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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 9646500" data-attributes="member: 16069">Not KotSSession #005a: Dragon Castle.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<s>#003 Destroy the kobold menace, including their leader- ‘Chopper.’ Reward: 250 XP & 75gp, with 1gp paid for every kobold tail handed in.</s> COMPLETE#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.#005 Find/Save Cheggers. That's it really, the PCs just need to find/save Cheggers, for Fionulla. Reward 100 XP.#006 Find and kill/capture the Bloody Heck- including any leaders. Recover any prisoners they have kidnapped. Find out where Karl is based. Reward: 400 XP & 100gp, with 1gp paid for every member of the Bloody Heck confirmed dead or captured.And so, which of the two ruined castles to investigate first, the ruins to the north or the ones to the south?The answer is easy if you are Mavis (played by Sandy) read on.The Inspectors go shopping, the plan is a trip around the market and then on to WH Smythe’s, retailer extraordinaire. Note, the PCs have got some money now- more than 200gp from Chopper’s chest, plus another 100gp-ish from Lord Crumble for the destruction of the kobolds. There’s a rush to secure a healing potion each. WH Smythe has already let the PCs know that he only has five in stock.However, Mavis…That is- Sandy, has it figured; her brilliant idea is this- someone in Kirkgate knows where the goblins/Bloody Heck are because- that’s the way that Paul (that’s me- the DM) does things. The answer is always available- you just need to know where/how to look.Therefore, Mavis- accompanied (and introduced) by Sister Margaritta, climbs on a stool in the middle of the marketplace and makes a speech, I’ll not write it out in full, in precis-[ATTACH=full]403647[/ATTACH]Hello, I am Mavis- Priestesses of Chauntea, these are my companions (brief introductions follow). We came to Kirkgate searching for our friend (name and description of Dicky etc.) only to discover that Kirkgate was being threatened by kobold bandits.We have taken care of the kobold problem.This info gets a few cheers from the assembled and now more than mildly interested villagers.However, Mavis goes on- the chief of the kobolds was a goblin, which is very odd, has anyone here seen any other goblins in the region? If so, tell us where, so that we can go and check things out.We are here to help Kirkgate.We will not rest until we have found our friend (Dicky etc.) and Kirkgate is safe.And not even C-Fax (that’s Rob, Sandy’s husband) knew about the above plan.Mavis rolls a ‘17’ (+4) on her Persuasion check, and what do you know, a slight half-elven (perhaps) women steps from the crowd, this is Delphinium Rosa, the flower lady at the market. She’s seen a goblin in the woods, just one- about a week ago.At which point Sister Margaritta takes over the reins and leads the assembled villagers in a brief prayer to Chauntea, followed by a blessing for the fine folk of Kirkgate.The villagers are assuaged, placated, whatever it is- they’re convinced that the Inspectors are the good guys, and they’re thankful- they want to help.Mavis meantime secures the info that they need- Delphinium saw the goblin while she was collecting flowers in Norwood (the woods to the north of Kirkgate) near an old ruin known locally (to those that know about the place) as Dragon Castle.Why is it called Dragon Castle?Simple, there’s a big dragon carved into one of the walls there.Mavis buys a lot of flowers (as does C-Fax and Snakebite) as a way of thanks and then passes on the bouquets to Sister Margaritta (and a few other folk).Then- shopping, they love a bit of shopping (including one healing potion each).Then, simple as, the PCs are on their way to Norwood- they want to get there as soon as they can, goblins- they’ve worked out, like kobolds, prefer to do their sleeping during the daytime. They’re creatures (mostly) of the night.Fionulla knows the way, of course, and as per the last journey they undertook with the ranger, she points out a variety of landmarks enroute, just in case she doesn’t survive the coming ordeal.Keep in mind, Fionulla is still not comfy with being an adventurer, and still letting the PCs know every chance she can.And so just short of five hours later and…[ATTACH=full]403648[/ATTACH]Here we are, a beautiful warm late summer afternoon, and with a castle to explore- delightful.But here’s the thing, enroute to Dragon Castle (while we were making a few checks) McGow remembers this nugget of information-The voice in the mirror, now known to be Karl, said-“The Bloody Heck are sending more of their fellows to the region, talk to Chopper, they may wish to buy any excess ‘stock’.”When the PCs spoke to Chopper he said there were