Bone March

Game Master farewell2kings

You didn't ask for it but I assume you want initiative rolls:

Initiative (1d20+6=7)

Thaddeus will gesture towards Agathon in a courtly 'after you' gesture. Then he will follow Agathon down the tunnel until he has a clear shot at a goblin, at which point he will fire.

Thaddeus light crossbow shot at some random goblin. (1d20+2=15, 1d6=1, 1d20+2=7, 1d6=6)

I think they gave me safety tips on the crossbow bolts. Careful, kid, you'll shoot your eye out!

Not venturing forward to where he can be flanked, Jaques will continue missile fire until he can advance with Agathon. His communication to the others would have been by the previously noted "message" spell, and he would have communicated the goblins attempting to use a "greek fire" bomb. two shuriken attacks, with potential criticals, when needed (1d20 3=14, 1d20=3, 1d3 1=2, 1d20 3=7, 1d20=4, 1d3 1=4)letting GM make any other necessary rolls this round

Agathon rolls initiative:

Initiative Roll (1d20+6=24)

Agathon will move over to where the Goblins are going to the opposite side of the carts from Jaques (so as to catch them between Jacques and himself).

The range looks like it is around 20 feet to do this. Thus, Agathon will move the 20 feet and make an attack on the Goblin. From Stefan’s description, since I am going around the opposite side of the carts from Jacques, I think I am going for Goblin number 3 (the one in the back from Jacques’ point of view)

Once there, Agathon will make his attack.

One Great Sword Attack on a Goblin with critical confirm. (1d20+3, 2d6+3, 1d20+3, 2d6+3=[15, 3], [3, 2, 3], [4, 3], [1, 2, 3])

Agathon moves in behind the goblins and chops one of the bomb makers down with a massive blow from his sword. Goblin #2 spear thrusts at Agathon and misses and the wounded goblin (wounded from Jacques shuriken throw) throws a spear at Jacques, also misses. Jacques then drops the wounded goblin with another shuriken throw that catches the creature in the throat. Thaddeus closes in around the corner to get a shot with his crossbow and strikes, barely winging the goblin, now shrieking in terror.

Initiative roll for Thaddeus:

Initiative - rd 2 versus goblins (1d20+6=20)

For my move action I will reload my crossbow, speaking while doing so:

I suggest we dispatch this last goblin - none of us speaks the language anyway.

If I act before the others, and if I can fire without risking the others (barring a fumble) I'll do so:

Possible shot at the last goblin (1d20+2=8, 1d6=4, 1d20+2=13, 1d6=5)

If Agathon or Jacques goes first and kills the goblin, or if the goblin surrenders, or if there is too much risk of hitting my friends, I will check out the pitch-covered wine jug - both to make sure it doesn't ignite and also to try to determine its purpose (is it a light source or a fire bomb?).

You don't have to reroll initiative every round, just every combat.

Sensing an opportunity to indulge in his brotherhoods favorite part of their creed (instilling terror in the chaotic, and pumping them for intelligence, since chaotic creatures are a superstitious and cowardly lot), Jaques will attempt to rush up and grapple the screaming creature, giving his best growled rendition of "Do you speak common, punk?" sorry to spoil anybody's shot, but I just don't think Jaques could resist the temptation at this age. If the creature has a knife or other deadly attack up close, Jaques would just switch to deadly open hand attack. I'll leave the game mechanics to the GM's common sense about face to face fisticuffs, that start out as "taking into custody", but switch to "deadly force required"

Agathon heaves his massive sword in a killing downward arc in an attempt to see if one can indeed perfectly bisect a Goblin from helmet to crotch with a single blow.

One Attack Roll with Critical Confirm (1d20+3=19, 2d6+3=7, 1d20+3=4, 2d6+3=12)

As Agathon completes his stroke, he looks up to see Jacques running to the Goblin he just hit. Seeing (too late) that Jacques is trying to tackle the Goblin, Agathon will mutter an apology for making a mess of Jacques’ prisoner…

150 xp each

Please give me listen checks, everyone. If you beat a DC of 15, you will hear the following:

Also, you guys don't need to post in initiative order. You can just post what you want to do and I'll arrange the results in initiative order.

Listen check in mines (1d20=20)

Sweet!

