Kobolds of the Crowned King

Game Master Doug Hahn

Pepin steps back, gets out his sling (greatest weapon of all time) and loads it.

Zyphlryx uses his probing cane on #2, which was so kind as to come within range.

probing cane: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
bludgeoning: 1d6 ⇒ 3

probing cane: 1d20 + 5 - 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 - 5 = 14
bludgeoning: 1d6 ⇒ 5

He then conjures up a disc of force for protection. Cast shield, will use in the event of a crit. AC now 19.

Strike x2, verbal component to Cast a Spell.

Mobolds flail. If only they actually had a flail.

broomzad, kadosh, and Imperius (unhurt) are up!

Trapped between a skeleton and a hard wall, Kadosh grabs a piece of scrap wood and swings at the undead before finding a safer place to be.

Interact to pick up a piece of wood (provoking), Strike, Stride
Strike: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 4 - 2 = 16
Bludgeoning damage?: 1d4 ⇒ 4
Wasn't sure what the improvised weapon does for damage.

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Impererius Steps and shoots, missing. He reloads.

Borrmzad drops his shortsword Steps away and picks p a Pinkskin's crossbow, hoping to clobber the skellies with it.

Kadosh misses. The skeletons heal again, cracked bones knitting together with sticky blood.

Skeleton 1 moves forward and claws at Imperius!

Claw: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

Claw: 1d20 + 10 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 10 - 4 = 20
S: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

— It draws first Kobold blood!

Skeleton 2 slashes at at Zyphlryx!

Claw: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14

Claw: 1d20 + 10 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 10 - 4 = 16
S: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Claw: 1d20 + 10 - 8 ⇒ (12) + 10 - 8 = 14
S: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

— Badly!

★★★
Bloody Skeletons! Round 2

Battlemap

──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Skeleton 1 (-2 HP) │ Personal Antithesis Imperius
➤ Broomzad (26/26 HP) │ Improvised weapon (B)
➤ Kadosh (26/26 HP) │ Hunting Skelly 1
➤ Imperius (12/22 HP)
➤ Pepin le Beouf (20/20 HP)
➤ Zyphlryx (16/22 HP)
Skeleton 2 (-4 HP)

Kadosh grabs another chunk of wood, tossing it again toward the nearest skeleton, then grabs yet another piece.

Interact to pick up a piece of wood, Strike, Interact
Strike: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 4 - 2 = 14
Bludgeoning damage?: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Zyphlryx looks for an opening on #2...

DaS: 1d20 ⇒ 10

Knowing that there's nothing there, he turns his attention back to #1, and sees Kadosh creating a distraction

probing cane vs. #1, flat-footed: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
bludgeoning: 1d6 ⇒ 6

After his swing, he conjures up a disc of force for protection. Cast shield, will use in the event of a crit. AC now 19.

Devise a Stratagem, Strike, verbal component to Cast a Spell.

Imperius focuses on the crystal on his crossbow as he loads it, and then triggers it as he fires on #1.

hand crossbow +7 (range increment 60 feet, reload 1): 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 7 + 1 = 18
piercing: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (4, 4) + 2 = 10 personal antithesis

He then reloads again.

Pepin casts magic stone on two sling stones, then fires a shot at skeleton 1:

Sling: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 6 + 1 = 21
Bludgeoning: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 6) = 9
Disrupting Positive Energy: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Imperius's turn was effective, very, but will include in GM post.

Borrmzad moves into a flank with Imperius and, crossbow in 1 hand and short sword in the other, opts to use the short sword to take advantage of sneak attack!

SS: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
S: 1d6 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + 4 + (3) = 11

Second attack: 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 7 - 4 = 13

The skeleton is VERY badly wounded… but still alive.

Skelly 1 bleeds, and bones stitch together. It rushes over and furiously claws at Pepin!

Claw: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19
S: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Claw: 1d20 + 10 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 10 - 4 = 18

Skelly 2 bleeds as well fast healing. It moves into a flank and slashes at the ghost!

Claw: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29
S: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Broomzad nimble dodges the first attack, avoiding getting hurt badly. Flecks of ectoplasm splatter against the old barrels nonetheless.

Claw: 1d20 + 10 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 10 - 4 = 7

The creature then misses with its last attack.

Skelly 1 is "bloodied" and may drop if you can get in a decent hit that bypasses resistance 5.

★★★
Bloody Skeletons! Round 4?

Battlemap

──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Skeleton 1 (-21 HP) │ Personal Antithesis Imperius
➤ Broomzad (19/26 HP) │ Improvised weapon (B)
➤ Kadosh (26/26 HP) │ Hunting Skelly 1
➤ Imperius (12/22 HP)
➤ Pepin le Beouf (11/20 HP)
➤ Zyphlryx (16/22 HP)
Skeleton 2 (-2 HP)

”Why won’t you die… again?”

