GM Mike's Ironfang Invasion

Game Master mike9322

Lirosa pulls her bow off her back. "Taidel, they're surrounded! We have to help!" She moves into the cover of the trees and fires a shot at #2. The arrow (4 damage).

Taidel looks terrified but follows his sister's lead, putting an arrow into #4, who stubbornly refuses to go down (3 damage).

Hob #3 grins and stabs Oona in the back while she wheels around, trying to defend herself on three sides (6 damage).

#4 can't take advantage of the flank and Oona easily swipes his swing away.

Kergri is barely standing and swings her scimitar weakly into the ground.

#1 and #2 swing at Mac in a coordinated attack. He sees #2 coming and steps out of the way, directly into the path of #1 (3 damage).

ROUND 8
Kergri (23 damage, -2 attack [3 rounds])
Kur (18 damage, -2 AC [2 rounds], unconscious and stable)
Hob 1 (0 damage, half speed [2 rounds])
Hob 2 (9 damage, +3 AC vs. Mac [3 rounds])
Oona (14/20 hp)
Mac (13/24 hp)
Freyja (22/22 hp)
Katia (14/16 hp)
Aubrin
Taidel
Lirosa
Hob 3 (6 damage)
Hob 4 (15 damage)

Bold may act.

Katia glares at Kergri, sending every ounce of vitriol she can at the b#&#&, forcing her legs to go sluggish and her reflexes to dull.

Evil Eye to Kergri against AC again. Hopefully it sticks long enough to kill her.

Seeing Kergri react to Katia's hex, Oona strikes once more.

Scythe: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Damage: 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (1, 2) + 4 = 7

She glances at Mac struggling with the hobgoblin. "Attack the other one, silly mutt!"

Mac turns to the other hobgoblin and bites at his thigh, hoping to tear an artery.

Bite vs #1: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Freyja takes a deep breath. She feels herself on the edge of panic. She needs a steady shot.

Breathe.

longbow (+2 favored) @ #4: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 2 = 11
damage (+2 favored) @ #4: 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 2 = 11
longbow (+2 favored) @ #4: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 5 + 2 = 18
damage (+2 favored) @ #4: 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 2 = 6

Katia takes Kergri's defenses down once more, and Oona's scythe finally finishes her off. A second later, Freyja puts an arrow in the back of #4's head and it falls as well. However, Aubrin misses #3 and Lirosa and Taidel miss #1.

#3 sees their leader fall and yells in goblin, then runs away back toward town.

#1 and #2 again swing in a concerted attack. Mac's luck runs out and both swords hit him simultaneously. He falls to the ground in a pool of blood (14 damage).

ROUND 9
Kergri (31 damage, -2 attack [2 rounds], unconscious and dying)
Kur (18 damage, -2 AC [1 round], unconscious and stable)
Hob 1 (0 damage, half speed [1 round])
Hob 2 (9 damage, +3 AC vs. Mac [2 rounds])
Oona (14/20 hp)
Mac (-1/24 hp, unconscious and dying)
Freyja (22/22 hp)
Katia (14/16 hp)
Aubrin
Taidel
Lirosa
Hob 3 (6 damage, ran away)
Hob 4 (22 damage, unconscious and dying)

Bold may act.

"Mac!" Oona cries. She points at the fleeing hob. "We'll have company very soon!"

She moves up to one of the hobs hovering over Mac's body and slashes at him with a bellow of rage.

Scythe: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Damage: 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (4, 3) + 4 = 11

Katia fires her crossbow at the other hobgoblin, the one coated in muck, hoping to clear the path to the bridge.

Crossbow vs #1: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8

She then reloads and readies herself to fire again.

Dammit.

Stabilize DC 10: 1d20 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (20) + 2 - 1 = 21

Mac, you badass!

Freyja moves up to get a shot on the one remaining hob. "Katia! Go! We'll handle this!"

longbow (+2 favored, -2 cover): 1d20 + 7 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 2 - 2 = 12
damage (+2 favored): 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 2 = 11

Oona takes down one of the hobs that took down Mac. Katia, Taidel, Lirosa, and Freyja's shots at #1 go wide.

Aubrin steps forward and fires at #1. The arrow grazes a branch on the way but still hits the hob in the calf (4 damage).

#1 steps down and swings at Katia. The strike takes her in the ribs (8 damage).

ROUND 10
Kergri (32 damage, -2 attack [1 round], unconscious and dying)
Kur (18 damage, unconscious and stable)
Hob 1 (4 damage)
Hob 2 (20 damage, +3 AC vs. Mac [1 rounds])
Oona (14/20 hp)
Mac (-1/24 hp, unconscious and stable)
Freyja (22/22 hp)
Katia (6/16 hp)
Aubrin
Taidel
Lirosa
Hob 3 (6 damage, ran away)
Hob 4 (23 damage, unconscious and dying)

Bold may act.

Stumbling and bleeding, Katia withdraws away from the hobgoblin who refuses to die, taking the long way around toward the bridge. Another hit like that, she thinks on the verge of tears, and you'll go down and you won't be getting back up.

