Yet Another ... Rise of the Runelords PBP

Game Master ziltmilt

Well, he is only a goblin, after all. That's pretty much the same to him as saying 'Good morning.'

Lleidr will dust the last of the sand off his hand and ready his short bow as a free action, nocking an arrow as he takes a 5' to the SE to put him diagonally behind Selia's current position. As a swift action, he'll use his Arcane Strike ability on his weapon, but he'll hold his attack until he's got a better line of sight on an opponent.

If an opportunity to fire does present itself:

Short bow: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
damage: 1d4 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 + 1 = 3

"So there is a raid! We heard rumors that goblins were going to attack Sandpoint and wanted to join them. Those bastards threw us out for being too loud and boisterous whilst drinking... we want to pay them back!"

Bluff: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Seeing that her attempt to bluff the goblin and the cougar has failed miserably, she says, "Hakak, I think it's time for your kind of diplomacy..."

Selia releases a bolt at the cougar.

Round 1 | Standard Action - Attack crossbow - Firepelt Cougar

Attack Roll: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
Damage Roll: 1d8 ⇒ 5

Ned will take his readied action to loose an arrow at whoever first appeared
bow: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (2) + 5 - 1 = 6 deadly aim

init: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

I've still a move action. Move me up next to and one sq ahead of Jubrayl

Hakak steps behind Lleidr and whispers "Keep your crossbow aimed at the little bugger." And with that he lifts Lleidr up onto his shoulders "1...2...3 GRRRRR!!!
Intimidate check: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12
Lleidr this is when you roll an assist before firing again. And if I'm not mistaken now he gets a bonus for higher ground.
"I suggest you tell us what we'd like to know before my friends shoot again and you have no pets left to protect you."

Selia, that Bluff was inspired! I wish you had gotten a higher roll so we could have seen how that played out.

Also, cat fight! Meow ;)

"It's a short b--woah!"

Arg will grip Lleidr's hair and give a capuchin monkey yelp as they're both hoisted onto Hakak's shoulders.

I'm sorry, I don't really know what you mean by "roll an assist." To your Intimidate? Or is it for some sort of attack bonus?

It's an assist on the intimidate and you also get an attack bonus for being on higher "ground".

Call me consequence. Put the weapon away and call off your pet and we won't roll through you as we go to put a stop to this raid.

Intimidate assist: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

[Morning, Thistletop, Round 1, 6th Day After Goblin Raid]

A goblin bursts into the large room featuring the big hole, and stops in his tracks when he spies Nicholae. “Longshank intruders! Come on, Birdcrunchers!” He yells to someone behind him. He’s soon joined by 3 other goblins, one of whom sidles right up next to the cleric, bearing an evil looking horsechopper.

Ned’s shot goes awry.

Jubrayl and Hakak’s joint demands are met with a bemused stare from the wizened goblin.

Lleidr hops up atop Hakak’s shoulders.

Selia tries to convince the goblin of their intentions, but again, the goblin’s expression doesn't change.

Nicholae moves up to the elder goblin.

“Tangletooth, tear this pious wretch to pieces.” Gogmurt motions to his firepelt cougar, who pounces forward with a frightening growl. The huge cat tears into Nicholae with a bite (8 dmg) and massive paws. The cleric manages to shove one paw aside with his shield, but the other sinks its claws deep (6 dmg). Nicholae is sprawled onto the ground from the force of the attack.

Gogmurt races past you, into the north tunnel, where those heavy tracks continue, and you hear him muttering out a spell. There’s a subsequent thrashing sound in the north tunnel, like tree limbs caught in a big gust of wind.

The sole remaining awake goblin dog is nearly frantic with his howling. Foam is trickling from his mouth, and the hairy rope holding him back is increasingly frayed.

NOTE – Good effort on trying to avoid another fight. It was just dumb luck that the rolls were off. Nich, you technically could have attacked as well as moved, so if you want to do a standard attack against Gogmurt before he ran to the north, feel free. Just make sure you also give me another action for Round 2).

Thistletop

Well I'm f&@$ed. Did I get my spell off? If so my AC is up by 2. Modify my attacks cause I can't afford the AoO

Round 2
The cleric attempt to fight from the ground rather than get bitten again.

Longsword + 5 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Damage 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Edit: the roll is down and don't want to delete for fear of it appearing bad. Can I amend this to full defence and cower under my shield? I didn't think of it at the time.

