SliceandDiceKid
2014-03-21, 03:24 AM
So I just finished DMing a one shot tonight. I'd love some critique, appreciation, random comments, or any sort of response you find appropriate. Here are characters, setting, then plot.
PCs (6th lvl humans)
Scout with a composite shortbow and returning arrow
Barbarian with a battle axe and a temper
Ranger TWFer with a long sword and sickle
Setting:
Our players decided they wanted to be a small special squad assigned to investigate a hamlet that hadn't been heard from in some time. I had them feather fall into the mountainous/hilly region just as the sun was breaking the horizon. The scout rolled the check on the way down to spot a few figures in the town. Some were clearly laid out on the ground with others standing over them. Other than that, the fog was too heavy and distance too great to discern anything more.
It's story time:
The scout and ranger see a road leading to the town just part of a kilometer from where they landed. They quickly made their way to the road and after quite a trek, followed it to the town. Once they reached the base of the hill upon which it stood, they tried a stealthy approach up the winding cliff face path. Peeking over the edge to the next level up, they observed four peasants being herded down the path from the gates by what appeared to be, at first, three sword and board guards. As they grew closer, one of the peasants turned to attack the guard in back. The guard pushed the peasant down over the edge with his shield, leaving no evidence but the scuttling rocks as he bounced occasionally down the cliff side to his death. One of them barked at the culprit. He swiftly responded, "it's not like we have to deliver them alive!"
It was then that our heroes noticed these guards looked somewhat unusual. As the lead guard turned toward the bottom of the path again, their features became more distinct. Anthropomorphic dogs, snarling amongst themselves, while abusing their prisoners. The barbarian's embarrassing stealth check made detection inevitable as the group meandered farther from the village. The gang quickly climbed down and prepared for a small bout. The guards were swift to pursue this new threat, disregarding their fleeing prisoners who were rushing back to their homes. A few arrows and a powerful cleave dispatched the bullies with ease. As they approached the target location, they saw an ungated palisade wall with a statue on either side of the entrance. Now our unit was eager and curious. The barbarian, ranger, and ranger's wolf rushed headstrong past the platformed palisade walls, while the scout simply noted that he probably could not make the shot to down a guard on the wall.
As the barb and ranger reached the entrance to the town, they were horrified to find one of the fleeing peasants pinned by a dog, currently being stripped of his throat. The melee specialists went to work dispatching the vicious guard dogs, but were unable to save many of the peasants.
~meanwhile~
Our scout (who spent two feats for climbing bonuses...) scales the statue on the left of the path into the town. Upon reaching the top, he intentionally draws the attention of the guard on the wall, who seems shocked to see a human sitting atop a statue's head. The scout stands, balancing arrogantly on the statue's shoulders, and plunging his arrow into the guard's eye. Sadly the next few rounds were misses from both parties... So much so that the remaining dogs were killed and the barbarian finished the poor hound with his crossbow.
The peasants were quite grateful for the rescue, however late it was. The pretty girls all came around to hug and kiss the military men. The barbarian, awkwardly starts slovenly eating and drinking RIGHT as the women approach him, disuading them from further interaction.The villagers offered beds, but our "noble" heroes ignored the offer and started a campfire and pitched tents amongst the dead bodies in the middle of the town... I guess low charisma knows no taboo? After a little healing a short rest, the townsfolk explain that they're being terrorized by a wizard who keeps kidnapping their people and using fell magic to oppress them. A young man insists on leading them to the cave where he resides if they intend to stop him.
Naturally he shares what he knows about their oppressor. Apparently he collects bodies. He is a Necromancer wit many minions. Before parting ways, the young man pats each of them on the shoulder. [horray temporary hit points]
They walk inside the cave mouth and see that the light only extends so far. The ranger says, "oh, I got this guys." After a few moments of rifling through his bag, he realizes he does not in fact have any source of light.
A groan comes from around the corner in the cave...
