After everyone supplies themselves from the wagon, the group heads out, taking one of the goat trails that heads up into the hills. It nearly disappears after about a mile, but animals and people have used it fairly recently so it can still be followed.

You spot a few outlying farms along with fields, but by the mile mark, you've left them behind.

You do not spot any signs of hobgoblins, but Rukao is able to tell that two horses passed this way within the past 12 hours. Make that one horse and one pony.

Need a marching order... mostly who's taking point, who's in the middle and who's in the rear.

Tom Wolf has offered to take rear guard.

Talis stands at the front, but certainly lets more qualified people do the scouting.

Elwood will take a spot near the front.

Rodrigo manages to quietly slip into a spot at the rear of the party.

Anneth hangs right before the back - row 4 out of 5 on a 5 x 5 grid!

I'll take point if no one objects.

Rukao is on the alert, near the front of the group if not at the very lead. Pointing out the tracks to the others, he suggests, "We have a horse and a pony. Here. Not definitively the two I saw back in town, but there's a possibility that we might be following behind them."

He had still to gather many details on that pair. He felt it was good that he had taken note of them, though he initially would have dismissed them as being of particular interest had the streets not been so slow that night. And if it weren't for that connection with the ogre.

"Don't see any sign of the Skullsmasher tribe. Either we haven't entered their territory yet or... well... maybe they don't mark their territory clearly. The second is bad news."

Talis mumbled as Rukao tracked "We probably should have tracked the Ogre when we left town.  This adventuring business is more complex than I thought."

In reply to Talis Aramorn (msg # 8):

More likely we haven't entered their territory yet, Tom says as he continues to follow the others along the trail but looking back every so often and even walking backwards for a few yards to watch for signs of an ambush from behind.

Aaron is quiet in front. He keeps a careful watch on the terrain as they pass along the trail. He strains to hear any sounds over the noise of the wagon. He also pays attention to the smells around him.

As the group heads out on the trail, Aaron has taken the lead with Rukao behind, and then Talis and Elwood.

Marching order looks like this.

Aaron

          Rukao

Talis

          Elwood

Geirdon

          Anneth

Durek

          Kareth

Tom

          Rodrigo


The trail isn't wide enough or consistent enough to walk side by side, but it's easy enough to stagger the line.

Although you don't spot any signs of hobgoblin territory marking, after about two hours Rukao begins spotting other signs, such as footprints, scat, and finally a solitary scout off to the northeast. He's keeping his distance as he no doubt assesses the party's numbers and abilities.

"It looks like we'll have company soon," Aaron whispers to Rukao.

Rukao gave a nod to the statement by Aaron. He narrows his eyes angrily. But he speaks in a hushed tone, doing very little to give away that they caught sight of the scout.

"Indeed. A well established puts up walls and meets you on the road openly. They might demand toll, but they can be bartered with. But skulking around and checking us out without approaching us like they were a bunch of Elves? It seems the tribe has forsaken honor and courage in desperation to establish itself."

He seems particularly bitter about that. It seems the behavior of his people acting in this way aggrivates him personally.

He nodded down the road suggesting, "If we picked up the pace, we could perhaps get ahead of things before they can properly prepare an ambush. But it will just mean we are exhausted when we run in."

In reply to Rukao Faestalker (msg # 13):

OOC Question:  Is the scout in range of our arrows?

Tom continues to look around and even walk backwards occasionally looking for signs of an ambush from behind.

OOC: Tom, what scout?

In reply to Rodrigo (msg # 15):

OOC: "and finally a solitary scout off to the northeast. He's keeping his distance as he no doubt assesses the party's numbers and abilities." by Mysterion in msg#11.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:11, Sat 15 Nov 2014.

In reply to Tom Wolf (msg # 16):

OOC: Thanks, for some reason I read that as 'solitary tracks off to the northeast'

The hobgoblin scout is probably in range if you have a long bow, but he'd be at extreme range. He's probably around 4,000 feet away, with partial cover.

OOC: Extreme Range?  4,000 feet?!?  I'm assuming that's a typo?

OOC: ranges are in yards when out of doors, but that's still over 1300 yards, so I also assume it's a mistake?  Moot point for me, I don't have a bow.

Elwood also scans the area more actively after Rukao spots the hobgoblin scout.  "Picking up the pace might make them think we're scared.  Sending that scout a message to let it know it's been seen, then continuing at our normal pace might make them think twice.  Granted, that's a mighty big bluff to try and pull off."

In reply to Elwood (msg # 20):

OOC:  Well as I only have a short bow it is out of my range.

OOC: Is this scout mounted? If not, then those of us with horse can get within bowshot or spell range and take care of him.

OOC: No, 4,000 feet was what I meant, so 1300+ yards. A long bow actually has a capability of firing up to a mile, though the rules don't list it that way as it isn't all that practical. That was one of the drawbacks of the Basic game--there was no provision for increasing your range as you got better.


In theory, someone could try getting close enough on horse to shoot the hobgoblin, but it's hilly terrain with trees and scrub, so a direct charge probably wouldn't work. The hobgoblin is not mounted, though, but he clearly knows the terrain. He's likely to flee if challenged.

Anneth looks at her bow, looks off into the distance, and then looks at her bow again.  "Not today, love," she whispers to it.  "I'd like to volunteer to act as a messenger, but only if I'm accompanied." she offers.  Anneth might be quirky, but she's not stupid!

"We could also just go on our merry way?" she thinks aloud, beginning to trail off and mutter as her sentence ends.

In reply to Anneth Mage-Singer (msg # 24):

Tom continues to follow the others along the path.  Turning to walk backwards to continue his search for any possible ambush from behind.  He also pays attention to the Hobgoblin scout when looking in that direction.

I really hate being watched he says in a quiet voice.

Rukao spoke with a hard confidence, figuring he knew his people best of anyone here.

"If he intended to speak with us, he'd approach us. He is checking to see how many of us there are, how well armed we are and if we are carrying anything of value."

He gave a glance back towards the wagon before giving a slightly more hopeful, "Though the answers to the later two questions ought to discourage them if they are not particularly committed."

Rodrigo stares at the hobgoblin on the horizon, but then shrugs. "Doesn't seem like there is much we can do about him right now, lets just keep going and be on the watch for any trouble."

"Just remember that the Halfling seems to have some connection with these hobgoblins," the Dwarf suggests. "If he hasn't outright paid them to attack us, he may have convinced them that we DO have something of value."

"After all, he was in town. He was probably scouting out targets for them."

"That hobgoblin scout is probably making sure that what the Halfling told them is true. Mark my words, we'll be attacked before we reach the ship."

"Well, let's get going then," mutters Aaron and continues carefully along the path. "No point waiting for death. He will call when he wants us!"

The trail continues up into the foothills. The ship is at the point where the foothills give way to the steeper and rockier mountainside. You round a bend in the trail and spot the ship up ahead, perched on a shallow ledge. You estimate it's still about a mile off.

However, Rukao spots the ambush. He guesses there are about 20 hobgoblins lurking behind an assortment of rocks, bushes and what few trees there are, ten to each side of the path.

In reply to Mysterion (msg # 30):

OOC:  How far away are the hobgoblins now?

The closest hobgoblin is probably 200 yards away.

"I say half of us charge for the ship, try to draw off some of them," Geirdon suggests. "That should constern them a bit! Then, rather than go all the way to the ship, maybe about halfway there, you turn around and charge back at the hobbers! That should confuse them even more!"

"If they all charge after out group, or even if only half o' them go, we then got them in pincer maneuver... kind of like what got planned for us, only we turn the tables on 'em!"

The Dwarf looks around at the others, sizing them up for such a foray. He's thinking that he and Durek should probably stay with the rear group since they aren't that fast on their feet. Rukao could lead the charge.

It's a risky maneuver, but they are outnumbered otherwise. This way, the enemy gets divided. And who knows--maybe their hearts aren't really in it, and a serious show of force could send them a-runnin'!
This message was last updated by the GM at 18:46, Tue 25 Nov 2014.

In reply to Mysterion (msg # 33):

OOC: Can we see if they have ranged weapons like long bows or crossbows?  The runners might get pincussioned.  Otherwise, sounds like a good enough plan to me.

Rukao seems to be a little disturbed by the sheer numbers alone.

"Well, they certainly seem to have prepared for us a lot more than I would have thought. Looks like there are about two dozen warriors out there."

He looked over his own group to count their numbers with a bit of a grumble, "Certainly seems like they have us at a serious disadvantage here."

He didn't really see any reason to think any among those gathered on his side was more than a match for a hobgoblin warrior-- in fact, it he'd be a bit surprised if they could stand up against one at all. Certainly he was on equal footing.

Talis laughed "Are you an Old Woman, Rukao?  They're just Hobgoblins.  Let us go spring their ambush and have done with this nonsense!"

The big Elf smiled to the others "Shall we go earn our keep, comrades?"

"Yes!" says Rodrigo. "Just keep them as bunched together as you can. I think I have a little spell that can take out half a dozen of them if we play this right!"

Although the hobgoblin ambush has been spotted, the hobgoblins are still in hiding. Catching a glimpse of a peeking eye or a crouching creature shifting position is all anyone has seen. There's no way to tell if they have ranged weapons, though they are known to use longbows, but it's unlikely that all of them will have a bow.

"And I have no issues with killing anything that's running or incapacitated!" Anneth cheerily assures her companions as she nocks an arrow.

Aaron eyes the hobgoblins and remarks, "I am inclined to agree with you Rukao. It would be better to get them out of cover if we want to slaughter more of them. Let those with horses draw them out."

He then turns to Rodrigo and asks, "Will that spell of yours work well where they are? Or do you need them closer together?"

In reply to Aaron Gray (msg # 40):

Since they want to watch and ambush us, the more we take out the happier I will be. 

Tom loosens the sword he carries.  While he knows where the ambush is coming from, he continues to look around and walk backwards from time to time as they get closer.

Rodrigo screws up his face and looks towards where the hobgoblins are hiding out. "I need to be within 240 yards of them, and they need to all be within a 40 foot square."

Mysterion, so the closest hobgoblin is about 200 yards away. Can I target all 10 on one side of the path?

Edit: Opps! The range is in yards outside but the area of effect remains in feet. What a rookie mistake!

This message was last edited by the player at 19:17, Thu 27 Nov 2014.

At the moment, Rodrigo is 200 yards away from the first hobgoblin, unless there's one he can't spot, but they are strung out over a longer area, maybe 60 feet. As they are now, Rodrigo won't be able to target all of them on one side.

The elf's comment elicits a bit of a snarl from Rukao, "Precisely. They are hobgoblins. And have me outnumbered 20 to 1. The rest of you all don't stand a chance."

This deal about using magic was one that may be sound, but it sounded as though it was all reliant upon taking a single perfectly timed shot. That didn't sound promising. But Rukao had an idea how to handle the situation.

"If we take cover behind the rocks and fire off arrows. I doubt they can all return fire, so they'll have to give up their positions and come at us."

OOC: Edited due to information my character would know but I as a player missed.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:01, Sat 29 Nov 2014.

That might work... if you'd brought the wagon. It was left in town as it never could have negotiated the narrow rocky trail.

