GM Dak - War for the Crown 1

Game Master Dakcenturi

I would imagine we would have some sort of wiki to look up the Lovelorn and perhaps prepare. Even so Piri can take 20 + 9 for Kn. whatever, plus more for some things. This would help us to know their DR and the DR of the likely accompanying undead.

Piri makes sure his Frost Bow is in top functioning order, as he outfits silently for the mission.

Yes, Sveng essentially told you everything you would need to know. You can look at the monster entry here.

Courtesy only of the fact that Sveng is ridiculously good at making knowledge checks!

Alright, finding the labyrinth’s center requires five consecutive successful checks using any combination of the following: combat maneuver, Climb, Knowledge (engineering), Knowledge (nature), Perception, Spellcraft, Survival, or a Will saving throw. You can't use the same check twice and if you fail you accidentally get booted from the maze. You can try this up to 5 times before it reaches midnight and Sepsinia (unless otherwise deterred) reenters the maze. I will let you all decide who you want to have roll what checks, then you can roll them yourselves or have me roll them, which ever you all prefer.

Including Heightened Awareness, Valeria could bring forward the four following skills: Kn.Eng +10, Kn.Nat +10, Perc +9, Spellcraft +9; please note Toby and Eregos have heroism and are at +2 to all skills.

Of those, my highest check is perception at a +12 (although my wisdom is a pretty fat +9 if the DC is lower for saves than for skill checks), although notably I can spam knowledge rerolls with +4 bonuses when needed, and I add +7 to nature. Do we need to choose one person to do the primary rolling, and can others assist?

Only 5 checks for whole party; can't roll same skill twice. We must identify the purveyors of the 5 highest rolls within the entire party among the list he posted. Not sure if assists are possible, once the main roller has been identified...

Ah, understood. Well I would be shocked if anybody had a higher will save than Sveng, and I think I manage to just eek out the highest perception as well. Note that I can use my reroll ability on knowledge checks for others as well. Those will be the hefty things Sveng can contribute.

It must have been a damn miracle for Sveng to have made all of those checks on his own before.

No assists. Avengers got lucky to some degree, but following Sepsinia who knew the way made it significantly easier.

Will + 4, Spellcraft + 10, climb + 5, Kn. Nature,engin, + 8, Survival + 0, and Perception + 11. I can add inspiration which is + 1d6 to any check not successful. I also get + 2 to my will save against illusions or illusion ability. My 1d6 does not cost me an inspiration point on my knowledge checks. Let's keep in mind we may not use the best check ie, Sveng's will save, if his check is also more better (yes i said that) than someone else's other check.

As the party gathers by the front of the maze, Toby, feeling pretty light footed in his studded leather rather than normal full plate, tries to stand on Hayseed's back and then poke his head over the first wall.

"If... I can... get a view.... that will help...."

climb: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20

climb is my best contribution. now up to you skilled people!

For the checks I've got Will +8, Perception +10, and CMB +9, counting Heroism. I don't have any other options with ranks in them.

Eregos donned his armor and grabbed his falcata and buckler. A fight was fairly straightforward, and he was looking forward to it.

I'll throw my will save and perception rolls up.

Will: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

Sveng stops the group. "That thorny wall isn't real, that's the way forward."

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22

"Hmm...I believe the maze is trying to lead us in circles. Let's turn back and take a left."

I say we use Piri's knowledge (engineering), which he gets +8 +1d6, and if he doesn't roll well then Sveng will give him a reroll with an additional +4. And then I believe lastly we will have Valeria do a knowledge (nature) check, with Sveng potentially granting the same bonus again?

"If I am seeing this maze correctly...

kn eng.: 1d20 + 8 + 1d6 ⇒ (18) + 8 + (2) = 28

...our foe lies in this direction"

"I sense we are getting close. It is time for a little misdirection, if you would all gather close..."

