Longroads Coffeehouse 2.0

Game Master chadius

While many of the goblins at the work camp are covered in dirt and sweat, Zig stands tall and straight among them. He pours over maps of the surrounding area before speaking. “It is good to see you. They call me Zig. I’m glad my father asked you to come here to help. We have been building a very important bridge. But every night, the big cats attack our camp. We leave out meat for them and they saunter right past it. Instead, they seem bent on filling their bellies with goblin flesh. If we move camp across the river; they cross over it overnight. If we light fires around the camp to scare them away, the goblins workers burn themselves in the flames. It’s a lose-lose situation."

“Every few nights, the cats come back to hunt us. Everyone is terrified and that’s bad for business. With all this talk of some saber-toothed whatever coming for us in the night, they’re all too scared to finish the work. If someone doesn’t take these furballs out, I suspect the bridge isn’t ever gonna get built." He points over towards the river at the partially completed bridge. Its clearly going to take more than a few more days to finish.

“These kitties aren’t natural. Whatever you need, you got it. I can give you workers to build fences. But fences alone
aren’t going to be enough. Either the cats go, or this bridge is history. The only other answer is death...” He puts his hands on his hips and looks skyward while somewhere behind him ominous music gets played.

"I admire your flair for the dramatic, Zig. It seems like these ferocious felines are quite intelligent. They do not hunger for food, not afraid of running water nor fire."

"But if we build our fortifications just right. We may be able to force them to enter in limited directions. Enough that we can cover directly."

"Indeed," Nicole agrees. "I wonder why they prefer goblin meat."

"What do you suggest that we can do?" Nicole asks Zig.

“Can you show us where they last attacked the camp, so we can look for tracks?”

"U-um, I'm sure death won't be necessary," Fran remarks with a shiver as she looks around the camp. "Our deaths, I mean. Otherwise, the deaths of whoever or whatever is causing all of the trouble seems like a, um, pretty good idea. Probably."

She continues looking around. "Maybe we can, um, build some traps that don't involve fire, for a start..."

"Squawk! We should be able to handle kitty cats, shouldn't we?" Roark says with a wink. Roark does, however, follow Vardarel to look for tracks.

Vardarel talks to a few of the goblins to get an idea of where best to search for tracks and then starts searching.
Diplomacy, gather information: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Survival to track: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

"All reasonable questions, I'll do what I can to answer them. Let me show you around camp." He steps down out of the spotlight and gives you all a walking tour of the encampment.

Responding to Bella "The supplies you brought in on the wagons can be spared to construct fortifications placed where ever you deem best. I'll leave those decisions to you all."

Workers can build fortifications at your behest, up to (16) 5' segments thanks to all the wagons surviving the fires. The fences that already surround the encampment provide some protection. Each section of fence fills a 5-foot square, is 6 feet high, and is made of wood (10 Hardness, 40 HP, Broken Threshold 20). The PCs can place these segments of fence wherever they wish and can move the fences each day.

Responding to Nicole "Goblin meat I'm sure is the finest of all the humanoids, certainly the most well cooked!" He jests.

Responding to Vardarel "They seem to come into camp from any direction but I'll show you the more recent." Once the tour has concluded Vardarel tries to speak with a number of goblin workers only to find the don't speak common, and many are too busy to engage in much discourse. Searching around the obvious entry points Zig mentions in the encampment yield no fruit, the tracks are far too trampled and confused to find any sort of trail.

Responding to Fran "Traps that don't involve fire? A novel idea.. but we haven't tried traps really, just the fire." His eyes drift off, staring at that beautiful bonfire in his mind.

"We're counting on you to handle these blood thirsty, goblin murdering 'kitty cats' otherwise this project goes down the drain." He shakes that thought from his head, striding around the encampment.

"Here's the infirmary, chief surgeon on duty is Pearlybones. Pay him a visit if you need treatment." He points to a small building before striding past a mass of tents. "Workers sleep here, and here." He offers, pointing at another cluster of tents nearby.

"You can find me and Muckmuck in this impressive structure, our command center. Please come and report to me each morning. You'll need to be on guard duty patrolling the grounds or perimeter to keep the rest of us safe til morning. You can sleep in a spare tent or two during the day." Any questions for Zig or the GM?

