A Push of the Fates.... Zakhara... You Jewel!

Game Master Insnare

Maybe after combat, I will. The map is not important.

;P

As a general rule, maps in 2e are not important. When I run PF I usually use them because everything is so chesslike. Although I did a decent job describing the terrain, I did not give distances. There is a mass melee going on and stuff. Sure, I could have written, Zaheed tries to zig zag around the large vats and in between the large piles of grapes but because his movement speed is only 30 feet he does not come anywhere near the mage... but I would hate to see such nice rolls be for nought.

Sakina

How big are the vats and where are the archers?

Over 50 large urns are stacked along the western wall. Two wooden vats, over 10 feet in diameter, occupy the northern part of the hall. They are filled with grapes in the process of being stomped by four retainers. Six others watch from around the other side of the vats. There are three doors to the left and one door straight to the south of you.[/url]

There is one archer right next to the vat.

I set the map up so you can read "waterfall" the top of the map is the south and the bottom is north.

Now that we have the map, there are several tactical rules that need attention if we're playing RAW. Firstly, there appear to be large columns supporting the ceiling, evenly spaced throughout the length of the room. Because these columns fall on the corners of the spaces, the archers may not have line of fire because line of fire is drawn from the center of one space to the center of another.

If the grape-stomping vats are even a foot and a half tall, then they provide at least 25% concealment for the targets if the archers are forced to fire through any part of the space containing a vat, or an additional -2 to effective AC, and depending on where the archers are in relation to the Zaheed, that may result in at least one miss.

Even if you decide none of those conditions apply, the archer is definitely firing into melee, so there's an equal chance he'll hit a retainer with each arrow.

"Nay nay! Let it not be so!" Liath cries as brave Zaheed is sticken by the enemy. "The battle is only just begun and the adventure just born for so noble a warrior to draw his last!" she monologues as she makes her way over to Zaheed.

To my knowledge, there are Attacks of Opportunity in 2E. If there are, there might be an optional rule that I've not heard we're using.

At Zaheed's side she kneels and lets a warm healing light flow into him.

Cure Light Wounds!: 1d8 ⇒ 6

None of those conditions are applicable, if they were, I would have factored them into the situation. For fun's sake, on a 1 in 3 because you slay your melee attacker it hits the now corpse as it goes down 1d3 ⇒ 2, 1d3 ⇒ 2

As Zaheed cleaves his opponent with a valiant thrust killing him he moves forward to also kill the archer who attacks but he takes two arrows to the chest and goes down unconscious.

NUra guts her attacker as well.

Attacks of Opportunity are not in the DMG or PHB but in the optional Tactics guide. Last round I had Nabila move away without an AOO so I will allow you to render aid to Zaheed without one as well.

Why is my movement only 30? Base move is 12X10 is 120 feet/round during combat, and per the rules that takes into account the kinds of maneuvering your describe. Plus the movement bonus for a Charge is +50%. I count 9 squares between Zaheed and the Elf mage, if she's standing at the far entrance to the room, so 90 feet, which I can cover in half a round. Assuming the archer gets one shot off in the first half of the round, it would not have line of fire when I engage the Elf mage by the second half of the round, and if it did it would be firing into melee with an even chance to hit his boss by mistake.

Also, if combat in this round is truly simultaneous, then why not 1 out of 2, or 4 out of 5 - the retainer isn't dead when the first arrow is loosed, and I think there must be five people in each square in order to get all of the PCs and all of the retainers into the first row of squares on the bottom of the room.

Uthman scowls, "A sorcerer!" but with the warriors still nearer he steps over to the nearest one and lashes out.

long sword: 19 - 1d20 ⇒ 19 - (20) = -1
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Dagger: 19 - 1d20 ⇒ 19 - (10) = 9
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

"Can anyone get to the wicked sorcerer? I don't have a bow."

