ProfPotts' Legacy of Fire PBP

Game Master Alexander Scott

If anyone wants to use the spyglass, by all means... I'm just the one who grabbed it. We can take turns or pass it around willy nilly.

My thought was we'd take turns. watch, rest, watch, rest...

ah

My thought was we'd take turns. watch, rest, watch, rest...

Sounds good to me.

my turn perception 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13 would think it bypassed range penalties

Me and Lavander that is. The lookouts. One on the spyglass, one on the closer suroundings...

Whilst Lavender seems preoccupied (mayhap the previous night's dreams have shaken her more than she'd thought?), Bahram observes the gnolls on watch at the old tower: generally they don't seem overly alert as far as guards go, often vanishing from sight as they, presumably, sit or lie to wait out the boredom. The guards change sporadically, often with what seems to be angry exchanges between those coming off duty and those going on. They seem to be armed with both scimitars and spears, but also with longbows, and every now and then one or other of the visible guards takes a pot-shot at something in the undergrowth... hopefully not Yousef...

Yousef, meanwhile, makes his stealthy and circuitous way towards the tower to get a better look (he'll have Zaina with him if he's taken the bottle, otherwise she's still with Bahram). It takes a few hours of clambering over and around rocks, but eventually he's approaching the tower from the flank. With a better view of the grounds around the base of the tower - enclosed by the remains of the fort's outer wall - he can see various dilapidated outbuildings which presumably once served the garrison on duty. He can also see that there are no guards to the rear of the fort, although the gnoll on top of the tower glances in that direction every once in a while as he stretches his legs and walks the battlements. Peering into the open courtyard of the fort Yousef notes the smouldering remains of several recent campfires. Every now and then a gnoll, or small group of gnolls, wanders into sight, going to or from the single door at the front of the tower. Even without the additional elevation of the watchtower, Yousef also notes that the location has a grand view of Kelmarane below, and that the gnoll atop the tower seems to spend more time gazing in that direction that any other.

Back at the cave... (ooh - sixties Batman flashback... ;) )

... Between them, the two dwarves make a fine job of repurposing the bugbear's patchwork armour into dwarven-sized patchwork armour. A sudden noise grab's the dwarves' attention - a scuffling sound from outside the cave. Looking in that direction they see, of all things, what seems to be a decapitated head, rolling and bouncing into the cave mouth! As it rolls to a halt a few feet from them, the dwarves can see that it has a monstrous countenance, with wild tangled hair, and multiple pairs of wicked horns sprouting to frame its face - a face with a wide flat nose with flared nostrils set between fiery red eyes, and a mouth filled with sharp bestial fangs. There's no sign of the body which, presumably, goes with the severed head...

Elsewhere...

Reaching for a scarf to shade her from the midday sun, Lavender's fingers brush against some sort of leather fabric... a fabric which moves! Staring at the thing, even as she leaps back, Lavender sees that what she was touching was the wingtip of quite the most enourmous bat she's ever seen - a bat the size of an ox with dark leathery wings that open wider than two men with arms outstretched. It looks like the giant creature was crawling between the rocks, presumably looking for shade, when Lavender inadvertantly touched it... now it's beady red eyes turn towards the two sorcerers as the thing lets out a high-pitched squeal...

Near the fort...

Yousef is quietly observing the comings and goings of the gnolls when a loud flapping noise fills the air: alighting not a hundred feet from where he's concealed come a pair of magnificent creatures - each with the torso and hindquarters of a horse, and the forelegs, wings, and head of a giant eagle! Nuzzling each other, the two creatures begin to graze on the sparse mountain scrub... A yell from the tower draws Yousef's attention - the gnoll on the roof is howling and pointing towards the creatures, calling to the others, even as he nocks his bow and takes aim...

These incidents don't necessarily take place at exactly the same time, but since you're all spread out to the point you can't help each other it's better to run 'em simultaneously than it is to make people wait.

jumping up, leaving club at feet. what the, someone threw a head in here. quick our friends may need our help grabs club up and runs to cave mouth. oh and shield. [ooc]did we get two sets of armour and if did, are we in them? guessing could be since was sizing as went

Yup - there were two sets of armour, and since the sorcerers aren't proficient, and Yousef passed, (and Saul's a zombie), it means the dwarves each have a set now - which seems pretty dwarven to me! And yes, you're both wearing it now.

Yup - there were two sets of armour, and since the sorcerers aren't proficient, and Yousef passed, (and Saul's a zombie), it means the dwarves each have a set now - which seems pretty dwarven to me! And yes, you're both wearing it now.

thanks, is this leather +2 type

It's standard non-Masterwork, non-Magical, bog-standard 'Leather', so +2 armour bonus to AC yes, but not +2 Leather armour if that's what you mean... ;)

G-G-GIANT BAT! Lavender winces and backs away, arms outstreached as a cone of prismatic color envelopw the blind beast.

