Six From Gate Pass - A War of the Burning Sky Campaign (3.5)

[fromage67]

Realizing Lars' sorcerous abilities sends a tinge of apprehension through him. Even after years of living in Gate Pass it takes him a while to accept magic users. But he recognizes a strong and kindly spirit in Lars and Alric shows his efforts of acceptance by passing Lars his Ragesian grape spirit before any others.

Lars accepts the bottle with a nod, and takes a healthy swig.

Lars beds down for the night. His companions start to realize that he is anything but a peaceful sleeper. He seems to constantly toss and turn, moaning and mumbling with few pauses. This goes on for the whole night, only interrupted by Lars' turn on guard.

"If, say, we had a sneaky type of fellow in the group who might draw off their attention or get behind them from those higher bluffs, it might make this happy occasion easier!"

He gives Lars a glare as he says this.

"All right, I will try to get above them without drawing their attention. I have a few tricks up my sleeve to draw their attention. When I raise my arm, and then lower it, it will be a sign to advance. If I wave vigorously, it means that I have spotted more danger, and you should watch out."

Lars sets out carefully, angling through the brush, so that he ends up above one of the ambushers on the right. His objective is to end up about 100 feet above.

 

[Adjuntive]

Alric draws his sword, prepares himself for combat and positions himself at the head of the group in case the ambushers move for a head-on assault. Then he says to Lars quietly, wondering if he hears as he skulks away, "Take no chances."

 

[Gregor]

Hrimr, you see nothing else of interest beyond the two men hiding in the brush. In fact, the falling snow is making it difficult for you to even maintain a line of sight on them.

Your party is approximately 50 feet from the two humanoids and you assume that by the aim of their crossbows, they are aware of you standing in plain sight on the road.

Lars, you step off the road, and ascend the brush-covered slope before hiking up the side/rear of the sheer cliffs. At this point, you are 40 feet above the hiding humanoid on the right and 20 feet away (so you've gone 30 feet forward and 40 feet up).

Lars, you maintains a stealthy approach, but a deep patch of snow hides a cluster of pebbles that you accidentally kick over the edge of the cliff. They tumble noisily to the brush-covered slope below and the two hiding humanoids point their crossbows up and scan the top of the cliff.

GM: Just some clarification on the surroundings. The brush covered slope rises 20 feet above the road (which requires no climb check to go up). The slopes are next to sheer stone cliffs that rise 40 feet above the slope (thus 60 feet above the road). So, the highest Lars could potentially get to would be 40 feet above the hiding humanoids or 60 feet above anyone on the road. Picture this like a canyon cut through a hill, so its possible to get on the cliffs from the side or from behind, but to get up the cliffs from the road requires a climb check. Given that you're at the start of the area, I'm presuming that Lars goes up the easy way. Lars, the two humanoids know that someone is probably up there, but given the geometry, its unlikely that they can see you very easily. If you want to keep moving forward, you'll need another stealth check, or you can back away and down without triggering initiative. However, both you and the party know that the two hiding humanoids have been alerted. I will post a map when and if initiative is triggered

 

[The Bashar]

Hrimr readies his sling and loads a bullet. He then says some words in Dwarven and casts a spell.

"I don't see anyone else through the snow other than them. It looks like they have their crossbows trained on us"

OOC: I cast Guidance on myself.

 

[Gregor]

GM: Hrimr, given that you're in plain sight of the humanoids and are now casting a spell, can you please roll a stealth check to see if they don't notice. Your DC to beat is the highest of the two rolls below. I'm including the following penalties to their perception roll: a -2 penalty for the snow and a further -5 penalty for distance.

 

[The Bashar]

Hrimr tries to hide his spell casting.

OOC: Stealth check = +1 Dex mod, -3 AC check pen

 

[Gregor]

Battle in the Mountain Pass - Initiative Begins

As Hrimr finishes moving his hands and speaking the words of his spell, the two humanoids quickly stand up from the brush, snow falling from their cloaks. The one to your left trains his crossbow on your group and the other raises a crude horn to his lips.

"Brooo! Brooo! Broooooooooo!"

Three loud blows from the horn cry out and suddenly you hear the unmistakable sounds of horses hooves on the gravel road.


Initiative Order and Status
**********
1 - Arnir
2 - Kirio
3 - Alric (fatigued)
4 - DM #2 (K)
5 - Lars
6 - Torrent
7 - Hrimr (fatigued; guidance active)
8 - Bannock (fatigued)
9 - DM #3 (R)
10 - DM #1 (S)

**********

Battle in the Mountain Pass - Round 1

GM: Map is up! I whipped something up just now, so it should do the trick. I've delineated the three areas by colour/texture: the road in the middle, the two slopes on each side of the road that rise up to a height of 20 feet, and the two sheer cliffs which rise 40 feet above the slopes. The rocks on the map are available cover (+2 AC) and are large enough that you can crouch behind them for total cover. The snowy brush counts as difficult terrain (movement costs double, no charging or running through) and offers 20% concealment for any attacks that pass through those squares (20% chance the attack will miss). Also, I have taken into account the -2 dex for those who are currently fatigued and rolled the save for Kirio and Arnir, just to make sure the initiative order is accurate. Lars, you're hidden up on the ridge. The two humanoids know someone is probably up there, but haven't seen you. If you want to remain hidden, you'll need a stealth check each time you move. Arnir I've placed you off the road to begin as per your post.

 

[digimattic]

Arnir moves into the brush at C-2 with his bow drawn. He squints his eyes against the snow and calls out to his party as quietly as he can:
"Horses incoming! on your guard!"

Once in place, he casts Mage Armor, thereby increasing his AC by 4 for 2 hours

 

[funkmamagoat]

OOC: ready to go, but will wait for Arnir to confirm he does nothing further his turn...

 

[funkmamagoat]

"Once more into the .... oh whatever, slkjif sdooe" Kirio runs quickly to the fore (F5), sings three sharp notes in what sound like Elven, but clearly isn't, as he quickly waves his arms in a sharp forward motion, sending a green mist from his fingers. As you watch, the mist settles quicly (target F11) and spreads into a pool of what appears to be grease, not far from the two ambushers.

He then pulls out his bow and steps behind the rock (E4) taking cover and readying to shoot...

[sblock="[FONT=Arial][SIZE=1][COLOR=black][COLOR=black][FONT=Arial][/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]if you speak elven"] stupid Dwarf[/sblock]
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