DM Harpwizard’s Heroes of Elsir Vale (Inactive)

Game Master GM Harpwizard

Round 7

Bah, I stink with this contraption.

Attack BO40 Worg, or anything else if Mantooth has eliminated it with elemental ray.

Attack-ranged touch: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 6 - 4 = 18
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Round 7

Come on Lulu! Let's catch him! Thordak says, leaning to the side to see better.

Spur Mount: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22 DC15, 1 pt. damage, +10 ft./round

Lulu: 33/34

• Mantooth •

Round 5

• Mantooth Attacks the Worg (BO41)

Magnimarana Attack 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23
Magnimarana Damage 1d10 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Round 6

• Mantooth steps to BP41 and Attacks the Worg Rider (BO40)

Magnimarana Attack 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16
Magnimarana Damage 1d10 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Round 7

• Mantooth continues his Attack against the Worg Rider (BO40)

Magnimarana Attack 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32
Magnimarana Damage 1d10 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

Magnimarana Critical Confirmation 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30
Magnimarana Damage 1d10 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Round 7

• BQ38 Worg Rider attacks Bofus

Scimitar 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Damage 1d4 ⇒ 4

Critical Confirmation 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Damage 2d4 ⇒ (4, 1) = 5

• The Worg (BO41) is severed by the great Paladin's blade and falls to the ground dead.

• However, its rider continues on with its attack.

Scimitar 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Damage 1d4 ⇒ 2

• The Worg Rider (-G30) shoots an arrow at Thordak as the dwarf flies ever nearer.

Shortbow 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29 HIT!
Damage 1d4 ⇒ 1

Critical Confirmation 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29 CRITICAL HIT!
Damage 2d4 ⇒ (1, 1) = 2

Double Critical Confirmation 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21
Damage 3d4 ⇒ (2, 4, 1) = 7

LOL! Go figure that the nearly double critical hit only delivers 3 points of damage!

The deadly arrow fires true and hits Thordak in his foot!

Round 7
hp: 25/36

"I don't want to hear any more comments the next time I heal one of you instead of attacking a creature!"

"Aye, Aye. I tak it back! Yer alright, Preacher!"

Jorr stabs the goblin Worg Rider at BQ39.

"Lemmae show yae how tae use a knife at the dinner table, Gobbie! Yae stab the meat like this!"

Dagger 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 2 = 26
Damage 1d4 ⇒ 4

Confirm Critical 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 2 = 26
Damage 1d4 ⇒ 1

Round 7

Matthias attack the Goblin at BQ39.

"That's Right, Jorr, but don't forget to make sure meat is well cooked!"

Flaming Scimitar 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
Damage 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (4, 1) + 3 = 8

Confirm Critical 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
Damage 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (6, 2) + 3 = 11

Round 7

• Bofus stabs the goblin rider and it falls dead!
• Thordak spurs on his great Hippogriff and catches up to the Goblin Worg Rider.
• Goblins and Worgs. On the south side of the bridge, the worgs are dead and the goblins are falling. The feeble attack do little damage to yourselves.

However, north of the Skull Gorge, a fleeing Goblin Worg Rider gets in one critical shot against Thordak and wounds the dwarf in the foot!

• Jorr moves BP39 and attacks the remaining Goblin scoring a critical hit.
• Mantooth delivers a Critical blow with Magnimarana and strikes down the Goblin dead.
• Matthias, not willing to resist his punch line joins Jorr and Mantooth and stabs the dead goblin with his flaming scimitar.
• Tirion saves his Elemental Ray and refrains from casting it.

At last, Skull Gorge Bridge is once again yours. The goblins and worgs are all dead, save for the one caught by Thordak and Lulu on the north side of Skull Gorge.

Battlemat North

Round 8

• Bofus (unresolved)
• Thordak (unresolved)
• Goblin and Worg (unresolved)
• Jorr (unresolved)
• Mantooth (unresolved)
• Matthias (unresolved)
• Tirion (unresolved)

Round 8
Hahaha! It reminds me of the brownies from Willow! Check out around 8:45 minutes... Thordak: 60/63, Lulu: 33/34

Ouch! Ye pesky little--You'll pay fer that!

Lulu dives and lands on the rider and the worg alike.
Not sure what this is...an attack? A grapple? An object falling on the goblin?

