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Story Hour
Hard Core Adventurers- KOTS 20.06 The Cathedral of Shadows
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<blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 6025063" data-attributes="member: 16069"><p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 18px">KOTS Part 1: On the Road to Winterhaven.</span></p><p></p><p>[sblock=Party Line Up]</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-size: 22px">The Hard Core Adventurers Level 1</span></p> <p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8080407026/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8476/8080407026_b64e832fdf_c.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p><p></p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p>The King's Road to Winterhaven, a cart’s width- perhaps a little more, of dried mud that snakes north through the Gardbury Downs. Either side of the track are low bluffs- in parts thinly forested, between vast stretches of gorse and sage bushes which tumble down to the track. Here and there isolated boulders and outcroppings of rock- the road climbs slightly. Travellers often say 'it’s all uphill to Winterhaven.' </p><p></p><p>Today is the 20th day of the third month, early-afternoon, and the sun is high in the sky, and except for the breeze nothing stirs.</p><p></p><p>Save the five adventurers; sworn to locate their friend, or master, or father- Douvern Staul, the group have made good time, another hour and they will be in Winterhaven. They travel quickly, eager to be at their task.</p><p></p><p>“I do not understand your request...” Hal, the warforged warrior stares down at Jimmy; the metal man's almost featureless face somehow manages to express confusion. </p><p></p><p>Jimmy continues to grin- “humour me.” The halfling simply states, and goes back to grinning some more.</p><p></p><p>The pair continues to stride down the track that passes for the King's Road this far north of the Gardbury Downs. Eventually Hal looks down at Jimmy again; the halfling is, as always, grinning back up at him.</p><p></p><p>“I wish to make sense of your request.” Hal intones. Jimmy nods, and grins back.</p><p>“You want me to visit a merchant, or shop, or market stall, or similar- and procure from the vendor a lengthy weight?” Hal's metal face develops worry-lines.</p><p>“Ask for a long weight- that's it.” Jimmy grins back.</p><p>“A long weight?” Hal echoes.</p><p>“That's right.” Jimmy concludes with a friendly wink.</p><p></p><p>Hal faces forward and strides on, every now and then over the next two minutes he surreptitiously glances down at his halfling companion- only to be met, every time, by Jimmy's waiting grin.</p><p></p><p>Slightly ahead of the odd pair, Gokan, the half-orc moves forward in short loping trots, each burst followed by a moment of stillness in which the lithe barbarian sniffs and open-mouthed, tastes the air. All the while looking and listening intently. </p><p></p><p>Hedda, the minotaur Priestess of Bahamut, strides forward trying, and failing, to keep up with Gokan. Wrapped tight in her thick cloak to ward off the chill- she is unused to the climate, she strides on, does her best not to shiver too much. </p><p></p><p>Hedda chews anxiously- partially to stop her teeth from chattering, Gokan has already given her one annoyed look. And yet the half-orc says nothing about the metal man and the halfling's inane chatter- 'may all your troubles be little ones', something she'd heard back at the temple. Hedda reflects on the veracity of the statement, and glances back at Jimmy with furrowed brows.</p><p></p><p>Jimmy, of course, meets her gaze- it’s as if he'd known she was going to look back at just that moment, the halfling grins- he's always grinning. Hedda snorts and looks forward again, strides on, shaking her great horned head slightly.</p><p></p><p>At the very rear of the group of adventurers is Sigur, dawdling somewhat; the dwarven Invoker's old and filthy travel cloak trails in the dirt- too big for him, or at least too long, the dwarf being nearly as round as he is tall. Sigur grumbles and mumbles half-forgotten words, not for any particular reason, every now and then he has to race a little to keep up with the others- he makes sure none of them are watching when he does this.</p><p></p><p>“A long weight.” Hal intones.</p><p>Jimmy nods, and grins. </p><p></p><p>Winterhaven should be in sight soon, in an hour or so, Hedda thinks- thank the platinum dragon.</p><p></p><p>Back in the midst of the party Hal turns again to look down at the- yes, grinning Jimmy... then, suddenly, something strange happens.</p><p></p><p>The pair instantly, and simultaneously, look away again- Jimmy hard right, Hal hard left; the pair come to an abrupt halt.</p><p></p><p>At exactly the same moment Gokan screams furiously and launches himself off the beaten track and in to what looks to be a fairly unremarkable bramble thicket.</p><p></p><p>Sigur grumbles, louder now, and in a slightly more coherent manner barks- “Ambush!” Although as Jimmy states later, when Sigur isn't around, it sounded more like “hambush”.</p><p></p><p>[sblock=Kobold Minion]</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/7952566286/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8031/7952566286_9efed8ffa5.