"Mysteries of Oakgrove" by Puff

[Caledonian Achilles]

Kurt can't believe his good luck or rather he can believe his destiny; to be assailed by impossible odds and give up his spirit in a deathly dance of destruction and pain.

He takes a moment to savour the enemies all around him, at least having jumped among some of the orcs, they can't be throwing javelins at his allies.

Some of his drying gore is making a tacky sensation under his chain shirt that begins to thrill the half-orc as he looks around at the unknown quantity of orcs around him. perhaps he is too excited to count but he regrets being unable to help Alyanna count the enemy.

He yanks his warhammer from the belt loop and hefts it in both hands
(in orcish) "The prodigal son returns to sup at the sanguine teets of battle!" he roars before he moves to attack the closest orc with the falchion

---

If Kurt has a plan, his plan is to disable the archers/javelins from attacking his friends while not exposing himself to opportunity attacks so any 5ft steps to get closer to these people would be welcome.

[glow=red,2,300]warhammer +8 = AC20 (1d8+4)[/glow]

HP: 42/53
AC: 20* mithril shirt+3 (+7), Dex (+3)
F+7 R+7* W+3
*(Trap sense+2)

[Ilya]

Again, Kerzeme releases three magic missiles from the tip of his fingers, towards the same target.

---

Standard action:
Magic Missile at the same guy.
1d4+1=1+1=2
1d4+1=1+1=2
1d4+1=3+1=4
2+2+4=8

HP: 18/25
AC: 14

Spells today:
0:6 1:5 2:6 3:4

[puffthemagicdragon]

Round 2
Kurt, Kerzeme, Barrend, Alyanna, Taliea, orcs, Theo

The half orc can't believe his eyes, this must be his lucky day, he thinks as he stairs at the dozen orcs around him getting worked up in a frenzy, probably due to the screams of Theodorre. He pulls a mighty war hammer from his belt, as he moves further into the frenzied orcs, and smashes it into the chest of the orc on his right. Kurt smiles as he hears ribs break and the orc's expression tells it all as he is definetly hurt. The half orc moves with precision, enjoying the flow of battle as the sensation heightens his senses. His keen eyes pick up movement further into the canyon, and he sees the lone runner, another orc, talking to two larger beings.

The sorceror stands his ground and smiles as he watches the head of his victim explode. He likes it so much he unleashes another three glowing spheres at the corpse of the same orc. The stinking body convulses three times as each ball of magical energy slams into it.

The dwarf ignores the javelin strike, he grips his guisarme tightly in his thick fingers and charges to help his new friend, Kurt. His short stumpy legs pump furiusly as he moves a little faster than the normal dwarf, bringing him up surprisingly close to the confrontation. However the large blade of his dwarven made weapon reaches his target expertly. The sharp edge slices the abdomen open of the orc on Kurt's left, just as he is about to attack the half orc. As Barrend retracts the head of the guisarme, the entrails of the orc spill out onto the ground and puddle beside Kurt.

Helping Theodorre out of the rain of Javelins slows down Alyanna, but the wizard is still grateful for her help. Its either the fact of getting closer to the enemy and her friend, Kurt, or maybe its seeing the dwarf run past, but as Alyanna sees Theodorre is ok and can run on his own, so the elf runs straight to her friend. With Kurt moving up past the boulder, Alyanna has room to move just next to it, in the middle of the 'entrance way'. As she appears behind her friend, her mace bursts to life as fire wraps around the weapon, giving the elf a more menacing look as she is ready to kill these vermin.

Being closer to the combat, the ranger, Taliea, feels better about firing so close to her allies. She unleashes a barrage of arrows that all fly in between Barrend and Kurt. Two arrows sinking deep into one of the orcs weilding a falchion getting ready to attack Kurt. The orc falls motionless to the ground. Seems death appears around the half orc.

All of Kurt's distant relatives look at him with bloodlust, they must be wanting to kill what they believe to be a weakling of their race. The orcs near the opening of the barrier all grab their close combat weapons, rusted, broken and nicked orcish falchions, and move to attack the invaders. The orcs near the canyon walls still throw their javelins at the easiest targets. Two orcs attack Kurt, one misses, but one actually hits his arm and blood starts to ooze freely. Another orc on the right moves closer, but slides in and attacks Alyanna, but the swing is wide and misses. The others orcs launch another missisle assault, all miss badly.

Theodorre, now missing the drunk minstrel, the home-made secret recipes of Jake and the alcohol at his tavern, rushes, following Alyanna, but when she runs up behind Kurt, he runs to a boulder on his right and plants his back to it firmly, breathing heavily. He then peeks around the boulders, so he can see behind them and count there enemy. He reaches back and fumbles inside the side flap of his backpack, and effortlessly pulls forth a wand. Suddenly, all the heroes are alarmed as they hear a yell, that definetly did not come frmo an orc, but an ogre.

