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Jaques will use one of his many daggers to slice the corotid arteries of the Goblin he has, and will do the same to any unconscious or "down" other ones about, with the exception of the Hobgoblin Agathon has charge of. After they are dead, he will search them in reverse order of the throat slicing, tossing anything he finds into a central pile on the floor. His calm speed and meticulous method of doing this, might be chilling to some, but others would know it merely reflects his lawful nature and background of intense training. When the process is complete he will stand ready next to the pile, awaiting his next required action.
Untrained appraise roll. (1d20+2=13)
This ivory statuette should bring fifty sovereigns or so. The goblin's crossbows and the hobgoblin's morningstar should have some value as well. The town may be short on cash, but we may be able to trade these items in for potions or weapons of quality.
To answer your question: I would like to keep the hobgoblin alive because he may know things that may be of value to us. He may know the approximate size, location, and composition of nearby goblin and orc bands. He may be part of a hierarchy and receiving orders from someone - if so, who? And on what schedule? We are few and the humanoids many - if we can learn about them it will provide us an advantage. 'Know thine enemy' is one of the ancient proverbs of war, if I remember correctly.
If we kill him now, we will never learn these things. None of us speaks goblin and I suspect we are all only proficient in the most rudimentary interrogation techniques anyway. We can bind and gag him now while we explore the rest of the mine, then take him back to Knurl when our business here is concluded. I am certain that Count Dunstan has some retainers who are talented in the arts of loosening tongues. When the hobgoblin has divulged his knowledge, I expect the Count will have him publicly executed in the town square to rally the hopes of the townspeople.
"Indeed. Your reasoning is sound. I suggest that we go further than merely tying him up. He seems very strong and who knows what skill he may have in escaping such measures? We should hobble him like they hobble young bulls to keep them from wandering between the herd lands. Once he is tied, I will require both of you to hold him fast while I do this. In this way, even if he manages to loose his bonds, he will not get away. I hate to injure without great need. However, The city of Knurl's need is dire and this is thus justified."
Agathon attempting to assist Jacques in tying up the hobgoblin... (1d20+3=16)
After that bit of business is over, Agathon will move over to the pile of stuff and look through things.
An Appraise Roll for Agathon... (1d20+1=10)
Agathon looks over the statuette with curiosity. When Thaddeus declares its value, Agathon will make a noncommittal sound that might be interpreted as agreement and will move on to look at the other stuff.
"We should bring your mule in to this point before we continue, Thaddeus. I think he might be more protected here than outside... As to the rest of this stuff, we should probably wait until we get back to town and somewhere safe before we figure out what we want to do with it all. What do you guys think?"
Hit Points for 2nd Level... (1d10+2=6)
I'm sorry gentlemen, but maiming this creature is out of the question. True he is dangerous as a snake, and as unworthy of sympathy, but I would not skin a snake and then place it in a cage. If we are so greatly concerned of his ability to escape our bonds, then we should merely take our treasure and prisoner, leaving now to return with them to the city. Otherwise we must simply kill the thing and spare the world its continued presence. We cannot allow cruelty to become our course, or we will no longer be able to expect the favors of our gods. Your own gods nor your consciences would allow you respite if you take that course. hit die (1d8=6)
During the 20 minutes or so it takes to retrieve the mule, take 20 on listen checks reveals that there is very distant clanging noise and the faint whiff of an active forge can be detected in the air. Pressing your ears to the cavern walls reveals the distant sounds of digging/scraping and chipping, as if the mine might still be active farther down the mine shaft(s).
You detect no one approaching your position. Every once in a while you think you hear a very distant voice calling out to someone else, but it is very far away.
After 20 minutes you all are united with your pack animal.
When we are all ready with prisoner tied, gagged, and hidden under an upside down/overturned mine cart (to conceal his presence) Jaques will enquire about the message spell. When that is in place, he will carefully move down the tunnel, attempting to remain silent and hidden in the dark, until he can see what's going on down at the other end, keeping Thaddeus appraised of his discoveries via the message spell.Move Silently (1d20 6=25)hide (1d20 8=13)
Agathon will aid Jacques and Thaddeus in getting things squared away, and will suggest that, “we go ahead and pack everything on the mule so that if we have to make a quick escape, we won’t be leaving anything behind…”
Once this is all accomplished, he will wait for Jacquesto tell Thaddeus when we should begin following him. Once Thaddeus says for Agathon to move, he will do so with his great sword (ole Blue) out and ready for action (and, the sun rod in the left hand).
