GM ShadowLord's Ironfang Invasion (Inactive)

Game Master The Rising Phoenix

Jillian lets out a sigh of relief as she slices into the undead and it drops to the ground no longer moving. Looking back at Caspan she gives him a glare for a moment before helping Emil onto his feet after Wren heals him.

She looks down at the wound from the wight and notes to the others "It feels as if that thing sucked some of the life out of me. I think I'm ok, but I don't quite feel right. Does anyone know how to treat an injury such as this?" She shrugs as she continues thinking to herself "Perhaps we should see if Aubrin can remedy this?"

I would say probably either Caspan or myself would be the best candidates for the boots, just for purposes of getting around on the battlefield. As a side note, we really need to get Jillian some better armor :P

”Maybe you should take them, Jillian. You were awfully brave in helping defeat that thing. Unlike others,” she muttered the last part under her breath as she was moving to check on the cat

Jillian will likely have heavy armor and slow movement, and the ring would be a big boost for that...

Caspan shakes his head at Jillian's concerns as Emil is restored to the land of the living.

"Told you! Nothing good comes of messing with dead things!" he says. "I knew a woman once, liked to mess with dead things. She was a real twist. Not sure why Thamos tolerated her, but it's like they say,'With one hand I give.' "

He collects his bolas, reattaching them to his belt after securing his axe. He looks around nervously in case there's any more undead or evil cats or anything else waiting to kill them all in this stupid cabin.

"What'd you find there, Selde? Want me to open that up?"

He pantomimes kicking the board hard to open it.

I agree with Thael: first choice for the boots would be Jillian, assuming she plans to get heavy armor; if not, anyone who does plan to get it (Father Emil?) would be my second choice. I'm not proficient in anything else but light, so should have a move of 30 ft. at worst.

Wren's healing brings Emil back from the edge of oblivion.

She looks down at the wound from the wight and notes to the others "It feels as if that thing sucked some of the life out of me. I think I'm ok, but I don't quite feel right. Does anyone know how to treat an injury such as this?" She shrugs as she continues thinking to herself "Perhaps we should see if Aubrin can remedy this?"

"I know there are divine spells that can help, particularly if applied quickly, but I cannot yet master it. Aubrin is more experienced than I, so perhaps she could."

Selde locates a hidden compartment under a floorboard that is locked.

"We should check this for traps and see what's in it. Also, what's in that shed back there?"

Caspan shakes his head at Jillian's concerns as Emil is restored to the land of the living.

"Told you! Nothing good comes of messing with dead things!" he says. "I knew a woman once, liked to mess with dead things. She was a real twist. Not sure why Thamos tolerated her, but it's like they say,'With one hand I give.' "

"It's not something we wanted to do. Everyone a wight kills becomes a wight. We have prevented that fate for someone else."

Eventually Emil returns to the Lynx. He sits by him and says, using Speak with Animals, "Your master is at rest. We will bury him. You don't need to bring him food any more. You're welcome to come with us. Perhaps we can become friends and help each other out as you did your master."

Selde's first attempt at disabling the locked compartment is a failure, making no progress. Her second attempt also fails, but she feels like she figures it out and on her third attempt the satisfying click of unlocking brings a smile to her face. Inside the compartment is 132gp, two potions (Can be identified as cure light wounds with a DC16 Perception), a quiver of 25 arrows and 7 +1 flame arrows, a masterwork longsword and an exquisite longbow (+1 longbow).

Selde Disable Device: 1d20 ⇒ 4
Selde Disable Device: 1d20 ⇒ 10
Selde Disable Device: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20

The lynx still eyes other party members warily, but lets Father Emil approach. Upon Father Emil's news, the lynx features slouch somewhat when it learns that its master is now gone. It seems conflicted on how to handle Father Emil's request and it takes a moment to respond before a vague assortment of feelings and questions are spoken more to itself than Emil. The lynx ends with, "Gone. Not alone? Friend." before rising to its feet beside him.

