Perception
/Raises his right hand to alert the passengers.
/Whispers: "Psssst! I heard 'Sweet Home Alabama'..... I'd know that redneck anthem from a mile off....
Perception
1d20+6
Dr Grimm hears only the gulls and the tide.
Whispering, What's going on here? Music is good, right?
Dr. Grimm grabs a glass tube of an explosive concoction from his survival store bandolier.
Hopefully, I don't have to use this.
Rad sits as near the middle of the pontoon as he can, shuffling his maps around inside his backpack, doing his best to figure their location without exposing the papers to any rogue droplets of water.
The startling silence of the motor cutting off surprises Radsworth. He quickly refolds his maps and places them back in his pack, then looks over the beach landing.
Whispering, What's going on here? Music is good, right?
Dr. Grimm grabs a glass tube of an explosive concoction from his survival store bandolier.
Hopefully, I don't have to use this.
"Not all music, Doc. I like Lynerd Skynerd as much as the next guy, but someone's really butchering 'Sweet Home Alabama'..... It sounds like their guitar needs tuning, and they should've left the last few beers for me....."
I don't like this
what is that
[dice=perception]1d20+5
I don't like this
Koran catches a faint strain of rough male singing: "....hope Neil Young will remember..... Southern man don't need him around anyhow.....", accompanied by dissonant chords strummed on an acoustic guitar.
The sound seems to come from the direction of an observation tower among the palms and pines of the wooded park on the south end of Lido Key, currently about 100 yards away.
[dice=perception]1d20+5
what is that
Kinyama's keen ears also detect the poor singing of two male voices, and strumming of an ill-tuned guitar, coming from an observation tower visible among the trees on the beach some 300 feet to the north.
The pontoon drifts closer to shore, and by the time it lands on the beach (about 3:15), all of Team Lido can occasionally hear snatches of conversation or guitar music coming from the observation tower, which stands about 100 ft inland from where the pontoon has come aground.
"I'm not even dropping anchor, kids. I'll wait right here for ya. I'm pretty sure you can still get the jump on them, as I haven't heard any alarms or seen any signals. Do your thing, and if ya get into trouble, come running with a heads-up and I'll fire up the motor. Yep."
It's coming from there. I'll go check it out
edit: well F#@* that I gesture for the rest of the group to follow.
Koran begins advancing with his hammer resting on one shoulder.
Mephos hangs back still not totally trusting of the enormous brute with the massive hammer.
Kate nervously steps off the pontoon with her "big stick" (quarter staff) probing the knee-deep water. She stays back with Mephos.
Perceptions
Kinyama and Koran (and Lakra if he is also on front line) lead the cautious advance toward the observation tower, and at about 80 ft out, they get a clear view of the two lookouts posted in the watchtower--a pair of unkempt men with beards, wearing T-shirts and fishing vests. One is armed with a rifle; the other a guitar.
The man with the guitar seems to notice Team Lido's approach, and he suddenly puts down his guitar.
Initiative please!
Edit: and marching order?
You stand on the beach in South Lido Park, with the Gulf of Mexico at your backs and about 80 ft (from front line) of sand between you and the base of the 30-ft-high watchtower.
The two men stand at the top of the watchtower, about 85 ft from front line.
Ok I would say Koran and lakra in front kinyama behind.
(Koran)
Who is currently in combat?
Oh whatever I'll just roll
Radsworth is also hesitant to hurry off of the boat, mostly because he fears getting his books wet in the shallow waters. He draws Traveler to keep the revolver from being submerged in it's drop holster.
As he trudges to shore, he locks eyes on the armed man and scowls.
Prue does her best to leap from the pontoon to the shore, but regardless of whether she makes it or not she hurries up onto the beach, allowing those with the tendency to try and close with their foes to preceed her. As she moves she slips her rifle from her back, and lifts it up to peer down the sights, trying to catch a clear glimpse of the singers if for no other reason than to try and get a read on them.
Initiative
Grimm readies the volatile flask for throwing.
Grimm moves to the middle of the order. Not wanting to be on the frontline, but getting close enough to throw his concoctions.
Initiative
Ok I believe Initiative is as follows:
Mephos
Koran
Lookout 1
Lookout 2
Kinyama
Prue
Radsworth or Grimm (they both have the same initiative and dex bonus)
Kate
Lakra
Mephos
Koran
Lookout 1
Lookout 2
Kinyama
Prue
Grimm
Radsworth
Kate
Lakra
Mephos takes out his crossbow as a move action and then shoots at one of the lookouts at a -2 range penalty.
Please wait and post in initiative, will make it lots clearer I believe.
Koran charges forward and hurls an enormous chakram up at the lookout mephos shot at.
Mephos takes out his crossbow as a move action and then shoots at one of the lookouts at a -2 range penalty. ** spoiler omitted **
The bolt finds its mark and the lookout yelps.
The chakram flies unerringly to its target and silences the lookout, who slumps to the deck of the observation tower.
/Raises an air-horn and sounds a long blast as a standard action.
The alarming wail of an air-horn echoes across the wooded beach, bouncing off nearby high-rise hotels and condominiums, and answered with the shrill antiphone of a flock of seagulls.
A few trees and a white work van covered with obscene graffiti lie within a single move's distance of Dr Hugo Grimm.
Kinyama moves forward and attacks with a -4 range penalty.
Kinyama moves forward and attacks with a -4 range penalty.
[dice=attack]1d20+1[dice=damage]1d8+4
The second lookout gives out a strangled choke and falls.
Grimm readies himself with his crossbow loaded. It's a good thing my old man had money to waste on sh*t like this once he retired. I was always so busy in the lab, I just couldn't think to buy most of this stuff. Besides, you had to be handicapped to hunt with one.
I'll place the vial back into the bandolier for now until a better opportunity arises to engage the opponents with this liquid grenade.
Both lookouts lie silent in the top of the watchtower.
The tower is wooden, with plank steps switching back and forth up three flights, to a height of 30 ft. Pines and palms stand close around, and beyond can be seen picnic tables, grills, a volleyball net, and then three broad rows of parking lots.
Even farther out, above the trees, can be seen the tops of high-rise beachfront hotels.
For a moment there is only the cry of gulls and the hissing tide.
The cry of gulls and the rush of the tide are the only sounds for several minutes.....:
Now comes the sound of excited voices..... Hoots and shouts, whistles, shrieks, and howls. The sound of shoes running on pavement...... At least a dozen people, possibly a score, approaching from north of the park.....