[DnD] D&D Arena: The Tale of the Piano Duo, Ebony and Ivory

Ready Throw and Stab on one of the archers
move paused while I get rules clarified cause I'm a n00b

I was speaking idiomatically.

14 Dice Rolls Initiative:Warriors

The hobgoblin commander was chuckling in his mind. He knew where their quarry were. Did they somehow think they've eluded suspicion, hiding in plain view of the window without even crouching down? He caught the cleric with his peripheral vision the moment he walked past.

It was all he could do to distract his men from prematurely attacking. Oh, Ivory and Ebony were most likely grievously injured, but why take chances? After all, a cornered creature with nothing else to lose is when it's most dangerous.

Under pretense of a lecture, he had all five warriors climb up the roof, hoping his droning voice would mask the noise they'd make. On a pre-arranged signal, he'd flank the pair from two sides. it would be painful for him, but nothing he couldn't handle.

Of course, the best-laid plans of men and hobgoblins go often askew. Just as he walked past a window, the old cleric sends an enfeebling beam at his spear. Although the beam misses, the ricochet impacts the spearhead, and rust quickly forms. At the same time, a hand-axe sails out in the window, fortunately deflected by his shield. Too bad for him, his shield arm wasn't fast enough to parry a charging kobold.

The commander's startled yelp was taken by his men as a signal to attack. The warriors smash at Ivory's roof, sending shrapnel flying everywhere before dropping down into the house. The kobold was too slow to dodge the projectiles, and suffered further damage.

Hobgoblin Commander takes ( [ 2 + 8 ] + 2 = ) 12 damage.
Ebony takes 6 damage. For purposes of daily power triggers, you were bloodied by all the warriors.

Well played, my friends. But you are outnumbered. Surrender, and we won't hurt you too badly.

Both archers take up positions adjacent to their leader, longbows drawn to the fore.

Archers ready action: Longbow vs. nearest enemy that attacks a hobgoblin.

Ebony (24), Ivory (15), Hobgoblin Commander (11), Hobgoblin Grunts (9), Hobgoblin Archers (26)

Defenses:
Archers: Armor Class 17, Fortitude 13, Reflex 15, Will 13
Commander: Armor Class 21*, Fortitude 21, Reflex 18, Will 19
Grunts: Armor Class 17*, Fortitude 15, Reflex 13, Will 12

* bonus +2 to AC when a hobgoblin ally is adjacent.

Terrain Considerations: All melee and ranged attacks through windows take -2 penalty.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

9 Dice Rolls Damage

As the creatures defiled his hut, the old man's eyes started glowing and he rocked back and forth with anger. "GET OUT OF MY GOD DAMN HUT YOU SLIMY FUCKS" he yelled at the intruders, the very force of his anger tossing the intruders about and causing no end of discomfort.

Sure they could have talked about it but it was always going to end in a fight anyway.

Shield of the Gods, bonus to lurker

In a remarkable fit of high rolling I make that 11 damage to everything except the commander plus they're all knocked prone, commannder takes 6 damage and Ebony gets +3 AC and Reflex.

How'd you like them apples eh?

Most amazing jew boots

I was carefully weighing my options when the shit hit the fan. I knew nobody ever got nothin' from thinking before actin'. I immediately react against the commander, dodging the arrows that surely were aimed at my bro Ivory for that fantastic display of old man rage, and then make with the pain on some random faggot.

Immediate Reaction: Wounded Beast on commander
do not spend healing surge
delay move until Shin's fury
then: Throw and Stab at, say, D
free charged turned into Marauder's Rush on B (I think I can do it at that range)
Shifty to the left one square
Move to K21

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

15 Dice Rolls Gimme back Tactical Deployment

Incensed with the distraction of his roof, Ivory glared at the hobgoblin trespassers. Naughty grunts like these must be punished.

Sensing he was not about two surrender, the archers let loose their readied arrow. At the same time, Ebony flails about like a wounded beast, and jabs at the commander through the window.

Critical hit! Commander takes [ ( 3 * 6 ) + 6 + 6 = ] 30 HP damage. Bloodied. (This damage assumes Commander is Ebony's quarry)
Ivory takes [ ( 7 + 4 ) + ( 4 + 4 ) = ] 19 HP damage. Bloodied.

The arrows now sprouting from his arm only served to further fuel the old shifter's rage.

HAOH GADOUKEN!!!

The force of the blast catapults two unlucky hobgoblins off their feet, and their heads impacted the roof with a sickening crunch. Gravity soon reasserts its pull, and the pair slump into the ground, dead.

Awed by Ivory's awesome badass grandpa display, Ebony completely fumbles his attacks, and limps out after the fleeing wolf and its master.

