Of Kings and Commoners - Kingmaker AP

Game Master RPGGGM

Can we hear that? How far away are we?

IIRC Green mentioned that there are hurricane equivalent penalties to hearing (which is -8 I think - not 100%). But that was before Alia turned out to be an ace cart driver and we pulled ahead :P

Windstorm level of noise so -8 on sound-based perception checks, and you are roughly 600' away. Only people in the really immediate area have a chance to hear Illthir's song--basically the two carts.

"Oof!" Scarlet faceplants right into the pit. "Mimtek? You still with us? What a rush!"

Mikmek lays unmoving on the ground amid whatever scrap there was in the two carts both of which are wedged in the space just above.

Non-contiguous Round 8ish! (Theme ♬)
The Bold May Act!
_________________
__ Illthir -2 hp
__ Numalar -13 hp, grappled
__ Alia
__ Zokon -20 hp
__ Scarlet -21 hp, 1 nonlethal, prone
__ Celyne
__ Luna -5 hp
__ Mikmek -10 hp, down
__ Nakpik
__ Tartuk
__ Very Angry Kobold
__ kobold cultists
__ darkmantle -7 hp, grappled (aggressor)

Map updated

How deep is this pit?
Scarlet stands up. "Hey! Anyone up there? Can you lend us a rope? Mikmek is out cold..."

Hearing the satisfying sound of metal hitting metal indicating they rear-ended the minecart in front of them, Alia rises from her aerodynamic cowering, lunging forward with her Estoc in hand - Tartuk seemed amused at her companions peril, which only fueled her anger more as she drove her blade into the purple Kobold:"Final station, approaching fast, fiend!"
Chef's Knife: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27 Pierce: 2d4 + 7 ⇒ (1, 3) + 7 = 11
Chef's Knife Confirm?: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22 Pierce more: 2d4 + 7 ⇒ (4, 3) + 7 = 14
Karma: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22 Negative Energy: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

No No i'm far to far away to help you.. I think..

No No i'm far to far away to help you.. I think..

Windstorm level of noise so -8 on sound-based perception checks, and you are roughly 600' away. Only people in the really immediate area have a chance to hear Illthir's song--basically the two carts.

To be clear, the 'you' there should be 'Numalar and Zokon'.

How deep is this pit?

20 feet (Climb DC 25, though Scarlet can just jump up and grab the sloping lip and then haul herself out--DC 17).

Scarlet throws up her 50 feet of rope to the top of the pit. She ties the other end around Mikmek.

"I'll climb out and drag you out of here."

....

Tartuk looks genuinely surprised as Alia's blade finds its way over the lip of the cart, and past all of the poisonous purple kobold's magical defenses to score a line along his jaw. Yet his defenses are enough to rob her of a potentially killing blow.

He recoils and growls at her then he grits his teeth and points his wand at the most visible occupant in the other cart because Nakpik is hiding. *PEW! PEW!*

force damage v Illthir: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (2, 1) + 2 = 5

The arcing bolts of light angle around Alia and strike Illthir!

Tartuk shouts over his shoulder: "yItungHa', qaH QaQ!"

The kobold next to Tartuk drops his crossbow and pulls a bent blade from his sheath.

grey scimitar v Alia (cover, squeezed): 1d20 + 3 - 4 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 3 - 4 - 4 = 10 damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2 miss

The drivers try to get a lead.

black drive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

red drive (aid): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

1d2 ⇒ 1

Meanwhile at the other end of the chase, the darkmantle, agitated by the rapier jabbed in its side suddenly tightens its grip on Numalar's head.

grapple (in control): 1d20 + 5 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 5 = 15 inflict damage + constrict: 1d4 + 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + (1) + 4 = 7

A ballista fires!

ballista: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19 damage (v hardness): 3d8 ⇒ (4, 6, 8) = 18

It hits the back of the cart driving a barbed pike through the back boards and nearly though Numalar.

