In the Demon Lord's Shadow.

Game Master Elsine

Enforcer Barney stealth: 1d20 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 2 + (5) = 9
Enforcer Carlos stealth: 1d20 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 2 + (2) = 9

Hund starts growing claws and engages his primal soul. His claws extend.

Casting Beast Within. Next segment will cast Primal Might.

Then he speeds his way towards the town outskirts.

(Farm, road, town outskirts, town proper, house).

Strength: 1d20 + 0 - 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 0 - (3) = -1

At that moment Hund's key stops and he comes to a screeching halt.

"Hund...wait for us!"

As the mechanical dog takes off, Mok, dragging the girl with him, tries to keep up, but the burden of the young girl struggling leaves him far behind.

Barney moving forward: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Carlos moving forward: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

Okay, gonna see if we're starting this with or without Silas and BAros. gentlemen, make your rolls

Moving: 1d20 ⇒ 5

hmmmm...

Fugitive Boons: 3d6 ⇒ (1, 4, 1) = 6
Strength: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Silas helps Baros stalk through the woods, trying to find a way to cut off the attackers before they reach his comrades up ahead. Yet somewhere in the woods, he gets caught up in the thickets. Great to lose a target in, terrible for getting through yourself. "F!*@!" Silas growled, unsure where to move to next.

Silas and Baros

That means you won't be in attendance for the first.... let's say minute of the fight.

Mok and Hund

Fallon continues to express her displeasure at being carried, when a twig snapping alerts you, too late, of the presence of others.

The first approaches Mok, a bit of cord in hand, and grabs at him Grab: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3. But Mok is able to dodge out of the way.

the second decides Hund is the more pressing threat, and tries to beat him without striking Fallon whack: 1d20 + 2 - 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 2 - (2) = 2. he is... not particularly successful.

Who wants a fast turn?

Nope...slow for me this turn

Hund is stopped and is currently an Object. He cannot take actions or move right now.

Realising that the dog is hardly a threat, the second enforcer
decides to deal with the orc, and he plants his boot onto the orcs chest Knock down on Mok: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13 and sends the orc to the ground, where the first whips out his cord, planting a knee between Mok's shoulder blades as he loops the cord around his neck

Garrotte on Mok: 1d20 + 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (7) + (5) + 2 = 14 crushing the priests windpipe and inflicting damage to Mok: 1d6 ⇒ 3 a not insignificant amount of pain

Mok gets a turn, then we're on round 3

Mok reaches up and grabs the man who is trying to strangle him, twisting his arm as hard as he can.

Grab: 1d20 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (16) + 1 + (3) = 20
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

The first thug winces in pain as you twist his arm, and responds by tightening the cord around your neck, Damage to Mok: 1d6 ⇒ 5

The second picks up his club, and raises it up attack on Mok: 1d20 + 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + (2) + 2 = 10 Damage to Mok: 1d6 ⇒ 4 and slams it down into your forehead, leaving you seeing stars with a ringing in your ears

Reeling from the pain, Grommok attempts to break contact with the thugs and escape.

Escape: 1d20 + 1d6 ⇒ (20) + (6) = 26

Whoot!!

Silas would emerge from the woods, a distance away from where the ambush was happening. With a curse, he would take the bow off of his back and nock an arrow back before taking aim down the way at man closest to Mok.

Attack: 1d20 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (9) + 1 + (6) = 16Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 4) = 8

If I am too far away and need to take the bane, just remove my trickery boon and one of the 4's

Baros pumped his legs as hard as he could to try and make ground on his friends' pursuers. Following Silas's lead drew his bow and fired.

Bow: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

The arrows pincushion the already injured Thug, but he still manages to stand and takes cover, getting out a sling, while his friend takes fallon from atop Hund's lifeless form,a nd begins to escord her home

Thug 1 sling on the retreating Mok: 1d20 - 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (10) - (6) + 2 = 6, but missing him as Mok zigs and zags.

Who wants a fast turn in round 4?

Slow turn

Objectified

Thug 1 is going to sling at Mok, but Thug 2 will take a slow turn t help move Fallon back, taking the Rush action

The hitter loads another stone into his sling, and hucks it at Mok once again. Thug 1 on Mok: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20 Thug 1 damage on Mok: 1d3 ⇒ 2. The stone strikes Mok in the back, cracking ribs at the speed it moves. Breathing is hard, the pain almost unbearable. What do you do?

