Eberron - Echoes of the Past (Inactive)

Game Master Dennis Harry

also <3 map

Once he arrives at the nearest wall's edge, Frank replies, "I think I saw a couple of fires that haven't burned themselves out yet. I could use one or both for a distraction while we conduct that ambush."

anyone else know Message? Frank could mention that too if no one else can magically whisper at a distance...

"Let's not forget we're running against the clock; we can probably make do with just the one distraction. If someone can sneak over and spook the horses, the rest of us can get the jump on them," Dev hissed back.

"Who's the best sneak?"

Uh oh. =/

"Well, if we aren't going as a team to let the horses loose, I think B would be the best candidate. Give me a minute and a bit of space." Frank peeks around the corner before stepping back and preparing to summon Broulnindre.

Until now it never occurred to me that the summoning ritual might be noisy...

<Am not bad at stealthy things> EE replies, raising his hand. <Some others here are very good too. Don't know what to say,>

Kana (+10), Aerin (+11) and EE (+9+1d6) seem the best suited for the job. I don't know about Frank's Eidolon.

Kana gives Frank a mysterious look.
Mh i already thought she wouldn't be coming and i wondered why. Now it turns out you bound her magicaly? Where do you call her from? Do you keep her in some pocket dimension? Seems your culture is a bit...special. Where i come from, women are a lot more highly regarded and in charge. Matriarchy is a way more prosperous and succesful form of social organization. We will discuss this later, once we survived this and freed the targets.

I'm kind of sneaky, or maybe it is people tend to overlook me here.

B's Stealth bonus is +12 without Reduce Person, +17 with :3
Oddly that's not even her main selling point: she can communicate telepathically with Frank and be unsummoned with a standard action, so there's none of the normal problems with splitting the party :3
If anyone else really wants to go, feel free to volunteer ^^
Frank would prefer to use more expendable resources anyway xD
Also she's a bit of a blood knight which could be a problem...

"First the fiancee comment and now this, Kana? Unbearable. She isn't even... ugh. Never mind, now isn't the time." Frank scowls at Kana before starting the ritual over again.

B. is clearly best suited for more than one reason! Sorry for the comments :D

I have a +11, Guidance, and can give myself a 20' move speed while sneaking.

"I can do it," Aerin said with a mischievous smile.

Zabeth smiles at Sharon's personality transformation and the interactions among the party "... such a colorful group... fascinating.."
"Frank, if you think she would be the best for the job, I trust your judgment. I am able to speak with animals, but simply spooking them, as you say, should suffice."

She then raises an eyebrow, and nods to Aerin - intrigued by the apparent confidence in her ability.

TBH, B was going to imply something if no one else did.
No one else knows IC I suppose, but she only promised to be good for a single week xD

Aerin slipped into the shadows, slinking around the camp to where the horses were.

Stealth, Guidance: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 11 + 1 = 20 Reminder of the -1 per 10' Perception penalty rule

"I am with Kana...you are disturbing Frank...and Kana your culture seems very sensible." she takes out two vials,"I can cause a distraction...thought it is very loud and...explodey. Do we know what building the people we rescue are in?"

Aerin, do you take the longest route possible to get to the horses? I.e. as far south as possible and around? Just want to make sure I calculate distances properly for my Perception checks.

Frank stops with an audible huff at Sharon/Talia's agreement with Kana.

Ugh, I get enough of this crap 'cause of B lying about me... us.

But then he perks up a bit at the mention of a loud and 'explodey' distraction.
"Right, distractions. Let's do those. Let Aerin-
Uh shoot- did she already go?" Frank looks left and right for her before throwing up his hands and then picking his crossbow back up.
"Well I can get us a couple more explosions easily enough. Think it'll take her more than a minute to release the horses?"

Sure. That will give the others the most time to prep and get into position. I'll use my signal mirror to get their attention periodically so they have an idea of my progress and timing.

"Depends if they're penned or tied. Either way, when you get the signal, toss those second distractions in a different direction. Then we can run in, and if it all goes right, we won't have to deal with the whole lot of em at once and we can even the odds quickly. Sounds good?"

Run in? And then be trapped inside with the reinforcements here? Not a good idea.

EE scratches his metal head. <If don't need to run in, why create the distraction then?>

The Rose Quarry - Twenty Eighth Day of Dravago

As the rest of the group discusses what the best next steps for this rescue mission, Aerin arrives near the horses. She can see that they are all tied to stakes pounded into the ground. As she examines the stakes, she can see that the reins are double knotted for some reason.

Make a Handle Animal check to ensure that you do not rile them up as you begin to un-tether the horses. Give me one Sleight of Hand check to untie the ropes, DC 11, these are oddly tough, complicated knots.

