Aubrey's Eberron campaign. (Inactive)

Game Master Aubrey the Malformed

Lightbringer chops down a second kobold and it slumps, blood pumping, to the floor. Meanwhile, Bool dashes up to where the action is.

Gnarly, meanwhile, moves into the guardroom and fires off a bolt. It catches its target in the throat, and the kobold collapses, choking. Gnarly chuckles and begins reloading.

Kobolds in M5 and M7 down. Bool double-moves to M6. Gnarly moves to M5.

Now Janosz.

Initiative reprised:
Gnarly: 25
Janosz: 17
Trose: 15
Runzyl: 13
Rod: 9
Arek: 8
Ceshto: 7
Ez: 6+
Kobold heavies: 6-
Choom: 5+
LB: 5-
Bool: 4

Attacking the kobold between me and Trose. Attack roll 5+8+2=AC 15. Meh.

Trose attacks the same kobold... Attack roll 16+5+2=AC 23, damage 4+2+8(sneak attack)=14. That should be all of them.

"Someone smash the orb! Now! Also, we need to get the hell outta this room."

Um, does it do anything, or is it just intended to obscure the orb?

Sure... that was my ink of insanity! Anyone who was watching us through the portal is now irrevocably crazzzyyy... and grew a wild Dali moustache so we can identify them later.

Okay, I just thought it would be a good idea to block the view before whoever might be watching saw our fully assembled group enter the room. Throwing some ink was the only way I could make that happen this round. It's also the only reason I left the half-orcs on that rear portcullis. But your reply gives me an idea about how useful my hunch was there. ;) I figured best case they were only able to watch through it, worst case to cast through it. But either way they'd need to see us to take advantage of it.

“Choom,” Lightbringer evokes gravely. “What does the orb do? Is this the control room? Where are those portcullis operated from? Which direction will more guards arrive from?”

(I'm afraid combat isn't over - please continue in initiative order.)

The last kobold collapses as Trose strikes through its relatively unprotected armpit and down to its heart.

"Round shiny lets control room hear, talk," pants Choom.

Aubrey wrote:

Um, does it do anything, or is it just intended to obscure the orb?

Sure... that was my ink of insanity! Anyone who was watching us through the portal is now irrevocably crazzzyyy... and grew a wild Dali moustache so we can identify them later.

Okay, I just thought it would be a good idea to block the view before whoever might be watching saw our fully assembled group enter the room. Throwing some ink was the only way I could make that happen this round. It's also the only reason I left the half-orcs on that rear portcullis. But your reply gives me an idea about how useful my hunch was there. ;) I figured best case they were only able to watch through it, worst case to cast through it. But either way they'd need to see us to take advantage of it.

(It was a good thought, and nice rolling.)

(Now Runzyl.)

Seeing his companions concern for the orb and seeing no more enemies to fight, Runzyl hustles over to the orb and delivers a crushing blow with his blade.

Do I need to make an attack roll against an inanimate object? Moving to P4 and smacking the orb. If needed, attack: 18 + 11 = 29. Damage: 5 + 8 = 13.

The orb is hard but brittle, and shatters into fragments under Runzyl's blow.

(Now Rodergo.)

heal Janosz with the wand; 7hp!

"Get in here, Choom!!!

Acting on Lightbringer's command the two rear guards heft their axes and hustle into the room.

Ezreal calls, "Kadesh, to me!" and the raven swoops in landing on his shoulder as the mage strides across the room wand in hand. "Do you see any more holes bored into the stone passage ahead, friend?"

Ceshto - double move N4
Arek - double move O5
Ezreal - move O6, spot 6+2 = 8
Kadesh - spot 11+7 = 18 (with low light vision)
looking for more portcullis tracks. I imagine this room could be a lock point since I don't recall having heard mention of a control lever in here to drop the portcullis we just passed. If there are we're about to get locked in.

All visible enemy kobolds are down right?

“Where to the control room from here?” asks Lightbringer, gesturing Choom into the room and alert for the arrival of more guards.

Moves to N5 and readies an action to charge any enemies approaching from the north, east or south corridors.

If we’re about to be locked in, I’d rather we were all locked in together, rather than cut off into several groups. Still, be ready to move in the direction of the control room as soon as Choom points it out (I think its east, but Chooms directions so far have been rather unreliable).

(Funny you should mention that...)

With a shriek of metal against stone, four portcullises drop down in each of the entrances to the room.

(They are between J/5-6 and K/5-6, M-N/2 and M-N/3, P/5-6 and Q/5-6, and M-N/8 and M-N/9. Anyone standing in one of those squares takes a +10 attack that does 3d6 damage - please roll your own. If you are hit, you are also trapped under the portcullis, but on the plus side that means it isn't locked in place.)

(To lift a locked portcullis requires a DC 25 Disable Device check followed by a DC 25 STR check. The lift an unlocked one simply requires the STR check. However, these being kobold portcullises, some may have additional surprises as well.)

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!"
Rodergo is slammed by the portcullis, 11h.p. damage.

Did Choom move into the room? The only people I have with a risk of being hit by the portcullis are Rod and possibly Choom depending on where he moved to.

EDIT: bugger, it got Rod.
Aub, are we still on init?

Did Choom move into the room? The only people I have with a risk of being hit by the portcullis are Rod and possibly Choom depending on where he moved to.

EDIT: bugger, it got Rod.
Aub, are we still on init?

We are on init, and Choom did not move into the room.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!"

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!"

(Quit your whining, wimp!)

Rodergo Xativa wrote:

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!"

(Quit your whining, wimp!)

This is the first time he's ever been heinously injured, too...

Bool lets out a savage yell and runs over to the portcullis piercing Rodergo, and strains to lift it, muscles bulging. It does not budge.

