OOC

[Nuke66]

Big Gratz Ron!!!

I used to say quite often, "If you ain't in the job market every 5 years or so, you're under paid."

[tkrexx]

A big move is always scary, but small moves don't normally pay off so well. Kudos, Big Man!

[rredmond]

Me too!
Was a bit testy for a while there.

[max_vale]

I'm late to the party; but I'll join the herd (baa!) and say: congratulations sir!

[rredmond]

Looks good folks, I'll update tomorrow morning. Sorry for the fits and starts, but yesterday was my first day at my new job. Woot! Best first day in quite a while. Be well all!
--Ron--

[Argennian]

Triple Huzzahs!!!

[saalaria]

Glad to hear it went well Ron...good on ya!

[rredmond]

Yeah, scary and don't want to jinx it!

[Alethan]

The stables are unknown.

The other way is known, at least to the extent that we know there are a bunch of ghouls waiting for us. Other things may have changed since then, as well.

I don't really like either option. But if we don't have a good way of dealing with the ghouls, then I'll cast my vote for the stables.

[tkrexx]

Ditto. Orcs and guards will be easier to deal with.

[Nuke66]

Stables it is for my vote

[max_vale]

I really don't have a preference either way.

[Argennian]

(sorry late to the party here, gang; uber work madness factor ALPHA! )


+4 vote for the stables.

With Karraway (Cleric6) turned to stone and the only other cleric in the party being Eljayess (Cleric3/Fighter3), that's only one turn attempt for 2d6 undead of same type (if successful). Tangling with those ghouls could get very expensive in the HP department.


Q for party: so regardless of where our agreed upon location of egress from the structure ends up being, what's the plan for when we head on out into the open? Are we just going to just pop out and walk away all casual-like as if we were slavers that just bought these slaves? Do we have invisibility or illusion countermeasures that can be deployed for this?

Q for DM: Ron, did the party see any horses or wagons present in or nearby the compound? Guessing we had plenty of time to watch the compound before we stole in under cover of darkness?

[rredmond]

Actually I'm going to update the map for you guys as well, but to answer the questions:

OOC: Ron, this mean the north wall just outside the stables, right?
(Just want to be sure I'm seeing this right! )

Correct!

Q: did we see these ghouls coming from the west or the north?
(not sure what direction they were coming from in relation to the map. Top is north, right?)

I'll clarify on the map, but they walk from the west toward the ruined temple here and climbed the wall just north of the stable doors.[/quote]

The Temple in Highport is the headquarters for the Slavers, all reports would indicate. The main entrance is through well defended portcullises to the North. You guys never go to the portcullis. By all accounts the utility shed and stable entrances are well defended also. You defeated the guards in the stable (where you are now) and they were really expecting trouble from outside. You also defeated the guards in the utility shed up north from you; they were guarding those exit doors, but also the doors to the south of them because it was where the Scary Cemetery Garden is. The whole city is filled with ruined, burnt buildings. The Temple is no exception though it shows signs of some upkeep. Obviously it was once a 3 story building, but the upper levels are collapsed by fire and war, but it seems the roof has been reinforced as you see patrols on the stone ramparts. It's really only a story tall at this point, maybe a story and a half in some sections. The guards walk on top of the roof, which basically used to be the second floor. At infrequent intervals guards will be seen patrolling the walls. From the secret door northward, the walls are 15' - 20' high, but the eastern part, which looks like the temple proper, starting about 30' west of the portcullis and including everything on that side, except the charred wooden areas (which I indicated) the walls are higher, around 35' high, and there are guards patrolling throughout. These will be humanoids or humans in small groups, apparently bored with their duties. At other times parties on foot or horseback will arrive at either the stable door or the main gate. These visitors will hail the guards, announcing themselves as having business; they are then admitted by the guards in small groups. These visitors appear to be either merchants with guards or parties of adventurers. At night, the guards will be more numerous and creatures will be seen to flutter up from within the compound to fly off into the night. No slaves or slaving parties will be observed in the time that the characters are in the area. The walls are constructed of large blocks of stone, closely fitted together. The temple itself is located on the edge of the city and most of the buildings around it have been destroyed, or torn down, giving the roof patrols pretty good line-of-sight. There is little traffic about and while you were walking around in the day, passersby paid no attention to the party. It was recommended that you sneak to the secret door, in the south of the Temple, away from the main entrances, and enter in that manner, but how you accomplish the mission is up to you. At night you can see it would be easy to get the whole party right up to that door, and get in without being noticed - as long as you are careful.

[rredmond]

New map here: viewtopic.php?p=107106#p107106

[Argennian]

Ahh, nice! Thanks for the clarification there, Ron!

Hmm, almost seems like if we could sneak out of the stables without being spotted, we could then just move casually to the main gate and head on out...

... unless, of course, someone alerted the guards at the gate of what was going on below the temple!

[rredmond]

Pretty much once you leave the stable doors, by ruse, stealth or speed, you are out of the slavers lair. If you can get out of sight of the temple without them chasing you then you'd be in the city of Highport. Highport is not a lawful city so a group of adventures walking around, that looked like they can defend themselves, wouldn't be bothered by anyone.
Now the slavers may give chase, or upon seeing the havoc you've wrought in their slave pits might come looking for you, but getting lost in the city shouldn't be difficult. Neither should finding transport out.

[Alethan]

Thanks for a great game, Ron! It was fun playing a ranged specialist.

The only thing I wasn't a huge fan of was playing a pregen at 5th level. I just like starting at square one and building from scratch. So I won't continue on with Freya if you pick the game up again with a Part Two.

But I had fun! Thanks for taking the time to run it for us!