Council of Thieves

Game Master Mug

As Caladius readies his bow, he adds on to Ava's bluff,
"Personally, I hope you all decline. You'll lose against us, forget the reinforcements, and I am so itching for a fight."

Even from across the room Ava can see a flash of uncertainty steal over the goblin kings face, "Dottari? Here!?" He curses something in goblin to the robed goblin, who cringes away in fear and stammers something back.

As Ava enters she see's two goblins to her right, with arrows pointed her way, but they hold their shot, waiting on some command. Turning back to Ava, Whitechin tries to sound confident, "Goblins are not afraid! We will kill you all!! ATTACK!" At his queue, the goblins turn as one and rush at the door.

As they begin their rush, two things happen in the beginning moments; first, a sharp female cry erupts from the back of the room you cannot see. Second, an arrow flies with incredible strength, accuracy, and luck across the entire 50' distance between Caladius and Whitechin. The projectile takes the goblin king through a gap in his armor, right through his sternum, and slams him back into the throne -pinning him to it. Whitechin doesn't seem to comprehend that he's already dead, and struggles to stand even and bloody froth begins leaking from his mouth.

Trying to get this out before I'm gone for the morning. Please post Round 1 actions and roll init. @Caladius, was that your grandfathers, fathers, fathers famous black arrow or something? Sheesh!

Greatest. Readied Action. EVER!

Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

Initiative 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13

Haha, oh man. "Where did he learn to negotiate like that?" Dat arrow.

Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

... DWARVES GET +1 ATTACK VS GOBLINS. I FORGOT. DURRRRRR

Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

Actually I was talking to Corneleous back there! Both because Lucon is nervous around nobles and wizards and not at all because Lucon has the Warcraft 3 Peasant voice in my head. Not at all.

Now excuse me while I laugh myself to tears at that arrow. Holy crap that was amazing.

Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

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Round 1

Fibbic, seeing his leader impaled behind him, shrieks in anger and waves his wand at Caladius. A bolt of energy shoots out of the wand, and flies with unwavering accuracy at Caladius, striking him in the shoulder. 3 damage Caladius

GoblinDog1, hearing it's masters command rushes towards the nearest foe and you hear the sound of teeth tearing into flesh.

Goblin4 quickly aims and releases it's arrow at the most obvious target, Ava. The arrow is nearly deflected by her armor, but does in fact find the flesh beneath. 2 damage Ava

Goblin5 charges into the frey, obviously more scared of his leader than Corneleous' words. It's swipe at Ava with the knife is deftly dodged, and it remains a little off balance now.

Enko moves towards the left line of goblins, serene concentration in his face and in his limbs. When he reaches the first one, he steps on its foot and pulls it backwards by the neck, causing it to fall on its face. His followup kick as the goblin falls is nearly enough to keep it out of the fight, but it seems to have a little fight left in it.

Ava hurls a dart into the oncoming horde, specifically aiming for Goblin3 as he seems unprepared for an attack, before tumbling behind her trusty meat-wall, Lucon. The dart catches the archer on the side of the neck, spinning it around as the bow goes flying off to the side. The goblin doesn't get up.

Goblin8, obviously frightened, moves to assist its fallen goblin friend and jabs at Enko with its knife. The monk, his serene expression unwavering, twists his body just enough for the blade to miss by less than an inch, but miss it does.

Goblin9 seems uncertain what to do, whipping his head back to his impaled leader, and back to the large group of enemies at the door. He takes a step to the side, and shouts a nasty obscenety at the group, waving his weapon as he does do.

Caladius grimaces at the sound of a woman's cry, his brow furrowing with anger. He snaps off a pair of arrows, these ones directed at the robed goblin near Whitechin's throne before stepping into the room. The first arrow seems to meet some kind of shimmering wall but makes it through and pierces the robbed goblin. The other arrow hits this same wall and bounces away. (Adjacent to goblin5. Figured you'd rather shoot then move to avoid the AoO)

Goblin7 comes at the tiefling with a shout, waving its sword up high, and lands a gashing blow to his forearm. 2 damage Caladius

The former archer, Goblin3, stays down.

Corneleous says something in goblin, and then does on in common, "Caladius, always ruining the fun. I call dibs on the magic user." With a motion a slippery glob of something appears under the robed goblins feet, but although it wobbles precariously for a moment, it manages to keep its feet.

