Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver!

Quote from valeskah >>

Daphyra also looks a little unsure about the doublecrossing idea and nods at Marten's response. 

She also nods at Nosam's suggestion to head out. "Yes, let's get on our way. Before we arrive, would it be best to give Marten the goddess's blessing for vigilance? Or Berry? And who will miss out on the goddess's other gift of seeing in the darkness? I will seek Bastet's blessing just before we enter the cave.”

 Kiselina likewise grunts an approval sound at Marten’s disention against a double cross, even against goblins or other unsavory actors. The tenants of Bahamut forbid such actions for a knight of honor  

Quote from cyreon >>

"I'd say, the one that needs to go in first should be the one blessed for a quick reaction. Perhaps, Nosam, Kiselina or me."

Quote from willow_ivyleaf >>

vidruth considers something "perhaps whoever recieves the blessing for quick reaction should be someone who already reacts quickly? that way we ensure they are fast enough to deal with problems as they arise"

Quote from Ben_Evolent>>

"But maybe you should take the blessin' of vig'lance, Mistress?  Or Vidruth?  If y're tryin' to cast a spell that affects the whole room, it's probably best to do that before Kiselina, Nosam, and Berry are all mixed in with the enemies."

 Kiselina takes in all the input as he sharpens the blade of his halberd. Some excellent scheming by the group. He says nothing about any of it though. His thoughts are his own. He does observe Sildar for reactions when the group mentions his name or references him.  Like the others he worries for the fighter’s safety, but probably puts a little more regard into his capability. The Paladin admires Sildar’s resilience and grants him the benefit of the doubt that he is more than capable of accomplishing those things he’s determined to achieve. 

Rain clouds swirl overhead and lightning flashes in the distance. A sudden whooshing breeze announces the coming storm, shaking a few leaves and loose branches from the trees which try in vain to hold onto their bounty of summer foliage as autumn nears.

Sildar nods thoughtfully at your plans. “You echo my thoughts, though I know your capabilities not well.” But as you prepare to leave the lean-to, he seems withdrawn, at first, a wave of fatigue seems to wash over him. But he seems to shake it off, takes a deep breath, and is ready to join you. He takes a few steps to the edge of the small clearing facing the rock ledge.

“And yet… I am troubled. For, something occurs to me.” He turns to face you. “Klarg. He kept a pet wolf, did he not? The rain has only just begun, leaving our tracks from yesterday… and he is a vengeful, cunning foe. Do you think it possible that with the wolf’s sense of smell at his disposal, he could have…”

Perhaps it was some keen subconscious sense at the back of Hallwinter’s mind, held in check by his recent torture and captivity, that lent him the insight to know what was occurring without lending him the corollary energy to act upon it in time. For what interrupts his train of thought, with incredible suddenness, is the very subject of his warning. The hairy, muscular form of Klarg himself leaps from the top of the lean-to, and his huge club whistles through the air, slamming into Sildar. The bodyguard, recovering his senses at the last moment, raises up his borrowed shield (we will say this is the goblin shield that Nosam picked up following your battle with the goblins just outside the cave), just fast enough to avoid being broken utterly by the capricious blow, but still he is knocked into the air and thrown straight back against the lean-to’s stone wall.

“Klarg will drink you blood and Cragmaw rule the hills!!!,” the bugbear roars, his eyes wide and glaring like huge, red-veined eggs on the front of his fanged face, as goblin arrows whistle from the trees, followed by their trilling war cries, and a huge wolf leaps to the attack, barking fearsomely.

(OOC:

What I’ve been describing as a lean-to is in fact a natural structure formed under a rock overhang. It looks like this:

Here is a battlemap:

Note that the area drawn black I4, I5, I6 to P4, P5, P6, is bi-level. You are on ground level under the overhang. The overhang is 15’ up. Any creatures there will be shown with a 15’ tag on their marker. At the moment since you are all under the overhang, you cannot see over the lip of the lean-to.

There is a firepit in front of the lean-to, which has been carefully doused by you.

You hear more goblins than are depicted. 

Since you were getting ready to go, you are completely equipped with shields, armor, etc.

Round 1 (part 1)

The goblins have the initiative! 

Klarg attacked Sildar.

The wolf has moved into place and is dodging.

Five archers take shots at you and then hide behind trees for ¾ cover.

Goblin 1 attacks Berry: 9 to hit / 8 piercing damage. 

Goblin 2 attacks Daphyra: 9 to hit / 4 piercing damage. 