I agree with Agathon, that we should have our takings already loaded on the mule in order to make a swift retreat if necessary. I will replenish my crossbow bolt supply from my store on the mule as well.
If there was a source of pitch in the room we cleared - a bucket or barrel - I'd like to either fashion some more IED's or just bring the bucket along.
The original message spell has long expired, but fortunately I feel a greater control of magic now that I have used it in combat. I will take the time to memorize another message spell as well as another sleep spell.
When all is ready I'll cast message on Jacques and send him down the hole. I'll also have my lantern lit and on low, in order to have a fire source to light my molotovs or other IED's.
Move silently and hide rolls, if required:
Hide and move silently rolls. (1d20+2=15, 1d20+2=5)
2nd level hit points! (1d4+1=5)
I added a rank in knowledge/local (where the humanoids are, their battle tactics and so on). Class skill.
I added a rank in decipher script. It's skilled only and is a class skill so I figured I'd pick it up.
Added a rank in spellcraft. Seems like a good thing for a wizard to have.
I added speak language - goblinoid (cross class).
I also get one additional 0 level and one additional 1st level spell.
I added a third page to my character sheet with spells-per-day and spell loadout.
See the map update
You three move up to area 1 without any incident. There was no pitch available.
Area 1: Mineshafts split. Metal rail lines torn out, rusty bits stacked up against the walls. Wooden railroad ties stacked up for firewood apparently.
Area 2: Stacks of coal ore unprocessed. Old rusty wheelbarrow. A strange looking creature is tied to the wall of this area with a rusty chain. Unlike the image depicting the creature, this one is obviously very old and mangy looking. It is fast asleep. An empty foodbowl lies knocked over by its head. It snores.
Knowledge Nature or Knowledge Arcana rolls may give some indication what it is.
Area 3: The sounds you heard earlier (the sounds of chipping and possible mining activity) are coming from this direction
Area 4: Fresh water pool kept full by water dripping into it slowly and steadily from the ceiling. Chain drag marks and a couple of piles of poop near the fresh water pool indicate the aging snoring cat tentacle thingy can reach the pool to drink water.
Knowledge Arcana (1d20 1=8) never saw anything like that in a book, but maybe local animals Nature Knowledge (1d20 1=12)Shucks, I never seen anything like that critter in all my live born days...
Knowledge:Arcana roll. (1d20+3=8)
I have no clue what this thing is. Cephali's training did not include a lot of information on fantastic creatures - it was more how to use magic in combat to kill humanoids and defend Knurl. This is an interesting creature, however, and I will look it up when we go back to town.
It's most likely a watchdog of some sort. It looks as if it's been mistreated and might be turned on its masters - but it could also be someone's ill cared for pet. I suppose the goblins might keep "pets", in their own way. I think the best course of action is to kill it as silently and painlessly as possible.
Agathon, if you will stand watch for a moment, I think Jacques and I should dispatch this creature - lest it raise an alarm or attack us. Jacques, when we get up to it, we'll go on a silent three count - one, two, three, cut.
With that, Thaddeus will load his crossbow (if it wasn't loaded already), and approach the critter as silently as he is able. When we're in position we'll do the deed, unless Agathon raises any objections.
It having been agreed upon, that dispatching the hapless creature is the only viable action, I will creep up to the creature and attempt to dispatch it in its sleep. Thaddeus and I will coordinate our attempts to dispatch the creature, killing it before it is even aware of the attack, hopefully. coup de roll, open hand skull crush strike (1d6 1=4)
You sneak up to the creature and as you lift your weapons to dispatch it, it opens one eye and looks up and shakes its head three times, its aged yellow eyes piercing yours with an intelligent and strangely amused look. It makes no obvious hostile moves. It's apparent to you that this creature was probably not really asleep.
While your coupe' de grace attack will not succeed, Thaddeus and Jaques now have "readied actions" and would still get a first attack if the creature initiates any hostile act--IF you so choose, let me know.
The displacer beast is still laying down, but its head is slightly raised up and you swear that it looks like its feline lips are raised in an uncanny looking human smile.
Seeing that the beast has been awake the whole time and yet, has not attacked (although we have certainly been within its easy range for some time...), Agathon is suddenly filled with misgivings on the whole affair.
In a forced whisper he will say, "Wait! Don't attack!"
Taking his hands away from his still sheathed sword, he will approach the creature (stopping about 20 feet or so from it). After sparing a brief glance in Thaddeus' direction, he will hold his hands open and away from his weapons in gesture of calm and peace.
