<11: Bruce> Well, in the absence of any ready way to reach BA (I have sent e-mail and checked IM), does someone want to handle Liatus?
<11: Meridius> I'd prefer just to run my own character.
<11: Meridius> I'm not good about splitting my focus.
<11: Karnak> The rule I use my ftf campaign is that the unplayed character becomes like the 'mooks' in martial arts movie... the bound around in the background, don't do much, and get only a 1/2 share of xp.
<11: Bruce> That makes some sense.
<11: Karnak> In Liatus case, we can basically assume he'll step in to cast a CLW if its required, but otherwise is just in the background.
<11: Bruce> Well, and doing basically sensible things - attacking and searching and so on.
<11: Bruce> Okay, Jason, I'll go with that approach and see how it works this session.
*** A.Machine? has joined channel 10 [Sat. D&D].
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<11: Bruce> By the way, I've decided to use the optional rules for partial experience for encounters where the characters investigate, debate, and leave things alone, but the encounter levels for the fountain and stuff are so low that it doesn't yet add up to anything. However, it will in time.
<Bruce> All right, so...
<Bruce> Last time the characters reached the first significant concentration of goblin force, after exploring some more of the citadel.
* 11: Karnak nods, "Good idea.
<Bruce> I make the tally right now three dead goblins and one barricade overcome, with the PCs - or at least Karnak - aware of the next chamber holding three or perhaps four goblins behind another three-foot barrier like the one Meridius took down.
<11: Meridius> Does Liatus carry a shield?
* Karnak nods, "Around the corner."
<11: Bruce> Just chainmail.
<11: Bruce> Jason's got stats for him at http://members.shaw.ca/ogier/dandd.htm
<11: Karnak> He's cast Command and Light so far off the list.
<11: Silana> I'm down two L1 spells, from Magic Missile and Mage Armor. The Mage Armor was just cast a few rounds ago, and still has most of an hour to run.
* 11: Bruce nods.
<Bruce> And to refresh folks on the details...
<11: Karnak> Yeah, Mage Armor is the kind of spell you cast at the start of exploration... when it drops, we pack up, punch the time clock and let Ralph take over for the day.
<Bruce> You came up a north-south hallway, with the barrier at the north end. That leads into a room about 20' square, with two openings in its south walls, where doors used to be before they were removed. The other opening leads to a short south-running passageway which hooks around a corner to a bigger room than this one most of you are in at the moment. There's a door more or less opposite where the passage comes out and another one further up the west wall, beyond the barrier, and a third in the north wall.
<Bruce> Thus our scene for today.
<Karnak> Meridius had just finished clearing the caltrops, and the group had just gotten collected again.
<Bruce> Right.
* 11: Meridius' brain sort of frotzes on that description. "Just point me at something to kill." :)
<Bruce> You do not risk surprise in the next fight, and neither do the goblins unless they've got a _really_ bad amnesia problem.
* 11: Bruce laughs.
<11: Bruce> Kira is sitting here on the table making sure I give her sufficient petting.
* Meridius tries to hand Karnak his shield. "You gonna follow directions this time?"
<Karnak> "I don't know if we should risk it again."
<Meridius> "If you work with me, the risk will be reduced. Now lets get past those goblins." Proffers the shield once more.
<Bruce> Liatus has few doubts about the feasibility of smacking more goblins.
* Karnak takes the shield, then sets it on the ground, leaning up against a wall.
<Karnak> "How about I dash across and see where that door leads?"
<Meridius> "The last time you dashed anywhere a goblin pounded on you."
<Karnak> "Yes. But they didn't pound on you."
<11: Meridius> While we're gabbing, Boromir shows up and says, "They have a cave troll."
* Silana comments quietly, "I can cast Magic Missile just twice more before I'm done for the day. I'd like to save something in case we need to make a retreat."
<Meridius> "And if you stick with me, you're less likely to get pounded on." :)
* Karnak shuffles down to the edge of the wall and peeks around again, trying to get a head count?
<Bruce> Spot roll.
<Meridius> "I understand, Silana. Stick with the crossbow for now."
## Karnak rolled 1d20+12 = 32 (20).
<Karnak> Woop.
* Karnak That should be a 22, not 32.
* Silana nods to Meridius. "I just wanted to make certain you knew."
<Bruce> Karnak, you make it two goblins behind the barrier. And the north door is open.
<Meridius> "Thanks."
* Karnak ducks his head back, and holds up a hand with 2 fingers up. "That many behind the wall."
* Karnak peers at a goblin body, "Maybe Liatus idea of using them for cover isn't a bad one?"
<Meridius> "Good. Karnak, I'll need your help to take down that barrier. You with me?"
<Karnak> "What's the plan this time?"
<Meridius> "The plan this time is what the plan would've been last time if you hadn't run off. You act as my shieldman while I cast the grappling hook and try to pull down the barricade. Once it's down, we drop the hammer on those goblins and work our way forward."
* 11: Karnak suspects after this or the next fight, we'll have to withdraw to re-equip spells and such.
* Karnak holds up a hand, "Okay, I don't know how to use a shield."
<Meridius> "It's just like a little wall you carry around. Hold it up between us and the goblins for a bit, and I'll take care of the rest."
* 11: Bruce admires Meridius' descriptions.
<11: Karnak> Okay, this means I'm at -2 on my attack rolls and moving rolls.
<Meridius> "We'll advance around the corner, I'll make the cast, then we'll retreat."
* Karnak looks skeptical, put picks up the shield. He holds it on the edges, and upside down.
* Meridius corrects Karnak's shield-bearing technique. :)
* Karnak looks extremely uncomfortable with the shield, "It's so heavy."
<Meridius> "You'll only be holding it for a short time."
* Silana sighs, rolling her eyes. Not that she's an expert in shield use, either, but she's seen enough soldiers drilling with them to at least know what it should look like to use one.
* Meridius readies his rope and grappling hook. "You ready, Karnak?"
* Karnak shrugs, "As I'll likely ever be."
* Karnak bangs his knee on a sheild edge, winces, and shuffles over to try and get in position.
* Meridius turns to Liatus and Silana. "Hold here for the moment. If this works, we'll all reset and charge the goblins."
<Bruce> Liatus nods, sword in one hand and imperial seal in the other.
* Meridius asks Bruce what the distance we'll be from the point around the corner to the barricade.
* Silana nods. "I understand." She checks her crossbow again, making sure it's ready to shoot.
<Bruce> Between 15 and 20 feet.
<Meridius> Okay, about the same as last time...
<11: Karnak> Ranged Touch vs. AC 8 is what we did last time, right?
<Meridius> "Okay, Karnak, when I say 'advance', we'll go around the corner. As soon as we're within sight of the goblins, plant the shield and tuck behind it. When I say 'retreat', we just back out the way we came in. Ready?"
<11: Bruce> Yes.
<Karnak> "I guess."
<11: Karnak> So we need initiative rolls to see if we can get around the corner before the gobos can shoot?
* As a quick afterthought, Meridius says to Liatus, "If I call for you, come forward. I may need a hand pulling on the rope." [Meridius]
<11: Bruce> Right.
<11: Meridius> Aren't we acting on the same init as the last combat?
<Bruce> Liatus nods again.
<11: Meridius> Since it's still, in theory, the same combat?
<11: Bruce> With multi-round prep and a session break I'm sort of inclined to roll over.
<11: Meridius> Okay.
<Bruce> So. Leave us do the initiative thing.
<11: Karnak> We've also done some non-combat stuff in between, which tends to break the combat.
## Bruce rolled 1d10+1 = 6 (5).
## Meridius rolled 1d20 = 3 (3).
<11: Meridius> Damn.
## Karnak rolled 1d20+2 = 19 (17).
## Silana rolled 1d20+2 = 11 (9).
<Bruce> Sorry, the first roll was for Liatus.
<Bruce> Now for the goblins...
<11: Karnak> What do you mean "damn"? Is this your plan... use Karnak as bait? :)
## Bruce rolled 1d20+1 = 3 (2).
<11: Meridius> Bruce, you rolled a d10 instead of a d20 for Liatus' initiative.
<11: Bruce> Duh. Right.
