Thursday 30 March 2017

Keep on the Borderlands - The Path of Evil - Session 26b



SESSION 26b: DAY 13 – CAVES OF CHAOS  

Looking at the unsuspecting goblins, Malandir relishes the chance of killing them, but knows the power of the Asmodean clerics. 

He sneaks back to the group to share what he knows, hoping they will agree to follow him up. He wishes to initiate the attack with a bowshot, then the clerics and warriors can do what they do.

Talmark whispers, "Perhaps a good idea would to let a little blast of negative energy be the first inkling to the goblins that their doom is at hand, if we can surprise them. Barrett and I can go into the mouth of the room first after your bow shot, Malandir, and get them stirred up so they surge at us. Then they can be blasted as a pack. One man at least will need to stay to the south to keep us from being surprised from behind." Talmark thinks to himself, “We never did recover Stein’s body. I hope these barbaric goblins aren’t eating him. That’s the sort of thing that might lessen our guy’s resolve.”

“Perhaps,” says Kord. “I can only protect three of us when I Channel Negative Energy and Lucien can protect none of us. Also, if we use light we’ll likely alert the goblins to our presence before we can surprise them.”

Malandir considers Kord’s and Talmark’s comments. “Kord cover your light and if you, Talmark and Barret come with me we’ll initiate the ambush. Hold onto my cloak and I’ll guide us down the hall. It’s only a little way. When I give you the order, uncover the light and unleash Asmodeus’ wrath. Lucien can protect our rear with Fremont, Per and Clovis and charge in reinforcements if we need them.”

The party nods in agreement. 

Lucien martials the reserve into a formation blocking the eastern approach. He is happy to have the faithful and brave Per with him and that Barret has been put into harms way. Lovely. 

The assault party forms up behind Malandir. Talmark is in front with Malandir so that he can charge forth when Malandir gives the order. Kord and Barret follow. 

Malandir Takes 10 in leading the party down the corridor to maximise their chances of surprising the goblins. It’s an uncomfortably slow advance but they get back to the intersection unnoticed. 


SURPRISE ROUND

·        Malandir gives the signal and Kord uncovers the light on his shield bathing the goblins in immediate brightness. The goblins are barely able to raise their hands to their eyes to shield them as Kord Channels Negative Energy. It’s a DC15 Will save for ½ damage and Kord rolls a 5 for damage. The goblins have a Will save of -1 and will need to roll a 16 accordingly. Eight of the nine are caught in the blast. They roll 11, 17, 15, 2, 8, 4, 17, 11 respectively.
·        Malandir lines up one of the lesser wounded goblins that he has line of sight too and fires an arrow at the flat-footed fiend. The arrow strikes true, hitting the little monster in the left thigh and dealing 6pts of damage (including Sneak Attack damage). The goblin slumps to the ground dead. The goblins have taken their first casualty and will need to take a morale check next round.
·        Talmark charges into the fray trying to cut down another goblin and also hoping to penetrate deep into their chaotic formation so that he may block the retreat of as many as possible should they break and run. The smashes the little fiend in the chest with the big 2 handed sword and deals 13pts of damage killing it instantly. In one foul swoop, he cleaves towards the goblin to his north and hits it in the lower abdomen. He practically cuts the beast in two as he deals 12pts of damage. It falls, dead.
·        There is no clear charge arc for Barret. He moves onto the flank of Talmark and into contact with a wounded goblin. With any luck, the party will win the initiative and he’ll finish the little monster next round or if the goblin runs he’ll stab it in the back.


ROUND 1A

Initiative: Party roll 15 + 0 = 15. Goblins roll 11 + 6 = 17. 

·        The goblins recoil in surprise at the violence of the attack. They make a morale check and roll 11 on 2d6 against a morale of 7 and flee.
·        As they go, Barret tries to stab the goblin to his west in the back but he misses.



DEW

5 comments:

  1. Well, that mostly worked.

    "Blasted darkness! I cannot see much! Barrett, take cover at the edge of that side passage. Malandir, can you come forwards and see what lies ahead? Lucien, we have made some room up here!..."

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  2. Indeed, three dead, most of the others wounded and in flight....Malandir will move up, hoping for a chance to strike down another goblin with his arrows.

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  3. Lucien and the men at arms will hold position unless called for. We do not know what is going on in the mix there.

    I am on PST here and cannot post until I get home from work, so looks like I miss some of the opportunity to participate. I do not "mind" and do not want you to slow the game on my behalf, it is just the reality.

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  4. No drama. Mate I've got to go bush tomorrow morning and won't have any phone/internet coverage for about a week as far as I can work out for the moment so the game will have to go onto pause for a little while anyway. What is PST?

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