Grymp's Shattered Star Campaign

Game Master Zahir ibn Mahmoud ibn Jothan

In disgust, Caius turns and walks away, heading in the general direction provided for Natalya's sighting. He will proceed a short distance before looking back to ensure this aligns with the group's intent for our next stop.

Gundar is perplexed with all the talk of Blue Dwarves, but then again he doesn't put much faith in what this Fenster has to say and just chalks it up to ignorance. Hopefully the information provided about Natalya bears out.

No need to apologize,

Khalid is so close to follow Caius a casual observer would not discern which was departing more quickly.

The party leaves behind Fenster the Blight, and heads out in search of Natalya's path.

Fenster's directions bring you to a dilapidated old two story boardinghouse. Its clapboard sides are dark with mildew and marred by scorch marks. In places fire has gutted portions of the roof ’s mosscovered tile shingles, but the building appears to be structurally intact. The building stands near the stark wall of the Seacleft, and scree from several decades of minor rockfalls has piled up along its eastern face. The building’s windows are heavily boarded over.

I have placed you all on a new map. You are starting to the west of the structure. You are welcome to tell me you want to start a great distance away, but my map is only so big. There is a considerable distance of open space west of the building. To its east, is only roughly 40' before the Seacleft.

From your location, you can see a door into an added on shed on the west side of the building.

Please give me Perception checks.

Seeing what's to be seen. Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 6

Caius spots tracks in the dirt that go towards the door facing you on the add-on shed, as well as a line of tracks that lead around to the right (south) of the building.

"I propose we have eyes in the sky as we close quickly on that door. So we can spy anyone flitting out as we go in, see."

"We are of like minds, Caius," Ghaernan replies, gazing intently over and around the dilapidated structure.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

He then looks directly at Verilich, a few arcane syllables and the weave of one copper-bound hand through an almost dance-like motion the only signs of the Message spell now in place between him and the Wyvaran...

Verilich, get the aloft. Circle the building with your token. You can note where the windows and doors are. Windows are solidly boarded up. The roof and sides are flame scorched but structurally sound. No one is outside. Ask any questions you like. This roof seems strong enough to land on, should you be so inclined. I only mention that because you asked back at previous recon sites.

If the group is going to bum rush the door, get yourselves lined up, and relay the plan. Who is opening it, etc.

Ok, Khalid and Caius are charging forward to open the two doors on the West and South sides of the building.

What is everyone else doing? And place yourselves on the map accordingly.

Caius is going to charge forward after we get a flyover and nod from Ghaernan, who is communicating with Verilich. I believe Khalid is on my heels. Things need to happen in that order!

Gundar will bring up the rear!

late perception roll: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Verilich will circle the building and conduct the normal reconnaissance. he will take the opportunity to scan what he can about the layout of the building. and ask the companions through the message: "I see many ways in and outh besides than the single front door but no one is outside the perimeter. Shall we breach as a group? would you like me to cause a distraction by landing on the roof at the other end of the building to draw attention? or breach with surprise?"

Ghaernan conveys the results of Verilich's reconnaissance through the Message spell, and relays his two questions to the others before the Bard offers his own thoughts as he moves quietly to the side of the building, in proximity to both Gundar and Khalid...

"With the reconnaissance not revealing anything significant, I'd say 'yes' and 'no' to your respective questions - we should breach as a group, not having any appreciation of the threat, which means a distraction elsewhere just reduces our fighting force by one. I'd rather that we pick an entrance and exploit it. Caius, Khalid - do either of your doors recommend themselves?'

GM, after reading both the posts above and the Discord chat again, I'm concerned that we're now possibly focusing too much on the map, vice the actual tactical details you gave us. Where is the 'shed'? You said its door was on the west side, but Khalid is standing in front of the only door on the west side. Does that mean we're preparing to separately enter the shed and the boardinghouse at the same time?! If so, that just sounds like bad tactics. Am I reading this wrong?! Thanks.

The "shed" is that 10'x15' jut out on the West side of the building, with the door that Khalid is in front of. There are footsteps going to both doors that Khalid and Caius have their icons in front of.

"This door all but cries out for a breach!" Caius attempts to open the door. As it opens and he peers inside, "There appears a narrow plank extending over a filth pit must be crossed to enter another door!"

"Khalid, it appears the point of ingress is chosen. Likely best to reinforce Caius' breach, at this juncture..."

