This is the corrected, fully reworked version of the first sinkhole combat. The encounter now uses the full strengthened defender group: four goblin archers, two goblin blades, one bugbear enforcer, and one noncombat kobold alarm runner. The goblin blades are integrated into initiative, tactics, movement, attacks, and the round-by-round flow.

The purpose of this version is to teach a new GM how a tougher Pathfinder 1E fight evolves when enemies use formation, cover, readied actions, aid another, potions, retreat, and battlefield control. It is intentionally longer and harder than the earlier version.

Difficulty warning: This is a hard opening combat for 1st-level PCs. It assumes six PCs plus Thoros’s monitor lizard companion. If only four PCs are present, remove one goblin archer and one goblin blade, or reduce the bugbear to 16 hp.

Encounter Design

Goblin archers punish exposed PCs and force ranged pressure.
Goblin blades protect the bugbear’s flanks, attack climbers, and keep the chokepoint dangerous.
The bugbear holds the center and uses his potion of cure moderate wounds if he can safely disengage.
The kobold runner does not fight unless cornered. His job is to sound the alarm.
The PCs must decide whether to stop the runner, clear the blades, heal Grask, or break the bugbear line.

Encounter Map and Starting Positions

Scale: 1 grid square = 5 feet.

North / Deeper Sinkhole x01 x02 x03 x04 x05 x06 x07 x08 x09 x10 x11 x12 x13 x14 x15 y01 ################################################################ y02 ####### broken stone cover ######### deeper trail ############### y03 ####### [G1] [G2] [KR] crawl gap ########## y04 ####### ^ ^ | alarm cord ######## y05 ####### | archers | | ######### y06 ---------------------------------------------------------------- y07 ---- crude wooden barricade / broken ancient wall / cover ------- y08 ----------- [GB-L] [BB] [GB-R] ----------------------- y09 ----------- blade bugbear blade ---------------------- y10 y11 wet stone lane / slippery approach y12 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ trickling runoff / difficult terrain ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ y13 y14 [AUR] [GR] [KHA] [CAL] y15 [THO] [BRA] [NEM] y16 y17 ======================== entry ledge ============================ y18 second pitch rope || y19 || y20 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ flood fissure / black water pocket ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Legend: AUR Auren, NEM Nemeia, BRA Brakkus, THO Thoros, GR Grask, CAL Caldris, KHA Kharzug. G1-G4 = goblin archers; GB-L/GB-R = goblin blades; BB = bugbear; KR = kobold runner.

Distances That Matter

Movement Goal	Distance	Notes
PC start to barricade line	25–30 ft.	One move, but runoff may slow direct routes.
PC start to bugbear	30 ft.	Usually one move plus melee if clear, but difficult terrain may prevent a charge.
PC start to kobold	55–65 ft.	Requires pursuit; the kobold is meant to be hard to stop.
Goblin archers to rear PCs	35–50 ft.	Good shortbow range.

Terrain and 1E Rules Bubbles

Feature	Rule	GM Use
Trickling runoff	Difficult terrain	Costs double movement and prevents charging.
Slick stone	Acrobatics DC 11 if moving faster than half speed	Failure means prone; failure by 5+ slides 5 ft.
Barricade / wall	Cover and climbable obstacle	Cover usually +4 AC vs ranged attacks.
Climb over barricade	Climb DC 10; DC 15 accelerated	Normal climb usually takes 2 move actions; accelerated can be 1 move action.
Climbing under attack	Climbing provokes attacks of opportunity	Goblin blades threaten climbers.

Action Economy: A normal turn usually gives one move action and one standard action. Moving up to speed is a move action. One attack is usually a standard action. Drinking a potion is usually a standard action. Drawing a potion is usually a move action unless already in hand.

Swift Actions: A swift action is a very quick special action. Many level 1 characters do not have one. Thoros using animal focus is an example. Kharzug entering bloodrage is treated as a free action at the start of his turn in this example.

