Welcome to Chapter One: Ambush at the Hunting Lodge


The Party:

Len Packer - Level 2 human fighter
Dreya - Level 2 human druid
Elwood - Level 2 human cleric
Khaaven Level 1 (class and a half) half-elf assassin supported by wizard
Hugh - Level 2 human monk
Cole Hiller - Level 2 human ranger

Life in and around Rotter has been good for you all.  You have survived your earliest adventures and achieved some measure of success.  Your party has not attracted attention yet, but you know you are up and comers.

After your last adventure, some of you were enjoying hobbit whiskey at Crippled Dick’s, a dive bar in Rotter’s Low District.  In between shots and spidergoat skewers, you overheard a couple tattooed ruffian-types snickering a little too loudly from the next booth.  You thought about complaining to Crippled Dick about his loud-mouthed customers, but before you got annoyed enough to do something, the ruffians’ conversation started getting interesting.

Ruffian #1 (you eventually figured out his name was Sizzler) and Ruffian #2 (Chisel) were congratulating themselves for signing on with a band of thieves operating in the woods east of Rotter.  That in itself was only a little interesting.  Thieves come and go.  What got your attention was when Sizzler and Chisel started talking about ambushing parties of adventurers on their way out of dungeons.

Jumping adventurers as they exit dungeons while wounded and depleted of resources is the oldest trick in the book.  What’s new is knowing which rat bastards are doing it in advance.  You kept your ears open while you glanced at each other angrily.  Sizzler and Chisel talked about their base in the woods enough that you had a pretty good idea where it was located – an old hunting lodge about an hour’s march into the forest.  You’d seen it before on your travels, but it looked too decrepit to justify exploring it.  The thieves have apparently fixed it up.

When Sizzler and Chisel staggered drunkenly out of Crippled Dick’s, they didn’t notice Khaaven following them.  He stalked them out of town and into the woods, all the way to the “abandoned” hunting lodge.  Sizzler and Chisel weren’t particularly careful about their movements or their tongues.  Khaaven managed to pick up their conversation about plans to hit a trade caravan on Thursday.

Khaaven headed back to Rotter and the party prepared to pay the hunting lodge a visit.  You headed out Wednesday night and were hidden in place around the hunting lodge at dawn.  Your patience paid off when a party of tattooed humans emerged from the lodge around noon and headed south toward the Eastern Road.

Chisel stayed behind and stood guard at the front door of the lodge.  You watched as he chewed some jerky, then started drinking heavily from a jug.  After about an hour, his head nodded and he slumped back against the door.

Your plan was simple: Overwhelm Chisel, hide in the lodge, and ambush the ambushers when they returned, hopefully burdened with wounds and loot.

Things went well at first.  Chisel was too drunk to even notice as you tied him up and dragged him inside.  A quick sweep of the first floor of the lodge revealed little in the way of loot.  The first floor showed signs of half-hearted repairs and was still quite dilapidated.  The kitchen and dining room had seen recent use.  The thieves had clearly been using a bunk room in the back.  You were surprised at the lack of any signs of treasure.  These thieves had nothing to show for their efforts that you could find.

The upper story of the lodge was inaccessible.  The stairs had collapsed and snapped and rotting wooden beams blocked off the top of the stairwell.

Your attempts to awaken Chisel to interrogate him were fruitless.  However, you did get a chance to take a close look at his tattoos.  He had some faded tattoos of an eagle and a manticore.  The newer tattoos were more interesting.  You thought they were just decorative at first, but you soon realized they were actually writing.  The tattoos seemed to catalog his misdeeds:

I stole from my grandfather to pay for lockpicks.

I blackmailed my sister.

I cheated at dice to win 5 gold pieces from Edmer Sumpkins.

The worst crime was written on his left cheek: I strangled Summer Muncie when she rejected me.

You are confident you did not see a tattoo on Chisel's face when you saw him at Crippled Dick's.

Before you had a chance to discuss the tattoos, you heard two harsh voices coming from the floor saying, [Language unknown: Metriv, iththavir seinac.  Ncereahou eiwit li p acouee troul paunpe hatonsund.  Wi adof out ce notpe estr tidi liioma wian Ad wheencsom n wer? O t t.  Utek ardthunde.  Lo ingie prosoneve el llckai ro stiterted rilere ce leme fi Nessle it casi herto.]


There must be a secret door!   The voices are getting closer and louder.

You have Chisel tied up in the front room of the lodge.  It's about 40 feet by 30 feet with a large fireplace on the west end.  The walls are decorated with a number of mounted animal heads.  The furnishings are quite spare: a couple overturned crates for tables surrounded by a half dozen or so stools.  there's not much else here besides dirt and some discarded chicken bones.  Open doorways lead north to the barracks and kitchen/dining areas.  As noted above, the staircase to the upper floor is collapsed along the north wall of the room.  The harsh voices are approaching from underneath the east side of the room.

