Kingmaker in the Forgotten Realms [IC thread]

[BluesEclipse]

While the kith's strike only elicited a grunt of pain from Korlann, the rending claw of the larger beast draws forth a roar of agony. Spinning away from the blow, Korlann brings his leg up first, snapping out with a powerful kick, before sending a ki-charged palm at the creature's center of mass.

Spoiler: Mechanics

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Flurry of Blows against the Owlbear.

Attack 1:
To Hit: [roll]1d20+5, crit (x2) on 25
Damage: (1d6+4)[9]

Attack 2 with Stunning Fist:
To Hit: [roll]1d20+5, crit (x2) on 25
On Hit: Target must make DC 14 Fort save or be Stunned for 1 round. (A stunned creature drops everything held, can’t take actions, takes a -2 penalty to AC, and loses his Dexterity bonus to AC.)
Damage: (1d6+4)[6]

Stunning Fist Charges Remaining: 1

[Saintheart]

Deep Woods, The Greenbelt, the Border Kingdoms
Morning, Fourteenth of Kythorn, Year of Lightning Storms (1374 DR)

Even entangled, the owlbear was still somehow able to avoid Korlann's strikes; there was a red haze drifting before the young Skarn's eyes as his blood rained from him.

Across the way, the last kith swiped at Gakan once more, but still failed to catch the catfolk's face.

Spoiler: OOC for all

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That brings us back to Ruk, and then into the next round.

Initiative Order:
Kuros: +4 – 21
Jhod: -1 – 19
Dergosh: +10 – 14
Owlbear: +1 – 13
Three: +9 – 10
Gakan: +4 – 9
Marmuk: +0 – 8
Korlann: +2 – 7
Forestkith Goblins: +2 – 7
Ruk: +0 -- 6

Spoiler: Updated Tactical Map

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[Zombulian]

Ruk was happy about the success of his spell on the Kith, but he was beginning to become concerned about the proximity of the owlbeast, and the punishment it was laying on Korlann.

Ruk zipped away and around the Owlbear, climbing in altitude to remain out of harm’s way. Once hovering, he looked to the bleeding Korlann and his burly ally Kuros and focused his innate Tiamat-granted ability.

Spoiler: OOC

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Ruk moves to 12M and climbs 10ft into the air. He uses 1 of his 3/day uses of Benign Transposition (Kobold Rite + Magic in the Blood) to swap Kuros and Korlann’s positions on the battlemap.

[bcool999]

Kuros finding himself transported right before the enemy, widens his eyes in shock before tightening his grip on his weapons and shield. He lashes out with his hammer sending a blow to the Owlbear's right, while also slashing with his longsword held in two hands from the Owlbear's left.

Spoiler: OOC

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Hammer: (1d20+6)[19] Crit on 26
Damage: (2d4+7)[15]
Longsword: (1d20+6)[16] Crit on 25-26
Damage: (1d8+3)[5]

[Saintheart]

Deep Woods, The Greenbelt, the Border Kingdoms
Morning, Fourteenth of Kythorn, Year of Lightning Storms (1374 DR)

The owlbear screamed its fury to the green-encrusted sky. Kuros's hammer had caught it a clean, fast blow across its temple, and his longsword dug deep into its flank. It drew itself to its height, badly hurt, blood pouring from half a dozen wounds, one eye closed from the force of the silverbrow's strike.

It suddenly stiffened, the scream cutting off mid-breath. A glowing, ghostly scythe had appeared in the middle of its forehead; Jhod's spell had taken its effect.

The owlbear toppled. The ground rumbled as it hit, a THUMP echoing through the woods, branches breaking all around it where it collapsed.

Jhod came trotting up on his horse, reaching out with his arm. The ghostly scythe whirled and embedded itself in the body of the unconscious kith, ending that creature's life.

The last kith chittered rage.

Dergosh's mace met it. And ended it, with one blow.

Silence suddenly reigned in the glade, broken as Jhod noisily dismounted from his horse and hurried across towards Korlann, combing his hair over. "Are you all right, saer?"

There was another noise from behind the wagon. Three, Marmuk, and half the party swung around --

--to find the boar trotting into the glade, oblivious to all that had happened and having deigned to catch up with them. The big boar took a look around at the carnage, snuffled, and wandered across to the nearest big tree, sniffing around the base for roots.

