The Moar Core Tour (Inactive)

Game Master BretI

“Lobda is Zig’s cousin, I suspect we will have no trouble finding her when we need to.”

“With the morning briefing, could we have it early enough that Phinellippa and I can prepare our spells after it. That way we know where you want us to go and what we will be doing.”

...and it is so rare for a prepared caster to be able to do that in a scenario.

"I do certainly need a rest after all that!"

The Amazing CoCo chimes in, "And maybe the party is still going!"

"Lobda is Zig’s cousin, I suspect we will have no trouble finding her when we need to."

"With the morning briefing, could we have it early enough that Phinellippa and I can prepare our spells after it. That way we know where you want us to go and what we will be doing."

"Really? Hmm...that's an interesting coincidence," Roderus remarks, looking a little surprised. "But good to hear, in this case. And certainly, we can plan to get started a little earlier than usual. Say, just before dawn?"

Once the time is agreed upon for the next day's briefing Roderus turns you loose to finish out the rest of the evening as you see fit. Whether you spend it helping Dougle clean up the aftermath of the party, relaxing, or making preparations of your own the hour eventually begins to grow late and so you're all shown upstairs to your rooms for the night...
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So for funsies, here's a layout of the area where you're sleeping tonight. It might be fun for you to place yourselves in whichever room you want to be in and detail your going-to-bed routine. Y'know. Just because.

Iovo helps with the cleanup, then heads up to the room.

She organizes her pack, making sure to have everything ready for the morning. Being the careful type, she does check the doors and windows of the room. She also puts her vital equipment under the pillow of her bed -- her spellbook, arcane bond, a potion of invisibility, money pouch, thieves tools and a dagger.

The rest of her equipment is neatly laid next to the bed.

She washes up and then retires for the evening.

As a reminder, being a diviner Iovo always gets to act in a surprise round. Forewarned.

Kleines helps clean up, carrying boxes of empty bottles and bags of trash out to the garbage. When everything is done, he retires to the middle room, his glaives leaned up in the corner and his armor and pack slung over a chair by the table.

Phinellippa takes careful notes of all the new words that she learned at the party, then washes up and goes to bed in the same room as Iovo and Damiar. With an unclaimed bed, the Amazing CoCo quickly build up a nest out of the blankets and settles in for the night.

Damiar shakes herself and mutters, "Do you ever feel like you haven't been yourself for weeks? That's what I feel like. I feel kind of like I have been walking around in a daze."

Before going to bed, she asks Roderus, "Is Zig going to be safe where he is? I want him to get the best legal counsel. Is there any chance I can see him before bedtime?"

Rees props his bow up in the corner opposite his bed, sets his dagger on the nightstand beside him, and yawns. Seeing Kleines remove his armor, the tall emerald-eyed elf frowns thoughtfully for a moment and takes a step toward his bed before sighing softly and removing his own armor. Doesn't mean I think I'm safe, but he'd be sure to report me if I left it on after he removed his. He'd probably think I don't trust him, instead of just... all of them.

Slightly Earlier

"Is Zig going to be safe where he is? I want him to get the best legal counsel. Is there any chance I can see him before bedtime?"

Roderus looks thoughtful. "Hmm...yes, I believe you should still have some time to pay young Zig a visit this evening. He would have been taken to the Council Hall and Gaol Block over in the Lower City - it's the same district as what houses the Kotargo Lodge."

Garif joins Rees and Kleines in getting ready for bed in their shared room. He sets his armor and other gear on the table and falls into the nearest bed, quite tired after the party last night and the misadventures of the day. Nico jumps onto the bed at Garif's feet and begins to monopolize the space, spreading out and slowly, inexorably pushing Garif towards the edge of the bed.

Unable to sleep comfortably with the fear of being pushed onto the floor, Garif realizes there is an empty bed nearby. Judging that Nico is likely too sound asleep to notice, Garif slips quietly to the other bed and crawls under the covers, quite content to be able to spread out. He sighs deeply and drifts off to sleep.

Slight Diversion Before Bedtime

The Council Hall and Gaol Block in the city of Katapesh is a walled compound standing atop a low bluff overlooking the Lower City. Damiar recalls that it used to be known as Aktep Keep and was the estate of Massein Aktep, an extremely wealthy businessman in Katapesh. When he was involved in a huge scandal, in 4701 AR, implicating him for tax evasion, fraud, and murdering of several prominent guildmasters, the Pactmasters seized all of his holdings and turned his expansive personal dungeon into the city's new gaol - where he is currently imprisoned. His estate was converted into the Council Hall where the city's guildmasters and other officials now meet. It also houses the barracks for the Zephyr Guard, a group of humanoids that act as the Pactmasters' presences on the city's streets.

