GM Dak - Rise of the Runelords

Game Master Dakcenturi

The goblin seemingly less concerned about the group as a threat dismisses his spell as the vines and grass go back to normal no longer trying to grab hold of the group. The goblin replies to Bart in common "There be four longshanks, two boy, two girl. One girl leader, she deep down under fort. Scary demon woman... Chief obsessed with demon woman, do anything she say. Not even sleep with wives anymore... too busy try to please longshank. He no listen to Gogmurt anymore so I come out here away from stupid chief. You here to kill longshanks not goblins?"

He doesn't seem to acknowledge Bart's statement about the goblins attacking them first.

Adarion nods as Bart mentions the goblins attacking them first. He listens with interest as the goblin explains the longshanks and the new way the chief is acting.

"We never came to attack the goblins in the first place. We just want to stop the attacks on Sandpoint. If it is as you say, we can remove these longshanks controlling your chief and you can go back to how things were. It sounds like this demon woman you mentioned is controlling him with...err... magic. (he tries to gloss over this, considering the spell he just cast.) By the way, why do you call her "demon" woman? Also, can you stop the other goblins from attacking us? We don't want to hurt them but we will defend ourselves if they attack us."

With a start, he remembers Khalbar falling down the hole. He calls out to the man, approaching the hole carefully and looks for him.

The goblin replies "She demon woman cause she do dark stuff, now have demon arm... very scary..." He thinks a moment as to Adarion's second question and shrugs "Maybe? Might get you in fort, talk with chief, but if chief no listen may have to fight? You not kill goblins though, yes? Just kill chief and Gogmurt make others goblins stop fight."

Adarion, realizing the Kharlbar disappeared down the hole rushes over and calls out. He gets no response and just hears the constant slush of water from below, you're not even sure if the Shoanti man could swim...

Sven grunts, and nods. "I have no problem with that, Gogmurt. You seem like an agreeable sort. Not all us longshanks are looking to hurt you - we will try to disable the other goblins in a safe way, but if it does not work, we apologize." He pauses, and beckons Naesehorn over.

In druidic, "Ydy'ch citi eisiau cael anifail anwes neu ddanteith? Mae gan Naesehorn rai yn ei bagiau. Mae hi hefyd yn gyfeillgar os yw Kitty eisiau chwarae ychydig."

The Varisian falls into a defense crouch as the conversation he doesn't understand unfolds. He looks confused when the spell is released, and his jaw drops when the goblin talks abou tthe "longshank" leadership and offers to trade access to them if the group avoids killing goblins when and where they can.

As it seems the deal is closed in that other language, his gaze darts from one of the speakers to another, before he turns to the rest of the party with his brow tightly knit and confusion writ large on his features.

"Hunh? Is what I think just happened what just happened?"

Let me know if you are making any sorts of preparations before heading into the fort, especially since Sven is still pretty injured.

Nyx listens to the exchange with Gogmurt and tries to follow along. "Sven, you're still not looking so great. Let's fix that," Nyx says as he waves the wand of cure light wounds.

Gotta keep it short but I wanted to make sure I was following along etc. LMK how many charges off the wand you need and I'll mark them off in my hero lab. And anyone else who needs healing. It's 1d8+4 per charge.

Sven is at 11/23.

clw, Nyx’s wand: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
clw, Nyx’s wand: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Two charges, looks like. Though I’m not sure how you’re getting the extra bit of healing, shouldn’t it be at CL 1? Maybe you got a better wand! Same charges either way, thanks Nyx.

Also, thanks to Adarion, good idea!

”Thank you Nyx friend. Yes, Gudada. This goblin will let us pass in to Thistletop. Thank you Gogmurt!” Sven hesitantly thinks about petting kitty, but thinks better of it and beckons Naesehorn over, who stands next to Sven, nuzzling him.

"You just made a deal to work WITH the goblins? Didn't you?"

"Eeeeeeeeeeeeh, the goblins will leave Sandpoint alone, right? More like - working against the bad guys. Goblins here just want to be left alone!" Sven nods, "unless you want to fight Gogmurt." He points at Gogmurt, "he is a druid, so he is tough like me - I do not recommend this."