Thordak does his best to stay in the saddle as Lulu pounces on the prey.
Ride:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16

Dive-Bomb: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
Falling Damage:4d6 + 3d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 6, 2) + (3, 5, 2) = 26 Depending on how high Lulu dives from... this is Lulu from 30 ft. up. The 4d6 is because Lulu is large, the 3d6 is 1d6/10 ft. so 30 ft.Falling rules

Er, Thordak, doesn't Lulu also take this damage? I must say, it is creative though.

Er, Thordak, doesn't Lulu also take this damage? I must say, it is creative though.

Well, the idea is that she would break her fall with the worg and the goblin... If that doesn't work, I would want to try to just pluck the goblin from his saddle and then drop him on his head. WE'll see what the Harpwizard says...

Lol - you should pick them up and drop them in the chasm, that would be amusing.

Ok Thordak! You are a creative one! I give you that. However, landing on the goblin does not mean that the goblin takes 7d6 worth of falling damage. If you chose to fall instead of land, you would take about 1d6 for every 10 feet you fall. I don't want to spoil your idea, however, this is what I will allow. Please make a Grapple Check (1d20+ CMB). I will let you use either Thordak's or Lulu's CMB, whichever is better). This will be compared to the Goblin's CMD (which is 12) A successful grapple will indicate that you have picked up the goblin off of the Worg's back. Where you decide to let go is up to you. If you decide to let the goblin go over the Gorge, I will let you roll the damage. The distance to the bottom of Skull Gorge is about 150 feet so you will need to roll 15d6 worth of damage.

BTW, DMHW--critical hits don't multiply extra dice of damage, like the 1d6 fire from a flaming weapon. The past 2 crits from Matthias you've done an extra 1d6 damge . . .

Thanks, Bofus. There was something extra that Matthias scored with a successful ciritical, but I could not think what it was. It is a trait, here it is: Flame of the Dawnflower (NG): You have been raised to view yourself as a blade in your goddess’s service, or you have taken that duty on for yourself. Whenever you score a critical hit with a scimitar, you deal an additional 2 points of fire damage to your target.

Can I drop the goblin on the warg?

Lulu swoops down and fastens her talons around the fleeing goblin's arms, attempting to tear him from his saddle.
Grapple: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Thordak pats her on the neck and steers her around towards the gorge... Now drop him, Lulu! Thordak calls as they are over the river.

Falling damage: 15d6 ⇒ (1, 2, 2, 2, 5, 2, 2, 4, 5, 6, 6, 6, 6, 4, 1) = 54

........................................splat

"Phew! Well, I dannae ken about yae, but I'd say that was richt close! Normally, I consider maeself a dug person, but I didnae expect them tae bite me every chance thae can get! So what dae yae want tae dae now? Dannae get mae wrong, I like stabbing gobbies, but if the whole horde comes a walkin along, yae cannae expect mae tae be able to hold them all aff! Dae yae think this is a good plan if the Red Hand is comin with Mant'cores, Giants, Hell hounds, nae tae mention a Red Dragon that makes Ozzy look like a wee lizard?!"

Thordak, I am not clear what you are asking. Dropping the goblin on the worg would not do nearly the same amount of damage.

The goblin worg rider dies a frightening death as it is picked up by the hippogriff and dropped over the chasm. It plummets to the bottom of Skull Gorge and indeed splats!

Meanwhile the lone Worg continues its race back to the horde without its rider.

Should have gotten the Worg as well, they are intelligent and it will tell the rest what happened. We should expect some company soon.

I will release the Web.

Someone want to go up in the tower to watch for dragons? If any come, we will want to make sure that Thordak can drop the bridge before the followup horde gets here. I am sure that they will know we are here now.

Also, do we want to let a few get across before I seal the bridge with a web this time so that we can knock off a few more? I suppose it depends on what they are. Worgs and goblins, no problem. Hill giants, minotaurs and ettins, more of a problem.

And as a last note, Jorr. If you wish to return to Drellin's Ferry to warn the guard and get a message to Brindol, I can summon a light riding horse. It will last a good 10 hours, so you can all but ride it into the ground. Be nice to the poor beast, but it is a summoned creature, and not truly of this world.

"Aye, I could dae that. I am nae tae fond of the civillized folk, but I dannae mean any harm tae them. Mind yae, if yae be wantin tae talk with Grunty McGrunts, yae will need me tae lead yae tae his lair. Dae yae wantae tak the time tae meet 'em, or simply rush back tae Drellin's Ferry?"

Thordak and Lulu land down next to the bridge, letting the riderless warg flee back to the army as a warning.

So, now we wait, eh? Thordak says, dismounting.

