Might and magic, Lords of the Contested Lands

Game Master Chyrone

"Let's go the other way! They follow us, they reveal themselves from the smoke. Can you shoot the one on the roof?" Estelle calls back, and begins advancing away from the smoke. "Astella! Follow us, please!" She calls out to her elf companion, figuring these guys probably knew they were part of the same group already.

Sorry, I forgot it was my turn. Please don't hesitate to bot me if I don't respond in a day. Also, I'm having a lot of trouble estimating distance on this map. What is a 5ft square on this road? Where do I end up if I go 20 ft west from Brunhild if I start directly to her southeast? Does Daniel move from his square so that Estelle could attack blue with her reach weapon?

She rushes forward and attempts to attack the blueclad dwarf!
attack, divine favor: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
damage, PA: 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

I know blue probably has cover, but she problably wouldn't drop her forged weapon the way there in an ambush.

Can you shoot the one on the roof?

The perception spoiler got absorbed. A DC 20 perception for Astella to have noticed him before taking cover in the fog, and relay the info.

What is a 5ft square on this road? Where do I end up if I go 20 ft west from Brunhild if I start directly to her southeast? Does Daniel move from his square so that Estelle could attack blue with her reach weapon?

All squares are 5ft. Currently you've moved into Daniel's square. Daniel's before you in initiative, he'd have to delay on his next turn. Take your pick from the available squares adjacent to him.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13 (fail)

In that case, Estelle doesn't call out to shoot the archer. Though she would urge everyone to head into the direction with seemingly only one enemy, away from the obscuring fog.

Brunhild and Estelle both move westwards, warnings going about.

On the roof, Green takes aim at Estelle, and tosses his own bag of goop.

Rt: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14 Hit.
It covers her front and legs in disgusting sticky goop.

Reflex 15 vs getting stuck on the ground.
Brittle in: 2d4 ⇒ (1, 1) = 2 rounds.

From the fog, red moves to the west, ending up next to Astella.

Sortsword: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14Dmg: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Concealment, 20+ hits: 1d100 ⇒ 92

Astella feels a sudden slash across her flank, coming from a suddenly appeared dwarven figure.

Astella
-----------
Cyan

Daniel: Entangled 4 rounds.
Estelle: Entangled 2 rounds.

Astella notes where her attacker is, steps back and shoots the location.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 3) = 8

Miss Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 96

Going with high is good because that is what the DM went with, that should hit.

Brunhild and Estelle both head west, out of the fog.
Astella's shot invokes an *OOMPH* and angry grunting from within the fog.

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 81d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
The dwarf near Estelle makes a swipe at her, but comes nowhere near a proper aim to injure her.
-----------------------------

The alley, round 2

Daniel (entangled 4 rounds)
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Orange
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Estelle (entangled 2 rounds) & Brunhild
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Green & Red
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Astella
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Cyan

Daniel slowly moves past Estelle to engage the dwarf, drawing an attack of opportunity as he moves.

Shortsword: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 181d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 Miss.
The attack falls just short of hitting Daniel, who in kind swings with the flat of his sword.

He went with Estelle and would have heard the request of capturing if possible.

Sword, nonlethal: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 5 - 4 = 15Nonlethal: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

The dwarf barely dodges the attack.
"..the heck?"

Orange grabs something from his belt, and walks into the fog towards the west.

Estelle (entangled 2 rounds) & Brunhild
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Green & Red
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Astella
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Cyan

Readied Action: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Drawing her bowstring back, Brunhild faced the fog and kept an arrow ready to fly towards any foe who came out of it. Narrow streets, smoke...this was not where she shined. And to top it off they were surrounded. She wondered if she had traveled so far only to come back home to die.

Estelle sighs and looks at her glued feet. "This again? Really?" She says, having flashbacks to the Sal fight.

Not in any position to fight any more fancifully, she drops her reach weapon to draw the greatsword and strikes normally, hoping that she would be able to stabilize the dwarf should he go down.

attack, DF+2, entangled -2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (5, 1) + 6 = 12

Like some marine in a horror flick, keeping their gun aimed at the darkness, Brunhild aims her bow at the fog, while Estelle slowly makes her way to the dwarf and swings her sword.

The aim is rather sluggish, with the goop slowing her down.

The green dwarf on the roof above tosses a flask at Daniel.

Rt, into melee: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 3 - 4 = 51d6 ⇒ 5 Miss.
Lands in: 1d9 ⇒ 3

It lands on the crate instead, splashing some drops of acid on his ally, Daniel and Estelle.

Red takes a potion from his belt and drinks it.
CLw: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4, and then quietly repositions.
----------------------
Astella
----------------------
Cyan (-1)

Red at -4

Astella takes a couple more steps back until she is beside Brunhild, then casts Minor Monster, summoning

Amount: 1d3 ⇒ 3

skunks.

