A Trip to the Tors.

[kuffeh]

Muttering to himself about elves, Durgean stowed his pipe and glared at the back of the two elves.  What do they think they know about hunting goblins underground that a dwarf doesn't?  If this disrespect continues, there will be words.  Sniffing he could smell the strong stench of goblin coming from the cave, and hear the high pitched cackling of their malformed language.  Slipping the hammer from it's place on his belt, and unloosing the shield from his back, he prepared himself.

(Stealth check: 18 (roll) + 1 (Dex) -5 (Armour) =  14)

Turning the corner, Durgean could see a number of the hated greenskins in the corner playing what appeared to be dice.  Though, he doubted these dice would be from the usual source of animal bone.  Feeling his ancestral hatred rise in his gullet, he charged off after the human and elf.  Whilst not as swift or agile as them, Durgean made up for it in pure might and hatred.  He couldn't help himself, the goblins were no longer surprised, with the Monk slashing left and right, and the drow doing his own damage, he bellowed in hatred at the startled and dying goblins.  His hammer rose and fell like a comet, his thunderous swing being aimed at the melon sized head of the greenskin.  The force of which, would split it wide open.


Initiative: 10 + 1 = 11


Attack roll:  18 + 0
Damage Roll: 2 + 1 (bonus)

[Toastee]

Init Order:
Shadow
Orcana
Zhen
Durgean
Goblins

Both the monks strike their targets with so much force that they are able to shatter their skulls, killing both of their Goblin targets.

Shadows target even has its face forced into the stone floor with considerable drive causing bits of skull and tooth to fly off into all directions.

Orcana is put off slightly by the sheer force of both of the Monks attacks, especially Shadows first blow. This causes her arrow to miss her target and smash into the stone wall behind. (-1 Arrow)

Durgean's strike lands a glancing blow as the Goblin turns his head to watch the arrow fly by and into the wall.

----
1st Round of Combat. COMMENCE.

[dizzypip]

The usual adrenaline rush that came when exerting his martial skills gave an added impetus to Zhens blows. Swinging his kamah with deadly skill he sliced across the back his target and his axe knuckles caved in the gobblins head.

Bits of brain, skull and blood dripping from his weapons zhen just managed to catch sight of Shadows attack. It wasnt the force or ferocity of the attack that surprised him, it was the technique he used. Only a monk knows that, how could a Drow learn that? Stranger and stranger these companions are becoming, still needs caution, but this certainly makes for an interesting development.

"A fellow monk who's a Drow, I need to find out where he laerned those techniques, but I can most likely rule out him being evil." Zhen thought to himself as he quickly surveyed the scene. The dwarf had thundered  in swinging that great hammer like it weighed nothing, the greenskin was lucky to have survived such a forceful blow. Unbelievably Orcana's target seemed to be unharmed.

Not wishing to get in the way of the dwarfs mighty hammer Zhen flicked the gore from his weapons and began a swift advance on the goblin Orcana aimed for, still keeping her line of sight clear.

[cleanrabbit]

Orcana's attention was drawn slightly by the sheer force of Shadow's attack. In the space of a heart-beat he had struck the goblin twice and left nothing but a sack of gore behind and in that same heart-beat Orcana missed with her shot. It skimmed wide by a hair, but she knew it was going to as the bow relaxed in her grip so she quickly discarded her bow at her feet as the arrow shattered on the wall that the goblins were playing against moments earlier.

Within two steps, Orcana had drawn the sword from within it's cane sheath that resided within her quiver as if it too was an arrow ready to be launched at the goblins. Two paces later, as the dwarf's hammer thunked clumsily off it's target, Orcana had picked her target. As she approached the stunned goblin she twisted on her left foot, jumping slightly with the intent to cover the gap just a little quicker to Durgean's target and strike it before it could retaliate.


(Sword Cane attack: 16 (roll) + 1 (bonus) = 17)
(Sword Cane damage if hit: 4 (roll) + 0 (bonus) = 4)

[tom]

Having easily dispatched the goblin and noticing that Zhen, too, had defeated his target, Shadow looked up for another. Noticing that both Zhen and Orcana were covering for the dwarf's clumsy near-miss and going for each of the two remaining greenskins, Shadow decided to move to support Orcana. It was a natural thing to him, having done it many times before. He didn't like the idea of any harm coming to his half-elf companion, and he knew she wasn't the most adept fighter in close quarters. Stepping up to the goblin before Orcana had a chance to reach it, Shadow launched his attack at it.

