Kobold Run (IC)

[Serpentine]

Your home had no name. It was just a convenient mountain, one of thousands in the range, out of which generations of your kobold tribe carved a network of mines and tunnels. Even your tribe had no real name - on the rare occasion you had to identify yourselves, it was as "the kobolds who live in that mountain over there".
You were pretty typical: you mined, you hunted, you trapped. The oldest passageways were worn smooth and slippery by the passage of thousands of kobold feet over hundreds of years. You mated, you laid eggs, you ate and you killed.
Sometimes, outsiders came. Usually they didn't make it past more than a handful of traps before one got them - sometimes the tribe wasn't even aware of them until someone happened to check on an unused mine and stumbled across the mutilated corpses. Sometimes they got further, and people of the tribe had to actually face them. Sometimes, some died. Not often. Once or twice, a few tunnels had to be abandoned to the intruders' plundering hands, but they always took what they wanted and then left.
But then They came. They called themselves "heroes" and "adventurers" and other such nonsense. Trap after beautiful trap was dismantled by the little furry-footed human-thing, discarded like a piece of rubbish instead of the work of art it was. Monsters, summoned or captured or tamed to protect the tribe, were blasted into sand by the robed demon. Even if, by some miracle, some of their stinking blood was shed, the skinny lady with the big ears on the unicorn patched them up as good as new. And the shining-armoured giant, the man with the oversized sword and the fancy helmet, the worst of all, he. He had the nerve, even as he scythed through your fellow kobolds, even as he cut down the gravid females and mere hatchlings, even as he gloried in their gore, he had the nerve to call YOU "monsters" and "fiends" and "creatures of filth and evil". Oh yes, he was the worst.
When it was obvious that the battle was going badly, the tribal leaders - the high priest, the chieftan, the master-of-arms, and, of course, the trapsmaster - gathered some of the tribe. They brought you together, and told you, to take the elderly and the gravid and the young, and all the eggs you could carry, to empty the dire weasel stables, gather up as much food and equipment as you could, and flee to the safehole. To stay there, hidden, until the danger was over and the rest of the tribe followed.
Except, the rest of the tribe didn't follow. When some of you went to investigate, the mountain was almost demolished. It had been picked clean - even some of the people, left to rot, had been skinned. You thought you saw the "adventurers" somewhere in the distance. You could have sworn the little one was wearing a kobold head as a hat.

So you returned to the remains of your tribe. One of the elders had saved a map of your mountains. You sit around it, now, the few dozen of you remaining, picking over it. Because, although this place is safe for now, it is small and unprotected. And winter is coming...
The map:http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h287/serpentine16/Kobold-Run-Map-1.gif


Go. Gotta start by deciding where you'll go (and, roleplayey, who'll go).

Players and characters:
GodGoblin - Raggath Redblood (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=240674), Barbarian (Wolverine)
bokodasu - Granny Skorch (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=241568), Sorcerer (Bat)
Obscurejones - Zork Tinytooth (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=240758), Sorcerer Dracolexi
The Randomizer - Reeli (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=240691), Bard (Raven)
Wargor - Kreshla Draketouched (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=240729), Dragonfire Adept (Tortoise)
Cieyrin - Kepesk (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=241008), Barbarian Wereweasel
gdiddy - Wellgurt Half-nose (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=241049), Ranger/trapper (Donkey)


My Houserules:Planetouched
Aasimar, tieflings and other planetouched are custom-made according to the ancestor creature. The following is a guide, rather than hard rules.
• +2 ancestor creature’s best ability, -2 ancestor creature’s worst ability.
• Resistance 5 to one energy the ancestor creature is immune or resistant to.
• +2 to the ancestor creature’s two best skills.
• Darkvision 60ft or low-light vision, if the ancestor creature had it.
• +4 to saves against one supernatural effect the ancestor creature is immune to (e.g. petrification).
• Possibly a penalty to reflect a vulnerability of the ancestor creature.
• 1d4 distinctive physical features.

Abilities
Automatically have an 8 and a 18. Other 4 rolled with 5d6, drop lowest 2. Rerolls at the discretion of DM.

Skills
Some cross-class skills may be swapped for class skills if the DM is convinced that it furthers the character concept.
Each character receives 1 extra skill point per level to be spent on one “hobby” skill – Craft or Profession, or another skill that doesn’t directly benefit the class if it can be justified as “hobby” to the DM.

Rolling
A natural 1 on a roll approximately counts as -10. A natural 20 approximately counts as +30. For example, a character has 20 ranks in Balance. A natural 1 would be approximately equivalent to a total of 10. He may not fall, but probably can’t move or do much else, either. A natural 20 would be about equivalent to a total of 50, and so would allow the character to succeed at whatever they intended to do and also possibly anything else with a DC of up to 50.
Very high rolls may grant a bonus on a subsequent check.
A skill, or possibly other, check greater than 40 may replicate a spell, magical or supernatural effect or ability at the discretion of the DM and imagination of the player.

Natural Healing
With a full night’s rest, a character heals 1 hit point per character level plus his Constitution modifier (minimum 1 hit point per night). If he undergoes complete bed rest for 24 hours, he heals a number of hit points equal to twice his character level plus twice his Constitution modifier. Any significant interruption during the rest period prevents the character from healing that night.
Nonlethal hitpoints heal more quickly. A character heals nonlethal hitpoints at a rate of 1 hitpoint per hour per character level plus his Constitution modifier (minimum 1 hit per hour).

Save or Die Spells
Save or Drop Deads
Finger of Death, Wail of the Banshee, Circle of Death, Slay Living, Weird, Phantasmal Killer, Symbol of Death
The target falls to -5 hp, and automatically fails all subsequent stabilisation checks. Break Enchantment (or a higher-level Cure spell used in the same way, or Remove Curse for spells of a lower level) removes the spell and returns the target to 0hp and unconscious. When the target falls to -10hp, they fall into a coma, are helpless, and take appropriate penalties for starvation and thirst if necessary. A Heal check DC 10 + spell level is necessary to realise the victim is still alive, unless that person knows the spell cast (spellcraft/Knowledge (arcana)). In order to come out of the coma, someone must perform 5 successful consecutive Heal checks (DC = Spell DC), and Break Enchantment cast at the same time.
For every round a character is unconscious from one of these spells, there is a cumulative 5% chance of losing one point from a random ability.

Cloudkill
As “Save or Drop Dead”, but comatose victim dies 1d4 rounds after reaching -10hp if not removed from the cloud.

Flesh to Whatever
Flesh to Stone, Glass strike, etc.
Target takes 1d6 Dex damage per round as their body turns to stone from the inside-out. When the target reaches 0 Dexterity, they are solid stone (or whatever). Cat’s Grace delays the transformation according to the extra Dex granted. Remove Disease slows the transformation by 1 round/3 caster levels. Break Enchantment ends the transformation. Once complete, removal applies as normal.

Baleful Polymorph/other Transformation
Transformation takes 2d4 rounds to complete. The Will save to retain self-awareness occurs the round after completion. If this save succeeds, the target may reattempt the Fortitude save in a number of rounds equal to ½ the caster level, at a new DC of the spell DC + the amount by which the first attempt was failed. If this save fails, the target may try again every 1d4 days + 1/previous attempt, at the new DC + 1 per attempt. A character that failed the initial Will save may retry in the same manner as the Fortitude save, before undergoing the Fortitude attempts.
- Too complicated?

“That Was So Cool” Spells
Power Word Kill?, Implosion, Destruction
The force of these spells has a magical kick-back that blasts the caster. If the target makes their save, the caster takes ¼ of the target’s HD in damage (e.g. 8d12HD = 2d12 damage). If the target fails, the caster takes ½ their HD in damage (Reflex save for half).

Disintegrate
A target that fails their Fort save takes 2d4 points of Con damage each round, of which 1 is drain, for a number of rounds equal to Caster Level. Bear’s Endurance slows it, but it can only be stopped before death with Break Enchantment.

Green Beam of Prismatic Spray
Target takes 1d6 Con/round until dead, or Break Enchantment used.


Special Materials
Blade Crystal
Description: A slightly milky-white semi-transparent crystal used for making weapons.
Mechanics: Vulnerable to normal sunder attacks, sonic damage counts as a (non-normal) sunder attempt. ½ price to apply Keen and other “sharpening” abilities; ¾ price to apply light and cold-related abilities; double price to apply fire abilities; attempts to apply sonic abilities at best fail and at worst destroy the item.

