Guardians of the Citadel

#1

Everything was set.

The books, the paper, the dice, the pencils, the graph paper, the snacks!! Lots of snacks.
Valadaar paced nervously awaiting his friends whom he had not seen since graduation. They had all spent four glorious years together in college, graduated, and then went their separate ways into the world.

This weekend was their reunion. And they were going to pick up right where they left off, role-playing!
Silveressa and Lady Wolf were driving up from Vermont together. Dozus and Scrasamax drove up together as well, being that they lived in neighboring states, and MysticMoon flew in from the west coast.

Their GM, and favorite erstwhile professor, was on his way as well, and kept texting everyone hints about the “awesome new fantasy world” he created just for this occasion.
They were going to game all weekend, non-stop!! Life was good.

Valadaar stepped outside for some air, hoping to greet some of his pals, who were due to arrive any minute. It was late September, but already a persistently chilly, auspicious wind was blowing in from the Atlantic. A storm was a' coming…

(don't post yet :P Well, you can if you want to actually, but there's more to the intro...)

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#2

"Let's begin shall we? It's a rather generic fantasy world, despite its myriad surprises, so I don't have a prepared saga for you, detailing it. Let's just make characters!" The professor began his infectiously enthusiastic sing-song.

"Nothing too complicated. Let's hit all the classical notes. Wizards, fighters, clerics, and thieves, you know the drill. The quicker we get character creation out of the way, the quicker we're playing folks! Who's first? Ahh, let's see here...."Dozus"? That's an interesting name. I like it for a wizard..."

And so on, until the six friends had their characters written up and ready to go.

By now it was nine in the evening and a steady, cold drizzle persisted outside. Occasional flashes of lightning and the low grumble of thunder accompanied the rain.

The professor was quiet now, poring over the countless books, screens, notepads and magazines piled up on the table in front of him, practically hidden from view. He emerged after a few minutes and placed a gothic-looking candlestick holder in the center of the table. He then placed a long red candle inside and lit the wick with his zippo.

"Let's begin." He announced, trying to sound all sinister and dramatic.

"Your characters all know each other, having served in the same Escort Company for close to a year. You are all just starting out, and took whatever work you could get that would allow you to see the world and begin shaping your respective destinies. Now granted, it's quite uncommon for two mages to be part of an Escort Guard service, usually it's just fighters of course, but nevertheless..."

"...where was I? Oh yes, so your little escort company is currently on assignment, ehm escorting, a certain Lady Karkayla and her valuables from the town of Blackton to Coldmoat, her familial estate in the Pandathaway Hills. The week-long journey is not without its dangers. Bandits, wild animals, the usual..."

"The good news at least is that you all have horses to start the game. So, deliver Lady Karkayla, alive and well with her valuables in tow, to Coldmoat, collect the monetary fee from her, and we'll call the mission a success and I'll hand out some xp. Sound good? Barring pc casualties, I figure we could be done with this mini-scenario by tonight, and can start a new chapter tomorrow."

"Anyone have any questions"? If not, let's role-n-roll!!"

The candle gave off a cloyingly sweet scent that was difficult to describe properly.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#3

Close to Midnight...

"Geez. How much equipment do you people need? Although I should add that the Escort Company you work for does have a warehouse with some "goods". Odd weapons, bits of armor, that sort of thing. You're free to grab some for your mission."

"Ok, opening monologue time!" The professor was beside himself with excitement.

Lucky, Lady Wolfe's German Shepherd, was curled up under the table, "nosing" Lady Wolfe's leg for an occasional treat, but otherwise silent. He went wherever she went, and the gang was by now used to him being under whichever table they happened to be gaming on.

"It's a cold rainy morning and Lady Karkayla's two-horse carriage is awaiting you at Blackton's gate, along with her morose-looking driver, and personal bodyguard, Chok. You walk your horses over and introduce yourselves. The mouse-faced Lady Karkayla mutters something about not being overly impressed, except apparently with The dire-wolf and MysticMoon, whom she eyes somewhat hungrily, while examining the bizarre blue tattoos, rippling along his arms. Likewise, she seems to like Scrasamax. That paladin charisma, don't you know..."

"At last you exit Blackton's gate and-----"

A knock on the door. Everyone looks surprised except valadaar who smiles. Lucky growls. As the door opens, the friends are greeted by a rain-soaked Echomirage!

"I must have taken a wrong turn somewhere" He announces and saunters in smiling.

Valadaar quickly explains that he took the liberty of inviting another old classmate of theirs, the Slovakian medical student, who had spent many a college night role-playing with the gang.

