Adventure: Brotherhood Returned? (DM: Tenchuu, Judge: H.M.Gimlord)

[industrygothica]

OOC: Carolina's been leveled up since the end of our last adventure. I haven't heard any word about approvals yet, but my part is done... at least I think it is.

 

[johnmeier1]

OOC: Here are Wil's new stats

[sblock=ministats]
Status:
Init: +7 Speed: 5 Perception:22 Insight: 20
AC: 24 F/R/W:17/19/24
HP: 70/70 Surges: 8/8 Surge Value: 17 AP: 1
Languages: Allarian, Imperia, Draconic
Str:8 Dex:14 Wis:15 Con:13 Int:10 Cha:22

Powers:
At Will - Jinx Shot, Cutting Words
Encounter - Second Wind, Fox's Cunning, Twin Strike, Grappling Spirits, Hunter's Quarry, Majestic Word (0/2), Words of Friendship, Chord of Dissonance, Rewrite the Future, Rhyme of the Blood-Seeking Blade, Virtue of Prescience
Daily - Arrow of Ill Omen, Arrow of Warning, Bracers of Archery, Circlet of Mental Onslaught, Inevitable Shot, Saga of Vengeance, Songbow of Vanishment, Warding Arrow, Word of Life
Warding Arrow Trigger - Immediate Interrupt when Wil is hit by 1 or less with an attack
Virtue of Prescience Trigger - Immediate Interrupt to the First Ally hit by 1 or less with an attack
Fox's Cunning Trigger - Immediate Reaction to the First Enemy that attacks me in melee
Chord of Dissonance Trigger - Immediate Interrupt to the First Ally hit for 10 or more damage
Full Character Sheet
[/sblock]

 

[Tenchuu]

"Off with ya. I don't need ya distracting me from the watch," the deck hand said.

GM: I want you to pick your spotson the map, down on the other part of the ship.

 

[industrygothica]

Carolina takes her leave and heads to the starboard side of the ship under the pretense of watching the stars as the boat passes the night.

OOC: Move to F13

 

[dimsdale]

Kruk takes a deep breath and then follows his hafling friend, but moves to a position more in the center of the boat. The dwarf can see quite well under the twilight conditions. Aye Carolina, why do I get the feeling that we might get hit like we did last time? The dwarf then equips his axe and shield and puts himself in a defensive position while scanning the boat for any potential threats.

ooc: move to H15 and defensive stance.

 

[johnmeier1]

Wil stays with his friends, his keen Elven eyes look around the dark deck. I fear the crew may have false information from a malevolent force or persons...

OOC: walk to G14

 

[renau1g]

OOC: j18 please, if kane can have his axes drawn that's cool, if not its all good

 

[garyh]

Khemnos stands near the prow of the ship, near one of the boats. He watches the waves go by, but knows better than to allows his eyes to wander long from the sailors.

[sblock=Mechanics]Khemnos will start in G9.[/sblock]

[sblock=Khemnos' Info]Khemnos Eversorrow- Male Tiefling Wizard (Mage: Enchanter|Pyromancer) 9
Initiative: +4, Passive Perception: 15, Passive Insight: 15
AC: 23, Fort: 19, Reflex: 22, Will: 24 - Speed: 6
HP: 56/56, Bloodied: 28, Surge Value: 14, Surges left: 9/9
Action Points: 1
Resists: Fire 9, Necrotic 5, Psychic 5

Pyromancy Apprentice (Class): Attacks ignore fire resistance.
Bloodhunt (Race): +1 to hit against bloodied creatures.
Staff Expertise (Feat): Do not provoke OA's with ranged attacks, gain reach 1 with melee attacks.
Gauntlets of Blood (Item): +2 to damage rolls against bloodied creatures.
Executioner's Bracers (Item): +1d6 damage on a critical.
Skull Mask (Item): Enemies who can see you take a -2 penalty to saving throws against fear effects.

Powers:
A1:Beguiling Strands
A1:Magic Missle
A1:Scorching Burst
Eyebite
Infernal Wrath
Second Wind
E1: Burning Hands / Charm of Misplaced Wrath
E3: Blissful Ignorance / Fire Shroud
E7: Charm of the Defender / Fire Sea Travel
D1: Flaming Sphere / Sleep
D5: Stinking Cloud / Visions of Avarice
D9: Symphony of the Dark Court / Wall of Fire
U: Light
U: Mage Hand
U: Prestidigitation
U2: Glib Tongue / Shield
U6: Emerald Eye / Levitate
Amulet of Seduction +2 (Daily)
Belt of Raging Endurance (Encounter)
Ectoplasmic Leather Armor +2 (Daily)
Power Jewel (Daily)

Power Key - Prepared / Not Prepared / Used

Full character sheet[/sblock]

 

[Tenchuu]

GM: I picked a spot for Charina.

The seas were churning, so there was no risk of actually falling asleep as they waiting. The moon rose far overhead and starting to go back down before Porse made his move. A trio of men emerged from below deck, had a word with the officer on deck, and then turned toward were the adventurers rested. The drew weapons, making their intentions clear.

