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D&D 5e Into The (Keep on the) Borderlands (B1&2) #032 Monster Mash.
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<blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 8470325" data-attributes="member: 16069"><p style="text-align: center"><strong>The Unexpected in the Caves of Chaos.</strong></p><p></p><p><strong>Session #0013: Chasing Nok Nok.</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>PCs (in alphabetical order)</strong></p><p><strong>Krago of the Mountains </strong>(Pete) Male Mountain Dwarf Ranger (Folk Hero) Level 3.</p><p><strong>Lappoy the Unexpected </strong>(Rob) Male High Elf Wizard (Sage) Level 3.</p><p><strong>Mohag the Wanderer</strong> (Pete) Male Human Barbarian (Outlander) Level 3.</p><p><strong>Sho-Rembo</strong> (Dave) Female Stout Halfling Druid (Hermit) Level 3.</p><p><strong>Sir Glen</strong> (Dave) Male Human Paladin of Lathander (Noble) Level 3.</p><p><strong>Sosspan </strong>(Dave) Male Dragonborn Wizard (Spy) Level 3.</p><p><strong>Trebbelos</strong> (Pete) Male Tiefling Sorcerer (Charlatan) Level 3.</p><p></p><p><strong>NPC's</strong></p><p><strong>Corbis </strong>Male Human Guard & wannabe Sidekick.</p><p><strong>Scrubs</strong> Male Human Guard & wannabe Sidekick.</p><p><strong>Tribbits</strong> Male Human Guard & wannabe Sidekick.</p><p></p><p><strong>Dead PCs (in alphabetical order)</strong></p><p><strong>Afton Barr</strong> (Dave) Male Half-Elf Bard (Entertainer) Level 1.</p><p><strong>Estra Zo </strong>(Pete) Female Wood Gnome Rogue (Urchin) Level 1.</p><p><strong>Farned of the Leaf Lord </strong>(Dave) Male Wild Elf Cleric of Rillifane Rallithil (Acolyte) Level 1.</p><p><strong>Tassit </strong>(Dave) Female Human Monk (Hermit) Level 1.</p><p><strong>The Mystical One</strong> (Pete) Female Human Warlock (Outlander) Level 1.</p><p><strong>Yor</strong> (Pete) Male Dragonborn Fighter (Folk Hero) Level 2.</p><p></p><p><strong>Dead NPCs (in alphabetical order)</strong></p><p><strong>Wormwood</strong> Male Human Guard.</p><p></p><p><strong>Note, you can click on the pictures here to make them bigger (if you didn't know this already).</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Day 21: Being the 21st Day of Mirtul, in the year 1493 by Dale Reckoning, known as the Year of the Purple Dragons, around lunchtime.</strong></p><p></p><p>So, here's the latest news- all of the PCs are level 3, that's pretty kick ass, and of course there are a lot of 'em.</p><p></p><p>I'm in trouble.</p><p></p><p>Also, between this session and the last I have been persuaded (cajoled) to put the three guards that have hired on with the Unexpected on the track to sidekick status, as in Tasha's.</p><p></p><p>Scrubs needs just 300 XP to be a level 1 sidekick (type = player's choice, but needs to be justified/RPed out), while the two new followers- Corbis and Tribbits need 600 XP each to make the same transition.</p><p></p><p>Note, Scrubs has been around with the Unexpected for a while now, so he's already earned a few stripes.</p><p></p><p>Obviously the XP is now getting split, hmm- does the maths, ten ways= seven PCs and three would-be sidekicks. So, that should slow everyone's progress right down, and give me a fighting chance.</p><p></p><p>Still, the players asked for it so who am I to say no.</p><p></p><p>And when I say- 'give me a fighting chance', I, of course, mean the bad guys as elucidated in the book. Obviously I'm not trying to kill the PCs... not me.</p><p></p><p>To make things worse the PCs have, as usual, been shopping- topped up on healing potions, and re-equipped as necessary, and the would-be sidekicks are of course all freshly armed and armoured. The latter after the discovery and ransacking of the hobgoblin's armoury in the last session- lots of stuff in there.</p><p></p><p>It takes a few days, of course, to get things sold and bought, and so time enough for another night or two in the Traveller's Rest. This in an attempt to extract a few more rumours from the locals, and so-</p><p> </p><p>(1) A merchant, imprisoned within the caves, will reward his rescuers. VERY INTERESTING.</p><p>(2) A powerful wizard will destroy all cave invaders. UNTRUE.</p><p>(3) Tribes of different creatures live in different caves. CHECK.</p><p>(4) An ogre sometimes helps the cave dwellers. BAD NOG RIP</p><p>(5) A magic wand was lost in the caves. INTERESTING.</p><p>(6) All of the cave entrances are trapped. UNTRUE.</p><p>(7) If you get lost, beware the eater of men! INTERESTING.</p><p>(8) Altars are very dangerous. INTERESTING.</p><p>(9) A fair maiden is imprisoned within the caves. INTERESTING.</p><p>(10) “Bree-yark!” is goblin for 'we surrender'. UNTRUE.</p><p>(11) Beware of treachery from within the party. INTERESTING!</p><p>(12) The big dog-men (GNOLLS?) live very high in the caves. INTERESTING.</p><p>(13) There are hordes of tiny dragon-men in the lower caves. KOBOLDS- KILLED.