|
Khaul, burdened under bows and arrows fails to notice immediately when Nedri goes off track. However as his boots cross the same stream for the third time he cannot help but not.
"Master Thistle... That fish be eyeing me up and sizing me as if I come back again it'd be liking to take a bite out of me toe. And while I've good iron on me toes, not all our companions be likewise armored."
He huffs to the front to try his best at guiding the group. "Lend me that wayfinder will you. It's gota help us out here."
The travel takes a few more days than it should - but the party eventually makes the last half of the 100-mile trip around evening time to see a lone tower jutting upward through the treetops, with crumbled stone walls surrounding it - and indicating that it may have once been part of a larger keep. Spiked wooden barricades force anyone seeking to approach on foot to take a winding and circuitous route forward.
...
The "crumbled stone walls" would be difficult to climb here...
The "crumbled stone walls" would be difficult to climb here...
The "crumbled stone walls" would be difficult to climb here...
The "winding circuitous route" at least has some cover, and wouldn't be impossible to sneak through as a party...
The "winding circuitous route" at least has some cover, and wouldn't be impossible to sneak through as a party...
The "winding circuitous route" at least has some cover, and wouldn't be impossible to sneak through as a party...
...
Khaul (AC 18 or 20, HP 23/23) w/ shield & warhammer @ Defend (Darkvision)
Duncan (AC 19, HP 30/30) w/ cane @ Search (Lowlight Vision)
Nedri (AC 15, HP 15/15) w/ staff w/ Light spell @ Search (Normal Vision)
Emoubu (AC 20 or 22, HP 42/42) w/ striking rapier @ Avoid Notice (Darkvision)
Aurelien (AC 17, HP 14/14) w/ pistol crossbow @ Investigate (Lowlight Vision)
...
|
'It doesn't look friendly. I'm not surprised to find a structure like this occupied. Bandits are not known for their building skills.'
'The walls look very difficult to climb. I'm not sure I could manage. We may have to go in through the door.'
Aurelien looks concerned. 'Can we get there without being noticed?'
...And so, the party begins making their plan of approach, imagining themselves just out of earshot and eyeshot of whomever or whatever lurks inside... a creeping sensation of being watched pricking the back of their necks...
|
|
He nods at Aurelian. "Ayuh, jes' thinkin' tha same."
After a few moments, the old coot's hackles rise, and a toothy grin spreads across his face (well--what teeth are left). "Good news, lads," he says cheerfully. "We're bein' watched! Prolly plottin' our messy ends right now! Might as well jes' walk on in, I say. Greet 'em at tha front door, with open arms and a kick in tha teeth!" He snorts, though whether it's supposed to be a snort of laughter or the clearing of his sinuses is highly debatable.
...as the group discusses, it turns out the old man is simply outvoted!...
...and so, the party tries to utilize the cover to sneak through the dangerous-looking barricades!
Khaul (AC 18 or 20, HP 23/23) w/ shield & warhammer @ Avoid Notice (Darkvision) @ ??
Duncan (AC 19, HP 30/30) w/ cane @ Avoid Notice (Lowlight Vision) @ 25, Critical Success
Nedri (AC 15, HP 15/15) w/ staff w/ Light spell @ Avoid Notice (Normal Vision) @ ??
Emoubu (AC 20 or 22, HP 42/42) w/ striking rapier @ Avoid Notice (Darkvision) @ ??
Aurelien (AC 17, HP 14/14) w/ pistol crossbow @ Avoid Notice (Lowlight Vision) @ ??
...
|
|
"Well, if yer be wanning to sneak in, that not be the way of Torag. Though to be fair, he isn't keen on just walking into traps either. Unless they be traps he crafted himself that is. In which case it'd be like ones duty."
With a sigh, he does however agree there is a certain, mundane, advantage to perhaps not strolling into a volley of arrows.
"Of course, what if they just be protecting themselves from bandits, and if we be sneaking, they may be thinking that we were bandits. Then..."
However he joins the rest of the group in a careful approach.
...Khaul forgets to shut his mouth while the rest of the party sneaks...
...someone swears they can hear a commotion above the crossway...
...Duncan circles back to cover Khaul's mouth, just as Aurelian and Nedri accidentally set off a slow-moving log trap, which ineffectually catches itself in a mass of cobwebs, before cracking in the middle with a loud THUD...
...as Emoubu sneaks through with draconic grace, the sound of a single figure running off far above the party amid the higher part of the structure becomes just audible enough...
