Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 6045306" data-attributes="member: 16069">KOTS Part 5: In to the Shadow Keep.[sblock=Party Line Up]The Hard Core Adventurers Level 1 <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/7984039457/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8315/7984039457_05facb5869_c.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>[/sblock]Jimmy scans the stairs ahead, spots a number of scattered dried bones on the steps- points them out to his compatriots and then, hugging the wall, descends out of sight.The halfling emerges in to a square chamber; perhaps thirty or more feet to a side, four great stone pillars support the ceiling- ancient and crumbling. The floor of the chamber is heaped with rubble in places and pooled with water in others.There are three exits, darkened corridors to the east and west, the third corridor heading south is faintly highlighted, the glow of torches further down the passage- it seems to open out a little way ahead.Jimmy takes a step forward and then suddenly stops, there's something in the south corridor- something on the floor, an animal.Jimmy squints to see, he can't make it out, with tiny steps he moves forward- towards the nearest pillar.He makes it.Takes a moment and breathes hard, he can smell something odd, an animal smell, like wet fur. Jimmy keeps his eyes on the stairs and his back to the pillar- the halfling watches as Gokan creeps silently to the bottom of the steps. The half-orc grins, and nods towards the southern passage.Cautiously the halfling leans around the pillar and looks again- wolf, it’s a wolf, a mangy hound but a wolf all the same.[sblock=Wolf Packmate]<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8120688454/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8186/8120688454_313f43cccf.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a> Wolf Packmate Minion Skirmisher Level 1 <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8682038092/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8520/8682038092_2e17bbc973_o.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>[/sblock]Jimmy gulps air, holds it, and with cheeks puffed nods at Gokan- the half-orc raises his hand signalling to those behind him.The halfling rogue quietly steps out from behind the pillar and flings his new found vicious dagger.The dagger spirals madly in the air and then thumps in to the mangy wolf's side; the animal yowls once, half-rises and then slumps to the floor.“Yesss.” Jimmy hisses and pumps his fist.Rising from the shadow of the wolf is another equally mangy beast.  The second wolf yowls- again and again, and then launches itself towards the now terrified halfling, bounding over its fallen mate, to get at Jimmy.[sblock=Picture- Brother Wolf]<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8080452098/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8470/8080452098_01c13e52a6_z.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>[/sblock]The halfling's new magical dagger suddenly reappears in his hand, just at the moment the wolf packmate snaps, bites, tears and shreds Jimmy's right thigh.It’s the halfling's turn to yowl.A third wolf suddenly appears in the southern corridor, trots forward, and then breaks in to a charge- Gokan surges from the stair, hollering and screaming at the top of his lungs. The half-orc en route to his enemy slashes out with his hand axe, which thumps in to the flank of the wolf latched on to Jimmy- the creature lets go of the halfling, half-turns and then falls, whimpering- not long for this world.Gokan rushes on towards the fast approaching lupine, which leaps... and is swatted out of the air by the half-orc's magical battleaxe- the dead wolf lands some fifteen feet away, just short of the corridor exiting to the east of the chamber.Gokan slows his pace, and squints ahead, there's definitely another chamber down the southern passage, and something moving...Suddenly skittering in to the corridor comes yet another wolf, this one however is a proper wolf, at least that's what Gokan thinks, a massive snarling grey furred beast. The beast lopes forward, spurred on by the martial looking goblin riding on its back.[sblock=Goblin Beast Rider mounted on Grey Wolf]<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8120689016/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8328/8120689016_eff72d27fa.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a> Goblin Beast Rider & Grey Wolf Skirmisher Level 1 & Skirmisher Level 2 <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8680933877/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8528/8680933877_d11cd3cd98_o.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8682038182/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8381/8682038182_10a49c0672_o.