The Ironfang Invasion: Fangs of War

Game Master vayelan

I've updated the encounter map.

You race northward along the battlements to where this new attack wave has crashed upon the town walls.

An entire swarm of morlocks has climbed and leaped atop the cracked walls, tearing through the defenders with both weapons and bare teeth. They are being led by some sort of morlock priest, who has used magic to enlarge his stature.

FYI: The morlock troop is smaller than other troop units, being 15x15 rather than 20x20. This time, I'm not just making a mistake.
I've also added some tokens for Longshadow soldiers on the walls, since you're joining a battle already in progress.

The priest takes notice of the party's arrival and casts a spell, summoning a magical set of jaws that snap and bite at Daria.

The morlock oracle casts Spiritual Weapon, which takes the form of phantom fangs, and targets Daria. If a 23 hits, she takes 4 damage.

Thorek and Lily can act before the troop.

Is the Longshadow wall fully breached like in the map?

Taking in the morlock's assault with the practiced eye of an experienced soldier, Thorek's deep voice intones an ancient battle-blessing in the Dwarven tongue, before he surges towards the melee with supernatural alacrity!

Casting Blessing of Fervorp on the party, choosing the +30ft speed boost for himself this round and then air walking towards the troop.

Taking the +2 to attacks, AC, and Reflex for this round. How high up is the troop, relative to the ground?

attack 1: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (20) + 13 = 33
attack 2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
damage 1: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
damage 2: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
confirm: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20
damage confirm: 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (4, 2) + 2 = 8

Lily sighs at the large groups of combatant knowing that her abilities don't particularly work in large groups. Taking out her bow she sends out a volley of arrows.

Who are you targeting, Lily? Also don't forget to pick a bonus from Blessing of Fervor!

Sorry all I thought it was only the troop. I will attack the thing I can affect with abilities.
Also the extra attack
attack hasted: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31
damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Lily's well-aimed shots strike the morlock priest in the back, who presents a tempting target as he magically towers above his rank-and-file kin. One of Lily's arrows lodges painfully along the priest's ribs. This serves to draw the morlock leader's attention away from the beleaguered defenders atop the walls.

Even without their commander's direction, the horde of morlock troops turn and leap down from the parapet to swarm over Thorek and test how much punishment his armor can resist.

Thorek gets an AoO as the troop moves towards him and moves through threatened squares.

Troop auto damage vs Thorek: 4d6 + 3 ⇒ (6, 4, 6, 2) + 3 = 21

Daria and Esperanza are up next.

Daria steps away from the magical maw and calls down holy fire in a column, lighting up the entire troop!

Flame Strike DC19 Reflex Half: 10d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 5, 5, 2, 6, 6, 4, 1, 5) = 42

(Daria takes +2 AC and Reflex from Blessing of Fervor this turn)

AoO: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (14) + 20 = 34 Damage: 1d10 + 20 ⇒ (1) + 20 = 21

"Fah, not today wretches! Flee or perish, Longshadow will be standing long after you're dust!"

Esperanza charges through the air in Thorek's wake, cutting through the morlocks with a mighty swing of her glaive.

Glaive attack (w/ PS, BoF, Charge): 1d20 + 15 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 15 + 2 + 2 = 33
Slashing: 1d10 + 13 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 13 + 7 = 21

Charging the troop!

Thorek strikes down morlocks almost as fast as they can leap upon him, leaving many broken bodies at his feet as the cost for the bit of blood they take from him in exchange.

Daria's spell absolutely decimates the swarm of morlocks, incinerating the bulk of their troops in one fell, fiery swoop.

Esperanza leaps into the fray and quickly cuts down the few left standing in the fight, sending the scant handful of survivors fleeing away from the walls of Longshadow.

Day 2, Turn 6; Defense Points: 159

The enlarged morlock priest moves with startling speed and is suddenly in front of Thorek and Esperanza, lashing out at the dwarf with his morningstar and teeth.

The morlock oracle uses his Surprising Charge revelation to move his speed as an immediate action. He then makes a full attack on Thorek.
If a 26 hits Thorek, he takes 12 damage from the morningstar. The morlock then gets a nat 20 on his bite attack. If a 24 confirms the crit, then Thorek takes 14 damage; otherwise, he just takes 8 damage.

The party can now act again.

Seeing Thorek take multiple hits—or at least appear to, Daria moves over and uses the wand of healing on him.

