[Adventure] Lost Love (DM: Velmont - Judge: Renau1g)

[LadyLaw]

[sblock=ooc]Although we did earlier speak about certain things happening when 16 charged, the readied actions Talkrai, Ryda, and Pis specifically stated were no longer linked to that. As certain plans had been laid, I do think everyone should get an action because we were all "ready", but Tal and Ryda weren't waiting for 16 anymore.

The trigger for the port was "any attack by friend or foe", hence it triggered with the worker's death. The trigger for Ryda was "something serious happening to Jasper", so it triggered when Tal ported him across the room. I assume the gnome's trigger was similar to Ryda's, a "they do anything to aid Jasper" sort of thing.

Talkrai's teleport was not interrupted. The gnome attacked Jasper at his new location. That's how I understood it. However, as Twil pointed out, he should have had Superior Cover at that point, so the attack should only have hit a 16, not a 21 (although that may mean nothing).

I agree that the treating a friendly NPC the same as a monster for death should have been known. In the eyes of Talkrai teleporting him or healing him were both equally weighted, viable options. In the eyes of me the player, I chose the one I thought would allow us the chance to help him best. However, had I known there was no way to help him once he dropped to 0, I'd have chosen differently. On the other hand, had Talkrai healed him instead and left him where he was, he'd have taken the 25 damage that she did and be dead anyway.

Anyway I will read back through everything again but I'd honestly like to go back and go through step-by-step what happened, if folks don't mind. Normally I wouldn't sweat it but we have a major NPC death and the bad guy unable to be captured despite our best-laid, telepathically communicated plans and it just doesn't seem like we could have messed up that badly with this much prep.

I don't mind if you want Vel to do that. I tried to lend some clarity myself, based on my understanding of the situation. However, it seems to me that no matter what the situation would happen this way.

After much thought I've come to the conclusion that no matter what we did, there was no way to save Jasper or any of the hostages. I've come to the conclusion that this adventure was never about helping them. The adventure was about stopping the Khyber cultists from the beginning and this is all supposed to just be motivation for us to do so. It remains to be seen how individual characters will react to that.[/sblock]

 

[Velmont]

[SBLOCK=OOC]About the many questions:

1) Ready actions

Pis:
Trigger: Enemy move forward of attack an hostage
Effect: Jump into the water

Ryda:
Trigger: Enemy attack an hostage or something good happen to Jasper
Effect: Attack the gnome

Gnome:
Trigger: Heroes attack or target Jasper with an effect
Effect: Attack Jasper

Swordman1:
Trigger: Heroes attack or target Jasper with an effect
Effect: Attack Jasper

I wasn't aware of any ready action from Jarren and Unit 16. A lot of talk had been made, but no clear trigger and course of action was stated. As you told me, it seems you had already declare long time ago and I miss it, so please point it to me.

For the gnome trigger, yeah, teleporting Jarren was included in the gnome trigger even if he wasn't aware of that possibility, just like Ryda trigger was wide enough to include that event too and many he didn't thought of.

I ignore the partial action Jarren and Unit 16 had posted as there was no surprise round. No one was surprise, everyone was expecting something like that to happen anytime.

2) Talkrai and Ryda action
Talkrai decided to act by herself instead of waiting for Unit 16 to attack. She stated it in an earlier post.

3) Cover

Determining Cover for Ranged Attacks

Attacker’s Burden: For ranged attacks, the attacker has to prove that he has a clear shot. That proof consists of one corner in his space that has clear lines to every corner of the target’s space.

Choose a Corner: The attacker chooses one corner of a square he occupies, and draws imaginary lines from that corner to every corner of any one square the defender occupies. If none of those lines are blocked by a solid object or an enemy creature, the attacker has a clear shot. The defender doesn’t have cover. (A line that runs parallel right along a wall isn’t blocked.)

Cover: If you can’t find a clear shot, the target has cover. No matter which corner in your space you choose, one or two lines from that corner to every corner in the defender’s space are blocked.

Superior Cover: The defender has superior cover if no matter which corner in your space you choose and no matter which square of the target’s space you choose, three or four lines are blocked. If four lines are blocked from every corner, you can’t target the defender.

From those rules, the gnome, who was at A31, could easily see at least 2 corners of E32, so Jasper had no more than cover, which was for from being enough for the attack roll of the gnome to miss.

4)Order of action
There was a lot of trigger that happen at the same time, so I decided to roll initative to determine who would act first in the triggered action.

5)Jasper death
No, there was many way to save Jasper live, and the one you just use had almost worked. If Ryda would have acted before the gnome, the gnome would have turned invisible, preventing him to use his ready action, as a ready action is an immediate action and he would already have use his.

6)My mistake
But I made a mistake, it's true. Evilbob have pointed it. Pis, Jarren and Unit 16 can act before the cultist act again. I'll make another post soon with correction from the previous one.[/SBLOCK]

 

[Velmont]

[SBLOCK=OOC]As stated in the previous post, I'll do a correction post, but before, I would like evilbob to point me out his ready action post (so I can include him in the correction).