Initiative 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Lavender takes a 5 foot step away from the dire bat and casts color spray at'em

Thought it would be funny to add that I heard bats outside while I was typing this :D

Knowledge(Religion) 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

As Keldar rushes forward, Rashid grabs his shoulder.

"That is no severed head - it is a Div - a demon that can work fiendish magic to enthrall the unwary and turn itself invisible!

Grab your weapon - our friends may or may not be in trouble, but we certainly are, if we do not deal with the Div!"

So saying, he draws his scimitar, and moves over to smite (metaphorically) the demon!

Initiative 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (14) + 0 = 14

Chilled to the bone by the inhuman screech Bahram blinks away his hesitation and backs away with Lavender. "Stay back!" he shouts as he unleashes an arc of lightning at it.

initiative 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
ranged touch 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4, 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

edit: Fumble confirmation (If your using fumble) 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

int1d20 + 0 ⇒ (20) + 0 = 20 if can change action in time is it resistant to fire my friend if get no as answer than step to side and line up a burning hands2d4 ⇒ (3, 2) = 5 dc=14

So let me get this straight... Lavender thinks that bats are blind, but chooses to Colour Spray one? A visually-based spell which specifically doesn't work on blind creatures? Must be the shock... ;)

G-G-GIANT BAT!

Leaping back, Lavender instinctively casts her spell, engulfing the giant creature in a clashing spray of colours... Luckily for her, despite popular sayings to the contrary, bat's aren't blind... although this one seems to be now (for the moment), as it blinks its beady little eyes and thrashes around, almost as if drunk...

"Stay back!"

Bahram unleashes an impressive arc of lightning... completely forgetting to aim first as it crackles off, harmlessly, into the sky. At least it means if the gnolls at the fort missed Lavender's light show, they'll have a chance to spot Bahrams! ;)

No fumble rules used here - you have enough to worry about as it is!

Meanwhile...

"That is no severed head - it is a Div - a demon that can work fiendish magic to enthrall the unwary and turn itself invisible!

Grab your weapon - our friends may or may not be in trouble, but we certainly are, if we do not deal with the Div!"

is it resistant to fire my friend?

Rashid's cry as the dwarves both grab up their weapons is in time to stop Keldar rushing head-long (excuse the pun) past the 'div' creature on the ground. Suddenly animate (now it's not 'playing possum') the head-like creature winks and grins at Keldar, even as it levitates to float, bobbing slightly, at the dwarf's eye-level,

'Quite immune to fire, thankyou,' the creature's malevolant whispering voice seems to bleed directly into the minds of the two dwarves, as it stares at Keldar and adds, 'but I'm sure your fellow dwarf isn't... friend...'

"Well Zaina. What the hell or those things?" Yousef whispers to the little genie. "I bet we could sneak away very easily with them over there distracting them gnolls." He rolls over on his back. "W.W.S.D?" Then he grabs a rock and stands up. "Yousef, what the f$+! are you doing?" And he sprints towards the creatures waving his arms. "Get out of here! Fly away!"

"Well Zaina. What the hell or those things?"

'Ooh!' Zaina coos at the sight of the eagle/horse creatures, 'I think they're "hippogriffs"!'

The tiny genie's comment seems to cause strange thoughts to stir in Yousef's mind... as if he could almost remember something... something about sturdy warriors astride these flying mounts... he's at once sure he's never heard of such things before, but also seems to recall knowing all about them...

Yes, Yousef's got some weird lingering memories of a life not his own... they're faint and unpredictable, but it does give him a +1 bonus on all Knowledge checks (and the ability to make such checks untrained). Not bad, and all it costs him is... no... that would be telling... ;)

"Get out of here! Fly away!"

For a moment the startled creatures look up at the charging, flailing, half-orc... perhaps unsure whether to attack or flee...

An Intimidate (or Handle Animal if he has it and it's higher) check from Yousef to see what the hippogriffs do...

... Whatever the creatures decide to do, Yousef hears renewed yelling from the direction of the fort as a longbow arrow whistles past his head to shatter on the rocks nearby!

.... a longbow arrow whistles past his head to shatter on the rocks nearby!

"Oh s+$+! Hippo-whats?! Hippogriff?"

Knowledge 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

"Never heard of them!" he says to Zaina as he runs. "I don't know why the hell I am trying to save these animals....but I got a feeling."

