(You know the drill. Every group gets the same mission.)

You are all allowed the rest of the day off. You had the chance to explore the city a little bit and buy some odds and ends. The dwarven blacksmith might be glad to see others of his ilk, since the current dwarven population of Phlan counts exactly three - "An' he ain't on good terms with dem two bitches."

(Make any simple weapon and armor purchases you want - all costs are standard as listed in the PHB)

The night offers some restful sleep in the communal barracks (or elsewhere in the city if you prefer). The poisonous river and high wall form enough of a barrier that monster incursions are a rarity. However, Boros is not taking his duty lightly, and there are plenty of patrols around.

Your day's work is already planned in advance for you. Boros opens a partial map of the slum area. It's a parchment crawling with additions, corrections and smudges from food. The slums seem a mess of collapsed houses and blocked streets. The dragonflight left the entire area in ruins, and it will take considerable time to clear the area once you make it safe. Boros jabs his finger at a particular spot and mutters something about scouts spotting the centre of kobold activity there. After you take care of that and prove your worth, you'll be free to pick your next assignment. He spits on the floor and grumbles that you seem like you could handle this.


Each square is about 250 meters.
+ marks cleared area ("Good work, team!")
- marks mapped but not cleared area ("Might still be some beasties there.")
? marks unmapped area ("Will get to that later.")
The spot Boros indicates is in C2.

The trip to the target area is uneventful. The guards, of course, don't leave the wall or escort you out into the slums. Orders, they say. But you get the impression Boros simply doesn't want to lose his soldiers.

Navigating through the narrow passageways and collapsed houses takes almost half an hour. You get the distinct impression of being watched, but can't quite spy anyone following your movement. The center of kobold activity Boros wants taken out turns out to be a largish, still standing two-storey house with a collapsed roof. It's built of thick stone blocks, and looks more like a fortification than a townhouse. A thin wisp of smoke rises from the place, and even from afar you can smell some sort of stew.



shaded = wall
shaded "+" = barred window
shaded "-" = open window
"I" = door (action or reaction to open or close)
. = rubble (difficult terrain)

A single kobold guard paces around the house, muttering about how hungry it is and how unfair life is and how he needs to find a new band to hang on to.

(You can start anywhere on map edge. If you need to run away, you can do so from a map edge as well. The kobold guard hasn't spotted you yet. He has AC12 and HP5 and is armed with a rusty blade and a sling.)

"You think we could sneak up and take 'im quietly" whispered Sharlee, eager to get into action with something that seems vulnerable to her flail.


OOC: if we start around Q16 we could have a quick start on this.  (Assuming by 'map edge'  the GM means any of the 4 edges.)
This message was last edited by the player at 13:53, Thu 22 Oct 2015.

Caine shakes his head, walks over to the Kobold, and beats it bloody.


OOC: Now let's see if the die roller agrees.
Start: Q18, to P18, O18, N18, and ending at M18

10:28, Today: Caine rolled 7 using 1d10.  hit location.
10:28, Today: Caine rolled 7 using 1d6+2.  shortsword.
10:27, Today: Caine rolled 5 using 1d20+4.  unarmed.
10:27, Today: Caine rolled 19 using 1d20+4.  shortsword.

7 points to it's chest

SHarlee was completely flummoxed when Caine just walked forward and smacked the kobold guard.

"We need to plan" she whispered between gritted teeth before joining her companion in whaling on the kobold.

At least that was the plan!  In fact she rushed her blow and missed completely.

"See!  Plans!" She whispered once again.


22:44, Today: Sharlee rolled 10 using 1d20+4.  Attack with flail.

Caine looks puzzled, "The plan was to take it out before it could react,right? I did. Sneaking around would have just taken more time, and warn it we were coming. Talking about it a mere 20' away would have alerted it and warned it we were coming. Stepping forward and taking it out before it noticed we were here was your goal. I fulfilled your goal." Caine shrugs, "So what's the problem?"

Faire yawned a bit as she waltzed her way with the rest of the group towards the destination. If the group had figured anything out about the stuck up wizard by now, it was that she was most certainly NOT a morning person. Still, she had perked up a bit by the time she saw the kobold sentry. She narrowed her eyes and began to whisper to the rest of her companions...only to drop her jaw as they simply rushed forward and gutted the poor creature. "I....that is..." She began before simply looking down for a moment and grumbling to herself. How had she gotten herself into this anyway? With a group of unprofessional savages? Her teacher back at the academy would be so disappointed in her right now...She gave a heavy sigh and decided to focus on her own protection for the moment. She closed her eyes and began the ritual chant, touching each part of her body with her staff. When she finished the last syllable, the air around the woman shifted and stirred a bit, armor of phantasmal force protecting her. She whispered angrily for another moment. "Don't you people know anything of stealth? Or preparation perhaps?" She rested her palm on her face. "Oh forget it... just do us all a favor and try to find them..."

