Carriage ambush or. " I love the sound of breaking wagon wheels in the morning"

here's what I think we should try to ensure
- Bodies are taken off the road
- Carriage should be taken intact if possible

Some thoughts on how to accompish that.
- if possible we could fell some trees on side of the gate hidden as the carriage approaches. trees that are big enough that can't be charged, but not so large that we can't move them after.
- Prepare a tree on the side that the Carriage would be approaching from, to be dropped after the carriage has approached to block a reversal, It quite a task to reverse a carraige so we would have a moment to finish a pre chopped tree.
- I'm hoping we find an axe of some kind in the goblins camp, they should have one for firewood (i hope).

- once the wagon is trapped, it will take a moment for the driver to to be able to attack, I was thinking cedric could backstab while I nuke the poor fellow. (i'm not clear exactly on the design of the gate, like if it would be normal to stand atop it, if that would be a reasonable position cedric could leap down on his prey, all bad ass and such)

While this is going on, as Mid so aptly suggested he could disconnect the horses and calm them the way that wilden does so well. I figure by then or advesaries in the wagon will be emerging.

In terms of camping for the night after the trap is prepped, we could take turns on watch ( or use the watch turns to prepare the trap...) co opting where-ever the gobbies where taking rest provided it's not too nasty.

I hope you're back for this Harv, we're going to need ya!!

Sounds like a good plan. And if we can't find a heftier axe, Midnorton's handaxe can do it. Just will take longer.

Sounds like a good plan. As you guys already pointed out, the key is to immobilize the wagon. To that end, I think that whoever will be facing the front of the wagon should focus all fire on the driver. I can use Lance of Faith at range which will give a nearby ally (Cedric, perhaps?) a +2 to attack. Assuming Cedric works up a plan to get combat advantage against the driver, he should be able to deliver quite a blow to start off combat.

Also, remember that if things start to get nasty, get close to me; not only for the healing, but also for bonuses to AC and attacks. Quddus is built around taking the fight to the enemy, so he likes to be in the thick of melee, fyi.

Assuming the rogue dragonborn in the carriage are going to be nastier than the driver, I think it makes sense to have Midnorton (our resident badass) and Tanis (ranged master) behind the wagon, and Cedric and Quddus up front to take care of the driver.

Lastly, should we draw our trees onto the battlemap, or is that something that Ao will do?

You will have to situate in the foliage (within the green boundaries) that is on the map. The blockade is in a clearing.

-Ao

For the front, instead of cutting trees down to block the path. Piling brushes and branches in the path should be enough. I'm currently living in a wooden area, in fact the edge of a small forest. I constantly have to remove fallen branches and such out of my yard. Gathering enough to form a small barricade should not be much trouble.

On the other side, we can prepare one tree to fall. It doesn't have to be a large, thick trunk tree either. Can find a young, thin trunk tree that has a lot of branches. When the tree goes down, the branches will block the way. I'm thinking Midnorton can use his handaxe to prepare the tree by chopping at its trunk, part of the way. Just leaving enough that a simple push will cause the rest of the trunk to snap and the tree will fall to block the path.

As for the position of Midnorton, it is true Midnorton will have no trouble calming the horse down when the battle starts. But Midnorton's ranged attacks while he is concealed could be a major help in fighting whoever is in the carriage. Although, Midnorton could calm the horse then move around the barricade to attack in the next round or two.

Cedric would still probably be the best person to go after the driver. Get in a sneak attack. Then once the driver is down, he could try to sneak up on the enemy or enemies from inside the carriage.

Plan sounds good so far.

I can have Cedric use Bluff or Thievery to prepare a disguise as a goblin. Assuming we gain surprise on the carriage, he'd have CA by default for two attacks via First Strike and Surprise. I also could have him use Bluff to gain CA on one enemy once in the encounter if that becomes necessary.

I'd suggest trying to Intimidate one or more critical persons on the carriage but I don't know that any of us are any good at it. It could potentially spare us some combat turns and earn us some information in any case if we get them to Bloodied and can convince them to surrender. Cedric probably would prefer to capture at least one of them alive (KO instead of Kill) so we can ask him about the setup further on.

I assume the Goblins were speaking Common, by the way? And were they small enough to merit Cedric kneeling when he greets the carriage at the gate?

Goblins were -not- speaking common. Whoever was in the wagon when it drove by was. But if you check out the post where you infiltrated their camp, Ced, you'll see that you cant really tell what they're saying (speaking Goblinoid).

-Ao

I placed the bramble barricade Midnorton setup on the map and indicated where Midnorton will wait for the ambush to begin.

Please everyone don't forget that you have +2 AC for the rest of the encounter, courtesy of the God of the Dead.

Well. That could have gone better.

Do we have anybody who favors melee anymore? I need CA via Flanking or other means to really do my job.

I'd also suggest that we try to KO rather than kill the driver. I imagine he'll be more inclined to talk if captured than the dragonborn.

Just fyi, Cedric, I'm waiting for your turn so the Righteous Brand bonus to your next attack roll doesn't expire by the time you go.