Elotai and Bermid Arrive
Subject: Missing Turn from Elotai
Hey there. I never got a turn for Elotai last time round for the Segreda campaign. Was one sent? I've written up a turn for tomorrow, aside from that one detail. If a turn was sent, could you forward it along? If not, maybe Raja could send one before tonight?
If I don't hear back, I'll act for him.
~Matt in the Hatt
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Looming battle
OOC: Sorry about that, I?m not sure how I managed to avoid replying to the last turn. And I?m also sorry that this turn is so brief, but I?m in the middle of a move at the moment.
IC:
Elotai moves toward Erk and Kayla, hoping to get into the hall before the two guards. He half-drags Bermid behind him, determined to unite the man with his companions.
A Rusty Lock, Telwyn Arrives
Subject: Regrouping, Barbarians attack
Buchek, frustrated by the bars, reaches over his shoulder for his axe handle, and tears it free of the leather straps peace-binding it in place [Strength check 21, DC 20, success]. Gripping its shaft in his hands, he paces before the iron door like a caged animal, his knuckles white and a low growl issuing from his throat.
"Just a few more moments, Friend, and you will be free," Erk says to the clearly enraged barbarian. "I apologize for letting them put you in here in the first place. It is unforgivable to treat a man who has given his peace word in this way. We will not leave until you are free, you have my word on it."
Erk keeps an eye on the entrance as Kayla selects the appropriate tools for this style of lock. With speed and efficiency born of years of training, she quietly slides the tools needed from their compartments in her tool pouch. Staying within Erk's shadow, she sets to work on the lock. Cursing silently to herself, she struggles with the mechanism. Either rust and grime have made it sluggish, or Buchek's shaking bent some rod or another, but her efforts are rewarded only with frustration [Open Lock roll 7 + skill 11 = 18, v. DC 20, fail... I lowered all the lock difficulties by 5, too, for future reference. Simple 15, average 20, etc. Makes more sense that way).
Elotai grabs Bermid by the arm and pulls him to the door opening into the hallway. Just getting in the doorway, Elotai positions Bermid ahead of himself, and his back toward the approaching guards. He recognized them from his time in the tavern these last few days. The first was quiet and generally kept to himself, but the other was a talker and none too fond of direct confrontation. They seemed reluctant to approach, but with no one else in the tower, it looked as though they felt obligated to investigate.
"You there! What's going on? What's all that racket?" The first questions, while the second looks interestedly through the door, trying in vain to get a glimpse of the goings-on. All inside the hallway can hear the guards' words, though Buchek is in no state to pay them any mind.
Telwyn is nearly attacked by the tower guards, but pulls up and splays his hands wide before they fall upon him. "There were many crossing the bridge, but I couldn't hold out against so many. I would guess at least twenty." Cursing, the soldiers press on, and Telwyn arrives outside the Tower.
Holn runs back toward the tower, hearing the yells of barbarians behind him and the shouts of Caro's guards ahead. It seems he is right between the two groups, but will reach the guards first. Frowning, he suddenly becomes very conscious of his appearance, and wonders just how well a running sorcerer of the tribes would be received by panicky guards.
From: Jake
Subject: Re: Buchek Swims to Consciousness
:D
Sorry things haven't been going well; I hope they're getting better. No rush on the game, seriously--I was just bored on a Friday afternoon, and wanted an excuse to invoke the name of the all powerful deity that had just occurred to me. I'm liking the spelling Dee'im better than Dee-em though.
From: Jake
Subject: Re: Regrouping, Barbarians attack
Buchek will continue growling and pacing.
From: Jake
Subject: Re: Regrouping, Barbarians attack
Holn glances to his right and left, looking for a hiding place. The last thing he needs is to be skewered on the end of a panicked guardsman's lance. Perhaps he can duck out of sight for a moment, and either take the raiders from the rear or sneak his way to his friends at the tower.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: Regrouping, Barbarians attack
Telwyn enters the tower and makes his way toward the cells. Finding everyone there, he reports.
"There are at least twenty raiders crossing the river, maybe more. By now they may be inside the outpost. I don't know how the guards are faring, but I think it may be high time we got out of here." He glances around. "Where's Holn?"
Covering for Kayla, A Rather Off-Topic Discussion
Subject: Re: Whew.
Erk says, "I don't see a problem right now."
To Telwyn he will add, "Please keep an eye on that door. We don't want to be mistaken for allies of those attacking the camp, and our little songbird's lock picks may give the guards the wrong impression."
From: Mike
Subject: Re: Whew.