His "ambush" starting to fall into pieces, the commander quickly realigns his forces.

Take him down, boys. Before his cleric partner is out of range! Pincer formation, I'll head him off at the door!

hurrying double-time towards the door left open by the fleeing cleric, the commander intercepts Ebony. From the rear, the grunts attack with their long swords. Miraculously, the ranger is still standing.

Tactical Deployment: All allies in close burst 5 shift 3 squares to the right.
Commander uses a double-move to get to the door.
Ebony takes 5 damage. HP down to 8.

Unable to get a bead on the little kobold, both archers continue west and unleash a barrage at Ivory's steed.

RRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWGGHH takes ( 2 + 4 = ) 6 damage.

Ivory (15), Ebony (24), Hobgoblin Commander (11), Hobgoblin Grunts (9), Hobgoblin Archers (26)

Note: I misread the Tactical Deployment power. Only allies shift; the commander does not. Please disregard his attack roll. I also belatedly realized that you cannot perform any action after a charge unless you spend an action point (so no shifty and move). Since Throw and Stab gets changed into a move instead of a charge next level, we'll overlook it this once.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

2 Dice Rolls Damage

As the arrow sinks into his shoulder, the cleric found his concentration slipping. Maybe it was the proximity to the massive wolf or maybe it was the onset of the full moon but he felt the itching under his skin worse than ever.

Usually he would have fought the urge but with his companion looking the worse for wear, there seemed little option. The old man's skin seemed to ripple and stretch as the transformation took hold of him and a few moments later, any wolf enthusiast who liked wolves would have seen a wolf on a wolf so they could something something.

He gave an evil look at one of the archers then charged towards them to stop them shooting at him.

Longtooth shifting, Gaze of Defiance at Archer A, move to stand next to both archers (L24:M25), taking a route that doesn't involve going next to the commander.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

WHO EVEN KNOWS

drops grenade on L21
Action Point Marauder's Rush (presuming I can do this in close quarters) on B
Shifty to J20
Move to L17

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

12 Dice Rolls Archer B vs Ivory

The little kobold, beaten within an inch of his life, looks around with a detached sardonic despair. He's surrounded, and there's no way for him to survive unmolested. But if he's going down, he's going to fuck up as many of these stinky homos as he possibly can. With a calm and smooth motion, he plunges it deep into the Commander's guts. And with his free hand, he takes out his flask of Alchemist's Fire - a birthday gift from the shifter - and drops it.

The falling flask shatters into a ferocious fireball which envelopes the area surrounding the kobold. When the flame clears, not a single creature is left standing.

Ggggg.....

Commander takes ( 8 + 4 + 6 = ) 18 damage from Marauder's Rush.
Alchemist's Fire hits everyone for 9 damage.
Commander killed. Grunts killed. Ebony swoons but makes his death saving throw.

To the credit their deceased Commander's training, the archers did not attempt to flee. But it was evident the deaths of their party members shook them hard, as both arrows loosed against the wolfman missed their mark.

Ivory (15), Ebony (24), Hobgoblin Archers (26)

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

1 Die Roll Attack roll

Seeing his companion make yet another insanely suicidal move illiceted little more than a shrug of over-familiar disappointment from the wolfman. It was only a month ago that the little kobold's attempt to talk down a dragonborn about to commit suicide from the roof of the temple of Kord in town had ended in the pair of them jumping off, only to land safely on the roof of a fortuitiously passing wagon.

The little guy was down but not out and the old man thought it his duty to finish this battle and save his friend.

He hurled a scathing challenge at the nearest archer, before charging his wolf towards them once more.

Destined Dual on archer A, shift one square south east

I was speaking idiomatically.

4 Dice Rolls Ivory gets poked

So intent was old man Ivory in slaughtering hobgoblins, so focused was he on grinding them to a fine paste before Ebony wakes up on his own, that the cleric fumbles his attack and inconveniently forgets that a well-targeted Healing Word would be sufficient to wake up Sleeping Beauty Ebony.

The archers gamely continue their mission, although deep in their minds they know it is a foregone conclusion. One of them gets marginally lucky, and lands a single arrow on the wolfman's arm.

Meanwhile, blood is beginning to pool in the unconscious kobold's throat, threatening to cut off circulation to his reptilian brain.

Ivory is damaged for ( 1 + 4 = ) 5 HP but regenerates 2.
Ebony has failed 1 out of 3 death saving throws.