This is what I propose. Sveng will cast owl's wisdom on himself, and he will cast Hide from Undead on everybody except Valeria. At this point Valeria will use a hat of disguise to change her own appearance to that of Sepsinia (I believe Valeria is the best suited for this since she has a really fat bluff score, and she is the only one among us with a feminine voice). The Lovelorn will get a DC 17 will save to see through the hide form undead spell.

"...and hopefully, with this ruse, the creature will believe that Valeria is Sepsinia, and that she is alone. There's no guarantee the magic will work, and once any one of us attack the spell will end for all of us, so we will have to choose when to attack wisely and all attack at once."

"So I am to be the bait, hmm?" says Valeria, rolling her eyes. "It's ok... I'm used to it."

Sveng gives a small, slightly sardonic and knowing smile. He does love to cross wits with Valeria, but a retort would have to wait for a safer situation. He looks to the others for their confirmation and understanding of the plan. "I suggest we wait for Sir Toby's signal, when he raises his sword to attack, we all follow suit."

"Sounds good to me, when the attack does begin, I'm sure the Lovelorn has minions, should we all still focus on the lovelorn or should someone guard Toby from minions?"

"I should leave Hayseed behind then. I don't want the ghost to see him coming. Sorry boy. It is for the best."

He dismounts and leaves his lance behind, and draws his new sword instead.

Eregos nods and draws his falcata, saying, ”I’ll try to keep the minions off Toby. If either you, Sveng, or you, Valeria, has any spell that can affect multiple targets, it would help.”

"Unless it becomes difficult to target the lovelorn, focus it down. Any minions it may have will be less dangerous than it, and surely under it's power."

"I can grease them all but if we do that you all better not go too close to them lest you slip into the bushes..."

Val, think we still need your Know. Nature check?

No problem: I wasn't sure I was one of the designated rollers

Val begins to hum absentmindedly as she focuses on the various bushes and flowers planted in the maze, trying to determine which ones are man-made and which ones have resulted from the supernatural growth spur.

knowledge nature, heightened awareness, inspire competence: 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 8 + 2 + 2 = 18 looks a bit on the low side... better reroll

Sveng superior reroll: 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 2 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 8 + 2 + 2 + 6 = 24 better than my GM reroll, so thanks!

Sveng taps Valeria on the shoulder, unlocking her potential.

Reroll the check with an additional +6 bonus!

Edited the above reroll

Toby starts out, standing up on Hayseed to find climb up and spot a good start of a path for the group to follow. Sveng takes the lead from there quickly avoiding an illusion and keeping them on what seems the correct path. Piri, after examining the maze in his head while the group walks notices a pattern in the construction and helps to keep the group on course. Just as they are getting close Valeria notices a significant difference in some of the actual hedge vegetation as opposed to some that appears much more unnatural which helps to guide the group the rest of the way through to the center of the maze. The place is much as Sveng found it the night before.

There is a picnic blanket set out with a mostly empty tea cup and left over moldering biscuits, all of this surrounded by the bodies of what appear to be gardeners. There is a a picturesque gazebo, overgrown with rose bushes to the side that just contain thick brambles and weeds now. Before they enter, the group enacts their plan as Sveng cloaks all but Valeria from undead and she takes on a disguise of Sepsinia. There are currently no signs of the lovelorn in the morning light.

Disguise: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (16) + 22 = 38

Valeria reloads Dignity's Barb, then uses her Envoy Ring to change the appearance of her clothing so that it automatically matches the current fashion in vogue within Moost and the Crabbe Estate, and does her best to match the exact appearance of Sepsinia. Her loaded crossbow now looks like a basket of tea biscuits.

Toby hangs to the side, hoping that the lovelorn will appear now that "Sepsinia" has arrived...

Eregos waits, falcata drawn, waiting to see if the Lovelorn appears to find Sepsinia.

The group stands their waiting the morning sun beating down on them, as they stand there though nothing seems to be happening.

Toby whispers, "Don't ghosts come out at night? Why did we leave early morning?"

He sits down, hiding behind the gazebo.

"In hindsight, perhaps we should have done this when Sepsinia normally comes out here. We could retreat and come back late tonight, or we can try to get its attention by having "Sepsinia" try to find it." Either way, Sveng starts carefully searching the area.