Telwyn nods and positions himself by the door. If anyone comes in he will try to get a report on the situation outside (both to get the information and to give Kayla some more time).
From: Jake
Subject: Idea for a game I'm kicking around
I'm thinking of developing a gameworld that would allow for roll playing in a fantasy version of early colonial Burma. I haven't quite decided whether the invading colonial power would be masters of technology or magic yet; if I go with technology it'll be modeled after England's early 19th century industrial capabilities. If I go with magic, magical devices will be pretty mundane in the empire, with the magical equivalents of lighters, flashlights, and the like being fairly common. If I go with that I'll have to think pretty seriously about how to set it up so that the various hill tribes' magical systems are quite different both from each other and from that of the Empire. I'll also need to balance it so that the Empire's magical system isn't so much more powerful that the hill tribes don't stand a chance, while still making it plausible that they'd have made the inroads into the region. There's still a lot of thinking to be done before I even begin to get ready to run a game set in this world, but would there be interest in playing in it if I were to create it?
From: Jeff
Subject: Re: Idea for a game I'm kicking around
I would be interested, the idea sounds very cool indeed. But it *also* sounds very, very tricky and very, very easy to screw up...I don't envy you the task of setting it up and creating it, heh
From: Jake
Subject: Re: Idea for a game I'm kicking around
Yeah, it's going to be pretty tricky, I think. I'm not sure how to go about combining technology and magic in a way that's both well balanced and believable, and part of what I want to capture is the extreme diversity of cultures that early colonial Burma had (and to some degree still has), which will take forever. Fortunately, the Victorian adventurer George Scott wrote some incredibly detailed ethnographic material on the various tribes in his Gazetter of Upper Burma and the Shan States, which I'll be able to draw inspiration from. Unfortunately, it's a pretty expensive book. I've found one volume of it on abebooks.com for $30, but both volumes will run me hundreds of dollars.
At this stage I'm not sure I'll create the world, but doing so sounds like a lot of fun.
I've also thought about not fantasizing it at all, and trying to just create a roll playing game set in that time and place, using Scott's work as direct source material. It was a pretty fascinating time and place.
From: Matt
Subject: Checking in
Just waiting on a reply back for Elotai before continuing (unless I missed one).
Free At Last, Free At Last...
Subject: Re: Whew.
Elotai approahches Telwyn, half-dragging Bermid along with him. "Do you know more about what's going on out there?" he asks.
From: Matt
Subject: Free at last, free at last...
The more talkative of the two guards, blocked from the hallway by Telwyn, Bermid and Elotai, grabs Elotai by the arm and pulls him away from Telwyn, "I asked you a question! And I don't appreciate being ignored! What's going on in there!?" He tries to pull Elotai from the doorframe and get by, but Telwyn steps in his way.
Erk hears this confrontation from inside, but can't see either of the two guards. He does his best to stay between the doorway and Kayla, but three bodies block his view into the common room.
Kayla dips the end of one of her tools in a small vial of lubricant oil before making another attempt, and this seems to do the trick. The lock, though stiff at first, finally gives way all at once, almost shocking Kayla into a gasp. [Open Lock 26 v. DC 20, success] As the lock releases, there is a bit of a clang and the door swings open a few inches, gaining Buchek's full attention.
...
Outside, Holn looks quickly for cover, but finds none. Choosing the shortest route away from the burning rooves of the buildings meant cutting across the open courtyard, and, short of dropping chest to the ground and praying, there aren't any hiding places.
The raiders will be on him by the start of next turn, and the guards by the turn following.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Free at last, free at last...
Hearing a satisfying click come from the lock behind him, Erk whirls around and says to Buchek, ?It?s time to go, my friend. The fort us under attack, and we are still missing one companion.? To the entire group he says, ?I suggest we move out in force and aid wherever the need is greatest. If someone spots our young sorcerer along the way, that would be helpful as well.?
If no one disagrees, he will push his way past the group at the doorway, and placing one hand on the nosy guard will begin pushing him back, saying, ?There is no problem here. We are on our way out to help in the defense of the fort, and I suggest you do the same. There are no enemies to fight in here.?
From: Matt
Subject: Fwd: Free at last, free at last...
This was Buchek's turn. Jake only sent it to me, accidentally.
-----------
Addled with rage, Buchek throws back his head, howling in exultation, and bolts for the door. If Kayla or Erk don't intervene in some way, Buchek will go pelting down the hall, toward the door, his axe held at the ready.
From: Jake
Subject: Re: Free at last, free at last...
