Drow War Team 2

Game Master Tarlane

Before this strange new arrival can answer, or fully catch her bearings, the mist suddenly recedes further. Drawing back to perhaps 15 feet beyond the stones, revealing you all to be standing on a near perfectly circular island.

Out of nowhere, a voice speaks to you. It is faint but perfectly clear. As it speaks, the stones thrum with a strange vibration, as if they were amplifying the voice somehow.

The time of the Equinox is come. My children… I am sorry. I have done what must be done. You deserve answers. I am far… too far from you. You must learn who you are. The land is yours. The people are yours.

The speaker seems to be under great strain, as if speaking to you was exhausting her.

This place is sacred to you. Sacred to the stars that you are. There are other places like this. From the time when people remembered. Heed me now. If any of you should fall, then bear him to the stones, and the soul will be able to enter the flesh… once again. But make haste, for flesh that is spoiled can never be made whole.

There is silence again and you wonder if that is all. Then the voice speaks once more, faint as a dying echo:

Know this. There is a force against you. Already it gathers, already it senses your return. Seek the sword of Starkweather John… it lies near, waiting to be claimed… when that is found, you may begin to understand, to remember.

With these ominous words, the voice falls silent and with that quiet it feels that time has begun again. The mist retreats further, starting to dissipate slowly until you can vaguely see through it in a murky haze. You seem to be standing on a small island, extending perhaps 15 feet further in all directions beyond the megaliths. Other than the stones themselves there don't seem to be any signs of humans at all on the island.

A small causeway of damp rocks stick up from the water to the south leading perhaps 50 feet to a barren rocky slope of mainland that extends as far as you can see in either direction through the fading mists.

"Who is this? Starkweather John? What?" Upon receiving no answer, he turns again to the others stranded with him. "Bah, forget it. I guess we should just be grateful we can see now, and perhaps have a way out of this place."

Rusigari looks around the area.

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

"Can't see s$~@ Cap'n!"

Perception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (18) - 1 = 17

Children? Tenoch stands listening to the mist, watching it flow and fade as the voice speaks. These standing stones are sacred... Of course! As we are marked by them... or them by us? "The stars that we are...?" Tenoch asks, although not expecting an answer. And there are forces massing against us, likely knowing more of things than we do...

"At least there seems to be a path to follow, maybe we can find out more about this blade. But perhaps we should also prepare, in case we these forces who act against us are close" Why do they act against us? What is our purpose that someone would wish to prevent us?

He then watches the mist recede, his head cocked to the side as he notices it coalescing at the edge of the island. "Why can you not stay and tell us more? We have so many questions," he asks the small clouds.

"Good grief that was a bad decision Mr. Axe made.. Hmm.. Oh hi! Nice to meet.. Umm, what was your name miss?" Loud voices commence..

"Dang this place is odd.."

Perc.: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Know Nature: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Startled by the voice Selene yelps slightly.. "I knew this place had something to do with our constellation markings! Enemies? Well thats no good.. It seems we should seek this sword promptly.."

Looking around she notices the causeway as well.. "Oh we're at low tide.. I bet that causeway would be under the water at high tide.. And i dunno if yall noticed it, but there's a weird group of clouds hovering above us.."

Thinking a moment.. "Who is Starkweather John? Hmm.."

Knowledge Local: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

If yall hadn't realized i'm trying to play her as eccentric, but also kinda ditsy.. She's lived many lifetimes and gets her current memories confused with past ones from time to time.. Cheers for the gameplay getting going!

Pondering a moment Selene suddenly pipes up.. "Oh oh! I remember hearing at some point about a Starkweather John! Seems he was some sort of folk hero on the island of Chillhame.. Hmm.. Well it makes sense that if his sword is around here somewhere that we are in Chillhame? Makes sense to me anyways.." Losing her thought at the sight of the clouds.. "I wonder what their up too.. Hey, you there weird clouds.. What are yall doing?"

As Selene calls out to the clouds the seem to begin to move about on their own, even as the bulk of the mist continues to retreat. The small individual clouds of smoke begin to thicken slightly, but circle slowly around the edge of the island, not moving closer or further away.

So the big ax man, just got gutted as the damaged his magical connection to the stone and therefore to the sign. Good to know. so now there are people after me, although i remember nothing. Well at least i won't dwell to much on who i am. I get to survive longer. Neat

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

So now what, do we explore our surroundings? Oh i am Sumak DeVir by the way, and this is Fred. Fred please say hello.

