Hollow's Last Hope DM KK

Game Master Freddy Honeycutt

"All right then Grung, if you know these woods so well perhaps you could direct me towards a few things I am in need of finding. Perhaps if you lead me to them I can provide you with food and fresh supplies from the town. I am looking for 3 things in particular, perhaps you know of them. The elder tree, the witch's hut and the dwarven ruins. I will warn you to not try anything funny or I guarantee you will feel the wrath of Gorum through my blade." Darrid will offer his hand to Grung to help him stand, wary of course of what Grung is doing, hobgoblins have never been friends to any that he is aware of.
"Let me mend some of those bumps and bruises that you may have gotten being clumsy and falling out of that tree." Darrid, holds the symbol of Gorum in front of him as waves of healing energy radiate from it.
Channel Positive Energy(Healing): 1d6 ⇒ 4

"Grung knows all places, though Grung not goes in any o them. Grung not stupid nuff tah goes into them places!"

"Witch hut this way!"

Goes to retrieve his old trap by the waters edge.

"youses kills crows, crows hard to trains."

DM AZ

"Perhaps your crows should have been a little bit more careful as to who they decide to assault. Lead the way to this hut and no tricks, I will be watching you closely."

"Grung takeses youses."

He sticks his meaty thumb into his chest.....

and flashes the ugliest smile you have ever seen!

Please roll some perception checks as you go...

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

You spot no signs of trouble......

anyone else?

Not sure how many you want so here are some
Perception #1: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Perception #2: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
Perception #3: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Darrid walks along behind Grung, focused more on making sure that the disfigured hobgoblin doesn't try any funny business than the area around him.

Quick question.....Did you leave Grung his weapons? I am assuming he was allowed to retrieve his possessions dropped (ie bow and trap) and his sword and quiver remained on his person. My assumption is based on--no one taking these things!

Darrid would have allowed him to retrieve his weapons with the understanding (arrogance + confidence in martial skills) that he could easily defeat the pesky hobgoblin if Grung tried to raise arms against him.

Excellent! ;)

Hut

The sounds of the forest become suddenly distantas the trees part, opening into a small, almost perfectly circular glade. The nearest stands of pine, eyln, and darkwood—all typically sturdy woods—twist away from the clearing, as if bent by some impossibly strong wind or seemingly in an attempt to flee despite their paralyzed roots.

At the glade’scenter squats an ugly cottage, little more than a pile of twigs, shoots, and ivy stacked upon mud walls. From the thatched roof dangle bundles of gnarled roots, old dried beast carcasses, and knuckle bone bangles, all clattering together like gruesome wind chimes. A dozen
small thatched fetishes—each shaped likea tiny man, imp, or rearing serpent—stand propped in the yard, keeping guard before a rickety plank door.

This clearing is roughly 120 feet in diameter,with a dilapidated, circular, 15-foot cottage
at its center. Fourteen unnerving 3-foot-tall scarecrow-like effigies are propped-up throughout the glade.

Actions?

Knowledge local
DC 12

Stupid untrained knowledge with DC above 10!

"Grung, do you know the one that calls this shack home? We need something from them and it would be easier to approach if we knew what we were dealing with."
Darrid will slowly approach towards the hut watching for signs of activity.
Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

Grung makes a sign to ward off the evil eye and explains...

"Witch an bad magic Grung no goes there."

He is still well away from the hut........

"Grung waits here."

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

"Well, shall we go off and see if the vitch is home."

The door gives easily under your hand....

Inside, the cottage is dank, reeking, and filled with shadows. Haphazardly hung shelves line the walls, covered in all manner of clay jugs, clouded bottles, strangely cut rocks, rotted bunches of herbs, and a museum of other crude curios and remnants of a bone grinder’s artifice. A rusted
iron cauldron, with a mouth nearly 5 feetwide and a depth of at least 3 feet, dominates the hut’s single room, its ash-covered surface shaped with a relief of capering fiends and leering devils.

Across from the door, against the far walls, stands a high-backed chair made of wicker, the gigantic curved tusks of some monstrous beast, and thousands of human teeth. In the chair
sits what looks like a corpse wrapped infilthy burial linens, its form padded with pungent herbs and sprouting patches ofthick white mold.

Actions?

Is it just Titania and Darrid? Hanathan out there somewhere or did Seeker bow out?

Heal: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Body looks to be a corpse in a severe state of decomposition?
Darrid looks around at the scene, looking for any signs of life. "Hello? Anyone home?"
If no response Darrid gets a little closer to the body but careful not to touch knowing the dangers of touching or disturbing a rotting corpse. He looks around at the jars, looking for something that might resemble rat's tail.

It is difficult to be certain in the pbp world, if someone has bowed out or if they are having RL issues.....

I usually try to give people time to post before becoming concerned.

Seeker said he was getting issues fixed, so I am still hopeful

I am here, just catching up is all.

