GM Kirsdrake's Eberron Case Files (closed recruitment) (Inactive)

Game Master Kirsdrake

"Baran - you recognised it. How long do you think it would take to find out more information? Is there a book or something?"

"Perhaps a couple of hours of referencing books at Morgrave. I don't think asking questions would be prudent - I'm not a consummate card player, if you take my meaning. Morgrave does have extensive material on Xen’drik where the creature was captured."

Turning to Phin, she asked, "How long does the tranquilizer last once we put it on a weapon? Should we do that now, or wait until we see the kamadan?"

The elf looked thoughtful for a moment, "It really depends on the tranquilizer used. A good rule of thumb is about an hour. So we should probably find the team in Fallen and then prepare weapons with the tranquilizer right before we go hunting for it."

Phin changed into her burglar's outfit and put her leather armour overtop. This way she was dressed all in dark colours for when they went searching for the kamadan. She took her black skull cap and charcoal along to cover her hair and darken her face so that she could more easily hide in shadows. As she was gathering the rest of her things, she realized that she didn't have a ranged weapon to use. "Do we have enough money from the advance to get me a bow to use?"

Not sure if that net took up all our advance or not. Or if not, she can use part of her money from our last job to buy one. I'll have to look at costs when I have a moment...

***

Phin tensed at the mention of the three different Raver gangs. Mamma Ellie had always told them to avoid them at all costs, that they weren't worth the trouble. Now they were going to their turf and churning their waters. In that moment the rogue double checked all her weapons to make sure they were ready to go at a second's notice.

The rogue was on edge all the way to the warehouse. When they were let inside, she looked behind them to make sure all the doors were secured before proceeding.

As she waited for Lukar's answer to Erix's question about how to signal them once they bagged the kamadan, Phin went about quickly braiding her hair and securing it under her cap. She then smeared charcoal on her face.

After Lukar had answered Phin added another question, "Do you know whether it's still holed up in the original building or has it moved?"

Phin will suggest that she stealthily ascertain it's position before everyone follows

Erix: If there’s gear you want, go ahead and make the purchases. IF money can buy it, you can find it in Sharn.

About getting more information about the Kamadan: possible, but I won’t allow you to just reroll knowledge checks until you actually gain more knowledge sources about the subject. For example, the University library will certainly have tons of zoology books, and Baran does have access to them. Finding the right one will take time, though, and the first book you find about the subject might not have useful hard facts in it. Or the University also has a good concentration of people who make it their life’s work to gather knowledge… but the right professor might not be available in the timeframe you need.

Since you do have SOME time, I’m OK with Baran redoing his roll one time, let’s say with +1 bonus from the extensive library – if you had all the time in the world, the library would allow for much higher bonuses, but you can’t take days finding all the relevant books and scrolls now. It will mean you delay your departure for a couple of hours longer… so it does mean you have less time to wait around in the Fallen.

Baran’s knowledge check: that’s a good roll… provided you find the necessary materials or take them with you as you go, you know just how to use them to make moving the Kamadan manageable… as soon as you get past the minor inconvenience of knocking it out ;^)

Erix nodded "Captain Irvallo. We need directions. Once we've subdued it, do you come to us? If not, how're we supposed to get it to you? Just drag it along the ground?"

”Directions are easy – the Colrac Hall is just a couple blocks away. Can’t miss it, really – large dwarven-built manor of red granite… now with a fallen spire of the Glass Tower sticking out of the center. Got to give credit to the stunties – half of the building is still actually still standing, even with the piece of the tower falling on it.”

Seems this adventure was stealing ideas from Alua’s temple ;^)

”As for securing the cargo for transport… that depends. I’m not paid to risk my people fighting a horde of Ravers while we do the loading, but if you have secured the area, we can come to you, as far as the manor’s front door at least, once you let us know it’s safe. Well, relatively speaking,” he said, gesturing at the ruins around them with the tip of his spear.

