Act 1, Scene 1: "Through the Undergrowth" (Main Game Thread)

[ausie]

"Doing OK until warg got a piece of me.... Needed a wingman.. Have to stop... Never climb back up the rope in this state... Need to rest... I'll be ok after a rest.. Hmm this bit of floor looks comfy...."

Garroth lies down and curls up on the stone floor.. Thoreau Sniffs him and curls up on top of Garroth one eye half open... Watching..

[Stik]

"He is not my pet. He is my friend," Boyd says, drily, then he heads off down the hall.
Upon sighting the goblin and word, he kicks Salem into a run and leans forward, his lance and shield extended. He points his lance at worg.

Initiative: [1d10-1] = 1-1 = 0 If this proves nothing else, it proves that I am capable of rolling low To Hit: [1d20+3] =14+3 = 17, Damage (lance): [1d6+3x2] = err (Oops - Still trying to figure out the correct syntax on Unseen Servant.)damage: [1d8+3] = 2+3 = 5 Doubled for for charging = 10

[TristenC]

[Stik: it’s clear after re-reading the profile you wrote that you meant for Boyd to have a Lance, not a spear. Since a light horse lance has the same damage, speed and weight as a spear and I didn’t catch that before I’ll go ahead and change it. Unseen servant doesn’t like more than one mathematical operation within the same bracket (i.e. adding and multiplication).
The Worg is a Med sized creature so it would be [1d6+3] x2 for charging. I’ll make the adjustments. I’m not sure what the -1 for initiative was from, unless you intended it from Dex, but the reaction adjustment bonus only applies to surprise or reducing 2-wep fighting penalties, not initiative.]

The instant he rounds the corner, Boyd heels Salem and the young boar charges forward; guided by the Dwarf’s more sensitive eyes. The lance tip lowers just before impact, impaling the evil Worg deeply in the side. He has to cut the reins hard to keep Salem from continuing into the wall, leaving them in range of the creature, but Kak wavers heavily after the blow.

Nocturno and Dran keep their places, protecting the archers, and Katten’s first arrow sails wide of the mark. The vicious beast snaps back at its attacker, but stumbles to the ground; weakened by the shivering blow. The Drow fires next, striking the now prone Worg in the back. With a pained whimper, the terrible beast expels its final reeking breath; laden with bloody foam.

The goblin chieftain aims his axe, shrieking with such rage and hatred that even those who speak his primitive language find it impossible to decipher. The erstwhile prisoners charge forward as one, short swords at the ready. The half-elven Sargent reaches Zag’Rek first, sinking her sword into his side. Hateful eyes glaze over and the cruel creature looks to her with a sneer on his lips and disbelief in his eyes. Slowly he slips from the weapon that took his life, falling to the stony ground with a thud next to his pet. Eariel spits onto the face of the dead goblin, wiping her sword clean on his wolf-hide armor.

Now that the threat has ended, those present can see the chamber was obviously Kak’s den. The floor in the back is covered with filthy straw and animal furs. Part of the straw has been disturbed in the corner, almost as if something were digging there.

==========
Init R1
Eariel (1+3 short sword): = 4
Boyd (1+5 Lt Lance): = 6
Nocturno: (4+5 longsword) = 9
Hew (7+3 short sword): = 10
Katten: (4+7 longbow) = 11
Kak: (10+3 natural attack, -2 charged): = 11
Linar: (5+7 longsbow) = 12
Dran: (10+3 natl attk) = 13
Tag (10+3 short sword): = 13
Zag’Rek (10+4 hand axe): = 14

Eariel holds, preparing to move with Hew and Tag in formation.

Boyd charges Kak (AC 6) with his Light Lance:
Thaco 19 vs AC 6: Need 13+ (charging +2 to hit, str +1)
[1d20+3] =14+3 = 17, hit!
Boyd dmg [1d6+3] = 9 x2:
For 9x2 = 18 damage!
Kak is About to Die!

Nocturno stays in front of the archers and holds (parry)
Longsword(18): [1d20] = 2

Hew holds, preparing to move with Eariel and Tag in formation.

Katten fires her Longbow at Kak (AC 6) in melee with Boyd (-2)
Long Bow (Thaco 18) vs AC 6 (-2): need 14+
[1d20] = 3, Miss

Kak bites (Piercing vs hide armor +2) at Boyd (AC 3) who is charging (+2 no dex bonus, +1 charging): +5 vs AC 3 => effective AC 8
Kak vs Boyd [1d20] = 1
Miss! Possible fumble!
Kak fumble conf [1d20] = 3:
Fumble confirmed! Kak falls prone!


