Team Dwarf/Gnome in Elves vs Dwarves -- ELVES KEEP OUT (Inactive)

Game Master Chainmail

Crossbowman hits Brask for 5. Khazad to go but he might want to delay and go with Neji. Then he might not have to move at all.

3 more crossbowman fire at Brask 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 51d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 211d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Damage 1d8 ⇒ 51d8 ⇒ 31d8 ⇒ 6

Brask down 8

Winks at Neji
Bull rush to move one thug engaging Neji
AoO; Damage; Bull rush 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 81d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 21d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Big Mug stops fighting defensively and moves one thug next to Neji away
Provokes another AoO 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 121d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Brask winces as the bolt goes deep into his side. He growls at the crossbowman, but his concerns are elsewhere. Another bolt slams home in his thigh. He grunts and takes a step towards the leader and lets another arrow fly.

1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 7 - 4 = 17+1=18
1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

"Don't miss often laddie. That was yer one."

Khazad delays his action.
Aye Brask, I know an order when I hear one!
Quick Neji, grab Thog and pass him to me, I'll carry him!

"Neji can't pick up armored dwarf, kill the snake's head (Big Mugs 20 words or less)"

Neji Casts Daze Defensively (DC 15) on t4.
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
AoO provoked.

Neji Casts Daze Defensively (DC 15) on t4.

1d20+6
AoO provoked.

** spoiler omitted **
She then moves back to stand beside Khazad.

I did consider Enlarging Khazad, but it is a Full Round casting time.
First of all I want to be able to get to safety - Daze t4. Then I will consider whether or not it is worthwhile casting Enlarge Person.

AoO 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 121d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
daze 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1

AoO missed = t4 dazed

Khazad to go = will yield a AoO to disengage from his thug but t4 has no AoOs.

Now that's spoken like a dwarf! Hope to meet you in the halls of Torag, Big Mug! CHAAARGE!
Seeing the path cleared for him, Khazad uses the opportunity.
Move to AB5, attack the leader at AB3. Charge if possible.
Attack:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18 (+2 if Charge)
Damage:1d10 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Just need to dodge one AoO (thug1)
1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 111d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
miss
The leader takes a hard shot from Khazad, barely escapes a flurry from Ninni, and for the first time looks quite hurt. He sees Brask drawing a bead on him for another shot.
"Wait a second here, DRAW, let's call this a DRAW--I accept your terms."

The thugs and crossbowman wait expectantly -- is the fight over?

"Send yer men back behind tha walls an' then we'll talk."
Brask readies to fire if he objects, and lower his bow if he complies.

"Get the wounded and get back behind the gate" says the burly leader. The leader opens the gate and the thugs begin to drag some of their companions back.

Big Mug quickly hoists Liri on his back.
stab for Liri 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 101d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 141d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

One of the thugs exclaims, "We have had enough of dwarven steel today."

Khazad picks up Thograt with a grunt, and places him on his shoulders.
It'll be alright Thog, the temple will get you patched up in no time. And then we'll crack open another keg of Giant's Tears in your honour!
He starts to move back, but then turns around, as if he forgot something. He stops and waits to see how Brask is going to negotiate with that cowardly wretch of a "leader".

Brask waits until the gates are closed shut.
"Get 'em back on their feet." He says to the ones pulling the fallen back.

He walks until he's about thirty feet in front of the "Leader" of the band of thugs.

"Alright, we'll drop our weapons an' meet in tha middle. If ye don't like it ye can get o'er it now and whine later." Brask's tone is anything but friendly.

The leader's bellows are heard from inside "Get the goods loaded NOW. I want all five crates loaded."

The gate opens and a work party comes out leading five pack mules. One is loaded with a crate. The leader comes out unarmed--he seems better as some of Khazad's gashes have healed up, but he still has the bruises from Ninni's fists on his face. The leader walks halfway to Brask (15').

"I need to know who you are, dwarf. Can we agree this was a draw and we are done fighting? One ingot of ore as paid last year shall be the price this year. I am called Terog Dranog. I would also like the name of those in your company if you will give them. The little ones can hit hard too."

He takes off his gloves and puts out a calloused hand.

