Way of the Wicked - the Fall of Andoran (Inactive)

Game Master increddibelly

I think he's lucky Talon isn't a cannibal lol

Annoyed at the bird, Talon does heed him and peer in the western direction

my compliments for not being too proud to take heed of my most obnoxious NPC ever. He does beg for a spanking, flogging, or skülleflossen later though, even I find him annoying ;)

*Peek-a-boo*
(you may need to CTRL-F5 that page)

Talon's eyes furtively turn west, then back at the familiar who's by now now pecking at it's master's feet, and then back west, as the realization sets in - that is one far too big f*king snowflake devils be damned that blasted mephit has just been sitting there all along!

As soon as it realises it's spotted, the Mephit cackles like so and in doing so, releases a cloud of ice over Talon, who gets a DC13 reflex save to avoid half the cold damage: 2d4 ⇒ (1, 3) = 4.

If you do not make the save, you're sickened for 3 rnds. You're lucky I forgot about this last time, but I won't now!

Reflex1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

Talon leaps up on the edge of the crows nest and avoids most of the ice. Then pauses and turns his head towards the malphite with a dark look "Oh that was a mistake, you should have run when you had the chance" Talon flares his wings out and launches himself at the mephit, taking his new sword in a two handes strike

Charge Attack1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
Confirm Crit1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
Damage1d8 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 x2=18

I think I'll have to start taking critical feats, I've never had dice love a character so much lol

Talon's quick reaction sends his honed blade straight at the Mephits small heart. At the last moment, the Mephit dodges, but the blade seems to track its every move right up until the sickening crunch of the small ribcage, and the satisfying sigh as Kiliketz, the ice Mephit, is no more.
wow, nothing I can do about that...poor thing...

The storm subsides within minutes, revealing the Mephit as the source of your cold misery. As dawn approaches, there's little chance of catching any more sleep, but the river becomes easier to navigate with every turn.

Finally the Frosthamar arrives at the ice-choked entrance to Lake Tarik.
Finally, after nerve-wracking hours of ice and snow, the boat pushes through the dangerous headwaters of the Sellen river into the clear water of this almost uncharted mighty lake. Beyond the headwaters is a land of savage wonders.

After miles and miles of picturesque pine trees frosted with new fallen snow, the ship comes to a great mountain range. This river flows through a great rift in the mountains that looks as if some impossible huge primordial giant smashed a pass through the grey slate.

To the west of that lake sits the Watch Wall. And on the southern banks in a wide wooded valley is your destination – the camp of Sakkarot Fire-Axe.

Thousands of bugbears are already assembled. These savage humanoids are not pleased to see outsiders, especially humans. Worse, there are more than just bugbears here. The occasional polar bear lumbers around the
camp untended. Fur-clad goblins scamper here and there, laughing with frenetic glee. Even a few hill giants gather at the camp’s fringes.

There is only one place to dock the boat – a crudely made pier that juts into the river. On that pier are four hulking bugbears. They don’t seem pleased to see the Frosthamar. In fact, these bugbears seem nothing more than bored thugs who notice the Frosthamar’s approach.

oh, by the way; you've all learned much on the trip - it's time to convert that into cold hard numbers! Welcome to level 4 everyone :)

it had a name? i feel like it was important to the plot now lol

Calling Lars to her, Caladwhen waits for his arrival. When her arrives, her expression is one of annoyance as she chides "Lars, do be careful not aggravate my companions. You are a free spirit, but that comes with consequences should you continue to prove being a pest." Uninterested in his response, Caladwhen gives a congratulatory wave to Talon for ending the Ice Mephit.

Watching the approaching dock, Caladwhen rolls her eyes "Well, the natives sure appear friendly." Summoning her Draugr to her side, Caladwhen braces for any impending issues.

Sorry for the delayed response, it's been a busier few days than I had expected!

it had a name? i feel like it was important to the plot now lol

well, it's quite dead now... you shall never know.

Sorry for the delayed response, it's been a busier few days than I had expected!

