GM Nazard's Articles of Faith

[Nazard]

The party draws their weapons and advances towards the sound of trouble. Passing through the copse of trees, three dilapidated, though still intact, siege towers rise up above a low, ruined wall. The towers look like they would house a couple of storeys. The wall, only three-feet high in most places, blocks your view of the source of the noise until you get fairly close to it.

In the centre of the three towers, in what amounts to a small courtyard, a man struggles to maintain his footing against the onslaught of two rather vicious-looking dogs. The man wears the road-stained country clothes of a common traveler, and bears no weapons and wears no armour to protect himself from canine fangs.

Neither the dogs nor the man seem to have noticed you yet. If you choose to engage right away, I'll roll initiative for everybody.

Map 1

Please try to avoid touching the black squares. If you wish to engage, move to where you wish and roll an attack (if appropriate) and I'll adjudicate after rolling initiative. Then hit Enter and copy the url into your post.

[Daniel Proudmore Rose]

Daniel moves up to the damaged wall and mutters

Such a shame.. could have been good dogs if fate had been kinder.

He lets fly an arrow, targeting the dog to the mans left (from Daniels PoV)

attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

map 2

[Thanephos]

Thanephos follows Daniel's lead, loosing an arrow as he calls upon his arcane might to enhance his attack.
Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Map 3

[Ty Purgest]

Wordlessly, Ty runs as fast as he can towards the man and dogs.

map 4

[Nazard]

Initiative!
Alexis: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Athar: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Daniel: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Joneth: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Thanephos: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Ty: 1d20 ⇒ 18
Dogs: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Man: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Inititive order: PCs, Dogs, Man

Surprise Round
Completed: Ty, Daniel, Thanephos
Remaining: Athar, Joneth, Alexis

As this is a surprise round, you can only take a standard action. However, you all beat the dogs' initiative, so I'll put those bow shots as round 1 actions.

Round 1
Completed: Ty, Daniel, Thanephos
Remaining: Athar, Joneth, Alexis, Dog, Man

Daniel and Thanephos scurry up to the low wall, while Ty makes his way around it. As the priest dashes forward towards the dogs, two arrows beat him there, both slamming into the flank of the closer dog. With a whimper of pain, the dog goes down, jaws snapping at the arrow shafts before it lies still. The other dog and the man have now noticed the group.

Athar, Joneth, and Alexis still have a standard action from the surprise round, and a full-round action for round 1. Technically, your surprise round action happens before the first dog goes down. Again, just to clarify how I like to run combat in PBP, the initiative rolls were just to determine which (if any) PCs went after the dogs and man. All the PCs in the first group (in this case, all of them) can go in whatever order they post. Short directions like "Go there", or "Get that flank" can happen any time (don't have to be on your turn), so if you need a PC to move out of your way, to a specific spot, or to target a specific enemy, feel free to make the request, then wait for that PC to post. Once all PCs have posted their surprise and round 1 actions, I'll have the dog and man go, assuming either or both are still alive by their turns.

Map 5

[Thanephos]

Thanephos would have taken his standard action during the surprise round to shoot from where he was at one of the dogs, which means that he still has another shot. Can I take it against the other dog?

[Nazard]

Thanephos wrote:

Thanephos would have taken his standard action during the surprise round to shoot from where he was at one of the dogs, which means that he still has another shot. Can I take it against the other dog?

Okay, I moved you back.

Map 6

[Ty Purgest]

If Ty has an extra standard action somewhere in there, he'll use an immediate action to grant the unarmed man the benefit of his Saving Shield feat. Probably not much point, but just in case.

[Nazard]

Ty Purgest wrote:

If Ty has an extra standard action somewhere in there, he'll use an immediate action to grant the unarmed man the benefit of his Saving Shield feat. Probably not much point, but just in case.

Because of his slow movement rate, I had to use all three of his move actions just to get him as close as I did. Next round, he should be there.

[Daniel Proudmore Rose]

Daniel calls out.

Try to incapacitate the last dog! maybe these animals can be tamed!

[Joneth Revane]

Joneth moves quickly, sprinting forward in order to better position himself. With the wild dog attacking the man, the magus opts to use a simple cantrip instead of wasting more time to get closer. It is a simple enough spell, the incantation and gesture required to cast it nothing too complicated, and soon enough a small orb of acid materialzes in front of his hand before flying towards the beast. Still, it misses as he tries to avoid hitting the man in danger by mistake.

