Dungeons & Drogans: Session V
Session V Summary
With Thomas absent, Dave agrees to control Jacques. The Drogans loot the kobold corpses and return to Winterhaven, hoping to purchase armor for Zacsarrd. Upon realizing the dragonborn does not nearly have sufficient funds, they return to the kobold lair and engage in an epic battle that ends with the party being captured by Irontooth, the goblin leader of the kobolds.
Session V - Part 1 Summary
The session starts with XP being allotted, followed by the all-important looting of the corpses. A few paltry coins are found, and a great deal of time is spent deliberating over the rest of the mundane equipment.
Session V - Part 2 Summary
Having finished the arduous task of selecting what gear to take off the corpses, the Drogans take a short rest a safe distance from the kobold's camp, then return to Winterhaven to lick their wounds and find some armor for Zacsarrd.
Dave proposes breaking down the nine kobold hide armors into base material to reconstruct some patchwork armor for the cleric.
Session V - Part 3 Summary
In Winterhaven, the Drogans realize that Zacsarrd doesn't have nearly enough gold to buy armor. Luckily, John crunched the numbers and deduced that as long as he doesn't charge into battle, Zacsarrd should be fine. Unfortunately, charging into battle happens to be the dragonborn's favorite activity.
When the Drogans check on Jacques' horse, they find out they forgot to pay for the second day of stabling--much to the stablemaster's discontent. The party discusses the possibility of trading in the horse for armor for Zacsarrd.
Rekoj seeks out the local blacksmith, and inquires if it's possible to dismantle several small suits of hide armor and create a larger one. The dwarven smith is offended that Rekoj asked him, a metal-worker, about hide, and goes on a rant--we've finally seen Rekoj's 4 charisma at work. The smith then tries to sell Rekoj chainmail, giving him his sales pitch.
The Drogans decide to let Coltaine do the talking from now on.
Session V - Part 4 Summary
The Drogans return to the kobold's forest cliff lair. They are presented with two entrances: a northern and a southern one.
Coltaine spots movement from the northern cave entrance and directs the party to the southern entrance. Within, the Drogans see movement--kobolds scurrying about, and hear screams and shouts of alarms.
Combat rounds start.
John rolls the worst initiative ever: a 1. Jacques rolls a 2.
Session V - Part 5 Summary
Kobolds scurry into view.
Coltaine moves in to engage the closest kobold and knocks him out.
Rekoj charges in and decapitates a kobold.
Hordes of kobolds appear in the entryway.
Jacques uses Scorching Burst, an area-of-attack fire spell, and incinerates three kobolds--one of which was already knocked out by Coltaine.
Session V - Part 6 Summary
We establish that Coltaine provided for the humane killing of kobolds by knocking one out so that he didn't feel pain when he was immolated by Jacques' fire magic.
Zacsarrd rolls a crit with his Lance of Faith, grievously wounding a kobold.
The first round of combat is over. Four kobolds have been taken down, one has been seriously wounded, and none of the Drogans have taken damage: A good start to the battle. John predicts that this is an omen of a very bad ending
Two kobolds rush in and stab Rekoj for a total of 5 damage.
Coltaine knocks out another kobold, then is stabbed for 4 damage.
Session V - Part 7 Summary
The same sling-wielding kobold from their previous battle--the one that retreated to warn Irontooth--appears and fires at Rekoj, but misses.
Rekoj easily kills another kobold, then is stabbed for 4 damage, taken down to 29/38 HP.
Jacques uses another Scorching Burst, and incinerates three out of the five kobolds he targeted.
Zacsarrd, in a bout of machismo, picks up the kobold that Coltaine knocked out, hefts him up over his head, and launches him at the kobold that he critically hit with his Lance of Faith. The dragonborn then spends an action point and casts Sacred Flame on the same kobold, further scalding it, leaving him on the brink of death after Zacsarrd's assault.
Session V - Part 8 Summary
Round 2 ends. Only five living kobolds are visible, with one on the brink of death. The Drogans have taken down nine kobolds in a matter of twelve seconds.
