TheRPGSite

Lair of the Petty Tyrant

Introduction:

For almost 200 years, the surrounding countryside has been held in the grip of a line of Petty Tyrants. Using arcane powers and a seemingly endless supply of brigands, thugs, and even orcs (or worse) that seem compelled to do their bidding, the family of Tyrants (calling themselves the Archibalds, though locals have other names for them) exact tribute in the form of crops, coin, and even people from time to time. Although a few stalwart citizens, and even wandering heroes, have tried to end the rule of the Tyrants, none have succeeded. Some even turn to serve the Tyrants.

The current Tyrant is the 10th of the line, Flandrin Archibald, and his "Queen" Mary Archibald. They are rarely seen by any who return to report it. Instead, their proxies dispense the justice and exact the tribute from the scattered villages of the region. The Red Lord, armored and mysterious, and the Black Collector, wrapped in robes of darkest night, are the field commanders who guide the human and not-so-human minions of the Tyrants. Myth says that these two have been by the side of the Tyrants since the very first one, Oswald Archibald, almost two centuries ago.  

Recently, the raids by the Tyrant's forces have grown scarce. Rumors have begun to spread that maybe the 10th Tyrant has met a hopefully horrid fate. No bands of brigands or orc raiders have issued forth from his redoubt in the hills north of the town of Darlington in more than 6 months. The locals are looking for a brave group of adventurers who would venture north and see if their tormentors have gone for good - or are merely gathering strength for some more sinister purpose.

You are those brave adventurers.

D&D 3.0 Rules
1st level
1 roll on magic items table to be conducted by the DM once characters are complete.

This is where we deal with any and all out of character issues. I will start with a couple of options;

Rolls - three choices;

a) you roll here and post in front of all
b) you roll and tell me via PM and I post the results in a narrative way
c) I roll and post in a narrative way.

Experience;

a) Earn it per encounter (the traditional D&D way)
b) Earn it per "goal" (i.e. I give XP based on an arbitrary and unknown DM fiat)

Vote now.

(Jeopardy music)

I vote (c), then (a).

I vote (a), then abstain.

(a) and (a).

For experience, I vote (a) and for rolling, I am not sure how to do option (a) here.  Just need an explanation.  Thanks

For marching order, I will take front rank with the fighter assuming that is where he will be.  Either way front rank is fine.

Well, I  mis-spoke a bit, not sure you can roll HERE, but you would post your roll number on the thread.

Alvin will keep to the middle of the ground. Rear if that's not possible.

Quote from: Venosha;232354For marching order, I will take front rank with the fighter assuming that is where he will be.  Either way front rank is fine.

I think that's a pretty logical assumption: Cærnas is an impetuous youth with solid riding skills, and he'll probably end up out front simply by dint of impatience. ;)

Given that his contemplations often overide his perception skills, Tench rides at the back of the party.

Does anyone else see anything, or should we wait for DeadUematsu/Alvin?

I'd like to make a Spot check, but have neither dice nor die roller. Could someone help a brother out? I Spot, somewhat pathetically, at +0.

Quote from: Engine;233085I'd like to make a Spot check, but have neither dice nor die roller. Could someone help a brother out? I Spot, somewhat pathetically, at +0.

13 rolled.

I had chosen alvie to notice it simply because he was the only one with a Spot skill; however, you can follow his gaze and notice it as well, Engine.

Did I reacted to quickly? If so, sorry about that.  I would like to roll for Knowledge(nature) and listen.  If it applies?  I assumed that I could look since Alvin made the announcement.  

It has been quite a while since I have played by post, so you might have to pull me aside once or twice to bring me back a bit.

You can always check just about anything - no guarentees it'll result in anything, just so ya know. :)

Listen check rolled 15 and +6 bonus.
Knowledge(nature) check rolled 5 and +4 bonus.

Venosha: As you listen intently you hear the sound of branches scraping across metal from the treetops... but it also seems to be coming from below your feet....

Unless Rowen spots something and warns against it, i'm going to climb the tree for a closer look.