When Damiar - and anyone who might've accompanied her - asks to speak with Zig the guard at the front desk gives her a funny look and then shrugs. "For a goblin, that one sure is popular - you're the second person (or group) that's come to see him since he was brought in."

After going through a routine screening process she's shown into a small room with a small table and two chairs. A few minutes later a manacled Zig shuffles into the room, with a guard close behind. The little goblin's face is red, blotchy, and tear-streaked but he manages the tiniest of smiles when he realizes who this new visitor is.

"M-Miss Damiar came to see Zig? I honored..."
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Since this happens before everyone beds down for the night anyone else who might've wanted to go with Damiar can have done so and is present for the above as well.

"And I brought my sister, Iovo. Oh Zig, have they hurt you?" Damiar takes Zig's hands, then considers. "Wait. Who else has been here to see you tonight?"

Much to Damiar and Iovo's relief, Zig shakes his head. "N-no, they not hurt Zig. Just l-laugh and say I too dumb to p-poison anyone...say someone else m-made Zig do it..."

He sniffles. "Not me! I not p-p-poison anyone, honest!"

Zig awkwardly reaches down and wipes his face against his shoulder as best as he can. Under other circumstances it would probably be rather off-putting but in this case it just makes the young goblin seem that much more pitiful.

"Um, f-family come to visit Zig. Uncle Frick, Uncle Frack, and Uncle Flick," he answers. "They w-wanted to know why Zig here. They were really m-mad...oh, b-but not at me! Said they knew Zig framed, said they'd f-fix whoever f-framed Zig..."

“I believe you are innocent, Zig.” Iovo assures him.

“Good, I am glad your family will help. If they visit again, please have them check on your cousin Lobda — make sure she is safe. It is possible the man she was working for is involved in this. We just need to find proof!”

“Can you think of anyone that might have bumped into you? Perhaps caused you to spill something and then helped you pick it up?”

If he says no

“Who first accused you, and who found the vial on you?”

"Can you think of anyone that might have bumped into you? Perhaps caused you to spill something and then helped you pick it up?"

Zig shakes his head. "No, not that I remember. It got real busy. You and friends poofed but Dougle said you had other job to do so rest of us had to work harder. Vinius poofed too, not sure where she went but Dougle said she didn't like people and parties much anyway. And bards were singing and playing so they not able to help either. Zig gave out so many drinks and foods, made head spin!"

"Who first accused you, and who found the vial on you?"

"Um...one of other Pathfinders. Dwarf, but not know name. After bards got sick he said he saw bottle sticking out of pocket. And, and, bottle was there but I not put it there! Not mine, not Zig's! Zig don't know about poison and sick-making things!"

"It is pretty easy for someone with the training to slip something like that into someone else's pocket, Zig."

Iovo asks Zig for as good a description as he can give of the dwarf.

"It may take a little bit of time, but we should be able to get you free Zig. We just need to find some proof of who really killed the troupe."

Iovo is ready to return to Roderus's lodge when Damiar is.

"You have friends, Zig, and we'll do our best to find who framed you! I think that Iovo and I have a dwarf to find in the morning."

Damiar says her goodbyes to the prisoner, and returns with her sister Iovo to bed down for the night.

"Th-thank you...you all super nice to Zig...hope can repay some day," Zig snuffles as you say your goodbyes and head back to the Winding Road Inn. By the time Damiar and Iovo return it's well and truly time to get some rest - it's been a long, busy day. And so everyone settles in for the night.

...

....

.....

You're not sure how much time has passed but everyone suddenly finds themselves awake as the sound of frantic tapping can be heard.

*taptaptaptaptap*

And then, voices. Hushed but emphatic, they follow the tapping, as if the speakers are trying to be heard without being too loud. They speak in broken Common, from somewhere outside your windows.

"Wake up! Wake up! Big men with big knives come for you! Kill you! Wake up!"

Round 1

Iovo (Mage Armor)
Damiar
Rees
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Voices Outside Your Windows
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Garif + Nico
Phinellippa
Kleines

Active Conditions:

Environmental Conditions:

Iovo, Damiar and Rees are UP!

Winding Road Inn (Second Floor)

Iovo vaults out of the bed, grabbing her bag of critical gear.

She looks towards the window, trying to see who is giving them the warning.

I don’t think I would have Mage Armor yet since I get it off a wand and the duration is only 1 hour,

Rees stands from his bed, wiping the sleep out of his eyes with one hand as he grabs his dagger with the other. Stand, pick up dagger.