Ivory (15), Ebony (24), Hobgoblin Archers (26)

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

3 Dice Rolls Astral Seal hit

Hearing the little lizard choking on his own blood, the wolfman snarled at him to pull himself together and wake up. Returning his attetion to the fleeing archers, he informed the closest one of exactly what his friend was going to do to him just as soon as he woke up. Feeling particularly energetic, the old man attempted to seal up the enemy's aura while he was at it.

Healing word on Ebony, Exacting Utterance on Archer A, action point, Astral Seal on Archer A, move to melee range on both archers.

Exacting Utterance Hit! Archer A has +5 vulnerability to all damage until the end of my next turn and any ally who attacks it gains 5 temporary hp

I think Astral Seal hit too, meaning Archer A also has -2 on all defences and next ally to hit it gains an extra 5hp

FELIPE NO

It was... beautiful. 72 bitches leading me down a tunnel towards a brilliant light...

that old faggot always ruins my best dreams

stumble back to my feet
move to L22
chuck a Throw and Stab over at Archer A
Marauder's Rush at A

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

4 Dice Rolls MR Pain

The kobold regains consciousness in a fit of coughing, death reverie still buzzing in his head. He charges the archer with devastating results.

Ebony regains ( 11 + 5 + 5 =) 21 HP from Healing Word, 9 Temp HP from Astral Seal, and ( 5 + 5 =) 10 Temp HP from Exacting Utterance.
Archer A takes ( [4 + 2] + 5 + 1 =) 12 damage from Throw and Stab, and is bloodied.
Archer A takes ( [1 + 8] + 5 + 1 =) 15 damage from Marauder's Rush, and is killed.

The last remaining archer shrugs helplessly as his comrade keels into ground. It is not the hobgoblin way to flee in the face of death, and he will fight the good fight. His unit's sacrifice will not be in vain, he thinks, as he takes out a lightning arrow and shoots it into the sky. The arrow's blue and white streak crackles with electricity, momentarily lighting up the morning sky in a brilliant flash. The others will have no problem finding this place now.

Glaring defiantly at the massive wolf and its master, the archer muttered:

Hobgoblins fight with honor. Bring it.

Ivory (15), Ebony (24), Hobgoblin Archer (26)

See how effective you are when you fight as a team?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

2 Dice Rolls Damage

His buddy back up and fighting, the werewolf shot a look of pure contempt at the hobgoblin, before steering his steed round behind it for hilarious flanking fun.

Gaze of defiance at archer, move the long way round to get behind (R21:Q22) archer without triggering an AoO

Hit! 11 damage, Lurks gets +1 to hit hobgoblin as a result

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Move to N-23
Quarry on B
Throw and Stab on B
Marauder's Rush on B
if he's still alive, Action Point
Scything Blow on B: shift to Q-24 to take advantage of the flank

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

5 Dice Rolls Quarry Damage

Reinvigorated and finally starting to mesh well on the battlefield, our heroes continue heaping abuse on the hapless archer.

Throw and Stab does ( 2 + 2 + 2 = ) 6 damage.
Marauder's Rush does ( 6 + 8 + 2 = ) 16 damage.
Hunter's Quarry does 6 damage.
Hobgoblin Archers have a total of 39 HP. Damn.

The hobgoblin collapses into the ground, mouth gurgling with blood from the kobold's attacks. He raises his arm to the sky, and his mouth moves as if to croak his dying words. Alas, too much blood has been lost, and the arm falls limp onto the acid-strewn grave of the warforged soldiers.

Ivory and Ebony are triumphant!

But surely, someone must have seen the archer's makeshift flare by now. With his hidden refuge exposed, the pair has no choice but to vacate the premises - the kobold is in no condition to weather another fight.

Hastily opening the chest in his now-roofless hut, Ivory takes out his life savings of 3,000 GP, while Ebony scavenged 340 gold pieces from the fallen hobgoblin commander. Casting a last wistful look at his home away from home, Ivory, with Ebony beside him riding the dire wolf, hop over the fence and gallop off into the forest.

Level Up!

Both of you have a feat and a power choice to make. You may choose to retrain one feat, power, or skill. All your expended dailies and healing surges are now restored.

I give you the option to level up the wolf to Level 6. The cost for this is two healing surges total, distribution up to you. Benefits are, all defenses and to-hit bonuses increase by 1, and HP increases to 76.

Lurker, the errata to Throw and Stab

will now take effect. It no longer gives you a free charge - instead, you may move wherever you like, and then make a basic melee attack (this means no more Marauder's Rush chaining). Furthermore, you can't Throw and Stab the same enemy.

Shin, please choose a deity to worship for Ivory.

