A closer look reveals that the 'company of creatures' is just scrub brush.
Katsumi was even more confused about why Almah wanted them to take this temple given that they had already made camp nearby. Ignoring the thought, he continued onward. "Perhaps we should make a quick perimeter sweep to see if we find any trails leading in before moving closer?"
The sweep does not turn up much except a heck of a lot of those pugwampi tracks. You have a very strong suspicion that they lair here. But nothing else stands out. Are you making any attempt to remain hidden while you scout?
"Oh no more bad luck."
"Yes, looks like more of those pugwampi creatures. Though that doesn't mean there aren't other, more dangerous things inside. The hole in the wall looked like the only way to enter. Shall we proceed?"
"Yes, looks like more of those pugwampi creatures. Though that doesn't mean there aren't other, more dangerous things inside. The hole in the wall looked like the only way to enter. Shall we proceed?"
"Can I just advise we come up with a plan before we rush headlong into danger, as in our recent excursion into the cactus bramble. Several of you were almost seriously injured, might I point out."
"For instance, can we be at all certain these creatures are not already anticipating our arrival? If so, which seems likely considering at least one escaped our assault on their position, it would seem to be the case that we must prepare against that eventuality."
"So what's your plan then, Casper?"
"So what's your plan then, Casper?"
"Well, for starters, it seems to me like we should have someone surreptitiously scout out the premises and attempt to divine the lay of the land before we hurl ourselves headlong into unknown dangers."
"If you are volunteering, then by all means, go ahead. I, however, am not particularly quiet in my armor."
"I was always told it smart to know when to walk but it is even more important to know when to run. Yes, we have time for planning now that things are not running away or dying, so we should take it. And it's good to hear you will be joining now we can see your awesome fancy skills. "
Considering the situation Rahella was not as concerned by the pugwampi so much as what ever else might be in there. "I agree that a general strategy would be advisable," since they would be indoors for the time being Rahella had opted to remove her robes leaving her in only her more revealing garments beneath so she wouldn't be hampered by the bulk, "I also think keeping it simple would be good as who knows what we will run into. Most likely we should decide simply an order we will move in and what we can do when the fighting starts." That there would be fighting seemed a given to Rahella, the gremlins alone would be sure to oppose them, "Since we don't know what we might find in a place like this I did adjust what magic I have available to me. Beyond the acid some of you have seen me use I have prepared a much smaller version I won't run out of as well as prepared a spell to pulse positive energy should we run into any undead for the basic illusion spell I usually keep available." She hesitated and then continued, "I would also ask that, if possible, you not completely kill of anything not a pugwpi if possible. The large gout of acid and the defensive abilities some of you saw me use take from a reservoir of power and I can only refill it after my daily preparations by ending the life of one who is left helpless and of comparable strength to mine own or more."
Considering the situation Rahella was not as concerned by the pugwampi so much as what ever else might be in there. "I agree that a general strategy would be advisable," since they would be indoors for the time being Rahella had opted to remove her robes leaving her in only her more revealing garments beneath so she wouldn't be hampered by the bulk, "I also think keeping it simple would be good as who knows what we will run into. Most likely we should decide simply an order we will move in and what we can do when the fighting starts." That there would be fighting seemed a given to Rahella, the gremlins alone would be sure to oppose them, "Since we don't know what we might find in a place like this I did adjust what magic I have available to me. Beyond the acid some of you have seen me use I have prepared a much smaller version I won't run out of as well as prepared a spell to pulse positive energy should we run into any undead for the basic illusion spell I usually keep available." She hesitated and then continued, "I would also ask that, if possible, you not completely kill of anything not a pugwpi if possible. The large gout of acid and the defensive abilities some of you saw me use take from a reservoir of power and I can only refill it after my daily preparations by ending the life of one who is left helpless and of comparable strength to mine own or more."
"Why are we planning on going inside at all? Why don't we just set a fire to smoke the cursed vermin out, and then pick them off with ranged weapons and booby traps?"
"I don't very well see why we need to enter their layer, on their terms."
Casper considers the matter some more, pursing his lips in thought,
"That, or we should try to set fire to the structure with flaming arrows, or hurl a raging insect hive into their midst."
"Wait burn the building we want to use as a protective structure? To make smoke you need a lot of wet material and we are in a desert. Then get near. Then get a bonfire going. I don't know how to build traps, do you? Do you have a long ranged weapon I don't see one? I have a sling. So far we have not been great at handling animals,I don't imagin insects will be better but maybe you have been holding back?"
Then after thinking for a moment, "So, your not going to scout like you suggested?"
To Rahella, Katsumi responded, "I do not believe it is right to spare a creature's life only to have it be used as fuel for your magicks." He then continued on to what he saw as the more important discussion. "As to trying to smoke whatever inhabitants out, in addition to what my brother has brought up, it also appears to be a rather large structure in the open air without much of a roof. Producing enough smoke to force anything out would likely be quite difficult. If we believe we can accomplish it, I suppose we can try to get on what little of a roof that remains and fire at any enemies at range. I at least have a bow. Alternatively, we could send one person in to scout and then try to get some enemies to chase them into an ambush."