OOC Thread (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=9384682)

Top secret DM's stuff.
Initiative order:
30 Kepesk (Cieyrin)
22 Reeli (Randomizer)
20 Kreshla (Wargor)
20 Zorks (Obscurejones)
17 Raggath (GodGoblin)
17 Wellgurt (gdiddy)
5 Granny (bokodasu)
18 A#1
9 A#2
8 A#3
2 A#4
{table]Creature|Initiative|HP|Hide (spotted by)|Modifiers
1|18|23-12=11|16 (War, gdiddy, Granny)|
2|9|21-12=9|20(GodGob, War, Kepesk)|
3|8|16-26=-10|13(GodGob, Zork, Reeli, War, gdiddy)|
4|2|33-31=2|7(Zork, Reeli, War, Kepesk, gdiddy, Granny)|-4 Con = 17 Con
[/table]

Large Magical Beast (Earth)
Speed: 40ft, burrow 10ft, climb 20ft
AC: 18, t. 10, ff 17
Fort +10, Ref +6, Will +3
Attack: Slam +11 melee (1d8+9)
Space/reach: 10ft/10ft
Str 22, Dex 12, Con 21, Int 5, Wis 12, Cha 11
Climb +14, Hide +5, Search +1, Spot +10
All-round vision - Cannot be flanked
Low-light vision, Darkvision 60ft
Immune to bludgeoning
Improved Bullrush
Power Attack
Cause Avalanche (Su) - 3/day. Originates w/in 30ft. Down 45o slope at 30ft/round (slower on gentler, faster on steeper), spreading in a cone. 2d6 bludgeoning damage to anyone caught in path, Ref DC 15 half. If fail, DC 20 Ref or buried under rocks - 1d6 nonlethal per minute; if falls unconscious, DC15 Con check or take 1d6 lethal per minute.
Transmute rock to mud (Sp) - 1/day, as spell, CL 9th. 1 std action, range 190ft, up to 18 10ft cubes. This spell turns natural, uncut or unworked rock of any sort into an equal volume of mud. Magical stone is not affected by the spell. The depth of the mud created cannot exceed 10 feet. A creature unable to levitate, fly, or otherwise free itself from the mud sinks until hip- or chest-deep, reducing its speed to 5 feet and causing a -2 penalty on attack rolls and AC. Brush thrown atop the mud can support creatures able to climb on top of it. Creatures large enough to walk on the bottom can wade through the area at a speed of 5 feet.

[gdiddy]

Wellgurt was having a really bad day. He had been down in the lower tunnels when he was called back to the leaders' evacuation. It didn't matter that he had just found some tasty stupid Myconids. He still gathered up all the food he could and led his donkey Tucker to the hole like he was told. An old mining forelady that spoke too much shared the ride on Tucker. He was going to push her off the cliff and blame the donkey, when he heard her say something.

He had been quiet since then and had even stopped caring that she was so dumb. She was right.

"We need a new home. " He repeated it now. Looking at the map, he realized they couldn't dig out a new home and the old home was no longer safe. It was probably already filling up with dumb goblins. "Somewheres safe. With tunnels already dug out. I say we go take the Shinystuff mine for the tribe. Dwarfs aren't so tough and we could just take their house, make them go live in our old mountain."

Gauging the faces around him, he was unsure. They didn't have a lot of warriors among them.

"We could go see the dragon, maybe! They may need kobolds to help them dig up their shinies. Dragons like shinies and no on mines better than us.

No sooner did he picture the dragon, he thought of big dragon teeth and a big dragon mouth. He shivered, though it was warm in the safehole.


"One thing is for sure. I'm going no matter what."

[Wargor]

At Wellgurt's mention of the Dragon, Kreshla's beady red eyes lit up with a fanatical light, and he started quivering in excitement. "Yes! Yes! Tiamat's breath lets visit the Dragon." He breathes the word like it is a sacred thing. "The Dragon will protect me, I mean us." He glances round nervously at this slip up, hoping no-one noticed. "We must seek the Dragons protection!" He gets over excited by this point, his breath quickening and letting a tongue of flame burst from his mouth.

[GodGoblin]

Raggath has not said much since discovering the fate of the tribe, barely being able to contain his ragehe has ridden at the front of the caravan to avoid confrontation with the rest. Feeling a little calmer he rides over to the others and the map.

"The dragons have always been good to us and we have some of the dragon chosen here amongst us so that may be the best option"

Raggath dismounts from Grimfang to get a better look at the map

"Although the dragons are greedy and we have little to give them, I suggest we go to the creepy canyon and take it for ourselves! whatever is in there if anything will surely fall to our powers"

[Emperor Ing]

In the furthest corner of the room stood Reeli. Everybody knew him as the cheerful musician who picked a violin from a human who fell to kobold traps, and began playing. He would often go outside the cave and play. During the DAY!! He is even known to have interacted with the human races, however he always came back unharmed. He's a better fighter than he looks, prehaps! He's also a good weaponsmith by reputation.

Regardless, what stands in the corner is the ruins of Reeli. His violin, known to create works of musical art that rival the finest traps, has had its happy sound replaced with that of great tragedy and sorrow. He continues playing while speaking softly.
shiny stuff...from Shinystuff. Dragon...gets shiny stuff.

perform (instrument)
[roll0]

[gdiddy]

The addition of music made it harder to hear anyone, until Wellgurt got an idea.

"Hey! Hey!

I haves an ideas! We ask the dragon for help, but first we go the the dwarfs and steal their shinies so the dragon don't eat us!

Wellgurt felt accomplished. What a perfect, original, completely his own idea.

But what do we do with them?"

He motioned to the refugees who were not pouring over the map. They were a sad lot, old or young or gravid. Wellgurt couldn't see them lasting 4 weeks in this little safehole.

[GodGoblin]

"Yes yes! We can kill the dorfs dead.. And take what is ours through pure kobold might!"

Raggaths yellow eyes start to redden at the thought of violence.

"Leave the sick ones here, we clear out the caves and come back for them. Some die but strong ones will live!"

[Emperor Ing]

Reeli could care less about who steals his idea. Anyone watching who pays even remote attention to the musician will notice that he seems to be taking this atrocity the hardest. He continues playing.

[Wargor]

Kreshla grins a fanged smile at the plan, licking his lips. "Yessss" he whispers, his voice a sibilant hiss. "Lets us boil the bearded-ones inside their precious metal! The mighty scaled one will just love adding their shinies to his own!"

He smiles greedily as his thoughts turn inward. And it will reward me greatly when it see's how mighty a dragon I am!

[Obscurejones]

Zork quietly shuffles over to stand by Reeli. He tries to put a comforting arm around the bard.
It will be okay friend. Our tribe has survived and will find a new home.
He glances towards the rest of the group and smiles slightly at Kreeshla's enthusiasm. His smile darkens slighlty at the mention of leaving the sick and infirm.
I vote we plunder the dwarves and then move on to our Draconic brethren's hospitality. But we should do something to provide for the weaker members of the tribe.

[GodGoblin]

"But where else would you take them? Look at the map anywhere else has dead-things, humans or even worse horrors.. Trees."

[Wargor]

Kreshla was struck by a thought at Raggath's words. "The Man-things, why not destroy them first? They will be an easier target than the bearded-ones! We could wipe the out once and for all!" He rubs his hands together, thinking of tasty human flesh, so much more succulent than a dwarf.

[gdiddy]

"So we kill the humans to hide the weak tribe in their village so we have time to invade the dwarves to bribe the Great One? This is getting complicated. Is it possible we could also invade Celestia to warm ourselves up?" He had no doubt the survivors around the map could deal with the humans. But it would waste a lot of time ande they couldn't invade everyone. At least, not yet. He made a groaning whimper noise that he considered quite exasperated and sad.

Any human who heard it would have found it adorable.

[Emperor Ing]

It...didn't...have to happen...humans...will suffer... If this comment is not an indication of the musician's ability to hear the conversation then I don't know what is.

[Obscurejones]

Then we could attack the humans exclusively. They're responsible for our tribes destruction and should have the wealth we need to appease the dragon.
Zork picks through his memory for any mention of their tribe's previous dealings with either the dragon or the human settlement.
Knowledge(History)[roll0]

[Cieyrin]

Kepesk steps forward to the map, his towering height of 3' dwarfing the rest. But those damnable lair looters are probably in the village. We have not the strength to take on the likes of them. I say we destroy those dirt eaters in their mine and make it ours. We pay tribute to the Great Scaled One for his protection and assistance and we defend our new lair through the winter while we rebuild our numbers.

Kepesk picks a bit of rotting meat out of his teeth and throws it into the nearby fire, causing it to spark a little at the little bit of fuel.

