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The present situation: you've just escaped from captivity, slaying two goblins. The third stands at the tip of your blade, trembling like a leaf. Nobody else from the caravan is with you. A mystery to solve: who attacked you, and why? Where are you? And how the hell do you get out? It's only a matter of time before someone else comes by. What do you do?  Cast of Characters:  Mouse the Halfling Thief, played by djw175. Alaina the Human Ranger, played by SilentGeek Shadow the Elven Battlemind, played by Ryuujin Ivan the Human Fighter, played by Ergonomix Septimus the Human Paladin, played by Ryoshi Arashikage the Human Ninja, played by NinjaDebuggerand  Rygard the Dwarven Cleric, played by PoistiantHello and welcome to 'Escape from the Underground,' a Dungeon World game of subterranean labyrinths and the weird junk that gets stuck in them. Lot of players new to PbP and Dungeon World, so here's how I see it going: 1) Posting conventions: Put your character name in bold at the top of an in-character post, followed by normal flavor text. For die rolls and out-of-character commentary, throw it in italics. I will post DM junk in bold. 2) Rolling the dice: Roll 'em on Orokos. Normally in DW, you'd declare what you'd do, and I'd follow up by telling you if it triggered a move. This would make PbP a bit slow, so if you're pretty sure a move is applicable, go ahead on your own and I'll learn to live with it. I'll try and make it really clear if an obstacle would need a Defy Danger to circumvent, but otherwise use your own judgement. If you're not sure, ask. If you've got a move that requires the DM to choose from a list of things, please include the options with your roll. 3) First post: You don't need to include your character sheet in your first post; I plan on moving them from the ooc thread to a google docs spreadsheet for easy tracking, with a separate page for tracking HP/XP/Wealth/Conditions etc. However, you need to figure out at least one Bond with a fellow party member; you can fill them in tentatively to start and make them permanent when target of the Bond gives it the nod. Include your first-draft bond in your first post. 4) Some leading questions: In order to truly get this show on the road, we gotta figure some things out. a) Something down here smells a bit out of place. What does this scent remind you of? b) The graffiti on the wall of your cell indicates that the goblins definitely aren't the first people to occupy wherever-this-is. What language is it? What does it say? c) You've heard tales of the vast underground. What's a helpful or interesting fact you picked up? d) Feeling around in the detritus of the prison, you've discovered an amulet or other small token. What's up with that? e) The guards had a wineskin of some actually pretty decent booze. Where did it come from, and what is it worth? So that's only five questions and there are seven of you, but feel free to double-up if you can think of a different answer or a good way to expand on something.
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| # ? Jan 19, 2013 02:50 |
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| # ? May 23, 2013 15:58 |
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Mouse "Hey, big guy," Mouse says to Ivan. "I saw you getting paid by the caravan. I take it you're a guard? Would you keep me safe for 5 gold?" Mouse then heads over to a dead goblin pulls his throwing dagger out of it and starts to search it. He discovers a wineskin and sniffs it. "This is some pretty good stuff. I've definitely stolen worse. I've never seen goblins make stuff this good. Must mean someone else is providing it. Smells like it's from way up north. Worth a good price if I can get it out of here. We could also use it as fuel for a lantern with how much alcohol is in it." Bond: Ivan has my back when things go wrong. Edit:vv Well then, I'll change some stuff. djw175 fucked around with this message at Jan 19, 2013 around 04:09 |
| # ? Jan 19, 2013 03:10 |
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Arashikage Arashikage sniffs the air and mutters, "Smells like explosives somewhere. Or maybe just bat poo poo. Hope it's just bat poo poo." He turns to the rest of the new escapees. "I'm supposed to be helping some sort of rescue or escape, so uh, I guess you guys are it. I hope." Bond: Mouse makes an excellent scapegoat for when things go too wrong, or too right. (I think he was asking for declarations in response to the questions. If I have the wrong idea, I'll modify.)
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| # ? Jan 19, 2013 03:21 |
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Yeah, the questions are a chance for you guys to declare some things about the world.