Damiar gets up out of bed and starts to sing!

♬ They're coming!
Big men and big knives
Get ready to fightfor our li-i-ives! ♬

Stand, Inspire Courage

@Iovo - Ah yes, I forget you use a wand. Tracker adjusted.

Iovo, Damiar, and Rees are first out of bed and on their feet; Iovo and Rees immediately reach for gear and weapons while Damiar strikes up a catchy tune.

*KRRSHH!*

The glass windows shatter and the curtains fly back as the visitors outside kick through the windows! Even in the moonlight Iovo and anyone looking can see that your saviors appear to be...goblins! A goblin hangs outside of each window from a rope, having apparently rappelled down from the roof above. They grip their ropes with one hand while in the other, they hold light crossbows.

"We help!"

"Save you from the big knives!"

"Here to kick booty and chew bubblegum! And we alllll out of bubblegum!"
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Round 1

Iovo
Damiar
Rees
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Goblin Friends
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Garif + Nico
Phinellippa
Kleines

Active Conditions: Inspire Courage +2/+2

Environmental Conditions:

Garif + Nico, Phinellippa and Kleines are UP!

Winding Road Inn (Second Floor)

I feel sorry for the one goblin crashing into an empty room!

"Excellent! Thank you for the warning and the aid!"

Phinellippa gets out of the bed and grabs her spell component bag. The Amazing CoCo wakes up and starts cawing, waking the whole inn up!

Phinellippa also springs out of bed, hand reaching for her spell components, as Coco decides to raise the roof! And Iovo expresses her thanks for the timely intervention.
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Round 1

Iovo
Damiar
Rees
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Goblin Friends
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Garif + Nico
Phinellippa
Kleines

Active Conditions: Inspire Courage +2/+2

Environmental Conditions:

Garif + Nico and Kleines are UP!

Winding Road Inn (Second Floor)

Kleines grabs his glaive and hops out of bed.

Though a tiny bit slower on the draw than some of the others, Kleines is still quick to clamber out of bed and grab his glaive as the sound of goblin yells and breaking glass fills the air. GarifBot and NicoBot follow suit as well, the dwarf reaching for his sling as his feline companion leaps off the bed, teeth bared.
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Round 2

Iovo
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???????
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Damiar
Rees
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Goblin Friends
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Garif + Nico
Phinellippa
Kleines

Active Conditions: Inspire Courage +2/+2

Environmental Conditions: Dim Light (20% Miss Chance)

Iovo is UP!

Winding Road Inn (Second Floor)

Iovo grabs her wand of Mage Armor, uses it on herself, drops the wand on her bed, and steps to beside the doorway.

Stealth to position where I will not be immediately visible as they force the door open: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

Iovo hastily makes use of her wand to give herself some extra protection before melding into the shadows just to the side of the door, ready for anything. And sure enough, moments later there's a thunderous crashing as the doors to the block of rooms where you're staying are unceremoniously kicked open to reveal hooded thugs! Two of them rush into the room where the ladies are staying while a third barges into the gents' room; all three holding small bags in their hangs and all threem seem surprised to find you awake and ready for them! And down at the far end...

"Hey, there's no one in here!" calls a fourth voice.

Neither Red nor Green seem to see Iovo as they instead focus their attention on Damiar and Phinellippa. They fling the bags in their hands at their respective targets, one at the elf and one at the gnome...

Red vs. Concealment (20% Miss; Low is Bad for Me): 1d100 ⇒ 76
Red vs. Damiar (Tanglefoot Bag; Ranged Touch): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Green vs. Concealment (20% Miss; Low is Bad for Me): 1d100 ⇒ 37
Green vs. Phinellippa (Tanglefoot Bag; Ranged Touch): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

...but both bags miss their targets by miles, randomly splatting against the wall and erupting into sticky piles of goo. Next door, Orange takes one look at Nico and yelps as he flings the bag in his hand at the panther.

"Holy shit they've got a lion or something in here! I need some backup!"

Orange vs. Concealment (20% Miss; Low is Bad for Me): 1d100 ⇒ 43
Orange vs. Nico (Tanglefoot Bag; Ranged Touch): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

He fares no better and his sticky bag falls short of his target. Rapidly approaching footsteps can be heard and then a second thug rushes into the gents' room, ready to give his ally some assistance.
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Round 2

Iovo (Mage Armor)
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Pike Assassin Red
Pike Assassin Green
Pike Assassin Orange
Pike Assassin Blue
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Damiar
Rees
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Goblin Friends
==============
Garif + Nico
Phinellippa
Kleines

Active Conditions: Inspire Courage +2/+2

Environmental Conditions: Dim Light (20% Miss Chance)

Damiar and Rees are UP!

