GM PDK IRONFANG INVASION (Inactive)

Game Master Purple Dragon Knight

The man nods to Arthur, before adding, "Well then. Report, soldier!"

Dommer looks at Vale and Arthur and grunts in his typical grumpy Dwarf manner, before turning to their leader again.

Well, it seems we have them a shared interest! Happy to find allies over here. - an unlikely and astoundingly rare smile appears, before he goes back to his regular way - You wouldn't happen to have seen centaurs around? We crossed with a dead one in our way here.

"Hi there! I am Luke!"

"We see centaurs roam this forest once in a while. They're not unheard of but they tend to keep to themselves so we don't go out of our way to bother them. Was there something special about this dead one or did he just die of old age?"

The man then see Luke approach and nods to him. "Hi there. Pleased to meet you."

The man waits a few uncomfortable moments, then risks adding, "Look. We understand that all kinds of folk make for the Fangwood when they run from the law or escape Cheliax's slavers. Whatever your past is, we don't care. Most of us rangers here come from various backgrounds, and what happened in the past is not our concern. But you're here now, and we're in charge of these woods as you may have heard, so state your business here or you're goin' to win a nice little escorted hike back to the border. We have enough problems as is..."

Arthur does his best to explain the massive army of Hobgoblins and how the villagers have gone into hiding to survive. "We are from here, and the people we are guarding are in danger- the Hobgoblin horde is massive, simply massive!"

Malachite listens to Arthur story attentively, committing every detail to memory. Nodding, he adds, "So you're all escapees from Phaendar hey? glad you found a hiding spot. Understandable that you'd want to be cautious then. Contrary to the usual hit-and-run behavior of raids so common in the Molthuni conflict—the hobgoblins are rebuilding the town into a fortress, and new hobgoblins are arriving by the hundreds. If they noted your escape they'll keep coming for you as long as they maintain some kind of outpost dedicated to hunting Phaendar’s stragglers, so you're doing the right thing to try to track where these hobgoblins came from... We've been patrolling South Fangwood for weeks, and we're on our last patrol going to the south border before heading back north to Fort Trevalay. So far we haven't seen such an Ironfang outpost, but we can drop by at those caves you found if we spot anything. We could frankly also use a safe place to spend a day or two resting our legs and getting a few good meals in. we can trade our stay with some supplies we're carrying, of course..."

Malachite let the indirect question hang in the air, not trying to be pushy but clearly hoping you and your band of refugees decide to share intel with them and provide them with the occasional haven for rest and trade.

Herman snorts. "If you can avoid leading the hobgoblins right to us, then sure."

The man nods, and approaches with a rough map, showing you where you are, pointing a few landmarks and noting the location of your camp. "I see you're camping here for the night yes? we still have a few leagues before we reach your caves, and it looks like the skies will be clear for the rest of the night... be careful tonight and post a sentry: we've been tracking a pack of canopy trolls for the last two days. We got most of them I think, but a few stragglers could still be in the area. Careful if they manage to get close: they have a poison stinger on their tails..."

Moving along...

After a few more minutes of rest the rangers depart in the direction of your caves where you came from. After a few hours the shelter you're going to use for the night is completed, and Grenwold returns with Ringo. Grenwold has found a small source of spring water near the bottom of the ridge, approximately 10 min walk from your camp, and you take turns to go down there to refill your waterskins. Ringo and Arthur in particular spend a long time there drinking up. I believe both of them don't have a portable way to carry water.

After water is taken care of, the group proceeds to eat some of their trail rations. Please reduce your trail rations by 1 day on your character sheets please. @Grenwold & Arthur: you are without trail rations so you must borrow some rations from another character or go without food. Please indicate what is being done.

The night is divided in three watches, and the heroes take some rest. Please list your watches on the last column of Slide 2 (either 1, 2 or 3, if different than the ones I listed there); we'll keep using the same setup for other days if applicable. Place yourselves on the map to show your character location overnight. I will move the action forward in a few hours.

With things settled down, Vale looked around for berries to pick to help with feeding the group. Taking them in hand, he said an incantation over the picked berries, turning them into long term meals.

Here you go, three of these a day per person will help with hunger, you too Ringo. It will also help patch up the various scrapes and bruises you pick up during the day.

Survival: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18
Goodberry x3: 6d4 ⇒ (1, 2, 4, 3, 3, 3) = 16

Chance of finding berries, 01-85 is success: 1d100 ⇒ 67

Shaman Vale finds a bush full of tart elderberries and enchant them to sustain his allies. Please figure out who eats 3 berries and who uses trail rations; thanks!

