Goodman Games

DCC53 Sellswords of Punjar
Encounter #9 Area 1-14 Arthuro, and friends, in the Court of the Beggar-King.

Round 4.

Arthuro- DEAD.

Riardon- Careful Attack Quarry HT2; Miss.

Which one's the Striker did you say?

Erais- Priest's Shield HT2; Hit 4 damage (23 HP).

Kathra- Tide of Iron Combat Advantage HT2; Hit 9 damage (14 HP bloodied).

Tira- Eldritch Blast Cursed HT2; Hit 20 damage- DEAD.

Time to play 5 minutes.
Total time to play 24 minutes.

End of Encounter-

The Good Guys...
Riardon Brightvale, Male Eladrin Ranger 1 (HP23)
Erais the Sunlord, Male Human Cleric of Amaunator 1 (HP13/24)
Kathra Dyk, Male Dwarf Fighter 1 (HP33)
Tira Duskmeadow, Female Half-Elf Warlock 1 (HP28)

The Bad Guys... 425XP Level 1 Encounter.
Human Tough Level 2 Brute [HT] (x2) (HP45) 2 DEAD.
Human Rogue, Arthuro the Fence Level 4 Skirmisher [Arthuro] (HP54) DEAD.

Action Points 0 Total 0
Daily Powers 0 Total 0
Healing Surges 0 Total 0
2nd Winds 0 Total 0
Crits 0 Total 1
PCs Ko'd 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Daily Powers 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Crit 0 Total 1

Comment: And they've made it- only it starts again below, the PCs take an Extended Rest, after searching the bad guys and the throne room for money et al.

They take the ladder away to the throne room after clearing up below, and take it in turns to head into town, change up some of the magic items they have found that are no use to them.

They're all also Level 2.

Riardon swaps out the Duelist Dagger +1 (from Black Shet) and some money for a +1 Targeting Longbow.

Erais swaps the +1 Short Sword and a little coin for a +1 Mace.

Kathra swaps the +1 Bastard Sword and a little coin for a +1 Warhammer.

Tira meantime keeps the +1 Dagger.

The rescued young girl is taken to the appropriate authorities, hopefully her parents (if they're alive) can be found.

During the rest the PCs discover a concealed trapdoor and a rickety ladder heading down.

Stats: An easy fight, exactly what was meant to happen, although it took a little longer than expected, although having said that dropping Arthuro in the first round was pretty amazing.

PCs connected 70.59% of the time (12 from 17 attacks), the monsters only 20% of the time (1 hit only from 5 attacks). Damage done/turn equally biased- PCs 38/turn, the bad guys 2.75/turn- a massacre.

Not much else to be said, except for the fact that the Striker- Riardon had the lowest connection rate there 50%, with Tira on 80% and Kathra and Erais on 75%; still not many attack rolls made.

Combined Stats; Next time an overview of the PCs progress to Level 2.

DCC53 Sellswords of Punjar

Combined Stats: And so this serves as an overview of the PCs progress to Level 2.

Number of Combat Encounters: 7
Encounter Levels: 1 [+0] (x6) & 7 [+6] (x1).
Average Encounter Level: 1.86
Total Turns of Combat: 41
Total Time to play Combat Encounters: 327 minutes.
Average Time/Encounter: 46.71 minutes
Total Action Points used: 18 (average 2.57/encounter)
Total times PC KO'd (0 HP): 9 (average 1.29/encounter)
Total PC Crits rolled: 9 (average 1.29/encounter)
Total Healing Surges used: 21 (average 3/encounter)
Total Daily Powers used: 3 (average 0.43/encounter)

Remember for all of the below Scurvy & Skamos have only been in 2 combat encounters each, Corrin in 4 and Kathra and Tira in 5 each.


Overall Connection Rates-

PCs 59.57% (112 Hits from 188 Attacks)
Monsters 52.89% (64 Hits from 121 Attacks)

PCs rate is going up but there's still not a great divide.

Individual PC Connection Rates-

50% Scurvy (9 from 18)- DEAD. STRIKER!
54.55% Erais (18 from 33). LEADER.
56% Corrin (14 from 25)- DEAD. DEFENDER.
56.52% Tira (13 from 23). STRIKER.
57.14% Kathra (12 from 21). DEFENDER.
59.52% Riardon (25 from 42). STRIKER.
80.77% Skamos (21 from 27)- DEAD. CONTROLLER.

Poor dice rolls or badly thought out Pregens?

Connection Rates for Individual Attack modes-
(Minimum 5 Attacks)

20% Witchfire- Tira.
28.57% Sacred Flame- Erais.
& Acrobatic Strike- Scurvy.
42.86% Cleave- Kathra.
50% Lance of Faith- Erais.
& Eyebite- Tira.
57.14% Priest's Shield- Erais.
& Magic Missile- Skamos.
58.82% Holy Strike- Corrin.
62.5% Tide of Iron- Kathra.
63.16% Careful Attack (Bow)- Riardon.
72.73% Eldritch Blast- Tira.
85.71% Scorching Burst- Skamos.
100% Force Orb- Skamos.

Same table but remove the Dead Guys-

20% Witchfire- Tira.
28.57% Sacred Flame- Erais.
42.86% Cleave- Kathra.
50% Lance of Faith- Erais.
& Eyebite- Tira.
57.14% Priest's Shield- Erais.
62.5% Tide of Iron- Kathra.
63.16% Careful Attack (Bow)- Riardon.
72.73% Eldritch Blast- Tira.

Hmm, the top end has just disappeared, Skamos is being missed (as is our 5th player- Dave).

Back to the first of these tables, this time minimum 10 attacks made-

50% Lance of Faith- Erais.
58.82% Holy Strike- Corrin.
63.16% Careful Attack (Bow)- Riardon.
72.73% Eldritch Blast- Tira.
85.71% Scorching Burst- Skamos.

Same again with minimum 25 attacks-

63.16% Careful Attack (Bow)- Riardon.

There's my point, from a total of 42 attacks made, Riardon has used Careful Attack 38 times, that must be dull, and yet James who plays Riardon has not mentioned it once, this in fact is the first time I've spotted it. Which is odd, it must have been mentioned in game but for the life of me I can't remember it...

Total HP damage inflicted by PCs

88 Scurvy (average 4.19/turn)
118 Kathra (average 5.9/turn)
126 Corrin (average 4.2/turn)
152 Erais (average 3.71/turn)
162 Tira (average 8.1/turn)
215 Skamos (average 10.24/turn)
310 Riardon (average 7.56/turn)

Total HP damage absorbed by PCs

31 Skamos (average 1.48/turn)
48 Tira (average 4.2/turn)
58 Riardon (average 1.41/turn)
70 Erais (average 1.71/turn)
74 Scurvy (average 3.52/turn)
76 Kathra (average 3.8/turn)
124 Corrin (average 4.13/turn)

+/- combining the above two set of results.

+2 Corrin (+0.07/turn)
+14 Scurvy (+0.67/turn)
+42 Kathra (+2.1/turn)
+82 Erais (+2/turn)
+114 Tira (+3.9/turn)
+184 Skamos (+8.76/turn)
+252 Riardon (+6.15/turn)

The present incarnation of the party- Tira, Riardon, Kathra and Erais is therefore doing +14.15 more hit points damage/turn than damage taken. Not enough some would argue.

Some odd facts (for those left alive)-

Most Action Points used: 4 Riardon; Least: 2 Kathra
PC KO'd most: Erais & Tira (1 each); Least: Riardon & Kathra (0)
PC with most Crits: Riardon (3); Least: Kathra (0)
Most Healing Surges used: 4 Riardon & Kathra; Least: 1 Tira
Most Daily Powers used: 2 Erais; Least: 0 Riardon, Kathra & Tira

Most Productive Turns for PCs-
Criteria at least 5 turns played.
Turn #1 38 HP damage on average
Turn #2 28.29 HP damage on average
Turn #4 25.2 HP damage on average
Turn #3 21.4 HP damage on average
No other Turns with 5 played.