Out in the open Baros moves forward loosing another arrow.

Attack Thug 2: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Silas moves quickly, seeing another rock connect with his friend. Taking cover behind a rock, he would aim with his arrow and fire off a shot towards the slinger.

Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

I am assuming trickery and the cover cancel each other.

Baros' Arrow sticks into the fleeing thug's side, and Silas' arrow drops Barney. HUIVD hasn't moved since all this started, and Mok is at deaths door. What do you do?

With both assailants down, Silas makes his way over towards the downed thug and pulls the drugged girl off of his shoulder. He hoists her onto his back, making his way over towards the frozen hound.

"What the absolute hell were you doing, you stupid metal mutt! Your friend nearly died! How could you just..." It was then that he realized that Hund truly wasn't moving. Like a statue, the machine remained motionless.

"Baros...Mok...is...is something wrong with him? He seems...off."

"TURN HIS KEY!" Baros shouts and he continues to pursue the thug and Fallon.

Move plus Rush should be 24 yards if I am correct.

Addendum because I, the player, am dumb.

Silas would continue running by the motionless machine, pursuing the thug that was carrying the girl.

I think Baros can get to the pair, and SIlas is within 20 yards. and Mok winds HUIVD back up this turn so top of the round (and I think you guys will appreciate me ruling spells end when their caster is incapacitated), short turns?

Really sorry for the delay...had to travel this week for my wife's chemo treatments and she was not feeling too good afterwards so I have been taking care of that...but I will try to keep up now! Seems poor Mok got all beat up!

Staggering over to the metal hound, Grommok twists the key on the creature's back and brings his friend back to life.

"He has the girl...go get him!"

As soon as the key was turned and Mok issued his command, Hund bolted from the spot where he laid. His claws dug into the dirt, propelling him forward towards the kidnapping cultist.

Hund caught up to the man quickly, nipping at the man's heels and tripping him, knocking him to the ground.

Slow, Move + Charge with a knockdown attack. 1 bane due to charge. Sacrificing a casting of Hide From Animals to add +2 speed for the round. Total movement is 24 yards.

Shove: 1d20 - 1d6 ⇒ (8) - (4) = 4
Using Fortune!

By my napkin math... Baros and HUIVD are adjacent to the Thug, and Silas is about 10 meters back.

The Thug picks himself of and has no move and decides that the dog statue was being a pain in the ass, and he should really destroy it Thug on HUIVD: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22 damage to HUIVD: 1d6 ⇒ 4 He lands a denting blow onto the clockwork's armour.

Meanwhile, Fallon continues to try to run back to the farmhouse (at half speed, cause... don't do drugs, kids)

That's round 4, who wants a fast turn in 5?)

Can Mok chase after the girl, or is he too badly beaten up?

He can

Dropping his bow Baros pulls out his spear and attacks the thug.

Attack(Two handed): 1d20 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (11) + 3 + (4) = 18
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Hund goes to bite the cultist, hoping to keep a firm grasp on him so he doesn't run away.

1d20 ⇒ 5

Silas chases after the fleeing girl along with the badly injured Mok, trusting the metal dog and the fierce halfling to take out the remaining thug.

okay, gonna take that a s a rush action from Silas

The thug immidiately decided that the stabby halfling is the more dangerous, and lashes out at him Thug on Baros: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17 damage to Baros: 1d6 ⇒ 6 giving him a good rapping upon the head.

Fallon continues to flee, still obviously drugged.

Mok can take an action here (maybe heal himself) and then we're on to round 6.

Yes, he will be healing himself..lol

Calling upon his new powers, Mok channels the magic into healing the wounds the thugs caused.

Heal 1

Hund continues to nip at the legs of the cultist, trying to hold him there so Baros can stab him.

Grab
Strength: 1d20 ⇒ 14

Attack: 1d20 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (7) + 3 + (1) = 11

Slow turn. I am going to rush after her. If I am close enough, I'll try to grab her.

Silas continues to chase after Fallon, knowing that a great pocketful of change was riding on bringing her back and exposing that these men were looking to kill them and her mother.

Grab Fallon: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

Oi, bad dog thing! Let go! The thug shouts, slamming his club into HUIVD again as the Clockwork holds him fast. Thug on HUIVD: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12 but it strikes at the wrong angle, and bounces uselessly away

No, NO! Let me go! Fallon shouts as you grab her. No, I don't want to go with you, I want to be home with Vance!

