Den of the Slave Takers (4e)
Game Master Rev Rosey

Luce pauses looking to the others; this is not her gold or her decision to unanimously decide.

"Demand to see their leader, Luce. They like the shiny. Don't let them dictate."

"If they will not do as we demand then we leave taking the shiny with us."

Varis waits, fingers on his bowstring, listening as they speak for the sign he needs to fire steel rain down into the hole at whatever may be coming up.

"You can't split t' bar of gold 'tween thee. Why doesn't tha bring T' King 'ere. And we'll give thee some of the rest of t' Tribute." Luce calls down and turning to the others with a wink adds "Oi, old George. If we don't see 'em we'll have to leave with the rest of the goods. I guess I'll get to keep them?"

She whispers; "Maybe that'll get 'em either up 'ere for t' gold. Or brining their leader out? Or if not we'll just have to assault 'em anyway?"

There is an audible sigh from the bottom of the pit.

"Are you trying to deliver tribute or trying to pick a fight? I told you, lower the tribute down and we'll manage to be out of the way when you come down the slopes. Can't make a better offer than that."

"We're not so collective we can't be persuded to go away," adds a second voice.

I am not sure what to do here, certainly I don't want to act unanimously. The options are:

If we can talk them into looking the other way, Sigvard will be happy to contribute. He's not entirely impoverished.

And if we use Caine's bar, then it'll add discord amongst these politicians ;p Thus on the way, back maybe it'll be like a Tory party conference, knives in everyones backs ;)

Vondal wouldn't like giving up treasure to goblins. He'd be in favour of a military solution.

Goes without saying I agree with Vondal, but...they're quite aware of us now, so if I descend first, I'm going to get a ton of readied attacks on me. We have any smokesticks or such for a one turn advantage?

We did pick up:

Toxic Fumes
Alchemical item
Consumable (zone).
Standard action
Creates a burst 2 zone. Creatures starting their turn in the zone take 3 damage and the zone makes an attack v Fort (half level +4).
On hit, creature is dazed (se).
First failed save creature is immobilised.
Second failed save creature is stunned and drops unconscious.
Time: 60 minutes

Of course it probably costs 100gp plus. I believe we have 2 doses of this.

Then let's throw in the gold, wait a half tick, then toss in the fumes, and use that to cover our descent.

BTW, still don't know if this will be a full on climbing check or more of an athletics check, or if my Dwarven Stability helps here.

That sounds all right to me, Luce wouldn't want to harm helpless creatures but the goblins are vicious raiders.

And goblins.

Kendall looks at the pincushion we call our bard. "They're not helpless..."

Throw the gold down, yell, 'For the strongest', and when they're fighting over it give them a dose of nasty. Followed by a dose of spear/axe/claw in the face.

Ok that's the plan.

EDIT: I take it Luce cannot take an animal form that can fly or retard it's descent (flying squirrel)? It probably shouldn't -even if they are medium.

Assuming Varis readies a shot or two, I think we have a plan. I'll descend first. It is combat so I don't believe I can take 10, but we do have at least 100 ft of rope for the first part. Never did get a straight answer if everyone has an adventurer's kit.

After the distraction is started up, complete with misery inducing fumes, Kendall starts the descent.

Athletics
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

I believe....that's acceptable? I think it's DC15 to use a rope itself, and the drop is not sheer, so...yeah, no Dwarven cannonball today. *eyes Vondal* yet.

For reference, since it is a long way back now.
The drop is not the 200 feet I optimistically claimed, but it is 40 feet. It would be near vertical except for the spider webs. You will have to climb but you can use ropes. The webs mean that you will all be slowed. On the plus side, falling will be rather hard and you'll stick there.

MAP

If you would care to place yourselves on the map and chuck your chunk of gold down there, we'll be off :D

okay, my constant claims of 'there had to be another way in' feel justified now. Why don't we aim for I-12 for the fumes, and gold either in the same square or near it.

In short

Caine tosses the gold, Luce readies an action to throw the fumes when they start to gather (like say...'the moment one of them picks it up'), and then I descend immediately thereafter.

Also, I dunno if we can skirt the issue of the webbing, but we could just use the rope by itself and not rappel down touching the webbing...DC might be higher though.

Varis will be the last in, as from 40' feet he can lay down some fire, and with his athletics and speed he can catch up fast enough.

K1 -I used a different Icon for her & A16 for her Spirit (Beastie)

Luce feels uneasy about the betrayal of the goblins. She knows what they might do if they were it rampage, but still it didn't sit right with her. Or was it the toxic fumes of the plants that Morgana had grown?

