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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 9747841" data-attributes="member: 16069">Dark Squad in the Secrets of SaltmarshSession #165: The Goblin Stair Part 4- Hard Core!Dark Squad (in alphabetical order, no egos here).Daktari/Dak (played by Haggis) Male Human Uthgardt Sky Pony Barbarian Lvl 9Fellowyn Silverstream (played by George) Male Eladrin Wizard Bladesinger Lvl 9New Tricks/Newt (played by Bear) Male Tabaxi Warlock Lvl 9Ramshambo/Ram (played by Kev) Male Half-Elf Rogue/Fighter Lvl 7/2Vincenzo/Vinnie (played by Haggis) Male Shifter (Wildhunt) Druid Lvl 9DEAD PCs<s>Nicholai Barbaros Kostyiev/Nicky (played by George) Male Dhampir Cleric of Twilight Lvl 8 </s>RIPNPCs<s>Inverna Nightbreeze (played by George) Female Wood Elf Fighter Lvl 8 (Sidekick)</s> RETIRED<s>Garumn Male Mountain Dwarf Paladin of Moradin Lvl 5</s> RIP*<s>Tarbin Tul (played by goonalan) Male Human Bard</s> RETIRED<s>Ubmo (played by Goonalan) Supreme Being Lvl 1</s> EXPLODED<s>Ubdug (played by Goonalan) Supreme Being Lvl 2</s> EXPLODEDUb-Pam (played by Goonalan) Supreme Being Lvl 3*Trapped in the Land of the Bad Dead Ancestors.Servants/FamiliarsGerald (Bat/Giant Bat) servant/mount of New TricksOwly (Owl) Vinnie’s familiarArchimedes (very scruffy & old, Owl) Fellowyn’s familiar.The Dark Squad’s to-do list-<ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Find the other four Symbols of Ub, one was left in Deepbridge (Duergar fortress in the Underdark). The others need to be found, they belonged to- Rambles 'Shambles' Bowspirit (halfling killer from Lowhill), Antonio De La Crane (posh kid druid alchemist) & Giggles (crazy wood elf). All these folk lived in the Saltmarsh region, the Dark Squad have found the De La Crane Manse (in the Dreadwood) and the De La Crane Crypt (in Saltmarsh Cemetery).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Nightshade is in the Deep Dreadwood- except she's not there anymore, but a big red dragon is?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Blackedge and the Goblin Stair?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">To join the Pact of the Wild Flame prepare the Witch's Tor for the coming of the starfall, the Witch's Tor is in the Drowned Forest, in the Mere of the Dead Men.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">To join the Pact of the Wild Flame track down the last member of the Pact, a wild elf adventurer called Giggles- and finally put her spirit to rest and recover her maze button. Location unknown. SEE 2. ABOVE.</li> </ol>This is session 166, strap in.You know what’s going on- goblins, goblins, goblins. The Dark Squad need to get to the bottom of the Goblin Stair, there are stairs down from this level- therefore, this isn’t the bottom of the Goblin Stair.Bugger!Bugger, because the PCs are running out of stuff.But this is the Dark Squad.Indestructible (well, apart from Nicholai).To maintain surprise and start the next level of the attack with a clutch of bonus Inspiration Points the PCs need to clear the level (enemies killed, captured or fled) in just five turns (including the surprise turn).This is turn two.[ATTACH=full]416304[/ATTACH]And here we all are, apologies George is messing with the camera. Ram is on the stairs and out of trouble, making merry with his bow. Newt is flying above a pool of water on his broom raining down blasts and fire. The Moonboar is doing violent and surly, while Fellowyn (Bladesinging) and Daktari are in the thick of things and also making merry. Oh, and Sydalg (Fellowyn’s aberrant pet) is also having fun with her psychic headache inducing eye-laser.What’s not to love.[ATTACH=full]416305[/ATTACH]But there’s plenty o’ enemies here, and some of them- every now and then, are landing their attacks. It’s a war of attrition, note the ogre and the scrofa (goblin-friend, cave-dwelling giant boars) are getting leary.And here’s the big picture- lit up like Christmas.[ATTACH=full]416306[/ATTACH]What setting have you got this on Jim? Blinding?Note, the goblin big chief (another ogre) is still sat on his throne (to the south) with his goblin consultants screaming and shouting at him, expecting orders. The ogre boss is Confused, thanks to the Moonboar’s magic.Also, do you see those big tents on the image above, well… they’re both full to the brimmers with more goblins who are about to come out to play.[ATTACH=full]416307[/ATTACH]Daktari escapes the pell-mell (just for a moment) and then grabs another fireball bead from his necklace and flings it back into the mess of goblins he’s just vacated.They fire and burn.The goblins.[ATTACH=full]416308[/ATTACH]Daktari rushes back into melee again- all in the same turn, by the power of the Inspiration Point, and a Raging Wild Magic teleport.But then…[ATTACH=full]416309[/ATTACH]The big ogre- formerly on the ledge to the east- rushes down the slope at breakneck speed- hollering and swing and battering everything in its path. It cuts a swathe through the horde.Goblins die, PCs get hit hard- both Daktari and Fellowyn.That hurt a lot.[ATTACH=full]416310[/ATTACH]And fresh from the big tent to the west (bottom left) come a clutch more ‘specialist’ goblins- mostly bombers and archers. The artillery is arriving.This doesn’t bode well- for the Dark Squad.And then there’s this guy.