Nathanial Torken |
Nate continues on soldiers, leaving the captain to the others.
Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
Damage: 2d6 + 5 ⇒ (6, 6) + 5 = 17
Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Damage: 2d6 + 5 ⇒ (2, 6) + 5 = 13
Confirm: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Crit Damage: 4d6 + 10 ⇒ (4, 5, 6, 4) + 10 = 29
Alice Duvotour |
Where Nate sends arrows flying, Alice sends a ray of fire streaking towards a soldier.
scorching ray, ranged touch: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
damage: 4d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 1, 4) = 17
the Shining Host |
North of the Tower - Week 3 - Day 20 - A Hunting We Will Go
Quickly and perhaps mercifully, Alice and Nate make short work of the remaining two guards.
Lothyrin, golden glow cause most of the wounds on the Captain to stop bleeding. However, his Warhorse stands above him and neighs defiantly.
Combat Over! The horse is excellent stock one of you could try and tame it with an appropriate skill check or I suppose Grumble could eat it. Now what?
Nathanial Torken |
"That was almost too easy..." Nate murmurs as he goes to retrieve his arrows. Perhaps there is an incompetence problem at this watch wall... "I would kill the horse. The soldiers could recognize it."
Lothryin Harad |
"We are going to also have to get rid of the bodies, there are too many here for even Grumble to eat" Lothyrin says. I have stabilized the captains wounds and will be ready to heal him when we wish to get the answers we seek. Lothyrin stands back not wanting the horse to see him as a threat.
Raaven, Hell's Mouth |
"The same is likely true for the Rangers' equipment." Raaven said coming into view like a scorched hole in normal visibility. He floated near where some of the horses were still tethered. "Gather the valuables. Pile the bodies. Rope the horses together in a line and tie them to a tree. I will find a Bugbear patrol and direct them to haul away the meat. I will also ensure suitable trade value for the beasts and the equipment."
Raaven will fly north until he finds the Bugbear forces, then trade for the equipment and horses. The pile of dead humans is a gift.
"Hurry and return to the fort. I will rejoin you when I am able."
Morana Soto |
Quietly keeping back from the fight and listening to the first blast of Soren's gun try to challenge the boom of thunder. At least you do not have the headache from being to close to that thing when it goes off. Keeping her eyes moving to watch for any fleeing soldiers.
Shaking her head, "Shut up." Hehe, you seem angry. Could it be that they left you behind since you would be no help?
Growling and kicking at the ground, "That is not the case. If any of them got away that would spell disaster. You know that."
It is quiet now. Sighing and heading towards the group. [That is precious he is eating a leg as Balin. Perhaps we could just have him do that in the city. That would certainly cause some unrest.
Frowning and looking around, "I assume things went according to plan?"
the Shining Host |
North of the Tower - Week 3 - Day 20 - Successful Hunt
The horse remains stalwart over it master eyeing the beings around it warily. The rest of the horses too remain in place. The Captain stirs but does not wake, his injuries were grave, indeed but for Lothryin's spell he would be dead already.
Time for Q&A?
"My Chief, the gates does not open we lose many, maybe even lose the fight..." The one known as Sakkarot turns and looks at you. "Who has summoned you here little creature?" He does not yell but his deep voice leaves little doubt pain will ensue if the question is answered to his displeasure.
Soren Marsailles |
"wake up." Soren slaps the man lightly on the face a few times after she takes his weapons away, attempting to rouse him. "I said wake up," she says as she slaps him again. "You're going to tell us what we want to know, or your soul will be consumed and sent to Hell. Do you understand me? You will suffer for eternity if you don't tell us what we want to know."
I don't think Raaven is actually with us at the moment, but if need be I'll bluff him.
the Shining Host |
the Shining Host |
North of the Tower - Week 3 - Day 20 - Successful Hunt
As Soren approaches the Captain the Warhorse rears up and is struck by her companions. It staggers backwards, still alive but injured.
Not sure if you want to kill it or try and keep it but let's say at least one of you holds if back with force from striking Soren.
