S3: The Scythe of Seto (Bront Judging)[Completed]

[rln]

Ogrin says to Razh, "So we mount the horses, while you mount the queen. Hardly seems fair, but then again, your luck with horsies aren't that great, I guess. I can be a knight; I seem to remember they can move in & out of enemy territorries, which suit me just fine."

"I'd wager ten gold that whoever leaves their square out of turn will find a lightning bolt or something worse headed up their rear end. The voice didn't say anything about us having to fight them single-handedly though. I suppose spells and projectiles might be allowed. Only one way to find that out. Same thing with area effects, not sure we have any of those. I guess we could try to booby-trap some squares as well, if we have something to do that with.

"I wonder if those are real skeletons and minotaurs, or if they're constructs like our pieces. If they're the bone-kind, I guess brother E can try that trick of his and hope we catch a few others as a side effect. And I'd dearly like to know what's under those cloaks. Anyone got a light source we can point their way? Forewarned is forearmed, as they say.

"Other than that... we should be quite offensive. I don't think we'll stand up to a war off attrition here, not if those are magical constructs. Let's use our vikings etc to break their first line of defense and soften their harder pieces before we move in. We should probably be able to anticipate from where the attack will came, so let's make the most of it. If they're headed yorur way, don't wait for them to strike first. As soon as they enter your square, everything is fair*."

OOC: *) ie, we should be able to use readied attacks.

 

[Manzanita]

Let's assume Banion takes the place of the unicorn rook, and Eusebius takes the place of the elf bishop. They can swap this (or other players can swap this for them) before the game actually starts.

When the adventurers step onto the board, the pieces they replace slowly fade from view. And suddenly all the other pieces are very much alive. The Norse warriors shout loudly, and bang their spears on their shields. The unicorn rears and paws the air, snorting. The Centaur also rears, clashing its weapons. The elven bishop bows. Everyone is cheering Beamer their King.

Has ever a halfling commanded such an army? Beamer knows, as he takes his place at the heart of his troops, that these doughty warriors will fight for him to their last drop of blood. They will obey him unquestioningly, even eagerly. He knows, without knowing how he knows, that the Centaur is a skilled warrior, that the elf is a cleric, that the Unicorn is prime example of its species, and that the viking warriors are berserkers. They are not his puppets, but they will fight exactly as he commands.

Gazing across the board, the black pieces have also come to life. Large as horses, the Scorpion rooks begin to pace their 15 foot squares, their six legs tapping on the marble beneath. The minotaurs bray, and heave their great axes threateningly. The gnoll skeletons beat their battle axes against their metal shields, and their whispy black tunics shift over their black mail.

The black bishops look like ebony statues. Unmoving men with mysterious faces, they are dressed in black robes and conical hats. They have no apparent weapons, and keep their arms crossed over their chests, hands hidden in the opposite sleeves.

Coldly beautiful, the black queen’s features are hard to make out, since she is all black. She has black spiked chain in her hands, and wears a chainshirt over her torso. A black steel helmet sits atop her long black hair. She wears high black boots and long black gloves.

The black king resembles the bishops. He is taller, though still man-sized. His robes seem thicker and are embroidered with dark designs. He appears broad and lumpy under his cloak. A black crown sits atop his bald head. His eyes gaze malevalently, and glow red.

 

[Manzanita]

Beamer knows the following about his forces, and can communicate this information to his friends by speaking.

White Pawn
Viking Warrior: Male Human Barbarian 1; HD 1d12+5; hp 15; Init +1; Spd 30 ft.; AC 16 (chainmail) or 18(with heavy wooden shield); Base Atk +1; Grp +3; Atk +4 melee (1d8+2/20x3, MW War Hammer) or +3 melee (1d8+3,/20x3, longspear) +3 ranged (1d6/20x2, masterwork throwing axe; SA rage; AL N; SV Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +0; Str 15, Dex 13, Con 14, Int 8, Wis 12, Cha 10.
Skills and Feats: Jump -1, Listen +4, Climb-1, Ride +5; Power Attack, toughness. Fast Movement, Rage (1x/day)

White Bishop: Male Elven Cleric 4; HD 4d8; hp 22; AC 17 (MW chain shirt, dex); Base attack: melee: MW rapier +7 1d6 +1; MW +1 mighty long comp bow +7 1d8 +1 SA spells; AL CG; Fort +3 , Ref +4; Will +5; Str 12, Dex 17, Con 11, Int 8, Wis 14, Cha 10; Feat PBS, weapon finesse. Domains: Death, Knowledge (or Law)
Spells: 5/3+1+1/2+1+1: 0:CMW(x5) 1:Magic Weapon, Protection from Evil, Cure light wounds(x2),Protection from chaos(D) 2: Cure Moderate wounds(x2), align weapon, Death Knell(D) Can spontaneously cast heal spells

White Knight: Male centaur Fighter 1; HD 4d8+10+1d10 HP: 34; Init: +6 Spd: 40; AC: 23 (+5 Breastplate, +2Heavy steel shield, +3 Nat, +2 Dex+1 dodge); Attack: MW Lance w/charge +9 2d6 +4 (double damage w/charge) or MW Heavy Mace: +9 2d6+4 and 2 hooves +3 melee (1d6+2);; Fort +5, Ref +6, Will +5; Str 18, Dex 14, Con 15, Int 8, Wis 13, Cha 11; Feats: Dodge, power attack, improved initiative.