OOC: Casted Mage Armor: AC becomes 13 + dex = 15
This message was last edited by the player at 03:52, Fri 23 Oct 2015.

"The problem," quietly snarls Tarkun as he comes face to face with Caine, "is that I am sick and tired of your kind committing incessant genocide against my kin. Did you not think for one second that perhaps I could have reasoned with this thing? Just because you believe them to be mindless savages does not mean that is the case. They're poor. They're hungry. They're seeking their own place. Do you think it's not possible that given the right motivation they could possibly work for this city? No, of course not. So now, whatever advantage we could have had is gone. Utterly gone. From now on think with your head, not your sword, or these kobolds won't be the only dragonkin you make an enemy of.

"Now, how shall we continue?"

Caine nods, "Quite a bit actually. This wasn't the proper time for it. Sometimes the direct route is faster and quieter...although if we're going to keep talking about it until we alert something, we might as well have tried to sneak up on the guy that was right in front of us and let him notice us and give an alarm."



"They're also the folks that attack us yesterday and nearly killed me. They didn't this time. Have you considered that you might not know the entire situation yourself? And have you missed the part where there is a bounty on them? Or, more precisely, on the land they are currently inhabiting...by force. A bounty we are expected to collect? Killing them is what we were hired to do."

"I will not kill if I can help it," Tarkun replies angrily. "Especially if they are of my blood. I do not care if there is a bounty or not. Are you so small minded that the prospect of money throws out all reason? Can you not see the potential to better this city by utilizing these kobolds instead of rampant, racist genocide? It's all a moot point now thanks to your ignorant actions. There's no use arguing this further. You might as well finish what you started."

In reply to Tarkun (msg # 9):

Finn looks straight at Tarkun, "I was hired with the expectation I would do a particular job. I'm honest, so I intend to. you were hired for the same job. Now, are you going to keep telling me how you're not going to do what you are paid for, while we wait for YOUR people to hear you and come and kill us, or are we going back to work as we agreed to do in town? And try to remember how many of MY people YOUR people killed taking over the town in the first place, if those are the terms you want to think in. Your people have set the rules, quit complaining that I'm following them and try less hard to raise an alarm, if you please."

Finn heads for the door at K14. should be straight north, I think.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:53, Fri 23 Oct 2015.

Faire sighed a little bit and pushed the glasses further on her face as she saw the little discussion and the dragonborn’s prattling about killing the kobold. She shrugged a little bit in annoyance. ”I believe that you have a bit of a misunderstanding about kobolds. There are very few concepts of loyalty to dragons..and they tend not to get along with humans.” She narrowed her eyes at the warrior. ”Or Dragonborn for that matter. As far as I can tell there are very few bonds between draconic creatures.” She said in a rather blase, academic fashion. There was a hint of suspicion in her tone. ”I am all for handling problems nonviolently of course, but something tells me that the kobolds would simply attack when we try.” She shrugged. ”The rest will likely attack us...are you sure that you can fight them?”

In reply to Caine (msg # 10):

Caine will try and listen at the door, assuming the debate to the south isn't too loud.

OOC:
+2 perception. I'm not sure if you'd prefer to roll this sort of thing or have me do so.

Tarkun curses is Draconic as Caine walks away. He then turns his attention to Faire.

"Do not presume to tell me about my family or those I may share a distant relation," he says quietly, the anger gone from is voice. "I am not nor will I be defined by the actions of a few. I am a scion of the great Dragon Riders and I will bring honor to my clan again."

He reaches into his ornate robe to pull out his brass dragonhead wand.

"If it's violence they want, it's violence they shall get," he resigns to himself, preparing to once again slaughter those that could have served him in rebuilding the city.

"Tiamat, forgive me."

Moving from M18 (where I presume I moved to talk with Caine) to M14,  making sure to crouch under the open window

As they walked forward, Faire groaned a bit, staring at the man a little suspiciously. Why on earth would he take a job to go fight off the invaders if he was going to call killing them genocide? She was also worried that he knew very little about the world. Perhaps he was sheltered? The Kobolds weren't true dragonkin as far as she understood.They very rarely even had dragon blood in them. It was something that scholars argued about for sure, but still. She took a deep sigh and spoke up. "Why'd you take this job if you consider fighting invaders off to be genocide again?" She wanted to watch the man a bit. He could prove to be a liability, especially since he mentioned being willing to fight the rest of them to protect the kobolds.

Sharlee turned round quickly, finger to her lips.

"Hush!  We are trying to be sneaky here!"

Stealthily she moved towards the further away window and settled down to listen.


OOC: Move to L12 and try to listen at the window.
Perception +3

shaded = wall
shaded "+" = barred window
shaded "-" = open window
"I" = door (action or reaction to open or close)
"X" = barred door
. = rubble (difficult terrain)
k = starved kobold sentry (AC12 HP5)

C=Caine S=Sharlee T=Tarkun F=Faire

Sharlee sneaks to the northern window, while the two mages take up a somewhat defensive position. Caine ends up at the door, listening intently.

