City of Nine Stars -- City of Twilight (Inactive)

Game Master therealthom

Zarabeta's appearance triggers a short storm of javelins, stones, debris and a single crossbow bolt from the roof. Most of the items fall short, but a javelin, a stone, and the bolt come close.

Stone : 1d20 - 6 + 1 ⇒ (12) - 6 + 1 = 7.. damage 1d3 ⇒ 3
Javelin : 1d20 - 4 + 1 ⇒ (3) - 4 + 1 = 0.. damage 1d4 ⇒ 3
Crossbow : 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6.. damage 1d6 ⇒ 1

Well not very close.

Zarabeta doesn't have to feign a cry of surprise as missles rain around her, and begins dragging her 'heavy parcel' with increased speed, towards the agreed-upon alleyway, sobbing, "Oh, no! No!"

Oh no, mister goblin, don't be throwing me into that briar patch...

Marius breathes a distinct sigh of relief as the shower of missiles proves to be completely ineffectual

Zara gets five paces, then 10 away. She drops her heavy parcel to rest. Are the goblins going to give chase?

Finally the door swings open. A half dozen goblins spill out shreiking and singing and waving makeshift daggers, spears and javelins.

Goblin speakers:

Zarabeta begins her run through the alley and the goblins come jumping and leap-frogging right behind her

Your ambush will go off to perfection. Take the surprise round and if your initiative is higher than 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 also take your round one actions

Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

Waifrin waits until Zara is clear of the area of effect then steps out of concealment and rakes as many goblins as she can with her wild-surged swarm of crystals (15' cone effect).

Power points used: 3 + wild surge.
Enervation chance 15%: 1d100 ⇒ 16
Damage: 5d4 ⇒ (3, 1, 1, 1, 3) = 9 slashing damage, DR applies.

Round 2: Waifrin expends psionic focus and hurls her surge blast at the nearest unengaged goblin still standing:

Ranged Touch Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17 Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 6) = 10 force damage

Initiative 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Zarabeta turns and selects the closest goblin to strike with an acid serpent to the face.

ranged touch attack 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
acid damage 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

She will do the same to another goblin, striking at one who would be out of the effects of whatever forces Waifrin is unleashing.

ranged touch attack 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
acid damage 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Allowing himself a soft groan at the goblins' idea of poetry and song, Raven moves to support the rest of the group, drawing his rapier as he does so, his intention being to attack the goblin closest to him, preferably from a flanking position, and quickly dispatch the creature before moving on to the next one.

Initiative 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Surprise Round

Melee attack (masterwork rapier) 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12, +2 if flanking
Damage (piercing) 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Sneak attack damage (piercing) 2d6 ⇒ (5, 3) = 8

Round 1

Melee attack (masterwork rapier) 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27, +2 if flanking [Critical Threat]
Damage (piercing) 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Melee attack (masterwork rapier) 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10, +2 if flanking [Critical Hit Confirmation]
Damage (piercing) 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Sneak attack damage (piercing) 2d6 ⇒ (4, 5) = 9

I am assuming that sneak attack applies, since Raven manages to act before the goblins, meaning they are flat-footed during both the surprise and first round.

Initiative check... 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

Surprise round action:
Akorian sights carefully with his loaded crossbow, holding it in one hand
as he targets the lead goblin closing in on Zarabeta.

Ranged attack with light crossbow under the benefit of Akorian's
Westcrown Firebrand trait... 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Damage, if applicable... 1d8 ⇒ 6

First round action:
The hearty priest then drops the crossbow and rushes into melee combat,
drawing his morningstar on the way. He quickly interposes himself between
Zarabeta and the goblins, fully intending to draw their attention away from
the less armored sorceress.

Melee attack with +1 morningstar... 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Damage, if applicable... 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Surprise Round:

As Zarabeta turns on the lead goblin, Marius cuts off their retreat.

The wizard's acid snake flies wide.

The elf's rapier slides over his target's shoulder.

The cleric's bolt clips a broken down cart and skitters to the ground.

The wilder's cone of razor death shreds two goblins.

Waiting on Marius.

Marius Init: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

On his side Marius tosses the shining pebble into the alleyway behind the goblins and follows right behind. His shortswords seem to do a basket weave ....

Short Sword:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15..Damage 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12(19-20 x2) pierce
Short Sword(mwk):1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14..Damage 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7(19-20 x2) pierce

One goblin falls sans arms.

Forgot to flatfoot the goblins for you in my last post. Amend the surprise round as follows.

Zarabeta's acid snake barely flies wide.

Raven's rapier slides through his target's heart.

The cleric's bolt clips a broken down cart and skitters to the ground.