I hope the rest hasn't fallen asleep, since the last few days, although IMHO great fun, have been rather focused on half the party. rest assured I'm not forgetting anyone, and sometimes the spotlight just can't be everywhere at once. That will change though, as you approach the last chapter of this mission; 1) deliver weapons to Sakkarot Fire-Axe; 2) clean up the loose ends that is the Frosthamar; 3) capture a frikkin' fort so that Sakkarot's army may pass through unharmed (or at least unharmed-ish) You have your work cut out for you, but Asmodeus does reward those who deserve.

Also, the Frosthamar isn't docked quite yet. Would Aerent, Oret or Talon care to do the honors i.e. 3 consecutive DC15 sailor checks, for a potential permanent bonus, or fail, right in front of the bugbears?

I seem to have misplaced a post. it was a rather significant and lengthy one, so I'm rather displeased with the situation at this time. which is my way of saying F*K F*K F*K.

To the west, as far as the eye can see, the watch wall stretches. At specific strategically advantageuous spots, a fortress is built into the wall. Fort Balentyne is one of those fortresses. Its location is where Andoran and Taldor almost meet, save for a strong bridge, raised or lowered from the fortress itself. (pics or it didn't happen)

Captain Kargeld mentions Aldencross being the closest town worth visiting, just behind the end of the watch wall.
if you look at the map of Andoran, see top of page, you'll see a thin blue line at the east coast of Andoran, near lake tarik. That blue line represents the Watch Wall; if you think of the Great Wall of China, you're slightly overdoing it, but there it is. Andoran seriously intends to keep both the floods from lake Tarik as well as the wildlings from Taldor, out.

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

I'm good if I can get a +2 aid another from the good captain, or if the first one doesn't count! :)

Talon sees the 'welcoming party' and tenses. He wings down to the party, glad his wings are healing more

"Listen, you have to act one of two ways. Either tough and you are not to be messed with, or so insignifigant there's no point in wasting energy to kill you. The first one will probably get you into trouble but if you do it right it will get you their respect" he stares coldly as they dock, and as the bridge is lowered Talon walks up and spreads his wings to their full span, showing clearly which route he plans on taking. He calmly keeps his left hand on the hilt of his sword, and it almost seems the sword glows in response. He meets eyes with anybody who stares and asseses any concerns

Perc1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

"yah, that's it. straight as she goes. now slow down. slow down! Slow Down!! SLOW DOWN! STOP! STOP!!! BREAK AWAY TO STARBo-yeah....? like that..." as the cargo violently shifts around in the ship's belly, Kargeld seems utterly surprised Aerent is already feeling confident enough to pull off a stunt with his ship like the seafaring equivalent of a handbrake turn. But - Aerent manages! and due to the wild movements, a great splunge of water is sent over the dock, soaking the first two bugbears to the bone.

The four brutal Bugbears grab hold of their axes, and one of the wet ones at the front makes that inverse-nod at you, telling you in the universal language of alpha-males "do NOT tell me you actually think you're in charge here..?"

The Frosthamar is now lying for anchor next to the dock. The crew look at their captain to see if they should extend the planks, to allow disembarking. Also, Talon's assessment of the situation is spot on!

Oh good, that was a half guess lol. I'm trying to remember, did we have a specific bugbear to look for?

yes you did. he's supposed to be the biggest, most intelligent, most bad-a$$ bug bear ever born, so none of these clowns currently in front of you even remotely qualify. Sakkarot Fire-Axe would be the name of the one you're looking for.

Before waiting for the board to lower, Talon takes wing and hovers a good 5 feet above the bugbears "We are looking for Sakkarot Fire-Axe"

Aerent pulls his trident and moves to the side of the boat to face the bugbears. He allows his face to register disdain upon seeing the crude humanoids. "You!" Aerent indicates one of the bugbears with his trident. "My comrade has spoken, we seek Sakkarot Fire-Axe - go and fetch him. Give him this message - The Heralds of Asmodeus have arrived!"