After Lukar had answered Phin added another question, "Do you know whether it's still holed up in the original building or has it moved?"

”If it has, good luck ever finding the damn thing in this jungle of rubble, even if the locals won’t kill you and eat you… not necessarily in that order,” Lukar grunted in disgust. ”Besides, I do know our piece of this mission has a time limit, so I suppose the same has to hold true to your as well. So… either you find the creature in the ruins, or you don’t, and no-one’s getting paid.”

Since you do have SOME time, I’m OK with Baran redoing his roll one time, let’s say with +1 bonus from the extensive library – if you had all the time in the world, the library would allow for much higher bonuses, but you can’t take days finding all the relevant books and scrolls now. It will mean you delay your departure for a couple of hours longer… so it does mean you have less time to wait around in the Fallen.

In the future, perhaps an 'appraise check to find the most valuable item in a hoard' or profession-research check with a gather information time frame of 1d4hrs might be appropriate? Success meaning an extra knowledge check is available. Very few know how to use the bat computer well.

Baran’s knowledge check: that’s a good roll… provided you find the necessary materials or take them with you as you go, you know just how to use them to make moving the Kamadan manageable… as soon as you get past the minor inconvenience of knocking it out ;^)

Are there any shops before we head down? I thought scaffolding material might be available to purchase or scavenge in the area. If we are already too far in for shops then perhaps scavenging is our only option.

Kirsdrake wrote:

In the future, perhaps an 'appraise check to find the most valuable item in a hoard' or profession-research check with a gather information time frame of 1d4hrs might be appropriate? Success meaning an extra knowledge check is available. Very few know how to use the bat computer well.

Profession - Research, Academic or Scribe or something similar would work. That's a nice idea. The bonuses afforded by the Library were detailed on the wiki site:

Quote:

History is clearly a specialty of the University, and those using the Morgrave Library for research into the history of Sharn or Xen’drik gain a +6 circumstance bonus on their Knowledge (history) checks. The Library offers a +4 circumstance bonus on Knowledge (history) checks related to other areas and on Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (dungeoneering), and Knowledge (geography) checks.

For all other Knowledge checks, the Library provides a +2 circumstance bonus.

And about your roll... close, but a success is a success. Good enough for only one piece of useful information, though. Let's say you find out about the beast's breath weapon - a cone of sleep gas, usable every couple of rounds if the beast is of the mood to.

Baran 'Elmswright wrote:

Are there any shops before we head down? I thought scaffolding material might be available to purchase or scavenge in the area. If we are already too far in for shops then perhaps scavenging is our only option.

I'm OK with backposting to purchase stuff like that, since you haven't actually got any new information that'd influence your purchase priorities. There are some shops and businesses in the more respectable areas of the Fallen, although they are, naturally, quite basic in the quality of their stock. But for stuff like wood, rope, wire, nails and the like, I think they should suffice.

Phin will use her own money for a shortbow and arrows. That leaves the advance for the expense money for the net and other supplies. She can’t use exotic weapons unless they have elven in the name. Since she’s immune to sleep effects, would she be affected by the tranquilizer?

If you are referring to elven sleep immunity, I believe that is good only against magic sleep effects, so a poison would still work. On the other hand, what a poison specifically intended to tranq a Kamadan will do to a person...

The net was 20 Galifers, leaving 30. I don't imagine it would cost much for the building supplies to make a travois. I'll say it cost 10 Galifers total? Leaving 20?

Alua lowered the boards and rope to the ground, then rolled her shoulders. "Should we leave the travois materials here? Fetch them when we need them?" A strange gurgling scream sounded from somewhere nearby, and she shivered. "On second thought, let's bring them. We probably don't want to make the trip, short as it is, more often than necessary."

She peered down the street towards Colrac Hall. The streets were devoid of people, and strangely, completely devoid of spirits. There were always plenty of spirits around the Temple, and she'd assumed there'd be more, the deeper you went into Fallen. Strange. I wonder where they are.