When the shed is checked they are pleasantly surprised to fine that the previous owner used it as a wood and mud smokehouse to preserve food for winter months. It stands unused, but the heavily smoked and salted meat and fish hanging within still remain edible. +15 PP.

Although Wren was sad at the scene of death they had just witnessed, she couldn’t help but lick her lips as her stomach rumbles, smelling the savory salted meats they’d just discovered. ”I’m not sure I’ve ever smelled anything better. I bet live lost five pounds out here already. This will help get us through another couple of days at least!”

She looked around, checking the weather. ”Is it time to start making for the caves?”

Thael examines the potions as the group looks around the property.

spellcraft potions: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13
spellcraft potions: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18

He also is elated to find the smokehouse, which smells tremendous. Though the wizard had continued to use prestidigitation to keep his clothes clean and hair neat, he had continued sleeping poorly outdoors and was perpetually tired. This small find seemed like a small luxury--and luxuries had been in short supply.

"Yes, I agree we should make for the caves," Thael says as he warily eyes the large cat Emil is befriending...one that less than an hour ago had been mauling Caspan.

"See, now that was worth it. Didn't need to bother with the undead at all," Caspan says, agreeing it's time to make for the caves.

That said, I think you said it was about nighttime, so resting here first? If so, I'll get to the daily rolls ASAP (but could still use some guidance on the tents. I've never gotten the DC we need to make them so don't know if we have one or two, or any idea how much cloth is available, or if any is still left after the previous day's horrible rolls).

Yes, we need to rest soon. I have used all my spells for the day between the two combats, and we have some level/ability drain that could use some rest. I'd imagine a pretty good portion could sleep indoors here, too.

Somehow the tent situation keeps eluding me, let's solve that. Let's call it a DC12 craft check. Remind me where you are getting the cloth material from to make it, was that being made as well?

Jillian looks to the others when there is talk about moving on to the caves "Perhaps we should rest before making the trek? Maybe see if something can't be done about whatever that foul undead did to Emil and myself? I don't know about the rest of you, but between the boars and that undead I am pretty spent."

Yup, plan to get Heavy Armor when I can so I will go ahead and take the boots to help with movement speed.

Emil eyes the fine longbow covetously.

If no one else claims it, he'll swap out his old longbow for the magical one. If anyone is proficient with a longbow and wants Emil's old bow, it's available. As this last battle shows, it's always good to be able to attack from a distance. Selde should take the fire arrows, as she is more often attacking with a bow. Those who get wounded most in combat should take the healing potions. Emil still has the wand if he needs that particular spell.

1=female,2=male: 1d2 ⇒ 2
If the book specifies the sex of the lynx, let me know. Otherwise, I'll use this roll to determine it is male. Emil will ask its name and whether it wants him to call him that or if he would rather be given a new name to use with his new life.

Edit: Can Aubrin cast Lesser Restoration on Jillian and Emil? If not today, perhaps in the morning?

She would have to be able to cast regular restoration. Lesser doesn't do anything against negative levels. Not sure if there is a way to help boost the Fort save the next day or not though.

The lynx is female and will tell you that her name is Pila.

Aubrin does not have any form of restoration today, but can tomorrow. She offers up her Bandages of Rapid Recovery for your use however. She surveys your continued wounds and reaches a decision point. "You six are continually putting yourselves in harms way for us, you should be in the best possible position to succeed and protect yourselves. I want you to take any of my possessions that may assist you. Please, I insist."

In addition to the bandages, she offers up her cloak of resistance +1, 5 +1 arrows, 15 cold iron arrows, masterwork longsword, masterwork quarterstaff, +1 armored coat, oil of magic weapon x2, potion of cure light wounds x5, potion of cure moderate wounds, scroll of protection from evil x2, holy water x2.

Caspan will make rolls for today, but assuming moving on to the next day after making camp here with the group.

