Please read your "Setup information" private massage before posting.


Brightness has turned to darkness.

The morning was glorious and warm, the sky perfectly clear over the clearing you woke in. This was not only a beautiful day but was supposed to be an easy one. The night before, Parnell and Breccan, the masters of the eight wagon caravan, told you that you had already reached the area patrolled regularly by troops from Morgansfort. For that reason, the brothers expected no trouble from bandits or humanoid raiders on the last day of the trip.

But now, in the early afternoon, the light has dimmed. An angry-looking overcast has darkened the land, and the road is taking you through a section of forest where the trees are crowded in close to the crumbled pavement of the former Imperial highway. The effect is like passing through a tunnel, dark and claustrophobic.

But the dimness isn't quite enough to hide a flash of movement from you in the trees at the edge of the road. Then another, on the other side! And then there is the zip of an arrow speeding through the air, and an agonized scream from the lead wagon as the driver is struck. Then, the scream is cut off as a second arrow strikes home.

Small, quick forms emerge from the trees, screaming battle cries and waving swords and bows.

Goblins!


Everyone please roll initiative, and post your initiative and your action in your post.  Initiative is 1d6 plus your dexterity modifier. It doesn't matter what order you post in; when I post for the goblins, I'll synthesize your actions into a narrative.

ON EDIT: I'm going to post the AC and HP of monsters in most combat situations. this will speed things up because you'll already know if your attack hits and if your damage is a killing blow, you can narrate it.

The AC for these goblins is 14 and each has 4 hp.

In this first round, if you're using an attack that can only affect a single target, just describe a single goblin and your attack against him. If you're using a spell that can affect several, go ahead and say you're facing several. We'll worry about numbers and more exact placement as we go to later rounds.

Goblin initiative is 2.

Oh...and make sure you have fun!   
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:19, Mon 09 Oct 2017.

Gilly had made himself a nest in the cook wagon by piling up the sacks of flour and beans, and despite the jolting of the wheels on the ruts, he had managed to drift off into a dreaming doze in which the luscious charms of the miller's daughter featured significantly. She had been a pretty girl. How was he to know she was only fifteen? All big people looked old enough to him.

The sudden cry of pain woke him instantly and for a horrible moment he thought the miller had caught up to the wagons, but he quickly determined that he was not the specific object of the trouble. Not that this knowledge was particularly comforting. The swarm of nasty goblins with their dog slicers and flint tipped arrows were not a welcome sight.

Quick as a wink, the halfling slipped his trusty sling and a handful of bullets from his pocket. Balancing on the back of the wagon, keeping the water barrel and the supply sacks in front of him as partial cover, he whirled the sling around his head and let loose at the closest of the attackers. Not for him the war cry that attracted attention. Much better the silent and unexpected smack of lead on ugly face.

Rolls

Initiative 1d6 = 5 + 2 (DEX) = 7
Attack with sling 1d20 = 16 + 1 = 17 (I'll roll for damage, or you can, if this is a hit)

Leleanne was sat on a wagon, mid-prayer when the commotion hit them. Prior to that, she was asking for guidance on what was her first excursion away from the temple. It hadn't been her choice; her excuses had either been she wasn't ready, or she didn't have enough experience to travel on her own. However, her superior had put her foot down, saying it was the will of Aphrodite for Leleanne to spread love and beauty.

Leleanne's eyes snapped open when she heard the scream. To protect her beauty from the outside world, she was already in her armour. As it slowed, Leleanne pushed herself down from the wagon, and pulled her mace from her belt. Her heart was pounding, but she didn't let that show: her face was a picture of serenity as she stepped forward and looked to cave in a goblin's head.

OOC: 16:59, Today: Leleanne Gethell rolled 15 using 1d20+1.  Attack with mace.
16:59, Today: Leleanne Gethell rolled 4 using 1d6.  Initiative.

OOC: You both hit. I'll roll the damage and incorporate it into the end of the round.

Goblins are AC 14.
Each has 4 hp.


Players posting after this post: If you hit, roll damage and (if you wish) incorporate it into your description.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:43, Mon 09 Oct 2017.

Wyrran always chose comfort over practicality whenever the opportunity arose. In his current situation though, he wondered if he chose poorly: the escorts and guards outside his wagon seemed to travel on their horses more smoothly than the passengers. Perhaps the driver hit every pothole and large stone on purpose...

Those last bumps were the reason he failed to register the first cry as serious. The goblin battle cries on the other hand, had Wyrran on his elven toes in a heartbeat.

Wasting only a single moment to survey the -now battle- field as widely as his wagon allowed, he decided that he had to intervene. A show of magic and a sure hit would dishearten those lowly bandit-wannabes and save some lives hopefully. With some swift gestures and a well-practiced chant, Wyrran pointed at the closest goblin raider and a red magical energy shot forward hitting its target forcefully in the chest. The goblin was pushed back, wide-eyed, as it discovered his life had already left its body.

Wyrran pops his head out and shouts "Defend yourselves!" in case that anybody hesitated or was frightened to act.

---

Wyrran Galaeth rolled 4 using 1d6+1.  Magic Missile damage.
Wyrran Galaeth rolled 5 using 1d6.  Initiative.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:39, Mon 09 Oct 2017.

Glanduil cursed to  himself in Elvish and in a low tone. He had hoped that the others didn't hear but at the moment he did not care that much. Earlier that morning the weather was promising and he was glad to hear that they had reached the patrolled areas. "By the moon of Corellon I do not like the makes of this weather. There is evil afoot I am sure!"

He paused then cursed to himself even more. He always took ill weather as an evil omen and he was rarely correct in that regard. He just did not like being this far from The Iserlangis forest. There he was happy and the weather not unpleasant for the most part. Still, he cursed to himself for being so superstitious. He was an Elf and should know better.

Then he witnessed the attackers and shook his head. Switching to Common, he muttered, "Typical" when he heard the warning from Wyrran.

He grasped the long sword in one hand but then chanted a spell and a blueish light erupted from his free hand and struck the nearest Goblin.

OOC: Casting Magic Missile
14:15, Today: Glanduil Ulazana rolled 5 using 1d6+1.  Magic Missile.
13:59, Today: Glanduil Ulazana rolled 3 using 1d6.  Correct Inititive.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:51, Mon 09 Oct 2017.

Carnalore had enjoyed the day. She'd slept well in the clearing, waking early to watch the forest's wildlife wake and go forth, and to study before the caravan set out for the day's travel. She'd been dozy for most of the morning, enjoying the warm air and relatively open woodland. But her spirit and attention heightened with the thickening of the woods and the coming of cool and dim light. She didn't at all feel claustrophobic... more like she was coming home, to an older knot in the forest. Or to a bottleneck.

When the goblins attacked, she was alert and watchful, listening to the woods. Seated in the back of the third wagon amidst its crates and baskets, she saw the small humanoids attacking the caravan. She crouched low behind a small stack of boxes and gestured, a small sliver of light forming along two fingers before she directed it toward one of the visible, hostile goblins.

Initiative: 11:32, Today: Carnalore Hostine rolled 2 using 1d6+1.
Cast Magic Missile. Damage: 11:34, Today: Carnalore Hostine rolled 4 using 1d6+1.

The goblin fell.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:37, Mon 09 Oct 2017.

 Veskard made ready his short bow, and nocked an arrow to the wood. He drew back on the bow string and let fly at one of the Goblins. But it seemed the gods where not with him,as he missed by a league or three.

16:19, Today: Veskard rolled 1 using 1d20.  Short bow attack on Goblin leader, if any.
16:16, Today: Veskard rolled 1 using 1d6.  Init roll.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:34, Mon 09 Oct 2017.

Argon readied his sword and shield when he realised something was amiss. He formed skirmish line with everyone else and waited for the goblins to come into range sword in hand.

Argon rolled 1 using 1d6.  Init roll.
Argon rolled 16 using 1d20+1.  Attack.
Argon rolled 7 using 1d8+1.  Damage.

Order of Action:
Gilly      7
Wyrran     5
Carnalore  4
Leleanne   4
Glanduil   3
Goblins    2
Argon      1
Veskard    1


Gilly's sling bullet pangs off the helmet of a goblin, causing it to fall over the creature's face. The goblin appears disoriented, but not dead, and is looking around with an angry and confused expression.

Suddenly three flashes of light erupt on the battlefield as three elves--Wyrran, Carnalore and Glanduil--each strike a nearby goblin with arcane energy. Each one's target falls to the pavement with a blackened hole in his chest.

The light highlights the serene beauty of a beautiful blonde human woman who strides forward to meet a charging goblin with a mace in her hand. He nearly ducks beneath her blow...but not quite. She slams the weapon home against his helm, but he still lives. In fact, he hisses through his yellow, jagged teeth and stabs at her, but she steps back out of harm's way.

The goblin Gilly hit is so angry he has decided to throw caution to the winds and come up after the halfling. The creature climbs up the back of the wagon, and tries to hack away at Gilly, but ends up making a lot of splinters for his trouble. Looks like Gilly really rung his bell!

Goblin archers have now begun to support their comrades, and they sensibly decide to take the spellcasters out. Wyrran and Glanduil are both struck, while the arrow intended for Carnalore goes wide.

Veskard can't see a goblin that seems to be the leader, but he does see three archers; they are well-hidden, but he picks them out with ease. His shot at one goes well wide however.

Two goblins come racing in at Argon and Veskard, shrilly screaming the whole way. The one attacking Argon misses as the fighter disembowels him. Veskard is not so lucky: the warrior is trying to sidestep the charge, but the goblin rightly judges which way he will go and strikes a gap in his armor.




Edited to correct the fact that I somehow missed that Veskard was shooting his bow. Duh!
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:38, Tue 10 Oct 2017.

Argon moves to the closest goblin and makes a reverse thrust against an exposed portion of the beast. His sword again bites home and deep as he draws the blade free while using his shield to drop the corpse out of the way.


Argon rolled 20 using 1d20+1.  Attack.
Argon rolled 6 using 1d8+1 with rolls of 5.  Damage.

-

Leleanne tried to focus on the goblin in front of her, but it was difficult to ignore the grunts of pain from the other members of the caravan. Her goddesses' healing might be required soon.

She gritted her teeth and swung her mace again: Leleanne needed to finish her goblin and move on. Unfortunately, her mace narrowly missed the target, and Leleanne forced down a grunt of frustration.

OOC: 12:28, Today: Leleanne Gethell rolled 12 using 1d20+1.  Attack with mace.

“Stupid gobo!” cries Gilly, pulling his dagger out and stabbing down at the enraged creature's face.

The sharp blade slices into the ugly creature's neck and blood wells quickly as it screams and lets go of the buck board, falling to the ground as the wagon keep on rolling.

“Nasty creatures,” Gilly hisses to himself as he wipes his blade clean and takes up his sling again, looking to see if he can aid any of his companions. He will not toss into an active combat, but he will target the archers if he thinks they are in range.

[I'll wait until next round to take the action.]

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Roll 1d20 = 16 (I think he does not get the +1 benefit on the melee attack, but it is still enough to hit!)
Roll 1d4 = 3 HP damage (I'm thinking that's enough to kill him, two successive hits of 3HP on a 4 HP creature, so I wrote it that way.)

---

Glanduil cries out in pain as he nearly crumples from the pain from the arrow. He glares balefully at the goblins. He realized the Goblin archers poses a formidable threat to him and the others. He was clearly in pain from the arrow. "I am not sure if I am useful at this point." He cries out the others in common.

The then starts to prepare another spell. He thinks for a moment and then not sure but thought it would be amusing. He paused then shouts out in a loud voice in common. "I shall cast a spell that will summon a creature from the depths of hell! They will devour the goblins and tear their flesh from their bones and their souls will forever dwell in eternal fires of hell!"

OOC: Casting shield

Amidst the chaos and noise of the battle, Carnalore focuses to maintain concentration on her role in the fight and not let fear overcome her. She scans the trees for archers. Seeing one, she forms another sliver of light at her fingertips and looses it toward a visible archer.

Initiative: 09:20, Today: Carnalore Hostine rolled 2 using 1d6+1.
Cast Magic Missile. Damage: 09:22, Today: Carnalore Hostine rolled 6 using 1d6+1.

 Another arrow was nocked at the Warrior let fly with his short bow at one of the Goblin archers. He said a silent prayer to any god that happened to be listening, for better results.


16:43, Today: Veskard rolled 3 using 1d6.  arrow damage.
16:42, Today: Veskard rolled 16 using 1d20.  Arrow attack roll on Goblin archer.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:44, Tue 10 Oct 2017.

Wyrran regrets his boldness earlier, falling on his bottom after the golbin arrow is embedded in his upper arm from the side. He is lucky to have a sturdy build despite his pathetic muscles, but others would not be so lucky. Granduil for instance, seems to be in the same trouble as himself!

Gritting his teeth, he stands up, breaks the end of the arrow and starts chanting right away, pointing to the archer that targeted him. The red magical energy hurts the goblin badly.

---

Wyrran Galaeth rolled 3 using 1d6+1.  magic missile damage.

Action order:
Wyrran 6
Gilly 6
Argon 4.5
Leleanne 4
Goblins 3.95
Glanduil 3
Veskard 3
Carnalore 2

Wyrran, though wounded, grits his teeth, rises and goes on the offensive again. Another crismon bolt streaks forth from his hand and strikes a goblin archer squarely in the chest. The creature shrieks in pain and a wisp of smoke rises from the crude armor it wears.

Gilly cuts the throat of a goblin and the foul creature drops into the mud. At the treeline, a goblin sees Gilly killing one of his comrades and begins advancing toward the halfling's wagon with an expression of boundless hate, breaking into a run to catch up.

Argon dispatches another goblin, pushing the corpse off his sword with his shield. The goblin appears quite shocked at his fate. He also notices a goblin at the treeline that has seen him and decided to take violent action.

Leleanne swings her mace and misses. The goblin ducks just under her swing and grins a grin full of filthy teeth as he moves to stab her. His attack also narrowly misses. in fact, it's so close she feels the drag of the blade edge on her armor.

The goblin Wyrran hit struggles to recover, then looses an arrow at the mage. It strikes home! He still lives, but is in grave danger.

The other archers try for the casters again. Carnalore is struck by an arrow, while Glanduil's chain mail protects him.