Captain Varning slowly opens his eyes and grimaces in pain, "Who are you people? What have you done to Sir Balin, to my men?!"
Raaven, Hell's Mouth |
"We have just killed their primary scout patrol and the captain of their rangers. There is no one left to spot your approach as long as you move at night and stay in the trees. Bugbears are renowned for their stealth. You could begin moving your advance forces closer to the fortress with little risk."
Soren Marsailles |
"No more questions." Soren eyes the horse as it rears up, watching with a smirk as her companions hold it back. "If it tries to strike me again, I'll put a bullet through its knees and leave it for the wolves." She looks down at the captain with contempt. "Tell us everything you know about the defenses of the Watchtower. If you leave out a single detail, your soul will languish in Hell for eternity. Now talk."
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24
Grumble Jack |
Intimidate, vigilante renown: 1d20 + 13 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 13 + 4 = 28
Aura of Cowardice is in effect, if it matters.
"Or try to resist. That would be fine too."
Don't care what happens to the horse. If Nate wants to kill it, that's fine.
Alice Duvotour |
Alice lets Jasmus creep up her neck, letting him form a living necklace again.
"Yes, please do resist. It has been a while since I had a chance to... practice."
intimidate: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 22
Assisting Grumble
Alice Duvotour |
[dice=Aid Intimidate]1d20+14
I thought you just rolled a d20 for an aid and got above a ten for sucess or below for a fail, and what a waste.
Doesnt have to be. As the 10 rule is way too easy at high levels, I've seen a lot of GM's use the rule that you need to make the DC of the check to aid (this is especially relevant for things like diplomacy where higher success can yield higher rewards), in this case, we migh need to make DC25 to intimidate the captain. In that case I would not aid, but you would. I dont know if we use those rules in this game. Its basically to prevent people making a party where someone puts all their ranks in one skill, and the rest put in enough to make aid on a 1 (so +9), as you can not fail skill checks on a 1. Its a bit lame, but its way too easy to auto aid at high levels if you dont amp up the difficulty
the Shining Host |
North of the Tower - Week 3 - Day 20 - Successful Hunt
He looks at the ground that "Sir Balin" gestured to and nods swallowing.
The Captain then proceeds to laugh at Soren, "Mitra protects my soul foolish creatures. It is the lot of you who should worry as the light of Mitra protects the Tower, his Hosts are Legion as well.
You may slay some of us but you shan't break through the fortress it has always stood and will always stand so long as the gates are closed. You may have won a small victory here but evil fails in the end, you shall all turns on each other, it is the way of your lot...
Fly Varlet fly!"
He cries out and the horse begins to race off...
Actions?
Lothryin Harad |
I thought you said one of us was restraining it, this is assuming it has broken free and truly is free.
Lothyrin extends his hands letting energy surge out towards the horse. He whispers, "Sleep," as a cloud of powder surrounds the racing beast.
Sleep, DC 17, Unaffected if 5 HD or more.
I will move after it if the spell fails to keep him in range of more casts.
the Shining Host |
North of the Tower - Week 3 - Day 20 - Successful Hunt
I meant Nate shot it and backed it off :-)
Lothryin spell brings the beast to a sliding halt, fast asleep.
Soren Marsailles |
"You sound like a fool. We are not some boogeymen that lurk at the edges of your civilizations and are too busy fighting ourselves to present a threat. You believe lies and children's tales told to you to behave." Soren walks over and plants her barrel against the horse's head before she blows its skull open, wiping the brain matter from her body on its fur. "Your Commander, at least, understands what we are. He has no illusions about what he faces; this makes him dangerous, but at least it makes him worthy of respect. You're a pitiful little creature, and you deserve torment." Soren holsters her pistol and draws her knife, standing over the captain. "Mitra has abandoned you. Do you understand that? He will not save you. We will take the gatehouse and open it to let the hordes ravage Talingarde, whether or not your brothers in arms stand to fight us. They will pose little challenge. Now, is there anything else about the Tower you wish to tell us?" Soren leans down over the weakened captain and grabs one of his hands, placing the knife against his pinky finger.
