My joust rules:
1. Both riders charge.
2. Attack role as normal for a charge (+2 attack role, with -2 to your AC. Lances do double damage on a charge). Lances break at 15 points of damage.
3. If hit, opponent must make a Ride Check (DC=5+Damage Dealt) to stay mounted. 5 ranks in handle animal = +2 on ride check.
4. If both are dismounted, melee combat follows.
5. If dismounted, Ride Check (DC15) or 1d6 damage.
Player Options (must be indicated in invisible castle roll):
a.) Aim at helm: -8 to attack but Ride Check (DC15+damage dealt).
b.) Crouch defensively: -4 attack +4 to ride check
Combat is initiated and run as usual, but using muddied branches to avoid even non-lethal damage. Muddied branches do 0 damage, but demonstrate clearly when a hit has been achieved. First person to take 3 hits, 'falls'.
Kornelius challenges Ovirid.
Kornelius challenges Ovirid.
"Atsa lad! 'ave at ye, then!"
Attack #1 1d20+5=19
Attack #2 1d20+5=7
Attack #3 1d20+5=18
Attack #4 1d20+5=19
Attack #5 1d20+5=23
Although both Ovirid and Kornelius smack mud across each other, Ovirid's fighting style is more appropriate for this type of combat. Kornelius' heavy chops might deal more damage, but Ovirid's precise strikes win the day.
The sparring continues for much of the afternoon. By evening, Larjen returns on his riding dog 'Ogre' with a gift from Lord Kerrigan--three vials of potions and a note to be careful.
The night is uneventful.
Larjen rises with the sun and shouts a word of warning arousing everyone. "Look at the sky?" he says poiting east. "That's a sandstorm coming."
Although most of the storms from the Cinderlands are pushed back from the Keep by the winds falling over the Mindspins, this one is approaching unhindered.
Sir Manfred squints while looking at the approaching storm.
"Gentlemen, we need cover from the storm for outselves and our mounts. Has anyone seen anything that we could use? A screen of trees, a cave, a depression in the ground, anything?"
Sir Manfred squints while looking at the approaching storm.
"Gentlemen, we need cover from the storm for outselves and our mounts. Has anyone seen anything that we could use? A screen of trees, a cave, a depression in the ground, anything?"
Larjen figures the storm is half an hour to an hour away. It might not even hit.
The old road might provide shelter or it might act as a funnel--depends which way the storm blows over if it comes.
The only depression in the ground you've noticed is pretty exposed. The area you are in was the most sheltered area you found outside of the caves.
Larjen figures the storm is half an hour to an hour away. It might not even hit.
The old road might provide shelter or it might act as a funnel--depends which way the storm blows over if it comes.
The only depression in the ground you've noticed is pretty exposed. The area you are in was the most sheltered area you found outside of the caves.
"Hunh. Lads, Ah'm fer thinkin' we're already fer bein' in the best place short o' Torag's embrace in one o' th' caves, 'n we're not fer 'avin' time t' get there. We need t' be fer makin' sure ever'thin' is tied down 'n the animals staked. Master Larjen, would it be fer more protective if'n we tuck 'r animals 'n gear on this side o' th' trees or that?"
As Ovirid talks, he's strapping his gear onto his person, making sure everything's firmly attached, any pocket flaps are tied down, etc. He'll start hustling around the campsite to 'batten down the hatches' unless someone provides specific advice to the contrary.
Larjen thinks for a moment, "The caves are close enough but we couldn't get the beasts up there. Stake it down, it is then."
He prepares to tip over the wagon to provide added shelter from the storm.
Larjen thinks for a moment, "The caves are close enough but we couldn't get the beasts up there. Stake it down, it is then."
He prepares to tip over the wagon to provide added shelter from the storm.
"Aye, ye've got th' right of it, I'm fer thinkin'." With that, the dwarf lends a hand to turning the wagon into an emergency shelter.
Sir Manfred also suggests that he can get the horses to lie down if needed.
"I'll try to monitor the sandstorm," says Kornelius.
Shortly after you have made your preparations, the sandstorm blows in hard. Hiding underneath the wagon, you suffer little damage from the storm. Sometimes a gust brings some sand underneath and it scrubs your skin raw, but that's nothing compared to what the more exposed animals must be suffering.