"Sounds like a fair assessment." Bella looks across the camp. "I do carry some emergency teabags..."

She looks about. "I suggest we move the fortifications to protect the workers as much as possible. Their safety is paramount."

"Um...oh! Do the attacks all happen around the same time every night or does it change?"

"Um...oh! Do the attacks all happen around the same time every night or does it change?"

"After dark is the best I can say. They skulk in, ignore our defenses and snatch goblins, about a dozen so far have been taken." He lowers his voice a bit just to not remind the workers. "There's a few still recuperating in the infirmary, they should be back to work in a day or two though."

I've placed a wooden fence icon on the camp map that you can replicate and arrange around the map as you see fit. You can place up to 16 5' sections. Each square on the map is 5'. I'll move us ahead tomorrow assuming you've placed fencing or said you don't wish to. Also please indicate how you are setting up your PCs on the map and if and how they are patrolling: stationary? patrol routes? light sources? There is a campfire in the middle of the camp but not much for regular lighting along the perimeter.

Vardarel looks around the camp, then asks if a watch tower could be built. “Currently the highest watch point would be on top of the hospital. I would like someplace high enough to see over the fences in all directions, probably near the center of camp. Could we make such a tower?”

Maybe use up 8 of the materials for fencing? Should be enough for a 20’ watch platform / tower. Please note that these goblins are supposed to be able to build a bridge, they have to have some skilled carpenters.

Looking to the group, he then says “Unless we want to try and bait the attackers by leaving a gap for them to attack through. Then we could place someone there to ambush them.”

“I can also set an alarm on one area, but we would need the goblins to remember the password. ‘Bad Cat?’”

"Leave one obvious entryway. We shall guard it." Bella nominates herself and Khiari.

“We were told they can come in from any direction. Seems they will climb over fences. I think the best we can do is make it appear as if one direction isn’t protected.”

Nicole lights up her Wayfinder for the night patrolling but also stands next to the campfire.

"I'll stay close to this fire." Nicole tells them.

Is it possible to rest for eight hours and complete our Daily Preparations before beginning our night patrol?

Roark stays close to Fran and Mister Midnight... While passing the time, he whittles (or tries to) with a throwing knife.

"Oh, a tall tower on the command center? Brilliant idea! From there I could stand and survey all we've accomplished! Not to mention keep an eye out for slacking goblin workers." Zig stands, chest puffed out and the sunlight framing him perfectly as the wind blows his scarf in the breeze.

"Yes, a tower would do perfectly. Muckmuck, get your men to start hauling lumber to the command center and do as they ask. Our lives depend on it!" With that Zig strides off to do other impressive looking things.

Nicole, you would have been able to make preparations this morning after yesterday's wagon train attack, but won't be able to make new preparations (change spells/etc) again until tomorrow morning. There isn't enough time for 8 hours of rest before dark.

I had missed that we had a nights rest after the attack on the wagon!

Having some sense of diplomacy, Vardarel suggests “Yes, just outside the command tent entry is an excellent place for it.”

Actually, now that I think of it and reread the scenario, I am incorrect. The wagon attack was this current day's morning so you haven't been able to rest and reset spells. You can certainly take plenty of time to make heal checks, refocus, etc and 'rest' before the night but the scenario doesn't say you have time for a full 8hr rest that I'm seeing.

"I don't really have any good magics for traps or warnings...but, um, I can help with building the watchtower," Fran offers, rolling up her sleeves. "Many hands make lighter work, after all!"

She looks around again, considering the camp layout. "Once that's done, I'm happy to help with walking patrols. I can't see very well in the dark, but Mister Midnight is another story - and he can fly so he can see up over the fences too!"

"Meow! That's right!"

Mister Midnight flies in a lazy circle around Fran's head before gently alighting on one of the wagons. "But, um, I can't actually see in the dark, Fran. I just see better by the light of a campfire or torch than a human does!"

Sounds like tower is a go! Drew a circle where I wanted it. Adjusted some of the fencing.