Wouf

The wolf will go toward everyone extend his nose in order to take in your smell , sit on his haunch and extend his paw in order to shake "hands"

Tenoch looks at the thickening clouds, following them as they circle the edge of the island. "It seems that we don't have much choice in the matter, as our... patron?.. either can not or will not speak futher," he says, absently patting the wolf when it comes to sniff him. He sighs before turning to the others. "I see that our path is clear. In the near term anyway. We take the causeway to the mainland attempt to find some place where we may inquire or learn about the Sword and its whereabouts," Tenoch concludes as he steps towards the causeway.

"Indeed.. Let us go!" She follows Tenoch over the causeway to the mainland.. [b]"OH! A wolfie! What a sweet boy.."[/]b She says as she scratches him behind the ears..

Anyone have Know Geography? Saradel are you grimspawn or daemon spawn?

I make it a point to never argue with disembodied voices in the sky. That said, let us depart! At which point she starts following the others.

Rusigari looks at the wolf and then stretches his hand as far as he can and pats it on the head once or twice.

Not taking any chances here. Damn thing is liable to turn on me as soon as it realizes I have a cat head.

"Yes, umm, good wolfy, there's a nice boy." he says awkwardly, and snatches his hand back.

Taking a few steps to the left, away from it, he turns to the rest of the group, giving an occasional nervous glance back at the animal.

"I concur. Our path, for now, is clear. Let us begone from this place."

Saradel looks over and says Oh how rude of me. I'm Saradel Starflower from...well now that's odd. I can't seem to remember where I'm from. Do you know where I'm from?

"How would I know where you're from?" he says with a mild bit of annoyance in his voice "I can't even remember where I'M from!"

He gets a puzzled look on his face for a second, and then shuts up as he ponders the implications of that.

"Hmm.. Well i remember where im from.. My most current form has been residing in the Boskenlands for some time now.. Although i have never seen any of you there, so i would guess you are not from there.. COme to think of it, it is a rather large place so perhaps i just have not seen you, but you do in fact live there.. That seems at least probable.. Yes i think yall are from the Boskenlands.." She prances off across the bridge seemly happy with her conclusion..

Selene, Saradel is a Daemonspawn tiefling. 'grimspawn' is kind of the crude name for them.

As the group begins to make their way from the stone circle, the clouds that have been swirling move closer. Once Tenoch steps beyond their ring the mist starts to form up and gather thicker, swirling faster on its own wind until it has gathered enough mass and shape to cast a shadowy outline upon the ground.

The outlines are oddly humanoid and slowly begin to lift towards the clouds, each raising up into the shape of a goblin, complete with shield morningstar and javelin. They are each semi-translucent and blur slightly as they move as if not entirely substantial, but when one of them smashes his weapon against his shield and hisses, the resulting clang leaves no doubt that they are more than an illusion.

The creatures are obviously hostile, and both sides are well aware of the others so there will be no surprise round. If you want to try something other than just attacking it will need to be done in the context of a combat round.

I set up a simple google docs spreadsheet to try out as a battlemap and see how it works for a basic battle. Lets make sure everyone can get to it and see how this goes.

Battlemat

For combat, I'll roll up initiative and please give me your actions whenever you are able to post(giving other options in your post(I attack X unless someone is hurt, then I move and heal them) will help a lot) and I will put them in order as soon as the next person up posts. For example, if init order is Selene, then rusigari, then saradel, if rusigari and saradel post up what they plan to do, I'll put up the results for all three actions as soon as Selene posts. That way we can keep in order, but we aren't having to always be waiting for the next person. Hopefully that all makes sense, I think it will come to pretty quick in game.

Init Order:
Sumak
Selene
Goblins
Saradel
Rusigari
Tenoch

Sumak, you and selene are up then the goblins.

"Ah! Fog goblins!"

Rusigari mentally reviews his options.

"Well, I can shoot, or I can shock it. Shocking usually works for me!"

Rusigari casts Acid Splash, using his Djinni Bloodline arcana to change it to lightning damage.

To-Hit:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Damage:1d3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Nuts.

K. Arcana to try and figure out what these things are (summoned creatures?): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

Wonderful! I've been wanting to try this new concoction...or at least I think I have...

