([Completed] Corvin/Mordred Adventure 2): Hole in the Thornwall

[archolewa]

Initiative:
Mordred: 1d20 = 20
Astrid: 1d20+2 = 18
Sebastian: 1d20+1 = 18
Shadows: 1d20+3 = 17
Corvin: 1d20+2 = 9
Diana: 1d20+3 = 8


Mordred, Astrid and Sebastian burst out of the barns and sprint towards Corvin. Corvin slows just a hair as he points out the shadows, while Diana freezes, fumbling for her sword. The three run where Corvin's pointing. They get close to the shadows, and are able to make out two halflings, though there is something...stunted or slightly twisted about them. But they only get a moment's glimpse before the two sprint back towards the palisade wall.

We're in a chase! We'll be taking this round-by-round, but won't be doing explicit initiative. Rather, I want you two to give me something you want to do to try to hinder the haflings, herd them, catch them, whatever. If you succeed on your task, I'll then apply a negative modifier to a Con check for the halflings. If the halflings pass the Con check, then they'll reach and slip through the Palisade (though they will still be visible if you wish to continue trying to chase them out of the village). If they fail, then your team will catch up to them, and they'll be forced to fight at least a round of combat.

[shaidar]

Corvin

With Corvin's enhanced movement (as a run action), could he try to loop around the other side of the barn and cut them off. Hoping they'll be distracted by the others chasing him, he could rush out in front of them snarling and growling.

[archolewa]

Corvin

With Corvin's enhanced movement (as a run action), could he try to loop around the other side of the barn and cut them off. Hoping they'll be distracted by the others chasing him, he could rush out in front of them snarling and growling.

Absolutely! Feels like a Charisma (Intimidation) check, with a +2 bonus because they won't expect you to be able to move that fast.

[shaidar]

Great, I'll do that. I still don't trust the dice roller to roll it myself.

[Edeldhur]

Mordred

"Now! Cut them off now! They are heading your way!" - Mordred shouts, trying to get the ones they are pursuing to believe they are surrounded, and someone is about to cut them off.

[archolewa]

Corvin intimidation check: 1d20+12+2 = 17 < 20
Mordred bluff check: 1d20+9 = 14 < 20
Halflings Con check: 1d20+10 = 27 > 20


Corvin loops around the halflings and comes in from the north, snarling and barking. The halflings, though startled, react quickly and instinctively. Clearly, they've dealt with extreme threats rising out of the shadows before. They sprint in opposite directions, running around Corvin like water flowing around a rock. Their steps don't slow despite Mordred's call. Perhaps they don't understand him, or perhaps they did some preliminary scouting and know he's bluffing. The halflings and their pursuers race across the fields, and the halflings slip through a relatively large gap in the Palisade. Sebastian or Corvin might be able to squeeze through the gap, but Mordred and Astrid have no hope. If they want to get past the Palisade, they'll have to climb it.

Do you guys want to try to get past the Palisade and pursue the halflings? You'll need to pass a Strength check to scale the Palisade (Corvin gets to roll both his Climb Sheer Surfaces and a Strength check. If either passes, he scales the palisade successfully). Sebastian and Corvin also have the option of attempting a Dex check to squeeze through the gap. You could try to run down to the gate on the west end of the village, but these halflings are likely heading east back towards the Thornwall. So you'd have to exit the village through the gate and then circle all the way around the village. Corvin *might* be able to do that with a Con check at a -4 penalty, but nobody else has any hope of catching up to the halflings if you go that route.

[shaidar]

Corvin

Using his momentum Corvin leaps onto the Palisade in an attempt to climb it and clamber down the other wide. If this is successful then he wants to try and catch up with the halflings and knock one of them unconscious.

[Edeldhur]

Mordred

Without breaking momentum, and propelled by his strong frame, Mordred tries to scale the palisade!

Climb that palisade!: [1d20]=18+16+2 = 34 > 20

[archolewa]

Astrid will scale the wall alongside Mordred and Corvin, while Sebastian tries to slip through the gap in the palisade wall.


Corvin: 1d20+17 = 27 > 20
Mordred: 34 > 20
Astrid: 1d20+14 = 18 < 20
Sebastian: 1d20+14 = 33 > 20

Corvin scales the wall with a smooth, easy elegance, while Mordred throws himself over with raw strength. Sebastian is able to wiggle between the gap the halflings took like a mouse. Astrid grabs a chink in the palisade wall with her free hand, her other occupied by her shield. Her fingers strain, and her feet scrabble against the wall in search of purchase, but she is unable to find any before her arm gives out and she falls to the ground with a thud. She curses angrily, and chucks her shield away, before trying again with both hands.


