Mystara

South of the River

(Shorthand)

From the "Scene of the Battle" - interrogate Viper goblin to get "big day travel east" as a possible goblin lair, and also "sell to horse lady".

Follow tracks to horse dealer - make a deal to return horses and provide information (200gp cost) - information is about Loshad the Chevall.

Back to Sukiskyn, other camps raided, refugees arrive, news that Stephan has been taken captive.

Mission accepted - half of sale price of horses when they are sold.

Hex crawl - 5 wolves surprise attack overnight - avoid mountain lions - 6 fire beetles attack over next night.

End of third day, work out there is a "pill box", perceive occupants as 6 goblins - fire ball - brings second scout party looking for melee, then also brings 3rd party into a defensible range attack position.

All dealt with, and discover Red-blade goblin lair entrance.

Siege at Sukiskyn

Ominous Silence

On several occasions, the goblins attempt to frighten the defenders by interrupting the drumming and chanting with a period of ominous silence.

Snipers

At various times, groups of 3 to 6 Red-blade goblins sneak to the edge of the woods and fire slingstones at the windows and battlements. The goblins are well concealed by the darkness and the undergrowth. The goblin snipers will retreat back into the woods after a few rounds or if enough are killed.

Foray

About 3 hours before midnight, the drumming and chanting stop, and two Wolfskull goblin bodyguards mounted on dire wolves, lead another 10 Wolfskull goblins (on foot) in a charge across the bridge, over the remains of the gatehouse and across the northern yard to attack the northern door into the kitchen.

At the same time, eight Red-blade goblins rush across the northern clearing, take cover in the ruins of the barn and give covering fire with slings.

The Wolfskull hack at the door with axes. Up to two goblins can hack at once. The door breaks and the Wolfskull goblins will pour in, followed by the Red-blade.

The defense is strong, and the attackers are repulsed.

Decoy

Around midnight, the defenders hear what sounds like a woman's screams coming from the woods east of the clearing and

catch a glimpse of a human-sized figure in a yellow dress being dragged through the woods by goblins.

Could it be Misha?

This is a trick, intended to lure the defenders from the homestead. The figure is actually a hobgoblin in a stolen dress, and the voice that of a female goblin warrior. The screams, mixed with incoherent cries for help, continue for 2 turns.

Pyotr knows the goblins too well to fall for the trick, but Darya becomes very upset, sobbing that her friend Katarina (a woman

from the Cherkass homestead) has a yellow dress.

Aerial Attack

About 2 hours after midnight, Vlack unleashes five of his giant vampire bats against the defenders. If possible, the bats attack any characters and/or non-player characters in the open air (e.g. on the tower battlements or in one of the yards). Otherwise, the bats squeeze in through any windows and fly around inside the building looking for victims. Any character bitten by a bat must make a saving throw vs. Paralysis or fall unconscious.

Just before dawn...

The attackers give up - the defenders have won the day!

 

Night's Dark Terror

Getting started

The adventure begins in Kelven, a riverside town within the Duchy of Karameikos. Here you meet Stephan, who offers work on behalf of his brother Pyotr.

Pyotr owns Sukiskyn, a prosperous homestead in the Dymrak Forest to the east.

Player information about the area is found in the player handouts.

More information about the inhabitants of Sukiskyn.

Pyotr recently caught a small herd of pure white horses, which they hope to sell at Rifflian, to the Callarii elves (the white horse being the symbol of their tribe).

Stephan offers 100gp per character to guard the horses, but is negotiated up to 130gp per character. Stephan then leaves and promises to meet the party in 1 week at Rifflian.

Leaving civilisation behind

At first, the river is flanked by rolling downs on both sides, but a few miles upriver from Kelven the forest closes in on the southern bank.

Suddenly, there is a thud and the boat lurches to a halt, momentarily throwing you off balance!

There is a chain across the river, and the ambush is sprung. The party defeats the ambushers, recovering a Dagger +1, 3gp, and has a captive - a "Hound of the Iron Ring".

Misha's Ferry

By late-afternoon the boat reaches the jetty at Misha's ferry. As the crew help you off with your baggage, Kalanos calls out to Misha, but has no reply.

"Don't worry," he says, "Misha often goes off hunting with that flea-bitten old bear of hers. She'll be back before night and won't mind you making yourselves at home. Good luck!"

