In Search of Heroes
Game Master verdigris

Round Surprise

Othoe backpeddles 5' and attacks the bird with a Force Missile.

Force Missile hits for 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 damage.

"Heads up everyone, there's an archer in the trees over the river as well - about 60' off!"

Round 1, HP 7/9, AC 17

Regardless of hawks or arrows or even the snapping teeth of the frightening fox, Simon lunges forward and tries to free the wounded creature from the trap, fully willing to take damage in the process.

not sure why the spoiler is inactive, let's try that again...

Round 1, Initiative 18, Location: near hawk, 60' from archer -> behind Kast

Othoe assumes his assault on the hawk keep him at bay, he instead focuses his attention on the archer.

He moves to see the archer, ideally standing behind Kast if possible, and fires another Force Missile.*

Force Missile hits for 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 damage.

"You there in the tree - we can see you! Now come down and have a nice quiet talk with us or we'll be forced to remove you by force!"

* If the hawk continues to press him, or the archer is not visible even after moving, the force missile is used on the hawk.

Regarding mapless combats - sounds GREAT! I think we'll be able to keep things moving along and if there is some confusion we'll survive any corrections by you. Thanks for keeping things moving along!

Round 1 | Initiative 13 | Behind Kast

"I can't reach the archer from here, but I can try to keep the hawks at bay!"

Dorial readies her wind blast on the hawks when they come near. She aims for the first one that comes near, but will hit both if possible.

Windblast (Ranged Bull Rush): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Othoe, I like your status blocks. Hope you don't mind me borrowing the layout :)

Kast smiles as Othoe's missile begin to blast the hawks out of the air.

Edit: Are we Othoestatting? Fixt below.

Thanks Dorial & Kast, it's all yours. I borrowed it in parts... or maybe even the whole thing... from others myself!

"Heads up everyone, there's an archer in the trees over the river as well - about 60' off!"

Surprise, init 17

"I'll keep him busy!"

Chrystosm heads towards the archer, running from tree to tree in order to (hopefully) avoid the arrow fire.

Total distance (inc. multipliers for difficult terrain) is 75ft, by my calcs; running the whole way and swimming the river (swim check = 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7) should get me there in a round, I think. Or it would do if I wasn't busy drowning...

Round 1, init 17, thrashing about in the river and screaming

Chrystosm, having lost his footing on the slippery rocks, attempts to extricate himself from the water...

Swim 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

Having hauled himself out of the river, he runs (squelchily) towards the pine containing the archer in an erratic pattern, trying to dodge any missiles that come his way Acrobatics 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Chrystosm - remember a surprise round is only a single move or standard even if you weren't drowning. :)

Kast's head swivels as he watches Chrystosm be *really* distracting, splashing around in the river, then pretending to be drowning.

He's good. I could learn much from him.

ok, I think I over estimated how “simple” the river crossing would be. I think it breaks down this way:
regular-5ft times 1 = 5ft as normal
difficult-10ft times 2 =20ft (with no running)
swim-20 times 4 =80ft (with swim checks in play)
difficult-10 times 2 =20ft (with no running)
regular-5 times 1 =5ft as normal
equals ---------------130ft total, with 80 needing swim checks.
Only Dorial and Othoe move in the surprise round, we are now in the first round (towards the end of, but still) using the initiative block typed in rather than the messed up one below.

Apologies to all for not paying attention and merrily trampling all over the movement rules - that'll teach me to post when I should be working ;)

** splish, splash, and other stuff**

Round 2, Initiative 18, Location: near hawk, 60' from archer

Not hearing any surrender talk from the archer, Othoe tries something different. He attacks using a Magic Missile w/ Toppling Spell. He continues to 'shoot' from behind Kast, using him as cover against the archer.

"I warned you we were serious!! Now get down out of that tree!"

Magic Missile hits for 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 damage and trip, CMB: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

After casting he turns to Kast and says, "Kast, I must say, you're being a very helpful mate. If there's anything I can do for you, please let me know."

*ducks back*

Round 2 | Initiative 13

Dorial tries to protect herself from the talons of the hawk above her. This time, she plants her feet and thrusts her shield at the hawk as a burst of wind bellows forth, blowing the hawk backwards.

Windburst attacking hawk: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Kast, I like the layout for keeping track of stuff.

check from round 1
Strength check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Round 2, HP 7/9, AC 17

Simon struggles with the trap, unable to release it on his first attempt, but he continues to work at freeing the fox.

