The Crucible of Freya (Inactive)

Game Master Grimmy

So the climb to Cullen's trick window is 20-25ft, yes DMG?

Right.

"Distract them and the pair of you are cut loose. Go live your lives. I'd advise against any more banditry though, or there's not force in all the planes that'll stop the Deputy from hauling the both of you before a magistrate."

Firean seems to be getting murderously fed up with Damien's patronizing manner. In this case though she reacts to it in an unexpected way... she becomes more resolute about joining the fight.

"I told Samduc I would stand beside him and I will. If I wanted to leave I wouldn't need your permission. Cullen! Run over there and see if the rope we used is still in your room. The cultists seem to have drawn it back up I do not see it hanging there from the window. Don't be seen now."

Cullen hesitates a moment and Firean shoves him. "Go!"

Cullen Stealth across clearing: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Orc Perception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1
Orc Perception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (20) - 1 = 19
Skeleton Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 1
Skeleton Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 14

Cullen stands at the foot of the watchtower, back pressed to the wall, trembling.

Firean hisses to herself under her breath, "Come on, get up there you pansy. Start climbing."

Well then, I guess that soves that problem. I had figured Sam would be the man for the job but I suppose Cullen will do!

Damien is caught completely off guard by Firean's determination. So much so Cullen is already off before he moves to object. Instead, he simply watches the young man's dash across the clearing, finding himself rather impressed when Cullen arrives unseen, "Jumped the gun by a mile but at least he made it unseen. Right you lot, gather your gear, we've no more than a couple minutes before the lad's in place!"

He turns,"Herl. You'd better get moving unless you're coming too? Just get to the western treeline and start shooting. As Sam said, smoke arrows would be good if you got 'em."

Gathering his own gear Damien overhears Firean's muttering and leans over to whisper to Vhillish, "The boy's still an idiot but I have to admit, she's growing on me somewhat."

Sam laughs and addresses Firean:
"Ignore him Firean. I will back him up and motion when it is safe. A tree will not look much out of place, so I'll bring Knotty."

He turns to Damien:
"You can provide the distraction, we are going!!"

Sam proceeds to follow Cullen to the window at a stalking pace.
stealth: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (11) + 19 = 30

DMG, are Firean and Cullen deliberately not telling what happened to Barelli in the end or are they just missed posts?

Jerrid plucks out a small scroll of black vellum from its wicker tube and casts the spell upon himself. He watches the way Sam and Cullen moved and follows swiftly, very swiftly.

1d20 + 15 ⇒ (13) + 15 = 28

casts expeditious retreat

I believe it was covered around the middle of the last page Jerrid.

As Jerrid prepares to dash off, Damien hustles over to the gnome, "One second Jerrid. Need to keep contract between everyone."

Waving over Janna and Vhillish as well, Damien links the four of them with a message spell.

Slammed at work - keep me moving on as necessary whot!

I have two barkskin spell, who wants them?

You prepare spells at dawn right Leo?

Right, I forgot about that. Not sure what spell would be helpful though

Sadly water breathing is still a level away but I think preparing an Air Bubble spell would be advisable. Would give someone time to scout for an underwater passage without worry of drowning.

As for the Barkskins. Kev is likely to be the most visible target if we get spotted on the way in. Otherwise, I's suggest either Sam or myself given Jerrid's already impressive AC

Yeah Firean answered your question about Barelli right away, J, in the post following yours.

With Sam and Jerrid beside hime huddled against the tower, Cullen trepidatiously begins to scale the wall.

"I hope whoever pulled my rope up is not still in my room. Er, would either of you like to go first?"

Cullen Climb: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Cullen Climbing Stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
Cullen Climb 2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Cullen Climbing Stealth 2: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Orcs Perception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (13) - 1 = 12
Orcs Perception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (15) - 1 = 14

Cullen has Fast Stealth.
I think he will make it to the window in one round and not get spotted.

After peering in the window, Cullen waves to those on the ground to follow him up.

"I have no smoke arrows, but they sound wonderful. I will stay here and fire upon those orcs if they spot your friends."

Damien nods to Herl, "Fair enough, they don't seem overly attentive thus far but there's a lot of us..."

Damien draws the others close, "Right, once that rope comes down, Leo's going first.", he puts a hand on the young priest's shoulder, "Don't go soiling yourself kid, I've got you covered. I can hide you for the sprint, won't last long though so haul ass. Give you heavier stuff to Kev for safekeeping so you're not weighed down."

