GM Ietsuna's Rescue at Azlant Ridge (High Table) (Inactive)

Game Master Ietsuna

Welcome back. This adventure picks up right where the last left off.

You are several days northwest of Bloodcove—days of dusty, dirty running and riding as your caravan guide, the scoundrel Raimondo Scevola, whipped his horses and wagon-drivers to go faster, faster! Closing in behind you, no more than an hour by horse now, ride dozens of Aspis mercenaries. Your activities in Bloodcove, it seems, were not as secret as you hoped.

From the canopy abive a small vanaran mounted on a roc bursts through the foliage. Just received instructions to get here as fast as I could. I've flown day and night, hope I'm not too late....

A sudden cry goes up among the wagons, and all eyes look back the way you came. The days-old familiar sight of pursuing horseman has vanished. They’ve given up the chase! Raimondo declares and a tired cheer erupts from his caravan.

A short time later you come to a section of road and realize that they had not in fact given up the chase, but had circled around to cut you off. You hear the red enemy shouting orders. He is clearly the leader.

Combat Round 1 - Bold May Act

Quintus
Ridley
Thorur
Noke
Red - Leader
Blue
Green
Yellow
Purple
Orange
Makon

Thorur moves forward and calls forth..."Oh Great and Mighty Trudd, bless your humble servant's weapon with your Might."

BLESSINGS(Su): GOOD: Holy Strike (minor): At 1st level, you can touch one weapon and bless it with the power of purity and goodness. For 1 minute, this weapon glows yellow-gold and deals an additional 1d6 points of damage against evil creatures. During this time, it’s treated as good for the purposes of overcoming damage reduction. This additional damage doesn’t stack with the additional damage from the holy weapon special ability.

Hey Aspis jerkwad! Catch!

Ridley tosses a bomb at the red leader.

Range Touch Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
Damage: 3d6 + 6 ⇒ (3, 5, 3) + 6 = 17

The horse takes 9 damage, DC 18 Reflex for half.

With tap of the knee Quintus and Argo shoot forward and upwards, towards the enemy leader.

Argo moves them both forward and up, rising to 20' high, Argo has an 80' fly speed

Focusing his mind Quintus draws on the strength of the tiger and levels his bow at the enemy.

Swift action for animal focus for +2 dex then full attack red with rapid shot, point-blank shot and deadly aim

Bow 1, focus, pbs, rapid, da: 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 1 ⇒ (7) + 10 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 1 = 16
Damage, pbs, da: 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 1 + 2 = 6

Bow 1, focus, pbs, rapid, da: 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 1 ⇒ (17) + 10 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 1 = 26
Damage, pbs, da: 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 1 + 2 = 6

Noke is sitting on Happu with Divune and has little patience for what is happening here!

"The Calamitous Turn, Chaldira, asks to be bold in the face of oppression!"

She rides forward a bit and concentrates. Suddenly, her gaze focuses on the yellow rider they feel very asleep.

DC 18 Will save - Slumber Hex.

Ridley's bomb flies true and strikes the red leader.

Red Reflex: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Horsie Reflex: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Quintus fires two arrows at the red enemy. The first flies wide, the second strikes hard.

Yellow Will: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (12) + 0 = 12

Red charges Ridley with his lance leveled at the alchemist.

Lance: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17 Damage: 3d8 + 21 ⇒ (4, 5, 6) + 21 = 36

Ridley manages to avoid the charging Aspis agent.

The other enemies all close in n the group (except yellow who snores)

Combat Round 1/2 - Bold May Act

Quintus
Ridley
Thorur
Noke
Red - Leader (-23, Horse -4)
Blue
Green
Yellow (Sleeping)
Purple
Orange
Makon

If these are Aspis agents then the boon below applies as it is granted to all of my characters

Quintus lets loose another volley of arrows at red leader.

Bow, focus, pbs, rapid, da: 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 1 ⇒ (2) + 10 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 1 = 11
Damage, pbs, da: 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 1 + 2 = 13

Bow, focus, pbs, rapid, da: 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 1 ⇒ (10) + 10 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 1 = 19
Damage, pbs, da: 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 1 + 2 = 6

Noke orders Happu to step a small step back.

5 ft step. DC 5 ride auto success.

"Sleep!" she says and her gaze focuses on the Blue rider they feel very asleep.