[Serpentine]

Those who went back to the mines and saw the Adventurers in the distance would be aware that they appeared to be going in the opposite direction to the village. It is possible that they could head back towards it, but there's nothing in particular to indicate they have done so.
[COLOR="DarkSlateBlue"]Zork picks through his memory for any mention of their tribe's previous dealings with either the dragon or the human settlement.
Knowledge(History)[roll0]The dragon has been there longer than the tribe has. You know a few people through the years have gone off to seek an audience with the dragon. None have returned. This could be a good or a bad thing. One of the groups of humanoids that got a little way into the mines then went towards it. There was much smoke and thundering, and then - so the stories go - the dragon flew high up over the mountains and dropped something person-shaped onto the sharp rocks below. Every now and then the people see it fly over to or from somewhereorother. It has generally ignored the tribe, although there are rumours that, long, long ago, it had some... "dalliances" with one or two legendary kobold figures.
As for Quaint Village, mostly you do the same - ignore each other. Sometimes youths from it ride out trying to seek wealth and adventure, and end up missing kobolds with home-made arrows. Sometimes kobold youths ride out to the village to seek wealth and adventure, and come home with a cat and a few chickens. The people from the village usually just throw rocks at any kobolds they see. But Reeli goes out there sometimes, and hardly ever comes back with a lumpy head. Maybe they are nicer to him...

[gdiddy]

"It's decided then, we'll make our way to the dwarves. They'lls never see us coming. Then, we'll take shinies and give it to the dragon! Maybe the dragon will let us be minions!"

Wellgurt had a hard time debasing himself to following other kobolds' orders, but there was some primal urge that made the idea of serving a dragon seem *right*. You listened to people because they could hurt you. And a dragon could hurt anyone. It's only reasonable to listen to it.

"We could be the best minions ever!"

[Emperor Ing]

The humans...must...feel my pain...

[gdiddy]

...uh. Right! Our pain! We'll have our new master eat them, Reeli! Or wait until spring and we can wreck their house, too. We'll shatter every one of their human eggs! With hammers!

[GodGoblin]

"Be quiet runt! You're making us all down, grow some scales and lets get them Dorfs! They be dead dead then we get the Great one to waste the human tribe!"

Raggath mounts Grimfang and takes up his lance. "To battle then?"

[bokodasu]

Just then an enormous bat swooped in and a wizened figure peered around its furry brown head.

Revenge? Revenge is good!

Granny Skorch cackled, coughed, and left off.

But human village not a nice place for us to live. Nice dragon protects poor little kobolds. We need pretty gifts for pretty dragon first! Then he will roast and toast puny humans for us.

[Wargor]

"Right, right, the dorfs shall be burned first! Let's butcher those hairy faced beer guzzlers!" Kreshla lets out an attempt at a roar of bloodlust, ending up not quite as impressive as he imagined.

[Obscurejones]

Zork sighs softly under his breath at the group's pronunciation.
Dwarfs it is.

[Cieyrin]

Hrm, a new lair, shinnies and dwarven prey to feast upon. Blessed we be when we crush them. With that, Kepesk shapechanges to his mighty weasel form and looks expectantly at the others before jerking his head towards the cave entrance.

[Emperor Ing]

Reeli stops playing and steps out of his corner. He places his violin on his back, and looks forward at the cave entrance with the familiar grim expression. Humans...they will...will suffer...

[gdiddy]

Wellgurt addressed an older kobold from the regugees, unsure of its gender. They had a cane, so they had to be old.

"We're going to go to the dragon for help. We'll trap the front of the Safehole and then go to the dragon for help! We'll leave you all the food and anything you might need to defend yourselves."

Wellgurt grabs a piece of leather and in poor common writes: "Theres no treshur in heer. "

"We'll hang this up outside."

[Cieyrin]

Kepesk makes a disgruntled weasel squeak and shuffles his feet, anxious to be moving.

[Wargor]

"Lets get the shinies!" With that, Kreshla steps forward, making a strange gesture that caused spectral dragon wings to grow out of his back. "To battle!"

[Obscurejones]

With a hop and a skip Zork zips into the air gliding in lazy circles above Kepesk.

[Emperor Ing]

Reeli will follow not far behind.

[Serpentine]

So... You guys are actually, physically, leaving the cave and heading towards the dwarves?

The day is cool but still. Heavy clouds scud past, dumping their load of rain - or smothering the mountains in damp fog - in-between bright sunbeams. The way to Shinystuff Mine is steep, rugged and rocky. It is rare that there isn't a steep slope to one side and a plunging precipice to the other. Tough, hardy plants sprout in sheltered spots.
It is late in the afternoon after the fall of your home - adventurers only ever attack in the day, for some reason.

[Cieyrin]

Kepesk starts sniffing around, looking for prey for his dinner for the evening, as well as a defensible camp site that will hopefully keep the rain off the raiding party's collective heads.

Survival check[roll0] Remember Kepesk has Lowlight Vision, Darkvision and Scent, should it come up. Speaking of...
Spot check [roll1]
Listen check [roll2] Since I'm scouting about anyways...

[gdiddy]

Mounted on his grey donkey laden with his bags of gear, Wellgurt makes a quick once over of the traps around the safehole and gathers his cloak about himself. He hangs up the leather sign and then looks around at the tiny scrub bushes around the cave entrance. He hurredly runs back inside and pours some water on them before trying to speak to them in their tongue: "Hey you, if you see anyone that doesn't look like me, be noisy."

His donkey has been mostly co-operative, so he focuses for a moment and addresses it directly: "Okay, Tucker. We're going to go get some Dwarfs, now."


He looks like a little monk on the donkey, excepting the spear across his back and the crossbow balanced between the ass' granite-esque erect ears. After a careful once over of the map, he takes point, realizing he's probably the best kobold to not get everyone lost.

Rolls:1 of 4 uses of Speak with Animals/Plants used:

Listen[roll0] or 14
Spot: [roll1] or 17
Survival: [roll2]
Search for traps when/if we make camp: [roll3]

[Emperor Ing]

Reeli walks out and slowly but surely hops onto his giant raven that was, like, totally always there and it's definitely his and not something that got spawned out of thin air. Why would you think that, I mean it's utterly ridiculous!

His violin at the side and crossbow on the back, Reeli and the nameless raven prepare to follow everybody else. Even though he's totally a non-conformist. Totally.

[Obscurejones]

Zork just glides out with a certain scholarly dignity. It is somewhat dispelled by the frantic flapping to get new altitude every thirty seconds. Dignity....... Flapping!

[Serpentine]

Kepesk: You are too distracted by a couple of really annoying chirping birds that you keep trying to find to gather more than a couple of bugs and a pretty nasty root.

Wellgurt: You spy a rough-and-tumble nest up-slope a short way, and can capture a pair of fat rockhens and their nest of [roll0] eggs however you like. You also keep everyone on-track.

Hey, are kobolds carnivorous or omnivorous?

Assuming (/pretending) that absolutely nothing happens for a full 24 hours except that you occasionally get rained upon, what would you all do (e.g. marching order, camping time, phaffing about, that sort of thing)?

[gdiddy]

"I spot some tasties!" Without waiting for anyone, Wellgurt hops off Tucker and grabs a net from the saddle bags.

As he blurs over to the cliff face, someone might hear him hiss "I saw them first!"

Egg Rolls:
Climb: [roll0]
Move Silently: [roll1]
Hide: [roll2] Hmm...a 1, so 15

If he get's up there...

Nettums: [roll3]

If he get's them, he ties up the net and tosses the birds down the cliff face and stuffs the eggs in his bag before climbing back down as carefully as possible (Taking 20).



Wellgurt is staying up front and when they get to camp, obsesses over the campsite and getting everyone set up. Then he falls asleep under Tucker.

[Serpentine]

Heh... All those rolls were covered by your Survival check :smalltongue: You comprehensively got 'em, though - and didn't even scratch the eggs!

I'd like times, too. For example, are you really likely to camp overnight, or would you stop during the day? Full 24 hours, remember.

[gdiddy]

(I'm wasting all the good rolls now, before we see any action.)

Wellgurt lords his new eggs over the others, bordering on being mean, until he realizes he didn't bring any water, fire-making supplies or a frying pan.

"Ha, these eggsies are going to be delicious. I can't wait to have them all in my tummy, chirping and making me not-hungry! I bet they'll taste pretty good. Like a tummy warmer, that could have been a bird. As soon as I cook these...I...GRAAAAARGH...I want to share now."

(OOC: Wellgurt moves until he or Tucker get's tired, so 12 hours or so. A few hours before dawn, I suppose? So we basically travel from just before sunset to late at night, then sleep in shifts through the early part of the day?)

[GodGoblin]

"Well luckily some us of us are prepared" Raggath then detaches a pot and removes the flint and steel from its pouch and throws them to Wellgurt.

He also removes a spade from the saddle "I will start digging the fire pit, the rest of you gather some dry things for the burning!" From the look on his face you an tell Raggath probably loves almost as much as battle.

[Emperor Ing]

Reeli didn't care, he always ate way less than everybody else. The village guy-with-funny-hat said his tiny appetite is because the fluffy white stuff that falls during winter likes to eat him.

