GM Barty's Lost Mine of Phandelver (Inactive)

Game Master GM Barty

As he shouts a suggestion and scans the fiery carnage by Idrix, Gelin notices that an area near where the goblins were hiding is concealing a 5-foot-wide trail. More troubling, there are unmistakably marks from two human sized bodies being dragged into this trail.

Turn 2 Remaining:
Ren and Rory (in any order)<===
Goblins

It looks like "Dash" and "Shove" would each take my action, so I couldn't get to the scimitar gob and attempt to bowl him over this turn?

Not wanting the goblins to escape to sound an alarm -- Always ten goblins somewhere for every one you see -- Rory charges towards the one that remains standing, circling a little bit in hopes of trapping it between himself and Grognard.

Dash up to 50', ending adjacent to gob and as far around back of it as I can

Rory circles to the other side of the escarpment, rushing up to flank the goblin with Grognard and Idrix.

Turn 2 Remaining:
Ren <===
Goblins

24 hours since Turn 3 started, botting Ren, who will be focusing on defense with the Dodge action

Having dropped its bow in its slumber, the now-crispier goblin pulls out its scimitar and stands back to back with its remaining companion. Making a desperate last stand, they strike at Grognard and Rory, who have surrounded them.

Scimitar Attack on Grognard: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Scimitar Attack on Rory: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

Grognard tries his best to defend himself without his spear in hand, but the scimitar cuts into his forearm for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 damage. Rory's charge almost brings him headlong into the other scimitar, but he brings his warhammer up to block it just in time.

Tracking:
Grognard is engaged with a goblin.
Rory is engaged with a goblin.
Idrix stands 15 feet away from the goblins on the escarpment.
Ren is 40 feet away from the goblins.
Gelin is 60 feet away from the goblins.

Turn 3 Order:
Players (in any order) <===
Goblins

Idrix wants to get in the goblins' face.

He strides up into the melee, beating his chest:

"You want some of this!? Come on then if you think you're hard enough!"

Move into melee, help action to give advantage on the next attack roll for Rory or Grognard against scimitar goblin, whomever acts first

Rory takes advantage of Idrix's distraction to swing mightily at the un-singed goblin!

hammer attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
advantage: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Taking advantage of Idrix's boisterous boasting, Rory's mighty swing looks strong enough to knock the goblin's head right off its shoulders, but somehow, it barely ducks underneath the swing in time.

Turn 3 Order:
Grognard, Ren and Gelin (in any order) <===
Goblins

With the goblin slashing a deep cut along he forearm Grognard shouts in pain:

"Ahh, came he you goblin."

Grognard grabs at the back the back of the goblin neck.

Action: Grappling the goblin: grapple: 1d20 ⇒ 15 there is a +4 for an athletics check or a +5 acrobatics depending on what the goblin wants.

The grapple action itself is always an Athletics check. The target has the option of using an Athletics check or Acrobatics check to avoid/escape.

Goblin Acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Grognard manhandles the goblin, grabbing it by the base of the neck while it pitifully flails.

Turn 3 Order
Ren and Gelin (in any order)<===
Goblins

It looked like they had the current situation under control. Ren was a bit shaken up by the surprise attack.

Ren draws another arrow and scans the treelines, looking out for more attackers.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
The only goblin alive is the one Grognard has in his clutches right?

Grognard has grappled one goblin (it was at one time holding a bow, got singed by Idrix), and Rory is engaged with the other, which is still quite intact...I'll give you and Gelin a little more time if you would like to change your action

Gelin chuckles a little at the Goblin squirming in Grognard's grasp, then turns his attention towards the free one, a grin crossing his face. He whispers an inaudible chant, sending vibrations directly into the goblin's mind with an ominous, but silent dirge.

Casting dissonant whispers, deals psychic damage: 3d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 2) = 6 and forces it to flee; half damage and no fleeing on successful WIS save. Unless he happens to be deaf...

Ah! Apologies. In that case I’d like to tweak my action to: holding an attack action for when a goblin gets out of melee, and shoot it.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23 Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Goblin's WIS Save: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (9) - 1 = 8

The standing goblin begins to shake uncontrollably, holding its head and screaming in pain. Suddenly it stands still, begins to bleed from its eyes, and falls backwards quite dead. Ren looses an arrow that strikes the remaining goblin, giving it more to think about than the angry half-orc currently holding it.

