#5-02: The Wardstone Patrol [Tier 3-7] - GM Rutseg (Inactive)

Game Master Balacertar

That's Burning Sands I have, not hands.
Leshy got no hands..

I will check my chronicles later, maybe find sometjing useful.

Both me and my character see no point in this fight, although I like scenario anyway.

So, I can at last explain this.

It is not explained to the PCs at any time, and they have to realize by themselves, but more important than any other goal in this scenario, you have to save Sir Ilivan from himself.

The guy is broken by the atrocities he has experienced on the Worldwound. He has two main issues: lack of empathy and fear of losing control.

Through the scenario you have the chance to notice this and try to make him realize this is not good for a crusader, or try to inspire him to do the right thing.

With your roleplaying, decisions and successful influence rolls, you earned 3 empathy points on him. If you gain less than 2, or chose not to try rescue the crusaders, he turns at you on your trip back to Nerosyan, blaming you for his shame and you fight the templar instead of having the demon encounters.

Fortunately, you have saved him, and now you will have a chance to safe the crusaders too :)

Cool. I like saving folks. Even though in the first encounter i wanted to ride on. The ptsd thing is hard, it, like other social problems like drugs, I usually don't care for in my fantasy games. This was not over the top. I think i would of not enjoyed fighting Sir Ilivan in a crazed state. That would have bothered me. Too realistic, i guess

I think its a cool adventure, a little rough on that side, but you've presented it well enough that its a solid part of the story.

So I'm leaving town on a cruise tonight for the next 11 days. Feel free to bot Andrelis along as needed, I'd hoped we'd be further along the adventure when I started, but here it is. I'm having a blast with this game though! I'll catch up when I'm back if possible, don't feel like you need to wait for me though.

Thanks for the heads up Andrelis! Have fun! :)

Please everyone note, it is expected the servers to be out for the whole day tomorrow.

Seems a. Bit odd, but I am glad we managed to avoid fight with the knight.

I had a contingency plan actually. That's why wanted to befriend with horse :))

I like complications and plan.
Greet will try baiting while Tanbu getting closer.

I know the way how to stop demons retreat. Thorny Entanglement is a main option although I got other sources of difficult terrain.

I will post later in evening

May I assume that Cyclic does not need to roll since he is just sitting there on Mange? Because if not, Mange and Cyclic are going to hold back and come in two turns late rather than spoil the surprise because of a +0 modifier.

I think both mount and knight need to roll for Stealth, but if there is some exception in the rules for Stealth while riding just go with it.

Note Surprise rounds work this way, characters that are aware of the enemy, can act on the surprise round. So the worst that can happen is some of them manage to act also in the surprise round. Still Tanbu is invisible, so even if they spot you, they do not see him and he will have his target still flat-footed for the surprise round, and depending on initiative, also the first round of combat.

Positioning yourselves at 200' away from the demons means you are almost warrantied to hide (-20 to their Perception checks), unless you have negatives and a terrible roll. The more sure you feel about your Stealth, the closer you can position yourselves.

I will give everyone 1 more day to position yourselves in the map and roll Stealth. Afterwards, I will push things forward and position people myself unless they have clearly stated they want to stay away.

I hope that's okay I am not rolling Stealth ad it was the plan...

2. Inured to Elements - Greet.

3. Elemental Aegis - everyone. May absorb up to 18 (Fire) dmg.

Sorry, I am confused by those two. I cannot find inured to elements in your sheet or elsewhere.

And elemental aegis, I can only find in the Oracle elemental mystery but seems to give AC, so I am confused.

Please, keep out of character discussions in the Discussion thread.

It bothers me specially when I see a post with only blue and green, with no narration in character of what you do or say. Narrating your actions instead of just spelling them makes the read more pleasant, the game more appealing, and gives a chance for other players to react to what you are doing or saying, creating a positive feedback that keeps the campaign alive through time.

You do not need to spend time writing long texts, a one or two lines pushing the action forward, saying something funny or describing what is your round's action is enough. In most cases you can write the same you are discussing in character with same effort, just making it your character say it.

The Gameplay should read as close as possible to a novel so it is interesting to read for everyone else.

Thanks! :)

PD: Funny video reference Lady Alya, it definetly remembers current situation (it is interesting situation though) ^_^

What I like most was it was 100% fake, back in the day that is how your got ahead on youtube, just make a viral vid and wooosh...
Him and his mates just acted it out to get views.
Haha

Now known as the 'Leeroy Jenkins strategy'
The tactical benefit is that if you can make a small unit trigger a massive defensive overkill counter. They act as a distraction pulling Defenders from where your main force attack will be. Unlike a probing attack, this is mean to really really P** off the Defenders and MAKE them deal with you. The "Leeroy Jenkins' Unit want them coming at them as that is thier goal. Down side is who ever the 'Leeroy Jenkins unit' is are probably not going to survive. See the WW2 SAS in north Africa and there attacks on air bases.

Yeah, these are faction abilities. Here is a screenshot

I've got 7 goals done to calculate benefits from faction things.
Ihave more stuff oin chroniclse but thats hard to remember everthing while play not often.

Cool! That explains it now, thanks :)

Also, I noted now the healing, sorry for that.

Makras' player admitted being as confused as the character, so I just assumed he did not understood the encounter is scripted so Sir Ilivan does not participate in it. As he himself suggested, I moved the token to the map so he can participate.

For now I just assumed he and Andrellis will just move forward during the surprise round.

@GM Rutseg
You said in the post that Cyclic stashed her wand since she only has one action. I think she would have cast the bless instead, which I think you realized as I see the bless in the party buffs with a 1 minute duration. Is that correct?

