The Crucible of Freya (Inactive)

Game Master Grimmy

Time to declare the order of the watch, if any.

Map of campsite uploaded in case of random encounters.

Jerrid takes the pearl out to look at when the party stops. He hands it over to whoever when they want it.

"I know a few potions and scrolls but that's it," he shrugs.

The deep gnome has a look around in the woods for firewood and water. And tracks of dangerous animals, like bears. He has no idea what they look like but then big claws should be easy to see.

Perception check 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29, Survival 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15, Jerrid with his darkvision will go on the middle watch. I recommend Samduc with his high perception and Kevezyat with her drow vision on different watches. Janna is in charge so she goes wherever she wants. So how about first watch Kevezyat/Damien, second watch Vhillish/Jerrid and last watch Samduc/Leveon. Or maybe the army buddies want to stick together? Then option 2 is to simply go Kevezyat/Leveon, Jerrid/Samduc and Damien/Vhillish. Jerrid sleeps in E7.

Probably wiser to spread the veterans amongst the watch... keep a degree of discipline amongst the rest of you ;)

Vhillish eyes the pearl warily but doesn't demonstrate the need to examine it.

Instead the diminutive serjeant checks out the perimeter of the encampment, also looking for any usual signs or tracks nearer the group's position;

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

Within a short time he returns informing the group he bagged a small doe, but needs some assistance to bring it back before predators come sniffing;

"Venison stew for supper! Just the ticket as an army always marches on its stomach!"

I concur with the sergeant, best to spread out the experience :P

Damien nods to Vhillish, "That's some fine shooting, sergeant. Lets go take a look."

Following the gnome to his kill, Damien slings it over his shoulder and brings it back to camp. Pulling out his knife he quickly sets to cleaning the doe.

Once finished he leaves the cooking to others and takes a moment to look at the pearl in Jerrid's possession.

Scan the pearl with detect magic now that it is free of the casing.

Satisfied with the watch preparations, the half-elf begins his usual routine of checking his weapons and armor.

Astor, who says not a word to the newcomer nor the rest of the party since the way station, offers up himself for some time on the watch. He'll take whatever the first available shift is. He tries to wrap his head around the previous days events and cannot. So he decides to just push them out of his mind and move forward, knowing that there will be more to see and learn in the days to come.

When the opportunity comes, Vhillish takes his place on the middle order guard duty.

The vigilant serjeant sets about patrolling the perimeter of the campsite on an ongoing circuit that skirts the forest.(rough route: F5 to C7 to F9 to I7 then back to F5)

Arbalest is ready and loaded...

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

I suggest Astor goes on the last watch, dawn may provide a little light and they could do with a warrior. So option 1 it is DMG?

Jerrid does not tramp about the camp on his watch, he huddles up near the fire and throws logs on it, relying on his ears for first signs of danger. He flicks bits of dirt into the fire from under his nails.

Towards the end of his watch, he fetches water for the deer bones to make a strong brew for breakfast. Any stray bits of whatever go into the mix. Then he will eventually go back to sleep after waking Astor and the other two.

If necessary, perception check 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

So:
8pm-Midnite Kevezyat/Damien
12-4AM Vhillish/Jerrid
4-8AM Sam/Leo/Astor

?

Sounds about right.

Ok, the pearl radiates strong transmutation now that it is out of it's shell.

Passive perception first watch:
Damnien: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Kevezyat: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

The deep gnome has a look around in the woods for firewood and water. And tracks of dangerous animals, like bears. He has no idea what they look like but then big claws should be easy to see.

Perception check 1d20+10, Survival 1d20+1

Jerrid sees a claw mark in a tree that might have been a raging owl-bear, but the tree is already healing, it is several weeks old. Also a few bits of web and tufts of greasy wooly black fur.

Anyone else have specific sleeping positions or patrol routes like Jerrid and Vhillish gave me?

As usual the drow can't see or hear anything :)

Kevezyat loads her crossbow and ensures her armor and weapons are situated correctly. She then makes a circuit of the camp, beyond the light of the campfire, looking outward, pausing at times, a dark silent statue in the night.