Oops, sent this only to Matt.
Matt, how do we handle something like this, where Ty and I gave conflicting responses to the same information. Do the responses just happen simultaneously, or do you roll initiative to see who does what first, or what?
Note: forwarded message attached.
-----------
Addled with rage, Buchek throws back his head, howling in exultation, and bolts for the door. If Kayla or Erk don't intervene in some way, Buchek will go pelting down the hall, toward the door, his axe held at the ready.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Free at last, free at last...
OOC: Actually, Erk WILL intervene.
As he is speaking, Erk hears Buchek?s cry of rage. He quickly turns to place a restraining hand on the barbarian. ?Stop! We did not free you so that you could be cut down by the first guards you see! They will mistake you for those that are attacking unless you remain with us. Do you understand me?! Stay with us, or die uselessly in the fight outside.?
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Free at last, free at last...
You can also do addendums to your turn when other players create new situations, or add new information.
As Erk is doing in response to your turn.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: Free at last, free at last...
Well, seeing as you have to go through him to get to the door, I'm gonna say he's got the jump on you.
From: Jake
Subject: Re: Free at last, free at last...
:) Sounds good.
At Erk's words, a little of the madness fades from Buchek's eyes. His body quivering with the effort of suppressing his desire to run toward the battle, he nods to the dwarf. "We go together."
From: Jake
Subject: Re: Free at last, free at last...
"Nothing for it but to attack the raiders," Holn thinks, "and do it in as visible a way as possible--don't want any confusion on the part of the guards as to which side I'm on."
With that, Holn wheels, feeling the exhilirating gush of magical energies coursing through his veins as he calls forth a blazing line of fire, aiming it at the nearest raider. [ie-casts scorching ray]
[I don't remember exactly how scorching ray works, but if possible Holn will play the beam of fire across as many raiders as possible, basically hosing them with flame. If not, he'll just roast the nearest one.]
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Free at last, free at last...
Erk looks the barbarian in the eye, and gives him a nod of gratitude. He then tries to get the group to move outside together, unless the guards intervene.
From: Clara
Subject: Re: Free at last
Kayla quickly wipes the extra oil off the picks and puts them away. She gives a cursory check to make sure all her bags are in place, and pulls out her sling. "Followin' you, Erk. Not much fer hand t' hand though." She notes her handaxe and hopes that she has time to pull it out if the raiders come in too close.
Hoping her fiddle makes it out of this okay, she follows Erk.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Free at last
Well, I HOPE Kayla is not forced into hand to hand. Because that will mean that Erk, Buchek, and Telwyn, and Elotai are all taken out. In this gang, Kayla should be the last person to have to slug it out up close. :)
From: Mike
Subject: Re: Free at last
The seven of them and a rabble of drunken guardsmen against a barbarian raiding party. Telwyn didn't like the odds, but it didn't seem anyone was listening to his opinion.
He looks the talkative guard in the eye and asks levelly, "Don't you have somewhere to be?" He pushes past the man, nocking an arrow as he exits the tower and scans the outpost for raiders. If there are any close enough (within 110'), he will loose as many arrows as he can get his hands on (Rapid Shot, one arrow per raider). If not, he will look for Holn and move to assist the mage.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Free at last
Elotai is taken aback as Telwyn brushes past him brusquely, completely ignoring the elf and his human charge. He opens his mouth and then closes it. The half- elf was almost as impetuous as a human. Perhaps the longer-lived dwarf would be more level-headed. "Erk," he calls. "I have brought Bermid." Maybe the priest could sort out what the boy's problem was.
Seeing the dwarf again triggers a flicker of dream-memory - the stout bearded one gasping for nonexistent air, bubbles streaming from his nose and mouth. Elotai blinks and shakes his head, trying to dispel the thoughts. He didn't remember this kind of fire from his visions, though. This was not something he had seen. His frustration was growing in tandem with his uncertainty. Elotai fiddles with his sword hilt absently, wanting to lose himself in the dance, to forget about travelling and hot-tempered, impatient humans.
Stupid Guards, Here Comes Tossuc
Subject: Into the Night
As Telwyn and Erk try to push past the guards, their patience snaps. Drawing swords, they back away from the group toward the entrance, and the quiet one pushes closed the heavy wooden door with his leg.
"You are prison breakers aiding a barbarian captive during an attack, and you will go nowhere! I do have somewhere to be, mixed-blood, and it is defending my brothers from an attack from the rear!"
