SESSION 8a: RECAP
I thought I'd just do a bit of a recap as to where we are at the moment (I do this probably more for me than you guys just so I can remember what everyone has used up so far).
- Halee is on full hit points of 10.
- Ansic is on 12 out of 16 hit points.
- Cord is on 8 out of 14 hit points and has used up 4 rounds of rage out of a total of 11 rounds per day.
- Risandor is on full hit points of 9 and has used up 6 rounds of Inspire Courage out of a total of 7 rounds per day. Risandor hasn't used any spells to date and so has his full complement still available.
- Uthalin is on 8 of 14 hit points.
- Thomas is on 7 of 13 hit points after he drinks his Potion of Cure Light Wounds (which you'll see happen in a tick).
The following graphic is just a little summary of experience earned to date and kills. As we go along I'll try to find some other graphical ways of summarizing key feats undertaken by party members that are a bit broader than just kills but I'll have to work on that a bit.
So the party's progressing pretty quickly really. About Ό of the way to second level and still in pretty good shape overall. No one's dead yet and that's a good start.
I've got some other players looking to join too. I don't think I can really handle much more than six characters at once and also it'll start to overpower the module pretty quickly. In general, Pathfinder characters are more powerful than D&D Basic characters so six characters is more than capable of taking on this module.
As you would know, TPK's and party deaths are a reasonably common occurrence in my campaigns so I think the way to allow others in is to rotate their characters in as soon as someone is dead. I think this is preferable to trying to run multiple parties at once. I just don't think I've got the time to do that.
So please harden yourself for the occasional empty chair. It will happen sooner or later. It's just a matter of time.
SESSION 8b THE PLAN
Ansic, Cord and Uthalin congregate in the intersection. Cord looks at his feet, shuffling from the left to the right, taking a little time to work through what he did wrong.
Halee pats him on the back and consoles him, "Forget the halfling, ya done good loosened the tongue of that last one. We only needed one and they were both gonna die anyway."
Cord looks up smiles as the kind words just in time to catch a massive high five from Uthalin.
Halee turns to find Risandor to work out the next part of the plan.
Ansic joins in the frivolity.
Cord picks up the ogres' head. It's heavy. He enjoys it. He lifts it over his head for 8 reps. Puts it down. Picks it up again and lifts is over his head for 7 reps. He's liking doing pyramids with an ogres' head. He can feel some mad gains coming on.
Ansic, Cord and Uthalin reminisce at their heroics. Cord to Uthalin, "How good was that axe to the head of the ogre, you practically had to jump off the ground just to nut to him like that."
"Not half as good as you hacking through the goblins, how many of them did you get, two?" Uthalin asks.
"Nooo, three, in fact six all up. I killed three the other day."
Uthalin looks surprised but Ansic chimes in "yes I saw it with my own eyes, Cord is definitely a goblin slayer".
Cord smiles as he turns to Ansic "And what were you doing crazy man, just wading into the goblins in the western corridor all by yourself. Hahaha, didn't look like you were going to leave any for us."
Ansic just smiles back, "well, they were only goblins."
Ten foot down the corridor Halee and Risandor discuss the next course of action.
Risandor relays the outcomes of the conversation with the two goblins to Halee who quickly begins to formulate a strategy.
"Well that was somewhat useful," she states. "The original plan to capture one was lost with the alarm, so we need a new plan. No matter which way we go, we'll have enemies potentially at our backs."
Risandor nods approvingly. Having no idea about combat tactics, he's amazed at the quick strategic thinking of the rogue. He is a bit distracted though as he random lyrics jot through his head and he hums to himself:
"Struck through the skull, your head splits in pain
You give ogres a bad name
Now there are just goblins in his way
Uthalin eats them for breakfast any day?
Halee looks at Risandor and thinks to herself "are you even listening to me". But she continues, "I say we follow the larger number. Only one goblin got away to the west but if we go there first we take the chance of getting hit from behind by larger numbers".
Risandor nods some more. "Very wise" he says all the while internally humming to himself:
"He's a goblin killer, raging goblin killer
Milo and Otis run red as goblin blood spillers"
"First", she continues, "let's check the end of that corridor for secret doors, go over the goblin bodies for any treasure and cut of their ears for the reward."