<11: Karnak> I think Liatus and Silana don't bother with init, yet, as they haven't been called.
<Bruce> Rolling for Liatus with the RIGHT die...
## Bruce rolled 1d20+1 = 2 (1).
<Bruce> Wow.
<11: Karnak> When they do get called, they'll act first in the round...
<Bruce> This is what happens when you don't show up, guys.
<11: Karnak> DMG pg 63/
<11: Karnak> Sorry, pg 62.
<11: Bruce> Ah.
<11: Karnak> (damn keyboard)
<Bruce> So of those acting right at the moment, it's Silana, Meridius, and Goblins.
<Meridius> (Karnak, Meridius, and the goblins)
<Bruce> Er, right.
<Meridius> "Advance!"
<11: Karnak> What Dex do the Gobbos have?
<11: Karnak> I'm guessing higher than Meridius, since he's got +0 Init, and they're +1.
<11: Karnak> So the order is Karnak, Gobbos, Meridius.
<11: Bruce> Dex 13 for the goblins.
<11: Karnak> Yeah, Goblins ahead of Meridius.
<Bruce> All right, so, Karnak.
* Karnak moves out with the shield held akwardly. (AC16 now)
<11: Karnak> Gobbos go.
<Bruce> The goblins let fly with javelins.
## Bruce rolled 1d20+2 = 20 (18).
* 11: Karnak snickers, "Meridius plan works perfectly. ;)
<Bruce> The first one manages to get past the shield...
## Bruce rolled 1d6-1 = 1 (2).
<Bruce> ...and inflict some noticeable damage. Likely a slice through some exposed shin or arm.
<Bruce> And the other one...
## Bruce rolled 1d20+2 = 19 (17).
* 11: Karnak laughs and laughs.
<Bruce> ...also connects, for...
## Bruce rolled 1d6-1 = 2 (3).
* Karnak staggers a bit, and shouts "I liked my plan better!"
<Bruce> ...another two points of damage. That's three this time, plus some damage from last time. How is Karnak at the moment?
<11: Karnak> Down to 4 hp at the moment.
<11: Karnak> (3 hp from last week, and 3 hp from this week)
<11: Bruce> Thanks.
<11: Karnak> Meridius is up.
<11: Meridius> Doesn't that add up to 6?
<Bruce> Now that Karnak is nicely decorated with goblin spears, Meridius can do something.
<11: Karnak> Yeah. I've got 10 hp to start, so down to 4.
<11: Meridius> Ah, okay.
* Karnak assumes they're light grazes, rather than imbedded in him.
* Meridius casts the grappling hook.
<Bruce> Well, yeah.
<Bruce> But it was too good a descriptive bit to pass up on.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+1 = 2 (1).
* 11: Karnak laughs!
* Karnak gives Meridius a look, then looks at the wall with the goblins, then back at Meridius.
<Bruce> I think Meridius slipped on one of those javelins.
* Meridius will reel in the grappling hook and try again when he can.
<11: Karnak> Meridius may want to call for Liatus to do some healing? Maybe maybe?
<11: Karnak> (since then Liatus can leap into action ahead of all of us, and possibly save Karnak's ass...)
<Meridius> "Liatus, get up here and work on Karnak. He's taken further injury."
<Bruce> Liatus leaps around the corner and invokes the blessings of the Imperial Presence on his wounded comrade, with a brief sneer at the goblins.
<11: Karnak> And there goes his bless spell.
## Bruce rolled 1d8+1 = 6 (5).
<11: Karnak> Woot!
<Bruce> Fully healing Karnak.
* Silana moves up to where she can peep around the corner, and provide support if necessary with her crossbow.
<11: Karnak> Silana would go next, then.
<Bruce> Liatus take this opportunity to boast about how the Imperial Presence is greater than all false and foreign gods, tallying quite a few of them along the way, until it's time for him to act again.
<11: Karnak> If'n she'd be wanting to risk a shot at the goblins...
<11: Karnak> If Silana is passing, then it's Karnak's turn.
<11: Silana> They're behind good cover. Probably a waste.
* Karnak drops the shield, and goes into his Matrix mode again... tumbling towards the wall and intending to attempt a leap over it again.
<Karnak> "We'll try it my way!"
<11: Karnak> Now, I suspect I won't do as well this time out...
* Meridius casts a meaningful glance at Liatus that says, "Would you mind being my shieldman for a moment?"
<11: Karnak> So it'll be a Tumble vs. DC15 to avoid AoO as I go in, and a Jump roll against DC 10, needing sucess to get over the wall, right?
<11: Bruce> Correct.
## Karnak rolled 1d20+6 = 18 (12).
* Karnak tumbles to the wall...
<11: Silana> Here we go again. :)
## Karnak rolled 1d20+3 = 15 (12).
* Karnak vaults the wall, landing behind the goblins.
<Bruce> to their great surprise.
* 11: Silana watches the JavelinTime sequence...;
<Karnak> And again, I'll wave my hands impressively, attempting to hit the one on my left.
## Karnak rolled 1d20 = 3 (3).
* 11: Karnak rolls his eyes. :)
* 11: Silana falls down laughing.
<11: Karnak> Goblins are up.
<11: A.Machine?> "be my shieldman"
* 11: A.Machine? is slain.
<Bruce> "Again? But that trick never works!"
<11: Karnak> If I make it to 3rd level, I'll be really cool. I promise...
<11: Meridius> Don't make me come over there, Machine.
<11: A.Machine?> Didn't realize Meridius was Greek.
* 11: Karnak snickers.
* 11: Meridius already dispensed with the Greek jokes back in the 1st session.
<11: Silana> Careful, Gator, he'll wave his hands at you, too. :)
<11: A.Machine?> Everything old is new again.
* 11: A.Machine? shushes.
<11: Karnak> Okay, so the goblins are up. I assume they have a BAB+1?
<Bruce> However, your presence over on that side of the wall does surprise the bejeezus out of the goblins coming in through that open north door.
<Bruce> There's a hallway on the other side of it, and they're coming from somewhere in there.
<11: Karnak> Oops.
<Karnak> "Ooooahhha.... oops?"
<Karnak> "Meridius, we've got trouble!"
<11: Silana> Can we see the new arrivals clearly from our side of the wall?
<Bruce> So the two that were already there (whom you startled and confused with the leap and no hit) and the first couple in through the door are ready to do their bit.
<11: Sudden Impact> Whaddaya mean 'we,' suckah!? [Meridius]
<11: Bruce> Yes, you can.
* 11: Karnak thinks we may need to pull out all the stops...
<11: Karnak> If only to rescue my corpse.
<11: Bruce> At this point, I believe, Silana and Liatus act in their initiative order, yes?
<11: Karnak> Nope, they're at the head of the column now.
<11: Silana> What's the light source in here again, Bruce?
<11: Karnak> The current order: Liatus, Silana, Karnak, Goblins, Meridius.
* 11: Karnak is still holding the lantern pole.
<11: Bruce> Torches in the walls hither and yon, plus Karnak's lantern.
<11: Karnak> Which should have enough range to light down near where you guys are.
<11: Bruce> The goblins don't need a lot of light, but have some of it around.
* 11: Silana nods. I knew about our lantern, just needed to know what the gobbos are using.
<11: Karnak> Darkvision doesn't give color cues.
<Bruce> Anyway, the goblins take their little pokes at Karnak.
* Karnak tries to look impressive, as he prepares to be pounded into the ground.
## Bruce rolled 1d20 = 11 (11).
## Bruce rolled 1d20 = 14 (14).
## Bruce rolled 1d20 = 6 (6).
<Karnak> AC14 now, Bruce.
## Bruce rolled 1d20 = 18 (18).
<Bruce> Right.
* 11: Karnak sighs.
<Bruce> I make that two hits, one from one of the ones behind the barrier, the other from a recent arrival.
## Bruce rolled 1d8-1 = 7 (8).
## Bruce rolled 1d8-1 = 4 (5).
<Bruce> Oh dear.
* Karnak drops like a rag doll.
<11: Karnak> Ugh... -1.
<11: Karnak> Meridius is up... and should be safe from Goblin javelins.
* 11: Karnak ahems.