For a moment, they hear nothing. Then someone trips over something inside, and apparently breaks some earthenware pot.

"Shhh! Be quiet! I'm trying to listen at the door!"

"Do you hear anything?"

"No, not yet!"

"You stupid gits, you're making too much noise!"

"We aren't!"

"Yes you are!"

Then there's the sound of a ladle smacking a scaly head. A loud, decidedly non-koboldish female voice barks something; there is much skittering and koboldish yipping; and a second later the windows of the house are slammed shut, and the wooden door barred from the inside.

"Shit!  Knew you were talking too loud."

Sharlee backed away from the wall of the house before charging forward, flail in hand, and throwing herself through the window.

Move: M11, L11 (jump) J11.

Faire’s eyes narrowed as she stared closer at the tactical situation before them. She tapped her chin and looked to the rest of the group. She spoke in a whisper “Alright. Let’s guard all the exits. If they surrender that’ll make our day that much easier.” She said, rolling her eyes a little at the dragonborn, still expecting an answer to her statement. Faire’s eyes widened, nearly bugging out of her head as she watched the halfling begin her wild charge into the building, swinging her flail like a madwoman. Her jaw dropped at the show of recklessness. She stammered for just one moment. “I-I...wh-wha?” she said weakly. She understood that not all of these adventurers were the type to spend time at the Academy like her, and that not all of them were rational. But..through the window? Into an armed enemy group of unknown size? Th-that was crazy! She rushed forward towards one of the doors, not wanting to go in first due to her frailty.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:41, Mon 26 Oct 2015.

In reply to Faire (msg # 18):

IF Sharlee gets through the window Caine will follow. If not, he'll help her up to her feet after she bounces. Then he'll walk around to the other side of the building where the unlocked doors are.

quote:

watched the dwarf begin her wild charge

Halfling if you don't mind!

"Stand aside, fleshy," Tarkun says to Caine as he sucks in a chest full of air. He waits for Caine to move aside before bellowing his gout of fire at the door.

Breath Weapon against the door, after Caine moves.
05:18, Today: Tarkun rolled 5 using 2d6.  Breath Weapon Damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:21, Tue 27 Oct 2015.

In reply to Tarkun (msg # 21):

He's going to wait awhile.

Tarkun exhales, breathing out smoke. He stows his wand as he turns to leave.

"I can tell when I am not welcome or wanted. Good luck to you all."

Leaving this area and scene. Apparently things have gotten too personal and I'm not going to be a part of this.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:43, Tue 27 Oct 2015.

(do you want to continue this without Tarkun?)

didn't Caine already leave the scene though or something? If that's true then Tarkun could stay, or vice versa.

(nah, Caine is waiting there in front of the door.)

In reply to GM (msg # 26):

Huh? I thought he asked you to remove him from the group or game or something? How did that turn out?

In reply to Faire (msg # 27):

OOC: No, I said I wouldn't deal with Tarkun anymore and asked to be removed (group or game, as the DM preferred) to facilitate that. Apparently it isn't necessary.

I'm willing to continue, and to continue with 3, if everyone else is. If you folks would prefer other wise, I'd understand that, too.

I'd still like to know how Sharlee got on with the window?

shaded = wall
shaded "+" = barred window
shaded "-" = open window
"I" = door (action or reaction to open or close)
"X" = barred door
. = rubble (difficult terrain)
k = starved kobold sentry (AC12 HP5)

C=Caine S=Sharlee F=Faire

Sharlee slams headfirst into the wooden blind the kobolds barred the window with. There's a cracking sound, then the halfling stumbles back and lands onto her behind. Tough window, that.

Caine is the perfect gentleman, helpingthe barbarian up.

Faire rolls her eyes.

The rest of the doors are barred shut as well, just as a horn from inside the house sounds - louder and louder, until it reaches a crescendo. Someone has a good set of lungs in there. The sound should be audible for quite a bit.

Faire gulps a bit, clearing her throat. "This is bad. Very bad... They just called for reinforcements." She said biting her lip. "At least that's most likely what happened." She looked past towards Tarkun. "Great. And he wandered off too...just what we needed." She nodded towards the rest of the group while she walked towards the back door of the area. "We need to get into the house and either get them to surrender or kill them. We won't be able to handle their reinforcements out here." She said, her tactical mind churning. "Is anyone here...good at lying or intimidation?" She said with a whisper. "If possible...we could trick them into thinking that there are far more of us....and get them to give up without a fight." She held a hand up and grinned. "I can make it sound like we've got an army...but I'll need someone to convincingly intimidate them."

Caine studies Sharlee's nemesis, "You can't just use an acid cantrip or some such to open the window? That leaves us the doors for defense, and the window for a choke point, and would probably be quicker than trying to convince folks we can hurt them through a door or window we just failed to open. Assuming they have two brains cells between them, which they may not."

