Might and magic, Lords of the Contested Lands

Game Master Chyrone

Xander nods. "Yes, about half the goblins are pressed through coercion regarding the safety of their spouses. But if hearing serves me well, i heard vaguely a lot of angry women from the direction of the keep. Hostage party is over."

He rubs the last bit of numbness from his wrists. "Since you did so for me, i'd like to return the favor, occupy some of your own enemies."

What did you have in mind?

"I tag along, if you need to urgently go somewhere and would otherwise be delayed, i introduce my boot or fist to the obstruction, buy you time otherwise spent on your own."

Are you looking to join our group permanently, or just looking to do a favor out of a sense of obligation?

Xander shrugs slightly. "Depends on the circumstances. I wouldn´t mind beating up as many of them as i can. By Gralkor, many of the others share the sentiment. Let's say i'd offer to tag along until the fort is safe. Is that fine with you?"

Yep. Just want to make sure you don't feel like you have to. That always builds resentment. We didn't save you so you would do something for us, so you are free to come with us, but also free to go your own way. Whichever path you choose.

Xander nods. [b]"Alright then. Let's proceed with ending this plunderous reign of terror."

With Xander in tow, the team makes their way past more fighting, distracting some enemies with a sound sometimes, giving the 'unchained' opportunity to get a few strikes in. With the 'unchained' fiercely fighting for life and reunions with their spouses, said spouses are making quite a racket up ahead, as they surround a handful of guards.

Whatever of the women are injured by weapons, are healed by the few clerics among the rest of the woman. The guards are beaten, stabbed, and clubbed into submission. The women hold knives, sticks, chair legs, and an assortment of improvised weapons.

They make their way towards the next part of the fort, a mob of angry women out for reunion and retribution.

You make your way to the infiltration team, who sit in hiding behind a small wall. The guy you spoke with earlier motions you to come over.

[b]"Glad you could make it. So here's the situation, in order to avoid either of their leader's lieutenants from joining on his side in a fight, we've got to take them out both at a time. Out there is his hound master, a brute of very sadistic caliber. Inside the keep is a shaman or mage of sorts, rumored to be the torturer of the two. Take a pick which one you want to take care of, we'll handle the other one."

Seska nods in agreement with ending the plunderous reign of terror.

As they offer the choice of which lieutenant to take on, Seska frowns. "'Hound master' sounds like we'd likely also be fighting his hounds. We'd all need to be able to handle a close fight and some of us are better at a distance. The mage we'd need both close and far strikers... maybe better for our group? I can support Daniel and close in on him while Astella hits it from far away and Severa counters his magic. Does that make sense?"

Sounds like a reasonable suggestion. Let's do it.

Which a decision reached, the infiltration team leads you to the outer courtyard of the keep. They themselves take an arc outside, heading towards their encounter with the hound master.

You yourselves in the meantime ascend the winding stairs. What sentries were guarding the stairs have been beaten by the freed spouses, lying clobbered on the floor.

The ground floor held the immediate rooms and kitchen to receive guests, guards' quarters and a meeting room.

The next floor sees some more organized structure.
It is deserted, save for some muffled sounds from behind a closed door.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

Hearing a cruel voice threatening a woman, Astella whispers the situation to her fellows you can read the spoiler, then throws the door open and jumps into the room, starting to sing.

If it isn't locked, of course. She'll start a bardic performance (+1/+1) to give everyone a boost on attack and damage, but since they haven't rested, she'll only be able to keep it up for 3 rounds.

You can open the door, but combat kicks off at that moment.

Before the evil voice can continue any more dialogue, Astella shoves open the door, drawing attention.

Inside, 2 goblin guards and behind a spell caster near his table of items. To the northern part of the wall, in shackles, hangs a goblin woman with toned muscles. Defiant despite looking worn and injured.
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The spellcaster lieutenant, round 1

The spell caster mutters something in goblin, his weapon glowing briefly.
The green guard moves up to the door and takes a defensive position raising his shield.
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Astella
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Blue guard
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Severa
Xander
Daniel & Seska

Action as stated. If opening the door starts the battle, starting to sing is all I can do. Move action, open door, standard action sing. Can't do a bardic performance faster than that till 7th level.

Astella, i'm moving you 5ft step back, to have the melee members access to the door's bottleneck.

Astella starts a song about the potential follies of evil, when taking prisoners.
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The blue goblin guard heads over towards his buddy, and too assumes a defensive stance raising his shield.
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Severa casts a glitterdust into the room.
Will goblins DC 16: 2d20 ⇒ (20, 18) = 38, both of them look sparkly, but are unaffected.
Xander throws 2 punches.
Flurry, cover: 1d20 + 8 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 8 - 4 = 13Dmg: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
Flurry, cover: 1d20 + 8 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 8 - 4 = 5Dmg: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
But the wall makes hitting difficult right now. He looks to Daniel and Seska.

