[Fatescape] ToEE - Team Human-ish IC

[potatocubed]

Several decades ago a great evil rose in the gentle Kron Hills, a temple dedicating itself to the belief that the four elements are antithetical to life. Drawing to itself bandits, brigands, monstrous humanoids and even powerful demons, it rapidly became too notable a blight to be ignored.

The northern nations of Furyondy and Veluna massed a great army and defeated the forces of elemental evil at the Battle of Emridy Meadows, although the cost in lives was great. They purged the cult, laid the temple to waste, and the area became quiet and gentle once again.

However, in recent years banditry has been on the rise once again, and there have been sightings of monsters in the woods: gnolls, bugbears and worse. Perhaps you come to help the populace, perhaps you come in search of treasure or fame, perhaps for some other reason - but one way or another, here you are.

The village of Hommlet awaits.

- - -

It's approaching noon on a pleasant Spring day as you crest the last hill and see Hommlet nestled in the next valley, the Velverdyva river running through the heart of the settlement sparkling in the sunlight. It's difficult to believe that such an idyllic community might need adventurers, but this place has harboured great trouble in the past - you passed not far from Emridy Meadows on your way here - and it may yet do so again.

The call for adventurers said you should make yourselves known to "The Village Council" although you realise now that that was not much guidance; as you approach the village, three places stand out as likely starting points on your hunt for a community leader or two.

Close to you, at the northern extremity of the settlement, looms a church of grey stone, the symbol of St. Cuthbert sculpted high on each wall. Further away, on the other side of the river, a round stone tower rises from a hill to the east; extensive earthworks and construction equipment suggest that someone is in the process of building the tower up into a full-blown castle. Finally, in the heart of the village a space has been cleared for a handful of small monoliths surrounded by trees and a wild garden - sure signs of a druid in residence.

How will you proceed?

Hommlet Aspect: Rural Idyll

[KingRexII]

Grachior sneezes loudly, and he wipes his dripping nose with his sleeve. Under his breath, he complains, "Stupid allergies..."

With a stuffed nose, he points with his staff toward the tower and looks at his travelling companions. He speaks with uncharacteristic eloquence, "It looks as if the village council is doing quite well for themselves. They've managed to start the construction of a castle."

[Fishy]

Asherah (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=283712) holds up her fingers to make a pictureframe, as she casts a beady and critical eye to the town.

"Yeah- do yew reckon that's royalty-types, or wizards? Either way, someone who thinks he's better than the rest of us," she scoffs. "And I know we ain't got time to waste with paladins..."

[Eldan]

Kalris scratches his chin thoughtfully, then draws his dagger, dry-shaving it slowly while he talks.
"Won't get any royalty in a place like that. A baron. Maybe a viscount. Anything more important would have a castle already, and certainly a bigger village. That's, what, ten, twenty huts?"
He spits on the ground, angrily, and presses a finger on the tiny cut in his cheek he just produced.
"Well, no other way to get a job around here, in such a tiny place. Let's get going, then."
Sheating his dagger, he heads for the construction site near the tower.

[KingRexII]

The half-orc swats a bee away from his face. "Let's get inside." He cloaks his head, obscuring as much of his face without blocking his vision. He walks through the village toward the tower, his eyes darting back and forth, distrustful of any people outside.

[Fishy]

Ashe shrugs, and follows the others to the tower.

[potatocubed]

The village seems open and untroubled - adults stand about and chat, children play, purveyors of various goods discuss deals with the locals. A little attention is directed your way, but nothing more than the usual that a band of newcomers might merit. Here and there you see a guard, armed but not armoured, their black and white tabards matching the flag that flies from the tower.

There are some formalities at the tower itself, but eventually a guard ushers you into the crampled ground floor living space, where you are met by two men. One has brown hair and a serious expression, and wears a sword at his side. The other has tousled black hair and an easy smile, his black robes and lack of armaments suggesting some sort of magic user. Both are younger than you would expect, in their mid-twenties or so.

"Good day to you," the wizard says. "I am Burne and this is my... associate, Rufus." The warrior nods a curt greeting. "Duly appointed by the Count of Verbobonc as protectors of the region."

"Please be seated," Burne goes on, gesturing at various comfortable-looking armchairs crammed in side by side. Rufus remains standing. "Judging by your adventuresome garb, would I be correct in assuming you are here to help us with our bandit problem?"

[Eldan]

Kalris nods back, warrior first, wizard second, then moves over to the chairs, but waits for someone else to sit down first. While sitting down, a complicated procedure when an armchair and a sword and dagger are involved, he carefully leaves an inch between himself and the backrest, sitting bolt upright.
"Correct. I have experience dealing in bandits, less so with monsters. Please describe the problem in question in as much detail as possible."

[KingRexII]

Grachior seems relieved to enter the tower. He uncloaks his head and greets the wizard and the warrior with a modicum of pomp and circumstance. He sits down first and makes himself comfortable in the chair, eyes closed as if lost in a good memory.

He opens his eyes when he hears Kalris speak. He nods in agreement. While Burne and Rufus speak, he scans the room for anything interesting.

[Fishy]

Ashe throws herself into a graceless slouch on one of the armchairs, with her feet dangling over the side. "And also, wot's the pay like? I mean, yes we are Bold And Daring Do-ers Of Deeds Wot Need Do-ing," she announces with a toothy smile that shows off her black gums, "But gents like yourself unnerstand that cheese ain't cheap, yeah?"

[potatocubed]

Burne quirks a smile. "Ah," he says, "professionals."

"Are you familiar with the history of the region? In short, a mad cult sprang up some forty years ago, built a temple and a number of outposts, and was then put down in short order by the armies of Veluna and Furyondy. The temple was scoured out and sealed up, and all we have to remember the event by are scattered ruins and a poisonous little hamlet by the name of Nulb a short trip downriver."

