"Hi Teldorthan."  Brom greeted the dwarf.  He knew of the armorer.  That is where they had picked up some scale armor for the warrior.

"Stealing not nice."  Brom never made these kinds of decisions.  He thought it sounded like a good thing to do though.

On the Road
Brom was excited about being on the King's Road.  He felt if he followed it far enough, he could actually find the King.

He naturally looked to Merric when they paused to decide whether to make camp or not.  He had never made those decisions before and fell back into that habit.

"Kobolds and dragonhide? We'll look, but it's as likely that they've carved it up for their own use as simply stashed it somewhere." Kaleas mused. It was a simple enough ask, and the worst that would likely come of it was empty hands.


"It does make our task easier," he replied to Merric's comment about the name. "If the ones living there are actually the ones that we're looking for. If they aren't then we may be able to parley with them."

"On balance, I think that we're better off camping by the road than within the forest. We're more visible out here, but also more aware, and we'll keep a double watch just to be safe." The early stop would allow that without leaving them all half-asleep the next day.

He looked around at the rest of the group, "Am I still the only one with a tent?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:39, Thu 07 July 2022.

In reply to Kaleas (msg # 45):

Ranndal starts helping to make camp near the road, ideally still a bit out of sight and with some wind break.

“No tent for Brom.” He replied to Kaleas.  He did offer to help setup camp though.  Brom was good at doing all the work for a camp.

After Merric’s comment, Brom asked the little guy, “Do trees wear cloaks?”

"Well, I've got one now, but I could only carry a small one, on account of," he gestures to his own small stature meaningfully. "So I'm not sure I could share."

In response to Brom's question, Merric points up at the tops of the trees. "Ooh! I actually know this one! It's because the leaves are so dense here that they're like a cloak over the trees. It's supposed to be pretty dark inside."

Brom looked toward the forest trying to see how dense and dark the canopy was.  He wondered how dark it was going to be during the day.  He expected not to be able to see anything at night.  Maybe they would be quick.

"Brom and Ehryk evening; Ranndal and myself midnight; Eanon and Merric morning?" That was Kaleas's suggestion as to the watch rotation given the extra hours. It was also an arrangement that ensured that there would be at least one person able to see well in the dark on each shift.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:58, Sat 09 July 2022.

Merric stomps on the ground to clear a small piece of flat terrain in their campsite.

"Works for me. Lets me get breakfast early."

With that he dumps the constituent parts of his new tent on the ground and begins trying to figure out how to assemble it.

Brom silently said each name as the people were indicated.  Names were hard.  Hopefully he could remember them.  "Ok myself."  He could do a first watch.  Brom was good at watching.

He noticed Merric stomping the ground.  That certainly wouldn't do.  He was too little to get it properly flat.  Brom came over and gently swept Merric to the side with an arm.  Then he laid his big old clompers into the ground like he was trying to stomp some rats to their deaths.  It left no uneven hills or ruts for the halfling to setup on.

OOC: It appears Ehryk has stopped participating. I'll keep them around for another week, but after that they'll fade out. For now assume they are assisting in some manner.



The evening will descend as a gentle blanket. Natural wilderness sounds of bugs and other wildlife will dwindle to the nighttime critters.

Ranndal, you had a rough night. Mosquitos buzzing about your ear, off noises from whoever was on watch, and other various nuisances plagued you. (While not enough to warrant a condition, definitely not a pleasant and refreshing rest!)

The sun rose to bring light and warmth to our group. Merric is likely the first to stoke up the fire for a warm breakfast.

Will any special preparations be made, or will our brave group march in a bold-like manner upon the ruined keep known as KOBOLD KEEP? (You estimate about two hours from present location)
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:41, Sat 09 July 2022.

With the camp packed up and everyone about ready to move out, Kaleas outlined another arrangement."We're about to head into a forest full of kobolds, probably hostile. Even if they aren't, there are liable to be traps scattered about. Ehryk and Merric, you take point together like before, a bit ahead of us, but not ranging far. Brom and Eanon, go a bit ahead of Ranndal and myself; we'll stay just far enough apart that any snares catching one pair won't be likely to get the others."

"Also, everyone stay aware of your partner and sound an alert if anything happens. If anyone needs to stop or slow down for any reason, say so. It's dangerous if we get separated in there, and trying to find one another by shouting through the trees will only attract the worst attention."

This was, in his estimation, just a sensible - if not standard - set of procedures, but with the company's mostly-strangers composition, it felt prudent to set them out nevertheless.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:28, Sat 09 July 2022.