Grommok moves slowly towards the thug that Hund has and, after enchanting his staff, swings at the man's head.

Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17
Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 5) = 10

The thug falls dead to the ground, neck quite broken. Fallon is coming with Silas weather she likes it or not. Where to now?

"I'm sure you do, you little f~%&ing addict. Your boyfriend sent those men to kill us and your mother. So you're going home. Your choice if you're conscious or not, understood?" Silas growls at her as he feels her beating his back with her fists. He returns to the others, giving them all a nod.

"Sorry we were late. This Vance fellow sent these killers after you and our dear patron. I grabbed some papers from his office, maybe it'll have something interesting in it." With that, Silas will motion for them to make haste, travelling down the road in a quicker fashion before Vance decided that more killers were needed.

"Oh! Check their pockets for any insignias, money, things like that, yeah?" Silas asks, the girl slowly getting tired from beating his broad shoulders.

He's not my boyfriend, he's a Guru! She shouts Let me go!

A search of their pockets turns up a few pennies A few pennies: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4, but they carry no insignias. They aren't the constabulary, they are enforcers.

"He's a godforsaken cult leader that wanted us dead and the same thing for your mother. Now stop being such a g~#~$!n petulant child and stop fussing." Silas growls at the squirming girl on his shoulder, nodding towards Mok for a moment. "You alright Mok? You look like s*+#."

Grommok looks over to Silas and smiles wanly.

"I have been better. Let's get the girl to her family before I pass out!"

Hund walks with pride at his accomplishment, trotting alongside his companions as they return the girl to her mother.

The girl passes out sometime before you all reach the town. you draw some looks form passing people, but you get fallon to her Aunt in decent time.

Whatever has happened to my niece? Why does she look like this? a voice more concerned than accusatory says to you as Silas lays her on the nearest couch, glad to be rid of a 40 kilo burden.

"We removed her from the influence of that cult leader. I think she might have been drugged so you had better keep a close eye on her."

Hund nudges Mok to continue. Hunters, he says, insinuating that Mok must warn them that the cult will send people to get her back.

This is discussion. I'l have questions for all of you soon.

Hello!

Hund's story kind of took a life of its own and it ended up not needing him to befriend another PC to end up at the starting town.

A few reasons come to mind for the clockwork being here:

1) The artificer who helped repair him lives here or recently moved here, and Hund wanted to be near him.

2) His job as a mercenary led him here.

3) I'm still open to him befriending another PC. The young orc would be particularly fitting with the "a boy and his dog" concept. :)

Good doggie!! lol

I will say, that this adventure does encourage me to tell you guys to be total strangers. It creates a very "fire forged friends" kind of vibe.

That said, do your characters, do as you please. The starting situation, though, is that you're spending the night at an inn in a town on the ass end to be empire.

It is possible we just met in town slightly before we run into the others. Mok would be trying to (unsuccessfully) chase the 'metal dog' off, but secretly wanting it to stay...so he would not try too hard...and would tell people the "stupid thing must be malfunctioning and thinks I'm it's mother or something!"

Ok..a short history has been attached...wove in a connection with Hund if he thinks it sounds ok!

Ok..a short history has been attached...wove in a connection with Hund if he thinks it sounds ok!

Looks good! Note that Hund is able to speak, he just doesn't do it often. (Perhaps Mok and Hund havent been together long enough for Mok to discover this.

As an aside, if Grommok thought that HUIVD was going to hunt him for food, that implies that he thinks HUIVD requires food... I love the mental image of Grommy tossing table scraps to an increasingly confused HUIVD.

Exactly...lol he is only 12 years old after all!!!
And he probably never even thought that the 'dog' could talk...but knowing him, after the initial surprise, he would probably take it all in stride!!

I also made us a little Discord server!

I've put up an intro post in the game-play. the Plot-plot won't happen until Monday, per the Recruitment thread, but why not have a little banter?

Hello

Hello all!

If you haven't already, do join the discord I also think the old link expired too soon for the newbies. This shouldn't have that problem

Hey there friends! I'm already in the Discord, just posting in here.

