Might and magic, Lords of the Contested Lands

Game Master Chyrone

** spoiler omitted **

Meanwhile with the rest of the party....

Strom has left with the elder druid further into town, into the direction of a distant large tree. The redhead, who introduces herself as Hannah, and Mac, the hotheaded dwarf, along with a male cleric of Zephyr, walk you towards the tavern. The tavern, named the Hollowed Oak, is one of the buildings not ravaged by the night raid. It's cozy, a mixture between a hunting lodge and a regular tavern. A couple of trophies decorate the wall, alongside decorative carvings.

You all get seated at a large central circular table, at which Hannah takes word first.
"First, thank you for offering your help. Our own idea, which the elder already made mention of, was to provoke an attack. With our lessened numbers, i believe they might send a little less men next time, to 'finish the job'. However, this time the defenders will have prepared."

Mac: "Of course, since our walls are breached in a few places, getting up some basic barricades could help. The wrecked houses should be searched for suitable pieces."

Cleric: "Any injured could be taken to the chapel for safety and immediate aid."

Hannah: "But that is our take on it. Might you have some additional suggestions?"

We're sorry for your losses, and are happy to help... that's why we came this way. .... I like the barricades idea. Make the place look less inviting and they might just move on next time. And definitely train and be ready for another attack. This area seems to have a big goblin problem. Not sure if genocide is the answer, or if there is a way for all of us in the surrounding areas to pitch in and do patrols and scouting so that we can stay on top of the threat. Definitely interested in your thoughts and ideas, because we face a similar problem. I wonder if they can be reasoned with and a treaty made, or if it is hopeless.

We're sorry for your losses, and are happy to help... that's why we came this way. .... I like the barricades idea. Make the place look less inviting and they might just move on next time. And definitely train and be ready for another attack. This area seems to have a big goblin problem. Not sure if genocide is the answer, or if there is a way for all of us in the surrounding areas to pitch in and do patrols and scouting so that we can stay on top of the threat. Definitely interested in your thoughts and ideas, because we face a similar problem. I wonder if they can be reasoned with and a treaty made, or if it is hopeless.

Hannah: "Faster communications would certainly aid, if there is news. Right now, our rider has gone out to notify of the raid. I couldn't say how Fairhaven's leadership will act on hearing. It will be devided i suppose. I am guessing they'll be devided over setting up to fend off, and sending armed aid. After all, while both Fairbrooke and Fairhaven have trained defenders, only part of those are seasoned. How are things then over at Welnin's side?"

Mac: "A treaty with those raiders? How can you even consider that? Those tattooed greenskin mercenaries must be put in their place. Come to think of it, we hadn't buried those yet."

Cleric: "I'm much in favor the least amount of bloodshed, but i agree with Mac, on that i do not see why raiding goblins would sign a treaty."

Still...a small chance is better than no chance...even if seemingly unlikely at first.

K local: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

GM, I'm a little confused about the contents of the spoiler. Is the idea that these goblins probably aren't mercenaries since they all have tattoos?

Severa nods thoughtfully. "I can help mostly with illusions or blinding crowds of them. But it is possible that we can negotiate with them, particularly if we can convince them that it would be too risky to fight us."

[dice=K local]1d20+8

1)GM, I'm a little confused about the contents of the spoiler. Is the idea that these goblins probably aren't mercenaries since they all have tattoos?

Severa nods thoughtfully. "I can help mostly with illusions or blinding crowds of them. But it is possible that we can negotiate with them, particularly if we can convince them that it would be too risky to fight us."

1) While a mercenary company made of goblins could all have tattoos from previous backgrounds, there'd likely be the occassional ones without. Thus far, though, the ones the others have encountered, all bore tribal style tattoos. Make of it as you like. ;)

The cleric looks at Severa in some doubt,
"Right....if their number were much smaller than that of the raid, you may be on to something. I wouldn't walk up to the occupied fort saying that, though. I reckon there'd be a volley of arrows, and maybe a horde of goblins swarming you into submission."

