Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Kyrademon’s Jade Regent PBP, Part II

Game Master Kyrademon

Alaric touches Rhost's shoulder.

"I know how you feel, Rhost." She looks at the sword speculatively. "Kalimac, I didn't think about this until we were in the middle of the fight.... and by then I didn't know how you and Attatoq would react. Suishen can cast a spell that would let Attatoq walk on air. But since he isn't used to it, I think it might take you more time to direct him. Do you want to try?"

Mounts need to be specially trained for air walk, but I think you can push Attatoq as a move action or, since he is smarter than the average wolf, if you can explain it to him that might work as well. Air walk spell.

As she speaks she heads past to look at the area next to where Goti appeared. Cause... I want to know what those ? are...

"So what did Goti say before he died?" he asks. Little does he know.

crumbs, says Helgarval.

... If you require healing, and are getting assistance from Lio, please roll the 1d8 + 1 for yourself and let me know how many charges it took for you to be healed so i can subtract them from the wand. - unless of course Kyrademon says otherwise - (doing it this way because i will be at work, and it seems the quickest way to get everyone up to speed without waiting for me to roll) :)

This is fine. In addition, I will note that any healing item which has specifically designated as being a "party item" -- such as healing potions or scrolls you find, or any items you so designate when you buy them -- can ALWAYS be used this way; the person who has them is merely considered to be carrying them, and any party member who wishes to use one on themselves can simply do so or have "had someone do so" if they cannot themselves.

Mounts need to be specially trained for air walk, but I think you can push Attatoq as a move action or, since he is smarter than the average wolf, if you can explain it to him that might work as well. Air walk spell.

Confirming that this is the case; Attatoq can be trained to use Air Walk generally, pushed to use Air Walk each round with an appropriate Handle Animal check, or, since he has an Intelligence of higher than 2, he has a shot at figuring it out himself with a successful Int roll an any given round.

Even shorter DUNGEON CRAWL MODE

Melinda opens the door to find a ...

STOREROOM

Boxes and sacks lie neatly stacked in this chamber. Shelves holding orderly bins have been built into the walls. A wooden locker stands beneath the shelves. Despite the seeming order to this room, a faint charnel reek underlies the place.

One end of the room has been cleared to make room for a large cage which contains a white-furred female wolf the size of a bear, resting with her eyes closed. She looks half-starved, and waste and tufts of white fur litter the bottom of the cage.

As you enter, she opens her eyes and regards all of you with an ice-blue gaze. She looks at all of you in turn, her glance lingering slightly on Myriana, Liothonae, and Kalimac.

"Tell Kimandatsu it matters not what trainers she sends," the wolf growls at you in Common. "You will have no more success than the ones before. I will not be tamed."

Dungeon Crawl Mode ends for encounter.

"Actually... We really do not work for Kimandatsu. And since she is trying to torture friends of ours... I would say... If she wants you caged, I'm inclined to let you out. Will you promise not to hurt any of us or our friends if I do?" Mel says quietly as she shifts a little.

Alaric opens up his pack and digs out another day's worth of food. Then, nervously, he approaches the cage, tries to put the food somewhere the starving wolf can get at it, and steps away.

Alaric opens up his pack and digs out another day's worth of food. Then, nervously, he approaches the cage, tries to put the food somewhere the starving wolf can get at it, and steps away.

She glances at the food. "I will eat when my teeth are in Kimandatsu's throat," she says.

"Actually... We really do not work for Kimandatsu. And since she is trying to torture friends of ours... I would say... If she wants you caged, I'm inclined to let you out. Will you promise not to hurt any of us or our friends if I do?" Mel says quietly as she shifts a little.

"Promises are words," she says. "Meaningless air. Here would be my actions. If you fight against Kimandatsu and her ilk, I would happily assist you. If you work for her and her kind, you will find my claws at your vitals. These are not promises. Simply facts."

Mel thinks for a moment, "Sounds good enough to me." She starts trying to figure out how to open the cage. Mel has no open lock skill, but we do have a ring of keys. At least one of which has not yet opened anything.

Mel has no open lock skill, but we do have a ring of keys. At least one of which has not yet opened anything.

All three of the keys on that ring were used to open doors on a different level. None of them fit in this lock.

"Mryi, do you think you could open the lock for her, please?"

Mel looks back at the wolf, while she waits to see if Mryi can open the cage, "Who is Kimandatsu, anyway?" A pause, "I mean, I know she was supposed to help Runecaster with the whole torturing thing, but... the old man upstairs only mentioned Silverskorr, who apparently is an ogre..." A pause, "What did she want you to do anyway?"

Rhost frowns at the cage.

Room to smash the lock without injuring the occupant?