Most Productive Turns for Bad Guys-
Criteria at least 5 turns played.
Turn #3 18.8 HP damage on average
Turn #1 16.29 HP damage on average
Turn #2 7.57 HP damage on average
Turn #4 4.2 HP damage on average
No other Turns with 5 played.

Longest Turns to play, in minutes (average)-
Criteria at least 5 turns played.
Turn #3 10.2 Minutes
Turn #1 8.29 Minutes
Turn #2 7.29 Minutes
Turn #4 5.6 Minutes
No other Turns with 5 played.

Most XP earned/turn, in XP (average)-
Criteria at least 5 turns played.
Turn #4 128.6 XP
Turn #2 112.43 XP
Turn #1 94.57 XP
Turn #3 55 XP
No other Turns with 5 played.

And some more details about the Encounters-

Level (+0) [Level 1] 6 Encounters played-
Average 3.83 Turns to play and 29.83 minutes

Level (+6) [Level 7] 1 Encounter played-
Average 18 Turns to play and 148 minutes

Obviously need to get some encounters in-between.

And so session two draws to a close after nearly four hours of play, there have been 9 encounters en route to Level 2 for the PCs-

Session #1: Traps Level 1 – Combat Level 1 – Combat Level 6 -
Session #2: Traps Level 1 – Extended Rest - Combat Level 1 – Combat Level 1 – Combat Level 1 – Combat Level 1 – Combat Level 1 – Extended Rest.

Three PCs have died en route, two in the titanic 3rd Encounter, one in a Level 1 Combat Encounter, this scenario, it appears, is considerably more difficult than KOTS, although that may be down to the Pregens. The players, although frustrated at times (and worse), seem to be enjoying it more- the risk of death seems greater, and therefore the tension rises.

For my part there are a lot of good characters (bad guys) with which to role-play, and in and out of combat antagonise (and immerse) the players- lots of monsters with that special big-bad-guy feel, for example-

Arthuro the Fence (twice), Timmy the Otyugh, Irocar leader of the Dog Brothers, Mother Zeb the Witch, the Shadow Bat Swarm was just frightening, the Beggars fun & Black Shet.

I've DM'ed this scenario twice before and both times (including the TPK) the PCs have loved it, obviously to a point with those involved in the TPK. These early 4th Edition Dungeon Crawl Classic scenarios by Goodman Games take more work to put together (they're much less compartmentalised than WOTC products) but they're infinitely worth it in IMHO. The fluff is much better throughout and the plots are more coherent also.

Warning- it just gets better, although I'll not say for who.

DCC53 Sellswords of Punjar

Combining all the data from PCs at Level 1 from KOTS and Sellswords of Punjar.

Best Connection Rates for all attack types-
(Minimum 5 Attacks made)

100% Deft Strike Winstanley Halfling Rogue (KOTS)
& Force Orb Skamos (RIP)
85.71% Scorching Burst Skamos (RIP)
83.33% Positioning Strike Winstanley Halfling Rogue (KOTS)
80% Valiant Strike McGyver (RIP) Dragonborn Paladin (KOTS)
77.42% Sly Flourish Winstanley Halfling Rogue (KOTS)
72.73% Eldritch Blast Tira
66.67% Ray of Frost Grey Human Wizard (KOTS)
& Dragon Breath McGyver (RIP) Dragonborn Paladin (KOTS)
64.29% Magic Missile Grey Human Wizard (KOTS)
63.16% Careful Attack (Bow) Riardon.
62.5% Tide of Iron Kathra
& Charge with Maul Dirty Dwarf Fighter (KOTS)
59.26% Burning Hands Grey Human Wizard (KOTS)
58.82% Holy Strike Corrin
57.69% Sacred Flame Kaspard Half-Elf Cleric (KOTS)
57.14% Magic Missile Skamos (RIP)
& Priest's Shield Erais
55.56% Cleave Dirty Dwarf Fighter (KOTS)
& Viper's Strike Phrenic Tiefling Warlord (KOTS)
54.29% Scorching Burst Grey Human Wizard (KOTS)
50% Brute Strike Dirty Dwarf Fighter (KOTS)
& Reaping Strike Dirty Dwarf Fighter (KOTS)
& Lance of Faith Erais
& Eyebite Tira
46.67% Lance of Faith Kaspard Half-Elf Cleric (KOTS)
42.86% Cleave Kathra
41.67% AoO Maul Dirty Dwarf Fighter (KOTS)
40% Witchfire Tira
33.33% Spinning Strike Dirty Dwarf Fighter (KOTS)
28.57% Acrobatic Strike Scurvy (RIP)
& Sacred Flame Erais

For all encounters at 1st Level, overall connection rates by PC-

82.68% Winstanley Halfling Rogue (KOTS)
80.77% Skamos (RIP)
75% McGyver (RIP) Dragonborn Paladin (KOTS)
60% Grey Human Wizard (KOTS)
59.52% Riardon
57.14% Kathra
& Phrenic Tiefling Warlord (KOTS)
56.52% Tira
56% Corrin (RIP)
54.55% Erais
54.35% Kaspard Half-Elf Cleric (KOTS)
50% Dirty Dwarf Fighter (KOTS)
& Scurvy (RIP)

So all above 50% then.

Overall Connection Rate at 1st Level for both sets of PCs

62.21% HARD CORE (H1)
59.57% SELLSWORDS

Which is pretty close you've got to admit.

Reduced to 0 HP- funnily enough on the journey to Level 2 both sets of PCs were reduced to 0 HP or less nine times each, with the following details-

3x Reduced to 0 HP or less.
Corrin (RIP)

2x Reduced to 0 HP or less.
Dirty Dwarf Fighter (KOTS)
McGyver (RIP) Dragonborn Paladin (KOTS)
Phrenic Tiefling Warlord (KOTS)
Scurvy (RIP)
Skamos (RIP)
Winstanley Halfling Rogue (KOTS)

1x Reduced to 0 HP or less.
Erais
Grey Human Wizard (KOTS)
Tira

0x Reduced to 0 HP or less.
Kaspard Half-Elf Cleric (KOTS)
Kathra
Riardon

However three of the PCs in Sellswords have shuffled off this mortal coil, while only one in KOTS managed to meet his maker.

Here's a good one, average HP damage done/encounter for all Level 1 PCs, minimum five encounters complete-

18.13 Kaspard Cleric (KOTS)
21.71 Erais Cleric (SOP)
23.6 Kathra Fighter (SOP)
32.4 Tira Warlock (SOP)
44.29 Riardon Ranger (SOP)
48.13 Dirty Fighter (KOTS)
59.38 Grey Wizard (KOTS)
72.63 Winstanley Rogue (KOTS)

Just shows you that the present PCs are not as effective (from a damage perspective) as those in KOTS.

Further proof-

KOTS Level 1- 56 Turns combat doing 33.48 HP/Turn average, and taking 12.46 HP/Turn damage.
SOP Level 1- 41 Turns combat doing 28.56 HP/Turn average, and taking 11.73 HP/Turn damage.

For the KOTS Level 1 PCs that's +21.02 HP damage/Turn on average.
Sellswords PCs at Level it works out as +16.83 damage/Turn on average.

There have been a total now fifteen combat encounters involving Level 1 PCs (KOTS 8 + SOP 7 = 15), average level for the encounters is 2.4, break down-

Level 1 (+0) = 8
Level 2 (+1) = 4
Level 6 (+5) = 1
Level 7 (+6) = 2

The average encounter has taken 6.47 Turns and 50 minutes 20 seconds to play out.

Let's see what happens at Level 2, if the SOP PCs manage to find their form...

Holy cow,

I'm am interested in how this module plays out in 4th edition. Very complex!

I'm only getting parts of all the 4th edition terms, but I am amazed how detailed each encounter is. It seems more complex than 3.X was. The time factor is also interesting.

Leaving aside the mechanics of the game, the player's action and your approach to DMing are fun to read. You and I have both DMed this module, yet the play is very different. I'm always intrigued about that.

