Watchtower Plans

NAME: Watchtower Plans TYPE: Kingdom, Standard PREREQUISITE: MISSION LEVEL: 5 SLOTS: 6 DESCRIPTION: Scout A Location For A Watchtower to be built at the edge of the kingdom. This hex would provide a good vantage point for such a building. Signs of activity have been seen here. Something has a foothold to the west.

Fizziwik meets you at the Silver Harp early in the morning.   Excellent, glad you could come help out.  We have had some reports of something with a foothold to our west.  To better protect our little kingdom the council has decided that we need a watchtower out that way.  Your task   he takes a moment to unfurl a small map will be to scout this area here for a good place to establish a watchtower  he points towards a spot on the map.   We are purposely sending a small group in hopes that you do not draw any attention to your-selves.  Have you any questions before you set out? Fizziwik nods at Rauno and the barkeep brings him a small tankard of ale and a plate full of bacon and hard-boiled eggs.  

Kabril has many questions!  But Miss Scarlet always seems to have the answers Kabril seeks.  Perhaps a copy of this map would allow Kabril to more readily locate a position for the watchtower.

What do the reports say about the "something" out there? Margot drags a young man behind her. Get out of my lab, Idolize anyone else for awhile. Planting him next to the group Margot then walks away.  Aarun: um...Hi. huge smile on his face I'm Aarun nice to meet you Fizzi, Kabril, and Viggo. 

mmhmm  he says while swallowing an egg Yeah, this map is for you and this other too. Hands Kabril a map marking the best trails to the area and another map showing a not so detailed version of the area you are headed.   I know it's not complete, but it's all we have.  You'll need to spend some time scouting the area, feel free to fill in more stuff on the map. he picks up a crispy piece of bacon, breaks it in half and eats it.   The scouts report says undetermined humanoids.  Apparently the scout noticed a small settlement and examined them for a little while from a distance but didn't want to get too close.  In further discussions with the scout, I'm lead to believe they are some variation of goblins, though this is mere speculation on my part.  

GOBLINS NO THREAT. WE CLEAR PLACE QUICK. SCARE GOBLINS GO FAR.  SCOURGE lumbers into the harp. Puddles follows behind, shes had a bad morning, were probably better off just hitting the road at race-rat pace.

Fizziwik takes a long drink from his ale.   Whatever they are, we don't yet know how many are there or how well organized they are.  No need to stir up trouble until we have a better idea what we are getting into.  Find us a good location for a watchtower, and we can send LB out with some supplies to build it.   Tossing a few coins on the table he stands At any rate, I've some other business to attend to.  Feel free to have breakfast on me.   He waves at Rauno who comes to take your orders. After breakfast you set out on your journey, it takes a couple days to get to the area where you will survey for good locations for a watchtower. //OOC: Things I need:  2 Survival Checks 2 Perception Checks Knowledge Geography (or other skill you might use for surveying an area) A description of what your character would typically be doing while you are traveling about, scouting out front, making notes of the area, daydreaming, whistling, sleeping....etc.

Viggo stays near the group keeping an eye out for danger. Perhaps helping with any lifting. Viggos rolls (with Aarun's assistance).  Survival 19 and 20  Perception 17 and 22 k(geo) 17 preferring K(engineering) 20 Edit: used correct character to assist.

SCOURGE usually travels alongside the wagon, speaking to puddles about things and keeping watch from the front. Whenever we come across a high location, SCOURGE will climb atop whatever is there to get a better vantage point. She figures thats exactly what you need from a watchtower anyways. Survival: 19, 8 Perception: 16, 26 Climb (to get better vantage points and whatnot): 36 Puddles is usually just driving the cart. Watching for obstruction on their path, and leading the rats around them. He is generally just looking for paths through the area and where people would normally travel. Survival: 8, 14 Perception: 12, 14 Knowledge Nature (for locations in danger due to inclement weather, or locations that are more easily concealed): 15 Stealth (he uses his knowledge of stealth to try and predict people's paths when sneaking past possible locations: 19