"Good plan" confirms Risandor, still humming to himself:
"Steady as a rock!
He shouts is that all you've got?
On his own he could slaughter the lot
But with friends like us it matters not"
As they move down the corridor they pass Thomas who is clearly suffering from post-traumatic shock. He is sweating and shivering uncontrollably. "Life's too long" he keeps muttering to himself over and over.
Halee asks "Hey Thomas are you alright?"
"Yeah" he responds in a shaky voice, "I just don't like goblins anymore."
Risandor doesn't even notice as he hums along:
"He was not the least bit scared
To be mashed into a pulp
Or have his eyes gouged out
His head smashed in
And his heart cut out
And his liver removed
And his bowels unplugged
Or be killed in nasty ways"
Halee checks the end of the corridor for secret doors but she doesn't find anything.
She turns to Risandor and asks "What are you doing?"
"Nothing" he responds, continuing to hum to himself:
"Shot through the heart
There's not much chance of that
But don't mock this bad b@#$h I said
Or you'll get her Morningstar in the back of your head"
Halee ushers Risandor and Tomas back to the combat area to see that Uthalin and Cord have already undertaken the grizzly business of cutting the ears off the goblins and the ogre.
They have strung them into two long macabre necklaces, which they've hung from their necks. As blood dribbles from the ears onto their armour, they look quite the party with large grins on their faces, obviously enjoying their new jewelry.
They gather the weapons from the goblins as they look like they might be valuable enough to sell. They find 10 short swords, 4 short bows and 3 gold pieces between them. The ogre is carrying nothing except its great club, which is probably worthless so they leave it behind. The goblins armour is also probably worthless and too heavy to carry.
Halee relays the plan to the group. "That way" she says as she points to the eastern corridor.
Thomas drinks his Potion of Cure Light Wounds and regains 4 hit points.
They creep down the corridor which turns south easterly in direction. There is a small off shoot corridor going due east but it turns out to be another dead end. "Damn crazy goblins" Uthalin mutters to himself.
They continue on and come upon a small 30 by 20 room. It's been recently abandoned. There is a small table, a couple of little chairs and a still warm fireplace in the north eastern corner. The party searches the room but doesn't find anything.
Halee talks to Thomas (who is probably the one party member with the most practical military experience, well except Ansic but….well…you know…..Ansic is a bit…..err simple (Int and Wis of 7) although even I'm scared to say that face to face to a dude with a 20 Str).
"What do you reckon Thomas?" Halee asks.
"Guard post I reckon, although it looks like they've run. Probably because it's the group that we just defeated. We should probably follow them straight up before they get a chance to recover their morale."
"Good" Halee responds. "Ansic and Uthalin, cover that door, Cord and Thomas make a quick search of it and then we'll move out. Ris, Ris what are you doing, get your mind on the job."
Halee normally doesn't like being the centre of attention but she wants to get the party moving and with Ris off in lala land somewhere, Thomas still not thinking straight and Cord, Uthalin and Ansic…..well those boys just aren't as strong in the thinking department as what they are in the hitting department, she's had to temporarily take charge.
Finding nothing of value they move out the southern passage. After a short while this corridor turns back to the west and they come upon a strange sight.
At the end of the 30ft passage there are the four goblins trying to bust upon a stout wooden door. They are squabbling in fear and frustration but just can't seem to get the stuck door open. One of them glances over his shoulder and notices the party.
"Nooo, it's zee monsters" he screams (Risandor understands goblin so I've included their reactions).
The next one turns around, his shoulder droop as he drops to the ground on his knees and mutters "Don't hurtz uz. Vee surrender."
"KILL THEM QUICKLY! BEFORE THEY GET THROUGH THE DOOR!" barks Thomas.
ROUND 1A WE SURRENDER
Initiative: Party 9 + 2 = 11, Goblins 18 + 6 =24.
The two western most goblins try to bust down the door but fail to break it open. The eastern most goblins drop to their knees and plead for their lives.
