WotW: A Knot of Thorns The Second Parchment

Game Master Xzaral

Cain shrugs in agreement.

Gonna have Cain make a quick stop to reclaim that greatsword. I've been kicking myself for not taking it this whole time.
Perception (as needed) 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Stelath (as needed) 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 1 = 19. Cloak

Xanos nods. "Stealth is still paramount. A fire now would send at least one for aid."

As he speaks he calmly pulls the corpses hand off the edge of the bed and slips the magician's academy ring onto it, then holding the hand as if in greeting, raises Blackerly's sword and lops it off just above the wrist in two heavy chops.

He lets the blood drain from the severed hand onto the floor for a few moments and says "Have either of you checked the other room."

I believe Mark said we've searched the whole level for expediency's sake.

Oh, I assumed DM Mark included that room in his full run-down. If that's no the case, and the other room in this level has remained un-searched, Cain will go do that.

I included all rooms in the Warden's Tower at this point. All that's left of the prison is the forward gatehouse.

When Price nods her answer, Xanos takes one last look around and wraps the Warden's severed hand in a cloth from the tall wardrobe, throwing clothes that Price has not taken haphazardly onto the floor between the bed and the desk.

"Good. Let us finish this."

At the bottom of the stairs Xanos points Grumblejack up the staircase.

"Run the rope to the bed and splash the rest of that flask from the bed to the curtains. When you have finished, make your way to the gatehouse. Miss Jakes will be there waiting for you."

To Jakes he says "Wait for Grumbeljack at the gatehouse with Blackerly and the chest. When we signal you, bring them all."

DIBS on the owl!

I'm picturing the team rushing around to the Benny Hill song causing mayhem while trying to kill the owl.. Xanos standing in the corner with epic eye-rolls.

---

A few minutes later, Cain leans against the wet, cold crenelations of the gatehouse over-looking the bridge, trying to pierce the rain, darkness, and distance with his yellow eyes. His bow dangles over the open air in front of him from his left hand, and across his back is strapped the reclaimed greatsword from the armory. No use wasting such a useful weapon, he thinks as he waits for the others.

Killing time, he runs through possible approaches to the bridge-house. Need to sneak up to do some recon. Could try the direct approach -- letting the big guy lead the charge. Could try to use that Invisibility scroll to get someone in unnoticed. Though the dog could be a problem…

His thoughts are interrupted as someone joins him on the roof.

Basically, unless there's something else we want to accomplish, I figured we could fast-forward to our move on the bridge house. Price's idea of a quick recon is good. Then -- based on what we find -- we can make a plan of action.

Reposting CAin's Percpetion/Stealth rolls from above.
Perception - 13
Stealth - 19
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I'm curious about any information we can gather about the building itself and the deployment of the guards. Also, what does the gate look like? Material? Thickness? Height? How is it barred/locked? Is there access into the bridge-house from our side? And where is that? The water below, does it look swimmable? What about the coast around the bridge? Could a swimmer jump in the water, swim the last length of the bridge, and then climb up on shore a good distance away from the bridge house itself? Or are they cliffs or something?

Details of the gatehouse are difficult to make out, the same rain that provides you cover obscuring your own vision. An archway can be made out ahead, within which is a porticullus that raises to block passage, a porticullus that is currently up.

Below is a 40-60' drop depending on where you fall into the rocky waters below. If you land upon the rocks, death is almost certain. The water is fast moving, difficult to swim in.

A light can be seen coming from the gatehouse, from within the structure. Beyond that not much can be made out without moving closer.

Oh, that's the plan. To have Price and Cain do a recon as close to the structure as they can without being detected. My 'standing in the roof' narrative was just to give people an opportunity to weigh in before we do anything we can't take back. :)
.
I'm fine having the recon trip happen already, though.

...a porticullus that raises to block passage, a porticullus that is currently up.

To be clear - is the portcullis blocking passage or not blocking passage right now?

