|
Post by Toastee on Aug 3, 2013 15:44:37 GMT
Sunday 13th Abadius, 4707 (Morning) -Sandpoint
The three of you head out via the north gate of the town. You are told that once you pass both Shanks Wood and Tickwood, then you should have the first set of the Tors in sight. You also told its its about 3 miles to the first of the Tors, but around the 2 and half mile mark there is a trail that runs off of the Lost Coast Road, and runs down in-between the Tors and the Devils Platter, and up along the Turandarok River.
It takes you about an hour to reach the point where the trail leads off of the main road, and although there is a chill in the air, the Sun is managing to beat back the clouds.
You wander up the trail and come to the first of the three Tors, Lebs Tors, the largest set of the three, and even from where you currently stand, you can pick out many different cave entrances, the first of which only seems to be about 200 yards from where you are. It looks to have an easy route up to it.
PC's Shadow Orcana Zhen Durgean
|
|
|
Post by cleanrabbit on Aug 4, 2013 9:05:38 GMT
Orcana eyed the cave entrances all around. There were several visible here though she knew there would be dozens - if not hundreds - more all throughout the tors.
Shadow and Zhen had remained mostly silent on the trip out, neither one speaking much and that helped put Orcana at ease as they traveled but they would soon have to discuss the task ahead, at least in a little more detail, and discuss what should happen in case they encountered anything hostile.
Orcana comes to a halt and crouches by the route to the closest cave, her companions stopping to observe what she was doing. She takes a moment to read the ground, searching for any tracks that would indicate the cave being occupied.
(Tracking check: 12(wis) + 8(roll) = 20.)
|
|
|
Post by Toastee on Aug 4, 2013 10:24:51 GMT
Orcana, you notice that there are about five different cave entrances within about 400 yards of you, though the nearest, and easiest to get to, is still the one thats a about 200 yards away.
Of those five, only two seem to have small footed tracks that lead to them. You eye the tracks and suspect that they were made my Goblin feet, though its hard to gauge numbers.
The first cave that has had movement is the one 200 yards away to the North East, the first one that you saw.
The second, is on that is even closer to you, at around 100 or so yards, to the South East. The path to it looks safe and easy to get to.
|
|
tom
New Member
Posts: 86
|
Post by tom on Aug 4, 2013 14:54:57 GMT
Shadow eyed the cave entrances grimly. So many to check... He could imagine that it was quite easy for someone to get lost in these caves and never return. The drow wondered how many adventurers had set out and did exactly that. Shaking off the thought, he glanced at Zhen then nodded to Orcana.
"Find anything?"
|
|
dizzypip
New Member
A plague upon both your houses biatches!!
Posts: 82
|
Post by dizzypip on Aug 4, 2013 17:54:14 GMT
The trek to the Tors had been largely uneventful and for the most part silent. The silence didn't bother Zhen, it gave him time to think and observe. For all that Orcana and Shadow were travelling companions they rarely conversed, sometimes seeming a little strained.
"Do we know roughly where to start or is it down to Lady Luck? "
Still too early to tell what the drow was planning, what his motives where. Orcana likewise was hard to fathom, on the one hand she seemed infuriated, frustrated by the drow and on the other a little awed. Fearing him? Strange, but no overtly evil action or gesture is making me reassess this situation.
"So, which way do you suggest Orcana?"
|
|
|
Post by cleanrabbit on Aug 4, 2013 19:24:30 GMT
"North East is the obvious choice," Orcana said, turning, looking at the sky a moment to try and judge the weather and wind direction before returning to looking at the tracks on the ground. "But South East, " She says as she points in the direction the tracks lead, "is the better option."
Orcana was locked into 'ranger mode' as she called it. The mental state that ignored people and focused on survival. Her attention was focused on the small tracks in the ground, the damage to foliage, the sound of the woodland wildlife. "South-east is closer, quite possibly less inhabited and by the looks of the weather it didn't flood in the storm we just had. We should move slow though, just in case we stumble over something."
|
|
dizzypip
New Member
A plague upon both your houses biatches!!
Posts: 82
|
Post by dizzypip on Aug 5, 2013 17:58:56 GMT
Seeing a different side to the half elf, more focused and confident than normal gave Zhen a little bit more confidence in this endeavour. Looking at the surroundings gave Zhen next to no idea where to start so he was more than happy to listen to Orcana. At least she seemed to know what she was on about. "Well then, as you seem sure on this I suppose we should start there then. First we need to establish what we are trying to achieve here. We can all handle ourselves against common monsters no doubt, but there is a good chance there might be something more dangerous out there. No harm in taking care, scouting it out and returning with more numbers if needed
|
|
tom
New Member
Posts: 86
|
Post by tom on Aug 5, 2013 18:27:26 GMT
"Any signs of what might be slaying the livestock?"
