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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 9641855" data-attributes="member: 16069">Not KotSSession #004a: Get To Da Chopper!The Adventurers.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 1Snakebite (Kenji), Female Half-Orc (Outlander) Monk Level 1Travis Pickle (Yui), Male Lightfoot Halfling (Criminal) Rogue Level 1Dead PCsThe Inspector aka Spek (Kenji), Male Rock Gnome (Charlatan) Sorcerer Level 1- Killed in Session #2 by Eggnog the Kobold Dragon Priest.To-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.<s>#002 Find and investigate the ancient dragon burial site Dicky was looking for, he might be there. Reward: 250 XP.</s> COMPLETE#003 Destroy the kobold menace, including their leader- ‘Chopper.’ Reward: 250 XP & 75gp, with 1gp paid for every kobold tail handed in.#004 Stop Orcus-worshipping Karl’s ritual to bring an undead army to Kirkgate. Basically, save the village, begs (eventually) Lord Crumble. 1000 XP & 250gp reward.We’re in the throne room in the kobold’s lair.In the background the kobolds are chanting- as they approach-“Get to da Chopper!” On repeat.And here we are for the kobold/Chopper finale.[ATTACH=full]402981[/ATTACH]Here’s a pic with the PCs spread out so that everyone can see the numbers 1-4 indicating the four passages into the throne room. The kobolds are coming, and they will be appearing (in initiative order) starting on the numbered squares in passage 1d4, randomly determined.The PCs have each got a readied action.Keep in mind the PCs are waiting on the arrival of the kobold chief- Chopper, who they’ve been told is a crazy goblin. They need to take this guy alive- they have questions that need answers.Then, they come…[spoiler= The Bad Guys]Enc#5 Chopper & the Kobolds 855 XP CR 7 Deadly.10 x Kobold Mook (25xp each) As per MM Kobold except AC 13 (Padded), Resist: Acid & better HP spread = 2d4+2.3 x Kobold Sneak (35xp each) As per MM Kobold except AC 14 (Leather), Resist: Acid, Str 10, Dex 16 (+5 To Hit), Con 10, 1d6 Sneak Attack, & better HP spread = 2d4+4.THEN DROPPING INTO INITIATIVE AT THE END OF TURN #3 (OR SOONER IF ALL OF THE ABOVE ARE DEAD) COME-2 x Kobold Warrior (50xp each) As per MM Kobold except AC 15 (Leather & Shield), Resist: Acid, Str 11, Con 12, armed with Shortsword instead of Dagger, 3 HD & better HP spread = 3d4+9.1 x Kobold Dragon Priest (200xp) As per MM Kobold except AC 15 (Robes & Mage Armor), Resist: Acid, Str 10, Dex 12, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 16, Cha 10, armed with Claws (1d3 slashing) & Quarterstaff, 1st level Spellcaster (Wizard), 5 HD & better HP spread = 5d4+15.1 x Chopper, Goblin Boss (200xp) As per MM Goblin Boss except Str 12, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 10, Cha 12, MAX HP = 6d6+12 = 48.Tactics (Part 1)- Kobold Sneak- sneak into throne room and stab or sling a PC and then get into cover/hiding to do it again, to the death- unless Chopper falls- then flee; Kobold Mooks- get rumbunctious, charge into melee- kill the invaders. (Part 2)- Chopper- attack and Kill! Kill! Kill! No surrender- you are toughest and meanest bad ass ever; Kobold Dragon Priest- shout a lot, get Mage Armour up and then target Chromatic Orb, then more blasting- run away if Chopper falls; Kobold Warriors- Kill! Kill! Kill! [/spoiler]Although the first enemy into the chamber is a kobold sneak, who rolls a ‘1’ for its stealth check. Travis (and everyone else looking in that direction) spots this fellow’s tippy-toes exaggerated sneak-move. The halfling rogue shoots the dumb kobold through its neck. Dead.[ATTACH=full]402982[/ATTACH]Then, lots more kobold mooks come charging in, several of them take hits- although very few are killed in the initial barrage. But then Snakebite takes a sling stone to the side of the head and… she’s down, or else she would be if it wasn’t for her healing HD (1st level only).And she’s up again- and charged with adrenaline.C-Fax skewers a kobold mook dead with a javelin, Fionulla with her arrows kills another.Moments later the paladin, defending Snakebite, skewers yet another mook with his longsword, also dead.Note, a second kobold sneak has just snuck into the throne room, alas its stealth check is a ‘2’, and so it too is visible to any PC that looks in its direction.I’ll save you the suspense- a moment or two later and the third, and last, kobold sneak also arrives, hidden in the shadows- stealth ‘3’ (plus bonuses), so not quite- sequence complete.[ATTACH=full]402983[/ATTACH]The kobolds charge- McGow, Mavis & Travis are getting busy.Note, Travis is loving his crossbow, and he seems to have found his sweet spot for combat, behind the mail-wall and kill stealing everything he can.It’s funny how every player with a rogue PC works this out.