Kabril rides the wagon, sketching as they go, trying to fill in the blanks on the map.  He also uses his extensive knowledge of Engineering to discern the best location for the Watchtower. (Know:Eng 28)   Perception: 11, 11 Survival (via Spellcraft): 28, 32 Know (Geo): 18, 28

You travel most of the day, finding several locations that might work and making detailed notes on the map of each one.  As you return to the place you camped the night before, thinking to set up camp here again, the party notices several footprints that are not their own.  It appears that 3 or 4 other creatures have been through here recently, investigating their old campsite.  Kabril studies the footprints carefully before determining that they are from bugbears and hobgoblins.  He is also fairly certain that there are two of each.

Kabril has found tracks.  They lead off in this direction.  Perhaps Kabril should follow them? /ooc Perception 24, Survival 33)

SLEEP LATER. CRUSH NOW. SCOURGE seems intent on finishing the mission quickly.

Better to find them now then when we sleep. 

The group sets out following the trail.  They notice that the tracks seem to parallel the path the party took earlier in the day.  After about an hour, they come to the edge of a clearing.  The tracks seem to continue straight through the middle of the clearing.  Being ever on the alert, Scourge and Viggo notice that the clearing is quieter than it should be.  No other humanoids are currently visable.

SCOURGE whispers, SCOURGE may walk to the center if the small ones go to the sides. Take dwarf with me. Only 4 shouldn't be a big problem for Big scourge. Small one finds other first, i drink potions then. She gestures to puddles and fizziwik. Puddles starts mixing bottles together and handing them over to scourge. He turns to the others, Ill have one for each of you as well, it'll be a minute though. once these are passed out i think she wants me to go make sure they are there so we don't waste my potions. OOC: He gives SCOURGE: long arm mutagen shield expeditious retreat He gives the others: cure light wounds

Kabril steps to the side, hunkering behind a small bush and begins muttering arcane words to himself while making odd hand motions.  After a few seconds, you see a shimmer in the air all around him, then it fades from view. /ooc Mage Armor on myself

Puddles is going to sneak around the sides to make sure the enemies are there before we start buffing 30 stealth, 14 perception

Viggo puts down any excess gear he was carrying waits, not knowing much about goblinoid behavior but expecting traps like the kobolds.

Puddles walks around the outside of the entire clearing but doesn't notice anything out of the ordinary, other than the absence of birds chirping.   (ooc):  The map is up, you are coming in from the south.  Go ahead and place yourselves.  We can start working in turns now.  I'll let each of you post and then I will follow.

Aarun: quietly, v vv Viggo you take this. He undoes his belt, and hands it to Viggo. It will make you stronger. Also don't believe everything you see, WINK, and he casts a spell, a cloud covers him, Viggo, and SCOURGE.  OOC: Minor image of a cloud covering the green area, extending 25' ahead of him but making no change to the brown area at this time. I don't know how to mark the map. Viggo:   What? oh.

SCOURGE is the first to enter the clearing, insectoid eyes darting about. A bottle in one hand, the other empty, she stands ready for an ambush. OOC: scourge is holding to drink a potion. Puddles is also nearby, hiding in the bushes.

GM Post:  Springing the trap.  From the far side of the clearing, 2 Bugbears walk out tossing javelins at Scourge, which both fall short,   before drawing Morningstars.  From the trees, arrows shoot out at her from some Hobgoblins.  Hobgoblin #1 steps out from behind his tree as he fires, but the other one manages to remain hidden somewhat (Perception DC 19 to notice him from your distance) Initiative time:  Player's post Slot 3 (1am - 9am)

Slot 3: init of 19 SCOURGE drinks another potion, moving up to the archer on the left AOO of 29 for 25 damage on the melee preferably. Puddles moves forwards sticking to the foliage, and chucks a bomb at the bugbear in the back. missing, the vial lands near it, scorchign the earn and lashing at the warrior.  little bit of splash damage ;n;

Kabril, seeing the Bugbears rush into the clearing, steps out from behind the bush wiggling his hands and chanting.  As he steps into the fog, a brilliant eruption of golden-red light leaps from his hands and circles the clearing before exploding in the form of a dragon right where the second bugbear is standing. //ooc Initiaitve 16, move 30', Snapdragon Fireworks, rd 1, 2 damage.  Bugbear passed Reflex save (23 vs 16)

Viggo approaches the right side, planting his Bardiche and drawing a bow. Aarun hides in the mist.