"Every so often, a group of bandits will hole up in the ruins of one of the outposts and make trouble until the militia roots them out. We have such a group bothering us at the moment, but... other concerns prevent us from deploying the militia. This is where you come in."

He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and steeples his fingers.

"A few miles to the east of here is a ruin known as The Moathouse. All we want you to do is get rid of the bandits there however you see fit. Kill them, drive them off-"

"Recruit them," puts in Rufus, not looking at anything in particular.

"...yes, recruit them if you want," Burne continues, rolling his eyes. "However you want to stop them. We can pay you 100 gold pieces each on completion of the task, plus arrange for room and board at the inn. And you can keep whatever you find. Payment can be in coins or goods..." he eyes Ashe "...or cheese, as you prefer."

[KingRexII]

"Or knowledge, perhaps?" Grachior proffers, skipping over the cheese remark. He looks quickly towards the others before adding. "Speaking only for myself, naturally. I'm sure the others will be more than willing to accept monetary compensation."

Grachior looks back to Kalris and Ashe. "It sounds easy enough. Regardless of completion's reward, a night or three in a real bed and food on some else's coin are good enough for me."

[Eldan]

"Some questions first."
Kalris scratches his chin absentmindedly, where small cut is still bleeding
"Do you know how many bandits there are? Of what races? How are they armed? What have they attacked or stolen so far? And what, if I may ask, is keeping your militia so busy? Are there any dangers involved we should know about? Or would like to know about, even if you preferred we didn't?"

[Fishy]

Ashe gives Karlis an incredulous look. "They're bandits. The whole point is that the law-and-order-types aren't where they are. Anyways, they'll be armed with summat more intimidatin' than a stick, and they'll have taken everything wot there was to be took."

[Eldan]

Karlis laughs, a single burst of cynical amusement.
"No. No, no, no.
There's kinds of bandit. And they need to be handled differently. Homeless vagabonds. Farmers with failed crops. Deserted soldiers. Escaped criminals.
They will have different weapons. Different tactics. Numbers. Skill. Leadership."

[KingRexII]

"Huh. I didn't think bandits could be so sophisticated or varied," Grachior comments naively. "I suppose more information couldn't hurt."

He unloosens his staff, wielding it playfully, and says, "But then again, I would guess that no matter how shrewd or well armed an opponent, a sufficient exertion of force can stop any type of bandit, right?"

[potatocubed]

"From reports," Rufus says, his expression neutral "the bandits are lightly armed and armoured. They show up, drive off the merchant and guards, killing as necessary, then take everything. Humans, or people so close to human a panicked merchant can't tell the difference. Numbers are probably more than 10, less than 20. I'm not going to tell you what the militia is doing."

"What Rufus means," Burne smoothly interjects, "is that the militia are handling something sensitive for us at the moment. Since we have only just met, we are not going to go into further details about that."

"I assure you," he goes on, an earnest look on his face, "there are no hidden catches. Go to the Moathouse, remove the bandits, get paid. The worst that can happen is that they dig up some horrific artefact from the time of the temple - which I will note remains a purely theoretical case, even after forty years - and in that event return here and we shall renegotiate."

Burne pauses for a moment.

"If knowledge is what you seek, sir," he says to Grachior, "I suggest you consult Jaroo. He resides in the grove at the heart of town, and is the most learned among us. The church of St. Cuthbert is also rich in lore, although it is rather specialised."

[KingRexII]

"Knowledge in the way of arcane training, I meant." With a twirl, he offers his staff for inspection. Along the length of it are carved runes and symbols. Only a couple glow with arcane power, but most of them lay dormant.

"My... mentor never finished my training. And although this staff" -- he gives his weapon another flourish -- "makes a most satisfying crack when plied to an opponent's skull, I cannot help but feel I would be more effective if only I could unlock its other abilities." He places his staff back on his lap. "I would like you to teach me a spell or two for my payment."

[potatocubed]

"Of course," Burne nods. "I am a practiced magic user, and I would be happy to share my craft with someone who has earned my trust."

[KingRexII]

"Excellent! Then, I am convinced." Never one for military strategy, Grachior stands and starts for the door. "I'm going to find out what food they have at that inn. (It must better than rations.) You can give me the details when you've figured out the best course of action."

[Fishy]

"I'm easy- shall we go bash in some 'eads, then?"

[potatocubed]

As it turns out, Grachior does not get much closer to the inn. The decisions are made and the deal finalised, and the trio head for the Moathouse.

It only takes a few hours of walking to reach the edifice. The farms around Hommlet give way to unfarmed hills, and in a wide valley between hills you find the crumbling remains of a small fort - it can only be the Moathouse.

Water has bubbled up from underground here, situating the Moathouse in its own little swamp and providing the long-stagnant moat that gives it its name. The building itself is still surprisingly intact; a wall twice the height of a man surrounds the whole, fallen down in places to reveal glimpses of an overgrown courtyard and the L-shaped 'house' part of the Moathouse built into the north and west walls. From where you stand you can make out a more-or-less solid path through the swamp that leads to the Moathouse's main entrance, where some ancient boards form a makeshift bridge over the moat.

In the lazy afternoon sunshine nothing seems to be stirring save the fat flies, and the occasional glop of something moving in the marsh.

Moathouse Aspect: Ruined and Crumbling

[Eldan]

Kalris retreats a few steps away from the Moathouse, away from potential sentries the bandits might have set up.
"Okay, planning."
He whispers, looking back at the building.
"We don't know how deep that swamp is, but it could well be more than knee-deep. In any case, approaching would most likely not be silent. On the other hand, if there's only one path, it can easily be watched. I say we should try and scout ahead first."



I'd like to use my basic Nature Magic skill and my Djinn-blooded aspect to get some kind of bird (talking to animals) to scout ahead a bit. Something inconspicuous, not a large bird. Perhaps interaction with survival as well?

