Kesperex: King's Land Scoundrels

Game Master Nathanael Love

Great, so now we potentially have to worry about the Fey of the Unseelie Court. Well, I suppose we can't worry about that until we've figured out the mortal threats first, so onward? Malik sighs aloud.

Getting closer to the spot, it is obvious Malik isn't a master of these crafts, but knows just a little bit about a lot of things...

Knowledge Geography: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Survival: 1d20 ⇒ 4

Glad to see you back Cra'rak, that Fear Eater was unpleasant at best. Now, we were looking for a place with cover and possibly some tall trees as well... What about that area just this side of Forgo's Gorge? Malik offers.

You make it across the most of the course of the path with little incident, flagging the areas most likely to work for your purposes in a few days time.

The final night, as you camp, you hear a howling in the woods around you . . .

30 Ge'Shanai, still late Summer, 9 day until the Ambush
The week moon hangs in the sky full; the chaos moon, too, is full tonight, and the year moon lies just past the halfway point in its declining phase. The month moon waxes to three quarters.

"Ahooooooo!"

The sound of wolves baying in the distance. . .growing ever nearer- you are not certain that these are wolves, however.

[Spoiler=Survival Dc 15 or Perception DC 20]You think, from the sound, that the wolves- or wolf like creatures, perhaps, will be there in about 1 minute.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21
"Hungry critters come, eh? Dangerous critters. Ornery like us. We have a minute to make peace with whatever god you feel is appropriate. Karak and I will get in position, eh?" When I think they are about 3 rounds out, I drink my mutagen. I plan on going for flanks with Karak.

"Honor and glory or honor and death." Karak slapped Cra'rak, his face hard as they prepared for battle. He got astride his mount and pulled out his ancestral hammer, ready to face whatever would come.

Three werewolves and six wolves appear circling the party. . .

Round 1
The werewolves charge Malik, Kazell, and Augustus. . .
Longsword: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 2 = 10 miss!
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Longsword: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 2 = 26
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Confirm?: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 2 = 8
Extra Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 hit, but not critical!

Longsword: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 5 + 2 = 21
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9 hit!

Turn Order:
1. Werewolfs
2. Cra'rak
3. Kazell
4. Augustis
5. Karak
6. Viatrix
7. Malik
8. Wolves

Augustus: 6/15
Kazell: 4/10

Everyone is up now; if you missed any actions between hearing them and round 1, post those before your round 1 action

Augustus groans as the sword catches his stomach and nearly lays its contents out onto the ground, but he manages to recoil from it just in time to avoid that fate. So he steps back and incants "Lit de eangst jo geast wolke" starting at a whisper and rising in volume.

Casting Cause Fear on the wearwolf in front of Siren Will Save DC: 17

Siren sees the wearwolf take a good shot at Augustus and returns in kind.

Declare the wearwolf in front of him his hated target then slam it

Attack roll: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Pre-first round actions

Hearing the wolves coming, and thankful to have a short time to prepare, Kazell climbs a nearby tree to get a good sightline to be able to target the wolves and finds a stable place that she can shoot from.

Round 1

When the first wolf comes into sight, she is astounded to see that these are werewolves, and wonders if she is as safe as she thought she was.

She fires at Red. Added a border to it so I could call my shot.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 4 + 1 = 17 (point blank)

Damage: 2d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (6, 6) + 1 + 1 = 14 (point blank)

Pre-Round actions, drink mutagen (STR) and an extract of shield, bolded my current AC

Cra'rak moves to flank the werewolf in combat with the phantom of hatred, provoking an AoO as he does so, swift action arcane strike.
"Defenses needed here my brother, a glorious fight to you!" he shouts to Karak as he moves. When he gets into flanking position, he pecks at the werewolf.
Peck: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
Damage: 1d3 + 5 + 2d6 ⇒ (2) + 5 + (6, 3) = 16

My damage is not silver, but it is magic

Pre Round action
Malik begins beating on his drum, inspiring his comrades in action!
Inspire Courage +1 competence to attack and damage rolls

Malik steadies himself, drawing his gladius and continuing to beat the drum. One note suddenly changes, and a shower of crystaline razor sharp shards emerge from his drumhead to the werewolf whom attacked him and the wolf following behind.