Veskard ignores the goblin that hurt him, bravely placing himself in danger in order to take out an archer. But the pathetic creature slips in the mud and misses widely. Veskard has seen the bright red flash from Wyrran's magic missile striking a goblin archer and he sights in on the creature and impales him, his arrow flying true to stick right through the burn mark Wyrran left on its armor.

Carnalore's sliver of deadly light stabs into an archer, who screeches as he falls from the tree he was hiding in.

Glanduil proclaims that he is summoning "a creature from the depths of hell" that will "devour the goblins and tear their flesh from their bones and their souls will forever dwell in eternal fires".

Some of the goblins waver at hearing this and retreat into cover, but none of them are running away just yet. The faces you see are filled with either hate and determination, or barely-suppressed terror.

The goblins who have murder on their mind for Argon and Gilly will act on it next round. Except for Veskard, none of you have a goblin close to you this round and there's one archer left. So, with the exception of four (one for Argon, one for Gilly, one for Veskard and one archer) the others are holding, presumably to see what will happen with Glanduil's spell. All of you can see goblins that you can make a ranged attack on or move to make a melee attack.

New round: Goblin initiative is 1, so the dice reflect art. :-)

Having the goblin's weapon brush her armour sent a chill down Leleanne's spine. She realised this wasn't a day in the temple, or even an adventure accompanied by other members of their order.

Fortunately the goblins seemed to have been intimidated by something, and Leleanne took advantage of the brief respite to survey the battle. The elf wizard in particular seemed to be badly wounded, and Leleanne didn't hesitate. She moved quickly to the elf, and laid her hands on him. "Beautiful Aphrodite, pass your love, through me, onto this traveller."

Healing energy passed through Leleanne, to Wyrran.

OOC: Assuming I read the summary right :-) Please let me know if I didn't.

19:27, Today: Leleanne Gethell rolled 6 using 1d6+1.  CLW.

Bracing for the rush of the goblin Argon will use his shield to take the impact and then stabs out with his sword. Argon feels his sword hit but not with the depth he would have liked.

Argon rolled 21 using 1d20+1.  Attack.
Argon rolled 2 using 1d8+1.  Damage.

Wyrran feels his life ebbing away, and misses a step after the new grazing hit from another arrow. He takes comfort in Veskard's clean sweep of the attacker who meets his doom, and decides to try to disorient or hurt the last archer in order to let the sturdier people sweep the floor unhindered.

With a swift move, a dagger finds its way from Wyrran's belt into his fingers, and is smoothly thrown. Wyrran's elven finesse has not left him even on the brink of death, and the dagger strikes between the eyes of the last goblin archer as it tried to take aim, quenching the light from them!

Wyrran then falls to one knee after the exertion. He quickly feels two strong but warm healing hands placed upon his wounds. Raising his eyes, he witnesses the beautiful warrior focused on healing him and gasps. "Th... thank you...", he stutters. He is whole again! And the blade of another dagger itches his fingers...

---

Wyrran Galaeth rolled 19,4 using 1d20+1,1d4.  Thrown dagger attack and damage.

Gilly gulps as he sees yet another of the nasty little biters and slicers running towards the cook wagon. He has managed to dispatch one of the little buggers already, but this one seems particularly ferocious. With a loud yelp, he ducks down behind the water barrel in the back of the wagon and burrows under the sacks of beans and rice, but this is only part of a quickly laid scheme. He kicks off one boot and leaves it in plain sight sticking out from under a sack to look as if he is hiding there, and then he sneaks back to another hiding place close by the barrel, hoping to surprise the goblin when he climbs over the buckboard and sees the boot.

OOC: He's setting up for a Sneak Attack on the unsuspecting little blighter, counting on its rage and general stupidity to help carry through with the ruse. You'll have to tell me what rolls he needs to carry this off.

Veskard nocked another arrow and let fly at the Goblin that slipped into the Mud.

17:06, Today: Veskard rolled 2 using 1d6.
17:06, Today: Veskard rolled 14 using 1d20.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:00, Mon 16 Oct 2017.

Glanduil grimaces with the arrow still protruding from his arm. He clutches at the shaft but a flood of pain forces his hand away from the arrow. He wanted to rush in but he was not in any shape to engage in melee combat. He was out of spells and cursed himself for not bringing in a bow. He did look down at this dagger and slid it free from the sheath and flung it at the nearest goblin.

<Orange>OOC:  18:54, Today: Glanduil Ulazana rolled 9 using 1d20.  dagger throw. +2 AB = 11
18:58, Today: Glanduil Ulazana rolled 1 using 1d4.  dagger damage
This message was last edited by the player at 22:59, Fri 13 Oct 2017.

Wounded, Carnalore grits her teeth and assesses the wound, seeking additional cover in the wagon. She draws a dagger from inside her traveling clothes and readies it.

If a goblin threatens the party and moves within less than 30 feet of Carnalore, she will throw the dagger.

Attack roll: 12:32, Today: Carnalore Hostine rolled 11 using 1d20+1.
Damage: 12:33, Today: Carnalore Hostine rolled 3 using 1d4.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:35, Mon 16 Oct 2017.

Carnalore 6
Gilly 5
Veskard 4.5
Argon 4
Leleanne 3
Wyrran 2
Glanduil 1.5
Goblins 1

Carnalore held her dagger, waiting for a goblin to make a move.

Gilly's ruse works, and as the goblin stands in the wagon bed holding his discarded boot and looking confused, the halfling strikes! Unfortunately, his weapon is blocked by the goblin's chain mail. The creature turns on him with a look of pure rage...

Veskard's arrow sticks into the goblin, who screeches in pain and rage. He struggles up from the mud.

Argon holds off the charging goblin with his shield, then answers him with his own blade. It bites, but not quite deep enough to finish the creature.

Moving Wyrran up in the initiative order for clarity...
Wyrran casts his dagger across the battlefield and it is buried to the hilt in the forehead of a goblin archer. The vile creature's eyes cross and he falls forward, his face landing in the mud. As Wyrran falls to his knees, life ebbing from him, he feels the caring touch of Leleanne and is restored nearly to his full health and vigor.

Glanduil's dagger attack isn't quite as successful. The target goblin is watching him intently to see if the demonic creature the elf spoke of will show up. He ducks under the thrown blade, then draws a dagger of his own and throws it, but it tinks harmlessly off Glanduil's shield.

The goblins see there is no "creature from the depths of hell" arriving, and begin to move forward a bit hesitantly. Two seem to be coming for Leleanne and Wyrran, but won't reach them right away. The goblin facing Argon screeches with rage and swings its sword at him, but the warrior turns the attack aside with his shield. As he pushes the creature aside, Carnalore sees and opening and throws a dagger, but it misses and sticks into a tree trunk along the road.

In the cook wagon, the enraged goblin chops down at Gilly, who nimbly dodges out of the way.

The goblin Veskard shot is advancing on him when the sounds of a horn, the shouts of men and galloping hooves ring out from the northwest, the direction you were traveling before the attack. Armed men on horses burst onto the scene, riding along the edges of the road and scattering goblins everywhere. Each is carrying a long, spear-like lance and more than one goblin is haplessly skewered. In fact, one of the warriors thunders past Veskard and skewers the goblin who was advancing on him.

As the horsemen wheel about and return to the caravan, you get a clear look at their shields and tabards for the first time. The shields are a deep blue, just a few shades lighter than navy, and they are marked with three stylized white waves.

Deep in the forest, another horn sounds, and every remaining goblin begins to run toward its call. They melt into the woods. The expression of the goblin in the wagon with Gilly turns from hate to surprise and trepidation, and he leaps from the wagon and runs toward the forest.

Veskard, you get your wish this one time! I need a player to roll party initiative. If you win, you guys can react to this fleeing goblin. If you lose, all of you but Gilly are too distracted by all the other chaos and won't get a chance to act before he runs flat out into a thicketand disappears.  No matter what the result, Gilly may make a ranged attack if he wishes.

The goblin's roll is a 2.

Next time I post, I'll give out XP for this combat.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:32, Wed 25 Oct 2017.

Gilly's sense of triumph at fooling the stupid gobbo, turns to terror as his dagger blade skitters off of the creature's armored back and it rounds on him with rage and murder in its eyes. He thrashes this way and that, miraculously avoiding the nasty beast's blade, and then to his utter surprise the goblin hears the sound of horns and changes in an instant from a thing of murderous rage to a thing of uncertainty and fear.

The halfling barely has time to register the arrival of the men at arms who have saved them, it would seem -- unless they are being tossed out of the frying pan into the fire, before he realizes he has one last chance at skewering the fleeing goblin.

His dagger flashes in his hand as he throws with all his might and skill.

But his terror has stolen his focus and the blade flies past the goblin [1d20 = 4]. He marks where it has landed so that he can retrieve it, once they know what these new arrivals herald.

True to his nature, he then ducks his head down behind the buckboard of the wagon to stay out of sight as the mounted warriors swirl into the ambush site.

Party initiative: 12:03, Today: Carnalore Hostine rolled 4 using 1d6.

Argon aims a swing at the back of the neck of the goblin bringing his sword over the top of his shield. He catches the blade or something equally as infuriating and misses.

Argon rolled 5 using 1d20+1.  Attack.

In reply to Argon (msg # 29):

OOC: Not sure I can take this action and if yes not sure if I have to make some sort of check to retrieve the dagger AND throw it

Glanduil inwardly sighs with relief as the enchanted shield certainly protected him from a ghastly death from the hurled dagger. Now that the Goblin started his retreat he looked down at the Goblin dagger and retrieved and then hurled it at the Gobli, while at the same time winching in pain from the arrow wound.




11:13, Today: Glanduil Ulazana rolled 2 using 1d4.  dagger damage.
11:12, Today: Glanduil Ulazana rolled 19 using 1d20.  dagger attack.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:41, Fri 20 Oct 2017.

Leleanne, relieved she was able to help the elf, and silently delighted help had arrived, decided against pursuing the lone goblin. Instead, she took a deep breath and smiled briefly at Wyrran, before surveying the battlefield. Others were injured, and she felt helpless she'd exhausted her goddesses' blessings for the time being.

Trying to make herself useful, she checked on anyone in the caravan who hadn't been fighting.

Carnalore draws another dagger from the folds of her clothing and, if she has a direct line of sight, throws it after the fleeing goblin.

10:51, Today: Carnalore Hostine rolled 9 using 1d20+1.

She shrugs, noting the location of her first missed throw -- planning to retrieve her weapons as soon as it is safe to do so.

Wyrran stands up and decides to follow Leleanne, surveying the mounted men trying to discern a leader among them and also the people that took a beating in the fight, spotting anyone that needs a hand or a quick bandaging. He also moves to retrieve his thrown dagger from the forehead of the golbin.

As far as the fleeing goblin is concerned, if it can dodge its way out of all the sword, clubs and knives thrown its way, it can go free.

The fleeing goblin is missed by flying daggers from Gilly and Carnalore and the swing of Argon's sword. But then his luck runs out. Glanduil's dagger opens a nasty gash in the creature's bicep as it goes past, and Veskard sends an arrow into his back, through his heart.

The knights begin dismounting and you hear orders being called out and acknowledged, and you also hear the horn that called the goblins to retreat sounding again, farther away this time. The leader is a tall man in his late thirties with reddish brown hair. He tucks his helmet under his arm. He is near Argon and seeing his arms and armor, approaches him. "Bloody goblins are getting too bold. We've had to increase patrols, but I still never thought they'd attack a caravan this big, especially one with hired guards. Sir Kellin of Morganshold, at your service. And you are?"

Leleanne and Wyrran see that there are several passengers who have been wounded; they count five. Fortunately there have only been two deaths. A man lies on the ground at the rear of the caravan where he fell to a goblin sword thrust. You recall that he was a simple merchant of some sort, planning to go on to Slateholm. He had almost certainly had no skills as a warrior but risked himself anyway.

The other dead man is Parnell, one of the brothers who run the operation. You see that two of the knights are carefully lifting him from the driver's seat on the lead wagon. Two arrows are in his chest and his head lolls back as the two men struggle with his weight. A step away is his brother Breccan. He is a taciturn man who had barely shown any emotion the entire trip, but he weeps unashamedly with deep, heaving sobs.

Everyone gets 35 XP.

Carnalore climbs down from the wagon in which she'd been riding -- then hiding -- to reclaim her dagger from where it stuck in the tree. She then looks for her second thrown dagger. Is she also able to find the second dagger she threw after the goblin, missing?

Gilly watches the men at arms for a few moments from his hiding place in the chuck wagon, just to make sure they are not searching for someone, and then he climbs down to go in search of the dagger he threw that missed its mark. He smiles cheekily at Carnalore who is also looking for her missing knife and offers to practice knife throwing with her at the evening camp site.

"Looks like we could both use the practice," he says. "I'm Gilly, by the way. Short for Gillifian if you want to be formal, but I'm not. Formal that is."

He doesn't really expect the goblins will have much on them in the way of loot, but he does take the time to make sure each one lying on the ground is really dead and then he moves their weapons away from their bodies and rummages in their pockets.

"Looking for clues," he says to anyone who looks askance at this behavior.

Anything of interest he will toss on top of one of the bodies, filching one coin (if he finds any) for every two he puts in the pile.

When he comes to the body of the one he killed personally he will look for a souvenir of some kind -- a bit of crude jewelry it might have worn or a talisman on a thong, some kind of keepsake for his first ever kill.

When this business is done he will move closer to the leader of the new arrivals.

"Good day, Sir Kelin," he greets the knight with a nod of the head. "Are we far from town? It seems very remote here. From the horns the goblins were blowing as you and your men approached, I would say they had lookouts along the road and were quite organized to avoid a face to face fight with warriors like yourselves. They'd rather murder defenseless merchants like Mr. Parnell there and that fellow headed for Slateholm.

"Will your men take care of his goods? Make sure they go to his heirs safely? I expect that your quite busy though, patrolling the roads -- with brigands like this everywhere. I suppose I could help with that if need be. I'm just a cook, but I could find out who he was going to see and who his family was."

Argon watches the goblins retreat before beginning to search the dead beasts starting with those closest to him and then fanning out. Anything he finds he keeps together to be shared out once they stop for camp that evening.

He will also be looking for intel of what the goblins were up to and why they attacked.

-

Wyrran will help as best as he can the wounded closest to him, and search roughly the closest dead goblin. He then will find Glanduil, pulling him to step together closer to the arising conversation around Sir Kellin. Wyrran will offer his full name when the opportunity presents itself, or the conversation turns that way.

