Bone March

Game Master farewell2kings

Order of initiative:

Agathon, Thaddeus, Jaques, Spiders, Belric

Agathon emerges from the fissure and puts his pack down, his pick out (but not readied) since the move through the fissure was a move action and putting the pack down (rather than dropping it) is another move action.

Thaddeus steps out into the cavern and fires his crossbow at a scuttling spider on the ceiling, hitting the beastie, but apparently not killing it, as it scuttles away into a fissure, dripping ichor on the floor.

Jacques has no spiders in hand reach and readies an action to strike first if another one dares show its fangs.

He doesn't have to wait long, as two of them jump on him. He spin kicks the first one into green frothy oblivion, but the other one jumps on him and unsuccessfully tries to bite Jacques.

Agathon is also jumped by two spiders. One of them misses, but the other one hits, delivering one painful point of damage. Agathon makes a total of 21 on his fortitude save and takes no poison damage

One spider jumps on Thaddeus and bites him on the leg. He takes one point of damage. Total of 19 of your fort save, Thaddeus

Belric is stuck in the fissure and needs to wait for either Thaddeus or Agathon to move before he can move into the bat cave. He spends this round trying to put on armor.

Jaques attempts to mash the one trying to bite him, before it gets another stab at him. initiative
1d20+3=10 and then to hit
1d20+3=22damage 1d6+1=2

The others appear to be taking the bugs out, so I'll get me armor back on, Belric thinks to himself.

Thaddeus will take a 5' step into the bat cave, hopefully giving Belric enough room to enter the fray if he wants to.

I will then take a move action to reload.

Thaddeus eyes the spider on his leg in the dim light, suppressing an instinctive shudder of revulsion. That thing's as big as a pumpkin! He puts the crossbow up to it, mindful of the angle so the bolt won't go through his leg, and squeezes the trigger.
Crossbow shot at a spider...los! (1d20+5=20, 1d8=7)

Reacting out of fear and instinct, Agathon will quickly try to hit the spider that bit him:
A Hit with the Heavy Pick: (1d20+6=15, 1d6+4=5)

Swinging around to try to quickly hit the other spider that has now started crawling down onto his left leg baring its fangs… Agathon will inadvertently make a 5 foot step further into the cave as his attention focuses completely on the thing attacking him…

Agathon pins the spider that bit him on his pick with a wed sounding "crunch-thump-pop" (it's dead). He steps into the cavern looking for further targets, which seem to be coming from above.

Thaddeus (aka Master Crossbowman Wizard) pins the spider on his leg with an expert shot from his light crossbow, splattering it and its eight legs in all directions.

Do I hear any more complaints about invisible castle? Also, Dave, you only need to roll initiative once per combat encounter, not every round.

Jacques strikes another spider with a practiced hand to combat move, a glancing blow that only wounds the spider.

The spider on Agathon misses. Another one joins the fight, also missing.

One spider attacks Jacques, missing. Maybe I should use invisible castle too!

One spider attacks Thaddeus from the ceiling. A hit! One point of damage, 13 on your fort save

Two spiders scuttle into the fissure, finding Belric. They needed two move actions to get there, so they can't attack.

Based on Belric's earlier post, he stops putting on his armor and pulls his waraxe and swings (the rolls made earlier indicate a miss). Belric fights at -2 in the fissure due to confined space.

Thaddeus will reload his crossbow for another shot with his move action.

Targeting priority:

• If I have a shot at the one attacking me, I'll take it, firing the weapon one handed if necessary.

• If I do not have a shot at the one attacking me, I'll take a shot at the one attacking Jacques if I can get a clear shot. He's only engaged with one at the moment, and if I hit he'll be freed up.

• If I do not have a shot at the one on myself or Jacques, I'll take a shot at one attacking Agathon.

• If I can't shoot the ones on myself, Jacques, or Agathon, I'll shoot one of the spiders that went into the fissure after Belric.

• If nothing else, I'll shoot one overhead or wandering around unengaged.
  

Another crossbow shot at a spider. (1d20+5=17, 1d8=7) Doesn't include -2 penalty for potentially firing one handed.

