Of Kings and Commoners - Kingmaker AP

Game Master RPGGGM

tempted to see if Posh would sleep through this...but at the same time may act next round.

If we've been travelling for 2 days, I'll assume Scarlet is at full.

Scarlet remembers about wolves. "They wouldn't be out at night unless they were hunting... what was that? Zokon, look out-"

Three wolves lunge at her, two managing to bite into her. Her quick reflexes help her barely dodge the third.

Scarlet drops her bow and draws her swords. "WAKE UP!"

Scarlet, you know pretty much all of us are prone...that means a move action to get up, and a standard/move left...meaning even if we can reach you, we could not help you. If you're not gonna retaliate or go total defense, you may as well withdraw towards the camp, where we'd be more clustered...(just saying in case you overlooked that option because it's usually a full-found...but like with charge, there's a restricted one-action withdrawal, too)
And if nothing else, at least take a 5-foot step to break their flank...that way I can rush towards you and protect your back, at least...(while they act as pack and could reestablish it by proper movement, I doubt they should be that smart...)

Oh yeah. Well, Scarlet will 5ft away. The wolves will outrun her easily, so retreat is pointless. And no way is Scarlet going to endanger the rest of the group by making more targets. My plan is to stall for time.

Can I use total defense if I don't provoke? I didn't think I could. If I can, then I will use it to put my AC at 20.

Zokon I'm compressing time a bit. The calls would have died down after a few moments. Then silence for several minutes. Then, suddenly, wolves.

Scarlet All it takes is a standard action to use "total defense" (+4 AC, -4 Attack and cannot make AoO). To "fight defensively" (scroll down on the link a bit, +2 AC, -4 Attack, can still make AoO) you must be "attacking."

All Just a reminder, there's enough noise that you don't have to worry about trying to wake up if you were asleep.

...so retreat is pointless...

Not at all...me and Numalar get to act before the wolves, meaning we could stand up, 5-foot step, and ready an action on them approaching. Depending where you'd stand, Celyne could also get up and heal you after a 5-foot step.

Well then,

Scarlet drops her bow, but does not reach for her weapons. Instead she focuses on total defense, hoping to buy some time for her allies to wake up.

Total Defense, AC is 20

ROUND 1
The Bold May Act!
________________________________
__ Numalar
__ Alia
__ WOLVES!
__ Zokon
__ Naleksa
__ Poshment
__ horses
__ Sir Didymus
__ pony
__ Scarlet -14 hp
__ Celyne
__ Luna

Many PCs still prone; one horse -4 hp

Alia, roused by her keen elven senses(and the tons of noise), will get up(move action stand up from prone), and run towards Scarlet who seems to be in trouble, drawing her beloved Estoc on the way(move action to move+draw weapon...I'm attached to it, so yes, I sleep with it), empowering it as she finds herself face-to-snarl with a wolf(swift action to use Arcane Pool).

Also, suddenly waking up she finds her combat instincts work fine, but she fails to call out to others, being entirely focused on battle seconds after waking-

The irony/serendipity/synchronicity/coincidental nature of this random encounter will become apparent within a week's time... to the survivors that is.

Alia, roused by her keen elven senses(and the tons of noise), will get up(move action stand up from prone), and run towards Scarlet who seems to be in trouble, drawing her beloved Estoc on the way(move action to move+draw weapon...I'm attached to it, so yes, I sleep with it), empowering it as she finds herself face-to-snarl with a wolf(swift action to use Arcane Pool).

Also, suddenly waking up she finds her combat instincts work fine, but she fails to call out to others, being entirely focused on battle seconds after waking-

So is Alia a briefs or boxers sort of gal?

Briefs(less chance to get the estoc or branches entangled), but since sleeping in light armor carries no penalty, she'd usually keep it on when camping in the wilds...ESPECIALLY after her previous group got jumped during the night and she almost ended up as a to-be-used-and-killed plaything at a bandit camp...-I do guess I'm without boots(no heels) though.

Poshment'll get up next round.

Numalar jerks awake suddenly, shouting, "SALAD DRESSING!"