The wilder's cone of razor death shreds two goblins.

That leaves two hapless goblins wondering what hit them.

ROund 1>

Zara's acid snake takes half of the remaining goblins.

Raven really kills the other half. I mean dead. Really dead. Kicked the bucket. Shuffled off this mortal coil. This is an ex-goblin. Probably without hope of resurrection.

End of combat Waif saves her surge blast

"Well done!" Akorian says, and then adds for Zarabeta's benefit--the one who took the most risk of them all, "Very well done."

He takes stock of the slain goblins. "That's a half a dozen we won't have to face once we storm the place. Now we're faced with our next move." He squints in the direction of the ruined tower and then back at Raven. "Do you figure they'll send out another party to see what happened to this one when they don't come back? Maybe we can lay another trap when they do? Lure them in with these bodies? Maybe arrange them somehow so they still look alive? Maybe Zarabeta has some illusion magic she can use to trick them into thinking these pests are celebrating a victory without the rest?"

Waifrin looks at the goblins, then at the broken cart, then at the goblins again.

"I wonder if this can be fixed enough to carry these goblins?" she asks thoughtfully. "It only has to go a few hundred yards."

"Uqabi has seen multiple goblins atop their building, so they may well be aware of our ambush now, and wary about sending more out to meet a similar fate." Zarabeta says, speaking a bit too quickly, and unintentionally revealing her nerves over the shocking suddenness of this last encounter.

"Quite right," Akorian acknowledges Zarabeta's revelation, "I wish there was a way to scale that tower and and eliminate their lookouts. Otherwise, any approach we make on their little stronghold is bound to be seen."

"Although..." he pauses in thought for a moment, "When we rooted out the Bastards of Erebus, they had a lot of underground tunnels below these buildings. I wonder if we might find one that can give us access to the goblins from below ground instead?"

"Um, they're goblins - remember the ones we met in the sewers just a few weeks ago? Underground is their territory, I think."

She turns to Zarabeta.

"Can you summon creatures that can climb or fly?" she asks, "that might keep them busy at least until we are inside." She takes a long look at the building. "I wonder how strong the walls are?"

What were they made of? Stone, brick or wood?

"Not to mention that the sewers are home to other creatures as well," Raven reminds the rest of the group. "Plus, they stink."

"If we do try to lure more of them out into the open I do have a more than adequate knowledge of their language, so between that and altering my voice a little, perhaps I could trick them into thinking that the ones that came out managed to catch the damsel-in-distress? Of course, we would need to do something to make the dead goblins we have over here look a little more alive," the elf concludes with a shrug.

"Other than that, if we could distract the lookouts on the roof, we might be able to make our way inside through the back or some such. There is even a chance I could make it to the roof without being noticed if need be, but I am loath to try that without knowing how many are up there."

I'm going to assume you were smart enough to stage your ambush out of sight of the rooftop goblins. The tenement goblins have no idea.... You still have a free hand.

Tra el for work this week. SHould have evening internet, but one never knows.

"Uqabi is no mathematician, but I suspect at least six sit atop the roof, Raven." she says to the last comment, before turning to Waifrin, "Indeed, I could summon some flying creatures to harry the rooftop observers, and give us time to move to the ground entrances, but they will likely be trapped, and the creatures I conjure can only abide the touch of this world for a matter of moments..."

"I can provide a similar boon," Akorian offers, "Celestial eagles, perhaps? But they too would last only a few moments. Together, we might overwhelm in that short of a time...or at least buy Raven some time to throw down a rope or something so the rest of us could scale our way up to join him?"

He looks to Marius for tactical guidance. "I have nothing better to suggest. You're the expert at this kind of thing, I suspect. Do we risk assaulting the front door again? Or do we try and take them further by surprise via the air or the underground passageways?"

"We only need to distract the goblins for a moment - long enough to run up to the building and force our way inside. Once we are in, the alarm will be raised, and the goblins on the roof won't be going anyway but toward us at that point," Waifrin points out.

"I am sure I can blast us through a window, if need be."

"We should move now, before the rooftop sentries grow suspicious that the attack force that came after me have not returned yet..." Zarabeta says, drawing from her pouch the components necessary to conjure celestial eagles, celestial fire beetles or perhaps an air elemental.

"I agree," Raven says with a nod. "We might as well do it now, otherwise we will lose the element of surprise. Certainly goblins are not the smartest creatures, but even they will start growing suspicious before long."

Rapier in hand, the elf is once again ready to move towards the building under the cover of shadows once the mage and cleric have done their part and the signal is given.

Sounds like a plan. Who's going to actually kick it off.

