Redelia's Ironfang Invasion (Inactive)

Game Master Redelia

"Haha!" Trinket exclaims at the hobgoblin in front of her. "Hero's always TRIUMPH!"

As she speaks her weapon begins to crackle with electricity.

Swift arcane strike, move to start a blade thirst performance which will make her weapon shock.

With a grand flourish, Trinket stabs at the hobgoblin. "Hero's strike!"

Attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30
Damage: 1d4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 2 = 6
Electricity Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Percentile to miss from smoke: 1d100 ⇒ 98 Striking.

"Take THAT!"

As Petrakh's acidic spittle and Trinket's Zappy Hero's Strike hit him, the last bad hobbogobbo goes down, dead.

Seeing the threats in the courtyard other than a wild animal who is behind a fence, Harik leads Alaka to the door to the tower.

Xakroo prepares to fire his arrow, only to blink as he realizes that the hobgoblins are already dead. Zarvak moves over to Petrakh and nuzzles her, giving a happy chirp.

The dragonette isn't quite sure HOW to take being nuzzled by the raptor after she lands, and settles on giving the friendly creature a nose-rub and then an under-the-chin scritch.

"My. You're a friendly one." the sorceress offers as she tries to assess the situation.

Alaka opens the door to the tower, hoping to find the ranger prisoners.

"Ahahahaha!" Trinket exclaims, posing bravely. "Hero's always win!"

When she's done posturing, Trinket looks around for her companions, or some more villains to fight.

Zarvak reacts happily to the nose rub and the chin scritch, and gives a content purr. Xakroo walks over and chuckles, Guess she really loves dragons.

"Well, who doesn't? Dragons are awesome!" Petrahk notes with a pleased tone.

"Who's scales are so shiny and clean? You do! Whosa good girl? You are!"

The dragonette glances to Xakroo. "Nah, don't worry, she's your kid, I'm just being the adoring stranger. That's okay, right?"

You assemble outside the tower and open the door. The lowest level of the tower bears several large holes knocked through the brickwork walls. The floor is a mess of splintered timber and rubble. Water dribbles steadily down the staircase to the north, passing through an open doorway and joining a stinking, filthy mess inside a privy to the southeast. A sturdy door to the east is barred.

Several pigs run squealing past you through the open door. Four hobgoblins turn to look at you.

Not rolling initiative, since I don't want to lock you guys into combat. If you have any plots, we can assume that you worked out all the details before opening the door. Harik provides any assistance you ask him for, and a general description of what you will find in each location.

Sorry, but Poxy loves stabbing piggies. It's in his core character story. It's definitely some kind of trigger.

Poxy screams out "PIGGIES!!! They tastes so good!" He runs back out the door following the piggies hoping to chase at least one down and stab it. "Oink! Oink! Snort! Haha gets back here so stabby Poxy can stab youuuu!!!"

Presumable that doesn't preclude more sane members of the party from a better plan or parlay

You did have an AoO if you want one, Poxy... I won't start combat with the hobbogobbos just because you start combat with the piggies.

Before they go in, Alaka makes sure everyone knows that Harik is on their side, and unties his hands.

Are the hobgoblins right in that first entryway area, or in the central area?

When they go in and see the other hobgoblins, she says

Guys, there is a huge, giant, immense, fire-breathing black and red dragon with purple spots headed for the camp. I'm pretty sure that that kind likes hobgoblins best. Better run before it gets here!

Bluff: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

It is clearly a bald-faced lie, but she is hoping that any of them could pretend to believe it and run instead of being killed, if they so choose. ... And Trinket will probably believe it, so there's that.

Poxy pokes his dagger at a the straggler pig as it flies by him.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Damage: 1d3 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2

Slightly earlier...

"I just don't think saying that the dragon is multi-colored is a good idea. Keep it simple, okay? Simple is good."

For her part in the 'Master Plan' Petrahk has gotten on a pile of crates and attempts to do her best intimidating dragon roar.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

"ROAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!"

From behind Alaka Jynnjun offers her own take on the tale. "Nah, that's just a 'lusion. The real danger is the fey down in the gorge conjuring it - someone needs to go drop rocks on them!"

bluff: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (11) + 16 = 27

magic gm rolls: 4d20 ⇒ (13, 15, 9, 9) = 46

All four hobgoblins in the room go rushing out. You can't tell if it is in fear or to solve a problem.

