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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 9664078" data-attributes="member: 16069">Not KotSSession #007b: Gull Gy Gin-Grrr! (Enc#11)The Inspectors.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, although Dicky is on his way to the Narthex, which is in the Labyrinth, which is near the Seven Pillared Hall- which is in the Underdark- Bugger. 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. Karl is in Kirkgate. 1000 XP & 250gp reward.#005 Find/Save Cheggers. That's it really, the PCs just need to find/save Cheggers (he’s with Karl, if he’s still alive), for Fionulla (the spy). 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.So, to the Church of Chauntea.[ATTACH=full]405980[/ATTACH]Through the mist.Just to say that this was a cracking encounter, the best one yet.The PCs are on their way to see Sister Margaritta, the only person in Kirkgate they truly trust (apparently), and the best friend of the newly revealed spy Fionulla, the elven ranger.There’s been a wet mist shrouding the region since the start of day.Then, a skeleton tears itself out of the dirt ahead, bursting from its grave, and comes staggering towards the PCs, the undead creature is armed with an ancient looking sword.The PCs come alive, and the DM let’s them know (because he is nice), I think I said something like- “Survive this one and your level two, this is the milestone.”They’re very up for it- there’s a lot of “Come on!”, it’s noisy for a short while.[ATTACH=full]405981[/ATTACH]The skeleton doesn’t last long, and particularly because almost all the PCs are not in the least surprised by unfolding events- good rolls.But…[ATTACH=full]405982[/ATTACH]There are plenty of skeletons to go around.And I’m holding off showing you (the reader) the encounter stats, for a reason… or two.It gets fighty.[ATTACH=full]405983[/ATTACH]And there really are plenty of skeletons to go around, but keep in mind the PCs are all fit and healthy here- they’ve just taken an extended rest before arriving back at Kirkgate.That turned out to be a fortunate turn of events- getting lost on the way back to Kirkgate.Half of the skeletons are firing very crude bows and arrows, the others are armed with old, rusted swords.Travis is unhappy because the skeletons are resistant to the piercing damage of his crossbow, he’s worked this out- with some help from his more D&D experienced friends.C-Fax and Snakebite have already taken hits.But then…[ATTACH=full]405984[/ATTACH]Terror extreme!A small badly deformed and already very decayed gnome rips itself out of the grave in which he was so recently buried (was that yesterday morning, or the day before?).Zombie Spek!Note, Zombie Spek (oddly) has one line- which he delivers every turn, it’s this-“Gull Gy Gin-GRRR!”In translation- “Pull My Finger!”Delivered whilst trying to prod the nearest PC with one of his/its mangled zombie fingers.Note, the attack only hits once- for 1d4 necrotic damage (2d4, the only hit was a crit), but it caused some consternation within the PCs ranks, particularly because the target of Spec’s ire, i.e. the nearest PC to wherever I placed him on the map is, of course… Snakebite.So, I’m trying to kill Kenji’s new PC with his previous PC. That’s got a nice ring to it.Oh, and C-Fax has got his Bahamut Battle symbol up and running, he’s of the opinion that this is going to get bad.Prescient.[ATTACH=full]405985[/ATTACH]At which point a pair of zombie hounds come loping out of the mist and start getting into the action.I gave this pair far too many hit points- my bad.But still the PCs are holding their own, or else not taking hits. It’s all a little frightening for the players- it would be fair to say that Yui (playing Travis) is not happy with having to get involved in melee, but the skeletons kind of gathered the PCs up.Then, at last…[ATTACH=full]405986[/ATTACH]The DM develops a proper talking part, and the combat can really get going.Fionulla is here, the ranger looms out of the mist and starts firing her bow.So, here’s the thing- Fionulla has been telling the PCs that she’s no good at combat, a poor adventurer etc. but, that’s not quite true. Fionulla in all the other fights has been +3 to hit and with just one attack per turn. Well, that was a ruse.Fionulla is +5 to hit, with bow and sword, and has two attacks/turn. And maximum hit points.Her first shot is a crit, McGow only just survives it, the dwarf is down to just one hit point.The air turns blue.Here's the roster for the bad guys, at last.