Astrid: 1d20+14 = 28 > 20


This time, with both arms available, she is able to scale the wall, and take off after the others, though she is about 20' feet behind, and she no longer has her shield.

They race through the fields after the two shadows, gaining on them with every step. A few drops of water land on their heads and shoulders, hints of a coming rain.

You all are about to be ambushed. The lurking shadows are hidden using an ability similar to the thief Hide-in-Shadows skill, so it's automatic surprise, though I will give Corvin a 1-in-6 chance to *not* be surprised due to his Alertness special ability: 1d6 = 1! Corvin isn't surprised.

Corvin slows a little bit, his fur standing on end, and his nose twitching as he catches the scent of something foreign. He looks around, and spies three halfling-sized shadows rise up from among the furrows of the field, raising something above their heads. There are two side-by-side on Corvin's left, and one on his right. They are about 30' feet away.

Corvin, Mordred and Sebastian are all going to be attacked by sling stones. Corvin may take an action. Mordred, Sebastian and Astrid are all surprised.

[shaidar]

Corvin

"Ware! Ambush, left and right!"

He rushes to engage one of the attackers on his left, attempting to knock it unconscious.

[archolewa]

Initiative:
Shadows: 1d20+1+2 = 22
Corvin: 1d20+2 = 20

Shadow attacks Corvin:
1d20+1+1+6 = 22 > 20
damage: 1d4 = 1 - Corvin takes 1 damage.

Shadow attacks Mordred:
1d20+1+1+3+2(attacker unseen by Mordred) = 15 < 20

Shadow attacks Sebastian:
1d20+1+1+5+2(attacker unseen by Sebastian) = 21 > 20
damage: 1d4 = 3 - Sebastian takes 3 damage

Corvin attacks Shadow:
1d20+3+6 = 20 >= 20
damage: 1+1 = 2
saving throw at vs KO: 1d20+12-1 = 26 > 20



Corvin sprints at the pair of shadows on his left, while the shadows whip slings above their heads and let loose. Sling stones rain down on the adventurers. One stings Corvin's shoulder, and Sebastian cries out in pain as one skips off the top of his shield and deflects off his leather helmet.

Corvin pounces at the two shadows on his left. His fist lashes out and catches one across the temple, staggering but not dropping him. This close, Corvin can see details now. These are halflings. He thinks. It's hard to say for certain in the dark, but there's something slightly twisted and off-putting about them. Something almost goblinoid.

The two halflings they'd been chasing circle around, and come back in to attack.

Alright, everyone can act now!

Sebastian is a little dazed. He's going to fall back behind Astrid, who is using the run action to get into melee with the one on the right with the sling. The one on the right is going to try to shoot Sebastian a second time. The two the group was chasing are going to use the Run action to close into melee range with Mordred. The two facing off with Corvin will draw daggers and attack him.

Actions!

[shaidar]

Corvin

Corvin strikes again at the same creature, once again hoping for a knockout.

[Edeldhur]

Mordred

Mordred rushes ahead to meet the ones coming at him - "Come on then!" - he roars, and attacks.

Attack (Bastard Sword 2h): [1d20+3]=7+3=10 Damage: [1d8+3]=6+3=9

[archolewa]

Mordred

Mordred rushes ahead to meet the ones coming at him - "Come on then!" - he roars, and attacks.

Attack (Bastard Sword 2h): [1d20+3]=7+3=10 Damage: [1d8+3]=6+3=9

Strictly speaking, they're too far away for you to close and attack (since otherwise *they* could close and attack in the same round, and they need to run to reach you). But it's fine. I'll assume you're choosing to lose initiative, and will attack when they reach you.

Initiative:
Astrid: 1d20+2 = 22
Corvin: 1d20+2 = 17
Sebastian: 1d20+1 = 10
5 Halflings: 1d20+1+2 = 6

-- Lost --
Mordred

Corvin attacks:
1d20+3+6 = 13 < 20

2 halflings fighting Corvin:
1d20+1+6 = 27
damage = 1d4 = 4
Corvin takes 4 damage.

1d20+1+6 = 13 < 20

Mordred attacks a halfling:
10+6 = 16 < 20


The droplets turn into a steady rain, the darkness deepens, turning the all the combatants into shadowed figures wrestling for survival. The halfling aiming for Sebastian has to scramble for his dagger as Astrid charges out of the darkness, screaming a battlecry in the almost dead language of her ancestors.

Corvin and his two foes bob and dance around each other, featureless blurs of lashing fists and thrusting daggers. Corvin lets out an animalistic howl as a halfling buries a dagger almost to the hilt in his arm, driving him back several steps as he clutches at the wound.