Kabril again launches a Snapdragon at the bugbear he targeted last round.  As it explodes on top of him, the bugbear shuts his eyes and shrugs off the effect.  Before it even hits, though, Kabril is already looking at the 2nd creature while throwing a handful of ground minerals his direction.  A cloud of golden particles surrounds the bugbear, blinding it and limning it with a soft glow. //ooc 2nd rd of Snapdragon Fireworks for 1 fire dmg, Bugbear saved (18 vs 16), Cast Glitterdust at 2nd bugbear (close to SCOURGE), Will fails (12 vs 18), it is blinded.

Atashe charges the hobgoblin on the right side, attacking with his scimitar, drawing blood from a gash to his shoulder. //ooc Charge 60', Attack 21 for 3 Damage)

Scourge hits the Hobgoblin in front of him as the creature moves backwards out of his reach, stunned by the powerful blow the archers attempt at returning the favor doesn't hit the mark.  As the Hobgoblin moves back the nearby Bugbear rubs at his eyes to no avail.  On the other side of the field the Hobgoblin takes a step back and fires 2 arrows at Atache, one misses but the other strikes a solid blow, causing a fair amount of damage.  While this is occuring, the other Bugbear charges at Viggo, smashing into him with his morningstar and a 3rd Hobgoblin steps out from behind a tree and fires an arrow at Viggo which misses. //OOC: 10 damage to Atache, 9 to Viggo Players Turn

SCOURGE crashes around the battlefield, a punch here, a kick there. Ending her attacks by launching herself at the archer in a flying kick. Puddles ends the archer with a nearby bomb throw. OOC: SCORGE flurried, attacking the fighter twice and then flying kicking the archer. Each take 20 as one attack missed the fighter. Puddles threw a bomb at a nearby square to deal splash damage to it.

Having dropped his pole arm to fire his bow, Viggo slams into the monster with his spiked armor dealing a solid blow.  As Aarun makes him vanish. He cant see you now!  Viggo picks up his weapon and drops his bow. ooc: Viggo is invisible and has his reach weapon. Aarun is in the "heavy mists" which will last 2 more rounds.

Atashe uses his inherent magic from his Efreet father and enlarges himself to four times his size.  His now much larger scimitar comes crashing down, but the hobgoblin is able to sidestep and avoid all but the smallest cut (Attack 24, Damage 1). Kabril, seeing the archer drive an arrow into his cousin, targets him with his next dragon.  It explodes in a shower of red-gold sparks, dazzling the humanoid and burning him (1 Fire Dmg, Failed Reflex, Dazzled x 1rd).  He then turns his attention on the now closer Bugbear, casting a spell that amplifies his voice to the point that it hurts to hear (Sonic Scream for 12 dmg, failed Reflex).

Slot 3:  Atashe Full attacks the hobgoblin, slashing him across the chest with his scimitar.  (Attack 20, 17; Dmg 8, miss)  AOO if hobgoblin steps back to shoot misses. Kabril continues to cause hurt with his words, but this time the bugbear seems more prepared (6 dmg, Reflex passed for half).  His final firework goes off, striking the archer near Atashe (1 fire dmg, dazzled for 1 rd failed Reflex).

