The Stolen Heir (Inactive)

Game Master Matthais777

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Myth approaches the villa with bow drawn and checking for tracks, under guise of stealth to better observe.

Survival: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19

Myth whispers to Persephone. "I'll swing north a bit, and cover the front entrance and that northern side door...if you like, you can do the same to the south as there appears to be one on that side as well. That way we can provide cover to the flanks as well as the front door, me with my bow, you with your pistol..."

Myth attempts to stay concealed, and swings north to cover the two doors from that side...and readies an attack action if he sees combatants move from the either the front or northern doors..

Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19 (Wasn't sure if I needed another Stealth check; rolled again just in case)

@GM: I think the map is currently read only -- I couldn't move Myth

Agreed. I'll keep the south side in my sights. Quietly, Persephone creeps toward the building's southern end, trying to keep under whatever cover she can find while watching for any signs of movement.

Stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21 As Myth said, if we need it, it's here.

stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

The bow-frog also does his best to merge into the countryside. Perhaps he would do better with trees and swamp to blend into.

Sorry about that, I always forget to switch. Sadly everone, it's a open plain between you and the house, so no stealthing. Move your characters to where the where suppose to be, and then the following.

As the team begins to move to their respective places, Struggle stops suddenly and growls softly. But before they can discern why arrows fly through the air!

The shots go wide, landing in the dirt. One, however, hits Q'lack in the side of his webbed foot, cutting it painfully, if superficially. Someone shouts from the villa

“Come and get her if you dare, hounds of the upper class!”

COMBAT ENGAGED! BATTLE, BEGIN!MUSIC!

Turn Order THE BOLD MAY ACT!

Brigand3
Brigand2
---------------
Myth
Eroil
Nigel
-------------
Brigand1
Brigand4
---------------
Q'lack
Aiden
Persephone

Eroil will give the attack command and then cast bless using her bless wand on the party.

Given the command struggler moves to the house trying to enter the room.

Mythryndyr silently curses as they've been spotted. Thinking quickly, he yells, "Attack on their flanks", Myth will quickly double move (or run) from his spot NW of the Villa to get behind the building, hugging the wall, hoping the brigands will have to expose themselves now...

@GM: Do the brigands have cover?

Nigel panics for a moment when the arrow comes in but regains his composure quickly. This is what you have been training for.

Using his arms he creates a circle in the air well saying words that he does not even know the meaning of and out of the circle flies a forming
eagle that finishes coming into the world 30 ft from Nigel. Nigel then moves forward for a bit to get closer to the action.

Standard Action: Summon monster I (summoned 30 ft from Nigel)
Move action: move to where he is on the map.

The eagle 5 foot steps and takes a full attack action on the brigand.
talon: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 41d4 ⇒ 2
talon: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 211d4 ⇒ 4
bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 181d4 ⇒ 2

Sorry, Aiden, if I blocked your shot. I wasn't sure if you planed to shot at a range or not.

Shocker, first attack roll of this character's life is a 1

@Myth, They do have cover as they are currently shooting through the half open doors and windows.

@Eroil, I guessed where your tiger would end up, correct me if that's not right.

The Brigand in the window howls as he's attacked by the eagle, talon and beak thrashing at him. He drops his bow and draws his sword, slashing at the eagle in front of him.

longsword: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

The eagle is struck down in a screech of pain before disappearing to the ether it was drawn from.

The bandit on the opposite side fires a shot at Nigel himself, the arrow flying through the air...

longbow: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8

and strikes him square in the shoulder!

THE PEOPLE WILL TAKE BACK WHAT IS THERE YOU CAPITALIST PIGS!

Turn Order
THE BOLD MAY ACT!

Brigand3
Brigand2
---------------
Myth
Eroil
Nigel (-8)
-------------
Brigand1
Brigand4 (-6)
---------------
Q'lack
Aiden
Persephone

All is fine!

Thanks GM; couple more questions. Can Myth fire thru the southernmost window on the back of the building? Can he fire into the collapsed portions to the north or south without climbing the wall?

Thanks GM; couple more questions. Can Myth fire thru the southernmost window on the back of the building? Can he fire into the collapsed portions to the north or south without climbing the wall?

@Myth, it would take a move action to open it unless you want to try firing through the glass. And sadly, no, he'd have to climb the wall to get over it.

Aiden charges the closest attacker, but at the last second he swings his sword and it hits the charred window sill. The man is showered in bits of charred wood and it gets in his eyes, blinding him temporarily.

Dirty Trick (charge): 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 7 + 2 = 18

Kitsune Style allows Aiden to use a Dirty Trick at the end of a charge. Dirty Trick action to blind. For every 5 that he beats the DC by, it's another round of blindness, though it can be removed with a move action.