Well, as attractive a thought as it is to drop the bridge while it's full of bad guys, I'm beginning ot think it's not that feasable. It's more important that the bridge actually GOES, you know? I don't htik the chance of catch8ing a few more monsters is worth the risk of letting the horde use the bridge. I say we play it safe and simply tkae it down, now.

Bofus, if you can scout from the southwest tower, I can cast invisibility on Thordak the second they appear so that he can chip the last bits without being seen. Then, I web them when they are half way across. Thordak thinks that it should only take a few well places dwarven hits to drop this. If we can take down an ogre or a giant, that would be mighty helpful.

@Jorr - If you can get Grundy McGrunts to help us, then definitely get him. Is there any chance that you could get him before the horde arrives. It might not be long. I can summon a horse for you if you need.

"If you can get Grundy McGrunts to help us, then definitely get him."

"I'm nae about tae dae yer work fer yae, yae lazy sod! If yae want 'em, yae will have tae get him yerself. Mind yea I dinnae ken why ye would want an ault coot like McGrunts tae help yae. He is onnie the last of a dying breed of Forest Giants and his people are a' scattered throughout the Wyrmsmoke Mountains. They probably wouldnae listen to em anyway!"

"Is there any chance that you could get him before the horde arrives."

"Where do yae think McGrunts lives, behind that tree over thair?!! Aye, he's close, but he isnae that close! Can yae nae hear the drums echoin? I dinnae ken if yae ken what yae think tha' is, but I'd betya mae wee dagger an a wee nip of Thordak's Sweet Andoran Vermouth that it's the Red Hand Horde. Hmm? I wonder if they're lookin for a spot fer a wee picnic?! Mebbae they would wait up a wee bit, while we gae and ha' a tarry with the auld giant!"

"I do like the idea of dropping the bridge while at least some of the horde is on it, but if there is a dragon over there that is much more powerful than that green dragon, I can't help but think we should start moving as soon as possible."

Once Jorr is done saying talking about all things tiny, Mantooth nods at the man's idea. "How long of a ride do you think it would be to reach this giant? Once the bridge is gone, the horde will have to reroute. Do you think we'll be out of harms way long enough to ask for McGrunts' assistance?"

"I do like the idea of dropping the bridge while at least some of the horde is on it, but if there is a dragon over there that is much more powerful than that green dragon, I can't help but think we should start moving as soon as possible."

"If yae did drop the bridge wid something big on it, they wid write books aboot yae and sell them frame here tae Druma! Mind yae, if a dragon is on the way here tae tak back the bridge, I dannae think there wid be any o'us ere tae tell the tale."

"How long of a ride do you think it would be to reach this giant? Once the bridge is gone, the horde will have to reroute. Do you think we'll be out of harms way long enough to ask for McGrunts' assistance?"

"Aye, if yae want to tarry wid the giant, he lives nae far auf the Dawn Way. A couple a miles at the most. Ye could be thair within a wee bit or two. Less time if Tirion can mak' me a horse! Not the I wannae be a horse. I just wannae ride on one. Mind yae, If the bridge is doon, then the horde would be delayed for a richt long time, maybae even twa days! We could actually tak our time tae smell the flowers. Maybae we could even ha' a cup o' tea wid auld McGrunts."

OK, I'll scout. Let's do this, and git 'er done.

I'll climb to the top of the SW tower and keep a sharp eye and ear out for the horde's approach, paynig special attention to fliers!

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29

I say we stand our ground and then drop the bridge with some bigguns on it. If there were dragons with them now, I would have thought that we would have seen them already. They are probably being held in reserve. If we drop it with some of their troops on it when more can see it go down and see the destruction, I think that it will have a severe morale diminishing effect as well as taking down some troops.

Thordak, you sure you can take it down within 2-3 minutes, preferably less? My web will slow them down and lasts almost an hour.

You hear them before you see them - a dull, constant rumble of thousands of booted feet and the creaking of heavy wagons. War drums boom in the distance, and then the first legions appear, marching along the Dawn Way. Goblin worg riders run ahead of the main body, hulking giants and ettins stride alongside the hobgoblin ranks like living siege towers, and winged monsters - manticores, wyverns, evan a red dragon- circle over the advancing army like harbringers of doom.

Battlemat North

Battlemat South

Battlemat Zoomed Out

Please indicate what position you take. Please use coordinates.

Thordak should already be by the bridge. I will cast Invisibility on him. It lasts 5 minutes. I will then move to BQ43 - slightly away from the bridge so that when it goes down. I don't. Also, Thordak is tied with a rope to Lulu so that if necessary, he can drop and she can airlift him out of there. Unless Thordak wants to do something else.

