DM Frogfoot's Homebrew Adventure - the Wastes of Belkzen (Inactive)

Game Master Dalton the Thirsty

Jethro's damage on the three orcs:<snip>

Reflex saving throws <snip>

Boo-yah! South Side!

Okay, seriously, for a moment.

Jethro glanced around for a moment. "Um, gentlemen," he stated, "I think they're surrounding us. I'm no soldier, but,... that's bad, right? I've got a lot of spells left, but there's also a lot of today left, if you know what I'm saying." I hope someone has some tactical options that don't involve phrases like "wait until the orcs run out of arrows."

I can keep creating jets of fire for a while, but there's got to be a better way of killing these things...

Oh, my apologies. I misremembered which spell I was using. It should have been "flame jet," not "burning flash." No harm done, the spells are identical in all respects at this level. The Hebrew text is, of course, wrong, but I doubt too many people noticed. But,... oops.

Dog 6 skirts carefully around the heavily armored cleric, its beady little rat eyes never leaving Jethro's delicious-looking heaven-skin. Avoiding an AOO, the dog rushes at the mage, attempting to take a bite out of him.

Er,... the mage is holding a reach longspear, so he should get an AoO himself. Not that it matters much, with his pathetic attack bonuses, but I like to pretend....

Piercing through the air, a sturdy crossbow-bolt hammers into one of the orcs on the rise. A not too distant 'thunk' follows in pursuit, revealing the shooter's position to be at the hill-slope to the left.

Stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Ranged Attack at Orc 2: 1d20 + 3 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 3 + 1 + 1 = 18
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 5
Sneak Attack: 1d6 ⇒ 5

A short and rather stout, hooded figure stands about 30 feet from the Orcs. He carries a fresh bolt in his mouth, and works the mechanism on his crossbow to reload. As the shadowed silhouette slips the bolt onto the track on his crossbow, he bellows:

"Look sharp, deputies!"

"Who is that masked man -- I mean, hooded dwarf?" This is becoming more and more a Western, isn't it?

Round 4, Flanking, Sneak Attack

Marco slides five feet to a flanking position with Ausk and attacks Dog 3 with both weapons.

LS ATT: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 1 + 2 = 14
LS DAM: 1d8 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 3 + (1) = 6

SS ATT: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 1 + 2 = 23
SS DAM: 1d6 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 1 + (3) = 9

Confirm Crit: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 1 + 2 = 11
XTra Crit Dam: 1d6 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 1 + (1) = 3

@Marco, I don't think sneak attack damage is doubled on a critical hit. One too many d6s there, I think.

Correct! It is not, copy and paste error. I do not think it matters anyways...doubtful that I confirmed.

Correct, Jethro, you definitely do get an AOO. I forgot you were clutching your spear! You can roll for attack/damage on the dog yourself or you can wait for me to do another big post. I don't have time to write up another full post at the moment, but I wanted to confirm that Gryndar Grogslayer the Dwarf Rogue will be joining your party! And he arrived just in the nick of time too. Fancy that. ;)

Sorry about that Arwen, I missed that you had changed the wording of the original post. There's no indicator that a post has been edited on these forums. I'll include your attack in my next big-post.

And, Jethro - yes, this is TOTALLY a western. Giddyup.

Taking my third round action?

Ausk turned to the dog behind him and brought down his earthshaker with deadly intent.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (2, 3) + 4 = 9

Turning back, he found irony in circling the dogs like they had been circling him.

Not to be a spoil sport but Marco is getting flank from a different direction, as Ausk would be five-foot stepping into flank with him on 3 after attacking 4.

I can perfectly rationalize this as I've done it before in f2f games-- the rogue is there, he's dual-wielding, I might be able to knock one down in one hit etc. so I'll go for the one that I'm leaving... but if you don't like it, I'll just forfeit the turn, since I would have attacked 3 and broken the sequence of combat and I'd rather just keep us moving forward.