Readied Actions: A creature can ready a standard action to happen when a trigger occurs. The goblin blades may ready attacks against anyone climbing over the barricade.

Sneak Attack: Auren adds sneak attack damage only if the target is denied Dexterity to AC or if Auren is flanking. If Auren simply attacks a goblin from the front after it has acted, he makes a normal attack with no sneak attack damage.

Sneak Attack Example: If Auren and Grask threaten opposite sides of GB-L, Auren is flanking and adds +1d6 sneak attack on a successful melee attack. If Auren throws a dagger at the kobold runner from the front while the kobold has already acted, that is just normal dagger damage.

Spellcasting: Most spells take a standard action. Prepared casters, such as witches, clerics, warpriests, and wizards, choose spells ahead of time. Spontaneous casters, such as sorcerers and bards, know fewer spells but choose which known spell to cast at the moment. Hexes, such as Slumber and Evil Eye, are not spell slots.

Enemy Stat Blocks

Enemy	Count	Role
Goblin Rock-Skirmishers	4	Archers in cover
Goblin Blades	2	Melee shield guards
Bugbear Enforcer	1	Central bruiser and commander
Kobold Ridge-Runner	1	Noncombat alarm runner

Goblin Rock-Skirmisher

AC 16, touch 13, flat-footed 13; hp 7 each; Init +3

Shortbow +4 ranged (1d4/×3); dogslicer +2 melee (1d4/19–20)

Tactics stay behind cover, shoot lightly armored PCs, then flee if the line breaks.

Goblin Blade

AC 17, touch 13, flat-footed 14; hp 8 each; Init +2

Shortsword +4 melee (1d6+1); shield bash +2 melee (1d3)

Tactics flank with the bugbear, stab climbers, use aid another, and hold the barricade line.

Bugbear Enforcer

AC 17, touch 12, flat-footed 15; hp 22; Init +2

Morningstar +5 melee (1d8+4); javelin +3 ranged (1d6+3)

Gear potion of cure moderate wounds, 2 javelins, crude iron key.

Tactics holds the center, lets goblin blades protect his flanks, drinks potion if reduced below 8 hp and not immediately threatened.

Kobold Ridge-Runner

AC 18, touch 14, flat-footed 15; hp 11; Init +4

Attack none normally; if cornered, spear +2 melee (1d6-1)

Tactics does not fight. It uses total defense, withdraws, drinks potion if needed, and tries to sound the alarm.

PC Reference and Initiative

PC	Role	Useful Example Numbers
Auren	Rogue / flanker	Init +4, AC 16, rapier +4, dagger +4, sneak attack +1d6, Acrobatics +8
Nemeia	Witch control	Init +2, AC 12, Slumber DC 15, Evil Eye, crossbow +2
Brakkus	Gunslinger	Init +3, AC 17, pistol +5 vs touch AC, 1d8 damage
Thoros	Hunter	Init +2, longbow +3, falchion +3, cure light wounds, animal focus
Grask	Monitor lizard	Init +2, AC 16, hp 11, bite +3, 1d6+1 damage
Caldris	Warpriest	Init +1, AC 17, mace +3, bless, healing support
Kharzug	Bloodrager	Init +1, AC 18, glaive +5 / +7 in bloodrage, reach control

Initiative Example

Combatant	Roll	Modifier	Total
Kobold Ridge-Runner	16	+4	20
Auren	15	+4	19
Goblin Archers	14	+3	17
Brakkus	13	+3	16
Nemeia	12	+2	14
Goblin Blades	11	+2	13
Thoros	10	+2	12
Grask	9	+2	11
Bugbear Enforcer	8	+2	10
Caldris	7	+1	8
Kharzug	6	+1	7

Important correction: the goblin blades now have their own initiative count at 13 and act every round.

