Finally, a good faction.  Now we just need members.

The world is full of evil groups.  Any in particular you want to go after?

Well, seeing as how this is an OOC thread, I'll just make a simple post rather than an IC post.

The best way to start off would be to deploy spies and scouts (seeing as how this is an organization, and all, so we probably have a few) to see who is the biggest threat to the common people right now.  While Sylvia would like nothing more to take the druid down first, there are probably bigger threats.

Also, I'm the antagonist for this game, aren't I?  It's all going to come to the evil characters ganging up and defeating me, isn't it?

Not everyone is evil.  The Perish are Neutral.  You could hire them to protect you from the evil people.

Okay, looking for the biggest threat.  Let me think on that tonight and see how to get that started.

Yes, but that would take money.  It's best to see what the villain groups are up to and what resources they have at their disposal before we commit to a plan or hiring mercs.

I didn't mean hire them now.  I meant when the rest of the world unites against you.

I have a plan now for you.  You're going to be the star.

There are a few major threats that have appeared in the land, ones that your order have been investigating.

A company of knights from your order have been dispatched to deal with one of the threats, a city filled with aberrations and demons.

The second threat is an army of animals and druids that has been gathering in Mott's Woods.  Rumor is that they plan on wiping out civilization.  However, they are not near any major city-states.

The most pervasive threat is currently the various bandit camps that have sprung up throughout the land.  However, most of the civilized groups are currently engaged with them.

Lastly, and possibly the most dire, far to the south there are rumors of an army of undead that is growing and conquering nearby villages.

Okay, starting from the top...

City filled with aberrations and demons.  This is really bad.  Common city guards aren't equipped to deal with this kind of threat.  We will probably have to move in.

Army of animals and druids planning to march.  Bad, of course, but less bad than demons and such.

Bandit camps.  Ugh.  Annoying and a little dangerous, but nothing that cities shouldn't be able to deal with whenever the bandits are nearby.  Cleaning them up would be good for PR, though.  Maybe we should hire the mercs to deal with this.  It's probably withing their realm of expertise.

Army of undead conquering cities?  Also really bad.

So, it's between the demons and the undead.  The undead is further away than the demons, at least with how I read that.  I think we should follow through with the city of demons first.  See how the army of knights that has already been deployed to deal with the demons has done and then finish that angle off.

Sorry to hijack this plot, but I'm going to send you after the undead.  500 knights is about to attack the city of demons and aberrations, so they are being dealt with.  As you said, everyone is against the bandits.  The army of animals and druids hasn't really done anything yet.

The head of your order gives you a team of twenty men and sends you to investigate the reports of this army of undead.  The city of Coral is closest to the army of undead and possibly one of their next targets.

Looks like you might have two people joining you in the next couple days.

Cool.  Any idea what they're going to play?  And should we wait before starting the adventure proper so that the new people can join up?

I was going to try to delay things a day or two to see if they come up with characters.

Congrats, someone finally joined.  Welcome Xander to the Knights of the Golden Ways.

I stand ready, Lady Terea.

*elegant bow*

Well Xander, I guess you can take over.

Lead squad on its march.

No, that is not going to happen.

When you are done waiting for Sylvia, then remove the faction. My character has no aspiration to lead.

Okay.

Sorry.  Spring break happened.  I'm back, though.  I'll make a post tomorrow, but as for right now, I'm exhausted.

There is nothing to forgive, my lady. I await your presence in the courtyard.

Hello, newly hired battle commander at your service. i hope my combat experience will prove useful.

What is the command structure of the Knights of the Golden Ways and where do we fall into it?

Should Xander be accustom to managing a small squad? Is that his duty as second in command?

Sylvia, this is your faction, so feel free to correct me.

I was thinking it would be, at least this section of it, would be fairly military.  Xander would be an experienced squad leader (NCO type), while Sylvia is a junior (yet up and coming) officer.  As the third person to join the faction, Marshal Targus is relegated to being a corporal.

I am going to wait for her organization layout before I post, as Targus is decked out and just got his commission from the Knights Templar. I will need to know how much authority I will have over men.

Additionally what principles does the order value? What are the golden ways?

Here is her outline for the faction when she RTJed.

Organization: Knights of the Golden Ways

The Knights of the Golden Ways, headed in a fortress called the White Citadel, are an order dedicated to thwarting evil's designs on good and innocent people.  The order has three different branches which perform the required functions for the organization.  The first order, The Golden Fist, go out and put the physical fight to evil, giving them a good thrashing when required.  The second order, The White Palm, serve as diplomats and preachers.  They go out and spread the good word and try to keep people good and moral.  The third order, The Outstretched Hand, perform the essential needs for the organization not already covered by the first two.  They are the priests that keep the members healed and resurrected, when needed.  They create and maintain arms and armor.  They cook the food in the kitchens.  The third order doesn't generally leave for hostile lands, and thus is the most populous.  They allow the first two orders to be able to go out and bravely combat evil in their own way, knowing that there will be warm food when they get back, healing for their wounds, and the occasional resurrection.

