Expedition: Baxtaw - Seeking Scatha's Lair - 23 July 2021

[Zhym]

Lug also follows Bremen's lead. I

[Rusty Tincanne]

Bremen is pleased to see others recognize his innate leadership qualities, and thanks them for the assistance. No more fighting in the dark if we can help it.

[Zhym]

"Awww, man," whines Lug.

[Jernau35]

"Well, I liked the idea of leaving the goblins alone and looking for the dragon." says Piers. "But I don't want to get caught between the two. Might as well whittle them down a bit."

If there is time, Piers, Rowine and Crowager will try to search for any secret exits from the room. If not, they'll try and use tables, clothing racks and other handy stuff to build a barricade they can shelter behind and use their missile weapons from.

[Marullus]

With only limited time before the goblins are upon them, the party sets to work evening the odds. Piers, Rowine, and Crowgar make a barricade from tables to the right of the entrance (full cover, -4 AC) while Baxtaw and the rest of the party use oil and clothing racks to make a surprise bonfire (no light penalties, subtract two oil). The party hides in the darkness as their torches gutter out, lying in wait.

The goblins enter slowly, wary as the torches have disappeared. Baxtaw and Dorbeck signal the others once all nine goblins are inside the large double doors and Baxtaw lights the clothing rack! The bonfire flares with light, illuminating the whole scene and putting goblins and humans on the same footing as the trap is sprung. (No light penalties)


(Round 1!)

Date: 1:50pm, 26 July 2021
Light: Crowgar's torch (until 1:50pm); Clouson's torch (until 1:50pm). Bonfire of Clothing.
Effects: None.
Injuries: Bremen (minor wound), Stantz (minor wound), Clouson (minor wound), Baxtaw (minor wound), Lug (superficial wound)

surprise: them [1d6] = 4

[Zhym]

Are we in melee range or missile range with the goblins?

[Marullus]

You set a trap without specifying; you may be at either for combat start.
- Piers, Rowine, and Crowgar are specifically at missile range with full cover from their barricade.

[Zhym]

Is there room for Big Lug behind the barricade?

...I think I just answered my own question.

[Rusty Tincanne]

How many goblins are we talking about?
And Bremen did mention trying to engage in melee to limit their ability to pepper us with arrows. And I believe I forgot to mention it, but If Bremen could have, he would have set himself up for attacking from behind.

Bremen (and Stantz) will be happy enough to charge into melee right away.

2 flasks of oil deducted from Bremen.

[Marullus]

...once all nine goblins...

[Marullus]

I have given you the narrative leeway. Post an IC action with rolls.

[Rusty Tincanne]

As planned the Lord Commander and his sworn man, Stantz, rush forward to play whack-a-mole with the trapped goblins.

Warhammer of Baudh (THACO 17): [1d20+2] = 5+2 = 7, [1d8+3] = 6+3 = 9
+1 scimitar (THAC0 16): [1d20+1] = 14+1 = 15, dmg [1d8+1] = 7+1 = 8

I don't know that my THAC0's are correct. Bremen is lvl 7 (thief) and Stantz is lvl 4 (fighter).

If Clauson has a sling, he is welcome to fire at unengaged goblins.

[Zhym]

Lug starts toward the impromptu barricade for cover before realizing he's probably bigger than the table is. He shrugs and grins, realizing that peppering his enemies with arrows from afar isn't really his idiom. He charges into melee with the goblins, shouting his battle cry:

"YEEEEAAAAAAAAAH!"

"Reason" (2-handed sword) (THAC0 18): [1d20+2] = 11+2 = 13 [1d10+2] = 8+2 = 10

I know I ask this every time we get into a new combat, and I apologize for asking it again, but there's no rule in OD&D or house rule that fighters get one attack per level against creatures with < 1 HD, is there?

[Jernau35]

Piers and the others pop up from behind the barricade ready to unleash a barrage of missile fire on the goblins, only to see his companions rushing in to melee with them. Startled, he calls out "Rowine! Crowager! Shoot the ones at the back!", then redirects his fire at any goblins he can hit without engaging his fellows.

Sling Bullet (THACO 18): [1d20] = 4 Damage: [1d4+1] = 2+1 = 3

[Dram]

Baxtaw- Pulls his long sword and attacks the closest goblin.


L. Sword+1/+3 vs Undead tohitTHAC0(17)[1d120+4] = 2+4 = 6, todam[1d8+4] = 7+4 = 11


Are there any plus for a surprise attack.

[Marullus]

You didn't achieve surprise.

No rules for Fighters to mass-effect. 1HD foes still are dangerous in large numbers. On a critical hit you can specify Cleave instead of double damage, allowing you to take out as many foes as your natural damage roll allows.I have applied that for PCs several times.

[Marullus]

Hoping to find easier prey, the goblins do their best to sneak up and surprise you - it is only the fact that you're lying in wait for THEM which prevents their stealthy assault. The oil is lit and the clothing rack goes up in flames, illuminating the entire area!

Rowine and Crowgar both loose fatal shafts from their longbows, (-5, -4) felling two of the goblins from where they shoot behind the barricade with Piers.

"YEEEEAAAAAAAAAH!" yells Lug as he leads the charge into their ranks, cleaving the foremost goblin clean in half (-10) Stantz and Clauson advance together on the other flank - Stantz' scimitar slices down a fourth goblin (-8). Clauson steps forward and intones curses of Baudh upon their sickly, mottled heads! He lashes outward with a long, leather bullwhip, cracking it in the air menacingly before lashing a goblin around the neck, whereupon he falls to the ground, choking. (-4, reduce morale)

Baxtaw and Bremen fail to catch the nimble goblins with their weapons where Dorbeck fares the worst - he rushes after Lug and trips on the mounds of clothing, falling headlong on the ground. (Fumble: lose a round)

Two of the remaining goblins are so terrified of the bullwhip that they drop their swords! (Fumbles) It is all the other two can do to avoid the slashing blades of Lug and the others. All four remaining goblins turn and try to flee back out to the hallway, completely routed.

(Round 2! They're trying to flee.)

Date: 1:50pm, 26 July 2021
Light: Crowgar's torch (until 1:50pm); Clouson's torch (until 1:50pm). Bonfire of Clothing.
Effects: None.
Injuries: Bremen (minor wound), Stantz (minor wound), Clouson (minor wound), Baxtaw (minor wound), Lug (superficial wound)

initiative: us [1d6] = 6 them [1d6] = 2
Clauson - whip (Thac0 18) [1d20] = 14 [1d4+1] = 3+1 = 4
Rowine [1d20] = 16 [1d8] = 5 Crowgar [1d20] = 13 [1d8] = 4
Dorbeck [1d20] = 1 [1d8] = 7
Goblins [1d20] = 4 [1d20] = 1 [1d20] = 1 [1d20] = 16
Goblin morale (5) [2d6] = 7

[Rusty Tincanne]

Bremen hastily drops his hammer and launches a quarrel at the fleeing goblins. The shot goes wide and Bremen kicks a dead goblin, complaining that it had tripped him up.

Stantz also grabs his bow and fires at a fleeing goblin.

So embarrassing for Bremen!
Heavy Crossbow (THACO 17): [1d20+2] = 4+2 = 6, damage [1d8] = 5
Short Bow (THAC0 19) - [1d20+1] = 15+1 = 16, dmg [1d6] = 3

If Clauson's goblin is still choking but alive, we can use it as a guide, perhaps.

[Zhym]

What are the chase rules? Does Lug get a free melee attack because the goblins are running? If he runs after them, does he have to roll to see if they get away?

[Marullus]

(p. 52)