Why Can't Fighters Have Nice Hobgoblins? Ironfang Invasion

Game Master Stalwart

Bump just to remind you all. Jie and Amkarang I meed you actions.

Amkarang tries to lash his chain around the ankle of the hobgoblin to trip it.

Trip Attempt: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

I would bot Jie for now. If the player comes back, great. But we need to sustain momentum. Like a daily or every-other-day expectation.

Agreed. If after 3 days someone doesn’t post they should be botted.

The lead hobgoblin cries out as Amkarang swipes her feet from under her, and she lands on her back. She tries to swing at Benedict as she stumbles up, provoking from those around her. She was truly trying to overpower you all.

Hitting that Cleverman: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Damage if it hits: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

AoO: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Damage: 2d4 + 10 ⇒ (1, 3) + 10 = 14

The hobgoblin leader stumbled, and Grum stepped forward to try and take advantage. However, he stumbled as he did so, and almost dropped his blade in the process!

Jie swings her longsword at the hobgoblin as it stumbles back up and Feng also tries to strike with his hooves.
AOO with Longsword: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Damage Longsword: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
AOO with Feng: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Hoof damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Both attacks miss but then she starts to attack in ernest
Longsword: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Damage Longsword: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Feng: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Hoof damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Feng: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Hoof damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Crit confirmation on longsword attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Crit damage longsword: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

She joins in with Benedict's war cry, adding in "For the Postal Authority!" for good measure.

If it still lives, he'll attack on his turn (one-handed now).
Scimitar, Alter Self: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 1 = 19
damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Hit with flank?: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 5 + 2 = 14
Damage: 2d4 + 10 ⇒ (2, 2) + 10 = 14

With a steady grip on his blade, Grum tried to position himself in a way where he could swing without hitting his comrades as they surrounded the hobgoblin.

All gathered strike at the same time, and all feel the pain as their blades slice through the last remaining hobgoblin, only to encounter each other. The top half of the hobgoblin slides to the side, and a few beats later the rest of the body collapses, with no sound being made. However, a few seconds after the sound of battle end, the group could hear talking in common, coming from the area near where Benedict first talked to the guards.

Benedict moves to the caravan wagon. He ends Alter Self and shifts back to his Aasimar form.
"Who's there? I am Benedict. I'm here to help."

Fighting the urge to laugh in victory, Grum busies himself seeing what he can loot from the bodies.

¨Hm, Common. Probably not hobs then,¨ Amkarang notes to himself as he follows Benedict. He keeps his hold on his meteor hammer, although not in a combat stance.

Turning the corner, the group minus Grum encounter 5 wagons, all pulled by slightly tired and ragged looking mules. 4 of the wagons looked to be standard supply wagons, filled with dry food stuffs and other items needed for a long campaign. However, the last one held a number of prisoners, some you would recognize as local farmers and trappers.

One of the prisoners pushes to the front of the cage. " 'Ello? Monsieur Benedict? We would be most grateful if you would open zis cage and let us out! It eez quite cramped in here!" she says with a lilting Andoran accent.

"Yes, I can help you."
Benedict opens the wagon with the prisoners and begins helping people out.
"We are sheltering a number of refugees from Phaendar. However, we've had a bad experience with a Molthuni spy, so I'll need you all to tell us honestly where you were from and how you were captured. If you were a brigand, a vagabond, or a scoundrel, know that we are all on the same side against the hobgoblins, but you have to tell us NOW. No lies."
As each of the prisoners tell their tale, Benedict will use Sense Motive, taking 10 for a 17. If any other PCs want to make their own checks that would be welcome.

On the other wagons... JACKPOT! Should be a good number of Provision Points.

The woman who spoke, a lithe figure with braided chestnut hair, steps out of the cage and stretches, reveling in her freedom. When she hears the word Mothune, she spits on the ground. "Feh! I am Andoran! I am 'ere in Nirmathas to help fight against the Molthuni dogs. Ze 'obgoblins were a surprise, I must say."

She starts going through the packs on the other wagons. "I am Amélie L'Ovre, and I am neither brigand, vagabond, nor scoundrel. I traveled here with zis caravan since Druma. Aha!" Finding what she was looking for, Amélie holds up a curved bow triumphantly.

