DM
Following the goblins' trail, you come across a large cave in a hillside five miles from the scene of the ambush. A shallow stream flows out of the cave mouth, which is screened by dense briar thickets. A narrow dry path leads into the cave on the right hand side of the stream.
Kriv
Ever the pragmatist, Kriv unslung his pack, and began rooting around for his torches, his flint, and tinder.
"Is anyone likely to have a hand free to light the way, or would it be better to tie these in place somewhere about our person?"
Chandan
He gawps at the stream and cave, then shakes his flagon. Empty.
He throws it over his shoulder and speaks up. "Fortune smiles, Kriv Norixius. One hand just become free!"
Karok
"Who else can see without the torches? Perhaps we could go in first without the torches and other follow back at a distance?"
Davroar
He shakes his head no at Karok's question. But while he can not see in the dark, lighting torches is a simple cantrip for him as he says, "Save your tinder Kriv, I can light and douse the torches easily enough."
Kriv
He passed a torch over to Chandan, then repacked the remainder, and his firestarting tools, at Davroar's comment.
"Whilst one or two of us may be able to see in the gloom, all of the vermin can. Better to even the odds: We don't want our lead element cut off and isolated, two facing a dozen."
Jaliera
"I have sharp eyes but not in the dark."
She shakes her head, emphasising her words.
"I think I should swap to my rapier before we go in. With the darkness and confined spaces I think it will be better than my bow."
She changes weapon.
Kallista
"I can see in the dark", she says quietly, indicating quiet to the others in case their voices carry to the cave.
Davroar
Keeping his voice down at Kallista's warning he looks at the cave entrance while saying, "I'm wondering if we could lure a lesser number of them out here? Or at least closer to the exit."
Exactly how to do that he is not sure. His knowledge of goblins is limited, and is not sure just what would tempt a goblin to investigate a noise or smell.
"I can create a natural occurring smell or noise. I just don't know what would work to catch a goblin's curiosity enough that it wouldn't holler for help right away."
Kriv
He considered what might appeal to Goblin sensibilities, turning to regard the human. Quietly, he deliberated,
"The sound of a young animal in distress, like a lamb or kid with its leg trapped. Something relatively local if possible. Perhaps with a hint of the smell of fresh-spilt blood."
Jaliera
She considers the option, then whispers to the others.
"If we can try to whittle the numbers down that would be a good idea. I like Davroar's idea. But we should find ambush positions before enacting it. I might take up my bow again."
She looks around for hiding places or maybe even a tree to fire from.
"Perhaps we could smoke them out..?"
Smoke.. not fire.. she tells herself.
Chandan
Licking his dry lips, he considers the cave mouth and their reason for being here. He's starting to feel wizened and insensible again, but perhaps amongst the plunder in a goblin's cave would be a few envigorating beverages.
"It is said that 'mouths of caves talk carelessly'.
"One cry from the goblins outside would be carried to the goblins inside, and then what becomes of their captives?
"Perhaps our only choice is in speed and stealth. The way of the leopard."
Davroar
With their recent experience of just how powerful surprise is, he has to agree with Chandan.
"Ahh, right... no way we can tell for sure what a goblin or two will do if we get its attention."
His idea has its merits, but now thinking about it, it makes more sense to keep the situation in their control instead of guessing how the goblins would react to any sort of stimuli he could produce.
He nods in agreement with Chandan's advice, "Bad idea, should have thought it through better."
Chandan
He places a hand on the young druid's shoulder and holds up the torch for lighting.
"Meh, an idea is just a spark, Davroar.
"If it doesn't catch, maybe it's not the spark but damp tinder."
Jaliera
Well she is glad she supported Davroar anyway. She hasn't anything more to add but decides to stay with her rapier for now. A little shiver runs down her spine. Too many fire references for her liking.
DMEven as the group discusses ways of getting the drop on the goblins, they find themselves under attack by some goblins that had been hiding behind the briars. Their first glimpse of the goblins comes as an arrows whiz by both Kallista and Kriv. As lucky as those two were having not been hit, Chandan isn't. He winces in pain as the third goblin arrow strikes true.
The goblins were hidden behind the briars and continue to take cover there.
Goblin group stealth Neptune rolled 1d20+6,1d20+6,1d20+6 and got 21, 16, 20
G1,G2,G3 Targets ADGKNZ Neptune rolled 1d6,1d6,1d6 and got 6, 1, 5
G1 Attacks Kallista Neptune rolled 1d20+4 and got 10
G2 Attacks Kriv Neptune rolled 1d20+4 and got 11
G3 Attacks Chandan Neptune rolled 1d20+4 and got 23
Chandan takes 5 pts damage.
The goblins have 75% cover where they are. I placed the party close enough so that some of the fighters have a chance to enter hand-to-hand melee. We will use a tactical map for this melee and probably every other combat going forward. It just feels right to me.
