GM Riatin's Rise of the Runelords

Game Master riatin

Hieronymous is at -1 hp, I am guessing that means I don't get an attack of opportunity.

Ah, ok, then feel free to lie there and bleed. Make a fortitude save with a -1, please. You're considered dying, but you've got a ways to go before you're in real trouble.

You see Hieronymous fall to a goblin sword as the little devils grin with delight. They turn to advance on the rest of you, their blades thick with your friend's blood.

Zafzalurg, still a little shocked at dispatching the goblin in front of him, catches a glimpse of the another foul creature rushing at Katarina and lashes out wildly.

Attack of Opportunity: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Hieronymous lies there and bleeds.

Noooo, he's gonna make me roll a die!!!!

Fortitude: 1d20 ⇒ 13

(I have +1 to Fort, so it cancelled out your -1)

I hope that 13 is enough, next time I make a character I am going to make one that warships the god of random numbers.

You make your save so you don't lose any more HP to blood loss.

As the goblin with the horsechopper dashes by Zaf clips him on the arm with his sickle. It hisses in pain and gives him a nasty look, then finishes its attack on Katarina.

Garrok's up, then Zaf, and Katarina.

"NOO!" Garrok howls as he sees Hieronymous take a hit from a goblin cleaver and fall to the ground... Those monsters! I'll destroy them all! He looks at the leader, threatening the small but powerful girl... Not powerful enough to take another hit from that thing!

He lets his rage power his steps as he makes his way through the foliage just far enough that he can strike at the leader with his oversized sword...

Begin Barbarian Rage. He moves to the "west" to spaces I/J,1/2 unless his reach can't make it to the Leader from there - not sure about the math on 10-ft reach - in which case it'll be H/I,1/2.

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
Confirm Crit: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
Damage1: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (6, 5) + 7 = 18
Damage2: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (4, 2) + 7 = 13

Do let me know if anything above isn't on the level, but assuming it's all good...

His sword tears downward through the goblin leader's armor and torso, throwing a gout of black goblin blood all around him. His face splattered with the gunk, he turns back to the goblins he passed, still hovering over Hieronymous's unconscious form. He leers at them. "Now... YOU!"

Moving from K to J would provoke an AoO from goblin3
Concealment: 1d100 ⇒ 74
goblin3's AoO: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15
From your Hero lab info, that should hit
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

The leader falls to Garrok's sword and the other goblins give a hoot of surprise, but that only slows them for a second, their evil eyes still fixed on you.

Zaf and Katarina, Kill some goblins!

From your Hero lab info, that should hit

Ha! Yeah, once Raging his AC dropped to exactly 15. I was expecting an AoO. When I start Raging using Hero Lab, it does add the additional 2HP to my existing health, so he would have jumped to 11, then gotten hit for 1. Garrok is at 10HP.

Garrok looks to Zafzalurg who continues to sing while shaking goblin blood from his sickle. Not bad for a little guy...

Edited for correct context.

Katarina's eyes widen in fear when the goblin dashes past her allies to strike at her directly, but nonetheless she is able narrowly dodge to the side and avoid the worst of the attack, the little creature's blade just grazing her.

Clenching her teeth, Katarina takes a step backward and raises her crossbow, determined to make the shot count... But before she can pull the trigger, thundering footsteps shake ground, and the goblin leader meets a grisly end when Garrok's huge blade tears it in half.

Equal parts shocked and relieved, she tries to keep her mind clear and focused. 'We need to kill these goblins as fast as we can, and heal Hieronymous before it's too late!'

With a goblin still incapacitated thanks to her hex, Katarina decides to take advantage of the little monster's predicament, and fires her crossbow at the sleeping enemy.

Katarina shoots at the sleeping goblin in J:5 (this isn't a coup de grace, but since it's helpless it's considered as having 0 Dex, so -5 mod, so even with her awful attack bonus she might actually hit something! ^_^), then 5-foot-steps backwards into G:1

Crossbow Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 4

Zaf up next.