...followed soon by a long, discordant note on a cracked horn that booms through the crossway!!!
With the jig up, the party quickly zigs and zags the rest of the way through the allotted entry, turning the corner into a long room that features a pair of intertwining staircases leading to the next level along the southern wall. Lying in poorly arranged piles against the wall to the north are some loose bags spilling over with lengths of copper wire, various stones and gemstones, cogs, wheels, and other devices, though the room’s northwest corner appears to have been recently swept clean...
...but still, Duncan is the first to react!
...
...
Duncan (AC 19, HP 30/30) w/ cane @ Avoid Notice (Lowlight Vision) @ 25
???
Emoubu (AC 20 or 22, HP 42/42) w/ striking rapier @ Avoid Notice (Darkvision) @ 15
Khaul (AC 18 or 20, HP 23/23) w/ shield & warhammer @ Avoid Notice (Darkvision) @ 12
Nedri (AC 15, HP 15/15) w/ staff w/ Light spell @ Avoid Notice (Normal Vision) @ 10
Aurelien (AC 17, HP 14/14) w/ pistol crossbow @ Avoid Notice (Lowlight Vision) @ 11
Blue Kobold w/ sling
Green Kobold w/ sling
Pink Kobold w/ sling
Purple Kobold w/ sling
Red Kobold w/ sling
...
Racing forward with feckless speed, Duncan steps right into the smiling kobold's trap: a ground-click causes the floor to disappear beneath him -
Drawing his blade , our swashbuckler hero boldly acrobatics forward straight into the triggered pit trap , but somehow barely manages to catch himself with one hand before plunging to it's depth ,
The onlooking kobold's laughter dies down a little, and it stamps it's foot in frustration!
"Next time put slippery oil on ledge - yes yes!"
...
Getting ahead of himself Duncan skids over the edge of the pit. His free hand snags the lip as he drops. Adjusting quickly he turns the drop into a swing and pops right back out of the hole, sword pointing at the clearly disappointed kobold.
...and gaining Panache!
...At the GM's discretion, after succeeding at a check to perform a particularly daring action, such as swinging on a chandelier or sliding down a drapery, you also gain panache if your result is high enough (typically the very hard DC for your level, but the GM can choose a different threshold)...
Across the northern side of the room, the blue kobold yells a taunt in Draconic and fires two rocks at Khaul!
◆) Strike
◆) Reload
◆) Strike
Slunking him for 3 blunt damage!
From the opposite direction, a green kobold utilizes the wall cover to snipe Khaul crosswise!
◆) Hide
◆) Strike
◆) Reload
The rock striking his temple just underneath his helmet for 10 blunt - the kobold yells with sadistic glee! - the one next to it seems to congratulate it in Draconic - did they just high-five!?!
A third kobold comes into action -
...
Duncan (AC 19, HP 30/30) w/ cane @ Avoid Notice (Lowlight Vision) w/ Panache, Reaction Spent
Blue Kobold w/ sling, non-loaded
Green Kobold w/ sling, non-loaded
Emoubu (AC 20 or 22, HP 42/42) w/ striking rapier @ Avoid Notice (Darkvision), Reaction Ready
???
Khaul (AC 18 or 20, HP 10/23) w/ shield & warhammer @ Avoid Notice (Darkvision) @ 12
Nedri (AC 15, HP 15/15) w/ staff w/ Light spell @ Avoid Notice (Normal Vision) @ 10
Aurelien (AC 17, HP 14/14) w/ pistol crossbow @ Avoid Notice (Lowlight Vision) @ 11
Pink Kobold w/ sling
Purple Kobold w/ sling
Red Kobold w/ sling
...
Dropping it's loaded sling, Pink kobold draws it's spear instead, strikes at Emoubu, and partially retreats backwards...
◇) Release
◆) Draw
◆) Strike
◆) Step
Meanwhile, the kobold whom which Duncan's sword is pointed stops laughing, and hurls two rocks at the swashbuckler who narrowly evaded his trap!
◆) Strike
◆) Reload
◆) Strike
...