Spoiler: OOC

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400 XP each for this one, gang!

When you get around to searching and policing the bodies of the kith and the owlbear, you'll have found the following:

- 16 masterwork nets (these are specialities of the kith. They can be used as weapons in battle, certainly, but they're also very desirable in the wider world for use as fishing nets - as Jhod would certainly be able to tell you, or Oleg for that matter. Solid trade goods.)
- 1 Greataxe (not masterwork, regular). This was on the body of the kith leader.
- 1 set of hide armor (a little bit whiffy from kith body odour, but otherwise complete and useable for Medium or Small characters)

Also, an inspection of the site of where Baghtru and Korlann's mount now lie reveals that all of their saddlery is also there and intact. Anything that was on the horses' saddles or in saddlebags or otherwise lost when the wolves attacked is here, untouched, and recoverable immediately ... well, except for the horses themselves, of course.

[almondsAndRain]

Three focused again on the spell she cast. Whereas before it may have been helpful, now it will only get in the way. Her eyeholes flashed purple again, for the barest of moments- just long enough to grip the magic tightly enough to cause it to snap, to return the plants to their normal state. She then stood at the end of her wagon to survey the field.
There were twenty-two corpses strewn about the grass, and fortunately none of them were the Company’s. Nineteen monkey-goblins, two horses, and a single owlbear laid dead ahead of them. Three thought that perhaps Dergosh would take a trophy off of the abomination and bury or his horse, but she didn’t care to think what he would do to the dead monkeys. She could see that Korlann Zehk and Gakan were injured, but that didn’t matter much- Dergosh and Jhod carried their gods’ favor with them, and could close those wounds without much trouble. And even if they couldn’t, Three prepared a store of healing potions during the rest at the trading post. The only other things in the field that caught her interest were the items.
For lack of anything else to do at the moment, Three dropped off of the end of her wagon and walked past the Company to begin stripping the monkey’s of their nets and other equipment. She would leave what was on the horses for their owners to decide what to do with.

[Saintheart]

Deep Woods, The Greenbelt, the Border Kingdoms
Morning, Fourteenth of Kythorn, Year of Lightning Storms (1374 DR)

As she started round the field of battle, Three felt a knock on her left thigh.

Marmuk, the Sootscale kobold, was standing there, holding the dagger out to her, hilt-first. He seemed to be trying to remember words, and even then his eyes flicked across to Ruk (who was still flitting around in the air in pseudodragon form, at least right at that second). At length, the kobold grunted: "Knife. Good."

[BluesEclipse]

As Korlann finds himself suddenly farther away from the Owlbear, he shifts his stance, wincing due to the pain of his wounds as he does. However, he finds himself with little more opportunity to fight, as he watches Kuros strike at the Owlbear before Jhod's spectral weapon finishes the creature off. Relaxing as Jhod approaches him, he nods and says, "I'll live, at least. That conjured blade of yours certainly helped."

[almondsAndRain]

The small creature’s Common wasn’t the greatest, but Three understood what it was saying immediately. He wanted her to take her knife back. But was that wise? The Sootscale was defenseless. In addition, despite Dergosh’s protests, the Company’s goal was still to ally with the tribe. That may change in the future, but in that event, a single knife won’t turn the tide of the battle. In fact, any act of kindness might throw that situation in the Company’s favor, especially if we decide to depose Tartuk. Additionally, she has a spare and it would cost one gold to replace. Three may act as the party accountant, but not even she was that miserly. There was just no reason not to let the little fellow keep the weapon.
She nodded at him and then spoke slowly. “Yes, knife good. You unarmed. You keep.”

[Saintheart]

Deep Woods, The Greenbelt, the Border Kingdoms
Morning, Fourteenth of Kythorn, Year of Lightning Storms (1374 DR)

Jhod grinned weakly at the Skarn. "Not mine, saer; the Earthmother's. Now just hold on a moment and let's have a look at this..." And he carefully uncovered the long, ragged gash in the monk's arm and shoulder, where blood still poured out from where the owlbear had caught Korlann a good one. The cleric hissed. "That's no little scratch." He closed his eyes for a moment, whispering words that Korlann couldn't hear, then reached his open palms out to the wound and gently touched the skin around the wound. Golden sparks danced over blood and torn flesh, and a second later, the skin knitted itself together, forming a long, subtle scar along the line of the cut - healed.