"After that it's the slower party, Kev, Knotty and the Deputy. Herl, Janna, Firean and I will cover you if you're spotted. Then we follow. Hit the rope running and haul ass inside. We're damn exposed on this one."

Provided the rope get lowered without incident, Damien will cast Vanish on Leo giving him 4 rounds of invisibility with which to make the climb unnoticed.

Vhillish' moutaches rankle somewhat at being called "slower", but he bites his tongue.

Remember Vhillish is packing a Ring of Climbing folks - if needbe he'll give it up to those less agile than himself...

The Serjeant-Depute shoulders his arbalest and readies himself for the climb...

Damien smirk, "Oh don't give me that look Sergeant, you keen eye more than makes up for what you might lack in stature, eh?"

As Sam draws close to Firean and Cullen in the clearing midway between the eastern wall of the keep and the treeline, Firean begins speaking to him.

"It was a slaughter up there. The ogre was killing all my men. Cullen, Barrelli and I were the only ones left. We got separated and hid. I think Barrelli cast a spell and bewitched the ogre. When I hired her as a cook I never guessed she was a witch! It doesn't make sense... When I heard the orcs entering the watchtower just now I took a chance and came out of hiding and found Cullen. We have to get to the treeline fast, they will probably be on the walls soon with archers."

Yeah Damien, but it doesn't actually say what happened to the cook. My concern is that Barelli may be inside somewhere acting for or against us, especially as she is a witch.

As Jerrid prepares to dash off, Damien hustles over to the gnome, "One second Jerrid. Need to keep contract between everyone."

Waving over Janna and Vhillish as well, Damien links the four of them with a message spell.

"Thanks," gives the terse Jerrid before he legs it.

Jerrid hugs the wall by Sam and looks up in mute appreciation of the speed of the Cullen before. Then he casts a magical spell of armor to cover his body in scales and rings before the shape and form disappears completely into his skin.

casts mage armor, while the expeditious retreat lasts Jerrid will want to make that climb after Sam.

I hope they are prepared for traps and ambushes inside that tower, that is what I would do.

Kevezyat makes her morning devotions to Freya, feeling the goddesses blessing filling her heart.

She takes whatever gear Leo doesn't want to carry and waits her turn, watching the former lieutenant organize the endeavour.

Musing, she knows that some of her brethren would balk at acceding command to another, but she is more egalitarian. Damien obviously relishes the planning and execution , ably assisted by his stout Sergeant. All Kevezyat desired was to bring Freya's retribution down upon the apostates within that keep. Damien was a willing and able facilitator for such.

Nodding, she takes her place at the edge of the forest,waiting her turn as Leo makes his attempt....

The gnome reads into the future to decide which route will help best to reach Cullen.

Prescience 1d20 ⇒ 1, Well so expeditious retreat doesn't help you climb, doh!

Climb (8ft) with expeditious retreat and knotted rope: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19

Don't think there's a knotted rope yet Jerrid. Sounds like Cullen is just looking in the window at the moment. With your climb, I'd hang out on the ground and let Sam go back up Cullen and drop the rope.

On another note, the knotted rope will be DC 0 so I'd take the fast climb option for half speed. With a positive modifier, you can't fall even on a 1.

Sounds good.

Leoven cast barkskin on Kev and Sam, and prepares one casting of Air bubble for today.

I will take 10 to climb

==========================

Leove waits impatiently as the time for actions approach. The feat and hesitation the young cleric have is somewhat tamed by the righteous resolve Leoven sees in Kevezyat's eyes.

Kevezyat murmurs a thanks to Leo for his blessing, feeling the warmth of Thyr's protection travel over her limbs.

Holding her hand up, she marvels at the grainy texture her skin has taken on, then watches intently as does the same for Sam.

She watches the priest ascend the rope, adjusts her and whatever of Leo's gear, and waits, murmuring to Damien, "While I always desire to take to the fore, this time I should come last, so everyone has the opportunity to get in first."

Uh, I know it's a bit of a long shot but I think you're gonna want a stealth check to cross the clearing no? Otherwise you're guaranteed a hail of arrows. Leo has +20 due to his invisibility.