DC 18 Will save - Slumber Hex . 5 rounds sleep.

@ Quitus: Love the title and effect of that boon.

Thorur move South and Glares at one of the enemies, and Commands "Flee!"

DC=12(not much of a chance): Command: School: enchantment [compulsion) [language-dependent, mind-affecting]
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Components V Range: close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target: one living creature Duration: 1 round
Saving Throw: Will negates Spell Resistance: yes
Description: You give the subject a single command, which it obeys to the best of its ability at its earliest opportunity. You may select from the following options:
Approach: On its turn, the subject moves toward you as quickly and directly as possible for 1 round. The creature may do nothing but move during its turn, and it provokes attacks of opportunity for this movement as normal.
Drop: On its turn, the subject drops whatever it is holding. It can't pick up any dropped item until its next turn.
Fall: On its turn, the subject falls to the ground and remains prone for 1 round. It may act normally while prone but takes any appropriate penalties.
Flee: On its turn, the subject moves away from you as quickly as possible for 1 round. It may do nothing but move during its turn, and it provokes attacks of opportunity for this movement as normal.
Halt: The subject stands in place for 1 round. It may not take any actions but is not considered helpless.
If the subject can't carry out your command on its next turn, the spell automatically fails.

Gah! Can't let you do that again!

Ridley dodges to the side, sporting a new large hole in his shirt. He pulls another bomb, and lobs it at the horse this time.

Range Touch Attack: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 8 + 1 = 18
Damage: 3d6 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (5, 6, 5) + 6 + 1 = 23

The captain will take 9 points of damage, DC 18 Reflex for half. The horse was directly hit and not get a reflex save.

Quintus fires at Red leader and misses with his first shot, but hits with his second.

Blue Will Save: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (1) + 0 = 1

Thorur, both those are sleeping. Do you want to change your action?

Ridley tosses a bomb, targeting the horsie under the Red leader. The horse drops to the ground dead. as the rider drops to the ground.

Red Ride Check: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

Fall Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Red Reflex: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

The blast of the bomb grazes the Red leader as he jumps off his falling stead.

Combat Round 1/2 - Bold May Act

Quintus
Ridley
Thorur
Noke
Red - Leader (-29, prone)
Blue (Sleeping 5 rounds)
Green
Yellow (Sleeping, 4 rounds)
Purple
Orange
Makon

Yes, please.

Thorur steps 5' and attacks the leader...

slashing vs. Red: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
possible slashing damge vs. Red: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
possible Good damage vs Red (if Evil): 1d6 ⇒ 5

Did not adjust for Prone. Pretty sure the GM does that.

Makon rages and charges blue, attempting to cut the legs out from under the rider's horse. Aspis dogs! You'll not see the sunset today or ever again for your insolence! raging Great axe+charge+ destined strike: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 9 + 2 + 1 = 14dmg: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23 Makon's AC:14 for next round...used 1/3 destined strikes today.

Thorur slashes down at Red. Red looks to be in very bad shape.

Makon charges the blue rider, but does not manage to penetrate the armour.

Red tries to stand up. Thorur, take an AoO as he tries to stand if you like.

The enemies approach, moving around the fallen log.

Combat Round 2/3 - Bold May Act

Quintus
Ridley
Thorur
Noke
Red - Leader (-41, prone)
Blue (Sleeping 4 rounds)
Green
Yellow (Sleeping, 3 rounds)
Purple
Orange
Makon

Is the leader still prone or did he stand up?

Seeing that the rest of the group has the leader in hand and the beautiful way in which the other thugs have clumped together Quintus murmurs the words to a spell and an eruption of sunligt engulfs the three approaching around the log.

Casting Burst of Radiance centered on green which should also hit orange and purple and their mounts. If any of them are evil they take 5d4 ⇒ (1, 3, 1, 3, 3) = 11 damage automatically. All of tem need to make a DC14 reflex save or be blinded for 1d4 ⇒ 2 rounds. If they pass they are instead dazed for the same length of time.

Green, orange and purple are not evil

Green Reflex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

Orange Reflex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Purple Reflex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

Leader is in limbo, pending Thorur's AoO.

