[Game Thread] In the field

[TheMystic]

Everybody attacked has died, their bodies stuck with one arrow each. Except for the soldier that fell to a devestating nick, delivered to an artery in his neck by a clean slice of the special consul's blade.

Seeing the last of the trained soldiers fall, mere seconds after battle's start, almost as one the conscripts drop their spears and back up. The one closest to the consul raising his hands above his head, beginning with "Please. I have a family!"

[Squeak]

Bait nods and sheathes his rapier, motioning for the others to gather up the weapons.

"I will question each of you, separately. If I find and any one of you are lying to me, you will be put to death. Know that I have no love for any who serve the Zarathian military and would rather enjoy watching you die." the kobold says in his high pitched voice.

He then escorts the closest of these men away and begins peppering him with questions, taking care to write down the responses as he hears them.

"What are you carrying?
Where are you bringing it?
Are there more caravans coming?
How many members of your army are these destined for?
What are they doing there?
Of the survivors, who is the highest ranking?
If you are allowed to leave, would you swear on the souls of your children never to work with the Zarathian military again?
Tell me what you know of the current troop movements of your armies."

Bait then repeats the same questions to several others, trying to gather as much information as possible from each of them before bringing his findings to the others.

 

Sense Motive

Dice sense motive:

1d20+11

(13)+11

Total = 24

(24).

[GeoAvanti]

That had the desired outcome, surely. Surrender was good. Probably. Unfortunately, Lykaia had no real idea on what to do with the prisoners. He didn't fancy himself an executioner, nor did he really feel they could afford to handle that many individuals.

With Bait handling the "interrogations", Lykaia opts to make himself useful.

I will examine the contents of the wagons.

Without any further ado, Lykaia sets out from his position of ambush and heads to the nearest wagon.

 

Actions Heading down to examine the contents of the wagons. Assume he's taking 10 on Perception (25). Just holler if you need any other checks.

 

Stats for Lykaia Kiril "Lykaia" Male Half-Elf Scarred Witch Doctor 6 Init +2; Senses Perception +15 Current Affects None DEFENSE AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 14 hp 53/53 (current) Fort +9, Ref +6, Will +7 OFFENSE Base Atk +3, Sickle melee (1d6+1/x2), or +5 light crossbow ranged (1d8/x2); CMB +4; CMD 16 Speed 30 ft. Special Attacks none STATISTICS Str 12, Dex 14, Con 20, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 8 Skills Fly +7, Heal +6, Knowledge (Arcana) +10, Knowledge (History) +5, Knowledge (Nature) +5, Knowledge (The Planes) +5, Perception +15, Spellcraft +10 Feats Accursed Hex, Eschew Materials, Extra Hex (Flight), Skill Focus (Perception) Languages Aklo, Common, Elven SQ Hexes: Cackle, Flight, Misfortune, Scarshield, Slumber Traits Harrow Chosen (+2 CL Divination, Augury 2/week), Seeker (+1 Perception, class-skill)

Spells Prepared 0: Dancing Lights, Detect Magic, Message, Read Magic 1: Blood Money, Ear-Piercing Scream, Enlarge Person, Ill Omen, Mage Armor 2: Glitterdust, Vomit Swarm, Web 3: Ash Storm, Haste, Stinking Cloud

[TheMystic]

The conscripts answer to various effects of the following.

What are you carrying? I don't know, food I guess.
Where are you bringing it? Batesford Pass
Are there more caravans coming? Yes, probably
How many members of your army are these destined for? What do I look like, a quartermaster? (minus the sass, that was me)
What are they doing there? Army stuff shrug
Of the survivors, who is the highest ranking? Everyone points at somebody else. Clearly nobody knows. (When it comes to untrained conscripts rank tends to come in the form of equal last)
If you are allowed to leave, would you swear on the souls of your children never to work with the Zarathian military again? It was for the lives of our children that we joined. I don't want to die, but I'd rather me than my family.
Tell me what you know of the current troop movements of your armies. They know that this caravan was formed in their hometown of Hessels and was intended for Batesford pass. This is the extent of their involvement in the armies so far.

The two caravan drivers are a bit more knowledgeable. Confirming the existance of the other caravans, but not able to give much more information on their timing. Likewise, they know little about their destination, but can estimate from experience that the food they're hauling would last about a week, and that it's feeding about two dozen soldiers.

Only one person fails your sense motive check, though his answers are no different from the others he is lying.

