Mythic Sagas: Prologue

[Nanshork]

Einar examines the area in an attempt to piece together what happened.

(click to show/hide)

Survival: 24 (26 against giants)

Knowledge: Nature: 7

[ksbsnowowl]

Examining the scuffs in the dirt on the side of the road, you can make out several tracks that head off to the north.  The hardpack of the road makes it difficult to pick out exactly what happened, but something close to ten sets of man-sized prints descended upon the wagon.  The better prints in the softer earth display the soles well; cloth wrappings with clawed toes sticking out.

Though you don't know what kind, they obviously must be from some kind of trollish creature.  If they are anything like the trolls you've encountered and heard stories of, the occupants of the wagon are likely to end up in a troll's belly, or if unlucky enough to be a woman, held captive and raped.

Though the trail to the north looks rather rocky, it seems the trolls took no care to hide their path.  Even if the bloody foot prints end, the other marks they've left should be easy enough to follow.  Thorgrim eyes the trail, glances at Einar, and nods.

(click to show/hide)

This dice roll has been tampered with!
Thorgrim's Track check 1d20+12 : 14 + 12, total 26

[phaedrusxy]

Skulda sends the bird ahead, as always, and follows along. She calls the cat to heel, not wanting it to get too far ahead and become troll bait.

[Nanshork]

After nodding to Thorgrim in return Einar addresses the rest of the group.  "Trolls did this, and they'll do the same to us if we're not careful."

[phaedrusxy]

"Well so far all we know they've done is killed a horse. If we're quick, maybe we can save whomever was in that wagon. So how about we pick up the pace, boys, before it gets too dark to see?" Skulda says with a gleam in her eye.

[ksbsnowowl]

Thorgrim and Einar lead the group of six north, following the bloody footprints and drag marks.  Just as Skulda's raven had shown her, the blood trails and bloody smudges grew smaller and smaller, eventually ending.  But the two experienced trackers were able to find more subtle clues of the trolls' passage, even as the terrain became rocky and more difficult read.  Four small scratches next to each other on a large flat stone show where clawed toes scraped the rock underfoot.  A strand of golden hair in a branch about 5 feet high shows where, hopefully, one of the captives had passed.

The two barbarians continue to make slow progress, each occasionally picking out something the other had missed.  The sun finishes its slow creep below the earth and dusk settles in.  For over half an hour they keep keen eyes to the ground, and shortly before dark Einar hears a hollow-sounding scream up ahead.  "Up that way!" he forcefully whispers.

Within moments you find yourselves facing the dark, foreboding entrance to a cave.  An occasional sobbing whimper issues forth from deep within.

(click to show/hide)

This dice roll has been tampered with!
Einar's 1st Track check 1d20+15 : 9 + 15, total 24
This dice roll has been tampered with!
Thorgrim's 1st Track check 1d20+12 : 16 + 12, total 28

This dice roll has been tampered with!
Einar's 2nd Track check 1d20+15 : 12 + 15, total 27
This dice roll has been tampered with!
Thorgrim's 2nd Track check 1d20+12 : 3 + 12, total 15

This dice roll has been tampered with!
Einar's 3rd Track check 1d20+15 : 14 + 15, total 29
This dice roll has been tampered with!
Thorgrim's 3rd Track check 1d20+12 : 17 + 12, total 29

This dice roll has been tampered with!
Einar's 4th Track check 1d20+15 : 6 + 15, total 21
This dice roll has been tampered with!
Thorgrim's 4th Track check 1d20+12 : 14 + 12, total 26

(click to show/hide)

Nanshork, you forgot that 5 ranks in Search gives you a +2 synergy bonus to Survival checks when following tracks.

This dice roll has been tampered with!
Thorgrim's Listen 1d20+10 : 8 + 10, total 18
This dice roll has been tampered with!
Hymir's Listen 1d20+7 : 9 + 7, total 16
This dice roll has been tampered with!
Einar's Listen 1d20+7 : 18 + 7, total 25
This dice roll has been tampered with!
Bjartr's Listen 1d20+3 : 20 + 3, total 23
This dice roll has been tampered with!
Skulda's Listen 1d20+5 : 7 + 5, total 12
This dice roll has been tampered with!
Agni's Listen 1d20+1 : 15 + 1, total 16

[phaedrusxy]

Skulda says in a hushed tone "So... I'm thinking of making the raven glow, and sending it in to light our way. I will also be able to see through it's eyes, to warn us of what's directly ahead. If we're lucky, we might even bait them out here with it, rather than having to go in after them. Anyone have a better plan?"