OOC: sorry just been changing my ISP followed by an endless round of business trips, just catching up.   We left the wagon but I believe we still have 4 horses.   Do the horses have enough wind, and is the track easy enough, that they could head up at a trot to draw the ambushers out/see if they have missile weapons, and then turn back at a canter or gallop?     Meanwhile the rest of the gang could creep up either side of the track, on foot, in partial cover, to perform a counter-attack?

Kareth who has been uncharacteristically silent for a night and most of the day, looks the terrain up and down, trying to come up with a cunning tactical plan.

In reply to Kareth Melphis (msg # 46):

OOC: Short bows have a range of 50/100/150.  With a steep -5 to hit at long range, plus what ever cover they have it wouldn't be worth the effort at the moment.  We would just be wasting our ammo.  Let us get closer and see what they have in mind.

The horses aren't winded at all as they've only been moving at a reasonably sedate pace, mainly because of the uneven ground--stones, ruts, etc. The rest of the trail up to the ship appears to be fairly even; it looks like it's a run-off from the hilly area the ship is perched on, so it's got lots of sand.

As you discussed plans, you've moved to within 100 yards of the nearest hobgoblin. Since they are struck out along 60 feet of the trail, it's probable that they'll wait until you walk into the trap... 30-50 feet into it... before they spring their attack. If they think you've spotted the ambush, they may attack prematurely rather than risk you getting away.

Any number of tactics might work against them:

1. the charge through with the horses and then the about face, keeping in mind that if you charge back through the hobgoblins, the horses become a weapon.

2. just calling out and challenging them. You can invoke parlay with hobgoblins, but it usually doesn't go well.

3. getting off your horses and splitting the group into two factions and each faction attacks one side of the road.

4. some of you try to sneak around and get behind the hobgoblins, attacking them as soon as the launch their ambush.

5. form a skirmish line right up the middle (pretty much what you are doing now), with every other person facing to one side, and then either charging them when they attack, or meet their charge when they do.

It's hard to say which one would have the best chance of success, as you don't know that much about this particular group of hobgoblins. Also, since the group hasn't actually gone into battle yet, you don't know each other's strengths, weaknesses, or personal tactics.

You still have the chance to decide which one you try... or else the hobgoblins will choose it for you.

OOC: I vote for option 1

Option I.

OOC: option 1

Option 2.

In reply to Talis Aramorn (msg # 52):

OOC: Option 2.  It may either bring them out into the fight or scare them off saving us a fight.

"Ya can always tell a hobgoblin," the Dwarf says, parodying an old adage, "but you kenna tell them much! A hob thinks parlay is a sign of weakness. I guess I'm leaning towards the first option."

As a hobgoblin himself, Rukao is more or less forced to agree with the Dwarf. "They haven't any incentive to avoid a fight. And if they've been ordered or contracted to ambush us, honor dictates that they will stick to it until they have no other choice. Parlaying is no different than surrendering."

In fact, most of the way he has made his living is his people's crazy zeal to stick to any contract they have made and carry out their duties with the highest regard for honor and loyalty, regardless of how dirty or ruthless they must be to carry out the job. He just couldn't imagine breaking a contract unless he were outnumbered three to one and his allies had already been slaughtered.

Option 1 is fine with me.

Rodrigo readied himself and his horse. He was focused on maximising the usefulness of his single spell and to that end he wanted to make sure he cast it right into the middle of the largest group. If that meant that the mensch had to take a few extra blows, then it was a price worth paying.

OOC: Sorry mensch!

In reply to Rodrigo (msg # 57):

Well if they want a fight.  Lets give them one.  Might as well even up the odds somewhat while we are at it.

Looks around for some nearby cover that I can still fire my short bow from.

"Remember that time we hit the broad side of a barn?" Anneth whispers to her bow.  "What's coming up next is a lot like that, just smaller, and moving."

Aaron readies his bow and starts moving forward carefully looking for cover at a good range. Somewhere where he can get a good shot at a few hobgoblins, say within 100 yards of the first couple of hobgoblins.

So Anneth, Kareth, Rodrigo, and Talis are all mounted and when the signal is given (blame Durek!), all four charge forward at a full gallop, though not as all out as the horses can do.

So, along the way, you can get off three arrow shots--at the beginning, in the middle and near the end. The same for spells if you've got them.


What will the rest of you do? Charge after them? Split up and half charge one side and half the other? Or wait till the hobgoblins decide to charge out?

In reply to Mysterion (msg # 61):

Leaves my Quivver of 20 arrows with Aaron and go up the hill to engage in hand to hand combat.

OOC:  Someone has to be the pin cushion.  lol

In reply to Tom Wolf (msg # 62):

Elwood heads up with Tom, flail and shield at the ready.

"I'll try and not hit you," responded Aaron as he took the extra Arrows and headed into short bow range (medium).

"CHAaaAaarge!"

Rodrigo is in the group of four that charge straight up the trail and in between the two groups of hobgoblins like a bunch of maniacs. He finds himself yelling as he rides, unable to hold back his enthusiasm. But He is very focused on making his one spell count - he fires this off before using his bow.

Just let me know when you want me to roll for HD for the sleep spell. I want at least 10 of them to be in the area of effect...

Anneth brings her horse to a comfortable distance from the other party...

Closing to Medium distance with a Short Bow, as well.

Hope everyone had a happy holiday and got lots of nice Christmas presents!


As Anneth, Kareth, Rodrigo, and Talis charge forward, the exact bow range to the hobgoblins will vary, as they are behind partial cover and therefor not in a nice, neat straight line. If Anneth rides a bit closer to one side or the other, she can make sure the range is medium. Since Rodrigo thinks he can deal with most of the ones on one side, Anneth should probably focus on the other side.

Pick a side and give me three attacks and damage rolls, Anneth. Do you want to target three different hobgoblins, or concentrate on one?


Rodrigo is somewhat in the same boat, but is more about getting as many hobgoblins with his spell effect. To do that, he has to give up his first bow attack. He still may not be able to get 10 that close together, as they begin moving once the horses charged forward.

Pick a side and go ahead and roll your Sleep HD...


As the horses charge forward, Tom and Elwood charge up the left side with Aaron providing covering fire. More or less at the same time, when the hobgoblins react to the charge, they begin charging forward down the hill, too.

It'll take one round for Tom and Elwood to get into melee range with the hobgoblins, but Aaron can get off a shot early.


On the right side, Gierdon and Durek charge up the hill to meet the hobgoblins starting to charge down.


Which way will Rukao go?


Kareth and Talis, if either of you have a range weapon, you can shoot as you charge forward. Once past the last hobgoblins, you can see that they are charging down the hill. It's unclear if they are confused by their ambush not quite going as they'd planned, and at first they don't seem concerned about the horse riders.

After passing the last hobgoblin, reversing your course and charging back was the plan. Will you continue to do that?

Anneth nocks an arrow, pulls the string back, and lets fly... Three separate times, at three separate targets.  It might have been best to just fill one Goblinoid with arrows, but she felt that something might be lost if just one were to fall, rather than three be potentially wounded.

I'll go for three separate Hobgoblins.

19:29, Sun 28 Dec 2014: Anneth Mage-Singer rolled 3,2 using 1d20+2,1d6 ((1,2)).
19:30, Sun 28 Dec 2014: Anneth Mage-Singer rolled 20,3 using 1d20+2,1d6 ((18,3)).
19:30, Sun 28 Dec 2014: Anneth Mage-Singer rolled 12,5 using 1d20+2,1d6 ((10,5)).

Alright, that's three...but wouldn't it be two shots, rather than three?  Could just be an AD&D thing, though.

No, it's 3 shots. As you charge past the hobgoblins, it takes 3 rounds to 'run the gauntlet', and you can get off a shot each round.


Anneth's second and third shots are good enough to hit a hobgoblin, so she manages to injure two of them.

Rodrigo picks the group of hobgoblins on that Anneth did not shoot at and yells, "Leave the ones on the right/left to me!". He then pauses, while the others are firing off their first shots, before unleashing his sleep spell.

2d6, right?

quote:

10:25, Today: Rodrigo rolled 11 using 2d6. Hit dice for sleep.

Boo-ha!! The rest of you can go home, Rodrigo has this under control!

Aaron feels the bow's power as he pulls back the string before releasing the arrow at the closest Hobgoblin. He feels the arrow go good and true.

quote:

22:22, Today: Aaron Gray rolled 22,1 using d20+2,d6. Short Bow Attack (M), Damage.

Natural 20.

Elwood charges up the hill, shield raised and flail twirling.  When he reaches the first opponent, he lets loose with a wild swing a bit too early, missing his target before the hobgoblin is fully in melee range.

22:31, Today: Elwood rolled 5,3 using d20+3,d8+2. attack/damage vs hobgoblin.
OOC: That's about as poorly as I can roll!

Rodrigo has no problem casting his spell at the goblins on the left, but his movement carried him slighly beyond the range. He only manages to catch 10 of the hobgoblins. That may have been because he never saw #11.


Aaron's arrow takes out the remaining hobgoblin that was charging down the hill. This was the first one that had been hiding a bit better than the others, and Rodrigo had passed beyond that point.

The 20 roll, to make the game a bit simpler and move things along faster, counts as a critical hit and does double max damage, so 12 points in this case.


The hobgoblin is dead on his feet by the time Elwood gets to him, and Elwood's swing, though it misses, seems to knock him down anyway!

Elwood can now see that there are 10 other sleeping hobgoblins on the ground, the charge from the left having completely disappeared.

Likewise, Aaron now has no targets on the left.

So can Rodrigo now turn around and engage the hobgoblins on the right?

Absolutely, Rodrigo can now turn his attentions to the hobgoblins on the right. As part of the charge, though, his movement will carry him a bit beyond the hobgoblins that are charging down the hill on that side.

Talis laughed as he fired off a few shots at the Hobgoblins.  The joy of battle was upon him!

21:00, Today: Talis Aramorn rolled 1 using 1d8.
21:00, Today: Talis Aramorn rolled 6 using 1d8. bow damage.
21:00, Today: Talis Aramorn rolled 17 using 1d20+3.
21:00, Today: Talis Aramorn rolled 10 using 1d20+3. bow attack.

In reply to Talis Aramorn (msg # 77):

Tom swings at the nearest hobgoblin when he is in range of his sword and decapitates it.



max damage would be: 9*2+3 = 21 or (9+3)*2 = 24.

There's another good hobgoblin.

Durek charged up the right side, and as the hobgoblins launch their ambush and charge down the hill, he should get a chance to throw his handaxe at one before closing into melee.

03:27, Tue 30 Dec 2014: Durek rolled 8,4,5,6 using 1d20+2,1d6+2,1d20+3,1d8+2 ((6,2,2,4)). Crap! (That's Dwarven for 'Crap!')

Not only did he completely miss with his handaxe, his first swing in melee also misses.

Oh, crap! This is going to hurt...
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:53, Tue 30 Dec 2014.

Although Gierdon and Durek didn't look alike, they were kind of two peas in a pod. They fought with the same weapons and mostly the same style.