Zacsarrd is stabbed for 4 damage by the kobold he assaulted, then stabbed by another kobold for 1 damage.
Coltaine makes good use of his reach weapon and bloodies a kobold ten feet away.
Zacsarrd has clearly angered the kobolds, as he is impaled again and again, brought down to 11/22 HP.
The sling-wielding kobold takes a shot at Zacsarrd, striking him with a stone for 8 damage and taking the dragonborn down to 3 HP.
John is convinced that the dice are dooming him, since his enemies always hit him but miss everyone else. Clearly, the dice are responsible, and not Zacsarrd's lack of armor.
Rekoj brings down his axe and murders another kobold.
Zacsarrd continues his assault on the wounded kobold, undeterred by the fact that he is at 3/22 HP. He misses. We note that a pattern is emerging in the party's battles: Zacsarrd comes in strong, performs some awesome maneuvers early on, then drops into single-digit hit points and fails to hit anything else. John insists pheromones must be attracting to kobolds to attack him, and that it is not his lack of armor.
Session V - Part 9 Summary
Round 3 ends. The Drogans have taken down all but four of the visible kobolds. Their total kill count is ten kobolds.
A harsh, bleeting horn ushers the appearance of Irontooth, a battleaxe-wielding goblin accompanied by more kobolds.
The grievously-wounded kobold stabs Rekoj for 7 damage, taking him down to 26/38 HP.
A kobold with a bone mask shouts out a war cry, bolstering his companions. He launches a flaming orb of energy at Coltaine, bringing him down to 14/25 HP.
Coltaine uses Inspiring Word to heal Zacsarrd, then strikes the sling-wielding kobold. Zacsarrd is heal up to 10/22 HP.
One of the new kobolds, wielding a dragonscale shield and sword, moves in. Another kobold spears Coltaine for 3 damage.
Session V - Part 10 Summary
The third and final kobold that arrived with the goblin, also wielding a dragonscale shield, moves in.
Rekoj murders yet another kobold and gains temporary HP.
Irontooth advances, snarling.
Jacques casts another Scorching Burst. Out of five intended targets, three are hit. One is the grievously wounded kobold, who is incinerated. Irontooth and the sling-wielding kobold evade the flames. The wizard spends action point and casts Sleep. Out of five targets, only one suffers the full effects.
Zacsarrd casts Beacon of Hope, and although he does not damage his enemies, he bolsters his allies.
Session V - Part 11 Summary
Round 4 ends. Five kobolds and Irontooth remain standing.
The masked kobold launches another fireball at Coltaine, burning him down to 8/25 HP.
Coltaine uses his second wind and is restored to 14/25 HP.
One of the kobolds curls up on the floor and falls asleep under the effects of Jacques' spell.
Rekoj polymorphs into a guardian form of
Winter's Herald.
Session V - Part 12 Summary
Jacques uses another Scorching Burst and damages two of his intended four targets.
Round 5 ends. The fight has been raging on for 30 seconds now. Irontooth and four kobolds are left standing, and one kobold is taking a nap.
The masked kobold burns Rekoj down to 23/38 HP.
Coltaine bloodies a kobold.
The napping kobold wakes up and rises.
The bloodied kobold stabs Rekoj for a pitiful 1 damage.
The sword-wielding kobold slashes Coltaine down to 5/25 hp.
Rekoj uses a burst power, targeting three
enemies.
Session V - Part 13 Summary
Rekoj damages all three of his targeted enemies, nearly killing one of the kobolds. The goliath spends an action point and uses another burst attack against all three. He kills the grievously wounded kobold, immobilizes Irontooth, and bloodies the sword-wielding kobold.
Jacques burns one target with his fire magic.
Zacsarrd casts a sacred flame on the bloodied kobold, further wounding him. Coltaine is healed to 22/25 HP with 4 temp HP from the cleric's prayer.
Round 6 ends. Irontooth and four kobolds remain.