Round 0 and Round 1, Initiative 12

Hit Points 17/17
Arcane Pool 4/4
AC 18/T 14/FF 14, CMD 16
Fort +3/Ref +2/Will +3
Effects: None

Move Action: Move to M-1.
Move Action: Move to H-3.
Standard Action: Cast acid splash at the dog at D-8.
Ranged touch attack (acid splash): 1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 2 - 4 = 0
Damage (acid): 1d3 ⇒ 2

Map 7

[Thanephos]

Retconning so that his original shot was in the surprise round, he now takes the actions previously stated.
Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Map 8

[Alexis Von Brant]

Sorry a friend from out of country came to visit then a horrible migraine.

[ooc]surprise round moved to M-5
First round moved to D-7 with a double move
In will attack next round/ooc]

Map 9

Alexis runs ahead of the group to directly engage the dogs hoping they focus on her instead of the man.

[Nazard]

Still waiting on Athar. He hasn't posted since Thursday. Are you there, Athar?

[Nazard]

Botting Athar... I'm guessing that his priority, as a healer, would be making sure that the man isn't too badly hurt. Athar moves up and ends up right behind Ty.

The second dog whimpers as Thanephos' arrow hits home. As Alexis comes up next to it, it turns its head, as if hearing something, and withdraws towards the north tower, up the low ramp, and slips in through the door, which closes behind it.

The man stares wildly at Alexis and the others, then bolts after the dog. The door doesn't open, and he bangs on it frantically.

ROUND 2

And then the arrows come, two flying out of each tower through arrow slits a little more than half way up their height.

Targets: Alexis 1, Ty 2, Athar 3, Joneth 4
Arrow 1: 1d4 ⇒ 1 Alexis
Arrow 2: 1d4 ⇒ 2 Ty
Arrow 3: 1d4 ⇒ 1 Alexis
Arrow 4: 1d4 ⇒ 3 Athar
Arrow 5: 1d4 ⇒ 1 Alexis
Arrow 6: 1d4 ⇒ 3 Athar

Arrow 1: 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 - 2 = 6, miss
Arrow 2: 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 - 2 = 6, miss
Arrow 3: 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 - 2 = 8, miss
Arrow 4: 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 - 2 = 11, miss
Arrow 5: 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 - 2 = 1, miss
Arrow 6: 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 - 2 = 3, miss

Most of the arrows miss long, short, or wide, with only one even bothering to clank off Athar's armour.

Perception DC 20 (level bonus to ranged attacks (if you have one) can be applied to this check):

The arrows wobble more than poor aim would suggest, likely due to really bad fletchings, or homemade bows.

Round 2 Remaining: Everybody

Map 10

[Ty Purgest]

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
Ty huffs after the man, although he's not as fast.

Map 11

[Alexis Von Brant]

Alexis yells after the manThose dogs where attacking you why are you running after them? Then the arrows fly out Oh bother, this could be a trap.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

What Alexis does will depend on the mans response.

[Nazard]

The man continues to pound on the door, yelling to be let in.

[Thanephos]

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Thanephos runs after the man, still with his bow raised in case of further attack.
Map 12

[Daniel Proudmore Rose]

Hail!

Daniel shouts

we mean no harm! Stop firing! Daniel puts his bow done to emphasize the point.

let us speak openly

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

He walks out towards the tower hands up. (Full defense action?)

[Alexis Von Brant]

Alexis calls to her traveling companions This feels like a trap

Movement to d8
Standard is a readied action to rush into the tower if the door opens.

Map 13

Once at his side she will ask the man again Why are you fleeing from us?

[Joneth Revane]

Although he does not sheathe his sword, Joneth refrains from using it or his magic as he moves to follow the strange man and join the rest of his newfound friends as they move towards the tower. Oddly enough, he seems to be going after the wild dog that only moments ago was attacking him and not only that, but arrows are fired at them by someone within the aforementioned building.

"The plot thickens," the magus mutters, carefully moving forward, at the same time trying to see if he can tell who is shooting at them.

"We mean you no harm," he calls out to not only the man outside the tower, but the one or ones inside it as well.

Round 2, Initiative 12

Hit Points 17/17
Arcane Pool 4/4
AC 18/T 14/FF 14, CMD 16
Fort +3/Ref +2/Will +3
Effects: None

Full Round Action: Move to A-7.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

Map 14

[Athar]

Taking note that the archers seem to be focusing on the companions nearer the tower, Athar advances with them, should they need healing. However, as if to emphasize that he means no harm, he puts away his weapon. He knows well by now that to speak now would only hurt their cause - for in the heat of battle, only he can speak only in the devil's tongue - something he planned to mention to his compatriots sooner and now regrets lacking the wisdom of having not done so already. But he hopes perhaps actions will speak where words dare not.