Durek was a bit quicker to charge up the hill, though, but Gierdon wasn't far behind. It was just enough of a delay for him to see how NOT to attack a hobgoblin!

As soon as he was close enough, he threw his handaxe at one. He momentarily considered attacking the same one that Durek had, but then realized there was more than enough of them to go around!

03:38, Tue 30 Dec 2014: Mysterion, on behalf of Gierdon Warbeard, rolled 14,3,14,7 using 1d20+2,1d6+2,1d20+3,1d8+2 ((12,1,11,5)). I think both of them should hit.


"Hey, Durek!" Gierdon shouts at his Dwarven compatriot. "That's how you do it!"

I looks like Aaron will need to get a bit closer to get off another shot, so he moves forward to get group on the right into medium range of his bow.

Rodrigo pulls his horse around and gallops back towards the other group of hobgoblins. When he gets in range he fires off a shot with his bow.

12:30, Today: Rodrigo rolled 7 using 1d6+1. Damage with bow.
12:30, Today: Rodrigo rolled 9 using 1d20+3. Attack roll with bow.

OOC: Hmm, probably not going to hit.

Elwood sees all of the hobgoblins drop on his side of the battlefield.  He's tempted to rush off to the other side of the road to take on the remainder, but realizes that the party might want answers to some questions.

He removes his lariat from his belt.  Moving up to one of the sleeping hobgoblins, he places his knee on the small of his back and begins trussing him up like a hog on festival day.  The other sleepers may slink off while the battle continues, or maybe his companions will dispatch them, but Elwood will keep this one at least for questioning.

Once the battle was joined, it quickly became obvious that the biggest threat the hobgoblins posed was as a group. The odd pincer maneuver of attacking from both sides is a bit more sophisticated than one expects from hobgoblins, but it was probably intended to take a few prisoners.

The three-squad countertactic is probably the best you could have done to disrupt the hobgoblin plans. It would now appear that they don't have any sort of real leader amongst them as they seem incapable of adjusting to the changing situation.

Aaron, out in the narrow valley, has no problem moving across the valley floor to get within medium range and fire off a shot at the other side.

03:24, Sun 04 Jan 2015: Mysterion, on behalf of Aaron Gray, rolled 10 using 1d20+3 ((7)).

His shot is close, but manages to miss the scattering hobgoblins.

Anneth continues to stay at range and fire arrows at the five hobgoblins that charged the riders.

Durek attacks the next hobgoblin that gets within range.

Elwood has no problem tying up one of the sleeping hobgoblins, although the act of tying him up rouses him out of the magical slumber. The rest of the hobgoblins continue to sleep; they aren't slinking off anywhere at the moment.

Geirdon now follows Durek's lead, engaging one of the remaining four hobgoblins that charged down the hill towards them.

Kareth knew he wasn't very good with a bow, certainly not from a galloping horse's back, so he kept low as they rode through the gauntlet. Probably as surprised as the others, he turns and chages back with the others, shooting his short bow at the nearest hobgoblin once it gets within range.

Rodrigo turns and gallops back, shooting at the hobgoblins, but also discovers that shooting a bow from galloping horseback is a bit harder than anticipated. The arrow misses its target.

Rukao, the party's own hobgoblin, feels a bit sorry that these other hobgoblins hadn't seemed interested in parlay, but at that point, they became the enemy and he has no qualms about battling them. He chose to forego using his bow and charged forward with the two Dwarves. The Dwarves got a slight jump on him, though, so now he waded in, taking on two of the remaining hobgoblins.

Talis, also charging back with the other riders, fires off a couple of shots from his bow. The first misses but the second hits, doing 3 points of damage to one of the hobgoblins.

Tom manages to decapitate the hobgoblin he attacked. That eliminates the last of the hobgoblins on the left.


Of course, now it's the hobgoblins' turn. The first eleven hobgoblins that were on the left have all been taken out. That leaves just the ten on the right, which split into two groups of five--one charged the riders, the other charged the Dwarves.

04:03, Sun 04 Jan 2015: Mysterion rolled 4,9 using 1d20+2,1d8+3 ((2,6)). Hobgoblin #12 closed with the riders but missed, however he was wounded by Anneth.

04:04, Sun 04 Jan 2015: Mysterion rolled 6,5 using 1d20+2,1d8+3 ((4,2)). Hobgoblin #13 closed with the riders but missed, however he was wounded by Anneth.

04:04, Sun 04 Jan 2015: Mysterion rolled 6,5 using 1d20+2,1d8+3 ((4,2)). Hobgoblin #14 closed with the riders but missed, however he was wounded by Talis.

04:05, Sun 04 Jan 2015: Mysterion rolled 8,5 using 1d20+2,1d8+3 ((6,2)). Hobgoblin #15 closed with the riders but missed.

04:06, Sun 04 Jan 2015: Mysterion rolled 12,5 using 1d20+2,1d8+3 ((10,2)). Hobgoblin #16 closed with the riders but missed, though he came the closest.


04:06, Sun 04 Jan 2015: Mysterion rolled 12,5 using 1d20+2,1d8+3 ((10,2)). Hobgoblin #17 charged the Dwarves, swung at Gierdon and missed.

Hobgoblin #18 charged the Dwarves and was quickly killed by Durek.

04:03, Sun 04 Jan 2015: Mysterion rolled 4,9 using 1d20+2,1d8+3 ((2,6)). Hobgoblin #19 charged the Dwarves and is now engaged with Durek; he misses.

04:05, Sun 04 Jan 2015: Mysterion rolled 8,5 using 1d20+2,1d8+3 ((6,2)). Hobgoblin #20 charged the Dwarves and swung at Rukao, but misses.

04:04, Sun 04 Jan 2015: Mysterion rolled 6,5 using 1d20+2,1d8+3 ((4,2)). Hobgoblin #21 charged the Dwarves and swung at Rukao, but misses.

Aaron fires another arrow at the one he had just missed.

21:42, Today: Aaron Gray rolled 16,2 using d20+2,d6. Short Bow Attack (M), Damage.

"That will wing you, my little bird," he mutters as the arrow hits.

As Elwood finishes trussing his captive, he makes sure to gag him with a bandana in order to keep him from yelling to wake up his companions.

Once the prisoner is secure, he'll take up his flail and head across the way to join the melee.

In reply to Elwood (msg # 86):

Tom continues to wade into close combat with the hobs on the other side.  Engaging the closest one to him, Tom yells: Come on you dirty filthy hobs.  Lets fight.

08:53, Today: Tom Wolf rolled 22 using 1d20+3. To hit Hob with 2H Bastard Sword.

08:55, Today: Tom Wolf rolled 9 using 1d8+4. Damage roll for 2H Bastard Sword.

Tom swings and his aim isn't quite true as he tries to decapitate another hob, but he does hit for 9 points of damage.

OOC:  That should drop another hob.

Elwood's precaution of gagging his prisoner probably isn't necessary, at least as far as waking up the sleeping hobgoblins goes. Sound alone cannot wake up a magically sleeping creature; it requires an actually physical effort, like shaking them.

On the other hand, the gagged hobgoblin could have shouted out something to his still-awake buddies across the shallow, narrow valley.


Although Tom can cross the short stretch of ground to reach the other side, particularly since the one he beheaded had moved down the hill and the ones on the right had charged down, his most likely target is one of the two that engaged Rukao. His attack will probably be successful, but just need to wait and see what the others do.

Rodrigo urges his horse forward and joins the combat. He hopes that being mounted gives him the edge he needs to kill a hobgoblin or two.

19:19, Today: Rodrigo rolled 21 using 1d20+1. Attack roll on hob.
19:20, Today: Rodrigo rolled 5 using 1d8+1. Damage roll.

With delight Rodrigo sees his blade cut through a hobgoblins armour.

Anneth attempts another two shots from where she is, before wheeling around and drawing her mace, not even bothering to put her bow away but instead holding it in her left hand.

09:00, Wed 07 Jan 2015: Anneth Mage-Singer rolled 6,1 using 1d20+2,1d6 ((4,1)).
09:00, Wed 07 Jan 2015: Anneth Mage-Singer rolled 7,3 using 1d20+2,1d6 ((5,3)).

Talis reins in his horse, stows his bow, draws his battle blade and charges the Hobgoblins.

12:08, Today: Talis Aramorn rolled 5 using 1d20+2. attack.
12:08, Today: Talis Aramorn rolled 8 using 1d10+2. damage.

Aaron hits Hobgoblin #15, wounding him.


Tom is able to kill one of the hobgoblins (#20) on Rukao.


Rodrigo attacks one of the previously wounded hobgoblins (#12), and kills it.


Anneth and Talis both miss the attacks on the hobgoblins. Kareth also misses.


Rukao, now that he's not double-teamed, is able to dispatch the other hobgoblin (#21) he was fighting.


Durek is also able to dispatch the hobgoblin (#19) on him.


Gierdon does a little better this round, hitting hobgoblin #17, but only wounding him.


It's apparent by now that the remaining hobgoblins still haven't figured out that half of their force has vanished. Caught up in the battle frenzy, they just aren't paying attention to what's going on around them.


You need to roll 12 or better to hit one of the hobgoblins, and do 7 points of damage to kill it.


There are only 4 goblins left in the northern group fighting the riders, and only one left in the southern group... fighting Gierdon.

Anneth is missed, but Talis takes 2 points of damage. Kareth takes 3 points of damage.

Gierdon takes 3 points of damage.

"Cursed Hobgoblin nicked me!"  Talis brains the one that hit him "Here's your reward, Oaf!"


15:18, Today: Talis Aramorn rolled 18 using 1d20+2. Attack.

15:18, Today: Talis Aramorn rolled 3 using 1d10+2. Damage.

Anneth charges towards the nearest Hobgoblin - hopefully an injured one, but she's not going to be terribly picky at the moment - and swings her mace...

12:42, Tue 13 Jan 2015: Anneth Mage-Singer rolled 16,4 using 1d20,1d6 ((16,4)).

I'm hitting injured things!  Or uninjured things, long's it's a Hobgoblin, not Rukao, and still got a pulse.

Aaron notches another arrow. "You are not going to fly away, my bird!" he mutters as he le lets it fly at the same Hobgoblin. "But you may live a little longer," he says as the arrow hits but fails to bring down the creature.

21:59, Today: Aaron Gray rolled 21,4 using d20+2,d6. Short Bow Attack (M), Damage.

In reply to Aaron Gray (msg # 95):

Goes to engage the one Gierdon is fighting.

Here's how it is done.

08:56, Today: Tom Wolf rolled 20 using 1d20. Attack Hob with 2H Bastard Sword.

I forgot to add my +3 for strength bonus to hit.

21 or 24 for max damage decapitates the hob in question.

Rodrigo gallops up and takes a swing at one of the last hobgoblins.

20:47, Today: Rodrigo rolled 18 using 1d20+1. Rodrigo Attack.
20:48, Today: Rodrigo rolled 4 using 1d8+1. Rodrigo Damage.

The elf manages to charge down one of the brutes and catch it with a glancing blow across its shoulder.

Talis hits the hobgoblin he's engaged with, and this time it's enough to kill it.