Thaddeus will quietly tell Agathon and Jacques that they are coming down the tunnel...and bringing something heavy. Let's prepare a surprise for them. Help me, will you?

What were the results of my inspection of the pitch-covered wine jug? I said I'd check it out if I didn't have a shot. Was it a light source or an incindiary device?

Thaddeus will look at the roof for possible places to sling a rope over. This is a mine so there should be some beams for shoring, or hooks where the miners would have used ropes to lift things into and out of carts, or to hang light sources.

What I want to do is sling a rope over a pivot point, tie the pitch-covered wine jug to it and hoist it up to the roof and hopefully out of sight. Then we'll hide out of sight, out of splash range, and hold the other end of the rope.

When the bad guys and whatever they're bringing get under the jug, we'll let it fall, and at the same time I'll cast a prestidigitation spell on it to ignite the pitch. While it burns we can take advantage of the panic to attack.

Of course, they could be bringing up a barricade instead...

Listen Check in the Mine (1d20=17)

Agathon, also hearing the sounds from within the mine shaft needs no further prompting. Quickly (and as quietly as possible), he moves over to help Thaddeus without a word.

A Move Silently Roll for helping Thaddeus quietly... (1d20-4=-3)

I figure that we can hear them, then they can hear us... Sorry guys, I really botched that Move Silently Check... That is if they can hear us at all over that thing they are dragging... Here's hoping!

If Thaddeus does not have rope in easy reach (or if there is none laying about here in the mine), Agathon will get one of his 50’ lengths from his backpack for the job. Once things are set, he will get into position to either spring the trap; or, if it is evident that Thaddeus is planning to spring the trap, Agathon will get into cover near the entrance where the sounds are coming from with his sword at the ready to attack during the confusion…

Is there really any point in trying to move silently/stealthily at this point? Perhaps merely as an object lesson to Mr. ClankPants? I will help Thaddeus as required, and will then fall back to where Thaddeus goes to wait for trap springing, as his "cover gaurd" for spell casting ...the trademarked battle tactic invented by monks and mages in Jim's game circa 1991...Move Silent, Hide, both unmodified (1d20=18, 1d20=5)

The breathing and walking sounds stop just out of sight at the other end of the tunnel. You hear the distinctive sound of a heavy crossbow being loaded (crank, crank, crank, squeak, squeak, squeak). You hear some excited goblin sounding giggles as well.

This does however provide you the opportunity to finish up the rope/wine jug over the beam trick and both Jacques and Agathon may call a "readied action" if they choose to do so.

Then give me initiative rolls, as the action is obviously about to commence. THe initiative rolls are for "after" any readied action you have taken that may be triggered. Thaddeus, I know your readied action already (the wine jug covered in pitch).

Excited goblin sounding giggles? I so did not need that image...

initiative for the ambush. (1d20+6=15)

You didn't ask for them, but here are my hide and move silently rolls. The other guys did them so I figured I should give you the same information before the slugging commences. Are there any bonuses for being armor class skin like there used to be? I saw negative modifiers for wearing armor, but didn't see anything granting a bonus if you're not wearing armor at all.

Hide and move silently. (1d20+3=7, 1d20+3=12)

There are no good places to hide and still be out of the splash zone! I will only drop-and-cast if I can get more than one goblin, or an obvious leader/spellcaster type, or the crew-served weapon should they bring it out. I don't want to waste this little surprise on the point goblin (who will likely be prodded out at the point of a spear anyway).

I hold back attempting to be as out of sight as possible, and hold the rope, awaiting the "message" command to let it go so Thaddeus can ignite it. After/If it goes off, I'll try to open hand melee any goblins that rush Thaddeus, like protecting the quarterbacktwo unmodified rolls, you have access to my character sheet for relevant modifiers (1d20=7, 1d20=6)

Agathon’s initiative roll…

An initiative roll... (1d20+6=18)

I am declaring a ‘readied action for Agathon

Agathon will be “readied” to attack anything in his immediate area that appears from the mine shaft the moment that Thaddeus’ trap is sprung…

His thought is to allow a “point man” (or “men”) to come charging in and hopefully bringing the rest with him into our ambush.This might not happen though. If, for instance, the first thing through the opening is an Ogre (or if there IS NO follow up creature), Agathon will obviously not just stand there waiting for the rest of the group! I understand that he will lose this ‘readied attack’ if he has to shift to deal with an unexpected situation like that.

