GM Higaki's Dragon's Demand

Game Master Black Powder Chocobo

"Agreed no reason to go in. I thought I would ask encase there was something worth a scratch or two."

"The next tunnel should take us down to the final floor where we can find chief kick-his-face-in!", Nighttail chimes in as the party continues down the next path.

The ceiling of this chamber rises to a lofty twelve feet. The cave floor drops away into a pair of long, ten-foot-deep pits. Between them, a ridge of stone forms a dubious walkway to a landing on the opposite side, where a five-foot-wide shaft with a knotted rope hanging down into it awaits.

As the party approaches the exit, though, a volley of sling bullets from from the east as kobolds in hiding fire their weapons at the group.

Surprise round Volley!

K Red @ Darb: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Damage on hit: 1d3 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1

K Yellow @ Jinx: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Damage on hit: 1d3 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0

K Orange @ Nori: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Damage on hit: 1d3 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2

K Purple @ Wakiyan: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Damage on hit: 1d3 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2

K Blue @ Nighttail: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Damage on hit: 1d3 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1

K Black @ Hak: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Damage on hit: 1d3 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1

Both Darb and Wakiyan get pelted with stones while the other attacks simply miss their targets.

The kobolds are behind a screen of rocks with a pit between the rocks and the party. The only way to melee them is to go around the pit or climb into and up the pit which poses its own hazards. Finally, the curtain of rocks provides improved cover for the kobolds from your ranged attacks!

Before the party can react, half of the kobolds strike again!
K Purple @ Wakiyan: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
Damage on hit: 1d3 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0

K Yellow @ Jinx: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Damage on hit: 1d3 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1
Crit Confirm @ Jinx: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Extra damage on crit: 1d3 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0

K Blue @ Nighttail: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Damage on hit: 1d3 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1

Wakiyan and Jinx both get pelted in the heads, but luckily the blow is far weaker than it could have been.

Damages calculated include previous damage from the other combats that have not been healed.

Init Order (bold = up!)
Kobold Purple
Kobold Yellow
Kobold Blue
Darb (4 damage)
Kobold Black
Nori (2 damage)
Jinx (2 damage, 1 nonlethal)
Nighttail/Hak
Wakiyan (2 burn, 1 nonlethal)
Kobold Orange
Kobold Red

What kind of check are we looking at for jumping the pit and rocks?

I'll say DC 15 Acrobatics followed by an immediate Climb check to hold onto the rock curtain. Holding on to the curtain will provoke an AoO, but so far none of the kobolds have melee weapons drawn. Failing either by 5 or more will result in falling into the pit and taking 1d6 damage. Climb in or out of the pit successfully will be a DC 15 Climb check

"Nighttail, before any of their blood spills any you wish to have spared?"

"None of them who call me traitor!" Darb runs up and stabs the closest kobold. Darb stab at Red: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18 Damage on hit: 1d3 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0 Darb more harmlessly bonks the kobold. Another slings a bullet at Hak! K Black @ Hak: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21 Damage on hit: 1d3 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0

The dinosaur is also bonked!

Nori, Jinx, and Wakiyan are up!

-Posted with Wayfinder

Blasts the blue one!!
Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Move around to attack red
attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Damage : 1d4 ⇒ 2

crit: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Damage : 1d4 ⇒ 2

Jinx smacks a kobold upside the head, bonking its skull against the stone wall. It can barely stand, woozy between the catwoman's strike and Darb's initial stab.

Meanwhile, Wakiyan tries to freeze a kobold, but it ducks behind the rock curtain and avoids the blast!

Nori is up!

Nori draws a shurikan from her belt and throws it with a flick of her wrist. The star flies at the purple kobold.

Atk: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

...plinks against the kobolds armor and falls to the ground with an unsatisfying clink

Don't forget, improved cover is actually a +8 AC bonus against ranged attacks, so these kobolds will be touch to ranged.

