Rise of a Regent Campaign Thread

Game Master Illydth

I show Kith with 7 total points of damage, leaving him with 16.

As Kith curses at his missed attack he feels a coldness spread over his body that he knows has nothing to do with the hit he just sustained. Magic! Knowing his resistances are limited, he forces the brunt of his Will against the attack.

Will Save (1d20=20)

Grimacing against the pain, Kith lifts his sword for another devastating attack against the Orc leader.

Attack, Damage (1d20+6=[13], 2d6+10=[15])

hell, I burned my 20 on the will save. So, is the performance still in effect, it hasn't been 5 rounds? If so, +1!

Selena: Great question, I wasn't sure if taking a 5' step back would allow the spell cast without an attack of opportunity since the spell is being cast in a standard action and not beyond a standard action. I understand the attack of opportunity when a spell is longer than a standard action but I've always thought the attack of opportunity on a spellcaster engaged in melee was a bit of a double penalty: You have to make a check for interruption if you take damage AND there's an extra chance at taking damage with the attack of opportunity.

However, that said, you are right, according to what I'm seeing the shaman would take an attack of opportunity for casting a spell while engaged.

If that's where we'd like to go with this, Lash, go ahead and make an attack of opportunity on the shaman and pending damage I'll make a few quick corrections to the Round.

Fyird: Again, good point, and you would be right, the inspire courage affect has 2 more rounds on it (If My round count is correct in that we are on round 5 and you started it on round 2).

As a general request to you all, particularly you spellcasters, if you could do me a favor and track your persistent party effects in your reply messages that would be of great help to me. So something like "Mage Armor: Lash (1/10)" (assuming Mage Armor lasts 1 Minute = 10 Rounds), and then on the next round "Mage Armor: Lash (2/10)". This will allow me to focus more on getting the turns out than back checking any status effects that need to be looked at. Generally, I'll be tracking detrimental effects across the board. There's a lot of moving parts in a battle like this and I'll need reminders and help about your effects, don't worry about "annoying" me with a rules question, it's been a while since I've looked at the system from the DM perspective.

Kith: Yes, Fyird is correct, the performance is still in effect and the +1 is active.

Selena: You should actually be standing, practically, on top of the two sleeping orcs from the first combat. They were both engaged in melee range with Lash when they went down to sleep so they're standing where she was standing. Your move action to cast the Mage Armor on Lash should have put you pretty much right on top of them. If, instead, you are talking about Shaman2 and Swordsman2 (the ones who JUST went down at the end of this round) then yes you will need a double move action to get to them (50' from you).

Attack of Opportunity (1d20+1=11, 1d6+1=2)

Hate to be a pest, but the effect last as long as I keep performing Plus 5 rounds afterward. Since I cast the sleep in round 4 it should last till round 8

Fyird remembering the first order of business is to get the catapults out of order, counts on his companions to take care of the ambush, and runs towards the catapult intent on doing as much damage to it with his axe as he can, or whatever else the commander has in mind.

"Mage Armor" lasts an hour, I think. I haven't really referenced the Beta much since getting my book in. In Pathfinder final, "Mage Armor" is an hour, so I hope its the same in Beta.

And I meant Orcs 4 & 5. If I don't have to move anywhere to be adjacent to them, then I'll stay where I am for round 5 and make a heavenly fire attack against Orc 5

Heavenly Fire Attack (1d20+2=22, 1d6+1=3)

Natural 20. Threat.

Critical check and damage. (1d20+2=9, 1d6=5)

Considering that Orc 5 is prone and helpless, I think it would hit, but I could be wrong.

Unable to divest the time needed to plunge her dagger into the sleeping orc's throat, Selena quickly fills her hand with heavenly fire and promptly pours it on the Orc beside her.

A coup-de-grace is pretty much an insta-hit, insta-crit deal anyway

Yeah, but coup de grace is a full round action. I drew my dagger to do it, since you can only coup de grace with a weapon, and drawing a weapon is a move action.

Yeah, but coup de grace is a full round action. I drew my dagger to do it, since you can only coup de grace with a weapon, and drawing a weapon is a move action.

Okay, I just noticed that prone creatures get +4 AC against ranged attacks, but I really don't see why that would work at point blank range. (i.e. adjacent) From a distance, that makes sense. But not adjacent.

Oh, and according to what I understand, if the shaman had taken a 5 foot step before casting a standard action spell, then (s)he wouldn't have provoked. I just didn't see that.

Good morning/Afternoon folks, hope everyone's memorial day weekend was good. Apologies for the lag time here, on Friday I got drug off to a movie, on Saturday I got drug off to a friends house for an all day event, on Sunday I got drug off to go cloths/camping shopping (new tents are expensive!), and on Monday I got accosted by my son asking me why, when I had 3 days off, I've yet to play Pokemon or Lego Star Wars with him! *sigh* It's been a long weekend. :)

Working the next turn now and will have it up this afternoon, sorry about the delay.

Handling the questions first:

Question: Attack of Opportunity when casting a spell?
Answer: According to what I read as well as how I'd LIKE to play this, I am ruling the following:
* If you are casting a standard action spell.
* If you are allowed, by rules, to take a 5 foot step.
* If the combat situation you are involved allows for you to take a 5 foot step (i.e. you're not backed into a corner).
The ruling I am making is that you CAN in fact cast the spell without provoking an attack of opportunity. If any of these conditions are NOT met you may still cast the spell but you will provoke an attack of opportunity. Also (and this is standard rules I believe), any damage taken coming in between the start of the spell cast and the end of the spell cast will require a spellcraft (I think that's right) roll to remove spell failure. This will likely assist you guys much more than it will me, but I hate "punishing" spellcasters just because they're obvious (they're the ones not wearing armor), squishy, and moving within range of them causes them to be useless in combat.