Just before climbing up to the top of the watchtower, Vardarel gets a goblin to paint a sign saying in goblin and common “Say Boss before entering.” and posts it outside the entrance to Zig’s command tent. He explains it to Zig so he can give the orders to the goblins. He then goes behind the tent and sets his magical alarm to give an audible warning of attackers from the direction of the command tent.

Hoping that someone does well on the Crafting. One person could Aid the other, excellent chance of success now that DC to Aid is 15.

"See all of the nails and joints? That's why your treehouse didn't work." Khiari grins at Bella, who maintains a stoic face and doesn't make eye contact.

Khiari just giggles. "We'll keep watch over here."

Oh sweet, they dropped the Aid DC for Remaster? Excellent!

Once the plans for the tower are finalized to Vardarel's specifications, Fran gets to work wrangling both lumber and goblins...

Crafting - Tower Time: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

Nicole helps Fran in making the tower from the spare wood and materials available to them.
DC 15 Crafting to Aid: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22 Success, +1 circumstance bonus to Fran's skill check.

Muckmuck starts throwing around orders and gets the supplies hauled into camp. He helps translate and communicate what and where you want built thanks mostly to Vardarel and Bella's directions.

Fran and Nicole take the lead on engineering and constructing the new guard/observation tower being erected just outside the command center. The two women's skill in construction is critically important to the strength and stability to the tower. So much so they make extra efficient use of their materials, leaving enough wood for two extra fence panels! The goblin bridge engineers spend the evening marveling at the construction techniques.

In the evening Zig tours the fortifications and tower, equally impressed with your ideas. "I'm pretty sure I can almost see my father's house from up here.." He points off in the distance to the north. You're pretty sure its not, but it makes for a good story.

Vardarel sets a magical alarm at the command post with signage up so the goblins avoid it. Zig tests the password out repeatedly as he goes in and out. "BOSS!" He struts in like a Boss would. "Excellent."

You all get a brief cat nap in before night watches if you choose to.

As far as being able to see, looking at the macros table and discussion: Roark, Khiari, and Mr Midnight all have low light. Everyone else is normal vision then? Please locate your tokens on the map for the night watch, and comment on patrol activities and exploration modes so we can begin!

"Exemplary." Bella marvels at the watchtower. "Sister and I will patrol the southern camp. I do have a torch..." She prepares to light it when it gets dark.

Khiari thinks for a bit. "Huh. Zig's dad lives north from here? That's... convenient."

Bella and Khiari are ready for night watch. Bella will use her Perception to Search for anything troublesome.

Nicole activates her Wayfinder to shed some light around her, even though she is already next to the camp fire. She keeps her eyes peeled for any signs of the attackers. Perception to Search as well.

As dusk settles on the camp, Vardarel climbs up to the top of the watchtower and gets his longbow ready. He looks out over the camp and surrounding area outside of the fences, checking his ability to see his surroundings.

It is going to be a long night…

Night falls with a thud, and with it the sounds of night replace the sounds of bickering goblins, saws, and hammer strokes. The Pathfinders spread out around a well-kept campfire helping illuminate the center of the goblin camp, while those with low light vision can see all the way up to the walls.

Vardarel spends the night up on top of their new watchtower looking down over the entire camp as well as patchy spots where the campfire light breaks through the wooden palisade. Skies are patchy, sometimes offering moonlight, sometimes not.

Not long after dark a melodic alarm rings through the camp, intruders or time for work, either way something's happening! Vardarel spots a red hued big cat skulking towards the palisade behind the command center, it hisses at the loud alarm sound.

Initiative post incoming.

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

ROUND 1! Bold is up!

Roark (50/50)
Bella w/ Khiari (60/60)
Fran (40/40)
---
Red
---
Vardarel (38/38)
Nicole (44/44)

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

Recall skill is Nature, however so far the only player to have seen the target is Vardarel, everyone else only heard the alarm.

"Alarm." Bella aborts her game of wordplay with Khiari. "Hmm, I can't see anything from there. Sister, we need to wait." Khiari nods and both decide to Delay until they can see something.

"Squawk! What's goin' on?! Anyone see anything?" Roark scans the camp for anything moving but doesn't seem to find anything.

