As the three who lag behind the main group hunker down in a small ravine, you hear the approach of those behind you. As they crest the last rise and begin scrambling down into the gully where you wait, you see two hideous, misshapen brutes. Covered in black fur, with large ears drooping down almost to their shoulders, they peer out at the world with enormous, milky white eyes. They travel hunched over, their heads too small for their powerful bodies, sniffing the air from time to time as they scamper across the ground.
Wearing plain but serviceable leather armor, they both carry small wooden shields and a morningstar each. As they draw nearer, they both turn towards Flint, opening their mouths to reveal a tangle of jagged, sharp teeth. Hefting their weapons, they rush forward with a snarl - drawing nearer and revealing they both wear crude necklaces made from bloody and decaying humanoid ears.
Damandor, Anyssa and Ivan are about a hundred yards ahead of where the fight is breaking out.
Initiative order:
Garret
Ivan
Anyssa
Grunthor
Bugbears
Flint
Damandor
Next up are Garret and Grunthor (who are currently hidden) and Ivan and Anyssa (a few rounds away from the fight).
If they are within 40', Grunthor will go into a rage, attack one of the creatures with a 1d20=6+6=12. Probably a swish, unless I get some other type of bonus, like flatfooted, etc. Damage: 3+6+6=15 points. If they are more than 40' away, I will move to 35' away and wait for next round to rage.
Once Damandor sees that the battle has begun, he moves toward the creatures that are now attacking his friends, in one hand carrying his crossbow. He then draws out a piece parchment with the other hand, something is written on it, and holding it aloft in front of him, speaks a few softly chanted words. He is then surrounded by a shimmering magical field.
Damandor will move toward the fight 30 feet, and then cast Shield of Faith on himself, granting +2 to AC.
As the two brutes charge towards Flint, Grunthor suddenly surges from his hiding place, swinging his sword wildly at one of the beasts in a glancing blow which fails to penetrate his armor. Turning to face this new threat, he responds with an attack of his own, however the morningstar fails to connect as Grunthor easily dodges to one side.
The other bugbear continues on towards Flint, opening his mouth to display his needle-like teeth in an evil grin as he hefts his morningstar. Flint is unprepared for the savagery of the attack and suffers a severe wound as the bugbear's weapon collides with the side of the dwarf's head. Flint takes 7 hit points damage. His eyes widening in anticipated triumph, the beast lets out a painful howl of his own, turning to look down at Garret's arrow jutting out from his side.
As the violence erupts, Ivan, Anyssa and Damandor respond quickly, turning and rushing back towards the battle.
Flint is last to act in this first round. Currently he and Grunthor are engaged in melee with one bugbear each, whilst Garret is a short distance away. Anyssa, Ivan and Damandor have begun heading back to assist.
Next people to post actions:
Flint
Garret
Ivan
Anyssa
Grunthor
Flint retaliates against the bugbear which attacked him moments ago, his blow striking the growling beast savagely in the side. He grunts in pain, then snarls in response, hefting his morningstar to once more attack the dwarf. Luckily for Flint, the second blow glances harmlessly off his armor.
His companion is not so lucky, lifting his weapon in an attempt to fend of Grunthor's attack which the barbarian easily swats aside. Following through, Grunthor runs the bugbear through, knocking him to the ground in a lifeless heap.
One bugbear remains, fighting Flint. Ivan, Anyssa and Damandor are still hurrying back to the rest of the group.
Flint laughs as the bugbear's attack glances off his armor. He swings his warhammer at the humanoid, trying to fnish it off before it can finish him off...
The bugbear dodges to one side, evading Damandor's shot but moving into the path of Flint's attack. The dwarf cuts the beast down, and he drops to the ground with a grunt of pain. As suddenly as it begun, the skirmish seems to be over. However, as Anyssa, Ivan and Damandor rejoin the others, you can begin to make out more growls from over the rise. It sounds like the two you confronted here were merely the scouts for a larger band.
You would judge you have no more than one or two rounds to prepare before the next group of bugbears arrive. By the sounds there are possibly as many as another half dozen or so about to crest the hill and enter the gully.
Let's hide back in the bushes on either side of the trail and see what happens when they find their friends dead. I am afraid that I didn't hide very well this time.
As you hunker down to hide, four more of the evil looking beasts come over the hill and enter the gulley. They do not seem to be moving as stealthily as the previous two were, talking to one another in short grunts as they pick their way through the rocky terrain. Seeing their comrades dead on the ground, the four of them look around alert for danger and call out in an unfamiliar language. They once more spot some of you as you attempt to hide and begin to move down into the small ravine, morningstars at the ready. As they do, a large, hulking brute crests the hill behind them, stopping at the top of the rise to watch as the battle is joined.
The large creature behind the bugbears stands almost nine feet tall, it's dark skin is covered in lumps and stains. Dressed in the rough hide of some large beast, it carries an enormous wooden club, with a couple of javelins strapped across its back. As the bugbears rush forward to engage, the large savage reaches for one of its javelins.