Sorry if I'm rambling. I'm home from work today due to bad asthma, and my thinking is a bit fuzzy.

I promise you its only detailed because I'm making it so, the game plays pretty quickly- see the timings for each Turn, usually we get one of the kids (or the partner) of whoever's hosting the game to write up the action, in code form- I work it out later- who did what to whom, how much damage was done, and how many HP et al they had left.

In game its pretty much the same as when I played 3/.5e (I played a lot of Goodman Games scenarios then too- the write ups must be on here still, perhaps...). For the various attacks and conditions then I just have a bunch of cards.

Four of the five players in the game have played only Keep on the Shadowfell prior to this adventure- no RPG experience prior to that at all- not even MMOs. It has to be said that they generally don't go in for learning the rules anyway, beyond what they need to know- how far they can move, what their attacks do etc.

Anyway, we enjoyed this one a lot, I think it was one of their favourites- we've played 15 or so scenarios taking notes as we go now, although some of them were very short delves. I think there have been three Goodman Games scenarios played so far, this one of course, the Forgotten/Lost Forge (I can never remember its name), and the Isle of the Sea Drake- all were memorable for different reasons. No doubt I'll get round to cataloguing their adventures here in time.

Hope you get well soon, glad you stopped by...

Goonalan.

DCC53 Sellswords of Punjar
Session #3

The Characters at Level 2.


Riardon Brightvale
(Played by James who played McGyver, then Phrenic in KOTS)
Male Eladrin Ranger Level 2
HP 28 Surges 6
AC 18 Fort 16 Ref 18 Will 16
Str 14 Con 11 Dex 18 Int 12 Wis 14 Cha 10
+1 Targeting Longbow & Longsword
+2 Cloak of Resistance & Potion of Healing
Trained Skills: Acrobatics, Athletics, History, Nature, Perception & Stealth.
Feats & Class Features: Defensive Mobility, Eladrin Will, Hunter's Quarry, Improved Initiative, Lethal Hunter.
Powers:
At Will- Careful Attack, Twin Strike.
Encounter- Evasive Strike, Fey Step, Invigorating Stride.
Daily- Split the Tree.


Erais the Sunlord
(Played by Paul who played Winstanley Portico in KOTS)
Male Human Cleric of Amaunator Level 2
HP 34 Surges 8
AC 17 Fort 14 Ref 13 Will 18
Str 14 Con 12 Dex 10 Int 12 Wis 18 Cha 12
+1 Mace & Dagger & +1 Holy Symbol of Battle
Potion of Healing
Trained Skills: Arcana, Heal, History, Insight & Religion
Feats & Class Features: Channel Divinity: Power of Amaunator, Human Perserverance, Ritual Casting, Toughness.
Powers:
At Will- Lance of Faith, Righteous Brand, Sacred Flame
Encounter- Channel Divinity: Divine Fortune, Channel Divinity: Power of Amaunator, Channel Divinity: Turn Undead, Divine Glow, Healing Word.
Daily- Cascade of Light, Shield of Faith.


Kathra Ironforge
(Played by Iain after the death of Corrin, eho played Grey Morlock in KOTS)
Female Dwarf Fighter Level 2
HP 44 Surges 13
AC 20 Fort 17 Ref 14 Will 13
Str 16 Con 18 Dex 12 Int 10 Wis 14 Cha 8
+1 Warhammer & Throwing Axe
Potion of Healing
Trained Skills: Athletics, Heal & Streetwise.
Feats & Class Features: Cast Iron Stomach, Combat Challenge, Combat Superiority, Dwarven Resilience, Dwarven Weapon Training, Stand Your Ground, Toughness.
Powers:
At Will- Cleave, Tide of Iron.
Encounter- Passing Attack.
Daily- Brute Strike, Unstoppable.


Tira Duskmeadow
(Played by Becky after the death of Scurvy, who played Kaspard in KOTS)
Female Half-Elf Warlock Level 2
HP 33 Surges 9
AC 16 Fort 14 Ref 14 Will 16
Str 10 Con 16 Dex 11 Int 15 Wis 8 Cha 18
+1 Dagger & +1 Magic Wand & Madam Zeb's Magic Rod.
Potion of Healing
Trained Skills: Bluff, Insight, Streetwise & Thievery.
Feats & Class Features: Action Surge, Group Diplomacy, Fey Pact- Misty Step, Implement Expertise (Wand), Prime Shot, Shadow Walk, Warlock's Curse.
Powers:
At Will- Eldritch Blast, Eyebite.
Encounter- Blazing Starfall, Ethereal Stride, Witchfire.
Daily- Curse of the Dark Dream.

Note there have been a few power swap outs, players wanting to try different things with what are (or rather were) pregen characters, I figure why not.

And still no Dave!

CC53 Sellswords of Punjar
Encounter #10 Slave Pens of Punjar

And so the PCs, fully rested, head down the ladder and along a rocky ledge, to the right of which- twenty or so feet below is the fast flowing underground river, and dangling a good distance overhead the cage the PCs spotted earlier. Ahead, where the stream reaches a muddy bank are situated a number of slave pens- inhabited. The rocky ledge leads on to a well lit lit upper section- a giant ape guards a huge capstan- a pulley system which clearly controls the movement of the dangling cage- obviously prisoners are taken this way and deposited in the cells on the beach below.

The PCs shuffle forward, trying desperately not to alert the great ape to their presence, they draw level with the cages on the beach below- there are five inhabitants- two ladies, an aged male in robes and two gap-toothed inebriate beggars. Riardon mimes 'shush' to the inhabitants, hoping to preserve the surprise, alas the two beggars are either addled or else still loyal- they begin screaming and shouting.

Less than twenty seconds later the Hobgoblin Slavers arrive, there's nothing for it...

The Good Guys...
Kathra Ironforge, Male Dwarf Fighter Level 2 (HP44)
Riardon Brightvale, Male Eladrin Ranger 2 (HP28)
Erais the Sunlord, Male Human Cleric of Amaunator 2 (HP34)
Tira Duskmeadow, Female Half-Elf Warlock 2 (HP33)

The Bad Guys... 450XP Level 1 Encounter.
Hobgoblin Slavers Level 1 Skirmisher [HS] (x3) (HP30).
Great Ape Level 3 Brute [GA] (HP54)

Initiative 24 Riardon 21 Hobgoblin Slavers & Great Ape 18 Erais 7 Kathra 3 Tira

Round 1.

Riardon- Quarry HS1. Twin Strike HS3; Hit 10 damage (20 HP) & HS1; Hit 12 damage (18 HP).

HS1- Move back. Shortbow Riardon; Miss.

HS2- Move to Capstan, Undo Chain & Unleash Great Ape.

Oopsie!

HS3- Shortbow Riardon; Hit 3 damage (25 HP). Move back.

GA- ROARS! Move. Bounding Smash Riardon; Miss.

Erais- Lance of Faith GA; Hit 6 Radiant damage (48 HP) & +2 To Hit for Kathra.

Kathra- Shift in. Tide of Iron GA; Hit 16 damage (32 HP) & Pushed back & Shift up. Marked.

Kathra ROARS back at the GA.

Tira- Curse GA. Witchfire GA; Miss.

Time to play 10 minutes, including setting up of minis and map.

End of Turn-

The Good Guys...
Kathra Ironforge, Male Dwarf Fighter Level 2 (HP44)
Riardon Brightvale, Male Eladrin Ranger 2 (HP25/28)
Erais the Sunlord, Male Human Cleric of Amaunator 2 (HP34)
Tira Duskmeadow, Female Half-Elf Warlock 2 (HP33)

The Bad Guys... 450XP Level 1 Encounter.
Hobgoblin Slavers Level 1 Skirmisher [HS] (x3) (HP18/30 & 30/30 & 20/30).
Great Ape Level 3 Brute [GA] (HP32/54)

Action Points 0 Total 0
Daily Powers 0 Total 0
Healing Surges 0 Total 0
2nd Winds 0 Total 0
Crits 0 Total 0
PCs Ko'd 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Daily Powers 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Crit 0 Total 0

Comment: So let's see how the Level 2 versions fare in battle.

