Gozreh

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1,317 posts. Alias of Robert Brookes (RPG Superstar 2014 Top 4).


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Rising up from the table and leaving a drained cup of coffee behind, Gwynn picks up her gun belt from where she'd let it rest atop a nearby barrel. Swinging it around her hips, she tugs the belt tight and checks that her revolver is secure. She runs a through her hair, sweeping it back from her face, then turns to look at Styvanus.

"Remember who we are,' Gwynn recommends, "we may be surrounded by foreign faces, but we have Andoran in our hearts and under our feet. We are not monsters." Flicking a look to Dann, Gwynn gives a nod and then moves to follow Styvanus to the basement, prepared to interrogate the prisoners while the others prepare for the journey to the heart of winter itself.

The road would be a long and dangerous one yet.

Longer than any of them could have imagined.
 
 
 
 

    << Meanwhile... >>
 
 
 
 
 
Through a haze of snow, a pair of wings beat feverishly. Buzzing through gusts of powerful wind, driving sleet and flakes of razor-sharp ice, a small cobalt-colored creature comes to perch on a windswept tree branch. Hunched over, the emaciated being huffs and puffs from exhaustion, turning beady, coal black eyes to the flickering glow of azure light below the cliff the tree is perched on. A cyclone of snow rises up from over the edge of the cliff, emanating from the flash and flicker of lightning and tall spires of jagged shape like that of icicles rising up from the ground.

Groaning exhaustedly, the creature alights fromt he branch, spreads its wings and soars over the edge of the cliff, drifting on the wild winds before tucking its wings close to its body and plummeting down the cliff face as fast as it can. Hammered by the wind, the creature struggles to retain control, finally opening its wings again when near the snowy drifts at the bottom of the cliff.

The creature's bat-like wings catch the wind, and as it is pulled towards the cliff by teh hurricane-force gale, it seems to be ready. Dipping down at the last minute, the winged creature flies straight into the cliff face through an obscured cave opening. It's wings flag wildly, arms windmill and it steadies itself. The wind in here howls, but is nowhere near as strong as outside.

"Hommelstaub!" It calls out in a shrill, raspy voice, clawed hands cupped at its mouth to magnify its tiny voice. There is a scraping sound of metal on stone, followed by a dim blue light and the buzzing of insect wings. Fluttering into view is a diminutive little old man, with a broad face and shaggy white hair. Its tiny dragonfly-like wings give it perhaps a six-inch wingspan and its body is barely the size of a leaf.

The tiny fae lands in front of the being that called it, looking up with a smug expression. "Izoze, you sad sack of mephit flesh, what in the name of the crone are you doing here?" Izoze snarls and stares down at the comparitively smaller form of Hommelstaub, then rolls his eyes and sweeps a hand over his bald head.

"Thuldrin's probably dead," Izoze explains off-handedly, "I figure you heard the gunfire." Snarling again, the mephit stomps a few paces away, hands wildly gesticulating. "We need to warn Teb."

Hommelstaub's eyes narrow, his thin lips purse and tiny arms cross over his chest. "I knew we couldn't trust those humans to hold up their end of the bargain," Hommelstaub grouses, spitting a frozen piece of saliva onto the floor of the cave. The atomie rubs one tiny hand against his forehead and looks over his shoulder to Izoze.

"If we're lucky, Thuldrin will have bought us some time and delayed them until dark." Hommelstaub looks to the entrance of the cave and wrings his spindly hands together, his too-large mouth turning into a gigantic smile. "Oh and Izoze," the winter-touched atomie begins, looking side-long to the mephit.

"Tell Teb dinner is coming..."
 
 
 

 
  
                    REIGN OF WINTER
          THE SNOWS OF SUMMER
               Part III: The Winter Portal
 
 
 
 


"We're the heroes! :D" *cheers* "Have our DEMON BLOOD TO SOOTHE YOUR WOUNDS! :D?" *cricket chirps*
 
I love this party.


Rules for going without sleep are here. The only difference from the rules presented in Trial of the Beast is that the DC to resist goes up by 2 every day without sleep and after you reach exhausted further cumulative failures will probably deal ability damage. Going without sleep is big bada boom.


