The Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh (SW)

Game Master Branding Opportunity

The large humanoid creature on the far side of the chasm bellows more commands in the goblin tongue, but seems unwilling to make any aggressive moves toward you at the moment.

The creature goes on hold as well.

Back in the tunnel, the dwarves pulling the mules try to keep up with those in the front, but don't quite make it to the cavern entrance. (They are just off the map with the mules.)

Quresha, Lord Sunwalker, Allysen, and Bizzle are up!

Bizzle nods at MWG, then scratches his head under his hat with confusion. "Yes! Very smart!", he says, then points to the pillar ahead of them. "But isn't that better held there? We channeled the masses of showgoers like that in the troupe." He pauses for a moment, staring at the bloodied axe in his hand.

"Well. Without the axe, I mean.", he adds, face reddening.

Isagoras nods at Bizzle. "Hm. Yes. Let us advance our position and concentrate ourselves amidst greater cover. Then we might pepper them with ranged attacks, and force them to make error.

At least, it worked at Agincourt."

"Let us make our stand there, then!" Quresha jogs forward, the tip of her spear angled down.

Allysen is running to see if the other exit is away out or if it just leads back into the Underdark.

Run: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Atheletics: 3
1d8 ⇒ 51d6 ⇒ 3
Total: 5 - 2 = 3

Allysen runs towards where they may be an exit while calling out to the others, "The bridge! Hold them at the bridge!"

She tries to jump up onto the ledge, to avoid wasting time going around the spur of rock in her way, but her feet fail to find purchase on the slick rock and she falls hard on her backside into the pool of water.

Yeesh, that didn't pay off.

Allysen is running to see if the other exit is away out or if it just leads back into the Underdark.

You aren't sure where it leads, but it definitely does not lead outside.

So Bizzle and Quresha, all you want to do is move?

Move and hold until an enemy gets within melee range.

If all you want to do right now is move, going on Hold is the "action" you want to take. It allows you to take an action later on in the turn.

GM BrOp, what pillar is Bizzle referring to? The black spot on the map that he and Quresha are now standing next to? If that is indeed a pillar...

Thinking to herself "But the bridge is so wide, many goblins could get thru at a time", but seeing as 3 comrades are already out in the cave, she runs ahead :

Running: 1d6 ⇒ 3

And she gets to where she wants to be with 1" to spare.

"Quresha, back up a little (1 square) when you can, and we'll be able to narrow them down to two at a time against us!"

If the black spot is not a pillar, I'll probably ret-con all of that.

I wasn't sure if I can ready an attack in SW, so just moving made sense to me!

EDIT: Thanks, MWG!

Bizzle stands, his axe raised towards the goblin hordes. His eyes lock with the massive figure, and the gnome grins. Laying his axe on the side, he punches his palms a couple of times. "I've seen bigger!", he roars out, as he kicks the axe in his hand once more, waiting for the attack.

Isagoras also moves up behind the front-line people, Holding his action until he can see the white of their eyes!

Or something.

Belros advances, seeking a place to fight from and hold.

What would Allysen to roll to know if it would lead outside eventually?

What would Allysen to roll to know if it would lead outside eventually?

There is nothing to roll. You literally would have to either have previous knowledge of the cave systems (which you don't) or just walk down them and see where they lead.

The goblins, driven on by the larger humanoid behind them, come rushing across the bridge Running: 1d6 ⇒ 6, small, wicked-looking spears clutched in their hands and their eyes wild with fear and anger.

End of Round 2

Round 3

Initiative

Large Humanoid: Ace of Spades
Goblins: Ace of Clubs

Belros: 9 of Spades
MWG: 9 of Clubs
Quresha: 8 of Spades
Allysen: 3 of Diamonds
Bizzle: 3 of Clubs
Isagoras: 2 of Spades
Dwarves: 2 of Clubs

I just looked up the rules for being on "Hold" and everyone who is on Hold when the round ends (which it did), can insert at any point before anyone else. So those of you on hold can act before the enemy, and that will then be your actions for Round 3. Everyone else has to wait until the enemy has finished.

"Here they come. Steady."

Quresha braces her spear against the floor as she calls a blessing of protection upon her companion.

Faith: 1d8 ⇒ 7 Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Protection on MWG.

