WotW: A Knot of Thorns The First Parchment (Inactive)

Game Master Xzaral

I can tell you the owl wasn't brought down by your attacks alone. If Beatrix wants to take a couple shots when she posts, she can. Otherwise at this moment it's gone. I assumed you're tracking and went ahead and rolled your survival.

Following the trail is not difficult as there are not many options available. A trail goes to the shack with the dogs, and fresh sets of dog tracks as well as a humanoid booted set head along the east side of the building towards the rear of the prison, to the warden's tower.

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Seeing the owl, Bea drops her sword, grabs her bow, and takes a shot but the arrow is wasted in her haste. She takes one more shot before watching the bird fly away. "Well, it's a sure bet we'll have company here before too long. Let's dispatch the dogs and get out of here."

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 - attack
1d8 ⇒ 6 - dmg
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10 - attack
1d8 ⇒ 5 - dmg

Alazandaru shared his findings.

Dogs, taken to the tower. Sorry Haruk, I don't think we have a choice. I'd rather face the few remaining guards than a full Talingarde manhunt later on as a result of leaving these dogs.

Alazandaru will lead the way to the tower, taking the same route the dogs did.

Bostarg follows behind Alazandaru.

Morthos nods in agreement as he heads toward the tower with the others as well.

Beatrix takes shots at the owl, but to no avail. The owl survives the onslaught of arrows and bolts.

Turning towards the rear of the prison, following the trail left by Blackerly and the hounds, you follow around towards the back of the prison and the Warden's Tower. The tower, a three story structure, is the only building you have found with windows, and those located on the upper floor.

As you pass by the garden, you notice that one shrub has been fenced off separately from the rest. If you choose to examine this shrub, I'll need a Knowledge (Nature) or Survival check, and specify you are doing so.

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 11

Noticing the gentleman in the window, Morthos just shakes his head and sighs at such patheticalness.

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14 - survival
1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8 - perception

Noticing the figure crouched in the shadows, Bea turns and points at him. "That our man?"

She then crouches down momentarily to examine the shrubbery.

Beatrix examines the plant but cannot quite identify it. The man, seeing he has been identified, retreats from the window.

Map has been updated.

Updated Map

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20 Survival

Noticing the figure crouched in the shadows, Bea turns and points at him. "That our man?"

"We'll shall know soon enough." He says as he sees the man disappear from the window.

Bostarg continues to follow a few steps behind and warily. He does not turn to regard the plant... instead more concerned with the chance for howls to sound out.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

An examination of the plant reveals itself to be Belladonna, and obviously it has been recently pruned. If you take the time, three doses of the poison could be harvested.

Alazandaru carefully pruned three doses of the plant with his knives.

Belladonne he said to the others, enough here for three doses. It robs the strength of those who ingest it and can also stave off lycanthropy. This could come in handy later.

The tracks continue around the building to the doorway of the Warden's Tower. Listening to the tower doorway, the sounds of the dogs can be heard from the other side, an occasional bark coming from them.

"Looks as if we've found what we are looking for. I shall be the bait. Well, along with Grumblejack. One of you opens the door, the dogs will come for me, Alazandaru will be waiting on one side of the door ready to strike the first one that comes out; Beatrix on the other side prepared to do the same. Haruk and Bostarg, you two do... whatever it is you do best. Let's hope they aren't too much smarter than the lowly guards. Any objections?" He looks around at the others, awaiting any possible thoughts on the matter.

Bostarg shrugs and nods an acceptance to Morthos' plan. He moves to stand just behind where Grumblejack takes his place.

Bea nods and takes her position next to the door.

If they have any intelligence, they will focus their efforts on holding the tower until help arrives. Still, it is unlikely to hurt to to try Alazandaru nitpicked, then acquiesced as he moved into position.

Based on descriptions, I placed as best able. Feel free to adjust.

Everyone moves into position, preparing to assault the tower. Beatrix tests the door, but it appears that the door has been blocked on the other side. It will take a few moments to batter it down.

Map

Bostarg pauses in thought a moment before walking forward to Alazandaru and Beatrix. He retrieves the veil and shows a patch that bears an image of a window. Whispering "If we make a pantomine that we intend to batter the door... then perhaps this could be used to catch them by surprise?"