Aerent silently activates his iron circlet to wreath his head and the tines of his trident in flames.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

the 2nd-biggest-bugbear acts friendly towards Aerent for: 10d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 1, 5, 2, 3, 5, 3, 4, 4) = 35 minutes.

After Aerent's display, the second biggest bugbear instantly stops laughing and punches the bigger brother in the face. "you no laugh! NO eat squishies! Prince of Fire NO fun!"
Knowing that their master holds the Father Below in very high esteem, he is eager to please the Asmodean Heralds, and of course he doesn't mind climbing up a step in the pecking order in the process.

While the largest bugbear growls in pain and tends to his bleeding nose, the fresh leader of the gang bows to you and introduces himself as "me, Agart." He instructs the other two behind him as follows: "You two! Go get Sakkarot!", and they do. They no like broken nose either.

Noticing the bloodshed, 2d10 ⇒ (3, 6) = 9 more bugbears arrive, and from their bolsterous behavior, they intend to avenge their brother's injury and take action against the soft hummies on their unnatural ship.

In other words, the buggers are starting a riot!! How do you want to handle this? Map coming up soonish.

seriously crappy map of lake tarik and environment
even crappier battlemap of docks and boat. there's not even any bugbears drawn in FFS!

yeah. something to work with... not quite as cool as I'd hoped, though.

Hoping Talon is right about the bugbears, Aerent makes a risky decision, "Silence! Think you that the Heralds of Asmodeus are weakling mortals such as yourselves? Look upon our true forms and despair!"

Aerent's body becomes entirely covered in flames. Everyone sees his form expand and grow until he is seven feet tall and twice as wide. The flames extinguish themselves to reveal his true form - a devilish creature with cloven hooves, mottled skin the color of soot, and twisted horns curving down from the sides of his head. Gnarled teeth protrude twist around his lower face, and the very fires of Hell itself shine from his eyes and mouth. He holds a massive trident in his hands which constantly drips blood from the barbed tines.

He roars at the group, then speaks in the unholy language of the devils!

Then in common, "You look upon the face of Hell, mortals! Who shall be first - my Lord Asmodeus thirsts for the souls of the living!"

Bluff: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
Disguise: 1d20 + 8 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 8 + 10 = 28

Aerent is still standing on the boat, looking down at the bugbears.

*totes likes it*

Sindran goes over to to the side while Aerent takes the attention of the bugbears. "Lower one of the planks for me," he asks of a nearby sailor. He continues to assess the situation, looking at how well-equipped the bugbears seem to be.

Oh that's just great, Aerentex... And the best part for me is that it's all perfectly by the book, I don't have to fix anything. Very. Well. Done.

Who shall be first - my Lord Asmodeus thirsts for the souls of the living!

Even the early dawn sun seems to shrivel away before Aerentex the Blasphemer's intimidating presence. As his voice echoes through the trees, birds scatter, and the entire army falls silent.

The mob of bugbears at the front of the army hold their movement halfway on the dock, and lower their weapons, simply too awestruck to think. One of them involuntarily spasms its tail and scats all over the dock, but they all are too scared to notice.

Half a minute passes, but the eery silence of the fearful bugbears makes it seem like half an hour.

Then...movement at the back of the mob.

A great black-furred bugbear approaces. He is a fearsome beast wielding an axe of flickerling flame. He points the axe at Aerent.

"Who sent you?" Sakkarot demands in perfect, flawless, unaccented common.

Credit to Talon, he gave me the idea. :)

Aerent allows his disguise to fall, apparently resuming his "human" form. He bows to the bugbear then stands and speaks, "Greetings, mighty Sakkarot Fire-Axe. We bring a shipment from Cardinal Adrastus Thorn."

At that answer, he smiles a toothy grin. "Then you are welcome here."

He turns to the somewhat stunned throng of bugbears who were getting ready to storm the boat and eat the occupants. "These humans are my guests. I will deal with anyone who harms them. They are our allies!" He walks over to the boat, with great, pounding strides, and rips open one of the crates revealing finely made axes within. He tosses one to a nearby bugbear warrior who until this time only had a crude club to wield. "Behold, they bring us steel!"