</p><p>(14) Piles of magic armour are hoarded in the southern caves. INTERESTING.</p><p>(15) The bugbears in the caves are afraid of dwarves. INTERESTING.</p><p>(16) Lizardmen live in the marshes. INTERESTING.</p><p>(17) An elf once disappeared across the marshes. INTERESTING.</p><p>(19) Nobody has ever returned from an expedition to the caves. UNTIL NOW.</p><p>(20) There is more than one tribe of orcs within the caves. INTERESTING. </p><p></p><p>And they're nearly there- additions are numbers 4 and 11.</p><p></p><p>There's a bit of chat about entry 11.</p><p></p><p>So, that just leaves rumour number 18 to track down.</p><p></p><p>But here's the thing, as well as asking about the Caves of Chaos, Lappoy- and a few others (once they're reminded by Lappoy) also make enquiries about the long lost lair, said to be somewhere in the region, of Zeligar & Rogahn.</p><p></p><p>How about that? They're thinking ahead.</p><p></p><p>And so, after a few bribes paid, Lappoy is told about a mad druid who wanders the Whispering Woods, this fellow knows the area incredibly well, the implication being- the fellow should know all the secrets of the region, including perhaps the location of the long lost lair.</p><p></p><p>But, Lappoy is assured, the druid is very crazy, as likely to attack as to converse or aid wanderers in the wilds.</p><p></p><p>Lappoy, of course, lets his colleagues know all of this- open and honest, it's the new policy.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]147448[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>The last supper, before departure in the Traveller's Rest. Note the new configuration (who sits where) somehow reflects the new hierarchy within the Unexpected.</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Day 22: Being the 22nd Day of Mirtul, in the year 1493 by Dale Reckoning, known as the Year of the Purple Dragons, early doors.</strong></p><p></p><p>Then off we go again, back to the Caves of Chaos- the orcs are next on the Unexpected's take-down list, and they know that their lair is one of the two caverns close to the kobold's former lair.</p><p></p><p>So, off they go, and no random encounters again, bugger.</p><p></p><p>Then after another hour or so spent watching the way to see if there's any activity within the Caves of Chaos ravine, there's not- nothing stirs. Note, every time the PCs watch and wait, or else creep into the ravine, I roll another random encounter- 1 on an a D10, and again- nothing.</p><p></p><p>Onwards, to the first cavern.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]147449[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Krago and Sho-Rembo head on in, quietly- their companions are poised to attack, at the ready.</strong></p><p></p><p>But here's the thing... things go badly from the off, and so in quick order the following things happen.</p><p></p><p>Krago and Sho-Rembo scuff and grunt their way 'silently' into the lair (best stealth check an adjusted '6').</p><p></p><p>The pair spot a gurning orc dead ahead, the wall before them is dotted with small niches each holding the decaying skull of (the pair presume) the cave inhabitant's former victims.</p><p></p><p>So, the pair spy maybe a dozen skulls and... the head of a gurning orc who is quite obviously trying to blend in with the display, a hidden watcher, the stupid fellow is not making a very good job of it.</p><p></p><p>And then, a milli-moment later, a bunch of orcs with spears sat around a fire to the east grunt and begin to holler at the PCs...</p><p></p><p>That went south very quickly.</p><p></p><p>Sho-Rembo and Krago call for their friends, and...</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]147450[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Initiative arrives early.</strong></p><p></p><p>Corbis, the wannabe sidekick, is the first to react- rushing in to the cavern he shoots the nearest orc with his newly acquired light crossbow, and a Crit.</p><p></p><p>There is premature whooping.</p><p></p><p>Seconds later Sho-Rembo creeps around the corner to get a bead on the orc watcher in the wall, but...</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]147451[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>The whooping ceases.</strong></p><p></p><p>And is replaced mostly by hissed expletives.</p><p></p><p>Turned out nice again...</p><p></p><p>However, suddenly facing the five orcs here is a monstrous brown bear- Sho-B-Bear to be precise. The ursine, for good measure, bites the former orc watcher.</p><p></p><p>The orc starts screaming for its friends, and we're into the action.</p><p></p><p>Corbis gets stabbed, it hurts a lot.</p><p></p><p>Then, after a hefty bunch of rolling and missing, Trebbelos dashes in to play the hero, the tiefling sorcerer Shatter's three of the defending orcs- one is killed outright, while the other two are left badly wounded. The sorcerer swirls and floats out of danger, held aloft- briefly, by his Tempestuous Magic.