The Siege on Ebonring Keep

Game Master stardust

Roll call? Who is still with us?

I'm still around. I was waiting to see what Gargarath had to say about the oath.

Me too. To both points

Sorry. All my dots went away and I lost the thread...

Gargerath snarls, an ugly sound. "Fine, I will swear your oath. My blood if I fail to fulfill your quest."

'Mmmph, swear' adds Ran-Hajad through a mouthful of...something. He beams and nods to confirm, although whether he realised the significance of his words was open to debate.

Bean Silvertongue looks over the party and stands, motioning for another pitcher of ale to be brought forward.

"You have my thanks, then, for you are true heroes."

She looks around the noisy room, most of the other tavern occupants were ignoring Bean's table, though the dracha gets a curious stare every once in a while.

Two options at this point... Do you want to stay in town, purchase some supplies and investigate some rumors or head on to Ebonring Keep? There may be other options, too.

Y'rjar emits a weird growl, perhaps the dracha version of a chuckle. "Heroes! Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Who knows? We might just end up being Rhodin food." He pauses before questioning Bean and the others. "This Ebonring Keep, how far away is it? I suggest we leave as soon as possible. Once I recover my weapons at the gate, I'll need little beside food to sustain me during the trip."

I was hoping some other members would say something before Bean continued.

Bean unrolls the map she had given you and points along the road that leads to the southwest (back to Gahanis).

"If you follow this road back toward Gahanis for about 2 days, you will find the less used road that leads northwest to Ebonring Keep and the Floating Forest. Altogether, it is about a 5 day journey."

I was hoping some other members would say something before Bean continued.

*Shrugs*

Sorry, I'm not really helping move this forward much. Ran-Hajad is just bumbling along, letting Gargarath make the decisions for the two of them. I'm keen to head to the keep, Ran-Hajad is more interested in seeing what else he can hoover up to eat at the moment...

"I think we should head to the Keep as soon as possible then. I would like to know what strange magic was discovered there. Truthspeaker should be just the faen I need to speak to."

Adrian eats some more of the roasted vegetables that were placed on his plate, then takes a hearty quaff of ale.

"To our venture, and what fortunes come our way."

Gargerath scowls. "I want my weapon back. Let us leave this den of smell and sweat and go now."

Bean smiles, encouragingly and stands with her hands open to indicate that the group may leave at any time they wish.

"I think we should head to the Keep as soon as possible then. I would like to know what strange magic was discovered there. Truthspeaker should be just the faen I need to speak to."

Adrian eats some more of the roasted vegetables that were placed on his plate, then takes a hearty quaff of ale.

"To our venture, and what fortunes come our way."

Y'rjar'n never understood why so many feel the need to intoxicate their body. He likes to keep his mind and body always as sharp as his weapons. Still, the Dracha tries to appear enthusiast to the other while refraining from taking any alcohol. "Everyone seems in accord. Let us gather our things and go seek this keep." Y'rjar'n takes the coin bag and the map off the table. "Miss Silvertongue, would you suggest any place in this town where we can buy provisions for the road. Salted meat, sausages and the like?"

Is it still morning ?

It is early afternoon. (The meal could have been considered a lunch).

Bean looks up. "Mithellin and Mithellin stands on the other side of the marketplace. They offer most basic supplies and even some magic for coin of the right color. If you require only food, the farmer's market is just outside these doors, and I have heard that Casey makes an excellent waybread."

At the mention of more food - specifically Casey's tasty bread - Ran Hajad perks up. He stands, and waits to see if any of the others plan on leaving so he can go and get some of the bread.

Y'rjar'n heads to the market to buy food (mostly meat in his case) for about one week. Once his purchases are done, he waits for the others to finish up. After convincing Ran-Hajad not to eat all his bread right now, he goes to the town gate to retrieve his weapons and leave.

Adrian follows the dracha, as inspired by his leadership as he is by his magical uniqueness. He buys a few pieces of waybread from Casey's herbal stall, after smelling the strange spices he had available. None were magic, however.

He retrieves his rapier at the gate, almost directly behind Y'rjar'n.

"I think I prefer having a weapon in my hand, as well. It's fitting, somehow."

Gargerath purchases some meat and waybread, though the thought of bread is less appetizing than meat. He too retrieves his spikestick and seems unduly joyous to have the lethal weapon back in his possession.

From somewhere Ran-Hajad produces enough coin for a couple of loaves, some fruit and a ham. He is just about to tuck into some of it when he sees the Dracha scowling at him (at least he *thinks* he is scowling at him...). He hastily stuffs the items into the pockets of his clothes, then when Y'rjar'n's back is turned, sneaks some of the bread out, pops it in his mouth and surreptitiously chews it.

