We Aim to Misbehave

Game Master Justin Sluder

"This is interesting. Good, but unusual. How did you get so many flavors in this?"

"Not bad. How far do we intend to go today?"

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25 Knowledge (arcana)
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25 Survival

Assuming those rolls are good enough, I'd like have Moneta know enough about local weather conditions to either help the group travel farther, or help us be better prepared for a hazard.

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Evan has no idea what it is, so he graciously takes it and eats it. He has no commentary except to say, "Thanks, Priggle."

Where is everyone located at present?

Where is everyone located at present?

I have no riding skill at all, so I try my best to be in the wagon whenever possible. Evan's likely there now.

Niko would be inside the covered wagon as well. Hat over his face and rarely sticking his head out barring other players actions.

Moneta, as it happens, was the one eating trail dust when this occured -she's behind the wagon while the other two riders are taking a break from getting dirt in the face.

She will gesture stiffly with one hand, touching her lips for a moment, then hold a small piece of copper wire before her eyes, and then touching her ear. She'll make contact with Schmitty first, then Karg, then Priggle, then Niko, then Evan. the spell a few times to communicate with each person in turn.

Via message spell

"There's a large group trying to hide from us. I can't make out what they are, but I'm assuming they're hostile - they don't know if we've spotted them yet, I don't think. They're a fair distance off.

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14 Concentration (DC10) to use Message to talk to Schmitty. If you can cast this spell, please do so so that we can coordinate an ambush if they strike.
1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12 Concentration (DC10) to use Message to talk to Karg. I will need a minute to prepare for battle; I can bring down the blessings of Gorum should they be needed. I do not know if we can support you doing a charge."
1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15 Concentration (DC10) to use Message to talk to Priggle. I'm going to recommend that you keep the wagon moving while we fight - we can't afford to lose you or it, and I don't think Dachs is paying you to get hurt on our behalf, but rather the other way around."
1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9 Concentration (DC10) to use Message to talk to Niko.
1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22 Concentration (DC10) second attempt to use Message to talk to Niko. I don't know what we're facing. But if there are things you need to do before preparing for a fight, get ready with them and be prepared to jump from the wagon. I'm going to suggest that you stand in front of me when I wear the essence of Our Lord in Iron and we double team on one opponent.
1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16 Concentration (DC10) to use Message to talk to Evan. I don't know what we're facing. But if there are things you need to do before preparing for a fight, get ready with them. Can you shoot from a moving wagon?"

Confirmed with Justin in chat that it's DC10 Concentration to cast spells from horseback.

Perception DC 25 to hear Moneta's message spells.

Schmitty and I auto-fail a Perception DC that high. No need for me to roll; I didn't hear anything but Moneta talk to me. Edit: everyone else is gonna need a 19 or a natural 20 to succeed too. Good luck!

Moneta receives a response that is begun with a small chuckle. "Well, sure I can. What kinda Alkenstaran would I be if I couldn't do that? I'll be ready."

Moneta, as it happens, was the one eating trail dust when this occured -she's behind the wagon while the other two riders are taking a break from getting dirt in the face.

She will gesture stiffly with one hand, touching her lips for a moment, then hold a small piece of copper wire before her eyes, and then touching her ear. She'll make contact with Schmitty first, then Karg, then Priggle, then Niko, then Evan. the spell a few times to communicate with each person in turn.

Via message spell

"There's a large group trying to hide from us. I can't make out what they are, but I'm assuming they're hostile - they don't know if we've spotted them yet, I don't think. They're a fair distance off.

1d20+7 Concentration (DC10) to use Message to talk to Schmitty. If you can cast this spell, please do so so that we can coordinate an ambush if they strike.
1d20+7 Concentration (DC10) to use Message to talk to Karg. I will need a minute to prepare for battle; I can bring down the blessings of Gorum should they be needed. I do not know if we can support you doing a charge."
1d20+7 Concentration (DC10) to use Message to talk to Priggle. I'm going to recommend that you keep the wagon moving while we fight - we can't afford to lose you or it, and I don't think Dachs is paying you to get hurt on our behalf, but rather the other way around."
1d20+7 Concentration (DC10) to use Message to talk to Niko.
1d20+7 Concentration (DC10) second attempt to use Message to talk to Niko. I don't know what we're facing. But if there are things you need to do before preparing for a fight, get ready with them and be prepared to jump from the wagon. I'm going to suggest that you stand in front of me when I wear the essence of Our Lord in Iron and we double team on one opponent.
1d20+7 Concentration (DC10) to use Message to talk to Evan. I don't know what we're facing. But if there are things you need...