What do you do?
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:55, Tue 13 Sept 2016.

Khaaven looks for the possible exit of the secret door, then he takes up position using a crate for cover lining up his crossbow for a shot. Hoping the cover will buy him some time to study his opponents.

Whispering, " Take cover, sounds like two orcs are coming. "

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Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
+1 for spotting secrets non prime. Hide +3 prime. Will attempt to study for 3 rounds then take a death shot. Taking a position just S of fireplace covering the whole E area. Hoping to make sure both Orcs enter main room before any action taken. If any action taken before Death shot available will just take a sneak attack instead with +2 hit +4 damage.

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This message was last edited by the player at 21:21, Tue 13 Sept 2016.

Elwood also searches for possible traces of the opening of any secret entrances.  If he locates the entrance, he will soundlessly point it out to his comrades.  Elwood then prepares for a possible fight.  He positions himself in the Northeast corner of the room, facing south and scanning the floor near the east wall, following the sound of the voices.  He holds his shield at the ready in his left hand.  Initially, Elwood was planning on using his light hammer, and potentially throw at the orcs.  However, looking at Len and Cole, he opts to use his mace instead, ready to attack.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:26, Tue 13 Sept 2016.

 “They are orcs,” Dreya whisperes back as loud as she dares.  “I think they are talking about ambushing the ambushers we were going to ambush!” 

Because the voices seem to be coming from the east side of the room, Dreya darts, nimble and quick across the floor, to slip through the doorway of the bunkhouse.  Pressing her back against the wall just beside the door, she hopes that as they emerge from the floor entrance, she can help ambush the orcs from behind.  The pull of natures magic tingles at her fingertips, prepared to toss Faery Fire on the orcs as they emerge.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:03, Wed 14 Sept 2016.

Scanning the room for any tell-tale signs of the secret entrance Cole quietly darts to the south corner of the room near the fireplace.

"Let the bastards come," he growled under his breath, a glint of steel flashing as he pulls Vera from its sheath, poised and ready to attack any who dare to come in his path.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:36, Tue 13 Sept 2016.

Len grits his teeth at the mention of orcs. He didn't like orcs. They were dirty and ruthless. Ridding the kingdom of the evil race is a goal worthy of any adventurer.

The fighter is a little too large to crouch behind one of the makeshift tables. He readies his axe and his shield, then stood at the other side of the fireplace from Cole. His plan is to race to the arriving enemy and dispatch one as quickly as possible.

Len does his best to breathe in smoothly. His wish is to be as calm as possible before he unleashes fury upon the beasts.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:56, Tue 13 Sept 2016.

This message was deleted by the player at 20:44, Tue 13 Sept 2016.

Hugh quietly darts to the open north doorway and takes cover in the kitchen. The monk attempts to narrow down the location where he hears the strange voices.

The party splits up as Khaaven and Elwood quickly scan the room for any sign of the secret door.  Dreya runs to the northeast and positions herself inside the hallway leading to the bunkhouse.  Cole Hiller plants himself in the southwest corner of the room by the fireplace.  Len Packer takes position by the northwest corner of the room by the fireplace.  Hugh takes cover inside the kitchen.

The rough voices pass under the floor of the room going from east to west, baffling Khaaven.  He spins around in confusion, unable to figure out where the secret door is.  Elwood has better luck and notices some scrape marks in front of the fireplace.  Although the mechanism isn't clear, he's sure the secret door somehow exits from the fireplace.

Khaaven jumps behind a crate and takes aim at the fireplace with his crossbow while Elwood retreats to the northeast corner of the room.

With everyone in position, you don't have to wait long.  A voice bellows out from below the floor [Language unknown: Lo ateantany!  Out fohe derarttra adut a, rat?
Th nti prof le thiestsom roca cenoun!] just as the entire fireplace swings up from the floor revealing a hinge at the top.  Three orcs suddenly materialize where the fireplace used to sit.  Some magical effect is clearly involved since the orcs appeared out of thin air!

The orcs see the party arrayed around the room and their draws drop.

The party has surprise!  What do you do?

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Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
17:22, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Khaaven, rolled 6 using 1d20+2.  Detect secret doors (+1 for level, +1 for half-elf, non-prime).

17:09, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Elwood, rolled 17 using 1d20+4.  Search for secret doors (+2 for wis bonus, +2 for level).

17:24, Today: Castle Keeper, for the NPC Orcs, rolled 7 using 1d20-2.  Check for suprise.

