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

Game Master increddibelly

how would you like to approach the guards? from the castle grounds and garden, or high up from the battlementsm for an assissin's creed style attack? if you jump down from battlements to attack the guards, I'd rule that as a Charge i.e. +2 attack, -2 AC.

Awww yeah let's assassins creed this up. how far is the jump?

agreed, with my new acrobatics and stealth it should be pretty awesome

Aerent has no acrobatics, and will not be leaping down, but he will take out his shiny new longbow and happily support his allies from long range.

how far is the jump?

Meh, who cares, this is the way cooler solution ;) The battlements are 15 ft high. It may hurt if you dive head first, but if you do it right, you can use the drunkards to cushion your fall. Or, mechanically, if you pull off a decent acrobatics check as part of this stunt, you will avoid the 1d6 falling damage that I'm not very motivated to (but technically have to) give you.

So, if one of the guards somehow manages to survive the blast, Aerent will nail them to the castle grounds. Awesome. This scene would be fit for a core rulebook chapter introduction!

Peeking over the edge, Arryn and Talon feel their heartrate increase. "It looked easier from below... A lot," they think. Then, they reach the point where they have to drop their disguise of patrolling guards, and leap over the battlements, drawing weapons, falling 15 feet straight down onto their prey like a pair of hawks.
Except, heh, a hawk can steer during their descent....Oh well, let's hope for the best }:->

So...Acrobatics and Attack rolls please, you two :) don't forget the +2 on ATK from the (vertical) charge.
Aerent, you might as well roll for that bow shot just in case we need it. Remember the -4 on ATK for firing into melee, unless you have Precise shot.

I think Cala will just wait and see how things turn out... I could fire into melee, but would be at a significant penalty since my attack score is terrible.

"Have to do everything once or twice" I think to myself as I look over to Talon with a grin. I quickly peer over the edge, step back, withdraw my dagger and launch forward.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Dagger Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Sneak Attack: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Final Countdown by Europe, perfect soundtrack for our epic jump.

We'll wait for Talon's and Aerent's actions to resolve the assassination. Nice rolls there, Arryn :)

Attack: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 5 - 4 = 10

Guess my trained fly skill isn't useful with no wings lol

Acrobatics1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20
Attack1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 5 + 2 = 27
Confirm1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 2 = 17
Damage1d6 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7x2=14

YEAHHHHHH ASSASSINS CREED FTW

Talon looks down, smiling "This brings back memories" what remains of Talon's wings twitch "I normally dive pretty hard in these situations anyways" Talon expertly jumps down, angling himself downwards to increase his speed, then at the last second spreads out so he can drop all his weight on the guard, bringing the scimitar down at the same time

Talon, now that... that was epic.

You win, hands down.

Nice job. I hope you guys took them down so Aerent doesn't have to demonstrate his lack of skill with the bow. ;)

RAAAGGGEE QUITTTT, WHERE'S MY WINGS MOFO'S????

:-O

As Arryn elegantly hops over the battlements, aiming her knee and dagger at the back of the first gaurd, her light frame is overtaken by a heavy black projectile with a scimitar on the tip, thundering downward with terrifying speed.
Talon's brutal strike digs through the second guard's armor in a sickening burst of red and white, killing him almost instantly, and as the guard realises that his last seconds have begun, he manages a whisper...

"Michelle...?"

...And just as Talon realises that the dying guard at his feet is Bart - the guy who took his second wing, Arryn's victim topples over on top of Bart, and both are forever silenced.

You're now standing near the eastern gatehouse (3c), from which you hear sounds of drunken laughter as some sod is being forced to count his profits.

There's also a kennel of 3 sleeping dogs no one has mentioned anymore...
wakey wakey doggy1, perception: 1d20 + 7 - 10 ⇒ (1) + 7 - 10 = -2
wakey wakey doggy2, perception: 1d20 + 7 - 10 ⇒ (19) + 7 - 10 = 16
wakey wakey doggy3, perception: 1d20 + 7 - 10 ⇒ (13) + 7 - 10 = 10
Never mind, due to their distance and their vigilant sleeping the DC is impossible. Also, doggy1 seems to be dreaming about digging up a T-Rex femur.

