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

[shaidar]

Corvin

Corvin nods "That's definitely worth considering. I just worry that while going to the garrison first might let us stop any problems early, if there is someone there in command that has sympathies with the Clenched Fist we could be in real trouble, what with the halflings and the mark."

[archolewa]

"All the more reason why we shouldn't be bringing anyone to the garrison," says Kasper. "Let the people I brought with me, who are waiting just outside the Wall for us, handle that. We will bring the Outside halflings to the monastery. If the Clenched Fist tries to move openly against us, I have no doubt that the Weeping Eye would have our backs. If they try to do something underhanded, well. There's not really much we can do to stop that."

[shaidar]

Corvin

"I think it's a good plan. I hope this doesn't cause an issue with the Clenched Fist, but I think that it's only a matter of time before there is trouble somewhere between the two sects."

[Edeldhur]

Mordred

"Agreed" - Mordred nodded at Corvin and Sebastian - "And if the Clenched Fist comes causes trouble, that is something we will need to deal with later on"

[archolewa]

Mordred

"Agreed" - Mordred nodded at Corvin and Sebastian - "And if the Clenched Fist comes causes trouble, that is something we will need to deal with later on"

"And are you contributing any rations to getting the caravan fed?" asks Sebastian.

[Edeldhur]

Mordred

Mordred

"Agreed" - Mordred nodded at Corvin and Sebastian - "And if the Clenched Fist comes causes trouble, that is something we will need to deal with later on"

"And are you contributing any rations to getting the caravan fed?" asks Sebastian.

"Of course, I have 5 days of preserved rations"

[shaidar]

Corvin

"So we agree we have enough food for some kind of breakfast? Full or half meal?"

[Edeldhur]

Mordred

"Full. People need a morale boost after all the commotion from last night"

[shaidar]

Corvin

Corvin nods "Do we want to use up our fresh first, or do a mix of fresh and dried? We could use the dried on the cart."

[Edeldhur]

Mordred

"I say use the fresh first, because they will spoil first"

[shaidar]

Corvin

"OK, we'll use the fresh up first."

[archolewa]

The group gets to work distributing food to the caravan.


Alright, we need to mark off two weeks of rations. For simplicity I'll mark off the henchmen's rations, because those are at my fingertips!

Between the three henchmen, we have 15 days worth of fresh rations. Corvin did the math at two weeks of rations to feed everyone. So we'll mark off their fresh rations, leaving 1 day left. Astrid will hold onto that last day. So Sebastian and Kasper have no more fresh rations, but still have several days of dried, while Astrid is left with 1 just one day of fresh rations.

I also don't think I had everyone mark off their rations for last night. So if you haven't already, mark off a day's worth of rations for yesterday.

@shaidar Do I need to mark off rations for Astrid, or is she going to be sharing the rest of Corvin's fresh? I think he might have two days of fresh left?

Since everyone is getting a full meal, you'll get a +2 bonus on any Charisma checks to keep the caravan together if anything goes south.


Once everyone is fed, and their thirst quenched, the caravan gets moving again, using the same rough setup as last time. Corvin is out scouting ahead. Mordred and Astrid are on the right edge of the caravan. Kasper, Eleanor and Leon are on the left, while Sebastian, the dogs and the Outside halflings bring up the rear.

The morning passes in watchful, tense, but peaceful silence. They see scattered squirrels, maybe a few rabbits, but nothing else.

As morning fades into noon, Mordred passes by a thick bush that sticks out a fair bit into the trail. He pushes it back to give room for the people behind him, when four 3-foot-long yellow-and-black-striped insects erupt out of the bush. The insects buzz angrily and swarm around Mordred, attacking him!

The insects aren't surprised, but the caravan might be. These insects surprise on a 1-4 on a d6, Corvin is surprised on 1-3: 3. The team is surprised!

The flies swarm around Mordred, zipping in and out and trying to skewer him with their proboscides. Most of them deflect harmlessly off Mordred's armor, but one off them manages to skewer him in the neck, drawing a burst of blood before Mordred can wrench himself away.

"Mordred!" cries Astrid, drawing her sword and moving to attack the creatures. "Help!"

Panicked cries ring through the caravan, but Eleanor is already leaping into action, shouting commands for everyone to get back, ordering adults to grab the nearest child and protect them, with Leon echoing her commands with the ease of long practice.

Combat:

Attacks: 1d20+2+3 = 12, 14, 20, 11. One hits

Damage: 1d8 = 6. Mordred takes 6 damage, has 6/12 HP left.

Caravan Charisma check: 1d20+12+2(full meal) = 26 > 20


The four flies are going to continue to attack Mordred. Sebastian and his dogs are going to run up to join the melee. Astrid is going to attack one of the flies with her sword. Kasper is going to run in to help. The halflings are busy getting the people in the caravan some space.

Actions! I believe the standard is for Corvin to be 30 feet out in front of the Caravan. With his 45' of movement, I'd say he has *just* enough movement to get into melee as part of the attack action. He doesn't have to Run like the others do.

[shaidar]

Corvin

Corvin turns at the cries and sees the giant insects attacking Mordred. He considers using his bow, but decides he might hit Mordred by mistake so rushes in to help trying to strike the disgusting creatures with his claws.

