Skalla Kel Tath's page

"Gronilda!" Skalla cries as the dwarf falls to the hobgoblin's deft scimitar strike.

"Someone help her!"

Her voice, used to cutting through children's babble in the classroom, rings out loud and clear to alert the others of mortal danger. She edges to the right, trying to draw away the captain's attention, fervently hoping that one of the others can make it to Gronilda in time to save her life. She is shaking with anger and fear, so her strike goes wide.

Attack red: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

As a GM, I straight-up do not kill PCs (although people are welcome to swap out a character they no longer enjoy playing).

In terms of dealing with PC death or near-death, using hero points can be useful at lower levels when the party doesn't have access to Raise Dead/Breath of Life/Resurrect etc. I saved one of my PCs from death this way, as I would have been very upset to lose that character.

Another method I've seen employed is to weave the character's death and subsequent return into the narrative. I'm in a Tyrant's Grasp game where one of the PCs died to a series of crits and we didn't have the magic to save them. The player worked with the GM and their character returned to the game after making a bargain with a mysterious higher power (hinted at to be Arazni). It was an emotional arc for everyone involved and beautifully executed, and also fit the theme of the AP.

Ultimately, it's something to discuss before the game starts (not something available to you in this situation, GM - I realize that), as different players and GMs have varying degrees of comfort with PC death.

Skalla has a moment of indecision, but in the end she cannot let Gronilda face the hobgoblin on the bridge alone. She runs to stand by the dwarf's side, her battleaxe raised menacingly.

Double move, can't charge unfortunately.

AoO if needed: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13 Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

"Why are you offering them mercy, when they offered none to our people?" Skalla yanks the bolt out of her shoulder angrily, circling around to flank the wolf.

Battleaxe, flanking: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 3 + 2 = 16 Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Skalla grits her teeth as she follows Gronilda, stepping over the bodies. She cannot help but look, examine every visible face and try to put a name to it. She will not avert her gaze, she will remember each and everyone of these folks and avenge them when the time comes. But for now, to save those who still live.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

Skalla reaches out a hand to squeeze Lizzie's shoulder in silent support. She feels cold all over as she hears her companion's father recall seeing so many of their family cut down and beyond their help. It is hard to wrap one's mind around the fact that this was it, this was all of them who had escaped the cruelty and savagery of the hobgoblins.

And the danger was not yet past; they needed to make haste and escape across the bridge and into the woods. Hoisting Aiza up in a hip carry after loading a few supplies in a sack to carry on the opposite shoulder, Skalla nods her readiness to the others. She cannot speak, not yet. She feels the knot in her throat, the sobs and screams welling up behind it, and the time for mourning was not now.

"Aiza, my heart, are you alright?" Skalla takes the orphan girl into her arms. "Let's get you all out of here and somewhere a little safer." Knowing that giving her a task will help the child keep her mind off the horrors happening in town, Skalla looks around for something useful that Aiza could carry.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

"Gronilda, are there any hidden spaces here? Lizzie's aunt said there would be more people here, but I don't see them..."

Skalla begins to search the shrine, tapping on the floor and walls.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Attack red: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18 Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Skalla leans to the left to avoid the first swing, then back as the second whistles past her face. As she straightens up, she brings her axe in an upward swing aimed at the hobgoblin's midsection.

Skalla tears her gaze away from the dead caretaker, shouldering past Grymwold into the shrine proper. She stalks towards the altar, battleaxe gripper tightly in her hands.

"Come out, you cowards! Or do you only fight against unarmed villagers?"

Double move.

Rushing around the shrine to where the others were shouting, Skalla is brought up short by the sight of Big Gronilda. Even so, the size of the wolf is also rather imposing; most people who have never seen one think of wolves as dogs, but wilder. The truth is rather far from that.

