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Story Hour
The Dark Squad in the Secrets of Saltmarsh #136 Into the Mere of the Dead Men.
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<blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 8318227" data-attributes="member: 16069"><p style="text-align: center"><strong>Dark Squad in the Secrets of Saltmarsh</strong></p><p></p><p><strong>Session #052 Blight Fight Night! </strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Dark Squad (in alphabetical order, no egos here).</strong></p><p><strong>New Tricks (played by Bear) Male Tabaxi Warlock Lvl 7</strong></p><p><strong>Ramshambo (played by Kev) Male Half-Elf Rogue Lvl 7</strong></p><p><strong>Vincenzo (played by Haggis) Male Shifter (Wildhunt) Druid Lvl 7</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>NPCs</strong></p><p><strong>Daktari (played by Haggis) Male Human Uthgardt Sky Pony Barbarian Lvl 7</strong></p><p><s><strong>Garumn Male Mountain Dwarf Paladin of Moradin Lvl 5 </strong></s><strong>RIP*</strong></p><p><strong>Tarbin Tul (played by goonalan) Male Human Bard</strong></p><p><strong>*Trapped in the Land of the Bad Dead Ancestors.</strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Servants/Familiars</strong></p><p><strong>Gerald (Bat/Giant Bat) servant/mount of New Tricks</strong></p><p><strong>Owly (Owl) Vinnie’s familiar</strong></p><p></p><p>This is session 51, we started the game at about 7.45 PM and finished up at 10.45 PM- for a chat/denouement, and with two 5-10 minute breaks in there. We spent the entire session fighting, just one three hour long brawl.</p><p></p><p>Needless to say another victory for the Dark Squad, but it was hard won.</p><p></p><p>If you remember at the end of the last session the adventurers had sneaked in to an ancient ivy covered woodland manse, the home to a half-orc Talos worshipper, a boss- his name is Grannoc, we’ll meet him later. The place is also home to a clutch of gnolls who are obviously working for the Talos bad guys.</p><p></p><p>Also here, within the courtyard of the ancient manse- growing up out of a well, is another evil tree, a Gulthias Tree- similar to the evil tree the PCs encountered and destroyed back in the Sunless Citadel, their first adventure.</p><p></p><p>So, last session- Newt had his Wall of Fire going- incinerating twig blights and the upper branches of the evil tree. Vinnie had his Spike Growth situated beneath a hole in the ceiling of another chamber, from which the gnolls are about to exit- the PCs (correctly) believe. Ram has also distributed a bunch of marbles on the floor in this room- just to add to the gnoll’s fun.</p><p></p><p>He’s so thoughtful.</p><p></p><p>The above has been achieved by the Dark Squad mainly because of their great reconnaissance of the manse- initially by Owly, Vinnie’s owl familiar, but latterly by the very sneaky Ram.</p><p></p><p>Set up done, here’s what happens next…</p><p></p><p>More twig blights- the four that emerge from with the well are incinerated in an instant by the cackling tabaxi’s greatest creation so far, his Wall of Fire. However, more twig blights scramble down and out of the chimney in the dining room of the manse, and start scratching and clawing at Vinnie and Tarbin Tul there.</p><p></p><p>Likewise lots more of the little scratchy bastards exit Grannoc’s lair, and continue to block Ram and Daktari’s progress.</p><p></p><p>But, they're just twig blights.</p><p></p><p>While this is going on the gnolls get into action, although the PCs can’t see some of the following, they CAN hear a lot of it however. One of the nasty buggers (a plains gnoll archer- I have a new splatbook) hangs out of a window on the upper floor, overlooking the courtyard, and from there shoots arrows into Ram (well, he hit the rogue once).</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]138860[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Upstairs plains gnoll archer is just about to plug Ramshambow.</strong></p><p></p><p>A second gnoll, a plains gnoll runner, blithely unaware leaps down directly into Vinnie’s Spike Growth- that hurts. Then, the same poor fellow, staggers into one of Ram’s marble patches- the gnoll goes flying (arse over tit) and impales itself again in the Spike Growth area. The unfortunate fellow ends its turn curled on the floor yowling and screeching (and on 1 HP).</p><p></p><p>Another plains gnoll runner attempts to come to his packmate’s aid, but is also hurt badly after leaping down into the Spike Growth. The gnoll makes its perception check to spot the hazard, and so abandons its forlorn colleague and scrambles back up and into the gnoll's lair above. to share the news.</p><p></p><p>The gnolls are trapped upstairs- but not for long.</p><p></p><p>Meantime Grannoc, the half-orc Talos boss, has climbed out of the window of his room and is in the process of rounding up his boar friends.</p><p></p><p>Then…</p><p></p><p>It’s not just twig blights, although plenty more of these turn up too. Now there are vine blights climbing in through the windows, and needle blights too.