Synopsis
The 29th Day of Alturiak in the Year of the Sudden Journey
A spooky mansion, seemingly empty. Two heroes dare to investigate!
Scene Length
This scene started on Saturday 3rd July 2010 and completed on Sunday 11th July 2010.
Round #11
Combat Encounter Completed
Creatures in Play:
02) [17] Tradden - 1d20+2: 17 - HP: 0/26 (Bloodied) 26,22,9,4,10,-7,6,-7,0
04) [15] Zero - 1d20+3: 15 - HP: 5/25 (Bloodied) 25,22,14,6,12,5
05) [14] Guard Dog - 1d20+6: 24 (Dmg: 28) (Bloodied) 0,9,19,28
01) [19] Ruffian #02 - 1d20+7: 19 (Dmg: 30) 0,11,19,24,30
03) [16] Ruffian #01 - 1d20+7: 16 (Dmg: 27) 0,14,18,27
All squares that contain a small triangle in the bottom right hand corner are marked as difficult terrain and cost two squares worth of movement to enter.
Illumination: Darkness, with light provided by torchlight. Visibility shown on map.
This scene was originally written within Google Wave. The scene has been transcribed here for completeness, and has been edited where required.
THe original Wave was first used as a test bed to allow the players to get to grips with the mechanisms of Google Wave, including any usage of maps, as well as getting used to the rules for the game. Goblins and a Guard Drake were used as simple enemies, with no real plot ot storyline surrounding them. However, we quickly decided to use this as a launching pad for the rest of the story and in our minds changed the goblins to bandits and the drake to a guard dog. The transcription here takes quite an artistic licence in re-representing this Wave, using the same actions, but with different enemies.
Note that no real dogs were hurt in the making of this story. Cats, perhaps, but that's their own fault…
The original Wave is now lost with the demise of Google Wave, but the PDF extract of that original scene is provided here.
The two ruffians were obviously up to no good and Zero decided to sneak up behind them to get a better look at what they were up to.
[Move: ?, ?, ?]
[Stealth Check: 1d20+11: 21] - success!
[Zero is hidden from ruffians]
The ruffians seemed oblivious to Zero’s presence, but for the first time he noticed a large guard dog, with sharp teeth set in a salivating jaw. He decided not to take any chances and raised his crossbow to fire at one of the men whilst he had the advantage.
[Ranged Basic Attack - Hand Crossbow]
[Primary Attack vs Ruffian #01: 1d20+5+2: 26] - hits!
[Damage: 1d6+3: 7] and [2d6: 7 sneak damage] and [Bloodied]
The man staggered forward as the bolt slammed into the back of his right shoulder, opening a nasty wound that spurted blood instantly. As he cried out his companion turned to view the commotion and noticed Zero out of the corner of his eye. The dog’s ears pricked up and it began to snarl and bark!
Seemingly without hesitation, as if trained, the second man instantly drew a short but wicked blade and charged across at the exposed rogue with a cry.
[Ruffian #02: Charge - Shortsword]
[Charge: ?, ?, ?]
[Primary Attack: 1d20+5+1: 17 vs Zero’s AC (13)] - hits!
[Damage: 1d6+2: 3]
The blade caught Zero off guard, and sliced across his arm. The rogue let out a cry of pain, ‘Aargh!’
Hearing the dog bark, Tradden decided action was required. He vaulted through the open window acrobatically to assess the situation.
[Acrobatics Check: 1d20+8: 10] - success!
[Move: ?, ?, ?]
He could see some shadowy figures and a vicious looking guard dog. Taking no chances he drew his blades and charged at the thing.
[Charge - Longsword]
[Charge: ?, ?, ?]
[Primary Attack vs Guard Dog: 1d20+6+1: 20] - hits!
[Damage: 1d8+6: 9] and [Marked]
The drake recoiled at the bite of the longsword and swung around to bare its fangs at the young fighter.