Round 1 — The Line Holds

Start: PCs land near the entry ledge. Goblin archers are behind cover. The goblin blades and bugbear form a three-creature line. The kobold runner is near the alarm crawl route.

Kobold Ridge-Runner, Init 20

The kobold does not attack. It uses total defense, raising AC from 18 to 22, then moves 20 ft. toward the alarm crawl gap.

Total Defense: Standard action; +4 dodge bonus to AC until the start of its next turn.

Auren, Init 19

Auren moves 20 ft. toward the left side of the barricade, trying to set up a climb next round. Acrobatics DC 11: d20 7 + 8 = 15, success. He throws a dagger at the kobold through cover.

Attack: d20 14 + 4 = 18 vs AC 22. Miss.

No Sneak Attack: The kobold is not flanked and is not denied Dexterity.

Goblin Archers, Init 17

Goblin	Target	Attack	Result	Damage
G1	Nemeia AC 12	11 + 4 = 15	Hit	3
G2	Nemeia AC 12	5 + 4 = 9	Miss	—
G3	Brakkus AC 17	16 + 4 = 20	Hit	2
G4	Auren AC 16	13 + 4 = 17	Hit	4

Brakkus, Init 16

Brakkus fires at G3 behind cover. Target touch AC 13 + cover 4 = 17. Attack d20 12 + 5 = 17, hit. Damage 1d8 = 6. G3 hp 7 → 1.

Nemeia, Init 14

Nemeia uses Slumber on GB-L. GB-L Will d20 8 - 1 = 7 vs DC 15, failure. GB-L falls asleep.

Hex: Slumber is not a spell slot. It is a standard action and allows a save.

Goblin Blades, Init 13

GB-L is asleep and loses his action. GB-R steps closer to the bugbear and uses aid another to help the bugbear’s AC against the next melee attack. Roll d20 12 + 4 = 16 vs AC 10, success. Bugbear gains +2 AC against one attack.

Thoros, Init 12

Thoros uses animal focus as a swift action, then shoots wounded G3. Attack d20 10 + 3 = 13 vs AC 20 with cover, miss.

Grask, Init 11

Grask advances 30 ft. toward the barricade, ending near the sleeping GB-L but not yet attacking.

Bugbear, Init 10

The bugbear steps forward and attacks Grask. Attack d20 13 + 5 = 18 vs AC 16, hit. Damage 1d8 5 + 4 = 9. Grask hp 11 → 2.

Caldris, Init 8

Caldris casts bless. Allies gain +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and saves against fear.

Kharzug, Init 7

Kharzug enters bloodrage and attacks the bugbear with glaive. GB-R’s aid another is active. Attack d20 11 + 7 + bless 1 = 19 vs bugbear AC 19, hit exactly. Damage 1d10 6 + 9 = 15. Bugbear hp 22 → 7.

Round 2 — The Blades Bite Back

Start: The bugbear is badly wounded, but the line is not broken. GB-L is asleep, GB-R is active, the kobold is moving toward the alarm, and Grask is at 2 hp.

Kobold Ridge-Runner

Total defense ends. The kobold uses withdraw as a full-round action and moves 60 ft. deeper toward the alarm cord. It does not attack.

Auren

Auren uses the sleeping GB-L as an opening. He attacks with rapier. Attack d20 9 + 4 + bless 1 = 14; against a helpless/sleeping goblin, this hits. Damage rapier 1d6=4 plus sneak attack 1d6=5, total 9. GB-L hp 8 → -1.

Sneak Attack Works Here: Sleeping creatures are denied Dexterity and are helpless.

Goblin Archers

Goblin	Target	Attack	Result	Damage
G1	Caldris AC 17	18 + 4 = 22	Hit	2
G2	Nemeia AC 12	9 + 4 = 13	Hit	1
G4	Kharzug AC 18	12 + 4 = 16	Miss	—

G3, at 1 hp, ducks behind better cover and does not shoot.

