Eythil Dreyer |
Eythil reeled from the blow he had taken to the head from Garridan's throw. He thought that he'd be able to predict the attack that came but the angle hadn't been straight on, it had arced instead and caught him where his guard was weak.
Through the pain he saw Ariela rushing forward, then she was throwing her magic at him, which he narrowly dodged aside from. He knew if he had not been ready the ice beam would have hit.
DM Doomed Hero |
Someone had to guard home base. Teral stayed where he was, lamenting the fact that he hadn't bothered to pick up a ranged weapon when he had the chance.
ROUND 3
Vance
Talas
Eythil
Garridan
Ariela
Teral
Vance, take it away.
Talas Arduinn |
"--damnation, he's fast," Talas calls out worriedly as Vance's speed comes into play. "Okaaaaaaay I think we have to shut that down!"
He turned and sprinted for Vance, disregarding defense for speed.
(Run action (4x speed) to reach square adjacent to Vance; denied my Dex bonus to AC during the run itself, but as I understand it, that does not persist now that I've stopped running.)
DM Doomed Hero |
Combat over. Moving on. Feel free to improvise if you feel the need to discuss what happened in the second test.
After their unexpected second test, the Apprentices lay huffing on the ground catching their breath. The healing effects of the training yard had them back on their feet within a minute, the aches and pains they'd inflicted on each other quickly fading to memory.
The three instructors watched quietly. Thedra looked amused. Darian was grinning. Vedic was inscrutable.
Darian gave the group a slow but heartfelt applause.
"It's a little different when you run into something unexpected and aren't at optimal condition. Consider that today's important lesson."
"Adventurers live and die by their contingency plans. You don't need to worry about how you perform when you are at your best. You need to worry about how you perform when you aren't at your best. Always carry backup weapons. Horde potions and other consumables, but don't be afraid to use them. Try to think of where your own weaknesses are, and come up with ways of correcting for them."
"Anyone have any questions or comments before we wrap up this lesson and move on? This is a space to be critical of yourselves and each other, so if you have something to say, say it."
Eythil Dreyer |
Eythil was much more tired from running around in so much armor than he thought he would be. "I thought that in order to make up for my weaknesses before covering myself up with metal would be a good thing. But no, it just made me slower and Garridan still hit me in the head."
Talas Arduinn |
Sorry, busy weekend.
Talas jogs back over to the starting area, rubbing at his jaw thoughtfully. "I don't know if it's criticism, but I don't have much of a sense of how to fight in a situation like this. Everything so open. When Vance got past me like he did-- the open ground helped him there. I'll have to keep practicing in these conditions.
"So! What's next?"
Garridan Teskarova |
Garridan breathes heavily as the scenario wraps up. "Quite exciting! Though such a strange battlefield to be sure. It was helpful for me, though at times it was also a bad field for such close range weapons as mine."
DM Doomed Hero |
"Fair point. This exercise wasn't for you. It was for us." he said gesturing to himself and the other two instructors. "We'll be revisiting this in a couple months."
"Most fields of engagement won't be like this. In fact, as a general rule, getting into a fight on wide open terrain is a really bad idea. I'm sure you noticed how hard it was to control where your enemies ended up. There's an old soldier's adage that goes 'if you control the battlefield, you control the battle.' Always look to control the battle. Don't fight your enemy on their terms. Make them fight on yours."
"Thedra, Vedic, you have anything to add?" he asked.
Vedic nodded slowly. "Be aware of lines. There were a half dozen times where if there'd been a mage on the field, or if we'd made lightning traps instead of fire, an entire team could have been caught on the same angle. We'll have a training exercise about that later, but start thinking about it now."
Thedra looked around at the training yard. "Don't assume rules and don't fight fair. No one told you that you had to stay on this yard, and no one told you that you could only touch your team's ball." she looked at Vance. "They mentioned how fast you are. Was there anything keeping you from picking up the other team's ball and just running the other way?"
Eythil Dreyer |
Eythil interrupted, somewhat abashedly."That idea crossed my mind, actually. I had considered picking up our ball and running further back with it to make it harder for the other team to successfully get it back to their side. But I didn't think they had realized that and I didn't want to give them the same idea."
DM Doomed Hero |
"Next, we're going to see how you do in our Apprentice Course." Darain said starting to walk toward the main building.