Kalanos gives the order "Cast off!", the boat pulls away from the jetty, and continues upriver.

The bear returns soon after your arrival, pines for Misha, but moves on.

The howling of wolves keep you in the cabin for the night, but the next day is fine and sunny.

The party arrives at Sukiskyn shortly after sunset.

Flames at sunset

It is past sunset. A twilight hush has settled over the forest, and there is no movement amongst the shadowy trees on either side of the trail. The world seems at peace, perhaps a little too quiet.

Then the silence is broken. A faint cry drifts on the evening breeze which also brings a whiff of woodsmoke. Ahead, you catch a glimpse 0f flames rising beyond the trees. The sounds grow louder; shouts of men mingle with harsh, guttural warcries and the clash of battle, while all the time the flames grow higher, bathing the forest in a pink glow.

The forest ends on the bank of a fast flowing river spanned by a wooden bridge which leads to the gate of a palisaded homestead. The buildings are mostly intact, but are lit by flames leaping from a barn to the left of the bridge. In a clearing on the far side of the burning barn, you can see the attackers — goblins, or possibly orcs, and from your right, beyond the main part of the homestead, come the cries of frightened horses.

"Look out!" cries a man's voice from the gatehouse across the bridge, and, through the smoke, you see a squad of goblins counted on huge wolves charging wildly along the riverbank towards you. "Quick, before they cut you off!", the voice continues, and the gate starts to swing open. There is not a moment to lose.

As you hurry through the gateway into the smoke-filled yard beyond, spears, hurled by the mounted goblins, thud into the timbers behind you. To your surprise, the gate is held open by a young woman, who quickly shuts and bars it once you are all through.

For a moment you are safe, but the flames from the nearby barn are already starting to spread to the wooden tower above the gate, and beyond the barn, a group of scarlet clad goblins has broken through the palisade and is rushing towards you.

Some fall to missiles fired from the main building, but the rest press on regardless. Unmoved, the woman waits until a man wearing leather armour makes his way down the ladder from the smoke-filled tower. Then the couple make a dash for the main buildings, calling on you to follow.

The long night

Once the party reaches the main building and the door is shut behind them, any surviving Red-blade in the yard fall to the defenders' arrows and slingshots.

There is then a lull in the attack as the goblins withdraw and wait for the barn, the gatehouse and the northern part of the palisade to burn down. During this time, Pyotr hastily greets the adventurers and jokes grimly about the warmth of their welcome.

He then explains their predicament:

• there are two clans of goblins attacking the homestead: the Red-blade (or Gnhasska), and the Wolfskull (or Kloss-lunk), who ride wolves
• there was a third clan, the Vipers (or Jaggadash), but these have run off with the horses from the pens, after killing two of the clan (Novannes and Hakos)
• although the barn, the gatehouse and the northern stretch of palisade are on fire, the main building and stables are intact
• with the party's help, the defenders have a good chance of holding out until dawn, when daylight will force the goblins back into the woods
• with so many goblins hidden in the woods it would be suicidal to leave the homestead before dawn
• this is only one of several goblin attacks on human homesteads in recent weeks.

Next instalment...what happened at the siege...

 

Kragar McCronin

Powerful and determined, Kragar McCronin was a loyal warrior, without fear.

He would have sacrificed himself in defense of his family and friends, and on many occasions, very nearly did.

What became of Kragar?

You know that he was in search of many things, some of which he found.

He found friendship and camaraderie with a group of like-minded adventurers. He found new challenges to overcome, and to thereby grow as a person, and come to know himself.

His journey diverged from yours many years ago, when he was drawn to explore a new path, to better understand who he was.

Kragar's ultimate goal was to find love and acceptance. Rumour has it that he found it. Was it Celeste, the Ierendian girl that he pursued for so long?

It's hard to conceive that he failed in his mission, such was his passion and commitment.

Yet Kragar's fate remains unknown to you.

Perhaps he lives on a remote Ierendian island, now at peace, secure in the love, and the memories, of the companions that he has supported throughout his journey. The sun shines, mostly, and the rain refreshes. The fruit falls easily from the trees. The waves sing a soft chorus to start each new day.

What do you remember of Kragar McCronin? Where do you think he ended up?

Perhaps there is another adventure ahead of you, to discover what became of Kragar McCronin.

BattleSystem - Troop Losses

The problem:

You spend your life in pursuit of that elusive "stronghold plus level" requirement in order to finally make a roll on the followers table.