After water is taken care of, the group proceeds to eat some of their trail rations. Please reduce your trail rations by 1 day on your character sheets please. @Grenwold & Arthur: you are without trail rations so you must borrow some rations from another character or go without food. Please indicate what is being done.

Please forgive me, but I was under the impression that his trip foraging was intended to feed both Ringo and Grenwold. Is this no longer the case?

In addition, I believe that Grenwold needs a continuous rest of 8 hours to regain spells, is this the case? If it is, should he take a non-middle watch?

Grenwold looks around when he returns, raising his eyebrow, as he watches the other's expressions, "did I miss anything?"

@Grenwold: Foraging was just for Ringo yes, but I'm fine with you hunting a bird if you want; I'm not sure about your spell situation, but please look up how clerics do it. I think you're in the same boat. @Shaman Vale: figure out who eats your goodberries as you're the one who cast the spell. Those without 3 of your berries will have to deduct one day's worth of rations. Thanks.

I will eat my own rations and pick up more berries when we advance to the next day. 1 ration deducted.

Thanks much, here's how clerics work: "Clerics meditate or pray for their spells. Each cleric must choose a time at which she must spend 1 hour each day in quiet contemplation or supplication to regain her daily allotment of spells. Time spent resting has no effect on whether a cleric can prepare spells. A cleric may prepare and cast any spell on the cleric spell list, provided that she can cast spells of that level, but she must choose which spells to prepare during her daily meditation."

So, it looks like I can take a middle watch, which might be best given that Gren has the second best vision (Dommer has Darkvision, Grenwold has low-light, and ringo (with bat focus) has Darkvision (Grenwold will switch him to bat when they wake up for a watch).

Does anyone want to help set up the bear traps while Grenwold went foraging?

When we get spells in the morning, going to swap out Know Direction for Mending to take care of the message we found.

Having failed at his foraging, Arthur goes to sleep hungry, determined to find food along their way the next day, and too stubborn to ask for aid.

Unless told otherwise I will move things along with the Night Watch assigned on Slide 3. You have until 10pm Eastern.

ration deducted

A small bundle of dried meat and fruits hits the sleeping Arthur in the face. ”Don’t be an idiot,” Herman grumbles sourly. ”You’re no use if you’re fainting on the road tomorrow.”

Herman’s got the rations to share, and he’s pragmatic.

Grenwold has mending as well, but I believe PDK has indicated that someone should memorize create water. Would that be possible for someone to do? I cannot change my spells every day.

Also, it doesn’t look like anyone wants to do the bear traps, so Grenwold leaves them in the saddlebags.

Then swap Know Direction for Create water it is

1d3 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + (1) = 3

The party goes to sleep when the sun goes down, weary and tired. Around midnight when Grenwold and Arthur are on watch duty, they both hear branches cracking in the overhead canopy. Something bigger than a bird or raccoon is moving up there. To Gren, Ringo and Arthur the noise is obvious and above the ambient sound of the forest, but it's faint enough that it hasn't awakened anyone sleeping yet...

It's pitch black in the forest right now, as you are under the canopy and getting no light from the moon or stars.

Initiative
Luke Init: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18
Grenwold Init: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Arthur Init: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
Dommer Init: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Herman Init: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
Vale Init: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (3) + 0 = 3
?? Init: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Surprise Round
Something moved up ahead

Round 1 [Bold may go]
Herman [sleeping]
Grenwold & Ringo [darkness, see blinded condition]
Luke [sleeping]
Arthur [darkness, see blinded condition]
Something moving
Dommer [sleeping]
Vale [sleeping]

DARKNESS/BLINDED: In addition to the obvious effects, a blinded creature has a 50% miss chance in combat (all opponents have total concealment), loses any Dexterity bonus to AC, takes a –2 penalty to AC, and takes a –4 penalty on Perception checks that rely on sight and most Strength– and Dexterity-based skill checks.

Dommer seemed to have wanted to keep watch in the middle post with Grenwold, but when the time came, he was out. Gren managed to roust Arthur though, and they sat quietly in the darkness. Before any of that began, per his plan, Grenwold had gifted Ringo with the ability to see in the dark, hoping his friend's vision would augment his own excellent sense.

When he heards the movement above, he activates his own dark sight ability, his sense becoming as keen as Ringo's, and peers up.