[ATTACH=full]402984[/ATTACH]Snakebite takes it to the enemy, the half-orc monk jogs out from behind cover, brains the kobold that just got her with a sling stone and then kicks the head off its kobold comrade- two mooks dead, she jogs back into cover. Job done.McGow is taking a lot of attacks, most of them with advantage (pack tactics) but not one hit so far, the dwarf smashes another kobold mook down, he seems to be building a dead-kobold-barricade around himself.Mavis, in the meantime, gets her Bless spell running.“The Blessings of Chauntea, for you… and you, and…”That’s McGow, C-Fax (natch) and Travis.[ATTACH=full]402985[/ATTACH]The end of the second turn and eight of the thirteen kobolds unleashed are dead already- seven mooks and a sneak will never go kobolding again. Snakebite is going toe-to-toe with another kobold sneak to the south, the little bastard just stabbed her, the half-orc monk is on just one hit point.So, just five kobolds left.The PCs think.Note, and obviously, there’s still no sign of Chopper. The PCs have noted this but, they expect his/her arrival soon- they think/hope.Travis shoots and kills another mook.“Schwing!”Although the next three PCs in initiative fail to land a hit, which creates a little more tension- but not a lot.Mavis burns a kobold mook to death with her Sacred Flames.And then back to the top of the initiative table, and… Travis points and clicks and another kobold mook dies.“Woo-hoo!” The halfling rogue is playing his own game here and racking up a high score.A halfling rogue and his crossbow- best of friends.Fionulla kills the kobold sneak that is menacing the badly wounded Snakebite- good arrows.[ATTACH=full]402986[/ATTACH]And in swift order the rest of the kobolds fall- the last sneak cut down by C-Fax.At which point there’s a rattling noise behind the PCs, they turn to see- the bone adorned throne suddenly tips back and down, as a slab of the stone wall behind the skull adorned seat also pivots backwards, revealing an unlit passage.Stepping out of which come the management- four more enemies- Chopper, a swivel-eyed snarling goblin loon armed with a scimitar, with two kobold warriors flanking him, and bringing up the rear a robed kobold dragon priest.“Bugger!” Is the consensus.Kobold warriors hold no fear for the PCs, but another dragon priest, the last one killed Spek, and then there’s Chopper, of course.But the PCs have managed to trigger the arrival of the big bad guys before the start of the 4th turn, and so they get the rest of their initiative-Snakebite flings a dart, McGow throws a handaxe, while Mavis fires off another Sacred Flame- all of them targeting Chopper.All misses.The level of concern/tension increases.[ATTACH=full]402987[/ATTACH]“I yam Chopper! Time for yew DIE! Ka-AH-Ar-ah-UL-LA-LA-LA has sedden it!”McGow and Snakebite also close with the chain shirt wearing and scimitar wielding Chopper.[ATTACH=full]402988[/ATTACH]Chopper cuts Snakebite down, although- not quite (again), Relentless Endurance kicks in and Snakebite resumes her watch on just one hit point, which has been the case for a while.Travis grins, levels his crossbow, and… misses Chopper with a ‘16’ to hit.Hang on!This news spreads like wildfire, Chopper is at least AC 17.Then, one of the kobold warrior’s joins his master, Chopper, and with a swish of its shortsword cuts down Snakebite. No, really- this time for real, the half-orc is down and dying.Kenji looks like he’s going to be sick.“Target the kobolds! Target the kobolds!” C-Fax hollers and then climbs over the recumbent throne and into the dark passage beyond, the paladin gets in the face of the kobold dragon priest there- who has just fired up its Mage Armour. Not enough, the paladin stabs the dragon priest, but alas it’s only a scratch.The kobold warrior accompanying the priest dodges in and stabs C-Fax right back, and now the paladin is down to just one hit point.Things are on a knife edge.McGow, while this is going on, smashes the kobold warrior guarding Chopper down, and then thumps his warhammer hard (with an IP- the last one any of the PCs have) into the kobold/goblin boss.Note, the PCs spent a lot of inspiration points at the start of this fight, which also explains how they managed to knock down thirteen kobolds in 2.5 turns.Mavis follows C-Fax into the passage, to block off the reinforcement’s route to their boss, in the process she spends her last spell- Cure Wounds, to tap the recumbent Snakebite on her head, the monk quickly scampers back to her feet.“I will am back!” She menaces.Chopper slashes and cuts McGow, the dwarven fighter is left bloodied and blowing hard.Note, there’s a bit of back and forth at this point- with C-Fax (on his turn) letting Chopper know that they (the Inspectors) are on to him- and his schemes, and that surrender is, as always, an option.Chopper is an uncomplicated fool, or else he’s adept at violence and so that’s his go to move. He makes a few half-hearted threats of his own.“I will use yor head as foot stool!”That kind of thing.The artillery- Travis and Fionulla, have yet to land a hit, they’re both still targeting Chopper.C-Fax cuts the dragon priest again, and then again, as the robed kobold dodges back (AoO) and… fires off its Chromatic Orb- straight at the dragonborn paladin who is stood just five feet away.It can’t miss.And as was the case with Spek, C-Fax is on just one hit point atm- so, this could hurt. A lot.The players are screaming at this point- there’s a fair amount of- “I can’t watch.”