ROUND 1B THOMAS THE LION
Their pleas are wasted as Thomas roars "KILL THEM, KILL THEM ALL!!!!'. The Dazzling Display Intimidation Check is a DC of 11 and Thomas has 9 a skill of + 4 for the goblins being small. He rolls a 19 + 13 = 32 and the goblins are shaken for 5 rounds (-2 on attack rolls and other skill checks).
Uthalin charges the nearest goblin, lashing out with his axe but he misses by the barest of margins as the goblin ducks under the killing blow.
Halee steps forward 10ft and fires her short bow at the southernmost goblin and hits it in head. The arrow penetrates its eye socket and the brain delivering 6pts of damage and instantly killing the little fiend.
Risandor advances 15ft and casts Daze against the goblin opposing Uthalin. If successful, the spell will eliminate the ability for the goblin to retaliate against Uthalin next round as it will effectively lose its turn. Ris had to move forward to get into spell range. The goblin needs to make a will save against a DC of 13, ie the DC of the spell is 10 + lvl of the spell lvl 0 + Risandor Charisma modifier of +3 = 13. The goblin has a will save of -1. It rolls an 18 1 = 17 and passes.
Ansic charge the south western most goblin. He easily bypasses its defences hitting it in the left shoulder for 11pts of damage and dropping it instantly.
Cord moves forward 20ft and swings Milo at the goblin in front of Uthalin and he hits it in the left shoulder, penetrating into the chest cavity and killing the monster by dealing 9pts of damage.
AFTER THE BATTLE
Shaken five times to Sunday and having just witnessed his three companions get slaughtered in the first round, the remaining goblin fails its morale check and goes cationic.
Having little sympathy for the evil creature it's instantly put to death by Uthalin who quickly looks the bodies of 4 short swords, 4 pairs of ears and 1gp.
Halee rushes forward to calm the fighting men down. She knows they are impetuous and without restraint will boom the door without listening.
They reform up and she starts to listen.
"What can you hear?" Cord asks impatiently.
"Shooosh!" responds Halee, "I think I can hear more goblins, sounds like they're doing something but I cannot tell what. I can hear some young ones, this might be like a crθche. Maybe this is their main living area. Maybe this is our chance to wipe out the tribe."
"Why wouldn't they have let those four in though?" queries Risandor.
"Who knows with goblins," Uthalin comments, "they are mad things. Enough talk, lets boom the door and kill em. More ears to add to my pretty little necklace."
"Back up" commands Ansic, "Uthalin, give me a hand."
[DMs Note: So we'll get Uthalin to Aid Another (p86 of the Core Rulebook, he'll need to roll a 10 or higher on d20 using his Str bonus) and Ansic will try to bust the door down. This is a Stuck Simple Wooden Door and has a DC of 13 (from table 13-2 Doors). Uthalin rolls an 8+3=11 and successfully aids Ansic. Ansic rolls a 9 + 5 for strength + 2 for aid another = 16 and easily busts down the door.]
Ansic and Uthalin rush the door and BOOOM it crashes open.
On the other side there is a large 50ft long by 20ft wide room. A warm fire is burning in a pit on the northern wall with some sweet smelling meat being slowly roasted. There are a number of mattresses for sleeping, a large rug in front of the fire place and a table and some stools for dining. The 10ft long table has been drawn up across the room, forming a barrier blocking ½ its width. Behind it stands some tall, muscular female hobgoblins. They have evil looking short bows which are trained upon the door. Flanking them are five large male hobgoblins. They are heavily muscled and stand 6 to 12 inches taller than the average man. Armoured and hefting vicious long swords and efficient shields they are formed for a counter attack. Behind them are a number of younger hobgoblins. They are being shepherded by one of the females towards the back of the room.
[DMs Note: Rolling on the Monster Reaction Table we'll use a -2 modifier for being an uninvited guest. A roll of 11 2 = 9, no attack, monster leaves or considers offers.]
[DMs Note: House Rule #6: Monsters understanding Common. In a bid to enable more discussions between intelligent monsters and the party and to support outcomes on the Monsters Reaction table, any intelligent monster will have a 1 in 6 chance of understanding Common.]
One of the large males raises its hand and states in broken Common, "Shtop, talken first, fighten later. Vhat do you vant? Vhy are you herez?"
DEW
takes an inventory of his painted 15mm Dwarves.