The first ruffian looked at the bolt stuck in his shabby armour with panic, swivelling round and hissing at Zero. Drawing his own blade he charged into the fray to join his colleague, aiming a wicked strike at Zero’s chest.
[Ruffian #01: Charge - Shortsword]
[Charge: ?, ?, ?]
[Primary Attack: 1d20+5+1: 22 vs Zero’s AC (13)] - hits!
[Damage: 1d6+2: 8]
The serrated edge cut into Zero, drawing a thin line across his chest.
Zero grimaced and looked panicked. ‘Why didn’t I stay outside the blasted window?’ he thought to himself.
On reflex he dropped his crossbow and drew his shortsword and a thought crosses his mind, targeting the uninjured ruffian.
He stabbed with his shortsword, getting ready to lead and then deftly dodge the counter-attack.
[Confounding Attack]
[Primary Attack vs Ruffian #02: 1d20+6: 15] - hits!
[Damage: 2d6+3: 11]
[Ruffian #02 makes attack against adjacent Zero's creature of choice]
Zero slashed across one of the ruffian’s eyes and drew blood, blurring the man’s vision. With a snarl the ruffian struck out immediately, but only succeeded in striking his companion as the rogue dodged backwards.
[Ruffian #02: Melee Basic Attack - Shortsword]
[Primary Attack: 1d20+5: 21 vs Ruffian #01] - hits!
[Damage: 1d6+2: 4]
The offended ruffian let out a howl of pain.
The guard dog darted forward and snapped at Tradden with a vicious bite.
[Bite]
[Primary Attack: 1d20+6: 13 vs Tradden’s AC (16)] - misses!
Tradden shifted his legs out of the way in a flash and the beast snapped at thin air.
The second ruffian wiped the blood from his eyes and continued the ferocious attack on Zero, swinging his blade with fervour.
[Ruffian #01: Melee Basic Attack - Shortsword]
[Primary Attack: 1d20+5: 25 vs Zero’s AC (13)] - critical hit!
[Damage: 1d6+2: 8] and [Bloodied]
The blade bit deep, and Zero gasped with pain.
Tradden’s triumphant ‘whoop’ of joy at having injured the guard dog was shortlived when he noticed two ruffians ganging up on the interesting looking fellow he had seen enter the building earlier. Deciding that his luckless fellow’s need was the greater (and knowing the consequences) Tradden charged off across the room, the guard dog snapping at his heels.
[Guard Dog: Melee Basic Attack - Bite]
[Opportunity Attack: 1d20+6: 16 vs Tradden’s AC (16)] - hits!
[Damage: 1d10+3: 4]
The guard dog caught Tradden as he sprinted away, but the fighter managed to recover as he headed towards the table, leaping onto it in an athletic fashion.
[Athletics Check: 1d20+8: 23] - success!
[Move: ?, ?, ?]
Towering over the two ruffians, both having their backs to him, Tradden looked to strike both at once with a vicious sweep of his two weapons!
[Dual Strike]
[Primary Attack vs Ruffian #01: 1d20+8+2: 24] - hits!
[Damage: 1d8+2: 9] and [Dead]
[Secondary Attack vs Ruffian #02: 1d20+9: 15] - misses!
[Marked]
As the longsword crashed down onto the ruffian he collapsed in a heap at Zero’s feet and Tradden followed through on the second man with his shortsword. The blade fell short, however.
Having felled one ruffian, but failed to dispatch the other, Tradden looked for any advantage in the area. Stereotypically his eyes looked up - what chance was there of a chandelier being in the room to swing onto?
Zero nodded his thanks to the newly-entered swordsman and looked at his bloody arm.
‘This isn’t good,’ he murmured.
Gritting his teeth, he fought to compose himself.
After tasting blood from Tradden’s legs, the guard dog quickly moved to follow him, eager to sink its canines into flesh once more.
[Guard Dog: Charge - Bite]
[Charge: ?, ?, ?]