Double move so I'm still close enough to heal those who were targeted last round by the attacks, putting away my weapon as I move.

Map 15

[Nazard]

Sounds of laughter come from the towers.

The frightened man, unable to gain entrance, reaches for Alexis' sword. She can take an AoO if she wants.

Disarm: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 - 4 = 10

He fails to grab her shortsword. Alexis hears a growl of anger, possibly coming from the man, though the voice seems deeper than the man's.

Round 3

More arrows come.
Targets: Alexis 1, Ty 2, Athar 3, Joneth 4, Thanephos 5
Target Arrow 1 : 1d5 ⇒ 2
Target Arrow 2: 1d5 ⇒ 4
Target Arrow 3: 1d5 ⇒ 3
Target Arrow 4: 1d5 ⇒ 4
Target Arrow 5: 1d5 ⇒ 3
Target Arrow 6: 1d5 ⇒ 3

Arrow 1 : 1d20 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 3 - 2 = 13, miss
Arrow 2: 1d20 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 3 - 2 = 18, hit
Damage: 1d8 - 2 ⇒ (1) - 2 = -1

Arrow 3 : 1d20 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 3 - 2 = 16, miss
Arrow 4: 1d20 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 3 - 2 = 2, miss
Arrow 5: 1d20 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 3 - 2 = 19, hit
Damage: 1d8 - 2 ⇒ (1) - 2 = -1

Arrow 6: 1d20 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 3 - 2 = 18, miss

Two arrows hit home...sort of. The flight of the arrows is so unsteady that, at the point if impact, they had turned around. Joneth gets an arrow shaft in his guy, and Athar a bunch of ragged fletchings in his face. 1 non-lethal point of damage each.

Map is unchanged. Party is up.

[Ty Purgest]

Ty charges up the steps to the tower and throws his shield and shoulder into the door, trying to bash it open. The glare he gives the unarmed man warns him against trying to grab his spear.

If the nameless man tries to disarm Ty, he will take his AoO.

STR check to break down the door: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

Map 16

[Athar]

Does the unarmored traveler appear to have any lethal injuries from the dog attack? Does he seem like he's in bad shape?

[Nazard]

Actually, it doesn't look like he has any injuries at all.

[Daniel Proudmore Rose]

can Daniel see where the arrows are coming from?

[Nazard]

Arrow slits halfway up the towers, in the centre of the walls that face the central area between the towers.

Ty slams into the door, but it doesn't budge.

[Ty Purgest]

Ty turns to the nameless man. "Do you want in? Help me."

Ty tries to bash down the door, again, hoping to receive an assist.

STR check[/dice: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

[Nazard]

"Okay," the man replies. "I'll hold your spear for you."

[rorek55]

can I try returning fire through an arrow slit?

[Ty Purgest]

Sorry, that would have been for the next round. I posted out of turn. Ty will ignore the man and try to bash with the above attempt next round.

[Alexis Von Brant]

Yep totally feels like a trap. Are you all ok with Alexis grabbing the apparently uninjured man as a possible hostage? Normally she would help with the door but my trap senses are tingling.

[Nazard]

rorek55 wrote:

can I try returning fire through an arrow slit?

You can try, but they have a +8 cover bonus.

[Ty Purgest]

Alexis Von Brant wrote:

Yep totally feels like a trap. Are you all ok with Alexis grabbing the apparently uninjured man as a possible hostage? Normally she would help with the door but my trap senses are tingling.

We're being made to look like fools, so if your hostage attempt fails, we'll look even worse. Ty is against hostage-taking, but, at this point, he does think the man needs to be captured, so he'll probably be ok with it we regroup and/or retreat.

[Nazard]

Still round 3. Ty acted in round 3, trying to knock the north tower's door down, unsuccessfully. Everybody else has yet to act.

[Thanephos]

Thanephos sprints after his friends, not wanting to be left behind. As he does so, he turns back to Daniel, who is still by the roadside, Come on! We should be closer to see what's going on.
Map 17

[Daniel Proudmore Rose]

And get shot up?

completely missed the perception check shtick

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 welp..

He hops over the wall and moves up to the rest of them

map 18

[Joneth Revane]

"Would someone care to move this... gentleman out of the way?" The annoyance behind the words is easy to see as Joneth moves to assist Ty in getting the door to the tower open so they can make some progress and perhaps get to the bottom of this.