Just in case, his plan does work and the bad guys come out into the mine area and walk right into Thaddeus’ ingenious little surprise… here is his ‘readied attack’:

A Readied Attack on the second creature out of the shaft... (1d20+3=15, 2d6+3=14, 1d20+3=11, 2d6+3=11)

Agathon patiently awaits the springing of the trap. As the seconds tick by, he wonders what they could be giggling about… He will steal a quick glance over to the other opening into this area wondering if they might be trying to flank us by coming in that way…

“Hmmm”, he thinks to himself. Agathon will catch Thaddeus’ eye and nod toward the other entrance with his best questioning expression…

Click here for an updated map.

Four goblins carrying tower shields and pikes step into view, their pikes displayed prominently in front of them, their shields locked into place. Behind them, about 10 feet and at the edge of the light provided by your sunrod is a muscular 7' tall creature with blue tinged skin, tusks, sickly yellow eyes. Here's a picture . With a DC 11 Knowledge (Nature) roll you will know what this creature is. Of course, you guys will know once you see the link name, but I trust you not to use player knowledge

The big bad guy is carrying a quadralest, a quadruple heavy crossbow, and a morningstar. Underneath his feet is another goblin carrying extra bolts.

The quad of goblin pikemen are in the splash zone for the wine jug. Agathon can take his readied shot at whomever he wants. I'm going to let you guys repost to clarify what your actions will be.

Initiative order is Agathon-Thaddeus-Jacques-Bad Guys.

Nature roll, unskilled, INT bonus (1d20+2=16)

Clearly the brains behind this operation.

Through the message spell, I will tell Jacques "drop when it's lit!". I will then cast presdigitation to ignite the flask.

Presdigitation is only 1 standard action to cast. I'm a little unclear though - these were our readied actions, yes? So we perform our readied actions and then go through the normal initiative cycle?

If I have an opportunity, I will reload my light crossbow and take a shot. Target priority:

1. Any surviving pikemen
2. The ammo bearer (if I have a clear shot without endangering Agathon).
3. The hobgoblin (if I have a clear shot without endangering Agathon).

If I don't get a shot off, I will scoop some burning pitch onto the end of my quarterstaff and maneuver towards the hobgoblin.

Light crossbow shot at somebody. (1d20+3=12, 1d6=1, 1d20+3=9, 1d6=2)

Effing safety tips!

I will be attacking anything that looks like it is breaking clear to come at Thaddeus, using open hand attack.open hand attack results (1d20+1=12, 1d20=10, 1d6+1=7) if I hit it, it hurt, if I didn't it's scared I will next time

No surprise round. They knew you were there, but since you had readied actions..you all go on the goblins initiative now. New map has been posted, but no grid system, yet...still working out the bugs.

Letting go of the pitch/oil wine jug is a free action, casting prestidigitation to start the fire is a standard action. Furious die rolling on my end here. The wine jug busts open, splattering 2 of the 4 goblins with oil. The oil lights nicely and one goblin drops to the ground screaming while the other tries valiantly to scrape the burning oil off his arms with the wooden end of his pike.

Agathon's crossbow shot (I used the roll for the sword attack above) glances off the goblin's tower shield.

Jacques steps up and makes an open handed attack, trying to kick the goblin's head peeking out over his tower shield, but he misses.

Now it's next round and everyone goes simultaneously. Updated map link click here

A Knowledge Nature Roll to see if Agathon knows what a Hobgoblin is... (1d20+1=8)

Agathon has no clue what in the World a Hobgoblin is… I guess you don’t find those on the streets of the City of Greyhawk very often… Nevertheless, it is big, blue, and in possession of a hugonic cross bow and MUST be knocked down!

Agathon will step back (he takes a 5 foot step back) and take another LONG BOW shot (since he does not own a crossbow) (this time at the blue guy, or hobgoblin)

One Arrow Shot at the Blue Guy (with critical confirm)... (1d20+3=15, 1d8=5, 1d20+3=12, 1d8=4)

After taking his standard action of firing his shot, he will drop his bow (free action) and pull the Great Sword (move action) with the intent of splitting these remaining goblins into nice bite sized chunks on his way to destroy the blue guy…

This round I have two courses of action that I can take, and which one I take depends on one thing: is there either a flaming chunk of the IED laying around, or even better, a concave chunk of the IED with some flaming pitch pooled in it? I figure when that wine jug hit the ground it fragmented...and since it was covered in pitch the chunks might be on fire. If one of them landed face down it might still have some pitch pooled in it.