3c is on the ground floor; the room has a small barred window through which you see the light from a torch and occasionally some vague movement.

3d is directly above 3c and there are doors allowing access from 3d to the battlements both to the west and the easy (note, Cala, those aren't on the original map. This room needs doors to make sense, though.)
3d is dark, there's no sound or light inside.

AFAIK, Aerent and Cala are still safely on the higher ground of the battlements, and everyone else is downstairs?

you can freely whisper to eachother - just don't do anything stupid like alert the dogs or the guards inside (although the latter would require almost animal stupidity to distract them from their drinking)

In the distance, your hear Veryston's church bells gently announce 2 AM.

this is it folks...the home stretch. One more ugly job between you and freedom - although you do have an appointment later on

Smiling in satisfaction as Bart bleeds out, Talon refrains from howling his victory. He gets up, nodding at Arryn to approve of her effective, if different tactics "Revenge is sweet. Perhaps I could drop of his head at this 'Michelles' doorstep"

Muahahaha, getting into the evil swing of things

One I expect you to keep. *laces hands threateningly*

INT 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Oh, Sindran knows. Does he ever know.

"Arryn," Sindran whispers, looking at her, "scout ahead with Aerent and see if Blackerly is still in there. And get Ron out here if you see him, would you? We wouldn't want him to get involved, would we?" He grins.

It sounds like you have a plan, Sindran...

Aerent whispers to Caladwhen, "Let's head toward the gatehouse, just walk normally, they won't notice we're not guards in this dim light."

He signals the group on the ground indicating where he's heading.

Plan is to open the door and look in 3d. More actions after that.

Just to be clear, 3d is one floor up from 3c.

The door opens quietly, and you see a wide room, with stone benches looking out through windows to the north, where you see the winding path disappear into a thick morning mist. You're very glad you didn't wander down that path with bowmen standing hereRight now, there aren't any men here; all sorts of bows and arrows, however, aplenty.

You see three man-sized hatches in the floor; one to the far west, one near, and one in the middle. Wooden ladders starting from to the western and eastern hatches in the floor lead up to more hatches in the ceiling.
(basically, two stairwells in the western and eastern gatehouse)

You hear dim voices through the floor hatch nearest to you. The hatch has two stout handholds, but doesn't appear locked from this side. It opens upward, into 3d.

Talon looks down for a moment, then leans and puts his ear next to the floor hatch

Did Talon climb back up with Aerent and Cala?

Did Talon climb back up with Aerent and Cala?

no, he didn't...I'll bet Ron that he's going to hit undo soon ;)

"Good idea." Nodding agreeably with Aerent, Cala follows alongside him as though on patrol.

Upon hearing the voices, Cala whispers quietly to Aerent "Sounds like the game might be wrapping up downstairs."

After I land from my fall, I gather myself, loot the guards for money and daggers. Once done, I run back to the party.

they have gold: 3d12 ⇒ (10, 2, 1) = 13, a couple of cudgels, and totally destroyed uniforms.

Hmm, I forgot about the staircase inside tower(6) nearby Talon and Arryn; this means that there is an easy and plausible way to move up to the battlements quickly. As both Arryn and Talon have said they'd regroup, I'm going to assume everyone is near the latch Aerent and Caladwhen have found. Everyone, except Sindran/Jack/keg, who AFAIK are still near the belladonna patch, doing the firestarter dance ;) What's your move, Sindran?

You hear mumbling from below.

"Okay you douchebags - last round is on me."

"gosh, sarge, that's a might generous of you. Fill 'er up if you'd plea-hic-ease!"

"Except for you, Ron - you still owe me 11 gold from last game."

(various laughter)

"Aww cheer up, Ron; at least you won something tonight!"