Sharlee staggered to her feet and shook her head to clear it.

"That does it" she roared.  "Those little bastards are mince!"

With that she moved to the door and started to beat it with her flail.

"Come on, Caine.  Don't just stand there.  Give me a hand before they start to multiply."

Entering rage.  Advantage on strength checks.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:10, Mon 02 Nov 2015.

In reply to Sharlee (msg # 33):

Caine looks down at his small collection of stabbing devices, "Help you how? Unless you've got a spare axe or a battering ram? I don't have anything that will damage wood."

Sharlee sniffed.

"I suppose you could always use your shoulder."

In reply to Sharlee (msg # 35):

Caine opts to stay out of the way of the flail.


OOC: Faire? Question about cheating with a spell still pending.

Faire shrugged a little bit and sighed. ”Wizardry has it’s limits you know. I don’t have a magic bullet for every situation, and it’s no better than a flail or hammer.  Still...” She closed her eyes and focused magical energy on the window, seeking to use her icy magics to freeze and weaken the object before the barbarian would smash it. Hopefully it would work. If not...well, this could get messy.

OOC: Casting Frostbite Spell. Can’t roll since I’m away from a computer.

shaded = wall
shaded "+" = barred window
shaded "*" = frozen, barred window
"I" = door (action or reaction to open or close)
"X" = barred door
. = rubble (difficult terrain)
k = starved kobold (AC12 HP5)

C=Caine S=Sharlee F=Faire

Faire chants some magical words and wiggles her fingers. The Window suddenly becomes... frostbitten. A whitish layer of hoarfrost forms on it, and the wood creaks perceptibly.

Then everything is quiet again.

"Wow!  That was impressive!"

Sharlee's assault on the door ceased for a moment as she admired Faire's handiwork.

"The beer back at base was pretty warm.  D'ye think you could maybe try that trick on it tonight?"

She looked at both Faire and Caine.  "And where did Tarky get to?  Did he go off in a huff while I was on the ground - great!  Now it's just me for the bashing and clubbing."

She looked at the frozen window and back at the wooden door as she tried to determine which might be the easiest to smash.  Finally she nodded as if answering her own question.

"Faire.  If I can smash the window do you have any kind of crowd clearing spell you can lob through before I try to go in?  And Caine, if we get the window broken will you come through with me?"

In reply to Sharlee (msg # 39):

Caine shrugs, "Before or after, certainly. Not 'with'. You're just not THAT small. I'd say 'before'. "
This message was last edited by the player at 20:22, Fri 06 Nov 2015.

Sharlee grimaced.  "What you sayin', bozo!  You think I'm fat?"

Before Caine could reply she waved a hand dismissively.  "Don't matter.  And yes, if I can smash the window you're welcome to jump in first.  I'll give you a shove if YOU get stuck."

The wizard nodded. “Right. I can cast the same sleep spell from earlier. It should be effective on these targets I think. Most of them sounded like kobolds, who aren’t known for their vitality.” She said with a knowing nod. ”It’ll also let us capture the targets instead of killing them. Could be useful to have hostages if things get a bit too dangerous. Just bringing the leader back for questioning would be useful enough too. In general though...I say we handle this get out of here as soon as possible” She went back to idly looking at her nails, chanting softly as she prepared to bend the weave, nay, the entire world, to her will once more. There was always something exciting about being a spellcaster after all.

Ready Action: Sleep Spell on Targets once Multiple Are Visible and in Range

Caine is going to stand ready for a nice tuck-and-roll once the window is clear.


OOC:
Ready action: Once the window is clear, Caine will dive in and do a nice tuck and roll to be inside and standing.

12:25, Today: Caine rolled 11 using 1d20+4 ((7)).

Well, maybe not standing, with that roll.

shaded = wall
shaded "+" = barred window
shaded "-" = open window. counts as difficult terain
shaded "*" = frozen, barred window
"I" = door (action or reaction to open or close)
"X" = barred door
. = rubble (difficult terrain)
k = starved kobold (AC12 HP5)
k = sleeping starved kobold. counts as difficult terrain.
K = halforc woman (AC13 HP 15)

C=Caine (prone) S=Sharlee (raging) F=Faire

Sharlee gives off a massive yell and rams headfirst towards the frozen window shutters. After all, the head is the hardest part of the body, and the least vulnerable. For some. Anyways. There is a terrific crash as the shutter explodes into fragments of chilled wood, and the halfling rolls into the room, landing squarely on one kobold. The poor creature has time only to let off a surprised squeal as it is crushed underneath the huge barbarian. Squelch.

Caine neatly passes through the newly open window, but the landing is less than perfect. He slips, tumbles, and falls down in the middle of the waiting kobold horde, right next to Sharlee.