"I know how you feel, Rhost." She looks at the sword speculatively. "Kalimac, I didn't think about this until we were in the middle of the fight.... and by then I didn't know how you and Attatoq would react. Suishen can cast a spell that would let Attatoq walk on air. But since he isn't used to it, I think it might take you more time to direct him. Do you want to try?"

Mounts need to be specially trained for air walk, but I think you can push Attatoq as a move action or, since he is smarter than the average wolf, if you can explain it to him that might work as well. Air walk spell.

Slight flex, cause sleep and coffee apparently turn me into an actual blonde.

"He can also grant a few people resistance to cold, if anyone thinks that will be useful."

Shrug, we have three air walks and three resist energy (cold 30), each will last 3 hrs and 20 min. Any takers? Mel is inclined to use one resist energy on herself, but will cede to group logic.

There are roughly three ways to open a locked door:

1) Pick the lock. This requires someone trained in the Disable Device skill, such as Myri. As long as the lock is not completely beyond her skills (which is possible, but unlikely in this case), she will eventually get it, although it may take a number of tries. Each attempt is a full round action.

2) Wrench open the door with a feat of sheer strength. In the case of this iron cage, that would require a DC 28 Strength check. A crowbar would add +2 to your roll, but even with that it would probably be beyond the capabilities of anyone in the group right now.

3) Bash apart the lock with an appropriate weapon, such as a pick or a hammer. The hardness of iron is 10, which means, barring special tools or abilities I do not think you have, you would subtract 10 hit points off of every strike (and a fire effect would basically add nothing.) So if you rolled an 11 for damage, you would do 1 hit point of damage to the lock. As with Myri, eventually you would break it, the only question is how long it would take.

Myri starts attempting to disable the lock.

I have been reliably informed of such.

...and picking the lock is quieter than hammering it to bits

"Air walk?" Rhost says quietly to Melinda.

...and picking the lock is quieter than hammering it to bits

"Air walk?" Rhost says quietly to Melinda.

Mel nods, touches the sword to Rhost's shoulder, "Suishen, would you please cast air walk on Rhost?"

Alaric looks at his hand, looks at the wolf, then shakes his head, as though to dismiss a passing idea. "We should definitely free her... but I'd feel a little better if Lio or Kalimac made friends first." To the wolf: "No offense intended, but you're rather terrifying to a city boy like myself."

Mel looks back at the wolf, while she waits to see if Mryi can open the cage, "Who is Kimandatsu, anyway?" A pause, "I mean, I know she was supposed to help Runecaster with the whole torturing thing, but... the old man upstairs only mentioned Silverskorr, who apparently is an ogre..."

"The only ogre I have seen here is Kimandatsu," the wolf replies as Myri works on the lock. "I know not who Silverskorr is."

A pause, "What did she want you to do anyway?"

"She wished me to come and go, attack and back down, fetch and carry at her command. But I am Skygni, and I take orders from no one except myself."

Alaric looks at his hand, looks at the wolf, then shakes his head, as though to dismiss a passing idea. "We should definitely free her... but I'd feel a little better if Lio or Kalimac made friends first." To the wolf: "No offense intended, but you're rather terrifying to a city boy like myself."

"I am indeed terrifying," Skygni acknowledges.

"I am indeed terrifying," Skygni acknowledges.

"Fantastic. Common ground achieved," Alaric mumbles to himself, trying to subtly put Kalimac and Attatoq between him and the talking wolf.

Mel nods, touches the sword to Rhost's shoulder, "Suishen, would you please cast air walk on Rhost?"

If Rhost consents, the spell is cast upon him.

Melinda Sorn wrote:

Mel nods, touches the sword to Rhost's shoulder, "Suishen, would you please cast air walk on Rhost?"

If Rhost consents, the spell is cast upon him.

Rhost consents.

Hrunndalf looks at the giant wolf with interest. "Can you tell us about Kimandatsu's capabilities, so that we may prepare ourselves for the fight?"

If we decide to break the lock with brute force, Hrunndalf can cast Bull's Strength and power attack with Rhost's hammer for an average of 23.5 damage per hit (so 13.5 past the hardness). That shouldn't take too long. I also wouldn't mind having Bull's Strength on when we meet Kimandatsu. But I do see the logic in not making all that noise.

Kalimac and Attatoq move forward. Kalimac assumes the appropriate wolfish deferential manner as best he can. "Well met. I am Kalimac Proudfoot, and this is my friend Attatoq. The rest of my friends here are Myri (the girl picking the lock); Mel whom you've met; Alaric the city boy; Rhost the not-so-city boy; Hrunndalf; and Liothonae." Kalimac indicates each person as he names them.

Oh, I should probably roll some dice or something, shouldn't I?

