DM Carbide runs *! Rise of the Runelords !*

Game Master John Woodford

It's just made of iron right? Sure, sure, gems and such encrusted. Anything special about the weapon?

Any of you with Appraise +5 or greater would estimate that intact the armor is probably worth close to 5000 gp. Incidentally, Cordwin, how is it that you have an Appraise of +3? It's INT-based, so even with no ranks you should have +4.

Skarn looks over the gleaming armor, his keen eyes narrowing as he takes in the craftsmanship and the decorative gems.

"This here armor, lads and lasses, it's worth a small fortune—close to 5000 gold pieces if it's intact. Might even be more with the right buyer. No surprise, given the intricate work and those gems. Worth keeping in mind if we need some coin, eh?" He gives a quick, amused glance toward Cordwin. "And just to clarify, my appraising skills are spot on, so I wouldn’t doubt what I’m saying."

There's a passage ahead that slopes upwards into the mountain.

"Unless there is aught else to do, let us press on."

Skarn will lead the way.

Reynard follows Skarn.

Trox shrugs and heads in shield at the ready but not up front as he is not the most observant.

At the top of the slope, there's a side branch that leads to a dead end containing a deep pit hewn from hard stone. The walls are covered with soot, and the stale reek of decay wafts up from the depths below.

Any idea what's going on with this pit?

Knowledge (dungeoneering): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21 +3 to identify creature abilities and weaknesses

What other directions are there to go?

Skarn figures that the occupants burn bodies in the pit.

As noted above, this is a side passage, and the main tunnel continues past it.

While he can't identify whatever he spots, Skarn will try to detect magic down in the pit, or spot anything else of value.

There is no magic detectable in the pit, although when Skarn realizes that it's too deep for him to see the bottom with his darkvision he deduces that any magic that far down would be out of his detection range.

Skarn Hornfels stands at the top of the slope, peering down into the pit, his expression thoughtful.

"Well, there’s nothing for it but for someone over five feet tall to go down and check it out," he says with a shrug, looking around at the group. His lips twitch into a grin as he winks at the other dwarves.

"Let me send this Imp down. You turn invisible, fly down then report back to Skarn anything you see."

Imp will fly down 100ft and come back and report.

The imp flies down and comes back up after a minute. "I didn't see anything down there but ashes."

"Let's move on then, shall we?"

"Agreed. No point in looking at a hole too much." Trox adjusts his shield and is ready to roll out.

The more perceptive members of the party can hear grunting and the rattle of metal on metal up the slope ahead.

Do you want to do any scouting first?

Recon in force!

"Another job for an invisible imp?"

If the team agrees...

Udent gets only a little way up the passage when he turns around and flits back. "Boss, the place is packed with ogres--more than I could count from where I was. I think there's a giant behind them, too."

”Sounds like a slug fest to me. Time to call upon the powers of our deities and wade in. Make a good solid front line, and hold it! Maybe a prayer and a blessing?”

In case anyone missed it before (I had), each square on the map is 10 feet.

"How high can the imp count?"

To really caring about the answer Trox squares up ready to hold the the center of the front line, having no better plan, and wait for any magic enhancement that is to come. He looks to the fellow front lines once they are set and nods.

"Advance slow and stay together, we should be able to hold against a rush."

Nice time to get a little level up.

Skarn will cast keen edge on his pick, and then just before we engage, he will hit himself with divine favor.

I'm ready to go!

Any shot you have a second keen edge in there? I am not sure on Inquisitor mechanics.

Heck yeah. And it last 90 minutes! I'm hoping someone else can hit us with other buffs. This one sounds like a slugfest, so bonuses to hit and such seem the way to go!

Crit 17-20 will be great. Who else can buff us up like a bunch of 80's coke heads.

After finishing his own extracts (save one short-duration one he's saving for just before combat*), Reynard holds up a flask containing a blueish liquid. "If someone wants a hands-free shield, I've got a spare." He pauses, then withdraws a couple of whitish vials. "Almost forgot, anyone need to fly?"
Extract of Shield, +4 Shield bonus for 8 minutes, 2 of Fly, 8 minutes. My mutagen grants a flight speed now, so I don't need them.

