DM Morvius's Chelish Heroes

Game Master Tourach

Laughing a little, Lucrezia replies: "For romantic walks we're supposed to be holding hands, not our bows."

"Okay. Whatever you say." He responds as he takes a hand off his bow and uses it to grasp Lucrezia's.

Lucrezia blushes faintly and holds his hand in return.

Marc chuckles, If you two are done we have some work to do.

Marc notices that the path seems to split down the way about one hundred yards away. Neither of the paths seems to obviously lead to the marker and at the fork itself there is posted a rather large indication of warning. Two headless humanoid corpses are tied to the tree at the fork, each bearing the uniform of the Eagle Knights of Andoran. Any weapons and armor are missing, but the clothing is still quite obvious. This seems particularly notable as there are no other symbols of goblin clan banners or other marking within at least 100 feet of the grisly marker.

Knowledge Geography check 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

Lucrezia's grip tightens briefly before reluctantly letting go so that she can unfold the map and study it again in an attempt to figure out which fork to take. Quietly she asks, "Can anyone tell which path has been traveled most often?"

Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Give that the map has no particular path and the markers are fairly large, it isn't clear which path heads to the marker. They seem not to go in opposite directions, simply curving a bit away from each other. Marc notices that the left path seems to have gotten more traffic recently, though the right path is the more heavily traveled path overall.

The left has the most recent traffic. But the right gets heavier traffic. I suggest we go left and perhaps run into whoever came through here.

Lucius' heart skips a beat when Lucrezia's hand tightens and he seems a little disappointed when she lets go to look at the map. His expression gets serious again when Marc examines the two paths. "Let's go left then."

"If the beasts have performed any of their magics in the area they might have left a trace behind for us to follow", Zephyr says as she incants the spell to view the magical spectrum.

Detect Magic, Take 10 for any Spellcraft checks

"Left it is then." Lucrezia folds the map back up and puts it away.

During the walk down the path, Lucrezia scans the surrounding woods for any signs of hostile creatures.

Perception 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

You all continue down the left path and keep an eye out as you go.

Rolling perception for Hafdan: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

Hafdan notices what seems like a pit trap just ahead along the path. At the same time, both he and Lucrezia also notice an approach movement on the right side of the path. At the moment it looks like whatever is making the disturbance is about 40 feet in front of you and just to the side of the path.

Lucrezia turns towards the movement and raises her bow, preparing to fire on whatever is there should it prove hostile. To the group she says; "Movement up and to the right."

Lucius aims his bow in that direction even though he can't see it himself. "Can you tell what it is?"

Once she's focused on the area of movement, can she make out anything?

"What? Where?"

Raven looks in the indicated direction, straining for any sign of what is being pointed-out, even as his hands tighten around the hilt of his sword...

When pointed out, everyone can see the movement for a brief moment. It seems to stop quite quickly, and whatever is there seems to be waiting for something. Lucrezia, since you saw the movement earliest, you guess that it is at least roughly three individuals of similar to human size or perhaps slightly larger. The individuals waiting seem to be far enough in the woods to be hidden, but as you are all more visible standing in the path it seems likely that they can see you.

Just noting that the trap in front of you all isn't disarmed, it is just spotted.

Hafdan will quietly scour the ground around the group, looking for branches and leaves that he could either throw over the pit to identify it or possibly use to cross it.

Not exactly sure how I go about "disabling" a pit trap but here we go.
Disable Device: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

I see disabling pit traps as caving in the sides or something similar. It makes the trapped area no longer trapped in any case. Still, this one fails, so Hafdan, please give me a DC 20 Relfex Save. Everyone (including Hafdan) can also give me Initiative.

As Hafdan leans down to attempt to disable the trap, the figures at the side see him slip a bit and some of them move to attack, while one starts to cut through the forest in the other direction. You all see a snarling barghest and a hobgoblin dressed in chainmail and carrying a longsword and shortsword approaching you. They are currently 40 feet away and have cover from the forest.

Barghest Init: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Hobgobling Init: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Zephyr stifles a scream when she sees the horrifying creature.

1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

Hafdan begins to deal with the pit when he catches movement out of the corner of his eye. Nearly going over the edge, he catches himself and leans back with a wide eyed look. Dammit, nearly two for two. He spins with swords drawn ready to attack.

Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Reflex: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Assuming the 21 makes it, I flavored my reply above. If not, assume that was wishful thinking during the fall. ;-)

Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

Round 1 Initiative: 25(+5), AC: 21, HP: 22/22

Marc readies himself for a fight.

Ready action: Attack any enemy that comes near.

Attack with Longsword (Power Attack): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
Damage with Longsword (Power Attack): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Initiative

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

Lucius points his bow at the approaching snarling beast and fires off 2 shots.