---

Achinca is that a flaming weapon or a weapon with a spell cast on it?

Theo -14 hp
Alyanna -11 hp, did you get my answer to your question?
Kurt -22 hp, sorry bud, hmm, i like Kurt, but looks like his step brothers are gonna kill him, bah hahahahh ha
Kerzeme -7 hp
Taliea -8 hp
Barrend -4

3 orcs dead, 1 orc staring at his step brother Kurt with pleading eyes and broken ribs and internal damages

Please remember, 1st time DMing. I'm sure I'm gonna mess up, please tolerate me.

[nodaisho]

Barendd moves to take up a position between Kurt and the other orcs, and cuts into another of them with his guisarme. Any orc that tries to move closer to kurt gets a blow to the legs with the back of the blade for their trouble.

---

Attack:1d20+11=20
Damage:2d4+11=19
knock-down trip (when 10 or more damage is done, trip attempt as free action)1d20+10=13
Roll to resist being counter-tripped in case of failure: 1d20+16=36

Any AoOs will be trip attacks, +11 to hit with a touch attack, +10 for trip check.

How many more orcs do we see? I'm not really getting a good idea of how many we have dropped versus how many are alive. Possibly a count of unharmed orcs as well as dead and wounded?

[Caledonian Achilles]

Kurt's wounds are like a salve, making him feel more alive. He sees the pleeding eyes of the orc and scowls with scorn
(in orcish) "Fight bravely like a lion or run like a worthless cur!"

As the wounded orc considers this challenge, the rogue focuses on another orc. With great energy he attacks another orc trying to push forward with a 5ft step if he can so that Alyanna and the others can join the fray. Also he hopes to get closer to the ogre...

---

warhammer +8 = AC14 (1d8+4=9)

HP: 42/53
AC: 20* mithril shirt+3 (+7), Dex (+3)
F+7 R+7* W+3
*(Trap sense+2)


because some of us are in different places, please could you tell us how many orcs are facing each character? roughly describe who is where after each DM post.

you're doing a good job as first time DM! remember that as DM and impartial referee it is a good idea to keep the players right. everyone can get mixed up or lose the place (e.g. me thinking there was a cave nearby earlier!)

if the players are going to make an obvious mistake, the DM should advise that player that they might want to adjust their actions

[achinca]

Alyana sees Kurt's bleeding and being injured but she remember how resistant the half-orc is. "Big Oaf, let me know when you to feel my special healing touch"

She swings at the nearest orc, but sadly the flaming mace flies wide of the monster hide. "I need to get better. I cannot let Kurt gut all these trask alone"

---

Attack 1d20 +5 = 4 + 5 = 9
HP: 39/50
AC: 19
Spell: 0 5/5; 1 4/4 +1d; 2 4/4 +1d; 3 3/3 +1d

OOC: Puff, I got the explanation for the damages. You are doing a great job. Even people who have DM for a while make all kind of mistakes. Ask Cal how many bloopers I have done in my game. On a second hand, don’t ask him, I am afraid of the answer.

OOC2: It is a flaming mace +1d6 if hit)

[Ilya]

Kerzeme continues sending orbs of magical energy towards his enemy, now looking for a living target. He decides he has done enough damage to this, now irrecognizeable, corpse. "Who's next?" he shouts.

---

Let's see what mistakes Kerzeme has made so far:
He's standing in the middle of open ground while javelins are raining down around him. I thought that was a strategically poor decision. And I was planning to have him run out of missiles before all orcs went down, so that he would be essencially helpless, that is if he lives long enough to see said end.
He also just got caught up in the fun and wasted a spell.

If you have any concrete suggestions on how to dumb him up, please do give them, especially if they happen to be funny, I'd love to implement them.

Move action: If necessary, come closer.
Attack: Yet another magic missile, at anyone who's alive and close enough, whoever that might be.

1d4+1=4+1=5
1d4+1=3+1=4
1d4+1=1+1=2
2+4+5=11 damage

HP: 11/25


0:6 1:4 2:6 3:4

[She-Elf]

Seeing an orc fall to her barrage of arrows gives Taliea a boost and her hand is already headed towards her quiver again within seconds. Suddenly she hears the unmistakable sound of an ogre but she only uses this to fuel her determination to kill the orcs. Remaining outwardly calm and collected she sends another 3 arrows speeding toward her foes.