Attack with bomb: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Damage from direct hit: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Splash damage is 6 with DC 15 reflex save for half
Throw bomb at bunched group trying for direct hit but only if I can hit them without hitting our party with splash. Otherwise trying to splash as many of them as possible.

Round 1

Sumak will draw his melee weapon and ready an action to swing at the first alive goblin that will be in melee reach of him

The wolf will do the same

both can 5ft step

Assuming a goblin goes in melee against the wolf or his master.

bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 131d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
If it hits
trip: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Assuming a goblin is in melee combat with sumak

heavy mace: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 91d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Add +4 to hit as the goblin is prone from the wolf tripping him to the ground

Alright, with Sumak readying, Selene will be up before the goblins.

"Yikes! I knew there was something up with them crazy clouds.. Takes this evil mist goblins!"

She steps to N14 and casts Color Spray DC 15 on goblins G4 and G5..

Sumak and his wolf take up defensive positions, hunkering down and having his weapons at the ready for anyone to approach.

Selene advances a few steps as she gives her cry and bursts of lights flash out from her hands, two of the shadowy forms collapsing down to the ground unconscious.

The remaining three goblin's rush forward. Perhaps surprisingly they seem to ignore the others and all three lash out at the half-orc, hissing and sputtering as they go. Their attacks are exceptionally unskilled, however and the paladin is able to easily bat away their blows.

With the clustering, a more direct shot isn't possible so Saradel tosses her bomb just over their heads, leaving a blast that envelops two of the goblins. One of them collapses in a heap, dissolving into a cloud of smoke that quickly evaporates. The other one manages to duck down beneath part of the blast, but you can see steam seeming to leak up from cracks in his form.

Rusigari points towards one of the goblins, a glop of acid leaping forward from his fingers and splashing into a patch of grass near the creature, sizzling some of the grass.

Tenoch, you're up then we are back to the top of the round. Goblins never got close enough to trigger your readied action Sumak.

Current status: G1 charged so at negative on AC, G2 has taken 3 damage. G4 and G5 are unconscious.

Glob of LIGHTNING. ;)

"Ah!" Rusigari says, as the goblins move in right next to him.

He tries to maneuver into better positioning so he can take out the goblins nearby his companions.

Rusigari 5 foot steps to I13, then moves to G16, taking the way around that stays out of the threatened areas of the goblins.

"Take this you nasty clouds!"

Rusigari casts Burning Hands (DC 15 Reflex for half damage) with the electric element. From the place I'm in it should catch both goblins, but none of the people on our team (unless squares I15/16/17, J17, and K17 hold invisible allies).

1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Bawls. It is not my game on die rolls.

Bah, I'm going to have to work to remember your little admixture style maneuver on energy types.

Also, I forgot about your knowledge check, Sardel, so this one is for you.

Selene jumps back almost surprised her spell worked so well.. "Haha!" Turning on the other Gobos.. "Have some acid crummy Gobos!"

Casting Acid Dart
Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Acid Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

But her excitement throws her aim off..

Thanks Oh great Tarlane, ye who give life to this story! :-)

Saradel tosses another bomb attempting to dissipate the creatures quickly before they damage her new friends.

Bomb attack on square I16 which should hit goblins G1 and G2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

I'll give Tenoch til tomorrow to post an action and then I'll NPC him for the round so we can keep moving.

Round 1

What fiendishness is this? It seems the danger the spirit mentioned was closer than I expected! Tenoch pulls out his greatsword and slashes it down at the nearby goblin but his shock at their appearance ruined his concentration and the swing went wide.

Move: Draw greatsword
Standard: Attack
Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Even as the creature nimbly sidesteps the half-orcs blow it continues to chitter and hiss inanely, obviously showing a level of thought to evade but not displaying any taunts or talk you might expect from a goblin.

Sumak is up, it looks like everyone else has already posted so we'll be able to fly through the next round.

Round 2

5ft step to K15

Heavy Mace: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 161d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 Vs G1

Round 2

Move to I15

Bite: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 2 = 61d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 Vs G1

Sumak, you will drop the already injured one that way, so I am assuming that your animal companion would go after the remaining goblin.

The fight is going to be over before it matters, but for the ranged folks, don't forget that without precise shot its going to be harder to hit things in melee.

