(OOC: to keep things simple and to get things rolling ASAP, everyone gets the same first mission. Let's see who can flatten the kobolds in the least amount of rounds!)

The welcome to Phlan was nice enough. A short blonde fellow named Rolf guided you through the city. He showed the major points of interest, as well as pointed out that drinking the polluted sludge of the Stojanow river was unhealthy. You made the acquaintance with the guards at the City Hall, as well as the garrison commander.

The latter introduced himself as Boros of the Red Boar. It was difficult to decide whether he was a halforc or a human - but this is not Hillsfar, and capable people are not asked what race they are. His worn scale armor an silver, perfectly polished axe speak volumes about his experience. Boros leads the merry band of soldiers that are von Urslingen's followers. These number about one hundred and fify, mostly infantry with light armor, polearm and shield. There are twenty elite archers and thirty light cavalry as well.

So Boros shows you around your new home.

The barracks are plenty large to house the garruson as well as your merry band. Its basement doubles as storage area and prison. Currently there is only one prisoner - an enormous brute snoring in the corner cell. The guards seem to avoid going near the cell.

Mercenaries' quarters are in the east wing of the barracks. It is a single big dorm, with eight solid bunk beds and appropriate chests. A fireplace on the inside wall is just waiting for a fire and a nice pot bubbling with stew.

But Boros just laughs. "I guess you'd like to rest and relax a bit? There'll be none of that. Get organized and meet me outside in ten minutes for your first assignment. Or you can run away." He harrumphs, turns around and leaves.

---

The first assignment sounds easy enough. You are shoved through the gate into the slums area, and told to procure half a dozen kobold heads.

"And don't return empty-handed!" Boros yells before the gate to New Phlan slams shut. The alleyway leading from the wall is narrow; the buildings in the slums are just looted and burnt-out husks. Warily, you advance for a minute or two, getting your bearings.

Someone laughs, up ahead. it is an unpleasant, animalistic sound.

"Meat!" a shrill little voice suddenly screams out. "New meat!" Kobolds stream from a house, bradishing their eating utensils. They scream and chitter madly. "Food! Food! FOOD!"

---

k = kobolds
K = bigger kobold
shaded areas = walls/impassable/blocks LoS
x = escape route (in case you need it)

team can deploy anywhere on rows 19 and 20.
pick spots and state actions. Team has the initiative.

Ghere spent the time going over everyone's equipment, checking buckles and adjusting straps. It should have been mildly insulting, but somehow his quiet competence and work-a-day attitude transformed it into something reassuring instead.

Everyone have +5 temporary hip-points.

Once through the gate, he sniffed at the guards and fell into place in the pre-arranged formation. When the shouting told him that they had found Kobolds, he snapped "Break left and right, reform past that wall" then darted forward until he could see the enemy. Darkfire burst from his raised hand, taking the nearer of the goblins that he could see in the leg, tearing it off in a shower of gore to send the unfortunate creature to feebly kick out the last of its life on the ground. Nodding satisfaction, he stepped right to clear the line of fire for the others.

Starting positions: B18 = Torymyn, A19 = Brak, C19 = Ghere, B20 Rurik.
Ghere moves to C14 and fires on the gobbo in D3.

[Private to GM: 17:16, Today: Ghere rolled 4 using 1d10.  Location.
17:15, Today: Ghere rolled 7 using 1d10.  Damage.
17:14, Today: Ghere rolled 22 using 1d20+6.  Eldrich Bolt.
Ac 14 Hp 15]
This message was last edited by the player at 17:36, Fri 25 Sept 2015.

OOC: All, am working up an IC post for Rurik. He will Move and Dash to D-13, so as to position himself ahead of Ghere.

Just wanted to give everyone an idea of what Rurik will be up to, in case anyone else is working upon an IC post. :)
This message was last edited by the player at 17:26, Fri 25 Sept 2015.

Rurik had taken the mercenaries' welcome to Phlan in stride, silently following Rolf on the tour, but looking distinctly more interested when it came time to meet Boros and learn of the troops that he led. Harrumph -- they aren't wearing heavy enough armor, he thought to himself as he looked over the light infantry. Dwarven front-line warriors wouldn't be caught dead in that drek. Boros' magnificent silvered axe and splint mail were a different matter altogether, and Rurik nodded approvingly at the big officer's equipment.

"Ye're a man after me own heart," the Dwarf grunted approvingly when, instead of giving the newly-arrived members of the mercenary company time to comfortably settle in, Boros quickly called them together and sent them out into the slums to deal with Kobolds.

As luck would have it, their foes were not difficult to find, and Rurik was highly offended to hear that the Kobolds apparently intended to put the mercenaries into a cooking-pot. "Cheeky little bastards, aren't they," he growled.

Before Rurik could do anything else, Ghere opined as how they should fight, and set out at a pace that made it a bit of a challenge for Rurik to keep up, what with his shorter Dwarven stride and rear-of-the-formation starting point.

Not the way that I would have started the battle off, he thought to himself, pursing his lips thoughtfully. Considering their superior numbers, I would have had Torymyn and myself set up choke-points on each side of that wall just ahead, and let them come to us. But what's done is done.

Given Torymyn's starting-point in the formation, Rurik figured that the barbarian would most likely head around the left side of the wall that was in front of them, so he took the right-hand route around the wall. Not wishing to expose Ghere to a mass attack by their foes (besides which, Dwarven honor demanded that he not cede the front rank in the line of battle to the lightly-armored Human), Rurik moved up at the double-quick and took up a position ahead of Ghere.