The Knights of the Golden Ways take their names from their statement that if they can get everyone to follow the ways of good, the blessed sun will rise upon the land and spread its blessing to one and all.

At this point, I would add more, but what the GM posted is pretty much all I had come up with so far.  I hadn't really thought about it beyond that point.

Good to know, but what about the command structure?

Going further up?  Sylvia will report to a captain (until she gets promoted).  That captain reports to a general.  The general reports to the Master.

So I am relegated down to a common soldier? That is what I wanted to know.How do the PCs fit in?

PCs will quickly rise through the ranks.  After each successful battle, each PC goes up 1 commander rank.

Xander would rather serve under Sylvia, than power level through ranks.

You will.  She's starting 1 rank higher, so as she moves up, you will follow her up through the ranks.  She becomes a captain, you become her lieutenant, unless she kicks you out.

Xander has opted to leave the game for reasons that he did not specify.  It is just down to the two of you here.

Wow.  And he posted this morning too like everything was fine.

He had a character in another faction, too and botched a hide check.  Something his 4 vs the enemies 15 spot check and losing in initiative, too.

So... that's really lame.

Oh, and I suppose I should post a reply in the IC thread.

I guess I just got promoted to your second?

See how quickly you're rising through the ranks:)

Yep, I'm awesome! :)

I have created the Bastion group.  Feel free to move to that thread.

We have a new Knight.  Everyone say "hi"

Alden, at the moment you are part of a small squad of knights that were sent south to investigate the rumors about an army of undead that was conquering the land.  You arrived in Bastion while it was fortifying itself against an upcoming attack.  The undead army is a few days away, massing it's forces.  Another army has also arrived to help defend Bastion.  That's where you are now.

Well, not so much a 'knight' in the literal sense. More the Merlin standing in the back.

Hello, I'm playing Alden, our friendly neighborhood wizard and sometimes reluctant servant of whichever deity controls arcane magic in these parts. Looking forward to getting started!

DM, should I go ahead and start posting in the IC thread, or would you like to post me in?
This message was last edited by the player at 14:08, Sat 02 Apr 2011.

You can go ahead and introduce yourself in the game.  You were part of the squad that arrived in Bastion.  Two other members went to speak to the mayor.  You can just follow after them and join in.

Anyone want a +5 holy avenger?

Ah, Sylvia.  I have an idea for you.  <insert evil laugh here>.  What god do you worship?

Um... I'm not sure what gods exist in your setting, so I can't rightly answer that question currently.

Sorry for the small post about getting the defenses done, but I just got back from holiday with the ball and chain and I must get some family stuff done before I put in more.

Standard gods from the players handbook exist as do the ones I mentioned in OOC the other day.

I'd offer to scribe some scrolls myself, but I don't have any XP to spare unfortunately. So I guess I'm just kind of cooling until the battle.

Incidentally, if we're using the PHB pantheon then Alden is a follower of Boccob, if it matters.

Would the men have enough ammo for drilling effectively? I know that most arrows can be recovered, but some will be lost. Is there enough in town to make sure the militia know how to take commands?

There are people in town that are making arrows, so there will be a full quarrel for everyone for when the battle starts, maybe more.

The militia have drilled some, they were trained by a veteran soldier, so they know how to take commands.

Was anyone going with Geoffrey to see the undead army?  Targus, I know that you were left behind to help with the defenses.

A little visual of Targus.

Quick question. Are we saying that Alden is a new addition to this squad, or that he's been around for awhile? Did he rendezvous with the group in Bastion?

Oh, and Alden will be sticking around Bastion if the rest of the Knights are. I'll post something IC to that effect in a bit.

We're saying that Alden was part of the squad that went to Bastion.  You were one of the 18 unnamed members.

I don't want you guys to think that you've been forgotten.  Do you guys want to do anything special while you wait for the army to arrive?

Trenches are being dug, spikes being installed, and blunt headed arrows being fashioned.  Also flammable stuffs are being gathered.

Anyone still alive?

Marshal Targus PMed me that he was leaving, but a new player is creating a member for the Knights.

Everyone say hi to Siraref Owlwings.  Anyone want to fill him in?

Hi everyone! I haven't gotten all caught up on prior threads yet, but I thought I should let you know ASAP that I'll be applying to your group. I'm looking forward to meeting you :)

Welcome Siraref, to the group.  I'm vaguely paying attention to the combat I'm not participating in!

