GM Ragged's Keep on the Unknown Borderlands

Game Master waynemarkstubbs

A tense silence settles on the clearing as the group wield their weapons and look out for an unseen enemy. Nogrogomed pushes ahead, eyes scanning for danger, but nothing presents itself.

I've updated the map. Please move yourself to where you wish to be, and make perception checks.

Garrun scans the bushes from over the rim of his shield, sticking clear of the bushes, he makes himself as visible a target as possible, "Easy now. No one stray too far."

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

The anticipation coils around Garrun's throat. Any moment now...

Lucian whispers to himself as he scans the area, "Alright you little bastards, come on out and play..."

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

I think Dai is good where he is, for the moment.

Dai keeps his bow at the ready...eyes peering into the overgrowth.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

The elven witch taps a spell into her body and the hint of magic tingles the air around her. Slowly that sinks inside creating a harding under the clothes. Opalia pushes into the bushes until she can see ahead then untangles her bow from the last branch quietly. Crouching a little to stop the leaves from shaking, she waits.

Cast mage armor Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23 <- +2 to find hidden objects or traps

Nogrogomed freezes as his foot brushes against a wooden peg driven into the ground, mostly hidden among the leaf mulch. A strong cord, stained dark with mud, runs from it up into a nearby tree.

Dai, scanning the undergrowth, thinks he spots movement, and the tip of a spear sticking out from a bush. I've marked the square on the map with an X

"Good job spotting that. I'm sure there was a nasty surprise at the end of this line".

Dai gets his companions attention quietly and points out where he sees the spear.

Should Dia make a roll to be inconspicuous? This seems like a place we'd enter initiative, maybe with a surprise round? Honestly, I'm just not certain what I have time to do here?

We're not in initiative because there's nothing to react to - no enemies in sight yet.

Silence falls over the path as the group wait tensely, spread out and alert. Apart from a gentle breeze in the trees, there is no sound.

Finn whispers "Guys... um whats happening?" then sets a stone to his Slingstaff.

And a very low growl comes from Mr Scruffles

Nogrogomed looks over is shoulder, asking casually,"Lucian, could have a look at this? I nearly set this off and I have no skill at disabling them. I will watch your back."

"Sure. Be right there." Lucian says moving over to have a look at the trap in question.

Assuming the trap has been pointed out.

Perception to See how to disable: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 9 + 1 = 14 (trapfinding)

Disable Device: 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 8 + 2 + 1 = 25 (masterwork tools, trapfinding)

Dai remains fixed on the position where he saw the spear tip protruding from the underbrush. If it moves, he will fire.

Was he able to alert the others to the threat..quietly?

Yes,everyone can see Dai gesticulate and point

Lucian determines that the cord tied to the peg is intended to be shaken loose. It is not a sophisticated trigger, and a large rock placed on top of the peg is enough to secure it from all but the most determined foot.

Meanwhile, the others, directed by Dai's gestures, look round at the surrounding bushes, noticing a few more anomalies - the tip of a tail poking out of a bush here, something metallic glinting in the pale sunlight there. The bushes are dense and thick, and obscure vision, but you certainly get clues that there are creatures hiding inside.

I've marked a few more Xs on the map

"Everyone see that? Pick a target."

Finn takes aim at the area where a tail is sticking out.

There is still no discernible movement from the bushes.

Opalia takes one hand off her bow and starts to sing gently then blesses the party for their coming combat.

+1 hit and save vs fear, readies an arrow on farthest target she can make out in cover.

Then she aims for a target further away. Relying on the strength of her bow to help with the distance.

Growing increasingly weary of this stalemate, Garrun slides down to the hidden ambusher near Opalia's donkey.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

With a careful eye out for more snares, he comes up alongside the bush, glinting with hidden metal and gives it a hard kick, "Right! Out of there little stalkers! Scatter or face our iron!"

On my phone, please move Garrun one square right and two squares down on the map. Thanks.

Garrun kicks hard into the bush, and feels his foot connect solidly with something...wooden?

There is a grinding, rumbling noise, and a large heavy branch in one of the trees, directly above Garrun, comes loose, plunging downwards at the man.

Garrun Reflex Save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Garrun just about manages to twist his body out of the way, as the heavy branch crashes down where his head was less than a second before.

A strange "yipyipyip" cry goes up, as several small scaley figures emerge from carved hollows high up into the trees, and grab disguised ropes. They carry small spears.