Gnarly lets out a string of creative curses and begins to reload Bess, looking for more enemies approaching from down the (now restricted) corridors. Spot: 13+8 = 21

Janosz.

"We've got little friends coming - north, south and east," yells Gnarly.

(By the way, I think Trose might take a hit unless he moved after killing the kobold.)

I have Trose in L8 - think that's outside the blast radius.

Trose is in L8, so the portcullis juuuuust missed.

"F$&+ it! G*~%~*n reptilian goat-violators! I swear, I'll kill every last one of them. Choom, you'll be king of nobody when I'm done here!" Janosz is not pleased with the fallen portcullis. After taking a few deep breaths, he calms down a little. "There will be guards coming shortly. Let's get ready."

Query: can I cast in my position, or can that yet be known?

So only the inner ring of gates fell?

"Bah! This may slow us down, but they'll need more than gates to hold us back. Get Rodergo out of there before they let the rats out!"

Query: can I cast in my position, or can that yet be known?

(If you make a Concentration check - DC 21. Although you only take the damage once, the sheer awkwardness of having the thing bear down on you means that is the DC until you are freed.)

Next to Rodergo lies Choom. He appears conscious but dazed, and moans quietly.

He got hit and was reduced to 0 hp.

Back and caught up

Excellent - it is Trose's go.

Those under the portcullises can provide assist rolls to lift them, in case you were wondering.

How tough would these things be to simply smash? i.e. slash through the bars with a weapon and just kick the thing open?

I will draw my crossbow, and load it, while glancing at the gates to begin determining how to open them.

“Trose, Runzyl, get that portcullis off Xativa!” bellows Lightbringer to the two strongest members of the group.

I’m thinking of trying to smash one of them. However, I think we need to lift the one that’s trapping Rod, I don’t like to think of the harm it could do to him if we’re smashing at it while he’s impaled on it.

The elf sprints across the room with catlike grace, dropping his double scimitar at his feet as he grabs on to the crushing portcullis like a man possessed, straining to free the trapped cleric.

Move to K5. STR check: 4 + 5 = 9. Not this round, evidently. Rage still has 2 rounds remaining after this one.

best guess till aubrey is back

(Ok, we will go off initiative. We will re-roll when necessary. This will make it easier to coordinate your attempts with the portcullises. We will go round by round. Lifting (or trying to lift) the portcullis is a standard action. You can line up six people to lift the portcullis, with one person rolling and the others assisting (plus anyone underneath).)

(And yes, Ezreal's figures are the ones I am using.)

Runzyl won't stop trying to open the portcullis until either it gives out or he does, so I'll go ahead and make my STR checks for the next 2 rounds (what remains of my Rage) now.

Next round:

Round after that (if previous was unsuccessful):

If the first check is successful, assume that Runzyl dashes over to the gate blocking the path to the control room and uses roll #2 on it.

Spoiler for Runzyl:

Runzyl heaves on the gate pinning Rodergo and Choom.

Runzyl got 23 on his attempt - it only needs one person to succeed on an assist check.

Bool’s still trying to lift it too, so he’ll aid Runzyl this round: roll:10+2 = 12; adds two to Runzyl’s roll.

Bool doesn't say a word but momentarily looks stricken when he hears Rodergo scream. When he sees Rodergo pinned the burly half-orc rushes to the portcullis and drops his axe. He grabs hold of the bars with Runzyl and in a low voice says to Rodergo, "Don't worry. You don't die today" before straining with the elf to lift the gate.

Ezreal and Kadesh keep and eye on the eastern corridor, but the mage calls out to Trose, "I think you are the only one who can get us out of here finder..."

Moths beat me on the Bool roll, but they were almost identical anyways. Both passed.
Ezreal aids Kadesh on Spot: 14+2 = 16
Kadesh: Spot: 10+7 = 17 +2 = 19

On his turn, Lightbringer runs at the south portcullis, and begins hacking at it savagely with his greatsword.
Attack roll: 10+8-5 (PA) = 13. Damage: 8+3+10 (PA) = 21

The portcullis lifts and Rodergo and Choom crawl out. Which, if they then stand up, are pretty much their actions done for this round. Gnarly is reloading. Bool and Runzyl lifted the portcullis, while LB has taken his frustration out on the next one. What are those who haven't had an action this round doing (I think, Trose, Janosz, Ezreal (since spotting is a free action), Arek and Ceshto)?

The portcullis deforms under Lightbringer's furious assault but it remains obstinately in place for the moment. Choom gasps, "What you do? Control room this way," pointing east.

The clatter of soldiers running in armour echoes from the north, south and east. In the lamp light, more approaching kobold guards can be seen coming - four from each direction. They pull up about 10' from the portcullises blocking those passages and unlimber crossbows, ready to fire. They adopt a staggered formation - the two in the front kneeling, the two at the back standing - for maximum firepower.

For avoidance of doubt, though it screws up the map, the new soldiers are at M-N/11-12, M-N/-1 to -2 (there is no zero in the coordinates) and S-T/5-6, with a soldier in each 5' square.

Bugger! When do we get to that right turn he was talking about!

5' to P7 for cover.
If I get to take a shot since I was watching the eastern ones approach:
Ranged Touch vs S6 14+6 = 20
Damage 3+1+1 PB = 5

"Uh! Thankyou! Runzyl, I've learned a new respect for your pain tolerance this day!"

You mentioned new inits earlier-
Init 13+3 = 16

I don't see it, but if so, new init=r6.

(Ok, we will go off initiative. We will re-roll when necessary. This will make it easier to coordinate your attempts with the portcullises.

It was several posts back. I had forgotten too.

right on.

Not sure if you wanted init yet, 10 if so.