Goblin10 moves in on Enko, swinging a nasty little axe with all its goblin strength. The blow flies wide without Enko having to expend hardly any effort at all.

Goblin11, seeing Enko starting to look overwhelmed, skirts the fight a bit then comes in at Enko's side. Although it's own axe swing would have done considerable damage had it landed, the goblin loses its balance and spins like a top, and it axe buries itself into the pillar its standing next to.

botting Amon moves a little to the back of the group, and channels --trying to heal those who seem most hurt at the moment. He shouts, "We're so spread out! I can't reach you all!" Channel - Reaches Caladius, Lucon, Ava and himself:: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

GoblinDog2 moves after it's doggy companion, and more sounds of teeth on flesh are heard. Whoever, or whatever is being bitten doesn't make a sound.

Lucon lets out a joyful shout as Caladius' arrow strikes true and barrels into the room next to Caladius, as he tries to break their line and their spirit in mad display of bravado. His attack on Goblin7 just obliterates the small creature, his sword chopping it from collar to hip.

Goblin6 tries to stand up to attack Enko from it's prone position, but Enko is ready for it, and kicks the thing so hard in the head it just drops back down to the floor, flopping like a fish.

GoblinDog3 (unseen)

**3rd Floor Map**

On to Round 2!
INIT:
Fibbic
GoblinDog1
Goblin4
Goblin5
Enko
Ava
Goblin8
Goblin9
Caladius
Corneleous
Goblin10
Goblin11
Amon
GoblinDog2
Lucon
GoblinDog3

Fibbic growls his frustration that things aren't going better in the battle and wave's the wand once more, this time at Enko. Once more the bolt of energy flies through the air and strikes Enko to some effect. 2 damage Enko. Seeing less than positive results, the goblin yells something in goblin and quickly snatches something from Whitechins body, looking ready to run.

GoblinDog1, hearing a new command from its master, turns and rushes towards Enko, leaving it's previous prey behind. It runs over the body of the deceased Goblin6 and takes a bloody bite out of the monks shin! 6 damage Enko, and please make a Fort Save (DC12) or take -2 to Dex and Cha.

Goblin4 senses its life may soon be at and end, and it is almost with sad acceptance that it raises its bow once again. Before firing an errant shot towards Corneleous he does move deeper into the room.

Goblin5 can tell it's no longer got any support, "Ugsy bugsy!" and moves excitedly to flank the beleaguered monk, hitting him with a high slash with it's knife. 2 damage Enko, both have critted but neither confirmed on you. Ouch!

"Excuse me. I have business elsewhere," Enko says to the goblins surrounding him. He leaps out of the way of the goblins and over the goblin dog1, and makes his way up to the other goblin dogs. He pauses for an infinitesimal moment, remembering the rash from last time--but there is no time to waste. He savagely axe-kicks dog2 with a downward sweep, breaking its spine. If you would have stayed put or retreated I apologize, it just seemed you were trying to get to the dogs victim.

Ava winces as the arrow slices past her, cutting her arm. The pain is only momentary however, as Amon's waves of positive energy wash over her, sealing her wounds and reinvigorating her. She grips her axe, steeling herself as she launches a counter-attack, bearing down on goblin5 and slicing his head clean off. You're AC is normal, you weren't able to charge and could reach and hit him without charging.

Goblin8, seeing goblin5 go down, and knowing the monk is wounded, goes back to attack him. He's unable to land his knife attack despite his sneaky intentions.

Goblin9 see's a weakened Enko alone in the corner, but Corneleous' threats have affected him greaty and he throws his sword at the Viscount with a hiss, and bolts through a burrow hole in the floor.

Caladius steps beside Lucon and Corneleous then snaps off another pair of arrows. "He's shooting me with little balls of light, Viscount. How about we race to see who can kill the wretch first?" His first arrow takes Fibbic in the back of the head, bursting through the ineffective magical shield which protected him earlier and putting an end to that threat. His second arrow staggers Goblin11, the one nearest the Viscount, nearly putting it out of the fight.

Corneleous says something in goblin to the room at large, and moves to the north west, meanwhile beginning a spell which requires much concentration. One Round casting time, so the eagle will appear the beginning of your next turn and act that turn.