Turn 3 Order:
Players
Goblins <===

Goblin's DEX Save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19 contested by...
Grognard's Athletics: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Wounded, the goblin squirms and slips out of Grognard's grasp (using its action) and scrambles away into the woods (using its bonus action to disengage). It disturbs some foliage the goblins had used to hide, revealing a 5 foot wide trail that continues into the forest.

Tracking:
Grognard, Idrix and Rory are 30 feet away from the goblin.
Ren is 70 feet away from the goblin.
Gelin is 90 feet away from the goblin.

Turn 4 Order:
Players <===
Goblin

"Oh no you don't! You get a piece of this!"

Idrix hurls a small ball of flame after the fleeing goblin.

Fire Bolt: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Damage: 1d10 ⇒ 6

"Blast, slippery thing! Torm take you!"

Rory chases after the goblin as best he can, and calls down holy fire on it, largely giving up on the hope of interrogating it.

Move 25 ft, Action: Sacred Flame
radiant damage: 1d8 ⇒ 4, DC 13 Dex save negates.

Without a moment of doubt, Ren takes a sprint after the goblin. With his longbow in hand he runs into the foliage.

Action: Run! (his base speed is 35ft and he’s not hindered by difficult terrain.)

The goblin bites into Grognard badly cut forearm forcing him to let go.

Grognard shaking his arm shouts:

"Come back here you little monster."

Then runs after him trying to grab him again. grapple: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10 ashuming that he uses Acrobatics again other wise +4 for Athletics

Action: move 30ft to the goblin and grapple him. That is if he is still alive.

Goblin DEX Save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Ren moves like the fleet-footed wood elf he is, dashing up the side of the escarpment and toward the trail of the fleeing goblin. The goblin sees Idrix's bolt of flame coming and steps aside with a laugh that ends prematurely, as it steps directly into Rory's descending radiant flame. Mere seconds before Grognard reaches to grab it, it falls, dead and burned.

Alongside the smoking remains of dead goblins, all but Gelin back at the wagon can see that the creatures have obviously been using this place to stage ambushes for some time. The trail continues to the northwest far enough that it fades from view.

Combat is over! The first part of this campaign gives experience on a milestone basis, so don't be worried by the lack of XP yet.

The trail is just wide enough for a single person, so if you decide to traverse it, determine a marching order.

Idrix stands over the smouldering remains of goblin.

"It's not my fire, but it was a good fire nonetheless! It cooked him right crispy!"

He turns to the others and keeps talking.

"If we want save the lives of the bosses, and by the by get paid, we're going to have to follow the goblin trail! I say we hide the cart off the road, and we walk along it! I can cover the middle, I can blast away at distance!"

Victory! Nice work folks.

How about Ren, Rory, Idrix, Gelin, Grognard? Eyes in front, melee'ers near front and at rear, squishier arcane casters in the middle.

Ren looked around, the smell of burnt bodies heavy in the air.

He set about searching the bodies of the goblins for clues and valuables

“Agreed, I want to see where this trail leads. If Gundren is in trouble I’m going to help him.”

As he methodically goes through the evil creatures he paused a moment and looked everyone in the eyes before lowering his head.

“I’m sorry. I should have seen them but I didn’t.”

I’m good with that marching order.

Investigation: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Idrix firmly claps Ren on the back.

"Nah, lad, don't worry! Bloody goblins are sneaky as all hell! Make the rest of them worry instead!"

Idrix stands over the smouldering remains of goblin.

"It's not my fire, but it was a good fire nonetheless! It cooked him right crispy!"

Rory nods in quiet appreciation of Idrix's praise, responding simply, "Torm's fire cleanses."

Are there two trails leading away? One at the top of the bank where we cut down the goblins, and one that Gelin saw closer to the wagon? Or are those one and the same? If different, I'd suggest we go down the one Gelin spotted, since "there are unmistakably marks from two human sized bodies being dragged into this trail."

Either way, marching order above sounds good to me -- Ren scouting ahead, but can get behind me to shoot while I tank?

Sorry for any confusion, they're one and the same. There is one trail at the top of the bank.

With a chuckle:

"Am I the only one that can't create fire from thin air."

Looking at the group:
"As Idrix say Gundren is paying us for protecting the wagon and him so, hide cart search for money man."

Then looking at his arm:
"That goblin got me good."

Sound like a solid plan

Gelin hustles to regroup with the party, taking a deep breath after the short climb. He grimaces a little at the bleeding goblin. "Never used that spell before...I did not think it would do exactly that..."

