The chamberlain, the king, and the dragon (drobe)

[Campbell]

Lucann's eyes find their way to the chamberlain's. He speaks to the chamberlain, but that is not his intended audience: "Use the eyes of this one to look upon the beginning of your undoing, shadowheart. You have breached the Accords that bind our people to the heart of the land. You have tarnished what beauty remained in the lands of men, and they see the truth of it. Even the Dark Courts will take a dim view of what you have done. It is not too late: reveal yourself and we will settle this in the manner of old. Envoy of the Shadows, I would speak to you in the binding of spirithearts."

Mechanics
Invoking Insightful Word and Enemy Within Our Midst
Insight: 1d20+24=39
Allies Receive +5 to Diplomacy, Bluff, and Intimidate rolls until my next turn.

As per Enemy Within Our Midst the intent is steel Thurgon's Resolve - he receives +2 to his next action.

 

[Manbearcat]

Awesome stuff so far guys. I'm going to be gone for much of the evening. I'll move the fiction forward with [MENTION=16586]Campbell[/MENTION]'s success above when I get home.

 

[Manbearcat]

Actually, upon further review, I don't need to move the fiction forward as Campbell has a support action here. Fiction stands with Campbell's quiet prayer, the invigorating consequence of it and our present situation with the big mean man terrorizing everyone with a vat of acid that he thinks would look better emptied on puny man-flesh. You're up [MENTION=42582]pemerton[/MENTION] with Campbell's specific buffs to D, B, I above and a general + 2 to your next action.

 

[pemerton]

Intent: I want to know if the Lord Chamberlain is directing these beasts against the people here. Task: I'm casting the Charm of Misplaced Wrath to draw the war troll towards the Lord Chamberlain and having it attack him, and then I'll watch his reaction.

Its binding chains prevent it from its normal explosive athleticism, but the reach of the chains is severe. The creature swings them twice around its head for momentum and roars to the sound of hushed gasps as the surveyors take in a macabre scene. The chains slam into the chamberlain, centrifugal force winding them around his body...to which he looks on with detached bemusement. A great tug, the sickening sound of evisceration, and the upper half of the torso of the Lord Chamberlain is airborne, its lower half still in place. It rolls near your feet where it stops. With the formal attire removed, you get a good look at a torso that has been stitched and restitched many times over. Where red blood should flow, only a thick, black ichor comes forth. As it comes to a stop, you get a look at the nape of the neck; the same Arcane Glyph you saw on the men outside meets your eyes.

That was unexpected!

(At least by me.)

The husk, flesh golem, whatever it is, spits out an epithet that is barely audible with the twisted mouth and the waning power that animated this thing; "You fools. The dragon will have its kingdom and I will have my army. You gain nothing here, save for my vengeful ire."

A moment later, the Troll, now regaining its faculties, roars in protest and its bindings finally relent under the weight of its otherworldly strength. Dogs bark viciously, men with torches back away fearfully, and screams of terror and confusion fill the grand hall as the noble families stampede for the front of the hall, away from the loose, mottled horror before them. Apparently unconcerned, the creature picks up the vat of acid and prepares to launch it in the direction of your motley crew.

the big mean man terrorizing everyone with a vat of acid that he thinks would look better emptied on puny man-flesh. You're up pemerton with Campbell's specific buffs to D, B, I above and a general + 2 to your next action.

OK.

Thurgon is somewhat confused. The Lord Chamberlain has turned out to be some sort of gebbeth, but why are we fools? Because he was working with the dragon, who will succeed anyway? Because he was working with strange forces against the dragon, and now that he's been cut in two the dragon will succeed? And what's the army - an army of trolls and giants?

There's no way I'm working any of that out while this troll is up and active. I'm going to cow it so that Theren can take physical control of it and Quinn can read its mind to try and work out what is going on.

So first I need to get its attention: "War Troll!" I confront it with my mace, and Break Its Nerve (minor action, encounter power, it is marked by me).

"I am Knight Commander of the Iron Tower. You are nothing. You can surrender now or face death!" I want to roll Intimidate with +21 (I think the troll is opposing my right of command), +7 from Lucann's buffs, for a total of +28. If more oomph is required, and the action economy permits, I will use Thunder Smite (enc attack) to underscore my threat.