Anneth manages to hit the hobgoblin that she'd wounded with one of her arrows; that's enough to kill it.


Aaron shoots another arrow at the same hobgoblin he'd just targeted before, hits again, and does actually kill the hobgoblin.


Tom attacks the hobgoblin fighting Gierdon and makes such a mighty swing that he cuts the hobgoblin's head clean off.


Rodrigo rides down upon another hobgoblin and manages to hit him, but the hobgoblin is still standing.


Only he and his buddy are all that are left of the hobgoblins, and they are pretty much surrounded by horsed riders. They swing at Anneth and Rodrigo, but both miss.

Another sweep, another pass... Another swing.

01:00, Sun 18 Jan 2015: Anneth Mage-Singer rolled 16,6 using 1d20,1d6 ((16,6)).

Swinging at one of the remaining Hobgoblins!

Seeing the remaining Hobgoblins are well taken care of, Aaron heads over to keep an eye on the 'sleeping beauties'.

Elwood was all ready to charge into the melee on the other side of the path, only to see that his new companions had more or less finished the job already.  He maintains his post over his captive, and waves as Aaron makes his way over to join him.

"Well, Elwood, what should we do with this lot?" asked Aaron as he surveyed the sleeping bodies. "We can't have them lose terrorising the locals."

"My vote would be to bind them all and take them into the authorities in town when we're ready to head back.  Let's ask the others what they think when they finish off the remainder over yonder."

In reply to Aaron Gray (msg # 102):

Looks over the sleeping Hobs.  If any of them look like a leader I will tie that one up so we can question him.  I'm for just killing the rest of them as they sleep.

In reply to Tom Wolf (msg # 104):

Hearing the others plans to take the Hobgoblins prisoner Talis barked at the remaining Humanoids "Surrender or die!"

If they surrender Talis takes their weapons and hands them over to Elwood.

If they balk for even a moment Talis continues to attack.

Here are my roll if they do not surrender:
09:05, Today: Talis Aramorn rolled 13 using 1d20+2. Attack.
09:05, Today: Talis Aramorn rolled 4 using 1d10+2. Damage.

"I would sleep better knowing that this lot weren't going to hurt anyone else...ever."

Rule #6: Never apologize; it's a sign of weakness. So I won't apologize for having a rough week of unexpected errands, unexpected chores, family issues, and a lack of sleep that left me too tired to think straight when I did find some time to post...


Talis's shouting at the remaining two hobgoblins actually penetrates their brains, and after a quick glance about, they both throw down their weapons.


Tom doesn't see any hobgoblins that look like a leader, though possibly the one that Elwood tied up might pass as one.

Talis laughed "Silly Hobgoblins, don't they know that ambushes are for grown ups?" the Elf in the Gothic plate armor and brandishing an archaic battle blade was clearly enjoying himself.

"Perhaps one of our more talkative and learned members will interrogate these rascals for us, hmmm?"

"I'm willing to interrogate, I have some experience with such," Anneth offers. "Unless you would prefer to do it, Rukao."

"We shall see," their hobgoblin compatriot replied to Anneth.

"Some hobs have no problem talking, even without encouragement. Others won't talk no matter what. The other problem is that even those that do talk may not really know the answers to your questions."

Our we dead in the water for some reason? Or is everybody busy making their plans for the Superbowl?

Anneth looks to the prisoner, from Rukao.  "Which one are you?  Strong and silent like our friend here," a gesture is made to Rukao, "Or are we going to make my decision as to whether you live or die more difficult for you."

Nope, got no mind for the sportsball, myself.  Just waiting.

In reply to Anneth Mage-Singer (msg # 112):

Waiting for the others to make a decision about the sleeping ones.

Superbowl. No access to RPoL. Sick. Busy. Tired. Just can't win!


The hobgoblin Anneth is talking to seems confused by her words, but kind of gets the gist.

"Talk? he finally says.

"You can try to make him talk, but don't try to make him sing," Gierdon suggests with a huge guffaw.

"So whatcha wanna know from him anywise?"

Talis translates Anneth's questions into Hobgoblin for the prisoner's benefit.

Anneth was taking a long time formulating questions to ask. On the one hand, she didn't want to start out alienating the (reluctantly) co-operating hobgoblin. On the other hand, she really didn't have any idea what they wanted to know.

"Who's your leader? Where is he?" she began. If she gets an adequate answer from him, she'll keep firing questions at him until she runs out of ideas.

"How many in your clan?"

"Why did you attack us? Who hired you?"

"Where is he now?"

"How many hobgoblins do you have guarding the ship?"

She glances over to Rukao to see if he has any other ideas.  Pauses.  "Are there any other races involved in your affairs?" She thought it was a good question, and to her, could actually knock a few out right away.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:24, Wed 18 Feb 2015.

"Who's your leader? Where is he?" Anneth asked.

"Me leader. Me right here," the hobgoblin replies.

"How many in your clan?"

The hobgoblin looks around at the battlefield before replying. "Just me now."

"Why did you attack us? Who hired you?"

"Hired to stop you. Halfling hired us."

"Where is he now?"

"Dunno. Ship maybe."

"How many hobgoblins do you have guarding the ship?"

"No hobgoblins left."

After glancing over to Rukao for ideas, she pauses before adding:  "Are there any other races involved in your affairs?"

"No. We fight ourselves."

Anneth looks at Rukao, as if to ask "are you taking notes"?

In reply to Mysterion (msg # 118):

"Great work!" Says Rodrigo after it has all been translated to him. "Now let's kill these guys and get going!"

In reply to Rodrigo (msg # 120):

Agrees with Rodrigo 100%.

"Those that surrendered surrendered themselves to me.  They will not be killed." stated Talis "Their lives belong to me."

Elwood stands next to Talis and nods in agreement.  "It wouldn't be right to execute them without some sort of trial, even if they did set upon us."

"Talis, the ones I put to sleep did not surrender to anyone. I guess their lives belong to me - not that they are worth much because they are going to be ending in a couple of seconds."

The elf unsheathes his blade and covers the ground to the first sleeping hobgoblin, and with a smooth movement he shoves the rapier through the creature's eyesocket. "I guess this means you've been found guilty as charged!" the elf says with a small giggle. He walks towards the next sleeping monster.

Talis watches Rodrigo go about his butcher's work for a few moments without comment before turning to his prisoners:

(In Hobgoblin) He says "Follow me." and walks back down into the valley.

Rodrigo finishes off the remaining nine sleeping hobgoblins. He then whips his blade clean in the grass and declares himself read to go. "Hey? Where are our prisoners?" he asks, noticing for the first time that they have disappeared.

Anneth eyes the weaponry and trappings of the dead...

In reply to Anneth Mage-Singer (msg # 127):

Recovers my quiver and arrows from Aaron and other items I dropped before engaging in combat.  Then joins Anneth in seeing if the dead hobs had anything of value.

I guess Talis is taking them back to the village.  Indicating the way back down to the village.

"Humph," says Rodrigo, clearly not very interested.

"Well, that's sorted then," comments Aaron and starts to recover his arrows. "We better move on. I reckon we'll be meeting that halfling at the ship."

There are a number of weapons that can be picked up, but while they are in good condition, they aren't anything of quality. Even the arrows, while functional, aren't very good.

You did manage to collect 233gp from all of them.


Fortunately, none of the dead hobgoblins are on the trail, so there's no need to move them. The vultures and carrion eaters will make short work of the bodies, though the area will smell for a few days.


The trail wends northward around a pair of small hills, continuing to rise into the foothills. About two hours later, the ship comes into sight.

It's just as described--a sailing ship perched on the hillside, leaning slightly away from you. It's a three-masted ship, though none of the sails are unfurled. The fore- and mid-masts are square rigged, while the aft-mast is lateen rigged. Closer scrutiny also reveals there is a hole in the side. Presumbably it would be at least partly below the waterline.

There doesn't seem to be any signs of life around it.

Talis returned a short time later without his prisoners and rejoined the group.

Once at the ship he made a suggestion "I think our archers and spell-slingers should stay here and cover the melee who should secure the outside of the ship before we enter."

OOC: Talis volunteers to be an archer or melee.  Whichever the group needs more.

Rodrigo readies his rapier. "I've used up my single spell for the day, so I may as well get up close and personal."

In reply to Rodrigo (msg # 133):

"Well it doesn't look like a flying ship."  Tom looks a little closer at the hole before starting closer for the ship.  I prefer melee to archery.

OOC: Better chance to hit with sword than arrow due to stats.

"I'll take the vanguard," Elwood says, swinging his flail a few times in practice before starting toward the ship.

"And just what does a flying ship look like?" Durek replies to Tom. "Just asking in case I ran across one--I'll know what it looks like."

"Well, it don't have legs, and it don't have wheels, so if it didn't fly, how did it git here?"

"Melee for me. Don't know what there is to fight, though. One Halfling and his servant? Maybe he'll throw money at us to make us fight each other. That seems to be his style--pay someone money to do his dirty deeds for him."

"It could have wings instead of oars... Or perhaps some sort of magical device inside that makes it float?"

"Who knows," added Aaron, "Maybe it uses a catapult to get in the air!"

"I'll practice my archery for you and keep your back."

While some keep bows ready from a distance, the others advance toward the ship. Nothing happens, and no one shows his face.

You can climb in through the hole in the side, or you can clambor up the hill its leaning against and then jump across to the deck.

Reaching the hole, it is dark inside the ship. You don't hear any noises either.

Elwood will circle around the ship to get a view of the deck.

In reply to Elwood (msg # 140):

Goes with Elwood to get a closer view of the ship.

Talis follows Elwood and Wolf.  As he moves he stops every once and a while to listen carefully for any stray sound coming from the ship.

Rodrigo follows the others.

Circling around and going up the hill, you can get a good view of the ship's deck. The first thing you notice, of course, is that there is no one in sight. The second thing you notice is that everything seems to be in good shape and undamaged. Even the sails and rigging seem intact.

The third thing you notice is the detritus on the deck... leaves, dirt, a few twigs.

The ship has both a sterncastle and a fo'c'sle; both are only one stoy high.


It was easier to circle around the bow of the ship, so from your present viewpoint, you can see that the door to the sterncastle is open.

It isn’t until you are up on the hill and looking over the deck that you hear… something. It takes a second to recognize it as faint or muffled voices. What is being said can’t quite be determined. It does, however, seem to be coming from the ship.

In reply to Mysterion (msg # 144):

Satisfied that they could board the ship without resistance Talis waved to the others to join the melee group.  He also indicated by pointing at his ear and then at the ship that he heard something inside.

Quickly and as quietly as he could the nimble Elf boarded taking care not to disturb anything that might alert the people aboard the ship.

In reply to Talis Aramorn (msg # 145):

Tom follows Talis.  Trying to be as quiet as Talis if not as quick as he is.

OOC: It is hard to do that in 30 pounds of chain mail.  lol

Wearing all that chainmail might not make you quiet, but the same barriers that make it hard for you to hear what's being said will probably muffle any sounds that you make... at least up on deck, unless you start pounding on boards or the like.

In reply to Mysterion (msg # 147):

Starts to walk quietly towards the open door on the sterncastle, but in a way not to be observed from the door if possible.