Charging is an optional rule from the Optional tactics book for one and since we are not using AOO that optional rule also does not apply. I left her in the room figuring she did not have the movement to leave, but the way you are describing things, she does which then means she is long gone, which does not change anything. If you have any more questions, feel free to PM me. If after this combat, the group wants to include some of the optional rules, we can talk about instituting them. As a general rule, there will not be combat maps. The maps are usually more for exploration anyways. I am not trying to give you a hard time.

So to simplify everything, the Elven mage left the room running as fast as she could.

"Still waiting for my gen to return, sorry," says Fadilah with a wince.

Charging is an optional rule from the Optional tactics book for one and since we are not using AOO that optional rule also does not apply. I left her in the room figuring she did not have the movement to leave, but the way you are describing things, she does which then means she is long gone, which does not change anything. If you have any more questions, feel free to PM me. If after this combat, the group wants to include some of the optional rules, we can talk about instituting them. As a general rule, there will not be combat maps. The maps are usually more for exploration anyways. I am not trying to give you a hard time.

So to simplify everything, the Elven mage left the room running as fast as she could.

I believe Charging is part of the base rules, but regardless, she had already moved into this room and then attacked during this round, which means she can't get very far, and Zaheed has at least another 30' of movement to pursue her out into the next room still this round. Also, initiative rules for simultaneous initiative favor Zaheed, as he has two attacks this round to the Mage's one. Unless this is just one of those situations where "GM sez no," I'm going to catch her.

At this point, GM says no. We can talk later about adding in some rules.

Zaheed returns to life and stands tall. He casts his voice loudly for the hirelings to hear. "Look back, brave men. Your leader flees in terror and leaves you to die. You'll receive no more pay from that coward! Lower your weapons and no one else will die needlessly. See for yourself that we did not harm your fellow men in the barracks."

Before Zaheed is temporarily disabled he fells two retainers. Uthman hits his quarry and Nura brings down another.

Rashad attacks with his scimitar 19 - 1d20 ⇒ 19 - (13) = 6 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8 also felling him.

The bard attacks the guy on him 18 - 1d20 - 1 ⇒ 18 - (1) - 1 = 16 misses.

Morale check 2d10 ⇒ (2, 8) = 10

The remaining retainers drop their prospective bows and swords and one of them says, "She is not our leader, our leader Mustanir the dwarf... I guess he could not hear us. She was the one with the special yeast for our wine."

Combat Over

"Mustanir is no longer counted among the living. Take your weapons and find new work far from this place. But before you go, tell us by what name is the Elf mage called?"

Another one says, "Her name is Hanzala something or another."

There are two doors here to the left of where you came in from that you have not explored, one is where the elf mage came out of and another.

Check the first door on the left.

You check the first door to the left and it is locked.

Open Doors 7: 1d20 ⇒ 3

Uthman attempts to bash the door down with his should. "Here we are in a thieves' den and they keep us at bay with locked doors! We should have brought a thief of our own!"

So, reading how this stat works it says to "the roll of a 2~sided die to
~ if a character succeeds in opening a heavy or stuck door or performing a similar task." I don't know if that applies to locked or not

It depends on how the door is locked. Earlier, Zaheed was able to break the door in because it was not locked with a mechanical lock(noone seemed to care) this door is locked by a manual lock. The appropriate roll here, I think is the bend bars one. Unless someone has a crowbar.

Fadi's gen returns and says, "Sorry Mistress, I was unable to get what you requested."

Bend Bars (13%): 1d100 ⇒ 84

Nura unsuccessfully tries to break the lock. "For the want of a nail..." she sighs.

"One more try, my friend," says Fadilah, as she bends down to whisper to the gen.

Fetch knock (55%): 1d100 ⇒ 2
Time to fetch in rounds: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Fadilah says to the team, "Now we wait - with Fate smiling upon us, I will be able to find a spell that will help us."

It takes some time but finally the gen returns successfully, for which Fadilah again expresses her thanks.

"My gen has done a good service and brought me a spell that will open a locked door; which shall I open?"