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]138861[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Blights for all occassions!</strong></p><p></p><p>Then…</p><p></p><p>The gnolls cannot be contained, a trio of the beasts clamber out of windows and drop down into the courtyard- alas all of them suffer a little as they land in Vinnie's Spike Growth zone.</p><p></p><p>A plains gnoll archer takes up position and just lets loose, repeatedly, while a plains gnoll spearman (tough- approx. 40 HP and with four attacks/turn) rushes into the dining room- in which Vinnie, Tarbin and Newt hide, and starts stabbing with its spear- although the beast doesn’t hit much.</p><p></p><p>Then…</p><p></p><p>Vinnie has seen enough, and has already taken several hits- the druid is just short of bloodied, therefore Vincen G Squeezy Snake (Huge Constrictor) suddenly occupies much of the dining room. The plains gnoll spearman is grabbed up and squeezed, eventually crushed to death- but not before the terror (with help from a myriad blights) reduces Squeezy to just about bloodied, and very quickly.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]138862[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Squeezy gets into action, note the PCs are in retreat already... keep watching.</strong></p><p></p><p>Then…</p><p></p><p>Another pair of gnolls leap down into the courtyard, and one of these is my big bad gnoll- a plains gnoll warrior (in half-plate- AC 19, 80+ HP, and with five attacks/turn- two of them with his massive flail, inflicting 6D4+ damage).</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]138863[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>"Hiya, can I have this dance?", the plains gnoll warrior makes it to the fight. As soon as Ram took a hit from this guy, Kev playing Ram (in his nonchalant way, still) said- "What the F was that?"</strong></p><p></p><p>The gnoll warrior does a lot of shouting (in gnoll, which none of the PCs understand) and then smashes Ram and Daktari, thank heavens for Ram’s uncanny dodge. The rogue stabs the gnoll back, but then has to retreat into a corner to swig down a greater healing potion.</p><p></p><p>Then…</p><p></p><p>Daktari to the rescue, the now raging, frenzied and reckless barbarian goes smash-crazy trying to take the gnoll warrior down, alas on his first turn he only manages to connect with the terror once (from three attacks).</p><p></p><p>He therefore resorts to brute force on his next turn- Daktari grapples the gnoll warrior- picks it up and then flings it into and through Newt's Wall of Fire. The gnoll brute is still only just bloodied, but then has to get out of the Wall of Fire on his turn (and therefore gets burnt some more).</p><p></p><p>Soon after the plains gnoll warrior is killed to death by a rejuvenated Ram.</p><p></p><p>Job done.</p><p></p><p>Then…</p><p></p><p>Well, there are still lots of blights- and a few more gnolls in action- including an archer that is just sinking arrows into PCs at will- none of the guys can get to this fellow. Squeezy is beaten and broken, and Newt, Ram & Tarbin are now facing a clutch of needle and vine blights.</p><p></p><p>Note, the tabaxi attempts to use Blind/Deafen on a pair of vine blights that are closing in on him- the plant creatures both make their saves, which saved me having to inform the tabaxi that these blights are immune to blind/deafen anyway.</p><p></p><p>Remember to make monster knowledge checks if you need to.</p><p></p><p>Then…</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]138864[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Note- Newt's marked those for destruction by his Fireball, also- that's the plains gnoll warrior inside Newt's Wall of Fire- where Daktari chucked him.</strong></p><p></p><p>Newt uses his rod of the pact keeper to regenerate one of his spell slots, and then spends an inspiration point to employ it immediately- FIREBALL, he burns down a swathe of the blights.</p><p></p><p>But just to say, and the PCs were not aware of this- Grannoc, my Talos boss guy, is at this point stood the other side of the main door into the manse- just about to open the portals and let loose with a lightning bolt.</p><p></p><p>At which point Newt’s Fireball hits the doors and explodes- wrecking the portals and setting the hallway on fire (because I thought it would be cool to do so) and causing Grannoc to abandon his plan and rush for cover.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]138865[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Apres le Fireball. Note this is obviously a screenshot from one of the players, on my screen my big bad guy- Grannoc is just the other side of the doors that are on fire. Having just had the crap scared out of him, he was about to open the door and join the party on his next initiative. </strong></p><p></p><p>Then…</p><p></p><p>Oh, and I forgot to say- the boars from the pumpkin patches are now all inside the manse, there are four of them- charging around the blights and attempting to tusk the Dark Squad.</p><p></p><p>Squeezy falls, Vinnie instantly reappears in his place and is immediately set upon by a variety of enemies.