If it's open, i vote we hit GJ with the invisibility and have him run under the portcullis,ready to catch it in the open position. :)

LOL! I like it! I'm a little concerned that since Mark mentioned the portcullis raises and that it is 'up', that means it is closed. We'll see.

The porticullis is closed at present. It operates by being raised for closed, lowered for opened.

Cool! Am I correct in assuming the portcullis is about halfway along the length of the building, so that even with it closed we could still slap the window onto the side of the building and access that one room?

Ayup

OK, so we'll do the slinky recon proposed before. Figure we'll sneak to within comfortable low-light range for Cain (120'?), and if things are really black... to within Price's 60' darkvision range.

Leaving the rest of the team further up the trail, safely concealed in the darkness of the storm, Cain and Price creep down towards the Bridge-house to observe the final hurdle to escape...

Reposting my rolls from above
Perception 25
Stealth 24

Creeping towards the gatehouse, you look through the rear door to see one guard currently inside. It appears that he's making tea inside a small fireplace inside, the whiskey flask on the nearby table to add 'flavor' to it. The other doorway inside is opened to the far room, where you can see two other guards, one of which is currently playing with the guard dog. The other keeps a watchful eye through arrow slits at the road ahead.

Map

Hey Mark, you have a DRAGON icon on the screen at C/D 24... are you trying to give us a heart attack? :D

Is there a window in the wall so we can get to the guard at I11 - possibly with a glaive? And/or crawl in? Could someone jump from the bridge to the ground at I4?

Price taps Cain on the shoulder and they slink back to the others to discuss strategies.

"Xanos... you said one of those scrolls contained a sleep spell. Perhaps you could use that on the guard in the rear room, then we throw up the magic window and get a force inside. We could block the door and winch open the gate - allowing Grumblejack here to come through and meet the guards from the other side. Then the winch team rushes in from their side."

:)

That plan works for me. I certainly don't have anything better.

Xanos nods and waits to follow them into position.

OK - so the plan is...
1. Team Winch: Price, Cain, and Gwyn sneak forward along the wall. Gwyn has the veil.
2. Team Smash: Xanos, GJ, and Jakes get just close enough to get Xanos in LOS and range of his spell.
3. Xanos can hopefully target the spell to catch the guard but not us. The Guard goes beddy-bye.
4. Gwyn slaps the window up. Cain moves through the window to secure/bar the door. Price moves in to open the Portcullis. Gwyn is a variable and could come through the window to assist or winch depending on circumstances. If, Xanos' spell fails... Price tries to Daze or Ear-Piercing Scream the guard while Gwyn slaps up the window and Cain secures the room.
5. Assuming the room is secure and the Portcullis is opened - Team Smash comes directly through the the gate and takes the main door into the Bridgehouse with Xanos hanging back and doing his evil, magicy goodness.
6. Wherever Team Smash engages the enemy (in the house or on the bridge), Team Winch takes them from the other side.

The basic idea is to pincer these suckers and slaughter them. Mark, let us know what rolls you need to see.

Stealth Rolls from Price, Cain and Xanos. I'll make saves as appropraite after I have them and write up a quick narrative.

Stealth 1d20 + 6 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 6 - 2 + 1 = 19 cloak

1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 1 = 18

I'm bad at stealth. I think I'm going to need a boost for this.

Xanos reads from one of his plundered scrolls as he begins to follow the others across the bridge, and with a waver in the dim light, he vanishes from sight.

1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

Remember, you can get a variety of penalties. In this case, I rolled a 4 for Grumblejack. Add 2 for favorable conditions (Rainstorm), 5 for hearing through the wall, and then distance. Even a noisy ogre is okay. Now if he moved all the way to the window itself, it'd be different.

The plan starts off smoothly. The teams move into position, the rainstorm their cover. Gwyn, Cain and Price stand under the window as the invisible Xanos moves into sight of the room. He sees the one guard, having finished the tea and beginning to pour three cups. He begins intoning the incantation to induce sleep into the guard.