If I shot and killed the spider engaged with Jacques, I'll take a 5' step towards him and turn so he can see the spider on me. Presumably it would be in the center of my back if I didn't have a shot at it.

"They are just cave spiders, friends, lets dispatch them without losing composure", Jaques says calmly, while swatting the one still on him. Get it off, get it off, get it off 1d20+3=21 1d6+1=6 If the one on him is already gone he will use the attack on the next nearest spider, or the one on Thaddeus if he's close enough

If Belric can enter the cave without an attack of opportunity he will do so, if not....

"Come on ye buggers!" Belric mumbles, as he swats with his ax 1d20+3=9, 1d10+3=12 with the minus 2 squeezed his total to hit 7

Tight lipped and whirling about attempting to smack one of the two spiders on him, Agathon begins to lose a bit of his composure as he flails about with his pick and misses his target (doing so critically).
A hit with the Heavy Pick: (1d20+6=7, 1d6+4=5)

This is a fumble as he rolled a "1". So both spiders get an Attack of Opportunity on him... For this round, Invisible Castle sucked!

Spinning in place he will take another inadvertent 5 foot step into the bat cave…providing that spider poison doesn't bring him down, of course...

One of the spiders hits Agathon and does 2 points of damage with a bite. total 23 on your fort save

Thaddeus, as usual, expertly shoots another spider, splattering the cave with little bits of spider goo.

Jacques takes care of another spider, crushing its cantaloupe sized body. He then moves towards Thaddeus and Agathon, who are right next to each other (Belric is about 10' behind them in the fissure edge) and can engage one of the spiders facing them next round.

The two spiders on Agathon split off, one attacks him and misses. The other attacks Thaddeus and misses as well.

Belric is hit by one spider for one point of damage. Total 17 on fort save

Belric misses, uttering the apppropriate dwarven curse for the moment.

No additional spiders are visible on the ceiling. The one wounded one left (from Thaddeus' crossbow shot earlier) seems to have crawled back into the ceiling crack where they came from.

There must be some loose, dry, dirt around here to use on this goo on my hands and boots, eeyuuch Jaques attempts to mash the remaining spider actually on Agathon, but misses. 1d20+3=5 If he would just stand still a second and stop twisting about

I wonder how many are left? I only see the four. What the devil is Agathon doing? Do the spiders have some sort of neural toxin?

Thaddeus reloads and fires his crossbow at the spider attacking him.

Another crossbow shot...diediedie! (1d20+5=23, 1d8=6)

Still fighting down a potentially debilitating case of the willies, Agathon strikes at the nearest spider:
A Hit with the Heavy Pick: (1d20+6=14, 1d6+4=9)

In Agathon's mind he is shouting at himself, "Control! Control yourself! You're not going to hit anything like this! Don't let your friends down. Get a grip!"

Belric takes a five foot step into the cave, making sure he is not flanked by the two spiders if there are two left Lashing out with CAP, he 1d20+3=10, 1d10+3=12 misses!

"By Moradin's hairy holy testicles" he thinks to himself, as his loose armor interfers with his swing, "never take ye armor off", passes through his thoughts as he notices how well the others are doing against the unexpected food supply.

"If there are any major parts left, I will try to make me Mum's spider stew", he thinks remembering the crunching delicacy, causing his mouth to water slightly.

Agathon and Thaddeus kill the last two spiders facing them. Belric still has two spiders on him, who scuttle away, triggering attacks of opportunity from everyone except Thaddeus, who has his crossbow out.

The last two spiders drop dead to the floor. The cavern is still.

500 xp each

That Xp award includes awards for role-playing and puzzle solving since the last award. I gave Belric more XP last time by mistake. There is no difference in XP award "curving" until 4th level.

Releasing an uncontrollable shudder, Agathon will lightly whisper to the others, “Is everyone all right?”

After hearing their response and confirming that everyone is still very much alive, he will slowly and deliberately (so as to remain as quiet as possible) take his armor from his pack and begin putting it on.