Yeah...right....editing.. :)

The veteran shakes the sleeve of his considerably lighter chain, "I can be up that rope between shots, no problem. You go with Vhillish and Knotty. The three of you'll be exposed on that rope at least a dozen heartbeats. Too easy to get winged without some cover fire."

The slower group needs to go first so the rest of us can cover you. We can make it up in one round. You guys will take two, any hits while you're on the rope are likely to cause you to fall. If you're stuck out there without cover they'll just keep knocking you back down. I really think this is the best way to go.

Kevezyat nods, accepting the former soldiers' reasoning. She hefts her pack, adjusts her sword then makes her way out....

Stealth: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (6) - 3 = 3

Crash , clatter, bang :)

Sam and Knotty follow Cullen.

Uh, I know it's a bit of a long shot but I think you're gonna want a stealth check to cross the clearing no? Otherwise you're guaranteed a hail of arrows. Leo has +20 due to his invisibility.

I'll take 10 for 27 if possible

Orcs Perception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (18) - 1 = 17
Orcs Perception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1
Skeleton Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 16
Skeleton Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 7

Ok 17 is the stealth DC for the advance group (Jerrid, Sam) to make the climb undetected.

Jerrid's climb check succeeds, even with out the rope down. The climb DC up the tower is wall is 17.

Jerrid and Cullen find Cullen's chamber unnocupied. The rope Cullen and Firean used to descend has been reeled back in, and set just inside the trap window.

The two orcs on the watchtower and the skeleton on the crumbled section of curtain draw bows back to fire at Kev as she crosses the clearing.

Volley vs Kev
Orc Longbow: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11
Orc Longbow: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Skeleton Longbow: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12
All misses.

Herl is at the ready, striking before the enemies missiles even fly. One of the two orcs topples from the top of the watchtower landing with a thud on the ground below.

Herl Longbow vs Orc: 1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 9 - 4 = 15
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Herl Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Skeleton Init: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Orc Init: 1d20 ⇒ 3

Covering fire guys can throw attack rolls here, I don't think we need to set up a proper initiative order for this.

Damien sights down his crossbow as Kev and Vhillish (and Knotty if he's not already with Sam) make their sprint to the tower.

"Janna, fry the bone-bag first. It'll shrug off a quarrel.", he whispers as he lets loose a bolt that wings the orc in the shoulder.

Light Crossbow: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 2

Hopefully Firean can finish him off.

Vhillish was supposed to be heading out with Kev. Black Dow's a little busy at the moment, should I run him here?

Janna nods, understanding the tactic, she makes a fist and blows into it, as she does so, small sparks of electricity form around her hand.

then with a quick shake of her wrist (like rolling dice) two bolts of arcane energy fly toward the skeleton.

magic missile damage: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (3, 3) + 2 = 8

Once inside Jerrid goes to the nearby door, opens it a crack and listens inside. his ear twitches at the slightest noise.

Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 22

"Sam watch out for Barelli, I do not trust her part in all this."

.

Damien wounds the orc archer on the watchtower roof (green token).

Janna fries the skeleton archer on the crumbling eastern wall (green token).

Cullen lowers the knotted rope from the window.

Leoven invisibly crosses the clearing and makes it up the rope.

Kev shrugs off the arrows and climbs behind Leo.

Vhillish, Damien, Janna, and the Treeling are the last on the ground, with Firean the mistress of the bandits, and Herl the Ranger.

Firean takes a shot at the orc that was injured by Damien.

Xbow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

A lucky shot. The orc falls over from the crenellated wall to the ground below sailing by the climbers on the rope.

Once inside Jerrid goes to the nearby door, opens it a crack and listens inside. his ear twitches at the slightest noise.

[dice=Perception]1d20+15

"Sam watch out for Barelli, I do not trust her part in all this."

At the north door, Jerrid hears a heavy breathing, almost snoring, in the chamber beyond, from the spiral stairs. It sounds like the ogre! W3 on the battle map

The western door leads out to the rampart, with the skeleton archers.

Jerrid lets go of the door handle involuntarily. He turns and quietly murmurs to the others that there is an ogre sleeping behind the north door - in the stairwell.

"Not good news. I hear a loud rumbling snore beyond that door. I think our friend, the ogre, is resting there. I thought dark elves were quiet, I could hear you from up here!" he hisses at Kevezyat a little nervous. Actually he is a little gnome and he is quite big on nervous at the thought of the size of the ogre.

