Lucendar's Legacy of Fire PbP

Game Master Lucendar

Waiting for Dumah to drink potion and roll Save

Dumah drinks a potion.

Come on, dice! Familiar needs a new pair of shoes!

Fort Save 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Son of a *&^%&*!!!

Sorry about not posting last night. Internet is down at home, and I was not able to get it up again last night. I will try again tonight, but please DM PC if I am holding anything up. For now I can post from work though.

No problem, thanks for the heads up

In the morning, Dumah does not react well to the overnight effects of the disease. Lose 1d6 ⇒ 4 points of Con.

Spellcasters, please list spells memorized, for the day and in preparation for the gnoll attack. Thanks.

Garavel meets with the party after their medical treatment. "Ok, we've got half or a full tribe of gnolls attacking tonight, correct? Don't like it, at night, the gnolls have all the advantage. I've got all non-essential personnel in the Chapel with Brebork protecting them. The Princess has her guards...good men, not worried too much about her. That leaves us the 3 mercenaries and the 2 archers, myself, and you guys. What's the plan? I'm afraid to leave the archers up on the roof. Gnolls can see at night and they will be easy to pick off, especially if the gnolls come with bows. However, if we have no guards up there, it may seem suspicious. What are your thoughts? Plan for ambush?"

Shivering in his robes despite the desert heat, Dumah will ask in the morning of his gathered companions What is our strategy for the pending gnoll attack? Do we want to engage them outside of the temple? Do we want to draw them into a gauntlet? I only ask because the choice of tactics may affect the spells I prepare for the encounter.

Seeing Dumah shiver, Bahiyy suggests: "I think the best is, I will pray to Abadar to get some cure for you. This might be as essential as anything I can do in battle. I would say, you take another 8 hours of rest, and I will treat you. Do we have any potions left?" Bahiyy asks, as he needs to juggle the requirements to get Dumah back up and the preparation for the coming gnoll attack.

Bahiyy will cast Lesser restoration on Dumah once 1d4 ⇒ 1

Hope the potion works better.

Btw., are we all fully healed now?

Memorized:
Orisons: Create Water; Detect Magic; Detect Poison; Stabilize
Spells:
1st: Endure elements (cast in the morning), Protection from evil, Shield of faith, Divine Favor (Domain spell)
2nd: Lesser restoration, Sound burst, Enthrall (Domain spell)

Shivering despite the encroaching desert heat Eli turns to Quzman, "You have fought the gnolls probably more than the rest of us, how should we prepare to ambush them?"

Btw., are we all fully healed now?

I would say so. Brebork had another Channel energy, don't know how many Bahiyy had left. Everyone also received 6 hps from resting for 8 hours with the heal checks. If not, Brebork can channel energy in the morning for anyone else.

"I would say we try to get them from a distance - does someone have a sling I could borrow, I am not really comfortable to use a bow. Crossbow would do it as well." He sighs in frustration, still being without anything and in need of others.

Bahiyy used the rest when he was brought back from the brink of death. Channeled for 14, got potions, Brebork's channeling, and a night's rest, calculated he has 32hp now, so close to fully healed.

Dumah is sitting up, but appears to be weary from the effort. His robe's cowl conceals most of his face, but his hands betray a slight tremble.

Attacking them from a distance may not make the best use of our strengths. They seem to excel at archery, and much beyond a hundred paces or so, I would have to resort to borrowing a crossbow as well.

"You might be right, still archers on the roofs and hiding would make a good addition. Also, any ideas where we could set up an ambush?

take another potion Dumah, you will need the Lesser restoration, sorry that I rolled sh..

Speaking from personally experience, the chapel is a good place for an ambush. There is a balcony above that could hold spellcasters and archers. There are pews that could conceal warriors.

I think it is important that we ensure that not a single one of them escapes. I could cast a Web spell that would block the base of the stairs leading down to the chapel if we could draw them all in. If Brebork approves that use of the space, of course.