Mordred swings his sword in a great arc as the two halflings charge, stopping them in their tracks and driving them back a few steps.

Fire flares up in the village behind them. A trumpet sounds, and the battlecry of the Refuge rises above the patter of rain and the clash of steel, shouted by dozens of voices. "Fear no fire! Fear no foe! For friend and family, home and hearth!"

The village is mobilizing!

The halflings squeal in terror, and try to bolt.

Actions!

The halflings are all going to try to flee.

Astrid is going to attack with Wrestling to try to pin her opponent to the ground. Sebastian will move forward and attack one of the halflings engaged with Mordred.

[shaidar]

Corvin

The creatures dance around Corvin and he feels the deep pain of the dagger. With the pain and the smell of blood becomes the realisation he might have over reached with this foe. He snarls and his claws extend.

Then he sees the fire and hears the shout from the village and the panic on the faces of the creatures as they turn to flee.

Bringing himself back under control he retracts his claws and strikes at the closest one, still hoping he can knock one out for interrogation.

[Edeldhur]

Mordred

"If you try to flee, we will cut you down" - Mordred warned the shadowy halfling like creatures - "Surrender and you will live" - but at the last moment a thought crossed his mind - "Halflings? Could it be?" - and instead of striking with his blade, he lashed out with a fist.

If I remember correctly, I can attack with a fist but will never be able to do more than 1+2(from Str) = 3 points of damage. Correct?
But it will be non-lethal, right?

Punch!: [1d20+2]=10+2=12
For 3 damage if it hits.

[archolewa]

Initiative
Corvin: 1d20+2 = 22
Astrid: 1d20+2 = 19
Halflings: 1d20+1+2 = 4
Sebastian: 1d20+1 = 4

Corvin attacks the nearest halfling (chosen randomly 1d2, 1 is injured halfling, 2 is uninjured = 1 attacking injured halfling):
1d20+3+6 = 27 > 20
damage: 2 - target only has 2 HP remaining, target killed.

Astrid tries to pin a halfling:
1d20+2+6 = 23 > 20
damage: 0+1 = 1 - Halfling only had 1 HP, target killed

Sebastian moves up and attacks one of the halflings facing off against Mordred:
1d20+2+6 = 19 < 20


Astrid grabbed the halfling in front of her and pinned him to the ground. His head cracked against a stone as he slammed into the dirt, there was a sound of brittle bones breaking, and the halfling went still. Dead.

Corvin and the two halflings circled each other. At the battlecry of the villagers, the two glanced towards the village. Corvin took advantage of the distraction to land a solid punch to the side of the head of the halfling he'd already injured. His neck snapped and he collapsed, dead.

The remaining three halflings bolted into the dark, rainy night.

Everyone gets 5 * 10 = 50/4 = 12.5, rounded up to 13 XP. Sebastian and Astrid only get 6.5, rounded up to 7 XP since they're henchmen. You guys may mark this XP down now if you wish, or wait until the end of the adventure and do everything at once when I post a big XP-and-loot post. Tracking your combat XP as you go may not be a bad idea since you're both pretty close to leveling, just make sure to write down somewhere if you track this XP so that you don't double count at the end.

Do you wish to pursue the remaining three halflings?

[Edeldhur]

Mordred

Since he has no means to capture them and a doubt is still nagging at the back of his head, Mordred does not give chase to the fleeing halflings.

He will make sure to check the fallen ones, in case any of them are still alive. If not, he just goes through their possessions, and checks their semblance - do they look emaciated, mutated in any way? Are they actually halflings?

"Well done to all" - he compliments his companions, with a nod of appreciation at Astrid's resourcefulness and ferocity.

If their foes are actually identifiable as halflings, and before anyone arrives, he shares his thoughts with the others - "I am concerned these may be village folk, compelled or corrupted in some way to attack their own kin" - his brow is deeply furrowed - "I hope I am wrong"

[shaidar]

Corvin

Corvin considers chasing the creatures, but realises he will likely outrun his friends. A twinge of pain from his dagger wound reminds him that two of them can be dangerous enough, let alone three.

He turns over the body of the creature he felled and takes a closer look.

"Should we take the bodies inside the palisade, in case they have friends and return in greater numbers? "

[Edeldhur]

Mordred

"Let's do that" - Mordred agreed - "But let me check your wounds first"

First Aid on Corvin: [1d20]=12+11+1 = 24 > 20
First Aid heals: [1d3]=2 HP

"Sebastian borther, do you need assistance with your wounds?" - he asks.

"Astrid, have you been hurt?"