Anyway, course of action one, which I'll take if such flaming IED chunks are laying around:

Thaddeus will cast mage hand to telekinese a flaming IED chunk. If one of the undamaged goblins has unignited pitch on him, I'll use the IED chunk to light it. Otherwise I'll use the flaming IED chunk to harass the goblins - I might be able to get some fire damage on one of them, or harry them enough to grant my friends a multiple attacker bonus.

COA 2, if there are no flaming IED chunks available:

Thaddeus will load and fire his light crossbow, going for the easiest target and minimizing the risk of hitting my friends. The goblin trying to scrape the pitch off his arm might be a good candidate - it seems like he's distracted and not an active defender so he might be easier to hit...

light crossbow shot at some goblin (1d20+3=16, 1d6=3, 1d20+3=14, 1d6=5)

I try to hit him againopen hand roll (1d20+1=12, 1d20=15, 1d6+1=2) ahh, consistency, I'll be very effective against creatures hit by a 12

Agathon's bow shot strikes the hobgoblin and wounds him in the shoulder. He grunts but is still combat effective.

Thaddeus uses mage hand and makes a successful touch attack with his mage hand spell to drop some more burning pitch on to the goblin who was hit by the fire before but was still up. The pitch burns the goblin some more, but he's still alive.

Jacques misses with his flurry of blows attack. Dave, look at your character sheet, the flurry of blows is a full round action and is -1 on each die roll, making an open handed attack as a standard action is +1 on the die roll, please look at p.141 in the PH, table 8-2 so you can determine what your options are in each round

One goblin is dead, burnt up. One goblin is badly wounded and drops his pike and tower shield and withdraws from combat, disappearing into the darkness behind the hobgoblin. One goblin moves up and attacks Agathon with is pike, missing. The other goblin attacks Jacques, sticking him with his pike for 2 points of damage.

The hobgoblin takes aim at Thaddeus and pulls the trigger, loosing two of the four bolts loaded on his massive quadralest, missing him by inches.

Top of the Round

Trying his best to ignore the bolts of the quadralest, Agathon grits his teeth and wades into the fight by swinging at the Goblin right in front of him who is wielding a pike.

If he needs to take a 5 foot step (or greater movement) to get inside the reach of the weapon, he will do so, of course.

An attack with Agathon's sword against the Goblin with the pike in melee with him with critical confirm... (1d20+3=9, 2d6+3=14, 1d20+3=11, 2d6+3=9)

If he did not use a move action (or a 5 foot step) to engage the Goblin (and if his hit kills the Goblin), Agathon will then use his move action to close with the Blue Guy. Otherwise, he will stay in melee with the Goblin he’s working on now.

Agathon will yell out, “target that blue guy with everything you got!”

Thoughts explode through Thaddeus' mind like fire into dry tinder.

Hmmm...Agathon has a point; that hobgoblin is going to hit somebody with that four-way crossbow soon. Probably me since the other guys are combat right now. Sleep would probably put him down but he got awfully close with those bolts last time, and he'd get his other two shots before I could finish casting the spell. I could get off a magic missile but I think he's too big to be put down by just one. And casting anything means releasing the mage hand, which means I'm not helping the guys against the pikemen.

Thus I need to change the variables to force the hobgoblin to do something different. I need to take cover so he can't skewer me while continuing to support the guys against the pikemen, so Agathon can be freed up to cleave that stupid hobgoblin.

I hate to go against Agathon's request but I don't think he's really thought this through. Now if I only had a wheelbarrow...

During his move action, Thaddeus will crouch behind one of the old mine carts, since he's among them anyway. The idea is to still be able to see the goblins and friendlies, while being under at least partial cover/concealment with respect to the hobgoblin. If I have time during the move action I'll reload my crossbow, since I'm hopefully just crouching down.

Continuing the mage hand, I will harass the goblin fighting Jacques. I'm not sure of the degree of control I can exert over this flaming IED chunk beyond simply moving it around. If I can scoop up some more burning pitch and dump it on the guy fighting Jacques, I'll do that. If all I can do is harry him with it - put it in his face or between his legs to distract him and give Jacques a multiple attacker bonus - I'll do that.

