The Cast::  Reign (Human fighter), Shank (Dwarf Fighter), three Orcs, and 1 Troll

The Setting::  On the trail, travelling between Kingdoms.
Time::  Dusk
 
 

The Story as it happens                                         Helpful descriptions/explanations

You are travelling along, enjoying the scenery...  (roll Horsemanship) 3 78 Shank, your horse is being a pain... Reign, you notice the horses are acting nervous, a bit spooked... I look around at the surroundings (detecting Ambush) Roll... 63  Shoot! . < Because something interesting is about to happen, and they could get information from the animals if they understand the body language. You don't notice anything suspicious.  8P I thump my horse on the neck and tell it to stop being a pain... lol... ok. lol . < He failed his skill roll, so he doesn't see anything.. You both catch a whiff of Orc stink, but not in time to warn you of the sneak attack! Doh! . < Orcs stink like nothing else... Shank, An Orc ploughs into your left side (roll horsmanship) woohooo! 23 Ok, you keep your seat in the saddle but are knocked off balance. Reign, you see this and also note a Troll lumbering into the road in front of you . < To see if the impact of the Orc knocks him off... I grab my crossbow from where it hangs from my saddle and fire it at the Troll 12, +2 bonus for attack  =14 Ok, you hit it... damage? . < Keep 'em honest, they probably won't always have access to all their weapons 2 Your bolt hits it in the chest and wedges itself into his leather armor.  He bellows at you. Well, since I'm already off balance, I'll jump off to fight on foot and go for the Orc that hit me. K . < Use colors in text, it makes keeping up with who said what easier. I pull my axe from my backsling and smack my horse on the butt. K, your horse jumps into the brush off the road.  The Orc is waiting for you and charges with his Short Sword poised to skewer you. eep! lol roll to block 16!  yeah!  +3 Defend bonus  =19! Niiice...  you parry his charge and his momentum carries him past you . < To get the horse out of danger I spin and kick him in the butt to help him along his way... . < Creative... lol...ROLL IT! DOH!  mmm...k 9 +2  =11 Ok, he can't defend, so you hit him.  Damage? 3 K.  He bowls into the brush at the side of the road. yay!  Did he drop his sword? nope Reign?  whatcha doin'? Darn... I hang my crossbow back on the saddle and unstrap my Lance.  I seat it under my armpit and charge the Troll on horseback. . < just for fun.  =) Roll horsemanship  What?  DOH!  mmm... 24   *whew*  glad I didn't blow that one!  lol . < because he's going to try to guide his horse at a target lol k, now roll to strike lol 4...What!?  a 4??  shoot... hope he doesn't move...  =P . < he made it, but now, does he hit the target? Ohh, c'mon, you know better than that! lol  He does... and yes, you miss. shoot.. . < NOPE!  lol You're just lucky you didn't roll a 3 or less(critical miss), your lance would have passed on the left as you passed on the right, and you would have been spun in your saddle and knocked off your horse!! But, since it wasn't, you simply charge past him... *whew* I drop my lance and jump off.  Drawing my sword, I charge him from behind. . < Critical misses are so disasterously executed that they typically backfire somehow. You may be attacking from behind, but he did notice you passing by, so it's not a sneak attack.  8P lol . < No defense against a sneak attack lmao Shank, you see your "friend" getting up from the shrubs... lol  He ain't my friend! but you notice he looks alittle different... how'd he change his armor so fast? wha?? Then another Orc pops up beside him... this one you recognize! 2?? Yeps! . < < < < < < All a creative story way of telling him that there's 2 Oh no! The new orc raises a crossbow and fires at you.  15 to strike 6 +3 bonus   =9  to dodge it... drat! You take a bolt to the chest... . < Since they surprised the Dwarf, they get the first move.  This could be a time for initiative rolls, but I decided not to Glad I'm wearing chainmaile! You take 8 pts to your maile... and the bolt bounces off, falling to the ground mmm...I charge the orcs Brave Dwarf... or stupid...  we'll see!  lol oops!  bad idea?  oh well...  8@-GAAAAARRRR!!!! lol lol Reign, you are charging... yes, I am... with your sword... right? mmm hmmm....  ;) He's carrying a club that's as long as you are tall...  He raises it above his head to smash you flat.  You can continue your chage or prepare to dodge... mmm, I'll take my chances and charge him...  