Carnalore, roll a d20 and if you get below your wisdom score, you found it.
Anyone else who is searching for missing weapons can use the same approach.

Also, if anyone other than Gilly is going to loot bodies, mention it here or in OOC and I'll resolve who discovers what.

Kellin arches a brow at the interruption, but otherwise his expression doesn't change as he looks down at the halfling. "That sort of thing will depend on what agreement he had with Breccan and Parnell. It may be up to them to ensure delivery. If there's no agreement we can verify, it will be up to the Baronet to rule on it. As for how far out we are, I'd expect we'll reach Morgansfort by noon if there's no further trouble."





I'm going to let others have the opportunity to post before I continue with Sir Kellin.

After trying to find her second dagger -- and failing (16:17, Today: Carnalore Hostine rolled 16 using 1d20.) -- Carnalore returns to the wagon trail. Once there, she, too, helps tend to the wounded and see what valuables remain to be clamed by the survivors.

Leleanne was relieved the battle was over, but aghast when she saw the dead. Ignoring the injured, she knelt next to each corpse, and said a brief prayer. It was unlikely either of the deceased worshiped her Goddess, but that didn't matter. "Beautiful Aphrodite, help this poor soul find his way to whoever it is he called out to. If it is you, my graceful Goddess, please embrace him and keep him forever."

Once her urgent duties were complete, Leleanne attended to the wounded. She hoped her own beauty and kindness would give them comfort in a difficult time. While she did that, she tried to listen into the conversation with the knight.

 Veskard unstrung his bow and was about to search the dead, but saw others had beat him to it. He muttered an unpleasant word, then the shrugged, Goblins made for poor pickings in any event. He went for a drink from his wine skin.

Glanduil searches through the area and he looks furlong as he seems he could not find what he was looking for. Then, his Elven eyes catches a flash of silver and he reaches down and is able to locate his dagger.

18:49, Today: Glanduil Ulazana rolled 4 using 1d20.  dagger check.

He leans down and groans from the pain from the arrow but he smiles as he recovers his dagger. He cleaned it briefly and then shows everyone his dagger with a clear look of delight. "Hey I found it!"

He looks around then shrugs as he sheaths it the scabbard as he realized no one was particularly interested. Everyone appeared to be engaged in some other activity. He was glad that Leleanne was praying for the deceased.

Moments later he is pulled next to Wyrran. Taking the opportunity, Glanduil addresses Sir Kellin as he nods. "Thank you sir for your timely arrival. I am Glanduil Ulazana at your service."

He paused then continued. "As noted it is not common for Goblins to attack a larger caravan. Would you know if these Goblins attacked us is from a know tribe?"

He paused then further asked. "As you can see I was wounded by some archers. Are there any healers that would be able to attend to my wound?"

Veskard spat out some wine, capped the skin, then stuffed it back into one of the wagons. The Warrior then  resumed walking around the wagons in a slow patrol, just for something to do, while the others spoke with the mounted patrol.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:00, Sun 29 Oct 2017.

Those searching the goblins find something strange: Apart from a few electrum coins and the usual shiny rocks, sticky things and dead rat parts one would find on goblins, each one is carrying small gold nuggets or tiny pouches of unrefined* gold dust, amounting to a worth of one or more gold pieces apiece.

The wounded are grateful for what little Leleanne and Wyrran can do for them, which unfortunately isn't much. They are assisted by a young knight from the military detachment who catches himself gaping open-mouthed at Leleanne's beauty and blushes a deep crimson as he goes back to his work.

Gilly thinks he's getting away with his pilfery at first, but he notices a knight watching his every move with an expression of interest and disapproval. It also occurs to him that those who fought haven't had any agreement between them up to now, so he might be better off showing it all and hoping he's told to keep it than be caught holding something back. On the goblin he killed, he finds a necklace strung with bear teeth that have had their ends chopped off with a crude tool.


When Wyrran introduces himself, Kellin nods and says, "Good to meet you. Wait...Galaeth? I believe there's a message waiting for you at the Baronet's court."



"Sir Ragnan is our battle medic, and he can get the arrow out and bandage your wound. Once we reach the fortress, Father Thelbain should be able to minister to you and heal your wound. As for the goblins of this tribe, judging by the location and arrow craftwork, I'd say we're dealing with the Toothsmashers. They usually dwell in the hills well off the road, but they've been bolder of late, and showing up in greater numbers.


*When you look closely, you see that the dust has some sand and tiny rocks in it.

Gilly searches 3 goblins, finding 9ep and gold worth 10gp
Argon searches 2 goblins, finding 8ep and gold worth 6gp
Wyrran searches 1 goblin, finding 2ep and gold worth 5gp
Carnalore searches 1 goblin, finding 1ep and gold worth 7gp


Tomorrow we'll cut to the fortress, so if you have anything else you need to take care of on the road, now's the time.

Carnalore tells the others of her bounty and asks whether any feel due a share of the spoils.

Argon will add what he found to any pile being formed. "Lets split it evenly." he adds.

20 ep and 28 gp divided among seven characters is roughly 3 ep and 4 gp per character. (Carnalore will take only 2 ep to split it up evenly.)

 Veskard accept his share of spoils with a laugh. " One could get skinny, on what Gobs have in their pockets."

Leleanne didn't feel particularly comfortable taking money from dead things, but she nodded her thanks to the others. "May Aphrodite bless you all. I am Leleanne Gethell, Priestess. I wish we could have become acquainted in calmer circumstances."

Leleanne always enjoyed the attention of others, and when she caught the handsome young knight gaping at her she sighed briefly. Now was not the time for a dalliance: maybe later.

The caravan emerges from the forest road around noon, serenaded by singing birds and buzzing insects. You cross the slow-flowing Somnolent River and proceed to the fortress. It's like many others you've seen, with towers approximately 30 feet high and sturdy gates.

Breccan halts the caravan outside the south gate, and the wagonloads are processed in one by one by two guards wearing the Morgan heraldry, and a scribe with a sturdy, leather-bound ledger. Each person must pay 1 silver piece in tax, and each wagon load is 5 silver pieces. There is also a 10% tax on treasure brought into the fortress as salvage, but Breccan stands next to the scribe and pays your tax on the goblin gold and electrum from his own purse. "It is the least I can do to thank you for your bravery," he says to each of you. The scribe stamps your electrum pieces with a special stamp and gives you each a "paid" receipt for your nuggets and/or dust. As the last of you passes through the gatehouse, you glance back and see that Breccan has returned to the wagons and is watching a group of soldiers bring the shrouded form of his dead brother into the fort.

After the gate you turn down a passage to the east that runs for 70 feet, turns north for another 30 and opens up onto a public area. Though it's shape is irregular, it is reminiscent of a village square, with a central well, shops, residences and a chapel.

Other than the residences and a warehouse, the following locations are nearby:
Bank
Trader's shop
Smithy
The Toothless Dragon Tavern
The Iron Helm Inn
The Chapel of St. Queril

Also, if Wyrran would like to see his message at court right away, he can PM me and we'll play that out here in the main in-character thread.

Not only did he not find his dagger, Gilly managed to trip over his own feet as he searched among the briars and brambles for it. (Natural 20, just when I don't need it!)

Disgusted, he turned to the bodies hoping at least to find some loot there. The gold surprised him and he was just beginning to congratulate himself on his haul when he noticed the big knight watch him carefully. Trouble with knights is they're all goody two shoes, he muttered to himself. Nevertheless, with so many swords around and no real companions to back him up, yet, he decided that discretion was a better course of action. He nodded cheerfully to the man and deposited all of his findings with the others for equal shares, though he did hold back the necklace of teeth, not hiding it, but wrapping it around his empty knife sheath as a barbaric decoration.

"If I was a suspicious fellow," he said as they examined what they had found, "I might think that someone had recently paid all of these fellows a blob of gold to make trouble on the road. Question is, was it general trouble, or did they have this caravan in particular in mind?"

As they go to enter the fortified town, Gilly's first thoughts were for the taverns, but as he glanced aside and watched Breccan mourning for his dead brother, the halfling felt a pang of sympathy. The man had been good to them and now he was left alone to bury his kin.

He stepped back to stand quietly by the caravan master for a moment of respect as the shrouded body was carried within the gates.

"He was a good man, Mr. Breccan," he says. "Is there any reason that anyone would want to stop you from reaching Morgansfort?"

He will stay by the caravan leader for a while to help in any way he can.

Wyrran nods a sympathetic thanks to Breccan for the gesture of paying the tax and follows the party to the square. He then addresses Glanduil:
- "I hate to leave you wounded, but perhaps that waiting message could shine our way forward regarding our quests in a swift manner. Given our luck, having found skilled persons to draw help upon just prior to our arrival at the gates, I deem it necessary to investigate first, then return with news."

He then turns to the rest of the group before they disperse:
- "Friends, I consider myself fortunate to have discovered brave (winks at Gilly) and competent comrades in an hour of need such as that arose the day before on the road. I must hurry to a meeting now, but upon my return I may have news that could interest or concern some of you. I will be staying at the Iron Helm Inn and stepping into the Tavern also later, so I believe we will be seeing each other and have the opportunity to discuss more. Farewell for the time being."

He then sets off for the Baronet's court.

Carnalore listens, nodding, noting the locations of the businesses visible from the square. Seeing what seems to be a chapel, she walks there, to inquire whether they offer healing services. Her wound wasn't major, but she'd rather it get tended to.

Glanduil waves Wyrran and smiles weakly. "Not to worry. I will seek the services from Sir Ragnan and then off to see the healer Father Thelbain."

Not to anyone in particular, but Glanduil shakes his head and comments. "Well paid Goblins I see. Does anyone know if they acquired this by force or were they paid? It seems a rich bounty as far as Goblins are concerned."

Glanduil then approached Sir Ragnan (but not before accepting the party treasure division) and nods. "Good Sir Knight I am in need of your battle triage."

Glanduil will allow the knight to tend to stabilize him and then seek the healing services from Father Thelbain.

Leleanne was glad they were back in civilisation. She bid her new companions a temporary farewell and went to get a room at the inn. More than anything she wanted a bath. Then she planned to rest and pray a little, before joining the others in the tavern.

 Veskard would grab his gear from a wagon,and ask a few locals the following

" What's the cheapest place t0 get a meal.a few drinks,and a place to sleep for the night?"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:40, Tue 31 Oct 2017.

Argon follows the others lead in their choice of lodgings, though he would rather not have to share the floor in the common room. He did not want to go to low in their accommodations if it could be helped.

-

"He was," Breccan says. He has a faraway look in his eyes, as if he's remembering better times. "I really don't know what I'm going to do now, except for making sure those going to Slateholm get there safely. As for reasons for this...I don't know about anything or anyone we had with us that someone would want to keep from getting here."

As Parnell's body--and the body of the dead merchant--are carried into the fort, he follows them. After a few moments, he notices Gilly is following him. He bends and places his massive hand on the rogue's shoulder. "Thank you, Mr. Bristlebeard. I know this isn't your burden to carry, and I appreciate you helping me carry it."

He follows the soldiers as they carry the bodies to the chapel.

Wyrran makes his way toward the keep, occasionally asking directions from passers-by. Thefortress is not crowded, but is definitely buzzing with activity. As he reaches the gate, he sees Sir Kellin awaiting him, his helm under his arm. He greets the elf, then escorts him inside and through a vast great room to a stairway that leads to a second floor hall. They proceed to an office with a slightly open door, where Kellin knocks and is bid to enter.

"My lord, I present Wyrran Galaeth."

A brown-haired young man--perhaps 25 years old--seated at a massive old desk of antique wood rises. He is not tall, nor handsome, but he has perfect military bearing and a radiant smile.

"Good day to you, Master Galaeth, I am glad to welcome a representative of Her Majesty to our humble barony."

He turns back to the desk and hands you a folded letter sealed with forest green wax. As you touch it, a shimmering silver filigree of leafy vines appears on the paper, then fades away.

"Good Sir Knight I am in need of your battle triage."

The young knight nods, seats Glanduil on a nearby stone bench, carefully removes the arrow and bandages the wound. the process is painful, but brief and skillfully performed.

Those of you enter the chapel find an oasis of quiet. The interior is outfitted in the typically plain style of the Reformers, but the woodwork is of very good workmanship (and highly polished) and the floors are beautifully inlaid.

As you stand in the narthex, you see a balding priest in green vestments, standing over the bodies with two of his acolytes. Breccan and several of the knights stand nearby, heads bowed. The priest is speaking in an ancient-sounding language.

The blessing concluded, the clergymen kneel on one knee for a moment, then the acolytes leave for other duties and the priest crosses to Breccan and speaks to him quietly, his hand on the big man's shoulder.

If any of you have an open language slot you would like to use to speak High Urdish, which is still used as a church language and in the remaining Urdish lands, let me know and I'll tell you what he was saying.

All the commoners and guards Veskard poses this question to have the same answer: The Toothless Dragon has excellent food and drink, and they're serving lunch right now. The Iron Helm is the place to get a room, they have rooms to rent, but they have cots for much less if you don't want to spend the coin for a room.

Proceeding on the assumption that Argon and Veskard will eat before picking out a bed...

Unlike many public houses that have ornately carved signs illustrating their namesake, The Toothless Dragon has only the name of the establishment. As you enter, you find a homey and bustling place. Many of those who have gathered here for a meal are finishing up and several move through the door past you as you enter. Two pretty serving girls move about, one collecting plates and the other handing out drinks. A broad-shouldered, middle-aged man with a long mustache and a heavy-set woman with brilliant blonde curls move back and forth from a kitchen, filling glasses and giving and receiving trays.

A sign near the door states that the tavern serves three meals each day at dawn, noon and six hours after noon, each for 1sp. This includes one drink. A paper posted beneath that lists the meals for today:

Breakfast: Eggs, Sausage, Barley porridge, Mug of perry
Lunch: Stewed Pork, Baked onions, Mug of ale
Supper: Lentil Soup, Dried goose, Mug of ale

Argon moves into the tap room,  so they are all not crowding the front door. He looks for a booth that can accommodate them and and takes a seat. "It looks like a fine establishment, shall we get something to eat ?" He signals one of the waitresses that they are ready to order.

-

 Veskard decided to hang around Argon,as they two of them where the last of the original group. He looked into the tap room, and shrugged. " It seems good enough, I suppose the odds of having our drinks drugged, or our throats slit in the night, be slight." He looked serious a moment, then winked at Argon. "C'mon mate, let's wet our whistles." And followed Argon to the booth.