If it is possible to “Take 10 or Take 20” to Move Silently in donning his armor, he will gladly take the extra time in the effort to remain quiet. If not, then here is a standard Move Silently roll:
A Move Silently Roll: (1d20+2=10)

Agathon will keep his Heavy Pick out and propped against the wall next to him (for an easy grab) while putting on his armor (in case we are interrupted during this process). Once he is finally armored up, he will put the pick away and slowly and quietly draw Ole Blue for the coming foray further into the mine

In his mind as he goes about slowly re-armoring, Agathon will say a mental prayer to Pelor thanking him for getting him through this most nightmarish fight: “Oh Great Shining Light of Life… Give me the courage to not let my friends down again! If it is your will, allow me to be the sharp edge of your Holy Blade and to do Your work this night!”

Belric cure's his point of damage "Moradin by ye grace take away this minor pain" he intones, and starts once again puting on his armor.

"any of ye hurt?" Belric asks quietly, cinching his last strap if there is time he will conduct heal checks on Agathon, Jaques, and Thaddeous 1d20+4=21, 1d20+4=20, 1d20+4=18 Depending on the amount of damage, he will either wait, or cast cure minor wounds or light

Looking at the gooey remains of the spiders, Belric thinks to himself, "ach what a waist, and me not having a proper kettle to cook 'em in"

Hope none of the humanoids heard that brief fracas. Jaques looks over the others in the strange luminous glow of the lichens, and sees that no one looks to be in too bad shape. He moves up to the entrance to the bat-cave again, and peers down it to see if anyone, or any thing, is approaching.

"I'm all right", Thaddeus whispers to Belric. 2hp...20% though.

Thaddeus will carefully wipe any spider goo off his crossbow. I just got this thing! I hope it doesn't stain the wood!

He will then reload and keep watch while Agathon and Belric finish up with their armor, then follow the others quietly over towards the net.

The distant sound of picks and hammers falling has not stopped. The net looks like it hasn't been moved or disturbed in years, as it's covered in crusted spiderwebs, natted lint, dirt, tiny vermin skeletons, etc.

The tunnel beyond is narrow, but passable without removing your armor, it appears.

A search of the cavern reveals two human skeletons under a mat of caked spiderwebs and bat guano. Most everything on them is rotted away, but you do find 83 sp, 45gp, a masterwork silver dagger and a crusted old potion bottle labeled "Haste."

"Lad" Belric quietly addresses Agathon, "lend me that there fancy nail cleaner" taking the silver dagger, Belric will assist in making an opening in the net, by slicing at the bottom strands first and working his way up. He will then hand the dagger to Agathon, so that he can finish the higher portion all the while keeping an eye out and an ear for any enemies, eight legs or less.

"I suggest ye get some o that lichen to light yer way" Belric tells the others, quietly,"Oh before I ferget, each of ye take an oil for when it best suits ye" Belric hands each a vial of magic weapon oil.

"remember it will last but one minute, so make sure ye timing be right.

Thaddeus will scrape off enough lichen for anyone who wants some. He will then dip the end of his staff in spider goo, and then in the glowing lichen. Kind of a poor man's staff of light.

"I think you should carry the haste potion.", he whispers to Agathon, pressing the flask into his hand. "In case we run into really stiff resistance."

Thaddeus will also use some string to tie a sun rod to the end of one of his crossbow bolts, but will not ignite the sun rod yet. A second unlit sun rod will be held in his teeth like a cigarette. He will then stand watch with his crossbow while Belric and Agathon cut the net down, or help if they need it, hoping that the darkness and the activity conceal his growing anxiety.

I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain, awash in clear and pure thought.

Agathon will take the potion and stick it into his belt pouch.

"What will this do if I drink it?", he asks Thaddeus.

After a quick whispered explanation of the Haste spell in terms perfect for a young child's understanding, Agathon will grin in anticipation of using this new bit of magic...

"Cool, thanks!"whispered, of course

Nodding silently to Belric, Agathon will hand him the dagger and accept the Magic Weapon oil (he already knows what this stuff does) and place the diminutive bottle next to the Haste Potion.

