Tora no Senaka - The Back of the Tiger (Inactive)

Game Master Dreaming Warforged

Pavel shakes his head.
"It's two puh'past, buddy. Only suh'so much daylight luh'left- think we want to be luh'long gone before the sun sets on the muh'marsh, right? Wuh'we'll come back tomorrow, Sorin, how 'bout that?"

You make good time once past the second shipwreck. That must have been quite a storm to push those so far inland. It made you wonder whether there were any survivors...

An hour later, you reach the base of the fifty-foot-high cliff. It rises along the marsh’s southern border, its face a thick tangle of jutting rocks and bright green vines and nettles. A curtain of these thick nettle vines partially conceals a cave opening at the base of the cliff.

"Is that our destination Pavel?" Izumi asks, now tightly gripping his katana hilt, his other hand on the sheath, as if he were ready to pull the blade out at a moments notice.

"Luh'looks like it. Any preparations you fuh'fellows want to make 'fore we dive in?", Pavel says as he rolls his shoulders, checking the straps on his shield and his grip on the boggard club. The typically placid ranger has an eager gleam in his eye.

Izumi suddenly releases both hilt and blade, as though just remembering that the sword is in disrepair. Unholstering his hammer, he checks his armor to make sure it's tight, then says "I am ready Pavel. Do you wish me to lead the way?"

Pavel nods.
"Yuh'yer armor's thicker'n mine. I'll be right behind. Suh'Sorin, you still got them mage-lights you can cuh'conjure up? That way w'we can keep our hands free and suh'still know what we're doin'. Yer bear gonna be okay, G'Garand? Should he ruh'read guard?"

"It will be almost constant chanting to keep them active, but I can do it."

Sorin begins a low humming chant, repeating the same complicated and twisting Draconic word over and over again in a stream of gutteral hissing. Four pale lights, shedding light much like torches, twist into being over the heads of the party.

Dancing Lights. Cast repeatedly in order to maintain it...but that is what happens when you take the wrong spell. I will take Light next time.

Sorin, feel free to change the spells. We're still in the flex period. I'll keep the posting slow for personal reasons and for those of you who mentioned a busy schedule these days.

The cavern entrance is covered with a thick curtain of nettle. Access seems complicated.

Survival please.

Survival: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

Survival: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

Survival: 1d20 ⇒ 6

Survival: 1d20+9

The nettle is poisonous.

"Cuh'Careful, guys. This nettle's poisonous."

Would Pavel know the best method for clearing it away?
Knowledge- Nature: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

Cantrip is now Light. I cast it on my crossbow.

Survival:Practical ways to remove nettle? 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

"I am thinking that burning it might work. I don't think we have to worry about smoking out our enemies, I don't believe that they breathe when they are dead."

"Erastil's uh'antlers, no! We don't wuh'want it on our skin, why would we want it in our lungs? Buh'burning it might be even wuh'worse!"

That's assuming it's like poison ivy.

Izumi will watch and listen, learning for the expertise of his companions.

Remind me when we level to take a rank of Survival.

Cutting down the nettle with a slashing polearm is safest. Witha a smaller weapon, it will either require an hour or, to do it faster, a reflex save, but from only the cutter instead of everyone as they try to move past it.

"We could, of course, just cut the stuff down and walk over it. We are all wearing boots, and this stuff shouldn't be able to puncture good leather. So, anybody know where we might find some cutting implements?" Sorin says, staring pointedly at Pavel's sword.

With a testy grunt, Pavel pulls out his sword and starts slashing at the nettles.
"Stand clear."
Reflex-1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Garand mutters an incantation, beseeching the spirits of the nettle to stay their venom. Guidance on Pavel, +1 to his save.

He also offers Pavel the use of his sickle, "Your blade will be dulled by such work, and is far more useful at cutting flesh than my sickle."

Garand mutters an incantation, beseeching the spirits of the nettle to stay their venom. Guidance on Pavel, +1 to his save.

He also offers Pavel the use of his sickle, "Your blade will be dulled by such work, and is far more useful at cutting flesh than my sickle."

Pavel is taken aback a second, then blinks and sheathes his sword.

It is hard work, but Pavel slices through the nettle in no time. Unfortunately, a miscalculated stroke brings him too close and a thorn pierce his skin. Quickly he feels a little woozy and unbalanced somewhat. (-2 dex damage, you'll recuperate one per day)

The cave entrance is all but quiet... and dark...

Is Sorin's spell the only source of light? Also, please agree on a marching order, keeping in mind that you'll need to see something.