֍ GOZRAN 8 ֍

Another night spent outside brings several comments of how much people miss the wolverine den, but everyone makes it through the night succesfully. After the morning routine, Mia is seen out and about walking around. She announces she feels completely restored and she's extremely thankful for all of the love and support she was giving. Rhyna's smile is so wide she can hardly contain her happiness and she continues to act as a goodwill cheerleader for the group to help keep morale high.

Kining is in a special mood this morning however, she's been arguing with Mekhi on the most efficient method of crafting arrowheads in the wild.

Edran is pestering Aubrin about the Chernasardo Rangers and when she thinks they will be arriving and how large their force will be? Will they quash the invaders?

Aubrin offers to cast lesser restoration twice for whomever needs it. You can roll your amount individually.

Jet works to get the morning meal prepared before camp breaks, keeping herself busy and giving directions to the supporters who are helping her.

When it's finally time to break camp, the group continues to the east towards the cave location. Wren helps keep the group on track by pointing out the right trails and helping navigate in the right direction.

Pila, the female lynx, is clearly still skittish around the party. More than once Caspan gets a little too close for her comfort and she snarls at him. Maybe she'll warm up to the group, but so far they are still potential predators to her.

About two hours into the trip the group comes across the body of a man laying in a creek bed. The body has been brutalized both before and after death and its face is nearly unrecognizable beneath the bruises and wounds. Selde indicates that the wounds come from the same sort of weapons the hobgoblins use and a broken black fingernail, like a hobogoblin's, is stuck in one of the wounds.

Father Emil recognizes the body as the trapper Gilida Dravonich, a part-time resident of Phaendar. Selde and Wren both concur that the dead woman is Gilida. She still carries her handy haversack which contains a bear trap, a climber's kit, 4 days of rations, two water skins and animal skins worth a fair amount. DC20 Appraise: 150GP

Now that I look it up, that's correct. But it would still help Emil recover Dex points lost from the Ettercap poison.

I think Emil's distribution of loot makes sense (though now there's a lot more than there was when I started typing this message!). Not sure anyone really can use that longsword, so hand it out to a refugee for the moment?

There were three bolts of cotton cloth we found here. I'll do rolls when I can, but not sure I'll get to it tonight; sorry!

Ok, thanks for that Caspan. Let's say you can get 3 tents from each bolt if it is all just used for tents, so that would 9 tents from all of that material in total.

Gozran 7
Before they head off to bed Jillian goes to work foraging for food to help the group continue on.

Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

She also sends Hunter off to scout ahead the caves before it gets too late so they have an idea of what they might be facing in the morning.

Stealth: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15

Gozran 8

Fort - Neg. Lvl DC12: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Jillian wakes the next morning feeling much better even after the fight with the wight. It seems that a good nights rest was enough to cure whatever had been ailing her.

Moved the items that no one had officially claimed yet to the Held Loot and added Aubrin's stuff to the current loot. If no one else minds Jillian could use the Armored Coat and Cloak of Resistance. Once the bows and arrows get sorted I will take them off the held loot. Don't forget to check there for pertinant items (like a scroll of lesser restoration if needed and more cure light potions.)

I would take the masterwork quarterstaff and scrolls of protection from evil (x2) from Aubrin if no one else wants them.

Thael looks saddened by the corpse they have found. "These fiends are all over the place...we do not appear to be headed toward safety," he muses.

appraise: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19 with an assist I can get the animal skins appraised.

heal: 1d20 ⇒ 9

Emil will forage with the Lynx, which he'll call Ilvis, trying to take his mind off his situation by doing some hunting.

Survival: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

Emil will forage with the Lynx, which he'll call Ilvis, trying to take his mind off his situation by doing some hunting.

[dice=Survival]1d20 + 9

You missed the GM’s earlier post that the lynx is a she and is named Pila, IIRC.