Whoa, that may be the most horrific thing I've ever seen. But I can't let it distract me - Hieronymous is down.

Zaf wipes away the goblin splatter from the side of his face, his song nearly faltering as he sees the enlarged and enraged half-orc cleave the creature threatening Katarina. The gnome then rushes to attack the nearest reptilian threat - or at least give it a target other than Hieronymous.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Zafzalurg steps up to i5

Hieronymous lies there and doesn't bleed.

Zaf moves forward to finish what Katarina had started with her arrow, the goblin falls to the earth never to rise again.

The remaining goblins seem not to even notice their friends falling around them as they redouble their efforts to kill their foes.

One of the goblins steps over his fallen companion to stab viciously at Zaf.

Goblin4's Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3

The goblin's blade rakes along his thigh cutting off a layer of skin and leather.

The other toothy goblin takes another swing at the much larger half orc.

concealment: 1d100 ⇒ 96
Goblin3's attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

The goblin lunges forward only to clatter harmlessly off Garrok's shield.

From the deeper trail you see a beaten and bloody elven woman emerge from the fighting, on her heels are three more goblins. She looks to be losing blood from a deep puncture wound in her stomach and a goblin arrow has lodged itself in her bicep. A quiver strapped across her back is notably empty and she seems to be without a bow, but fights the goblins adeptly with a shortsword.Elven Woman

Back to Garrok

Garrokmal sees an end to the fighting... Just a couple more of these vermin and we can get Hieronymous fixed up...

He attacks the goblin in front of him.
Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Damage: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (5, 3) + 7 = 15

Garrok strikes down the goblin and steps forward to menace the last one standing next to Zafzalurg.

I assume that 15/15 kills the goblin. After the swing, he takes a 5-foot step straight forward to I/J,2/3. The last goblin is in reach, so I'll make an AoO roll if it's needed. 8 rounds of Rage remain today after this one.

The goblin has a 16 AC and so a 15 would miss. Normally you would get a flanking bonus from Hieronymous, but since he's unconscious and doesn't threaten, no bonus. Since the goblin would still be up, moving into his square wouldn't be possible, so I'll assume you retain your current position unless you want to do something different.

Zaf up.

Enraged at the slice in his leg, Zafzalurg gathers this fury and focuses it at the cretinous beast before him.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

He swings wildly as his song builds to a raged-fueled crescendo.

Zaf slashes his goblin across the face, giving him a wicked gash that makes him scream in pain.

Katarina up.

No sign of Katarina so we'll bot her for this round

Katarina utters a verse of arcane speech and points at the goblin attacking Zaf.

Goblin4 save vs dc15: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15

The goblin slows as if falling asleep, but shakes off the effects and keeps swinging his dogslicer.

Round goes back to the goblins.

One flails wildly at Zaf attempting to end his foes quickly before they can do him in.

Goblin4's attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3
Zaf takes 3

The other looks up at Garrok, sneering and stabs at him.

Goblin5's Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13
Miss

The elf kills another two of her opponents as the last remaining one stabs her in the shin.

Back to Garrok

Garrokmal's rage only increases as the goblin dodges his swing. Bastard! I had him! Focus - remember your practice...

He attacks the goblin in front of him again.

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
Damage: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (3, 5) + 7 = 15

"Ha! Slip your way past that, scum!" He takes a step forward to threaten the final standing goblin.

5-ft step down to I/J,2/3 and I'll roll an AoO if that last goblin tries anything funny...

"Hang on, Hieronymous! We're almost done here - we'll patch you up in no time..." Unless there are any other surprises...

Zafzalurg, reeling from the goblin's blow, takes a desperate swing.

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

He then scans the battle. The tide is turning to our favor. Grinning wildly, the gnome adjusts the lyrics of his song and sings,

"Press on, good company, our resolve fills the host with doubt. / Let's crush them quick before our friend here bleeds out. "

Zaf makes me laugh.