Gotcha Ausk. I'll fix that in the next iteration of the battlemap. Not sure what you mean by rationalizing though, you aren't doing anything wrong that needs rationalizing, unless I'm misunderstanding you. Are you denying Marco a flanking bonus or something?

Gotcha Ausk. I'll fix that in the next iteration of the battlemap. Not sure what you mean by rationalizing though, you aren't doing anything wrong that needs rationalizing, unless I'm misunderstanding you. Are you denying Marco a flanking bonus or something?

I go before him and I'm jumping into flank on the creature I know he's killing (or hurting a lot-- that damage drops me!), Dog 3; some GMs would take notice that I attacked Dog 4 instead of Dog 3, assuming I know that Dog 3 is taking a lot of damage and might go down and I'd "win" by dropping Dog 3 and Dog 4 instead of just Dog 3 and making Marco re-do his turn and do less damage. Essentially, depends on how much of a metagamer you think I am!

Ah, good point. I don't honestly think you were metagaming - I'm just going to be trusting you guys not to try to screw with my encounters to make them easier, on an honor system.

Correct, Jethro, you definitely do get an AOO.

Attack roll: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (12) + 0 = 12 (Better than I expected)

And, Jethro - yes, this is TOTALLY a western. Giddyup.

Yee-haw, I plumb reckon.

Suny holds her weird 'L' shaped sticks braced against her fore-arms and uses them as shields.

Aye, staying very defensive and trying to help people's out by 'shielding' them and preventing enemy flanking if I can. Also trying to move slowly into a position there bye aiding allies in flanking. (^_^)

Ausk, As long as your position was between the two dogs, it matters not which one you were attacking. Your position threatens both, and that is what gives the flanking bonus. I was just going by the map at its current state on my turn.

I like what Marco and Arwen are doing by indicating which turn they are describing. With this many actors in combat all posting more or less simultaneously, it'll help me to keep them all straight. Just indicate in the top of your combat posts which turn it is you are describing from here on in, please. Helps me out. :)

Description of events in round 3:

Marco's eyes gleam with deadly intent as he smoothly crosses the battlefield, his experience working in the arenas of Varisia showing in his easy confidence in combat. Dog 3 snarls and attempts to bite him (just for flavor purposes, no attack roll) but he easily bats its foul head aside and does a dual stab with both swords into its chest. His shortsword pierces its heart. Hot blood spills over his leggings and boots as the dog writhes around in brief, temporary agony before he cuts its throat to end its suffering. Dog 3 is dead.

Suny is able to easily deflect the dog's attack with her tonfa, using them as whirling shields that seem to anticipate where the dog's teeth will be before the dog itself knows. Her lithe elven frame makes for an impressive sight when juxtaposed to the animal savagery of the goblin dog, which is making frustrated growling noises as it fails to connect a bite.

Suny nimbly steps aside, smoothly allowing Arwen to charge the dog. Despite his ferocity, however, the dog was an old one, and you don't get to be an old goblin dog without being cautious. It dodges his strike, causing Arwen to exhale a hot breath through his nose in frustrated rage. His anger is far better contained, however, than most barbarians - his duty as a deputy drives him on.

After suffering a bad dog bite, Ausk finally means business with that earthshaker of his. With a mighty roar, he swings it in a huge overhead arc, bringing it crashing down with a CRUNCH on the dog's head. Brain matter and bits of skull are scattered in a small radius around where the dog is crushed to the sand. Flecks of blood from the impact coat Ausk's torso and face. Dog 4 is dead.

Orc 2, furthest on the left as you're facing the cliff, stands unsteadily on his feet, trying in vain to pull the crossbow bolt from Gryndar Grogslayer's crossbow out of his chest. He fails, and crumples to the ground. One arm hangs over the side of the cliff, blood dripping from the fingers. Orc 2 is dead.

Jethro has not taken an action yet in round 3, just an AOO and some speaking as a free action. ;)

Updated battlemap.