Brakkus

Brakkus reloads as a move action and fires at G1. Attack d20 9 + 5 + bless 1 = 15 vs touch AC 17 with cover, miss.

Nemeia

Nemeia uses Evil Eye on the bugbear, choosing AC. Bugbear Will d20 6 + 1 = 7 vs DC 15, failure. Bugbear AC drops by 2.

Goblin Blades

GB-L is down. GB-R attacks Auren for killing his partner and to stop the flank from collapsing. Attack d20 15 + 4 = 19 vs AC 16, hit. Damage 1d6 4 + 1 = 5. Auren takes 5 damage.

Thoros

Thoros sees Grask near death and casts cure light wounds. Healing 1d8 5 + 1 = 6. Grask hp 2 → 8.

Grask

Grask bites the bugbear. Attack d20 12 + 3 + bless 1 = 16 vs AC 15, hit. Damage 1d6 4 + 1 = 5. Bugbear hp 7 → 2.

Bugbear

The bugbear is at 2 hp. He wants to drink his potion, but Grask and Kharzug threaten him. Drinking would provoke. He takes a 5-foot step behind GB-R and fights defensively, attacking Grask. Attack d20 15 + 5 - 4 = 16 vs AC 16, hit. Damage 1d8 2 + 4 = 6. Grask hp 8 → 2.

Caldris

Caldris attacks GB-R to open the line. Attack d20 14 + 3 + bless 1 = 18 vs AC 17, hit. Damage 1d8 5 + 2 = 7. GB-R hp 8 → 1.

Kharzug

Kharzug attacks the bugbear with reach, but GB-R partly blocks the line. The bugbear is fighting defensively, so his AC is effectively 17 after Evil Eye. Attack d20 8 + 7 + bless 1 = 16 vs AC 17, miss.

Round 3 — The Bugbear Drinks

Start: The bugbear is at 2 hp. GB-R is at 1 hp but still blocking. The kobold is one round from the alarm.

Kobold Ridge-Runner

The kobold reaches the alarm cord and uses a standard action to pull it. The alarm clatters through the sinkhole. He uses his move action to duck behind the crawl gap, gaining cover.

Auren

Auren chooses to finish GB-R because the blade is protecting the bugbear. Auren and Caldris threaten GB-R from different angles, so the GM grants flanking. Attack d20 7 + 4 + bless 1 + flank 2 = 14 vs AC 17, miss.

Sneak Attack Did Not Matter: Auren had flanking and would have added sneak attack, but only if the attack hit.

Goblin Archers

G1 and G2 shoot at Auren, G4 shoots at Nemeia, and wounded G3 withdraws deeper.

Goblin	Target	Attack	Result	Damage
G1	Auren AC 16	16 + 4 = 20	Hit	4
G2	Auren AC 16	6 + 4 = 10	Miss	—
G4	Nemeia AC 12	15 + 4 = 19	Hit	3

Brakkus

Brakkus reloads and fires at G1. Attack d20 18 + 5 + bless 1 = 24 vs touch AC 17 with cover, hit. Damage 1d8 7. G1 hp 7 → 0.

Nemeia

Nemeia targets GB-R with Slumber. GB-R Will d20 13 - 1 = 12 vs DC 15, failure. GB-R drops asleep at 1 hp.

Goblin Blades

GB-L is down. GB-R is asleep and loses his action. The line is finally open.

Thoros

Thoros heals Grask again. Healing 1d8 2 + 1 = 3. Grask hp 2 → 5.

Grask

Grask holds position, wounded, and does not overextend.

Bugbear

The bugbear is no longer threatened because he stepped back and GB-R absorbed attention. He draws and drinks his potion of cure moderate wounds. Healing 2d8+3 = 6 + 4 + 3 = 13. Bugbear hp 2 → 15.

Potion Action Economy: Drinking the potion uses the bugbear’s standard action. If he had been threatened, this could provoke an attack of opportunity.