Q'lack slowly advances, firing quickly at the man behind the door.

rapdishot: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 7 - 2 = 8
rapdishot: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 7 - 2 = 16
damage?: 1d4 ⇒ 1

I hadn't placed myself before (busy day), so I moved myself to where I would have been before my action, then moved and took the shot for this round.

Heading toward the south end of the building, Persephone lets loose a sharp curse as assailants appear at every west-facing entrance. Moving between Nigel and Aiden, she takes aim at the attacker in the south window, deliberately keeping her barrel a bit to the left to avoid Aiden. But the adjustment turns out to be an overcompensation - her bullet crashes squarely into the window's frame, showering the opponent with tiny splinters but doing no actual harm.

Move action to get in line with the window, standard action to take a shot with a penalty of -4 for shooting into melee.

Pistol shot against touch v. southmost enemy - attack, damage: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 5 - 4 = 61d8 ⇒ 8

Aiden's target stumbles back, shouting in pain as his eyes fill with dust and splinters. Q'Lack's shot grazes the man behind the door, but doesn't seem to do to much damage.

The men behind the door blink at shock at the loud recoil of the pistol, but one sees the tiger outside the door. He yelps and fires a bow shot at the tiger...

arrow: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
damage: 1d8 ⇒ 5

Sticking the animal rather badly with a arrow between it's shoulder blades.

The other shoots across the way at the pistol bearing woman,...

arrow: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
arrow Confirm Crit?: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
damage: 1d8 ⇒ 1

but the lucky mysterious stranger steps back at the last second, the arrow that would have buried itself in her eye instead merely cutting open her cheek.

Turn Order
THE BOLD MAY ACT!

Brigand3
Brigand2 (-1)
---------------
Myth
Eroil
Struggle (-5)
Nigel (-8)
-------------
Brigand1
Brigand4 (-6, Blind)
---------------
Q'lack
Aiden
Persephone (-1)

Myth will sneak up (free 5' move) and open the back southern window as quietly as possible...

Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16

...and fire an arrow at the closest brigand...

Shortbow: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

Confirm Critical: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Damage: 3d6 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (1, 5, 3) + 2 + (5) = 16 (Arrow damage w/crit + PBS/Mighty + Sneak Attack)

(@GM: Let me know if I got anything wrong...)

Having laptop problems and combat on the phone is not easy. With luck, my combat post with going up in no more than an hour. I'll post again when I have more info.

Nigel is stunned on the pain he is in. This is the worst pain he has ever felt in his life. Wait, I remember a stratagy for fighting archers. If I drop to the ground, I am a lot harder to hit.

Nigel moves forward five feet. He then creates another circle in the air and out flies another eagle. This time the eagle finished forming right in front of a brigand. Lastly, he drops to floor.

Free action- fall prone
5-foot-step
standard action- summon monster 1

@GM I am confused. The guy my eagle was in front of is different than the guy Aiden is front of but the blinded and 6 damage are on the same person. Did I mess up by having the eagle attacking the one I did or was that a mistake on your part? Either way, Nigel is 30ft from them both of them and the eagle will attack which ever took the 6 damage last time.

Screeeeeeeeeeeeeech

The new eagle comes flying in with vengeance of his fallen fellow eagle.

talon: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4
talon: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2
bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

man the dice hate me. Another 1 and this time it comes with an AOO.

@GM I am confused. The guy my eagle was in front of is different than the guy Aiden is front of but the blinded and 6 damage are on the same person. Did I mess up by having the eagle attacking the one I did or was that a mistake on your part? Either way, Nigel is 30ft from them both of them and the eagle will attack which ever took the 6 damage last time.

Not sure who goofed, doesn't really matter, but I assigned it to the blind guy... which is bad for him, since he's blind no AOO for him, and his AC is shot.

perception: 1d20 ⇒ 8

Myth moves like a ghost, and the only sound is the "Twing!" of his bowstring as the brigand in front of him sprouts feathers in his back, slumping to the ground with a gasp of pain.

Nigel tumbles to the dirt, but not before the eagle he summons roars into existence, flying into the face of the blinded man. As he's has been blinded, he's unable to defend himself from the onslaught of talons! He dives to the ground himself, screaming

I SURRENDER! STOP IT! CALL OFF THE BIRD!

Seeing their friend bleeding out on the floor, as well as the other currently being pecked apart by the bird, another shouts.

Forget it! The revolution doesn't pay enough to get me killed! We surrender!

They both drop their bows and raise their hands in surrender.

COMBAT ENDS! VICTORY!

Myth quickly climbs through the window...

Climb: 10 + 5 = 15 (Take 10)

He stays by the window bow pointed at the remaining brigand by the door, but with an eye on the stairway...

He says in a low voice, "Where is your hostage?"