Anyone have objections to the ruling above?

Question: Inspire Courage: Still up or not?
Answer: Fyird pointed out that the spell lasts for 5 rounds after he stops playing. Round 1 has Fyird sleeping orcs. Round 2 has you performing Inspire Courage. Round 3 has you holding attack (My bad, this is where I made the mistake) and round 4 has you singing sleep again. Thus, round 4 is where you stopped inspiring courage and as such your inspire courage should last till round 8 (Rounds 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 = 5 Rounds). So the answer is, yes, Inspire Courage is still up. Can you track the rounds left for me with (1/5, 2/5, etc.) in your posts? Thanks.

Question: Coup De Grace
Answer: According to the rules, Selena has the right of it: She's got to draw her weapon first before she can Coup, and Coup is a full round action, meaning she couldn't perform it this round. Note also that any damage done to the orc WILL wake the orc (if you don't kill it). I have to say I don't like it but in this case this is one I have to go with since allowing her to Coup this round (even though it would seem to make sense) might have significant consequences in later rounds of combat and/or in future combats, and I don't want to set the precedent. What I will say is that the sleeping orc is going to be calculated AC pretty much at armor level...no additional armor bonuses. I can also tell you he's wearing leather.

Keep in mind the reason Coup de Grace is a full round action is because you're NOT just pulling a weapon and stabbing...you're ensuring you are finding the proper fold in the armor you can slip your blade through, or finding the exact place where your mace should hit, or even unbuckling a piece of armor to get at a vital area. Without taking the extra time, you're doing nothing more than striking a target normally. Thus, Selena has 2 options: 1) She can follow through with her strike this time, doing normal damage in an attempt to kill it, or 2) she can hold attack this round (or ranged attack something else) and Coup next round.

Question: Kith: Spell affect or not?
Answer: Assuming no one has an objection to the ruling above the Shaman does, in fact, get off his spell on Kith, but Kith makes the save and may press forward without the penalty.

As the commander ushers Fyird up onto the catapult, and climbs up onto the catapult platform after him he explains:

"Use your axe to cut the various ropes and chains of the catapult to disable it, if we can't burn it, we'll destroy it. Even should we fall to this ambush we MUST disable this catapult."

Setting his shield in front of him, Kilenthar plants himself directly in front of the working Fyird, using his shield and his body to cover Fyird's work.

Fyird will now be at a +4 AC and +4 to Reflex Rolls. If anyone knows of a better way to manage this (one man sized creature covering another man sized creature) please let me know. The "destruction" of the catapult will take 3 rounds including this one. The sleep will go off at the beginning of round 5, so Rounds 5, 6 and 7 will be occupied with Fyird chopping and Kilenthar Guarding.

To recap: I have the following actions for round 5

Kith: Attack on Orc Leader
Selena: Point Blank cast of her fire on the prone and sleeping orc5. I will allow an automatic hit here due to it being a ranged touch (ignores armor) on a sleeping, prone creature. I can go with not being able to Coup, but there is only so far my imagination can stretch when we're talking about the need to simply touch an unmoving and unaware target when standing right over the top of him, rules or not. Note because you had a natural 20 you do not need to confirm threat (that is my house rule and applies across the board).
Kilenthar: Guard Action, providing cover for Fyird.
Fyird: Attacking/Damaging the catapult (1/3)
Thantos: Thantos's Pet is now in the fray and will attack on Thantos's initiative, it will last this round only (I believe, correct me if I'm wrong).

Need actions from Mird, Lash, Thantos and a target for Thantos's pet for round 5.

Found it (per Final Pathfinder. If someone with Beta wants to correct me please do so.)

A helpless character is treated as having a Dexterity of 0, giving him a -5 penalty to AC against both melee and ranged attacks (for a total of -9 against melee and -5 against ranged). A helpless character is also flat-footed.

So prone does not stack with helpless. (I wish they had clarified that). So, the AC against the heavenly fire ability should be 5 (touch 10 -5)

Fyird will now be at a +4 AC and +4 to Reflex Rolls. If anyone knows of a better way to manage this (one man sized creature covering another man sized creature) please let me know.

Soft Cover: Creatures, even your enemies, can provide you with cover against ranged attacks, giving you a +4 bonus to AC. However, such soft cover provides no bonus on Reflex saves, nor does soft cover allow you to make a Stealth check.

Lash continues to press her attack surging forward with a well executed ballestra.

1d20+1=14, 1d6+1=7

Zzzzz...

Dragon*Con was a much more absorbing weekend then I intended! Sorry!
Mird snarls as he locks the orc leader in his sights. Mird brings hiw bow to his side as he quickly moves closer to the orc leader (OOC: to within 30 ft if possible, this is included in attack/dmg rolls, subtract 1 from each if I cannot get within range during one move action)
With a fluid movement, he brings an arrow out of his quiver, knocks the arrow in, pulls the bowstring back...he closes his eyes for just a moment to gather focus. He opens his eyes and his face goes blank, his whole body seems to freeze as he stops breathing...and just as suddenly as he stills himself, he lets go of the string. With a loud *THWANG* the arrow goes flying from his bow, whistling toward its intended victim, the orc leader.
1d20+8=21
Damage : 1d8+4=9

Thantos takes hold of his crossbow once again.