The barbarian puffs up his chest and steps forward, effectively blocking the narrowing passageway. A human zombie steps out from the darkness, grunting and swinging it's arms. The Barb cuts it down the middle, releasing a terrible black vapor.
Roll a reflex save
Failed
D6 damage.
What???
Another zombie rounds the corner groaning.
Barbarian rushes it and demolishes it. Reflex save. YOU'RE GOOD!
"Ha! Yeah!"
With no more approaching undead, the group decides to delve a little deeper. They try to hide, while the ranger peeks around the corner.
*turn off main light and ranger uses his lighter to illuminate the cavern IRL for a torchlight effect* The cave has torches spread out along the walls and is illuminated enough for most purposes. He sees columns where stalagmites have met stalagmites and several rocky deposits that could be used for cover.
He hears a thud
(I definitely did skeletons differently that they normally are, but I thought it would seem more theatrical)
And another.
You see THIS *show picture of loxo from MM*, but it looks like patches of its flesh are gone.
Him~ I shoot it.
*Hits*
The creature turns toward you. As it creaks its head towards you in a scooping downward motion, the flesh on its entire body doesn't quite liquefy, but appears much like a pot roast that has been cooked too long, all the meat sort of shifts and sloshes down off its frame. It drags it's enormous club behind it while stomping toward you.
Provokes AoO from barbarian. *whack*
[he thinks he does a good amount of damage]
Ha! Loxo skeleton swings and hits. Ranger switches weapons [quickdraw deat] and trips the big booger. It fights from the ground for a while, then a round or two before they kill it, another loxo skeleton comes stomping around in the large cavernous area. It sees the fighting and begins thudding its way toward them, flinging flesh off it's bones with every step. The scout got some shots in on this one, and while someone failed the reflex save and took 3d6, I think they did quite well handling both of them.
A louder moan rises from deeper in the cave. Approaching footsteps alert the group to the presence of something terrifying, just before the light shows him...
A huge zombie war troll hauling a greatsword. The party panics at its size, then collects itself. Our ranger inquires something about tripping it. The scout and I both laugh. I'm grinning huge, eager to end someone's life. They approach it, then stop and prepare themselves. Sort of an "I'll go 90, you go 10..."
It hits for some crazy amount of damage. The barb says WHAT?! He rolls an attack. Ha! 23.
Sorry man... Not quite. Shocked look from him and the scout. Hey at least I took off his armor. Im cackling like a rotten bast.
They exchange blows several rounds with the ranger's wolf attempting to flank, moving 5 ft per round in the limited space. I thought it odd they didn't try to move in to gain cover or simply avoid it at times, but I guess for all they knew there was more waiting for them. Things were looking grim for our heroes.
Cue archibald the archery android.
Warforged comes rounding the corner. Awkward stunted voice ~I'm terribly sorry. These caverns are dangerous. You must be wary~ *fires an arrow that splits and hits the zombie troll.
All, "thank God."
Another round. Everyone is fairly successful. The warforged warns, you must move away swiftly. Ranger takes his turn. I repeat in awkward voice, you must move away. Barb turns to make a run for it, gets downed... Scout pops it with another arrow and the warforged fires 6 arrows that turn the corpse to dust. Ranger failed will save and took 5d6.
They heal up as the wf approaches and encourages them to come with him (wand cure light). Archie approaches the scout and stands a few inches from his face, I lean over in the players face and say ~thank goodNess yOou are alright. You shOUld follOw me now. There WILL be Cake.~
Noticing the barbarian getting up it approaches him, same distance away while speaking. ~OoH I thot you WERE dead.~ barbarian says he kisses the WF on the side of its face. Unwavering, it turns and leads them deeper in the cave. They follow.
They're led into a dark section of the cave and the path swiftly closes behind them. They're in complete darkness.
Munchkin-like voice *meniacal laughter*
Apologetic sounding Archie ~I AM sorrY, he made me do IT~
Described much like the wizard of oz's chambers with green mist and pops and crackles of magic. The room is better illuminated now.