I figured that Bofus would be on the same side of the bridge as us, just up in the tower watching so that he would have a better view.

Bofus, we can hear the horde. Get down from there so that we are ready to run if necessary.

Aye, Oi think Oi can take it out with a coupl'a good swings... Only thing is, it looks like there's a lot o' flyin' critters in this army... Oh well. Alright, so Oi think it's best if the others go now. They'll be the bait that leads the army over tha bridge, an' we try to stay hidd'n. You an' me'll stay here an' we can escape on Lulu. Have ye got enough up yer sleeve te make you, me, an' Lulu all invisible? That would be ideal! If not, we'll just run for it.

DMHW - what is your call on the weight restrictions? Can I make Lulu invisible? The spell says 100 lbs/level, so I could make a 500 pound creature invisible. Obviously a horse would weigh much more, whereas an eagle would be substantially less. It is sort of the question of whether the flying ability is wing based (likely less than 500 lbs), or magic based (weight kinda irrelevant).

Thordak. I have 4 spells of that level left. I can cast 1 web and 3 invisibility spells. I know that I can make you and I invisible for 5 minutes, I think that it will work on Lulu, although I have never tried a creature that large before.

I hustle down, I'm clearly beginning to fret--sweating, hands wringing, etc.

I *reeeeeealy* think trying to bait any of these guys onto the bridge is a bad idea!! I mean, yeah, it was great at the time, but that dragon, all it'll have to do is breateh on your web--or Thordak and Lulu!--and the gig is up. It's more important to be sure to take the bridge down, than to gamble that we might be able to take some big guys down with it.
.
I mean, seriously. *I'm* supposed to be the gambler here!! Last time I'll ask: just take the frackin' thing down!!!

Tirion, The bestiary says: Hippogriffs measure 11 feet long and weigh upward of 1,500 pounds. Hence Lulu would not be invisible.

Ye really think so? Oi guess this battle might be one we can't win... Alright, well if we're doin' it, let's go now! Thordak sighs, attaching his harness to Lulu's saddle.
Alright, now get away from the ledge, you all! he says, patting Lulu on the neck.
When Oi whistle, you pull me up, yeah? Taking Lulu's silence as understanding, he swings down and begins chipping at the once-proud stonework.

I think it had 6hp left?

Chip:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17
Damage:1d8 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13=>3
Chip:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13
Damage:1d8 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7=>0
Chip:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27
Damage:1d8 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11=>1
Chip:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11
Damage:1d8 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8=>0
Chip:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24
Damage:1d8 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8=>0
Chip:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19
Damage:1d8 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12=>2

As soon as it begins to give way, Thordak whistles and Lulu walks away from the chasm, pulling him up.

Yep - time to take the bridge down.

DMHW - what is your ruling on new spells? Do we get them immediately or have to rest to memorize/regain?

I show genuine relief and gratitude at being listened to. THANK you!! I really didn't think we could pull that off. You bet it'd have been very cool, but Grampy Bozak always said, "know it's time to run BEFORE it's time to run, and you'll live to gamble another day!"

So . . . we should still make ourselves scarce so the dragon and manticores don't see us right away and eat us. Shall we away . . . where?

Mantooth unties Vartak, his war horse, from the tree or tall blade of grass that he was hitched to and begins to ready the saddle for riding. "I think we should get as far away from here as the Inheritor will take us. From what Tirion's indicated, it's going to take a little more force than just us to even be chased by a red dragon."

I cast Mount and summon a light riding horse for Jorr. Then mount up Kraz and start heading out as fast as I can. Once we are in the woods, if there is a place where we can hide to see the horde's response, it would probably be good.

Tirion you are welcome to use any of your new spells. You will all want to update your character sheets immediately. Well, at least the hitpoints! I am advancing the horde while Thordak whacks at the bridge.

Thordak whacks away at the tower and the thick stones begins to crumble. However, as the dwarf labors away the horde advances on. Moving at a steady pace, they soon reach the edge of the Skull Gorge and begin passing between the two northern towers. Finally, you see a large crack growing in the tower and you realize that there is no stopping the inevitable collapse of the great Dwarven bridge. However, company has just arrived!

Battlemat

Please tell me if you wait for Thordak or flee to the woods.

Thordak lets out a low whistle and Lulu responds, backing away from the gorge and pulling him up. As soon as he is up, he quickly coils his rope and draws his axe, moving quickly away from the crumbling foundations with a tear in his eye.