"Zese 'obgoblins ambushed us four days ago and brought us zis far. Zey spoke of enslaving us. So I thank you for ze rescue."

semse motive: 1d20 ⇒ 9
Jie rides Feng around the wagons, doing a quick reconnoiter to check for hobgoblin stragglers. She rides up to the prisoners and Benedict once she is finished. "I don't see any more goblinoids." she tells Benedict as she smiles at the prisoners, some of which she remember delivering mail to. She starts to look the mules over to see what shape they are in.
handle anial: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

As they look over the prisoners, some in better health than others, the group would be very pleased that they have roughly 20 new provision points. A few wagons full of goods should last them awhile, as it seems from some of the other prisoners talking that new of the attack on Phaendar has not moved far away at all, if any. The attack was a complete surprise, but left a few questions on what happened to some of the outlying farms now, since none of the supplies in the wagons were local.

As Benedict questions the prisoners, he tries to get a sense of their capabilities. You said some were trappers? That would be great, we need more NPCs with Survival. If the farmers don't have Survival, well I guess they'll be on herding duty.

"You all are welcome to join us. Each one of you is another mouth to feed, so each must do their part. It is the Nirmathi way. The four of us are trained warriors and have hurt the enemy. This may mean they come for us eventually, so any of you with militia training will be given weapons and armor. I cannot promise you absolute safety, but I promise that we will defend you and that we will strike back against these invaders."

How many are there besides Amélie? Can you add them to the list of NPCs in the Campaign Info tab?

Amélie claims a couple packs, one of which clearly has an Andoran crest sewn upon it. She also pulls a quiver of arrows that has several different colors of fletching off of one of the hobgoblins. Finally, she pulls out a polearm ending in a single-edged blade.

"I feel much better now!" she announces, planting the butt of the glaive in the ground. "I welcome ze chance to fight with you all. I served in ze Andoran defense force and grew tired of waiting for an attack from Cheliax--" she spits on the ground-- "zat may never come in my lifetime. So, I came 'ere."

She looks at her rescuers. "What are your names?"

Grum saunters up carrying the bloody loot he had collected. ”Killing hobknobs, fun and profitable!” He comes just in time to hear Amelie. ”Name’s Grum.”

Jie dismounts from Feng and leads him over to Amelie. "I'm Chang Jie, but Chang is my family name, so just call me Jie. And this is Feng" She motions over to heavy warhorse near her, feeding him an apple. "We were in Phaendar when the hobgoblins attacked. Did any of your captors talk about what they want?"

Amkarang slings his meteor hammer over his shoulder before extending a large hand, "The name is Amkarang. Amkarang the Unsinkable to some. It's a long story behind it, though I wouldn't mind telling it under lighter circumstances."

"And I am Benedict. We should get back to camp and make shelters for the night."
I had meant to post back before the ambush started that while we were waiting for late afternoon to roll around we could have been building shelters. Is that possible?

Very possible, just give me some rolls for it and when you make it back to camp i'll update you on the progress made/lost.

Okay.
"If a shelter option isn’t immediately available, a character can construct a temporary shelter sufficient for one Medium-sized creature or two Small-sized creatures with a successful DC 15 Survival check and 1 hour’s work; for every 2 points by which this result exceeds 15, the shelter can accommodate one additional Medium creature or two additional Small-sized creatures."
Maybe we had about four hours before we set out for the ambush site?
Survival: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20 Shelter for 3
Survival: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9 Nothing
Survival: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16 Shelter for 1
Survival: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28 Shelter for 7
So Benedict's shelters can take 11 people, if he had four hours to work.

Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 He jacked that one up good
Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15 Better!
Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23 Grum declares it a masterpiece and refuses to work any more

"Zhat sounds good," Amélie agrees.

She lends assistance in finishing the shelters that are already in the process of being built.

Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Assist, so add +2 to one of those rolls.

Benedict applauds the craftsmanship on Castle Grum.

Grum is inordinately pleased.

You all get the feeling that from the regal way Castle Grum was built, it has given hope and 5 additional provision points to the group. Along with the wagons of supplies, a few of the people start talking about possibly just living in and off the forest as a new home, but you remember there were still some small farms to check out. However, it was mid day, and no one was sure how far off this places would be.