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>[/sblock]The goblin rider readies its javelin, like a lance, and digs its heels in to the wolf’s flanks, the creature yowls and charges forward. The terrible duo burst in to the first chamber and smash in to Gokan, who is much too slow.The goblin's javelin skewers the half-orc, the tip of the makeshift lance protruding from the rear of Gokan's left shoulder. The goblin beast rider lets go of its weapon as Gokan staggers back, the half-orc coughs and splutters, and then vomits blood. The goblin fetches out another javelin from a quiver strapped to the wolf's flank, the small humanoid snarls.“Durty Orc. Yes? Die soon. Yes!” It struggles with the common tongue but makes itself understood, all the while manoeuvring its mount so that Gokan is left pressed hard against the wall.[sblock=Picture- My Little Pony, sorry- Wolfy]<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8080451020/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8055/8080451020_307e3b79a3_z.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>[/sblock][sblock=Info]Gokan is bloodied, taking 16 points of damage from the charging mounted Goblin Beast Rider.[/sblock]Jimmy scurries between the pillars, unseen- behind the wolf and its goblin rider, the halfling braces his dagger and then leaps, twirls his blade in a jagged arc. The vicious blade cuts deep in to the beast rider's back- the goblin yelps and tries desperately to steady his mount as Jimmy's dagger arcs down and slashes at the wolf's rear, leaving a great tear in the beast's flesh.  Jimmy comes full circle, breathing hard, he's not done- the halfling clasps his off-hand around the handle of his blade, leaps up, and two-handed plunges the vicious weapon in to the goblin rider's back, again.The jagged edge of his dagger rips through the goblin's rib cage and chest, cutting the foul creature's heart in two en route. Jimmy lands perfectly, his momentum levering the dead beast rider from his perch, the goblin thumps on to the floor and sprawls and bleeds.[sblock=Info]Jimmy with an Acrobat’s Strike, followed by an Action Point Sly Flourish, the later for 23 points of damage to the Goblin Beast Rider, killing the creature.[/sblock]Sigur stomps down the stairs, the dwarf has only one target- a ghostly hand suddenly appears, scuttles forward and slaps and burns the wolf's rear- the lupine staggers, twists and turns, and yowls in terrible pain.[sblock=Picture- Hard Core in action]<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8080457569/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8336/8080457569_7ccefbd2a4_z.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>[/sblock]Hal rushes from the stair way, Tonka following on behind- there's no way in to the fight with the wolf, the pair run between the pillars, out of the now flailing, snarling wolf's reach, and on...Down the southern corridor the pair clank at speed, and in to another chamber- a guard chamber, in slightly better shape than the pillared entrance. There are bunk beds against the north wall, a pair of half-opened doors on the east wall- leading in to what looks to be a large store room. A short corridor to the west ends in another pair of doors, although these are tight shut. Guttering torches illuminate the place, and two of the goblins who lair here.The first, the closest- dressed in leather armour fumbles with a hand crossbow, vainly attempts to load the thing. The second leaps from one of the bunks and scurries away- towards the far doors, the creature wears dirty robes and has some sort of rod or wand in its hand. The strange goblin also seems to have faint glowing runes somehow etched in to the side of its face.[sblock=Goblin Sharpshooter]<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8127305697/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8323/8127305697_5c46d8e97a.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a> Goblin Sharpshooter Artillery Level 2 <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8680932813/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8113/8680932813_d90ca75e55_o.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>[/sblock][sblock=Goblin Wizard]<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8127334426/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8184/8127334426_ff9757dbec.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a> Goblin Wizard Artillery Level 2 <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8682044336/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8520/8682044336_e270577cee_o.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>[/sblock]Hal completes his dash by thumping his greatsword in to the goblin sharpshooter, smashing the hand crossbow from the creature's grasp, the goblin bleeds and scrabbles furiously trying to draw its short sword.The doors to the store room suddenly open wider, a third goblin hoves in to view, armed with a spear and wearing thick wolf hides, with a patch over one eye.