Stormraider Keep (A M.E.T.A.L. Campaign)

OCC: Flynt will handle the satyrs with Yoës help. Between her help, his glasses, fey ability, and his stone rune, hopefully,  that should be enough charm. Also don't forget that Yoë wears the armor Leilatha seeks. Should keep her intrest focused. Elyria should take position up on the southern side of the canyon at the west end of the narrowest point.. I'll get the scouts to follow me through. Aurelius can wait around the corner on the south east end. Flynt tries to get the satyrs to chase ahead of Leilatha, through the canyon. Once through, Aurelius can step out and cause the collapse. You'll have to trap yourself on the Leilatha side of the collapse. With some luck I'll have dealt with the scouts and if needed can take owl form so that I can make it back to help the attack. Elyria stays hid till we pass. That should put Leilatha in a cross fire predicament and dividing her attention which should give us some advantage. We'll use the dogs to block retreat. If that all sounds good then let's just say Flynt says it out loud.

"That's a better plan than anything I've come up with, Flynt.  Lead on!"

Elyria simply nods and tries to find a good spot to hide as per Flynts instructions.
Stealth: 27 + Guidance: 2
She is then ready to first summon an air elemental, using her magical censer.
(Aelric is already scouting as per post #2076)

Flynt asks Aurelious too call Lady for Yoë. This way she can get back to the ambush site faster. Flynt has Expeditious Retreat to enhance his movement. He will wait until Aelric has returned to Guage when and where they should set out.

Aurelius agrees, and instructs Lady to accompany Yoë.

Aelric returns, giving information to Elyria.  He has spotted 3 satyr scouts - 2 following along the ridge to the west and 1 has climbed up onto the ridge to the east.  They would make it to the ambush point within an hour.  

Perhaps another 30 minutes behind are Leilatha, accompanied by a heavily armed satyr and 3 other satyr's in hooded robes. 

Within the canyon there are a few sparse bushes, but nothing that would burn for more than a moment.  There is a bit of a hidden alcove if you were to head south (off the map) and then work your way around to the east then back northwest. It seems unlikely Leilatha's group would go past this spot, but it makes for a very well-hidden spot.  (Say it's 300' from the bottom right edge of the map.) 

Within the canyon itself there is little cover. If you are atop the cliffs, you can easily conceal yourself from those below.  But you would be obvious to those moving along the ridge.  There are spots back away from the edge of the canyon where you could hide and observe those passing along the ridge. (You'd probably be no closer than 200' from the edge.)  The part of the ridge that juts out (it's where the snake is in the picture.) would possibly allow up to two people to position themselves to where they couldn't be observed from within the canyon, nor by those on the same side (east) of the canyon.  However, anyone on the west side would probably spot them.

There are a number of places you could 'hide' on the far side of the narrow passage where you would not be seen until the group passed through.  On the approach side of the narrow passage, there are some rocks you could hide behind where you could not be seen as a group approached within the canyon.  It is about 80' from the narrow passage.  Once Leilatha's group passed you would be visible. However, there is a chance they wouldn't look back and see you. But if anyone did they would see you instantly. 

Yoë is willing to help out but uncertain how you wish to handle things.  She assumes she and Flynt will try and talk to some of the scouts. 

(OOC - So you have a bit of time to decide and position yourselves, but not unlimited.  Please ask if you aren't sure on any of the descriptions. I tried to hit most of the items the party was looking at.)  

(If Aurelius was atop a ridge, say the east ridge, and the encounter with the scout was over fairly quickly, would he then have time to get down into the canyon and hide himself before Leilatha arrived?)

Quote from rob88scps2 >>

(If Aurelius was atop a ridge, say the east ridge, and the encounter with the scout was over fairly quickly, would he then have time to get down into the canyon and hide himself before Leilatha arrived?)

 Yes - there is definitely 30 minutes between the scouts and Leilatha's group.  So unless the encounter lasted a very long time, you would definitely have time to get from the east to canyon floor.  (From the west is a tiny bit harder, unless you can fly or you could simply climb down from that side.) 

Quote from Culuril >>

Quote from rob88scps2 >>

(If Aurelius was atop a ridge, say the east ridge, and the encounter with the scout was over fairly quickly, would he then have time to get down into the canyon and hide himself before Leilatha arrived?)