Picking up the boards again, she said, "Best get a move on. We really don't want that thing getting lost in Fallen." Nodding to the Captain, she said, "Hopefully we'll be back sooner rather than later."

Thus prepared, she began to move towards the Hall.

Picking up the boards again, she said, "Best get a move on. We really don't want that thing getting lost in Fallen." Nodding to the Captain, she said, "Hopefully we'll be back sooner rather than later."

Thus prepared, she began to move towards the Hall.

Baran walked cautiously behind Alua. On his right shoulder he carried the back end of the poles gathered together with lashing. He straightened his head and his left arm went digging in his robe. He found a scrap of paper and shook it flat. "Hopefully the unfamiliar territory will mean it wont wonder until its' immediate source of food dries up. Hey, that reminds me, I found something in the library at Morgrave. I copied a bit of it down. Ahem ... 'We had finally trapped the kamadan in the cage we had fashioned back in Highhold. We rejoiced in our success as Destir and Pol, confident in the cages strength, started taunting the creature from inches away. The quartermaster looked over just in time to see the two fools become surrounded by a fog. They grew weak quickly, collasped, and a fume could still be seen roiling out of the beast's muzzle.' - from A Moment's Foley: case studies of expeditions to Xen'drik, 977YK. So, there's that." Baran shoved the paper back in his robe.

Picking up the boards again, she said, "Best get a move on. We really don't want that thing getting lost in Fallen." Nodding to the Captain, she said, "Hopefully we'll be back sooner rather than later."

Phin placed a restraining hand on Alua, "Let me go first. I'll scout our way ahead to Colrac Hall. I should be able to go unnoticed and hopefully be able to spot any potential danger."

...The quartermaster looked over just in time to see the two fools become surrounded by a fog. They grew weak quickly, collasped, and a fume could still be seen roiling out of the beast's muzzle.' - from A Moment's Foley: case studies of expeditions to Xen'drik, 977YK. So, there's that."

The elf rolled her eyes and over pronounced her first too words, "Of course." She sighed, Of course it's not enough that it's a leopard coated with snakes. It had to have a breathe weapon too. That makes perfect sense." She looked at the others, "I guess it would be wise to expect even more surprises. You'd think that large feline, snakes, and muzzle fog would be enough but obviously whoever created this creature had a sick sense of humour."

Would the kamadan's breathe weapon be considered magical sleep? Asking for a friend.

Would the kamadan's breathe weapon be considered magical sleep? Asking for a friend.

The ability is SU, so I'd assume so.

Picking up the boards again, she said, "Best get a move on. We really don't want that thing getting lost in Fallen." Nodding to the Captain, she said, "Hopefully we'll be back sooner rather than later."

”Good hunting,” the captain said, giving you a quick smile. ”If you fail and die, we are not going to get paid in full for our part, so our prayers are with you on this one.”

***

You creep forward carefully, mindful of the Ravers who might still be lurking near where they ambushed the first transport team, but beyond some distant screams and screeches, you reach your destination safely. Phin , who led the way, motioned for you to crouch behind a pile of fallen masonry as you approached the last intersection. And there, before you, awaited your destination.

The Colrac Hall was a fairly building, if for nothing else then for its location. Built by dwarven architects at the dawn of Galifar, when Sharn’s towers had yet to soar into the sky and the city was still called Shaarat, the square of solid red granite was designed to withstand a siege. And as testimony to the skill of its builders, it had weathered the centuries well. But then came the fall of the Glass Tower, and the spire of magically enchanted glass that pierced the manor’s roof, to still protrude from the center of the building like a massive arrow still embedded in the beast it had killed. And while the concussion of the impact leveled most of the northern wing of the manor, the rest of the building – as well as the spire itself – still appear mostly intact.