The cleric removed his hands. "Not much I can do about the damage to your clothes, I'm afraid. Needle and thread's the most likely cure there." A long flap of Korlann's monk robe hung limp, cut in half by the owlbear's wingblade.

For his part, though, Jhod was turning to the field, where Three had already dismissed her spell and was moving across to bodies. He sighed, shaking his head. "Sometimes I don't understand the will of some gods. Based on what I understand of the kith, this was an entire tribe. Senseless; that dreadful beast killed more of them than we did. What reason could Savras have had for this slaughter?"


Across the field, Marmuk regarded Three suspiciously for a moment, but then nodded slowly and stuck Three's dagger through his belt, turning to look over bodies and sniffing around in the warforged's wake, wondering whether there was anything of interest left behind.

Spoiler: OOC

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That's a Cure Moderate Wounds on Korlann, which restores him back to full HP. Anyone else?

[Mercurion 2]

Despite the brief satisfaction brought on by the intersection of his mace and a tree goblin’s head, Dergosh was still seething. Goblins had killed his prized (though briefly owned) horse! Ignoring the carnage around him, the half-orc stalked around the perimeter of the clearing, smashing the trunks of trees until his arm started to ache. Though to others that had never encounter this particularly awful type of goblin before it might appear that he was simply raging (more than usual), he actually had good reason for his actions besides simply blowing off anger: he knew the kith could turn themselves into trees. Thus, he wanted to make sure no more of the vile goblins were hiding in that form to avoid the party’s wrath. No tree avoided a forceful blow from his weapon.

It took several minutes, but he finally wound down, and finding no more kith skulking in tree form, he walked sadly back to the middle of the clearing and stared down at Bahgtru’s remains. His anger had now coalesced into a cold anvil of retribution. “Gruumsh not happy goblins kill horse named after son. This,” he spread his hands to indicated the fallen goblin bodies, “just beginning”.

[Mercurion 2]

For his part, though, Jhod was turning to the field, where Three had already dismissed her spell and was moving across to bodies. He sighed, shaking his head. "Sometimes I don't understand the will of some gods. Based on what I understand of the kith, this was an entire tribe. Senseless; that dreadful beast killed more of them than we did. What reason could Savras have had for this slaughter?"

Dergosh spared the cleric a sidelong glance. “Goblins,” he growled in a one-word answer.

[bcool999]

Kuros sighs as the battle ends, glad that their assault was as successful as it was with the only apparent wound being Korlanns gash which was even now healed by Jhod. Before assisting with hauling whatever Three finds valuable back to the cart, Kuros takes the time to clean and maintain his weapons.

[Saintheart]

Deep Woods, The Greenbelt, the Border Kingdoms
Morning, Fourteenth of Kythorn, Year of Lightning Storms (1374 DR)

"Er -- yes," said Jhod, clearing his throat in response to Dergosh's pronunciation. He'd stayed out of the half-orc's way as he beat his mace against every tree within about thirty yards, but at least it had allowed the Company and the small black kobold to pick through the remains of the creatures that had once lived here. Which left only the corpses of the horses themselves. Trying to further smooth things over, Jhod straightened his hair again and cleared his throat once more. "Ah -- saer Dergosh. It certainly appears that you treasured your horse. Would you prefer to bury him before we move on?"

Spoiler: OOC for everyone

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I'll assume you've all recovered everything from the corpses and also the saddlery and bridles of the dead horses, and loaded it all into the wagon.

That said, in practical terms it'll take a good few hours, easily into the afternoon, to dig a hole big enough to bury the horses. There's eight of you, sure, but it's not like everyone's come equipped with shovels.

[Mercurion 2]

Deep Woods, The Greenbelt, the Border Kingdoms
Ah -- saer Dergosh. It certainly appears that you treasured your horse. Would you prefer to bury him before we move on?"

The half-orc just grunted, staring down at the horses’ remains. He hung his gore-spattered mace at his side from its leather thong and stood there in contemplation. Finally, he shook his head and replied, “No. Dig big hole waste of time, not honor Baghtru.” Slowly, he slid the knife he had taken off the bandits back at Fort Oleg out of his belt.