(Naturally someone said something about the cake being a lie)
A small figure overlooks a balcony downward toward them, making some ridiculous threat about killing them or them killing him and him coming right back. I tried to make the character absolutely ridiculous. The cavern appears to have been a place of worship. Some sort of pulpit atop the balcony accessed via stairs on both sides. Archie apologized again and they roll initiate.
Sadly, I think out of the next 5 rounds I landed 1 eldritch blast on the scout who was was antagonizing him. Archie did very little, but the ranger was intent on punishing Archie. Scout climbs a tapestry to the pulpit and fires his arrow several times. We engaged in what could only be described as the slap fight of ranged combat. He finally hit me with his magebane bow. Entropic warding and my 24 AC failed me. I crumpled to the floor and shriveled up... Archie sighs in relief, and while he isn't exactly excited to see his master dead, freedom apparently settled well within him. He promptly retrieved a platter, swept the inches of dust from it, and delivered the promised cake (however stale and devoured).
~we should go~
What?
~we SHUUUD go~
Party, "..."
*cave starts rumbling*
Scout, "we should go!"
As they're rushing back out of the cave, everyone rolled their reflex save except the ranger. Roll fortitude. 27.
A rock falls and hits you on the head as you're stepping outside. You ignore it entirely.
The group decides to return to the hamlet to report their success, but all along the way, Archie's eyes keep turning red while he does some sort of curbside doomsday speech. ~He WILL come BAHCK~
Sure enough, as they're hiking their way back up to the town, a hand reaches to grab the scout's foot. Reflex save.
Cue zombies out from within the walls. They swiftly and easily dispatch the ones they can see. Then as they approach the gates, furious and yearning for sleep, the warlock swoops overhead hovering and cackling. The scout yells, furious. The two begin attempting to shoot each other again, while the barb starts clearing the zombies pouring out of the town, occasionally taking some negative damage. Archie is red-eyed and ranting about his master returning. the ranger decides this has gone on too long and takes it upon himself to wreck the construct. after a few rounds he rips the construct in two. archie, waist down removed, lifts his head. the red fades from the lights in his eyes, and a single tear runs inexplicably down his face. his head falls to the ground. They finally figure out the barb strikes then cleaves, and the ranger just refills his HP as often as he can, with the scout refusing offers of help.
Scout finally hits the warlock out of the sky and he falls just to the right of the entrance.
The scout asks how far down it is. I tell him he can't make it down without taking the road. Just then the barbarian cleaves in the entry to the town. As he swings, I say he loses control of his weapon and momentum drags him 5 feet. His still swinging axe strikes the statue and digs surprisingly deep into it. (The statue is a well-postured man with a sword resting over his shoulder) It begins to topple. The scout looks at me somewhat hopefully. I say, "it's YOUR turn"
He makes a jump check in the 30's and I have him roll 3 balance checks. He aces it! With his hand on the sword to steady himself he rides the statue's back the whole way down. He promptly retrieves his hatchet and goes to work dismembering the halfling warlock.
Back up top, the zombies seem almost entirely subdued until the barbarian gets downed. With one more heal, he's fine and finished off the threat. They both go looking for the scout who......
Meanwhile, the scout hears a loud and familiar noise. He notices another zombie troll approaching. He spends the next several rounds hiding and pulling as many mules out of his survival pouch. He finds another survival pouch on the warlock. I tell him he can try to pull 5 mules out by splitting the item open and ruining it. Just then the troll makes his way out of the trees and sees the scout doing this. With 10 scape goat mules, the scout goes sprinting amongst them as they flee from danger. He says, I'm not staying to fight one of these again. Naturally the zombie war troll starts wrecking mules and the other two see the scout fleeing.
Then it was 1:30 and someone had work in the morning. Ha
Hope y'all got a kick out of reading. I didn't have any epilogue or conclusion. Everyone was just exhausted. They all seemed to enjoy their builds and I'm hoping they got a kick out of the story.
