Mar 27, 2024 5:45 pm
OOC:
I’m happy to do either. Whichever seems most fun for the majority.Last edited Mar 27, 2024 5:47 pm
Descent into the Underdark
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While Ishzu is asking the goblins a question, Grin says: Right, you lot - where’re we going now? We could fight the crazy goblins now or later. I’m worried about the matrix node and also about the rest of the goblin tribe - they must have children among them who need help…
Mar 27, 2024 7:05 pm
The lead goblin says, "We're all that's left of our group. Head Goblin and two of his guards are dead. They tried to get him out, but failed. Their sacrifice gave us a chance to get away. I don't know what happened to the shaman's apprentice, but now she is gone completely crazy and is somehow mind-controlling all of the others. We just want to get back to our camp, grab the children and get away. I don't know why the didn't follow us right away, but they are coming. We have to get the children out to safety.
"I don't know how many of them there are, but they are down two."
"I don't know how many of them there are, but they are down two."
OOC:
That probably means they are down to 17 now.
Mar 28, 2024 1:28 am
Ander pulls his friends aside, for brief group-huddle.
We should allow ourselves with them. With the first group, I mean. Look, I don’t want to throw in with these…meanies… but, something about the enemy of my enemy is a friend to me.
Or….well…did I say that right…? How’s that phrase go, exactly…?
We should allow ourselves with them. With the first group, I mean. Look, I don’t want to throw in with these…meanies… but, something about the enemy of my enemy is a friend to me.
Or….well…did I say that right…? How’s that phrase go, exactly…?
Last edited Mar 28, 2024 1:28 am
Mar 28, 2024 1:58 am
Remembering his priorities, Grin chomps down on the chunk of cheese gifted him by lord otter. Then replying to Ander: Right, they said that the other goblins are on their way - perhaps we can help the younglings, then set up an ambush?
Mar 28, 2024 9:58 am
Brewner nods while his companions speak.
"We have surprise on our side, ambushing them is our best option, i dont think the younglings goblins will be of much help"
Brewner then takes a big breath
"We ambush them now with the help of this goblins, we hide and let the big group pass when the shaman appears we focus our might on him, maybe kiling him will free the others from the crystal power"
"We have surprise on our side, ambushing them is our best option, i dont think the younglings goblins will be of much help"
Brewner then takes a big breath
"We ambush them now with the help of this goblins, we hide and let the big group pass when the shaman appears we focus our might on him, maybe kiling him will free the others from the crystal power"
Last edited Mar 28, 2024 5:39 pm
Mar 28, 2024 2:57 pm
The goblins look confused, then the leader says, "You'd ... you'd actually help us?"
The goblins confer for a bit, then say, "We'll accept your help, but we make no promises for anything in the future other than we will never bother you," pointing to the group before him, "again. We can talk about anything more than that if we succeed."
The leader then says something to a medium sized goblin, who immediately sprints away toward their camp. He says something to two other goblins, who then immediately move back from where they were fleeing.
"This is not a good spot for an ambush. We have a better spot to do it in. Follow us."
The goblins confer for a bit, then say, "We'll accept your help, but we make no promises for anything in the future other than we will never bother you," pointing to the group before him, "again. We can talk about anything more than that if we succeed."
The leader then says something to a medium sized goblin, who immediately sprints away toward their camp. He says something to two other goblins, who then immediately move back from where they were fleeing.
"This is not a good spot for an ambush. We have a better spot to do it in. Follow us."
Mar 28, 2024 6:09 pm
Ricardoi91 says:
OOC:
So me and WhiteDwarf want to try escort the goblins and try to make an alliance, Thunder and Smiley want to try to deal with the crystal directly, correct? I guess Bunt will be the tie breaker
OOC:
Glad that this does not seem to be the case anymore, because I took too long to read that post. Sorry!
Mar 28, 2024 6:20 pm
"Well, that promise sounds like fair game... for now!"