Ghaernan relays the latest development via Message to Verilich, and moves along the side of the building to its southwest corner, awaiting the company's assembly...

Thanks on the shed clarification, GM - makes sense now.

The entire floor of this chamber has collapsed into the pool of water five feet below. The earthen walls of this flooded subcellar ooze with foul rivulets, and the smell is abominable. Two oozing sewer pipes protrude through the east wall of this pit just above the level of the sewage. Part of the ceiling above the entrance has collapsed, revealing an attic crawlspace above; a rickety ladder leads up from the water into the crawlspace. A door stands in the far wall across the sludge pit. A wooden plank balanced between both doors makes a precarious bridge between the two doors.

Opens itself from inside. Khalid can see a 10'x15' room that appears to be used as somewhat of a guardhouse/lookout and is littered with fresh garbage, foodstuffs, and a lantern. Two Varisian thugs stand just inside, the nearest of which opened the door. They are dressed in chainmail and carry a shield, a light crossbow, and a readied morningstar. They were clearly watching you and are coming out with ill-intent.

The lead (blue) thug shouts, "Hey! You're not allowed to be here, best be off before we make you regret coming here."

I shared an image of "Varisian Thug" on Roll20.

Initiative Order:

19 - Verilich
19 - Red Thug
18 - Gundar
16 - Ghaernan
13 - Blue Thug
12 - Caius
6 - Khalid

Verilich is up!

As mentioned by Eric on Discord, Verilich double-flies back towards the door.

The Red Thug waves his morningstar in emphasis, "get on out of here you lot!"

Red delays.

Gundar and Ghaernan are up.

Gundar will delay until after Ghaernan to see if he will try and talk to these people.

As mentioned by Eric on Discord, Verilich double-flies back towards the door.

The Red Thug waves his morningstar in emphasis, "get on out of here you lot!"

Red delays.

Gundar and Ghaernan are up.

sounds good, how high is he coming over the building direct?

When he hears the sounds of confrontation coming from Khalid's direction, Ghaernan motions for Caius to come with him, if possible, and moves about 25' to the northwest. The Bard's strides end when he's able to see past Khalid into the 'shed', within sight of the two Varisian thugs. He then addresses them, and gauges their reactions while his two empty hands are held visible to the sides in a sign of peaceful intent...

"Peace, friends, we're just here to see Natalya. We're no friends of the Tower Girls, and have come to connect with her and help her, if she's in need. Surely she needs more strong allies, if she has to hole up here to hide from them. I'm sure she would appreciate it, if you were able to take us to talk with her..."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (6) + 0 = 6

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

Whoa - Ghaernan is a Diplomacizing Machine!

But apt to completely misread these kidnappers as her allies!

Nah, no way Natalya’s been kidnapped in her own boarding house, unless Fenster was fooling us! These must be her Varisian allies protecting her! With that kind of roll, they might want to protect us as well! ;)

Grymp wrote:

As mentioned by Eric on Discord, Verilich double-flies back towards the door.

The Red Thug waves his morningstar in emphasis, "get on out of here you lot!"

Red delays.

Gundar and Ghaernan are up.

sounds good, how high is he coming over the building direct?

My assumption was that you were at roof level, but you were on the opposite side of the roof, call it 25' off the ground? With where you are now then, maybe you got down to 15'?

Ghaernan's honeyed words seem to worm their way through the thug's inherent thuggishness. "Say what? She never said anything about any newcomers coming by to help her out. She told us clearly not to let anyone pass. What are your names?"

Caius is up, as well as Khalid and Verilich rolling into round 2.

Caius remains in place, watching the far door, ladder, and tunnels into the sewer. He is ready to attack anyone who attempts to leave through the door he guards.

Verilich will land right next to our new found friend with no weapons drawn.

"Well met. I'm Verilich and I'm not necessarily from around here. Might I inquire as to your names?"

Verilich will attempt to peer into the open door as well to see what is beyond.

perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

aid for Diplomacy: 1d20 ⇒ 1

Veirlich sees what everyone else saw: a small 10'x15' room, with food stuffs, and other garbage/sundries around the room.

Khalid will back up and ready to trip anyone who tries to leave the building.

Verilich's stench and foul manners, (not to mention his horrible Diplomacy roll and getting right up in his face in a threatening fashion) turn the man's mood sour. He raises his voice, "our names are unimportant, and yours will be all but forgotten if you don't get out of here immediately." He waves his morningstar at Khalid menacingly.