PCs (6th lvl humans)
Scout with a composite shortbow and returning arrow
Barbarian with a battle axe and a temper
Ranger TWFer with a long sword and sickle
Setting:
Our players decided they wanted to be a small special squad assigned to investigate a hamlet that hadn't been heard from in some time. I had them feather fall into the mountainous/hilly region just as the sun was breaking the horizon. The scout rolled the check on the way down to spot a few figures in the town. Some were clearly laid out on the ground with others standing over them. Other than that, the fog was too heavy and distance too great to discern anything more.
It's story time:
The scout and ranger see a road leading to the town just part of a kilometer from where they landed. They quickly made their way to the road and after quite a trek, followed it to the town. Once they reached the base of the hill upon which it stood, they tried a stealthy approach up the winding cliff face path. Peeking over the edge to the next level up, they observed four peasants being herded down the path from the gates by what appeared to be, at first, three sword and board guards. As they grew closer, one of the peasants turned to attack the guard in back. The guard pushed the peasant down over the edge with his shield, leaving no evidence but the scuttling rocks as he bounced occasionally down the cliff side to his death. One of them barked at the culprit. He swiftly responded, "it's not like we have to deliver them alive!"
It was then that our heroes noticed these guards looked somewhat unusual. As the lead guard turned toward the bottom of the path again, their features became more distinct. Anthropomorphic dogs, snarling amongst themselves, while abusing their prisoners. The barbarian's embarrassing stealth check made detection inevitable as the group meandered farther from the village. The gang quickly climbed down and prepared for a small bout. The guards were swift to pursue this new threat, disregarding their fleeing prisoners who were rushing back to their homes. A few arrows and a powerful cleave dispatched the bullies with ease. As they approached the target location, they saw an ungated palisade wall with a statue on either side of the entrance. Now our unit was eager and curious. The barbarian, ranger, and ranger's wolf rushed headstrong past the platformed palisade walls, while the scout simply noted that he probably could not make the shot to down a guard on the wall.
As the barb and ranger reached the entrance to the town, they were horrified to find one of the fleeing peasants pinned by a dog, currently being stripped of his throat. The melee specialists went to work dispatching the vicious guard dogs, but were unable to save many of the peasants.
~meanwhile~
Our scout (who spent two feats for climbing bonuses...) scales the statue on the left of the path into the town. Upon reaching the top, he intentionally draws the attention of the guard on the wall, who seems shocked to see a human sitting atop a statue's head. The scout stands, balancing arrogantly on the statue's shoulders, and plunging his arrow into the guard's eye. Sadly the next few rounds were misses from both parties... So much so that the remaining dogs were killed and the barbarian finished the poor hound with his crossbow.
The peasants were quite grateful for the rescue, however late it was. The pretty girls all came around to hug and kiss the military men. The barbarian, awkwardly starts slovenly eating and drinking RIGHT as the women approach him, disuading them from further interaction.The villagers offered beds, but our "noble" heroes ignored the offer and started a campfire and pitched tents amongst the dead bodies in the middle of the town... I guess low charisma knows no taboo? After a little healing a short rest, the townsfolk explain that they're being terrorized by a wizard who keeps kidnapping their people and using fell magic to oppress them. A young man insists on leading them to the cave where he resides if they intend to stop him.
Naturally he shares what he knows about their oppressor. Apparently he collects bodies. He is a Necromancer wit many minions. Before parting ways, the young man pats each of them on the shoulder. [horray temporary hit points]
They walk inside the cave mouth and see that the light only extends so far. The ranger says, "oh, I got this guys." After a few moments of rifling through his bag, he realizes he does not in fact have any source of light.
A groan comes from around the corner in the cave...
The barbarian puffs up his chest and steps forward, effectively blocking the narrowing passageway. A human zombie steps out from the darkness, grunting and swinging it's arms. The Barb cuts it down the middle, releasing a terrible black vapor.
