Red Hand of Doom [E6] (Inactive)

Game Master Aldizog

The center of the tower, as well as the west side, is now covered in fog.

The following spells have been set up before combat:

-Protection from Arrows on Thom (DR10/magic vs ranged weapons, 50 HP)
-Enlarge Person on Bran
-Long Arm on herself
-Shield wand on herself (45 charges remain)

Tal'ariel waits to see if Seltazar will speed up their movements as is often the case, then charge the wall. Double move, regardless.

Seltazar smiles grimly and chants a spell before flying into the mist.

Cast haste and then hide in the mist if possible.

Mikhail moves forward with the others, trying to take care not to "clank" as much as she normally does.

Double move as well

Just in case they spot Thom (still above the frey)

Bran feeling the strength granted by Tal'ariel's spell and the potion he consumed moves into action to get over the wall. "I'm going to try getting over that wall, in case you need a hand getting pulled up. I think I'm too large for a hook."

From 100 feet away, would I be able to clear the palisade in a single turn with Run or no? Otherwise I will sit by the wall and help our friends get over in case of Gnomish Malfunction.

Bran can clear the palisade in a single turn (double move) if he can hit the DC 40 Acrobatics check. I believe he has +35 at the moment? It's only a DC 15 to clamber over as a move action, but if he wants to do it as *part* of a move action, that's a running jump which is DC 40 to clear 10'. So does he want to Rage or use Adrenaline Surge, or just count on rolling 5+?
And which side would he try to leap? He can see over the palisade a bit, at 12' tall, and so can land between ogres, or between ogre and barghest.

Round 1
Shishka (20' - presuming she moves up, Hasted double move is 80')
Barghest
Tal'ariel (0' - place yourself where you like)
Sergeants
Seltazar (10' - the mist is in the West palisade yard and on top of the tower, and he can cover 90' in a single Hasted move, I think)
Bran (up in the air)
Thom (60' up)
Mikail (20' - Hasted double move is 80')
Archers
Ogres

The archers don't know there are fog-free squares at the corners, so they head for the ladder to go down into the tower. There is a bit of jostling and one heads down.

We'll resolve Bran's action and then the ogres will go.

yeh pretty much just advance. probably she will be the only one using the grapple hook, as many will be over before she gets there.

also no suggestions on bombs so she will not bother with them for now.

He would avoid the Barghest, at least he knows Ogres don't blink in and out of existence.
"See you on the other side." He gives a wink and stretches before running over to attempt to clear the wall.

Enters a Rage.

Acrobatics to Jump: 1d20 + 12 + 9 + 12 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 12 + 9 + 12 + 2 + 2 = 57 Base 12 + 9 To Jump + 12 Extra Movement (4*3 Haste) + 2 Rage + 2 Bull's + 1 Enlarge (Str) - 1 (Enlarge Dex)

He lands in the ogres' yard with his axe in hand.

Sorry for the delay, was out all day visiting family. Move me to wherever I land!

Bran's leap is truly a sight to behold. Soaring over the wall, his head even higher than the top of the tower, he lands down into the yard with a thunderous crash against the back wall of the palisade.
The ogres have not yet caught on to the fact that anything is happening (they are still flat-footed) so they fail to react as Bran comes between them.
One of the ogres had a spear in hand, and the other had gotten bored and dropped his. He reaches to pick it up, provoking an AOO from Bran.
AOO, Rage, Haste, Bless, Bull's Strength: 1d20 + 10 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 10 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 24
Damage: 1d12 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23
Think I did that right, let me know if any errors.
Bran hits the ogre hard, but it is still up (barely) and retaliates, along with its partner. One manages to hit.
Spear, Flanking: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 7 + 2 = 20
Damage: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (5, 3) + 7 = 15
Spear, Flanking: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 7 + 2 = 16
Bran has AC 17 at the moment, I think, with Rage, Enlarge, and Haste.

Round 2
Shishka (20') Tal'ariel might need the grappling hook, Mikail definitely will.
Barghest
Tal'ariel
Sergeants
Seltazar (10')
Bran
Thom (60' up)
Mikail (20')
Archers
Ogres

ok which side did we agree for the grapple hook? I think it was the west side. if not then just put shishka where the agreed upon point is. also she can still toss a bomb over the wall

Shishka makes her way to the wall edge looking very secret agent like (Que mission impossible theme)

Once there she fires the grapple hook to hook the top of the wall.

Yeah, East side is pretty full right now.
Shishka moves up (with a 40' move, she can Stealth at 20' and get up to the wall) and fires her grappling hook. Tal'ariel and Mikail can now make it over with a DC 5 Climb Check. At 1/4 normal speed, but Hasted, it is a single move to get up the 10', and holding onto the top of the wall you can hang down and drop in (although doing so might provoke an AOO from the ogre).
Keep in mind that you cannot see the ogre (due to the wall and the fog).