Wren didn’t necesarily want any of the found gear. It wasn’t really her style anyway. She allows the group to claim everything, confident that the found treasure might help them against any future attacks. The hobgoblin killed corpse did bother her, though. ”I doubt it was the same crew that took the town. There’s no way they are this far ahead already. I bet it was a couple of stragglers that happened to catch our friend unprepared’l she said confidently, hoping it disguised her worry to the others.

Father Emil owes me a Fort save for the negative level yesterday. And yes, Wren is correct. The lynx is a she named Pila.

I believe both Selde and Emil have ability damage that requires some healing.

Hunter arrives back in the morning with good and bad news. The bad news is that as far as he went he was unable to locate the caves, but it they could have been difficult to spot above the canopy. The good news was that he didn't catch signs of any danger or trouble for the next day of trouble.

GM, re: your header a few posts back, it's Gozran 9 now.

Gozran 8 recap
With the early haul of boar meat, the group focuses less on food gathering as they explore, instead looking for more sheep -- with little success. It's possible no more are to be found, though the later haul of smoked meats means they have a good surplus of food -- more than at any time since they fled Phaendar -- and can continue to look for a couple more days before turning their attention to more immediate needs. I realized I missed Jillian's forage roll above; factoring that in means we had a net gain of +16 PP; we also got +1 sheep and made one tent.

Thanks in part to the growing number of tents, almost everyone has shelter for the night, helping make up for the lack of the wolverine den. It took much more work, but was nearly as successful. Assuming at least one person could sleep in the shack, everyone had shelter.

Wren's words don't seem to soothe Caspan.

"So there may be more out here? Bastards could be real close right now..."

He grumbles a little as the caves are apparently nowhere near, but keeps trudging on.

Sorry, either I forgot to hit submit or the forums at yesterday's post. Bit busy at work but I'll get a post up shortly.

As the group finishes breakfast and prepares for the day, Thael agrees they should continue searching for the caves.

"If the caves are difficult to find, so much the better. That will mean the hobgoblins could also struggle to locate them."

Jillian heads up the group as they move through the forrest in the direction of the caves. After they come upon the body and Emil explains the persons history she suggests they stop for a moment to bury the remains while taking the useful supplies with them. Once they are finished she continues pushing onward in search of the caves.

Thanks for the correction Caspan.

After the party has picked the useful belongings off the dead and mutilated trapper and worked with the group to properly bury her according to Aubrin's wishes, they continue on their path to the east for several hours. The going here is relatively easy and the trails seem to be more heavily used than the northwestern territory they explored several days ago.

Around midafternoon the party is discussing stopping for the day when their conversation comes to an abrubt halt as they walk into an ambush. Arrows fly out from a cliff ridge to your right side, some 30' feet above you. Glancing up you take sight of four hobgoblin archers wielding longbows.

Wren barely avoids getting hit as the arrow flies an inch past her face and Father Emil narrowly avoids one that flies past his chest, but Selde and Jillian both take hits. Selde's arrow hits her in her left forearm (4 damage) but Jillian fares far worse. An arrow pierces the artery in her neck, inflicting a critical wound that sends her to the ground before she even knows she is under attack. (Critical Hit: 21 damage)

Behind the party sounds of panic erupt as the group takes sight of the four archers on the ridge. Aubrin quickly takes control of the situation and urges the survivors backwards into the woods and out of the range of the confrontation.

R1: Wren, Selde, Thael, Father Emil, Hobgoblins, Caspan, Jillian

I'm not listed in initiative, but it looks like I should be with the first block. I'll go ahead and post as if I am.

Thael is startled as they come under attack. The ambush is well-placed and executed. Hoping Emil could attend to Jillian, Thael moves forward and prepares to engage the archers at closer range, where his spells will have greater effect.

A wizard's strength is in his preparation, Thael could hear his elven Aduadar say.

Thael casts mage armor to keep himself safer from the arrows, then advances forward cautiously.

Sorry to let so many posts go by without posting myself, but my last was ninjaed by the big summary of Gozran 8 and since then I've been teaching and I'm also recovering from a cold, so lots of extra long naps before getting to work. Some of this will be out of place.