He shoots again at #1
hand crossbow +7 (range increment 60 feet, reload 1): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
piercing: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Reloads, and shoots gin, if still up.
hand crossbow +7 (range increment 60 feet, reload 1): 1d20 + 7 - 5 ⇒ (10) + 7 - 5 = 12
piercing: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

We wouldn't be fighting these things at all if you hadn't opened the door! Zyphlryx says to Imperius, obviously projecting.

He looks for an opening on #1 this time...

DaS: 1d20 ⇒ 18

Oh! OH! There it is! Just as it slashes at The Kobold Formerly Known as Broomzad...

He races in and takes a swing!

probing cane vs. #1: 18 + 5 = 23
bludgeoning: 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + (6) = 8

Devise a Stratagem, Stride, Strike.

Zyphlryx cracks the creature's skill in half! It alls in a bloody heap on the ground.

★★★
Bloody Skeletons! Round 4?

Battlemap

──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
➤ Broomzad (19/26 HP) │ Improvised weapon (B)
➤ Kadosh (26/26 HP) │ Hunting Skelly 1
Imperius (12/22 HP)
➤ Pepin le Beouf (11/20 HP)
Zyphlryx (16/22 HP)
Skeleton 2 (-2 HP)

Kadosh is alarmed as the creature comes for him again. He takes a couple of swings at it, then retreats again. Let it kill Boo-zad again.

Strike x2 (vs. flanking), Stride
Improvised club: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 4 - 2 = 11
Improvised club: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 4 - 2 = 16

Kadosh barely misses on the second strike. He knows he missed on the first, doesn't even have to look.

Broomzad steps in and clobbers it with his improvised weapon:

2d20 ⇒ (16, 9) = 25
B: 1d6 ⇒ 2

He connects once!

Pepin flings another stone:

Stone: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Missing.

He reloads one last magical bullet. Target is 1-3 bullets, so I assume he would cast it on 3

The skeleton fast heals 2, then claws at Broomzad!

Claw: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29
S: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Claw: 1d20 + 10 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 10 - 4 = 24
S: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Claw: 1d20 + 10 - 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 - 10 = 19

Nimble dodging the first one saves his ectoplasmic bacon, but he's still getting hurt!

★★★
Bloody Skeletons! Round Forever

Battlemap

──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
➤ Broomzad (5/26 HP) │ Improvised weapon (B)
➤ Kadosh (26/26 HP) │ Hunting Skelly 1
➤ Imperius (12/22 HP)
➤ Pepin le Beouf (11/20 HP)
➤ Zyphlryx (16/22 HP)
Skeleton 2 (-2 HP)

”This is stupid. ” exclaims Imperius.
He drops his crossbow, Steps into a flank with #2, and studies it.

Esoteric Lore: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Then , realizing that like all of the rock folk, this one is weak to gold, such as his scales, and punches it!

fist! With flank: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
bludgeoning: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
plus Personal Antithesis 3

Frustrated that he can't just cut the skeleton's head off, Kadosh agrees -- oh no, is he starting to "think" like Imperius? Putting that horrible idea aside, je sizes up his foe, and then throws his chunk of wood generally in the skeleton's direction -- maybe he could distract it at least?

Hunt Prey, Strike, Interact to pick up another piece of wood
Ranged club, improvised: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 8 - 2 = 9 not going to hit with that roll...

”Kadosh, just use your fist. If I can punch these things, why can’t you.,”

Zyphlryx looks for a vulnerable spot...
DaS: 1d20 ⇒ 4
Yeah, that's not gonna work.

Instead he steps in and tries to trip the skelly.
Trip: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Devise a Stratagem, Step, Athletics to Trip.

Kadosh glances at Imperius. Is he trying to get him killed? Using his fist would mean he would have to be far too close to the skeletons. Does their revered leader realize that?

Imperius punches the skeleton, his scales come away sticky with blood but they leave the bone cracked!

Kadosh is so horrified by simpatico with Imperius that he totally whiffs.

Zyphlryx trips it!

1d20 ⇒ 5
1d20 ⇒ 5

Broomzad flails about then drifts back.

Pepin flings his last stone…

1d20 ⇒ 20
B, Pos: 2d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (3, 3) + (5) = 11

… cracking its skull.

FINALLY, the room falls silent!

______

Inside the ancient, forgotten torture chamber is a third skeleton. This one is one also bears fruit — or, rather, mushrooms — a cluster of magic mushrooms sprouts from its rib cage.

The hands of the skeleton clutch something — a ring. A simple golden ring that has a large, red gemstone set into it that sparkles with an inner fire. Shiny! The inner band is bears the faint symbol of a hammer.

The ring is clearly magical… perhaps its magic protected this person from getting turned into a bloody skeleton?

Society (trained): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
Religion (trained): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

"It's a demon symbol on that ring!" Kadosh exclaims.