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center">Kobold Minion</p> <p style="text-align: center">Minion Level 1</p> <p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8682042062/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8526/8682042062_8e5dcb1cef_o.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p><p></p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p>Less than three seconds later a pair of wide-eyed, ill-equipped and poorly armoured kobolds yap their final yap, and then slump on to the now bloody turf - Gokan's twin axes continue to circle and dart. The half-orc whirls on, moving through the bushes towards a second panicked gaggle of equally shocked-looking kobolds- one of which, Gokan notes, is wearing what looks to be a large roasting tin as a breast plate.</p><p></p><p>[sblock=Picture- Gokan in action]</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8047629342/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8449/8047629342_6248e2c79c_z.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p><p></p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p>And has a saucepan strapped to its head. Gokan thinks about this, a little unsure as to what it signifies, the moment however soon passes- he whirls on, eager to be at his prey.</p><p></p><p>[sblock=Kobold Guttersnipe]</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8047621769/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8181/8047621769_acfb15f353.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center">Kobold Guttersnipe</p> <p style="text-align: center">Artillery Level 1</p> <p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8680930459/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8122/8680930459_86b35e48a1_o.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p><p></p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p>Back on the road waves of spear wielding kobolds rush from the undergrowth, yapping, yelling and babbling excitedly in their strange tongue. </p><p></p><p>Sigur, at the very rear of the group, and somewhat separated from his comrades, is suddenly surrounded, and stabbed- repeatedly. The dwarf's right leg folds under him, he staggers, grumbles loudly and then finds his feet.</p><p></p><p>The dwarf feels light-headed, he begins to notice the patches of red showing through his cloak, he looks up and spies Hedda who has turned around to face him. The minotaur priestess brandishes her shiny holy symbol, and calls forth in a bellowing and yet sonorous voice- “May the light of the platinum dragon burn the unbelievers.” </p><p></p><p>[sblock=Info]</p><p></p><p>Sigur is bloodied by the Kobold Minion onslaught.</p><p></p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p>Three of the Kobolds are struck by glowing rays of scalding silvery-purple light, seconds later the three reptilians are nothing more than ash in the wind- their bodies instantaneously consumed by Hedda's radiant power. The minotaur nods once at Sigur, and then turns back to see what comes next.</p><p></p><p>[sblock=Picture- Hedda in action]</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8047630598/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8178/8047630598_0062b63c82_z.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p><p></p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p>Jimmy, the halfling, meantime spins out a dagger- the sixth kobold minion falls, clutching at the short blade buried deep in its chest.</p><p></p><p>Either side of the road bushes shiver and shake, or else are grabbed and pulled aside- more kobolds approach, but these are not the minions the adventurers have so far faced.</p><p></p><p>In the bush Gokan continues his bloody dance, his blades flashing about him- the half-orc slices in to the gaggle of cowering kobolds. His battleaxe bites in to the saucepan helmed reptilian's roasting tin-style breastplate- slicing through the thin metal. The effect is instantaneous, the guttersnipe's armour, such as it is, peels away from its body- some important tie or tether has been severed. A second later the forlorn looking humanoid is left standing naked amidst a small pile of saucepan lids.</p><p></p><p>Gokan's hand axe follows after his battleaxe, the embarrassed kobold clutches at its throat and staggers backwards, and falls- gurgling and forlornly waving it soon expires. Gokan however seems almost not to notice, the half-orc whirls and spins on, smashing in to the last two minions- again both of the his blades find their targets, the pair follow the guttersnipe down in to the dirt. </p><p></p><p>Back on the road, Jimmy is being menaced by a kobold skirmisher, clad in leather armour and expertly wielding a spear. Jimmy dances and, with his dagger, blocks the reptilian creature's repeated stabbing attacks.</p><p></p><p>[sblock=Kobold Skirmisher]</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8047622535/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8317/8047622535_4c718e73a0.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center">Kobold Skirmisher</p> <p style="text-align: center">Skirmisher Level 1</p> <p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8680930147/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8397/8680930147_f4e182d03c_o.