The professor looks exasperated then says, "Well ok, but you'll have to play a cleric! Last in and all that, Echo..."

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#4

Jenette looked up from the table as Echo entered, smiling briefly at his rain soaked appearance, "It's great to see you again!" She exclaimed by way of greeting, gesturing to the empty chair next o her and quickly removing the bowl of trail mix she'd placed there earlier.

"Take a seat, we're escorting the mousey Lady Karkalya's carriage."

She smiled and turned back to the GM, "I give the woman a polite smile and gesture for Lucky to heel at my side, not entirely comfortable with the way she looks at him."

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#5

"Easy boy," She murmured softly at Luckys' growl, reaching under the table to slip him a piece of maple beef jerky and dried pineapple, a look of surprise crossing her face at seeing Echo arrive.

She gave him a quick wave of greeting and turned back to the table as Jenny spoke, her attention refocusing on the game as the candles pervasive scent threatened to overwhelm her.

"I whine in slight protest before returning to her side and licking her leg in acknowledgement and submission."

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#6

'You know table scraps are bad for dogs,' Scras says, sitting down at the table, a can of PBR in his hand. He brought more beer, an even split of micro and craft brews and Pabst blue ribbon. Can't appreciate steak without eating a little bologna, as he is fond of saying. Tonight's game is going to be interesting, he's been thinking on a new character concept, but it's going to take some work to get it around the DM, a lawful neutral paladin, it would be easier to run a Han/Mal inspired character as a rogue, but rogues don't get divine magic, and there is just something fun about finding a way to bend the rules to get a divine con man into the game. In a situation like this, it's all about charisma checks and if there is something about charisma checks, it always helps to get situational bonuses.

A perennial beer snob, bringing the DM some new lambic ale is a good way to get a few points knocked off of that difficulty number.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#7

"Oh, man, this is gonna be so much fun. MysticMoon reminds me of my first AD&D char, that old Unearthed Arcana Barbarian. You all remember me talking about him, yeah?"

Ok, I knew I was talking to the room and no one in particular, but I get like that. Between the kid and the new job, this was the first chance I'd had for most of the past year to let go and game, and I was giddy.

"Hey, Echo!

"Oh, yeah, does Karkayla look like the type who might throw a little coin my way if I cozy up to her?"

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#8

Valadaar was pleased that everyone had made it - it had been a while since his place had so much activity. Normally the 3-bedroom apartment was quiet - Val never hosted and hadn't even bothered buying a TV. His computer was enough.

The apartment was overlarge, the product of a somewhat addled landlord. The apartment he was supposed to get was stuck in reno, so while he waited, the three bedroom was his. It had two levels, tight corridors and odd shaped rooms. A converted Victorian.

"Damn, I should have picked a Barbarian this time. So many HP, though that XP cost per level is insane."

But no, he took a thief. Someone had to watch the party's back.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#9

"Sorry again for being late" Echo hoisted a gallon demijohn of mead out of his luggage. "I hope this at least partially makes up for it. And, don't move the trail mix too far, Sil."
"And really, those roads - I never get used to the strict speed limits. And the police, so ... cordial."
"But, don't let me hold things up. Rolling HP!" he tossed a d8 onto the table, to watch the '2' blinking back at him. "Saw this coming."

He hungrily chewed on the nuts, and proceeded to quickly fill in the sheet, listening raptly to the unfolding tale.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#10

"Scras, you're a good man." The professor exclaimed eyeing the offered ale, " you'll find that +5 holy avenger in no time! Just remember, stay on that virtuous lawful good path..."

EchoMirage listened to the professor drone on, but was now somewhat fixated on the red candle. The smell of the smoke was peculiar, and reminded him of something he couldn't quite bring to mind.

MysticMoon's cell phone buzzed and he excused himself for a minute, despite the professor's dramatic glare.

"As I was just about to say Myst, no, you can't tell if the Lady would give you coin for uhh some attention. She did appear physically attracted to you there for a second, but the dire-wolf freaked her out. She's back in her carriage now, shades drawn."

"Ok. With Silveressa and Lucky ranging about a half mile ahead as per usual, you group heads out across the semi-wilderness. Valadaar rides some dozen yards behind the carriage, watching the rear, the rest of you are alongside the carriage."

"Six uneventful hours later...