</p><p></p><p>Krago, with a little extra damage from his Hunter's Quarry cuts an orc down, and then wounds another- he's level three now, and a Horde Breaker.</p><p></p><p>Lappoy hits the wounded orc with a Fire Bolt, it survives.</p><p></p><p>Mohag, raging already, steps in and slays the brute, there's only one more orc guard left in the fight here.</p><p></p><p>Sho-B-Bear meantime is making a hell of a racket, that may be because the wildshaped halfling druid is still fighting five orcs, and has already suffered three hits, she's bloodied and beyond.</p><p></p><p>Sosspan rushes over and Fire Bolts, with a Crit, one of the orc guards attacking Sho-B-Bear.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]147452[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>The Unexpected are making a little headway...</strong></p><p></p><p>Then Sho-B-Bear gets into the swing of things, the ursine rips the nearest orc in two with her claws (and another Crit) and then moments later, after padding forward, bites the arm off (almost) the next orc.</p><p></p><p>The orcs are panicking- screaming!</p><p></p><p>Trebbelos further terrifies the orc guards corralled by the brown bear, with another Shatter spell- another orc falls, and two of the remaining three orcs here are bloodied.</p><p></p><p>The 'Shattered Spear' orcs however know only one way out- and that's through Sho-B-Bear, and so they stab the ursine some more, and sure enough, mere seconds later- the great growling bear is gone and in its place a bleeding female halfling- Sho-Rembo.</p><p></p><p>Orcs are tough.</p><p></p><p>The players make a point of telling me this, and each other- repeatedly.</p><p></p><p>Go figure.</p><p></p><p>Note Sir Glen hasn't landed a hit yet, and he's already spent his inspiration point.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]147453[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Sho-B-Bear has gone away.</strong></p><p></p><p>Krago puts down the last of the four orc guards that were situated in the primary guard chamber.</p><p></p><p>Lappoy rushes around to see what's occurring in the guard chamber to the north, in which Sho-Rembo toils. There are three spear wielding orcs still trying to break out of their den. The High Magicker therefore unleashes his Scorching Blasts- two hits, but alas no deaths.</p><p></p><p>Bugger.</p><p></p><p>They're tough these...</p><p></p><p>I know.</p><p></p><p>But then the raging Mohag arrives and decapitates one of them.</p><p></p><p>Oh, but what's this- the sound of more orcs arriving, and suddenly Mohag (of all people) remembers to translate what's being said.</p><p></p><p>“Orcs come. Come quick- come get chief. It bad!”</p><p></p><p>Thanks for that Mohag.</p><p></p><p>Note, Sir Glen also understands the orc language.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]147454[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Tribbits spots the first orc approaching, and hears the sound of many more heading this way fast from the west.</strong></p><p></p><p>It's going to get busy, and so...</p><p></p><p>A charging orc gets in Tribbits face.</p><p></p><p>But Scrubs arrives in the nick of time to slash the furious humanoid with his longsword.</p><p></p><p>It's not enough, Tribbits gets speared.</p><p></p><p>There are at least a dozen orcs rushing through what looks to be some sort of dining hall, clambering over tables and scattering chairs as they come charging at the Unexpected.</p><p></p><p>Sir Glen imbues his Sacred Weapon and makes for the front line, singing a prayer to the Morning Lord as he goes.</p><p></p><p>Mohag gets stabbed.</p><p></p><p>Krago steps up and puts the first of the newly arrived orcs down.</p><p></p><p>Lappoy fires a trio of Magic Missiles into an orc- it too dies.</p><p></p><p>Mohag goes tonto (raging, Reckless & Frenzy) and then smashes down the last of the original orc lair guards, just the screaming horde of orcs rushing in from the west to take care of now.</p><p></p><p>[Orc guards 900 XP]</p><p></p><p>The barbarian races to get to the party.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]147455[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Brace for impact!</strong></p><p></p><p>By which I mean, of course, my poor orcs.</p><p></p><p>Sosspan's Shatter spell hits a trio of the brutes, and leaves two of them barely clinging onto life. The cavern rumbles and wobbles, part of the ceiling falls.</p><p></p><p>Sho-Rembo douses the oncoming orcs with her Faerie Fire, making a bunch of them much easier targets.</p><p></p><p>But the orcs rush in and start stabbing with their spears, raging Mohag gets skewered again, while Krago gets stabbed for the first time. Scrubs stops a flung spear with his body- Ouch! Seconds later Tribbits repeats the trick.</p><p></p><p>Tribbits, the wannabe sidekick, is down to 2 hit points.