As they went to act, the ship lurched over a huge swell that sent the front of the ship downward. The seasoned seamen, however, were accustomed to such weather, and they barely moved as they steadied themselves.

GM: Players have initiative The players are currently prone, but have initiative. You have stand up as a free action, due to the surprise nature of your turn, or lay in wait with readied actions (which can also include a free stand/draw weapon as part of that action). Up to you how to play this. Motion in the Ocean Active effects: As the boat crests/troughs the swells, the angle of the ship's deck will change dramatically between forward and Aft. Athletics or Acrobatics check, DC 22: On a success you are not moved. On a fail, you are pushed three squares in the direction of the downward slope (forward or aft). If a push would move you to a square off deck, push over deck rules (below) apply. If you roll a nat 1, you fall prone. I will roll these. The first round is a freebie. The NPCs are considered to have +15 for this skill check. Passive effects: Moving to the upper side/from where the water is coming, takes X2 squares of movement. Going to the lower part of in favor of the swell, lets you move an additional square for each square you move in that direction. I will include the below stat block in my posts, which will hopefully make this effect quite clear. Current Deck Direction: Aft is high (uphill) - Moving from left to right: Difficult Terrain - Moving from right to left: +1 to move

[sblock=Push over deck]The ship's railing prevents normal push/pull/shift falling rules. So, if you use a forced movement power which would normal be able to move an enemy off the ship, the enemy still rolls a save; If the save passes, movement ends at the deck railing with no other effects. If the save fails, movement ends at the deck railing and the character goes prone.

To actually get someone over the edge, you need to:
1. Grab (standard) sorry, the bad guy gets a chance to escape
2. Sustain grab (minor). Lift and Move grabbed enemy (Standard) with a STR vs. Fort. to force the enemy over the rail. The player's STRx20 must be more than the enemy's weight, which I think might preclude some of the smaller characters from attempting this.
[/sblock][sblock=Cover/Concealment]Most of the junk on the ship's deck is not that tall. Since Carolina is small, she can crouch behind the cannons and the boats to get total concealment. Everyone else at medium size would need to go prone behind the objects to achieve the same effect. Otherwise, you can get the -2 variety only. [/sblock][sblock=Dim Light]
Characters who have normal vision can’t see well in dim light: Creatures in the area have concealment (-2 to hit with melee / ranged). Characters who have low-light vision or darkvision see normally in dim light.

I have adjusted the enemy stat blocks to include any attack penalties as part of their stated stats.[/sblock][sblock=Status]
Wil Rando: G14 70/70 HS 8/8 AP 1 MW 2/2
Kane: J18 88/88 HS 11/11 AP 1
Kruk: H15 94/94 HS 12/12 AP 1
Carolina: F13 64/64 HS 7/7 AP 1
Charina: K13 69/69 HS 7/7 AP 1
Khemnos: G9 56/56 HS 9/9 AP 1

Pirate 1: H23 95/95
Pirate 2: G24 95/95
Dire Beast Hunter 1: J24 95/95
Bartleby Haff: H25 96/96
???
[/sblock][sblock=Map]

The Hatch at H24:I24 is the ladder which leads below deck.

Current Deck Direction: Aft is high (uphill)
- Moving from left to right: Difficult Terrain
- Moving from right to left: +1 to move
[/sblock][sblock=Enemies]
Bartleby Haff
Medium natural humanoid, human
Level 9 Soldier (Leader)XP 400
HP 96; Bloodied 48 Initiative +8
AC 25, Fortitude 23, Reflex 21, Will 20 Perception+3
Speed 6
Immune fear
Insane Litany Aura 5
All allies in the aura gain a +1 bonus to attack rolls and a +2 bonus to saving throws.
Chain (Standard, At-Will)
Attack: Melee 2 (one creature); +12 vs. AC
Hit: 1d10 + 5 damage, and the target is immobilized until the start of Bartleby’s next turn.
Wrenching Chain (Standard, At-Will)
Attack: Melee 3 (one creature); +12 vs. AC
Hit: 1d10 + 5 damage, and Bartleby pulls the target up to 2 squares. If Bartleby has combat advantage against the target, he also knocks the target prone.
Chains of Madness (Standard, Encounter)
Attack: Close blast 3 (enemies in the blast); +12 vs. Reflex
Hit: 1d10 + 5 damage, and the target takes a -2 penalty to attack rolls and cannot move away from Bartleby (save ends both).
Dark Eye of Tharzidun (Minor, At-Will) 1/round
Attack: Ranged 5 (one immobilized creature); +12 vs. Will
Hit: The target goes insane (save ends). While insane, when the target starts its turn, it rolls a d6. On an even number, it acts normally. On an odd number, it becomes dominated by Bartleby until the start of its next turn.
Equipment: chain

Human Dire Beast Hunter
Initiative +8 Senses Perception +12
HP 76; Bloodied 38
AC 22; Fortitude 21, Reflex 22, Will 21
Speed 6
Spear (standard, at-will) Weapon
+14 vs AC; 2d8+5 damage.
Poisoned Crossbow (standard, at-will) Poison, Weapon
Ranged 15/30; +14 vs AC; 2d8+3 damage, and ongoing 5 poison damage (save ends).
Trapping Net (standard; requires net, encounter)
Ranged 3; +14 vs Reflex; the target is restrained (save ends).
Equipment: crossbow , crossbow bolt x40 poisoned, net , spear .

