[LPF] Ryall's Estate

[jbear]

OOC: Not quite understanding which bird id the one that will die if the OAtk hits. The one against Kazanto and next to me? Seems quite far away from Daylily to get an OAtk on. That is Kazanto I'm next to right? If so ... and if the OAtk kills the hawk, Relic does the following: 1. He's already got his staff, as he uses it all the time when he's walking around. Magic seems wasteful, as this looks like it's going to be over in a second no matter what Relic does. So He's going to move over to the other hawk: P15 to gain flanking (+2 atk?) if it's the other hawk receiving OAtk, he will have a crack at the one next to him with his staff. Am I right in thinking that Kazanto and I still have a turn before we begin acting as a group in round 2? So I can make 2 attacks? How does that work? Making one attack for now, and adding only Bless bonus. If I gain flanking add relevant bonus if it makes a difference.

As blood and feathers fly, Relic quietens the sparks of electricity that begin to surge around him, aware that he could hurt them if he unleashed the building energy. He swinks the heavy staff in his hands at the remaining hawk closest at hand.

It whistles closer to Kazanto's head than any where near the hawk.

 

[Systole]

OOC: The map is slightly incorrect. Daylily is in the square directly north of Q, so that northernmost hawk passed through Daylily's threatened area, giving him an AoO. Those characters that could act in the surprise round (including the hawks) acted -- mostly ready weapons and shout a bit. Then there was round 1, where we acted on initiative. [EDIT: I was wrong about some stuff in here.] What's happening now is that for speed of play, we're shifting to "all players act then all monsters act" since the important part is acting before the monsters in the first round. It's a little bit of a fudge, but it speeds things up. Technically, this means that I could act again with Daylily, but that's a bit munchkin-y, and you guys should have some fun too. Edit 2: Never mind, your roll just updated.

 

[jbear]

OOC: Right, I think I followed all that pretty much. With the exception that after the hawks round 1 hadn't ended. Neither Kazanto or I had acted. So, we miss out on round 1 and just jump to round 2 where we act first with the group or We act in round one after the hawks and then jump to round 2 with the rest of the group and act again. Just a question to clarify how it works.

 

[Systole]

OOC: Right, I think I followed all that pretty much. With the exception that after the hawks round 1 hadn't ended. Neither Kazanto or I had acted. So, we miss out on round 1 and just jump to round 2 where we act first with the group or We act in round one after the hawks and then jump to round 2 with the rest of the group and act again. Just a question to clarify how it works.

[sblock=ooc]Okay, imagine four players: A, B, C, and D. The initiative comes A, B, monsters, C, D. So the order of actions is:

A
B
monsters
C
D

A
B
monsters
C
D

A
B
monsters
C
D

A
B
monsters
C
D

But if you look at it, it doesn't really matter where the rounds end -- that's just a marker. You could say:

A
B

monsters
C
D
A
B

monsters
C
D
A
B

monsters
C
D
A
B

But the really important part is where the monsters go relative to the PCs, so it doesn't really matter if the order of the PCs gets scrambled or not. In other words:

monsters
A
B
C
D

isn't too different from

monsters
B
D
C
A

By allowing the order to be 'first to post = first to act,' you speed up play, so that person B isn't waiting for person A every round. Person B can post as soon as the monsters go. You don't lose much.

In terms of what just happened, the hawks just went (and Daylily got an AoO). Now it's free-for-all, where all five players will go in any order. After we're all done, the hawks go again. Technically, Daylily could go again right now, but I'd rather let the rest of you have some fun, so I'll wait until everyone else has gone.

In other words, we just did the first round to the point of the hawks:

Q
Hlaal
Daylily
Hawks

and now further rounds look like:
Q/Kaz/Daylily/Relic/Hlaal (any order)
Hawks



EDIT: Minor ordering mistake.
[/sblock]

 

[jkason]

GM: Sorry 'bout the map, Systole. I had the AoO because I'd noted his move, but I edited the map a couple times to fix mess ups I'd made and apparently left Daylily in the wrong spot. Should be fixed. The second talon attack vs. Kazanto didn't hit her, though, so she's only taking one because that was the attack that hit (rolls of 0 are 1, because a hit always deals at least 1 point of damage). jbear: I wasn't aware Relic was always effectively armed, but I'll make note of it for future. Since he was still flat-footed when the hawk attacked Kazanto, though, it doesn't matter because he was unable to make AoO at that point. Also, big thanks to Systole for breaking down the group initiative stuff. It's exactly my logic. No one actually winds up 'shorted' by my reasoning, since they get the same number of actions before enemies that they would in a standard-style turn. I'm very sorry this is proving so confusing, guys. Unfortunately, you're having to suffer my figuring out this GM thing for the first time, myself.