[ATTACH=full]416311[/ATTACH]He’s a goblin warlord, and when he gives an order to attack (an Action) then all goblins in melee nearby get to make another immediate attack.The first time this happened the PCs were… What’s the word? Angry? Disbelieving? Terrified? Pick one and stick with it.Anyway, the first time the warlord issued the order it generated maybe a dozen (probs more) attacks, and again- some/many of these were hits.So, here’s the thing- there are a lot of ‘specialist’ goblins in this fight. What the PCs have failed to notice so far is that there are other ‘specialist’ goblins in the melee that are doing similar things- like increasing the to hit or damage rolls of the other goblins around them.They’d not spotted this yet, and so some of the PCs- those in the thick of melee, were suffering.It becomes very obvious that the present plan is not working.We’re now four turns in and there are more goblins still arriving. Lots more.[ATTACH=full]416312[/ATTACH]Fellowyn drops the big boy fireball, just as soon as Daktari gets clear (again) of the fracas.It is, of course, devastating.[ATTACH=full]416313[/ATTACH]Boooooom! Everyone (if you are a goblin, boar or ogre) hurts, as the song goes.[ATTACH=full]416314[/ATTACH]But, oh look- lots more goblins coming from the big tent to the east. And these guys number in their ranks a trio of goblin alchemists (amusing to look at, dangerous to play with) and a bunch more archers.You’ll also note that Daktari has now had to retreat out of combat and to the side of the Moonboar. The best haircut in town barbarian is down to maybe four hit points.Daktari swigs down a greater healing potion- gets back a dozen or more hit points, and then is immediately terrorized by a chain wielding (three attacks/turn) goblin champion, the barbarian is swiftly back down to four hit points.But the Moonboar doesn’t have the magic to get Daktari anywhere near to healthy, and keep in mind the barbarian is perma-raging and reckless, so he really has taken some hits here.The Moonboar has only one option, he passes the barbarian a banana.[ATTACH=full]416315[/ATTACH]“Ook?” Hello to Daki-Kong.The goblins et al, the DM decides, are suitably awed (and scared). I surreptitiously make some rolls, and- it’s not good for me and my bad guys.The goblins have taken a beating, time to try another strategy, maybe…But here’s the thing.Fate is on my side.The very next thing that happens in Initiative is… the big ogre chief makes his saving throw- his Confusion is gone, and the titan starts pointing and shouting, morale is very suddenly on a high.The goblins press the attack.Note, the PCs watch this play out.Also, I’m letting them know.Bugger!Note the two blue circles. Below.[ATTACH=full]416316[/ATTACH]The one at the top, encompassing the flying Newt is a cloud of hallucinogenic gas, Newt is seeing beyond right now, all the colours of the rainbow and some others he just made up.A little later he escapes the shimmering cloud, but… his vision is no better (disadvantage on all attacks).The second blue circle is a dark smoky cloud that seems to be healing the goblin warlord, who steps out from his concealment every now and then to continue issuing his orders. Nice.Aren’t goblin alchemists great?The Dark Squad reserve judgement.The players are beginning to fret, the get through this in five turns thing has long been forgotten, the chat now is all- survive.[ATTACH=full]416317[/ATTACH]The DM therefore thinks that it is at least time to reveal Ub-Pam’s special power, the chirpy Modron lets loose with her paralysing spray, and lots of goblins fail their saves.There is cheering.Daktari would give a speech (he's a big fan of 'Pammy'), but he can’t because he’s a great big monkey atm.[ATTACH=full]416318[/ATTACH]And then the formerly charging ogre starts laying into Fellowyn, and as it turns out unlike the goblins this fellow doesn’t need to roll a ‘20’ to hit the shield enhanced bladesinging wizard.And so…One hit later.[ATTACH=full]416319[/ATTACH]Fellowyn drops. He’s down and dying.And then…[ATTACH=full]416321[/ATTACH]The second ogre charges through the goblin crowd and straight into Daki-Kong. That was a big hit- 30+ damage, although the big monkey has a sack of hit points.And now there’s not much left to say or tell.In precis.[ATTACH=full]416322[/ATTACH]Ram hasn’t taken a single point of damage- he’s still on the stairs going for it with his bow. Newt is moderately wounded and can’t see to shoot straight but that’s not stopping him (he’s also apoplectic- as usual). The Moonboar is concentrating on keeping his Polymorph going- and so has retreated to the stairs, he’s making use of ‘ze most power-full zpell in Dee un Dee’, that’s right Produce Flame. Daktari is Kong. Fellowyn is dying.Oh, and Ub-Pam is bloodied again- she’s already been killed (and regenerated the next turn) twice in this fight.We’re on turn seven or so here.Four hours of D&D this evening and five turns worth of action, no one left the table disappointed- although George playing Fellowyn is fretting.They’ve not been this close for a long while.See you next time.We are all available to play next week, so- more of this.That said, I’ve got another write up on the go, it can be found here-<a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/d-d-5e-not-kots-5a-dragon-castle-enc-6.712348/" target="_blank">[D&D 5e] Not KotS 5a Dragon Castle. (Enc#6) | EN World D&D & Tabletop RPG News & Reviews</a>It’s a 5e version (sorta) of Keep on the Shadowfell, and lots of fun.Stay safe and well.Cheers the Dark Squad and goonalan.</blockquote>

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