Motteditor's Ironfang Invasion PBP (Inactive)

Game Master motteditor

Arryn, ineffective in combat, reaches out to the horse trough by the front door and scoops up five pounds of water, lifting it up to the roof and dropping it on the leading edge of the fire’s march towards the door.

Aramis lets out an exclamation of pain and clutches at her wounded side. She carefully steps backwards, towards the grizzled warrior behind her. 5 foot step backwards to wards Elrik. Then she thrusts out on of her hands, causing a length of twisting vines to spring from her toward the hobgoblin's legs. With a flick of her wrist the vines yank back towards her, in an attempt to trip the enemy. Using her tanglevine ability to attempt a trip against the hobgoblin who wounded her.

Tanglevine Trip Attempt: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Pulling his Kukri, the elf's feature flow again, the striped fur giving way to a deep brown fur and miniature horns as he moves up to the opponent That just struck Aramis (N around the obstacle, please), snorting over him once he arrives.

I'm assuming that a 20 actually tripped him, and he's prone. I had to spend a move to draw, and a move to get there, so I'm done for the round. If he provokes, I will take the attack.

AoO w/ Kukri and Bull Focus (against prone opponent?): 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 2 + 1 = 23
Threat?: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12 Unlikely, but a prone opponent helps.
Base Damage: 1d4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 = 5
Crit bonus if applicable: 1d4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 1 = 4

A single rivulet of dark blood ran down his blade, but Elrik didn't feel the hot liquid through his gauntlet. Panting now, the stench of viscera and violent death quickly intermixing with the smoke in his lungs, he had a moment of relief as he faced down the two Irongfang. Somehow two Ironfang was a relief at this point.

Behind him the scuffle continued, the halfelf woman and the skinchanger attempting to deal with the hobgoblin closest to the trading post, but he was more worried about the screams of panic coming from inside the building. "Aubrin, more! Tell Cayden to break his still if he needs to, there's people trapped in there."

As he shouted, Elrik took a guarded step back, then rushed the Ironfang to his right, which he hadn't struck back at yet and hoped would surprise it. He led with an overhand chop with the sword and followed with a bash with a short jabbing bash with his shield, careful not to overextend and leave himself open to the other soldier.

Current AC: 20 v Goblinoids
Full Round Attack, target SW hobgoblin.
Longsword Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Longsword Slashing Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Shield Bash: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Shield Piercing Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

As if they were a well-trained unit, Aramis trips the nearest hobgoblin, opening him up for a rushing Barhador to drive his dagger into the creature as it tries to rise. It slumps back down, and though it's still breathing, it's not moving otherwise.

Across the yard, Elrik fights a defensive battle with Clover's help, knocking the Ironfang soldiers' blades away as they wait for the others to join in the assault. Aubrin and Arryn work on the fire, managing to knock down one section even as the blaze continues to spread nearby, slowly moving north.

From inside, you can hear more cries for help: "Please! We can't get out!"

Party's up; Clover shifted down and used aid another to help Elrik (but it wasn't enough to hit); I didn't bother to roll for Bodyguard, as it wasn't needed with the hobgoblins' rolls.

Arryn double moves to get just inside the doors of the burning building (unless he has to pull up short on account of flames). What does he see inside?

Arryn: The doors are closed. I'm betting they are locked or barred from the outside.

Barhador moves into a flanking position on the closer remaining hobgoblin (straight "down" and then left), calling out "Somebody get that door open!"

Once in position, he snorts again as he attempts to strike the hobgoblin threatening Elrik.

Kukri w/ Bull and Flank: 1d20 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 1 + 2 = 6

Really? Really? Second 1 in a row on an IC combat post in about a 7 minute window.

Oh I saw where the smithy doors were open and thought they were one and the same. I understand now. He can’t actually try to open them this turn, but does there appear to be a bar or other obstruction?

It looks like the doors and wooden shutters are closed and appear barred from the inside. Some piled furniture is visible through the windows, which is probably what's preventing those inside from simply exiting. (That said, the smithy doors *are* open if you want to move that far down and look in there.)