Caldris

Caldris steps past sleeping GB-R and attacks the healed bugbear. Attack d20 10 + 3 + bless 1 = 14 vs AC 15 from Evil Eye, miss by 1.

Kharzug

Kharzug attacks the healed bugbear with his glaive. Attack d20 13 + 7 + bless 1 = 21 vs AC 15, hit. Damage 1d10 3 + 9 = 12. Bugbear hp 15 → 3.

Round 4 — The Line Breaks

Start: The bugbear is back down to 3 hp after using his potion. Both goblin blades are down or asleep. The kobold has sounded the alarm and is trying to escape.

Kobold Ridge-Runner

The kobold crawls into the gap. It uses a move action to squeeze in and a standard action to drink its potion. Healing 1d8 6 + 1 = 7.

Auren

Auren pursues into the crawl gap. Acrobatics or Escape Artist DC 13: d20 12 + Acrobatics 8 = 20, success. He attacks the kobold through cover: d20 9 + rapier 4 + bless 1 = 14, miss.

Goblin Archers

Goblin	Target	Attack	Result	Damage
G2	Brakkus AC 17	7 + 4 = 11	Miss	—
G4	Grask AC 16	14 + 4 = 18	Hit	2

Grask hp 5 → 3.

Brakkus

Brakkus reloads and fires at G4. Attack d20 10 + 5 + bless 1 = 16 vs touch AC 13, hit. Damage 1d8 5. G4 hp 7 → 2.

Nemeia

Nemeia uses Evil Eye on G2, reducing AC. G2 Will d20 11 - 1 = 10 vs DC 15, failure.

Goblin Blades

GB-L is dying. GB-R is asleep at 1 hp. If ignored, an archer may wake GB-R later, but not this round.

Thoros

Thoros fires at wounded G4. Attack d20 13 + longbow 3 + bless 1 = 17, hit. Damage 1d8 6. G4 drops below 0 and falls.

Grask

Grask bites the bugbear. Attack d20 10 + bite 3 + bless 1 = 14 vs bugbear AC 15, miss.

Bugbear

The bugbear attacks Grask. Attack d20 13 + 5 = 18 vs AC 16, hit. Damage 1d8 5 + 4 = 9. Grask hp 3 → -6.

Below 0 hp: Grask is unconscious and dying, not instantly dead. If his Constitution is 12, death occurs at -12 hp.

Caldris

Caldris attacks the bugbear instead of healing immediately. Attack d20 16 + mace 3 + bless 1 = 20 vs AC 15, hit. Damage 1d8 4 + 2 = 6. Bugbear hp 3 → -3.

Kharzug

Kharzug moves to hold the deeper trail, preventing reinforcements from rushing the party while Caldris prepares to heal Grask.

Round 5 — Cleanup and Consequences

The melee line is broken. The bugbear is dying. Grask is dying. The kobold may escape. One or two goblin archers remain depending prior damage.

Kobold Ridge-Runner

If not stopped, the kobold escapes through the crawl gap. The alarm is already sounded, so his escape means the next encounter is fully warned.

Auren

Auren may keep chasing, but doing so separates him from the party. A cautious Auren stops at the gap and throws a dagger. Attack d20 16 + dagger 4 + bless 1 = 21 vs kobold AC 18 with partial cover, hit. Damage 1d4 4 + 1 = 5. Kobold survives if healed; drops if already wounded.

Remaining Goblin Archer

G2 withdraws deeper. If the party pursues, it leads toward Encounter 2. If not, it becomes a messenger.

Caldris

Caldris uses magical healing on Grask. Healing 1d8 5 + 1 = 6. Grask hp -6 → 0. Grask is disabled but no longer dying.

Thoros

Thoros moves to protect Grask and may use Heal DC 15 if more stabilization is needed.

Kharzug

Kharzug ends bloodrage once the immediate threat is controlled and becomes fatigued according to bloodrager rules.