(Lady Karkayla did mumble something about wasting money on an escort service, the roads seemed to be free of any villainy. Au contraire you countered, explaining to her that the lack of villainous attention was due no doubt to your fearsome reputations as escorts)

"...it is early evening and Chok, the Lady's bodyguard, slows the carriage, pointing into the near-dark (well not that dark for the elves wolves and half-elves among you). Up ahead is the Arms&Antlers Roadside Inn and Guesthouse...

Apparently, it is up to you, the Escort, to secure the stables, lodgings, and nourishment for the night. also, Dozus let me know which spell you're memorizing tonight for tomorrow. What else? Hmmm. Oh yes, Lucky my dear, your dire-wolf will not be allowed inside the Arms&Antlers, but could stay in the Guesthouse at night."

"One more thing. Silveressa, you noticed a suspicious group of travelers enter the inn just as your group approached it. I say suspicious because you know, they're all scowls and cowls and glares and darting glances. You're a ranger and an escort guard, you have a nose for these things. Lucky too..."

"Ok, five minute break! I need to quickly read up on something. Feel free to tell me what you're characters are doing. Or chat amongst yourselves. Lady Karkayla by the way will only speak with Scras or Myst. She pretty much ignores the rest of you. Someone pass the Doritos."

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#11

"Guest house hmm?" She looked over Mysticmoon and gave him a nod, the hint of a grin at her lips. "Since miss Karkayla seems to be intimidated by Lucky I'll share the guest house with him, and give you a chance to try your luck," She paused as the Gm described the unsavory sorts entering the bar, "I turn to my fellow comrades in arms and discreetly gesture with my head towards the cloaked men entering the inn, softly whispering "They look like trouble, best not to leave Kerakayla unattended tonight."

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#12

'You know table scraps are bad for dogs,"

"This is fresh maple beef jerky, nitrate free, if anything it's higher quality than his dog food." She replied, reaching down to give Lucky an affectionate scratch behind the ears shooting Jenette a look when she agreed to share the guest house rather than haggle with the innkeeper for better lodgings. "I sniff the air to see if I can detect anything specific about the men entering the bar, letting out a soft growl and flattening my ears in displeasure.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#13

Dozus looked through his character sheet, pushing his glasses up. "Uh, I want to summon a familiar. Can I do that?" He'd spent a couple hours after work browsing through the player's handbook, but couldn't keep it all straight. It was his first table game, and though he'd done play-by-posts and MUDs before, this was a different experience altogether. More pressure with everyone face-to-face, especially for someone shy as him.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#14

Carly looked over and nodded, noting the GM was still busy with other stuff. "Sure, that's a low level ritual, I think it takes a while to prepare but we stopped for the night at the inn, you do the ritual and roll a d20 n the familiar table to determine the creature, just hope you don't get a frog." She giggled recalling a favorite anecdote. "I had a friend once Jeremy, who got a frog for a familiar, he didn't want it so killed it, the feedback damage killed his wizard on the spot."

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#15

2:30am Val’s house…

“It’s now 2:30am. It took a while to get the horses stabled, acquire the rooms, and get yourselves fed and aled up. Can someone lend Dozus some gold pieces? He needs one hundred of them to enact his find familiar ritual upstairs in his room. A brass brazier, the catnip, basil, savory, mint, nightshade, monkshood, and dried lamb’s ear you can get in the inn, but you need to burn 100 gps worth of the herbs and other stuff during the summoning. Good luck, hope you don’t get a shrew…”

“Meanwhile most of you are in your respective rooms by now. The unsavory types mentioned earlier, a group of six cowled travelers immediately retired upstairs to their rooms. Downstairs only Chok and MysticMoon remain at the bar, drinking competitively. EchoMirage is in the taproom as well, suffering from her chronic sleeplessness. Scras, the Lady Karkayla invited you to her room discreetly earlier. Do you accept her invite? Careful Scras, you're a paladin, all those lovely powers start going away as soon as you stray from the path of righteousness...Valadaar our unassuming thief, by the way, is nowhere to be seen as per usual.”

“Few minutes later….Lucky senses it first and emits his low growl. He smells many men, dozens on horseback, the unmistakable sound of many hooves in the night. Bit late for lots of hooves, travelling quickly apparently, too quickly for night-time, towards the inn."

The players were getting a bit sleepy. Outside the earlier drizzle had turned into machine-gun rain, creating a strangely soothing rhythmic beat. The candle was almost burned down now. The professor had a gleam in his eye.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#16

“Men on horseback surrounded the inn, bearing huge torches, as they encircled the building. Even their horses were snorting violently. In the torch-light, you can make out the unmistakable gleam of mail and blades. Dozus is in the middle of his ritual by the way, can’t be bothered now. Silveressa and Lucky are in the guest-house next door to the inn, so they have a good view of the new arrivals. Silveressa counts at least two dozen riders. Chok leaps up from his seat by the bar next to Myst, and stares out the window in some alarm. ‘Lady Karkayla’ he says panicked, and rushes upstairs towards her room...”