I try to put down the one I'm fighting, with a sweep. Who knows, it might be easier since I outsize him a bit.haven't put in size bonus since I don't know goblin size category in 3.5 attempt to trip goblin in melee (1d20 1=14)

Agathon misses. Thaddeus makes a ranged touch attack against the hobgoblin with a burning piece of wine flask/pitch. It has no effect and misses, although it lands in a small pile of coal dust and seems to smoulder a bit. Jaques open hand attack misses.

Goblin pikeman attacks Agathon and his pike goes wide. The only other remaining goblin tries to impale Jaques on his pike and misses so badly that Jaques gets an attack of opportunity, which also goes awry.

The hobgoblin fires his remaining two bolts at Agathon. The bolts clatter harmlessly off the walls of the mine. He drops the crossbow and pulls out a wicked looking morningstar and closes to engage Agathon in melee.

Wow, everyone missed everything!

The hobgoblin fired two more shots so he's empty now...quick peek...he's going to close for melee. Outstanding!

If I can get off a crossbow shot before the hobgoblin engages Agathon in melee, I'll do that.

Light crossbow shot at the hobgoblin. (1d20+3=12, 1d6=5, 1d20+3=22, 1d6=2)

If they are already in melee by the time I have an opportunity to act, I'll cast magic missile at the hobgoblin instead.

Magic missile. (1d4+1=3)

Since the last combat round looked like the knife fight dance in an off Broadway production of "West Side Story"...Sweep didn't work, couldn't trip him, so another standard open hand attack 1d20+1=12, 1d20=12, 1d6+1=4 or not.

Agathon rares back and puts everything he has into a swing at the blue guy missing horribly.

An attack roll on the Hobgoblin with Critical Confirm... (1d20+3=6, 2d6+3=13, 1d20+3=21, 2d6+3=11)

With a grunt at the effort, Agathon lets go with a snarl of frustration as his great sword finds nothing but air.

Agathon misses, but as his sword blade swings wide, Thaddeus' magic missile zaps by Agathon's head and slams into the hobgoblin, who looks badly wounded now.

Jacques misses his martial arts attack on the goblin he's facing.

The goblin facing Agathon drops his pike and pulls out a small sized morningstar. The hobgoblin, who closed to melee, steps back and yells something loud and urgent sounding into the cavern behind him.

The goblin facing Jacques slashes his pike in a very awkward move and then drops it. He steps back a few feet and pulls out his own morningstar, the pikes being unsuitable for close in melee work.

Getting a solid hit in on this little thug is a lot harder than I thought it would be. Trying again, most basic strike at a vulnerable point.regular empty hand attack (1d20 1=16, 1d20=20, 1d6 1=4)

Incoming fire has the right of way.

I believe I have now learned the goblin phrase for "get your asses up here" or something to that effect. I shall add the phrase to my repertoire for possible later use. There will be more goblins. I think the fine sand is in the right-hand pouch - ah, yes.

I will loose my crossbow shot - first target preference is someone who is not engaged in melee combat at the moment.

The description made it sound as if some of the opponents had backed up from melee. Those would be my first target choice. If everyone is engaged in combat, I'll shoot at the hobgoblin if he's still there after Agathon swings...otherwise it'll be a goblin on Jacques.

Light crossbow shot at somebody. (1d20+2=6, 1d6=3, 1d20+2=16, 1d6=2)

Ehhh, missed anyway. I'll reload with my move action.

Agathon steps up to the blue guy and swings again.

An attack on the Hobgoblin with Critical Confirm... (1d20+3=11, 2d6+3=11, 1d20+3=14, 2d6+3=13)

Painfully stating the obvious… Agathon shouts back to Thaddeus and Jacques

“Looks like we’re about to have some more new friends to play with, guys…”

The pitch from Thaddeus' IED continues to smolder in the coal dust. Everyone must make a DC 8 Fortitude save or be sickened (-2 penalty on attacks, damage, saves, skill checks and ability checks).

Agathon misses the goblin facing him. Thaddeus' crossbow shot goes wide as well and he dunks his quarterstaff in some of the burning pitch as mentioned in the revised post e-mailed to me. Jacques strikes the goblin facing him with a stunning elbow shot in the side of the head and he drops, blood pouring out of his nose.

