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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jack99" data-source="post: 4648942" data-attributes="member: 53135">The next example is from the last time we played. They are in the Feywild. The players have just killed the King of the Trollhaunt in the Warrens and been contacted by the leaders of Moondoor, a nearby Eladrin settlement that the trolls plot to attack in order to gain control of a portal opening right smack in the middle of the players' home town and capitol. It appears that the attack of the troll and goblin army has already been launched. The players port (linked portal) back to Moondoor, arriving in the portal house at the city gate. Everywhere there are goblins and trolls. They fight their way through the 40ish goblins and a couple of trolls, and now face a city where carnage reigns.DM: So, whatcha gonna do? It seems no one is paying attention to you guys atm. But that probably will not last.(after some debate)Cleric: We want to get to the Council building, or wherever we think we can find those in charge. Preferably with as little combat as possible, as we haven't had a break since before we encountered the Troll King, and our warrior is very very tired. (No surges left and they have just had two back to back combats, at least for some)DM: That sounds like a good idea. You are currently standing at the entrance. There are several streets branching out in different directions. Which way do you go?Rogue: I took a walk the other day, looking for you know what. Maybe I can remember something about the layout of the town?DM: Yes. Definitely. Roll a streetwise check(rogue rolls a win)DM: You feel pretty confident that you need to head down the second street, the one with the smithy on the corner.Rogue: Okay, let's go then.DM: Taking point, you lead your friends in between some of the many Eladrin towers. After a minute or so, the cleric suddenly hears voices. Some goblins and friends are coming around the next tower in a matter of seconds.(Another win for the players - cleric's perception is freakishly high)Wizard: Crap, I look around for somewhere to hideDM: Roll perception(wizard rolls another win)DM: You quickly spot some boxes standing against one of the tower walls, maybe they will be big enough to hide you all.Everybody: We hideDM: Roll stealthFighter: Wait, I suck at hiding. I want to make sure I do not get spotted, can I do something?DM: Athletics check please (instead of individual stealth rolls)(fighter rolls a win and everybody hides - counts as two wins)DM: As you hide behind the boxes, you can still see the goblins and trolls. They have stopped nearby, and seem to be debating which building to burn down.Rogue and Wizard: I am going to distract themRogue: I grab a stone or something from the ground, and tosses it towards an alley.Wizard: While he does that, I search my brain for any useful information about the Eladrins.DM: Bluff and arcana please(rogue rolls another win, so does the wizard)DM: The noise from the stone makes the monsters run and investigate. As they run away, you recall that Eladrin towers are often connected near the top. Not all Eladrins move constantly via teleportation. Looking up, you see that this is indeed the case, and that the tower you are hiding next to, has a connection leading north, the way you were heading.Cleric: Okay, lets go then. (they run to the tower, door is locked)DM: Thievery please(rogue rolls a win and everyone enters the tower, score is now 8-0)DM: As you get to the top, you see that the tower is connected with another tower nearby via a narrow wooden bridge. The street it crosses has several goblins and trolls walking around atm.Cleric: I guess we have to get over there. We will sneak over.DM: All roll stealth check(cleric, wizard and fighter rolls poorly, and I count it as two fails. 8-2)DM: Those spotted are bombarded with spears and other sharp things (some damage is handed out). As you get over the bridge, sounds originating from the tower you came from indicate that some monsters are on the way up. What do you do?(after some thinking)Fighter: I start chopping the bridge up.DM: The monsters are now up top, on the other side. You look at the bridge, and there is no way  you will get this done by the time they cross it.Wizard: I cast wall of fire on it!(I gave him a win for that, bringing them to 9-2, enough to win the skill challenge)DM: The troll and several of the goblins jump 50' down, preferring taking their chances with that, rather than burn up. The rest of the goblins retreat back into the other tower. As you come out of the tower down below, you can see the Council building nearby. There are eladrin archers manning the towers on it. It seems you are almost home free.On the home stretch, they will encounter some treant, troll and other fun stuff. They are however severely wounded. A loss in the skill challenge had resulted in them meeting a group of monsters that were less wounded. Of course, depending on when the skill challenged had been failed, it could have been another group of monsters, in a different place of the city. Had they failed at the beginning, I would have run the encounter, and restarted the skill challenge, which would give them yet another encounter. Usually, it's just more xp as they say, but in their condition, they do not yearn for any more fighting atm. Anyway, thats how I run my skill challenges. I define a goal, and think about what skills could be useful. That's about it. For example, my notes for this skill challenge said:"SC 9/3 - get from portal house to council house. Fail = encounter and restart challenge. Win = hard encounter but with very wounded monsters.Arcana = layout of fey building"Cheers</blockquote>

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