Replying to everyone via message

"They're Gnolls. I was just about to say something. I can and have cast it. "

Concentration 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 If I fail the check I keep trying until I succeed in including everyone]. Spell lasts 10 min per caster level or in my present case ten minutes.

At the mention of gnolls, Karg casts Divine Favor and Magic Weapon on himself.

Receiving the message spell, Niko will grunt having no reply to add himself. Out loud he will say..

"Sounds like company is coming for dinner."

Without another word and not moving from his spot he loosens his sword in its scabbard where it lays next to him.

Moneta rides up to consult with people, keeping the Message spell on Karg, nodding to Schmitty to relay to Priggle.

"Ambush or charge?"

Niko will grunt, and pull himself upright.

"Regardless of which, i think its my turn to take a ride. You get in the wagon and trade with me 'Neta. You can do whatever you want or need to do in there easier."

This would be the first time since the trip started that Niko offered to take a turn on a horse. He'll strap on his sword and hold out his hand for the reins to swap in.

Moneta rides up to consult with people, keeping the Message spell on Karg, nodding to Schmitty to relay to Priggle.

"Ambush or charge?"

Karg looks around at the others. "Hrmm.. maybe both? Send da' sneaky ones up ahead to git into position, then those that wish to charge wit' me can do so."

"Right. It wouldn't be kind to Sadist here to grow all the cutlery while I was riding her." She rides on ahead, dismounts, hands the reins over and swaps places with Niko.

Sadist - Sadie for short - is NOT a combat trained animal. She is very sensible for a horse - she knows she can outrun most threats. She probably won't like being around that gun when it goes off, either...

Since Evan has no idea where the gnolls are, or how close they are to attacking, but seeing Karg already begin to cast, he's going to cast abundant ammunition on his bag of cartridges. Evan will then be on the lookout for the gnolls, needing to lay eyes on them in order to identify them.

Black Fang wrote:

Perception DC 25 to hear Moneta's message spells.

Schmitty and I auto-fail a Perception DC that high. No need for me to roll; I didn't hear anything but Moneta talk to me. Edit: everyone else is gonna need a 19 or a natural 20 to succeed too. Good luck!

That's for people to hear who aren''t the target of the spell.

"Gentlemen, please don't be alarmed by what's about to happen."

Moneta moves as far back under the covering of the wagon as she can, loosens the shoulders of her gown and stretches her arms and legs, undergoing the transformation described here.

Karg will wait 4 rounds after he casts his last spell to give time for everyone else to decide what they are doing. Then with greatsword in hand, the charge begins.

When the time is right Schmitty says
"I'll flush them out."
He then makes a gesture toward where he saw some of them earlier and a giant rat with golden radiance appears and tries to bite the closest one.

Bite 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 71d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 need a fort save if it hits.
Filth fever: Bite—injury; save Fort DC 11 [13]; onset 1d3 days; frequency 1/day; effect 1d3 Dex damage and 1d3 Con damage; cure 2 consecutive saves. The save DC is Constitution-based.

As Moneta begins to cast her first message...

Begin Round 1

Initiative - Round 1
Schmitty..17
Hyenas..17
Karg..11
Priggle..10
Evan..8
Gnolls..7
Niko..7
Moneta..5

MAP

Yes, this means no other spells have been cast yet. Each square is 5 ft. I have Moneta in the back, because that's where she said she is. Evan and Niko are in the wagon, with Priggle driving. Karg is out front on Spitz. And Schmitty and Chavi are to the left of the wagon.

Going to stick with summoning celestial dire rat

When it's Evan's turn, he will reach into his pouch of paper cartridges and pull one out, casting abundant ammunition and letting the cartridge dissolve into nothing as he lets go and finishes the incantation.

