DM-Camris' WRATH of the RIGHTEOUS Part 1: The Worldwound Gambit (table 2) (Inactive)

Game Master Camris

"With but one way to go and little reason to double back, I'd say we soldier on, if they are friendly then they are friendly, if they are not, then they are not." Pollux moves forward. "Prepare your bows, archers, I'm going to go say hello. Karthak, I believe it would be wise if you approach with me. However, it would be wise to hold your tongue for now. If it so happens that the two of them do reek of evil, and the stench of the three of us becomes unbearable, you may want to hold your nose as well."

He then walks forward until he's either stopped or within 15' of the guards.

Xaivan will draw his bow and tries to move silently and in the shadows behind Pollux and Karthak. He'll try to remain within 30' of them or until he runs out of cover to remain hidden.

As usual, Tess's prepared spells are in Bold under the "Spells" tab of her profile. The not-cantrips will be crossed out after use.

Set 3: I Want More Spell Slots
0: Dancing Lights; Daze; Detect Magic
1: Cause Fear; Ear-Piercing Scream

The girl holds her new crossbow awkwardly, checking for the umpteenth time that it held a bolt ready to fire. It was nice of Ce-Eshna to show me how to load this; hopefully I won't be getting in the way of the others....

Sorua stalks a small roach-like insect on the ground, before pouncing on it and proudly returning to her with it clutched in his mouth. "Hush! Don't make us known!" she scolds quietly, but scratches behind his ear with a roll of her eyes. "You're the bravest hunter, yes, yes, I know."

As the others venture to confront the two mongrelmen, she timidly stays out of sight, but moves to keep an eye on them. I wonder what evil smells like? I'll have to ask Sir Ironbreaker later....

Whereabouts are we on the map, sir GM?

Karthak just gives Pollux a brief look betraying an hint of anger before answering:"And I believe you love the sound of your voice way too much, Asmodite. I'll do what needs to be done. Let's go!"

Karthak wields shield and axe instead of just axe

Pollux doesn't hide his grin as they approach the guards. "Ahoy! We are travelers who have lost our way under the ruins of the crusade."

Behind them, Jokum watches, tensely. It's not a terrible plan...but it is risky. He narrows his eyes, and watches the guards closely, as he nocks an arrow and readies it to fire.

Readying an action to shoot the aggressor if they get attacked. Sorry for my little vanishing act for a while--real life caught up, but I'm through that now!

Karthak smiles grimly at the mongrelmen:"So... are you friends or foes of the crusade?" he simply asks giving the creatures an inquisitive stare.

Sense motive check: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

Once they spot you, they raise an alarm by howling and shrieking. "Intruders! More of that lot from Neatholm are here!" The guards brandish their clubs and move to take cover behind the barricades.

Ce-Eshna: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Jokum: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Karthak: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18
Pollux: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Tesseract: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Xaivan: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

Mongrelman 1: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16
Mongrelman 2: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

You guys are in the tunnel they are behind the barricades. This should be a really quick combat so I wont worry about the map much

So much for talking! Xaivan will move to within 30' and then fires the arrow he had ready at the one closest to him. Unless somebody stops him.

Bow vs FF AC: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11 for Arrow: 1d4 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + (3) = 7

Here we go again...

Tess joins the others quickly, hearing the alarm being sounded. Intruders? Why would they consider us intruders?

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

She levels a wicked glare at one of the mongrelmen. "Do we look like we come from Neatholm? Yet you would attack us on first glance! Well, if it's a fight you seek, we shall deliver."

Evil Eye, DC 14 Will save, targeting AC: failure = 1 round @ -2 penalty, success = 7 rounds

Round 1
Move Action: Get within 15' range of the nearest Mongrelmen barricade
Standard Action: Inspire Courage (+1 Atk/Dmg, +1 against mind-affecting spells)

"Subtlety's lost on your people..." Pollux says to Karthak right as the Mongrelmen take up arms against them. In a rousing voice, while drawing his weapon he says "Ye cowards, hiding underground while your false gods raze a city of righteous men above your heads."

The Asmodean braces his spear in front of himself and chuckles, feeling himself inspired, "I s'pose subtlety's lost on my people as well." then to his comrades waiting he shouts "If you did not hear, they are hostile, let us do away with them."

When calculating Xaivan's to-hit, be sure to add in the +1 for a total of 12 to-hit, with Tess's bonus it just might work...

Ce-eshna curses under her breath and moves up. Firing at an unengaded opponent.
PBS: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Jokum snarls as he waits, trying to get a good opening...not seeing one, he aims at the nearest mongrelman who isn't engaged in melee, and fires. There's a pained yowl from up ahead, and the big man smiles grimly.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 5

Minus any relevant penalties, obviously.

