Opening Crawl: https://docs.google.com/file/d...b0k/edit?usp=sharing

Player's guide:
https://docs.google.com/file/d...VEk/edit?usp=sharing

Map of Kakishon:
http://cdn.obsidianportal.com/...s/94794/Kakishon.jpg

Map of Katapesh:
http://cdn.obsidianportal.com/...855/Katapesh_map.JPG

City of Katapesh:
http://cdn.obsidianportal.com/...PosterMap_Page_2.jpg

Link to Roll20 page:
https://app.roll20.net/join/85511/ZLp1pw
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:22, Thu 21 Feb 2013.

You have been traveling together for more than a
week on a dreary camel caravan from the town of Solku to an
unknown location in the northern scrublands of Katapesh.
The man who hired you is Garavel, the no-nonsense
major-domo of a merchant princess awaiting them at their
destination. In the distant haze to the west, you can just
make out the immense outline of Pale Mountain looming
over the mid-evening horizon like a tombstone.

[ Give each
player a chance to describe his character, what he looks like,
how he acts and so forth. Everyone has had a few days to get
to know one another, and this is a good way to engage the
players from the very start. ]

As Sahba

Wrapped from head to toe in a light wool material Sahba marched along side the caravan heading west. His feet and back ached from the long march. He was not used to wearing armor and toting a shield and sword, as his brothers and pact mates had done before him. Having been forced out into the wilds of Katapesh to 'earn his mane', Sahba took the first job he could find -- that of guarding this caravan.

There was no pay, but the offer of food, and future employment opportunities sounded good enough. So Shaba returned to his pack and informed them of his eventual departure, to which he was tossed an old sword and a worn out piece of hide.

Having been considered an 'adult' for the past several years, Sahba should have earned his mane ages ago. But when his parents feel ill, he chose to stay and care for his den, while his brothers, sisters, and friends, set out to claim their manes. When the gods gave the mercy of death to his parents, Sahba tried to take a place within his pack. But by then the pack had moved on. He was now an outcast, even among his family.

So when the armor was carelessly tossed at his feet, he was not surprised. It was their way of telling him to leave. To earn his mane or die trying. And, more or less, to just not come back. In his pack, when items became old and useless, they were tossed aside -- something many felt he should have done to his parents.

Picking up the old sword and armor he left. That was several months ago. Since then he has primarily kept to himself. Engaging in light conversation here and there, but never revealing anything about himself. He even has gone to great lengths to keep his face covered, for fear that other races would not take kindly to a Longtooth Shifter.
This message was last updated by the player at 05:43, Sun 17 Feb 2013.

The trip was not boring, though. A bright, cheerful halfling provided music and optimistic commentary. If Garavel ever objected, the halfling would defend her music with simple concepts like "Positive Mental Attitude is the number one survival necessity. Even more important than food." or if that didn't work, "If my music bothers you, then you can provide the entertainment." or if that didn't work, "Your stuck with me. Too bad." which, if Garavel threatened not paying, Emerald would threaten exposing him as a man who doesn't keep his word (And having the rest of the troupe as witnesses).

But no-nonsense probably only means the guy doesn't have a sense of humor and doesn't believe in fun that would endanger the troupe. Emerald is not one to endanger her allies for fun, so chances are she gets along just fine with Garavel.

Emerald had a painful background of her own, but like Sahab, she doesn't talk about that. However, throughout the trip, she DOES talk about all kinds of things, included snippets of her past, where she learned of "the magic of music." Most people who hear her go on about such things usually assume she means music is magical the same way a kiss or newborn baby is. But interpretations aside, she does mean literally. Even if she phrases it in ways that leave it open to interpretation.

Emerald also admits to not being from this land and having come from all over the place (though she doesn't admit to any ONE place as her origin), but she wears the clothing style of the locals, having decided ahead of time she would do so wherever she went.

Emerald is very social and happily picks up any topic she can with those she travels with, learning what the people she is traveling with enjoy.

And her music... when she sings, one could swear their own heart was swaying and beating to Emerald's voice. When she strummed the lute, skill flowed from her fingers as naturally as dew from flower pedals. This was no standard bard who just sang songs and plucked strings. There was something more to this bard...

---

thoroughly enjoyed hearing Sahab's backstory. Emmy's will only be revealed in RP, though. :P

  Any problems Kyle may or may not have had with Shifters in the past had been purely professional, and with Razorclaws anyways.  Not that racial profiling was something for Kyle to worry about in the primarily Human and Halfling populated city around these parts.

  He also had a generic wisdom modifier, so Saab might have a 50/50 chance hiding their species from him with just a fake mustache.

  As for No Nonsense Businessmen, Kyle considered himself somewhat of one.  Of course, this was in the sense he tried to work in a professional manner.  A fellow redhead providing a pleasant song and dance routine was hardly worth complaint so long as it wasn't causing problems.  There was a difference between a desire to always get paid and keep people alive, and a dislike of social interaction.  Even if it could otherwise at times.

  Kyle was on hand as much as maintenance as he was further protection, broken trade wagons in the middle of the desert being repaired quickly was an easy way to more than make up the cost in ritual components.  As for exposition regarding his own past, we'll skip that for now.

  Though he might have a Halfling and Vryloka for grandparents on one side of the family tree.

Only the far-away eyes of this woman completely wrapped in black are visible, but the features suggest she must be human.  She isn't one for conversation, and when spoken to she responds in cryptic rhyme, saying things like,

"The birth of a new world awaits in your hands
With only your hopes and your dreams may you stand."

Among these eccentricities, she does not leave shoe or sandal prints on the hot sand, rather footprints of bare feet.

Tym Spiritwolf

Among the guards is what appears to be a golem. Standing 6'2", this sandstone colored creature rarely smiles and his obsidian eyes seem to measure everything they see. Wherever his leather armor isn't covering his "skin" you can see veins of obsidian accentuating the curves of his body, making a striking display of biceps and abdomen. He wields a black Greataxe the way a human would a shortsword or a halfling would a dagger, which is to say with apparent ease and skill. While not necessarily anti-social, he has a hard time bringing himself to share in the camaraderie around the fire with people he doesn't yet know or trust. As a result, he spends a lot of time on roving guard duty, both while the caravan is moving and when at camp.

His back story is rich and deep. Will also come out only if someone works for it.

Omira Bloodletting is not easily approachable. Standing 6”, long black hair tied back with leather straps and her purple eyes along with her sleek obsidian body protruding blades of iron and bone from hide armor is an intimidating sight. A long bow is strapped across her back, Omira’s eyes always seem to be searching but, for what, no one can say.

Omira left the city life of Zoronor to carve her own path in this world willing to risk her life for the adventure and great hunt.  After spending a few days being rejected from most jobs she applied for she was easily recruited for her long bow by Garavel.  His no nonsense attitude and kindness has earned him great respect in her eyes.  Omira has enjoyed her travels with the caravan getting a chance to study so many other races and building a respect to replace the ingrained fear she has always known.

She is slow to engage or divulge any information about her history or her people although she has enjoyed all the other conversations and stories her companions have shared of their adventures.  Always willing to listen to someone tell a story or sing she has found herself trying to make new friends to her surprise. She often disappears and returns with food to share among her new companions.

http://s148.beta.photobucket.c...zps5130f6ab.jpg.html
This message was last edited by the player at 22:15, Wed 20 Feb 2013.

Surya reaches her hand forward and prophesies,

"Beneath the glow of the burning claw,
A fell wind portends the star seer's fall.
You did your best, Eloais,
but none mourn thee, Alas.
Now follow Sarenrae's light
and know the fiend dies tonight."

Soon you are nearing their
destination. As soon as the craggy tree appears over the
next hill, it becomes obvious why it is called the Sultan’s
Claw. With five immense, mostly leafless branches, the
growth looks more like a giant skeletal talon than a thing
of living wood.
As you top the last rise, a caravan of a half-dozen
wagons and a large tent clustered around the distinctive
tree comes into view. Camels in a nearby pen prance in
agitation, and a clutch of confused goats and livestock
wander the grounds around the wagons. Perhaps a dozen
men and women rush around the campsite, chasing down
an animal or hastening toward the center of the cluster,
near the Sultan’s Claw, with pails of water in their hands.
One of the wagons is on fire!

Lush orange and red flames engulf an elaborate wooden
wagon emblazoned with painted moons and stars. A gout
of smoke pours from an open door, and as you approach an
ill wind blows a number of colorful fortune-telling Harrow
cards from inside the wagon.  One of these
singed cards blows directly at Surya, catching against
her chest in a burst of orange cinders. It is the Cyclone,
signifying a force that tears through whatever it meets at
the behest of an intelligent being. The card portends war,
arson, and destructive plans. As the PCs’ eyes shift their
focus from the Cyclone back to the wagon, the whole of the
Sultan’s Claw erupts into brilliant flame!

The central flap of an elaborate tent flies open and a regal
woman who can only be Almah steps out into the firelit night.
http://www.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/f9c53ebb9d.gif
“Douse that flame!” she shouts to the men surrounding the
wagon before turning in your direction. “Ah, Garavel!” she
says. “And just a moment later than the nick of time, as usual.”
http://cdn.obsidianportal.com/...s/853738/garavel.png
Looking specifically past her major domo and directly at
you, Almah barks out a simple order before running off
toward the fire: “Find some way to help!”

Everyone has the opportunity to help in one of the
following ways:

Put Out the Fire: Almah, Garavel, and four soldiers
dressed in the distinctive red chitin-plate armor of the
Pactmaster Guard run back and forth between the burning
fortune teller’s wagon and an uncovered wagon about
20 feet away. The latter contains a huge barrel holding
enough drinking water to serve the entire campsite for a
week. At present, it will take the six people 10 rounds to
quench the fire using the pail-by-pail method. There are
more buckets to be grabbed , and
each person assisting in this manner reduces the number of
rounds it takes to put out the fire by 1.