DCC53 Sellswords of Punjar
Encounter #10 Slave Pens of Punjar

Round 2.

Riardon- Quarry GA. Twin Strike GA; Miss & Crit 27 damage (5 HP bloodied) & all Combat Advantage vs GA.

HS1- Move back. Shortbow Kathra; Miss.

HS2- Move back. Shortbow Kathra; Miss.

HS3- Move back. Shortbow Kathra; Miss.

Bloody Hell!

GA- Slam Kathra; Miss.

That's just plain wrong.

Erais- Sacred Flame Combat Advantage GA; Hit 10 Radiant damage- DEAD & 2 Temp HP Kathra. Move up.

Kathra- Move up. Charge HS3; Hit 8 damage (12 HP bloodied). Marked.

Tira- Move up. Curse HS3. Blazing Starfall HS3; Hit 12 Radiant damage- DEAD & HS1; Hit 7 Radiant damage (11 HP bloodied).

Time to play 8 minutes.

End of Turn-

The Good Guys...
Kathra Ironforge, Male Dwarf Fighter Level 2 (HP44)
Riardon Brightvale, Male Eladrin Ranger 2 (HP25/28)
Erais the Sunlord, Male Human Cleric of Amaunator 2 (HP34)
Tira Duskmeadow, Female Half-Elf Warlock 2 (HP33)

The Bad Guys... 450XP Level 1 Encounter.
Hobgoblin Slavers Level 1 Skirmisher [HS] (x3) (HP11/30 & 30/30). 1 DEAD
Great Ape Level 3 Brute [GA] (HP54) DEAD

Action Points 0 Total 0
Daily Powers 0 Total 0
Healing Surges 0 Total 0
2nd Winds 0 Total 0
Crits 1 Total 1
PCs Ko'd 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Daily Powers 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Crit 0 Total 0

Comment: Like a well-oiled machine, or so it seems.

DCC53 Sellswords of Punjar
Encounter #10 Slave Pens of Punjar

Round 3.

Riardon- Move up. Quarry HS1. Twin Strike HS1; Hit 18 damage- DEAD & HS2; Hit 13 damage (17 HP).

HS1- DEAD.

HS2- Double Move- Flee screaming, as fast as he can (see later).

HS3- DEAD.

GA- DEAD.

Erais- Move after HS2. Skids to a halt and calls desperately for the other PCs.

Erais goes running after HS2, dashes around a corner, out of the massive cavern and into a rocky passage, ahead stairs leading down, beyond them a set of large wooden doors, as Erais watches HS2 swings the doors open to reveal a chamber full of little camp fires and sprawling bedrolls, about which are nearly a dozen more creatures.

Kathra- Double Move to Erais.

Tira- Double Move to Erais.

New Initiative 24 Riardon 23 Gorliss the Goat, Dragonborn Warlord 22 Hobgoblin Slavers (new lot) 21 Hobgoblin Slaver (the one that fled) & Great Ape 18 Erais 7 Kathra 4 Goblin Archers 3 Tira

Time to play 11 minutes including setting up new map and minis.

End of Turn-

The Good Guys...
Kathra Ironforge, Male Dwarf Fighter Level 2 (HP44)
Riardon Brightvale, Male Eladrin Ranger 2 (HP25/28)
Erais the Sunlord, Male Human Cleric of Amaunator 2 (HP34)
Tira Duskmeadow, Female Half-Elf Warlock 2 (HP33)

The Bad Guys... 450XP Level 1 Encounter.
Hobgoblin Slavers Level 1 Skirmisher [HS] (x3) (HP17/30). 2 DEAD
Great Ape Level 3 Brute [GA] (HP54) DEAD

Action Points 0 Total 0
Daily Powers 0 Total 0
Healing Surges 0 Total 0
2nd Winds 0 Total 0
Crits 0 Total 1
PCs Ko'd 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Daily Powers 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Crit 0 Total 0

Comment: I have a habit of doing this... and the encounter level just rocketed.

Although after three rounds of combat the PCs have done 139 points of damage and taken 3 in reply, a little one-sided this affair. PCs connection rate 84.62%, the bad guys 14.29%, ahem.

DCC53 Sellswords of Punjar
Encounter #10 Slave Pens of Punjar

And the PCs are welcomed by the inhabitants of the Slaver Greathall.

The Bad Guys... 1150XP Level 6 Encounter.
Hobgoblin Slavers Level 1 Skirmisher [HS] (x7) (HP17/30). 2 DEAD
Great Ape Level 3 Brute [GA] (HP54) DEAD
Goblin Archers Level 1 Minion [GA] (x6) (HP1)
Gorliss the Goat, Dragonborn Warlord Level 3 Soldier [Gorliss] (HP56)

So that's Gorliss, 4 more Hobgoblin Slavers and 6 Goblin Archers (Minions), and remember there are only 4 PCs.

Round 4.

Riardon- Move into sight of the new creatures. Quarry HS2. Twin Strike HS2; Hit 13 damage (4 HP bloodied) & GA2; Hit 12 damage- DEAD.

Gorliss- Draw Greatsword. Move out chamber. Charge Kathra; Hit 10 damage (36 HP).

HS4- Draw Shortsword. Move out. Charge Kathra; Hit 3 damage (33 HP).

HS5- Draw Shortbow. Move. Shortbow Kathra; Hit 6 damage (27 HP).

HS6- Draw Shortsword. Move out. Charge Kathra; Miss.

HS7- Draw Shortbow. Move. Shortbow Kathra; Miss.

HS1- DEAD.

HS2- Draw Shortbow. Move. Shortbow Kathra; Hit 7 damage (20 HP bloodied).

From 44 HP +2 Temp HP to 20 in a few minutes- lovely, kathra (played by Iain- who recently lost Corrin the Halfling Paladin) looks a little over-awed, he's almost surrounded.

HS3- DEAD.

GA- DEAD.

Erais- Move up. Divine Glow HS6; Miss & HS4; Hit 6 Radiant damage (24 HP) & Gorliss; Hit 6 Radiant damage (50 HP). Healing Word +6 HP Kathra (37 HP).

Kathra- Passing Attack Gorliss; Hit 10 damage (40 HP) & Shift & Secondary Attack HS4; Hit 11 damage (13 HP bloodied) & both Marked. Shift.

GA1- Draw Shortbow. Move. Shortbow Kathra; Miss.

GA2- DEAD.

GA3- Draw Shortbow. Move. Shortbow Kathra; Hit 4 damage (33 HP).

GA4- Draw Shortsword. Move. Charge Kathra; Miss.

GA5- Draw Shortbow. Move. Shortbow Kathra; Miss.

GA6- Draw Shortbow. Move. Shortbow Kathra; Miss.

One hit only- gah!

Tira- Draw Madam Zeb's Rod and Use- Can re-use one already expended Encounter Power. Curse Gorliss. Blazing Starfall GA1&4; 6 Radiant damage each- both DEAD & HS4; Miss & HS6; Hit 6 Radiant damage (24 HP) & Gorliss; Hit 10 Radiant damage (30 HP). Action Point with Action Surge- +3 To Hit. Eldritch Blast Gorliss; Miss.

Time to play 17 minutes.

End of Turn-

The Good Guys...
Kathra Ironforge, Male Dwarf Fighter Level 2 (HP33/44)
Riardon Brightvale, Male Eladrin Ranger 2 (HP25/28)
Erais the Sunlord, Male Human Cleric of Amaunator 2 (HP34)
Tira Duskmeadow, Female Half-Elf Warlock 2 (HP33)

The Bad Guys... 1150XP Level 6 Encounter.
Hobgoblin Slavers Level 1 Skirmisher [HS] (x7) (HP4/30 13/30 30/30 24/30 30/30) 2 DEAD.
Great Ape Level 3 Brute [GA] (HP54) DEAD
Goblin Archers Level 1 Minion [GA] (x6) (HP1) 3 DEAD.
Gorliss the Goat, Dragonborn Warlord Level 3 Soldier [Gorliss] (HP30/56)

Action Points 1 Total 1
Daily Powers 0 Total 0
Healing Surges 1 Total 1
2nd Winds 0 Total 0
Crits 0 Total 1
PCs Ko'd 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Daily Powers 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Crit 0 Total 0

Comment: Good start by the PCs, a lot of swinging and not much hitting from me. It's going to get nasty- I promise.