EDIT: If they're both engaged by the time we get to me, just shoot at the nearest one.

just waiting on our dwarf friend.

Will DC 14: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11 The mongrelman grows pale as Tess eyes him. As Pollux moves forward his words cause your hearts to swell, your courage bolstered.

Xavian's arrow manages to strike the nearest of the men in the shoulder.

The mongrels give a shout again, this time the voice is met with a reply from beyond the wooden screen.

The one shot by the halfling drops down behind the barricade.

The other tries to leap over the refuse and rushes at Pollux, think he is your leader. Acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8 However his foot tangles and he stumbles. He stands ready though if any draw too close. He is struck by booth Ce-Eshna's and Jokum's arrows and goes down.

Sry for the delay, jobgoing crazy...

Karthak scoffs at Pollux with grim determination:"Seems these blasphemers don't know what awaits them..."

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

Damage: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

Round 2
Free Action: Perception for traps: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Move Action: 5' forward
Standard Action: Attack: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 1 = 7 Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

"I do," Pollux says, answering Karthak as the dwarf rushes by admirably, though a little delayed, "glorious Hell!" He moves in behind Karthak, carefully looking for any hidden defenses along the way to clean up the last guard if he's not dead already.

Climb: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0 Karthak rushes forward trying to put a quick end to this battle but is stopped in his tracks falling to the ground as he tries to scramble over the barricade. He falls flat and takes a moment to pick himself back up.
Concludes round 1

Jokum growls and runs forward, stooped over slightly to get a better purchase on the barricade.

Climb: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

If he manages to make it over, he looks for the second guard, and snaps an arrow off at him.

PBS Attack: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 14
PBS Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 + 1 = 9

Xaivan will now move forward and, if able to see an enemy, will shoot first and let someone else ask the questions later.

Bow: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 1 = 15 for Arrow: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Jokum manages to scramble over the barricade and spotting the mongrel fires an arrow, narrowly missing him.

Xaivan tries to move through the small gap between the makeshift walls and spots the mongrel, his arrow is just as ineffective.

The mongrelman lurches to his feet suddenly after Xaivan comes close and swings at him. Club: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11 missing the halfling.

Xaiven steps back and fires an arrow at the mongrelman that attempted to cave his face in!

Bow: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 1 = 11 for Arrow: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Ce-Eshna will curse under her breath, damn much trickier shot when someone's in the way... She shifts so that she isn't trying to fire through Xavian and lets her arrow fly.

Attack: 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 6 + 1 - 4 = 18
Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 + 1 = 9

Struck by Ce-Eshna's arrow he drops to the ground with a grunt of pain.

Good shot ;)

GM: 2d4 ⇒ (1, 4) = 5

The sounds of two more moving about on the other side of the wooden screen can be heard.

Xaivan will quickly try to conceal his presence so that he might be able to attack with advantage as the new threats arrive.

Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14

Pollux moves forward, shouldering his spear and grabbing one of the unconscious by the scruff of his clothes. Using the limp man as a shield, the cleric then unbuckles his mace and holds it ready to smash the Mongrelman's face in.

"Halt your attack," he yells, "or I guarantee your comrade will have a warm spot waiting for him in Avernus!" though his words hold weight, his voice indadvertedly cracks like it belongs to a flowering thirteen year old.

Intimidate: 1d20 ⇒ 3

Karthak raises his eyes at Pollux's clumsy intimidation attempt:"Whatever... surrender and maybe we won't kill you!"

Do I still need to pass the climb check?

Jokum backs himself up against the barricade and aims his bow at the next screen, waiting for a mongrel head to appear and be skewered by an arrow.

Readying an attack if anything pops out without surrendering first. Add +1 to attack and damage if Point-Blank Shot applies!

Attack: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 4 + 1 = 22
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

There's a gap you can move through, but you wouldn't have been able to strike him. So no check to move to the door

There is a moment of silence from beyond the screen and then the sound of a door opening.

In the few moments that pass, Pollux whispers for guidance and raises his weapon, poised to kill the Mongrelman in his arms. "Give us passage or get on with it already!"

1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 1 = 12

Notching another arrow Ce-Eshna watches for movement

Tess, invigorated by their success, finds herself giggling at the inopportune crack in Father Pollux's voice. Her blood feels like it's throbbing behind her eyeballs with the force of her lethal glare. This is quite nice, she narrates, storing the words for a later entry in her journal. Nethys is truly the most intelligent of the gods- what use is physical might when it can be brought low by the gaze of sweet, innocent little Tesseract Squires?

She watches the door carefully, almost hungrily, anticipating another weak-minded creature to sap the will of.