Pull Wagon Out of the Way: Four burly mercenaries
struggle with an enclosed wooden wagon within feet of the
burning wagon, hoping to move it to safety before an errant
spark causes it too to burst into flame. This will occur 6
rounds after you arrive unless they successfully haul
it out of the way. Moving the unhitched wagon requires a
DC 26DC 15 Strength check. The four mercenaries each attempt
a DC 10 Strength check (each mercenary has a +1 bonus
to this check) to aid a PC attempting to move the wagon,
potentially adding as much as +8 to the check.

http://cdn.obsidianportal.com/.../420775/zastoran.gif
Heal Wounded Firefighters: A red-headed halfling
cleric, Father Zastoran, kneels next to two severely burned
mercenaries who tried to enter the burning wagon. Father
Zastoran is tending to a badly wounded mercenary called
Trevvis, but he is unable to focus on his second patient,
a female sworder named Kallien, who lies near death
from terrible burns and smoke inhalation. Any magical
healing is sufficient to stabilize Kallien, who is currently
at –6 hit points and counting. A DC 15 Heal check is
also sufficient to stop Kallien’s decline.

Deal with Frightened Animals: A
modest collection of pigs, goats, and
sheep accompanies Almah’s party
on the journey to Kelmarane. The
flaming wagon has unsettled
these creatures, which
somehow escaped from their
pen in the confusion surrounding
the fire’s outbreak. The middle-aged
human camel driver and his wife
do their best to wrangle the panicking
animals, but their efforts are quickly
being overrun by the chaos of the
situation.
Five animals must be calmed in order to keep
them out of danger and out of the way. Calming
a panicked animal requires a DC 20 Handle Animal
or wild empathy check. DC 15 Nature. The goal is to manage to make 5
successful checks before the fire is quenched.

  Kyle had picked up a few things about medical procedure in his studies.  But while he was confident he could stabilize Kallien given time to work, this wasn't exactly a situation where time (or Take-Tens) was an available luxury.  So instead Kyle bypasses all that hard work in the realm of medicine in favor of his more practiced talent for the arcane.

  The Artificer comes to a stop by the sworder and infuses them with arcane vitality, somehow doubting he would get metaphysically reimbursed for the expenditure.  "I can do that one more time, so considering the tendency of wildfires to spread I'm going to save it in case any other near fatal injuries come about."

  Once he can get around to it, Kyle will work towards putting out the fire.  If only because he somewhat safely assumes he is terrible with large panicked animals beyond shooting them.

OOC: Healing infusion.  Surge+1 healed if you want some numbers.

Seeing that Kyle has already helped with the woman, Emerald rushes to help with the fire. Pushing the large cart away doesn't even cross her mind as she is not exactly strong. Helping with the animals *does* occur to her, but Emerald knows she isn't good with animals. Besides... the sooner the fire goes out, the sooner all the other stuff will either be unnecessary or just easier. She trusts her allies to take to their best suited jobs, but keeps an eye open as she carries buckets of water to see if any ally winds up looking lost, dumbstruck, or otherwise in need of guidance.

A visual representation of the scene:
http://img.photobucket.com/alb...3689/SultansClaw.png
This message was last edited by the player at 14:55, Wed 20 Feb 2013.

Fire. Animals. Prevention. Heal.
Sahba tried to break every situation into its most basic component. Making it easier for him to access what was a priority.

The Fire had a bucket brigade -- though it could spread, which would mean further trouble for the caravan(s). Four people there.
The Animals/Horses -- without them these people would be walking to where ever they were going, or starve trying to get there. Two people there.
Prevent further spread of the fire -- by moving nearby carts, the fire couldn't spread. Four people there.
Heal the wounded -- he had no skill in medicine, but there were others here who fit that mold. One person there.

Helping with the animals was priority. They had the fewest hands to deal with a large problem. And so he rushes over to the husband and wife to to assist them in corralling the livestock and horses.

"Woah! Easy there!" he shouts at one horse, spreading his arms wide and bring the horse's attention to him, rather than the raging fire behind him. "Easy boy." The horse calms and allows itself to be removed from the chaos.

---

Nature Check (1d20 [7] + 8 = 15, Success!) 1 out of 5

I quickly move to take control of the covered wagon, arranging the mercenaries to best utilize the design and available area. I take position behind the wagon and brace myself, feet digging into the ground and hands firmly against the wagon wall.

"On the count of three," I yell. I count off loudly in measured intervals, ensuring that all four mercenaries are in time with me.

On three, I push hard, shoulder muscles bulging against the weight as I walk slowly forward away from the threatening fire.





Strength Check (1d20) [10] + 4 str bonus = 14
14 + 4 (assuming min bonus for mercenaries?) = 18
14 + 8 (max bonus for mercenaries) = 22
I'd say that's a success

Omira sees the animals and people in need and reacts without thought.  She reaches into her bags and grabs her blanket, draping it across her arms to increase the area screened using it as shield to direct the goats and sheep back to safety.  Believing animals can feel your emotions she works to stay calm and to project that emotion to the animals hoping they will relax and be guided. She looks to see if she needs to do it again; however, seeing her companions assisting, she decides to use her blanket to help screen the animals view away from the fire and continues to work at keeping them calm.

“Over here, I'll block their view. I believe they will stay calmer where they can’t see the fire.”

{(nature +9); I rolled Nature checks: 14 + 9 = 23, 16 + 9 = 25, 3+9 = 12, 11 + 9= 20, and an 8 + 9 = 17}
I wasn't sure how many times you wanted/needed me to roll.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:12, Thu 21 Feb 2013.

Edited the link to the Roll20 page into the opening post.  Here it is again for the sake of redundancy: https://app.roll20.net/join/85511/ZLp1pw

Surya joins the others in the bucket brigade.  With the help of the heroes, the fire is quenched, the animals are safely corralled, and the camp is saved!

"Well done," Almah commends, "It seems Garavel did well to hire the lot of you..."

She considers her words as she eyes the strange assortment of newcomers; a Bladeling, a Halfling, a Genasi, and two others who hide their faces, then smiles.

"Remarkable people."

50 xp per player for saving the camp.

Immediate crisis aside, Almah shows
remarkably little concern over the
fate of her astrologer, treating it more
as a loss of resources than a personal
tragedy. She asks Garavel to lead an
investigation into whether or not
the fire might have been set by
someone in her camp. Since the
heroes also were not around
when the fire broke out (and
are thus unlikely potential
arsonists in her eyes), she asks
them to help her major domo
determine if there is a mystery afoot,
and if so, to solve it.
Garavel tells the heroes that the
destroyed wagon belonged to Almah’s
personal fortuneteller Eloais, a
handsome man from Almah’s distant homeland
of Varisia. Eloais’s specialty was a divinatory deck
of cards known as Harrow, a few cards of which litter
the ground outside the burned-out wagon.
Physical examination of the ruined wagon reveals
sooty ashes, a few broken bottles or potion vials, a cracked
nonmagical crystal ball, and several pools of melted wax
where candles must once have stood. Eloais’s charred
skeletal form remains near the center of the wagon. A DC
20 Search DC 15 Perception check reveals no signs of struggle or violence,
suggesting that the fortune-teller was killed by the fire
itself or from inhaling the smoke the fire caused. Searching characters may make
a DC 16 Spot DC 15 Perception check to notice the gnoll expert Dashki
lurking a short distance away, watching them from behind
the corner of a nearby wagon.

  Kyle is very boring apparently, but then he'd have trouble arguing that point.

  "It would hardly be in the job description to run away when the caravan we were hired to protect was at risk.", he comments before heading over to the remains of the wagon.  He picks up the cracked crystal ball, recalling an acquaintance who had put a similarly mundane one to good use in actual arcane practice.

  Kyle comes to the conclusion Eloais had suffered what seemed to have been the most... relaxed, of burning deaths.  He considers what is left of the spilled potions and vials "I could have studied advanced alchemy, but no I had to learn Elven."  Sure, he knew how to make potions.  But so could any idiot who had read up on the Brew Potion ritual.

OOC:  Perc 23, a pleasant surprise.
For kicks arcana check:  15

The person Kyle sees: http://bellsouthpwp.net/e/r/eric_ang/Dashki.png

Results of Arcana check:  The only thing magical in the immediate vicinity are the potions which are of the relatively cheap variety.  Potions of healing and resist poison for example.  Some of the potions aren't magical at all.

"While it seems there is no love lost on the late Eloais, a burial and a few words for the departed would be the very least we should do for him," Surya says softly as she respectfully begins to wrap the body in whatever bits of cloth she can find that weren't completely destroyed.

"Right," Almah agrees, "I'll have the others deal with that.  You all focus on finding out if this was an accident.  Which seems terribly unlikely.  Wagons don't accidentally go up in flames quite that fast and without any calls for help from the occupant.  So find out who did this."

"The killer dies tonight," Surya prophesies with hand outstretched,
"Cliff and cactus in sight."

"Well, well, well... Would you take a look at that molding."
Apparently finding the craftsmanship of the wagon he had helped save quite intriguing, Tym fails to notice anything of the surrounding area.


Perception Check = (d20) [9] + 0 = 9

Sitting in contimplation Omira starts running questions through her mind.  1.) Why would someone set a fire to the wagon.. was it the victim they were after or was it something inside they were scared of.  2.) Where did the fire start inside or ourside of the wagon. 3.) Who would gain the most from this "accident" and who loses other than the dead man.  4.) Who are all of these people and why are they travelling together is there a relationship that has soured that caused this crime. 5.) How does everyone else view this incident.  Well, I guess as well as trying to help solve a crime that really has nothing to do with us can wait till after we see to the dead.

Hmmm.. catching a glance at the wagon before standing she Thinks to herself and studies the "crime scene" Perception check 14+9 = 23.

She states to any who can hear her "Where did the fire start inside or outside the wagon?"