Dropping to one knee, he began carving out a large haunch of meat that the horse’s killers had left untouched, hacking through the cold flesh indelicately. When he had sliced away a large double handful, he stuffed it in the discarded saddlebags and carried it back to the wagon where he deposited it in a corner in the bed. He wiped the excess blood from his blade and hands on a nearby grassy patch.

“We roast meat tonight and share in his strength.” With that proclamation, the cleric was ready to move on.

[Saintheart]

Spoiler: OOC for all

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The horsemeat ... gulp ... is enough for today's meal, i.e. no need to forage if you don't want to.

Deep Woods, The Greenbelt, the Border Kingdoms
Late afternoon, Fourteenth of Kythorn, Year of Lightning Storms (1374 DR)



The Wolftooth Company moved on into the woods, wagon weighed down with nets, saddles, and horsemeat. As the day wore on the land became hilly, and the vegetation thickened. The mules began to complain, issuing the odd irritated bray into the thick, still air. The remaining horses nickered and shook their heads as they laboured up and down hills and thin game trails with brush reaching out to grab at their feet, under a green canopy like a moth-holed blanket between themselves and the sky.

There were moments of relief, of course. From time to time the forest’s green curtains parted and they could see into steep, deep ravines filled with plants of every kind, a thousand flowers’ colours in shafts of sunlight. But then the curtains closed once more, and their day became game trails and dried out creek beds once more, Three sketching either in her mind or on a scrap of paper as they passed landmarks and vistas to chart the land.

It was around mid-afternoon when they rounded a particularly thick stand of wanderwood and the forest curtains again revealed something: a ruined farmhouse, or at least a ruin of some kind of house, maybe sixty feet ahead. It stood in the lee of a hillside, surrounded by trees, looking out into a deeper dell with the treetops roughly level with the house. In its day the house probably looked out on a peaceful, pleasant view. Now it had been reduced to partial fieldstone walls, a few forlorn rafters still reaching for the sky, and strangulation by undergrowth, immersed in ambery afternoon light. The wind shifted, and branches creaked.

There was a path up the hillside which would go around the ruin, but it would take a reasonable amount of time to go around by that path – as well as risk someone missing their footing as the light faded and tree roots and fallen branches became more hazardous.

A small gang of elk – four of them – were grazing before the ruins, and looked lazily towards the Company as they came into view.

Spoiler: Kuros, Dergosh, Three, Ruk, Gakan

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The elk didn't look to be anything out of the ordinary.

Spoiler: Korlann

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The Skarn’s guts locked up. Wariness flooded him. There’s something very wrong here. His fists clenched. They were a small gang of elk … who weren’t breathing; their flanks weren’t moving. Nor had they blinked. And then he saw, most significantly, most horrifyingly, one more thing in the amber light: the shoot of a green vine, sprouting from one elk’s eyesocket.

Spoiler: OOC for all

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What do you do?

[BluesEclipse]

As the group comes across the farmhouse, Korlann's gaze quickly takes in the area, his spines flaring outward unconsciously - the farmhouse, the elk grazing in front of it, the vine sprouting from one elk's eye, and the path leading around. Nothing un-

What...

Korlann freezes as his mind processes what his instincts have already acknowledged, rising into something of a crouch, tensing as if in anticipation of an attack as he focuses on the elk more fully. The unbreathing, unblinking elk, with a vine sprouting from its eye socket. "What..." he mutters, trying to comprehend what he's actually seeing. "what is going on? Are they even alive?"

[Zombulian]

Ever since the gang had moved on, Ruk had been buzzing with energy, though he tried to contain himself. His first attempt with that spell had been a smash success, and in front of Marmuk to boot!
As the group trundled on, Ruk passed the time by speaking with Marmuk about their respective tribes. Customs, birthday rites, important holidays; whatever really. He wanted to know more about these Sootscales. All the while, Ruk was worrying about Dergosh. The cleric seemed to have exacted his revenge on the believed perpetrators of his mount’s murder, but it was hard to tell if he would really get over it so quickly. He kept his eyes on him.

———

As they reached the ruins, Ruk was surprised to see the elk in the open. I suppose hunters don’t get this deep in the woods. Maybe they don’t feel the need to be on alert.
As he was thinking this though, he noticed Korlann tense up.
“What is it, friend?”

[Saintheart]

Deep Woods, The Greenbelt, the Border Kingdoms
(Morning through to late afternoon), Fourteenth of Kythorn, Year of Lightning Storms (1374 DR)

Spoiler: Ruk, anyone who was eavesdropping and can speak Draconic

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The conversation between Ruk and Marmuk had been at least a little revealing.

