Re: Act 1, Scene 2: "Taking Care of Business" (Game Thread)

[TristenC]

The next sets of portcullises raise as they approach, and two more sets close behind the party as they take the last bend and see the dead-end of the hall. As the last portcullis opens before you with a creak of turning gears, you begin to feel an awareness that something is watching you. The door on the last cell has been torn open by some great force. Several of its bars are bent and twisted, as if someone had taken a great hammer to them, and it dangles upon only one of its three hinges. The guards begin to move forward steadily towards the door, swords poised.

[Actions?]
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maroon lines are closed portcullises.
One square is 2.5'; enogh room for a shortsword or dagger.

The longsword (like Artanis is using) will require a 5' space.

The small folk only require a 2.5' space for casting/fighting so elsa can use her mace in a small space. Let me know if any of the tokens are confusing.

The dark warrior in the 2nd row is yasir, the purplish thing in the back is Cross.

[Nocturno]

Thinking the front is well guarded Pyros will turn to look behind the group.

[Jenara]

"Of course, silly me." Mira whispers then goes quiet. "How strong is he.." She muses as they get closer, she keeps mostly quiet watching the walls.. And the door.

(Long shot. But as she walks Mira tries to recall if she might have come across anything about the prison or it's occupants... A little bit of everything [1d100] = 10 (20%) pass)

[kerap]

With the limited space, Artanis had sheathed the silvered longsword that Mira didn't need, and just holds his "nice" longsword. He follows the guards with grim determination.

[TristenC]

Pyros glances back and finds that the hall behind is clear and well-guarded by the portcullis around the corner... so long as the other cell doors don't open... As far as Mira can tell the jail is a normal constabulary, though it has a reputation for being hard on those who are uncooperative... Artanis, Elsa and Yasir follow the guards towards the door, and the ranger can barely see inside the dark room now...

The cell area is dark and sparse. Many deep, parallel gouges are carved into the wooden furniture, making it look as if someone had slashed it repeatedly with a very sharp knife. As he peers into the pitch black cell two evil yellow gleaming eyes stare back. The hair on the back of Artanis' neck stands up as he realizes the eyes are too far apart and round to belong to any human. From this seemingly endless patch of darkness, a guttural growl born from the darkest nightmares issues forth to fill the room. Faster than eyes can follow, a huge grey wolf-like creature springs forward and attacks with murder in its eyes and blood on its claws.

The creature immediately strikes at one of the guards, frozen in terror. Raking at him with razor-sharp claws, the man reels in pain and fear just as the monstrous wolf-man engulfs his entire shoulder in dagger-like jaws. The guard beats at it feebly with the hilt of his sword, but cannot free himself. The creature turns to face the others, the squirming human still tight within its jaws. A gutteral laugh and the sickening wet snap of crushing bone ring out as Bakki ceases to move. The body of the guard drops to the floor with a heavy thud. Elsa screams in abject terror and seems frozen to the spot. The figure looms an imposing 7 feet high, fresh blood dripping from its furred chin...

[Actions and initiative? ]

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Re-read or just skim the section in the rules on Fear and horror (particularly the heading). Npcs will always make checks when called to, players don't have to if they react appropriately. The only ones truly immune to fear checks are unafflicted Kender (like Pyros), but that only counts for fear.

wolf-man claws Bakki for 3. Bakki is Hurt.
wolf-man claws Bakki for 2. Bakki is Hurt badly.
wolf-man Bites Bakki for 8. Bakki Goes Down!

Devon fear check: (+2 friend in danger, -1 can't run): need 12 or higher. 12+2-1=13, Pass!
Devon Horror check (at his friend being slain gruesomely beside him) (-1 in close quarters, can't run): need 17 or higher: 10-1=9 Fail! Devon is Horrified!

Elsa Fear check: (-1 can't run) need 10 or higher. 1d20-1= 5, Fail! Elsa screams and is unable to act next round.

[Jenara]

"Oh.. Frak." Mira curses in old Elven, gripping the dagger tightly she squezes Elsa's arm. She was no fighter... Hell fighting those Bozak had been luck..

The best she could do was bring the Cleric back to the now..

"Yasir, help Devon, try not to get too close. Artanis, get him out of here.. Pyros distractions.. Cross Cal, you want to cast some damn spells. Do it!" With that her voice breaks into a fast tune, the tempo rising as she keeps the blade close.

"Carelessly over the plain away,
Where by the boldest man no path
Cut before thee thou canst discern,
Make for thyself a path!

Silence, loved one, my heart!
Cracking, let it not break!
Breaking, break not with thee!"

Inspire others. Trying boost Morale.