[dna1]

I'm not opposed to you plan, but I'm a bit more partial to less sneaky options. Hymir gets a far off look in his eye. This will make for a grand story. A fight with trolls and a good song, then split an ale on top the corpses. I've heard Valkyrie's are favorable to those in company of a good skald!
Hymir stops and thinks briefly before continuing. I've never followed the strategy of a woman outside the bedroom before. Hahahaa, but I'm willing to see what kind of skills you have hidden. He says to Skulda politely, as he couldn't help but notice she looked rather attractive for her age.

[phaedrusxy]

She makes a disapproving face at him, then gets a thoughtful look in her eye and says "You've given me an idea... If there's one thing I know about trolls, it's that they're never satisfied. They're always on the look out for somethin' more to eat. You boys get ready. I'll offer 'em up something they can't resist."

Then she calls aloud into the cave with a sweet, innocent voice "Sister? Is that you in there? We've got to get back home before dark, or else Mom's sure to tan our hides!"

Bluff

Rolled 1d20+12 : 8 + 12, total 20

[ksbsnowowl]

You soon hear guttural grunts and seeming swear words from inside the cave.  To Skulda's and Bjartr's ears, they can pick out scattered words in the Giant tongue, but it is interspersed with words that are unfamiliar.  Einar slips a magic crystal onto his weapon, and it begins to glow with a soft steady light.  It doesn't take long for a group of squat trolls to emerge from the cave's depths into the deepening dusk.

(click to show/hide)

You have plenty of time to ready actions for when the trolls first emerge.  Please post what the readied action is BEFORE looking at the map, or looking at the information in the next spoiler.

(click to show/hide)

This is what the emerging creatures look like.
(And I mean it, post your readied actions before you look at this picture, or look at the map.  Scout's Honor.)

(click to show/hide)

They are rather short, only about four and a half feet tall, but very wide and bulky, weighing about 200 pounds.

[Risada]

Agni will throw a Ray of Enfeeblement at the first thing that leaves the cave.

(click to show/hide)

Touch attack: 1d20+7 = 14

Str Penalty: 1d6+2 = 6


The Steadfast Boots Agni is wearing means that any two-handed weapon he wields is considered set against a charge (double damage) even if it could not normally be set.

Edit: added some stuff (copied from sdk's post) regarding Steadfast Boots...

[skydragonknight]

Thorgrim was glad that he was able to show Einar how much he had improved since his friend had taught him the fundamentals of tracking in the previous summer. He stayed in front of as many as he can, his fang* out and ready. He immediately assumed a stance that made him more difficult to reach without being bitten by his fang.

(click to show/hide)

*When lower case, he is referring to his weapon. When upper case, he is referring to a group of berserkers.

Readied action -> Attack the first foe that enters his reach. If he hits and deals 10 damage, attempt to trip them via the Knock-Down feat. I'm not sure if the touch attack is strictly necessary, but it's included for completeness. In this case, though, it's irrelevant as he only deals 9 damage.

Readied Attack 1d20+9 : 18 + 9, total 27

Damage 2d4+5 : 3, 1 + 5, total 9

(Note to self: Power Attack would drastically increase the chance for 10 damage. Maybe when we're on initiative I'll remember.)

Note to All:
The Steadfast Boots he is wearing means that any two-handed weapon he wields is considered set against a charge (double damage) even if it could not normally be set. His Hold the Line feat means charging foes entering his threatened area are subject to attack of opportunities which resolve before their charge does. While I'm not going to ask you to roll every single AoO that comes up in the game, if it's something that could affect the enemy's action (such as them falling flat on their face while charging), by all means roll it for me to save game time (unless otherwise specified, he will take every AoO chance he gets - max 3/round). As with the readied action, he will also try to make Knock-Down trips if they are eligible.
Finally, I love Combat Reflexes (2 additional AoOs and being able to make them while flat-footed).

[Nanshork]

Einar readies his sword to strike at any troll that comes near him, happy that action was taken quickly.  This means that there might actually be survivors to save.

(click to show/hide)

Readied action to attack a troll that comes within reach. 

Attack: 25

Damage: 14 + 2 if they have the Giant type


Weapon Crystal (Weapon sheds bright light to 20 ft., shadowy illumination to 40 ft.): Currently attached to Greatsword

[phaedrusxy]

Skulda grasps a sprig of holly hanging upon a thong around her neck and chants a few words in the druidic tongue, and a field of large mushrooms appears on the floor of the cave entrance, posing a tripping hazard and choking the air above with their musty spores whenever anyone steps on them.