Regarding Edran: 1st there was an attempt at a conversation with Edran back in this post, which was itself out of sequence and so got lost as we all focused on a battle. Emil noticed that for someone who it would seem would only want to get out of the area as quickly as possible, he was asking a lot of questions about local defense issues.

Edran is pestering Aubrin about the Chernasardo Rangers and when she thinks they will be arriving and how large their force will be? Will they quash the invaders?

Emil overhears Edran talking to Aubrin and confronts him with Aubrin in attendance. "See here, city boy? Yer askin' a lotta strange quesions fer someone on the run from trouble an' not even from these parts. What's yer game?"

On the issue of healing, if we have a spare Goodberry, Emil is just down 1 after resting the night. Shall I roll 1d4 for the lesser restoration result from Aubrin? Dex restored: 1d4 ⇒ 4 With the 1 per day he also recovers from resting, I think that puts Emil's Dexterity back to normal, although he's still down a level.

Fortitude, 1 negative Level: 1d20 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (16) + 4 - 1 = 19
I hope that means he's restored to full health.

Emil will take the scrolls of divine spells, unless Wren can use them. Others should take the holy water and healing potions.

Regarding the beaten corpse:
Heal: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

Emil shares the following out of earshot of the refugees: "The hobgobs wounds look like torture ta me. Not sure what they mighta been after, although with hobgobs, they might jus' torture fer fun. Sad end fer a good person."

He'll assist in the simple burial before we move on.

My next post will be for the ambush action.

Emil moves to the middle of the group and touches his holy symbol of Erastil, sending out a burst of healing energy.

Positive Energy: 1d6 ⇒ 6

"Time ta weed the garden, folks! Let's teach these hobgobs about fightin' spirit."

Wren once again asks for her diety’s proper blessing to help the group put down this group of insurgent hobgoblins.

Anywhere she could move to in 20’ to get some cover? I doubt it, but if there is, she will go to there.

Remember your Bless bonuses!

Father Emil - Your save is good, you're all set!

Wren - Not from your current position. They've positioned themselves wisely and caught your group in a rather bad spot. If you were to move 20' to the southeast this turn and again next turn, you could probably start to get close to those trees down there.

Selde takes some time to study the hobgoblins before loosing an arrow towards the purple cloaked goblin. Nur moves forward just before she releases the arrow however and the projectile sails too far overhead.

The hobgoblins loose another volley of arrows, one each towards Wren, CAspan, Father Emil and Selde. Only the arrow targeting Wren connects however, striking her in the back (3 damage).

Full party up!

Selde C. Longbow; ST, PBS, Bless: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 14
Selde Arrow P; ST, PBS: 1d8 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 1 + 1 = 8

R1: Wren, Selde, Thael, Father Emil, Hobgoblins, Caspan, Jillian
R2: Wren, Selde, Thael, Father Emil, Hobgoblins, Caspan, Jillian

Thael finds himself too far to the front of the group, but somehow the hobgoblins avoid targeting him with their arrows.

Slowing up when he comes hear the first enemy, he casts color spray to hopefully disable him.

Color Spray, DC 16 Will

Thael - Keep in mind that they are not directly above you, but up on a ledge. That white line is supposed to reflect the edge/cliff barrier line. Regardless, we'll say that the last square beyond him on the current map still hits him since you are close to the ramp to go up.

Will Save: Purple: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

The purple cloak hobgoblin closest to Thael seems to steel his mind against the blinding colorful attack from the half-elf.

Again sorry for the delay, had a crazy day. Selde will convert a casting of Produce Flame to Summon Nature's Ally 1, Full round action to cast.

After Nur deftly dodged out of the way of the arrows, Selde took stock of the situation. The group had been caught in a bad spot, and could do with some reinforcements. "Nàdar, thoir dhomh do chuideachadh!"