Glancing around to see if anyone else is going to join in the investigation she watches the group for a reaction and interactions. Peception check 15+9=24

Looking back towards where she last spotted Dashki I wonder what he is up to.  Looking to see if Dashki still stands out.  (Perception role 15+9-24)


Stating: Well, there I go again getting caught up with this when there is a grave matter to attend to first. Looking over at Sahba  I'll assist with the burial what do you need me to do?
This message was last edited by the player at 20:04, Mon 25 Feb 2013.

His mother once told him a story about a detective named Sherlock Holmes. A master of deduction and wit, was this man, that Sahba came to admire the legendary figure as a young cub. He would run around the den pretending to be Holmes while one of his younger brothers would play the sidekick Watson. Sahba even vowed to one day become a super sleuth, much like Detective Holmes. But of course that never came to pass, and, as his dreams went out the window, so did his ability to perceive a crime scene.

The fact that the fortune teller died in the flames left Sahba believing that there could have been any number of reasons why she died a fiery death. Possibility after possibility swam in his head: assassination, heart attack brought on by poison, magical fowl play, a stray rock to the forehead, and so on. As his mind raced through the mired of choices his eyes did catch a glimpse of a figure eyeing the group form behind a wagon.

Not wanting to show his hand Sahba continues to "search" the crime scene. But really he waits, keeping an eye on the figure, looking for it to make its next move. At any sign that the individual makes a moves, Sahba will pounce into action.

---

Perception check 1 - the body: 12 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 4
Perception check 2 - the figure: rolled 23 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 15.
Readied Action: charge the figure if he moves

"Forgive me, Almah, but until I understand why you don't seem upset at all about the death of Eloais, I won't be able to shake the feeling that you wanted him dead and thus, make you a suspect in my mind."

Her eyes are fully trained on Almah, ignoring all else.

---

Perception check: 5
Insight check to peer into Almah's motives and/or overcome a potential bluff check by Almah: 17

When playing out these interviews, use the NPCs’
descriptions on the preceeding pages to liven things
up; the players should ask their questions, not just roll
Diplomacy checks and wait for you to feed them a few lines
of information, after all.

Dashki doesn't move away and simply continues to spy on the heroes.

"How would you feel if one of your friends burned to death and you had to put on a strong front to maintain the respect of your caravan?!" Almah snaps bitterly at Emerald's question.  Emmy can tell that this burst of emotion is genuine.  She sighs and collects herself. "I hired Eloais in Solku about a month
ago to read his cards for me.  I haven’t visited the land of my ancestors, but having a harrower at my side felt right."

"He foretold disaster," Surya asserts.

"How did you...?"

Surya holds up the Cyclone card for Almah to see who stares at it in disbelief.

"Eloais’s readings had grown increasingly grim.  His last reading centered on that auspicious card, the Cyclone, portending death by fire and schemes by powerful evil."

"This omen also speaks of Kelmarane."

"Yes, but the village is only a small part of something much larger, something he called the 'Legacy of Fire.'  I'm not sure what he meant by 'Legacy of Fire,' alas."

With as little information as the PCs have at this point, no further Knowledge checks can reveal anything more, aside from the fact that no “Legacy of Fire” figures in prominent tales or legends.

"You don't realize just how much you meant to Eloais.  We shall soon learn that Dashki is obsessed with you."

Almah blinks in surprise then grows thoughtful.

"Eloais and I didn’t have a romantic relationship, but I did spend a lot of time with the Varisian listening to his fortunes — time that could well have made Dashki jealous?  Be careful in your questioning of him.  Don't tell him he is a suspect or he might frustrate your investigation."

  "If he were both at fault and cautious, then I doubt they would fall to their knees confessing just on someone's say so."  Of course on the other hand, there usually wasn't much of a legal system to prevent mere say so being damning in much of the world.

  "Though I suppose the main question at the moment would be if his hearing is better than his hiding."

One of the mercenaries who helped move the big wagon answers Omira, "It had to have been started from the inside.  Otherwise we would have noticed the flames in time to save both Eloais and the wagon."

Emerald is briefly startled by the sudden outburst, but shows more relief than annoyance. "No offense meant, Almah, but all I knew about you can be summed in the past 5 minutes. The only person who could have started the fire would be someone in the camp itself."

She tilts her head in the direction of Omira and the answer she gets. "Then the fire was more to clean up evidence while spreading chaos while the one who started the fire got away maybe?"

She shrugs. "Well if Surya's assertion is any clue, then where is Dashki?"

(Emmy failed the perception check to notice Dashki, but Surya pointed out the name)

Omira thinks to herself... If it was set from the inside the person who set it had to have subdued the victim, set the fire, and had time to get away clean or be seen.  That takes a lot of skill.  Dashki sucks at being stealthy at least to the trained eye.  Glancing around at the people around wonders if any of them appear to have trained skills for this type of work.

Omira looks at the person who responded and says "Did the wagon have some kind of security.. Anything in place maybe magically that the person who set it would have to get through?" Continuing to ponder out loud not really waiting for a response she states "It just strikes me that whoever set it would have to have known when would be a good time to set it as well.. was there a routine in place for maybe a watch as well?"

Waits patiently for a response as she glances around looking again to spot Dashki and see what he is up to.

Perception: Rolled 13+9=22
This message was undeleted by the player at 01:32, Tue 05 Mar 2013.

"That's not necessarily true, Emerald," I say. "Kyle picked up a cracked crystal ball earlier. It could very well be possible a magic spell was somehow pushed through it, or perhaps some other device, into the wagon."

"However, as we have very few leads, I believe discretion to be the cumbersome part of valor. Let us ask this Dashki exactly what he knows. If we don't accuse him, he shouldn't have a problem. If he acts suspiciously, then we shall push the harder for it."

Tym turns towards the tree several members have glanced at when mentioning Dashki and makes to move in his direction should noone stop him.

Sahba takes his eyes off his target, as his ears pick-up on the talk of fire. What was this Legacy of Fire? Why would someone kill a fortune teller? His mind mulls over the limited knowledge and comes up with nothing. They can only hope that something will come up.

He then turns his attention back to the Dashki that Tym is now approaching. Does this one know something? He follows closely behind Tym to see.

---

OOC: As a player I had the thought that perhaps the title of the story "Legacy of Fire" might start with this supposed arson. Perhaps that this fire was alive. Or maybe the work of an elemental. But Sahba wouldn't know anything like that. This is all new to him. So it is kept as OoC thought.

Dashki doesn't make any indications that he overheard the conversation, nor does he make a move to leave his hiding place.

The only ones who may clearly have people-killing skills that Omira can see are the mercenaries.

Almah calms down and nods.  "It's good to be thorough."

To answer emerald's question, Surya points in Dashki's direction.The merc answers Omira with a shrug.  "He was a fortune-teller.  Shouldn't he have seen the danger ahead of time?  As for security, we have a night watch.  During the day, everyone's expected to call for help if they see danger.  Especially fortune-tellers."

"Knowledge will pass through us," Surya prophesies, hand outstretched,
"In a veil bound in ashes.

Blessed are those who hear;
Keep what is written for the time in near.
He who has an ear, let him hear
The footsteps of one
As he approaches the doors of heaven to return.

Lead us to the edge of life and death;
Bound by ears of wisdom.
Give us this day, give us the strength
To reach out and touch the face
of the divine."

"Uh... yeah..."

Anyone who approaches Dashki immediately
notices that his powerful body odor betrays a man with a
very loose relationship with hygiene. He dresses in filthy
rags and walks with a slight limp due to an old injury
(a gnoll once tried to chew off his left leg at the thigh),
propping himself up with a gnarled wooden staff. (A DC 10
Spot check during mealtime reveals that the gnoll expert
ravenously shoves food into his mouth with his grubby
hands, an animalistic display that grossly offends anyone
of culture or refinement.)

"Ho there! Stinky!" I shout at the little man as his odor appears friendlier than his countenance. "We were watching you watching us and we want to know what you know of the events surrounding the fire, since you were so busy hiding and not helping."

I flex my arms and clench my fists a few times. "Tell me quickly and I won't have to forcefully introduce you to a bar of soap."




OOC: 5 Diplomacy check 19 Intimidate check
This message was lightly edited by the player at 18:12, Wed 06 Mar 2013.

Looking over at the Merc, Omira replies "Sounds like there are some hostilities or resentments about the fortuneteller? I don't know much about fortunetellers or their type of skills but I would think he should have been able to predict, sense, or something to protect himself in one way or another but out side of that was there another issue we should be aware of?" Tell me how do you really feel?

Ponders if Surya is in the same type of work and if he'll be able to shed some light on the workings of this magic.

Looks over at Tym and agrees/hopes he'll get some answers from Dashki.  He is intimidating enough I'd think to get something out of him... that will at least help the rest of us get answers from the others around the camp.

Insight check Rolled 10+4=14
Perception check rolled 6+9=15

OOC: I was looking around to see if any of the merc or camp people looked to have rogue skills for stealthiness, picking locks, sneaky job trades.. not the killing people ones.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:32, Wed 06 Mar 2013.

  Kyle has leather armor and a crossbow, if you had a very limited view of 'Equipment = Class' then one could assume he was a sneaky sort (Rangers, Can't trust em).  Or you could realize he was kind of terrible at concealed movement, let alone stealthy enough to pull off Daylight arson without any potential witnesses being spectacularly dim witted.

  Kyle manages (somehow) to refrain from double taking at Tym.  The Genasi was going to Pump *clap* You up Dashki into compliance?  He distracts himself from this by answering their previous question.  "While a trained sort could use a chunk of glass as a focus for their own basic spells, it would require something much more valuable, or at the very least enchanted in some way for something like that to have happened.  Though that doesn't mean such an object was simply removed, I find it more likely that more plain methods of arson were used."

  Okay, we could spend several hundred gold investing in a specific ritual and the required components, and the minutes long at best casting time.  Or, we could use a match.