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| # ? Jan 19, 2013 03:56 |
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Alaina Rolf nuzzles up to Alaina and gives her a whine of inquiry. The Ranger gives him a comforting pat on the head before looking around the room. "No I think you were right the first time," Alaina tells the ninja. "If it were bat guano it'd be all over the walls and ceiling." As she looks around, she spies light reflecting off of something lying among the muck littered on the ground. "Hmm... What's this?" The ranger reaches down and frees a tarnished silver medallion with an etching of a snarling dragon. "Odd. This is the mark of a Royal Bodyguard. A few of them have stayed at the mansion when Daddy was entertaining royal guests. I wonder what it's doing here." While Alaina is studying the medallion, Rolf wanders over to the Elf and chuffs companionably at him while wagging his tail. Alaina looks up and sees the huge dog begging for a petting and smiles at the elf. "That's strange. Rolf doesn't usually take to strangers very easily." Bond: Shadow is a friend of nature, so I will be their friend as well. SilentGeek fucked around with this message at Jan 19, 2013 around 06:42 |
| # ? Jan 19, 2013 03:57 |
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Ivan Ivan taps the flat side of his axe against the trembling goblin's head thoughtfully as he considers the halfling's offer. "Sure, 'though you get what ya pay for." I have Turning his attention back to the goblin, he asks, "Hey buddy, how's about you just point me and all your other new friends the way up outta here."
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| # ? Jan 19, 2013 04:41 |
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Shadow Shadow smiles down upon the huge hound and gives him the pets he so desires. Looking up toward Alaina he speaks. "Many a wild soul has been drawn to me. I guess it is my nature." As he stands from the attention he was giving Rolf he adds, under his breath, "or my upbringing." He looks over and sees Septimus coughing on some dust. Pulling a waterskin free from a secret sleeve within his robes Shadow offers it, "here for your thirst." He then begins to look over the room he finds himself in with more interest. He begins to peer closer at the graffiti upon the walls, they look somewhat familiar to him. After a few moments he murmurs. "Hmm these scrawls look draconic, an immature form. I would say that Kobolds once infested these tunnels. Hopefully the goblins disarmed, or triggered, all the traps already." Bond: I gave Septimus water when he was thirsty.
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| # ? Jan 19, 2013 06:21 |
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Rygard "I have heard terrible stories of these kind of underground labyrinths being used by foul necromancers as a sanctuary from good folk. By Geisli I hope we aren't in one of those, brought here for some unholy ritual." Rygard makes sure his gear is in proper order and readies himself near the exit hall for anyone coming up on us. "Someone should check out the other room for anything useful before we find out what's out here." Bond: I am working on converting Ivan to my faith. He seems to be a capable fighter and Geisli smiles upon all great warriors.
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| # ? Jan 19, 2013 06:38 |
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Septimus Septimus gladly accepts the elf's waterskin and clears his throat with a small swig. "Many thanks, friend." He leans on his halberd like a staff and surveys their surroundings. Explosives? A desperate goblin hostage? Kobold profanity etched in the walls? Possible necromancers? This was shaping up to be a pretty terrible start to his holy mission. He mutters a quick prayer to Dakara under his breath and grits his teeth. He walks over to the large man casually threatening the remaining goblin. "Are you sure this is wise?" he asks the fighter in a half-whisper. "Desperation makes goblins do tricky things on the best of days, let alone in their own hideaways." He hopes Ivan would listen to reason. Besides, the Fourth Mantra of Dakara states, 'it is sin and folly to provide mercy in the midst of danger', and clearly this place was dangerous. Of course, the Second Mantra of Dakara states, 'battle not for gold but for honor, loyalty and the rejuvenation of spirit', so maybe Ivan was just a lost cause overall. Turning to Mouse, Septimus says, "Don't worry - we are all stuck here together, and together we will face what dangers obstruct our escape." Bond:Ivan's misguided behavior endangers their very soul! Accepting mercenary pay in the midst of a crisis is the antithesis of the battle-ethos of Septimus' order. If I screw anything up too badly don't hesitate to shoot me a PM or something! Ryoshi fucked around with this message at Jan 19, 2013 around 16:55 |
| # ? Jan 19, 2013 16:25 |
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 HP and XP reference The terrified goblin points at the southern corridor. "Well, th-that's the exit, b-but the entire bulk of the fort sits between here and the road!" To emphasize the goblin's point, you hear the din of hammers on metal come echoing down the corridor.