Goblin 3 attacks Nosam: 21 to hit / 7 piercing damage. 

Goblin 4 attacks Kiselina: 13 to hit / 6 piercing damage.

Goblin 5 attacks Marten: 12 to hit / 3 piercing damage.

You may post Round 1 actions in any order.

Quote from DandDSince1973 >>

You hear more goblins than are depicted. 

 

(OOC: Klarg and the Wolf are visible, but to target any of the opponents labelled with a "?", we need to beat their stealth with a perception roll?)

The goblin arrow against Kiselina finds its mark and solidly penetrates into the knight’s armored chest, there is a wheezing sound as he tries to gasp in surprise (4/12 hp).

But action is called for, and the Paladin gets after it. He moves to line up as many enemies as possible and with as big of a breath as the Dragonborn can muster, exhales his breath weapon of acid upon the enemies. He then moves as far into the thickets as possible  

(Free Action) “Justice for Gundren, glory for Bahamut!”   
(Action) Breath Weapon attack against wolf, Klarg, g4? [Exhale in a 5 by 30 ft. line (DEX DC 12, half damage on success) for 2d6 Acid Damage] {6 Damage on fail, 3 on a save}. 
Move) N9 to attack (thickets for cover?)  
(Bonus) n/a    
(Reaction) AoO if presented.

(ooc; ignore the dex save, fat-fingered the screen.)

The arrow thuds into Berry's side and speaks clearly of an ambush by goblins, Berry feels his anger rising, both about his own carelessness and about the goblins' malice. "They've been following us!" he cries out the obvious. Klarg's battle cry, only pushed Berry more into a rage. He prepares to dodge incoming attacks and flies out of the lean-to, up into the air some 15 feet high towards Klarg and his wolf in order to cover Kiselina’s attack and attract readied arrows. He glances around for more foes (like on top of the lean-to) and points them out with grinding teeth, then he engages Klarg and the wolf from the air, shield first and trying to evade their blows. 

Action: dodge
Bonus: Rage
Move: to K8 but in an arc into the air to see if there are more goblins on their roof, which he will point out to the others, if possible.

Daphyra squeaks as her shield catches the goblin arrow. She mutters, "At least we aren't in the dark!" and touches her amulet. She casts the Sleep spell, waving a hand in a soothing motion and humming the first line of a lullaby. She scurries back into the lean-to, moving towards the side where she might be able to use the cave/structure wall for cover. 

Action: Sleep spell (20ft of R9 - 21 HP in ascending order)

Bonus action: none

Movement: Back and east to hopefully gain some cover at P5 or P6

Marten is surprised by Klarg's sudden and vicious attack.  He watches, horrified but unable to move, as the bugbear's club smashes against Sildar's shield and throws the man to the back of the sheltered alcove.  Then a goblin arrow pierces Marten's armor, thankfully not deeply, but the pain snaps everything into focus, and he feels like he's able to move again.  With no cover, they're easy targets under the outcropping, but who knows whether there are more enemies waiting to attack them from above?  Should they scatter into the forest?  Or should they try to defend Sildar and the alcove.

He says to Vidruth, standing near him, "Since we can't see them goblins, maybe it's time to summon that mist so that they can't see us neither?"

As Kiselina and Berry rush forward to engage the bugbear, that makes Marten's decision for him.  He'll have to risk a shot before he finds cover.  Marten nocks an arrow from his quiver, draws the bow, and waits...just a second...looking for an opening in Klarg's armor, either under his raised arm or above the top of the breastplate.  It's a more difficult shot, but if they could just take Klarg out of the fight...

He releases the arrow. 

If Vidruth summons a mist to hide them, then Marten moves to the back corner of the alcove to "narrow the angle" and minimize the number of goblin archers who can hit him.  

If Vidruth does not summon a mist to hide them, then Marten moves into the woods to hopefully get some cover from the goblin archers.