Heedless of her own safety, Aramis rushes to the nearby door. Realizing it's barred from the inside she peers in through the gaps in the shutters and she sees the piled up furniture.

"Try the back!?" she yells at Arryn, pointing around the far (top) side of the building. I'll try the smithy!" Aramis continues her move around the corner of the building and as far to the smithy as she can. She looks at the walls as she goes, looking for windows or weaknesses in the building.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

The heat from the flames was starting to lick from the roof and turn the already hot and heavy fight into a sweaty, bone-aching affair. Panting heavily, Elrik trusted that Aubrin had enough sense to continue dumping water from wherever Cayden and the other Gods pulled it from for their clerics onto the fire. Letting out a wordless roar, he used the distraction of the skinchanger skirting around the backside of one of the Ironfang to press his own advantage.

Somewhere behind him the halfling woman had been darting back and forth, stabbing and threatening with her spear, and Elrik just hoped she could fend off the other soldier again while he committed himself to his sweeping slash and then a slam at the head of the hobgoblin.

Current AC: 20 v Goblinoids
Full Round Attack v flanked SE Hobgoblin, redirect to last HG if it dies but take off Flank bonus.
Longsword Attack: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 2 = 6
Longsword Slashing Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Shield Bash Attack: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 2 = 9
Shield Piercing Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Edit: I mean, this is just impressive.

Ouch!

"They've barricaded themselves. The hobbies are just burning them out. If they could have gotten in, they would have."

"You have to start moving away the stuff you used to block the window," he calls inside.

Arryn uses his telekinesis again to bring 5 pounds of water up onto the northern edge of the fire.

Clover stays close to the man with the shield, trying to help him end the fight. Time is running out for the people in the building.

Attack: 1d20 ⇒ 10

AoO (bodyguard +5 AC): 1d20 ⇒ 13

AoO (bodyguard +5 AC): 1d20 ⇒ 10

AoO (bodyguard +5 AC): 1d20 ⇒ 6

AoO (bodyguard +5 AC): 1d20 ⇒ 10

As the battle rages, the Ironfang soldiers show their mettle, repeatedly turning aside with seeming ease the efforts of Barhador, Elrik and Clover to end their lives, though it takes enough of their concentration that their efforts to strike back at the elf shapeshifter and human soldier as easily avoided as well.

Nearby, Arryn and Aubrin continue to battle the flames, though they seem to be barely containing it, knocking down one area only for another to ignite. They doused one square, but it spread to another, as the dice really don't seem to like you guys.

Aramis rushes to look into the smithy, where she can see the centuries-old forge provided ample space for working iron and steel as well as limited farrier services. A single hobgoblin lies apparently dead in the
middle of the floor. A Small roughly humanoid creature of dirt and stone huddles against the far wall, near the body.

There's no doors or windows from the smithy to the house, right? The wall between the house and the smithy, what's it made of? Stone, brick or wood? Something I could bash down with proper tools, or it looks like it would take too long to be helpful now?

Noticing the odd creature, Aramis cocks her head. Distracted by its strangeness for only a moment she tells it in common: "We need to get into this house! Can you help out?"

I'm not intending to use an action to try to communicate with the creature, just a free action to speak at it. She's trying to make a good first impression, so I'll roll a diplomacy, but if you prefer it can be a bluff check to try to get the message across. Not sure what you'd prefer here.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20 If you'd prefer bluff (or perform: act) that would be a 19 instead.

"Just die already, you stupid lug!"

Kukri Attack w/ Bull and Flank: 1d20 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 + 1 + 2 = 16
Damage w/ Bull: 1d4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 1 = 7

Hopefully that is a step in the right direction . . ..

The skinchanger pressed his advantage behind the hobgoblin, and Elrik fought in a haze of hack and block, lashing out while he desperately tried to both keep the Ironfang's attention and keep his own skin intact.

Current AC: 20 v Goblinoid
Full Round Attack v SE; if he gets killed shift to SW, lose flanking bonus
Note: I'm running out of interesting things to say just standing here hack and slashing :P
Longsword Attack: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 2 = 12
Longsword Slashing Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Shield Bash Attack: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 + 2 = 19
Shield Bludgeoning Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Arryn continues to play fire fighter.