Elwood will watch Tom's back, keeping maybe 10' behind him and his eyes scanning the flanks for threats.

Rodrigo is third, rapier drawn and with a maniacal gleam in his eye. Maybe there is a chance for even more blood to be spilt before this day is through?

In reply to Rodrigo (msg # 150):

Talis quietly makes his way to the Sterncastle door.  He'll listen and look through the door before signalling the thieves forward to do their thief things.

There doesn't seem to be anyone about that could spot the group moving to the sterncastle. The voices get a bit louder as you near the sterncastle, but it isn't until you actually reach the doorway that they become clear enough to understand.

"You don't have much longer to live, wizard! Tell me how to fly this ship and I will save you!" the first voice says.

"Even... if I... knew... I... would not... tell you..." a second voice replies. This voice sounds weak.


As Talis looks in through the open doorway, he can see a short 20-foot hallway ending at a closed door. There are also two doors on each side of the hallway. The voices seem to be coming from behind that end door.

In reply to Mysterion (msg # 152):

Whispers to Talis: "I guess we should save the wizard first."

Draws my sword as quietly as I can and moves into position to charge through the door.

Seeing Tom draw his blade, Elwood slips his flail from his belt-loop and readies his shield for a confrontation.

Anneth feels confident enough to fire her bow a few more times, but decides that that might not be the best idea in such close quarters.  She follows her companions, mace at the ready.  A dagger is in her other hand, just in case an opportunity to throw it should present itself.

Rodrigo stands ready to follow after the front line fighters, his rapier in his hand.

Ha-ha! Everyone's 'ready' but no one's going through the door!

Should I have put a note on the door that read 'First one through the door dies!'?

:D No need for the note, we all know it's going to happen!

But seriously, make one of the fighter types go through the door and get lightning bolted. That's their job...

In reply to Rodrigo (msg # 158):



OOC: Very funny Rodrigo.

Well someone has to go through the door.  It might as well be me.  Who ever is listening at the door, Talis, I think, just slam it open for me so I can charge in with sword drawn.

Waiting to chuck a dagger at the bandits!

OOC: Tom beat me to it, but...

Elwood charges in right behind Tom, ready to do battle with whoever or whatever may be inside.

Talis opens the door so that those who wish to can charge on through...

In reply to Talis Aramorn (msg # 162):

Goes through the door.

As does Elwood.

Always one to err on the side of caution, Anneth stays about ten feet behind her companions, maximum.

Rodrigo goes through the door.

The door is flung open by Talis; it's a good thing it wasn't locked or barred in any way, but then those behind the door weren't expecting to be interrupted.

The first thing Tom, Talis and Elwood see is an old man with white hair and beard, tied to a chair. His robe is torn and bloody. Standing in front of him is a Halfling, which you recognize from the inn. On the other side of the Halfling stands his bodyguard/associate--a tall armored man holding a bloody dagger.

Both the Halfling and bodyguard turn in surprise, and the Halfling's expression quickly turns to astonishment as he recognizes you.

In reply to Mysterion (msg # 167):

I quickly attack the Halfling's bodyguard.

00:13, Today: Tom Wolf rolled 12 using 1d20+3. To Hit bodyguard.

Anneth hurls her dagger at the tall man.


23:02, Sat 28 Mar 2015: Anneth Mage-Singer rolled 3,3 using 1d20+2,1d4 ((1,3)).

Annie, sweetie, you'd be better throwing hurl at that guy!

Elwood also tries to move up and attack the bodyguard, but finds it hard to swing a flail in such cramped quarters.


20:39, Today: Elwood rolled 10,8 using d20+3,d8+2. attack bodyguard.

Is there enough room for for all of us to charge in?

The room is clearly the aft-end of the ship, and is what is traditionally the captain's quarters. This is obvious by the windows on the back wall.

To get to the bodyguard, Tom has to step around the Halfling, but Tom's swing misses. You see now, though, that the bodyguard is wearing chainmail armor (AC 5; Tom only hit AC 7).

Elwood, in order to attack the bodyguard, has to reach over top of the Halfling, and misses, too.

Anneth misses the bodyguard with her dagger throw, but probably would have hit him if Elwood hadn't been in the way--the dagger hits him in the back, hilt first, and bounces off.

There's space in the room for Talis, but no way to get in there without pushing Elwood out of the way.

Because you all had surprise, you got a free round of attacks. Now you need to roll Initiative to see if you can squeeze a second attack in before the Halfling and his bodyguard recover from the surprise!

05:37, Mon 30 Mar 2015: Mysterion rolled 13 using 1d20+2 ((11)) for Halfling/Bodyguard Initiative.

If you beat that 13, you can attack again before they do.

Anneth silently curses, follows her fumble with a sprint, and swings at the bodyguard, making sure to avoid her companions in the future.

Attacking the bodyguard.

23:18, Sun 29 Mar 2015: Anneth Mage-Singer rolled 13 using 1d20 ((13)).

23:19, Sun 29 Mar 2015: Anneth Mage-Singer rolled 3,4 using 1d20,1d6 ((3,4)).

In reply to Anneth Mage-Singer (msg # 173):

OOC:  Well this sucks. lol  They will get to attack before I can.  So I will have to wait and see what happens before I can attack again.

20:24, Today: Tom Wolf rolled 8 using 1d20+1. Initiative.

In reply to Tom Wolf (msg # 174):

Talis will guard the door.  If one of the others gets badly wounded Talis will switch places with him.


20:35, Today: Talis Aramorn rolled 11 using 1d20+3. Initiative.

Wow. The dice roller really hates you guys, doesn't it? I even reset it!


The Halfling and his bodyguard react just as Anneth does. The Halfling steps behind his bodyguard leaving room for Anneth to squeeze by Elwood, and for Elwood to step up. The bodyguard swings at Tom... and misses.

23:54, Wed 01 Apr 2015: Mysterion rolled 7 using 1d20+4 ((3)).

The Halfling prepares to cast a spell, but Anneth's unsuccessful attack still disrupts him (since he didn't know she wouldn't actually hit him).

Bringing her mace up, Anneth swings not at the bodyguard, but at the Halfling.

16:15, Wed 01 Apr 2015: Anneth Mage-Singer rolled 16,5 using 1d20,1d6 ((16,5)).
Anneth Mace Attack (Bodyguard)

OOC: Yep, the die roller continues to dislike Elwood.  Nat 1...

Elwood attempts to swing his flail to entangle the bodyguard's weapon.  He hopes that he can disarm the warrior, or at least hamper him from attacking.  Unfortunately, Elwood's flail's spikes instead get impaled on one of the rafter beams in the tight quarters, and the paladin is forced to spend the rest of the round yanking it back out.

10:16, Today: Elwood rolled 4 using 1d20+3. entangle/disarm attack.

15:58, Today: Rodrigo rolled 16 using 1d20+3. Rodrigo initiaitive.

Rodrigo is quick to react, but just uses the opportunity to berate the front line of fighters for not doing their jobs properly.

"Get out of the way, you clumsy oafs!" he yells as he waves his rapier above his head. "This is a job that calls for grace and finesse."

OOC: Rodrigo waits until one of the front line is inevitably cut down, then fills the gap.

In reply to Rodrigo (msg # 179):

You're a little slow Rodrigo.

Tom attacks the bodyguard with his sword.  His is aim is true this time as he hits.

06:12, Today: Tom Wolf rolled 19 using 1d20+3. To hit bodyguard.
06:14, Today: Tom Wolf rolled 7 using 1d8+4. Damage.

Anneth's hit on the Halfling caused him to lose his attack that round, but her damage didn't take him out.

Likewise, Tom hits the bodyguard, but the bodyguard is made of sterner stuff and doesn't go down either.

04:11, Thu 09 Apr 2015: Mysterion rolled 12 using 1d20+7 ((5)).

The bodyguard's retaliatory attack on Tom misses.

The set-up looks like this:

               Anneth -> Halfling

Old Man in chair         Bodyguard <- Tom
                            ^
                         Elwood

There is now room for Rodrigo to step in and attack the bodyguard.

Anneth makes another attempt on the Halfling's life with her mace...

22:23, Wed 08 Apr 2015: Anneth Mage-Singer rolled 17,1 using 1d20,1d6 ((17,1)).

Elwood shifts to his left, trying to put himself between the old man in the chair and the two captors. (so next to Anneth, basically, if there's room)

Compensating for the tight quarters this time, he delivers a powerful underhand swing to the bodyguard.


14:25, Today: Elwood rolled 7 using 1d8+2. damage.
14:25, Today: Elwood rolled 17 using 1d20+3. attack bodyguard.

In reply to Elwood (msg # 183):

Tom moves to attack the bodyguard again but unfortunately Elwood's attack causes me to miss.

06:18, Today: Tom Wolf rolled 8 using 1d20+3. to hit bodyguard.

Rodrigo pushes into the space vacated by Elwood, and strikes a precisely aimed blow on the bodyguard. "Take that you brute," cries the elf. "And stay away from my sister!" he adds out of a habit created from many duelling contests.

Unfortunately his rapier is unable to push far past the man's armour and the elf does little damage.


                    Anneth -> Halfling

 Old Man in chair   Elwood -> Bodyguard <- Tom
                                 ^
                              Rodrigo


21:31, Today: Rodrigo rolled 20 using 1d20+1. Rodrigo Attack.
21:31, Today: Rodrigo rolled 2 using 1d6+1. Rodrigo damage.

Anneth's hit once gain keeps the Halfing from using his wand, but the damage still isn't enough to take the Halfling out. However, he's clearly starting to panic, and looks around for an escape route. If he gets desperate enough, he might try to jump through the windows at the back.

"This is my ship!" he screams out at Anneth... and the others. "I found it! I claimed it! It's mine!"


Although both Rodrigo and Elwood hit the bodyguard this round, the bodyguard chooses to retaliate to the one who hurt him the worst--Elwood.

03:53, Fri 10 Apr 2015: Mysterion rolled 21,4 using 1d20+7,1d8+3 ((14,1)).

Elwood takes 4 points of damage.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 05:13, Fri 10 Apr 2015.

"Piss off!" Anneth replies, swinging her trusty implement at the Halfling once more...and, well, something goes wrong.  Was it balance?  Grip?  Ear-mites?

Attacking the Halfling again.
20:12, Thu 09 Apr 2015: Anneth Mage-Singer rolled 1,4 using 1d20,1d6 ((1,4)).

Despite the serious wound, Elwood manages to call out to the halfling, "It's the innkeeper's ship, not some salvage."

He takes another swing, hoping to bring the tough warrior down before he himself takes any more damage.


12:35, Today: Elwood rolled 6 using 1d8+2. damage.
12:34, Today: Elwood rolled 15 using 1d20+3. attack bodyguard.

In reply to Elwood (msg # 188):

Tom attacks again, timing his attack with Elwood's and hits the bodyguard solidly.

06:10, Today: Tom Wolf rolled 21 using 1d20+3. To hit bodyguard.
06:12, Today: Tom Wolf rolled 12 using 1d8+4. Damage to bodyguard.

