D&D – game 2 (Mediaeval English background)

The Game Room
341

Crumlin summarises:

Hans has just left to return to his vantage point (near side, near the troops) and cast Phantom Force over the fire, causing a scowling fiery face to appear amid the flames, licking its lips horribly.

Cadogan will open by shooting the spellcaster (from the near side, by the troops), then call his Warhorse over and ride him in for melee combat.

Cullen is going to flank to the far side (by the Giant) and cast an Entangle on just the Giant & Shaman, then shout to draw the Kobold’s attention once things start to happen in the clearing.
He will also sling a bullet at one.

Aciryas says: If I can get close enough I will cast Hold Person on the smaller fighters (near side) that are not looking likely to get trapped by the entangle. I will then stand at the ready with my hammer and shield hoping not to melee if I can help it, but willing to smash the heads of the evil Loki worshiping human eaters if necessary.
If the Spirit Hammer is needed to save the party or help take down the Giant, whack him.

Salazar says: Cast Unseen Servant and Invisibility before moving off.
Move round the clearing (far side) so that I have a clear approach line to the wain.
After the fighting starts, move quietly (with my Unseen Servant) to the wain. There I will tell John (in a whisper) that I am here to rescue him, that I’m invisible so the monsters don’t kill me, and he should take my hand and come with me. He should be very quiet so the monsters don’t hear us and stop us getting away.
Then I’ll make him Invisible too. The Unseen Servant will crawl under the tarpaulin and huddle there pretending to be John. We’ll make our away out of the clearing.

Erjg says: I’ll go for the Hill Giant in melee combat (from near side).

Crumlin is waiting by the horses (unless anyone suggests otherwise).

(As soon as Hulgfar checks in, battle is joined!)

342

It appears that real life has got in the way again, as Wolfman (Hulfgar) has not replied to a PM, nor posted in the thread for days.
So since Erjg and Hulfgar are Warrior buddies from Portsmouth, I will assume that in this combat that Hulfgar follows Erjg around, hitting the same opponents.
(Afterwards, Hulfgar can go fishing and rejoin when able.)

The combat will appear either late tonight or tomorrow … I’ll start running it now. :slight_smile:

343

Clever Hans has just made his scouting report to the party and immediately sets off back to the near side of the clearing.
Using his Scouting skills, he intends to cast with literally just a bush between himself and the Kobold troopers.
Hans makes a Move Silently roll.
Hans makes a Hide in Shadows roll.

Cadogan is the first to react. He takes out his Crossbow and leads ‘Mearas’ (his Warhorse) carefully towards a position on nearside of the clearing where he can make out the Kobold Shaman (lit by the roaring fire).
(He knows his metal armour can alert the monsters, so stays about 250 feet back.)
Cullen and his bloodhound Finn set off on a gentle loop to arrive on the farside of the clearing, about 125 feet away.
Erjg and Hulgfar move to get closer than Cadogan (both still undetected , as neither has metal armour). They leave the Ranger a clear shot and get ready to charge straight for the Giant (when they have about 125 feet to cover). Both grasp a two-handed weapon…
Aciryas travels with Cadogan. The Cleric will be using hammers, as a mark of respect to Heimdall.
Salazar offers to rescue John Baker, while the others keep the Monsters busy. He notes which way Cullen is going, then casts Invisibility on himself.
Crumlin silently wishes the party luck, then makes sure the remaining mounts are settled.

Cadogan and Aciryas are in position. Mearas is clearly tense - but (as befits a Battle-Trained mount) keeps silent.
Salazar summons an Unseen Servant.

Hans turns up at his selected bush, happy with the distractions of the smoke and noise from the fire.
Erjg ** and Hulgfar ** take up their station, checking they have a clear run in.
Salazar and Servant head for the Wain (on the farside of the clearing).

Hans casts Phantom Force on the fire, causing a ghastly face to appear in the flames, licking its lips.
The Giant does a double-take, picks up his Sword and Shield and then looks at the Shaman. The Shaman stiffens, then his face goes blank.
Meanwhile the troopers’ chanting tails off, as they recoil in fear from the fiery Apparition. One, lost in the ‘melody’, carries on alone - then looks around and stops abruptly.
The silence is only broken by the crackling of the fire.
Cullen arrives at his position, ready to cast next round.