Torches: 1d3 ⇒ 1
Coins: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Torches: 1d3 ⇒ 3
Coins: 1d6 ⇒ 1
Interesting Thing: 1d6 + 1d20 ⇒ (6) + (17) = 23 = A thin shirt of mail that counts as light armor and can be worn under normal clothing (functions as mail and is not cumulative with other armor).

Huh. Neat.

Dude who spent time with the fey ends up with mithril armor. Go figure.

It'll make really great loot for you guys when I die <3.

Once they re-kill him, anyway

Okay, so, this adventure takes place over the whole night, and so, we abstract a little. This is organized into "Siege rounds", each representing 2 hours of the night, which is each divided into 3 portions:

Siege activities

Bolster Defenses

The characters attempt to fortify the inn. Describe what your characters are doing to bolster the defenses and then make a challenge roll using the most likely attribute. Be creative here, I'll be pretty open to what you guys try. I may add boons or banes, depending on what you do.

Improvise the Ritual

Anyone can attempt to perform the ritual, but the ritual cannot be performed more than once per siege round. To perform the ritual, the
caster must make an offering of blood. The caster can take the blood from herself or from another creature. A creature that takes 1 damage or more for the blood sacrifice provides enough blood to perform the ritual. At the end of the siege round, the performer must make a Will challenge roll. The character makes the roll with 1 boon if he or she has a profession related to the Old Faith. If the performer took the blood sacrifice from a different character, the performer makes the roll with 2 banes. Secondary characters cannot assist on this roll.

Rest

Any character can spend the siege round resting and recuperating. If a resting character is fatigued, he or she removes the affliction at the end of the siege round. at the end of every round, you'll be making STR challenge rolls to avoid fatigue

Recover

Any character can spend a siege round recovering. A character must have help from a secondary character to do so, but a character can only benefit from one secondary character per turn. At the end of the siege round, the recovering character heals 1d3 damage.

Supply Run
Certain activities might be rendered impossible by the results of rolling on the Unexpected Events table. A character can make these activities available again by going on a supply run, which is described in the event. Success allows the activity to be chosen again and each additional success grants 1 boon to a roll to perform that activity during the next siege round.

Side note: Secondary characters

You'll notice that side characters are mentioned in a few places. those are Ananda, Gelda, and Bester. they can each help with 1 activity, and grant 1 boon to the activity they help with. players choose who they help.

Unexpected events

I roll a die of fate if we were at a real table, I would make one of you roll because I'm a sadist and happenstance aids or harms you. this part is honestly pretty simple.

Encounter resolution

Throughout the night the undead try to force their way inside. depending on your preparations, they may succeed. your actions will detirmine how many undead breach every round. then it's down to you to see them off. or die trying....

Hey there....got a bit slammed last little while.
Realized you asked me for a Challenge....still want it or has the moment passed?

I think it has. C'est la Vie, you shall be discovered someday later.

Just to clarify, Rusko is stuck in the closet with a nail in his shoe...impaired, until someone finds him? :D

No, sorry I'm very sorry for the miscommunication. Rusco can just pull the nail out and take a siege round action

One Boon: 1d6 ⇒ 5

ignore: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 5) = 7
nothing to see here: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 6) = 8

-_-

Rusko, we're just waiting on your fatigue and Siege round rolls.

My apologies all, it has been a rough day. I will post as soon as I can in the morning. <3

Meanwhile, as the adventure is over, I think those of us who definitely live, (and maybe if Rusko and Baros are feeling optimistic) we could discuss plans for level one.

Silas is firmly a rogue, no question about it. I'm intrigued to take it and go the path of a warlock as well. Stealing spells just sounds neat.

Okay. you have Ability increases (looks like they went into AGL and INT.) Are you going to add a language, or a Common/Criminal/Wilderness.

I know from the Discord that BAros is thinking Soldier (warrior Variant)... who else is thinking what?

Attributes: Increase two by 1.

• Agility. Will.

Characteristics Health +2, Power +1
Languages and Professions. You read all the languages you know how to speak, and add one area of knowledge to your list of professions.

• Academic (War)

Magic. Discover one tradition of your choice. You then learn three spells.

• Tradition: Primal
• Primal Might (0)
• Lick Your Wounds (0)
• Primal Scream (1)
• Eyes of the Hunter (1)

Cantrip Whenever you discover a tradition, you learn an additional rank 0 spell from that tradition.