If Sorin has Light prepared now instead.. He could theoretically cast it on each of our weapons.. but I believe it has a 1 minute (10 round) duration per cast.

"Well done Pavel." Izumi says, moving forward into the breach. "I don't think we should be too worried about the rear guard in this case, so I will take point. Pavel, you come in behind me and Raith immediately follows. Garand should be immediately behind and Sorin takes up the rear. If your... friend is too afraid of the undead then perhaps he can watch our backs for threats from the marsh Garand?" Izumi is taking charge, trying to get the group organized. Only so much daylight left.

Raith looks at Pavel, "You don't look so good." He falls into his place in the order.

"It would be prudent for us to have a second light source if possible. I will carry the lantern if someone has one, and cast Light on Izumi's sword, if not, its better for me to carry the light source as I will have to re-cast the cantrip several times an hour."

Sorin's crossbow visibly glows as the group moves into the shade of the cave opening, shedding a strong, comforting yellow light that pushes back the darkness.

Raith looks at Pavel, "You don't look so good." He falls into his place in the order.

"I'm just fuh'fine. N'No problem.", he replies, looking green around the gills with a little sweat beading his forehead. Pavel digs through his pack and produces a torch, which he hands to Sorin. Then, hefting his boggard club and shield he motions to Izumi.

Sorin snaps off a quick word in Draconic, igniting the torch ([ooc]Spark[/ooc). Then looking at Izumi and Pavel, he narrows his eyes.

"I have changed my mind. Pavel's shield will be a better light source than your sword Izumi. So no glowing swords today. I know that you are disappointed, but we can see about getting it glowing before we walk back into town." Sorin says grinning.

Another quick word, and Sorin taps Pavel's shield, causing it to glow with a strong yellow light. Simultaneously, the glow on Sorin's crossbow stops. Then, after readying his scrolls, and holding the torch up, he nodds his readiness to Izumi.

Driven by the flimsiness of the Fates, the group moves forth, into the belly of the beast, wherein lies their destiny...

Will update later tonight if possible.

You make your way slowly inside the cave. The air is damp and the ground is covered with a thick mud that makes the ground slippery in places. The cavern twists and splits in two, but you eventually figure out the layout of the split and where they branch back together.

Procedure further inside, you reach a point where you have to crouch to get through. The ceiling is covered with spiderweb and your hair is now covered in it.

As you reach an area where you finally can stand straight, you find a chamber halfway filled with about a foot of water. On the cavern's wall still hang putrid rotten sorts of tapestry. Along the walls, different pieces of furniture lay astray, mostly heavily damaged. Finally, you see four skeletons lying on the floor.

For now, you stand at the edge of the "room".

Izumi grips his weapon seeing the skeletons. He does a quick visual sweep of the four skeletons, looking for weapons and armour, before proceeding into the room, shield raised.

Pavel holds his shield aloft, watching the skeletons for any sign of movement.
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Sorin whispers, "So does anybody know how to tell if a skeleton is actually dead? I don't want to go and look at the skeletons and get bony fingers in my face."

Raith tenses up, balls up his fists, and whispers, "They're going to get up aren't they?

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

The problem with undead seems to be that they look dead... As you watch, they do not stir. You can't see any weapons on them, but they still wear ragged pieces of clothing and armour that look foreign.

Raith notices a small entrance deeper in the cavern, probably leading further in...

The arcane light dances and shifts on the walls as you try to assess the situation from the edge of the cavern...

"Pavel, you see the small cave in back?", Raith points towards the deeper entrance.

Pavel shakes his head, then points the lit shield toward the rear of the cave.
"Oh. Th'there it is."
Following Izumi into the room, Pavel stops to nudge a skeleton with his boot to provoke a reaction.

"Thuh'think we should break these guh'guys up first?"

"Distasteful as it is, that may be the best option Pavel." Izumi pauses halfway to the opposite tunnel to look around the cave. "It looks like this cave was... inhabited once. I wonder what happened to these folk, that they would make their home in a marsh."

Pavel winds back his morningstar and pulverizes the nearest skeleton's skull.

As Pavel smashes the skull to powder, something dark stirs in the cave ahead and a low and sinuous Tien voice booms through the chamber:
"Dono yō ni Kaijutsu no kazoku no suimin o samatageru aete?"

As one the skeletons rise to their feet (AoO for Izumi and Pavel on the skeletons nearby, the three if they have combat reflexes), two of which emerging from the dark waters of the cave...