His eyes clear and he looks around. "Oh, wolves. Right."
He stands up (move action to stand up) and steps onto the rock. (5' step - FYI I can ignore the first 5' of difficult terrain if it is rocky due to the House Garess trait)

He pops something in his mouth, pulls out his little symbol and shouts: "Qa' quv!"

and then expels a roaring gout of flame from his mouth in a 15' cone.
Casting burning hands on the grey wolf, using saltpeter.
Burning Hands reflex DC 16: 3d4 + 4 ⇒ (4, 1, 4) + 4 = 13

He grimaces afterwards, and coughs. There is blood on his lips, and in the firelight his yellowish skin makes him look almost jaundiced.

"They're after the horses!" Numalar calls out. His fingers lengthen into wicked-looking claws. Free action to deploy claws.

FYI: I will use windy escape the first time I am hit in a round.

Zokon swings high the wolf low and they end up dancing around one another in the dim light.

Where you are Zokon, outside the ring of normal light the area is considered dim for human eyes and comes with a 20% miss chance--something elves, ifrit and wolves do not have to worry about.

Alia rushes to Scarlet's side and Numalar let's loose a gout of fiery breath at the gray wolf who...

reflex save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 gives a startle yelp and hustles off toward the woods almost before the fire dies down. Withdraws 50 ft.

The white wolf provides a rear guard for its pack-mate and moves to attack the fire-breathing gnome.

White wolf v Numalar: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22 bite: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7 trip?: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 Threat and damage negated by windy fiery escape!

Meanwhile the midnight blue wolf continues his attack on Zokon, trying to bring the man down to the ground outside the ring of light provided by the campfire--and nearly manages it after chomping down on the slayer's gauntleted wrist.

Dk blue wolf v Zokon: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22 bite: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 trip?: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17 hit but no trip, -3 hp

confirm?: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7 bite: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 no additional damage

Meanwhile the brown wolf wheels wide to come in at Scarlet's flank, while the light blue one moves a step closer coming in beneath her and Alia's guard.

Lt blue wolf v Scarlet (aid Brown, flanking): 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 2 = 6 bite: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7 no aid given

Brown wolf v Scarlet (flanking): 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 + 2 = 13 bite: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 trip?: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 + 2 = 24 miss

All while black uses the distraction to race around and blindside Alia taking the elf warrior's legs out from underneath her. Alia gets an AoO first though, as the wolf moves in and out of range to flank.

Black wolf v Alia (flanking): 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 + 2 = 17 bite: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 trip?: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 + 2 = 17 hit and tripped, -6 hp

ROUND 1
The Bold May Act!
________________________________
__ Numalar
__ Alia -6 hp, prone again--possibly (see above).
__ WOLVES!
__ Zokon -3 hp
__ Naleksa
__ Poshment
__ horses
__ Sir Didymus
__ pony
__ Scarlet -14 hp
__ Celyne
__ Luna

Many PCs still prone; one horse -4 hp; Dk blue wolf -13 hp;

AoO vs Black: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20 2d4 + 5 ⇒ (4, 4) + 5 = 13

The black wolf is hit bad enough he'd rather not return to attack. He withdraws instead.

ROUND 1
The Bold May Act!
________________________________
__ Numalar
__ Alia
__ WOLVES!
__ Zokon -3 hp
__ Naleksa
__ Poshment
__ horses
__ Sir Didymus
__ pony
__ Scarlet -14 hp
__ Celyne
__ Luna

Many PCs still prone; one horse -4 hp; Black wolf -13 hp; Dk blue wolf -13 hp

The black wolf is hit bad enough he'd rather not return to attack. He withdraws instead.

Phew...thanks, AoO...saved my behind there-

Posh wakes abruptly in the night.
"Gah, what the-?" he then realises what's going on and reaches for his rapier. "At least it isn't bandits. We only just left the city." he states out loud when taking his time to get up and getting his rapier ready.

Scarlet smiles as Alia lunges at one of the wolves. "I'm glad you're here. Some bodyguard I turned out to be, haha."
Dropping her bow, Scarlet draws her swords and sidesteps to flank the blue furred wolf.

Cold Iron Masterwork Longsword, Flanking: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 2 = 12
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

"I can't even hit a wolf, look at me, here."

