GM Rednal's Jade Regent (Inactive)

Game Master Rednal

You're in the H5 chamber just southeast of H8.

The three of you arrived in the next chamber without trouble, though neither did you see anything of note along the way. However, a few goblin tracks were visible in the mud below, heading further north... and apparently out of the village.

"Let's check out this area, then circle back and search those buildings in the southeast corner of the complex. I think that should about do it, right?"

She continues on, pushing through to the northern exit.

Hisoka worldlessly follows, letting Shelby take the lead. Should their meanderings bring them more goblins, he cared little where they went.

Moving north puts you in a hallway. Ahead and to the left is another door - to the right, you can see the destroyed building, so thoroughly ruined that the hallway itself has been opened up to the outdoors, and you could simply walk right into the rubble.

...

Er, more exposed to the outdoors, anyway. They're goblin walls, and even the best are full of cracks and sloppily tied-together sticks.

Shelby nods to herself, as if this was expected. "Let's clear the southeast block, then, and be rid of this place." Shelby leads them back to the previous building, then to the door to the right, taking a look at the double doors at the end of the hall.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

If the Iomedaean finds nothing amiss, she opens the doors.

Going to the doors above H9

As Selbarina reaches out, there's a bit of a thumping sound, and the doors refuse to move. It seems these doors have been barred from the inside, and you'll need to find some way inside. You might be able to effective 'pick' the lock by using a blade, or you could simply try busting the door down with brute strength. Or get creative, of course - that's always an option.

Shutai shook her head. "My magic will not help with this. I could perhaps freeze the hinges, or smash them, but if it is bared..."

"Perhaps we could use one of these rockets to shatter the door?" Shelby asks her fellows, crossing her arms as she ponders how to get in the room.

Without much warning but the harrumph that came with his boot, Hisoka wastes no time in kicking with all his strength.

Strength Check: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

The door shakes violently, but somehow barely manages to hold firm. It would take just a bit more force - possibly given by your allies helping - to break the door open.

Sighing, Shelby throws her weight against the door in an attempt to assist Hisoka. She looks at her foster-sister in the interim, "Why don't you get one of those rockets ready, just in case? It probably would have been useful in our last fight."

Str Assist: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Eh, good enough. XD

The door splinters open - and within, you find four goblins similar to those you fought before and one more dressed far better than the others - which, in this case, means robes that are slightly less patched-together and grimy.

Initiative (Enemy): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Initiative (Hisoka): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
Initiative (Selbarina): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Initiative (Shutai): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Shutai grunted in slight surprise, but responded by hurling a Snowball.

Ranged Touch Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 4) = 6

Hisoka sets his eyes grimly on the robed goblin, gripping his katana in both of his hands and rushing it and chopping viciously down on at the creatures head.

Katana: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

This is a good time to specify WHICH enemy you're trying to attack. Otherwise, it's entirely open to GM decision, and you may find you end up attacking someone other than who you wanted...

Shutai's snowball instantly dropped one of the smaller Goblins, even as Hisoka darged forward at the leader and cut him open with a well-placed strike. The leader screamed in rage and stepped back a moment later, raising his bow and firing a pair of arrows straight at Hisoka's face.

Ranged Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18
Ranged Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11

Or... you know... wiggling off to the side a bit, or up towards the ceiling. Look, goblins were not expert warriors, all right? The other three, out of melee range, raised their bows and fired towards Shutai instead.

Ranged Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22 for Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2
Ranged Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Ranged Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Seeing that Hisoka seemed to have the leader well in hand, Shelby steps swiftly into the room toward the other archers, swinging heavily at the first one she can find.

Longsword: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Well, they can't all be hits.

With a grunt Shutai staggered slightly as the arrow punched through the Mage Armour and her own hide. It didn't hurt, much, but it was still annoying. With a snarl she lunged forwards, aiming to take a chunk out one of the smaller Goblins.

Bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

In a fancy, but ineffective maneuver, Hisoka twists his blade in his hand and brought it back in a reverse slash with his other hand. Whether it was the arrows or possibly just his ineptitude, the blow falls short.

Katana: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Selbarina's swing missed - as did Shutai's bite, and Hisoka's Katana. That was actually kind of impressive, and seeing the longshanks miss, the Goblins let out a rousing cheer, then took out their melee weapons and began stabbing and slicing at your lower legs.

