Machines of War

[madtinker]

After some wait, his lackey lets you report your find. After indicating to him on a map where the road lies, the Marshal barks some orders about moving out, and that his captains assemble at once. You are dismissed, and the orderly pays you your 1,000 gold.

[INWranger]

Looks like the war is going to happen despite Jasters best efforts. Check my strange longsword into the Armory at Fort Nebo and put my blanket on my horses saddle, as well as my explorers clothes. Buy two cure moderate wounds and a cure light wounds and drink the light wounds. Head down the hidden road to Bushton on Horse back.

[madtinker]

In the hubbub of preparing for battle, it take a little to get through the crowd. after about an hour you are able to head down the road. The hills are charred black, and vultures circle overhead as if anticipating a feast.

[INWranger]

Right now the plan is to either find a way to halt the attack or make the battle go as quickly as possible with s few casualties as possible

[madtinker]

How do you propose to do that?

[INWranger]

No idea. If I can prove that Bushton didn't mean to attack, and prove it enough to the Marshal to halt the attack get his orders changed by the king, that would be ideal. No idea where to start. Should have stayed at the camp and looked for clues instead of chasing the slender man.
As far as making the battle short with little blood, spreading confusion through the ranks of both armies would do the trick, but killing leaders isn't something I am equipped to do right now, especially getting away with it. Setting buildings on fire is a bad idea.
make a knowledge nature check for any local plants I could set on fire that would impair coordination on both sides. Then see if I can find some help in Bushton gathering them. Plants first though.
(1d20+3)[18]

[madtinker]

Most of the vegetation around here has already been burned. You do remember that the Flower of Living Death will give off a heady vapor that puts man and beast into a death-like stupor when inhaled. It grows only on high mountain peaks. Mount Nebo looks to be high enough, but it would be a gamble to climb it and find enough of the plant to drug two whole armies.

[INWranger]

I don't have to drug two armies, just two commanders, or maybe even one. If I can take them both out it can look like either side did it and something went wrong when they tried to do it to the other. Use that excellent speed Nightwhisper has and get some of that flower quickly.

[madtinker]

Mount Nebo is easy enough to climb, at first. Once you're out of the foothills though, Nightwhisper begins to wheeze like a cat hacking up a hairball. It's steeper than a cow's face, and the slope is covered in gravel, so for every two feet you climb, you slide back one more.

[INWranger]

Start guiding him around and see if there is a trail or someplace where I can get sure footing, even if he can't.
survival
(1d20+5)[14]

[madtinker]

You can't really see any place easy to climb. You think that if you can get up another thousand feet or so you'll be able to move more easily.

[INWranger]

Summon all my inner elveness and dexterity and go up the last thousand feet on foot.

[madtinker]

Make a few climb checks. (You may take ten if you wish).

[INWranger]

take ten each time
(1d20+5)[9]
(1d20+5)[18]
(1d20+5)[20]
(1d20+5)[12]

[madtinker]

If you're taking ten, there's no need to roll, you just don't climb as quickly.

You are able to scrabble up the mountain, but its hard work and you are sweaty and winded when you reach easier ground. As you look around, the gravelly slope has turned to low brush and mossy stones.

[INWranger]

Start looking for some of the Flowers of Living Death.
survival
(1d20+5)[7]

[madtinker]

You don't find any here. Maybe if you climbed higher.

[INWranger]

Climb higher and see if I can find some of them.
(1d20+5)[16]

[madtinker]

Is that a survival check or a climb check?

[INWranger]

Survival check
do you need a climb check too?

[madtinker]

You recognize some of the climbing vines on a rock face. The leaves are fine and feathery, dark green, and fan out from their stems like fingers on a hand. The flowers are dark red and very small, life foam on the seashore. This is definitely the flower of living death.

[INWranger]

Gather up as many as I can and start back down the mountain.

[madtinker]

Well, once you start looking they are everywhere along the rock face. As many as you can might be a lot. How much?

[INWranger]

Wish I had my hat. Gather up enough to wrap enough around 2 alchemists fires enough that I can know out several people in a ten foot radius and some extra to put in a couple campfires. Is it the whole plant that knocks people out, or just the flower. If it is the plant, grab about four pounds, the flower, grab as much as I can in 10 minutes, or four pounds.

[madtinker]

You quickly gather about four pounds of the vine with leaves and flowers. As some of it is crushed, you feel the fluids tickle your skin, and you get a bit light headed.

[INWranger]

Better make a fortitude save and wrap them in the blanket I have on Nightwhisper. Be more careful with these.
fortitude
(1d20+5)[6]

[madtinker]

No fortitude save necessary: you're not in an enclosed space. Make a climb check to get down the mountain safely.

[INWranger]

Oh good, I thought it was from absorbing the juices through my skin. Climb down.
(1d20+5)[24]

[madtinker]

You make it down safely. Nightwhisper went a little lower to find some shade, but you locate him easily.

[INWranger]

Get on my horse and try to get to Bushton before the fight starts.