(Flurry of Blows attack 1: 13 (roll) + 2 (bonus) = 15.)
(Flurry of Blows attack 2: 13 (roll) + 2 (bonus) = 15.)

(Attack 1 damage if hit: 1 (roll) + 3 (bonus) = 4.)
(Attack 2 damage if hit: 2 (roll) + 3 (bonus) = 5.)

[kuffeh]

Releasing his pent up anger from the last few weeks, Durgean realised he had over reached himself. His attack glanced off of the goblin, it managing to get its melon head out of the way of most of the blow. Clutching its hands over it's face and wailing, it was obvious that the hammer had caused some damage but not enough. Before he could return with a back hand, his three companions had taken it upon themselves to help out and cut down the hapless goblin. Looking at the fourth, really rather terrified goblin he took a breath. Weeks of little fighting had sapped his body of its vitaility. He knew that before he could reach the last one, the others would be upon it. He took this time to run through some breathing and mental exercises, to prepare himself for the next greenskins. He will not miss next time.

(Roll = 10 + 0)
(If hit, unlike as it is.  Damage is = 8 + 1)

[dizzypip]

Charging forward confident in his abilities Zhen slashed at the remaining goblin with his kamah quick as a viper, following up with a punch to the face with the axe knuckles.

(Flurry of Blows attack 1: 9 (roll) + 2 (bonus) = 11
)(Flurry of Blows attack 2: 16 (roll) + 2 (bonus) = 18)

(Attack 1 damage if hit: 2 (roll) + 3 (bonus) = 5
(Attack 2 damage if hit: 3 (roll) + 3 (bonus) = 6.)

[Toastee]

Shadow steps into the position and with two quick but solid blows to the face, kills his target dead.

Orcana had moved into attack, but upon seeing Shadow slay her intended target, she ceased in her attack, knowing that if given the chance, she would have hit home.

Zhen misses with his first punch, as the Goblin took one step back, realising what was happening, but before it could even speak break into a run, the Human monks second blow catches it in the left temple with a force that kills the thing dead.

Four dead, unarmoured, Goblin bodies now lay on the floor in the corner of the room you find yourselves in. As you look around notice the two dice that lay still now in the corner. Each dice shows a crudely carved '1' facing up at you.

You get the feeling, that despite the combat, it was quick enough not to have caused any alarm.

-A DC12 Perception check finds two small leather pouches on the bodies of the dead Goblins that contain a total of 1g 23s in silver coins.
-A DC12 Perception check finds a total of 32s scattered on the floor where the Goblins were playing.

[dizzypip]

Seeing the goblin wriggle out of the way, fear giving him an extra burst of movement, Zhens fiest attack whisked through the air. Correcting the difference between his and the goblins movement mid trike stide Zhens second attack connected withhdeadly force. Catching the goblin in the temple, killinh him outright and knocking him back into the wall.

Panting a little from the effort of the short but intense fight Zhen knelt down and cleaned the gore from his weapons on the rags the goblin was wearing. "So, do you think anyone heard? Do you think these goblins ears could be used for the bounty as well? Seeing as how we are ridding the area of these villainous creatures we might as well benefit from the situation?"

Watching the dwarf puffing away, exertion or just annoyance that he hadn't killed one of the hated greenskins? Zhen could tell Shadow and Orcana were used to fighting together, expertly knowing when to help and when to hold off. Watching Orcana retrieve her bow he noted how alm she'd been when her arrow missed, discarding the ranged weapon to get into combat, brave for a long range fighter. Perhaps her human sides mpulsiveness showing through? Either way her nd Durgean seemed more than capable companions.

The Drow, no Shadow, I must get used to calling him by name. He was as deadly as his race was reputed to be, merciless and quick to strike and there seemed to be an anger inside him when dispatching the goblins. Also there was the fighting style.

As he sheathed his weapons Zhen went over to the goblins and began to rummage through the rag like clothing looking for valuables. "So then, how do you guys want to split any loot we find?" Still talking in a whisper Zhen looked up at Shadow "Where did you learn to fight like that Shadow? It's not a common style you used."

