Valorein

Game Master Jonahkan

Zophio winces as he hears the bell ring out. He whispers back, "Someone probably heard that and will ambush with glee,
But they don't have to know it was anyone but me." He raises a hoof to indicated for them to remain behind in case he gets ambushed.

Seeing the caltrops, Zophio pulls his rope out, ties it to his waterskin, and tosses it out in front of him on the right side. As it lands, he pulls it from right to left in a quick motion, clearing a path from among the barbs. And steps lightly forward, ready to sling a spear at the first sign of aggression from whoever placed that bell.

Rolled disable-device on Zophio's behalf... 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Zophio's able to reliably clear about two-fifths of the hallway from caltrops using his little trick, and it seems like it'll be easy enough to repeat... spear readied, he steps forward, but makes it to the front of the cleared area without an enemy becoming apparent...

Rolled perception on Zophio's behalf... 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Alright, I'm back!

Shubshi pokes his tongue out and futilely tries to rub away the taste of the corrupted sap. Perhaps that was not the best idea.

Fort: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 Failure!
Fort: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17 Success!
1 damage total from the sap.

With Zophio moving ahead and taking his position as scout, Shubshi shrugs and waits behind.

Vi hovers with Shubshi, shifting her weight from one hoof to another like she wants to be the one in front, the one in danger so the other ponies in the party don't have to be.

She tenses, waiting for Zophio to reach the end, or else to rush in if he gets in trouble.

The unicorn waited with the other ponies, worrying for Zophio, her weapon ready.

Zophio attempts to clear more of the hallway, keeping his eye out for the possible ambushers.

DD: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Perc: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19

Zophio successfully sweeps the next section of the floor, clearing all but the five-feet or so directly before the short wall... and two poblins (who had been waiting for just this moment, pop from behind the crenelations, tossing their heads as they spin to throw their spears with all their power, before ducking swiftly out of sight...

Current positions...
...Zophio, some twenty feet from the short wall
...at least two poblins, behind the short wall
...rest of the party, around the corner of the corridor, some forty feet from the short wall.

Poblin attack vs. Zophio
attack 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20, damage 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
attack 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17, damage 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Moonstar rushes forward,and sends a small purple bead just over the crenelations where it suddenly bursts with fiery strands of purple fire filling the area for a moment.

10' burst of flamejet just over the wall.
dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Midnight Dove forgot everything about prudence when she saw Zophio's getting attacked brutally. Screaming a war cry, she rushed forward, charging one of the poblins... Even if she had the feeling that it wasn't the best idea.

Charge: +1 Attack Roll, -2 AC. AC 13.

Charge!: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

But her hit missed completely.

Shubshi keeps his head and stays behind in case there's another trap. Like any good hunter, he instead waits for the opportunity to strike.

Ready action to make a full-attack flying pounce/charge at the poblins when they peek out the wall. Shubshi's speed is 40 ft. so it should be well enough at this distance.

Moonstar, if you want to attack, you need to jump the short wall - athletics DC11. If you fail, you'll probably fall back onto the caltrops below and hurt yourself - DC11 acrobatics for half damage. Thrown or reach weapons can attack freely, although the poblins are presently fully protected behind the wall...

Zophio attempts to clear the remaining caltrops in order to grant his contacts better access to their enemies. disable device: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20 Following this, he moves to the rear, to be out of the crossfire.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Sorry, do have I to jump the wall?

Stupid-DM-problem, actually. Moonstar's fine. Midnight is the one who has to jump the wall to attack with her moonstar... and I'm never, ever writing the possibility for a situation like that again... though since Zophio has now cleared the remaining caltrops, you are not in danger of hurting yourself on them if you fall - and you could, if you prefer, try to climb the wall, though that would prevent charging and require a lesser, DC6 athletics check...

Rapidly taking the developing situation in, as Vi sees Zophio bravely clearing the way for his fellow ponies instead of taking cover, Vi's heart soars with comradeship.

She charges the cleared corridor, yanking her blade from its scabbard as she does, head down and ready to assault the vile poblins trying to harm her friends. Unfurling her wings and beating them strongly twice, she arcs over the wall and the poblins, dropping down behind them and readying to swing her blade.

Double 30 ft. move
fly: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

There's a scream of pain, but not real agony, as the bright fire burns the poblins, then...

"Ahhh! Flypony! Flypony!!!" One of the poblins screams, flailing at Virtue with his shortspear, whilst the other, longspear in mouth, peaks around the crenelations to poke at Zophio.

