Grimbald would like to set a spiked pit trap along the path followed by the assassin. Somewhere closer to town. if Guidance is available he would like to predict the weather (including mist) for tomorrow. straight survival roll 12
Grimbald is pretty sure the weather is going to be the same tomorrow. A light mist until about midday, then rain in the afternoon. This may nullify the advantage of having the Woodsinger elf archers unless someone comes up with a plan for them. They should arrive around sunset today.
Grimbald sets the trap. Roll a survival, nature, or stealth check (you choose) to camouflage the trap and make it less likely to detect. That will be the assassin's DC for perception. If she comes at night she will also have disadvantage on the roll. Anyone with proficiency in the skill you are using can assist and you can have advantage.
Just to remind you what will help in the skill challenge (seeing as it was back on page 74)
Persuasion: do an inspiring speech, convince factions to put themselves under Dar Gremath's command, to smooth personal rivalries or jealousies, to persuade factions to take on tasks that are dangerous, dirty, hard work, or unpleasant. DC is 12.
History: identify relevant lessons from past wars, apply broad rules of strategies from past conflicts, draw up plans for defences based on stories of past heroic defensive actions. DC11
Intimidate: to project self-confidence and competence, to challenge people to do better, or reassure nervous troops by making light of the Iron Circle threat (but not in an unrealistic way). DC13
Nature or Survival: study potential battlegrounds for advantage, anticipate weather effects, supervise camouflage efforts. DC12.
Religion: lead a prayer session, to give courage to those who are fearful, give people hope that the good gods are on their side. DC10.
In addition, feel free to think of anything else to add if you do your character can have Inspiration. Also if you can come up with a good enough reason to (story wise, or using a particular ability), you can have advantage on any relevant roll.
Grimbald would like to set a spiked pit trap along the path followed by the assassin. Somewhere closer to town. if Guidance is available he would like to predict the weather (including mist) for tomorrow. straight survival roll 12
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Esa will fly up into the air to look over the terrain from a high vantage point. She studies the area and makes notes she can then use when reporting back to the leaders.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Augustin is going to try the whole walk and talk again. He would like to see if we can launch a pre-emptive attack in the night should the conditions not favour us today. He would like to try and delegate this to someone else in the "war-room" who has access to most if not all the information and request a report back, with a plan on what they can disrupt.
Part of his walk and talk will be actively being seen working with each faction to understand what their position will be, he does not want to be seen as someone telling others what to do, but rather, listen and understand empathetically. If he can help with something he can and will. There is no time for great speech's, there is only time for action and in action. Cue montage.
Augustin is going to try the whole walk and talk again. He would like to see if we can launch a pre-emptive attack in the night should the conditions not favour us today. He would like to try and delegate this to someone else in the "war-room" who has access to most if not all the information and request a report back, with a plan on what they can disrupt.
Part of his walk and talk will be actively being seen working with each faction to understand what their position will be, he does not want to be seen as someone telling others what to do, but rather, listen and understand empathetically. If he can help with something he can and will. There is no time for great speech's, there is only time for action and in action. Cue montage.
Since RL failed in that skill check he will try to redeem himself by teaching those that might not be up to fighting the skills of how to stabilise someone that is unconscious.
Medicine check (if allowed) 22. Guidance 1
I'll allow it!
Successes 6, Failure 1.
5 or 6 successes Rick? just checking after getting my brain scrambled by the Assassin 😃
Grimbald spends a couple of hours setting up a spiked pit trap along the route the assassin took. This will only work if the assassin takes the same route, but if she does, Grimbald places it between obstacles so it will be difficult to avoid. The DC is 16 for the assassin to spot. (This is for a specific task so I'm not going to count this towards the success of the skill challenge).
Grimbald is also seen spending a few hours communicating with squirrels, a feat that creates wonder among the people. The dwarf uses the squirrels' natural behaviour to let them give their barking warning should they detect enemies from a particular direction. Grimbald is fairly certain that they understood that they will warn everyone coming from the south, but tells those on guard there may be some false alarms triggered by natural predators like hawks and eagles, and may mistake scouts returning back as enemies as well.
Dar Gremath comes down to see for himself the dwarf ranger trying to teach squirrels to only bark for people approaching Albridge, not leaving or simply walking around Albridge. He admires Grimbald's patience and remarks he is living in a time of legends and that this will be a story for the ages, even if it doesn't work. (Skill challenge success and Inspiration for Grimbald).
Grimbald takes the opportunity to suggest lighting torches for the archers at night. They can be replaced every hour by the patrol as they burn out. Dar Gremath nods. (Skill challenge success!)