Sorry if all is that mess up, I would have like it to flow more easily, but I don't want to railroad things either and neither cheat on you, willingly or not.[/SBLOCK]

 

[twilsemail]

[sblock=OOC] Can someone PM me with the Initiative order rolls?[/sblock]

 

[evilbob]

[sblock=ooc]Velmont, I never specifically stated 16 had an action readied. It was always my intention to act when there was an opening, but I never specifically wrote that in. Would it be reasonable, in your opinion, for myself and Jarren to have our actions readied just like everyone else (especially since all the enemies did as well)? Partially this is my fault as I just didn't post fast enough when folks were readying things - and also I didn't realize I would need to; I had assumed we would surprise the enemy when we suddenly jumped.

If this is reasonable, then I can have my posted action stand as my readied action (unless more things change regarding the gnome). I can spell it out if necessary so we know when things all resolve.

I must admit I'm still not 100% on the cover situation - I would also think he has superior cover, since he is around the corner; I wasn't sure that "along a wall" counted as a line you could draw. But then again, maybe I've just always done it incorrectly; that's certainly possible. Maybe this could be a judge call?[/sblock]

 

[evilbob]

[sblock=another possible complication]So if it is not reasonable for Jarren and 16 to have readied actions, this doesn't apply. But if they do get one, there's yet another wrinkle to work out. 16's action would be to move in front of the gnome; technically this could have happened as early as when the hostage was moved forward. If that were the case, then he would also be standing effectively between the gnome and Jasper - blocking his line of sight even further (in my opinion, completely). Would that effectively ruin his action, since apparently he had one readied that was triggered?

I am just bringing this up as it is yet another factor in consideration if we ret-con a bunch of stuff. Sorry this is all so complex! It's just that it's high-stakes - and I think if we were around the table everyone would be pitching in their thoughts all at once. [/sblock]

 

[evilbob]

[sblock=ooc]Sorry if I have caused us to grind to a halt! [/sblock]

 

[Velmont]

Everything happen suddenly. As the body of the worker starts to fall to the ground lifelessly, Talkrai's eyes flare with anger, although she continues to speak not a word. With thoughts of pity for the other workers, she channels her power inward and then out again. Suddenly, she is standing in front of the armored man, facing him with sword at the ready, and Jasper is now out of his reach.

Pis hesitate but decide to not jump into the water.

Before Jasper knows what is happening, the Gnome whisper a word and Jasper receive a mind slash. His nose starts to bleed as he fall lifelessly on the ground. "Kill all hostage! We retreat!" shouts the gnome.

As Talkrai’s psionic abilities flare, Ryda unloads on the Gnome, striking him dead center of the chest, blood spraying from the vicious wound. Her rage at the dead worker drives her forward, eager to resume the hunt.

It is only then the worker body hit the ground quickly followed by Jasper bodies.

[SBLOCK=OOC]As Evilbob have pointed, people who hadn't any ready action (i.e: Jarren and Unit 16) can now act. I will not allow to choose ready action after knowing what is happening.

So it's up to Jarren and Unit 16. Map is updated. I'll also ask for new roll even if you keep the old action. Enemies will have to roll again too.[/SBLOCK]

[SBLOCK=Mechanic] Initiative => Enemies goes first.

-Swordman2 kill the worker.

-Swordman2 action trigger Talkrai action: Switch place with Jasper.

-Swordman2 action trigger Pis action: Pis decide to not take this opportunity to do his action.

-Talkrai action trigger Gnome action: Arcane Quip vs Will on Jasper (1d20+9=21, 1d10+5=6) Hit even with Cover! Jasper takes 6 psychic damage and die. He also free action for quick orders.

-Talkrai action trigger Swordman1 action => His target (Jasper) is no more an avalaible target, he forfeit his action.

-Talkrai action trigger Ryda action: Hit the gnome and bloodied him. Ryda shift to D35.[/SBLOCK]

[SBLOCK=Status & Map]Map Updated

Jarren: 48/48 [10]; 2AP;
Pis: 14/39 [2]; 2AP;
Ryda: 44/51 [7]; 1AP;
Talkrai: 9/40 [7]; 1AP;
Unit 16: 64/64 [11]; 1AP;

Gnome: -50; Bloodied

Jarren: Capturing Jaws;
Pis:
Ryda: Split the Wood;
Talkrai:
Unit 16: Form of Winter's Herald;[/SBLOCK]

 

[LadyLaw]

[sblock=ooc]Neither Ryda's, Talkrai's, nor Jasper's positions are correct on the map you linked in the above post. Talkrai and Jasper should be reversed and Ryda should be at D35, on the bridge.[/sblock]

 

[Mezegis]

[sblock=OOC]Is it possible to AP in a round such as this? If yes, I would like to have Ryda use hers.[/sblock]