Human Pirate
Initiative +8 Senses Perception +5
HP 95; Bloodied 47
AC 23; Fortitude 21, Reflex 21, Will 20
Speed 7
Cutlass (standard, at-will) Weapon
+12 vs AC; 2d6+5 damage.
Rigging Monkey (minor; encounter)
The human pirate gains a climb speed of 7 until the end of its next turn.
Scurvy Dog's Flank
A human pirate gains a +1 bonus to attack rolls against an enemy it is flanking, and its attacks deal 2d6 extra damage to that creature.
Equipment: cutlass (short sword)

[/sblock][sblock=Adventure Summary]
Motives
Everyone: Report back to Byron & decide what to do with the information about the brotherhood.
[sblock=LB3 Summary]
Summary of Events
1. Bested Pirates en route to Allaria. Traveled on the ship Wind's Will captained by Captain Levenbrech, and mated by Porse and Trig.
2. Arrived in the port, to find it besieged by Lizards from the unending mire. Defeated lizards and met/teamed up with Charina.
3. Journeyed to Geardagas and asked the locals for information with mixed results (link to the leads gathered).
4. Went to the temple of Netari, where the new priest, Father Niris, has been tending to the ill (apparently quite poorly). He led the players into the catacombs, where his zombie minions ambushed. The priest, over confident, rambled on about Hellview (background reference for players).
5. Dealing a mortal blow to the Priest, he says Master De Luccia (First time they have heard the name) cannot be stopped, and he stated that Greggor "will be... among the first... at Hellview." The priest laid dying on the floor with his fallen minions.
6. As they approach Hellview, they encounter the ghost of Sir Alistair Glasston, who begged them to enter the cave and retrieve his lost battleaxe.
7. They entered Hellview, and came across a portal, as well as some guards/workers. It seems they were using zombies to dig a new path near the portal...
8. They step through the portal into a bizarre world. A demon statue looms ahead, with a tall gate behind. The bodies of fallen adventurers, as well as a dead demon, lay about the floor. Wil Triggered the Demon statue trap, alerting the nearby demon's.
9. After a long battle, they slew all of the demons who had come through the hell gate, and they found Sir Alistair Glasston's lost battleaxe. But Greggor was still missing, and there is the question of why the demons were digging.
10. Hergunna departed the group to alert the local militia, while the others pressed ahead North, trying to find the source of the demon-aligned miners, as well as the lost silver.
11. They came upon a wall blocking the road to the mine. Mounted knight Brother Arleas leads a band of outlaws and zombies to defend the mine entrance. After slaying the Knight and half his men, the remaining wizards and archers closed the gate. The battle continued until only the fat temporal wizard, Alaria, remained alive. She pleaded for her life to be spared.
12. Alaria identified the men who hired her as being part of the Brotherhood.
13. They entered the mine and found Greggor with some other miners. Greggor shows them a path recently carved from the mine into the Hellview portal tunnels. They are using the tunnel to subvert the protection which bars them from exiting the portal into Alaria.
14. By the portal, they opened up the wall to reveal a hidden demon temple. Inside, Master De Luccia brings the demon Amendfohl (the same demon that Sir Alistair Glasston fought during the fall of Allaria) back to life. De Luccia Declared, "The time for the Brotherhood of the Bright Eon is once again at hand." The players slay the demon, and De Luccia offers them a deal where everyone just walks away. The players balk, and attack. DeLuccia drops Kruk and threatens to kill the dwarf if they don't leave, but the players press the attack, and kill the brotherhood master as well.
[/sblock]Summary of Events
1. The adventurers return to Geardagas. They meet with Count Saga, who puts them on a quest to Alert Daunton to the Brotherhood threat and request aid for Allaria. They are joined by the mage Khemnos.
2. They board the Wind's Will to return back to Daunton, but things seem off. The Captain and his second mate are missing; First Mate Porse seems to be running the ship, and he is his usual unfriendly self. Over dinner, they question Porse, and get a bad feeling about the Sailor's intentions.
3. The Sailors made a move against the adventurers at night. The sea is rough.

[/sblock]

 

[industrygothica]

Carolina draws her new bone-handled crossbow as she peeks over the cannon in front of her. Thinking she sees a crossbow in the hands of one of her attackers, she goes for the archer first.

Even in the low-light she can see her bolt find its mark, and she ducks down behind the cannon again to prepare for another shot.
[sblock=Actions]Sly Flourish vs. Dire Beast Hunter hits AC 35 for 34 damage (Roll Lookup)
That includes the -2 dim light penalty stacked with the +2 CA bonus (Rogue's First Strike ability)

Stealth=1d20+15=30[/sblock]