Alaka just assumes that they are running away, and is happy that they don't have to kill them. She moves further into the tower, asking Harik where they keep the prisoners.

oops, I forgot

The piggy that Poxy stabs at bleeds and squeels even louder as it continues running away.

Xakroo blinks at the chaos, and tries to restrain Zarvak from chasing the bleeding pig. Obviously he's having difficulty. Poxy, remind me to go hunting for pig meat when we're done!

Before they go in, Alaka makes sure everyone knows that Harik is on their side, and unties his hands.

Are the hobgoblins right in that first entryway area, or in the central area?

When they go in and see the other hobgoblins, she says

Guys, there is a huge, giant, immense, fire-breathing black and red dragon with purple spots headed for the camp. I'm pretty sure that that kind likes hobgoblins best. Better run before it gets here!

[dice=Bluff]1d20+2

It is clearly a bald-faced lie, but she is hoping that any of them could pretend to believe it and run instead of being killed, if they so choose. ... And Trinket will probably believe it, so there's that.

"Really? Where?!" Trinket exclaims. She turns and dashes off to find this fierce beast!

Eventually she comes back. "I did not find a dragon, or the fey with the rocks! They mush have heard I was coming and ran away! Villains do that sometimes, you know! AHAHAH!"

What do the hobgoblins do when they're outside with me?

The hobgoblins continue to flee or investigate and then wander off, completely ignoring Trinket unless she tries to start something.

I'm going to wait for a little longer in case there is anything more you guys want to say or do before the next area.

Despite his laser focus on catching a piggy, Poxy hears Xakroo and stops short. "Reallys? Xakroo and Zarvak and excited Poxy can all goes hunting piggies together?! We can catch SO many!" Poxy rejoins the others. "We should find the rangers so we can start to plan the piggy hunt."

The dragonette thumps her chest a few times as the hobgoblins all go charging off to... somewhere.

"Well, that seemed to be effective but it probably won't hold them for long. We need to get a move-on." she offers once they are out of earshot.

Trinket laughs as the hobgoblins flee from her legend in terror!

Nope, not starting anything.

Harik leads Alaka to a door. The door has a small window inset with bars. Peeking through, Alaka finds a mildew stained room with no furniture, but with 14 prisoners, mostly human, languishing inside.

Disable Device: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

I stink at this. Does anyone else know how to pick locks, or maybe knock down the door, or... err... Harik, do you have a key?

She's going to really be embarrassed if he does and she just tried to pick the lock.

Harik shakes his head.

"Yes! Tricky Poxy likes to poke things that don't want to open."

Poxy steps up to give the lock a try.

Disable Device: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25

Poxy does not get the door to open.

"Hero to the rescue!" Trinket exclaims bravely. She poses for a moment, unfortunately looking very fuzzy and blurry, which kind of ruins the effect...

Then she scampers off to bravely search the dead hobgoblins for keys!

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Keep trying. I'll make sure Trinket stays out of trouble.

Kryptyk goes off to cover the goblin hero.

Where did Trinket go? Chasing the hobgoblin guards? Darn it.

Who's really strong? She looks around the room, her eye ending up on Harik.

Uh, Harik, are you strong? Can you break the door? I could burn it, but that might make everyone choke since the smoke doesn't have any place to go...

OH! I've got it!

She takes off her belt of giant strength and offers it to Harik. Here, wear this. It will make you stronger. I just wear it so I can actually carry my gear, but for you I bet it would make you super-super strong.

After handing the belt to Harik she goes to the little window and says through it (she might have to climb up the door a little to reach). We're working on getting you out, prisoner-guys. Don't worry.

"Maybe helpful Poxy can make a potion to make Mr Friendly Hobogobo extra big and even stronger!" Poxy starts to prepare an enlarge person infusion, will take a minute.

Haha we are super buffing an enemy NPC

Trinket does not find any keys.

Meanwhile Jynnjun has her own try at cracking open the lock.