You spend time getting to know each and every one of your followers.

You get caught up in a war, and some quirky BattleSystem rules wipe out your followers on the basis of a few unlucky d10's.

The solution:

Use some d10 rolls to mitigate those losses, using the infamous, "Killed, body lost" table for PC casualties in a BattleSystem game.

The details:

Failing that armor check, thereby reducing Hits to 0 for a counter in a BattleSystem tabletop does not have to mean that every one of the 10 soldiers it represents is irrevocably deceased.

Meaningful characters in a campaign should never really live or die on a handful of cheap rolls that could go either way. There should be a number of ways to avoid the roll, mitigate the fallout, or post-death options for resurrection or rebirth.

There also should not be such a risk to the special troops that you just don't want to ever use them in battle, or in a war.

The first rule to mitigate would be that, for every troop represented by a counter loss, a roll on the "Killed, body lost" (KBL) table can be made.

1 Killed; body is lost

2-3 Killed; body lies on field

4-7 Badly wounded (1d6 hp left)

8-10 Unwounded, but unconscious for 10 rounds or (in the scenario) game turns

This means that only 10% of your losses are likely to be permanent.

Although 20% are still "killed", there should also be mitigating factors for this.

The second rule will be that having healers on the field will allow them to quickly respond to the fallen, and grant a re-roll for all of those in the KBoF category, with 1 - 3 being that the fallen companion is not revivable with cure spells.

The third rule will be that, rather than having followers "never to be replaced", followers can indeed by recruited. The assumption would be that, so long as the character continues adventuring, their reknown continues to grow, and more followers will be in the wings.

However, to take advantage of this, the campaigning followers, and the PC leader, must return to a stronghold within their dominion. For "normal" followers, they will fill the ranks with the passage of time alone. For special troops, some further time in training, and some commitment in terms of gold may be required to get them battle ready.

New Bard Ability - Upstage the Action

Upstage the Action

(proposed by Owen after a Roll20 impromptu piece of pre-combat roleplaying!)

The Bard can use this ability to attempt to generate a surprise round action for himself and his allies.  In the case where both sides are aware of each other, and there is no surprise round, the Bard can attempt to upstage the action before the first round Initiative is rolled.

The bard must make a quip, taunt, or similar distraction of a theatrical nature.  This is a language based skill, the opponents must be in position to observe and understand the bard's zinger. 

The bard must succeed at a charisma check, or a charisma based NWP check related to this particular performance somehow.

Pratfalls and similar physical stunts may also serve to divert attention, which do not depend upon language, but still require the opponents to have at least some intelligence and imagination.   These checks typically attract a -4 penalty - the bard relies more upon charisma than physical ability.

If this check is successful, note how much the check succeeds by - this is the Surprise Initiative target. The bard has succeeded in distracting his opponents momentarily, allowing himself and his companions the opportunity to gain a surprise round action.  They each make a Surprise Initiative check, trying to roll less than or equal to the Surprise Initiative target.

If this check fails, combat begins whilst the bard is still attempting his diversion.  No surprise round actions are generated, and the bard may not act in the first round.

For example, Davek and his companions encounter a robed, swarthy, middle-aged man standing over an prostrate figure, face down on the floor in a pool of blood.  Pointing a bloodied sword in the direction of the party the man shouts "Get back you fools, or die now - I've had enough meddling," and moves toward them, preparing to attack.

Davek retorts "I can tell ye from years of story-telling experience: only villains ever use the word 'meddling'."  Davek cocks his chin, flourishes a cape which he's not wearing and slips into an aristocratic Glantrian accent. "Rat fink! Have at you!"

Davek makes an Etiquette check (CHA: 0) to see how compelling his performance of 'Glantrian Noble' is.  He has a Charisma of 15 and rolls a 9 on 1d20.  His check succeeds by 6, thus the Surprise Initiative Target is 6.  The distraction has worked, and the party has an opening.

The bard and his allies each roll a Surprise Initiative check.  They must roll under the Surprise Initiative Target on 1d10.  Niollilas rolls a 4 and manages to loose an arrow.  Delanor rolls a 7 and isn't quick enough to act on the opportunity.  Davek himself rolls a 9 and also doesn't gain a surprise round action - he's too wrapped up in his performance.