OOC:  As a reminder, Crippled limping cane man, everybody.
http://bellsouthpwp.net/e/r/eric_ang/Dashki.png 

Emerald is tempted to pull a Daffy Duck and smooch Surya on the lips, just to get a reaction out of her like "EEEK!" or "What the?!", but figures she'll save that for another time. Besides... she finds the eccentricities of this group *highly* entertaining. And here I'm supposed to be the entertainer she thinks to herself.

Emerald does, however, address the merc who was talking to Omira. "Hey now... don't speak ill of the dead. Fortune-tellers can no more evade fate than the sun can evade falling behind the horizon. Everyone meets their end eventually, whether they are prepared for it or not."

Emerald starts to approach Tym and says, "Don't be mean, Tym. We don't want to antago-" she wrinkles her nose and covers her mouth before she can get to where Tym is and says, "Pardon..." she heads over to check the OTHERS in the camp who are NOT Dashki. Yeesh! She thinks to herself, Who lets themselves go that long? Is he just that depressed? Or that depraved?

"So it shows it's true colors," Dashki answers, "It arrives on the heels of fire and death, plays the hero to deceive sweet Almah, now bears it's teeth.  I have nothing to say to you, deceiver.  Now make good on your threat so I can forcefully introduce your face to my blades."

He bears his teeth in a savage expression that resembles a snarling dog.

Surya can only predict those things that are expected to happen in the module, so sudden smooch attack will certainly catch her off guard.  Assuming Mr. Tym doesn't turn this into a combat encounter, she puts her hands together in a triangle gesture ( http://neveryetmelted.com/wp-images/SpockSalute.jpg ) and bows to Dashki.

"Perhaps you misunderstand.  Tym and the rest of us have been tasked by our employer Almah with finding Eloais killer.  Tym simply wishes to do so quickly.  Clearly you care about Almah.  Did Eloias?"

"Grr.  Yes.  I could see in his eyes he desired her."

"She often spent time alone with him.  Did that make you jealous?"

"Of course it did!"

"Then you're glad he's dead."

"No.  He was a waste of Alma's money in life, but in death he's costing her even more: a wagon, a funeral, and an investigation.  It would have been better if he was simply fired."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:13, Sat 09 Mar 2013.

Sahba only stands to the side waiting to hear more, saying nothing. If there was one thing his parents taught him, it was to be quiet, be patient and wait.

  "While we are on the subject of business expenditures, what is it exactly you do around here Dashki.  More or less expensive than fortune telling of unconfirmed accuracy?"

  Usually the flavor text only bothers to go into poor hygiene if it's someone either A) destitute, or B) Evil.  Dashki was currently employed, but then shooting a man for bad health habits wasn't exactly rational.

Omira hallors back towards Dashki but is addressing everyone.

"We must have information from everyone who was here at the time of the fire. You are not the only one being questioned Dashki, do us all a favor and cooperate with our questions.  That goes for all of you as well.  If you have nothing to hide then answer our questions quickly and honestly. Where were you when the fire was set?"

Diplomacy: rolled an 18. I don't have it trained so it's just an 18.

I feel my anger mount at this smelly little man for challenging me, but I am able to hold it back.

"You say that you are not glad the fortuneteller is dead but you do not grieve for him. That is all fine, but you have yet to answer the question. That being, what did you see?"

"Almah hired me about a month ago to tell her all about
the gnolls living in these hills," Dashki answers Kyle with a far-away look in his eyes,
"Gnolls killed my mother and
grandfather when I was a boy. They put fire to our village
and slew hundreds. Somehow I escaped with my father to
the town of Solku, not far from here. It was a long time
ago, I’ve forgotten most of what I saw. Terrible things. But
I find it’s the sounds that stay with me. The shrill howls
and barks—hundreds of them at once—that sounded
deliriously close to an audience. Laughing at us.

"Father raised me to know everything about the gnolls,
their customs, their language. So as better to track them
down and wipe them out. All of them. Together we scouted
out their lairs, studied their tribes, listened to them speak
until we could understand what they were saying. They’re
not dumb animals, you know. Not like you might think.
In some ways they’re even smarter than us.

He takes on a grim expression.

"Dad didn’t survive our first raid on a gnoll camp
of the Three Jaws tribe. I saw them fall on him
like hyenas on an abandoned kill, slathering
themselves in his blood and innards. I can
still hear the tear of his scalp and the sound
of his bones against frenzied teeth. Against
this scene I was forgotten. Ignored.

"I escaped, and I carry on the work of
my father.  I'm paid enough to get by.  I don't know how much Eloias was paid, but it was more than flipping cards and telling stories deserved."

To Omira he answers, "I was at the edge of camp looking for signs of a gnoll ambush."

He turns an angry look to Tym then turns back to Omira, "I see you all tearing toward the camp, then saw the fire."

"Is there anyone who can confirm where you were?" Surya asks.

"The whole camp!  They know my smell."

While Emerald certainly didn't take a direct involvement in the stinky gnoll-hunter, she still overheard what was being said. She frowns. "Alright everyone... since the fire is not an issue and the animals are herded, lets' all gather and we'll hear your stories one by one. Almah, if you would kindly, make sure everyone is accounted for?"

---

Kyle:

  Usually the flavor text only bothers to go into poor hygiene if it's someone either A) destitute, or B) Evil.  Dashki was currently employed, but then shooting a man for bad health habits wasn't exactly rational.

Was thinking the same thing OOC. But all Emerald is thinking is this guy must have been RAISED by gnolls to be so... bestial.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:37, Wed 13 Mar 2013.

Addressing Dashki "I'm sorry for your youth, that is a harsh one for sure." Giving Dashki a sincere look.  "I'm sure Almah is grateful to have your services to aid in her journey.  I'm gonna agree to Emerald here and ask we all sit together and go over what happened. Where everyone was and all that will help."

Starts to move towards the center of the camp waving to everyone to follow.  "Lets just take a few minutes and discuss everything openly."

Perception: 6+9=15
Diplomacy: 14

Satisfied with Dashki's answer, hostile though it might be, I head towards Emerald.

  "I have heard that Gnolls were a frequent problem in these parts, but it appears the degree of which has been understated to me so far."  Only so many home villages to go around for being burned down with sole survivors.

  "While I wouldn't doubt their capacity to employ proper tactics, I am curious in what ways you have felt they are smarter.  Knowing where you consider them to be their strongest would help if I found myself needing to act to prevent what has happened to you occurring again for others."

Daski looks flattered by Omira's assurance of Almah's approval but doesn't know how to reply to her small kindness.  To Kyle he simply answers, "Golls trust their instincts more."

On Emerald's suggestion a head count is taken and it is discovered that Rombard, Hadrod the camel driver's favorite goat, is the only one missing.

The interviews:

Garavel sighs, then indicates that he has never trusted
Dashki, and if anyone in the group were to be revealed
as an arsonist and murderer, Dashki would be the least
surprising to him.

Caravan Guards: Almah’s personal guard were all
standing guard at her tent when the fire started—none of
them saw anything suspicious at the astrologer’s wagon,
but one did catch a glimpse of Dashki trying to hide
behind a tree nearby; “It was clear that he was trying to get
a look into Almah’s tent. That boy is obsessed with her.”
This places Dashki quite some distance from the wagon
when the fire started, evidence in favor of his innocence.

The mercenaries were enjoying themselves around
the feast-fire, finishing off dinner with a sturdy drink.
They weren’t too fond of Eloais and thought of him as a
weakling. If they ask about Dashki, the guards confirm that
he wasn’t at the feast-fire with them, and one muses that
he was probably spying on Almah—his obsession with the
merchant princess is something of an open secret, with
only Almah seemingly being oblivious to his attentions.
None of the mercenaries has a high opinion of Dashki.
(Friendly: The mercenaries make a few lewd and suggestive
comments about the relationship they suspect Eloais had
with Almah, and wonder if Dashki might have burned the
astrologer’s wagon to “get rid of the competition.”)

Zastoran: The cleric was reading a book by the fire-pit,
but the mercenaries were being too loud for him and he’d
just stood up to return to his wagon when the fire started.
He can attest that all six of the mercenaries were at the
fire-pit and nowhere near the astrologer’s wagon when the
fire broke out, and that Dashki was not. He thought Eloais
was a charlatan and that Almah is better off now without
his attention, but admits she did seem quite fond of him.
He finds Dashki to be unsettling, and his obsession with
Almah somewhat disturbing; “No one with healthy desires
skulks around a pretty woman the way he does; who
knows what a scoundrel like him is capable of?” (Friendly:
Zastoran admits that while he thought Eloais was a fake, he
did appreciate his conversation; “Not a one of these others
here can discuss the poetry of Bellianais or the music of
far-off Absalom. Eloais was well traveled and intelligent.
I will miss him.”)

Camel Drivers: The camel drivers are excitable and prone
to finishing each other’s sentences. Hadrah was the first to
notice the fire, but she and her husband were distracted by
trying to get their animals under control soon thereafter.
Hadrod in particular seems on the verge of tears—his
favorite goat Rombard went missing during the chaos,
and he fears the worst. The two thought that Eloais was
“nice enough for a foreigner,” but didn’t really understand
his talk of “Cyclones and Fiends and Uprisings.” But Lady
Almah’s trust in the astrologer was good enough for them
to know he was a good man. Asked about Dashki, their
expressions darken but they refuse to say more. (Friendly:
In a conspiratational tone, Hadrah whispers, “We knew
Dashki a bit from back Solku-way. Used to take rich folk
into the scrublands to hunt up gnolls like trophies. Most
people here don’t trust him, especially the way he leers at
Lady Almah with his mouth all watering like at the smell
of a fresh steak. Maybe he done it to Eloais, to remove a
rival for Lady Almah’s attention?”)

