Assault on Aldera Campaign
Moderator:Lazybones
They were ambushed by Drow shortly after leaving the Dero stronghold. It was a hard fight, but all the Drow were slain. Darsin couldn't help but wonder how they were going to be able to carry out the mission to the surface if they were constantly having to look over their shoulders in the Underdark. Yet, they did manage to clear out the dark gnome tower without too much difficulty. He was given a new shield and breast plate scavenged off the dead, so it turned out to be a pretty profitable assault as well.
Re: Assault on Aldera Campaign
Standing silently above the Derro village Tian'ith looked at the stone.
She didn't understand how it worked. Even Zau'lann, after talking around the topic of the arcane and possible links to holy magic, had finally intimated - though not in so many words - that he didn't know. But he had said that he thought it might have a lasting impact and mark them in some undefinable way.
The thought of that was something she didn't care for at all. She'd been monitored, tracked and controlled her whole life and, otherwise privileged or not, she'd never known true independence of thought let alone action. Desperate as their situation was, and dependent on others as they currently were, he was correct in that. They were free.
But they needed all the help they could get and so far co-operation had not seemed a strength of the team they had. So what to choose? The apparent freedom of choice, even if to die, or to risk it for the same.
Choosing not to decide was still a choice, however temporary. But the choice she now found she wanted to make was free will.
She didn't understand how it worked. Even Zau'lann, after talking around the topic of the arcane and possible links to holy magic, had finally intimated - though not in so many words - that he didn't know. But he had said that he thought it might have a lasting impact and mark them in some undefinable way.
The thought of that was something she didn't care for at all. She'd been monitored, tracked and controlled her whole life and, otherwise privileged or not, she'd never known true independence of thought let alone action. Desperate as their situation was, and dependent on others as they currently were, he was correct in that. They were free.
But they needed all the help they could get and so far co-operation had not seemed a strength of the team they had. So what to choose? The apparent freedom of choice, even if to die, or to risk it for the same.
Choosing not to decide was still a choice, however temporary. But the choice she now found she wanted to make was free will.
Re: Assault on Aldera Campaign
"See, now this is a place we could likely hope to hold," suggested Zau'lann, seemingly picking up a conversation from before. "It's relatively small, but plenty of room to store things, has a narrow entrance, we could collapse it... shame we're going to use it as a thoroughfare, it won't be nearly as secure then." He shrugged. "I suppose it smells of svirnefblin a little too much. Shocking to think I'm getting used to odors like that." He stares off into the distance, tapping a finger on the scrolls he was given to examine, contemplating his reduced circumstances... before finally taking a deep breath.
"No sense moping around here for long, regardless. Can we be ready to go as soon as Tian'ith arrives? It'll be to the benefit of all of us, believe me..."
"No sense moping around here for long, regardless. Can we be ready to go as soon as Tian'ith arrives? It'll be to the benefit of all of us, believe me..."
Re: Assault on Aldera Campaign
Session 12
Full-party posting bonus included. Also, the US caught up to the rest of the world on the end of DST, so we should all be back at our normal start time (except for Karvon).
+450xp to Ravillion, Rogha, Vot, Zau'lann, and Tian'ith
+675xp to Darson
+900xp to Miiq
Full-party posting bonus included. Also, the US caught up to the rest of the world on the end of DST, so we should all be back at our normal start time (except for Karvon).
+450xp to Ravillion, Rogha, Vot, Zau'lann, and Tian'ith
+675xp to Darson
+900xp to Miiq
Re: Assault on Aldera Campaign
There's a chance I may not be here tonight I've got a little bit of a fever. We'll see how I feel later.
Re: Assault on Aldera Campaign
I am not going to make it tonight.
Re: Assault on Aldera Campaign
You had discussed wanting to formulate a plan for infiltrating the duergar outpost in the forum, so here is the information that I passed on at player request last time.
You can order the digger drone to carve a series of steps into the cliff face, but it would be noisy and the sentry would certainly see it if not dealt with.
Climbing the cliff face at the point where the rock formation is would be a DC15 Strength check, DC10 if you have a rope in place to assist. This would not be noisy unless you failed, but again anyone looking that way would see you.
Any shouts from outside the outpost would be clearly heard in the main market.
There were four outside guards (as far as Miiq and Zau'lann's familiars saw): one sentry on patrol, a second on guard at the outer gate, and two more guards in a small interior guardroom.
Kol Urgan, along with a duergar cleric, several warriors, and a group of 4-5 armored mercenaries were engaged in festivities in the main hall just inside the outpost entrance. Miiq related that they'd been drinking for a while, and they may or may not be poisoned.
You can order the digger drone to carve a series of steps into the cliff face, but it would be noisy and the sentry would certainly see it if not dealt with.
Climbing the cliff face at the point where the rock formation is would be a DC15 Strength check, DC10 if you have a rope in place to assist. This would not be noisy unless you failed, but again anyone looking that way would see you.
Any shouts from outside the outpost would be clearly heard in the main market.
There were four outside guards (as far as Miiq and Zau'lann's familiars saw): one sentry on patrol, a second on guard at the outer gate, and two more guards in a small interior guardroom.
Kol Urgan, along with a duergar cleric, several warriors, and a group of 4-5 armored mercenaries were engaged in festivities in the main hall just inside the outpost entrance. Miiq related that they'd been drinking for a while, and they may or may not be poisoned.
