You have been placed in a small guest room, containing two bunk beds and two normal beds. Obviously extra servant furniture, but it's comfortable enough, and kept warm by a decorative brass brazier in the shape of a sleeping dragon. If anyone (particularly Dubh) wants to spend the night outside, you can if you really want to, but the storm really is absolutely miserable: only a storm order master would willingly put up with this kind of nonsense. If you do, you'll enter via a side door at the beginning of the first encounter.

In the darkest hours of the night, you're awakened by a cry from a guard in the hall outside, but nothing follows.

Remember that you were sleeping, and therefore not wearing your armor (except Wilkezag). Light armor only takes a minute to throw on, but medium armor takes 5 minutes to struggle into. You have some amount of time to do things before something else happens, but you don't know how much.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:24, Sat 05 Nov 2022.

Was your switch to second person intentional?

Having lived for most of his life under the tyranny of a father who considered more than minimal sleep to be a waste, Wilkezag wakes up quickly.

He makes sure that all of his companions are also awake, then grabs his things.  While the others are strapping on their armor and preparing for whatever the guard's cry portends, he strings his bow and heads to the door to learn what he can without yet exposing their presence.  Exhorting the others to a moment of silence, Will puts his ear to the door, hoping to get some information.  Then he lies down, bracing his arm against the door in case it is opened suddenly, and peeks under the crack between door and floor.

10:52, Today: Wilkezag rolled 16 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 10.  Perception.

I've always been using second person to refer to Our Heroes.

You hear one person walk by your door from west to east, dragging something heavy. You think there are two or maybe three others out in the hall, but none of them are saying anything. You do hear a creak from one of the doors on the south side of the hall, opposite yours, but nothing further. The shouting guard was right outside your door, so you might be the only ones awakened by it.

Let me know what else you want to do to prepare, especially if you want to a) put your armor on, or b) poke your head outside to see what's going on.

Will steps away from the door and quietly informs the others of what he has learned.  When the others are ready, he encourages the sturdier members of the group to take point near the door as he stands back a bit.  He is prepared, and he trusts the fighters to open the door when everyone is ready.

Lena bolts out of bed, turning first to a small, hard leather case, which she opens to reveal an array of filled glass tubes.

"Problematic. If we're opening the door ourselves, as opposed to waiting, I can provide some cover."

Tossing a wax-topped vial onto the bed from the case, she turns to grab her armor and crossbow.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:36, Mon 07 Nov 2022.

I assume you're preparing an infused lesser smokestick? Seems like a good idea to me.

I don't know that there's really much of anything the medium armor characters can do to prepare, unless you want to get the encounter started before the bad guys are entirely ready. But if you can think of something I don't, please be my guest! I'll give you until tomorrow morning.

Sophia is surprised to find she isn't the first one up at the noise. Chalk it up to the wine and pleasant dreams of a certain brawny barbarian lass. But she is up in a flash as Wilkezag wakes her, rolling out of her bunk without a sound.

Her armor would take far too long to don, so she just gathers her night shirt around her waist with a belt. It would provide even less protection than it guards her modesty, but it'd have to do. She didn't seem to mind too much. She grabs her long spear and slides up to the door.

"I don't think any of us is exactly an armored juggernaut like that Valerie woman. And even if we were, we wouldn't be wearing it to sleep. Let's just take a peek and see what's up."

She waits for Ulle and Dubh to prepare, then tries her best to open the door quietly and take a peek into the hall.

---

Ugh...
22:58, Today: Sophia Akhova rolled 12 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 7.  perception.
22:58, Today: Sophia Akhova rolled 9 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 5.  stealth avoid notice.

I'll take your Perception roll as your initiative here; the encounter will start as soon as anyone opens the door. Starting the encounter yourself allows you to roll Stealth instead of Perception for initiative (and prevents the bad guys from doing so), but actually none of you have higher Stealth than Perception bonuses anyway.

I'll give Ulle and Dubh until tomorrow morning to make preparations, cast buffs if you want to, that sort of thing, but please roll Perception or Stealth (your choice) for initiative with your next post.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:33, Mon 07 Nov 2022.