DCC53 Sellswords of Punjar
Encounter #10 Slave Pens of Punjar

Round 5.

Riardon- Move. Quarry Gorliss. Twin Strike HS4; Hit 13 damage- DEAD & Gorliss; Hit 20 damage (10 HP bloodied).

Gorliss- Shift. Daily Bastion of Defence Kathra; Hit 15 damage (18 HP bloodied) & all allies in 5 Squares +7 Temp HP & +1 to all Defences. Inspiring Word +1 HP Self (25 HP bloodied).

HS4- DEAD.

HS5- Drop Shortbow. Draw Shortsword. Charge Kathra; Miss.

HS6- Move. Shortsword Erais; Hit 6 damage (28 HP).

HS7- Drop Shortbow. Draw Shortsword. Charge Kathra; Miss.

HS1- DEAD.

HS2- Move. Shortbow Erais; Hit 3 damage (25 HP bloodied).

HS3- DEAD.

GA- DEAD.

Erais- Shift back. Sacred Flame Gorliss; Miss. Healing Word +10 HP Kathra (39 HP).

That's all Erais' Healing spent.

Kathra- Cleave Gorliss; Hit 15 damage (10 HP bloodied) & HS7 3 damage (27 HP). Action Point. Cleave Gorliss; Hit 7 damage (3 HP bloodied) & HS7 3 damage (24 HP) & Marked.

GA1- DEAD.

GA2- DEAD.

GA3- Shortbow Kathra; Hit 4 damage (35 HP).

GA4- DEAD.

GA5- Drop Shortbow. Draw Shortsword. Move. Charge Erais; Miss.

GA6- Move. Shortbow Kathra; Miss.

Tira- Move. Eyebite Cursed Gorliss; Hit 7 Psychic damage- DEAD & Misty Step Teleport 3 Squares- back to cover.

Time to play 12 minutes.

End of Turn-

The Good Guys...
Kathra Ironforge, Male Dwarf Fighter Level 2 (HP35/44)
Riardon Brightvale, Male Eladrin Ranger 2 (HP25/28)
Erais the Sunlord, Male Human Cleric of Amaunator 2 (HP25/34)
Tira Duskmeadow, Female Half-Elf Warlock 2 (HP33)

The Bad Guys... 1150XP Level 6 Encounter.
Hobgoblin Slavers Level 1 Skirmisher [HS] (x7) (HP4/30 30/30 24/30 24/30) 3 DEAD.
Great Ape Level 3 Brute [GA] (HP54) DEAD
Goblin Archers Level 1 Minion [GA] (x6) (HP1) 3 DEAD.
Gorliss the Goat, Dragonborn Warlord Level 3 Soldier [Gorliss] (HP56) DEAD.

Action Points 1 Total 2
Daily Powers 0 Total 0
Healing Surges 1 Total 2
2nd Winds 0 Total 0
Crits 0 Total 1
PCs Ko'd 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Daily Powers 1 Total 1
Bad Guys Crit 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Healing Surges 1 Total 1

Comment: And Gorliss is down, excellent concentration of fire from the PCs, having completed KOTS the players are really getting the hang of things (at times).

DCC53 Sellswords of Punjar
Encounter #10 Slave Pens of Punjar

Round 6.

Riardon- Quarry HS6. Twin Strike GA2; Miss & HS6; Miss.

Gorliss- DEAD.

HS4- DEAD.

HS5- Shift. Shortsword Kathra; Hit 7 damage (28 HP).

HS6- Shift. Shortsword Erais; Miss.

HS7- Shortsword Kathra; Miss.

HS1- DEAD.

HS2- Move. Shortbow Erais; Miss.

HS3- DEAD.

The dice truly hate me.

GA- DEAD.

Erais- Shift back. Sacred Flame with Power of Amaunator HS6; Hit 10 Radiant damage (21 HP) & 2 Temp HP Kathra.

Kathra- Cleave HS7; Miss. Marked. Shift back. 2nd Wind (41 HP).

GA1- DEAD.

GA2- DEAD.

GA3- Shortbow Kathra; Hit 4 damage (39 HP).

GA4- DEAD.

GA5- Shortsword Erais; Miss.

GA6- Move. Shortbow Kathra; Hit 4 damage (35 HP).

Tira- Move. Eyebite HS7; Crit 14 Psychic damage (10 HP bloodied) & Invisible to HS7.

Time to play 8 minutes.

End of Turn-

The Good Guys...
Kathra Ironforge, Male Dwarf Fighter Level 2 (HP35/44)
Riardon Brightvale, Male Eladrin Ranger 2 (HP25/28)
Erais the Sunlord, Male Human Cleric of Amaunator 2 (HP25/34)
Tira Duskmeadow, Female Half-Elf Warlock 2 (HP33)

The Bad Guys... 1150XP Level 6 Encounter.
Hobgoblin Slavers Level 1 Skirmisher [HS] (x7) (HP4/30 30/30 21/30 10/30) 3 DEAD.
Great Ape Level 3 Brute [GA] (HP54) DEAD
Goblin Archers Level 1 Minion [GA] (x6) (HP1) 3 DEAD.
Gorliss the Goat, Dragonborn Warlord Level 3 Soldier [Gorliss] (HP56) DEAD.

Action Points 0 Total 2
Daily Powers 0 Total 0
Healing Surges 0 Total 2
2nd Winds 1 Total 1
Crits 1 Total 2
PCs Ko'd 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Daily Powers 0 Total 1
Bad Guys Crit 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Healing Surges 0 Total 1

Comment: And we're into the attrition, with almost nobody getting a hit in- lots of combatants swinging furiously but not connecting a whole lot.

Don't you hate it when the die cause lots of misses!

I'm still amazed the amount of hit points tossed about among 2nd level players. I'd forgotten from my reading of this module just how many hit points are involved in 4th edition.

It's mad isn't it, I just think back to previous editions, I've been in play since the first red box when my second level Thief had 10 HP and was proud of the fact, I would often belittle the 2nd level Wizard with his measly 6 HP.

The fight that the PCs are in will soon head towards the titanic...


DCC53 Sellswords of Punjar
Encounter #10 Slave Pens of Punjar

Round 7.

Riardon- Twin Strike GA2; Miss & Quarry HS6; Miss.

I thought he was meant to be the striker?

Gorliss- DEAD.

HS4- DEAD.

HS5- Shift. Shortsword Kathra; Miss.

HS6- Shift. Shortsword Erais; Hit 6 damage (19 HP).

HS7- Shortsword Kathra; Miss.

HS1- DEAD.

HS2- Shortbow Erais; Miss.

HS3- DEAD.

GA- DEAD.

Erais- Shift back. Sacred Flame HS7; Hit 11 Radiant damage- DEAD & 2 Temp HP Kathra.

Kathra- Cleave HS7; Miss. Marked.

GA1- DEAD.

GA2- DEAD.

GA3- Shortbow Kathra; Hit 4 damage (33 HP).

GA4- DEAD.

GA5- Shortsword Erais; Miss.

GA6- Move. Shortbow Kathra; Hit 4 damage (29 HP).

Tira- Eyebite GA5; Hit 9 Psychic damage- DEAD.

Time to play 9 minutes.