This is assuming it moves within Point Blank Shot Range on its turn.Adjust if that doesn't happen.
Rapid Shot + Deadly Aim

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Round 1Initiative 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9 AC: 16, HP: 13/13

Lucrezia begins singing on her turn and attempts to recall any specific info about the creature with the hobgoblin.

Knowledge Nature 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12, 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22.

I will keep the 22.

Round 1:

15/15 hp, AC 17/11/16, CMD 16

Swallowing hard at the sight of the beast, Raven offers up a brief prayer to Asmodeus, before hefting his sword high...

Casting Bless.

Knowledge (Planes) is the appropriate skill for the barghest. And Hafdan, that saving throw is fine.

Round 1

Hafdan jumps back as the covering of the pit trap collapses to the ground below. The barghest begins to cast a spell and starts to flicker in and out of visibility and then moves up to the edge of the pit, now 10 feet from your front line. The hobgoblin curses in goblin and drops its weapons, pulling a shortbow off of its back and firing towards Raven.

Giving you cover for the attack from the other PCs. Apparently it still really wanted to hit you.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Lucius, both of your attacks hit its AC, but it has a 50% miss chance, so note whether you want to count high or low as a hit and give me the rolls for each shot.

Knowledge Planes 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Planes
1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24

"That beast is what's known as a barghest", Zephyr says as she fishes out a scroll from a pouch within her robes. "It's more intelligent than it looks and its hide is resistant to mundane weapons", Zephyr warns.

Stepping forward and unfurling the scroll Zephyr reads the words penned across its surface as she lays a delicate hand on the archer's bow, "This should make slaying it easier".

Magic Weapon - 10 rounds

Hafdan, seeing the opportunity he narrowly avoided, rushes around the pit. Lowering his shoulder, he attempts to tackle the flickering beast into the pit.

Move action to get to the Barghest.
Standard action Bull Rush the creature 5 feet into the pit. I don't have the feat for this so it will provoke an AoO from the beast.
Bull Rush: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 vs. CMD
Assuming I have the same miss chance: 1d100 ⇒ 27, high is good.

Wow...

Round 2 Initiative: 25(+5), AC: 21, HP: 22/22, Conditions: Inspire Courage +1, Bless.

Marc moves carefully around the pit trap to block the Barghest's approach.

Move Action: Move halfway around the pit trap (into difficult terrain) to block the Barghest. Ready action: Attack any enemy that comes near.

Attack with Longsword (Power Attack, Inspire Courage, Bless): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
Miss Chance (50%, high is good): 1d2 ⇒ 2
Damage with Longsword (Power Attack, Inspire Courage): 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

High is good for me.

This is for the shots from Round 1
1d100 ⇒ 23

1d100 ⇒ 90

Round 2 Initiative 14. AC 19, HP:18/18, Conditions: Inspire Courage, Bless, Point Blank Shot.

"Thank you Zephyr. I'll kill it that much sooner." Lucius says when the wizardess enchants his bow, choosing his words very carefully. He aims at the creature for a moment and fires another volley at it.

Deadly Aim + Rapid Shot

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

1d8 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

1d100 ⇒ 25

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

1d8 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

1d100 ⇒ 55

Round 2:

15/15 hp, AC 17/11/16, CMD 16, Bless.

Raven carefully moves around the edge of the pit, attempting to engage the Hobgoblin...

Round 2 Initiative: 9, AC: 16, HP: 13/13

Lucrezia continues her song and attempts and misses a shot at the hobgoblin. Apparently she was distracted by Zephyr getting close to Lucius.

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

For those that don't, please include your initiative in your round by round status line. Keep up with the other information, but the init is actually the one thing I can't just easily look up in the profile. Hafdan, the barghest is on the other side of the pit, so you'll have to go around to bull rush it, I'll assume instead that you move as far as you can and are standing by Marc off the path trying to circle around for the maneuver.

Zephyr - You are aware that the barghest are typically associated with the god of goblins and hobgoblins so seeing one here isn't the greatest of surprises. You also are aware that magic weapons are more capable of piercing their hides and that they consume corpses to gain strength. In addition you know that they are capable spellcasters and quite mobile on the battlefield when they want to be and can even turn allies against each other.

Round 2

One of Lucius's arrows had struck the creature, wounding it solidly. It howls in rage and casts another spell, vanishing and appearing next to Lucius on the side opposite from Marc and Hafdan. Its hobgoblin ally fires again, this time at Marc as he and Hafdan loop around the pit.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

Raven moves with Marc and Hafdan, heading towards the hobgoblin and cutting through the dense woods to avoid the pit. Lucius takes a step back away from the barghest, striking it once more and leaving it clearly quite damage from the two enhanced arrows.

To be clear, no one is currently threatened by the barghest and I'm assuming that Lucius would 5ft step back to make the attacks. The barghest is now in your back line however and the hobgoblin hasn't moved. For those that moved around so far, you can move and attack the hobgoblin from where you are.