Combat Round 2/3 - Bold May Act

Quintus
Ridley
Thorur
Noke
Red - Leader (-41, prone)
Blue (Sleeping 4 rounds)
Green (Dazed 2 rounds)
Yellow (Sleeping, 3 rounds)
Purple (Dazed 2 rounds)
Orange (Blind 2 rounds)
Makon

AoO vs. Red: 1d20 ⇒ 15
possible slashing damage vs. Red: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
possible Good damage (if Evil) vs. Red: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Not sure what adjustments, if any, are applicable to the AoO. Will wait for result for action this round.

The horses also need saves. As they are Aspis agents they take -1 not that is makes a difference this time. Also I should have said they were dazzled on a save, not dazed. Dazed on a save would be crazy.

Thorur's AoO puts Red down. He is outright dead.

With the fall of their leader the horsemen (those awake) look suddenly worried.

Green Horse Reflex: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (12) + 5 - 1 = 16

Orange Horse Reflex: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (12) + 5 - 1 = 16

Purple Horse Reflex: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (15) + 5 - 1 = 19

Combat Round 2/3 - Bold May Act

Quintus
Ridley
Thorur
Noke
Red - Leader (Dead)
Blue (Sleeping 4 rounds)
Green (Dazzled 2 rounds)
Yellow (Sleeping, 3 rounds)
Purple (Dazzled 2 rounds)
Orange (Blind 2 rounds)
Makon

Thorur moves forward to block the enemies moving around the log.

Double move.

Noke orders Happu to remain where he is.

"Sleep well too!" she says and her gaze focuses on the purple rider they feel very asleep.

DC 18 Will save - Slumber Hex . 5 rounds sleep.

Purple Will: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (3) + 0 = 3

Combat Round 2/3 - Bold May Act

Quintus
Ridley
Thorur
Noke
Red - Leader (Dead)
Blue (Sleeping 4 rounds)
Green (Dazzled 2 rounds)
Yellow (Sleeping, 3 rounds)
Purple (Dazzled 2 rounds, Sleeping 5 rounds)
Orange (Blind 2 rounds)
Makon

Makon slowly lines up his blade concentrating on the exposed prone neck of the blue rider.
He then comes down with a killing stroke to finish the helpless lout. coup de grace, automatic critical hit with great axe. dmg: 3d12 + 21 ⇒ (6, 12, 5) + 21 = 44

Ridley will lob a bomb at Orange.

Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 7 + 1 = 21

Damage: 3d6 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (5, 4, 5) + 6 + 1 = 21

Can I assume that iver the next 2 or 3 rounds you plan on killing all of these people?

Combat Round 2/3 - Bold May Act

Quintus
Ridley
Thorur
Noke
Red - Leader (Dead)
Blue (Dead)
Green (Dazzled 2 rounds)
Yellow (Sleeping, 3 rounds)
Purple (Dazzled 2 rounds, Sleeping 5 rounds)
Orange (Dead)
Makon

Can I assume that iver the next 2 or 3 rounds you plan on killing all of these people?

Answering for Makon. Heck Yeah!

Makon moves towards Yellow and hovers over menacingly...taking a couple practice swings with his axe. Makon's R 3 action finished.

Noke moves again!

"They are all soooo sleepy!" she says and her gaze focuses on the green rider.

DC 18 Will save - Slumber Hex . 5 rounds sleep.

I would take that as a Yes, but am worried about all the spells/skills being used. Not sure we can sleep soon or not.

Thorur moves forward to Purple and readies to coup de gras next round.

Ok, pulling this up now. Combat over. The riders would have just run away after the leader went down but SOMEBODY put them all to sleep.

You climb ever higher out of the jungle, the series of thin switchback trails just large enough for Raimondo’s caravan wagons. Suddenly, from the canopy below comes an unearthly bellowing roar. Thousands of colorful birds take flight and wing off away from the noise, and a cacophony of screeching, chittering, and screaming follows the roar.

As you approach the top of the ridge, a dilapidated camp comes into view. The camp is surrounded by a hastily constructed palisade wall forming a semi-circle that both starts and ends at an imposing cliff face stretching hundreds feet up from the palisade. The bodies of hundreds of ape-like creatures lie outside the walls in various states of decay. The stench is overpowering, and a cloud of flies is thick above the carnage. A cry goes up from the tower built over the palisade’s gate as the lookouts spot you, and the gate itself rumbles aside on rickety wooden wheels. A tall woman with black hair pulled back against her head and a shortsword on her hip strides out from the camp to meet you.