[Fishy]

"Yeah. Inconspicuous-like scouting, comin' right up," Ashe declares. She gets a running start, swan-dives into the slimy muck, and resurfaces small and furry and beady-eyed, doggie-paddling with four tiny legs.

Ashe spends a Fate Point and uses her Shapeshifting stunt. She gains Rat Shape as a temporary aspect, and will also trade Scrawny Scrapper for "Oh God- Get It Off Me!"

The dive is an old shapeshifter standby, for style points, but here's an [roll0] +4

[KingRexII]

"I always hate this part," Grachior says as he begins to look a little twitchy. His staff in one hand, his shield in the other, Grachior plays with the mucky water with the bottom end of his staff, making infinity symbols over and over. He swats a fly with his shield and and watches Ashe swim off.

[potatocubed]

The first thing evident from a rat perspective is just how much wildlife this swamp ruin supports - insects, snakes, rats, and frogs of unusual size that give the rat-sized Ashe contemplative looks as she scurries past. (Discovered a new scene aspect: Vermin-infested.)

However, none of the wildlife makes a hostile move. Ashe makes it unscathed into the courtyard. The flagstones have long since been reclaimed by nature, but the Moathouse itself is still in reasonable shape. A flight of stairs leads through a smashed-in pair of doors into the dark interior. Sitting on these stairs are two men, unwashed and unshaven, armed with hatchets and strung longbows. One stares into space, looking thoroughly bored, while the other whittles at a piece of wood with a large knife. Neither seem very aytentive.

[Fishy]

So... how are we doing declarations? I'd like there to be a bit of ivy along one of the walls, so that Ashe can climb up and take a peek at the Moathouse's second floor, and I'd be willing to spend a Fate Point to make it happen...

[potatocubed]

There are two ways to make declarations: either spend a fate point and 'ta da!' something you want just happens to be close at hand, or tell me what you want to declare and roll an appropriate skill against the difficulty I set. I think Thievery would be appropriate for declaring the existence of a vine that grants subtle access.

In this case, though, don't bother: the second floor of the Moathouse has caved in on itself and is inaccessible. The first floor is still intact, though. The staircase I described is only short, which may have been misleading. =/

[Fishy]

'There are at least two guys there' is not the best scouting report, so Ashe takes a quick lap of the building, sniffing around, peeking through holes and windows where she can, trying to get a feel for the layout of the building and its inhabitants.

[roll0]+2

[potatocubed]

The general layout of the building is fairly simple: the main (guarded) entrance leads to a large interior room at the 'corner' of the L-shape. The two wings seem empty: there is evidence that animals dwell there - crunched fish bones and the like - but those residents seem to be absent. There is also a flight of stairs leading down into the dark below the moathouse, the steps slick with some sort of slime.

More interesting, in a room at the back of the central chamber, its door opposite the main entrance and firmly closed, seven men are killing time with cards and dice. They are armed with clubs and hatchets, and a few have unstrung bows.

One of the men catches Ashe peeking and half-heartedly flings a rock in her general direction, intended more to drive her off than hit her.

"Bloody rats," he mutters under his breath. "This place is infested with 'em."

[Fishy]

Ashe looks down at the rock, unimpressed. She takes a moment to shake the swamp-slime off of her fur, and gives the offending bandit a beady-eyed stare. What are you looking at, then?

Attempting to piss off the bandit, using [roll0]+4, +2 from her 'Wind-Up' stunt, and I don't think you take penalties from being in a position of weakness.

[potatocubed]

Not for making people angry, no. Defend, defend, defend...

[roll0] +1

[Eldan]

Somehow, this doesn't seem smart to me.

[potatocubed]

Bandit makes a regular attack, compelling Ashe's Rat Shape aspect for a bonus - the relative disparity in strength makes his task easier: [roll0] +3. Roll a defence! Fists or Athletics would suit, with a bonus from Wind Up.

Seeing Ashe's insouciant expression, something in the bandit snaps. To cries of surprise from the other bandits he flings himself across the room with a roar, trying to snatch up the pesky rat.

[KingRexII]

Gracious growls with impatience. "He should have reported back by now." Using the limited arcane knowledge he has, he produces a small magical flame at the end of his staff.

"Do you remember that bar at Minos City, Kalris? Fire was a most effective and efficient way to clear out a building." He gives Kalris a mischievous and toothy grin.

[Eldan]

Kalris raises an eyebrow.
"Stone. It's a ruin, made of stones, in a swamp. Think again. I say arrows should be quite effective, though."
Kalris takes the bow from his shoulder and, bending it with one knee, begins to string it.

[KingRexII]

"Bah!" the half-orc scoffs. "Anything can be set on fire if it's hot enough." He points at the ruins. "Take a look at all that flammable material. There is that makeshift bridge, the foliage that has overgrown the ruins, and then there's..." He flounders a little bit before ungracefully recovering.

"C'mon, Kalris! Let me light the bridge on fire! It'll draw people out so you can snipe them one by one. Just one little fireball. I can control it this time -- I've been practicing."

[Eldan]

"Actually, I think burning the bridge would achieve that we would alert all the bandits. They would then no longer have a convenient way out, so they'd barricade inside, while we would have no way inside other than wading through deep swamp."
Kalris pulls an arrow from his quiver and pricks his left ring finger, drawing a tiny bead of blood which he proceeds to smear over the tip of the arrow.

[Fishy]

Maybe not the smart thing, but who does that, anyway?

Ashe defends using her [roll0]+4

If this works out well, I'm planning on running up his trousers next.

[Fishy]

Oops. That's not right: [roll0]+4

[KingRexII]

Grachior quenches his fire. "I suppose you are correct, Kalris. Firing on the bridge would be adverse to our goals." He tightens his grip on his staff and points it at the moathouse's walls instead, intending to create another 'convenient' way in and out of the moat house.