Re: Assault on Aldera Campaign
"We must act quickly," Tian'ith remarked after they had gathered somewhere a little more secluded, talking swiftly. "The poisons I obtained where strong, and I am no expert on their use, but if they were put into a large pot or barrel then they may be diluted and could deteriorate further if they are 'cooked' for any length of time."
"If any of you have greater experience in their application then speak up," she added looking around the group, "but I think we have a very narrow window of opportunity. I would estimate the poison would have an impact within an hour. As Duergar are resilient perhaps longer, but two at most. Given that resilience and the potential for their healers to combat symptoms, I would also anticipate their recovering within 4 from now."
"Logically, I do not believe the guards will be affected," the Drow continued, her brow creasing in thought as she spoke. "Any food prepared would be consumed by those inside and I would expect them to be unaffected. Our best expectation for them is that they are called inside should others begin to fall ill, but it is something we cannot count upon. However, we need them to leave their post or be taken down very quickly with a minimum of noise and deal with that ballista. Having them withdraw would be useful."
"A simple suggestion, though not as simple to execute as to suggest, would be a two pronged approach. That a disturbance is created inside to draw those on duty outside within." She looked at the little sorcerer directly. "That would require you to do so, you are the only one able to enter through the tunnel." Her gaze turned to Ravillion. "That might allow you and I to remove the Duergar guards without alerting the town ones, though your sword work may be a better choice than mine."
"A spell to incapacitate may work but if it cannot to so to all of the guards simultaneously we will be discovered." She looked at Miiq again and then at Zau'lann. "I do not know what you are able to deliver but you are best placed to advise.
"There is one other suggestion I have." Tian'ith spread her arms a little expressing her own uncertainty of this suggestion. "It perhaps has the most risk and that is in distracting the town guards. Give them some reason to be less interested in what is happening at the Duergar's stockade and focus outside or elsewhere inside the town."
"We are few," she added, "and we not all soldiers. The plan must be simple and something we can all follow accurately. There is no place for improvisation or we will all die."
((Trying to get this started so we don't spend the time the Duergar *are* affected discussing it in game. If we can commit to a plan before going in that would help, though we all know no plan survives contact with a DM.
For information Karv, as it would be explained when he arrived, last session we managed to introduce poison to the Duergar food via the tunnel from the kobolds but only Miiq and the familiars could get through. So we're having to go in via the entrance.
I think it was reported that there was only one way in, and we couldn't get into the outpost other than past the guards.
Assuming here that we don't know the cleric at the "party" was one, unless anyone inside would have evidence, in which case it's something those can bring up. It would, if she'd known it and could bank on that one being their only or best healer being affected, increase her estimate of the chances of stronger and longer symptoms but possibly be offset by their recognising it sooner as the a result and the cleric being at least level 4 ....
.... and I'm over thinking. Ideas anyone!
))
"If any of you have greater experience in their application then speak up," she added looking around the group, "but I think we have a very narrow window of opportunity. I would estimate the poison would have an impact within an hour. As Duergar are resilient perhaps longer, but two at most. Given that resilience and the potential for their healers to combat symptoms, I would also anticipate their recovering within 4 from now."
"Logically, I do not believe the guards will be affected," the Drow continued, her brow creasing in thought as she spoke. "Any food prepared would be consumed by those inside and I would expect them to be unaffected. Our best expectation for them is that they are called inside should others begin to fall ill, but it is something we cannot count upon. However, we need them to leave their post or be taken down very quickly with a minimum of noise and deal with that ballista. Having them withdraw would be useful."
"A simple suggestion, though not as simple to execute as to suggest, would be a two pronged approach. That a disturbance is created inside to draw those on duty outside within." She looked at the little sorcerer directly. "That would require you to do so, you are the only one able to enter through the tunnel." Her gaze turned to Ravillion. "That might allow you and I to remove the Duergar guards without alerting the town ones, though your sword work may be a better choice than mine."
"A spell to incapacitate may work but if it cannot to so to all of the guards simultaneously we will be discovered." She looked at Miiq again and then at Zau'lann. "I do not know what you are able to deliver but you are best placed to advise.
"There is one other suggestion I have." Tian'ith spread her arms a little expressing her own uncertainty of this suggestion. "It perhaps has the most risk and that is in distracting the town guards. Give them some reason to be less interested in what is happening at the Duergar's stockade and focus outside or elsewhere inside the town."
"We are few," she added, "and we not all soldiers. The plan must be simple and something we can all follow accurately. There is no place for improvisation or we will all die."
((Trying to get this started so we don't spend the time the Duergar *are* affected discussing it in game. If we can commit to a plan before going in that would help, though we all know no plan survives contact with a DM.
For information Karv, as it would be explained when he arrived, last session we managed to introduce poison to the Duergar food via the tunnel from the kobolds but only Miiq and the familiars could get through. So we're having to go in via the entrance.
I think it was reported that there was only one way in, and we couldn't get into the outpost other than past the guards.
Assuming here that we don't know the cleric at the "party" was one, unless anyone inside would have evidence, in which case it's something those can bring up. It would, if she'd known it and could bank on that one being their only or best healer being affected, increase her estimate of the chances of stronger and longer symptoms but possibly be offset by their recognising it sooner as the a result and the cleric being at least level 4 ....
.... and I'm over thinking. Ideas anyone!
))