Cure Serious Wounds: 3d8 + 5 ⇒ (8, 5, 3) + 5 = 21

Thanks to that poultice from Daria, Thorek is AC30; vs goblinoids or aberrations he's AC32. So the bite will hit but not crit, and on Thorek's turn he picks the extra attack for BoF.

"My thanks, Daria. Won't be but a moment to finish this blackguard."

Attack #1: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (16) + 20 = 36 Damage: 1d10 + 20 ⇒ (2) + 20 = 22

Attack #2: 1d20 + 15 - 3 ⇒ (6) + 15 - 3 = 18 Damage: 1d10 + 20 ⇒ (5) + 20 = 25

Attack BoF: 1d20 + 20 - 3 ⇒ (12) + 20 - 3 = 29 Damage: 1d10 + 20 ⇒ (9) + 20 = 29

Swift stare at Morlock
Move Move
Standard: Fire attack: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 13 + 1 = 29
damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 1 = 7
stare damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (2, 6) + 4 = 12

Lily moves up carefully sinking another arrow directly into the attackers checst.

Also taking that extra attack.

Esperanza steps wide around the morlock, striking out with her glaive once, twice, three times.

Glaive attack #1 (w/ PS): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21
Slashing: 1d10 + 13 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 13 + 7 = 26

Glaive attack #2 (w/ PS): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14
Slashing: 1d10 + 13 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 13 + 7 = 28

Glaive attack #3 (w/ PS): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (8) + 15 = 23
Slashing: 1d10 + 13 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 13 + 7 = 29

Oof, these rolls.

Your combined onslaught fells the morlock prophet, leaving his body to shrink back to normal as he slumps down, dead, alongside his slain kin.

The Longshadow defenders quickly rally in the face of your latest victory on the battlefield, and they move to secure the breach in the wall - erecting improvised barricades to stem the potential flow of attackers.

Further down the battlements, you can see other defenders atop the parapets repelling an aerial attack by dozens of vultures and giant bats that the Legion's tamers have trained as warbeasts. With bolts, arrows, and javelins, the defenders turn aside the winged sorties.

The Legion's wyvern scouts would have launched their attack this turn, but since you eliminated them, they are not present. The town's defenders are able to handle the trained birds of prey that the Legion deploys in their stead.

You have two turns until the next siege event occurs, so you have time to loot the morlock forces.

With several minutes of time left on her call lightning spell, Daria calls down strategic bolts where needed to bolster the city defenses.

"Thorek, any damage to report?" Esperanza asks, looking for the next trouble spot.

"Nothing dire," the dwarf grunts as he watches Daria's lightning sweep war-birds from the sky. Satisfied that they weren't going to pull anything tricky against his militia, the dwarf turns away to survey the breach in the wall and hastily assembled barricade.

"Underminers. That's what they'll try next--digging under the walls. I bet they started days ago."

Thorek is right on the money with his prediction. Their precise target may be a surprise, though.
Any buffs, spells, or other things you want to get in place before the next event?

Since we have time and nobody seems to be injured (after Daria healed Thorek with the wand), Daria will use a few poultices (Ironskin and Bull’s Strength), intending to attack more directly this time and save some spells as the situation demands.

Thorek will use his Sacred Armor to make himself Expeditious for a +10ft speed bonus. At the first sign of trouble he will give Esperanza his Armor of Flame blessing (Fire Shield for 1min)

Day 2, Turn 9; Defense Points: 156

The smell of ash and the screams of the dying - both human and hobgoblin - fill the air around you as the battle's intensity continues to mount. Your footing shifts for a moment, and then the cobblestones below you give way, dropping into a massive basin dug beneath Longshadow's streets.

Everyone needs to attempts a DC 15 Reflex Save. On a failure, you take 2d6 falling damage; on a success, you only take 1d6 damage; if you succeed by 5 or more, you take no damage as you manage to slide down the sloping sides of the pit.

I'll get the encounter map updated a little later.

Daria Reflex Save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Daria is caught unprepared: Falling Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 1) = 4

Is the Air Walk spell still in effect? If so, how does that effect the pit trip?

reflex: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20

Lily deftly slides down the slope avoiding the chaos of the ensuing landslide.

Reflex: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18
1d6 ⇒ 3

Esperanza yelps in surprise as the ground collapses beneath her, but she manages to at least hold her footing on the way down.

Since this is the last siege event until the next morning, I believe at least a couple hours have passed, so I'm going to have to say that the Air Walk's duration has expired by this point.