As Belric cuts the lower portion, Agathon will watch and carefully listen for any movement of sentries on the other side of the net…
A Listen Check: (1d20=8)
A Spot Check: (1d20+3=14)

Once Belric is finished with the lower portion, Agathon will slowly begin cutting away the upper potion. He will be careful to support the weight of the net as he cuts it lose and work with Belric to drop it quietly and stow it to one side of the passage opening.

Shrugging off the sting of the spider bites, Agathon will step aside for Jacques to pass and will step into his place in the marching order for our entry into the mine...

Jaques will follow Thaddeus's lead he is smart and use spider webbing to stick lichen to the end of his quarterstaff. Thus equipped he will slowly move out in advance, quietly, and stealthly, scouting ahead for the party. He will refresh hand signal arrangements with Thaddeus, before hand.move silently
1d20+5=21 hide 1d20+6=7 I guess its pretty damn hard to hide in a dark tunnel holding a glow stick in front of you. Oh well, they won't hear him coming so maybe they won't be looking as he waives the stick around.

Jacques carefully walks down the narrow tunnel. It is not as narrow as the tunnel that led into the spider/bat cave was and Jacques thinks the others could negotiate it with armor on. Vermin scurry left and right, none of it dangerous or monstrous in size.

After about 30 feet, the tunnel ends. A rotted trapdoor covers a 3' hole in the floor, but only barely. Jacques looks down into an obvious mine shaft, lit by distant flickering torchlight. The metallic banging noises are louder now and Jacques can make out the very distant sound of garbled and rough voices.

"Belric, why don't you lay down here", Agathon will whisper as he indicates the floor next to the hole. "Once I lift the trap door, you can lean in and have a look about with your Dwarven sight... If all is well below and there are no sentries near to hand, Jacques can then go below and scout around a bit. When it comes time for us to go, take my hand and I will lay down and lower you to the floor so as to not overly alarm the miners..."

Once he is in position he will whisper to Thaddeus and Jacques, "Get ready to move fast should this fail..."

With that, Agathon will lean over and get a good solid grip on the trap door. Once he thinks he has it good and tight, he will begin to very slowly and gently open the door (to prevent creaks)...

1d20+4=20 Jaques rigs a quick release rope harness for Belric, so Agathon can lower him down the 8' shaft quietly. Jaques will drop down in advance of Belric, so he can provide cover, as well as make sure the lowering goes quietly.

Thaddeus will drizzle some oil on the hinges before Agathon opens the trap door, hopefully preventing unnecessary squeakage.

I'll also take any loose gear before people climb down, and hand it down to them once they're down, so they can use both hands and make less noise. This includes quarterstaffs, crossbows, backpacks, swords, axes, and whatever else. Of course if anyone wants to retain their primary weapon that's fine.

When it's my turn to climb down (probably last), I'll pass down my gear first and then climb down.

Belric takes a look from the prone positions spot/listen checks1d20+3=20, 1d20+4=13

Seeing nothing he gives the go ahead to Jaques and puts on the rope harness, and eases his way into the hole, and lowers himself with his burly arms first then at full extension lets the rope take his weight, thinking to himself" Hope Agathon's grip is sure, because if its not.. well I be dwarvish knocker, letting the gobbers know we come a calling"

The party descends into the mine shaft without any problems. The shaft ends about 20 feet behind you, but continues to the edge of sight in front, deeper into the hillside. Distant torchlight flickers. The sound of picks and shovels is clearly audible....perhaps 100-150 feet down the tunnel.

Thaddeus will get his gear together, double check his crossbow, and look at Jacques expectantly. If Jacques wants to use a rope for signaling us to come forward, that's fine, or if he wants to just come back and tell us what's going on that's fine too.

Agathon will get his gear together and have his bow ready for action. He will look at Jacques expectantly and hand him his coil of rope and the Silver Dagger. He will smile and nod to Jacques and give him his best 'after you' look and will then turn to look down the tunnel to 'cover' the little guy with his bow.