"I would declare war against the fates themselves if the Elf mage, in the pitch of battle, took the time to lock the door behind her before running to the end of the hall, launching magic fire at us, and then exiting through the far door faster than any one of us could catch her. No, if that next door on the left is locked, I will tear this entire cavern apart to open it, if I have to swallow the river to do it."

Taunting fate, Zaheed strides confidently to the second door and opens it.

The second door that Zaheed tries to open is also locked.

"Fate has truly conspired to exasperate you, my friend," says Fadilah with a slight smirk, "though many sorceresses know a means by which a door might close and hold itself fast."

What are these doors made out of?

One of the prisoners says, "That door is sorcerer locked."

"Best use your magic against magic."

Zaheed strips himself of all weapons and gear and lays them down near the first door. He tests it with his hands, and then tears at the thing with all of his might.

Bend Bars 13%: 1d100 ⇒ 8

With the door torn asunder, he claps his hands loudly and points to the sky. "HA!"

Fadilah expends her knock spell in an attempt to defeat the magic holding the second door closed, in the meantime.

Liath claps as Zaheed makes the door submit to his will. "Oh joyous day! What a feat of strength to mark this journey!"

A problem nagels her at the back of her mind, and she approaches one of the foemen that surrendered. "Know you, when we encountered your brethern in the barracks, I did my best to tie them fast, lest we need to slay them all.

If you will give me your word that no arms will be taken up, I would give leave for you to go and release them."

One of the retainers whispers to Liath and says, "If it is all the same to you, we will let our friends go after you leave."

Zaheed's room:

The unadorned room contains eight 10gallon urns and two massive chests.

Fadi's room:

There is a desk with a large book on top and the walls of the room are unadorned stone except for two really nice tapestries and a small, beautifully woven rug to make the place more hospitable.

Uthman examines the book. "Perhaps this is a ledger with proof of the misdeeds, no?"

Uthman picks up the book and it is written in a language he has no idea what it contains.

Zaheed inspects the chests.

"Liath, Fadilah- you're both more lettered than I, could you see what this says?"

"I will look, but if it is not in the usual tongue I probably cannot read it without the aid of a spell," says Fadilah as she accepts the large book.

Does it appear to be magical script, or just writing in something other than Midani?

The chests are both heavy wooden chests with bronze locks on them.

Fadi

"Hmm..." says Fadilah as she traces a finger just over the page of the opened book, her gen peeking over her shoulder. "Magical script. The sorceress must be desperate indeed to have left her tome of spells behind. We should certainly take this with us!"

I cannot find a break locks rule - anyone? Should just be able to hack the thing apart with my sword, right?

A sword is not the best tool for force openning a lock. A warhammer or a mace would be better. Sure you can try if you want.

Uthman takes the moment to collect anything the felled retainers had on them, "Here, perhaps save your own blade, friend?

Zaheed retreats to the barracks to rummage for any kind of hammer or blunt weapon. If he finds one he then starts bashing at those locks.

STR: 1d20 ⇒ 11

Zaheed finds a hammer and bashes at the first lock as he does he gets pricked by a needle inside the lock mechanism.

Saving Throw vs Poison 1d20 ⇒ 13 fail, onset time 2d6 ⇒ (5, 2) = 7 rounds. You take 1pt of damage from the needle.

You start to feel off.

Inside the chest you find, 2735 Silver Pieces.

Zaheed stumbles to find the healers.

Fadilah gasps as the poisoned needle gets Zaheed unexpectedly, and she drops what she's doing and rushes to find Liath.

"Liath!" she calls out. "Liath! Zaheed has been poisoned!"

Since we're too low-level to have neutralize poison, hopefully you can do something with a proficiency or... DOOOM!

STR: 1d20 ⇒ 13

Sensing his end may be near for lack of a thief in the party, Zaheed decides to at least crack the other chest, figuring it can't get any worse.

I am going to bot Nabila until you get back Muluk.

She says, "Zaheed, don't do that you need to stay still."

Herbalism 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (16) - 2 = 14 success

Zaheed, you are able to make another saving throw versus poison, also you your saving throws are for a 0-level Warrior not a 2nd level Warrior.