Sorua whines quietly, disturbed by something, but Tess takes no notice.

Move action to cackle, standard action to ready an action.

Readied action: if the creature behind the door acts with hostility toward any of her party members, she will use her evil eye hex on them.

Jokum nocks another arrow, and cautiously approaches the screen.

Readying an attack (PBS assumed) if anything comes out from the screen--moving to 10' away from it.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 25
Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 = 4

A few quiet seconds later the screen bursts open and two mongrels stand with their clubs ready looking for the intruders.

Xaivan attacks the closest foe with his bow once more!

Bow: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 6 + 1 = 21 for Arrow: 1d4 ⇒ 3 plus Sneak Damage if flat-footed: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Ce-Eshna looses her arrow.
Attack: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 1 = 8
Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 = 4

Assuming I'm still moving before Xaivan and Ce-Eshna, and sorry for the continued attempts at diplomacy, I really don't want to fight, and I'm pretty sure that they don't either. Otherwise they would've came out swinging and been rolled into initiative by now like everything else including the guards before them. Then again I feel like the GM is baiting us into attacking them.

He drops the Mongrelman and moves forward, drawing his spear. He stops within 15' of them and braces for an attack. "That's far enough..." he says, "We have the advantage. T'is a fool who would dare attempt an attack on us with just a club. Drop your weapons now and you may yet end this encounter in better shape than your fallen comrades."

As he finishes speaking he sees the arrows fly past him, his face contorts into a frown, and he continues bracing.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

If your acts of diplomacy register an action that would indicate they would surrender I wouldn't fire. Since you go before me and we need a result for your action I'm sure this can happen.

Well if they register, there's a large chance you wouldn't know unless one of them were rolled into initiative after me and before you, because RAW they'd have to act on their turn. Considering I'm 22 and you're 21 on the initiative list, I doubt we'd have time to see the reaction. So the arrow is still going to fly before we know anything, and that's IF we're still in initiative to begin with. By the way, I don't know how many turns have passed between me casting Inspire Courage and now but if the GM's posts can be construed as turns, then that means the effects have worn off and people should not currently be taking bonuses for Inspire Courage.

Hmm, we are pretty close in the init order aren't we? Well, consider my arrow as intimidation then, I guess!

Sometimes its hard to follow combat when all these type of things are happening.

Jokum's arrow is going to fly no matter what (he's a paranoid type and my readying DID say "if anything comes out..." lucky it wasn't a friend...) but since talking's a free action and it doesn't have to happen on your turn, they should be able to respond to your diplomacy at least verbally before getting skewered!

Karthak moves around the barricade and waits for the creatures to come forward readying an attack if they keep being hostile

Readied attack roll: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
Damage roll: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

They're going to come at you anyways so it's a moot point. :)

As the mongrelmen burst forth the first is taken down by a pair of arrows the second is knocked down by the dwarf's heavy blow!

With the fight brought to a quick end, a heavy silence seems to settle on the chamber.

The sound of something scratching at the door to the east can be heard.

Treasure
There is little of worth to be found on these mongrelmen and even less in the room with a cursory inspection.

Jokum waves the rest of the group as far forward as possible, then goes right up to the door and listens carefully to see if he can discern anything else.

Making a Knowledge check in case I can tell what kind of...thing...is there based on the sound.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
K (Nature): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
Arrow Retrieval (high is good): 1d100 ⇒ 90

Xaivan will quickly search the area and the bodies in order to determine if anything of value could be found with a more detailed search as Jokum listens to and inspects the door.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

The girl's blood begins to cool as the fight ends abruptly. Sorua has ceased his whimpers, and now winds himself through Tess's legs as she awkwardly hooks the crossbow on her backpack. She giggles and picks him up, cradling him close.

She notices Jokum start toward the door, and she tags along quietly. "Is there something the matter, Sir Breakbones?"

The girl places Sorua near the door and begins to inspect on her own as well.

Perception | Tess: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21 Using detect magic
Perception | Sorua: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

Karthak raises the heft of his axe and points towards Jokum and the door:"Shall we get in? I believe we have some cleansing to do..."

Pollux gathers up the unconscious and sets them all near each other, casting stabilize on each in turn. "Misguided fools." he says, though his face does not reflect the sympathy in his voice, only pity. "All for a false god." then to the dead (if there are any) he says "May your torment be just; your punishments appropriate".

He then moves toward the door and waits for Jokum's verdict on the sound.

Jokum frowns, holding up a hand. "I hear...scratching. Can't tell if it's something trying to get out, or in..."

Sorua grows tense picking up the scent of something on the other side of the door.

Something is definitely trying to get into this room.