Is Dumah the only one that did not beat the disease in the morning rolls?

Is Dumah the only one that did not beat the disease in the morning rolls?

Sadly, yes

Did anyone happen to ask our good potion merchant if he had any potions that cure disease?

I thought of that but sadly he does not have any cure disease potions in his inventory. He does however have lesser restoration and you do have store credit from him so feel free.

Dumah will take another potion. I'm a little unclear if we still have another amongst the party or if he'll need to collect it from the merchant.

Lesser Restoration 1d4 ⇒ 4

I would also say the very moment the last of the gnolls fall, we move. We take the fight to them and finish it before they get a chance to call reinforcements, flee or making additional preparations.

Though Dumah feels the potion should restored him completely, he still feels the after-effects of the disease.

1 point of Con damage on your failed save was Drain, which can only be restored by a magic restoration spell (4th level). Until Dumah receives said spell, he is at -3 hit points and -1 Fort saves.

Here is the map of the monastery, if you need it to plan the ambush.

Monastery

"I think good Dumah has the start of a good plan. If we could lure them into the columned hallway, we would have them in a decent field of fire. Place some barricades to bar entry to the southern halls, and then use some other barricades to funnel the gnolls coming up the stairs into the chapel."

"I would like to try and hit them before they make the chapel itself if we could. Can you bar two exits Dumah? If we build it right, there would be some cover for us to shoot over, and they would be hindered in returning fire. Also, maybe a couple of flasks of oil on the stairs leading to the chapel may slow them down even more. Of course, we would want to make sure we would be able to handle any spreading of the fire. Say a few barrels of water ready nearby at the top of the stairs to dump when needed?"

That's what I could come up with, if anyone else has any ideas, shoot. Quzman should be dangerous against actual gnolls, if he's not knocked out right away ;).

Actually, yes, I can summon two Web spells in the same confrontation. Dumah will pace off with Quzman the area the spells can cover so he knows what to expect.

"Could we cover part of the area with oil? A bit of sand on it, so it is not obvious. Also caltrops also on there to slow them down, and I try to stun part of them? And whoever gets through is then caught in web spells from Dumah. Just a thought," Bahiyy suggests for a plan.

I would suggest to keep part of the entrance free, to get more gnolls in at once, then inside the area caltrops, and on the whole area oil, with a line to us, so we don't need to hit anything to get it started.

"I am not comfortable with drawing the gnolls into the monastery, it brings the fighting in close to those who are not prepared to fight. I think we need to keep the battle outside these walls. Archers and spell casters can rain death down from the watchtower. Quzman and myself along with Brebork, Bahiyy, and the other combatants can hide outside and as the gnolls approach the doors we surround and destroy them. Between us the mercenaries, and the bodyguards we should have enough to wipe the gnolls out especially if Dumah can tie up some of them with his webbing magic."

Do we have a map of the area? Would help to prepare for the fight.

Since the module does not really provide for such a map and I am no artist, we will extrapolate from the map of the monastery (bushes and flat land with dunes further out). There are plenty of bushes in which to hide, if that is your intention.

That particular spell will only work with solid structures to anchor it. I understand your concern about letting them get too close to the monastery, but perhaps we could hide the civilians in the secret garden area until the conflict is over. My concern about setting an ambush outside of the monastery is the possibility that we may somehow be bypassed by the patrol, leaving our charges exposed.

I like the back and forth strategizing. When you decide on a plan let me know. If you need a map of the outer area, I will try to map out an area 100' from the monastery wall. Please do note that the holes in the walls through which you entered are the only entrances to the monastery's main grounds, so you know through which way the gnolls are likely to come.

I agree with Dumah here, the gnolls would ahve a big advantage outside, we want the fight to happen where we have an advantage. Inside a solid structrue, where we can keep then closer together, in an area we could prepare beforehand to our advantage. Especially if we could position archers on the balconies. Oil would always be good.

Eli, would you feel more comfortable about the prospect if we did conceal the civilians in the secret garden area?