Strength check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

Round 2 Init 20

"This one has excellent cover!"

Undeterred, Nimeon draws a bead on his target and fires again.

I think my ear twitched last time. Threw me off.

Longbow: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 151d8 ⇒ 7

Damned ear.

LOL!@Chrysto for "doing the Khaz"! Well played, sir.
Kast now steps away from Chrysto to allow Angry Mean Ankheg to show her appreciate for the funny comment. I believe that she'll prefer to 'laugh' with her big mandibles around your neck.

Round 2, Init 19

Kast thanks Othoe for noticing, but also realizes that he hasn't done anything but get in the way yet.

Soldiers fight.

Hearing Simon's calls for mercy for the hawks, Kast tries to hit the remaining hawk with the shaft of his longspear rather than the deadly tip.

1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 3 - 4 = 11 to hit;
1d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12 nonlethal.

Nope, I'm not a soldier yet.

Round 2, Init 17

Chrystosm, spewing out water like a tiny pink whale, attempts to reach the far bank of the river

Round 2
Nimeon shoots at the attacker in the trees, but just misses, his arrow thunking into the wood beneath. Othoe’s poor hawk hops and flutters at his feet, moving away hop by hop, dragging one wing for a total of 10feet, but Othoe pays him no mind, taking another bead on the man in the trees (really not much more than a set of eyes and a flash of teeth showing). The missile hits, sending him tumbling out of the tree and onto the bank below.

Kast tries to shoo off the other hawk, but it’s Dorial’s wind blast that seems to push it back. Flustered and ruffled, it flies up and off into the trees behind the group.

Chrystosm finally gets his feet and hands working together, kicks off the bottom and surges across, fighting the current to get to the other side (crossed the 20, still have 10 feet to wade through at double the movement cost). Limping from Othoe’s masterful force shots, and seeing Chrystosm flailing in the water, the hunter gets to his feet and slips into the trees behind him, leaving his bow tangled in the brush.

Simon, neither oblivious nor ignorant to the chaos and danger around him, stays strongly focused, eventually freeing the grateful fox from his painful prison. Sniffling and whimpering, he tries to walk, but falters, the pain from the trap obviously too much for him.

Round 3 Init 20

"Now he's on the run."

Nimeon readies to fire if he returns.

Ready to fire if he attacks.

Longbow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 51d8 ⇒ 3

Round 3, Initiative 18, Location: 60' from where the archer was

Othoe peers into the shadowy wood trying to spot the fleeing archer...

Perception 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

"I think that's that then. Simon, how's the fox?" Othoe thinks for a moment... "And maybe we should tend to these birds if they're not hostile now."

Yes. Yes that is the right thing to do. Help the helpless even if they were once your enemy. I do believe these people will be a positive influence on me. Now why was this trap laid?

Round 3, Initiative 17, Location: wading in the shallows

HP:
Chrystosm curses colourfully, watching his foe stumble away into the forest Perception 1d20 ⇒ 20, Knowledge (Local) 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

"Come back here!!

He pauses, having reached a spot that's shallow enough to stand up in, unships his crossbow and fires

Attk 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23 Dmg 1d8 ⇒ 6

Round 3, HP 7/9, AC 17

Simon tries to respond to Othoe, but the tension of battle still jangles his nerves and only gibberish escapes.

Simon casts Cure Light Wounds on the fox

CLW: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Round 3 | Initiative 13

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

Where did that monster go!?

Round 3, Init 19

Kast smiles as he translates Simon's 'gibberish' for Othoe.

Knowing that he chances of catching the sniper (or even effectively crossing the river) were slim, Kast maintains an active guard over Othoe, Simon, Dorial, and the fox.

Ready to spear any bad thing that comes within reach.

On the eastern side of the river, Nimeon readies his bow, looking fruitlessly for the fleeing archer while Kast continues to provide cover for Dorial and Othoe. This allows Othoe to take his time to pick his shot, letting fly one of his force missiles after the obviously wounded being on the other side and Dorial to fling her own spell, the flora on the other side exploding in growth. Nearly forgotten, the wounded hawk tries to fly away, but tumbles out of the sky, broken wing twisted awkwardly behind him.

As Othoe’s missile flies home, spinning the hobgoblin completely around with the force of the impact and Dorial’s vines tighten around his feet, Chrystosm stands firm against the tug of the river, pulls his cross bow, and sends a bolt deep into the throat of the would be assassin. Dorial’s vines finish the job, pulling the limp body down into the underbrush until it disappears in the greenery.