Dashki: If accused of arson
and murder, he loudly proclaims his innocence—perhaps
a bit too loudly. He claims
to have been scouting at the edge of camp when
the wagon went up, but in fact he was spying on Almah at
the time—Dashki has become obsessed with the beautiful
woman, and it is this secret that makes him nervous
during the interview process. As the interview progresses,
he grows more and more frustrated, crying out, “No! I had
nothing to do with the fire! How do we even know the fire
was set? That idiot burned a hundred candles in his wagon.
Perhaps he just got unlucky. We’re in gnoll country. It was
probably pugwampis.”

If asked about pugwampis, Dashki is grateful for the
change of subject and says, “Terrible critters what crawled
up from the Darklands below the earth. ‘Jackal rats,’ some
folks call ’em, on account of their pointed little heads. They
worship gnolls as gods and infest their communities like
rats. Wherever pugwampis go, bad luck is sure to follow.
The gnolls hate pugwampis because of it, and try to kill
them all the time. But they always come back. Perhaps
their bad luck caused the fortune-man’s candles to start a
fire? Yes, pugwampis. I am certain it was pugwampis.”
No PC has ever heard of pugwampis, and nor has any
member of Almah’s party.
(Friendly: Dashki breaks down and admits that he may
be “a bit too fond” of Almah, but continues to plead his
innocence regarding the fire.)

After Garavel has introduced the PCs to every member
of Almah’s party and they have had a chance to examine
Eloais’s wagon and the animal pen (which gains them
nothing), the major domo takes them back to Almah’s tent
for them to render their final judgment. The circumstances
and attitudes of the others seem to damn Dashki, but
Almah is unwilling to convict the gnoll expert without
more concrete evidence.
No one at the camp, including the PCs, have ever heard
of the “pugwampis” that are central to Dashki’s theory of
what may have transpired, and a few members of the camp
(if asked) suggest that the whole thing may be a lie. Almah,
on the other hand, is a bit more trusting.
“If my expert is correct,” she says, “the hills around here
should be crawling with these pugwampis, or at least some
sign of their passage. If what Dashki says is true, it should
be easy for him to find one and bring it back to me.”
The merchant princess turns to the PCs. “As he is,
however, our best suspect in this affair, it would not do to
send him out into the darkness alone. I’m afraid that your
investigation is not yet at and end. Go out into the desert
with Dashki and find me one of these pugwampis.”
This message was last edited by the player at 03:58, Wed 20 Mar 2013.

After hearing everyone's testimonies, Emerald agrees thoroughly with Almah. "Without anyone even admitting they saw him at the wagon, no evidence, and Dashki even offering a possible culprit, I don't think anyone has the right to pass any judgement yet. My group and I will happily go with Dashki to find this creature."

Emerald gets ready with the others and heads off with Dashki when everyone is ready.

  Kyle decides not to point out to Dashki that not following through on his instincts is what's keeping Kyle from shooting the gnoll expert in the face in front of a crowd of witnesses.  Contrary to what some snipers may suggest, going straight for the headshot is not always the most professional course of action.  Sometimes the most obvious culprit is actually an undercover law official, and it was really Old Man Withers behind the haunted mine.

  That dog druid had the strangest speech impediment, but not as strange as the paint job on that wagon and the obsession with splitting the party.

  "Insane slavers who chase away and loath those who desire to serve them.  Maybe it's just not the same to them if their labor works willingly?"  Of course, while Kyle can identify devils and constructs reasonably well, the local wildlife is not one of his current areas of expertise.

  Dashki seems all kinds of shady, but so far it also seems it would be somewhat difficult for them to set a fire on the opposite side of the camp while playing voyeur.

OOC: Nature check: 2... Yeah.

"So we're heading off into the night, in search of something no one here believes exists, on the say of some obsessed walking cesspit, all to prove the innocence of said cesspit?"

I heft my great axe.

"Well let's get going."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:31, Wed 20 Mar 2013.

Trying to give Dashki the benefit of the doubt (but watching him closely) I reply, "Ok Dashki lets go... you can teach me something of your pugwampis. I've never heard of them but I'm willing to learn and give you a shot.  "I love a good hunt"
  Chuckles and smiles at Tym.

Glancing around Omira thinks to herself we can't all be ignorant as to judge another by their smell though he really needs to bathe.

Starts looking for tracks other than those that are known.  "Ok Dashki looks like your leading the way.  Show me what you found."



Perception: 4+4 = 8
Nature:  2+9 = 11

ooc: Purples my fav color so her spoken will be purple now.

In this case, the group won't be hearing the words, "Dashki-dooski-doo!" any time soon.  Dashki nods to Omira and searches the camp perimeter for clues by torchlight.  By now the last glow of sunset is all but gone, granting relief from the day's heat but making the search difficult in the deepening darkness.  Before long, the group finds dozens of small footprints leading to and from the camp, finally retreating towards the hill country.

As Dashki follows the tracks with intense interest, he answers Omira.  "The little devils are smaller than halflings, but they cause double misfortune for anyone near them."

Surya streches out her hand and recounts the goat's trials.  "The thin rope around my neck digs into my skin as I struggle to get away.  The people at the camp are shouting because of the fire.  They cannot hear my cries for help.  The tiny jackal men laugh at my suffering.  One speaks to me with magic so I can understand the horrific tortures they have in store for me before I become their meal.  He says he saw my master dieing in the fire he set.  They drag me through the cacti then tie me to a bush near a cliff.  They argue, then all but the one who killed my master leaves."

The shadows shift and twist about from the flickering torch light.  Dashki points at some furrows in the ground.  "Skid marks made by the feet of a goat being dragged.  We must be on the right track."

  Kyle doesn't feel bad for the fate of the livestock.  Though it does go against his nature to waste time and arcane resources translating to an animal 'hey, we're going to eat you'.  "I wonder if the Gnolls waste translation rituals on explaining to horses how glue is made."

  He looks to Surya, okay so talking 80% in detailed prophecy is starting to look like it's not just an odd quirk, when it seems to turn up this often.  "Any thoughts on why they would stake it out and leave it behind?  Bait for us, or for something meaner we're about to run into at meal time?"

EDIT: Perc 19.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:59, Sun 24 Mar 2013.

You may roll preemptive perception checks for the upcoming encounter.

Perception Check: 18

"Interesting Dashki you'll have to tell me more over a meal sometime. For now these signs are interesting aren't they?"

Perc: 7=9= 16
This message was last edited by the player at 15:50, Sun 24 Mar 2013.

"Smaller than a halfling. A phrase that rarely comes up in serious conversation." Emerald says from experience. She huhs at Kyle's conclusion. "...Does seem odd they would go to that effort over a goat. I guess they just plain enjoy suffering that much." and here she briefly thought Surya was recalling Dashki's history.

---

Perception: Rolled an 18. I am unsure if her clicky on cast is up to date, but with a roll like that, I probably succeed the DC.

Dashki offers no answer, but his face shows he considers the glue question an unusual one.

Surya shrugs to Kyle's question then speculates, "Perhaps the goat is intended to be tribute for a gnoll but they figured it easier to call over their master rather than drag it to him."

After following the trail for several hundred feet,
each hero feels an inexplicable
rise in the natural tension of the environment, as if they
expect something terrible to happen even though nothing
about the terrain has changed. Soon thereafter, a sound
not unlike the brief cry of a human child comes out of
the darkness ahead. A DC 10 Knowledge (nature) check
determines that the sound must be coming from the lost
goat, though the timbre of the cry makes it sound as if the
creature is in pain. As the PCs progress toward the sound,
the local cacti grow more and more intense, until the
hunters find themselves at the edge of a dense thicket of
the prickly plants. The sound of the bleating goat is now
obvious to everyone—and it seems to be coming from
somewhere deep within the cacti.

---

GM junk:
The cactus forest, though very wide, is not so terribly
deep. Only 25 feet separate the PCs from the trapped goat,
but the thickness of the growth requires 3 rounds of careful
maneuvering before a PC makes it to the other side.
With a DC 12 Search check, a PC whose light source
or vision can reach that far can spot Rombard the goat,
tethered to a scrub bush by a hairy, knotted length of rope.
If the PCs carry light sources or are particularly noisy,
the goat’s tiny bleats erupt into full-fledged brays of fear
as it tugs in vain at the rope around its neck. Movement
through the cactus thicket requires a DC 15 Balance check
to avoid the large spines that fill the area. Failure indicates
that the character takes a point of damage from the quills.
Remember that characters who attempt to move at full
speed while balancing take a –5 penalty on their checks.
A character that simply barrels through the field at full
speed without trying to avoid the cacti takes
1 point of damage per 5 feet traveled.
Unfortunately for the PCs, the entire
area is within the unluck radius of
a hidden pugwampi, meaning their
jaunt into the pointy cacti will be a lot
more difficult than they think.
Once the first Balance check
is made, ask the exploring
character to roll another d20,
and use the lowest result. Play
up failed Balance checks by
describing the character’s plunge
into sticky quills as a series of
extremely unlucky events—steppedon
shoelaces, helmet visors slipping
down at inopportune moments, robes
or dresses getting snagged on foliage,
etc. Be sure to say “Oh, how unlucky!”
with each mishap. By the end of “Howl of the
Carrion King,” the PCs will grow to hate the
pugwampis, and this is the all-important scene that
sows the seeds of that hatred to come. Play it up for all it
is worth.