Duncan (AC 19, HP 30/30) w/ cane @ Avoid Notice (Lowlight Vision) w/ Panache, Reaction Spent
Blue Kobold w/ sling, non-loaded
Green Kobold w/ sling, non-loaded
Emoubu (AC 20 or 22, HP 42/42) w/ striking rapier @ Avoid Notice (Darkvision), Reaction Ready
Pink Kobold w/ spear
Purple Kobold w/ sling, non-loaded
Khaul (AC 18 or 20, HP 10/23) w/ shield & warhammer @ Avoid Notice (Darkvision), Reaction Ready
Nedri (AC 15, HP 15/15) w/ staff w/ Light spell @ Avoid Notice (Normal Vision), Reaction Ready
Aurelien (AC 17, HP 14/14) w/ pistol crossbow @ Avoid Notice (Lowlight Vision), Reaction Ready
Red Kobold w/ sling
...
|
|
Ned's staff clacks against the ground as he shuffles forward with uncanny speed, joints popping with what surely must be a monumental effort. He stops thirty feet ahead and locks eyes with Pink. The old man's sclera and irises disappear an a sea of pitch black. Only his pupils reflect the light, creating two discs of shimmer in a sea of black as deep as the dark between the stars.
The old man points at Pink with both his forefinger and pinkie finger, thumb jutting to the side -- the classic gesture of the Evil Eye. A voice that both is and is not Nedri Thistle addresses the kobold.
"Amet ka abuun me-set."
"Live now with me in the Dark."
The dark melts out of his eyes like viscous goop, and he looks around with mild confusion before yelping, "Holy crap! Kobolds!" and throws up a magical shield.
♦ Stride 30 ft.
♦ Cast evil eye on Pink Kobold (Will DC 17).
♦ Cast shield.
Your fix your eye on the target, imposing a malevolent hex. The target becomes frightened based on the results of its Will save. This condition value can’t be reduced below 1 while the spell is active and you can see the target. Regardless of the outcome, the target is then temporarily immune for 1 minute.
Success The target is unaffected.
Failure The target is frightened 1.
Critical Failure The target is frightened 2.
|
|
As Pink Spear stabs at Emoubu, Emoubu deaftly dodges the blow and retaliates with a blow of his own!
↺
Opportune Riposte
Action: Reaction ↺
Tags: Swashbuckler
Source: Advanced Player's Guide pg. 86
Trigger: A foe within your reach critically fails a Strike against you.
You take advantage of an opening from your enemy's fumbled attack. You either make a melee Strike against the triggering foe or attempt to Disarm it of the weapon it used for the Strike.
Emoubu shanks his accuser dead. Khaul gets into position with his shield raised, but misses with his hammer, as does Aurelian but with a magic shield and crossbow.
Nedri chants and begins to aim his intention at the shanked kobold, but at the last minute, redirects it to...
...
Duncan (AC 19, HP 30/30) w/ cane (Lowlight Vision) w/ Panache, Reaction Spent
Blue Kobold w/ sling, non-loaded
Green Kobold w/ sling, non-loaded
Emoubu (AC 20 or 22, HP 42/42) w/ striking rapier (Darkvision), Reaction Spent
Pink Kobold w/ spear
Purple Kobold w/ sling, non-loaded
Khaul (AC 18 or 20, HP 10/23) w/ shield & warhammer (Darkvision), Shield Raised, Reaction Ready
Aurelien (AC 17, HP 14/14) w/ pistol crossbow (Lowlight Vision), Shield Cast, Reaction Ready
Nedri (AC 15, HP 15/15) w/ staff w/ Light spell (Normal Vision), Reaction Ready
Red Kobold w/ sling
...
The green kobold quivers before the creepiness of Nedri!
"Αυτή είναι μάγισσα! Σκοτώστε το πρώτα!"
The red kobold, perceiving the threat of the old coot, slings rocks at him!
◆) Strike
◆) Reload
◆) Strike
Missing his "evil eye" and bonking him instead across the forehead!
...
Duncan (AC 19, HP 30/30) w/ cane (Lowlight Vision) w/ Panache, Reaction Ready
Blue Kobold w/ sling, non-loaded
Green Kobold w/ sling, non-loaded, Frightened 2
Emoubu (AC 20 or 22, HP 42/42) w/ striking rapier (Darkvision), Reaction Spent
Purple Kobold w/ sling, non-loaded
Khaul (AC 18 or 20, HP 10/23) w/ shield & warhammer (Darkvision), Shield Raised, Reaction Ready
Aurelien (AC 17, HP 14/14) w/ pistol crossbow (Lowlight Vision), Shield Cast, Reaction Ready
Nedri (AC 15, HP 11/15) w/ staff w/ Light spell (Normal Vision), Reaction Ready
Red Kobold w/ sling, non-loaded
...
|
Duncan saunters over by the remaining pair of kobolds.
I've heard you're supposed to be kin to dragons, but seeing you up close I think it more likely you're something they can find while cleaning between their toes.