When the shackles come off Gwynn, she lets them fall to the floor with a heavy clunk of the metal on hardwood. Her wrists are chaffed and raw where the manacles had been in place. Rubbing at her wrists with bare hands, Gwynn stares down at her feet and exhales a wavering sigh. "I was prepared to die here," her voice is hushed, more to herself than the rest of those gathered. Exhausted. Gwynn takes just a few steps and sits down on the bottom of the stairs, paying no mind to the corpse at the top of it.

Seeing the revolver offered out to her, Gwynn reaches uot and takes the gun belt, laying it across her lap. She pushes open the revolver's chambered cylinder, notes that it's unloaded, and begins slowly reloading the six empty chambers. "Thank you," comes across a bit more hoarsely than she'd intended. While she could use a good meal, a bed, and some water her happiness right now is a warm gun.

Looking up to see Ordrud, a faint smile fleetingly crosses the Captain's face, and she raises one hand in a shaky salute to the half-orc, giving him the recognition of a superior officer to a subordinate of a job well done. Anything more sentimental may cause her stiffened exterior to crack again into joyful sobs, and it is neither the time nor the place for that.

Swallowing dryly, Gwynn takes a moment to assess the team that saved her. Two Andoran officers; she'd heard of Styvanus and Rasso by their noteworthy reputations. Marcellano was an unknown, but she recognized the Chelish uniform he wore and the importance of his presence became immediately impressed on her. Talavuc elicited a raised brow, as her ethnicity and attire didn't immediately jump out to Gwynn, nor did Teladon's masked form hold more meaning other than his obviously elven heritage poking out from either side of the mask.

It was Fenyx and Ar'Zarrcal that caused her heart to skip a beat. Once Fenyx dismissed the attire of Halak, the sihedron rune presented itself threateningly to her. She tried to stand, wavered, and places a hand against the wall. That Thassilon participated in the winter council comes back to memory, eases her worry, and allows Gwynn to sit back down on the stairs.

"There's no hostages, just me," Gwynn mutters in response to Ar'Zarrcal. "He shipped the sick off while Halak had most of them men away from the lodge so they wouldn't notice. They're-- probably dead now." The distaste in Gwynn's voice is venomous.

"That man you killed," Gwynn looks over her shoulder to Teladon, "was Thuldrin Kreed. He was the head of the Lumber Consortium, responsible for... allowing all of this to happen. He deserved to die, but he was also the only person at this lodge who'd gone beyond the ravine to the source of the storm and knew what was going on." Running her hands through her hair, Gwynn rests her head in her hands.

The sigh that comes next is shaky and weak.


Oh right, right. I think I was thinking of something else when I put Ar'Z name there.


You are correct, one hunter is still alive (and unconscious) from the color spray, and you still have a pixie-in-a-bag from the earlier encounter in the woods.


Unfortunately it's just a mislabeled gaffe of the magi and it only makes Fenyx prone to conversational faux-pas.


Payday was a CR 6 and Thuldrin was a CR 4, I didn't short-change you on the treasure for that. You definitely earned all of this.


Items Identified
> Potion of cure light wounds (3)
> Potion of bull's strength (1)
> Potion of cure moderate wounds (1)
> Potion of endure elements (1)
> Potion of invisibility (1)

> Wand of magic missile (8 charges remaining)
> Wand of remove disease (2 charges remaining)
> Amulet of mighty fists +2
> Bracers of the Armor +2


Thuldrin's gurgled plea for mercy ended much as those of the people he lashed on to building and burned alive did; without recognition. Teladon's judgement was swift, impulsive, and perhaps the most human thing he had done since he joined the group. Thuldrins lifeless body falls to the balcony floor, rivulets of blood soaking between the floorboards and dripping down to form in a pool nearby to where Talavuc stands.

Not far away, as she hesitantly rose to her feet, Captain Gwynn saw first-hand the elf's judgment too late, and her scream of, "NO!" came too late. Levering herself to her feet on shaky legs, Gwynn staggered over to the stairs, nearly tripping over the upturned bearskin rug as she did. Staring up the stairs with wide, blue eyes, Gwynn looked on hopelessly as Thuldrin lay dead at Teladon's feet.