The spear trails a length of chain back to the war cart. One of the operators begin cranking a winch on the chain's reel.

The angry-looking kobold salivates.

Non-contiguous Round 8ish! (Theme ♬)
The Bold May Act!
_________________
__ Illthir -7 hp
__ Numalar -10 hp, grappled, (corrected)
__ Alia
__ Zokon -20 hp
__ Scarlet -21 hp, 1 nonlethal, prone
__ Celyne (still has Rd 8 actions)
__ Luna -5 hp (still has Rd 8 actions)
__ Mikmek -10 hp, down
__ Nakpik
__ Tartuk
__ Very Angry Kobold
__ kobold cultists
__ darkmantle -7 hp, grappled (aggressor)

Map updated

Non-contiguous Round 8ish! (Theme ♬)
The Bold May Act!
_________________
__ Illthir -7 hp
__ Numalar -10 hp, grappled, (corrected)
__ Alia
__ Zokon -20 hp
__ Scarlet -21 hp, 1 nonlethal, prone
__ Celyne (still has Rd 8 actions)
__ Luna -5 hp (still has Rd 8 actions)
__ Mikmek -10 hp, down
__ Nakpik
__ Tartuk -11 hp, (corrected)
__ Very Angry Kobold
__ kobold cultists
__ darkmantle -7 hp, grappled (aggressor)

Map updated

Zokon does the "They're shooting at us face" and then stabs the darkmantle again, trying to free up Numalar and his powers of burnination

Rapier to darkmantles face+st: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Rapier to darkmantles face+st: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Scarlet isn't sure what's with Mikmek, so she'll try to check on his wounds.

Heal: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15

Scarlet has a few ideas...

The formless spirits around Illthir whirl and seethes, crying out in silent fury that they all can't reach the other cart. The ones flowing around Alia seems more pleased as they try to rend the purple kobold apart with their insubstantial claws.

The chanter herself, embolden by the familiar words, barely notices the missiles of force impacting her. Instead she considers how to best make sure the other cart couldn't flee. She makes an attempt to use her polearm like a boathook and keep the two vehicles together, not with much apparent success however.

To Hook: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9 -4 for squeezed?

Illthir heals another 2 hp (total damage is 3 after this round!)

Zokon stabs the darkmantle loosing Numalar's chin strap by leaving him with a second, much heavier, hat. He looks up there's a hard turn ahead! Next round = Hairpin turn!

Illthir attempts to hook (grapple) the other cart, but can't quite hook it.

The stone strata around the lead carts changes the walls grow darker, but are now lit not by sputtering, intermittent torches, but luminous, green, crystalline deposits.

She and Alia look up and see an odd sign flash by.

Round 9ish! (Theme ♬)
The Bold May Act!
_________________
__ Illthir -3 hp (corrected)
__ Numalar -10 hp
__ Alia
__ Zokon -20 hp
__ Scarlet -21 hp, 1 nonlethal
__ Celyne (still has Rd 8 actions)
__ Luna -5 hp (still has Rd 8 actions)
__ Mikmek -10 hp, down
__ Nakpik
__ Tartuk -11 hp
__ Very Angry Kobold
__ kobold cultists

Map updated

"mmph! mmphhGAH!" Numalar gasps for air as the creature suffocating him dies and his face comes free.

"My thanks, Zokon. That was close, by Shindorlai."

Numalar looks at the ballista bolt spearing the back of the cart.

"Macrathane's codpiece! What now?"

He looks at the kobolds in the cart behind, and then turns back to Zokon.

"We need to either cut these idiots loose, or reel them in. What do you think?"

If the answer is "cut them loose" I will try to use acid splash to weaken the wood around the barbs of the pike.

Concentration DC 16: 1d20 + 3 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 + 3 = 17

I can't stab him AND drive..., Alia suppresses her desire to start cursing as the car in front of them gets a slight boost from the rear-ending.
Performing some gestures, she focuses her will on the Kobolds in front.