End of Turn-

The Good Guys...
Kathra Ironforge, Male Dwarf Fighter Level 2 (HP29/44)
Riardon Brightvale, Male Eladrin Ranger 2 (HP25/28)
Erais the Sunlord, Male Human Cleric of Amaunator 2 (HP19/34)
Tira Duskmeadow, Female Half-Elf Warlock 2 (HP33)

The Bad Guys... 1150XP Level 6 Encounter.
Hobgoblin Slavers Level 1 Skirmisher [HS] (x7) (HP4/30 30/30 21/30) 4 DEAD.
Great Ape Level 3 Brute [GA] (HP54) DEAD
Goblin Archers Level 1 Minion [GA] (x6) (HP1) 4 DEAD.
Gorliss the Goat, Dragonborn Warlord Level 3 Soldier [Gorliss] (HP56) DEAD.

Action Points 0 Total 2
Daily Powers 0 Total 0
Healing Surges 0 Total 2
2nd Winds 0 Total 1
Crits 0 Total 2
PCs Ko'd 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Daily Powers 0 Total 1
Bad Guys Crit 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Healing Surges 0 Total 1

Comment: It's like we're stuck in some sort of non-hitting (mostly) time warp.

DCC53 Sellswords of Punjar
Encounter #10 Slave Pens of Punjar

Round 8.

Riardon- Shift. Quarry HS5. Twin Strike HS5; Hit 14 damage (23 HP) & HS2; Hit 11 damage- DEAD.

Gorliss- DEAD.

HS4- DEAD.

HS5- Shift. Kathra AoO HS5; Hit 7 damage (16 HP) & Marked. Shortsword Combat Advantage Kathra; Miss.

HS6- Shortsword Combat Advantage Kathra; Miss.

HS7- DEAD.

HS1- DEAD.

HS2- DEAD.

HS3- DEAD.

GA- DEAD.

Erais- Move. Righteous Brand Combat Advantage HS5; Hit 10 damage (6 HP bloodied) & Kathra +3 to Hit.

Kathra- Cleave Combat Advantage HS5; Hit 10 damage- DEAD & HS6 3 damage (18 HP) & Marked. Shift.

GA1- DEAD.

GA2- DEAD.

GA3- Double Move- run out of the chamber screaming.

GA4- DEAD.

GA5- DEAD.

GA6- Double Move- run out of the chamber screaming.

Tira- Curse HS6. Eldritch Blast HS6; Hit 14 damage (4 HP bloodied).

Time to play 9 minutes.

End of Turn-

The Good Guys...
Kathra Ironforge, Male Dwarf Fighter Level 2 (HP29/44)
Riardon Brightvale, Male Eladrin Ranger 2 (HP25/28)
Erais the Sunlord, Male Human Cleric of Amaunator 2 (HP19/34)
Tira Duskmeadow, Female Half-Elf Warlock 2 (HP33)

The Bad Guys... 1150XP Level 6 Encounter.
Hobgoblin Slavers Level 1 Skirmisher [HS] (x7) (HP4/30) 6 DEAD.
Great Ape Level 3 Brute [GA] (HP54) DEAD
Goblin Archers Level 1 Minion [GA] (x6) (HP1) 4 DEAD & 2 FLED.
Gorliss the Goat, Dragonborn Warlord Level 3 Soldier [Gorliss] (HP56) DEAD.

Action Points 0 Total 2
Daily Powers 0 Total 0
Healing Surges 0 Total 2
2nd Winds 0 Total 1
Crits 0 Total 2
PCs Ko'd 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Daily Powers 0 Total 1
Bad Guys Crit 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Healing Surges 0 Total 1

Comment: When two encounters become three-

The Goblin Archers flee into the next chamber, a wooden walkway spans two rocky ledges, below is another beach, and another waterway.

On the wooden walkway, hidden in the shadows is Drazen the Drow, a Rogue and a Slaver. Down a wooden ladder and onto the beach below are a pair of muscled Gnolls (Wrix and Reiko) carrying loaded treasure chests to a large row boat; and standing by the row boat- directing operations, is Vermouth the Eladrin Wizard, the head of the Slavers.

Needless to say the fleeing Goblin Archers alert the Slavers to the PCs presence.

And so, as I stated above, two encounters become three, god bless Goodman Games.

DCC53 Sellswords of Punjar
Encounter #10 Slave Pens of Punjar

The Bad Guys... 1700XP Level 9 Encounter.
Hobgoblin Slavers Level 1 Skirmisher [HS] (x7) (HP4/30) 6 DEAD.
Great Ape Level 3 Brute [GA] (HP54) DEAD
Goblin Archers Level 1 Minion [GA] (x6) (HP1) 4 DEAD
Gorliss the Goat, Dragonborn Warlord Level 3 Soldier [Gorliss] (HP56) DEAD.
Reiko & Wrix, Gnoll Overseers Level 2 Brute [Reiko & Wrix] (x2) (HP34)
Drazen, Drow Thief Level 3 Lurker [Drazen] (HP35)
Vermouth, Eladrin Mage Level 3 Controller [Vermouth] (HP46)

New Initiative 24 Drazen the Drow & Riardon 22 Vermouth, Eladrin Mage & Hobgoblin Slaver (one left alive) 18 Erais 7 Kathra 6 Wrix & Reiko, Gnoll Overseers 3 Tira

Round 9.

Drazen- Move back. Stay Hidden. Ready Action.

Riardon- Move. Spot GA3&6 screaming down at someone/thing. Twin Strike Prime Shot GA3; Hit 9 damage- DEAD & Prime Shot GA6; Hit 9 damage- DEAD.

Vermouth- Screams at Wrix and Reiko to get up the ladder. Ready Action.

Gorliss- DEAD.

HS4- DEAD.

HS5- DEAD.

HS6- Move back. Kathra AoO HS6; Hit 11 damage- DEAD.

HS7- DEAD.

HS1- DEAD.

HS2- DEAD.

HS3- DEAD.

GA- DEAD.

Erais- Move forward. 2nd Wind (27 HP).

Kathra- Double Move onto wooden walkway- spot the Mage et al, scream for PCs. Readied Action Vermouth Force Bolt Kathra; Miss.

Wrix- Move up ladder. Whip Kathra; Miss.

Reiko- Move up ladder, and beyond Wrix. Kathra AoO Reiko; Hit 10 damage (24 HP) & Marked. Maul Kathra; Miss.

It's not as if Kathra is impossible to hit- she has AC 20, most of the bad guys need around a '14', Vermouth needed a '7' with his Force Bolt against Kathra's Reflex of 14.

GA1- DEAD.

GA2- DEAD.

GA3- DEAD.

GA4- DEAD.

GA5- DEAD.

GA6- DEAD.

Tira- Move. Curse Wrix. Eldritch Blast Wrix; Hit 14 damage (20 HP).

Time to play 15 minutes including set up of map and minis.

End of Turn-

The Good Guys...
Kathra Ironforge, Male Dwarf Fighter Level 2 (HP29/44)
Riardon Brightvale, Male Eladrin Ranger 2 (HP25/28)
Erais the Sunlord, Male Human Cleric of Amaunator 2 (HP27/34)
Tira Duskmeadow, Female Half-Elf Warlock 2 (HP33)

The Bad Guys... 1700XP Level 9 Encounter.
Hobgoblin Slavers Level 1 Skirmisher [HS] (x7) (HP30) 7 DEAD.
Great Ape Level 3 Brute [GA] (HP54) DEAD
Goblin Archers Level 1 Minion [GA] (x6) (HP1) 6 DEAD
Gorliss the Goat, Dragonborn Warlord Level 3 Soldier [Gorliss] (HP56) DEAD.
Reiko & Wrix, Gnoll Overseers Level 2 Brute [Reiko & Wrix] (x2) (HP24/34 & 20/34)
Drazen, Drow Thief Level 3 Lurker [Drazen] (HP35)
Vermouth, Eladrin Mage Level 3 Controller [Vermouth] (HP46)

Action Points 0 Total 2
Daily Powers 0 Total 0
Healing Surges 0 Total 2
2nd Winds 1 Total 2
Crits 0 Total 2
PCs Ko'd 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Daily Powers 0 Total 1
Bad Guys Crit 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Healing Surges 0 Total 1

Comment: Kathra (Iain) spots the treasure chests and... well, the PCs are not going to be giving up this haul unless they really have to.