The knight exhaled a breathless sigh, slumping to one side against the wall before sliding down to the floor on her knees. Her eyes shut, and with a weary voice she murmured, simply, "Crap."

Dann had been watching this scene play out, and only moves again once it looks like Gwynn has calmed. Moving over to the front doors, the burly man lifts the bar on the door and opens them, revealing the zombie on the other side. Beyond it, he can see the villagers, and as much as he wants to put the creature down, the last thing he wants is to perpetuate more violence tonight.

Pushing it aside with no resistance, the corpse staggers a few steps out of Dann's way and remains looming on the porch. "You four," Dann motions to some of the former conscripts standing around as if waiting for the other shoe to drop. "Keep an eye on the road in, I don't want any surprises. I'll relieve you as soon as I know what the hell is going on, you've worked hard a damn nuff'."

Back in the lodge, Gwynn finally looks up from the stairs after settling her thoughts. It's only then that she gets a good, clear look at Ordrud standing in the storage closet with Rasso. A look of relief spreads on the Captain's face, but relief tempered by worry. Not wanting to disrupt the team's dynamic and any plans set in motion, she waits by the stairs for aid or questioning. She couldn't afford another outburst like that, for their sake or hers.
__________
Thuldrin: Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (9) + 0 = 9


The key to Gwynn's manacles is on Thuldrin's desk upstairs in his bedroom. I'll have another post with the active NPCs once a couple more people in the cabin have had a chance to react to the conclusion of the fight.


Ahhhh! I had misinterpreted it as the entire stack of wood being on fire, that makes more sense.


He may still call himself a summoner, "synthesist" would be a more thaumaturgical term used by people in dusty old books to delineate differences in summoning practices.

A sahaugin might call it the practice of hsreshk ksherlkk or something fishy like that in their language; meaning "sea spirit binding" or something along those lines.


Marcellano Kain wrote:

Oh hey not to worry anyone, but didn't Ar'Z light something on fire?

I'M JUST SAYING. :x

Yes, those logs at the side of the cabin are still on fire. Mmmmight want to put that out ;)


I can definitely skip the monotony of going through the items and just handle all the checks here to figure out how long it takes to go through everything.


The sick men are missing, it appears, and no one so far knows where they are (Thuldrin or the surviving hunter may.) Talavuc also knows the room they were kept in is rife with disease from her trip in there. It smelled of vomit, sweat and sickness.


The metal cartridges in the ammo box are the appropriate ammunition for the advanced firearm rifle you found a while back in the woods. I think Marcellano had that.


Teladon: Good catch! That puts the party at 4,282xp, while Talavuc has 4,382xp.


Jesus. You guys have been in seven out of eight encounters without rest.

High-fives all around.


If I missed anything or if my math seems off, let me know. You are close to leveling, so every point counts.


XP AUDIT

Group XP
200 (Zombies on Red Wraith)
200 (Frostfallen ambush in Falcon's Hollow)
287 (Hunter ambush at ruined mill)
150 (Tatzlwyrm)
225 (Pym, Shor, Vossi and the Walking Dead)
100 (Ice elementals at the winter wall)
45 (Peaceful resolution with Denek and Tyne)
1000 (Lodge siege)

Total: 2,207xp

Individual Bonus XP
Talavuc: +100 (Asking about trails at first meeting)

As we are on the Medium advancement path and you all began at 2nd level with 2,00oxp, you should all now have a total of 4,207xp, while Talavuc has 4,307xp.

3rd level is at 5,000xp, so you are a little shy of leveling.

(While Ordrud was not present for the encounter with the zombies on the Red Wraith, but I'm keeping him aligned with the group total since the only reason he wasn't there was a scheduling issue we had to resolve with his vacation time. Not going to penalize him for that.)


