Continuing south, they find a goblin wizard under attack by four ogres.

from a photo by Sidney Pearce on Unsplash

They now need to hit 350 total points to find the pyramid after having to lose half a day to go around the termites last time...

  • 38 - Goblin Wizard (friendly!)
  • 104 - 1d4 Ogres (not friendly!)

I like it. 1d4 ogres (aka, 4) have captures a goblin wizard who is not altogether bad chap.

He won't be able to help so his stats are "meaningless" but ogres are a classic. 8/10 creatures with two attacks each. They use big clubs, wear light armor, and get +1 to their damage rolls.

Barston is never the kind to not try to rescue people and Ikbar (name just poofed into being) can be a long remnant from the goblin civilization that used to war against humans. We'll say he helps the team out but we'll keep him very NPC, assuming they save him.

The next night, they know they must be getting close but Barston fears the detour around the termites has left them a bit lost. When Nadya and Faruin return from their hunting trip, his fears deepen. The pair are deeply worried about something.

"Four big have a small!," Faruin says in broken Phillian.

"What do you..."

"Ogres, Barston. They have trapped a goblin. Look to be preparing to cook him."

Barston talks about it when Nadya. It's not unheard of for goblin mages to try and boss around big creatures like ogres. Possibly a wage dispute gone wrong. But Nadya is adamant that she got the feeling the little goblin is much the victim, here.

He and Nadya track back. The others staying far enough behind to avoid attracting attention, but close to hand if help is needed.

More sneaking. Ogres are not the brightest and they are looking forward to food, but there are four of them. What'll I'll do is give them +6 (14 total) for the four -4 for the distraction (12 total) and...well, let's see...

Can these ogres see in the dark despite the cooking fire? (50/50) → 01. Hell. Yes. It's going to be a tough roll then. We'll give them back +2 because they can see in the dark better than Barston. Nadya has night vision, though, so rolls at +2, essentially.

This means that the total to beat will be 14 + 2d6 = 14+6 = 20.

Nadya has a total of 9 but she'll need an 11 to hit it. She does not.

Rolling for Barston he also doesn't hit, but it doesn't really matter (he got a 16 total).

Are these ogres smart enough to put out their own campfire? (Very Unlikely) → 76. No. They just assume everyone has night vision like they do...

Barston sets up behind a tree and listens into the talk. He does not speak whatever language the ogre and the goblin do, but he gets the gist. The goblin is whining and the ogres are taunting. Goblin is in a strange set of robes decorated with feathers and skins. Barston is unsure what this might mean, but notes the poor goblin seems fairly elderly.

A large fire with an equally large pot on it shows that Nadya was right that dinner seems to be the goal.

As Barston is thinking of ways to sneak in and help, he notes that one of the ogres looks right at him! The creature starts saying something and pointing with a large club and one of the others begins walking their way.

"Now! We've been spotted!"

Barston waits for only a few moments before Derron comes flying past and Faruin is at his side.

Chongly is slower than the others but he can hear the rhinoman beating through the brush towards them.

First round, it will be two versus four. Next round, two more ogres and Chongly will join in.

Wait, I say the other two will join in, but...