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p><p></p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p>Further up the road a skull-masked kobold dodges out from behind a huge boulder, the creature mutters strange yapping phrases and with circling hands conjures a greenish ball of flickering energy. The wyrmpriest leaps a little and with one hand launches the energy orb towards the adventurers on the road. </p><p></p><p>Hal, the warforged fighter, watches the odd looking missile in, and at the last moment dodges right, straight in to the acid grenade- the metal man sizzles and smokes as he burns. </p><p></p><p>[sblock=Info]</p><p></p><p>Hal is bloodied by the Kobold Wyrmpriest’s Energy Orb taking 15 acid damage.</p><p></p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p>[sblock=Kobold Wyrmpriest]</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8047627838/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8030/8047627838_a59bed58ac.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center">Kobold Wyrmpriest</p> <p style="text-align: center">Artillery Level 3</p> <p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8680929619/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8119/8680929619_e35fcb6c18_o.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p><p></p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p>Moving out to join the wyrmpriest comes another kobold; this creature is armed with a lengthy, and dangerous-looking, pike. The creature snarls, grips the haft of the weapon tightly, and readies it to keep all enemies at bay- guarding its master.</p><p></p><p>[sblock=Kobold Pikeman]</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8047627472/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8316/8047627472_8ea722ea96.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center">Kobold Pikeman</p> <p style="text-align: center">Brute Level 2</p> <p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8682041982/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8389/8682041982_e1e88cc5fe_o.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p><p></p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p>Yet another kobold clanks out from cover, dashes across the road- straight for the still sizzling and spitting warforged. The scale armoured dragonshield ducks and dodges- yaps and suddenly points up and to the right. Hal foolishly follows the creature's gesture- looking away from his opponent for just a second- which is incidentally all the time the kobold needs. The dragonshield slices with its short sword. The blade pierces both of the Hal's knee-caps, sparks fly as the metal man staggers and totters. He windmills his hands furiously, trying desperately to maintain his balance, he fails, and falls- landing hard on the packed earth.</p><p></p><p>[sblock=Kobold Dragonshield]</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8047626752/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8460/8047626752_f84d15899e.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p> <p style="text-align: center">Kobold Dragonshield</p> <p style="text-align: center">Soldier Level 2</p> <p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8680930579/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8256/8680930579_bea93b968e_o.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p><p></p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p>The light goes out of Hal's eyes.</p><p></p><p>[sblock=Picture- Hal falls]</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8048412763/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8171/8048412763_f32b61078c_z.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p><p></p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p>[sblock=Info]</p><p></p><p>Hal is reduced to -12 hit points by the Kobold Dragonshield’s Dirty Tactics attack taking 22 damage, on a Crit. Three more damage and Hal is dead forever (negative bloodied hit points).</p><p></p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p>Sigur, still at the rear of the group, sucks up the hurt and shouts a lot while pointing skywards furiously with his rod- his words are indecipherable, more angular barked gruff sounds. A dark cloud forms in an instant high overhead, there follows a low grumbling sound which rumbles on for a second or two before ending in three staccato thunderclaps that suck the air from the assembled combatant's lungs.</p><p></p><p>Ahead of Sigur one of the kobold minions suddenly concertinas and collapses, all the life gone from it. The pair of kobolds facing Jimmy, and the fallen Hal, are likewise affected by the thunderclaps- the dragonshield staggers a little, its scale armour rent and broken in places. While the skirmisher has to plant its spear in the ground, and clutch on to it- in an effort to stay on its feet.</p><p></p><p>Sigur however doesn't stop invoking, or pointing, a pair of ghostly glowing hands suddenly appear and move swiftly towards their targets, swooping and diving through the melee. The first hand bursts against the dragonshield's breast, causing the creature to stagger further. The second slams in to the skirmisher, who spins around his planted spear, trying desperately to avoid collapse.</p><p></p><p>[sblock=Picture- Sigur dishes the hurt]</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8048426125/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8298/8048426125_354ff4808e_z.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p><p></p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p>Jimmy sees his opening, shimmies over to the skirmisher and on his second attempt stabs the kobold in its side; the creature slides down its spear further, and then closes its eyes and falls lifeless on to the ground.