The Quarry - Pink-Eye and Gauntlet

The other two grumble but step into the doorway to periodically look at the two of you, they continue to speak.

"Coming all the way from Sharn eh? What the heck did Tavack go there for anyway?"

"He was supposed to meet with some scholar to get an amulet deciphered. The damned scholar gets murdered by a 'Forged and some thief lifts the amulet right off of him!

My understanding is some adventuring clowns retrieved it for him no fuss but a big delay. I'd rather be in Sharn then here, the Mournland gives me the creeps".

"Yeah, me too".

"The 'Forged that killed the scholar was an agent of the Lord of Blades, that's what Kaela told me".

"Wait, I thought Tavack was supposed to retrieve something else too?"

"Yep, a piece of the same thing we're here to retrieve. Dunno what happened with that though. Too hush hush to discuss with a lowly guard like me".

"But yer not too lowly to share her bed eh?" the guard chuckles.

"Well, one has nothing to do with the other", the guard retorts.

"Well, if she wouldn't tell you about the one thing why'd she tell you about the amulet?"

"She was just b$%@$in' about how slow Tav..."

A female voice calls out, "You two idiots, can you guard with your mouths closed?! Or do you want to share a bed with one of the undead instead Gavin?"

"Sorry Kaela!" both reply in unison.

"Not run in, run to the nearest group. They can't team up properly if they're solving other problems when we attack."

A green aura briefly encompasses Frank as he concentrates. The color fades as a tiny creature with cricket legs, gossamer wings, and the upper body of an elven woman appears.

Frank quickly casts another spell, targeting it.
"When you hear me say 'fire', turn the campfires into clouds of smoke, got it? Turn invisible, fly up, and wait for the order. You'll see the fires of which I speak from up high." he orders the creature before returning to the wall's corner.

"Will Aerin give us a signal? I guess the sound of stampeding horses is fine..."

Stealth check for the (now invisible) grig to fly up unnoticed, if that's needed: 1d20 + 12 + 20 ⇒ (6) + 12 + 20 = 38

Handle Animal, guidance: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 8 + 1 = 20

Slight of Hand: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11 whew

"Shhhhh," Aerin whispered to the horses. "We're going for a nice run..."

Rather than send them fleeing randomly, I'm just going to gather all their reigns, loop a rope through them (for extra length on their leads), and steal them all.

Ride: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Sorry, guys, apparently lost my "new post" notifications. Back now! Not that I'm much help at the moment...

Not sure you can lead 11 but probably a good four to five. Give me a Handle Animal to correctly command the rest to follow the lead of the one you ride and those five trailers. Which way do you want to lead them Aerin?

That's what the rope is for. Horses are herd animals. They'll follow the leader of the pack, especially when their bridals are being tugged that direction.

Imagine the horses in a loose, arrow shaped formation with all their bridals stretched out in front of them. Now imagine the rope looped through all those bridals and tied to the lead horse's saddle (which Aerin would be riding). That's how large numbers of horses used to be lead (or stolen) in wild west days.

Handle Animal (lead tame animal, DC 10): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Stealth, guidance: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 11 + 1 = 20

Stealth, guidance: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 11 + 1 = 32

The Rose Quarry - Twenty Eighth Day of Dravago

Aerin begins to gather the reigns on the horses and they don't make too much noise but enough though that they attract the attention of one of the patrolling guards.

As she is halfway through linking the horses the guards come around the corner of one of the buildings, "Damn it, not again. Stop right there Lady. Move a muscle and we'll take you down. Who are you?!"

As the lead soldier speaks, the other two raise their crossbows to train them on you. Unwisely though, they do not raise an alarm.

---

Frank, you receive a Message from your Grig, "Your companion has been spotted!"

"Oh great. On the bright side It's nice to have an intelligent summon for once..." Frank mumbles to himself.

Frank turns towards the others.
"Aerin has been spotted. Think a fake attack in the middle followed by a real attack from us would improve her situation?"

@Aerin: I couldn't help but notice that your health is still 20/25 even after our 12 days of downtime...

<Think need more distraction so can take one group at a time. Should make one of the groups go away to investigate. Any idea?>

"Boom," Dev says quietly, making the equivalent display with his hands, and pointing at the alchemist formerly known as Sharon.

Can we actually see the guards nearest to us and those in the middle, including the undead?

Spotted mh? So their attention is with Aerin? I say let's take them by surprise and quickly!

Kana begins to move closer to the guards, sneaking up with bow ready, taking cover behind a wall.
Stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

Too bad i don't have silence yet.

"Me? I'm the distraction. Now!" Casting Murderous Command on one of the guards with the crossbows, and 5' adjusting behind a horse for cover.