Shadow trusted Orcana's tracking skills. She had not led them astray before and had done well enough for the both of them to allow the pair to survive this long without staying in any villages. He wasn't sure about the dwarf and human accompanying them, or their motives. The drow was keenly aware of the human keeping an eye on him. This only annoyed Shadow further. It would be better if he kept his eyes on the wilds... that is where the danger lies. He had little control over the situation, though, so he did his best to ignore it.
|
|
|
Post by cleanrabbit on Aug 5, 2013 18:42:15 GMT
Orcana instinctively translated Shadow's question before answering: "He asked about livestock. There's no tracks to suggest it walked in here on it's own legs," Orcana knelt closer to a the tracks most obviously visible to her trained eyes, "and the tracks don't suggest that anything heavy was carried here either." She stood, re-seated her bow across her chest and brought her sword-cane to the fore. "I doubt the livestock came this way by any means, but it doesn't mean we won't find other clues."
Orcana moved silently through the brush in stark contrast to the noisy dwarf and mouth-breathing monk that brought up the rear of their party. She was aware the two outsiders distrusted Shadow, but they were being a little too blunt about 'keeping an eye on him'. So much so she felt their lack of attention to the here and now may cause more harm than good.
|
|
tom
New Member
Posts: 86
|
Post by tom on Aug 5, 2013 19:05:21 GMT
Shadow moved at Orcana's heels, as silent as she was. He had many years of practicing the way of stealth, and the time he had spend with the ranger had only honed his skills. His eyes and ears were alert as they approached the maze of caves. He was paying special attention to anything that might be off about their chosen path.
(Perception check: 20 (roll) + 9 (bonus) = 29)
|
|
|
Post by cleanrabbit on Aug 5, 2013 19:19:02 GMT
On the approach to the caves, Orcana's eyes were scanning the terrain in front of every footstep, satisfied that Shadow was doing the same and the two newcomers were at least a few steps behind every footfall. Her attention monitored anything abnormal ahead and around as the neared the caves.
(Perception check: 13 (roll) + 7 (bonus) = 20)
|
|
|
Post by Toastee on Aug 5, 2013 19:38:45 GMT
As you approach the South East, you begin to notice more and more muddy Goblin sized footprints. The cave entrance itself looks to be natural.
Shadow also hears the faint noises echoing from the walls of the cave that sound like footfalls.
GM Note: Shadow, due to your clarity, you are allowed a +1 bonus to your next Perception Check.
The cave entrance looks to be a normal cave, but those of you who have better vision, can tell that at the back of the cave, there is an opening that looks to have been carved out of the stone, and there looks to stairs that lead down into the darkness.
|
|
tom
New Member
Posts: 86
|
Post by tom on Aug 5, 2013 19:43:54 GMT
Narrowing his eyes, Shadow laid a hand on Orcana's shoulder. It was a silent communication that said "pause." Looking back at their companions, he spoke instead to the ranger. "You see the footprints? Goblins... I can also hear them further on in the cave. Best warn the loud ones." His words were soft, lest they give the creatures below any cause to check the surface.
|
|
|
Post by cleanrabbit on Aug 5, 2013 19:48:53 GMT
Orcana instinctively stopped when Shadow's hand fell on her shoulder. To be certain, she turned to face Zhen and Durgean and raised her hand to signal a stop which the pair quickly understood. She allowed Shadow to take the next few steps ahead while she eased her bow from across her chest and held it in place of the sword cane which was now seated in her quiver.
"Goblins." She spoke so softly the others struggled to make out her words. "Be Silent." She turned and followed Shadow into the cave just as he had followed her thus far.
|
|
dizzypip
New Member
A plague upon both your houses biatches!!
Posts: 82
|
Post by dizzypip on Aug 5, 2013 19:54:03 GMT
Noticing the drow stiffen and orcanas alertness Zhen cleared his mind, focusing entirely on his breathing and movement moving as silently and stealthily as possible.
STEALTH CHECK 14+6=20
|
|
|
Post by cleanrabbit on Aug 5, 2013 20:01:10 GMT
"How many can you hear Shadow?" Orcana whispered under the wind to Shadow as they stepped inside the cave towards the dark staircase at the back.
|
|
tom
New Member
Posts: 86
|
Post by tom on Aug 5, 2013 20:45:19 GMT
Shadow cocked his head to the side, listening. The echoes below them made it difficult for him to pick up any specific numbers. It could be five and it could be many more. Shaking his head slightly, he spoke softly to the group this time.
"More than us."
|
|
dizzypip
New Member
A plague upon both your houses biatches!!
Posts: 82
|
Post by dizzypip on Aug 5, 2013 23:07:12 GMT
Moving silently forward a little ways and speaking barely above a whisper, trusting the keen hearing of Shadow and Orcana "You two first, your eyesight I'd better in the dimness, ok? "
|
|
|
Post by Toastee on Aug 6, 2013 17:16:14 GMT
GM Note: Can everyone roll stealth checks please if you are all trying to be quiet. Everyone apart from Zhen of course.
|
|
tom
New Member
Posts: 86
|
Post by tom on Aug 6, 2013 18:47:49 GMT
(Stealth check: 4 (roll) + 8 (bonus) = 12. Could have been worse )
|
|
|
Post by cleanrabbit on Aug 6, 2013 19:03:03 GMT
As Shadow continued his approach to the stairs at the back of the cave, Orcana fell into step behind him. (Stealth check: 7 (roll) + 7 (bonus) = 14) Orcana matches Shadow's steps perfectly, landing her feet as he lands his to reduce any residual noise she creates as she moves. She was immediately aware that Zhen was moving far faster and quieter than both her and Shadow, but he'd have to live with it as they were the ones that could see. She looked over her shoulder to see where Durgean was.
|
|
|
Post by Toastee on Aug 7, 2013 14:22:56 GMT
The four of you manage to make your way down the stairs and into the darkness. Once at the bottom of the stairs, you slowly enter into a square room of about 40 ft by 40 ft. In the far left corner there seems to what can only be a mass of soft straw which looks like something of a make shift bed.