* Meridius drops the grappling hook and rope, takes up his shield, draws his gladius, and charges.
* 11: Karnak wonders how Meridius intends to fight over the wall...
<Bruce> You can make a DC 14 Jump check to get over the wall as part of your move, or take a separate move action and do it automatically.
<11: A.Machine?> Today the part of Liatus will be played by...Karnak.
* Meridius will bullrush the wall, smashing through it.
<11: Karnak> Bah, I've got some time before I'm dead.
<11: Karnak> Oho! Coolness!
<Bruce> Oh, okay. Attacking the WALL.
<Bruce> Make a Str check, Chris, of DC 20.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+2 = 16 (14).
<Bruce> Not quite, alas. You've given the wall a good battering, but it's still up.
<11: Karnak> Round 2 ends. Round 3. Liatus is up.
* 11: Karnak expects he'd move up and assist Meridius in bringing down the wall.
<Bruce> Liatus will aid Meridius in taking down the wall, giving Meridius an aid bonus of +2 next time around.
<11: Karnak> Then it's Silana.
* Silana steps into the clear, takes aim, and fires her crossbow at one of the newly-arrived goblins, the ones not close enough to the wall to take full advantage of it as cover.
## Silana rolled 1d20+2 = 11 (9).
<11: Karnak> I suspect that they're in combat, so it's a -4 to hit.
<11: Karnak> Not that it matters.
<11: Karnak> Karnak...
<Bruce> Good shot, Silana, but not good enough. It clatters harmlessly off.
<11: Silana> Are they all in combat, or were the new ones lobbing javelins?
* Karnak lays still on the floor, bleeding.
## Karnak rolled 1d100 = 5 (5).
<11: Bruce> They were all in combat.
<Bruce> Karnak stabilizes.
<11: Karnak> I do!
<11: Karnak> So I'm now a potential captive of the goblins. :)
<11: Karnak> Goblins are up.
<11: Silana> This way, you'll stay fresh until after the salad course, Karnak.
<Bruce> The goblins still out in the hallway pull the door shut, leaving you with the four inside the room. They have swords ready for whoever comes up next.
* 11: Karnak is thankful they didn't drag my body through the door.
<11: Karnak> Meridius is up, if the Goblins aren't doing anything more.
<Bruce> That's it for the goblins for now. They're not about to try to push the wall down to make things easier for hte outsiders.
* Meridius smashes the wall again, eyes blazing with anger.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+4 = 5 (1).
* 11: Karnak hmms.
<Bruce> The wall is unimpressed.
<11: Karnak> Round 4. Liatus continues to assist?
<Bruce> Liatus once again joins in working over the weak spot Meridius seems to have found.
<11: Karnak> Silana is up.
* Silana scowls. "This would be that retreat I was saving these for." And lets go with something she /knows/ will hit. Magic Missile at whichever goblin is nearest to attacking someone.
## Silana rolled 1d4+1 = 5 (4).
<Bruce> *thump* down goes one of the goblins, blasted through.
* 11: Silana blows across the end of her finger, again. :)
* Karnak lays in a bloody heap.
<11: Karnak> Goblins.
<Bruce> The goblins are looking around for javelins, and realizing that they were thrown earlier. One of the ones who just came in is trying to push the door open again, but it's not moving. Something heavy - perhaps several goblins' worth of weight - rests on the other side.
<Meridius> They're already trying to retreat?
<11: Karnak> Panic has set in. "ADVENTURERS IN THE WIRE!"
<Bruce> One of them would like to flee. The others are waiting for a shot at you and/or Liatus.
* 11: Karnak wonders why're they not attacking Liatus and Meridius at the wall?
<11: Bruce> They'd have to attack _over_ the wall. The odds aren't good.
<11: Bruce> It's nearly as tall as they are.
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<Bruce> Anyway, Meridius, you're up, I believe.
<11: Karnak> Ah, right... so Meridius and Liatus would get what, 1/2 cover or something from it.
<11: Karnak> So yes, Meridius is up.
* Meridius roars, and hopes the third time is the charm for smashing the wall.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+4 = 11 (7).
<11: Karnak> That's some wall!
<Bruce> The wall is still standing!
* 11: Karnak is thinking it was a lucky thing he stablized.
<Bruce> Liatus is going to take a swing of his own, patience not being his strong point.
## Bruce rolled 1d20 = 13 (13).
* Silana screams out, "Just go over it already!"
* 11: Karnak was thinking Liatus might use his magic weapon spell, to give his short sword a +1 bonus, actually.
<11: Karnak> Silana is up.
<11: Bruce> Oh, that makes sense, Jason.
<11: Karnak> But that'll go next round, too.,
<11: Karnak> Since I expect we'll be pulling back after this fight.
<11: Meridius> Wouldn't you rather have Liatus pop off another CLW?
<11: Karnak> I'll look into whether or not he can swap a Domain spell that way.
* 11: Karnak hmms, "Looks like he can, so he'll probably save that spell for a CLW, yes."
* Silana reloads, and fires her crossbow again. She's not likely to hit, but if she can keep the goblins ducking, it's at least something.
## Silana rolled 1d20+2 = 21 (19).
<Bruce> Boom!
<11: Karnak> Oooh! Good shot.
<11: A.Machine?> Nice.
<11: A.Machine?> Chance of a crit?
<11: Karnak> And Silana single-handedly saves us all from the goblins.
<11: Silana> Yes.
<11: Karnak> Crit threat on a crossbow is 20, I believe?
<11: Silana> 19-20.
<11: Bruce> Right, no critical chance, just a good hit.
<11: Bruce> Hm?
<11: Silana> That's what my sheet says.
<11: Bruce> And you're correct!
<11: Silana> "19-20/x2"
<11: Karnak> My goodness, it is!
<11: Karnak> Woo!
<11: Bruce> So, make the second roll to see if you can critical.
<11: Silana> Another attack roll?
<11: Bruce> Yes. Against AC 15.
## Silana rolled 1d20+2 = 20 (18).
<11: A.Machine?> Egad!
<Bruce> Critical hit!
<Bruce> You do 1d8 x 2 damage.
<11: Silana> Woohoos!
<11: A.Machine?> *splash*
<11: Karnak> Sweet. So 2d8 damage.
<11: Silana> 2d8, or 1d8 x2?
<11: Bruce> 2d8.
<11: A.Machine?> Doc Silana, sheesh. :)
## Silana rolled 2d8 = 12 (7 5).
<11: A.Machine?> Bang bang.
<11: Karnak> It's twice the dice, not twice the result.
<Bruce> What we have here is Quentin Tarantino's Crossbow Action. That goblin is just _gone_ from the collar up.
* Karnak continues to lay in a heap.
<11: Karnak> Goblins are up.
<11: Unreal Tournament> HEAD SHOT! [Meridius]
<Bruce> The goblins decide to try a bit of hewing across the wall. Liatus and Meridius are both +4 AC because of the cover, so this probably won't amount to much...
## Bruce rolled 1d20 = 9 (9).
## Bruce rolled 1d20 = 19 (19).
<Bruce> And sure enough, it didn't.
<Karnak> That last one would hit Liatus, but not Meridius.
<11: Karnak> And Meridius is up.
<Bruce> Right, and since I declared "Liatus and Meridius", I took them in that order.
*** BA2 connected at Sat Jan 11 2:19 PM PST from ACA2A09C.ipt.aol.com.
<Bruce> Meridius can take a move action to get over the wall automatically and then attack.
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*** BAgame has joined channel 11 [Sat. D&D chatter].
* 11: Karnak cheers Liatus!
<Meridius> That's what I'll do, Bruce. (I didn't know I could do that.)
<11: A.Machine?> Hi, BA.
*** BAgame is now known as Liatus.
* Meridius goes over the top and attacks the nearest goblin.
<11: A.Machine?> Need a paste or anything?
<11: Karnak> Do the gobbos get an AoO on him as he goes over?
<11: Bruce> BA, we're in the midst of the rumble against the next set of goblins. Karnak is down, badly wounded, Silana's been smoking both magically and with her crossbow, and Meridius and Liatus have been unsuccessfully trying to knock down the barrier wall. Meridius just gave up on that.
<11: Bruce> Yes, they do.