What's he wearing? Leather vest armor and rags covering his lower... areas and fur wrapped boots... . < Chainmaile is effective against puncture l'm going to try to kneecap him... ow...  lol lol lol . < Calling your shots is a good way to quickly whittle down an enemy without having to necessarily kill him roll for initiative (1D20), see who gets the shot in first... 12 K, he rolled a 6 you got to him first, roll to strike 16 +2  =18 nice one...  Damage? Yeah baby!  10!! OUCH!  lol . < In this situation, where they are both attacking, they roll intiative to see who hits first.  Defender gets no chance to dodge because he too is attacking. Ok... you kneecap him.  As your blade cuts into his right knee, you feel only slight resistance from his knee cartilage as you shred clear through his leg! WooHooo!! SahhWeeeeet!  lol The troll falls flat on his face, screaming like a little...well, BIG baby. lmao . < May be gross, but it keeps the game "real"  Be descriptive  =) Shank as you charge the pair, you feel a sting in the back of your right leg that drops you to your knees... Crap!  Another one from behind!?! You guessed it.  You look at your leg to see a crossbow bolt poking out of your thigh through your leather pantleg (6 pts damage to your health) Shoot...    "HELLLP!!!" I run past the Troll back to help Shank. . < Try to jump back and forth between attacks/counter attacks K... how kind of you...  ;) lol Shank, you see Reign running to you with his sword drawn.  And following your gaze, the Orcs do too. Thanks Shank  >:P What??  They probably would have seen ya anyway!  8P . < banter keeps it fun,  but it is "out of game" conversation < Ok, Shank, you see a puff of dirt inches from you in the road and see another bolt stuck in the ground (angle=shot from behind you) I reach down and grab the one in my leg an rip it out OW!  ok... take another 1 pt damage for the "non-surgical" procedure... lol lol.  I stand and go for the jerk who shot me! . < Orc failed his roll to strike- or maybe gOD just wanted to shake up the Dwarf, but not injure him further, gOD's call really, they can't see your dice! You charge him with barely a limp because of your rage (though, later it'll hurt like a son of a gun...)  He looks a bit surprised...  you... I raise my double axe above my head and aim to split his skull... Roll it... 6 +2 =8 k, you beat his defend roll, roll damage... Yesss!!  10 . < Try to remember injuries and incorporate their side-effects.  Players often forget they have arrows sticking out of them, or that they are bleeding and injured ;P Ouch!  He was only wearing a leather skullcap, so you sliced through that like it wasn't there and continued on through his head, cleaving it in two.  kool The left half of his head rolls off his shoulder and the momentum of your axe carries on through his collarbone.  He drops like a stone with your axe lodged in his body.  You hear a horrifying scream from behind you... Reign? . < Once again, a bit graphic, but hey... war ain't pretty and it gives the players a vivid  memorable image to see in their heads < no, he hasn't reached you all yet. Uhoh... The Orcs... Yes, the Orcs..  As you reflexively turn your head to locate the source of the noise, you see both orcs jump from cover and charge at your back I dislodge my axe from the dead orc and turn to face them . < Consider the time it takes to cross a distance, Reign can't just instantly be there to help... I take my throwing axe from my belt tie and hurl it at the closest orc Good call Reign.  Roll it Shoot... only a 5 . < And it causes the players to think creatively Good enough, it was a sneak attack, he never saw it coming... yeah!! roll damage . < Remember sneak attacks -No defense Shank, you see the right one drop as a flying axe sticks into his ribcage. ohhh... that had to hurt...  lol 5 pts k The orc on the left continues in his screaming charge...  18 to strike you Shank oh crap!  12 to dodge!  noooooooooo... yeeeeeeeeeeeess...  lol lol lol You feel like you are getting kicked by a horse as his blade strikes your chainmaile just below your ribs... 10 pts . < What would YOU do if a throwing axe just thumped into your side? OW!!  10?  to my maile? no, 8 to your maile for the blade, but 2 to yourself for the blow luckily, the blade didn't penetrate... or you'd be in a world of hurt... No kiddin' gut stabbed... ugh. Ok.  you are knocked back by the blow and double over from getting the wind knocked out of you... Am I close yet? yeah, you're here... I blaze past the one I hit and body slam the one on Shank Once again... he didn't see it coming, anything over 3 hits him... 7 Good 'nuff!  