Those of you who rolled over 20 for your stealth checks have successfully hidden. The rest of you have been seen by one or more of them and will soon be in melee. Their leader is around forty feet away, at the top of the ravine.
Looks like a possible 11 hp damage if the critical hit confirms, if not the just the 9 hp from the initial roll.
"Take that, evil creature, that will teach you stalk unwary travelers!"
"Everyone watch out for others coming at us from different directions. We wouldn't want to get caught in the same type of trap we laid for the first two."
Damandor looks around about to see if he can spot others coming from different directions.
Perception (Sight): 1d20+4=10 Hope there is nothing else out there, because I don't think I saw it if there is.
I am sorry to say that I am going to have to abandon my PBP DMing obligations. It’s been pretty clear over the last few weeks that I am struggling to keep up in any satisfying way – I’ve just taken on another university course and that means about 40 hours of lectures I’m going to have to write in the next few months (plus setting exams, assignments and the dreaded marking obligations). Although I have time to check the boards – I just don’t have any creative headspace free to give the job what it deserves.
I would like to apologise to everyone who’s been playing – you’ve been very patient with a new PBP DM and I do feel bad, however limping along with at most one or two posts a week from the DM is unlikely to be very satisfying imo. All I can offer is a guaranteed spot for any of you who want it once things settle and I can get back into running PBP again (not likely until January, though).
The problem with role-playing is always finding the time. You are a good DM and I'll be sure to watch for your return. Good luck on your new course! :)
Doug Greer(Male Red headed something or other. Electronics Technician 7/Computer Programmer 8/Database Admin 5)
Count me in when you are ready to start up again as well, you are a great DM and I was really enjoying the adventure. Good luck on the new assignment.
Welcome back everyone. There is a slight reality glitch if you'd all be so kind as to suspend some disbelief for a moment. I havent heard from Ivan and Flint and rather than run them myself we will assume they have wandered off wherever Eland has got to. (If they wish to rejoin later, they may well slot back in).
For now, the situation is that Garret and Anyssa are currently hidden in the gully, Grunthor has rushed out to engage the bugbears, dropping one where it stood and Damandor is a short distance away from the melee (having doubled back from his post as decoy). There are three of the brutes remaining and their larger leader who has just topped the rise, looking down on his minions as they begin to converge on Grunthor's position.
Anyssa emerges from her hiding spot, slipping behind the bugbears and cutting one of them in the leg. With a roar, the beast turns to face it's new attacker.
As the bugbear turns to face Anyssa, Garret seizes the opportunity and releases an arrow, striking it just under the arm through a break in its crude armor.
The same bugbear takes 3 further damage. (+1 from range, plus sneak attack)
Grunthor's blow is devastating, cutting another of the beasts savagely as it spins to one side and collapses in an unmoving heap. Undeterred, the two brutes still standing press the attack, one fighting Grunthor and the other engaging Anyssa.
Snorting with derision, Grunthor's opponent swings his morningstar at the barbarian, striking him a vicious blow. Grunthor takes 10 hit points.
The one fighting Anyssa is less successful as she dodges easily under his wild swing.
From atop the rise, their hulking leader roars with rage, hurling his javelin towards Garret with a mighty throw before hefting his club and preparing to charge down the ravine into the fray. Luckily for the halfling, the javelin sails wide, shattering on a nearby boulder.
Two bugbears remain, one fighting Anyssa who has been wounded and the other is engaging Grunthor. Garret is a short distance away from the melee and Damandor a little further back. Their hulking leader is about to charge into the combat and would probably be able to reach any of Garret, Grunthor or Anyssa in one round.
Anyssa's opponent, smarting from the wounds she has already inflicted, brings its morningstar sweeping down towards her in a retaliatory blow which she easily dodges.
Meanwhile, continuing his brutal assault, Grunthor dispatches another of the bugbears before coming face to face with the large creature charging down into the gully. Still focussed on the bugbears fallen around him, Grunthor is unable to avoid the brute's attack and receives a blow from his massive club. Grunthor takes 12 hit points
Damandor is stunned as he sees Grunthor go down and Anyssa hit badly.
On his next turn Damandor will do the following.
He then rushes towards Grunthor, discarding his crossbow and drawing his longsword as he races towards the fallen barbarian.
I'm not sure how far Damandor is from Grunthor and Anyssa, so I'm not sure what my action for this round is going to be. Here are the probabilities in order of preference.
If I'm close enough I'll attack the large creature that hit Grunthor. Attack (longsword): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
or if Damandor can get within 30' of Anyssa and Grunthor then he will use his channel positive energy. Healing 1d6 ⇒ 4 hp of damage to all living creatures in a 30' radius, and doing the same amount of damage to undead.
or if he cannot get close enough he will just close the distance and attack next round.
Damandor leaps into the fray as Grunthor falls, cutting the enemies' leader in the thigh. Meanwhile, Garret falls back a short distance from the confused melee. Two of the enemy remain standing, although both are wounded. Anyssa is fighting the bugbear whilst Damandor is facing off against the larger foe.