Hannah bumps her fist modestly against the cleric's shoulder.
"Which is why we can lure some here, and fight on our own terms. No surprise attack, none of ours getting cut down opening their front door.", she looks back at the party.
"And hopefully send back the message we can fight. But there is still the matter of effectively luring them here."

I'll get a rough setup map of Fairbrooke one of the next few days.

Astella nods her head. The goblins that were at the castle at least pretended to negotiate, but she admitted there was a low likelihood of peace at this point. She wondered if they now had a centralized government, or if they were all just scattered.

As she tried to think it through, she made sure she was ready for battle, and helped build barricades.

Should we commence longer term activities like building barricades, scouting, etc at this point?

While Strom spends the day with the druid, the others help the current defenders, and the remaining townsfolk who hadn't left, scavenge for materials for makeshift barricades. From broken doors, damaged, furniture, old carts, 3 out of 4 weak spots in the pallisade walls were covered. Leaving 1 spot and the front entrance of Fairbrooke in need of a bigger presence in case of an attack.

Luckily, that did not happen today.

More tonight.

Severa asks around "Does anyone have any materials to help fortify the gaps? Caltrops, bear traps, or even simple marbles?"

Severa asks around "Does anyone have any materials to help fortify the gaps? Caltrops, bear traps, or even simple marbles?"

1d3 ⇒ 21d3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

The redhead nods.
"Cruel a method bear traps are, we have a few. 3, i think. I suspect marbles will have been taken with the children when they left."

Fairbrooke is, after your current preparations, accessible at 2 points instead of potentially 5. The gate, and a breach in the north wall.
Previously, the goblins had hit the block that makes up 8,9,10,12,13, and some non displayed housing to the north. They had not hit the center of Fairbrooke yet. On the map, i've marked three estimated routes by which the goblins would make their way to the center.

You can choose which route to defend, and that area will be made into a combat map. (N, S, SE) The other routes would be defended by devided Fairbrooke forces. If 1/2 of the number of goblins on a route is defeated, and at least 1/2 defender forces remain, they withdraw. If rolls go bad for the defenders, they withdraw to the school (#11) to regroup, but the goblins will pillage buildings on that route and leave with the plundered spoils.
Your group won't need to be alone on a route, unless you want to. If not, you can choose between some defenders with bows, making ranged attacks against random goblins. Or perhaps you'd like some bodyguards to defend the more squishy among you.

Ranged defenders: x4 lvl 2 elven warriors with the regular ranged NPC stat array.
Bodyguards: x3 lvl 2 dwarven warriors with toughness and bodyguard feat. Regular melee NPC stat array.

I vote the ranged defenders. They can hopefully help pick off goblins before they get to us, but I don't feel strongly about it if you all want melee help instead.

Also, is the school climbable with a good roof? Looks like a good place to shoot from for any of the routes, but especially the north one with a long diagonal path that looks like a good sightline the whole way. ... Any other buildings that are tall enough to use for sniping?

I assume us having defenders weakens the other areas? If so, I'm ok with us trying to do it without any NPC defenders.

Severa shrugs regarding the comment. "Cruel it may be but I am not concerned about that when they come to threaten your lives and livelihood..."

I will put bear traps in some places on the map depending on where we choose.

Strom listens to the old druid and helps with the ceremony to create a new guardian. His first action is to introduce Sage as a friend, although he wonders if other creatures of kind need to have this step performed. Better to be safe when magic is involved.

He does not say it, but he wonders if this was an effective use of spells, given the relative ease with which his own party defeated the previous guardian. The wooden wall trap seems like a solid idea although it appears to only serve when the invaders have already penetrated the town proper, and only if some number of them congregate in the square. Perhaps the wall could be used to seal the invaders inside the town and then it could be torched by archers and burn the invaders within. The town could be rebuilt but lives are much more expensive to bring back from the dead.