[kerap]

Artanis Initiative: Initiative: [1d10] = 10

He will follow Yasir in to attack if he is able to squeeze in. He inwardly curses the stupidity of the townspeople for not doing all they can do to rid themselves of these creatures. Obviously jailing them isn't the answer.

[Nocturno]

Pyros will start to sling stones around the monsters head, not really trying to hit the monster, but to distract it. Glancing blows, or ricochets off the wall right by its head.

In Elvish, maybe a taunt will work.

"Hey you! Yeah you! Big and hairy! Why are you so cranky!?! Did they forget to change your water dish?"

Ini, Hit(Thac0:16), Hit, Dmg Dmg: [1d10] = 5 [1d20] = 18 [1d20] = 4 [1d4+2] = 4+2 = 6 [1d4+2] = 2+2 = 4

[spyguy1503]

Cal grabs Elsa, he's seen terror like this before. He is scared, but his desire to help Elsa overrides his terror. "Look at me, Elsa. Focus on me. Don't think about anything else." He casts Sleep on the werewolf.

[TristenC]

The blood-soaked beast growls menacingly at the party, but the warrior is unaffected. Ha! Finally a pelt worth making into a cape! No more rat-tails for this warrior. Yasir cries out with excitement. Come on lass! he says to the frightened Halfling, Let’s teach this mutt to play dead! At the same time Cal fights back his own fear in order to try to help Elsa snap out of it. Her eyes, wide with fright, stare at him as he offers words of comfort but he can tell neither he nor the Warrior are getting through to her. Pulling a pinch of sand from his pouch he weaves his magic and blows the dust in the Wolf-Man’s direction. Sparkles of light flicker in the sand as Yasir drives the point of his silver short sword into the Wolf-Man’s abdomen! The beast roars in pain and fury just as the spell washes down the hallway. Devon staggers a step and falls flat! The wave washes over Artanis, but his elven blood fights the need for sleep and he resists! Cal’s eyes grow heavy, even as he is trying to comfort the Halfling. The weight of exhaustion drags him down and he slumps against the wall, fast asleep.

Cross draws Gar from his belt and whips it past the now-sleeping guard at the hairy beast, but the dagger flies harmlessly into the wall. Crouching he calls the command-word and Gar slides along the floor back to the Dagger Mage’s hand. With a monstrous roar the 7 foot tall beast throws itself at Yasir in a frenzy! The first blow cuts a small gash along the warrior’s arm. Anger clouds the creature’s second attack and it stumbles into the wall, leaving its back to the hallway and ruining its chance to snap vicious jaws on the unarmored human before it! Mira begins a song of inspiration to boost the party’s morale, but over the din of combat it has yet to take effect. A fact that is evidenced by Elsa’s still-terrified stare.

Taking advantage of the new opening Artanis leaps forward into the space previously occupied by Devon and attacks the wolf-man from behind with his magical longsword. The ranger misjudges the step and stumbles on the sleeping guard enough to throw off his aim, but at least he now has room to employ his longer weapon. Pyros takes out a couple of sling stones and whips them at the Wolf-man using his hoopak. The first stone strikes the furred fiend square in the back, but fails to do any damage. The kender doesn’t mind since it was only to get the creatures attention as he shouts ”Hey you! Yeah, you! Big and Hairy! Why are you so cranky!?! Did they forget to change your water dish?” The second stone sails over the target, but the beast doesn’t seem to understand his words.

[OOC: A&I round 2?]
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Per the PHB: Sleep affects the lowest hit-dice first! Multiclass characters essentially have their total number of levels divided by the number of classes the same way their hps are distributed. Saves are based off of class-level hit dice as well, though the Sleep spell doesn’t offer a saving throw… Good thing Artanis made his Half-Elven Magical Resistance check! Yasir would have been out next, then Cross would get a check and so on…]

Mira’s Bardic inspiration takes 3 full rounds to activate according to PHB. It also says before combat which I will let slide.

Blue outlines indicate sleeping characters. The yellow outline on Elsa indicates fear. The red tint on the wolf-man indicates he is Hurt Badly or worse!

Init: R1
Yasir (4+3 wep) = 7
Cal (6+1 cast time) = 7
Cross (6+2 wep) = 8
Devon (7+3 wep) = 10
Jac (8+3 natl wep) = 11
Mira (8+3 spell-like ability) = 11
Elsa (6+6 wep) = (N/A) Under Fear affect this round
Art (10+5 wep) = 15
Pyros (5+11 wep) = 16
Mira init R1 w/wolf-man [1d10] = 8

Yasir fear check: need 10. (+2 friends in trouble, -1 can’t escape): 1d20 = 10+2-1=11. Pass.
Yasir uses Warrior’s Bravery to give a +1 ‘bravery bonus’ to Elsa, allowing her to re-roll her fear check.