Esa flies into the air and makes a very useful map of the areas less travelled by people. This gives Dar Gremath and the other war leaders some ideas about how to funnel approaching enemies into the Woodsinger archer's kill zone. (Success for the skill challenge and Inspiration for Esa).
Augustin visits each faction, talking in an understanding and empathetic way. After RL fine tunes his speech somewhat, the leaders respond well. Augustin realises that Dar Gremath's authoritarian leadership - expecting people to jump when he says so - does not work with the other leaders and makes them resistant. The paladin shows them what Dar Gremath's intentions are and that everyone needs to pull together. (Success for the skill challenge and Inspiration for Augustin).
Vakiel helps with the defences, moving the wooden barricades into position, helping dig ditches that might make mounts stumble. These are all placed in areas suggested by Esa's aeriel map. He shows his strength, courage, resilience, and good humour when things go wrong. He encourages everyone as he works and makes light of the midnight attack on the party to restore the people's confidence in them. Can I get an Intimidate check from Vakiel please? I'm going to assume the ever-present RL will show up to cast guidance too. :)
Rustling Leaves is working with everyone, using his nature magic to enhance everyone's actions and making suggestions where he can. (Inspiration for RL).
We are up to 9 successes and 1 failure! One more success (or two more failures) will see the completion of the skill challenge. Vakiel's efforts might do it!
The people also adopt a new watch strategy, as suggested by Grimbald and added to by Bran Torsson, leader of Tor's Hold. During the day the watch will always be in line of sight of another watch member as they patrol. At night they will be in groups of four. Dar Gremath argues it is manpower intensive, but Bran agrees with Grimbald and advocates for the change. Dar Gremath considers the party's report of the skill of the assassin and agrees.
As Augustin is going around talking to the factions, he mentions to Reithann the elderly human druid about his concern about how the assassin knew where the party were. Reithann asks him to tell her exactly what happened. When he mentions the imp, Reithann nods.
"They are summoning devils," she says. "Imps can shapeshift into creatures, like ravens and spiders. They can also turn invisible. It would be easy for one to find you first, then tell the assassin." She ponders a moment, a worried look on her face.
"One of the quickest ways to summon devils is with the sacrifice of an intelligent being. I'm worried the prisoners being taken to Marl are for that purpose. It's likely already happened. We had better talk to the other leaders about this. Augustin, you are worldly and intelligent. Do you think we should let our soldiers know that they may be facing fiends from hell? Will that affect morale? Or would it be better for them to be prepared so it is not such a shock when they see them on the battlefield?"
RL would like to talk to Reithann when he can find a quiet five minutes about getting his eye fixed so that hes not a burden on his party any more. What would it take for Regenerate to be cast?
Grimbald pipes up on the conversation between Reithann and Augustin. 'Tell the people I reckon, tell them to kill spiders and ravens on sight, but not squirrels. tell them of imps strengths and weakness, what to look for. Even if they have one special weapon amongst four guards, that'll help. Tell 'em they'll need several hits before they die, but they still die. Tell 'em to have at least one bow amongst them because the Imps fly. Tell 'em that each imp is an innocent soul murdered. Tell 'em to seek out the imps and seek revenge. Tell them to never surrender or risk the same evil. There is no running from the Iron Circle now'.
Grimbald will seek to modify a weapon to best hurt an Imp.
RL would not be able to do this but just for kicks I though I would have a go. Shameless re-wording from Winston Churchill's on the beaches speech. Grimbalds speech just above inspired it.
I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once again able to defend our home, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary alone. At any rate, that is what we are going to try to do. That is the resolve of the Bag of Nuts, every one of them. That is the will of the gods and the nature. The people of Albridge and the people of the province of Harken, linked together in their cause and in their need, will defend to the death their native soil, aiding each other like good comrades to the utmost of their strength. Even though large tracts of Harken and many old and famous States have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Iron Circle and all the odious apparatus of Iron Circle rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in Harkenwood, we shall fight on the forests and fields, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our land, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the Harkenwood Elves, would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.
Grimbald pipes up on the conversation between Reithann and Augustin. 'Tell the people I reckon, tell them to kill spiders and ravens on sight, but not squirrels. tell them of imps strengths and weakness, what to look for. Even if they have one special weapon amongst four guards, that'll help. Tell 'em they'll need several hits before they die, but they still die. Tell 'em to have at least one bow amongst them because the Imps fly. Tell 'em that each imp is an innocent soul murdered. Tell 'em to seek out the imps and seek revenge. Tell them to never surrender or risk the same evil. There is no running from the Iron Circle now'.
Grimbald will seek to modify a weapon to best hurt an Imp.
Esa agrees with Grimbald. "Tell the soldiers. Better they be scared now and overcome it, than scared on the battlefield and flee."