A terrifying chorus of growls and cheers rises from the monstrous assembly.

The boat is unloaded. Sakkarot’s lieutenants see that each case is distributed and soon our villains can see a visible transformation in the camp. Where once there were a thousand bugbear savages, now there are a thousand bugbear soldiers each with new weapons and shields adorned with the emblem of the fire-axe.

What a terrot you have helped to create...

And overseeing it all, is Sakkarot the Fire-Axe, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

Talon smirks at Aerent's display A little cheap by threatening divine intervention, but it definitely gets the job done. As the work nearly finishes up Silx goes to find Cala, whis is almost surely not helping carry any heavy crates

That evening, Sakkarot holds a feast in honor of the weapons shipment and his new allies. The feast is a brutal, savage affair with bugbears fighting each other and all manner of monsters in attendance. The highlight of the party is when a great shaggy dire boar recently captured from the southern woods is brought in shackles.

One ton of angry pig is led in by a dozen bugbears who drag the beast before Sakkarot. Sakkarot beheads the already wounded animal in one mighty stroke with his fire axe. The beast is then spitted and roasted in a great open pit.

You all sit at the Fire-Axe’s table – a front row seat at this spectacle of savagery. As the evening progresses and the raucous bestial festivities of the bug-bear tribes die down somewhat, Sakkarot turns to you, and says: "I would speak with you alone."

He summons you into his private chambers, and dismiss his many followers and concubines with a deep growl.

"You are traitors to your own kind; you must know that. When the fortress Balentyne falls, and my horde pours through its shattered gates, we will slaughter the Andorans by the thousands." He takes a few seconds to pour you all a glass of the excellent wine he's been keeping for a special occassion just like this, and finally he savors the aroma from his own glass. "Yet, I see no regret in your eyes. Tell me, how can this be?"

Sakkarot is not an ordinary bugbear. Well-spoken and quite intelligent, he is anything but the typical brute. Sakkarot does not look down upon you for betraying your own kind. Sakkarot Fire-Axe is as much an outsider and an outcast as you are - He just wants to know more about them, and is happy to finally be in the company of educated people once again.

Aerent sips the wine, more to be polite than from any real enjoyment.

Hearing the bugbear's question, Aerent responds bluntly, "They betrayed me first. My family was part of the ruling class before the followers of Sarenrae took power. My father, mother, and siblings were murdered, not for any specific crimes, but simply because of their family name."

He takes another sip of the wine, "No, I feel nothing toward those you will kill. They are sheep, and they deserve whatever fate befalls them. Just as they stood aside while my family was killed, I shall repay them in kind."

"But what of you? Cardinal Thorn helped us escape death, and in return we chose to serve him. How does the Chief of the largest humanoid tribe in this part of the world know the good Cardinal?"

Talon admires the slaughter of the pig and eats heartily. When Sakkarot inquires of them he shrugs "Well I'm not a traitor. And besides, I have every reason to watch humans burn. Do you know of my kind?"

"But what of you? Cardinal Thorn helped us escape death, and in return we chose to serve him. How does the Chief of the largest humanoid tribe in this part of the world know the good Cardinal?"

Sakkarot pulls aside his great breast-plate and reveals the holy symbol of Asmodeus burned into his chest. "We all have our scars. But dear gods I'm starved for decent conversation. So tell me - which are you? the fourth? seventh? or ninth?"

Do you know of my kind?

"You, my friend, are a puzzle indeed. I've heard of the temper of dark flying creatures before, but I always thought them demons or devils of some kind. You, however, are clearly neither. I'm curious. What's your story?"

you'll all get a chance to chat with your fresh ally. Even besides the opportunity to learn some information, you all have enough common sense in you to realise that this evening could easily make or break a potentially useful alliance. For that reason alone, it'd be rather diplomatically awkward to not share in the conversation.