Once the cactus patch has been navigated, the PCs
emerge on a thin strip of open land at the edge of a 15-footwide
ravine. A casual glance down the edge reveals a huge
multi-armed, wickedly barbed cactus dominating the
ground 10 feet below the ledge, almost directly below
where the sad little goat Rombard has been lazily tied to a
scrub bush. He’s covered with cactus quills and has only 3
hit points. Rombard doesn’t stay still, making it difficult to
free the goat. Untying the squirming goat requires a DC 15
Use Rope check. A failed check means that the goat begins
racing around the character in circles, entangling him in
the rope. The character must immediately make a DC 15
Balance check to avoid losing his balance and tumbling
over the ravine and into the arms of the enormous cactus
below, a fall that causes 1d6+2 points of damage. Alternately,
a slashing weapon can be used to cut the rope, and while
the goat’s frantic movements make the rope a tough target
(AC 15), any hit on it with a slashing weapon cuts the goat
free. Of course, both of these checks are also subject to
the unluck aura of the nearby pugwampi. If Rombard is
cut loose, he immediately bolts for the Sultan’s Claw, but
in his panicked flight through the cacti he’s certain to
take enough damage to fall unconscious. A DC 15 Handle
Animal or wild empathy check is enough to calm the goat
so that he can be freed with ease.
Creature: The pugwampi itself hides behind a rock
5 feet from the goat; a successful Spot check (against the
pugwampi’s Hide check)

22:46, Today: Narrator rolled 37 using 1d20+17 with rolls of 20. pugwampi hide check.

reveals the creature’s hiding
spot. It wields a rusty dagger even though it has a crude
bow strapped across its back, and has spent the
last several minutes using speak with animals
to tell Rombard all sorts of horrific
things it’s planning to do to the goat
before cooking him for dinner. If the
pugwampi is spotted, or as soon as
Rombard is freed, the creature emits a
shrill yell of outrage and attacks.

(Since the monster wasn't spotted, it holds it's actions.)

Pugwampi CR 1/2
hp 3 (see page 83)

Init +5; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Listen –2, Spot +6
Aura unluck (20-ft. radius)
DEFENSE
AC 13, touch 13, flat-footed 12
(+1 Dex, +2 size)
hp 3 (1d6)
Fort +0, Ref +3, Will +4
DR 2/cold iron; SR 7
OFFENSE
Spd 30 ft.
Melee dagger +3 (1d2–4)
Ranged shortbow +3 (1d3/×3)
Space 2-1/2 ft.; Reach 0 ft.
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 1st)
At will—prestidigitation, speak with animals
1/day—shatter (DC 10)
STATISTICS
Str 3, Dex 13, Con 10, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 6
Base Atk +0; Grp –12
Feats Improved Initiative, Weapon FinesseB
Skills Bluff +2, Craft (trapmaking) +4, Disable Device +4, Hide +17,
Ride +5, Spot +6
Languages Gnoll, Terran
Gear dagger, shortbow with 20 arrows
Ecolog y
Environment tropical hills
Organization solitary, pair, pack (3–7), or tribe (8–36)
Treasure standard
Advancement by character class; Favored Class druid
Level Adjustment +3
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Unluck (Su) A pugwampi radiates an aura of unluck to a radius
of 20 feet. A creature in this area must roll 2d20 whenever a
situation calls for a d20 roll (such as an attack roll, a skill check,
or a saving throw) and must use the lowest of the two results
generated. This is a mind-affecting effect that does not work
on animals, other gremlins, and gnolls. Any character that
gains any sort of luck bonus (such as that granted by a luckstone
or divine favor) is immune to the pugwampi unluck aura.
Skills A pugwampi gains a +4 racial bonus on Hide checks, but
is somewhat hard of hearing and has a –4 penalty on Listen
checks (which is why they always scream and yell at the tops of
their tiny lungs).
Tactics
During Combat The pugwampi tries
to shatter a weapon wielded by the
closest PC on the first round, then runs
circles and shoots at PCs with his bow in
the following rounds, giggling and shrieking
the whole time.
Morale If the pugwampi is harmed, it
attempts to flee, but in its panic it merely impales
itself on a cactus as it does, leaving the PCs with a
handy corpse as proof of its existence.
Statistics
Gear dagger, shortbow with 20 arrows, a dozen singed Harrow
cards (evidence that this pugwampi was indeed in the
astrologer’s wagon when the fire started)

I make a pathway straight through the cacti to Rombard, using my axe to cut down cacti in the way.

Take 5 damage.

As I am not trained to deal with animals, I merely step out of the way and allow someone else to attempt calming the creature.

Omira draws her bow and watches Tym rush forward and scans the area.

Spot check: 9+9=18, 1+9=10  Trying to maneuver to see what is causing so much noise but in this darkness I can't see anything of note in front of me.  I must admit I'm wishing we had left sooner or waited for dawn.

Balance Check: 3+4=7, 12+4=16
Balance Check: 19+4=23, 12+4=16
Balance Check: 20+4=24, 12+4=16

Sighing to herself she thinks at least I'm staying on my feet.. maybe it will be hard enough for whatever is out here to see me if I stealth.

Stealth Check: 15+8=23, 12+8=20

Thinks to herself, Tym has a direct personality I think I am gonna like him a lot. He will definitely help keep attention from me while I maneuver into position. Scanning area and wondering if anyone is going to actually try to free the goat, where ever he is he's safer till we neutralize any threat.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:19, Thu 04 Apr 2013.

  Kyle is about to suggest that they leave the Goat to it's fate instead of walking face first into sharp objects, unless the only direction towards evidence happened to be that way.  In which case Dashki could go face first to clear his name.

  Then Tym starts playing Desert Lumberjack, and Kyle has to brush some flying needles off the front of his armor.  "I do not suppose anybody else thinks this has the feeling of 'obvious trap'?  Though I am somewhat curious how someone forced a goat in there with such little wear to the surrounding area."  If anything Kyle would have expected a goat shaped hole thrown straight on through.

  Okay, so it looks like the wild beastmen didn't go out of their way to cause every form of suffering.

  "On the bright side, Tym's efforts mean some of us won't need to deal with wasteful injury just trying to walk a short distance."   Kyle would help patch the Shifter up if their puncture wounds got out of hand, or after they were all done with this sorry excuse of an investigation.  The artificer readies his oversized crossbow, and waits for Dashki to go forward before entering the cactus patch himself.

  OOC: Yeah, no way in hell characters without Acro training are getting through without damage.  Unless Tym's efforts at path clearing actually work anyways.

  Rolls in case Tym is acting in futility.
  First Acro double take: 18, then 6. (of course!)
  Second Acro Double take: 6, then 14.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:41, Thu 04 Apr 2013.

"You know, Tym? I think I'm gonna like you a lot." Emerald comments with a smile. Then looks at Kyle. "I'm sure whoever set the trap didn't expect anyone to just barrel through the cacti. But yes, this does feel like a trap. Kyle and I will hang back and watch for ambush."

After all, both Emerald and Kyle had abilities that let them pick at enemies from range in case the ambush was inside the cacti. She also looks expectantly for Dashki to follow Tym, now that the way is cleared.

(Tym successfully cuts a path to the cliff that the others can follow without having to make acrobatics checks)

Dashki follows Tym without comment.  The goat seems to recognize him and struggles all the more as the man warily approaches, weapon's drawn.  Surya follows along as well, hands tucked int her sleeves.  "One who suffers harm so that others do not have to.  Is this not the very definition of the word, 'hero?'  Thank you for clearing a path, Tym.  And yes.  It's a trap."

Just then, the pugwumpi shows itself and charges Dashki!

---

Busy week.  Hopefully will have time to set up combat by Friday night.

( Today: Narrator rolled 18 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 13. pugwumpi init.
I'm hoping all I have to do to convert this thing to 4th edition rules is change it's HP from 3 to 13.  Here's a picture of it: http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/8347/pugwampi.jpg

Those of you who readied attacks can roll your attacks and damage without rolling initiative.  Your initiative is automatically 1 higher than the pugwampi's.  I had meant to write that Surya was readying an at-will ranged attack, but I'll deal with that if the rest of you don't kill this thing with readied attacks.  Don't forget you have to roll your attacks twice and take the worse result. >.> )

With a flurry of motion Omira spots her target and lets loose 2 arrows as her "twin Strike" is flying threw the air she shouts "For the love of Melora"


6+6=12
3+6=9  Missing she grunts as she gathers herself to fire again.

Initiative 2+4=6
This message was last edited by the player at 20:53, Sun 14 Apr 2013.

OOC: As I charged into the cacti, I obviously couldn't have a readied attack.

Initiative Roll: 2 reroll 3

    Well, the KEYWORD is there at lest.

  Kyle takes aim at the rushing dog midget.  A sudden uncharacteristic slip of his trigger finger almost ruins his shot, but fortunately Kyle's crossbow was called a 'Superior' Crossbow for a reason.  The crossbow bolt buries itself in the charging creature's chest with a sizzling noise, a near fatal shot turned deadly with an application of literal heartburn.

  "I guess acid was somewhat overkill, but it beats Dashki getting skewered by something larger than a cactus."  He looks over to Tym, "Once we're out of here, I'll patch you up as a freebie Tym.  I'm no cleric, I have to ask permission for the metaphysical payback unlike them.  But I do allright."

OOC: Readied:  Scouring Weapon Vs Pug, Hits (25 AC, Rerolled as 13 AC).  20 Acid DMG thanks to high damage rolls.

Effect:  The corpse has -2 AC until end of my next turn.

Pugwampi HP: 13-20= DEAD

Fun Facts about Artificer Heal Infusion Vs Cleric Healing Word:  Cleric healing words in 4th ed works by sucking a healing surge out of the target for boosted healing.  Artificers use infusion charges (two for free on extended rest), but can't refill them without either using his own heal surges, or ASKING people to donate theirs during a short rest.

Not that I'm BIASED as an Artificer or anything.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:14, Tue 16 Apr 2013.

Emerald looks up at Kyle and smiles, "There is no overkill. Only kill or no kill. Good job."

Emerald then heads to Tym to check on him and make sure the damage Tym HAS taken is not much.

"Might I suggest that someone other than the accused be the one to search the body of the villain for the evidence that will prove his innocence?" Surya suggests.

[ Loot: dagger, shortbow with 20 arrows, a dozen singed Harrow
cards (evidence that this pugwampi was indeed in the
astrologer’s wagon when the fire started)
XP: CR 1/2.  Converted to 4E: 13xp / player ]

She calmly approaches the panicked goat and softly speaks words of comfort that gradually calm the animal enough that when it is untied it obediently follows where it is led.

