Might and magic, Lords of the Contested Lands

Game Master Chyrone

Hopefully they have kept all their... "loot" within the keep. Perhaps they use it as a base? Either way, we likely must take it within the day. The danger of scouting it would be alerting the goblins... though... perhaps we could pose as travelers to lure some out to slay some before we flee and... no, that is likely too dangerous.. And unbecoming. Perhaps if we simply hit them hard and fast we can route them? Its unlikely they would be prepared.

”I like Daniel’s plan.” Brunhild said. ”These are thieves and pillagers, they aren’t fighting for a cause. And ye can’t pay someone well enough for them to die. Breaking their morale seems to be our best chance at getting a quick and decisive victory.”

"Okay... I can see the idea of using shock value of a frontal attack, but I'd suggest making better use of what we have to aid us as well. Can we spare a couple of the town watch for this assault? They could shoot arrows at the ramparts from outside, or just make a lot of noise there. Not to hit anyone, but mostly to make them think there's much more of us, so they might panic faster. Or, at least, make them feel like they're under attack from multiple sides."

Daniel shakes his head.

That might work, but it also might make them a target. If they got injured or killed then I'd already have broken my vow, at least in a way. It is one thing to defend your home and family from an attack, it is another to go and seek trouble. No, this is something we must do ourselves I think. Both to prove we are capable, and that we will not needlessly endanger any townsfolk...though perhaps, if we are quiet enough we could set up something that would make noise similar to such? Or, do we have any magic that might conjure up the sound of more soliders?

He glances to Astelle at the mention of magic, having been the only companion to demonstrate it so far.

”I am reminded of the tale of Thane Durak Ironhammer. His lands were plagued by bandits, who preyed on merchant caravans and fled from his forces. Given the slow and steady nature of our people, it was impossible to catch bandits in flight. So he and his men dressed as merchants and drove a cart around, waiting for the bandits to come to them. They feined surrender, and when the bandits moved in they ambushed the ambushes. While the bandit archers in the tree line fled, the vast majority were cut down.” She shrugged. ”Why not do the same here? Move into the castle making a lot of noise. Pretend to be wanderers here to loot. Make ourselves a tempting target for the goblins and then ambush them. If we do this from within the castle then we can use the defenses to our advantage.”

In response to Daniel, Astella says

I don't have any auditory hallucination spells sorry. I have... uh, a spell that can conjure up a skunk or two though. That might drive them out and into our weapons.

When Brunhild tells her story, she says

Or that. I don't really care that much about how we do it. I just don't want to wait around. We should just go do it. This delayed gratification crap stinks. I want to go to the castle and pick out my room. Isn't that what we supposedly won? Let's get to it.

As long as we don't have to fight all of them at once, we should be good, right? Goblins... they aren't all that tough, are they? Just in case, let's make sure everyone has a couple of red potions to carry with them.

There are 12 red potions on the sheet, so everyone should carry at least 2.

added, didn't we get a couple of actual CLW potions? Who has those?

Well.. we could set up a trap like that, however its likely that it would bring most of the goblins down on us at one time. It would be best that those of us able to move silently and stay out of sight to do so, and those of us, like myself, that couldn't move quietly for long to be the bait. I'm better suited for that as well, thanks to my shield. If we want to go with shock and awe it would likely be better for have them grouped together. At least most of them... I wonder if there are any potions for sell in the town.

Daniel looks to the ground, lost in thought.

How many goblins could I hold against I wonder... I suppose as many as I must.

"Please don't misunderstand. My idea was to put concealed archers taking potshots at the general vicinity of the walls. That should be relatively safe for them, and we know they also have healing potions if a goblin got a lucky shot off. I wouldn't just ask them to stand in the open and make themselves targets! That said, if we are doing everything on our own, I would suggest not fighting in an open space like the castle courtyard. We're outnumbered more than two to one' and something like that would greatly favor the goblins. A ploy to draw them out to us as travelers also sounds risky. If all of them were to come, we'd be be stuck in a very bad position."

She turns to Tobias. "Also, I still haven't heard why we should attack this very day? Again, when did they arrive? If they've been here for a while, I'd want to wait a day so I'd have a better weapon to use."