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| # ? Jan 19, 2013 19:33 |
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Arashikage "Well, I'm sure the keep won't be THAT much of a problem," Arashikage says as he walks over to squat next to the goblin. "We're not monsters, after all. We can afford a little mercy." He pats the goblin heartily on the back and continues, "You ought to run to your barracks, stuff your head under your pillow, and never let us see you again." Anybody behind the goblin can clearly see a piece of paper stuck to the goblin's back, with a series of runes written on. Explosive Seals (+Dex): 2d6+2 9 I'll take "Goes off when I want it to" and "Hits all the targets I want", those targets being the barracks hopefully full of a bunch of things that need to be dead.
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| # ? Jan 19, 2013 21:42 |
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Ivan Ivan raises an eyebrow at the ninja, but figures he's got some reason. He gives the goblin a shove towards the door, "Uh, yeah, run along now." Taking up place next to the door opposite the dwarf, he looks down the corridor and listens, trying to figure out the deal with those hammers. What's going on outside? Discern Realities: 2d6+1 8 For my 1 question I'll ask: What should I be on the lookout for?
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| # ? Jan 19, 2013 21:57 |
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Alaina With everyone's attention focused on the retreating goblin, Rolf returns to his master's side. She places a hand on his head and scratches him behind the ears. "Oh there's no way this is going to all go horribly wrong." She murmurs to the hound. "Never trust a man who keeps his face hidden." Rolf whines in agreement and Alaina returns to her visual search of the room. Noticing the doorway to the east she motions for the dog to follow her and readies her sword just in case. The ranger and hound poke their heads through the doorway and look around. "Now what have we got here?" She asks the hound. Whats in here? (Discern Realties): 2d6+2 7 What Should I be on the Lookout for?
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| # ? Jan 19, 2013 22:12 |
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Mouse "I vaguely remember hearing something about goblins and forts." Spout Lore: 2d6 7
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| # ? Jan 19, 2013 23:35 |
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Arashikage: The goblin scurries down the hall, turns a corner and is out of sight. Apparently the goblins guarding the prison bed down nearby because it isn't more than a few seconds before you hear the explosion, followed by screams, followed by the rumble of tumbling stone. Ivan: The sound of the hammers is temporarily drowned out by the explosion, but when the rumble fades you can hear the hammers still going, along with a great deal of shouting. Additionally, the precise timings of the hammerblows points to them being driven mechanically. Be on the lookout for goblin gadgets. Alaina: The stonework in here is rougher than the surroundings, and the room is oddly shaped. You can feel a slight breeze coming from the north. Be on the lookout for gaps. Mouse: Groups of goblin bandits are infamous for setting up shop in abandoned fortifications, many of which have been left behind in the wake of the various wars that have raged through the underground. 
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| # ? Jan 19, 2013 23:57 |
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Arashikage Arashikage cocks his head to one side as the explosion goes off. "Oops. Bit too much explosive power. Bit closer than I expected, too." He makes several quick signs with his hands, then blurs for a moment and comes out looking just like the biggest of the now dead guards, then says as he heads out of the jail, "I'll see if I can direct some attention away from here, and you guys can get ready to make a break for it. I suggest avoiding the sound of falling stonework." Transformation Technique (+Dex): 2d6+2 9 And I'm down 1 Ninjutsu.
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| # ? Jan 20, 2013 01:21 |
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Rygard Rygard touches the stone walls and closes his eyes. If the walls aren't actually stone disregard this. Words of the Unspeaking (Stone)+Wis: 2d6+2 10 How many things are moving in the next room? Is there more than one exit to this room? Who does this dungeon belong to?
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| # ? Jan 20, 2013 02:57 |
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Alaiana Alaina places her hand on the rough stone walls of the eastern chamber. "Odd. This stone is different than the stone making up the rest of the walls down here. Perhaps it was added afterwards for some reason." She feels a breeze blowing from the northern wall and smiles. "There's something on the other side of this wall. Want to see what it is?" She asks the hound. Rolf wags his tail in agreement and follows his master back into the main room. "Gentlemen." She calls her companions. She notices the dwarf muttering at a wall with his eyes closed and decides it would be more tactful to ignore it. "There's something hidden behind a wall in here. Anyone think they can get us past it to see what's on the other side?"