Cast Defensively, Chord of Shards DC17: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Piercing Damage Reflex DC 14 negates: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 4) = 7

Round 2/9 Bardic Performance

Dwarf Challenge Red Werewolf: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 9 + 1 = 26
Silver Hammer: 2d6 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (2, 3) + 9 + 1 = 15

Mount Horns: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 1 = 11
Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 1 = 10

"Get closer, I want to hit them with me hammer!" Karak ordered his mount, who dutifully trotted forward. While his mount found it difficult to headbutt the wily creature given the lack of momentum, Karak managed to land a clean hit with his hammer.

-2 AC against everything except the werewolf, but gained +1 hit and +3 damage against werewolf in return

Round 1
Cra'rak moves and strikes the werewolf, but his weapon does less than expected damage. These werewolves currently have DR 7/silver because two moons are full

Kazell hits!

Will Save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6 Fear: 1d4 ⇒ 2 The werewolf becomes frightened by Augustus' spell!

Siren misses.

Karak hits the werewolf, dropping that one!

Reflex Werewolf: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Reflex Wolf: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

Turn Order:
1. Werewolfs
2. Cra'rak
3. Kazell
4. Augustis
5. Karak
6. Viatrix
7. Malik
8. Wolves

Status:
Augustus: 6/15
Kazell: 4/10

blue werewolf: -9, frightened one round, 60 ft away, disarmed
red werewolf: -22
purple werewolf: -7

Pending Viatrix, I'll PM and move on in the AM update

Viatrix whistles for Vic to keep near her and draws the alchemical silver dagger she had taken from the Easterners some time ago now, standing together with her horse on the rocky outcropping. When they are descended upon, the two rush in to attack, V helping Malik, and Vic biting down on a wolf.

Viatrix, Dagger, IC: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 1 = 11
Vic, Bite, Hoof, Hoof, IC: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 6 + 1 = 261d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 1 = 151d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 1 = 9
Damage: 1d4 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 1 = 81d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 1 = 5

Round 1
Viatrix misses, but Victor's but and kick put down one wolf.

The wolves advance and bite!

At Malik: Bite: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17 hit!
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Trip: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

At Cra'rak:
Bite: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19 but the shield deflects the blow!
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Trip: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

At Siren:
Bite: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12 miss!
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Trip: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Two attack Karak's mount!

Bite: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Trip: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Bite: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Trip: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9 both miss!

Round 2
The frightened werewolf flees! He does provoke from Siren and Cra'rak while fleeing

The remaining one tries to swing and bite at Viatrix:
long sword: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Bite: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Trip: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14 both miss!
Turn Order:
1. Werewolfs
2. Cra'rak
3. Kazell
4. Augustis
5. Karak
6. Viatrix
7. Malik
8. Wolves

Status:
Augustus: 6/15
Malik: 12/14
Kazell: 4/10

blue werewolf: -9, frightened one round, 60 ft away, disarmed
red werewolf: -22
purple werewolf: -7

That brings up the party again!

Kazell shoots at purple.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 1 = 10 (point blank)

unfortunately, she is too distracted by her wound to shoot straight.

AOO Peck: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
Damage: 1d3 + 5 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 5 + (1) = 8
Magic but not silver

Cra'rak unleashes his full attack upon the wolf in front of him, taking a swift action to once again reimbue his natural attacks with magical energies.

Talon: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Damage: 1d3 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Talon: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Damage: 1d3 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Peck: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Damage: 1d3 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Malik gets nipped by the wolf, and turns himself to more fully face it, snapping his gladius out to catch the creature and drive it back while maintaining the beat to inspire his comrades.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Bardic Inspiration 3/9

As Vic turns to attack the werewolf, Vee slashes out with her new dagger once more.

To Hit, Vee: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 5 + 1 = 12
Alchemical Silver Damage: 1d4 + 1 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 - 1 + 1 = 3
Bite, Hoof, Hoof: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 1 = 151d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 6 + 1 = 271d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 1 = 15
Horse Damage: 1d4 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 1 = 81d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 1 = 81d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 1 = 5

Round 2
With two quick hits, Cra'rak drops the wolf in front of him!

Kazell misses.

Confirm?: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 1 = 12
Viatrix misses, and Victor hits once, but most of the damage is absorbed by the lycanthropes protection.

Malik misses, but continues inspiring.