Rahella sighed and said, "I don't mean keep them alive and conscious but if they are already unconscious just move on and I will handle them later." She gave Katsumi a stern gaze as she said, "I am not needlessly cruel and what I do is used only on those already breathing their last. I would never use it on anyone as an execution method on someone not already dying, I'm not a monster after all."
"If they are dying, then they are not yet dead and still have a chance at life. With only a few exceptions, I would much rather knock an enemy out and tie them up. When we are done, they can be released and continue on their lives. Especially in a situation such as this, it is us who are the invaders. While I believe we should restore this temple, the Dawnflower would look ill upon us if we didn't give the current inhabitants a chance at redemption. We are, after all, attempting to kick creatures out of the home they have made."
Rahella considered what Katsumi said about the Dawnflower and said, "While the Dawnflower may espouse such things the Lady of Graves does not. She permits me to do what I do and if I was not meant to do so, if the person was fated to have that chance in this life, then The Lady will prevent me from crossing them over in her own way." While her eyes had been hard Rahella's gaze softened slightly as she continued, "I do what I do as a mercy Katsumi, to end their suffering in this life,"
While Rahella wasn't backing down she wasn't unsympathetic to Katsumi's beliefs, misguided as they were, and said, "I am willing to concede that, if someone seems they could be redeemed, then I will stay my hand for a time, but if they do not then I will not. If that means you must draw on a companion to stop me then I understand but I will fulfill the role that The Lady has given me to perform." Expression softening again the darkly pretty mage continued, "If it helps any what I do is painless and swift and I have yet to have a soul be unhappy with being released from their mortal flesh. In fact they have all been thankful for what I do."
Lupe is letting his brother handle this one. The idea of killing someone to power one's magic basically overloads Lupe's morality circuits. It's not that he does not understand that it is wrong but he assumes that he must be misunderstanding the situation because it seems so obviously wrong.
"You do as you must as I will do what I must. However, I will remind you that this is a monastery to the Dawnflower, not to the Lady of Graves." Katsumi had no intention of killing what they found in the monastery nor did he have any intention of letting the strange woman kill any knocked out by his blade. He had trained too long learning how to soften his blows without sacrificing speed or accuracy to do otherwise. If the others were not trained as such and needed to take lethal steps, she could prey on their victims. But not on his foes.
If she seriously thought she'd be thanked for coming into another's home and murdering them, she was either delusional or stupid. It was bad enough that they had to roust the creatures from their den. He would not make it worse by also claiming their lives.
Sarona quietly follows the rest of the party. Aaliyah trots next to her.
So, I would agree that burning the place to the ground would not achieve your actual objective, which is to secure the place as a defendable camp. So the question is whether you scout around first or head in now.
Lupe looks to Casper to see if he will follow through on this plan, but starts preparing assuming he won't.
Lupe looks to Casper to see if he will follow through on this plan, but starts preparing assuming he won't.
"Well, one, the building is made out of stone -- unless the fire is of an immense size and rages for days, I don't believe we will do anything except kill any enemy inhabitants through smoke inhalation."
"However, we are also able to build a fire outside the premises, and allow the smoke to float into the structure."
"If I cannot convince the rest of you to follow that plan -- then I suggest we lay a trap. We will create a distraction of some sort that begs investigation by the monastery's inhabitants, and then spring our ambush on their unfortunate souls!."
"Can you build traps? I have these wire bell traps I bought, but I don't think they are what you had in mind. I'm a good worker and I can help if you tell me what to do. In the stories when you lure someone out of their keep you need a great trick or they will just stay. Who is good at tricks?"
"Can you build traps? I have these wire bell traps I bought, but I don't think they are what you had in mind. I'm a good worker and I can help if you tell me what to do. In the stories when you lure someone out of their keep you need a great trick or they will just stay. Who is good at tricks?"
"I was thinking more along the lines of some defensive trenches from which we can press an assault once we draw our enemies outside their own defensive positions. When we assaulted the gremlins in the cactus bluff, I impersonated a gnoll to scar them. We need to do something similar -- create an enticing prize to draw them out to claim or investigate. Is there a kind of food or bauble these detestable creatures will be likely to rush out and seek to claim?"
"Oh you made that noise. That what good play-acting! I don't know what they like other than fire and being jerks. Do you have a shovel? I can get digging."
Then as if he had an epiphany,
"I have this." and he pulls out a bear trap that could hut him in half.
Vulpina chuckles. "I could always play the part of the lost noble," she points out, "calling very loudly for help with no one around to help her."
"Oh you made that noise. That what good play-acting! I don't know what they like other than fire and being jerks. Do you have a shovel? I can get digging."
Then as if he had an epiphany,
"I have this." and he pulls out a bear trap that could hut him in half.
Casper smiles, "That seems like a good start! Let's set out something they might like to eat in order to lure them into our trap."
Vulpina chuckles. "I could always play the part of the lost noble," she points out, "calling very loudly for help with no one around to help her."