The Monsters are all staring alternately at the Shaman and the Face in the flames. Suddenly the Shaman grins in relief. “Loki is with us!” he shouts, then starts casting.
Hans (concentrating on his own Spell) fails a Spellcraft roll.
Cullen fails a Spellcraft roll.
Aciryas isn’t sure about how Evil Clerics cast, but thinks perhaps it’s a Prayer. He turns to inform Cadogan – but the Ranger has already fired his Crossbow!
**Cadogan’s ** bolt streaks across the clearing - and only just hits, doing for 6 points and automatically interrupting the Shaman’s spell. Cadogan grins, muttering “Definitely easier to hit ‘em when they’re casting…”.
**Erjg ** and Hulgfar charge into the clearing, heading for the Giant, who turns and confidently steps forward to face them. The nearest Kobold troopers take one look at the Lizardman and Sharkskin-clad Fighter and swiftly step out the way. However some further away grab their Javelins and let fly. By chance all 5 missiles are aimed at the Barbarian - and 2 hit Hulfgar who takes 7 damage. Erjg and Hulgfar react quicker than their massive foe and get the first blows in this round. Only Hulgfar hits with his Spear for 9 points, making the Giant grunt. The Giant swings his Sword and laughs as his return strike on Hulgfar hits, doing 18 damage.
**Cullen’s ** Entangle spell now goes off. He avoids including the Giant in the effect because of the risk of catching Erjg and Hulgfar, but punches the air triumphantly as the Shaman fails his save and is completely held.
Salazar arrives at the Wain.

The helpless Shaman can only demand that Troopers free him and 2 try – but both are promptly Entangled themselves. The Shaman yells for help from anyone…
The Giant is sweeping his Sword from side-to-side and clobbers Erjg next, who takes 16 damage.
Both Erjg and **Hulgfar ** try to strike back. This time just Erjg breaks through the Chain and Shield, inflicting 12 points.
Cullen fires a sling bullet at the huge back of the Giant, knowing there is no risk of hitting Erjg and Hulgfar on the other side of the Giant. (Also, for being the third attacker, Cullen gains a +10% bonus and the Giant cannot use his shield.) Despite this, Cullen narrowly misses.
Cadogan canters into the clearing. Nervously, 2 Troopers try to stab his mount Mearas, who promptly bites one for 4 points, killing it. Both Troopers fail to hit the horse. Cadogan joins the others attacking the Giant and (getting the same bonuses as Cullen, plus his extra Ranger damage v Orc-Kind) hits for 10 points.
Hans continues to animate the Face and 2 Kobold Troopers stand still, just gazing at it.
Aciryas casts a Hold Person and freezes 3 Troopers. However some of the remainder look round to see where that spell came from…
Salazar uses his Servant to act as the body under the tarpaulin. He mutters to the barely conscious John Baker “Your father Jimmy sent me” and casts Invisibility on him.

The Shaman desperately calls on Loki to help him.
Erjg , Hulgfar, Cadogan, Mearas and Cullen win initiative and concentrate on the Giant.
Both Erjg and Hulgfar, facing the Giant, miss.
However Cadogan does 14 points with his Sword from behind, followed by Mearas, whose hooves do 8 points.
Cullen fires another sling bullet, doing 5 points.
With a surprised look on his face, the Giant slowly crumples to the ground.
One Trooper spots Hans (who cannot hide whilst concentrating on his spell) and cautiously heads towards him.
Aciryas charges forward, blocking the Trooper (who fails to notice that the remaining 5 Troopers have decided enough is enough and run off). Aciryas just manages to hits with his hammer, but does 10 points, killing the Trooper before he can hit back.
Hans keeps concentrating, but gives Aciryas a thumbs-up gesture.
Salazar supports the groggy John Baker away from the clearing, heading towards Cullen.