Oliver took a step to follow the goblins to wherever they were pointing. "Might as well trust now. We need all the strategy and surprise factor in our side."
"Oh, right. I almost forgot. Here, Ishzu, hand me your wine vial and take these other two vials, for when you need to do this again. And Brewner, here, take another pair of vials, so you can mix them like Ishzu did anytime you need to redzevous with us."
Without a side glance, Oliver handed the wine vial to Grin, but he found this amusing and his chuckle gave him away.
Oliver took a step to follow the goblins to wherever they were pointing. "Might as well trust now. We need all the strategy and surprise factor in our side."
"Oh, right. I almost forgot. Here, Ishzu, hand me your wine vial and take these other two vials, for when you need to do this again. And Brewner, here, take another pair of vials, so you can mix them like Ishzu did anytime you need to redzevous with us."
Without a side glance, Oliver handed the wine vial to Grin, but he found this amusing and his chuckle gave him away.
Mar 28, 2024 9:15 pm
Grin, nodding in agreement, immediately downs the reconstituted "wine". Mid- swig, he spits it out, coughing and gasping for air.
Mar 28, 2024 9:58 pm
After looking quizzically at the groupsk antics, the lead goblin shakes his head and says, "This way."
After a few minutes, the lead goblins says, "This should do. They are forcing Zigg to guide them, and he should lead them through here." The location is a dense thicket with a fairly narrow pass through it. However, how narrow it is, is not obvious until one has gone in a fair bit. It will force them down to just two abreast, meaning they will be more spread out. "Anyone with ranged weapons should climb those trees, there and there. It will give you a great vantage point to shoot anyone who has entered the thicket, or is outside it."
About this time, the runner returns with the guard Ishzu had seen left behind. He told the leader, "The younglings are somewhere safe and are guarded by the older ones. I am here for vengeance."
The lead goblin nods at the guard and says, "You," pointing to the main group of goblins, "attack from the other end and don't let them emerge. Anyone with missiles, attacks from the trees, everyone else hide and attack from behind them. I don't know why the took so long to follow us, and I don't know how the apprentice is controlling everyone. But let's stop them now."
After a few minutes, the lead goblins says, "This should do. They are forcing Zigg to guide them, and he should lead them through here." The location is a dense thicket with a fairly narrow pass through it. However, how narrow it is, is not obvious until one has gone in a fair bit. It will force them down to just two abreast, meaning they will be more spread out. "Anyone with ranged weapons should climb those trees, there and there. It will give you a great vantage point to shoot anyone who has entered the thicket, or is outside it."
About this time, the runner returns with the guard Ishzu had seen left behind. He told the leader, "The younglings are somewhere safe and are guarded by the older ones. I am here for vengeance."
The lead goblin nods at the guard and says, "You," pointing to the main group of goblins, "attack from the other end and don't let them emerge. Anyone with missiles, attacks from the trees, everyone else hide and attack from behind them. I don't know why the took so long to follow us, and I don't know how the apprentice is controlling everyone. But let's stop them now."
OOC:
This is his plan, and the others are fine with it. However, if you want to offer information, they'll listen, and if you have a better plan, they'll consider it.
Mar 28, 2024 10:19 pm
Finding a place to hide that is closer to the path or above it. Ishzu mentally communicates with the whole group. "The goblins are being controlled by a large crystal gem. I am a little familiar with it. If they are bringing the Gem with them, Do Not touch it. I will attempt to communicate with the crystal and set your tribe free."
OOC:
I would love to find a place where if the crystal is there I can easily get the drop on it or clime on top of it. Mar 28, 2024 11:51 pm
OOC:
There is a couple of trees that are close to where the entrance to the thicket is. You can probably use one of these to get the drop on them as they move to enter the thicket.Alternatively, Ishzu doesnt need to breathe, correct? If so, there are fetid pools and ponds all around. You could hide in one of those even farther back from the entrance to give yourself more options.