The spell comes into effect, the guard falling into a deep sleep, tumbling to the floor. Thunder rolls across the sky as he falls, helping to cover the sound, but alas the unaccounted for guard dog at this time begins to bark. The guards turn around, but events are already under way.

The window's shutter thrown open by Gwyn, Cain leaps through and slams the door into the dogs face before it makes it through. Price behind him begins to twist the winch up, Gwyn coming up to help.

While this continues, Kalina and Grumblejack quickly move forward, towards the gate as it's lifted. The porticullis quickly falls down, the loud sound alerting the guards inside who draw steel. Grumblejack comes forward and smashes the door open with a single strike, allowing their team through.

The last of the guards of Branderscar stand before you, flanked from both sides. The final battle of the Prison is upon you. The final lives of the slaughter.

Inish
Gwyn
Guards
Kalina
Price
Cain
Xanos
Grumblejack

The two guards, weapons drawn, ready to meet the attacks headon. The guard dog barks and claws at the still closed southern doorway.Standard action to ready an attack.

We're moving straight into normal initiative as the surprise rounds were used in the setup. I'll have Gwyn delay until the door in the south is opened. If you want Gwyn to open the door, let me know.

Map

Price readies herself and looks to Gwyn, "Open the door then fall back." She glances down at the sleeping guard, "Finish him when you have a chance."

As soon as Gwyn opens the door, Price steps in with the demon-headed mace - bringing it down in a two-handed grip on the guard dog's snarling skull.

~ Round 1 ~
MOVE: To doorway
STAND (Readied?): Bash

Cain uses the moments between slamming the door shut and Gwyn re-opening it to retrieve the huge blade strapped across his back. He grins over at Price as the thrill sings in his blood. "Another day on the job, huh?" Not waiting for a response, he prepares to kill the animal the second Gwyn opens the door.

Move: Draw Greatsword
Standard: Ready an action to Power Attack the dog when the door opens.
.
Greatsword 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (12) + 5 - 1 = 16
---> Damage 2d6 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (6, 1) + 6 + 3 = 16.

Between the viscious attacks of Price and Cain, the guard dog ends a bloody mess on the floor.

Gwyndolin brings her dagger down to finish off the guard, but her aim was off. The dagger slips off bone, still a viscious wound, but not enough to finish the guard who now awakens.

Kalina moves in, drawing the readied attack of the one guard as she does. The guards viscious blow slices into the woman, drawing a great deal of blood from the attack. Wracked with pain, she returns the blow, but the guard blocks it with his shield. Kalina took 11 points of damage.

The ogre moves into the room, struggling through the doorway, making his own strike at the guard. Alas the room's ceiling proves to be his failing and he strikes againt it in his swing.

Waiting for Xanos to finish the round.

Xanos' eyes narrow. The battle seemed well in hand, but he saw an opportunity.

Best to test things now. Best to know.

Raising his arms he began to whisper in an ancient tongue.

Beginning to cast Summon Monster 1

The guards move into position to contend with the Ogre and the Warrioress. "Should've stayed in the army, Jakes!" One growls out as the other laugh. Unfortunately for our two guards, they fail to connect.

In the southern room, the now awake guard, takes his sword and strikes up at Gwyn, holding a knife to him. His blow strikes true and hard, dropping the the poor girl before him. "You're next!" he growls at Price as he stands. Gwyn is at -3 HP, AoO from Price on Guard

Villains are up. Xanos, since I wasn't sure what you were summoning, I put a Mario Cube on the map for you. Put it where you want when your summon goes off, and I'll place an appropriate token tonight. If the guards aren't dead that is.

Map

Price looks at her two wounded comrades then glares at the guard - irritated that their perfect escape has been marred.

"You should have stayed down." She emphasizes her point by putting her mace firmly across the guard's skull.

If the guard is still alive after the AoO, Price will use her action this round to bring the mace down again.