1d20+5=25 Jaques sneaks up to see what's going on. Based on the roll, I'd say he also held the pick for one of them to wipe their brow, without them noticing. If all looks promising, Jaques signals the others to come forward.

Belric, will make sure his armor straps are tight, wrist loop secure for his waraxe, and shield firmly held. He will wait till the signal.

Link to map

The trap door the party descended through is in square S13

Jacques sneaks up to G14, right next to a huge pile of coal ore. The air is thick with coal dust. The rest of the party is about 30-40 feet behind.

Jacques needs to make a Fortitude save due to the coal dust in the air so he won't cough.

South of the coal pile is a long table. About a dozen kobolds stand at the table, sorting through coal, picking out choice smaller chunks and tossing them into baskets. Baskets are stacked up south of this table. It looks like they are picking out the smaller coal chunks that would be more useful during a siege, more easily lit and consistent burning.

The kobolds are unarmored. Each has a very small pick like hammer tool (sharp pick on one end, hammer on the other). They are covered in soot. Jacques can hear more hammering, picking, squeaking of wheels and voices from beyond.

Jaques stifles the cough 1d20+6=15 barely. He signals the others to attack, and but personally holds his attack until he sees the results of either Thaddeus's spell, or crossbow bolt shot. At that signal he launches his own open hand attack on the nearest conscious humanoid. 1d20+3=22 1d6+1=7

Belric applies one of his magic weapon oil to CAP, sneaks up to the edge of the cavern entrance move silently 1d20-1=4

Once Thaddeous launches his spell he will rush in and attack, trying to keep near Agathon to prevent flanking. Picking out the nearest standing Kobold, Belric takes a mighty swing initiative 1d20+2=18, Swing 1d20+4=16, 1d10+4=6 First Kobold is a recipient of CAP.

Thaddeus will move up carefully and quietly until he has line of sight to some of the kobolds - probably around I-13 or so.

Move silently to approach the kobolds. (1d20+3=10) Meh.

If surprise is achieved, I'll start a sleep spell and drop it in the center of the sorting room.

If the kobolds spot us, or hear our not-stealth fighters, or otherwise alert, raise an alarm or start to run away, I'll drill one with my crossbow: Shoot! (1d20+5=21, 1d8=8)

As agathon is beginning the surprise action 30 - 40 feet behind Jacques' position, there is no way he will get an action with his sword as he must use his one action during surprise to move... So, he will run 60 feet (half of a full run since this is only a single action and not a full round). This will bring him to the corner or just a bit beyond it (I can not be certain since we were not told whether or not these are 10 foot squares or 5 foot squares). If they are 5 foot, then he will have rounded the corner and ended up in square F-9. If they are 10 foot,he will be in square E-11. Either way, Agathon gets to see who and what is beyond that blind corner...

Agathon will turn the corner and look to see who will be his first target. Dismissing the Kobolds as his first choice, he will scan the mine ahead for bigger prey.

Map updated

Jacques and Belric move into the room and immediately drop two kobolds with their attacks. Thaddeus' crossbow shot takes out a third kobold. Agathon checks the blind spot towards the cask of water and sees a kobold filling up a bucket of water.

The kobolds shriek in terror and flee en masse.

At J-02, a large ugly looking ogre turns towards you, picking up a battered looking studded warclub. Before him is a large pile of coal that is being made larger by coal chunks dropping on to it from a chute above. The cave behind the ogre slopes downwards. A couple of kobolds are listlessly picking at veins of coal with pickaxes. They stop their mining and watch their brothers run by screeching.

Initiative (I took the liberty of rolling for those of you who didn't)

Thaddeus square I13
Jacques square D10
Belric Square E10
Ogre Square J02
Agathon Square E11

Thaddeus will reload, take a 5' step into the room, and let fly a bolt at the ogre.

First shot at the ogre! (1d20+5=19, 1d8=4)

If I didn't have a shot at the ogre I'll put a round into any kobolds that decide to stick around and be heroes.