*Pouncing Fury, which will only run for 8 rounds. I'll keep it in hand and drink it just before we hit initiative.

"Let's do this!"

Trox nods and adjusts her armor before nodding and speaking .

"Drinks on me when we get out of here."

He starts to methodically march forward, jaw set, leading the tip of the spear for his companions.

Skarn Hornfels gives a hearty chuckle at Trox's words, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

"Drinks, eh? Well, you’ll be in good company, Trox," Skarn says with a grin, his hands resting on the haft of his pick. "As a priest of Cayden Cailean, a dwarf, and a brewer, it’s really incumbent on me to provide the first round, but I do appreciate your generous offer." He winks at Trox, "I’ll be sure to raise a mug to your health when we get out of here."

The party advances up the stairs, catching sight of the ogres from about thirty feet away. Note that the stairs are Difficult terrain to ascend.

Round 1:

Initiative order
Reynard
Erond
Cordwin
Skarn
Druamin
Trox
Ogres (s)
Hill giant
Ogres (f)
Ogres (d)

Everyone can act!

Skarn Hornfels spits out the unlit cigar from between his teeth, the stub rolling off into the snow, and gives a grunt of determination.

"Alright, everyone, listen up," Skarn says, his voice low but firm. "We’re not rushing headfirst into this. Hold your ground, get your buffs ready, and let them come to us. We've got the high ground, let’s make them pay for getting close." He looks to his companions, making sure they’re ready for what’s coming. "I’ll cast Prayer to help everyone hit and do a bit more damage. I'll bring down Sacred Protection and Justice on myself—defense and offense all in one. We’ll be ready."

With that, Skarn casts his Prayer, a divine aura filling the air. "Much better," he mutters, standing tall.

"And Reynard," he adds, giving a grateful nod, "that handless shield potion? I feel well-protected now. You’ve done well, friend." He looks at the group, confidence in his eyes. "Let’s give them a fight they won’t forget."

Ok, I think I'm now buffed with Keen to double crit range, as is Trox. Shield for +4 AC. Prayer for +2/+2 (as is the whole party), and -2/-2 to bad guys within 50'. Protection for +2 AC, Justice for +2 to hit. And these are giants, so I am +4 to AC naturally, and +2/+1 to hit and damage. My AC against these guys should be 33, not counting their -2 to hit! And I am +6/+3 to hit and damage beyond my norms, for now).

Oh, and I backed up 5' to form a stronger front line with Trox. No need to be staggered across the cave, when we can present a solid line.

They are uphill from you, not downhill. Also, Reynard doesn't have the Infusion discovery, so you don't have shield extracts.

Dangit! On both accounts, hahaha. Ahhh well, my AC is only 29 against these guys.

"They can reach further then us. Front line move up as a group, we don't want to be down hill."

Trox is anxious to get into it knowing he can make himself harder to hit once they engage.

Ideally the front line would move up together to get an attack off rather than wait down a hill for them to come at us since they have reach on us. Since its PbP we know we all go first though Trox is last so waiting to see what you all do. Ideally Trox will keep his AC at 32 with Combat Expertise.

Well, it's difficult terrain to ascend, which won't affect me, but might you. I'm comfortable waiting for them! Besides, maybe someone in the back line has fireball or flame strike ready to go!

Reynard drinks the last of his pre-battle extracts and stands ready.

"Go forth bravely. I will cover you."

Inspire the group +4/+4 attack and damage as well as +4 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a move action.

Erond will cast overland flight. [b]"Bless me."[b]

Cordwin and Druamin?

Druamin gazes up the flight of stairs and sees the ogres congregating. He nods to his comrades' words.

"Words of wisdom, my friends. No rushing in and if we can get to the top of the steps, we'll be better off."

He reaches down to put a hand on Kobu's back, careful to avoid petting him the wrong way, and then utters a few magical words. Kobu's tail shimmers and a faint outline grows around it making the tail look massive.

"That will put a bit more bite in your tail."

Then he pulls his own weapon from the belt loop and prepares for the onslaught.

Casting Strong Jaw on Kobu making his tail slap a bit more dangerous.

"Those fellows look too fat to get two of them side by side on these steps without hindering one another, which is why I chose here to fight"

They are 10' wide, and this appears to be a 15' wide corridor! Unless they squeeze, we can take them down one at a time!

