Second chance - Way of the Wicked (Inactive)

Game Master Big OM

Robert, I am not sure I understand, are you saying that out aloud, so someone might hear you?

Yes. Intending to draw any remaing guards out to be ambushed/fired upon in the open. Bluff was to sound like one of them.

"Be right down," comes the response. A few agonising moments past and the heavy steps can be heard and the single door opens and a guard without a lantern comes out.

A surprise action from each of you and then initiative.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Guard's initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Thomas used the opportunity to stab with both swords.

Attack 1: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Attack 2: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

You have got to be flipping kidding me!

Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Surprise! 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (19) - 1 = 18 touch of the void; 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 cold damage

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10 initiative

Thomas don't forget you were flanking with me, +2 more gives you 7 and 6 (:

Vank swings the heavy sword at the head taht has appeared.
Attack: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 4 + 2 = 15
Damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (6, 3) + 6 = 15

Init: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

Nadine advances behind the others and makes a sharp gesture at the guard.

Cast Daze. Will save DC 15

The unsuspecting man steps out, breathing heavily after having hurried down to help his colleague. His first step takes him past Thomas' blades, the second step brings his throat into Vans blade. Cutting his windpipe, and major arteries the blade dislodge in a shower of blood.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

Robert and Nadine, you didn't expend a use of power/spell on this, Vank killed him before your turn.

Lot as normal, sword, bow, shield, armour etc.

40 xp each.

Thomas used the opportunity to stab with both swords.

[dice=Attack 1]1d20+2

[dice=Attack 2]1d20+2

You have got to be flipping kidding me!

[dice=Initiative]1d20+4

Hey Thomas, if it makes you feel any better, you only missed once. Its a surprise round so only one attack. :)

Stanislav stays focused on the top of the gatehouse when the man opens the door. After he drops Stanislav quickly moves the the door shouldering his bow and pulling sword and shield.

You are standing at the bottom of a staircase leading into the gatehouse.

Lets move. Stanislav hisses quietly before ascending the stairs sword and shield in hand.

Nadine nods and follows after Vank and Thomas go up the stairs.

"I'm behind you."

Walking up the stairs you reach the second floor an single room fills the floor, the wind howls in here, blowing through arrow slits in all four walls. Two set of stairs lead to the roof and a single central hatch opens up into the main entrance. Furthest away a pair of stairs lead down.

If you plan to attack the guard on the roof, please describe how and some sort of stealth roll might required, please include if needed.

"Do we bother with the guy up top? Or bypass him? We could just barricade the hatch and he can either jump or starve."

Nadine rolls her eyes. "If he's like the others, he has a way to signal the others. We still have the bridge to cross and the gate. Positions that are easily defended if you have warning and preparations. He could see us as we attempt to cross. Given the rest of this place, I doubt the gate it's heavily manned, but why give them the chance? I do not care to give them any advantage."

Vank nods "Thomas, open your hatch at the same time as me." Vank move quietly to the far stairs heading up.
Stealth: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Stanislave motions for the more quiet of the group to move up the stairs. He will follow after a round.

So at the moment you are waiting beneath each of the hatches ready to open them at the same time and see what happens? I'll just wait for Thomas and then execute if he agrees to the plan.

Thomas nodded and moved to hatch, ready to open at the Hobgoblin's signal.

Stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Ready on the hatches Vank gives the signal, counting down from 3 with his fingers, closing his fist both hatches open almost simultaneously. Standing in the middle of the roof,(by 3e on the map) warming himself by a fire is the remaining guard, his lantern is placed beside him. "Took you long enough Allan, they are finally..." he says stopping mid sentence looking at Vank.

Everyone a surprise action and then in initiative order. Remember each square is 10 ft.

Intiative order:
Stanislav 22
Guard 18
Nadine 15
Vank 9
Thomas 7
Robert 4

Guard's inititive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18
Thomas's inititive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Robert's inititive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Vank's inititive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Stanislav's inititive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Nadine's inititive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

I'm out of order, but I figure in the surprise round it won't matter

Vank finishes climb off the ladder and stalks towards the guard, getting with in 6 seconds charge of him.

"Surrender weakling" he hisses

"One opportunity to remain amongst the living. Make no hostile movements."

Robert follows up Vank.

Stanislav moves in the surprise round to be adjacent to the guard or as close as possible, hopefully providing a flank for someone.

On his first turn he finishes moving if necessary and, unwilling to wait for the man to respond to Thomas, attacks the unlucky guard.