Grimbald pipes up on the conversation between Reithann and Augustin. 'Tell the people I reckon, tell them to kill spiders and ravens on sight, but not squirrels. tell them of imps strengths and weakness, what to look for. Even if they have one special weapon amongst four guards, that'll help. Tell 'em they'll need several hits before they die, but they still die. Tell 'em to have at least one bow amongst them because the Imps fly. Tell 'em that each imp is an innocent soul murdered. Tell 'em to seek out the imps and seek revenge. Tell them to never surrender or risk the same evil. There is no running from the Iron Circle now'.
Grimbald will seek to modify a weapon to best hurt an Imp.
"Oh we're not just talking about imps," Reithann says, "but imps have similarities with other devils. You need silvered magical weapons to truly hurt them, for example."
Grimbald would like to set a spiked pit trap along the path followed by the assassin. Somewhere closer to town. if Guidance is available he would like to predict the weather (including mist) for tomorrow. straight survival roll 12
Grimbald is pretty sure the weather is going to be the same tomorrow. A light mist until about midday, then rain in the afternoon. This may nullify the advantage of having the Woodsinger elf archers unless someone comes up with a plan for them. They should arrive around sunset today.
Grimbald sets the trap. Roll a survival, nature, or stealth check (you choose) to camouflage the trap and make it less likely to detect. That will be the assassin's DC for perception. If she comes at night she will also have disadvantage on the roll. Anyone with proficiency in the skill you are using can assist and you can have advantage.
Just to remind you what will help in the skill challenge (seeing as it was back on page 74)
Persuasion: do an inspiring speech, convince factions to put themselves under Dar Gremath's command, to smooth personal rivalries or jealousies, to persuade factions to take on tasks that are dangerous, dirty, hard work, or unpleasant. DC is 12.
History: identify relevant lessons from past wars, apply broad rules of strategies from past conflicts, draw up plans for defences based on stories of past heroic defensive actions. DC11
Intimidate: to project self-confidence and competence, to challenge people to do better, or reassure nervous troops by making light of the Iron Circle threat (but not in an unrealistic way). DC13
Nature or Survival: study potential battlegrounds for advantage, anticipate weather effects, supervise camouflage efforts. DC12.
Religion: lead a prayer session, to give courage to those who are fearful, give people hope that the good gods are on their side. DC10.
In addition, feel free to think of anything else to add if you do your character can have Inspiration. Also if you can come up with a good enough reason to (story wise, or using a particular ability), you can have advantage on any relevant roll.
Guidance
Esa will fly up into the air to look over the terrain from a high vantage point. She studies the area and makes notes she can then use when reporting back to the leaders.
Nature Check 24 + 1
Survival with guidance 16 guidance 1
Grimbald suggests torches to be placed and lit at a range for the archers and reduce risk of ambush at night
Augustin is going to try the whole walk and talk again. He would like to see if we can launch a pre-emptive attack in the night should the conditions not favour us today. He would like to try and delegate this to someone else in the "war-room" who has access to most if not all the information and request a report back, with a plan on what they can disrupt.
Part of his walk and talk will be actively being seen working with each faction to understand what their position will be, he does not want to be seen as someone telling others what to do, but rather, listen and understand empathetically. If he can help with something he can and will. There is no time for great speech's, there is only time for action and in action. Cue montage.
Persuasion 13
guidance
215
Animal handling check with guidance for communicating with squirrels in the town surrounds. 20 + 2
Grimbald's asks the local squirrels to let out barks of warning of anyone approaching the town. He will let those on watch know of the sound.
6 successes, sorry my error.
Grimbald spends a couple of hours setting up a spiked pit trap along the route the assassin took. This will only work if the assassin takes the same route, but if she does, Grimbald places it between obstacles so it will be difficult to avoid. The DC is 16 for the assassin to spot. (This is for a specific task so I'm not going to count this towards the success of the skill challenge).
Grimbald is also seen spending a few hours communicating with squirrels, a feat that creates wonder among the people. The dwarf uses the squirrels' natural behaviour to let them give their barking warning should they detect enemies from a particular direction. Grimbald is fairly certain that they understood that they will warn everyone coming from the south, but tells those on guard there may be some false alarms triggered by natural predators like hawks and eagles, and may mistake scouts returning back as enemies as well.
Dar Gremath comes down to see for himself the dwarf ranger trying to teach squirrels to only bark for people approaching Albridge, not leaving or simply walking around Albridge. He admires Grimbald's patience and remarks he is living in a time of legends and that this will be a story for the ages, even if it doesn't work. (Skill challenge success and Inspiration for Grimbald).