Eroil stops the spell he was about to cast and instead grabs her curing wand and slowly walks toward struggler. Carefully dislocking the arrow she tabs the cat twice with it, healing it.
Clw: 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (2, 5) + 2 = 9

Nigel looks down at his wound and is shocked on the pain running through him and how he was able to think and operate while in that pain. He removes his arrow after standing up.

Nigel doesn't dismiss his eagle but he tells it to not attack. The eagle is around for 9 more rounds before it disappears, unfortunately, I can't give it complex commands.

I am not very good at intimidating or interrogating but this "rebels" have information I am sure of it so I would say accepting their surrender would be best for us. My friend is around for less than a minute, if you guys think they may of trapped anything, the eagle can try to set them off.

Nigel is relived that his first combat is over and that he did not die. Though he is hurt, he knows that he doesn't have the funds to pay Eroil to use the nifty healing wand on himself. It looks like rest will be necessary to get better.

Moving over to Nigel Eroil also uses her wand on him.
Clw: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Myth quickly climbs through the window...

[dice=Climb]10 + 5 (Take 10)

He stays by the window bow pointed at the remaining brigand by the door, but with an eye on the stairway...

He says in a low voice, "Where is your hostage?"

The Galtan, for an accent that heavy it couldn't be anyone else, gulps.

D-downstairs with da boss! He'll... He'll show you nobleman dogs what for! He'll get that woman back to galt where she can stand trial for her crimes, you'll see!

Myth frowns. "Thalia Andares, the mayor's daughter, a criminal? You have no clue at all 'bout this girl, do you? She's probably more sympathetic to your cause than most around here...what crime is she guilty of?"

Nigel thanks Eroil deeply for her help. Here, I don't have much gold left after preparing for my adventure but please take 5 gold as a gratitude for using your wand on me.

Nigel fishes out 5 gold from his bag and offers it to Eroil.

Eroil looks at the coins a bit dumbfolded, then laughs. "Explore, report, coorperate. Keep your gold, Nigel. It is my duty to keep you alive!"

Thank you for your generosity! If there is anything I can ever do for you, I am at your service

Myth frowns. "Thalia Andares, the mayor's daughter, a criminal? You have no clue at all 'bout this girl, do you? She's probably more sympathetic to your cause than most around here...what crime is she guilty of?"

The Galtan blinks a few times and sputters.

We where hired to snatch a escaped aristocrat from Galt who managed to evade the grey gardeners! She's guilty of treason, of oppressing the people, and more! We're the good guys!

Myth shakes his head. "Have you heard her accent? She's no Galt aristocrat, she's Taldan...the daughter of the mayor of Sauerton. Who hired you?"

Q'lack hops up, bow in hand.

"My good man. I think you are mistaken. The woman you have snatched is the daughter of the local mayor. A family that has been in this area since before the Peoples revolution." croaks Q'lack.

He gestures to the stairs.

"Let us descend and see if this mess can be sorted out and Thalia returned to her family's tender embrace, wot."

He does pause to disarm the captives and check them over to see if there is anything helpful cluewise or otherwise that they need to be relieved of.

"You Galtian's and your hatred for the nobility. Really, the amount of bloodshed your country has experienced since its short sighted removal of those who actually kept everyone safe and productive is a sad incitement on the peasant classes."

Aiden barks out a laugh at the men. "You're a bunch of idiots! You kidnapped the wrong noble! No one ever accused the Grey Gardeners of being bright. This is what happens when your country is based on executing anyone smart or ambitious enough to become nobility. You're left with the dredges of society to do the work of leaders."

"Now, how many more are with your leader down there? How many do we have to kill before this is all over?" He looks at the others. "We'd better hurry. Who knows what he's doing with her down there."

He glances back at the defeated men. "You'd better be glad I don't have the time to execute you for your crimes. But if you're still here when we get back, all bets are off."

The galtans glare at Aiden, but the one who was already talking doesn't see the point of shutting up now.

Just the boss, he's the one who reached out to us, don't know anything about who hired him. Better watch yourself nobleman pigs....

They carefully stand and turn and run away, dragging their unconscious comrade with them.

This charred husk of a structure was probably once beautiful. Stone bas-reliefs depicting Aroden and Chelish military victories line the high reaches of the walls, though what little remains of a second floor is now sealed off by the collapsed roof. Despite the rest of the house’s decrepit state, the floor is swept clean yet water-stained, and a stack of bedrolls and knapsacks are piled just beside the stairs.

As the Team moves downstairs, they hear a voice speaking in a soft tone.

.... For only by right of man does a king serve his people, and so we must wonder what good does a king or a noble do? For this, we must consider the state of the age of darkness and ponder and pon.... pon... ummm...

A young female voice responds.

Pontificate.

The male voice keeps going.

Pontificate at length about that most boring, yet enlightened of subjects, the right and ownership of property...