</p><p></p><p>Out in the courtyard Daktari is being wailed upon by three gnolls, although they’re just plain old gnolls and therefore not too tough, certainly not tough enough to thwart the barbarian.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]138866[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Squeezy's gone and Vinnie is about to get mobbed, like Daktari is right now.</strong></p><p></p><p>He’s bloodied though, and so is Ram- again.</p><p></p><p>Also just to note, I was rolling randomly as I went on for the spread of the fire (started after Newt's Fireball) but the conflagration didn't really get going, mainly because I wanted the PCs to explore the manse after the attack.</p><p></p><p>Then…</p><p></p><p>Vinnie retreats into a corner of the dining room and summons to the party a pair of brown bears, which fill the room with their wild roaring and clawing. The bears are, of course, also given names- they are Yogi, and Paddington- only say them in Vinnie’s French/Italian accent for full effect.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]138867[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>"Yo!-ghee", and, "Pa-Ding-Ton!", they lasted 12 seconds in total.</strong></p><p></p><p>Paddington is swiftly grappled and restrained by a vine blight, and then torn to shreds by a charging boar and a bunch more needle and twig blights- in a turn.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]138868[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>"Yo!-gheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" But too late, and the fire's spreading, and the Dark Squad are heading for full retreat, although I've pretty much run out of enemies at this point.</strong></p><p></p><p>Yogi lasts just a turn longer.</p><p></p><p>But the summoned creature’s sacrifice has not been in vain, the Dark Squad are temporarily unleashed, they go hog happy and starting blasting, smashing, burning and slashing their enemies down.</p><p></p><p>Then…</p><p></p><p>Just as the adventurers have cleared a space for themselves in the dining room, suddenly a large snarling hyena appears in a cloud of smoke and brimstone- it tears into Vinnie and Ram, but misses Newt- most everything does this evening.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]138869[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Dark Squad huddle up in the corner, the crocotta only lasted for maybe a turn and a half but it caused a fair amount of panic in the ranks. </strong></p><p></p><p>What the PCs didn’t know is there’s a gnoll caster also in the building, only this guy has climbed down the outside of the manse and to the window that looks into the dining room.</p><p></p><p>The Dark Squad concentrate their attacks, and at this point Daktari is on fire- after taking down all three gnolls in the courtyard the barbarian rushes in and starts wailing on the large and ferocious hyena- later identified as a crocotta, the bestial offspring of a high ranking gnoll and a hyena.</p><p></p><p>Doesn’t bare thinking about.</p><p></p><p>So, where were we- ah yes, Daktari’s dice hit red hot, in two turns he rolls four crits, from six attacks- all with advantage (reckless)- the other two rolls are misses. The crocotta is gutted in seconds, and poof- like Vinnie’s summoned brown bears it too disappears.</p><p></p><p>At this point all of the PCs are in effect hiding in the corner of the dining room.</p><p></p><p>Now, I know they wont like me for saying that but their tactics are- for all of ‘em, move two or three squares into position- attack- move back into the safety of the dining room huddle.</p><p></p><p>Then…</p><p></p><p>Well, the boars charge about some more- a few more blights arrive, but I’ve run out of enemies to throw at the PCs at this point. I have unleashed (in total) thirty eight twig blights, six needle blights, four vine blights, four boars, the crocotta and eight gnolls of varying calibre.</p><p></p><p>So, there’s just Grannoc awaiting his opportunity.</p><p></p><p>Then…</p><p></p><p>Daktari moves forward to attack the remaining boars and blights etc. and at last he moves into a space in which Grannoc can see him.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]138870[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>BZZZZZZTTT!</strong></p><p></p><p>The lightning bolt hits- it kills a boar and a vine blight, but also leaves Daktari staggering, and on 6 HP.</p><p></p><p>But… there’s Grannoc, the bastard (thinks Daktari), and so the stumbling barbarian switches direction- charges into Grannoc and unleashes merry hell.</p><p></p><p>Grannoc has a big bag of hit points however, about 120 from memory… Daktari, remember, has 6 HP.</p><p></p><p>Then…</p><p></p><p>The rest of the Dark Squad rush to support the barbarian, the first to arrive is Newt- who forces the Sky Pony hero to glug down a potion of greater healing.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]138871[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>Newt & Vinnie have just both raced to Daktari's side to deliver healing, and then retreated as quickly to find cover. Note that's Ram just making his way out of the window for a bit of a skulk.