ROA: Part 1, The Lone Tower

[Deepfreeze32]

((Well...hope I don't screw this up. The initiative system: It confuses me. Do we roll once for the encounter, or roll at the beginning of every round and resolve appropriately? I'm thinking TS might be right with the initiative remaining the same throughout the encounter))

Without hesitation, Minather swings at the enemy.


Initiative: (Spoilered if it's unnecessary)

Spoiler:

[dice]0[/dice]

Attack with Quaterstaff:

[dice]1[/dice]

Damage:

[dice]2[/dice]

[ironwizard]

((Initiative is constant. Once per encounter.))

[Truthseeker]

Fathom:

Spoiler:

Do I recognize the party as the people I'm supposed to meet up with? What did my mentor tell me about them? What is my mentor's name?

[fathom123]

Crimson flies in with her dagger brought to bear and the creature stumbles away avoiding the attack only to find itself in the middle of the lethal blades of Kratimos. The creature returns to the soil from which it pulled it's undead husk from.

XP
Everyone receives 150 xp. Brokan gets 300 (total) for killing the first zombie alone.

((Regarding initiative: Most games I've been involved with have initiative rolled every round. This allows the flavor of the combat to be more organic and less preordered. It allows for the combat to be different each time and seem more real vs the same people swing at the same time with the same possibility to hit. If you guys don't want to roll initiative each time, I will be glad to do it for you. Just let me know what you think.))

You find yourselves standing in the middle of of a brutal scene. Four dismembered and mutilated gnomes and the shell of a former animated corpse lying sliced up on the ground. You hear sounds coming through the trees. The sound seems to be growing as whatever it is appears to be getting closer. The sound rings of metal clanging, grunting voices and marching, steady marching.

TS

Spoiler:

You can tell that these meet the physical description given you by your mentor.

[ccgr]

As much as CrimsonBlade would love to investigate, she knows that more trouble is closing in on them, this is it either fight or flight, she readies her crossbow

[ArchAngel]

Kratimos steps closer to the sound to get a better sense on what is closing in. He would move forward more, but it seems best to stay somewhat near the group and not stray into the trees.

((Can I roll for a spot check?

EDIT:
I'll roll for a listen and spot.))

listen:
[dice]0[/dice]

spot:
[dice]1[/dice]


((EDIT 2: would my Scent (Ex) help with these checks, and if not, how could I use it? Thanks.))

[ironwizard]

Kagor too readies himself for more combat, turning to face the noise, warhammer at the ready. ((Can I have my attack this past round strike teh corpse as it falls? Just so I get the moral satisfaction of not wasting a crit? ))

((Side note on initiative: I have never seen initiative rolled each round before, seems to me like it would slow the game down quite a bit, but you da boss))

[Truthseeker]

((I'm happy with anything regarding initiative.))

((Regarding xp, are you not dividing the xp by the number of PCs in this game? Our characters are going to level up once every three or four regular challenge rating encounters this way. Just curious.))

As the undead creature falls, Brokan returns to his senses. Although anger fuels his strength, he has learned how to master it and let go of it when it will only hinder him. He leaves his enraged state and a swarm of exhaustion flows over him. He forces himself not to slump. The party of adventurers sees blood dripping down from where the zombie in the woods hit him. Brokan dabs some foam away from the corner of his mouth with his thumb.

No sooner does he hear the noises from the woods. Not now, he thinks. He takes notice of the people surrounding them. Of course these were the people for whom he was seeking. Two human men, a human woman, a dwarf and an elf. There weren't going to be many other groups matching this precise description.

"Hear my words," he says in a hushed but assertive tone. "I am Brokan Mok of the Druidic order and my mentor dispatched me to assist you. I have one directive: assure you all reach the tower alive."

((I'll include a listen check and a spot check to see if I can get any new information. I'm particularly interested in making out what the voices are saying, identifying the newcomers, and estimating their distance.))

Listen
[dice]0[/dice]

Spot
[dice]1[/dice]

[Deepfreeze32]

Minather keeps his staff at the ready, but it is hopeful that perhaps this won't be combat.

He glances at Brokan and says I'll hold you to that. Maybe we'll live long enough to have a civilized discussion. he says, casting his gaze around.

Spot check ((Particularly interested in identification, like TS)):

[dice]0[/dice]

Listen check ((See above)):

[dice]1[/dice]

[ArcticFox]

Guy readies his weapon again, and looks at Brokan out of the corner of his eye. More allies are good, but he can't quite bring himself to feel reassured just because a very fierce looking stranger charges out of the forest and claims to be an ally. Guy is hopeful, but decides to remain vigilant. He turns his attention back toward the origin of all the noise...

[ironwizard]

"Are ye all right lad? Ye look a bit ill."

[ccgr]

spot check
[dice]0[/dice]

listen check
[dice]1[/dice]

[Truthseeker]

Brokan speaks toward Kagor. "If you are referring to me, then yes, I have sustained an injury. I encountered another member of the living dead in the woods before I found you. Take note, when we outnumber them they are easily destroyed. However, fighting them individually is dangerous. There will be time yet for us to lick our wounds, but for now we must focus on whoever approaches on the road. There are too many of us to hide effectively and we cannot outrun riders. For better or worse, we must stand our ground here. If anyone can see who they are in advance of their arrival and determine they are a threat, though, I may have the power to stop them in their tracks and give ourselves the advantage. I'd rather save that ability for an emergency, however. So if anyone can determine that these newcomers mean us harm, please do so."

[ironwizard]

"I was actually talking about the murderous roar ye shouted as ye came out of the forest, but if yer wounds are too much for ye, I cna channel the blessings of the Forger of Souls for ye."

"As for tha' people coming our way, I say let them come. If they be good, then we have nothing to worry about. But if they be evil, then let them fear the Forge Father's wrath!"

[ArchAngel]

Kratimos piped in on the conversation, a wicked smile growing on his face, his hands re-gripping his swords, and his eyes still trained on the trees, "Well, here's hoping they're evil."