The storms been blowing for fifteen minutes when a creature starts to push its way under the wagon and then quickly withdraws. With the blowing sand, it was hard to get a good look at it, but you believe it was humanoid.
Shortly after you have made your preparations, the sandstorm blows in hard. Hiding underneath the wagon, you suffer little damage from the storm. Sometimes a gust brings some sand underneath and it scrubs your skin raw, but that's nothing compared to what the more exposed animals must be suffering.
The storms been blowing for fifteen minutes when a creature starts to push its way under the wagon and then quickly withdraws. With the blowing sand, it was hard to get a good look at it, but you believe it was humanoid.
"Ah'll not be fer denyin' shelter t' anythin' in this storm. What say ye? Should Ah be fer shoutin' out t' whoever that was t' come back?"
Shortly after you have made your preparations, the sandstorm blows in hard. Hiding underneath the wagon, you suffer little damage from the storm. Sometimes a gust brings some sand underneath and it scrubs your skin raw, but that's nothing compared to what the more exposed animals must be suffering.
The storms been blowing for fifteen minutes when a creature starts to push its way under the wagon and then quickly withdraws. With the blowing sand, it was hard to get a good look at it, but you believe it was humanoid.
"Ah'll not be fer denyin' shelter t' anythin' in this storm. What say ye? Should Ah be fer shoutin' out t' whoever that was t' come back?"
"Yes, of course; call him back. Charity is a commandment. We should take precautions though, just in case we are wrong and he is not a hapless victim of the storm."
Sir Manfred shouts; "IF YOU SEEK SHELTER FROM THE STORM, YOU ARE WELCOME HERE!"
The makeshift flap draws back at the point of the wagon furthest away from those gathered beneath it. Three medium humanoids cautiously crawl under the wagon and huddle together. Over the sound of scraping sand and howling wind, you hear them calling out to each other.
The makeshift flap draws back at the point of the wagon furthest away from those gathered beneath it. Three medium humanoids cautiously crawl under the wagon and huddle together. Over the sound of scraping sand and howling wind, you hear them calling out to each other.
Tarren:
In Orcish:
"It's not fer bein' fit fer man ner beast out there. We might otherwise be enemies, but while the storm's fer ragin', I propose a truce. We can see what we're fer thinkin' of one another later. Deal?
In Common, he says, "Lads, they're fer talkin' like orcs, but Ah'm not fer seein' their faces too well. Ah proposed we 'ave a truce 'til the gods' tantrum's up and finished. Ah 'ope that sets right wit' ye." In a lower voice, "An' we're not fer knowin' they're not fer speakin' Common -- they did understand yer offer, Sir Knight."
The makeshift flap draws back at the point of the wagon furthest away from those gathered beneath it. Three medium humanoids cautiously crawl under the wagon and huddle together. Over the sound of scraping sand and howling wind, you hear them calling out to each other.Tarren:
** spoiler omitted **
In Common, he says, "Lads, they're fer talkin' like orcs, but Ah'm not fer seein' their faces too well. Ah proposed we 'ave a truce 'til the gods' tantrum's up and finished. Ah 'ope that sets right wit' ye." In a lower voice, "An' we're not fer knowin' they're not fer speakin' Common -- they did understand yer offer, Sir Knight."
Ovirid, Manfred, and Kornelius can see them well enough once the tears carry the sand out of their eyes and their eyes adjust to the gloom again. Three orcs--skin rubbed raw, hair matted with sand, flaring nostrils surrounded with sandy crystals--huddle together under the wagon. They don't respond to Ovirid's words but they don't seem about to attack either. The wind continues to howl outside.
In Orcish:
After watching them for a while and making sure they aren't planning something, Ovirid takes a waterskin and passes it to the nearest orc.
He's sitting with his shield propped up between him and the orcs, ready to bash one if he makes a threatening move, but really not expecting anything of the kind, all things considered.
The orcs remain huddled together until the wind dies down a bit. Before the storm has really ended, they exit quickly and suspiciously into the last gusts of sand.
The orcs remain huddled together until the wind dies down a bit. Before the storm has really ended, they exit quickly and suspiciously into the last gusts of sand.
Ovirid crawls over and tries to watch where they go as they leave through the storm.