</strong></p><p></p><p>Note, potion of greater healing = recover 4D4 + 4 hit points, Newt’s rolls – 1, 1, 2, 1 + 4 = 9 HP healed. The last potion of greater healing Newt used (on himself) he rolled – 1, 1, 1, 1 +4 = 8 HP recovered. So, he’s improving.</p><p></p><p>Vinnie arrives next, and with a third level cure wounds for the barbarian, and Daktari is loving playing the hero.</p><p></p><p>Meanwhile Ram has mopped up the last two blights, and then clambered out of the window of the dining room.</p><p></p><p>Note, the gnoll spellcaster that summoned the crocotta has already seen enough, it fled into the woods maybe two turns previous.</p><p></p><p>Daktari keeps hacking at Grannoc, and keeps shouting random things- which Jim/Haggis playing Daktari delights in giving voice to.</p><p></p><p>If you remember last time I've added a new Mod to Fantasy Grounds, Daktari now has sub-tables for his random chat lines. It made us laugh a lot.</p><p></p><p>"I am cutting off your insert body part!"</p><p></p><p>Note, I had to do a bit of tweaking to get the sub-tables to work in the Mod, although Jim quite liked yelling the above anyway, he did it a lot.</p><p></p><p>Vinnie meantime dodges in and fires off his new fourth level spell- Blight, Grannoc feels the hurt. While Newt dodges in and out with his Belphegor’s Fiery Blasts.</p><p></p><p>Grannoc is suffering but he hits the trio right back with a pair of Thunderwave spells, but it’s just not enough, particularly when the creeping Ram sneaks in a backstab, although it’s actually Newt that takes down the boss of the half-orc Talos adherents.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]138872[/ATTACH]</p><p><strong>The fight is won.</strong></p><p></p><p>Although Grannoc has a few last words-</p><p></p><p>“Hear the thunder… Garthok comes!”</p><p></p><p>The Dark Squad are suitably fretful.</p><p></p><p>So, there were times the PCs/players were worrying…</p><p></p><p>Vinnie is usually the first to crack, I remember him saying- “Zis iz not going zo well, mes amis!”</p><p></p><p>This when Vincen G Squeezy lasted just two turns.</p><p></p><p>Then it was Newt-</p><p></p><p>“Ram! Ram! Tell Daktari- we need both of you back here, they’re coming from the walls Ram!”</p><p></p><p>Newt repeated some variant of the above statement about half-a-dozen times, starting his chivvying when Vinnie, Tarbin and the tabaxi found themselves trapped in the dining room of the manse.</p><p></p><p>But while I had lots of enemies in action they were little folk. I landed lots of hits but as soon as one of my big guys got into action- one of the tough gnolls, or the crocotta, or Grannoc, as soon as any of these guys got going the Dark Squad really concentrated fire and took them down, and quickly.</p><p></p><p>So, a great fight- it took the entire session, and we had a chat about that afterwards, I just wanted to make sure the players were good with this kind of thing. Obviously it isn’t going to happen often, an entire session to play out just one fight.</p><p></p><p>But all is well- positive feedback from the guys.</p><p></p><p>So, briefly back to the action, the Dark Squad over the course of the next twenty or so minutes put the fire out within the manse.</p><p></p><p>Newt isn't happy about this, and refuses to use any of his magic to Control the Flames, Ram has words (briefly) with the arsonist tabaxi, but the tetchy moment passes.</p><p></p><p>Newt wanders off- leaving his colleagues to their blasphemy.</p><p></p><p>The gnolls and Grannoc are searched, just coin- although souvenirs are also taken from the fallen enemies, there are rewards available for these guys from the Falcon.</p><p></p><p>Last bit, while Newt is staying out of the way of his companions- who are putting out his beloved fire, he discovers… well.</p><p></p><p>Actually, the well- the trunk of the evil tree descends the well-shaft into… a cavern, a large cavern- maybe. Basically, there’s a way down into the well, and the rest of the evil tree down there.</p><p></p><p>Do you remember anything about a well? Readers? Dark Squad?</p><p></p><p>But we’ll get to this next time.</p><p></p><p>That was a cracker- don’t get me wrong, the Dark Squad- although they were fretting at times (but not Ram) seemed to be mostly in control throughout, or at least they had the stamina (and spells) to just keep on surviving. There were brief moments of hope for me- if the plains gnoll warrior could have got in one more turn of attacks then Ram would have been down. If at any point two of the PCs had lined up so I could get Grannoc in with his lightning bolt…</p><p></p><p>But they didn’t, it gets very tactical on Fantasy Ground sometimes, and the players know what they are doing, Newt even stated several times-</p><p></p><p>“Watch out for the lightning bolt bastard! Don’t stand together! Keep in cover and away from the doorways!”</p><p></p><p>Note, I also locked down as many of the PCs as I could every turn with the tide of twig blights, I don’t remember Ram starting a single turn without at least one of these little bastards stood at his side.