[Wargor]

Kreshla looks at Raggath distainfully. "Rocks? Who needs rocks to start a fire!" He hisses, letting loose a small stream of flame. "I am all the fire we need!" With that said he goes to find some sticks to set alright.

Search check: [roll0]

if he finds some he'll pile them up and set them on fire with his breath weapon

[Obscurejones]

Zork sighs, lands, and pulls a campfire out of his pack. Honestly. No one else thought to pack a fire?
He sets it gingerly in the pit.
Now, are we stopping to sleep? Because I can keep us marching through the day and night if we wish.
Survival pouch 1/5 for the day.

[Serpentine]

Erm... Lets pretend you guys actually went somewhere before you stopped for lunch, shall we :smallwink:

Several hours after setting off, Wellgurt nets himself some eggs and a couple of tasty birds. You find a shallow overhang nearby that should make a decent temporary shelter. By the time you finish eating, it is the middle of the night.

[GodGoblin]

"That was much needed, now quick quick we must move. Just think of the horrid bearded ones and all ere shinies..."

Now his stomach was full the blood lust in his eyes was again noticeable. He is almost frothing at the mouth as he mounts Grimfang

[Wargor]

With a full stomach, Kreshla is as happy as a dragon in a room full of shiny, shiny toys. He scrambles aboard Wilbur, his rather placid pet mountain tortoise and settles into his saddle. "Lets us ride to victory!"

[Cieyrin]

Kepesk gulps down his couple of finds, as well as a share of the rock hens (provided there was enough to go around, though he prefers his raw). He ambles along with the party, keeping an eye to the trail and his nose sniffing for unusual scents on the night air.

I'll be sensible and just take 10 on my Survival check to look for vittles, as even at half speed for doing so, I'm easily keeping up with the mountain tortoise. That makes my Survival check 16, which will hopefully find me something better than roots and bugs.

[Serpentine]

As you move along, Kepesk takes pot-shots at various small animals unwise enough to stay out in the open. By the time dawn arrives, he has 3 hopping mice, 4 decent-sized lizards, and a snake that didn't hide its tail properly. Enough to pad out a pretty good stew.

As the sun rises, your path plunges into a valley. A tiny creek trickles along the bottom in the middle of the track, and steep rubble-strewn slopes rise sharply to either side of you.

[gdiddy]

Wellgurt was really excited. More than he had been in a long time. "Killing dwarfs killing dwarfs. So much fun, killin dwarfs." The song doesn't last long and probably makes Reeli flinch a bit, before Wellgurt get's bored and stops singing.


"So...what are we gonna do when we get there? How many of the beardies live in the mountain?"

He's up front, as always, leading everyone along the streambed.

Spot: [roll0] or 17

Listen: [roll1] or 14

Survival: [roll2]

Search for traps around campsite: [roll3]

[Serpentine]

While dancing about at the front, Wellgurt manages to spot and bag two fat rabbits and find a plant with lots of good tasty roots. When you next stop for a break, he will spot several patches of loose, treacherous rubble and a couple of tail-stingingly spiky plants.
For now, you all enter the narrow rocky valley...
(what're the "or"s for?)
(gonna wait a bit for a few posts. You've been walking for several hours overnight.)
(anyone with Knowledge (local) or something like that can do a check to answer his question)

[GodGoblin]

"How many bearded ones? I dont know but we can kill them dead! and take the shinies.. oh the shines"

He suddenly snaps out of the day dream about shiney things.
"I dont like the look of this though,we are too open for ambush from the sneaky ones"

[Obscurejones]

Zork picks through his memory for any mention of the size of the dwarvish settlement.
[roll0]

[Wargor]

"Numbers don't matter! The power of Dragons will crush them all!" Kreshla made for a....majestic site atop Wilbur, sitting as proudly as any King upon his throne. If, that is, his throne was an incredibly large tortoise. And he was a Kobold. "How much farther till the bearded ones?"

[Emperor Ing]

Knowledge (Local)
[roll0]

Reeli continues on. The bearded humans will suffer. It's hard to tell if he's tired or not, but the bearded humans will suffer he hasn't taken much of an interest since the bearded humans will suffer dinnertime in, well, anything.

[Serpentine]

Reeli and Zork know that the mine is owned by 8 dwarves. You even know their names! They are: Ted "Stinky" Trundlebut, Frank "Boozy" Trundlebut, Henry "Runny" Trundlebut III, Sam "Poshy" Trundlebut-Snoggleson Jr. IV, Jane "Greenie" Bandlewiggle nee Trundlebut, John "Bludgy" Bandlewiggle, Sally "Forth" Trundlebut, and the eldest, Mary "Naggy" Trundlebut VIII. They are almost always there, and they also usually hire some extra miners - usually more dwarves - but never more than about a dozen.
Reeli is slightly more certain about this.

Give me... mmm... lets go with 5 Spot checks. Might not keep going 'til I get them, so I may get naggy.

[GodGoblin]

"Is that all!? I could slay hundreds of beard things! Kill them dead!"

Im guessing you wanted 5 checks from each of us?
[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]
[roll4]

[Obscurejones]

Zorks is, as usual, mostly oblivious to the world outside his histories.
[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]
[roll4]

[Emperor Ing]

Several conversations with humans that have stopped to search out the mysterious musicians have resulted in the dwarves being brought up. He remembers their names, and even their nicknames. Human enough in appearance, but bizarre enough to where their females have the funny bumps on their torso and they all have this brown stringy stuff bunched up on the bottom of their heads. They also like to have "beard" in their names somewhere.

They will all suffer.


Horray for dumping WIS!
[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]
[roll4]

[Wargor]

"A truly pitiful number of beardies!"

[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]
[roll4]

EDIT: sorry, make all those plus 8, i was looking at the wrong sheet.:smallredface:

[Cieyrin]

Kepesk sniffs the air with his weaselly nose and makes like a oversized Meerkat and stands upon his back paws to get a better view of his surroundings.

Spot check #1 [roll0]
Spot check #2 [roll1]
Spot check #3 [roll2]
Spot check #4 [roll3]
Spot check #5 [roll4]

[gdiddy]

SPOTUMS!

[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]
[roll4]

[bokodasu]

Granny and Demarini, having been expertly concealed throughout the entire journey, fly quietly above the party and search out the filthy bearded ones.


[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]
[roll4]

[Serpentine]

Map:
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h287/serpentine16/ValleyMap.gif
Each "square" is about 10ftsq.
3D maps are hard.
Granny Skorch, Kreshla and Wellgurt catch something moving at 1.
Kreshla, Kepesk and Raggath think they see something strange at 2.
Raggath, Zork, Reeli, Kreshla and Wellgurt are certain there's something lurking at 3.
Zork, Reeli, Kreshla, Kepesk, Wellgurt and Granny could've sworn the rock at 4 was looking at them a moment ago.
Kreshla definitely saw something duck down a hole at 5.

Rollin' rollin' rollin', init! ...iatives.
Also you're coming from the front. Let me know where you're starting from.

(what're all the extra numbers for?)

[gdiddy]

"AMBUSH!"

Wellgurt goes wild-eyed and finishes the word before he has even processed all the movement his eyes notice.

Rolls:

Initiative: [roll0]

Rerolling and taking 10 on Spots 2 & 5, so replace those with a 17

Edit: Forgot to put down Tucker and Wellgurt's starting point: topmost right of B11.

[Emperor Ing]

Creatures too cowardly to look Reeli in the eyes. They can't face the suffering they inflicted. They must not survive today.

[roll0]

[Wargor]

"We're not alone! To Battle!" Kreshla spreads his spectral wings and bares his fangs.

[roll0]

[Obscurejones]

Zorks grins and grabs his staff in one hand, morningstar in the other.
[roll0]

[GodGoblin]

"RARGLEBARGELBARGLE!"

Raggath enters rage
Init-[roll0]

[Cieyrin]

Kepesk's weasel ears pull back on his head and lets out a snarl as he begins to drool uncontrollably and coils to burst into sudden action.

Immediate Action: Ferocity!
Initiative: [roll0]

Starting Position: Bottom Left of A11.

[bokodasu]

Granny begins muttering to herself, trying to catch any more movement from between those two rocks while directing Demarini to fly silently.


Flying in from A4, heading towards what she saw moving at 1,
initiative: [roll0]

[Serpentine]

Nicely organised, all :smallsmile: Initiative order: Kepesk (Cieyrin), Reeli (Randomizer), Kreshla (Wargor) and Zorks (Obscurejones), Thing 1, Raggath (GodGoblin), Wellgurt (gdiddy), Think 2, Thing 3, Granny (bokodasu), Thing 4, Thing 5

New map (may have to refresh a bit to get the new one to come up):
http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h287/serpentine16/ValleyMap.gif
Go Kepesk!

[Cieyrin]

Kepesk bursts away on his weasel feet, sprinting pellmell along the creek!