Like many kobold tribes, the Sootscales didn't have a long, ancient connection to the lands around their lair. While the Sootscales' lair had been in the hills to the southeast for decades, their history counted back much further than that. Marmuk like any other kobold in his tribe had been taught the history: roughly three centuries ago, the Sootscales -- or rather, the larger kobold tribe they'd formed part of -- had served in the Hall of Sibyll'ys'starax, a Great One of the Gloom (what the humanoids around Ruk would have called a Shadow Dragon). The Great One's wingspan could send whole meadows into darkness, its teeth as long as lances. "It was under She, so we believe, that we took our colours," said Marmuk with a gesture at his dark scales. The Great One had protected them, and in turn they had hunted the deep places of the Underdark, bringing back gleaming gold and treasures to Sibyll'ys'starax's hoard. And for long centuries, it was good. The Great One allowed the kobolds to come and go freely, and for that reason, kobolds came and kobolds went, but the Hall kept a relatively constant kobold workforce as a result.

But the founder of the Sootscale clan - a dragonwrought kobold, his name long lost but remembered as the Seer - had gathered several dozen kobolds under his wing, and told them of a vision he had experienced: that the darkness was to be swallowed in silence. That the time had come to venture away. Those who followed the Seer down into the Underdark tunnels heard, by the faintest echoes of noise, and later, by news carried by rumour: the Hall fell. To a strong force of drow raiders, who were seeking to extend their territory. Many of the kobolds who remained were enslaved, and found the drow cruel masters.

The Seer led the Sootscales below the earth for perhaps hundreds of miles. It was a journey the Sootscales recounted in humming song at the beginning of each year, a deed of legend. But eventually, after long wanderings, the Sootscales found their way to the caverns that formed the roots of the earth in this part of the world, and, eventually, the caves that formed their present home. They sealed up the narrow path that had led them there, and settled in, where the sunlight was visible once more, to begin to grow the tribe again. The war with the gremlins had taken a dreadful toll, even allowing for kobolds' legendary fecundity.

Many of the Sootscales' customs seemed quite similar to those that Ruk had experienced: the daily ritual of Searching For the Dragon, the enthusiastic use of bitterleaf oil (and here Marmuk peered critically at Ruk's hide, remarking that the Blessed One, despite his amazing abilities, could certainly use a good rub down to get rid of the grottier parts of dead scale clinging to him at the moment.) Occasionally there were games on the anniversary of a kobold's hatching, but most celebrations were carried out in the midst of more work: mining, crafting, trapmaking. Until Tartuk had come along.

Spoiler: OOC for Ruk

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Reminder that you're going to need to make a Diplomacy check to find out from Marmuk where the Sootscales' home is, and presumably before he leaves sometime in the next couple of days. That check is a DC 20, mainly because kobolds are not silly people ... but with your status, dragon-ish antics, and now long conversation, when you make that roll, you'll be making it with an untyped +6 bonus on top of any other modifiers you've got. Aid Another checks will work for this, but the person aiding has to speak Draconic.

EDIT: I realised I gave a DC 15 to the roll and gave a +4 to Ruk by reason of being a Dragonwrought Kobold back in the OOC thread a while back. So that decision still stands. But Ruk's chatting does raise his Diplomacy modifier further: by another +4, so that raises it to a total of +8, untyped, on top of any other Diplomacy bonuses that Ruk has. And as said, the DC is 15, not 20.

[Mercurion 2]

Dergosh looked at the ruined house and the elk peaceably grazing nearby. Nothing interesting.

"Why we stop here?" Dergosh asked Korlann, who seemed to be flexing for some reason. "Footscales not live here, do they?"

[BluesEclipse]

"Kuros... Jhod..." Korlann says, keeping his voice low, still wary of the... things in front of him. "Take a close look at the elk..." he says, watching the creatures intently. "They aren't normal... you'd normally see slight movements from them. Breathing, subtle shifts of their weight - there are very few creatures that can manage total stillness without exceptional discipline and effort, yet they do so here. It's as if they're not alive, but are going through the motions. And that one, there," he points out the one with a vine starting to grow from its eye socket as he says this, "...look closely at its eyes, and tell me if you're seeing the same thing I am."