You plow into his side taking him down...  . < The metal chainmaile will stop a blade (as long as damage isn't more than half the current points of the maile), but the maile won't absorb the shock like plate armor would.  Shank also wears leather armor under his Maile to help absorb the shock, so only 2 of 10 hurt him directly. ^  How I figured this damage let's say punch/kick damage doubled for damage points... kol.. 10! He yelps as he goes down...  But the other is getting back up.  Shank, you have you breath back. . < If it's not specified in the rules, make it up!  lol Can I throw my axe? R U kidding?  that's a huge double bladed axe...  ahhhhhhhh... no! lol.. awwww  ok...  I'll charge him then  "Thanks Reign!  You take this one, I've got the other!" Ok Reign, you go, Shank is running...slowly  lol . < Nice try Shank!  but be realistic, try to picture this...  lol Hey!  No knocking my slow running speed!  Oh yeah, well, actually I was thinking because of your condition... bloody hole in one leg, and just catching your breath... Oh  8o...  Ok  lol I'm going to stake him to the trail with my sword... ow... nice visual   blech!  ;) . < Dwarves are typically kinda slow runners -short legs  ;P LOL!! Ok Mr. "Half his head rolls of and your axe sticks into his shoulder"... LMAO...  yeah yeah... . < Razz each other, it's fun.  Don't take this game too seriously. Ok, as you raise your sword above your head (reverse grip, blade pointing down) you see the orc crying cradling his dislocated arm... in very broken Humago, he pleads for mercy... "NOOooo  Human!!!  Want... LIVE!!!!" --Ohhh, crap, these things talk? --lol... yeah, they're sentient too... So, I assume you hesitate to consider this? Yeah... I hold.  "Why should I spare your life vermin!!??" Me know!  HIM!  He send us! . < This guy could be used to move the game along faster by offering valuable info...  Wasn't in the original plan, but I liked it.  =) If they spare a character, use it. --He knows Shank? --No... he wasn't pointing at Shank, doesn't seem to be indicating him... but rather someone who's not there... --like someone sent them to get us? --Eddzaktarly!! --Ohhhhhh   Ok. . < I use the -- to indicate "out of game" questions. The player didn't understand what I meant, so I cleared it up with him. "You'll tell me who sent you after us?" "YES!!!" "Why should I trust you??" He looks up at you, his hideous features only barely concealing the helpless look on his face. "Want LIVE!!!" . < Use dialogue, let the characters interact using chit-chat rather than just telling them what's going on. --Uhhh, should I not attack the other guy? --No, you don't hear this, you're charging...  let's take care of that, you've had time to reach him by now... k ok The second Orc is only just getting to a kneel as your charge brings you within range of him. I stop in a threatening pose . < Shank had already begun his attack on the other Orc before all this happened, so he has to keep playing like his character doesn't know Reign is considering sparing this guy... --Remember, you don't know what's going on back there, you can't let that influence your actions... . < Keep them honest Ohh, ok.  then in that case,  I charge and raise my axe over my head and make to take his head off... He raises his guard -roll to strike... . <This is what he was planning to do before Reign stopped to talk ohhhh... natural 20 +2 bonus to strike... Ohhh, this doesn't look good for the Orc  8X 6 Ok, was that doubled for the Natural 20? nope . < Natural 20's (no bonuses added in) are special, so they get a double damage bonus Ok, 12.  He raises his sword to block, but the power of your blow drives it into the ground...  His sword hits the ground just moments before his head does... His torso drops forward to rest on it's knees and shoulders as it bleeds out all over the highway. eeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!! lol...  combat ain't pretty! . < technically, he doesn't block, but I though this would be more dramatic...  8) wanna roll % chance for vomiting? No, not if he could handle cleaving the last guys head in two... good point, Carry on then!  8) You see Reign poised over the last Orc with his sword ready to "stake him to the road."  ;) I make my way back to them . < It could happen!!  Especially if you can describe a really disgusting scene.  Just make up a number for them to beat.. say "you have a 40% chance of losing it" As you approach, you catch the last part of the conversation... "  "Why should I trust you??" "Want LIVE!!!"  " "What are you doing Reign?  Kill him already!" "He claims to have information we might find valuable." "What could an Orc possibly know that we'd want to hear?" "He says he'll tell us who set this trap for us..." "YES!!!" "Well, out with it then!" "Yes, tell us now" "LIVE?" "Fine, but you take us to your boss." . < Repeat parts of conversation that a character "should have heard" so it's clear what their character actually knows about... (Reign, u gonna lower your sword in agreement?) yeah, sure K . < Don't forget about the other guy, don't let one player run the game He struggles to his knees cradling his dislocated left arm.  -not even paying atention to the weapon on the ground "Oh, thank you, thankyou"  he grovels I whistle for my horse -keeping my sword drawn ready to strike him down if he moves... . < Once again, consider pain and consequences of battle I can't whistle  lol lol.  Well, both horses return at Reigns whistle. lol "Watch him Shank" "Ok" I dig into my saddlebag and get my rope.  Then tie up the Orc with it . < Funny addition by player.  =) NOTE::  He smells... like an Orc oh great, my rope is gonna stink now...  oh well lol I hog-tie him and stake the rope to the ground with my boot dagger.  . < Remind the players of little points like this, it's easy to forget them and not think about the consequences. "Come on Shank, let's search these bodies... see if they have anything useful" "I'll check the one in the brush" "K, I'll check the one you got on the highway... and the Troll." K . < Checking bodies for stuff is a good way to finance adventures, but don't be TOO generous On the one in the brush, Shank finds @200 (unusual amount for an Orc to carry), a short sword and a crossbow.  The wooden crossbow stinks so much like Orc that you decide to leave it. lol  Ok . < These guys have alot because they were paid to do this job Reign, you come upon the body in the road and find a broken sword , the tip half of the blade driven into the ground only a jagged edge sticking up and the handle held in a death grip by a slowly stiffening hand.  This one too carries @200 in a pouch (a stinky pouch) and carries a damaged dagger in his boot. Ok, I take the @ and leave the weapons. Oh, by the way, all of them were wearing leather armor, and the leather has absorbed so much Orc stink that it's useless. On to the Troll... The Troll has wrapped his stump with rags and has managed to drag himself just off the road. . < Not every weapon they find is going to be in perfect condition.  If they sell it, this will reduce it's value.  Reign decided not to bother with this dagger because of it's poor condition But he's still alive?!?!?? yep..  it was just a leg... How well can I see him? he's still clearly visible... . < It hurt, but didn't kill him Does he too carry a @ pouch? yep... ya greedy bastard!  lol lol...  HEY!  I gotta make a living!  lol lmao "Hold there Troll!" . < @ is my sign for money so I don't have to specify Gold, or coin values. He freezes  covering his face with his arms like an abused redheaded stepchild lol I boldly walk up to him and cut his @ pouch off.  any weapons? . < Funny description 8) Don't take offense at little things like this... Only his club which he left on the road... and that you wouldn't be able to lift if you tried...  lol lol lol "Troll, can you speak?" . < Consider weight and strength when Players want to collect things Do you speak Trollic? No, kinda hoping he spoke Humago  =) . < Not everybody speaks the same language! "BLEUORG!  Bahbam makkabe Lakkeou!" he blubbers almost screaming...  OOoooooooK.  Whell.. I guess that means no Humago eh?  lol nope Ok, I think I would like to try to befriend this big guy... YOU CHOPPED HIS LEG OFF!!!!  Good LUCK!  LMAO lmao Watch me work... Did he... bring his leg with him? eww... no.  it's still lying in the road. I walk back to the road to retrieve it... ewwwww again! . < Just make up some gibberish if they don't speak the language... there's no "real" languages except Humago -Which I used Japanese because it's got cool sounding words -and Dwarvishem -sorta Latin-ish yuck... I'm gonna keep an eye on the orc, but watch what Reign is doing too... K Ok, you pick up his leg.  it's covered with dust from the ground... As I walk back to him, I brush it off. When I get to him, I reach to unwrap his leg He screams and grabs his stump to cover it and swats at you, not really trying to hit you, just trying to scare you off (no dice rolls) Ok, I dodge (easily) his half hearted swing and lay my weapons (and his leg) down on the ground.   