He reels in pain from the pointed would he received to his wrist his next move all the more painful for the sharp pains at each move of the complex wrist joint.

Zokon draws his Masterwork Rapier Shinggggg!!! and strikes at the wolf again

I positioned myself more accurately, I had put two extra torches out to extend the light range

MW Rapier+St: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 211d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Celyne rises and starts casting a spell.

Luna rises and pounces on white.

to hit, bite: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
dmg if hits: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

She gives the wolf a little shake before releasing it from her jaws...

just for emphasis of the bite, no actual extra effect since she doesn't have 'grab' yet... she's 'practicing' for when she does, lol

Luna mouths her wolf, while Zokon illicits a sharp whine from his.

Scarlet gushes blood and admiration for Alia, not really looking at what path her blade is trailing.

The horses react poorly to wolves' sudden attack and the even more sudden magical flambé before them and the first two totally freak and try to burst their bonds.

horse's STR check (burst bonds): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19 close!

horse's STR check (burst bonds): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 nope.

Their fear spreads like contagion among the other animals.

Naleksa gets up and grabs her pack, holding it like a weapon.

Didymus dithers (delays), his head cocked to one-side, quizzically looking down at his master, waiting for orders. I suspect there's a decent chance that Numalar set his dog to stun guard. If you want you can make a Wisdom check DC 10 to do so, you can. If successful Didymus will try to attack or threaten the nearest wolf. He still has to get up though.

ROUND 2
The Bold May Act!
________________________________
__ Numalar
__ Alia
__ WOLVES!
__ Zokon -3 hp
__ Poshment
__ Scarlet -14 hp
__ Celyne
__ Luna
__ horses
__ Sir Didymus (?)
__ pony
__ Naleksa

One horse -4 hp (most are frightened); Black wolf -13 hp; Dk blue wolf -10 hp; Gray wolf -13 hp; White wolf -3 hp; The GM loves Kingmaker random encounters.

Alia, motivated doubly by Scarlets praise, prepares her blade, weaving a slight pattern with the tip while muttering in elvish, then unleashes a magically infused strike at the cornered wolf between them.

Concentration to cast defensively - Frostbite DC 17: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Estoc Spellstrike, flanking: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 5 + 2 = 22 2d4 + 5 ⇒ (3, 3) + 5 = 11 lethal + 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8 nonlethal cold + fatigued

If the Wolf is felled(I'd assume so), she'll step up towards the other wolf, her blade still holding a blue glow:"You saved me before, Scarlet, it is only Just that I get a chance to help you, too!"

Sir Didymus jumps to his feet.

"Woof! Woof woof woof! Woof woof! Woof woof woof woof woof! Woof!"

Didymus dithers (delays), his head cocked to one-side, quizzically looking down at his master, waiting for orders. I suspect there's a decent chance that Numalar set his dog to stun guard. If you want you can make a Wisdom check DC 10 to do so, you can. If successful Didymus will try to attack or threaten the nearest wolf. He still has to get up though.

I did not give Sir Didymus instructions so I figure he would delay. Also that puts us at the same initiative each round, which will be convenient.

Numalar calls out to Sir Didymus:

"Sir Didymus! Defend me!"
Handle Animal: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Move action to handle animal

"Grrrrr!"

Sir Didymus steps around Numalar and the rock to attack the white wolf.

5' step and attack; already used a move standing up from prone.

Bite + flanking: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 3 + 2 = 251d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Crit confirm + flanking: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 2 = 121d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Probably didn't confirm there...

Trip + flanking: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 2 = 10
That probably didn't work either.

Sir Didymus sinks his teeth satisfyingly into the wolf's shoulder with a growl.

Numalar steps back, confident that Sir Didymus and Luna can handle the white wolf. He steps back, and sees Zokon engaged with another wolf nearby.

"Zokon, mind your eyebrows!"

He waves his little symbol about and shouts: "Qa' quv!"

...and then expels a roaring gout of flame from his mouth in a 15' cone.
Casting burning hands on the blue wolf, not using saltpeter.
Burning Hands reflex DC 16: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 3, 1) + 3 = 11

He chokes afterwards, leaning over; a bit of smoke comes out of his mouth. He leans down and picks up his longspear.