around thirty goblins in the initial group, including two leader types- Big Fat Ron (the boss), and Sgt Groan (a nasty hobgoblin).McGow expresses his concerns- what if the Bloody Heck reinforcements have already arrived?There could be a lot of goblins in Dragon Castle.Hmm.The plan is then- get in, get hold of a leader type- kidnap them or else extract info (there and then, if possible) and then get out. It’s a lot like the kobold plan, although- McGow lets it be known that he is very happy to be slaying goblins. They’re not his favourite folk, although he quite liked Chopper (in the end).So, sneaky- at first, but that’s going to be a problem. C-Fax, Mavis and McGow are all wearing chainmail, they don’t sneak much. Therefore, the immediate task- a bit of scouting, is left to Travis, Snakebite & Fionulla. Although the latter is not looking forward to sneaking around in some goblin-infested ruins.Here we go…[ATTACH=full]403649[/ATTACH]There’s a back door- or else a breach in the wall, as discovered by Travis, Snakebite & Fionulla. It involves a climb (DC 11) and then… well, probably a bit more sneaking.The sneaky trio report back and the plan is developed further, the sneaks are going in the side door, while the tanks are heading in the front door.Note, Travis on an initial (unapproved) scout of the main entrance discovered that there’s a goblin at the front door, tucked away in a ruined gatehouse, although the little fellow is slumped in the shade and generally minding its own business.So, this is the spot.The Bloody Heck are here.The armoured trio, very slowly- and very quietly, sneak up on the guard goblin-[ATTACH=full]403650[/ATTACH]In position.While the side door sneaks discover…[ATTACH=full]403651[/ATTACH]Another goblin in the remains of a tower.Everything is ready.So, it’s a damn shame when suddenly Fionulla starts screaming, a swarm of rats having just scurried out from wherever they were hiding and started feasting on the elven ranger’s feet and legs.Surprise is lost, shouts and yells- the goblins are suddenly in action.[spoiler= The Bad Guys]Enc#6 The Goblin Guards 300 XP CR 2 Deadly.2 x Goblin Warrior (50xp each) As per MM Goblin except better HP spread = 2d4+4.1 x Rat Swarm (50xp) As per MM Swarm of Rats.2 x Goblin Scouts (75xp each) As per MM Goblin except Dex 16 (+5 To Hit), Con 12, 3 HD & better HP spread = 3d4+9.Tactics- Goblins- defend the castle & engage with intruders, get below to warn the rest of the Bloody Heck if things go awry; Rat Swarm- eat Fionulla.[/spoiler][ATTACH=full]403652[/ATTACH]Travis moves fast, he dives into the open doorway of the tower and skewers the goblin there but then misses with his follow up IP… the goblin looks very unimpressed, it grabs out its scimitar and almost cuts the halfling rogue in two. Travis is on one hit point. There’s another goblin in the tower, it too is reaching for its scimitar, the first goblin ducks and dodges clear of the rogue.Travis starts screaming.“Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeelp! This is going to be baaad!”[ATTACH=full]403653[/ATTACH]Too late, the second goblin steps in and cuts Travis down, or else it would have done if it wasn’t for the young halfling rogue’s healing HD. Travis survives, and he’s now soaked in an adrenaline fuelled fury.Note, this isn’t a power, Yui- playing Travis is absolutely furious- with herself, with me, with the goblins, with everyone that has brought Travis to this perilous state.Travis simply cannot die.[ATTACH=full]403654[/ATTACH]Fionulla is getting eaten alive by rats, Snakebite however ignores the ranger’s plight and rushes into the tower to save the screaming Travis, it takes three attacks (hit, miss and an IP hit) but eventually he kills the already injured goblin.The half-orc monk positions himself in the doorway preventing the goblin scout here from fleeing further into the tower itself.Note, the inner wall of this tower bares a massive (wall-sized) portrait (of sorts) of a very regal looking dragon, although the image is ancient, much abused and grown over in places with moss and lichen.Meanwhile, while the above is going on.[ATTACH=full]403655[/ATTACH]Down south, the goblin guard in the gatehouse dives out of the way of Mavis’ Sacred Flames. Another goblin- unseen until now, wanders out of the ruins ahead- takes in the situation, and then shoots an arrow into McGow. The little bugger sets off running north (towards its colleagues in the tower) screaming as it goes.“BREEYARK!”That’s a very old joke.McGow ignores this fellow, the fighter rumbles into the chamber ahead and brains the goblin there with his warhammer- somehow it survives the ordeal, and the follow up (IP) attack.C-Fax is therefore left to chase the fleeing goblin that just shot the dwarf, the creature is making a helluva racket.