He then sends the Celestial Fire Beetle scurrying in to attack the leader of the Orc Ambush party.

Celestial Fire Beetle Bite with 'If Hit' damage (1d20+1=5, 2d4=6)

Thantos then takes aim with his crossbow at the one of the Orc Shaman (Orc Shaman2) and fires.

Crossbow with 'If Hit' damage (1d20=4, 1d8=2)

Going to spend a little time verifying the duration of the Beetle. I will let you know if I find anything contrary to the current assumption.

===============================================
Round 5 Results:
[ooc]-------------------
[ooc]Fyird: Working on destroying the catapult. (1/3)
Selena: Heavenly Fire Orc 5 (Sleeping): Nat 20: Crit: Confirmed: Dead
Mird: Orc Leader: Hit - 9 damage
Thantos: Shaman 1: Miss
Fire Beetle: Miss - Disappears
Kith: Orc Commander: Miss
Crossbowman1: Fyird - To Hit/Damage (1d20+2=14, 1d6=5) - Miss
Crossbowman2: Thantos - Attack/Damage - Thantos (1d20+2=8, 1d6=4) - Miss
Lash: Shaman1: Hit - 7 Damage - Dead
Kilenthar: Guard Fyird
Shaman2: Sleep (2/10)
Swordsman1: Kith - Attack/Damage - Kith (1d20+2=3, 1d8=5) - Critical Miss
Swordsman2: Sleep (2/10)
Orc Commander: Kith - Attack/Damage - Kith (1d20+4=10, 1d8+4=9) - Miss
Shaman1: Dead
Orc4: Asleep (5/10)
Orc5: Dead

Round 6 Info
---------------
Re: Cover. See this is what bothers me. Kilenthar is in Banded (almost plate) and carrying a large shield, is he really a "soft" cover target? I admit we're not talking a low stone wall or a huge boulder, but soft? Still, it does allude to "creatures" being able to give soft cover so we'll go with that, we'll keep the +4 ac and drop the +4 to reflex.

Re: Fire Beetle Summons: (Monster Summoning I: Duration 1 round/level (D))
======================================

A grunt from behind you and a loud "crack" of Fyird's axe followed by another loud crack and the ring of metal on metal is clearly audible to all of you as Fyird begins destroying the catapult. One of the orc bowmen squeals an alarm at it's comrades and lifts it's crossbow and fires directly at Fyird. The arrow screeches against Kilenthar's shield but doesn't penetrate as Kilenthar leans into the force of the shot, absorbing some of the blow and trusting in his shield to protect him.

At the back of the battle, Selena heaves a sorrowful sigh as she pools the light of her heavenly fire in her hand. As if on cue, a scream filters down over the still night air from the keep, glancing that way Selena sees one of the human defenders fall from the wall, obviously dead. Remembering that it is the Keep being attacked and that the orcs have only mal-intent, Selena drops the fire on one of the sleeping orcs, burning it almost black immediately. Other than the involuntary spasm as the fire hit and the open mouthed scream that never found voice, you are unsure whether the orc ever really woke up before it's life was burned away.

Cursing to himself at the orc leader, Mird steadies himself and takes a shot from close range. Unlike the crossbowman's shot at Fyird, Mird's arrow flies true and pierces the hastily lifted wooden blocking shield and obviously penetrates the orc captain's forearm underneath. A grimace of pain and a grunt is the only satisfaction you get as the orc leader continues his battle with Kith.

As Thantos's fire beetle charges in at the orc captain's feet, a sharp kick just at the last second turns the beetle's mandibles outward to snap closed on only air. Almost immediately after the beetle becomes insubstantial and starts to shimmer and dissipate. While the orc leader is distracted, Thantos snaps a shot off at him, the bolt flying wide of it's mark as the orc sidesteps a swing by Kith, the blade passing only inches from the orc's collarbone.

The second crossbowman, obviously flustered by the shot that hit his own leader, quickly sets a crossbow bolt but fails to properly knock the quarrel in his hurry, a loud THWANG follows as the bolt practically falls off the front of the crossbow and lands, point first, in the dirt.

On the other side of Kith and the orc leader, Lash quickly follows up her last slash with a quick step forward and a deep lunge, plunging her rapier straight through the orc shaman's chest before he can utter another word...the shaman falls dead a lash's feet.

The first swordsman, attempting to circle around to Kith's right side and flank him, sees an opening and lunges forward, unfortunately for the orc, however, Kith was waiting for the attack to come and had maneuvered the orc commander right in line. With a quick step back and out of harm's way the orc swordsman drives his sword straight through the point where Kith was standing...and right into his own commander's shield. With a howl of pain due to his pierced arm and with a swat with the blunt of his sword to the head of the orc that hit him (glances off the helmet and does no damage) later, the Orc leader squares back up with kith and makes an off balance lunge, the blade of the longsword just missing Kith's left leg.

In the distance, a horn sounds and glancing over you see part of the attacking force at the castle turn and start charging your way. The gig is up, the orcs have discovered the ruse and are rushing to intercept. The pounding sounds of the running orcs assault your consciousness as the tail of the orc army charges for the catapult line.

You have about 4 rounds to complete your work here before a good 50 orcs come storming your specific encampment.

