Out to the Estate
Subject An alternate plan
I think just a disguise self will work here. If you wear his clothes, have his scythe, and you nkow his mind (and you do), I think you should get some good circumstance bonuses.
Mark, my post earlier was not as clear as I would like. Salix will be amenable to not taking the bodies if it will get the plan moving forward. While he thinks the bodies are a good idea, he does not want to have a big fight slow them down and he does not want to risk having Kal try to get in another way. He will remind Mund that he thought the plan to sneak in with out the bodies originally was a good one and that they are just going back to that plan.
Load em up and move'm out. We're burning daylight. (What movie was that from?)
From: Mark
Subject An alternate plan
The Cowboys with John Wayne.
I will write something up this afternoon.
From: Mark
Subject Turn
Ok I have cleared my desk at the office and think I know what everyone wants to do.
I am going to start the write up in a few minutes. Hopefully it will be done before I leave work today in a few hours.
From: Mark
Subject Out to the estate
Salix listens to Kal's reasoning. He struggles with his dislike for the elf and his own distaste for what Surin has suggested. The druid remembers back to one of the early days of his training, when he had been told to stay with the body of a dear as it decomposed. Over a period of weeks Salix had seen what nature does when the flesh no longer has the spark of life. He had survived that experience. In fact it had taught him much about the relationship between life and death.
Now he wanted to force Kal to do things his way, make him submit. But was that the right thing? "Surin, can your plan work if we just pose as captured victims being taken to be sacrificed?" The halfling nods "Sure it will probably still work." "Ok" Salix says "then we will try it that way. Ally and Ran will be in the seat of the wagon with Ran driving. Harp and Mund can play guards in the back of the wagon over the top of the rest of us. We four" the druid points to himself, Surin, Kal and Ragnar "will be in the back, seemingly tied up, helpless."
He looks around, seeing what everyone thinks. Only Mund seems a bit put out. As the others head off to get ready Salix calls the barbarian over. "I know you are unhappy with my decision, but if there is trouble, at least you get to be ready, axe in hand." The druid smiles a bit as he says this and Mund returns an evil grin. The human then heads off with Surin to get rid of the bodies they had collected just a few hours ago.
An hour later the large wagon is rolling down the road towards the Mayor's estate. Ally is on the buckboard along with Ran who is handling the two horses with practiced ease. Harp and Mund stand over the other four in the back of the wagon. The tarp is thrown off at the moment so that they are a bit more comfortable. Surin has shown the other three how the trick ropes work. "Just pull right here" the halfling says "and the ropes will fall right off." Each of the three gives the ropes a try, getting a feel for the release. Again and again the party goes over the plan for what they will do if there is a problem at the gate.
As they get closer, maybe a half mile away, Ally, clad in the dead cleric's robes, turns "Ok, Ran you and Harp change places." The two quickly switch spots and the big half orc, unsnapping his sword at his side with one hand, takes the reins with the other. "Keep a good pace, like we are in a hurry" Ally reminds him. When they are about a 100 yards out Ally turns and acts' like he his hitting someone in the back of the wagon. As he does this he chants the powerful spell of shape changing and his features flow into that of the cleric Mund had killed earlier that day.
The mage turns back to the front of the wagon and shifts his mind. He thinks back to the putrid cesspool of thoughts and feelings he had immersed himself in earlier. How would that mind respond? What would such a vile, evil person say or do? Seconds later the wagon rumbles up to the front gate and the guards there call for them to halt. One of them calls out with no enthusiasm "Who goes there?" Ally takes a breath and answers "Olt, you fool, who does it look like. I have the last load from the house and I'm running late." He holds out the orders that the Mocker's had forged and hands them down. One of the younger guards rushes over, grabs them and returns to the head guard.
The man takes a few seconds to look at them and then speaks up "Who is that driving? I don't recognize him. I'd remember someone that big and ugly." Ally's response is practiced and quick "Who he is does not matter. I vouch for him and I'm in a hurry. Now let us pass or I may convince Faldor that you would be more useful down at the temple or in the ceremony tonight." The man shrinks back at those comments and quickly hands the papers back to the runner, who brings them back to Ally. "Ok, you know where to go. However, I can not spare any men to help you unload. There might be someone at the barn that can help. Now move."
Harp slaps the reins on the flanks of the horses and they lurch into a trot through the gate. Two minutes later Harp pulls the wagon to a stop outside of the barn where he had unloaded the bodies the other day. The large door stands open and in the back they can see two figures sitting on a couple of benches.
OODM: OK what does the party want to do now?
From: Kevin
Subject Out to the estate
Harp will wait for Allistair to say something. He will try to be as observant as he can (which is not saying much).
From: Derek
Subject Out to the estate
Allistair has to at least appear to be in charge right now. As they approach the barn, he tells Harp to slow down the wagon. As Harp does so, he quickly turns and speaks quietly to those behind him. "Hack will pull the wagon in and stop. We'll close the door and see what happens next. When I give the signal, quickly -and quietly- subdue or kill these two. Try and keep one alive, we need information before we leave the barn again."
