GM Nowruz's #3–23: The Goblinblood Dead (Inactive)

Game Master noral

"More bodies for the mistresses ranks!"

Upon hearing the challenging shout, Pai recklessly scoots past her comrades and through the doorway. Seeing the hazy form of the shouter so close to her, she squeaks: "EEEP!" I immediately regret this decision!

Reflexively, she sends out a blast of electric energy from her palm, then shrinks back against the door frame to let the bigger party members through (to protect her).

Electric blast vs. Touch AC, including Thundering Infusion: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 142d6 + 5 ⇒ (6, 5) + 5 = 16
She takes 1 point of burn for Thundering Infusion: target needs DC16 Fort save or is deafened.
(The miss chance for projectile weapons vs. Pai is 25%; Same miss chance applies to ray attacks for one round. See Enveloping Winds for more info.)

The electric blast hits the table on which the hobgoblin is standing but he seems completely unaffected.

"Ha ha ... you will all die! And then we will eat you and make you servants to our mistress!"

Vayon goes into the room and casts Color Spray DC 14 against the pair at the back of the room.

Giovanni generates a handful of acid and throws it at the hobgoblin over the bones.

acid splash vs touch, flatfoot: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
damage: 1d3 + 2d6 ⇒ (2) + (6, 6) = 14

After sending his attack, he'll duck down and run by the hobgoblin to position for the rest of the team.

acrobatics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

Hearing the commotion Arin moves towards the door, muttering some guttural abyssal under his breath.

15' W, move action
Cast bless, standard action; Each ally gains a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects; Duration: 4m/40 rounds.

Team: remember to use this bonus every round this battle!

Will : 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11
Will : 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12

Both hobgoblins drop to the ground unconscious!

2d4 ⇒ (3, 3) = 6

The acid hits the chief on the table and burns through his armor!

Peregryne glides into the room before his shoulders roll forward and a fist of wind streaks out from him towards the last concious enemy.

Air Blast: 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 9 + 1 + 1 = 15
M B Damage: 3d6 + 10 ⇒ (2, 5, 6) + 10 = 23

Wow, the wind gods are not in Peregryne's favour for this combat. A total of 10 over 3 attack dice rolls. Luckily everyone else seems to be picking up his slack :P

:-) Luck goes around and comes around.
Pazacku IS UP!

The air blast again hits the cavern walls and the hobgoblin on the table laughs again.

"You guys are nothing but hot air!"

Pazacku moves up and slashes at the hobgoblins chest.

Bless
attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 131d8 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

well at least we know we are all on the same page

The hobgoblin uses his longsword and makes an incredible whirlwind attack to hit Giovanni and Pazacku ... both of them feel the steel slash across their chest!

Longsword Giovanni, higher ground: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 301d8 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Crit confirm: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 131d8 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Longsword Pazacku, higher ground: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 281d8 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

YOU ARE ALL UP!

* * *

Chief Green -14

Hobgoblin Red, unconscious
Hobgoblin Blue, unconscious

Pazacku -12
Giovanni -13
Arin
Vayon
Pai
Peregryne

Move Action, cast detect evil defensively
Concentration Check, DC 17: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Pazacku attempts to observe the creatures aura to see if it is evil, but the slash across the chest causes him to hesitate.

He slashes at his enemy once more.
attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 191d8 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

He then quickly touches the wound with his hand, causing the wound to start closing.
LOH: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6

Vayon targets the last hobgoblin with a Scorching Ray. He then steps up to box him in.

Scorching Ray: rtouch
to hit 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25 damage 4d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 1, 2) = 11

Pai is a little bit perturbed that she didn't hit the guy literally right in front of her. She takes a five foot step to her left to get line of sight past Pazacku, then holds both arms outward, calling forth the elemental power of electricity. Pale blue lightening bolts crackle around her, as if they're being sucked into her tiny form in a whirling, deafening roar. Everyone around her can feel their hair, fur, or feathers standing on end in response to the electric field she has created (though no damage is done to them). Finally, once it seems like her petite frame can consume no more power without exploding, the influx of electricity abruptly ceases. Her eyes glow, her body trembles with potency, as she deliberately, almost in slow motion, raises her hand, and releases the blast of thunderous electricity towards the table-mounted foe's chest.