Turn Order:
1. Werewolfs
2. Cra'rak
3. Kazell
4. Augustis
5. Karak
6. Viatrix
7. Malik
8. Wolves

Status:
Augustus: 6/15
Malik: 12/14
Kazell: 4/10

blue werewolf: -9, frightened one round, 60 ft away, disarmed
purple werewolf: -8

Pending Augustus and Karak

Dwarf vs Wolf 1: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
Hammer: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (5, 3) + 6 = 14

Confirm: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
Crit: 4d6 + 12 ⇒ (2, 1, 1, 3) + 12 = 19

Mount Horns vs Wolf 2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Mount Hoof 1: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Mount Hoof 2: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

The wolves attempted to bring down Karak’s mount. Most living creatures would have panicked at that, but his ram was not of flesh and blood. Rather it was a divine gift. Rather than spook, the ram lashed out at the first Wolf, seeking to knocked it down with it’s horns so that the Wolf could be crushed under hoof. As it did so Karak swung at the second Wolf, his hammer connecting cleanly with it’s head. He felt and heard the wolf’s skull and neck break. It didn’t matter how tough it was, a clean hit like that would kill just about anything.

Karak clobers one wolf, and his mount mauls another.

I'll PM Augustus; just pending him

"Hah! Well struck my brother! Jarrett himself would be proud of such a blow!"

Round 2
The wolves attack:
At Malik:
Bite: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16 hit!
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Trip: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
He tears into Malik and trips him!

At Siren:
Bite: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17 hit!
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Trip: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
And the other wolf trips and bites Siren!

Round 3
The remaing werewolf, seeing Malik go down, turns his attention to Viatrix:
Longsword: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22 hit!
Damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

Bite: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9 miss!
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Trip: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Turn Order:
1. Werewolfs
2. Cra'rak
3. Kazell
4. Augustis
5. Karak
6. Viatrix
7. Malik
8. Wolves

Status:
Augustus: 6/15
Malik: 5/14, prone
Kazell: 4/10
Siren: 17/20
Viatrix: 8/20 Assuming the 11/20 in header was before the days passed and you were starting full

blue werewolf: -9, 180 ft away, disarmed
purple werewolf: -8

That brings up everyone again

Round 3

Seeing his ally go down, Cra'rak moves from one end of the black line drawn to the other, provoking from the wolf, but flanking the werewolf.
"Brother, one flees from this place, can you catch it before it brings reinforcements?"

Purple werewolf peck: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
Damage: 1d3 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 6 + (5) = 13

Kazell shoots again at purple.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 1 = 13 (point blank)

missing again, she shifts position in the tree to get a better shot.

The honorless cavalier and her mount stand their ground and attack the werewolf, Viatrix plunging the dagger deep into its fur.

Bite, Hoof, Hoof, IC: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 6 + 1 = 251d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 6 + 1 = 221d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 1 = 14
Damage: 1d4 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 1 = 71d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 1 = 61d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 1 = 7
Silver Dagger, IC: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 5 + 1 = 26
Damage: 1d4 + 1 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 - 1 + 1 = 5
Crit Confirm?: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 1 = 25
Crit!: 1d4 + 1 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 - 1 + 1 = 2

Dwarf v werewolf w flank: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 8 + 2 = 23
Silver Hammer: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (1, 4) + 6 = 11

Mount Horns v wolf w flank: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 2 = 26
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Having left a trail of destruction in his wake, Karak spurred his mount onward to continue the fight. Plowing his way into the thick of the combat, the dwarf raised his bloody hammer and yelled out "Jarrett!" as he brought it down onto the shoulder of another werewolf.

Malik will continue to play the drum from his back, and attempt to stand up. provokes Doing so, he'll work to defend himself Total defense, +4AC new total: 21

Karak cracks the werewolf with his hammer, and a moment later Viatrix steps in, placing her dagger directly in the creature's heart!

The werewolf slain, the remaining wolves scatter, demoralized and whimpering.

End of Combat

Oh good deal, I was really worried there about standing up! :D

"Well. That was a right good mess we cleaned up. Oi, Malik, y'alright there lad?" Karak said, dismounting and walking over to the downed bard.

Malik reaches up, accepting the dwarf's hand, Aye, thanks, that was a close one. The damn wolf pulled me down. Who ever heard of werewolves in this area before?

The bard shakes his head to clear it, Well, we've found our ambush site, so now for Burrowdar? I for one, could use a hot meal and a drink.