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]147456[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>The orc's charge has blocked the Unexpected's progress.</strong></p><p></p><p>Seconds later and Scrubs gets hit again, he's down to 1 hit point.</p><p></p><p>So much for the NPCs.</p><p></p><p>Krago cuts another orc down, and then wounds yet another- and then with an inspiration point and a Cure Wounds spell he restores a little vigour to Tribbits.</p><p></p><p>Sir Glen steps in and slices an orc- his first hit, but its not enough to drop the furious humanoid.</p><p></p><p>Lappoy takes an orc down with his Scorching Rays, and singes another already bathed in the druid's Faerie Fire.</p><p></p><p>Mohag keeps on raging and slicing.</p><p></p><p>Then, Tribbits gets speared again, and now the ex-caravan guard is down and dying.</p><p></p><p>Sosspan's second Shatter spell leaves another two orcs dead, and two more badly injured.</p><p></p><p>The orc tide is breaking.</p><p></p><p>Moments later Corbis slices another orc dead.</p><p></p><p>Sho-Rembo kills another pair with her Thunderwave, and then with an inspiration point, and a Cure Wounds, manages to stir Tribbits from his slumber.</p><p></p><p>There are very suddenly only three orcs left in the fight...</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]147457[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>The tide has turned.</strong></p><p></p><p>Tribbits struggles to his feet and then fires a crossbow bolt into the nearest orc.</p><p></p><p>Scrubs, same method, finishes it off.</p><p></p><p>Just two orcs left in the fight.</p><p></p><p>Both of which are swiftly bathed in Trebbelos' Burning Hands.</p><p></p><p>They survive, but now they're both keen to be elsewhere...</p><p></p><p>The first orc retreats to the north, up a set of shallow stairs- there are more orc noises coming from this direction.</p><p></p><p>Seconds later the retreating orc is over taken (and turned around) by the orc chief- Nok Nok, who is heading down the stairs and straight for the Unexpected.</p><p></p><p>The last orc warrior in the room rallies when it hears the chief, and stabs Sho-Rembo, the halfling druid is very suddenly bloodied and beyond.</p><p></p><p>Krago dives to his friends side and stabs the orc brute.</p><p></p><p>While Lappoy strides forward and fires three Magic Missiles into the screaming orc chief.</p><p></p><p>Mohag cuts the last warrior in the chamber down (still Reckless and with Frenzy) and then races on towards the orc chief.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]147458[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Get Nok Nok.</strong></p><p></p><p>Sir Glen races ahead of the barbarian, but a screeching female orc warrior intercepts the pair- Sosspan hits the hollering harridan with a Fire Bolt.</p><p></p><p>Sho-Rembo finds somewhere to hide and swig down a healing potion, she was down to just four hit points.</p><p></p><p>Another orc warrior comes screaming down the stairs and straight into the melee, followed swiftly by yet another screeching female orc in a frenzy- Sir Glen narrowly avoids getting stabbed.</p><p></p><p>Twice.</p><p></p><p>Missed by one both times.</p><p></p><p>Note the screaming female orcs are chief Nok Nok's warrior consorts- they're tough.</p><p></p><p>The paladin is surrounded.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]147459[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Rescue Sir Glen?</strong></p><p></p><p>Nok Nok smashes his black mace into the paladin, and it hurts- it hurts a lot (and with an extra pinch of necrotic damage).</p><p></p><p>Krago to the rescue, the dwarf ranger slices an orc down with his hand axe, and then Crits a second with his magical dagger.</p><p></p><p>Lappoy climbs onto a table, the High Magicker is mostly directing traffic, but he also finds the time to finish off the just wounded orc with a Fire Bolt.</p><p></p><p>[Orcs in the second wave 1200 XP]</p><p></p><p>Mohag cuts another orc down- one of the screeching female warriors, but alas his Frenzied attack on the chief is deflected by the brute's chain mail armour.</p><p></p><p>Corbis shoots the last screeching female orc warrior, it survives- and keeps up the horrendous noise.</p><p></p><p>Scrubs meantime takes aim and shoots a crossbow bolt into chief Nok Nok.</p><p></p><p>Trebbelos clambers on to a table and aims his Shatter spell up the stairs, and then employs a few Sorcerery Points to guarantee that chief Nok Nok has a hard time avoiding the spell (Disadvantage on Save). The thunderous burst destroys the last of the screeching female orc warriors, and leaves the chief badly wounded- and suddenly on his own.</p><p></p><p>Nok Nok runs...</p><p></p><p>And in doing so gets sliced again by Mohag.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]147460[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Chasing Nok Nok.</strong></p><p></p><p>Lappoy puts on a burst of speed and then with an inspiration point slams three more Magic Missiles into the quickly retreating Nok Nok.