"Hey!" He protests. "Leave those alone! Those're ours, they are!"

Poblin 1 damage: 1
Poblin 2 damage: 1

attack Virtue 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13, damage 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
attack Zophio 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17, damage 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

PS... if everyone can keep track of their own HP at the bottom of their posts, that'd be great (even out of combat it'd be useful I think).

Would it be fine to just keep mine in the 'Quick Reference' spoiler under my name? That way I only have to edit the HP when it changes.

Shubshi immediately charges at the poblin peeking out of cover.

Bite: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 4 + 2 = 23 Damage (B&P&S): 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Claws: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 4 + 2 = 15 Damage (B&S): 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Claws: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 4 + 2 = 18 Damage (B&S): 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

-2 AC from charge until start of next round.

Its longspear glancing off her breastplate, Virtuous Heart frowns at the poblin.

Bad poblin!

she brings her sword around in a wide arc.

greatsword: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
slashing: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (6, 2) + 6 = 14

Status: hp 12/12

Would it be fine to just keep mine in the 'Quick Reference' spoiler under my name? That way I only have to edit the HP when it changes.

That's fine, just so long as the current value is tracked...

The 'fight', such as it was, is over in moments, one poblin terribly rent by Shubshi's claws, the other, sliced near halfway through by virtue's blade. They seem smaller, somehow, now that spittle isn't flying from their foul mouths, cursing and trying to kill you...

The party receives 200XP

The poblins have little in the way of treasures... their short-spears are of little use to a full-sized pony, but their longspears would serve you well enough as standard versions of the same... not that the workmanship of their length is of any great quality, and the metal, whilst sharp enough, is of poor quality and maintenance. Upon their corpses, you find a few silver coins apiece, totalling 13 silver pieces.

It doesn't appear that this room has a door... until you turn, and realise it stands behind you, beside the low wall that you've just jumped...

"Stupid poblins," Meepo titters, kicking one of the corpses with his claw-toed feet. "No match for might ponies, heh-heh!"

Midnight Dove approached Zophio, touching his shoulder with her hoof.

"You are wounded... Let me heal you."

Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

She took a step back, letting the zebra recover. She stared at him for a few seconds, and then looked away with haste: she was feeling awkward.

"Er... I should spare my spells for the moment... That way I could heal the group if we encounter something more dangerous than those two poblins..."

Vi bows her head over the herd's foes, small though they were, she prayed they found a better life next time.

I expect that was only one of their guard posts, we should be careful from now on we may run in to more of them at once, even if they aren't prepared for war when we meet them.

Wiping her blade but keeping it out, she walks to stand by the door ready to move out.

Zophio took the opportunity to speak with Midnight with what he imagined was grace, though he'd not seen it enough to know for sure,
"Thank you Midnight, you're very kind,
You fulfilled the request that I'd had in mind."

The zebra found his way over to the spears and added him to his pack. Quality they were not, but ammunition is ammunition.

Zophio's AC is 18, so he took 6 damage total, and is now healed thanks to MD (lolz). PS, I'm I to assume the poblins left standard spears behind (mechanically, I mean)? And how many?

Zophio falls in behind Vi, ready to go.

Just two spears - the 'longspears' they used to fend of any intruder below from atop the wall. Their small sized standard spears are of little use to a medium creature such as yourself.

The door, you discover, is blessedly untrapped - and listening at it, you can hear the sounds of rowdy roughorsing, broken by the occasional rattle and clatter of wooden spears being thrown or clashing against each other...

"I have an idea of what to do now,
Open the door, if we're discovered, allow
The poblins to come through one by one
We'll cut them down as they do; won't that be fun!
If they remain unaware, perhaps we might
Discover a way past out of mind and out of sight."

-Posted with Wayfinder

Shubshi cleans his beak and claws of blood with a rag brought exactly for that purpose.

"No offense, but I don't think our group's chances at stealth is particularly high. Could try letting them come to us, but they laid traps earlier and waited for us to come to them so they might wait there instead. I suggest letting the stealthier ones go through and then launching a surprise attack on a signal."

The oracle sighed.

"So, I'll stay here, I guess..."

She thought a little.

"I can help you to be stealthier, or distract our enemies."

She would cast Guidance to give you a +1 bonus on your Stealth checks. A spell like Unseen servant could also divert the enemies' attention.

Vi nods at Shubshi

I see merit on your plan. We will crack the door open enough for a pony to slip through, I will stand ready and if that pony is detected I will come charging through!