Per previous posts Ringo has Bat focus up. Swift Action activate bat focus on Grenwold, and then Grenwold glances up. They both have darkvision 60 ft, so they both might spot some enemy, or be able to tell said thing is a friend.

Would you like me to roll perception, PDK? The thing above us may have concealment and stealth, which would require perception even if Gren and Ringo can see in the dark. Once I know the answer to the above question, Grenwold will take the remainder of his actions (you also may want to have him "looking up" as some type of action, I'm not sure how you run that).

Both Ringo and Grenwold see nothing to the edge of the darkvision. The canopy is higher than 60 feet. On the branches, leaves, vines and bushes between the ground the canopy, you do not see anything moving. The noise is clearly coming from the canopy, which is quite a few feet above the 60 feet mark you now realize.

Gren and Ringo are up

Botting as per instructions on Discord; in the future please indicate in Discussion if you're going to be unavailable especially during combats. I will make my best efforts to bot you appropriately; to this effect, feel free to include botting instructions under your alias.

Grenwold casts a light spell, unsatisfied at his bat-vision's short range.

The forest floor is bathed with sudden light, and the sound of his spellcasting further stirs some of his friends from their sleep. DC 10 to wake up considering the light, Gren's voice, and the quiet nighttime forest

Luke Perc.: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Dommer Perc.: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18
Herman Perc.: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13
Vale Perc.: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (7) + 18 = 25

All heroes awaken. Those with low-light vision can see a small-sized creature swinging from branch to branch up 75 feet within the forest canopy. Prominent tusks and unruly green fur mark this fearsome creature as a troll despite its small size. It hangs overhead, swinging between its oversized forearms and lashing, claw-tipped tail. After hanging from its tail for a moment, it decides to land on a branch to look down at the sudden noise and light, and bares its teeth at the sight of the group. pic has been inserted on slide

Round 1 [Bold may go]
Herman [prone]
Grenwold [move only]
Ringo [move and standard]
Luke [prone]
Arthur
Small tree troll [cover, concealment, darkness (visible by low-light vision users only)]
Dommer [prone]
Vale [prone]

Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

Grenwold points up, "above us, there's one of those canopy trolls! It has a poisonous sting - be on guard everyone! "

He keeps his shield at the ready and tries to encourage Ringo to get ready to fight.

Move Action Push Ringo: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

No luck on "pushing"

Ringo can't do much, so he watches the troll.

Edited Grenwold's turn above to reflect a push attempt, which fails. The roll in the spoiler might be useful for an AOO, so I'll leave it.

Handle Animal DC 25 to 'Push' him could work; I believe it's a move action though, so you could try if you want to keep your sword sheathed.

Luke picks up his sword and stands up.

"Thanks for the light, Gren!" Arthur shouts as he snaps his bow out and fires a quick shot, taking care to defend himself.

Free action draw bow w/ quick draw; standard action attack while fighting defensively for +3 AC (4 ranks acrobatics)

Long Bow, fighting defensively: 1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 9 - 4 = 19
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 2

I forgot about Grenwold’s +4 when pushing Ringo, but that still isn’t enough.

10% chance of picking right square, 01-10 is success: 1d100 ⇒ 6

Luke prepares himself for battle while Arthur shoots an arrow in the darkness, unable to see a moving target. Amazingly, the shot results into a screech of pain, the arrow having met its mark!

The small troll races down along the nearest tree trunk, intent of taking revenge on Arthur! halfway across the tree it jumps on top of Arthur!

Begins at 75 feet altitude, climb speed 30 downwards, then jumps the rest of way down towards Arthur!
Acrobatics to jump down 45 feet intentionally, soft ground, DC 15: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28
-->avoid any damage from the first 10 feet fallen and converts any damage from the second 10 feet to nonlethal damage; converts another 10 feet to nonlethal due to soft ground
nonlethal dmg to troll: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 3) = 4
lethal dmg to troll: 1d6 ⇒ 4
lethal dmg to Arthur, small object, lighter than stone, DC 15 Ref save for 1/2 dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 6

The small troll's oversized arms pound and lash out at Arthur in a flurry, attempting to gain a hold and squeeze the warrior's neck!

improved grapple vs. Arthur CMD 19, attacking from high ground: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 1 = 18 ---> Fail!

The small troll is unable to establish a chokehold, and rolls off Arthur's back unto the ground!