The hobgoblin and remaining goblin retreat into the darkness of the cave they came from, using a withdraw action so there are no attacks of opportunity. The goblin was coughing up a storm and the hobgoblin yelled some more panicked sounding instructions down the cave.

150xp each

Generally, I think you can edit your post for about 30-45 minutes after you post it, then it becomes permanent.

Thaddeus saves easily:

FORT save versus coal gas. (1d20+1=18)

Hmmm. Anthracite. Wish I spoke goblinoid, though - he could be shouting anything from 'run away' to 'have you reloaded my quadralest yet??'. There *is* still an ammo bearer goblin back there...

Since all the bad guys have fled, does that mean initiative resets?

If Agathon goes charging past Thaddeus down the tunnel, I'll reload my crossbow and follow him.

If Agathon hesitates or if Thaddeus gets the first action, I'll say/do the following:

"Wait up a moment. Let's stay away from the mouth of the tunnel; the hobgoblin had a helper and that four-way crossbow might be reloaded by now. Jacques, can you kick over that pile of coal dust or otherwise douse it before we all choke on the fumes?"

"Agathon, can you grab one of those tower shields? It should protect you from missile fire when you go down the tunnel, and you can always drop it when you get close enough to swing that pigsticker. Jacques, you might want to grab one too. Give me a minute to prepare a surprise..."

While saying that, Thaddeus will slice two strips from his cloak, dab them lightly in oil or pitch (whichever is more handy and not already burning), and wrap each strip around an oil flask a couple of times, tucking in the end.

Agathon makes his Fortitude Save easily

A Fortitude Save against the fumes... (1d20+4=22)

Agathon takes a few running steps after the Hobgoblin then halts as Thaddeus warns to stay away from the tunnel.

Smiling at the notion of using their own equipment against them, Agathon will pick up a shield at Thaddeus’ suggestion and hold it up for protection as he stands guard against the wall of the opening of the tunnel looking down the tunnel in the direction of our fleeing foes.

As Thaddeus and Jacques work behind him, he will listen down the tunnel to see if he can understand what the bad guys are doing down there... If there are any melee threats, he will simply drop the shield and use the sword. If he is attacked with missiles from the tunnel (as he stands there looking into the darkness trying to listen), the the shield will have to factor into his AC for those missile attacks. Please advise... What is the AC value for Agathon for this shield?

Listen Check in the tunnel opening... (1d20=7)

I will smudge out the burning stuff as directed by Thaddeus (the smart guy), but will only pick up the shield if it gives me full cover, like hiding behind a picnic table. Otherwise it's just going to make me more vulnerable. I will then return to a position protecting the spell caster from being over-run by a potential charge.unmodified fortitude save (1d20=8)you have access to my character sheet in googledocs to see that my modifier is +4, so the roll is 12 i think.

The cavern beyond....map here

The tracks dead end at a pile of rocks about 4 feet high. This pile of rocks is about 60 feet away from the entrance room you guys just cleared out. I'm still working on a grid map protocol. You spent this round shining your light down this cavern and putting out the pitch smolder fire.

DC 15 Listen check

DC15 listen check at the barrier. (1d20=9)

I don't hear anything. They're certainly quiet. They're either just beyond our light range, waiting for us to come over the rock pile and hose us with missile fire, or they've retreated to their lair. Or the rock pile is trapped somehow.

I will cast light on a crossbow bolt and then load the bolt into my crossbow. Then it'll really be a light crossbow. Get it?

Once that's done, I'll shoot the bolt down the cavern into the darkness. That should dazzle anyone looking this way enough to mess up their shots and give you guys a good distraction to get over the rock pile. It'll give us a chance to see something beyond the range of our illumination. It might even blind them temporarily.

It's a standard action to cast light, and a move action to load my crossbow, so I won't be able to shoot until next round. If anyone has a better plan, or wants to tweak this one, I'm all ears!