"Something they might like to eat.." as the ginger finishes voicing his suggestion, he regards the Lady Vulpina with an attitude of interest and consideration. After a moment, he continues,
"Why don't you pose as a wounded survivor of a waylaid caravan -- you're incapacitated by a leg injury. We'll set the trap between you and the accursed creatures."
Katsumi looked on impassively. He had neither the skills to set the trap without being noticed nor the tools to help dig a trench. "If we are to ambush them, we will need a way to prevent them from simply retreating when we reveal ourselves. Something that we can set up close enough that we can lure them past and yet far enough away that we can place it without their notice."
"Bear traps are best used buried. So, does anyone have a shovel?"
Lupe starts digging a shallow hole with his hands.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
It has hills, but they are gently sloped, but no sharp edges anywhere. You haven't seen anything come or go during the perimeter sweep though they are small and hard to see and your field of vision would have been limited during the sweep. The brush is enough to block long range line of sight unless you are on a rise, but not heavy enough to provide much of a block from, say, 50' unless you are good at hiding.
On the other hand, you think you could make it to the monastery without being seen if you make a mad dash and nobody is on lookout. It doesn't LOOK like there is anything watching, but the gremlins are pretty dang good at hiding. With all the fallen walls and things there are plenty of places that might make a good ambush point.
Rahella let the discussion with Katsumi end, it wasn't worth arguing with him and he'd either move to stop her or accept he had no control over her, either way it would happen when it happened. Instead Rahella turned her focus on the discussion of tactics to clear this place out. She personally thought they'd be better off just going in rather than the elaborate trap that might not work, the simplest plan was most adaptable after all, but the boys, and then Vulpina as well seemed to be having far too much fun to break it up just then.
Considering what they were planning carefully Rahella looked around for something to help make it work. She looked up at the wall, above the hole, and pointed to it as she asked, "Maybe we can make some of that fall down behind, or even on them, when they come out. It would help thin their numbers and at least slow down a retreat?"
"Exactly," grins Vulpina, loading her pistol with a single shot. "I can lay down upon my pistol and bear it against them when it's too late for them to retreat."
"Perhaps we can find a dune or a boulder for the rest of you to hide behind-- and I will simply lay beside it? Hopefully their avarice will keep blinders on them, although that is wishing for the best possible result."
Once Lupe has the trapped buried he will look for some cacti and hack them up with his sword. In front of the bear trap facing the monastery Lupe will bury the pieces needles up (hopefully acting like caltrops).
I put tokens on the map though it don't know how close I can get them. I assume farther back then I can put them but that's the basic set up.
Katsumi did his best to help out. He had his doubts this would work, or at least that they'd all be able to get close enough to spring an ambush without being noticed, but if it didn't the only consequence would be lost time.
So, you have a bear trap, some makeshift caltrops, ...
... but no boulder near by. Casper lays himself out hear the trap and starts moaning like he is injured and pathetic, hoping the gremlins come from the other side because those 'caltrops' look nasty and moving to the other side might be a bit painful. The rest of you scramble for hiding places, though unless you place yourself at some distance, is going to be difficult. Casper, make me a bluff or perform acting roll and the rest of you make me some stealth rolls.
DC 20 with a +1 to your roll for every 5' away from the trap you hide.
Finally, Casper, I'd like you to describe the scene you are making.
The caltrop are lightly buried if it helps and we are 50ft away.
Katsumi positions himself off to one side with a clear path from his position to the fortress-side of the trap about 70 feet away. He draws his blade, readying himself to sprint into position.
Vulpina walks out to a likely, looking spot, composes herself, and then trips exaggeratedly, a few coins spilling out of her robe.
she wails,
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Here's roll to beat to hide.
Sarona looks for somewhere to hide.
So, you have a bear trap, some makeshift caltrops, ...
Simultaneously with the Lady Vulpina, the ginger than raises a pitiable, animal wail, as if he has just trapped his foot in some kind of hidden defile, and twisted it beyond repair. He collapses to the ground as if stricken by a ranged weapon. He screeches again with a raw, animalistic roar.
"By all the prophecies, I am felled! May I receive my just reward!"
Everyone that wants to have successfully hidden themselves. Noise is no problem as the two budding vaudville performers make enough noise to drown out a mounted knight charge. Sure enough a gleeful gremlin shows up
Though it is HIGHLY unlikely anyone sees it coming.
Accompanied by a gleeful shout, an arrow appears like magic from thin air...
and embeds itself in Casper for 1 point of nonlethal damage. the gremlin approached from the direction of the monastery and, I assume, you were all hiding somewhere not along the likely path of approach.
Lupe is hiding 50ft away off to the side so he can partially charge in front of the trap in a surprise round. (90degrees to the likely movement). Once the creature gets to or seems to notice the traps he is charging.
Unfortunately, the gremlin does not look like it is interested in getting close to the actors/traps and seems content to shoot arrows from about 60' away [from Casper] in the general direction of the monastery.
Wolf will double move (100ft) and Lupe will attack with reach.