The Road to Thustrata (OOC)

[LordKruelos]

Just dropping in to say I noticed your request for a cached version of round 3.  Unfortunately I don't have one.  Google's cache for the page is about 45 minutes too old, and the way back machine doesn't have anything for the forums since 2007.  Bing and Yahoo seem to cache some threads, but not that one.  Browsers generally won't keep old cached data, so once you visit the page again, the old cache will be overwritten.  Your best bet is if someone checks the thread from multiple computers, or multiple browsers.  In that case, just be sure to get the cached version before viewing the thread again from the other machine/browser.  Hope that's helpful.

Thanks for the dimes o knowledge. Guess we're going to have to suck it up and move on without it, which should be fine since it was no longer mechanically relevent

[LordKruelos]

Note A: I had not added the +1 size modifier to Sainrith’s defence. His base should be 16, currently 18 with Var’s buff.

Note B: I’m hoping the calling to Wallace will snap him out of his combat paralysis enough just to get him to grab for the lantern.

A: No problem. We'll fix it moving forward.
B: While the PCs have no way of knowing this, Wallace is currently Paralyzed (flat-footed and may only take actions that are purely mental.)

[LordKruelos]

Yes I know [orcish] isn't a real tag...

No complaints from me, I can't think of a better way to handle speaking in different languages in-character.

[Catodon]

Re: Wallace, I'd say Sainrith suspects something is up...

for foriegn languages as a player I've used named 'spoiler=' tags as a referee I just tell the player gibberish

(click to show/hide)

Something unseen brings havoc here

[foproy]

trying to reduce clutter in the ic

in regards to the portcullis the other option would be to have sarrinth hit the lever and squeese through again or have 2 medium characters try to hold it open while the third comes out but one of us needs to carry out our fourth.

[LordKruelos]

I think we can satisfy that all with a good narrative sweep.
This will not win you the fight, this will block you off from the creature. You're not sure if he can break through.

[Catodon]

EDIT: the more I think about closing the portcullis the less I like it. Let's say we get it closed and no-one is left behind or badly wounded in the attempt, then what? THe Referee has broadly hinted the mechanism might break and that if not the door is very difficult to lift. What if we can't get back in? What if we can but they post extra guards who get an attack as we lift the gate.


Or the thing doesn't have any ranged attacks so lets lure it into the light in the cellar. As soon as it comes through the arch I'll start shooting I can get 2 maybe 4 hits before it reaches the other side of the cellar. If you all keep running it wont have a chance to attack back. That basically 4 free attacks from me to soften it up before the rest of you have to engage.

EDIT: I have gone in and removed my OOC posts from the IC thread to try to declutter things a bit.

[LordKruelos]

So I'm uncertain -- did the PCs decide to go with the suggested narrative control Perk or is that getting waved off for now?
Bringing the portcullis down will buy you time/free shots at the monster as its stuck behind the gate, but may make it harder to get back through.
Not bringing the portcullis down means you're going to be facing the monster advancing into the cellar shortly.

[spinningdice]

I was pretty sure I'd be coming under heavy fire when trying to yank the thing down, so I'm not too concerned by that point (well I am, but y'know).
I did consider trying to throw my spear at the mechanism or rope, then diving through, but small target in the dark, then having to face the creature without a weapon, almost certainly not going to work out well...
I think DM has hinted strongly enough that lowering the portcullis wouldn't be a good idea, so I suggest we leave it at that. I certainly don't want to have a character go into the room to activate the mechanism with that thing in there.

Edit: typed this before LordKruelos post...

[LordKruelos]

I was pretty sure I'd be coming under heavy fire when trying to yank the thing down, so I'm not too concerned by that point (well I am, but y'know).
I did consider trying to throw my spear at the mechanism or rope, then diving through, but small target in the dark, then having to face the creature without a weapon, almost certainly not going to work out well...
I think DM has hinted strongly enough that lowering the portcullis wouldn't be a good idea, so I suggest we leave it at that. I certainly don't want to have a character go into the room to activate the mechanism with that thing in there.

Edit: typed this before LordKruelos post...

For clarity: If the party opts to bring down the portcullis by paying AD for a narrative control Perk, it will be automatically successful. If Sainrith participates, he dashes through and triggers the release while the closing portcullis is slowed. If he doesn't but Var and Shadefire still want to do it, they'll pull the thing down (then you'd have to fix the ropes)

I'm not saying it's a bad idea, I'm saying it's one that will have both advantages and drawbacks, but if you're content to let the thing come at you in  the wine cellar, that's also an option.

[Catodon]

on phone on train after work dinner. Had to post early to be sure of beating deadline. Was not sure of plan when posted. Tried to post so would be ok either way.
I tink best to lure into a place better for us now. To take tactical control

[spinningdice]

Okay, I think my actions as edited stand then, I'll hold it at the portcullis and hold it so that those who want to attack with ranged can retreat up to the back wall and open fire.

[LordKruelos]

As an aside, I unleashed this same beastie against 4 4th level PCs last night in my home game. They beat it without having any PC drop, I thought it was a medium-hard fight but they handled it like medium-easy. Partially because they had a pair of Dwarves to absorb a lot of the beating and partially because one of them finished it off by using the Turn the Millstone trick to move it into an adjacent empty square -- that happened to be part of a several hundred foot deep fissure.

[Catodon]

Yep but this time round the monster was using the environment to its advantage.
Yep Sainrith does sod all damage each hit but his 'batting average' is high because he hits everytime, plus a small chance to Bleed each time doesn't hurt.

[LordKruelos]

At least I got a good laugh for "Need a monster? Why not Zoidberg?" at the table.

Good monster though, the parrot through a chipper shredder is a very visceral description.