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You can combine all the rules from every game you own. Because You are the GM.

Work from home seems like it would be nice. I’ve never had the kind of job where that would be a possibility.

I researched on the air elemental thing. It seems like one would be able to knot a rope easily enough.

Hopefully it’s a pay raise.

The bandits continue doing whatever it is they are doing, out of sight.

Round 4

Ouch. That sounds bad.

We did an early Thanksgiving. Like on Veteran’s Day. I had to work the weekend. Does that count as wonderful? All overtime, so I’ll enjoy my next paycheck. :)

The gates swing in. A couple of reasons for this. Keeps the hinges on the inside, and thus protected. Also the bar works better. They are made of thick wood, and banded with iron reinforcement. All quite sturdy, as befits the front door of a keep.
In game terms, I’m counting them as iron doors for hardness, etc.

Tattoo Face remains ducked down, out of sight. From behind the wall of the keep, the sound of bandits can be heard as they prepare for defense.

Round 3 start.

Autumn’s arrow strikes the wall of the keep, and bounces back, landing in the grass below. Torek’s does the same, except for making a shower of sparks when it hits the wall.

I checked Herger’s inventory, don’t really see much in the way of fire making stuff. He can light a torch, but the gate has a quite high hardness.

Herger?

No rush, I’m going to be busy this weekend anyway.

I think so.

Tattoo Face ducks down, out of sight, but you hear him say: ”Hurry up, you lot. These people got magic.”

Round 2 start.

So, that was part of the problem. I didn’t know where Herger wanted the fog. You didn’t move your counter.

If you two want to keep playing, I think we should. But I’m going to need the two of you to step it up, and run the other characters, at least until the end of this encounter.

Yeah, I know the feeling.

Hi.

Seems dead to me…

Obscuring mist is stationary. Says so right in the description you so kindly posted, Herger.

The gates are iron-bound wood. Behind the keep, there is a section of log barbican. It will take 3 climb checks of DC 15 to scramble around to the back, though. A person could expect rocks or some such to be hurled at them as they attempted such an endeavor. The weather hasn’t been especially dry, so stuff isn’t going to burn too well.

Yeah, you should be able to get your spells cast before the bandits can muster to the walls.

”Are you that good Autumn?” Wonders Titian. ”They have the cover of the battlements. We are in the open.”

From within the keep come the sounds of men preparing for battle.

Tattoo Face laughs. ”The champs’ll be right out to joust wit you chickies in a bit!” He makes a rude gesture toward you.

”I get the feeling that they plan on loosing arrows at us.” Titian comments. ”Cowards, but not complete fools…”

Moon-face hurries away toward your left, along the platform that must be behind the jagged battlements of the keep. He moves pretty fast for such a large fellow.

I got a chuckle out of your post Larin. The two idiots. :)

The gates are made of wood with iron reinforcement. They look quite sturdy. Hmm, yeah, I did call them doors, but they are gates as befits a small keep.

”Not a bad idea.” Tattoo face grins. ”Ox, go get the boss. Round up the others on your way. And move it, Tubs. These folks don’t seem the patient kind.”

”Why, yes. That’s a fine idea. Howzabout we meet in the court of the Winter Queen. Two years from next Starday?” The tattooed bandit gives the moon faced one next to him a slap on the shoulder. ”Laugh Ox, I made a funny. “
The moon faced one dutifully gives out a great booming guffaw.

Riding around the large hill where the keep sits takes a couple of hours. Soon enough though, you arrive at the front gate. The double doors are closed. A man in dark leather armor, and tattooed face leans over the parapet, watching you with a sarcastic smirk. Beside him a moon-faced fellow looks on.
”Ho, ho. What have we here? Come to pay homage to the king, have we?”

”The front, yes, naturally.” Titian agrees. The knight looks at the sky. ”I don’t think the weather will affect the outcome one way or the other, but if they want to come out from behind their walls, it will be to my advantage. He states confidently.