The two instructors flanked him, leading the Apprentices. By now the yard had small groups of other students training. Bursts of light and cracks of sound echoed through the yard as spells and powers were invoked during mock combat and tactical lessons.
Students and instructors stood aside for the headmaster. He smiled cheerfully at all of them. They passed rooms set up like small amphitheaters, the students looking down on an instructor's lecture. Most students were quite a bit younger than the ones Thedra had brought through hell. It seemed Arch put it's own children into the Academy at the beginning of their teen years.
They went downstairs to an underground practice room that was filled with strange apparatuses of wood and steel. Dangerous looking contraptions were lined up neatly creating a frightening looking array of obstacles. Colored lines traced routes through the mess.
"Stow your gear here." Darian said gesturing to a line of crates. "Later you'll be doing this course with a full kit, but today you get to lighten your load. No armor, no weapons, no gear. Magics or other abilities are fine."
Eythil Dreyer |
Grrr.. Stupid post eating Paizo!
Eythil watched the new set of sites with interest. When Darian told them that they'd be doing a course without armor he gladly started to remove the heavy armor and finally stretched his muscles.
As he did he remembered the strange necklace he'd been wearing since... well, since Ariela had saved him from the blackness. After removing it, he was surprised as his skin became softer to the touch. He felt less protected now but he wasn't entirely sure what to do or say about it.
Strange little item. he thought as he looked at the patterns on it. Did I make it? he left the thought unspoken as he went to join the others, also leaving it with the rest of his gear.
He would have to ask Ariela about it later.
Ariela |
Stowing her gear, Ariela removes her armor her outfit shifting to something closer fitting, less likely to snag on an obstacle. She studies the course for a few moments before walking over to what looked like the starting point.
Talas Arduinn |
Brows arched for a moment, Talas sheds his pack and armor, and the little buckler he'd gotten to try out. Somewhat reluctantly he divests himself of boot daggers and other such items, then nods his readiness.
DM Doomed Hero |
"You'll be doing this course as a team. The clock runs until the very last one of you gets to the finish line."
The course was an elaborate collection of elevated walkways above a shallow pool of water. Most of it looked like it was about ten feet up, but toward the end, it launched much higher, up to nearly thirty feet.
It was hard to make out exactly what the obstacles could be from here, but the Apprentices could clearly see a sheer wall ahead of them, a zig-zagging balance beam, a suspended rope, a chasm to jump, and a strange walkway surrounded by spinning clubs and padded hammers. Dotted throughout the course were a number of spheres that looked about the size of large balls.
"Go!' Darian barked, giving the recruits no time at all to talk or plan.
DC 15 Sense Motive check to act in the Surprise Round.
The map is updated. I will be describing the obstacles as they become visible.
We will be acting in Rounds. Please post the current round at the top of your post. There is no particular order, and talking is a free action (within reason). There is no particular order. Post when you can. When everyone has acted we will move to the next round. Feel free to coordinate actions and arrange the order of your posts accordingly.
The first obstacle is a 10 high wooden wall at the end of a 100 foot track.
Talas Arduinn |
Round 1 (didn't make surprise round DC)
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Talas is caught off-guard by the short "GO!" but soon started sprinting towards the wall ahead, twisting his head to look over his shoulders at the others. "If we're doing this as a team-- we ought to stick together for each obstacle! Help each other over them! I'll get to the wall and check it for trouble, then hold my hands ready to boost others over the top!"
*Run action, 4x speed = 120 ft so he should be at the wall (if the 100-foot track is straight! If not, he just double moves for sixty).
Garridan Teskarova |
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Garridan is likewise caught off-guard and stumbles behind any other that catch on before him. He spots the wall and realizes this will likely be an easy obstacle for him. "Talas has a good idea. One of us should remain at the bottom to help boost others up. This will likely be a simple jump for me, so I will remain below to help boost."
DM Doomed Hero |
Looks like none of you made the Sense Motive check, so none of you move during the surprise round. We start with Round 1, and a sprint forward which is interrupted by hazardous terrain!
As the trainees started their mad dash, they realized that the platform they were running on is actually floating like a pier at a dock. Garridan's first steps onto the floating platform caused it to sink under his weight, the walkway suddenly even with the waterline. Water sloshed onto the wooden planks. His footing had abruptly become wet and unsteady.
Garridan Reflex: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
Garridan's sure feet didn't fail him, but he knew that continuing at full speed might be dangerous.