Roark delays as well. He has lowlight

Roark, Bella, Khiari, and Fran all look around and wait for Vardarel to give any updates. The big red cat continues to sneak along the edge of the palisade to the north, but only Vardarel can see this.

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

ROUND 1! Bold is up!

Red
---
Vardarel (38/38)
Roark (50/50)
Bella w/ Khiari (60/60)
Fran (40/40)
Nicole (44/44)

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

Recall skill is Nature, however so far the only player to have seen the target is Vardarel, everyone else only heard the alarm.

Vardarel shouts “I see a cat just the other side of the fence approaching the gate!”

Although he has called out the position, Vardarel decides to make it even more obvious. He summons his spiritual longbow and attacks with it.
Spiritual Armament: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18
Holy Piercing or Spiritual Damage: 2d8 ⇒ (2, 6) = 8

Point out, cast a spell

"Well then. Sister, hold my torch." Bella hands the torch to Khiari and pulls out a shortbow.

"While I have a clear shot..."

Shortbow: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26
Piercing: 1d6 ⇒ 5

"Curiosity will get you killed, kitten. No more midnight snacking!"

◆ Pass Torch to Khiari
◆ Draw Shortbow
◆ Strike Red

Nicole readies to do something against the ambusher when it gets within her sight of her light.

◆◆ Ready
◆ Raise a Buckler Shield (+1 to AC)
↺ Shield Block

Rather than advance directly towards the gate, Fran instead opts to move closer to the central fire where Nicole stands, to better be able to respond to potential attacks from other parts of the wall. Using a bit of her power, she subtly nudges fate in Roark's favor and then conjures a protective shield for herself.
______________

◆ Stride
◆ Nudge Fate on Roark
◆ Shield

Eaten posts are deflating. Roark tries a performance for panache but rolled a 15. I moved him 5' closer to the red location and drew his rapier.

Bella, Khiari, and Roark prepare for battle while Nicole takes aim with her hand crossbow towards the wall. Fran repositions and prepares.

From his lookout point on top of the tower Vardarel catches a glimpse of a blue tail attached to a large cat behind the wall heading towards the hospital. It stops, sniffs the air, and licks its chops.

The large red cat easily climbs the palisade wall and drops down inside the camp, eyes dashing back and forth between the pathfinders and the nearby tent. It takes its claws and slices a clean tear in the canvas and prepares to find a snack.

*Edit: Nicole greets the large cat with a warning shot from her crossbow. Miss It hisses in return.

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

ROUND 2! Bold is up!

Blue
Red
---
Vardarel (38/38)
Roark (50/50) Nudged
Bella w/ Khiari (60/60)
Fran (40/40)
Nicole (44/44)

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

Recall skill is Nature, Red has now been seen by the group, Blue only Vardarel.

Khiari notices the large cat climb over the wall and spots. "Over there!"

Bella nods. "Shall we?" The both Stride towards the Northern camp. Bella skips to and fro to get close enough to kick the cat once.

Fist: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18
Bludgeoning Damage: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (4, 3) + 2 = 9

Vardarel shouts “One is going for the hospital!” as he points out the blue cat. “Someone get between it and the building!”

He fires at it with his bow and then directs his spiritual weapon at the new cat.

+1 Striking Longbow: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25 100’, Deadly d10, Volley 30’
Piercing damage: 2d8 ⇒ (6, 4) = 10
If crit, Deadly: 1d10 ⇒ 1

Spiritual Armament, MAP: 1d20 + 10 - 5 ⇒ (4) + 10 - 5 = 9
Holy Piercing or Spiritual Damage: 2d8 ⇒ (3, 4) = 7

◆ Point out, ◆ Strike, ◆ Sustain

Bella takes a swing at the red cat, missing it by a whisker.

Vardarel calls out the blue cat from his tall perch, firing an arrow into its shoulder, garnering a deadly stare as his spell misfires.

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

ROUND 2! Bold is up!

Blue -10
Red
---
Vardarel (38/38)
Roark (50/50) Nudged
Bella w/ Khiari (60/60)
Fran (40/40)
Nicole (44/44)

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

Recall skill is Nature, Red has now been seen by the group, Blue only Vardarel.