Big Mug and Khazad have withdrawn to the improvised and concealed fortifications the human crossbowman were headed to and have Liri and Theograt safely behind cover. Neji follows leaving Brask and Terog alone in the flickering light.

In this lull you have a chance to use potions on the fallen or save these critical resources for later.

I walk up to leader after dropping the hammers, the greataxe, the bow, and the mostly full quivers.

"Th'name's Brask of tha Alpsbane, an' it'll be tha only one ye'll be hearin'. Thar shouldn't been a need fer bloodshed in tha first place. I can see fer meself that ye had this planned fer a whiles."

Brask's eyes burn holes into the human. He sighs, and looks like the wounds have taken some of the bluster out of the wily dwarf.

"We agree ta tha terms, with one change. Send a messenger with us explainin' why we had six crossbowmen sneakin' inta fixed positions, despite what we've done fer ye in tha war years ago. Ye've got an hour an' I give my word that no harm will come ta tha lad or lass ye send. An' my word ain't easily broken."

Brask glares at the human as he finishes giving his terms, almost as if he's daring the man to disagree.

Terog nods, "I was hoping to keep that detail AND who fired the first shot between us. But if you wish to exchange messengers, I need one to say we didn't take the first shot from your group. Or it ends without messengers with the clasp of a hand. We are men of action and these words of blame ill become us. You cannot blame a leader from taking precautions, especially given how things turned out. I will not be taking your measure again if I can help it."

The goods are rapidly loaded and ready to go.

"If you return the mules I'll assume we are good to do business again in the future. I trust you have the ore.

These hardy northerners put great stock in a handshake; more than any written words or treaty. One of their songs begins..

We travellers on the endless wastes in single orbits,
gliding cold-eyed march towards the dawn behind
hard-weather hoods a-hiding.
Meeting as the tall ships do, passing in the channel
afraid to chance a gentle touch ---
afraid to make the clasp.

Song reference.

Brask smiles a bit when the human mentions leaving a messenger behind.

"Aye, we have tha ore." Brask motions for one of the party to bring it, carefully. "As fer leavin' one o' us, I dunno who I could leave and expect not ta have leveled tha village by tha time we get back. An' as fer bein' open ta trade still, I'll leave that up ta Stonecrusher."

He holds his hand out waiting for the other man to take it.

He shakes. "Tis done. I don't think I could find a volunteer either, but for different reasons.

Terog motions and the loaded pack mules are brought over to you. "Send them back if you want to do business again. Bring them yourself, and I'll buy a keg."

Terog takes the single ingot of ore.

You have achieved your objective. Mission accomplished. Sorry Thograt you had to spend time down.

Journal of Big Mug:

We marched back having given the humans the fight of their life. Outnumbered three to one and we fought them to a draw. Liri and Thograt took 24 hours of healing to get on their feet, but they were fine. Liri decided that the rigors of the mission were too much, and asked if Thograt could find a replacement for her. She could continue, but not with a full heart.

The supplies were quickly distributed to the community. A whole year of necessities were what the people really needed. Another keg of GT was unrolled and we reveled well into the night. With trepidation we went to see Rock for the debrief.

BTW Brask is down to 2 HP. Does he get Healed any by anyone? And I'm buying a CLW wand first chance I get.

The team is ushered in to see Rock. He has a surly expression.

"I heard what happened, and I am disappointed. We cannot afford to trade dwarves for humans in some battle of attrition here. This was supposed to be a diplomatic mission. And why was Liri up front and Khazad waiting in the back, that should have been reversed. You need your reach weapons up front."

"Brask, I understand an ambush was being set up, but when the lights are turned on, the roaches scurry and not fight. Your archery was dead on, but you need to shoot the last one in a skirmish line and keep your silence and position. Then you shoot the new last one until you got them all. That way the front ones don't know what is happening. This is the Ranger York trick."

Rock then smiles

"But you hurt them good and bring everyone home; they now know not to tangle with us. I am proud of what you have done. Just don't fight just to fight, we don't have the dwarves for that anymore."

