Completed Play-by-Post: In Search of the Sorcerer

[Grimgravy]

Spoiler

If you don't want to attack, kick one of us awake to tip the odds more in our groups favor.

 

[Helly]

Spoiler

If you don't want to attack, kick one of us awake to tip the odds more in our groups favor.

Spoiler

Yeah, since I can't do full defense, I updated my last post in that direction

 

[nikolokolus]

Movement Phase:

OOC

I know it's Siveon's turn to roll initiative and declare his actions, but I'll go ahead and declare the movement/missiles actions of your foes. If Marcán rolls high enough on his init check I'll incorporate that into how things unfold.

With the lights flickering to life at the slave's house and the slave raising the alarm at the longhouse. The Hyperborean sneers and curses, "Shit! Enough of this nonsense." To the shock of everyone, he suddenly spreads his arms and begins to rise in the air and arcs at an angle that carries him toward the water. He's now about 20 feet off of the ground now and perhaps 20 yards south of where he took off (he's moving about 40 yards per round, certainly not breakneck speed)

Thug's Morale Check [2d6+2] = 10+2 = 12 10 or higher breaks
The two lackeys turn their heads, mouth agape. The larger brute nearest to Borric et al. makes an unintelligible "Whaaaagh!?" sound. The short stocky man near Ker shouts at the Hyperborean, "Master? What about us?!" his voice cracks with fear. The man nearest Borric turns and runs toward the river, while the shorter, near Ker, throws down his dagger and puts his hands over his head.

Borric, Marcán and Sokrates each get one free attack against the Hyperborean and the fleeing man because they are breaking combat without covering their retreat.

Ker kicks Rhenmyr pretty good in the ribs. Rhenmyr's eyes snap open as he gasps for air (you can act starting next round Grimgravy)

 

[Siveon]

Initiative

[1d6+1] = 2+1 = 3

Attack

To hit: [1d20 + 3] = 1+3 = 4
Damage(Longsword): [1d8+2] = 5+2 = 7

Marcán takes another failed swipe at the Hyperborean, him coldly dodging another attack. I'm off my game. Haven't had a good job in months and now I can't take down one bastard. He thinks to himself. Marcán yells when he sees the Hyperborean trying to flee, "Grab him!". Marcán sheaths his sword, runs and leaps after the Hyperborean and tries to pin the Hyperborean down.

"You're not going anywhere you coward!"

Grapple roll

Grapple: [1d30] = 24

 

[nikolokolus]

Borric and Sokrates are astonished when they see Marcán take a running, flying leap and smash into the Hyperborean just as he gets off the ground, this appears to have momentarily halted his ascent into the sky.

Marcán's grapple and your free attacks

ERYFKRAD and bert. Right now Borric and Sokrates get one free swipe at both the Hyperborean and the Thug, because they have turned tail and fled. If you don't drop/halt them with your free attack the fleeing thug appears to be running straight toward the docks and with Marcán grappling you won't be able to safely make melee attacks at the Hyperborean (equal chance you hit either), but if you attempt to grapple and hit, your collective chances to pin him are going to go up considerably. Look at the rules on "Unarmed Combat" on page 41 of the rules for details. Bear in mind your attack roll ignores your opponent's armor (ie. he's going to be AC:10 for purposes of grappling)

 

[nikolokolus]

Spoiler

With all of the weirdness going on with the site notifications I'm not sure if everybody was aware of this post: http://www.rpgcodex.net/forums/inde...words-wizardry-game.96176/page-3#post-3751372

Basically, just a proposal for a rules tweak to speed up combat and make it flow a little more smoothly; running a game by PbP is new ground for me ... it aint the same as a face-to-face game, that's for sure. Look it over and let me know what you think

 

[Grimgravy]

Spoiler

Still waiting on attacks of opportunity from Sokrates and Borric.

 

[nikolokolus]

Spoiler

Still waiting on attacks of opportunity from Sokrates and Borric.

Spoiler

Maybe everybody is too depressed about all of the money they spent on their girlfriend/wife for Valentine's day?

 

[bert]

Spoiler

Hyperborean: Attack: [1d20+2] = 16+2 = 18 Damage: [1d8+2] = 4+2 = 6
Thug: Attack: [1d20+2] = 12+2 = 14 Damage: [1d8+2] = 1+2 = 3

 

[nikolokolus]

Sokrates seizes the opportunity to strike as Marcán briefly tangles the Hyperborean's feet. His blade flashes out in a quick jab that catches the dark clad man in the neck. Great gouts of blood begin to spurt in a thick pulses from his jugular. His eyes wide; he clutches the vicious wound with his left hand, gasping, reeling and falling backward with a look of utter and complete shock written on his face. As he topples backward, his sword arm goes slack and the great glittering blade held there falls point first into the soggy ground.

Sokrates wastes no time with Hyperborean dispatched and chops at the fleeing brute's hamstring. You strike him, but he keeps his feet and still seems intent to flee.

Spoiler

ERYFKRAD
Borric still gets a free shot at the thug who turned tail and is trying to flee. It's your decision what you want to do - whether to go for the kill or try to subdue him and take him alive ...

In other news, The thug next to Ker, Rhenmyr and Heron has surrendered and isn't moving, when he sees his master cut down a dark splotch is readily visible, spreading across the lap of his breeches in the lantern light.

 

[nikolokolus]

Spoiler

Fuckin' A, this took an unexpected turn. Nice job guys

 

[bert]

Spoiler

Any chance I can Lay on Hands on the hyperborean? Seems like he'd know a deal more than the thugs...but then again might be too resistant to our questioning.