I put my hands up in a gesture of peace. Okaayyy...  8\ I pick up his leg and point to his stump... and gesture like I want to put it back... Once again... OOOOoooK Does he move his hands? sure...  He's scared, but buys your "peace" gestures... Kol.  I slowly and carefully approach him and unwrap his stump. It starts bleeding profusely from the severed large arteries of his leg. I wrap the rag around his thigh as a tournaquet (sp?) . < Players should be understanding and patient, they won't always be playing a major role in the story...   but, this shouldn't stop them from interjecting...  lol Roll for Holistic Medicine What for?  I'm not giving him drugs... To see if you actually think to do that... and to see if you do it right! Oh, fine...  16 Ok,  you not only think of it, but you apply it properly... now what? . < Don't forget skills, they have them for a reason! Now I'm going to pull a Heal scroll from my beltpack and try to reattach his leg. Ok.  He flinches as you make contact with the stump, but doesn't move... just watches, confused. I begin reading the scroll  As you read the scroll, his bone fuses and the muscle begins to regrow (roll 1D10 for how much damage is repaired by that Heal scroll... 6 Ok. The bone is re-fused and most of the muscle is too... but there is still a ring around the outside where the skin and outer muscle is still cut.  (incompletely healed from the inside out) hmmm...  That was my only Heal scroll.  Can I wrap it and let it heal? Roll for Hol Med again... grrr... 47 ugh Ok, you try to wrap it, but it's only a half-ass job of it.  And you got some dirt and junk in it.  But it's wrapped and not bleeding (too badly) Ok, now I offer my hand to him to help him up... . < Spells can be carried and cast by non-mage's in the form of scrolls -which are expensive    NOTE:  It has to be written in a language they can read, so finding scrolls doesn't necessarily mean they can use them You're going to "help up" a 10' Troll? well, yeah.  It's a nice gesture if nothing else...  lol . < Don't forget about size Ok...  he meekly takes your hand and sits up.  he lets go to feel his leg and poke at his foot, apparently amazed that he can feel his toes again! . < Sure, Reign cut it off, but he healed it too... He quickly grows excited and grabs you (sneak attack!) What?!?!  But I just healed him!! . < Surprise!  8D ...and gives you the biggest bearhug you've ever had! LOL LMAO He accidentally bends your chestplate armor (2 points) but when he sets you down, you see tears in the corners of his eyes. awww, ain't that sweet...  lol hush u..  you don't see 'em. lol He unwraps his leg and it starts bleeding a bit. Why? . < Have fun with it Because he successfully rolled his Holistic Medicine skill...  lol 8P lol . < NPC's have skills too! He stuffs the bloody wrap into his mouth YUCK! ewwwwwwwwwwwwww...  GROSS! and pulls it out mostly clean.  He then spits on his would and re-wraps it properly and cleanly. icky I walk back to the horses and Shank . < ick!  But, maybe that's how Trolls do it!   Not everybody practices the same medicine U want your weapons? OH YEAH!  lol  thanks! As you walk, the Troll gets up and limps out to the road and grabs his club and chases after you... !?!  Does he act like he's going to attack?? No, he's not holding it like he'll attack with it, he's carrying it at his side, almost dragging it. *whew* ok.  I was gonna say...  Ok, you both make it back to the group. Shank, you see Reign coming back with a Troll in tow... . < Don't let them take stuff for granted, make sure they mean to do stuff, like leave all their weapons behind... ;) "Got yerself a new pet do ya?" "I had to help him..." Ok, so now you have a Troll following you, and an Orc tied up...  What now? . Have fun, hope this helps ya!

And, I think I'm going to stop there.
I think there should be enough in there to demonstrate how to run a pretty fun game!
 
 
 
 

Back Up
Damage to body through armor::  How's it work?
Ok,  The Orc drilled Shank with his sword.
Shank is wearing Chainmaile on Hard Leather on Cloth  (Cloth affords no protection from impact.)
The Chainmaile takes the brunt of the attack, but only absorbs half the impact,
The Hard Leather absorbs half the impact that makes it through the Chainmaile,
Leaving 25% of the impact force/damage to hit Shank in the gut.
The cut/stab damage gets taken by the maile, but 25% of it goes to Shank from the impact.
25% of 10 rounds out to 2... so  the Maile takes 8 and Shank takes 2
(round in the favor of the defender)

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