As the guard stands, Price's attack strikes him hard in the face, breaking his jaw in the process. "Daabmnb..." The guard shrieks out, barely deflecting Price's second blow with his shield.

Cain steps in, huge blade once more whistling through the air, slinging dark canine blood even as it streaks towards the closest guard's body.

Move: Step in to flank the southern guard with Kalina.
Standard: Power attack from flank.

the map won't load on my phone. I'm taking a little creative license with my summoning spell. I'm summoning a Riding Dog with the Skeletal Creature template using the Skeleton Summoner feat. (sadly can't link from my phone either). The summons goes off over the dog's corpse.

Xanos' whispering rises to a harshly shouted demand. The corpse of the guard dog answers, twitching in reversed death throws, but it does not rise. Instead a translucent image of it manifests standing where the corps had lain. Blood streamed upward, filling it, assembling a framework of blackened bones beneath the ghostly outline if it's body. It's eyes flared with a strange purple shadow-light as it surveyed the room and waited.

Xanos seemed disapointed somehow, but raised his eyebrows and sighed in resignation.

He pointed at the downed guard fending off Price and said "Kill him." in a tone thick with bored purpose, like a teacher instructing on a subject he did not much care for.

The extra damage from the crit actually puts the guard at 0 HP, so still up. Xanos can roll for his dog against the fallen guard.

Cain's attack against the guard strikes true, penetrating the Talingarde chain with ease. The guard falls to the ground as his companion looks on in horror. "Iomadae save me..." he mutters under his breath.

Kalina and Grumblejack both strike forward at the guard, taking a blow from each. Dazed and confused, barely able to stand, he seems on the verge of surrender.

The alias is for a spirit dog in another game. I didn't have anything else appropriate

Bite attack, charge, flank: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 2 + 2 = 10
1d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Just remove appropriate bonuses if they don't apply

The skeletal dog's faint ghostly shell bristled, hackles up, ears back. It crouched and then burst forward to carry out it's command.

The guard in the northern room slumps against the wall, defeated and without hope. "Please spare my life," he says, holding his shield before him to ward off any attacks.

In the southern room, the guard fends off Xanos summoned creature, then takes his sword and holds it over Gwyndolin. "Let me live or I'll finish her, I swear!" A desparate act for certain, for who would believe villains would show compassion towards another.

Standard action to ready an attack against Gwyn.

Price can't help but smile as the spectral canine stalks the wounded guard. "You've a poor choice - try to kill me or the dog. Whichever you choose, you'll have to reckon with the other. So what scares you more - this diabolic mace or passing through the fangs and guts of an undead hell-beast?"

I'm hoping to psych him into going after Xanos' pup. :)

Price raises an eyebrow at the guard's ultimatum and shows her brand. "You know what this means and I assume you know what I've done if not my name. Do you honestly think I care for that girl's life? Slay her and be damned! That'll keep you busy while this hell-beast tears you apart."

Sense Motive 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20
Bluff (lack of concern) 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

Price offers him another choice, "Let the girl go and I'll spare you from finding out if this dog's unholy digestion will steal your soul as well as your life. I will kill you quick and painlessly. I give you my word."

For the record, Price is mildly concerned with Gwyn's life. She's been a good companion, a reliable asset, and - more importantly - Price more or less agreed to deliver everyone safely to the meeting point.

Cain steps in and delivers the cowering guard's verdict with a heavy dose of heavy metal. "You get the same salvation the headsman would have shown us, pig!"

Move: Step to flank w/ Kalina
Standard: Power attack from flank

His hand begins to tremble until he finally cannot take it. He falls to his knees, sword clattering against the ground. "Please, don't kill me. I'll do anything, just please let me live." He covers his face with his now empty sword arm, tears streaming down it.

