"Oh, yes - we have something for you."
"Then whatever it is Ironbriar gave you, fork it over and we'll take it to her. Then, if she wants to see you, she'll come to you. Ironbriar knows the rules - he should have filled you in on how this works."
Both city guardsmen stand in front of you, paying no attention to Lleidr slinking off into shadows. Their arms are crossed and the one called Brek has his hand open, palm towards your group, as if expecting a letter or some other document. They pay Ned a passing look as he encircles them. Their stance indicates they're unwilling to consider letting anyone pass to the stairs.
The second man speaks. "Brek, I bet they got nothin'. They just want to get to her, that's what I'm thinkin'"
The first man speaks again. "Don't think I like what I'm hearin'. You fellas in love, too? Too bad. Get your head out of your trousers. Either hand over Ironbriar's letter or get out."
Lleidr will maintain his position, hopefully close enough to move and flank/attack one of the guards when the situation reaches its tipping point.
Sorry to do this my friends but the needs must when the devil drives.
His hand hand starts to glow and he touches himself with it, seeming to magnify his presence and confidence
You WILL let us pass
I admit I am not that scary but my friends? They can be VERY scary indeed.
Interesting .. what's Ned & Selia doing?
Observing...
Selia digs in her pack for that deed she has been carrying around, just to further distract him.
"Did you see that, Brek? Did you see his hand? They ain't no messengers .. he was using some kind of magic. Never seen a messenger do anything like that."
"Yeah, and why would it take four people, well three and a half, to deliver a message anyway? What's this all about? We need answers, now!"
The guard named Brek leans over and pokes Nich in the chest for emphasis in his demand for answers.
Is the third guard, the one who went back up the stairs, out of sight/earshot?
The conversation has been only been with the 2 guards at the bottom of the stairs, barring the way up. The 3rd man never came down; instead he went up and is now out of sight.
Nicholae draws his sword and attempts to bash one up the head with the flat of the weapon.
for
Selia, seeing Nich move, starts casting Grease on the stairs, to see if she can hurry the guards down.
Hoping that the guards have forgotten about him and are distracted by his companions' actions, Lleidr will sneak up behind and flank the guard Nich attacked. Lleidr will have Arg use a move action to change from tattoo to monkey and assist his attack, then enhance his fist with Arcane Strike and punch the guard in the back to try and stun him.
, +2 to Lleidr's to hit
, also provides +4 dodge bonus to AC for 1 round (AC 24/touch 20/ff n/a)
"I guess that was enough dancin' about..."
(non lethal, power attack)
(non lethal, power attack)
Shadow Clock, Ground Floor - Surprise Round
The guards are taken by surprise!
One looses his footing on the coated steps and slides down the stair, falling prone on the floor. The other guard, Brek, is hammered from all sides and is swaying on his feet. You deal a series of blows that would fell regular men, yet this one still stands somehow.
Round 1 - Init order:
Guards, Selia, Ned, Nich, Lleidr
The prone guard is adjacent to Lleidr, who gets an AoO as he is attempting to get back on his feet.
I'll stop here, get Lleidr's single action, if desired, and then resolve their actions afterward.
Hunh, either the guards in this city are a lot tougher than expected or there is something odd about them after all.
Lleidr will draw the FoE and take advantage of the guard's uneasy footing.
I guess he's not flat-footed anymore since he's acting, so no sneak attack damage?
Hunh, either the guards in this city are a lot tougher than expected or there is something odd about them after all.
Lleidr will draw the FoE and take advantage of the guard's uneasy footing.
[dice=AoO FoE melee]1d20+10
[dice=damage]1d3+0+1I guess he's not flat-footed anymore since he's acting, so no sneak attack damage?
Shadow Tower, Ground Floor, Round 1
No matter, the man must be wearing incredibly tough armor under his garb for the Fang's blade is turned.
The guards shudder, and Brek's face changes before you into a thick, misshapen mass. "You fight in vain. We will deny you these steps, though you may fell the two of us."
Long arms snake out towards Ned and Lleidr. The halfling dodges their blows with nimble sidesteps, but Ned suffers one hit (6 dmg).
--need Selia, Ned, Nich, Lleidr actions
Hunh, either the guards in this city are a lot tougher than expected or there is something odd about them after all.
Lleidr will draw the FoE and take advantage of the guard's uneasy footing.
[dice=AoO FoE melee]1d20+10
[dice=damage]1d3+0+1I guess he's not flat-footed anymore since he's acting, so no sneak attack damage?
Depending on where everyone else's movement leaves them, Lleidr will move 5' to flank. Whether or not he can get into this position, Lleidr will enhance his weapons with Arcane Strike and stab at the same guard he AoO'd. Arg will continue to aid Lleidr's attack.
, +2 more if flanking
, if flanking, also provides +4 dodge bonus to AC for 1 round (AC 24/touch 20/ff n/a)
Sorry, i wasn't clear on the 'city guard's' movement. They each did a 5' move, and the map reflects after their move. Before they moved, yes, you got a flanking bonus on your AoO.
