Steel Wolves - A Mercenary Campaign (Inactive)

Game Master Mark Sweetman

"If we're sending in scouts, it can only be Grusk. We need Sentis to drive the wagon in case we gotta charge the gate and rescue him." Blaze says, directing his teammates.

"Doc, if ya got anything to help the ugly one remain undetected, that would be most appreciated. Otherwise, let's load up on the offense, big time"

In other words, Doc, get to cooking awesome, if you haven't already

"Ah c'n whip up an invisibility brew, but it'll take me two hours. Can't do nothin' bout his smell though."

Time isn't a pressing concern, as the beasts haven't noticed you yet. So Grusk's choice of wait or go.
If go - please give me a single Stealth and Perception check.

We could wait til dark so the half orc has that advantage also. Maybe those things cant see as well after the light falls.

"So yer needin closer scoutin, fine I am going fer another look see, one question if I catch one nappin do I kill it err let it live?"

Stealth
1d20 + 15 ⇒ (2) + 15 = 17

Perception
1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23 +2 monsterous humanoids

Initiative
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Wait for Doc's potion Grusk. Best if you were completely unseen.

Sentis sat in the driver's rig of the wagon. He wasnt entirely comfortable yet fighting from here yet...or even riding from here...at least my boots will last longer...

Kind of assuming I would wait on potions and buffs from anyone willing to post something.....

Your stealth check shows you did not wait, as it doesn't add in the bonus for invisibility. Might be why Sentis was confused.

Doc brews up a potion as quick as he can and passes it to Grusk. "Ye be careful."

I guess we can just cut forward to Grusk's stealth scene.

Throw a guidance or aid another or whatever you need....

When Grusk is ready to go, Sentis will cast Resistance on him.

+1 saves for 1 minute

Armed with Doc's elixir of invisibility as well as his prodigious skills at skulking Grusk moves nearer to the beasts as though a ghost. Taking up a position much nearer, you are able to glean some further information about what dwells within the gatehouse proper.

This is a huge gatehouse, forty feet tall and built of massive, cyclopean stones. The portcullis at the center of the tower is closed, but the walls to either side of the gatehouse are shattered into ruins. The building itself is badly damaged by siege weaponry.

The rear wall has collapsed exposing stairs that lead to the second level. From the outside there does not seem to be too much to the structure - and what is left has been perverted to act as a dwelling.

Making a reasoned guess on the amount of clutter and debris Grusk wagers that the tribe of the strange creatures likely numbers in the range of 20 to 30. The beasts seem to carry themselves with a fair degree of skill, but their weapons and armor is primitive at best. They chatter amongst themselves in a language that you cannot make heads or tails of.

After a minute or so of observing, Grusk gets lucky - he spies a single creature making it's way to the tree-line adjacent to where he is lying in wait...

Grusk knows this creature is going for a bit of business and will see if he can talk to the creature in any language he knows, if nothing else the alarm will be raised and a group of the creatures would strike out towards him......

In Orcish he whispers....

"This way everyone, good food kills fast!"

"Yeah tasty!"

The creature, having just breached the treeline, shows no sign of language recognition... and instead begins to move slowly and warily towards the source of the words.

Grusk attempts to lure the loner even further into the woods......

The strange centaur-like creature continues to follow the catcalls and gruntings of Grusk until it has passed solidly into the brush and the line of sight back to the gatehouse is gone...

It's now out of view from the gatehouse.

Grusk tries common
...
"Who are you?"

The beast shows no further recognition, though the difference in tones gives it pause and it moves it's weight unto it's rear legs... as though near to fleeing.

Grusk backs away, then whispers.....

Orc
"Over here...."

Grusk - can you give me an idea of your endgame? - what are you trying to lure it to?

Figure since I don't speak its language I might as well have some fun then let the creature report back and bring at least one friend.....

Sounds slow and tedious now that I say it.....

I will see about setting up a position in the gate tower.

Sorry for the short delay - had an epic couple of days for work.

As Grusk continues to try and bait the creature away, it's features frown in concern and it turns and canters back to the gatehouse. It draws near to the other few of the creatures and they begin to chatter excitedly in a dark and fluid language.

Grusk remembers Doc's warning about the philter of invisibility's duration and wagers he's not got long remaining. He could make for the gatehouse at a run... but once within he wouldn't have much time to get out of sight or risk discovery.

Still the plan o mighty DM, if the duration expires showing up out of the blue should still be a fun rukus!

How far away are we from the gatehouse, and can we hear the chatter or should I roll Perception to see if I can. I don't care about what's being said, just if I can hear the sound of them talking

Blaze and the rest are out of line of sight, give me a Perception roll to see if you can make out anything of interest.

Grusk hustles across the open area and past the conversing creatures. Entering the gatehouse he finds the ground floor given over to a living space, spotting about fifteen of the creatures milling around. No beds though, leaving him to suspect the second floor is where those lie.