Although we are no longer tactical, the time span of a round has most certainly gone by as Jacques and Thaddeus performed several actions since Agathon started listening at the tunnel (putting out the smouldering pitch and so forth). Thus, Agathon will roll a new listen roll:

New Listen Check... (1d20=20)

I heard what they are doing and looked at the spoiler

Agathon will walk over to Thaddeus as he is loading his cross bow with the lighted bolt… Shielding his eyes from the bright spell, he will whisper… “Thaddeus, I just heard them scrambling about upon the other side of the rock pile. I believe them to be there on the rocks awaiting our charge so that they might shoot us from that protected position. Their layered defense is simple, but effective. No doubt our blue skinned friend has his quadralest reloaded and ready. I would suggest that you attempt to fire your magic bolt just beyond the rocks. As we charge forward, I will drop my sun rod to land just before the barrier. In this way, they will have bright light nearby on both sides of them. It is rumored that these sort do not like the light overmuch and this might provide a bit of advantage for us… I will await your shot and then charge behind this shield dropping my sun rod when I get close and we’ll see what happens…”

Agathon will then cross back over to the tunnel entrance and wait for Thaddeus’ shot. We will need to roll a new initiative for this next action which should be rolled with our next posts. If I beat Thaddeus’ initiative, I will be holding until he fires and will then go when he goes. If Thaddeus beats me, then my initiative is whatever I roll….

NOTE TO THE DM::: Here is my plan for the next tactical round: When I perform my “charge” I will not be officially ‘charging’. I will instead, run (running at full running speed… 120) down the tunnel crouched so as to be below the height of the barrier of rocks the whole way with the shield up (to improve my AC while running up to the barrier). I will have the great sword in my right hand ready for use and the sun rod in my teeth. When I get to the barrier, I will drop (spit out) the sun rod (a free action) and stop at the barrier holding the shield up so that it is visible while I am not. I WILL NOT CROSS THE ROCKS. The idea here is to only expose a bit of the shield (with my arm behind it) once I land on this side of the rock barrier (and not myself at all; hopefully, keeping my arm in “Total Cover” in the process) so as to hopefully goad them into firing a round of archery at the shield wasting two rounds from the quadralest in the process… I just wanted to make sure that my intentions were very clear before we began the round). At the very least, (if the DM will not consider the shield to be a tower shield giving “Total Cover” when just covering my outstretched arm) using the shield in this manner (as a decoy) might give me the extra 2 points to the AC for my arm which is behind the shield as if it were a tower shield (when not being used for “Total Cover”). Running up there with the shield, I will have an AC of 18 and if the DM will allow the extra points of protection in the decoy maneuver, then my arm will have an AC of 20. If anyone stand up and attacks my in melee, I will have the shield in hand until the following round when I can attack (once in melee, I will just drop the shield and smack whoever is the most ‘smackable’).

If the Agathon/Thaddeus plan moves forward as intended, I'll follow Agathon down the hall, staying behind him. When he goes over the top, I'll follow close on, targeting a goblin to protect Agathon's rear/flank.I'll be coming down the hall behind Agathon and shield (no shield for me) like a "conga line" CQB movement. As he clears the berm, I'll come over behind him ready to attack right or left flank. My attack will be an open hand strike, w/stunning fist. Initiative, open-hand strike (with stunning fist), critical roll if needed, and damage. (1d20 3=15, 1d20 9=11, 1d20=19, 1d6 1=4) in light of IC's apparent algorithms,I'm going to use first die as the critical roll, and second die as the to-hit roll from now on.

Thaddeus "light" crossbow bolt lands true and just behind the barricade of rocks, revealing three goblin heads wearing flappy leather helmets and a pair of heavy crossbows resting on the rocks just in front of the goblins. The light reveals the large hobgoblin drinking a potion (or something that looks like a jelly shot glass) while you all clearly hear the sound of his quadralest being reloaded. The goblins behind the rocks and the hobgoblin all benefit from cover, obviously.

Bad guys initiative roll is a "20" total. It's initiative time again folks.

Crap for initiative.
Initiative for the rock pile action. (1d20+6=10)

Looks like the guys got up there okay. Maybe I should have gone up there with them, but I don't think I could have caught up. The goblins would have skewered me. I hope the guys can distract them somehow while I'm casting the spell...here goes...

Thaddeus will take what cover he can around a corner or behind a boulder. Then he will begin to cast sleep, centered slightly behind the hobgoblin so as not to get friendlies or the crossbow goblins in the area of effect.

Rock Pile Action:

Agathon rolls initiative:

Agathon's initiative roll... (1d20+6=21)

Agathon drops the shield (a free action) and runs over the rocks to attack the nearest goblin to the left with his great sword.