Goblin10 moves in on Enko once again, and practically recreates his attempt on last round, missing the monk so badly, Enko probably didn't even pay him any mind.

Goblin11 thinks he has an opportunity to hit the distracted Viscount, but the axe swing is too obstructed by the pillar and the wall, and it doesn't come anywhere close.

botting Amon comes forward now, and establishes a life-link with Enko, knowing the healing won't start for a few more seconds, but unable to get close enough to administer another form of healing. Link Link gives +5hp at the start of Amons' turn next round. So you're still hurting till then... :(

"Enko! Watch your flank!" the man bellows, wheeling around to the left before crashing into goblin dog1 with a charging tackle, pushing the smaller creature back. The astounding maneuver allows attacks from the dog, goblin10, and the injured goblin11. The carpenters large, armored frame shrugs off both axe swings, and the biting of the rat-like teeth on the goblin dog, as if they were flea bites. Lucon pushes the animal back a good ten feet with incredible ease, putting him much nearer the monk's side. That... was awesome. Moving a creature 10' and 3 AoO's without a scratch.

GoblinDog3 moves in on Enko, jaws slavering with diseased saliva, but the heavily injured monk gracefully dodges the bite attack.

**3rd Floor Map**

On to Round 3!
INIT:
GoblinDog1
Goblin4
Enko
Ava
Goblin8
Caladius
Corneleous
Goblin10
Goblin11
Amon
Lucon
GoblinDog3

GoblinDog1 decides to try again to hit the pushy carpenter, and this time lands a viscious bite on that mans' arm, just below his elbow. 6 damage Lucon, and please make a Fort Save (DC12) or take -2 to Dex and Cha.

Goblin4 continues to sidle away from conflict, eyeing the bolt hole nearby, and decides to loose an arrow at Lucon, badly missing the mark.

Enko assumes a total defense posture, his face a mask of concentration, and bleeding from multiple cuts and barely keeping his feet. He maintains enough discipline not to cry out, but he is clearly gravely wounded. He yells out in a overly-calm voice, "It's Jaiyana!"

Ava deftly steps forward, her momentum carrying her in an arc as she positions herself to flank Goblin10, swinging her axe over the creature's ducking head. "There's still time!" She calls out, sweeping her gaze over the goblins. "Surrender now and you might yet live!"

Goblin8 stays true to it's sneaky nature, and moves to flank Enko, the distaction of enemies on both sides proving to be too much as the knife slips through and jabs into Enkos' belly. The monk's composure slips as the number of wounds proves to be too much. 4 damage Enko. AC was 22 actually. I have you at -4hp correct?

"Tch. Stupid, miserable goblins." Caladius quick steps back toward the center of the room and as before looses another pair of deadly arrows. The first takes down the goblin8 standing over Enko, the second, already on it's path before the first reached its mark, takes goblin11 in the chest, sending both of the little beasts tumbling to the floor.

The viscounts spell finally finishes, and an otherwordly portal immediately appears at the back of the room. An eagle's glowing eyes flash crimson as it leaps into the air after the nearest target (goblin dog3). In a flurry of feathers, fur, and claws the eagle emerges this rounds victor, the dog looking none-too healthy.
Corneleous moves back and inward, and fires an acid dart at goblin10 a few feet away. The dart finds it's mark, despite the press of bodies in close combat, and the goblin yowls at its skin sizzles in acid.

Goblin10 moves closer to the throne, trying to keep itself from getting flanked, and strikes at Lucon, the axe bouncing off armor without noticeable effect.

botting (& 5hp to Enko), you are now at 1hp, prone, and conscious. Amon comes forward even more now, and establishes a life-link with Enko, knowing the healing won't start for a few more seconds, but unable to get close enough to administer another form of healing. Link Link gives +5hp at the start of Amons' turn next round. So you're still hurting till then... :(

Lucon takes a five foot step to the northwest to flank with Enko, pressing his back to the pillar and taking a swing at the goblin dog. His sword split a long, deep would down the dogs body, and it goes down in a splatter of blood.

GoblinDog3 attacks the summoned eagle with equal ferocity with it's nasty teeth. 6 damage. Now 1/7hp

**3rd Floor Map**

On to Round 4!
INIT:
Goblin4
Enko
Ava
Caladius
Corneleous
Goblin10
Amon
Lucon
GoblinDog3

Jaiyana or Janiwen? -bleeds- and I think it was 20 due to my DEX being impaired.

