GM Bigrin's Giantslayer (Inactive)

Game Master bigrin42

Apparently, I forgot to type the combat is over message, though you truly wouldn't know until you searched the house. No new map until you make new actions :)

"We're back here" came a sobbing voice in reply.

Going into the building, you can see a young woman in the back room, barely out of girlhood, crying over the bodies of an older couple. Hiding under the bed were a matched pair of boys, the Elson twins. The girl must be their older sister, Elena, though through the blood, tears, and soot it was hard to tell. Haver and Pelma Elson had been slain by orcish blades, Haver looking as if he put up a good fight with the chair leg that lay by his hand.

The pounding of drums from the nearby tower continued, as did the swell of battle sound from the orcish army sill outside the walls.

Quill runs to the boys under the bed, offering his hands.

"Come along now," Quill says. "We need to get you out of here!" Quill gathers the twins in his arms, hoping the others will see Elena and check on the parents.

"You boys know about the Trunau militia, right? We'll were here. And things are going to be okay because we're very brave," Quill calms the boys as he gathers them. "Also, because you're so brave, we're inducting you both into the militia right now! Now, let's keep our brave faces on as we get out of here!"

Quill is ready to carry the boys back to the triage station...and hopefully, safety.

Storn looks over the grisly scene, nodding slowly. He makes his way over to the young woman and starts leading her out.

"Your parents died bravely, there is no greater honour than that and their souls will shine like stars in the afterworld. But it is not your time. Come with me, you are going to live bravely and honour their memories."

"We need to move fast," Molly says in a decisive tone, and she squats near the little boys. "You guys are gonna have to ride piggyback and hang on tight. You got strong grips, boys?"

"I can take one." She bends down and lets one of the boys hop on her back. "We're going to get you out of here."

Storn falls to a knee.

"Climb up! We'll make it a race. Yelena has little legs so she's going to lose."

The boys come out from under the bed, their curly brown hair matted and dirty, and their soot stained faces streaked clean in places from the tears. Looking between them, both immediately tried to climb on Storn's back, probably because he looked like the biggest and meanest thing around. One, it was hard to tell which, ended up back on the floor and moved to Yelena instead.

Quill stood there with arms wide, and looked on in discomfort as apparently no one seemed to think him capable of protecting them. That is, until Elena came up and kissed his cheek. "Marigold is a lucky girl, Quill. Thank you." She ran out into the smoke and darkness, following Yelena and Storn, the rest close behind.

Once the Elson children had been seen safely to the barricade, you regrouped and headed back towards the tower. The drumming was fierce, and sounds of combat could be heard from the west, as more orcs entered the lower city. Still, it sounded as if Kurst and his men were holding off the worst of the raiders, and the main army hadn't yet made it into the city.

You still have orcs in the houses near the Elsons' place, and whatever is in the tower.

"Let's clear out the houses first. I don't want to be flanked when we take on the tower."

Quill nods to his sergeant and follows Yelena.

"You first."

Satisfied at having saved the children, Storn stomps along a pace behind Yelena, his huge greatsword gleaming in the fires around Trunau.

The house at T55?

The choking smoke grew thicker as you made your way back to the area around the tower. The copse of trees in the center of the Inner Quarter was burning, and sending up some kind of greenish smoke. It made you cough and your eyes tear up even more than the smoke did before.

The front door of the nearest house to clear was inaccessible due to that choking smoke, but the back door was relatively clear. The door was closed, but crashed inwards when Storn applied the Lockpick of Gorum to it. His kick shattered the door from its frame, and inside you can see the shapes of four orcs looting the place. The owners of the house appear to be either absent, or hidden out of sight, for the only movement comes from the orcs.

Molly starts to sing in a sweet, yet somehow cruel tone, her voice's native music making mock of the crude-sounding language she uses:

The Kellid girl slots her bayonet into place while she sings.

Bluff to provoke those Orcs into charging outside and attacking us, rather than forcing us to go inside and give up our advantage. Bluff check 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Quill, who speaks orc, hoots and hollers along with Molly, adding his voice to the mockery.

1d20 - 1 ⇒ (12) - 1 = 11 Bluff to aid

Surprisingly, Quill doesn't embarass himself in trying to help.

"RAHHH! Time to die you froofy poodle-walkers!" roars Storn as the door flies open. After calling out his challenge, he steps to the left of the doorway, daring the orcs to run out at them.

Readied Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22 Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (4, 4) + 4 = 12

5' step to S55 and readying an attack.

"No more innocents! Die, tusker!" Yelena charges into the house and brings her hammer to bear against the nearest orc.

Move to U54, target U52. Power attack.
Large dwarven longhammer 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 193d6 + 7 ⇒ (3, 6, 6) + 7 = 22

EARLIER
"Ah, damn," Sander whispers, as he sees the bodies. "Haver and Pelma ..."

As the others take the children in hand, he lays a blanket over the two corpses, hoping to give them at least a little dignity in death. He wipes a tear from his eye before a hard look crosses his face.

