Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 9631662" data-attributes="member: 16069">Not KotSSession #002a: “They’ve got a kobold!”The Adventurers (in no particular order).Chromium Malifax aka C-Fax (Rob), Male Silver Dragonborn (Noble) Paladin of Bahamut Level 1Mavis Golightly aka Mave (Sandy), Female Half-Elf (Acolyte) Cleric of Chauntea Level 1Arbuthnot McGow aka McGow (Al), Male Mountain Dwarf (Soldier) Fighter Level 1The Inspector aka Spek (Kenji), Male Rock Gnome (Charlatan) Sorcerer Level 1Travis Pickle (Yui), Male Lightfoot Halfling (Criminal) Rogue Level 1To-do list/Quests-#001 Save Dicky Bird aka The Fat Pidgin, and bring him home safely to Edna Gingster, keep in mind Dicky could be travelling incognito. Reward: 2000 XP & 1000gp each.#002 Find and investigate the ancient dragon burial site Dicky was looking for, he might be there. Reward: 250 XP.#003 Destroy the kobold menace, including their leader- ‘Chopper.’ Reward: 500 XP & 75gp, with 1gp paid for every kobold tail handed in.I can’t sustain the creative writing (this write up is the last of it) and so I’m going to switch to the one DM to another style of writing here, just what happened- a few funny (or other) bits, enough of the plot as needs to be made clear, and on we go.I’ll be DMing the seventh session of this game tomorrow (10th April) so, I'm way behind and starting to forget who did what to whom etc.And so, the last of the purple-ish prose…It’s mid-afternoon when the adventurers arrive at the ancient dragon burial site. A cave mouth- the object of their quest is nothing much to look at, hidden behind a stand of trees. The dark entrance leads into a low bluff, the size and shape of a large (long) burial mound, perhaps. The sides and upper area of the bluff is likewise wooded, a wild island set in a sea of farmer’s fields.It’s mid-summer, bees buzz and there’s the scent of wildflowers in the air- all, seemingly, is well with the world.There’s nothing to see and so after twenty minutes of cautious watching Travis gets bored and decides to sneak across to see what's what- much to C-Fax's chagrin, the paladin wanted a proper recon before going in.[ATTACH=full]401912[/ATTACH]Note everyone but Travis is back in the trees, but this is all of the map and so the PCs tokens have to be somewhere.Travis has a look around inside- it's a ruined complex in a large cavern- odd, there's a little light in here, from almost gone-out guttering torches, and here and there are deep (bottomless?) looking crevices in the cavern floor.Also, Travis needs light a little more light to be effective- also it’s spooky looking in here, he therefore signals back to his colleagues to stay put while he has a look around. Then he takes the most cursory of glances about and waits five minutes by the doors before signalling his colleagues over. Nothing to report.Soon after the rest of the gang arrive, crossing the clearing to the cave- one by one- at a fast trot, and diving into cover.C-Fax hisses a warning- “Do not split the party!”But that’s exactly what happens- all five folk wander off in different directions, C-Fax included- this after getting a few torches lit, for those that need them.[ATTACH=full]401913[/ATTACH]We get to here-[ATTACH=full]401914[/ATTACH]People are quite definitely living here, there’s the remains of a fire- still warm, and bedrolls, and here and there provisions, or else the remains of the same- and lots of litter, discarded bottles, boxes, jugs, pots and…[ATTACH=full]401915[/ATTACH]And a very comfy looking big bed- in an otherwise dank cavern. Most odd.Also in the bedchamber, propped against the wall, is a full-length mirror; the artefact an antique (Spek thinks) and therefore valuable (Travis reckons).“It’s silver” Travis states with a smile and a whistle.“Electrum”, McGow corrects- “a couple of hundred gold, at least.” Travis’ smile gets wider.The glass in the mirror is either crazed or else so weathered and worn as to have entirely lost its sheen. The point being- it has little use as a mirror, and yet- here it is.The adventurers continue to investigate the living area, but there’s nothing much to be found- at least nothing very interesting, no sign of Dicky Bird, no sign of a dragon or its treasure.But then…RUFF. RUFF. GRRRR.