From where you are, you can see the entrance to the manor before you (some 100’ distant) – the vast front doors have fallen off their hinges long ago. The right (north) side of the single-story building is in absolute ruins, while the left (south) side seems relatively undamaged. About three level’s worth of the Glass Tower stick out of the middle of the manor, point down and leaning slightly to one side. There was once a moderately large walled yard around the manor, but most of the stone have been scavenged by the locals years ago. There is rubble and rubbish everywhere (nothing unusual to this part of the Fallen), but you do note some rather fresher signs. On the street at the edge of the once-courtyard there’s the remains of a cart carrying a heavy wooden box. Both have been partially cannibalized for timber. There’s plenty of bloodstains on the street around the cart, but no bodies. At the foot of the low stairs leading from the courtyard to the manor’s front door there’s a campfire, around which three rag-wearing half-orcs are squatting, roasting meat.

This doesn’t take into account Phin creeping closer to take a look… now that you have some extra information, do you still want to do it, and if so, please give me some directions.

Some additional useful reminders about Fallen I think I forgot to mention earlier...

- It's pretty hot and humid down there. Sharn's climate is near-tropical to begin with, and down on or near the ground level, the towers ensure there is very little wind to cool the air.

- It's also pretty dark down there. The many towers, spires, bridges and whatnot above ensure very little daylight gets all the way down there, and pretty much all the magical everburning lanterns have by now been either stolen or smashed.

"I can carry it." Erix shrugs "Given how much I'm carrying anyway, I guess."

”Good hunting,” the captain said, giving you a quick smile. ”If you fail and die, we are not going to get paid in full for our part, so our prayers are with you on this one.”

Erix chokes back a guffaw. "My thoughts are with your coinpurse in this troubling time." he smiles widely back.

Post Baran's revelation
Erix sighs "That information would have been more helpful back when I could've bought an insomnia potion. I think I still have a couple of coffee beans. I guess everyone suck one when we go in, try not to breathe in, and we need to make sure we're not all conveniently close together." He shrugs "Also, no-one taunt the snake-kitty."

At the building...
Oh, what's the light level please?

Erix taps Alua's shoulder, and points to the half-orcs. "Witnesses?" he sighs more than whispers.

Light level is mostly dim, although every now and then there's a bar of light reaching all the way down here from up high. The three locals cooking are illuminated nicely by their campfire. Generally, there's enough light to walk around somewhat carefully without stepping on anything hazardous but it'd be a pain to read a book.

Erix taps Alua's shoulder, and points to the half-orcs. "Witnesses?" he sighs more than whispers.

Phin raised an eyebrow although it was hard to see in the dim light,"You seriously think they're witnesses? I'd say it's more likely they're cooking the bodies. Are we fighting or sneaking around them? Either way, I'll go first - either to chart a stealthy course or to gut one before the other two know what happened."

I think Erix, you are the only one who hasn't seen my other game post. I have some family stuff that may have some pauses between posts from Baran. Please excuse.

Phin raised an eyebrow although it was hard to see in the dim light,"You seriously think they're witnesses? I'd say it's more likely they're cooking the bodies. Are we fighting or sneaking around them? Either way, I'll go first - either to chart a stealthy course or to gut one before the other two know what happened."

Baran whispered to Erix but loud enough for the group, "Did you mean witnesses to what we were about to do?" He turned to Phin, "Do we kill someone for just being inconveniently placed? I could speak to them without their knowing where we are, and they could talk back ... if that's at all useful? We could concoct a bluff perhaps. I could do the same for us. If we are separated and I know where we all are I can message between us as long as everyone is within say forty yards."

I think Erix, you are the only one who hasn't seen my other game post. I have some family stuff that may have some pauses between posts from Baran. Please excuse.

Duly noted. Take your time when you need to, we ain't in a rush anyway.

fair enough - sorry. It is actually useful information anyway, btw
Erix nods "Us, and if anyone went in."

Right... Alua wants to go scouting. That's pefectly Ok with me. Would prefer a bit of details, though, and some relevant rolls.