[Initiaitve Order:
Elotai 19 (tiebreaker 14)
Telwyn 19 (tiebreaker 2)
Erk 19 (lower modifier)
Guard3 14
Kayla 12
Guard1 10 (tiebreaker 12)
Guard2 10 (tiebreaker 9)
Bermid 6
Buchek 5]
...
Holn rounds on the barbarians just as they get within range and allows the mystical energies to channel through his body and out his finger tip, emitting a blast of searing flame that lights up the night. 35 feet away, a marauder a full fifteen feet ahead of his companions erupts in a burst of flame. His feet fly out before him as he hits the ground in agony, beating at his burning leather armor. [Attack 17 v. AC 17, hit. Damage 4, 4, 5, 3 = 16].
The charging marauders, who Holn numbers as more than ten, slow their charge and spread out to the sides, advancing more cautiously but wholly ignoring their fallen comrade at arms. At the center of this group stands a giant of a man, reaching well over six feet tall, with a massively broad chest. In his hands he wields thick wooden shaft with a broad axe-head at each end, and his body glows dimly blue in the night.
This man is clearly the leader, and his the flickering firelight reveals a face Holn easily recognizes. Tossuc, Buchek's uncle and leader of the Cushat-Tshvek.
Glancing behind him, the guards continue to charge forward, someone more hesitantly, as though they are unsure of the situation.
[Next round is a massive melee that I won't even bother rolling initiative for. I'm assuming Holn would attempt to withdraw, as Tossuc seems to have keyed in on him.]
From: Jake
Subject: Re: Free at last
If only Kayla had thought to bring along her +5 dentures of knee biting!
From: Jake
Subject: Re: Into the Night
Holn wheels again and bolts for the relative safety of the line of guardsmen, hoping that his attack convinced them that he was an ally.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: Into the Night
Telwyn puts a hand to the hilt of his short sword, but does not draw it. Not yet, at least. He raises his other hand.
"Hold! We are not your enemies. We come from Segreda and we have with us a Guardsman of our own--the grandson of Berom Windspear, no less. Some of us want to help you in your fight--and with the number of raiders out there you need all you can get--but if you don't let us get to it there's not much we can do."
If the two men decide to attack anyway, Telwyn will draw his short sword and defend himself.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: Into the Night
As a clarification, these two look like they have no intention of attacking at all. They are simply holding the door against your escape. If you try to push past them, they will defend the door and make every attempt to keep the group inside the tower.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: Into the Night
Ah, I see. I think my action stands as is, though, at least in terms of what he says and how he hasn't drawn yet.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: Into the Night
OOC: Matt, Erk is making a diplomacy check.
IC: "Yes, we are your allies. We seek to aid in the battle outside, and you should do the same. Your swords are needed there, not here."
From: Raja
Subject: Re: Into the Night
Elotai nods before adding, "And if this building is set alight, do you intend to guard us here as we all burn to death?" His sword is drawn from back at the inn, but he does not move.
From: Clara
Subject: Re: being blocked
(OOC: I don't know if I'm supposed to wait for Matt to jump in with the first guard's response. Should I?)
Kayla stands, expectantly. She makes no noise, and no movement. She stands a little to Erk's right, behind him.
How To Write A Turn
Subject: Re: being blocked
(ODM: No time to write a turn up tonight, but I'll get one out tomorrow afternoon.
With regards to actions, I'm looking for what your character would do in the next six seconds or so, with regards to the given situation. For instance, Erk's reaction this time was to attempt to parlay, while Kayla's is to hang back and see what develops. Both fit the characters perfectly.
Really, the character's don't *know* they're in some strange dice-driven initiative order. They simply act, and some have faster reactions than others. Buchek's inaction actually fits with his low initiative - I'm interpreting it as the raging barbarian momentarily confused by the sudden change in the situation.
With regards to the nonplayer characters (in this case, the guards) I'll include their actions in the larger writeup once everyone replies. In this case, the two at the door are in a defensive posture of containment, while the one in the jail hallway is looking around in some attempt to arm himself.
This was all just for clarity's sake, and so you can see how I DM things a bit better.
Turn will go out tomorrow.)
From: Jake
Subject: Re: being blocked
Buchek quivers with a combination of confusion and apoplectic rage. A vein has begun to pulse in his temple.
[OOC-Matt, how long until Buchek's rage runs out?]
A Clash of Wills and Steel
Re: A Clash of Wills and Steel
Telwyn puts his hand on the hilt of his sword, and the talkative guard quickly moves his swordpoint in the half-elf's direction. "Hold! We are not your enemies. We come from Segreda and we have with us a Guardsman of our own--the grandson of Berom Windspear, no less. Some of us want to help you in your fight--and with the number of raiders out there you need all you can get--but if you don't let us get to it there's not much we can do."