## Bruce rolled 1d20 = 17 (17).
## Bruce rolled 1d20 = 5 (5).
<Bruce> One of the goblins manages to hit Meridius as he makes his climb, doing...
## Bruce rolled 1d8-1 = 7 (8).
<Bruce> Whoa.
<11: Karnak> Yeowch.
<Bruce> Another damn good hit from the goblins.
<11: Karnak> Man, being first level is so hard.
<11: A.Machine?> It's such a big payoff, though.
<Meridius> I'll attack the goblin that struck me.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+3 = 17 (14).
<Bruce> A sensible course of action. And it worked.
<11: A.Machine?> Earning levels, starting at the bottom, really makes you love a character.
<11: Karnak> Liatus has cast his "bless" spell as a Cure Light Wounds, too, BA.
## Meridius rolled 1d6+2 = 8 (6).
<Bruce> BLAM!
<11: Karnak> So you're down the Light, Command, and Bless spells from your list.
<Bruce> Kick it dead a notch. :)
<Meridius> If he's dead, I can Cleave.
<Bruce> He is, and you can.
<11: Liatus> Whats the url for your character stat page jason?
## Meridius rolled 1d20+3 = 12 (9).
<11: Bruce> http://members.shaw.ca/ogier/dandd.htm
<11: Karnak> http://members.shaw.ca/ogier/dandd.htm
<Bruce> Not successful that time, alas.
* 11: A.Machine? stops himself at the last minute. :)
<11: A.Machine?> There was almost three urls at once.
<11: Karnak> We wrap around the top, and we're back at Liatus in Round 5.
<11: Karnak> We're in the bigger room that had the goblin wall along the north end. Karnak flipped across the wall and was bounded down like a protestor at a G7 Summit meeting.
<Bruce> Liatus' obvious action would be to climb the wall and then attack the remaining goblin.
<11: Karnak> (-1 hp, but stablized). Silana is down at the bottom end of the room, shooting around the corner with her light crossbow.
* 11: Liatus resists the urge to make a cynical comment about that.
<11: Karnak> Meridius just climbed the wall. There's three dead goblins over the wall, and 1 left up.
<11: Karnak> And Silana's dropped two of the goblins herself so far, so no comments are allowed yet. :)
<11: Silana> Two down thanks to me. ;)
<11: Karnak> So far, we've dropped 6 goblins for 1 PC. Not too bad a ratio.
<11: Liatus> Did the grapling hook ploy not work on this baracade?
<11: Bruce> It really didn't.
<11: Silana> It missed, badly.
<11: Meridius> I missed with the first cast, and didn't take a second due to Karnak taking matters into his own hands.
<11: Karnak> Karnak stepped out to cover Meridius, and got pasted with two javelins. Meridius missed with the grapple. Karnak decided his plan worked better last time... so did the same thing. Only reinforcements arrived.
<11: Silana> Then Karnak executed an uncanny replay of his Matrix move from last time. Including missing badly at the end.
<11: Karnak> (in the middle of that Liatus stepped out and CLW'd on Karnak)
<11: Karnak> So at the moment, Karnak is laying in a heap on the goblin side of the wall. Liatus can cross the wall as a move action (facing an AoO from the remaining gobbo, I expect)
* 11: Karnak will be much more effective by level 3, folks. Really.
<11: Bruce> Yup.
* 11: Meridius might kill Karnak before he reaches level 3 if he doesn't start really roleplaying that high WIS that he claimed to be roleplaying last week.
<11: Liatus> Is there anything I can use as a makeshift shield while joining Meridius at the baracade?
<11: Bruce> Not readily, no.
<11: Karnak> Hey, it was either stand in the middle of the room and get javelined to death while Meridius played catch... or.
<11: Karnak> And it'd have been a good move, if them reinforcements hadn't come in.
<11: Liatus> What about one of the dead goblins?
* 11: Karnak may opt to become a fighter, though, and just wear very heavy armor.
<11: Bruce> They don't have shields.
* 11: Karnak thinks the dead goblins are out of reach, and not particularly sheild worthy.
<11: Liatus> No, I mean the corpses.
<11: Karnak> It's only 1 goblin, dude.
<11: Bruce> They're back at the entrance to the room, and wouldn't make all that good shields.
<11: Liatus> Hell with it.
* Liatus climbs the baracade.
<Bruce> The climb is automatic; the last remaining goblin gets a swing at you.
## Bruce rolled 1d20 = 19 (19).
<Bruce> Damn. The goblins are on.
<11: Karnak> Damn, that's one kick-ass goblin.
## Bruce rolled 1d8-1 = 6 (7).
<11: Karnak> Definitely time to pull back and rest. Ouch.
<Bruce> And man did he deliver some serious whackage.
<Bruce> Now Liatus gets to attack.
* Liatus stabs the goblin.
<Liatus> 1d20+2, yes?
<Bruce> Your attack roll is 1d20+1, I believe.
<Liatus> I have Weapon Focus Short Sword.
<Karnak> Which is why you have +1.
<Karnak> (+0 BAB for 1st level Clerics)
<Karnak> So d20+1 for the attack, and d6 for damage.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+1 = 6 (5).
<Bruce> A valiant effort. Perhaps it will lead to better things alter. :)
<11: Karnak> Silana is up. Time to save our bacon!
* Silana takes a crossbow shot at Liatus' opponent. He's not a wonderful target, but there's not a lot else she can do to help right now, and she's saving her last good spell just in case...
## Silana rolled 1d20+2 = 16 (14).
<Bruce> That's a hit.
## Silana rolled 1d8 = 5 (5).
<Bruce> (In my visualization,a t least, Liatus climbed over up to one edge of the wall, so as to leave room for Silana to fire.)
<11: Karnak> Did you include the minuses for a target in combat?
<Bruce> And down he goes!
<Bruce> Wait, I may have spoken too soon.
<Bruce> With a base AC of 15 and the wall in the way, it is _not_ a hit, alas.
<11: Karnak> I think Silana missed.
<11: Silana> I didn't think that was a hit, but I don't knwo their AC.
<Bruce> Sorry, Dan.
<11: Karnak> AC15, based on Bruce's previous comments.
<11: Karnak> Goblin is up.
* Silana curses softly under her breath, and starts to load another bolt.
<Bruce> The goblin has Liatus and Meridius in his face. Odd he strikes at Liatus, even at Meridius.
## Bruce rolled 1d2 = 2 (2).
* Karnak wheezes softly, perhaps a broken rib.
<Bruce> Meridius it is.
## Bruce rolled 1d20 = 17 (17).
<Bruce> Damn. This is once fierce goblin.
<11: Karnak> And boom, another one of us goes down...
## Bruce rolled 1d8-1 = 5 (6).
* 11: Meridius has a request. "Can we either a) get the rules right the first time or b) let the fudges stand?"
<Bruce> And yes, that's enough to knock out Meridius.
* Meridius is at -1 HP.
<11: Bruce> Yes, Chris. I should allow a moment more for informed players to toss in info I overlook, mostly.
<11: Meridius> This whole backtracking and correcting everytime something seems a bit odd is frustrating to me.
<11: Karnak> General rule is if you catch the mistake before moving on, you fix it. But if you've moved on, you don't retcon.
<11: Karnak> Meridius is up, and has to make a stablization roll or lose a hit point (d100, 10 or less to stablize)
<Bruce> Meridius has a 10% chance of stabilizing here so that he doesn't lose another HP.
## Meridius rolled 1d100 = 91 (91).
<11: Karnak> And Liatus is up.
<Bruce> Gracefully he slides to -2 hp.
<11: Karnak> (Silana may want to consider using that Magic Missile)
<11: Silana> No kidding.
<11: Liatus> Does this mean he's dead?
<11: Karnak> Nope.
<11: Karnak> Dead at -10.
<11: Liatus> Ah
<11: Silana> It means he's still bleeding, etc. and getting worse.
<Bruce> Liatus can whack on the goblin.
<11: Karnak> Once the goblin is down, you can stablize him by casting a Cure Minor Wounds on him to heal 1 hp.
* Liatus tries to stab the goblin again.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+1 = 8 (7).
