Keep on the Borderlands - The Path of Evil - Session 53f

SESSION 53f: DAY 23 – THE CAVES OF CHAOS 

“Decision time, gentlemen,” says Lucien as he surveys the wreckage of the combat, “do we heal up and further explore the bugbear cave? Or do a retreat, heal up and try a different cave, leaving the bugbears until we have more health and resources? We are already here and I am for keeping on, though bugbears are mighty foes to be tackling at our strength levels.”

Per says, "I'm happy to continue searching these caves. But first we need to heal our wounded."

Constantly turning his head to check the corridor to the east, Malandir agrees to push on. “We have broken through the first line of their defences without the alarm being raised. We should exploit the element of surprise otherwise this route will be more difficult next time.”

“I agree with everyone else” Talmark confirms. “Heal up and push on. There might be more here than just bugbears, but hopefully we'll have a good line of retreat in case of severe trouble.”

Kord nods his agreement and hands the two Cure Light Wounds scrolls from the party treasure to Lucien to administer. 

He casts the first upon Talmark healing back 7pts and taking the warrior to 18 out of 20. 

The second he casts upon Barret and heals up 2pts taking the men at arms to 9 out of 12. 

Kord casts Cure Light Wounds upon himself healing back 6pts of damage taking himself to full health of 17. 

He then takes a scroll from his personal equipment and casts Cure Light Wounds upon Fremont and heals back 8pts taking Fremont to 9 out of 12.

He takes another scroll from his personal equipment and casts Cure Light Wounds upon Clovis and heals back 6pts taking Clovis to 7 out of 12.  

Summary as follows (in the order of the Summary Character Sheet):

-        Lucien: 15 out of 15

-        Kord: 17 out of 17

-        Talmark: 18 out of 20

-        Malandir: 17 out of 17

-        Per: 23 out of 23

-        Fremont: 9 out of 12

-        Clovis: 7 out of 12

-        Barret: 9 out of 12

The party still has some reserve healing with Lucien and Kord having one and two scrolls of cure light wounds respectively left and there are a number of potions of cure light wounds left amongst various party members (DM’s Note: Let me know if you want to do more healing). Summary of consumables is below.

They discuss which way to go. “There are three passages,” Malandir reminds them, “one directly to the north of here, one to the east that then turns north and one to the east that turns south. As we came in here so fast I didn’t have time to scout any of them. Which one do you think we should focus on first?”

 

DEW

Keep on the Borderlands - The Path of Evil - Session 53e

SESSION 53e: DAY 23 – THE CAVES OF CHAOS 

ROUND 2B

·        The scared Bugbear’s Fear token is reduced from 3 to 2 and Kord’s Copy Cat token is reduced from 2 to 1.

·        Astonished at the powerful hits the burly warrior is absorbing, Lucien sticks behind Talmark, taking out and reading off another curative scroll to keep him in the fight. The gifts of Asmodeus coursing through him, Talmark heals back 5pts of damage.

·        Barret slashes at the Bugbear confronting him but just misses as the Bugbear ducks under his attack. The Bugbear looks back at Barret with a devilish grin of malevolent evil which sends a shudder down the warriors spine. (15/16)

·        Kord takes a 5ft step to the south with the intent of next round starting to get a flank on the Bugbear. He swings at the monster with his heavy mace but is unable to hit his opponent. (10/13)

·        Per steps forward south west 5ft to attack the Bugbear who has been attacking Talmark. He reasons that if he is able to take it down he’ll immediately be able to Cleave and help Kord and Barret on the southern Bugbear. He notices in his opponents eagerness it leaves a gap and he runs the Bugbear through with the point of his weapon delivering 11pts of damage and almost killing the monster. In a flurry of motion he immediately cleaves at the enemy to his flank. The Bugbear to his south east is now distracted and flanked by Kord which makes it an easier target for the skilled warrior. The blow strikes true but cannot penetrate the Bugbears armour. (11/17) (2/10)

·        Feeling his strength come back to him from the gifts of Asmodeus and Lucien, Talmark 5ft steps to the west and attacks his now weakened opponent. Felldrac bites deep. The mighty overhand swing ends his enemy’s existence and leaves the two handed sword wet with the gore of his opponent as he delivers 12pts of damage. He swings the sword again at the rightfully scared Bugbear, confident in the knowledge that his attack will not break Lucien’s Fear spell. He staggers his opponent with an on onslaught of strikes as he critically hits his adversary delivering 30pts of damage. (16/21) (19/25) (17/22 – confirms the critical hit).