Ivory is carrying ( 5 + 2,400 + 3,000 = ) 5,405 GP. Ebony is carrying 340 GP. Spend it on anything you want. Here's a list of items and their prices: Codex of Magic Items



I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Staying out of site, while perched on a gigantic wolf and all the while nursing an exhausted kobold, was more difficult than Ivory imagined. Still, it could have been worse. Their escape was made in the nick of time - only a few minutes after RRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWGGHH leaps the fence, hordes of warforged Royal Guard descended on the building. Undoubtedly they won't be too pleased about the disposal of Epsilon Squad like garbage, but no trace of the pair remain.

Fourteen hours onward, the kobold managed to recover somewhat, even managing to devise a new technique to use on the battlefield. Still, night was falling, and the dire wolf was getting tired. It was a cold night - they would need to find some sort of shelter soon.

RRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWGGHH soars through the air in a graceful bound, and then landed in a clearing. Too tired to remain paranoid, Ivory and company followed the path until stumbling on a lighted hut. Daring to knock on the door to beg for food and shelder, Ivory's summons was responded to by the strangest old hermit he's ever seen.

There was nothing remarkable about the frail man himself, with a crooked back and puttering about with a walking stick. No, Ivory's eyes felt drawn to the seven luminescent canaries perched on his back. The well-trained birds provide the only source of illumination for the hut.

Hoo hoo hoo, visitors? At this time of night? And this forsaken place?

Ivory quickly explained their predicament. How they were framed, and came under a mysterious bounty that had two different sets of goblins running after them. The old man studies the bounty poster with interest, although he does not appear to recognize the seal either.

Outlaws, eh? Well, you don't look like the criminal type to me. In fact, you look like a decent fellow to me, wolfish looks aside. Why don't you stay the night?

Upon noticing Ivory's jangling purse, the old man's lips come together in a broad smile, and shows the cleric a scarred mark which he recognizes as the Dragonmark of Making.

I have some reagents lying around which we could surely use to synthesize any enchanted item of your choice. It'll cost you, of course - I can't give them away for free (I need to eat). But I can have them ready tomorrow.

Oh yes. This part of the forest is infested with trolls, hoo hoo hoo. You might want to bring along some fire or acid alchemical items just in case.

I was speaking idiomatically.

The old man was loathe to part with his retirement fund but reasoned that the money would be no good to him if he was dead. Trading in his spear, armour and holy symbol, he forked over enough cash to persuade the hermit to magic him up some Dwarven Finemail, a Belt of Vigour and a Hearth of Boldrei. He had been at most a notional follower of his chosen god for years, seeing it more as a lifestyle choice rather than a true religious calling but after the day they'd just had, he'd take any advantage he could and being an ordained priest he felt his god might favour him a shade if he was carrying the proper adornments. Mindful of the hermit's warning of trolls in the area, he also bought two flasks of Dragonfire tar and a clockwork bomb.

Just outside the hut the old wolf spotted a small cart. It was hardly a proper battle chariot but the yolk looked the perfect size for RRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWGGHH and he reasoned that with the two of them moutned up, any escape plan would be much easier to implement. He gave the hermit a few coins for the cart and set about fashioning some suitable reins. If only he were a better craftsman he'd have added some big blades to the wheels but it'd do for the time being.

"Before you get any funny ideas, youngling" he growled at the Kobold "I'm driving".

With that he tossed the remainder of his money to his partner, assuming that the lure of new, shiny ways to impale people would appeal to the impetuous youth.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Ahh, you want something of Boldrei's. Interesting choice, that. Good fr'old ladies and homebodies. Not that it's wrong of course!

Watching Ivory turn over a whopping amount of gold to his understudy, he turns to the little kobold.

How about you, my boy? Would you like to buy anything with your (don't tell me, I'll guess) - your 8,395 gold? Can I suggest a necklace, something for your head, maybe an arm band? And a half-dozen flasks of Alchemist's Acid (or Fire, s'the same)? Buy 5 flasks, get 1 free!


Shin, here's Ivory's shiny new character builder file.

FELIPE NO

The old man stood with his hands on his hips, waiting patiently for his buddy to finish his shopping...

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

"Don't rush me, bro! I'm shoppin' over here."

I settle for some sweet Armbands of Power, a bitchin' sweet Horned Helm and some bloody Gauntlets. I get the brief feeling that a power higher than me is not happy with this, but fuck yeah kicking a man while he's down.

I reckon we can get some more grenades and some bad breath potions an' shit, too.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Warming to the idea of riding around on a chariot, blowing things up, the old shifter bought four Elixirs of Dragonbreath, four (Lvl 10) Acidic Fires, four (Lvl 9) Blastpatches, four (Lvl 9) Clockwork bombs and two (Lvl 8) Dragonfire Tars. He grabbed two Caustic Whetstones in case of troll attacks and finally a set of Horseshoes of Speed for the big wolf, which looked quite fetching held on by string. He tossed half the grenades and stuff to his young companion.