Kevezyat will make the following circuit : C5 to A7, A7 to C10, C10 to G10 then back along the route to C5, then up to E3, E3 to G2 then back to C5, rinse, repeat; leaving the other side of the camp to Damien.

First Watch:
After three passes through her route, Kevezyat is checking the wooded area (G2) when she hears a rustle and snapping of low branches in a nearby tree (I2).

Where would Damien be at this point in Kev's circuit? DC 5 to hear the sound before distance mods. Sleeping characters can attempt the check if you like as well, but it's -10 for sleeping and -2 for every ten feet to I2.

Damien checks his long hammer is well situated on his back. Loading his crossbow he situtates himself among the trees on the other side of the camp. He doesn't make a circuit but switches every half hour or so from a few positions.

Swapping between E2, J2 and K6.

Edit, Ninja'd! I suppose Damien would be E2 maybe?

Perception: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 5 - 2 = 19

Call it and roll perception. See above for figures, double distance penalty (sounds of wildlife, tree-frogs, incsects).

Damien hears the branch snap and rustling at I2.

Damien swings his crossbow around, moving down to G5 to get a better look. He hissed to get Kav's attention and make sure she has noticed the noise as well.

Map updated.

There is no further sound from the area.

Damien gives Vhillish a nudge with his boot to rouse the small sergeant, he puts his fingers to his lips and motions for him to stay put.

Setting down the crossbow, Damien draws his dagger and edges forward to I2 to investigate. He motions for Kevezyat to move around from the other side.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Arriving at I2, Damien finds a bundle of branches rigged up with spider webs. A strand of webbing can be traced back up into the tree tops at an angle coming from a tree close to the campfire.

Kevezyat gets a glimpse through the trees of a spider the size of a small pony, with the head of a wolf, descending straight towards Leoven!

Inititative!

Is there a surprise round? Oh, and I believe we decided it was simpler if you just rolled initiative for the group when combat started :) I'll be back in about an hour!

Initiative:
Spiderwolf: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Damien: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Kevezyat: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12
Leoven: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20
Jerrid: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Vhillish: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
Astor: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Samduc: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22
Janna: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

Surprise Round Initiative 12:

Spider wolf drops on sleeping Leoven, waking him up.

Round One Open!

Samduc - 22 <<<<
Damien - 21 <<<<
Janna - 21 <<<<
Leoven - 20 <<<<
Astor - 18 <<<<
Vhillish - 16 <<<<
Spiderwolf - 12
Kevezyat - 12
Jerrid - 5

The "<<<<" can go now.

Holy light of Thyr! - Scream the young cleric.

Leoven take his heavy shield and adopt a defensive position (a total of +6 to AC and +4 to CMD).

rnd 1 init22

Sam jumps up drawing a dagger in each hand.

"Leo, don't let him put any juice in you!"

That reminds me, DC 19 Arcana for monster lore.

At Damien's signal, the veteran's eyes snap open and he nods at his former officer's intent.

Round 1: Initiative 16

Rising slowly the gnome reaches for his arbalest, then efficiently loads and shoulders the weapon once upright;

Stand (Move action), then ready (Free Action) and load (Move Action) arbalest

Everyone note to yourself the AC difference if you sleep without armor. (You might get the fatigued condition if you sleep in it.)

Also important to figure out what each of you were sleeping in and had available. For instance I think picking up your shield + putting it on would take up all your actions Leovan, not to mention provoking.

Oh, is it supposed to be a large creature? You initially discribed it as the size of a small pony, did you mean horse instead? Just checking, it's kind of important to my actions actually...

He's large, think small pony size torso but big spider legs fanning out from there.

Round 1:Initiative 18

Astor jumps straight out of his sleep, his longsword in hand already unsheathed. He'd learned one thing quick on this trip, never sleep with your weapon put away. He moves around Villish (to H5) where he tries to once again bloody his sword.

Power Attack -1/+2
Attack: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (19) + 5 - 1 = 23
Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 2 = 12
Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (3) + 5 - 1 = 7
Crit Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 2 = 12

...meh

Parade Armour is Light so Vhillish sleeps in his (like a true vet lol) - however I'm presuming he was having a good kip, so uses all his actions getting up and readying weaponry for next rounds combat.