Full withdrawal. I had to move through the stupid bushes and Kergri's dumb corpse so I didn't get nearly as far as I'd hoped.

Oona steps up to block the hob from easily going after Katia, and swings again.

Scythe: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
Damage: 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (3, 1) + 4 = 8

Freyja steps up past Jet. She is desperate to take this last hob down.

longbow (+2 favored): 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 7 + 2 = 19
damage (+2 favored): 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 2 = 11

The arrow pierces the back of the hob's neck and it crumples. Freyja spits. "F##$ you, hob."

Aubrin sees the last hob falls and steps forward. She grasps her holy symbol and mumbles a prayer, bursting positive energy (4 healing). Aubrin looks annoyed and looks to the sky. "That's it? Really?"

ROUND 11
Kergri (32 damage, unconscious and dying)
Kur (18 damage, unconscious and stable)
Hob 1 (23 damage, unconscious and dying)
Hob 2 (20 damage)
Oona (17/20 hp)
Mac (3/24 hp)
Freyja (22/22 hp)
Katia (10/16 hp)
Aubrin
Taidel
Lirosa
Hob 3 (6 damage, ran away)
Hob 4 (23 damage, unconscious and dying)

Bold may act.

Katia breathes a sigh of relief and hurries to the bridge.

Double move. Let's do this!

Oona breathes a sigh of relief as Mac stands up. She hurries to his side and mutters a prayer, touching the big wolf's fur.

Casting CLW.

1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

She strokes his ears, then nods at Katia. "Go. Defend."

She moves forward, calling to the others, "Across the bridge! Now, hurry!"

Mac staggers to his feet and chuffs gratefully at Oona and Aubrin before moving over to Katia to defend her as she works.

Everyone runs toward the bridge. Aubrin stops at the foot of the bridge and says, "Anyone needs healing, gather around me."

Freyja tells Taidel and Lirosa to stand at the foot of the bridge with her and protect Katia from incoming reinforcements.

ROUND 12
Oona (17/20 hp)
Mac (12/24 hp)
Freyja (22/22 hp)
Katia (10/16 hp)
Aubrin
Taidel
Lirosa

Bold may act.

Oona takes a few steps back onto the bridge, then faces the town, on guard for danger. "Everyone but those helping Katia with the explosive, please get across the bridge."

Readying an attack to swipe at any baddies showing up in melee.

Katia barely hears the words; she hustles to the center of the bridge, then begins directing the two townsfolk with her in setting up the bomb.

My guess is it take her full turn each round to work on it, so unless you say otherwise, each turn will be spent doing that.

Mac keeps pace with Katia, ears pricked up and nose twitching as he searches for danger.

Aubrin waves everyone along, then speaks to the sky again. "These people need your help. Get it together." She grasps her holy symbol and chants a prayer (10 healing). "Much better."

Everyone else scurries along the bridge, while Freyja, Taidel, and Lirosa check their bows.

No sign of any more hobs yet.

ROUND 13
Oona (20/20 hp)
Mac (13/24 hp)
Freyja (22/22 hp)
Katia (16/16 hp)
Aubrin
Taidel
Lirosa

Bold may act.

Katia continues focusing on the explosive.

I love how sassy Aubrin is with a deity. :D

Mac perks up his ears when he hears Oona's voice. "Mac. Come." The big wolf pads over and looks up at her curiously.

Seeing no enemies in the immediate vicinity, Oona pulls out the wand and touches Mac with it. "You're going to need this, I suspect."

Wand of CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

She nods back at Katia. "Now go on. Back to your task. Defend."

The first of the refugees reaches the other side of the bridge and turns to wait. Everyone is on edge, knowing that they have no choice but to wait, but absolutely sure that more hobgoblins are going to show up soon.

In fact, it feels like it's been quite a long time since that hobgoblin left. Is he bringing the whole army with him?

ROUND 14
Oona (20/20 hp)
Mac (20/24 hp)
Freyja (22/22 hp)
Katia (16/16 hp)
Aubrin
Taidel
Lirosa

Bold may act.

Oona stows the wand and readies her scythe again, taking a few steps backward to be closer to the center of the bridge.

Katia holds up the last vial of the admixture to pour into the jug. She glances at the other two townsfolk. "Moment of truth. The second this is done, get to the other side of the bridge."

Here we go...

Craft (alchemy): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

Townie Aid: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Downie Aid: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

Mac pads back to stand near Katia.

Katia follows Oreld's instructions to a T. Even in the death, the man may be saving over 30 lives today; perhaps many more, if you and these people you've saved can return to liberate enslaved Phaendarians.

The fuse is lit. All of the refugees have made it to the other side of the bridge, other than the two who helped Katia, who will arrive there next round.

Where are the reinforcements? Is it safe to leave the bomb?

ROUND 15
Oona (20/20 hp)
Mac (20/24 hp)
Freyja (22/22 hp)
Katia (16/16 hp)
Aubrin
Taidel
Lirosa

Bold may act.

