attacked.

They are very metal poor so a chance to be able to trade peacefully is an opportunity they are very excited about. They had heard of your settlement, but were expecting to be attacked at some stage, as that's what humans tend to do.

What are you doing now?

Darian thanks Vashant and his tribe for their willingness to begin the process at developing a peaceful alliance between their two peoples.

He then turns to check on Tig, tossling the boys hair with a smile once he was assured he was okay. ”Well...that could have been worse! Let’s get this lad back to his worried folks!” he says as he mounts his horse.

Lets explore Hex 10 on our way back, then drop Tig off (and check on Magnus) before heading over and clearing out the south-eastern section of the map. Sound good?

Lisl brightens as Darian explains the negotiations.

"This is excellent news! We have good new neighbors. What started off badly and could have become a disaster has instead turned into a boon," says the priestess.

"While our ways are not theirs, I look forward to the day when we can welcome them into our home and share the stories of both our peoples."

”Agreed,” Darian replies to Lisl jovially. ”While there are some who may not be the happiest about the idea,” he adds, giving a glance towards Josef, ”I will always try and settle things with words first, if possible. If it must come to bloodshed, we will do what we must. But I would rather develop peaceful relations with our neighbors who share this land than go to war as a knee jerk reaction.”

He rides a while alongside his wife, knowing this was an emotional trip for her. But he does spend time with anyone willing to talk with him. Eventually, he rides up alongside Johanna. ”So, Miss Atsuko. Do you think me a fool for how I handled things with the tribe?” he asks with a smile.

Hex10
The forest is deep and untouched here, alive with the sounds of animals and birds. As you trek through the area Fenrir flicks his ears in warning to Freya. Indicating a ragged looking man crouched in hiding with a Mountain lion by his side. He seems to be watching the party with excitement.

What are you doing now. Once Freya tells you that is?

Freya is enjoying her travels through the pristine forest when suddenly she instructs the party to halt their movement for the time being.

"We are being watched." she says, nodding her head toward the ragged looking man.

Taking note of the mountain lion by his side, Freya makes a leap of logic and begins speaking to the man in a strange language.

"Fàilte, caraid. Tha sinn a 'ciallachadh nach eil thu a' dèanamh cron, agus chan eil sinn a 'ciallachadh cron sam bith don choille a dh' ainmicheas tu dhachaidh. Thig a-mach gus am bruidhinn sinn."

If the man does not respond, she will say the say again but this time in the common tongue.

The man shows no signs of being able to understand Druidic. When you speak to him he looks flustered for a moment, then straightens up and chuckles nervously. "Ah yes. Sorry for hiding but there are some nasty people around so it's best to be cautious you know?"

He shuffles out of hiding. "I'm a Druid you see, I prefer it out here alone with nature."

What are you doing now?

Darian jumps when Freya addresses someone suddenly, and is startled further by the appearance of the wild looking man. ”Well met. And yes, it is wise to be cautious of strangers. What is your name, friend?”

Freya eyes the man cautiously as he claims to be druid, but showed no signs of knowing the religion's language. Otherwise, she continues to leave the speaking to Darian.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 7 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 7 + (1) = 9 (free use of inspiration) That was a spectacular roll... *rolls eyes*

As Freya starts talking, Josef turns to give her the attention she deserves, before realizing she's not talking to anyone in the group. He looks in the direction she is looking, seeing the man as he comes out to respond to her.

"Who the dickens is this? Why would he be hiding out here? Were there recent bandit reports in this area?" Josef tries to think back to his last briefing and figure the odds this was just a thief.

Isabel too examines the man closely, she doesn't speak the secret tongue of the forest, but it isn't too far from sylvan and the fact that the 'druid' doesn't respond in kind makes her suspicious.

SM: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24