[ATTACH=full]402989[/ATTACH]High wide and handsome, the Chromatic Orb flies over the head of Chromium Malifax.Which causes the outbreak of a fair amount of delight around the gaming table.“We can do this!” McGow shouts out, forgetting for a moment that he is a dour dwarf.Snakebite dodges, dives and ducks- manoeuvring her way around Chopper so that she can get to the last kobold warrior- stab with her shortsword followed up by a kick to the head and now the last warrior is almost broken.[ATTACH=full]402990[/ATTACH]But still not enough- the kobold warrior stabs right back and… Snakebite is back down to just one hit point.Mavis fires a Sacred Flame into the kobold warrior who, at last, falls.“We CAN do this!” She screams.Chopper keeps on grunting, keeps on dodging, keeps on swinging- but it’s a ‘1’ followed by a ‘1’ this turn- much to the delight of the audience.Travis has had enough, the halfling rogue scrambles up the bone pile next to the recumbent throne and fires a crossbow bolt into the chest of the dragon priest, which is also now on just one hit point.They can do this.[ATTACH=full]402991[/ATTACH]The dragon priest, now being menaced by Mavis- who really doesn’t know what she’s doing with her mace, thumps its staff into the human priestess- but it’s only a half-hearted swat. Mavis however stumbles over her words and her Bless spell is no more.The PCs are going to have to do this the hard way.“You little bastard!” The priestess snarls down at the dragon priest and then in the same half-hearted manner clonks the little guy on the head.The dragon priest drops.Remember it only had one hit point left. Mavis had forgotten this.The priestess of Chauntea is briefly ecstatic, she too “Woo-Hoo’s”, and then skedaddles out of the dank passage, and back into the throne room.[ATTACH=full]402992[/ATTACH]Chopper is on his own, but still toughing it out, it doesn’t help that his to hit rolls this turn are a ‘4’ and another ‘1’.McGow is at this point giving the goblin boss grief, which only seems to make Chopper madder still.“What’s-a-matter littul feller, all yer littul frends gone away?”Although the dwarf can barely be heard over the roars of C-Fax.“SURRENDER MISCREANT!”“SURRENDER NE’ER-DO-WELL!”He’s loving it too.I think all the PCs are aware that this was a fight that they could have easily lost.Travis gets back to missing Chopper with his crossbow, while Fionulla tags the goblin boss with a Crit, even she’s shouting with joy now- although the language is a little fruity, she doesn’t much like Chopper it seems.Which brings us to Snakebite.The half-orc monk head-nods a bow and then offers the following-“We haf got to da Chopper!”Swish of shortsword- draws blood, followed by another roundhouse kick, and- “Thunk!”[ATTACH=full]402993[/ATTACH]Chopper is out cold.There is cheering.Actual cheering- followed by a round of applause (for themselves) and then a five-minute excited debrief, or else a series of “do you remember when…” conversations.I let the PCs go for a while.That was 171 XP each earned for this encounter- it was a whopper.And another 50 XP for finishing Quest #4- capture Chopper and put and end to the kobolds, and the PCs now have some gold to collect from Lord Crumble.The following happens in quick time-McGow goes on guard duty- running between the various tunnels, with a little help from Mavis here and there- there are plenty of kobolds still about in the lair, but very few of them hanging around- particularly when it becomes apparent that Chopper isn’t shouting his mouth off anymore (and kicking them around).Chopper, still out cold, is tied up securely by Fionulla & Travis.The latter also spends his time searching the goblin boss, and any of the fallen he can scamper too.Meantime C-Fax and Snakebite follow the dark corridor behind the throne into a stinky but comfortable chamber, and there secure a chest- Snakebite carries it, and a few other bits and bobs.Five minutes later and the gang- with Chopper stuffed in a sack- the goblin chief’s lolling head popped out of the top, and being hefted by McGow- come running, screaming and shouting a variety of things mostly unrepeatable here- all the way back to the river entrance. Or rather exit.They’re unmolested- after a few Intimidate checks, although there are only half-a-dozen kobold mooks left to witness their egress.Then… they’re out of the lair and off and running.Back to Kirkgate- maybe, or else back to somewhere semi-safe/defendable enroute to the village, after all Fionulla knows the area well.The elven ranger’s mood has lifted, a little, but that could just be the adrenaline.Next time- still in this session, the above represented nearly two hours of play- the spoils, and a chat with Chopper.Cheers goonalan and the Tokyo Massive.</blockquote>

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