[spoiler= The Bad Guys]Enc#11 Fionulla’s Fate 695 XP CR 6 Deadly.1 x Zombie Spek (25xp) As per MM Zombie except Small size; Con 12 & therefore HD 3d6+3; Vuln: radiant; Resist: necrotic; Speed: 15 & Slam attack replaced by ‘Pull My Finger!’ for 1d4 necrotic damage.12 x Skeleton Decrepit (35xp each) As per MM Skeleton except AC 12; Dex 12, Con 11 & therefore HD 2d8; Vuln: radiant; Resist: piercing & necrotic; Only +3 to hit for attacks, and +1 damage.2 x Zombie Hounds (75xp each) As per MM Zombie except AC 10; Str 13, Dex 10, Con 16; Speed: 30; Vuln: radiant; Resist: necrotic; Slam replaced by Bite attack +3 to hit, 1d4+1 piercing plus 1d3 necrotic damage, and DC 11 Strength check or pulled Prone; Last Bite- when reduced to zero HP or below the hound makes an attack (any random target in range) before collapsing dead; 4HD & better HP spread 4d8+12 = 4d5+24.1 x Fionulla (100xp each) As per MM Scout except add Elf Traits and maximum HP = 27.Tactics- Undead- attack and kill, no surrender, to the bitter end; Fionulla- do a lot of shouting and pretty much the same as the undead. Kill the Inspectors or die trying.[/spoiler]Fionulla’s second bow attack (this act alone causes one player to accuse me of cheating; we’ll get to this) also leaves Travis hurting.Player: Two attacks? Fionulla only has one attack, we’ve been adventuring with her for ages!DM: She was lying.Player: Oh, I never thought of that. The bitch. I bloody liked her.They sometimes get involved don’t they.Note, all ranged attacks from further away than ten feet are at -2 to hit, because of the mist.The PCs however cannot get away, or else risk taking an opportunity attack to do so, to get at Fionulla, who is- I’ll remind you- screaming atm at the PCs.What’s she screaming you ask, well… a mixture of angry things, and the next bit of the plot.“Karl said I could have him back- MY SWEET SWEET CHEGGERS!”“You fools, you should have stayed away. YOU… FOOLS!”“CHEGGGGGGGERRRRRRSSSS!!!!!”That kind of thing, and a few threats beside.Note, all the PCs got on with Fionulla but, only three of the PCs showed any care or consideration for the elven ranger- Mavis (who went out of her way to try and help Fionulla, repeatedly) and to a lesser extent C-Fax and Snakebite. My point, I was always going to be shooting Travis and McGow first.McGow gets his Second Wind, and then a moment later the dwarf gets shot again by one of the last decrepit skeletons still standing.[ATTACH=full]405987[/ATTACH]It’s a crit, but my damage roll is very low.Mavis meantime has now used all but one charge of her Wand of Magic Missiles, and she’s loath to use the last. She’s also got her Bless spell up and running, and so the healer has just one spell in the bank.[ATTACH=full]405988[/ATTACH]Then one of the zombie hounds savages the dwarf, and he’s down- or else he would be if it wasn’t for his healing HD.We’re now at the stage of the combat when every attack from a monster leads to a mixture of hushes, some random swearing, and… then the dice drop, and… there is cheering- another miss.Fionulla shoots Snakebite.[ATTACH=full]405989[/ATTACH]And he too would be down, if it wasn’t for his healing HD.So, Fionulla shoots C-Fax.[ATTACH=full]405990[/ATTACH]And he would be down too, if it wasn’t for his healing HD.And this is where we’re at.Both zombie hounds started with 40 or more hit points, they were very (too) tough.