</p><p></p><p>Hedda meantime gestures and chants towards Hal, the fallen metal man, “Bahamut preserve!” She yells over the noise of the battle. Hal's eyes half-open, the warforged flickers back in to life.</p><p></p><p>The minotaur priestess turns back again and strides towards Sigur, she flails wildly with her mace at a pair of kobold minions; she fails to connect with either of the sneaky dexterous reptiles.</p><p></p><p>Suddenly bursting back from the bushes comes Gokan, the half-orc is screaming again- his battle cry, he spins with his battleaxe and... THUK! The dragonshield is cleanly decapitated; the kobold's head spirals in to the air only to fall neatly at Gokan's feet. </p><p></p><p>[sblock=Picture- Gokan in action, again]</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8048443856/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8314/8048443856_7fa39932d1_z.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p><p></p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p>A terrified kobold minion gawps at Gokan in action, the small reptilian humanoid braces for impact as the whirling half-orc whirls on. Gokan smashes in to the creature, the kobold falls. The barbarian comes to a halt, grins back at his compatriots and then looks ahead at the kobold pikeman and wyrmpriest- pointing the way with his battleaxe, he roars. </p><p></p><p>Hal lurches to his feet and strides back a little to help Sigur and Hedda, the warforged's greatsword cleaves clean through one of the minions and in to the last of the creatures- all of the lesser kobolds are vanquished.</p><p></p><p>[sblock=Picture- Hal versus the Minions]</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8048438821/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8179/8048438821_9ea4ee9b02_z.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p><p></p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p>Back up the road the kobold pikeman acknowledges Gokan's challenge and scurries forwards, manages to dodge the half-orcs defence, and stabs Gokan in the side; although the half-orc twists at the last moment and deflects most of the force of the attack.</p><p></p><p>The kobold wyrmpriest chants and gesticulates as waves of positive energy fan from its hands; the pikeman is outlined in a protective furze. The spell-casting reptilian conjures again- another green grenade which it flings at Jimmy, the halfling reacts quickly, and yet still fails to avoid the burst- he screams as he burns, desperately trying to wipe the acid from his face and upper body.</p><p></p><p>Bad Derek, the kobold wyrmpriest, scurries back a little way- ready to flee in an instant, with only the kobold pikeman between it and the adventurers.</p><p></p><p>The kobold pikeman stabs at Gokan again, this time a hearty blow which punctures the half-orc's armour, and body. Gokan bleeds profusely but is far from beaten- he smashes his hand axe down on the kobold's pike, shattering the haft of the weapon. He spins forward, and whirls, his battleaxe comes full circle and bites deep in to the kobold's body. </p><p></p><p>An instant later Jimmy's dagger spirals out and thuds in to the pikeman's gut, a second later Hedda's mace whacks in to the side of the reptilian's head- the creature attempts to back away but is much too slow. Hal steps forward and almost cuts the kobold in two.</p><p></p><p>[sblock=Picture- Pikeman overkill]</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8048444650/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8036/8048444650_67c30aa7e5_z.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p><p></p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p>The adventurers collectively look up, just in time to see the sneaky wyrmpriest sprinting out of sight...</p><p></p><p>The battle is won, the war has just begun.</p><p></p><p>[sblock=Encounter #1 Synopsis, PC XP & DM’s thoughts]</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8080434012/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8056/8080434012_31bdb286ce_c.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 15px">Encounter #1 The Kobold Ambush, starring-</span></p><p></p><p>Kobold Minion (Minion Level 1) x12</p><p>Kobold Guttersnipe (Artillery Level 1) x1</p><p>Kobold Skirmisher (Skirmisher Level 1) x1</p><p>Kobold Dragonshield (Soldier Level 2) x1</p><p>Kobold Pikeman (Brute Level 2) x1</p><p>Kobold Wyrmpriest (Artillery Level 3) x1</p><p></p><p>Total 900 XP for a Level 4 Encounter.</p><p></p><p>A beefed up version of the original encounter in the module, basically I’ve condensed the four kobold encounters in to three and shared out the XP to make them a little tougher, although I’ve obviously not made the Irontooth encounter any tougher. </p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 15px">PC XP</span></p><p></p><p>150 XP each for a total of 150 XP in total (PCs Level 1).</p><p></p><p>Note because the Kobold Wyrmpriest Bad Derek fled, and without taking a single hit, then I didn’t give the guys the XP for the little guy, for three reasons-</p><p>1) Because I told the PCs the above and now they want revenge (and their missing XP).</p><p>2) Because they’re going to get another crack at Bad Derek.</p><p>3) Because I’m bad.