<11: Karnak> Hookay, Silana is up. Help!
<Bruce> Alas, no such luck. Warmer this time, though.
* 11: Karnak wouldn't be surprised if Meepo's long gone now.
<11: Bruce> Meepo's keeping very well back.
* Silana decides the time has come, and gestures with pointed finger...
## Silana rolled 1d4+1 = 3 (2).
<11: Silana> Fuck fuck fuck.
<Bruce> The remaining goblin is toasted badly, but still standing.
<11: Karnak> Ooop.
<11: Karnak> TPW looms.
<11: Karnak> Goblin is up.
## Bruce rolled 1d2 = 2 (2).
<Bruce> Oh, wait, Liatus is the only one up.
<11: Karnak> And with 1 hp. :)
<Bruce> So the goblin swings his morning star again...
## Bruce rolled 1d20 = 6 (6).
* Silana angrily snarls another curse, and advances into the room...
<Bruce> ...harmlessly.
* 11: Karnak exhales.... Damn, my tension is high.
<11: Karnak> Liatus.
<11: Liatus> My turn?
<11: Karnak> Woops, sorry, Meridius has to make a stablization check.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+1 = 8 (7).
<Bruce> Hold it, BA.
<Bruce> First Chris rolls to see if Meridius stabilizes his condition.
## Meridius rolled 1d100 = 80 (80).
<Bruce> Meridius drops to -3 hp.
<11: Liatus> OK, this is really starting to piss me off.
<11: Karnak> Now it's Liatus turn.
<Bruce> Okay, BA, now Liatus attacks.
<11: Karnak> (unless Meepo wants to jump in a help?)
<11: Bruce> Not bloody likely.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+1 = 17 (16).
<11: Karnak> If we don't beat this goblin, he'll level up!
<Bruce> THAT'S a hit.
<11: Liatus> Bout damn time.
<Bruce> And you do 1d6 damage.
## Liatus rolled 1d6 = 2 (2).
* 11: Karnak really hopes 5hp is enough to kill it.
<Bruce> Which is enough to kill him, widening the hole left by Silana's magic missle.
* 11: Karnak whews.
<11: Karnak> Meridius needs another stabilization roll, then Liatus could cast CMW on him to stablize him.
<11: Bruce> That's a total of 600 xp to divide, by the way.
* 11: Karnak is keeping the treasure & kill page current.
<Bruce> All right, Chris, make another stabilization roll.
## Meridius rolled 1d100 = 47 (47).
<Bruce> Meridius slides to -4 hp.
<Liatus> Can I do anything to help stablize Meridius?
<11: Karnak> So Liatus could cast another CMW on Karnak, bringing him to 0 hp, which would let him move under his own power.
<11: Karnak> And he could cast a CLW on Meridius, to try and get him back to mobile status.
<11: Karnak> And then we could get our punk asses out of the area and behind a locked door. Sheesh.
* Silana is trembling with her combined anger and fear. "We need to get OUT of here," she says quietly to Liatus, not wanting to speak loudly enough for the additional goblins on the other side of the door to hear. "Help Meridius, so we can get Karnak and leave."
<11: Karnak> CMW=Cure Minor Wound (heal 1 hp, stabilizes characters)
* Karnak groans.
* Silana eyes the closed door, a spell at the ready should it start to open. She's out of first-level effects, but she's a creative girl when she needs to be...
<Bruce> There's some noise coming from behind the southern door in the west wall. Voices calling out in several languages (Common and Draconic) "Help! Help!"
* Meridius dreams in his unconscious state of arranging for Karnak to be drafted into the Imperial Expeditionary Force.
* Liatus kneels over Meridius and asks the Imperial Presence to aid and watch over it's loyal servant and soldier (while casting CLW).
<Bruce> You heal up 1d8+1 hits of damage on him.
*** Signoff: gwen (Dwarves created us all as a commercial enterprise, really.) at Sat Jan 11 3:02 PM PST.
## Liatus rolled 1d8+1 = 7 (6).
<Bruce> Meridius was at -4, so that gets him to +2, if my math is correct.
<Karnak> +3.
<Karnak> (0 hp isn't a stage)
<Bruce> It isn't?
<Bruce> It's got a distinct entry in the damage rules.
<Karnak> I've never treated it as such. 7 + (-4) = +3 after all.
<Bruce> Meridius is at +2 for now, and may go to +3 pending a later review. He is in any event up and walking under his own power, and could in fact fight if he needed to.
<11: Karnak> A Cure Minor Wounds on Karnak would get him to 0hp and up as well.
<11: Silana> You can BE at 0 HP, so it's a stage. But yes, -4 + 7 = +3.
<11: Bruce> I'm thinking -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3...right. Okay, +3 it is.
<11: Karnak> Darn math. :)
<11: Karnak> Or you can just lug Karnak out of the dungeon at -1hp.
* Silana says to Liatus and the awakening Meridius, "There's someone behind the other door back there. Get Karnak. I'm going to go check it out."
* Silana heads over to the other door.
* Liatus helps Meridius to his feet.
* Meridius says, "Thanks," to Liatus.
* Liatus then searches the goblin bodies.
<Bruce> Silana, you see that this door has an obvious padlock on it, securing a bar across it.
## Bruce rolled 2d10+2 = 7 (3 2).
* Silana taps on the door. "Who's in there?"
## Bruce rolled 2d10+2 = 12 (9 1).
## Bruce rolled 2d10+2 = 19 (7 10).
## Bruce rolled 2d10+2 = 10 (7 1).
<Bruce> Total that for coins found on the goblin bodies.
<Bruce> What language, Silana?
<Silana> Common.
<Voice from the other side> Ercaius, prisoner of the goblins! Free us! [Bruce]
<Liatus> (Is that gold or silver?)
<Bruce> That's silver coins.
<Bruce> You also find a very handsome silver flask, obviously not of goblin design, with something very foul-smelling inside, and a big well-worn key.
* Liatus sticks the coins in his pouch, pockets the flask for later study and then takes the key over to where Silana is.
* Meridius slings his shield on his back, sheathes his gladius, and moves to pick up Karnak and make ready to retreat.
* Karnak moans some more.
<11: A.Machine?> This is all so picture-perfect 1st level. :)
* Liatus ignores Karnak's moans, hoping that this little incident will help beat some sense into his head.
* Silana starts to turn toward her companions, saying, "We need some way to get this op-- " She stops short as she sees Liatus bringing the key. "That will do, I hope." She holds out her hand for it.
* Liatus tosses Silana the key.
* Liatus then ready's his sword in case it's a trap.
<Bruce> There are more sounds of stirring from the other side.
* Silana takes it, starts toward the lock, then thinks better of it. "Maybe a little caution is called for here." She takes a few steps back, then the key rises from her hand as she casts a quick spell. The key floats quickly to the door and (with a slight bump or two) inserts itself into the lock, then turns.
<Bruce> Oh, very nicely done.
<11: Silana> Mage Hand is good at times like this. ;)
<Bruce> The key does in fact open the lock, and the lock tumbles to the ground.
<Ercaius> We welcome all foes of the goblins! [Bruce]
<Bruce> (The door is still shut by the crossbar, it's just resting there now.)
<Liatus> "If Karnak were conscious, I'd tell him to open the crossbar."
* Silana runs back to where she'd had to leave her staff leaning against the wall and retrieves it. "Here," she says, holding it out to the much stronger cleric. "Use this to lift it?"
<Bruce> He could be conscious if you'd let him. :)
* Silana then readies her crossbow, in case of surprises from behind the door when it opens.
* Meridius would be facepalming right now if he weren't holding Karnak in his arms waiting to leave.
<11: A.Machine?> Ah, the paranoia of the dungeon.
<Ercaius> Does something trouble you? One of the goblins whom you were fighting has the key! [Bruce]
<Ercaius> Hello! Hello? [Bruce]
<11: Liatus> I've used up all of my 1st level spells.
* Liatus lifts the crossbar with the staff.
<11: iDavid> And out walks the Lich
<11: Liatus> And I'm at 1 hp, so don't lecture me about paranoia :)
<11: A.Machine?> It's dark here. If you continue, you'll likely be eaten by a Garou.