Zarabeta wastes no time, closing her eyes to the mortal plane and whispering "Aquila celestianis" in a supplicating tone before peeking her head around the wall and attempting to direct a flight of celestial eagles to where Uqabi saw the goblin sentries.

1d3 celestial eagles, using her 1/day +2 trait bonus, so they will last an extra 2 rounds. 1d3 ⇒ 2

A pair of metallic silver-gray eagles appear 35 ft. ahead of her position, emitting in eerie chorus a shriek that sounds like tortured metal as they swoop towards any visible goblins on the rooftop and strike, their molten amber eyes easily piercing the darkness.

eagle 1
Bite attack w/charge and smite 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
damage 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 +1 damage if target is evil

eagle 2
Bite attack w/charge and smite 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
damage 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 +1 damage if target is evil

Eagle stats;

Thanks for including the stats, Set. I'm replacing the bites with talon attacks, but you get both. I'll add rolls as needed. The eagles get a surprise round, as will you all.

Wings folded, the two raptors stoop toward the goblins. Just before impact they flare their wings and rake with their claws.

Eagle 1 : talons -- 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9 .. damage 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Eagle 2 : talons -- 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 .. damage 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

One sinks a claws into a goblin's arm. She twists, stumbles, and slides screaming down the steeply angled roof.

The other eagle's target slaps one of his mates who whirls around swinging his spear in a wide arc. The eagle shies from the spear and misses its attack.

Eagles, raptors in general, attack first with talons then tear their prey with their beaks. I' m comfortable with two talon attacks on a single target.

Akorian holds off on summoning his own celestial eagles just yet. Instead, he keeps his crossbow loaded and watches the rooftop for any shot he can take on a goblin peering over.

I'm assuming the rest of us are trying to storm the front door while the eagles have the rooftop sentries occupied. If Raven or Waifrin can get us inside quickly enough, Akorian can summon some celestial dogs to lead the way. Or, if we're having trouble getting the door open, he can summon another flight of eagles to further occupy them or aid in our retreat.

Raven moves towards the tenement, taking advantage of shadows and cover along the way. Once there, he first examines the front door for any traps before attempting to disable them if he finds any and then starting on the lock itself.

Stealth 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29
Perception 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25, 27 to locate traps
Disable Device 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15, 17 to disarm traps

sorry about my absence..for some reason the thread wasn't showing up as having any new posts..

Marius nods grimly.."we need to strike hard and fast...get into the building and fight them on tour terms this time..at least we know the layout and what to expect in there anywhere else and they have the advantage.Harrassing the roof guards will be the best ploy..once we have made an entrance we just have to keep killing them till we run out of things to kill"

The goblins on the roof shriek as they stab at the eagles with spears, then toss a few stones and javelins after the birds as they veer off to gain altitude and swoop again.

They're exposed and not paying attention. Take a shot if you want it, Neil. And anyone else who would like.

Raven sneaks in. The goblins left the front door open. A displaced floorboard doesn't look right. Prying it up the elven rogue finds that the goblins have sawed halfway through the floor joists. Enough weight will probably cause the floor to collapse.

Once Raven moves forward, and her concentration on the complicated spellwork has subsided, Zarabeta dashes forward to stand behind him, pressing herself against the wall next to the doorway, so that any goblin looking down from the roof may not see her pressed against the wall.

Stealth, if necessary. She'll take 10, for 15, if possible, otherwise... 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Doh. Hope taking 10 was an option, 'cause otherwise, she burst into song while attempting to be discreet...

As Marius arrives behind Raven he hears the elf curse softly about the trap

"Is it the entire floor of the room or just a section" He asks "if it's just a bit then we can bypass it..if not we have to cross one at a time and I'll go first. I can take the fall if it comes and am best equipped to survive until the rest off you come to my aid"

They're exposed and not paying attention. Take a shot if you want it, Neil. And anyone else who would like.

Akorian sights a goblin and takes a quick shot to try and eliminate or wound one more.

Ranged attack with light crossbow... 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
Damage, if applicable... 1d8 ⇒ 1

Waifrin joins Akorian in taking pot-shots at the goblins on the roof with her crossbow:

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24 Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8
Threat Confirm: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22 Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 7

Akorian wings a goblin.

Zarabeta trips and goes sprawling. Even though the goblins are busy with the eagles and now the crossbows. One glances down to see her. Waifrin plants a quarrel in its brainpan. Zara picks herself up and finishes the dash to the door.

Raven reports the edges of the room seem safe enough. You can edge along them to get to the inner door.