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| # ? Jan 20, 2013 03:11 |
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Mouse "If we could get a few of the stones out I could probably squeeze in there. Or maybe there's a secret wall." Discern realities: 2d6: 10. What should I be on the lookout for? What here is useful or valuable to me? What here is not what it appears to be?
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| # ? Jan 20, 2013 03:24 |
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Arashikage is now disguised as a bulky green dude in armor. Rygard: The walls are indeed stone; rough sandstone blocks to be exact. In the immediately adjacent room, there's nobody moving at the moment. There is indeed more than one exit to the room--the other exit is in the eastern closet-thing, and has been blocked. This dungeon belongs to Harrak the Iron Claw, in the sense that he's the leader of the goblins and the goblins control this portion of it. Mouse: You should be on the lookout for collapsing walls--whoever rebuilt this room, it isn't very well made and if you carelessly bust down a wall it might wind up on top of you. There are some tools, presumably left behind by the builders (to call them masons would be an insult to the fine profession of masonry). While this might appear to be a closet or something, it was not originally a room at all--you can see from examining the doorway that it looks like something just bashed a hole in the wall, and then this shoddy room was stuffed in the gap to keep the prisoners from having an escape route right next to the cells. Or maybe to keep outside forces from having a path directly into the heart of the fort; really, who can say.
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| # ? Jan 20, 2013 06:46 |
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Rygard Blinking his eyes he looks towards the closet area and proclaims "I have communed with the stone and it has told me that there is definitely an exit to this room here we just need to unblock it. Also we are apparently prisoners of some goblin named Harrak the Iron Claw surely a name he made up to sound more impressive and we still have some time to act because there is no movement in the next room yet." Looking at the sorry excuse for stonework Rygard believes he can just charge right through but doesn't want to endanger the others, "I can charge right through that wall with my shield here and Geisli will protect me from any harm, whoever made this so called wall did not know what they were doing. Everyone back away unless you guys have a better plan."
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| # ? Jan 20, 2013 15:02 |
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Mouse "I've got nothing better. Just in case, I'll do a bit of scouting in the other room." Mouse hugs the wall going into the next room stopping when he sees someone.
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| # ? Jan 20, 2013 15:15 |
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Alaina Alaina retreats from the closet with her hound and takes up station in the middle of the room. She studies the cleric dubiously for a moment before shrugging her shoulders. "Have at it then sir. Just try not to get crushed in there. I don't think we have time to dig you back out."
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| # ? Jan 20, 2013 16:23 |
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Ivan "I'll watch your back, then, halfling. And watch out for traps, that sound is surely some kind of machinery." Ivan makes sure to keep Mouse in his sights, following him down the hallway at a distance should the halfling get himself in trouble.
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| # ? Jan 20, 2013 17:04 |
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Septimus Septimus walks over to the wall opposite the dwarf and waits patiently. "If you manage to collapse the entirety of this tunnel on us I will be very, very cross with you," he warns. He racks his memories for any tales of Harrok the Iron Claw. As a follower of Dakara, his temple was often abuzz with tales of great battles, so he knew more about the affairs of goblins than most holy men. Spout Lore: 6 Unfortunately, whether it's the blow to the head or because he's far from home, Septimus comes up with nothin'.
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| # ? Jan 20, 2013 17:11 |
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Alaina The ranger sheathes her blade and pulls her bow from its place on her back. She holds an arrow loosely to the string and focuses her attention on the now unguarded southern corridor. From her position she can see a short run of straight corridor before it bends to the right and out of sight. Anyone turning the corner should be directly in her field of fire. "I will keep an eye for any of the little goblins friends coming from this way while you try and clear a path." She tells the cleric and paladin. "They are liable to be very cross with us for blowing up their friends." "Let me know if anyone starts coming down the corridor. Alright?" She asks the hound. Rolf wags his tail and stands at attention facing the southern corridor. His finely tuned sense of smell and hearing should give him warning of anything entering the corridor.