Melee (Hisoka): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20 for Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Melee (Selbarina): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
Melee (Selbarina): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19 for Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3
Melee (Shutai): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Melee (Shutai): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Now close enough, Shutai activated her ability to grow claws. With a feral smirk she dodged the Goblin's attack with grace, and replied with brutal feroicity.

Bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Claw 1: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Claw 2: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Hisoka swings again at the apparent goblin leader. Unable to hit the mark, he curses under his breath.

Katana: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Moving on...

Shutai bit into her next foe, teeth plunging deeply into its flesh but claws failing to strike. That wasn't quite enough to kill the creature, but it was badly wounded now, and any hit from any of you would likely drop it.

Hisoka's swing, once again, failed to hit the mark - and the goblins immediately retaliated...

Melee (Hisoka): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Melee (Hisoka): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15
Melee (Shutai): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Melee (Shutai): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

...without success. They were nasty in large numbers, but a small group like this truly wasn't that impressive in close combat.

Shutai continued to savage the Goblin she had sunk her teeth into, tearing at the wound with a savage snarl.

Bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Katana: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Frustration built as his assault on the goblin leader brought failure after failure.

Dammit, sorry guys. I thought I had posted.

Shelby steps up to one of the goblins facing off with Shutai, her longsword slashing down and left.

Longsword: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Shutai promptly ripped out the throat of the goblin she was biting, as... Hisoka was busy dealing with a string of truly atrocious luck. Well, such things happened - perhaps he'd redouble his future training in an effort to conquer with skill what fortune would deny him? Selbarina also missed, though, so Hisoka certainly wasn't alone in his troubles.

Curse you, dice roller, making things improbably difficult! D< These are normal goblins, by the way, except the leader. All unmodified from the book. The system's just generating low rolls for you.

Three goblins yet lived - one facing Shutai and two facing Hisoka.

Melee (Hisoka): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
Melee (Hisoka): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20 for Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1
Melee (Shutai): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

If he had one good quality, other than his hair, his eyes and his charming smile, it was determination. Hisoka continues his onslaught.

Katana: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Shutai spat the gristly bit of throat to the side and snarled again, lips pulled back over bloody teeth. Another Goblin foolishly attacked. Shutai grunted slightly as she dodged aside, and then regrew her claws and replied in kind.

Bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Claw 1: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Claw 2: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Shelby moves up to one of the goblins facing Hisoka, swinging with barely pent-up frustration.

Longsword: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Tenacity was important, as Hisoka's swing missed the small creature again, though Shutai managed to physically rip apart another goblin and Selbarina took care of the other. That left just the leader of the goblins, who by this point was little more than a ball of violent rage that just happened to be carrying a spear, and he howled wildly as he stabbed out at Selbarina.

Melee: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25 for Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

<"Die, longshanks, DIIIEEEEE!">

Shelby gasps as the spear slides deeply into her belly, yanking herself back before it can cause any more damage. She withdraws from the combat, having to concentrate to think clearly through the pain.

Shelby is staggered. She takes a withdrawal action away from the beast.

Shutai snarled at the little beast even as she perched on the corpse of one of it's minions. She glanced at Shelby, but didn't have any healing magic left. Her oracle abilities had been tapped. Instead, she decided to kill the Goblin as quickly as possibly. She lunged at the leader, charging into attack range.

Charge! Bite: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Seeing the creature wound his companion fueled his sour mood and inspired greater focus. His next slash opens the goblin from shoulder to mid chest.

Katana: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Finally: 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (3, 3) + 6 = 12

The goblin whirled away from Shutai's attack... and right into the path of Hisoka's katana, which cut deeply into its body and ripped out a mass of flesh. It let out a high-pitched scream and turned to him, stabbing out with its weapon once more.

<"DIEDIEDIEDIEDIE!">

There was a reason goblins weren't known for eloquence or poetry.

Melee: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

...Or accuracy.

Hisoka's lips lift into a smile of grim satisfaction as his blade sinks once more into goblin flesh.

Katana: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Now out of combat, Shelby calls upon Iomedae's divine grace, healing some of her more grievous wounds.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Shutai summoned her claws once more. She had almost run out of the ability to do so, but she was going to rend this little monster one way or another.

Bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Claw 1: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Claw 2: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Hisoka's blade cut deeply into the leader of the goblins, followed a moment later by one of Shutai's claws. The chief staggered again, badly wounded - one more hit would almost certainly bring him down, but that wasn't enough to stop him from stabbing out at Shutai as she pulled away from him.

Melee: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

All the pain seemed to be getting to him, however - the spear only jabbed at empty air, and the goblin panted heavily with the exertion of fighting while so badly wounded.

Determined, Shelby re-enters the fray, longsword flashing as she swings.

Longsword: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Shelby's reappearance lifted his spirit, but until his foe was slain he could not forgive his earlier failure. Hisoka slashes as the Goblin reacts to Shelby's assault.

Katana: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Determined to press the assault, Shutai also lit into the monster. If nothing else it would be distracting.

Bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Hisoka's sword slid through the goblin leader, and he collapsed with a gurgle, life and energy finally leaving his body after all the punishment he'd endured in the last few moments.

With that, all of the goblins seem to be gone from the immediate area, though you do hear a few noises from outside that sound like small creatures running away as quickly as they can. It's unlikely the goblins will be a problem for quite some time (nothing seems capable of putting the little pests down permanently, but a few years without incidents is always welcome), but that still doesn't explain what got them so riled up in the first place... or what happened here in the village before you arrived. There are still a few rooms that haven't been explored, too...

Congratulations on reaching Level 2!

Shutain grunted as the Goblins fled. She kept her current form, however. Her Kitsune form's feet were better suited to the mud than bare human ones, and she was more dangerous if any of the Goblins didn't flee. "We need to collect the ears. And this one's head."

Shelby grimaces, but nods all the same. Disgusting work, but necessary. "Let us check out these remaining structures before we do so, sister. I'd hate to have something sneak upon us while we gather our grim harvest."

If no one objects, she leads the way to the final few rooms...

In the next chamber, you're able to find a beautiful - but grime-covered - red chest, which seems to be the depository of the goblins' treasures, and holds six masterwork shuriken, 329 sp and 112 gp in loose coins, a long hairpin with a red pearl at one end worth 150 gp, and a gold-and-ivory fan depicting a gecko walking amid cherry blossoms. The fan is worth 80 gp, but a crude map has been painted on the reverse side. The map is quite messy, but it may be possible to decipher it (with a Knowledge (Local) check) and figure out what the goblins were so interested in.

Now that the goblins were gone, you could also take a look around the village (with a Perception check and a few minutes of investigation) to try and figure out what had happened.

Me no have Knowledge Local.

Shelby puts all the items in her pack for safekeeping to divide up later. She then walks around the goblin encampment, trying to piece all the clues together to what has happened in the deserted village.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

She'll then start to help her companions harvest the ears of the slain goblins.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Shutai picked through the ruins, searching for anything that would give them a hint, and for any ears that needed collecting.

I'll take a 20 for a 25 on Perception to look around and figure things out.

Hisoka begins to figuratively flip the goblin village on its head in a wide search to ascertain what happened before they had arrived.

The more you see, the clearer things become. Not too long ago, some type of battle must have taken place in this village - the damage is well-hidden by simple virtue of the way that goblins build things, but whatever happened must have caused serious damage to the tribe and driven them to hide in the buildings you'd explored.

Further examination reveals several other things of interest, the most prominent being the occasional footstep that can still be seen in the mud. They're larger than the feet of goblins, and seem to be particularly hard and knobbly. Eventually, Hisoka is able to examine the path the intruders took, and it seems they left the village and proceeded south, further into the swamp... and took some valuables with them, given the occasional glint of gold.

You've found 6 GP.

Though you could almost certainly spend a night to rest and recover, this trail isn't going to last forever... and getting to the bottom of what happened could be quite important for the town.

Do you have a goblin ear count, Rednal, or should I read back through our posts?

Shelby helps with cutting the ears off, listening to Hisoka's revelations before nodding. "Let us be off, then, and catch these mysterious persons."

Helping the others pack up everything, she begins to follow Hisoka and the trail, hoping to catch the creatures responsible soon.