@Enko - It's Jaiyana, the same Urban Ranger who was guarding the back secret entrance while the rest of you went exploring this building. And you're right, I forgot you'd failed your Fort save. I stand corrected. :) Did you want to do anything in round 4? You are conscious. I'd botched the description of Amons actions for Round 3. Enko did actually get 5hp on Amons turn in Round 3, and is now feeling slightly less bleedy.

Aye, I do want to do something...let's see...

Goblin4 tries one last arrow attack, this one at Lucon, and then dives headfirst into the bolt-hole in the floor.

Lying on the ground, bruised, and covered in raw wounds, Enko takes out his lantern as if to light his flask of oil. As the goblin dog sees this and attacks, the blistered and bleeding monk lashes out with a foot, knocking the overgrown mangy rodent sideways on the ground. His followup attack fails to land on the prone animal, but the thing is at a disadvantage.

Ava steps after goblin10, swinging her axe into the creature's unprepared flank as it attacks Lucon. Her strike sinks deep into goblin flesh, and the goblin topples sideways, the axe requiring a tug or two to free it from the small dead monster.

Caladius, seeing no foes, refrains from taking any immediate actions. Delay Action

Corneleous, also having no more foes to attack, moves deeper into the room a little. Just in time to watch his eagle descend on the tripped gobling dog and finish it off.

**3rd Floor Map**

Combat is over. You are now level 3!

Amon rushes over to Enko, to help him up and offers him a potion of cure light wounds. The halfing tries to keep his face impassive at the sorry state of Enko's wounds and blistered skin. CLW: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 5) = 9

The oracle then leans down to check if Jaiyana is still alive, but her wounds were just too great. He surmises she was barely alive when you all entered the room, and the dogs finished her off when the fighting started. Amazingly, Whitechin isn't completely dead, the arrow pinning him to the throne holding fast, but blood runs from his mouth and nose. The clawed fingers of one hand reach weakly towards the unused greatsword leaning against the throne. He seems unable to draw more than the scarcest of breaths, and his nearly empty eyes move from one face to another, in fear or anger you can't tell, the light inside them dimming quickly. In a surpreme final effort, his lips move faintly, and some sound passes comes out, but it is so faint.

Caladius storms over to Whitechin's throne as the excitement dwindles.
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

As the hairy-chinned goblin burbles his last breath, Caladius growls, "That's mine." before knocking the throne over onto its side, leaving Whitechin pinned to it. He stands, takes the massive sword in hand, then slides it satisfyingly into its sheath over his right shoulder.

He turns to talk to the others but cuts himself off, recognizing the fact that these torchbearers knew the girl Whitechin had captive.

Two things to note, I did use up two potions with Enko, not one as I wrote. Second, the 'things you found' spoiler refers to this floor only.

1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Lucon stumbles over to Enko's side, but his relief turns to heartbreak as he spots the dead Jaiyana. His mouth hangs open and he lets out a shuddering breath of disbelief. The big man's watery eyes begin to run as he buries his face in his sleeve, and, unabashedly, begins to sob.

Enko stands a little straighter, his rash and many, but not all, of his wounds fading. He walks to Jaiyana's body.

"I am sorry, friend Jaiyana, that we could not rescue you in time. May your spirit drift onward to where it is meant to go."

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Enko ignores the goblin and turns to Caladius instead. "One torch goes out and another is lit. You have joined us so far; will you continue with us?"

Ava heads to the far end of the room, giving it a quick sweep as she goes.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

"A shame." Ava says, sparing a glance at Jaiyana's body before moving to search the room for treasures. She'll hand the wand and scroll to the Viscount, and the potion to Amon before adding the rest to the Torchbearer inventory.

"One to show the boys," she says, lifting Whitechin's beard. She hacks at his neck with her axe, but can't get through with a single blow, sawing it back and forth before it comes free. She holds it up by the hair, letting it drip out for a while before stowing the gruesome trophy in a grimy sack.

"We're done here." Ava says, coming down from her battle-high. She walks over to Lucon and pats him on the back. "Come, we'll do one more sweep and then head back. We'll drink to her memory, and our success."

The Viscount pauses over the fallen ally. A pity. Can we return her body to safety?