---

The Caravans contain foodstuffs beneath the canvas tarps that concealed their contents. Mostly grain based products such as hard bread, augmented with some salted meats. You do spot a bottle of wine snuggled in one corner on a bed of hay to keep it comfortable, likely intended for some sort of ranking commander or nobleman. (You may roll appraise to cost it, but it looks expensive at a glance).

[Squeak]

Bait smiles as he takes the one man he believes is lying to him, his razor-lined tail swishing about casually as he continues his interrogation. He makes sure the man is tied up tightly, both his arms and his legs, before he speaks.

"My family was killed by members of the Zarathian military, simply because we were considered 'pests' to them." Bait says in a calm and cool voice.

"I say this only in full disclosure to you, so that you may know I speak the truth." he says calmly.

"I also have certain... talents... that let me know when an untruth is being spoken. And you have not told me the truth.
I have no intention of killing you this day, not unless you give me a reason to. But I will get the truth from you, if I have to take you apart one piece at a time.

Now then, I will give you one more chance. Answer my questions truthfully or I will remove one of your fingers." the kobold says softly, hoping to avoid all the shouting that would come from the torture process.

ooc Bait is not bluffing at all. He will cut off a finger -- one at a time -- until he gets his answers. However, he knows that if he does this, there will be a lot of yelling and crying before he gets his answers, so he would rather avoid that. His Note that I called it a diplomacy check in error. His sense motive is +11Sense Motive Check is a Dice Diplomacy Check: 1d20+11 (7)+11 Total = 18 (18)

[TheMystic]

"N..no!" he whimpered, "h..h..here," he said, breaking. He pulling up his loose shirt to reveal a small satchel concealed beneath "I was supposed to deliver this."

[Squeak]

Do any of you have any poison? If we applied it properly, we could do more than disrupt these few shipments.

If not, we should give these men a conditional release. I know how to put a bit of fear into them so they will not return. the kobold says through the mind link with his companions.

Zatrat takes the satchel and hands it to one of his next person to post can take it and figure out what to do with it, I don't want to hog all of the game time here.nearby companions, his eyes never leaving the trembling man. He continues to address the whimpering civilian with an unwavering gaze. "Who gave this to you and to whom were you supposed to deliver it?"

ooc I'll stand back and let others get involved here. But I really like the idea of slow-acting poison to put fear into the enemy.

[TheMystic]

"Au...Audille Vamar" he stuttered through his fear, then clarified, "My CO. I was supposed to deliver it to Lord Sturteon at the camp when we arrived. I don't...don't know why"

OOC Here at least he is being honest.   The satchel contains a handwritten note alongside a pair of, simple yet elegantly worked leather gloves. The leather is supple and thin enough to not rob the hand of flexibility, possibly even thin enough to fit beneath armour without trouble. It is well worked with careful and perfectly even stitching where approapriate. The only stylistic addition is a small embroidered mountain upon the back on the gloves. The note simply reads "This should help with the blockage"

[TeufelHeunden]

Strider has been making his way down from the top of the hill as he hears Baits discussion in the mind link, Conditional Surrender and release sounds fair, these men were conscripted not of their own volition it seems and they have families to return to as well. As he approaches Bait, As far as poison, not quite yet.

He speaks up as he takes the satchel from Bait, “Let’s see what is so precious that it should be concealed from the wagons and the others.” In the mind link he tells, Bait, you seem to have him talking, ask him who asked him to carry this and why it was not entrusted to the commander.

As he opens the satchel he retrieves the note and the leather gloves. The leather feels supple and finely made, soft to the touch, finely hewed and sewn. He takes note of the mountains embroidered onto each of them. He then reads the note to the others in the mind link, This should help with the blockage, does that make sense to anyone? What is the blockage?

 

As described.

 

Knowledge roll (12) to see if he recognizes the mountains embroidered on the gloves

K: Nature +5 / K: Dungeoneering K: Geography are +4 if any of these work please apply to the roll

 

Quick Stats for Strider Chillfox Strider Chillfox Male Human Ranger (lvl6) Init +7; Senses Perception +11, Acrobatics +10, Stealth +19. Ride +15, Climb +11 Current Affects None DEFENSE AC 20, touch 15, flat-footed 15 (+5 Dex) hp 43/43 (current) Fort +6, Ref +10, Will +4 OFFENSE Base Atk +9/+4 melee (1d8+2/crit 19-20/x2), or +13/+9 ranged (1d8+4/crit X3, +1 Composite Longbow (+2 STR)); CMB +8/+3; CMD 23 Speed 30 ft. Special Attacks none STATISTICS Str 14, Dex 20, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 10 Feats favored enemy (Human), track, Wild Empathy, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Deadly Aim, Weapon Focus (Comp Longbow), Endurance, Favored Terrain (Forest), Hunter's bond (Animal Companion), 2nd favored enemy (TBD), Improved Precise Shot/Point Blank Master Languages Common SQ None Talents Reactionary (+2 Initiative), Magical Knack (+2 to Caster Level)

[Squeak]

"And why did Audille Vamar give this to you and not the leader of your group?" the kobold adds, taking the clue from the overly tall human ranger.