The Giant is dying, the sobbing Shaman is securely held and the Kobold Troopers are dead, held or fled.
The party look around alertly, but see no apparent danger.
However two characters feel … unease.
Aciryas’ Holy Symbol (Heimdall’s horn) is starting to glow. Aciryas stares at it, totally bemused. Nothing like this has never happened to him and nobody at this Temple has ever mentioned anything like this.
Meanwhile Hans is preparing to relax and let the Phantom Force disappear (it lasts for one round after he stops concentrating on it). However he realises with horror that, without his doing anything, the Face has changed!
It has become an incredibly handsome male head, with a sickeningly evil grin. It mouths something at Hans.
Hans makes a Read Lips roll.
The Face is saying “Now this – this is what I really look like!”

344

If necessary, Salazar would pick John up and carry him - especially if any of the fleeing kobolds look like they’re fleeing towards us. I don’t want him run over, even by a kobold, because the creature cannot see him. Treating injuries might be difficult if the healer can’t see the patient. :wink:

Once at the edge of the clearing I’ll survey the scene and see if I need to take an action. Thus :[ol][li]Can I tell that something or someone has taken over the illusion?[/li][li]If yes, can I tell who the illusion now looks like?[/li][li]What is the shaman doing (since iirc he’s still a threat, albeit Entangled at the moment)?[/ol][/li]

345

In the presence of a greater Trickster than myself, I’m tempted to let the Phantom go… but I’ll keep it up and see if it has more to say. :eek:

346

hmm the glowing hallmark is interesting. I will have to make note of that. For now cast cure light wounds and start healing up the party.

347

Salazar safely brings John Baker over to Cullen (the fleeing Kobolds are not going near anyone).
Checking on the boy’s condition (he’s breathing normally) , Salazar feels some dampness on John’s clothing. He hurriedly looks for blood coming from a wound, then realises that John is not injured, but simply smeared with some sort of barbecue sauce. :smack:

Salazar can’t see the Illusion very well from that distance, but can see the Shaman is still securely Entangled.

Meanwhile Aciryas casts Cure Light Wounds on his finger. (He knows all spells cast by touch can be cast this way - e.g. avoiding casting right next to a combat.)

Hans can’t see any trace of his original silent Phantom Force in the fire - and this is confirmed when the Face swivels to look at the Shaman and speaks.
“You call me - and for what? To witness your incompetence? You set no guards; half your troops have run off and you have lost the sacrifice!”

The Shaman starts to whimper and (looking at the tarpaulin on the Wain) sobs “The boy is still over there…”.
The Head snarls “You stupid liar!” and a bolt of flame shoots from his mouth to the Wain. Salazar’s Unseen Servant is destroyed and the Wain begins to burn.

At this point, Aciryas nervously enters the clearing, determined to cure Hulgfar.
His Holy Symbol is now shining quite brightly.

The Face swivels and looks at the Holy Symbol. “Yes, yes I know.” he says. “They are under your protection. But these are mine!”
The Face spews fire at the Shaman, who swiftly perishes, as do the two Kobolds who were also Entangled.
Then the Face disappears; the fire goes out and the party are left with three Held Kobolds, one dead Giant, one fried Shaman and four dead Kobolds.
In the ensuing silence, Aciryas cures Hulfgar for 5 points (he is still down 20).

348

Salazar (who’s invisibility spell seems to have been ended by something :p) blanches slightly as he realises what passed.

“Thank You Heimdall, for Your protection” he muttered “else the Trickster might have slain us all in his rage.”

Given his NWPs in Religion and Spellcraft, I think it’s reasonable for him to deduce that when the shaman called for help, Loki used the illusion Hans called up to manifest; he slew his own worshippers for incompetence but declined to act directly against servants of other deities.

He’ll make a Religion roll to see what he can recall about Loki. Is he a vengeful type?

Salazar sits and calls to mind what he knows about the deity, letting John down to rest but continuing to support him.

“It’s OK now John. We’ll … soon have you home.”

Salazar will call over one of the healers if John shows any signs of distress.

349

I check the poor lad out and use first aid and good berries as needed.

350

Ask Crumlin’s opinion on the matter- he may have some local insights. Otherwise, collect that spent bolt and tie up the prisoners as soon as the Entangle goes down.