Oona calls, "Taidel! Lirosa! Freyja! Get across the bridge. Katia, move back at a steady pace. Not too fast, but make sure anyone who reaches the bomb is in range of your... thing... that you do." She turns to Mac. "Come on, fur face." Oona moves back, intending to keep herself close enough to the bomb that she can rush anyone who tries to tamper with it before it explodes.

Moving back, but will stay within 40 feet of the bomb (won't finish moving into place until next round, but that is the plan).

Mac moves back with Oona, eyes, ears, and nose alert for danger.

Katia nods at Oona's orders and moves a little ways from the explosive, but close enough she can hex anyone who tries to mess with it, and close enough to the other side of the bridge she can hoof it when it's time.

Freyja, Taidel, and Lirosa all move along the bridge, giving the bomb a wide berth.

In the distance, you think you might hear the clomp-clomp of boots along the road?

ROUND 16 (4 ROUNDS TILL BOOM)
Oona (20/20 hp)
Mac (20/24 hp)
Freyja (22/22 hp)
Katia (16/16 hp)
Aubrin
Taidel
Lirosa

Bold may act.

Katia takes a few more steps back and prepares another blast of hex magic for anyone who steps near the explosives.

Readying an action to Evil Eye any enemy that gets within 5ft of the bomb for its AC.

Oona takes a few more steps back, then watches the other side of the bridge for the inevitable arrival of hobgoblin reinforcements.

Following his companion's lead, Mac moves toward the other end of the bridge.

Turns out the sound of boots on the road wasn't your imaginations; three hobgoblins come into view heading up the road toward the bridge, one of which looks like the one that ran away earlier. You are somewhat surprised it is only three, but three is enough to mess up your plans.

They aren't close enough yet to see the bomb, but they definitely see all the people on the other side of the bridge, waiting for something.

ROUND 17 (3 ROUNDS TILL BOOM)
Oona (20/20 hp)
Mac (20/24 hp)
Freyja (22/22 hp)
Katia (16/16 hp)
Aubrin
Taidel
Lirosa
Hob 3 (6 damage)
Hob 5 (0 damage)
Hob 6 (0 damage)

Bold may act.

Freyja sees the hobs on the horizon. "Aim for the one in the front," she says calmly to Lirosa and Taidel.

longbow (+2 favored, -2 range): 1d20 + 5 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 5 + 2 - 2 = 25
damage (+2 favored): 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 2 = 12
longbow (+2 favored, -2 range): 1d20 + 5 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 2 - 2 = 15
damage (+2 favored): 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 2 = 7

confirm: 1d20 + 5 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 5 + 2 - 2 = 23
crit: 1d52 ⇒ 41

MOMENTUM: Double damage and +2 on all your attack rolls for 1 round.

crit damage (+2 favored): 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 2 = 10
crit damage (+2 favored): 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 2 = 6

Katia blinks at Freyja. "Did you just..?" She exhales very slowly. "Hot damn..."

She maintains her position and continues readying a hex, but begins to suspect she will not need it.

Freyja put an arrow through a hobgoblin's eyeball from 125 feet away. Have I mentioned she hates hobgoblins?

Taidel was apparently inspired by her feat because even he managed to hit #5 in the arm with his shortbow (3 damage). Lirosa's shot fell well short.

Oona laughs fiercely as Freyja's arrow irrigates the hob's skull to let in a little night air. She strides forward. "Well done. But keep moving back. We only have to hold them a few moments longer, and we do not want to be on this bridge when it goes."

Mac steps forward in stride with Oona, awaiting the arrival of the remaining two hobgoblins.

#3 and #5 reach the foot of the bridge.

ROUND 18 (2 ROUNDS TILL BOOM)
Oona (20/20 hp)
Mac (20/24 hp)
Freyja (22/22 hp, +2 attack [1 round])
Katia (16/16 hp)
Aubrin
Taidel
Lirosa
Hob 3 (6 damage)
Hob 5 (3 damage)
Hob 6 (28 damage, unconscious and dying)

Bold may act.

Freyja fires at #3.

longbow (+2 favored, -2 range): 1d20 + 5 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (7) + 5 + 2 - 2 = 12
damage (+2 favored): 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 2 = 12

Frustrated to have missed, but knowing that time is short, she retreats toward the opposite shore.

Taidel and Lirosa follow Freyja's lead, each firing a shot (and missing) and then moving toward the shore.

Katia eyes the explosive nearby, sweat beading on her forehead. Only a few more seconds left before it explodes. She really does not like cutting it this close.

Sensing the need to worry about the bomb being tampered with has past, she aims her crossbow at the nearest hob and fires.

Nice, #5 is just in the crossbow's first range increment.

Crossbow vs #5: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 3

Confirm: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

She blinks in surprise and reloads the crossbow.

Oona sheathes her scythe and draws her shortbow as she backpedals a few feet. "Mac! Get to the other side! Go defend!" She jerks her head in the direction of the townsfolk.

Move action to sheathe the scythe, moving back and drawing bow.

Mac chuffs once in response and pads over to the townsfolk, standing near Mama Van. He liked her almost immediately; she has a good smell, like cinnamon rolls and strange spices.