<span style="font-style: italic">I'm very pleased with the quick pace of responses so far! It's important to keep things moving to avoid the doldrums. Of course, it's also important not to get burned out, so if I'm moving too fast for anyone, feel free to let me know.<br/><br/>The email I'm using for EvilDM is <!-- e --><a href="mailto:dysprosiuum@hotmail.com">dysprosiuum@hotmail.com</a><!-- e --><br/><br/>And we're going to be needing that information too, because sneaking up on the occupied inn will be a skill challenge. In case you're new to 4E, skill challenges are a way to make non-combat (or quasi-combat) encounters a little more interesting than just an opposed roll. <br/><br/>Here's how it will work. The relevant skills are stealth, athletics, bluff, knowledge: nature, and thievery.<br/><br/>Stealth checks are used to close the distance to the inn cautiously. It's the simplest action; starting from 60 feet away, each successful stealth check gets you 10 feet closer to the inn. With six successes, you're close enough to strike. <br/><br/>Athletics checks are used to dash quickly from cover to cover, focusing on quickness instead of silence. Each successful athletics check gets you 20 feet closer, but gives everyone a cumulative -2 penalty on their next stealth/athletics check.<br/><br/>Bluff and knowledge: nature can be used to convince the sentries that noises are being made by harmless animals instead of approaching mercenaries. Knowledge: nature is the preferable skill, but Bluff can be used for the same purpose at a -2 penalty. Each success removes one -2 modifier.<br/><br/>Thievery (or, if untrained, a straight dexterity check with a -2 penalty) is used to silently knock out/kill the sentries, or to enter the inn without alerting them. If you've made it to the inn, you can automatically kill/KO a sentry without a roll, but the alarm will be raised automatically. There is one lizardman and three wolves.<br/><br/>The only NPCs really suited to this task are Hector and Yolanda, but since they'll be involved in sneaking around the back, they won't be taking part. One thing that you'll notice in this game is that I will try to avoid having more NPCs than PCs involved in any given battle/challenge. The players are, after all, the heroes. Unless you all want to discuss things further, it's time to roll initiative and start making those skill checks.<br/><br/>If three failures are accumulated, the sentries will be alerted and combat begins.<br/><br/>One last important note: We'll be running this challenge in two-round increments to speed things up. Everyone can take two actions on their turn in the initiative order instead of just one. Paragraphs of descriptive text for skill rolls is not required: one or two sentences followed by your rolls will do just fine. Save up your creative juices for combat and important conversations.</span><br/><br/>Several of Salana's paladins nod in agreement, but one points out a problem. "I agree, priestess. We should aid in the battle proper."<br/><br/>Leira's cat-like ears twitch, and her hand slides down to the leather pouch at her side. "Priestess, forgive my forwardness, but I think it is best if you are a part of the vanguard. We will need to unleash as much force as possible, as quickly as possible, once battle is joined. Most of our paladins have no talent for stealth, and I know it is not quite your specialty either. I think that a small ritual which I learned from the priests of Erthesia may help, though. It will only take a moment." Her eyes glow softly as she speaks strange words in a droning voice, sounding more like the random mumbles of sleeping person than any discernable words. An aura of stillness and quiet settles over Salana, and her outline becomes blurry and indistinct, almost dreamlike.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Salana gets a spell which will last 10 minutes, granting her a +3 bonus to stealth checks. Leira WILL be able to cast this spell again, but it depletes her supplies of nutriuum, and is probably not worth using on other NPCs. She'll cast it for free on Salana. Anyone else who wants it, she'll demand 50 GP per casting in compensation. Allowing Leira to eat subdued enemies may replenish her nutriuum. She knows a few other rituals as well, but none are immediately useful (also I haven't decided what all they are). Right now, she has 100 GP worth of nutriuum in her system, allowing her to cast it up to two more times.</span><br/><br/>Yolanda grins broadly. "Sounds like a plan to me. We'll be silent as death, and if any of those fools try and flee out through the back, well... I'm sure I can find some way to deal with them." She brushes a hand against her narrow midriff meaningfully. Hector chimes in in a chiding voice. "Remember, we're supposed to take a couple alive."<br/><br/>Blushing in reply, Yolanda tilts her head to the side and poses. "Well, of course I'll only have one. I DO have to watch my figure after all." Anastasia just rolls her eyes and unslings her bow, falling in behind the other two. Like Hector, she was incapable of swallowing anyone whole, and not quite as eager as most of the other troops.<br/><br/>Ryssa, meanwhile, rousts the rest of the Bloody Band, speaking with her characteristic blend of firm authority and reassuring familiarity. "Right, you pack of scoundrels, listen up! I know everyone's eager for a meal and it looks like we have the upper hand, but that's no excuse to leave your usual discipline behind. NOBODY attacks until the alarm is raised or those sentries are down, understand? And make damn sure there are no gaps or weak points in the circle we form 'round that inn!"  The rest of the Band stamps their feet in unison to signal their understanding and salutes.