The Age of Progress; A Kingmaker Campaign (Inactive)

Game Master leinathan

"The spells would not last for nearly the entire climb, and they could be waiting anywhere along the climb," Kaussek points out. "Our only hope is to see them before they see us. Is there anything we can do to improve our chances of this beyond having the most stealthy among us scout ahead? I am still wary of being too separated."

"I don't have anything that can help us. We could try to find another route but that would cost us more time. Our best idea right now might just be to keep our eyes open and move ahead."

Aisha reports on what she sees from up above, taking a bit of extra time to sweep the trees near the clearing, looking for more wasp nests, before climbing down.

"It is a shame that they have moved away. I could have fired on them from cover with the bow. The likelihood of landing a shot would be low, but the likelihood of being seen would also be low, forcing them to fall back, or move forward to attack." Aisha says to the others, as she looks around the treeline, stowing the spyglass she'd remade.

So, do you want to have a scout/point guard? Who wants to do it? What distance would you like to scout at?

Kaussek suggests ~1 round of movement as the distance, and suggests Aisha as front-man. For Aisha that's 100', but for everyone else to reach Aisha that's 60' or 40'.

"Aisha would you be okay moving ahead of everyone? You are faster than everyone and I've seen you teleport out of trouble so I think you're our best best of avoiding an ambush."

I vote Aisha lead with a 60' lead

"Yes, that does seem wise." Aisha agrees. "Do we wish to be sneaky, or move quickly?"

Either 60 feet or 30 feet depending on stealth or no stealth, IMO.

"It is a long path. We might be best served by traveling quickly until we spot places suitable for an ambush," Kaussek suggests.

Having decided, the group decides to climb the mountain leaving only a short distsance between Aisha, their point-guard, and the main bulk of the group. Advancing on the foot of the hill, the group enters the archway and begins to climb the stairs. The staircase is uneven, poorly maintained, occasionally disrupted by landslides or rubble or broken by battles and other such things.

For an hour, the group climbs through the slightly rainy spring morning. The mountain bursts with life, both flora and fauna. Many of the plants here seem slightly out-of-place. You get the impression as you climb that there were once many manicured gardens here, but they have since become wild and overgrown. Rose bushes that once must have been carefully trimmed now overflow onto the path, necessitating a detour around the brambled obstruction. Plants that are definitely not local rest in groups, interspersed with more natural plants. Here and there you can see a fence or what remains of a planter or pot buried halfway in the dirt.

Coming to the end of a switchback, Aisha can hear something from above on the path... through the trees, echoing off of the stone of the mountainside: the deep chuckling of large-lunged giants, the crackling of a fire, and in Common, the pleading of a reedy-voiced humanoid repeating, "Oh Gods, please no, please please please no, please, please no,"

Aisha will maintain Message with Lyon.

"There is someone asking for something bad to stop, and I think there are maybe more ogres?" Aisha whispers to Lyon, "Or maybe just something with a really deep voice. We should aid them quickly."

When the group stops, Melira looks with concern at Lyon. "What's going on? Why did we stop?"

Should we assume Lyon passes this on?

Kaussek eyes the road ahead. "This seems suspicious. I would not think giants would ally willingly with the power upon this mountain, meaning they are also... changed, or it is an illusion. Either way, there is only one path forward. We must advance, but warily."

Sorry dealing with some personal things, feel free to bot Lyon whenever its needed. She'd share pretty much everything.

"Aisha says there is someone calling out for help, she thinks it might be more ogres." Lyon takes out her shotgun and does a quick check of her gear to make sure everything is loaded and ready. "It could be a trap but I don't want to bet someones life on it. A lot of stuff has been suspicious here." If no one stops her Lyon will start moving forward after Aisha.

Stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Knowing Kaussek would have a difficult time with a stealthy approach, the doctor stayed with the lizard man, moving purposefully up the path. Not knowing what they were up against made planning difficult, but being a distraction while the scouts attempted a rescue seemed fairly straightforward.

Ishana knew that like the others, she also wasn't supremely good at keeping quiet and hiding. Disguising herself yes, but sneaking no so much. Therefore the arcanist hangs back, along with Marcus and Kaussek, confident that she could rush into the battle and attack from rang should the scouts get themselves into a little bit of trouble.

So, who is actually approaching, in what order? I see Lyon has rolled Stealth and others have not. Does that mean she is approaching quietly by herself?

I believe Kaussek, Marcus, and Ishana are slowly approaching without attempting stealth, while Lyon and Aisha are sneaking ahead?