DCC53 Sellswords of Punjar
Encounter #10 Slave Pens of Punjar

Round 10.

Drazen- Stay hidden. Ready Action- needs PC to get closer.

Riardon- Move. Quarry Reiko. Twin Strike Wrix; Miss & Reiko; Hit 14 damage (10 HP bloodied).

Vermouth- Fey Step onto the far stone ledge. Force Bolt Kathra; Hit 6 Force damage (23 HP) & no Push (Stand Your Ground).

Damn I forgot about that- I was aiming to push Kathra off the walkway.

Gorliss- DEAD.

HS4- DEAD.

HS5- DEAD.

HS6- DEAD.

HS7- DEAD.

HS1- DEAD.

HS2- DEAD.

HS3- DEAD.

GA- DEAD.

Erais- Move. Lance of Faith Wrix; Hit 11 Radiant damage (9 HP bloodied) & 2 Temp HP Kathra.

Kathra- Cleave Reiko; Miss. Marked.

Wrix- Whip Kathra; Miss.

Reiko- Maul Kathra; Hit 9 damage (16 HP bloodied).

GA1- DEAD.

GA2- DEAD.

GA3- DEAD.

GA4- DEAD.

GA5- DEAD.

GA6- DEAD.

Tira- Move. Curse Reiko. Eldritch Blast Cursed Wrix; Miss.

Time to play 11 minutes.

End of Turn-

The Good Guys...
Kathra Ironforge, Male Dwarf Fighter Level 2 (HP16/44)
Riardon Brightvale, Male Eladrin Ranger 2 (HP25/28)
Erais the Sunlord, Male Human Cleric of Amaunator 2 (HP27/34)
Tira Duskmeadow, Female Half-Elf Warlock 2 (HP33)

The Bad Guys... 1700XP Level 9 Encounter.
Hobgoblin Slavers Level 1 Skirmisher [HS] (x7) (HP30) 7 DEAD.
Great Ape Level 3 Brute [GA] (HP54) DEAD
Goblin Archers Level 1 Minion [GA] (x6) (HP1) 6 DEAD
Gorliss the Goat, Dragonborn Warlord Level 3 Soldier [Gorliss] (HP56) DEAD.
Reiko & Wrix, Gnoll Overseers Level 2 Brute [Reiko & Wrix] (x2) (HP9/34 & 10/34)
Drazen, Drow Thief Level 3 Lurker [Drazen] (HP35)
Vermouth, Eladrin Mage Level 3 Controller [Vermouth] (HP46)

Action Points 0 Total 2
Daily Powers 0 Total 0
Healing Surges 0 Total 2
2nd Winds 0 Total 2
Crits 0 Total 2
PCs Ko'd 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Daily Powers 0 Total 1
Bad Guys Crit 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Healing Surges 0 Total 1

Comment: And still the PCs are holding out, and not resorting to their Daily Powers or further use of Action Points.

DCC53 Sellswords of Punjar
Encounter #10 Slave Pens of Punjar

Round 11.

Drazen- Shift- still Hidden. Hand Crossbow Combat Advantage Kathra; Hit 14 damage (2 HP bloodied).

I had a great plan for Drazen but none of the PCs were going to get any closer, to keep him hiding any longer on the off-chance would be just foolish.

Riardon- Twin Strike Wrix; Hit 13 damage- DEAD & Quarry Reiko; Hit 14 damage- DEAD. Quarry Vermouth.

Vermouth- Force Blast Kathra; Miss 4 Force damage (-2 HP dying) & Erais; Hit 9 Force damage (18 HP) & Tira; Hit 9 Force damage (24 HP) & all Push 1 and Prone. Vermouth screams at the PCs to 'clear out', although with a few extra swear words for encouragement.

Gorliss- DEAD.

HS4- DEAD.

HS5- DEAD.

HS6- DEAD.

HS7- DEAD.

HS1- DEAD.

HS2- DEAD.

HS3- DEAD.

GA- DEAD.

Erais- Stand. Daily Cascade of Light Vermouth; Miss 8 Radiant damage (38 HP).

Oh what a shame!

Kathra- Death Save- Success.

Wrix- DEAD.

Reiko- DEAD.

GA1- DEAD.

GA2- DEAD.

GA3- DEAD.

GA4- DEAD.

GA5- DEAD.

GA6- DEAD.

Tira- Stand. Curse Vermouth. Eldritch Blast Vermouth; Hit 6 damage (32 HP).

Time to play 14 minutes.

End of Turn-

The Good Guys...
Kathra Ironforge, Male Dwarf Fighter Level 2 (HP-2/44)
Riardon Brightvale, Male Eladrin Ranger 2 (HP25/28)
Erais the Sunlord, Male Human Cleric of Amaunator 2 (HP18/34)
Tira Duskmeadow, Female Half-Elf Warlock 2 (HP24/33)

The Bad Guys... 1700XP Level 9 Encounter.
Hobgoblin Slavers Level 1 Skirmisher [HS] (x7) (HP30) 7 DEAD.
Great Ape Level 3 Brute [GA] (HP54) DEAD
Goblin Archers Level 1 Minion [GA] (x6) (HP1) 6 DEAD
Gorliss the Goat, Dragonborn Warlord Level 3 Soldier [Gorliss] (HP56) DEAD.
Reiko & Wrix, Gnoll Overseers Level 2 Brute [Reiko & Wrix] (x2) (HP34) 2 DEAD.
Drazen, Drow Thief Level 3 Lurker [Drazen] (HP35)
Vermouth, Eladrin Mage Level 3 Controller [Vermouth] (HP32/46)

Action Points 0 Total 2
Daily Powers 1 Total 1
Healing Surges 0 Total 2
2nd Winds 0 Total 2
Crits 0 Total 2
PCs Ko'd 1 Total 1
Bad Guys Daily Powers 0 Total 1
Bad Guys Crit 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Healing Surges 0 Total 1

Comment: What was I just saying about Daily Powers, me and my big mouth... A little more precarious for the PCs now.

DCC53 Sellswords of Punjar
Encounter #10 Slave Pens of Punjar

Round 12.

Drazen- Darkfire Tira; Miss. Hand Crossbow Tira; Hit 6 damage (18 HP).

Riardon- Move forward. Evasive Strike Prime Shot Quarry Vermouth; Hit 21 damage (11 HP bloodied). Action Point Twin Strike Prime Shot Quarry Vermouth; Miss & Hit 12 damage- DEAD.

Bugger- that's torn it.

Vermouth- DEAD.

Gorliss- DEAD.

HS4- DEAD.

HS5- DEAD.

HS6- DEAD.

HS7- DEAD.

HS1- DEAD.

HS2- DEAD.

HS3- DEAD.

GA- DEAD.

Erais- Move. Righteous Brand Drazen; Hit 6 damage (29 HP) & +3 To Hit for Tira.

Kathra- Death Save- Fail (Fail x1).

Wrix- DEAD.

Reiko- DEAD.

GA1- DEAD.

GA2- DEAD.

GA3- DEAD.

GA4- DEAD.

GA5- DEAD.

GA6- DEAD.

Tira- Move. Curse Drazen. Eldritch Blast Drazen; Crit 22 damage (7 HP bloodied).

Shot through- damn the PCs, I'm done.

Time to play 10 minutes.

End of Turn-

The Good Guys...
Kathra Ironforge, Male Dwarf Fighter Level 2 (HP-2/44)
Riardon Brightvale, Male Eladrin Ranger 2 (HP25/28)
Erais the Sunlord, Male Human Cleric of Amaunator 2 (HP18/34)
Tira Duskmeadow, Female Half-Elf Warlock 2 (HP18/33)

The Bad Guys... 1700XP Level 9 Encounter.
Hobgoblin Slavers Level 1 Skirmisher [HS] (x7) (HP30) 7 DEAD.
Great Ape Level 3 Brute [GA] (HP54) DEAD
Goblin Archers Level 1 Minion [GA] (x6) (HP1) 6 DEAD
Gorliss the Goat, Dragonborn Warlord Level 3 Soldier [Gorliss] (HP56) DEAD.
Reiko & Wrix, Gnoll Overseers Level 2 Brute [Reiko & Wrix] (x2) (HP34) 2 DEAD.
Drazen, Drow Thief Level 3 Lurker [Drazen] (HP7/35)
Vermouth, Eladrin Mage Level 3 Controller [Vermouth] (HP46) DEAD.