“Follow me!” Agathon yells to Jacques as he moves and attacks.

Agathon's attack on a goblin... (1d20+3=4, 2d6+3=10, 1d20+3=21, 2d6+3=12)

Agathon rolls a “1” and thus triggers an attack of opportunity from all goblins within reach, wasting his round and probably earning him an inglorious death at the hands of the goblins. I think that Dave is right… The Invisible Castle site seems to always use an algorithm that has a higher roll on the second die. I am getting real tired of missing these G-D goblins! I am going to try some test rolls to see if this pans out. If it pans out, I will let everyone know and start using the second roll for my hits like Dave... Or, we might have to start making multiple single rolls for everything.

extra rolls in case the DM needs them:

Dex check to cross the rock pile for my attack (if needed)... (1d20+2=3) god I sure hope that you don’t want that!

A climb check for Agathon in case it is needed... (1d20-4=14)

All in all, a miserable round for the intrepid warrior from Grey Hawk

I will follow the fidgiting, flailing, fighter over the berm.making no dex roll, since I'm unarmored and have no weapons in hand, if one is needed, the GM can roll itUpon entering melee, I'll strike the goblin nearest on the left to protect the Agathons rear and flank.Stunning fist attack (1d20+8=19, 1d6+1=3) if that hit him he should have to save vs. being stunned

I rolled Jacques initiative at 16, so the order of battle is:
Agathon-Bad Guys-Jacques-Thaddeus.

Agathon is on the west side of the rocks and the goblins have cover from his attack. His fumble triggers no attacks of opportunity, since the goblins were going to pick up the heavy crossbows and fire them, but weren't actually ready to do that yet, since the arcing "light" spell cast on the crossbow bolt and the simultaneous charge of Agathon and Jacques took them by surprise. So, no AoO on Agathon.

The goblins pick up the heavy crossbows, triggering attacks of opportunity from Agathon and Jacques. Using Agathon's 2nd die roll of 21 for that roll since he never got to confirm the critical, Agathon skewers the cr*ap out his goblin, cutting him in half.

Jaques' attack of opportunity is a successfull stunning fist attack and the goblin drops like a sack of potatoes, bruised and stunned.

Since Agathon said he was "running over to the rocks" and Jacques said "I'm going to prtoect his flank/rear" I'm assuming neither one of them took the move action to actually go over the pile of rocks.

The hobgoblin arbalester fires all four crossbow bolts at Agathon, scoring one hit for 6 points of damage

Thaddeus' sleep spell goes off down the cavern and the hobgoblin arabalester and his loader drop into sweet slumber with a resounding clatter of equipment.

"Don't kill the hobgoblin yet!", Thaddeus will yell.

Normal noise shouldn't wake him up, and I'm 60+ feet away.

I will take my full round action to jog up to the rock pile and clamber over it.

Dex check to get over the rock pile. (1d20+2=14)

Should be good enough especially if unopposed.

Agathon moves into the area behind the rock barrier.

"How long with your spell keep them asleep?" Agathon quickly asks Thaddeus. When Thaddeus answers, "Just a minute", assuming that Jacques can easily dispose of the goblin he stunned and any other survivors near the rocks, Agathon will quickly move to the goblin quadralest loader and coup de grace him. Pausing just long enough to glance quickly down the tunnel to check for new enemies, he will then move to the hobgoblin and disarm him while he lies there asleep. As Thaddeus scrambles over the rocks, he will say to the wizard, “To what end are we to keep him alive?”

Awaiting his answer, Agathon will recite a silent prayer to Pelor for all of them (the "Light of Redemption Rite", the prayer used to ask for the redemption of lost souls, of course).

Assuming that we are not tactical and there are no bad guys about to rush us from the tunnel to spoil our conversation, Agathon will unshoulder his pack while he listens to Thaddeus’ reasoning and pulls out his one and only Cure Light Wounds Potion and drinks the brew all the while keeping a weather eye on the hobgoblin slumbering at his feet.

A Cure Light Potion for Agathon... (1d8+1=7)

[ooc]After drinking his potion, Agathon will “Ready an Action”. That action will be that he will coup de grace the hobgoblin (or just strike him if a coup de grace is impossible because of circumstances) if the hobgoblin moves or if any more enemies appear.