Society: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

"These are skeletons of ancient dwarves. Their clothes are so out of style!"

Religion: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
"No, it is the symbol of Torag, their chief god."

Occultism: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18 Dubious Knowledge...

Kadosh knows it's a symbol of the demon dwarf Droskrag!

Will he agree with Imperius? Will he admit Imperius may be correct?

Still can ID the ring, Dubious don't work on ID magic

"You mispronounced Droskrag! Very dangerous. He has a crag that blew up one time and everything! Now the entire area is pallid!"

”No, it is definitely Torag. See the hammer shape? The stone lords value the forge, and he is their forge father. ”

Kadosh squints at the symbol, then at Imperius.

Is he everburning torching me? he wonders. Making me think it's not Droskrag for some reason? But why?

”You see it, right? You know I am right. ”
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

Yes, i know interaction skills don’t usually work on PCs

Zyphlryx's Arcana (T): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

As you argue about Torags and Droskrags it becomes you can't identify thew shiny ring yet. It must be really powerful!

You can't help but wonder where to go next…

Head around the palisade up here? Go back down?

Kadosh slinks back into the shadows and waits to see which disaster Imperius will lead them to next.

I'm fine anywhere and Kadosh wouldn't lead, but to move things alone, how about finish clearing around the palisade first?

Religion: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Society: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

"This is obviously a very powerful artifact. Probably of Torag, though someone mistakenly thinks it is of Droskar... not Droskrag. Droskrag is the volcano, not the brother of Torag.

"All that being said, I should wear it for now. Just in case it is too powerful."

Zyphlryx looks at the ring. Hey, I think that's the symbol of Tornag! he exclaims, mispronouncing the name he heard from Imperius.

Second vote for the palisade.

Third vote for the pallisade.

Pallisade is fine.

You head to the other palisade. In here are piled moldy books, ruined by the leaky roof. Flipping through the ages, you find what little yo can read is written in an angular, strange runic text.

Map updated.

Now, there is no where left to explore bt the level below the palisade, and the central barracks where Pinkskins sleep and may wake at any moment — surely when they idiotic comrades return after chasing Tombzaad.

Map updated

perception dc15: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
”Hey check out this scroll! Who can use it?”

"It's time to go teach those pinkskins a lesson," Kadosh suggests, gesturing to the barracks.

Probably makes sense to not wait any longer on this...

LOL, "the Truly Truescales send their regards!"

Imperius loos around, and wonders out loud, ”Maybe we can just burn this whole place down?”

"If you want to cook something properly, you need to close the oven door."

Pepin gestures to the tools and the exits.

"Let's nail them in and give them a good roasting.

"Sounds good to me!"

Before you can get out the alchemist fire you think better of it. it might be a wantonly evil act to roast 'em alive — you wouldn't want to give the Truly True Truescales a bad reputation! Your enemies fear you because you fight fair (snares and sneaking are considered honorable activities among the Truly True Truescales after all).

Queen Qweenzeenk would be proud that you're upholding the tribe's name.

______

You peek inside the door… there are a dozen empty cots in here. It looks like all the workers ran out to try and kill Tombzaad and get that bounty! A crude charcoal drawing of a kobold is on the wall, with knives thrown into it for target practice. Mostly the wall is dented because the knives have hit the wall hilt-first, demonstrating the Pinkskins' truly pathetic knife skills.

You get busy ransacking the footlockers. in one bed is a complete set of sterling artisan tools useful for woodwork.

A small sack containing 62 sp and a VERY shiny nice garnet sits amid the tools.

"Stupid pinkskins are all outside!" Kadosh gloats. Then he pauses. "They're probably setting traps for us, but the joke's on them. Now we can burn this place down and they'll have nowhere to come back to!"

There's a first flolor of pallisate to explore, and then maybe you can burn down the fort — or at lerast their horrible logging machine, tools, and other items [marked on the map]

Kadosh gestures toward the first floor. "There's more to loot, then we can burn it down before we spring their trap outside on them!"

You head to the other side, on the lower floor of the palisade. To the bottom left side, opposite where you fought the darkmantles, you hear a rhythmic sawing. To the left, there is a closed door.

You head down to investigate the sawing first.

You find that the chamber here has been converted into a small work area. Three of the pinkskins you killed at the dam are here… no longer pink-skinned, but grey. Undead!

They are chained to the walls and endlessly toil, sawing planks of wood into neat pieces, planing the surfaces smooth, and sanding themn down.

However, when they notice you they drop their tools and pull against their chains, trying to kill you. R-R-R-R!!!

There is a foreman's clipboard attached to the wall on a lop of twine, but it's pretty near the pinkskin zombies! For now, you're safe as the zombies can't reach you.

What will you do here? The book might have clues, but you would need to be a good thief to get it undone without getting clawed up.