Richard Holysmith's page

Richard swallows hard. The son of Mammon? Wholesale murder of innocent lives to keep a foolish secret? And so many grudges... Richard shakes his head.

And now he has to deal with the Mother of Flies. At least Sherix is keeping him afloat. His moral compass must remain stable.

"It sounds like we have a common foe. It's the easiest kind of alliance to maintain. This information answered a few questions I already had. But I still have more."

"How deep is the Council of Thieves? How do we stop the son of Mammon? How much have they infiltrated Westcrown?"

"That's right. They terrorize our hometown. We've lost too much." Richard grunts.

The Council's army scatters to the best of their abilities. But they are slow and cut down mercilessly. The smoke is put out, and the aerial defenders swoop in to clear anyone they don't recognize. Richard is a bit pleased for all of the blood, as it means they recognize him as one of their allies.

The carnage is filthy.

"Greetings, Mother of Flies! We come as Defenders of Riddleport, harassed by the Council. When your great ally Dogtongue came to us for help, we rallied the forces and broke the siege!"

"Aha! Well done!" Richard bluffs through his teeth. "They're trying to protect themselves. Quickly, taunt them!"

>Taunt<

Your army is skilled at taunting its opponents, provoking stupid mistakes and overconfidence in battle. The target army must attempt a Morale check (DC = 10 + your army’s ACR) at the start of each Melee or Ranged phase; failure means it reduces its OM and DV against your army by 2 for that phase. If the target army succeeds at two of these Morale checks, it’s immune to this tactic for the remainder of the battle.

Hopefully he can soften them up some more before the Jinkins scatter completely.

PC Army with Dirty Fighters: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18

The Jinkins are very disorganized...

"Go!" Richard pulls his bow and orders the Jinkins to get Dirty.

>Dirty Fighters<: Your army uses trickery and unfair tactics to gain an advantage at the start of a battle. For one Melee phase this battle, its OM increases by 6. (After that Melee phase, the opposing army knows to be ready for such tricks.)

PC Army with Dirty Fighters: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

Looks like the Jinkins don't do much.

Well, Richard will show them how it's done.
Composite Shortbow: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Whoops.

After reviewing the possible >Army Tactics<, Richard calls to his teammates.

"I say we open up with some Dirty Tactics- the Jinkins are quite skilled at traps and ambushes. We may as well play to their strengths."

Dirty Fighters: Your army uses trickery and unfair tactics to gain an advantage at the start of a battle. For one Melee phase this battle, its OM increases by 6. (After that Melee phase, the opposing army knows to be ready for such tricks.)

Sounds like that's the plan. I think the party would like to pick the least yucky route through the middens, but the beetle and jinkins can charge straight through.

"We should probably go as one group, yes? Let the jinkins and their beetle lead through the Middens, and we follow in their wake."

"Ah, yes, now I see it!" Richard looks at the map. "Let's enter through the Northwest side, near the top right corner of this map here. We can enter through the Camp Middens, disrupt the Siege Camp there, and get to the Fuel Piles!"

I usually save my maps on >pCloud<, which I think has a 10GB free tier. I've upgraded to one of their lifetime accounts, so it's been a while.

Other than that I will host the maps on Google Slides. But then you have to deal with Google's ecosystem.

The CoT map in your profile shows us in melee of some kind.

Richard thinks. "Alright... The Baggage Train and the Fuel Piles are our highest priority, I would say. How do we approach without making too much of a fuss?"

Richard has a realization. "As much as I hate to say it, I think we should approach through the Camp Middens. It probably has the least amount of protection, and the jinkins and their guardian don't seem to mind the smell. We go through there, and then attack whichever is closest."

"If we hit the Baggage Train, we cut off the camp's supply. If we take out the Fuel Piles, Mother can descend from above to support us. Sounds like a good plan to you?"

Richard hides his frown to the best of his ability. He would love to get there just in time for the Mother and the Council to wipe themselves out. But he can't risk a Council victory. At least the Mother doesn't encroach on his home.

One bad guy at a time, Richard. Sherix simply nods.

"Sounds like our best plan is to eliminate the smoke from the camp- that would break the stalemate and give the Mother's troops an angle of attack."

Richard is... not pleased, but the thoughts of a beautiful woman cleaning off the smell of dung in a luxurious bath keeps his morale up.

"Onward."

Richard sighs before translating. "Fmughwa will eat us unless we smell nice. I'm trying to figure out the particulars. I wish I could just cast a veil over ourselves and be done with it."

"Well Tal, I tried to convince them with honey, but your vinegar is much stronger. They will keep the shirt and the potion. They ask if they should bring the bug. I think they should."

Richard sighs. "They want more offerings. It's more like we're buying their loyalty at this point."

Anyone good at intimidation?

He exhales.

"That isn't enough for you? Mother needs your help."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (2) + 16 = 18

Richard's voice falls on deaf ears...

Richard seems a bit impatient at these jinkin and implores them to present themselves.

"Ah, thank you..." Richard takes his quick runner's shirt and lays it on the ground.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (6) + 16 = 22

"They desire magical gifts." Richard calls out to Acheh. "We did find something from that foolish satyr, correct? Let's give them some of that."

Richard looks around a bit. He hears something, but it doesn't make sense. "Oh! Could you repeat that?"

Sherix pipes up, thanks to her Truespeech. "Boss, they want gifts. Try Terran."

He casts >Tongues< on himself, and then switches to Terran.

"Ah, yes! What kind of gifts do you desire? I shall bring them immediately."

Realizing nothing is happening, the Silent Image will leave the cavern.

Richard readies himself, keeps his whip coiled, and enters the cave directly. He keeps the Silent Image in the form of a Jinkin, happily at Richard's side, waving him in.