He thrusts his lute skyward in exultation. "But we won though! Goblin slayers one and all, we are!" He gives Grognard a clap on the back (which the half-orc likely doesn't even feel.) "Chin up, tusker. I have trouble making fire with flint and tinder, much less thin air."

I'm down. Also down my spell slots, but that's another story.

Idrix has one 1st level slot left. Sensibly, that should go into mage armour. With Idrix, it's much more likely to go into another burning hands. ;)

Grognard pulls the wagon off the trail and ties the oxen. Ren leads the group down the trail.

The trampled foliage-turned-trail leads you deeper into the woods, the sunny light of day dimmed by the trees above. Ten minutes into the trail, Ren's sharp elven eyes discover a snare hidden in the leaves, designed to trap and suspend its prey in the air.

This trap is very simple to bypass and move on.

As Grognard commends on his wound, Rory offers, "'ere, let me see that--"

healing word: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Idrix whistles at the trap.

"Clever little runts, but not clever enough! Nice work Ren! You still seeing goblin tracks?"

As the cut on Grognard forearm stitches back together.

Thanks Rory that feels better. Now, where did my spear go."

Just on the safe side I pick up my spear before leaving.

Assuming the silence from Ren and Gelin mean that everybody is fine with moving past the trap and continuing...

After a quick stop to tend some wounds, Ren continues leading the way.

Ren Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

Another 10 minutes down the trail, Ren's foot begins to sink through some leaves as he takes a step, into what he suddenly realizes is a camouflaged pit.

Ren DEX Save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

With a sudden twitch, Ren launches off with his other foot, landing safely to the side of a 10 foot deep, 6 foot wide hole in the ground. The walls of the pit are not steep, and like the snare trap earlier, this pit looks as if it was hastily made.

Idrix whistles.

"Close one! Hastily made eh? Maybe they're onto us!"

Sorry, meant to post yesterday but fell asleep.

Ren stared at the death trap. “Close one, indeed.” He answered. “Could be they’re on to us, but they’re impatient and crude by nature, I think it reflects in their handiwork any day of the year.”

He croutched down to inspect the trail again. The signs of dragged bodies worries him more with every step. He checked for moisture, blood to be precise, or any other clues as to the state of the bodies. He was also trying to keep track of the signs about just how many goblins traversed this path recently.

[ooc] not sure what to roll here, rolled both investigation and survival[/dice]
Investigation 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
Survival 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

[

"Glad yer in the lead, Ren! Rory marvels after watching the elf leap clear of the pit trap. "Don't know as I coulda made it out of that one -- no, actually, I know I wouldna have!"

How does aid another / help work in 5e? Since I'm proficient in Survival, can I give Ren advantage on his tracking / looking for blood?

There's the help action. It has two uses: spend your action to give advantage to another character's next ability check that you're helping with, so long as they roll in their next turn. I'd imagine that is if both parties are proficient in that skill. Or use help action in combat, to an ally within 5', to give them advantage on their next attack roll.

"I don't know...can goblins dig a pit that deep that fast?" Gelin looks at his hand a moment. "Do they even know how to use a shovel?"

Yep! A character can assist in any task they are able to do where helping can be done. Tracking is certainly one of those, so Ren will have advantage in his Survival check to track the goblins if Rory is helping him. I posted the full RAW wording in the discussion thread.

Ren Survival Advantage: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24 or 9

Nice!

Stopping a moment to get their bearings, Ren and Rory are easily able to continue tracking the footprints on this trail. It seems that this far along, the goblins gave up on hiding their tracks entirely. Along with the drag marks from two bodies, there appear to be prints from at least ten to a dozen goblins along this trail. In the foliage to the side of the path, Ren finds animal droppings and prints, that by his estimation come from no less than three wolves.

Between the worn trail and Ren and Rory's tracking, you come across a large cave in a hillside five miles from the scene of the ambush. A shallow stream flows out of the cave mouth, which is screened by dense briar thickets. A narrow dry path leads into the cave on the other side of the stream from where you stand.

Idrix cracks his knuckles while looking at the cave entrance and then to the rest of the group, a few sparks flying off his fists.

"Good work, lads! Now, who's up for whupping some goblins and mangy wolves, and getting our boys back!?"

Crouched in the woods, Rory scans the hillside above the cave mouth for any sign of a sentry.

"Don't know as we want to go charging in too blindly -- anyone feel like taking a closer look in that cave, quiet-like?" he looks questioningly at Ren and Grognard with the last.

