Steig Lamplighter and the Curse of the Creeping Twilight
Game Master Gerald Rose

The group readies for the attack. Crow steps back to shield Mead with his body and enormous maul. Grounding himself into a deadly fighting stance, he waits for his enemy to come to him. The two guardsmen Darius and Marco stand lightly, weapons in hand, alert for danger. Mead pulls out a small vial, hoping for bunnies.

Suddenly the creatures burst through the undergrowth - five feral beasts, nearly four feet at the shoulder, seemingly all mouth and teeth charge at the heroes! As they come, the Maws features, large ears, no apparent eyes, seem to fade into insignificance in comparison to their impossibly huge mouths, filled with improbably large fangs. Marco, seemingly relaxed takes a practiced swing at one of the beasts as it comes into reach, a solid blow that doesn't slow the maw down one bit. Two of them leap at Crow, one high, one low. The low one gets a tenuous hold on Crows leg, but is shaken off with a kick. The high one fares less well as Crow shoves the haft of Ghostbreaker into its teeth, and as the maw bites down spins the maul deftly slamming the creature to the ground. Darius steps in to corral one of the maws between Marco and himself, dealing two powerful strikes. The sound of cracking bone beneath the thick hide belies the maws continued fury. Crow bunches his manly shoulders and swings Ghostbreaker at one of his attackers catching it in the side, the force of the blow slamming the maw around nearly 15 ft. A ghostly flapping is probably not heard over the din of fighting as Ferment, still invisible, goes for altitude. Mead throws her vial at the closest maw, and it shatters satisfyingly on its shoulder. The acid eats away at the fur, hide, and flesh raising eye watering fumes and a ear piercing shriek from the maw, which whips around trying to confront the source of its pain.

Round 1 ends! Round 2 actions please!

Darius and Marco continue to beat at the Maw with their batons.

Bunny/Maw combat Round 2

Ghostbreaker continues around in a whistling arc first high then low, crushing into Maw3 and pushing him into/onto Maw1 (if he connects and this is possible). The massive maul smashes through them, swings high and then down upon the both of them. (damage to Maw 3 if still alive, Maw 1 if not. Oops, just read that it says any "empty" adjacent square. Oh well.)

Juniper glares at the acid-riddled maw that refuses to go down. "That was my last batch of acid to, dammit."

So instead she kicks at the monster hoping to send it into the waiting reach of Darius.

I'm confused. I was the one with +1 acrobatics, how does 14 to trip me fail when my roll was 4? I'd love to be able to take down two Maws in one round but how did I make it?

gm error. Carry on.

So, do I fall? If so I still get one attack after standing up right?

Crow continues his assault, whipping Ghostbreaker through the air with disturbing ease. Two crushing blows and one of the slavering creatures is smashed to the ground twitching.
Marco lands another fierce blow against the fanged menace but to no avail. The maw shrugs off his attack, and retaliates with a swift bite to the guardsmans unprotected leg, which Marco barely parries.
One of the creatures leaps upon Darius, nearly catching him in a soft spot in his armor! Darius twists away just in time to avoid the terrible blow. Meanwhile on the other side of the fight, the maw Mead had doused with acid gurgles in pain, and slumps down as the acid burns through and begins to dissolve its brain. The maw that Crow had dashed to the forest floor jumps to its feet, but its jaws snap on empty air as Crow pulls his head away just in time.
Darius fends off the beasts for a moment with his mace waiting for the right moment, then with two quick practiced blows, shatters the skulls of the two maws threatening himself and his trainee.
Mead, annoyed at the proceedings steps forward and levels a kick at the remaining maw, but is stymied by its snapping jaws.

Round 2 ends, round 3 actions please!

Bunny/Maw combat Round 3

"'ello mouth. Meet maul." Crow pounds the maw with Ghostbreaker until it stops moving.

Juniper shudders with more than a bit of revulsion as she considers the creature before her. Then kicks out, hoping to put some distance between them.

Marco and Darius move in on the remaining Maw to finish it off. Not likely given their initiative but possible.

Crow raises Ghostbreaker over his head, and simply pounds the maw into paste. It never had a chance. The shrieking of the creatures dies into silence, and the forest is quiet again. Barron looks askance at the remains, trying to decide if maws are edible or not.

Juniper looks down that the beasts. "If we keep looking for Chapel's bolt hole, can either of you backtrack the maws later?"

She looks at Darius, "And these are maws... Possible forward scouts of horrifically evil armies of dark chaos.