Wrestling with his own prejudices and his inner desire to attack this being he will say, "Do you understand me? Are you a prisoner here?"
All the while, Agathon is thinking to himself, 'Pelor, please grant me wisdom... Please don't let this be a stupid mistake!'
Thaddeus will point his crossbow away from the creature and ask in hushed tones, 'Do you speak? Can you understand the human tongue?', and repeat the question in goblin (which may still be rusty). If it is able and willing to talk I'll try to get some basic information about why it's here, what lies in the caverns beyond, approximate enemy strength, and what its intentions are.
Gather info and diplomacy rolls. (1d20+3=13, 1d20+3=21)
The aged displacer beasts seems to sigh. It has very bad breath. It sits up and you can hear its bones creak and it slowly starts to scratch one of its flanks with a hind paw, moving slowly and closing one eye while it does this.
It looks at Thaddeus, Agathon and Jacques with an expression of bemusement, then it looks up and down the chain holding it to the wall, then looks back at you. Then it passes gas, which brings an expression of joy to its feline features.
Unfortunately, you hear the sounds of someone coming up the other tunnel. Someone conversing loudly in goblin, laughing and making apparent crude jokes.
Agathon will nod to the Beast indicating that he understands that it wants to be released and hopefully conveying that he agrees.
Then, suddenly, as he hears the Goblinoids coming up the other tunnel he will partially spin in reaction to this new set of sounds. Realizing that there is probably not enough time to release the Beast (and being uncertain that it would be wise to do so anyway with new enemies coming close…), he will attempt to pantomime to the creature his intention to hide and jump the Goblins that are coming…
A "Perform" Skill Check to pantomime attacking the Goblins... (1d20=17)
A Move Silently Check... (1d20-2=0)
Jacques will give the chain a "significant look", glance back at the sounds of the coming goblins, and slip back into the shadows (per instructions from Thaddeus)1d20 8=10
The goblins' are alerted, obviously, by your sunrod's light, which shines down all the caverns. You don't see them at the edge of your light source. They've gone "tactical."
A rain of arrows lands among you. None of them score hits.
Everyone, give me spot/listen checks and advise me of anything you want to do this round. You can take one round's worth of actions.
Also, I need initiative rolls. Your sunrod illuminates 30 feet cleary and 60 feet "shadowy" illumination.
Initiative, Spot, and Listen checks. (1d20+6=7, 1d20=12, 1d20=12)
Crap! I was so involved thinking about this tentacled cat that I forgot all about our radius of illumination. Clearly they're just outside where we can see and are going to have a fat time shooting into the light. Of course, we can't see without it, but the goblins can see perfectly fine. I'm going to have to take a chance here, and I hate taking unnecessary risks.
In goblin, Thaddeus will growl out 'Give up or I'll turn you all to bugs and step on you like I did your guards!'. Who knows, maybe it will work?
While speaking, I will survey the collar, chain, and how the chain attaches to the wall, looking for weak points. Whether the collar has a simple clasp that can be undone, or there is a rusted link in the chain, or if the attachment to the wall is loose - it doesn't matter. If it looks like I will need a hammer or pick, I'll ask Agathon for one - he has a hardware store hanging from his belt. My intention is to free this tentacled cat thing and hope it goes after the goblins.
As multiple arrows whistle by his head, Agathon takes a quick look around the corner in the direction of the Goblins…
Listen Roll then a Spot Check: (1d20=4, 1d20+3=8)
Whispering to himself, Agathon says, “Let’s see how they would like a bit of light…’
He will toss the sun rod down the passage toward the Goblins.
Roll for throwing the Sun Rod toward the Goblins... (1d20+2=22)
Four extra rolls:
Four unmodified d20 rolls for the DM to use with my bonuses as he sees fit: (1d20=3, 1d20=12, 1d20=10, 1d20=6)
Relieved at the new turn toward immediately freeing the cat (clearly the right thing to do), Jaques will leave the freeing to Thaddeus, though he is becoming concerned at the groups rapid plan changes . If this is to be a missile duel, Jaques will get his sling and bullets ready.1d20=121d20=171d20=41d20=6
Agathon and Jacques both spot small goblin like figures scurrying for cover when the sunrod lands further down the hallway. They appear to be taking cover behind rubble, a tipped over table and an abandoned mining cart.
The party is now in the 'shadowy' illumination part of the sunrod's light radius.