At that moment, a horn sounds from down in the valley, closely followed by the screams of men and horses. Looking below, you see another group of Aspis Mercenaries, riding fast up the switchback trails, with hundreds—maybe even thousands—of ape-men hurling stones at them and running hard on their heels.

Map added, see slide 2

Before we move on did the Aspis have any useful loot on them?

Looking at the onrushing horde Quintus grows pale, That's a lot of angry ape men, quickly, we need to get inside he says flying over the wall and landing in the yard beyond.

I would shut those gates and fast he says to the woman, I wouldn't want either those Aspis or the apes in here allthough I am not sure your wall can really hold them.

Items from the leader. +1 chain shirt, masterwork heavy steel shield, +1 lance, shortbow with 20 arrows, shortsword, scroll tube (scroll of cure moderate wounds, scroll of fireball, scroll of magic missile, scroll of shield), signal whistle.

Items from each thug. tanglefoot bags (2), masterwork studded leather, longbow with 20 arrows, shortspear.

GM wrote:

Can I assume that iver the next 2 or 3 rounds you plan on killing all of these people?

Answering for Makon. Heck Yeah!

Makon moves towards Yellow and hovers over menacingly...taking a couple practice swings with his axe. Makon's R 3 action finished.

Noke will definitely not allow that any of the prisoners are harmed! A CDG in battle can’t be prevented but helpless prisoners are not killed! Rather bound!!

Oh... my... um... inside the gate? Um guys, we should get in the gate. Like now!

I would shut those gates and fast he says to the woman, I wouldn't want either those Aspis or the apes in here allthough I am not sure your wall can really hold them.

Noke raises an eyebrow.

”Are you serious?! You want these Aspis agents to die?! We need everybody who can aid and I assure you that these men will be on our side!“ Noke says with a stern look.

Quintus bites back, They are Aspis, they will slit our throats as soon as help us.

Makon finishes tugging on the former Aspis leader's chain shirt (I'll adjust Makon's AC: accordingly for the remainder of the adventure .) He also slings the bow and over his back and gathers up the arrows. May be useful... Makon murmurs, to no one in particular. When the get to the top of the ridge and Quintus points out the group of Aspis Mercenaries on the run...Makon cannot help but to nod in affirmation when Quintus declares,

They are Aspis, they will slit our throats as soon as help us.

Makon un-shoulders his new bow and nocks an arrow.

Thorur moves inside and calls forth the BLessings if Good and Protection from Trudd.

GOOD: Holy Strike (minor): At 1st level, you can touch one weapon and bless it with the power of purity and goodness. For 1 minute, this weapon yellow-gold and deals an additional 1d6 points of damage against evil creatures. During this time, it’s treated as good for the purposes of overcoming damage reduction. This additional damage doesn’t stack with the additional damage from the holy weapon special ability. PROTECTION:(su): Increased Defense (minor): At 1st level, you can gain a +1 sacred bonus on saving throws and a +1 sacred bonus to AC for 1 minute

The woman ushers you and the caravan inside. Trust me, you don’t want to be out here when they get here.

Once you are safely inside there is time for introductions.

Do the aspis look like they are riding to try to get away, or like they are about to attack? Assuming they are trying to get away, Ridely will respond as such...

I'm no fan of the aspis... but I agree with Noke. We can't in good conscience leave them out there to get slaughtered... and we might need their help to make it out of here...

The Aspis appear to be running from the ape-men.

If you choose to let them in they will be placed under guard and locked up where they cannot get too many specific details about the operation or cause any trouble.

I thinkk it is a bad idea but do as you will. The consequences are on you though...

I thinkk it is a bad idea but do as you will. The consequences are on you though...

Agian Makon finds himself in agreement with the Vanarn, I agree...let them die... Makon nods . the bastards were responsible for poisoning a little boy...they deserve no quarter.

Ok, looks like we need a vote. Who is for bringing them in and who is for locking them out?

Noke is a little concerned that the group will devide because of this topic so she intervenes.

”I do not want a fight among our team. I will remain neutral in this matter which I believe leads to us not helping the Aspis and them dying!“ she says and rides to safety on Happu!

Makon is for locking them out...let the child abusers and slavers fend for themselves.