Intimidate roll on d20: 15, +28 = 43

Thunder Smite, if permitted/required: d20 roll of 2, +18 = 20 vs AC, +2 for enc power = 22 vs AC which isn't going to add much oomph to anything!​

Hoping that the troll is at least somewhat cowed, Theren - [MENTION=27570]sheadunne[/MENTION] - I hand the situation over to you to sort out the details!

 

[sheadunne]

I hand the situation over to you to sort out the details!

Theren, hearing Thurgon's thunderous roar is inspired to action. Noticing the trolls attention focused on Thurgon, he moves in to knock the troll down, hopefully spilling the vat of acid over himself.

I use Charge to Glory (encounter power, effect: knock the target prone). Str vs AC. 19+10+2= 31

 

[Manbearcat]

That was unexpected!

(At least by me.)

I know you're referring to the events afterward but efforts like this just reinforce to me why emboldening player empowerment can be extremely productive. My default idea of "what was behind the door" was much less interesting than @sheadunne 's idea. If you're at a table of "duds" then by all means, hammer that baby into shape with a hefty dose of GM-force and lead them to Rome. But if you have creative, responsible players, the odds are good that there will be moments aplenty where they have better ideas for what makes for a fun game or an interesting scene than you do. Why not leverage that? And again, improvising off of what they invoke is a considerable portion of the fun for me at this point in my GMing tenure.

OK.

Thurgon is somewhat confused. The Lord Chamberlain has turned out to be some sort of gebbeth, but why are we fools? Because he was working with the dragon, who will succeed anyway? Because he was working with strange forces against the dragon, and now that he's been cut in two the dragon will succeed? And what's the army - an army of trolls and giants?

I think what we're seeing here is Court Mage as Unseelie Agent using Flesh Golem husks to "do all kinds of stuff." Maybe he was down in the underbelly looking for bodies for spare parts/repairs. Seems like he is allied with the dragon.

There's no way I'm working any of that out while this troll is up and active. I'm going to cow it so that Theren can take physical control of it and Quinn can read its mind to try and work out what is going on.

So first I need to get its attention: "War Troll!" I confront it with my mace, and Break Its Nerve (minor action, encounter power, it is marked by me).

"I am Knight Commander of the Iron Tower. You are nothing. You can surrender now or face death!" I want to roll Intimidate with +21 (I think the troll is opposing my right of command), +7 from Lucann's buffs, for a total of +28. If more oomph is required, and the action economy permits, I will use Thunder Smite (enc attack) to underscore my threat.

Intimidate roll on d20: 15, +28 = 43

Thunder Smite, if permitted/required: d20 roll of 2, +18 = 20 vs AC, +2 for enc power = 22 vs AC which isn't going to add much oomph to anything!​

Hoping that the troll is at least somewhat cowed, Theren - @sheadunne - I hand the situation over to you to sort out the details!

I meant to cover it just above, but I was going to give you a + 4 due to @Campbell 's significant success well beyond the Easy DC (which was what was required for his Secondary Skill Support Action). You will have considerably exceeded the Hard DC (of which would have been allotted to this action) - by 15 +. You guys accrue a success at the Hard DC for the challenge and I'm going to give you a + 2 to hand out as you see fit (presumably to Theron, but I'll let you voice that).

[TABLE="width: 500"] [TR] [TD]3 Successes (1 at Hard)[/TD] [TD]1 Failure[/TD] [TD]6 Advantages Remaining[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE] The strength of your challenge silences the terror-filled shrieks from the room momentarily, long enough for the peal of thunder from Kord's retribution to charge the air and give divine sanction to your authority. When your hammer crashes into the belly of the beast, the War Troll's spirit wanes. It falls backward, dropping the vat of acid behind it, mottled flesh sizzling, a metallic double-clang ringing out. A momentary anguish-filled howl. If ever there was a look resembling being humbled, insecurity and resignation in the kingdom of trolls, this beast conveys it; Cro-magnon brow, and deep-set eyes go from conventional troll fury to the unsure look of a beaten dog in an instant. It appears to have little fight left in it; the giant beast of myth looks pathetic.

The people, clearly sensing that the situation is growing steadily under control, ease their stamped to a stroll. The sound of dogs ceaselessly barking and pulling at the masters' grasp are all that can be heard. The double doors to the balcony spring open and into the chamber files several men clad in sigil-adorned baldrics and battle mail; presumably the war council. They look stunned. Amidst their number is your former master Theron. He eyes you suspiciously as they file into the room.

