Tide Of Twilight (Inactive)

Game Master Rickmeister

You manage to walk around the henge, finding no other entrances. Climbing, maybe squeezing through, might be an option, but the brambles look mighty sharp.

"Well, you folks know me. I'm all for rushing in. But maybe we can be clever about it. What if a couple of us barge in, and then the rest follow? That might be enough to throw off the druids and give us a better chance if it comes to fighting. We'd better plan ahead if we can. I'm not sure how I'll act once trouble starts."

Theor nods "I know what you mean, when the fighting starts it is difficult to kepe control. I'm fine with going in the front. If we wanted to set up a distraction and then have some of us go in that might work well."

Could your sword chop us a way through, Horatius?

"Perhaps given enough time but it will not be a quiet process."

Is that a reasonable assumption GM?

Was any magic detected on our loop around? I would think Kumari could find the location of the splinter (and other magics too) as we walked around.

Horatius: Yes, good one.
Kumari: Detect magic gets hindered by intervening stuff (metal, stone,...) , and does not allow vision through walls. You need line of sight afaik, sorry.

"I am loathe to set a fire in these woods, but I fear we may have no other way of getting through." How dry are things? Is fire likely to spread?

"I guess there is just the front door then."

"Yes, but... waltzing right in the front door makes me very nervous. Well... shall we go see what can be seen through that entrance?"

As Theor is standing there, you can tell the entrance is open, but you see nothing beyond a second wall of green.
Unless you actually stick in your heads?

"Does anyone have a pole or polearm with which to pull the screen aside?"

Screen? I'm sorry, must have explained it wrongly. You can see inside, but only five to ten feet, before you see another green wall. It could seem like a maze, hallway, something like that?

"I see no other option but to head into there. Let us hurry."

Let's get an order of movement into there? Bayani is a little too squishy to be in the front.

"If that is our path then let us take to it. This curse must be halted. If we have any preparations to make, now would be the time." Sword drawn Horatius moves to the entrance and prepares to lead the way once the party has collected itself.

To the Darius he says, "Perhaps you could look to the threshold before we cross in case they have prepared defenses."

"Got it, let me see."

Darius inspects the area for traps. If he finds none, he will try to sneak in.

Perception, traps: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 4 + 1 = 18

Stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Bayani will cast Shield and draw his rapier. He will also enhance it with his arcane pool. He will follow shortly behind Darius, but giving room if Horatius or Theor wishes to go ahead of him.

Perception, aid another for Darius: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

Stealth: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 Well, hopefully if they haven't heard us already they're not paying attention...

Please put yourself on the map where you'll be when you enter the Briar.

I'm where I should be, right behind Darius, I think.

Bayani looks around curiously, trying to recall if he's heard about a spell that could produce a carefully-shaped thorn henge like this. Knowledge(arcana): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

"Something's growling in there, sounds like maybe a dog...or worse. I'm going in."

Darius moves into the henge, turning left at the intersection.

Horatius falls in behind Darius keeping five feet between them and his sword ready.

Theor will move in as stealtfully as possible going to the east (? - where I placed myself)

Stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

If it's alright with everyone, I'm going to move icons to a suggested placement and order; if anyone doesn't like it just move the icons around OK?

As soon as you start to enter the Briar, you hear a dog bark and run up to Darius. It immediately growls and bites at him, trying to tear him down.
At the same time you can see Darius starting to shrink, until he is one fourth of his original height.

Ignore the bite, but not the shrinkage!

Hey, it's a little cold!

Bayani has no line of sight to the dog, so can't use a spell. Instead, he scans the lower portions of the hedges, looking for any other threats. Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

So did I shrink one size or two? Spell description says one size (1/2 original), but you said I'm just 1/4 original size.

That was descriptive, you just shrunk what the spell said: medium > small.
Everyone: it's combat, so please give me your actions for round 1.