</p><p></p><p>That, however, was the wizard's last spell.</p><p></p><p>Nok Nok is now critically wounded.</p><p></p><p>But here's a thing...</p><p></p><p>Three seconds later Sosspan performs exactly the same trick- chase, inspiration point- Magic Missile, and... he rolls '5' damage for all three of his force attacks.</p><p></p><p>Nok Nok stumbles and falls.</p><p></p><p>The lair is taken, although it takes a few more moments to confirm this.</p><p></p><p>[Chief Nok Nok and his warrior consorts 650 XP]</p><p></p><p>But then there's the small matter of the rest of the tribe.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]147461[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Orc non-combatants.</strong></p><p></p><p>The Unexpected corral the non-combatant orcs while they search the fallen, and then the rest of the lair.</p><p></p><p>This takes a little doing- mostly Mohag making threats in orcish kinda fixes it.</p><p></p><p>There's some gold, electrum and silver coins, and... some more surprising items.</p><p></p><p>A Detect Magic ritual reveals that chief Nok Nok's shield and black-as-night mace are both magical.</p><p></p><p>After a short rest, which includes a very aggressive chat with the captured non-combatant orcs, it is discovered that the cavern next door is home to yet more orcs, and that the second tribe is lead by chief Nik Nik, big-brother of... but you've guessed the rest.</p><p></p><p>A little later a secret way through chief Nok Nok's lair is discovered- and a bunch more treasure, including a scroll of Fireball- immediately 'yoinked' by Lappoy, but more of this next time...</p><p></p><p>The pot is up to £62.</p><p></p><p>Stay safe and well you lovely people.</p><p></p><p>Toodles for a bit.</p><p></p><p>Cheers the Unexpected and goonalan.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Goonalan, post: 8470325, member: 16069"] [CENTER][B]The Unexpected in the Caves of Chaos.[/B][/CENTER] [B]Session #0013: Chasing Nok Nok. PCs (in alphabetical order) Krago of the Mountains [/B](Pete) Male Mountain Dwarf Ranger (Folk Hero) Level 3. [B]Lappoy the Unexpected [/B](Rob) Male High Elf Wizard (Sage) Level 3. [B]Mohag the Wanderer[/B] (Pete) Male Human Barbarian (Outlander) Level 3. [B]Sho-Rembo[/B] (Dave) Female Stout Halfling Druid (Hermit) Level 3. [B]Sir Glen[/B] (Dave) Male Human Paladin of Lathander (Noble) Level 3. [B]Sosspan [/B](Dave) Male Dragonborn Wizard (Spy) Level 3. [B]Trebbelos[/B] (Pete) Male Tiefling Sorcerer (Charlatan) Level 3. [B]NPC's Corbis [/B]Male Human Guard & wannabe Sidekick. [B]Scrubs[/B] Male Human Guard & wannabe Sidekick. [B]Tribbits[/B] Male Human Guard & wannabe Sidekick. [B]Dead PCs (in alphabetical order) Afton Barr[/B] (Dave) Male Half-Elf Bard (Entertainer) Level 1. [B]Estra Zo [/B](Pete) Female Wood Gnome Rogue (Urchin) Level 1. [B]Farned of the Leaf Lord [/B](Dave) Male Wild Elf Cleric of Rillifane Rallithil (Acolyte) Level 1. [B]Tassit [/B](Dave) Female Human Monk (Hermit) Level 1. [B]The Mystical One[/B] (Pete) Female Human Warlock (Outlander) Level 1. [B]Yor[/B] (Pete) Male Dragonborn Fighter (Folk Hero) Level 2. [B]Dead NPCs (in alphabetical order) Wormwood[/B] Male Human Guard. [B]Note, you can click on the pictures here to make them bigger (if you didn't know this already). Day 21: Being the 21st Day of Mirtul, in the year 1493 by Dale Reckoning, known as the Year of the Purple Dragons, around lunchtime.[/B] So, here's the latest news- all of the PCs are level 3, that's pretty kick ass, and of course there are a lot of 'em. I'm in trouble. Also, between this session and the last I have been persuaded (cajoled) to put the three guards that have hired on with the Unexpected on the track to sidekick status, as in Tasha's. Scrubs needs just 300 XP to be a level 1 sidekick (type = player's choice, but needs to be justified/RPed out), while the two new followers- Corbis and Tribbits need 600 XP each to make the same transition. Note, Scrubs has been around with the Unexpected for a while now, so he's already earned a few stripes. Obviously the XP is now getting split, hmm- does the maths, ten ways= seven PCs and three would-be sidekicks. So, that should slow everyone's progress right down, and give me a fighting chance. Still, the players asked for it so who am I to say no. And when I say- 'give me a fighting chance', I, of course, mean the bad guys as elucidated in the book. Obviously I'm not trying to kill the PCs... not me. To make things worse the PCs have, as usual, been shopping- topped up on healing potions, and re-equipped as necessary, and the would-be sidekicks are of course all freshly armed and armoured. The latter after the discovery and ransacking of the hobgoblin's armoury in the last session- lots of stuff in there. It takes a few days, of course, to get things sold and bought, and so time enough for another night