MWG summons a large shuriken and throws it at one of the oncoming goblins :
Focus & Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 51d6 ⇒ 1

Doing
Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 6) = 10
ACE!: 1d6 ⇒ 4 = 14

PP=13
GM BrOp, pick a goblin, any goblin...

Moves with Grace's shuriken embeds itself in the chest of the closest goblin, causing him to be thrown over his companions a good ten feet before landing lifeless on the floor of the cavern.

Bizzle, Isagaros, Allysen, and Lord Sunwalker are up.

As the demi-humans charge forth, Isagoras draws arcane sigils in the air that writhe with changing color are contained power. He invokes the Darkened Binder with Noble Nephilim Diabolism, chaining the whole into an Indigo Rose Fractalius before sending the negative magic toward the closest creature.

casting bolt

Spellcasting: 1d10 ⇒ 4
WILD Spellcasting: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Damage!: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 2) = 9

"Hrmmm. Maybe too much Binder and not enough Diabolism," he muses.

"What?", Bizzle replies to Isagoras, before regretting the question immediately, fearing the barrage of words that would follo. "Possibly! You know best!", he adds quickly, as he sees the goblin hordes approach, as he bellows at the top of his lungs. "Pick on someone your own size, goblins! Come at me!"

As the demi-humans charge forth, Isagoras draws arcane sigils in the air that writhe with changing color are contained power. He invokes the Darkened Binder with Noble Nephilim Diabolism, chaining the whole into an Indigo Rose Fractalius before sending the negative magic toward the closest creature.

The bolt wraps itself around the closest goblin and incinerates it where it stands.

That's a raise on the damage, which means you inflict a wound, so scratch another goblin.

So Bizzle, is that you continuing your hold? Maybe time to pick up a ranged weapon when you get to Saltmarsh?

It was either ranged weapons, or sleeveless leather vests. I regret NOTHING!

It was either ranged weapons, or sleeveless leather vests. I regret NOTHING!

Well, I'm glad you at least made the sensible choice.

EDIT: Allysen and Lord Sunwalker are up.

Moving to engage the back of the horde. Taking two attacks, on against each of the goblins in front of her. -2 to all actions.
@GM: Sorry if I was getting on your nerves. I was just wondering if there was a way to tell if the air smelled fresher or if there was a breeze that would indicate a way out.

Fight 1: 0
1d6 ⇒ 21d6 ⇒ 1
2 - 2 = 0

Fight 2: 8
1d6 ⇒ 61d6 ⇒ 2
1d6 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 6 - 2 = 8
Damage: 12
1d6 + 1d4 ⇒ (6) + (1) = 7
1d6 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Allysen picks her self up and rushes around the pillar to the rear of the horde and swings her staff, intending to quickly take out the goblins in front of her. Her feet slip, still wet from her dip in the pool, and the little green runt laughs as she starts to fall. She catches herself, however, and uses the momentum of her miss to send the other goblin sailing out into the chasm as it screams.

@GM: Sorry if I was getting on your nerves. I was just wondering if there was a way to tell if the air smelled fresher or if there was a breeze that would indicate a way out.

No apology needed, you were fine.

Allysen picks her self up and rushes around the pillar to the rear of the horde and swings her staff, intending to quickly take out the goblins in front of her. Her feet slip, still wet from her dip in the pool, and the little green runt laughs as she starts to fall. She catches herself, however, and uses the momentum of her miss to send the other goblin sailing out into the chasm as it screams.

And another one gone ... Lord Sunwalker is up!

Lord Belros strikes from his held position, aiming to lop off goblin heads. Though with limited success this time.

Fighting: 1d6 ⇒ 3
Wild Die: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Bennie for Fighting reroll: 1d6 ⇒ 2

I believe that's him down to 2/3 Bennies

Round 3 cont.

The goblins nearest Allysen swarm towards her, stabbing at the half-elf with their wicked looking spears. (Goblin#1 attack: 1d6 ⇒ 2, Goblin#2 attack: 1d6 ⇒ 6, Goblin#3 attack: 1d6 ⇒ 6, Goblin#4 attack: 1d6 ⇒ 4; Goblin#2 Ace: 1d6 ⇒ 4, Goblin#3 Ace: 1d6 ⇒ 5. Goblin#1 = miss, Goblin#2 = hit with raise: Damage with raise: 1d4 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + (5, 4) = 12, Goblin#3 = hit with raise: Damage with raise: 1d4 + 2d6 ⇒ (4) + (3, 3) = 10, Goblin#4 = miss. The 12 damage gives Allysen a Wound plus the Shaken condition, and the 10 damage gives her an additional wound. Allysen, you'll probably want to spend the party benny to soak some of that damage.)