Round 4 Actions

Seeing his first target fall, the hooded figure - now easily recognizable as the deputy Gryndar Grogslayer - flips his crossbow back up, reloaded.

He takes quick aim, his eyes know better than his head when to fire - and a new 'thunk' follows.

Ranged Attack at Orc 1: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 1 = 6
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 1
Sneak Attack: 1d6 ⇒ 3
Probably no sneak attack this round though.

"Bloody wind aint doin' me no favors.." he mumbles to himself. The rant goes on for a while, mostly through curse-words.

Shooting wide, the bolt flies far off target and the stout dwarf lowers his crossbow to reload once more.

Just realized that Caln has already posted 4 rounds (2 cure light wounds and then 2 channel positive energy rounds) so will let everyone else catch-up.

yup indicating the round we are acting just helps to know where we are...

Round 4

attack dog 5. assuming it dies, move 30ft in direction of orc via west. Drop rage (free)

Lance: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 251d8 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

Round 3: Jethro stepped backwards 10' towards the rest of the group (Withdraw action)] and readied his spear for another AoO.

i believe grindar is making my loose my count. this would be round 3

Ausk is double moving up to threaten the orcs on top of the ridge-- let me know how far I get! If it's close enough to threaten after, let me know as well.

Ausk turns, looking at the group and seeing one dog still breathing, takes the chance and storms the ridge with his earthbreaker. Growling, he shouts "Umak na umak!" as the arrow clatters out of his quickly closing wound.

My bad then, Arwen. Count my actions as round 3 if I was mistaken.

So, we need catch-up in Round 4 from whom?

Ausk is the only one to have posted his round 4 actions, if I'm reading correctly. Thanks for bearing with me on this one guys, still hammering out the finesse of running a PbP combat encounter. You guys are doing great so far.

I posted my 4th round too, unless I got the number wrong?

I read your murdering of dog 5 to be your 3rd round action.

yes gryndar made an error in is announced count of round number. therefore i made an error on mine. I murder the dog on round 3. this is round 3)

Aye, the whole round 3 recap kinda threw me off - sorry about that. So I guess my introduction was round 2, the second shot round 3 - so now we're waiting for round 4 to commence?

Initiative order is:
Marco
Dogs 1 and 2(DEAD)
Dogs 3 and 4(DEAD)
Caln
The Orcs
Dogs 5 and 6
Jethro
Suny
Ausk
Arwen

Round 4

Marco will run beside Ausk up the ridgeline to the Orcs.

Let's take those archers down!

Yes, please let us know if we can reach them with a charge. If not, then a double move without an attack will suffice.

You can reach them with a charge distance-wise, but a charge action requires that you move in a straight line. Can't do that in this case - the rise that they are standing on necessitates that you move around to either side to get up to where they are, unless you attempt to jump up there and scramble up to where they are.

I'll try to post today because I love it, but I'm putting a 1-day suspension on my "post every day" rule, seeing as how it's a holiday.

I've updated the battlemap with Arwen, Jethro, Marco and Ausk's movement. We've finally caught up with Caln's actions. :)

As Caln furrows his brow in concentration, his connection to Pharasma strengthens - perhaps due to the rising levels of death in the surrounding area. Jethro and Suny feel refreshed as divine energy bathes them in light temporarily.

The lead orc is in a spitting fury, having lost almost all his dogs, been badly burned by arcane fire, and having lost one of his hunting party, all to a group of DEPUTIES with an ELF in tow. He watches Ausk and Marco climbing the rise from one end, and Arwen climbing the rise on the other, and you see fear shining in his eyes amidst his hatred and fury. He turns to his surviving companion and shouts "թալան չարժե մեր կյանքը!"

Abandoning his last living dog, the orc leader turns on his heels and begins to flee, his comrade in tow.