Crow glares briefly at the abominations, glances at the two warriors. "Good job lost boys, you fought well." he turns to Juniper, looks her over. "Are you well? I know you can handle yourself, but do you really have to put yourself in danger like that?" his tone is caring, but a little chiding at the same time.

Juniper looks down that the beasts. "If we keep looking for Chapel's bolt hole, can either of you backtrack the maws later?"

"Maybe. Depends how much of a trail is left when we get to it."

She waves his concern away, but with a smile. "I was just trying to kick it to get it away from me."

A long pause, "And then I missed horribly and almost fell on my ass." A shrug and then a little oomph as she suddenly compensates for the weight that landed on her shoulder. A brighter smile, "And the acid that Magda called 'too damn weak to clean the floor' did manage to take out one." Looking quite pleased with herself. Her hand goes up to soothe the ruffled scales of the hiding dragon.

A look to the maws, thinking. "I'd vote Chapel first. Make sure he is okay. But if you think the reverse would be wiser I'm not dead set."

Barron looks askance at the remains, trying to decide if maws are edible or not.[/i]

Crow looks up at Barron, "Yeah, probably make you sick." he offers the big black bird half of the rest of the ration pack he had given him pieces of earlier. "Think you can find Chapel or his bolt-hole?"

She waves his concern away, but with a smile. "I was just trying to kick it to get it away from me."

Crow doesn't look completely convinced.

"And the acid that Magda called 'too damn weak to clean the floor' did manage to take out one." Looking quite pleased with herself.

Crow nods. "Yeah, you did good. Have ta get mora that when we get th' chance."

A look to the maws, thinking. "I'd vote Chapel first. Make sure he is okay. But if you think the reverse would be wiser I'm not dead set."

"Chapel first." Crow agrees.

I really should invest in Investigate given the line of work. Just didn't think about it.

As they continue to look for the hidden sleeping place described by Eliana she ponders out loud. "If the Iron Legion wanted to overrun the mountains... I don't know why they would want to it isn't like there is anything here... then it would be in their favor to take out the dragon that protects us first... or to take our his keeper so that the dragon though the pact was broken... maybe in hopes of turning Clipwing to their side..."

"What do you guys think?"

"What do you guys think?"

Crow looks over with a bit of a frown as the sudden raised voice rings through the forest. "Not sure. I think we need more information first."[b] he pauses, placing a big protective paw on Meade's shoulder. [b]"June, I know I'm not exactly silent, but we probably don't want to be announcing our presence to any possible enemy forces if they are out there either." he smiles trying to take some of the sting out of his rebuke as he places a finger on his lips.

She ducks her head with a blush. Doesn't stop her from continuing her pondering in a quiet murmur to herself.

Crow chuckles, squeezing her shoulder as his eyes continue to scan the area.

Perhaps a half hour later, you come across a small cave which you believe to be the one indicated by Eliana to be Chapel's bolt hole. It it difficult to tell in the midday sun, but there may be light inside.

Darius' sharp ears pick up the sounds of someone training in hand to hand combat. Almost immediately the sounds cease, and there is only dead silence from within.

Juniper starts towards the opening of the cave, near the rock wall side. She knocks on the rock quietly, then rubs her reddened knuckles. (This does not presume that she is in the front of the group - it's just what she would do.)

Very, very quietly "Chapel? It's okay. We are here to help, I promise."

Crow continues to scan the area, though more outside the cave than in. "Ye've got some nasty creatures wandrin' aroun' these parts. 'ow long 'as tha' been goin' on?" He says in the direction of the cave, assuming a friendly demeanor.

Let's see, greetings got taken care of by people he might have actually heard of.
Darius and Marco wait silently a bit farther back, batons still ready. After all, Chapel's been missing for a while, who knows if it's him?

After a brief pause, a gruff, gravelly voice calls out "Ach, thes isnae a place fur sightseein', an' we hae naethin' tae discuss. Ye arenae mah battle brothers."

The first alert that something is wrong is Barron squawking and taking off in a blur of black feathers. You turn to see a squad of hulking beastmen ghosting in from out of the trees. Larger than a man, with bestial features and enormous spiked, threatening axes they spread out in a half circle around you. One of them speaks, "There is no escape for you. The mine will be ours."

Harsh laughter comes from the cave entrance. "Ye fowk jist got a lot mair interestin'!"

Combat commences! Round 1 actions please!