I thought this up the other day, no hidden meaning here, just wanted to add something to the game while being comatose...

Hieronymous dreams that he is being buried alive by goblins. They can't see him breathing through all of his clothes and armor. He tries to scream, to let them know he is alive. He doesn't care if it means they will kill him anyway, or sell him into slavery or whatever goblins do to prisoners.
As with any dream, he is only able to sit there and watch, as he suddenly finds himself outside of his body, hovering nearby, unable to intervene.
He wonders where his friends are, he doesn't see them around, he tries to look to see if they are nearby, but he can't turn his head...

Hieronymous continues to lay there and not bleed.

The final goblins fall to your blades at the same the elven girl finishes off the last of the horde that surrounded her. She takes a step toward you, battered and bleed, then falls face first into the sodden dirt.

All around are the bodies of dead goblins.

I made a typo above - I have 3 rounds of Rage today after this combat. For the record.

With the broken corpses of goblins surrounding them and black blood running amongst the scales of his armor, Garrokmal deflates a little bit as he calms down, but loses none of his urgency...

"Bard! You still have those potions, yes? Have Hieronymous drink the larger one - give the other one to me!"

Garrok takes the potion of Cure Light Wounds from Zafzalurg and runs over to the fallen stranger. Before giving her the drought, he attempts to discern her condition.

"Can you speak? Are you badly hurt?"

Before using the precious potion, Garrok tries administering first aid to the woman.

First Aid (DC 15): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19

He succeeds in stabilizing her, and waits to see if there are other options to help her recover before using the potion.

After handing one of his few precious potions to the half-orc, Zafzalurg takes the remaining bottle and administers it to Hieronymous. So much blood...

Hieronymous, drink this. Hieronymous?'

The figure at his feet remains motionless. The gnome yanks the stopper from the bottle and administers it to the unconscious human. I hope he's not a biter.

Assuming that Zaf's potion works, Hieronymous sits up and blinks his eyes a bit, notices Garrockmal over the elf, and says, "Hang on Garrockmal, let's not waste that potion!"

He nods to the gnome, "Thanks."

He pulls his bulk up off the ground, walks over to the elf and kneels. He mumbles a few words under his breath and places his hands on her forehead and belly. A dim white glow moves from his heart, through his arms and into her body.

Hieronymous casts Cure Light Wounds:
Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

"Wow, that's the last time I try and make myself a target, next time I will stick to the trees!"

He stands up, blinks his eyes a few more time and then shakes his head sharply and looks around the clearing.

If that Cure isn't enough, how soon can I cast another spell? Not sure how it works now that we're out of combat.

Someone needs to roll 2d8+1 for the potion of Cure Moderate Wounds that revived Hieronymous. :)

Hieronymous' Cure mod potion: 2d8 + 1 ⇒ (7, 7) + 1 = 15
Hieronymous is cure for 15

more in a bit...

You all see the healing powers take hold of the girl lying at your feet, her bleeding stops, many of her wounds close and a large patch of bruises vanish. Her eyes shoot open and she grasps Hieronymous' hand in an iron grip.

"Must speak to Hemlock", she says in a wavering voice before fainting once again. You know that much of her injury is healed, but you can feel the exhaustion deep in her, an exhaustion your magic is unable to mend.

A round is effectively 6 seconds. Out of combat rounds are the same amount of casting time, so you can cast 10 spells a minute if you like. The girl is beyond exhausted, to the point of total collapse.

Combing through the equipment of the goblins, there are many dogslicers, light wooden shields, and suits of grimy leather armor, most of it stinks and has goblin grime well caked upon it. One the goblin leader you find a shortbow and a partly used quiver of arrows along with his Horsechopper and another potion. Amongst them all you find 24 gold, 15 silver, and 87 copper pieces.

There are 12 small suits of leather armor, 12 small light wooden shields, 12 small dogslicers, 1 small shortbow, 15 small shortbow arrows, 1 potion of cure moderate wounds.