Linar fires his Longbow at Kak (in melee with Boyd -2, Prone +4)
THAC0 19 vs AC 6 (+2): need 11+
[1d20] = 13, hit!
For [1d8] = 4 damage,
Kak Dies!

Dran holds, protecting Katten.

Tag is ready. Eariel, Hew and Tag move up in formation and attack Zag’Rek
Eariel stabs (piercing attack vs hide armor +2) at Zag’Rek (AC 6)
[1d20] = 13: hit!
For [1d6] = 3 damage
Zag’Rek Dies!

[Combat Ends]

[Nocturno]

Nocturno relaxes after the heat of battle is done.

He then realizes the injuries he has incurred.

Having spent his spells, and used a dose of the manna water, he will stiffen up and bear them.

"Sargent was it?" as he looks over the prisoners.

"Your entrance was a fortunate turn of events. How long have you all been down here?"

[Chris1234]

If Linar spots the 'digging area' he goes closer, stowing the bow and swapping to longsword, to try and ascertain what did the digging, e.g. worg burying tits dropping, orc digging up its stash..
As he approach, the elf will look up in case there's something lurking above (e.g. 'digging area' is sucker bait) and then advance at a crouch, sword outstretched to just above ground level to catch any tripwire he doesn't spot.
If nothing untoward, he turns his back to the wall and has a dig to find what, if anything, is buried. He'll probe with an arrow in case there's anything like a spring-loaded bear trap lightly buried protecting whatever has been buried deeper.

Conversely, if he doesn't see the digging area, he will pat down the goblin leader to see if there's anything worth sharing out with the others.
Unless the prisoners address him in elven (in a non-hostile way) he will not talk to them; just shrug and shake his head.

(Linar is not trying to conceal anything here, just being careful from his Underdark experiences that those that aren't careful quickly become deceased.)

Before leaving the area, the elf will try to recover any of his arrows that he spots. If he recovers any arrows that aren't his, he checks the fletching to see if they belong to another party member..

[Jenara]

"That not fun." Katten speaks quietly checking that Dran was safe before moving to assist the others. "Thank you for help." She watches the Dwarf for a moment. "You Boyd? You help, thank you."

[TristenC]

The half-elven woman glares at the corpses a moment longer before responding. Looking Nocturno over she offers her hand, Yes. Sargent Eariel Ala'irian of Bordertown. And these are Hew Thomas and Tag Berton... she says, gesturing to the two armed men. The three former prisoners still wear tattered remnants of clothing with a vaguely military air. They, like the others, are obviously battered and somewhat injured. They herded us into the back here when the alarm sounded… I guess that was your lot. We were ambushed a couple of weeks ago when escorting a supply run from Bordertown headed for Thel Jeers. The City sometimes has to send wagons, and there is no other way for a wagon but the bridge unless we send someone all of the way to the coast… The forest has its own hazards anyway.

As she speaks, Linar approaches the corner with extreme caution, sword ready. The ‘digging’ seems recent and unorganized. He finds a thin layer of straw covering an old partially rotting hide used as a cover. Beneath is a natural depression lined with sacks bearing a stamped emblem (quartered square, upper left and lower right dark. Opposite quarters are light). One of the sacks is broken, and dozens of silver pieces have spilled out into the hole. If all of the sacks are full of silver, there must be easily over one thousand silver here… Near the hole is a damaged piece of wood that appears to have been gnawed upon. After a slightly closer glance it appears to have once been a wooden statue; likely Kak was using it as a chew toy for quite some time. A quick search of Zag’Rek’s body reveals another two dozen silver, some meat jerky, and a purple and silver cloth crest obviously torn from a uniform. It matches the mark on the bags.

Eariel glances at the Drow as she continues her conversation with Nocturno. They came out with that damn Worg on one side of the bridge and two dozen goblins on the other. We didn’t stand a chance, but that didn’t keep them from killing two of my men. she grimaces at the thought. Mike and Moira, the two other humans in there, she nods back towards the other prisoners, were traveling with us for safety… Most of the other captives were already here. They come from all over…


===
Linar searches the den area for arrows. Only 1 arrow missed in the den (Katten’s) and it survived.