"Fly away...their going to shooot you. Uh, actually wait up and take me with you!"

Intimidate 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

Scrambling away Bahram tryes again as he urges Lavender to come away. "Come on, let's back off."

Ranged touch 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20, 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

will st1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 here goes. last roll gave me a 20, hope not a 1 this time that was close. so no burning hands spell cast than. culbing time. 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 81d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

"Come on, let's back off."

Don't need to tell me twice!

Lavender casts Ghost Sound, mimicking the sound of them fleeing, although a bit louder and in the other direction, hopefully masking the sounds of them getting away.

Lets get behind something!

Lavender tries to make her way over to some hard cover to hid behind, like a rock outcropping or something. If it is close enough she tries to do it silently

Stealth1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Asumming Bahram does the same...
Hopefully when it comes to it will leave us alone... It seems confused and is probably just as scared of us as we are of it...maybe...?

Not so sure of her statement, on her next turn she readies an action to continue her ruse when the bat comes to, hopefully leading the thing away or scaring it away from them.

To Bahram: Maybe ready an action to blast it again if the plan fails? I would hate to use all of our resources on a dire bat before we even got to the gnolls... And most of our spell are attention grabbing...-_-'

Actually, let's try something a little different...

Dropping his scimitar, Rashid charges forward, and attempts to Grapple the Div!

Being tiny, and without a body (which means it should suffer the -4 penalty for not having 'two hands free'), it should have a horrendously poor CMB/CMD :-)

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22 Vs Div's CMD

"Keldar! Bring that sack of your's over..."

Bahram follows Lavender to cover, preparing to blast the bat again if it makes to follow them.

Ready action, Lightning Arc 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14, 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

"Keldar! Bring that sack of your's over..."

feeling confused, with all the actions hes had run through his mind hold it still drops club and shield, pick up sack, emptey sack, and move towards Rashid, least i think so

"Fly away...their going to shooot you. Uh, actually wait up and take me with you!"

The eagle/horse things hesitate for a moment... then decide that it's not worth their time to tangle with the obviously insane humanoid charging towards them: with their mighty wings kicking up a cloud of sand and dust the pair take to the air and swoop away across the mountains...

... leaving Yousef choking on their dust. From beyond the settling dust cloud he hears the yells and howls of the gnolls getting closer...

Elsewhere...

Bahram's next ray of lightning finds its mark (now he's got his eye in...) causing the giant bat to jump and squeal at the jolt, which leaves a smoking bald patch on the creature's hide, surrounded by fur standing on end and sparking.

Scrambling away from the winged horror, Lavender focuses arcane energies into the sound of her and Bahram beating a hasty retreat in the opposite direction. For a moment the great bat lurches towards Bahram, but the new noises seem to confuse the already addled creature further, and it lashes out in the direction of Lavender's illusion instead.

The dire bat thrashes around on the ground, its head swivelling this way and that as it hisses, fanged mouth dripping saliva... Another bolt of lighting from Bahram arcs across the mountainous terrain to sizzle into the creature's flesh - it screams again and, between the painful jolts and the confusing noises, it finally seems to decide its had enough: launching itself into the air it flies off to find a less confusing place to spend the long hot daylight hours...

Meanwhile...

Keldar turns towards Rashid, his hands raising even as the ancient druidic words to summon forth flame leap into his mind... but it doesn't seem right... Rashid is his friend... why would he want to hurt him? With an effort of will, Keldar shakes off the div's mental assault and, grabing his club takes a swing at the foul beast - the div, still floating in the air, easily bobs to the side, blowing a raspberry at Keldar as it does so...

... only to find itself grabbed by Rashid! The hideous thing screams and squirms in Rashid's hands, trying (and failing) to bite him, and uttering all sorts of foul curses. With a slight shimmer in the air it even vanishes from sight, but Rashid's grip is sure, and he feels the now invisible thing still in his hands. Rapidly dumping out the contents of his sack, Keldar hurries over, and between the two of them the dwarves managed to wrestle the horrid head-thing into the sack and draw it shut!

BTW - bagging the div... LOL!

Q-quick! check and see if they noticed us! lavender says as she feels for the spy glass and realizes that Bahram has it and not her. She squints her eyes and puts her hand above he eyes to get the sun out of them and strains to look at the tower.

perception1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

...It's so sad when I'm not surprised by rolling like this. It's almost as bad when I play irl...almost.

"Hey, where you going?" Yousef shouts at the retreating hippogriffs. I think the worse part about this is that a couple of gnolls probably wouldn't pose much threat to those things anyway.

Then he realizes that the gnolls are giving him chase. He looks around for a place to hide.