White Rook: Unicorn Normal, but with studded leather armor & max HPs

 

[Manzanita]

The party realizes that they are able to touch each other if they are in adjacent (even diagonal) squares. Presumably they would be able to cast touch spells upon each other in this manner, even between moves. They also quickly figure out that they are unable to move outside the square where they are.

Beamer realizes that he controls which pieces move where. At his command, a white piece will move, and the game will start. While he will tell the piece to move, it is the piece itself which determines how to fight, if a capture is sought.

With the cheering now subsided, Beamer realizes the pawns and the Knight are looking at him, awaiting orders. They have multiple weapons. Beamer can have the pawns ready their longspears against a charge, or put down their spears and ready their sheilds and warhammers. Likewise, the Centaur can use a lance or mace.

Game notes [sblock] You need to know the basics of how pieces move in chess. Does everyone know this? And everyone know how to castle? Beyond that, I don't know that traditional skill in chess will be helpful to this game as the combat aspect makes it fundamentally different.

Beamer, as King, gets final say in which piece moves where. But for game sake, I will take any three player's consensus to have a piece move. Please try to give detailed combat instructions to your pieces if you have them attack, as I would like to complete such NPC combats in one post. I don't want anyone getting bored, so everyone be sure to chime in on strategy, and I'll try to keep the combat sections short.[/sblock]

 

[Rae ArdGaoth]

Rasereit paces the edges of his square, testing the edges, and feeling a little frustrated. "Eh... not sure Ah like this anymore.

OOC: Blitzkrieg?

 

[SlagMortar]

Beamer gulps at the responsibility he now finds before him. Putting on a stalwart faces, he says in a commanding voice, "Their first rank is skeletons, so crushing weapons at the ready. Prepare for attack." Beamer commands all his pieces to ready an attack. Addressing the unicorn, Beamer says, "Friend of the forest, position yourself to aid those near you (with magic circle against evil 10 foot radius) should they be engaged."

OOC: Some questions. It seems like we have some knowledge so I figured I'd ask what I could think of, though 'Beamer doesn't know and will have to experiment to figure it out' is a perfectly acceptable answer.
1. Can melee attacks be made against someone not in your square? This could be especially useful with the reach weapons.
2. Can spells/ranged attacks be use against someone not in your square?
3. Can spells/ranged attacks be used at any time?
4. Can buff spells with longer ranges be cast farther than adjacent squares?
5. Is there a time limit between moves? If not, should we assume anything with durations in rounds expire between moves?
6. Can opponents attack a knight that moves through their square - either attacks of opportunity or regular attacks if the knight has to use more than one round to move by? Or do they get held immobile until the knight enters his final destination?

 

[Manzanita]

rules [sblock]
No one seems to be able to attack out of their square, with spells or reach weapons or otherwise. Once a piece is directed to attack another by its king, though, then they can attack that piece by range or by charging.

As to whether knights migh incur AoOs if they move through enemy pieces, or whether buffing spells can be cast at range, that isn't clear yet.

Beamer does know that he can take up to an hour to play the game. Thus he can take significant pauses between moves. If he takes more than an hour total, he loses.[/sblock]

 

[rln]

Ogrin stretches his neck until a satisfying pop is heard. "Let's play.". With that, he tightens his shield straps, draws his morning star and, imitating the pawns, looks expectantly at Beamer. "Your call, my lord. Chess was never one of my favorite games. Always got caught cheatin'."

OOC: Do we know what skills the Knight and Bishop have, since we know what the pawns have? It could be of interest to know if they have for example Heal, if one of us is knocked unconscious. Also, can the Bishop turn undead?

 

[Manzanita]

OOC: Do we know what skills the Knight and Bishop have, since we know what the pawns have? It could be of interest to know if they have for example Heal, if one of us is knocked unconscious. Also, can the Bishop turn undead?

I guess I didn't assign them skills. Feel free to do so yourself. The Bishop can turn undead.

 

[rln]

Ogrin ponders a bit further and then comes up with the following starter tactics. "If we want to play it safe, let's get our knight... I mean, our other knight into play and see what happens when it takes care of some of their pawns. Or, we could open up a hole in front of our queen to let Queen Razh and Brother - sorry, Bishop E out, then castle Beamer the king which should bring Banion the Rook into play. If they start going directly for the king, at least the castle should give us some time to double back."

OOC: Let's assume the Bishop has Heal +6 while the Knight has Listen +3, Move Silently +4, Spot +3, Survival +2 and Jump +5.