Winding Road Inn (Second Floor)

Rees spares a glare for the new arrivals before striding across the room and grabbing his bow from the corner! Move, pick up bow. DM, you okay with assuming his quiver is attached to the bow (such that he can pick up both with one action)?

Damiar five-foot steps and shoots at Green. ”So nice to have friends to help!”. She nods to the goblins.

Magic +1 Long Bow + I.C.+PBS: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 8 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 17
Piercing Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 1 + 2 = 9

@Rees - That's fine!

As all heck breaks loose there's a slight blip in the timestream as time reverses back to the point where Orange rushed into the gents' room whereupon he gets himself ganked by a waiting Kleines and never gets to throw his tanglefoot bag at Nico. Then time rights itself just in time for Rees to move and grab his bow and for Damiar to plant an arrow in Green's chest! Green doesn't fall, but he sure looks like he's about to.

"Yeehaw!" cheers the goblin hanging outside Damiar & Co's room. He raises the light crossbow in his hand and fires at Green...

Goblin vs. Green (Light Crossbow; IC): 1d20 + 6 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 6 - 2 + 2 = 19
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

...and finishes what Damiar started as the bolt strikes the thug in the stomach, dropping him!

"ONE FOR ME! SORTA!" the goblin bellows, clearly proud of himself.

Over in the next room, the second goblin also raises his crossbow and takes aim at Blue...

Goblin vs. Blue (Light Crossbow; IC): 1d20 + 6 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 6 - 2 + 2 = 23
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

...and sinks the bolt into Blue's thigh!

"Reeheehee, they squishy!"

And from somewhere further down the hall...

"AWW, NO ONES HERE! NOT FAIR!"
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Round 2

Iovo (Mage Armor)
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Pike Assassin Red
Pike Assassin Blue (-7)
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Damiar
Rees
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Goblin Friends
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Garif + Nico
Phinellippa
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????
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Kleines

Active Conditions: Inspire Courage +2/+2

Environmental Conditions: Dim Light (20% Miss Chance)

Garif & Nico and Phinellippa are UP!

Winding Road Inn (Second Floor)

Phinellippa, spell components in hand, tosses a trio of magic missiles at the intruder!

magic missile!: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (3, 1) + 2 = 6

Garif hustles - as much as a sleepy dwarf can hustle - across the room towards his gear, calling out to Nico to attack the thug in the doorway!

Garif would not have had his sling nearby, since he set everything on the table. But he could have used some of his actions in the previous round to get to the table, so it probably comes out about the same.

Nico bounds forward and bites at the thug in the doorway! Unfortunately, the great cat is still rather sleepy, and his teeth close on empty air.

Move up, bite!

Bite, Inspire: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 8 + 1 = 12
Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 1 = 10

Phinellippa flings a couple of small magical missiles at Red Thug, leaving him with two small, burning holes in his torso! Next door, Garif hustles towards his gear while ordering Nico to attack the other intruder. The panther dutifully bounds up and snaps at Blue but does indeed miss as the man pulls leg away just in time.

From out in the hallway the sound of rapidly-approaching footsteps can be heard just before another thug comes barreling into the ladies' room, this one either a halfling or gnome based on their stature.

"Now youse guys better just come quietly, ya hear?" he calls out, brandishing the short sword in his hand. He doesn't seem to see Iovo just to the side of the door.
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Round 2/Round 3

Iovo (Mage Armor)
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Pike Assassin Red (-6)
Pike Assassin Blue (-7)
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Damiar
Rees
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Goblin Friends
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Garif + Nico
Phinellippa
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Pike Lieutenant
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Kleines

Active Conditions: Inspire Courage +2/+2

Environmental Conditions: Dim Light (20% Miss Chance)

Kleines is UP at the bottom of Round 1 and Iovo is UP at the top of Round 2!

Winding Road Inn (Second Floor)

Iovo reaches down for her rapier, then gives her reply to the gnome. Unfortunately she still isn’t very good at this whole melee thing.

Attack w/MW Rapier, inspire courage vs Red: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 1 = 10
Rapier damage, inspire courage, sneak attack: 1d6 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 1 + (1) = 4

“I am much quieter than you. I think you should surrender to me!”