Gundar and Ghaernan

Gundar will wait to see if Ghaernan can repair this situation. He chuckles a bit as usually it is him that causes blows to b e thrown when dealing with humans.

Ghaernan is at a loss for a fleeting moment, utterly caught off-guard by the attempted “assistance” of perhaps the most unlikely assistant in matters of diplomacy, and with even more deleterious results than he could have anticipated. The Bard backs away 15’, demonstrating a good-faith gesture of compliance, while offering a last improbable attempt to restore some measure of cooperation…

”Friends, for Natalya’s sake, please don’t be put off by this creature, a “wyvaran” who yet understands little of our mannerisms or matters of hygiene, but I can assure you comes as a friend himself with good intent. To your question, I’m indeed not ‘anyone’, but rather Ghaernan Barova, also descended from Natalya’s people, and sent to find her and protect her by a mutual friend named Sheila. My hands, as those of Verilich, remain empty and ready to help - and if Natalya is on the run from the Tower Girls, she can use all of our help…What say you?”

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

Whoa again! This digital d20 has been on fire for G!

The thug at the door smiles, "well, I will be sure to relay the message Mr. Barova. She ain't here right now. Perhaps when she comes back later, she can look you up. Is there somewhere in town she can find you?"

Caius will assess the stability of the plank before him and, if deeming it sturdy, will proceed to stealth across it to the door on the other side.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

sense motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

Whispering under his breath through the message spell, "He doesn't like me, but fancies you. And she is definitely inside. Want me to get physical?"

Verilich isn't aware of how the magic can be overheard, but I am. DC 25 to perceive

Caius determines the bridge is safe enough, so he heads across. Verilich relays his information to Ghaernan, and to everyone else it seems.

Khalid is up.

Concur with Verilich - DC25 to perceive that V said anything, so long as he was communicating with the Message spell, as he stated.

Ghaernan replies, whispering back through the Message spell...

"Regretfully yes, if she's definitely inside; our path is through them, sadly."

Caius determines the bridge is safe enough, so he heads across. Verilich relays his information to Ghaernan, and to everyone else it seems.

Everyone that makes a DC 25 (+1 per 10' distance) Perception that is.

perception: 1d20 ⇒ 8

Khalid will maintain his location and ready status.

@Caius

A small creature (picture shared with Caius) crawls out of the southern pipe, and throws a ball of sludge at Caius...

Sludge: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

...which misses his touch AC!

Verilich is up.

I would say, that if we call throwing mud at Caius "battle," then there's a Perception check to be had to hear that. Through a couple walls, at some distance. Or is it at a longer distance, but around some corners?

Shall we call it a DC 5 Perception to hear some mud slinging going on?

acknowledging his instructions that things are about to get physical, Verilich initiates contact.

"Friend, I do not like being lied to. Our mutual friend is indeed inside and you are concealing that from us. let's take your aggressive stance out of the discussion."

attack to start grapple: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

What in the world is throwing mud?! I'm not sure that's "battle," not yet anyway, if there's no clash of arms and armor, and nothing done but the tossing of squishy stuff makes me think the DC would be higher. I can't see where Caius is, but it looks like the door is maybe 55' from Khalid, 60' from Verilich, 65' from Ghaernan, and 75' from Gundar? -5 to -7 penalties to hear thrown mud - unless there were battle cries from the mud throwers or something, in which case I'd think we would get more intel from types of voices, language, etc. Interesting situation...

Even though he is slightly obstructed by the corner of the door, Verilich successfully grapples the (blue) thug.

In response, the (red) thug comes out swinging with his morningstar...

I believe this will initiate Khalid's readied action.

-------------------

While we await Khalid's response, and the resolution of Red's attack...

More at Caius' end:

A second creature (blue) emerges from the sewer pipe. This one is carrying a broom handle, which it uses to try and knock the board over...

Broom: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

...but it misses.

Ok, Khalid, your readied action, and maybe also an AOO?

Khalid acts quickly when the red thug attempts to leave the building and tries to drop him where he stands (with some cover).

Trip Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20 and if he succeeds would say, "Stay down if you know what's good for you. You were warned."

If he misses, bad day for the thug and he will take his AOO.

Horse Chopper: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15 to hit for potentially Damage: 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15.