She will direct them into the cloud, instructing them to spray any creatures they encounter (non-skunks) as many times as possible, and when they can't spray anymore, then they can run away.

I put the skunks on the map. They can only spray twice per day each. Speed 30 feet. Their musk is a ranged touch attack. You can't get around the smell, but they get a DC 11 fort save against being nauseated for 1d4 rounds and sickened for 1d4 minutes. Successful save reduces it to sickened for 1d4 rounds.

(Astella is doing this hoping to be able to shoot by smell.)

Summoning them is a full round action, unless you can quicken the casting.
Specific commands/directions can be given if you can speak to animals, otherwise they will try to fend off the enemy as best they can. Which naturally involves spraying an enemy first. :)

With dirty tactics from the dwarves, Astella plans on equally dirty measures to strike back with, and she starts summoning.

Cyan (-1) slashes at Estelle, Shortsword, damage: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 61d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4, but fails miserably. He then steps 5ft west.
=====================================

The alley, round 3

Daniel (entangled 3 rounds)
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Orange
-----------
Estelle (entangled 1 round) & Brunhild
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Green & Red (-4)
-----------
Astella
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Cyan (-1)

Botting.

Daniel steps 5ft north, making way clear for Estelle to move.

"You can heal his wounds if things he goes down, right?", Daniel says to Estelle.

Sword, entangled: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 5 - 2 = 17Dmg: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Deciding to soften the enemy up, Daniel makes a sluggish, but accurate swing, causing a nasty gash on the dwarf's flank.

Orange moves through the fog, but remains within enough to be somewhat obscured. Brunhild's arrow flies, but it goes past him.

The dwarf has a dagger in one hand, an a dagger ready for a toss in another.
Dagger vs Brunhild: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23Dmg: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Crit?: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22Dmg: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

The dwarf must be skilled, or in shape, the blade buries itself in Brunhild's abdomen. But she is still standing, she proves hardier than that.

Estelle (entangled 1 round) & Brunhild
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Green & Red (-4)
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Astella
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Cyan (-7)

"You can heal his wounds if things he goes down, right?"

"If I ever get out of this goo? Yes, probably," Estelle laments, though seeing the muck dissolve, she sheathes the greatsword and picks up her Bardiche, hoping to rejoin the fight soon...

2d20 ⇒ (19, 13) = 321d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 71d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
2d100 ⇒ (60, 76) = 136

Brunhild fires off two arrows in retaliation, both hit, and the dwarf collapses with two arrows sticking out of his chest.

"F4ck...", comes from within the fog.
-------------------
Green takes a shot at Daniel from up above.
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 231d6 ⇒ 4
?: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 92d6 ⇒ (4, 6) = 10

Daniel feels a sting, as an arrow is now sticking out of his left shoulder.

From within the fog, a flask comes flying at Astella.
Rt: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 231d6 ⇒ 41d100 ⇒ 92
If misses: 1d9 ⇒ 5
crit?: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 131d6 ⇒ 1

The flask flies through the air, hitting Astella. She feels a burning pain as the corrosive acid sizzles where it hit.

Astella
-----------
Cyan (-7)

Having finished summoning the skunks, Astella sends them off to fight.

Then she judges where the flask came from that was thrown at her and shoots where she thinks the point of origin is.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 5) = 6

Miss Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 73

Astella's own arrows flies through the fog, hitting a wall a distance beyond.

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 161d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 161d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 62d100 ⇒ (14, 27) = 41
2d20 + 4 ⇒ (14, 13) + 4 = 312d100 ⇒ (47, 40) = 872d20 + 1 ⇒ (12, 8) + 1 = 21

The skunks all move forward, and 1 into the dwarf's square, as 1/2 a square is occupied by a large rain barrel.
As the first turns its rear at the dwarf, he quickly slashes at it, drawing a pained sound as it disappears.

The other two both hit him, and the musk of the second makes his stomach very much upset.

Cyan (-7), bloodied and getting cornered, chooses the flight over fight, and makes a run for it down a corner off the map.

===========

The alley, round 4

Daniel (entangled 2 rounds)
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Orange (down)
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Estelle (entangled, can break free strength check round) & Brunhild
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Green & Red (-4/nauseated)
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Astella
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Cyan (-7/ off down an alley)

No str check needed for Estelle, the goop dries up and will break off at moving.

Well, this is going quite differently than I had anticipated.

he says, dropping his longsword and pulling out a sap and moving towards where the voices are coming from.

Welcome back.

Daniel moves 15ft towards the fog, taking out a sap or a good knocking.