Round 6 Initiative:
-------------------
Fyird:Working on destroying the catapult. (1/3)
Selena:
Mird:
Thantos:
Kith:
Crossbowman1: Fyird
Crossbowman2: Thantos
Lash: Uncontested
Kilenthar: Guard Fyird
Shaman2: Sleep (2/10)
Swordsman1:
Swordsman2: Sleep (2/10)
Orc Commander:
Orc4: Asleep (5/10)

Lash vaults the debris and fallen body ignoring the clumsy sword weilding orc to come around the Orc Commander, opposite Kith. Timing her attack she waits for him to draw the brute's attention coming in with a low thrust to the kidneys.

Flanking, sneak attack (1d20+3=17, 1d6+1=6, 1d6=6)

Fyird glances up at the sound of the horn, and intensifies his chopping at anything that looks important.

Bardic music 3/5

Thantos summons all of his mystical powers concentrating intently on the enemies before him. Sweeping his eyes across the line of enemies he visualizes five Orcs in his mind's eye. Suddenly from his outstretched right arm five missiles explode from the tips of his fingers streaking toward their intended targets.

Casting Magic Missile targeted at 1)Orc Commander; 2)Crossbowman1; 3)Crossbowman2; 4)Swordsman1; 5)Shaman2

Damage Rolls relative to the above order
Magic Missile Damage (1d4+1=5, 1d4+1=3, 1d4+1=5, 1d4+1=3, 1d4+1=2)

Illyth, if each target does not get a separate damage roll then please use the first damage roll listed, as it was the first roll.

Dancing with his elven sword, Kith desperately dodges several attacks, causing him to lose his offensive stance and wildly miss with his follow up attack.

(9:48:25 AM) (Sum: 8)1xD20+7: 1

epic... fail... @#$%#

Thantos summons all of his mystical powers concentrating intently on the enemies before him. Sweeping his eyes across the line of enemies he visualizes five Orcs in his mind's eye. Suddenly from his outstretched right arm five missiles explode from the tips of his fingers streaking toward their intended targets.

Casting Magic Missile targeted at 1)Orc Commander; 2)Crossbowman1; 3)Crossbowman2; 4)Swordsman1; 5)Shaman2

Damage Rolls relative to the above order
Magic Missile Damage (1d4+1=5, 1d4+1=3, 1d4+1=5, 1d4+1=3, 1d4+1=2)

Illyth, if each target does not get a separate damage roll then please use the first damage roll listed, as it was the first roll.

My mistake. I am only able to attack one target. Please apply this attack to the first target in the list, Orc Leader. Sorry for my n00b-ness

Selena looks over the unfortunate crisped creature, but realizes that if the orc had been deserving of life, he wouldn't have been burned by the fire in the first place.

Re: Thantos, don't worry about it. Everyone has to start somewhere.

Re: Cover. I can see it both ways. The commander is a mobile human being, not a statue or other heavy material. If something tries to attack through him at Fyird, the commander is probably going to move a little bit (even unintentionally). If he had a tower shield, I guess it could be resolved a little differently.

Selena holds her dagger with both hands, now turning her attention to the remaining sleeping orc beside her Orc4. She remembers her father's training, anchoring her body into the ground beneath her as she stabs the dagger viciously into the sleeping orc's throat.

Coup-de-grace

Automatic Critical Hit with Dagger (2d4-1=6)

If the damage doesn't kill it, Fort DC 16 to survive.

Round 6 Initiative:
-------------------
Fyird:Working on destroying the catapult. (2/3)
Selena: Coup de Grace - Orc 4: Fort Roll (1d20=5)Auto Hit - Killed
Mird: Attack Orc Commander: Mird Attack/Damage (1d20+8=16, 1d8+4=12) - Hit - 12 damage - 21 Damage Total.
Thantos: Magic Missile Orc Commander - 5 damage - 26 Damage Total.
Kith: Attacks Orc Commander, Miss: Critical Fail
Crossbowman1: Mird - Crossbowman2 Attack/Damage (1d20+2=20, 1d8=8) Hit - 8 Damage
Crossbowman2: Lash Crossbowman2 Attack/Damage (1d20+2=7, 1d8=4) - Miss
Lash: Flanking Sneak Attack on Orc Commander: Hit - 12 Damage - 38 Damage total.
Kilenthar: Guard Fyird
Shaman2: Sleep (2/10)
Swordsman1: Flanking Lash - Swordsman1 Attack/Damage (1d20+4=15, 1d8=7)Miss
Swordsman2: Sleep (2/10)
Orc Commander: Lash Orc Commander: Attack/Damage (1d20+4=13, 1d8+4=7) - Miss
Orc4: Dead

Selena: You're correct, tower shield allows "full cover" but alas, not so in this case. Glad to see my rules interpretation fits with what you're seeing as well.

Mird: I had you continue shooting at the Orc Commander.

Fyird's chopping continues and even increases in intensity as the screams of the orcs and the loud thunder of many booted feet can be heard, though in the still night the sounds of the running orcs seem to be coming from all around you.

Slipping a dagger up into the orc's throat and brain the creature gurgles and it's eyes open wide in terror for a few seconds and then dim as the light of life vanishes from it.