Slot 3: SCOURGE runs towards the others, flailing at the other warrior, while puddles finishes the first one with a bomb. OOC: scourge runs over and misses, and puddles deals 16 damage with a bomb

GM Post Slot 1 (1 am - 9am) Archer 2 takes a step back and fires twice at the giant in front of him.  One arrow strikes hard into the giant man (9 damage).  As Viggo fades from view, the goblinoids turn their attention to Kabril and his fireworks.  The archer gets 2 good shots in as the warrior steps up and hits Kabril hard with his morningstar (25 combined damage) Players Post Slot 2 (9am - 5pm)

Slot 1: Atashe again moves closer, making a full attack on the archer (Attack 22,10; Dmg 8, miss.  AOO from step back 18, miss) and slashing him powerfully to his leg. Kabril screams once more as he steps back (Last round of Sonic Scream, 4 damage) and throws a jolt of chilling energy at the bugbear, finishing it off (Ray of Frost, Ranged Touch 18 for 1 cold dmg).

Aarun: Mighty earth rise up! A "wall of earth" appears in a large rectangle surrounding Kabril and Aarun. Looking back at Kabril, he winks and makes a smiley face on the inside of the wall. Viggo: Charges and slams down his bardiche, dealing a solid blow. OOC: Aarun uses minor image. Viggo charged, and lost invis.

Slot 2: Atashe continues to attack the archer in front of him, flailing wildly with his scimitars, but is unable to connect. Kabril, seeing his cousin still struggling, casts the second Glitterdust spell he had prepared for the day, blinding the brute (DC 18 Will save vs 12).

GM Slot 2 (9am - 5pm) Ranger #2 keeps firing at Atashe, even though he can't see.  One arrow still manages to make contact and Atashe goes down.  The hobgoblin fails his save though, so he is still blinded. Ranger #3 steps back and fires twice at Viggo, nicking him once with an arrow. ooc: 5 damage on Viggo and Atashe Next Post:  Players Slot 3 (5pm - 1am)

Slot 3 Aarun again focuses his illusion powers, this time surrounding Atashe with a fog could, right in front of him it makes the words ILLUSION for just a moment.  Viggo moves in, this time using his spiked armor for a glancing blow, but he has closed the enemy's escape route.  OOC: Viggo AoO if the archer prokes (hit 21 for 7 with spikes or hit 29 for 10 with reach) with proof of the illusion you shouldnt need a save, or if you dont think enough proof was provided you should get a +4 vs DC 14. The first fog is gone, the wall has 1 more round.

Kabril drinks a potion of Cure Moderate Wounds, healing 10. Atashe stabilizes and loses no more blood (Con check = 16)

//ooc the Hobgoblin is blind for the moment, Ben.  He didn't SEE Illusion...

Post 3: 5pm - 1am Ranger #3 steps back and takes the attack from Viggo as he notches 2 more arrows and sends them into the weak part of Viggo's armor Ranger #2 turns to run away and runs into the nearby tree, knocking him over, he stands back up, a little disoriented.  OOC: 15 more damage to Viggo

Kabril fires two missiles of silver force at the archer who is blinded as he moves toward his cousin to see if he is still alive. //ooc Magic Missile for 4 and 5 damage

Slot 1 for Amy: Scourge steps out of the mist, spotting the hobgoblin attacking Viggo, and manages to get off a weak swing that whistles over his head. //ooc I rolled a 1 on the attack and 2 1's on damage.  I don't think Scourge likes me, Amy...

Slot 1 Viggo's  armor spikes impale the hobgoblin, Viggo has to push it off and it falls to the ground.

GM Post Slot 2: (9am - 5pm) The blind hobgoblin picks a random direction to run and chooses to head right for Scourge who reaches out and touches him not so gently. Upon searching through the belongings of the creatures, you find on one of the rangers detailed notes of your movements and the word watchtower scribbled in goblin.  Each gobliniod has several of those strange cylinders on them. Conclusion:  The party finds a safe place to camp for the night before heading back to town.  They successfully found several good locations in the region for a tower and are able to bring back detailed notes for each potential site.   Reward:  2 MP, 1 KP + Your choice between A.  32 grey green cylinders with etchings of a star and 18 silver grey cylinders with etchings of a planet B. +1 Morningstar C. +1 Chainmail & 650 gp worth of medium quality gems.

Kabril takes A

How much does each cylinder weigh? Are they equal halves noqual and mythril or cold iron? Do they detect as magic? 

Good question, I'll find out.  Yes.  No.

scourge takes A