One of the pretty young serving girls swings over toward your table at Argon's summons. "Good day, I am Irene and I'm glad you've joined us today." She puts down a might of sleep and a hearty plate of stewed pork and baked onions.

Wyrran runs his fingers over the envelope, intrigued. He nods to the smiling man, saying
"Good day to you too, Master... Halden I believe? It appears that my arrival was anticipated, thank you for delivering this message. I am most eager to discover what it pertains to."

He then turns a little to the side and carefully opens the envelope, reading the contents.

"Well lets not wait on ceremony, it has been a long ride and I am hungry." he grabs a plate and takes a portion before asking the waitress for ale in pitchers and mugs for everyone present.

-

 Veskard spends most of his "vast" wealth on drink,and seeing if he can get one of the serving wenches to go out to the barn with him and roll in the hay. Common room from him.

Gilly will stay for the ceremony in the temple and then make his way to the tavern.

He's happy to join Argon and Veskard at their table and place his own order for ale and food. He looks around the room carefully as they eat and drink, taking stock of the other patrons. He'll pay attention if someone looks like an easy mark, but he's a bit nervous about the high walls and the restricted exit way from the fort and all the do-gooder knights strolling about the place with their piercing hard eyes looking for trouble.

"So what do you fellows plan next?" he asks around a mouthful of food. "The caravan is moving on, I hear. Reckon I may offer to drive that one wagon that has no driver now that the goblin's killed him. May earn me an extra couple of bob."

He smiles at the pretty waitress and tells her he likes her hair.

"Makes you look like a young girl in the fields," he says with a wink. "Bet you've got lots of boyfriends."

He seems unconcerned that she is about two feet taller than he is. Nor does he press his suit -- it just seems to be part of his way.

Carnalore cannot understand the low-voiced conversation with the priest and stands a respectful distance away waiting to speak with him. When he's free, she approaches respectfully and offers her condolences for the recently departed, asking whether the temple offers healing services to the living. "It's a slight arrow wound from the skirmish with the goblins," she says. "I'm able to pay if a donation is requested."

In reply to Gillifian Bristlebeard (msg # 69):

"I am not sure, perhaps the garrison might have some work they need doing or we can keep an ear out for rumors." He takes a mouthful of ale and savors the taste after their road trip.

-
This message was last edited by the player at 20:24, Mon 06 Nov 2017.

" There is always some sort of work,for those trained with steel." Said Veskard,as he then shoved a  wooden spoon into his mouth filled with Pork.

Glanduil grimaced as the arrow was removed but the pain quickly subsided. Clearly the knight was expertly trained for the field triage as all knights must be, he thought to himself. Glanduil thanked the knight and marveled at the serenity in the chapel. The Half-Elf nodded toward Breccan and lowered his head and clasped his hands in front of him in respect to their loss. Glanduil tried to listen but could not understand the foreign language.

Glanduil then waited for an appropriate amount of time and did not interrupt. Once he observed that they were finished with their conversation he approached the priest and bowed.

"Holy father I wanted to extend my condolences to all gathered here." Glanduil again nodded toward Breccan.

"I wanted to thank you. And I would like to offer some of my wealth. I hope this small contribution helps in any way."

OOC: Glanduil will offer 1 gold to the church

Irene smiles at Veskard and Gilly, but says quietly through her smile, "I'd hold off on that, boys.  The big cook is my Dad, and he tends to use his army training on anyone who tries to get me to come away for a roll in the hay. It's nice to be appreciated, though. By the way, if you're looking for work, hang around after dinner tonight. A lot of people who need a good sword arm or...shall we say, a specialist or two...tend to gravitate here in the evenings."

She glances over at the bar, where the mustached cook is wiping a glass and clearly watching your table, while trying to seem nonchalant. Then she heads for the bar to get more food and drink for incoming guests.

When Carnalore approaches the priest he smiles. "I will be glad to help you, my child. Tah's healing work is freely available to all, though you should give if your conscience prompts you."



"Thank you, kind sir. Your generosity will provide several meals for some of the poorest families in the area. Let me pray for you both." He lays his hand on each of you, closes his eyes and speaks again in the same ancient language.

Glanduil, you are healed for 1 point by Ragnar (this is the result of a house rule I haven't posted yet) and 5 points by Father Thelbain. Carnalore, you can receive up to 4 points from Thelbain, but I believe you're only down 2.

As Wyrran opens the packet and unfolds the page, more shimmering vines appear and slowly fade. The writing is in Elvish, of course, and the writer has elegant, impeccable penmanship.

Master Galaeth,

We trust this message finds you well. We feel we must change the focus of your mission in the human lands. Our friends to the south are becoming even more troublesome than before and we are seeking those worthy of becoming our allies. Duke Helsung of Slateholm seems to have the marks of a worthy ally of the realm, being a man true to his word who has ruled his domain well. But we need to know more before placing our trust in him.

For decades, Helsung's family has held back the vuldrani surging out of the forests to the south of them. Now that task has fallen to Helsung's great-nephew, Halden. He has a reputation as a cunning warrior, but he is very young. The southern forests must be secured for the good of our kingdom and all civilized lands. If he fails, any alliance we might forge with his family will also fail, for they will be overwhelmed.

Therefore we give you two tasks. First, observe the baronet, his inner circle, his warriors and his subjects. Take his measure and theirs. Second, look for opportunities to act against the vuldrani in the area. Historically, scouting and raids by small groups has been the best way to discover their aims and numbers. We have heard reports--little more than rumors, but from reliable sources--that the vuldrani are overwhelming human and elven settlements that were once able to stand against them. Gather allies for yourself and do what you can to discover the truth.

We wish you success, and give our prayers to the gods for your safety.


Amalthea
High Queen and Majestrix of the Elven Courts

"Vuldrani" is a catch-all term elves use for goblinoids, orcs and other humanoid monsters who gather in mass numbers for evil purposes. You also know "our friends to the south" is almost certainly a reference to trouble from the Urdish Imperium on the island of Corvish, which is directly south of the Sunset Islands and the elven capital of Avenrho.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:45, Fri 06 Apr 2018.

Gilly winks at the pretty girl and sips his beer. He imagines that roll in the hay as he watches her sway around the room serving the others, but then he catches her Dad's stern eye and he studiously turns back to the others.

"Sounds like we may have any number of opportunities available to use here," he comments. "Though honest work is vastly overrated as a pastime, I fear."

He takes out the nugget of gold he received as part of the spoils from their encounter with the goblins and looks at it carefully to see if there is any knowledge to be gleaned from its structure.

While he is thus engaged, however, he keeps his ears carefully tuned to the murmur of voices in the tavern, listening for anything that might be of interest.

OOC: Is anyone playing at cards or dice yet? Is there a darts board?

Gilly doesn't see anyone playing dice or cards. There is a dart board on one wall of the tavern, but it's not being used at the moment. Except for a few stragglers, most of the patrons have finished their meal and are returning to work.

He finds that the nugget of gold is just that: A small lump of unrefined metal with no identifying marks.

As he listens, he hears a woman getting up from a nearby table say to the other servant girl, "Now, don't you run off to Slateholm just yet. Wait until the lord has the roads completely clear. I heard tell those orcs raiding the farms and caravans up north tried to kidnap pretty young girls in two of the raids. Best you stay in the fort until they get killed off." The woman is middle-aged, plain and wearing brownish-grey clothes with a bonnet-like hat. She appears to be trying to be discreet, and failing because the background noise in the tavern is causing her to speak more loudly than she should.

As Gilly glances at her, he notices a man, also middle-aged, at another table who appears to have stopped eating his pork in mid-bite and is staring at Gilly's gold nugget. The man is well dressed and has large mutton chops, which is not a fashion you've seen anywhere in the region.

"Thank you, sir. And thank Tah," Carnalore says. She lingers in the temple momentarily to pay her due respects -- and to stay with Glanduil, whom she recognizes from the caravan. As they leave, she places a gold piece in the coffers.

Wyrran folds and puts away the message, then turns and speaks sincerely to the young man:

"Master Halden, it seems that events have preceded the good intentions of the High Queen. As you would have heard by now, our caravan was attacked by a semi-organized group of goblins only a few hours before arriving here. Queen Amalthea wanted to warn me and urge me to cooperate with you and your family regarding growing threats south of Slateholm and in the general area of Morgansfort in particular. Please, feel free to share with me your thoughts on proper courses of action and specific delicate operations that may be required.Through our recent hardship, I may have the opportunity to muster a group of people with particular talents in order to strengthen the human and elven settlements of the area and aid you in returning the peace. I am humbly at your disposal, with Queen Amalthea's blessing."

The halfling nonchalantly tucks the nugget in an outside pocket, and then leans across the table and whispers to Veskard.

"See that fellow with the strange whiskers over there -- no, don't just turn and stare at him! Take a look real casual like, in a moment. He's been making cow eyes at you and kissy lips too. I think he likes you."

As soon as things get a bit busy, Gilly will move the nugget surreptitiously from the outside pocket to an inside one.

OOC: Please move ahead, I'm just vamping with Gilly. I have rarely had a character I enjoy as much. Much more fun than the dour dwarf I had first proposed.

 Veskard continued to eat,but between mouthfuls of pork. "I be eating. Iffin ye think him pretty, ye can have em" He washed down the pork with some ale.

Halden smiles. "We are humbled by Queen Amalthea's kindness." He nods to Kellin, who fetches a map case from one of the bookshelves. The Baronet takes it and lays out a map of the Fort's environs. A few spots have been circled on it with chalk. "There are a few places for you to choose from. And one of them is surprisingly close to home..."

The tavern is not quiet, but is not nearly so loud as it was at lunch. You've all finished a dinner of hearty lentil soup with dried goose and mugs of ale. You found you tended to gravitate to each other because of the past days you spent together on the road. After all, you ate three meals together every day, so why not now? You welcomed Breccan to your table; he thanked you, ate in near silence and left to make final arrangements with some merchants who want to move some goods to Slateholm.

Gilly notices the man with the mutton chops is back, sitting at the same table he was before. He's doing a much better job of covering the fact that he's watching Gilly, but considering how obvious he was during lunch, it's not nearly enough. A mahogany-skinned woman with a high-collared dress and silver hair in a tight bun who appears to be about the same age is sitting with him and glances your way occasionally while nursing some wine.

A quiet cheer goes up from the tavern patrons as the door opens and a smiling young man--perhaps 25 years old--with brown hair and eyes enters. His clothes are well cut, but not terribly expensive. He wears a longsword, and the hilt has some of the finest metalwork you've ever seen. In his left hand is a cylindrical map case. Wyrran recognizes him, but the rest of you have never seen him before.

He is not tall (Kellin, following him in, is more than a head taller), nor handsome, but he has perfect military bearing and a radiant smile. He calls out to the tavern matron--"A round for the house, Lianna"--and makes his way to your table, standing behind the empty chair Breccan had sat in.

"Good evening. I've heard of your heroism this morning and wanted to speak to you personally. And as I mentioned to Master Galaeth this morning, we have a need for folks such as yourself. Oh, I've forgotten my manners! I'm Halden Rathwynn Morgan. May I join you?"

Argon offers the man his hand and introduces himself. "Argon at your service." He takes drink from his tankard before adding "What work did you have in mind ?"

-

 Veskard was busy filling his pipe,and getting it going with the candle from the table. After a few puffs, he nodded to the newcomer.

Leleanne, dressed in a simple but tight-fitting black dress that tastefully went to her ankles, sipped her wine and listened intently. So far that evening she'd particularly enjoyed making heads turn as she entered the tavern, and had been giving flirtatious glances to anyone attractive who looked her way. She was used to making an impact wherever she went, but it was much more pleasurable out of her armour.

Gilly waves away the great plumes of smoke Veskard is puffing out and shifts on the bench to get away from the source. He's not really that upset by it, he is using it as an excuse to move to a position where he can watch Mutton Chops and Silver Hair a bit better, and keep his back to a wall.

He nods politely to Morgan and gives Leleanne a wolf whistle.

"I hear the landlord's selling your bathwater at tuppence a sip," he laughs. "I've save you a seat, right by me."

Leleanne's expression changed to one of mock-disappointment. "Only a tuppence! That's outrageous! Back at home people used to queue for miles at the temple door just to catch a glimpse of me. It looks like I need to improve my reputation around here." She sat back and took another sip of her wine, smiling.

Glanduil looks up as he appeared to be sipping at a glass of mead. He twirled the glass around watching the sparking golden brown honey wine as it reflected the light from the flickering torches in the in. He raised his left arm in greeting to Halden. He winched slightly as the arrow was just recently removed. "Greetings sir. Please by all means. Please join our table."

Carnalore nods, moving her seat aside slightly to make room.

Wyrran sits up, nods politely to both men an leans forward, eager to listen and see Halden's plans.

Argon finds that the young man's handshake is firm, and his hands are not soft as he would expect a lord's hands to be. He sits down.



"I'm glad you asked" He opens the map case and, pushing a few plates here and there, spreads it out. It is a map of the Fort's region. A few spots have been circled on it with chalk. The southern portion is familiar, as Rosemount is near the bottom of the map and you can trace the length you traveled on the Old Road to get here. You estimate that roughly half the territory between Morgansfort and Slateholm is depicted on the northern portion. The Old Road snakes through the grassy lowlands between the forest and the sea. Here and there along the road, you see villages and fortified roadhouses. He points to three spots in quick succession.

"North of us on the old road, there has been strange activity. There have been attacks by orcs on caravans and farms. They're stealing livestock and waylaying travelers, the usual orcish mayhem. But this is where it turns odd: On the last few raids, the orcs made special efforts to abduct young, pretty blonde women. This may simply be coincidence, but it strikes an odd note."

"To the south, we have a goblin problem, as you may have noticed," he observes drily. "The Toothsmasher tribe dwells in old mines abandoned by the lost Dwarven kingdom of Gryk Thalak, but something has changed because we are seeing greater numbers of them. We're either seeing an alliance of tribes or members of other tribes are being drawn to the Toothsmashers."

"And right here," he says, stabbing his finger at an island just to the south of the fort, which you remember seeing as you rode past, "are the ruins of an old Sturmsai fortress. The Sturmsai were the rulers of this area before the Urds came, barbarians in manner and tradition but with much knowledge we would normally associate with a civilized people.

