DM-Camris' RotRLAnv 1: Burnt Offerings (Inactive)

Game Master Camris

Crossbow: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Wayland's shot is errant.

He shrugs and reloads.

Trig spat a Gnomish curse as two arrows got her. A quick look around showed that most of the goblins had fled or were dead. Trig reloads her heavy crossbow, spending her whole turn on it, and tries to meet eyes with the goblin and speaks to them in Goblin. "Think carefully. Surrender is the best outcome for you, Gob."

Intimidate check please.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Trig is having a really hard time handling the pain of the two arrows, apparently.

The goblin snarls at Trig and takes aim to stick the gnome one last time before it runs, but Shalelu is faster on the draw.

Attack v. Goblin: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 9 + 2 + 1 = 26
Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 2 = 6

The arrow slams into the goblin's shoulder and sends it spinning to the ground. With that, neither of the still living goblin archers are in any shape to fight and the surviving warchanter is well on its way back to Thistletop.

Combat over unless you want to pursue the lone runner.

So, what do you want to do? There are two badly injured, but still breathing goblins here with you and one goblin running for its life.

Lazur looks the way the warchanter went and says "We should probably hunt him down so he can't warn Thistletop, though these are not Thistletop goblins. Different symbols."

Kn: Local: 1d20 + 7 + 1d6 ⇒ (17) + 7 + (4) = 28

Heal: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

"These goblins are part of their own group. Look at them, they're not getting enough to eat. If they have anything to do with Thistletop, they've probably been kicked out of it. Though, hunger is a powerful motivator. If they go there and report about us, could get both food and revenge. That said, I'm not built for a chase. If you want it, you chase it."

Trig will stabilize the two badly injured goblins, but leave them unconscious.

Heal: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25
Heal: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26 No problemo

Wayland takes no notice of the dying goblins. He doesn't care about them one way or the other.

"These ones might be bein' used by the Thistletop goblins ta lure us inta an ambush if we chase them. I'm with Trig.
Thistletop is goin' ta know we're coming - we ain't all that stealthy. I expect they've got traps an' the like waitin' for us."

Agreed. They are probably going to know we are coming, and no matter what we try, all we can expect is ambushes

Morgrym steps back onto the roadway and picks up his bow.

He frowned at the idea of leaving the goblins, even unconcious just left behind but after a few thoughts realized it was probably the best thing to do. He certainly didnt feel comfortable killing them, even if they were little chaos beasts that were never any good. He merely adjusted his gear and put away his flail. He kept just a bit closer to Shalelu... in case there were further ambushes.

Shalelu looks over the goblins as Trig tends to the two survivors. "Licktoad goblins," she mutters. "What are they doing north of Sandpoint? Brinestump's to the south." The elven ranger ponders things for a moment.

"Anyone good at being scary," she asks all of you as quietly as she can. "I'd like to know why they're this far north and not back in the swamp. This isn't normal for goblins, and that worries me."

You now have two goblins that are stable. (They still had one HP, but both got knocked down there by single attacks.)

Lazur shakes his head to Shalelu and says "No but I can be really nice." He then switches to goblin and says "I've been chosen to argue for you to live. Shalelu is really hungry but is willing to trade your lives for the reason you are this far north and not back in the lovely swamp you come from."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 + 1d6 ⇒ (17) + 9 + (4) = 30

Bluff: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

Nice Rolls. To bad I cannot do intimidation, but I will do the mean impersonation if you need a bad guy to scare them. :)

While Lazur is asking question of the goblins, Morgrym takes the time and cleans off his axe and looks pointedly at the goblins.

Sorry all. I've been working through some personal stuff this weekend and it didn't really leave me in any state to post.

<<Goblin>>

<<SHALELU IS GONNA EAT US?!>> The goblins squawk in unison, all of the bluster gone as Lazur weaves his lie. The glare Shalelu gives the young man only makes the lie more believable, as does the pointed looks Morgrym gives them past his shoulder as he lovingly cleans his axe.

<<Will the dwarfses eats us?>> The goblin missing a leg does his best to scoot a few more feet from Morgrym as it eyes him with naked fear in its eyes.

<<Please! Don't eat us! We taste terrible!>>

<<Yessss! Yesss! We taste awful!>>

<<Nothing but skin and bone!>>

<<And gristle!>>

<<Skin, bone, and gristle!>>

<<Too tough! Too tough! Not even pickles could make us taste good.>>

The goblins yammer on, listing off increasingly ridiculous and disgusting reasons why they'd make a poor meal in between begging Lazur to not kill them.