Headed upstairs if I can make it......

Grusk paces quickly through the room and upstairs, finding another room with mostly open space - but also strewn with bedding and mundane belongings. There are about ten of the creatures in various states of rest, but Grusk spots a curtained off space in the corner against two stone walls that might provide some degree of hiding. The bedding within appears unoccupied for now... and the potion's effect is failing...

Just need a Stealth check (without Invis) to demonstrate how well you hide... and also what you intend to do thereafter.
Once I've got that I'll update for the outsidians.

Stealth
1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29

Grusk sits still certain he can wait out the creatures. Doc will know when the potion wears off and can decide what to do from that point.

...I really don't know what the plan is at this point. I thought Grusk was doing recon and coming back.

"He's about outta sneaky juice now." Doc says to Blaze. "What now?"

"I'm guessing we probably need to go recuse the ugly fool. Give him another minute or two."

Looking for their druid, Blaze says "Sentis, you're needed, hop into the driver seat, and get ready to go bustin in there."

Has Doc cooked up any other awesome stuff for us?

Aye, aye captain!

Sentis hopped up into the buckboard and took up the reigns.

Grusk is probably just messin with us.

Grusk finds himself well ensconced away within his hiding spot.

Back with the others - you find that Grusk's time on the potion is well exhausted and he has not returned... Also you note in the distance a group of four of the centaur like creatures making it's way through the brush where Grusk headed to initially.

Grusk blows his whistle lightly once and sees if the centaurs can hear the noise, if none react he blows it three times "loudly".......

Grusk settles in for a wait, thinking once the wolves and Doc think he's dead Doc will want to fulfill those vows of terrible things he was going to do to his lifeless husk. The husk of Gruskas Doc would say......

I can mix potions and stuff in batches. During the two hours it took to make Grusk's potion I could theoretically have cooked up a lot of alchemical stuff. I make mundane alchemy stuff super fast and cheep. It's pretty safe to say that anything you want, you can probably get. As far as real magic goes, I don't have anything else for you.

Doc watches the sentry take off and curses.

"That ain't a good sign. Let's move, Lads!"

Sentis, you're driving. Take it away.

Doc's yell roused Sentis where he'd been day dreaming and he snapped the reigns to get the ankhegs moving and charging for the gates.

Handle Animal: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Sentis whips the reins and the ankheg rear and get to moving. As the battle ready wagon lurches into motion, the advance group of centaur like beasts takes immediate notice, and after a few seconds of confused watching - turn and make to run back to the guardhouse. Chattering voices can be heard streaming from the four, and there is some interest at the guardhouse - with more of the creatures appearing.

Perception
1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

Grusk smiles hearing the wagon coming

With no other commands coming from their captain and with the clear intent of possibly scaring the daylights out of the creatures; Sentis continued to drive the wagon towards the gatehouse.

Handle animal: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

Grusk promises himself to take out any stragglers from behind while the gate gets stormed...

Blaze? - been two weeks since you last weighed in.
I note that you're still around the rest of the boards - so is it more that this thread has lost interest for you?

Huh? I've been waitin on others, we're all supposed to be in the battle wagon, charging the gates, guns ablazin.

Re-thinking his strategy he decides to go after any leader or spellcaster when things get hot and heavy.

Maybe he lost his dot...

My last post (ten days ago) had the wagon being driven towards the gatehouse while the four scouts fled and the creatures began to gather at the gatehouse.
For me to advance the plot I actually need engagement from players and an idea of what you're doing. Grusk posted his intent, and I think both Doc and Sentis were waiting on Blaze providing some leadership to the scene?
Blaze's last in thread post was a question to Doc and a 'get ready' statement rather than a clear action.

Yea, I had thought, based on prior tactical discussion, that the intent was clear. No worries will recitfy

Blaze hops in one of the gunner seats, and directs Doc to man a weapon as well. "Blow them to pieces if they don't clear a path for us or get in our way. Grusk needs his hide pulled outta the fire again"

The battle-wagon rolls ominiously towards the gatehouse led by it's insectoid beasts of burden and with nascent threat offered by the manned guns within it's innards. The centaur-like creatures gather, then begin to spread out to the wagon's flanks - keeping their distance while also remaining wary of disposition and baring claws.

One of the larger creatures calls out in a gurgling and guttural language... but you cannot understand it's words.

You are within 50-60ft of the gatehouse, and the beasts have backed away about 40ft distant from the wagon. Ball is in your court for immediate response to the words in a language none of you speaks.

Doc downs a shot and shakes off the burning his sinuses as the words the creatures speak become clear to him.

Comprehend languages

DM

Doc downs the extract halfway through the speech and picks up upon the last of it "...green demon steeds that paw the earth. Leave us to our rock, we want no fight with it."