[bcool999]

Kuros had already drawn his bow and was considering which of the wild game to try and take for dinner to avoid the ever so slightly spoiled horseflesh, when Korlann's words reach him. Cursing once more his terrible attention to detail (a fact that his master Gerald often scolds him for and says will be the death of him out in the wild) Kuros takes his time to really look at the creatures in front of him, hands reaching for his other armaments as he does so.

Spoiler: OOC

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Can I notice the weirdness when it's pointed out to me? Spot: (1d20-2)[18]

[Saintheart]

Spoiler: Kuros

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Yes, with that roll combined with Korlann pointing out what to look for, you can take it you've spotted the weirdness and react accordingly.

[Saintheart]

Deep Woods, The Greenbelt, the Border Kingdoms
Late afternoon, Fourteenth of Kythorn, Year of Lightning Storms (1374 DR)

Jhod blinked; he seemed to have been enamoured of the beauty of the scene rather than paying attention to details. “What?” The cleric began to peer closer at the elk, eyes widening as realised what he was looking at.

Gakan glanced across at him, moving up alongside Korlann. “What’s going on?”

The elk lowered their heads. As one. In synchronicity. Their branches of antlers were white-yellow in the failing light.

Korlann knew it in his heart. Knew it though nothing had happened yet. As did Kuros. And Dergosh. And Ruk. Knew what was about to happen, could smell the blood and fear a second into the future.

Spoiler: Tactical Map

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Spoiler: Tactical Notes (Edited to include notes about terrain)

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So, surprise round. If you’re aware, you get a standard action to take. Dergosh, Korlann, Ruk, and Kuros by reason either by picking up on the elk or by reason of noticing Korlann’s been spooked by something, are taken as aware and can act this round. Three, Gakan, Marmuk, and Jhod are surprised and can't act this round. Remember you’re flatfooted until you take an action.

Initiative Order:
Dergosh: +10 – 26
Three: +9 – 25
Korlann: +2 – 20
Jhod: -1 – 19
Elk: +2 -- 19
Gakan: +4 – 17
Marmuk: +0 – 10
Ruk: +0 -- 10
Kuros: +4 – 9

This may or may not be relevant, but some of the shrubbery is thick enough to impede movement somewhat.

Squares O11 through to Q13 and O16 through to S18 are heavy bush. They impose double movement consumption, i.e. cost you 10 feet of movement per square to get through rather than 5 feet, and while in them they offer an additional 1 AC against attacks. For Ruk and other flyers, these bushes are about 10 feet high and don't impede movement otherwise, but also block line of sight for combat/spellcasting purposes.

The squares comprising the green area at roughly J14 through to M18 are basically a large, bushy tree. It doesn't impede movement beneath it, but it does block line of effect to anyone sitting on the wagon or on a horse who's trying to shoot through those squares.

The walls of the ruin are indeed physical walls and can be considered a good six feet high. They'd provide cover bonuses if relevant and block line of sight on things behind them. There's no other significant elevation differences.

[Mercurion 2]

“Not think I like these deer,” Dergosh muttered as he watched the creepy synchronous movements. “Yurtus! Bring out war beetle!” he shouted, making two sharp had gestures. From his outstretched palm, a ghostly chalk-white double appeared and rapidly moved towards the elk. As it sped through the air, its form and color contorted into a black carapaced beetle with fiery orange mandibles which dropped to the ground in front of the nearest two elk.

Spoiler

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Cast summon monster I as full round action, placing a fire beetle at square O15, where in theory if either of the elk charge the party it should be able to get an AoO.

[Saintheart]

Spoiler: Dergosh

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Hrm. Problem being that in a surprise round you're down to a single standard action, and summoning is a full round action. Most other spells taking a standard action will work, of course...happy if you want to do a repost or edit the previous...

[Zombulian]

Spoiler: Dergosh

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Hrm. Problem being that in a surprise round you're down to a single standard action, and summoning is a full round action. Most other spells taking a standard action will work, of course...happy if you want to do a repost or edit the previous...

Ruk looks from Korlann to the Elk, squinting his eyes before they widen in shock. He hops out of the wagon.

Spoiler: OOC

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Actually - unless there’s a houserule we’re using that I forgot about - summoning is a 1 round action. So the spell doesn’t go off until Dergosh’s next turn.