The halfling moves in and finishes what the alchemist' flames started, smashing into the goblin with his mace and causing it to crumple down into a cloud that quickly dissipates.

His wolf surges forward, snapping at the last remaining goblin, though the creature nimbly moves out of the way.

Selene flings a glob of acid that seems to simply materialize in her hand towards the last conscious goblin, but it sails wide.

The shadowy goblin, now surrounded and under heavy attack still lashes out at Tenoch with its morningstar, yet once again fails to connect.

Its moment doesn't last long as a final explosive flies over its head and lands in the grass just behind it, the blast washing past it and when it settles there is nothing left behind.

Only two goblins left and they are unconscious and then stunned for a fair number of rounds at this point and could be easily dispatched if you choose. We can switch out of combat rounds at this point.

Stepping back from the two knocked gobos.. "Someone finish them, for they will wake soon.. Man those things come from nowhere.. I think someone doesn't want to continue on.."

"Indeed. I wonder what they are, though. Perhaps we'll find out further down the road."

Rusigari walks over to one of the goblins, readies his crossbow, and shoots it.

Basically, walk over there, wait a round, then coup de grace.

He starts to go to the second one, and then hesitates.

"Perhaps we should keep this one alive for now? Tie it up and interrogate it, if possible?"

it would matter if any of you spoke goblin, if not then just finish it so that we can move

I don't believe it was speaking Goblin. It seemed like it was just chittering madly. For that matter...I don't think they are actual goblins in the conventional sense. They seem to be something...else. What exactly, I'm not sure. Dispatch it and let's be on our way to find this sword. It seems we have less time than we thought if our enemies are attacking this quickly.

Rusigari shrugs and pulls the trigger on the last Cloudblin.

"All right, let's get moving then!"

"Indeed it was not goblin. I just recalled that I can speak such a language, and they certainly were not using that. These may have been an aspect of the opposition we were warned about. Hopefully we will be free from it for a time yet, before something else comes at us."

I wonder if they have anything of use... He then glances down at the corpses. "Check the bodies. Perhaps there is a clue as to their origins with them."

Then lets make it fast i rather not the opposition sent us something bigger right now once it realize these aren't coming home. Says sumak while mounting Fredd

Selene walks over to the gobos and searches them quickly.. She then retreats to let someone with a bigger weapon finish them.. "Nasty beasties.. Come let us find this sword.."

As the unconscious goblin is executed he too is turned into a puff of smoke, leaving the bolt sticking out by the grass and nothing else remaining. Selene is able to pull a morningstar, couple javelins and a shield away from the remaining creature, but as soon as the bolt passes through him, they suddenly become insubstantial in her hands, forming into a mist and joining that which raises up from the dead goblins body.

As the clouds of the goblin's completely dissipate, the mist surrounding the islands slowly start to retreat back further, trailing back and thinning until there are clear skies. Across the causeway, the stone path reaches a barren slope of dirt and rock scree that continues to the east. Further west you can see a treeline begin all the way down to the water that seems to grow thicker the further on you look.

There are no clear paths along the mainland which you can see, it doesn't appear that anyone often comes down this way. Walking along the water's edge is do-able, but will be harder going than if you can find more stable ground. The hill in front of you is a bit steep and loose dirt and rocks, but doesn't look to be too difficult to climb. It would be a bit slow going, but would only be a dc 5 climb check. I'm pretty sure anyone can take 10 and make that.

Come on 5.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

Rusigari looks off into the distance, and sees some thin trails of white smoke rising slowly into the air.

"I see smoke off in the distance, over those hills. Looks like it may come from campfires or chimneys. Seems like it may be a good place to begin our search in earnest. Should we head over there, everyone? These hills look climbable, at least."

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 lol nat 1.

Saradel says Oh I see them too. but appears to be looking in the exact opposite direction. Once you point out exactly where they are she blushes a bit before saying Well then...let's be off.

She will start heading in that direction. No time like the present.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

yes indeed they do look like climbable. Alright lets get out of here Fred

Wouf

"Well, it seems these aren't ones to leave clues behind... Aside from their existence and disappearance after death, that is."

Perception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (14) - 1 = 13

"Hmm, yes. Perhaps whoever is making that smoke will know about the blade. And perhaps where we are," Tenoch says, looking at the smoke and then up the hill.

"To the smoke signals! Oh i hope they dont turn into nasty gobos again.."