Thaddeus finds no obvious weak areas in the chain. The tentacled beast's breath is horrible, but it could have easily attacked him and didn't. It moved out of the way so that he could more closely examine the chain. There is a large padlock at the end of the chain where it is bolted into the wall.
Down the cavern where the goblins are taking cover, the party hears a very strange, disturbing sound...like a small dog growling...but the dog should be bigger....sounds like a high pitched yipping insane coyote.
The goblins are squares J27 and J28. There are more behind those. They all have cover. Looks like they're getting ready to launch arrows at you next round, as they are trying to position themselves behind their cover to draw and fire arrows.
Initiative order is Jacques, Agathon, Thaddeus, Goblins.
Thaddeus will hunt around quickly looking for anything he can use as a pry tool - an iron bar, an old crowbar, an old pick, even just the head of a pick. There might be such junk laying around in a mine. If I find something suitable I'll insert it into the links of the chain at the wall and try to twist it off.
If I can't find anything, I'll ask my friends (urgently) "Either of you have a crowbar or a pick? Or know anything about locks?". I will then pick up a largish rock and start smashing the point where the chain links to the wall...avoiding the lock if possible in case one of the guys knows how to open it. I know that if you bend metal repeatedly in different directions it will eventually break off, or I might get lucky and shear the link off the mounting point.
Now that we have the flickering shadow advantage, Jaques will move to position of advantage for both cover and angle on the goblins From there he will fire his sling at targets of opportunity, hopefully keeping the goblins heads down. Since rushing the ambush to close for melee seemed to work so well earlier, he wonders if that might not have been the better course. Since his melee attack is with bare hands, he's confident he can follow Agathon up the tunnel again to gaurd his back easily, dropping the sling or tucking it into his blouse on the way, since he wouldn't have to draw a replacement weapon. 1d20 3=81d20 3=6
Your movements noted and accomplished. Jaques has readied an action to fire at goblins if they present themselves.
Thaddeus' demoralization attempt (see PH 76) appears to have had some effect, as the goblins appear to simply take further cover behind bits of debris. Only Jacques has an angle to see that at the end of this round, however.
Thaddeus attacks the chain with a rock. Total attack roll of 17 hits. Rock does 1d3+ his strength bonus in damage, so the chain takes 2 points of damage, which does not exceed its hardness (Scott, see PH p. 166) of 10, so no effect.
Thaddeus sees a shovel head and a very rusty pickaxe in square C28.
The displacer beast sits down with a tired sounding sigh, which also releases a small cloud of methane from its hind end.
The insane coyote sound is louder now. Jacques cannot see what is making the noise, but the yipping, snarling and rapid fire howling is now definitely coming from the area of the goblin archers.
Bracing himself for action, Agathon will watch Thaddeus closely as he casts a Sleep spell at the Goblins. The moment he completes the incantation, Agathon will begin his run. Saying nothing beyond a quick, “follow me” to Jacques, he holds the Goblin’s shield before him and runs all out to the next Goblin barrier and whatever might lie beyond trusting that Thaddeus' powerful magic will take care of most if not all of the Goblins…
Jaques will fall in behind Agathon, per what now appears to be our current standard tunnel counter-ambush maneuver. He will drop the sling on the ground if its too difficult to tuck in while running behind Agathon. Prepared to use open hand attacks to defend Agathons rear and flank. He remembers seeing more powerful members of the brotherhood dodging arrows, and knocking them aside with the flat of the hand.
I'm getting nowhere with this chain. Maybe if I packed the lock with coal dust and set it alight, it would soften enough for me to break..?
And by then we'd all be dead.
Agathon catches my eye by waving his shield. He jerks his head meaningfully towards the goblins down the tunnel and lifts his eyebrows - a clear invitation. He knows I memorized another sleep spell and thinks this might be a good place to use it.
Well, Cephali always told me that rule one of being a mage was not to die with uncast spells. Fair enough.
In goblinish, Thaddeus will growl "You had your warning! Die slowly so I can enjoy it!"
Intimidate/demoralize! (1d20+3=15)
Thaddeus will move to either D-24 or D-25 - wherever he can see the goblins down the tunnel and still retain maximum cover. Then he will begin casting sleep, to be targeted in what I think is center of their formation.
Jacques is waiting for Agathon who is waiting for Thaddeus, who decided to take a standard action and then begin casting a full round action spell, so the only action the party really takes this round is the demoralize attempt.
The results of this attempt are unknown, but the goblins do not come charging down the tunnel.