Those are good rolls. They believe you and they're willing to be friendly, but you'll need to work on keeping them on task.

Lazur looks back at Morgrym and Shalelu then the goblins and says to them <<Dwarfs don't eat goblins they taste too much like orc which is disgusting I hear. I know something Shalelu really likes, information. You can feed her the truth. Why are you this far north and not back in your swamp?>>

Morgrym leans forward on his axe and stares at the one legged goblin.

No I will not eat you. I will find a dog to eat you. Now tell the good man what he wants to hear and that might not happen

Um, Morgrym? Do you speak goblin?

I thought they were speaking in common. disregard that post

<<Chief Gutwad sent us!>>

<<Yes! Yes! He sent us out after Vorka started eating others in the tribe.>>

<<We were supposed to burn Sandpoint alongside the Thistletops and Chief Ripnugget.>>

<<And kill all of the dogs, too!>>

<<And the horseses!>>

<<Nasty, nasty horseses.>>

<<We made oath to priest-lady likes we's supposed to.>>

<<But Grogmurt no give us food! He starves us!>>

<<Starves us like elveses! We's hungry!>>

<<Yes! Yes! So very hungry! Has you any foodses?>>

<< Especially pickles! Tasty, tasty pickleses!>>

I may be having a little too much fun with these two. :3

Wayland glares.
<<I like dogs.>>

He turns to his companions. "Mayhap we have them carry a message back ta their leaders. Let them know how many of us there are, which way we are coming, and where the goblins might best ambush us."

He watches the goblins for any sign that they understand Common.

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 15

Bluff roll please. :)

I'm not sure how that is a Bluff. That literally is my plan, to convince the Goblins to run and tell their leaders (who they hate) false information in exchange for food.
And if it wasn't clear, the part in brackets was in Goblin, and the rest in Common.

Bluff: 1d20 ⇒ 11

Lazur shrugs toward Wayland, "That may work. It definitely sounds like te "priest lady" is gathering all the local goblin tribes together. I don't know who Vorka is and maybe we should find that out."

He then turns back toward the goblins and says, <<Who is Vorka and how many did he eat?>>

See if we can get their ambush in a spot where we can ambush them.

Morgrym continues to glare at the goblins while leaning on his axe.

Wayland grins.
"Exactly."

He thinks.
"Or... lure them out of the way an' we slip past them."

Not sure how to help with the questioning he simply moved to the edge of the group and kept an eye down the route the warchanter had tried to flee.

"I'll keep lookout."

He offered stepping just a few extra paces away from the goblins. Despite them being little pests if uh things got a little rough with them he didnt want to see it... or hear it if he could help it.

I had you roll because it wasn't plainly obvious that was what you're doing. I thought you were trying to trick them into giving false information. Based on the wording of what Wayland said, though, it would be more like passing a simple hidden message. "Go back and lead them into an ambush." Unfortunately, an 11 ain't gonna cut it in either case. I'll go with what your intent was, however.
That said....

9-10, the goblins speak common: 1d10 ⇒ 61d10 ⇒ 6 Looks like it's a moot point anyway.

<<AAAAAHHH! HE'S GONNA EAT ME!>> A pair of gobliny screams come from the cowering captives before they start begging for their lives in a jumble of gibberish not even the keenest minded and eared among the group can sort out.

From behind the goblins, Shalelu claps a hand over her eyes and looks up. Though no one is close enough to hear the words she's muttering, her expression and posture make it pretty plain that it's likely a prayer for patience or strength. After a few moments of babbling goblins, she barks a command at them.

<<QUIET!>>

And everything goes dead calm with the last echoes of the goblin's panicked blubbering fading.

You can try again, Wayland, if you want.

"Well, I think maybe they don't speak Common. But we should all learn an obscure language for plannin'.

It's not all that honorable, so if some of you aren't good with that, we can do another plan."

"Trick 'em. Definitely. I wouldn't trust these two not to blabber on the moment they attempt to talk with the leadership of Thistletop. Not even out of maliciousness, either. Just out of plain stupidity. That's my vote. Honor sucks."

Torag cares not for the honour of those, just the honour of the ones involved. He cares for those that protect themselves and not those that would do harm to the helpless

he rescabbards his axe, and glares hard at the goblins before he turns his back to them.

Once the goblins quiet down Lazur tries again, <<Who is Vorka? How many did he eat? Would you like to get back at him and the goblins?>>

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + 9 + (5) = 20

"And why isn't the rest of your tribe joining them? Cheif Gutwad planning something else?" Trig asks in goblin. She would translate the conversation quietly for those who could not speak it so everyone could be in the loop.