Perception 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Yousef has plenty of rocks to hide behind, and is - for the moment - obscured by that nice cloud of dust... a Stealth check is all he really needs!

Then stealth check it is 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
"Oh crap!" he mumbles to himself as he dives for cover and cocks his head to listen for the baddies approach.

he he I said crap and male chicken in the same sentence, and crap won!

Scrambling for the spyglass Bahram looks to the fort again, checking on the gnolls and tries to find Yousef.

perception 1d20 ⇒ 10

Do you see anything, do you see anything? Lavender says a bit frantically, hoping their presence had not been compromised.

'Hang on, hang on!' Bahram mutters as he tries to focus the spyglass.

Out by the fort:

Ducking behind some of the many rocks in the area as the dust cloud begins to settle, Yousef hears the gnolls' less-than-cautious approach... it sounds like two of them are heading quiet close to him...

In gnoll... but no need for a spoiler since, technically, the whole of these seperate little encounters should be 'spoilered' anyway... but that'd just be annoying...

'Where'd he go? Do you see him?' comes the first growl-like gnoll voice.

'I lost him when those... things... took off,' replies the second.

'Did he have an shinies on him?'

'Don't know... maybe... but those orc-tusks would do...'

'Yeah - good trophies... not many orcs round here.'

From his hiding place Yousef sees the gnolls walk past, looking this way and that, occassionally kicking over loose rocks, or proding into nooks and crannies with their spears. Unlike the gnolls back in town these two sport many 'shinies' - jewellery pierced through their flesh in various, seemingly random, places - along with the occassional fang or claw from some beast or other. Many of these 'trophies' still retain ragged bits of skin where they were, presumably, ripped from their previous owners. These gnolls also look a little more seasoned than those in the town - both are wearing somewhat ragged chain shirts, and have scimitars at their waists and spears in their hands. Across their shoulders they each carry both a heavy wooden shield and a longbow with a quiver of arrows. So far they don't seem to have noticed Yousef... and have their backs to him...

Going batty:

Q-quick! check and see if they noticed us! Do you see anything, do you see anything?

'Hang on, hang on!'

At first Bahram is relieved to see that the gnoll atop the tower appears to be looking off in another direction... then he swings the spyglass down to see that one of the sentries at the front of the fort is gesticulating in his and Lavender's direction, and looks to be shouting towards the path which leads to the fort. He sees no sign of Yousef...

"Uuumm... There apear to be a couple of gnolls headed our way." Bahram begins slowly, scouring the area where Yousef was supposed to be and wondering how to break the news to Lavender. "And eeh.. there ehh.. there's no sign of ehh.. Yousef." He coughs as he feels alump form in his throat.

...Mr. Yousef is pretty smart, hes probably keeping hidden. I'm sure he will be fine. Lavender says, sounding sure of herself. We're the ones that drew their attention. How many are coming? Should we leave here and head back, maybe get the dwarven brigade, or keep our ground and set a trap by ourselves?

"Hmm.. Well I can place a force armor on us so we won't be as vulnerable if you'r up to it." Bahram says with a hint of eagerness.

So far they don't seem to have noticed Yousef... and have their backs to him...

Yousef is dying to attack the gnolls, but he wasn't born yesterday and knows even with a jump on these goons, they could still tear him apart. He slowly backs away hiding in the rocks and brush in the opposite direction that the gnolls are facing. I've done a lot of dumb things in my life. But I ain't stupid. Must get back to the cave.

Contemplating ambush:

Bahram looks, but in the moutainous terrain doesn't have a clear view of the path to the fort, or any gnolls approaching from that direction - just the ones in elevated positions on the fort's outer wall and tower.

Contemplating non-ambush:

Sneaking away from the gnolls whilst he's got a chance, Yousef heads... (where? Back towards the others? Into the fort? In any case, I think a nice fresh Stealth roll may be in order)

Sneaking away from the gnolls whilst he's got a chance, Yousef heads... (where? Back towards the others? Into the fort? In any case, I think a nice fresh Stealth roll may be in order)

So hard not to take this bait...

Yousef whispers "Zaina. If we jump them, can you distract them for me while I stick them with this?" As in buzz around using Aid Another to add to Yousef's attack role while she simultaneously flanks them for him.

what do we do with it now? can we drown it in the water in back there?

'I wish Zaina were here.' Bahram mutters as he tries to come up with a coherent course of action as he scans the area.
"So what do you think? Can we take them? We don't know how many they will be bu we are far from helpless ourselves." he asks Lavender urgently, a gleam in his eyes.

'I wish Zaina were here.' Bahram mutters as he tries to come up with a coherent course of action as he scans the area.