If that's the case, to what point is each group approaching?

Stealth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16

As Lyon begins to move past her, Aisha gives a small shrug and begins to move along with her, slipping off the trail to have some measure of cover against whatever was happening above. There wasn't enough time for talking, anyway, given that there was a man in need of rescuing, probably!

Lyon will move forward until she can see either a person/monster/whatever is making the noise.

So, I only got a response from Lyon and Aisha, which means I'm assuming the others are not trying to get closer.

Lyon and Aisha creep forward up onto the next ridge, trying to be quiet enough to avoid attracting attention. As the path flattens out, a set of figures comes into view. Three hideous trolls stand around a tall, blazing campfire. Resting above the campfire is a massive, iron pot, and trussed on the ground beside the campfire is a little blonde halfling man, sweating with proximity to the fire. He is desperate to get away from the trolls, and he is the one repeating "Please no!"

The trolls are singing a guttural little tune in Giant as they spice and prepare the bubbling brew within the iron pot. As Aisha and Lyon crest the rise, one of the trolls' heads pops up and spots them. He points a long, spindly finger at the pair of women and rumbles in guttural Common, "Ye no need interruptin' our dinner. Go back tha' way."

I guess I should have posted how close Kaussek was getting, but given that he was planning on staying ~60' behind the scouts I don't think it mattered. I'm assuming that's too far back to hear what was just said.

Knowing Kaussek would have a difficult time with a stealthy approach, the doctor stayed with the lizard man, moving purposefully up the path. Not knowing what they were up against made planning difficult, but being a distraction while the scouts attempted a rescue seemed fairly straightforward.

reposting for emphasis.

OK, Kaussek and Marcus are 60' down the hill from the other pair.

Therefore the arcanist hangs back, along with Marcus and Kaussek,

I'm with Kaussek and Maracus, 60' down the hill

After being spotted Lyon would stand and speak to the trolls directly, making her voice a little too loud in hopes the others that stayed behind could hear her. "Sorry I can't walk away from someone about to be eaten. There is plenty of wildlife around here that have much more meat than a halfling and less bones to worry about, surely he's not worth the trouble?" The words felt odd coming out of her mouth. Proposing the pros and cons of eating a halfing was not what she expected to be doing today but it was the only thing she could think of on such short notice.

Diplomacy (Make A Request): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21 Let the halfing go.

The speaking troll looks at the others, translates into Giant and then they laugh. "This'n food walk right into hand. You have fresh meat you want put right into hand?"

The halfling on the ground tries to wriggle over and look at Lyon and Aisha. As he does, he cries out, "Please save me!"

K(Local) v. Trolls: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9 Mad Skillz
Diplomacy: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (10) - 1 = 9 I tried. :P

How are things spread out? Is the halfling in the middle of the trolls? About how far from the trolls are we? Is the halfling closer or further? Are the trolls off the stairway on like a side crevice?

"It's not right here... but we killed a giant spider yesterday or the day before. If you follow the path he probably came down, there should be enough food for a few days." Aisha offers. "Too much for us to carry to you. We're going up the mountain, so you know we'll have to come back down this way if we're lying. Unless there is an alternate way down. Is there an alternate way down?"

The giant translates for his friends again, and they quibble amongst themselves once more. Then the Common-speaking one turns to Aisha and says, "You give good point-way to meat. We take look. You go up mountain. You come back down same way, we eat you too. Sound good like deal? You get go up mountain. We get eat big spider meal, get eat little half-man, and we get eat two pretty lady."

The trolls are ahead of you, but not directly intercepting the path, they're more on a little glade on a particularly wide landing. The trolls are about 50' away and the halfling is in the middle of them.

I'm guessing, given how loud trolls tend to be, that the 60' back group can hear this, too?

It is up for you to decide and justify if you want to be in any given scene.

"This does not sound as if it will end peaceably," Kaussek quietly comments to the others who have stayed back with him. "We had best make ready to assist."

With that he starts creeping forward, doing his best not to make too much noise.

Stealth: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (14) - 2 = 12

The doctor nodded grimly and moved with Kaussek

Stealth: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (12) - 2 = 10

Lyon started to smile when the trolls seemed to accept Aisha's offer but her expression immediately dropped to one of annoyance. Fine, she'd tried to be nice. "Counter offer, all three of you trolls leave the halfing prisoner alone and we don't attack"

Intimidate: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (20) - 1 = 19

Sorry Lyon, threatening trolls with violence isn't an effective deterrent.

