Book 1, Act II: Into the Churlwood

The all-powerful Runelords, near-immortal wizards who ruled Varisia in ancient days, stir to terrible life once more, surging across the frontier with plans to reignite their time-lost empire!
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RorytheRomulan
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Book 1, Act II: Into the Churlwood

Post by RorytheRomulan » Wed Jul 20, 2022 4:46 am

"Maybe it's a lure? Somethin' ambushed a poor priest, I'll bet. Then hung up the trinket." Having been drawn by the trinket first, Rusilka examines it on the chain while others appraise it. She decides it's not for her - fashion it into a symbol of Torag, then maybe we'll talk - and passes on it.

After the others explain the important details about the creature they just felled, she passes a glance over the unturned bodies. "We felled the first easily, but, dinnae want t' face three more dead ones after th' rescue, eh? Let's bury 'em."
Move & bury, then continue. My character doesn't have any need of their things, so she won't take. She has a cushy spell resistance already, thanks to a racial trait, so she doesn't need the medallion either. Let Myri have it.

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Othniel
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Book 1, Act II: Into the Churlwood

Post by Othniel » Sat Jul 23, 2022 12:41 am

"Likely a lure, yes," the oracle agrees. She hated undead. "We'll take the pretty thing though. None here now need it," she adds, pulling the object from the tree.
Sorry for my absence. Things be crazy busy right now.

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ManWithDoor
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Book 1, Act II: Into the Churlwood

Post by ManWithDoor » Sun Jul 24, 2022 4:00 am

The group digs shallow graves for the fallen guards. They leave their equipment, taking any small personal effects to return to their families once they get back to Roderic's Cove. They do take the odd mind sentinel medallion, as it might be a clue to something else later on. The worship of Desna isn't super rare or anything in these parts, but there weren't any temples or priests to her in town, and none of the three corpses were wearing any particular holy symbols. Strange.

...


BRAMBLEMOUTH DEN

So named for their tradition of wearing tangled lip piercings (that usually don't get TOO infected), the Bramblemouth goblins have held this series of caves for as long as anyone in the area remembers. According to the news you got the current leader is named Chief Cheektooth, and he came to power relatively recently when the previous chieftain was killed in a misunderstanding involving a hungry giant snake. You know, normal things. They seem to have gotten more aggressive since then, but until the merchant kidnapping they were seen more as a nuisance than a true threat.

The entrance to the Bramblemouth cave opens on the western slopes of the low ridge than runs north-south through this section of the Churlwood. Lush and prickly blackberry vines creep across every surface and obscure the dark mouth of the cave if viewed from a great distance, but the stale smell of goblin sweat and the sight of smoke drifting up from the cave entrance made locating it relatively easy.

Two goblins are 'standing guard' at the mouth of the cave. This is nothing like the town guard patrolling, or a soldier at a castle gate. One is rooting around the blackberry vines looking for anything worth eating, and the other is sitting on the ground mining for gold up one nostril. They must have enormous sinuses, because that finger is getting a surprising distance up its nose.
You've found the Bramblemouth Den! With the instructions gotten both in town and from the Roadkeepers, you couldn't have missed it unless you tried. You are far enough away that the two distract goblins don't take notice of you, but unless they go blind it would be almost impossible to just stroll right past.
Rule Number 12: "A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head."

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RorytheRomulan
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Book 1, Act II: Into the Churlwood

Post by RorytheRomulan » Sun Jul 24, 2022 6:34 am

Rusilka harrumphs, and her eyes glint maliciously at the sight of the dwarves' ancestral enemies. Or rather, one of them. "See, this's what ye get when ye give 'em room t' breathe." She'd love nothing more than to charge as fast as her squat body can, and put her wicked weapon to work.

Axe out, shield ready, she says, "Well, what're we waitin' fer?"
If you have a better idea, hold me back. Picture Rusilka immediately trying to smash the One Ring at the Council of Rivendell.