Roll a reflex save
Failed
D6 damage.
What???
Another zombie rounds the corner groaning.
Barbarian rushes it and demolishes it. Reflex save. YOU'RE GOOD!
"Ha! Yeah!"
With no more approaching undead, the group decides to delve a little deeper. They try to hide, while the ranger peeks around the corner.
*turn off main light and ranger uses his lighter to illuminate the cavern IRL for a torchlight effect* The cave has torches spread out along the walls and is illuminated enough for most purposes. He sees columns where stalagmites have met stalagmites and several rocky deposits that could be used for cover.
He hears a thud
(I definitely did skeletons differently that they normally are, but I thought it would seem more theatrical)
And another.
You see THIS *show picture of loxo from MM*, but it looks like patches of its flesh are gone.
Him~ I shoot it.
*Hits*
The creature turns toward you. As it creaks its head towards you in a scooping downward motion, the flesh on its entire body doesn't quite liquefy, but appears much like a pot roast that has been cooked too long, all the meat sort of shifts and sloshes down off its frame. It drags it's enormous club behind it while stomping toward you.
Provokes AoO from barbarian. *whack*
[he thinks he does a good amount of damage]
Ha! Loxo skeleton swings and hits. Ranger switches weapons [quickdraw deat] and trips the big booger. It fights from the ground for a while, then a round or two before they kill it, another loxo skeleton comes stomping around in the large cavernous area. It sees the fighting and begins thudding its way toward them, flinging flesh off it's bones with every step. The scout got some shots in on this one, and while someone failed the reflex save and took 3d6, I think they did quite well handling both of them.
A louder moan rises from deeper in the cave. Approaching footsteps alert the group to the presence of something terrifying, just before the light shows him...
A huge zombie war troll hauling a greatsword. The party panics at its size, then collects itself. Our ranger inquires something about tripping it. The scout and I both laugh. I'm grinning huge, eager to end someone's life. They approach it, then stop and prepare themselves. Sort of an "I'll go 90, you go 10..."
It hits for some crazy amount of damage. The barb says WHAT?! He rolls an attack. Ha! 23.
Sorry man... Not quite. Shocked look from him and the scout. Hey at least I took off his armor. Im cackling like a rotten bast.
They exchange blows several rounds with the ranger's wolf attempting to flank, moving 5 ft per round in the limited space. I thought it odd they didn't try to move in to gain cover or simply avoid it at times, but I guess for all they knew there was more waiting for them. Things were looking grim for our heroes.
Cue archibald the archery android.
Warforged comes rounding the corner. Awkward stunted voice ~I'm terribly sorry. These caverns are dangerous. You must be wary~ *fires an arrow that splits and hits the zombie troll.
All, "thank God."
Another round. Everyone is fairly successful. The warforged warns, you must move away swiftly. Ranger takes his turn. I repeat in awkward voice, you must move away. Barb turns to make a run for it, gets downed... Scout pops it with another arrow and the warforged fires 6 arrows that turn the corpse to dust. Ranger failed will save and took 5d6.
They heal up as the wf approaches and encourages them to come with him (wand cure light). Archie approaches the scout and stands a few inches from his face, I lean over in the players face and say ~thank goodNess yOou are alright. You shOUld follOw me now. There WILL be Cake.~
Noticing the barbarian getting up it approaches him, same distance away while speaking. ~OoH I thot you WERE dead.~ barbarian says he kisses the WF on the side of its face. Unwavering, it turns and leads them deeper in the cave. They follow.
They're led into a dark section of the cave and the path swiftly closes behind them. They're in complete darkness.
Munchkin-like voice *meniacal laughter*
Apologetic sounding Archie ~I AM sorrY, he made me do IT~
Described much like the wizard of oz's chambers with green mist and pops and crackles of magic. The room is better illuminated now.