She makes sure her sword is loose enough in its sheath to be drawn quickly, then mouths her lance in to position.

Ready!

Shubshi nods and enters through the door, silent in step.

Stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Unfortunately, things seem to go wrong very quickly....

@Shubshi: It's a bit too late, but don't forget that you've got a +1 Bonus! :)

Perception check(s)

The door opens with an unfortunate creak, facing almost immediately to a blank wall. The room continues to your right, and, if you turn and exit the doorway-nook, you'll be facing the other direction - north, instead of south.

"Hsst," you hear, then something indecipherable in the chattering poblin speech. It appears one poblin is arguing with a number of others... perhaps over whether or not they heard something.

The sound that follows is that of a poblin awkwardly clambering down... something, then you hear its hoofsteps approaching...

Stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Shubshi holds a finger to his beak and stays hidden near the entrance, ready to pounce if a poblin comes out.

Ready for a sneak attack!

Zophio readies one of the goblins' spears, ready to hurl it if/when a comrade is discovered.

-Posted with Wayfinder

1d20 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2

The poblin pokes his head into the room, glances about, shouts - shockingly loud - "You know you're to stay out here in the cold, guarding, and not join in the drinking!" He shouts. "That's your punishment for losing yesterday!"

Then, with a thunk, he pulls the door closed behind him and vanishes from view. Through the door, you can just here him yelling to his comrades... "I told you it was nothing! Now, where's the wineskein!?"

Midnight Dove froze when the door opened, and discreetly sighed in relief when she closed.

They are either stupid, or drunk. Probably both. We're lucky anyway!

She prepared her moonstar, ready to move forward as soon as Shubshi would say so.

Cast Guidance on anypony who wants to join Shubshi. +1 on Stealth check.

You know, being swung around like some sort of tool is so very undignified, particularly for one of my status. :)

"I say deception. I have a spell to change my appearance. I can look like a poblin, make feathers here invisible, though only momentarily, then one of you can be the pony I caught all by myself. Then when they all think combat isn't going to happen, we all strike suddenly, and throw the group into chaos. Or I could send them on a wild sprite chase." Moonstar whispers to the others, and waits to see what they are comfortable with.

I'm assuming they're speaking Draconic.

"That'd be better if we needed a distraction, but that alerts them to the fact that there are intruders and we want them spread out in the first place instead of gathered around the prisoner. Both plans end the same anyway so I suggest keeping it simple and have everyone charge in from the start. No need to make things more complicated."

Ha ha! Moonstar your comment brought THIS to mind :D

Virtuous Heart nods at Shubshi in agreement

Right then, no time like the present

She hoofs open the door, maneuvering her lance through the doorway then walking quickly in. The moment she sees a poblin she charges...

In fact, they're speaking the foul language of Poblinoids

As Virtuous Heart enters and turns the corner, she sees one poblinoid, struggling to clamber back over another set of low-walled battlements, pulling itself up bite-by-bite by means of a foul-looking knotted rope. The other poblins, companionably drinking and gambling atop the battlement, don't notice you until you charge... but once you do, they dive from their game, grabbing for weapons...

Poblin 1: AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 14, HP 6/6
Poblin 2: AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 14, HP 8/8
Poblin 3: AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 14, HP 6/6
Poblin 4: Flat-footed, AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 14, HP 4/4

Shubshi pounces into action, using his starting jump to glide through the air and slice at the furthest poblin.

Bite: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 2 = 8 Damage (B&P&S): 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8 Sneak Attack: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Claws: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 4 + 2 = 19 Damage (B&S): 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 Sneak Attack: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Claws: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 2 = 13 Damage (B&S): 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 Sneak Attack: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

-2 AC until start of next round. HP: 10/11; AC 15/12/11

With the power of his fearsome Griffish heritage, Shubshi simply bounds the wall and disembowls the poblin before he can even reach his weapon...

Poblin 1: AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 14, HP 6/6
Poblin 2: AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 14, HP 8/8
Poblin 3: AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 14, HP -ive/6
Poblin 4: Flat-footed, AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 14, HP 4/4

Midnight Dove ran to help Shubshi.

May you return to darkness, she thought, before striking a poblin.

Don't know how many rounds it would take to join Shubshi, but here the attack roll anyway...

Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

Damage?: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Midnight dashes forward to assist, attacking the only poblin she can - the one hauling himself, with agonising slowness, up the knotted rope to the top of the battlements... but, although she lands the blow, and a rush of air escapes him, her moonstar's attack is blunted by the poblin's leathers... leathers that she realises in horror are layer upon layer of tanned ponyskin...