* Karnak notes, idly, that the lantern pole with lantern was once carried by Karnak, and may still be on the floor north of the Goblin Wall.
<Bruce> The door opens onto a long low room - a genuine dungeon, in fact, with manacles and cages.
<Bruce> There are three kobolds cained to a spike near the entrance, and a small figure stuffed into a cage further back.
<Bruce> The one at the back is apparently Ercaius. "Hello! You'll find keys on that rack beside the door. Free us, please!"
* Liatus enters the room cautiously, his sword at the ready.
<Meridius> Where's Meepo?
* Silana gestures Meepo over urgently. Pointingn into the room, she asks, "You know them?"
<Bruce> The kobolds look at the bloodied and battered adventurers and bow as deferentially as they can. Then they spot Meepo, somewhere back behind the adventurers, and cheer up. "Meepo! Meepo bring great warriors to free us!"
<11: Silana> I was just thinking that, obviously. :)
<Meepo> "These friends of Meepo, captured weeks ago by filthy goblins. We free!" [Bruce]
<11: A.Machine?> You're travelling with a kobold.
* Silana nods. "Come on, let's get them out of here and leave."
<11: Meridius> Machine, go to http://www.q7.com/~carter/rpg/ and you can read the logs of the prior sessions, if you like.
<Bruce> Ercaius proves to be a pretty thoroughly scarred little gnome.
<11: A.Machine?> Noted. Gracias.
<Meridius> (scarred or scared?)
<Bruce> Scarred. Not scared. Delighted to see someone besides goblin jailers and kobold prisoners, apparently.
* Liatus gets the keys.
<Ercaius> "Ahh, bless you, sirs and ladies. In the last year I've seen precious few faces that weren't kobolds or goblins. Too few, and them mostly unfortunate creatures in their own way." [Bruce]
<Bruce> The kobolds do a whole lot of bowing and scraping. "Meepo brave hero, lead our rescue! We thank you for serving him so well."
* Liatus unlocks the kobolds from the wall, then goes to open the cage.
* Liatus briefly considers killing the kobolds for the eps, then thinks better of it.
<Bruce> Ercaius stretches gingerly up to his full height, about belt-buckle level on anyone else. "Bless you, sir. I see that you bring credit to the Empire with service in such foul circumstances."
* Silana rolls her eyes, but isn't in the mood to waste time disagreeing with the kobolds.
<Liatus> . o O (They may be useful as cannon fodder if we run into anymore goblins.)
* Karnak groans again.
<Bruce> Ercaius peers at the guy slung over Meridius' shoulder. "Sir! Your comrade is wounded. Perhaps you would like me to work the healing arts upon him?"
* Meridius sets Karnak on the ground and gestures at Ercaius to go ahead.
* Liatus mutters under his breath. "Yes, after all, the Imperial Presence only knows how we'd escape from this place without the aid of our trained circus tumbler."
<11: Karnak> Hey! No nasty comments.
<Bruce> Ercaius makes another bow, and chants something in an unfamiliar language. He touches Karnak's brow, and heals...
## Bruce rolled 1d8+2 = 4 (2).
<Bruce> ...four points of damage.
* Karnak stirs, and opens his eyes, and mumbles, "... just wait til Meridius gets here, he'll show you..."
<Ercaius> "Tell me, sirs and lady, who are you, and what brings you to this foul spot?" [Bruce]
* Meridius pulls Karnak to his feet while saying, "Yes, I will be showing you something, the toe of my boot the next time you caper off like that."
<Liatus> I believe we were looking for you, actually.
<Meridius> "We should save the talk for later. Lets get out of here now."
* Silana nods emphatically. "I agree. Let's go before the rest of the goblins find their courage."
* Meridius will bring up the rear of the retreat, counting on other party members to get us all led back to the room where our stuff is stored.
* Karnak looks around, rubbing his chest, "Where are the goblins?" Pause, he looks at the gnome, "Who are you?"
<Ercaius> "For me? I am flattered at the thought. I would not have thought my family able to hire brave humans." He sighs briefly. "The lot of humans in these parts seems often so unfortunate." [Bruce]
* Karnak stumbles along in Meridius' wake, "What's going on?"
<Meridius> "Get moving, Karnak. We'll talk later." To Ercaius and the others, "Lets go!"
<Bruce> Erciaus bows. "I am Ercaius, of the tribe of the Hillfalls, and I have been a prisoner here for a year. It was my own fault, for I sought a shortcut along the Old Road...but another time, i see."
<Bruce> Meepo and the other kobolds continue chattering happily in their language, but fall promptly in line.
* Liatus makes one last quick sweep of the dungeon before leaving.
* Folks might see a bit of a storm on Meridius' brow. "Save the bowing and family history for later, too. Move!" [Meridius]
<Karnak> "Where's the lantern?"
<Bruce> Anyone who wants to make a Search roll here is welcome to do so.
* Meridius'll grab the lantern from wherever it's fallen and hand it to Karnak.
* 11: Karnak notes, to Bruce, that he speaks Draconic, as Liatus, so we'll catch any sedicious comments.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+1 = 14 (13).
<Meridius> That's my search roll.
* Karnak doesn't have time to look around, as Meridius roughly gets folks moving.
<11: Karnak> (as does Liatus, that is)
* Liatus follows along unless he finds anything of note in the dungeon.
<Bruce> Nothing particularly comes to hand. You can see that the jailers have moved prisoners in and out fairly regularly, but there's little to reveal details.
* Liatus nods and follows after Meridius.
<Bruce> Ercaius recognized a leader when he sees one and asks Meridius, "Where now, sir?"
<Meridius> "Follow my companions and we'll retreat to a place of safety."
<Bruce> Ercaius nods. "As you say."
<Meridius> I'll bring up the rear.
<Bruce> Ercaius stops to pick up one of the goblin javelins. "If you do not object, sir, I would prefer a bit of armament while I am yet in the lair of my foes."
<Meridius> "Certainly."
<11: A.Machine?> Karnak and Meridius are who? I missed the nick changes.
<11: Bruce> Jason and Chris, respectively.
* 11: A.Machine? nods.
<11: A.Machine?> Gracias.
<Liatus> Perhaps we should arm the kobolds as well?
* Karnak falls into standard order, following Meridius and keeping an eye out for trouble.
<Bruce> The kobolds are cringing a lot and would as soon not be handed anything dangerous.
* Meridius assumes they'll take up arms if they wish.
<11: A.Machine?> BA just uttered what, to many grognards, is utter blashphemy.
* Karnak mutters to himself, "I didn't think adventure would be quite so painful."
<Meridius> (All party members ahead of me. I'll bring up the rear.)
<11: A.Machine?> Just thought I'd point that out.
<Bruce> So, back out into the room where y'all got beaten on, and through the other room with the barrier Meridius broke down and back along the hall he cleared of caltrops...
* Liatus takes up a possition just in front of Meridius to help guard the rear, and presumes that Karnak and Silana will take point.
* Karnak assumes we're going to stop the redeployment (ahem) at the dragon cage room, near where we left our spare equipment? Where Meepo can lock the door?
<Meridius> Right. We'll also want to get the kobolds back to their warrens before we make the final move back to our room.
<Bruce> Seems sensible to me.
<Meridius> So converge on the dragon room for now.
<Bruce> Through an empty room, through the crossroads, thrugh the room wtih the dragon fountain and the cold dragon door, through another empty room, through the long hallway, back to the DRAG0NZ B3 HER3 room.
<Bruce> Where Meepo and the kobolds start breathing again more comfortably once the hallway door is closed and locked.
* Karnak shudders a bit at the sight of the fire pit, and says "Hey, at least you guys don't have to eat me."
<11: Bruce> Not YET they don't have to eat you.
* 11: Karnak is trying to stay positive.
<Bruce> Ercaius paces up and down, stretching his arms and legs. "One grows tired of living in a cage."
* Liatus hunts down his pack and finds some water.
* Karnak will sit, if Meridius is giving us a moment. "Or a monestary. Which Hucrele are you?"
* Karnak directs this question at the gnome.
* Silana leans against the wall, glad to finally be able to let her guard down. The trip out was nothing but wariness and tension. "That could have gone better," she assesses, with mild sarcasm.