Haruk nods at Bostarg's suggestion "It could work, only thing is, we need to make sure we don't place right near them, otherwise, they'll make short work of us, since we can't go in more than one at a time."

Assuming of course its some normal sized window

To what end? Haruk has a point, we need a better entrance than right by the front door. Mayhap we'd scale the wall and catch them by surprise from that direction; we'd come out above them to boot. I like it. Make your noises, Gnome. I'll handle that wall...

Alazandaru did his best to scale the nearby wall and if he made it, secured and lowered a rope for the others to make a far less difficult climb.

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Assuming success, the climbs only a DC5 for the rest of you with the rope there. Take 10 should cover it for everyone I believe. Once we're up there, we'll use the window to make an entrance, far from the front door where we are expected.

Handing Alazandaru the veil Bostarg nodded, happy to play his part before moving to the door and standing ready. He looked to mentally note where Grumblejack stood in case retreat was needed.

At the signal he began to strike it with his cudgel. He made sure to impact the door near to the frame so there was little chance that he would splinter the wood. As he made noise he started to call in a sing song tone... though with a tinge of the sinister "Blackerly... *thump* We know you're in there... *thump* Can't hide forever... *thump* Grumblejack says he's hungry... *thump*"

While he works, Bostarg keeps his ears open for signs that the dogs are within and opposite the door...

Bluff: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 28 - to allay any suspicion I am going anywhere but the front door.
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23 - assuming that if the dogs are opposite they'll start barking when I start thumping.

As Bostarg thumps upon the door, the sound of dogs barking can be heard clearly from the other side. "You'll be hard pressed to get in here, you fiendish dogs! And even if you do, we have a powerful spellcaster in the ways of the OUCH!..." Blackerly seems to have suddenly been cut off from speech for a moment.

Whiel this continues on, Alazandaru manages to scale the outside wall of the tower with the veil. Removing the window creates a 2x3 window in the wall, big enough for a medium creature to squeeze through.

Inside the room you see a decently sized library with several tables around the room. The window was fortunately placed directly above a table in the room, allowing you access to the room. The barking dogs can be heard below.

Map

Below the main map I have the maps of levels 2 & 3. There's a window token on the wall with where it appears you placed it.

Alazandaru waved the others up with discrete hand signals, after he lowered the rope for them.

DC5 climb checks (take 10).

Beatrix climbs the rope and squeezes through the window on the upper floor.

Climb take 10 for 15

It takes Haruk a fair amount of effort to climb his way up the tower, but he eventually makes his way into the window. He then looks around at all the books, a bit of a smile on his face.

Take 10 on climb, for a 9.

Takes 10 on Perception, or 20 if there's enough time, examining the books. 14 or 24

Any searching of the tower may draw attention from downstairs. If you wish to do so, I will need a stealth roll as well. Or, you know, don't sneak at all. This applies to anyone entering the room.

Even just looking at the book titles?? I fail to see how that would draw any attention. Unless of course your saying that even walking across the floor period, would require a stealth check.

Pretty sure it's any movement into the tower will give those downstairs a chance to pick it up.
There's distance involved and maybe a penalty to those within due to the distraction of Bostarg beating on the door - so not as bad as it might seem.
Not sure you'd want to spend 2 minutes taking 20 when we've a pressing issue to attend to though.

Outside the door - Bostarg continues to beat upon the door intermittently, and continue his taunting of Blackerly and any others within.

Bostarg is correct. Any movement can potentially draw attention to the movement above. Just need to know how you want to proceed from here.

Adding to the description, the circular staircase leads up and down.

Taking 20 to search with them literally just downstairs seems a bit pointless.

Alazandaru entered the room and waited for the others. He quietly snuck over to the stairs and waited in ambush, in case the others alerted one of the guards.

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24 Stealth

You all do realize I first said I would take ten right? I kinda thought 20 would be too long. No need to jump all over me, since the good King could just say no.

No harm in taking ten :). Sorry if you felt dogpiled.

Morthos steps forward and aids the gnome in an attempt to serve as a distraction for the others. "Blackerly! Why not open the door and let us settle this once and for all! Your death will be swift and painless, I assure you! Well, maybe not painless, but swift nonetheless! Just think of the grandeur if you were lucky enough to best me, Blackerly!" He then takes a couple of steps back. "Fool."