Nicole throws a bottle of cold something at Red!
Moderate Frost Vial Attack, w Alchemist Goggles: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 2) = 5 cold damage plus 4 cold splash damage (fr Calculated Splash), and the target takes a -10 foot penalty to its Speed (ignore Lesser Cover, if any, fr Alchemist Goggles)

She then moves and raises her buckler.

◆ Quick Bomber w Far Lobber
◆ Stride
◆ Raise a Buckler Shield (+1 to AC)
↺ Shield Block

Nicole cracks a vile of frosty goo over the red cat, slowing it down for a few seconds. Roark and Fran stand by weighting their options.

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

ROUND 2! Bold is up!

Blue -10
Red -9 (-10ft speed 1 rnd)
---
Vardarel (38/38)
Roark (50/50) Nudged
Bella w/ Khiari (60/60)
Fran (40/40)
Nicole (44/44)

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

Recall skill is Nature, Red has now been seen by the group, Blue only Vardarel.

Now able to see the first cat that Vardarel had been firing at, Fran tries to recall something useful to aid in the battle and then attempts to fling a piece of firewood at it!

Telekinetic Projectile vs. Red: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30
Damage (B): 3d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 3) = 5
______________

◆ Recall Knowledge
◆◆ Telekinetic Projectile

Roark dances for the red cat.

Fascinating Performance (Dance vs Will DC): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24
Gain Panache if Roll exceeds Will DC, even if target not fascinated

Unwilling to approach the red cat, Roark instead launches a fireball at it.

Produce Flame: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15 for Fire Damage: 2d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 2) + 3 = 9
Crit - Double Damage + 2d4 Persistent Fire

◆ Dance
◆◆ Whiff (If I missed by 1 I think the Nudge kicks in)

Fran recalls these particular large cats are lions, known for their stealthy hunting abilities, knack for pouncing on unsuspecting prey and dealing sneak attack damage to those caught unawares. Fran is so familiar with these particular lions she knows that these animals are expressing uncanny intelligence in their attack pattern and also gaining herself a +5 bonus to Survival checks to Track these felines and a +2 circumstance bonus to attacks and damage rolls against them.

Fran magically slings some firewood at the red cat, hitting it square in the nose. Too bad for her the wood was soft and punky. Robbed on that damage roll, but added in the recall bonus.

Roark finally finishes preening himself, just in time to do a little dance for the red cat. He catches its attention momentarily, just enough to gain his swagger. Panache Gained The aim with the fireball is too off course for fate to alter.

The blue tailed cat climbs up the wall with ease, dropping down on the other side just outside the hospital door. It knocks lightly on the wood paneled door. A sleepy goblin opens the door "Come back later, sleepy time.. AHHHH!" And is promptly gutted by the feline, slinging blood across the white washed siding before being grabbed up for dinner.

The red cat turns its head towards the goblin scream and almost smiles before reaching out to bite and claw Bella!

Bite: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 131d10 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Claw: 1d20 + 11 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 11 - 4 = 261d10 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Claw: 1d20 + 11 - 8 ⇒ (12) + 11 - 8 = 151d10 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

ROUND 3! Bold is up!

Blue -10 (Dead goblin in mouth)
Red -23
---
Vardarel (38/38)
Roark (50/50) Nudged
Bella w/ Khiari (46/60)
Fran (40/40)
Nicole (44/44)

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

Recall skill is Nature, Red and blue have now been seen by the group.

Vardarel shoots at the blue tailed cat then uses his spell to attack red before it can kill a goblin.
+1 Striking Longbow vs Blue: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13 100’, Deadly d10, Volley 30’
Piercing damage: 2d8 ⇒ (1, 8) = 9
If crit, Deadly: 1d10 ⇒ 6

Spiritual Armament, MAP vs Red: 1d20 + 10 - 5 ⇒ (17) + 10 - 5 = 22
Holy Piercing or Spiritual Damage: 2d8 ⇒ (7, 2) = 9

He then scans the perimeter to see if there are any more out there.

Strike, Sustain, Seek