Brom helped pack up.  His own bedroll was packed up quickly.  An apple and some dried, salted meat appeared in his hand from his pack and he gnawed at those for breakfast.

He offered to carry Merric's tent.  "You little guy.  You carry little stuff.  Brom big, Brom carry big stuff."

He didn't have any other ideas to offer Myself.  It sounded as good as anything Viscini would come up with.  He took his position in the middle of the group for the march into the woods.

Munching on day old bread, Merric stares at his half-disassembled tent, trying to sort out how to get it back to the smaller dimensions it was before. After strongly considering it, Merric rejects Brom's offer, "Naw, I'd feel bad. I'm the only one that fits in it, so it's already small like me, really."

After a bit more work, Merric finally gets some semblance of the tent's original form packed away, bulging a bit awkwardly in his pack.

"Right, let's get going then," he says to Ehryk with a nod before they head forward, vanishing into the leaves.

Brom walked along with his new companions in relative silence.  Viscini was a talker and therefore Brom never had to carry the conversation before.  He wasn’t sure how.  A couple of times he opened his mouth to ask something, but fell shotunsure how to phrase it.  Soon they were past the topic of interest and he forgot all about it.

He did keep his eyes out expecting to catch sight of something small and furry.

Youtube Music to inspire while reading this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Zjd-f7bg8c

The trek into Cloak Woods does justice to the name, the bright light of the overhead sun is dimmed by the thick canopy. The various game trails attest to the ample wildlife that calls the wood home. Although, crisscrossing those trails are ample signs of the lizard-like small draconian Kobolds. Their tracks also certify that this wood supports several tribes. Though which has become brazen and bold enough to harry and attack trader wagons remains to be seen...

Your travel down the ancient track to the former manor now only called Kobold Hall brings you to the entry door. The group has taken ample precautions to avoid traps and avoid any encounters, they have arrived. A short discussion and the first of the group scouted below to find the first room with a lone sentry...

Inside the first room, you'll see a long trench filled with a glowing green substance. Carefully hidden among the tiles of the floor are twigs and dead leaves that stepped upon make an awfully loud noise, surely alerting any inhabitants nearby. Beyond the trench, a small, reptilian humanoid stands in a darkened chamber, gaping at you. It carries a sling, and quickly reaches into a pouch at its belt for a stone. It hisses and shouts, “Intrudersss! Intrudersss!”


Map and combat stats forthcoming...

What was that stuff in the trench?

Nothing good, certainly.

Kaleas braced himself for whatever trickery might be in the offing; there was sure to be more to this than one kobold and a single open pit.


As a reminder: add a +1 Shield bonus to your AC if you don't have that or better already!

Carefully scampering across the floor, Merric is just about to let loose his shiny new dagger at the kobold when he leans too hard to prepare the throw and the delicate leaf under his foot crackles.

"Aw, COME ON! I was being so quiet!" Merric yells at the sentry then looks back to the party in obvious frustration before the inevitable need to dodge sling stones occurs.

Brom wonders what is going on ahead of him.  Someone was slurring their s’s.  He waited as this was about the time when Viscini did the talking.

Combat...

Round 1: Both sides are aware of the other.

The Kobold shouted a warning (Free)
Then loaded the sling and launched it at the obvious threat! (Merric, cause reasons to be discovered shortly!)

AC 12 for 5 damage vs. Merric is gonna be a miss I think!

Two more small draconic creatures rush from an alcove behind the slinger...

Declare actions!

Kaleas recognized that there was a danger in moving out into the hall and potentially exposing themselves to whatever snares had been set there, but remaining in the hall wasn't much of an option either. They needed to move in, and just as importantly, move around the pit - which was likely to be the focus of any such snares. Not getting bombarded or knifed in the process was also rather important.

He moved in, cautious but determined, calling to Brom and Ranndal to join him in pressing forward. Merric, Eanon, and Ehryk were better-able to strike from where they were, he reasoned, or in Merric's case, strike better if the enemy's attention was elsewhere.



Move: Tactical Command. Brom and Ranndal can each shift 2 squares as a free action. Brom and Ranndal gain a +2 power bonus to all defenses until Kaleas's EONT.
Move (Std): Walk to K7.
Minor: None.

This message was last edited by the player at 05:54, Fri 15 July 2022.

Ranndal moves into the room, axe out and held in a light and easy grip. He skirts the pit and comes up to the group of kobold.

"Hey, now, let's relax. Put down those weapons and clear out."

---

Minor: activate defender aura.
Move: Walk to L6.
Move: Walk to J2.