Belric stomps forward to G06, in Common "Eh, ye ugly Basturd! What Halfling got ye mudder knocked up to calve such a weakling!" He shouts, while slowly swinging his warax Cap in slow circles keeping his wrist limber. Thinking to himself " Ach he surely be a big bugger! That tree trunk looks like it'll hurt right smart!"

[occ] if the ogre, or kobold gets in swinging range 1d20+4=23, 1d10+4=13 [/ooc] Belric hacks with Cap, drawing blood.

Agathon will move 25 feet to Square E-6. It’s a straight shot and Belric moves before me, so he will not be in the way.

If the Ogre steps up to meet us in combat, then Agathon will swing at him once he is within range…
A hit with Ole Blue: (1d20+7=25, 2d6+6=15)

If the Ogre does not move up but rather stands his ground… Agathon will continue movement past Square E-6 and stop about 15 to 20 feet short of the beast.

As he moves forward with Belric, Agathon will square his jaw and pay careful attention to how the huge creature moves as it comes forward (or how it holds itself as it stands its ground, whichever he does…).

Out loud as he moves into position, he will sniff in an exaggerated way and say to the Ogre, “My, you’re a stinky one, aren’t you?”

Holy B!+!+*@, how many nails are in that tree trunk, 1,2,6,9,12... Jaques holds his movement in check to remain abreast of Agathon, so at least the two of them will be side by side in skirmish line. If the Ogre advances to attack, he will attack with Stunning Fist along with Agathons attack. If the Ogre does not move up, Jaques will stop alongside Agathon maintaining the skirmish line, waiting for the Ogre to move up to attack them. "C'mere, gorgeous, let's dance."STUNNING FIST attack if I read the rules right 1d20+11=26
1d6+1=7
Yeeehaa, I'm not wasting that on anybody but big ugly

Thaddeus has to take more than a 5' step to get into the room, so here's my interpretation of his intent

Thaddeus moves to D11, which gives him cover from missile fire from the table. He shoots the ogre with his crossbow, nicking the creature's shoulder slightly.

Jacques waits for Agathon to move.

Belric moves up to G-6, taunting the ogre. The ogre moves in to attack. He covers four squares since he's a large creature FG04 and FG05 and attacks with his massive club I rolled a g&$%!@n "2" missing horribly.

Jacques and Agathon move in to E6 (Agathon) and F6 (Jacques). They are within the ogre's reach, but have not yet moved out of a threatened square, so the ogre gets no attacks of opportunity.

All Belric, Jacques and Agathon need to do is take 5' steps to threaten the ogre and score their attack rolls.

So hold on to those very good rolls, gentlemen and use them next round. Reminder that Jacques now goes on Agathon's initiative.

Looking up into the Ogre's yellowed eyes, Agathon grits his teeth, steps forward into the swing (a 5 foot step) and aims Ole Blue to slash across the chest of his foe:

As directed by the DM, I am keeping my previous roll (thank you, by the way...) and re-posting it here:

A hit with Ole Blue: (1d20+7=25, 2d6+6=15)

Feeling the sword part sinew and scrape roughly against a rib of the Ogre, Agathon will shake off the euphoria of combat to focus on what is to come.

"Pace yourself! You have an entire mining operation to fight tonight, boy!"

Note to DM and Players: From now on, whenever I put a quote of "speech" in Italics, that means that this is a thought and not something said aloud.

Thaddeus will take a 5' step forward into D-10, reloading his crossbow with now-practiced movements. I seem to have an aptitude for this. Maybe I should have been an archer?

He then looses another shot at the ogre: Second shot at the ogre! (1d20+5=14, 1d8=4)

Thaddeus goes first in initiative order so the ogre isn't in melee yet - no penalty for firing into melee. 14 might hit...isn't the ogre -1 to AC for being size large?

Taking a five foot step, Belric chops at the Ogre's right leg,[ooc]1d20+4=23, 1d10+4=13 /[ooc] A satisfying chunk is taken out of the bugger's hide.

"GET INTA FLANKING DA BASTURD!" Belric shouts to Agthon.

Jaques holds down Agathon's flank moving with him, and striking with STUNNING FIST per the previous rolls He smiles wickedly.