</p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 15px">DM Thoughts-</span></p><p></p><p>Three of the five PCs have played this module before, although one of them only got as far as a TPK courtesy of Irontooth. I like the opening encounters so I didn’t want to mess with them too much, besides kobolds always play well in low level games- I tend to RP them as a mixture of sneaky, cruel and stupid. I also tend to throw lots of minions at low level players; the mook count is high because I think it always looks good on the map with piles of dead bad guys.</p><p></p><p>The encounter played well, particularly when Hal almost got cut in two; we’re using boosted to MM3 damage, erring on the nasty side. We agreed at the start of the campaign that the thing that was missing quite a lot of the time in 4e play was the threat. Therefore the knowledge that one bad hit from a non-minion type can leave a PC bloodied or worse certainly concentrates the mind.</p><p></p><p>To counter this PCs have one action point per encounter- they’re not allowed to save these up so they know to use them, and tend to make good use of them early on in an attempt to take out as many enemies as they can quickly.</p><p></p><p>I was of course overjoyed that the Wyrmpriest managed to get away.</p><p></p><p>[/sblock]</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8045379223/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8170/8045379223_65683bd711.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Goonalan, post: 6025063, member: 16069"] [CENTER][SIZE="5"]KOTS Part 1: On the Road to Winterhaven.[/SIZE][/CENTER] [sblock=Party Line Up] [CENTER][SIZE="6"]The Hard Core Adventurers Level 1[/SIZE] [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8080407026/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8476/8080407026_b64e832fdf_c.jpg[/img][/url][/CENTER] [/sblock] The King's Road to Winterhaven, a cart’s width- perhaps a little more, of dried mud that snakes north through the Gardbury Downs. Either side of the track are low bluffs- in parts thinly forested, between vast stretches of gorse and sage bushes which tumble down to the track. Here and there isolated boulders and outcroppings of rock- the road climbs slightly. Travellers often say 'it’s all uphill to Winterhaven.' Today is the 20th day of the third month, early-afternoon, and the sun is high in the sky, and except for the breeze nothing stirs. Save the five adventurers; sworn to locate their friend, or master, or father- Douvern Staul, the group have made good time, another hour and they will be in Winterhaven. They travel quickly, eager to be at their task. “I do not understand your request...” Hal, the warforged warrior stares down at Jimmy; the metal man's almost featureless face somehow manages to express confusion. Jimmy continues to grin- “humour me.” The halfling simply states, and goes back to grinning some more. The pair continues to stride down the track that passes for the King's Road this far north of the Gardbury Downs. Eventually Hal looks down at Jimmy again; the halfling is, as always, grinning back up at him. “I wish to make sense of your request.” Hal intones. Jimmy nods, and grins back. “You want me to visit a merchant, or shop, or market stall, or similar- and procure from the vendor a lengthy weight?” Hal's metal face develops worry-lines. “Ask for a long weight- that's it.” Jimmy grins back. “A long weight?” Hal echoes. “That's right.” Jimmy concludes with a friendly wink. Hal faces forward and strides on, every now and then over the next two minutes he surreptitiously glances down at his halfling companion- only to be met, every time, by Jimmy's waiting grin. Slightly ahead of the odd pair, Gokan, the half-orc moves forward in short loping trots, each burst followed by a moment of stillness in which the lithe barbarian sniffs and open-mouthed, tastes the air. All the while looking and listening intently. Hedda, the minotaur Priestess of Bahamut, strides forward trying, and failing, to keep up with Gokan. Wrapped tight in her thick cloak to ward off the chill- she is unused to the climate, she strides on, does her best not to shiver too much. Hedda chews anxiously- partially to stop her teeth from chattering, Gokan has already given her one annoyed look. And yet the half-orc says nothing about the metal man and the halfling's inane chatter- 'may all your troubles be little ones', something she'd heard back at the temple. Hedda reflects on the veracity of the statement, and glances back at Jimmy with furrowed brows. Jimmy, of course, meets her gaze- it’s as if he'd known she was going to look back at just that moment, the halfling grins- he's always grinning. Hedda snorts and looks forward again, strides on, shaking her great horned head slightly. At the very rear of the group of adventurers is Sigur, dawdling somewhat; the dwarven Invoker's old and filthy travel cloak trails in the dirt- too big for him, or at least too long, the dwarf being nearly as round as he is tall. Sigur grumbles and mumbles half-forgotten words, not for any particular reason, every now and then he has to race a little to keep up with the others- he makes sure none of them are watching when he does this. “A long weight.” Hal intones. Jimmy nods, and grins. Winterhaven should be in sight soon, in an hour or so, Hedda thinks- thank the platinum dragon. Back in the midst of the party Hal turns again to look down at the- yes, grinning Jimmy... then, suddenly, something