Faire took a careful peek through the window. Her nose wrinkling with disgust at the non-cerebral way her companions solved the entry problem, she incants a few magical words. Those were at the same time thunderous and soft as a lullaby. The spell is moderately effective (13 hp worth of kobolds fall asleep) and two ofthe kobolds fall asleep instantly.

The halforcish woman yells something, but is drowned out by the scereches and yips of the remaining kobolds. They close in on Sharlee and Caine, and a veritable rain of small, rusty daggers falls on the two. With the pair just getting their bearings after their first kill and tumble, more than a few daggers find their mark. (11 damage to Sharlee, subject to reduction due to her rage; 3 damage to Caine)

A ghostly, skeletal hand appears right next to Caine and starts scribbling towards him on its fingers, much like a spider would. It glows with unholy energy.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:27, Sat 07 Nov 2015.

Caine quickly stands, then tries to kick the stuffing out of the nearest kobold. When it falls, he steps over it and kicks another across the room. There isn't much he can do against ghosts, as the last trip proved. He just hoped it wasn't the same ghost.

OOC:
Move part A: Stand, using 15' of movement
Action: unarmed Attack
Move Part B: 5' (10' if an unconscious kobold is considered difficult terrain) to H11
Bonus action: unarmed attack again.

That gets two kobolds: H11 and G11

23:40, Today: Caine rolled 5 using 1d4+2.  damage again.
23:40, Today: Caine rolled 5 using 1d4+2.  damage.
23:39, Today: Caine rolled 21 using 1d20+4.  Attack again.
23:39, Today: Caine rolled 15 using 1d20+4.  Attack.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:47, Sun 08 Nov 2015.

"Why does everyone think I am fat?"

Sharlee, by now in a very bad mood, got to her feet and struggled over the sleeping kobolds.

Reaching the first awake creature she swung her flail at the poor sucker.  The weighted end of her flail caved in the kobold’s skull leaving him dead upon the floor.

“”OK you scrawny little gits!  Who’s next?”

Move to J12.  Attack kobold on J13
00:44, Today: Sharlee rolled 5 using 1d8+4.  damage vs kobold.00:44, Today: Sharlee rolled 23 using 1d20+4.  Attack kobold.

Sharlee: HP 9/14

Faire took a deep breath as she stared into the room from her safer vantage point at the window. It was a bit of a hard shot, but she'd made a reputation at the academy for being very, very good at this sort of thing. 'Hawk-Eyed Faire' was a moniker that she'd made up and no one had actually called her. Still, her skill with ranged spells and attacks was nothing to make fun of. She took a deep breath and stared for a moment calculating the trajectories needed to hit the target easily, and how to avoid her friends. It was basic geometry! Well, perhaps it was far more complex than that. But, still she was ready. She took a deep breath, and felt the familiar tingle of magic flowing through her veins. Afterwards, she readied her staff and launched a bolt of flame at one of the kobolds.

12:32, Today: Faire rolled 21 using 1d20+5.  Firebolt: Attack.
12:33, Today: Faire rolled 3 using 1d10.

shaded = wall
shaded "+" = barred window
shaded "-" = open window. counts as difficult terain
shaded "*" = frozen, barred window
"I" = door (action or reaction to open or close)
"X" = barred door
. = rubble (difficult terrain)
k = starved kobold (AC12 HP5)
k = sleeping starved kobold. counts as difficult terrain.
K = halforc woman (AC13 HP 15)

C=Caine (prone) S=Sharlee (raging) F=Faire

Caine smashes through two kobolds at lightning speed and with little fanfare.

Sharlee growls and cusses, her flail smashing the head of another kobold.

Faire's firebolt roared in through the window and slammeed into a kobold, making it stagger and hiss.

The kobolds do what they do best / they swarm the two heroes inside. There's another storm of short rusty blades, but Sharlee turns them aside with a glare and a curse, while Caine suffers a single, shallow cut.

The halforcish woman seems to stare intently at the proceedings, but doesn't seem to do anything yet.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:39, Wed 11 Nov 2015.

Finding himself surrounded, Caine enjoys not having to chase the kobolds down, and stabs one while kicking another. They fall. He's getting good at this.

OOC:
Draw shortsword. But no movement this time.

17:10, Today: Caine rolled 6 using 1d4+2.  kick.
17:10, Today: Caine rolled 8 using 1d6+2.  shortsword.
17:10, Today: Caine rolled 15 using 1d20+4.  Kick.
17:09, Today: Caine rolled 21 using 1d20+4.  shortsword.

Edit: Sorry: kobolds G11 and I11.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:33, Thu 12 Nov 2015.

Sharlee moved along by the wall towards the door.  Still swinging her flail she started humming a little ditty "+12 dead kobolds, sitting in a room.  11 dead kobolds sitting in a room...+"

With each phrase her flail swung and a kobold died.

02:37, Today: Sharlee rolled 9 using 1d8+4.  Damage to J13.
02:37, Today: Sharlee rolled 12 using 1d20+4.  Attack Kobold on J13.

