The Obsurati Strike Back....or Mission Failure!
Or...how I'm a bad DM!
So...with the team down to 3 PCs, and the fact that I didn't level them up to 9 yet, I took out most of the guards of the final depot fight and/or fought ineffectively.
I had one enemy mage who hit the first time, and then I'd auto miss the next rounds.
3 Musketeers firing every other rough.
2 guards
Lya
Bree/Verzuabak/Ottavia (who made it) -didn't engage.
Figured that was fair.
The team thought their cover, fake Ob rings, and rudimentary disguises were good enough. They actually worked OK for a bit on the train. As the lantern is turned on, and they see the depot now filled with people, they pull up in a carriage trying to bluff their way in.
They say "We're here for the meeting"
Guard: "Um, we're not expecting anyone...you have the wrong place"
Party: "Caius Bergeron sent us".
Guard: "Let's me check"
Guard goes inside and talks to Nicodemus. Meanwhile, Bree is still on the platform (though she was partially fooled that the party was in on the OB)...but so Lya, who can totally recognize them, especially our very unique Drow-type elf Character. She cannot blend in.
Nico: "Welcome, I'm surprised to see you"
Party: "I know what your thinking, but Caius sent us and we all have rings to prove our membership"
-- Rolling meaningless Bluff Check
Nico: "Do you now? Hmm, They might have fooled a few people but not me. Lya! -- Your friends from the RHC are here."
So...at this point the party felt that they were getting railroaded into battle, but they just tried to bluff their way past the leader of the OB who not only has seen them before (unknown to the party), but probably knows everyone who has a ring...at the very least, who should be at this meeting - especially, not coming on the train just walking up.
So everyone attacks. The party tries to Parlay, but Lya basically says that they've seen to much and can't be allow to leave. My parties tactics were poor. Probably from not playing in a while, but they rushed in...and for some reason didn't immediately use their dailies. I thought I said they had an extended rest after Odiem, but they might not have accounted for it.
Anyways, Lya's first close attack chops off the hand of rogue. They agreed that they had to leave. Next turn the dash for the carriage that they come in on, and run away. Lya, can't give chase. I could have done something here to stop them, but I was confused. Lya will give chase and wants them dead. I saw a TPK coming - if those stuns hit, it's really game over (which I then started to miss always). Figured Lya shouldn't die, but neither should they...so I let them get away.
They had great contacts in Venderice. Enclave, Port and a mage. They got to the mage, and ruled that will all of that in place, it was enough to get their safely. Sure, Lya herself could have given chase, but I wondered what that would get me. Another fight where she probably can take all 3 easily. So either she kills everyone, or chases them, gets wounded and runs off.
And so they didn't really learn that much. They charged in before they could spy on the meeting - mostly because when Delft contacted to 'capture or kill' anyone, they figured blunt force was the way to go...even though they just said "maybe we should just gather info". So they don't know why this meeting took place, got a hand chopped off (figuring out how to deal with this), have no prisoner...but at least know that Lya and her brother are involved in the Ob. The party said they didn't know how well Lya could spot them, and would have reconsidered...they didn't really remember Mission 1.
So this was a down mission for them, which hey...you can't win them all. the OB strikes back. Fitting because Lya looks like Carrie Fisher (leia), and Luc looks like Mark Hamil (Luke)...and then I had Lya cut somebody's had off. We were laughing about that Luc/Lya & Luke/Leia...I hope that was intentional!!!
On to level 10!
Or...how I'm a bad DM!
So...with the team down to 3 PCs, and the fact that I didn't level them up to 9 yet, I took out most of the guards of the final depot fight and/or fought ineffectively.
I had one enemy mage who hit the first time, and then I'd auto miss the next rounds.
3 Musketeers firing every other rough.
2 guards
Lya
Bree/Verzuabak/Ottavia (who made it) -didn't engage.
Figured that was fair.
The team thought their cover, fake Ob rings, and rudimentary disguises were good enough. They actually worked OK for a bit on the train. As the lantern is turned on, and they see the depot now filled with people, they pull up in a carriage trying to bluff their way in.
They say "We're here for the meeting"
Guard: "Um, we're not expecting anyone...you have the wrong place"
Party: "Caius Bergeron sent us".
Guard: "Let's me check"
Guard goes inside and talks to Nicodemus. Meanwhile, Bree is still on the platform (though she was partially fooled that the party was in on the OB)...but so Lya, who can totally recognize them, especially our very unique Drow-type elf Character. She cannot blend in.
Nico: "Welcome, I'm surprised to see you"
Party: "I know what your thinking, but Caius sent us and we all have rings to prove our membership"
-- Rolling meaningless Bluff Check
Nico: "Do you now? Hmm, They might have fooled a few people but not me. Lya! -- Your friends from the RHC are here."
So...at this point the party felt that they were getting railroaded into battle, but they just tried to bluff their way past the leader of the OB who not only has seen them before (unknown to the party), but probably knows everyone who has a ring...at the very least, who should be at this meeting - especially, not coming on the train just walking up.
So everyone attacks. The party tries to Parlay, but Lya basically says that they've seen to much and can't be allow to leave. My parties tactics were poor. Probably from not playing in a while, but they rushed in...and for some reason didn't immediately use their dailies. I thought I said they had an extended rest after Odiem, but they might not have accounted for it.
Anyways, Lya's first close attack chops off the hand of rogue. They agreed that they had to leave. Next turn the dash for the carriage that they come in on, and run away. Lya, can't give chase. I could have done something here to stop them, but I was confused. Lya will give chase and wants them dead. I saw a TPK coming - if those stuns hit, it's really game over (which I then started to miss always). Figured Lya shouldn't die, but neither should they...so I let them get away.
They had great contacts in Venderice. Enclave, Port and a mage. They got to the mage, and ruled that will all of that in place, it was enough to get their safely. Sure, Lya herself could have given chase, but I wondered what that would get me. Another fight where she probably can take all 3 easily. So either she kills everyone, or chases them, gets wounded and runs off.
And so they didn't really learn that much. They charged in before they could spy on the meeting - mostly because when Delft contacted to 'capture or kill' anyone, they figured blunt force was the way to go...even though they just said "maybe we should just gather info". So they don't know why this meeting took place, got a hand chopped off (figuring out how to deal with this), have no prisoner...but at least know that Lya and her brother are involved in the Ob. The party said they didn't know how well Lya could spot them, and would have reconsidered...they didn't really remember Mission 1.
So this was a down mission for them, which hey...you can't win them all. the OB strikes back. Fitting because Lya looks like Carrie Fisher (leia), and Luc looks like Mark Hamil (Luke)...and then I had Lya cut somebody's had off. We were laughing about that Luc/Lya & Luke/Leia...I hope that was intentional!!!
On to level 10!