Hide from undead lasts for 40 minutes, so if possible Sveng will take 20 on searching the area.

Piri, armed with his frost bow and efficient quiver, feels some satisfaction that they teamed together to get here. "It seems we are in the right place...I just hope it is not for naught."

Sveng spends about 20 minutes searching the area and he eventually finds what appears to be an old rabbit warren, just the right size for a creature the size of a lovelorn.

"Ah. It hides in this burrow."

"I suppose we must return later tonight and try again. And also make sure we cut off any escape towards this direction."

"Perhaps if we wish to cut off escape we could place some traps?"

"If we placed them now, the creature would run into them upon exiting. Unless the trap would completely disable or destroy the creature, now would not be the time."

"Well, I must apologize for my poor planning. Later tonight than."

"Sveng, you could not have known that the creature likes to sleep in. Also, perhaps it can sense the real Sepsinia and yours truly could not generate the pull require to lure the monster... who knows? which brings me to this: I... will be looking like Sepsinia for the next 24 hours... therefore... this will make for an interesting day at the Crabbe Estate. I vote that we inform Dame Crabbe of my disguise attempt immediately and no lie about this, and actually request her help with perfume, accessories that bear the true scent of Sepsinia. What say you? she will have two daughters to dote on today!"

Let me know what you plan to do going back to Dame Crabbe and then how you want to handle Sepsinia and if there is anything you plan to do for tonight and we can skip ahead to that.

"I agree with Valeria. We should be open with Dame Crabbe, but ask her to be discrete."

"Completely agreed, transparency and discretion."

We will go back and pretty much openly explain what's happened and that we will attempt this strategy later tonight. In the meantime I will request the real Sepsinia comes down so I can cure her curse with a calm emotions spell. As long as we can leave no earlier than midnight, Sveng can prepare his spells again.

Eregos sheathed his blade and said, "We definitely cannot deceive Dame Crabbe about this. We must inform her of our plan. Will the lovelorn know that Sepsinia's curse has been removed?"

"I don't believe so."

The group heads back to the estate and explains things to Dame Crabbe she is in shock, but after seeing what you did to the manticore and hearing other rumors about you, plus being on such friendly terms she is inclined to trust you all to do what you say.

Sveng heals Sepsinia and the young girl almost immediately starts to get some color back to her and look more vibrant. She is still in a bit of a haze though and goes off with her mother to try and work through what has been going on.

The day marches on as you all anxiously await the hour of returning to the maze to face the lovelorn.

Aside from your plan before any prep? I'll assume you marked the path to make it easy to return. What time are you heading back in, are you doing anything with Dame Crabbe or Sepsinia before hand?

Sveng will want Sepsinia to give him any information she can, with the hopes that it may prove useful.

Should we tie Sepsinia up so she doesn't fall back in and get in the way?

No, that might be offensive. We could ask Dame Crabbe if we can lock her door when she goes to bed at night. If nothing else, it might be harder for her to reach the lovelorn.

The calm emotions spell should have cured her, and even then if we are concerned I think it's best just to ask Dame Crabbe to stay up late tonight until we return, keeping an eye on Sepsinia.

The group talks to Dame Crabbe and Sepsinia about the importance of keeping Sepsinia safe indoors until they can deal with the lovelorn and both woman agree to stay indoors. Waiting until Sveng can prepare new spells for the day the group finally sets out a little after midnight. Following their path back through the maze. Val dressed up to look like Sepsinia enters the center of the maze first to see the ghastly sight of what appears to be an oversized heart with fangs, crawling around on spider-like legs. It waits for her to approach and take a seat before serving her some tea.

The other filter into the center of the maze to surround the undead.

Let me know who is going to move within 10ft of the lovelorn. Will just do this theater of the mind for now. You all are 15ft away from Val, she is 5ft away from the creature, directly to her east. The three dead gardeners are 15 ft away to the north laying against the maze wall. There is another 15ft to the wall to the south, and 15ft to the wall to the east.