Yasir attacks Jaconos: Thaco w/Silver Short sword 15 (15 – target AC): 1d20 = 12, Hit!
The Silver Short Sword damages the Wolf-Man for 1d6+5(str)+2(kit) = 12 damage! Jaconos is Hurt Badly!

Cal casts Sleep centered on the Wolf-Man: Cal: Cal init, HD affected by Sleep [1d10] = 6[2d4] = 6: Cal’s spell affects 6HD worth of creatures, starting with the Lowest HD First! (per PHB spell description! No Saving Throw!)
McWhiskers is safe in the pack. Not affected
Devon goes to sleep! (1 HD)
Artanis (Highest multiclass level is 2 = 2 HD): Artanis Half-Elf Magical Resistance to Sleep 30% [1d100] = 14: Artanis Resists!
Cal (Highest multiclass level is 3 = 3 HD): Cal goes to sleep!
2 HD remain, all remaining creatures have more than 2 HD so are unaffected. [/b]Spell ends[/b]

Cross throws ‘Gar’ (dagger of returning) at Wolf-Man:
Thaco 20: -2 to hit for firing into melee (-2 for Yasir).
Cross init, attk [1d10] = 6[1d20] = 8: Miss!
Cross ‘retrieves’ Gar with command word.

Devon is asleep

Jaconos attacks Yasir: (Yasir is not wearing his armor! AC 10!)
Jaconos R1 vs Yasir attk 1,2,3: [1d20] = 18, [1d20] = 1 [1d20] = 12. Hit, Possible Fumble, hit.
Jaconos R1 vs Yasir Fumble Confirmation: [1d20] = 15 Fumble Confirmed! Jaconos fumbles 2nd attack so does not get a third! He is also unable to act next round!
Jaconos R1 vs Yasir dmg: [1d4] = 2: Yasir is Barely Scratched

Mira begins to use her Bardic Inspiration to give a +2 to morale checks for allies in a 40 ft radius. (Must spend 3 full rounds according to PHB. Current inspiration: 1/3)

Elsa fear re-check: need 10. (+2 friends in trouble, -1 can’t escape, +1 Bravery bonus):
1d20=5 +2-1+1=7, fail! Elsa is still afraid!

Artanis steps past Devon (asleep) and attacks Jaconos
Thaco 18: (18 – target AC): +2 attack from behind!
Artanis attk 1d20] = 5. Miss!

Pyros
Sling stone attacks: Thaco 16, -4 to hit for firing into melee (-2 for Artanis, -2 for Yasir) +2 attacking from behind.
Ini, Hit(Thac0:16), Hit, Dmg Dmg: [1d10] = 5 [1d20] = 18 [1d20] = 4 [1d4+2] = 4+2 = 6 [1d4+2] = 2+2 = 4
[1d20] = 18 [1d20] = 4: Hit, Miss. 1 sling stone hits, but is incapable of damaging the Wolf-Man!
Pyros Taunts in Elven: No effect! Jaconos does not understand Elven.

[Jenara]

"Oh help me drive the fear away,
Oh Elsa brave and bold know your path,
Fight and save your friends,
Oh Elsa listen to your heart.

Oh Yasir and Artanis kill the beast
Follow your blade and know your path,
Fight fight fight the beast
Swing the blade and take the path. "

Mira sings louder moving in front of the Halfling silver dagger at the ready she wraps her arm around her from behind.

[kerap]

Muttering to himself about focusing while in such tight quarters, Artanis prepares to launch another attack on the creature.

[Nocturno]

Pyros will start snarling like an angry wolf, along with growling and barking. Anything he thinks would sound like an insult on wolfish.

Ini, Hit(Thac0:16), Hit, Dmg Dmg: [1d10] = 8 [1d20] = 12 [1d20] = 6 [1d4+2] = 4+2 = 6 [1d4+2] = 4+2 = 6

Normal sling stones hes still doesn't get why he got silver ones.

[TristenC]

Things seem to take a decided turn in the party’s favor after the spell fiasco of last round. Cross takes careful aim this time and whips ‘Gar’ forward again. The dagger itself laughs maniacally as it sails through the air, stabbing into the beast’s throat! The wolf-man coughs and reels from the blow, tearing the blade from his neck and casting it onto the floor. The party watches on in shock as the gruesome wound knits itself back together in mere seconds! Elsa snaps out of her fear and begins shaking Cal, C’mon, get up! You have to wake up! That thing is still trying to kill us! Groggily Cal emerges from his sleep, rubbing eyes with a still sluggish hand. Looking around he finally realizes where he is!