LATER
Sander blinks as Yelena rushes into the house.

"No, wait -- !"

His voice fails as he realizes it's too late, and he pulls out and loads his sling.

Mariana sees the situation as tough, at best, and stays back, drawing wand in one hand and dagger in the other. Taking a single step to stand behind/beside Storn.

Yelena gets an AoO as the orcs rush her.

As everyone positioned for the orcs to run out of the house, Yelena threw caution to the wind and charged inside. Her hammer came down and smashed one of the orcs to the ground. The others charged her, their falchions cutting in from all angles.

"Damnit Yelena! Save some for me!" shouts Storn.

Roaring, the big man charges in alongside Yelena, but the cramped quarters foil his swing, and he misses badly.

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 4) + 4 = 9

How long have we been inside the barricade? I'm thinking my mutagen is probably just about all used up...

"I hope they're OK in there," Sander says with worry, as the dwarf and Gorumite charge off into battle. "I thought we were going to try to draw them out of the house."

He keeps an eye on the house to the northwest, in case any more orcs emerge from there.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

"So did I!" shouts Storn as he charges in.

Round 1

Quill initially wants to shout at Yelena to stop, but his training takes over and instead he supports his sergeant regardless of how silly the thing that's she's doing is.

She shoots at an orc, now blocked by Storn and Yelena.

1d20 + 6 + 1 - 4 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 1 - 4 - 4 = 1 to hit; (+PBS,-combat,-cover)
1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 1 = 3 damage.

AC 17; hp 15/15

"That was certainly my idea," Molly says, shaking her head in disgust. The Kellid girl moves up to the doorway and tries to make eye contact with any Orc still left standing after Yelena's and Storn's first attack -- and blasts its mind with sudden, crippling uncertainty.

Map isn't loading for me right now, so pick an Orc, any Orc, still standing. Evil Eye Hex to reduce attack rolls by 2, Will save DC 14 to overcome.

@Sander - It may feel like hours, but in reality it has only been an hour or less.

I am watching, just waiting to see how the next couple actions go to see which route to take (largely if Yelena takes 4 or 13)

Yelena is unable to raise her guard as the two orcs rush forward, still unbalanced from the lethal blow against her previous target.

AoO
Large dwarven longhammer 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 103d6 + 7 ⇒ (5, 2, 6) + 7 = 20

HP: 6/22

Reeling from the onslaught of blows, Yelena takes a few guarded steps back [5'-step to T55] and brings her hammer to bear again.

Target V55, power attack.
Large dwarven longhammer 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 223d6 + 7 ⇒ (5, 3, 3) + 7 = 18

HP: 6/22

Stepping forward to t55 and quickly taps the large, weapon wielding dwarf with the group's wand.

1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 "Can't have that, now can we, my friend," she whispers with a smile, dagger held out with her eyes on the orcs.

Storn ran in to assist Yelena, and though his strike did not make contact, he at least opened the way for the dwarf to back up and level another thundering blow at the orc in front of him. The great hammer smashed through the orc's defenses and sent him crashing into the wall. The orc slid to the ground, his head split by the hammer blow.

Outside, Molly fixed one of the remaining orcs with a glare, her natural powers giving the orc the Evil Eye. Mariana stepped up and healed some of Yelena's wounds, though not the worst of them.

Sander kept an eye on the northern house, hoping that there were no orcs there to attack them from the rear. He noticed that the tower's door had been broken open, and hung limply from one hinge. In side the tower, orcs were gathering, though the halfling couldn't make out what they were doing.

The orcs in the house rallied at the death of their companions, and pressed the attack. Storn's swift bladework easily pushed aside his opponent's feeble attempts at attack, but the other orc pressed Yelena with far more skill and ferocity. The dwarf's heavy hammer was not meant for defense, and snagged on the door fram as she tried to parry. The orc's falchion came in to crash into her unprotected side, driving deeply into her viscera. Yelena cried out and fell to the ground, dying. The orc grinned and reversed his grip on the falchion, ready to stab it into the unconscious dwarf's helpless form.

Round 3

Quill feels conflicted about Yelena lying bleeding on the ground...but, in the end, he appreciates her desire to demonstrate to him how silly it was to rush off heedless into danger without formulating a plan or working with the party.

Quill nods solemnly, having taken the point. He resigns himself to never do that if he could avoid it.

Stepping to S57, Quill fires another arrow at the bottom orc.

Now, if I could only get Storn to move to allow me a clean shot...

1d20 + 6 + 1 - 4 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 1 - 4 - 4 = 16 to hit; (+PBS,-combat,-cover)
1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 1 = 7 damage.

AC 17; hp 15/15

"Rats," Molly hisses as she sets off on a dead run, pushing past the others. Skidding to a halt next to the door, close enough to touch the fallen Dwarf but hopefully not to be seen by the Orc, Molly claps a hand to Yelena's ankle -- and releases a surge of instinctive magic.