Dai Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Opalia Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Nogrogomed Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Lucian Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Finn Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Ichabod Initiative: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (20) - 1 = 19
Garrun Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Kobolds Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Rotation:

Dai - can post
Garrun - can post
Ichabod - can post
Lucian
Opalia
Finn
Nogrogomed
Kobolds

The kobolds are currently up in the trees, and will need missle weapons or reach weapons to hit until they come down. However, unlike the spiders, they gain no concealment from the trees, as they are not hiding among ther branches. The bushes are thick, and require a full round action to move 5' through. Anything in them gains total concealment from anything not next to it.

"THEY'RE IN THE TREES!!" Finnick yells.

Dai swiftly alters his aim to fire at the creatures in the trees.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

+1 to attack from Bless.

Garrun curses, barely able to duck the heavy branch as it crashes past, he'd been too agressive, given up the advantage, "Little blighters."

"Bows and incendiaries! They're naked up there!", breaking free of the bushes, the warpriest shoulders his shield and moves for a better vantage point. Finding a clear shot, he drops his sword to the end of it's cord and begins readying his crossbow.

Move and sheath shield, Drop sword as free action and draw crossbow.

Hope you all had a good Christmas and New Year

Dai's shots are swift but inaccurate, clattering off the branches surrounding his target.

We're waiting for Ichabod, but Lucian and Opalia can go, and we'll fit him in.

Opalia draws a bead on the charging kobold, trying to desperately turn her bow in time and the savage screams get closer.

shoot it. shoot it. come on!

bow: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 4 + 1 = 25, bow: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 4 + 1 = 22 damage: 3d8 ⇒ (1, 2, 6) = 9

The witch coolly fires into the face of her target then steps back through the bushes into space.

"Damnit!" Lucian curses as he sheaths his blades and pulls his crossbow.

Not sure what happened to my post. I attacked with an Acid dart and rolled a 16 to hit, and 3 damage.

While Dai's shots were swift but erroneous, Opalia takes her time, draws a careful bead, and plants a single arrow in her target, which screams in pain and fury, and launches a stream of invective at her in its sibbilant tongue, too swift for anyone to catch.

Ichabod summons up the power of his deity, launching a slash of burning acid towards his target. The corrosive liquid splashes against the creature's scales and an acrid smell and sizzling sound accompanies the creature's pained yell.

Lucian prepares his crossbow, having carefully stowed his blades.

Finn, Nogrogomed, go

Finn pulls back on his Slingstaff and lets loose at one of the closest Kobolds to him, trying to knock it from the tree.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
damage: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Nogrogomed, sullenly looks at his falchion and back at the kobold up in the trees. He lets out a bestial scream as loud as he can, waving the falchion menacingly.

[dice=Intimidate to Demoralize] 1d20 + 7[/dice]

With his magically enhanced speed, he then proceeds to take a running jump in an attempt to land in the tree next to or near the kobold

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (10) + 17 = 27
+5 Acrobatics, +12 bonus for having 60 speed

Finn bounces a slingstone off the noggin of a nearby kobold. Meanwhile, Nogrogomed attempts something extraordinary, charging forward with unnatural speed, and leaping into the air. Rising above head height, he grabs onto one of the branches bearing an astonished kobold, his momentum making him swing wildly and perform a complete somersault around the branch, before catching himself almost bent double over the branch.

Nogrogomed is swinging from the branch, his feet about seven feet off the ground. It will be a DC8 STR check to haul himself up next round

The kobold regains its wits enough to jab at Nogrogomed with its spear.

Kobold Hit: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

but the unorthodox manner of the assault throws off its aim. Meanwhile, its four companions rain javelins on Lucian, Finn, Garrun and Opalia.

Kobold Hit: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Kobold Hit: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Kobold Hit: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Kobold Hit: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Finn takes 5 damage, and Opalia takes 4

Rotation:

Dai - can post
Garrun - can post
Ichabod - can post
Lucian
Opalia
Finn
Nogrogomed
Kobolds

Garrun laughs heartily as Nogrogomed vaults into the trees, "There's a man with some initiative! Toss the little blighter down! If the fall doesn't break his neck, you landing on it will!

Loading a bolt, Garrun takes aim on the dazed kobold hit by Finn's sling and looses it at the creatures scaly throat.

Light Crossbow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8
Crit. Confirm: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15
Crit. Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 7

Grinding his teeth in frustration, Dai once again takes aim and fires once at the closest kobold.

Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Seeing that his last attack was successful, Ichabod winds up and hurls another acid dart at the same creature.

1d20 ⇒ 7 ranged touch
1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7 Acid spittle.

But is saddened and disappointed when several branches get in the way of his carefully planned attack.

Ichabod might as well hide at this level... or attempt to assist others in combat :-)

Sorry, had a yucky week. Just catching up now.

Take your time. My family is in a quarantine zone too. I'm hoping the Packers can turn my weekend around against the Falcons.

Cheers
FW

Sorry again. I am back in the saddle now.

Situation recap - The kobolds (now numbered for your convenience) have laid an ambush by placing decoys on the ground, while hiding in the trees. You've avoided and disabled their main snare trap, and set off one of their lesser traps, which caused the ambush to fire.

The kobolds are about 10' up, and thus beyond the melee reach of anything that doesn't have that amount of reach. Nogrogomed has leapt up onto one of the branches and is hanging precariously while a kobold pokes at him.

Garrun lowers his crossbow at one of the kobolds (4) and takes careful aim. His bolt skewers the creature through its shoulder, pinning it to the tree with a yelp. Its javelin falls from its numb fingers, and it stares dumbly at the heavily-bleeding wound.

Meanwhile, Dai has better luck than previously. He wings one of the kobolds (5) with his shot, wounding the creature in the side.

Ichabod attempts to target the same one, but his splash of acid impacts against an overhanging tree branch, where it sizzles against the wood harmlessly.

Rotation:

Dai
Garrun
Ichabod
Lucian - can post
Opalia - can post
Finn
Nogrogomed
Kobolds

Lucian takes aim at the kobold closest to him and fires. After the shot he reloads in preparation to fire again.

Targeting kobold #3

Crossbow: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 5

Dai again target the same goblin as before, hoping to take it down quickly.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
crit: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Remember we were blessed by the Good Witch of the Donkey!

Opalia aims at the same kobold she hit before.

Bow shot: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 4 + 1 = 18, damage: 1d8 ⇒ 1

Lucian and Opalia both send shots into the trees, each finding their marks but neither of them proving decisive.

Rotation:

Dai
Garrun
Ichabod
Lucian
Opalia
Finn - can post
Nogrogomed - can post
Kobolds

Finn moves forward with Mr Scruffles and follows up Lucian's attack with a slingshot of his own.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Damage: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Nogrogomed attempts to levy himself up on to the branch, realizing he maybe didn't think this all the way through.

Strength Check: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11 Draws AoO? Also, I'm not sure if this is a move action or standard, if it is a standard action ignore the rest

Now staring down at the kobold, he takes a swing

Falchion: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 222d6 + 4 ⇒ (4, 4) + 4 = 12

Did I kill the one I was firing at??

Dai, it wasn't your turn

Finn's slingshot whirls around his head, and the stone streaks towards one of the creatures, drawing a loud hiss as it careens off it's shoulder.

Nogrogomed hauls himself up precariously onto the branch, as the kobold occupying it takes a lunge at him.

Kobold AoO: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

the crude spear jabs into the burly half-orc painfully

Nogrogomed takes 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 damage

In response, Nogrogomed delivers a swing that nearly severs one of the kobold's limbs, slashing it across the chest.

While he savours his strike, he hears an ominous creaking sound as the branch he is balanced on begins to sag under the weight.

The kobold opposite Nogrogomed, realizing its peril, takes a mighty last-gasp thrust at the barbarian

Kobold spear: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
spear: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

but in its injured state is only able to deliver another flesh wound.

Meanwhile, the three remaining scaleykind hurl another volley of javelins

Kobold Javelin: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Kobold Javelin: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Kobold Javelin: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Finn takes 5 points of damage, and Lucian takes 3

One of the kobolds also takes out a pair of carved sticks, and begins to beat them together. Their distinctive note echoes loudly through the woods.

Dai - it wasn't your turn. You may keep what you rolled, or roll again.

Rotation:

Dai - can post
Garrun - can post
Lucian - can post
Opalia
Finn
Nogrogomed
Kobolds

Two comments DM. Unless the kobolds are using oversized weapons (for them) small javelins do 1d4 damage. Secondly, I believe you need to roll a critical confirmation against Lucian.

Lucian takes aim as the same kobold again and fires. He reloads again after the shot.

Crossbow: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 5