Round 2
Shishka
Barghest -5
Tal'ariel
Sergeants
Seltazar (10')
Bran -14
Thom (60' up)
Mikail (20')
Archers
Ogres

Tal'ariel moves up the rope and drops in.

Acrobatics DC15 to fall: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31
Stealth: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (20) + 13 = 33

I wouldn't think there's an AOO because the ogre can't see me. Unless the ogre isn't where he's marked on the map . . . but I should at least see him if he's close enough to see me.

Tal'ariel drops silently into the palisade. She can hear the ogre's breath nearby, but he doesn't hear her. Neither can see each other.
As Tal'ariel is just at the edge of the fog, she can see parts of the central tower, including a large door that would open out towards her. She can hear two voices in Goblin arguing within the tower. There is a heavy clatter, maybe a door bar.

Round 2
Shishka
Barghest -5
Tal'ariel
Sergeants
Seltazar (10')
Bran -14
Thom (60' up)
Mikail (20')
Archers
Ogres

Mikail moves up to the wall and also climbs up the rope, after Tal'ariel.

Climb: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

Bran empowered by the haste spell goes into a frenzy hoping to finish off the first ogre before turning to the other.

Great Axe: 1d20 + 12 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 12 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 22
Damage: 3d6 + 9 + 4 ⇒ (3, 5, 5) + 9 + 4 = 26

Great Axe (Haste): 1d20 + 12 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 12 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 34
Damage: 3d6 + 9 + 4 ⇒ (3, 4, 4) + 9 + 4 = 24

Great Axe -5: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 7 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 30
Damage: 3d6 + 9 + 4 ⇒ (1, 4, 6) + 9 + 4 = 24

"Who's next?!"

18 Strength + 2 Enlarge + 4 Rage + 4 Bull's Strength = 28 Strength (+9 Modifier). Two Handed attack.

Bran, now towering over the ogres, drops them both with rapid swings from his greataxe. Both are quite dead.

Thom continued to fly above the small fort and called down lightening upon the remaining Ogre.

Call Lightening: 3d10 ⇒ (6, 8, 1) = 15 Range 160 feet

Seltazar raises an eyebrow at the graphic pummeling sounds coming from the courtyard Bran jumped into and flies down toward him. In case he might need... assistance.

I'm not sure on the logistics, but I want to move over near Bran in preparation for entering the building if that's his intent as well. Hopefully Seltazar can do so without exposing himself too much. He'll hug the wall in the air nearby if possible.

Ogre Reflex DC 16: 1d20 ⇒ 10
The ogre takes the full force of Thom's lightning bolt.

Seltazar flies into the courtyard, with Bran between him and the door into the tower.

Mikail drops down in the yard, and the ogre definitely hears her. It approaches in the direction of the noise, but is startled to see this elf in front of it! It stabs at Tal'ariel, but the thrust glances off her magical shields.
Spear: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Meanwhile, you hear a crash from within the tower, and a creaking as heavy doors swing open.
The rank and file have decided to side with the sergeant recommending retreat. Given that they are under attack by foes they can't see, and it sounds like something big just killed two ogres, this is probably not an unexpected decision. They march out the north side of the tower, in formation for now. They now have swords and shields in their hands, with their bows across their backs.

The sergeants are actually inside the tower -- nobody is on top now, so I removed the fog. It is still there but probably won't come into play.

Round 3
Shishka
Barghest -5
Tal'ariel
Sergeants
Seltazar
Bran -14
Thom
Mikail
Archers
Ogre -15

Shishka delays.
The barghest takes off to the north.
Round 3
Barghest -5 (135')
Tal'ariel
Shishka
Sergeants
Seltazar
Bran -14
Thom
Mikail
Archers
Ogre -15

The elf warrior realizes what's going on only after her enemy's attack deflects off her magics. "Oh, there you are!" Tal'ariel levels two quick cuts toward the ogre that has creeped over in the fog and takes a sidestep along the wall behind her.

Curve Blade: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25; Damage: 1d10 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16
Concealment: 1d100 ⇒ 84
Curve Blade: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17; Damage: 1d10 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16
Concealment: 1d100 ⇒ 88

Shishka makes sure everyone is up and over, then she starts to make her way up, using the grapple hook.

climb: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (15) - 1 = 14

Another bolt crashes down on the Ogre upon the cawing of the crow.

Call Lightining: 3d10 ⇒ (5, 7, 7) = 19

Tal'ariel's first swing fells the ogre, which had earlier taken a lightning bolt from Thom.
@Tal'ariel: You can open the door to the tower with a move action if you want.
@Thom: Since the ogre is down, you can redirect your second lightning bolt at another target if you want - one of the soldiers, or the barghest (who is within range, but just barely). Technically the sergeants go before you, but you can keep that roll.