Astella gives up and says

Okay, you stay. I am going to go scout it out anyway.

She heads to the castle.

Stealth on approach: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Tobias: "They arrived, about a week, week and a few days ago.
I'm both surprised, and worried, that such a number managed to enter and hole up in the castle."

I'll fix us up a map tomorrow. For now, get as ready as you want. If you'd like a time reference, you're still in daylight, before noon.

I'll go with you, even if I stay a distance away, at least I'll be much closer than here.

Shrugging, Estelle stands up. It looked like the planning was cut short, but she wouldn't complain. She'd suggested doing the exact same thing Astella was heading out to do earlier.

"Wait! I'll come along as well," Estelle calls to Astella outside of the tavern, stopping next to Daniel. "I'd like to take a look at the castle too. And I wouldn't risk just leaving you alone to those goblins regardless."

Everyone wanting to stealth, appropriate checks then.

Daniel is specifically going to remain a fair ways back. Unless they urge him forward.

stealth: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (1) - 2 = -1

breastplate coming in clutch.

Same for Estelle. I try to be in reasonable distance to Astella should she be discovered but Estelle herself isn't trying to be stealthy next to her. Though I'll roll for her lingering behind position I suppose? If it makes a difference, she tries to stay in the foilage in sight of the road to the castle.

stealth: 1d20 - 5 ⇒ (7) - 5 = 2

At first, Estelle is embarassed when she botches yet another attempt to sneak past, as what felt like every single branch and her just did not get along.

But when Daniel seems to have even more touble, that feeling eventually gives way to amusement, and she chuckles. "We're both so bad at this. But you know? Maybe it works out better this way! We'll just say we intentionally drew all their scouts to us - and away from her. A solid plan! Right?"

She looks at Daniel with a humorous grin.

Stealth: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

Brunhild snuck ahead, moving as silently as possible. She wanted to have a good vantage for sniping for when the goblins came for the less stealthy members of the group.

The team heads out of the town's limits, towards Castle Harmondale, located on the hillside at the west end of town.

Some 20 minutes later, the gate comes into view.
The castle itself isn't as grand as Steadwick's castle, as Brunhild's could confirm, but it was better than a town hall.

From a first distant estimate, it could be a 2 story building. It has stone walls, but with several holes from being hit by catapult ammunition. Some parts are now a pile of rubble on top of half the piece of wall.
The gate itself is gone, instead a poorly made barricade, made of debris, piled together, is its first point of defense.

1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 1 + 2 = 17
Three of the team were noticed, as they approached. But not Brunhild, who stuck to whatever object she could hide behind.

Unbeknown to them, an occupant behind the parapet was taking aim.
Shot vs ff: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12Dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 2

An arrow hits Astella in the leg, and now a figure is visible, partially, up on the watch post near the gate.
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Castle Courtyard, round 1

Astella
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Cyan (watch post)
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Estelle
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Green
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Brunhild & Daniel
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Goblin & goblin

The party is out of the map, but Astella is about 50 ft away from the gate, at the moment she was hit.
The barricade is made of wood, so it shouldn't stand much punishment.

Astella recovers quickly, and attempts to shoot back at her attacker.

Attack (longbow): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Damage (piercing): 1d8 ⇒ 4

Hit from hiding so vs FF: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Hit vs FF: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Confirm v FF: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Damage: 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (5, 7) + 6 = 18

The nice part of hiding was the look of surprise on someone’s face when you shot them in it. Brunhild let two arrows fly, the first likely hitting the barricade. The second? It was much more accurate.

Astella's aim of the bow, is accurate enough to hit the goblin.

Irritated, he pulls it out and fires back an arrow at her.
Cyan -4.
Arrow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 141d6 ⇒ 1
The damage is minimal, but the guy hits again.
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Estelle
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Green
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Brunhild (posted) & Daniel
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Goblin & Goblin

I don't know exactly where Brunhild is, but if she's close to Daniel and Estelle...

