GM Tarondor's Emerald Spire Campaign

Game Master Tarondor

HERE'S an amusing picture of how this probably won't go.

As the team moves up the slope shattered by some long-ago holocaust, they are suddenly spotted by a sentinel! The tiny creature shouts a shrill warning into the castle.

A tiny humanoid head peers out from behind the edge of the castle entrance, bow in hand and ready to shoot! It appears to be riding some sort of beast.

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INITIATIVE ORDER
Pefire
Goblin Sentinel
Zaia
Yirrik
Wymond

MAP OF THE TOWER RUINS, LEVEL 1

Perfire, go!

Perfire moves forward confusedly, unable to understand the large-headed creature.

'Excuse me, sir, we come in peace, we just want to explore the tower.' Perfire attempts to negotiate with the creature over it's cries. Becoming increasingly agitated at the noise coming from the creature he focuses his will.

'Quiet down!' The Halfling frustratedly hisses at the goblin.

Casting sleep on the goblin and his mount DC 15 will

Goblin will save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18
Goblin dog will save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14

Goblin ride check: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18

With a huge yawn, the hideous goblin dog settles down on its haunches and goes to sleep. The goblin on his back nimbly steps off his sleeping mount and brings up his bow, firing at Perfire.

"Aieeee!" shouts the sentinel.

"Kill the people!
Slay their beasts!
Take their things!
Eat their meats!"

Shortbow v. Perfire: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 201d4 ⇒ 3

The arrow slices through Perfire's pants to bury itself in his thigh. The little halfling yells in pain and surprise.
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INITIATIVE ORDER
Perfire (3 damage)
Goblin Sentinel
Zaia
Yirrik
Wymond

MAP OF THE TOWER RUINS, LEVEL 1

Anyone (including Perfire), go!

Wymond stays in the middle of the party, between Zaia and Perfire, so he could easily get to the front if need be but was also in a good position to defend if they were flanked or attacked from behind. Triath trots at his side.

As they approach the Spire, he doesn't say anything, just staring at its alien, ruined majesty. When they're spotted by the goblin, he jumps a bit and unslings his sturdy axe from his back, gripping it defensively in front of him, waiting to see if Perfire's seemingly mad attempt to negotiate with the little bugger would come of anything. When all that does come of it is an arrow in the leg, Wymond strides to the front of the group.

"♪I'm a lumberjack an' I'm o-KAY!♫" He sings softly as he hefts his axe and marches up the path.

How far can Wymond get on his turn?

Unless I say differently, always assume it's not difficult terrain. He has a 20' move. So with a full move, he can go 40'. Be sure to move your token on the map.

What's going through the GM's mind.

Wymond, you moved only 20'. Is that all you intend to do this round? or did you want to make a full move?

Zaia Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

Zaia hustles up behind the front line and speaks a blessing over all of you. "Queen of the North Star, bless this company so we may do good works in your name!"

"Go on boys," she urges."That's a goblin. They're cowardly when alone. Take him now and he may flee."

--->Bless fills your allies with courage. Each ally gains a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects.<---

Yirrik, Perfire, go! (Wymond please clarify).

I wasn't sure how far the squares represented. Now that I know that, I'm going to make it a full move.

Wymond continues, the blessing filling him with warmth.

+1 morale bonus on attack rolls and saving throws against fear effects from bless/1 minute

Yirrik eyebrows rise at the sudden appearance of the goblin rider, and he hustles to keep up with Wymond, almost bumping into the stout Paladin's back in his haste.

He glances back and grins at Zaia in thanks for her warm blessing.

Current: Bless +1 att/saves

Perfire advances up the path, limping slightly from the arrow. He stops and draws his sling, working at getting it up to speed to loose a stone at the goblin.

The footpath climbs up to a jagged hole in the side of the green glass tower. The light outside the tower does not penetrate into the building more than a few feet. Beyond that, it’s pitch black.

With a shrill annoyed hiss, the goblin kicks its sleeping companion and the two melt back into the darkness, leaving only the strange blackness of the castle entrance behind them.

Zaia looks at Perfire's leg. She asks "How bad is it? I can heal you but I don't know whether we'll wish I'd waited."

'I'll be OK. Maybe when we're sure it's safe you could help get the arrow out?' Perfire says with a slightly strained smile.

What's everyone else doing while Zaia examines Perfire's leg? Still in combat, here.

"Hmmm, that's not good...." Yirrik mutters as the goblins disappear inside.

He moves cautiously up to the inky black entrance and peeks around the corner to see if he can see anything...

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Wymond joins Yirrik at the front of the group, hefting his axe.

"Want me te go in first? I can take a hit better'n the rest of ye."

From outside, you can see roughly five feet into the interior of the castle. It seems that light just fades beyond that point.

From outside, you can see roughly five feet into the interior of the castle. It seems that light just fades beyond that point.