The troll who speaks Common smiles widely. "She want put self in mouth! Yummy tiny human girl!" He then barks something to the other two trolls, who also grin. The three trolls begin advancing on the two women, drooling grins and fingers splayed out wide.

Battlemap is updated. Aisha and Marcus win initiative.

Is this a surprise round, or a standard round?

Marcus knew as soon as Lyon started talking the way things were going to go down. He was already sprinting before the Troll finished it's reply.

Move 20'. If it's a standard round I'll finish my action in another post.

Aisha will dart back 10 feet, and activate Reactive Reversion. She will then move forward ~45 feet. This should leave her 20 feet from the nearest troll (Red in this case). If blue attacks her, she'll take the hit, if red attacks her, she'll activate Reactive Reversion to teleport back (wasting red's turn as it will have to move-attack as well), and possibly clump them together. She will attack Pink with Elemental Strike. DC 15 Fort v. Nauseated. If it's a sneaky round, guess things change.

Elemental Strike Revolver v. Pink Flat-footed Touch: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11 +1 more if the revolver is masterwork.
Elemental Strike Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 1

"I do not know whether or not I am edible." Aisha responds as she darts away, moving into a crouched stance, 'Rock under left hand, grass under right, duck shaped cloud overhead.' before darting back forward, to frustratingly out of reach with the enemies. As she does, she draws the new revolver she had pilfered from the hobgoblin. There's an audible click, and a fzzt as she covers the ground... a starknife of roiling light builds in her hand, but she raises the revolver and with a resounding crack like thunder, fires her first shot. It is terribly unimpressive. "Mine doesn't work like yours." Aisha remarks to Lyon.

Moving another 20 feet, next to the halfling. Double moving is all I'm able to do.

Marcus threw himself into the middle of the trolls, guarding the prone halfling with his body.

Marcus and Aisha leap into combat, Marcus rushing forward to protect the halfling and Aisha firing a bullet that seems like a drop in the ocean, trying to wound one of the trolls. In response, one of the trolls steps up against Marcus and lunges mouth-first at him, trying to take a chunk out of the doctor.

Blue Troll Bite v. Marcus: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Marcus is able to fend off the troll's lunge easily, and the creature recoils with a snarl.

Aisha deals 1 damage to the Pink troll. Lyon is up.

"You still have to practice with them like any other weapon. Maybe stick to your knifes for now?" Lyon advances towards the pink troll that Aisha had shot but keeps some distance. Moving 30 feet away from pink.

Once she is in position she takes her own shot, emptying both barrels towards the pink creature.

To hit 1 (PBS, DA, Doubleshot): 1d20 + 10 + 1 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 10 + 1 - 2 - 4 = 17
Damage 1 (PBS, DA, SWS): 1d8 + 5 + 1 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 5 + 1 + 4 + 1 = 17 1 point fire damage

To hit 2 (PBS, DA, Doubleshot): 1d20 + 10 + 1 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 10 + 1 - 2 - 4 = 23
Damage 2 (PBS, DA, SWS): 1d8 + 5 + 1 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 1 + 4 + 1 = 12 1 point fire damage

Pink Troll v. Nauseated: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13 Pink Troll is nauseated!

Lyon launches an attack against one of the trolls, and it is forced a step back by her powerful shotgun blast. Trolls' toughness is the stuff of legends, and it is already healing even a moment later.

Another troll steps closer to Aisha and unleashes a flurry of attacks against... nothing, as she vanishes and re-appears a little bit farther back. The troll roars with frustration as its claws and teeth find purchase in nothing.

Meanwhile, Melira hustles up from behind, going as fast as she can to get within range of her own magic.

Ishana is up, and Kaussek can take his turn as long as a move action from the pink troll wouldn't affect his turn.

Kaussek was going to attack pink, so a move action from it could affect his turn.

I think I can clip both Blue and Pink in my AOE without also affecting Marcus, but if not (or if I can only get one), I'll focus on Blue.

Ishana launches a Burst of Radiance spell at the trolls, lacking the tools to stop the regeneration, decides to hinder them as much as she could.

Burst of Radiance: 4d4 ⇒ (1, 2, 4, 1) = 8
DC 17 Reflex to avoid Blinded

Did we identify the troll yet? It seemed to regenerate even after taking fire damage from Lyon which is...unusual.
Knowledge: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21

This was a much easier post than I figured, sorry, I should have done it much sooner.