That leaves me with two spells for the day, since she needs to speak with Hemlock I am thinking we won't see any more action before we go back to Sandpoint. I think Garrokmal and Zaf have taken more damage, so...

Hieronymous looks over his friends, notes that Garrokmal and Zaf both have pretty nasty injuries, and then looks at Katarina apologetically, "Sorry milady, it appears once again than I only have enough in me to cure the most injured of us."

Hieronymous mumbles under his breath and lays hands on first Garrokmal, and then Zaf. In both cases a white glow emanates from his chest to his patients.

Cure Garrokmal: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Cure Zaf: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Wow, finally some decent rolls!

"Thanks, friend - it's good to see you on your feet again. I was worried for a moment there... I doubt we'll learn anything more valuable by venturing farther into the woods than we would by hearing what Shalelu here has to report to the Sheriff. I can carry her easily enough, although if you want to keep any of that goblin gear, you'll have to grab it. Let's divvy up the coin and be on our way."

With that, Garrok stows his weapons and as gently as he can manage, situates the unconscious scout on his shoulders.

Unless anyone objects, we could take splitting up the coinage as read and three of you take 6g 4s 22c. Garrok will take one fewer s and c. Someone should claim that potion (Garrok is still carrying the Light Wounds one). Barring any other developments, he's carrying the scout back to town...

The journey back to the Lost Coast road is a nervous one as you make your way back through the underbrush, intent on the noise of goblins creeping through the woods, but soon enough the old dirt track appears.

You make your way back toward Sandpoint with Garrok being careful not to drop or jostle the elf too much and keeping well clear of the arrows still embedded in her. For most of the route she is silent, but more than once you hear a whimper or a moan escape her lips and a violent cry as if she were in pain.

As the afternoon starts to fade, you see the top of the Old North Gate and the buildings of Sandpoint beyond it.

Emit, the guard sees you come near and steps forward to challenge you, but recognition calms his worried face and he smiles. Then he sees the signs of battle upon you and the injured elven woman strung across Garrok's back.

"Lords be!" he says. "What happened?" before you can answer he gets a look at who Garrok's carrying. "Is that Shalelu? She's not due back for another three months. What in the nine hells happened out there?"

"We might as well make some extra cash off of these nuisances, but I'll not mess with that armor nor bother to carry those shields all the way back to town. Go on ahead, I'll be just a minute"

Hieronymous pulls out one of his bags and quickly throws all the dogslicers, the bow and the Horsechopper on it and then rolls them up in the bag. He then wraps the package with his rope and slings the whole thing over his shoulder.

He hurries after others and hands the potion to Zaf as they go.

Hearing Emit, Hieronymous replies, "We were tracking the goblins from yesterday and found them trying to kill her. She needs more care than I am capable of providing, we need to get her to your most accomplished healer, quickly!"

As they rush to find the fallen elf much needed aid, Zafzalurg asks the guard, "Who is this Shelalu? What was she doing for Hemlock that took her into goblin territory?

Privately, the gnome wonders, And what weren't we told?

Emit scratches his head under his helmet and thinks for a second. "Father Zantus'd be who you want to see. He's the best healer that I know of outside of Magnimar. You'll find him in the cathedral."

At Zaf's question he looks the gnome over, "Thought everyone in town knew Shalelu. She's a wanderer, frontier type. Likes to tromp about the mountains and get herself in trouble. Saved the town more than a few times though, keeping the local goblins in line. Comes back every three or four months to bring a report to Hemlock and resupply. Once in a while she'll help us guards out, that's about all I know, lad. She's one of the good ones though."

"Thanks, Emit! These two aren't local, but they're good folk, so don't harass them too much if they come to the gate again, heh... All right, I guess it's back to where this all started - the temple! None too soon - the lass is getting heavy."

You leave Emit to guard the gate and make your way back to the cathedral. Crews are busy cleaning and repairing the damage from the day before. Many sets of eyes watch you as you carry the woman to the temple doors.