”You tell ‘em, Barhador!” he encourages.

Clover's arms are getting heavy and it's harder for her to move her spear, but she keeps it up, praying the fight will be over soon.

Attack: 1d20 ⇒ 16

Damage: 1d6 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1

AoO (bodyguard +5AC): 1d20 ⇒ 6

AoO (bodyguard +5AC): 1d20 ⇒ 18

AoO (bodyguard +5AC): 1d20 ⇒ 9

AoO (bodyguard +5AC): 1d20 ⇒ 5

Barhador cuts down one of the hobgoblins, leaving Elrik to concentrate on the final one still standing. He and Clover are now able to focus solely on it, their blows starting to get through, leaving it battered but still on its feet. Despite their combined efforts, its blade catches Elrik as the former soldier shifts his shield in an offensive blow. His slam lands on its mark -- rocking the Ironfang -- but he takes a wound of his own in the exchange. 5 hp

Elsewhere, Aramis doesn't see any way into the shop itself from the forge, though her surprisingly calm tone does seem to soothe the stone figure, which lowers its arms slightly. It technically takes a minute to use Diplomacy, but if Aramis continues to talk to the thing (now or after combat/fire is over), she thinks she can settle it.

Aubrin and Arryn finally seem to be making some progress on the fire -- but the latter realizes with horror that he's now emptied the trough of any remaining water, leaving Aubrin to fight the blaze alone unless he can find some other way to help. Worse, from inside the shop, the cries seem to have fallen silent.

"I hope the two of you have this one." The elf calls out as he turns toward the burning building, stomping like the bull he's wearing before charging at the door in an attempt to batter it down.

No, he doesn't think one hit will do it, but one hit starts the process, right? Just a Strength check, or should I do a charge attack with the kukri, or what? Opinions? Guidance?

You could try to cut open some of the windows/doors (no need for an attack roll, just damage), but considering it's solid wood, you're likely to have better luck with a Strength check.

Yeah, I can count on a "massive" 4 points of damage a round, averaging under 6, or a +3 on a Strength check. Both sound like opportunities to spend days in real time rolling small numbers . . ..

C'mon. That got a grin at least, right?

Barhador lowers a shoulder and aims at the door, building up the most momentum he can manage over the roughly 30' he needs to cover.

Strength + Bull Focus - no benefit from charge included: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 1 = 9

And he bounces off the door. Of course.

Arryn turns his attention to the remaining hobgoblin, hoping to free up Elrik to help.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 3 + 1 = 22
Damage: 1d6 + 1 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 4 + 1 = 9

One of the hobgoblin’s friends’ swords flies up off the ground and impales the hobgoblin.

The slice of pain along his ribs as the Ironfang blade drew blood made Elrik hiss even as the hobgoblin also stumbled back with a grunt of pain. The other one was on the ground now, hopefully wounded enough that it wouldn't be scrambling back to it's feet, but he didn't have time to check. He and the Ironfang each hesitated for a moment, sizing each other up.

Elrik spit at the hobgoblin, then took a jerking step forward before pivoting and slashing out with his sword with a fast cut followed by a more carful backhand blow with his shield to try and put the Ironfang soldier on it's heels.

Current HP: 5/12
Current AC: 20vGoblinoids
Full Round Attack
Longsword Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12
Longsword Slashing Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Shield Bash Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Shield Piercing Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Aramis hurries out of the smithy and looks for the nearest window. Seeing Barhador trying to batter down the door she runs over to help him instead.

Strength Check: 1d20 ⇒ 14

Clover grits her teeth and keeps on.

Attack: 1d20 ⇒ 9

AoO: 1d20 ⇒ 3

Arryn's command causes the surprised hobgoblin to miss a step, and he takes a vicious wound, but he recovers enough to block Elrik's attempts, even with Clover trying to help. he slashes back, but the weight of his wounds seem to be taking a toll and Elrik's easily able to block the blow with his shield, letting it take the impact and shunting it aside.