"Yes, the ones who are not combatants would be hidden behind barricades placed before the entrances to the courtyard and the barracks. I would suggest a couple of watchers on the roof, or top floor, who were hidden down behind rubble or walls, but could still keep an eye out for torchlight, if the gnolls thought to burn us out. However, out in the open fields, at night, the gnolls would be able to see us long before we could see them. Their night senses is inhuman."

"Any ideas to prep the floor? Oil, caltrops inside, so if the have one entrance, they need to reach us via the caltrops, oil beneath and burn them up? Could that work?"

Idea is to cover an area with oil, caltrops and hide it under some sand. So, if the the gnolls step into catrops light the oil. But not directly in the entrance area, we need then inside. Also Bahiyy could try to stun soe, to keep them in the area.

My concern about igniting oil is that the webbing my spells generate are very flammable. We would have to contain the fire area in some way to make sure it didn't open the exits for them. Perhaps it is arrogance on my part, but I feel the challenge is less in defeating a dozen gnolls than it is in making sure absolutely none escape.

For spells, I'm starting to think:
1st: Sleep, Sleep, Magic Missile, Magic Missile.
2nd: Web, Web, Flaming Sphere.
Because one spell slot is from specialization, I need to have Magic Missile and Flaming Sphere at least once.

The stress of losing two friends and nearly being killed by the demon is easily seen in Eli's eyes. "You want to lure the gnolls into the building where they have easy access to wipe out eveyrone here? Our job is to wipe clear the village so that these folk can reestablish the community. Quzman, are you saying that barricades will hold these savage creatures, what if one gets past? Do you think little April will be able to defend herself? I can not see that bringing the monsters into our house is the smartest plan. There has to be a better way."

What is my status of with the disease? Am I cured, am I back to full strength or am I still at a - CON?

Perhaps the best alternative then is to go back to the city and engage them there. Eli, I respect your concern about drawing them into the monastery. I would hope that should all of us fall, they would be unable to locate the civilians if they are hidden in the secret garden. However, trying to meet the raiding group in the open desert is fraught with greater risks, the worst of which is that they bypass us in the night and find the monastery without us to guard it. And I see little difference between meeting them as they approach the monastery or as they enter the main hall; the diffence in distance could be covered by one of them in seconds.

What is my status of with the disease? Am I cured, am I back to full strength or am I still at a - CON?

You are all full Con except for Dumah, who is -1 Con, -1 Fort Save, and -3 hps.

And is Dumah still rolling each morning until he makes the Fort save, or has it done all the damage it is going to do?

Actually, you are all still diseased and will roll in the morning. Disease is a bit*h in Pathfinder!

"That may be the best idea, Dumah. Let's take the fight to them, it will keep the Harpy off guard and it will let her know we don't take orders from her and allow us to eliminate the gnolls without putting the monastery at risk. What do you all think"

"That would be fine by me, if you wanted to try and strike the town one more time. I would suggest hitting town during the daylight hours though, to try and negate the night vision advantage of the gnolls. They are usually more active at night, and we might be able to take advantage of their delayed response time.

I was not wanting to put either the temple, or its inhabitants at risk, as I do know what type of monsters the gnolls can be. However, in a large scale skirmish a defensive structure can help negate losses."

If we are agreed then, I just need a little time to finish preparing spells and we can go. Is that our decision? We raid the town again this morning ?

Assuming you have been discussing this aloud...

Garavel interjects, "So, if I'm understanding you correctly, in order to keep the people here safe, which I appreciate by the way, you'd rather attack a full tribe of gnolls, rather than 1/2 a tribe? Now, I don't know how trustworthy your intelligence is, but....Look, I care about the caravan members too, and we can keep them safe, here. On the second floor, with guards at the stairs, or in the secret room, as someone has already suggested. I don't want you biting off more than you can chew, for our sakes. However, whatever decision you make, I will support."