He hopes the rest of the team are making headway and allowed their ideas to improve the fortification.

Daniel will try to give a speech to improve morale. I'll try to post one in a bit, but its hard to type a lot here using a phone. I vote no defenders with us. Let em guard other entrance and have a scout to keep watch for sneaky tricks. At most, 1 body guard for both Severa and Astella. 1 total I mean

N, S, SE: 1d3 ⇒ 3
The route near the town park. Map coming tomorrow.

Severa looks forward to trying to help deal with the goblin army, even if traditional warfare was far from her strong suit.

Map is up, slide #12. Could you all position yourselves within the marked area, and we'll start from there. Thanks for the patience.

I'll position all tonight and we can get this fight started.

OK, everyone is in the marked area.
1d4 ⇒ 2

The following day further preparations are completed. Furniture to barricade the doors to the school are on the ready, a couple of archers have moved to the 2nd floor windows. The druid has a combination of elven archers and dwarven warriors to hold the north route.

The redhead and the hotheaded dwarf have a number of those along to defend the south route, and your team, along with a dwarf to get between goblins and the ranged support, bar the way on the south east route.

You start hearing noises, doors getting shoved or kicked open. Voices speaking in goblin, sounding a mix of boastful, caution, surprise...and forceful.

Defending Fairbrooke, round 1

Blue & Cyan
--------------
Strom
--------------
Green & Dark Green
Orange & Yellow
--------------
Estelle & Astella
Severa
Daniel

"Here we go," says Strom confidently. He moves forward, hearing the goblins speaking hastily opposite the row of buildings in the area of the attack. His short legs move him enough so that he has an angle around the corner of the southern house to cast a spell, entangling the goblins within. Sage moves with him to catch any of the goblins that can move with more agility through the mess of vines.

Cast Entangle (yellow area on map). Duration 3 minutes.

"Archers! Take them down!"

The archers are at the school. Voting had NPC defenders stay with the other Fairbrooke defenders.

Reflex: 2d20 + 2 ⇒ (13, 6) + 2 = 21
1 goblin's got his legs tangled up by a sudden burst of vines sprouting from the ground. The other one is still fine.

The other goblins, of which Strom sees 1 clearly, move out of sight, and take a cautious unseen detour behind the houses in the west.

Estelle & Astella
Severa
Daniel

All 4 can post, but it will resolve in initiative order.

Astella moves and casts Gravity Bow.

Estelle moves and prepares an attack if any goblins come in melee range.

Daniel Runs forward, drawing a javelin as he moves before using his momentum to add further strength to the throw.

javelin: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Which would have pierced the hide of a dire boar, if he hadn't completely overthrew the target.

assuming a 10 doesn't hit even an entangled gobo.

Severa prepares to slow down the goblins when they re-appear from their detour.

Readied action to glitterdust to blind if I see 3 more goblins within the 20 ft diameter circle of a glitterdust with no allies who would be blinded. DC 16 will.

The two goblins standing in the area with moving vegetation shout out something in their own tongue.

Not a moment after, you hear the sound of a combat horn sounding from the streets in the distance. Shouting is followed by the distant sound of metal hitting metal, as the Fairbrooke defenders engage the goblins.

Defending Fairbrooke, round 2
Round 2

Blue goblin takes total defense and moves slightly forward.
Str check: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
Cyan breaks free from the entanglement, and follows suit.
----------------------------
Strom
----------------------------
Green & Dark Green
Orange & Yellow
--------------
Estelle & Astella
Severa
Daniel

Unfortunately, Strom had been sequestered away from the town to recreate the guardian, and his lack of knowledge of the streets has caused him to waste a significant opportunity to slow down the invaders. All he can do for the moment is double back to where he started.

2x move.