Longsword: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 211d8 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

Stanislav remember the map has an odd scale of 10ft per square so the guard will be at least 60ft from the top of the ladder (maybe further).

Each square is 10'. I count that as 40'. Stanislav has had two move actions and has a 30' move. But that includes a climb. He can charge his last move if he needs to.

Sorry misread post the attack was your first round action. Sorry about that.

NP :)

Thomas moved in, both blades drawn.

Nadine finishes climbing up the stairs and moves behind the others on the roof. She speaks to the guard. "Now, dearie, it seems you're in a bad spot. Why don't you just give up. Unless you want the boys here to cut off your head."

Using my Devil's Pact power, just because I haven't yet.
Intimidate (Devil's Pact): 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 2 = 25

I am going to allow these demands of surrender, because of the situation, but in the future I might demand intimidate checks and those require more than a free action. That means no moving and intimidate in surprise actions. I know it sometimes makes the story better and I am for that, but abuse it and I become cranky.

The man stands speechless as all of you spill onto the roof. At first his hands slide towards the signal horn but the multiple threats slow it down and it finally stops at Nadine's words, that and the drawn sword Stanislav has. "How, how did you escape?" he asks puzzled and a little frightened while holdings his hands away from weapons and horn.

That was the other guard defeated, 40 xp and the usual loot.

"Did you really expect simple stone and iron, starvation and physical abuse would trouble us? US? If so, your pedantic superiors truly wished you dead. Perhaps you would enjoy a new master? Our slaves are treated better than you obviously have been."

Its all good, GM. I was trying more for a rational reaction than a game-engine modified reaction, anyways.

Happy for the NPCs to ignore my idle threats, they are more banter than real attempts to get him to surrender.

Vank looks disappointed at the guard's surrender. He walks up to the guard and if not stoped will take the horn and sword off him before speaking "Tell us what we will find on the other side of the bridge."

Nadine walks up to the guard, but stays silent. She merely smiles at him.

The man just stands completely still as Vank removes the sword and horn. "The gatehouse, two guards and a dog," he answers flatly. He then stops, his eyes wanders from Vank to Nadine taking all his focus with them.

Oh, now you're just tempting me.

"How do we get them to open the gate?" she asks sweetly.

The man takes a small involuntary step back, as Nadine asks. His skin pales and his pupils dilates. "We just say He...'Hesterfield,'" he stammers.

Thomas steps up next to Nadine, eyes narrowed towards the guard.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

"Maybe we bring him. If hesterfield doesn't work then he goes over the edge of the bridge."

"'Hesterfield'? Some sort of password? Does it mean anything?"

"It... it's this week's password," he clarifies and continues shocked by Vank's suggestion: "I swear it's the truth."

"I don't see why we wouldn't take this creature with us. A slave is typically useful, and we can always eat him if it comes to that."

Vank looks disguest and spits on the ground "This coward is not worth eating, would you make us cowards too?" he asks Robert.

Stanislav agrees. I am not eating a person!?! he says, but then looks at the man with a strange and disturbing hunger. Stanislav is only bitten for now and the blood hunger is not yet upon him.

"If you want supplies we could go backa nd get the sargeant, he was strong and brave. It would be much better to make him part of you. This one could carry the body I guess, that's about all he would be good for."

Nadine gives her companions a look of disgust and horror. "Are you really considering eating people?! Oh, how revolting! It's messy and unsanitary! No, no, no." She looks at the poor guardsman, and tilts her head to one side.

"But it would be fun to throw him over the side here!" Before the guard can respond, she flicks her wrist at the guard.

Cast Daze on him. Will Save DC 15.

Kill him or toss him over the edge.

"Only those in the tribe or souls worthy of being reborn into the tribe. To consume weakness would makes you and the tribe weak." He says as if reciting lessons.

Robert shakes his head slowly.

I guess these folks have no sense of the dramatic, no flair for misdirection and subtlety. Something to remember.

"Point taken, everyone. Let us provision ourselves for the trip, and be off. I've no desire to spend any further time here if unnecessary. "

Either weak willed or surprised the result is the same. Nadine's magic cause the guard to stagger and his eyes grow distant.

Will save vs. Daze: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (13) - 1 = 12

Vank nods to Robert "Fair enough, lets get going. But first the weakling needs to die." Vank swings his sword hard at the guard's neck.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Damage: 2d4 + 6 ⇒ (3, 3) + 6 = 12