"yah, the privilege to sleep in the pig barn next time you're off to see the missus. Har, har, har!"

(various laughter)

Just to confirm - is the trapdoor the only way in to 3c that we know about?

If so, Aerent indicates he will open the hatch and Cala should cast her spell on the men while they're playing. Then he, Talon, and Arryn can drop down and finish off survivors.

Aerent wants Ron alive. He doesn't care about the others.

This room also has a door right next to the kennels. Anyone with WIS of 10+ would feel that wouldn't be the preferred point of entry, but you're welcome to try :D

Okay, I asked because there isn't a door on the map. No problem though. In that case, Aerent suggests Talon and Arryn go in through the door and Aerent will stay with Cala.

so whats the plan?

"GREEN MAN, WHY THE HUMONGS RUN AROUND?"
or in other words, yes...what is the plan? :)

* I saw something about Cala casting a spell - my guess is sleep like she mentioned earlier?
* I suspect Sindran is up to something?
* what about the sleeping dogs next to the door to 3c? Is anyone trying to sneak past them?
* or are you going back to the plan of feeding them Belladonnified meat?

I'm sorry, did you say a WIS of 10+? How convenient I have 8!

"I don't know," Sindran replies to Grumblejack, tapping two fingers against his cheek.

He feels much calmer since the fire but there's the growing feeling that he wants this all to be over with. The half-orc removes the pipe he took earlier, putting in tobacco and then circles the rim with a finger. "Sindra," he whispers, and smoke starts to rise.

Cast: Spark

He puts the pipe in his mouth and takes a deep breath, inhaling the smoke and holding it in his lungs before exhaling. He looks back at the still-burning tower. It doesn't feel enough.

He smokes for a while, watching his group scurry in the battlements when his impatience gets the best of him.

"Grumblejack," he says, words muffled around the pipe in his mouth as he grabs the warden's head in the basket by the hair and pulls it out, letting it hang grotesquely. "Put down the keg for a moment."

When the keg is put down, he opens it and holds the head over the keg then slowly lowers it, dipping it in the oil, the flammable liquid pouring into the screaming mouth, seeping into the gaping crevices of the skull until it's completely submerged.

Sindran takes the head out and reseals the keg, telling Grumblejack to pick it up again and follow him. He walks to the door, the steady drip of excess oil and the whirling smoke of tobacco following.

Sneak? What is this sneaking you speak of?
Stealth 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

uh-oh...

wakey wakey doggy1, perception: 1d20 + 7 - 10 ⇒ (2) + 7 - 10 = -1
wakey wakey doggy2, perception: 1d20 + 7 - 10 ⇒ (20) + 7 - 10 = 17
wakey wakey doggy3, perception: 1d20 + 7 - 10 ⇒ (19) + 7 - 10 = 16

doggy1 is closest to the door. He turns on his back, yelping somewhat, while extending its paws at an invisible foe.
The other dogs open half an eye in their sleep, sniff in Sindran's general direction for a second, and then reconsider - they're going back to sleep.

Sindran is now at the door to 3c, holding a -at present, unlit- warden-candle.

Grumblejack is lagging behind somewhat, if you want him to come closer, he'll need to make a stealth check.

I based my earlier posts on the fact that the map doesn't have a door leading into 3c. Now that it does, I think Talon and Arryn could just stay in the courtyard, especially since Arryn has the meat laced with belladonna for the dogs.

My plan is this: Arryn and Talon are in the courtyard with Sindran and Jack, Aerent and Cala are on the wall. 1. Arryn tosses the meat to the dogs (just in case), 2. Aerent opens the trap door, 3. Caladwhen casts sleep on the guards in the room, 4. Talon and Arryn bust in through the door and attack any guards still awake, 5. Aerent drops down into the room if necessary, but otherwise stays with Cala to make sure no other guards surprise them. Keeping Ron alive is a priority if at all possible.

I'm definitely open to other options or changes, but otherwise, does that work for everyone?