Move action to gather power
Electric blast vs. Touch AC, with Thundering Infusion: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 252d6 + 5 ⇒ (4, 5) + 5 = 14
If this blast hits, the target needs DC16 Fort save or is deafened, whether or not it takes damage.
Includes Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, and Elemental Overflow.
The burn for Thundering Infusion is mitigated by gathering power.
(The miss chance for projectile weapons vs. Pai is 25%.)

Giovanni takes the longsword strike on his off shoulder and spins to not take the worst of it. He uses the moment to conceal his rapier through his coat and stab at the chief.

5ft Step, move action feint, standard to stab

bluff feint: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

rapier, flank: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 7 + 2 = 25

damage: 1d6 + 4 + 2d6 ⇒ (5) + 4 + (6, 2) = 17

That hot air is the warm breath of Death, scoundrel.

”Arghhhh ... “

Your combined electric, physical and fire attacks bring the scorched hobgoblin to his knees ... and he drops to the ground.

The other two hobgoblins are still unconscious.

"Let's see what they know." Vayon starts to tie up the hobgoblins.

Well done Pai!

He walks over to the hobgoblin on the table and reaches out to touch it.

sacred touch, stabilized

We might want to interrogate this one too. Tie him up as well.

The two hobgoblins wake up and are shocked to be tied up!

They remain silent though.

Arin walks up to the tied up hobgoblins, looking at them with genuine curiosity.

So, do you all speak common?

He repeats the query again in Abyssal, patiently waiting to see how they respond.

Vayon helps Arin interrogate the prisoners. "If they can't talk they're no good to us. It's better to just kill them here." The ends of his rune etched staff begins to glow with arcane power.
He does speak goblin, but won't let on unless they seem to not understand any other language.
Intimidate: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

The goblins spit on the floor in front of you after Arin speaks to them.

Vayon's words change something in them and you clearly see fear in their eyes. But they remain silent although you assume that they do not know what you want!

You can continue this route. They are intimidated based on the 'Influence Opponent’s Attitude' into acting cooperatively as I assume that is what you wanted after 1 minute of interaction.

Peregryne moves back a small distance the way they came from to keep watch.

”You guys do your thing... I’ll keep an eye out back here.”

"Who is in command of this place? Why are you attacking the caravans?"

One of the hobgoblins looks at the blood stains.

”We ... we serve Urgothoa... undead servants of our mistress task our was! We kill and raise cleric did!!“ he says uncertain.

wisdom check: 1d20 ⇒ 9

"I believe they are just the fodder" Pazacku says sheathing his katana and placing it back in his belts. "i suggest we keep moving on though"

Wisdom: 1d20 ⇒ 2

"'...undead servants of our mistress task our was!'? What? These guys can't tell us anything we won't find out ourselves soon enough." Pai is clearly unimpressed with what these hobgoblins have to say. "So guys, are we done here? They're not going anywhere. We can just leave them here and move on, right?"

Wisdom, DC15: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

I guess so. It does sound like they know some things though. I guess we'll be on the lookout for an undead cleric...?

He moves towards the western door and prepares to open it. unless somebody else wants to keep interrogating them.

As long as they remain bound, we should continue. I'm not one to kill a sentient creature without defense. Giovanni will take a look at the next western door.

perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

Knock them unconscious and remove any weapons and holy symbols and stuff. We can toss them down the pit before we go.

Wow. He's dark. Pai's eyes widen like saucers as she deliberately looks away from Vayon. She keeps quiet for now, waiting to see if anyone else says anything.

Vayon starts hitting the first hobgoblin and they both start screaming.

The one that had not spoken suddenly speaks up and it sounds much more fluid.