Grognard looks around when Rory looks at him. Realising that he was talking to him:

"I can look inside. The dark doesn't affect my eyes like some of you."

Grognard crouches low and walks into the cave.
Stealth: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Looking for any goblins: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Action: Stealthy walk into the cave and look around for any sign of goblins or the 2 bodies that were dragged here.

Grognard crosses quietly across the stream and into the cave, but can see no sign of the drag marks on the stone floors below him.

Just inside the cave mouth, a few uneven stone steps lead up to a small, dank chamber on the east side of the passage.

The main passage from the cave mouth climbs steeply upward, the stream plunging and splashing down its west side. In the shadows, a side passage leads west across the other side of the stream.

Outside of the cave, n the east side of the stream flowing from the cave mouth, a small area in the briar thickets has been hollowed out to form a lookout post or blind. Wooden planks flatten out the briars and provide room for guards to lie hidden and watch the area, as evidenced by two goblins lurking there right now. They appear bored and inattentive and do not seem to notice the stealthy half-orc or his companions on the other side of the stream.

Tracking:
Grognard is in the cave mouth, 20 feet North of the goblins, and is the only one who can see them.
The rest of the group is on the other side of the stream outside, 25 feet from the goblins, but cannot see them in their prone positions.
Grognard can see three visible passages in the cave: The steps to the east, the passage to the west, and the main passage to the north.

Seeing the goblins hiding in the lookout post, Grognard turns to the group and holds two fingers up then points in the direction of the goblins. Before continuing to sneak behind the goblins.

Stealth: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Action: Stealthy move behind the goblins.

"Stealthy Half-Orc" is not a usually a phrase I come into a game expecting to hear...hehehe.

Gelin watches Grog's finger waving with a bemused look, unsure what to make of it, but he slows his pace in an attempt to not ruin whatever the Half-Orc was trying to accomplish....

stealth: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Aaaaaand apparently snaps a twig underfoot or something...

Sneaking!? Well, I can do that too!

Idrix's sparks and tiny flames fade, not disappearing entirely, but are so red and dark that they are difficult to see. And then he starts stepping quietly into the cave after the pair of half-breeds, aiming to follow them to wherever they are going. He can see perfectly well in the cave, even if his vision is tinged with red.

Stealth: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Whump. Even with darkvision.

Seeing Grognard gesture at...something in the brush, and then watching his companions clumsily crunch their way toward the cave, Rory sighs and hefts his crossbow, preparing to fire on whatever comes out of the location the half-orc indicated.

Idrix and Gelin don't see each other crossing paths on their way into the cave. They collide and Idrix's bulk sends Gelin trundling into Grognard, who falls with a grunt that attracts the attention of the goblins posted in the blind.

Rory sighs.

Turn 1 Order:
Goblins<===
Players

"Dar? Akorthaar!" The goblins shout, grab their shortbows and loose arrows at Grognard and Idrix.

Shortbow Attack vs. Grognard: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
Shortbow Attack vs. Idrix: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

As one of the arrows splashes into the stream behind Idrix, another strikes Grognard in the throat, dealing 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8 piercing damage. He collapses to the ground, unconscious.

Turn 1 Order:
Goblins
Players<=== (in any order)

Tracking:
Gelin and Idrix are 20 feet from the goblins.
Grognard is dying next to Rory and Idrix.
Ren and Rory are on the other side of the stream. They can see the goblins, but visibility is poor through the thickets.

"F*&/=%!!"

Idrix races forward, thoroughly hacked off, and hurls invective and gouts of flame at the goblins.

Move forward 15ft to goblins, cast burning hands. 1 automatic fire damage on all enemies within 10 ft from heart of fire

Burning hands damage, dc 13 dex save for half: 3d8 ⇒ (3, 5, 2) = 10

Turning to continue to the goblin he gets knock of balance by Idrix and Gelin, stumbling he stands up, just then the arrow hits Grognard in the neck, he reaches for the arrow, but before he can grab it falls unconscious.

saving throw: 1d20 ⇒ 20

Hitting the cold stream Grognard eyes open. Deciding it is best for him to lay down while he's colleagues finish the goblins before trying to remove the arrow.

That a good time for a natural 20

His fears confirmed, Rory moves towards the threat, hoping to get a clearer shot, and fires on any goblin left standing after Idrix' flames.

crossbow attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8for: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4