Still, the creature was threatening her companions, so Skalla grips the shaft of her battleaxe tighter before closing the distance and swinging.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13 Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Stealth, ACP: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (11) - 3 = 8

It is difficult for Skalla to make herself small and unnoticed, but the former teacher tries anyway.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Skalla takes all the weapons; there was no sense in leaving them behind to be looted by hobgoblins and then used against more innocent people. Those that don't have sheaths she quickly wraps in rags and straw, Distributing them amongst the others to carry. The waterskins are filled from the pump and likewise distributed.

She smiles as Lizzie is reunited with part of her family, going over to ask them. "What of the kids? Have you seen anyone? Are they at the shrine as well?"

Skalla is also Very Interested in saving any children she can, as she is/was a teacher in Phaendar before the raid.

"Kining!" Skalla shouts after the blacksmith. "You're angry, and I am too, but shops can be rebuilt and lives cannot. We are alive, for now, so let us focus on staying that way. Help us gather what is useful, and help these folks make their way to the bridge. There are others that escaped this massacre, and we mean to hide in the forest."

This was the adult version of the speech that Skalla often had to give to the younger kids, which was usually along the lines of "Use your words, Brienna, not your fists."

Skalla moves to help Kinning with the door, but turns around as she sees the pair of half-elves about to leave.

"You can do a lot more good helping us protect the townsfolk! We are getting organized, gathering provisions. On your own your chances are poor at best, don't throw your lives away like this!"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Strength: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

I'm happy with GM Red adopting this game for the first book. Few APs on the boards make it past that point, anyway. :)

Good luck with the house, Mahuffma!

And I'm down to try and find a new GM.

"What is with this creature? Where does it come from? Why does it attack us?" Skalla's rising exasperation can be heard in her tone. Still she cannot sit idle while her companions are being attacked.

She moves to stand at Grymwold's side.

Attack, flail: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14 Damage: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Likewise not looking for a fight with the animated rock, Skalla gives it a wide berth as she helps people get down from the loft.

"We need to move quickly, gather whatever would be useful to survive in the wilderness, as much as you can carry. Food and drink, especially, also tools, hatchets, weapons if you know how to use them!"

She looks over the people to see if any of them were wounded.

Perception to look for useful stuff: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

It was pointless to try and save the building. They were fleeing anyway, most likely never to return here. She should have seen this earlier, if only she wasn't overwhelmed by the memory of that one night.

No, what was needed now was to save the people. Skalla heads to the door, giving it a once-over to see if it was barred or locked from the outside. Why would the hobgoblins do so, though? Why leave people alive, but trapped in a burning building, instead of taking them captive or killing them? Was it just cruelty, or were they bait for people like Skalla and the others, the ones who would rush to aid those in danger?

Strength: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

Skalla grabs her battleaxe, ready to turn the closest shutters to splinters. She signals Saélihn. [b]"If there are flames inside, opening either the door or the windows will make them worse, so please be ready with your water conjuration.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Seeing that Gronilda was reviving Ghost, Skalla rushes to put out the fire on the roof. Her powerful voice shouts to the others "See if there's anyone still alive inside!"

By the look of the map there's a water pump next to Skalla, so she'll use that to try and put out the fire.

Skalla takes a few steps closer, staying near the pump so that she can quickly draw water to put out the fire once the fighting was over. So far things were in their favour, but the scope of the disaster hits her afresh and she doesn't feel capable of inspiring anyone. Raging Song ends

Picking another smooth stone with fumbling fingers, she aims her sling at the remaining hobgoblin, taking care to not hit the others. It was good that those next to her target were short - a dwarf and two dogs - so she aims for the upper chest and head.

Sling attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20 Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

I forgot to add the raging bonus damage to my own damage, haha.

Skalla takes out her own sling, picking a round stone from a belt pouch and flinging it at the hobgoblins. If she could hurt them from a distance she would, the feeling of getting sliced by their swords is far too recent for her to feel comfortable getting closer - at least not until they're good and bloodied.

Attack sling, closest hob: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11 Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Skalla will start the raging song as surprise round action.

The sight of the flames licking the thatch roof make Skalla go cold all over, and her vision blurs with fury and fear and the memory of a burning hut many years ago.

"Not again," she hisses through clenched teeth as she moves closer. Her voice is low and menacing and filled with controlled rage as she imparts the same fervor on her companions. "It's not enough to kill us. They slaughter the animals. Destroy our tools. They seek to erase our whole lives. This stops here. This. Stops. Here."

Raging song, +2 to Str and Con, +1 to Will, -1 to AC, rounds used 4/5.

Skalla lets Lizzie scout ahead, staying towards the back of the group as she's all too aware of her clumsiness. She clenches and unclenches her fists, impatient to get to the trade post and worried about what they might find there. As they move on the outskirts of the town, she glances towards the streets and houses, looking for any kids that might have escaped the carnage.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

Skalla passes the antidote to Aubrin, frowning in concern at the shopkeeper. "Brightberry, do you have any more of those berries? Oreld is still injured."

Skalla sets her jaw. "We'll save as many as we possibly can. If there is a path for the others to make it to the forest unnoticed, then of course they should do so instead of following us into danger. Perhaps Aubrin can lead them."

She finishes tying the knot of a sack containing as much of the provisions as she could cram inside, her movements swift and precise. "Whatever we decide, we need to do it quickly. Every moment that passes, more people are killed or taken."

"These two are cure ones, the other one to turn invisible. Maybe that is how they stroke in the heart of town without notice. Invisibility."

Skalla frowns, clearly not enjoying the idea of invisible hobgoblins. "Then they must have been preparing this for a long time, to brew so many potions. Or... they got help from someone. I don't like either of those scenarios."

With Oreld's customers and family rescued from the cellar, the half-orc gets to work securing vital provisions and organizing the more able-bodied people to carry some of them.

With the hobgoblin dead and the others taking charge of freeing those who had taken refuge in the cellar, Skalla moves to search the other invader's body.

"I hope one of them has the key to this damnable collar. Oreld, we're planning to retreat into the forest. Anything in your shop that could help us survive in the wilderness?"

Skalla should be at full HP, 9/9.

Intimidate to demoralize: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

Skalla draws herself up, raising her flail to point at the living hobgoblin as she addresses them in a menacing tone. She doesn't yell, instead her voice is low and threatening as she enunciates the guttural sounds of the goblin language.

3 rounds of song used, I'll find a place in the status line to track that.

Skalla flattens herself against the wall outside the door, trying to hear what's going on inside.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

"It would also mean that retreating there would be a lot more dangerous. I still think it's the best option though - at least the forest will give us some cover." Skalla hefts the makeshift pack over her shoulders. "Well, I think we got everything useful here. Everyone ready to go? Someone with keen eyes should check if the rear exit is clear."

I've been updating the loot sheet, and I had a question. The loot listed for hobgoblins (mwk backpack, heavy crossbow etc.) - is that for each of them, or for both together?

Skalla shakes her head as she stuffs cured hams, wheels of cheese and bags of beans in a sack. "Many things could have happened. They were distracted. They were killed before they could raise the alarm." She wraps handfuls of straw around clay jugs and adds those to the sack. "Betrayal."

The half-orc fashions two loops from a length of rope and ties one end around the mouth of the sacks and the other to the each of the bottom corners. It makes for a crude backpack so she has her hands free. Once she has gathered all that she can carry, she makes it back to the main room, shaking her head at Gronilda's suggestion. "We stick together. Alone, each of us is easy pickings for the hobgoblins. You saw how it took five-six of us to kill two of them. Not counting the dogs."

Ask at the bar for the secret menu.

"I can carry the supplies," offers Skalla. She looks to Jet's assistants. "Let's grab the strongest alcohol you have, we can use it for wounds. And some ale or something similarly weak for people to drink if we don't find clean water."

They turn to the others briefly before heading down into the cellar. "Someone quick-footed should get the people upstairs."

Perception in the cellar: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Rushing to Jet's side, Skalla nods at the door behind them. "It looks like the town is overrun. Can we get people out through the back door? We're close to the bridge..." She leaves the rest of her thought unsaid. Could they really run, save their own lives but leave the others at the mercy of the hobgoblins? If tales were to be believed, mercy was something that they had precious little of.

The half-orc turns to look at the rest of the room, taking in everyone who was there, including those who had fought back against the attackers. Her eyes come to rest on Aubrin; the former ranger would know what to do.

"Aubrin? What do we do?"

I'm all for minimizing GM strain. It sounds like we have a consensus on post order initiative.

After glancing at Jet to make sure she isn't hurt, Skalla strides over to Aubrin's side, putting a hand on the woman's shoulder.

"Hang in there, Aubrin." She raises her voice, looking over the crowd. "Does anyone have a cure for poison? Or healing magic?"

Casting Resistance on Aubrin, +1 to saves for 1 minute.

Then she fixates her attention on the door. "The children..."

"The children! Everyone, we have to save who we can! Rally the others!"

I don't have a preference for post-order or initiative-order. Skalla's initiative bonus is very low anyway, and I find that with timezone differences I might be the one who either posts first or last in a round.

I would not assume that Skalla will start Raging Song at the beginning of every combat, as that is a limited resource, especially at low levels. She did it now because the attack was so unexpected, but once it becomes clear that fighting is on the table more often than not she will ration it more - at least until she gets Lingering Performance.

The hobgoblins were taking a beating from everyone's determined and concerted resistance, so Skalla tries to finish off the one or ones still standing.

Flail attack, raging song: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14 Damage: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Healing 2 more HP.

Drawing her flail, Skalla swings the heavy spiked ball attached by a short chain to the shaft. She stands up as tall as she can, pulling her shoulder blades back to make her shoulders broader - making as big a target of herself as she can to let Jet and whoever else was behind her take cover.

Attack, IR: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15 Damage: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

She seems to shrug off her wound. The bleeding slows, then stops.

Gaining Fast Healing 2 from Skald's vigor, healed 2 HP at the end of her turn. She is now at 7/10 (from rage) and AC 16. Maintaining Raging Song.

The pain is searing, and Skalla can already feel the hot blood soaking her shirt under her breastplate. Ever since she could afford one, she had been wearing it almost constantly, a manifestation of her paranoia ever since that dark night so many years ago. She is glad that she is wearing it, for otherwise she is quite certain that she would be dead now. She can feel the bruise forming from where the arrow impacted just below her left collarbone.

"Lie down and submit, or die!"

She rises to her full height, fists clenched.

"I. Will. NOT!" She stomps a foot in time with the words. She sees Grymwold grab his hammer and shield. "We are not HELPLESS." Gronilda's arrow whizzes past her. "We do NOT submit." With every shouted word, her foot stomps louder on the floor.

Starting Raging Song, Inspired Rage - those who choose to accept it get +2 morale bonus to Str and Con, +1 to Will saves and -1 to AC. Additionally, they cannot use any Cha, Dex or Int-based skills except for Acrobatics, Fly, Intimidate or Ride, or any ability that requires patience and concentration.

"Yarrow. This is yarrow. Good for, erm, if you ever get indigestion, or, or you slice open a finger while cooking," stammers Skalla through an explanation of the pretty flower's properties while looking everywhere but at Jet. "And they're nice to look at, I thought perhaps you can put them in little pots around the room, one on each table, brighten up the space a little. N-not that it's bad now, of course!" she hastens to add, afraid she might have offended Jet. But the handsome barkeep has already moved away to serve a customer and Skalla swallows and hunches down on her stool, thinking she has made a fool of herself.

She is about to beat a retreat to one of the tables when the door behind her slams open and the sounds of violence and death spill into the room, drowning out the tales and merriment. Skalla twists in her seat reflexively - and freezes.

They were here again. Kicking down the door. The weapons. The smell of smoke and burning. They were going to kill and loot and burn and she was helpless to stop it, like she had been all those years ago.