Development: Back at the Sultan’s Claw, Almah awaits
word from the PCs. Bringing back the corpse of the
pugwampi is enough to clear Dashki’s name, and the
successful conclusion of the investigation shifts Almah’s
attitude toward the heroes for the better. (Under
no circumstances does Almah allow a living pugwampi to
survive in her camp. After studying such a creature for a
few minutes, she orders Garavel to put it out of its misery.)
Dashki lays claim to the pugwampi corpse and fashions a
tiny noose for it to hang from the end of his staff.

"There must be more of the creatures living nearby," Almah muses, "The Sultan’s Claw is obviously too exposed a location.  There was a monastery to Sarenrae that stood near the village of Kelmarane.  If it still stands, the building will likely make a much better base of operations for the coming battle for the gnoll-held village.  Yet chances are good that the monastery is far from abandoned.  We will have to clear whatever denizens have taken up residence there.  But that shall wait for morning.  In any event, this matter solved, I am open to discussing the terms of you newcomers' employment.  I believe 576 gold each is appropriate."

[ Module offers 200 gp pay per player.  200 x 2.88 4E conversion = 576.  But I will continue to use the "players do their own magic item shopping off panel when they level" system I love so much.

Ad Hoc Experience Award: For solving the mystery of
the fire, award the PCs XP as if they had defeated a CR 2
creature. converted to 4E: 75 / player

If they also manage to return Rombard alive to
the camel drivers, award them additional experience as if
they had defeated a CR 1 creature.
converted to 4E: 50 ]
This message was last edited by the player at 00:31, Mon 29 Apr 2013.

"Then have a good night, Alma. I'm off to bed in preparation for tomorrow."

Emerald's eyes go wide and she manages to contain a squeak. 576 was a LOT of money. Nearly 6 times what most people's life savings look like. After the initial shock wears off, though, she wonders about the number. Why 576? Why not 550, 500, or even 575? She then shakes it off, figuring either Alma is just THAT experienced with money, has OCD, or just likes unusual numbers. "That number sounds fair enough to me, Alma." she manages to say calmly as a pleasant smile crosses her face. "I'm with Tym. It's been a long day and I think we all want nothing more than sleep for now. I'll see you all in the morning."

She goes to take off her chainmail armor and curl up wherever she is permitted to sleep.

---

Note: At this level, I think she wears chainmail (+6 AC). With Emerald, I tend to switch to hide (+3 AC) the moment her dex hits 16 since it's the same AC total (+6 AC) but no movement penalty. I keep meaning to actually have an up-to-date character sheet here, but either wind up forgetting or remembering while in the middle of something. XD

Omira smiles at Alma, "Thank you, if you need me I'll be over there resting with the others.  I'm sure we will have a busy day on a hunt tomorrow so we should all rest while we can. G'Night"

She walks over to her companions and tosses out her blankets a few feet away laying her weapons at her side she relaxes thinking about the pugwampi hunt till sleep takes her away.

  Kyle somehow doubts that Dashki will care when their Pugwampi on a stick starts to rot, given their example of hygiene so far.  "Sounds like continued employment with you is how this will go, Almah."  The artificer stops to check over his crossbow first, before his own rest.

  He doubts whatever they find in the monastery will be a problem solved in one shot, so ensuring the previous near miss was not a flaw on his end was reasonable preparation.

Surya looks over at Emerald and mentions, "I get the feeling that she could have been haggled up to a higher wage.  Needless to say it would run the risk of annoying her, but I suppose that's a mute point now that it looks like everyone is satisfied with the offered wage."

OOC: She
offers them 200 gp each, and while that may seem
like a bargain at the beginning of the adventure, some
PCs might try to sweeten the deal. A successful DC 20
Diplomacy check is sufficient to get Almah to increase
the per-person reward to 500 gp. Failure on this check
by more than 10 or repeated attempts to increase the
amount automatically result in Almah’s attitude toward
the tight-wad decreasing by one step.

She stretches out her hand and predicts, "Tomorrow holds many perils above, below, and ahead.  King of misfortune, fang, claw, and immortal Templar long dead.  A buried treasure for the valiant seeker, an indestructible weapon carrying the growing will of the Moldspeaker."

Almah and the other make no comment about the prophesy and simply turn in once the night watch is posted.  The night passes uneventfully.  A basic breakfast is served the following morning and Almah addresses the heroes.

"About a mile from here is an abandoned monastery I intend to make our new base of operations.  While the rest of us break camp here I want you to clear out whatever denizens have taken up residence there.  Assuming they're just vermin and not innocent people, of course.  Once that's done you can wait for us to catch up."

"Is innocence your line or is it people?"

Nods at Alma, and checks over her weapon and gear. "It is a good day for a hunt"

  As much as Kyle likes getting paid more, he is painfully aware how unconvincing he can be in a discussion involving things that would inconvenience others.  Not that he had much better luck offering to not shoot an acid laced crossbow bolt through someone's eye socket if they would just stop trying to murder him.

  "Even vermin can be dangerous, so I'd prefer good hunting over a good day."  Why was it the only rats he ever saw were either as big as he was, or in a pile as big as he was?

  He looks to Surya and comments "Not much of an immortal if they have been dead that long."

Emerald answers Tym, "Yes."

She then looks around at the others. "Let's get going. Tym and I can take point." she's no tank like Tym, but she can off-tank in a pinch.

Emerald starts heading in the direction of the monastery.

Surya begins the journey in silence but soon offers a prayer asking Sarenrae, the goddess of the sun for blessings.

It's about a mile's journey northeast of the Sultan's Claw to the Monastary.

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/j.../rpg/Hinterlands.png

The weather is comparatively pleasant for a morning walk of 20 minutes or so, the early morning hours being cooler than the heat of midday.  At last the group comes upon the lonely church.

http://images.community.wizard...bf20254.jpg?v=202200

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tum...nZB1re72x3o1_500.png

As the group approaches they can see that the elements have not been kind to the neglected building.  Where the two entrances once were now stands gaping holes to a dark interior.

http://i793.photobucket.com/al...don360/monastery.jpg

Wary of a possible ambush setting, I head to the southern side of the southern portal and peer inside the walled in area.

Feeling uneasy about the ruined monastery I decide to take a look around but staying in eye shot of my companions.  I may see them but they wont see me she thinks as she stealths to take a look around with her bow on the ready for action.

Stealth: 13+8=21
Perception: 19+9=28

A1. Ruined Nave
Scrub brush and a light, patchy carpet of weeds invade the
monastery through two huge fallen sections of the western
wall. The exposed nave beyond is a huge hallway littered with
bits of debris ranging from tiny rocks to enormous sections of
collapsed masonry. Most of the roof above the long promenade
is gone, but several jagged pillars remain.

https://app.roll20.net/join/85511/ZLp1pw

  "If we wanted to do this the drawn out but safe way, we could quietly circle the building first and see what's waiting for us through all the windows, before actually entering the building.  Considering it is a monestary with huge windows, that would give us a view of almost the entire ground floor."  He somehow it would work out as well as he had heard, but someone he once worked with had made it a habit to always circle buildings like this and shoot them in the head with arrows through the windows.

  As much as Kyle hated to admit it though, he somehow doubted they could clean out the building in such a way.  DnD wasn't a setting where the party could just drop everything with one aimed shots to the eyes each, like Fallout.

OOC:  Did a quick check of "Mundane" gear options.  Sure, there are signal flares and glass cutters and water purifiers, items that record your dreams, Riding Sharks, even mirrors on sticks to look around corners.  But a telescope? CRAZY!

Emerald says, "But then the people inside would have the protection of the walls of this place and we would be more or less out in the open. Not saying it's a bad idea, but I am worried about where we would take cover if they fire back instead of standing there like practice dummies."



Emerald nods. "Scouting out sounds like a good idea. We will, of course, need to be careful."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:15, Thu 30 May 2013.

"Looks as though Omira has already made the decision to scout ahead for us," Surya points out, "I suppose we wait back here in the brush for her to return."

---

OOC: We're going to need everyone's tokens on the map.  Let's go ahead and do this in initiative order.  Once again, here's the link: https://app.roll20.net/join/85511/ZLp1pw

Initiative 10+4=14

Emmy initiative: 7 (5+2)

Initiative 4

Rolled it days ago but forgot to post it here.  Bluuuh  8 initiative.

OOC: Init order is thus:  Surya > Omira > Kyle > Emerald > Tym.  Since Omira already scouted ahead I'm going to move the turn tracker on roll20 to Kyle's turn.  Also I've placed everyone on the map approximately where they would have been able to get to up to this point.  If anyone wants to join Omira in the sneaky scouting they should roll stealth and perception like she did.  Bear in mind, moving more that 2 squares while sneaking carries a -5 penalty to stealth so at present Omira's stealth result is 16 (21-5).  "Speaking" carries an additional -5 penalty.  No distinction in the rules between chatting and whispering, so I'm going to guess that whispering is a -2 instead of the -5 for normal conversation.

In short, it's Kyle's turn.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:55, Wed 12 June 2013.

  Kyle nods to Surya, watching as Omira stalks off right for the opening.  While he lacked the finesse of a professional cutpurse despite dressing like one, he knew enough to see that the bladeling was well practiced at it.

  He just hoped that it was enough, skill and preparation had a bad tendency to trip face first over reality being stacked against you.

Readied action(s)?: Use my complete lack of training +0 Stealth to follow, if Tym rushes off ahead or something.

Kyle HP: 28/28 S9 V11 AP1

Normal assumption wise, Omira's 21 Stealth should blow away our level DC or the average 'what's a perception skill?' enemy.   Cynical realist assumption wise, barely sentient Level 1 crawling zombie tongues can end up with +20 Perc to go with their standard issue Darkvision.

Emerald says, "I'll scout a bit behind Omira so I can keep an eye out for anyone trying to ambush her."