EDIT: Astor - reckon that getting up and then moving to engage the uber-spider would likely use all your actions (unless your burning a hero point?) - guess this is DMGs call on what we can and can't do in a given round, but key thing is we're consistent and hopefully keeping each other right? (in a non-nitpicking way?)

Once Samduc and Leo shouted, anyone without a negative perception modifier should be able to wake up automatically without rolling I think.

Beautiful, thanks!

Damien curses as the spider descends onto Leovan, "On your feet ladies and gentlemen, or you're about to become a meal!

Letting the dagger fall to his feet, Damien reaches behind him and in one smooth motion unslings his hammer, heavy head humming and attempts to bring it down on the terrifying creature!

Free Action : Drop Dagger
Move Action : Draw Lucern Hammer
Swift Action : Arcane Strike
Standard Action : Attack on G4

Lucern Hammer: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7 Damn...
Damage: 1d12 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

Astor, I'm pretty sure moving to H5, combined with standing will take all your actions for the round. Stupid night attacks...

Edit : lol, at least we're all keeping each other honest :)

Heh - ninja'd by my LT :)

I don't see the provoke on Astor, large quadrupeds don't have 10' reach. Correct on the action economy though, sorry Astor.

And that's the problem with trying to keep up with this sort of posting flurry :P You are correct, no AoO incurred!

Yeah, I'm sorry about that, just move to H5 then. I was just trying to get a post in before I missed another 30.

AoO Leoven
Bite: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22 vs FF
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Poison:

Janna is awakened by the sounds of something. it all started with some yelling, followed by some screaming, and enhanced with some moaning.

at first she thought the soldiers were having some fun but then she realized the camp was being attacked.

Damn, he couldn't have caught up she says as she gets up. she soon realizes that the object of the hostilities is a spider.

move action to stand up

This is not spider weather she says as she charges her hand with electrical energy. and it is unleashed at the spider hoping to avoid her companions

ranged touch: 1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 2 - 4 = 15
damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 electrical

The wolf-spider yelps. It's hairs bristle and it turns from Leoven. For the first time you notice that it's eyes are multi-faceted, and mandibles extend from it's lupine jaw, dripping with venom.

Round 1 Init 12:

The spider-wolf withdraws up it's web back to the treetop.

Full-round Action: Withdraw

Round One:
Samduc - 22
Damien - 21
Janna - 21
Leoven - 20
Astor - 18
Vhillish - 16
Spiderwolf - 12
Kevezyat - 12 <<<<
Jerrid - 5 <<<<

Round Two:
Samduc - 22 <<<<
Damien - 21 <<<<
Janna - 21 <<<<
Leoven - 20 <<<<
Astor - 18 <<<<
Vhillish - 16 <<<<

The "<<<<" can go now.

Round 2: Initiative 16

From ground level, Vhillish tries to track the ascent of the group's monstrous assailant. With poor light and a ever tighter angle the gnome aims speculatively at where he believes the wolf-spider was climbing toward;

Small Arbalest: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8

"Balderdash!"

Kevezyat tracks the beast as it retreats into the tree, loosing her crossbow bolt at just the right moment.

Attack 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Damage 1d8 ⇒ 2

round 2 init: 21

believe a typo on the round numbers there

With the spider retreating Janna rushes to see how Leo is doing, looking to bandage the wound as best she can.

heal check: 1d20 ⇒ 16

Damien lashes out at the monster as it retreats.

Lucern Hammer - AoO: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Damage: 1d12 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Round 3 : Init 15

Damien moves underneath the spider's perch, interposing himself between it and the ground.

Hunching low he peers up, hammer at the ready, "Spread out, I'll try to hold it here! Pepper the damn thing with shots! Just try not to crush me with it's corpse..."

Move Action : Move to G5
Swift Action : Arcane Strike
Standard Action : Begin Inspire Courage (+1 Atk/Dam, +1 vs fear)

Round 2: Init 18

With merely a longsword Astor can't hope to assist in the fight. He waits patiently at the bottom of the tree, watching for the spider to come back down so he can take a whack at it. Delayed action