"Cut em loose I suppose."

Nooms and the Z-man, they're cops!

Energy attacks deal half damage to most objects. Divide the damage by 2 before applying the object’s hardness. Some energy types might be particularly effective against certain objects, subject to GM discretion. For example, fire might do full damage against parchment, cloth, and other objects that burn easily. Sonic might do full damage against glass and crystal objects.

Wood has a hardness of 5 and 10 hp per inch of thickness. The carts are made of boards that are roughly an inch thick.

Also, the cart behind you is steadily gaining even as they reel you in.

Did my heal check show anything?

I can't stab him AND drive..., Alia suppresses her desire to start cursing as the car in front of them gets a slight boost from the rear-ending.

Performing some gestures, she focuses her will on the Kobolds in front.

That message is going to come over garbled, as the targets have no point of reference for what Ol' Sharptooth sounds like. Tartuk was the only one ever in communion with Ol' Sharptooth, and was the god's sole spokesman and interpreter. (i.e. "Ol' Sharptooth is greatly displeased with you all! Me he loves, but you guys....")

Did my heal check show anything?

Scarlet, having correctly diagnosed Mikmek's ailment as hundreds of pounds of weight pinning him to the floor, and slowly crushing him to death, shifts the wreckage enough to stabilize the dying kobold.

Alia of the Blade wrote:

I can't stab him AND drive..., Alia suppresses her desire to start cursing as the car in front of them gets a slight boost from the rear-ending.

Performing some gestures, she focuses her will on the Kobolds in front.

That message is going to come over garbled, as the targets have no point of reference for what Ol' Sharptooth sounds like. Tartuk was the only one ever in communion with Ol' Sharptooth, and was the god's sole spokesman and interpreter. (i.e. "Ol' Sharptooth is greatly displeased with you all! Me he loves, but you guys....")

I assumed the mind-affecting part and that I would not even need to know the language meant that their own brain filled in for context. Reading it again, there IS the clause of "identify a sound the creatures know" in the application of "instead of precisely imagining a sound". If you rule the Kobolds cannot imagine Old Sharptooth talking to them, that is, they have no 'sound' template saved for him in their tiny reptilian brains, then there's two options: I provide the sound template, as a booming, thunderous voice speaking in Draconic - the way Alia would imagine an Ancient Dragon speaking to mortals trying to steal from it's hoard.

Scarlet Scarab wrote:

Did my heal check show anything?

Scarlet, having correctly diagnosed Mikmek's ailment as hundreds of pounds of weight pinning him to the floor, and slowly crushing him to death, shifts the wreckage enough to stabilize the dying kobold.

Just call me Dr Scarab!

"Oh, right, that half of the minecart is diggin' into ya. Lemme move that over there. We'll get you out of here soon."

I assumed the mind-affecting part and that I would not even need to know the language meant that their own brain filled in for context. Reading it again, there IS the clause of "identify a sound the creatures know" in the application of "instead of precisely imagining a sound"....

The problem is though that I could totally see Alia herself making that mistake. I'll let Alia roll with option 2, if she can make a Wisdom check DC 10.

Wisdom DC 10: 1d20 ⇒ 8
Right, so Alia wastes her action because she doesn't even understand how her own spells work.
Can we at least flavor that in a way that Alia assumes Tartuk, at some time in the past, put on a show for them? That is, she assumes that they have a voice in their tiny lizardy brains because this high-priest-guy already provided one in the past via some magical shenanigans(which, in fact, he did not)? Rather than her simply being too stupid to figure out the limitations of the spell?

Wood has a hardness of 5 and 10 hp per inch of thickness. The carts are made of boards that are roughly an inch thick.

I was hoping that it might still work, since I don't need to actually make a breach, just weaken the wood around where the bolt is stuck in.

Numalar flings a glob of acid at the wood around the bolt.

acid: 1d3 ⇒ 2

"Macrathane's diseased left armpit! This will take too long. Perhaps we should just reel them in and then I can let them have it!"