[GeoAvanti]

Lykaia is entirely unsure if laughter will carry across a telepathic link. All the same, Strider will probably be able to hear Kiril's answer to the question of "blockage" as the Witch verbalizes his laughter.

The kind of blockage that affects a soldier on the road, living on dry, overly fibrous military rations.

Lykaia ponders what to do with the bottle. Surely, it looks expensive, which means it is likely destined for an officer. Should they have some form of poison, perhaps this could prove a far more interesting vector of infection or poisoning. For now, he leaves it untouched, waiting until a course of action has been determined.

Bait, I do not have any poison. I could, however make a fitting substitute which would cloud minds and contort physical forms, but it would not be ready this day.

 

OOC Kiril can make Water of Maddening. He doesn't have it prepared today, though, so we'd have to wait until he prepares his spells tomorrow. It would be an effective DC 22 Fort save (if slipped into drinks) or take 1d6 Dex and 1d6 Int damage. It's also not technical a poison, which has benefits.

[Squeak]

We do not have the time for you to learn a spell. the kobold responded after a few minutes thought.

No matter. We will use these men and then I will give them their conditional release. the kobold replies! waiting for the answer to his earlier question.

 

I was thinking of something deadlier. It would be cool to poison stuff and then deliver it, taking out 12 enemies without lifting a finger and making the Zarathian's overly cautious in the future.

However, I don't think it will be possible now --- maybe next time By we I mean me, unless anyone else has talents with poisonwe'll be a bit better prepared.

[TheMystic]

OOC The gloves, though ornate, have no apparent physical property that would aid in clearing blockage. Logic and experience dictate that given the attempts at subterfuge to transport the gloves they probably have some metaphysical use instead.

To Bait the prisoner responds. "Necessary precaution" he stammers out, "Spies and thieves might search him and leave me to my rags."

[Squeak]

"Know that you were warned about being lied to." Bait says, his rapier lashing out and sticking into the throat of the prisoner, killing him instantly. Dispassionately, the kobold turns towards the others.

"Let it not let it be said that we are not men of our words. After we take each of your names and hometowns, those of you that were honest to us will be released with your that you shall never again work against our interests.

Those who refuse to do so or whom we find are lying -- and we will know if you are lying -- shall be put to the sword." the kobold says, making sure that all of those details are written down completely.

After all of this information is taken down, the kobold continues to address the drivers.

"If we find that any of you return to work for the Zarathian military, I will personally return to your place of birth and kill your family." he says, his high pitched words carrying an ominous tone.

"I would also let you know that I will not be so kind to any of your countrymen who follow you. Officers will be killed on the spot, but the conscripted men who are truthful will have their hands and tongues cut off and then be released."

"You will return by foot, and you will need two stretchers to carry the wounded." he adds! leaving the group confused as none of the survivors are currently wounded.

As the face Zarathians look at each other in confusion over his last statement, the kobold's tail lashes out, catching two of the prisoners across the back of their legs. The blow was not designed to kill, but instead to snap the hamstring muscle that supported the body's weight.

"Consider yourselves lucky that you survived this day. Tell them of the mercy you find out the hands of your captors, but also let it be known this mercy cannot continue." he finishes, sheathing his bloody sword.

 

I never claimed that Bait was a 'good guy' - and he does understand Machiavellian tactics rather well.


The hamstring attack is intended to wound and slow them down, not kill.

Coup de Grace on the liar.

Dice Coup De Grace:

1d20+13

(15)+13

Total = 28

(28). Damage

Dice Damage:

1d4+3

(3)+3

Total = 6

(6) and sneak attack damage

Dice sneak attack:

3d6

1, 4, 2

Total = 7

(7)
Attack

Dice Attack 1:

1d20+13

(8)+13

Total = 21

(21).

Dice Attack 2:

1d20+13

(9)+13

Total = 22

(22)

[TheMystic]

OOC Incidentally you do have two wounded ones already. The ones whose legs are caght in your traps