The masked kobold fireballs Rekoj, burning him down to 19/38 HP.
Session V - Part 14 Summary
Rekoj engages Irontooth in melee and lands a critical hit on him.
Irontooth retaliates, slicing Rekoj down to 16/38 HP.
Jacques fires a Force Orb at Irontooth that wounds the goblin and nearly kills a kobold with splash damage.
Zacsarrd moves in for the kill, heals Rekoj up to 34/38 HP, and kills the kobold.
Round 7 ends. Three kobolds and Irontooth remain.
Session V - Part 15 Summary
The kobold slinger strikes Zacsarrd down to 11/22 HP.
The sword-wielding kobold slashes Zacsarrd down to 3/22 HP. Once again, we find ourselves in the familiar situation of the cleric about to die.
Irontooth takes two swings, one at Rekoj, one at Coltaine, and strikes both of them. Rekoj is cut down to 27/38 HP, and Coltaine down to 20/25 HP.
Round 8 ends.
The masked kobold fireballs Coltaine down to 15/25 HP.
Coltaine uses Inspiring Word to heal Zacsarrd up to 13/22 HP.
The kobold slinger stones Zac down to 6 hp.
The sword-wielding kobold slashes Coltaine down to 10/25 hp.
Rekoj continues to attack Irontooth and lands a blow, but the goblin is still not bloodied.
Session V - Part 16 Summary
Irontooth takes another two swings, slashing Rekoj for 11 damage, but Coltaine blocks the blow.
Jacques casts Scorching Burst and injures Irontooth.
Zacsarrd casts another Sacred Flame, bloodying a kobold.
Round 9 ends. Three kobolds and Irontooth remain standing, and one of the kobolds is bloodied.
The masked kobold fireballs Coltaine in the face, and the man collapses.
The kobold slinger strikes Zacsarrd down to 1 HP.
The sword-wielding kobold slashes Rekoj down to 16/38 HP.
Irontooth chops Rekoj down to 8/38 HP.
Jacques tries to stabilize Coltaine, but fails.
Zacsarrd sears the kobold again and heals Rekoj.
Session V - Part 17 Summary
The first minute of battle, the 10th round, is over. Coltaine is down, and Zacsarrd is teetering at 1 HP.
The masked kobold fireballs Rekoj down to 4 HP.
Coltaine fails his second death save, and can only fail one more before he dies.
The kobold slinger strikes Rekoj for 4 damage--just enough to take down the brute.
The gravity of the situation strikes the players--Coltaine and Rekoj are down, Coltaine is one death save away from death, and Zacsarrd is on his last hit point.
In a twist of fate, Irontooth offers the party a deal: surrender now, and he'll let them attend to their dying friends.
Dave does a wonderful job at roleplaying Thomas and makes Jacques ramble an acceptance of terms, then tries to stabilize Coltaine, but fails once more.
Session V - Part 18 Summary
Zacsarrd attempts to stabilize Coltaine, but also fails--by a margin of 1.
Round 11 ends.
Irontooth motions for the masked kobold, who crouches down and tends to Coltaine. Is he actually delivering a coup de grace? Is he going to shoot a fireball in his mouth to cauterize the wound? No--he tries to stabilize him.
Not knowing whether Coltaine is stable, Nick has to roll another Death Save… and fails.
Coltaine is dead.
Or… would be, but the kobold had managed to stabilize him.
Rekoj fails his first death save and slips closer to death.
The Drogans realize that Irontooth is going to hold them ransom to Lord Padraig.
Jacques manages to stabilize Rekoj on his first try, proving he hates Coltaine.
Coltaine and Rekoj are stable and Zacsarrd is at 1/22. This battle, overall, turned out as Zacsarrd's best.
Zacsarrd, still wielding his scythe, tries to interrogate Irontooth.
Irontooth raises his battleaxe and swings at Zacsarrd, but instead of decapitating the dragonborn, hits him with the flat of his blade and knocks him out. Irontooth turns to Jacques and asks, "Any more questions?"