·        Seeing that the Bugbears in the west have been finished by Talmark and Per, Malandir draws his bow and fires at the opponent of Barret and Kord but the arrow flies wide. (4/9)

ROUND 3A

·        Seeing that Per is off balance by his Cleave attack (ie the -2 to AC) the Bugbear turns on the deadly warrior. Swinging its massive morning star however it isn’t able to hit the human. (6/11)

The rest of the combat is mercifully short with the party quickly surrounding and cutting down the beast. 

The party rushes over to their heavily wounded men at arms whilst Malandir keeps watch at the entry to the room. 

The ordeal of being beaten and captured and the possibility of prolonged torture before probably death has played on the minds of Fremont and Clovis. [DM’s Note: 1-2 = permanently scarred, this NPC will not want to go hunting monsters anymore and will have -5 to any future morale checks, 3-4 = its part of the job, this NPC will shake off the encounter, 5-6 = hatred, this NPC will hate all monsters and get a +5 to any future moral checks. Fremont roll = 3, Clovis roll = 3.] Both men however are veterans now and they shake off end encounter, happy to have been rescued by their patrons. 

They search the bodies of the Bugbears and find 66gp, four morning stars and two long swords. They cut the ears from the monsters. They look at the armour of the monsters but it’s worthless. 

Malandir notices the large gong on the western wall and is thankful that none of the monsters were able to get to it in time. Only Asmodeus knows what it would have brought down on them if it had been rung.

DEW

Keep on the Borderlands - The Path of Evil - Session 53d

SESSION 53d: DAY 23 – THE CAVES OF CHAOS 

ROUND 1B

·        The western most Bugbear’s fear token is reduced from 4 to 3.

·        Barret was wounded in the previous round and must make a morale check. He’ll need to roll a 4 or better on a D20 to continue to fight. He rolls an 8.

·        Barret stabs at the female to his fore but in his nervousness, he misses her. (1/2)

·        Kord 5ft steps to the north and casts Shield of Faith using his Standard Action and Copy Cat using his Move Action. The Copy Cat is an illusory double of Kord and will last for the number of rounds equal to his cleric level. He calls for Malandir to redeploy behind the new defensive line that he has made with Barret.

·        Rather than risk an attack of opportunity, Malandir nods and uses a Withdrawal Move to a position behind the defensive line.

·        Lucien 5ft steps south while retrieving a Cure Light Wounds scroll, reading it off and grasping Talmark on the shoulder as the Asmodean healing magic flows through the wounded fighter. He heals back 7pts of damage.

·        Talmark slashes at the female, hoping to bring her down and then to cleave into the male next to her. He raises Felldrac and delivers a powerful sundering blow ending the female’s resistance and delivering 11pts of damage. He follows through and slashes at the nearest male and but isn’t able to hit his wily foe. (14/20) (4/10)

·        Per stabs at the Bugbear to Barret’s front, hoping to protect the vulnerable man at arms. He strikes out with his master worked glaive and, using all the reach that it gives him, hits the monster in the right shoulder. The reflexive jolts of his foe informs him of its passing well before it hits the ground as he delivers 15pts of damage killing. He can cleave an adjacent opponent and so he turns his mighty glaive against the Bugbear facing Talmark. He slashes with the weapon but the Bugbear pushes away the attack. (17/23) (3/9)

ROUND 2B

·        The Bugbears’ have suffered 50% casualties and need to take a morale check. They roll 8 on 2d6 and pass the test.

·        The southern most Bugbear looks over at its fearful comrade and tries to encourage it to attack but it looks back at him in dread and then shamefully looks away. Disgusted the southern male advances 5ft to the north and attacks 1-3 = 3 Barret, 4-6 = Kord. Roll = 1 = Barret. It swings at the man at arms with its morning star but Barret is able to push the attack away with his shield. (6/11)

·        The remaining Bugbear attacks Talmark. It clubs at the warrior with its morning star, hitting him in the right leg. Talmark lets out a sigh of pain as the crushing blow delivers 11pts of damage. (15/20)

The current register of party consumables is as follows (I update this constantly as we go now so that we’ve got a running tally):

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