(click to show/hide)

She casts Spore Field. The Fort save vs. sickened is DC 16. She's not readying an action, as there's no reason to wait for them to appear.

[dna1]

When the first monster appears at the entrance of the cave, Hymir bursts into a feverish strumming on his Lute. He conjures the ancient power of his ancestors and focuses it into his music. His allies can feel the magic ebbing and flowing into them.

((ooc: activated my jotunfire inspiration, everyone gets +2d6 fire damage to attacks.))

[ksbsnowowl]

Not waiting to act, Bjartr moves forward and rubs his thumb against a rune carved into his spear's shaft.  It glows ever so slightly as he begins chanting a benediction of Odin over Thorgrim.

Skulda's mushroom patch sprouts up just before a group of trolls turn a bend in the cave, and start advancing toward you.  Their steps through the fugal field kicks up great clouds of spores, causing more than one to cough and retch.  The large fungal obstructions also slow their pace, allowing only one to fully emerge from the cave, at which point Agni lets loose of a dark ray, misjudging the troll's position in the shadows, and missing over its shoulder.  Hymir then erupts in a furious tune, conveying the temper of the giants and their desire to set the world aflame; this hunger sets your blades alive, and they each spark a low mystical fire that seemingly comes from nowhere, barely limning each blade with heat.

(click to show/hide)

Benediction takes a full round to cast, so Bjartr has begun doing so, and must complete it with a move action next turn.

This dice roll has been tampered with!
Troll 1 Fort save vs Spores 1d20+4 : 9 + 4, total 13 This dice roll has been tampered with!
Troll 2 Fort save vs Spores 1d20+4 : 13 + 4, total 17 This dice roll has been tampered with!
Troll 3 Fort save vs Spores 1d20+4 : 2 + 4, total 6

This dice roll has been tampered with!
Agni's concealment 20% miss chance 1d100 : 11, total 11

This dice roll has been tampered with!
Agni's Initiative 1d20+2 : 12 + 2, total 14 This dice roll has been tampered with!
Skulda's Initiative 1d20+1 : 15 + 1, total 16 This dice roll has been tampered with!
Bjartr's Initiative 1d20+2 : 18 + 2, total 20 This dice roll has been tampered with!
Einar's Initiative 1d20+4 : 14 + 4, total 18 This dice roll has been tampered with!
Hymir's Initiative 1d20+0 : 20, total 20 This dice roll has been tampered with!
Thorgrim's Initiative 1d20+2 : 20 + 2, total 22

Silly me, forgot the trolls' initiative:

This dice roll has been tampered with!
Trolls' initiative 1d20+1 : 19 + 1, total 20

Initiative count:
22: Thorgrim
20a: Bjartr
20b: Trolls
20c: Hymir
18: Einar
16: Skulda
14: Agni

I assume Thorgrim will delay ever so slightly, so Bjartr's spell can finish.  Just say so in your post as you act; Bjartr will ready his spear if any approach.

I'll get the map posted momentarily.

[skydragonknight]

Bjartr barely manages to touch Thorgrim before the mountain of a man rushes forward. Thorgrim, seeing his foes distracted by the sudden appearance of mushrooms takes the opportunity to charge at the nearest he can see, letting out a battle cry while attempting to gain momentum with a jump. Although he mistimes his jump, his hand seems guided by the blessing of Odin as he his fang  seeks out the flesh of the troll...

(click to show/hide)

Hmm. Bjartr has a higher Dex than the trolls, so yes, I can safely delay until right after him without changing anything.

Start a Rage as a Free Action.
Charging to D9. Attempting a 10 ft jump for Leap Attack (no running start) +11 mod vs. DC 20.
If successful, Power attack contributes +100% damage. PA for... -3/+6(or +12) for an even +10 attack mod.

If he hits and deals 10 damage, he will make a trip attack as a free action.

His AC is 14 for this round from the Rage and Charge.