Nearby, Aramis and Barhador ineffectively try to pull the boards off the windows -- a small splinter breaking off but most resisting their combined attempts -- an ominous silence descends within the burning building. Aubrin's able to douse another section of the roof, only to see yet more catch, the fire seeming as ravenous as the attacking hordes.

Seriously, the dice just hate you guys -- I'm rolling each round to see if the fire spreads and it's done so 5 of the 7 rounds.

As the warmth and wet of his blood started to soak through his undershirt, Elrik kept thinking about the joke a lordling had made when he and Elrik and a few others were presented to the Lord-General. Elrik had been the only man to be knighted who wasn't nobility - the only man without land and means, or that family to provide such, and so his parade armour had been made and provided at the expense of the Lord-General himself. It had no family crests, no flairs of colour or denotations of rank and status. They make it in black so that you can't see the blood.

Elrik gritted his teeth, his breath coming out in short hisses as he swung his sword and blocked with his shield, stepping forward and backpeddling as he and the Ironfang soldier tested each other over and over. His world closed in, focusing into the shift of feet and shoulders, burying away the aches in his arms and the pain and the looming silence from inside the shop he hadn't quite been able to process.

Current AC: 20 v Goblinoids
Full Round Attack
Longsword Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Longsword Slashing Dmg: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Shield Bash Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15
Shield Piercing Dmg: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

"No!" Aramis exclaims as the silence lingers within the house. She bangs hard on the window. Then backs up, and charges at it desperate to smash down the window before it's too late.

Strength: 1d20 ⇒ 18

Clover keeps on keeping on.

Attack: 1d20 ⇒ 12

AoO: (bodyguard +5 AC)1d20 ⇒ 11

Arryn mentally flings a rock into the hobgoblin (or into the window they are attacking if Elrik’s attack took the thing down).

Attack: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 3 + 1 = 16
Damage: 1d6 + 1 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 4 + 1 = 8

The elf continues attempting to free the smoke-choked residents, hoping there's still time.

Strength+Bull Focus: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 1 = 6

The last die roll in a different game tab was a 1. <sigh>

Dang, this is turning into one of the longest fights I've run.

Arryn's rock slams into the final hobgoblin's head as he tries to defend himself against Clover's attack, and he crumples to the ground, letting Elrik rush to the burning building to try to help Barhador and Aramis. Together the big former soldier and half-elven lass are able to pull a board from the window -- at least hopefully letting some fresh air into and smoke out of the silent room -- even if the hole isn't big enough for a person to gain access or egress. You suspect none of you are going to be able to open things singlehandedly, but may need to help each other.

The first continues to spread, despite Aubrin's unrelenting effort to douse it, as it threatens to get ahead of her.

Arryn reaches out with him mind along the ground of the smithy yard, scooping up 5 pounds of dust and dirt, which he quickly lifts up and over one section of the fire.

Aramis reaches for the next board, trying to pull it off as well with the help of Barhador and Elrik. I'm not the strongest of us, so I'll roll a strength to aid from now on, guys.

Strength to Aid: 1d20 ⇒ 10

Continuing to try to get the people out of the smoke-filled building, the elf continues battering at the door.

Strength+Bull Focus: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 2 + 1 = 14

Meh?

As soon as the hobgoblin falls, Clover turns and runs for the door. She slips through the legs of the taller people and pushes against it from down below.

STR (Aid): 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (4) - 1 = 3

The dice thing is just getting stupid. It's happening across all my games and has been going on for about a month.

As Elrik and Aubrin continue to fight the fire -- seeming to start to get ahead of it now -- Elrik and the others rush to the burning building to try to get it open. Unfortunately, despite their best efforts, they're not able to pull any boards free.

Elrik: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
1d100 ⇒ 68
1d3 ⇒ 2

Arryn grabs more dirt and smothers another section of fire.

Aramis desperately keeps working on the windows.

Strength to Aid: 1d20 ⇒ 12

No no, Clover, you're thinking about this all wrong. You're too small for this kind of stuff.

Clover moves out of the way and asks Desna to help the elf save the people inside the building.