It is possible for the Surprise Initiative Target to be 10 or greater.  In this case, the bard's performance is so well executed that he and his allies all gain surprise round actions, without the need to roll Surprise Initiative checks.

Surprise round actions are typically limited to one attack or equivalent action, and must be relatively quiet so as not to disrupt the bard's performance.  Spells requiring verbal components cannot be cast.  

This ability will only work against an opponent once. If the opponent has observed the bard attempt to use this ability before they will not be fooled.

The Principalities of Glantri join the war against the Nomads

Prince Jaggar's "Hunt", as it turned out, was far more politically sensitive than he had first led you to believe. Whilst framed as some sort of test of mettle, the reality was that the Glantrian mountains were in turmoil - a conflict arising between goblins, orcs, and dragons.

The orcs had clearly dominated the goblins, and won what was something of a mysterious prize to them - large sized oval rocks, the likes of which they had never seen before. The danger present was that the goblins had managed to steal dragon eggs, and the most recent orcish custodians were therefore at risk from not only a mother dragon, but a whole dragon family.

Prince Jaggar's mission was to stabilise that region of Glantri somehow, and ideally bolster the security of the Glantrian mountain ranges by ensuring its inhabitants remained a threat to whoever might want to cross the border. In particular, Jaggar's susupicions were that the Ethangarians may try to invade at any time.

The orc force was found to have been divided amongst three possible powerbrokers. The challenge soon became how exactly to unite this force under a single leader. This is where Yog came in. Yog the Ogre was once trapped in the Tower of Sighs, put to work as a combatant in a mage training ground. He was liberated by a graduating student as part of his test, and thankfully has a long enough memory to warrant repaying the favour.

Yog the Ogre had indeed been a leader of his tribe before his capture by the Glantrian magocracy. He had the potential to use those leadership skills to fill that power vacuum that was about to degenerate in civil unrest amonst the orc camp in the mountains.

His first mission was to dominate one of the emerging leaders of the orcs. Success here ensured that he had enough backing to challenge the second contender for the orc leadership. Finally, he challenged the last possible orc leader to one-on-one battle, knife specialist vs tetsubo. A close and drawn out battle, Yog emerged the victor, and united the various clans into a single force.

His victory came in the nick of time, as the rampaging sapphire dragon family were already sniffing the air near the orc encampment. Five in total, the dragons presented a force that could easily have destroyed the orc forces now under Yog's command. The sapphire's fear powers struck deep into the orcs, and had them scattered and seeking cover.

Prince Jaggar, however, had something of an ace up his sleeve - but this was no parlour trick he was about to perform.

Jaggar von Drachenfels is known as an excellent battlefield commander, and a mage of great renown. As those sapphires tore through the sky towards the straggling orcs on the ground, Jaggar seemed to step up into mid-air, great golden leathery wings unfurling from his back, and his whole being undergoing a transformation into a monstrous-sized gold dragon.

His new form intercepted that largest of the sapphires in mid-air, wrestling her to the ground with an earth-shaking shudder. Springing up once again, he was able to manoeuvre behind the younger dragons, grabbing one with a powerful hind leg, and whipping the other with his tail.

Still battering them, he turned to face the others, including the mother who was setting up to take flight once more, and they all seemed to stop, and stare at Jaggar's new form. A moment of silence passed, and the sapphire family regrouped peacefully on a rocky outcrop. Jaggar picked through the camp to find the sought-after prizes, retrieved them, and placed them delicately at the feet of the mother sapphire.

Without further airs and graces, Jaggar's dragon form turned away, and returned to your location. Gliding into position, the legs and tail shrunk and curled back into the form of his white military uniform, and finally the wings folded back into nothingness. The dragon face once again become that of Prince Jaggar von Drachenfels.

"I regret that it came to this, and I would ask that you not speak of the details of this turn of events," Jaggar grimly stated.

"We must return to the Council now, and I will grant you my support."

 After a brief farewell to Yog, the party make their return to Glantri City. The Council meeting is set, and you have time for a brief rest and the chance to freshen your clothes.

"I trust everything went well, Prince Jaggar?" questioned Prince Jherek.

"Well enough - our borders are secure for now - and our Darokian friends are worthy of the Council's support," answered Jaggar, "and Jherek - you can let your people know that any border incursions will be met by Glantrian forces with more strength and resilience than ever before. I have seen to that."