5' step, Standard to cast, and move to pick up the weapon. Still have claws going. Again, I will use windy escape the first time I am hit in a round.

Edit: realized I already used my move commanding Sir Didymus.

BTW, GGGM, if we are going to rename my version of windy escape, how about draconic escape?

Wow there's an anonymous dolphin, rabbit, walrus, panda, and a chinchilla on the tactical map page

Numalar we can certainly call the spell what you like, but who ever heard of a dragon that needed to flee? ;)

Dk blue's Reflex save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Alia's winter enchanted blade catches the wolf by surprise and leaves it unconscious on the ground while Numalar's fire magic again upsets the horses but flattens the wolf attacking Zokon.

Seeing it is now flanked and outnumbered the white wolf takes a step back and then heads for the woods. The brown wolf withdraws as well.

END COMBAT unless you wish to give chase.

ROUND 2
The Bold May Act!
________________________________
__ Numalar
__ Sir Didymus
__ Alia
__ WOLVES!
__ Zokon -3 hp
__ Poshment
__ Scarlet -14 hp
__ Celyne
__ Luna
__ horses
__ pony
__ Naleksa

One horse -4 hp (most are frightened); Black wolf -13 hp; Dk blue wolf -15 hp, down; Gray wolf -13 hp; White wolf -12 hp; Lt. blue -11 hp, -8 nonlethal, fatigued, down.

"Guess we won't have to forage or hunt for Luna's, Diddy's and Kitty's food tomorrow...", Alia states, dragging the unconscious wolf towards the campfire, walking at Scarlet's side, offering a Sis-Fist-Bump..."That does look painful...Celyne should take a look..."

Scarlet drops her bow, draws her swords and is ready for battle, only to realize the wolves fled.

"Yeah, you ain't eating us tonight!" Scarlet roars. Scarlet can't leave her elf hanging, so she gives a fist bump of her own. "Normally I'd be the tough guy and say 'I eat wolf bites for breakfast,' but I'd be lying. Ceylne, could you help me? Zokon, too."

"I'm just glad you're ok. When I woke, I saw you surrounded by all of them...wounded...that looked quite dangerous. I feared for you. Next time, do wake me before you run off to investigate...promise it - if you worry about me getting enough sleep, just extend your own shift by a few minutes to let me sleep in before waking me for mine, I'll return the favor at the end of my shift - I may even wake you with breakfast ready! We can always hurry up during the day to make good on that time...but for that, we need to survive...", Alia smiles.
Basically trying to establish a standard procedure in-character...if something worthwhile happens during a shift, let us assume at least one or two of the others are woken, and just extend the rest period slightly. We can only really march for 8 hours a day, with 12 hours of rest, that leaves 4 more hours to eat, set and break camp etc...I'm certain we can fit an extra half hour of sleep into our schedules there...

Naleksa, healer's kit in hand, looks concerned and ready to help as well, for a nominal fee of course.

If you haven't feel free to look over her character sheet if you haven't. She is technically your hireling afterall.

Celyne stops her casting (losing one spell tho for the attempt at summon monster) and heads over to Scarlet and Zokon, casting one cure light on each of them.

clw scarlet: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
clw zokon: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

"That's it for my spells til sunrise... I'm afraid I can't do much for the injured horse, but you folks are of course more important. I can bandage it of course."

She does bandage up the injured horse.

heal: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

If that's not enough, we can always have Naleksa take a look at it

Zokon after having his opponent burned away sheathes his rapier, then he draws an arrow and shifts to a firing stance. But the wolves have disappeared into the darkness.

"Darn it, they were on us before we knew they were even there, well it ended ok. I forgot to buy more sun rods and torches. Do you have a supply at hand Naleksa?"

Posh was about to go and calm the horses until it appears that the battle was over and reserved so he sighs as he looks to the rest of the group.
"Well...err...good night everyone..." he says rather sheepishly before going back to sleep.

"Thanks Celyne. I think I'll be okay for now." She feels the

Turning to Alia, Scarlet nods. "I wasn't gonna let them eat you without getting through me." Scarlet rubs her sides. "Not literally, hopefully."

"Some rest will help me more."