Having freed the fox, Simon now tries to cure it, reaching out with his own magic. If it could run, it probably would have, but it’s leg, mangled and bloody keeps it slow and in place. It growls at first, but when the healing sinks in, it whimpers pitifully and tries to move. Instead of leaping for the woods, though, the happy creature tentatively inches closer, offering a light lick to the man’s fingers.

The final hawk, as if realizing it’s freedom is now, keeps flying, disappearing into the distance.
end of round three. We are now out of initiative

Kast, seeing the fox's injured leg get healed so easily, realizes yet again that is on a different path in life.

If only fixing a leg were that easy.

Kast gets out of his protective stance and leans again on his longspear for support, to keep the weight of his leg.

"There you go, lil fox. You're all better. We two-leggers..." I suppose I qualify as a two-legger. "...aren't all bad."

Kast moves over to slap Simon on his back. "Good work, Simon...a lot of trouble, but really worth it."

"Is everyone else okay? Do we need to bury that thing's body? What was it?"

"Thanks Kast!" beams Simon, glad for the praise and happy to have saved the fox. "Poor thing didn't deserve such a fate."

Simon reaches out his fingers, letting the fox smell them, before reaching up and petting the little creature's head and scratching it behind the ears.

"Dorial, do you have another of those amazing spells that let you speak with the animals?" begs Simon, "We could talk to the little fox here and even help the hawk. I've another healing spell that could mend it's wing, the sad creature was loyal to it's master, maybe that same loyalty can help us? A set of eyes in the sky will find landmarks better than any of us on the ground."

Still petting the fox, Simon detaches his cloak and hands it to Dorial.

"Here, cradle the hawk in my cloak if you can, it'll need a warm nest for healing, even with our help."

Genuinely pleased to be helping the animals, Simon shows the most life he has in days, his nurturing aspect shining through the glum demeanor than has been plaguing him.

Dorial frowns slightly, "Sorry Simon, but I'll have to wait until tomorrow before I can do that again. If I'm to memorize that then I will have to give up something else though."

She takes the cloak from Simon and cradles the hawk between her arms. She feeds one of her remaining berries to the hawk, it's healing effects taking quick action.

Wild Empathy: (I suck at these)1d20 + 0 ⇒ (4) + 0 = 4

Kast yells to Chrysto, "Did you see where it fell? Can you find the body? And the bow?"

Nimeon nods grimly as the hobgoblin is drug into the bush.

"Do we know who he was? Anybody recognize him? Was he one of Kreed's boys?"

He absently tugs at his right ear.

"Well done Simon, that leg should serve her well now."

Kast yells to Chrysto, "Did you see where it fell? Can you find the body? And the bow?"

"I'm looking now!", shouts back Chrystosm, reloading his crossbow (just in case) and wading out of the river on the far back, searching through the undergrowth for the corpse and its (former) possessions

Can I take 20 on the search? If not, Perception 1d20 ⇒ 9

Once Dorial's spell ends, the body is easy to find (I'm assuming Chrystosm waited until after it ended to try to find the body, rather than wading into the entangle spell?), but the hobgoblin hunter is beyond help by that point. The bow is caught in the tree, but not broken. On his body is a quiver containing 10 arrows, a bag of pretty stones, a longsword, a dagger, and jerky of some kind. His armor is leather, including a falconer's glove, and a shoulder perch, but he doesn't seem to be carrying enough gear to be traveling very far.

The fox, now healed, continues to edge closer to Simon, though darts away if anyone else gets too close. The hawk pecks at the berry, which causes it's wound to stop bleeding, though it is still obviously broken. Stubbornly, it continues to struggle and squawk, trying to get free.

Simon keeps petting the little fox and when it gets close enough and comfortable with him, he takes the time to check its wounds and be sure they are healing correctly.

Heal Check: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Trying to make friends with the little fur ball, Simon will feed it some of the biscuits he's brought along for food.

Encouraging Dorial to wear the newly acquired falconer's glove and shoulder perch, Simon offers to heal the bird while it's perched on her arm, hoping the party can make friends with two animals as a result of the encounter.

Dorial accepts the glove and shoulder perch from Simon. Once the glove is on, she attempts to coax the hawk to perch on it, stroking it's chest and feeding it with what food she can muster.

Once the injured hawk is in place on Dorial's perch and feed a few bits of food, Simon will cast another of his Cure Light Wounds on the creature to heal it's damaged wing.