You make it back to Burrowdar without further incident and have a few finals days for any other preparations you want to make prior to the ambush. . .

"Traps then? Even a pit trap around a tree is an effective trick."

"That could indeed be useful. But remember, these men will have guns." He said the word with evident dread. It meant that if he got too close to them then his armor would be nearly worthless, and the only way that he was going to be able to fight them was by getting close enough to bludgeon them. "They won't be charging at us. If anything they will be falling back as they fire, so these pit traps should be placed in a way that they will retreat into."

Karak went about walking the path that he expected the men to come into and thinking about what he would do if he was one of them. If he had a gun and was fleeing from a handsome dwarf with a magnificent silver hammer, what direction would he go? He rationalized that this was the best way to figure out the correct placement of the pit traps.

Whatever test is needed to figure out trap placement: 1d20 ⇒ 15
Whatever test is needed to make pit traps: 1d20 ⇒ 15
Please add appropriate modifiers

Digging pit traps is easy enough, but the trick will be disguising them- the problem Karak knows, with placing them where they could be retreated into is that the wagon is expected on the road, so they'd have to have somehow passed the trap once, then double back- which would not be practical.

"Is the plan not still to bring the cannons? They're just sitting there in the stables, and it would give us plenty of firepower of which to speak."

Cra'rak's eyes glint. "Now the real trick would be getting a cannon into a tree and braced properly so that it could strike at the road without being seen upon it!"

"Aye. Could be done. Would be a good way to start an ambush, if we can pull it off. Might also blow apart anything we're tryin' to capture." He added. "If ye think that we can do it, then I'm game."

Malik leans forward listening to the plan develop, Do you think we would get one shot with the cannons? And who'd be firing them? I have a simple spell which could hinder their movement some, maybe that'd help? I don't know if it matters if we blow up the paychest, or capture it. Does it? Either way the army isn't getting paid, and we've achieved that goal.

Of course the advantage of capturing the pay is that you then have the gold in hand

"If we steady the cannons beside the road we could kill whatever horses or beasts they'd be using to lead the wagon, leaving them stranded. Then we have traps all throughout the forest on either side."

Don't ruin the tree trying to get the cannon into it. I need the trees for cover too. I'm going to climb up and pick them off, as long as we can keep them in one place. We need a roadblock maybe?

"Maybe something that stops them from retreating, too, like a net or a quick fire?"

As you are making your plans, the door to the bar opens and a young, dark, cloaked man walks in.

You recognize Harlan Thinn, one of two somewhat shady brothers who live on the outskirts of town. Tales about that the boys encountered something. . . strange in the woods in their youth, something which killed their parents and left its dark mark on them.

Since that time, most found it expedient to avoid their company.

"My name is Harlan Thinn," the youth begins, "And I need your help. . ."

Hearing no one else step up, Cra'rak puts on his most comforting rasp, and attempts to look kindly at the boy. It doesn't really work, but it's the thought that counts. "Do go on my boy, what can we help you with?"

"Years ago, my brother and I survived a strange accident which killed our parents. It. . .changed us. Since then, we have a connection to the shadows. I can summon weapons from the shadows- any blade I can think of I can create."

"But my brother could summon things from the shadows. Creatures. He's grown more and more distant ever since, and recently he has been experimenting- with how many, and how big, and what kind he can bring out. And it's changed him more."

"Last week he disappeared. I thought at first that he had gone there to the shadow place. But then I started hearing reports of the shadow creatures in the woods."

"I don't know what he's doing there, but I need help to track these shadows back and find my brother."

Viatrix sniffs, not caring much for the Thinn brothers. She crosses her arms, and tilts her head up to look at him as he approaches, defensive but trying to put aside her personal dislike for the family.

The drunk is openly shocked by Harlan's tale, having never heard even rumors about these powers the man describes, despite practically being neighbors. She sips her beer and considers the man. He could be useful. With a past like that, he could obviously keep a secret. "It just so happens we're in need of hands," she starts, glancing around the table for the approval of her fellows. "But if we help you, you'll need to help us."

Ugh, the Thinn boys, this can't be good...

The bard looks impassively at the young man, his stance softening some as Harlan spoke, Viatrix is right, we can help you out, if you'd be willing to help us out with something in a couple days? Malik looks around to the others, Where'd you say these shadows were seen? And what do you mean by 'changed him'?