@sheadunne you're up. Recall Campbell's buff and pending is if pemerton is giving you his + 2 or pocketing it for later.

Theren, hearing Thurgon's thunderous roar is inspired to action. Noticing the trolls attention focused on Thurgon, he moves in to knock the troll down, hopefully spilling the vat of acid over himself.

I use Charge to Glory (encounter power, effect: knock the target prone). Str vs AC. 19+10+2= 31

- Cross post! You've basically carved out the same fictional positioning as I did. Consider this a Colossus + Wolverine fastball special! This would also be at the Hard Attack vs AC DC (and would pass).

[TABLE="width: 500"] [TR] [TD]4 Successes (2 at Hard DC)
[/TD] [TD]1 Failure
[/TD] [TD]6 Advantages Remaining
[/TD] [/TR] [/TABLE]
[MENTION=386]LostSoul[/MENTION] Quinn is up. Fictional positioning is as above, replete with the broken upper half of the Lord Chamberlain's flesh-golemified body directly on the ground before you.

Do you have any questions? Recall Campbell's buff above. Pemerton may be passing his + 2 to you. What are you doing?

 

[pemerton]

[MENTION=386]LostSoul[/MENTION], have my +2 buff and use it wisely. (Can Quinn read minds?)

 

[LostSoul]

The double doors to the balcony spring open and into the chamber files several men clad in sigil-adorned baldrics and battle mail; presumably the war council. They look stunned. Amidst their number is your former master Theron. He eyes you suspiciously as they file into the room.

"My Lord," Quinn says, magic filling his words, "please bring us to the Court Mage. He has this to answer for." Quinn points at the monstrosity before his feet. "And that, too, I suppose." He motions at the melting pool of war troll.

"Please make sure the King is there. Only he has the authority to judge such foul crimes."

[Arcana in place of Diplomacy (1d20+21=33), using Suggestion. Not sure if the +5 from Lucann applies.]

 

[Manbearcat]

"My Lord," Quinn says, magic filling his words, "please bring us to the Court Mage. He has this to answer for." Quinn points at the monstrosity before his feet. "And that, too, I suppose." He motions at the melting pool of war troll.

"Please make sure the King is there. Only he has the authority to judge such foul crimes."

[Arcana in place of Diplomacy (1d20+21=33), using Suggestion. Not sure if the +5 from Lucann applies.]

As the War Council files into the room, the ranking member approaches you directly; a large, burly northlander who probably rarely removes the gambeson he wears under his plate mail. His scent is...potent.

Your magic-honeyed words greet him as he quick-steps toward you and the carnage on the floor, the scene informing him that the Chairman of the War Council, who advised toward capitulation to the dragon, was an enemy in their midst. He blinks after taking it all in. Dumbfounded, he says "The Court Mage? I know not where that reclusive creature resides. Only the poor Queen looks in on our King as death takes him. He draws his last breaths as we speak...The Queen! Follow me!"

[TABLE="width: 500"][TR][TD]5 Successes (3 at Hard DC)[/TD][TD]1 Failure[/TD][TD]6 Advantages Remaining[/TD][/TR][/TABLE]
Campbell, LostSoul, [MENTION=42582]pemerton[/MENTION], [MENTION=27570]sheadunne[/MENTION]. Presumably you are all sprinting toward the King's quarters at the top of the Castle on the Kingsmount? If so, I'm going to need a Group check; Athletics or Endurance, each of you can pick. This will be at the Hard DC of 28. If two of you pass, the check is successful. Remember, you still have 6 advantages remaining so if you want to use one now you can move the check to the Medium DC.

1 - Let me know if that is what you guys are doing or if I should move it to Lucann [MENTION=16586]Campbell[/MENTION].

2 - If you guys are donig that, let me know if you're using an Advantage to move the DC down.

3 - If you guys are donig that, then everyone roll Athletics or Endurance as you follow the ranking member of the War Council through the labrynthine castle.

Sort it out and let me know.

 

[sheadunne]

Theren will follow Thurgon's lead. If he runs, he'll follow.

Athletics (15+11 = 26), I'd need a +2 floating around if someone has one, otherwise I'll follow behind.

I'll use Knack for Success on Thurgon for a +4 bonus to his roll.

Slipping on the remains of the troll that dissolved before me, I shout to Thurgon to make haste and I will follow.