1d20 + 19 ⇒ (1) + 19 = 20

"Nope, jammed shut alright. I could try to pour acid into the lock to weaken it before Harik tries to break it open? Yeah, that sounds good." She gets out a vial of alchemical acid and carefully tips it into the lock.

"Wait, before you do that..." Petrahk begins, trying to tilt the vial up before it spills To save it for later!.

She then drools a bit onto her finger casually and dribbles it into the lock down her finger, doing it a couple of times to get it good and going.

Acid Splash Cantrip, being applied repeatedly

Petrahk, that's 10 gold and we're 7th level. And with the way Redelia does wealth by level & levelling, consumables get replenished rapidly - if I was going to try to break the game I'd invest heavily in expensive consumables.

Fair enough. I was looking at it more as 'we're in the middle of nowhere, let's save the consumables for things that might need them more before we can resupply?

1d20 ⇒ 5
1d20 ⇒ 12
1d20 ⇒ 1
1d20 ⇒ 18

With everyone's assistance, Harik is eventually able to break the door open.

Yeah, but spitting at it's WAY cooler... lol

Alaka goes in to help the prisoners. If they look hurt, she will channel to heal them up.

Then she asks Harik for her belt back.

Trinket rolls into the room and poses dramatically, tipping her glittering feathered hat and aiming her rapier to the ceiling.

"Fear not, worried victims! The great hero Trinket Sparkleplume--that's me--and her Amazing Hero Friends are here to rescue you! Plus that repentant villain over there!"

Trinket points at the hobgoblin.

"Come on! You're rescued now! Feel free to applaud!"

Trinket can also offer to heal them with her magic if needed.

They are weary and have clearly not been fed well, but do not seem to have many injuries. They initially shrink back away from you, especially from Trinket's loudness, but then relax, especially when they see that Harik is the only hobgoblin with you.

"What can you tell us of this place, how many were in the assault, are there any things we need to know about? Also, can any of you fight if we get you geared up?" Petrahk offers hopefully.

"Petrahk Jadetalon, I was looking to hire on with the Mercenary League but got a bit sidetracked with this invasion stuff going on."

"With no warning, a dragon filled the courtyard with acidic breath. We retreated into the tower, but the dragon smashed the top of the tower, killing the commander and many others. Then the hobgoblins burst through the doors into the tower, and subdued all of us who had survived. Since, then, we've been working as slaves. I'll skip over the nastiness most of the hobgoblins treated us with; the hobgoblin you have with you was by far the most humane of the bunch. He would slip us extra food and try to make sure than the most ill of us were not chosen for work duty. Most of us could fight if we had gear, and would like to pay back the Legion for our suffering. We are the only rangers from this fort to survive."

One of the rangers sits more upright. "I am Cobb. I was only subcommander here, but I think I am probably the only leader left. Many of us are injured, but we would like to have the chance to fight against the Legion."

other than Cobb, there are 13 rangers here. They are all clearly injured.

Trinket pulls out her wand with a flourish and exclaims, "Hero Trinket to the rescue!"

She proceeds to tap everyone with her wand until they are fully healed!

Using as many charges from my wand of cure light wounds as necessary.

"Alright. Cobb, let's get you and your team some gear once we get you all healed up. " Petrahk states, then looks over to Alaka hopefully, as well as Trinket.

"Did you get a coloration on that dragon? It may be important to figure out if they'll be back or just a 'one and done' kind of thing. And were they keeping supplies or anything else here with the idea of fortifying the location? Do you know if they've sent out any patrols?"

Almost belatedly she glances at Harik. "Don't take this the wrong way, but may I ask why you helped the rangers when no one else was willing to?" The dragonette has a hunch, and if it is a good one, she wants to make sure that Harik is WELL taken care of.

I think Alaka said they were going to channel to heal them up?

Harik looks down at his toe as he twists it back an forth on the ground while he formulates his answer. "No one should have to suffer just because someone else feels mean, I guess. The dragon you are asking about is Ibzairiak, although most know his legends as Scar-Maker. He's a black dragon. General Azersi hired him to lead the Legion in destroying the Charnisardo Rangers. He's probably still in his lair at the top of the tower."

Xakroo remained silent until they mentioned the black dragon. So we are dealing with a dragon, he hissed, Do you know what his weaknesses or flaws-if any-are? Or anything unusual about him?