Double move to Upper right of H12.

[Emperor Ing]

Reeli sees the combat around him engaging. He feels no fear, no anger, no hated. Only the need to spread his suffering. He knows the procedure from his hunting expeditions, and the rare occasion when he gets hungry playing along the human road. He clicks open his case of crossbow bolts, magically treated to burn the victim's very soul out of their body. He aims his crossbow, the additionally magically treated weapon that arcs lightning across its network of intricate metal bits releases its content into the unfortunate target, transfering its electrical power into the fiery wooden bolt.
[roll0]
[roll1]
Without wasting time, Reeli grabs a second bolt from the casing and loads it in with blinding speed. In no time he fires a second round. The only detriment is that this speed subliminally causes Reeli to take less time to aim.
[roll2]
[roll3]

[Obscurejones]

Zork reaches back to run a hand over his wings and then shoots straight into the air a good thirty feet, magic strengthening his wings and adding to their agility.

[Wargor]

Kreshla also takes to the air, leaping from Wilbur and using his spectral wings to bear him aloft 15 feet, trying to see the enemy from his greater vantage point, and flying towards the closest.

If he's close enough, he'll unleash his breath weapon in a 15ft cone.

EDIT: Thanks dude.

[Emperor Ing]

((That would be 5, whom is attempting to conceal themselves in rocks))

[Wargor]

Rolling damage.

[roll0]

Reflex halves - DC 21

[Serpentine]

Rocks scatter as Kepesk races forward.
Reeli fires his sparking bolts with blinding speed. His first shot thuds satisfyingly into the suspicious lump, which twiches, but his second one shatters on a rock, which also shatters.
Kreshla wings forward and belches a great bolt into the rocks. He hears a squeal coming from under them, but no movement.
Zork also flaps over the gully.
There is no other movement.

Raggath and Wellgurt's turns.

New map.http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h287/serpentine16/ValleyMap-1.gif

[gdiddy]

If something emerges out of cover...


Wellgurt let's out a yipping battle cry, before pumping the target full of bolts.


1: [roll0], Crit Confirm [roll1], Damage: [roll2]

2: [roll3], Crit Confirm [roll4], Damage: [roll5]

3: [roll6], Crit Confirm [roll7], Damage: [roll8]

---

If nothing is apparent...

Wellgurt leaps from Tucker onto the big rock next to him, trying to remain unseen while getting into a decent firing position. From a prone position, he readies a crossbow attack for the first thing to take hostile action against the party.

Jump Rolls.
Jump: [roll9]
Hide: [roll10]
Move Silently: [roll11]


Readied Attack Roll
[roll12], Crit Confirm [roll13], Damage: [roll14]

---

If he fails to get on top of the rock...

He screams bloody murder and punches Tucker in the flank.

[Serpentine]

Wellgurt leaps onto the rock and hunkers down into its hollow, crossbow ready to fire at the first threat.


DM's stuff.[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]

[GodGoblin]

Raggath cracks the reigns and Grimfang charges forwards along the river bank, he then turns to his left and readies his lance.

Double move into square H8, should be in line with enemy 1

[Serpentine]

Anyone who has moved closer to a Thing, do another Spot check.

[GodGoblin]

Raggash squints as he turns to face his new foe
[roll0]

[Serpentine]

Anyone who gets more than 18 can read this.You see a slightly funny shaped rock... but that was totally an eye sticking out of the top! Now that you think about it, are those legs?
An appropriate Knowledge check may be made.

[bokodasu]

Granny flies further out, then leans over to spit fire at the thing she saw, possibly roasting herself some dinner in the process.


Moving to F4 and using a 2nd-level spell slot for Dragon Breath towards the thing at 1.
Damage: [roll0]

[Serpentine]

How close to the ground do you get?

[Wargor]

Kreshla squints into the rocks, his eyes seeking any movement.

[roll0]

[bokodasu]

How close to the ground do you get?

Low-ish? Let's call it 10' - I'm imagining the cone coming down at an angle towards the target.

[Cieyrin]

Squinting his weasel eyes and sniffing with his nose, he attempts to home in on some prey.

Spot check [roll0] Also using Scent (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/specialAbilities.htm#scent) to home in on targets.

[gdiddy]

More Spot: [roll0]

Jeez, they're ugly.

[Serpentine]

As Granny swoops down to breathe ruin upon the thing below, a long, jointed limb reaches up and swipes at her bat as they fly past. The vicious claw rakes through its flesh.

Kepesk smells something weird enough - kinda a mix between crabs and dirt - to guess it's what's after you, and to home in on it.

Granny: Reflex save for half? What's the DC? Your bat takes 13 damage. Have it do a... um... Balance check, or else do a Ride check, to avoid crashing into the ground.

DM's stuff.[roll0]
[roll1]

[gdiddy]

"You. No. Take. Candle."

Wellgurt's readied action is triggered.

The one that hit Granny just got shot if a 25 hits. (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=9444813&postcount=80)

[Serpentine]

Yes, sorry, I meant to say that. You hit, roll damage, describe.

[gdiddy]

Wellgurt rolls into a nook on the rock and observes the ugly little critters. They were ugly, but too much trouble to even deep fry. All rocky and tough looking, he doubted if they were at all edible. Actually, they seemed like they were harmless, afraid of the kobolds. ...Until one attacked the older female, Granny.

There was no expression on Wellgurt's face as the quiet intensity of the kill was with him. "You. No. Take. Candle."

He aimed for the creature's limb, trying to interrupt its swiping motions.

Roll: [roll0]

[bokodasu]

Granny screeches with rage as Demarini tries to fly back up and out of reach of the thing they just scorched.


Yes, reflex for half - I don't have the book on me, but the DC is 20 if it goes by regular spell saving throws, which I'm pretty sure is right.
Demarini's Balance check: [roll0]

[Serpentine]

A note: if you're going to aim for a particular body part, that's fine, but try to announce it at the start.

Granny's spell blasts down onto the creature. She smells something akin to steamed crab. As she wings away, though, the claw reaches up for its deadly strike. Simultaneously, Wellgurt looses his bolt, plunging straight through the arm. Bat blood mingles with thing-juice and the limb flops uselessly to the ground. The bat falters, but regains the air without even brushing a wingtip.
As if on cue, 4 giant crab-creatures, like one-eyed rocks on long spindly legs, stand up and move.

The creature still bubbling from Granny's spell, and the one above Kepesk both dig their claws into the ground and vibrate. You feel a rumbling in the earth under your claws, and the rocks around you start to jump around. Then all at once, the whole hillslope around you seems to shift.
Kepesk and Raggath, Reflex saves. Two of 'em.

At the same time, #2 moves across the valley. #3 digs its back claws in, and points its front two at Wellgurt. The rock underneath him feels soft and squidgy for a moment, and then disappears into a sticky mess. He sinks into it right up to his chest without feeling the bottom of the mud. #3 then scuttles over and prepares to strike with a long claw.

Wellgurt's speed is reduced to 5ft, and his AC and attack rolls have a -2 penalty.

New initiative order: Kepesk (Cieyrin), Reeli (Randomizer), Kreshla (Wargor), Zorks (Obscurejones), Raggath (GodGoblin), Wellgurt (gdiddy), Granny (bokodasu), Things.

Round recap:
You approached a narrow valley with caution. Between you, you all spot 5 signs of movement among the rocks. Kepesk ran down the creek towards the one on the far right. Reeli fired two crossbow bolts at the one on the near right, the first hitting its target and the other missing. Zork and Kreshla flew into the air, the latter heading towards a pile of rocks upon which he breathed lightning.
Wellgurt leapt upon a nearby boulder and readied his crossbow. Raggath rode into the valley and prepared to charge one of the creatures. Granny flies over the same one. She spews fire on it, but it lashes out at her bat at the same time. Wellgurt, spotting the movement, fires his readied crossbow, disabling the offending leg as Granny flies up and out of reach.
That same one and the one on the far right start vibrating the ground, causing an avalanche. The one on the far left moves closer to the main part of the group. The one on the near right dissolved Wellgurt's boulder into mud, trapping him in it, and moved towards him menacingly.
I need Reflex saves from Kepesk and Raggath to avoid the avalanches, and a second in case that one fails to avoid getting stuck. It's then Kepesk's turn.

New map.http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h287/serpentine16/ValleyMap-2.gif
DM's stuff [roll0]

[gdiddy]

Through gulps of thick mud, everyone hears Wellgurt yelling: "They've trapped the rocks! I think it's poo! Help!"

He struggles only for a moment, hoping that he'll float a bit to the top if he doesn't move.

Looking at the closest crab, he's not really that worried. He's invisible. Dumb crabs.

"Well. Take a gander at this this little princess."

He unleashes bolts at the thing as fast as possible, hoping that it won't be able to feel where he is in the soft mud.

