RD's Fangwood Keep (Inactive)

Game Master Rene Duquesnoy

Absolutely not. Pribam's not. He's moving at a rate to catch up to and stay within about 30' of Narvik, who got to double-move, presumably at 40, after Pribam cast.

As Pribam crosses the open area, does he see any hobgoblins? If he does, do the deathwatch eyes set in his mask indicate they're healthy, undead, or neither dead nor alive (such as a construct, as per the deathwatch spell)?

Tarrow gives it a once over also.

perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Tarrows whispers to Armun. "All clear! Pop the door."

Tarrow steps 5' back, ready to step into the soon to be open entrance, crossbow pointed at the door, SWAT style.

For the record Narvik has a movement of just 15' normally so a double move is 60'. He could run, which makes it 120' I believe.

Kelvor runs as fast as he can. Hearing the hobgoblins speak, he fears their cover is blown, but no arrows rain down on him (yet) so he continues.

Really, what would I do otherwise? Stop and let them shoot me?

As he runs, he keeps abreast of Narvik and the strange priest. His running speed is equal that of the ensorcelled half-orc limping along.

Run is 120' for Kelvor.

Armun opens the sod-covered trap door and sees a narrow rickety ladder. It descends about 20 feet, and connects to the tunnel.

The rest of the party makes it to the wall safely.

"Looks like this hasn't seen use in a while," Armun whispers to the group. "One at a time, and let me go first."

He cautiously descends the ladder and looks around. Of course, assuming it's dark, he'll cast Light first.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Armun slowly climbs down the ladder and notices a small passageway leading underneath the keep.

Nothing jumps out as spooky.

I can go next if you wish, men. Unless someone else would rather go second, Narvik heads on down.

Did we establish a marching order yet? I don't recall.

I don't think so.

Pribam suggests that he go fourth, so that someone who needs to get to the front to fight doesn't have to push past him, and so that the group is not relying on his complete lack of armor and fighting skills to cover the rear.

"I will go second"

So it looks like Armun, Tarrow, Narvik, Pribam, Kelvor. Everyone good with that?

I only hopped down first for the sake of speed. I'm thinking the Bard probably shouldn't be the frontline guy. Either Tarrow or I should switch up with Kelvor. I'm sure Kelvor will want to charge, and doing so from the back is, well, less than ideal.

@Tarrow: You okay being the eyes in front? That way you'll have fewer cover issues. Armun can be eyes in back, hanging with his favourite Razmiran.. hehe

Given this, I'm proposing: Tarrow, Kelvor, Narvik, Pribam, Armun

I wondered about that! However, I figured I hadn't checked out Armun's stats, so maybe his build was good for taking point. Pribam will do his best to refrain from talking Armun's ear off about Razmir! They can trade performance tips as fellow bards instead.

"Let me to the front, friends. Justice and Mercy ought to be swiftly applied."

[b]"Priest, be ready to call upon your strange god to enhance me, if necessary. I can strike swiftly and surely, but magical aid will help me bring down stronger foes, quicker."

Suggested marching order 1) kelvor 2) Tarrow 3) Armun 4) Narvik 5) Pribam. Please move yourself if you want to be elsewhere. Please "Agree" if you agree.

Agree.

Agree

"Ambassador Kelvor, I am sure Razmir will lend us his blessings in battle against these wicked humanoids! He has already shielded us from their blows."

Everyone has climbed down the ladder and is in the small corridor.

Halfway in, you see a man cowering in a niche. Please...spare me he says.

"Be at peace, friend, we are not here to hurt you. Here, have some water." Pribam glances at the man through the deathwatch eyes. Is he injured? Pribam then removes his mask, pulls his waterskin from his bag of holding and offers the man a drink while trying to calm him down. "There now, perhaps we can help. What are you doing here? Did the hobgoblins attack you?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

Pribam knows that the man is badly injured. He accepts the water. Please. Healing. Anything... He takes a swig from the waterskin and holds onto it with dear life. Yes. The Hobgoblins attacked...

Kn: local please.

Watching the exchange, Armun is reminded...
Knowledge Local: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

Pribam draws his wand of infernal healing and uses it on the man. "Here, this will help with your injuries."

Armun notices that the man is wearing the insignia of Molthune.

Thank you..thank you... the man says to Pribam.

Narvik will approach the man cautiously in order to assess his injuries. Tell us what happened. How did hobgoblins come to be in this place? Where did you come from, friend?

Heal: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Me being 4th in the order is fine, I agree.

If he seems to need more healing after the infernal healing has run its course, Pribam will expend another charge from the wand.

Pribam also gets out some food and hands it to the man as the party talks to him.

The man takes a deep breath. Well. It all started a few weeks ago. We came in with Lt Vos' task force and took this fort. To be honest, there wasn't any real resistance. He brought his lady Elessia with him, probably for some hot snoggin. Anyway. After a week, a bunch of bugbears attacked us and over ran the fort. They got in pretty easily. I have no idea how that happened. After we were getting our buts kicked, I retreated down here and have been hiding ever since. Been at least a few days.