  • ROUND ONE
    • Faruin uses Galana's gift to call upon the plants to rise up around the campfire. For now, we'll say the two ogres nearest the fire have to hit a total of 15 to break free, only she can also amp it up with her with Holy Talent. So, total of 19. Each turn it reduces by 3.
    • Derron has Lightning Strike, so he won't take any damage. D vs OA(2) = 12+9 vs 8+2(unused attack)+4. 21 beats 14 by enough to score a Powerful Blow. Derron does 3+1 (3 stamina x2 = 6s) damage. Ogre's light armor blocks 4 (1s). 5 get through out 8.
    • Nadya is going to go after the other one. They both get 2 attacks so I'll just roll one for each. She tends to dodge and entangle the enemy so she'll get +1 dodge and -1 damage on top of her normal +1 dodge and -1 damage. She gets (Skill) 8 + (Martial Arts) 2 + (2d6) 6 = 16. Ogre gets 8+8 = 16. A tie.
    • Barston is going to try and dash around the campire to get the goblin mage out. Let's do a running to see if he can clear that space in one round. He has a Skill of 7 and running of 0. Ooo, rolls an 11. 18 is enough for him to get to the cage.
    • Chongly arrives on scene.
    • Ogre C's attempt to get out = 8+5. No.
    • Ogre D's attempt to get out = 8+4. No.
    • Entangle drops from 19 to 16.
  • ROUND TWO
    • Derron vs Ogre A: 12+5 = 17 vs FUMBLE. Ogre A fumbles with a 6. He drops his club. 17 vs 10 = another Powerful Blow. Derron gets 5+1 (4*2s) vs 0 on the armor roll. Ogre A is killed.
    • Chongly vs Ogre A: 9+9 [18] vs 8+4 [12]. Won't roll damage because Derron's already killed it (well, it's synced rounds, but you know).
    • Nadya vs Ogre B: 10+3 [13] vs 5+8 [13]. Another tie.
    • Faruin vs Ogre B: 8+9 [17] vs another FUMBLE. These night-seeing ogres are definitely clumsy. He gets an 11 = hits himself. 17 vs 10 is a powerful blow. Faruin gets 3 (3s*2) vs light armor of 4 (-1s) = 5 stamina lost. But in hitting himself with his club, he does 1+1 (2s) - 1(0) for another 2 stamina. Only 1 stam remains.
    • Hmm, how is the goblin imprisoned? Cage? (50/50) → 28. Yes. Barston has no lockpick ability, so it's going to be a club bash. 11+10 = 21. A strong blow. He has freed Ikbar.
    • Ogre C attempts escape: 8+6 = 14. No.
    • Ogre D = 8+9 = 17. Yes. Next turn he'll attack Barston.
  • ROUND THREE
  • Now D,C,F,N vs Ogre B (+2 each because Nadya is eating up both double attacks): D = 8+12 [20]. C = 9+9[18]. F = 9+9[18]. N = 7+2 (extra attack)+10[19]. OB = 8+8[16] vs N and 8+CRITICAL vs Faruin. Critical = 6, Double damage. ouchies. Ok. Derron does 2 stam - 0 = 2 damage. C does 3-1 = 2. Nadya does 6-2 = 3 stam - 1. Another 2. Ogre B is very dead by this point but still gets his damage versus F which is... 4+1 [3 stam *2] vs Faruin's armor of 4 [3 blocked, total] = 3 stamina. She takes a heavy hit but her armor and shield absorb half of it.
  • Barston vs OD: 7+11 [18] vs 7+8[15]. I'm not giving ogre bonus for his unused attack because Barston has Combat Reflexes. Barston does 4+1 (3 stamina) vs 4 (1 armor) for 2 hits. 8 remain.
  • Ogre C vs entanglement (13) = 9+8. Free. Now... vs Barston (very likely) → 86. No. Does it flee? (50/50) → 87. No. This means it runs at the crowd. Ok.
  • ROUND FOUR
    • B vs OD: 7+11 [18] vs 10+8 [18]. Stalemate.
    • All the crew vs OC. D: 10+12 [22]. C: 10+9 [19]. F: 7+9 [16]. N: 10+2+10[22]. OC-1 (vs N): FUMBLE. Fumble = 11. Once again hits himself. OC-2 (vs Chongly): 6+8 [14]. That's a lot of hits on the poor guy. Fact is, 22 vs 10 = Doubly powerful blow. Nadya [and Derron] both inflict critical damage on him and he's dead.
    • One round before they can help Barston.
    • Does OD try to flee? (Likely) → 59. Yes.

    As the third ogre falls, the fourth one (still fighting Barston), finally finishes the mental math and turns to run. The little, elderly goblin kicks the air after the fleeing ogre but Barston simply stops to hook his mace to his belt.

    The others show up and act like they might join in the chase but Barston stops them.

    "Nee, let him be. Their slaughter has stopped, let's not start up another."

    Turning to the goblin, Barston asks, "So, what's your story little one?"

    Does Ikbar speak Phillian? (Unlikely) → 36. No...but like just barely a no. Does he speak Yeulse, then? (50/50) → 63. No. Less so.

    The creature babbles for several minutes, with big hand gestures and lots of facial expressions, but they barely make any sense of them.

    At a whim, Barston draws a rough pyramid shape with a few waving lines...

    Art check. Skill of 7 + Art of 1 + 2d6 = 8+8 = 16. It's a clear drawing.

    Does Ikbar know of the golden pyramid? (Likely only because of narrative beats) → 27. Yes.

    ...and the goblin stares at it for a moment, then lights up and starts talking even louder and more excitedly.

    "I think he knows where it is."

    "Can we trust them?"

    "Can you trust me?"

    Nadya has no come back to this and rummages around the ogre camp looking for treasure...

    I'll just simplify it to 2d6 gold = 10gc.

    ...and comes up with some coins. They sit around the ogre's campfire and make do with some provisions, Barston sharing some with the new goblin friend.