SESSION 49: PENETRATION
Entering the cave they form up with two of the men at arms in the front rank, followed by Trone and Lothar and then the remaining guard and the two dogs.
Trone swaps to his glaive, "I keep this for special occasions" he chuckles as he look over to Lothar. Georg and Tedrick each carry one of the planks of wood to breach the pit trap.
They gently enter the caves, trying to be as quite as they can but with all their armour and their lack of skill they are rather pathetic at it.
As they approach the intersection they sneak up on the guard post which is probably still manned.
Georg and Tedrick's respective Stealth checks are 18 2 armour penalty check = 16 and 17 2 armour penalty check = 15 not too bad but they are let down by Trone and Lothar who get 8 7 armour penalty check + 2 dex = 3 and 12 7 armour penalty check + 2 dex = 7 respectively.
The kobolds on guard duty roll a 16 + 5 Perception = 21 and spot everyone.
There is no need to roll on the monster reaction table. The guards have been told by King Irontooth to kill anyone who enters the caves who isn't a tribe member.
ROUND 1A BREACH
Initiative: Monsters d20 = 9 + 1 Int = 10. Party d20 = 11 + 0 = 11.
Georg makes a 5ft step to the north east and puts down his plank of wood.
Tedrick drops his plank of wood, moves up 10ft to the north and then 5ft to the east, across the Georg's plank of wood and into melee range with the kobolds [no Acrobatics test needed as per page 87 of the Core Rulebook]. He attacks the first kobold with his spear and hits the little monster in the head penetrating the skull and delivering 6pts of damage, instantly killing the reptile.
Trone 5ft steps to the north, drops his glaive, draws his short bow and fires a shot at one of the unengaged kobolds. It's a clean shot (ie he's not firing into a melee or through any cover) and but he fails to hit as his arrow skitters harmlessly off the wall behind the beast.
Lothar 5ft steps to the north west and fires a Fire Bolt at the nearest kobold. It's a ranged touch attack and Lothar hits the kobold square in the centre of mass, badly burning it and doing 7pts of damage, killing it instantly.
Without orders Luther and Luki go into default Guard mode and begin to madly bark and will Guard Lothar.
Lamarr moves 10ft to the north east.
ROUND 1B AGGGH WARM MAMMAL BLOOD
The kobolds will need to test morale for having taken their first casualty. They roll 5 on 2d6 and pass their morale of 6.
The southern most kobold 5ft steps to the south to block any potential further progress by Tedrick and attacks with his spear. He stabs Tedrick in the left leg and lets loose a little "yip, yip" of excitement as he sees the red and oh so mammally tasty blood ooze from Tedrick's thigh. He deals 2pts of damage.
The next southern most kobold also 5ft step to the south completely blocking any eastern access to the caves that Tedrick might attempt and he too stabs at the guard this time hitting him in the chest for 1pt of damage.
The north western kobold moves south 10ft and attacks Tedrick and he too hits the human, this time for 5pts of damage as a vital vein is opened in the man's lower abdomen.
The last kobold runs, skittering off into a passage that leads to the south east.
ROUND 2A STUCK
Tedrick needs to test morale as it's his first time being wounded in this battle. He needs to roll a DC 15 2 for combat experience 6 for Lothars' Diplomacy skill = 7 or more. He rolls a 19 and easily passes.
Trone yells at Tedrick to Withdraw and he duly does, retiring back behind his fellows.
Trone fires an unimpeded shot with his bow at the nearest kobold and hits it in the right shoulder for 3pts.
Lothar looses another Fire Bolt but this time his shot goes wide and he misses.
Georg advances over the plank with a 5ft step to the north east and stabs at the wounded kobold and hits it in the upper thigh. The kobold crumples and dies as it suffers a grievous wound for 6pts of damage.
Lamarr 5ft steps to the north and gets ready to cross over the little bridge in the next round.
ROUND 2B NASTY WORK
The kobolds have taken 50% casualties and must test morale again. They roll 6 on 2d6 against a morale of 6. The plucky little fighters will continue to try to delay the raiders.
The northern most kobold stabs at Georg with his spear and hits him in the right shoulder for 4pts of damage. He then takes a 5ft step back to better cover the passage behind him.
The southern most kobold lashes out at Georg but this time misses. He too retires 5ft.
ROUND 3A DIRECT NETOGIATION
This the first time that Georg has been wounded in this combat and he must roll a 7+ to continue to fight. He rolls a 9 and keeps his bottle.
Seeing their combat power being worn down, Trone shouts to Georg for him to withdraw. Georg turns and retreats over the plank to the relative safety of the back of the party.
Lamarr advances over the plank and attacks the southern most kobold but he misses.
Trone drops his bow and picks up the glaive (a Move Action) and then uses his Standard Action to move over the plank bridge. He cannot attack this round but will be ready next round.
Lothar has just enough movement to move up and attack the northern most kobold with his heavy mace. He lines up the big weapon and brings it down with all his strength and hits the kobold squarely in the head for 7pts of damage. Killing it instantly.
ROUND 3B VALOUR
The last kobold bravely holds its ground. It knows it must defend its home from the invaders. He stabs at 1-3 Lothar, 4-6 Lamarr, d6 = 6 = Lamarr but he misses. He backs of with a 5ft step to the east to stop from being surrounded.
ROUND 4A THE AUDACITY
Lothar cannot believe the audacity of this kobold. What does it expect to achieve trying to fight both Trone and himself. He 5ft steps to the east and swings his heavy mace but just misses the little reptile as it ducks under the weapon.
Trone 5ft steps to the east and stabs at the kobold with his glaive but he also misses it.
Finally Lamarr 5ft steps to the east and stabbing at the beast he hits it in the stomach. The blow pierces the monster's spine and it immediately drops as he does 9pts of damage.
They search the bodies and cut the ears from the kobolds. Only a measly 1gp between the little guards.
They place the remaining plank across the other corner so that they can investigate either the east of the west easily.
Trone congratulates Lamarr on his kill. "Maybe you should join the faith. You seem like you could fit in with Lothar and I."
"Maybe" Lamarr responds. "Maybe I will. I'm impressed with the power that Asmodeus gives you. He is obviously no figment of anyone's imagination."
Lothar pulls two scrolls and casts Cure Light Wounds upon Georg and Tedrick healing them by 8 and 9 points respectively.
A quick summary of the party as follows:
- Lothar, 10hp of 10hp. Has cast one first level spell but still has Cause Fear and Burning Hands left. Has used Fire Bolt twice and has 2 left. He has 4 scrolls of Cure Light Wounds left.
- Trone, 13hp of 13hp. One potion of cure light wounds left.
- Luki, 13hp of 13hp.
- Luther, 13hp of 13hp.
- Lamarr, 9hp of 12hp.
- Georg, 12hp of 12hp.
- Tedrick, 12hp of 12hp.
So far they've killed 2 giant crabs and 13 kobolds and collected 13 sets of ears and 3gp loot (no ears on those crabs).
DEW