The orcs remain huddled together until the wind dies down a bit. Before the storm has really ended, they exit quickly and suspiciously into the last gusts of sand.Ovirid crawls over and tries to watch where they go as they leave through the storm.
The orcs head away from the caves, up the hill, to the east. They soon disappear in the blowing sand.
After the Orcs have left, Sir Manfred turns to Sir Ovirid.
Sense Motive--
1d20-1=4
"Well, as orcs go, they were fine fellows. Come, let us see how the horses have fared."
After the Orcs have left, Sir Manfred turns to Sir Ovirid.
Sense Motive--
1d20-1=4"Well, as orcs go, they were fine fellows. Come, let us see how the horses have fared."
"Mebbe, but they didna even say 'thank ye.' Savages."
The dwarf will keep a close eye on the direction the orcs went in case they choose to return with an attitude as he accompanies the knight-to-be.
The horses are still alive. The orcs didn't kill them as they left. What more thanks did you want?
The last of the storm disappears even more quickly than it blew in. It heads Northeasterly and will likely fade as it meets the air coming in from the Mindspins. With the wind gone, the hill and scrub seems unnaturally silent except for the snuffling of some annoyed and very betrayed horses.
The horses are still alive. The orcs didn't kill them as they left. What more thanks did you want?
Ovirid will see if anyone is interested in looking around to see what sort of damage the storm has caused outside the camp.
Sir Manfred goes over to the mounts. He calms them, then brushes down, feeds and waters them.
"There there Trouble, you've endured worse...;)"
Even though the orcs left while the wind was still blowing, you can see their trail in the fresh-blown sand.
The horses are not happy and continue to flick and sniff.
Soon, you realize they are no longer fussing about being left out in the storm but in fear of what is coming next.
The sounds of grunting and thudding come down the hill from the direction the orcs took.
There are several 'flask trees' around the clearing that are so wide-bottomed that even a dwarf could hide behind them.
Ovirid says, "Something's up the trail!" and hustles over to the base of one of the trees, crouching down to hide.
Super-stealthy ninja dwarf check: 1d20+8=27
Sir Manfred gets between the horses and the possible threat, readying his shield just in case. He does not bother to hide.
"Well done, sir. Brave knights do not hide," Kornelius says proudly.
Kornelius stands in the center of the clearing, sword prepared.
"Fortunately, I'm not a knight," says Larjen as he slips behind a flask tree on the opposite side of the clearing from Ovirid.
"Fortunately, I'm not a knight," says Larjen as he slips behind a flask tree on the opposite side of the clearing from Ovirid.
Aye, a knight's got 'is place. 'N folks like Larjan 'n I 'ave ours.
As Kornelius and Manfred stand in the clearing swords drawn, a hulking shape comes into view. Eight orcs are both pulling some kind of warmachine down the hill and, at times, trying to keep it from accelerating. When they see Kornelius and Manfred, they stop what they are doing and grab battleaxes off of the warmachine and proceed cautiously forward. They give no indication of having noticed Larjen and Ovirid.
Three of them seem to hold back a little, perhaps out of gratitude for your having sheltered them during the storm, perhaps out of the knowledge that there were more of you under the wagon than Manfred and Kornelius, perhaps out of shame that they have not told their clan mates that you were there.
As Kornelius and Manfred stand in the clearing swords drawn, a hulking shape comes into view. Eight orcs are both pulling some kind of warmachine down the hill and, at times, trying to keep it from accelerating. When they see Kornelius and Manfred, they stop what they are doing and grab battleaxes off of the warmachine and proceed cautiously forward. They give no indication of having noticed Larjen and Ovirid.
Three of them seem to hold back a little, perhaps out of gratitude for your having sheltered them during the storm, perhaps out of the knowledge that there were more of you under the wagon than Manfred and Kornelius, perhaps out of shame that they have not told their clan mates that you were there.
Five of the orcs raise their axes and begin to charge towards Manfred and Kornelius. Larjen quickly puts an arrow in one of them.
Five of the orcs raise their axes and begin to charge towards Manfred and Kornelius. Larjen quickly puts an arrow in one of them.
Ovirid pads up behind an orc and brings his pick around in a wicked sideways slash, catching him just under the ribs.
Damage, including sneak attack 1d4+1d6+1=9
In Orc: