[Adventure]: Stormcrow Tor (Judge: THB)

[pathfinderq1]

As the group made their way from Wroat to the Tor, it began apparent that the large sack Sweetness was carrying held a number of big rats, which the gnoll munched on as they walked along. Once the rats were gone, the big creature began to give sly hungry glances in the direction of Radtash's canine form. In some of Sharn's poorer quarters, after all, rats were plentiful and dogs were a rarer delicacy. By the end of the short trip, it was obvious that the gnoll was hungry nearly all the time, day or night, no matter how recently it had eaten...

Once the arrived at the Tor, the gnoll took a few moments to look around the area before it joined the others clustered near the opening. "Sweetness can go first, yep yep yep," it growled quietly, dragging an everburning torch from the satchel slung over its shoulder. "Anyone else move quiet-like?" It drew a slender, glittering dagger with its other paw and began to edge forward...

OOC:

Spoiler:

Sweetness is more than willing to take point, despite the low Perception score, and would prefer to be very close to the front even if someone else is leading. As a melee-based striker and daredevil, she isn't inclined to hang back.

[drothgery]

ooc

He's tied for second-best in the party at +8 Perception. Narvala's +7 on the merits of a 20 Wisdom and being 4th level, but she's too squishy to be in the front.

[H.M.Gimlord]

OOC

All, Arkavas may be an artificer, but he's the best combo of perception, melee to hit, and damage(+10, +12, and 1d12+6 respectively). Plus, if a fight does break out, his first at-will hit will grant everyone else a +1 bonus to attacks and +3 damage until the next turn. Gogmorthak is next with his strength being melee (+11TH and a BUNCH of damage). I suggest that Sweetness and I go first. Gogmorthak and Gruff should protect our rear as soon as we pass the first fork in the path. The controllers, Narvala and Radtash are best kept in the middle to rear for now.

Arkavas
Sweetness
Radtash
Narvala
Gruff
Gogmorthak

[Impact]

OOC

Stealth is probably no longer an option now that we have thrown a sunrod down the stairs (we should remember to pick that up on the way down). I will follow Narvala once she starts down. Perhaps once we get a look around us at the bottom of the stairs we could try a stealthy investigation of the next area.

[Impact]

Originally Posted by H.M.Gimlord

OOC

All, Arkavas may be an artificer, but he's the best combo of perception, melee to hit, and damage(+10, +12, and 1d12+6 respectively). Plus, if a fight does break out, his first at-will hit will grant everyone else a +1 bonus to attacks and +3 damage until the next turn. Gogmorthak is next with his strength being melee (+11TH and a BUNCH of damage). I suggest that Sweetness and I go first. Gogmorthak and Gruff should protect our rear as soon as we pass the first fork in the path. The controllers, Narvala and Radtash are best kept in the middle to rear for now.

Arkavas
Sweetness
Radtash
Narvala
Gruff
Gogmorthak

seconded

I will second this plan, anything that gets us into the action.

[Tinwe]

Gruff descends the stairs, then pauses to allow a few of the others past him. As the artificer took up the lead, Gruff said softly "Ok, then.. now that we're in here, there's no sense in making noise to wake the dead. Let's take it slow."

OOC

Arkavas
Sweetness
Radtash
Narvala
Gruff
Gogmorthak

Sounds like a plan to me

[H.M.Gimlord]

"I say," Arkavas' voice rings as if talking in a crowed bar. It echoes down the passage, "we ought to be careful about that sunrod. We wouldn't want to give ourselves away."

Stealth

Stealth = 1d20+2 = 6 gah! Sorry! Did I mention that Arkavas has a hard time keeping quiet? The post above is an attempt to add humor to a bad die roll.

[Impact]

Originally Posted by Tinwe

"Ok, then.. now that we're in here, there's no sense in making noise to wake the dead. Let's take it slow."

Radtash, still in his beast form, projects a thought to the group: "I believe I can help keep the volume down. If you will all allow it, I can facilitate telepathic communication between anyone in the group. My late mentor taught me this skill. I believe he called it a group mindlink.

[H.M.Gimlord]

I say. This is nice
- my nose itches -
, but I'm
- heavens it's dark down here -
finding it hard to to keep from
- I should have stopped in Wroat for some woundpatches-
being
- how far down does this hallway go anyway -
interrupted by stray
- at least I'm not in some moldy old library -
thoughts.

[Velmont]

Arkavas leads the way down the stairs. As he arrives at the bottom, he grabs the sunrod and take a moment to looks around. Sweetness, eager to see action, step a bit more foward, and stay at the side of the artificer.

In front of you, a 20-foot-wide hall leads east. Dirt and black feathers are strewn everywhere. At the far end, a barricade of tumbled stone stands before splintered and broken iron double doors. Two hooded heads poke over the barricade, watching the approach.

At that moment, you hear the voice of Arkavas coming from the end of the Hall "Please help me. I'm captive here. Please, release me. That " Another voice, Sweetness's voice, answers to the first "Shut up, meat. I will eat you, like others."