Sorry, i wasn't clear on the 'city guard's' movement. They each did a 5' move, and the map reflects after their move. Before they moved, yes, you got a flanking bonus on your AoO.
Oh, cool! That adds +2 to the hit roll, for a total of 17.
If that hits, in addition to the damage roll above:
Selia casts an acid splash at the one with the long arms.
"Well, no need to hold back."
(power attack)
just need an action from Nich
Unfortunately, the prior sneak attack missed ... still waiting on Nich. I'll update later today if we don't hear from him.
Shadow Tower, Ground Floor, Round 1 - Continued
Selia directs a glob of acid at one of the leathery bipeds, which spatters and steams to no visible effect.
Ned's sword blow is knocked aside by the monster's leathery arm.
Nich steps from behind the ranger and hacks away at Selia's target, but the beast is too nimble to hit.
Meanwhile, the thing is distracted by Nich's attack and by Arg's antics; the Fang bites deep once more
Round 2
Ned's wound continues to bleed (1 hp dmg). One stalker circles around Nich with great care, so as not to leave himself open. The other, wounded by Lleidr, wheels around in pain, lashing out madly against the halfling.
"Have you any idea what you've done? Attacking the favored servants of Xanesha? Did Ironbriar put you all up to this? I never liked that elf!"
--need Selia, Ned, Nich, Lleidr actions
(power attack)
"Ironbriar? As soon as we broke the charm on him, that cheapskate sold you out and took off. I'm the new Justice, and the king of Thistletop to boot, so don't think I'm impressed."
With that, Lleidr will enhance his weapons with arcane strike and finish off his opponent with a critical for max damage. Arg will assist.
+4 dodge to AC
Nicholae attacks with a power attack. Not sure if flanking applies.
Sword + 1 for
Confirm
Sword + 1 for
Looking good this round! Just need Selia's action ...
Selia casts a new spell, summoning a swarm of monkeys. It swarms the one by the stairs.
When the guard's turn comes up, the monkeys will try to disarm him.
Good shot, Nich. You were due.
Selia, first a pet to sneak and peak, now a swarm of monkeys? WTF? Am I being fired?? :)
Shadow Tower, Ground Floor, Round 2 - Continued
The screeching monkey's swarm over the Stalker, who is forced backwards a few steps from the onslaught.
Ned delivers a deadly strike against one of Nich's assailants.
Lleidr takes advantage and strikes with lethal accuracy, forcing the stalker to crash to the ground.
And, after twin strokes of the blade from Nicholae, his companion, Brek, also falls down, groaning in pain.
What next?
The priest will take a minute to ascertain if they are human or not, then...
Quicky, lets not lose momentum - up the tower now!
Selia casts Bull's Strength on Nich. "Go get em, big guy..."
"Bizrip, what do you see up there? The monkeys are coming..."
Selia tells the monkey swarm "Get up there and disarm who ever is up there!"
The faceless stalkers are most definitely inhuman.
After several rounds, the monkeys are barely halfway around the second inner set of stairs; the steps' poor condition slows down even these nimble and graceful creatures, who make the tower innards echo with their feral screeches. Even now, you can feel the summoning which binds them to your command begin to fade. Before they depart, they might make it up another ring to stairs.
Bizrip, on the other hand, can fly a straight path up, to where the false city guardsmen were originally stationed. He spies the 3rd guard, shaking and clutching a stair rail as he peers down into the gloom. From the darkened heights, you can make out a trembling voice.
"Get back you devils! I will gladly die before letting any of you defile my love with your presence."
The guard is near the top of the tower, right under the four bells.
"Yeah? Well, we're coming up, so save us all some trouble and gladly throw yourself off the ledge there!"
Lleidr's ready to head up if y'all are.
About 200'
"Too far up to do much from here. Guess we are climbing..."
Nicolae moves up the stairs as fast as he can, motioning the others to follow.
Lleidr will have Arg return to tattoo form, drink his potion of Spider Climb, then follow after Nich, giving him the 10 or 15 feet space Lleidr determined earlier as a safe distance. He'll try to keep an eye out for especially dangerous steps to warn the others.
, maybe +2 for Trapfinding?
Trudging up the stairs
Shadow Tower, the Stairs
The stairs are ancient, and many of them are eaten with worms or soft with rot. Often, there are steps missing, sometimes 3 at a time. With painstaking effort, you climb higher up into this dreadful eyrie and the hard ground beneath falls away. Many times, the stairs creak and sway, and often you hear the sound of a support cracking.
Your progress is slow as you wind ever upwards. After 4 loops of climbing, your legs tighten in protest. The shouts from the guard above grow ever more urgent and panicked.
"Your last warning, you fools. Stay away from me."
I need Reflex saves from everyone, please!