Father Zantus emerges from one of the groups, carpentry hammer in hand. He sees the injured woman draped over Garrok's should and says "Take her inside and to the left, there's a bed."

You hear the name Shalelu more than once from the crowd of villagers. Word will no doubt spread quickly.

Father Zantus follows you into the cathedral and journeys back to his quarters returning with a healer's bag. He listens to her chest as it rises and falls with ragged breathing then looks to her wounds, giving the arrows embedded in her a dirty look.

"More goblins? Foul spawn of Lamashtu." He motions over a page that's been silently shadowing the priest. "Run and tell Sheriff Hemlock and Mayor Deverin that Shalelu has returned." The page rushes out the door.

With great care he uses a pair of pliers and a probe to remove each of the arrowheads, Shalelu grimacing in pain as he pulls each clear. He motions for Hieronymous to hold a bandage over each gaping wound before she can lose too much blood. "Keep pressure on it." he says.

Next, he bows his head and says a short prayer. 'Oh Desna, Mistress of Grace, heal this child." She glows with a golden radiance that slowly fades and her wounds disappear, but she doesn't wake.

Noticing your looks of concern, he says,"She'll be fine, a few hours sleep and she'll be around. Just give her some time."

He escorts you from the room just as the page returns. "Sheriff Hemlock wants us all to meet here at 8, to speak to Shalelu."

You've got 4 hours or so before the meeting if you want to shop or whatever, if not we can go ahead and play out the meeting.

Hieronymous asks father Zantus, "Father, if you still have it in you, can you please tend to Katarina's wounds? We took a bit more damage during the fight than I was able to heal."

He then decides that now would be the best time to get rid of the goblin weapons he collected. "Well friends, I need to offload all this goblin gear I lugged back to town, you're welcome to come along, or I can meet you at the Rusty Dragon for dinner and hand each of you your share of whatever coin Savah will give us for all of this."

He grabs the bundle of goblin gear and tosses it over his shoulder as if it were just a bundle of cloth, and then heads out of the cathedral to Savah's Armory.

"Ha - by that, he means he was on death's doorstep and left most of the fighting to me!" Garrok slaps Hieronymous on the back, then gestures at Zaf and Katrina, standing beside them. "These two unassuming types got their licks in, as well - it was quite a fight. I'm glad Shalelu will come through it alright."

He glances down, touching his various bags and gear... "Can't think of anything I need right now except a drink! I'm going to have a pint with my friends and be back to see the Sheriff in a while. If anyone wants to see a real Sandpoint tavern - not that Rusty Dragon tourist trap - you can join me at Cracktooth's Tavern. It's not far!"

With that, he spins on his heel and heads out the door.

Father Zantus would gladly heal anyone needing it with a channel energy.

Zafzalurg calls after Garrok, "Let me get this nasty gash sorted out with the good father here, and I'll join you at Cracktooth's."

Turning to Zanthus, the gnome bats his big gnome-y eyes at the healer. "I could use some of that benediction, Father Zantus. Also, the name of a reasonable tailor." He fingers the bloodied slice in his leggings where the goblin blade passed through his defenses.

How much damage did you take Zaf?

From up above - "Cure Zaf: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8"

Hieronymous winces in embarrassment at Garrockmal's comment, looks up at him with a grin and replies, "I have to admit I ran right out in the open and made myself a target for them, but I got confused when you didn't charge out into the middle of everything! Heh heh heh," he chuckles and proceeds to Savah's.

"I'll see you all at Cracktooth's then, I suppose a little change of scenery couldn't hurt!

He waves at all of them as he walks down the street.

Hieronymous says, "Hmmm, not bad for working with goblin armor, not bad at all! I suppose it'd just as well that we didn't try to lug any more of it in from that fight we were in today! Goblins are everywhere it seems."

"I'll mention the chainmail to my friends, but I fear that we're still a fair distance finance wise from being able to afford such a fine piece. I will keep it in mind though, should we come into a fair amount of coin in our travels."

"Thanks Savah, it's been a pleasure talking to you, see you next time!"