Nighttail kips Hak forward, drawing a javelin. Getting behind Darb, she hurls it at the nearest kobold.

Javelin at Red: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 - 4 = 6
Damage on hit: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Likewise, her attack is just as effective as Nori's.

The kobolds continue their ranged assaults, other than Red who tries his best to hold off the attackers.

K Orange @ Nori: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Damage on hit: 1d3 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1

K Yellow @ Nighttail: 1d20 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 3 - 2 = 11
Damage on hit: 1d3 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0

K Purple @ Wakiyan: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Damage on hit: 1d3 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2

K blue @ Nighttail: 1d20 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 3 - 2 = 2
Damage on hit: 1d3 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1

Red is taking total defense!

The kobolds are feeling the pressure as their attacks all miss horribly.

Init Order (bold = up!)
Kobold Purple
Kobold Yellow
Kobold Blue
Darb (4 damage)
Kobold Black
Nori (2 damage)
Jinx (2 damage, 1 nonlethal)
Nighttail
Hak (1 nonlethal)
Wakiyan (2 burn, 1 nonlethal)
Kobold Orange
Kobold Red (4 damage, 1 nonlethal, total defense)

Darb aims to strike with his dagger.

attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

damage: 1d3 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1

Nori figures she'll draw fire either way. She attempts a leap over the pit...

Acro: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

...and a latch onto the wall...

Climb: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

but the rocks come loose and she tumbles down.

Darb misses the kobold! Red still stands!

The kobold farthest in the back tries to sling a stone at Nori!

K Black @ Nori: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 3 - 4 = 11
Damage on hit: 1d3 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0

However, the bullet bounces around a bit and bounces harmlessly off her armor.

Nori falling damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Nori tries to be hold and daring and leaps across the way, only to fall into the pit below when her slender hands cannot maintain a grasp on the rock.

Init Order (bold = up!)
Kobold Purple
Kobold Yellow
Kobold Blue
Darb (4 damage)
Kobold Black
Nori (7 damage, in pit)
Jinx (2 damage, 1 nonlethal)
Nighttail
Hak (1 nonlethal)
Wakiyan (2 burn, 1 nonlethal)
Kobold Orange
Kobold Red (4 damage, 1 nonlethal, total defense)

Seeing the unlikely chance of making it across the pit, Wakiyan moves up. Taking aim and blasting one of the Kobolds!

Attack (-8 cover): 1d20 - 4 ⇒ (3) - 4 = -1
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Wakiyan hits the ceiling, a tiny icicle forming around a small piece of stone.

Rock it JINX!

attack 1: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
Damage : 1d4 ⇒ 3

attack 2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Damage : 1d4 ⇒ 1

Once again the kobold's total coverage seems to prevent him from being slain by the bigfoots in the area!

The kobold firing line continues, Nori taking most of the shots! Meanwhile, the red-scaled kobold tries to defend himself the best he can!

K Orange @ Darb: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 3 - 4 = 19
Damage on hit: 1d3 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1
Crit confirm @ Darb: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 3 - 4 = 11
Extra damage on crit: 1d3 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2

K Purple @ Nori: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Damage on hit: 1d3 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1

K Blue @ Nori: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Damage on hit: 1d3 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1

K Yellow @ Darb: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 3 - 4 = 17
Damage on hit: 1d3 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2

Somehow, a kobold in the back manages to konk Darb, a new trail of blood dripping down the goblin's bulbous head! The others attacking Nori fail to miss her slender profile leaned against the pit wall.

Init Order (bold = up!)
Kobold Purple
Kobold Yellow
Kobold Blue
Darb (5 damage)
Kobold Black
Nori (7 damage, in pit)
Jinx (2 damage, 1 nonlethal)
Nighttail
Hak (1 nonlethal)
Wakiyan (2 burn, 1 nonlethal)
Kobold Orange
Kobold Red (4 damage, 1 nonlethal, total defense)

attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

damage: 1d3 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1

Darb sticks him, the total damage enough to make the kobold unconscious!