Can we at least flavor that in a way that Alia assumes Tartuk, at some time in the past, put on a show for them?

Exactly what I was thinking. It would have been reasonable for Alia to assume that. Assuming Tartuk is a charlatan, this just shows Alia how selfish he is with personally controlling his god's message.

Don't feel too bad. It was reasonable for Tartuk to assume that his magic missiles would not splash off of an invisible floating barrier--which I as his player was 90% sure was there. ;)

I was hoping that it might still work, since I don't need to actually make a breach, just weaken the wood around where the bolt is stuck in.

It would help over time, but as Numalar points out not in a 6-second time scale, not in the dose he can currently provide.

Round 9ish! (Theme ♬)
The Bold May Act!
_________________
__ Illthir -3 hp
__ Numalar -10 hp
__ Alia
__ Zokon -20 hp
__ Scarlet -21 hp, 1 nonlethal
__ Celyne (still has Rd 8 actions)
__ Luna -5 hp (still has Rd 8 actions)
__ Mikmek -10 hp, down
__ Nakpik
__ Tartuk -11 hp
__ Very Angry Kobold
__ kobold cultists

Map updated

"Scarlet! You've got to get out of there. There are more carts coming!" Celeynebot calls down. She and Luna (heel) race around the hairpin turn and up the track hoping to warn the approaching carts.

Nakpik continues to hide under whatever cover he can find in Illthir and Alia's cart. Tarps, tools, bits of lumber and rock.

Ahead the tracks separate out into four distinct sets of rails A, B, C, and D.

concentration mage hand (DC 15): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

Once the kobold's cart passes the intersection, Tartuk reaches out one clawed hand, and magically shifts the track lever diverting all further traffic from his rail A to a tangle of looping rails D.

black drive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

red drive (aid): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

Right now that puts Tartuk's cart a total of 70' ahead of Alia and Illthir's.

"BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!" Tartuk's mocking laughter echos back at his pursuers.

bluff (secret message): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

The cart behind Numalar and Zokon continues to draw closer along the taught chain connecting the carts. Right now only 10 feet of length separates them. The angry-looking kobold seems to be sharpening his weapons in anticipation. He moves out to the front of the cart balancing on the metal, fist-shaped ram.

Numalar, Zokon, It's hairpin turn time. Drive (DC 20) or Acrobatics (DC 18) to clear it, one of you needs to make at least one of the rolls, though you can both try (or do other things if you like, aid other, spell casting attacks, knitting...). Note you get a +2 bonus on the roll for Celyne pointing out your immediate peril, and a +2 to help you avoid the next one (the pit) immediately following should you make it this round. Note not making this roll is not an automatic crash, it just puts you further behind the leaders, until you can somehow clear the obstacle.

Celynebot is standing along the side of the track waving her arms and shouting something about you needing more speed to clear the pit on the other side.

Round 9ish! (Theme ♬)
The Bold May Act!
_________________
__ Illthir -1 hp assuming she continues singing
__ Numalar -10 hp
__ Alia
__ Zokon -20 hp
__ Scarlet -21 hp, 1 nonlethal
__ Celyne
__ Luna -5 hp
__ Mikmek -10 hp, down
__ Nakpik
__ Tartuk -11 hp
__ Very Angry Kobold
__ kobold cultists

Map updated

Numalar aims his longspear to the rear of the cart, planning to try to keep Kobolds from boarding.

AoO (if necessary): 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (14) + 0 = 141d6 - 2 ⇒ (6) - 2 = 4

Numalar tries to lean on the inside of the turn. "Hang on! Here we go! Zokon! Lean to the side!"

I'm guessing acrobatics is the better bet.

Acrobatics Aid: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

"But Mikmek is dying down here! I can't just leave him!" Mega Scarlet grabs Mikmek with one hand, rages, and starts climbing out of the pit.