[sblock=Goblin Beast Marshal]<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8127334786/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8466/8127334786_b2c392f2d6.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a> Goblin Beast Marshal Skirmisher Level 1 <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8680934007/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8519/8680934007_6c7af64537_o.png" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>[/sblock]“Make dead- quick, quick.” The goblin beast marshal declares.“For Bahamut!” Tonka counters and slashes with his longsword, the dragonborn cuts the goblin, although only a glancing blow.The creature retaliates, instantly, stabbing its spear through Tonka's right thigh, the dragonborn yelps and snarls.[sblock=Picture- Hal & Tonka find some new friends to play with…]<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8080451530/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8334/8080451530_08de4106a3_z.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>[/sblock]The robe wearing, rune etched goblin wizard folds and shapes its hand, as if gripping tight to some invisible force- the creature lurches forward, as if pushing something quickly away from it. Tonka and Hal are engulfed in a fiery blast, which somehow stings like acid- miraculously neither of the scalded pair are badly hurt. The goblin wizard continues to back away- heading for the closed doors.The goblin sharpshooter finally locates its short sword and frees the blade, it stabs hard at Hal - and would have scored a terrible hit, but for the fact that at the last moment a platinum dragon adorned shield suddenly appears to block much of the force of the blow. Tonka smiles at Hal, and then continues to mutter prayers to his holy master.The dragonborn however pays the price, the goblin before him whistles sharply and a fourth member of the wolf pack darts out of the deep shadows in the storeroom and bites Tonka, ripping a hunk of flesh from his side. Tonka has to grab at the wall to stop himself from falling.[sblock=Picture- Reinforcements needed]<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8080458193/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8473/8080458193_28cd6e4c4f_z.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>[/sblock][sblock=Info]Tonka is bloodied.[/sblock]Back in the entrance chamber Gokan, grimacing terribly, levers himself away from the wall- swings once with both his blades, screaming all the while- the grey wolf skips aside, but fails to account for the half-orc's follow up slash. Both blades come again, slam in to the lupine’s skull and right foreleg, severing the later and smashing the former, the dead body of the beast slaps hard in to the cold stone floor.Gokan gurns, grips tight to his twin blades, and then with his hand axe shatters the haft of the javelin that still protrudes from his shoulder.Jimmy's face shows the pain that Gokan feels, but does not register. The halfling looks away, down the corridor, and then sneaks forward, hidden in the shadows, toward the second chamber.Tonka it seems is having a little trouble with the spear-wielding goblin beast marshal, and its pet wolf. Time to even the odds, Jimmy thinks, and spins his vicious dagger out again. The goblin is caught off-guard, the blade THUNKS in to its chest- the creature visibly sags as its blood spurts. The beast marshal staggers, as if suddenly intoxicated, a moment later Jimmy's magical blade disappears leaving a great rent in the goblin’s body. Another gout of blood bursts out, the goblin’s legs seems to slip and slide suddenly, the creature THUDS in to one of the storeroom doors, only just manages to keep its feet.[sblock=Info]Jimmy’s Sly Flourish with added Surprise Strike leaves the Goblin Beast Marshal Dazed, as well as nearly dead.[/sblock]A ghostly hand suddenly appears before the wretched goblin, and slaps it in the face; the creature screams- drops its weapon and clutching desperately at its radiant burnt face manages to collide with every hard surface available on its way down to the floor.[sblock=Picture- Thinning the pack]<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8080457115/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8184/8080457115_b7179bc867_z.