Please roll for initiative
Kallista
Her head snaps around as an arrow wizzes past and she follows it's path back to the woods to their right, across the stream.
With no cover readily at hand, she decides her best course is to move across the stream, to the open area on the other side to see if she can get a better view of the Goblins (intending to move up and cross the stream heading to the square 2 north of Goblin #1. I believe that'll be within her move, assuming the stream is difficult terrain). She naturally will attack as well.
Kallista initiative
Zeim rolled 1d20+2 and got 17
OK, adding results.
Kallista Eldritch Blast/Damage
Zeim rolled 1d20+5,1d10 and got 6, 8 (clear miss)
Karok Battlehammer
The first arrow was all he needed to spur to action. with shield before him, he charged around the briars towards the goblins. (Will attack #1 given the chance.)
Initiative Roll: D20-1 = 18
Anger fuels Karok's short strides as he reaches the Goblins first.
Karok Swings Warhammer at Goblin #1
Nivek rolled d20+6 and got 24 (Assume hit?)
Karok Damage vs Goblin
Nivek rolled d8+4 and got 10
I'm assuming that drops him. If not, I might add my second attack thingy.
[ooc: Pissed off dwarf with attitude, be wary ;)]
Kriv
The arrow gets his attention, and he focuses his ire upon the source. Although he had been against taking the rest, it had given him a chance to get his breath back, and here were a pack of vermin closely set together. It was time to smoke them out of cover, dragon style. He strode forward and exhaled...
Kriv Initiative
AJ rolled 1d20+1 and got 12
Move: One square southeast into the stream, to be 15ft from the line of goblins. Flame breath, 15ft cone of fire, covering all three.
Kriv Firebreathing
AJ rolled 2d6 and got 4
Dex save DC11 half
Jaliera
She retreats a little, drawing her bow as she does so and taking aim as soon as she is able.
Initiative 1d20+3 = 13
The party members will undoubtedly all have initiative but we need the initiative rolls who gets where on the map on their turn.
Goblin Initiative Neptune rolled 1d20+2 and got 3
I know that Zeim's heading out soon so why don't you all add your attack now. Just edit your posts. Goblins are AC 15. Anyone shooting through cover is -5 to hit. They have 7 hit points each. Have at 'em!
Missed!
Attack 1d20+5 = 14, Damage 1d6+3 = 8
(OOC - As Neptune pointed out in the Z thread, on the topic of avoiding meta-gaming, since I am running the same module I know all the details. Therefore there are things I cannot say or suggest the group does. For example I knew there were Goblins in the woods, but I could not suggest we look there. So, as we go along, if anyone has any suggestions for things Kallista might do just put them into a post.)
[OOC: Kallista might want to give us all her money
]
Davroar
He was about to laugh at Chandan's comments about his 'damp' idea when the goblin's arrows whistle by them.
Reaching for his quarterstaff, he will rush the middle goblin to close the distance and forcing it into melee, jabbing with his staff.
Initiative = 11, to hit = 14, damage = 1
[Initiative 5. Attack 24, Damage 7, not that any will be left by the time he gets there!]
Chandan
The arrow thunked into his shoulder blade, causing Chandan's eyes to boggle.
He follows the others in the fray, hopping across stones in the stream, across the far bank and lunging through the thicket to attack with his spear.
DMKarok races through the stream and even though his legs are short, he's the first to greet these goblins with a warhammer to the face. The impact sends the goblin flying to the side, it's skull crushed in.
Kallista slides in behind the dwarf and shoots bolts of arcane energy at the next goblin but her aim is off and the goblin is able to avoid her attack.
Jaliera tries to spot one of the goblins through the briars and lets an arrow fly but her projectile misses the mark too.
Kriv then steps in the spot which had previously been occupied by the goblin whose brain was pulverized my Karok. The dragonborn opens his mouth and breathes a cone of fire at the two remaining goblins. The goblin that had avoided Kallista's eldrich blast also manages to avoid the full force of Kriv's breath but fire dances on the skin of both goblins.
G1,G2 Dex save DC11 vs Krivs breath weapon Neptune rolled 1d20+2,1d20+2 and got 19, 8Davroar moves into the fray and tries to wack a goblin with hi quarterstaff but it just misses the elusive goblin.
Finally Chandean hops over the stones and finds a good spot to attack from. His spear finds and kills one of the goblins.
Only one is alive now and even though it has no way to escape, it doesn't back down. Davroar is right in front of it and so it tries to skewer him as it growls fiercely. The goblin slashes the Rashemi man of nature with it's scimitar which cuts a deep gash across his gut.
G3 attacks Davroar with scimitar Neptune rolled 1d20+4 and got 22 - 5 pts damage
1 goblin left and he has 3 hit points. Karok goes followed by Kallista. If either hit, it dies. Or, if you choose to do something other than to kill it, let me know.