Without the interruption of being hit, the Halfling is able to activate his wand, which shoots a Magic Missile at Anneth and delivers 3 points of damage.


Elwood and Tom both hit the bodyguard this time, and that's enough to take him down.


When the bodyguard falls down, the Halfling moves over to the windows and tries scrambling through them.

"And now it is ours! Do you hear! Mwha ha ha!" crackles Rodrigo as he watches Elwood and Tom finish off the bodyguard.

Rodrigo sprints across the room and jumps onto the halfling's back, trying to stop him from getting through the window.

21:16, Today: Rodrigo rolled 15 using 1d20. Dex check to grab halfling.
OOC: Rodrigo's dex is 18 so that is a pass.

In reply to Rodrigo (msg # 191):

Tom is hindered by his armor as he tries to rush over and grab the Halfling with Rodrigo.

19:45, Today: Tom Wolf rolled 9 using 1d20+1. Grab halfling.  (Dex check?).

OOC: Am I able to see the halfling trying to get out of the window from where I am?

Elwood holds his hands over the wound in his side and sinks to the floor, glad the bodyguard has been dispatched.  He turns to the captive old man and asks, "Sir, are you hurt?  We will have you free in a moment."

In reply to Elwood (msg # 194):

Once the threat of immediate combat was over Talis moved to Elwood's side and helped him staunch the bleeding "Just a flesh wound, Sir, you'll be fine."

The big Elf threw a glance over at the scrum near the window and decided that he wasn't needed there.  And turned his attention to the Old Man, but does not release him yet "Perhaps you can tell us your name and how you got here, Old One."

The windows at the back are a bit higher than a normal window would be. That, coupled with the Halfing's shorter stature, makes it hard for him to get through them quickly, plus it's a considerable drop to the ground below, further causing him to hesitate.

That's more than enough to enable Rodrigo to grab him, and even Tom can get a hold.


The hall leading to this room was narrow but long enough for everyone else to be in it, so Aaron has no problem seeing down it into the room and watching what is going on.

"No, I'm not hurt! *cough-cough*" the old man in the chair replies to Elwood. "I always tie myself up in a chair, bash my head against the nearest table, and then cut myself in a dozen places! *cough-cough* Some water would be greatly appreciated."

"I am Fando the Sage," he answers Elwood. "Who are you? Have you found my apprentice? Or my bodyguards?"

In reply to Mysterion (msg # 196):

With Rodrigo's help I tie the Halfling up to something that doesn't move so he can't get away.  After all we want to make sure we can get some useful information out of him.

"One of you users of magic might be interested in this fellow's wand.  I wonder if he has other items of value."

The missile of raw magical force was not welcomed at all.  Anneth was not even able to recover from it before the Halfling began to escape...and was rewarded for his efforts with two adventurers pulling him down.  That was good.  She would have contributed, but things were under control, and getting hit with a bolt of raw kinetic force was never easy to recover from.

The Dabbler-in-Arts retrieves her hurled dagger, and places it back in its sheath.  She would answer the old man's questions in time, but before she does any of that, there was a wand at stake!  "I'd be interested."

In reply to Anneth Mage-Singer (msg # 198):

"Before we start calling dibs perhaps we should secure the ship first, hmmmm?" laughed Talis "Durek, lets check the rest of the ship while the others secure the Halfling and free Master Fando."

"Yeah, that's probably a good idea," Durek replies, "though I doubt this cretin has any other cohorts. The hobgoblins were his allies, and we took care of them."

"I do believe he was surprised to see us! Har-har!"

"Ship ain't that big. Shouldn't take us long. It ain't too far different from Dwarven caves, exceptin' it ain't made o' stone."

Seeing as he was still standing in the hallway and right next to one of the side doors, he reached for the doorknob, turned it and pulled the door open!
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:23, Mon 20 Apr 2015.

Rodrigo sniffs. "My magic is at such a level that I have no need of such trinkets!"

OOC: It's all yours! Unless there is another spellcaster who can use it?

As soon as Durek opens the next cabin door, a skeleton attacks him!

22:50, Sat 18 Apr 2015: Mysterion rolled 21 using 1d20+2 ((19)).

A good hit! Fortunately, it is only wielding a belaying pin, so Durek only takes 2 points of damage.

"Durek!" yelled Talis in alarm and concern.  He then leaps to his friend's aid.


20:22, Today: Talis Aramorn rolled 4 using 1d10+2. Damage.
20:22, Today: Talis Aramorn rolled 16 using 1d20+2. Attack.

Elwood notes the conflict, but the wound in his side makes him pause for a moment.  Bracing himself against the pain, he gets to his feet, readies his shield and flail, and moves forward to see what's happening.

OOC: I'm guessing quarters are too tight to get into the melee with the skeleton, but I'm ready to jump in if there's an opening or if more skellies start flooding out of the woodwork.  :)

"Son of a [REDACTED]...!" Anneth half-whines.  Mouthing something incredibly unkind, she lifts her mace, the weapon ready to strike at the dead one if it should get too close.  Quarters were cramped.

In reply to Anneth Mage-Singer (msg # 205):

Tom moves to impose himself between the skeleton and Fando and the tied up Halfling in order to protect them until we can sort out the rest of the mess.

Rodrigo kicks the halfling in the backside. "Why didn't you tell us there was a skeleton in there!" shrieks the Belcadiz elf. "I am probably going to feed you to it once it has slaughtered my colleagues!"

Talis swings at the skeleton, and rattles some bones, but the hit doesn't stop the skeleton from attacking again. This time, it attacks Talis... but the effort is wasted.

22:02, Mon 20 Apr 2015: Mysterion rolled 9 using 1d20+2 ((7)).


Durek swings back at the skeleton, with nearly the same results... just with more style. (He just missed; a 12 hits a skeleton.)


There'd barely be space in the room for four people if Durek and Talis drove the skeleton back into the room. As it is, they are fighting it through the doorway. So far, it seems to be an even fight, although the skeleton is outnumbered 2-to-1... unless he has friends.


"#@*#%!" the Halfling apparently swears at Rodrigo in some foreign tongue. "I didn't know there was any damned skeletons in there! I hope they kill you all, you Fraskan slime devils!"

In reply to Mysterion (msg # 208):

Tom laughs at the Halfling. "Maybe you are telling the truth about the skeleton(s). However, if one of comrades dies, I might just toss you in to that room weaponless with them." 

OOC: Don't we have a cleric who could turn it?  I also think Aaron has my arrows so I'll just watch the battle for the moment while I try to keep an eye the Halfling so he doesn't escape.

Talis continued his assault on the Skeleton, but was momentarily distracted by being called a Fraskan slime devil and banged his head off the door frame.  The situation had now made him very cross.

20:25, Today: Talis Aramorn rolled 3 using 1d20+2. Attack.

"Yeah," barks Rodrigo. "Tom is going to chop your arms off and throw you into that room with that skeleton. What do you think about that you oversized lab-rat?"

OOC: Is there anyway that Rodrigo can squeeze into the melee or use his bow and arrow?

"Why bother with a condition?  Can't we just hurl him in, anyways?"

In reply to Anneth Mage-Singer (msg # 212):

Well we could, but I think he might have some information we would find valuable.  But then again he is a Halfling and might just lie.  I suppose I could just toss him in tied up like he is.

Tom continues to watch both the Halfling and fight.

The skeleton didn't seem all that dangerous even though it'd caught Durek by surprise. Mentally, he was kicking himself. They'd gone looking for trouble and forgot to expect it!

He swings at the skeleton again.

01:53, Mon 27 Apr 2015: Durek rolled 17 using 1d20+4 ((13)) Attack. Should be a hit!

01:53, Mon 27 Apr 2015: Durek rolled 9 using 1d8+3 ((6)) Damage. Not bad; could have been better.

"Ha! Take that, you rattling pile of bones!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:58, Mon 27 Apr 2015.

The skeleton doesn't go down from Durek's blow, making it a rather tough pile of bones. It swings back at Durek and misses.


"Yep, no sense in untying the old man *cough-cough*," the old man in the chair manages to gasp out. "It's not like I can outrun the skeleton anyway *cough-cough*."
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:26, Sun 03 May 2015.

Talis hampered by the close quarters continued to miss the Skeleton with his ancient battle blade.


18:11, Today: Talis Aramorn rolled 5 using 1d20+2. Attack.

Don't worry old man.  The only thing the skeleton might get is the Halfling, and only if we allow it to.

"That's it, Talis! Keep distracting it while I pulverize it!" Durek yells out to his co-combatant.


BWA-HA-HA-HA!

04:49, Wed 06 May 2015: Durek rolled 23,11 using 1d20+4 attack,1d8+3 damage ((19,8)).

I guess you roll bad, Talis, so that the rest of us can roll good!

One more mighty swing from Durek's hammer smashes (hopefully) into the skeleton, crunching bones left and right!

"That's how you do it, Talis!

Durek does enough damage to destroy the skeleton; the shattered bones drop to the deck. No more skeletons jump out at you... from that room.

In reply to Mysterion (msg # 219):

"About time you guys finished him off", Tom says jokingly as he sets about to free the old man.  Turning to the halfling, "I guess you won't be tossed to the skeletons just yet"

"We can't risk you actually firing off a spell..." Very rough at the task, Anneth ties her whip around the Halfling's wrists.  "Please understand."

Having staunched the bleeding, at least for now, Elwood gets to his feet and helps untie the old man. "We'd appreciate it if you, also, would refrain from any spell-casting, sir," he tells the man the party assumes to be the missing Fando. "At least until we get all this sorted out."

Rodrigo sheathes his rapier but keeps his hand on the hilt. He keeps his eyes fixed on the little halfling as the old man starts talking.

Talis ignores the gibes of his fellow adventurers and searches the room behind the Skeleton.  Perhaps if he found something interesting it would make up for his terrible display of foolishness.

Talis does, indeed, find something interesting in the room. There's another skeleton hanging from the ceiling beam--impaled there by a rapier that was shoved through his skull. It's dressed in tattered clothes.

It does not animate.

The other thing that he finds is a coffer open and on its side, spilling its contents of gold coins and gems over half the floor.

With a grunt and a shrug, Anneth grabs the wand that was once the Halfling's.  She, too, waits for the Halfling and old man to speak.

"Now this is more like it!" exclaimed Talis as he whipped out a sack and gathered the treasure for later distribution.

In reply to Talis Aramorn (msg # 227):

Talis, didn't anyone ever tell you to have a magic user look at things first when the undead are around?  Tom says as hears Talis gather up the coins.  So old man what are you doing this far out from the middle of nowhere?

Rodrigo steps up to the old man. "You'd better talk old one or we'll find a way to loosen your tongue!"

"Probably the same thing you are doing!" Fando replies. "I heard about this ship up in the hills and came out to see for myself! I had no idea that bastard Halfling was in cahoots with a bunch of hobgoblins!"

From whom did you hear about this ship?  Seems the Halfling likes hobgoblins.  Maybe we should toss him to the next group we meet as a peace offering.

Tom looks at the Halfling as he says the last.