Hearing Astella get hit up ahead and seeing Brunhild aiming to take her shot, Estelle moves to the monk and recites a quick prayer. "I call upon She who Soars above the lands. With every step, I emulate her efforts, striking down foes unerring, as I protect the people as her brood."

With a brief flash of light from her holy symbol, she pats the dwarf on her shoulder, and a sense of divine energy washes over her just as she shoots!

Move, bit of Luck on Brunhild. For speed of play since her post was done ahead of order, I'll roll the additional d20 for the initial attack and the critical confirm. It'd be Estelle's best 'ranged' option regardless of Brunhild's rolls.

Brunhild arrow #1, second d20: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Brunhild arrow #2, second d20, critical confirm vs FF: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

No distance was specified, but i'd imagine 10 or 15 feet behind Astella?

Estelle provides some luck on Brunhild, expecting the dwarf to start shooting asap.
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Another goblin (green), appears behind the barricade, taking a shot at the front target as well.

Shot: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13Sting: 1d6 ⇒ 1
Astella sees the arrow flying just past her shoulder.

In reaction to arrows flying towards them, Brunhild takes a lucky shot, piercing the goblin's armor in a vital spot, and he collapses where he stood.

Daniel
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Goblin & Goblin

Well, so much for stealth, huh? He moves forward, shield ready and draws one of his javelins before hurling it at one of the remaining goblins not yet fully reacted.

attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17 VS FF I think. Not sure if they count as having acted yet. 50ft Range.
damage: 1d5 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

You have sight only of goblin green, behind the barricade.

Daniel advances 20ft, to about 5ft in front of Astella, and hurls a javelin at the goblin who just appeared. The javelin hits the wood of the barricade, vibrating slightly after lodging itself inside.

Goblin & goblin are moving inside.
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The courtyard, round 2

Astella, Estelle
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Green
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Brunhild & Daniel
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goblin & goblin

Not being able to get a good line of sight on her targets, Astella moves up to try to get a better shot.

Double move--I moved onto the map (from the north, right?) and put her on top of a pile of rubble. However, if it takes more than 15 feet of movement to get on top of the pile, or if that isn't actually rubble or something, then let me know. Her goal is just to get up high so she can see to shoot.

The debris fell inwards, in relation to the courtyard's walls.
An intact section of wall is about 20 feet, one with debris is 10.
Given the knocking catapult fire inflicted downwards, climb DC 13 to get up there.

Climb: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Okay, looks like she can successfully climb to her position.

Nice check.

Bow back on her back, Astella double times, and scales 5ft on the wall.
The top of that section is almost within reach.

Okay, so we started with Astella 50 ft from the gate and everyone else was at 65 ft. If Brunhild didn't move from that line when attacking in round one, then Estelle's second turn also starts at 65 ft from the gate, and Daniel after moving once and attacking is at 45 ft from the gate, with Astella now climbing into or onto the castle far ahead, right? If that is correct:

"Good shot! Can you do that again?" Estelle asks Brunhild as she instantly makes the first kill. She might have given a second blessing, if she hadn't seen Astella advance quite far ahead, seemingly all by herself.

"Goddess, I hope she knows what she's doing! I'll try and give chase!" she continues, and moves up after Daniel. Partly taking cover behind his shield en-route to the gate, she invokes Shaymara's divine magic once again. "The jaws of the Wyrm crush and sunder the vile..." she mutters, as she casts an actual spell this time.

Moves up to where she's directly behind Daniel and his shield, then she casts Divine Favor on herself.

Okay, so we started with Astella 50 ft from the gate and everyone else was at 65 ft. If Brunhild didn't move from that line when attacking in round one, then Estelle's second turn also starts at 65 ft from the gate, and Daniel after moving once and attacking is at 45 ft from the gate, with Astella now climbing into or onto the castle far ahead, right? If that is correct:

Sounds right.

As the goblin sees Astella move out of his sight, towards the wall, he yells something in goblin, to his fellow goblins behind him.

Green takes a shot at Daniel, then moves back into the courtyard.
Arrow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18Sting: 1d6 ⇒ 6
The arrow comes for Daniel, but he heaves his shield up, causing it to bounce off.
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Brunhild& Daniel
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Goblin & Goblin

climb: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20 Daniel runs to the wall and begins his own ascent, keeping his shield ready.