Faire winced a little bit as she looked through the window, wishing that they had just broke down the door like normal people. At this rate she’d be more likely to cut her dress, something the wizard was very much not into. She far preferred staying out of the fray, and especially out of the reach of her enemies. She sighed a little bit, realizing there was no choice. She could hear the struggles of battle and the screams of the kobolds as she moved inside, taking a moment to examine the surroundings. The sight of the half-orc staying out of the fray was...interesting to her. She had heard the woman earlier, and she seemed like a leader...but she hardly seemed concerned about the loss of the kobolds. Maybe...she wasn’t so loyal to their mission here, whatever it was? The possibility was rather high. She stared at the woman and sighed, waving for her to put the weapon down. ”You...don’t seem to be the kind to die for the cause.” She said calmly. ”Put the weapons down and we’ll talk. That goes for your friend too.” She said pointing to the kobold.

shaded = wall
shaded "+" = barred window
shaded "-" = open window. counts as difficult terain
shaded "*" = frozen, barred window
"I" = door (action or reaction to open or close)
"X" = barred door
. = rubble (difficult terrain)
k = starved kobold (AC12 HP5)
u = sleeping starved kobold. counts as difficult terrain.
K = halforc woman (AC13 HP 15)

C=Caine S=Sharlee (raging) F=Faire

Caine quickly dispatches two more klobolds, one by decapitation and the other by slamming his foot into its skull. The calmness of endless hours of practice shows clearly on his face.

Sharlee finally manages to hit; the flail squng by the small barbarian sending a kobold flying back with most of its bones shattered.

Faire's blather is mostly unheard and unheeded over the yips and snarls of dying and soon to be dead kobolds.

The kobolds are overwhelmed by the speed with which their companions are dispatched. They attack halfheartedly.

The halforcish woman, however, takes a practical approach to the situation. She runs. The barred and locked door takes a while to unlock and open, however - long seconds in which she glances fearfully at the heroes butchering her kobolds. But she's free before long, and runs outside.

Caine decides to clear a path around the table...through the kobolds that seem to keep moving in to meet him. He stabs one kobold that's awake, and stomps on one that's asleep and handy.  He really takes his job seriously.

Then he gives chase to the cook, but only gets as far as the door frame.

OOC:
Stab kobold at I11, kick sleeping kobold at I12 (advantage and auto critical for being unconscious).

Move to f15

09:14, Today: Caine rolled 8 using 2d4+2.  unarmed critical against unconcious.
09:13, Today: Caine rolled 5 using 1d6+2.  shortsword.
09:13, Today: Caine rolled 22 using 1d20+4.  unarmed advantage.
09:12, Today: Caine rolled 10 using 1d20+4.  unarmed.
09:12, Today: Caine rolled 24 using 1d20+4.  shortsword.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:37, Tue 17 Nov 2015.

"That's the way Cainey.  Go get the cook and I'll finish these littlies off."

Sharlee slammed into the next kobold and looked over the last one with a predatory grin.


21:14, Today: Sharlee rolled 11 using 1d8+4.  damage vs kobold.
21:13, Today: Sharlee rolled 15 using 1d20+4.  Attack Kobold at J13.

Faire quietly cursed herself for already expending her more powerful spells. Another casting of sleep would have been useful here. She started to bolt through the house, wrinkling her nose in disgust as she saw her companions brutally slaughtering the rest of the kobolds and wasting their time. Were they just bloodthirsty? She only cared about completing their mission and handling the situation. She bolted towards the door and opened it. "Hey! Stop!" She shouted to the half orc, hoping the woman wouldn't resist or put them through some sort of bothersome chase.

shaded = wall
shaded "+" = barred window
shaded "-" = open window. counts as difficult terain
shaded "*" = frozen, barred window
"I" = door (action or reaction to open or close)
"X" = barred door
. = rubble (difficult terrain)
k = starved kobold (AC12 HP5)
u = sleeping starved kobold. counts as difficult terrain.
K = halforc woman (AC13 HP 15)

C=Caine S=Sharlee (raging) F=Faire

Caine quickly and professionally dispatches two more kobolds and moves to the doorway. There's a quiet efficiency around the man.

Sharlee smashes her kobold with enough force to kill it twice over. Blood and bone splatter around and over the halfling, giving her a demonic mien.

Faire decides standing atop the table and shouting would be a good idea. Well, those scholarly types... you know. Less than stable. In addition she's trying to preach to the remaining alive kobold, who loses it completely and folds into a small pile of shivering mewling pity.

Outside, the half-orc woman continues running westwards, and is soon out of sight unless you pursue.

In reply to GM (msg # 56):

Caine shuts the door as he backs into  he building, "Something tell me running pell mell after her would be unwise."