Do we know what time it is? How can we transfer a body through the city without drawing attention?

The wand he shifts to a pocket in his robe. The scroll he checks briefly to make sure it's A) magic, and B) arcane.

Also, he'd run a Detect Magic on the items we've collected, and a quick trip around the room (Perception1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5.

Wiping his nose, faced flushed, he dabs at his eyes with the grimy hankerchief and stows it again. "Aye... aye."" he says distantly, wearing his troubles plain on his face. "I will carry what need be."

Ava will leave the logistics of Jaiyana's body to the ones who knew her better and makes for the stairs. She keeps her axe on hand, as she knows there's at least one goblin left in the building.

Ava will take 20, sweeping through the rooms to make sure she didn't miss anything. Perception total of 26, or 28 relating to stone.

I asked for a desired time before the assault, but no one specified a time. I'll say that you started in the early afternoon, to try and finish before dark. It's now nearly sundown, the last specks of light coming over the horizon.

After much diligent searching Ava has uncovered a secret door in the of the north east room on the 2nd floor. Using the large silver key found on Fibbics body, she manages to get the door open and find a ladder leading down to a hidden room on the 1st floor. Inside is an armory, with mostly broken and rusted weapons and armor, but there are a few nice pieces, probably used by Whitechin himself, amongst the junk.
You find:
1 chainmail shirt of exceptional quality
1 crossbow of exceptional quality
2 small studded leather armor of exceptional quality
A sack of money full of 1d1000 + 200 ⇒ (810) + 200 = 1010gp and 1d600 + 250 ⇒ (67) + 250 = 317sp
a dozen pieces of Jewelry and works of art of unknown value
1 tower shield
1 cestus of exceptional quality
1 Double Crossbow
10 bolts of exceptional quality
10 arrows of flight

Enko turns to the group at large. "My friends, augmenting our weapons and supplies are important for the trials that lie ahead,", he says deferentially.

"However, I humbly remind that the Torchbearers are here to give Westcrown hope. Some of this money can be used to buy food and medicines for the poor. It can be distributed quietly without revealing our identities or whereabouts. And we should leave a calling card at this former hideout, to let people know it is rid of goblins. Lucon, perhaps you know a crew that can restore or demolish this building--right now it is unsafe."

This little coin can change some symptoms- but until we change the underlying cause, a little donation can only go so far. We'd need score 10x this size to make a noticeable difference. Still, I'm sure we can find some to donate. I would suggest we spend a bulk of this on windfall on the fight itself.

Also: detect magic on any of the loot.

"Calling card? A heaping pile of two dozen goblin corpses isn't good enough?"

Amon snaps his fingers and begins rummaging around in his pockets and pouch, emerging with a small wooden token after a moments. "A 'calling card' eh? What about one of these? I remember Yakopulio gave them to us after we rescued Arael!" He holds up a palm-sized wooden object for closer inspection. The token has a small engraving of three torches, flame-tips intersecting, together creating a single large flame.

The search through the house and collecting of loot has taken a bit more time, and the sun is below the horizon now. As you are all well-aware, braving the streets at night is paramount to suicide. What do you want to do?

Would there be alternative means of getting around at night, like via roof tops or sewers? If so, what kind of check would Caladius need to make to be aware of these possible alternatives paths?

The sewers are a maze, full of danger, and the nature of the campaign kind of prohibits a working knowledge of the sewers, at least for now. The rooftops aren't really possible for traversal, based solely on the existence of the Roof Runner rogue archetype, which seems built specifically to allow rooftop traversal. Otherwise RAW would demand a series of Acrobatic checks (jumping rooftops) for however far you need to go. I will allow that if you are with certain NPCs from the Torchbearers you can travel through the sewers. However you are without such a person at this point.

Right! So our choices are to run like scamps through the streets back to (I presume) Torchbearer HQ or to camp in yucky goblin hole for the night. That's not worrisome at all! =P

"It's getting dark. Do you torchbearers have a place we can stay? I'd rather hurry there than leave you lot in this miserable hole."

Kn Local: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

Do I know how close HQ is and if we can get there safely...or an alternative?

"Tch. Time has escaped us."

Ava takes a moment to try and recall if there was anywhere safe they could hole up nearby.

Knowledge (Local): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17