Can i take 10 for the climb? If so, then my climb is 16. Otherwise *rolls* arrgh! 2 + 6 = 8.

And unless Rowen says, "Don't leave me down here alone with this fat guy and his toad!" I'm going to climb the tree with Tench. Caernas will wait for Tench to begin his ascent, and then follow, not wishing to climb before the more skilled man.

Oh, and: I know Alvin is nearly as good with his crossbow as Caernas is with his bow; Caernas just doesn't. Just so we're clear. ;)

Spot check - rolled a 12 with a +3 bonus.

I rolled a 9 and adding 2 makes my Intiative 11.

I rolled 13 with +2 bonus.

17 + 3 = 20.

If it will still take them a round to act, can I possibly retrieve the torch out of the fire, that Alvin threw in?  Unless the undead are completely upon me, then i will just attack with my swords.

On my turn, I will be taking a 30 foot move away from the skeletons, hiding behind cover if possible, and casting Mage Armor. I will post the IC descriptions once Venosha is done.

You can easily retrieve the torch (we'll assume the throw wasn't the most accurate ever) as your free action this turn, Venosha.

After picking up the torch, I will be attacking the nearest undead with it.

Attack roll 17 with bonus +4 = 21

Damage roll 5 with bonus +3 = 8

I'll roll initiative:

1d20+3
16+3 = 19

On his turn, Caernas will draw his bow and attack the undead troubling his comrades on the ground. How far up in the tree is he?

Tench continues up the tree to tackle the skellies struggling free up there. His plan is to hopefully get to one before it gets free and just wrench its head off or otherwise fuck it up without a fight.  He'll then see whether he do the same to another before fighting normally - or he'll square up (as well as he can in a tree) to the remaining ones. He'll always be on the lookout to use his tumble skill to drop from the tree if he gets into trouble.

Caernas attacks!

1d20+4
3+4 = 7

Caernas misses! Excellent first attack. :)

I posted this on #28...just a reminder.  Thanks

Attack 17 +4 bonus= 21
Damage 5 +3 bonus= 8

Against the first skeleton.

After everyone has done this round, next round i'll see if i can nobble another skelly in the tree without a fight.

I cast Mage Armor. Alvin's AC is 16 now. I also took a move action away from the skeletons.

When it's his turn - whose turn is it, when, now? - Caernas will continue [one hopes with more success] to shower the skeletons below in bowfire.

Just a headsup but I am going to be out until Wednesday night. Please feel free to continue without me until then.

The Skeletons have to spend this turn moving to engage, (two were on the far side of the fire, the other two are still disentangling) so please attack again.

Better this time!

1d20+4
15+4 = 19

I try the patented 'tree neck-twist' manoeuvre again. If that's not possible, i attack...3 +2 = 5. Miss.

I will try to attack the second skeleton advancing.  With the torch.
Rolled 6 +4 bonus =10

For future reference, if you get a hit please roll damage as well.

Engine, pony up and we'll continue.

1d8+0
6+0 = 6

I'm back. Please let me know when it's my turn.

OHT - Tench takes 3 points from a skeleton bite.

The skeletons move to engage range for the next turn, two on Rowen, two on Tench. Time for actions, rolls, and damage please.

Flurry of blows on a skelly - 11, miss. 17, hit - 5 damage.

1d20+4
6+4 = 10

Miss. Damn!

Smashing the bag of bones with the torch again.

Rolled 16 + 4 bonus= 20
Damage roll 4 +3 bonus =7

Woo Hoo!

All skeletons missed. Sorry for the delay in posting, I'll try to be more prompt from here on.

Time for moves, attacks and damage.

I try to make sure of killing 1 of them this round. d20+2 = 6. I fail to make sure :(

Edit: Can i attempt a Tumble from the tree after the attack? In case that's a yes, i roll d20 +7 and get a...17. (subract 10 feet from falling damage taken, DC15).