If they weren't ready for any eventuality now, they really never would be. Thanking the weird hermit for his help, the old man slumped in the corner and fell asleep.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

6 Dice Rolls Damage

Hoo hoo hoo. That's quite an arsenal, young man. Are you really a worshipper of Boldrei? She would not look so kindly if you start burning down the forest!

Well, I'll have those items ready by tomorrow. So don't you worry, just rest up nice and easy!

And so it was that Ebony and Ivory laid themselves to rest, snuggling next to the quite-docile dire wolf. The old man went into a flurry of activity, intoning arcane things such as "Ipso facto, meeny moe...MAGIC-O!" well into the night.

_____


Ivory suddenly awakens with a start. This was not the familiar bed he was expecting. Where was he?

The previous day's events came flooding back into his mind. So it wasn't a nightmare after all, the shifter bitterly recalls. But... but where was the old man... his house... and most of their money?

Ivory cursed himself at length for his naivete - his retirement savings... gone!

It took Ebony ten minutes to calm the old shifter down. Undoubtedly, it was helped by the former's discovery of everything the pair has ordered from the old man with the canaries were neatly stacked out on a roofless wagon hitched to the wolf. They haven't broken the bank either, as the old man feared - the kobold still has 545 gold pieces remaining in his pack.

_____


Determined to put as much space between himself and their pursuers, Ivory hurries everyone through breakfast. Finally ready to depart, the pair set off at a fairly rapid clip deeper into the forest.

A few hours in, the skies suddenly darken... with birds. The noise is palpable as a flock of ravens descend from the sky. They are under attack!

The ravens swoop down upon the hapless wolf, swirling around like miniature dervishes.

5 damage to Dire Wolf. It is blinded

You grant combat advantage.

You can’t see any target (your targets have total concealment)

Note: Total concealment = -5 melee & ranged attack rolls.

You take a –10 penalty to Perception checks.

You can’t flank an enemy.

until the end of the ravens' next turn.

DEFENSES
Unkindness of Ravens: AC 21, Fort 14, Ref 19, Will 17
Halfling Prowler: AC 18, Fort 14, Ref 17, Will 15

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

1. HOUSE RULE: Being on higher ground (but not when flying) gives combat advantage.
2. The "2" on the raven token means that the ravens are floating 2 squares above the ground, that is, ten feet in the air.
3. Squares containing a piece of the wagon are considered "Difficult terrain". If you occupy the square, you are "squeezing".
4. The ravens block line of sight. This means they count as obstacles when making ranged attacks (usually a -2 penalty).

Ebony (23), Halfling Prowler (16), Ivory (12), Unkindness of Ravens (26)

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

My eyes widen as the wolf gets attacked.



"We can't stop here!"

Hop out of the chariot, which seems like a good idea...
haul ass to Q12
Throw and Stab on that halfling hiding in the bushes
Normal charge on that halfling too

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6 Dice Rolls *Damage to Ravens

Instead of taking care of the more immediate threat, Ebony hops out from the relative safety of his wagon. He launches into his signature Throw and Stab.

But... but... the halfling was safely hidden up a tree!

And yet, the kobold's aim was so good, his flesh-seeking hand ax cuts through the tree's superior cover. But the impact obviously slowed the ax such that it merely glances off the halfling's leather armor. It'll bruise, but that's just about it.

Pivoting back, the kobold moves toward the ravens and stab at a few birds with his blade. The kobold was just tall enough to reach the birds with his sword, and a few of the birds promptly drop into the ground dead.

Prowler hit for 3 HP damage. Ravens hit for 8 HP damage (half damage from melee).
Remember, Throw and Stab + Melee Basic Attack can't be used against the same target anymore.

That barely tickled, chuckled the prowler. The cute li'l ranger is obviously no threat to him, despite dropping a few of his pets. No, the more dangerous of the two has to be that wolfman cleric. After all, the bounty called for Ivory first. The old man looks to be out of range for his hand crossbow, but he'd try a far shot first before whistling for his ravens to peck the shifter to unconsciousness!

The shot was perfect! Yes sir, today was going to be most profitable.

Critical hit! Ivory takes 1d6+4 (10) HP damage.
Secondary attack hits! Ivory takes ongoing 3 poison damage at the beginning of every turn and is slowed (save ends both).

Ivory (12), Unkindness of Ravens (26), Ebony (23), Halfling Prowler (16)

Most amazing jew boots