Casting Guidance on Barhador.

It takes longer than you'd like as Arryn and Aubrin continue to battle the relentless flames on the roof, but you finally are able to pry the door open -- only for thick black smoke to roll out of the opening. There's no sound from inside other than some crackling fire as the Caydenite and kitchen boy continue to try to fully extinguish the flames.

You can go in if you want, but you'll need to hold your breath (though barring something else happening, you can easily get back out before you are at risk of running out of air) or there's the smithy and animal pen.

Happy New Year, all!

Aramis takes a deep breath and immediately runs into the burning building, unconcerned with her own safety. She looks around through the dense smoke, trying to find the people who are trapped inside.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

Breath held: 1 round

As the hobgoblin collapsed, Elrik almost cried out with relief but kept his panicked thankfulness in check. He was Sir Elrik now, he needed - no, the villagers needed to see him like that. They didn't need a skittish soldier, they didn't need unnecessary celebrations. A level head would get some of them through.

Elrik realized he had fallen to one knee, panting as he caught his breath. He looked over at the hobgoblin and stabbed his sword into it's face. Dead. Good, he though, then slowly stood.

The shop was still on fire. The others hadn't been able to pry open one of the windows or doors. "Devil's left tit," he swore under his breath, slamming his sword home into it's sheath and rushing over to help. As he and the others tried to make an opening, a stray thought occurred to Elrik - who had boarded the shop up like this to begin with? Were the hobgoblins trying to keep something in, or had someone known this was coming - was there a traitor in town, someone working for the Ironfang?

As the boards slowly came free, Elrik put the stray thought out of his mind for now. There were people and supplies inside that they needed to get out, and he hated to think it but the supplies might be more important at this point. When the elf woman with arcane talents darted inside, Elrik took in his own deep breath and went into the smoking building as well, ducking low to try and see beyond the thick smoke from the wet thatched roof.

Bodies, racks and selves of supplies. The smoke stung his eyes, the heat of the fire growing by the moment. If they're unconscious, we'll need to heal them. If they're dead, we lose the supplies for nothing. More wounded, even those just weakened by smoke, were going to eat up their ability to move quickly and quietly. They were going to stretch their supplies.

Gritting his teeth, Elrik left the elf woman to her ministrations with the people and went to the shelves, quickly searching for the most useful supplies he could get his hands on.

Woof, I needed to double check Elrik's alignment while making that choice.

Hold Breath: Elrik can hold his breath for 28 rounds/2min 48sec

Perception for Supplies: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

Aramis and Elrik rush in, the half-elf discovering four unmoving figures on the floor, one of which she recognizes as Kining Blondebeard, while beside her lie another dwarf, a halfling and a human.

The rest of the interior of the shop is drab and dominated by sacks of seed, bolts of cloth, barrels of nails, and staples like flour and salt. Kining’s small bedroom is off to one side, and shows even less decoration than the glum shop.

Thanks to the Nirmathi free-spirited nature, Kining maintains a small stock of supplies for would-be adventurers and mercenaries, which Elrik can easily find: a longsword, two battleaxes, an alchemical silver rapier, a masterwork light steel shield, a masterwork backpack, a climber’s kit, and eight waterskins. There are 12 provision points worth of goods, as well.

Elrik also spots a hinged floorboard behind the counter, under it is a find buckler decorated with a symbol of a fire under a stone arch.

Aramis quickly picks up the halfling, knowing she'll be able to carry him easiest, and brings him over to the window. She passes him out to the others.

"Hurry," she coughs. "There's others."

Then she takes another deep breath and rushes back into the fire towards the unconscious townsfolk, grabbing whoever looks the next lightest.

She intends (if she has time) to move them out one by one, from lightest to heaviest.

The young hunter helps pull the offered people clear, trying to see who is still breathing . . ..

Somehow lost this tab in my browser. My apologies for dropping off. Glad I didn't miss much, but sad I missed any.

Arryn covers his mouth with his sleeve and runs in to grab people. He isn’t very strong, but you can drag five times your max load, so 350 lbs for him.