Whoever is taking point {Pedro? Conner?) – you can see a gap in the wall about 60’ ahead. It is barely 2’6” high, and 2’ wide.
Stealth Checks Please.
Stealth
Perception
Initiative
PCs at point:
Conner declines to take point since he's so noisy. He will stay in the middle of the group behind the scout as he tries to help him see what is coming.
Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, Conner stays as quiet as he can while moving with the others. Looking at the small hole, Conner can only imagine the numerous ways everyone could die in a kobold den. The fresh images of Bertholdt's death keep replaying in his mind as they walk forward.
Lorelei stays near the back of the group, still bothered by the sight of Bertholdt's body.Well, I knew this mission would be dangerous, I just didn't really think any of us would die out here...
Jobo offers Grobnar a shortsword and the oversized winter survival clothes. Jobo gives Lorelei the tangle bag.
"I'll take point", Pedro says moving off.
Stealth
perception
He then trips over a loose boulder, bangs his shin, and curses loudly before he can catch himself.
"Ouch"! "Basilisk Balls, that hurt"!
Feels unnecessary, but:
Perception
Initiative
Ffffffffffffffwwooooooooomp!
Ting-a-ling-a-ting-a-ling-a-tinga
CRACK-BANG
Silence. Total silence.
No, now a painful ringing in the ears. Worse than that though, you see some rocks and scree falling onto the pathway in front of you, and it is not the fear of avalanche – these rocks hit the ground and bounce silently.
Pedro, Pedro, Pedro. The gods are not smiling upon you today. You banged your shin right in front of the kobold’s lair. A crossbow bolt has been shot at you, though it missed. Their alarm bell has been rung, and a Thunderstone has exploded just behind you.
Surprise Round
Attack vs Flat Footed: MISS
Damage
Make a Fort Save DC 15 or become
for 1 hour.
Pedro is 30’ from the opening. The thunderstone exploded just behind him, with a 10’ radius burst. Therefore, the other players are at least 20’ behind Pedro, and 55’ from the opening.
Now that they are moving you can see that there are a pair of kobolds in the shadows of the opening. One is vigorously ringing a hand-bell in one hand, the other has a heavy crossbow.
Pedro
Grobnar
Drakr
Lorelei
Jobo
Conner
Kobolds (rolled in Secret GM rolls above to help with planning) 25
Kobolds
Lorelei
Grobnar
Conner
Drakr
Jobo
Pedro
Round One begins now.
The kobold drops his bell and it clatters and clangs loudly to the ground. He reaches behind his watch-mate, retrieves a loaded heavy crossbow, and shoots at Pedro.
Attack vs Flat Footed: MISS
Damage
The second kobold carelessly drops his crossbow, and turns behind him to grab something. He returns to facing outward with a loaded heavy crossbow in his hands, trained on Pedro.
Attack vs Flat Footed: MISS
Damage
Lorelei will move up so that she is 30 ft from the opening and then casts Grease underneath the kobolds standing there. She hopes that if a horde of kobolds comes spilling out of the opening that they will just go sliding on their asses as they hit the slick area.
I've found time to make the map.
I've moved Lorelei forward already, and included the Grease.
Lorelei beat me to my action :(
Grobnar will fire off a shot at the nearest.
(Not sure if there are any penalty's for this shot as by map appear as if the kobolds have some cover.)
Cover? Nah. They had to move out a little to shot at Pedro.
In no particular hurry Jobo will move to O4 and either jab with his glaive or hurl Bert's dagger at far kobold if the near kobold is down.
HIT DAM = they are kobolds
Conner steps forward just behind Pedro so he'll be in position to heal the scout should the kobolds hit with one of those crossbows. But he has no intention of making things easy for the little monsters.
The druid softly speaks to the wind and rain, calling for a storm to hinder the creature not hit by Jobo.
Lorelei will move up so that she is 30 ft from the opening and then casts Grease underneath the kobolds standing there. She hopes that if a horde of kobolds comes spilling out of the opening that they will just go sliding on their asses as they hit the slick area.
Reflex Saves DC 15
The one on the right stays on his feet, as
The one on the left falls flat on his scaly tail.
School conjuration (creation); Level bard 1, magus 1, sorcerer/wizard 1, summoner 1
CASTING
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, M (butter)
EFFECT
Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Target one object or 10-ft. square
Duration 1 min./level (D)
Save see text; SR no
DESCRIPTION
A grease spell covers a solid surface with a layer of slippery grease. Any creature in the area when the spell is cast must make a successful Reflex save or fall. A creature can walk within or through the area of grease at half normal speed with a DC 10 Acrobatics check. Failure means it can't move that round (and must then make a Reflex save or fall), while failure by 5 or more means it falls (see the Acrobatics skill for details). Creatures that do not move on their turn do not need to make this check and are not considered flat-footed.