Double move

Hit: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Hit: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

"Maybe?" Brunhild said. She took an arrow and shot it at the goblin, aiming to the left. She instantly had a second arrow ready, waiting for the goblin to instinctively move to the right. The second arrow flew accurately at where she anticipated it to be...

Daniel double moves, but will start climbing next round.
Your armor allows 20 speed, 5 ft from the bottom of the wall section.

Goblin green had withdrawn, removing himself from Brunhild's sight.

Double move?

Goblin and goblin are moving to positions within the courtyard.
=========================================

The courtyard, round 3

Astella, Estelle
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Green
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Brunhild & Daniel
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Goblin & Goblin

Estelle won't be able to make that climb check (15% chance)... so I guess we're splitting the party?

"Daniel! Astella! I won't be able to climb that!" Estelle calls out to them, just so they knew they were on their own if they went in further.

Left without other options, Estelle instead charges the barricade and strikes, hoping Brunhilde had her back should this go sideways.

blunt damage vs barricade?: 1d12 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

Astella distractedly calls back

Don't climb the wall then... scramble over the barricade, or move the stuff out of the way... that's the only way in!

Astella scrambles the last 5 feet to the top of the pile of rubble and finds firm footing, then draws her bow, looking around for targets.

I believe a climb check is involved in every movement.

Climb: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
Astella gets on top of the rubble, firm but uneven as it is.

Estelle hacks apart some of the barricade, which likely will collapse under a second hit.

The courtyard is 35 by 70ft. A polluted well stands at the center of it.
At the other end, a work table stands near the wall. Three places to tie horses to, are near the door in the middle, separated by wooden plank walls. Opposite herself, a walkway for guards.

She spots green on the other side, near a ladder that goes up to the watch post. Two other goblins, arrows notched on their bows, stand on the walkway. The sets of stairs upwards are obstructed by firm bags.

Green takes a shot.
Arrow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22Sting: 1d6 ⇒ 6
The goblin hits dead on, planting his arrow in her flank.

In an accented common:
"Back off, elf, this is our find. Go loot some other place."
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Brunhild & Daniel
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Goblin & Goblin

Sorry. Thanks for rolling for me.

Astella is very hurt, but not willing to back down.

She responds in perfect Goblin:

Less confindently, in what she hopes is at least adequate Goblin:

Goblin 3

"Are...are we going with parlay now?" Brunhild asked, feeling somewhat confused. "Are we trying to scare them off or hire them?" She asked, being unable to speak goblin.

"I... don't know. Are they bonding? In the middle of a fight? It feels like they're bonding. Do you feel oddly left out too?" Estelle says back to Brunhild behind her, just as confused, with a profound sense of being excluded from something deep and meaningul.

Sure, the goblin voices sounded rather confused and agressive, but so did Astella, so it was a match of sorts?

....

Assuming Brunhild did a double move in round 2, she's 25ft away from the gate.

Brunhild & Daniel
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Goblin & goblin (who are surprised by wrong teachings of the goblin language)

Something i know well, as a spanish teacher of mine taught us the wrong word for 'warm', as i was told by a spanish waiter where i worked at the time, said word meant, 'in the mood for...'.
*facepalm me and my classmate*
Notably, my teacher was -married- to a spanish man. >_>

it could have been a dialect thing. If I can get to the top of the rubble in a move action, he will total defense for now.

Daniel climbs up the bank to stand between Astella and the goblins that would potentially shoot them.

Uh, do I press the attack Astella? He hefts his shield.

Not a dialect thing, i assure you.
You can reach the edge in one move action, but a climb check is involved. Though at 5ft climb speed, you'd end in a square Astella currently occupies.

accelerated climb: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

That should get me up with enough movement to step in front right?

In one direction of your choosing. Either west or south of Astella, but on lower elevation than her. Like a stairs, this slopes down.

In common, to her friends she says

Hold on a sec, I don't know.

I suggest you get into good positions, but we'll see what happens.

In Goblin she continues