strange happens. The pair instantly, and simultaneously, look away again- Jimmy hard right, Hal hard left; the pair come to an abrupt halt. At exactly the same moment Gokan screams furiously and launches himself off the beaten track and in to what looks to be a fairly unremarkable bramble thicket. Sigur grumbles, louder now, and in a slightly more coherent manner barks- “Ambush!” Although as Jimmy states later, when Sigur isn't around, it sounded more like “hambush”. [sblock=Kobold Minion] [CENTER][url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/7952566286/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8031/7952566286_9efed8ffa5.jpg[/img][/url] Kobold Minion Minion Level 1 [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8682042062/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8526/8682042062_8e5dcb1cef_o.png[/img][/url][/CENTER] [/sblock] Less than three seconds later a pair of wide-eyed, ill-equipped and poorly armoured kobolds yap their final yap, and then slump on to the now bloody turf - Gokan's twin axes continue to circle and dart. The half-orc whirls on, moving through the bushes towards a second panicked gaggle of equally shocked-looking kobolds- one of which, Gokan notes, is wearing what looks to be a large roasting tin as a breast plate. [sblock=Picture- Gokan in action] [CENTER][url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8047629342/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8449/8047629342_6248e2c79c_z.jpg[/img][/url][/CENTER] [/sblock] And has a saucepan strapped to its head. Gokan thinks about this, a little unsure as to what it signifies, the moment however soon passes- he whirls on, eager to be at his prey. [sblock=Kobold Guttersnipe] [CENTER][url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8047621769/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8181/8047621769_acfb15f353.jpg[/img][/url] Kobold Guttersnipe Artillery Level 1 [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8680930459/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8122/8680930459_86b35e48a1_o.png[/img][/url][/CENTER] [/sblock] Back on the road waves of spear wielding kobolds rush from the undergrowth, yapping, yelling and babbling excitedly in their strange tongue. Sigur, at the very rear of the group, and somewhat separated from his comrades, is suddenly surrounded, and stabbed- repeatedly. The dwarf's right leg folds under him, he staggers, grumbles loudly and then finds his feet. The dwarf feels light-headed, he begins to notice the patches of red showing through his cloak, he looks up and spies Hedda who has turned around to face him. The minotaur priestess brandishes her shiny holy symbol, and calls forth in a bellowing and yet sonorous voice- “May the light of the platinum dragon burn the unbelievers.” [sblock=Info] Sigur is bloodied by the Kobold Minion onslaught. [/sblock] Three of the Kobolds are struck by glowing rays of scalding silvery-purple light, seconds later the three reptilians are nothing more than ash in the wind- their bodies instantaneously consumed by Hedda's radiant power. The minotaur nods once at Sigur, and then turns back to see what comes next. [sblock=Picture- Hedda in action] [CENTER][url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8047630598/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8178/8047630598_0062b63c82_z.jpg[/img][/url][/CENTER] [/sblock] Jimmy, the halfling, meantime spins out a dagger- the sixth kobold minion falls, clutching at the short blade buried deep in its chest. Either side of the road bushes shiver and shake, or else are grabbed and pulled aside- more kobolds approach, but these are not the minions the adventurers have so far faced. In the bush Gokan continues his bloody dance, his blades flashing about him- the half-orc slices in to the gaggle of cowering kobolds. His battleaxe bites in to the saucepan helmed reptilian's roasting tin-style breastplate- slicing through the thin metal. The effect is instantaneous, the guttersnipe's armour, such as it is, peels away from its body- some important tie or tether has been severed. A second later the forlorn looking humanoid is left standing naked amidst a small pile of saucepan lids. Gokan's hand axe follows after his battleaxe, the embarrassed kobold clutches at its throat and staggers backwards, and falls- gurgling and forlornly waving it soon expires. Gokan however seems almost not to notice, the half-orc whirls and spins on, smashing in to the last two minions- again both of the his blades find their targets, the pair follow the guttersnipe down in to the dirt. Back on the road, Jimmy is being menaced by a kobold skirmisher, clad in leather armour and expertly wielding a spear. Jimmy dances and, with his dagger, blocks the reptilian creature's repeated stabbing attacks. [sblock=Kobold Skirmisher] [CENTER][url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8047622535/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8317/8047622535_4c718e73a0.jpg[/img][/url] Kobold Skirmisher Skirmisher Level 1 [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8680930147/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8397/8680930147_f4e182d03c_o.png[/img][/url][/CENTER] [/sblock] Further up the road a skull-masked kobold dodges out from behind a huge boulder, the creature mutters strange yapping phrases and with circling hands conjures a greenish ball of