Rolls:
[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]

Crit Confirms:[roll3]
[roll4]
[roll5]

[Emperor Ing]

Reeli is nonchalant about the battle around him, only focused on dropping that one damned crab.

[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]

[Emperor Ing]

Crit confirmation
[roll0]

[GodGoblin]

Raggath feels the rocks starting to shift around him and sees a large amount of rubble tumbling on the alley and tries to move aside

Ok so 2 reflex saves-
[roll0]
[roll1]

But seeing as im mounted could i substitute them for a ride check?

[Wargor]

Kreshla narrows his eyes and growls in frustration, before letting out another burst of flame at the little rock crab....thing.

[roll0]

[Cieyrin]

Kepesk attempts to nimbly jump from patch of shifting rock towards solid ground before closing on the strange crab thing to latch onto with his powerful jaws!

Reflex save #1 [roll0]
Reflex save #2 [roll1]On the assumption that successful saves will still allow Kepesk to close with the rocky crab, he moves into H14 and lunges!

Bite attack [roll2]
Bite damage [roll3]
If Critical:Bite attack [roll4]
Bite damage [roll5]If bite is successful, I'm now Attached and Draining Blood (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/direWeasel.htm). From what I can tell, I think that means we're grappling, since you need to pin me to detach my jaws from its torso.

[Serpentine]

Raggath is too slow to avoid the cascade of stone! But can his mount dodge it in time? And can he hang on?
Do a Reflex save for the wolverine, and a Ride check.

Kepesk dodges between the tumbling rocks and gets on top of them, taking only one rock to the jaw and one to the thigh. He leaps onto a piece of sliding slate and thence onto the face of the crab-thing. His fangs sink deep into it, and a sandy fluid starts leaking from the wound.
Kepesk takes half of [roll0] bludgeoning damage from the avalanche.

Reeli's first bolt shudders into the thing's hard shell with a thunk and a spray of crabjuice. The second pierces right through and disappears inside it. Cracks riddle the creature's craggy skin.
Your crit wasn't confirmed (or I would've had it explode out the other side, which would've rocked. So to speak).

Kreshla belches down again on the pile of rocks. The blackened stones crack and shift, but there is no other movement or sound.
Spot check.

[Zork does something here.]

[Raggath does something here.]

Despite being chest-deep in thick sucking mud, Wellgurt keeps his crossbow in the air and fires at the thing with astonishing speed. Each of his's bolts plunge into the thing's belly.
Roll damage.

[Granny's turn.]

[gdiddy]

Even as the last bolt hits the crab, Wellgurt focuses and then cries to his loyal, abused, and tasty mount."Tucker! Run! Save the food!"

Wellgurt readies another volley for the critter, realizing that if it doesn't die immediately, he'll die shortly.

Rolls

-Swift Action to use 1 of 4 uses Speak with Plants/Animals.
Shot 1-[roll0] Magic, Piercing
Shot 2-[roll1] Magic, Piercing
Shot 3-[roll2] Magic, Piercing

[Serpentine]

Tucker gazes at you with one baleful eye, finishes chewing his mouthful of sharp mountain grass, then leisurely takes a few steps the way you came before pausing to grab another bite.
Meanwhile, your bolts perferate the underside of the crab-monster. It takes a step, and then its undershell cracks in half spilling all sorts of nasti/yumminess all over the rocks. Its claws scuttle about before finally falling still.

Well, there's that one. Still waiting on Zork, Raggath and Granny.

[gdiddy]

"I hate you so much."

[Serpentine]

It raises its tail, and does an impressive fart in your general direction. Then it wanders over to a patch of flowers a little further down the road.

[GodGoblin]

Grimfang reflex
Ride check [roll1]

To hit [roll2]
Damage [roll]1d6+9+1d6+9+1d6+9+1d6+9

Damn Critical miss :smallannoyed:



If Raggath can hold on to Grimfang he charges forwards at the critter he was lining up for (No.1)

[bokodasu]

Granny, sniffing the at the sandy aroma of the crab-things, shrieks "These are NOT DELICIOUS!" and aims a stronger blast of fire at the one beneath her, then wheels Demarini around to fly over the one behind them.


Using another dragon breath at level 3 this time, for [roll0] damage (ref save for half @ 21), then moving to E3 at 25' above the ground.

[Wargor]

Kreshla glares down at the pile of rocks, trying to spot where the little crab creature had gotten to.

Spot check - [roll0]

Natural 20 :smallbiggrin:

[Obscurejones]

Zork continues to fly upwards. Crooking a claw at the crab creature at the nearest crab creature and barks a few choice arcane phrases. When he unbends the claw, twin bolts of fire stream out in a low hissing arc.
Flies up another thirty feet.
Scorching Ray
Both rays at the creature at spot 3
[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]

[Serpentine]

Kreshla sees a little tuft of charred fur drift past. A moment later, a tiny black body crawls out from under a rock, and then collapses with a puff of ash. Its long ears and cute pink button nose quiver for a moment, before falling still.
Congratulations, you beat a bunny rabbit :smallamused:

Rays are touch, right?
Zork's first lazor goes wild and scorches a plant. The second hits the crab-thing firmly on the side, turning its shell black and bubbly.
I believe that, with the damage dealt by Zork, Wellgurt's first hit would have finished it off. If you like, you may redirect your last two attacks (either freeing up a move action or taking shots somewhere else, but leaving it alive but dying), or you can keep it as-is, with it well and truly deaded.

Raggath was too slow to react to the falling rocks, but fortunately his noble steed takes his own initiative and just barely scrambled up over the rocks, avoiding many of them and in particular avoiding getting tumbled into them. Raggath holds on for dear life as he is battered by rocks, but comes out triumphant.
Raggath and his steed charge - well, scramble over the loose rocks and earth - forward, but at the last minute Grimfang slips on a stone, throwing off Raggath's blow by a mile.
Grimfang takes half of [roll0] bludgeoning damage.
Raggath takes half of [roll1] +2 bludgeoning damage (extra 2 cuz it was Grimfang who made the check - you still didn't dodge very well).
You have a -1 penalty to your AC until your next turn as you struggle to recover from the slip. That natural 1 actually worked quite well, as I was gonna say you couldn't charge anyway cuz it's rough terrain :smalltongue:

Granny's blast of fire rolls down onto the creature. It just barely manages to tuck in its more vulnerable bits to shield them from the heat.
DM's stuff.
[roll2]

[Serpentine]

That same creature, once the fire has dispersed, stretches out, scuttles back slightly, and chitters at Raggath. Grimfang growls as the rocks around you soften and moosh and the earth under your feet dissolves away into liquid.
Grimfang sinks up to his neck in the mud. As long as Raggath is on his back, he can only move 5ft a round, but Raggath's penalty to AC and attacks is only -1.

The one which is the focus of Granny's ire at the moment scurries over to the new mud-patch, and wallops Raggath. Even at the disadvantage of the mud, though, Raggath fends off the attack handily with his shield.
DM's stuff.
[roll0]
[roll1]

The last rockcrabcreature struggles with a dire weasel attached to its face (inasmuch as it has one). It raises itself up and attempts to slam Kepesk into the ground.
DM's stuff.
[roll2]
[roll3]It manages to catch the bulk of Kepesk's body underneath its own, crushing and grinding him into the rocky earth.
Kepesk takes 28 damage (critical hit. Bummer, eh?), and must do a... mmm... Will save* or let go.

*willing to hear reasoning for a different check.

Will have a new map for a new round later. For now, finish this round.

[Cieyrin]

((I'm fine with the Will save to hold on, as I can't think of something better, either.))

Taking the brunt of the blow on his supernaturally thick hide, Kepesk still lets out a pained weasel grunt and attempts to hold on.

Will save: [roll0]

[Serpentine]

Kepesk clings on with almost supernatural determination even as his bones crunch and snap under the assault.

[Emperor Ing]

Reeli feels the need to conserve his fiery bolts, even though he has many. He can feel it. Terror. Fear. His own people dying around him again. He does only what he can. He takes out his violin and begins playing a pained and heart-felt song to inspire his allies.

Reeli uses bardic music to play Inspire Courage +3.

[Obscurejones]

Zork hovers in place letting lose another set of rays at the creature he thought he spotted at 4.
Scorching Ray
[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]

[Obscurejones]

Pretty sure it's 4d96 But I'll gladly keep the roll. :smallbiggrin:
[roll0]

[Cieyrin]

Heartened by Reeli's playing, Kepesk attempts to rip the crab-thing's face off while simultaneously smashing it with his powerful tail.