Schmitty's summons a giant rat, and sends it off to attack the nearest creature. It arrives at the hyena just after it charge from between a couple boulders and takes a nasty bite out of Spitz. Ride check already rolled to negate, it failed. Spitz takes 9 damage. Schmitty's rat fails to bite the hyena.

Two more hyena's come charging around a rock farther from the wagon. Though they run at the group, they fail to reach anyone.

Initiative - Round 1
Schmitty..17..done
Hyenas..17..done
Karg..11
Priggle..10
Evan..8
Gnolls..7
Niko..7
Moneta..5

MAP

bit of a slight rewind eh? ok, i can roll with it!

On his turn...
Niko will jump off the wagon, pulling his greatsword free from its scabbard as he does so, and make a move towards the oncoming enemy.

"One o'those days, fellows. Time to earn our pay!"

Moneta will spur her horse forward a bit (30' straight south on horseback to ride where the wagon can conceal her).

"Gorum only asks one question: WILL WE FIGHT?" She holds her left hand high overhead, calling down the auspices of her deity.

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24 Concentration check - DC 10. Casting 'bless' if this succeeds. This should get everyone BUT Karg, who's a little too far forward.

+1 Morale bonus to Hit, +1 to saving throws vs Fear.

Greatly angered at the large chunk of meat taken out Spitz, Karg mightily descends his greatsword down at the hyena.

Greatsword +5, power attack -1, destructive smite, mounted +1: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Damage +6, power attack +3, destructive smite +1: 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (6, 6) + 10 = 22

Evan casts abundant ammunition upon his pouch of paper cartridges, and then loads a cartridge effortlessly into his gun, almost as an afterthought, while peering out the back of the wagon at the creature attacking Karg.

Knowledge: Local to ID gnoll --> 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

"Yup, that's a gnoll all right ..." Evan ponders any possible abilities or weaknesses the gnolls may have that he could share with the party.

Karg slashes the hyena. It ceases to move.

Priggle easily maneuvers the wagon around Karg.

Even with the violent jostling of the wagon, Evan manages to cast his spell, and get a look out the front of the wagon, seeing the gnoll in the tree.

The gnoll in the tree somehow manages to fling his bow about 15 ft. out, where it snags on a lower branch about 20 ft. below him. He's still holding the arrow it failed to fire.

Two other gnolls move out from behind a boulder, firing one arrow each. One arrow strikes each of the horses pulling the wagon.

Another gnoll charges out from behind a different boulder, jabbing its spear into the left horse pulling the wagon.

A bigger gnoll runs out from behind a boulder on a small hill and tosses a spear at one of the horses pulling the wagon. Thankfully, he misses.

A sixth gnoll rushes out, apparently barking orders and shaking a staff in the direction of the party.

Just as Niko is leaping from the wagon, his foot gets caught. You can activate your feather fall, negating the damage, or you can take the damage, which will be 3d6 due to the speed of the wagon. Your choice.

Though they fight each other, Moneta manages to get Sadie to move forward 50 ft.

Waiting on Niko's decision before advancing to round 2.

Initiative - Round 1
Schmitty..17..done
Hyenas..17..done
Karg..11
Priggle..10
Evan..8
Gnolls..7
Niko..7
Moneta..5

MAP

Question: can I fire just as easily through the front of the wagon as I can through the rear?

Also, are either the gnoll in the tree or (once I look out the front of the wagon) the gnoll attacking the horse wearing armor?

Question: can I fire just as easily through the front of the wagon as I can through the rear?

Also, are either the gnoll in the tree or (once I look out the front of the wagon) the gnoll attacking the horse wearing armor?

Yes to both.

Niko will frown and hiss faintly in pain, the burns on his face will flare like glowing coals and embers as he drifts lightly down to land on his feet.

expending spell.

Niko manages to recover from his mishap, floating safely to the ground behind the wagon.