The look that crosses Gudada's face reminds Sven that he is a half-orc, and sometimes trust is harder for him to come by than others . . .. But the Varisian doesn't SAY anything else.

After the group talks among themselves Gogmurt asks "Ready? Before go, you put weapons away. Guards not let you in, even with me if you be threat with weapons..."

@Gudada: I believe most of the conversation is in common, apart from the Druidic bits and when I initially spoke to him, so you would probably have understood most of what was said. Gogmurt began speaking it shortly after I "convinced" him we weren't enemies.

Adarion shrugs and complies with Gogmurt's request, not having much use in physical weapons anyway.

He worriedly looks down into the hole Khalbar fell into and asks Gogmurt, "Is there a way down there? Our friend fell in and I'm worried he could be badly injured."

I know that this is probably Khalbar exiting stage left but it would be very strange for Adarion to just forget about the man falling down the hole and act like nothing happened.

Gogmurt shakes his head to Adarion "He fall in hole, he dead. Nasty shark-seal thing live there. Very mean, chief throw bad goblins there to teach lesson..." he shivers at the last part of his statement.

Yeah I agree, unless you all just really didn't care at all about the man :P

Oh, I got which parts were in common. Kill the 4 humanish guys leading my chief astray, and probably my chief, too, but avoid hurting anyone else so that I can take over. The deal is for us to be pawns in a play for power amongst the goblins. No comment from him, in common, agreeing not to attack Sandpoint. So, it sounds like we are agreeing to hand him control of his own tribe for no obvious benefit/gain on our side. I'm very aware of what was said (or not) in common.

Gudada goes over to the hole and looks below, being careful not to risk himself. "Do we have enough rope to at least go look?"

Looks like there is 150ft of silk rope between the group. The shaft is 70ft deep

Adarion looks to the others, worry on his face. "I think we should go down and check to see if Khalbar is okay. We should use the wand to heal our wounds first though. This creature Gogmurt mentions could attack us."

Should have been 1d8+1 per charge; not sure how I typed that. I'm following along—stuff's still hectic for me at the moment.

Sven nods, ”yes, we will do this first please, Gogmurt. Please excuse us a moment.” Sven combines his rope with others, and tries to find a secure tree to tie the rope to. ”I will climb if nobody else wishes to, I am not bad at this.”

After putting the rope together and dropping it down into the hole, Sven finds a place to secure it so someone can climb down.

Whoever is climbing give me 10 climb checks at a DC 5 of 5 at a DC10.

Bartholomew finishes swirling a reddish-brown powder in water and stows his various bottles and packets. ”Whoever is going down should take this,” he says with his typical lack of emotion. ”It should be able to help with both swimming and climbing, should there be a need. I think the effects will last for... probably three minutes, so don’t drink it too early or it may expire at an inconvenient time.”

It’s an extract of monkey fish.

As per discussion on Discord

Sveng grabs hold of the rope, double checks it is secure and starts to climb down the hole. He takes his time, easily managing to descend down the rope, using the nearby wall to brace against.

About 60ft down the hole opens up into a sea cave.

Perception-Sveng: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29

Luckily with Sveng's darkvision, he can see around the cave. He see's absolutely no sign of Kharlbar, nor this 'monster' the goblin described. It's not clear what happened, perhaps the monster wasn't there and Kharlbar swam out to one of the cave openings, perhaps the thing attacked and killed Kharlbar and drug his body off the feast somewhere, or maybe Kharlbar couldn't swim and just drowned, he body being carried out to the sea. In any case, as it stands, Kharlbar seems to be gone.

Sven clambers back up with relative ease. He looks sad, ”where Khalbar went, I do not know. This creature down there was not visible. The man was likely eaten, though he is strong so maybe he fought his way out. There would be no way to track through the water, though. It is very unfortunate.” He goes over to Naeshorn and pats her on the head, looking into the distance. ”It looks like Naesehorn must take the lead. Nyx, could you say something kind about Khalbar? He was a stalwart friend.”

Adarion nods sadly, "Either way there is nothing we can do to help him. We should continue on with Gogmurt and try to resolve the issue at hand. Hopefully, we will find our friend hale and healthy on the way or when we return to town."

