Why Can't Fighters Have Nice Hobgoblins? Ironfang Invasion

Game Master Stalwart

Benedict moves up and attacks, fighting cautiously Provokes an AOO, against AC 31. I don't think the CE bonus to AC applies vs the AOO since he hasn't attacked yet at that point.
Benedict Attack, Deific Obedience, CE: 1d20 + 21 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 21 + 1 - 4 = 20
Damage: 1d10 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

Haela moves up and attacks Also provokes if it has Combat Reflexes, and AC 31. If it hits her, she will apply Dwarven Seething for a +4 Dodge against it for the remainder of the combat.

Haela Attack, PA, Blood for the Empire: 1d20 + 18 - 3 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 18 - 3 + 3 = 25
Damage: 1d10 + 8 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 8 + 6 + 3 = 26

Once they are in position, their defenses are better. AC 37 for Benedict (+4 CE, +2 Lastwall Phalanx) and AC 33 for Haela (+2 Lastwall Phalanx, but another +4 to 37 if it has hit her at least once).

1 longbow +20/+15/+10 with point-blank shot, deadly aim (1d8+14/x3/30' range)

Aerel slips forward past William between the arcane fighter's shots in a practiced maneuver and lines up a shot of his own.

Shot with Point-Blank Shot and Deadly Aim: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (11) + 20 = 31

Damage: 1d8 + 5 + 1 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 1 + 8 = 19

Hit: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (18) + 25 = 43
Damage with electricity and fire: 1d10 + 1d6 + 1d4 + 33 ⇒ (4) + (6) + (3) + 33 = 46

Iterative: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (3) + 16 = 19
Damage with electricity and fire: 1d10 + 1d6 + 1d4 + 33 ⇒ (1) + (2) + (2) + 33 = 38

Iterative: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24
Damage with electricity and fire: 1d10 + 1d6 + 1d4 + 33 ⇒ (9) + (1) + (3) + 33 = 46

Happily in his element, Grum continued hacking away. Seeing claws and fangs lunge at him caused a burst of mad laughter to spill forth, as he met the savagery in kind.

AoO vs Benedict: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (5) + 19 = 24

AoO vs Haela: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (19) + 17 = 36
Damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

The melee combatants move forward, with Haela taking a bite from the fiendish gug. It weathers the incoming attacks, then unleashes its full attack against the celestial warrior!

Bite Benedict: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (8) + 19 = 27
Claw Benedict: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (11) + 19 = 30
Claw Benedict: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (5) + 19 = 24
Claw Benedict: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (5) + 19 = 24
Claw Benedict: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (13) + 19 = 32

None of its attacks get through.

Finish it!

I think you skipped William's turn. No harm done, as the Gug did not land a hit on its turn.

Benedict finally gives up on defense and goes all-out in attacking the Gug.

Attack, Deific Obedience, PA: 1d20 + 21 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 21 + 1 - 4 = 35
Damage: 1d10 + 11 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 11 + 12 = 27

Secondary: 1d20 + 16 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 16 + 1 - 4 = 18
Damage: 1d10 + 11 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 11 + 12 = 28

Tertiary: 1d20 + 11 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 11 + 1 - 4 = 11
Damage: 1d10 + 11 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 11 + 12 = 32

Only his first attack is a good swing.

Haela takes the hit from the Gug and recalls her Dwarven techniques for fighting giants, adapting them to fight this aberration.
Uses Dwarven Seething to apply the +4 Dodge bonus to AC from Defensive Training against the Gug. At 83/95 HP.

She follows Benedict with attacks of her own.
Attack, PA, Blood for the Empire: 1d20 + 18 - 3 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 18 - 3 + 3 = 35
Damage: 1d10 + 8 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 8 + 6 + 3 = 26

Iterative: 1d20 + 13 - 3 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 13 - 3 + 3 = 15
Damage: 1d10 + 8 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 8 + 6 + 3 = 19

William does what he can to finish off the creature. If it still stands

+2 Adaptive Goblinoid Bane Composite Longbow PBS MS RS DA AS 1: 1d20 + 21 + 1 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 21 + 1 - 2 - 4 = 27 Damage 1: 1d8 + 6 + 1 + 8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 1 + 8 + 3 = 26 Damage 2: 1d8 + 6 + 1 + 8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 1 + 8 + 3 = 20
+2 Adaptive Goblinoid Bane Composite Longbow PBS RS DA AS 2: 1d20 + 21 + 1 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 21 + 1 - 2 - 4 = 31 Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 1 + 8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 1 + 8 + 3 = 20
+2 Adaptive Goblinoid Bane Composite Longbow PBS RS DA AS 3: 1d20 + 16 + 1 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 16 + 1 - 2 - 4 = 25 Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 1 + 8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 1 + 8 + 3 = 24
+2 Adaptive Goblinoid Bane Composite Longbow PBS RS DA AS 4: 1d20 + 11 + 1 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 11 + 1 - 2 - 4 = 7 Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 1 + 8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 1 + 8 + 3 = 25

"Finish it, Grum and Aerel!"