"Here goes nothing." He remembers the words that his father spoke, not quite understanding what it means, only knowing what usually happens after he invoked the spell.

Invoking "My Parents' Legacy" to produce a magical effect beyond Grachior's abilities. (A giant fireball to blow a hole in the moathouse wall.) Attempting a maneuver to add something like "Impromptu Door" to the Moathouse. Do I need to roll anything or invoke another aspect?

[Fishy]

Asherah deftly darts out of the bandit's reach, on to the floor, and then attempts to scurry up the leg of his pants.

The original plan was to cause noise and chaos and draw guards away from their guarding, but since there's about to be a hole blasted in the door, this may all be moot. Nevertheless!

I guess I spend a Fate point and tag 'Rat Shape', because this isn't something normal people do very often. (Or is the first tag free, because Rat Shape is sort-of-kind-of a Temporary Aspect?)

[roll0]+4

[potatocubed]

@KingRex: You'll need to roll your Arcane Magic against a Fair difficulty to put a hole in the wall (adding the Impromptu Door aspect to the scene). You can invoke another aspect if you like -one of yours, or the scene aspect Ruined and Crumbling - to either add +2 to your roll or reroll the whole thing. What you can't do is invoke My Parents' Legacy again, since you've already used it for this roll.

@Fishy: The first tag of Rat-Shaped isn't free because you didn't have to roll anything to establish it, like you do with manoeuvres.

Defence! [roll0] +1


The bandit squeals as Ashe vanishes up his trouser leg, hopping and cursing while the others fall about laughing at him. In his panic he trips, crashing hard against a wall, and his flailing hand hooks some hidden catch - to everyone's surprise, the bandits included, the wall pivots open and bandit and Ashe both go tumbling down a steep spiral staircase, to fetch up in a heap in a rough-hewn tunnel somewhere below. All is dark and quiet, save for the bandit groaning quietly to himself.

Meanwhile, outside, Kalris and Grachior can hear the sounds of a disturbance from somewhere within the moathouse, the noise audible over the quiet buzz of the swamp.

EDIT: @v Yes. It's an abstract system, so I'll assume the Impromptu Door appears in a useful place.

[Eldan]

If the improvised door is opened, would it be possible to shoot any of the bandits from where we are standing?

[Fishy]

Ashe rides the bandit on a long and bumpy trip down the stairs, blinded by his clothes, and stumbles out of his pant-leg, groggy and dazed. She takes only a quick and cursory look around the new tunnel, before scampering back up the stairs, as fast as four short legs can carry her.

[Eldan]

I'll just roll this for now, hoping the fireball succeeds.

Archery to shoot a bandit, tagging impromptu door.

[roll0] +0 (archery. I was so sure I had put a point in that. Oh well) +2 (aspect).

[KingRexII]

[spoiler]Hmmmm... Tough choice. It almost feels like my inaugural roll for new system should be a success. I'll invoke the Ruined and Crumbling aspect to give the roll +2. In for a penny, in for a pound, eh? [roll]4d3-8[\roll]+3[\spoiler]

Full of fail. Not a good sign.

[KingRexII]

Try number two: [roll0]+3

[potatocubed]

Scene Aspects: Ruined and Crumbling; Vermin-infested; Impromptu Door

Grachior's fireball blasts into the crumbling walls with concussive force, ancient stones pried free and sent tumbling through the air. Even Ashe, still clambering back up the stairs in her rat shape, feels the impact quake through the ground.

Bandit defence: [roll0] +1

Ready for the blast, Kalris calmly picks off a bandit as the smoke clears, the large hole in the outer wall of the moathouse giving him an unexpected angle of attack.

Okay, we're going to move to conflict time for this. Everyone goes in order of Alertness, and since none of you have any Alertness this means the bandits go first, then all of you (in whatever order), then them, etc.

There are four zones in this scene, arranged in a more or less linear fashion:

Outside - The Courtyard - Inside the Moathouse - Downstairs

Kalris and Grachior are Outside. Ashe is currently Downstairs. There are two groups of three bandits (minions) each, plus the leader, and by the end of their turn all of them will be Inside the Moathouse.

Status:
Ashe: 6/6 health, 7/7 composure, 3 FP, 4 R
Kalris: 7/7 health, 7/7 composure, 4 FP, 5 R
Grachior: 7/7 health, 6/6 composure, 3 FP, 5 R

[Eldan]

And mah arrow?

[potatocubed]

Scene Aspects: Ruined and Crumbling; Vermin-infested; Impromptu Door; Defensive Positions

Note: 1-point block between Courtyard and Inside the Moathouse.

There is much shouting and cursing as the bandits react to the sudden assault. One of them takes charge, directing the others to take up defensive positions around the remains of the fort. A handful of arrows come winging back in Grachior and Kalris' direction from arrow slits and gaps in the walls, while other bandits lurk behind old fortifications with hatchets and spears.

Bandit Leader: Roll Leadership to establish a 'Defensive Positions' aspect on the scene (Good difficulty). [roll0] +2

Bandit Group 1: Establish a block to keep people from moving from the Courtyard into the Moathouse. [roll1] +2

Bandit Group 2: Return Fire! At Grachior. [roll2] +2

Grachior should roll Athletics to defend himself from the arrows.

Status:
Ashe: 6/6 health, 7/7 composure, 3 FP, 4 R
Kalris: 7/7 health, 7/7 composure, 4 FP, 5 R
Grachior: 7/7 health, 6/6 composure, 3 FP, 5 R

[Fishy]

Ashe sprints upstairs and Inside The Moathouse, keeping her momentum going to fling herself into the bandit leader's face.

Spending a Fate point to tag "Oh God- Get It Off Me!". Does that enable a jump-in-your-face attack, or grant it a +2?