Order
20 Marco Vit(29/35)
17 Darius
16 Crow Vit(27/33)
9 Beastmen (5)
8 Ferment
6 Mead

Juniper looks over her shoulder at the cave entrance, at the beastmen, then again into the cave. With remarkable politeness, she says, "I'm sorry gentlemen, but I think you have the wrong place, this is a cave, not a mine."

A pause as she thinks,
K:Where for are mines?: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 281d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21 <- 28
K:What the heck are the beastmen?: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 111d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16 <- 16
turns to the cave mouth slightly, "Or is this a mine? And are you Chapel?"

As she thinks she moves back, because the beast-creatures are large... and carrying weapons. She tries to pick out the leader of the beastmen (or the biggest one failing that), "What you are doing is a very bad idea and will cause your death unless you desist." Her voice polite but hard, brooking no argument and less disobedience.

Juniper looks over her shoulder at the cave entrance, at the beastmen, then again into the cave. With remarkable politeness, she says, "I'm sorry gentlemen, but I think you have the wrong place, this is a cave, not a mine."

A pause as she thinks,
[dice=K:Where for are mines?]1d20+8;1d20+8 <- 28
[dice=K:What the heck are the beastmen?]1d20+8;1d20+8 <- 16
turns to the cave mouth slightly, "Or is this a mine? And are you Chapel?"

As she thinks she moves back, because the beast-creatures are large... and carrying weapons. She tries to pick out the leader of the beastmen (or the biggest one failing that), "What you are doing is a very bad idea and will cause your death unless you desist." Her voice polite but hard, brooking no argument and less disobedience.
** spoiler omitted **

The only mine you know of is a bit NW of The Village. Beastmen are not something that is known of in the Village or the Mill.

...they spread out in a half circle around you. One of them speaks,[/i] "There is no escape for you. The mine will be ours."

Combat commences! Round 1 actions please!

Order
20 Marco Vit(29/35)
17 Darius
16 Crow Vit(27/33)
9 Beastmen (5)
8 Ferment
6 Mead

Beastmen combat - Round 1

Darius and Marco rush to Juniper putting themselves between her and the beastmen. Everyone gets +2 melee to hit and +3 to defense

There is a quiet, disgruntled sigh and a quiet beat of wings.

Crow spends an action dice to activate #2's whiff

Juniper is out of action dice.

I'll spend an action dice for my parry. I only failed by 1 so since 1d4 is minimum 1 I make it right?

The two guardsmen move to cover Mead, while Crow takes a step back into his fighting stance. The beastmen howl and charge, swinging their huge, threatening axes with all their strength. Confidence bolstered by the presence of the companions around him, Crow deftly blocks and dodges the vicious attacks leveled at him by a pair of enemies. The wicked barbs and spikes of the beastmens axes may strike fear into lesser men, but Crow stands firm. Next to him Darius is beset by another pair, axes tracing patterns of death. Darius takes sudden advantage of a clumsy swing by a beastman nearly twice his size, and with seemingly effortless moves, takes out its knee and drives the breath from it. Following through with his backswing, Darius tricks the second beastman into a series of overextended attacks that exhaust it. Marco is not so lucky as a beastman reverses his strike and nearly takes his arm off. Only a desperate dodge allows him to keep his limb though it costs Marco no small effort. Mead verbally assaults the largest beastman, whipping him with scathing remarks, so infuriating him that he bellows with impotent rage! The beastmans fury overloads its mind, and it slumps into catatonia.

Round 1 ends, Actions please!
Order
20 Marco Vit(15/35)
17 Darius
16 Crow Vit(27/33) Stress(2)
9 Beastmen
#4
#5
8 Ferment
6 Mead

Juniper shakes her head at the two remaining beastmen, "Can't say I didn't warn you." She pulls out a boomerang, throwing it so that the return path will fall on one of the remaining two.

Crow snorts at the beastmen arrayed against them. "She did, ya know." he looks up at beastman still standing before him with a bit of a smirk, "Ah think ah've heard 'er put it another way. Bad doggy!" he says emphasizing the point with Ghostbreaker's weight.

wait, Mead took down one with threaten and I got one with grueling combatant, how did the other one go down?

Everyone gets +2 melee to hit and +3 to defense

Actually, it wouldn't have hit on the second one either. Shall I update my stats for the combat from battle planning. For future reference anyway, I should have caught it sooner.

Marco swipes at the closest one driving it back. Darius steps around Crow to do the same.

wait, Mead took down one with threaten and I got one with grueling combatant, how did the other one go down?