While Strom's entanglement spell area had been called an alarming prospect for the goblins, it did provide means to force the goblins to limit their number of paths to safely take to engage the team.
[spoiler=Gob rolls]
2d20 + 4 ⇒ (12, 13) + 4 = 292d6 + 1 ⇒ (4, 3) + 1 = 8
2d20 + 4 ⇒ (15, 10) + 4 = 291d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Green and dark green come into view from behind a house, wielding bows.
The nearest clear mark is the dwarf defender near Astella.

They open fire upon him, scoring two hits on him.
After gritting his teeth, the third duo moves in, moving past the two archers. One of them slashes the dwarf in the shoulder, but he deflects the second attack aimed at him.
---------------------------
Estelle & Astella
Severa
Daniel

Does my readied action glitterdust go off on the two who come into view around the house? It should do so before they fire or at least before the second fires, I would think? Might help the dwarf defender guy.

Does my readied action glitterdust go off on the two who come into view around the house? It should do so before they fire or at least before the second fires, I would think? Might help the dwarf defender guy.

Right. Though, you wanted to catch at least 3 goblins you could see at once? Then the archers would get their shots off, and glitterdust happens once you see the 3rd appear behind the archers.

Will saves: 4d20 + 1 ⇒ (10, 15, 17, 2) + 1 = 45
Green is blinded, Dark Green passes, Orange passes, Yellow is blinded.
Yellow remains in the street behind the archers.

End of turn save yellow: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15Remains blinded.

Estelle & Astella
Severa
Daniel

The map has extended for better display of the area.

Agreed. I double-checked on the ready condition then edited but Paizo goblins ate the edit. Oh well.

Severa waves her hand and the sound of two goblins screaming in awful pain and fear erupts from the area where the two southern goblins are.

That probably just annoys the two southern goblins a little and the one at the corner can probably tell this is just an illusion. But maybe it will disrupt or confuse the eastern goblins a bit. DC 15 will save to disbelieve for anyone who hears it. Probably those who can see the area get the usual +4 or something for seeing there's nothing there.

I would add, while you mention the south goblins, Severa has no sight of them or of the layout of the street they are in.

Estelle takes a step and then attacks Orange.

Attack (Lucerne Hammer): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Damage (bludgeoning): 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Astella shoots at Turquoise.

Attack (Masterwork Darkwood Composite Longbow): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
Damage (piercing): 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

orange still there?

Estella swings her hammer, staggering the goblin by the sheer force of impact. Daniel sees him standing unsteadily on his legs, eyes not quite as focused as before.

The arrow Astella shoots is blocked by the goblin raising his shield in the nick of time.

The goblins in the middle hear some stuff that isn't physically there, around where Daniel and Estelle are.

Daniel
Dwarf defender

Daniel will take a swing at the staggered goblin. Drawing his sap to do so. Hoping to question them once the battle is over.

attack: 1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (10) + 7 - 1 = 16
damage: 1d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 2 = 7

Daniel manages a knocking the goblin over the head, and he passes out.
1d4 ⇒ 1

The dwarf defender uncorks and drinks a red potion.
1d4 ⇒ 2 HP healed.
=============================

Defending fairbrooke, round 3

The duo of blue and cyan advance upon Daniel.
2d20 + 4 ⇒ (18, 17) + 4 = 39Dmg: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (5, 6) + 2 = 13
Two axes land upon Daniel, combined dealing no small amount of injury to him.
--------------
Strom
--------------
Green (blinded 3 rounds) & dark green
Orange (KO) & Yellow (blinded 3 rounds)
--------------
Estelle & Astella
Severa
Daniel

With the previously entangled goblins advancing to attack Daniel, Strom takes his chain flail and swings it at the adjacent foe. Sage bears her claws and launches at the same goblin.

Sage Bite: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12 Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Trip: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Chain Flail: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7 Damage: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Unfortunately, both Strom and Sage miss badly, perhaps surprised by the ferocity of the enemy.

IDK if the +4 was their to hit, if so the 17 is only a 21, which misses Daniel's 22 AC. I'll update hp once its clarified.