Karok Battlehammer
Karok had never been one to enjoy chatting up goblins, so he steps forward with one intent. His swing missed the remaining goblin, perhaps just a bit too eager to end this.
Karok steps forward, attack Goblin #3
Rolled D20+6 = 12 - Miss
Kallista
Reaching for her Infernal link she once again fires a bolt of eldritch energy at the remaining Goblin.
Kallista Eldritch Blast
Zeim rolled d20+5,d10 and got 14, 6
Davroar
Getting hurt again, he will adopt a purely defensive posture hoping that the others will kill the last goblin quickly before it has a chance for a second strike.
Chandan
With the last of the goblin ambushers crackling and crisping, the old man turns to look at Davroar.
"Goblins really not like you." He gestures to the arrow in his own back, "I think this one even meant for you."
Jaliera
She peers through the bushes arrow still ready to fire. Searching for a target. It does seem to have died down, so she changes her direction of focus to the cave mouth, watching for any movement there.
Kriv
He kept a weather eye all about for any more ambushers, swinging his maul at the last extant goblin.
Kriv Finishing off the last goblin
AJ rolled 1d20+5 and got 9
"I think it's fair to say they know we're here. Let's go in and 'announce ourselves' properly."
DM
The goblin darts and dodges the various attacks from the party and manages to escape further harm under severe duress. He is starting to feel high and mighty and decides to take out the mean fire-breathing dragon man. It slashes at Kriv with his scimitar but misses.
G3 Attacks Kriv Neptune rolled 1d20+2 and got 12
[I thought Kallista killed it??]
[It was shooting a bow right? How'd it get AC15 without a shield?]
No. He was using his scimitar. See this post Kallista
Once more she fires a bolt of Infernal energy.
Kallista Eldritch Blast
Zeim rolled d20+5,d10 and got 17, 3
Karok Battlhammer
"Don't you move away from Karok Battlehammer, you smelly little bugger. " he said swinging at the goblin as he stepped past the dwarf.
Karok Attack Goblin #3
Nivek rolled d20+6 and got 8
[ooc: Shifty bugger]
Kriv
The look of disgust mingled with disdain on his scaled features, as the vermin swung its disreputable blade at him. The only possible answer was crushing the thing's skull with his maul.
Kriv Ending the Goblin
AJ rolled 1d20+5 and got 15
Kriv Damage, GWF rerolls 1s, 2s
AJ rolled d6,d6 and got 6, 2
Kriv GWF reroll
AJ rolled d6 and got 3
6+3+3 12 damage
DM
Between Kallista and Kriv, the fierce goblin is finally dispatched. Light will be needed for those who cannot see in the dark if you are to venture inside the cave.
Kriv
Inhuman eyes roved over Davroar, noting the mark the scimitar had left in passing.
"Are you in fit condition to light Chandan's torch and continue, or do you need a moment to see to that injury first?"
[Sorry Nep, not meant in a rules lawyer way, more about learning 5e rules. Frex, I didn't know the rules on swapping weapons, but they could be quite useful for Chandan and Jalleira.
Your OOC post was a nice explanation of it.]
No prob. I didn't take it that way. It was a fair question and I dropped the ball by not making it clearer.
Davroar
"I don't want to hold you up anymore than necessary, Kriv. Here..."
The wound hurts, but it is not enough that he can't do a simple cantrip to light the torches for everyone. A simple word and a quick gesture will bring the torches alight.
Using the same shirt from yesterday, he sits down to apply pressure hoping to stop the bleeding.
"Go on ahead. Leave a mark on the walls for me to follow, and I'll catch up soon as I can."
Jaliera
The others seem to be starting to make a move - apart from Davroar who sits down. Still with half an eye on the cave entrance, bow in hand, Jaliera crosses the stream to rejoin the others.
"You are hurt." She states the obvious, looking down at Davroar but there is concern in her voice.
She looks at the others.
"We should go together."
Karok Battlehammer
He looks back at the large young man.
"No lad, you be coming with us now. We don't leave nobody behind and we can't wait." he said touching a hand to his wound as he called upon the power of his God.
Cast Cure Wounds on Davroar
Nivek rolled d8+3 = 7
"There, that should do you. Now up with you. We have a friend to save." he said offering the larger man his hand in getting him to his feet.
Did I give you guys experience points before? For this encounter you all get 25. For the last one you got 50.
Kriv
He nodded at Karok's actions, then took his place in the vanguard.
"We advance together, we retreat together if necessary. Vermin prey upon the isolated, the weak and the vulnerable. Don't become their prey, and don't let any of the rest of us go that way either. If we're all set, torch lit, then form up and in we go."
[OOC Thanks for the points!]
Jaliera
Feeling better now that Davroar is healed and they are sticking together, she swaps her bow for her rapier and prepares to move in with the others.
Chandan
He watches Davroar light the torch with awe, and nods in gratitude.
And then Chandan falls in line with the rest of the party, venturing into the gloom.