Round 1/2 - Party is up!
Dommer [prone]
Vale [prone]
Herman [prone]
Grenwold
Ringo
Luke
Arthur -6 [Ref DC 15 for 1/2 dmg]
Small tree troll [nonlethal 4, lethal 4]

Grenwold draws his longsword and with barely a noise, he urges Ringo forward, drawing his sword as he and his friend advance on the little troll. He concentrates before doing so, and Ringo looks stronger.

Grenwold longsword, outflank: 1d20 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 4 = 19
longsword: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Ringo snuffs and tries to squash the annoying troll with his huge horns.

Gore outflank, bull, pa: 1d20 + 4 + 4 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (19) + 4 + 4 + 1 - 1 = 27
Gore damage, bull, pa: 1d8 + 1 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 2 + 3 = 8

Feeling the ground shake as the troll landed on Arthur, Vale rolled over and looked at it. "I am trying to sleep here!" he said yawning at the creature, causing its eyes to get sleepy.

Slumber Hex, DC 17 Will or sleep for 4 rounds, no HD limit

Dommer limits himself to stand up and pull his bow as he moves to a more centralized position.

Ay! Isn't it lovely, mate? In the middle of my best dream. Some of the girls didn't even have beards! - says the Dwarf, joking in his own moody manner.

troll will save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

The small troll's anger is too great for sleep at the moment... Ringo and Gren both stick pointy things into it.

Round 1/2 - Bold is up!
Dommer
Vale [prone]
Grenwold
Ringo
Herman [prone]
Luke
Arthur -6 [Ref DC 15 for 1/2 dmg]
Small tree troll [nonlethal 4, lethal 17]

Dropping his bow to the ground, Arthur draws his shield and halberd and swings.

Free action to draw halberd & shield, move action to don shield, standard to attack

+1 Halberd: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26
Damage: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Luke goes around Ringo in hope that he will finish that troll.

+1 adamantine Greatsword (+ Furious Focus, power attack ) - std.: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26
damage slashing adamantine magic: 2d6 + 11 + 6 ⇒ (4, 2) + 11 + 6 = 23

Knowledge... nature?: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24 Does it have regeneration like other trolls?

”Save your fantasies for when you’re dead.” Herman scowls at the dwarf before turning his ire towards the troll. ”And you! Stopp!”

Move action to stand, standard action to cast command on the troll.

reflex: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

sorry, forgot that when I posted my attack; so -3

The regeneration question is a good one. I didn’t think to ask with Grenwold’s local check. PDK would you mind letting me or Herman know, depending on the circumstances, please?

Yep, they have regen like normal trolls, evident by the way its wounds are already closing (and the fact that he jumped off a branch 45 feet off the ground, not caring about broken bones)

Luke nearly cuts the small troll in half. Herman: no need to waste that spell

The trolls falls unconscious, amazingly still alive as the two halves begin to reconnect with one another!

Out of Combat, unless you wait around for 4 or 5 rounds and do nothing about this... ;)

"What do we need to do to kill this thing?" Arthur asks, hoping one of the more knowledgeable members of the group had dealt with such a thing before, then chopping at the creature's head with his halberd for good measure.

Will coup de grace it if possible; otherwise attack roll below

Halberd: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29
Damage: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Extra damage if coup de grace: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Did either knowledge check indicate how one would permanently dispatch a troll?

Both Herman and Grenwold know that they will keep healing until burned by fire or acid.

Luke and Arthur turn the troll into paste, but the bloodied carcass still clings to life, healing itself!

Out of Combat: I am no longer tracking its hit points as it is severely into the negatives; if one of you keeps poking at it each round that's all that's required to keep it unconscious until you do something about its regeneration.

”Hold still - I’ll take care of it myself.” Herman grumpily pushes through the underbrush to get closer to the little pest. ”And stop chopping it into larger pieces - we’re unlucky enough that they’d all grow back into their own poop-flinging nuisances.” A quick blast of fire erupts from the hermit’s fingers, blanketing the still-twitching pieces and the surrounding vegetation. ”There - done. And don’t eat it.”

Fire damage: 4d4 ⇒ (3, 1, 2, 4) = 10

Casting burning hands (Reflex DC 16 to halve).

Grenwold nods, "yes, Herman, I was waiting for you." He points to the flasks of acid in his bandolier, "these are better for emergencies, and I had assumed you would know a spell trick to take care of it." He pats the older gentleman on the shoulder from Ringo as he watches the troll gets roasted, and smiles.

"Go back to bed; I'll let you know again if we're attacked by monsters."

With things settling down, Vale looked over at the group. "Unless we get our sleep interrupted again, we can try to track where the creature came from in the morning."