Murderous Command is Verbal only, so I don't have to move to cast it.

"Ugh, let's just charge right in then. What Dev said, Talia. 'Boom'."

"Fire." Frank finally whispers back to the grig before ducking behind some nearby rubble.

Stealth: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

Can Frank fire from behind the rubble if he drops prone? If so, he'll drop prone instead of just using a double move action to sneak the 25' over there ^_^
Also: Pyrotechnics for reference, cast at CL 9 by the grig for 9 rounds of smoke-cloud.

EE also tries a stealthy approach among the ruins. While he is sneaking through the shadows, he can't help thinking of a big vuvuzela and what kind of effect would that have on the guards if they heard it right now. <Might be a good distraction, after all.>

Stealth, Inspiration: 1d20 + 9 + 1d6 ⇒ (7) + 9 + (6) = 22

Talia gives a feral grin mixing the contents of the two vials and throws it randomly into the quarry...away from Aerin and the party...

Bomb Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (4, 5) + 4 = 13

Viorr advances as quietly as he can.

Double move at half speed, stealth
stealth: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

Sorry for the lack of activity, I thought I had posted to let you know I would be out of town for a couple of days. Sorry.

Dev darts across the opening to the far side so as not to clog up space next Kana, hoping to get close enough to details the minds of the guards.

Shadow, how much time has passed since we 'prepped' before entering the room for the teleport? <10 minutes or more?

The Rose Quarry - Twenty Eighth Day of Dravago

OK, this will be a complex battle so I am going to use block initiative for groups that are located close to one another. I will use the initiative score of the highest member of the group for the roll. The rescue has begun! I will take any actions posted above as Round 1 Actions but am moving Sharon & the Grig UP metaphysically so the pyrotecnics & bomb will go off at the beginning of the round.

Round 1
Aerin & Horses - 24 (Spell Cast)
Gauntlet & Pink-Eye - 22 (You are Both UP!)
Group 3 (Purplish) - 18 (Remaining in Place)
Free Horses - 17 
Gateway Group (Bright Green) - 15 
Group 1 (RED) - 15 
Garrow - 12 
The New Group - Stealthy (Viorr, Dev, EE, Kana) - 10 
Meridian - 9 
The Balance of Leadership + Undead - 7 
The New Group - NOT so Stealthy (Frank & Creatures, Sharon, & Zabeth) - 4 
Group 2 (Dark Green) - 3

Aerin casts a spell at one of the guards. She sees him turn his menacing gaze towards the fellow on his left.

Gauntlet and Pink-Eye hear a series of explosions outside, the question is, what is going on? Actions?

The female voice states, "Damn, another incursion?! Stay here, guard these entrances. If those two inside move, kill them".

Dev, it's been about 15 to 20 minutes. Took some time to get down the side of the quarry at 1/2 speed and stealthy.

Excellent.

Good thing the not so stealthy group actually has a worse roll than the stealthy groups bad roll^^ - oh wait, it's initiative!

I would actually suggest that Frank and Sharon and the like possessed the wits to wait untill their comrades are in position before throwing their bomb and doing a lot of noise. Otherwise stealth above is round 1. If not Kana would start a bardic performance.

In a low rumble of a whisper, Gauntlet nudges Pink-Eye's bulk.

"Our time is now or never my friend."

Holding out his bound hands, Gauntlet points and concentrates, then green mist coalesces out of nothing and he fires a small ball of green liquid at the leg manacles binding Pink-Eye...subtly?

Acid Splash RTA: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 3

Pink eye prepares to kick rear and chew cud... And he's all out if cud.

Talia will drink a extract of Shield and move with the group...

AC:26 TAC:15 FAC:21

The Rose Quarry - Twenty Eighth Day of Dravago

Round 1
Group 3 (Purplish) - 18 (Remaining in Place)
Free Horses - 17
Gateway Group (Bright Green) - 15
Group 1 (RED) - 15
Garrow - 12
The New Group - Stealthy (Viorr, Dev, EE, Kana) - 10
Meridian - 9
The Balance of Leadership + Undead - 7
The New Group - NOT so Stealthy (Frank & Creatures, Sharon, & Zabeth) - 4
Group 2 (Dark Green) - 3

As Gauntlet casts his spell one of the guards peers in and sees the manifestation of Gauntlet.

"They're trying to break free!"

Pink-Eye, give me a Strength check to break thos now weakened manacles on your legs!

strength check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

no fixing that with hero points sigh

So what's our penalty(s) for fighting while shackled? =) If nothing else I can spell cast and Pink-Eye can gore and try to sit on one if he gets too close! =)

Maybe the rules for the pinned or grappled conditions are a good guess? I know the rules for grappling mention ways to tie people up, though that's with rope instead of manacles...