---

Attack: 1d20+10/1d20+10/1d20+5 = 12/21/10
Damage: 1d8+2 str +1 as it's a +1 bow, + 1 point blank shot
= 8/6/8
Aiming at the orc closest to me again
HP = 25/44 AC = 20

[puffthemagicdragon]

Round 3

Kurt, Kerzeme, Barrend, Alyanna, Taliea, orcs, Theo

Wielding the warhammer as a veteran, Kurt swings it easily and comfortably as he moves further into the orc's encampment. Leaving the injured orc for a more fearsome one leaves Kurt open for an attack of opportunity from the soon to be dead orc, he comes close just not close enough. Kurt, finding his next victim closing in on him from the right, grips his warhammer tight and lets the momentum of the weapon lead him to the orc. the evil distant cousin of Kurt tries to sidestep the blow, but Kurt is lucky enough to just catch him. He crushes the shoulder of the orc and he is clearly injured.

Kerzeme focuses and produces three more spheres of energy as he walks towards the others, apparently bored with the first magic missiles, these change colors independently as they close in on their target. As an orc looks over the rock barrier to see what the mad sorceror is doing, his head explodes from the impact of the three colorful magical balls.

The dwarf moves forward again and turns to his left, successfully cutting off the orcs and dividing them into two smaller groups, destroying any plans of cutting the heroes down in the smaller pass. But the orc that was next to Barrend's last victim is too close for the dwarf to attack with his long weapon. He can't turn to try and trip Kurt's opponent as he is too far and Barrend would leave his back open for attack. With the orcs closing in, he must decide what to do with his useless weapon in such close quarters.

Alyanna, the elven priestess, moves up five feet next to Kurt. She swings her flaming mace and attacks the orc in front of her, to her right. Sadly she misses.

The ranger exhilerated from her kill, quickly rips three more arrows from her quiver and fires them in rapid succession. Unfortunetly, Taliea may have been a bit too confident and her arrow flies a bit wide and hits Theodoore in his right thigh, a few inches away from the javelin wound. However, her second arrow hits her target, and drops the first orc that Kurt injured, just before it attacked Alyanna. The last arrow flies off high and wide to hit the canyon wall and break.

The orcs still worked up in a frenzy, don't even notice their comrades being cut down around them. The orc before Kurt swings his falchion, and misses. The orc attacking Alyanna swings his rusted blade, and hits hard (d**n a 20). Luckily, its not as bad as she thought it would be and isn't a critical hit (-10hp). The orcs to the left attacking Barrend swing their falchions, and one connects expertly (19), but again not a critical hit (-10hp), the other misses badly. The orcs closer to the canyon walls throw another round of javelins at Kerzeme, both hit their targets, one right in the chest, barely missing the sorceror's heart (nat 20 but confirm was a 3). The runner that left earlier to apparently alert others, returns and is now 30' away throwing a javelin at Kurt, he misses horribly. However, the two ogres hurl two javelins at the group of combatants, not caring if they hit orcs or not. Both ogre's javelins miss.

Theodorre, ready to turn the corner and help his new friends, takes a deep breath, then takes an arrow deep in his same wounded thigh, "Oowww !!, Come on, that hurts!!" he yells at the ranger, as thats the only one from that direction holding a bow, as he falls back to the ground, slumped against the large boulder. He grips the arrow ready to break it and pull it free from his leg. Gritting his teeth, ready for the pain that is sure to come, he grabs the arrow in both hands and he tries to snap the end off. The outcome this time is yet another yell of pain erupting from the wizard, which brings on more hoots, hollers and howls from the brethren of Kurt. And the arrow remains intact in his leg.

---

OOC: a favor please, when posting your attack roll could you post your actual roll please, 1d20(14)+3=17, I would like the 14 posted, that way its easy for me to see if someone rols a 1 or a 2, hehe!

Ok, I'm seeing it as;
Kurt is now 10' past the rock barrier.
Alyanna and Barrend are both 5' past barrier. Alyanna is on right, just behind Kurt. She is facing and fighting (east) to her right now.
Barrend is on left side turning, facing and fighting to left.
Taliea is 25' away from barrier entrance and running out of targets.
Theodore is looking like a pin cushion.
Kerzeme is 40' away
Orcs are now divided, 3 left on the left side (behind barrier)(1 by wall throwing javelins, two attacking Barrend).
2 on the right side, (behind barrier)(1 attacking Alyanna , 1 throwing javelin)
1 in front of Kurt, hurt.
1 30' away running back to the fight (other side of barrier)
2 ogres 60' away, looking your way (other side of barrier)

Theodorre -22 hp, thanks She Elf,
Alyanna -21hp
Kurt -22hp
Kerzeme -17hp
Taliea -8hp
Barennd -4hp


OOC2: Noda, in your posts could you please include AC and current HP, tnx, and need ur AC Ilya

[Ilya]

With a javelin lodged in his chest, a red haze filling his field of vision rapidly, his consciousness fading and his connection with reality faltering, Kerzeme's smile disappears.
Once again, probably for the last time, he raises his hands to let magic missiles fly from them. He aims his final attack at the orc who just hit his chest.