Kobolds in I2 and I3 are in the aura. They take a -2 to attacks that don't include Ranndal, and he can make a melee basic attack (as an opportunity attack) if they shift or make an attack that doesn't include him.
Marked enemies are immune to this.

Brom's eyes go wide as he sees the attack miss Merrick.  "NO!  Brom save you other Viscini!"  He called out.

The big human followed Myself's command and moved toward the enemy.  He saw the one called Ranndal headed toward the left side.  Brom would take the right.

He moved up to the green goo drawing a javelin as he went.  Brom wasn't sure which one attacked Merrick so he hurled it straight across at the kobold in front of him.


Free: Assuming Sword was drawn as in in off hand.
Free: Shift 2 squares to I11 (from Kaleas/Myself)
Move: I10, I9, H8, H7 to H6
Minor: Draw Javelin
Standard: Throw Javelin at H3 (Marked)

Brom rolled 22,11 using d20+8,d6+5 with rolls of 14,6.  Brom Javelin vs H3 Kobold.

Note: +2 defenses from Tactical Command

This message was last edited by the player at 15:19, Sat 16 July 2022.

Shuffling to the right, Merric presses himself against the wall as he creeps around the side of the pool. He holds his position for a moment, considering his next move until Brom shouts.

Letting out a noise of annoyance, Merric dashes forward, skidding under the blow of the kobold closest and then swipes at another kobold's Achilles tendon.

"I'm. Not. Not. Viscini!" he utters a articulately under his breath.

Move: G4
Action: Charge to H2, Basic Attack vs Kobold Skirmisher at I2

Kobold at H3 get AoO, missing.
10:02, Today: Player of Merric rolled 7,5 using 1d20+4,1d8 ((3,5)).

Merric attacks w/ Combat Advantage + Sneak Attack. Deals 12 damage to Kobold Skirmisher at I2.
10:09, Today: Merric Lightfoot rolled 18,12 using 1d20+13,1d4+4+2d8 ((5,1,1,6)).

Reactions: Ready to use Second Chance to dodge any attacks from Skirmishers that hit.

Pounding his staff into the ground, Eanon snarled with an almost gutteral sound to his stomach, and closed his eyes, as if a beast grew within.
He extended his staff and cinders spread on the tip.
In a blinding flash, a bird of prey, of pure fire appeared and flew forward at the foe ahead(H3)! The bird diving and burnt the skin of the foe and remain within striking distance of it.

Standard: Firehawk vs H3, hits Ref 19, for 13 fire damage.
11:49, Today: Secret Roll: Eanon rolled 13 using 1d8+5 with rolls of 8.
11:49, Today: Secret Roll: Eanon rolled 19 using 1d20+7 with rolls of 12.  Firehawk Wis vs Ref.
Free: Hawk remains - If H3 provokes AoO, Hawk can attack for free(+7 vs Ref, 1d8+5 damage).
Last until end of next turn!

Ehryk:
Move to I7
Standard: Lance of Faith (+4 vs. Reflex, d8+4) to I2
23:37, Today: GM, on behalf of Ehryk, rolled 20,11 using d20+4,1d8+4 ((16,7)).




K1 (I2) attacks Ranndal (J2) (d20+6 (+1 for adjacent ally)) Critical which means the damage is a max of 8 on Ranndal.


23:22, Today: GM rolled 27,6 using d20+7,1d8 ((20,6)).

S1 (I3) attacks Ranndal (J2) (d20+6) and hits AC 23 for 4 damage.
(Dagger is +5 not +6, correction made)


23:28, Today: GM rolled 24,4 using d20+6,1d4 ((18,4)).


K2 got AoO and then a standard attack. (AoO will be d20+6, and the standard is d20+8 for since two allies are adjacent)

AoO missed (23:30, Today: GM rolled 8,8 using d20+6,1d8 ((2,8)).)

Standard hits AC 27 for 1 point of damage.



23:31, Today: GM rolled 27,1 using d20+8,1d8 ((19,1)).

S2 (B6) will sling attack Brom (G6) 25 vs. AC for 7 damage.

23:35, Today: GM rolled 25,7 using d20+6,1d6+3 ((19,4)).

Map updated.


Summary:
K1 has 4 HP remaining
K2 has 3 HP remaining
S1 is untouched

If the attacks actually land then the following PCs took damage:
Merric took 1 damage
Ranndal took 8 and 4 for a total of 12 damage potentially


If the mass confusion, hisses of outrage, anger and pain are heard. One of the kobolds fled to possibly warn allies or save itself, while the creatures seem in a fight for their survival!

ROUND 2.