In either case, as he moves, he scans the woods to ensure that he's not giving any of the goblins an easy shot at him, positioning himself for maximum cover from as many goblins as he can see. Perception 21 (in game log)

Movement: As described above, either moving back to I4 (under the outcropping) or out into the trees on the west side of the outcropping, ending at G5 or H5, if possible (K6 > J7 > I7 > H7 > H6 >> G5 (difficult terrain?))
Action: Attack, Shortbow (80/320): 16 (21 in game log, but -5 to get sharpshooter's bonus damage) Damage: 21
Damage is 7 (bow, in game log) + 10 (sharpshooter) + 4 (sneak attack, assuming that Berry is within 5' of Klarg)
Free Action: Talking

"if we can get the bugbear we can probably chase the goblins easily enough" he suggests "but yeah, a cloud might help us, though it could help them too, ill choose based on if we need cover or visibility" he takes a precious second to survey the field, then gets to casting, pulling components from his pouch with ease born of years keeping the pouch perfectly organized

if the bugbear dies to martens kiselinas attacks: casting fog cloud on the connection between l/m 9/10

if it does not die: magic missile, two on bugbear, one on wolf 4 damage per missile

Nosam hears the clanking arrows but can't identify much of anything except Klarg and his pet. "I'm swinging at what I can see, yell at me if you see anything." He advances toward Klarg being sure to maintain a distance away from the wolf and hopes for the best. "Miss us already? We were just about to head your way."

Movement: to J8, avoiding wolf

Action: Attack Klarg with warhammer, Hit 22 (17+5), Damage 4 (1+3)

Bonus: Opportunity Attack on any targets moving within range Hit 25 (20+5), Damage 16 crit (7+6+3)

Free action: Talking and listening for directions from those who can see more targets

If Klarg is downed before Nosam's turn please apply to wolf instead. 

Round 1 (cont’d.)

Kiselina Move to N9 and take cover, Breath Weapon attack against wolf, Klarg, g4? [Exhale in a 5 by 30 ft. line (DEX DC 12, half damage on success) for 2d6 Acid Damage] {6 Damage on fail, 3 on a save}.

Berry: dodge / Rage / Move: to K8 but in an arc into the air

Daphyra: Sleep spell (20ft of R9 - 21 HP in ascending order) / Movement: hopefully gain some cover at P5 or P6

Marten: Attack, Shortbow (80/320): 16 (21 in game log, but -5 to get sharpshooter's bonus damage) Damage: 21 / Movement… out into the trees on the west side of the outcropping, ending at G5 or H5, if possible G5 (difficult terrain?)) / Attack, Shortbow (80/320): 16 (21 in game log, but -5 to get sharpshooter's bonus damage) Damage: 21

Vidruth: if it does not die: magic missile, two on bugbear, one on wolf 4 damage per missile

Nosam: Movement: to J8, avoiding wolf / Attack Klarg with warhammer, Hit 22 (17+5), Damage 4 (1+3)

Round 1 Results (cont’d).

Kiselina’s acid breath hits the wolf beside Klarg full-on, doing 6HP acid damage and blackening its fur and scarring its hide. The smell of burnt hair is terrible. The intervening thickets partially deflect the line of acid, and Klarg leaps athletically upwards to avoid its trajectory. Alas for the goblin behind him, who failed to hide effectively and takes full damage as well, it barely raises an arm to keep its face from being covered in the acidic stream, and screams in pain.

Just as Kiselina’s breath rakes across its targets, 2 goblin arrows from cover on the upper lip of the lean-to FFFFPT!! zip down at Kiselina (readied attacks, R1):

Goblin 6 attacks Kiselina: 13 to hit / 6 piercing damage. 

Goblin 7 attacks Kiselina: 6 to hit / 7 piercing damage.

Berry’s upward arc attracts the attention he hoped it would, and three more archers above the lean-to’s upper ledge release arrows at point-blank range, but with disadvantage.

Goblin 8 attacks Berry: 19 to hit / 4 piercing damage. 

Goblin 9 attacks Berry: 5 to hit / 5 piercing damage.

Goblin 10 attacks Berry: 14 to hit / 6 piercing damage.

Berry yells out their locations to the rest of the party.

Daphyra’s sleep spell bathes the area around R9 with calming energy, and Goblin 1 and Goblin 2 succumb to its soporific effect, drooping to the ground and losing consciousness. (OOC: Sleeping creatures outlined in pink. They also are not visible, as they are hidden, prone, among the thickets.) Daphyra finds ½ Cover at the edge of the natural lean-to.

Marten, with a surgeon’s precision, spots an opening in Klarg’s defenses and releases an arrow which rips past the creature’s shield-size bracer, smashing into the bugbear’s abdomen. Klarg rears back, tugs out the arrow, snapping it in one hand, and a lion’s roar of pain explodes from its fanged mouth, but its crazed bug-eyes turn with deadly focus upon Marten.

Vidruth sends his glowing darts of magical force snapping across the distance to strike Klarg and his pet. Both are pounded backwards but maintain their footing.

Nosam now springs forward and his hammer slams at the wall of muscle in front of him, cracking ribs.