As the ogre is quickly finished off, Tal'ariel focuses on opening the door to the inner keep! Or at least trying to.

sorry for jumping initiative will target barghest and move 60 towards him.

Tal'ariel opens the door. She sees two hobgoblins in the tower, looking indecisive.
Upon seeing her, they look back at the retreating troops, shout "For the Red Hand!" and move to attack. One manages to wound her.
Black, Charge: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 8 + 2 = 25
Damage: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
White: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Thom's lightning bolt strikes the barghest, and it is unable to dodge.
Reflex DC 16: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Round 3
Barghest -24 (135')
Tal'ariel -10
Shishka
Sergeants
Seltazar
Bran -14
Thom
Mikail
Archers
Ogre -15

Moving forward a step or two, Mikail swings her sword into the ogre standing before her.

Attack: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 35
Confirm Crit: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (1) + 15 = 16

Damage: 2d8 + 16 ⇒ (7, 7) + 16 = 30
If crit suceeds - Crit Damage: 2d8 + 16 ⇒ (2, 1) + 16 = 19

I know I am screwing up the extra damage for the crit, but I forget what is Not added the second time around...sorry

"Seltazar, I'm moving onto the road to stop their formation, cover me?"

He's going to take the round to move over the wall
Climb for Posterity: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (6) + 20 = 26

The extra dice from Vital Strike doesn't critical if thats what you're asking. So basically it would be 1d8 longsword + 1d8 critical + 1d8 Vital. Then the Strength +
Blessings + Enhancements added twice (normal and critical). Mikail has a +16 to damage?

@Mikail: That ogre is dead, so I assume you want to attack the hobgoblin sergeants in the tower. I moved you back to where you can attack them.
You have +4 damage from Strength and your weapon bonus. If you Smite, it goes up to +10, or +16 for the first attack against an evil outsider, undead, or dragon. I think you already used Smite Evil today on a barghest. Without Smite, it is 2d8+4 on a Vital Strike, and then another 1d8+4 on a crit. But your crit confirmation was a natural 1, so it didn't confirm.
That is 18 damage to the sergeant.
I believe your attack bonus is +4 (BAB) +3 (Str) +1 (Weapon) +1 (Weapon Focus) = +9. Right now there is Haste for +1 and Bless for +1 so that makes it +11, and you also get another attack.
I think it's best to leave your character sheet with the "always on" stats -- the +17 to hit and +18 damage on your character sheet was with several buff spells and effects up. And the 16 AC is without your armor. The stat line is a good place to put current stats (maybe in parentheses next to the "standard" stats).

Seltazar nods with his typical grim smile and flies over the wall with Bran. Seeing the grouped up hobgoblins, he chants a spell, causing a flash of light to burst forth between them.

Cast Glitterdust DC 17 on the hobgoblins on the road.

Mikail's Hasted Attack
Attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14
Mikail delivers a deep gash to the hobgoblin. Enhanced by Seltazar's spell, she quickly follows up with another swing, but it clangs off his armor.

Bran easily clambers over the wall (and can take another Move action if desired).

Seltazar's spell blinds most of the hobgoblins.
Orange Will: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20
Red Will: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16
Blue Will: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21
Brown Will: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Green Will: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13
Yellow Will: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13

Slight error on the barghest - it took only half damage from the Call Lightning because it is Blinking.

Round 3
Barghest -14 (135')
Tal'ariel -10
Shishka
Sergeants (-18, -0)
Seltazar
Bran -14 (Move action left)
Thom
Mikail
Archers

Bran hops the wall and moves into position where he can use his larger reach more effectively.

The hobgoblins all begin to run. The two who can see can flat-out run, and move 80'. The four blinded ones just take double moves, at half speed, and get 20' away. There is a great deal of shouting, confusion, and anger as the blinded ones can tell that their sighted companions are abandoning them.
Yellow wanders into Bran's reach, and provokes an AOO. Bran drops him.
Attack: 1d20 + 16 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 16 + 2 = 30
Damage: 3d6 + 13 ⇒ (5, 5, 2) + 13 = 25

Red Will: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17
Brown Will: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19
Green Will: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Two shake off the blindness.

The barghest continues to flee, running along the road. Only Thom can see it, and if it ducks into the foliage he may lose it.

Round 4 (distances are north of the blockade's north wall)
Barghest -14 (255')
Tal'ariel -10
Shishka
Sergeants (-18, -0)
Seltazar
Bran -14
Thom (60')
Mikail
Archers (Orange 90', Blue 80', Red 25', Brown 30', Green 25')

Anybody off the map, we'll just refer to the distances.