00:50, Today: Wilkezag rolled 12 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 6.  Perception as initiative

Lena grabs another vial and holds it to the candle, melting the wax stopper slightly so it can be affixed to the original vial, sticking the two together.

"If we are to lure them in, I insist upon the vanguard. Mist and smoke are kin, and this reaction's byproducts will obscure me a good deal more than it will any of you."

04:18, Today: Lena Sellenski rolled 20 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 14.  Perception Initiative.

He rolls out of the bunk and when he sees that the others are about to open the door he cracks his neck and mutters "crúba ainmhithe" darkly, as he stretches his fingers his hands twist and wild morph into razor sharp claws. He gives a nod to show his readiness.


17:16, Today: Dubh Oiche rolled 20 using 1d20+7 with rolls of 13.  Perception.
GM edit: If you wish to cast a spell or otherwise use a particular action, please name it explicitly somewhere in your description, preferably with italics (for spells) or smallcaps for other actions. Just helps me know what's going on!
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:45, Mon 07 Nov 2022.

All right, let's get this party started! I don't know what happened to Ulle; hopefully he comes back!
14:16, Today: GM, on behalf of Ulle, rolled 22 using 1d20+7 with rolls of 15.  Perception for initiative.
14:20, Today: GM, for the NPC Cutthroats, rolled 23,22,12,16 using d20+3,d20+3,d20+3,d20+3 with rolls of 20,19,9,13.
Yikes, the bad guys rolled really high! Sorry! Hopefully that's all my good rolls used up for the encounter.

Unfortunately, the door makes a mighty creeeeeaaak as you open it. Outside, the hallway branches into a foyer area to the east, while to the west leads to the other guest rooms, the garden, and the kitchens (you know this from when you were brought through last night). The spiral staircase to the 2nd floor obscures your vision somewhat, but you can still get a good feel for the rest of the room.

There are two intruders in the main hall to your right, while one is coming back from some errand to the east (your left) and a fourth is coming out of the room directly across from yours. The one to the east whispers urgently, "Hey! This bunch is awake! Deal with them, quick!" and suits actions to words by rushing toward your door, drawing his dagger and taking a stab at Lena.

Lena, you have one more action in your surprise round; I'm going to assume that you use it to activate your smokestick, which you'll lose if you don't use it. I've put it to the west side of the door, but I can change it if you want it on the other side or even entirely inside the room. It doesn't make a difference to these guys. I also assume you use your Mist Blending reaction against the first attack targeting you every round.
15:27, Today: GM, for the NPC Cutthroat 0, rolled 5,21,4 using d20,d20+6,d4+2 with rolls of 5,15,2.  attack Lena.
Please just ignore the fact that these guys are numbered starting from 0. I'll hopefully remember to fix that on the next map!
In the sudden burst of smoke, Lena seems to fade away at the edges. Confused by this strange effect, the cutthroat stabs the air just to Lena's side.

One of his friends rushes up to his side to assist, also drawing his dagger and taking a stab around the edge of the door.
15:33, Today: GM, for the NPC Cutthroat 1, rolled 17,23,4 using d20,d20+6,d4+2 with rolls of 17,17,2.  attack Lena.
He manages to tag Lena in the arm, but it's only a flesh wound.

Ulle is up; I'll give him until this evening to return and do something, but the rest of you should feel free to queue up whatever actions you feel are appropriate. Remember to use Shift+F5 to force the map to update.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:04, Mon 07 Nov 2022.

Wilkezag begins a Lingering Performance, enhancing his song of courage to make an ear worm out of it.  "To ho! Yo ho!  We see the foe, to HELL they'll go."  In spite of the doggerel, his companions feel a new surge of strength and ability.

While continuing his ditty, the bard mentally grabs the now-spent smokestick and sends it flying into the face of the rogue immediately in front of Lena.  (or the other one, if that one is down by the time I get to act)

Initiative 12

Action 1:  Lingering Performance and Inspire Courage
Action 2&3:  Telekinetic Projectile.

17:15, Today: Wilkezag rolled 20,15,7 using d20+7,d20+7,d6+4 with rolls of 13,8,3.  Perform, Spell attack, damage.
Oh, I forgot to add the +1 to attack and damage from my own spell, so it should be hits AC 16 for 8 points.