OOC

The map can be found here:

Stormcrow Tor Map

Scroll down a bit to see where you are. The remaining is black as it is unknown to you. I have created an icon for each of you, as you are all different races, I think you'll have no difficulty to identify yourself. The two sticks characters are the unknown hooded head you've spot.

[H.M.Gimlord]

OOC

Do we need to roll intiiative? If so, 1d20+2=18. Let us know what the final order is.

[H.M.Gimlord]

I say...
- oh, wait a minute -
"I say.... You two chaps sound familiar. Have we met before?"

[Impact]

Radtash looks up at Sweetness, then down the hall, and then back up at Sweetness again.

"Umm, Sweetness, are you throwing your voice? What manner of trick is this?

OOC

Perception check down the hall:1d20+8=11
Insight check on the voices: 1d20+13=15
Nice... so far I have rolled three d20s, and they have come up 2, 3, and 2.

[Erekose13]

Gogmorthak is somewhat amused to be walking behind all the other smaller members of the group but he knows that if he is needed at the front he can push his way through quickly. And besides from here he can see over the heads of everyone but Sweetness. Being at the back also doesnt seem to impede his naturally perceptive nature.

ooc

perception (1d20+8=25)

Its amusing to the player too that we are all bloodthirsty cutthroats who want to be at the front in combat. Ah well it pays to be mobile too. Just know that Gogmorthak wont hold to the back in combat.

[H.M.Gimlord]

Arkavas casts his eyes around the room. It seems larger than the field of view, but it's too dark to tell. Seeing as stealth is no longer a concern, he reaches into his pack and pulls out a sunrod. Turning toward the two figures at what appears to be the far end of the room, he projects his voice...

"Mind if I take a better look around?"

OOC

I know initiative hasn't been rolled yet, and pulling out a sunrod is a minor action. If I'm going out of turn, go ahead and nix this move

[Velmont]

OOC

There is no initiative roll to do yet. I'll roll initiative as soon as combat will start, either from your opponent side or from one of you who declare an hostile action. Taking a sunrod is not an hostile action.

Impact

'Arkavas voice' seems to be really scared as 'Sweetness voice' seems to be really mean. 'Sweetness voice' seems to be the dominant and 'Arkavas voice' is obeying it.

You look at the two hooded creatures but you can only figure that they seems to have some kind of large nose and an unusual dark skin. The two heads disappear behind their barricade. You then hear someone beating someone else. "Ouch! Ow!"

[drothgery]

ooc

Narvala has no problem being at the back in combat. All her powers are ranged .

Also, Perception = 17 on a die + 7 = 24 (invisiblecastle seems to be down again); Insight = 13 on a die + 14 = 27

"Whatever those voices are, they do not sound friendly." The priestess says, ready to invoke the Flame's power at the first sign of a hostile action.

[Impact]

Radtash warily readies himself for combat. Turning towards his allies, he sends: I would like to avoid combat, if at all possible. Of course, in these situations, negotiations rarely seem to work, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try.

If no allies attempt to stop him, Radtash will scoot forward to get within telepathic range of the figures, and broadcast a thought to everyone within range: Stop your bickering! We have not come here to battle you. Reveal yourselves and perhaps we can make a mutually beneficial exchange.

If there isn't a friendly response, Radtash will resort to intimidation: Surrender now before you bring down a storm of holy wraith upon yourselves!

Mechanics

Polymorph Imposters Armor from clothing form to chainmail form.
Move to E4 (Radtash's telepathy has a range of 5).
Diplomacy check: 1d20+11=16
Possible Intimidate check: 1d20+13=32
Radtash will only attempt to intimidate if that is allowed on non-bloody enemies outside of combat.
Radtash will usually acquiesce to ally's requests to stop and/or change his actions.

[Velmont]

You hear whispers for a moment. Then a quick silence. One head get out of the barricade, hesitantly. The birdlike humanoids tells to Radtash. "I can't speak with you. You need to speak with the head of the flock. Come this way."

After an hesitation, he leads the way, going through the door. The second small figure seems to have disappeared.

Radtash and Navarla

You feel the small creature is telling the truth, but he is hiding something too.

OOC

For now, you didn't try to Intimidate them. This is there answer to your Diplomacy attempt.

Map updated

[pathfinderq1]

As Radtash made his suggestion, the gnoll shook its head, still peering intently towards the barricade and those beyond. "No talking. Nothing here is friendly to Sweetness. Like the voice says, is meat, yep yep yep. More talking just gives mockingbirds more words to twist. Is fight, yep yep yep." Still holding an everburning torch in one hand and a glittering narrow-bladed dagger in the other, the gnoll leaned forward slightly. An instant later, it sprang forward with startling speed...

OOC: With a move of 7, Sweetness ought to be able to reach K2 (and melee range) in one move (not a charge), if an Athletics +10 roll gets her over the barricade (or Acrobatics +12 if she can use that to roll over it). When she gets there, she will immediately attack. (Disheartening strike at +12 vs. AC); Initiative is +7; Do kenku taste like chicken?