[roll0] + 4(Ranks) -1(Supplemental)

[Eldan]

Kalris curses loudly, then regains some composure.
"This? This is why we don't just blow up walls!"
He drops his bow and runs towards the moathouse, ripping his sword out of his scabbard.
What's appropriate here? Athletics, I think, for moving and drawing a weapon at the same time?

[roll0]+2

[potatocubed]

@Fishy: You can invoke the aspect for a bonus - as a rat you can make attacks just fine, so no need to spend a fate point for that ability.

Bandit Leader defends with his Fists: [roll0] +3

Fair, versus your result of Epic-And-Then-Some. X|

He'll opt to take four boxes of stress and a minor consequence: Scratched-Up Face.

@Eldan: Movement goes like this: you can move one zone and do something else (like attack) without needing to make a roll. You just take a -1 on your roll for a 'supplemental action'.

If you want to move more than one zone (sprinting), you need to make an Athletics roll - every shift over Mediocre lets you move one zone.

Borders slow down movement between zones: they either add their value to the penalty if you're moving as a supplemental action or require that many additional shifts to pass if you're sprinting.

The block raised by the bandits is something you cannot pass without spending your action doing so. Describe what you do, roll an appropriate skill against the level of the block (Average, in this case) and if you succeed you arrive in the other zone (or do whatever else the block was preventing you from doing). If you fail, you get nowhere.

tl;dr: You can get to the courtyard and still act (at -1) but no further because of the bandits' block. You'll have to overcome that on your next action.

The leader of the bandits is caught completely off-guard by Ashe's sudden assault and she attaches herself to his face, scratching and biting in a frenzy. He howls and flails around, much like the last bandit she attacked, but this time no one is laughing.

[KingRexII]

Roll for Defense: [roll0]+3
Also, due to the Hard to Hit stunt, Grachior actually has 8 max health.

Grachior will move from Outside to The Courtyard, and then he'll try to bull rush the block.
[roll1]+3-1


Like a scolded child, Grachior apologizes automatically and humbly. "Don't worry, Kalris. I'll fix this."

He follows Kalris, staff and shield held proudly. He runs past Kalris, heeding neither barriers nor arrows, and crashes into the bandit's block.

[potatocubed]

Scene Aspects: Ruined and Crumbling; Vermin-infested; Impromptu Door; Defensive Positions

Grachior charges the moathouse, bounding ahead of Kalris in his haste to get inside. A bandit attempts to block his path but the half-orc will not be stopped, and barrels right on through.

Everything is chaos: three bandits advance to engage Kalris in the courtyard, attempting to take advantage of the open space to surround him. The other three pile onto Grachior as he bursts through their lines, while the leader tears Ashe off his face with a curse and flings her across the room.

Bandits attacking Kalris are attempting to put a 'Surrounded!' aspect on him: [roll0] +2

Kalris can defend with an appropriate skill. (If in doubt, Weapons.)

Bandits attacking Grachior are just hitting him with clubs and axes, tagging their Defensive Positions: [roll1] +4

Suitable defences are Weapons or Athletics.

Leader is making a Fists attack on Ashe, compelling Augh! Get It Off Me! to... well, get her off him. [roll2] +5

Suitable defences are suitable.

Rules Note: I forgot that when you roll to place an aspect the first tag is free, so Kalris' tag of Impromptu Door didn't actually cost a fate point.

Status:
Ashe: 6/6 health, 7/7 composure, 3 FP, 4 R
Kalris: 7/7 health, 7/7 composure, 5 FP, 5 R
Grachior: 8/8 health, 6/6 composure, 3 FP, 5 R

Bandit Leader: 4 stress, Scratched-Up Face (mnr)

[Eldan]

Weapon defence:
[roll0]+3

Well, crap. 5 points.

[KingRexII]

Defense: [roll0]+4
Attacking surrounding minions: [roll1]+4


Grachior defends himself deftly with his shield and swiftly counterattacks.

A sudden thought comes to him: What if Ashe was caught in that blast! Stupid! I can't lose anyone else.

"Kalris -- get out of here and find Ashe! I can handle these mooks."


Can I compel Survival Carries a Cost to take a -1 penalty to combat rolls until Grachior knows that Ashe is OK? I'm claiming that his worry that he may just have blown up his friend in conjunction with his past trauma of losing his parents is causing him to fight poorly. If that's OK, my rolls above need to be adjusted.

[Fishy]

Ashe defends with [roll0]+4, and I'll also tag Rat-Shaped for another +2: Rats are fairly lightweight, and aren't that fazed by falls or being flung into things.

[Fishy]

Ashe goes flying into the wall, but twists in midair, landing paws-first on the rough stone. She scrabbles a few quick steps off of the wall, and her body shifts and stretches in impossible ways as she goes. Ashe quickly returns to full human size, and uses her suddenly-longer limbs to send her suddenly-heavier body flying at the bandit leader in a graceless piledriver.

Shapeshifting lasts 'Until I choose to end it', but is that an action? Can I do it as a free or supplemental action? Does it make Nature Magic an associated skill for my next attack?

Either way, she's counterattacking with [roll0] +4

[potatocubed]

Can I compel Survival Carries a Cost to take a -1 penalty to combat rolls until Grachior knows that Ashe is OK? I'm claiming that his worry that he may just have blown up his friend in conjunction with his past trauma of losing his parents is causing him to fight poorly. If that's OK, my rolls above need to be adjusted.

I will say 'yes'.

@Fishy: I hadn't thought of that. I'll say returning to your normal shape is a free action (because I like dynamic shapeshifting) but it doesn't associate Nature Magic with your attack.

Minion Defence vs. Grachior: [roll0]
Leader Defence vs. Ashe: [roll1]

(I've taken to just including the modifier in the roll. I think it'll be easier to read.)