The man eats whatever food Pribam hands him. You can tell he is beat down and submissive.

"We're here to help get rid of the bugbears. Can you tell us about the layout of the keep? They did not give us a map."

Bluff: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 22

Noting the man's insignia (Molthune, not Nirmathas), a warning bell goes off in Armun's head. He watches the man intently.
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23

Tarrow looks around, to get an idea of where they might go, after the they get any useful information from the deserter.
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Kelvor swings his earthbreaker back and forth, watching the man.

Bugbears, hobgoblins or my hammer, what does it matter? thinks Kelvor. We came here for the blood of this man and those with him who hold Fangwood Keep.

Armun believes that the man had his buttocks kicked and fled.

There are 3 levels. The first and second levels are crawling with bugbears. I don't know where Lt Vos or Elessia went, but they are either dead or gone. We weren't allowed in the basement. I tell ya, I heard some weird screaming like hum or something coming from there.

Tarrow sees a passage continue to another rickety ladder leading up to inside the fort.

Pribam considers what he knows about bugbears, and whether the poor man really means hobgoblins.

Knowledge(local): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26

He then describes bugbears and hobgoblins to the man, and asks him whether he has seen both, or just the ones that fit the description of hobgoblins.

Pribam pretends to be afraid as he describes hobgoblins, then bugbears, to test what the man means. "Bugbears? You mean the guys who look like buff humans with gray skin and beady eyes? Or the guys with black and brown fur, pig snouts, and huge eyes? Or both?"

Bluff: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28

Pribam leaves his waterskin with the man. He also pulls out the rest of a day's worth of rations and gives that to him, too. "Cleaning that lot out might take us a while. You stay here and keep quiet so they don't come for you." He catches his ioun torch and sets it orbiting about the man's head for light, then pulls "The Thirty-One Steps" and his bedroll out of his bag. "Get some rest. If you're bored, read this, it might help you find your way after this harrowing experience. If you would like some dark to rest, catch the stone and put it under the bedroll."

Pribam gets the man settled on the bedroll. "We never asked, what is your name, seeker?"

your gm failed his kn:module and meant to say hobgoblins. remind me not to post on the game when prepping games for 5 slots at a con this weekend. bad gm bad.

No problem! He might not know hobgoblins from bugbears. It would be totally understandable for him to mix them up!

My name is Akre. Thank you for the light. I'll wait here if you want me to...and thank you for the rescue

Most importantly, stay quiet and out of sight. Once we can we'll see about getting you out of here. Narvik looks to his fellow adventureres. Let's see about clearing the keep of the infestation of hobgoblins, shall we?

"Ready." Tarrow motions Kelvor over to the ladder that heads up into the fort. With a gleam in his eye Tarrow says "Let's do this." Tarrow racks the slide on his crossbow, and waits for Kelvor.

The heroes show mercy on the poor soldier and leave him be. They head to the far ladder. It goes up about 20 feet to another trapdoor, which is shut.

Kelvor shifts uncomfortably, not satisfied with the outcome of the Molthuni deserter. The Shoanti outlook is relatively simple in this regard. Find your enemy, kill him. Doesn't matter if he's deserted. Doesn't matter if he stepped on a fire-cactus and hurt his foot. Doesn't matter if he's been attacked by another.

His burned skull wrinkles in confusion and contradictory musings.

"Fine. Let us go."

He climbs the far ladder, leading the way. When he gets to the trapdoor, he examines it.

Locked?

Pribam recasts message on everyone again before they leave the passage. He then whispers to Kelvor, "When we are done here, Ambassador, I will take Akre with me back to Razmir where the clergy of the Living God will teach him the error of his ways and help him to become a better person."

Pribam recasts message on everyone again before they leave the passage. He then whispers to Kelvor, "When we are done here, Ambassador, I will take Akre with me back to Razmir where the clergy of the Living God will teach him the error of his ways and help him to become a better person."

"Justice will show him the error of his ways. And Mercy will allow him to return as a field mouse, fleeing the firestorms on the Storval. My enemies had their chance in this life. The next life is where they may become better," responds Kelvor grimly.

"For now, he will at the very least slow up any hobgoblins that may discover the secret door. His screams will warn us of any approach from behind. Dead, he was of no use to us. If you insist, you may send him to the afterlife once we have dealt with the hobgoblins and the rogue commander. Do you think that is this Lieutenant Vos?"

The door is locked.

Pribam draws forth the scroll of knock that the Forest Marshal gave to the party and casts the spell.

Caster Level Check (scroll, CL3, +10 as per the spell): 1d20 + 3 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 3 + 10 = 30

"It should be open now. However, we will have to break down any further doors, as we appear not to have brought a locksmith with us."