The spell can also be used to create a greasy coating on an item. Material objects not in use are always affected by this spell, while an object wielded or employed by a creature requires its bearer to make a Reflex saving throw to avoid the effect. If the initial saving throw fails, the creature immediately drops the item. A saving throw must be made in each round that the creature attempts to pick up or use the greased item. A creature wearing greased armor or clothing gains a +10 circumstance bonus on Escape Artist checks and combat maneuver checks made to escape a grapple, and to their CMD to avoid being grappled.
Drakr moves down to the rock face lining up for a charge, drawing one of his throwing hammers as he goes. He takes aim at the closest Kobold and hurls his weapon.
Atk:
Dmg:
"Drat!" He yells as the hammer goes wide.
Lorelei cleverly casts Grease under the kobold’s feet, and one of them slips over.
Grobnar aims his shortbow in their general direction and releases an arrow to snap against the rock wall.
Conner moves to heal Pedro if it is needed – gods be thanked it doesn’t seem necessary – and releases a personal stormcloud upon the further kobold (leaving the nearer one for Jobo). Lying on the ground in the Grease he is now buffeted by strong winds and rain.
Drakr moves his strong, sturdy, though stubby legs towards the action. He draws a throwing hammer from his belt and hurls it with deadly intentions. It bounces once before sliding rapidly past the toes of the two kobolds – its movement exaggerated by the lubrication of the Grease.
Jobo swings his glaive at the nearer kobold and puts a deep scratch in its armour, though he seems uninjured.
Pedro, grateful to be alive is…
Fort save
…deaf as a post. Regardless, he yells as loud as he can, charging the nearest kobold with his Urgosh.
Attack
Damage
It is a solid blow.
The kobolds look at each other and, having determined that there scale hides will last longer inside, turn to retreat into their cave.
They both have to take some care to move in the Grease area (Acrobatics DC 10)…
Left, standing up Success, standing up, AoO.
Left moving Fail.
Right moving Success, moving away.
…before moving into the cave through the narrow opening. [Withdrawal Action]
Pedro's AoO
Attack
Damage
Another solid hit.
The kobold's head is clobbered hard by Pedro with his Urgosh. The kobold crumples lifelessly into the Grease.
Initiative:
Kobolds
Lorelei
Grobnar
Conner
Drakr
Jobo
Pedro
Yes Drakr, the left kobold couldn't move through the Grease. Pedro killed him before he had a chance anyway.
Drakr moves up towards the entrance but stops when the ground gets slippery. "They'll be settin' up an ambush inside I reckon. They won't come back out while they know we're here. If ya remove this spell Lorelei I'll squeeze on through. Probably best if I go through first, nothin will get through me armor."
"If ya remove this spell Lorelei I'll squeeze on through. "
Should you choose to enter this cave as well, you will discover a few interesting features - metagaming required. Don't let player knowledge influence character knowledge.
The caves have been excavated by the kobolds, to suit the kobolds. Kobolds are Small, and so the lair is only 4’ tall.
All Medium sized creatures in this area are considered to be Squeezing:]
In some cases, you may have to squeeze into or through an area that isn't as wide as the space you take up. You can squeeze through or into a space that is at least half as wide as your normal space. Each move into or through a narrow space counts as if it were 2 squares, and while squeezed in a narrow space, you take a –4 penalty on attack rolls and a –4 penalty to AC.
Small sized characters do not have this problem.
Getting through the doorway, 2’6” high, and 2’ wide is the first of these squares that requires Squeezing. To make it easier, I’ve tried to include contrasting gridlines on all the squares which require Squeezing.
The Brown Stipe is a narrow log that the kobolds use to cross the pit, which is the Pale Blue beside it.
The log only has a very narrow usable area, though the kobold’s clawed feet aid them greatly. To cross the log, each square takes two squares of movement if you are Small, and three if you are Medium. It requires an Acrobatics DC 10 to not fall. This includes a +5 penalty for Medium creatures Squeezing, and a -5 modifier for Medium creatures being able to use the ceiling to aid their journey across.
Vision and Light is another BIG issue in here. Kobolds have no need of artificial lighting, and so they do not provide any for uninvited guests.
Drakr looks the gnome up and down. "I guess you'd fit through easier, but could ya take the blows if they're waiting for ya?"
Jobo offers Grobnar a mwork shortsword. "How about I follow behind?"
|
Grobnar accepts the shortsword and says."I am pretty sneaky too and will hope I will not have to us your blade Jobo."
On turn after Lorelei removes the grease I will sneak into the room and search for any activity or awaiting traps the kobolds may be setting up.
On turn:
Moving to K7
Perception:
Sneak:
May or may not do some magic depending on what I see inside.