Hieronymous secures the money pouch in a hidden pocket in his cloak, and then heads out the door and ask a local for directions to Cracktooth's, and then makes his way there to join his friends

Katarina accepts the healing with a smile, and thanks Father Zantus profusely after he is done.

"I think I'll go to the Rusty Dragon to see if Ameiko needs help with something... And to tell her what happened! I'll be back in time, I promise. See you later!"

The young girl waves to everyone on her way out, then hurries on her way.

Oops, forgot to ask, how much money did Savah give me?

Altogether the weapons would sell for 250gp. Dogslicers x20, Shortbow x1, Masterwork Horsechopper x1.

After a couple hours' respite, enjoying an ale in a familiar place and thanking Cayden Cailean for surviving another day, Garrok decides he'd better see what Shalelu has to tell the Sheriff.

"Thanks, Jesk. Gods be with us, I'll darken your doorway yet again before long."

He heads back to the cathedral to find out what fate holds next...

Hieronymous makes his way to Cracktooth's, finds Garrockmal and Zaf and has a couple drinks with them. He divides the 250 gp into equal potions of 62 gp, 5 sp each, and discreetly pushes Garrockmal and Zaf's share across the table to each of them. He then puts Katarina's share back in the money pouch Savah gave him so he can give it to her back at the Cathedral.

When Garrockmal gets up to go, he follows, "Thanks for the drinks Jesk!"

If no one minds I'll go ahead with the meeting.

A couple hours pass and you all assemble back at the Cathedral. As you enter, Father Zantus pulls you aside and lets you know that the Sheriff is with Shalelu. She's been conscious for about an hour and they've been speaking for about fifteen minutes.

A few minutes later, the Sheriff emerges from the small room, sees your group and makes his way over. "Shalelu told me about the fight in the woods. Nasty bit of business it sounds like, glad none of you got seriously injured, it's looking like we're going to need people like you very soon."

Just then the Mayor enters the Cathedral and greets you all. "I don't think we've been formally introduced. I'm Kendra Deverin, Mayor of Sandpoint, and I want to formally thank you for all of your help the past two days. I'm not certain what's going on, but we need people like you if we're going to pull through this." She takes each of you firmly by the hand and gives it a shake.

"Now Sheriff, where is Shalelu? Is she well enough to speak to us?"

"She came around about an hour ago and has been relating recent events to me. She said she's well enough to have this meeting, so if you will all follow me. You too Father Zantus."

You all file into the room to see the elf woman lying on a small bed. Being a small room, its a bit uncomfortably packed by the time everyone gets inside.

The Sheriff nods to Shalelu and she starts talking in a voice much stronger than what you last heard from her. She bows her head, "Thank you to those who came to my aid today. I don't know how you found me, or why, but you saved my life, of that I am sure, and indebted to you. For that matter, the whole of Sandpoint is indebted to you, for the news I bear is grim."

"I've dedicated the last several years of my life to keeping the goblins from causing too much trouble around these parts, but they're tenacious and fecund little runts. Like weeds that bite."

"There are five major goblin tribes in the region, and, traditionally, they're pretty good at keeping each other in line with intertribal squabbles and the like. Yet from what I've been able to piece together, members of all five tribes were involved in the raid yesterday. A fair number of the Mosswood goblins we fought this morning were already pretty beat up, and there was a lot of chatter about the 'longshanks' who killed so many of them. Now that I've seen you in action, it seems like you've made an impression on more than just me."

"In any event, the fact that the five tribes are all working together disturbs me. Goblin tribes don't get along unless they've got something big planned, and big plans require big bosses. I'm afraid that someone's moved in on the goblins and organized them. And judging by recent events, what they're organizing seems like bad news for all of us."

Sheriff Hemlock nods his head as she talks and watches the Mayors reaction grimly. "Earlier this morning a farm south of the Mosswood was burned to the ground. We've never had problems from them like this. But I do have a plan..."

More in a bit...