The enemies now take their Round 2 turns.

Round 2 Results (partial)

Klarg grabs Nosam’s hammer where it struck him, pulls the dwarf closer, and roundhouses him with his enormous club! 

Klarg attacks Nosam: 20 to hit / 14 bludgeoning damage. 

He turns to Berry and shouts, “You, bug! Klarg already smash you once! Now smash you all the way back to pile of bones!!! HAHAHAHA!!”

The wolf leaps up and snaps at Berry at disadvantage, its sharp tooth-filled jaw clacking viciously! 

Wolf attacks Berry: 12 to hit / 8 piercing damage. 

Goblin 3 releases an arrow at Kiselina then dives under a thicket, hiding. Kiselina may add +2 to his AC for ½ cover from thickets.

Goblin 3 attacks Kiselina: 10 to hit / 6 piercing damage. 

Goblin 4 releases an arrow at Vidruth then dives under a thicket, hiding.

Goblin 4 attacks Vidruth: 11 to hit / 6 piercing damage. 

Goblins 5 and 6 follow Klarg’s command and target Marten. Marten has ½ Cover in the brush, so may add +2 to his AC.

Goblin 5 attacks Marten: 13 to hit / 6 piercing damage. 

Goblin 6 attacks Marten: 8 to hit / 8 piercing damage. 

The goblins atop the lean-to ledge cannot see Daphyra, Marten, or Vidruth. They release arrows at the combatants facing Klarg, then hide.

Goblin 7 attacks Nosam: 16 to hit / 6 piercing damage. 

Goblin 8 attacks Berry: 12 to hit / 3 piercing damage. 

Goblin 9 attacks Nosam: 20 to hit / 6 piercing damage.

Goblin 10 attacks Kiselina: 16 to hit / 4 piercing damage.  

Any PC or enemy who finds cover in thickets in this area has ½ Cover, not ¾ Cover, because this cover is catch-as-you-can, rather than prepared killholes.

You are now situated like so:

Please post your Round 2 actions in any order. All enemies are under 10HP. I will try to respond quickly to your posts, as the situation is therefore quite fluid.

Kiselina rushes into the thickets after his acidic exhale just as the goblin arrows arrive at his location. THWPT, PIIING; one missed completely while the other hits but fails to penetrate his armor. A third and forth arrow is launched at him yet miraculously fails to reach him in the thickets.

The knight reaches out with his pole arm to attack the wounded wolf, now partially bald from the acid attack. He then scurries from the brambles towards the third goblin who remains unaffected by Daphyra’s slumber spell. The Paladin, seeking cover outside the outcropping, moves again into the thickets.

(Free Action) “Excellent work Mistress!  We shall let these two take a rest then shall we?”  
(Action) Wolf (To Hit: 18, Damage: 13)  
(Move) Q6 (thickets for cover)  
(Bonus) n/a    
(Reaction) AoO if presented.

The wolf leaps at Berry (Str ST against knocked prone? 17) and, for making an effort to remain in the air it catches his leg before he can shake it off again. In his fury he lashes out at the wolf (or Klarg if the wolf is incapacitated) with his scimitar, while grunting in an uncharacteristically low voice. If both Wolf and Klarg are taken out, Berry will fly up onto the roof and engage with the goblins there (G6/G7).

Action: Attack Wolf (or Klarg) with a 13 for 7 damage
Move: if there's no risk of AoO, Berry flies to J5, 15ft high

Quote from kohlmetz_d >>

Kiselina rushes into the thickets after his acidic exhale just as the goblin arrows arrive at his location. THWPT, PIIING; one missed completely while the other hits but fails to penetrate his armor. A third and forth arrow is launched at him yet miraculously fails to reach him in the thickets.

The knight reaches out with his pole arm to attack the wounded wolf, now partially bald from the acid attack. He then scurries from the brambles towards the third goblin who remains unaffected by Daphyra’s slumber spell. The Paladin, seeking cover outside the outcropping, moves again into the thickets.

(Free Action) “Excellent work Mistress!  We shall let these two take a rest then shall we?”  
(Action) Wolf (To Hit: 18, Damage: 13)  
(Move) Q6 (thickets for cover)  
(Bonus) n/a    
(Reaction) AoO if presented.

The wolf snarls and as Kiselina's polearm nears it, with a quick motion it snaps at the halberd to tug it away. But Kiselina is too fast! The paladin deftly turns the blade, wet with the light rainfall, pulls it away then slashes across with incredible force, ripping through the canine's chest. It falls, lifeless. Kiselina moves away into cover.