Not waiting for the little lizard's response Duncan raises his sword to a guard position.
(◆) Stride
(◆) Bon Mot
(◆) Dueling Parry
Red kobold responds "Οχι! Σκότωσε αυτό για την προσβολή!"
Blue kobold answers the provocation - while Green kobold drops his sling, draws his spear, and prepares for the party's approach!
◆) Reload
◆) Strike
◆) Reload
◆) Draw
◆◆) Ready to Attack
...
Duncan (AC 19, HP 30/30) w/ cane (Lowlight Vision) w/ Panache, Reaction Ready
Blue Kobold w/ sling, loaded
Green Kobold w/ spear, Frightened 1, Readied Attack
Emoubu (AC 20 or 22, HP 42/42) w/ striking rapier (Darkvision), Reaction Ready
Purple Kobold w/ sling, non-loaded
Khaul (AC 18 or 20, HP 10/23) w/ shield & warhammer (Darkvision), Shield Raised, Reaction Ready
Aurelien (AC 17, HP 14/14) w/ pistol crossbow (Lowlight Vision), Shield Cast, Reaction Ready
Nedri (AC 15, HP 11/15) w/ staff w/ Light spell (Normal Vision), Reaction Ready
Red Kobold w/ sling, non-loaded
...
Stepping forward (◆) and easily dodging the spear strike, Emoubu yells his successful taunt (◆), and makes his counterstroke (◆) - nearly killing his foe! - who retorts:
"Παράδοση σε έναν προδότη; Τι ισχυρές πλευρές δράκων με τους άνδρες;?"
Meanwhile, across the way, Purple Kobold follows the advice of his kin and slings at the witch!
◆) Reload
◆) Strike
◆) Reload
At the last possible second, the surprisingly canny old man flicks his head sideways - turning a nearly-deadly blow into barely a shave!
"Η μάγισσα μπορεί να κινηθεί γρήγορα! Σκότωσέ το γρήγορα!"
...
Duncan (AC 19, HP 30/30) w/ cane (Lowlight Vision) w/ Panache, Reaction Ready
Blue Kobold (AC 16, 8/8 HP) w/ sling, loaded
Green Kobold (AC 16, 2/8 HP)) w/ spear, Frightened 1
Emoubu (AC 20 or 22, HP 42/42) w/ striking rapier (Darkvision), Reaction Ready
Purple Kobold (AC 16, 8/8 HP) w/ sling, loaded
Khaul (AC 18 or 20, HP 10/23) w/ shield & warhammer (Darkvision), Reaction Ready
Aurelien (AC 17, HP 14/14) w/ pistol crossbow (Lowlight Vision), Shield Cast, Reaction Ready
Nedri (AC 15, HP 10/15) w/ staff w/ Light spell (Normal Vision), Reaction Ready
Red Kobold (AC 16, 8/8 HP) w/ sling, non-loaded
...
|
|
Khaul keeps up his shield.
"Yer should just be giving up." he says to the kobold.
"Oer be joinin us, like yer friend over there."
The first strike is just a feint, or that would be what he claims if anyone asked about it. The second is a little more on target.
"Take ye that."
◆) Strike
◆) Strike
◆) Raise shield
Skonk!
After laughing at the first attack, the wounded Green Kobold drops to the dwarf's warhammer...
|
|
Wincing at the nick, Ned turns his wrathful gaze at the purple kobold -- but no pupils drill into the blackguard. Only two inky voids stare at them as the voice that both is and is not Nedri speaks again:
"Nekhat im-ram set avol n'tar."
"I see you through the dark between the stars."
When the milky darkness drains away, Ned, nods satisfactorily and, with a flick of his wrist and an uttered invocation, sends a piece of debris flying at the kobold's head.
♦ Evil Eye hex vs. Purple (Will DC 17)
♦♦
Your fix your eye on the target, imposing a malevolent hex. The target becomes frightened based on the results of its Will save. This condition value can’t be reduced below 1 while the spell is active and you can see the target. Regardless of the outcome, the target is then temporarily immune for 1 minute.
Success The target is unaffected.
Failure The target is frightened 1.
Critical Failure The target is frightened 2.
Aurelian's and Nedri's missiles miss their mark...
...Purple cowers at the sight of Nedri - mistakingly thinking his own fortune is tied somehow to the unintelligible witch!
Red Kobold, seeing Duncan rush before him, directs his aim likewise!
◆) Reload
◆) Strike
◆) Reload
...