-------------------------
Did you want us to roll perception checks to find the loot yeah?
Perception 9+4=13

[cleanrabbit]

Orcana landed heavily on her right foot and turned, twisting her momentum around Shadow as he smashed his fists into her target. She had gotten used to fighting with Shadow in their travels together and was used to being second in line when it came to ripping the ears off some little nasty or other. She whirled her sword around her stomach as she spun her back to Shadow, making sure she didn't accidentally clip him while he was doing his thing, then in one slow move, she returned her sword to it's cane sheath in her quiver and then permitted herself to take a breath.

The fight had been short and sweet. Only a few loud noises to account for, and those were mostly as the goblins died on their feet. Exhaling, Orcana listened to Zhen as he whispered to the group while looking over the corpses at her feet.
(Perception check: 17 (roll) + 7 (bonus) = 24)

"If we split loot based on who kills what, it might get unfair with you two around." Orcana gestured towards her Monk companions as she walked back to her bow that she had so crudely discarded. Picking it up, she examined it for any damage before re-seating it across her chest.

[dizzypip]

"Agreed, how about we just pool it all up and divide it up when we return to Sandpoint?" Drawing a small leather pouch from his robes Zhen slipped the few coins he found inside. "I'll keep the coins in here till we get back to the Rusty Dragon and collect the bounty on the goblins."

Looking up at the group with a grin "So who wants to keep a hold of the ears then?"

[Toastee]

GM NOTE:
Yeah. Basically, when I add stuff with Perception scores, roll Perception.
Generally I'll only write down the easy to find stuff. Anything that I'm hiding from you, or is harder to find, will be shown to you depending on results.

Though, you can call for your own perception rolls at anytime by just adding a roll to your posts. (Though you are never guaranteed to find anything.)

[cleanrabbit]

Orcana hated the idea of letting a total stranger walk around with anything that would rightfully be hers, but he had a point. The loot would never split evenly by chance at each fight, not without cutting up gold pieces. The better option though, would be to take the ears. They were worth 10gp a pair back at Sandpoint, almost four times the coin that Zhen had just pocketed, and if he chose to run with it, he's only increase everyone else's share of the more prized ears!

"I'll take the ears." Orcana says, drawing her sword again from it's place in the quiver. "I'm no stranger to hauling lumps of rotten goblin around."

[tom]

Shadow disliked killing, but he understood its necessity with creatures such as these goblins. Cutting their ears off, however, was not something he was prone to do. He was happy to let his companions deal with it, and was happier still when Orcana offered to carry them. In case the human abandons us... Inspecting the leather cesti around his arms, he was pleased that he didn't have any blood on himself from the fight.

At Zhen's question, he turned his grey, almost pupil-less eyes towards the human and offered him a lighthearted shrug. "Lucky," he said. It would take too long to explain to the likes of you, anyway...

Shadow stood at the ready for now, content to let his companions search the goblins for any treasure they may have had on them.

[Toastee]

GM Note:

Have a map. :3
i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38/Toastee/LebsTorsCave1map_zps46b1bdbf.jpg

[cleanrabbit]

Binding the last of the ears to a piece of string found on one of the now earless Goblins, Orcana looped the string around the nape of her waterproof bag and met Shadow's eyes as she stood back up. "Sorry my friend, I know you don't like that part. It's Tanner's will that all things change, and today these monstrosities gave their lives... and ears, to change ours."

Looking around at her companions, Orcana felt a small wash of pride fall over her. She was with capable, pleasent company and was slowly feeling more comfortable around them.
Perhaps fighting for your life along side total strangers brings about some kind of connection? she thought.

"So, which way now? Straight through? Or by the bed?" She spoke aloud as her attention was drawn towards the pile of straw she assumed was a bed when she first entered.
(Perception check on/around the 'straw bed': 13 (roll) + 7 (bonus) = 20)

[Toastee]

Orcana gives the straw bedding the once over but finds nothing of interest other than the remains of small rodents and the odd bit of linen or leather that added as extra bedding.

[tom]

Shadow looked at the others then to the exits before them. "A guess," he said to them all, and to Orcana, "Both paths look well traveled. Should we split up, or stay together, to investigate?"