You make your way back to where the horses had been left. It is near midnight. The rest of the night passes without disturbance. Morning dawns cool with scattered clouds and the chance for ligh rain showers. Though it isn’t raining at the moment.

Starday, Desnus 23, 4716 A. R.

”Like back where we left our horses…” Titian grumbles.

Patiently waiting for you all to take down the Stag Lord.
Then I was planning to do yet another re-recruitment.

I hope you’re feeling better Autumn.

There was a gap in the stone wall of the keep. It can be accessed by climbing the cliff, up to the keep. It’s not really a gap, though. It has been plugged with a wall of logs.

The other gap is in the wall of the presumed cemetery that Autumn discovered. That wall is only 3 feet tall and may be easily scrambled over at any point. This are is separate from the keep, though it can easily be viewed from the top of the keep walls.

Autumn makes it back to the others as the sun sinks below the trees. So what now?

Autumn does note that the sun hangs low in the sky. Sneaking about can really eat up a day…

The wall encloses a roughly rectangular area about 60’x80’. There is a gap in the wall on the side opposite where Autumn is.

It’s a good hike around on the landward side. It takes even longer as Autumn slips like a ghost between trees and brush. Sometimes even having to crawl on her elbows and knees to cross an open stretch of grass land.
The keep stands to the east now; the cliff is barely a cliff now, and the shoulder of the hill blocks all but the rooftop of the keep.

A low stone wall offers a slight obstacle to Autumn’s advancement. It’s only about 3’ high and incloses what might be a cemetery. Several stones stand upright while others lean a angles. Here and there, there are patches of naked loose dirt.

Moving around on the landward side? Or climbing around above the lake?

The repair work looks adequate from where Autumn stands. It would take a closer look, and a good knowledge of building or engineering to say how strong the woodwork really is.

Autumn moves in close under the ruined keep. She notes that a breach in the walls has been repaired with walls of vertical logs.
The southwestern facing in front of Autumn is a rugged cliff perhaps 50’ high. It looks like the cliff drops in elevation as it curves around to the north. To the east, the cliff meets the lake shore, though it looks like a person could make the traverse. The rough stone provides plenty of hand and footholds.
The keep sits atop the cliff, if I was unclear about that.

Larin notices a thin wisp of smoke rising up from the castle’s hulking ruins. Perhaps a camp fire, or maybe a fireplace, but if so, the chimney is out of sight.
It is a good indication that the place is occupied.

Autumn leads the way toward the keep. She takes a path along the shore of the lake, where trees and low cliffs provide the best cover.
You stop on a damp sand beach about a half mile from the looming hill with its crowning castle. The shore line ahead seems to be exposed to view from above.

Just one roll for each creature sneaking, for now.

Curse of the Crimson Throne? I would love to play that one. But, I don’t think I can take on another game as a GM. I’m pretty sure I’d burn out. I’m only GMing one, but still, yeah.

”It’s a challenging problem.” Titian states. ”We can’t really sneak in and murder whoever is in there. They might be lawful folk.” His armor creaks as he shifts in the saddle. ”I suspect it’s the stronghold of this self styled Stag Lord, though. So if we play our cards wrong, we can expect them to try to murder us.”
Titian clenches his lance in an armored fist. “A closer look seems advisable.”

You could probably get within a mile, or so. Closer than that and the chances of being spotted will begin to rise.

Though the keep sits high on a cliff, it is still a few miles away. The countryside provides plenty of cover, between scattered groves, and small hills and valleys. With care you could possibly get closer, even in daylight.

Everyone , even your horses would have to make a successful stealth check, but with the +1 to the opposing perception/ 10’ distance, you ought to be able to get a little closer.

”Best to assume that they are unfriendly.” Titian states flatly. ”I love an open battle, but riding up under armed battlements is not my idea of a good time.”

I’m still here too.

Is this game dead then?

Alright, hunted down the snakes and got your marker back. I suppose I should show the location of the keep too.

Heh. It was eaten by snakes. I’ll see if I can’t fix it tomorrow.