"Presumably the ship's owner, Wyndham Kellar," Fando answers Tom. "He claimed to have inherited it from his brother, but there was some doubt whether his brother legally owned it. Around these parts, though, it's finders-keepers!"

"Now, are you going to untie me? And where's that drink of water?"

In reply to Mysterion (msg # 232):

I untie him and hand him my waterskin so he can have a drink.

In reply to Tom Wolf (msg # 233):

Shall we just push the Halfling along in front of us as we investigate the rest of the ship?

"Thank you for the water," Fando says after he's given a drink.

"And who might you folks be, if you don't mind my asking? And how came you to be out here at the ship?"

"Interesting phenomenon, don't you think? A ship out here in the foothills. Almost boggles the mind. It's a flying ship, of course. Or at least it was. I'm sure you figured out that much for yourselves."

"I was hoping to learn who it belonged to, how it came to crash here, and perhaps even who made it."

"To make a long story short, we overheard some people talking about the ship..." begins Anneth's reply.  She gives a brief, but detailed, account of how she found out about it, and how she and her companions found out more about it.

"To answer your first question, I am Anneth Mage-Singer.  And yes, very interesting."

Rodrigo prods the Halfling with his rapier. "And how do you fit into this, you Halfling swine?"

Talis wanders back into the room stuffing the loot sack into his back pack "Master Fando, I'm so happy to see that you are still alive!  A little worse for the wear, I suppose..." the Elf shook his head and started again "My apologies, Sir, all this fighting and strange flying ship business has me a bit excited.  We were sent by Magister Ember to find you."

"Pleased to meet you, Anneth," Fando replies.

"That's quite decent of Ember. Of course, he's one of the sponsors for... my search. We plan to share whatever I find."

"Oh, don't bother asking that wretched Halfling anything. He just wanted to loot the ship. I don't think it even occurred to him that it was a flying ship. Sailed into a magical whirlpool and was miraculously transported here."

"He hired the hobgoblins to stop you from reaching the ship. Fat lot of good that did him! Ha-ha!"


As Fando talks, Talis hears a thumping coming from one of the other cabins.

There were four side doors in the hall that led to the main cabin. The skeleton was in one.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:11, Mon 01 June 2015.

In reply to Mysterion (msg # 239):

Tom continues to watch Fando and the halfling and introduces himself to Fando.

I'm  Tom
This message was last edited by the player at 00:34, Thu 04 June 2015.

Talis' ear pricked up "It sounds like there are other beings behind some of these doors.  Probably more Skeletons; let's be wary!"

"As I have proven to be less than proficient in the last fight perhaps someone else would like to go first?"

Rodrigo looks at the nearest door. "I think the trick will be to open the doors one at a time, and let each one come out so that all of us can attack it. No honourable fair fighting here! With five on one we should make short work of them."

"That's assuming there's only one per room, Rodrigo. Still, we have numbers on our side, and I'd rather not have more undead affronts to nature left mobile if we can stop them."

While the others debate tactics, Durek walks over to the second door on the left where the thumping seems to be coming from.

He throws the door open in an effort to surprise another skeleton.

Almost disappointingly, no skeleton jumps out at Durek. Looking into the room to see what is making the noise, he sees a woman gagged and tied up laying on the floor.

Although Durek thinks it might be a trap, he enters just the same and removes the gag from the woman.

Well, now! Don't that beat all!" Durek says to the woman.

"And just who might you be, Missy?"

A polite nod is given to Fando following his greeting.  Parched after her detailing things, the Dabbler-in-Arts takes a swig from her water skin, and...

WHAM!

Following the Dwarf's Heroics Most Thrilling, she hears a noise that could be a woman.  Realising that, aside from herself, and... 'Hmm, what's the skeleton's pelvis got to say about its bearer...' ...well, quite possibly the skeleton, the ship is full of armed men.  One of which made quite a grand entrance.

Yes, it was a woman.

Making sure (for her part) not to do anything else that would startle this woman, and hoping her presence would assure her that there was some sanity in all this madness, Anneth just enters the room after Durek and stands out of the way of the doorway, offering her an assuring nod.

At least the Halfling hadn't throw her into a room with a skeleton! Still, her arms and legs were sore from being tied up for so long. With the gag removed, she took a moment to catch her breath from kicking at the door. She'd heard the commotion, heard the voices, but hadn't been able to make them out clearly. It didn't sound like the Halfling or his thug bodyguard.

She'd eyed the Dwarf suspiciously, not being acquainted with too many of their kind, but at least he removed her gag before he began asking questions.

"I am Anya Canson. I was one of Fando's bodyguards. Does he still live?" she managed to croak out through a dry mouth and parched lips.

In reply to Anya Canson (msg # 248):

Tom hands Anya his waterskin so she can have a drink.

All Anneth offers in return to Anya's question is a grasp at her own water skin, a stilling of her hand when she sees that Tom has already taken that initiative, and a "Yes."

She calls out.  "Fando!"

"Thanks for the offer, Anya says to Tom. "You'll have to excuse me if I don't take the waterskin, but I'm kind of tied up at the moment."

In reply to Anya Canson (msg # 251):

Tom unties Anya.  Then offers her a drink.

Elwood keeps an eye on the halfling and Fando while the others rescue the bodyguard.

"Careful," says Rodrigo warily. "She may be hostile. We don't know if she really is a bodyguard, the old man didn't mention anything about it. Old man! Are you missing a bodyguard?!"

OOC: Are there still banging noises coming from the other three doors?

No, the only door that had any banging behind it was the one with the bodyguard.

And Fando did ask you if you found his apprentice and bodyguards.

Upon hearing his name called, Fando steps forward to see what is wanted.

"Anya! I'm glad you are safe! Well, what are you waiting for? Untie her!"

In reply to Mysterion (msg # 255):

I already untied her.

In reply to Tom Wolf (msg # 256):

And offered her a drink.

Rodrigo opens one of the other side doors. Anything interesting on the other side?

Rodrigo opens the other side doors in the hallway, but there are no skeletons in either of them, nor is there anyone tied up in them.

There's still the below deck area to explore.


"So now what are you planning on doing?" Fando asks.

In reply to Mysterion (msg # 259):

Talis mused "Well we need to keep you safe and explore the rest of the ship."

"We also have to make sure you get to where you're going too.  Did they steal the...item from you?"

In reply to Talis Aramorn (msg # 260):

Tom starts to look for away to get below deck from our current location on the ship.

No time like the present to start exploring.

Putting her mace into its harness, Anneth falls into the back of the formation of explorers.  "I've got the locks," she offers.

"Item?" Fando replies. "I'm sure I have no idea what you are talking about. The hobgoblins took my money and the Halfing took my papers."

"I suspect the hobgoblins took Anya's weapons when they captured her. They could be around here somewhere, though."


Acess to the hold of the ship is through large hatches on the main deck. There were steps going up to the top open deck above the cabins.

Rodrigo backs up Tom and the mage-singer as they head up to the main deck to get access to the hatches.

In reply to Mysterion (msg # 263):

I hand Fando's bodygaurd one of my daggers assuming she can use it and I offer my other one to Fando so he isn't completely unarmed.

I'd like it back when we get your weapons and armor back.

It's actually heading OUT to the main deck to get access to the hatches. You walked past them to get to the rear cabins.

Once out on the deck again, you can see out over the whole area. There is no sign of any other people... certainly no hobgoblins.

There are two hatches, fore and aft, each about 10-foot square. They are raised up off the deck by about 2 feet. The hatch covers themselves are well-built lattice, but there is a rolled up canvas on the front of each one that can be pulled over them to keep water out.

They are held in place by a simple lever, which, in turn, is held down by a small leather strap.

In reply to Mysterion (msg # 266):

I pull the canvas  off to the one towards the stern of ship.  Looking before I pull the lattice work open.

Might as well start here.

In reply to Mysterion (msg # 263):

Talis walked over to the old Sage and murmured something to him

Since the party had returned, and nothing had happened outside, Aaron joined them on the deck.

"Thank you, Kind Sir," Anya replies to Tom, "both for untying me and for the water. Being tied up isn't much fun."

"Thank you, as well, for the dagger. It's possible my own weapons have been stashed around here somewhere, but perhaps, also, the hobgoblins took them as spoils. I confess that I am not overly attached to the weapons, other than the cost of replacing them. I have not yet found any of exceptional quality to warrant such an attachment."

As Tom looks through the lattice hatches, he can catch a glimpse of something metallic down in the hold. He gets the impression that it is either something very large, or else many somethings. It is against the inner side of the hull, and the light through the hatch just doesn't reach into those shadowy areas.

The hatches are hinged on one end so that they can be lifted to an upright position and tied off to the mast. But even after Tom raises the stern hatch, he can't see anything more in the hold because of the angle of the ship and the fact that the sun is past its zenith, so the sunlight causes deeper shadows on the deck.

As she keeps an eye out, Anneth seems to be deep in thought.  She removes her mace from its harness...  "Anya," she attempts to get the Fighter's attention.  "Until you get your own weapons back, or better, I'm willing to let you borrow this.  I have other means by which to defend myself."

"Oh, thank you, Anneth!" Anya responds to Anneth's offer, accepting the mace. "I know how to wield one, but have not had much cause to do so. It will certainly be more effective than just the dagger."

"Bring on the hobgoblins! I'm ready for a rematch now!"

In reply to Anya Canson (msg # 273):

I open the hatch then light a torch before descending down into the ship.  Handing the torch to whoever is following me so I can hold my sword at the ready.

Someone has to go first.  Might as well be me this time.

In reply to Tom Wolf (msg # 274):

Aaron takes the torch had follows Tom, sword at the ready.

In reply to Mysterion (msg # 271):


Talis leans back from his whispered conversation with the Old Man "Gentlemen, Ladies let us continue our search!"


He then walk over to the captured Halfling and inspects the little man's bindings.

Rodrigo holds the hatch open for Tom and Aaron. "I'll cover you," he says. He doesn't bring down the bow from his shoulder though.

Rodrigo uses his infravision to get a better look into the hold.

Satisfied that Anya now has a better chance of defending herself - and her - Anneth draws one of her own daggers, and looses her whip.  Whip goes into her right hand; dagger, into her left.

Elwood makes sure the bandages around his wound are secure before readying his flail and shield. He turns to Fando and asks, "Will you be fine watching over this rascal on your own?" He points to the trussed up halfling. "Or would you like me to stay with you just in case, sir?"

Tom leads the way down into the ship's hold... and almost misses a step at the sight that he sees in the torchlight.

Both walls of the hold are covered from front to rear by a panel of metallic plates. It was this metal that glinted in the daylight that seeped in.

A rack of iron bars is fastened to the floor and the ceiling rafters, but not to the actual side of the ship. The metal plates are then fastened to these iron bars.

Some of the plates are silver, some brass, some bronze, some gold, some steel. There are of a vast array of shapes--squares, rectangles, triangles, circles, ovals, diamonds, lozenges, shields... some have been cut out in patterns, but most are arcane symbols etched on to them. Nearly all of the circles have toothed edges like gears, but none of them turn. They are all riveted to the iron bars or to each other. There is some overlap, of course, but none are covered up.