The AoO in the fleeing goblin.

Longsword + 5 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Damage 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Oh geez, i forgot .. you cast Shield of Faith and then you moved, right? I thought you only did a move.

Happy to avoid the retro if it makes stuff easier for all. Just let me cower and we'll call it even.

OK, so with Shield of Faith, both claws miss. However, the bite got you, and you're still prone. So, total hp loss is only 8.

You do get an AoO, but unfortunately, it misses.

Happy to avoid the retro if it makes stuff easier for all. Just let me cower and we'll call it even.

Nahh, this is easy peasy. No worries. The change is minimal.

Do I still get the full defence on the ground?

Good lord, one quick trip to Lowe's and all this happens?!

Zilt, did Lleidr miss a chance to assist Hak's Intimidate? Would it really matter? ("Yeah! Beware the Totem of Terror!" Intimidate: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18)

Round 2

"Nich!" Lleidr will hop down off Hakak's shoulders, dropping his short bow and readying the Fang of Extrahelium (free action), which he'll hit with Arcane Strike (swift action, probably redundant since it already has a magical +1, but Lleidr doesn't know that). Back on solid ground, he'll run over to attack the cougar. If possible, he'd like to end up in a flanking position so he can back stab.

FoE: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25+2 if he can flank
damage: 1d3 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 + 1 = 2+1 if the Arcane Strike adds in
Sneak Attack: 1d6 ⇒ 1 again if he can flank

Do I still get the full defence on the ground?

I'm not sure what you mean. If you're prone, you're -4 to AC from adjacent opponents, +4 to AC from ranged opponents.

Zilt, did Lleidr miss a chance to assist Hak's Intimidate? Would it really matter?

I don't have the #s handy, but I don't think so. At most, it would have been another +2 to Hakak's roll and Grogmurt might have been shaken, since we're talking about a standard action.

Instead of attempting to rise or attack I want to take full defense. Ie push my shield around and try to ball up under it.

Hakak rushes to the opening to the SW where the 3 goblins are coming from taking out his Blood Bringer as he runs. He will attack the first goblin that comes to the entrance.
Attack roll: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Damage roll: 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Since the south goblins are acting first, you're all in the middle and Gogmurt is last, I'll go ahead and publish the actions of the first group without waiting for all of you PCs.

[Morning, Thistletop, Round 2, 6th Day After Goblin Raid, init up to 13.06]

A goblin runs around the corner, its crude sword bouncing off Ned’s hide armor.

The other goblins shout out, ‘Pull back, there’s too many. They exit out of the room with the giant hole, leaving through the south and NW tunnels.

Next, I’ll publish your actions, followed then by Gogmurt and Tangletooth. So, we’ll have 3 images per round, for this encounter.

Thistletop

I should have said 'Next, I'll publish the results of your actions ...'. So, go ahead and tell me what you're doing. We're waiting on Jubrayl, Selia and Ned.

Ned will quickdraw his greatsword and take a swing at the goblin beside him
greatsword: 1d20 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (12) + 6 - 1 = 17 (power attack)
damage: 2d6 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (1, 6) + 4 + 2 = 13

Worry not, Lleidr, for I shall try many bluffs! Next level will also see me taking bluff as a skill!

I forgot that we had officially started combat with our last action, my apologies for attempting two actions!

Round 2 | Standard Action - Cast spell (8/9 remaining) summon monster I - 1 space south of firepelt cougar

Is that a legal spell cast or would Nicholae block my LoS? If he does, I will cast it 1 left of the cougar instead.

sorry for the delay ... we're still waiting on Jubrayl, if I'm not mistaken.

[Morning, Thistletop, Round 2, 6th Day After Goblin Raid]

Ned’s blade cuts down his goblin foe, who is dead before he hits the ground.

Hakak rushes into the room with the large hole, and finds no one. The room appears deserted. (NOTE – let me know if you want to take another move action).

(NOTE – I never got an action from Jub, so I’m assuming, being the paladin he is, he would help his fallen comrade). Jubrayl steps up to engage the vicious cougar, but the nimble cat steps aside from the aasimar’s axe swing. Jubrayl can see up this north tunnel and immediately notices a few things: daylight is showing at the end, the heavy tracks continue up that way, and Gogmurt did something to the plants lining the walls. They are thrasting and twisting wildly, like some living thing. Passage through the tunnel will be difficult. (NOTE – effect denoted with the yellow highlighting on the map).