Knowing how well how to make the most of an advantage on the battlefield, Yasir stabs his short sword hard into the creature’s side. Don’t worry, pup! It’ll be easy to patch that hole when I make your hide into a coat! He laughs. The blow staggers the massive wolf-man, and he hacks up crimson blood. A low growl emerges from deep in his chest and begins to shake the narrow corridor. Artanis strikes out next but Jaconos, if he can still be thought of as such, nimbly avoids the Ranger.

Mira steps past the Halfling and the gradually waking Gnome, holding her silver dagger at the ready and continuing her Inspirational poem. Pyros loads more sling stones and hurls them at the creature, imitating the wolf-man’s growl and barking at him! With the Kender’s high voice and small stature the effect is very much like a tiny pup yapping at a massive wolf! You’ve lost your mind… Elsa says to the Kender, but the antics seem to have an effect! Jaconos growl deepens and his lips curl back even further in a hideous snarl coated in Bakki’s lifeblood. Though the beast isn’t exactly human at the moment, Pyros can tell it worked! The snarling and barking finally snap Cal awake and Devon tosses fitfully in his magically induced sleep, tossing and turning as if he were fleeing such a creature even in his dreams…

[A & I, R3?]
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OOC:
Fortunately Elsa’s fear check failure results were low enough on the chart it only took her 1 round to get over it. She woke Cal, who will spend R2 getting up and fully awake. He may act on round 3.

Cross rolled a crit! (It was also the only way he was going to hit Jaconos) When that happens with a weapon incapable of causing real damage to a creature, it instead causes the target to lose a round of action. Artanis experienced the same thing with the wolf-creature he fought during his transition into Ravenloft. It also happens to be how he got the blood on his sword to test at the Toad’s Toe, confirming that it was no normal wolf.

I just have to laugh. First Yas takes the creature down to half hps in his first shot, then the wolf-man fumbles, then Cross rolls a crit (also beating the creature’s very fast initiative), and Pyros taunts him into a rage… This is turning more into a comic scene than a horrific one…
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Init: R2
Cross (1+2 wep) = 3
Elsa (5) = 5
Jac (2+3 natl wep) = 5
Yasir (6+3 wep) = 9
Art (8+5 wep) = 13
Mira (10+3 spell-like ability) = 13
Pyros (8+11 wep) = 17
Cal (asleep/waking) = NA
Devon (asleep) = NA
Chars R2 in Jail Init Mira, Cross, Art, Jac [1d10] = 10[1d10] = 1[1d10] = 8[1d10] = 2

Cross throws ‘Gar’ (Thaco 20 – 4 AC): -4 to hit for firing into melee (-2 for Yasir, -2 for Artanis): need 20 to hit!
Cross R2 in Jail attack with Gar [1d20] = 20 Possible Crit! Cross R2 in Jail crit confirmation [1d20] = 13. Crit Confirmed!
Jaconos is stunned for the round and cannot act!

Elsa shakes off her fear and spends the round waking up Cal.

Jaconos is stunned and must deal with the Crit by Cross (he got Cross/Gar’d… sorry, that was bad…)
Jaconos cannot act this round!

Yasir attacks Jaconos: w/Silver Short sword (Thac0 15 – 4 AC) need 11 or better: [1d20] = 11, barely Hit!
The Silver Short Sword damages the Wolf-Man for 1d6+7 = 10 damage! Jaconos is About to Die!

Artanis attacks Jaconos: w/Longsword +1 (Thaco 18 - 4 AC) need 14 or better to hit.
Artanis in Jail R2 vs Jaconos attack [1d20] = 9. Miss!

Mira continues her Bardic inspiration (2/3)

Sling stone attacks: (Thaco 16 -4 AC): need 12 or better. -4 pnalty for firing into melee (-2 for Artanis, -2 for Yasir): need 16 or better to hit:
Ini, Hit(Thac0:16), Hit, Dmg Dmg: [1d10] = 8 [1d20] = 12 [1d20] = 6 [1d4+2] = 4+2 = 6 [1d4+2] = 4+2 = 6
Miss, miss.
Pyros taunts Jaconos with growling and barking:

Jac save vs spell (taunt):
Jaconos R2 save vs spell (taunt) [1d20] = 8. Fail!
Jaconos is infuriated! -2 to hit, AC and all actions for 1d10 rounds!

Cal is now fully awake

Devon remains asleep. He is also having a nightmare.

[Jenara]

"Wake Cal, Wake Devon, wake up.
Wake and fight another day."

Mira sings moving to keep both the Halfing and the Gnome protected, her voice rises as loud as she can, hoping the noise will wake the Guard.