She sighs as Caine closes the door, likely ruining their chances to track down the woman. "I guess we're just letting her go then? If so I don't see much reason to stick around." She said sounding more than a bit bored and even starting to inspect her fingernails for good measure. She shrugged. "I'll take a quick look to see if our little friends left any interesting clues or tidbits around first. You guys probably should too." She took a deep breath and narrowed her eyes as she scanned the area for a bit, looking for any sorts of signs as to the creature's allegiances, aims, or goals.

01:38, Today: Faire rolled 24 using 1d20+5.  Investigation: House.

Sharlee gently poked the cowering kobold with the toe of her boot.

"So what do we do with this one?  Bring him in or kill him?  Personally I don't like the idea of gratuitous murder so I would prefer to take him with us.  What do you two think?"

Caine shrugs, "If you want to take responsibility for him, feed him, watch him while he's friends are attacking us, and the like, that's fine, but the town will just kill him at the gate when we bring him back with us. And one of the guards that does so will get credit for the bounty."

Caine, also, will search.

OOC: not sure if you want to roll secretly, or have us roll.

"I suppose that's right enough".

#THUMP# (sound of flail smashing skull of cowering kobold)

"Sorry little fellow but that's the way it is round here apparently.

12 kobolds * 25 = 260 XP
mission completed bonus = 100 XP per character

Treasure and oddities:

1. each kobold had the usual weapons - a worthless dagger, and a sling with several stones.
   
2. the clothes and equipment of the victims are piled up in one corner of the house. Most of it is just refuse, but there is weapon wrapped in a thin linen cloth. This turns out to be a flail, inscribed with dwarven-looking runes.
   
3. a thorough search reveals a total of 65 copper coins more on the kobolds
   
4. the fireplace holds a large cauldron in good repair, and the nice-smelling broth within. Well, it's nice if you ignore the severed hands and feet floating up to its surface from time to time...
   
5. the mostly-complete corpses of a dwarf, elf and human

In addition, Faire finds a well-hidden loose floorstone which opens a hatch to a narrow tunnel, leading down into a small cellar. It seems quite well stocked for its size, with dried meats, cheeses and casks of beer and other beverages. Everything is wrapped in grease paper and carefully stored - most should still be usable. By the looks of it, nothing has been disturbed here for at least a year. The food is worth 6 gp if you want to resell it in New Phlan. Looking up from the inside, the release mechanism for the hatch looks like a ship's wheel, and has a "101" inscribed on it.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:54, Tue 01 Dec 2015.

In reply to GM (msg # 62):

Caine will pass the flail to Sharlee, take his cut of the copper, and start packing up food for humping back to town.

OOC: The bounty on the kobolds...do we actually have to take the heads back to collect?

So is that 186 xp each?

Yup. It's grisly work, but someone has to do it. Unless you just want to incinerate the whole mess.

Yes, 186 XP apiece.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:07, Wed 02 Dec 2015.

Caine starts collecting heads, then.

( I'm more interested in your intentions with the cellar and its treasure. )

In reply to GM (msg # 67):

Message 63 above. He's packing up food to take back.

As Sharlee was helping to pack up the food in the cellar she noticed the strange wheel on the trapdoor.

"Hey folks.  What do you reckon to this mechanism?  Why do you think it looks like this?"

She tilts her head for a moment as she looked at the wheel. She scratched her chin. She was glad to have left the messy business of the decapitations to the other two. After all, she had been disturbed enough by the casual slaughter of their captive, although she was more than wise enough not to show it. She was happy to focus on finding treasure and such in the room, and she was more than happy to actually get something for her trouble. She stared at the inscription, and at the ship's wheel. "I wonder...could the former owners of this inn have been sailors? Or Pirates perhaps?" The wizard mused. She pulled out her notebook and made a sketch of the device, turning it a few times to make sure it wouldn't do anything else.

The wheel closes and locks the entrance from the house, making it impossible to open unless one were to blast through the rock and slab of metal.The mechanism seems of dwarven make. Apart from the "101" logo, there is no other inscription upon the mechanism.

There's nothing in the small vault to identify its owner. Not even after Caine packs up all the usable food into several sacks does any useful information become apparent.

Outside the house everything is quiet.

Do you return to New Phlan or explore some more?

In reply to GM (msg # 71):

Caine looks over his collection of sacks, "We should probably take this stuff back and return, rather than try and carry it along with us while we continue to clear the area."

Do you sell the food right away, or use it in a different manner? (like make a feast for one of the temples, or the guards, or gift it to one of the councilors, or distribute it freely)

OOC: Caine's good with outright sale or free distribution. Feasts especially for guards, or gift to councilors wouldn't be his first choices. Or any choices, come to that.

Faire's the opposite. She'd very much lean towards ingratiating herself towards the guards, or especially one of the Councilors. She's more of a go-getter, always looking to get a leg up on life. Should we handle this argument in character? Or OOC?

OOC: Well, as it wouldn't have occurred to Caine to give it away if the DM hadn't said something, OOC IC will probably be best, as someone will have to present the idea for Caine to shoot down.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:55, Tue 08 Dec 2015.