Please note, all, that I had initiative 12 so the Inspire Courage will only help Sophia Akhova this round.  Others will be affected next round unless you delay action.  You'll gain a +1 status bonus to attack rolls, damage rolls, and saves against fear effects
This message was last edited by the player at 23:38, Mon 07 Nov 2022.

GM: I'll run Ulle for now, I guess. This encounter already has the extra thug to account for a 5-person party, but if he doesn't come back he'll just vanish after this.

Ulle, having drawn his axe and shield before Lena opened the door, points at the cutthroat blocking your way out. "You will never escape!" he cries. "I will hunt you down forever!" With this he swings his axe at this unfortunate thug.
22:02, Today: GM, on behalf of Ulle, rolled 6,21,6,7 using d20,d20+7,d8+4,d8 with rolls of 6,14,2,7.  attack cutthroat 0.
RIP that guy in particular, yikes. The Precision hunter's edge doesn't mess around.
After a solid blow to the chest, the first cutthroat falls without a word. Ulle dodges by Lena and steps out into the hall to F30, planning to cut around the stairway and attack the other invaders from the far side. As he does, a gong rings somewhere on the upper level, and steel grates crash down, cutting off both the eastern side entrances as well as the stairs leading to the upper level. Seems you're trapped in the ground floor with the invaders!

Dubh and Lena are up next at Initiative 20, in either order (your choice).
Wilkezag: In the event that cutthroat 1 is still alive by the time it gets to your turn, you also have to make a DC 5 flat check because of the smoke cloud. Telekinetic projectile lets you avoid the cover penalty from trying to shoot around the door, but the concealment is still in effect. But Dubh and Lena between them are absolutely capable of wrecking that guy long before your turn, so it may end up not mattering anyway.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:30, Tue 08 Nov 2022.

Lena stepped out of the smoke's protective embrace, trying to find a weak point in the cutthroat's armor as she fired a crossbow bolt.

Action 1: Stepping southeast
Action 2: Devise a Strategem vs. Enemy in the door
Action 3: Attacking Enemy in door at 13 (rolled 6+Int+Prof) with 10 damage if successful.
12:45, Today: Lena Sellenski rolled 6 using 1d20 with rolls of 6.  Devise a Stratagem Die.
12:46, Today: Lena Sellenski rolled 14 using 1d20+7 with rolls of 7.  Devise a Strategem Society Recall Knowledge.
12:50, Today: Lena Sellenski rolled 10 using 2d6 with rolls of 5,5.  Hand Crossbow+Precise Strike Damage.

You actually can't just Step through the edge of the door, but these guys are 0-level mooks and don't have Attack of Opportunity, so you can just move there as Ulle did. (Even if they were higher level, they'd be rogues and still wouldn't have it.)

13 isn't enough to hit them though. Additionally, you forgot the DC 5 flat check because the cutthroat is still concealed to you, but it doesn't matter because you missed anyway.

You notice a tattoo of three black tears beneath the thug's left eye. You feel like that means something but it's just not coming to you in the heat of battle; maybe later.

Unfortunately, your shot goes wide, sailing down the hall behind the cutthroat.

Dubh is up still, although I got distracted and already rolled Cutthroat 3's attack. It's a miss caused by concealment and I'll keep it, as long as he does in fact end up in the smoke cloud by the time he's doing something.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:02, Wed 09 Nov 2022.

Dubh moves out into the hallway and spots to closest intruder. He snaps one clawed hand up at the mans face and slashes a gouge across his exposed flesh. His other hand follows up but swipes wide as the thug recoils from the unexpected pain.


OOC:
A1 - Move
A2 - Attack
A3 - 2nd Attack
15:01, Today: Dubh Oiche rolled 9 using 1d20 with rolls of 9.  flat check.
15:04, Today: Dubh Oiche rolled 15 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 9.  attack.
15:05, Today: Dubh Oiche rolled 6 using 1d6 with rolls of 6.  Damage.
15:07, Today: Dubh Oiche rolled 6 using 1d20+2 with rolls of 4.  Attack 2.