Hit: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (9) + 25 = 34
Damage with electricity and fire: 1d10 + 1d6 + 1d4 + 33 ⇒ (5) + (2) + (1) + 33 = 41

Iterative: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (1) + 16 = 17
Damage with electricity and fire: 1d10 + 1d6 + 1d4 + 33 ⇒ (1) + (1) + (4) + 33 = 39

Iterative: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17
Damage with electricity and fire: 1d10 + 1d6 + 1d4 + 33 ⇒ (2) + (6) + (2) + 33 = 43

Few commands made Grum so happy. He attacked with gusto. Not so much with skill, but the passion was there!

Aerel takes the order to heart.

+1 Longbow RS DA MS: 1d20 + 23 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 23 - 2 - 4 = 18
Adamantine damage 1: 1d8 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22
Adamantine damage 2: 1d8 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21

+1 Longbow RS DA MS: 1d20 + 23 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (8) + 23 - 2 - 4 = 25
Adamantine damage: 1d8 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16

+1 Longbow RS DA MS: 1d20 + 23 - 5 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 23 - 5 - 2 - 4 = 30
Adamantine damage: 1d8 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22

+1 Longbow RS DA MS: 1d20 + 23 - 10 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 23 - 10 - 2 - 4 = 12
Adamantine damage: 1d8 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15

AoO vs Grum: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (11) + 17 = 28

The creature takes an ineffective swipe at Grum as the heroes of Phaendar combine to slay the last fiendish gug.

25,600 xp

Haela judges her wounds too minor to expend a use of her planar power, so she drinks one of the party's healing potions.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Now at 92/95 HP. Party Loot has 8 CLW and 13 CMW left. Haela has 6 uses of Healer's Hands left for the day (and can do Treat Deadly Wounds the slow way once per day per person as well).

Benedict searches the room for anything of interest.
Perception: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (4) + 25 = 29

A plaque on the outside of the chamber read "The Calm Menagerie," and from what Benedict can surmise there were some creatures stored in this place in some kind of magical stasis that have been devoured by the gugs. He finds nothing of value in this chamber.

A slight tremor can be felt in the earth. Haela's dwarven nature suspects that it's coming from the cavernous tunnel that lies beyond the wrecked wall of the menagerie.

Grum stood up and grinned, only to wince in pain. Only after the battle did he truly realize how hurt he was. "Haela." He said, pointing to the huge dent in his armor from where he had been struck. "Minding patching me up before we move on?"

Figure 60 wounds is the kind of time where healer's hands would be most useful

Haela is feeling quite pleased with herself, having done a very good impression of a stone wall alongside Benedict.

She channels the power of positive energy to heal Grum.
Healer's Hands #5 on Grum: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (17) + 18 = 35
Base 4*HD for 48, +2 Wis for hitting DC 25, +5 Frontier Healer trait, +10 for ranks in Planes for hitting DC 30 = 65 HP

His wounds close in a matter of seconds.

"A tremor in the cavern next door. Could be a creature, could be a cave-in about to happen."

She tries to gauge the stability of the room they are in - are there cracks in the ceiling indicating past damage from tremors, or does it look solid and intact?

Perception, Stonecunning?: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 8 + 2 = 22

"They really should have invested in an exterminator sooner. You think the tremor comes from that direction? I will try not to bring anything back while you're doctoring Grum."

With that, he disappears into the hallway beyond the Menagerie, watching and listening carefully to the right before turning left to see if the tunnel circumvents the rockfall in the hallway.

Perception to observe the tunnel for threats to the right: 1d20 + 32 ⇒ (19) + 32 = 51

Moving half-speed to maximize his stealth: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (6) + 25 = 31

Perception checking for traps as he moves forward: 1d20 + 32 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 32 + 6 = 40

William moves further into the room and keeps an eye on the hallway. He calls after Aerel "Don't get caught under a pile of rubble!"