"So what do you think? Can we take them? We don't know how many they will be bu we are far from helpless ourselves." he asks Lavender urgently, a gleam in his eyes.

A-armor? Lavender gulps... Ahh... Well... I'm not too accustomed to attacking things...D-directly... She sees the gleam in Bahram's eyes and gets that windy feeling again "..." Lavender pounds a fist into her hand. A-alright, I'm game, I've got a bone to pick with these bastards anyway... She says with a gleam of her own in her eyes.

If it is too much for us to handle I will blow the whistle to hopefully get the others attention. Lets not be exactly here She says as she finds a place to hide a small bit away.

Stealth 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Despite how "tough" lavender is, she will diffidently take that armor spell...

"Alright, let's do this!" Bahram says with a bounce in his step as he mutters incantations and traces lines in the air, touching first Lavender and then himself. Cast Mage Armor on both of us. Duration 2hrs, +4 AC.

"You Color Spray them first and then mire them with grease. I'll wait for you to spray them before I start shooting them with lightning." his tone is fast and eager with exitement as he follows Lavender to hide.
stealth 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Perception 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Wow...We rock... hopefully this is just getting out of our system b4 we fight the gnolls...-_-'

Umm...Mr. Bahram...I can kinda see you... You might want to find a bigger rock or something...

"What?... Oh... Umm... Ok! There!" Bahram looks about franticly for a better place to hide as he tries to keep an eye on the approching Gnolls as well.

perception 1d20 ⇒ 8
stealth? 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

LOL we truly are turning into a comedy...

Bagged:

what do we do with it now? can we drown it in the water in back there?

The doru div 'head-thing' seems to be struggling within the sack, trying its best to get out... Muffled blasphemies can be heard being uttered between attempts to get a good mouthful of sack with its rather large fangs...

Distraction:

"Zaina. If we jump them, can you distract them for me while I stick them with this?"

'Distraction?' Zaina's tiny hand rubs her chin under her veil as her brow furrows in thought. After a moment she looks up at Yousef and grins, 'I can do distraction, Master Yousef... if that is your wish...'

Stealth:

It seems that since the sorcerer and sorceress are still discussing the best place to hide they fail to notice the two gnolls sneaking up on them! (They were appalling rolls... All hail the mighty dicebot!) Lavender's still directing Bahram from one rock to the next in an effort to help conceal him when a spear whistles past her ear to thud into the ground a short way off. A second spear would surely have transfixed Bahram's heart, but instead glances off his armour of invisible arcane force, merely causing him to stagger back a pace or two (as much from the shock as from the impact). Spining around the pair see two gnolls - each clad in chain shirts, and both unlimbering round wooden shields and drawing wicked looking scimitars as they bound over the rocky landscale, howling and charging!

Initiative time - the gnolls are within charging distance, and that's what they'll be doing... if ya' let 'em! ;)

Be a dear and keep them annoyed, but don't let them hit you. Hopefully I will be doing enough hurt to keep their attention.

Yousef quietly steps out of hiding, grasping his spear in both hands while Zaina presumably flies around into flanking and aiding position.

Stealth 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Sneak Attack (bab, str + flank + aid) 1d20 + 3 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 3 + 2 + 2 = 22
Damage 1d8 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + 3 + (4) = 13

Initiative 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Be a dear and keep them annoyed, but don't let them hit you. Hopefully I will be doing enough hurt to keep their attention.

'But...' Zaina begins, but Yousef is already gone...

... With a powerful thrust (without flanking or aid another though...) the half-orc stabs the first unwary gnoll through the back, the tip of his spear bursting chain links as it bloodily erupts from the creature's stomach! The gnoll's companion spins round, glancing at its fallen comrade as he slides off Yousef's spear to his knees, then slams face-first and still into the dust. The second gnoll laughs a hyena laugh at his 'friend's' fate, then leaps at Yousef, whipping his own spear downwards from overhead in a two handed grip... the powerful stroke goes wide of the mark as Yousef dodges to the side, instead impaling the spear deep into the dusty ground. Taking a step back the gnoll leaves his spear and instead draws his scimitar and unslings his shield, chuckling as it growls,

'Let us dance, you an I...'

From behind Yousef comes Zaina's small voice,

'Please, Master Yousef,' she pleads, 'you have to wish it!'

initiative 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

Reeling from the spears brush Bahram mutters curses as he scrambles to the other side of the rock he was trying to hide behind, putting it between himself and the gnolls, and shoots forth an arc of lightning from his outstreched hand.

ranged touch 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6, 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Pleace play nice mr. Dicey...
:,(