Talon takes a sip of his drink "My kind hate humans more than elves hate drow. They used to hunt us for wealth and fame." he gives a dark smiles "We like to show them who the better hunters are"

"I was brought into this knot by a different path than these others, but our goals are the same. Myself, I am disgusted by those Andorans who say one thing, but do another; who are not honest with themselves or others. They put a pleasant face on their people, on their government, but they are no better than any other. When they murder someone, it's called "justice"; their theft, they call "taxes". Better, I think, to bring down this dishonest government and put another in its place - one that will, at least, have the courage to see things as they are."

Sense Motive: take 10, for 20 total.

Oret pauses a moment, "That said, Chief, how is it that you know so much about the Cardinal's plans, when we have been told so little?"

I feel like I've been doing this every post. My family just got out of town but track started (doing pole vaulting :D) and I will try post as much as possible. Aerent I really like your demon thing you had going.

Arryn watched the display. She couldn't take her eyes off of it. The boar was into pieces in one mighty stroke of an axe. Think what one of these brutes could to to a person, in just a slice. It was perfect, and the Cardinal had put faith into the perfect allies. These beasts would lay waste, she was sure.

"I was born an orphan. I grew up learning the ways of street urchins, hiding, picking pockets, and working my ways around locks. I was eventually betrayed in one of the greatest heists yet. Asmodeus has given me a second chance to live. He has given me meaning. You look like you must have a story yourself, and by the taste of this wine," She says as she pauses to take a sip of it, "you seem to have a taste for the finer things in life, unlike most of your kind." She finishes as she smiles, and places the glass on her lap, looking into the great Bugbears eyes.

"That said, Chief, how is it that you know so much about the Cardinal's plans, when we have been told so little?"

The FireAxe's eyes start to twinkle, as he enjoys your insightful remark. "One's mind needs things to ponder upon when one's surroundings prove so meager a challenge."

"I was eventually betrayed in one of the greatest heists yet."

Sakkarot bangs his fist on the table and points at you

before I forget - all hp damage has been restored by now.

Talon's eyes flick towards Sakkarot "Really, a cardinal of Sarenrae? Oh that'll be a funny one to bring up"

He chuckles. "hm-mhm, indeed, although I'd rather live. We met, years ago, when he came to these woods in exile. He actually made me this axe out of Hellfire." He holds up and twists the brilliant axe, reflecting the light of torches in an unnatural but hypnotizing manner.

"He spent some time here, in the gloomiest of moods. I remember one evening, when he suddenly stood up, and laughed long, loud and terrible, and said his goodbyes, telling me he'd finally conceived a way to honor his oats to the Dark Lord and have his vengeance on Andoran."

As the evening progresses, most of the army is asleep. Outside only the rowdiest of the bugbears remain, and the sounds of the inevitable fistfights are easy to recognize.
The expression on Sakkarot's face is one of pure annoyance. He raises his hand to Caladwhen, to apologize for the interruption of the most interesting conversation of the evening, grabs one of the axes you brought on your ship, and heads outside.

You're not alone for long, as Sakkarot only takes a minute to quell the fighting.

While evolution receives some assistance on the field, Sakkarot comes back into his tent with a grim face. His mood improves somewhat as soon as he sees you again, but he remains very serious. "My apologies. There will always be some rotten apples in a group this size." When the screams of a dying bugbear reach the tent, Sakkarot smiles, "but a couple less so now."

He sighs. "Tomorrow you must depart this camp. It will never be truly safe for you here. Over the next week, more tribes will rally to my banner. I will promise them human blood and give them your steel. Then, at last, I will be ready to march." He once more sips the excellent wine. "A week after that, I will be poised to strike. I will move my horde to the valley just east of Balentyne. There, we will wait for your signal." He reaches into a nearby crate, and passes a cylinder to Aerent. "Fire this rocket into the air, and within the hour, we shall attack. You just make sure that the way is ready."