Aerel initially sees nothing, though the rumbling intensifies causing small avalanches down the sides of the cavern and a light shower of rubble from overhead.

Then the ground literally explodes upwards as a monstrous shape bursts out of the loose earth!

Enemy: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (9) - 2 = 7
Grum: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20
Benedict: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
William: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Amkarang: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Aerel: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Haela: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

You're all up!

Knowledge (Dungeoneering), perhaps?: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

Aerel shouts, "Found it! It's not my fault! Right of the opening, it's a massive worm!" Based on the token, of course.

Action may be influenced by what he knows about it if that check was successful.

Benedict and Haela wait to see what Aerel does.

Just delaying until after Aerel. Don't have line of sight to the creature right now.

You need Knowledge (arcana) to properly identify this creature, but it definitely is a worm of some sort.

Aerel will back up the tunnel away from the worm, hoping to draw it from his friends, and fire an arrow at it.

Single shot with Deadly Aim: 1d20 + 23 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 23 - 4 = 38

Deadly Aim: 1d8 + 5 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 8 = 16

William moves to where he can see the creature and tries to identify it. He then fires an arrow at it.

Kn: Arcana: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (1) + 18 = 19

+2 Adaptive Goblinoid Bane Composite Longbow DA AS: 1d20 + 21 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 21 - 4 = 29 Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 8 + 3 = 24

Grum was confident that they would kill whatever came to face them. But to do so he had to be in arm’s reach. The warrior stood his ground with Benedict and Haela, ready to charge forth as a group once the threat revealed itself.

Benedict and Haela move to guard William.

Haela takes a single move, uses Total Defense, and enters Dwarven Hatred Style. She is AC 35, or 37 vs evil foes, and if she is hit she will apply Dwarven Seething as an immediate action for +4 AC vs that foe until she changes foes.

Benedict takes a single move and uses Total Defense. He is AC 37, or 39 vs evil foes.

William is unable to identify the gargantuan worm, but manages to sink an arrow into it. Aerel, as well, falls back down the tunnel while hitting it with an arrow.

His actions to draw it work a little too well, as the worm does in fact give chase! The whole chamber shudders as its segmented body covers the ground rapidly, then its head and mouth strike at the archer!

Bite: 1d20 + 27 ⇒ (6) + 27 = 33
Damage: 4d8 + 12 ⇒ (7, 2, 4, 1) + 12 = 26
Grab: 1d20 + 38 ⇒ (1) + 38 = 39

Aerel suffers a massive bite, but miraculously manages to avoid getting caught up in its maw!

You all are up!

Benedict takes Total Defense, and moves up drawing his dagger in his buckler hand. He tries to do his best to draw the worm's attention while avoiding its attacks. He was previously swallowed by a Behir and hopes to not repeat the experience, but he has the dagger in hand should it come to that.

It will get an AOO against his AC 37. If it does hit him, his CMD is 36 with Total Defense which means it Grapples him on anything but a 1. But if it is Grappling him, it won't get AOOs against anyone else, and if it misses him, hopefully it doesn't have Combat Reflexes so it still won't get AOOs against anyone else.

After Benedict moves up cautiously and does his best to take one for the team, Haela charges in to battle swinging her axe.

Attack, Charge, Blood for the Empire, PA: 1d20 + 18 + 2 + 3 - 3 ⇒ (15) + 18 + 2 + 3 - 3 = 35
Damage: 1d10 + 8 + 3 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 8 + 3 + 6 = 26

Left Grum a charge lane!

Aerel retreats away from the worm, silently thanking Old Deadeye for his intervention on that bite. He takes another shot, trying to hit anything that looks soft and vulnerable.

Single shot with Deadly Aim: 1d20 + 23 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 23 - 4 = 37

Deadly Aim, Adamantine arrow: 1d8 + 5 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 5 + 8 = 21

AoO Bite vs. Benedict: 1d20 + 27 ⇒ (11) + 27 = 38
Damage: 4d8 + 12 ⇒ (6, 6, 5, 5) + 12 = 34
Grab: 1d20 + 38 ⇒ (10) + 38 = 48

Benedict's approach is sensed by the monstrous worm, and since its first target managed to stay out of its jaws it goes for him! This time, the worm manages to seize its prey as Benedict finds himself trapped in its jaws!

"I've got its attention!"
Benedict is almost certainly getting swallowed on the worm's next turn. But it does count as Grappled for right now at least so that is -4 Dex to it. Hopefully will help Grum and William do a lot of damage.