</p><p></p><p>The Dark Squad suffered over a dozen AoO in this fight, collectively, because as soon as they identified a genuine threat they all moved towards it (took their AoO) and concentrated fire. As I say, it got tactical, and so took a good while to play out.</p><p></p><p>Very astute by the Dark Squad, and a top move from Daktari when he threw the big tough plains gnoll warrior through Newt's Wall of Fire.</p><p></p><p></p><p>The MVP for this session was clearly Daktari, played by Jim/Haggis (who plays Vinnie too). The barbarian was well into his second rage in succession when Grannoc fell, and with +8 to hit, with advantage every time (reckless) and three attacks/turn… well, he did a naughty word-ton of damage.</p><p></p><p>The Dark Squad’s to-do list reads a little like this-</p><ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Investigate the woodland manse- and below?<br /> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Track the other half-orcs/boars.<br /> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> DESTROY!<br /> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Back to the Falcon?<br /> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Goblins in the Dreadwood.<br /> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Nightshade in the Dreadwood.<br /> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> To Blackedge, find the Goblin Stair.<br /> </li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol"> Return to Fallowstone Holy for answers- the Witch’s Tor & the Pact of the Flame. </li> </ol><p>Stay safe and well you lovely people.</p><p></p><p>Cheers the Dark Squad and goonalan.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Goonalan, post: 8318227, member: 16069"] [CENTER][B]Dark Squad in the Secrets of Saltmarsh[/B][/CENTER] [B]Session #052 Blight Fight Night! Dark Squad (in alphabetical order, no egos here). New Tricks (played by Bear) Male Tabaxi Warlock Lvl 7 Ramshambo (played by Kev) Male Half-Elf Rogue Lvl 7 Vincenzo (played by Haggis) Male Shifter (Wildhunt) Druid Lvl 7 NPCs Daktari (played by Haggis) Male Human Uthgardt Sky Pony Barbarian Lvl 7[/B] [S][B]Garumn Male Mountain Dwarf Paladin of Moradin Lvl 5 [/B][/S][B]RIP* Tarbin Tul (played by goonalan) Male Human Bard *Trapped in the Land of the Bad Dead Ancestors. Servants/Familiars Gerald (Bat/Giant Bat) servant/mount of New Tricks Owly (Owl) Vinnie’s familiar[/B] This is session 51, we started the game at about 7.45 PM and finished up at 10.45 PM- for a chat/denouement, and with two 5-10 minute breaks in there. We spent the entire session fighting, just one three hour long brawl. Needless to say another victory for the Dark Squad, but it was hard won. If you remember at the end of the last session the adventurers had sneaked in to an ancient ivy covered woodland manse, the home to a half-orc Talos worshipper, a boss- his name is Grannoc, we’ll meet him later. The place is also home to a clutch of gnolls who are obviously working for the Talos bad guys. Also here, within the courtyard of the ancient manse- growing up out of a well, is another evil tree, a Gulthias Tree- similar to the evil tree the PCs encountered and destroyed back in the Sunless Citadel, their first adventure. So, last session- Newt had his Wall of Fire going- incinerating twig blights and the upper branches of the evil tree. Vinnie had his Spike Growth situated beneath a hole in the ceiling of another chamber, from which the gnolls are about to exit- the PCs (correctly) believe. Ram has also distributed a bunch of marbles on the floor in this room- just to add to the gnoll’s fun. He’s so thoughtful. The above has been achieved by the Dark Squad mainly because of their great reconnaissance of the manse- initially by Owly, Vinnie’s owl familiar, but latterly by the very sneaky Ram. Set up done, here’s what happens next… More twig blights- the four that emerge from with the well are incinerated in an instant by the cackling tabaxi’s greatest creation so far, his Wall of Fire. However, more twig blights scramble down and out of the chimney in the dining room of the manse, and start scratching and clawing at Vinnie and Tarbin Tul there. Likewise lots more of the little scratchy bastards exit Grannoc’s lair, and continue to block Ram and Daktari’s progress. But, they're just twig blights. While this is going on the gnolls get into action, although the PCs can’t see some of the following, they CAN hear a lot of it however. One of the nasty buggers (a plains gnoll archer- I have a new splatbook) hangs out of a window on the upper floor, overlooking the courtyard, and from there shoots arrows into Ram (well, he hit the rogue once). [ATTACH type="full" alt="5201.jpg"]138860[/ATTACH] [B]Upstairs plains gnoll archer is just about to plug Ramshambow.