[Primary Attack: 1d20+6+1: 27 vs Tradden’s AC (16)] - critical hit!
[Damage: 1d10+3: 13] and [Bloodied]
[Tradden needs to make a successful check to avoid falling from the table]
Teeth struck home and tore into Tradden’s legs, causing him to stumble.
Fighting back the tears and with a yelp of pain, Tradden instinctively tried to do what he does best and twisted his body so as to try and mitigate the effect of the dog’s vicious animal attack.
[Tradden Athletics Check: 1d20+8: 10] - success!
Fortunately, Tradden managed to keep his balance on the table.
With the guard dog coming to his aid, the remaining ruffian he turned towards the toppling Tradden on the table and aimed a vicious swipe at his already bloody legs.
[Ruffian #02: Melee Basic Attack - Shortsword]
[Primary Attack: 1d20+5: 21 vs Tradden’s AC (16)] - hits!
[Damage: 1d6+2: 5]
His shortsword caught Tradden with a wicked blow.
The ferocity of the attacks against him shocked Tradden and sparked something within him. He felt a second wind coming on.
[Second Wind]
[Tradden spends a Healing Surge and regains 6 hit points]
[Action Point]
[Tradden gains a Standard Action]
Empowered by the sudden rush of blood to the head, Tradden snarled a combat challenge to the guard dog salivating in front of him. ‘Have at thee, cur!’. He then exploded into a frenzy of blades!
[Tempest Dance]
[Primary Attack vs Guard Dog: 1d20+7: 15] - hits!
[Damage: 1d8+6: 10] and [Marked]
[Shift: ?]
[Secondary Attack vs Ruffian #02: 1d20+7: 22] - hits!
As part of the same motion, Tradden, twisting and jumping off the table, thrust the blade into the dog and then caught the ruffian with another blow on his way down.
The ruffian shrieked as Tradden opened up a large cut above his eye.
Zero used the opening to slice at the ugly man before him.
[Melee Basic Attack - Shortsword]
[Primary Attack vs Ruffian #02: 1d20+4: 8] - misses!
The ruffian managed to duck out of the way.
The guard dog continued to salivate and snapped out at Tradden.
[Guard Dog: Melee Basic Attack - Bite]
[Primary Attack: 1d20+6: 24 vs Tradden’s AC (16+2)] - hits!
[Damage: 1d10+3+6: 17] and [Knocked Prone] and [Dying]
The dog sealed its jaws around Tradden’s swordarm and thrashed until the warrior’s blade fell. Tradden fell limply to the floor and the dog howled with glee!
With the fall of the tall warrior, the ruffian turned his attention back to Zero, smirking and twirling his blade. Victory would be his. With a hiss he thrust forwards.
[Ruffian #02: Melee Basic Attack - Shortsword]
[Primary Attack: 1d20+5: 12 vs Zero’s AC (13)] - misses!
The ruffian’s blade missed as Zero dodges to the left.
Tradden lay motionless in a growing pool of blood.
[Saving Throw vs Death: 1d20+1: 19] - success!
For now the young figher kept breathing.
Zero saw the gutsy swordsman fall.
‘Uh, oh,’ he muttered.
He lashed out at the remaining ruffian again.
[Melee Basic Attack - Shortsword]
[Primary Attack vs Ruffian #02: 1d20+4: 11] - misses!
The strike was rushed and wide, though, as the ruffian easily sidestepped the thrust.
The dog turned its attention to the rogue now that Tradden had fallen, baring its teeth and snapping out at his legs.
[Guard Dog: Melee Basic Attack - Bite]
[Primary Attack: 1d20+6: 9 vs Zero’s AC (13)] - misses!
With swift footwork the rogue pulled his legs out of the way.
The ruffian hissed out at the dog to fall back and then eyed Zero, throwing his blade from hand to hand. He rang out a challenge, ‘No, Shadow, this one's mine, all mine.’