@Dak: Do the goblins we defeated have anything of value on them?

"With his strength, we might yet see him back in a tavern at Sandpoint. Not sure we should be counting him out. Not counting on his help, obviously, but counting him out?" The Varisian shakes his head. "Seems unlikely."

”He was a prime specimen of his kind,” Bartholomew adds by way of eulogy. ”In excellent health and physical condition. Now then, shall we continue before the light fades?” He gathers his things and looks to the goblin expectantly.

It’s not that Bartholomew hates Khalbar (or anyone, really) or doesn’t care about him - it’s just that he doesn’t know how to relate to people.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

So 4 ticks off the wand to get Sven up to full, including what he previously rolled, and Gudada up to nearly full.

The dead goblins have mundane small leather armor, small short swords and small shortbows, nothing else

Once everyone is ready Gogmurt leads you toward the western path. Ahead a rope bridge spans the gulf between the cliff and a roundish, flat-topped island sixty-some feet to the north. Thick patches of nettles and briars grow here and there atop the island, but its most impressive feature is a wooden one-story stockade. Two thirty-foot-tall watchtowers guard the stockade’s southern facade. The rope bridge itself is made of hairy rope and thick wooden planks; the whole thing creaks and sways in the wind above the churning surf eighty feet below.

Gogmurt stops you and notes "Only three on bridge, otherwise it break!"

He waves towards the watchtowers and calls out something in goblin.

Gogmurt gives you all a nod and starts to move across the bridge and waves you to come along. Taking your time not to have more than three people cross at the same time, you all eventually make it across with no issue.

As you get closer to the fort you see the stockade is made of thick wood. Closer inspection reveals that most of the wood seems to have been scavenged from ships—a few nameplates remain affixed to some of the beams, while other timbers look like they might have once been masts. Gogmurt leads you on, opening the door to a large hall. The floor of this room is hard-packed soil, as if the builders either ran out of lumber after building the walls and roof, or as if they simply never thought about building a floor. A number of poorly preserved horse and dog heads are mounted along the eastern wall, while along the southern wall hangs a pair of large black-feathered wings tacked to the wall with daggers.

Gogmurt waves his hand around to the various parts and simply notes "Chief trophies." He then leads you through a set of double doors into a hall ending in more double doors. Opening those you come to a large throne room that is decorated with hanging furs along its walls, mostly black-and-red striped firepelt skins, various dog pelts, and in some cases, what look like horse hides. Four square timbers support the ceiling, their faces studded with dozens of iron spikes, with the lower reaches decorated with dozens of impaled and severed hands in various stages of decay. To the northeast, a wooden platform supports a throne heaped with dog pelts and horse hides. Dog skulls adorn the armrests and a horse skull leers over the throne’s back.

There are several tougher looking goblins who stand guard near the doors. A bigger goblin sits atop the thrown with a very large lizard by his side, a more scrawny goblin who is singing some song in goblin is near the throne obviously there to entertain the chief. Gogmurt, upon opening the doors calls out to the other goblins in their native tongue.

He does a slight bow and then steps to the side to let the group move into the room and do what they will with the chief.

Feel free to move in and place yourself as appropriate. The other goblins are eyeing you cautiously at this point, but waiting to see what transpires.

As they walk towards the goblin chieftain and the inevitable fight that follows, Adarion tries to persuade Gogmurt to aid them in the fight, preferably without any other goblins overhearing him.

"Gogmurt, we may require your aid in the fight against your chieftain. Khalbar, the man that fell down the hole, was one of our most capable fighters and his loss will make it much more difficult to defeat your chieftain and his guards, not to mention the demon-woman you mentioned. The aid of a capable fighter such as yourself and your animal companion will make the fight much easier."

Adarion pauses for a moment as if thinking, then thoughtfully says "After all, your chieftain will likely kill you if we fail, seeing as you brought us right to him. And... if we succeed, you will be the next chieftain."

Bluff: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29 @Dak: I went for bluff here because of the line about the chieftain killing him but if it's diplomacy instead it's a +3 modifier (although I hope that roll will be good enough anyway :D)

@Dak: Also, how many goblins did we defeat? Just for adding the gear to the loot list.