Scene Aspects: Ruined and Crumbling; Vermin-infested; Impromptu Door; Defensive Positions

Grachior shrugs off the bandits' attacks, laying one of them low with a crack from his staff despite his worry about Ashe's safety.

Ashe, meanwhile, is somewhat less concerned for her safety than Grachior is, flinging herself at the bandit leader. He fends her off, eyes bulging with surprise, scrambling for a weapon which he can use against this shapechanging madwoman.

Status:
Ashe: 6/6 health, 7/7 composure, 2 FP, 4 R
Kalris: 7/7 health, 7/7 composure, 5 FP, 5 R; Surrounded!
Grachior: 8/8 health, 6/6 composure, 4 FP, 5 R

Bandit Leader: 4 stress, Scratched-Up Face (mnr)
Minions #1 (Grachior): 2 bandits
Minions #2 (Kalris): 3 bandits

[Eldan]

Kalris curses, extensively, loudly and in half-remembered words from a dozen languages. It's amazing what you can pick up when while traveling. So many words for genitalia and their unlikely anatomical configurations, as well as phrases for questioning someone's humanoid parentage.
Can't fight three people. Doesn't work, isn't done, get's you killed. You can only play for time and hope your team mates safe you.
Carefully parrying, Kalris retreats, trying to get in a position where only one or two of the bandits can reach him at a time.


Trying to use weapons to get out of being surrounded, by backing in a corner, corridor, breach or similar thing. If possible, I'd like to tag Defensive Positions on this as well. There has to be some narrow structure in the defenses somewhere, right?

[roll0]+3

[potatocubed]

Yup, you can tag Defensive Positions for a bonus.

Bandit attack vs. Kalris: [roll0]
Bandit attack vs. Grachior: [roll1]
Leader attack vs. Ashe: [roll2] (inc. -1 for a supplemental action)

Scene Aspects: Ruined and Crumbling; Vermin-infested; Impromptu Door; Defensive Positions

Kalris manouevres expertly to turn the bandits' defensive positions against them. Not only are they no longer surrounding him, they have to assault their own defences as the mercenary backs into a doorway. With cries of "We've got him outnumbered!" the bandits push forward.

Meanwhile a pitched battle is going on elsewhere in the moathouse: Grachior and two more bandits batter away at each other, while in the next room over the leader snatches up a knife and swipes wildly at Ashe with it, muttering threats and obscenities under his breath.

Status:
Ashe: 6/6 health, 7/7 composure, 2 FP, 4 R
Kalris: 7/7 health, 7/7 composure, 4 FP, 5 R
Grachior: 8/8 health, 6/6 composure, 4 FP, 5 R

Bandit Leader: 4 stress, Scratched-Up Face (mnr)
Minions #1 (Grachior): 2 bandits
Minions #2 (Kalris): 3 bandits

[Eldan]

Defense: Weapons
[roll0]+3

[Eldan]

Another question about my next plan:
Can I kick, push, etc. something like a pillar or wall so that it falls on the bandits? Just as a distraction for an attack, really. A few stones, not an entire wall. By tagging the Crumbling aspect.

[potatocubed]

Sure - that's what scene aspects are there for: to be used in interesting ways.

[Eldan]

Right, then. I'd assume Might is the appropriate skill?

[roll][4d3-8]+0 (skill)+2 (tagged aspect)

Narrowly parrying the blows of the bandits attacking him, Kalris suddenly grins as an idea comes to him. With a quick step back, he gives himself a second to act before the bandits can step up, and throws himself against an unstable wall, pushing it towards the three.

[Eldan]

Roll fail.
[roll0]+2

[KingRexII]

Defense: [roll0] (already added worry penalty)

EDIT: Woah. Critical defense by 8. That's good enough for some defensive spin action and then some, right?


Grachior completely and utterly thwarts his attackers. He uses it to his advantage...


Can I use the defensive spin to throw both minions against the wall? I'm claiming that their complete miss caused their center of gravity to be completely off, giving Grachior a chance to toss both of them.

[Fishy]

Defending with [roll0], and rolling in a separate post in cast I get Spin

[Fishy]

Ashe weaves out of the knife's path, twisting her body in an unnatural angle, then goes for the bandit's arm, twisting his body in an unnatural angle.

Disarm attempt, I think, letting the knife fall instead of picking it up. [roll0]

[potatocubed]

Can I use the defensive spin to throw both minions against the wall? I'm claiming that their complete miss caused their center of gravity to be completely off, giving Grachior a chance to toss both of them.

You can use the spin on whatever you do to them next, but I'm not sure what the intent of your action is. When you attack minions, damage overruns - do two points of stress and you'll take down both of them. (Just add the +1 from spin to your attack.)
Bandit defence vs. Kalris: [roll0]
Leader defence vs. Disarm: [roll1]

The bandits fighting Kalris stumble back as part of the upper floor of the moathouse gives way, dislodged masonry raining down on them. Unfortunately, none are taken out by falling blocks and they renew their assault.

Meanwhile Ashe entangles herself with the leader, bending his arm so that the knife falls from his hands.

Status:
Ashe: 6/6 health, 7/7 composure, 2 FP, 4 R
Kalris: 7/7 health, 7/7 composure, 3 FP, 5 R
Grachior: 8/8 health, 6/6 composure, 4 FP, 5 R

Bandit Leader: 4 stress, Scratched-Up Face (mnr), disarmed (2)
Minions #1 (Grachior): 2 bandits
Minions #2 (Kalris): 3 bandits

[KingRexII]

You can use the spin on whatever you do to them next, but I'm not sure what the intent of your action is. When you attack minions, damage overruns - do two points of stress and you'll take down both of them. (Just add the +1 from spin to your attack.)

Yeah, I know. I just wanted to take them out in style by throwing them forcefully again a crumbling wall. It's a little Hollywood, but can you blame I guy? I'll shelve the theatrics for a more worthy opponent.