“That’s a dog.” Mavis notes, as the sound echoes to the adventurer’s ears.“Several dogs.” Spek adds.The barks and growls are getting louder.And so-“Helloooo! Can we help you?” C-Fax shouts as loud as he can into the growl-punctuated gloom.Which as a response goes down quite badly with his companions, never mind the enemy, McGow has some choice things to say about the paladin.“You can die!” Comes the gurgling and creepy reply from the dark, followed shortly after by a burst of snorting laughter.Then the sound of the dogs again- closer still.[ATTACH=full]401916[/ATTACH]Here are the bad folk, just entering their lair, and thus cutting off the PCs exit.[spoiler= The Bad Guys]Enc#2 Mad Bad Hagrid & chums 335 XP CR 3 Deadly.4 x Mastiff (25xp each) As per MM Mastiff except a better HP spread = 1d5+4.4 x Bandit (25xp each) As per MM Bandit except a better HP spread = 2d5+8.1 x Kobold Stoner (35xp) As per MM Kobold except AC 14 (Leather), Resist: Acid, Dex 16 (+5 To Hit), Con 10, Special Fire & Glue shots with Sling, & better HP spread = 2d4+4.1 x Hagrid, Deep Gnome (100xp) As per MM Deep Gnome except Wis 11, Cha 11, 5 HD & MAX HP = 40. Hagrid also wears a magic item, an amulet, that acts like a +1 Ring of Protection (+1 to AC & Saves).Tactics- Hagrid- shout (in a squeaky voice) and give orders (and make threats), order the attack- get Blur going and fling some poisoned darts; Kobold Stoner- stay close to Hagrid and sling- sling- sling, with Pack Tactics and special shots; Bandits- take orders from Hagrid, fire crossbows from cover, and then charge in to melee when the opportunity arises; Mastiffs- charge into melee and bring the PCs down.[/spoiler]Soon after the bandits are sighted, or else a bunch of rough-dressed men with hounds on straining leashes are, the PCs spot three pairs of these (bandit + mastiff), C-Fax also notes that the bandits are armed with crossbows.McGow, less impressed (with C-Fax still) notes that they are being surrounded, or else backed into a corner. The dwarf continues to berate C-Fax.There's a little chatter back and forth here, but not much- C-Fax is trying to get a conversation going but Hagrid is not biting because he thinks that he is the end-of-level-bad-guy, he does everything but mwa-ha-ha, it’s as if someone has neglected to tell him that he’s starring in encounter two.So, Hagrid in a very squeaky voice makes pronouncements-“You will beg me for your life!”“I will be your undoing!”“Death comes for you this day!”That kind of tosh, and again all in a very silly/squeaky voice (or else as silly/squeaky as I can go- there's a reason for this, keep reading- next instalment) and all pronouncements accompanied by an idiotic snorting laugh.Keep in mind Hagrid has got 40 hit points, and a Blur spell to make things even harder for the PCs.Then… it all kicks off- the hounds are unleashed, and the bandits start sniping with their crossbows, and surprise- surprise, a small claypot smashes into a stone wall maybe a foot away from C-Fax’s head. The pot shatters and releases a cloud of yellow dust which burns in the air.“They’ve got a kobold!” C-Fax shrieks like a seven-year-old child.[ATTACH=full]401917[/ATTACH]Here comes trouble!Spek tags a bandit with a Ray of Frost, Travis buries an arrow in the same guy’s back- the bandit staggers back in to cover.Bloody hell is the consensus- these guys are tough.C-Fax has two hounds on him, a third is on the way, the paladin stabs one of the beasts, Travis (IP) sinks an arrow in it and finishes it off.[ATTACH=full]401918[/ATTACH]McGow guards the way to the south, the dwarf smashes a leaping mastiff out of the air- dead (two dogs down) and then runs screaming at the bandit that just unleashed the hound and rolls a '1' (IP).Back oop north, C-Fax gets bitten, the paladin retaliates by spewing his icy cold dragon’s breath over the two hounds facing him- they both survive the chilly ordeal.Note, three bandits and the kobold are making good use of their missile weapons, but no hits so far, the PCs are trying their best to stay in cover.