Emerald stays about 25 feet behind Omira to keep an eye out, not exactly terribly stealthy, but at least the fact she is behind Omira a bit means Emmy's lack of stealth will draw attention away from Omira instead of towards her.

---

Player told me he's not bothering with stealth, so that's a take-1.  Total stealth: -4.  I'll post up Surya as time allows.

Surya brings up the rear with a shrug.  "Looks like the group would rather stick together.  Just as well.  All it takes is one mishap and whomever was scouting ahead winds up ambushed and surrounded."

---

Omira's turn.  But everyone can roll perception.  DC 15 to hear the sound of footsteps approaching from around the far corner of the church.  A baboon troop has been alerted to the presence of intruders and is cautiously investigating.

Moving 10 feet Omira hears and spots the patrolling baboons. She stops her movement and glancing to her companions she signals using simple signs she raises 2 fingers to her eyes and points ahead then raises a hand to her ear cupping the fingers and points ahead raising her bow.

She crouches with a heightened sense of alert and her bow at the ready. She waits to see what the others choose to do as she sets to let loose on the closest baboon if it comes to attack.

Perception: 18+9=27
Stealth: 14+8=22
{OOC not sure if I needed to continue rolling stealth or not.}
This message was last edited by the player at 00:18, Fri 21 June 2013.

  Kyle moves up behind Tym.  close enough to move in to help if needed, if not enough to see or be seen through the wall.  He could have taken up a position by the window for personal safety, but he can hardly aid his co-workers more directly from that distance.

OOC: Did what I said I'd do.

Emerald cautiously walks forward, making a LOT less sound than earlier. She holds a wand in her hand, ready to use it to cast her spells.

---

Move: Sneaking 10 feet to stay within 5 of Omira:
 Stealth roll: 20 total
Standard: Readying Vicious Mockery for when an enemy attacks Omira. 13 v Will.

Seeing nothing in the courtyard and knowing Omira is scouting further ahead, I ready a charge action.



Those baboons must have miraculous hearing to hear anyone from over 250 feet away and through a building

The baboons continue to approach.  After a few moments of tension, they round the corner of the church.  The leader catches sight of the intruders and lets out an angry whoop of alarm!

---

The DC to notice the baboons is so low by now that it's impossible for anyone to miss their approach.  But the bushes are providing them some cover, so they get a +2 to their defenses against ranged attacks.

Surya steps forward and raises her staff.  The end of the staff begins to glow bright like it's gathering energy and the air around it shimmers like the air above a desert mirage.

---

Move 5 squares north.  Readied attack: Sun strike.

 Kyle considers the angry wildlife, and the shot.  It was a close thing, but only a Greatbow would have a clean shot at that distance, nevermind the light cover.  Still, the advantage was currently held by his co-workers and himself.  "Short version. If I land this shot, anybody next to me at the time gets better at hitting things for a few moments."

  He moves to adjust some dials, then realizes it's perfectly fine already.  "And I have a good feeling about this shot."

---

Move: up next to Omira.
Standard: Readied action, Magic Weapon when the most convenient target presents itself.  22 Vs AC, guaranteed hit unless they put a wall between me and them.  Pre-Roll DMG, 9.

Effects:  If Omira (or anybody else, Emerald and Tym still get to go before enemies) is NEXT TO KYLE when the attack hits, Ally gets +1 To-Hit, +3 DMG Until The End Of My Next Turn.

Pink Line = 20 Tiles from Kyle (The max effective distance of a Superior Crossbow/Longbow, which take a -2 penalty from 21-40 tiles away).

Metagame Option: Just take the shot right this second/as soon as anybody who wants stands next to me since the attack roll would hit even with the -4 penalty. (22-4 = 18).  Instead of waiting to shoot during the nearly inevitable monkey charge.

Kyle HP: 28/28 S 9, V 7, AP 1, Inf 2.

Feeling bolstered by Kyle Omira changes her mind about moving and takes aim on Baboon 1 marking him as her quary and lets loose with 2 fanged strike.

Rolling 20(crit)+6 =26
1 (crit fail) + 6 =7

Omira mutters "Gotcha"

OOC: Not sure how to roll it up, arrow is a 1d10 for arrows, quarry 1d the 2 fanged strike says quarry damage 1d8 to damage once per round (hunter's quarry) +1 to attack rolls if none of your allies are closer to the target prime shot.  but Quarry skill shows 1d6 damage, and I add what kyle gives and crit stuff.  Help. :)

Emerald moves up to be next to Kyle and says, "Heh. Magic." in response to Kyle's attempt to explain weird powers. "Just like I'm going to make fun of them and magically, that means they'll have a harder time hitting us."

---

Standard: Readied Vicious Mockery v baboon1. WILL HIT! (22 v Will)
 dmg: 9
Trigger: Baboon 1 gets within 10 squares of me

OOC: Thankfully, with crit at level 1, you don't even need to roll anything. Your damage is automatically maxed out. Including quarry. So 1d10+1d6+4+3 maxed out is 23.

RESULT OF OMIRA'S TURN:

Baboon 1 HP: 53 - 23 = 30

Don't forget he'll take another 9 dmg and -2 to attacks the moment he enters a square within 10 squares of Emerald.

Being shot at angers the baboons and they barrel toward the adventurers at full speed!

---

Run action, +2 to speed, granting Combat Advantage.  They end their movement juuust outside Surya's range.  ;.;  Oh well.

  Kyle calmly eyes the approaching baboon horde, and fires on the one leading the charge that is apparently a magnet for projectiles.  Not enough to finish the job, but enough to make it likely to happen soon.

  That done, he reloads his crossbow (note to self, learn to reload faster) while stepping behind Tym.  Hey, just because he's willing to fight beside melee warriors in combat, doesn't mean he's willing to put himself between them and the enemy when there is no practical reason to.

---

Standard: Magic Weapon vs Baboon 1, Hits (18 AC).  12 DMG. (and 9 from my readied attack last turn)  Bonus to Emerald and Omira.
Minor: Reload.  (Assume I use my minor action last turn to reload as well).
Move: After firing, hides behind Tym.

Notes: I just realized the 9 damage from my readied attack last turn never got applied to anything.  So I'm applying it now to Baboon 1.  Fortunately, this doesn't change anything except how many HP the enemy has left.

Effects Emerald and Omira get +1 To-Hit, +3 DMG rolls, until End Of Kyles Next Turn.  I put that on the map for quick reference.

Baboon 1 HP: 30-12-Also 9= 9/53 (Bloodied)

As the Baboons enter the very edge of my reach, my feet dig into the earth and my leg muscles bulge as I propel myself forward leaving two divets in the ground and a spray of earth behind me. As I near my target, I make a mighty leap up and forward and bring my greataxe down with unerring accuracy and force. My axe slams down into the baboon's head, splitting it's skull and burying into the ground.



ooc: 16+7=23 th vs 19 ac HIT 4+5=9 td vs 9 hp inflicts DEATH to baboon 1.

Surya steps over to be next to Omira.

"Blades of heaven's light, aid us in this fight."

She swings her staff and several ethereal flaming swords appear in front of the baboons, slashing them all before vanishing just as suddenly as they appeared!

---

Baboon 2 HP: 53-9=44
Baboon 3 HP: 53-14=39
Baboon 4 HP: 53-9=44
Baboon 5 HP: 53-9=44

Narrowing my focus to baboon 2, I release 2 arrows in quick succession.

OOC: baboon 2 quarry
To Hit: 4+7=11  Dmg: 0
To Hit: 18+7=25 Dmg: 7+5= 12

Emerald steps forward a bit, waves her wand and says, "A free hit for ya, Tym!" causing the injured baboon some pain while also causing it to stumble past Tym, allowing him a chance to hit it.

---

Move: Up 6 squares
Standard: Blunder v Baboon 2's Will. Hit(13)!
 dmg: 9
 Slide target 2 squares. During slide, your or one of your allies can make a melee basic attack against the target as a free action with +2 bonus to the attack roll.

So Tym gets a free attack on top of his normal one. Don't forget the baboons are granting combat advantage in addition!

Baboon 2 HP: 41 - 9 = 32

A pair of baboons attack Tym, one of them managing to sink it's teeth through his armor!  A second pair go after Emerald, and one of those makes it past her defenses!

---

Tym HP: 33-11=22
Emerald HP: 22-7=15
Next in initiative: Tym

I growl at the Baboon that bit me and pull my axe back for a powerful swing, slicing across his face and tearing a gash into its brother. Feeling the rush of energy from Emerald, I react quickly with my back swing and deliver another painful blow to my foe.


OOC:
Cleave: 17 TH baboon 2. Deals 10 damage to baboon 2 and 4 damage to baboon 3.
Wicked Strike: 25 TH baboon 2. Deals 8 damage.
Total damage done: 18 to baboon 2 and 4 to baboon 3.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:32, Sat 26 Oct 2013.

  While he'd like to take some of the attention away from Emerald, trying to make one less violent animal attacking them that much faster would be better in the long run.  Kyle is pleasantly surprised his attack instead finishes one off entirely.

OOC: Can't belive I missed my turn coming up all this time, of course I suspect nobody else has been keeping much track of this thread anyway.

Move: duh.
Standard: Magic weapon vs Baboon 2, hits.  14 DMG.  kills baboon, buffs surya and omira.

+1 to hit, +3 DMG Rolls until end of my next turn.

Baboon 2 HP: 14-14= 0
This message was last edited by the player at 10:28, Mon 13 Jan 2014.

Surya steps forward and raises her hand, palm facing the enemy.  "May Sarenrae's light of justice sear our enemies.  Hand of Radiance!"

Three spears of light shoot from her glowing hand and burn the baboons!

---

Baboon 3 HP: 35-6-3(kyle buff)=26
Baboon 4 HP: 44-6-3(kyle buff)=35
Baboon 5 HP: 44-6-3(kyle buff)=35
Next in initiative: Omyra
This message was last edited by the player at 03:35, Tue 14 Jan 2014.