I'm not sure if Handle Animal or Diplomacy is the best skill to bring to bear here. Given her intelligence, I'm going with Diplomacy. Kyrademon, please let me know if I should be using a different skill.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24

Myri assumes that it actually is a giant wolf that can tear her to pieces in an instant that she is attempting to release from its cage and not some illusion or shape changed creature, which would be even more likely to try to tear her to pieces. So, each attempt being a full round action, here goes:

And because I think it's cute, here's Attatoq's attempt at Diplomacy on Skygni.

Diplomacy from Attatoq: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

"I know how you feel, Rhost." She looks at the sword speculatively. "Kalimac, I didn't think about this until we were in the middle of the fight.... and by then I didn't know how you and Attatoq would react. Suishen can cast a spell that would let Attatoq walk on air. But since he isn't used to it, I think it might take you more time to direct him. Do you want to try?"

Kalimac figures that a wolf who can write poetry in Taldane can probably understand more than most people think. So he probably understands what Mel is asking. But to be on the safe side, Kalimac asks more directly. "Ma arvan, et me peaksime püüdma seda. See viimane lahing imeda valjusti. Sel viisil saame ikka arvesse võidelda isegi ülerahvastatud piirkonnas. Mis sa arvad? Ma palun tal seda teha."

He ruffles Attatoq's fur for a moment, then looks up at Melinda and says, "Proceed."

Flex Time Healing. Sometime, before we get into another combat.

Kalimac approaches Lio and requests a casting from the wand.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

And now Kalimac is at full health. He was still down three HP before the last battle, so this is exactly the amount he needed.

Kalimac figures that a wolf who can write poetry in Taldane can probably understand more than most people think. So he probably understands what Mel is asking. But to be on the safe side, Kalimac asks more directly. "Ma arvan, et me peaksime püüdma seda. See viimane lahing imeda valjusti. Sel viisil saame ikka arvesse võidelda isegi ülerahvastatud piirkonnas. Mis sa arvad? Ma palun tal seda teha."

He ruffles Attatoq's fur for a moment, then looks up at Melinda and says, "Proceed."

Mel nods, places the sword on Kalimac's shoulder and repeats her request.

Hrunndalf looks at the giant wolf with interest. "Can you tell us about Kimandatsu's capabilities, so that we may prepare ourselves for the fight?"

The wolf considers.

"She is large, and strong," she says.

Kalimac and Attatoq move forward. Kalimac assumes the appropriate wolfish deferential manner as best he can. "Well met. I am Kalimac Proudfoot, and this is my friend Attatoq. The rest of my friends here are Myri (the girl picking the lock); Mel whom you've met; Alaric the city boy; Rhost the not-so-city boy; Hrunndalf; and Liothonae." Kalimac indicates each person as he names them.

Skygni responds to the various attempts at diplomacy with a slightly-less-baleful glare.

Mel nods, places the sword on Kalimac's shoulder and repeats her request.

I am assuming the sword is actually placed on Attatoq's shoulder?

The spell is cast.

Probably Attatoq's flank, yes. Thank you.

On the fifth try, Myriana manages to pop open the lock. The white wolf walks out of the cage, and stretches.

"You have given me back my freedom, which is precious to me," Skygni declares. "And Skygni will be indebted to no one. If you speak true when you say that you are not Kimandatsu's servitors, then for a year and a day, your foes shall be Skygni's foes, and your allies shall be Skygni's allies."

A search of this room reveals that the crates and sacks contain hard loaves, fine cheeses, and dried fruits and vegetables. The bins on the shelves hold quality spices and seasonings, many imported from Tian Xia. The locker beneath the shelves holds the carcasses of game animals and even the limbs of a few humanoids in various states of decomposition.

There are also:

3 bottles of Korvosan wine worth 40 gp each
2 flasks of aged sake imported from Minkai worth 100 gp each
Tian spices worth a total of 80 gp

After Skygni is freed, Xanderghul flows out of Melinda's backpack and approaches her. The two seem to engage in some kind of brief, silent conversation.

"You cannot," Skygni finally says aloud, "Possibly be serious."

Xanderghul seems undeterred.

The white wolf walks out of the cage, and stretches."You have given me back my freedom, which is precious to me," Skygni declares. "And Skygni will be indebted to no one. If you speak true when you say that you are not Kimandatsu's servitors, then for a year and a day, your foes shall be Skygni's foes, and your allies shall be Skygni's allies."

Myriana brilliant blue eyes meet the great white wolfs. "We would be honored to travel with you Skygni. We hope to free our friends as well." Myri likewise rises and stretches. She turns to the rest of the group, "Shall we?"

After Skygni is freed, Xanderghul flows out of Melinda's backpack and approaches her. The two seem to engage in some kind of brief, silent conversation.

"You cannot," Skygni finally says aloud, "Possibly be serious."

Xanderghul seems undeterred.

Mel looks from Xander to Skygni, looking mildly confused, "Anything you can share?"