Molly moves to S 54 and uses Healing Hex on Yelena for 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9.

Storn snarls as Yelena collapses to the floor. His entire body shaking with rage, he focuses on the orc in front of him.

"DIE YOU BASTARDS!"

As Molly rushes in to heal Yelena, Storn smoothly steps to the side, sweeping out with his weapon again. This time his blow is much more accurate, although not particularly powerful.

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21 Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (2, 1) + 4 = 7

5' step to V55, standard action to attack V54.

Storn's blow was accurate enough, taking the top of the orc's head off. Apparently, you didn't have to run someone clear through with your blade or cleave them from shoulder to crotch to kill them. Who knew?

The remaining orc was leveling his falchion for a thrust into Storn's abdomen when an arrow came whistling over the big man's shoulder to thunk solidly into the orc. The creature's eyes crossed as it tried to see the arrow sticking out from its forehead. The eyes continued to roll up until only the whites were showing, and the orc collapsed.

Combat over!

The house had been ransacked, but there were no bodies to be seen. It looked as if the occupants had gotten clear before the orcs arrived.

Storn takes a moment to appreciate his lesson in orcish anatomy, and nods approvingly over to Quill as the arrow takes out the last orc.

After Molly's healing hex, he holds a hand out to Yelena.

"I don't want to go drinking with a corpse, let them come to us."

He looks over the grievously injured dwarf critically and calls over to Mariana.

"Mannyara, can you give her some taps with that wand? We've got another building to check."

Once Yelena is healed, Storn makes straight for P51.

Quill reaches down to help Yelena up, once she can regain her feet.

"Are you okay? Do you need to go to triage?" Quill asks worriedly, hoping not to lose one of their number.

If Yelena indicates that she is okay, Quill follows Storn to P51ish, looking for more orcs to pepper with arrows.

"NO!" she calls out as she drops down to continue tending Yelena, using another charge from the wand.

1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 Oy, I suck at rolling...just curious, how would you feel about the house rule of 2 charges = 11 healing?

Yelena's eyes pop open wide as she takes in a short, ragged breath. "Torag's Beard! I could see it! The tunnel, the light, and every single dwarf to ever grace the world waiting by the Allmaker's side to receive me! Gods be praised, I'm glad to be alive. Well, mostly alive."

HP: 7/22

@Mariana - Ah, the randomness of magic is what makes it fun...and encourages you to upgrade as soon as possible :) And 4 on a d8 isn't bad.

Storn waits for Yelena to stand once more before rushing off to the next fight. He kicked the door in to the building immediately to the north of him, only to find it ransacked and empty of enemies.

From within the tower came hoots of orcish laughter, and a handaxe flew by Storn, missing by several feet. Sander, still keeping an eye on the tower door, saw it leave the hand of one of the orcs inside.

From the top of the tower, the drum changed rhythm slightly, turning to a gut-wrenching song that evoked slaughter...your slaughter.

Hey, I was just throwing it out there. And yes, 4 on 8 isn't bad, but my last roll was a 1, which is why Yelena went down to begin with

Another tap of the wand as she stays as close to Yelena as she can until she sees most of the wounds seal themselves.

1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 oh look, another 1 ;

I paid them to make your next roll a 1. They were going to do it anyways for grins, so it didn't cost much.

"I'd be glad to be alive after seeing all that, too," Molly replies to Yelena, "because it'd mean someone mucked up my destination in the afterlife. Right! I've got a spell that can make an ordinary person big as a giant! Who wants it?"

Storn watches the handaxe fly by and looks up at the tower irritably. He snatches it from the ground, making a mental note to kill the next orc he sees with it.

"Building's clear! Anything left or can we take out the tower?"

Quill declines the gigantism spell, more concerned with getting Yelena on her feet.

"I think there are more orcs around," Quill notes as axes come flying. "Or someone is just angry at Storn."

"Please, Yelena," Sander entreats, "don't rush off by yourself. It's too dangerous. Trunau needs all its defenders and you can't help the town if you're dead."

Sander gulps, impressed at Molly's magic, but thinking it would better serve Storn or Yelena. He ducks as the axe comes flying.

"It came from the tower!" he cries. "Let's silence that drum and maybe they'll start retreating!"

Full move to P-50

Following behind...again she touches Yelena with the wand.

1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

The orcs in the tower were incensed by the drumming and, more ominously, appeared to be setting a defense for the tower. Long spears bristled out of the tower's broken doorway, and great axes were brandished by those in the front ranks. It looked as if at least four orcs were preparing to defend the entry, though there could be more inside out of sight.

Do we have line of sight?

Mostly. The two in front are standing in the doorway

"STORN!" Molly barks. Provided the Warpriest waits for her, Molly runs over to him, grabs him by the shoulders and starts to chant, the Words of Power seeming to vibrate in his very bones. "Stand still for it, big boy," the Witch says as the magic starts to take hold. "You're about to become our living siege engine."
Molly actually grins as she says that...

Enlarge Person, unless Storn declines.