Action Points 1 Total 3
Daily Powers 0 Total 1
Healing Surges 0 Total 2
2nd Winds 0 Total 2
Crits 1 Total 3
PCs Ko'd 0 Total 1
Bad Guys Daily Powers 0 Total 1
Bad Guys Crit 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Healing Surges 0 Total 1

Comment: Time to get Drazen out of there fast.

DCC53 Sellswords of Punjar
Encounter #10 Slave Pens of Punjar

Round 13.

Drazen- Move- Dive into the water below. Erais AoO Drazen; Miss. Drazen Athletics Check '1'- 10 Falling damage- breaks neck and DEAD.

The humiliation of it all.

Erais scoots over and Healing Check Kathra- no problems and he's up in an instant.

Time to play 3 minutes.
Total time to play 2 hours & 17 minutes- the longest single (although that's a bit of a misnomer) encounter yet.

End of Encounter-

The Good Guys...
Kathra Ironforge, Male Dwarf Fighter Level 2 (HP-2/44)
Riardon Brightvale, Male Eladrin Ranger 2 (HP25/28)
Erais the Sunlord, Male Human Cleric of Amaunator 2 (HP18/34)
Tira Duskmeadow, Female Half-Elf Warlock 2 (HP18/33)

The Bad Guys... 1700XP Level 9 Encounter.
Hobgoblin Slavers Level 1 Skirmisher [HS] (x7) (HP30) 7 DEAD.
Great Ape Level 3 Brute [GA] (HP54) DEAD
Goblin Archers Level 1 Minion [GA] (x6) (HP1) 6 DEAD
Gorliss the Goat, Dragonborn Warlord Level 3 Soldier [Gorliss] (HP56) DEAD.
Reiko & Wrix, Gnoll Overseers Level 2 Brute [Reiko & Wrix] (x2) (HP34) 2 DEAD.
Drazen, Drow Thief Level 3 Lurker [Drazen] (HP35) DEAD.
Vermouth, Eladrin Mage Level 3 Controller [Vermouth] (HP46) DEAD.

Action Points 0 Total 3
Daily Powers 0 Total 1
Healing Surges 0 Total 2
2nd Winds 0 Total 2
Crits 0 Total 3
PCs Ko'd 0 Total 1
Bad Guys Daily Powers 0 Total 1
Bad Guys Crit 0 Total 0
Bad Guys Healing Surges 0 Total 1

Comment: That was titanic, and the PCs absolutely loved it... just a little bit more each time- Goodman Games scenarios are so easy to run this way, I love them. I guess I should try for more like this in future adventures, or at least when it feels right. This was a Level 9 encounter, that's pretty awesome- Level +7, and but for maybe two rounds of attrition (when the PCs and the bad guys were not connecting) then it was a roller-coaster ride.

After a short rest the PCs are quickly on the beach, having secured the area as best they can, the chests are hauled up, the dead Slavers et al thoroughly searched and all findings deposited in the now bloody Greathall.

The PCs then back track to the slave cages on the first beach, spring three of the inhabitants- two beautiful young women, one of noble status, and the old guy- who turns out to be something of a sage. The Beggars that alerted the Slavers earlier are left to think about their actions.

The ex-slaves, captured from the streets of Fallcrest, tell what little they know- a sad tale about Beggars working with the Slavers, alas no information is forthcoming regarding the Beggar King. In fact the Beggar King seems to be entirely absent, none of the rescued citizens of Fallcrest have seen or heard him...

A mystery.

The PCs note a strange, partially collapsed tunnel- back in the passage that lead to the greathall, the passageway was clearly once sealed, with an ornate... seal. Darkness beyond and a set of shallow stairs leading up- the passage is particularly cramped- the PCs figure they can come back here later.

Stats: A real gulf in this fracas, the PCs connected 74.63% of the time, the bad guys 40.74%- that's a 30% divide, and with the PCs making 67 attacks (50 hits), and the bad guys 54 (only 22 hits), then the outcome was fairly inevitable.

This is further reinforced by the fact that the PCs managed to do 45.08 HP damage/turn (on average), the bad guys only 11.31 HP- only just shy of four times as much.

The connection rate for all of the PCs was in excess of 70%- are they all Strikers?

72% Riardon (18 hits from 25 attacks)
75% Erais (9 hits from 12 attacks)
76.47% (13 hits from 17 attacks)
76.92% Kathra (10 hits from 13 attacks)

Note the actual Striker is first (lowest connection rate) on the list- odd that.

It didn't even seem to matter that the bad guys had, all told, 475 hit points- that's even more than Encounter #3 in the Bazaar of the Bizarre, in which two PCs lost their lives.

The PCs seemed remarkable restrained, only spending three Action Points and one Daily Power- they also only used four Healing Surges in total- and three of them were for Kathra. They did however find the '20' on the dice on three separate occasions, that's got to make a difference.

Combined Stats: This was only the first combat at Level 2 so there's not much to say about the new PCs, except to say perhaps that they seem to be combining pretty well- at last, they were very fragile at times in some of the previous encounters at Level 1- here they seem much more solid.

So they skipped the stairs to darkness eh?

Did they return to it later?

You'll see, so yes they return to it later then, although...

At the end of the previous titanic clash a few of the PCs were suddenly low on Healing Surges, or if not low then- middling; Kathra spent a good few (3?) in the encounter and was on negative HP at the end of the encounter as well and had to use another 3 or 4 to get back up again.

All of a sudden the PCs realise how much of their resources that last encounter took up.

At this point they deicded to play it a little more cautious, as you'll see.

DCC53 Sellswords of Punjar
Encounter #11 Hoard of the Beggar King

A thorough search of the Slavers Greathall turns up a small concealed chamber, inside of which is found a Amulet of Protection +1, which could turn out to be very useful.

Soon after a false wall into a separate chamber is found, inside of the rough chamber is a very large chest- the PCs are certain it must be trapped, and yet... fifteen minutes later and no trap can be found and the PCs have taken it in turns to creep into the cramped chamber to take a look around.

Finally Tira is elected chest-opener, the price paid for claiming the Masterwork Thieves Tools earlier. A spear shoots down from the ceiling, none of the PCs had looked there- and misses Tira, just (by 1). Acid flows from some broken container above the spear- that could have been nasty.

Eventually the chest is dragged out, and safely opened, there are 3 gold coins within- the players are suitably gutted.

Next the coffers grabbed from the Slavers on the beach, Tira is in action again-

Chest #1- Trap easily disarmed, within lots of coin- almost all of them coppers.

Chest #2- Not trapped, but alas it cannot be opened- beyond Tira's skill.

Chest #3- Not trapped and easily unlocked- more coins, a brief moment of jubilation but the platinum coins within turn out to be painted coppers.

Chest #4- Again the trap is easily disarmed and the chest unlocked, within a entire set of Thieves gear, make that an Assassin- with plenty of Poison, and another (even better) set of Thieves Tools.

Chest #5- Unlocked and not trapped, within 15 silver ingots.

The money is quickly divided, adding in all that the PCs have found so far, for the first time the PCs feel that the reward has been worth the effort, a good haul.

Encounter complete- 30 minutes to play.

Caustic Spear Trap Level 5 Ward (200 XP)- in cramped chest chamber.
Arrow Trap Level 2 Ward (125 XP)- on Chest #1.
Hail of Needles Trap Level 2 Blaster (125 XP)- on Chest #4.
Level 1 Encounter.

That is why my gang always carries a pry-bar!

They didn't think of a pry bar, we were using pregen characters with whatever equipment they were carrying, however they did think to take the chests they couldn't unlock with them...

They figured someone on the outside would possibly know how to get into them...