"And yes, I do believe this has all been a ruse," the magus adds, voicing what everyone is probably thinking.

Round 3, Initiative 12

Hit Points 17/17
Arcane Pool 4/4
AC 18/T 14/FF 14, CMD 16
Fort +3/Ref +2/Will +3
Effects: None

Move Action: Move to -C-9 (-D-9 if someone removes the dude from where he is now).
Standard Action: Try to bash the door open alongside Ty (squeezing between Ty and the dude if need be).
Strength: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

Map 19

[Alexis Von Brant]

Alexis points both blades in her hands at the man and says Move away from my companions and raise your hands above your eyes.

Do you want a skill check for that? And if he does not move immediately she will position herself between him and the party.

[Nazard]

Alexis Von Brant wrote:

Alexis points both blades in her hands at the man and says Move away from my companions and raise your hands above your eyes.

Do you want a skill check for that? And if he does not move immediately she will position herself between him and the party.

Diplomacy or Intimidate, depending on whether you are trying to convince him or scare him off.

Ty's shoulder hadn't opened the door, but he had made it shudder, weakening it enough that when Joneth hit, he went right through into a room that takes up the entire bottom area of the tower.

A pile of crates and barrels nestles into the elbow of the free-standing rickety wooden staircase that leads to the snipers’ nests above. The wooden floor is rough, but swept, and the whole room smells of sweat and whiskey.

Perception DC 15:

You hear the sound of booted feet near the top of the stairs above you.

Perception DC 20:

You hear the sound of a closing trap door coming from behind the staircase.

The dog is still in this area and it lunges at Joneth.

Dog bite: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5, miss

Map 20

[Nazard]

Round 3, completed: Ty, Alexis, Joneth, Thanephos, Daniel, dog
Still to go: Athar and the bandits (I hear they had a hit single back in the late 70s)

I meant to indicate that those Perception checks were only for those in or close to the room, so Joneth and Ty. Alexis and the others are too far away.

[Alexis Von Brant]

late intimidate: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12

[Nazard]

Alexis efforts to demoralize the man are successful. He steps back out of the way.

Botting Athar again...

Athar double moves, trying to get through the door Joneth and Ty opened, but it's just too far and there are too many people in the way.

More arrows fly out.

Targets: Alexis 1, Ty 2, Athar 3, Daniel 4, Thanephos 5
Arrow 1 Target: 1d5 ⇒ 2 - Ty
Arrow 2 Target: 1d5 ⇒ 1 - Alexis
Arrow 3 Target: 1d5 ⇒ 5 - Thanephos
Arrow 4 Target: 1d5 ⇒ 2 - Ty
Arrow 5 Target: 1d5 ⇒ 1 - Alexis
Arrow 6 Target: 1d5 ⇒ 2 - Ty

Arrow 1: 1d20 + 3 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 3 - 2 - 4 = 7 - miss
Arrow 2: 1d20 + 3 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 3 - 2 - 4 = 9 - miss
Arrow 3: 1d20 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 3 - 2 = 4 - miss
Arrow 4: 1d20 + 3 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 3 - 2 - 4 = 9 - miss
Arrow 5: 1d20 + 3 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 3 - 2 - 4 = 9 - miss
Arrow 6: 1d20 + 3 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 3 - 2 - 4 = 10 - miss

The arrows all fly off in completely random directions.

ROUND 4
Everybody up!

Map 21

[Ty Purgest]

Perception for check four posts up: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

If the dog that Joneth is fighting is still alive...:

Ty will move forward and attack it.
Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

If the dog is dead...:

Ty will attack any other hostile targets in the room (using the above rolls). If there are none, he'll head up the stairs.

Map 22 - But Nazard can feel free to move Ty's token around if he's not attacking the dog.

[Nazard]

Dog 1:

HP: 3/13
AC: 14 (12T, 12FF), CMD 14 (18 vs trip)
F/R/W: +5/+5/+1

Ty's spear impales the dog, and it looks very hurt as blood pours from the arrow and spear wounds.

Still up: Everybody but Ty

[Alexis Von Brant]

I have no rope and that takes time. I want to knock him out so I do not spend the whole time guarding a single person. How would you like me to do this?

[Nazard]

You can make attacks with subdual damage. He's not currently a prisoner, though, just an unarmed guy who can't make attacks of opportunity. She scared him into backing off, but isn't just going to let her drum him unconscious.

[Alexis Von Brant]

I can do non lethal damage with a blade?