Seeing one of the crossbow archers loading a bolt and swinging his way, Mird fires a quick shot off at the orc commander, hoping to skewer him and dodge back a bit to sidestep the crossbowman's shot. While the arrow does fly true and slams into the Orc Commander's side, just below the ribcage eliciting another howl from the orc leader, the crossbowman is much faster than Mird anticipated. Slapping a bolt in place and barely even aiming, the crossbowman's shot flies straight and slams into Mird's shoulder, cleanly piercing through the upper chest, tearing through muscle and coming to rest just cleanly through his back shoulder: Numbing his arm almost immediately and causing Mird to almost pass out on the spot (Mird: 4 hp left).

Chanting fills the air as Mird quickly casts another spell, a bolt of light flying unerringly at the orc commander, even dodging around Kith as he clumsily stumbles through a parry that almost manages to take his own head off. Only the impact of the arrow and the magic missile knock the orc commander off balance enough to cause his well aimed strike to swish short of taking Kith's head cleanly off from his body.

Rolling around to the orc swordsman's right, Lash finds herself behind the overbalanced orc leader and runs him straight through the back and belly, the rapier point exiting cleanly through the front of the orc commander. Hearing movement behind her as Swordsman1 comes rushing in at Lash's back, Lash yanks the blade free and throws a fast backhand parry, only partially clipping the incoming longsword but subtly, and lucky, turning the blade slightly upward in the orc's hand so that the blade nicks the armor and slams fully (flat side first) into her leather clad side. Other than a rather large bruise, the cut was turned completely aside.

Seeing no one in the vicinity and seeing Fyird's assaulter turn his attention away, and seeing the arrow slam into Mird and fearing for his life, Commander Kilenthar breaks his guard on Fyird and runs over to Mird, muttering a prayer and enacting a spell of healing. The arrow miraculously extracts itself from the wound and the wound partially closes, feeling and warmth immediately flow back into Mird's fingers. (Cure Light Wounds (1d8+1=4) - 4 Points Added back, you now have 8)

Round 7 Initiative:
-------------------
Fyird:Working on destroying the catapult. (3/3)
Selena: No Target Near
Mird:
Thantos:
Kith:
Crossbowman1: Mird
Crossbowman2: Lash
Lash:
Kilenthar: Guard Fyird
Shaman2: Sleep (3/10)
Swordsman1: Flanking Lash
Swordsman2: Sleep (3/10)
Orc Commander:

Actions?

Thantos grabs his crossbow and fires off a quick shot at an Orc Crossbowman (crossbowman1).

Crossbow attack with 'If hit' damage (1d20=17, 1d8=5)

Selena turns her head to the side, trying to listen to the sounds coming from beyond the battlesite. She shouts out to the commander as she moves closer to the combat,

"What is that sound? It's not the orcs!"

And to Mird,

"Mird, a little healing?"

Selena calls the heavenly flame to her hand again, uncertain if her new companion would be harmed or healed by the divine force.

If Mird answers in the affirmative, Selena moves into range and uses her heavenly fire on him.

Heavenly Fire (healing Mird) (1d20+2, 1d6+1=[17, 2], [5, 1])

If Mird does not answer in the affirmative, Selena uses her heavenly fire on the closest upright Orc. (Can I keep same rolls as above?)

A slight shake of his head is the only indication Kith gives that he is disappointed in the Orc leader's poor decision to turn his back on Kith. Not one to waste an opportunity in battle, the two-handed sword once again rises above Kith's head for a powerful blow.

(9:06:14 AM) "Attack on Orc Leader" 1xD20+9: 16 (Sum: 25) (I want to give you the attack additions so you can adjust them if necessary. +6 natural, +1 Bards Song, +2 Flanking for a total of +9)

(9:16:56 AM) "Overhand Chop Damage" 2xD6+11: 2 1 (Sum: 14) (This includes +1 for Bard's song, if it had ended you may subtract 1)

Trusting Kith to handle the Commander Lash turns to engage the other orc, but is distracted but the splash of blood created by Kith's falling blade.

1d20+1=7, 1d6+1=3

Mird snarls at the Crossbowman and switches his attention to him. Grimacing from his recent wound, but thankful for the healing, Mird touches where his wound was, squints his eyes and looks squarely at the Orc Crossbowman. Raising his bow with arrow knocked, Mird takes aim and fires...
1d20+8=20
1d8+4=9

Fyird continues to chop wood...literally.

Bardic Music 4/5

Round 7 Initiative:
-------------------
Fyird:Working on destroying the catapult. (3/3)
Selena: Healing Mird
Mird: Crossbowman1 Hit (Damage Note Below)
Thantos: Crossbowman1 Hit (Damage Note Below)
Kith: Orc Commander Hit - Dead
Crossbowman1: Dead
Crossbowman2: See Below
Lash: Swordsman1 Miss (See Below)
Kilenthar: See Below
Shaman2: N/A
Swordsman1: N/A
Swordsman2: N/A
Orc Commander: Dead

Combat Over

Recognizing it's fatal mistake, the orc commander attempts to swing back around quickly enough to bring it's blade in line for a strike it realizes is coming, but too late. Kith's blade shears through the orc commander's collarbone and across the chest, ending up midway through the chest, past the backbone. The orc commander falls to it's knees and then face down in the dirt, sliding clear of Kith's blade.

A SCREECH of metal on metal resounds through the night as the last chain holding the giant hoist aloft breaks and the large metal basket crashes to the wooden deck, splintering boards, and causing the back right footing to simply collapse, leaving the catapult at a large tilt, as you glace around, you note the ropes holding the catapult arm in place are all severed, any attempt to use the catapult at this point would likely shatter the middle wooden support beam and send the throwing arm off into the night. Another crash, from your right, heralds the destruction of yet another catapult, you smile to yourselves as you realize you aren't the only successful group at your mission.