The sources of the crazy dog like sounds does, however. It is a man sized ugly nearly furless canine with twisted fangs and misshapen limbs. It picks up the sunrod in its teeth and runs past the party in a gallop, ending its round at the edge of the pool of water in E20.
Jacques got an attack of opportunity at the creature as it whizzes by, but misses. Agathon also gets an attack of opportunity and his greatsword connects, slicing the dog thing in half with a bone splitting crunch, but not before it drops the sunrod into the water, plunging the entire cave into darkness.
Jaques will silently curse the dark, and make a mental note to ask around about any possible course of action the brotherhood has ever heard of, for a human to acquire darkvision. He'll also try to remember what little he knows of blindfighting, and assume a position to defend and attack, open hand, using smell and sound...reaching out to his surroundings until someone gets the lights on. Spellcasters do that...right?
Agathon mutters a silent curse as his sun rod sizzles into blackness after he hit the dog like beast. In the darkness, he grabs another sun rod from his belt pouch and ignites it as quickly as he can while he strains his ears to hear if the Goblins are doing a charge (or creep forward) of their own…
A Listen check to hear if the Goblins are coming up the tunnel... (1d20=5)
Thaddeus' spell goes off just as Agathon lights another sunrod. Thaddeus finds the goblins have moved up 'en masse towards the party. There are 8 goblins approaching the party, spears at the ready. After the spell goes off, only 3 are left standing, the rest are asleep. The three goblins standing turn tail and run full speed back down the tunnel. One of them trips over a rock and falls sprawling to the ground with a high pitched shriek.
You capture the fallen goblin. He was stunned into semi-consciousness by his fall (he took non-lethal damage equal to his hit points). Mopping up the rest of the sleeping goblins with a series of coupe de grace blows takes a few rounds.
Beyond the goblins is a large cavern. You see piles of coal, more mining carts, a huge winch with dried looking skeletons attached to the large wheel that is pushed to operate the winch (the former winch operators no doubt). Below the winch is a big hole in the ground. You see the ropes attached to the winch are moving and are in relatively new condition compared to the other equipment in the place.
400 xp each
Total loot on the goblins: 28 sp, 65 cp and a 5 gp piece of jade.
Jaques attempts to catch the flaming flare, shift it to his left hand, and hold it over the maw of the pit with only his arm exposed over the edge. For stability, he will lie down on his stomach, extending his left arm up to just before the elbow, holding the sun rod. "I suppose an arrow or two in my left arm below the elbow won't be so bad..", he adds wryly.
The ropes descend to a large wooden platform about 40' down. The platform was obviously once used to haul coal up to the cavern you are now in. You see three goblins on the ropes, almost at the platform, shimmying down the ropes, their spears tucked awkwardly into their belts. The cavern the platform is in is full of sacks of coal that look like they were recently filled. Several mine shafts branch out from this cavern.
Jacques hears movement approaching the party from the way you just came. His warning prevents surprise and you see a group of six muscular man sized humanoids wearing scale mail and ring mail, carrying axes, bows and daggers, jogging towards you, their intentions apparently hostile.
DC11 Knowledge (Nature) or (Dungeoneering) or (Local) check
Knowledge/Local check, initiative. (1d20+4=6, 1d20+6=23)
Hmmm. Not sure what these are, but they don't look friendly...
If Thaddeus is on the opposite side of the pit from these creatures, he will fire his crossbow at whichever one looks the easiest to hit. After that he'll reload.
If Thaddeus is not on the opposite side of the pit, he will move to get there - thus getting behind Jacques, Agathon, and the pit. If he can still act he'll take a crossbow shot.
Jaques has no idea what those things are 1d20=7 , but they're ugly, and don't look friendly. Not wanting to engage them from a prone position next to a pit, he'll jump to his feet per his martial arts training, and prepare for hand to hand combat. Jaques will maneuver to keep them from being able to approach Thaddeus unmolested, and will wait for an opportunity attack with Flurry of Blows. At his first opportunity, he will toss the flare against a wall so it (and the room) will remain lit, and the goons would have to go out of their way to kick it into the pit, or otherwise deal with the light source, thus exposing someones back to us.
Initiative Roll... (1d20+6=16)
An arrow shot (1d20+4=20, 1d8=1)
A hit with Ole Blue (Agathon's Great Sword)... (1d20+5=21, 2d6+3=7)
Agathon yells to Thaddeus, “Shoot the Goblins below!”