As you save the all the dwarves from extreme hardship, everyone is now lvl 2. Next mission to come soon.

if someone administers a cure light wounds potion on me I would heal you :)

That's ok Chainmail no hard feelings, I'm just glad I survived. I think next time I'll try to stay in the second row of combat. :)

if someone administers a cure light wounds potion on me I would heal you :)

That's ok Chainmail no hard feelings, I'm just glad I survived. I think next time I'll try to stay in the second row of combat. :)

Never mind I think there's enough time passing that I can heal normally.

"Thank you me lord. I know I have much more ta learn. I'm just glad no one in tha party died."

"It was interesting that the Humans were not really disposed to trading until we thumped them. Perhaps a more diplomatic mission should be sent to pave the way for more mutual respect? I agree its no good if we have to thump em each year to get our surplies. I'll write up a bit of a report.

Sorry guys you all post at night while I sleep :D Also, level 2 already? Awesome!

I am honored to have you as my lord, Rock. You know I am good with sharp steel but have little wits of my own. The nuggets of your wisdom are what I need to protect my allies better next time.

"I cannot believe that we even though we arrived at least three hours early, they had their snipers ready. I don't think that these humans can ever be trusted again. Unless we deal directly with the King. Perhaps he has some honour. He needs to be informed, I think, of how his representative is acting."

"Actually, had we arrived on time, I bet they would have been in place. After we arrived early, Brask caught them sneaking out.

Everyone is healed during the week of debriefing. Time is spent improving skills and abilities. Thograt is also scheduled to address the troops.

Please update the character sheets. Everyone will increase hp at HD/2+1 to ensure no drastic variations.

"Ye can count on me my lord." Ninni says with a bow. "That is whenever ye be needin something beaten that is." Says Ninni with a wry smile on her face.

"Your success has opened many options the dwarven war council has analyzed in detail."

Rock calls you into a council of war with his ten most trusted advisors; 7 dwarves and 3 gnomes.

"Option 1 is to take advantage of the hard won respect and immediately follow up with another diplomatic mission to the Northern Reaches.

"Option 2 is to take advantage of fact that human patrols are giving all dwarven groups a wide berth and bypassing the settlement to visit the larger city at the top of the mountains. Taking the southern road to the larger local capital may provide more insight into our main rivals in the area. At this large city negotiation or 'special operations' can secure more strategic materials.

"Option 3 is a hike over the inhospitable glaciers east of the human settlement to bear tribe--a group of illiterate barbarians. They have a frozen monolith stocked with things they can't understand (and for them, this is almost everything they find). This frozen monolith is known as their 'hall of treasures'. Obviously you plunder this."

"Finally for option 4 you can travel southwest along the coast to a large monastery where the humans have built 'ice ships'. If we can get one of these ice ships made of blades and sail, your group will have increased mobility and can sail the frozen bays of the north at will. Rumor has it this area is home to fierce wolves and half men-half monsters that eat anything with meat and bones.

"I will leave you the room to discuss your options. We are not hasty, so you can have as much time as needed to make your decision."

This is intended to be a nonlinear campaign with ever increasing options as you accomplish missions.

"I am glad Ninni has checked in. Everyone else here? "
Check in and let me know when you want to break for holidays.

I'm here. I was waiting on someone more eloquent, and wise, than Brask to post what option we should take.

"I say, screw the Northern Reaches. I don't buy this "Nice king, bad leutenants." This stinks like a pile of umber hulk dung. Look at us dwarves (and gnomes, sorry Ninni) - we are honest and resourceful because our leaders have taught us to be. If anything, their king could end up being even more of a wily bastard.
Barbarians is what I like! Let's get over there and hand them their arses on plates. I can't wait to see the triumph of our honed fighting skills and improved tactics over their mindless rage!"

Khazad pauses to think, and a short pause this is not.

"But then as much as any respectable dwarf hates boats, getting one of them ice ships might be required to haul the damned monolith back, at least if it lives up to its name. Plus the barbarians will worship us like gods if they see us landing on one of those, har har! So we might as well start with that."

Another pause, accompanied by much beard scratching and forehead rubbing.

"I suppose they aren't just going to give us the ice ship, are they? Shall we pry it from their cold dead hands or trade for it?"

"I would rather avoid the uh...diplomatic mission if you know what I mean. I agree with me dwarf friend those ice ships should be our first priority in this matter though I do like the idea of "meeting" with this barbarian tribe you speak of." Says Ninni with that evil smile across her face witch often tends to scare people.