Estelle & Brunhild
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Green & Red (-4) Nauseated, then sickened: 1d4 ⇒ 41d4 ⇒ 4
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Astella
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Cyan (-7, fled off map)

If the roof can be reached with a reach weapon.

Estelle moved to the edge of the roof, now having seen the greenish dwarf throw something at Daniel, and attacks him.

attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
damage: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

If the roof is too far.

Not really seeing any way to do anything about the ranged attacker, and hearing a lot of coughing and retching sounds from the cloud, she instead walks back, drops the bardiche near brunhild and re-draws the greatsword, then stops in front of her dwarven friend to hopefully shield her from harm.

Double move to walk in front of brunhild, do not have the movement to move and attack.

Estelle glares at the dwarf on the roof, then backs away towards the fog and its disgusting sound and occupants.

Brunhild takes a step southwest, and takes aim at the dwarf on the roof.

Arrow flurry: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7Dmg: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Arrow flurry: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8Dmg: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

In her enthusiasm, and perhaps with the near vomiting nearby combined with a filthy odor, her shots are flying wide.
---------------

Green lines up a shot in return, then backs away.
Arrow: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18Dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 3
On top of the dagger sticking in her abdomen, Brunhild takes an arrow to the upper leg.

Over in the fog..... *HURK*.... the last dwarf stumbles away, seeking some support from the wall.

All in all, combat is pretty much over. Two fled, and the last one is easily caught up with, if you so choose.

Yeah, I think we need to grab the last one... don't remember exactly what the job was, but basically it was to put an end to the ambushes/thefts/murders or whatever these guys were doing, right? So, letting two go is bad, but maybe better if we can bring in the other one and maybe get information.

Task: retrieve the stolen jewelry for Lady Greenbriar. Capture if possible the three hooded robbers. Bonus payment for each captured robber that you can bring to her.

Which means, we have to use our unfortunate thief here to find their base. So, all in all, not a bad outcome. I've a couple ideas on how to get him to talk.

Daniel moves up and makes sure the remaining dwarven thief is neutralized. After which, whether the dwarf is conscious or unconscious he will tie him up in preparation for the interrogation.

Roll a fort save while you're doing that, Daniel. :)
This guy has got skunk cologne thoroughly sprayed on him.

fort: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Oh god that stinks.

And he proceeds to projectile vomit right into the dwarf's face. Its going great so far guys.

fortsave: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Estelle attempts to get closer to knock out the flailing dwarf, but she, too, fails to get past the stench.

Astella uses prestidigitation to temporarily block her nasal passages (and clean off the vomit), and quickly ties up the remaining dwarf, then backs away again as her spell wears off.

She addresses the thief:

I'll clean off the scent with magic if you tell us where you keep your loot and where your buddies are headed. Otherwise, you're going to smell like that for weeks. You're already caught... might as well live in comfort rather than having people vomit all over you constantly, eh?

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

I feel like I should get a tiny bit of goodwill from having cleaned the vomit off already, but admittedly, this is not an ideal diplomatic situation.

Estelle feels awful briefly, and Daniel's breakfast covers the dwarf's back. When everyone has recovered, the dwarf gets an offer for complete
cleaning.

He eyes you warily.. "..'s much as i appreciate ye gettin' the puke off, i am not riskin' tha'."

Needs a little more.

The more you work with us, and assist us in our endeavor, the more lenient we can make it for you. We are looking for something specific, if you are willing to help us we might can come to an agreement. Daniel says after managing to regain control of himself from the scent. He seemed friendly enough, but there may have been something of a hint of a threat should he refuse.

diplo aid: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

The dwarf does not speak, and seems to weigh his options, looking at the group attentively.

We are looking for something specific, if you are willing to help us we might can come to an agreement.

"Well, what're ye lookin' for then?

Belated, back to Astella,

...if you tell us where you keep your loot and where your buddies are headed.

*chuckles*

"...Brunhild, what sort of punishment do you think awaits this repeated robber if we turned him into the guard? I'm unfamiliar with dwarven laws, but I imagine it is not pleasant in the least," Estelle asks her local friend, glaring at the smug piece of shyte in front of them.

Astella answers

Well, if you had me tied up and I knew that the people who held me were going to deliver me to one of my previous victims... yeah, I'd probably talk. But hey, your call. We get paid per person we bring in, and if you are all we have that is fine with me, but it certainly isn't going to be pretty if we can't get the valuables back as well... I figure our employer isn't going to just accept an apology in that case. Not my problem though. If you are all I can take in, then that's more than I had yesterday. Sure would be nice for both of us though if we could help our employer and you didn't have to take all the blame.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 8 + 2 = 23 (with Aid)

The dwarf shrugs.
"Still haven't told what yer lookin' for.
I could tell something, but sure as heck no guarantee you'll find them.", he says with half a grin.