Blood Drain: [roll0] Con damage
Tail Smash! [roll1]
Damage: [roll2]

If Crit:Crit Confirm: [roll3]
Damage: [roll4]

[Serpentine]

Round recap:
Kepesk dodges rocks to leap at the crab-thing on the far right, sinking his sharp teeth deep into it and getting a mouthful of sandy crabjuice. His victim, taking umbrage at his presumption, slams down on top of him and grinds him into the ground. Kepesk clings in for dear life even as he listens to his own bones breaking.
Reeli continues his relentless barrage on the near-right rock crab, puncturing and cracking its shell. Zork wings higher, then zaps at the same - one goes wild, but the other scorches its target. Wellgurt flounders about in the new sticky mud in front of it for a moment before getting a hold of himself and sending several bolts thunking into its belly. The first one weakens it, the second has its undershell giving way to spill its guts, and the third finishes it off.
Kreshla again rains fire down on the rocks. He peers at them suspiciously, and spies a well-cooked bunny rabbit crawl out from their charred remains to collapse in the ash.
Raggath is too slow to avoid the tumbling rocks, but fortunately his noble steed is more on the ball. They bound up the hill, narrowly avoiding the worst of the stones, but Raggath's ultimate blow is foiled by an ill-placed rock. Fortunately Granny's wall of fire hits true before she wheels away to face the near-left creature, but nontheless a moment latter Raggath finds himself knee-deep (Grimfang neck-deep) in gooey mud. Granny's target takes advantage of his predicament to wallop him, but Raggath deflects its blow with his shield.

New Round
New map:http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h287/serpentine16/ValleyMap.gifI've tried to indicate flying characters - the bar attaches them to the square they're technically in.

Initiative order: Kepesk (Cieyrin), Reeli (Randomizer), Kreshla (Wargor), Zorks (Obscurejones), Raggath (GodGoblin), Wellgurt (gdiddy), Granny (bokodasu), Things.

Kepesk chews on the thing's face even as it grinds him into the rock. Crabjuice squirts everywhere. He tries to what it with his mighty tail, but its tip is still stuck under the crab's body, and he merely rips out a few hairs.

Reeli's inspiring song washes over you all.

[Kreshla does something here]

Does Zork have Precise shot? If not, you take the penalty as Kepesk is attached to its face. But you hit anyway, so...
Zork's rays scorch into his target about a foot away from Kepesk's head. It flails with aggravation and pain as the heat sends cracks rippling across its shell, and struggles to get away.

[Wargor]

Kreshla snarls angrily at being tricked by a rabbit. Seeing Kepesk in trouble, he spreads his wings and soars over to him.

Double-moving it over to him,staying at the same height.

[gdiddy]

Wellgurt looks up to see the two crabs bearing down on Raggath.

"Hey, Shrimp-rock-pebble...small brain...FACE!"

Wiping the mud from his eyes, Wellgurt takes aim at the one that Raggath is not in the way of.

[roll0] +11 +3 -4 (23)
[roll1] +11 +3 -4 (28)
[roll2] +9 +3 -4 (19)

Damage:
First (piercing, magic) [roll]1d6+7[roll]
Second (piercing, magic) [roll]1d6+7[roll]
Third (piercing, magic) [roll]1d6+7[roll]

AND Gdiddy fails royally to make damage rolls.

[bokodasu]

Naughty snacks! Stand still!

Demarini squeaks in protest as Granny heaves him around to hover over Raggath, while she leans over and lets out a massive belch of fire.


Ok, I am feeling dumb trying to figure out the right distances. I think if they fly directly above Raggath Granny should be able to breathe down on both crabby things without hitting him or his mount. If so, that's what I want to do, otherwise please adjust for me not quite having the int of a kobold.

Damage [roll0], reflex for half, at level 4.

[Serpentine]

Kepesk chews on the thing's face even as it grinds him into the rock. Crabjuice squirts everywhere. He tries to what it with his mighty tail, but its tip is still stuck under the crab's body, and he merely rips out a few hairs.

Reeli's inspiring song washes over you all.

Kreshla bears down on the rockcrabs with a vengeance.

Does Zork have Precise shot? If not, you take the penalty as Kepesk is attached to its face. But you hit anyway, so...
Zork's rays scorch into his target about a foot away from Kepesk's head. It flails with aggravation and pain as the heat sends cracks rippling across its shell, and struggles to get away.

[Raggath does something here]

Wellgurt's bolts crack into the monster's shell.
Your damage, sir:First (piercing, magic) [roll0]
Second (piercing, magic) [roll1]
Third (piercing, magic) [roll2]

Flames pour out of Granny's jaws at the two creatures below. Raggath is rocked back by the force, and if he had eyebrows he wouldn't anymore, but is otherwise unharmed. The creatures, on the other hand... They manage to shift and contract their sensitive bits to avoid the worst of the blast, but they are still blackened and crisp.
DM's stuff[roll3]
[roll4]

Waiting on Raggath, then I'll finish the round.
Please give me the DCs for your abilities when you use them.

[GodGoblin]

Raggath tugs on the reigns of Gimfang to urge him out of the mud, still screaming Draconic profanity at the nearest crab creature

Ride check [roll0]

[Serpentine]

In what direction do you ride?

[GodGoblin]

North easterly to J6 to pepare for a charge

[Serpentine]

As Raggath, and Grimfang, clamber out of the ooze, the rock-monsters looming over them wallop them in their moment of vulnerability.
DM's stuff.[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]
Their spiky legs splash harmlessly into the mud.

The one who sank him follows Raggath across the slope, and wallops him again.
DM's stuff.[roll4]
[roll5]Raggath easily deflects the blow.

The newcomer over there scuttles, looks around, clicks, and then scurries away over the hill.
Attacks of Opportunity may be triggered, if anyone gets one with a ranged weapon.

The one to which a giant weasel is attached tries again to pulverise him into dirt.
DM's stuff.[roll6]
[roll7]

Kepesk manages to twist his long body around, and the monster misses him entirely.

Jayzus, what's with those rolls?

New map and round recap soon.

[Emperor Ing]

Reeli's Inspire Courage +3 song continues to play through the violin.

((It's +3 saves against Charm and Fear, and +3 to attack and damage))

[Serpentine]

Round recap:
Kepesk mauls his crab-rock-thing while Reeli's spine-stiffening song echoes through the valley. Kreshla, done frying bunnies, wings over to assist Kepesk. Zork fires off his layzorz at the same one, rendering its shell popping and crackling in addition to punctured and cracked.
Raggath, meanwhile, dodges blows from the other two surviving creatures as his mount struggles out of the mud and regroups a short distance away. Wellgurt sends his bolts thudding into their shells as Granny shifts her position and spews fire down on them. One follows Raggath to flail at him with chitinous blows that he easily deflects, and the other assesses the situation before retreating over the hill and far away.
The one to which Kepesk is attached attempts to replicate its last crushing blow, but this time he's ready, and he remains attached to its face and no more harmed.

New Round
New map:http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h287/serpentine16/ValleyMap-3.gif
Initiative order: Kepesk (Cieyrin), Reeli (Randomizer), Kreshla (Wargor), Zork (Obscurejones), Raggath (GodGoblin), Wellgurt (gdiddy), Granny (bokodasu), Things.

Reeli going to keep playing his song through this round?

[Emperor Ing]

Reeli going to keep playing his song through this round?

Yes. :smalltongue:

[Serpentine]

Very well. You are excused from class.


(:smalltongue:)

[Cieyrin]

Kepesk continues his assault on his crab-thing, continuing to gnaw to the gooey center while rolling the thing to bring his crab-cracking tail to bear!

Ferocity Duration: Round 4 of 6 rounds
Blood Drain! [roll0] Con damage

Tail Slap! [roll1]
Damage: [roll2]

If Crit: Crit Confirm: [roll3]
Crit Damage: [roll4]

[Obscurejones]

Zork takes a moment to appreciate the simplicity of his draconic gifts.
I just keep throwing fire and yelling at it until it goes away.
Thought completed he throws fire at things that have yet to go away.
If Kepsek doesn't kill #4:
Scorching Ray! At #4 What a surprise. Factored in the minus four for shooting into melee.
[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]
If #4 is killed:
Scorching Ray! At #1 What a surprise. No minus four for shooting into melee.
[roll4]
[roll5]
[roll6]
[roll7]

[GodGoblin]

Raggath ups his lance and charges at his foe (1)

To hit
[roll0]
Damage
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]
[roll4]
Thats 36 in total

[Serpentine]

Kepesk continues to maul the creature, sending juice spraying everywhere. Just as he goes to whack it with his tail, it groans, its eyestalk goes flaccid, and its great boulderlike body sinks down onto him. He is now stuck under a big dead rock-crab-thing.
Bravo :smalltongue:

Reeli's haunting melody continues to bounce through the valley, its woeful tune envigorating all of you.
Don't forget your bonuses, everyone.