Sven stands in front with his shield out and waits for someone else to talk.

As they walk he switched to sword + board and cast shield companion on Naesehorn.

Looking at his companions, Gudada realizes he might have to be one doing the talking.

"So, I think we're as surprised to be standing here talking to you as you are to have us standing here talking to you. During the recent goblin raid on Sandpoint, somebody more my size broke into a tomb and stole a body. They used the goblins and all those goblin deaths to try to hide what they were doing, abusing whatever trust they had built to talk you into performing the raid in the first place. We're here for them. Let us have the ones who caused the death of so many of your people, and we can part on good terms."

I hope this is the right tack. I really hope this is the right tack . . ..

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

Nyx has actually got a better diplomacy. I'm just not sure how his discussion would go . . ..

Earlier @Adarion

Gogmurt shakes his head "No fight chief for you, make tribe angry. You want fair fight? One of you longshanks, challenge chief to single combat as... not know word..." he switches to goblin and notes "wakili"

As to the dead goblins, it was 10

Now

The goblin chief eyes each of you and then glares at Gogmurt before shaking his head to the rest of you. "You stupid longshanks, think you come here just get what you want! Stupid Gogmurt bring you, think other longshanks bad but they give tribe more power. You not get to see other longshanks, they not kill my tribe, you do. I know you, hear stories from raiders, you kill many goblins, but Chief Rippnugget not like other goblins! You not offer anything other than death to my people, why you think I help you?"

He stands up, putting his hand on his weapon, with the other resting on the nearby over sized lizard who, now that you are closer and can see, has a saddle on it.

Sven looks to be the best proxy now with Khalbar gone? If Ripnugget gets his chameleon, then Sven might be able to have Naesehorn too.

If that's the case, Bartholomew would slip Sven a few bottles - extracts of shield and adhesive spittle. He should be able to make another extract of shield if we think Naesehorn could "use" it.

@Dak: Thanks!

@Sven: Seems like it...I don't think Adarion will fare that well if he was selected ;). I presume the gang talk about it before they reach the Chief's throne room, particularly when Gogmurt has given them warning about the "wakili". Adarion is happy to be the one to talk to Ripnuggent when we have a decision. I also have a scroll of protection from evil that could be used (+2 deflection to armour and 2 to saves but only lasts for a minute).

"Your fear does not become you, Chief. We come with empty hands to talk to you about not killing goblins, and you say we offer nothing but death? We are offering life without conflict, about stopping those who abuse you and yours by throwing them before a great many people ready to protect themselves and their families. True, we ended up killing a few goblins in order to survive the day, but others did, too. If kobolds attack you, do you blame your goblins for the death of the kobolds, or the kobold chief who sent them into your home? You blame the kobold for the fight, and are grateful for the warriors who protected their home. Do not expect us to think differently. But we believe these other people are using you to make their work easier, not to make you more powerful. When they have what they want, they are as likely to kill you as they are to simply leave, but they will not leave you more powerful."

Oy! How do you talk to someone this paranoid? Not sure there IS a right tack . . ..

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

The chief shrugs "Lots words, no believe you! What you offer me and tribe then to let you pass? Have deal with other longshanks, maybe you make better deal then we talk... If not, you leave and not come back or we fight."

He waves two of the guards over who move to put themselves between the group and the chief.

'Dada turns back to the others and gives them a questioning, uncertain look.

Are we all okay with Sven acting as our champion in the fight against the chief now that diplomacy has failed? The only other option I see is to try to take on all the guards as well. Just waiting to make sure the group (or majority I suppose) is okay with that before posting.

Adarion looks at the others and then at Sven to make sure everybody, particularly Sven, is committed before he tries to provoke the Chief into the "wakili" duel.

"Yes, I will duel. But we both get animals," Sven grunts at Naesehorn. "Only fair."

"Ripnugget - to the death?" He scratches himself. and grips tightly to his scythe.

When Sven gives the signal Gogmurt announces in goblin the right of the wakili, naming Sven as his champion. The cheif shrugs as he mounts up on his lizard "Good, we fight! Tired of talk anyway!"

He pulls out a potion and drinks it then levels his weapon at Sven.