Scarlet's still enlarged, so I don't know how far she actually needs to climb, or what her penalty is for grabbing Mikmek. I only have 1 action, anyway. My speed is 40 feet, so that's 10 for normal and 20 for accelerated. I'll assume I need an accelerated climb for now.

Climb, Enlarge, Bloodrage, Accelerated: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 2 - 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 + 1 + 2 - 5 = 19
If I only need 10 feet of climbing, I made a DC 24 check.

Not being very strong, Celyne quickly ties a few knots in the rope then ties off Scarlet's rope to a section of track so she has something steady to climb up.

Acrobatics+WArning: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

Zokon leans like a pro.. finally and gets the cart around the hairpin turn easily

"If we can just get that whole cart within fifteen feet or so," Numalar grins.

Scarlet pulls herself up out of the pit with Mikmek on her shoulder just as Numalar and Zokon round the bend barrelling right at her.

green drive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
orange drive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

They seem to be dragging, or being chased by a mine cart loaded with well-muscled kobolds all kitted out for war.

Numalar and Zokon now face the pit. I need a reflexive Drive check (DC 16, to stop or jump the pit), or Reflex save (DC 16, to abandon ship before the cart goes in).

Celyne taps Mikmek on the arm with cure light wounds as soon as she is able...

clw Mikmek: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

not sure when I'll get a chance to post again today, so posting this now ... just put it in my turn order when that comes up. thanks

Drive check: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Yep... no ..as usual

Reflex: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24 If there's one involved after

[dice=Drive check]1d20+7

Yep... no ..as usual

[dice=Reflex]1d20+7 If there's one involved after

This check isn't part of the regular chase. This one is an 'either/or' courtesy of Tartuk.

Mikmek blinks his eyes open, and looks around weakly. "Yap?"

"Hey hey! He's back with us!" Scarlet cheers.

"...I have no idea what you're saying. Hey Numalar... right, he's still on the cart."

Numalar's eyes go wide as he sees the tracks disappear into a 10' wide hole, and then come out the other side.

"No! Zokon, Look out!"

Numalar jumps forward and grabs at the controls.

Figure it has to be a drive check to jump the pit or we all end up missing the chase, with another cart full of Kobolds on top of us. The difference is only 1 between my DEX bonus and my Reflex save.

Drive (DEX): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

Woot!

Illthir reaches out to poke the switch with her hammer - but she is too slow!

To Whack!: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Yeah, maintaining song still. Maybe that +1 to hit would have helped : )

Speaking off - I'm assuming a negative energy slap wouldn't really help here even if it could technically hit right :P?

Speaking off - I'm assuming a negative energy slap wouldn't really help here even if it could technically hit right :P?

Yeah, it is not really kinetic enough. In fact, it is probably almost anti-kinetic.

2 = B, 3 = C: 1 + 1d2 ⇒ 1 + (1) = 2

Illthir does land a glancing blow on the lever sending it spinning. Ahead the rail is diverted to a path that, if not changed, leads to a track parallel to the one Tartuk's cart is on.

The sound of rushing air seems to suddenly stop as Numalar and Zokon's cart hurtles out over the small abyss set in the ground before them.... And then, after what seems like minutes, all four of the cart's wheels touch down on the rails on the opposite side and all the noise of their immediate environment crashes down upon them once again.

green drive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

A second later, the warcart crashes down on the rails right behind them, its crew caught in mid-scream and then jarred to nervous, and then hysterical laughter.

Round 9ish! (Theme ♬)
The Bold May Act!
_________________
__ Illthir -1 hp assuming she continues singing
__ Numalar -10 hp
__ Alia
__ Zokon -20 hp
__ Scarlet -21 hp, 1 nonlethal
__ Celyne
__ Luna -5 hp
__ Mikmek -10 hp, down
__ Nakpik
__ Tartuk -11 hp
__ Very Angry Kobold
__ kobold cultists

Map updated