Pink Reflex (grazed): 1d20 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (18) + 4 - 1 = 21
Blue Reflex: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10 Duration: 1d4 ⇒ 4

The nauseated troll manages to shield its eyes from Ishana's blast of light, even as her holy magic burns into their flesh as easily (but not as deadly) as fire. The nauseated troll retreats from combat as it recovers from the blow dealt to it by Aisha, while the blinded troll rubs uselessly at its eyes.

Kaussek, Marcus, and Aisha are up.

5' adjust. Activate Loyal Oath as Swift Action targeting the Halfling. (halfling gets +4 to AC and Saves)

"You aren't going to die today," Marcus rasped to the Halfling at his feet. Then he stepped in towards the closest troll and brought his blade down hard.

Scimitar, two handed, power attack: 1d20 + 8 - 1 ⇒ (14) + 8 - 1 = 21
Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 6 = 15

AC is currently 19 due to 2-handing

Kassek murmurs a spell and disappears from sight. Casting vanish to be invisible for four rounds His magic does not, however, hide the sound of his armor shifting as he maneuvers to get behind one of the trolls.

DC 17 Fort Save on Pink or it's staggered on its turn.

Eldritch Fang: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25
Eldritch Fang Damage (Force): 1d4 + 6 + 1d4 ⇒ (1) + 6 + (3) = 10

Aisha watches Lyon's gun kersplode with flames and deadly bullets that hit vulnerable points on the enemy, paying more attention to her than the foes for a moment, before lowering the gun and conjuring up another starknife as she darts towards the fleeing troll. As she begins to slow in preparation of her next action, brilliant silver energy shoots down the centerpoints of her starknife illuminating the weapon as she hurtles it end-over-end towards the fleeing troll.

Pink Fort (Grazed): 1d20 + 11 - 1 ⇒ (19) + 11 - 1 = 29
Blue v. Marcus: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Blue v. Marcus: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Blue v. Marcus: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

Kaussek turns himself invisible and moves towards the battle, hefting his hammer in anticipation of being engaged in combat with one of those monstrosities. Then Aisha hurls a starknife at one of the creatures that is already injured. Her blade strikes true, but the hardy beast manages to resist her magical energy that threatens to disable it. Marcus steps up and slashes into the hide of a second troll, spilling its blood liberally. However, trolls are not like men. They live despite stab wounds.

A troll, blind but following its nose, strikes out at Marcus, but the doctor is able to evade or endure all three of its attacks without much difficulty.

Aisha deals 10 damage to the pink troll. It is wounded, but not staggered. Marcus deals 15 damage to the red troll. The blue troll attacks Marcus but misses. Kaussek is invisible. Lyon is up.

If she can do so without putting herself in harms way, without provoking AoO. Lyon will keep pace after the retreating Pink troll and take another shot at him.

To hit 1 (PBS, DA, Doubleshot): 1d20 + 10 + 1 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 10 + 1 - 2 - 4 = 22
Damage 1 (PBS, DA, SWS):: 1d8 + 5 + 1 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 5 + 1 + 4 + 1 = 18 One point is fire

To hit 2 (PBS, DA, Doubleshot): 1d20 + 10 + 1 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 10 + 1 - 2 - 4 = 18
Damage 2 (PBS, DA, SWS):: 1d8 + 5 + 1 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 1 + 4 + 1 = 14 One point is fire

Walthus Acrobatics (Escape Artist) (grazed): 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (15) + 5 - 1 = 19
Red Troll Claw v. Marcus: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Red Troll Claw v. Marcus: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Red Troll Bite v. Marcus: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27 Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Lyon turns her shotgun on the already-wounded troll and shoots him, causing it to topple heavily to the ground with a loud groan. It seems to still be alive (if barely) though it will be some time before it gets back up again, especially given that Lyon's shotgun can shut down its regenerative powers.

Another one of the trolls continues to lash out at Marcus with its claws and teeth, while on the ground below the halfling tries to wriggle out of his bindings... to no avail, for the moment.

The troll attacking Marcus swipes its claws at him, and he deflects its hands with his sword, but is caught off-guard by its jaw, which it clamps tightly around him for a moment before he wrestles himself free.

Meanwhile, Melira continues to run, her short dwarfish legs pedaling quickly to catch up to the rest of the group.

Lyon knocks the pink troll unconscious. Marcus takes 11 damage from a troll. Walthus fails to escape. Melira double-moves. Ishana is up.

Can I grab the halfling and Withdraw?