As the wagon pulls into the barn, Allistair calls out to Mund and Ran. "Look alive, you good-for-nothings! Need to get these fresh ones into the barn. Too fresh, if you ask me. These scum are more use to us dead than alive," he chuckles to himself. After the wagon is completely in, Ally will call out to them again. "Hurry and close the doors! I'm in a hurry and need to get going. There's too much to do before the ceremony tonight!" After the doors are closed and covered by Mund and Ran, Allistair will address the two who were already in the barn. "Who are you two?" he snarls. "What are you doing here?"
From: Mark
Subject Out to the estate
One of the two men answers, his voice defensive "I am Hanz and this is Franz. We were assigned duty here Olt, just like we are every day. What are you doing here? We weren't told about no more shipments?" The two dressed in leather armor and carrying short swords move towards the wagon, but their weapons are not drawn.
From: Derek
Subject Out to the estate
OOC: Hanz and Franz? Are you running out of name ideas? Are they here to "Pump" IC: "Some of these worms gave me some trouble last night. I lost some of my hired muscle, and it took me a while to round these stragglers. Of course, those that fell still helped out. Everyone serves Nerul eventually, whether it be in life or death." Allistair shows his pointed teeth and gives an evil grin. "So who else is in here? Just you two? Where are everyone else?"
From: Mark
Subject Out to the estate
OODM: Hey when you have to make names up on the fly you do what you can. In game it should not raise any eye brows. In my real life evil game almost every city has a Bob the Blacksmith and an Al's Alchemy.
IDM: "Yeah we're alone. All the others are either at the temple or out at the alter getting ready for tonight. You need help with these?" Hanz, followed by Franz, start to walk towards the wagon.
OODM: If you want I will work on a map for tomorrow.
From: Porter
Subject Out to the estate
As Hanz and Franz talk to the cleric that Mund strangled to death earlier today, Mund moves behind them to take them by surprise if Alley signals.
From: Kevin
Subject Out to the estate
With a look at Allistair, Harp will jump down from the wagon and head over to where Hanz and Franz are, motioning with his head toward Ran and Mund to join him - sort of like they are going to hep these two unload the bodies. If the situation presents itself Harp will try to move behind one of them while he waits for Ran and/or Mund to get close to the other one and then Harp will attempt to grab the one closest to him over the mouth with one hand and grab what would be his sword arm with the other. As he does this, he will say to Ran and Mund "Take him"
From: Derek
Subject Out to the estate
Allistair calls back to Ran and Mund. "Are those doors secured? I don't want these scum to try and run off again!" If the answer is affirmative, Ally will tell Hanz and Franz, "Yeah I need help? You thnk I'm going to do it all myself? Get these dung-piles on thier feet! You know where to take them!"
As they are getting the prisoners up on their feet and out of the wagon, Allistair will try and get a bit more information before they spring the trap. "So are you two here on duty the whole evening? Anyone coming to relieve you? Do you know where Faldor is? I need to report this to him. Is he at the temple, or helping getting the totem ready for those barbarian fools?"
Allistair will continue the conversation until Harp, Ran, and Mund are in place, and everyone else is on their feet. Then he will return his voice to Allistair's normal voice and simply say, "get them, now."
From: Porter
Subject OUt to the estate
When he says that, Mun, already brandishing his axe, summons his inner bear (rages) and attacks from behind. It takes a concerted effort, but he manages to not yell out this time.
From: Derek
Subject Out to the estate
"Keep one alive!" Allistair calls out.
From: Jason
Subject Out to the estate
Ragnar will wait until the others engage, and only then will he pull his bonds loose and join the fray if it seems necessary.
From: Kevin
Subject OUt to the estate
Harp will have heard Allistairs request to keep one alive. He is just looking to keep the one he goes after quiet and unarmed. He does not expect much of a struggle from his guy.
OOC: Using a rage against these guys??? Isn't that overkill??
From: Porter
Subject Out to the estate
OOC: Overkill, possibly. But Mund has the "Extra Rage" feat, so he has rages to spare.
And so far in this entire campaign, not once has that feat helped him out.
Same thing with his "Extended Rage" feat.
:(
From: Randy
Subject Out to the estate
Ran positions himself close to the wagon and stays near Hanz and Franz, and says "Here, help me grab the dwarf. He looks like he might put up a fight."
Ran hopes to keep the two guards eyes on the wagon while Harp and Mund can move in behind them. Ran will draw his sword and assist his companions if it looks like either of the guards puts up much of a fight.
From: Kevin
Subject Out to the estate
If you had been surrounded by nine assailants for almost 1 1/2 minutes, it probably would have been useful.
From: Porter
Subject Out to the estate
You know, it's really too bad that you didn't say that before, as Mund is the one with Improved Grappling.
It's been kinda frustrating -- I haven't ended up using in combat a single one of Mund's feats, except during the last fight with Salix. Mund kept doing all that grappling, so I took Improved Grappling, and he hasn't had a chance to use it since.
From: Derek
Subject OUt to the estate
Allistair did say it before, as they were going up to the barn.
From: Kevin
Subject Out to the estate
Harp heard him say it.
Mund is just used to not listening to his brother. It always seems to be that way.
From: Mark
Subject Out to the estate
I have not written the turn so if you want to change what you want to do you may.
From: Porter
Subject Out to the estate
OOC: Yippie! Thank you, Easter Bunny!
IC:
When his brother's familar voice comes out of that ugly face which Mund had already had to kill once that day, he tackles one of the guards from behind, feeling his totem bear's strength fill him as he does.
"Kill the other one!" he says to his companions.