[/B] A second gnoll, a plains gnoll runner, blithely unaware leaps down directly into Vinnie’s Spike Growth- that hurts. Then, the same poor fellow, staggers into one of Ram’s marble patches- the gnoll goes flying (arse over tit) and impales itself again in the Spike Growth area. The unfortunate fellow ends its turn curled on the floor yowling and screeching (and on 1 HP). Another plains gnoll runner attempts to come to his packmate’s aid, but is also hurt badly after leaping down into the Spike Growth. The gnoll makes its perception check to spot the hazard, and so abandons its forlorn colleague and scrambles back up and into the gnoll's lair above. to share the news. The gnolls are trapped upstairs- but not for long. Meantime Grannoc, the half-orc Talos boss, has climbed out of the window of his room and is in the process of rounding up his boar friends. Then… It’s not just twig blights, although plenty more of these turn up too. Now there are vine blights climbing in through the windows, and needle blights too. [ATTACH type="full" alt="5202.jpg"]138861[/ATTACH] [B]Blights for all occassions![/B] Then… The gnolls cannot be contained, a trio of the beasts clamber out of windows and drop down into the courtyard- alas all of them suffer a little as they land in Vinnie's Spike Growth zone. A plains gnoll archer takes up position and just lets loose, repeatedly, while a plains gnoll spearman (tough- approx. 40 HP and with four attacks/turn) rushes into the dining room- in which Vinnie, Tarbin and Newt hide, and starts stabbing with its spear- although the beast doesn’t hit much. Then… Vinnie has seen enough, and has already taken several hits- the druid is just short of bloodied, therefore Vincen G Squeezy Snake (Huge Constrictor) suddenly occupies much of the dining room. The plains gnoll spearman is grabbed up and squeezed, eventually crushed to death- but not before the terror (with help from a myriad blights) reduces Squeezy to just about bloodied, and very quickly. [ATTACH type="full" alt="5203.jpg"]138862[/ATTACH] [B]Squeezy gets into action, note the PCs are in retreat already... keep watching.[/B] Then… Another pair of gnolls leap down into the courtyard, and one of these is my big bad gnoll- a plains gnoll warrior (in half-plate- AC 19, 80+ HP, and with five attacks/turn- two of them with his massive flail, inflicting 6D4+ damage). [ATTACH type="full" alt="5204.jpg"]138863[/ATTACH] [B]"Hiya, can I have this dance?", the plains gnoll warrior makes it to the fight. As soon as Ram took a hit from this guy, Kev playing Ram (in his nonchalant way, still) said- "What the F was that?"[/B] The gnoll warrior does a lot of shouting (in gnoll, which none of the PCs understand) and then smashes Ram and Daktari, thank heavens for Ram’s uncanny dodge. The rogue stabs the gnoll back, but then has to retreat into a corner to swig down a greater healing potion. Then… Daktari to the rescue, the now raging, frenzied and reckless barbarian goes smash-crazy trying to take the gnoll warrior down, alas on his first turn he only manages to connect with the terror once (from three attacks). He therefore resorts to brute force on his next turn- Daktari grapples the gnoll warrior- picks it up and then flings it into and through Newt's Wall of Fire. The gnoll brute is still only just bloodied, but then has to get out of the Wall of Fire on his turn (and therefore gets burnt some more). Soon after the plains gnoll warrior is killed to death by a rejuvenated Ram. Job done. Then… Well, there are still lots of blights- and a few more gnolls in action- including an archer that is just sinking arrows into PCs at will- none of the guys can get to this fellow. Squeezy is beaten and broken, and Newt, Ram & Tarbin are now facing a clutch of needle and vine blights. Note, the tabaxi attempts to use Blind/Deafen on a pair of vine blights that are closing in on him- the plant creatures both make their saves, which saved me having to inform the tabaxi that these blights are immune to blind/deafen anyway. Remember to make monster knowledge checks if you need to. Then… [ATTACH type="full" alt="5205.jpg"]138864[/ATTACH] [B]Note- Newt's marked those for destruction by his Fireball, also- that's the plains gnoll warrior inside Newt's Wall of Fire- where Daktari chucked him.[/B] Newt uses his rod of the pact keeper to regenerate one of his spell slots, and then spends an inspiration point to employ it immediately- FIREBALL, he burns down a swathe of the blights. But just to say, and the PCs were not aware of this- Grannoc, my Talos boss guy, is at this point stood the other side of the main door into the manse- just about to open the portals and let loose with a lightning bolt. At which point Newt’s Fireball hits the doors and explodes- wrecking the portals and setting the hallway on fire (because I thought it would be cool to do so) and causing Grannoc to abandon his plan and rush for cover. [ATTACH type="full" alt="5206.jpg"]138865[/ATTACH] [B]Apres le Fireball. Note this is obviously a screenshot from one of the players, on my screen my big bad guy- Grannoc is just the other side of the doors that are on fire. Having just had the crap scared out of him, he was about to open the door and join the party on his next initiative. [/B] Then… Oh, and I forgot to say- the boars from the pumpkin patches are now all inside the manse, there are four of them- charging around the blights and attempting to tusk the Dark Squad. Squeezy falls, Vinnie instantly reappears in his place and is immediately set upon by a variety of enemies. Out in the courtyard Daktari is being wailed upon by three gnolls, although they’re just plain old gnolls and therefore not too tough, certainly not tough enough to thwart the barbarian. [ATTACH type="full" alt="5207.jpg"]138866[/ATTACH] [B]Squeezy's gone and Vinnie is about to get mobbed, like Daktari is right now.