Post initiatives and first actions if you have a chance, I will put the map and the update tonight.

Do you know Japanese DW? My japanese is poor, sadly.

Izumi responds back in Tien:

Izumi smashes at the skeleton nearest to the casters, making sure the battle lines do not get fuzzy. His sashimono flaps briefly as the speed of his strike causes a slight wind around him. He uses the momentum from the blow to carry him to stand side-by side with Pavel.

AoO: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18 (1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8)
5-ft step next to Pavel
Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Not sure if that initiative will win me any favours, but I'll post my actions anyway.

If another skeleton remains nearby, Izumi will strike at it, holding his shield high in case the two emerging from the water charge. Otherwise he will ready his hammer to strike anyone moving into his range.

Warhammer (immediate or readied), Combat Expertise: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9 (1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4)
AC: 20

"STAY DEAD!", Pavel bellows as he swings his club at the rising undead.
Attack of opportunity w/favored enemy bonus: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 161d8 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
AC is 17, due to poisoning.

He swings again at the closest skeleton, hatred contorting his face.
Morningstar w/favored enemy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 81d8 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Do you know Japanese DW? My japanese is poor, sadly.

I know Google Translate!

The quick reflexes allow the warriors to smash down two of the rising skeletons. Three remain still; who knows what will emerge from the deep cave...

Inititive 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

Unable to handle a crossbow with the torch in his hand, Sorin looks around helplessly for a moment before realizing he can do one thing to help...

Sorin kneels in the muck, his finger sketching a silver-white fire on the surface of the muck as he chants under his breath. In seconds, the densly packed writing has coalesed into a silvery pool, from which a silvery tendril rises, and wraps around Sorin's arm. Sorin raises his arm over his head before bringing his palm down to slap the pool spewing the radiance outwards. As Sorin stands, the droplets coalesce into a circle with arcane writing around the periphery that moves with Sorin in the center.

Protective Ward: 10' radius, +1 deflection bonus to AC

Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

Raith moves up with Pavel and Izumi and falls into the Crane stance. "I knew they wouldn't stay dead. They're speaking some trash about disturbing the Kaijutsu family's sleep or something. I don't like the sound of it.

Move either behind or next to Pavel.
Total Defense: AC 21/CMD 23

Sorin, you cast Light on your crossbow, no?

Sorin, you cast Light on your crossbow, no?

Nope, my shield.

Since Sorin has the torch, he put the light spell on Pavel's shield. That way they can all fight. Just call me Prometheus, and I will be cool about not being able to shoot...not that crossbows are great against hollow critters.

23: Skeletons
22: Raith
20: Sorin
7: Pavel
6: Izumi
6: Garand

Round 1 - The Skeletons
A first skeleton, dripping with stagnant water, steps out of the shallow lake and lashes at Raith.

The nails flail in the air as Raith carefully deflects each with snapping counter blows.

Meanwhile, the other three cackle in silence and close in on Izumi and Pavel.

Pavel is slashed badly by one claw, blood pouring (-4 hp) from his shoulder along his arm, but all other attacks fail to find an opening.

From the dark cave, the low sinuous voice replies, filled with anger: ”Namaikina!!! Watashi wa Kaijutsu no kazoku no himitsu no saigo no gādiandesu. Ima no mama ni suru ka, matawa watashi wa sutikku ni no atama o motsu koto ni narimasu!”

Round 1 - The Companions
Raith wants to move up with Pavel and Izumi, but his path is blocked. He falls into the Crane stance. "I knew they wouldn't stay dead. They're speaking some trash about disturbing the Kaijutsu family's sleep or something. I don't like the sound of it.

Sorin kneels in the muck, his finger sketching a silver-white fire on the surface of the muck as he chants under his breath. In seconds, the densly packed writing has coalesed into a silvery pool, from which a silvery tendril rises, and wraps around Sorin's arm. Sorin raises his arm over his head before bringing his palm down to slap the pool spewing the radiance outwards. As Sorin stands, the droplets coalesce into a circle with arcane writing around the periphery that moves with Sorin in the center.

Pavel swings again at the closest skeleton, hatred contorting his face, but misses.

Izumi will strike at a skeleton, holding his shield high in case the two emerging from the water charge, but his focus is lacking.

Updated Map
Garand to close the round.

Garand drops his bow and readies his club, while directing bear-spirit to attack the skeleton to its west, threatening Izumi.

bear spirit moves to E/4.5, charge for +2 attack, -2 AC on skeleton 4 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
damage 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Izumi took the new trail, but was not at the beast lair, so it's hard for him to say. I posted his recollection. Feel free to embellish.