Lleidr hops across the fallen Nicholae and his dagger digs deep into the big cat’s flank. (NOTE – I moved you as far as I could, so that you could still attack.)

Selia begins casting a spell.

Still on the ground, Nicholae takes full advantage of his shield, to protect himself from the great cat’s ravages.

Snarling, Gogmurt wheels around in fury, and lashes out at Jubrayl with a ball of flame launched from a wand he has clutched in his wiry green hands. “Get away from her, you pagan abomination!” The fire splashes over the aasimar (6 hp dmg).

Tangletooth bites Jubrayl (9 hp dmg) and lashes out against Lleidr with both claws. Fortunately, Lleidr is able to twist away just in time to avoid the worst, although his tunic has come away with a few new tears. The cat also tries to drag the aasimar to the ground, but Jubrayl fends the cat off with success.

The goblin dog is howling in fury. However, no one left in the room can see it.

Thistletop

I'll just make a quick move that won't effect anyone else's action.
"Man Ned you didn't leave any for me. Now that dog is starting to get on my nerves."
Hakak turns and heads in the direction of the barking goblin dog ending my turn about 15' from it.

Round 3
Hakak charges the dog swinging his axe over his head.
Attack roll: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 2 = 18
Damage roll: 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
I think I may have put the puppy down.

[Morning, Thistletop, Round 2, 6th Day After Goblin Raid, addendum]

Hakak turns and runs back towards the tied dog.

Thistletop

Round 3

"...just in time to avoid the worst..."?? I have exactly one shirt, and my mother made that for me! This kitty's gonna pay!

Lleidr will take a 5' step to flank the cougar between Jub and him. "Fynd, yn ddiogel

Fang of Elyrium: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24 +2 if he can get into flank position
damage: 1d3 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 + 1 = 3 +1 if the Arcane Strike applies
Back stab: 1d6 ⇒ 4 again if he can flank

The Cleric continues to take full defence under his shield What a waste :).

Selia's eagle appears before the cougar and lashes out in fury with both of its claws and its razor-sharp beak.

Round 3 | Eagle | Full Attack - Cougar

Attack(beak): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Damage(beak): 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Attack(claw): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
Damage(claw): 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Attack(claw): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Damage(claw): 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

With the cougar surrounded, Selia turns and keeps an eye on Hakak and the goblin dogs.

Round 3 | Ready Action - Attack - Goblin dog wakes up

Looks like we're waiting on Jubrayl and Ned. I'll update soon, but would like to get their actions beforehand.

Ned will glance at Hakak, "You've got to be a bit quicker, son."

He'll move forwards and take a swing at the cougar.
Greatsword: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (5) + 5 - 1 = 9 (power attack)
doesn't seem like much point in rolling damage <sigh>

[Morning, Thistletop, Round 3, 6th Day After Goblin Raid]

Ned ducks down into the narrow tunnel to attack the cougar, but his swing is hampered by the small confines.

Jubrayl’s axe smashes into the cougar (7 damage).

As Hakak rushes over to the howling goblin dog, it rears up and snaps at the warrior (readied action), but misses. Hakak’s blade swings down and puts a permanent end to its noise.

Lleidr steps around the cougar, and lashes out with his dagger once more, wounding the animal again.

An eagle appears next to Tangletooth, and is a flurry of wings and feathers and loud screeches. A claw manages to connect and to rake the cougar, now heavily wounded.

Nicholae, still prone, is protected by his massive shield.

Gogmurt wheels about, races down the tunnel towards you, but veers off towards the wall, disappearing into the thick array of thorns and nettles. Part of his body re-emerges next to Lleidr, and he’s reaching out with his hand towards the big cat, and is performing some kind of spell casting. (NOTE – Lleidr, you can take an AoO against Gogmurt, if you’d like).

Tangletooth splits it attention between Ned and the halfling. Massive jaws barely miss Ned, but both claws maul Lleidr (10 hp dmg).

Thistletop

Ned will take another swing at the big cat
greatsword: 1d20 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (9) + 6 - 1 = 14
damage: 2d6 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (5, 3) + 4 + 2 = 14

Round 3

Attack of Opportunity vs Gogmurt

Fang of Erylium: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
damage: 1d3 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 + 1 = 1 +1 if Arcane Strike applies

Since Lleidr's AoO missed, nothing changes on the map. The big cat, however, is looking a little better. A few wounds have magically vanished.