Mird's bow shot and Thantos's hit the first crossbowman almost simultaneously, Thantos's bolt pierces the orc crossbowman's left shoulder and turns him in line for Mird's bow shot to find it's forehead, the force of the shot carrying the crossbowman up off his feet to land heavily on his back in the grass with an arrow burred in it's head.

As the orc commander and the crossbowman hit the ground the sound of a trampling horde accosts your ears. However, the source of the sound is not what you thought it was only seconds ago. What most of you previously mistook as the orc army rushing at your backs, is actually the sound of hooves, many many hooves. As you and your orc enemies stand in awe about a hundred horsemen come charging out of the night. Torches raised, lances set, the coat of arms of Kiren's Keep clearly visible on their shields, the horsemen break into 8 groups and go charging off into the night, from the nearest catapult to your left you hear pigish screams and cheers from the embattled soldiers.

Commander Kilenthar gives a shrill whistle from his position on top of the broken catapult and you see an additional man break off from the front of the horse line and move with the horse group heading your direction. The surviving crossbowman and swordsman break off into the night and are skewered only a short distance from your position as the horsemen pull up and stop their horses just inside the ring of light of the torches near the catapult. The lead rider, wearing a green tunic over a chain shirt hops lightly down off his mount.

(Lash, Mird and Thantos IMMEDIATELY recognize the man on the lead horse as Forster, the second in command of the scouting encampment where you first met (or saw) Kilenthar and the one tasked with leading the orc ambush off to camp 3. See Page 3 of the thread toward the bottom to catch up.)

Nodding at you as he passes, Forster walks over to the commander and grasps his hand.

"I see you handled your catapult without much trouble." says Forster as he breaks into a huge grin.

"Well" says Kilenthar, surveying the bodies laying around him as well as those of the sleeping orcs Forster's men are quickly dispatching. "I wouldn't say 'without' trouble." Getting a serious expression on his face the commander says "It's as we feared. They knew we were coming. And I'm afraid we're not out of this yet. The orc army may very well overrun our emplacement shortly."

Again, Forster breaks into a grin and says "I think not. We brought friends."

As the sounds of battle die down at each of the catapult emplacements another low rumble echos through the night, but this rumble is one unlike that of the hundred horsemen that rode to your assistance...it is the sound of many many times that number of horses charging through the night. Several minutes later, as the advancing rear lines of the Orcs hesitate almost as one, many hundreds of horsemen come charging down the Duke's road and fan out across the field to continue charging, A coat of arms you do not recognize emblazoned on their shields.

As you watch the horsemen charge straight into the back ranks of the orcs, and at the same time a horn call blasts through the night as the front gates of Kiren's Keep open and soldiers pour out. Caught between an army of horsemen at their backs, an army of footmen at their front and arrow after arrow raining down into their middle ranks the orc army breaks down almost immediately, the easy victory at the hands of their seige weapons falling into a complete rout as orcs are decimated by the tens and more are trampled by their own kind in an attempt to flee.

"Compliments of Duke Stefan Commander" Forster says as he sweeps his hand out to encompass all that has just passed. "I don't know what message Alalar's man brought to the Duke but he sure seemed eager to empty his duchy of his soldiers to assist our cause. Anyway, as usual commander you're a step ahead of us all, you guessed right, again, and thankfully you did."

Forster looks at his men, finishing the last of the orcs and says "Gather 'em up, send out the signal and head back to camp 3." Then to the commander he adds "Two days time, as you asked, we'll come back to the Keep. I, for one, will be interested to hear what this is all about."

With another firm handshake Forster turns for his horse and he and his men ride back off into the night the way they came. A short horn blast accompanies their departure and you can hear horsemen from all down the catapult line breaking off and riding back off into the night.

Nodding to each of you in turn the commander says:

"Well done. Tonight you have earned my trust and my thanks, neither of those is a quantity I give out freely. Many of you have questions, it is plainly written all over your faces and it probably seems ever since you met me either yesterday or this morning that there have been nothing but secrets between us. Let us head back to our tunnel entrance to the keep, the fighting will continue long into the night as the Keep pushes the orcs out of the area. For us, a brief respite and my assurance to all of you that I will put the events of the last few days, and even the last few decades, into order. Each of you have earned it."

"But first, to the victor goes the spoils, let us see what we shall find."

Give me a bit to get a quick loot list together, let me know what you're each doing at this point and once the looting and pillaging has been accomplished we'll move on with the story.

First off, congratulations for finishing the first module of Rise of a Regent, I know this one started off a bit boring, and there wasn't too much too it but the stage is set and hopefully the story continues flowing from here.

Secondly, I have something a little different for everyone, I don't know if this is common in the games you all have played or not but this is something you can expect at certain points in my campaign.
Obviously we have reached a major "story point" at which point many open questions will be answered. I'd like to give you all the opportunity to give me a synopsys of what you THINK is going on at this point in the story. Using the story elements as laid out already I have bonus XP to hand out to the party at large depending upon how close to the real story you guys are getting.

I do this for two reasons: 1) It tells me how close of attention you guys are following to the story (so that I can adjust story vs raw dice rolling based upon your general interests) and 2) It tells me how easy to "read" I am being. If I think I've hidden the story elements in the text exceptionally well and all of you come back with an exact account of what will be coming up, then it's obvious I need to do a better job. However, I will never know this if I can't get into your heads and figure out what you think you know.