I know something that will get us up those stairs faster! Cordwin says as he casts haste on the group.

"Ah yes Skarn. Your idea makes perfect sense. So we stay down here on the stair a bit. That haste will still be helpful. More attacking. I like that. Do you think they've noticed us yet?"

Everyone prepares for the avalanche of not-terribly-competent meat that's about to come down on the party. The first ogre steps down and swings its club at Trox, a blow that the fighter easily dodges.

Round 2:

Initiative order
Reynard
Erond
Cordwin
Skarn
Druamin
Trox
Ogres (s)
Hill giant
Ogres (f)
Ogres (d)

Everyone can act! Note that the ogre has a 10' reach, so it's a semisquare up the stairs; note also that unless you have some way to avoid the penalty the stairs up are Difficult terrain, so you can't close without taking an AoO.

Skarn Hornfels charges up the steps like a whirlwind, his body moving with the precision of a seasoned warrior and the divine power of his god guiding every step. His movements are bolstered by the magic flowing through him, making each action feel effortless.

"they didn't cooperate with out plan, so it's time to put some of this strength to good use," Skarn mutters with a grin as his pick whistles through the air. He swings it at the first ogre, striking with a force that sends the creature staggering back.

"You might want to rethink that approach, friend!" he yells as he immediately pivots and swings at the second ogre. The pick lands with a resounding thud, sending the ogre reeling as well.

"You all aren't nearly as tough as your bark," Skarn sneers, spinning back toward the first ogre, his grip firm on the haft of his pick. With a battle-hardened roar, he delivers another blow, this time striking down the first ogre with a crushing blow.

"Now, that’s how you handle business!" Skarn exclaims, wiping the sweat from his brow and looking down at the fallen ogre. "Let that be a lesson to the rest of you."

----------------

Skarn was +6/+3 from normal, but with the Bardsong and Haste, he is +11/+7. As a swift action, he will make his weapon Giantbane. So that is +13/+9. He will use Combat Expertise to -2 his attacks, and +2 his AC. So he is +11/+9+2d6, and AC 31. He moves to where he is on the map. Two Ogres get AOOs against AC 32. With Haste, he should have plenty of movement to make it, and he's taking AOOs no matter what, since it's not a 5' step.

Skarn will now execute a Cleave attack against the closer Ogre. This will drop his AC to 30.

Heavy Pick +1 Hit: 1d20 + 11 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 + 11 = 34
Heavy Pick +1 Damage: 1d6 + 6 + 9 + 2d6 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 9 + (4, 2) = 25 x4, P

And then the cleave attack against the next Giant up the steps.

Heavy Pick +1 Hit: 1d20 + 11 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 + 11 = 25
Heavy Pick +1 Damage: 1d6 + 6 + 9 + 2d6 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 9 + (1, 5) = 25 x4, P

Now, I believe Skarn gets his Haste attack still, right? This he will take against the first ogre he attacked.

Heavy Pick +1 Hit: 1d20 + 11 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 + 11 = 37
Heavy Pick +1 Damage: 1d6 + 6 + 9 + 2d6 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 9 + (4, 5) = 29 x4, P

You only get the extra attack from haste on a full attack.

There's not enough room for everyone to be on the front line. Druamin remains a couple steps down to allow Trox to get up to where he can attack the ogres.

Kobu jumps up and down at Druamin's hip, trying to find a way to get up to where he can slap at the ogres.

"Hold on boy. Let's let the others in there first. Don't worry, there's going to be enough action soon."

He swirls his hands in the air and starts incanting in the magical druid language.

Casting Summon Nature's Ally IV -- Giant Wasp. It takes a full round.

Round 2 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Reynard
Erond
Cordwin
Skarn-acted
Druamin-acted
Trox
Ogres (s)
Hill giant
Ogres (f)
Ogres (d)

Skarn advances quickly, dodging the blows aimed at him, and wields his heavy pick to good effect on the ogres. Neither one goes down, but they don't look good. The fresh ogres in the back mock them mercilessly and obscenely. Druamin begins to cast a spell.

Reynard, Erond, Cordwin, and Trox to go!