“The Blessings of Chauntea!” Mavis hollers, her Bless spell encompasses C-Fax, Spek & Travis, the three members of the party that she can see, the priestess however stays back in cover, and behind her man- C-Fax.Spek steps in- mumbles several odd-shaped (and sounding) words and then unleashes a delightful array of shimmering colours from his hands- Colour Spray.“Look at the beautiful colours, look at them shine…” The gnome offers in a soft sing-song voice.The three creatures caught in the light show- the two chilled hounds, and a bandit just breaking cover are suddenly left floundering. The lights flicker and fade leaving the trio blind.“They cannot see- take them down.” Spek hisses and then takes a step (or three) back and away from the action.Down south-McGow slams his warhammer into the bandit he’s fighting, the grizzly fellow takes the hit and comes back for more. The bandit leers, spilling a mouthful of blood and drool, McGow notes that the fellow has filed many of his teeth to points. Classy.Too late- the bandit stabs McGow in his right shoulder.“I bet yer taste good!” The bandit adds and then licks his lips.[ATTACH=full]401919[/ATTACH]Spek’s Colour Spray to full effect, down south McGow is keeping a bandit at bay.Travis sinks an arrow into the newly blinded bandit, the poor fellow screams, armed with a scimitar the mad fellow spins on the spot, warding off imaginary foes.“Hagrid! Hagrid! I can’t see! Help me, Hagrid!” He screams.The blinded hounds, relying on scent, snap and yowl at C-Fax, the dragonborn lurches forward and cuts one of the beasts down (that’s three dead), he doesn’t like to but there’s little else he can do.Alas in doing so the paladin exposes himself again, stepping out of cover- something thumps hard into his upper legs, and shatters- another claypot delivered by the kobold stoner, this one filled with a glue-like substance that bursts free, and… falls impotently of the dusty ancient floor of the ruin. The paladin is too quick this time, he gets away- falling back into the arms of his beloved.C-Fax is however breathing hard, he’s now beyond bloodied.“Get them! Get them! We will dine upon their flesh!” A squeaky voice offers, although full-throated this time, and then cackles and snorts some more in glee.Mavis reluctantly gets her mace out- she’s too close to the action, she thumps it hard into the only mastiff still standing, wounding the beast again- but still not enough to kill it (even after spending her IP to try again- miss).“MCGOW!” She hollers.McGow, situated in a cavern to the south hears Mavis calling.“Gotta dash.” He grins, and then uppercuts his warhammer into the bandit’s jaw- teeth and bone fly, blood spurts and the lights go out for ever. The bandit collapses dead (one bandit down).McGow yells back, “on me way”, gets his Second Wind and comes trotting back towards Mavis where he spies the last remaining hound trying to savage the priestess of Chauntea, she’s not much of a fighter and it shows.Spek jumps in and thrusts a hand at the beast, tags it on the flank.ZAAP!It soundlessly collapses- dead (all mastiffs dead).A claypot smashes into the far wall of the cavern, showers McGow briefly in its glittering contents, but the huffing dwarf emerges from the fiery dust without hurt.“Get ‘em!” The dwarf yells and points at the three bandits, the sling wielding kobold, and a small blurred and hazy little fellow in an all-encompassing hooded cloak, these five are moving swiftly through the bedroll strewn chamber, about to press the attack.[ATTACH=full]401920[/ATTACH]Travis pops out of his hiding place and sinks an arrow into one of the bandits, gut-shot, the poor bastard screams in agony, critically wounded, moments later it expires (two dead bandits).C-Fax rushes at the approaching enemies.