Tal battles the sergeants in the doorway, starting with the more wounded one.
Curve Blade: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10; damage: 1d10 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17
Curve Blade: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14; damage: 1d10 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

Tal'ariel's sword glances off their armor.

Shishka makes in up the wall much to late to do any good. she then climbs back down looking for another way into the keep.

can't see through any mists and the rest of the group already took care of everything. so she will just climb back down again.

Shishka, inside the west palisade you can tell that Tal'ariel and Mikail are fighting a pair of hobgoblins. You can see those 5' away from you, and hear the sounds of battle. You probably heard some frustrated shout from Tal'ariel as her two strikes both failed to pierce the hobgoblins' armor.
You could try Inspire Courage, or healing Tal'ariel.

Shishka, inside the west palisade you can tell that Tal'ariel and Mikail are fighting a pair of hobgoblins. You can see those 5' away from you, and hear the sounds of battle. You probably heard some frustrated shout from Tal'ariel as her two strikes both failed to pierce the hobgoblins' armor.

You could try Inspire Courage, or healing Tal'ariel.

I thought I was on top of the wall, and the obscuring mist was inside. I do not know if there is a way to get to the others or not. also was I the only one that used the rope to climb over? I don't recall if that was the case or not.

You could have climbed in last round - remember, you are Hasted.
While there is a Fog Cloud inside, you can see 5', and you can hear, so you could be right behind Tal'ariel and Mikail (both of whom used the rope to climb over).
The grappling hook did come in handy!

Shishka fumbles around trying to get the grapple hook back together after reaching the ground once more.

there are sound of combat right next to her as she works diligently with her weapon, you guys gonna take care of those things? Try swinging left to right, not up and down. she says trying to encourage her living shields to do better.

inspire courage for a +1

The hobgoblins press their attack on Tal'ariel, but are disastrously bad this time.
Black: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
White: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

Thom flies another 60' away (single move; he was outside the Haste area), and hurls lightning at the fleeing Barhgest.
Damage: 3d10 ⇒ (6, 2, 3) = 11
Reflex: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26 So half damage for making the save, halved again for Blink.

Round 4 (distances are north of the blockade's north wall)
Barghest -17 (255')
Tal'ariel -10
Shishka
Sergeants (-18, -0)
Thom (120')
Seltazar
Bran -14
Mikail
Archers (Orange 90', Blue 80', Red 25', Brown 30', Green 25')
Bran, don't worry so much about exact positioning if you go after the fleeing hobgoblins. You can cover enough ground to hit any of them you want, but will need to take at least a move so you won't get multiple attacks. You can move so that you attack one and force another to endure AOOs from you if it tries to move.

Mikail continues her assault on the hobgoblin before her.

Attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23
Damage: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (2, 8) + 4 = 14

Mikail wounds the hobgoblin again, but he does not fall.

Bran and Seltazar are up!

Sorry long weekend

Bran looks at the fleeing hobgoblins and knows that this is war, they wouldn't take survivors. He charges into one of them and sweeps the axe.

Charge Attack: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (13) + 20 = 33
Damage: 3d6 + 13 ⇒ (2, 6, 6) + 13 = 27

"Surrender and tell us what your plan is! What is the Red Hand's goal in all of this?"

Positioning to get another AoO if possible

Very sorry on the delay. No day off work this week :(

Seltazar flies calmly after Bran and turns his gaze on the fleeing hobgoblins, speaking clearly in goblin.

"You may want to stop fleeing. Do you really think you can get away?" He gives a significant glance toward the giant below him. "I might be able to convince him to stop punching you to death if you stop."

His grim smile is not particularly encouraging.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 29

Bran drops one hobgoblin. Another, blinded, is still trying to flee and is easily taken down by Bran with an AOO.
The one stuck within the giant's reach, shaken by Seltazar's words, shouts "Take over Vale! I come back as dragon!" and attacks, to no avail.
Longsword, Shaken: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 4 - 2 = 10
The two who are furthest away keep going. The barghest moves up the road and then off into the vegetation, out of sight.

Round 5 (distances are north of the blockade's north wall)
Barghest -17 (285'? Hidden)
Tal'ariel -10
Shishka
Sergeants (-32, -0)
Thom (120')
Seltazar
Bran -14 (25')
Mikail
Archers (Orange 130', Blue 120', Red 25')

While the sergeants might get a lucky hit they aren't going to take down Tal'ariel or Mikail.
Bran can take out the remaining soldiers on the road, but finding the Barghest would be difficult given its current distance and Stealth. I don't want to have it escape by GM fiat, but I also don't want to bog things down, and it seems the odds are in its favor.
My inclination is to call the fight, all hobgoblins dead and the barghest got away, unless there are strong objections in which case we'll stay in combat and play out the chase.

Sounds fair. no objections

Yep, sounds right.