DMG, does the door open inwards or outwards? Just in case Sam or I decide to try and slit its throat.

The gray gnome pulls out his duergar sickle and fingers the edge, looking at Sam meaningfully.

Sam grabs his daggers and slinks inside.
stealth: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (6) + 18 = 24, his Elvish cloak melding to the shadows.

With the way apparently clear, Janna rushes for the rope and starts to climb.

climb: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (6) + 0 = 6

Everybody is fine to take ten the climb with the knotted rope in place now. And Janna is right, none of the archers have a view of the approach now.

Door opens In or Out?: 1d100 ⇒ 12 in

Jerrid and Sam see the ogre sprawled out in a deep slumber blocking the way up or down the spiral stair. Off to it's side is the door to the kitchen.

Cullen plants himself by the door out to the rampart. "Anyone remember how many boneheads are lined up out on this wall... Hey!" The nervous man jumps as the still invisible Leoven tugs his cloak, a whispered shuuuush coming from seemingly thin air.

I suppose that vanish will expire now Damien? Was it vanish?

Jerrid steps around the ogre carefully, trying to stay opposite the halfling. He lets Sam take the first blow and is poised to follow up with an attack if needed.

Stealth: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (17) + 17 = 34

The ogre snores loudly and mouths unintelligible syllables, but doesn't seem to react at all to Jerrid's presence stepping over him. He seems to be dreaming deeply and in another world.

Samduc Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

From under the door to the kitchen, Sam sees a little mouse scuttle into the room.

Apologies for the delay, in the middle of moving at the moment. And yes, I put Vanish on Leo. He had 4 rounds of invisibility so it should wear off about the time he makes it up the ladder.

Damien grunts in mildly surprised approval as Firean plants an arrow in the throat of the wounded orc, "Not bad. Now haul ass, more'll be in position soon."

Shouldering his crossbow, Damien begins to sprint across the clearing. Catching Jerrid's message as he slams his shoulders flat against the tower base, he grimaces at the mention of the ogre, "That complicates matters. See if you can deal with it quietly. Make sure Kev's ready to back you up, by all accounts it's one mean prick.

So Vhillish should be ascending the rope now (confirmation pending), with myself, Janna, Knotty and Firean at or about to the base of the tower, with Herl likely still in the treeline covering us, sound about right?

Sam motions to the mouse as he prepares to take out the ogre quickly.

He shrugs his shoulders as he brought the mouse to Jerrid's attention. Maybe it was a spy, or maybe it was a normal mouse?? Not a wizard, Sam could respect their magical abilities. No one looked at a common animal without some suspicion these days--if it was a wizard pet, Sam wouldn't know how to find out.

The gnome smiles and lifts his sickle to his throat, motioning for Sam to hurry up in frustrated fashion. Then he lowers the blade towards the inside of the ogre's thigh, somewhere close to his artery and concentrates on that.

The mouse is like me. It can scuttle away quickly too.

Vhillish scoots up the rope, joining Cullen.

Still trying to figure out what the hell is going on - know a bunch of us are heading up. Still a tad baffled on where Jerrid and Sam are?

Sam and Jerrid were two of the first up so they are already probing the room adjoining Cullen"s chamber where the group has entered the watchtower. On the battle map, there are a lot of different cut away views of the different sections but I have tidied it up a bit and put tokens in place. Despite being a bit overwhelming to view, it is still an accurate plot of the layout and positioning. I'll try to use descriptive text to paint the picture too.

So Vhillish should be ascending the rope now (confirmation pending), with myself, Janna, Knotty and Firean at or about to the base of the tower, with Herl likely still in the treeline covering us, sound about right?

Spot on but Janna has posted going up too, and I count her there. The way is clear and I'm not counting rounds to cross and get up because there doesn't seem to be any movement to re-lace the fallen defenders. We can move the action into the tower with no delay.

Vhillish and Janna are next through the window into the room, entering to see Kevezyat at the ready. Cullen is hunkered by the door out to the southern parapet where the skeletons man the wall.

The air shimmers and the form of Leoven appears, as the vanishing glimmer cast by Damien fades away. The timid young priest points to the door leading to the spiral stairway. "Sam and Jerrid in there. Uh-uh-uhogre!" His eyes widen with last stuttered word of his whispered communique.