So, let me know what you're doing as far as looting goes, and then your assignment (if you choose to do so) is to send me an e-mail (me only please, not to the group at large) with your guess on what you see happening in the campaign so far. This will also help me make sure I am addressing any points of confusion in the "conversation" that will be happening in the next part of the story so feel free to be clear with any points where you are confused and/or things I'm writing don't make sense. Note that the bonus XP is party based, not personal based, so don't worry if you don't know what's going on as someone else in the party is likely to. I am also willing to accept any constructive criticism any of you might want to pass my way or tips on how to make the story more enjoyable for you.

I'll get a loot list posted after I get clarification as to what you all are doing, and then an XP value together as soon as I get everyone's e-mail...we'll set a deadline by Tuesday Night/Wednesday Morning (don't want to hold up the game too much).

Fyird stumbles a bit with the shifting of the siege engine, then leans against the machine wiping the sweat from his brow. "I'm getting too old for this", he whispers under his breath. He then takes his water skin, and finds some shade in the shadow of the catapult, and takes out his Lyre.

As he plays songs of victory and celebration, he reviews the events of the evening, and begins to form a song in his head. This one should be interesting he thinks to himself, as he sings the Chorus of "Victory Song for the Land".

He is content for the moment to let the others gather the loot, confident in their sharing.

Seeing that the situation is under control, Kith will search the Orc leader's body for anything that may help solve the riddle of how they are acting so un-orc-like. Also, while not a scavenger, he'll search the body for anything that might prove useful to the group.

"Taking your leave so soon? The bolt channel on my crossbow was just starting to warm up.", Thantos boasts over the klipsch sound made as he reattaches his crossbow to his belt.

Midway through a deep breath the revolting odor of the dead orcs causes his breath to catch at the back of his throat. Thantos grabs for his water skin taking a large swallow to rinse the orc flavor from his pallet.

"Phew! If their swords and clubs don't get you, their stink just might be your end.", grimaces Thantos.

Alternating between holding his breath and light mouth breathing, Thantos walks over to the body of a dead orc shaman. Thantos methodically begins a search of the shaman's corpse and the ground very near it for anything the group might find useful.

Selena goes over to the bodies and looks over the shaman that had cast "Doom". In the process, she waves her hands and the magical glowing white flame surrounding her body melts to the ground and dissipates. She prods and picks at the body with her dagger, unwilling to touch it with her bare hand.

"When we get back to the fortress, I'll do what I can for those wounds, Kith... and for anyone else who is injured."

The available "loot" from the orcs is as follows:

Orc Commander:
* Masterwork Longsword with a black skull emblazoned upon the pommel.
* One Good Condition Breastplate (If you can get the orc smell out).
* A Bag marked with the same black skull as the pommel of the sword.

Within the bag is the following:
* 10 Platinum Pieces (pp)
* A bone scroll tube sealed with Wax.

If you choose to open the tube and read the contents, please read the following spoiler, if you choose not to read the contents, please let me know what you're going to do with this tube.

Upon the Orc Catapult Leader you find a Suit of Chain Mail still in good condition and a partially burnt set of orders. While you cannot make out the exact contents, from the few words left on the parchment you realize that the orcs were ordered to set up the catapult slowly and NOT to fire upon the keep until the order was given.

Upon each of the orc shaman is a shiny golden ring, upon closer examination each ring seems to glow very very faintly with a soft light.

Each of the 15 orcs was carrying some coin, to a sum total of 50GP and the Orc Catapult leader had a gem you guess to be worth somewhere around that same 50GP value.

Finally, there is the following Misc. equipment laying around the field that was carried by the orcs:

* 3 Longswords of Various normal to subnormal quality.
* 4 Daggers
* 7 clubs
* 3 Light Crossbows
* 50 Crossbow Bolts
* 13 Sets of Ratty and broken down Leather Armor (these suits act with 1 less AC than a normal suit of Leather Armor does due to the disrepair these suits are in).

XP Values will be coming soon. I'm going to need to parse the entire first module here so you'll have to give me a short bit longer.

"What a sorry lot this is. Hardly a scrap of anything of any worth. Commander, let's bag up what we what to keep and worry about dividing it up back at the Keep. I'd like to have a chance to exam those rings without a band of orcs breathing down my neck."

Motioning to the bone tube, "Do we want to find out what was important enough to keep sealed inside?"

Mostly to himself Kith says, "Interesting pommel... and a well-made blade. Better than the longsword I carry."

Wiping the blade clean of his own blood, Kith removes his longsword from the scabbard and replaces it with the Orc leader's masterwork blade.

After rifling through the remaining contents of the reeking Orc leader, Kith pauses to crack open the bone scroll tube and examine it's contents. After reading the parchment, he offers it to the Commander along with the bag of platinum.

"Commander, you'll want to have a look at this."

Kith's longsword is a 'backup' weapon. If any other characters have a need for the blade, he will willingly offer it to them. If Kith keeps the blade, he will decline a share in the platinum and gold.

I'll take the longsword you're not using, Kith. My beta human is proficient with it and it will be slightly easier to do damage with 1d8-1 instead of 1d4-1.

Sensing the magical glow from the ring on the shaman's lifeless finger, Selena gently pries it off with her dagger and places it in her pouch to look at later.

At the sound of Kith's concerned voice, Selena turns towards him and takes a few steps closer. "What is it? What have you found?"