Round 4

Spells: 3 of 4 1st lvl spells remaining
hp: 15 of 25

Lleidr will fight through the pain and continue trying to stab Gogmurt; if that target retreats via whatever freaky plant magic he's using, Lleidr will focus on the cougar.

Swift action: Arcane Strike on the FoE

Fang of Erylium: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18 +2 if vs the cougar
damage: 1d3 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 + 1 = 1 +1 if Arcane Strike applies
Sneak Attack: 1d6 ⇒ 1 if attacking the cougar

Like a boss

The cleric stays under his shield, taking defense.

...Like a boss

Round 4

We're still on Round 3. Your AoO happened during Round 2.

Looks like we're waiting on a few others. Hopefully, they'll respond soon.

Lleidr wrote:

Round 4

We're still on Round 3. Your AoO happened during Round 2.

I'm a little confused. Your last resolution post is labeled Round 3 (Lleidr moved to flank, stabbed the cougar, missed the AoO on the goblin, and got clawed by the cougar).

With the cougar surrounded, Selia turns and keeps an eye on Hakak and the goblin dogs.

Round 3 | Ready Action - Attack - Goblin dog wakes up

I think we're good with the dogs. I just looked up the spell and it last for a full minute per caster level so including this round we have about eight rounds left.

"Hey guys save a little of that for me." Hakak will double move to the open space next to Ned and join the fight against the cougar flanking with Selia's eagle.

I'm a little confused. Your last resolution post is labeled Round 3

Yeah, i don't know what i was thinking. Your AoO was in Round 3, and now Round 4 will be resolved, once we get responses from the rest of the gang.

Selia's eagle attacks the cougar once more with it's mighty talons and beak.

Round 4 | Eagle | Full Attack - Cougar

Attack (beak): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Damage (beak): 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Attack (talon): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Damage (talon): 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Attack (talon): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Damage (talon): 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

It's beak gets hold in the cougar's flesh, ripping and tearing while one of it's talons finds purchase on the creature's flank.

Round 4 | Ready Action - continued from previous action

Selia, i can't believe you killed that poor little kitten.

Actually, I don't know if she's dead yet. Let me go through the actions and see what's happened.

[Morning, Thistletop, Round 4, 6th Day After Goblin Raid]

Goblin war chants sound off from the south, and a quick glance shows at least half a dozen goblins streaming north out of the hole-room and towards your group.

Hampered by the low tunnel and the cat’s fast reflexes, Ned’s swing only slices the air. (NOTE – Medium sized folks are at a -4 to hit in these blasted tunnels).

Jubrayl also fails to hit the cat.

Hakak runs over to fight next to Ned, but suffers a terrible bite from the cat (6 hp dmg, from AoO – I couldn’t figure out a way to get you next to Ned without going through Ned’s square, which is a threatened space). You can see the end of the northern tunnel. It leads to a swinging bridge. (NOTE – remember the yellow highlighted area represents an area where the tunnel walls are filled with grasping, grabbing branches wildly twisting about; also recall that Thistletop is said to be an island off the coast.)

Gogmurt yelps in surprise as Lleidr stabs at the grinning green face.
The summoned eagle flogs the great cat, tearing and biting, until the cougar collapses to the ground (NOTE – Selia, you’ve got a ready action still and you’ve got goblins coming your way. You can only see 3, but it sounds like a dozen warriors …)

Nicholae is still hunkered down under the shield, so far unaware of the cat’s demise. To the south-east of where you lay, you can spy Tangletooth’s den. A cloying musky scent comes from that direction, and you notice a matted nest of red and black hair tucked up against the eastern tunnel wall about 5 squares directly SE of your position.

With a great sob at his companion’s death, Gogmurt retreats into the walls of the nettle tunnel. A few seconds later, you see him dart into the west wall of the northern tunnel, about 20 feet away from Ned and Hakak. (NOTE – Lleidr, you have an AoO against the retreating goblin, should you wish to take it).

Thistletop

And, Hakak, you can get an AoO as well against Gogmurt, as a result of his disappearing into the tunnel wall.

Round 4

AoO vs Gogmurt

FoE: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
damage: 1d3 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 + 1 = 2 +1 from Arcane Strike