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ManWithDoor
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Book 1, Act II: Into the Churlwood

Post by ManWithDoor » Thu Aug 04, 2022 3:27 pm

Nobody else seems to have a more clever idea than Rusilka, and so she hefts her shield and axe, and charges at the goblins! They are caught completely off-guard, and the first takes an axe to the head ... which is immediately removed from its body and flung against the hillside. His body falls into the blackberry bushes that he had been perusing.
Charge, assuming Power Attack as they're surprised and Flat-Footed. 8+4+2 = 14, Hit (b/c of Flat-Footed). 8 Damage, Dead. Low-level goblins don't have a lot of hit points.
Amelak the Dragon rushes forward to the goblin that is sitting on the ground, nose-mining. It looks up in wide-eyed surprise as a miniature dragon latches on to it and begins to shake and tear.
Charge as well, Power Attack with Bite. 14+5+2 = 21, Hit. 10 Damage, likewise dead.
Myri advances with crossbow and spells ready, but arrives to find that unnecessary. Both guards have been swiftly dispatched, and they didn't even have time to raise the alarm.

Pushing the corpses to the side, they look into the cave. The ceiling in the entryway at least is awkwardly low, barely more than four feet in height. A pair of walls two feet high made from piles of rock and broken masonry divide this larger cave into smaller areas. The air stinks of smoke, sweat, and worse.
From your vantage point you can see about 20-ish feet into the cavern, the short walls blocking some of your sight (D2 on the Map). As this is sized for goblins, Medium or larger creatures must duck down to move in (act as Squeezing). Rather than following the low wall path you could also use a Climb check to clamber over the low walls, but it is awkward. You also assume that there will be stiffer resistance inside.
Rule Number 12: "A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head."

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RorytheRomulan
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Book 1, Act II: Into the Churlwood

Post by RorytheRomulan » Fri Aug 05, 2022 1:16 pm

Dwarf places two fingers against one nostril to blow out the other; the superior method of mining nasal obstructions. "Yer quick an' powerful, Scales, Ah'll give ye that," she says, still holding reservations over working alongside the dragonling.

"Right. Me first, sorcerer in back. It'll be a tight fit." She grins to herself at the phrasing.
No way am I gonna Climb at my current ACP. Amelak is welcome to slither up there, if she (he?) feels confident, so that we can go two in front and one in back.

Changed my mind about Ready Action: If we're spotted in the vicinity of a group - this is a bit more situational - I want to Intimidate the lot.

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Othniel
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Book 1, Act II: Into the Churlwood

Post by Othniel » Mon Aug 08, 2022 1:32 am

Myri turns her head in expression of disgust at the uncouth dwarf. "Very well. If you become injured, I can patch you up, but be careful. We don't know how many are about."

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Book 1, Act II: Into the Churlwood

Post by ManWithDoor » Wed Aug 10, 2022 4:29 pm

Advancing cautiously into the cavern, they all have to crouch to get through. They can see the cave eventually opens up, but they still have a bit to go before then. As they duckwalk along the path, they can peek over the 2' wall, and they see two goblin sentries to the south! It's impossible to have been silent enough (unless you were also invisible enough) to avoid their notice, but since the front-door guards were dispatched without a peep, they're not ready and you have the drop on them.
Alright, you had to go single-file (Rusilka, then Amelak, then Myri in the back). The two goblin sentries do look tougher than the ones up front. You all go first, then they go.
Rule Number 12: "A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head."

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RorytheRomulan
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Book 1, Act II: Into the Churlwood

Post by RorytheRomulan » Thu Aug 11, 2022 12:37 pm

Rusilka whispers, "Ah'll set up a flank, take 'im down, Amelak. Myri, back us up if we get crowded."

The squat warrior takes the lead, rounding the bend and shoving herself into the first sentry, muscling towards the nook behind him.
Overrun vs Goblin Sentry east or "A": 28 AFTER trait and feat bonuses. 29 with Hatred (?)

Power Attack: 16 to hit and 10 damage.

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ManWithDoor
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Book 1, Act II: Into the Churlwood

Post by ManWithDoor » Sun Aug 14, 2022 11:17 pm

Rusilka dashes around the short wall, and runs straight at the nearest goblin. Her solid body, combined with the additional weight of her armor, collides with the monster, knocking him to the ground. Her axe hacks into its body as she stops, opening up his belly to the air.
Overrun successful, exceeded CMD by over 5, so target Prone (-4 AC). 16 Hits for 10 damage.
Amelak is closer to the ground, moving more easily in the low ceiling. He moves across from the downed goblin and bites his throat out!
Move to flanking. 20, Hit for 10 damage. Goblin is dead!
Myri, before the one remaining goblin ...
Rule Number 12: "A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head."

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