"Think carefully, now."
Lothryin Harad |
Fair enough, oh well night night little horse.
Seeing the beast fall to the ground in a slumber Lothyrin turns back to his companions and the fallen captain. "Sorry captain but it seems like Varlet is taken a well deserved rest. Perhaps his final rest if you think about it that way." Lothyrin smirks, he approaches Soren, "It will be out cold for five minutes barring any tampering, we should do something about it by then," he whispers. He returns to her side with a blank expression on his first.
the Shining Host |
North of the Tower - Week 3 - Day 20 - Successful Hunt
Tears stream down his face for his slain horse and his slain men, "I have nothing else to tell you except that the Hosts Legions will slay you all and throw you from the battlements should you try to take them. I may fall but I shall not in death betray my fellows..."
No matter the torture you inflict upon him, Captain Varning is true to his word, his soul passes on though his body is battered, dismembered, burned, healed and then tortured again into the late morning.
What next? Remember, you will have to cross the river to get back to Aldencross. I think a bit of Prestidigitation can dry the clothes off but if the river is at higher tide crossing could pose somewhat of a problem.
------
Sir Jack Balin |
"Well that was fun." Jack said as he returned from piling the last of the bodies nearby, hidden from easy view. He'd stripped the corpses of all arms, armor and valuables, piling the gear next to the corpses for easy retrieval.
He finished biting a chunk out of the captain's dismembered arm and tossed the rest back into the bushes with the rest of the corpses.
"Anything else? Or can we go?"
Lothryin Harad |
"I don't know about the rest of you but I could certainly stand to be cleaned up, this hard travel has led to an accumulation of grime. Any chance your magics could be used to help clean," Lothyrin turns to Alice as he speaks. "It might be wise as we know not what we may meet on the return trip and it would not be fitting of our entourage to look the way we currently do."
Morana Soto |
Religion: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19 Damn so close!
Moving closer to Nate and mumbling, "If we are to kill the horse as well could you do it and do it quickly. The beast was only doing what it was trained for. It should not suffer for it masters failure."
That is soft for these people Morana. Shut up.
Quietly watching the others torture the Captain with a morbid fascination. Flinching once or twice but never taking her eyes off of what is happening and the memories that it drags up.
Alice Duvotour |
knowledge religion: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20
You know... based on what the Captain has said it could very well be that some sort of Summoned creatures from the Upper Planes may be triggered should those evil of heart enter the Tower. Where, would be the question as both Soren and Nate have seen all of the first floor... But it is certainly something we might need to take into account."
Not actually interested in the torture, Alice takes the time to cut some prime meat from the captains horse and roast them over the fire. It would be a shame to let such good meat go to waste.
the Shining Host |
Raaven, Hell's Mouth |
"The goods are spoils of victory that belong to the Ninth Knot. I serve them, and Asmodeus. I would be remiss in my duty if I didn't negotiate for the best possible deal."
"That said, if you do not want the meat for your army, and do not want Mitran ranger equipment, it can stay where it is until after the fortress falls and the Ninth Knot can retrieve the goods themselves."
Soren Marsailles |
"Summoned creatures? How wonderful, I'll finally be able to put that training to good use. It could be the gatehouse itself, or perhaps one of the upper floors such as the Lord Commander's office? We'll have to deal with him anyway, I'd wager, so it's not the worst that could happen. Once we get back to town, we need to get the stew poisoned and ready to distribute so the men will be sick and ailing by the time we ready our attack. "
the Shining Host |
the Shining Host |
North of the Tower - Week 3 - Day 20
The group begins to head back to the south. As it has become early morning it will be mid-day when you all arrive near a fordable point in the river. On the other hand, you can ford in the area near where the ambush took place but the river is quite deep and you run the risk of being wrenched downstream by the currents...
If you want to ford where the space is not as dangerous, make a Stealth check DC 20. Anywhere else, make Swim checks DC 20.
Grumble Jack |
Stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Grumble moved through the water in the shallows with surprising grace and skill, emerging on the other side with barely a sound and slipping into the shadows.