Price sighs, puts her mace down, and crouches getting eye to eye with the weeping guard. Her voice verges on the maternal. "Hush now... There is no reason to cry. You aren't in danger any more. You've laid down your weapons." Her eyes soften and she leans forward, stroking the young man's hair and hugging him. She rocks him for a moment, mindful of the wounds to his head. As good as her word, she causes him no further pain. She softly breathes a kindly lie, "You're safe now." She looks in his eyes, kisses him gently, and whispers a single word in his ear... and then snaps his neck with a skilled twist.

In case, you don't think this is a CdG opportunity, I'm including a To Hit roll. Either way, he should be out and she'll keep twisting until he is dead.

STAND: Hand (crit: 20/2x)
HIT: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23 Crit?
CONFIRM: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
DAM: 1d3 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 Improved Unarmed Strike
CRIT DAM: 1d3 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Price lays the cooling corpse against the wall, the warmth gone from her eyes. She turns her attention to the unconscious thief. A spell is quickly on her lips and soon it begins to knit Gwyn's wounds.

CLW - Gwyn 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 HPs
CLW - Gwyn 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8 HPs

With a crack, the young guard's neck snaps, his body going limp, killing him instantly. As the snap occurs, another flash of lightning arcs across the sky as thunder booms out. The last living defender of Branderscar has been defeated, the prison lain to rest. All that remains of our villains plans is to ignite the structure. And then to escape into the darkness.

I'll allow you all to describe what happens for the remainder of your stay in the prison. Xanos's plans should work out as he planned. Have fun with it! When ready to continue on, the optimal option would be to cross the Old Moors to get to your destination. If you choose to take that option, I will need Survival and Perception rolls from everyone (you won't get lost as you did find the map in the Warden's Tower).

All of Cain's efforts are focused on two goals. To see the prison blaze set. And to get his ass (and anyone going with him) prepared for the trip across the Old Moors.

To those ends, he focuses his energy on the more immediate needs. Food, water, and how to transport their loot in a quick and efficient manner.

Perception 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Survival 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24.

Really i figure this is Xanos's gig -- as he's done all the work on the fire. Cain will be looking for water skins and bags to carry stuff -- mostly the valuable items they've liberated as well as whatever food they can take from the kitchen…or off the dog carcasses. :)

What are we doing with GJ? Hoping to keep him around? Or give him some cut of our loot and send him packing with warmest wishes for his future? Kill him for free bp's? :D

SWEET! Go Team EVIL!

As soon as Gwyn is up and around, Price goes to check on the rest of the team. She clucks at the massive wound in Jakes' side and casts her last spell for the day. It closes the ferocious slash but can't heal it entirely.

Price kicks a guard's body away from the bench so she can sit down. She scribbles out a few extra notes on the papers stolen from Blackerly's office before giving the document a final conclusive dot. All smiles, Price explains herself. "As a favor to Talingarde's sovereign Lord, I've been detailing Blackerly's financial scam here. I've also included a note that we'd like to thank Guard Evritt for his 'invaluable assistance'. I promised Evritt that he'd live til morning and we wouldn't kill him... I never said anything about what his own lord and master might do to him on the morrow." She looks to the others, "Should I add anything else? A vague thanks for Blackerly's help as well, perhaps?" Getting no immediate response, she shrugs and leaves the notes on the table, weighted down with a plate of half-eaten food. "Feel free to amend it as you wish."

Price busies herself by rifling through the bodies for anything of value... the task is quickly done. The Inquisitor of Asmodeus surveys the room, particularly the relatively clean walls. A wicked smile passes across her features. She borrows Cain's blade and hacks an arm from one of the corpses before using the limb as an impromptu brush to leave a personal message for her and Cain's nemesis.

The Message

Price wipes the blade clean and returns the weapon to Cain while admiring her handiwork. She shares her thoughts with a note of dissatisfaction, "I would have preferred to use my best script but, alas, this isn't a medium that allows great control." As an afterthought, she dots the 'i' in Price with the symbol of Asmodeus. She eyes her rangy comrade and jests, "I was tempted to dot the 'i' in Cain with a heart... but I know you are sensitive about your reputation."