Wren will go ahead and make that move both last round and this round, please, Dam.

The halfling moves, looking for some cover. In the meantime, she begins a Sleep Spell, hoping to disable at least one of the attackers.

"Damn dirty dogs found us!" Caspan yells as he rushes toward the hill to try to stop them from using their bows.

He pulls the javelin from his back and tosses it on the run, but it slams into the cliffside and clatters back to the ground.

Mwk javelin: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 1 = 11
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Jillian stands up after receving the healing from Emil. She grasps onto her neck as a healing light comes from her hand.

LoH: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Feeling better she starts to make her way toward the group of hobgoblins on the ridge.

Emil heads north toward the large trees and unleashes more positive energy to undo the damage done by the archers.

Positive Energy: 1d6 ⇒ 3

"Let's get around and up to their level."

The party quickly begin to move around the battlefield to secure better positioning and bring the fight to the archers on the high ground. Caspan's javelin doesn't clear the ridge however and hits the top of the cliff and tumbles back down again.

Another volley of arrows is unleashed at Thael, Caspan, Selde and Father Emil. Being so close, Thael is unable to avoid the near point blank range of the purple cloaked hobgoblin who just avoided his color blast. He shouts, "I'll claim the bounty on your head and make sure to paint it pretty colors, human!" just as he looses the arrow into Thael's upper chest (9 damage). Meanwhile, the red cloaked goblin seems to track Caspan as he moves and predicts his path and intercepts him with an arrow into his left bicep (3 damage).

Full party up for R2/R3!

R2: Wren, Selde, Thael, Father Emil, Hobgoblins, Caspan, Jillian
R3: Wren, Selde, Thael, Father Emil, Hobgoblins, Caspan, Jillian

Caspan's blood runs cold at the mention of a bounty, his memory flashing back to the night that changed everything.

"There's a bounty out on you, and it only took a little bit of it to make sure we could collect. Don't worry, though, we'll make it mostly harmless."

I never would've told anyone! How was I supposed to let them know that, though? Didn't have no way to do it stuck in that cell...

The pain of the arrow snaps him out of his momentary reverie and brings him back to the immediate danger.

Moving closer, he balances himself on his feet, ready to dodge the next arrow that comes his way.

Move, then use martial flexibility to gain Dodge.

As Selde finished casting her spell, an Eagle materialized behind the purple hobgoblin. The winged beast immediately set upon the Hobgoblin with beak and talon. While her summon attacked, Selde wasted no time. She spurred Nur towards the incline and closer to their foes and in front of Thael. Drawing one of the magical arrows they'd recovered, she loosed it at the purple Hobgoblin. "Cin shall ú- gar- hon!" She shouted in Elvish.

Selde finishes casting Summon Nature's Ally 1, summons an Eagle. Eagle full attacks purple. Selde standard attacks purple with +1 flaming arrow.

C.Longbow; ST, PBS, Bless, +1 Arrow: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 4 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 20
+1 Flaming Arrow; ST, PBS: 1d8 + 1d6 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + (4) + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 9

Bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Slashing: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Talon: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Slashing: 1d4 ⇒ 2
Talon: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Slashing: 1d4 ⇒ 1

LoH: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Jillian moves up with the others her greatsword at the ready. She reaches up to touch her wound once again, letting the healing light from her hand further close the wound in her neck.

Double move

Selde's flaming arrow finds its mark and buries into thigh of the purple cloaked hobgoblin who screams in pain from the strike. He turns his head to stare at the hal-elf and grinds his teeth together with newfound determination.

Wren, Father Emil and Thael are up.

Wren finishes her Sleep spell, targeting the yellow clad hobgoblin. Her only hope was that her magic could disable one of the threats while the others closed in on the archers.

Will DC 15 to resist.

The yellow clad hobgoblin's eyes slowly close and his body begins to wobble for a moment before it shakes its head and snaps out of it, shaking off Wren's spell.

Yellow: Will: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20