As I said, you are about 100' from the manor's front door, and the supposed Ravers are camped in front of them, before the few steps leading up to the door's level. You'd assume their night vision is pretty much shot by staring at the campfire from up close. There's a decent amount of cover on the way (the remains of a wall around the courtyard, the broken cart of the transport team, various other kinds of rubble), but the courtyard itself is more open. It's still dark over there, and there is some debris to hide behind, but hiding gets harder the coser you want to get to them (in additional to the Perception penalties for noticing a sneaker far away going away).

The street goes past the manor on its south side (the intact one), but the back side and the collapsed north side are built adjacent to the great towers (or, rather, the towers ended up being built next to the manor, as it predates them).

I don't have a decent map of the outdoors area, unfortunately, and I'm away from home this week so I don't have access to a decent computer to draw a map from scratch either.

Also, about those purchases... I agree with Alua's estimates, so you did get the net and the bow Phin wanted from the advances... but now that you do have extra information on what you might have wanted to boy, the window to go shopping has closed, unless you want to go all the way back.

To be clear, we did take time to buy wood and ropes to make a travois, and that cost 20galifers?

Alua hunkered down with the others and watched the half-orcs for a moment. "I thought the Ravers roved in bigger packs than just three. There might be more nearby."

Thinking a moment, she said, "Baran, hold on to the light until we're inside, I think. I might draw attention. Phin, you take a peek closer, but don't get into the open courtyard. Too risky. See if you can get further along the street, past the view of these guys, and see there's another entrance. Though, it might be better to fight now, rather than later. But my instinct is to deal with the kamadan while we're at full strength, not possibly bloodied by these fools. What do you guys think?"

Phin, you take a peek closer, but don't get into the open courtyard. Too risky. See if you can get further along the street, past the view of these guys, and see there's another entrance. Though, it might be better to fight now, rather than later. But my instinct is to deal with the kamadan while we're at full strength, not possibly bloodied by these fools. What do you guys think?"

The rogue nodded silently at Alua's request for her to scout the area. Phin was torn about whether to fight now. On one hand she agreed with Alua but on the other hand she didn't like leaving these guys behind them. "It would be preferable to face the kamadan unhurt but I'm also wary about leaving these three to possibly attack us from behind."

The rogue moved down the street staying to the shadows. Her burglar attire helped keep her less noticeable than usual and she moved with a quiet grace.

stealth: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

Crappity! Forgot the perception roll

perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Also, now that I'm thinking about what else I may have missed, I would like to know more about the Ravers

"I thought the Ravers roved in bigger packs than just three. There might be more nearby."

What does Phin know about Ravers?

And Phin used her own money from the original case to buy her shortbow and some arrows. This leaves the rest of the expense money to buy the building materials

Yes, you did get the materials Baran wanted... rope, wire, wood, some nails, a tarp perhaps... that 10G might be a bit steep for it but it is a nice round number ;^)

Phin's knowledge check still isn't wildly good, but let's add a couple rumors to what little you learned before.

- Whether they were once citizens of the district or some strange breed released from the Depths by the shattering disaster, the ravers have been connected with the Day of Crystalfall and the troubled spirits said to haunt the mournful ruins.

- There's persistent rumors that Sharn's officials, at one point, used the Fallen as a convenient place to "lose" the most violent lost-cause patients from the city's asylum.

I'll get back to Phin's scouting in a bit - the rolls were good enough for you to get something out of it and return unharmed.

Phin picked her way carefully towards the manor’s courtyard wall, and once you got close enough to take shelter behind the remains of the once-grand granite structure you found your choice of caution over speed was validated – a fourth half-orc was standing guard where the gate to the courtyard had once stood, reasonably well hidden in the darkness but not disciplined enough to remain still and silent – a sound of him shifting position had drawn Phin’s attention to the sentry.