The other goblins rush at the collection of foes at the far side of the cavern, and are able to reach Quresha and Moves with Grace in time to stab at them with their spears. Luckily for them, the adventurers seem quite able to deflect their clumsy attacks.(Goblin#5 attack on Quresha: 1d6 ⇒ 5, miss; Goblin#6 attack on Quresha: 1d6 ⇒ 3, miss; Goblin#7 attack on Moves with Grace: 1d6 ⇒ 5, miss.)

The party is up!

"This spell has evolved since its founding," Isagoras begins cryptically as he draws a great circle.

"Initially it was purely mind-affecting," He weaves the sigils of Life and Well-being into the circle.

"It's effects would play tricks, and the target would act erratically. Either standing dumb, or attacking allies." He weaves the signs of Wellness, Wholeness, and Long Life.

"Alas, the effects were never...potent. To many foes worth Confusing were immune to the effects, and when it did take hole, too often the benefits were not worth the investment of Power." In the last empty spots of the circle he colors in Vigor and Strength.

"And so it morphed to the body...and just said to f#+# it all." He draws a great RED line across the circle, and the thing fades to black before it breaks.

The shards FLY out, seeking all five nearby goblins.

Sorcery!: 1d10 ⇒ 1
WILD Sorcery!: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Nope, not awesome. I've done dick this whole time, working up to this one moment. Not having it be just good enough. Bennie.

Sorcery!: 1d10 ⇒ 9
WILD Sorcery!: 1d6 ⇒ 1
That's better.... Casting Confusion. 5 targets. Smarts roll at -4 or Shaken. (good luck with that, goblins. =))

Goblin Smarts rolls: Goblin#5 Smarts: 1d6 - 2 ⇒ (5) - 2 = 3, fail; Goblin#6 Smarts: 1d6 - 2 ⇒ (5) - 2 = 3, fail; Goblin#7 Smarts: 1d6 - 2 ⇒ (5) - 2 = 3, fail; Goblin#8 Smarts: 1d6 - 2 ⇒ (4) - 2 = 2, fail; Goblin#9 Smarts: 1d6 - 2 ⇒ (1) - 2 = -1, fail. All 5 goblins near the bulk of the party are Distracted and Vulnerable (they take a -2 on all Trait rolls and you get a +2 on all Trait rolls against them) until the end of their next turn. Powerful spell!

Everybody exept for Isagaros is up!

Spending the group Benny to Soak

Vigor: 1d6 ⇒ 21d6 ⇒ 5 That is a success, Allysen is shaken with one wound.
Spirit: 1d4 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 21d6 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2 And Allysen is still shaken. Oh boy.

Allysen dances in a flurry of motion, parrying the jabs of the goblins' spears with her staff. One of them manages to nick her cheek, with the crude and cruelly barbed point of its spear, causing her to hesitate enough for the goblin behind her to gash her arm and send her stumbling forward a step. Seeing that she's surrounded, memories of darker times under the "care" of Ma Belladonna come back to her with a vengeance. Her breath catches as she hears the old hag's laughter in her head. Her hands wring her staff as she tries to back into the stone pillar, away from the goblins. Her eyes are dark and hopeless as the thought of being in Ma Belladonna's clutches again grips her very soul.

"No. No, I can't. I can't go back."

Bizzle stares at the goblins surrounding Allysen, nervously stepping from foot to foot. You know you're supposed to stay..., he thinks to himself, but then as a trickle of sweat burrows down his paling face, he closes his eyes for a moment. The spell from Isagoras, however, pushes the gnome into decision, as he leaps forwards with a trepidating battlecry.

"Go-away-go-away-go-away-go-away!", he shouts, as he cuts past the first goblin, his axe barely catching onto the creature's thick leather. His pursuit doesn't stop, however, as he smashes his axe into the second goblin, dragging it above its head by the ribcage for a good ten feet or so, before hurling it into the abyss. "Go awaaay!", he shouts at the two goblins between him and the half-elf, as Bizzle brandishes his blood-soaked axe in the air.