Quote from cyreon >>

The wolf leaps at Berry (Str ST against knocked prone? 17) and, for making an effort to remain in the air it catches his leg before he can shake it off again. In his fury he lashes out at the wolf (or Klarg if the wolf is incapacitated) with his scimitar, while grunting in an uncharacteristically low voice. If both Wolf and Klarg are taken out, Berry will fly up onto the roof and engage with the goblins there (G6/G7).

---

 

Action: Attack Wolf (or Klarg) with a 13 for 7 damage
Move: if there's no risk of AoO, Berry flies to J5, 15ft high

Klarg's huge cudgel whooshes up and around, parrying Berry's blow with such force that the fairy's blade rings loudly in his hand, his arm shudders with the shock of it.

Daphyra straightens proudly, happy to hear that her Sleep spell did some good. She considers whether to use up the last of the Goddess's power on another of the same, or to save it in case she needs to heal her allies. She decides to save it and rely on her cantrips for the moment. She points at Klarg and whispers "Dong", casting Toll the Dead.

Action: Toll the Dead on Klarg (DC13 WIS save or 10 damage)

Bonus action: none

Movement: None

Quote from valeskah >>

Daphyra straightens proudly, happy to hear that her Sleep spell did some good. She considers whether to use up the last of the Goddess's power on another of the same, or to save it in case she needs to heal her allies. She decides to save it and rely on her cantrips for the moment. She points at Klarg and whispers "Dong", casting Toll the Dead.

Action: Toll the Dead on Klarg (DC13 WIS save or 10 damage)

Bonus action: none

Movement: None

 

BOOOOOOZZZZSH! A deathly tolling careens from the cloudy heavens through the rainy air, directly down upon Klarg: a dark, ominous chiming whose force sweeps through the branches like a brisk downpour, and whose vibrations then channel dolefully into the earth at the goblinoid’s feet. Klarg (WIS save: 11): every muscle in his body tenses in a terrible spasm, and Klarg lets out a pitiful, agonized scream as necrotic energy blackens and robs the life from his ears, his scalp, his whole head, which shrivels like a burning leaf until suddenly, his leering bugeyes have nothing left to attach to and literally pop off of the bugbear's face, one rocketing past Marten, the other ricocheting into the stone lean-to and bouncing straight into Daphyra’s outstretched hand. 

Klarg’s headless body listlessly slumps to its knees then pitches forward upon the muddying earth.

vidruth climbs out of the shelter carefully, and seeing the leader has fallen turns in the general direction of the remaining goblins {goblin} 

 (intimidation 23 if needed)

he then prepares fire bolt for if he sees a goblin try to attack someone (attack 12 damage 3)

Marten: Round 2

Marten's heart leaps when his arrow lands true, but then he's shocked when Klarg does not fall.  He knows from experience that such a hit would have killed a wolf or even a horse at this range.  Since the fighters have left the shelter of the lean-to, Marten doesn't have a shield wall to hide behind.  He jogs out of the lean-to, avoiding the bugbear and wolf, making for the saplings and other undergrowth on the slope to the west of the lean-to.  Two arrows fly past him as he runs, but luckily, the goblins' aim isn't as good as his.  Looking back toward Klarg and the wolf, he sees arrows coming from uphill, above the lean-to!

perception 8 (in game log)

Looking around, Marten doesn't see where the goblins are hiding.  Rather than guessing at their positions, he attempts to find his own spot to hide uphill where he can hopefully get an angle on the goblins on top of the lean-to.  Hearing Vidruth, he figures that either the goblins will surrender, or they'll continue attacking, which might reveal their positions to him.  He draws another arrow and settles down in some dense bushes to wait quietly, looking for the goblin archers.

Movement:  30' of movement through difficult terrain: G5 >> F5 >> F4 >> F3
Action: Hide - Stealth 20 (in game log)
Free Action: Drawing an arrow.

Nosam can't help but watch the horrific scene unfolding in front of him. Chuckling a bit, he chimes in, "By god, I think you got 'em." 

"I'll get these stragglers if you have up top handled." Nosam steps around what's left of Klarg and heads to the west, he believes there should only be a few remaining. 

Movement: to H8 or G8, whichever allows to engage

Action: Attack with Warhammer G4. Hit 24 (19+5), Damage 10 (7+3)

Bonus: (Offhand attack) Headbutt. Finish G4, if dead, move one more space to engage G5. Hit 20 (15+5), Damage 4

Free: Talking with group for directions and locations