[Kreshla does something here]

Zork fires his beams at the one on the other side of the valley. They rip through its shell, and it starts to fall. At the same time, Raggath and his Noble Steed gallop up the slope. They burst right through the creature, spraying meat in dollops everywhere.
Are Raggath's multiple damages thanks to a charge? If so, he actually wouldn't've been able to get them unless he has some fancy feats (which I don't see), cuz the terrain was no good for a charge. But pfft, whatever, it's dead now :smalltongue:


Hurrah, you won! :smallbiggrin:

...crap, now I need to prepare the next bit :smalleek:

[Wargor]

Seeing Kepesk finish off his foe, Kreshla's face falls at losing his chance to kill something. He grumpily lands by Kepesk and tries to help him out from underneath the rock crab.

[Emperor Ing]

Reeli sits on his nameless raven and just continues to play the chilling, yet oddly inspiring melody. It's questionable whether he knows that combat is over or not.

[gdiddy]

"*******! ****! *******************!"

These are the words that are coming from Wellgurt as he climbs out of the mud and muck.

There are other ones, but they're even less polite.

[GodGoblin]

Raggath holds on to Grimfang tightly as he shakes the mud clean from his fur before coming back over to the rest. "We should probably keep moving if we are to make it in time"

[Cieyrin]

Kepesk makes to wriggle out from beneath the boulder-like creature before his adrenaline surge ends, with Kreshla's aid.

Finally free the corpse, he ambles around it and urinates on the corpse before shifting to hybrid form and adjusts his weasel-skin belt of healing to begin recovering from the crushing blow the crab landed in their scuffle.

Using 1 charge from the healing belt. Heals [roll0] damage.
If that is insufficient to cure at least 10 damage, use another charge to heal another [roll1] damage.
Whatever that thing was, it wasn't the tastiest thing I've ever bitten into. Kinda gritty.

Spitting out more crab-thing blood, Kepesk shifts back to weasel form and heads over to where the rest of the group is before the journey can continue, sniffing on his way over for any other unusual scents on the air that may hint at other hidden threats.

[Obscurejones]

Zork fly's down and tries to tear on of the crab things claws loose. If he can he tucks it into his pack.

[bokodasu]

Granny flies down to check on everybody.

All good? Ready?

She pokes a crab-corpse with her walking stick.

Not tasty. Time to find some better snacks.

[gdiddy]

Wellgurt decides to leave the mud on himself for camoflage, once he is sure it's not poo. Mudoflage. He remounts Tucker and takes point again. While waiting for everyone, he dwells for a bit on how weird that all got so suddenly. Crabs live near the sea and are delicious. And not bigger than donkeys.

[Emperor Ing]

((orks orks orks orks orks orks orks orks orks orks orks orks orks orks orks orks

Okay seriously, should we just do some random chatting while Serp finds the next GM?))

[Serpentine]

The journey takes 3 days. Ready... roleplay :smalltongue:

[Cieyrin]

Kepesk noses around the trail as they travel, looking for edibles and investigating strange/interesting scents in an attempt to reduce the likelihood of further ambushes.

Taking 10 on Survival, for DC 16.

[Terumitsu]

((Well, I suppose I should get this rolling then.))

With a particular stroke of luck, Kepesk comes across a rabbit warren in his search for food, managing to claim a pair before the rest dashed back inside to the safety of their hole. That combined with a few rodents and the occasional reptile would be ample fare for the trek. As for the trip itself, there was little to be terribly wary about although a good set of eyes kept Tucker from being mired in a particularly large pool of mud, a leftover from the recent rains.

It would be near sundown when the dwarven mine came into sight, the long shadows almost hiding it from view. Occasionally, the ringing of picks breaking hard earth would echo out from the mine with an almost ghostly quality. There were a few humans about, mostly hanging around a log cabin not too far away from the mine itself. Kepesk would be able to smell them before he saw them, allowing time to stop and hide in the nearby hills if the group felt it was warrented. Or they could all go run in, screaming bloody fury, and murder/death/kill them all... Yet, there was a slight howling in these hills. Not that of wolves but the familiar sound of the breeze lapping across an open cave. Perhaps there was a tunnel or three around here. A good place to hide at least.

[Cieyrin]

Kepesk shifts to hybrid form when catching the wiff of dorf stench to halt the party. The dirt eaters are close, I smell their Iron and the sweat of tallies. I suggest us of the sneaky persuasion, making a glance towards Wellgurt, search the area to find hint of their activities and possible approaches of attack. What say you?

[Obscurejones]

Sneaks first, biters and rippers second, the musically and fire flingingly inclined in the rear.

[Terumitsu]

((Not much of a kickstart post. Sorry.))

The wind shifted as it often does and the smell of freshly broken earth washed over the group. It seemed to be coming from an area nearby at least.

The humans seemed to be completely oblivious to any sort of plotting or planning at the moment. Some of them even seemed to be slightly inebriated, for whatever that was worth. In any case, it would be a good idea to find that tunnel if the idea was to go underground for a while to get away from those hated tall folk.

[Emperor Ing]

Reeli looks up. What's this about humans? He thought he was going to a dwarven gold mine.

[Cieyrin]

Seeing not much in the way of action from the others, Kepesk growls under his breath as he puts his nose to the wind and his weaselly ears alertly up to find the nearby tunnel. Taking his time, he carefully steps to avoid noisy forest debris and keep out of sight of the dorfs and tallies.

Hide and Move Silently checks: [roll0] [roll1]
Spot, Listen and Search checks check: [roll2] [roll3] [roll4]

[Obscurejones]

Zork follows Kepsek, hoping to get inground before they're detected.

[Terumitsu]

After a bit of searching around, Kepesk finds the cave entrance. It has that taste in the air that could be mistaken for blood indicating soil rich in iron. Occasionally, the ringing of a pick or three could be heard off in the distance, echoing with an almost ghostly quality.

There was also that dwarf smell that hung around the area. The party would likely find it most unpleasant but it would likely be a better alternative to what could happen otherwise. There were no dwarves to be spotted at least so that particular batch of annoyances would be avoided for now.

[Serpentine]

Alright guys. I hope you're all still subscribed to this thread... For some reason the OOC thread seems to have disappeared, too.

Anyway, here's the skinny. I'm pondering the possibility of continuing on with this, or starting again from the beginning. I've sent you all PMs asking whether you're still interested, and here's the results:

Cieyrin's in.
Obscurejones's in.
Emperor Ing's in, but prefers to start again from the beginning with new characters.
Wargor's out.
No response from the others, have to assume they're out unless they get back to me.

Now, I am also pondering starting up some other game, either instead of or in addition to this one (although I'm not sure how well I'd cope with running two games at once, unless they're ones I've already written). I'm not sure what sort of game that would be - it could be Kobold Run again, or one of my dungeons, or a sandbox game around my Cakeworld, or an Animorphs game... I'll leave that up to the players to a large extent.
If you wanted to be involved in that, instead, I'd give you guys first preference - you'd be automagically accepted, and your preference for game type would be given extra weight.

Discuss.

edit: Oh, and for offering to take this over for me, these invitations to go Terumitsu, too.

[Obscurejones]

I'd love to restart Kobold Run or take part in any of the other games you mentioned. If we do Kobold Run though I will at least need to restart as I lost the sheet when I cleared out my myth weavers recently.

[Emperor Ing]

Cakeworld huh? Tell me more. :smallamused:

As I said, in, but with new characters. Also, we might wanna make a new OOC thread since this...doesn't really belong in the IC forum.

[Serpentine]

Yeah, I know. I feel like I can't rightly start a new thread until I have more info on my Cakeworld setting (it's in Worldbuilding, if you wanna look it up), and until I know I'm definitely willing an able to run it, and until I finish my Travel Diary Whatsit. Next week or two, though, I reckon.

[Emperor Ing]

You're gonna have to link me I cannot find it. Either because i'm looking in the wrong place or I somehow have negative ranks in my IRL Search skill, the latter being extremely likely.

[Cieyrin]

I'm fine with restarting Kobold Run, though I could go either direction of either throwing together a new character or keeping Kepesk, as I still have his sheet alive and well. Either way. :smallbiggrin:

[Serpentine]

Cakeworld is here (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=240701). I just added a bit to it.
I'm thinking there's not enough of the original players still interested to take this up where it ended, and we'll probably have to find at least one or two more players anyway, so I'll probably just give you an open invitation to my undefined still-only-potential future game-of-some-sort. We'll see how it goes.

[Emperor Ing]

So...are we re-recruiting or what?

[Serpentine]

I'm now thinking I'll restart Kobold Run and run a second game. Buuuuut I'm kinda in a weird limbo at the moment... Give me another week or two?

[Emperor Ing]

You can do both at once, no need to overexert yourself (assuming the second game is also a kobold game.) If you need it, take your time. Just know that I do want to continue :smallsmile:

[Serpentine]

I am quite happy to be nagged about it. Knowing that people are actually actively interested will be a good motivator.