Running Die: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Fighing, multi-action -2, Confused, Running: 1d10 - 2 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (9) - 2 + 2 - 2 = 7
Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Damage: 2d10 ⇒ (1, 2) = 3
Raise Damage?: 1d6 ⇒ 4 Not sure, since the whole distracted thing.

Fighing, multi-action -2, Confused, Running: 1d10 - 2 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (9) - 2 + 2 - 2 = 7
Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Damage: 2d10 ⇒ (4, 10) = 14
Explode: 1d10 ⇒ 9 I'd go ahead and scratch that one off.
Raise Damage?: 1d6 ⇒ 3

By the glory of Sir Leeroy, we might pull it off!

The goblins have a Parry of 5 and a Toughness of 4, so both attacks are a hit, but the damage on the first is not enough to do damage. The second is enough to slay it outright, of course. BTW, Bizzle, which one did you kill? I don't remember where you were.

Let's have a new rule. If you know that you have taken out an opponent, you can change it's color to "Negative". You do this by clicking on the image, selecting "Format Options", then "Recolor". Does that make sense? I'll remove the token but this is a way for you to show that its been removed from combat. I will also post Parry and Toughness stats after the first time you hit an opponent, so that you know whether you hit or do damage.

My idea was charge through (I was on the choke point to the left of Quresha and MWG), so the first red one was the one I plinked, and I took out the second red one.

Allysen, the bigger idea was to draw some of their attention, as I'm sure facing two or one is better than facing four at the same time!

My idea was charge through (I was on the choke point to the left of Quresha and MWG), so the first red one was the one I plinked, and I took out the second red one.

Okay, I removed the second one from the map.

"Our right flank is vulnerable! I shall take care of it!"

The elven noble dashes forward to a gap and strikes at the goblin there.

Short Sword: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Wild Die: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 4) = 5

Seeing their companion beset on all sides, Quresha seeks to come to Allysen's aid, but a line of goblins stand between her and her companion.

"Away! Away!" she barks, unconsciously repeating what Bizzle was shouting just moments earlier.

Fighting, confused: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Damage: 1d8 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + (4) = 7

Is it dead? I think it's dead.

Gripping her spear in both hands, she impales the goblin in front of her through the midriff, shaking it off and jogging towards the second group, taking a roundabout way to come at the goblins from behind.

GM BrOp, are we getting new initiative cards?

MWG slashes her sword at the goblin in front of her :

Fighting & Wild: 1d8 ⇒ 81d6 ⇒ 6
ACE! ACE!: 1d8 ⇒ 41d6 ⇒ 6
ACE!: 1d6 ⇒ 4 = 16 I *think* that's a Raise... :)

Doing
Damage + Raise: 2d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (2, 1) + (1) = 4 Phooey!

Ouch! Rough dmg roll, Moves. Mind you, they only have a 4 toughness, which is enough to shake them. And since I already shook them, you...shook them ALL. Night. Long! (can't talk headbanging)

Yes, new rolls.

The goblin nearest Lord Sunwalker takes a nasty blow to the head, but is not out for the count ... yet. (Goblin is shaken) Moves with Grace and Quresha are able to take the one nearest them, however.

Round 4

Initiative
Dwarves: Joker
Goblins: Joker
Quresha: King of Spades
Isagoras: 8 of Diamonds
MWG: 7 of Spades
Allysen: 5 of Spades
Bizzle: 5 of Diamonds
Large Creature: 4 of Diamonds
Belros Sunwalker: 3 of Clubs

One Benny in the Player pool and one in the GM pool, yay! Action cards are reshuffled.

The goblins, perhaps encouraged by the large humanoid moving up behind them, attack their foes with glee. The two nearest Bizzle turn their backs on Allyen to strike at the charging gnome, and although one seems to strike Bizzle, his armor turns away the spear-point. (Goblin 1 attack on Bizzle +2 Joker +1 Ganging Up: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6, miss; Goblin#2: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9, hit! Damage + Joker: 1d4 + 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + (3) + 2 = 6)

Two goblins remain facing Allysen. One sweeps her legs with the haft of his spear to knocks her a bit off balance, while the other jabs at her. (Goblin#3 makes a fighting) roll to support Goblin#4: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7, success! Goblin#4 attack +2 Joker +1 Ganging Up +1 Suipport: 1d6 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 1 + 1 = 8, Goblin#4 Damage: 1d4 + 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + (5) + 2 = 11, that's sadly another wound and more shaken. Good thing the group pool got another Benny from the dwarves' Joker!)