"This fort was the last stronghold of a barbarian chieftain whose name is lost to history, said to be entombed there with his treasures after he fell in battle with an Urdish legion. But I digress...the reason we're concerned with the fort is that there have been sightings of humanoids on the island. Some of the witnesses have described orcs, others goblins. The only thing that's certain is that they have set up some sort of observation post there. I could send troops in to clear it out, but there are tunnels and cellars underneath the fort that would need the attention of specialists such as yourselves. My father lost almost a dozen men in there when I was a little boy; our soldiers just don't have the proper skills."

"I leave it up to your discretion how to proceed. You would, of course, keep any salvage you recover."

He sits back and drinks from the tankard of ale Lianna has brought him.

Glanduil leans back in his chair and looked away distantly as though lost in thought. He took out a pipe and stuffed it with tobaccao from a small worn leather pouch from his backpack. He then struck a small piece of flint on a stone and the flare of light is quickly placed to the pipe. The Half-Elf then placed the flame over the tobacoo and took several puffs and soon there was a sweet aroma of cherry drifing around the table. At the same time the red flare of the tobacco also cast  his face flickering shadows.

"This is troubling news indeed. Are there any militia that can be dispatch north to address the issues from the Orcs? Indeed I warrant the abduction of the lasses is a concern and should be investigated without delay. The pressing danger is this perceived thread from the Goblins. Golbins are foul littler buggers but if they are indeed unified as it appears that is a danger that must be addressed. If there is indeed an alliance, and I am sure this must be confirmed, then we need to take steps ere we are plunged into war."

He paused then added, "Is this Sturmsai keep in any way linked to the Goblin activates? "

"I plan to send detachments north with each caravan, which should guard them against the orcs, but someone must find their lair and root them out eventually. As for the Sturmsai keep, we're not aware of any link between it and the goblins, save that some of the people who claim to have seen humanoids on the island say they were clearly goblins."

"He lowers his voice. "The island has been regarded as haunted by many of the commoners, and many have claimed over the years that they have seen ghosts. As a result, I'd discount these reports if it weren't for the fact that some of them have come from soldiers under my command, warriors not given to fantasies. One of the commoners even claimed they had seen kobolds there recently, but I can't imagine an orc or goblin being mistaken for a kobold!"

Argon rubbed his chin with his free hand as he again took another swig of his ale. "I for one think this castle being close and having a sight line to the village and all those that enter and leave might just be the best vantage point for those attacks on the caravans. Clearing it may do us all some good and give us some clear ideas on who is behind the attacks. At least that is my vote."

-

Leleanne stopped listening after he said pretty blonde women. She was both outraged and terrified at the same time. Those poor girls; she didn't want to imagine what the orcs were doing to them.

"Must free those girls, and immediately. Everything else is secondary. Is there any evidence that the orcs from the north are taking the girls to the castle? If not, then it can't be our priority. If those girls are still alive, we must help them." Leleanne was an accomplished actress, and could often make men (and some women) do what she wanted, but this time everything she said was genuine. Her expression was pure anguish, and she almost looked like she was going to burst into tears.

Wyrran speaks up so the company can hear him.
"I'm with Argon in this one. The urgency lies of course in the north, as people are taken alive", nodding towards Leleanne, "and the nasty goblin business in the south is something known and could be supposedly answered with more guards for the moment. But the closeness of the nearby fort is what gets my vote, because we really have not measured our party's strengths, weaknesses and teamwork, and practically, if things get rough we would be within sight of our base of Morgansfort to regroup. So I say let's take the small step first, investigate the ruins on the island."

Leleanne stared at Wyrran. "While we're exploring the fort, all manner of things could be happening to those girls." She looked around the table, with tears in her eyes. "I implore you, we must help them. My goddess demands that I protect things that are beautiful in this world, and that includes people."

 Veskard just puffed on his pipe, then blew a smoke ring, before he spoke “Beggen your pardon, not to sound Mercenary about matters, but I am one. With the risk of getting Gob arrows poked in our carcasses, or ending up on a spit for an Orc’s supper, what do we get for risking our necks?”

In reply to Leleanne Gethell (msg # 99):

"To put no finer point on it, probably already happened. I also don't think it is wise to just go off searching for these girls when we don't know what we are up against or where they are."

Gilly sipped his beer, his keen eyes flickering backward and forward between the members of the group as they each said their piece and the different personalities shone through. They had traveled the road together, fought goblins together, and now he was getting to see who these folks were. He made none of his usual joking comments, just filed the information away for now.

"I'd not heard that Orcs had a preference for blondes. I'm sure they abuse young women as a matter of routine, thus the number of half-orcs in the world, because I'm certain the girls don't do it willingly and I can't imagine that men . . . well. Enough said.

"But selecting one type over another and stealing them away sounds as if they are supplying a need somewhere. Slavers, or some mad bugger's harem. Not nice. But again, it implies a larger organization of different groups is at work here.

"A small group such as ourselves," he nods around the table at the faces picked out by the candle light and wreathed in aromatic pipe smoke, "would not be much use against such a large alliance. But we could be very effective at finding out what is happening at the local abandoned, haunted, monster-ridden fort, eh?

"And, as Mr. Galeath has already pointed out, the fort is right on our doorstep.

"If we agree to help, and I'm ready to pitch in," he adds hurriedly glancing aside at the lovely but darkening brow of the cleric, "I suggest we start there. We may well find clues as to what has been happening to those missing girls."

He sits back to listen again, waving in a circular motion to the pretty serving girl -- another round for all.

The Baronet is close enough to Leleanne to lay a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Fair lady, rest assured they have no prisoners yet. It seems Tah has been watching over these women because each attempt has failed. When Breccan's caravan leaves tomorrow, there will be two squads of soldiers with him."



"To begin with, if you are assisting us I will cover your room and board. You may also keep any treasure you find, which would normally be the property of my own family if a soldier or hireling recovered it. If you are unable to recover treasure, I'm open to other arrangements."

" I suppose doing something be better then nothing. And besides, it might be nice having yer Lordship well disposed towards us. I be in."

"Aye food and board is always enough for me. You have a deal." Argon raised the clay flagon and indicated two with his fingers to the waitress. He refilled his tankard with what was left in the vessel he held and then drank deeply.

-

At the baronet's words, the look of relief on Leleanne's face was visible to everyone. She beamed from ear to ear, her beautiful face almost illuminating the room. "You have no idea how glad I am to hear that, and I apologise to everyone if I drew the wrong conclusion."

She composed herself. "Room and board is more than sufficient, and you are very generous to offer that."

Carnalore's visage darkened as the stories were told, and she nodded in agreement. "I agree," she said. "We should investigate the nearby keep first, and then head north once we know more."

Gilly grins at the offer of room and board plus all the loot they can gather on their expedition.

"Count me in, your honor," he says. "Us Bristlebeards are good at finding stuff out. We'll sort that island fortress out right away."

How about that then, he says to himself. A gold nugget and a free stay at the inn. Not too bad. He settles in for an evening of drinking beer and flirting with the pretty girls

Glanduil rubs is hand together. "I think we are in accord. Count me in as well. I shall endeavor to assist where I am able. To the keep then."

The baronet smiles. "Wonderful! Then there's just one more thing to do: Have another round!"

___________________________________________________________________________________________

The next morning, you are provided with two boats that each hold 4 people, and two healing potions. You make your way to the island, and find ruins so old and degraded that there is seldom even one stone standing on another. After a time, you find a stairway leading down into inky blackness. You light torches and descend, your spines tingling at the thought of the riches, and the dangers, that lie ahead.

At the bottom of the stairway, you find an octagonal room that is 30 feet across. It is built from plain grey stone. You have entered it from the north, and there are passages leaving it to the east, west and south.

What do you do?

Welcome to the island keep of the Sturmsai. I'll begin posting maps when we've moved on to another encounter area.

With his shield on his arm and sword in hand Argon follows the others into the first chamber. He tries to see if there are any foot prints in the accumulated dust on the floor that would indicate someone else was using the keep as a base.

"Well I can see why the garrison has not taken over the fort."


-

Veskard with bow and arrow nocked, walked near Argon, the Warrior's eyes darting here and there seeking threats.

Argon finds signs in the dust off substantial traffic between the stairs and the western hallway.

In reply to Dungeonmaster (msg # 113):

He points it out to the others before going and inspecting the entrance to the western passage. Argon takes a knee and then waits for the rest of the group if this is the way they want to go.

-

Veskard Looked at the warrior, and just shrugged.

Leleanne was slightly unnerved by the silence. West seemed the best direction; she gripped her mace tightly, and nodded in that direction.

Wyrran: Existing intensifies.

---

(Just a "check. Ok. Go on" post :)

Gilly rubs his hands with glee.

"This is like something out of a tinker's tale," he whispers as they descend into the darkness.

He lights his lantern and lifts the light as high as he can to look around, just taking the place in. He nods when Argon points out the trails in the dust of ages, but takes a few moments to check the rest of the space, tapping on likely stones that seem like they are sticking out a bit and sniffing the air. He will also open the glass door of the lantern to see if the flame wavers in any air movements.

"Let's follow the path," he says in a soft voice, unless his explorations turn up any other options. "But carefully."

He has brought a stout stick with him, and as they move forward he will look at the ground and the walls for signs of trip wires or plates. If he sees anything at all suspicious, he will test it with his stick.

Carnalore nods. "Going west certainly seems like it would address the majority or most recent threat, if there is one," she says. "We should check the other doors once we're done there, before we depart."

In reply to Carnalore Hostine (msg # 119):

Glanduil looks about with his sword drawn. He looks silently as possible peers down the other passages to see if he can see anything of importance but does not enter the passage. He checks and then proceeds to the others as they appear to be heading towards the western passage

Leleanne was glad the halfling was with them. She knew, given her armour, she had to stay close to him, which she did, but she was also glad he was checking the path ahead. Leleanne had been taught that sometimes vile creatures set traps.

She tried to keep her footsteps as light as possible, and maintained the grip on her mace.

Gilly reaches an intersection with corridors leading north and south. It seems these corridors are short, because if he squints, he can barely make out the outline of doorways down each. The corridor you're in also continues west from the intersection.

Gilly looks at the floor to see if the dust shows the direction of recent traffic. He will also raise his hand for silence and listen carefully. He sniffs the air and again uses the flame in the lantern to test for drafts.

If all routes seem equal, he will nod down the corridor in the direction they have been going and continue his careful examination of their route as they progress.

OOC: How much noise are they making as they move? Would he be able to hear them if he was behind a door?

The tracks showing recent traffic continue toward the south door. The lantern flame doesn't show any drafts.

Gilly feels that he is moving very quietly, and the party doesn't seem to be making a lot of noise, but there is zero background noise to cover them and he can see that the doorways on the north and south are just empty archways.

My apologies for not mentioning the tracks in my earlier description.

"Let's follow the tracks," Gilly breathes in Leleanne's ear, rather enjoying the proximity to the fair maid. "I'll stay in front to check for traps, but stay close by me -- you know -- in case things get nasty."

He grins at her in the faint back-glow of his lantern.

Leleanne smiled briefly, despite the tension running through her. "Alright, but I wonder if I'm better for you at a distance. You appear distracted." Her eyes briefly met his, then went back to the tracks.

Following behind the group Argon tried to keep watch while also watching where he was going. He stay relatively close to the group given that there was little benefit lagging behind especially if they meet a threat to the front.

At that point Argon would move through the front ranks as quickly as possible to lend his arm to the defense of the group.

-

The party turns south, with Gilly ahead checking for traps. A moment later, a section of floor under Leleanne and Veskard shifts and drops away--it's a pit trap!

But strangely, the floor section doesn't fall away completely. It stops partway open, emitting a loud metallic screech as it does. It appears to be jammed.

As the screech dies away, you hear more screeching and shrieking from the north. The sound is moving toward you, and suddenly 5 bat-winged creatures with long proboscises surge into view, diving to attack you.

Let's use party initiative for this one. Your new friends roll a 2.

Leleanne and Veskard, roll save vs. death ray with your dex bonus (if any) added. If you succeed, you stay on your feet. If not, you must use half your movement to stand up and climb out of the trap.

Argon moves throught the others until he is also in front when the first sounds were heard. As the "bats" approach he lifts his shield and then strikes out when they are in range with his sword.

Argon rolled 6 using 1d20+1.  Attack.


-

Aphrodite was smiling on Leleanne: the beautiful priestess heard something, and jumped backwards just in time. A moment later the floor fell away. Then she heard the chilling noise, and readied her mace. When she saw the winged creatures, she muttered a few words of prayer, and joined Argon up front. When one got close enough, she swung down, hoping to stun it into submission.

OOC: 21:52, Today: Leleanne Gethell rolled 1 using 1d8.  Damage.
21:52, Today: Leleanne Gethell rolled 17 using 1d20+1.  Mace attack.
21:51, Today: Leleanne Gethell rolled 11 using 1d20+1.  Initiative.
21:49, Today: Leleanne Gethell rolled 18 using 1d20.  Save vs death ray.

"Guess I missed that one!" cries the halfling in apology as the trap door swings down behind him. He feels embarrassed for a moment, but then the bat things come screeching out of the darkness and his instincts for self-preservation kick in. He presses himself back into the deepest shadow he can find.

He has a stick in his right hand and draws a dagger in his left. He will dodge any attacks and swipe at any that come near him with his stick. He's already lost one dagger and he's not throwing the other one away. With his luck it would fall down the trap.

We're doing party initiative for this one. I rolled it for you and you got a 5.


The first stirge to enter the intersection banks away from Argon's strike. Leleannes mace clips the next one, leaving it bruised but undaunted.





The stirges have an AC of 13 and after Leleanne's attack they have the following hp:

#1 5

#2 5

#3 2

#4 3

#5 6

Gilly brings up a situation I'm going to house rule: If you choose to dodge as your action, the enemy must roll twice on each attack and take the lesser result.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:34, Sat 09 Dec 2017.

 The Warrior named Veskard, felt the floor move beneath his booted feet. Some god much have favored him, for he was able to keep his balance,and get off the section of moving floor.

 With the screech of some flying creatures, he turned and decided to loose an arrow at one, just for the doing of it.

14:41, Today: Veskard rolled 5 using 1d20.  arrow at "bat".
14:38, Today: Veskard rolled 19 using 1d20.  Save vs Death Ray.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:29, Mon 04 Dec 2017.