Opposed Dexterity check to escape, Orc 1 check 1: 1d20 ⇒ 8
Opposed Dexterity check to escape, Orc 1 check 2: 1d20 ⇒ 10
Opposed Dexterity check to escape, Orc 1 check 3: 1d20 ⇒ 7

Opposed Dexterity check to escape, Orc 2 check 1: 1d20 ⇒ 14
Opposed Dexterity check to escape, Orc 2 check 2: 1d20 ⇒ 6
Opposed Dexterity check to escape, Orc 2 check 3: 1d20 ⇒ 4

If you guys decide to give chase, the best 2 out of 3 rolls for either the pursuer or the pursued will determine whether you catch them. Arwen, unfortunately, is fatigued from his rage, and will not be able to give chase - but Ausk and Marco have that option. I will roll the checks for you two in case you do decide to give chase. If you don't, ignore these rolls.

Opposed Dexterity check to capture, Marco check 1: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Opposed Dexterity check to capture, Marco check 2: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Opposed Dexterity check to capture, Marco check 3: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Opposed Dexterity check to capture, Ausk check 1: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10
Opposed Dexterity check to capture, Ausk check 2: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10
Opposed Dexterity check to capture, Ausk check 3: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

Seeing his masters abandon him and his pack dead, the goblin dog stares at Jethro with animal fury, his mouth hanging open as he pants heavily. Then, he turns tail and flees off into the desert, heading south, back the way you came. You may try to give chase, but the goblin dog is swift and sure in its own environment and it quickly eludes you. 50 foot speed, you see.

Since Ausk beat 2 out of 3 rolls for both of the orcs, this is what happens after an intense chase over the hardpacked dirt:

The two orcs round a corner around a tall butte, seeking to escape the lead deputy's earthshaker, but when they round the corner, they find a dead end where they thought they would find a tight escape route. They turn around slowly, fear in their eyes openly now, and panting heavily. Ausk stands silhouetted in the tight naturally-formed alley, earthshaker held steady in his hands.

Ausk, now I need you to let me know what you would do IF you gave chase to them in the first place. Marco, IF you gave chase, you would arrive approximately 3 round (18-30 seconds) after Ausk cornered them. For the rest of you, combat is over. I'll award XP when these orcs are dealt with, however they happen to be dealt with.

Keep in mind also that I do not penalize players with less XP if they show mercy or don't kill their enemy in combat. I'm not encouraging one course of action over another, just know that the rewards will be the same to your character mechanically however you decide to end combat; the only thing your decision will alter is the story.

Marco will give chase behind Ausk, and if he arrives at the dead end with Ausk engaged, then he will throw himself into the battle. If Ausk retreats, which I doubt he will, then he can stop Marco's approach behind him with a shouted "Retreat!"

Seeing his masters abandon him and his pack dead, the goblin dog stares at Jethro with animal fury, his mouth hanging open as he pants heavily. Then, he turns tail and flees off into the desert, heading south, back the way you came. You may try to give chase,[...]

I may. I also may try to stuff a sardine can up my nose while singing "It's Not Easy Being Green" and wearing a yak costume. I'm not sure which one is more likely.

I've updated the battlemap with Arwen, Jethro, Marco and Ausk's movement. We've finally caught up with Caln's actions. :)

.

Yay!!

Caln Round 5
Switch back to crossbow from morningstar and walk over to the dead orcs.

Suny watches the enemy combatants flee...some with with her allies in chase. She sighs, puts her sticks away and also goes and looks at the dead critters with Caln.

Perception:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19

"I dun't feel all that sure of runnin' off in't desert with just some sticks..." She admits.

Switch back to crossbow from morningstar and walk over to the dead orcs.

"Careful," shouted Jethro. "It, er, `ain't' been three days yet. Remember that trick shot the doctor showed us."

Suny squints into the setting sun. Raising a hand to shield her eyes at Jethro's call.

"Whut? He just done dropped a dead critter out in front of us...?" She replies to Caln...puzzled...even as she looks around for a stick to poke this new pile of not-moving interest.

"Nothin' special seemin' about that..."

Of course I'll give chase! I have questions for these varmints.