I would have cast Web as soon as the Horde was about 2/3 of the way across the bridge - when the front troops reached the BL row. If some of the small ones got across, that is fine, but I definitely want to make it as difficult as possible for the big boys.

With the Rod of Reach, I have a range of 640' with Web --> Increases Range from Medium (100'+10'/level) to Long (400'+40'/level)

Center the Web at BL40/BM41 (I think that is the point directly next to where you have the Minotaur on the Map.

I would have stayed in the woods as far from the bridge as I can where I can still see straight across the bridge so that I can see if/when the army gets to a danger of making it across point. Obviously 640' would have been my limit, so probably somewhere in the 300-500' range if possible is preferable.

EDIT - the Web is DC17.

Bofus and Mantooth, before I resolve this, I need the answer to the question: Where are you standing when Thordak hammers at the bridge and attempts to take it down? Guarding him, or simply hiding in the woods way to the south of the bridge. You see the horde approaching and would have time for either choice. I just need to be clear on what that choice is.

I would like to be south of the bridge, hiding a bit north of th eedge of the woods, depending upon my stealth to keep hidden and melt away when the time comes.

Stealth: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (16) + 23 = 39

You all watch the Horde of the Red Hand approach from the distance as you race south to the cover of treeline. As the the worg riders, hobgoblins and a Minotaur cross the bridge, Tirion casts Web upon it to try and slow down the crossing of the horde.

Battlemat Bridge Moment Before Collapse

Battlemat South

As Thordak steps away from the crumbling foundation, the Southeast tower cracks, tilts, and then begins to fall. Following that, the rest of the bridge spanning the gorge begins to crumble. Unable to get off the bridge, three Hill Giants, a Minotaur, a few dozen hobgoblins, and a great battering ram fall into Skull Gorge.

Battlemat After Collapse

Lulu takes off into the air, bearing Thordak, who hangs on dearly for his life.

Bofus Initiative 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12
Mantooth Initiative 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
Thordak Initiative 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
Tirion’s Initiative 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Matthias Initiative 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Jorr Initiative 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Manticores 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Round 1

Thordak (unresolved)
Mantooth (unresolved)
Tirion (unresolved)
Jorr (unresolved)
Bofus (unresolved)
Abithriax (unresolved)
Manticores (unresolved)
Matthias (unresolved)

As Skull Gorge Bridge collapses, a terrible anger overcomes Abithriax, the Red Dragon, as he glances over to see what happened!

Perception Check 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (20) + 25 = 45

Initiative Check 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Suddenly aware that the bridge collapsed due to a menacing dwarf, the Dragon flaps his enormous wings and prepares to incinerate the wretched bearded creature with its fiery breath weapon!

Battlemat North

Don't forget, Thordak was invisible. Not the hippogriff, but Thordak had 5 (or 6 if cast after level up) minutes of invisibility.

Cast Message: Well all, we can run, but I do not think that we can escape these flying beasts. Does anyone see a cliff or place we can get to which will force the dragon to land?

I remember you asking about the weight of a hippogriff, but I do not remember you actually casting invisibility. That would have been very useful to know! I think we need to work on communication a bit more!

Post 4942

It was the post before I asked about making Lulu invisible. It is also why I have 3/6 second level spells - 2xWeb and 1x Invisibility.

Thordak should already be by the bridge. I will cast Invisibility on him. It lasts 5 minutes. I will then move to BQ43 - slightly away from the bridge so that when it goes down. I don't. Also, Thordak is tied with a rope to Lulu so that if necessary, he can drop and she can airlift him out of there. Unless Thordak wants to do something else.

I figured that Bofus would be on the same side of the bridge as us, just up in the tower watching so that he would have a better view.

Bofus, we can hear the horde. Get down from there so that we are ready to run if necessary.

Awesome, Tirion! Forgive me, my friend. I stand corrected. The truth be told, I am greatly relieved! I was not sure how Thordak was going to escape out of this one! At least now I see a glimmer of hope! So, Thordak, what do you do now?

Round 1

Thordak (unresolved)
Mantooth (unresolved)
Tirion (unresolved)
Jorr (unresolved)
Bofus (unresolved)
Abithriax (unresolved)
Manticores (unresolved)
Matthias (unresolved)

Thordak desperately shimmies up the rope, silently cursing about 'bird-brains'.

Shimmy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

Once he has, he climbs into the saddle and directs Lulu quickly into the cover of the trees. Dismounting, he coils his rope and checks to see if they are being followed, trying to keep out of sight.

Stealth:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Perception:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15