Kesperex: King's Land Scoundrels

Game Master Nathanael Love

Kazell says

Well now, ammunition can keep us all alive, which would be a nice thing. Here, have 4 gold. It's all I've got, but that should help a bit.

She thanks Augustus for coming by and for the medical assistance, and sees him off, then makes sure V is squared away for the night. Then she goes to get some sleep, hoping that the rest will help her recover enough that she can help find Sylvia in the morning.

"I suppose I can see if my family truly hates you or just has been unlucky. If you're all off to bed I'll try healing you one more time Kazell."

Healing: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Augustus Will treat Viatrix and Vic as well with a 19 heal assuming Kazell is okay with him staying a few hours longer to get some bandages on and set things up to heal. Then knowing that they are going out the next morning he will head back to the tavern and if there's anyone left there ask around to see if anyone could water and feed the animals at his stables for a few days, offering pay of 1 gold per week. assuming he finds it he will venture off to the outskirts of town and camp there for the night figuring its a long trip back to the stables and he would just have to make it the next morning anyways.

Thank you Augustus says Kazell warmly. I feel so much better, like I am back to my old self.

Do you also need a place to stay tonight? I don't have another bed, but I do have a cot in that closet over there and some bedding, if you would like.

The next day, rested, healed, and resupplied you make the short journey out to Sylvia's cottage.

The door is closed, the chimney cold, and by all immediate appearances it is abandoned.

Checking the handle, the door is unlocked and swings open easily. Inside, you see a jumble of bottles, pots, dried herbs, and other assorted paraphernalia.

A large iron cauldron sits near the fireplace, where the long burned out remnants of a fire remain.

As you continue examining the scene, you hear a strange croaking sound, and after a minute looking around, a large fat toad presses itself up our of a crack in the floorboards and begins croaking rather insistently at you, while looking at the spot from where it emerged.

Malik enters the small cottage, Sylvia? You home? This can't be good...

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

Looks like a scuffle, and someone covered it up... I'm not liking this, oh hello Mr. Toad! What's that, why the floor? Wait could this be her familiar? Did she always have a toad with her? I can't remember... Malik looks to the rest of the party with concern on his face. He steps away from the floorboard with the toad and cautiously loads his crossbow. I don't want to see this do I?

[b]Um, Khalaros, do you mind seeing if that floorboard will move? I've got a bad feeling about this one... again... Malik looks with sadness, expecting the worst. [i]Two dead in two days, elemental wolves, and now someone with some intelligence, great.

Kazell casts detect magic, taking care to examine the surroundings to see what things are magical and might pose a danger.

If the Frog is enchanted, she concentrates to try to determine the nature of the enchantment.

Not going to lie- I do not know if the toad rules as written radiates magic or not

As Kazell checks the room, she notices a few of the components on the shelves radiating magical, a faint lingering aura from the spilled liquid and remnants in the pot, but the brightest auras are under the floorboard, which when lifted, does in fact open, revealing a baker's doze (13) potions, and two wands.

The toad calms down and sits next to opening until the items are lifted out to examine them, then move to the door and begins to croak there.

Thinking back, you remember seeing Sylvia with this toad hiding in her hair, on her shoulder, in her satchel- you assume it must be her familiar.

We should follow the toad. If Sylvia is alive, this is likely our way to her.

I think the toad wants us to take the items in the floor, Kazell, any idea what they may be? Hopefully curatives. Malik adjusts his shortsword and drum, and prepares to follow the toad out to find its master.

Okay little fella, lets see if you can't help us find Sylvia.

do the potions look like they are the same or in groups or are all of them different?

Having gotten to the house Augustus will say "Okay, I'm going to summon up a spirit who will help us, he can be a bit ornery but you can trust him, don't be alarmed." He then settles onto the ground and meditates tracing his right hand over each of his chakras before transitioning back to his heart chakra where he stops and circles before grabbing onto something, at first it appears to be nothing but as he pulls a black goo seems to come out and starts to take a humanoid form.

"This is Sǐrén, he doesn't talk much but he can help to protect us."