Why This Fight Is Tougher: The goblin blades absorbed actions, protected the bugbear long enough for him to drink his potion, threatened Auren, and made Grask’s survival uncertain. The PCs still win, but the battle lasts longer, costs healing, and likely alerts the lair.

Aftermath

Result	Consequence
Kobold escapes	Encounter 2 begins prepared; falling-rock snare is active.
Bugbear stabilized	Can reveal Grath One-Eye, raider trails, and fear of Level 4.
Goblin blade captured	Can explain barricade layout and surface raid trails.
Grask dropped below 0	Teaches that animal companions need healing and protection.

Treasure

Source	Treasure
Bugbear	Crude iron key, 18 gp, potion of cure moderate wounds if unused, bridge-worker brass tool tag.
Goblin blades	2 shortswords, 2 light wooden shields, leather armor, 9 sp.
Goblin archers	Shortbows, arrows, chalk marks showing ledge routes.
Kobold runner	Signal whistle, alarm token, potion of cure light wounds if unused.

Interrogation Clues

“Grath One-Eye owns the lower shelf.”
“Blades hold the wall. Archers shoot the soft ones.”
“The small runner rings bone. Bone means wake the den.”
“We go up for goats, rope, iron, and sacks. We do not go below the black crack.”
“One-Eye sent three down. One came back without eyes. Then he died.”

Quick Rule Reference

Rule	Plain Explanation
Initiative	Roll d20 + initiative. Highest acts first.
Move Action	Move up to speed, stand up, draw gear, or reload some weapons.
Standard Action	Attack once, cast most spells, use most hexes, drink potion, total defense, or aid another.
Swift Action	Quick class action; usually one per turn.
Full-Round Action	Withdraw, charge, full attack, or other whole-turn action.
Sneak Attack	Requires flanking or target denied Dexterity to AC. Otherwise the rogue deals normal weapon damage.
Prepared Spellcaster	Chooses specific spells ahead of time, like wizard, witch, cleric, warpriest.
Spontaneous Spellcaster	Knows fewer spells but chooses at casting time, like sorcerer or bard.
Drinking Potion	Usually standard action; drawing it may be move action; can provoke if threatened.
0 hp	Disabled.
Below 0 hp	Unconscious and dying, not instantly dead.
Death	Usually when negative hp equals or exceeds Constitution score.

Act 1 Combat Walkthrough

Encounter Design

Encounter Map and Starting Positions

Distances That Matter

Terrain and 1E Rules Bubbles

Enemy Stat Blocks

Goblin Rock-Skirmisher

Goblin Blade

Bugbear Enforcer

Kobold Ridge-Runner

PC Reference and Initiative

Initiative Example

Round 1 — The Line Holds

Kobold Ridge-Runner, Init 20

Auren, Init 19

Goblin Archers, Init 17

Brakkus, Init 16

Nemeia, Init 14

Goblin Blades, Init 13

Thoros, Init 12

Grask, Init 11

Bugbear, Init 10

Caldris, Init 8

Kharzug, Init 7

Round 2 — The Blades Bite Back

Kobold Ridge-Runner

Auren

Goblin Archers

Brakkus

Nemeia

Goblin Blades

Thoros

Grask

Bugbear

Caldris

Kharzug

Round 3 — The Bugbear Drinks

Kobold Ridge-Runner

Auren

Goblin Archers

Brakkus

Nemeia

Goblin Blades

Thoros

Grask

Bugbear

Caldris

Kharzug

Round 4 — The Line Breaks

Kobold Ridge-Runner

Auren

Goblin Archers

Brakkus

Nemeia

Goblin Blades

Thoros

Grask

Bugbear

Caldris

Kharzug

Round 5 — Cleanup and Consequences

Kobold Ridge-Runner

Auren

Remaining Goblin Archer

Caldris

Thoros

Kharzug

Aftermath

Treasure

Interrogation Clues

Quick Rule Reference