Price's plan for Guard Evritt is to pull him out of the Gatehouse (since we may torch it) and rest him near one of the turret/walls far away from the destruction. Basically, any place safe will do.

As far as I'm concerned, Xanos has dibs on what happens to Blackerly.

CLW - Jakes 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 HPs

Survival 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Perception 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18

She looks to the others, "Should I add anything else? A vague thanks for Blackerly's help as well, perhaps?" Getting no immediate response, she shrugs and leaves the notes on the table, weighted down with a plate of half-eaten food. "Feel free to amend it as you wish."

Cain shakes his head. "We only need to leave a note about Blackerly if we're thinking of leaving the guy alive." He gives everyone a flat look, "But since we're going to kill the man, it's no issue, right?"

She eyes her rangy comrade and jests, "I was tempted to dot the 'i' in Cain with a heart... but I know you are sensitive about your reputation."

He barks a laugh, "You know how I hate to let my fans down."

Xanos simply waited, watching the others go about their tasks for a time and directing Grumbejack to bring Blackerly and the chest to him.

At Cain's question about Blackerly's fate, Xanos simply shrugged. "I thought I might leave one single thing to chance. I find doing such things on occasion keeps existence interesting."

Blackerly's chair was set at the head of the table where the other guards had sat, the king of Branderscar holding court over his tiny fallen kingdom.

Without preamble Xanos severed the sergeant's hand with the man's own sword, draining the blood from the grisly trophy for a time while inspecting the ring on the little finger before placing it in his satchel along with the warden's hand.

It was likely that Blackerly would bleed to death long before help came, but there was a chance at least that the man would survive to see the faces of those he had been stealing from for so long.

Xanos nodded at Price's message to the Witch Hunter. It was exactly the sort of thing he had come to expect of her. It brought an efficient and graceful finality to this business and would have been enough for anyone else.

Xanos, though, was not finished. He had his own message to send. It was not merely the prison guards who had slighted him, nor even the witch hunter. They were only agents. Blind and stupid followers. Such subtleties as Price's note would be lost on them. The would see it as only a vendetta, not the beginning of something greater.

Talengarde had been a nettle in Xanos' side for long enough. He was a patient person and understood that a powerful response would evoke powerful reaction in turn. He had been content to mostly ignore the meddlesome kingdom for a very long time, hoping that eventually they would simply become bored of their fool's crusade.

But they had surprised him, and now he was laid low. He had nearly forgotten what it felt like to be so powerless, to be forced to struggle so hard just to survive, to constantly question every action.

It was thrilling.

In his weakness he was more powerful than he could ever remember being. His potential was limitless.

In all his efforts to break the spiral of chains he had missed something valuable. For every metaphysical chain he had broken, he'd forged another. He had traded one prison for another, eventually finding himself inside a literal prison, brought there by his own inaction.

The revelation of it was like being reborn.

The fools of Talengarde did not understand the true depth of what they had done. They had imprisoned someone who held emancipation as the greatest of all ideals. From the moment the shackles had been locked to his arms Branderscar had become a metaphor for something greater.

Talengarde had given him back the fire that had driven him so long ago when he first had begun straining at his chains.

So in return, he would give them a fire.
Break their prison.
Show them a metaphor.

He would send them a message.

It had not taken long to heat the branding iron to a sizzling cherry.

Flanked by those who had fought alongside him, he set spark to fuse with the very brand they had used to mark those they doomed, leaving the sigil scored into the wood on the first plank of the bridge.

They watched the fire crawl across the bridge, forking into the gatehouses and across the courtyard to disappear inside. The storm washed the blood and grime from them as they watched the fire grow, spreading like a hungry beast along the trail Xanos had left for it. Only the kitchen would be left unscathed when the would-be rescuers came in the morning.

And when they reached the heart of the blaze, the very cell they had tried to hold him, they would find only his message, addressed to all of Talengarde, scored deep into the stone, and they would begin to understand what they had begun.

YOU HAVE SEWN
I SHALL REAP