Way of the Wicked (Monster Edition)

Game Master Diamondust

The Captain summons fell power into his fist, placing it onto his chest as it soaks into his withered form, reknitting dusty bone and leathery muscle.

Manipulate Undead: 1d8 ⇒ 1 1 spell point
Manipulate Undead: 1d8 ⇒ 4 1 spell point

Mei signals down that there are two guards with her hands and then looks for a place to anchor the rope to above the window so some monsters can climb up and help attack the guards.

The rope can be anchored to one of the roof beam supports and allow others to climb up unseen (climb DC 5). The window still remains closed.

Augier taps his foot with irritation Two guards. Shadow, can you use your darkness to hide our entry into the window?

"Eat-in-Shadow can, but it's small. Only me and a couple more would fit."
Eat-in-Shadow's mutation has run out in the meantime, his claws retracting and his skin losing his adherence.

Igoroskandrallanotly frowns. "I can try to open the window from the outside, but I lack the proper tools to do so. It will be difficult without them. There is a good chance the guards will notice me, as well. Our only other option is to scale down the wall, and try to go in the front door, which is surely guarded and locked as well."

They consider the tower, then nod. "If we try the tower route, I'll go up the rope first to get the window open, followed by Eat-in-Shadow, Aggghhhh, and Captain Richter. I'll try to open the window without the guards noticing me. Once I've done so, we all climb in to attack the two guards. If we take them out quickly, we may be able to attack the Warden alone, without time to prepare. Is that a good plan?"

"I believe it's sound. I'd like to get up the tower before the fighting starts though, I'm not sure how much I trust myself to climb under duress."

Fine by me

Shrouded in darkness, Eat-in-Shadow's form become again more ghoulish and savage. "I'm ready."

Keeping up a claws-and-bite transformation through concentrato.

"Let's get this started then."

Igor will need to roll stealth while trying to open the window. He will also find the window locked and need to roll Disable Device against DC 20 to unlock it.

If he is successful the window opens outward. The large characters will be able to squeeze through the window without having to use escape artist.

The window is 25 feet above the wall (technically only 20 feet of climbing). Climbing is 1/4 your move speed or 1/2 your move speed with a -5 penalty on the climb check. I will be making sure everyone follows the movement rules. You can't just say, 'I climb in and attack' without considering your movement speed. This MAP might help with calculating your movement.

One more problem. If the spaces near the window are taken and you don't have enough movement to get past them to an open space then you have to wait on the rope, holding up others behind you too.

I pray this doesn't confuse too many of you.

Maybe the stairs is a better option

That, or a two pronged attack?

Splitting the party always works!

Yeah, I’m kinda wondering if the stairs might not be a better idea. So, with the rope, it’s a DC 5 Climb check. My take 10 total is 12, which means on a take 10 I can move 1/2 speed with a total Climb check of 7. 2 Climb checks up, a Stealth check, and a DC 20 Disable Device check, with a -2 penalty for lacking the proper tools. So, can I take 10 on the Climb checks?

Let's go stairs then

Stairs sounds better for me too. Maybe one person by the window at most?

Sure, stairs work for me.

Okay, then. Stairs it is.

Igoroskandrallanotly motions Mei to come back down. Once she's down, they say, "It looks like entry via the window isn't the best choice. They're expecting us to come by the stairs, but it will be tight to get through. Let's use the rope to lower ourselves down the wall in the cover of the Warden's tower, then we'll see what waits us out front."

Stairs it is.

The group uses the rope to climb down the wall and head for the Warden's door. No arrows seem to fly their way or shouts alert of your presence. Perhaps the monsters were successful after all, though you don't see any from where you are. In front of you is the door, wooden and reinforced with iron, to the tower. It is locked. Disable Device DC 20.

The doppelganger kneels down, examining the lock, before saying, "We'll have to break the door - I can't get it open without tools. But first..."

Igoroskandrallanotly closes their eyes, and attempts to listen for any thoughts coming from the other side.

Using my detect thoughts SLA and concentrating for 2 rounds to determine the total number of thinking creatures on the other side (if any).

I just re-read the Disable Device skill. The DC to pick a lock increases by 10 if you don't have tools, it's not just a -2 on the check. With a +7, I am literally incapable of opening this without at least two Aid Anothers, or an Aid Another and a Guidance, and even then I have to take 20.