Last edited Mar 28, 2024 11:53 pm
Mar 28, 2024 11:58 pm
Grin nods, still filthy and covered in mud. I’ll aim for the Shaman’s apprentice. Wait for the first ranged shots to land before attacking from behind. He climbs up one of the trees in the indicated area ahead of the party. He wraps his cloak around him and wills it into the colors and textures of a camouflage netting. Focusing on his disguise, he does his best to hide.
Mar 29, 2024 12:02 am
Ander readies his sword.
I have gone with Trusty Sling in past, but my knightly ways dictate a straight-up fight with these creatures. I will smite them in melee, my friends!
I have gone with Trusty Sling in past, but my knightly ways dictate a straight-up fight with these creatures. I will smite them in melee, my friends!
Mar 29, 2024 10:25 am
Oliver climbs one of the thicket trees, as indicated, finding a comfortable position where he can load and shoot his sling. He feels happy to comply with what seems to be an excellent plan.
Mar 29, 2024 11:00 am
Brewner nods, grim expression on his face
"Don't forget let them pass until the shaman is in range and Ishizu tried to communicate with the crystal"
He then hides Warhammer in both hands
"Don't forget let them pass until the shaman is in range and Ishizu tried to communicate with the crystal"
He then hides Warhammer in both hands
Mar 29, 2024 3:26 pm
OOC:
Now that everyone is in position ...OOC:
At this point there are five goblins in front of the apprentice. Next is a central group consisting of the apprentice, the captive (Zigg), and the four goblins holding the crystal in its harness. There are two goblins on each side of the central group. The rest are behind the central group, but they can't be easily seen. (By math, it'll be the last three.)Zigg replies, "Our camp is just on the other side of the thicket! Of course it narrows! Do you think we'd live out in the open!?"
The apprentice pushes him back and mutters to herself, "Maybe it will be better if we follow the thicket around ..." As she says this, the other goblins (except for Zigg) all seem to freeze ...
OOC:
At this point the group has not yet entered the trap. With the exception of Ishzu, all of the goblins are outside the thicket and there is no easy access to the apprentice, though Oliver and Grin and easily hit them with their ranged weapons. Ishzu is the exception. He is just above the lead goblins, near to the apprentice.To try to illustrate this, let's center on Ishzu. Ishzu is Close to/directly above the lead five goblins. They are all in the same range. One range away from Ishzu is the apprentice and the central group in one direction, and the rest of the party in the other direction, making both of them Near to Ishzu, but Far from each other. (The rest of the party is Near to the lead five goblins and Far from the apprentice and the central group.) All of the goblins inside the thicket are Far from Ishzu. It takes one move action to change a range. So, for example, if Ander or Brewner pop out of their hiding spots, they would have to take a Move action to be able to melee with the lead five goblins. (This is not advice; just an example.) Ishzu can "drop" for free, so with one Move action, he can be at the central group.
Mar 29, 2024 4:14 pm
Grin waits to spring the trap, but focuses and aims at the apprentice. Maybe I should shoot at the crystal-carriers? That might keep them all stationary? now he doesn’t know what he should do.
OOC:
If I focus this turn, can my first shot next turn be with focus and my second without?Last edited Mar 29, 2024 4:17 pm
Mar 29, 2024 6:25 pm
OOC:
You get both actions this turn. Basically, you have surprised them. You get a "free" turn. After that, it's next turn and they act, then you act. So, Grin can both focus and shoot.(Side point: I have been treating "surprise" like you have forfeited initiative, but get to act one Turn early. That way even with surprise, no one gets to move twice before anyone else can act.)
Do be aware that you aren't killing anyone in a single shot, so you won't "drop" anyone with a single bolt. If you shoot one of the crystal carriers, I guess there is a chance they could loose track and drop it, but it isn't a sure bet or anything. However, if everyone strikes the apprentice, maybe you can accumulate enough damage. Only one way to find out!
Ishzu can drop and move, then have one action left at the crystal.
Last edited Mar 29, 2024 6:28 pm
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