[/B] He’s bloodied though, and so is Ram- again. Also just to note, I was rolling randomly as I went on for the spread of the fire (started after Newt's Fireball) but the conflagration didn't really get going, mainly because I wanted the PCs to explore the manse after the attack. Then… Vinnie retreats into a corner of the dining room and summons to the party a pair of brown bears, which fill the room with their wild roaring and clawing. The bears are, of course, also given names- they are Yogi, and Paddington- only say them in Vinnie’s French/Italian accent for full effect. [ATTACH type="full" alt="5208.jpg"]138867[/ATTACH] [B]"Yo!-ghee", and, "Pa-Ding-Ton!", they lasted 12 seconds in total.[/B] Paddington is swiftly grappled and restrained by a vine blight, and then torn to shreds by a charging boar and a bunch more needle and twig blights- in a turn. [ATTACH type="full" alt="5209.jpg"]138868[/ATTACH] [B]"Yo!-gheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" But too late, and the fire's spreading, and the Dark Squad are heading for full retreat, although I've pretty much run out of enemies at this point.[/B] Yogi lasts just a turn longer. But the summoned creature’s sacrifice has not been in vain, the Dark Squad are temporarily unleashed, they go hog happy and starting blasting, smashing, burning and slashing their enemies down. Then… Just as the adventurers have cleared a space for themselves in the dining room, suddenly a large snarling hyena appears in a cloud of smoke and brimstone- it tears into Vinnie and Ram, but misses Newt- most everything does this evening. [ATTACH type="full" alt="5210.jpg"]138869[/ATTACH] [B]Dark Squad huddle up in the corner, the crocotta only lasted for maybe a turn and a half but it caused a fair amount of panic in the ranks. [/B] What the PCs didn’t know is there’s a gnoll caster also in the building, only this guy has climbed down the outside of the manse and to the window that looks into the dining room. The Dark Squad concentrate their attacks, and at this point Daktari is on fire- after taking down all three gnolls in the courtyard the barbarian rushes in and starts wailing on the large and ferocious hyena- later identified as a crocotta, the bestial offspring of a high ranking gnoll and a hyena. Doesn’t bare thinking about. So, where were we- ah yes, Daktari’s dice hit red hot, in two turns he rolls four crits, from six attacks- all with advantage (reckless)- the other two rolls are misses. The crocotta is gutted in seconds, and poof- like Vinnie’s summoned brown bears it too disappears. At this point all of the PCs are in effect hiding in the corner of the dining room. Now, I know they wont like me for saying that but their tactics are- for all of ‘em, move two or three squares into position- attack- move back into the safety of the dining room huddle. Then… Well, the boars charge about some more- a few more blights arrive, but I’ve run out of enemies to throw at the PCs at this point. I have unleashed (in total) thirty eight twig blights, six needle blights, four vine blights, four boars, the crocotta and eight gnolls of varying calibre. So, there’s just Grannoc awaiting his opportunity. Then… Daktari moves forward to attack the remaining boars and blights etc. and at last he moves into a space in which Grannoc can see him. [ATTACH type="full" alt="5211.jpg"]138870[/ATTACH] [B]BZZZZZZTTT![/B] The lightning bolt hits- it kills a boar and a vine blight, but also leaves Daktari staggering, and on 6 HP. But… there’s Grannoc, the bastard (thinks Daktari), and so the stumbling barbarian switches direction- charges into Grannoc and unleashes merry hell. Grannoc has a big bag of hit points however, about 120 from memory… Daktari, remember, has 6 HP. Then… The rest of the Dark Squad rush to support the barbarian, the first to arrive is Newt- who forces the Sky Pony hero to glug down a potion of greater healing. [ATTACH type="full" alt="5212.jpg"]138871[/ATTACH] [B]Newt & Vinnie have just both raced to Daktari's side to deliver healing, and then retreated as quickly to find cover. Note that's Ram just making his way out of the window for a bit of a skulk.[/B] Note, potion of greater healing = recover 4D4 + 4 hit points, Newt’s rolls – 1, 1, 2, 1 + 4 = 9 HP healed. The last potion of greater healing Newt used (on himself) he rolled – 1, 1, 1, 1 +4 = 8 HP recovered. So, he’s improving. Vinnie arrives next, and with a third level cure wounds for the barbarian, and Daktari is loving playing the hero. Meanwhile Ram has mopped up the last two blights, and then clambered out of the window of the dining room. Note, the gnoll spellcaster that summoned the crocotta has already seen enough, it fled into the woods maybe two turns previous. Daktari keeps hacking at Grannoc, and keeps shouting random things- which Jim/Haggis playing Daktari delights in giving voice to. If you remember last time I've added a new Mod to Fantasy Grounds, Daktari now has sub-tables for his random chat lines. It made us laugh a lot. "I am cutting off your insert body part!" Note, I had to do a bit of tweaking to get the sub-tables to work in the Mod, although Jim quite liked yelling the above anyway, he did it a lot. Vinnie meantime dodges in and fires off his new fourth level spell- Blight, Grannoc feels the hurt. While Newt dodges in and out with his Belphegor’s Fiery Blasts. Grannoc is suffering but he hits the trio right back with a pair of Thunderwave spells, but it’s just not enough, particularly when the creeping Ram sneaks in a backstab, although it’s actually Newt that takes down the boss of the half-orc Talos adherents. [ATTACH type="full" alt="5213.jpg"]138872[/ATTACH] [B]The fight is won.