[Ruffian #02: Melee Basic Attack - Shortsword]
[Primary Attack: 1d20+5: 19 vs Zero’s AC (13)] - hits!
[Damage: 1d6+2: 7]
The blade stung across Zero’s chest and the ruffian bared a toothy grin.
The blood kept on trickling from Tradden’s wounds.
[Saving Throw vs Death: 1d20+1: 12] - success!
His chest continued to rise and fall.
Zero smiled confidently.
‘Oh, thank the gods for that,’ he muttered under his breath as the dog backed away.
Once again, he swung his shortsword, hoping to pierce his tenacious enemy’s leathery armour.
[Melee Basic Attack - Shortsword]
[Primary Attack vs Ruffian #02: 1d20+4: 16] - hits!
[Damage: 1d6+1: 5]
The ruffian gasped and tried to catch his breath as Zero sliced across his throat.
The dog obeyed its master, even after Zero had struck out at him. It dropped into a crouch ready to assist at a call.
The ruffian backed away from Zero slowly, trying to motion with his arm towards the dog and to Zero, but no words come forth, blood frothing at his lips.
[Move: ?, ?, ?]
As he backed away, Zero took the opportunity to lash out.
[Zero: Melee Basic Attack - Shortsword]
[Opportunity Attack vs Ruffian #02: 1d20+4: 13] - misses!
‘Ha, ha!’ shouted the rogue, but the ruffian retreated faster than Zero could swing his blade and moved away to relative safety.
Tradden had looked better. He lay on the floor, no signs to actually indicate that he is even still alive bar a virtually imperceivable rise and fall of his chest. Blood continued to ooze at an unnerving rate.
[Saving Throw vs Death: 1d20+1: 21] - critical success!
[Tradden spends a Healing Surge and regains 6 hit points] and [No longer Dying]
With a cough and a splutter, Tradden opened his eyes. He was alive!
Zero pursued the fleeing ruffian, unusually manic.
‘Oh no you don’t, you little bastard!’
He swung his sword with a wild cleave.
[Charge - Shortsword]
[Charge: ?, ?, ?]
[Primary Attack vs Ruffian #02: 1d20+4+1: 18] - critical hit!
[Damage: 1d6+1: 6] and [Dead]
The ruffian went down under Zero’s wild cut.
The guard dog, growling at its master’s demise and no longer under any orders, lunged at the prone Tradden with gleaming intent in its eyes.
[Guard Dog: Melee Basic Attack - Bite]
[Primary Attack: 1d20+6+2: 28 vs Tradden’s AC (16)] - hits!
[Damage: 1d10+3: 13] and [Knocked Prone] and [Dying]
The drake put an end to Tradden before the fighter even had time to stand, and span around to eye Zero with fire in its eyes.
Tradden opened his eyes only to find the dog snapping towards him. The lights went out again.
[Saving Throw vs Death: 1d20+1: 11] - success!
Zero looked at the guard dog and whimpered.
‘Nice doggy.’
With a quivering arm he dropped his sword and grabbed his crossbow from the floor. Raising it, he aimed at the vicious canine and pulled the trigger.
[Ranged Basic Attack - Hand Crossbow]
[Primary Attack vs Guard Dog: 1d20+5: 25] - critical hit!
[Damage: 1d6+3: 9] and [Bloodied]
The bolt took flight and slammed into the dog’s side opening a large wound.
In the confusion the rogue slipped out of the door as quietly as he could.
[Move: ?, ?, ?]
[Stealth Check: 1d20+11: 22] - success!
[Zero is hidden from guard dog]
The dog growled as it recovered from the bolt’s strike and then looked around for Zero, sniffing the air, narrowing its eyes.
The guard dog continued to sniff the air, looking around for the rogue. It moved slowly across to the south of the building where Zero last stood.
[Move: ?, ?, ?]
It sniffed once more in the air.