Gear From Lodge

Magic Items
Potions (Unidentified; labeled)
> (Storage) "Wound Soothe" (3) (Aura: Conjuration)
> (Storage) "Mighty Strength" (1) (Aura: Transmutation)
> (Storage) "Fortified Wound Soothe" (1) (Aura: Conjuration)
> (Storage) "Extreme Temperature Survival" (1) (Aura: Abjuration)
> (Storage) "Invisibility" (1) (Aura: Illusion)

Other Magic Items (Unidentified)
> (Thuldrin) Wand of magic missile (?? Charges Remaining; Aura: Evocation)
> (Thuldrin's Quarters) Wand of ??? (?? Charges Remaining; Aura: Conjuration)
> (Payden) Steel chain-link amulet (Aura: Evocation)
> (Thuldrin's Quarters) Leather bracers inlaid with eagle patterning (Aura: Abjuration)

Mundane Items
> (Storage) Keg of lantern oil (2)
> (Storage) Black powder kegs (3)
> (Storage) Pouch: Bullets, Standard (60)
> (Storage) Ammo Box: Bullet, Metal Cartridge (12)
> (Storage) Longbow, Composite (+1)
> (Storage) Quiver, Standard Arrows (20)
> (Storage) Snowshoes (6 pair)
> (Storage) Cold Weather Outfit (6)
> (Storage) Skis (6 Pair)
> (Storage) Bear Trap (3)
> (Hunters) Musket (6)
> (Hunters) Pouch (6): Bullets, Standard (20 each)
> (Hunters) Powder Horn (6): (10 doses each)
> (Thuldrin) Masterwork shortsword
> (Bunks) Backpack (8)
> (Stables) Saddle (2)
> (Stables) Leather Armor Barding (2)
> (On Gwynn) Masterwork manacles
> (Thuldrin's Room) 2 doses giant wasp poison
> (Gwynn's) Masterwork Agile Breastplate (Black lacquered, eagle knight emblems visible)
> (Andis') Masterwork Agile Breastplate (Black lacquered, eagle knight emblems visible)
> (Gwynn's) Gun Belt Bandolier (one pistol holster, empty): 8 Metal Cartridges
> (Andis') Masterwork cold iron longspear

Food
> (Basement) Dried rations (8 weeks)
> (Basement) Fresh meat (enough to feed the lodge and all present occupants for 5 days)
> (Storage) Water (8 barrels)
> (Stables) Horse Feed (4 weeks per horse)

There is also enough lumber in the outside storage shed to patch up the windows, and enough firewood to last a few months.


Also, the breakdown of the XP award was as follows:

Enemies
6 Hunters (Human Warrior 2; CR 1/2): 1,200
Payday: (Human Monk [Martial Artist] 2/Fighter 4; CR 6): 2,400
Thuldrin: (Human Expert 2/Rogue 4; CR 4): 1,200

Story Awards
Rallying the Conscripts/Dann: 400xp
No Allied Casualties: 400xp
Rescued Talisa Gwynn Successfully: 400xp

Total: 6,000xp (1,000 per PC)


Congrats, with Payden dead and all of the hunters either slain or unconscious, Thuldrin (stunned) crumpled when he realized he had no other means of survival except for throwing himself on the mercy of his betters.

What you do from here is entirely up to you. Only one of the hunters (the one hit by Teladon's color spray) survived the encounter. Thuldrin is only minorly injured, but has surrendered to the invading force (again >_>.)

We can go about what happens next in a number of ways. Given that there is a lot of cleaning up, catching up, and preparation to be done we can continue following in direct time from where we stand right now, or when you are ready we can time-skip a little ahead and I can make a narrative post compiling all of the actions/preparations you would like to take.

Right now you have a (drafty) base of operations here in the forest, sentries, and most importantly warm beds to sleep in and a fire to keep you warm. I will provide you with an inventory of the lodge's supplies and equipment from the NPCs who were defeated.

Whether you accept Thuldrin's surrender or execute him/the surviving hunter is up to you and how you come to that decision is up to you. If you would like to hash it out in here OOCly and then have a narrative follow through the punishment, we can do that. Basically, the show is yours, let me know how you want it to all go down.