At the bottom of the stairs, a fair-featured human woman in her thirties with curly black hair and a fashionable sky-blue Andoren dress, sits on the lowest stairs with her hands tied before her and her captor holding the end of a long rope to it. He leans up against a wall, reading out loud from a book called "The Tales of Lady Liberty".

However, in his other hand is a wicked longsword, drawn but down, ready to be lifted to fight back. He looks up at the pathfinders at the top of the stairs.

I'm sorry Thalia, we're gonna have to put that reading on hold. Seems we have unwelcome guests. Mind telling me what in all the layers of hell you are doing here, stopping a rightful capture of a galtan traitor?

Thalia looks up at the pathfinders and shrugs.

I keep telling him this is all a big misunderstanding, but he is... understandably skeptical of my claims of innocence... really, there is no need for any bloodshed, right Enderios?

"My good man." starts Q'lack.

"There is no need for violence. But it seems you have aprehended the wrong young lady."

He gestures to the presumed Thalia.

"This young lass is the daughter of the local mayor. Her family has lived here for several generations, dating back to before the People's Revolution. Unless Galt has been in the habit of naturalizing neighboring nations citizens... she is incapable of being a traitor to Galt."

"You and your men have been duped. This is Thalia Andares, daughter of the mayor of Sauerton. Surely you can tell she's no Galtan. Who hired you? Whomever it was, they clearly lied to you..."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Aiden levels his sword at the man. "There's no crime in being stupid, though if you go any further with this, it will all end poorly for you. Drop the rope and the sword."

"You and your men have been duped. This is Thalia Andares, daughter of the mayor of Sauerton. Surely you can tell she's no Galtan. Who hired you? Whomever it was, they clearly lied to you..."

[dice=Sense Motive]1d20 + 5

Mythryndyr can easily tell both the Galtan isn't lying to them, and that Thalia is in good health and hasn't been mistreated other than her accommodations being poor. Enderios seems to be a little indecisive, it's obvious that he doesn't want to hurt Thalia, judging by how loosely her cords her tied and how he's acting, but the sight of Aiden and his threats seem to be firming his resolve.

Enderios flips his sword up pointed at Aiden and glares at him.

Hardly Chelaxian. I received a missive from an employer to pay me for recapturing a Galtan runaway. She had established a disguise and a lie that she's the daughter of a local corrupt politician that she paid off to tell the lie.

Thalia snorts and rolls her eyes at that.

Well, one part of that is correct at least. But I'm not a Galtan Enderios!

He shrugs.

I know what can be done with spells, or just some paste and practice. Lots of people did grander schemes to escape the gardeners. I see no reason why I shouldn't finish my mission and let them sort it out.

Myth can tell from his sense motive that last sentence is a lie. He specifically seems to be uncomfortable with the idea of turning her over to the grey gardeners.

[ooc]I will need intimidate or diplomacy rolls depending on what route you go. [/b]

Myth can see the Galtan knows not quite what to do...but since he's not skilled in the art of persuasion, he'll hold his tongue for now and let his more charismatic companions try to talk sense to the man...

Nigel just stands there trying to keep as straight of a face as he can. I really need to read up on my world politics before my next job. This stuff goes way over my head.

Stroking Struggler Eroil looks at the young man. "You should really count your options! I see just one that looks not that badly."

Myth will try to add his mostly non-existent diplomatic skills to aid Eroil or Q'lack in talking sense into the Galtan...

"I can tell your heart's not in this kidnapping...you have to know Thalia is not the person you were led to believe. If you try to fight, capable fighter as you seem to be, your men have fled and you are alone against the six of us. Do the right thing...let her go and tell us who hired you..."

Aid Another (Diplomacy): 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (18) - 2 = 16

Eroil and Q'lack have the best diplomacy mods, so think they'd be best at the diplomacy check...best the rest of us can do is aid their rolls...

Nigel goes up the steps a bit to make sure that those brigands weren't planning on attacking us from behind. He will check to make sure they left since he doesn't know much of the politics playing out.

If those guys are gone, he will head back down with the group in case this turns rough.

"Well young man, please drop your weapon and give up. We are here to save the girl and the best you can hope for is getting out this alive. Please, I will not ask kindly again, as this is honestly in your best interest to cooperate! Then you can report what you explored in this country!"
Diplo: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

Aiden cocks his head to one side, watching the man's movements. He stays silent, allowing Eroil's words to permeate, but his sword never wavers clearly expressing his intent.

Q'lack sighs. "I'm sure many would have. However it would seem unusually convenient that your imposter should arrive at the same time the whole town is talking about the disappearance of the daughter they have known of her entire life. "

He stops to think for a moment.

"How about we take her into town and see if any of the locals recognise her? If she is in disguise as you say, then they won't know about the daughter that never was. If she is for real.... then you let her go. Seems like a tidly-fine option to me" he croaks.

diplomacy (aid): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13