"Telda the Urgathoa wonder gives the power of our goddess! During Goblinblood Wars Telda not return to her people, and instead north until reached Finder's Gulch, haunted foothills. Here, she cult of Urgathoa found herself drawn into. Within cult, Telda met other hobgoblin, including Darak ... and he looks at the warrior whose bloody remains lies on the table.

"Telda explore religion, her needs and desires to shift toward the Urgathoa horrific. During one debased feast, Telda make strange and terrible sounds in middle of the meal. Unable control her own voice, lashed out at those around her. After her energy was spent, Telda own voice and words returned her, and fellow supplicants all lay dead or dying festering and bleeding wounds­wounds that her touch caused."

It seems that he is very scared of Telda.

"Then, surrounded by blood of fellow worshipers, Telda had first revelation - vision of Chitterwood goblinoid armies rising more, loyal to her. Soon, Telda returned to Chitterwood with small group of cultists, including Darak - constant companion and protector - and raiding battlefield graves and crypts to gradually her skeletal army. Urgathoa so strong! We kill all we find on route and here we butcher and eat! Then raise dead! Telda in other room somewhere ..."

After you know all that the hobgoblins are able to tell, you jointly hold their mouths and Vayon continues to beat them until they are unconscious.

He carries the hobgoblins to the pit and lets them sink into the pit to avoid too much damage.

Oh! I meant toss the weapons down the pit, not the hobgoblins. You all must think Vayon is a terrible person. I love it. It's cannon now. Vayon tosses the hobgoblins down the pit and kicks some dirt in on top of them. He says something cool like "And keep the change you filthy animal."

I feel dirty.

Giovanni sort of shakes his head. Dang, I've run with some hard characters but this Van guy is stone cold. I guess as long as we dont' kill them outright, it's fine. Giovanni prepares to move on.

Pazacku goes to interfere, but then remembers the greater good in Vayon's actions. "Well with the goblins out of the way. Which way?"

So that explains the undead. This "Telda" sounds very driven by her new inspirations. We'll have to be careful when we come across her.

The gnome again moves to open the western door, with all business with the hobgoblins truly finished.

"Very true Mr. Gnome." Pazacku says nodding in agreement. "If she has many followers like the goblins say, she will not be alone."

You open the door to reveal a small space. Four rudimentary bunks and two wooden chests take up most of the space in the cramped area.

Despite the lack of room, the area has been kept neat and relatively clean.

You check the chests.

Obviously the hobgoblins did not lock one of the chests and it contains a few items of value, including a potion of cure light wounds, 100 feet of silk rope, and jewels and loose coins of various denominations totaling to 83 gp.

The other chest is locked.

perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
Giovanni dons his glasses and has a look over the chest before he starts tinkering with it, in case it is trapped.

disable device: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

Giovanni takes out his toolset and goes to work on the lock.

Here we go, the spoils of war. We can use these manacles if we don't have a handy pit in the near future.

Where to next?

"Shall we continue?"

Peregryne moves to the remaining door and looks it over before moving further back to let the others get in front.

Perception: 10 + 10 = 20

Pai lines up near the south door in the torture room, looking over her shoulder to see if anyone is trying to come up on the group from behind.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

Yes, definitely. Arin replies.

There was some useful gear in there, but nothing to linger on.

He moves to the south door, looking it over lightly for traps.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

"Heh. Yeah. Those manacles would have been useful just a few minutes ago." He goes with the others.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

You do not detect any traps.

Van casts Shield and goes into the room.

Van enters an underground hallway of this cavern network.

Giovanni gathers the stuff from the room and takes it with him.

Can I get a Detect Magic on this stuff, please.

He follows up behind Van.

Van makes his way to an intersection and chooses to continue straight rather than turn. There's another door.

Following Van, Pai keeps close. She feels awful for what happened to their prisoners, and is determined not to let him get away with that level of thuggery again.

No hard feelings, Van. Just roleplaying. :)