Now that she could get a closer look at the Raver she noted the wild look in his red-rimmed eyes, lips flecked with froth, unkempt hair and face crusted with something dark… perhaps dried blood. He was clad in layers of torn, stained cloth and carried and carried a huge club or cudgel in his hands, crooning absent-mindedly as his one hand caressed the heavy wood. As the rumors had suggested, this particular specimen at least looked more animal than human.

She crept further along the street, to a place where the wall had been reduced low enough that she could peer into the courtyard while remaining in hiding. You spent some time staring into the many shadows and places of cover where additional enemies might lurk but eventually felt assured the four Ravers you had spied were all that were there. Unfortunately, there were no easy way of rushing the enemies without giving them time to act – even if you were to take out the lone sentry without raising alarm, you’d then have to approach the three camped on the front door through the courtyard, and while there were many places to hide there wasn’t anything that could cover your whole approach.

Moving further still, you turned your attention to the manor itself. The building had indeed been built like a fortress, with not a single window nor a side door you could see. You did note, however, a jagged hole in one wall – perhaps damage from the spire of opaque, greenish glass that had impaled the building, or possibly sign of a raiding party that had sought to loot the building once its masters abandoned it.

Stories of violent asylum patients let loose to run amok in Fallen streamed through Phin's mind as she caught the look in the sentry's eyes. He was definitely beyond reason judging by his crazy eyes. It just reminded the rogue that there were many unpredictable dangers down here just adding to the difficulty of wrangling the kamadan. They should have definitely asked for more than what they did for this job.

The rogue moved expertly through the shadows making note of everything that seemed remotely relevant so that she could share it with the others when she returned.

She stepped out of the dark in between Erix and Baran. "We may be able to sneak in if you all can be extremely quiet. Otherwise it will be difficult and we'll most likely have to fight. Oh, and there are four Ravers and not just three. There's a sentry guarding the gate."

But my instinct is to deal with the kamadan while we're at full strength, not possibly bloodied by these fools. What do you guys think?"[/b][/smaller]

"I'd rather fight them first." Erix admits "But they'll just be replaced while we're in there."

post Phins post
Erix scratches at the stubble on his chin. "I'm not bad at quiet, in the dark. E'en with the armour. Maybe we go one at a time, with you guiding people in, Phin? Easier to get two across three times than four across once, right?"

He looks to Alua and Baran "I used to have a squaddie who dropped out of wizard school. Had a neat trick with simple illusions to make distractions, times like this. Either of you have something like that?"

Alua shook her head in answer to Erix's question. "No, I'm no good with illusions. What I can do is provide some minor protective magic, but it won't last long. But it'll make it harder for them to attack us, for a few seconds anyway. "Sanctuary

She scratched her head, thinking. "Do you think they might fall for a bluff? Maybe if we rub some dirt, and go in like we own the place? Tell them we're the replacements, that they're wanted somewhere else? Worth a shot?"

Alua has +9 on diplomacy, and can provide enhanced diplomacy, for a +2 to Dip, or intimidate

Phin looked at Alua and Baran in disbelief, "You want to bluff or reason with the crazies and psychopaths? You must have golden tongues indeed. You're welcome to try but I will be hiding in the shadows ready to strike if it goes sideways."

So, is it going to be sneaking, fighting or talking?

diplomacy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12

Alua shrugged. "We'll probably need to fight, but this might get us closer. But be ready in case I fail."

The Oracle spat in her hands, then collected a handful of dirt and rubbed it over her hair and face. She then rubbedd more over her soldier's coat.

Calling on the spirits, she touched then each in turn, boosting their natural authority. (+2 diplomacy and intimidating)

Assuming a confidant swagger, she strode straight towards the orcs, mace cradled in her hands. "Hey! You call this guarding, you lazy f!&%s! Dench said go to the warehouse. We take over here."