And now to roll and add them here:

Leaping charge:

Jump 1d20+11 : 4 + 11, total 15 (if successful, add +6 to damage roll.)
Attack 1d20+10 : 20 + 10, total 30
Damage 2d4+14 : 3, 2 + 14, total 19
Fire Damage 2d6 : 2, 6, total 8

Trip:

Touch Attack(if necessary) 1d20+10 : 4 + 10, total 14
Trip 1d20+17 : 5 + 17, total 22

Crit Confirm:

Confirm roll 1d20+10 : 6 + 10, total 16
Extra damage 2d4+14 : 4, 3 + 14, total 21

[ksbsnowowl]

The shadowy light is no hindrance to Thorgrim's eye, and his fang strikes true, hacking a large wound through the beast's shoulder, and knocking it to the ground.  Bjartr steels himself for the coming assault, and the trolls move forward through the fungus, kicking up more spores.

One of the trolls from behind steps over his dead companion and the large mushrooms, advancing toward Thorgrim, but the barbarian's reflexes are too quick, and he brings his blade back up for a quick thrust into the troll's gut, knocking it off its feet, tumbling it down upon his dead comrade.  Though Thorgrim can feel the skald's power coursing through his weapon, and sees the dim glow upon his blade, there is no stink of burned flesh from either foe, and the last one felled still squirms, trying to regain his footing.

The troll on the left side of the cave entrance gives Thorgrim's long tooth a wide berth.  It approaches Agni, but fighting the mushrooms, in combination with its short legs, keep it from getting there in time, and Agni has time to react before the beast's axe finishes its swing.

The fourth troll in the back, seeing two companions felled so quickly, hesitates, glancing at the patch of mushrooms, and decides to remain behind the obstacle.  He also looks over his shoulder and yells in some bastardized pidgin of Giant "Invaders!  ... axes ... slaughter ... ... !"

(click to show/hide)

This dice roll has been tampered with!
Thorgrim's 20% miss chance 1d100 : 51, total 51
This dice roll has been tampered with!
Troll's Trip resist 1d20+2 : 7 + 2, total 9

This dice roll has been tampered with!
Thorgrim's AoO 20% miss chance 1d100 : 76, total 76
This dice roll has been tampered with!
Thorgrim's AoO 1d20+8 : 13 + 8, total 21
This dice roll has been tampered with!
Thorgrim's AoO Damage 2d4+14 : 4, 2 + 14, total 20
This dice roll has been tampered with!
Fire Damage 2d6 : 4, 6, total 10

This dice roll has been tampered with!
Trip 1d20+17 : 13 + 17, total 30

This dice roll has been tampered with!
Troll 2 Fort vs Sickened 1d20+4 : 10 + 4, total 14
This dice roll has been tampered with!
Troll 3 Fort vs Sickened 1d20+4 : 18 + 4, total 22

This dice roll has been tampered with!
Troll 2 Trip resist 1d20+2 : 4 + 2, total 6

(It won't matter, but in case of a miracle)
This dice roll has been tampered with!
Attack on Thorgrim 1d20+7 : 11 + 7, total 18
This dice roll has been tampered with!
Battleaxe Damage 1d8+3 : 1 + 3, total 4

I'm not home, so can't alter the map at the moment.  The troll in C8 is actually tripped, on top of the troll with the "X" in C7.

Hymir is up!

[dna1]

Hymir was quite impressed with his comrades fierce attacks. He continued to play valiantly until one of the trolls in the back started yelling. Being so inspired by his friend, Hymir decided to try his own hand at taking one of the beasts down.
For the moment, he dropped his lute to the ground. Hastily took out his short bow and fired a shot. The tiny bow looked ridiculous in the giant mans grasp. His attempt was truly pitiful, as he watched it soar completely off target straight from the loose, he prayed that it wouldn't accidentally find its way to his friends backside.

MW Bow attack vs Troll that is shouting
This dice roll has been tampered with!
Rolled 1d20+4 : 4 + 4, total 8
This dice roll has been tampered with!
Rolled 1d6 : 2, total 2

[Nanshork]

Einar quickly closes with the troll that escaped the cave, trusting Thorgrim to hold the entrance.  He can feel the adrenaline pumping through his veins, it feels good to be joined in battle with comrades once again.  He then brings his sword to bear, moving the heavy weapon quicker than one would expect as he slashes twice at the beast before him saying, "Hunting trolls to protect the innocent.  Feels just like old times doesn't it Thorgrim?"

(click to show/hide)

Activate Rage!

Rage: 7 rounds remaining

Five foot step to G9

Attack 1: 18
Damage 1: 17 + 2 if a giant

Attack 2: 22

Damage 2: 20 + 2 if a giant

Note that attacks do not take the troll being prone into account.