Tuesday, January 30, 2018

The Kennel



As Engelhart gets to the bottom of the stairs, turning the corner, he'll find a room built rather large.  The appearance of the room is something like a large kennel ... with little in it.  There's a pile of rubble and broken wood at the far end, piled about eight feet high, and pieces of wood around.  There's two masticated bodies of froglings to Engelhart's left (not shown).  Asleep, about 20 hexes away (indicated by the large grey mound), is a large humanoid with a dog's head (lord knows I could not find an image on line for it).  You would guess this thing to be about ten to twelve feet tall.

There's a fair bit of blood in the room.  The humanoid has the ends of two spears (broken off) still stuck in its back.  It's breathing is fairly labored; it has quite clearly been seriously wounded in whatever fight it had in the kitchen (for that is the logical conclusion).

22 comments:

Engelhart Askjellson said...

I'm not sticking around. I retreat back up and inform the comrades while re-equipping my gear.

This thing is too dangerous to leave in our proximity if we wish to rest down here.

I put forward my vote that we dispatch it post haste while we have it in our hands.

A surprise round from the party ought to be enough to dispatch it, or at least turn the fight decisively in our favour.

Embla Strand said...

I concur with Engelhart.

Engelhart Askjellson said...

Alexis, in attacking a motionless opponent, what advantage can we expect to have?

(Also, as a secondary aside, would it result in Xp gain?)

Alexis Smolensk said...

[Have to step out for some hours]

Look up "helpless defenders" on the wiki.

Engelhart Askjellson said...

[Just to inform that I stand duly enlightened on rules]

And the answer came back surprising: assassinating this canine heap is a job for the assassin.

I'll be close by, but really, seems like an open-and-knifed case.

Lothar Svensson said...

I am in favor of Embla attempting to dispatch the beast for us.

For the record.

Embla Strand said...

Well, that seems a reasonable proposition. Let's.

I grab my battleaxe, leaving my pack behind, and sneak far enough down the stairs that I can see the creature.

Engelhart Askjellson said...

I'll get my maul out and await right outside the bend.

Pandred said...

I wait midway downstairs.

Part of me thinks we should try and see if this fellow is sentient.

The other part hopes it puts up a big devilish fight.

Ethics is hard when XP is on the line.

Alexis Smolensk said...

[That sounds good, all.

[I had a bout with insomnia last night, thinking on various things until about 3 AM; then woke for work at 6:30 AM and am now just getting home. I'm going to eat and take a nap, I think. I'll address this as soon as I'm able ~ but unlike last week, I do work tomorrow. I have Friday off].

Alexis Smolensk said...

Okay, sorry for the departure.

Embla is 2nd level (-2), using a weapon, soft armored (+1), using the dark (infravision). And the dog humanoid is sleeping (-4). Because Engelhart is around the corner and will need a light, I'll call this starshine for the sake of the creature, but this will have no notable effect on Embla's infravision (she will see fine).

That's -6 on 2d6.

Embla, you can get as close as you want. You're close enough to attempt an assassination. The rules for that are here: http://tao-of-dnd.wikispaces.com/Assassination

I will need a d20 roll. Don't roll damage.



Embla Strand said...

That's an 18.

Alexis Smolensk said...

Clearly a hit.

Next I'll need 2d4, and then a d6.

Embla Strand said...

2d4 roll is 5, and the d6 roll is 1.

Alexis Smolensk said...

[Again, my apologies. Two nights in a row with insomnia, followed by a second shift under the influence; at least I can sleep in the afternoon. I've been in a haze since Tuesday]

Embla, that's unfortunate. Your level tells against you, and it is a big creature; the assassination failed. But you cause 20% of its full hit points, which is enough to stun the beast. It is, however, now in the process of waking up; which means you can't try to assassinate again.

If the party will tell me what it's doing, I'll set up a new map and position tomorrow when I'm able. Engelhart can reach 0903 with 2 AP. Pandred can reach it with 4 AP. Lothar, Fjall and Bergthora can get near to there by the end of the round; Fjall's crossbow is loaded, so AFTER the creature attacks, if Embla and Engelhart don't stun it, Fjall will be able to fire.

Unless Embla wants to just run ... in which case I presume Engelhart will see that, and react, which Pandred will see, and be warned, etcetera.

Embla Strand said...

[Alexis, that is perfectly understandable. Please take care.]

Alas. That's what I feared.

I stand my ground, call out "Help!", and attack again.

Heads up: I've shed some weight (losing the javelin) and now have 5AP.

Alexis Smolensk said...

Okay. Hold off on the roll. For the present, let's wait and get a confirmation from others, and then I'll set up the new post and map, and get down to it.

Pandred said...

HROAGH!

I have and spend the 4AP to get downstairs.

Engelhart Askjellson said...

It's bumrushing time.

I move to 0903 and from there to 0702 or 0802 (whichever Embla isn't on).

Lothar Svensson said...

I drop my bow at the sound of Embla's call and draw my sword, ready to spring into action.

Alexis Smolensk said...

[Okay, wonderful guys. Just give me an hour, I'm just getting out of bed]

Alexis Smolensk said...

The next post is up. Late.