"What shall we do now?" Amélie asks. "Ze 'obgoblins were taking us to a place called Phaendar. It sounded like zere were many slaves in zat place. Should we go to Phaendar to free zem?"

Grum chuckled. ”No. We should get the abyss out of here. A band like us against a hobknob army? We’d just be delivering more slaves to them.”

"An army? Where did ze 'obgoblins get an army?" Amélie asks with genuine puzzlement.

"We took down the bridge going to Phaendar, so that should slow down any slave raiding parties going out of there. We rescued as many civilians as we could, and haven't forgotten the rest, but we need a more secure shelter as our base of operations. We also need to figure out how they made a giant black tower appear in the middle of Phaendar... didn't think hobgoblins liked sorcery.
Anyway, as to more permanent shelters, those caves that Jie knows about could be good. We'd need to search these woods over the next few days to stock up on supplies before we go hunting for the caves. Any abandoned farms, or that apple orchard with the wasps once we get some swarmsuits made."

"Oh, my. I'll follow your lead, zhen." She steps back, pondering what she's learned.

Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Jie also works building shelters. After finishing and marveling at 'Castle Grum' she suggests. "Perhaps we have time to scout the area."

Find it hilarious that castle Grum was a 19, but both of you got 20s. If we keep this up though we are going to accidentally build a log cabin

People just really liked the way Grum swings his axe.

Amkarang sets to work at making shelters. His first collapses quite spectacularly. The second and third come out alright, but not terrifically. The last one, while significantly better, doesn't manage to surpass the magnificence of Castle Grum.
Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

While not knowing how many new militia members we have nor their Survival skills, we should have enough shelters for everyone tonight. It's 31 spots by my count plus whatever our NPCs can do.

GM, I believe we are all waiting on you to move things along.
The supply train raid was late afternoon or evening, so we went back to camp and finished temporary shelters. Is there anything else to attend to or can we turn in for the night?
Or are you waiting for Paizo to give you control over the Campaign Info tab? I am waiting on that for a game I have taken over.

Benedict addresses the new refugees.

"Here's our camp, at least for now. You'll need to work. If you can forage or hunt or build shelters, that will be your job in the immediate future. If you can herd animals, we are still gathering up some of the livestock from Phaendar. If you can fight, we'll equip you. If you have any skill at magic, we have some needs in that area too.
You probably know Jet from the Taproot Inn, Kining Blondebeard the smith, Rhyna from the shrine, and of course Aubrin the Green.
We'd like you to take turns helping out with watches in the night. Any who can see in the dark are best to take the midnight shifts along with Grum or me."

If there is nothing else, he will eat some food and then turn in, resting up for his shift on watch.

I was waiting, but when i'm home tonight i'll move ya'll on. Can't wait forever. I will say you dont have time for much of anything exploring wise, but can talk and interact amongst yourselves if you wish.

Jie makes sure the animals are being well tended. "I can see fairly well in the dark." she remarks and will take the last shift of the night so she can welcome the dawn.

anything happen tonight?: 1d100 ⇒ 91

During the night, one of the guards make an alert to something, or someone approaching camp. When you go to investigate, you find hoofprints, but nothing else. Whoever the riders where left before you got there, but from the position and numbers you know it could be any number of horse riding creatures, but was only 5, unless they hide their numbers. Nothing else of note happens through the night.

Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Jie looks over the tracks, trying to determine if she could follow them, but soon loses them in the brush.

Survival: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Benedict also looks at the tracks, but can't determine any more than Jie.
"We should be on our guard today in case they come back. We'll need to move again soon. It would use up all of our windfall from the supply train to spend a day moving instead of working, but we could do it.
Should we spend today helping replenish our supplies? Or explore the area more?"

Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

”Can’t say much by these tracks. But we did kill hobknobs recently, so we should be moving. More may come Investigating.”

Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

Amélie studies the tracks as well. She thinks a bit, then asks, "'Ave you seen ze 'obgoblins use horses much? I wonder if zis was from someone else."

She shrugs, deciding to follow the lead of her rescuers. They certainly knew the land better and the nature of the threat.