Marius nods "You'd best check it out, we'll cover you"

He moves the opposite way around the room from the rogue to arrive at the door

Raven nods in return and starts making his way around the edges of the room, taking care not to step on the sawed floorboards. Once there he checks the inner door, at first for traps and then moves on to the lock.

Perception 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25, 27 to locate traps
Disable Device 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27, 29 to disarm traps

Satisfied that the goblins on the roof seem occupied...and, seeing that Raven and Marius have breached the main entrance...Akorian moves to join them, reloading his crossbow as he goes and encouraging Waifrin and Zarabeta not to tarry. Upon entering the first chamber, he notices his companions inching along the walls and freezes in place lest he stumble into a presumed trap.

"I take it your friends were expecting you again?" he quips after his elven friend, "Something about you seems to invite your hosts to set traps for you."

He then calls a spark of light upon the holy symbol around his neck, using it to hopefully illuminate the interior a bit better while Raven sets to work on the opposite door. Moving aside to make room for Waifrin and Zarabeta, he cautions them against walking directly across the floor. Then, he trains his crossbow, sighting around the room, including the ceiling where he seems to recall a few holes where the goblins had posted lookouts last time.

'If we're lucky, all of them left during Zarabeta's ruse,' he thinks to himself.

"I take it your friends were expecting you again?" he quips after his elven friend, "Something about you seems to invite your hosts to set traps for you."

"I am sure it has to do with them wanting to give me something to practice with, great friends that they are and welcome houseguest that I am," Raven retorts with a wink. "Certainly nothing to do with keeping me away and out of their house."

"I am sure it has to do with them wanting to give me something to practice with, great friends that they are and welcome houseguest that I am," Raven retorts with a wink. "Certainly nothing to do with keeping me away and out of their house."

"The day you can't get past a goblin trap is the day you need to retire. Unless, of course, you've just gotten rusty..."

"Heh... Unless luck and reflexes have a say in the matter, the day I fail to get past a trap, goblin or otherwise, will be the day the trap 'retires' me, regardless of whether I need to do so or not," the elven rogue quips.

"And I keep myself well-oiled, thank you very much."

Waifrin reloads her crossbow and shoulders it as she follows Marius around the edge of the room.

Perception 1d20 + 9, 27 to locate traps
Disable Device 1d20 + 13, 29 to disarm traps

Raven:

Hey what are the eagles doing? Continuing the attack until death or winging off for a well-earned beer?

Work-travel this week is not being kind. Posting may continue erractically for a bit.

Hey what are the eagles doing? Continuing the attack until death or winging off for a well-earned beer?

To the death! Or, at least, removal to the nearest adjacent alternate dimension.

"Well," Raven remarks after examining the door, "the lock poses no problem. The door, however, is magically warded, which does make one wonder how the goblins managed to do that? Really, whatever happened to good old-fashioned mechanical traps? Poisoned needles not good enough for folk nowadays?"

"Regardless, simply opening the door from afar should bypass the ward, so an adequately long piece of wood, such as a floor or wall board, to push it open or tying a bit of rope on the handle and pulling should do the trick now that it is no longer locked. Or maybe even some magic?" As he speaks the last few words, he looks pointedly at the spellcasters among them.

Once the door opens, a five-foot square room with plain pale-plastered full-length walls is revealed beyond it.

"...Really, whatever happened to good old-fashioned mechanical traps? Poisoned needles not good enough for folk nowadays?"

"I, for one, take this as a sign you're moving up in the world, Raven," Akorian drily comments, "After all, you don't want to get rusty, right? How better to ensure that than by giving you new challenges? The gods are indeed most wise in how they've chosen to prepare you..."

"Regardless, simply opening the door from afar should bypass the ward, so an adequately long piece of wood, such as a floor or wall board, to push it open or tying a bit of rope on the handle and pulling should do the trick now that it is no longer locked. Or maybe even some magic?" As he speaks the last few words, he looks pointedly at the spellcasters among them.

"Don't look at me. This is your challenge. Right?" the priest responds with a familiar grin.

"Goblins with Magic?..or have the little runts aqquired some allies?..perhaps the surviving tieflings are that desperate?"

Outside, a shrill scream and a muffled thump. Another rooftop goblin bites the dust.

Anyone stepping forward? Or perhaps back outside to swap missile fire with the rooftop goblins? Or jumping up and down in the vestibule because they're just goblins and really how bad could their pit trap be?

I think we are waiting for you to tell us what is in the five-foot square room and what exits it has! Unless it's empty and there are no other exits from it that Raven can detect?

Once the door opens, a five-foot square room with plain pale-plastered full-length walls is revealed beyond it.

That's it.