A vicious black slash across the top of his shield and his sword goes wide and Argon nearly loses his grip on his weapon.

Argon rolled 2 using 1d20+1.  Attack. New game same old dice roller.

Wyrran looks for an opening in the friendly front line and if the opportunity presents itself aims a dagger at the closest stirge.

---

Wyrran Galaeth rolled 18,4 using 1d20+1,1d4.  Thrown attack and damage.

Carnalore ducks if needed, a hand upward to protect her head as the vicious long-nosed avian beasts swoop in. Once the immediate threat passes, she gestures, targeting one with a small bolt of glowing arcane energy.

She casts Magic Missile. Damage of 4. 15:29, Today: Carnalore Hostine rolled 4 using 1d6+1.

Made an edit to the first combat post because I forgot to reduce Stirge #2's hp after Leleanne's hit.


Wyrran's blade twirls through the air and impales a stirge, which immediately drops to the floor.

Carnalore's bolt of energy strikes another of the creatures and it bursts apart in a cloud of smoke and stirge bits.


On Monday we'll begin a new round. Argon, we'll call that missed attack a one-time mulligan and you can attack again after we begin the new round.

Stirges:
AC 13

#1 5

#2 5

#5 6

Again Argon brings his sword into play with another slash through thin air. He says a curse under his breath.

Argon rolled 8 using 1d20+1.  Attack.

-

Even while he is doing his best to be invisible, Gilly keeps a keen eye open for other problems beyond the stirges. They might just be a distraction.

Gesturing again, Carnalore looses another slender bolt of arcane energy toward a flying beast.

She casts Magic Missile. Damage of 4. 10:18, Today: Carnalore Hostine rolled 4 using 1d6+1.

Leleanne muttered a brief prayer beneath her breath, and swung her mace at the nearest creature. The mace struck true.

OOC: 21:10, Today: Leleanne Gethell rolled 3 using 1d8.  Damage.
21:09, Today: Leleanne Gethell rolled 19 using 1d20+1.  Mace attack.

Since I messed up and we skipped the stirges last round, I'll put them here.

As a stirge enters the intersection, Carnalore's bolt strikes it, but it doesn't falter. It dives at Wyrran but Leleanne is in reach of it and smashes it to the floor with her mace.

The other stirges dive at Veskard and Glanduil, piercing them with their needle-like proboscises. They begin sucking the lifeblood from the two adventurers!

Veskard takes 4 points of damage and Glanduil takes 4.

Stirges:
AC 13

#1 5

#2 5

On edit: Forgot there are no critical hits in this edition, so Veskard takes less damage.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:15, Wed 13 Dec 2017.

Fascinated and at the same time terrified, Gilly will try to pull the thing off of whoever is closest to him and crush it against the wall at the same time.

Argon also tried to grab one of the beasts off the nearest companion, though he does not get in the way if they try that themselves.

Argon rolled 4 using 1d20.  Attack.


-
This message was last edited by the player at 08:15, Thu 14 Dec 2017.

If it's her turn again, Carnalore approaches the nearest nosey parker nibbling at a comrade and swings her quarterstaff at it.

12:53, Today: Carnalore Hostine rolled 8 using 1d20.

Her attack is ineffective.

Wyrran spots the foul attack of the creatures now attached to his comrades and decides that accuracy is needed here. He points a finger at the Stirge sucking the blood of Glanduil and lets loose a red bolt of energy, hitting the critter.

---

Today: Wyrran Galaeth rolled 4 using 1d6+1.  Magic Missile damage.

The stirge on Glanduil screeches as the magic bolt scars it's flesh, but it remains attached.

Gilly pulls at the stirge on Veskard, but can't quite remove it. He pummels it in frustration and does some damage. Both of the creatures continue to suck the life out of their victims.

Stirge 1 (on Glanduil) 1hp

Stirge 2 (on Veskard) 2hp

Glanduil takes 2 dmg, Veskard takes 4. Remember that you can attack a stirge that's attached to you. Will post again Weds morning.

In reply to Dungeonmaster (msg # 147):

Argon tries again to grasp one of the beasts, but as before either his shield or sword gets in the way and he misses.

Argon rolled 2 using 1d20.  Attack.

Things looked pretty desperate, and Leleanne became more and more anxious. They had to get those things off their companions, and immediately. She swung her mace down on the Stirge latched onto Veskard, but missed.

OOC: 09:10, Today: Leleanne Gethell rolled 10 using 1d20+1.  Mace attack.

Gilly pulls his dagger and tries to cut the foul creature's long snout where it is piercing Veskard's flesh.

Need an attack roll for that, Gilly.

Carnalore swings her quarterstaff again.

14:34, Today: Carnalore Hostine rolled 20 using 1d20. Damage: 14:35, Today: Carnalore Hostine rolled 3 using 1d6.

The stirge on Glanduil's chest drops to the floor with a thud.

Gillifian's attack with his dagger is fairly ineffective (1d20 = 7). He scowls in frustration and retreats to let those with better weapon skills step up to help his companion.

Wyrran looks for a place to stand to try to grab the final stirge and thrust his dagger in it, to free Veskard, but the creature is nimble and quick.

---

Wyrran Galaeth rolled 7 using 1d20+1.  Attack with dagger.

Making another grab at the small flying beast, this time argon got some purchase on the thing. Flinging it to the floor he stamped it flat and bloody.

Argon rolled 21 using 1d20+1.  Attack.


-

Argon pulls the stirge off Glanduil and stomps it flat. The wizard staggers and puts a hand against the corridor wall for support, clutching his chest.

Veskard puts one huge hand on the back of the stirge that clings to him, then balls his other hand into a fist and slams it into the creature. It screeches and falls to the floor, where the warrior uses his boot to reduce it to a bloody mess.

We're out of combat. What would you like to do?

In reply to Dungeonmaster (msg # 157):

"Glanduil are you all right ? Perhaps some healing ?" Argon looks to the priest and then takes up his position again at the rear of the group. Watching down the hall behind then he gets ready to move off with the group.

-

The wizard appeared dizzy and pale. "Just feeling...a bit weak," he said.

Leleanne stepped towards Glanduil, her beautiful face showing great concern. "Are you sure you don't want healing? My goddess only grants me one such gift each day, but if you need it, I'll use it."

The elf nods. "Yes, please. I feel as if all but the smallest spark of life has been drained from me."



On edit: Everyone receives 30 XP. That's 37 per stirge divided by 7 and then rounded up to the nearest tenth.

Once Leleanne has accomplished this healing, do you plan to go north to where the stirges attacked from, south to where the tracks lead, or into the dark corridor continuing to the west?
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:05, Mon 01 Jan 2018.

Leleanne nodded once, and placed her hands on the wizard's shoulders. She then closed her eyes, and muttered a prayer. "Beautiful Aphrodite, pass your blessing onto my companion, through me."

A moment later, healing energy flowed into the elf.

OOC: 20:52, Today: Leleanne Gethell rolled 4 using 1d6+1.  CLW.

In reply to Dungeonmaster (msg # 161):

"Shall we see where these things came from ? They may have a nest ?"

-

The beautiful priestess nodded in Argon's direction. "That is a very astute suggestion. I doubt we can afford another surprise attack like that." Having used her only healing gift for the day, Leleanne now felt on edge, and having them take control a little was a good idea. She looked in Gilly's direction. "Lead on."

"Not sure I'm much of a leader," Gilly replies in a hushed voice. He's a bit undone by the sudden attack and his inability to fight very effectively. But he also knows he has the best skills in the group for spotting potential traps, so he gathers his stick and his lantern, lifting the light as high as he can to look around.

"We were following the marks in the dust of passing feet," he reminds himself as much as the others. "This way." He picks up the trail and starts forward into the darkness, tapping with his stick and looking as closely as he can for signs of traps.

OOC: Not sure how you want to handle rolls for hidden things. When I GM I usually roll them myself for the characters so they don't know what is going on.

Gilly: Thanks for checking on that. I have been rolling move silently and find/remove traps secretly for you. I'll also do the rolls secretly for all of you if you search for secret doors in a room.

Gilly follows the tracks to the south room and finds no traps along the way. The floor of the room is littered with small bones and scraps of fur, some of which has been pushed together to form nests of a sort. A rank animal odor fills the room.

What do you do?

Veskard watched the rear of the group, deciding to be the rear guard for the time being.

Leleanne surmised this was where the horrible sucking creatures lived. "I'm tempted to check if there are any more, but it may be safer to burn the nests instead. Of course fire could alert anything else to our presence." She then smiled briefly, which illuminated the room, metaphorically. "Of course, the fight we just had may have already done that."

Looking at the nests without disturbing them, can we tell whether any others might be hidden?

Argon walks into the room and waits for a second, listening for movement to see if there are anymore of the little beasts. If nothing jumps out he will begin a search of the nests with his foot.

-

Leleanne and Carnalore see that some of the nests have shedded fur in them. It appears the occupants are mammalian in nature.

Argon finds nothing so far, but he has only covered a small part of the room.

Veskard, guarding the rear, hears only silence in the corridors outside.

If any of you intend to search for secret doors or other hidden structures, let me know. I'll roll your searches secretly.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:24, Wed 10 Jan 2018.

Deciding they were in no imminent danger, and with a guard in place, Leleanne decided to take the opportunity to search the room. She didn't want to touch anything directly, however, so used her mace to prod in appropriate places.

Argon continues to search as well given that the guard duty is covered and they should have some warning should something untoward arrives.

-

Carnalore will also use this time to look for secret and hidden doors.

Argon is poking around in a nest and notices that a stone is loose. Prying it up with his sword, he finds that there is a sack hidden under it.

No one else finds anything of note.

Argon takes a knee and places his sword and shield on the floor of the room as he removes the sack from the hole. "I have found something."

He opens the sack for a closer look.

-

The sack has a great deal of heft to it; whatever is inside is definitely metal or stone. As Argon opens the sack, the bottom of it suddenly rips open. It has rotted some in the decades (centuries?) it has been waiting under the stone, and tears spectacularly. Hundreds of tarnished silver coins spill out of the bottom and clatter noisily to the floor.

In the moment after the torrent of coins ceases, you actually hear the sound of it echo back to you faintly. You can definitely assume that noise was heard in a large section of the dungeon.

 "Shyt" Was heard from the back of the group. "So much for stealth."

"Yes sorry .. someone probably heard that. I collect the coins up someone keep watch." Argon removes a sack from his backpack and begins to scoop the coins into it.

-

Leleanne's eyes went wide at the coin: if it were gold, she imagined what she could buy with it. She imagined Sapphires would really set her eyes off nicely. Realising she was being selfish, she silently chastised herself and also thought of how large amounts of coin could help the needy. "Argon, I doubt the silver is going anywhere, and it looks heavy. Should we leave it here and come back for it when we leave?"

In reply to Leleanne Gethell (msg # 180):

"Sure that makes sense... let me cover it up again first." With that he picked up his sword and shield again and indicated he was ready to move on.

-

Wyrran snaps out of his mesmerized state watching Argon pour the running coins on the floor and decides to take a moment and get a calmer look around the room from where he stands, noting any other exits or noteworthy items on the ceiling, walls, floor.

Gilly is transfixed by the torrent of coins. He has never seen so much money, had no idea that much money even existed in one place -- and his heart burns with hot greed for it. As the others begin to collect the spilled silver and toss it back in the hole, he actually sobs.

"Surely we can take a handful each?" he whispers. "Who knows if we will come back this way again? And now that we have found it, no doubt someone else will be at pains to move it while our backs are turned?"

Even as he speaks he is shoveling handfuls on the tarnished silver into his pockets.

Leleanne raised an eyebrow as Gilly started gathering up the coins. She didn't want to admonish him, given he missed the trap minutes before, so took a gentle approach. The beautiful priestess knelt beside him, and put her hand on his shoulder. "Gilly, you have my word we will come back this way and not leave the coin behind. I too want to make sure we take it with us. Please, leave it for now, and lead on. We need your keen eyes focused on potential danger, and I don't want you weighed down with coin."

Those of you who have handled the coins or looked at them see that they appear to be very old Imperial currency. On one side there is a portrait in profile of a man with a circlet on his head, on the other side there is a depiction of a school of fish.

Carnalore speaks lowly. "Perhaps we head north to where the beasties came from, or continue west."

Gillifian stands up as the lovely cleric touches him.

"Hard to keep promises in a place like this," he mutters, but he allows himself to be coaxed back to the job at hand with only one pocket full of coins.

He examines the trails again. The animals came from the north, but where do the markings of foot traffic in the dust lead?

He also looks back the way they have come to see how much of a trail they are leaving themselves.

The tracks led into this room. It appears that the creatures using this room as their lair are furry mammals that are four legged but they've passed back and forth too many times for you to make out clear footprints that might help you identify what they are.

The party is leaving a trail as well but so far you've mainly just added to the tracks that were already in the dust because you came along the same route the mammals do.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:14, Thu 18 Jan 2018.

If there are no obvious exits Argon will again begin a search of the room looking for loot or intel of what had been using the room as a lair. For the most part he used his sword point or the toe of his boot.

-

While the others searched the room, Leleanne turned and watched the entrance, mace in hand. It was obvious now that more than just the bat-like creatures could attack them.

No new treasure or secret doors are found.

A number of the bones in the room have been thoroughly chewed. You think there's some possibility the animals lairing here are wolves, wild dogs or some other canine type.

(In the room to the south, where we were, or the room to the north? I'm confused.)

The south room. Y'all haven't moved yet. See the OOC for a post.

(Thanks! I thought we'd searched this room Jan. 10.)

You had, but some of you did some extra searching to be certain.

It didn't seem there was much to force them to linger. "I suggest we leave here, and continue the search. Gilly, will you lead?" Leleanne smiled briefly at the halfling.

In reply to Leleanne Gethell (msg # 196):

"Agreed..." Argon fell back into their marching order once the search was done.

You cross the intersection and cautiously pass under the arch into the room the flying creatures came from. Five nests made of dried mud dot the north wall, all higher than eye level. A strong, foul odor of dung fills the air, and piles of dung are visible on the floor, mostly clustered around the nests.

As they move forward, Gilly will redouble his efforts at being stealthy and observant. He is embarrassed at having missed the trap before.

"Five nests," Carnalore says softly. "How many beasties did we fight?"