Diplo auto aid for Lazur

<<Vorka eats other Licktoads. She sticks around Brinestump, so the other tribes call her a hero.>>

<<Gutwad's too comfy and too far from Thistletop. He don't wanna do anything that'll get him killed, and Ripnugget don't have enough to go get him in the swamp.>>

<<Besides, Thistletop's the one workin' for the mean lady.>>

The goblins look at each other as they come to a pause and nod before the one with a missing leg narrows his eyes at Lazur.

<<Why you wanna know if we want to get back at Gutwad?>>

<<Because it sounds like Chief Gutwad sent you brave goblins out here while he sits back and relaxes while you do all the hard work. You were sent here to burn down a town and kill all the dogs and horses. Why isn't he here? Why are you two out here,>> Trig gestures to the dead goblins. <<Clearly risking your lives when, you said it yourself, Ripnugget couldn't send his goblins into your swamp. Why wouldn't you want to get back at him? Hmm? This is his fault after all. Can't take out this Vorka, can't lead his people into battle. What's so great about Gutwad, anyway?>>

Trig crosses her arms and huffs. <<Sounds like the kind of goblin that reads,to me. Can't trust 'em.>>

Just keeping an eye out.

<<For a gnome, she's got a point.>>

The other goblin nods in agreement, his eyes narrowing as he focuses on trig.

<<What do we get if we help you,>> he asks.

<<Glory. Fame. Respect. Stuff. We're going to Thistletop to invade the Goblins there. When we do, you two can get first pick of the weapons and armor. Return to your tribe all shiny and victorious. And, the best part is, there's no risk. All you two have to do is go ahead and tell them we're coming and want to meet them on the road outside of town. You know how humans are. They want to parlay and other stupid plans before a big battle. If something does happen... well, you've seen how strong we are. You'll have plenty to choose from. But, are you ready for the best best part? Once you two return home, all shiny and victorious, with new slicy swords and armor that doesn't have holes in the middle, you won't need to be scared of Vorka anymore. In fact, Vorka should be scared of your tribe's new heroes... What's your two's names? I wanna know the names of future heroes.>>

Bluff: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18
Diplo: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

Slight variation on Wayland's plan, but likely to get the same result of goblins coming to ambush us.

Works for me. Wayland has not a lot of interest in dealing with the goblins, but you seem to have a good plan.

<<Gotrot,>> The one with the missing leg says.

<<Raltmunch,>> the other says.

Both of them look to Trig with avarice and hunger in their eyes, drool practically spilling out of their mouths.

<<Yeah, we'lls does it.>>

Okay, I'll have a map up tomorrow with the ambush site. Let me know if your looking for anything in particular for such a place.

Someplace in the open, where we have space to shoot them a couple of times before they get to melee.

<<Excellent. Give me a moment to talk with these stupid too-tall humans and we'll get back to you. Take a rest.>>

Trig looks back at the group and explains the conversation from where she stopped translating. "So we'll get to ambush our likely ambushers. Any questions, concerns, or comments? I say we find a clearing, attack from a distance where we can have tree cover, then do more of this kind of goblin slaying if they make it to us. But that's just what I assume is a common sense tactic."

aye, that it is.

Morgrym looks over at the goblins and scowls then looks at Shalelu.

Is there anywhere between thistletop and here that meets that description

Moving things along. Sorry for the delay.

After some discussion and the party picking out a spot for their ambush, the two moles are released and sent on their way. After giving the goblins some time to get a headstart, the party arrives at the ambush site.

Everyone place yourselves on the map where you want to be when you spring the ambush. Shalelu will defer to your judgement since this is your plan. Also, can one of you roll me three d20s? This is to see how well your moles do.

Lazur settles in under a bush for the ambush.

3d20: 3d20 ⇒ (2, 18, 18) = 38

He moved deep into the brush, His plan was to wait till the ambush was launched then to try and loop around and cut off their retreat.

Set up in a bush, Morgrym lays his axe to hand, and keeps a couple of arrows ready.

He then settles in to wait.

Wayland finds a spot to hide, and takes his crossbow in hand.
Stealth: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Plus don't forget to account for range penalties to Perception.

Trig will settle in behind Calin and Wayland's bush, marking them both with Life Link for the upcoming fight.

Stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

What happened with Lazur's token?

Calin, Morgrym, can I get both of you to roll stealth checks please. I'm going to treat this as a skill challenge for the group, so a bad roll isn't going to blow the whole thing unless you roll some 1's

Shalelu Stealth (Favored Terrain): 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 10 + 2 = 26

stealth: 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 - 2 = 6