Well thought out, I like that plan

Talon sneers as Aerent suggests the plan, but he has to admit it seems effective "Very well"

lol in char vs out :P

Nice. :)

When we're ready, Cala will cast the spell to start the plan.

Reaching into a pouch on her belt, Cala gently retrieves a partially dried out rose petal. Placing it in the palm of her left hand, she nods at Aerent to indicate that she is ready.

The following assumes Aerent opens the trap door, otherwise Cala can do it herself.

Looking down into the game room, Aerent notices Cala sneer a moment in disgust. In addition to being inferior humans of marginal intellect, they also reeked of Blackerly's cheep booze and cigar smoke.

Closing her eyes, Cala's begins speaking in a gentle and soothing voice. The unfamiliar arcane language appears almost musical in nature to Aerent. While whispering the incantation, Cala crushes the petal in her hand, which mysteriously dissolves into a pink wisp of smoke when she opens her hand again. Suddenly Cala's voice appears distant and ethereal, and echoes strangely throughout the room, yet remains oddly soothing. Slowly Cala opens her eyes, which appear absent of pupils and glow solidly with a dark energy. Though her lips are no longer moving, her voice still appears to be reverberating throughout the room to Aerent, but it seems a great deal more prominent in the room below.

Casting Sleep on the men in the room below in 3C. Will DC 16 to resist

Gradually as the voices ceases to echo, Cala's eyes slowly return to normal. Looking through the trap door, Cala checks to see how many fell pray to her spell.

Aerent would have opened the door for her, he's evil, not rude. :)

"Nicely done," Aerent murmurs to Caladwhen after she casts her spell.

He readies his shield and trident and waits for Talon and Arryn to appear.

love your magic, Cala. That's really beautiful! My odd dice rolls account for penalties, due to various states of drunkenness of the various guards.

just before Caladwhen completes her spell, Aerent throws open the hatch. The drunk guards below look up from their cards, and from here you can plainly see the stack of aces Blackerly is holding between his legs.

Perception, Ron: 1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 2 - 4 = 13
Perception, Guard1: 1d20 + 2 - 1d10 ⇒ (6) + 2 - (2) = 6
Perception, Guard2: 1d20 + 2 - 1d10 ⇒ (13) + 2 - (6) = 9
Perception, Guard3: 1d20 + 2 - 1d10 ⇒ (10) + 2 - (10) = 2
Perception, Blackerly: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (2) - 2 = 0

Ron, even though he's terribly inebriated, is the only one with quick enough wits to notice the hatch open, and something is about to go horribly wrong. As he tries to stand up, Caladwhen's gentle whispers descend on the players.

Will, Ron: 1d20 - 1 - 4 ⇒ (14) - 1 - 4 = 9
Will, Guard1: 1d20 - 1 - 1d6 ⇒ (15) - 1 - (6) = 8
Will, Guard2: 1d20 - 1 - 1d6 ⇒ (8) - 1 - (2) = 5
Will, Guard3: 1d20 - 1 - 1d6 ⇒ (3) - 1 - (3) = -1
Will, Blackerly: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (9) - 2 = 7

Ron is caught by the spell and falls over backwards, into the SW corner of the room. The other guards point at him, start laughing, but they manage only a pathetic giggle before they topple over, face first onto the table.

Blackerly shuts his eyes, nods forward, but then vigorously shakes his head, and looks up, eyes flaring at Caladwhen!

the sleep spell has a 4HD limit, weakest first

I haven't done the math yet, but I think Tomas Blackerly won't last much longer after Talon's surprise round + follow up attack! Talon, why don't you describe to us how Blackerly meets his end?

"What?! No!, You!!! No! MEN! WAKE UP! DEFEND ME!!!"
Then, as he realises that's not going to happen,
"Whawhaat are you doing with the WARDEN?! Noo, please, no please don't kill me, I..I'll give you anything you want, yes, anything! Let me live! Please!!"