As for what my character is doing, GM, she's not doing anything terribly important.  If she weren't the leader for the knights here, she would have gone out, but it's her responsibility to watch over them.

In reply to Sylvia Terea (msg #58):

Thanks for the welcome, Sylvia! Could you please let me know when would be a good time to show up in game? I think I'm still missing some context after reading the threads, so I don't want to pop in at an inappropriate moment.

Well, I think you can pop up in town at any time.  We're just putzing around, building defenses, and such.

In reply to Sylvia Terea (msg #60):

OK, thanks! I'll do that now.

The Empire folks will be running back to the city very shortly.

Siraref, I hope you've had time to catch up on what has transpired so far.  The Knights were sent down Bastion and the lands south to investigate rumors of an undead army.  In Bastion, they met The Empire which went to reinforce Bastion against an upcoming attack.  The Empire people went down the road to see the army for themselves, while the Knights stayed behind to prepare the defenses.  The Empire has just found out that the undead are crossing the river and decided to engage one of them.

Don't worry, not all of them are zombie gray renders.

Hey guys! Just finishing up a few last minute things for my character and reading what has gone on so far. pleasure to meet you all!

Hey there Sir Thomas, welcome! I actually, ah, joined a different faction >.> But if you pop up in Bastion, we should end up bumping into each other! (Assuming we live through those oncoming 300 zombie renders.)

... Zombie renders? yeah I really need to finished reading whats been going on

Well, I just finished catching up a few days ago myself, so let me know if there's anything I can help with. It's pretty much all there for the reading in the threads.

Welcome to the group, Sir Thomas.

Oh, and in case people haven't figured it out yet, I tend not to pop online during the weekends.  And this next Monday will probably be bad too, but Mondays after that should be fine.

Okay, so do I need to post placing myself on that map?  I'm not sure from your description if that's the only battlefield or not.

No, that's not the only battle field.  There is the East Gate, the North Gate, and the south gate.  Since you never choose one, I was going to have you in the middle of the town as a reserve/quick response force in case any of the gates were breached.

That is where you want me correct?

That's probably for the best.  No reason to set all our forces on one side when they could come from multiple.

In the West Gate thread, Sy on the map is Sylvia and ST is Sir Thomas.  The rest of the knights are behind you, I didn't make the map large enough.  I almost forgot that Gam was part of this group.  I will add him and a key to the map.

You may start kicking undead butt now.

I cast Mage Armor and Shield!  I am the bestest fightar evar!

Sorry about that.  Sylvia will continue to claim to be a fighter while casting low level buffs.

Just waiting on Sylvia.  I'll NPC her in the morning if she doesn't post.  I will also add a couple more knights to help you out.  I'm thinking have them go around and hit the renders from the side.

As of right now, those near me get DR 2/magic, just want to make sure you guys know that.
I also have other auras that gives +2 DMG rolls, 4 pts fire dmg to enemy attack with melee, fast healing 2, and 10 pt fire resist. If anyone ever thinks one of those would be better for something just say so. Most likely Sylvia would know about they as she is the CO.

[Private to GM: If you can, have one of the knights come by me. I was planning on going around the side next turn.]

Sorry.  Like I've said before, weekends are bad for me and logging on.  I've responded now, though.

No problem.  It gives me a chance to catch up on other threads.  Running six different encounters at a time can get a bit tough.

I just got a message from Gam yesterday, he had signed up to join the Knights and I has tried to include him in this encounter, but he lost his internet.  I'm hoping that he joins in soon.  I had hoped to have another PC to help you out.

Sylvia, zombies have DR 5/slashing.  You mace is not getting through.  Lances are not getting through either, Sir Thomas.  The greatsword on the other hand, when you hit, does work well.

good to know. though on my charge I'm doing some damage. just not enough. If I try to move away from the zombie now, it gets and AoO right?

If you take a 5' step or do a withdrawal action (full round), then no.  A regular move, yes.

sorry things have been very hectic, I'll try to get a post up tonight

You guys have dropped one render, got the second one below half.  I think you guys could do beat them all (given a couple more expendable NPCs).  Would you be adverse to just calling the battle now?  The third group of players have reached Bastion (the following day in game time) and I would like to get them in with you.

It's up to you, I'll keep running the encounter if you want.  Either way, feel free to take your attacks.

Since no one has done anything in game that you are ready to end this encounter.

After this last encounter, I believe that you should get your first follower.  Sylvia, go ahead and make up a 1st level PC with 32 point buy to be one of the Knights.

Sylvia, any thoughts on the follower?

Also, anyone going on the sortie with Geoffrey to help get the reinforcements in?

Siraref, you participated in the fight at the gate, right?  I just realized that I don't have a notice that gives your xp total.

Yep, sure did.