"After we gather, my horde will be idle and start to grow anxious. I can hold them together for another two weeks. After that, I expect desertions and squabbling. Get your work done before then." He looks each of you straight in the eyes and finishes his plea, "You have one month to infiltrate and destroy Balentyne. Can you do this? Can you break the Watch Wall?"

Oret nods, "We have to, to see all of our goals realized."

When the night's conversation seems to be drawing to a close, Oret pulls the others aside. "When should we take care of the captain and his crew? I saw how effective the captain was in combat - if we had a way to get some of these bugbears to soften him up during the day, that would be ideal, and would save us a bit of pain ourselves. Still another option would be to go aboard his vessel at night - this night - and slaughter the crew in their sleep. Either way, we must fulfill this part of Thorn's orders. What say you?"

He grunts, content with your answer. "Hm. Very well. Our Cardinal has faith in you; if you weren’t his best, he wouldn’t have sent you. You must be the ninth. " He stands up. "Do this, and your names will be legend. Hail Asmodeus!"

As he moves out of the tent to see which of his soldiers remains standing, he tells you: "You may rest here tonight; but please, excuse me for now."

Talon nods to Sakkarot as he leaves, then turns to Oret "We should jump him tonight, I don't want to give him the chance to fight fairly"

Whoops, time for a little Geography... I'm sorry I didn't do this earlier. Look, I'm happy with whatever you decide, but it'd be mean to not provide you with all the 'facts'.

There are two ways to reach the fortress Balentyne; One, the bridge, high above the river Sellen, which Sakkarot's army intends to use *AFTER* you have secured the fort. Two, the town of Aldencross, which is only a dozen miles by foot from the end of the Watch Wall; on the way north, to lake Tarik, you have seen the start of the Watch Wall, on the western banks of the Sellen river in a sandy beach. And if only yours truly had remembered to mention that particular beach earlier, you could now have taken it into account.

Kargeld's mission is to drop the crates here, then take you to that beach south/southeast of Aldencross. I'm SURE he would've mentioned that part of his mission in idle chat at SOME point in the last month of travelling; and I'm now very sorry I didn't :-S only human, I guess. Nevertheless, it is about three days by boat, travelling back down the Sellen river, to that beach. If you take out Kargeld now, you'd have to steer the boat yourself for two days, or cross the bridge straight into a fortress; both are not the obvious choices IMHO.

I'm not trying to railroad you, but I've simply forgotten to drop the lead when you were battling the annoying Ice Mephit.

Sorry for the long absence again, my weekdays will be like this for the next few weeks... crazy busy with work.

Caladwhen has remained markedly quiet throughout the evening, clearly lost in thought. When Sakkarot returns, Caladwhen listens intently to his instructions and nods.

"We will be gone by morning, as you advise. I must thank-you for your hospitality, I don't think any of us were expecting such a pleasant and informative night."

Standing up, Caladwhen fixes the wrinkles in her cloak while speaking in frank matter of fact tone "Oh, and to answer your question Sakkarot... the lives of these Andorans are insignificant to me." Looking out towards the moonlight, Caladwhen muses and whispers in a chillingly logical manner "More importantly though, this war will serve my purpose. The more corpses that litter the ground, the greater my army of the dead will be," pausing, Caladwhen suddenly smiles while staring intently at the moon, then finally whispers in a tongue unknown to all present

map of environment and intended paths of travel

Sleeping on the ship to get an early start in the morning?

get an early start, or bring an early end? ;)

Her attention drifting back to the conversation at hand, Caladwhen furrows her brow and addresses her companions with a neutral tone "We have some distance to travel yet by boat, so it would be prudent to keep the crew alive for a time."

Raising her brow inquisitively, Cala ponders "I might even suggest that we don't necessary kill the crew; they don't hold any particular love of Kargeld, and could be fooled into serving us. Enchanting Kargeld is a possibility, at which point we dispose of him secretly rather than risk a full blown confrontation, unless we're confident we can eradicate the entire crew at no cost to us. It is an option."

I'm thinking we might have need of a ship down the road; Kargeld must die, but I'd love to get his ship and a crew to man it, at least for a time.