[ATTACH=full]405991[/ATTACH]C-Fax and McGow have nothing left in the tank, another hit and they’re down. Snakebite still has her Relentless Endurance to spend. Travis is injured, but that’s all, and Mavis has not taken a hit yet, and still has one spell left in the bank.One of the zombie hound’s falls, after Mavis gets it with a Sacred Flame and Travis completes the kill, McGow ignores the skeleton that has been shooting at him from just ten feet away and instead charges over to Fionulla, the very sweary dwarf slams his warhammer into her.The ranger, it turns out, is quite adept with her sword too, which she switches too.[ATTACH=full]405992[/ATTACH]Here we all are again, only in semi-3d.Note, the PCs are not being quiet during this fight- C-Fax and Mavis are trying to talk Fionulla down, reminding her that they know all about evil Karl, and the fact that he has her beloved Cheggers.But Fionulla has nowhere to go, she tells them-“If I don’t kill you, Karl will kill Cheggers! CHEGGGERS!”Is what it all boils down too.Obviously, this pair are also telling their friends that Fionulla must be taken alive.Travis and McGow are less convinced of this, this pair are also doing a lot of (nervous, from Travis) shouting, most of it I’m unable to write here- let’s just say that sexist and racist just about covers it. The pair are not happy atm.Travis (or else Yui) is going to murder someone if Travis dies here.But then…Snakebite takes a critical hit from Zombie Spek.I told you dead Spek landed a hit/crit- here it is.The half-orc’s Relentless Endurance kicks in, the monk has just one hit point left.Snakebite, with extreme prejudice, kicks the head off Zombie Spek, and then rushes to join McGow in the fight against Fionulla.Just in time…[ATTACH=full]405993[/ATTACH]Fionulla cuts Snakebite down.There is a lot of screaming coming from Japan.Mavis casts her last spell- a Healing Word on the fallen half-orc monk, Snakebite blinks open her eyes.Not dead. No longer dying.Just in time…[ATTACH=full]405994[/ATTACH]Mavis gets hit- another crit- from the last skeleton archer.She survives.[ATTACH=full]405995[/ATTACH]And then, at last- C-Fax ignores the zombie hound, he’s had enough- takes the opportunity attack, and… a miss, and then rushes over to Fionulla and smashes the guard of his longsword into the screaming elven ranger’s head, she’s down- ko’d.This just after McGow nearly (but not quite) obliterated the elven ranger/spy with a crit from his warhammer. Fionulla was also down to just one hit point, the DM foolishly let the PCs know.The last two enemies, a zombie hound and a decrepit skeleton are swiftly sent to oblivion.The fight, at last, is over.We were into the seventh turn, and it took an age to play out, the players had a lot invested in this one. It was a cracker.And then…[ATTACH=full]405996[/ATTACH]The mist is suddenly gone, from the graveyard, from Kirkgate and from the entire region- the PCs, open-mouthed, watch the fog- from the center outwards (the center being the spot in which they stand)- just fade to nothing. In less than ten seconds it’s gone.The sun is there for everyone to see.The PCs have saved the day, and are now all level two- milestone reached, no need for an extended rest, they are all fully healed and ready to face their next challenge.Warmed by the light.Although that’s not quite the case, it takes the remaining forty or so minutes of the session to action the level up, to make all the necessary choices and/or changes.There’s also a fair amount of time spent reliving the last fight.That’s 139 XP each for the encounter with Fionulla and her undead friends.The spy, however, is captured.Although the DM has let the PCs know already that without healing Fionulla is going to be ko’d for a few hours yet.Then he also lets the PCs know that they can hear screaming.Keep in mind this is ten seconds after the fight ended, and the mist cleared.“Help!”It’s Sister Margaritta’s muffled voice, and it’s coming from the church.But that’s for next time.Cheers goonalan and the Tokyo Massive.</blockquote>

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