Up with the other heroes, one of the ensorcelled goblins turns and flees (the one who wasn't in melee with anyone) while the others strike inefectually at Moves with Grace and Lord Sunwalker. (Goblin#5 attacks MWG: 1d6 - 2 ⇒ (4) - 2 = 2. Goblin#6 attacks Sunwalker: 1d6 - 2 ⇒ (5) - 2 = 3)

Everyone except Lord Sunwalker is up, then comes the large goblin, and then Lord Sunwalker.

"Ha-ha!", shouts Bizzle as he feels the dagger pushed against his leather vest. The gnome rises his axe to the side, and as he spins, the wicked axe cleaves both goblins in twain. "Last warning!", he grins, clearly content with himself, as he points towards the hulking figure. "Go away now, back to where you came!"

GM BrOp - sorry, I was confused. At the very beginning of Round 3, I was on Hold, so I took an action right away (with a shuriken). Then later on, you said "the party is up", so I took another action (with the sword). Do you want to make the sword swing my action in Round 4, or now that there's no opponent near me at the beginning of Round 4, should we just nullify the sword attack and I take another action? Apologies for the confusion.

Quresha comes up from behind the rock formation. "Face me!" Her honour code would not allow her to strike an enemy from behind, so she waits until she has the goblin's full attention before jabbing at it with her spear.

Fighting: 1d6 ⇒ 2 Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Damage: 1d8 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + (4) = 7

Also, I think the one that Lord Sunwalker attacked was one of the ones I Shaked? If so then he double-shakeded...ed them.

Isagoras skirts around the edge of the battlefield until he has a good shot at one of the goblins and let's fly with a sling stone.

Shoot!: 1d6 ⇒ 3
WILD shoot!: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Alas, his aim is not as good as his ability to wield cosmic arcane might.

Such is life.

Spirit: 1d4 ⇒ 21d6 ⇒ 3 Neeeope.

Allysen tries to fend off the goblins, but they prove faster than the frightened young woman. One takes her legs out from under her an she falls hard on her side, leaving her open for the other goblin's thrust. The wicked spearhead dives deep into her thigh, thankfully missing anything vital but hampering her all the same. She cries out in pain and fear and pulls the weapon free of her leg as she scrambles back and curls up against the stone pillar like a child trying to hide from monsters they imagine lurk nearby. She holds out her staff, waving it in the hopes of preventing another goblin attack.

GM BrOp - sorry, I was confused. At the very beginning of Round 3, I was on Hold, so I took an action right away (with a shuriken). Then later on, you said "the party is up", so I took another action (with the sword). Do you want to make the sword swing my action in Round 4, or now that there's no opponent near me at the beginning of Round 4, should we just nullify the sword attack and I take another action? Apologies for the confusion.

Go ahead and take another Round 4 action. There are enough goblins for everyone!

Seeing that Allysen is in trouble, MWG throws a shuriken at the goblin in front of her :

Focus & Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 31d6 ⇒ 2

But the shuriken fails to appear. In the back of her mind, she wonders why sometimes they appear, and sometimes they don't.

Ping?

Still here. Looks like we're in limbp at the moment.

Sorry, I'm back from being sick. Posting will be a bit slower for the next few weeks as its the end of the semester for me (I'm a teacher), but I'll have a lot more time after that.

Round 4

Quresha steps out from behind the rock and swings at the closest goblin. Although it parries the thrust away from its vital organs, it still gets a nasty cut on its upper torso. (Goblin is shaken, which I am coloring in purple).

Bizzle steps up and devastates the two foes before him with practiced swings of his greataxe. (Both goblins are dead, as the Joker only confers a +2 on all Trait and damage rolls, not on static stats like Parry or Toughness.)

The large humanoid creature begins to lumber over the bridge as it bellows and waves its enormous club about in a threatening fashion.

Lord Sunwalker is up!

Lord Belros strikes at the rattled goblin, eager to see it struck down by his hand.

Fighting: 1d6 ⇒ 1 1
Wild Die: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Wild Die, Ace: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Wild Die, Ace: 1d6 ⇒ 2 14 to hit

Sword: 3d6 ⇒ (3, 3, 2) = 8