So Izumi does have a general idea of where he was attacked? I am guessing that it was basically right where we are standing right now.

Not really. Izumi probably took the New trail, not knowing enough about the marsh.

Izumi SHATTERS the door. :D

How many goblins are there?

Six!

Combat is never simple. PbP helps in some ways, but makes it harder in other. For example, players and DMs have more time to think and can look up rules more easily. On the other hand, we can have to wait quite a long time.

I will split the round into as little subgroups as possible. Within a group, you don't have to post in order of initiative. That will speed things up.

Sometimes, I'll roll myself the initiative. I might also roll saves or AoO for you to speed things up. I hope it's ok. Let me know if you have suggestions.

If you cast a spell of do something that warrants a response (like an AoO, feel free to roll a d20 for the other side. I'll add the bonuses. This will also allow to speed things up.

I hope you are fine with those guidelines. Fell free to comment and make suggestions. I haven't run so many of those yet.

The maps are done in Inkscape, using the mat from YeOldeMapmaker as a base. At one point, I'll take the time to add a letter and number for every square. In the meantime, you can use A.5 or AB to identify a square falling between letters.

Best of luck with the goblins!

Those rules sound awesomely convenient Celestial. We should draft up a bullet point form though, and put it maybe in the campaign info, so we have a reference for what we should and shouldn't do in combat?

Also I believe the bear spirit scored a critical threat.

Drawing a weapon and strapping on a shield are both move actions in the RAW; quick draw would allow a weapon to be pulled as a free action (though I guess that wouldn't apply to a shield- would one be able to move and strap on a shield at the same time?). So if Izumi and Pavel want to be switch hitters, Quick Draw may be a bit more efficient.

Effectively, Izumi is just trying to be prepared. Dropping a held item is a free action, and (though it is not RAW), I believe putting away 2 weapons would be the same action as 1 weapon (though this could be debated very easily). In effect, what I was going to do with Izumi this round would be put away his melee weapons (1 move action?). At the start of the next round, he would draw his bow (move action) and fire it (standard). I can definitely understand the thinking in making each weapon a move action to put away (as this is RAW), so I will leave it up to Celestial to say if we are going pure RAW, or if some variance is allowed.

Shields technically count as weapons (they are martial weapons, and are listed in the weapon section as well as the armour section), so if Izumi were to have Quick Draw, he could effectively switch weapons as a free action (dropping the bow, pulling out the sword and shield would all be free actions). Though dropped weapons would require a move action to pick up, Quick Draw or no.

They shall feel our fury indeed.

Indeed. So you know, goblins 2 and 4 are dead.

Also, remember guys that if you are within 60ft of me and can see me, you get +2 morale bonus vs. fear effects, and a +1 extra bonus on attack rolls on a charge. (this is an effect of my banner, in case that wasn't immediately apparent.)

That Escape Route feat is a pretty nice, Izumi. Very useful for tactical movement using you as a set point. Pavel can either move out of the room or move in farther allowing Raith to move into position.
Right now we're all considered to have the feat. So even Pavel allows movement through his squares with no AoOs provoked.

I haven't played with a cavalier in any campaign. Interesting to see excellent tactical use of a cavalier ability. That Tactician is a more powerful ability than I thought it would be.

Hopefully we live long enough to see more of the cavalier. I want to see how the class plays.

When Celestial said he liked interesting tactical situations, I HAD to play a cavalier. Still not sure about my two-weapon fighting choice with my low-dex... but we shall see.

That will be a challenge. I played a cavalier for and I noticed quite soon, that getting your dex-dependant ride skill up quickly is very important.

That will be a challenge. I played a cavalier for and I noticed quite soon, that getting your dex-dependant ride skill up quickly is very important.

Indeed, instead of buffing strength I may straight buff my dex and use the eastern full plate (which is +8 but +2 max dex). I've delayed the need for ride until level 5 (standard bearer archetype switched the places of banner and mount in the progression).

Edit: I also just noticed that TWF fighting prerequesite is 15, instead of 13 as I had previously thought... am I thinking of 3.5? *facepalm*

Beg the DM for a concession and see if he will let you rebalance Str and Dex and take the expertise feat?

Also Celestial, could you give me a step-by-step on how you create those beautiful markers? I'd like to make similar things for my group.

You'll have the possibility of reviewing your builds as you reach level 2.