Linar finds 1 flight arrow.

Linar finds a covered pit containing 4 small sacks of silver! (one sack damaged).
Estimated between 1200 and 1800 silver! (estimate until counted)
50 coins = 1 lb.

Linar searches Zag’Rek and finds 24 silver, 1 day of dry rations (jerky) and a trophy (Soldier’s crest)

[TristenC]

The humans, still unable to see in the darkness, turn to face roughly towards the feliz ranger. Oh! Yeah... no, I mean we should be thanking you... folk... The other, introduced as Tag, elbows him lightly and interrupts. What my tongue tied friend means to say, is that we are grateful for your aid. There is no telling how long it would take The Guard to figure out what happened to us and where we're being held. He forms a bow roughly in her direction. Miss...?

[Jenara]

"Nesserrr. I called Nesserrr, I understand, you not see many of my Race." Katten replies getting closer, "You not see me in dark" She realises shaking her head. "Dran need light too. We take you out, go to light." Grinning in the darkness her teeth showing she looks for something to use as a light source.

[TristenC]

Well... we didn't really see much with all of the fighting, so i'm not even sure... Manners, Hew! Tag interrupts, Miss Nesserrr... we truly thank you. he says smoothly. Katten glances about for a light, but there doesn't seem to be anything here for the purpose. [The nearest light source is Van's staff or lighting supplies any PC would be carrying.

[Jenara]

"Me Feliz, I one with Forest." She explains and keeps the Wolf Close, "They will not hurt you." she tells the wolf in Elven, "You come out to Forest, Nisserr dead."

[Stik]

[Stik: it’s clear after re-reading the profile you wrote that you meant for Boyd to have a Lance, not a spear. Since a light horse lance has the same damage, speed and weight as a spear and I didn’t catch that before I’ll go ahead and change it.

As you say - they're essentially the same weapon. In our tabletop game, we tend to treat a spear used from horseback as a light lance. It's not really heavy enough to do any real jousting with, but it still allows the mount to contribute some momentum.

I’m not sure what the -1 for initiative was from, unless you intended it from Dex, but the reaction adjustment bonus only applies to surprise or reducing 2-wep fighting penalties, not initiative.]

That is a case of a house rule that we've used for so long that I didn't remember that it's not in the book. I actually had to look it up just now.

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Boyd dismounts and says: "You cool your hoofs for a moment, Salem. That is a good pelt there and no sense wasting it. Might get gold for it in town. We just have to drag the carcass into the light to skin it properly."

"No need to thank me, chaton. Just doing my part. And yes, we are Boyd and Salem. Pleased to make your acquaintance."He bows, then proceeds to poke the dead worg in the eye with a knife to confirm that it is indeed dead, and with a deft movement plucks the eyeball out and brings it to Salem as a treat, bringing it to the boar's lips since Salem can't see in the dark cave. Then he turns to the former prisoners.
"I gather that there have been several disappearances in this vicinity, wherein those folk doing the disappearing have wound up down here. I wonder if perhaps you have seen any of my folk amongst the prisoners."

[Nocturno]

"Ok, let's get you folks back to where you came from. Did you find anything interesting in the corner there?"

Nocturno will shake his head in disbelief. A drow, humans, even a Minotaur... When the action was happening he was able to ignore the bullheaded aberration but now that everything has cooled down everything was starting to hit him.

/Sigh "Protector help me endure" he will whisper as he turns to leave the den, after waiting for replies.

[Chris1234]

If he hears the comment about light (in elven) Linar will put up a Dancing Lights for the surface dwellers and then takes one of his sacks and slips it over the broken sack, adding the 24 SP & the chewed statue at the last minute.
"Would someone give me a hand carrying these out of here?" requests Linar in elven. "And some of you might want these.." he adds as he offers the arrow to Katten. "Would you translate, please?" as he offers the dry rations (jerky) and trophy (Soldier’s crest) to the escapees.

If he spots any of his (dark fletched) arrows on the way out, the dark elf will recover them if possible.

[Jenara]

"Thanks." She replies to Linar taking the arrow. "Can we have some light?" She asks in Elven. "We get Menn safe, they go elsewhere."

"Linar has food, and things. We carry bags and go to light." She asserts to the men and grabs a few of the bags, "You take body, Katten Help with Pelt?" She asks Boyd in Common.

(These people helped, and saved Dran, she normally dislikes them a lot)