Goblin shortbow v. Yirrik w/hard cover: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 5 - 4 = 151d4 ⇒ 3
Goblin shortbow v. Wymond w/soft cover: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 5 - 4 = 111d4 ⇒ 2

A pair of arrows streak out of the darkness. One caroms off the green glass wall near Yirrik's face, but the other grazes Wymond's forearm.

High-pitched goblin laughter follows, and a taunting song.

"Drink their blood!
Slake your thirst!
Have some mercy
Kill them first!"

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INITIATIVE ORDER
Perfire (3 damage)
Goblin Sentinel
Zaia
Yirrik
Wymond (2 damage)

MAP OF THE TOWER RUINS, LEVEL 1

Anyone, go!

"Ow! Little wretches!" Wymond barks as he grabs where the arrow tore through the links of his hauberk.

He clomps forward into the ruins and looks about to see where the goblins are.

Wymond advances to just inside the door to see where the goblins are.

Dunno how I screwed that up, but an 11 does not hit Wymond, so no damage. Oops!

'Thank you' Perfire says to Zaia 'I think we're going to need some light.' He says as Zaia tends to his leg. Perfire rummages around in his pack until he retrieves a torch and his flint & steel.

'Try to stay safe until I can get this lit' he calls up the path.

Seeing Perfire ready a torch, Zaia picks up a greenish glassy pebble and prays over it until it glows and bright as a torch.

Yirrik, go!

Yirrik, my man!

Yirrik snaps his head back from the barrage of arrows, sharing a look with Wymond. Shaking his head at his good luck, he notices Zaia and Perfire readying light sources.

"Good idea, I can't see further that 5 feet in there. Here, Zaia, hand me that rock..." he suggests.

Taking the now glowing rock, he braces his back against the corner, and tosses the rock in underhand into the entrance.

He then leans out again ...

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Since Zaia has already gone this round, Yirrik can go back to her and toss the pebble from there or they can wait another round for her to move up to him. In the interest of time, I'm going to say Yirrik moves back to Zaia, takes the light pebble and throws it.

Yirrik hurls the pebble just inside the doorway and something very strange happens. The torch is there on the floor, shining normally, but its light illuminates only an unnaturally small space around it.

So we've come to Level 1's major weirdness: Light Consumption.

Light Consumption: Inside the structure, a magical effect swallows up light. Any light source, no matter how strong, illuminates only a 5-foot radius. Anything beyond the 5-foot area is darkness. Ranged combat and melee attacks with reach have a 50% miss chance unless the attacker has darkvision. Creatures without darkvision take a –4 penalty on Perception checks that rely on sight.

For the GM's sanity, the placement of all light sources will be at a square's intersection. Some believe this Light Consumption is supposed to be a single 5' square, but it says 5' radius, so that's what we'll be using.

Two more arrows sail out of the darkness. Another arrow pierces Wymond's leggings, bloodying his left thigh!

Shortbow and Cover vs. Wymond: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 5 - 4 = 111d4 ⇒ 4
Shortbow and Cover vs. Wymond: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 5 - 4 = 171d4 ⇒ 2

Zaia rushes up, pressing herself flat against the castle wall and holds aloft the butterfly symbol of Desna. "Lady Desna! Help your servants in their hour of need." Some of Perfire's and Wymond's worst injuries are healed as a wave of warm, pleasant energy flows over them.

Channel Energy: 1d6 ⇒ 2
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INITIATIVE ORDER
Perfire (1 damage)
Goblin Sentinel
Zaia
Yirrik
Wymond (4 damage)

MAP OF THE TOWER RUINS, LEVEL 1

Pefire, Yirrik, Wymond, go!

Perfire spends the round lighting the torch.

having not seen the reduced light ahead yet

'The more light the better, probably.'

Yirrik hurries back to the entrance as Wymond gets an arrow stuck in him, "Careful there, Wy." he says, taking a quick peek , expecting to see the goblins illuminated by Zaia's glowing stone.

He leans back into cover, his face astonished, "Well...didn't expect that. The lights don't work, only showing about 5 feet around...like the light's been eaten...or something."

Wymond nods at Yirrik's warning.

"Mus' be some kinda magick stuff. Ain't never seen a spell wot can do that."

He thinks on what kind of magic could produce that effect.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

Status: 9/13 hp

Are you taking an action, Wymond?

"S'like no magic I've ever seen. Maybe ol' Azlanti stuff. Either way, gonna make fighting in the dark hard. You wanna take point with me, Yirrik? Less chance the anklebiters'll flank us."

Wymond will remain on cover for now until Yirrick gives him an answer.

Yirrik nods at Wymond, "Definately, my friend.".

He then considers something, "Let me try something first..."