Just let Augier headbutt the door

I think Fiain, Richter, Agggh, and Augier can easily bust down the door by working together in some combination.

Fiain can hit a +4, or a 14 with Take 10. +6/16 if it's less than 3 rounds since combat ended. DC 18 is enough to bust the average Good wooden door, so whoever has the highest strength rolls, and everyone else Aids Another.

That's the plan once we know if there are any people on the other side of the door. I'm using detect thoughts specifically to make sure we don't get pincushioned as soon as the door is broken down.

Igor senses the presence of thoughts on the other side of the door. After a moment he identifies them further into 4 separate minds. Another moment and their surface thoughts are revealed to Igor.

The door is a strong wooden door. Hardness 5; HP 20; Break DC 23.

Igoroskandrallanotly grins as he opens his eyes. "The Warden has a clever plan. If we break into the tower, the guards on the other side are to shout and retreat upstairs as though running for their lives, and the Warden is then going to use his magic to burn us all together. There are 4 guards on the other side of the door. One of them is hungry, as his shift was supposed to be over by now. We have two options: we either bypass the Warden entirely, leaving him and these men to their own devices and get out of here, or we trick them into opening the door and prevent them from alerting the warden somehow. Which do you prefer?"

What about drawing their attention to the window, with a distraction?

Maybe Shadows rattle the window?

GM, is there a window on the first floor, or only the one up at the top?

Just the top floor

The Hound growls low, frustrated.

"Bar the door and leave the stinking mortals. As much as I wish them dead, a spellcaster in an enclosed space is too much a danger in our weakened states. We can hunt this prey at a later time."

hmmm... It would be a problem if they came out behind us while we were engaged with others. Do we have a way to make sure they do not? Does anyone have a torch, or a way to make a flame?

No

Just as you are discussing your options a slightly muffled but loud explosion is heard by everyone. The sound seems to come from above and to your left, above the wall on the other side of the tower from where you came but also inside the warden's tower somehow. Did the Warden just blow himself up?

int: 1d20 ⇒ 14

Intelligence: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Igoroskandrallnotly freezes, then looks up and to the left. "If the Warden is distracted...this might work if we can get them to open the door. Kahmunash, work your disguise again."

Igoroskandrallanotly then shifts back into human form, awaiting the alligator-headed man to create his illusion.

Mei climbs over the top of the door reading herself to enter or attack

I'll give you three breaths to convince me to not crash through this door! Augier gets ready to WAGGGHHHHH!!

Dahlia steps to the side of the door so she's out of immediate view once it opens.

int: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

Reginald pauses a moment before looking around after the minor explosion.

Hmmm.. perhaps it was the other group that caused that? Perhaps they fought, or are fighting, the warden? This could be a chance.

Good enough for me! WAGHHHHHHH!

Augier rages and attacks the door

OOOHHH YEA!!!: 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (2, 5) + 9 = 16

Rage 2/7

The Door: HP 9; hardness 5; Break DC 23

Does anyone else want to help Aggghhh break the door in this round?

Well, I was going to try and bluff them into opening the door, but seeing as Aaagghhh went ahead and did that...

Shifting back to doppelgänger form, Igoroskandrallanotly shakes his head, thinking, Stupid orcs. No appreciation for subtlety. He attempts to assist the Orc in breaking down the door, applying force at the proper point of pressure.

Strength to break down door: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

Give me one aid another, and I’ve got this.

Mei pulls the long sword and two hands it into the door as the orc hits it

aid another: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

nope lol

strength,aid: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12 Reginald helps them out with a shrug.

The Door: HP 9; hardness 5; Break DC 23

Does anyone else want to help Aggghhh break the door in this round?

The Hound grits his teeth and slams both paws against the door...

Aid Igor: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

...But can't apply enough force head on with everyone crowding it.

If Aggghhh's was an attack, I think he dealt enough damage by himself to tear it down.

If Aggghhh's was an attack, I think he dealt enough damage by himself to tear it down.

A strong wooden door (which this is, with a 23 Break DC) has 20 HP and 5 Hardness. So he only dealt 11/20 damage to it.

Edit: It has 9 HP left after his attack, in other words, if the GM's post confused you. Did me too at first since I missed the order of posts while skimming.

Aah, thanks.
Eat-in-Shadow stands back as those stronger and mightier than him assault the wooden enemy.

With Reginald's aid another, I have a total of 24 on my Strength check to break down the door.