351

I may not have high inteligence, but my wisdom is high and I am an educated man of the cloth with a NWP in history. I thinks I should be able to elxplain to the party what just went down. Don’t know what sort of roles I need to make to get that info, but if I can I would like to share it with the group.

352

In campaigns I’ve played in we use “Event Cards” for the players to modify the story… this would have been an excellent Mysterious Event :slight_smile:

353

While Cadogan and Crumlin discuss the nature of the of the apparition, probably with Aciryas’s help, could Hans and Salazar (for a Detect Magic) begin searching bodies?

354

Oh, Hans is way ahead of you there, trust me on that. :smiley:

355

Apologies for the delay - my Internet has been offline.
Normal service will be resumed shortly…

356

The party are fully alert, but there is no sign of anyone else nearby. So Salazar (who is still Invisible himself) ‘turns off’ John Baker’s Invisibility.
(Salazar checked for wounds on the invisible boy by touch. Note that any caster may remove one of his own spell effects by spending a full round doing so.)

Cullen uses 3 Goodberries and his First Aid skill, which restores the lad to full health. John is shaky at first, but quickly gets interested in the gory details. His favourite moment is Cadogan’s horse killing a Kobold. :eek:
(Apart from this general use of [COLOR=Purple]First Aid, the skill can also be used to bandage in combat – but only within 1 round of the wounding. It can be combined with Cure Light Wounds and Goodberries.)[/COLOR]

Crumlin and the mounts are safely brought over and then a quick discussion of the latest events (using Religion, Spellcraft and Local History rolls) gives the most likely scenario:

  • the Shaman’s desperate call to his Evil Patron was answered (though the result was not what the Shaman hoped for!)
  • Heimdall let it be subtly known that he would oppose Loki and protect those doing good deeds from his rival’s wrath

Neither Aciryas nor Crumlin can remember any previous direct appearance by any Being.
Clearly some of the Gods are currently interested in Rutland and are using it as a ‘battleground of opportunity’ - for their followers to show how well they can do.

The vegetation used in the Entangle has been somewhat damaged by fire.

The Kobold prisoners are helpless + stunned by the whole combat and meekly surrender.
All the opposition’s items are laid out, ready for a Detect Magic.
(One such spell can do 10 individual spell effects. Then any magic can be Identified by the spell, giving one spell result per level.)

357

Cullen casts Detect Magic, with the following positives:

  • the Hill Giant’s Bastard Sword* has a level 2 MU spell
  • the Kobold Shaman has a Rod with a 1st level Cleric spell

*human-sized two handed weapon - because the Giant was so large and strong, he could use it one-handed.

Crumlin remarks that Weapons and Armour are often permanently enchanted and that Rods, Staves and Wands often are charged.
An Identify** spell will state precisely which spells are present and whether they are permanent or use charges.

**1st level spell for all 4 types of caster (C / D / MU / I)

The Giant had a gem.
Hans makes an Appraisal roll and values it at 500 gold.

The Giant’s Chain is in good condition and could perhaps be sold - as a curio or trophy?
His Shield is human-sized and in good condition.
The Shaman’s Red and Black robes have survived the fire.
There are 9 standard short swords, which could certainly be sold secondhand.

The rest of the Monsters’ gear is badly maintained and worthless.

(I don’t need you to keep track of missile ammunition - between recovering some and buying more, you will always have enough.)

358

Well, that’s a decent haul for a single fight like that. Let’s consider taking all this back to town quickly. Even if no one wants to buy that chain as a trophy (and who would want to carry that around?) or any of the swords, I expect the local blacksmith would buy them for the steel.

359

Salazar looks around thoughtfully.

I assume “full tack” includes such things as saddlebags and harness.

"We should be able to carry everything … or at least most things … back on our horses. Although I would suggest … wrapping the weapons to avoid having them wound the horses. The armour may be … a problem. And of course, John will … have to ride back with one of us. Preferably with one of the … skilled riders.

Mayhap we should have tried to save the … wain."

360

Erjg notes that he is a bastard sword specialist, but would like to know the nature of the enchantment before laying any claim.