I've learned to make my maps from Scipion del Ferro. I use Inkscape to make the circles et al. Just create the circle and the letter and group them. I get the battle map from Olde Mappmaker.

I think Garand needed to cast defensively in that situation- which is a concentration check DC 15 + double the spell level. A hefty check even for a 1st level spell, but you won't provoke an attack of opportunity. Combat Casting also helps with that.

Some bad rolls. Tough round.

Yeah... I'm in trouble if I get hit again, methinks.

I think Garand needed to cast defensively in that situation- which is a concentration check DC 15 + double the spell level.

That wouldn't have done anything, he was going for the AC bonus because he thought some goblins might be attacking him. I didn't even think about the AoO, because of the tactical feat thing. (Which I thought was going to prevent it anyway, having misread it.)

A hefty check even for a 1st level spell, but you won't provoke an attack of opportunity. Combat Casting also helps with that.

Yeah, I wasn't thinking about AoO prevention, just fighting defensively to up my AC, which may or may not be an option when casting a spell that doesn't have a to hit roll (despite touch spells like cure/inflict wounds requiring to hit rolls in some cases...). Weird corner case. If I'd been casting the same spell and trying to touch a skeleton with it, I could have fought defensively. But because I was touching a living PC, I didn't have that option...

The way the fighting defensively rules are worded makes me think that either fighting defensively is a standard action in and of itself where you get 1 attack, or you can do it as part of a full attack action.

I'm having a little trouble unwinding my hp, here. By my count, here's the damage I've taken:
1 hp nonlethal, 1 hp fire damage in round 1 (10 hp remaining)
7 hp damage in round 4 (3 hp remaining)
Healed for 5 hp in round 5 (8 hp remaining)
3 hp damage on round 6 (5 hp remaining)
4 hp damage on round 7 - that leaves me with 1 hp left; shouldn't I still be standing prior to Garand's next healing spell? Am I missing something?

My deepest apologies James. You're absolutely right.

Please post for the combat round. Sorry again!

No problem, DW, I fully expected to have missed something and I know how tough it can be to keep track of everything.

Cool. Pavel's still on his feet.

Things are quite busy atm. I won't be able to post regularly.

Take your time Celestial. RL always comes first.

Agreed! Just keep us informed as your situation changes.

Just a head's up: I'm traveling to the other end of the country between Thursday and Monday this coming week, so feel free to NPC Pavel if it becomes necessary.

Good to see you back, Dreaming.

I'm good when people need to take breaks. I'm expecting it quite a bit these last two months with the holidays and such. I know these are some busy periods for businesses and families, so time is short.

Please don't hesitate to give me feedback (positive and constructive) on the battle.

I thought the battle went smoothly given the number of rounds. The descriptions were good. It ran very efficiently. I liked the maps. Those were a great help. Color me impressed. I've done a couple of online campaigns and that was the smoothest and well-detailed battle I've been in for an online campaign.

I agree whole-heartedly with Raith on this one. I am actually adapting several of these techniques for use in my own legacy of fire game I'm currently running on these boards. Applaud to you good sir. I'm really looking forward to seeing this campaign unfold.

Great maps, and I very much prefer combat being stitched together at the end of the round like this, rather than attempting to have each player post in turn.

I agree, very well run.

I think you are doing quite well CB. The flow of battle has been quite well done.

Thanks!!!

On the same note, I am blessed with great players. Your descriptions were flowing and inspiring me to do the same.

In case it wasn't clear, Izumi's last line there should read "You're our resident [...]".

CB, Sorin is going to try and lash the tubes together and then light them with a cantrip. If you don't want it to work, please do not blow Sorin up.

If you want Sorin to make some rolls to have it work, please tell me.

That was a nasty firework. Between our bad rolls and Garand being out of healing, we might be in some trouble. That firework hit pretty hard. Now I have an angry goblin chieftan raining arrows down on me. We'll see how long I can last.Hopefully we survive.

Definitely feeling like a tough fight. I like the pacing. Feels like a combat team wading through a village.

We used up alll our good rolls on the reflex saves.

If those fireworks go up and kill my bear, someone's gonna owe me a new bear...

:)

Right now... only Raith is in danger of being hit I think, and that's if Sorin misses.

I put my AC as 19, but it should be 20 if I'm in Sorin's ward. (not sure if I am, since 2 steps diagonally for movement is 15 feet.)

I assume we're going to sell valuable items and collect the bounties and divide everything evenly for treasure with a gp value?