I've updated the encounter map.

You land in a roughly 40-foot-wide pit dug beneath the town, a 10-foot-wide tunnel leading away to the east, towards the enemy lines. However, you cannot see much of the tunnel since a sizeable opposition stands between you. A pair of hobgoblin officers, riding atop dire wolves, have goaded forward an especially immense ankheg, likely a product of the minotaur beast trainers and the cause of this sinkhole.

"And now to show that cow how a battle is won!" one of the officers howls before spurring his beastly mount into a charge against Daria, swinging a magically flaming flail.

Sergeant Bolchag uses a Swift Action to use his cavalier For the King ability, giving his allies +2 attack and damage for 1 round. He and his mount then charge Daria.
If a 31 hits Daria, she takes 5 bludgeoning damage and 5 fire damage from the flail attack.

Esperanza and Daria can then act before the huge ankheg, Earthshaker.

I'll assume my other buffs have expired as well then

Spitting gravel and curses, Thorek pushes to his feet with his dorn-dergar in hand. Gaping at the elephantine insectile monster in front of him, the warpriest quickly comes to himself and steps in to the fight. With a roar he brings the steel ball around in a crushing arc!

Stand, Swift-cast Divine Power (+3 atk/dmg and +10 temporary hp), 5ft step, then attack
Attack: 1d20 + 13 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 13 + 3 = 33 Damage: 1d10 + 18 ⇒ (7) + 18 = 25

Daria's AC is currently a 27, so the 31 definitely hits. She is now down 14 hp.

Daria twists as she is hit, but the flail still slams into her armor, denting it and perhaps cracking a rib! Trapped against the back wall of the cave-in, she gets a feral look in her eye and her whole being becomes rocky as she wildshapes into a large earth elemental!

As she transforms, Daria takes a five foot step INTO the wall away from the foe (using her earth glide).

(Currently inside the wall. Stats: 28 AC, 59/73 HP, 10' reach Slams +15/+15 (2d6+14), mv 20' (Earth Glide) )

Druids are so cool

Esperanza leaps forward and swings her glaive, cutting chitin from the massive ankheg's carapace. The monster responds by lurching closer and attempting to seize the Shelynite warrior in its acidic mandibles.

Since the creature is two size categories larger than Esperanza, she gets -4 to the parry attempt, which is enough to make the parry unsuccessful.
If a 31 hits Esperanza, she takes 30 damage and 2 acid damage from the bite. However, it fails to grapple her.

Lily can act next.

Standard: Improved Feint Partner to Esperanza
Move: Ranged Feint ankheg bluff: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (4) + 24 = 28
If successful provokes from Esperanza

Lily cowers towards the wall try to distract the giant ant in order to grant Esperanza an opening.

Lily's skillful deeds leave both Esperanza and the giant ankheg moving like puppets in the mesmerist's dreadfully dramatic play, and Esperanza's glaive thus deals another cracking wound against the monster's carapace.

Unfortunately, Lily soon finds herself under attack by the second hobgoblin officer. He coaxes his wolf to slide between the ankheg and the tunnel walls so he can bring his fiery flail down upon her.

If a 23 hits Lily, she takes 8 damage and 5 fire damage.

Thorek brings down his own mighty blow upon the ankheg's broad back, cracking the creature's exoskeleton.

The first hobgoblin officer issues a personal challenge against Esperanza, then rushes forward to make good on that challenge. Of course, in the process, he endures an opportunistic swing from her glaive. Her follow through to parry the incoming attack, unfortunately, lacks the grace and precision to defend herself this time.

If a 26 hits Esperanza, which seems very unlikely, she takes 19 damage.
Esperanza and Daria can act again.

Queen of Rock Daria steps out of the wall and sees the enemies clumped together. Stopping before she is within the reach of the wolf riders, she calls down a column of holy fire from the heavens, washing the foes with radiant flame!

Flame Strike, DC 19 Reflex Half, holy and fire damage: 10d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 2, 4, 4, 1, 3, 3, 3, 5) = 30

(With Daria’s 10’ reach, I think that gives Esperanza flanking)

Daria's column of flame falls from the sky and pierces the pit that has swallowed you, but now the flame swallows your foes. The ankheg and one of the officers are caught fully by the conflagration, while the other officer avoids the worst of the spell.

Esperanza lands one of her swings upon the officer who just attacked her, delivering a strong wound.