The thug staggers and gasps in pain, but manages to keep his feet for now. His friend, seeing the first cutthroat stagger from a claw in the swirling smoke, pulls out her crossbow and attempts to shoot the dimly-seen figure of Dubh.
11:20, Today: GM, for the NPC Cutthroat 3, rolled 4,21,6 using d20,d20+6,d4+2 with rolls of 4,15,4.  attack Lena Dubh.
If she's using her crossbow, it should be d6 instead of d4+2, but regardless, she blew the concealment check.
She's fooled by an unexpected billow of smoke, and her shot goes wide into the wall.

The last cutthroat, emerging from the bedroom across the hall, hears Ulle rushing around the stairway and moves to intercept him, slashing with his dagger.
13:56, Today: GM, for the NPC Cutthroat 2, rolled 9,6 using d20+6,d4+2 with rolls of 3,4. attack Ulle.
But a giant savage in his nightshirt was not what he was expecting! His slice completely fails to connect.

Wilkezag chants a quick line of song, which bolsters all of your spirits with determination to see these invaders off. The broken bottle from Lena's alchemical smoke bomb suddenly leaps off the floor and slices into the wounded thug.
14:00, Today: GM, on behalf of Wilkezag, rolled 6 using 1d20 with rolls of 6.  concealment check.
17:15, Yesterday: Wilkezag rolled 20,15,7 using d20+7,d20+7,d6+4 with rolls of 13,8,3.  Perform, Spell attack, damage.
A vicious slash to the neck is just too much for this cutthroat, and he falls beside his companion.

Sophia is up to close out round 1. Somehow I don't think we're going to make it to round 3.

Sophia rushes out of the room, through the smoke and around the attacker engaged with Ulle. She then calmly and professionally proceeds to ram her long spear right through him from behind.

"Oh. I guess we're not questioning him."

She turned and smirked at the remaining cutthroat. "Guess that means we're going to have to talk to you instead."

---

That last line would make a lot more sense if I took the feat "You're next" instead of "nimble dodge" but nevermind. Sophia will invoke the nimble dodge reaction if attacked though!

I forgot to include inspire courage +1 so crit is for 20? I think that should be enough to take him out lol.

Action 1: Stride out of room
Action 2: stride to end 10 feet behind cutthroat engaged with Ulle
Action 3: strike him (flanking) hitting AC 28 (forgot inspire courage) for 20 when doubled for a crit.

14:16, Today: Sophia Akhova rolled 27,6,3 using d20+7,d8+4,d6 with rolls of 20,2,3.  strike flanked target with longspear, damage, sneak attack.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:25, Tue 08 Nov 2022.

Ouch. For future reference, if it isn't immediately obvious where you're going, that's why I included coordinates on the map. No, I didn't, because MapTool doesn't consider that a persistent setting, so I have to remember to turn it on every time I open the map. But I'll TRY to remember to turn it on in the future, so you can give me a grid reference. I hope this is what you intended.

The thug seems completely dazed and confused by you running around him. As he spins to try to keep track of you, without losing track of Ulle, the last thing he sees is your spear through his heart.

Here begins round 2. Ulle is up.

Having watched Sophia's maneuver to get around his previous target, Ulle decides that he might as well duck around the one remaining thug, forcing her to turn her back on the rest of you. He sets his feet and chops at the cutthroat once he's there.
6:29, Today: GM, on behalf of Ulle, rolled 23,13 using d20+8,d8+5 with rolls of 15,8.  attack Cutthroat 3.

The last of this group of invaders falls at Ulle's feet, and you all take a minute to catch your breath and take stock. You can hear further fighting, or at least running about and shouting, going on somewhere to the west, but it sounds like it can take care of itself for at least a few minutes.

In general, after any encounter ends, you may take some time to search the area, refocus, or do anything else with a duration measured in minutes, unless I specifically say you can't. However, if you do take this time, you should expect that unless you were being especially quiet during the encounter (which precludes casting spells), enemies in neighboring rooms will know you're coming, and will either interrupt you or (more likely) set up an ambush of some kind.

Also, at this point Ulle ceases to exist (taking the loot from one of these cutthroats with him), unless he comes back before you all move into the next room.

I'll give you all a day or so to look around here, inspect the cutthroats, whatever you like before gently encouraging you to get on with things.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:05, Wed 09 Nov 2022.