Attack those minions: [roll0] (added +1 to from spin, -1 from penalty)



Grachior laughs as he brings down a rain of battering blows.

[potatocubed]

Bandit defence: [roll0]

[potatocubed]

Bandits v. Kalris: [roll0]
Leader v. Ashe: [roll1]

Scene Aspects: Ruined and Crumbling; Vermin-infested; Impromptu Door; Defensive Positions

Although the bandits defend themselves fiercely, another falls under Grachior's assault. The remaining one glances left and right, looking considerably less formidable without his allies, then decides that avoiding a beating is his primary objective: he flees through the hole in the wall that Grachior obligingly provided.

The leader pulls himself away from Ashe and swings at her with his fists, engaging her for the first time as a person rather than an annoyance.

Meanwhile Kalris finds himself hard-pressed, the bandits attacking him unaware of the failure of their comrades elsewhere.

Status:
Ashe: 6/6 health, 7/7 composure, 2 FP, 4 R
Kalris: 7/7 health, 7/7 composure, 4 FP, 5 R
Grachior: 8/8 health, 6/6 composure, 4 FP, 5 R

Bandit Leader: 4 stress, Scratched-Up Face (mnr)
Minions #2 (Kalris): 3 bandits

[Eldan]

Kalris frowns and grits his teeth, carefully retreating yet another step, trying to keep the bandits focused on him while giving his team time to finish the others.


I'm going full defense.

[roll0]

[KingRexII]

Having vanquished his group of bandits, he takes advantage of Kalris's distraction and moves to flank his attackers.


Attack: [roll0]

[potatocubed]

Defensive spin for Kalris! +1 on your next action against the bandits.

Bandits defence vs. Grachior: [roll0]

Scene Aspects: Ruined and Crumbling; Vermin-infested; Impromptu Door; Defensive Positions

Kalris carefully gives ground to the bandits, luring them forward, expertly parrying their attacks with every step. Grachior lunges at the distracted bandits from behind but his enthusiasm for conflict gives him away; he is unable to get any telling blows past their guard.

Status:
Ashe: 6/6 health, 7/7 composure, 2 FP, 4 R
Kalris: 7/7 health, 7/7 composure, 4 FP, 5 R
Grachior: 8/8 health, 6/6 composure, 4 FP, 5 R

Bandit Leader: 4 stress, Scratched-Up Face (mnr)
Minions #2 (Kalris): 3 bandits

[Eldan]

Using the distraction of his friend interfering, Kalris lunges out now, aiming a blow at the nearest bandit with a quick step forward.

Weapons and spin:
[roll0]

Edit: that should of course be -4, not +4, so the end result is +3.

[KingRexII]

Grachior attempts to time his attack with Kalris. He uses his shield to bash a nearby bandit.


Attack: [roll0]

[Fishy]

Defending with [roll0]

[Fishy]

Ashe brings her arms up to deflect the bandit leader's blows, but one gets through and connects with her face. She shakes it off, grinning a crazed and toothy grin, and throws a wild flurry of fists and elbows.

So, that's two stress, and I think I'll negate that by taking a Bloody Nose as a minor consequence, just because.

For her action, Ashe uses her Basic Style stunt to probe the leader's defenses [roll0]

[potatocubed]

Leader defence: [roll0]
Bandit defence vs. Kalris: [roll1]
Bandit defence vs. Grachior: [roll2] (-1 after Kalris takes out two)

Bandit Leader is going full defence this exchange, Ashe can plant an aspect on him with her Basic Style.

Scene Aspects: Ruined and Crumbling; Vermin-infested; Impromptu Door; Defensive Positions

Luring the bandits into overstretching themselves, Kalris leaps to the attack, quickly putting down two of his enemies. Grachior barges into the last one with his shield, bouncing the man against a wall.

Veteran of countless fistfights, Ashe quickly gets a handle on her opponent: he's good, but not as good as her. For his part the leader backs up, keeping his hands raised, eyes flicking from manic wererat to calm swordsman to sorcerous half-orc.

"I-- I surrender!" he says. "I'll reform! Be a changed man!"

Status:
Ashe: 6/6 health, 7/7 composure, 2 FP, 4 R, Bloody Nose (mnr)
Kalris: 7/7 health, 7/7 composure, 4 FP, 5 R
Grachior: 8/8 health, 6/6 composure, 4 FP, 5 R

Bandit Leader: 4 stress, Scratched-Up Face (mnr), +1

[Eldan]

"Nonsense", Kalris says, quietly, keeping his sword level in front of his chest.
"No one reforms because they were hit in the nose in a fistfight."
Reaching behind his back with his left hand, Kalris pulls out a coil of rough, hempen rope and tosses it to Ashe.
"Bind him. They'll want to hang him soon, so no need to beat him up to badly."
He turns around to Gralchior.
"Turn the dead on their backs and see if they have any coins on them."

[potatocubed]

Grachior gets to searching the fallen, and discovers that not all of them are dead - several are still alive, in various states of injury. Extra rope is found and they too are trussed up along with the leader.

The haul is pitiful - the bandits have only a few copper and silver coins to rub together. Seeing your searching, the bandit leader pipes up.

"You want treasure?" he says. "Riches? There's treasure down below." He nods towards the slime-slick stairs. "We never went down because it's haunted, but I bet there's all sorts of good stuff down there."

[Eldan]

Kalris frowns.
"Not treasure, no. It's usually not worth it, really."
He kicks a few of the most likely dead bandits, turning them over on their backs.
"But we don't have the time to bury your dead, and we can't just drop them in the swamp, so we'll need a few coins."
Muttering to himself, he places a pair of coins on the eyes of a nearby bandit, then puts the dead man's weapon on his chest.
"Not sure if you do that up here, but we were paid to kill you, not turn you into revenants, so we should do this right."