or two in the Traveller's Rest. This in an attempt to extract a few more rumours from the locals, and so- (1) A merchant, imprisoned within the caves, will reward his rescuers. VERY INTERESTING. (2) A powerful wizard will destroy all cave invaders. UNTRUE. (3) Tribes of different creatures live in different caves. CHECK. (4) An ogre sometimes helps the cave dwellers. BAD NOG RIP (5) A magic wand was lost in the caves. INTERESTING. (6) All of the cave entrances are trapped. UNTRUE. (7) If you get lost, beware the eater of men! INTERESTING. (8) Altars are very dangerous. INTERESTING. (9) A fair maiden is imprisoned within the caves. INTERESTING. (10) “Bree-yark!” is goblin for 'we surrender'. UNTRUE. (11) Beware of treachery from within the party. INTERESTING! (12) The big dog-men (GNOLLS?) live very high in the caves. INTERESTING. (13) There are hordes of tiny dragon-men in the lower caves. KOBOLDS- KILLED. (14) Piles of magic armour are hoarded in the southern caves. INTERESTING. (15) The bugbears in the caves are afraid of dwarves. INTERESTING. (16) Lizardmen live in the marshes. INTERESTING. (17) An elf once disappeared across the marshes. INTERESTING. (19) Nobody has ever returned from an expedition to the caves. UNTIL NOW. (20) There is more than one tribe of orcs within the caves. INTERESTING. And they're nearly there- additions are numbers 4 and 11. There's a bit of chat about entry 11. So, that just leaves rumour number 18 to track down. But here's the thing, as well as asking about the Caves of Chaos, Lappoy- and a few others (once they're reminded by Lappoy) also make enquiries about the long lost lair, said to be somewhere in the region, of Zeligar & Rogahn. How about that? They're thinking ahead. And so, after a few bribes paid, Lappoy is told about a mad druid who wanders the Whispering Woods, this fellow knows the area incredibly well, the implication being- the fellow should know all the secrets of the region, including perhaps the location of the long lost lair. But, Lappoy is assured, the druid is very crazy, as likely to attack as to converse or aid wanderers in the wilds. Lappoy, of course, lets his colleagues know all of this- open and honest, it's the new policy. [ATTACH type="full"]147448[/ATTACH] [B]The last supper, before departure in the Traveller's Rest. Note the new configuration (who sits where) somehow reflects the new hierarchy within the Unexpected. Day 22: Being the 22nd Day of Mirtul, in the year 1493 by Dale Reckoning, known as the Year of the Purple Dragons, early doors.[/B] Then off we go again, back to the Caves of Chaos- the orcs are next on the Unexpected's take-down list, and they know that their lair is one of the two caverns close to the kobold's former lair. So, off they go, and no random encounters again, bugger. Then after another hour or so spent watching the way to see if there's any activity within the Caves of Chaos ravine, there's not- nothing stirs. Note, every time the PCs watch and wait, or else creep into the ravine, I roll another random encounter- 1 on an a D10, and again- nothing. Onwards, to the first cavern. [ATTACH type="full"]147449[/ATTACH] [B]Krago and Sho-Rembo head on in, quietly- their companions are poised to attack, at the ready.[/B] But here's the thing... things go badly from the off, and so in quick order the following things happen. Krago and Sho-Rembo scuff and grunt their way 'silently' into the lair (best stealth check an adjusted '6'). The pair spot a gurning orc dead ahead, the wall before them is dotted with small niches each holding the decaying skull of (the pair presume) the cave inhabitant's former victims. So, the pair spy maybe a dozen skulls and... the head of a gurning orc who is quite obviously trying to blend in with the display, a hidden watcher, the stupid fellow is not making a very good job of it. And then, a milli-moment later, a bunch of orcs with spears sat around a fire to the east grunt and begin to holler at the PCs... That went south very quickly. Sho-Rembo and Krago call for their friends, and... [ATTACH type="full"]147450[/ATTACH] [B]Initiative arrives early.[/B] Corbis, the wannabe sidekick, is the first to react- rushing in to the cavern he shoots the nearest orc with his newly acquired light crossbow, and a Crit. There is premature whooping. Seconds later Sho-Rembo creeps around the corner to get a bead on the orc watcher in the wall, but... [ATTACH type="full"]147451[/ATTACH] [B]The whooping ceases.