[/B] Although Grannoc has a few last words- “Hear the thunder… Garthok comes!” The Dark Squad are suitably fretful. So, there were times the PCs/players were worrying… Vinnie is usually the first to crack, I remember him saying- “Zis iz not going zo well, mes amis!” This when Vincen G Squeezy lasted just two turns. Then it was Newt- “Ram! Ram! Tell Daktari- we need both of you back here, they’re coming from the walls Ram!” Newt repeated some variant of the above statement about half-a-dozen times, starting his chivvying when Vinnie, Tarbin and the tabaxi found themselves trapped in the dining room of the manse. But while I had lots of enemies in action they were little folk. I landed lots of hits but as soon as one of my big guys got into action- one of the tough gnolls, or the crocotta, or Grannoc, as soon as any of these guys got going the Dark Squad really concentrated fire and took them down, and quickly. So, a great fight- it took the entire session, and we had a chat about that afterwards, I just wanted to make sure the players were good with this kind of thing. Obviously it isn’t going to happen often, an entire session to play out just one fight. But all is well- positive feedback from the guys. So, briefly back to the action, the Dark Squad over the course of the next twenty or so minutes put the fire out within the manse. Newt isn't happy about this, and refuses to use any of his magic to Control the Flames, Ram has words (briefly) with the arsonist tabaxi, but the tetchy moment passes. Newt wanders off- leaving his colleagues to their blasphemy. The gnolls and Grannoc are searched, just coin- although souvenirs are also taken from the fallen enemies, there are rewards available for these guys from the Falcon. Last bit, while Newt is staying out of the way of his companions- who are putting out his beloved fire, he discovers… well. Actually, the well- the trunk of the evil tree descends the well-shaft into… a cavern, a large cavern- maybe. Basically, there’s a way down into the well, and the rest of the evil tree down there. Do you remember anything about a well? Readers? Dark Squad? But we’ll get to this next time. That was a cracker- don’t get me wrong, the Dark Squad- although they were fretting at times (but not Ram) seemed to be mostly in control throughout, or at least they had the stamina (and spells) to just keep on surviving. There were brief moments of hope for me- if the plains gnoll warrior could have got in one more turn of attacks then Ram would have been down. If at any point two of the PCs had lined up so I could get Grannoc in with his lightning bolt… But they didn’t, it gets very tactical on Fantasy Ground sometimes, and the players know what they are doing, Newt even stated several times- “Watch out for the lightning bolt bastard! Don’t stand together! Keep in cover and away from the doorways!” Note, I also locked down as many of the PCs as I could every turn with the tide of twig blights, I don’t remember Ram starting a single turn without at least one of these little bastards stood at his side. The Dark Squad suffered over a dozen AoO in this fight, collectively, because as soon as they identified a genuine threat they all moved towards it (took their AoO) and concentrated fire. As I say, it got tactical, and so took a good while to play out. Very astute by the Dark Squad, and a top move from Daktari when he threw the big tough plains gnoll warrior through Newt's Wall of Fire. The MVP for this session was clearly Daktari, played by Jim/Haggis (who plays Vinnie too). The barbarian was well into his second rage in succession when Grannoc fell, and with +8 to hit, with advantage every time (reckless) and three attacks/turn… well, he did a naughty word-ton of damage. The Dark Squad’s to-do list reads a little like this- [LIST=1] [*] Investigate the woodland manse- and below? [*] Track the other half-orcs/boars. [*] DESTROY! [*] Back to the Falcon? [*] Goblins in the Dreadwood. [*] Nightshade in the Dreadwood. [*] To Blackedge, find the Goblin Stair. [*] Return to Fallowstone Holy for answers- the Witch’s Tor & the Pact of the Flame. [/LIST] Stay safe and well you lovely people. Cheers the Dark Squad and goonalan. [/QUOTE]
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The Dark Squad in the Secrets of Saltmarsh #136 Into the Mere of the Dead Men.
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