Just before Grobnar goes in Drakr has one last thing to say and he taps Grobnar on the shoulder. "It could be dark in there. How are gnomes at seeing in the dark?"
"You will find us gnomes can see just as fine as any dwarf in the dark Drakr." Grobnar says in response with a wry smile on his face.
Dwarves in the Small tunnels take only the following penalties for Squeezing, due to their shorter stature and familiarity with living in tunnels:
-2 AC
-2 attack.
Lorelei will dispel the grease so that everyone can continue on into the tunnel.
"Jobo, think you can fit into that tunnel? It looks rather tight for you? I really hope he doesn't find himself stuck right as the kobolds attack us.
As the others debate the best order to enter the cave, Conner looks around to see if there are any other options for the group.
Perception
Knowledge: Nature
Survival
"Lorelei, I can fit, but I'm definitely not happy about it. I'll back up Grobnar and Drakr with my glaive. The biting wind in the pass doesn't seem so bad now."
"Fair enough Grobnar but take Pedro here with you. He's sneaky enough." Drakr replies to the Gnome.
"Sure". "They know we're out here, so they'll be looking for us". "I'll sneak in with you, as you might need some backup". Pedro drops his dual sacks, and hangs his urgosh from it's strap, gathering up a Javelin, and stepping forward. "You want me to go first, to take any awaiting arrows"?
Stealth
Perception
Pedro clobbers the kobold as it attempts to stand. It will attempt nothing evermore.
The remaining kobold leaves his companion and high-tails it back into his lair.
Lorelei dismisses her Grease spell to enable her friends to pass through easily.
Grobnar speculates that Gnomes will have an easier time of scouting than dwarves or humans in the kobold’s lair. He prepares to move in.
Conner has a brain-wave – though he is unable to find an alternate entrance nearby. EDIT: He finds a MW light crossbow hidden under a large pile or rubble - a landslide perhaps. A rotting hand still holds it. It is loaded and ready to use.
Drakr moves up, and though he offers to lead the foray underground, he politely stands by as others go before him.
Jobo offers to go in second.
Pedro is ready to move in.
888888
All eyes take a look at the dead kobold in more detail (marked as X on the map). He is wearing a strange belt set-up with his leather armour, that goes around his waist and his tail, enabling two quivers to hang from his tail, one either side of it. He is still clutching his Small heavy crossbow. Picking up the bow (which is not loaded) is a Move Action.
It is difficult to fit through the door way, being only 2’6” high, which will cost 2 squares of movement for All Medium creatures. There is very little light coming into the tunnel (Dim Light indicated on the map – doubling this distance from the entrance for Low-Light Vision), and even less light with someone partially covering the entrance. The space is all open here at the entrance, and there is nothing to hide behind. There are some barrels and crates stacked nearby, though they are Small barrels and Small crates, 1’ high at best. There are plenty of kobold footprints in the area, and the dust and dirt from frequent use.
Low-Light Vision and DarkVision enables you to see that there is a log on the ground ahead, and if you look really hard, you could make out that it must be a bridge as the ground disappears either side of the log.
I’m going to ask everyone to make 2 rounds worth of actions as it will take a while to get everyone in. Ready Actions (which is a Standard Action) may be appropriate in this setting.
I may throw in a GM post if appropriate. The map may appear empty to better reflect what you can, or cannot see (more important things anyway).
Right behind Drakr all the way.
As usual, Lorelei is close on Jobo's heels.
"Is that a bridge up ahead?"
He stands beside the entrance trying not to block the light. He investigates the fallen Kobold. Kn local:. Kn Nature:. Drakr shows the crossbow bolts to Conner who is bound to be more knowledgeable in this area. "Is that greenblood poison on the end of this?"
Drakr takes his pack off and gets ready to move into the cave. Planning to push his pack in front of him as he goes through the small hole.
Jobo is puzzled as the Drakr that ran full speed across the bridge to attack trolls is now 'cautious' when it comes to kobolds. Jobo decides to follow Grobnar in and stay right behind him.
"Jobo, would you like to me to cast Light upon your weapon?
"Please do."
Jobo is puzzled as the Drakr that ran full speed across the bridge to attack trolls is now 'cautious' when it comes to kobolds. Jobo decides to follow Grobnar in and stay right behind him.
Conner tosses aside the rotting hand toward some dirt so the earth will gain nourishment and the person's death won't be a total loss. He examines the masterwork crossbow with interest and asks if anyone would have to use it. He hands the weapon to whoever wants it.
He stops to examine the poison and concurs with Drakr. "Yes, that's Greenblood Oil, alright. It's cheap and easy to get, and the poison saps a person's constitution. Enough of that would kill any of us here."
Conner then makes sure his curative wand is in a place he can quickly find, even in the dark, without having to worry about it falling into a hole or crevasse inside. Then the druid slowly eases his way into the cave behind the others.