The Lower Plains

After preparing for the trip the characters leave Lothis on the road
heading southwest. This is a wide caravan road to Gahanis but it
branches off after two days travel in a dirt track headed more
directly west, towards Ebonring Keep and the Floating Forest. This
area is called the Lower Plains and is fairly civilized though perhaps
not as safe as the regular litorian stomping grounds further north.
Farmsteads dot the area where determined families have settled. For
the most part however, the long, rolling country is bare and open,
leaving travelers exposed to whatever danger approaches. There is
enough high brush or occasional terrain feature to offer good hiding
places for stealthy bandits or monsters. Most caravans traveling
through this area hire a few extra guards to dissuade ambushes.

Hopefully with Ebonring Keep now in the hands of an allied military force, regular patrols will start repressing bandit activity and the roads will be safer. In the meantime, however, it is best to be on guard.

Litorian tribes dominate the central plains closer to the Ghostwash
river. Bandits avoid the area as too dangerous for too little gain.
However, the lower plains are fair game. Giant patrols are not frequent
enough to keep either bandit activity or monstrous incursions
down.

The lower plains are much dryer than the central plains closer to the river. The land is a dry, golden brown with scrub growing no more than knee high for the most part with occasional islands of higher growth where a source of water is nearby. Lone pillar rocks dot the plains occasionally. These massive obelisks can reach heights of over twenty feet. The mysterious pillars were left, some say, by an ancient race of giants who lived in these lands in ancient times, long before the coming of the dramojh or the second coming of the giants. Most people, including the giants themselves, scoff at the idea.

Freed from the confines of the town, even one as small as Lothis, Ran-Hajd is transformed. Instead of shuffling around nervously, he scampers around like a large (and slightly uncoordinated) child. He smells flowers, picks up stones, looks at the sky - all with a happy smile on his lopsided face. At one point he disappears into the undergrowth for several minutes only to re-emerge with a handful of dirt, in which crawl a variety of insects which he examines closely before carefully putting them back into the soil.

The dracha speaks little during the march toward Ebonring Keep. He's usually in front of the group, urging them to keep a relatively fast pace. He's also wary of ambushes and sometimes suggests that they take detour to avoid spots he judges too exposed and dangerous.

During rest periods, he's either sleeping or maintaining his equipment in good order. He spends especially a lot of time and care sharpening and polishing his rather large axe.

Unlike Ran-Hajad, the dragon spawn has little interest for nature. He mostly observes terrain and the various geographical features for their strategic and tactical importance. Secretly, Y'rjar'n is also somewhat curious to know what those large pillar of stone could be. However, he hasn't voice a question regarding this to the others.

Gargerath takes a moment during the march to ask the dracha a question. "Tell me of the dragons. Are they tyrants, as the Giants or something else? What is their business in the land?"

Y'rjar'n thinks for several seconds before responding. "Tyrants? I'm not sure I fully understand the term. They rule, if that's what you mean, and only fools would oppose their magnificence. As for their business, this is their land, as per the pact made by the great Dragonliege Erixalimar with the Giant's ancestors, ages ago. Further then that, I know not, nor would I reveal more if I knew. It is not my place to question the motives of my betters."

Can I get everyone to make a sense motive check and two perception checks please?

Sense Motive 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Perception 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Perception 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

Sense Motive: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (4) - 1 = 3
Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

Sense motive: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (5) - 1 = 4
Perception 1: 1d20 ⇒ 2
Perception 2: 1d20 ⇒ 13

Mid-Afternoon

The tall grass rustles and a skittering can be heard as three giant ants crawl out of the grass. They are surprised by the party, but recover quickly and hiss through their mandibles in a menacing gesture before moving forward to attack. Everyone heard the grass rustling so had time to prepare. Roll for initiative and declare actions.

Round 1

The giant ants are 25 feet away, and closing quickly.

Ants initiative
1d20 ⇒ 2

Adrian responds to combat almost eagerly, readying and loading his light crossbow and firing a bolt at Ant 1.

Initiative 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Crossbow attack 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Crossbow damage 1d8 ⇒ 8

Gargerath throws his head back and howls, a long joyous undulation that is accompanied by the whistle of this spikestick as he whirls it through the air.

Init: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Gargerath will charge the nearest ant!
Attack:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Damage:2d6 + 4 ⇒ (3, 2) + 4 = 9

Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Y'rjar'n draws his axe and cautiously moves to Gargerath's side, shield first and wings wide. When he sees the right opening, he brings his axe down to chop the overgrown vermin.

Move action to get next to the closest ant and attack.
Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Damage: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

I don't think this is going to work, but what the heck

Ran-Hajad looks at the approaching creatures curiously, then a crooked smile appears on his face. 'Ants' he chuckles, 'great, big ants'. He appears unperturbed by their aggressive movements, and wanders towards them, muttering to himself.