You get one round for preparation in the throne room. No one else can assist. Chief goes first in init so will wait for your preparation action before taking his turn.

Sven pulls out his infusion of shield, drinks it, and readies his scythe, positioning Naesehorn to be next to him.

Mounted on his lizard the goblin chief pulls out his blade and spurs the lizard toward Naesehorn.

Attack, Charge: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 10 + 2 = 16
Damage: 2d4 + 10 ⇒ (1, 3) + 10 = 14

It charges toward Naesehorn and he swipes at him with his blade, but misses as he continues his charge and the lizard scales up the wall about 15 feet. The goblin gives Sven a toothy grin, now out of his reach, ready to turn and charge again.

Naeshorn doesn't get an AoO, but Sven would as the goblin/mount pass by. Please specify in your attacks whether you are targeting the mount or the goblin.

Round 1
Enemy, > Sven

"You miserable..." Sven grunts and he and Naesehorn head into the center of the room, where he casts a spell, and billowing fog envelops the space they are in.

Cast obscuring mist, which should stop all charges. The extent of the spell is to the edge of the room (drawn in green outline on the map, the edge just in front of Adarion and Nyx). Naesehorn readies an attack of one comes adjacent.

The goblin shouts out curses at Sven as the room fills with mist, but moves to where he last saw the half-orc, eventually finding him in the mist to attack.

Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18
Damage: 1d4 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

The blade glances off Sven's tough bark like skin, skin the goblin similar appears to have after drinking his potion.

Round 2
Enemy, > Sven

Adarion shouts encouragement to Sven, hoping to encourage his companion in the fight.

@Dak: Can Adarion demoralise the chief to help Sven? The basic idea is he begins to threaten/mock the chief to distract him.

Sven grins at the frustrated Ripnugget. He gestures twice and Naesehorn runs to the other side of the pair of mounted enemies, providing a flank, and attempting a gore. Sven steps over slightly to the side, and then swings as hard as he can at the chief.

mwk scythe, power attack, flanking: 1d20 + 5 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 5 - 1 + 2 = 26
scythe damage, power attack: 2d4 + 3 + 3 ⇒ (1, 1) + 3 + 3 = 8
mwk scythe confirm, power attack, flanking: 1d20 + 5 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 5 - 1 + 2 = 23
scythe crit damage?, power attack: 6d4 + 9 + 9 ⇒ (1, 4, 4, 2, 1, 3) + 9 + 9 = 33
gore, power attack: 1d20 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (10) + 4 - 1 = 13

....or maybe Sven doesn't need any help! :P

The goblin takes the brutal blow from Sven but luckily manages to avoid being hit by Naeshorn. He spurs his lizard to withdraw from the fight disappearing into the mist. You hear the goblin mumbling curses somewhere to the south side of the room and then it is really quiet.

2d8 + 3 ⇒ (5, 7) + 3 = 15
1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17

Round 3
Enemy, > Sven

@Adarion No demoralizing unless you want to piss off the other goblins :P

Reactive Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25

Sven sniffs the air and listens to try to determine where the goblin went.

AoOs from Goblin Leaving
Sven and Naesehorn swing wildly at the goblin as he tries to escape.

mw scythe attack, AOO, power attack: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (10) + 5 - 1 = 14
scythe damage, power attack: 2d4 + 3 + 3 ⇒ (1, 4) + 3 + 3 = 11
gore, AOO, power attack: 1d20 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (10) + 4 - 1 = 13
gore damage, power attack: 1d8 + 3 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 3 = 8

Sven heats where the pair have gone and heads in that direction with Naesehorn, who hangs out, getting ready to hit Sven’s enemy should the enemy appear, whuffing impatiently in the fog.

Sven can’t hear much, but he knows his enemies are hanging out near the ceiling. He mutters in giantish, ” Varisia, gaum að kalli mínu, gefðu mér dáð þinn töfra!”

Sven starts casting Enlarge Person.

Perception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (18) - 1 = 17

Hearing the others move the goblin spurs his mount back into battle as he goes in to attack Sven.

Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22
Damage: 1d4 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

He nearly slices into Sven with his blade at least happy to have one of the other goblins at his back, waiting in the mist as the battle carries on.

Round 4
Enemy, >Sven