Prince Jherek resists the temptation to respond to the obvious bait that Jaggar was throwing, preferring not to dignify the suggestion of disloyalty with a defence.

"Gentlemen - whilst I would prefer to know the disposition of Alfheim before committing, I think you have all the support you need to mobilise the Glantrian armies in support of Darokin, and against the Nomads. I wish them all well - go ahead and give the necessary orders Prince Jaggar," Carlotina responds, seeking to finalise the matter quickly and close out the meeting of the Council.

Your mission is a success.

 

Diplomatic Mission - The Kingdom of Ierendi

The Kingdom of Ierendi

Ierendi is a wealthy nation, and tends to avoid involvement with the political and military affairs of the mainland. Its wealth comes mainly from trade, but also sponsorship of adventuring parties.

 

The customs of Ierendi are to give the titles of King and Queen to the greatest adventurers of the Kingdom. They are however only figureheads, and are without true power. That power is held by certain aristocratic families.

Your initial meeting however would almost certainly be with King Strongheart, and some formal banquet would be arranged as soon as your approach was known through the diplomatic channels.

Diplomatic Mission - The Kingdom of Rockhome

The Kingdom of Rockhome

Rockhome has long been friendly with Darokin, owing to a pass which connects the western lands with the kingdoms of the north.

Upon arrival in Rockhome, an audience with the King can be quickly arranged through diplomatic channels. You are provided with a tour of the capitol, a huge dwarven city sending its way through the caverns beneath the mountain range. There are endless corridors, city blocks filled with bustling dwarves, strange mechanical devices like nothing else in the world, and forges where hundreds of dwarven engineers create truly amazing weapons and armour.

After a formal introduction with the somewhat curmudgeonly fellow, King Everast, during which he constantly interrupts and talks over the top of both you and his own retinue, he gets down to business.

"We don't want to leave our Darokinian friends to the mercy of those Nomad barbarians, but we have problems of our own, let me tell you! It's those pesky frost giants, and they're raiding every caravan that passes through these mountains. At this rate, we'll lose all our business. We've sent war parties against them, but those giants are wiping out anything we've got.

Now, if a party of brave adventurers, armed to the teeth, with the latest intelligence we've got, were to go after them...we'd be very grateful...you understand what I'm saying to you?"

UPDATE - Rockhome joins war against the Nomads

In the loot of the Frost Giants, a note is found and translated:

Alrethus, First Servant of The Master, commands:
"The Master has praised your success in disrupting trade in the north, and thus contributing to the isolation of Darokin. Continue to strike against all those who aid our enemies, and we shall deliver all the dwarves into your hands.
"Above all, watch for those who seek the Crystal Dagger of Cymorrak, or who pos­sess pieces of it. This weapon must, at all costs, be found and sent to us by the most secure way possible. Anyone with knowl­edge of this device must be utterly and irrevocably destroyed. One piece, we know, is in Alfheim, but it is well guarded. One piece is with the halflings, but our agents are at work there. The whereabouts of the third piece is unknown. Find it, and you shall be amply rewarded.
"Alrethus, voice of The Master, has spoken." 

 

Camp of the Frost Giants

Fort Anselbury - Part II

The battle at Fort Anselbury

The Nomads use their movement at the start of their Turn 4 to bring the 2nd HQ, 1st, 5th, 8th and 15th units to an all-out assault of Fort Anselbury. In their last move, the Allied forces managed to relieve Attleson's Axe with their I, IX, and XI Legions, along with the Darokin Allied Unit.

This proved to be sufficient to hold off the attackers for another turn.

The Darokin Allied Unit found themselves dominant from atop the northern walls, along the clifftop. With their extended range and rapid fire, barely any enemy forces made it to the base of the walls, let alone climbing to the top.

The Nomads persistent charges on the southern end of the Fort were harassed on approach by the Allies mounted archers. By employing fire-and-fall-back techniques, the cavalry archers were mostly able to prevent any of the Nomads chargers from contacting their front ranks. When the Nomads tried to regroup, they were already depleted, and their morale was low. The archers extended range and mobility proved devastating.

 

(Previously:

This is shaping up to be a major battle, and I have created a page that outlines a starting point battlesystem roster for both sides.

This can also be resolved through War Machine rules, but if you think Battlesystem is worth trying for this epic, then you should consider these rosters. They could change through the addition of other forces somehow joining, and are likely to be augmented by commanders and heroes.)