Use Calm the Beast. It says it affects Animals, Dire Animals or Magical Beasts which I don't imagine these are, but nothing ventured... On the off chance it does work, he can affect 2d4 + 1 ⇒ (1, 2) + 1 = 4 HD worth of them and can make an immediate Handle Animal check as a Free Action at +10 for a total of 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (18) + 16 = 34. If this succeeds in calming them down (it works as per Diplomacy for changing attitude), he will try and persuade the party to leave them alone.

Yeah.... well, you can try. :) I'll roll initiative for Ran-Hajad.

1d20 ⇒ 11

Adrian quickly loads and fires a crossbow bolt at Ant 1. The shot goes wide, missing the ant completely. It turns its head, distracted momentarily by the sudden movement.

Ran-Hajad moves forward, with his hands outstretched as soothing magic emanates from them. The ants (being Vermin) are unaffected, and surge forward with their sharp pincers.

Gargerath charges the nearest ant, Ant 2, and hits it solidly with his spikestaff. The stick bounces off the ant's chitinous armor and it barely seems phased by the assault.

Y'rjar'n attacks Ant 2 alongside Gargerath, his blow glances off the chitinous armor, and the ant turns towards him in anger.

Ant 1 moves and bites at Adrian 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14 for 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 damage, but fails to penetrate his armor.

Ant 2 bites at Gargerath 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10 for 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8 damage. Gargerath dodges the bite easily.

Ant 3 moves and bites at Y'rjar'n 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17 for 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 damage, but the thick armor prevents damage.

Declare actions for round 2.

Gargerath laughs with a wild abandon as he dodges the ant's clumsy attacks. He sweeps his spikestick low at the ant, hoping to hit an unprotected joint.

Attack:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 2) + 4 = 7

Adrian steps back from Ant 1, drops his crossbow and draws his rapier instead.

Any of the ants still in, or close to, the long grass?

Y'rjar'n barely feels the ant's bite through his armor and thick scales but he still turns his attention to the ant attacking him. He swings his axe again, hoping to pierce the insect's natural armor this time.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Damage: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Crit?: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Damage: 2d10 + 6 ⇒ (3, 2) + 6 = 11

Any of the ants still in, or close to, the long grass?

No, the ants are now fully on the road or the surrounding grassy area (short grass). Nice hit, Y'rjar'n!

Suddenly realising the bugs are intent on eating him, Ran-Hajad runs and cowers behind Gargarath.

Cast Quick Boost on Gargarath for +2 STR for 1d4 ⇒ 2 rounds

Adrian moves out of reach of the ant's mandibles, dropping his crosbow and reaching for his rapier.

Ran-Hajad moves behind Gargerath, enhancing his strength with a touch.

Filled with a surge of strength, Gargerath's attack pierces Ant 2's carapace for 8 damage. The ant twists in agony, providing a clear shot fo Y'rjar'n, who cleaves the ant's head off in a ferocious display.

Ant 1 moves closer to Adrian and attacks. 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10 for 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8 damage, but Adrian expertly dances out of the way.

Ant 3 bites at Y'rjar'n 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 for 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7 damage, but stumbles in its attack, failing to even hit his armor.

Round 3

Feeling his newfound strength, Gargergath turns to the next Ant and attacks!

Attack:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Confirmation: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Oh Well...
Damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (6, 1) + 6 = 13

You do have a hero point, Gargerath. Do you want to use it to force a critical?

Brandishing his rapier, Adrian strikes with lightning speed at the giant ant (Ant 1).

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
1d6 ⇒ 2

You do have a hero point, Gargerath. Do you want to use it to force a critical?

Sure! I'll just take twice the rolled damage, if that's the case.

Y'rjar'n grins as his axe slices through the giant ant. "Those beasties aren't much of a challenge!" He calls out to the others before turning to attack the ant that's trying to chew his leg (ant 3).

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Damage: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Ran-Hajad nods approvingly as Gargarath impales one of the ants with his spikestick, but continues to hide behind the fearsome Sibeccai

Adrian darts in with his rapier, piercing the giant ant in its mandible for 2 damage. The ant shakes off the attack, after being disoriented and presses forward again.

Ran Hajad continues to hide behind Gargerath. I'm assuming taking Total Defense?

Inspired by the victory rush from (ant 2)'s death, Gargerath swings the spikestick over his head in a dramatic movement that firmly crushes (ant 3)'s head.

Y'rjar'n moves in for the kill, but the ant is already killed. Y'rjar'n stumbles a little in his assault, surprised by Gargerath's powerful strike.

Ant 1 attacks Adrian. 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11 for 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8 damage, but fails to penetrate his armor.

Round 4

Yes, trying to keep out of the way