"Ah, hello? I was invited inside by your friend here. We have some invaders to repel. Mother's orders, and all..."

I rolled a 19 Bluff check when I first called out to them.

Ah, hello Mera! Ready to watch Richard walk into his untimely demise?

Sherix says hello and is thankful you got rid of Avenger's Edge, as it was forcing you to say nasty things about her. All is forgiven.

Silent Image doesn't smell. It will enter first, wave, and if no one notices it will leave. The Real Richard would then enter.

Richard grimaces as the illusion hops up and down in glee. Hmpf, maybe I'll forget to clean the gore off of you next time. He grumbles as he finds a pool of mud to wallow in.

With no one at the entrance, Richard realizes he has to enter the cave first. "Alright, after you, good chum!"

A >Silent Image< of a Jinkin arrives, gives Richard a thumbs up, and then moves towards the cave.

Richard makes the illusion at the start of the cave, and lets it move 130 feet into the cave, if he can. He always stays 10 feet behind, repeating his request for them to aid the Mother.

"Yes, yes yes..."

Richard stows his whip and raises his hands. "Ah hello? Anyone there? The Mother requests your aid in repelling the invaders. We mustn't keep her waiting..."

Bluff: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (3) + 16 = 19

Richard sighs. He's fine with all of them dying, as long as they leave Riddleport alone.

"Hmm..." Richard thinks. "I could disguise myself... no, no, they are fey, not really humanoid enough." He thinks some more. "I could try to charm the lookouts into letting us pass."

He glances at Tal. "Or, we can be loud..."

"I'm preparing him for his next bloodbath." Richard asserts. "It makes quite the impression on his foes when he gets a new coat."

Bluff: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (3) + 16 = 19
Anything to avoid the mutiny.

Once Dog's Tongue stops the squad, he turns to Sherix. "Sherix, can you take a look? Safety in numbers, and all that."

Sherix's Stealth is +22, Perception is +12

"Of course! I will make you a bit more presentable." Richard casts Prestidigitation as many times as needed to clean Tal. "Apologies, sometimes I forget I am capable of this magic. The second edition of bard school made it much less useful."

"Sounds like we need to encourage them." Richard looks at the smoke rising from the tree. "Lead the way."

Richard has a million thoughts in his head about licking the blade, but he instead takes the pipes of haunting. At least Sherix won't yell at him about that.

He waits for Tal to give the order.

"Some Prestidigitation should help with cleaning the blood." Richard whispers. "Good idea on presenting your blood soaked blade to the... uh, madame."

"Madjaw the wimp has fallen! Bring the victor his spoils! And prepare to march!"

Richard shudders as the... model presents Tal's crown. Time to take one for the team, Tal.

"Well done, Tal Widow Maker! I knew you'd never falter!"

Sherix telepathically talks to Tal. Thanks, Tal. You'll have to wear that awful crown while we recruit this army. Then you can give it to Dog's Tongue when we're done here.

"Excellent work, Dog Tongue! We'll slaughter all the foes who stand in our way!" Richard tries to butter up Dog's Tongue.

"It's why you don't brag until AFTER you've won."

Richard laughs it off. "Ha! Only 3 horses? My friend, let the axe do the speaking for you. Your sword arm is as strong as an ox but your tongue is as weak as a kitten."

"Oh, don't feel too bad for Madjaw, Tal." Richard smiles amidst the carnage. "I'm certain with his name he'll never find anyone to spend the rest of his life with. Maybe the Red Caps can give him a collection of scythes to hump." He grins.

Richard realizes he should have "dropped" his cold iron longsword and let Tal pick it up, but he has this in the bag.

Richard covers his mouth. Oh, no he didn't... Recalling what happened to that spirit within the manor, Richard knows Tal has this in the bag. Hopefully he doesn't slaughter too many Redcaps once he's done with Madjaw.

"Come on, Tal, you've got this! Send Madjaw crying home to his momma!" Richard cheers Tal on.

Looks like he needs it...

"Of course, Tal. The >Heroism< magic should last for about 90 minutes or so."

Richard will cast Heroism just as we reach the edge of the camp.

"Sounds like a display of force, or killing Madjaw, will earn enough respect for them to listen to us. Lead the way."

"Oh goody. More allies." Richard's sarcasm manages to drip ever so slightly. "Still, if these invaders are fighting everyone, we could use all the help we can get."

And if these wicked creatures manage to destroy each other, the world is better off for it.

"Any way we can prevent them from attacking us?" He readies his whip.

"Ah, thank you." Richard flexes his arm. "Much better."

He doesn't wait too long for Dog Tongue. "Ah, shall we move on? We don't want to keep our host waiting."

Another round to Inspire Courage +2 amongst his friends.

Trip Red vs CMD, flanking: 1d20 + 10 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 10 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 31

Then he tries to topple the Red Thief with his whip. "Tal, I've set this one up for you."

Richard continues to Inspire Courage +2 among his allies.

Then he moves to trip the Blue Thief.

Whip Trip vs CMD: 1d20 + 10 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 10 + 2 + 1 = 24 "Quickly, while they are prone!"

"Assailants!" Richard points a challenging finger. "Defend yourselves, everyone!"

Whip: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 10 + 2 = 27
Damage: 1d3 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 2 = 5

Move: Inspire Courage +2
Standard: Whip the Blue Thief

I'm going to be busy for the next 2 days, so please bot me if necessary.

"Good idea, Acheh. Sherix, go ahead and take a look. Our empathic link will make it easy to locate each other."

Sherix's Stealth: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (16) + 22 = 38
Sherix's Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24

Once they are ready, Richard begins to creep into the wood, his whip at the ready.

Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30
Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26