In the far right corner, four small, green skinned creatures that would stand barely three feet tall if it wasn't for the fact that they were hunched down in the corner yelling and cheering and throwing small cube like objects into the corner wall.
They do not notice you.
There are two corridors that lead out of the room. The first is directly opposite you, next to the Goblins. The second is to your left, not too far from the makeshift bed of straw and dried foliage.
|
|
|
Post by cleanrabbit on Aug 7, 2013 14:30:21 GMT
Orcana spots the goblins before she reaches the bottom step. Instinctively, she slides an arrow from her quiver as quietly as possible and draws it back on her longbow, hoping the noise from the greenskins would drowned the sound of strained wood and line.
|
|
|
Post by Toastee on Aug 7, 2013 14:35:50 GMT
There is a rather joyful cheer from one of the Goblins after having just thrown the cubes against the wall. Another punches the cheering one in the arm and you hear what you can only assume in a whiney 'Oowwwwww.'
The one that punched the other picks up the cubes and throws them against the wall.
|
|
tom
New Member
Posts: 86
|
Post by tom on Aug 7, 2013 14:40:56 GMT
Shadow narrowed his eyes at the goblins in the corner. Looking back at Zhen and Durgean, he nodded at them then towards the greenskins. He knew that the dwarf would want to attack them, and he also knew that the dwarf in his armor wouldn't be able to sneak by unnoticed. Tightening his fists, he stepped in front of Orcana and to the side so as not to obstruct her aim.
|
|
dizzypip
New Member
A plague upon both your houses biatches!!
Posts: 82
|
Post by dizzypip on Aug 7, 2013 15:02:42 GMT
Acknowledging Shadow's signal Zhen donned his axe knuckles and drew his Kamah in preparation. Following Shadow's movement, keeping out of Orcana's line of sight, Zhen focussed on the goblins and began a slow advance.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Question: Is our previous Stealth roll still in effect or do we require a new one as we sneak up on Gobbo's? If new is required here's mine STEALTH:10+6=16
|
|
|
Post by Toastee on Aug 7, 2013 15:05:06 GMT
GM NOTE: Yes, it is. If you wish to attack now you can roll Int and you'll all get a Surprise Attack round where you all get to attack the Goblins before the first round of Combat.
|
|
dizzypip
New Member
A plague upon both your houses biatches!!
Posts: 82
|
Post by dizzypip on Aug 7, 2013 15:10:16 GMT
Suprise Attack 11(roll)+1(Modifier)=12 PASS (INT12) INITIATIVE Check 13(Roll)+2(Modifier)=15
Looking to take the Goblins by surprise Zhen singles out the nearest one, still keeping out of Orcana's line of sight, and begins to increase his speed to strike.
Kamah (Flurry of Blows attack 1: 14 (roll) + 2 (bonus) = 16) damage 4+3 Axe Knuckles (Flurry of Blows attack 2: 11 (roll) + 2 (bonus) = 13.) damage 3+3
|
|
tom
New Member
Posts: 86
|
Post by tom on Aug 7, 2013 15:53:05 GMT
(Initiative check: 19 (roll) + 4 (bonus) = 23.)
Shadow crept towards the goblins at Zhen's side, keeping his body between the group and Orcana. It was a familiar style for the two, though it threw him off guard to have additional allies around him. Seeing that Zhen was going for the nearest goblin, the drow moved towards the second closest, intending to pummel it by surprise.
(Flurry of Blows attack 1: 19 (roll) + 2 (bonus) = 21, cestus critical hit = 2x damage.) (Flurry of Blows attack 2: 13 (roll) + 2 (bonus) = 15.)
(Attack 1 damage if hit: 5 (roll) + 3 (bonus) = 8 x 2 (critical) = 16 damage.) (Attack 2 damage if hit: 3 (roll) + 3 (bonus) = 6 damage.)
|
|
|
Post by cleanrabbit on Aug 7, 2013 16:54:47 GMT
(Initiative check: 12 (roll) +3 (bonus) = 15)
Orcana allowed her allies a moment to get close enough to the group while taking a steady aim on the one furthest from everyone. Targeting the one at the back allowed everyone else with hand weapons to get up close with the others without hindrance.
As Zhen and Shadow threw their first blows, Orcana let loose her first arrow.
(Longbow Attack: 7(roll) + 4(bonus) = 11) (Longbow Attack Damage if hit: 3(roll) +0(bonus) = 3 damage)
|
|