Darius, though shrunken, feels his blood begin to heat up. Before the beast can take over, he slashes at the dog with his short sword.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 3 + 1 = 13
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

He then takes a step back to allow a more powerful warrior to engage the animal.

"Someone step up here and take this beast down!"

Moving in smooth coordination with his companion Horatius steps up and strikes.

Attack (PA): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Damage (PA): 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (1, 3) + 7 = 11

Bayani prepares to strike at any other creature that comes out of the hedge at them.

(In these close quarters, there's really no way I can even reach the dog.)

With her dagger in hand, Kumari readies a firebolt for anyone who comes around the corner.

Darius tries to utilize his smaller size to slip past the dog in a feat of acrobatics.

Tumble through enemy's space, avoid AoO: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 6 + 1 = 23

If possible, Darius then stabs at the dog once again.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 3 + 1 = 14
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

I'll take that as your action on round 2 then Darius, since I'm waiting for Theor.
Speaking of which, I'll forego his action and skip to round 2.

Kumari is trying to focus one maintaining a firebolt when she feels a sharp sting in her neck. When she turns around, she can see a small pixie flying behind her, wielding a needle sized rapier which she wields gracefully.

"Have at it, you evil foe!" she says in a squeaky voice, appearing very chivalrous.

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23 >> 1d2 - 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) - 2 + (5) = 4

The dog bites, but missed Darius, as his smaller size confounds him.
=Result from roll before!

ROUND 2 guys!

Attempting to make use of the distraction Darius provided Horatius attacks the dog again.

Attack (PA): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Damage (PA): 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (6, 4) + 7 = 17

"Step behind me, my lady," Bayani suggests to Kumari.

If Kumari does a 5-ft step to the square next to Bayani, he will step forward and stab with his blade:

Attack, rapier, arcane pool: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
If that hits:: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Theor, unable to really get at the dog, holds his action until he can move up to attack.

Kumari lets lose the firebolt at the pixie and steps back to allow Bayani's move.

Touch Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Darius repeated stabbing left the dog open for Horatius to finish it off with one fell blow. The dog whimpers, and closes its eyes.

In the meantime, the little pixie dodges the incoming bolt of fire, and subsequently turns invisible by blowing a kiss towards Kumari!

"Haha, missed me, you evil wench! You shall never defeat the infamous and chivalrous Tiamo!"

Round 3 is up, although currently there are no visible enemies.

My attack was supposed to happen after Kumari took a step back. Did it land? Did the pixie turn invisible first?

Whoops, forgot to describe it. Yes, you hit the pixie and drew blood. The second part of his/her anger was focussed on you ;)

"Are you allies of these druids, or trying to defeat them? If your goal is to stop this madness, we are actually on the same side! It would be logical for us to make an accord." Bayani tries his stilted best at diplomacy with the creature. I don't think Diplomacy as a skill can actually be used in battle, though, so all I can hope is that the pixie believes us.

Perception to try to locate the invisible pixie: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Darius looks at the dog, too enraged to feel his usual compassion.

"We might as well take advantage of my reduced size. Let me scout a bit further ahead."

Darius continues on the path, moving east and then south as needed. He will stop moving at the first sign of danger or any creature.

Stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

Darius, you should have +11 to stealth, due to +4 for small size and +1 from the increase to dex that it gives you.

Bayani calls out to the others, "We've got a problem here -- invisible pixie attacking us, thinks we're evildoers!"

Thanks, Bayani! That makes my stealth check a much nicer 18!

Anyone doing anything else in round 3?

Pereption to notice teh fairy.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

Horatius nods to Darius, making room for him to move by him. Meanwhile he gives Bayani a moment to try diplomacy but prepares to attack anything threatening that comes into range.

Prepare an action to attack an aggressor that comes in range or within a 5' step of him.

Sorry it took so long.

The pixie pops up out of thin air, again striking Kumari in her neck.

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23 >> 1d2 - 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) - 2 + (6) = 5

Round 2: Go!

Kumari backs up 5' and uses the CL wand on herself.
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2