flickering energy. The wyrmpriest leaps a little and with one hand launches the energy orb towards the adventurers on the road. Hal, the warforged fighter, watches the odd looking missile in, and at the last moment dodges right, straight in to the acid grenade- the metal man sizzles and smokes as he burns. [sblock=Info] Hal is bloodied by the Kobold Wyrmpriest’s Energy Orb taking 15 acid damage. [/sblock] [sblock=Kobold Wyrmpriest] [CENTER][url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8047627838/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8030/8047627838_a59bed58ac.jpg[/img][/url] Kobold Wyrmpriest Artillery Level 3 [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8680929619/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8119/8680929619_e35fcb6c18_o.png[/img][/url][/CENTER] [/sblock] Moving out to join the wyrmpriest comes another kobold; this creature is armed with a lengthy, and dangerous-looking, pike. The creature snarls, grips the haft of the weapon tightly, and readies it to keep all enemies at bay- guarding its master. [sblock=Kobold Pikeman] [CENTER][url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8047627472/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8316/8047627472_8ea722ea96.jpg[/img][/url] Kobold Pikeman Brute Level 2 [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8682041982/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8389/8682041982_e1e88cc5fe_o.png[/img][/url][/CENTER] [/sblock] Yet another kobold clanks out from cover, dashes across the road- straight for the still sizzling and spitting warforged. The scale armoured dragonshield ducks and dodges- yaps and suddenly points up and to the right. Hal foolishly follows the creature's gesture- looking away from his opponent for just a second- which is incidentally all the time the kobold needs. The dragonshield slices with its short sword. The blade pierces both of the Hal's knee-caps, sparks fly as the metal man staggers and totters. He windmills his hands furiously, trying desperately to maintain his balance, he fails, and falls- landing hard on the packed earth. [sblock=Kobold Dragonshield] [CENTER][url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8047626752/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8460/8047626752_f84d15899e.jpg[/img][/url] Kobold Dragonshield Soldier Level 2 [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8680930579/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8256/8680930579_bea93b968e_o.png[/img][/url][/CENTER] [/sblock] The light goes out of Hal's eyes. [sblock=Picture- Hal falls] [CENTER] [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8048412763/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8171/8048412763_f32b61078c_z.jpg[/img][/url][/CENTER] [/sblock] [sblock=Info] Hal is reduced to -12 hit points by the Kobold Dragonshield’s Dirty Tactics attack taking 22 damage, on a Crit. Three more damage and Hal is dead forever (negative bloodied hit points). [/sblock] Sigur, still at the rear of the group, sucks up the hurt and shouts a lot while pointing skywards furiously with his rod- his words are indecipherable, more angular barked gruff sounds. A dark cloud forms in an instant high overhead, there follows a low grumbling sound which rumbles on for a second or two before ending in three staccato thunderclaps that suck the air from the assembled combatant's lungs. Ahead of Sigur one of the kobold minions suddenly concertinas and collapses, all the life gone from it. The pair of kobolds facing Jimmy, and the fallen Hal, are likewise affected by the thunderclaps- the dragonshield staggers a little, its scale armour rent and broken in places. While the skirmisher has to plant its spear in the ground, and clutch on to it- in an effort to stay on its feet. Sigur however doesn't stop invoking, or pointing, a pair of ghostly glowing hands suddenly appear and move swiftly towards their targets, swooping and diving through the melee. The first hand bursts against the dragonshield's breast, causing the creature to stagger further. The second slams in to the skirmisher, who spins around his planted spear, trying desperately to avoid collapse. [sblock=Picture- Sigur dishes the hurt] [CENTER] [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8048426125/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8298/8048426125_354ff4808e_z.jpg[/img][/url][/CENTER] [/sblock] Jimmy sees his opening, shimmies over to the skirmisher and on his second attempt stabs the kobold in its side; the creature slides down its spear further, and then closes its eyes and falls lifeless on to the ground. Hedda meantime gestures and chants towards Hal, the fallen metal man, “Bahamut preserve!” She yells over the noise of the battle. Hal's eyes half-open, the warforged flickers back in to life. The minotaur priestess turns back again and strides towards Sigur, she flails wildly with her mace at a pair of kobold minions; she fails to connect with either of the sneaky dexterous reptiles. Suddenly bursting back from the bushes comes Gokan, the half-orc is screaming again- his battle cry, he spins with his battleaxe and... THUK! The dragonshield is cleanly decapitated; the kobold's head spirals in to the air only to fall neatly at Gokan's feet. [sblock=Picture- Gokan in action, again] [CENTER][url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8048443856/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8314/8048443856_7fa39932d1_z.jpg[/img][/url][/CENTER] [/sblock] A