Haruk, just trying to make your options clear. Taking 20 is something you could do, but it runs the risk of those downstairs hearing you. Taking 10 is fine. I do need a stealth check though, for you, as well as Beatrix if she comes inside.

Alazandaru, silently approaching the top of the stairs, sees a figure hunched down, out of sight of the doorway. Fortunately his attention if directed elsewhere at present. The man currently wears expensive finery, a strange eyepatch over one eye. The pouch at his side, which his hand is currently in, places him as a spellcaster of some form.

Warden Richter

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Haruk quickly scans the titles in the room, realizing this is mostly a worthless collection of Penny dreadfuls, though a more thorough search could reveal a few gems amongst the collection.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Outside, Morthos and Bostarg hear a voice from within, that of Blackerly. "I recommend you run like the dogs you are! Help'll be arriving shortly, and we can hold out here forever if need be!"

Bea glances around the room at all the books, trying to be as quiet as she can as she enters.

1d20 - 1 ⇒ (18) - 1 = 17 - stealth
1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12 - perception
1d20 ⇒ 18 - sense motive

She looks over at Alazandru and smiles confidently, trying to give the impression she knows Blackerly's bluffing.

How close is the Warden relative to Alazandaru's new position?

Sense Motive 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Morthos moves right up to the door, getting as close as possible so Blackerly can hear, his voice within the range of normal and just above a whisper. "I do not think you can, Blackerly. I do not think you can. Your time is nearly up, jailor. Now you are the one awaiting punishment. How will you respond to death coming for you, hm?" Morthos pauses a moment to let that sink in. Turning and walking back to the ogre, "Grumblejack, can you get this door open for us? If you can manage you will find dogs and Blackerly behind it. Possibly other guards as well. Regardless, there will be plenty of a common enemy for us to have to deal with, I assure you."

20' Alazandaru, with cover. If you wish to get closer or a better shot, I'll need another stealth roll.

Map

Grumblejack moves up to the doorway and begins to throw himself against it. "Grumblejack open door, get to the little 'uns." His first strike against it barely causes the door to groan. It may take the ogre some time to open the doorway.

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Beatrix's examination does not uncover much more than Haruk's. Having entered the room, Beatrix rattles the table beneath her slightly, causing the warden to turn around for a moment, Alazandaru barely pulling himself out of view before the warden sees him.

Bostarg half opens his mouth to speak before shaking his head slightly and moving to the side of the entry to cede passage to the ogre.

Alazandaru made sure the others were ready, Alazandaru began the ambush, worried that one of the others would tip the men off. He hurled a dagger at the Warden.

1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 4 - 2 = 17 Surprise round action.
1d4 + 5 + 1d8 ⇒ (3) + 5 + (5) = 13 VS Flat-Footed AC

Haruk moves to stand somewhat behind his roguish companion, ready to attack when the opportunity presents itself. 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10 Stealth

Alazandaru's dagger sinks into the warden, causing him to callout in pain. The dagger's strike, while severe, does not drop him. Blackerly, hearing the scream, calls out himself "Damnit, they're in the tower!" clearly heard by those outside.

Haruk is up first.

Inish
Haruk
Warden
Morthos
Blackerly
Guard Dogs
Alazandaru
Beatrix
Grumblejack
Bostarg

Map

F7 is Alazandaru, right? If so, did I not complete my move action to be somewhat behind him, or did u just not move me?

Alazandaru had already declared an attack pretty much the moment Beatrix rattled the table; he chose to attack then as the Warden almost spotted him rather than give any more time for people to get into position. Prioritised a chance to take the spellcaster down rather than risk losing it waiting for everyone else to be in position.

Just my rationale, in case it wasn't clear. As he made his intention pretty clear, possibly everyone else upstairs should have got a surprise round? Would only have been good for movement but still.

True, but we weren't technically in combat. So you moved, then posted your attack, then I posted I moved. However, unless the GM has a reason to disallow it, there's no reason I couldn't have moved behind you before your actual attack, as that was my intention, which I realize now I didn't make clear.

Being my fault, I will await the GMs decision. I am fine with either moving before the attack, getting a surprise round and then moving or having to wait till normal initiative to move.

It wasn't 100% clear no, but not gonna split hairs, confusion is easy. I went ahead and moved you a tad closer Haruk to be more inline with your stated intentions. Feel free to act.