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| # ? Jan 20, 2013 17:35 |
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Arashikage Arashikage strides boldly out into the next room to see what the hell is going on out there.
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| # ? Jan 20, 2013 22:22 |
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Rygard Seeing everyone back away or being otherwise occupied with the other room Rygard braces his shield in front of him and charges towards a particular weak looking point in the pitiful wall and yells "Geisli protect me!" If anything particularly bad happens, like me bouncing off the wall and the entire room collapsing in on me, I plan on using my Divine Intervention move to try and save me.
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| # ? Jan 20, 2013 22:36 |
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Mouse Mouse is checking for traps while he hugs the wall. Trap Expert: 2d6+2: 11. I can hold three. I'll spend one now to ask "Is there a trap here and if so, what activates it?"
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| # ? Jan 21, 2013 00:47 |
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Shadow Shadow glides forward, positioning himself much as Alaina and Rolf. He will help them keep an eye out for any approaching goblins while Mouse searches for traps.
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| # ? Jan 21, 2013 01:27 |
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 Arashikage: Nothing in this room but some benches and a mostly-empty weapons rack. There's a hallway to the east, and the door down there flings open, letting thick black smoke spill out. A pair of goblins stumble into the hallway. One of them looks at you and calls out, "Something's exploded! Prisoners secure?" Rygard: You slam into the wall and the stone bows outwards. With the center of gravity moved, the un-mortared stone succumbs to the P-delta effect and tumbles over. You find yourself in a round passage that's been worn into the raw stone. Down the passage, your dwarven eyes catch sight of a deep pit. Mouse: No traps there. That's a fairly well-travelled part of the fort, and it wouldn't do any good for a drunken guard to get his legged snapped off by an AnkleBiter. Back to Arashikage: The newcomers here the sound of tumbling stone and start to run towards you. "Quick! Check on the prisoners!" 
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| # ? Jan 21, 2013 02:35 |
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Rygard "We're through lets get a move on if the goblins aren't on our heels", peeking his head back into the room. Rygard then starts his way down the new hallway until he gets into the pit's room and starts taking his new surroundings in. Discern Realities +Wis 2d6+2 6: Seems I'm not very observant.
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| # ? Jan 21, 2013 03:10 |
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Arashikage Arashikage shouts down the hall, "The prisoners are secure, what the hell happened?" as he steps into the hall to block the way back to his allies.
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| # ? Jan 21, 2013 03:12 |
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Mouse Mouse applies some sleeping poison to one of his throwing daggers, just in case.
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| # ? Jan 21, 2013 03:19 |
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The skinny goblin outpaces his comrade and reaches Arashikage first. "Some jackass must've got careless with his powder, sent one of the bedrooms up in smoke. Anyway, we need to double-check the prisoners."
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| # ? Jan 21, 2013 03:23 |
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Ivan Hearing the exchange between the disguised ninja and the goblins, Ivan figures he can only keep them talking so long. He readies his axe and shield, prepared to leap into combat.
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| # ? Jan 21, 2013 03:39 |
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Arashikage Arashikage sighs a little and says, "Fine, fine. Let's go check on the prisoners. Again. I checked 'em as soon as it happened, let's see if the-" and then he shanks the goblin as soon as he walks past. Damage: 1d8+1 5 NinjaDebugger fucked around with this message at Jan 21, 2013 around 04:20 |
| # ? Jan 21, 2013 04:03 |
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Naw, just roll damage on that one
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| # ? Jan 21, 2013 04:13 |
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Mouse Mouse flings himself to the next pillar over and while in the open throws his poisoned dagger at the non-shanked goblin. Volley: 2d6+2: 13 I'm assuming both goblins went out into the open. I really couldn't ask for that roll to have gone better. djw175 fucked around with this message at Jan 21, 2013 around 04:27 |
| # ? Jan 21, 2013 04:17 |
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| # ? May 23, 2013 15:58 |
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The bulkier of the two goblins slumps to the floor, taking a nap.
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| # ? Jan 21, 2013 04:22 |
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