Grimbald takes the opportunity to suggest lighting torches for the archers at night. They can be replaced every hour by the patrol as they burn out. Dar Gremath nods. (Skill challenge success!)
Esa flies into the air and makes a very useful map of the areas less travelled by people. This gives Dar Gremath and the other war leaders some ideas about how to funnel approaching enemies into the Woodsinger archer's kill zone. (Success for the skill challenge and Inspiration for Esa).
Augustin visits each faction, talking in an understanding and empathetic way. After RL fine tunes his speech somewhat, the leaders respond well. Augustin realises that Dar Gremath's authoritarian leadership - expecting people to jump when he says so - does not work with the other leaders and makes them resistant. The paladin shows them what Dar Gremath's intentions are and that everyone needs to pull together. (Success for the skill challenge and Inspiration for Augustin).
Vakiel helps with the defences, moving the wooden barricades into position, helping dig ditches that might make mounts stumble. These are all placed in areas suggested by Esa's aeriel map. He shows his strength, courage, resilience, and good humour when things go wrong. He encourages everyone as he works and makes light of the midnight attack on the party to restore the people's confidence in them. Can I get an Intimidate check from Vakiel please? I'm going to assume the ever-present RL will show up to cast guidance too. :)
Rustling Leaves is working with everyone, using his nature magic to enhance everyone's actions and making suggestions where he can. (Inspiration for RL).
We are up to 9 successes and 1 failure! One more success (or two more failures) will see the completion of the skill challenge. Vakiel's efforts might do it!
The people also adopt a new watch strategy, as suggested by Grimbald and added to by Bran Torsson, leader of Tor's Hold. During the day the watch will always be in line of sight of another watch member as they patrol. At night they will be in groups of four. Dar Gremath argues it is manpower intensive, but Bran agrees with Grimbald and advocates for the change. Dar Gremath considers the party's report of the skill of the assassin and agrees.
As Augustin is going around talking to the factions, he mentions to Reithann the elderly human druid about his concern about how the assassin knew where the party were. Reithann asks him to tell her exactly what happened. When he mentions the imp, Reithann nods.
"They are summoning devils," she says. "Imps can shapeshift into creatures, like ravens and spiders. They can also turn invisible. It would be easy for one to find you first, then tell the assassin." She ponders a moment, a worried look on her face.
"One of the quickest ways to summon devils is with the sacrifice of an intelligent being. I'm worried the prisoners being taken to Marl are for that purpose. It's likely already happened. We had better talk to the other leaders about this. Augustin, you are worldly and intelligent. Do you think we should let our soldiers know that they may be facing fiends from hell? Will that affect morale? Or would it be better for them to be prepared so it is not such a shock when they see them on the battlefield?"
RL would like to talk to Reithann when he can find a quiet five minutes about getting his eye fixed so that hes not a burden on his party any more. What would it take for Regenerate to be cast?
Grimbald pipes up on the conversation between Reithann and Augustin. 'Tell the people I reckon, tell them to kill spiders and ravens on sight, but not squirrels. tell them of imps strengths and weakness, what to look for. Even if they have one special weapon amongst four guards, that'll help. Tell 'em they'll need several hits before they die, but they still die. Tell 'em to have at least one bow amongst them because the Imps fly. Tell 'em that each imp is an innocent soul murdered. Tell 'em to seek out the imps and seek revenge. Tell them to never surrender or risk the same evil. There is no running from the Iron Circle now'.
Grimbald will seek to modify a weapon to best hurt an Imp.
RL would not be able to do this but just for kicks I though I would have a go. Shameless re-wording from Winston Churchill's on the beaches speech. Grimbalds speech just above inspired it.
I have, myself, full confidence that if all do their duty, if nothing is neglected, and if the best arrangements are made, as they are being made, we shall prove ourselves once again able to defend our home, to ride out the storm of war, and to outlive the menace of tyranny, if necessary for years, if necessary alone. At any rate, that is what we are going to try to do. That is the resolve of the Bag of Nuts, every one of them. That is the will of the gods and the nature. The people of Albridge and the people of the province of Harken, linked together in their cause and in their need, will defend to the death their native soil, aiding each other like good comrades to the utmost of their strength. Even though large tracts of Harken and many old and famous States have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Iron Circle and all the odious apparatus of Iron Circle rule, we shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in Harkenwood, we shall fight on the forests and fields, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our land, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the Harkenwood Elves, would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.
Esa agrees with Grimbald. "Tell the soldiers. Better they be scared now and overcome it, than scared on the battlefield and flee."
"Oh we're not just talking about imps," Reithann says, "but imps have similarities with other devils. You need silvered magical weapons to truly hurt them, for example."