By that logic....should we probably just argue it out IC then? Have our characters make their points and such?

OOC: Sorry, typo. I meant IC, yes.

"So!  What we gonna do with all this stuff?"

Sharlee was obviously quite amazed with the amount of food the kobolds had gathered.

"I reckon we should just pass it on to folks what ain't got much food.  Seems like a right kinda thing to do.  An' then we can get on with cleaning up this joint."

In reply to Sharlee (msg # 79):

Caine nods, "I'm sure there are plenty of folks that are on short rations. If invaders have made it into town, I can't imagine many farmers are able to work their crops and livestock. I wouldn't mind a bit of cash i return, if possible, however."

Faire shrugged a little bit. "I mean, we could just give it away I suppose...but I think that we should be a bit more particular in our decisions." She said with a little nod, going back to inspecting her fingernails with a slight groan. "I think that presenting it to one of the councilors, perhaps to give to their people, would be both better for proper distribution of the resources, and would help ingratiate ourselves to them." She said before tapping her chin. "Bishop Braccio would be a good choice. He's always into public works, and he has high esteem among the people."

In reply to Faire (msg # 81):

Caine blinks, "So...your solution to found wealth is to donate it to the already wealthy, who don't need it, and let the peasants afflicted by the invasion starve? How very...Noble of you. Or just overly trusting. I suspect I could do a better job of equitable distribution blind that a profiteer, err, Councilor could with his eyes open. Assuming he could be bothered."

She tilted her head in befuddlement. "I...see. Do you not understand the situation? We could just toss the food into the streets to get picked up by hungry peasants yes, or we could utilize the structures already in place for the distribution of food. The former leads to chaos as the rich and strong hoard the food, while the latter allows food to be distributed in an orderly fashion. Besides, Bishop Braccio is known for his kindness and generosity. I'm sure he would share the food equitably."

In reply to Faire (msg # 83):

Caine shake his head, "The Nobles and the Guard aren't the infrastructure for distributing food to the poor. That would be the churches. And I'm sure those who have a calling for helping the poor are more inclined to see to it's equitable distribution than this Braccio. Besides, we are more likely to actually see a priest than we are to see more of Braccio than a guard...who may well just keep the food for himself and his buddies. Most of the guard here are mercenaries, like us, and in it for what they can get. I suspect I know a bit more about hungry peasants AND charitable aid than you do. Trust me on this."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:43, Fri 11 Dec 2015.

"I reckon Caine has the right of it here" said Sharlee offhandedly.  "But still, I wouldn't mind if we got a silver or two ourselves out of it."

So you wander back through the ruins of the Slums towards the gate, heavily laden with edibles. Several gaunt, hungry birds stare at you from their perching spots, their jealous avian eyes surely hiding plots of plucking your eyes out and feasting on all the goodies. Or is that just paranoia?

In any case, nothing important happens during the trip back to the gates.

You stop a short distance away to discuss your options further.

(let's wrap up the mission - vote on usage of the supplies: Keep, Donate to Braccio, Donate to councilors, Throw a Feast in the fort, Hand out to the Needy at the docks). Caine has the kobold heads as well if I'm not mistaken, so don't forget to account for them.)

In reply to GM (msg # 86):

Hand out to needy.

Give to the needy

She'll vote for Donating it to Braccio...but she's probably getting overruled by this point lol. She'll do it, but grumble more than a bit about it.

So the team organizes a food donation stand at the docks, donating the food to the needy. Due to the amount of people and food, the whole thing turns into an impromptu celebration. After all, it's a sunny and warm day, a fresh and sweet breeze from te Moonsea. A few sailors get out some instruments, there's some dancing, and a pretty young wench even makes eyes at Caine.

Three persons in particular watch these proceedings with interest:

• An older but still quite beautiful lady, clad in finery, accompanied by a pair of ladies-in-waiting and some guards. She wrinkles her nose at this display, sharing condescending words aimed at the celebration with her companions.
• Bishop Braccio comes along with a pair of young acolytes - teenage boys dressed in white robes with Tyr's symbol (warhammer and scales) on the back. He nods in approval and tells the boys to add you with your good work.
• A pale, raven-haired noblewoman of indeterminate age. She is elegant, slim, and has a sad mien. It's difficult to read her interest in this celebration. Her companion and apparent bodyguard is a tall, dusky-skinned woman wearing scalemail and holding a staff tipped with a spiked macehead.

You can mingle for a few posts more, or choose a mission from the ones offered in the announcements thread. Since there's only three of you, we can try and recruit someone before next mission as well.

OOC: I'm not against a bard, priest, druid, or other healing type (although I don't think there IS another healing type), but we seem to be doing ok, so far. Although, if we have the gold, it might be a good idea to lay in a healer's kit for use when someone gets a bit too battered.

And I still need a thief kit if we're going to get subtle with locks.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:25, Fri 18 Dec 2015.