[Fishy]

Ashe looks up from her busy task of tying people up and kicking them down, eyes lit up at the mention of treasure. "Wot, that hole inna ground? Didn't look very haunted when I was down there..."

She takes a pose, deep in thought, with her fist under her chin and her foot on a bandit's chest. "Yew know, I think we forgot to get half up front- all we 'ave is the word of Mr. Fancy Robes an' his heavily-armed mate: How do we know they're not a pair of Dingers wot will chuck us out on our shapely and succulent rear ends?"

"If there's coin I can hold down there, I'll 'ave a piece, s'all I'm sayin'."

[Eldan]

Kalris clicks his tongue a few times, thinking.
"Bandits first", he says then.

Stepping up on a piece of rubble, he addresses the bandits:
"Okay, murdering scumbags! Here's the deal: if you can still walk, we'll take you prisoner and drag you back to the village alive. Perhaps you'll get lucky and they'll just brand and mutilate you. If you can't walk, I'll be merciful and cut your throat right away, unless your colleagues can carry you while tied up."

[potatocubed]

OOC: Making a whole bunch of assumptions to keep things moving. If you wish to depart the railroad at any point just say and I'll commence ret-conning.

The bandits find themselves highly motivated to get on their feet and get moving - the leader and four of the others are able to walk; three lie dead on the ground.

It takes a few hours to escort them back to Hommlet, and the sun is lowering itself over the horizon when you arrive there. Burne and Rufus are in a closed session of the town council, but the guards at their tower are happy to take the bandits off your hands and lock them up.

"Take up some rooms at the Welcome Wench," the night captain tells you. "The lords'll cover the cost of room and board, and Burne will show up bright and early tomorrow morning with the rest of the payment."

The Inn of the Welcome Wench - the only inn in the village, marked by a signboard featuring the Wench in question - is surprisingly busy for a small-town tavern and boarding house. There are horses in the stables and the taproom is bustling: local farmers, armed mercenaries - who you assume are here for the bandit-hunting, just like you - foreigners in strange clothes, and a fast-paced card game going on in one corner. Behind the bar a rotund, balding man seems barely able to keep up with the demand for drinks.

[Eldan]

Kalris moves over to an empty table, then gestures to his two colleagues to sit down.

"We need to talk."
Without waiting long, he continues, his voice serious.
"What you did today was foolish, Grachior. Attacking a fortified position without scout reports, against superior numbers? You had no idea what was in there. What if there were twenty of them, instead of a handful? What if they had dogs, or an ogre, or a mage of their own? Blowing the entire structure up, while said scout is still inside? You could have killed her too. We could all have died if the bandits were just a tiny bit more clever."
He stares at Grachior.
"Do you know what I'll do to you if you get yourself killed because of stupidity? I'll grab your bloody corpse by the ankles and drag it from priest to priest until one of them raises you. And then I'll beat you bloody until you wish you had never been resurrected."

[Fishy]

"Hell of an entrance, though," Ashe says, spitting crumbs of hardtack and cheese. "Wot? We got in, we got out, we got paid- sort of-, and we've still got all of our bits. What more do yew really want?"

[Eldan]

"We got lucky. Might not get lucky next time, is all I'm saying"
Kalris sighs, leaning back.
"This thing called "tactics" was invented for a reason, you know."

[Fishy]

Ashe nods sagely at that. "I 'ad them, once. Itched like the blue blazes, no word of a lie.

[Eldan]

"Never had the blue blazes either. You just have to be careful, is all I'm saying. No cheap whores - no blue blazes. It's quite simple."

[potatocubed]

Mysterious rolls of mystery Alertness checks:
Kalris: [roll0]
Ashe: [roll1]
Grachior: [roll2]

Although Ashe is preoccupied with her food, both Grachior and Kalris are in a position to notice someone at a nearby table paying more than a little attention to their conversation. The man is armed and has a large pack close at hand - at a guess, a mercenary like Kalris. He is sitting alone, pretending interest in a glass of wine, but it would be difficult to make his interest in you more transparent.

[Fishy]

Aww. I don't suppose I can self-compel "Wot are yew looking at?!" if I haven't noticed him wot's looking at me.

[Eldan]

I'll do nothing for now, but keep an eye on him if he tries anything. We can talk about diseases a bit more. :smallwink:

Kalris seems happy to change the subject, in any case.
"Now, Ooze Fever, though. Ever heard of that? Gorb, our scout picked it up and his entire left leg, from the knee down, turned to a kind of green jelly, all wobbly.
Now, Sansir, the medic, said you only get it from... strange practices with oozes, but Gorb said he never did anything of the sort."

[Fishy]

"Yew know how it is- take a Lady home for strange practices, and yew do strange practices with everyone that's laid tentacles onner."

Normally, it'd be rude to turn down a Obvious Plot Hook Dispenser, but this is Fatescape. If there's something specific you'd like us to do here, potatocubed, I'd be happy to do it in exchange for a Delicious Fate Point.

[potatocubed]

Normally, it'd be rude to turn down a Obvious Plot Hook Dispenser, but this is Fatescape. If there's something specific you'd like us to do here, potatocubed, I'd be happy to do it in exchange for a Delicious Fate Point.

No, that's okay. The beauty of this module is that there's a whole bunch of ways to get involved. :smallcool: If you're happy to do nothing about the guy, who is happy to just sit there and earwig for now, I'll advance to the next morning and the arrival of Burne with the promised reward.

[Eldan]

So, if we do nothing, he'd just sit there and listen? Because I'd be tempted to wait until he leaves and then send someone, probably Ashe, sneaking after him.

[Fishy]

If Ashe ever notices that someone's staring at her, she totally will self-compel and make a big deal about it.

[Eldan]

Right, I forgot.

I'll do it myself then, if the DM says that this works.

Rolling stealth, for now:
[roll0]

And maybe Trickery, to make him believe that there's nothing interesting to hear:
[roll1]