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Len's eyes grow wide as the orcs appeared before him. How fortuitous for the evil creatures to do so! The fighter raises his battle axe and brings it down upon the closest opponent.

Len did not feel confident with the amount of damage that he had inflicted on the orc. His swing rings true, but the brutish creature bears power and toughness. Len doesn't wish to let the group down. His next swing is destined to prevail.

[Edited to remove my rolling.]
This message was last edited by the player at 05:27, Thu 15 Sept 2016.

Khaaven makes sure he has a good bead on an orc and then takes the shot firing his heavy crossbow. [Language unknown: "E ne asur ectionect, ca tilo notes t m ntwe es. Chma nteiveith out pr aseldi pl acpo hat nacast, li sanlesast cees al oumimi i il." ]

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Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Sneak attack +2 to hit and +4 damage. Range combat so +3 to hit for Dex. If hit 1d10+4 Damage due to sneak attack.

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Peeking around the frame of the doorway she stands behind, Dreya casts Faery Fire on the new enemies in the room.

Crouched in an striking position, Hugh waits in the shadow of the kitchen doorway, ready to pounce on an unsuspecting orc the moment an opportunity presents itself.

Ice seeped in Cole's veins at the sight of the Orcs standing before him. The itch to slay something twitched in his fingers and he gripped tighter around the blood-spotted hilt of his long sword. Grim determination hardening his features, he stepped forward to strike a blow at his nearest foe, the promise of death and pain glinting in his eyes.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:09, Thu 15 Sept 2016.

Seeing Len and Cole attack the orcs closest to them, Elwood moves forward to attack the remaining orc. "Flyspamon grant me victory against these foul creatures!" he shouts.

[Edited to replace Cole's name instead of Hugh's. The danger of posting before morning coffee kicks in]
This message was last edited by the player at 17:33, Thu 15 Sept 2016.

Len swings in front of the first orc and unleashes a mighty axe blow.  A gout of blood spurts forth as he pulls his axe back out of the orc's thigh.  The orc's howl of pain is choked off as Khaaven's crossbow bolt skewers the back of its throat.  The orc topples backwards, already beginning to stiffen.

Before the other orcs have a chance to absorb the horror of their companion's swift death, neon orange lights spring from Dreya's fingers and cover them (and Len!) with a bright glow.  They now present vivid targets in the moderate light of the room.

Between the shock of the first orc's death and suddenly being surrounded in orange light, the orc to the south has no idea Cole's sword is coming until it plants itself in the orc's abdomen.  The orc doubles over in pain, but is not dead yet.

Elwood charges across the room and slams his mace down on the middle orc's skull, crushing the poor creature's face into oblivion.

Only one orc is still standing (sort of).  What do you do?

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Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
07:23, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Len Packer, rolled 21 using 1d20+4.  Attacks Orc #1.
07:24, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Len Packer, rolled 4 using 1d8+2.  Len's damage against Orc #1.

07:27, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Khaaven, rolled 15 using 1d20+3.  Shooting crossbow at Orc #1.
07:27, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Khaaven, rolled 2 using 1d10.  Damage against Orc #1.

07:33, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Cole Hiller, rolled 22 using 1d20+4.  Attacking Orc #3.
07:34, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Cole Hiller, rolled 5 using 1d8+2.  Damage on Orc #3.

07:39, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Elwood, rolled 13 using 1d20+3.  Attack on Orc #2.
07:39, Today: Castle Keeper, on behalf of Elwood, rolled 8 using 1d8+3.  Damage to Orc #2.

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“I care naught if this beast lives, kill him dead now for all I care, but if we are wise about this we may garner some intel,” Cole speaks gruffly, addressing the rest of his comrades, his cold gaze never once leaving the Orc’s face. “My blade is belly-deep in its abdomen and can be rather persuasive if he’s resistant.” Cole gives Vera a little twist to demonstrate, just enough to cause a bit of discomfort.  “I don’t speak that filthy Orc language. Someone tell him we have him surrounded and if he knows what's good for him he'll sing like a bird. And ask the creature how that damn magic door works and if any more of his foul kin are wandering down there.”
This message was last edited by the player at 14:47, Fri 16 Sept 2016.

"Aye" Elwood responds. "Cole's advice is wise, and a course of action we should follow.  To me, this creature's utterances are nothing but gibberish.  However, I believe both our fair priestess of nature and lethal half-elf understand his tongue".  Glancing over his shoulder to Len, Elwood remarks "Why Len, I dare say you have a rather bright aura around you."  Elwood then faces back to the remaining orc, ready in case orc refuses to submit.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:56, Fri 16 Sept 2016.