---

HP: 8/25 [glow=red,2,300]DM edit: OOC: Those are total HP loss, Kerzeme should have 8 HP [/glow] Cal: amended
((EDIT:Oh. Didn't realize that. Thanks.))
AC: 14 ((Yeah, sorry.))

Standard action: Magic Missile at the orc you rolled a 20 for.
EDIT: Here you go.
1d4+1=2+1=3
1d4+1=1+1=2
1d4+1=2+1=3
3+2+3=8

[Caledonian Achilles]

Kurt Barrend and Alyanna are together, three amigos fighting back to back. With satisfaction, Kurt realises that the wounded orc in front of him is providing them with cover from the ogres' javelins (+4AC as well as making the ogres fire in to combat -4 ranged although they can ignore the 04 attack penalty and randomly pick targets from friend and foe if they truly do not care who they strike)

Kurt goes to defend Barrend by taking a 5ft step and thereby avoiding attacks of opportunity and swings at the orc in front of Barrend so that the dwarf can use his polearm to attack the orcs behind it.

---

M: 5ft step west to help out Barend
S: warhammer 2+8=10(1d8+4=5)

HP: 31/53
AC: 20* mithril shirt+3 (+7), Dex (+3)
F+7 R+7* W+3
*(Trap sense+2)

thanks for describing where everyone is - great job! what are the dimensions of the area we are fighting in? is it a narrow passage or a broad area? are we still outdoors?

[puffthemagicdragon]

OOC: Those are total HP loss, Kerzeme should have 8 HP

You all can make all rolls if u want.
The boulders were just the cover, behind them is thier encampments, firepits weapons and such.
All kinds of room behind the boulder barrier.
There are two orcs in front of Barrend, then one behind them is 15' away.
The canyon floor is 40' wide, its just that Barrend is right beside the boulder wall and the orc is in his face.

[She-Elf]

Seeing that she is running short of targets she can reach from her present location, Taliea moves forward towards the rock barrier, loosing more arrows as she does so. "Gosh Theo I'm so sorry! Are you alright?" She calls out to the Wizard as she moves, but she doesn't think that now is the time to stop, what with there being two ogres heading towards the party. She keeps an eye on him and awaits his reply before heading over to help him.

---

Move toward rock barrier (I believe I'm 25 feet away? I'll avoid Attacks of Opportunity if possible, if not that's fine).
I also thought the damage you were posting was cumulative, and for some reason I thought I had -11 the first time, instead of -8... so my HP is infact 36/44 \o/

Sorry for hitting Theo (I believe I actually rolled a 2 though? Anyway....)

Attack: 1d20(6)+10=16/1d20(9)+10=19/1d20(9)+5=14
Damage: 1d8(3)+4=7/1d8(2)+4=6/1d8(7)+4=11
Aiming at any orc within 30ft if possible
HP = 36/44 AC = 20

Planning to draw a sword next round, so if I can be within a 5ft step of an orc that would be handy, thanks.

[achinca]

Alyana yells in pain as the orc rusty blade cuts her tender flesh. "I will not survive many more hit like that. I better thin that herd fast."
"This is the last woman you will ever hit monster." She swings her mace and make it fall on the head of the orc who hit her, trying her best to crush the orc skull.

"anyone needs healing, let me know" She yells to no one in particular.

Attack 1d20 +5 = 19 + 5 = 24
Damages: 1d8 +1 + 1d6 (flame) = 7 + 1 + 5 = 13
HP: 28/50
AC: 19
Spell: 0 5/5; 1 4/4 +1d; 2 4/4 +1d; 3 3/3 +1d

[nodaisho]

Last round: The nearest orc's grin at noticing Barendd is too close to hit him with the guisarme disappears when he sees the dwarf's gauntlet-clad fist coming at him instead.

This round: Barendd ignores the blood flowing from the falchion wound, and steps away from the orcs next to him, if possible. If not possible, he attempts to trip both of them up, then steps so that he is threatening the one Kurt isn't with his guisarme. "Well," he says to his fellow barbarian, as he eyes the orcs and ogres surrounding them, "Least we ain't bored."

---

last round attack with a spiked gauntlet instead, damage is 1d4+6=7

This round, trip attempt and then 5 foot step.
Trip attempts touch attacks: 1d20 12=17, 1d20 12=17 the second one should be +7, I forgot the iterative penalty, too used to doing 2 of one attack.
Trip strength check: 1d20+10=27, 1d20+10=30
+16 to avoid being tripped if they manage to avoid getting tripped.

AoOs: attack with guisarme, 1d20+9 damage, +13 to hit, opponent will probably be prone. Would you like me to roll AoOs in the future, or do you want to do it for the ones that come up?

AC:19 (12 touch, 16 flatfooted), 23 against the ogres (+4 against giants).