“Bahamut guide my blade!” He shouts, waving his longsword above his head like a banner.Just in time to take a dart to the chest, flung by the small cloaked and blurred figure.Note, in game McGow and C-Fax have no idea why they can’t see the small, cloaked figure (Hagrid) properly.The damage from the missile, coupled with the bite of the poison on its tip is enough to send the paladin spiraling towards the dusty stone floor, only… that’s not what happens. Adrenaline floods C-Fax’s system (he spends his Healing HD, as per the House Rule for 1st level PCs) catches his stumble and rushes on, his longsword cutting down to chop into the neck of the kobold stoner, the little humanoid falls away- yaps once or twice more- plaintively and then lies still (dead kobold).One of the remaining bandits slices her scimitar at the passing paladin, C-Fax’s shield clangs the weapon aside, he rushes on until he’s facing off against the strange-looking small, blurred figure.[ATTACH=full]401921[/ATTACH]“Surrender?” He offers, unsure exactly to whom, or else to what, he’s talking to/at. The blurred figure cackles and snorts by way of reply and then attempts to put the pointy end of its war pick through the paladin’s knee. C-Fax dodges back just in time.Mavis steps out from hiding and fires a Sacred Flame into the nearest enemy, the bandit shrieks and then collapses- dead (three down).[ATTACH=full]401922[/ATTACH]McGow charges forward- towards C-Fax, sends a hand axe spinning ahead of him and yet another bandit falls (four down, all the bandits are dead- just Hagrid left).Then- lots of things happen, very quickly- Hagrid is hit by the paladin- and the Blur spell is spent- concentration check failed- revealing a very small (two foot six) dark skinned deep gnome in a voluminous cloak. Hagrid looks very young.C-Fax again calls for Hagrid to surrender, but the deep gnome is not backing down, Hagrid seems to be reviling in the fight.“You cannot kill me!” Hagrid adds.“Take him alive.” C-fax finishes the chatter, although this line does seem to upset the deep gnome.[ATTACH=full]401923[/ATTACH]Then, Mavis unleashes an Inflict Wounds, McGow thumps the flat of his warhammer into Hagrid's face and finally Travis arrives behind the gnome and slams the guard of his rapier into the back of the deep gnome's head.Hagrid collapses- unconscious.His last words before the black.“Oh, bugger!” Squeaky voice please.[ATTACH=full]401924[/ATTACH]The fight is over, and yet the PCs (immediately) have questions, the first one being- who are these people and why were they trying to kill/eat us? Obviously, these guys are pals with the kobolds, hence the dead kobold over there...Then, after tying the ko'd Hagrid up, and ascertaining that the little fellow won’t be conscious for a good long while yet (4-6 hours the DM says), the PCs rifle the fallen for more clues.The bandits and the kobold have coppers and silvers, Hagrid has a small bag of gold- thirty-something GP, and... the deep gnome is wearing a very familiar (to some of the PCs) amulet. An amulet, made from gold and set on a thin gold chain, shaped like a spectacle wearing, portly, pigeon. An amulet that both Spek and McGow know was given to Dicky Bird (aka the Fat Pidgin) by his beloved Edna about six months back.Dicky Bird has been here, and Hagrid has his stuff- the worst is feared, certainly the deep gnome is coming back to Kirkgate for a little Q&A, and some cell time.But then... a voice, an educated human sounding voice-“Hagrid! HAGRID! Where are you, you little pipsqueak? Answer your Master!”The voice, after a very brief game of hide and seek, is coming from the ancient electrum mirror in the chamber with the big bed.What will the PCs do?Oh look, a sort of cliffhanger.Oh, but Travis insists that he holds onto the Lucky Fat Pidgin Amulet, for his uncle’s sake- to keep it safe, this item is the equivalent of a +1 Ring of Protection. Nice.67 XP each for this encounter, and another 50 XP each for completing Quest #2 (see above).Cheers goonalan and the Tokyo crew.</blockquote>

Verification