"Suddenly, those not asleep (or in mid-ritual) can hear a booming voice outside..."

“You should not have been so niggardly in hiring an escort service, Lady Karkayla! There are not enough of them to protect you!” A pause then, “Members of the Citadel Escort Company, hear me!” another pause, “Give up the Lady Karkayla and you will survive this night. Resist and be cut down. The Lady is due a reckoning, and we have been hired to procure her. Stand down, and send her out. No one needs to die this night. We know you have a dire-wolf. We can pin it to the ground with a dozen steel bolts if need be...”

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#17

Lucky Unentangled himself from the sleeping elf as the sound of approaching hoooves assaulted his senses, nuzzling her with his cold nose to rouse her from her satisfied slumber, adding in a light nip on her leg to convey the sense of urgency he felt, placing his paws on the second story window to gaze out as the bandits surrounded the camp and began to speak.

Carly stared down at the map, trying to calculate their odds, the number of enemies seemed quite high, especially with their wizard indisposed at the moment. "How do they know we have a dire wolf did they track us?" She fielded the question to the table, more out of curiosity than expecting an actual answer.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#18

"You're not exactly subtle as a dire wolf hon," Jenette told Carly with a wink, "Besides if they knew the lady Kefka hired us then they know we have a Dire Wolf, anyway." She paused to pour herself a mug of Mead, savoring the rich beverage.

"I stir sleepily as Lucky nudges me, starting at his nip and nearly kicking him as I sit up in surprise, the voice from outside silencing the curse that rises to my lips. I listen to the mouth piece of the mercs as I quickly don my armor and peer out the window, hoping to spot the spokesman and determine if he's within arrow range."

She looked over at the rest of the players, their faces illuminated by the dancing candle. "Since we're a established team of body guards I figure we have some sort of rough plan in place for situations like this? Such as I know not to open fire until our leader gives a whistle signal or something? Speaking of which who is party leader? Our Paladin?"

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#19

"I am all for the paladin being the party leader - imagine the incessant quarrel if for example the rogue led the group."
"Plus, I haven't played an RPG where we're heroic protagonists in a while."
"Also, the charisma and paladin status opens a lot of doors and ears."
Plus, Echo thought, I'll get along with an LG character quite well.

"And not to forget, he dies first while the rest of us can slink away. I say it's win-win."
Echo loved teasing Jared, and threw him a cheeky grin.

"Alright. Liantirie turns to the innkeeper, asking with unveiled urgency: 'Do you have a vantage spot? A tower? But honestly, a window in a firm wall will do as well."
Then, he turned towards Murometz: "I'll take up a firing position, the cover should add to my decent AC. I'm not opening fire, but if a fight starts, I'll start picking them off. They should glow like fireflies in the cold outside. Hmmmm, infravision rules."

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#20

"Dozus stands looking down at the burning brazier, herbal smoke filling the inn room. He performs the ritual according to his spell book, chanting the words in black and gesturing the actions in red." He shrugged diffidently. "Sorry I can't help. Don't know if I'd be much help anyway, since I already used my spell for the day."

He turned to Murometz. "Do I need to roll something?"

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#21

This looks interesting, Scras said, looking up from finishing filling out his stats and equipment listing. Paladin takes the lead, I'm okay with that, and I don't just expect you guys to run away after I get killed, I expect you to do it while I am stalling them.

'No one has to die tonight,' my paladin shouts at them, 'But Lady Karkayla isn't available for procurings or reckonings tonight,'

Where are our fighters, Scras asks, since he wasn't paying attention to everyone else's character intros. Equipment lists, and all. We need a quick gameplan here.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#22

"Our first fight is in an inn? Perfect," I say, smiling.

"Mystic is going to crank up that crossbow and make sure his other weapons are handy. Grinning like a madman, he says 'Ah, some fools to test our mettle. And I worried this whole trip was going to be a boring tour of the scenery!'"

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#23

"Everybody, bar whatever windows are at ground level. Moon, you can team up with Scras at the ground floor; as long as you can keep them off our backs, the ranged exchange is in our favor. Just see which side has more elves."
Then, Echo paused his warmongering.
"But I think talking a bit before they engage might give us information. Scras, you prefer to do the talking, or should I? As a cleric, I might hold command some respect as well."