Once we enter the house and Kazell find the supplies Augustus will cast his own detect magic and take stock

Looking away from the toad for a moment back at Malik, Kazell says

Oh, yes, of course, we should take them as well. I'll examine anything Augustus isn't able to identify.

You identify 8 of the potions easily (leaving 5 unidentified) and 1 of the two wands. Someone else can retry if they have Spellcraft

The potions are:
4 Potions of Cure Light Wounds
1 Potion of Cure Moderate Wounds
2 Potions Remove Sickness
1 Potion Delay Poison

The wand you identify is a Wand of Cure Light Wounds with 38 charges remaining.

Spellcraft (Unidentified Potion 1): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Spellcraft (Unidentified Potion 2): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Spellcraft (Unidentified Potion 3): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Spellcraft (Unidentified Potion 4): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Spellcraft (Unidentified Potion 5): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Spellcraft (Unidentified Wand): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

Kazell identifies two more potions of cure light wound, 1 more potion of cure moderate wounds, and the wand- a wand of cure Serious Wounds with 22 charges remaining.

Identified items are:
6 Potions of Cure Light Wounds
2 Potion of Cure Moderate Wounds
2 Potions Remove Sickness
1 Potion Delay Poison

Wand of Cure Light Wounds with 38 charges remaining
wand of cure Serious Wounds with 22 charges remaining.

Two potions remain unidentified.

The toad leads you out to the the edge of the forest. Following him is very slow going, his being, despite being fat and big for a toad still a toad, but at the edge he shows you an obvious trail.

Survival to follow the trail and move at normal speed instead of toad hopping speed

Anyone see any tracks? This toad seems to know where he's going, but this is maddeningly slow... Malik looks down at the steadily hopping toad and to the path into the woods. Malik casts a glance to Khalaros and Viatrix with hope that one of the two of them can lead the party forward at a faster pace.

Turning again to look at the woods, Malik stares intently at the forest, trying to discern if the shadows hide anything, or if it is merely squirrels moving on the branches. Shrugging, and never taking his eyes from the wood, he withdraws a small coffee bean from his belt, touching it to both eyes briefly, and crunching it between his teeth, while his voice quietly stirs in the breeze, I can see clearly now the rain is gone, I can see all obstacles in my way...

Cast Heightened awareness duration 10 Minutes.... +2 Perception, dismiss for a +4 initiative check

Kazell, walking behind the others (having learned her lesson about getting too close through her recent near-death experience), recognizes Malik's song and joins in, singing

...gone are the dark clouds that had me blind...

Survival, Scent, Vic: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

Victor seems to pick up on something, but also keeps bumping the toad with his muzzle as he sniffs the ground.

Khal buddy, could I get a Aid Another?

You begin following the trail, and you can tell after a few minutes that it will be a while. A few hours later, finally, the trail leads to an opening in glen where you see a crudely constructed mud hut- the kind that is obviously being used as a staging point for Eastern Kingdom scouts, and sure enough, you see at least one perched on the top as a lookout.

Well Viatrix, I may have overguessed about how long before the Easterners showed up, I guess we should just go ask about Sylvia, and be prepared for them to be giant jerks as well?[/smaller Looking to the rest of the group Malik continues, [smaller]Anyone feel like talking to them, I can sure, but I don't know if anyone else has any strong feelings, I mean, we're just looking for our townsperson.

Kazell calls out (but doesn't approach)

Hello! We're looking for a friend of ours. May we approach?

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

He stands, now fully atop the roof, holding his bow at the ready.

"Whose your friend then?" meanwhile he whistles sharply, sounding almost like a bird- what you assume must be a signal for those inside.

Kazell shouts

Her name is Sylvia. We don't mean to interfere in your business. Just coming to find her and get her back home where she belongs. Have you seen her?

"Nay, never heard of her. If ye be loyal citizens of the Kingdom, go on from here."

You hear a door open to the back.

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 3

Kazell whispers to the group

Sounds like a door opened in the back... I'll stay here, but someone circle around to the back to see what is up?

then she responds and yells

We'd love to go home, but we tracked her this far, and she is important to us. Can we take a look around the clearing and see if we can figure out where she went from here?

Malik is impressed with Kazell's negotiation with the Easterners and continues to lay low in the brush. He does look over to Viatrix and Khalaros and points off to the side Kazell indicates to see if either of them is up for creeping through the brush.