[cleanrabbit]

Orcana kicked through the straw bedding, not sure what she would find but was slightly disappointed to find there was nothing more to it. Orcana's ears picked up when Shadow spoke, then drew in her attention entirely when he spoke specifically to her. "Split up? I think we could do with sticking together in case we fall into more of these goblins."


"My vote is the one here, by the bed."

[dizzypip]

Looking around the room and seeing no discernable clue as to which way was best Zhen settled for just maintaining a watchful silence. Waiting for someone yo translate Shadows words.

[cleanrabbit]

Orcana stood by the straw bed and looked back at the party. Shadow clearly didn't care much regardless what we did - that was his style after all, but Zhen, the chatty monk who always had something to say clearly had a frog in his throat over Shadow and Orcana's personal conversation.

"If you don't like us talking privately, just say so." she said to nobody in particular, but from how Zhen tensed, it clearly had the desired effect.

[dizzypip]

"Chatter like songbirds between yourselves for all I mind, as long as anything relevant is passed on I'm good. So youre the tracker, which way?"
With that he returned to watching the doorways and keeping a listen out for any noises.

[kuffeh]

"I vote we stick together. Goblins aren't the best of fighters, as we all know, but when there are ten of them, it only takes one to stab you in the back. We can always come back later to check the other entrance later." With that Durgean wiped the blood off of his hammer with a rag torn from one of the goblins.

[dizzypip]

"I agree with Durgean, if we stick to together there's less chance for things to go wrong. So we stick together and head through the door nearest the bed?" With that Zhen checks his weapons are clean and heads to the doorway, trying to keep any noise to a minimum.

STEALTH: 12+6=18

[cleanrabbit]

(Stealth: 4 (roll) + 6 (bonus) = 10)
"It's settled then, this way?" Orcana said as she stumbled over the bedding on her way to the door, making a little too much noise for everybody's own good. She was through into the corridor before she realized Shadow had stopped and watched her fall over herself on the way out of the room.

[tom]

Shadow was paying attention to Orcana stumble over the bedding as he moved after her to take his customary place by her side. The distraction proved to be disconcerting enough that the drow stubbed his foot on the doorway. He cast an annoyed glare at Orcana and shouldered past her, his eyes looking ahead for any signs of goblins - or worse.

(Stealth check: 4 (roll) + 8 (bonus) = 12.)
(Perception check: 4 (roll) + 9 (bonus) + 1 (GM bonus) = 14.)

-- Player note: I guess my skill checks are making up for my combat rolls...

[kuffeh]

Slowly staggering after the group, it seemed to Durgean the group had used a lot of their energy on a few goblins. The rush of combat was showing, as most of the group stumbled along clumsily. The dwarf was no exception.

(Stealth = 3 + 1 -5 = -1)

player note: - Oh dear...

[Toastee]

Map: i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38/Toastee/LebsTorsCave1map_zps33c9e8eb.jpg

You all make your way up the corridor, and after about 15 feet, it opens up and turns to the right. Ahead of you is a room in which there is a fountain in the centre. There is a slight glow from the fountain.

There appears to be no goblins, or in fact anything else for that matter in this room save for the fountain.

Along the base of the fountain there appears to be runes carved into the stone.

In the fountain itself, you note a selection of silver and gold coins at the bottom. The water looks clean and fresh.

There are two sets of large double doors, made of a sturdy wood, despite the age that they seem to show. Both are shut.

[dizzypip]

Moving carefully into the room, sticking to the edges just in case anything was alerted by the almighty clatter from the dwarf, Zhen went over to check out the huge doors at the other side, directly opposite the corridor.


Perception 6+4=10
Poor rolling for the group continues!

[cleanrabbit]

Orcana was last into the room after loosing her footing again when Shadow shouldered past her. She was kicking herself for being so clumsy - something she generally isn't, but when she turned and saw the room they walked into, she had to double-take. It was certainly not what she expected. This wasn't a cave, this was purposefully built. There was clear evidence of craftsmanship and skill in the carvings on the fountain and the wooden doors looked distinctly harder than she did.
(Perception: 1 (roll) + 7 (bonus) = 8)

Orcana took another moment to look for any signs of passage through the area, worried that this may be a thoroughfare for a lot more nasties.
(Tracking: 16 (roll) + 8 (bonus) = 24)

--------------------
player note: I almost cried when I rolled that 1!