Before going back to sleep, Alia will feed some crispy-burned wolf to her caged cat:"Who's a little Apex Predator? Hm? Who's my little wolfmuncher?"

"Meow."

"Darn it, they were on us before we knew they were even there, well it ended ok. I forgot to buy more sun rods and torches. Do you have a supply at hand Naleksa?"

"Of course."

She has a chance of having anything that you could find in a thorpe (scroll down a little to base value and purchase limit), that her loaner horse could carry.

"Darn it, they were on us before we knew they were even there, well it ended ok..."

"Normally I would want to pursue, but with them running off in the dark like that... it's not good to let wild animals live after attacking people, but chasing them into the darkness would be foolish. Game must be scarce if they felt willing to attack people."

"Won't the wolf corpses and the blood attract other carnivores? The animals might eat some of it but there will be plenty left. What should we do with the carcasses?"

Numalar looks over the dead wolves, and back to Sir Didymus. He pats Didymus warmly on the head.

"Well done, my boy. Very brave. Still, it is a shame... wolves can be noble creatures otherwise. To think that dogs like Sir Didymus here are descended from them... heh."

"Woof," Sir Didymus snorts, before going to inspect the wolf corpses.

Luna growls a warning softly at the dog as he approaches the carcass she has claimed...

lol... just a little rp, not trying to start a fight with between animals... hehe...

Celyne narrows her eyes at Luna, and issues her a soft "be good and share, my love."... Unfortunately 'share' is not a command Luna knows.

She turns to Numalar and says... "It seems these wolves were under the leadership of a worg, and left when it howled for them to retreat.. Not sure why they attacked, or why they were called off so early, perhaps because we were hurting them too much and the worg called a strategic retreat to save the pack. I don't know... but we should be wary the rest of the night just in case."

Luna growls a warning softly at the dog as he approaches the carcass she has claimed...

lol... just a little rp, not trying to start a fight with between animals... hehe...

I can see it now. Zokon takes up falconry, Posh gets a pet goldfish, and scarlet befriends a sentient, alien battlesuit. It'll be great.

"Normally I would want to pursue, but with them running off in the dark like that... it's not good to let wild animals live after attacking people, but chasing them into the darkness would be foolish. Game must be scarce if they felt willing to attack people."

Numalar Just checking, you did notice the spoiler with Celyne's and your name on it, near the middle of the page right?

Everyone Plans for the rest of the evening? It's about three-quarters of the way through the second watch.

Numalar Just checking, you did notice the spoiler with Celyne's and your name on it, near the middle of the page right?

No, I missed it... I'll say it was because of the heat of battle. :) Thanks.

She turns to Numalar and says... "It seems these wolves were under the leadership of a worg..."

"Ahhhh... yes, I thought I saw one of those, but then, I thought I might have been still having nightmares." Numalar shudders.

"Worgs are evil... and intelligent. They can speak. And they are no friend to normal people; they may resent our presence in 'their' territory. Zokon and I encountered one when we first went to chase after the horses that belonged to Happs and his bandits; it would have eaten me had we not killed it. Who knows what was in this one's mind... but nothing good, to be sure. I wonder if it knew who we were? Was this a random attack or did it want revenge?"

Numalar gathers up his things and begins to settle back down for more sleep.

"By the way, we have those thunderstones. If you are on watch you can use one to wake everyone. Just don't throw it too close to the camp."

Luna growls a warning softly at the dog as he approaches the carcass she has claimed...

lol... just a little rp, not trying to start a fight with between animals... hehe...

I think Sir Didymus would know that Luna is way too dangerous for him. :)

Sir Didymus sniffs, then wanders off to the other wolf body...

There were only two that we actually took down, is that right?

... and jumps back suddenly.
"Grrrrrr," he growls.

Sir Didymus looks back at the party, and again at the wolf, his hackles raised.

Sir Didymus looks back at the party, and again at the wolf, his hackles raised.

Numalar looks up at Sir Didymus, and then ambles over to peer at the wolf.

Alia states, dragging the unconscious wolf towards the campfire,

"Ah, yes... we didn't actually kill this one; Alia, your spell rendered it senseless. Did you wish to add it to your menagerie? Or should we finish it off?"