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 2

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Augustus' eyebrow twitches slightly at the scout's words. he lightly chuckles before whispering "He's lying, I can tell he recognizes her name. I bet he just sent someone out the back to hide her away or something of the sort."

Sensing Agustuses unease and hearing Kazell suggest someone go around behind was more than enough motivation for Sǐrén who trys to melt into the shadows and move around to the flank of the hut.

Stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Assuming this is less than 100 feet Augustus will focus on Sǐrén but stay where he is and update the group to what Sǐrén is seeing. if it gets further Augustus will move forward to keep Sǐrén from returning to the Ethereal Plane.

Viatrix hops off Victor and takes a few steps closer to the mud hut.

"Just a hedge witch. No concern of yours, but of much concern to our village."

As Augusts looks on the other side, he sees two more men dressed in similar fashion standing beside the door to the hut on the back side, both, also with bows drawn.

[Spoiler=Knowledge Religion DC 12[/ooc]One of these two wears a holy symbol of Attrianna- though it is modified, rather than her usual crossed arrows and stag's head, the stag's head is replaced with a stag's skull[/ooc]

The man nods, "She's of no concern to your village anymore. Turn around and be gone before the Mad Huntsman hears of you meddling in his affairs."

At this point, you can tell he is on a hair trigger and anything but an immediate withdrawal will lead to initiative

Kazell considers the amazing hypocrisy of people that pretend to be good and yet kidnap villagers, but she knows mentioning it won't help, and she also sees that the time for diplomacy has passed. She moves behind something so that she isn't an easy target for the man's bow.

She confers with the party, out of earshot of the building.

Well, it's pretty clear that they know what happened to her. We shouldn't just walk away, but are we justified in fighting them when we truly don't know for sure what has been done? And if we do fight them, and anyone gets away, then we'll be known for taking sides in the war, presumably.

Should we try taking them down, or should we back off as they asked, and go tell the other side that we found a scout camp and use them to take them down? I suppose I prefer the former, since I don't want to keep just finding the remains of our villagers, and it seems like the best chance to find Sylvia alive, but I honestly don't know if she is in there, and how many others are in there and if we can take them. What do you guys think?

Please tell me your honest thoughts, since I know that my vision is also swayed by my anger towards these hypocrites that say they fight for good but are doing so much harm.

”we’ve only seen three of them. I think we can assume they’ll be that many again. If we’re looking at combat with six well-trained kingsmen I think it’ll be hard but we may be able to come out on top.

I tend to agree that the only chance at seeing Sylvia live again is to go in now. We have a flank on them I can station Sǐrén back there to keep an eye and warm us of stragglers runners or reinforcements.”

"F&$& this."

Viatrix mounts Victor, aims her gun at the man atop the hut, and fires. A scream erupts out of the bullet, whizzing past the man's ear, and echoing throughout the forest.

Intimidate, Firearm Size Bonus, Screaming Shot: 1d20 + 7 + 4 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 7 + 4 + 5 = 34

"I didn't have to miss, but I seek a peaceful solution."

The howl of the bullet still ringing afar off, she steps Victor a few feet closer. "Give us the witch. We're far better armed than you, and have seen more of battle. Don't make us press the issue."

Malik will stand with Viatrix' sudden actions and casually holds his crossbow in one hand.

Well, I think everything in the forest knows we're here... And what's this Mad Huntsman he's speaking of? That sounds mildly ominous...

Kazell grins and says

Well, I guess that's decided then.

She aims her bow at the man on the roof, staying as much behind cover as she can, and waiting to see who is going to make the next move.

I actually don't know if tengus can grin, but you know...

turn order:
1. Augustus
2. Kazell
3. Bandits
4. Malik
5. Khalaros
6. Viatrix

Augustus and Kazell will act before the bandits; we are on the new map slide 3

Sǐrén will move out of the shadows with a shout as he 5-foot steps and marks the kingsmen who is now adjacent to him as his hated target before going in for a slam.

Attack roll (Hated Target, Piranha Strike): 1d20 + 4 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (10) + 4 + 2 - 1 = 15
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Augustus meanwhile will take a step forward draw his crossbow and loose the bolt at the frontman.