[/B] And is replaced mostly by hissed expletives. Turned out nice again... However, suddenly facing the five orcs here is a monstrous brown bear- Sho-B-Bear to be precise. The ursine, for good measure, bites the former orc watcher. The orc starts screaming for its friends, and we're into the action. Corbis gets stabbed, it hurts a lot. Then, after a hefty bunch of rolling and missing, Trebbelos dashes in to play the hero, the tiefling sorcerer Shatter's three of the defending orcs- one is killed outright, while the other two are left badly wounded. The sorcerer swirls and floats out of danger, held aloft- briefly, by his Tempestuous Magic. Krago, with a little extra damage from his Hunter's Quarry cuts an orc down, and then wounds another- he's level three now, and a Horde Breaker. Lappoy hits the wounded orc with a Fire Bolt, it survives. Mohag, raging already, steps in and slays the brute, there's only one more orc guard left in the fight here. Sho-B-Bear meantime is making a hell of a racket, that may be because the wildshaped halfling druid is still fighting five orcs, and has already suffered three hits, she's bloodied and beyond. Sosspan rushes over and Fire Bolts, with a Crit, one of the orc guards attacking Sho-B-Bear. [ATTACH type="full"]147452[/ATTACH] [B]The Unexpected are making a little headway...[/B] Then Sho-B-Bear gets into the swing of things, the ursine rips the nearest orc in two with her claws (and another Crit) and then moments later, after padding forward, bites the arm off (almost) the next orc. The orcs are panicking- screaming! Trebbelos further terrifies the orc guards corralled by the brown bear, with another Shatter spell- another orc falls, and two of the remaining three orcs here are bloodied. The 'Shattered Spear' orcs however know only one way out- and that's through Sho-B-Bear, and so they stab the ursine some more, and sure enough, mere seconds later- the great growling bear is gone and in its place a bleeding female halfling- Sho-Rembo. Orcs are tough. The players make a point of telling me this, and each other- repeatedly. Go figure. Note Sir Glen hasn't landed a hit yet, and he's already spent his inspiration point. [ATTACH type="full"]147453[/ATTACH] [B]Sho-B-Bear has gone away.[/B] Krago puts down the last of the four orc guards that were situated in the primary guard chamber. Lappoy rushes around to see what's occurring in the guard chamber to the north, in which Sho-Rembo toils. There are three spear wielding orcs still trying to break out of their den. The High Magicker therefore unleashes his Scorching Blasts- two hits, but alas no deaths. Bugger. They're tough these... I know. But then the raging Mohag arrives and decapitates one of them. Oh, but what's this- the sound of more orcs arriving, and suddenly Mohag (of all people) remembers to translate what's being said. “Orcs come. Come quick- come get chief. It bad!” Thanks for that Mohag. Note, Sir Glen also understands the orc language. [ATTACH type="full"]147454[/ATTACH] [B]Tribbits spots the first orc approaching, and hears the sound of many more heading this way fast from the west.[/B] It's going to get busy, and so... A charging orc gets in Tribbits face. But Scrubs arrives in the nick of time to slash the furious humanoid with his longsword. It's not enough, Tribbits gets speared. There are at least a dozen orcs rushing through what looks to be some sort of dining hall, clambering over tables and scattering chairs as they come charging at the Unexpected. Sir Glen imbues his Sacred Weapon and makes for the front line, singing a prayer to the Morning Lord as he goes. Mohag gets stabbed. Krago steps up and puts the first of the newly arrived orcs down. Lappoy fires a trio of Magic Missiles into an orc- it too dies. Mohag goes tonto (raging, Reckless & Frenzy) and then smashes down the last of the original orc lair guards, just the screaming horde of orcs rushing in from the west to take care of now. [Orc guards 900 XP] The barbarian races to get to the party. [ATTACH type="full"]147455[/ATTACH] [B]Brace for impact![/B] By which I mean, of course, my poor orcs. Sosspan's Shatter spell hits a trio of the brutes, and leaves two of them barely clinging onto life. The cavern rumbles and wobbles, part of the ceiling falls. Sho-Rembo douses the oncoming orcs with her Faerie Fire, making a bunch of them much easier targets. But the orcs rush in and start stabbing with their spears, raging Mohag gets skewered again, while Krago gets stabbed for the first time. Scrubs stops a flung spear with his body- Ouch! Seconds later Tribbits repeats the trick. Tribbits, the wannabe sidekick, is down to 2 hit points. [ATTACH type="full"]147456[/ATTACH] [B]The orc's charge has blocked the Unexpected's progress.[/B] Seconds later and Scrubs gets hit again, he's down to 1 hit point. So much for the NPCs. Krago cuts another orc down, and then wounds yet another- and then with an inspiration point and a Cure Wounds spell he restores a little vigour to Tribbits. Sir Glen steps in and slices an orc- his first hit, but its not enough to drop the furious humanoid. Lappoy takes an orc down with his Scorching Rays, and singes another already bathed in the druid's Faerie Fire. Mohag keeps on raging and slicing. Then, Tribbits gets speared again, and now the ex-caravan guard is down and dying. Sosspan's second Shatter spell leaves another two orcs dead, and two more badly injured. The orc tide is breaking. Moments later Corbis slices another orc dead. Sho-Rembo kills another pair with her Thunderwave, and then with an inspiration point, and a Cure Wounds, manages to stir Tribbits from his slumber. There are very suddenly only three orcs left in the fight... [ATTACH type="full"]147457[/ATTACH] [B]The tide has turned.