Erk steps forward cautiously, keeping his hands wide of his weapon, palms toward the tuards. "Yes, we are your allies. We seek to aid in the battle outside, and you should do the same. Your swords are needed there, not here." If only he could take the edge off their hostility, he thought, get them talking... convince them to change their minds. [Diplomacy Check 24... nine more rounds beating a DC of 20 will move them from "hostile" to "unfriendly"].
The guards are unmoved and resolutely grip their swords. "Enemies or no, you are lawbreakers aiding a barbarian captive. You seek to aid in the battle, but on what side, dwarf? You have already broken a barbarian prisoner out of his cell in the midst of an attack!"
Elotai, his sword drawn but held unthreateningly at his side, replies, "And if this building is set alight, do you intend to guard us here as we all burn to death?"
The man's laugh is short and tense. "Burn a stone tower, elf? They might as well try to burn that hearth down, or to set a smelting cauldron ablaze!"
(just as a note, that marked the 5th round of Buchek's rage, with 3 remaining. I did not write up Kayla or Buchek's turns since they were inactive this round.)
...
Holn turns and bolts toward the onrushing line of guards, his left hand palm-out in front of him, and his right gripping his morning star in what he hopes is an unthreatening manner. To his great relief, the line parts before him, allowing him to pass through, then reforms ranks to meet the intruders.
Not looking back, Holn hears the shouts of several men and the first clashes of steel on steel.
Buchek Calms, Erk Attempts Reason
Subject: Re: A Clash of Wills and Steel
The rage recedes completely from Buchek's eyes, and he slumps slightly. It had been Erk's words, back in the cell, that began to drain the madness from him. They'd reached that part of him that had been sitting in the back of his mind, observing, and drawn him forward, put him back in control.
His head hurts, a dull grinding ache, and he slumps further, rubbing his eyes with the thumb and forefinger of his free hand.
Leaning down, he whispers in Erk's ear "maybe we should go out the back way. There is a hole in the floor of my cell, covered with a rusted grate. Sounds like it leads to an underground stream."
From: Jake
Subject: Re: A Clash of Wills and Steel
Hardly slowing, Holn continues on his way to the building where Buchek is imprisoned.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: A Clash of Wills and Steel
Erk nods once, to show Buchek he has heard him. He then continues speaking to the guards, ?This is no raider we have freed. He is a lawfully appointed member of our party, sent by the Elder?s of Segreda, as can be attested to by Noble Bermid.? He points to Bermid, and looks at him as though he expects him to speak.
If these guards are too foolish to listen to reason, perhaps they will still bend to the dictates of law. If not, Erk is readying a hold person spell.
Kayla Attempts A Distraction, Elotai Prompts Bermid, Telwyn is Frustrated
Subject: Re: blah blah blah (too lazy to look it up)
Kayla realizes that the guards are practically ignoring her. Being short has its distinct advantages. Now that Erk and Buchek are taking up most of the guards' attention, it's time to take some action of her own. She recalls reading of a cantrip that might come in handy. Since the guards seem to be being difficult, she figures it's worth a shot.
She pulls out a small piece of wax from a pouch, and tries to minimize any attention towards herself. She concentrates on the sounds of clashing swords and a man shouting for help. With luck, shout and metal scraping should sound as if arising from outside the tower, about twenty feet away.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: A Clash of Wills and Steel
Elotai looks up. How remarkably unobservant he'd been, to assume that this building had a thatched roof. He glances at Bermid. "Bermid, we should be helping in this battle, even if only to ensure our own continued survival. Can you explain to these men that we're on the same side?"
Curse these humans, he thinks for what must be the tenth time tonight. Can't think clearly at all, too impetuous.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: A Clash of Wills and Steel
Telwyn pauses, waiting for Bermid to do something. Anything. Damn it, if this boy couldn't even be of use in civilized parts, what good would he be in the Tall Grass?
He nods vigorously at Erk's words. "And he's not even your prisoner to begin with! Tomorrow morning we are all riding into the plains, Buchek included. Now let us out so we can help!"
Matt Is Very Busy
Subject: Sorry about this week
The end of the school year is upon me, and my life has been a bit hectic. I'll try to get out some turns next week, but I'm a little swamped at the moment. Things should hopefully ease up in a week or so. Sorry for dropping off the planet.