Caernhas will climb to where he can reach one of the undead in the tree. There's not likely to be room enough to engage with his blade, so I guess what Caernhas would like to do is try to yank the undead out of the tree; if they're just bone, their footing can't be fantastic, and they can't weigh too much. I grapple at +3, but I don't know what the DC to yank a dude out of a tree is. ;)

1d20+3
19+3 = 22

Rowen wants to smash the last ground level skeleton.

Rolled 9 +4 bonus=13   Not sure if that is a hit?  Don't have my book with me.
If so...Damage is 1 +3 bonus=4.  If not...Disregard.

A move action to pull out my crossbow and another move action away from the skeletons.

Round complete. Actions and attacks please. Two skeletons in tree with Caernhas, one left on the ground with everyone else.

Okay, so I've got ahold of one of them; what do I roll to yank him out of the tree, then?

Once on the ground i take out my shuriken and try to focus on one of the skellies in the tree. I throw 3 at one of them (1 attack roll for all 3? unsure looking at the weapon description. never used them before!).

In case, 1 attack roll = d20 +3 - 19+3 = 22. 3 damage.

If 3 seperate rolls - 15, 7 & 11. 1 damage.

Depending on cover, of course. :)

Quote from: Engine;241192Okay, so I've got ahold of one of them; what do I roll to yank him out of the tree, then?

I'd saya strength check; 1d20 + STR modifier.

I have readied a bolt and will fire my crossbow when a skeleton is clear.

To hit, my roll is 7.. +2 from DEX makes it 9.
For damage, in case I hit, I rolled a 4.

Quote from: Werekoala;241262I'd saya strength check; 1d20 + STR modifier.

1d20+2
15+2 = 17

Taking out the semi crunched skeleton on the ground.
Rolled 11 +4 bonus =15
Damage rolled 2+ 3 bonus =5

I move to the skelly on the ground and attack d20 + 2 = 14. 1d6 + 2 damage = 7.

I am attacking the skeleton that just toppled from the tree with a crossbow bolt.

10 total for my attack roll.
2 total for my damage.

Sorry...who's turn is it ?  Do I need to roll again for an attack?  My previous attack was about 3 post back.  

Attack 15
Damage 5

Let me know if you need my character to re-roll for a new attack.

I'd love a more clear sense of when it's whose turn, or more specifically, when I ought to be doing something. :)

Sorry, I'll make it more clear.

Engine; your turn to act then all PCs are done.

I'll try to pull the other skeleton out of the tree. I don't know what I'm rolling for or against, so here's a raw roll of the d20:

1d20+0
3+0 = 3

*sigh*

Next round - one skeleton left, in the tree, engaged with Engine. I'll move the IC action as soon as I have actions from everyone, and I'll try to pick up the pace.

I'm attacking again with another crossbow bolt...

Rolled a 5 total for my attack roll.
Rolled a 1 total for my damage roll.

:D Gotta conserve my spells.

OHT and Engine, actions please.

I throw 3 more shuriken. 7+3 = 10. Miss.

I'll yank again:

1d20+0
6+0 = 6

Oh, damn it.

Consider combat over for this encounter; well done everyone.

If everyone else avoids corpse-looting, Caernhas will deign to do it.

Just a heads up.  I am pretty sick right now.  I will try to get on at least once a day to check the game.  Play on if I don't give a timely response.

Should I roll tracking or a spot check to find some tracks around the area/fort?

Search would be more appropriate. Spot is typically for hidden enemies and the like.

Okay I am rolling for a default search.

d20 +1 (INT) = 10

A hail of questions from Caernhas: how far are we from the palisade? How high is the palisade? Is there a vantage point within, say, 100 yards that's as high or higher than the palisade?

As regards the cliff, how high is it, and is there any way to gain the top of the cliff, either climbing its face or traveling around?

I'm away for a couple of days. Feel free to answer for me should it become necessary.

I'll have my IC post up as soon as I hear from Werekoala on my questions above.

Sorry that I haven't been around to post much, but I was curious if we are all still playing this game?

Werekoala hasn't posted anywhere since 3 October 2008, so my guess is he's been eaten by an actual bear.