He's going in with his Lupine attack. I already marked off yesterdays rations and have been including Astrid each day. You're right, between Corvin and Astrid yesterday and the bear this morning they've used up his last of fresh rations. He has 7 days of dried left. So between him and Astrid they have enough for 4 days for the both of them (1 fresh and 7 dried).

[Edeldhur]

Mordred

With a grunt tries to slice at one of the flies!

Attack (Bastard Sword 2h): [1d20+3]=5+3=8 Damage: [1d8+3]=6+3=9

[archolewa]

Astrid thrusts and slashes at one of the flies, trying to drive it away. The creature
bobs and buzzes around her, but stays laser focused on Mordred.

The flies continue to divebomb him as he tries to hold them off with his
sword. He keeps one at bay with his sweeping steel. Another he knocks back
with an elbow. But one of them slips past his sword and plunges its proboscis
through a seam under his shoulder, and into his torso. Mordred gurgles, and
then collapses as the creature pulls itself free.

As it pulls itself free, Corvin's claws rake through the air, cutting a nasty
gash across the fly's body. The fly whirls to face Corvin, buzzing angrily
and diving at him.

By this time, the others rush into the melee, the dogs barking ferociously,
Kasper's face set in a grim line, and Sebastian murmuring under his breath.



Initiative:
Astrid: 20
Flies: 12
Dogs: 11
Kasper: 9
Corvin: 4
Mordred: 3
Sebastian: 2


Astrid attack: 1d20+1+1+6 = 16 < 20
Flies: 4x 1d20+2+3 = 19, 11, 20, 15 1 hit
damage: 1d8 = 8! Mordred is down.
Corvin attack: 1d20+4+6 = 25 > 20 hit
damage: 1d6+1 = 3

Mordred saving throw vs death ray: 1d20+7 = 17 < 20, Mordred dies.

Morale check to see if the insects leave now that they've killed the
person who originally disturbed them. On a passed check, they will
leave, otherwise they will keep attacking:
1d20+13 = 19 < 20

The flies will keep attacking.

The flies will spread out and attack the others. Two will attack Astrid,
one will attack Corvin, and one will attack Kasper.

Astrid and Kasper will attack the wounded fly. Sebastian will try to
Command the flies to leave, the dogs will attack the biggest fly.

[shaidar]

Corvin

"Mordred!"

Corvin is momentarily stuck choosing between helping Mordred and attacking, but seeing the creatures fan out to attack the others makes him realise that he has to stop them hurting anyone else.

He attacks the fly attacking him.

[archolewa]

Sebastian draws himself straight and tall. For a moment, it almost looks like he
has been replaced by a great grizzly bear out of the corner of Corvin's eye.
"Flee! There is nothing for you here but death! Flee!"

His words come out like the howl of wolves, the onrushing roar of a tornado, the
hiss of a giant spider. Two of the largest flies cower and begin to pull away.

The sounds are interrupted by a high pitched battle scream from Astrid. She
steps over Mordred's body, shield raised. Her blade flashes in the sunlight
as it arcs through the air and cuts in half the insect that had slain the
Magic-User.

The dogs leap on and savage the largest of the insects, snapping off
limbs and tearing at its bulbous body with their teeth. The giant fly buzzes
in something of a panic and barely manages to squirm free of their snapping
jaws.

Meanwhile, Corvin and Kasper, seeing their target struck down, pivot to the
last remaining fly with some fight in it, right as it zips towards Astrid from her
blindspot, and lances its proboscis at her calf. Corvin cries out in warning, and
Astrid pivots, bringing her great shield around just in time to catch the attack.

The insect wobbles in the air, its proboscis bent by the sudden collision with
a wall of steel.

It goes to join the other two in fleeing.

The remaining three insects flee into the forest, vanishing as quickly as they
came.



Initiative
Sebastian: 18
Astrid: 13
Dogs: 7
Kasper/Corvin: 5
Flies: 1


Sebastian command animals roll: 1d20+5 = 21 > 20
number HD commanded: 2d6 = 5
Flies are 2 HD each, the two largest will be Commanded to Flee

Astrid attack: 1d20+1+1+6 = 26 > 20
damage: 1d8+1 = 9! Fly only had 6 HP left and is struck down

Dogs attack: 1d20+4+6 = 22, 20 2 hits
damage: 5, 3 total of 8 damage.

Kasper and Corvin: Their target is dead

Flies:
One is dead
Two will abandon their attack and flee next round
Last attacks Astrid: 1d20+2-1 = 19 < 20 miss

Morale check for the last fly: 1d20+13 = 18 < 20. It will flee.

For defeating 4 robber flies, the survivors get 4*20/4 = 20 XP each.
Astrid, Kasper and Sebastian each get 10 XP since they are henchmen. Mordred
doesn't get any because he did not survive.

[shaidar]

Corvin

Corvin rushes over to the fallen Mordred and attempts first aid.

[Edeldhur]

Mordred

After much pain and toil, Mordred falls, killed by a fly.
Unheroic as it may seem, you notice he has a smile on his lips, dead eyes staring straight at Astrid.

[shaidar]

Randomly brutal!