End roung 1, begin round 2

Initiative - Round 1
Schmitty..17
Hyenas..17
Karg..11
Priggle..10
Evan..8
Gnolls..7
Niko..7
Moneta..5

MAP

Chavi remains still so schmiftty can fire his crossbow at The closest one.
Crossbow 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 141d6 ⇒ 1

Dire rat attacking the Same one. 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 211d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

I forgot to mark the hyena nearest Karg as incapacitated. Redirecting the celestial dire rat to the nearest gnoll.

Seeing the hyena out of the fight, Schmitty's summoned rat charges the nearest gnoll. It manages to bite him on the leg.

Schmitty fires a bolt at the same gnoll, barely scratching it.

The other two hyenas charge, one going after Schmitty's rat, the other jumps between the horses pulling the wagon, and nearly bites Priggle.

The hyena only misses the gnome because he ducked. The hyena crashes to a stop at Evan's feet.

The other hyena manages to bite the rat, turning it to mist. 7 damage to the rat, more than enough to send it away.

Initiative - Round 2
Schmitty..17..done
Hyenas..17..done
Karg..11
Priggle..10
Evan..8
Gnolls..7
Niko..7
Moneta..5

MAP

Karg will guide Spitz straight foward at the two gnolls 40' in front of them. Karg and Spitz will attack in unison.

Greatsword +5, power attack -1, destructive smite, mounted +1: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Damage +6, power attack +3, destructive smite +1: 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (6, 5) + 10 = 21

Spitz bite +4: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Damage: 1d4 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Karg and Spitz charge the nearest gnoll, which Karg manages to cut nearly in half. Spitz fails to bite it.

Priggle keeps the wagon moving, barely managing to keep the horses under control after their injures from a moment ago. He yells back to Evan, "Kill that damn thing!"

Initiative - Round 2
Schmitty..17..done
Hyenas..17..done
Karg..11..done
Priggle..10..done
Evan..8
Gnolls..7
Niko..7
Moneta..5

MAP

"On it, Mr. Priggle." Evan wastes no time; he takes a quick 5-foot step back from the hyena before lifting his battered heirloom pistol and firing at it, aiming squarely for the spot between its eyes.

Spending 1 grit point to activate Focused Aim, in order to add +3 to the damage roll.

Attack roll 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19 vs. hyena's touch AC
Damage roll 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

If the hyena's dead, Evan reloads his gun and prepares to find his next target. If it's not dead, he draws his newly acquired longsword so that he now threatens the space around him, as his remaining move action.

EDIT: Forgot Moneta's bless. That's actually a total 20 to hit, but I'm sure I did so anyway. Just didn't want to forget it.

"On it, Mr. Priggle." Evan wastes no time; he takes a quick 5-foot step back from the hyena before lifting his battered heirloom pistol and firing at it, aiming squarely for the spot between its eyes.

Spending 1 grit point to activate Focused Aim, in order to add +3 to the damage roll.

Attack roll 1d20+3 vs. hyena's touch AC
Damage roll 1d8+3

If the hyena's dead, Evan reloads his gun and prepares to find his next target. If it's not dead, he draws his newly acquired longsword so that he now threatens the space around him, as his remaining move action.

EDIT: Forgot Moneta's bless. That's actually a total 20 to hit, but I'm sure I did so anyway. Just didn't want to forget it.

Rule 0: While riding in the back of a wagon, your are treated as being on difficult terrain and therefore cannot take a 5-foot step unless you have some ability allowing you to ignore some or all distance moved in difficult terrain.

Edit: If you want to try it, you can attempt an Acrobatics (DC 17) check to avoid drawing the AoO.

Acrobatics attempt: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

Before firing, Evan considers trying to somersault backwards to avoid the hyena, but just as he's preparing to do so, the wagon jostles especially hard, and he barely keeps his footing. "Tarnation," he mutters angrily to himself as he stumbles backwards less than gracefully while drawing his shortsword, knowing that the hyena will likely try and take a crack at him, but he can't leave it alive in the wagon to harass Priggle. "I'm gettin' rusty."

Once he's further away, he fires at the hyena, hitting it.

Though the hyena lunges at him, Evan steps just out of reach of its gnashing teeth, his left heel banging against the backboard of the wagon.

The gnoll in the tree begins climbing down towards his bow.