Unfurling his cloak, he holds it by two corners, ready to fling it out in front of the entrance, "If these fellows can see alright and are as stupid as they should be, they might shoot at my cloak...get ready to charge." Yirrik says quietly.

He creeps to the edge of the entrance and flings the cloak out in the air so that it hangs suspended in the air for a moment or two...

If the anticipated volley comes, he will lurch around the corner with his pal , Wymond...

Wymond hefts his axe over his head, waiting for Yirrik's signal.

Readying a charge! XD

Yirrik has already acted this round, so he can't fling his cloak until next round

Two more arrows sail out of the darkness. One flies off into the clearing and cracks on the green glass of the castle wall.

Shortbow and Cover vs. Wymond: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 5 - 4 = 141d4 ⇒ 2
Shortbow and Cover vs. Wymond: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 5 - 4 = 51d4 ⇒ 3

________________________________________________________________
INITIATIVE ORDER
Perfire (1 damage)
Goblin Sentinel
Zaia
Yirrik
Wymond (4 damage)

MAP OF THE TOWER...

Anyone, go!

Perfire hears his companions planning and decides to wait until they advance to push forward himself.

Wymond continues to wait for Yirrik's signal.

Readied action to charge.

I figured his signal would have come after the goblins fired

About to fling his cloak, Yirrik pauses when the goblins within fire, attempting to kill the intevening wall.

Drawing his sword, he taps Wymond on the shoulder, shrugs and says "One, two ,three....go!"

As his stout friend charges forward, Yirrik is shoulder to shoulder with him, charging into the unknown.

"TALLY-HOOOO!" Wymond howls as they charge into the fray!

'Let's get them!' Perfeire follows behind the two frontliners, prepares to take action.

How far in do you go? You haven't moved your tokens.

waiting on the advance team to move in before I lay down arcane superiority on these mother flippers

Yeah, that's who I mean. Yirrik and Wymond need to move their tokens.Or at least Wymond.

Still very unwell, but will try and post when I am able. Sorry for the hold up.

Disappointed that the magic on the pebble/stone was being subdued by some ancient magic within the ruin, Zaia took a 5ft step forward, still keeping pressed to the wall as much as she could to close the gap between herself and the others.

She reached out and touched Yirrik's shoulder and spoke quietly, "May The Great Dreamer's Luck serve you well." (Bit of Luck placed on Yirrik before he moved forward: For the next round, any time the target rolls a d20, he may roll twice and take the more favourable result.)

Active Effects: Bless (+1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects for 1 minute), Bit of Luck on Yirrik (1 out of 6 times used this day).

Spells used: 1 first level out of 3 for the day.

I've moved my token. I didn't mess it up, did I?

Triath trots up after the group as Wymond makes his move.

Moved token as well

Out of the unseen darkness to the northeast fly two more goblin arrows! One strikes Wymond directly in the chest, denting in his armor and drawing blood which runs down his breast.

Shortbow vs. Wymond: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 221d4 ⇒ 4
Shortbow vs. Yirrik: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 151d4 ⇒ 4

The snarling and snapping of goblin dogs can be heard in the same direction, and not far off!

"Goblins hide when longshanks come
Goblins smart and you be dumb
Goblins hide where you can’t see
You can’t run and you can’t flee!"

________________________________________________________________
INITIATIVE ORDER
Perfire (1 damage)
Goblin Sentinel
Zaia
Yirrik
Wymond (9 damage)

MAP OF THE TOWER...

Anyone, go!

Zaia stepped 5ft next to Perfire, ensuring to keep out of direct sight of the opening of the ruins. She quietly called out to the two within the ruins, nearest the dimly-lit pebble, "Were you injured anew? Keep away from their arrows."

Active Effects: Bless (+1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects for 1 minute), Bit of Luck on Yirrik (1 out of 6 times used this day).

Spells and Channels used: 1 first level spell out of 3 for the day. Channel Energy 1 out of 6 times used this day.

Zaia's holding action until she hears if either of the two inside the ruins has been injured anew. From her previous place behind Perfire and around the bend/bump out of entrance, she wouldn't have been able to see it happen.

Perfire takes a short run up behind Yirrik and lobs the lit torch he's carrying over his companions, aiming 10 feet beyond the other torch.

Torch Throw: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

If I need the improvised weapon attack to hit the square

Active Effects: Bless (+1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects for 1 minute)

"GAH!" Wymond yelps as he's shot again.

"I'm wounded!" he calls out to Zaia.

"They have the advantage and we are ill-prepared. All of you, get out of there and Wymond to me to receive healing. At this rate, my healing magic will be spent before we proceed any deeper into the ruin." Zaia's voice was low but urgent and commanding.

Yirrik stares into the darkness, and nods at Zaia's observation, "Come, Wy, let's get you patched up and come at this again later..."

He give Wymond a push and backs out , covering his friend from further pin-cushion-ery.