Ausk steadies his grip on the warhammer and speaks in Orc: "You're going to tell me everything about the strangeness coming out of the Foundry, where the Steel Eaters live, and the mutant orcs... and maybe... just maybe... I'll let you go."

Intimidate: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

The dead orc doesn't stir as Caln and Suny approach. Blood is still dripping from the wound, though it's clear its heart has stopped beating. Its eyes stare blankly at the sky overhead. When Suny searches him, she finds:

Orc's Loot:
A trapper's kit.
A small leather bag inscribed with a ripped and torn elvish rune reading Pudra qığılcım

The lead orc quails under Ausk's determined glare. The second orc won't even look at Ausk directly, but seems inclined to hide slightly behind the lead orc. The lead orc grips his longbow tightly enough to cause his knuckles to whiten, then wets his lips and replies in Orcish. "We three weren't with the Steel Eaters...we were driven off by the Gnarl, chief of the Gnarltusk tribe," here he gestures to the southwest, in the direction of the ruins you were heading for - "for supporting my whelp-kin when he attacked the Gnarl for the Gnarl's seat. We've been wandering these wastes for a few weeks now, and our dogs killed those weird trolls. They came from the direction of the Steel Eater's foundry though..." he trails off hopefully, cringing as he displays servile subservience, as orcs are wont to do when cowed. "We did see some orcs from the Eaters' tribe visiting us before we were banished though! They had some weird company...five Tengu with strange-looking blades, and someone whose face we never saw. They had a weird orc, deformed like those trolls, in a cage, and showed it to the Gnarl. We were sent away after that and they met in private...n-now let us go!" he demands, attempting to sound tough, and utterly failing. You see that the front of his trousers are darkened from piss around the crotch area.

Are we using Turkish for Elvish now?

Are we using Turkish for Elvish now?

Azerbaijani is what I chose. Armenian for Orcish and Azerbaijani for Elvish are all that I've used so far.

As the orcs flee, Gryndar sighs - a proper shot wouldn't do much to stop anything at this point - and instead lowers his crossbow.

He gives out a long stare towards the other deputies, in an attempt to see if anyone is hurt or dying. As he realizes that they are all still standing - except the ones chasing the orcs - he decides to give chase.

"Might be more of them over the hill, lads and ladies!" he bellows, before picking up speed.

Gryndar, by the time you reach the rise that the orcs were shooting from, with your 20 feet speed, you see Marco and Ausk disappear behind a small hill. If you continue to give chase, you arrive roughly 30 seconds after Marco does.

Seeing as how Gryndar can't see around the bend the orcs and Ausk went, he'll stay at the hilltop - not taking any chances from ambushes either in the front or back. He will reload his crossbow at this position though - if time allows it.

Jethro looked at the troll bodies, holding his dagger, trying to remember exactly what Dr. Verne had demonstrated. I hope trollish anatomy isn't too different from orcish anatomy. If these guys keep their brain stems in their wallets or something, this could get tricky.

He then stabbed the first (hopefully) dead troll as indicated.

Jethro, the trolls are lying on their backs - to stab the proper spot you would need to flip them over onto their stomachs, or lift up their heads to access their brain stem.

Gryndar, you're out of combat - plenty of time to keep your crossbow loaded. :)

We're retconning that Gryndar was originally slated to join your party, but was held up with some deputy business when you guys left and promised to catch up to you later. Gryndar, you're privy to all the knowledge that has been shared among the group members, as if you were there yourself.

Suny happily shows off what she's found.

"Here, this be written in 'Kin'..." She points to the Elvish script. "I wonder whut 'Sparkly powder' be...?" She muses.....Then, seeing Jethro struggling (Or maybe not...) She helps him turn the bodies to which ever position he seems to require.

Caln kneels next to the dead Orc. "Speed your soul onto the Boneyard brave warrior. You died well in battle. You will be well received by your gods." Caln says a few words of prayer to the Lady, "Please guide the soul of this one on its path."

He then walks over to see what Jethro and Suny are doing.