The area where the hole was in the side of the ship has a dozen or so plates snapped off of the iron bar. They lay bent, twisted and charred across the floor of the hold.

In reply to Mysterion (msg # 280):

Well atleast there isn't anything dead or alive down here to attack us.  I call back up to the others.  I take a closer look at some of the markings.  Magical symbols?

Once Rodrigo sees that the hold is safe, he also enters. "Hmm," he muses thoughtfully. "These plates are part of the magical device that allows this airship to fly, but when it crashed a whole section of them were damaged," he says to state the obvious. The elf goes up to some of the metallic plates that were broken off, picks a couple up and examines them. "Well, no doubt it can be fixed. Let's ask the 'skymaster' upstairs what we need to do to get this thing skyworthy again."

Elwood relaxes a bit when he hears Tom call up that all is clear below. He'll remain in the cabin, watching the halfling to make sure he doesn't escape.

Noticing the arcane symbols, Anneth racks her memory to see if she can't place any of them - meanings, anything like that...

01:36, Thu 09 July 2015: Anneth Mage-Singer rolled 6 using 1d20 ((6)).

"This is more than a simple farm boy such as myself can fathom. I hope you know what you are doing."

Anneth recognizes a few arcane symbols, but most seem to be alchemical in nature. There are earth symbols and sky symbols and air symbols (not the same thing exactly), but she is surprised not to find any 'binding' symbols, such as would be used to bond djinn or air elementals.

She does realize, though, that the orientation of the plate... or more exactly the symbols on the plates, seems to have a relevance. For instance, the steel plate with the earth symbol is oriented to the lower edge of the plate, and it is bracketed by the symbol for quicksilver. Quicksilver is noted for adding to a potion or other substance to give it negative qualities.

By the end of her examination, she can identify at least half of the symbols and work out what their function is. There are others that she's never seen before, and has no idea what their purpose is; she can't even deduce that.


However, her examination has led her to the aft end of the ship, where she realizes that the plates don't end at the wall but extend into the room beyond, for there is, indeed, a door in the rear wall of the hold.

In reply to Mysterion (msg # 286):

After examining the Halfling's bindings (and assuming he found nothing was amiss with them) Talis escorts Fando about the business of inspecting the ship.  The big Elf does not actually hover over the old man, but it is obvious that he is concerned with his well being and appears ready to defend or assist him at a moments notice.

"What are the chances she will ever fly again, Fando?  Do you think it can even be repaired?" he asked as they wandered about taking in the inner workings of the fantastical vessel.

"All this talk of magic bores me," Durek comments, "although if you find a magic hammer or axe, well, that'll wake me up! Har, har. So I'll keep an eye on the Halfling for ya."

"Ya know, I used to like them folks. They weren't Dwarves, o' course, but neither was they Elves or persnickety Humans. Now, not so much. Yeah, yeah, I know... one bad Halfling don't spoil the whole bunch."

"Meanwhile, maybe I'll ask him what kind of torture he prefers, or maybe how he wants to die. Hee-hee."

"Oh, sure, the ship can be repaired," Fando replies to Talis, "though whether can make it operational again will depend on all the plates still being here and not signficantly damaged."

"What you see here is merely the method of making it fly. It has to have a source of power, which, I hazard to guess, is behind that rear door. That's assuming it's not damaged, destroyed or missing."

"Ah, I see Anneth is already trying reassemble the plates in the correct order."

"The plates represent a method of controling the ship... turning it left, right, up, down... yaw, pitch, roll! If I'm reading these plates correctly, they indicate the ship could completely roll over and fly upside down! How amazing is that?"

"Of course, I can't think of any reason you'd want to fly upside down."

"Oh! Maybe not. I think these symbols here indicate limits." he finishes as he picks up one of the plates and indicates some of the lines on it.

In reply to Fando (msg # 289):

Talis mulled over Fardo's words "Perhaps the ship generates its own gravitational field?  Then the ability to fly upside down would be a plus."

While the others concentrated on the plates Talis examined the wooden hull.  What kind of wood would be used in making such a vessel?  Was it ensorceled? Covered in runes?
This message was last edited by the player at 10:36, Fri 17 July 2015.

"If it generated its own gravity, then that would be how it flew!" Fando replies. "However, I have heard of different techniques that were tried, though I do not know if they were ever successful. There is reputed to be a wood called liftwood, in the balsa family, that is lighter than air. And supposedly there is an alchemical method of soaking regular wood to produce the same result."

"A double hull with air elementals trapped between them was another suggested method, as was doing the same using djinn. Trying to control djinn, however, was considered insane if not outright impossible."

As if anticipating where Talis' thoughts had ventured, Fando added:

"Sorcery is the most often tried method. Basically, casting a spell such as Fly on a large object should work, but it never does. Sorcerers and wizards have tried to figure out that secret for centuries. Runes have also been tried, but while you can carve a rune into each single board, getting them all to work together is the problem there. Rune magic, apparently, is much more narrowly focused than a spell."

"You can put a rune on a door to protect it, but you can't put a rune on an entire fortress... though I heard that Aristobulus sought to build his house into the shape of a rune. Never heard how that turned out."

"I gave the matter a bit of thought in my youth, you see. The reason a ship design is used is because of the First Law of Magic: like produces like. If you want to sail across the sky, should you not do it in a vessel meant to sail across the seas?"

"Oh, I know what you are thinking--sail? Why not fly across the sky? Yes, there are those who have tried to build a huge mechanical bird. This is seldom done with metal, though using Nth metal would make sense. Alas, Nth metal is as mythical as liftwood."

"So you see, there are many approaches. If anyone has ever discovered the secret that works, they have kept it to themselves."

"This ship, unless I miss my guess, utilizes the Seventh Magic! The secret here isn't the Seventh Magic itself, but a method of employing it. It would seem to be based on transference--the plates transfer magic throughout the ship."

"Well all this talk of runes is beyond me," said a bored Aaron, "Let us see what these reckless magical meddlers have used for their 'power source'!".

Aaron heads over to the rear door and opens it.

Talis eyes the door Aaron opened with caution, but did not miss Fando's statement "Seventh Magic?  All this talk about the secretive Seventh Magic before our quest began and now, suddenly, an airship powered by it just happens to have crashed here?"

"My ability to allow for coincidence is being sorely tested."

Magic is just another tool for people to use.  Unfortunately some of the most inteligent people who can use magic are not the wisest and make stupid choices.  Magic also requires patience of which I do not have enough of.

Tom follows Aaron into the next room.

"It is only you that has dubbed it a coincidence," Fando replied to Talis, "though perhaps I misspoke."

"I am not at all convinced that this is, indeed, the Seventh Magic. It is just that I have not heard of any such magical transference as appears to be used here, not by any alchemist or by any wizard I know. And then there's the name of the ship. So it was quite natural for me to make the connection."

"You are here because I am here. I am here because I was looking for the Seventh Magic. Upon hearing of this ship, an anomaly any way you look at it, I came here to investigate, since it seemed self-evident that some form of magic had to have been used to bring the ship here."

"Although, on second thought, I suppose a giant waterspout could have swept the ship up into its swirling water and then deposited the ship here. Now that would have been coincidence!"

"Consider, too, that ever since the change in the Radiance, people have been looking for a way to... fix it, though perhaps 'restore' is a more accurate assessment. Some of them will have been delving into the lore of the Seventh Magic. Given the Third Law of Magic--the Law of Sympathy--it might follow that this search for the Seventh Magic is what has drawn the ship here, if, in fact, it uses the Seventh Magic for its power."

As Aaron and Tom moved to investigate what was behind the aft door, Fando also moves in that direction, but he does so a bit more cautiously. He finds it odd that the ship's power would be concealed behind a door when clearly the metal plates lead there.

Perhaps it was employed for... secrecy. It might also have been employed because there was danger.

Aaron opens the aft door and walks through... It's not a large room as it's only the rear 10-feet of the ship though it's around 30 feet wide. The metal plates that come through the wall from the hold cuts off a good 5 feet on either side because they are slanted and connect to the strange device in the center of the room.

The top plate on each side connects to the top of the device while the bottom plate connects to the bottom of the device.

The device itself is a 5-foot in diameter crystal sphere. Within it is an apparatus that consists of three concentric gimbal-mounted rings that are each slowly spinning. The innermost one is a septagram made out of a bluish-silver metal. It is spinning within a silver ring which in turn is spinning within a copper ring.

"Is that what I think it is?" gasped Talis.

"I have no idea. What do you think it is?"

In reply to Aaron Gray (msg # 298):

Not seeing anything that needs killing I look around for any other doors or hatches.  Careful not to touch anything magical.

There are no other doors or compartments that you can see in this room, so Tom goes back into the hold and decides to see where the other end of the plates go. They might just form a loop, which would makes sense in a way, but at the front of the ship, they disappear through another wall that has a door in the middle of it.

Cautiously opening that door, Tom finds another strange apparatus connected to the plates. It's sitting on a small pedestal, known as a binnacle in naval parlance, and is a metal disk with a glass cover. Under the glass is a septagram that has a gem set at each point.

In reply to Mysterion (msg # 300):

I call out loudly enough for the others to hear: Fando, come take a look at this.

When he heard his name called, Fando hurried forward to where Tom was. He looked through the door.

"Well, well well. What have we here?" he says.

"You'd think the septagram would be a dead give-away, wouldn't you? But drawing a septagram or even a nonagram is just a natural progression from a pentagram. Making a septagram is one thing, empowering it is a whole different thing."

"I'm not sure if this is actually powered by the Seventh Magic. The inventor could merely be using it for control... yaw, pitch, roll and speed would make sense."

"Casting a few spells might reveal the truth, but we'll probably need to repair the plates to be sure."

While the others conversed, threatened Halflings, and threw their arms up at the "recklessness" of magicians (pah, where would they be without magic!), Anneth fished for her inkpen and an ink...oh, that was just not acceptable.  She'd left those behind!

Her mood lightens as Fando mentions Aristobulus' attempt at warding his home.  Once she is done her full attention is devoted once again to the old man.

You know what, I forgot my ink and inkpen!  Silly and irresponsible of me.  I'm going to see if Anneth can't commit knowledge of this room, and the runes, to her memory, even in an imperfect way.

12:23, Wed 29 July 2015: Anneth Mage-Singer rolled 4 using 1d20 ((4)).
This message was last edited by the player at 19:24, Wed 29 July 2015.

Rodrigo admires the magical skill that went into the making of the ship, although truth be told he has no idea how it all works.

"So how can we repair the plates old man?" he asks Fando.

In reply to Rodrigo (msg # 304):

Talis laughed "Well it looks like Durek and Geirdon will be able to earn their keep after all!"

The big Elf slapped his friend Durek on the back "What say you, Master Waggle-beard?"

Rodrigo looks at the dwarves doubtfully. "Do you think they can fix it? I wouldn't have thought this was their forte.. battle axes yes, magically flying ships... no."

"We can repair the damaged plates," Gierdon responded, "possibly even the runes, but that won't restore the magic in it. That will take a wizard."

He looked at the others, particularly Anneth and Rodrigo.

"A mage fire would help, but it isn't necessary. It'll just take longer without one."