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#24

Valadaar looked up from the note the professor had passed him.

"As much as I'd love to get roasted in the inn, or pincushioned by a quarrel, we have another option. While sneaking about, I found a passage underground in the basement, looks to end some ways into the willows nearby. " Out of character, "And you know our thaco's right now are shit, even with your dex bonus, you're going to get maybe 1 enemy dead a round. THACO 16 vs chainmail - need 11's assuming they have no dex or shield, so that's only a 60% chance of hit. 2 arrows a round. D6 vs d8 hd even if the GM is nice and rolled HPs randomly, and the bastards are 1st level - which is a stretch. We have cover, for sure, but they have numbers. And torches. Plus, those other guys in the Inn might be in on this too."

Valadaar sighed,

"But we'd be without horses, and they would still have theirs, so that means we'd have to get away quiet."

"My thoughts at least. Too bad we don't have a sleep spell - that would really help even the odds."

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#25

"Do let Lucky and me know with a horn blast or whistle if you plan to sound the retreat, since we're in the guest house and unable to head down the hidden passage or hear any party plans." She reminded the group quietly, "Actually does the hidden passage run under the guest house too? If so drop by and clue us in to it."

She took a swig of her glass and nodded to Echo in thanks, "Love the mead by the way, it;s been ages since I've enjoy any,"

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#26

"Um guys, Val has a good point about the masked thugs that headed up to their room earlier, they might help us out in a fight. or be on the side of the guys outside, someone should check on that." She rose her voice slightly as she spoke to insure it carried across the table, fishing around for a bottle opener for a beer and leaning back in chair.

"Also we can't retreat anytime soon, our wizard is in the middle of his ritual, how long does that take to finish anyway GM?"

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#27

There's an underground passage? Do we have a map or anything for this?

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#28

"You guys could fake setting fire to the inn and hide in the underground passage, I doubt the bandits will want to invade a burning building to retrieve Kefka." She paused as another thought occurred to her. "Also one of our archers can always write a note and stick it to an arrow and shoot it through a guest house window to clue Carly and me in on any plans."

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#29

"Uh, let's not burn the inn down while I'm inside," Dozus chimed in. "Guess I picked the wrong time to cast this, huh?"

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#30

Why do we have to start as level one characters? You're attacked by an anemic rodent, your sword strike does one damage, it bites you and take a critical hit, you've got two hp left...

I have a high charisma, maybe I can bluff our way out of this.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#31

"Stop complaining, you at least have some hit points" Echo laughed.
"I'll put some fear of the gods into them... let me."

Echo prepped his dice, took a swing of mead to moisten his throat and get the creative juices flowing.

"Liantirie ascends the roof, standing against the stormy sky as lightning flashes in the background. Her black cloak billows in the wind, and the bloody rose on her holy symbol reflects the torches."
"Everyone will die one day!" she catches the bandits' attention. "But your time has not come yet; I serve the Keeper of the Dark; I know. Do not hasten your demise, for my Lady's halls hold but judgment for the likes of you."
The bandits laughed, until another lightning bolt struck, closer.
"I could slay every one of you by speaking, yet do not wish to."
They laughed again, until she picked a random bandit, pointing her hand and grasping it as if she was squeezing a heart. "Die."
The bandit fell as if a puppet's strings had been cut, and she laughed. "I release you from death, but do not test my Lady's patience, go!"
Slowly, the man regained consciousness, dread in his eyes.
Command, he looks pretty dead for a while.
Between flashes of lightning, she withdrew behind the chimney, and into the inn, as if she never had been there.
Roll "Oratory" for me, please. I am trying to shake their confidence, drive a few away, or halt their assault. Simply, they should believe we're way more powerful than they think, and that it's a bad idea to mess with priests.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#32

The candle was nearly out. 3am. More lightning and thunder outside. More rain. Adrenaline was flowing around the table however...

"Right, let me try to cover everything here..." The professor began. He then did something peculiar. Looked around the table intently from face to face almost as if gauging something. He waggled his eyebrows and went on...

"Dozus, while subconsciously you can hear some commotion outside, you're too intently focused on your ritual at the moment to do anything about it. As the pungent herbal smoke engulfs the room however, you can suddenly make out a "squeak", between your own coughing. The stoat has arrived! Now to find him amidst all the smoke..."