Iovo attempts to get the drop on this newest arrival as she steps up behind him and tries to shank him in the kidneys but the little bugger proves surprisingly evasive! But at least she does get the satisfaction of seeing him just about jump out of his skin as she announces her presence.
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Round 2/Round 3

Iovo (Mage Armor)
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Pike Assassin Red (-6)
Pike Assassin Blue (-7)
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Damiar
Rees
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Goblin Friends
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Garif + Nico
Phinellippa
==============
Pike Lieutenant Yellow
==============
Kleines

Active Conditions: Inspire Courage +2/+2

Environmental Conditions: Dim Light (20% Miss Chance)

Kleines is UP at the bottom of Round 1!

Winding Road Inn (Second Floor)

Kleines, worried about the shouting from the room next door, takes a mighty swing at the intruder in the doorway.

+1 adam. glaive, power attack: 1d20 + 11 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 11 - 2 = 13
damage: 1d10 + 10 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 10 + 6 = 22
Dim light concealment (1-20 misses): 1d100 ⇒ 25

I doubt that hit, but if it by some miracle dropped him, Kleines will move out of the room and towards the fight next door.

Worried for his friends Kleines tries to finish off Blue and takes a mighty swing with his glaive, but the thug ducks the blow. Blue seems to realize that he's in trouble and takes a swing at Nico with a short sword...

Blue vs. Concealment (20% Miss; Low is Bad for Me): 1d100 ⇒ 80
Blue vs. Nico (Short Sword): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

...and misses!

Next door, Red wheels about at the scuffling behind him and spots Iovo. "Hey, where'd YOU come from!?" He pulls out a sap and attempts to clock her upside the head with it...

Red vs. Concealment (20% Miss; Low is Bad for Me): 1d100 ⇒ 26
Red vs. Iovo (Sap): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

...but whiffs it as well!

"Boss, they're stronger than they look! What do we do!?"
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Round 3

Iovo (Mage Armor)
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Pike Assassin Red (-6)
Pike Assassin Blue (-7)
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Damiar
Rees
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Goblin Friends
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Garif + Nico
Phinellippa
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Pike Lieutenant Yellow
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Kleines

Active Conditions: Inspire Courage +2/+2

Environmental Conditions: Dim Light (20% Miss Chance)

Damiar and Rees are UP!

Winding Road Inn (Second Floor)

"You could try not disturbing our sleep...tends to make even the most cheerful of us grumpy."

Which one said the line about hey boss?

That was Red :)

Putting Damiar & Rees on Delay for the moment.

While Damiar and Rees continue to gather their wits the goblins continue to aid you. One of them comes up the hallway, behind Blue, and fires their crossbow...

Goblin vs. Blue (Light Crossbow): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

"GHGK!"

...and drops him!

"Damn!" Yellow swears as the sound of another ally falling can be heard in the next room. "This ain't worth our lives! Make like a tree and get outta here!"

And with that, the two remaining thugs turn and flee back the way they came.

Combat Over!
______________

You can chase down the two fleeing thugs if you want but the battle is, thankfully, ended.

"Do we chase them, sister?" Damiar asks.

Iovo moves to where Green fell, to check if they are still alive.

As she does so, she gestures to the goblin outside the window and says "Come in! Thanks for the help!"

While Iovo checks on the fallen Green, who is still alive but slowly bleeding out, the goblin hanging outside of the window swings inside and nimbly drops to the ground. He grins broadly.

"We help! You are welcome!"

Then, his expression grows serious. "But we not just come with warning but with request! Father wants to meet you, talk about Zig and Phlegos Dulm and all the nasty poisonings!"

"Yes, yes," the second goblin in the hallway adds as he ambles over to peek his head in the door. "Father sent us, he did. Sent us to deliver in-vi-ta-tion to you. But also said to be careful, that our enemy might send men to kill you. And he was right!"

“Still alive, but bleeding out. They used non-lethal attacks, would be a shame to have him die.” Iovo says as she looks at Green. She had heard you are supposed to put pressure on the wound, so she tries that.
Heal for first aid: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (15) + 0 = 15

It might be luck or maybe the wound wasn’t that bad, but the bleeding stops.

“I’m Iovo, pleased to meet all of you. I’m guessing you are all relatives of Zig and Lobda.”

“When did he want to meet with us?”

Garif, finally armed for the fight just as it ends, scratches his beard sleepily. "Just when I think I've seen all the possible ways Pathfinders might get invited to a meeting," he muses aloud, "a bunch of goblins defend us from thugs in the middle of the night, then invite us to meet their dad."

Ambling over to join Iovo in the conversation, he asks the chatty goblins, "Who is your father? What's his interest in all of this?"