CLW: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Kast stands back as the others tend to the animals, envious of their skill, while keeping an eye on the woods for other hunters.

Kast will move to the river to help Chrystosm across the river, even extending his longspear for the man so he can be pulled back in.

Kast, just being hopeful, will inspect the possessions of the 'hobgoblin' and cast Detect Magic on them to look for dweomers.

"Is this all the gear, Chrysto? No food, no tent, no sleeping pelt? Yeah know, he might have a base camp nearby. Heck, there might be other animals in need all around his camp. Might be worth a quick search to find it if it's nearby." Kast ponders for a moment.

"I guess we should check upwind first, if I was guessing where a camp might be. Can any of you track well?"

Chrystosm shrugs. "That's everything I can find. I can't track; if no-one else can, I'd be happier continuing on our present course, personally. It'd be easy to get lost in these woods."

Chrystosm looks about him nervously. He doesn't really trust nature in the raw.

"Let me take a look Chrys."

Survival to track: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Nimeon shakes his head.

"This hobgoblin was a crafty one, his skills far exceed my own. Simon, Dorial, have you any idea?"

"See anything special about that bow Kast?"

The group finds nothing more on the Eastern side, but once the others swim to join Chystosm, a small wooden row boat is found pulled up into the trees a half mile from the ambush site. Several other blinds are also found, each across from one of the animal traps on the other shore. The fox, having swum the river to keep near Simon, shivers with fear near them all, but the hawk tries to fly free. His wing, though set by Simon's ministrations remains weak, his flight unstable. It is with a disgruntled ruffling of his feathers that he returns to the perch on Dorial's arm, pecking her on the cheek, though gentle enough that it doesn't draw blood.

The bow looks surprisingly clean and well cared for a creature of his type. Elven runes decorate its length and whatever material the string is made out of shimmers when the light hits it.

are you guys going looking for his camp or continuing on? or do I have you guys on the wrong side of the river?

Sounds like you're right on the side of the river, I'd like to search for his camp but with a 5 on the roll there's nothing I can do. Can I tell if the bow is masterwork?

"Friends, I've no idea where this creature stole this bow, but if you don't mind I'd like to use it. Perhaps I can help it regain some of the honor it no doubt lost being used by scum like this."

Othoe wishes prestidigitation had a 'dry' setting as he clambers out of the water. He dries himself off as best he can and at least uses the spell to clean any river muck off himself.

He considers the boat, and shrugs at their chances to track the archer now.

"Quite a sophisticated hunter for this sort of creature I think. And a sophisticated bow. Perhaps he works for someone else, someone with more intelligence. We should be careful."

"That's everything I can find. I can't track; if no-one else can, I'd be happier continuing on our present course, personally. It'd be easy to get lost in these woods."

"I agree Chrystosm, we should press on. We can at least be confident that we ended the reign of one efficient hunter in these woods, but the plague must be our larger concern."

"Friends, I've no idea where this creature stole this bow, but if you don't mind I'd like to use it. Perhaps I can help it regain some of the honor it no doubt lost being used by scum like this."

Othoe chuckles, "I think the bow is a little large for me, but you might want to hide it a little when we head into camp. It might belong to someone we don't want to anger. Who knows what sort of creatures the leadership might employ to feed the workers..."

Kast shakes his head in response to Nimeon's query.

"No, the longspear is my weapon. I don't have the hands for archery."

Yet. Maybe with practice.

* * *

"While I wouldn't mind searching for this jerk's camp, I think we should press on. But not before destroying his other traps. We wouldn't want other animals to be caught and suffer."

Kast will help find and destroy any other snares or traps.

Kast is ready to move on.

After holding the bow for some time, Nimeon can feel how perfectly balanced it is and the smoothness of the carved elven runes. yes, definitely masterwork.

The traps trigger and break fairly easily by use of a well placed boot or rock. continuing inward, about a mile from the original camp, the hawk squawks and tries to fly once more, taking off only to land up in one of the trees in what looks like a small wooden nesting box of some sort.

sorry, perception checks?

1d20 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2 Perception

Kast looks around, but mainly focuses on not tripping over any roots or traps that might be about.

Kast remembers to gather the gear left by the hobgoblin, especially the longsword.

I don't know how to wield that either...yet.

Dorial sighs are the injured hawk struggles to the trees above.

Poor thing, I hope he heals alright.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20