Another kobold from the backline and takes his companion's stead, holding protecting the sling snipers!

Init Order (bold = up!)
Kobold Purple
Kobold Yellow
Kobold Blue
Darb (5 damage)
Kobold Black (total defense)
Nori (7 damage, in pit)
Jinx (2 damage, 1 nonlethal)
Nighttail
Hak (1 nonlethal)
Wakiyan (2 burn, 1 nonlethal)
Kobold Orange

One down!

Darb tries some fancy climbing.

climb: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21

acrobatics: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

D'oh... silly me, none of the kobolds have melee weapons armed yet.

Darb quickly pads around the ceiling, dropping himself in the opening left by the black-scaled kobold.

No flanking yet, but more room for others and it'll stop one kobold from sniping!

Nori, Wakiyan, Jinx are up!

Attempts to blast another Kobold!

Attack (-8 cover): 1d20 - 4 ⇒ (2) - 4 = -2
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

attack 1: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Damage : 1d4 ⇒ 3
attack 2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Damage : 1d4 ⇒ 1

climb: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Atk: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 4 - 2 = 7

Nori climbs up and tries to stab at a kobold, but misses terribly. Likewise, Jinx can't seem to get a paw on the healthy kobold keeping her at bay while Wakiyan continues to make decorative icicles along the ceiling.

Nighttail throws her last javelin at the kobold in the lead.

Nighttail javelin @ Black: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 - 4 = 18
Damage on hit: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

The kobold is seriously injured, barely standing on its own two feet!

The kobolds grab spears and now try to stab at their assailants!

Kobold Orange spear @ Darb: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Damage on hit: 1d6 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0

Kobold Purple spear @ FF Nori: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Damage on hit: 1d6 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5

Kobold Yellow spear @ FF Nori: 1d20 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 1 - 2 = 8
Damage on hit: 1d6 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1

Kobold Blue spear @ Darb: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Damage on hit: 1d6 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2

And the panicked kobolds have poor aim!

Init Order (bold = up!)
Kobold Purple
Kobold Yellow
Kobold Blue
Darb (5 damage)
Kobold Black (5 damage, total defense, staggered)
Nori (7 damage, in pit)
Jinx (2 damage, 1 nonlethal)
Nighttail
Hak (1 nonlethal)
Wakiyan (2 burn, 1 nonlethal)
Kobold Orange

attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
damage: 1d3 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0

And Darb bruises a kobold!

The wounded kobold near Jinx tries to hold his own, but he doesn't have much fight left in him!

Init Order (bold = up!)
Kobold Purple
Kobold Yellow
Kobold Blue
Darb (5 damage)
Kobold Black (5 damage, total defense, staggered)
Nori (7 damage, in pit)
Jinx (2 damage, 1 nonlethal)
Nighttail
Hak (1 nonlethal)
Wakiyan (2 burn, 1 nonlethal)
Kobold Orange (1 nonlethal)

Attempts to blast a kobold

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Wakiyan finishes off the wounded kobold!

Black is down!

5 ft up to yellow
attack 1: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Damage : 1d4 ⇒ 1
attack 2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Damage : 1d4 ⇒ 1

Jinx scratches the kobold once, but doesn't do more than that.

Nori!

Putting the blade in her teeth, Nori reaches up and grabs at the kobold's ankle, attempting to pull the bastard off into the pit.

Grpl: 1d20 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 3 - 2 = 18

Screeching as Nori tries to grab it, the kobold stabs at her!

Kobold Purple spear AoO @ Nori: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21
Damage on hit: 1d6 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5
Crit confirm: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13
Extra damage on crit: 2d6 - 2 ⇒ (2, 5) - 2 = 5

It sticks her in the shoulder, but Nori tosses the kobold through the hole and down below...

Kobold falling damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

... and knocking it out!