 

[Qik]

OOC: I don't think you have anything to worry about, jk - as it's the first time we're all playing together, there are bound to be a few bumps along the road that is the learning process. For my part, I've been very impressed with both the nature of the adventure thus far (I'm really curious to see what the hell is going on with this house, and where these hawks came from, for that matter), as well as how you've handled the GM thing - you've never left us hanging, waiting for an update, you've been really thorough in your posts, etc - so by my book, you're way ahead of the curve, and have attended to all the important things. Right - enough sucking up to the GM. (Seriously though, you've done a great job thus far.) I assume Daylily did indeed take care of my hawk problem? I'll proceed as if he did, if not, then consider this post void and I'll write up another one.

Quioan had been shouldering his bow and reaching for his rapier in an effort to meet the charging hawk - the creature had been mere inches from his face when it had suddenly burst into a cloud of feathers and organs, throwing the warm remnants of what had up until that point been hawk all over the elf. Not missing a beat, the elf continued with the motion of drawing his rapier, turning and stepping towards Kazanto as he did so, and took a swipe at the hawk which was harrassing her - unfortunately missing a wider margin than he would later feel comfortable admitting.

OOC: Attack roll: 1d20+3=9 No good.

 

[jbear]

OOC: jk, I'm seriously agreeing with Qik here. Absolutely no complaints. I just wanted to clear how things worked up in my head. It makes sense, and I'd even go so far as to say Daylily should stop being polite and put that last hawk out of its mysery already so we can get back to investigating the mystery, and of course see how these birds fit in. Anyone else imagining James and the Giant Peach? or was that The Giant Jam Sandwich? I think the pacing has been really well done, and the combat is over pretty much. The hawk's death a mere formality. Kill it!!!!

 

[Systole]

Seeing a pair of gashes on the merwoman, Daylily's face contorts in rage. "What!? You hurts Snake Daughter!? RAAAAAAH!"

OOC: Heading out for the evening, so in the interests of speeding things along, Daylily will attack. Rage, move to attack (probably flanking?), attack.

[sblock=After combat, if necessary]Not sure if that's a win or not. If it's a win, seeing as both of the hammered birds are likely thoroughly squished, Daylily will go investigate the torched one. This one probably smells pretty alchemical, so after poking it once or twice, he'll roll his eyes at Hlaalen and then move to the one that got hit with the sling. He'll pick it up by the jesses, and remark, "Huh ... is for easy-carry handle, these cloths?" Then he'll commence plucking it.[/sblock]

 

[InVinoVeritas]

GM: Unfortunately, you're having to suffer my figuring out this GM thing for the first time, myself.

OOC: Take it from me, you're doing fine. The pacing has been great.

Kazanto slides back with a flick of her tail and pulls forth her crossbow. With a scowl, she shakes her head, pulls out a bayonet, and fastens it to the end of the crossbow.

[sblock=actions]
5' step back, draw crossbow, attach bayonet.
[/sblock]

 

[jkason]

GM: Aw, shucks guys. Wasn't fishing for compliments, but I'll totally take 'em.

Kazanto slithers backward away from the flapping wings of the hawk and the nearly-as-dangerous wild swing of Relic's staff, drawing and preparing her crossbow. Meanwhile, Quioan and Daylily both rush toward the final avian assailant. Quioan's rapier thrust simply stabs thin air, but, veins pulsing in some kind of wild rage, Daylily pulverizes the bird into another explosion of feather and guts with his hammer.

GM: Combat over. Birdie-flavored XP: 108 per character. FYI, Qik, I believe both sheathing a weapon and drawing one are move actions. There's no real impact this time, but in future to do the swap you'd need to drop the bow (free action) in order to swap and attack in the same round.

Daylily droops slightly as the cloud of feathers slowly falls to the ground. Then, otherwise apparently unfazed by what's just happened, he moves to the bird corpses which are more or less intact.

Daylily will go investigate the torched one. This one probably smells pretty alchemical, so after poking it once or twice, he'll roll his eyes at Hlaalen and then move to the one that got hit with the sling. He'll pick it up by the jesses, and remark, "Huh ... is for easy-carry handle, these cloths?" Then he'll commence plucking it.

[sblock=Daylily]As he begins prepping the animal to cook, Daylily notices that one of the blue-dyed leather of the jesses has a small, stylized "G" branded into it:

[sblock=image rights]Image found at Morning Glory Antiques. [/sblock][/sblock]

Roug and Ryall both come back hesitantly, and keep their distance from the party, as if afraid more creatures will attack at any moment.

"Do you ... does this sort of thing happen often to you?" Ryall asks sheepishly.

"Are they dead? Are you sure. Maybe the big one should smash those other two again to be sure; don't you adventure types attract undead?" Roug adds.