Sorry. I'm leveled up and ready to go.

"While I'm more inclined to believe that the humans king is not a 'wily bastard'. I like the idea of becoming less reliant on the Northern Reaches humans. Let's go get ourselves a ship!"

Neji looks at Khazad with a raised eyebrow when he forgets the gnomes present, then with a scowl when he apologises to Ninni but not herself.

She casts Prestidigition and turn his beard green, his hair white, his clothing striped blue and yellow and his weapon pink with a purple peace symbol.

Neji considers casting more spells upon him. For now, she glares at him with her arms crossed.

"I like boats, I enjoy sailing. But more importantly, relying upon other races is folly. It is time the dwarves grew u... self-sufficient."

Khazad does not fit in a 1-foot cube, so you can't do it in one casting, but ROFL nontheless :D
"What trickery is this?! Why, you little scoundrel..." Khazad's face is now red, adding to the mix of colors. The next moment, he bursts into thunderous laughter, tears running down his cheeks and disappearing in the green beard.
"Okay, okay, that does it, I'm sorry! It was unfair, I won't forget you next time, Neji. If only your names could be slightly more... differing, you know? Just kidding! Now, uh, could you remove this? Please? At least the glaive?"

Neji scowls deeper at Khazad, breathes in deeply and loudly, lifts her shoulders to her ears, then...

pokes her tongue out at the dwarf, dismissing the colours.

"I can think of a few ways you could make it up to me, Khazad..."

Brask doubles over from laughter. He finally manages to control himself a bit as he straightens up and wipes a tear from his eye.
"Khazad, ye should 'ware tha cute ones. 'Specially if they knows a bit, or a good bit, rather, o' magic."

He turns to Rock with a slightly more serious expression.

"I vote fer trying out tha ice ships. They sound like fun."

Rock introduces a 'visitor'. "This one slipped through the sentries."

A young man strolls into the meeting room. He is dressed in white furs over a chain shirt. He has two bandoliers of axes crisscrossed front and back.

"I heard what you did to Terog and his bullies. You dwarves are tough as nails, I give you credit. You needed to cover your backtrail a little better, but in the excitement I can see you missing that. They won't find the secret entrance anywmore--I covered the tracks."

"I know the Northern Reaches better than anyone. You need a guide and a smoother to get you through human lands without fighting all the time. The name is Magnum. Only thing is, I'm not fighting for dwarven honor, I fight for booty. If you bring me along, I get a double share of treasure and first shot at the good stuff. You won't regret it."

Rock then ushers Magnum out.

"Let me know if you want to take that brash young man along with you. Thograt, tell me when you are ready to go and where you are going. We have some holiday festivities here, so it may be a while before we send you out."

"Right now I'd like to try my hand at a few more kegs of Giant's Tears."

Thograt looks the man up and down. "I don't like him Rock, he reeks of human superiority. Brask could of covered our tracks well enough if he wasn't so concerned about getting the team home in one piece and I never met anyone who knew the surroundin country better. The only thing you could offer us is smoother relations with the humans and that's not worth a double share and first pick of the treasure! I'd rather find a dwarf that's particularly good with locks and traps and such who will fight for dwarven honor. If I took magnum along I'd be forever lookin over me shoulder expectin him to turn on us when he got a better deal!"

"Hear, hear. That stud-muffin dwarf speaks true."

I remember the good old days of henchmen--you had the give them a really good deal to keep them happy. Obviously Magnum read the old school henchmen propaganda.

Rock decides to send the pack mules back. He needs to know if Brask is bringing them back and if he is bringing company.

"Ye have a point, but tha lad did do us a favor. Ye can't really cart five mules and several wounded men, an' ladies, without leavin' some kinda trail."

"Thograt, if you don't want to bring Magnum along, I can pay him well to update our maps of the human lands. I can also use him to carry messages and scout. It turns out he has a reputation in the human lands that is quite colorful. I think he left before their law caught up with him."

Brask thinks for a moment before speaking to Rock.
"Aye, I'll take 'em. If she don't mind I'd like Neji ta go with me."