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>[/sblock]“Dirty little goblin scum.” Sigur mutters as he stomps forward past Jimmy. The dwarf winks at the halfling, strides on, and then shouts- at no one in particular, “DIRTY!”Hal's greatsword smashes in to the goblin sharpshooter, now reduced to fencing with the metal man, the creature screams as Hal goes to strike again... but something catches his eye.The goblin wizard has had enough, its steady retreat turns in to a rout- it turns and runs for the secured set of double doors. Hal reacts instantly, he charges- parrying the sharpshooter’s feeble attempt to slash at him, alas his effort is all for nothing.Hal's overhead greatsword blow, the culmination of his heroic charge, never materialises- the warforged is over six feet tall, his greatsword almost as long again- the ceilings of the chamber are about ten feet overhead. Hal's greatsword THUNKS in to a crevice in the ceiling and is ripped from his hands- which continue their forward arc. From a distance it looks like an act of devotion, the warforged bowing low to the goblin wizard, his hands clasped together as if in prayer.Meanwhile Hal's greatsword juts down, firmly lodged in the ceiling. The metal man spins to look about- scanning the floor nearby, desperately trying to spot his lost weapon. Tonka, meantime, makes short work of the last wolf, and then with fancy footwork turns and menaces the bewildered short sword wielding goblin sharpshooter. The dragonborn states in a loud voice, “Bahamut preserve!” His wounds close over- healed.The warlord cuts and parries, at last finds a weak spot, and with his longsword runs the sharpshooter through, just one enemy left...The goblin wizard looks behind him, at the closed doors, then ahead at Hal- the metal man has his back to the wizard. The small humanoid shrugs, and then tip-toes over to the massive metal golem, and touches it.BZZZT!Hal attempts four different dance steps at once, and then moments later takes to smoking, from his ears.“Rabbits! RABBITS!” Hal declares, loudly and with as much menace as the word can muster.[sblock=Info]Hal is hit for 15 Lightning damage by the Goblin Wizard's Shocking Grasp, a Crit, the metal man is bloodied, actually reduced to 6 HP.[/sblock]The goblin wizard turns tail and rushes back to the doors, and freedom.[sblock=Picture- The Wizard’s getting away...]<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8080450536/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8334/8080450536_0377f01657_z.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>[/sblock]The goblin wizard turns the handle on the door and opens it...“Neeeaaaarrrrggghhhhhh!”The terrible noise starts quietly, and builds, and builds, and builds.And builds.Until the small goblinoid turns around to see- and is instantly smashed down by Gokan's twin axes, the half-orc has covered just short of eighty feet to arrive just in the nick of time.[sblock=Picture- Gokan arrives]<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8080456651/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8336/8080456651_1539a538a9_z.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>[/sblock]The wizard falls to its knees as a grinning Gokan uses his axes to lever the creature around and away from the doors. Hal finally rips his greatsword from the ceiling, and is briefly showered with dirt, sheepishly the warforged strides past Gokan and the goblin to the open door- takes a brief look beyond, a set of stairs leading down in to yet another corridor, and then shuts it.Hal stands behind the wizard, folds his arms and leans on his greatsword- menacing.Jimmy and Tonka saunter forward to stand next to Gokan, the trio stare down at the forlorn looking wizard.Tonka is suddenly shoved aside, the dragonborn shuffles to make room- Sigur hoves in to view, stomps up to the goblin wizard, until the creature has to tilt its head all the way back to see up to the dwarf's face.Sigur grins.The goblin gulps.[sblock=Encounter #5 Synopsis, PC XP & DM’s thoughts]<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8080450000/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8332/8080450000_a0facb2a76_c.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a>Encounter #5 The Goblin Guards, starring-Wolf Packmate (Minion Skirmisher 1) x4Goblin Beast Marshal (Skirmisher 1) x1Goblin Beast Rider (Skirmisher 1) x1Goblin Sharpshooter (Artillery 2) x1Goblin Wizard (Artillery 2) x1Wolf Grey (Skirmisher 2) x1675 XP Level 2 EncounterAgain only a few changes- mainly just bulking out the encounter and making it a little different from previous plays- I did away with the pit trap and added in some doggies for fun.PC XP135 XP each for a total of 824 XP in total (PCs Level 1).DM Thoughts-Not much to say, a simple low level encounter with a variety of Goblins and their lupine friends, now the PCs are in the ‘dungeon’ proper I wanted to give them a chance to play through a few encounters.It obviously suited my purpose to have the Wizard surrender, I do this a lot, or else at least when I have something to say to the PCs- usually setting up the next set of encounters or adding to the story.[/sblock]<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40504969@N08/8045386300/" target="_blank"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8031/8045386300_bb867505eb.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " data-size="" style="" /></a></blockquote>

Verification