The Closed Eye (DM: Halford, Judge: garyh)

[KenHood]

Palindrome sighs. "Very well. Why don't you take my familiar with you? I'll be able to see everything through her eyes."

Palindrome turns to the halfling girl and weaves a complicated gesture. [OOC: Prestidigitation.] There is the stench of brimstone and a puff of smoke. A small, arcane mark appears on the back of the girl's hand.

"Now we are bound for all eternity," Palindrome utters in a selpuchural tone, "Your soul is mine. Should I come to harm or should you disobey me, a rot will destroy you, eating you from inside to out. Go forth and do my bidding!"

OOC: Bluff. Convince the halfling that she is forcibly bound to do Palindrome's bidding. (1d20+7=19)​

Actions: Draw wand. Draw dagger. Find a position with cover to watch their infilitration and provide long-distance attack support.​

 

[covaithe]

Neera looks at her hands in fear and dismay. "You... you can't do that, can you? And you all, you won't really let him rot me, will you? I wouldn't really have killed you in your sleep, mister..." She is about ready to burst into tears.

[sblock=Insight DC 12]Though she's done an excellent job of hiding it so far, Neera really is just a girl. She's probably in her early teens, in human terms. [/sblock]

[sblock=ooc]Neera's insight check to oppose the bluff: 15, even with lots of bonuses.

There are about 100 feet of grass with occasional trees between the walls and the house on each side. It is bright daylight, and late morning, so the shadows are fairly short and not very dark. Whoever's going over the wall, make stealth rolls.
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[KenHood]

[sblock=Aaaaw, man!]

Neera looks at her hands in fear and dismay. "You... you can't do that, can you? And you all, you won't really let him rot me, will you? I wouldn't really have killed you in your sleep, mister..." She is about ready to burst into tears.

[sblock=Insight DC 12]Though she's done an excellent job of hiding it so far, Neera really is just a girl. She's probably in her early teens, in human terms. [/sblock]

What the...?! What's this horrible, icky feeling? Is it... could it be guilt?!

I thought she was like some hardened Oliver Twist, Lil' Orphan Annie, street urchin, 'It's a hard knock life for us!" kid.

Aw, man! C'mon! I made a little kid cry![/sblock]

"Fear not, little Meatshield!" says Palindrome, "As long as you obey my every command, sing my praises at every opportunity, and (most importantly) think happy thoughts about Palindrome, I promise you that your organs will not liquify and squirt twenty feet in the air from every orifice in your body as you die a slow, agonizing death."

[sblock=On the other hand...]She did have a +3 bonus to the Insight roll, so she probably has 16 Wisdom. A useful trait in a slave familiar.

And she'll probably learn to love Palindrome--you know, in a weird sort of co-dependent way.

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[Atriden]

Atreus has been very quiet but silently following the others and listening to the them. He turns to the halfling with a little smile " We have still not tested the value of your information little one. If it proves worthless, then I am afraid that Mr. Palindrome will have to keep you as his familiar " He glances quickly at Palindrome while saying " Perhaps your freedom will be gained if this turns out to be something promising ". He moves next to Woe " I am joining you, but I think our chances are slim to go about the mansion undetected, but it is better alternative than drawing attention with fire, no offence " as he turns to face Palindrome before he climbs over the wall
[sblock=OCC] I am back from my trip in Sweden! Here is my Stealth check and Insight check. [/sblock]
[sblock=To KenHood] Great backstory! [/sblock]
[sblock=To NerdyTenor] Nasty dream, looking forward as well to find more about Tanders backstory! [/sblock]

 

[nerdytenor]

Tander interposes himself between Neera and Palindrome, reassuring the girl in soft tones that her life is not, in fact, in any danger, at least not while Tander is around.

After listening to his fellows discuss tactics, Tander's brow furrows. "I don't know, friends - I can appreciate the appeal of approaching the mansion in secret, but.... On the one hand, I've never been particularly sneaky, and on the other, I am hesitant to have us split apart. If our run in with the bugbears be any guide, we'd best stick together."

 

[KenHood]

[sblock=To Atriden]Thanks![/sblock]

While Tander talks to Meatshield the halfling girl Neera, Palindrome points at her and pantomines blood spraying from his eyes and ears. When Tander turns to address the group, Palindrome stops.

"Okay. I've got an even better plan."

"I'll set Woe and Atreus on fire. They run towards the house screaming for help. When the bad guys jump out to put out the flames, we attack. They'll never expect it."

Palindrome rummages through his coat, then shoves his arm down the front of his overalls--which seems rather obscene, unless you know there's a bag of holding down there. "I think I've got some oil down here. Who's going to be first?"

OOC: To the DM -- Plus the smoke from the flames should provide concealment to improve Stealth checks. (See! This plan has everything!)​

 

[Dunamin]

“It’ll be fine, Tander. We won’t get too deep in or enter the mansion, just lurk around the perimeters and peekaboo through the windows.”

“Anything messes up, we’ll come straight back to you guys so we can bring the smackdown as a team.”

Woe leans down to whisper into Neera’s ear.

“Don’t worry, kiddo. You can dispel the magic by kicking him over the shin. Only if you do it hard, though.”

Unless the cleric insists further, Woe nimbly slips over the wall and crouches low by the biggest cover he can find, waiting for Atreus to join him.

[sblock=OOC]Woe keeps shield on his back to avoid armor penalty. Athletics to climb wall and Stealth check to sneak around outer region.[/sblock]

 

[nerdytenor]

Tander watches with trepidation as his fellows get ready to make their approach.

[sblock=Let's Do It!]
Go go go!
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[Atriden]

" No fire Palindrome... well at least not on me. Perhaps you can use your tallents otherwise, like getting that gate open, just in case something goes wrong " and Atreus tries to get over the wall to join Woe
[sblock=OCC]
I forgot to submit a climb check, if ya need one that is. I was thinking if I could somehow use Acrobatics to get over the wall? Otherwise, here is my climb check. Doesn't seem I gonna make it over the wall anyway . If Atreus fails to get over, he will just try again until he gets over, unless he attracts unwanted company. And yes, lets go go !
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[covaithe]

ooc: Sorry for the delay; I've been trying to teach myself to use Maptool, with only middling success.

Despite a momentary false start, the wall proves to be no significant obstacle for Atreus and Woe. They clamber over it quietly and drop into the ragged shadow of a tree on the far side. They have only taken a few stealthy steps towards the building when a loud voice breaks the silence.

"INTRUDER. INTRUDER. INTRUDER. INTRUDER. INTRU--"

The sound seems to come from about halfway between the house and the wall, but there is nothing to be seen there.

[sblock=Arcana DC 15]This is consistent with the effects of the Eye of Alarm ritual.[/sblock]

After a few seconds the voice cuts off mid-intruder. Moments later, a number of armed creatures come pouring out of the house. There appear to be two elves with longbows, and several goblins with various pointy things. They fan out, and their eyes quickly lock on to the party.

Woe reacts first, followed shortly by Tander...

[sblock=initiative and status]
Initiative rolls: allies, enemies

Woe 29/29 <== You're up
Tander 24/24
Archer 1 unharmed
Archer 2 unharmed
Atreus 24/24
Goblin 1 unharmed
Goblin 2 unharmed
Goblin 3 unharmed
Palindrome 23/23
Neera unharmed

Resources used:
* none yet
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