Hanathan pulls a torch from his horse as he approaches the hut behind the others.Flames leap from his fingers to ignite the torch as he peers into the dark hut. Darrid seems to be looking over a corpse in an old chair.

"Found the old witch have we?"

Titania enters cautiously, "I don't think anyone's home."

Hanathan lights a torch making the dark interior a bit brighter, cob-webs span the spaces overhead.

"Correction, nobody's been home for at least a few years."

I'm checking the contents without disturbing the contents.
"Let's see what we have here?"
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

Due to the volume, disorganization, clutter and general stacking of things one atop the other the cottage’s contents are impossible to determine by simply looking.....

"Anyone see anything that looks like Rat's Tail? There is obviously no life left in this place, lets find what we need and get out."
Darrid starts digging through the containers, trying to see what is behind the first row on the shelf.
Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

The Large empty
Cauldron suddenly springs out of the hearth where it was sitting harmlessly a moment before!

The demon decorations jeer at you as the cauldron attacks! The mouth snaps towards you attempting what could only be described as a bite!

@ Darrid
Attack bite 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10 Damage 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

How are we going to handle combat? Initiatives or the cauldron has gone, now we all go? Maps?

"What the hells it going on here? Get it, give it all you have got!"
Draw greatsword and attack.
Greatsword Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21, Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (6, 1) + 4 = 11

Vitals:
HP: 10/10
AC: 15

"Rat's Tail is likely a small plant with the tail part no more than 8cm long, so if it's stored here, it's in a jar with a lid and there'll be more than 1 rat tail in the jar. OH S***, the Cauldron's alive."
Titania gets her shield and sword out and attacks.

LongSword: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Vitals:
HP: 12/12
AC: 19

Actually the cauldron got the drop on you!

I like having "us" and "them" initiative (you can read it on my profile, so all PC's get to roll initiative and if any of you get a higher initiative you all get to go ahead of the monster (and in any order).....

I doubt we need a map for this encounter ;)

So if everyone could roll initiatives and any comments/exclamations/explitives, etc

Init: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Dos I have safe line of sight on it? how much room? I have a few options but I do need to know if I can use any of them without hitting the party

Init 1d20 ⇒ 12

cccocccc
cooCoocc
coDooocc
cooooooo
coTooHoo
----D---

o-empty areas (inside the hut)
c-clutter
C-cauldron
D-Darrid
T-Titiana
H-Hanathan
D- Door

Does this help any?

who goes first us or the cauldron?

You are up!

Titania moves in and attacks
LongSword: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Vitals:
HP: 12/12
AC: 19

Hanthan watches Titanina rush in to attack the cauldron of all things, which blocks his path. He has very little that can effect a freaking Cauldron and the few things he can do that woman just blocked his view!
Just a little hunt for roots the crone said. Nethys flaming balls just a little herb hunt in the forest!

Frustrated he readies himself if the cauldron gets by the others.

Darrid attacks calling out to Gorum and then starts to slowly maneuver around the cauldron in order to get into a flanking position with Titania and also to get out of the way of Hanathan's line of sight.
Greatsword Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12, Damage (Ferocious Strike): 2d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (1, 3) + 4 + 1 = 9

@Hanathan
one 5-foot step and you have line of sight

Not with a cone :), My other option is a burst, a touch attack or some kind of mind control.

Ok, not so many options and 5-foot step may or may not be helpful?

I could take move, but with the clutter I would hit many things we may not want burned. I have mind effecting or Fire.

Let us see what the cauldron does?

Cauldron continues to assault Darrid

1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

The cauldron fails and ends up upside down....
The cauldron is prone

You are up!

Titania attacks with her sword
LongSword: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Vitals:
HP: 12/12
AC: 19

Darrid deftly dodges out of the way of the cauldron's attack as the cauldron then flips over in front of him. He then moves around the cauldron so that it is between he and Titania.
5ft step to complete flank with Titania.
Greatsword Attack (+ Flank + Prone Defender): 1d20 + 3 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 3 + 2 + 4 = 23, Damage (+ Ferocious Strike): 2d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (1, 1) + 4 + 1 = 7

I think the cauldron is on it's last legs (pun intended)

The noises from inside the cottage sound like kids playing with pots and pans banging them together and enjoying the noise....

Darrid and Titiana are having a great time banging on the cauldron
...you think you see a couple of dents ;)

Hannathan
You spot a long straggly root that looks like a foot long peice of rope that narrows towards one end, the root is furry and does indeed look like a rat's tail.

The cauldron rights itself and attacks Darrid again!
1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

The cauldron bangs into your armor adding to the noise!

You are up!

Darrid rears back and attempts to split the cauldron in half only to get his sword tangled in the junk hanging from the ceiling.
Greatsword Attack (Flank): 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 = 8, Damage (Ferocious Strike): 2d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (4, 1) + 4 + 1 = 10
*sigh*

Titania attacks (flank)
Long sword:1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 2 = 13
Damage:1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Vitals:
HP: 12/12
AC: 19

Hannathan