Daniel & Seska

Daniel steps 5ft to his left to where Astella was just prior. He swings his sword at the green guard.
Sword, inspire, PA: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (12) + 7 + 1 - 1 = 19Dmg, inspire, PA: 1d8 + 3 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 2 + 1 = 8

Daniel's attack is blocked barely by the guard having his shield raised.
Seska steps up and tries swinging her own weapon despite the cover from the doorway.
Battle Aspergillum, inspire: 1d20 + 5 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 1 - 4 = 6Dmg, inspire: 1d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 1 = 4, her swing bumps against the wall.
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The spellcaster lieutenant, round 2

The spell caster casts a spell, conjuring forth a shimmering morning star in the corner between Seska and Astella.
1d2 ⇒ 1Astella., the weapon swings at Astella, Swing: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14Force dmg: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6, and it manages to hit Astella on the shoulder.

The green guard now swings his sword back at Daniel.
Sword: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18Dmg: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3, Daniel however quickly blocks this attack by raising his own sword.
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Astella (6 dmg)
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Blue guard
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Severa
Xander
Daniel & Seska

Astella uses her acrobatic ability to try to move through the door around the defenders.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

I moved Astella to where she was trying to go, but if it doesn't work, just move her back.

She continues to sing, and attacks green if she was able to move, the magical weapon I suppose if she wasn't)

Attack (morningstar): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Astella manages to surprise the two guards, by pushing her way past them through the door, however this incurs attacks of opportunity from them both.

Aoo Blue: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13Slash: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Aoo Green: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5Slash: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Astella narrowly avoids blue's sword, but her own attack is blocked by green's shield when she swings at him.
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Blue guard steps 5ft to behind his comrade, swinging his shortsword at her.
Shortsword Blue: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6Slash: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
But she sees it coming easily, and ducks aside.
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Severa tries to shoot a blinding ray at green. Touch, inspire, cover, into melee: 1d20 + 4 + 1 - 8 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 1 - 8 = -1 It misses.

Xander throws two punches at green.
Flurried punch, inspire, cover: 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 8 + 1 - 4 = 12Dmg, inspire: 1d8 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 1 = 9
Flurried punch, inspire, cover: 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 8 + 1 - 4 = 12Dmg, inspire: 1d8 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 1 = 8 Alas, both miss.

Daniel swings his sword at green. Sword, Power attack, inspire: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (11) + 7 + 1 - 1 = 18Dmg, PA, inspire: 1d8 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 1 = 6
Daniel lands a hit, slashing green for 6 dmg.

Seska

I think Astella was using acrobatics to try to avoid AOOs

Seeing that trying to strike past the doorframe isn't going to be very effective, Seska steps back behind Daniel (5 ft step) and casts bull's strength on him.

By the words and placing of a guard blocking the door, that looks like trying to force through an occupied square.

Daniel gets some beefed up muscles, from Seska's Bull's Strength spell.
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The spellcaster lieutenant, round 3

The spell caster starts casting a spell.

The spiritual weapon switches targets to 1 Daniel, 2 Seska: 1d2 ⇒ 1 Swing: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7Force dmg: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

The green guard (6 dmg) leaves Astella to his buddy, and swings his sword at Daniel.Sword: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8Dmg: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
But Daniel casually raises his weapon to let it bump off.
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Astella (6 dmg)
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Blue guard
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Severa
Xander
Daniel & Seska

Astella continues to sing, and attacks green.

Attack (morningstar): 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 4 + 1 = 16 (inspire courage)
Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 1 = 9 (inspire courage)

Sorry, forgot to add it last round, but it was up, and this is the last round, because I will be out of bardic performance rounds after this.

Sorry for the delay...

Astella gives green a solid whack, leaving him unsteady on his feet.
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Blue guard swings his sword at Astella.
Sword: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7Dmg: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5, and he was so caught off guard by Astella's attack, that he outright screws up his own attack. (good times)
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Severa passes for now.
Xander flurries at green.
Flurry punch, inspired, hard cover: 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 8 + 1 - 4 = 22Dmg: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Flurry punch, inspired, hard cover: 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (8) + 8 + 1 - 4 = 13Dmg: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Green is sent flying onto his back, clearing up the way.

Daniel moves forward, swinging his sword at blue.
Sword, inspire, bull strength, PA: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (14) + 7 + 1 + 2 - 1 = 23Dmg, inspire, bull strength, PA: 1d8 + 3 + 1 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 1 + 2 + 2 = 16.... and he 1-shots blue to the ground.

Seska

I don't see anyone left on the map? Or is that orc in the back of the room a combatant?

Yep, the evil cleric.

Seska steps into the room and invoking a prayer to the Saint to deny her gifts to the wicked, she casts ray of sickening at the evil priest.

Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

Fort DC 14 or be sickened. Save negates