Out Of Character

[waysoftheearth]

I believe that was in one of the two gate houses, right?

Yes, that's right.

Pretty far away.

Perhaps; distance is only relative to your mode of travel

[waysoftheearth]

Josiane has a 13 strength. You would have had two, maybe three rounds, before really bad things started to happen.

A shadow hit drains an average of 2.5 points of strength. So Josiane could have expected--by averages--to survive five hits and be destroyed by the sixth.

With leather armour, shield, and helm she would be AC 4 from the front, and AC 6 from the rear. So, 30% likely to be hit from the front, else 50% likely to be hit from the rear. All round average of 40% likely to be hit by any attack.

Surrounded by six shadows (worst case), she would take an average of 2-3 hits per turn. So she would probably have survived one turn, and might have been destroyed on the second or third turn--according to the law of averages.

But the glorious thing about D&D is that crazy rolls happen!

[mushgnome]

I believe that was in one of the two gate houses, right?

Yes, that's right.

Possible site of another yet-unexplored "gateway to hell"...? We didn't delve too deep, but barely escaped alive if I remember correctly!

[ehiker133]

I vote that the wounded hole up someplace fully defensible while the strong (aka Team Highbough, he'd like to think) take military control over the above-ground part of the Abbey: post a lookout in the bell-tower, have archers patrol the walls, seal off as best we can the dungeon levels and other danger-zones, etc.

I'd be interested to know what it would take to consider the abbey secured. Certainly it would involve exploring all of the abbey, something we've not yet done. But given that takes place, what needs to happen so we no longer have to worry about wandering monster checks and can safely call the abbey a base of operations?

Repairing the outer wall? Maybe, as Mush said, having retainers manning the walls and entrance? No idea how we'd go about securing the big hole in the chapel floor.

[waysoftheearth]

I'd be interested to know what it would take to consider the abbey secured.

To be "secured" it would have to be cleared of monsters, and then permanently garrisoned by a force of (reasonably) loyal/trustworthy hirelings. Presumably comprising at least some competent soldiery.

Repairs to the walls and buildings could be conducted to improve the security situation, although this would require considerable sums of money, and also a decent-sized workforce.

[sully]

how is Dorgan affected by a STR of 3? Can he walk? Can he attack with a penalty?

After a meaningful rest (one turn) he will effectively be the same as any other character with 3-6 strength. That is, he will be able to carry up to 50 lb unencumbered (mail+shield+helm is 45 lb, axe is 5 lb, backpack is 30 lb), and will force doors only on a roll of 6. By the book, there is no direct combat disadvantage for low strength; it's all about what you can carry with you into combat.

Glad I burned that backpack to cinders then. Couldn't carry it with me anyway...

[coffee]

waysoftheearth wrote:

"Screw it!" Dieter says, striding forth. He goes down the stairs straight ahead (to the right as you look at the map). His sword is drawn.

Does anything attack him?

Dieter marches fearlessly off to his left (as he leaves the stair) while the others on the dais hold their breath. Three strides down the steps. Four, five, six strides into the room, and there is a certain tension but and no hidden foe leaps out to attack...

(1d6)

...seven, eight strides and Dieter is almost half way to the door arch when out of nowhere there comes an eerie heat into the room! Suddenly it is fierce so that all present must squint to shield their eyes, and then there is a great lurch of vertigo and an accompanying whhhhump! and the heat is instantly gone, leaving only a cloud of char and burning embers and smoke enveloping the perimeter of the room.

(1d6=3) The wary company are hardly surprised when the statues seems to collapse out of the room revealing steaming hot alcoves that momentarily glow with red heat -- but (1d6=5) the grotesque, steaming figures that come staggering in from the carnal fires seem momentarily bewildered. The tongues of flame in the alcoves and upon their flesh burn quickly down to nothing but a hissing and smouldering, but it scarcely seems to have harmed them...

Dieter's fault, obviously.

Isn't everything?

[Eris]

I get the impression that the "other party" is about to enter this Abbey. Is that right? If so, we might have our occupying force from the NPC's there...once we get the place cleaned out, which we haven't done yet.

I just know there is at least one Big Bad Guy we're going to have to destroy, kill, and/or run off before we can call this place secured.

[waysoftheearth]

I get the impression that the "other party" is about to enter this Abbey. Is that right?

OOC yes, but in game you don't know that yet

[ehiker133]

I get the impression that the "other party" is about to enter this Abbey. Is that right?

OOC yes, but in game you don't know that yet

Sometimes is very hard to separate what YOU know from what your character knows...