Daniel let out a sigh. He had wanted things to largely be friendly, without threats at first. After some thought, he came to the conclusion that they might as well tell the dwarf everything. Otherwise there wasn't much of a chance to get the proper info.

We are looking for some jewelry that once belonged to a Lady Greenbriar.

He will describe the jewelry that was taken if needed. I forgot what type it was precisely. Sorry.

He will describe the jewelry that was taken if needed. I forgot what type it was precisely. Sorry.

Heirloom jewelry. Would have been bracelets and a necklace/pendant. Things you could see on a head of the family.

1d100 ⇒ 171d20 - 1 ⇒ (5) - 1 = 4

He mutters some profanity under his breath, in a hushed volume.
"Aw, why'd they have te....."

"How about this, i will narrow down the spots i -suspect- the others could go, and you just skip bringing me to your employer."

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Astella smiles

Sorry, no. Not going in without a prize. If you lead us to them and we get the jewelry, then I'll think about letting you go, but zero chance without something else in hand. No offense to you... probably just trying to get by like everyone else, but I have my own problems, and I really need the money.

Though, if you had a change of heart and helped us get this jewelry back, who knows. It might be that the lady could use someone with a little street knowledge to keep things like this from happening in the future. I suppose it would involve just how helpful you are in such matters. He pauses for a moment.

Though, you would still have to answer for the crimes you have committed before that. However, that list at the moment is relatively small. Yet, such things can certainly be nebulous at best..

diplo: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

The dwarf is not happy with the rejection, as can be expected.
Various options are weighed off as Astella and Daniel talk to him.

When both are silent for an answer, he responds.

"There is no certainty of a deal in 'i'll think about it'.", and he looks briefly at Brunhild.

"No sense of business, these friends of yers.", and he looks back at you two.

"But there's no certainty in finding them right away, either.
I can tell you this much why, since there is never a steady meetin' point for after a job. Keeps things less easy to track if one of us gets caught, ye follow. There are a couple of places that've been used a little more often in the past."

"There's a run down house in the poorer section of the residential district. Half an hour on foot from here, a side street past a corner convenience shop. I suppose they could have headed to one of the garbage collection sites. Barely anyone around when it isn't day for such, today's not one of such days."

Brunhild would know this to be true.

"There's of course say of one of the storehouses up in the north of the city. But by the King's beard i don't know which one they use."

At the notion of working for Lady Blackbriar, he can't help but let out a slightly nervous chuckle. "Lad, that woman is a supplier of arms to the guards. How much leniency do you expect to get from her, towards someone in my position."

What would you like to do with your captive?
Which option would you potentially follow....or do you even trust the words of a thief at all? :)

I trust him a little bit to be looking out for himself, but I think if we want to check it out we have to drag him along, and I don't necessarily trust that there isn't a meetup spot.. otherwise how do you get your share of the loot?

Astella searches the guy they killed, and cleans the skunk oil off the captured guy with prestidigitation so that his scent won't give them away... then they get going to the nearest of the areas the guy suggested.

Assuming that we are taking him with us for speed, and gagging/hobbling him when he isn't being personally watched/questioned (if we get into another fight for instance). Sound okay to everyone?

There seems no objection to the plan. Any specific option? I'll roll for them/party's destination otherwise, at lunch.

Party/Robbers, Building, Garbage site, Storehouse: 3d3 ⇒ (2, 3, 1) = 6

All spread out, of all things.

Gagging the captive dwarf, you tug him along for the trip. But there is this thought in your mind, that dragging along a captive, could draw attention.

If you wish to avoid attention, you can roll a perception and a stealth check. This is a collective effort, average will be taken.

I wouldn't gag him until we have to leave him to fight. While he's with us, we can hold on to him/watch him. Not that having his hands tied won't also draw attention, but maybe less. (?)

If we are really offering to let him go in exchange for catching others, then he might work with us to get them... just have to be careful of him running off early if he gets the chance.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

I wouldn't gag him until we have to leave him to fight. While he's with us, we can hold on to him/watch him. Not that having his hands tied won't also draw attention, but maybe less. (?)

Well, you know, if he can't make noise of warnings while you're taking him.... :P. Just kidding, bit hasty an assumption on my end then.

Yeah, I would walk close and make it look like we're a couple, except, well, it would be ludicrous with the height difference and all. Brunhild can escort him, perhaps?

Brunhild didn’t look the captive in the eyes. He was a living example of the underside of her home and the limit of honor. It was simpler to lose oneself in religion and ideals than to face such a reality. She held back, watching the captive. She had her bow in one hand and the other free to grab an arrow if needed.

Im back!

yay!