Edit: Haha!!! Help!!!

sorry all, I'm back
Baran had stood there quietly. He was in a haze and had hardly heard anyones words. He had never tried this before. Everything up to now, besides the most simple of arcane tricks, had been purely academic. When he saw Alua step forward with her ad hoc disguise he was forced to act.
"Oh Sovereign Host, what is she doing??? Umm, you two get into position. Quickly!? This may go very sower, very fast."

He put his hands out, white gloved, and her rolled his wrists, "Let the great master forgive a humble servant his simple tale. This story speaks of a lone pitiful creature, his mother an orc, his father human, flesh of grey-green like the fog over a decrepit moorland. He stood not and inch under six foot and seven but with the hunch of a brutish monster. His clothes were the fare of the sewers. His eyes red and like that of a madman. His lips foamed and dripped." As Baran turned in place he bent over crooked like his spine was made that way. Another turn and his flesh became fetid and grey-green, his frame took on a hulking size. His robe folded up into rags and his face became that of a wild red eyed half-orc villain. A great falchion hung where his rapier truly was.

casting disguise self to look like them but as large as he is able
disguise +10 for disguise self: 1d20 + 7 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 7 + 10 = 28

He stepped forward to take a place just behind Alua and hoped to give the guards enough pause to allow him to think of what to say and for the team to get into place.

Phin's mouth dropped open in shock at Alua's recklessness. Baran's words spurred the elf to action and she slipped into the shadows and moved closer, weapons at the ready.

stealth: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

Obviously distracted by the trainwreck of a situation she was observing, Phin wasn't nearly as stealthy as she usually was.

So... Alua and disguised Baran out in the open, Phin hiding (not the most impressive roll of all time but you do have a distraction in the guise of your two diplomancing allies). Need to know what Erix is doing and where before I can write this out.

Erix follows Phin's lead, doing his best to find a good avenue of approach so he and Phin could capitalise on distraction
stealth: 1d20 + 6 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 2 - 2 = 17
-2 for Armor, +2 in dim conditions. Comes from:

Dimdweller: Characters with this trait are at home in gloomy conditions. Whenever these characters benefit from concealment or full concealment due to darkness or dim light, they gain a +2 racial bonus on Intimidate, Perception, and Stealth checks. Humans can take this trait in place of the skilled trait, also gaining darkvision to a range of 60 feet.

not sure if this'll stop applying when he gets in darkvision range

Thank you. A bit late for me to move things forward today, but except a post tomorrow my time.

And I think that trait would still work for Stealth against Darkvision, as long as you try to keep in cover - if you just stand in open in darkness, and your opponent has Darkvision, you are effectively not even trying to hide ;^) Other bonuses still applying is more obvious to me.

Caught something, and currently feeling definitely under the weather. Sorry about the delay, will finish the post soon as I feel up to the challenge...

Feel better! Hope it's just a regular cold!

Turn 026 - You call this guarding?

Game on, finally. Sorry for the delay, and thank you for the well wishes, Alua - feeling a bit better already.

Added a quick and dirty tactical map to the campaign description... we are heading into combat turns most likely (the sentry will make up his mind soonish, and while the three others haven't quite yet noticed you they will soon), but I don't really feel like wrapping a turn after every round, as it sounds quite a lot of work. I'll also add status document for friends and foes in a bit.

Also also... Baran has Linguistics, so feel free to roll for it if you want...

linguistics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

There are a few actual words mixed in with the nonsensical muttering, but the language is like none you have ran into before. It slightly resembles what little you recall of Celestial (lets assume it was a minor point in one of your linguistics classes), of all things, although that's not quite right either.

Orcs were known for their acuity and dim light - but Erix was no slouch himself. This was his element, and even in this light he could pick out the textures and gaps in the wall without issue.

Erix winced, and crept a little further along the wall, looking for a particularly low section. 'Looks like plan A has failed. better get ready to jump the wall and hit this guy from behind.'

While the others talked he readied himself and took a double dose of medicine. Immediately he felt better. The heavy weight of the equipment seemed to fade, and he cracked his neck as muscles rippled and moved under his skin.
free: 5ft N.
standard: take mutagen.
If a fight starts, and the line holds, he'll be over the wall.