“Surrender?” C-Fax pants, and when that doesn’t work, he fetches out a javelin and flings it- a hit, the goblin is left screaming- but moving faster now to get away. C-Fax tries again (IP) but his second javelin is high wide and handsome.Back to the sneaks.Fionulla in the meantime is stabbing and swatting with her shortsword- while screaming up a storm- the rats however keep on biting her, and mostly they keep on hitting (even at only +2 to hit). The elven ranger is quickly bloodied.Travis clutching at his bleeding side, is a sweary nightmare, or at least the goblin scout here’s nightmare, the rogue feints and then stabs- skewering the snarling humanoid, but not enough to kill it.The scout slices right back and almost cuts the halfling’s right arm off- the blood is really flowing, and Travis is back down to just one hit point.“Kill it!” He snarls, instructions to the mountainous Snakebite who is looming large behind the goblin scout.Snakebite grins, showing all her teeth/fangs, and then declares.“I kick head off good now!”And then does.The roundhouse kick connects with the injured goblin scouts head and catapults the entire creature- headfirst- into the dragon bas relief on the wall, the sound of the goblin’s neck-snapping is thunderous in the small-ish chamber. Nice crit.Snakebite bows to Travis.“I am helping!” She declares. Travis almost passes out with the pain.The half- orc spots a screaming goblin running towards the entrance to the tower in which she and Travis stand- she grins and then races off to meet the little shouty bastard.Back at the entrance to the castle- Mavis misses again with another shot of her Sacred Flames and then does a little bit of swearing of her own, most unbecoming for a priestess. McGow therefore swings hard and caves the goblin’s head in.The dwarf spits on the corpse of the fallen goblin and then barges past Mavis, back out of the ruined chamber, and lumbering off to the north- in pursuit of C-Fax. The dragonborn, of course, is in pursuit of the second goblin warrior-“SURR-HUFF-PUFF-RENDER!”And when the goblin doesn’t stop the paladin flings another javelin at it- but a miss.[ATTACH=full]403656[/ATTACH]It’s at this point that the screaming, critically wounded (on one hit point) fleeing goblin spots the muscle-bound female half-orc rushing towards it- out of the tower, where it’s friends should be holed up. The half-orc is sporting a mile wide grin.“I kick your head off!” Snakebite promises.Behind the creature comes the lumbering mailed dragonborn, and beyond this enemy- a mailed and grim looking dwarf.The last goblin (Tybo) flops to the floor and in its guttural tongue begs for surrender.Fionulla is still screaming, and down to approx. ten hit points (she started with just short of thirty). She really isn’t cut out to be an adventurer.Then- McGow catches up with the sprawled Tybo, the goblin warrior resists the dwarf’s efforts to grab him and so the fighter delivers a haymaker and punches the little bugger out cold. Tybo will be ko’d for a while.The rest of the gang including the now slightly less apoplectic Travis rush to Fionulla’s aid, and in seconds (the Sacred Flames really helped- now it hits) the rat swarm is dispersed, or else dead.[ATTACH=full]403657[/ATTACH]Silence.There’s a very brief- maybe three or four seconds- of complete silence. Stillness.Then Fionulla starts crying. The female elven ranger is shaking like a leaf, her lower limbs covered in scratches and cuts and swathed in blood.“I can’t do this! I can’t.” Mavis is quickly in position to catch her.Travis meantime, on just one hit point, has his 60gp healing potion in his hands- will he, wont he.Then, everyone starts talking at once and then realising that none of them are being heard- they all stop talking at the same time.In the second moment of silence the PCs hear a new noise.A hunting horn blast.The PCs, panicked, grab their weapons back out and make ready, intently scanning their surroundings- where did that noise come from?Snakebite and C-Fax have the answer.“Goblins!” The pair state in chorus and then mirroring each other they both point towards the main entrance to Dragon Castle.The horn blast comes again, and in the background another noise, snarls and barks.“Wolves!” The pair, again, chorus and point to the same spot.The PCs have approx. 20 seconds (three turns), the DM informs them, before the goblins (and wolves) start arriving.What do they do?We’ll pick up this up in the next bit of the write up for this session.That was 60 XP each for the encounter with the goblin guards.Also, for the great speech (etc.) at the start of this session back in Kirkgate- Mavis 50 XP and all of the other PCs 20 XP each. Cheers goonalan and the Tokyo Massive.</blockquote>

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