 Yes - there is definitely 30 minutes between the scouts and Leilatha's group.  So unless the encounter lasted a very long time, you would definitely have time to get from the east to canyon floor.  (From the west is a tiny bit harder, unless you can fly or you could simply climb down from that side.) 

 

 Then Aurelius will travel to the East Ridge, and attempt to camouflage himself behind the jutting rock, waiting for the scout to arrive on that side.  He will ready a grapple attack, to be triggered by the scout coming within range.

(So I'm not sure if the disadvantage to Stealth/Hide from heavy armor applies, since he is stationary and not moving, but I'll go ahead and roll it with DA)

Hide 8

Initiative 11

Grapple (Athletics) 11

(Just one thing. Would it be possible for Flynt to point out to Elyria and Aurelius that they have made a crap job with trying to hide, allowing them for another shot at that, maybe even helping them out with finding good spots to hide, giving them advantage, since they have ample of time yet to do that.)

OCC: Flynt would definitely help get both of the concealed before going to intercept scouts. For more detailed locations let's call the upper left square of the map A1.. Grid lays out as 14 across and A to G down.  If you can see the grid that is. If not then then the square with the snake let's call snake point and make it our general N/S/E/W reference point. So you're northwest of snake point or east of snake point, that kind of thing.

So Leilatha is coming from the west. She has 2 scouts on the north side ridge west of snake point and 1 scout east of snake point. The ambush point is (for now at least) the narrow canyon running north/south along the east side of snake point. 

So tell me if this is how everyone see it.

The plan is to take out the 3 scouts by charm or force. Allow Leilatha through the narrow canyon then collapse it behind her. This temporarily cuts her off from the bodyguard and acolytes. Focus all attacks on the hag and hope to take her out. 

If so then Aurelius should take up hiding on snake point, (which is a little different from the original idea). Elyria should take the east scout and put herself directly in Leilathas path. Flynt will be moving along the north edge of the canyon and will engage both Leilatha and her minions from above. Yoë will provide the help action to Flynt to increase the chances of charming the scouts.

Deal with the remaining minions if needed.

(Sounds good, although Elyria's player suspects we will run into one or two suprises that might derail our best laid plans. ;-)

Quote from Oberon99 >>

(Sounds good, although Elyria's player suspects we will run into one or two suprises that might derail our best laid plans. ;-)

 I'm sure. Which brings me to a final detail. When do we cut and run? Like what is our breaking point to try something else? If the Ogre shows up? We struggled agains it the last time. With re-enforcements it could be worse.

(Well, the dangerous part with our blue friend is that cone of cold I think. Now we will at least be spread out but let us keep it that way.)

Here is a map with (hopefully) a more visible grid and column/row letters/numbers.  (These are 5' x 5' each square)

(Is everyone ready?)  

I am seeing:
Flynt and Yoë will approach the scouts along the north-west side.
Elyria will approach the scout to the south-east side. 
Aurelius is hiding at "snake point" as best as possible. 

Presuming that all goes to plan, Flynt will attack from above. Elyria slips down into the canyon. Aurelius will collapse the rocks to block the passage and hopefully isolate Leilatha. (Not necessarily in the exact order!)

With Aurelius stationary, no disadvantage to the Stealth checks to hide.  Give the time and Flynt's help, those hiding can have quadruple advantage on the Stealth check. (Roll 4 times and keep the best one.) 

(Great, so can we reroll stealth checks as per post 2102 or not? :-)

Quote from Culuril >>

 

With Aurelius stationary, no disadvantage to the Stealth checks to hide.  Give the time and Flynt's help, those hiding can have quadruple advantage on the Stealth check. (Roll 4 times and keep the best one.) 

 

 I'd say that's a yes.  :)

Once Arelious is concealed as well as possible Flynt bids Elyria good luck and he and Yoë set off to locate the two scouts. 

OCC: Here. We. Go.

(I'm sorry, I misread a couple of things I guess. I thought Elyria was supposed to hide until Leilatha comes and then attack from above, using her air elemental and later perhaps Freke and Gere to block off a retreating Leilatha. If Elyria is to take care of one of the scouts it will have to be by force.)