I did look for mention of a surprise round but somehow I missed it. Which is pretty unobservant since it is all over the place. Sorry.

Cyclic is still bolded as up for taking an action. Should she be?

Cyclic is still bolded as up for taking an action. Should she be?

Yes, the surprise round is over and we are in round 1. There is a small typo in the initiative though,

About bless, I noted it as cast before moving into combat. It will be a bit less of a min remaining, but it is fine. Accordingly, if you want to use the surprise round to cast another buff instead, please go ahead ;)

Yes, if the bless is still active from the preps, Cyclic would have gone into combat with the wand of shield of faith in hand and cast shield of faith on Mange and would still be wielding the wand.

Two questions before Tanbu goes. What type of action is it to look for keys on the blue dead drwtch? Also, are the soldiers co sidered allies and can we move through their spaces? If Tanbu can move through the soldiers, he will to close on green with a double move. If not he might look for keys.

Intentionally searching is a move action. You can move through the soldiers, they are allies, but their movement is restricted, hence, consider their space as difficult terrain for moving through.

well thats odd, using my main alt and not my PC one humm
could have swarn It showed my PC one.

O well that Lady A

I'm back!

I will not have time for a proper post until Thursday, but we are basically done here.

Drat. No final army battle with the demons.

Thank you it was fun, confusing in character, and a good challenge to decipher the adventure!

yes great blast, :)

Thank you for running this. It was great. I apologize if my posts were frustrating during our pre battle there. I usually try to at least add dialog. I think Tanbu is my favorite character again. At least until I play another paladin maybe. Being a rogue is just such fun, and your adventure let me feed the beast, stoke the fires, whatever corny cliche you want. I have never snuck into an enemy camp and attacked. That was fantastic. Anyway, thanks again for the opportunity.
Also, thanks to all the other folks in the party. We felt like the guys from the movie, Suicide Squad, to me. Everyone barking orders, the person know should be barking orders not doing so and Makrus just going. It was great fun. Thanks everyone.

Drat. No final army battle with the demons.

xD

Well, I think they thought two dretches and a brimorak would do for a fair challenge against 6 pathfinders of your level.

Truth be told, the scenario sets you at the right edge of the map unless you do not take exceptional care to be stealthy. With everyone having to spend a few rounds to move into position instead of having your rogue surprise attacking the demons, the challenge would have been higher I am sure (stinking clouds, fireballs, etc.)

So well done for you for the tactics and the investment on stealth.

Thank you GM, it was a load of fun. And other players, I think we did well :)

Oh, I'm not saying the final battle was not a challenge. I just meant that it would have been fun to help defend the outpost against the demon army.

... right up until the demon eats your face. Quoting something, but not sure what movie or show from the 80's.

Anyway, they have a whole scenario special for that, Siege of the Diamond City. You basically defend the city resolving minor problems. It is a cool play through. I think this scenario would be way too long if they tried to squeeze in a final battle an do it justice. But to your point, I am sad they write in hard the death of Sir Ilivan. He never really gets to come back and enjoy his new resolved peace of mind.

Again, this playthrough was a blast! Thanks everyone.

Fort Commander Manaria Wardroxan, acknowledges Tanbu's departure with a nod of gratitude. "Your contribution will be well-utilized, Tanbu. Safe travels on your endeavors, and may your path be guided by the same valor you've shown here. Mendev owes you a debt of gratitude."

The journey from Fort Portolmaeus to Nerosyan unfolds with an undercurrent of tension, the air thick with the echoes of recent battles against the demonic horde. As the party traverses the war-torn landscape, each step brings a reminder of the sacrifices made to secure the fort. Shadows cast by the setting sun play tricks on your weary minds, conjuring illusions of lurking threats in the scarred terrain. Despite the unease that clings to the air, the road to Nerosyan remains unmarred by further encounters, allowing the party to reflect on their accomplishments and brace themselves for the challenges yet to come.

Back at the capital, Venture-Captain Jorsal and a representative of the Mendevian military eagerly await your full report. The city and the Pathfinder Lodge hail you as heroes for successfully securing Fort Portolmaeus and overcoming the demonic threat. The celebration is bittersweet, as the sacrifice of Sir Ilivan is remembered with the highest honors.

When an expedition recovers Sir Ilivan’s body a few weeks later, he is buried with full honors, and a high-ranking officer presents the late half-elf ’s weapons and armor to you.

Having not only completed your primary mission but also excelling in the secondary mission by rescuing the abducted crusaders and inspiring Sir Ilivan back into the path of righteousness, you are awarded the Mendevian Commendation medal, a symbol of your service to Mendev and the Fifth Crusade, a boon that will bring word of your good relationship in your future endeavors.

I liked vibes of this adventure a lot. It is a shame we could not save sir completely, but I know the idea that sometimes you can not save averyone.

It was really cinematic in some points.

Thanks for running and role-playing, guys.

I do not know why I had so much issues placing my posts in the right thread for this campaign xD

Never happened to me before. Sorry for that.

I do not know why I had so much issues placing my posts in the right thread for this campaign xD

Never happened to me before. Sorry for that.

Didn't bother me at all, though I understand the frustration. I hate it when I do stuff like that; much rather you did it :)

Ok, the chronicles are available here.

If everything is ok, I will report the game in a few days.

The crossed boons can only be earned by specific factions non of you were members of.

Looks good. Time to level up:)

Thanks GM!

Yep, got the chronicle everything looks good.
Thnks again.

Thanks looks good to me!

@GM Rutseg
Remember to close out the campaign