She notices the masterwork longsword in his hand and suddenly gasps in surprise. "Oh...."

Seeing the skull emblazoned upon the bag and on the sword pommel the commander goes somewhat white and begins to frown.

Taking the proffered scroll tube, handling it almost as if it would blow up in his hands, he unrolls the letter and frowns again. Then reads the short note aloud. Feel free to look at the spoiler at this point - Bone Scroll Tube Contents.

"Kavorquian is a well known mage in these parts, his home is south of here near the region's largest town of Penhaligon. (see provided map at Rise of the Regent Kiren's Keep Area) He is somewhat of a well known diviner in these parts and seems to have fallen into the notice of the coordinators of this attack. This "Queen" is unknown to me, and who she is or might be is a mystery...a mystery I would deeply like to solve."

Lookup up and glancing around the Commander then says "There is more, more to add to your line of questions and more to add to the story I have to tell. We must be quick and be off this field, this bag, this note and that sword (the commander nods at the sword currently being held by Kith) tell me much I have suspected for some time. The group associated with this attack is known to me, and my time avoiding my past seems to be at it's end. Let us finish up here and begone back to our encampment, there is much to talk about."

"Yes, while we did well, I'm not a big fan of sitting out in the open waiting for a counter attack."

XP Gains
-----------
As a first note, we are following the "medium" advancement track through this campaign (as found in Table 4-1 on P13 of the Beta PH Rules): 2K is your second level.

A quick note as to how your final XP has been calculated. As I re-read the adventure up to this point, I gave you each experience (generally ranging between 50 and 200 points) per situation for things like good role play, good use of skills, good problem solving, moving the adventure forward, and even good questions/guesses as to what was happening at the moment. All of these have come from comments, questions, interactions, even offhand remarks that your characters have made. While XP is not going to go up at the exact same rate in this campaign, you are all fairly close, meaning you've all had your moments to shine and have all made good observations and played your characters well.

I would like to note to you that close to a third to half of your xp total came from role play/discussions/comments. You need to know this because if you drop back from the adventure and ride only the combat you're going to fall behind.

The XP ammounts I have in spoiler are your RP rewards, I would ask that you don't view other's spoiler XP award values but I will tell you that you are all within 100 points of each other in this regard...and that's in steps of 50 points...so again, you're all doing extremely well.

To that total you can add:

650 XP for the various Orcs you Killed (This is a bit high but you did well).
150 XP for the Orc Commander
75 XP for the Orc Captain (Catapult Captain)
-----------------
875 Combat Experience

You can also add 200 XP to this for the party's guesses at current plot line. Again those of you who participated in this all had some pretty good guesses and observations as to what's going on. It also showed me that some of my secrets are still my secrets but that you all aren't completely lost, exactly what I was hoping to see.

Please note, each of you are in range of reaching the second level through the conversation and player interaction upcoming before the start of the next module.

Mird walks among the corpses, nudging the occasional orc with the toe of his boot with a slight kick and a smug smirk on his face. As he picks through the various equipment dropped, he grimaces with disgust as he picks through the particularly smelly pieces of equipment..."I've no particular interest in any of the items, it reeks of orc filth, hopefully we can sell it for some gold."
Noticing the color drain from the commander's face, Mird stops his survey and focuses on the commander. "I agree...there is much to be explained, sir...And the good lady Lash is correct, although I relish another chance to fight an orc, we should make haste lest we find ourselves disadvantaged..."

The seven of you gather up the rest of the gear that you can carry (the armor suits...other than the breastplate and chain mail...are unlikely to bring anything of value and frankly would you want to strip an orc?) and make your way off into the night back toward the camp you used as a base of operations that afternoon.

The battle at the walls of the Keep is all but over. The horsemen from the forward observation post and the horsemen of Duke Stefan have all but decimated the orc invasion force. Many of the outlaying orcs (those at the back of the army) have turned tail and run, most of them escaping by using their slower moving "comrades" as fodder while they make for the forests and the high ground. The decimation at the walls and the front ranks of the orcs is wholesale and complete. Archers on the walls continue to rake the trapped lines of orcs pressed up against the keep walls while the other side of the spread thin force is being cut down in droves by the experienced and battle trained horsemen of both sides. Periodically as you move off you hear the crash as of wood on wood as another of the catapults is dismantled or disabled permanently...the sounds of battle at the back of the orc lines all but silent.

As your group marches north and west the commander hails a passing horseman rider and orders him to deliver a message to the keep that says his group will be in by morning but that due to minor injuries you are making camp at the tunnel entrance, outside the keep walls. The commander also declines any suggestion of assistance or guard despite the, obviously, agitated horseman rider and his discomfort at his Commander and Governor spending the night out in the open with orcs running all around rather than heading back for the safety of the castle. Rank, however, has it's privileges and the horseman is not about to argue with Kilenthar...likely being more worried what Captain Garelson will do when he hears the news than worried for the safety of the Commander himself.

As you make your way back to your camp, the commander moves up and stars using his healing spells to cure those who are wounded. If you have any damage you can go ahead and remove that damage at this point, between the commander's healing ability and Selena's as well as the resources of the Keep which you will be making your way toward by morning your damage at this point is irrelevant.

With the last sounds of battle barely reaching your ears, the seven of you manage to make it back to camp and retrieve some of your scattered firewood, building a fire more for light than any warmth it may provide and settling in.

An expectant silence falls over the group as the commander takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly.