They should be fine, there are six of them and the balcony is six tiles acro-oh, right.  Large mount.

  "Even the most lazy of guards would not have reached beds this quickly."  He considers the Warforged's hopes to ride a tiger into battle indoors in a small room.

  "You would not have any proper room until you are basically on top of their beds.  It would certainly be a surprise to them if you arrived in such a fashion, but then where would we stand?  Such a shock to them is not worth making you fight alone, Or sit out entirely."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:13, Fri 02 Dec 2011.

Callie says, "Have your tiger come in behind you then, Freedom. Dido and Kitau are still taking point, so it's not like you have to worry about losing the party's surprise."

Callie then looks at Mittens. "Suppose we could block them in? Maybe with fire?"

Dido says, "There might be an alarm in their room. Probably best to fight them to make sure they don't pull any kind of alarm. Just in case."

Callie hrms and nods. "Then you, Kitau and Freedom can charge down the stairs. I'll follow you to make sure you'll be alright. Mittens and Terdisas can blast from the top of the stairs." she looks at Mittens to double-check, "Right? I mean... you'd be able to see, right?"

"Right," Mittens whisper-answers, glance-glancing and squirming.

"I was thinking about maybe asking them to open the door for us.  We could say something like, 'We are errand runners for the great and powerful Snettim, cleric of The King Who Crawls.  He sent us to purchase slaves for him.  We are behind schedule and will pay extra for swift service.'  If they tell us, 'Slaves?!  You must think we are those blasted Bloodreawvers!  That's the third time this week!  If you see Brugg, you can tell him we're reporting this to his boss!' then we'll know there's a chance we've been misled about the identity of the residents here.

"If they say, 'Pay extra?!  Come right in!  Welcome to the speedy service Bloodreaver Slave Emporium!' then we can know for certain we have the right badguys, then can situate ourselves near their alarm before springing the ambush.  Whaddya think?"

"Unless the holy types hide their symbols, it'll never work," Kitau points out.

Freedom shrugs as he says softly to avoid anyone outside of the group hearing his voice, “I can continue to ride my Battle Tiger if he is squeezing so having him follow behind me is pointless since anyone that tries to target him in melee would face my wraith and I can protect my Tiger easier while I ride him so whatever plan is decided upon I can take go along with it. Although if your concerned about me as one of the 'holy types', I don't carry a holy symbol with me as I have no need of one as a Cavalier. But if you want me to dismount for the plan, I can... just give me some warning so I can switch from my lance to my sword.”

  "I am more considering the fact that even squeezing, there would be little room to actually go on your tiger...  Wait, back up a moment."   Terdisas goes over Mitten's elaborate suggestion, and comes to a conclusion.  "In normal circumstances, I would be for this attempt at deception.  However, I can not bring myself to believe they are so stupid as to forget that door only leads to a balcony with no natural entrance."

  Thanks to this more glaring flaw, he has no need to add further comment to Kitau's point that Dido is basically pimped out with holy symbols.  "As brutish as it is, I believe sudden violence first, apologies later would be the more practical method."   Of course, this would require no disintegrations decapitations until after the fact.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 07:23, Tue 13 Dec 2011.

Callie says, "I'm with Terdisas. We don't really have much time before they will start patrolling. So let's get down there and knock these guys out. Then sort them out after, like Terdisas suggests. Is everyone ready?"

Dido nods in answer to Callie.

Mittens is momentarily confused and blink-blinks.

"When did I suggest trying to bluff them from this back door?" she asks, "If goblinoid guards aren't stupid enough to fall for a ruse on their back door, wouldn't I be not stupid enough to not suggest it?  One makes claims about being at a place on business at the front door."

She looks over at Callie and thumbs-ups.

"I'm fine with smash first ask questions later.  I only suggested the bluff approach for your conscious' sake and for a chance at preventing them ringing an alarm.  I'm guessing if we bust the door down, it's with the understanding we try not to kill our foes, but rather knock them out?  At least... until they confess 'we're the bad guys who enslave innocent folks for fun and profit, you can kill us now.'  I only request that I not be brow-beaten for knocking out self-confessed bad-guys from now on."

Kitau is losing patience and moves to push past Mittens.  "Fine."

---

mittens init 18 + 3 = 21
kitau init 8 + 7 = 15
Meta: Bust in through the back door plan gets surprise round automatically.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:29, Thu 15 Dec 2011.

Callie crit fail init: 1+3=4
Dido not-so-fail init: 17+3=20

Freedom's eyes seem to dim as he dislikes having to dismount since he prefers the extra mobility and tactical advantages his Battle Tiger can provide, but in a confined space the Battle Tiger would end up hindering more than helping..

After Freedom dismounts he puts away his Vanguard Lance and readies his Warsoul Longsword.

The Battle Tiger looks dissapointed that the tiger won't be able to participate in the fight but it sits down as it will wait for Freedom to come back for him after the fight.

[OOC: Freedom's Initiative with the Warsoul Longsword (it provides a +2 int bonus to initiative) is 17 + 5 = 22.]

  "Well, I didn't expect a suggestion to climb back down now that we got up here."  At Freedom's discomfort, the man wearing cloth (if admittedly enchanted) for personal protection was not exactly feeling sympathetic the man(?) made of metal and wearing platemail did not also have the additional protection of a magical tiger.

  Knowing that look and physical rush by know, Terdisas prepares to follow along for another raid with Kitau kicking a door in.

  OOC Style: Terdisas Initiative: 11

Unaware of their impending doom, the goblins and bugbear are unprepared for the heroes!

---

Please place your PC on the map in the indicated start area.  Please update your HP and stats and such.  Map here: https://docs.google.com/spread...pNkkyeFFIS09SdGpvQkE

Baddies are all granting CA.  Surprise round means every PC gets ONE action!  Rolled each badguy init separately.  Indicated on map which monster is yours to control.  Monster stats are in comment near monster HP.  Also duplicated here:

Goblin Skullcleavers (G) Level 3 Brute
Small natural humanoid XP 150 each
Initiative +3 Senses Perception +2; low-light vision
HP 53; Bloodied 26; see also bloodied rage
AC 16; Fortitude 15, Refl ex 14, Will 12
Speed 5; see also goblin tactics
mBattleaxe (standard; at-will) ✦ Weapon
+6 vs. AC; 1d10 + 5 damage, or 2d10 + 5 while bloodied.
rHand Crossbow (standard; at-will) ✦ Weapon
Ranged 10/20; +6 vs. AC; 1d6 + 2 damage.
Bloodied Rage (while bloodied)
The goblin skullcleaver loses the ability to use goblin tactics and
can do nothing but attack the nearest enemy, charging when
possible.
Goblin Tactics (immediate reaction, when missed by a melee attack;
at-will)
The goblin shifts 1 square.
Alignment Evil Languages Common, Goblin
Skills Stealth +9, Thievery +9
Str 18 (+5) Dex 14 (+3) Wis 13 (+2)
Con 13 (+2) Int 8 (+0) Cha 8 (+0)
Equipment chainmail, battleaxe, hand crossbow, 10 bolts

Bugbear Warrior (B) Level 5 Brute
Medium natural humanoid XP 200
Initiative +5 Senses Perception +4; low-light vision
HP 76; Bloodied 38
AC 18; Fortitude 17, Refl ex 15, Will 14
Speed 6
mMorningstar (standard; at-will) ✦ Weapon
+7 vs. AC; 1d12 + 6 damage.
M Skullthumper (standard; encounter) ✦ Weapon
Requires morningstar and combat advantage; +5 vs. Fortitude;
1d12 + 6 damage, and the target is knocked prone and dazed
(save ends).
Predatory Eye (minor; encounter)
The bugbear warrior deals an extra 1d6 damage on the next
attack it makes with combat advantage. It must apply this bonus
before the end of its next turn.
Alignment Evil Languages Common, Goblin
Skills Intimidate +9, Stealth +11
Str 20 (+7) Dex 16 (+5) Wis 14 (+4)
Con 16 (+5) Int 10 (+2) Cha 10 (+2)
Equipment hide armor, morningstar

Tactics
The goblins use goblin tactics to stay out of reach and to
lure the PCs deeper into the hall, and the bugbear waits
to enter the fray, looking for opportunities to gain combat
advantage. If the bugbear dies, any remaining goblins flee
toward Location 8 to warn Krand (see Encounter C4).
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:05, Wed 21 Dec 2011.

Kitau bursts past Mittens and begins rushing the stairs!  Mittens just edges forward carefully.

---

Kitau walk from e3 to h4.  mits walk from f3 to g3.  mits stealth 10 + 11 = 21

Freedom moves forward till he is between Kitau and Mittens, upon looking into the room and seeing that there is infact enough room for his Battle Tiger, Freedom looks rather annoyed.

[OOC: Move from B3 to H3.
Next time someone tells Freedom he has to dismount, he's going to say no unless it is because someone else needs to ride the mount. And if he's in a bad mood, he might boot someone in the head... or let the battle tiger do the booting.
Also do really want me controlling one of the skullcleavers? As #4 could move charge to block off the bottom of the stairs and then only Mittens and Kitau could act while everyone else is forced to twiddle thumbs...unless they have ranged attacks then they could attack from H2 or I2. Freedom doesn't have a ranged or reach attack.]

In reply to Freedom (msg #376):

The PCs get a surprise round.  Once the PCs have all taken their surprise action, at the top of the first non-surprise round, Goblin 4 ("controlled by Freedom"), may act in any way Freedom's player deeps appropriate.  Rolled individual goblin init so they wouldn't all be swarming a single char at once and drop them in a single round.  By having the players control the monster that is closest to their init, they won't have to wait for me to post them myself in order to get to their own turns.

Man I wish Mittens had Beguiling Strands right now.

Callie and Dido get into position. Dido rushes to be near Freedom. RP-wise, he's in the middle of Freedom/Kitau's squares. Mechanics-wise, though, he's behind Freedom. Callie moves to be close to Mittens.

---

Dido move: D3 to H2
Callie move: C3 to F3

There is some room for the mount in the room. But the mount is large, which means leaving a lot less room for maneuverability for the team in general. Plus, while he could squeeze, the mount would still occupy 2 squares during surprise round. This is just one of those things where realistically, anyone looking at this hall and room would object to using a mount unless they were nuts, though mechanically they would be able to see it's doable. Too bad characters can't see rooms as a bird's eye view or know that horses and such can battle in a room without stampeding their half-pint allies. If I was 4' tall and saw someone wanted to bring their horse into a crowded room while swinging swords and stuff around, I'd un-invite myself from the fight.

  And then Terdisas Moved 5, not even entering the next room.

  The end.

  We will do something more interesting for his actual proper turn, we swear.

---

  Surprise: Move from A3 to E3.

[OOC:

Callie:

...
Plus, while he could squeeze, the mount would still occupy 2 squares during surprise round.
...

Incorrect, a large mount that squeezes only occupies 1 square...period. Yes while the mount is sqeezing the rider is considered squeezing too, but still only 1 square while squeezing, duno where you got the 2 squares from.

And if you noticed Freedom only got annoyed when he looked at the room and realized there would be room for the mount... after all it's not too difficult to expect that a room would be big enough for a large sized creature even if a narrower passage is not.]</small></Purple>
This message was last edited by the player at 05:37, Wed 21 Dec 2011.

One of the goblin guards from the hallway enters the room and fires a crossbow at Kitau!

"Intruders!" it says, "Kill them!"

---

Move from L11 to L9.  G4 v Kitau 2 + 6 = 8 ... failure.

Seeing this will be her only opportunity to use her second best spell this fight, Mittens weaves between the three defenders in front of her and hops down from the stairs then opens up with a huge blast of fire that fills the entire room!

"Would you all by chance be the slavers we're looking for?" she asks.

"AAAA!" the goblins and bugbear scream!

"Perhaps I should have asked before I lit them on fire."

---

Move from g3 to I4.  Crit athletics check to climb down the 7.5' or so down the side of the steps.
Mits burning hands v G1,2,4 and B

1d20 +10 >= 14
1: 11 + 10 = 21 ... success
2: 6 + 10 = 16 ... success
3: 8 + 10 = 18 ... success
4: 15 + 10 = 25 ... success
damage 2d6 +8
5 + 6 + 8 = 19

Bugbear HP: 76-19=57
G1 HP: 53-19=34
G2 HP: 53-19=34
G4 HP: 53-19=34

Freedom activates his defender's aura and signals for his Battle Tiger to come over towards him, ending adjacent to both Freedom and Dido. Freedom then remounts his battle tiger and spurs the Battle Tiger forward as it pounces into the room jumping off the opposing walls to be able to leap into the room, un-squeezing in mid-air before landing between a Goblin (G1) and the bugbear as the Battle Tiger pounces on the goblin, blooding the goblin and knocking him prone as the tiger growls.

[OOC:
Minor Action: Freedom activates his Defender's Aura.
Move Action: Battle Tiger moves to I2
Standard Action: -> Move Action: Freedom Mounts the Battle Tiger.
Action Point: Standard Action: Battle Tiger Pounces to I5,I6,J5,J6 (unsqeezing as a free action during the jump) vs G1, hits 12 + 10 = 22 ... success, proning G1 and dealing 23 damage to the goblin. G1's remaining hit points is 34HP-23=11HP left and is blooded and prone. Freedom is at I6 for the purposes of his defender's aura.
Celestial's Battle Tiger at-will immediate reaction attack is still available right now: Triggers when any enemy moves to a square adjacent to the Battle Tiger (even if the enemy was previously adjacent to the battle Tiger.)]

Dido charges at the goblin Freedom just downed. Mental note, that tiger is a LOT more maneuverable than originally thought. He slams his hammer down on the goblin, knocking all the breath out of him and nearly crushing the goblin's ribs. If these goblins, by some miracle, are innocent, Dido will appologise later.

---

Move: H2 to H5
Standard: Valiant Strike v G1. Hit(20)! (NOT a charge)
 dmg: 9
Minor: Divine Challenge

+1 to Mittens' defenses

G1 HP: 11 - 9 = 2
This message was last edited by the player at 18:15, Fri 30 Dec 2011.

The Bugbear warrior takes a swing at Freedom, missing by a wide margin.  It then shifts to be next to Mittens, invoking the wrath of Freedom's tiger.  It slashes the bugbear's arm with it's claws as he passes!

"Yargh!" it yells, "Gauza hau da bere pilotuak baino gehiago arriskutsua da!  Ez sartu da ondoko plaza bat!"

---

Minor: Predatory Eye
Bugbear skulthumper /w predatory eye &CA v Freedom 1d20 +7 >= 18
3 + 8 = 11 ... failure

THREE!  Well on the bright side, monsters aren't immune to the THREE any more than players.

Raking Claw v bugbear 1d20 +10 >= 18
12 + 10 = 22 ... success

damage 1d8 +3
2 + 3 = 5

Bugbear Warrior HP: 57-5=52

A skullcleaver enters the room and fires a shot at Freedom's Tiger!  The arrow appears to only annoy the beast.

"Gainera blecinven!  Getar pilotua!"

---

G5 v Freedom's Tiger 1d20 +6 >= 25
19 + 6 = 25 ... success

damage 1d6 +2
4 + 2 = 6 (resist 5) = 1

Tiger HP: 23-1=22?  Freedom has a few ways to deal with this, and they're confusing.  If he uses Battle Riding, when is the resist 5 applied?  Before or after halving the damage?  I'm guessing after because it's an interrupt power.  Righteous Shield works because the tiger is an ally, but would that mean Freedom takes 6 damage?  or 1?  I'm guessing 6 because it's an interrupt.  I've been informed both powers resolve after resistances are applied.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:46, Sat 31 Dec 2011.

Kitau rushes down the stairs, weaves around the tiger's legs, and attacks the bugbear!

---

Move to k5.  Goblin 1 decides against suicide AoO.  Minor: Quarry.
Thundertusk Boar Strike v Bugbear 1d20 +9 >= 18
1: 1 + 9 = 10 ... failure
2: 3 + 9 = 12 ... failure

ACTION POINT!

Weapon Master's Strike v Bugbear 1d20 +8 >= 18
15 + 8 = 23 ... success

damage 1d8 +6
7 + 6 = 13

Bugbear HP: 52-13=39 Marked by Kitau.  Kitau has +1 AC vs. Bugbear. So used to having an AP to burn.  >.<
This message was last edited by the player at 04:28, Sat 31 Dec 2011.