[Perception Check: 1d20+7: 20] - failure!
But didn't seem to pick up the rogue's trail.
Somewhere deep inside his blurred thought process Tradden knew he needed to do something, otherwise he was going to be dog food.
[Saving Throw vs Death: 1d20+1: 5] - failure!
[Tradden has failed 1 death saving throw]
However, Tradden’s wounds are many. The last attack from the dog having really taken its toll. Tradden was suddenly in a wonderful place, full of dancing, singing and brilliant white lights, all a bit hazy around the edges…
Zero crept around the rear of the house, ducking low beneath the windows. He picked up a rock along the way.
[Move: ?, ?, ?]
[Stealth Check: 1d20+11: 27] - success!
[Zero is hidden from guard dog]
The dog continued to sniff the air.
[Perception Check: 1d20+7: 25] - failure!
It settled at its spot near the door, eyeing it cautiously.
The young fighter continued to spill his blood onto the floor.
[Saving Throw vs Death: 1d20+1: 11] - success!
Zero peeked through the window and saw the dog guarding the door. He weighed the rock in his hand and, praying, lobbed it to a spot about thirty feet outside the door.
Watching through the window, Zero saw the dog snap round at the sound of the rock cracking on the earth outside the door.
[Insight Check: 1d20-2: 8] - failure!
Thinking the noise was the rogue, the dog Slowly and carefully the padded towards the door and stepped over the threshold.
[Move: ?, ?, ?]
Tradden continued to bleed.
[Saving Throw vs Death: 1d20+1: 5] - failure!
[Tradden has failed 2 death saving throws]
Blood trickled freely from his mouth and breaths now came in ragged spurts.
Zero, as quietly as possible, snuck back in through the window of the house.
[Move: ?, ?, ?]
[Stealth Check: 1d20+11: 27] - success!
[Zero is hidden from guard dog]
His sense told him to get to the door, shut it, lock out the vicious dog. But the swordsman was deathly pale now, his chest rising almost imperceptibly. Cursing his conscience, Zero knelt beside the fallen fighter and attempted to stabilise him.
‘Erm…’ Zero appraised the man’s wounds and did his best to stop the bleeding.
[Heal Check: 1d20+1: 5] - failure!
The rogue wasn’t sure what he should do, though!
The dog continued to sniff for the rogue outside of the front door.
[Perception Check: 1d20+7: 13] - failure!
The dog looked around outside, oblivious to the actions inside.
Despite the rogue's efforts, Tradden was slipping away.
[Saving Throw vs Death: 1d20+1: 11] - success!
His breathing was almost stopped.
Blood squirted over Zero’s hands. He started to panic and tried desperately to keep the man alive.
[Heal Check: 1d20+1: 15] - success!
[Tradden is stabilised] and [No longer Dying]
With a sigh of relief Zero thought he managed to get the bleeding under control. The young fighter's breaths appeared to be more regular, too. It would take time for him to come round, but at least he would live.
For now, however, he needed to get rid of that dog!
He padded over to the door, shut it, and turned the convenient key to lock it outside. Hopefully, it would eventually give up and wander off.
He also closed the windows and then slumped down in a corner of the room to tend to his own wounds and to catch his breath.
[...Combat Encounter Completed...]
Healing Surges
Characters are fully healed and Healing Surges replenished.
[Tradden spends 0 healing surges (9 left) to get to 26/26 hit points]
[Zero spends 0 healing surges (7 left) to get to 25/25 hit points]
Powers
All encounter powers are recharged.
All daily powers are recharged.
All item powers are recharged.
Milestones
Milestones Reset
[Tradden has 1 Action Point remaining]
[Zero has 1 Action Point remaining]
Experience
Experience awarded.
[Tradden gains ? xp to reach ? xp]
[Zero gains ? xp to reach ? xp]
Levelling
No characters ready to level up.
[...continued in Book #01, Prelude, Scene #02...]