The ankheg turns its attention upon Thorek and attempts to use its acidic mandibles like a can opener to flense the armor off the dwarf.

If a 32 hits Thorek, he takes 27 damage and 2 acid damage, and he is grabbed, since I believe a 36 would beat his CMD.
Lily can act next.

(If Thorek is grappled, Daria will use her reaction to cast Liberating command, giving him a chance to Escape Artist with a +20 bonus)

Move Action Center
Cast Invisibility Defensively concentration: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 8 + 2 = 14

Lily intimidated by the creature right next to her tries to concentrate on a spell but fails to gather her thoughts enough to cast the spell.

That does hit, and does indeed grapple

Liberating Commande Roll: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (19) + 20 = 39

The second officer issues his own challenge, aimed at Daria, and swings his flaming flail at her.
Meanwhile, his wolf mount snaps its jaws at Lily.

Thorek, invigorated by Daria's magic, breaks free from the ankheg's grasp just in time.

If a 28 hits Daria, she takes 16 damage and 4 fire damage.
If a 28 hits Lily, she takes 17 damage.
Thorek can act before the start of the new round.

Free of the massive insectile beast's mandibles, Thorek gives a shout of triumph and resumes his pattern of heavy, crushing blows against Earthshaker's flank.

Attack #1: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (9) + 16 = 25 Damage: 1d10 + 18 ⇒ (9) + 18 = 27

Attack #2: 1d20 + 11 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 11 - 2 = 28 Damage: 1d10 + 18 ⇒ (6) + 18 = 24

Thorek's attacks come within a hair's breadth of rendering the massive ankheg a crushed heap of chitin and goo, but the warbeast clings to life for a few moments longer for now.

The lead officer swings his flaming flail, but Esperanza parries the first swing and dodges the second, giving the hobgoblin a deep cut for his trouble.
The large wolf mount nips at Esperanza with somewhat more success.

If a 28 hits Esperanza, she takes 15 damage.
Esperanza and Daria can act next.

Daria steps over to help Lily, but aims her powerful earth elemental attacks at the critically-wounded Ankheg in hopes of taking it down before it can act again!

Slam attack with reach and flank: 1d20 + 15 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 15 + 2 = 29
Damage: 2d6 + 14 ⇒ (2, 3) + 14 = 19

She pummels it again if needed, or switches to the one she flanks with Esperanza…

Slam attack with reach and flank: 1d20 + 15 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 15 + 2 = 22
Damage: 2d6 + 14 ⇒ (5, 3) + 14 = 22

My AC is 2 higher against the hobgoblin from my Ironfang Survivor trait.

Esperanza continues to fend off the hobgoblin, working in tandem with Daria to finish off the giant bug.

Glaive attack #1 (w/ PS): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (8) + 15 = 23
Slashing: 1d10 + 13 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 13 + 7 = 30

Glaive attack #2 (w/ PS): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25
Slashing: 1d10 + 13 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 13 + 7 = 25

Esperanza's flurry of attacks spells the end for the ankheg, then Daria's own elemental slams knock the hobgoblin officer from his mount and squelch the life from him.

Lily can act before the last hobgoblin officer.

Move: Center Character
Standard: Cast defensively Invisibility CL Check: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28
Yay

Lily cornered by the enemy fights back the waving panic and calms herself down blinking out of sight from the enemy.

The last enemy and his mount both got nat 20s against Lily, but missed because of her concealment!

Bereft of both his comrade-in-arms and their war monster, the last hobgoblin officer does not last long against your combined, focused counterattack. Thus, in short order, you have triumphed over this surprise, subterranean ambush.

Your allies above call down and are greatly relieved that you are safe and that you have already cut down the Ironfang sappers. However, they report that, unlike the previous stages of the siege, this latest push by the Legion's forces shows no sign of abating, even with dawn's approach. What's worse, your ranger contingents, acting as scouts, have spotted more and more hobgoblins exiting the strange obsidian tower east of town.

Mayor Crawbert soon appears above, yelling down to you.

"With our walls breaking, soon nothing will defend Longshadow but spears and stout hearts. We can hold the Legion at bay only until we begin dropping from exhaustion - twelve hours, maybe a day. But we can't stand against an endless flow of reinforcements, no matter how brave our soldiers."

The tunnel leading eastward draws your attention. The hobgoblin officers must have coaxed the trained ankheg to burrow from among the enemy camp, meaning that the tunnel must lead behind the enemy lines...