The two gnolls that shot the horses earlier now fire at Priggle, both missing the gnome.

The gnoll with the staff says something, and then two magical bolts fly out of its fingertips. As the bolts fly towards, and striking, Priggle, the gnoll moves, heading for the boulders it was hiding behind earlier.

The brutish gnoll runs and jumps off the small hill, landing on the covering of the wagon.

Initiative - Round 2
Schmitty..17..done
Hyenas..17..done
Karg..11..done
Priggle..10..done
Evan..8..done
Gnolls..7..done
Niko..7
Moneta..5

MAP

Niko will stare at the wagon with both a gnoll and a hyena on and in it, briefly thinking he should have stayed in it in the first place. After a moment, he thinks that it may be better he is out here or something.

A very curt and almost dismissive gesture.

casts Shield

He will then start running after the wagon, laughing out loud in amusement of the irony.

Evan yells, "Priggle! We have to turn around! We're leaving too many people behind n' we need their help! Got more company back here n' can't shoot twice with one bullet!"

Moneta will sweep her arm down and around, as though throwing a bone. Her voice rings like a cascade of bells, the chime of blades rung in battle, the choir of Our Lord in Iron.

1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15 Ride check to control Sadie; this isn't enough to get Moneta thrown, but it's reasonable to have the GM put Sadie and Moneta at his whim (plus, I really can't read the map well enough to be able to try and position on it.)

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12 Concentration, DC 10 to use Summon Monster SLA from horseback.

A shimmering nimbus of distortion ripples through the air, taking form as a vaguely dog-shaped manifestation of steel and razor wire, surrounding a roiling ripple of seething chaos that burns as chill as the northern lights.

The knifehound manifests next to the Gnoll on top of the wagon, attacking it and trying to throw it forward off the wagon, the better to be rolled over and crushed by the wheels.

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19 to hit - Gnoll (?) in the wagon.
1d6 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11 Knifehound's bite damage.
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 Trip to throw Gnoll off of the wagon

The bite does grievous damage to the Gnoll, the otherworldly mastiff's steel-and-heat distortion mouth glistening with gnoll blood, and its dead eyes ablaze with an otherworldly lust for more...but the gnoll keeps its balance by grabbing at the back of the rail behind Priggle rather than be bowled off the wagon.

There's now a skeletal, and not-quite-all-in-this-reality dog menacing the gnoll. It will try to interpose itself between the Gnoll and Priggle if possible, or the Gnoll and Evan if not.

Move action:

Where Moneta manages to guide Sadie, I leave up to the whim of the GM, since I didn't beat a ride DC of 20. Make it less than perfect position, and entertaining, Black Fang.

Moneta will sweep her arm down and around, as though throwing a bone. Her voice rings like a cascade of bells, the chime of blades rung in battle, the choir of Our Lord in Iron.

1d20+1 Ride check to control Sadie; this isn't enough to get Moneta thrown, but it's reasonable to have the GM put Sadie and Moneta at his whim (plus, I really can't read the map well enough to be able to try and position on it.)

The Ride DC to control a mount that isn't combat trained in combat is 20. This means all you do is move Sadie.

Given that Priggle is moving the wagon on double moves at ~100' per turn, and a light riding horse moves 40' per turn - and I can't make a double move AND guide Sadie, I can only do a single move, and have no ability that can affect the fight outside 25'...I'm useless until I roll a natural 19 or 20. At this pace, even if I roll 19s or 20s and take double moves, I will never catch up. For that matter, nobody ELSE will be able to do anything to protect the wagon while Priggle is doing double moves.

Not to worry, Karg plans to get into the wagon action on his turn. I don't believe the horses pulling the wagon can run at x4 speed, where-as Karg's camel can. Also, depending what Karg sees happening on the wagon, he hasn't ruled out that Priggle may be working with the gnolls.

FYI: Next week I have my comprehensive final for my masters program. Essentially it's a huge paper that I should be spending every waking moment on. Assuming I do what I should, I won't be on the boards very much. I'll probably still check in during work, but not much else. Just know I've not disappeared, but am just really busy.

I beleive we are at the top of Round 3 and waiting for Schmitty and then the hyenas to go?