<Meridius> "I doubt good Ercaius is any of them, Karnak."
<Bruce> Ercaius says, "Fair sir, I fear you misunderstand. I am no Hucrele. As you see, I am not human at all, but of the race of gnomes. They merely passed through the terrible dungeon where you found me, they and their companion prisoner for but days before the goblins said that the wanderer below wished them."
<11: Liatus> Which is that?
<11: Meridius> I'm prepping a fresh course of action, folks.
* Karnak rubs his head, wincing at the cuts he finds there. "Again with this wanderer down below."
<11: Karnak> Hopefully it doesn't involve eating Karnak.
<11: Silana> He looks stringy.
* Karnak blinks, as something registers. "How long ago was it that you last saw them alive?"
<11: Karnak> Stringy, but tender.
<Bruce> Ercaius looks even more serious. "I know little of that outcast, save that he seems to be some sort of sage or perhaps a druid. He tends a garden deep within the citadel, and there cultivates both his Gulthias Tree and the twig blights."
<11: Silana> Maybe a nice marinade?
* Karnak nods like he knows what the heck a Gulthias Tree is.
<Bruce> Ercaius says, "Perhaps a month ago, sir, or a bit less. They were chained up with me for a few days, until, as I said, the goblins took them away, speaking to each other of a messenger from the outcast."
<Meridius> "Liatus, you, Meepo and I will return these kobolds to Yusdrayl. Once we've returned here, we'll retreat to our room. Karnak and Silana, please remain with Ercaius."
* Silana quirks an eyebrow. "'Twig blights' -- Can you describe them?"
* Karnak nods, "Right, 'dius. We'll stay here and make some dinner. I'll get my pot."
<Bruce> Ercaius holds his hand about eighteen inches of the ground. "Little simulacra about so toll, like roses or brambles come to life and filled with an evil will. They bear the thorns from which they originated like fingers."
<11: Meridius> BA, a moment ago you asked, "Which is that?" What were you asking about?
* Liatus follows Meridius.
<Bruce> Meepo is cheerfully ready to lead the way back to Yusdrayl.
* Silana nods, frowning. "Those would be what's been roaming about outside, then. We've seen their work, I suspect, if not the creatures themselves."
* Meridius follows Meepo and the other kobolds back to Yusdrayl's hall, with Liatus.
<Bruce> Ercaius nods. "Yes. In some manner not known to me, the outcast makes them for his own ends."
* 11: Karnak is willing to recede in to the background, assumed to be making some dinner and all, so Meridius and Liatus can go make things wors... I mean, talk with the Kobold Queen.
<11: Bruce> :)
<11: Meridius> Yes, because Karnak has already taken his turn at making things worse. :)
* Silana asks the gnome, "And what is this tree you speak of?"
<Bruce> So Meepo leads the way through a few twists and turns to the dragon temple and to Yusdrayl at its far end. "Look, great queen Yusdrayl! We return, friends liberated!"
<11: Karnak> Hey, we were going to have to fight them goblins one way or another...
<11: A.Machine?> Man, you guys are harsh. :)
<Bruce> Ercaius shakes his head. "Alas, I know no more than you. The goblins said 'Gulthias Tree' as though it were something I should already know about."
* 11: Karnak just hopes the goblins don't get it in their head to counter-attack the kobolds.
<11: Karnak> Or, worse, US!
<Bruce> Yusdrayl looks over the released kobolds. "We are pleased at your actions. Have you then slain the goblins which desecrate this holy place?"
* Silana nods. "I see. Well, we shall learn in good time. Perhaps we shall also see how well it burns." Angry, beneath her now-calm and pleasant exterior? Silana? Perish the thought.
<Meridius> To whom did Yusdrayl address that last remark?
<Bruce> Ercaius says, "I expect to be something most deserving of a great burning."
<Bruce> That was Yusdrayl to Meridius and Liatus, Meepo having taken them there. These conversations are proceeding in split-screen. :)
* 11: Silana obliges the gnome and set him on fire.
<11: Bruce> Expect IT, you nitpicker. :)
* Meridius says to Yusdrayl, knowing that with reference to certain "facts" the other kobolds will likely back up his remarks, "We slew several of their number. Meepo was valiant, as these others will attest."
<11: Liatus> Oh, oh! Can I make a diplomacy roll to figure out the best answer?
<11: Bruce> Sure!
<Bruce> The kobolds all nod very vigorously at Meridius' comment, and Meepo tries to look heroic.
<11: Liatus> 1d20+7? or do I get aditional bonus for high Wisdom?
<11: Bruce> +7 includes the Wisdom bonus.
<11: Liatus> Ah, ok.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+7 = 9 (2).
<Liatus> Oh, for the love of....
<Bruce> Alas, Liatus has little insight into the situation.
<Meridius> Should I make a Diplomacy roll as well?
<11: Silana> Is that Liatus cue to start hitting on the queen?
<Bruce> Yusdrayl smiles a crooked toothy smile at Meridius. "We are pleased. But..." and here she looks serious again "...you have left some of them not yet slain?"
<Bruce> You can, Chris, or you can take 10 and go for a default result or just play it out.
* 11: Liatus am getting extremely tired of these continuously shitty dice rolls.
<Meridius> "Indeed, great queen. We have taken injury and need rest before resuming our mission. We have returned these kobolds to you now as token of our word to you to carry out this mission. Before we are done, many more goblins will litter the floors of this place."
<11: Meridius> Right now I feel more confident in my roleplaying than in my rollplaying.
<Bruce> Yusdrayl smiles again. "It is well. You may rest in the company of Meepo, who shall remain with you as as my chosen. May the spirits of dragon fury past inspire you to great deeds."
* Meridius bows deeply. "Thank you, great queen."
<11: Liatus> I rolled a bunch of times on 26 and got like four 2s in a row.
<11: Karnak> Meepo's been promoted to Queen's Chosen!
* Meridius leaves Yusdrayl's presence, with Meepo and Liatus tagging along (I hope).
* 11: Meridius hopes Meepo gets to level up. :)
<11: Bruce> :)
* Karnak hums happily over his pot, which is currently boiling over the fire pit. He uses his long spoon to stir the stewish concoction he's brewing.
<Bruce> Meepo proudly leads the way back to the room where he used to tend the dragon, and does what he can to arrange comfortable places to rest. It would be easier for those who don't mind the smell of deep dragon dung.
<Meridius> If we don't need anything from our other room, we'll stay here?
<Bruce> I don't think you need anything from your other room, no.
<Karnak> "How long are we going to be resting?"
<Bruce> Okay, in addition to the 600 XP for slaying masses o' goblins, there's an even 1000 XP for the rescued prisoners.
* Meridius will deploy is Profession: Soldier skill to muck out the cage and generally clean the place up so as to make it fit for Imperial habitation.
<11: Karnak> So that's +1000 xp over and above the 600, Bruce?
<Liatus> 1K each or split between the 4 of us?
<Bruce> That's 1K to split.
<Karnak> Treasure & Kill page is updated.
<Bruce> What does this make the total for each character?
<Meridius> So we got a total of 1600XP to split this session?
<Karnak> Yeah, 400 xp each.
* Meridius levels up!
<Bruce> Okay, and if I award _anything_ for investigating the dragon fountain and door, Karnak also levels up, I think.
<Karnak> 918 xp base, 993 xp for Karnak and 1,068 xp for Meridius, I believe.
<Karnak> 330 xp divided between the four of us would level everyone.
* Liatus wants to try and solve the whole dragon door thing next session.
<Karnak> (damn, 1 more goblin would have done it...)
<Liatus> (damn it, I can't find my sheet where I wrote down my ep total from last time.)
<Bruce> Okay, so the way this works out is that the next time any XP comes along, Silana and Liatus will level up.
* Karnak is keeping an xp listing on http://members.shaw.ca/ogier/treaskill.htm BA.
<Liatus> (I knew I should've just killed the kobolds)
<Karnak> We got the same xp for rescuing them, BA. :)
<Karnak> So are you handing out any xp for the fountain/door thing, Bruce?
<Bruce> If BA plans to poke at it some more, I'll hold off for now.
* Karnak sniffles, and doesn't level up then.