"Scras, in reply to your statement that the Lady is not available for procurement or reckoning, the booming-voiced leader screams, 'Hand her over, sirrah, we will not be dissuaded! We have the numbers and the advantage. We are not above burning you out either!'

"Sil and Lucky, as you look out, the Lightning flashes alert you to the fact that EchoMirage, the ballsy priestess of Moreno, is on the roof shouting at the men-at-arms..."

"In fact it appears as if she just felled one of them on the spot...

...Echo, the leader looks up at you, as you scramble behind the chimney, after making sure his man is still alive and wasn't actually slain by your command. 'I had heard that the Citadel hires uncommon guards, but an elven priestess?' He looks momentarily confused. The horses are restlessly jostling their respective riders..."

"Roll successful. They are a bit spooked and suddenly indecisive"

"MysticMoon, you are watching this out of the window, sitting on the floor of the taproom, your massive and fearsome crossbow poised for firing, when suddenly you spot a new development inside the inn.."

At the top of the stairs, six men emerge with the Lady Karkayla in tow, and in some distress. The men are mailed and wielding swords. Karkayla's wrists are bound! They slowly begin to descend the staircase, keeping the Lady between them.

"What kind of Escort Guards are you?" The mousy Karkayla suddenly screams down at Scras and Myst below. "Free me from these kidnapping blackguards and I will double your fee! Save me, I command it!"

Meanwhile one of the six men shouted for the benefit of the men outside..."We have her! We're coming out slowly!"

"Stay your weapons sirrahs" he adds to Myst and Scras evenly. Fire that crossbow and the Lady gets it. No matter how this plays out, I assure you she'll be the first to die." With that the six and Karkayla proceed down the staircase..."

"It's past 3am folks. Want to finish this tonight, or grab some shut-eye and do this Saturday morning?" The professor asked looking around.

"Also, did I miss anything?"

"Ah, valadaar, right. You're out of sight somewhere in the taproom."

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#33

Looking at the other players across the table, Valadaar spoke.

"This is fishy - its going too well for the bad guys. I"ll bet even the Lady is in on it. Even her lines sound scripted..."

He looked over at the professor, "No offense..."

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#34

"If that's true, val, they could be bluffing. I think I'm gonna call them on it if we keep going for the night. Which I'm all for, by the way. Who needs sleep?"

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#35

"If she dies, I can guarantee that none of you will make it out that door alive."

Mystic is going to point the crossbow at whoever he has the best shot at (without hitting the Lady, of course).

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#36

"Oh, sweet," said Dozus. "I whistle for my stoat and peer through the smoke. Once I find him, I - wait, is it a him? Well, when I find my familiar, we'll meet up with everyone else." He looked at his character sheet again." Does my infravision work in smoke? Do I need to roll?"

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#37

"Liantirie returns from the roof, content with her demonstration, only to find that things have gone south in the inn's main room. The mercenaries, men at arms, or whatever unsavory thugs they were had the lady in their clutches."
He was getting into the dramatic description, and caught a disapproving look from Valadaar. So unpredictable, this Echo.

Both index fingers raised, Echo explained the priestess' next steps.
"It is a good day for somebody else to die" she thought, and used the distraction provided by the heavy crossbow. Standing on the balcony above the inn's common room, with a practiced, fluent motion she looses one arrow, then another, aiming at the throats of the two buffoons holding Karkayla."

Echo tossed two dice onto the table, both the d20s coming up a shining 16.
"This should do. I guess 'roll for initiative' is the word of the hour?"

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#38

"Well, if the Elf is gonna start shootin'...

"Oh, damn, I rolled a 5?! +1 for my Dex, but I guess that bolt goes flying somewhere." I cringe a little, just glad I didn't hit a 1... and the Lady, or the Elf.

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#39

(initiative rolled in chat, everyone in taproom wins. That's Echo, Myst, Scras, and val. Before initiative, Myst managed to fire a crossbow bolt and missed. Echo managed to fire on them from behind, prior to initiative, and didn't miss. after winning initative, Echo fires again, hitting again, and well, bottom line, 3 mooks are now dead. In game results to be posted shortly. Val and Scras get to go as well, then remaining mooks I guess.)

Re: Guardians of the Citadel

#40

"Yes, it is indeed the right stoat. I mean, yes, it's a him! Congratulations Dozus! No need to roll, you can make your way out of the room with no issue, as you near the top of the staircase above the taproom, however, a melee is underway! Echo and Myst shooting missiles, remaining mooks (3 now not 6!) about to go next. You have a free action. Karkayla is screaming bloody murder."

The Professor was sweating...