"You are nuts!" That's Bahiyy's comment. "Fight the whole tribe, including a boar and their leader? 20 gnolls? In their environment? We have the chance to prepare the area to our advantage and you want to risk that? We probably won't survive a full assault. This is a suicide commando." Bahiyy is totally upset with this decision and does not agree at all. Getting the tribe split was a good move, and they have to come here, but getting there and fighting everything?

Guys, I think this is a very bad idea. 20 gnolls + boar, +leader. Even if we don't need to take them on at once, it will porbalby be one massive fight. Plus here we get some support by Brebork and archers.

Eli has grown to attached to April, for the sake of role-play I need to follow this course. Please don't take the next post personally

Eli stands eye to eye with Bahiyy al Din, anger burning in his gaze, "I'M NUTS? We found you about to be a sacrifice to the sands and your companions all ingredients for the harpy's stew. How DARE you put peoples lives at risk when you KNOW how dangerous the enemy is. Jarva, is yet to be put into the ground and Kyra's corpse has yet to turn into bones. They were great champions against evil, yet they are DEAD! Poor April was held hostage in this very building, a dagger poised at her throat. The child has seen to much danger already." Eli steps away from the cleric and paces around the room, "I can not allow April and the others to be put in to harms way. Are all of you cowards? We must take the fight to the gnolls, and keep the camp safe. We don't have to assault the village like an army, we can keep picking them off in small groups. We can also lie in wait in the desert for the gnolls who come to assault the monastery, ambush them away from here so that the camp is kept safe."

I've seen other DMs on PbP forums use different avatars for important NPCs so I'd thought I'd try it. A little late into the game I know, but always learning! :-)

"Seems a wise strategy, Eli, I cannot fault you there. As long as you attack the enemy and whittle down his forces, I have no complaints. Just don't do it anywhere where you could invoke the wrath of the entire tribe. My sword arm and those of Brebork and the mercenaries are here at your disposal. Do not forget us."

Why don't take take the best elements of all of the plans? This morning, let us move on the town again. We will assess their forces. If they are all gathered in one spot and fortified, then we retreat. If they are still confident and spread out, we can try to pick off small groups, or powerful individuals like the boar. In the evening, we can be back here before their raid, and try to intercept them. Finally, if we need to, we can fall back to the monastery and engage them there. During the day, we can have Garavel's men fortify the entrances.

I will emphasize again, though, that my biggest concern about meeting them in the open desert is trying to make sure they don't bypass us and hit the monastery, which would be more vulnerable for our absence.

Bahiyy looks Eli straight in the eye "I know how dangerous they are, and I know that I owe you a lot. And what differnce would it make if all of our bodies join those of Jarva and Kyra?" He asks. "I think they will be on the watchout for anything approaching them. They know the demon and 4 gnolls are dead, they will be expecting trouble." He sighs as he ways all options and listens to Dumah's plan. "Maybe this is an option, to scout them out, and yes, if we are lucky we could reduce their nubers." Giving his opinion he doesn't sound optimistic though.

@Eli: No problems here, great discussion

To Eli, Dumah will say Though I may seem aloof at times, I do share your concern for these fine people. I still believe our best opportunity to protect them is to be close to them, to make sure that any gnolls must go through us to the innocents. The open desert is vast and I still fear the potential of missing a strike force because of that.

When you settle on a plan, spellcasters please post your spells for the day. Thanks!

I think we are a little undecided yet. Both plans have merits and risks. It is just a matter of who wins over who to their way of thinking. And the way we go completely will alter Dumah's spell selection.

Quzman's just waiting to find out if he's leading the group back into town, or goes back to setting up defenses here.

So, shall we scout the town in the morning? Is anyone objecting to that?

I think this is what we are looking at for Dumah memorized spells:

0 Level (4): Detect Magic, Light, Mage Hand, Presdigitation (each usable nine times daily)
1st Level (3+1): Grease, Sleep, Mage Armor, Burning Hands*
2nd Level (2+1): Web, Flaming Sphere*, Flaming Sphere*