Leleanne looked at Carnalore, and took a moment to admire her beauty. "Five, I think. Given there are five nests, and the odour in this room is less than pleasant, I suggest we leave." The priestess wrinkled her perfect nose, and looked back towards the entrance longingly.

Carnalore feels Leleanne's admiration, blushing. She steps to the ledge, hands on it, and tippy toes up to look for anything of interest, or a threat.

Leaving the foul-smelling room, you travel quietly to the intersection where the flying beasts attacked you, and turn west. Gilly leads, checking carefully for traps.

Thirty feet west of the intersection, you find a set of double doors on the south side of the hallway. You can see that 10 feet further past these doors, the corridor opens up to the north, and 10 feet past that you can make out stairs descending to the west.

Gilly will inspect the doors closely looking for signs of traps, obvious locks, handles, etc. If they seem safe (enough) he will come closer and listen carefully at the crack between them. He will look at the hinges to see which way the doors open as well.

Looking the doors over, Gilly finds that they're made of very stout wooden construction and have simple handles made of a dull metal with tarnish on its surface. There is no lock. Iron brackets on either side of the door indicate that it was intended to be barred, but there's no bar here in the hallway. He finds no traps. The hinges indicate that the doors open inward.

Listening at the crack in the door, he hears nothing.

"Take a look?" he grins over his shoulder at the others.

Leleanne, gripping her mace tightly, nodded in the halfling's direction. "Yes, let's." Her voice was barely a whisper, and her expression very serious.

The doors open easily, though with a slight creak. Beyond, you see a fifty foot long corridor lined with cell doors, three on each side. The iron-barred door from
the third cell on the right lies twisted in the middle of the corridor floor. At the far end, the corridor opens into a larger space, but you can't quite see what's there.

I'll post a new iteration of the map tonight or tomorrow.

BTW, don't forget that Gilly can use his listening skill any time it's quiet and he wishes to call for a roll, not just at doors or new passages. That's not a hint, just happened to think of it because of him listening at the door earlier.

Leleanne touched Gilly on the shoulder. "Is it safe to proceed? There might be captives here that need help."

"We should investigate the cells." Said the usually closed mouth Warrior.

Gilly remembers his own time in a tiny cell with a shudder and nods in agreement.

"Yes," he whispers. "But let's be very careful."

He taps gently at the floor of the corridor in front of the door with his stick, looking for loose stones or trip plates, and glances from side to side and above him too as he begins to creep forward, towards the cell doors.

Veskard followed  Gillifian, just in case something jumped of one of the cell doors.

Ranging ahead and checking very carefully, the halfling finds no traps. The dungeon is still eerily silent and every tiny sound you make seems loud in your ears. You notice a faint smell of rot of a kind you can't quite identify. You also see, now that you're closer, that the wider space at the end of the hall has an arched entrance with stone carvings around its perimeter. They look like they might be faces, but you're not sure.

You now stand in the hallway between the first two cell doors. Will you continue on, or inspect one or the other?

Leleanne, keen to see if there were any captives, carefully looked towards the cell to her left.

Looking through the bars, Leleanne realizes that some of the faint smell of rot is coming from here, and it is the smell of decaying flesh. A heap of bones in various states of decomposition rests against the far wall.

 Veskard took the opportunity to look into another cell.

Looking into the cell to the west, Vaskard sees it is empty, save for a pile of moldy straw on the floor and a set of corroded manacles bolted to the far wall. A rotting leather bag lies burst open on the floor next to the pile of straw. Several gold coins can be seen scattered on the floor near the bag.

On seeing what was left of possibly a number of poor souls, Leleanne turned to the others, tears running down her beautiful face. "Some poor people have either been left to die here, or their remains have been left to rot. Before we leave, I'll need to come back here and say some prayers." The priestess set her jaw, and gripped the hilt of her mace. "Now, however, is not the time for that."

Gilly's eyes widened and then narrowed suddenly.

"That looks awfully convenient," he says, nodding at the spilled coins.

He will reach out with his stick to see if her can snag the bag and pull it towards him without entering the cell.

"Convenient?" Veskard asked.

"As in conveniently displayed to suck in a treasure hunter -- get them to enter the cell and SLAM! the door shuts tight behind them and they end up like old leather neck over there -- after a few weeks of dyin' slowly."

The greedy halfling continues to try to extricate the bag, or some of the coins without actually entering the cell. As close as he is, he also looks very carefully for signs of the trap he strongly suspects is here.

Two questions for Gilly:

How long is your stick?

Would you please roll a D20 with no modifiers and post it here in the thread?

"What twist bastard would think of such things? Bloody cowards."

Gilly looked sideways at Veskard, in that he was the twist bastard that did just think of such a thing, but he shrugs and continued to reach forward with his stick.

[OOC: How long is his stick? I've been waiting all my life for someone to ask me that! Being he is a halfling -- a bit less than four feet tall -- and he brought it along to tap on the floor and push at things from far enough away that he wouldn't be in the line of flight of any trap he might trigger, I've got to think it's about 3 feet long

09:05, Today: Gillifian Bristlebeard rolled 11 using 1d20.  GM Request.]

Gilly doesn't see anything that indicates a trap. His stick isn't quite long enough to reach the bag, but he can reach a single gold coin with it, if he wants to drag that coin to where his hands can reach it.

Carnalore stands back, watching and listening.

Gilly will drag the one coin to within reach of his fingers. He plucks it up with a little chortle and examines it.

Gilly and those near him see that the coin is not round, but has 12 sides. The "tails" side of the coin has a few words in a language they don't recognize--though it does seem to use the same alphabet as Urdish common--and a crude rendering of a five-pointed star. The "heads" side has the single word "Densha" and an even more crude profile of a man with a bull neck, heavy jaw and long, flowing hair.

With a final check of the door to the cell to see if it might be able to slam shut if he enters, Gilly will step forward and grab at the whole bag of coins.

Please read my most recent OOC post before you read or act on this post.
.
.
.
.

The cell door hinges screech, but otherwise it opens smoothly. Gilly steps forward, but when his hand is less than an inch from the bag he sees there is a patch of goldenrod-colored mold on the floor on the other side of it! He gasps in horror; he's heard tales of this mold that can eat a man's flesh away! He steps back to the door hurriedly.

Now that you know there's mold under the bag, do you want to try to recover the other coins that are outside it or just move on?

Gilly's heart is pounding with terror at the close call with the disgusting mold, but his soul is equally consumed with greed for the gold coins he sees so casually spilled around on the stone floor. If any of them seem untouched by the mold, he will flip them over -- away from the bag -- with his stick to be certain and then pick them up -- gingerly.

He also looks up at the ceiling. Slimy things on the floor could come from slimy stuff up above.

" Master Gillifian, a few coins be not worth it."

"I agree. Let's seek treasure that might be less... contaminated."

Leleanne produced a handkerchief from somewhere, and gently dabbed her cheek; she silently cursed herself for losing her emotions, particularly given she looked unsightly after crying. The priestess composed herself. "I agree. Let's move on."

Gilly mutters darkly about it being all very well for the high and mighty to walk past perfectly good gold that just lying on the ground, but he is willing enough to leave the gooey danger behind.

Moving forward, still tapping with his stick, looking and smelling with all his focus for unseen dangers, the halfling leads the group along the hall to the next pair of cells.

You peer through the bars into the next pair of cells.

To the west you see a cell that is empty except for a pile of moldy straw on the floor, a battered metal food dish, and a set of broken chains set into the opposite wall.

The cell to the east is similar to the others; however, in the far corner is a damp wooden barrel.

Argon had been providing protection as the others searched the various cells. As the group slowly crept forwards as each cell was checked he would follow while watching the rear of the group and taking the chance to listen when he could.

-

You move further south and peer into the final pair of cells.

To the west is the cell that is missing a door. It appears to have been ripped off its hinges by great force and is lying on the hallway floor in front of you. Inside the dank room is a pile of straw and several large thigh bones, apparently quite old. They have marks on them such as would be made by large, blunt teeth.

To the east, the cell door stands open. The floor of this cell is lined with old, damp straw.

Carnalore looks into the cell -- anything further inside? If not, let's continue onward!

Following the group with his sword at the ready Argon again watches the path they have just made as the other investigate the cells.

Argon rolled 7 using 1d20.

Leleanne, perhaps scarred by her recent experience, left the searching to the others. She kept her mace and shield readied.

There is nothing further to be seen in either cell.

As the party moves forward, Argon thinks he catches a brief rustling sound from the room ahead, but before he can be sure, it stops.

As you get closer to that next room, you see that the carvings around the archway are of human faces, and each has an expression of suffering or is frozen in a silent scream.

Wyrran ponders aloud about the carved faces, how the sculptor was able to capture the feeling so truly on the stone... He must have had much experience with the pain (torture?) of OTHER people... He then tries to take a closer look at the faces. Is it possible that the faces are so detailed because they once were real faces?

Argon indicates to the others that he heard something in the room ahead. As he to stops to look at the strange carvings that surround the arch.

-
This message was last edited by the player at 19:22, Mon 26 Feb 2018.

Looking more closely, Wyrran and Argon can see a tool mark here and there, plus the faces are not amazingly lifelike, but somewhat stylized. They were definitely carved here.

Given it close proximity to the cells and the horror visage before them Argon surmises this was the torture chamber. With a look of grim determination on his face Argon raises his shield and walks into the room ready to face whatever horrors still reside there.

-

This room is furnished with torture implements,including a rack, a brazier, and an iron maiden. Manacles hang from the far walls, while the nearer walls are festooned with hand-held torture devices like whips, flails, branding irons, knives, and pincers. All the metal implements are rusty, and the wooden items such as the rack appear rickety.

Gilly shudders at the sight. There but for the grace of the gods . . .

"Let's move on," he whispers. "This place gives me the creeps."

In reply to Gillifian Bristlebeard (msg # 248):

"Yes I doubt any good will come of searching this place." He backs out into the corridor with the cells.

-

 The grizzled Warrior nodded in agreement, with Argon. " Aye, let us move on, the pickings here are slim."

While they organize themselves again Argon tries the doors of the two cells closest to the torture chamber.

-

The door on the west cell was torn off and is lying on the floor. The door to the east cell stands open.

Where do you plan to go once you move past the cells and back out to the corridor?

The party moves out from the eerie cell block and torture chamber, turning left down the corridor. They reach the top of the stairs and Gilly pauses, looking back at the others. Leleanne and Veskard point at the corridor heading north.

You travel north for 40 feet, finding no traps. Suddenly Carnalore whispers, "Stop!" She points at a brick on the corridor wall. Wyrran and Glanduil can immediately see what she's getting at. At the top left corner, there's a just barely visible jog in the line of the brick's edge, making a narrow rectangular slot parallel to the floor and about an inch long. It looks as if the slot would accept a coin, a dagger with a thin blade or something of a similar size and shape.

Glanduil nods, and speaks in a low tone. "It seems too regular to be a mistake, and they would have filled it with mortar. I'd wager this is the mechanism for a secret door."

Squinting into the darkness, you can also see that 40 feet ahead of you the corridor turns east.

In this ruleset, Elves get a chance to find a secret door with even "a cursory glance," and Carnalore rolled a 1.

Argon turned to face the way they had come and from behind his shield he kept watch on the corridor they had just come down. As the others worked on the secret door Argon kept his eyes focused on the edge of their light.

-

 Veskard had an arrow nocked and ready in his bow.

Wyrran gets one of his daggers and steps up, trying the blade for size in the peculiar hole.

Gilly gazes in wonder at Carnalore. The fact that she had spotted that tiny little slot way up there. He wonders if he will ever be able to be so good.

As Wyrran approaches and tries a dagger blade in the slot, the halfling looks across at the opposite side of the wall to see if there might be any signs of a trap for the unwary.

Gilly doesn't find any traps in the area.

Wyrran's dagger does fit in the slot. When he inserts it, there is a thunk and a door-sized section of the wall swings open. Beyond it you see a passage that leads some distance to the west, extending further than your torchlight will reach. Ten feet along it, another passage splits off and goes north.

Gilly is so excited he practically wets himself. A secret door! In a dungeon! Now he's living in a real life adventure.

He lifts his light to examine the floor, looking for signs of passage in the dust. He also smells the air to see if it stale or fresh beyond the doorway.

"Let be across the threshold." Argon follows the others in and then continues to after the group as they delve further.

-

The air beyond the door is noticeably fresher than in the remainder of the dungeon, but carries a barely detectable scent of decay and animal musk.

You find some traces of travel in the dust, and of efforts to obscure the tracks. It's difficult to determine what passed, but they definitely have used the secret door and there has been traffic in the western and northern passages.

"Mmmm it would seem we are not the only intruders to pass through this door. Forward then." Argon take a look back through the door at the corridor behind them before following the rest of the group.

-

Gilly takes the lead, heading down the secret passage. He is still using his stick to probe for traps, and looking all the time for signs of threats to the group. His heart is full. He's on a real adventure and he has coins in his pocket -- treasure!

Better than being back home in jail.

Veskard followed along, bow and arrow at the ready.

As you proceed down the secret hallway, you see a faint light in the distance. You see moving four-legged figures silhouetted in the dim light, and you hear deep growls...

In reply to Dungeonmaster (msg # 265):

Argon moves through the other to take up a position with the other fighters at the front. He then set his shield arm and waits for the beasts to show themselves better.

Argon rolled 19 using 1d20+1.  Attack.
Argon rolled 4 using 1d8+1.  Damage.

Argon rolled 3 using 1d6.  Initiative.

-
This message was last edited by the player at 19:52, Tue 13 Mar 2018.

If Argon is attacking, I'll need someone to roll party initiative.

With a stifled yelp, Gilly steps aside to allow Argon to move forward.

"Go get 'em, big guy!" he whispers, holding his light out to the side and dropping his stick to pull his dagger.

"Nice doggies!" he calls at the approaching shadows.

In reply to Dungeonmaster (msg # 267):

Added the roll to my post.

Argon advances to where he can see the creatures and his blow lands! The animals are wolves, five of them, and they spring to the attack with snarls and growls.


The wolves rolled a 2 on their initiative, so everyone but Argon gets to act before they do.

5 Wolves AC 13
Wolf 1: Hit by Argon, now has 2 hp.
Wolf 2: 7 hp
Wolf 3: 9 hp
Wolf 4: 9 hp
Wolf 5: 10 hp

Leleanne strides forward and swings at a wolf, but mistimes her strike.

Carnalore swiftly draws a dagger and throws it at the wolf Argon just attacked. It strikes home in the beast's skull and it drops to the floor.