Round 3 Initiative: 25(+5), AC: 21, HP: 22/22, Conditions: Inspire Courage +1, Bless.

Marc rushes the hobgoblin.

Attack with Longsword (Power Attack, Inspire Courage, Bless): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Damage with Longsword (Power Attack, Inspire Courage): 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Round 3 Initiative: 9, AC: 16, HP: 13/13

"Lucius, watch out!" Lucrezia fires at and misses the barghest that has appeared near him.

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 No point in rolling mischance.

Round 3 Initiative 14. AC 19, HP:18/18, Conditions: Inspire Courage, Bless, Point Blank Shot.

"No worries! Apparently this one isn't too bright. I'll show him the error of his ways." He says as he fires off two shots at the creature's muzzle.

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

1d8 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

1d100 ⇒ 80

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

1d8 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

1d100 ⇒ 23 :(

Hafdan races forward, hoping to catch the hobgoblin between himself and Marc.

Round 3:
Init: 5, AC: 16, HP: 18/18

Got a little confused on the logistics of the combat so just gonna stick with the tried and true of flanking stuff with Marc.
Move action to get into flanking.
Standard action attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16, Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8 (+ sneak attack 1d6 ⇒ 1)

It looks like I missed round 2.
Init: 17. AC: 13. HP: 14

Round 2
With a flick of her wrist Zephyr tosses a tiny jolt of lightning while stepping back.

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
1d3 ⇒ 2
1d100 ⇒ 92 High is bad.

Round 3
Unperturbed by her earlier failure she tries again, throwing another jolt of lightning while stepping back again.

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
1d3 ⇒ 2
1d100 ⇒ 35 High is bad.

Round 3:

Initiative 22, 15/15 hp, AC 17/11/16, CMD 16, Bless.

Raven moves up to the Hobgoblin, and takes a swing...

MW Greatsword: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 1 = 8, for 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (5, 1) + 6 = 12 Slashing damage.

Round 3

Marc closes with the hobgoblin, striking it solidly with his sword and it drops its bow, pulling out a dagger and attacking.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

Raven closes with it, though the creature dodges the attack from his greatsword before Hafdan finishes the thing. Meanwhile the barghest steps forward and attacks Lucius, wounding him greatly. Still, one of his arrows strikes the beast in the side and coupled with the shock from Zephyr's attack, the barghest looks badly wounded.

Bite: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13
Claw 1: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29
Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Claw 2: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24
Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Round 4 Initiative: 9, AC: 16, HP: 13/13

With a small cry of dismay, Lucrezia rushes up behind Lucius, lightly touching his back and casting a spell upon him. "No worries you said? You're lucky I'm here for you."

cure light wounds 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

The hobgoblin dead at his feet, Hafdan turns to see the barghest laying in to Lucius. Silently he begins moving towards the barghest's blinside, hoping to bury a blade in it's back.

Round 4:
Init: 5, AC: 16, HP: 18/18

Stealth check: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
Double moving to try to get into melee with the barghest. Stealthing up to it to attempt to get sneak attack.

Round 4 Initiative 14. AC 19, HP:13/18, Conditions: Inspire Courage, Bless, Point Blank Shot.

Hey DM, is the Barghest Displaced or Blinking? Because if he's blinking, he has a 20% miss chance on his attacks too.

"Well, I'm not dead and I'm in one piece for the moment so no worries. But you're right, I am lucky to have you by my side." Lucius replies as he steps back to lay more arrows into the vicious beast.

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

1d8 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

1d100 ⇒ 78

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

1d8 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

1d100 ⇒ 24

Round 4 Initiative: 25(+5), AC: 21, HP: 22/22, Conditions: Inspire Courage +1, Bless.

Marc moves back towards the Barghest.

Double move back.

Round 4 - Init: 17. AC: 13. HP: 14

Zephyr holds a bolt of lightning on her fingertip waiting for the moment Lucius steps away from the creature.

1d20 + 3 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 1 + 1 = 6
1d3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
1d100 ⇒ 62 High is bad.

Round 4:

Initiative 22, 15/15 hp, AC 17/11/16, CMD 16, Bless.

Seeing how sorely Lucius is being pressed, Raven hurriedly moves back round towards him.

Double move back.

Lucius, you are totally correct. Lows will be misses.

Claw 1: 1d100 ⇒ 62
Claw 2: 1d100 ⇒ 54

Round 4

The barghest steps forward again to attempt finish off the wounded Lucius before he can be healed.

Bite: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26
Miss: 1d100 ⇒ 43
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Claw 1: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16
Claw 2: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25
Miss: 1d100 ⇒ 13

Given the Initiatives involved, this means that Lucius you need to roll to stabilize on your turn and are made conscious again on Lucrezia's turn assuming that she still wishes to heal you.

Zephyr's bolt misses the beast once again, but to the benefit of the fallen archer, Marc, Raven, and Hafdan move to surround the creature.

Yep, still healing.