Primal Focus (Lose Cantrip): You learn one rank 0 Primal spell and gain the Leaps and Bounds talent.

• Beast Within (0)

Leaps and Bounds: You can use an action, or a triggered action on your turn, and expend a casting of a rank 0 Primal spell. For 1 round, you have a +2 bonus to Speed and you ignore difficult terrain when you move.

Sense Magic You learn the sense magic magician spell, which is described below.

Night Vision (Lose Sense Magic): You can use an action to gain the shadowsight trait for 1 hour. If you already have shadowsight (Shadow, page 215), you also make Perception rolls with 1 boon until the effect ends. You can use this talent a number of times equal to 1 + your Power score, regaining expended uses when you complete a rest.

I added Burglar to my profession. I have a feeling that Silas isn't above snatching a few things here and there to survive.

Attributes Increase: Wisdom +1, Power +1
Characteristics: Health +4, Power +1
Languages and Professions: You either read one language you can speak or add a language to the list of languages you can speak. Also, add one religious profession.
Magic: You discover one tradition associated with your religion, as shown on the Religious Traditions table. Then make two choices, discovering one tradition associated with your religion or learning one spell for each.
Shared Recovery: You can use an action to heal damage equal to your healing rate. Then, choose one creature other than you that is within short range. The target also heals damage equal to its healing rate. Once you use this talent, you cannot use it again until after you complete rest.

Priest Training: You have a covenant with your deity after experiencing a strange dream or weird encounter in the wilderness.

Religious Traditions: Old Faith (Life, Nature, Primal)

To be honest, I have no idea what Rusko's headed towards....Was a busy day, I'll re-read that section of the rule book tomorrow and make a decision...

Think I am going to go with Barbarian, as cool as soldier is I think I will save that for another time. So that will net him the following:

Attributes Increase your Strength and Agility each by 1.
Characteristics Health +6
Languages and Professions You gain one wilderness profession of your choice.
Equipment You gain one basic melee weapon of your choice.
Barbarian Weapon Training When you attack with a basic weapon, you make the roll with 1 boon.
Battle Sense While you’re wearing light or no armor, you have a +2 bonus to Defense.
Furious Recovery You can use an action to heal damage equal to your healing rate. Until the end of the next round, you make attack rolls with 1 boon. Once you use this talent, you must wait until you complete a rest before you can use it again.

I am so in love with a halfling barbarian.

Interesting Thing
Table: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Thing: 1d20 ⇒ 4

Oh boy I got a... can of beets?

Yeah, as we're choosing a path, everyone gets a roll on the interesting things table!

Barbarian Baros

The Table: 1d6 ⇒ 5
The Thing: 1d20 ⇒ 14
Numbers: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

A small pouch containing six pinches of diamond dust.

Interesting Thing: 1d6 ⇒ 51d20 ⇒ 13

A tiny metal ball that when released floats 1 inch above any solid surface.

Wow guys that's awesome, I'll just be over here chilling with my sweetass can of beets, #humblebrag #beetit #beets4life

As Rusko spent all of his time fighting, and isn't the strongest...I'll go with Gallant Warrior variant.

+1 to Agility and Intelligence
+4 Health
swift weapon of my choice
+1 boon to attack with finesse weapon
Nimble Recovery

Interesting thing:

Table: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Thing: 1d20 ⇒ 19

A bottle labeled “Eye of Newt.”

Interesting thing: 1d6 ⇒ 41d20 ⇒ 13

bronze plate with a name scratched on its face

So Halfling Barbarian, Human Rogue, Orc Priest, Clockwork (Dog) Mage, Changeling Gallant...
...
...
This party is amazing, I love you guys

And Rusco, You get a swift weapon, probably from raiding the smithy. Baros gets a simple weapon from same.

Silas gets: One military or swift weapon, and a disguise kit, fine clothing, implement of magic, lock picks, a tool kit, or an incantation of a rank 0 spell of your choice

and Grommy gets: Gain one basic weapon, an implement of magic (such as a holy book, a string of prayer beads, or a religious icon or symbol). and fine clothing, a dose of holy water, a healing potion, or an incantation of a rank 0 spell of your choice.

these are all things you can retrieve from the battered remains of Goatshead.

Alterations to level up:

Increasing strength instead of agility. Choosing Hide from Animals (0) instead of Lick Your Wounds (0).