Glanduil does the same against another wolf, but his dagger doesn't penetrate the skull, bouncing off and leaving a bleeding wound.

Still to act: Gillifan
Veskard
Wyrran

4 Wolves AC 13
Wolf 2: 6/7 hp
Wolf 3: 9 hp
Wolf 4: 9 hp
Wolf 5: 10 hp

Wyrran decides quickly albeit cautiously, that he would probably be better off delaying showing his pretty face (and the rest of his delicious flesh) in front of a wolf maw, so he weighs a dagger in his hand and aims for the closest said maw. He chips a couple of teeth and some tongue!

---

Wyrran Galaeth rolled 3 using 1d4.  thrown dagger damage.
Wyrran Galaeth rolled 15 using 1d20+1.  thrown dagger attack.

Gilly holds a defensive position against the tunnel wall, slashing with his knife at any wolf that gets close enough to him to strike.

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)

15:44, Today: Gillifian Bristlebeard rolled 19 using 1d20.  Gilly slashes at the wolves with his dagger.
15:46, Today: Gillifian Bristlebeard rolled 1 using 1d4.  Gilly rolls for damage with dagger.

---

This message was last edited by the player at 19:46, Fri 16 Mar 2018.

Since you haven't been calling out targets so far, I'm going to say that there are three wolves in the front rank (2, 3 and 4, arrayed from your left to your right) with wolf 5 behind. Wolf 4 is the one screwing with Gilly, and also (by random determination) the one Wyrran hit. Veskard can target any of the wolves with his bow, of course.

So, before Veskard shoots, the hp totals are:

4 Wolves AC 13
Wolf 2: 6/7 hp
Wolf 3: 9/9 hp
Wolf 4: 5/9 hp
Wolf 5: 10/10 hp

Veskard has until Monday, at which point I'll move us to round 2.

18:43, Sat 17 Mar: Veskard rolled 11 using 1d20.  arrow at wolf.

 Veskard loosed an arrow at a wolf, but missed.

Snarling, the wolves press their attack!

One sinks its teeth into Gilly's thigh.

Another latches onto Leleanne's mace arm.

The third emits a sharp whine of pain as it bounces off Argon's shield.

The last and largest, apparently the alpha, streaks past the other wolves and leaps at Carnalore. Fortunately, she expertly sidesteps it and readies her quarterstaff.


Round 2, light 'em up! I'll post actions for the NPC characters on Friday.

With a long black slash around the side of his shield Argon again connects with fur and bone. His sword seems to bite deep and he shrugs the limp animal off his sword as he prepares to attack the largest animal.


Argon rolled 17 using 1d20+1.  Attack.
Argon rolled 9 using 1d8+1.  Damage.

-

"Aaagh!" cries Gilly in genuine terror as the beast's teeth sink into his flesh. Its hot breath and slobber wash over him as he drops his little dagger and strikes instead with his hand ax.

15:32, Today: Gillifian Bristlebeard rolled 9 using 1d20.  Gilly chops at the wolf with his hand ax.

In his fear and pain, he misses altogether.

Leleanne shakes off the wolf that bit her, then slams her mace into its skull, killing it.

Carnalore strikes a glancing blow with her quarterstaff, and Glanduil nicks the same wolf with a thrown dagger.

The remaining wolves let out whimpers and run away west.

Two are left if you intend to pursue or attack with missiles:

2 Wolves AC 13
Wolf 4: 3/9 hp
Wolf 5: 10/10 hp

Argon tries to connect one last time with the largest of the wolves as they turn to run, but the distance is to for and he just slices air.

Lifting the visor on his helmet he says "I believe we will see them again. I can't imagine wolves so bold as these have not been harassing the locals around these parts. Now let us see where this tunnel leads to."

Argon will walk to the end of the tunnel.

Argon rolled 13 using 1d20+1.  Attack.


-

Gilly moans and looks piteously at his mangled leg.

"It hurts," he whimpers. He's not much of an adventurer really, he's thinking.

But as the others start to collect themselves together to move on, he hurries to pick up his own gear and catch up, limping exaggeratedly. Being left alone would be the worst thing right now.

"Did the duke mention wolves?" he asks Argon. "I don't remember." Truth be told, he'd drunk rather too much ale the night before.

In reply to Gillifian Bristlebeard (msg # 281):

"I don't believe so, or not in so many words. I am sure once we return that the mention of these beasts might spark a flicker of memory. Or not, you can never tell with nobles."


-

As you venture closer to the light, the corridor widens into a room that is 30 feet wide and 10 feet long. Like the earlier room you explored (room 2), the floor of this
is littered with small bones and scraps of fur, which the wolves have pushed together into nestlike “beds.”

On the other side of the room is the source of the light, a warped door hanging partway open. It's warped and the hinges are rusty.

In reply to Dungeonmaster (msg # 283):

Argon will go and look through the door and try to get an idea where it leads out to. Once he has a idea where they are he will begin searching the floor of the room and the nests.

-

On the other side of the door is a staircase ascending to a shallow cave. Sun comes through the undergrowth covering the entrance.

Will anyone besides Argon be searching the nests?

Gilly will search the room as well.

"Looks like we've found a back door," he says as he pokes around in the moldy piles with his stick.

Wyrran glances around the room for anything that might stand out and then pokes around the "beds" for anything shiny or interesting.

---

Wyrran Galaeth rolled 8 using 1d20.  Search generic

The pain in his leg is getting worse and the sunlight is working its magic on him. Gilly has a few coins more in his pocket than he did this morning, and a nasty bite mark to show for it.

He exaggerates his limp as he pushes open the back door.

"I think I'm going to go back into town and get this looked after," he says to the others.

OOC: Got a bit of a real life crunch and I'm tying up my various character's loose ends. This seems a good spot for Gilly to step out gracefully, and maybe the ladies who have also quit will help him get back to town. Thanks for the fun!

Argon finds a silver ring. It is tarnished, but undamaged. It has a small amethyst setting and should be worth about 100 gp.

Gilly finds 14 copper pieces.

Wyrran finds 3 silver pieces and 6 gold.



Leleanne has just bent down and picked something from the debris when Gilly says this. "I'll go with you," she says. "And look!" She holds up two platinum coins, She places one in a belt pouch and gives the other to the halfling with a smile.

"I'll come with you" Carnalore says. "Here, I can use my staff in one hand and support you with the other."

"We'll see you back at the fort," Leleanne calls. "I shall pray that you return healthy and wealthy!"

Fair winds and a following sea to you, Gilly. You'll be missed.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:25, Sat 31 Mar 2018.

Argon waves the others off "Good luck to you all, keep a tankard cold for my return." He then looks to the others before saying "Well shall we. I think the tunnel leading to the left has our name on it."

-

After bidding goodbye to your companions, you head back down the corridor and turn north into the unexplored secret hallway. You travel 80 feet north, then come to a dead end.

In reply to Dungeonmaster (msg # 291):

"Seems a bit odd, lets have a search and see what we can find." He then begins to look for any obvious signs that there is another way through the wall.

Argon rolled 2 using 1d6.  Secret door.

-
This message was last edited by the player at 01:02, Sat 07 Apr 2018.

Glanduil watches those that are leaving, and turns to follow down the long hallway. Thinking that the better part of valor might have been to turn tail for the village as well, he quickly shakes his head muttering under his breath in elvish "eye on the mission, stay focused Glan." Saying slightly louder but not so it echoes in the chamber "The end of the road yes, but I believe you might be correct Argon. Perhaps there is something hidden that is meant to be found."

He kneels next to the fighter, and runs his sensitive elven fingers along the stone looking for an indication of something out of place. Eyes straining, Glanduil searches slowly and thoroughly hoping for the feel of a secret door, or some air passing around the stones. "Have you found anything?"

17:42, Today: Glanduil Ulazana rolled 3 using 1d6.  secret door.

Wyrran agrees, given the fact that this corridor was also well traversed from what it seems. He joins the other two in deciphering the usual conundrum of a corridor ending in a dead end.

---

Today: Wyrran Galaeth rolled 1 using 1d6. Search for doors.

Veskard does his imitation of a rears guard. arrow and bow at the ready,if needed.

Wyrran finds a brick near the floor that can be depressed. When he pushes it in, a section of brick wall moves into the next room on a hinge.

The room beyond is not square, but is roughly 30 x 30. Five male orcs are here, with their crudely made longswords already drawn. Beyond them you glimpse two human women, tied and gagged in the northeast corner. There is a door leading out of the room in the southeast corner, and near it is a pile of sacks and gear.

The orcs chuckle and move toward you.

Neither side is surprised. To speed things up, I've rolled initiative for both sides. You guys go first.


13:37, Today: Dungeonmaster rolled 5 using 1d6.  Party initiative, players.

13:35, Today: Dungeonmaster rolled 4 using 1d6.  Party initiative, orcs.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:38, Mon 09 Apr 2018.

Phelan has already managed to release the bonds from her hands before the party entered the room. This is the chance she has been waiting for. While the orcs are distracted by arrival of the explorers, she quickly and quietly unties her feet (she doesn't waste time on her gag). Once her feet are free she will attempt to move undetected to the corner where the gear is piled and retrieve her short sword.

 When Veskard saw the Orcs, he raised his bow and drew back on the bow strong. He let fly with an arrow at one of the Orcs. " Smile at that, you whoreson."

15:34, Today: Veskard rolled 3 using 1d6.  Arrow damage.

15:34, Today: Veskard rolled 20 using 1d20.  Arrow at Orc.

With ladies in distress Andor has at them, sword drawn and shield high. He makes a feint with his long sword and brings it down hard.


Argon rolled 13 using 1d20+1.  Attack.
Argon rolled 3 using 1d8+1.  Damage.

-

Smiles was groggy and finally coming around. She needed a minute to gather what was going on. One minute they were delving through the dungeon and then they were unconscious - at least Smiles was. She groaned at the massive headache she had. Things weren't fun when she was bopped over the head. As a new party of adventurers made their entrance, she looked at the ropes that bound her and tried to break free.

16:31, Today: Smiles rolled 2 using 1d20.  Str Check/Break that rope!

Wyrran assesses the situation, counts friends and foes... and finds the allied side lacking. His dagger will be better utilized in the hands of skilled warriors, or at least a ruthless one. His elven eyes calculate the throw, feinting for the orcs but instead he gently lobs one of his daggers over to Smiles, behind the nasties. It is highly unlikely he just added two more to the enemy side... he hopes.

My apologies, I forgot to put the AC and HP info in here:

Orcs:

AC 14
HP:
Orc 1: 7/7
Orc 2: 5/5
Orc 3: 4/4
Orc 4: 4/4
Orc 5: 3/3

The biggest one (the 7 HP guy) seems to be the de facto leader.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:46, Mon 09 Apr 2018.

Phelan successfully makes it across the room without the orcs seeing her. Still gagged, she draws her short sword and heads to the nearest orc to strike.

Smiles took a brief of relief as she stopped the dagger that was sliding her way. She quickly cut the ropes the bound her arms and made even quicker work with her legs.

PM away!

From his kneeling position Glanduil looks up quickly, and with the practiced skills of years of preparation he immediately fiddles his fingers in the intricate symbol of his craft. A crackle of magical energy leaps from his fingers and flies toward the largest orc. The magic engulfs the creature and the sparks race across the orc's body. His muscles seem to seize tight and it takes a moment before he is released from the pain.

The Orc still stands and Glanduil curses in elven under his breath. In disbelief he contemplates the power of the creature to withstand his best move.

19:00, Today: Glanduil Ulazana rolled 5 using 1d6+1.  magic missile attack damage on big orc.

Because of Glanduil's narration, I'm going to assume he hit the lead orc, and assign the attacks for the rest of you randomly.

Veskard puts an arrow into the shoulder of an orc. The creature screams in pain and rage, and charges at the fighter. But his swing goes wide.

Argon barley misses the orc coming at him, then easily blocks the orc's swing with his shield.

The orc leader growls in rage and pain at Glanduil's attack. But his muscles are still twitching as he moves to the attack, and he stumbles and swings wide.


Orcs:

AC 14
HP:
Orc 1: 2/7
Orc 2: 2/5
Orc 3: 4/4
Orc 4: 4/4
Orc 5: 3/3

Set on the Orc in front of him Argon stabs over the top of his shield. Again he seems unable to connect and his swipe goes wide.

Argon rolled 10 using 1d20+3.  Attack.


-

Glanduil hesitates as the largest orc moves to attack. Sighing in relief at the miss, the Elf moves quickly drawing his long sword and closing the distance. Knowing that he can't stand toe to toe with this monster, he hopes that his magic was enough to weaken the creature and he can finish it off quickly.

With a neat spin, and a feint near the creatures neck, Glanduil drops his hands and slashes across the belly of the great beast. The satisfied smile on the elf's face disappears quickly when his blade harmlessly slides over the orc's armor. The sound of metal on metal rings through the chamber, and Glanduil brings his sword up to parry the strike he knows is coming.


20:22, Today: Glanduil Ulazana rolled 5 using 1d20+3.  Attack on Orc Leader.

06:48, Today: Phelan rolled 15 using 1d20 ((15)) attack

Phelan, short sword in hand, runs to the nearest orc  and bites down hard on her gag as she slashes him from behind. A hit and a grunt of satisfaction as the blade follows through although the wound doesn't seem too deep.

06:54, Today: Phelan rolled 1 using 1d6 ((1)) damage.

10:41, Today: Smiles rolled 1 using 1d20.  Attack check!

As Smiles scrambled up on her feet, she made a mad dash towards her maul - looking at the unfamiliar dagger in disgust before keeping it safe on her personnel. For reasons that held pertinent to her belief, she was still ever so keen on grabbing her trusty maul in the pile. Not bothering to grab her shield in the process. She heaved the maul over the nearest orc and slammed it down - it wasn't really clear where she was aiming that thing.

Wyrran feels the scales tipping!

Bolstered, he shouts "Bring them down one by one!", trying to intimidate the orcs, by simultaneously pointing a finger to the enemy leader and evoking a missile of red force that strikes him down dead. "Concentrate fire and rout them!"

---

Magic missile at the Leader, who had only 1-2 hp left.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:17, Tue 10 Apr 2018.

 Veskard abandoned his bow and went to draw his long sword, as he back up to get some distance between himself and the Orc.

*Can he draw and slash in the same round?*

Yes.