Vi beats her wings powerfully, lifting her up the battlements in a heartbeat, focusing on the most powerful looking poblin she summons all her strength, setting her lance and charging at the horrid thing...

lance charge: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 2 = 11

At the last moment the poblin steps aside leaving the lance point dancing in mid air as it cackles evilly.

Status: AC 15 til Vi's next turn

"Mac, if you would..." Mac and Moonstar rush forward and then Mac grabs Moonstar and lifts her up just in front of the wall where Moonstar lets loose a a quick flash of purplish dark fire from subtly green glowing horn. The fire spreads through the group on top of the wall, though she deftly avoiding catching the griffon in her flames.

cone of flamejet: 1d4 ⇒ 2

The poblins atop the wall scream as they burn, but one turns it to a snarl, and stabs at Virtue with his shortspear...

attack 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11, damage 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

...but the furious thrust doesn't connect, the aged metal tip scraping horribly from Virtue's armor. Seeing this, the last poblin squeaks, breaks, and flees.

There are two doors atop the battlement-level of the room. One leads west, and lies well within reach of Shubshi's claws. The second leads north, and its this further door the poblin dashes for. In a trice, he's reached it, squeaking imprecations in his foul language all the way, opened it, and nipped through...

The last poblin, seeing and hearing the disaster atop the wall, simply lets go of the knotted rope and drops down to the ground level. In a moment, he's drawn his sword, and slashes back at Moonstar...

attack 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10, damage 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

...but, disorientated by the drop and their sudden change in fortunes, misses...

Poblin 1: AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 14, HP 4/6
Poblin 2: AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 14, HP 6/8
Poblin 3: AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 14, HP -ive/6
Poblin 4: Flat-footed, AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 14, HP 4/4

At first shocked by the sight of the "leather armor", Midnight Dove quickly became furious.

"What a bunch of cowards... Let's go after them!"

Hearing Midnight's disgust and desire to chase them down, Virtuous Heart grimly nods in acknowledgement, wheeling and charging the poblin trying to escape through the north door.

lance charge: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 2 = 10

OMG these dice >:/

The lance tip wavers too much however and skitters off the stonework surrounding the door.

Shubshi abandons the corpse of his previous target and swiftly moves onto the next one.

Bite: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 4 + 2 = 22 Damage (B&P&S): 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Claws: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 4 + 2 = 15 Damage (B&S): 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Claws: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 2 = 10 Damage (B&S): 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Can I charge the fleeing poblin, who hopefully left the door open? If I can't, I'll just charge the next nearest target who is hopefully being flanked by an ally and therefore more attack roll bonus and delicious sneak attack damage. Just in case we need the overkill, you know.

-2 AC until start of next round. HP: 10/11; AC 15/12/11

sorry peeps, I'm slammed at present. I think Zophio might just sit this one out, unless you want to bot him, GM

-Posted with Wayfinder

On the battlements

Virtue breaks off from her poblin, dashing after the escapee... and opening herself to a slash from her opponent...

AOO vs. Virtue 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11, damage 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

...but she dodges it nimbly enough... before ramming her lancepoint into the doorframe through which the escapee has just dashed... whilst her opponent is pounced on upon in turn by Shubshi, who's beak nearly guts the poblin... but doesn't, quite, manage to kill him... and his claws merely sink into the poblin's armor... who slashes back with his sword...

Attack vs. Shubshi 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10, damage 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

...which, perhaps due to his injuries, fails to connect...

Poblin 2: AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 14, HP 1/8 (fighting atop battlements where Shubshi and Virtue are)
Poblin 3: AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 14, HP -ive/6

In the north corridor

From the north corridor, you can hear screaming in poblin, and the thumping of poblin hooves against one of the castle's wooden doors...

Speak poblinoid/goblinoid...

Poblin 1: AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 14, HP 4/6 (escaped/escaping through north door)

Below the battlements

Bracketed by Midnight and Zophio, the poblin continues slashing at the unicorn oracle with his sword...

1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11, damage 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

...and misses... opening himself to Zophio's counterattack...

attack 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21, damage 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Well, I suppose I was due a good roll sometime...

...who simply skewers the foul creature, who coughs blood across the western door that might've been his escape...

Poblin 4: Flat-footed, AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 14, HP 4/4 (fighting in front of the battlements, where Zophio and Moonstar are).