terrified kobold minion gawps at Gokan in action, the small reptilian humanoid braces for impact as the whirling half-orc whirls on. Gokan smashes in to the creature, the kobold falls. The barbarian comes to a halt, grins back at his compatriots and then looks ahead at the kobold pikeman and wyrmpriest- pointing the way with his battleaxe, he roars. Hal lurches to his feet and strides back a little to help Sigur and Hedda, the warforged's greatsword cleaves clean through one of the minions and in to the last of the creatures- all of the lesser kobolds are vanquished. [sblock=Picture- Hal versus the Minions] [CENTER][url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8048438821/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8179/8048438821_9ea4ee9b02_z.jpg[/img][/url][/CENTER] [/sblock] Back up the road the kobold pikeman acknowledges Gokan's challenge and scurries forwards, manages to dodge the half-orcs defence, and stabs Gokan in the side; although the half-orc twists at the last moment and deflects most of the force of the attack. The kobold wyrmpriest chants and gesticulates as waves of positive energy fan from its hands; the pikeman is outlined in a protective furze. The spell-casting reptilian conjures again- another green grenade which it flings at Jimmy, the halfling reacts quickly, and yet still fails to avoid the burst- he screams as he burns, desperately trying to wipe the acid from his face and upper body. Bad Derek, the kobold wyrmpriest, scurries back a little way- ready to flee in an instant, with only the kobold pikeman between it and the adventurers. The kobold pikeman stabs at Gokan again, this time a hearty blow which punctures the half-orc's armour, and body. Gokan bleeds profusely but is far from beaten- he smashes his hand axe down on the kobold's pike, shattering the haft of the weapon. He spins forward, and whirls, his battleaxe comes full circle and bites deep in to the kobold's body. An instant later Jimmy's dagger spirals out and thuds in to the pikeman's gut, a second later Hedda's mace whacks in to the side of the reptilian's head- the creature attempts to back away but is much too slow. Hal steps forward and almost cuts the kobold in two. [sblock=Picture- Pikeman overkill] [CENTER][url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8048444650/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8036/8048444650_67c30aa7e5_z.jpg[/img][/url][/CENTER] [/sblock] The adventurers collectively look up, just in time to see the sneaky wyrmpriest sprinting out of sight... The battle is won, the war has just begun. [sblock=Encounter #1 Synopsis, PC XP & DM’s thoughts] [CENTER][url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8080434012/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8056/8080434012_31bdb286ce_c.jpg[/img][/url][/CENTER] [SIZE="4"]Encounter #1 The Kobold Ambush, starring-[/SIZE] Kobold Minion (Minion Level 1) x12 Kobold Guttersnipe (Artillery Level 1) x1 Kobold Skirmisher (Skirmisher Level 1) x1 Kobold Dragonshield (Soldier Level 2) x1 Kobold Pikeman (Brute Level 2) x1 Kobold Wyrmpriest (Artillery Level 3) x1 Total 900 XP for a Level 4 Encounter. A beefed up version of the original encounter in the module, basically I’ve condensed the four kobold encounters in to three and shared out the XP to make them a little tougher, although I’ve obviously not made the Irontooth encounter any tougher. [SIZE="4"]PC XP[/SIZE] 150 XP each for a total of 150 XP in total (PCs Level 1). Note because the Kobold Wyrmpriest Bad Derek fled, and without taking a single hit, then I didn’t give the guys the XP for the little guy, for three reasons- 1) Because I told the PCs the above and now they want revenge (and their missing XP). 2) Because they’re going to get another crack at Bad Derek. 3) Because I’m bad. [SIZE="4"]DM Thoughts-[/SIZE] Three of the five PCs have played this module before, although one of them only got as far as a TPK courtesy of Irontooth. I like the opening encounters so I didn’t want to mess with them too much, besides kobolds always play well in low level games- I tend to RP them as a mixture of sneaky, cruel and stupid. I also tend to throw lots of minions at low level players; the mook count is high because I think it always looks good on the map with piles of dead bad guys. The encounter played well, particularly when Hal almost got cut in two; we’re using boosted to MM3 damage, erring on the nasty side. We agreed at the start of the campaign that the thing that was missing quite a lot of the time in 4e play was the threat. Therefore the knowledge that one bad hit from a non-minion type can leave a PC bloodied or worse certainly concentrates the mind. To counter this PCs have one action point per encounter- they’re not allowed to save these up so they know to use them, and tend to make good use of them early on in an attempt to take out as many enemies as they can quickly. I was of course overjoyed that the Wyrmpriest managed to get away. [/sblock] [CENTER][url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8045379223/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8170/8045379223_65683bd711.jpg[/img][/url][/CENTER] [/QUOTE]
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Hard Core Adventurers- KOTS 20.06 The Cathedral of Shadows
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