Attack Roll: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 2

Kazell sees Augustus attack, so she does too.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Damage: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (1, 2) + 1 = 4

Unfortunately, she doesn't even come close.

Drat.

She ducks back behind cover, grabbing another arrow.

Round 1
Siren strikes the scout, who hasn't caught her footing yet.

Augustus hits the man atop the hut with his crossbow.

Kazell, however misses.

The man atop fires at Viatrix:
Long bow: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14 miss!
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 2

The other bowman, fires at Siren:
Long bow: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19 hit!
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 3

The one the phantom struck, however, draws two hand axes and slashes away:
Handaxe: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 5 - 2 = 19 hit!
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Handaxe: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 5 - 2 = 7 miss!
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

turn order:
1. Augustus & Siren
2. Kazell
3. Bandits
4. Malik
5. Khalaros
6. Viatrix

Red: -8
Blue: -2

Siren: 8/12

That will bring up the party- Augustus, I am not super familiar with phantoms so if there's a special defense I am forgetting let me know.

No real special defenses till level 5 or 6, so you are good! I'm going to wait for Malik to see about inspiring courage.

Could I try and use the Drag or Reposition Combat Maneuvers with my whip to try and drag the Kingsman off the hut? I would prefer to ride up, do that, ride off, otherwise treat this as a Trip attempt and add 1

Viatrix ducks under the oncoming arrows as her steed gallops forth, dragging her whip along the ground before snapping it at the soldier she fired at.

Drag: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

If successful, move Viatrix and Victor one space back, the soldier occupying her original space

Kazell shoots from cover:

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Damage: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (4, 5) + 1 = 10

Still not shooting well, she notes that she needs to practice a lot more if they are going to be trying to save people so often.

Malik strides into the clearing, one hand beating a marching cadence, slow and steady at first, but getting more frenetic as he approaches behind Viatrix. Holding his crossbow up, pointing it threateningly at the solider on top of the hut, he seems content not to fire yet.

Inspire Courage: +1 svs vs Fear, +1 Competence to hit and damage: 1/7 day

Augustus hears Sǐrén's battle cry and then a yelp of pain which spurs him further into action. He steps forward reloads and with a shout looses another bolt at the figure standing on the hut.

Attack roll: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 1 = 8
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Sǐrén meanwhile having just taken an axe blow to the shoulder will try to ram that same shoulder into red twice shouting out "You could have had this easy, but you joined a false war for a false king!"

Slam (Hated Target, Piranha Strike, Inspire courage): 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (9) + 4 + 2 + 1 - 1 = 15
Damage: 1d6 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 2 + 1 = 9

Slam (Hated Target, Piranha Strike, Inspire courage): 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (12) + 4 + 2 + 1 - 1 = 18
Damage: 1d6 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 2 + 1 = 11

Round 1
Malik begins inspiring courage.

So- yes you can drag, but in this case to get him off you'd need to beat his CMD +5 since just beating CMD drags 5 ft and there's 10 ft to the edge- I'll allow you to trip instead if you'd prefer, but you otherwise successfully pull him forward 5 ft but not across the edge

Round 2
Augustus misses.

Siren slams the melee using bandit twice, dropping him.

turn order:
1. Augustus & Siren
2. Kazell
3. Bandits
4. Malik
5. Khalaros
6. Viatrix

Red: -8
Blue: -2

Siren: 8/12

Pending answer on Viatrix's action and Khalaros before the bandits here.

I am fine with just dragging him closer, it gets my point across

No answer from Khaleros; I hope he is ok, but we will continue.

The back bandit looks at Augustus, and moves away to the other side, while the one on top shouts, "Shoot the quarterling on the horse!"

Both bandits fire at Viatrix:

Long Bow: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 5

Long Bow: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8

the hail of arrows drops Viatrix to the ground!

turn order:
1. Augustus & Siren
2. Kazell
3. Bandits
4. Malik
5. Khalaros
6. Viatrix

Red: -8

Siren: 8/12
Viatrix -3/12

That brings up the party again.

That should only put me down to -1

Correct, sorry miscounted there