G1 for Siggy.

Sigvard, knowing how terribly he fought last time, is determined to live up to the reputation of his people.

I can also drop some ranged nastiness in there, especially if they are close-packed (can't see the map right now, will check tonight).

Varis creeps up to the edge, just off to the side of the webs.

P3

Caine readies his sword.

E1, I guess.

Might not be around much for rest of day until tomorrow night. Going down to London for the Olympic Athletics.

Luce prepares to throw the smoky cloud down after the gold.

H1 for me.

@Luce - jealous! Have a wonderful time.

Caine drops the lump of gold down the hole and awaits results. They are soon forthcoming.

"Eeeee! Proper tribute!"

Exciting goblin voices rise and a furtive figure emerges from the webbing at the bottom of the pit to snaffle the treasure.

"Very nice. We'll be off now. Going on a tea break."

Waving upwards, the goblin picks up the lump and makes for the webbing again.

Waiting on Luce then? Sounds like she's going with the plan at hand. Not that its much of one. >.>

Sorry out all day. Well done Jessica Ennis!

Seeing the shiny gold being picked up, Luce lobs the smoking foul vapours into their midst.

Roll needed?

Hope you had a fantastic day.

Luce unleashes toxic fumes into the pit and is greeted by violent coughing as the goblin staggers slowly away clutching the gold.

Attacks gobbo v Fort.
1d20+5=14. Hits. Dazed with consequences for failed saves

"I said we were going on a tea-break," it shouts reproachfully.

MAP

Luce starts climbing down the rope as fast as she can, following the others lead. Despite the others words and reassurances she feels guilty for smoking the goblins; 'Need t' go t' church when I get 'ome.'

I believe that Luce has taken her turn & her initiative was particularly poor. So she'll be nearly last.

I presume this is a surprise round, so I get one action. I had my athletics rolled already for a 17. Anyway I can descend using only the rope and not be slowed by the webs?

"The only thing I heard was extortion..." Kendall mutters.

So Luce and Kendall have taken their surprise round action.

Kendall starts the descent, using his strength to push himself away from the webbed wall as he rappels down.

Kendall is now two squares down.
Luce has acted.
Varis, Caine, Vondal and Siggy to act in whatever order they please.

Can we see the goblins? I can't really do anything without that.

Sigvard moves out onto the webs, and talks at the goblin. "Sorry, sorry. Our clumsy dwarf is always dropping things."

Moving to G3
No goblins visible as yet, Vondal. I was rather temtped to jump outwards, and see how far that got me. Optimistically, the webbing would have caught me.

A rather muffled voice comes from the webbing.

"Just ignore us. We're not really here."

Got hit by storm and lost power. Yay.

Siggy is heading down, Varis and Caine to post actions. Any order.

Vondal dithers at the top of the hole, flummoxed by an absence of visible foes.

In that case, I will delay - I'm a bit squishy to go diving down web-covered holes towards goblins.

Arrrgh, just wondering what we have done with the horses? I think we'd try to keep them safe and out of harms way.

I noted as much myself, Luce. I have to say this conflict is peculiar, isn't it?

Was waiting to see the answer to Vondal's question on whether we can see anything below or not. Otherwise, Varis will also delay until he has a visible target.

I noted as much myself, Luce. I have to say this conflict is peculiar, isn't it?

Goblins are not noted as masterminds, but they aren't so stupid that they'll pass up a lump of gold dropped out of the sky for them. You get XP regardless of how you handle the encounter - it doesn't always have to be a bloodbath.

Re: horses, I believe you mentioned tethering Betsy and Wrought somewhere in the trees - and indeed have assumed that's what you've done. Tell me if they're somewhere else though.

Kendalls horse is 'Wrought'. And yeah Luce isn't all for killing the Goblins, but we don't want them at our backs. Plus they can always run ;p

I'm pretty sure we'll have to fight them one way or another. That said the fumes are a great way to keep the area clear as we descend. IF they hold true, sure, I won't fight them, but the moment I hit the ground, I'm readying an action to wallop the first one that attacks.

Thanks for the reminder of Wrought's name. I remember finding the picture, just not the name. Doh.

Continuing downwards then? Presumably avoiding the fumes which will last for one hour.

Wow one hour? I had no idea they were that useful. If the gobbos did indeed leave, I will descend, look for trouble, kick the fume spewing agent away in my daze, then aid another on the rope climb checks.
Athletics if it is needed, not that anyone can't just take 10 on it...
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14