<Bruce> Since there'd be the potential for substantially more than what I would give.
* Karnak nods.
<Liatus> Why does the ep tally on the treasure page only have 150eps each? I thought we got 400 each?
<Karnak> So after a night's rest, Meridius is going to be buffer than he was. :)
<Karnak> Refresh the page, BA.
<Liatus> Damn, I'm 82 short of leveling up.
<Karnak> I'm =7=!
* Karnak feels his fingers clutching towards a +1 attack bonus...
<Bruce> Everyone other than Meridius will be levelling up next time. :)
<Bruce> In the meantime, I'm assuming that rest and recuperation are in order, with the spellcasters regaining spell loads and like that.
* Liatus looks at the interaction planner. My diplomacy roll should've been +8 rather than +7.
<Bruce> Ercaius can administer two more cure light wounds and three cure minor wounds, and is willign to do so, before rest.
* Karnak nods, "We need to rest at least until Liatus can do his morning ritual."
* Silana nods in agreement. "I need to regather power, as well."
* Meridius will want everyone to be shipshape before resuming our penetration of the goblin warrens.
* Liatus is down to 1 hp and needs healing.
* Karnak suspects we'll want to take a CLW on Liatus, at least.
<Karnak> And one on Meridius.
<Karnak> And we've got a potion of some sort to play with, too.
*** Meridius is now known as iChris.
<iChris> I've gotta take off for dinner. I'll remain connected to fill out the remainder of the log.
<Bruce> See you!
<Karnak> And Liatus or Ercaius could do Healing rolls on us to do some long term healing (and double our heal rate).
*** iChris is now known as idleChris.
<11: A.Machine?> This game seems very fun.
<11: Bruce> The quality of roleplay is really good.
<11: A.Machine?> Fast for an online game, in many ways, as well.
* Karnak suggests Bruce roll a CLW on Liatus, and one on Meridius, to see if Karnak can get the remaining 5 CMW out there. :)
<Bruce> Sounds good.
<11: Karnak> I think Karnak's going to listen to Meridius more now.
## Bruce rolled 1d8+2 = 10 (8).
## Bruce rolled 1d8+2 = 9 (7).
<Karnak> Both of them are at full.
<Bruce> I'm pretty sure that gets Liatus and Meridius both up to full strength.
<11: Silana> I've been having a ball here. I'm glad I decided to play.
<Karnak> So if Liatus uses his two remaining 0 lvl spells on Karnak as CMW, and the three from Ercaius get Karnak to 8 hp, and if Ercaius or Liatus makes a Heal vs. DC 15, he'll heal 2 hp overnight and be at full.
<11: Karnak> The dice are as fickle on line as they are in real life.
<Liatus> I have no Heal skill.
<Bruce> Ercaius does.
## Bruce rolled 1d20+3 = 15 (12).
<Bruce> Voila.
<Karnak> Barely. Whew.
<Karnak> (Liatus could have rolled with just his Wis +2 bonus to do it)
<Karnak> So in the "morning" after Liatus does his rituals and Silana's magical energies are restored, we'll be heading out at full hp.
<Karnak> And I bet we've got some kind of potion, too.
<Liatus> Can I make an Arcana roll to try and ID the flask?
<Silana> We both probably should.
<Bruce> Absolutely.
## Silana rolled 1d20+3 = 17 (14).
<Karnak> (alchemy is also useful for such things)
<Bruce> Ercaius explains at some point, in wordy fashion, that he worships some Apollo cult you haven't heard of, and so he also does his regaining-power thing at sunrise.
<Karnak> Wait... Greek Gnomes? Bwahahaha.
<Bruce> Silana realizes that this is, well, goblin moonshine. High-proof, high contamination.
<11: A.Machine?> This must find a use in this game: Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi das, ad capitem tuum saxum imane mittam."
## Liatus rolled 1d20+6 = 10 (4).
* Liatus goes and beats his head against the wall.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+6 = 16 (10).
## Liatus rolled 1d20+6 = 15 (9).
## Liatus rolled 1d20+6 = 18 (12).
## Liatus rolled 1d20+6 = 20 (14).
## Liatus rolled 1d20+6 = 19 (13).
## Liatus rolled 1d20+6 = 19 (13).
<Bruce> the flask is probably worth more than its contents.
* Karnak suspects Liatus is somewhat drunk now.
<11: A.Machine?> I have a catapult. Give me all the money or I'll fling an enormous rock at your head.)
<Karnak> "Ish a powwwerful posshin."
* Liatus wonders if it's flamable.
<Karnak> Of course, none of us have Appraise, so we've no idea what the flask may be worth.
<Bruce> It is indeed flammable.
<Karnak> Liatus has the best chance, with an Int mod of +2, to Appraise the worth of the flask.
<11: A.Machine?> Random email sig I just received, and seemed appropriate.
<Bruce> Well, you can tell that the flask is well-made, of silver.
* Karnak points Bruce at PHB pg 63.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+2 = 10 (8).
<Liatus> I quit.
<Liatus> I'm not rolling any more dice today.
<Karnak> I wonder if this explains why Liatus was in a remote bar on the frontier.
<Bruce> Quite possibly. :)
* Karnak wants BA to remember that when the chips were down, Liatus -did- come through and save us.
<Bruce> On the other hand, BA, Liatus saved lives - without him this would be an ex-expedition right now.
*** Karnak is now known as Jason.
* Silana hmms. How many goblins have we killed altogether now?
<Jason> 7.
<Silana> And I account for 3 of them. Not bad. :)
<Jason> There's at least 3 more still out there. And I've accounted for none. :)
<Jason> Liatus has 2, I think, and Meridius the rest.
<Silana> Actually, I got 3 and a half. :)
<Jason> In kill counting, there are no fractions. :)
* Jason prods Bruce for a flask value, so he can add it to the Treasure page. :)
<Bruce> 50 gp.
<Jason> That's taking into account Liatus appraisal?
<Bruce> Yes.
* Jason notes it.
<Jason> We're rich!
<Jason> Are we done then?
<Liatus> What do you mean "we", circus clown?
<Liatus> :)
<Jason> I contributed. If I didn't distract the goblins, it'd have been harder to reach them on the wall.
<Liatus> Yes, we were all impressed with the way you mercilessly pummeled their fists and boot soles with your face.
<Jason> Morningstars, please.
<Liatus> :)
<Jason> It was something out of Chicago, I tell ya.
<Jason> At least they didn't use dogs and water cannons.
<Liatus> Oh, doesn't Meridius get a new Feat now?
<Jason> He will, yes.
<Jason> And more hit points, and a better attack bonus.
<Jason> At 2nd Level, Karnak learns how to deflect arrows.
<Liatus> Silana will get another 0 lvel spell. And an extra Will save.
<Liatus> And can cast another spell per day
<Jason> And I actually get a +1 attack bonus, so can start using my Expertise feat.
* Jason intends to take Weapon Finesse (Unarmed Attack) at 3rd level, so I can get a +2 from my Dex.
* Silana wants to hit L3. More happens for a sorcerer going L2-L3 than at making L2.
* Liatus gets a +1 attack bonus, another 0 and 1st level spell, and extra Will and Fortitude saves.
* Silana repeats for Bruce:
* Silana wants to hit L3. More happens for a sorcerer going L2-L3 than at making L2.
* Bruce nods.
<Silana> Better saves, familiar abilities increase, and the crucial second missile out of each MU-Missile spell. :)
<Jason> Also we'll hopefully have stumbled onto magic items by then.
<Liatus> We all get extra feats at lvl3, yes?
* Jason decides to head off and make dinner (yes, feat at 3rd)
<Jason> Thanks for the game, folks. Really enjoying this.
*** Signoff: Jason (EOF from client) at Sat Jan 11 4:58 PM PST.
<Silana> I should go, too. Some errands to run before the stores close.
<Silana> This continues to be great fun. See you all later. :)
<Bruce> See you!
*** Signoff: Silana (Leaving) at Sat Jan 11 5:00 PM PST.
* Liatus wonders if Short Sword qualifies as a Light weapon (for the Weapon Finesse feat)
<Bruce> I believe it does.
<carter@q7.com>