OOC:

Movement: 25 feet

Action: Dash, 20 feet

Movement Path: Starting Point: B-20, then C-19 (5'), D-18 (10'), E-17 (5'), E-16, E-15, E-14, D-13 (10'). Total movement 45', Ending Square = D-13.

Notes: Rurik has his warhammer and shield in hand. AC: 18. Hit Points: 18 (5 Temporary)/18 (5 Temporary). Thanks for those Temporary Hit Points, Ghere. :)

I kind of like each PC having their own personal color of speech. I see that Ghere has opted for Green. I traditionally write in Dark Blue, but can use a different color if either Torymyn or Brak really, really like the Dark Blue. :)

Rurik's unspoken thoughts are in italics and gray.

I think that's about it. Will be happy to edit as needed! :)
This message was last edited by the player at 20:45, Fri 25 Sept 2015.

Torymyn reflected on the events of the past few days, oblivious to his surroundings for two beats of an elven heart. When would be a good time to ask Brak about his uncle? he thought to himself - again.

He felt a surge of confidence, and sensed that Ghere had done something to bolster their fortunes. And he snapped into the present as Rurik surged away to the right. Torymyn gripped his axes tightly, as he fast lumbered to the left. He picked up speed as he past the first wall.

He glanced to his right, and saw something hot and eldritch flare from  Ghere's hand, and saw Rurik coming up to a stop against yet another ruined wall. Torymyn nodded to himself, surged ahaed of the line made by his fellow-dwarf and the human, and came to a skidding halt between two sections of ruined wall.

He was breathing hard, and still gripping both his axes. His left shoulder was against a wall, and he hazarded a quick glance around the corner to his left to see what the hungry little lizard-men would do.

He shouted out "Keep yer eyes open! These ruins may yet hide more o' their kine!"

***************
OOC:
Movement then dash - total movement of 10 possible squares - B19-B18-A17-A16-A15-A14-A13-A12-A11-B11. Facing C11.
My hand axes are readied and in my hands.

I have chosen Goldenrod for my speaking and thinking color.

[Private to GM: AC: 15  HP: 20/20 (with 5 temp hp) intended reaction: watching for any Kobolds to slip past, will chop them with an axe if they do. ]
This message was last edited by the player at 21:29, Fri 25 Sept 2015.

"Wha? 'hrmph! Right," Brak said slowly lifting his head. Assessing what appeared to be a threat, possibly edible. His nose wrinkled an unspoken question, throwing his horns out of alignment for a moment. He rushed forward finding the balance of a new club he'd been hacking away over the last week.

OOC: Move+Dash 50 ft to A9, 90° right turn.

G=Ghere
R=Rurik
T=Torymyn
B=Brak



Ghere's awesome magical blast tears away a kobold's left leg, and the poor sucker collapses quietly into a pile.

The other kobolds, squinting in the far too bright sunlight, don't seem to notice and instead charge towards the heroes. "FOOD! Food! Hungry!" From closer up they do seem quite starved and even weaker than ordinary kobolds should be.

a5 kobold to b9

The little lizard screeches in surprise as it almost bumps into Brak. But it gets its bearings quickly enough, and thrusts its rusty dagger against the dwarf. But the attack sails laughably wide.

a1 kobold to c7
b1 kobold to d7
b4 kobold to c10
c2 big kobold to c8

The big kobold and the one next to him get out their slings. Despite the blinding sunlight, the little kobold's sling stone manages to smash right into Ghere's chest, leaving a painful bruise (3 damage).

Ghere shuddered as Lilith rewarded him for killing, his codpiece suddenly uncomfortably full. She had warned him of it, and he had felt it before during the rescue, but if this was the permanent effect that it seemed to be it was going to make keeping a professional attitude very difficult.

Somewhat distracted, he managed only to clip his next target along the side of the head.


[Private to GM: 14:02, Today: Ghere rolled 16,3,10 using d20+6,d10,d10.  Attack, damage, location.
Hit, 3 damage.
AC 14, HP 15+4-3=16]

Torymyn sees the kobolds advance after Ghere's magic took off one of their fellow's legs. The sling stones whizzed through the air, and Ghere returned fire with another gout of crackling magic.

Torymyn stepped out around the corner of the wall upon which he had been leaning in time to see one of the little lizard-men flater to a stop in front of him, his leg still scorched from Ghere's witch-fire.

Torymyn draws back one of his axes and crouches as his launches a slashing swing, connecting solidly with the kobold's right leg. Torymyn lets his momentum carry him into a counter-clockwise spin, staying in a low crouch, his arm coiled like a spring that he unleases as his spin reaches nearly a full circle-spun. His second axe connects with the little lizard-man's other leg.

Torymyn steps over the dying lizard man and to his right, and walks wearliy towards the slinging Kobolds.

**********
OOC:
Move B11 to C11 to attack Kobold at C10
10:37, Today: Torymyn rolled 3 using 1d10.  Hit location on kobold at C10.
10:36, Today: Torymyn rolled 2 using 1d6.  Axe damage on kobold at C10.
10:36, Today: Torymyn rolled 18 using 1d20+5.  Off hand axe attack on kobold at C10.
10:34, Today: Torymyn rolled 1 using 1d10.  Hit location on kobold at C10.
10:33, Today: Torymyn rolled 9 using 1d6+3.  Axe damage on kobold at C10.
10:32, Today: Torymyn rolled 17 using 1d20+5.  Axe attack kobold at C10.

Move C10-D10-D9-D8.

Assuming the Kobold I just hit twice is dead after 11 damage. If not, feel free to modify my move after those attacks.

[Private to GM: AC: 15  HP: 20/20 (with five temp HP) ]
This message was last edited by the player at 15:54, Sat 26 Sept 2015.