Duncan (AC 19, HP 30/30) w/ cane (Lowlight Vision) w/ Panache, Reaction Ready
Blue Kobold (AC 16, 8/8 HP) w/ sling, loaded
Emoubu (AC 20 or 22, HP 42/42) w/ striking rapier (Darkvision), Reaction Ready
Purple Kobold (AC 16, 8/8 HP) w/ sling, loaded, Frightened 1
Khaul (AC 18 or 20, HP 10/23) w/ shield & warhammer (Darkvision), Reaction Ready
Aurelien (AC 17, HP 14/14) w/ pistol crossbow (Lowlight Vision), Shield Cast, Reaction Ready
Nedri (AC 15, HP 10/15) w/ staff w/ Light spell (Normal Vision), Reaction Ready
Red Kobold (AC 16, 8/8 HP) w/ sling, loaded
...
The Red kobold twists away at the last second - barely surviving the vicious shank!
His Blue partner behind him keeps up the barriage...
◆) Strike
◆) Reload
◆) Strike
...
Duncan (AC 19, HP 30/30) w/ cane (Lowlight Vision) w/ Panache, Reaction Ready, Dueling
Blue Kobold (AC 16, 8/8 HP) w/ sling, non-loaded
Emoubu (AC 20 or 22, HP 42/42) w/ striking rapier (Darkvision), Reaction Ready
Purple Kobold (AC 16, 8/8 HP) w/ sling, loaded, Frightened 1
Khaul (AC 18 or 20, HP 10/23) w/ shield & warhammer (Darkvision), Reaction Ready
Aurelien (AC 17, HP 14/14) w/ pistol crossbow (Lowlight Vision), Shield Cast, Reaction Ready
Nedri (AC 15, HP 10/15) w/ staff w/ Light spell (Normal Vision), Reaction Ready
Red Kobold (AC 16, 3/8 HP) w/ sling, loaded
...
Emoubu shanks another of his kind.
Blue yells and drops his sling...
◇) Release
"I surrender!"
Purple yells and continues shooting at Nedri.
◆) Strike
◆) Reload
◆) Strike
"You are a coward!"
...
Duncan (AC 19, HP 30/30) w/ cane (Lowlight Vision) w/ Panache, Reaction Ready
Blue Kobold (AC 16, 8/8 HP) w/ dropped sling
Emoubu (AC 20 or 22, HP 42/42) w/ striking rapier (Darkvision), Reaction Ready
Purple Kobold (AC 16, 8/8 HP) w/ sling, non-loaded, Frightened 0
Khaul (AC 18 or 20, HP 10/23) w/ shield & warhammer (Darkvision), Reaction Ready
Aurelien (AC 17, HP 14/14) w/ pistol crossbow (Lowlight Vision), Reaction Ready
Nedri (AC 15, HP 10/15) w/ staff w/ Light spell (Normal Vision), Reaction Ready
...
|
|
Aurelien raises his shield and comes around the corner, facing purple.
'Now would be a good time to surrender if you want to live. You are outnumbered and outskilled. I would like to know more about who and what is in this tower.'
◆) Cast Shield
◆) Stride
◆) Demoralise
His voice sounds eerily like three people talking.
Still feeling the rush of escaping the pit Duncan rushes around the remaining kobold...
...And right into a second Pit Trap!
|
|
Ned huffs and raps his staff against the stone floor. "That's what happens when ya try ta stab somebody who's tryin' ta surrender!" he chastises Duncan. Then he turns back to the remaining quarry.
"Έπρεπε να άκουγες τον φίλο σου," he snaps at Purple, then raises his hands and mutters an incantation.
"You should have listened to your friend."
A line of dark, wispy energy erupts from the floor, stabbing into the kobold across the pit.
He then mutters a word in some strange, spidery language, and an invisible disc of force springs up to protect him momentarily.
♦♦ Cast grim tendrils, directed at Purple Kobold.
♦ Cast shield.
Spell 1
Necromancy, Negative, Occult
Traditions: Occult
Cast: somatic, verbal
Area: 30-foot line
Saving Throw: Fortitude Save
DC: 17
Tendrils of darkness curl out from your fingertips and race through the air. You deal 2d4 negative damage and 1 persistent bleed damage to living creatures in the line. Each living creature in the line must attempt a Fortitude save.
Critical Success The creature is unaffected.
Success The creature takes half the negative damage and no persistent bleed damage.
Failure The creature takes full damage.
Critical Failure The creature takes double negative damage and double persistent bleed damage.