How high is the wall? What kind of stealth and climb rolls are needed to get over the wall unnoticed?

You can get over the wall no problem just as long as you choose a low spot and I'm ok with you having chosen a place near one. As for undetected... if you act right now when the three by the fire haven't turned to look in your direction it's just the regular your Stealth opposed by the Raver's passive Perception, modified by how focused his attention is on Alua and Baran. Of course, the closer to him you try to climb the easier it is to notice you.

cmb to forcefully shove Alua: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
Baran pushed Alua out of his way, starring at this mad eyed hooligan. He looked down at his friend as if to scoff at her. However, when his face was turned away from the half-orc in front of him, his wild orcish visage quickly switched to wincing apology. He silently mouthed 'sorry.'

Baran's expression quickly turned back to fiend as his eyes flashed at the guard. He stomped forward and in his most guttural voice repeated the guard's noises back at him but with a tone of disgust. hoping to use the merits of the previous linguistics roll to copy the grunts and phraseology He repeated them again but this time as if astonished that the creature would say such a thing. He paced briefly back and forth and said it once more, looking into the eyes of the guard as if daring the red eyed beast to say it to them once more. So he continued, again and again, each time getting a little softer and putting in a different emphasis as he starred the half-orc down.
Starting a bardic performance to try to 'fascinate' the guard. It's a will save vs DC14. If 'fascinated' it is at -4 to perception checks and must continue to pay attention until Baran stops. Any potential threat gives them a new save. Any real threat - a nearby attack for example - breaks them free automatically.

Glad you're feeling better! And the map clears things up considerably. I thought Alua was able to approach the three directly, sort of bypassing the sentry. Can the three see what's happening here? Or is there enough debris in the way that we're obscured?

sense motive on Baran: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Startled at Baran's push, Alua fell to the ground, scraping her leg. Looking up, she yelped as she was faced with a large half-orc where Baran had been. Unaware of the spell he'd cast, she thought for a moment that he'd been killed and that she was next. Scrambling backwards crab-like, she only realized what had happened when the half-orc apologized to her.

After she'd scrambled away a few feet, she slowly got to her feet. If Phin hopped the wall to attack, Alua wanted to be in prime flanking position.

Moving straight north, so I can be directly opposite Phin.

Phin crept along the wall until she found a part of it that had crumbled a bit more than the rest. She maneuvered her way through the rubble and made sure that she stayed in shadow and moved as quietly as possible in order to get into a better tactical position.

stealth: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Hmmm...! That is an interesting way to use Performance. Normally, I think it should be an actual artistic performance to take someone's breath away, not rhythmic mumbling, but the Raver is certainly fascinated with what you are about. Besides, it sounds fun so I’ll allow it ;^)

Will save vs. Fascinate: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (1) + 0 = 1 Well now... the dice certainly agree with you!

Alua, Perception to locate Phin: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

The sentry flinched back in fear as the large stranger asserted his physical dominance, frowned in puzzlement as the stranger berated him with his own words, but before his puzzlement had a chance to turn into suspicion he found himself enthralled by the cadence of Baran’s voice, and he visibly relaxed as he focused all his attention to the disguised bard.

So, to recap. Phin hops over the wall and crouches in cover a square or three from the sentry. Alua sees her jump over and can pinpoint her (it’s a bit hard to hide from everyone but one, especially since Alua and the sentry are so close by) so she’ll move closer, carefully not to spook the spell-bound sentry. Baran is currently engaged in his performance but next round can maintain it as a free action if he so desires. And Erix is still waiting for things to go down on behind the wall.

The three Ravers haven't quite noticed yet, but Baran's performance has to have an audible component, and I dislike the idea of someone whispering or miming a Bardic Performance or the like. So sooner of later, they will begin to wonder what all those noises are about.