 

[nikolokolus]

Spoiler

There is nothing preventing you from trying to heal your foe. That said, as a paladin I'd weigh carefully your actions afterward; e.g., there's nothing in your ethos preventing you from passing judgement on a prisoner and executing him for some heinous crime - some might say this is more a matter for the Druids in Keltic lands - but torture might put you on some very uncertain ground ... for example.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Spoiler

Sorry guise, had work to do IRL and was agonizing over what choice to make. bert solved that quandary, so I'll roll to subdue the other bloke. Will update with rolls in a moment. Or several.
Edit: Oh well. If he's escaped, can we at least identify him later?

Spoiler

grapple attempt: [1d6] = 1

 

[Siveon]

OOC

I'd rather we kept him alive (somehow, hint hint Helly). I mean killing him now would be a tad bit too anti-climactic for me.

 

[nikolokolus]

Spoiler

Sorry guise, had work to do IRL and was agonizing over what choice to make. bert solved that quandary, so I'll roll to subdue the other bloke. Will update with rolls in a moment. Or several.
Edit: Oh well. If he's escaped, can we at least identify him later?

Spoiler

grapple attempt: [1d6] = 1

Roll "to hit" first (d20+whatever else you modify your roll with + 2 because his back is to you). But your grapple result is noted if you manage to hit.

 

[Grimgravy]

Spoiler

Good stuff! We've got one prisoner who surrendered, maybe the second thug, and the package they wanted. I'd let the hyperborean snuff it. He could prove dangerous if he survives.

 

[ERYFKRAD]

Spoiler

[1d20+3] = 7+3 = 10
Adding +2 for exposed back = 12

 

[nikolokolus]

Spoiler

Good stuff! We've got one prisoner who surrendered, maybe the second thug, and the package they wanted. I'd let the hyperborean snuff it. He could prove dangerous if he survives.

Spoiler

Here's where you talk to to the other player's in character ... if you like.

Brute's grapple roll [1d6] = 4
Borric dives at the fleeing man's legs and manages to grab hold of him, but unfortunately he slides down his ankles, leaving himself wide open. The brute raises his meaty elbow and brings it down on the back of Borric's neck, sending you sprawling. (You're stunned for 3 rounds).

 

[nikolokolus]

END OF ROUND 4

State of affairs: Ker and Rhenmyr have their blades raised at the short, stocky man's throat, while Heron still snores softly nearby. One of the men has broken from the melee is and running full tilt toward the river. You hear a loud *sploosh* moments later (this seems borderline insane to most of you; the river is engorged with runoff from snow melt, though this might just feel like bathwater to Borric?). Meanwhile in the courtyard, Sokrates moves painfully with the great wound in his thigh, luckily it didn't hit any major arteries and the bleeding doesn't seem too profuse. Borric is laid out on the ground, and stars swim in his vision as he tries to rise to his feet. Marcán pushes himself up to one knee and looks down at the still form of the Hyperborean - the blood oozing from the man's neck is still pulsing out, but for how much longer you don't know.

 

[Grimgravy]

Rhenmyr rubs his side and says "Thanks for the wake up call, Ker. Now to pass on the favor. Wake up Heron!" He gives Heron a kick. "You were wise to surrender. Cooperate and you'll have nothing to fear from us. You wont give us any trouble, will you?" he brandishes his weapon at the thug. To Ker and Heron, "I'm sure you two can handle him. I'll go secure the package they came for and check the river for his less sensible friend."

Rhenmyr runs to the package dropped on the docks and looks for the thug who ran.

 

[nikolokolus]

The short, squat man, shakes his moon shaped face vigorously side to side, but doesn't speak; Ker appears to have him well in hand.

Rhenmyr snatches up the man's lit lantern and trundles down the bank to the docks. Though the light struggles to cut through the fog, you are able to make out the silhouette of the package at the end of the forty-foot pier. When you walk up to it, you see that it's a long and narrow lump of something wrapped in a canvas tarpaulin or sack about 6 feet long and maybe about 2 feet thick. One end of the tarp is tied off with a hemp cord.

As you stand there briefly puzzling over the parcel, you can hear frantic splashing noises coming from the end of the pier. You look over and see a face slipping below the water with hands outstretched.

 

[Helly]

Ker did not like getting stabbed and spend some of his anger on the poor man.
He forces his captive to face his struggling comrade.
"You see that? He should have surrendered. Lie or try to run and you fate will be worse."
Ker then turns towards his old friend Marcan.
"Hey, Marcan, can you watch this guy for a second? I want to check on Socratiz and that murderer and his stuff."

Spoiler

Hum, do I have any basic healing skills?

 

[Siveon]

Marcán shakes himself off, relieved that the battle is mostly over. "Not a problem, Ker." Marcán whispers to the Druid's ear, "If you can, make sure the Hyperborean doesn't die just yet - I can tell that his lackey's aren't the most intelligent men around. I doubt they'll know anything." He smiles a bit and pats his friend on the shoulder. He then walks over to the goon, and unsheathes his blade - pointing it right at his neck. "I do not envy your place let me tell you." Marcán notices the Stygian man guarding the same goon.

"Ah, hail, my name is Marcán. You were one of the patrons at the inn, right? Odd times lately, am I right?" That city must be a real popular place, he thinks.

 

[Grimgravy]

To Marcán before running to the dock, "Hello Marcán. Rhenmyr of Stygia, well met. Strange times indeed. Who'd of thought spending a night to catch a ferry would end up with corpses on the ground? I'll check on the package they were picking up."

At the docks, seeing, presumably, the thug slipping below the river, Rhenmyr secures one end of his rope around himself and throws the other end the man in the river. "Grab the rope, and I'll pull you up." What an idiot he thinks.