(Naturally someone said something about the cake being a lie)
A small figure overlooks a balcony downward toward them, making some ridiculous threat about killing them or them killing him and him coming right back. I tried to make the character absolutely ridiculous. The cavern appears to have been a place of worship. Some sort of pulpit atop the balcony accessed via stairs on both sides. Archie apologized again and they roll initiate.
Sadly, I think out of the next 5 rounds I landed 1 eldritch blast on the scout who was was antagonizing him. Archie did very little, but the ranger was intent on punishing Archie. Scout climbs a tapestry to the pulpit and fires his arrow several times. We engaged in what could only be described as the slap fight of ranged combat. He finally hit me with his magebane bow. Entropic warding and my 24 AC failed me. I crumpled to the floor and shriveled up... Archie sighs in relief, and while he isn't exactly excited to see his master dead, freedom apparently settled well within him. He promptly retrieved a platter, swept the inches of dust from it, and delivered the promised cake (however stale and devoured).
~we should go~
What?
~we SHUUUD go~
Party, "..."
*cave starts rumbling*
Scout, "we should go!"
As they're rushing back out of the cave, everyone rolled their reflex save except the ranger. Roll fortitude. 27.
A rock falls and hits you on the head as you're stepping outside. You ignore it entirely.
The group decides to return to the hamlet to report their success, but all along the way, Archie's eyes keep turning red while he does some sort of curbside doomsday speech. ~He WILL come BAHCK~
Sure enough, as they're hiking their way back up to the town, a hand reaches to grab the scout's foot. Reflex save.
Cue zombies out from within the walls. They swiftly and easily dispatch the ones they can see. Then as they approach the gates, furious and yearning for sleep, the warlock swoops overhead hovering and cackling. The scout yells, furious. The two begin attempting to shoot each other again, while the barb starts clearing the zombies pouring out of the town, occasionally taking some negative damage. Archie is red-eyed and ranting about his master returning. the ranger decides this has gone on too long and takes it upon himself to wreck the construct. after a few rounds he rips the construct in two. archie, waist down removed, lifts his head. the red fades from the lights in his eyes, and a single tear runs inexplicably down his face. his head falls to the ground. They finally figure out the barb strikes then cleaves, and the ranger just refills his HP as often as he can, with the scout refusing offers of help.
Scout finally hits the warlock out of the sky and he falls just to the right of the entrance.
The scout asks how far down it is. I tell him he can't make it down without taking the road. Just then the barbarian cleaves in the entry to the town. As he swings, I say he loses control of his weapon and momentum drags him 5 feet. His still swinging axe strikes the statue and digs surprisingly deep into it. (The statue is a well-postured man with a sword resting over his shoulder) It begins to topple. The scout looks at me somewhat hopefully. I say, "it's YOUR turn"
He makes a jump check in the 30's and I have him roll 3 balance checks. He aces it! With his hand on the sword to steady himself he rides the statue's back the whole way down. He promptly retrieves his hatchet and goes to work dismembering the halfling warlock.
Back up top, the zombies seem almost entirely subdued until the barbarian gets downed. With one more heal, he's fine and finished off the threat. They both go looking for the scout who......
Meanwhile, the scout hears a loud and familiar noise. He notices another zombie troll approaching. He spends the next several rounds hiding and pulling as many mules out of his survival pouch. He finds another survival pouch on the warlock. I tell him he can try to pull 5 mules out by splitting the item open and ruining it. Just then the troll makes his way out of the trees and sees the scout doing this. With 10 scape goat mules, the scout goes sprinting amongst them as they flee from danger. He says, I'm not staying to fight one of these again. Naturally the zombie war troll starts wrecking mules and the other two see the scout fleeing.
Then it was 1:30 and someone had work in the morning. Ha
Hope y'all got a kick out of reading. I didn't have any epilogue or conclusion. Everyone was just exhausted. They all seemed to enjoy their builds and I'm hoping they got a kick out of the story.