You have all made a Double Move to get where you are on the map. You have a choice.
Continue moving at full speed this round, Balance DC 14.
End your turn. Move at 1/2 speed next round (move carefully). Balance check, DC 9 needed next round.
End your turn. Move at 1/4 speed next round (crawl): No roll needed next round.
If you fail, you fall prone and make no further progress. If you fail by 5 or more, you fall off the platform into the water.
I have moved you to your present position on the map.
Oh, and 1 more thing, just to make it extra interesting- If you pass through another character's square while on the floating, narrow platform, both characters have to make balance checks not to fall off (DC is based on movement, same as above).
Eythil Dreyer |
Eythil stopped at the end of the line behind everyone else. The uneven platform seemed uneven. He watched as Garridan nearly stumbled and was glad that he hadn't been the first one in line.
"That's different."
Stopping for now and waiting until next turn to move across cautiously.
Talas Arduinn |
Talas squints ahead, weighing his options. "Well, this is tricky, isn't it," he says, sounding more cheerful about it than anything else. "Wonder if it's keyed to multiple weights-- if more of us walking on it will make it sink further in? Only one real way to find out I suppose. I'm reasonably sure on my feet-- if I can make it to the end with the wall, I might be able to help steady the platform for everyone else-- at least, if anything over there is steadier to use than right here."
Talas attempts to carefully push past Garridan and keep moving for the wall.
Balance check 1 to move past Garridan, DC 14 (+7 rather than +6 because no armor): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
....what a great rogue you are, Talas.
Talas's foot slips on just the wrong wet patch and he has a briefly comical look of 'o s!!$' before he windmills off and into the drink.
Well, since I'm down here... how are the walkways suspended-- from above, or below? I.e., are they dangling from ropes, or do they seem held up from something beneath, like supports in the water?
DM Doomed Hero |
The water is 10 feet deep. Chains are anchored to the bottom. They run up to pontoons (long, tubular buoys). The wooden platforms are built on top of the pontoons.
It's actually a very stable design normally, but because of the narrowness of the walkway and a center-axis connection rather than corner connection, the whole thing has a lot of side-to-side give. The chains keep it from flipping, but not tipping.
Also, each ten foot section is free-floating. They are roped together along a center axis underneath, not at the corners. That means one section could rotate one way, while another section rotates the other way.
If it were a few feet wider and had corner anchors it would be stable enough that falling would never be a problem. The design flaws are clearly purposeful.
The water is pretty clear. While you are looking around in the drink you catch sight of a whitish sphere at the bottom of the pool a ways away.
Check the map. It's the red O in the middle of the blue.
DM Doomed Hero |
"Well that was quick." Vedic deadpanned.
Thedra looked pained. "He did better when orcs were slinging fire at him. Maybe he's just one of those people who excels under pressure."
"I can throw fire at him if you think it would help." Vedic shrugged.
Darian gave the elven wizard a look that stopped him at the beginning of his incantation. Thedra chuckled. "Maybe next time."
Talas Arduinn |
Perceptin': 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15
Talas surfaces and spits out some water, grinning sheepishly up at his companions as he treads water. "The water's nice but I don't suggest coming in. Also, the floor's going to wobble beneath you like a drunken sailor-- the floats holding it up are meant to make it sort of like a see-saw. It's chained so it can't flip, but... Also each ten foot section is wobbly in its own right. I might be able to stabilize a corner for people to cross, but that's going to be slow as hell."
Talas rakes his wet hair back from his face. "There's something under the water over here. Some white ball thing. I'll check it out."
Will refrain on posting a check towards to move towards the observed object until we're officially in round 2
DM Doomed Hero |
Garridan, you're up. You have a choice (and rolls) about movement to make, and an additional balance check from Talas trying to rush past you.
DM Doomed Hero |
[dice=Reflex]1d20+7 I'm pretty sure that means Garridan ends up in the drink, right?
If you were moving quickly, it would have, but I'm going to assume you slowed down. We'll say you have to move at 1/2 speed this round, but you aren't in the water.
Recap- Garridan abruptly slowed as he saw the walkway sink and wobble, but Talas didn't. He tried to weave around his friend, but the shifting walkway overbalanced him and tossed him in the water. Garridan, knowing Talas could swim, kept moving slowly to maintain his balance. Gar, I've moved you on the map to where your movement runs out this round.