[Saintheart]

Spoiler: Dergosh and Ruk

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Fair enough, you could start summoning, but I might just clarify and underline that the elk will get at least some sort of actions off in the surprise round before the fire beetle appears. Remembering there is the houserule that charging is a standard action rather than a full round action.

[BluesEclipse]

Korlann watches as the elk-creatures lower their heads as one, and sees Dergosh beginning his casting from the corner of his eye. The path is clear... he realizes, feet moving as soon as he registers the possibility for them to try and charge his companion. Darting around the bush, he surges forward between the foliage - noting that it's a narrow enough gap to ensure that they can't easily run around him to get to the others - and skids to a stop just before the nearest of the beasts, shifting his stance as his gaze darts between them.

Spoiler: Mechanics

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Since I only get a standard action during the surprise round, I'll move to P14. Hopefully the bushes to the sides will funnel them towards me and preserve Dergosh's casting.

[Saintheart]

Deep Woods, The Greenbelt, the Border Kingdoms
Late afternoon, Fourteenth of Kythorn, Year of Lightning Storms (1374 DR)

Dergosh began casting, calling to the divine realm. Korlann weighed up the situation as fast as he could, springing in, putting himself in the path of the closest two elk.

The elk moved. As one. A second or so faster than Korlann had guessed.

Two of them lowered their antlers and charged at Dergosh. The Skarn had known this was coming, and threw himself at full extension, arm spines flaring as one of them bolted past him. It was a perfect strike and maneuver, and connected, the spines punching deep in almost up to the skin of his arm.

The elk didn't seem to be terribly phased by it. Blood and some other green, cholorophyllic ichor oozed from the wound, but the creature seemed not to be affected by the worst of it.

The two charged on. Dergosh, in the midst of chanting, saw them coming. Tried to get a defence up.

Bone-hard antler slammed through his midsection. Another set of antlers impaled his shoulder. For all his strength, the half-orc's chant faltered and dissipated, the magic blowing away as though on the wind. Then the elk tore their antlers out, and the half-orc was still standing, swaying at the point of unconsciousness, on his feet.

Korlann heard more hooves cantering from his left, turned instinctively -- and another set of bone-white antlers ripped at his form, blood flying as the third elk, a vine waving perversely from its eye socket, charged in on him.

And then there was the last elk:

Which moved, slowly, purposefully, a few feet closer, but did not close in on them.

Spoiler: Tactical Map

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Spoiler: Tactical Notes

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Few bits and pieces by way of reminder for those of you wondering:

Elk 2 and 3 were able to charge in on Dergosh because the tree at roughly P16 to R18 doesn't impede movement below it, as said in the earlier update. As also said, charging is a standard action.

The rolls themselves, on the play-by-play:

Elk 2 charged and rolled an 18. That's enough for a hit on Dergosh. Total damage on that was 9. Concentration check for Dergosh to keep casting was accordingly a DC 19. He rolls at 1d20+5, and rolled 9 for a total of 14, which isn't enough, so the spell is blown.
Elk 3 charged and ate Korlann's AoO. He rolled a total of 22, which is enough to hit. His spines do piercing damage, and he rolled pretty decent -- total of 8 off a 1d6+4, but it doesn't look like they did anywhere near as much as expected, i.e. there's some sort of DR in effect here. Anyway, Elk 3 charged onward and attacked Dergosh. It rolled a 16, which is enough for a hit on Dergosh's AC. Damage total was 9 again -- that roll surprised the hell out of me, because that gives us a total of 18 damage done and therefore Dergosh is at 0/18, which means he's disabled and still standing but not unconscious.
Elk 4 charged on Korlann. It rolled 18, which again, surprised me. Either way, total damage on that one was 6 points. So by my count that leaves Korlann at 10/16.
Elk 1 moved a little way in. Which is, obviously, a bit different to what the other ones did.

Either way, out of people who can act, I note Ruk has jumped down off the wagon. That leaves Kuros able to take a single standard action this round, and then we're back to Dergosh and into normal combat.

Initiative Order:
Dergosh: +10 – 26
Three: +9 – 25
Korlann: +2 – 20
Jhod: -1 – 19
Elk: +2 -- 19
Gakan: +4 – 17
Marmuk: +0 – 10
Ruk: +0 -- 10
Kuros: +4 – 9