IDK if the +4 was their to hit, if so the 17 is only a 21, which misses Daniel's 22 AC. I'll update hp once its clarified.

HP refunded. Combat map had at AC 21.

Astella, your shot did hit. Breaking free from entanglement didn't leave the total defense after moving, so 4 dmg to the goblin.

Red (formerly green) (blinded) takes a wild shot at the dwarf defender.
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 111d6 ⇒ 11d100 ⇒ 9
End of round will vs blinded: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1 Blinded 2 rounds.

The goblin cautiously stumbles away from the line of fire.
White (formerly dark Green) takes a shot at Estelle.
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 131d6 ⇒ 4, he misses, and it lodges itself in a tree outside of the map. He makes a hushed curse in goblin, and puts some distance.

Yellow stumbles backwards down the street.
End of round will vs blinded: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (14) - 1 = 13 But he too doesn't get rid of the blindness yet.
------------------------
Estelle & Astella
Severa
Daniel

Estelle walks forward and then attacks Red.

Attack (Lucerne Hammer): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Damage (bludgeoning): 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Astella moves and then starts singing (inspire courage)

and to be fair, I purchased a buckler earlier, but haven't started using it yet.

Daniel takes a retaliatory swing at the goblin that managed to get past his shield.

sap: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (16) + 7 + 1 - 1 = 23
damage: 1d6 + 3 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 2 + 1 = 8

Estelle misses her swing against the goblin, his wobbling condition interfering with landing the hit.
Speaking of landing a hit, Daniel smacks his sap over the goblin's head.

Severa

Botting.

Severa takes a casual walk west, and makes the image of a vicious guard dog appear behind blue, and it growls menacingly.

The dwarven defender gets between Astella and line of sight for the archer in the back.
==============================================

Defending fairbrooke, round 4

The duo of blue and cyan attack Daniel, seeing a bigger threat in him than the dog right now.
Axes: 2d20 + 4 ⇒ (3, 1) + 4 = 8Dmg: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 6) + 2 = 14
With combatants closing in on them, and not having the element of surprise, the goblins' aim is faltering.
--------------
Strom
--------------
Red (blinded 2 rounds) & White
Orange (KO) & Yellow (blinded 2 rounds)
--------------
Estelle & Astella
Severa
Daniel

Traveling for work again this week. If you ever need to bot me seeing at the closest enemy.

Strom swings again and Sage bites.

Sage: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29
bite: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Strom: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
flail: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

Illusory guard dog sounds great, thanks GM.

Crit Sage?: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26Extra dmg: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5Confirmed.

Under the hits from Strom and Sage, cyan goblin goes to the ground.
------------------
Red (blinded) withdraws, stumbling blindly.
End of turn will: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (17) - 1 = 16Pass.
When he stops, his sight returns to him.

White takes a shot at the dwarven defender, who is playing shield for Astella.
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 151d6 ⇒ 2, the dwarf raises his shield as he sees this, and the arrow is now sticking out of his shield, instead of himself.
White then disappears behind the house, walking some distance south.
Yellow stumbles blinded away from the sounds of combat.
End of turn will: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (12) - 1 = 11Fail.

He stays blind the next turn still.
----------------------
Estelle & Astella
Severa
Daniel

Estelle pursues Red, and then hits him, hard.

Attack (Lucerne Hammer): 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 4 + 1 = 24 (inspire courage)
Damage (bludgeoning): 1d12 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 1 = 10 (inspire courage)

Astella continues to sing as she follows Estelle, giving her ranged back up as she also targets Red. (If Red is dead, she targets Yellow, who is past Red but still easily within longbow range.)

Attack (Masterwork Darkwood Composite Longbow): 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 5 + 1 = 19 (inspire courage)
Damage (piercing): 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 1 = 9 (inspire courage)

Estelle will require a double move to get there, since her banded mail restricts her to 20ft movement speed.