Round 2! Go ahead folks. Remember, pick the movement you want to try for, then roll.
Garridan Teskarova |
Okay, cool, thanks DH!
Given how quickly Talas lost his balance, and how easily Garridan almost lost his, he decided to take it slower this time around to gauge the feel of these strange, floating platforms.
Acrobatics (Balance) DC 9: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
He nearly loses his balance a few times, but is able to make it a little further along towards the next obstacle!
Okay, I'm having some issues with the map for some reason. I keep getting a "Browser Error" message if someone could move Garridan 6 spaces down the platforms....
Talas Arduinn |
Talas prepares to try and swim for the strange thing he's noticed, then decides against it on second thought given the distance. He can possibly make a bit more progress on 'land' - shaky as that land may be - before needing to take to the drink again, he supposes. He treads water a few seconds, thinking, studying the chains and the platforms.
An action, contingent on spoiler: 1d20 ⇒ 16
+5 for climb, +7 for no-tools DD
Eythil Dreyer |
Eythil watched as Talas fell into the water. Realizing they were going to have to be careful when moving with each other as well as on their own, he decided to wait for Ariela to move before going himself.
"After you." he said, watching the bobbing platforms shift.
1/2 speed Acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Ariela |
Doing a couple of quick calculations in her head, Ariela smiles over her shoulder at Eythil before taking off at a dead run, her feet barely touching any one spot long enough to affect the surface before she'd moved.
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
DM Doomed Hero |
However, the wider platform at the end (where Ari and Garridan are now) seems to be much more stable.
DM Doomed Hero |
Talas hauls himself back up onto the unsteady platform.
Round 3! Everyone should be in their current position on the map Ari and Gar are next to the wall. Talas and Eythil are making their way on the walkway.
DM Doomed Hero |
Yes. I thought I had described it. Maybe I just thought I had. Anyway...
Ariela and Garridan came to a stop at the base of a 10 foot high wooden wall with a landing at the top where the rest of the course continued from.
Standard climb or jump checks here, or get creative somehow. Add +2 to the climb DC if you happen to be wet.
Eythil Dreyer |
Eythil continued to try and move forward on the uneven platform. He was careful to not try and run still but hoped that he wouldn't slow the others down too much.
Acrobatics, 1/2 movement: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 ... he was wrong. As he moved he saw Talas struggling to get out of the water... and suddenly his memory of the dark waters from the Abyss came rushing back to him. His foot slipped and he lost his balance, falling off of the tilting platform.
Talas Arduinn |
Talas winces sympathetically when Eythil falls in. He tries to edge forward to help the other man back out, crouching low on the precarious walkway, spreading his weight out as evenly as possible.
Moving half speed and attempting to aid Eythil get out of the water if I can. If I can't do both this turn, I'll do the aid next turn
Acrobatics, DC 9 I think: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Aid this turn if allowed (climb): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Garridan Teskarova |
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Garridan looks up at the wall for a moment, then makes a great leap to grab hold of the top of the wall! He quickly pulls himself upward onto the platform, then spins around and lays flat on his stomach with his arms reaching down toward Ariela. "Try again, this time reach for my hands. I will try to grab you and help pull you up!"
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
That nets me a 4' vertical jump, which is more than enough to reach the platform edge. Garridan is 5'11", average arm length on a human is approximately 25", which puts Garridan's hands at essentially 8' high.
DM Doomed Hero |
Garridan jumps and scrambles a bit as he hauls himself up the lip. Ariela doesn't quite make the same progress.
Meanwhile, Talas moves along the platform, takes a knee to steady himself and reaches out to help Eythil.
Round 4
Eythil, you gain a +2 bonus on your check to climb out of the water. Guardian, you'll need to spend your next action on an Aid Another to help Ari climb up.
Ariela |
Nodding, Ariela takes a deep breath, running towards the wall. Just before she gets to it she jumps forward kicking off the wall to launch herself into the air, reaching up to grab Garridan's wrists. Once he has her, she plants her feet against the rough wall, using the leverage from his aid to scale the wall.
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 2 = 18
"Thanks!"
Garridan Teskarova |
No problem!
Garridan helps pull Ariela up the wall. "Of course! This is all about teamwork I am guessing. Keep moving forward through the course, I will assist the others up the wall. Perhaps you can scout out the next obstacle."
Garridan will be prepared to aid anyone else that needs it.