Nori then slips into the the area, now able to provide a much needed distraction for Darb and Jinx!

The remaining kobolds all turn their attention to Nori and stab at her!

K Orange spear @ Nori: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11
Damage on hit: 1d6 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0

K Yellow spear @ Nori: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 1 + 2 = 15
Damage on hit: 1d6 - 1 ⇒ (4) - 1 = 3

K Blue spear @ Nori: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 2 = 5
Damage on hit: 1d6 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2

But all of them falter over the towering Nori!

Init Order (bold = up!)
Kobold Yellow
Kobold Blue
Darb (5 damage)
Nori (12 damage)
Jinx (2 damage, 1 nonlethal)
Nighttail
Hak (1 nonlethal)
Wakiyan (2 burn, 1 nonlethal)
Kobold Orange (1 nonlethal)

attack 1: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 5 + 2 = 25
Damage : 1d4 ⇒ 2
SA: 1d6 ⇒ 5
attack 2: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 5 + 2 = 19
Damage : 1d4 ⇒ 4
SA: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Jinx savagely mauls the kobold in front of her, the first swipe knocking it down. The second swipe sufficiently ends its life.

Darb, Nori, and Wakiyan!

Nori takes a hold of the hilt of her sword again, her saliva dripping down the blade. She strikes with viper like speed at the yellow kobold.

atk: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 4 + 2 = 18
dmg: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 Snk Atk: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
damaage: 1d3 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1
sneak: 1d8 ⇒ 6

Nori and Darb easily dispatch the last two kobolds, Nighttail cheering them on before stabilizing those worth stabilizing. "Now that they learned defeat, maybe they may listen!", she says. Nighttail also nods at the party's prowess. "You guys fight well; glad we are on the same side!"

Looking to the others, she points to the hole. "Now we're good to the final level!"

Looking at the others, Nighttail uses the wand of cure light wounds and applies it to the party.

CLW @ Darb: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
CLW @ Jinx: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
CLW @ Nori: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
CLW @ Nori: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

The party's wounds are nearly fully healed.

Any preparations before descending below?

stealth: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (5) + 21 = 26

Darb enters the shadows before decending down.

"We should check for traps once again before heading onward we always seem to miss one or two."

Stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Stlth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Wakiyan finds that this exit is free of traps unlike the last one. Of course, he found that out dropping a rock down below that shatters on impact.

The party makes their way down below, although only Wakiyan notice the goblin slinking in the shadows.

Wakiyan hears the sound of clattering bones from the other side of the large rock in front of him as if either tunnel reaches the same destination.

There are two paths and it seems that they both reach the same destination. Who is going where?

I really don't know the best course. I hate to split us but at the same time none of us our effective bunched up in the small hallways.

"Agreed if we do split up might be the best for me to go with darb and take advantage of our dark vision. Don't worry darb I know I'm not as sneaky and will hang back a bit. If you go along the wall might be able to catch someone by surprise!

Nori and I can take the right if she is ok with that.

Nori nods, "I'm with you Jinx." She slinks forward, keeping low.
Stlth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

Darb nods in the shadows, not realizing no one can see him.

@Darb: Actually, Wakiyan is the only one who can see Darb thanks to his Nat 20 Perception :P

The party splits up, make their way to either tunnel. The ceiling at the center of this cave is twelve feet high no attack penalties for you Medium-sized folk in here!. A crude idol stands in the middle of the cave, decorated with grisly strips of dried viscera.

A pair of human-sized skeletons flank either side of the statue. Behind the statue is a robed kobold, looking intently at the light coming from the right tunnel, but not reacting.

The kobold sees the light, but doesn't see who it is connected to! So far... the party has a surprise round!

Init Order (bold = up)
SURPRISE ROUND! (only a standard action)
Skeleton Blue
Skeleton Red
Darb
Wakiyan
Jinx
Nori
Nighttail
Robed kobold