[/B] Tribbits struggles to his feet and then fires a crossbow bolt into the nearest orc. Scrubs, same method, finishes it off. Just two orcs left in the fight. Both of which are swiftly bathed in Trebbelos' Burning Hands. They survive, but now they're both keen to be elsewhere... The first orc retreats to the north, up a set of shallow stairs- there are more orc noises coming from this direction. Seconds later the retreating orc is over taken (and turned around) by the orc chief- Nok Nok, who is heading down the stairs and straight for the Unexpected. The last orc warrior in the room rallies when it hears the chief, and stabs Sho-Rembo, the halfling druid is very suddenly bloodied and beyond. Krago dives to his friends side and stabs the orc brute. While Lappoy strides forward and fires three Magic Missiles into the screaming orc chief. Mohag cuts the last warrior in the chamber down (still Reckless and with Frenzy) and then races on towards the orc chief. [ATTACH type="full"]147458[/ATTACH] [B]Get Nok Nok.[/B] Sir Glen races ahead of the barbarian, but a screeching female orc warrior intercepts the pair- Sosspan hits the hollering harridan with a Fire Bolt. Sho-Rembo finds somewhere to hide and swig down a healing potion, she was down to just four hit points. Another orc warrior comes screaming down the stairs and straight into the melee, followed swiftly by yet another screeching female orc in a frenzy- Sir Glen narrowly avoids getting stabbed. Twice. Missed by one both times. Note the screaming female orcs are chief Nok Nok's warrior consorts- they're tough. The paladin is surrounded. [ATTACH type="full"]147459[/ATTACH] [B]Rescue Sir Glen?[/B] Nok Nok smashes his black mace into the paladin, and it hurts- it hurts a lot (and with an extra pinch of necrotic damage). Krago to the rescue, the dwarf ranger slices an orc down with his hand axe, and then Crits a second with his magical dagger. Lappoy climbs onto a table, the High Magicker is mostly directing traffic, but he also finds the time to finish off the just wounded orc with a Fire Bolt. [Orcs in the second wave 1200 XP] Mohag cuts another orc down- one of the screeching female warriors, but alas his Frenzied attack on the chief is deflected by the brute's chain mail armour. Corbis shoots the last screeching female orc warrior, it survives- and keeps up the horrendous noise. Scrubs meantime takes aim and shoots a crossbow bolt into chief Nok Nok. Trebbelos clambers on to a table and aims his Shatter spell up the stairs, and then employs a few Sorcerery Points to guarantee that chief Nok Nok has a hard time avoiding the spell (Disadvantage on Save). The thunderous burst destroys the last of the screeching female orc warriors, and leaves the chief badly wounded- and suddenly on his own. Nok Nok runs... And in doing so gets sliced again by Mohag. [ATTACH type="full"]147460[/ATTACH] [B]Chasing Nok Nok.[/B] Lappoy puts on a burst of speed and then with an inspiration point slams three more Magic Missiles into the quickly retreating Nok Nok. That, however, was the wizard's last spell. Nok Nok is now critically wounded. But here's a thing... Three seconds later Sosspan performs exactly the same trick- chase, inspiration point- Magic Missile, and... he rolls '5' damage for all three of his force attacks. Nok Nok stumbles and falls. The lair is taken, although it takes a few more moments to confirm this. [Chief Nok Nok and his warrior consorts 650 XP] But then there's the small matter of the rest of the tribe. [ATTACH type="full"]147461[/ATTACH] [B]Orc non-combatants.[/B] The Unexpected corral the non-combatant orcs while they search the fallen, and then the rest of the lair. This takes a little doing- mostly Mohag making threats in orcish kinda fixes it. There's some gold, electrum and silver coins, and... some more surprising items. A Detect Magic ritual reveals that chief Nok Nok's shield and black-as-night mace are both magical. After a short rest, which includes a very aggressive chat with the captured non-combatant orcs, it is discovered that the cavern next door is home to yet more orcs, and that the second tribe is lead by chief Nik Nik, big-brother of... but you've guessed the rest. A little later a secret way through chief Nok Nok's lair is discovered- and a bunch more treasure, including a scroll of Fireball- immediately 'yoinked' by Lappoy, but more of this next time... The pot is up to £62. Stay safe and well you lovely people. Toodles for a bit. Cheers the Unexpected and goonalan. [/QUOTE]
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