Attempting to slip out of his room unnoticeed, a figure emerging on the balcony in a crouch draws the attention of Talavuc, Teladon, Styvanus and Ar'Zarrcal with creaking floorboards and clomping footsteps. Giving up on an attempt at a stealthy approach, the figure swiftly stands up with one arm outstretched, brandishing a long iron wand. "You f*ckers f*cked with the wrong bloody f*cking man!" The screeching voice of a thus-far unknown figure rings out over the kitchen. Standing up straight, Thuldrin Kreed is a short and stocky man with swept back, wavy, graying blonde hair, a broad face and wide-set eyes.

"Efulvati!" Thuldrin screams as a glowing point of emerald light flares to life a the head of the wand, and with a flick of his wrist two screeching bolt of energy rocket through the air and slam into Teladon like bullets.

Outside, Dann watches the zombie smash at the door, splintering wood and pounding against the barricade. His heart sinks on seeing Yvonne's corpse used in such a fashion. He considers his axe for a moment, considers putting her down, but the screams and sounds of carnage inside make him reconsider. Instead, Dann excises himself from the situation, running into the now vacant open window beside the door. Climbing through the smashed out window, Dann hustles through the bedroom, stepping over the corpse of one of the hunters before slamming his shoulder into the closed door.

Dann emerges in the foyer to screams and furious combat. Spotting one of the hunters preparing to reload his musket, Dann winds up with his axe and takes a wild swing, but the hunter ducks out of the way of the swing, and Dann's axe takes a huge chunk out of the wall. "Andoran!" Dann bellows, joining the earlier cries of the Eagle Knights.

Thunk

Dann hear's something behind him, and the woodsman turns sharply to see the bearskin rug on the floor jump up a foot. Bewildered, Dann grips his axe tighter, only to hear another loud thump and the rug leaps up again. Silently mouthing a curse in confusion, Dann readies himself for the unknown just as a third and final thump turns into a resounding crash as a trap door is burst open, flinging the rug up in the air. Dust and mildew-stinking air flood the foyer, and from a concealed basement hatch strides a dirt-smeared blonde haired woman in a tattered black military uniform, hands shackled at the wrist.

Blue eyes stare ferociously at Payden, Dann and the hunter she can see. Bruises blotch the woman's face, rope marks around her neck indicate attempts at strangulation and a cut on her forehead has only partly healed. Gripping the chains of her shackles tightly, Knight-Captain Gwynn looks ready to kill everyone in the room if she has to.

Outside, Denek draws another arrow and draws it back in his shortbow, waiting for another hunter to come into view. Swallowing nervously, he can only hope that his choice to join the fight was not premature. Then, out fo the corner of Denek's eye, he spies the other conscripts coming out of their tents with shortswords in hand, screaming at the top of their lungs.

"Andoran!"

"Andoran!"

"Andoran!"

Denek's doubt passes, and his voice joins the others.

"Andoran!"

Pain is all Rasso can feel. Stabby, burning, throbbing pain. These are the only sensations that Rasso knows. Teetering on the edge of death, the merman's vision narrows down to a blurry tunnel, pulsing red around the edges in time with his racing heart. Standing in the center of his narrowed vision is Payden. The brawler's face, arm and legs are in tatters and he is clearly just as badly injured as Rasso. The cries of 'Andoran!' echoing through the night, pierce Rasso's pain state and he rallies himself. Just one more bloody assualt... The merman synthesist thinks, lunging forward with the last of his failing strength. This time one claw goes for the neck, while the other reaches for Payden's crotch.

The first claw is easily blocked as Payden's forearm snaps up and outward with a circular motion, deflecting the blow away from his neck. The second claw however goes unnoticed until it grabs ahold of his man bits. Then it shreds. The scream that erupts from Payden is long, loud and ends in a gurgle, as Rasso castrates the larger human man.

Rasso tries to bite off the arm that Ordrud's sword just sliced open. As he darts forward teeth first, he stumbles and nearly falls. One of the merman's broken ribs was shoved through a lung by the sudden movement. With a cry of pain, Rasso stumbles backward, coughing up a clot of dark black blood. "Help me mate, I cain't..." his plea is broken by him vomiting more blood onto the floor of the storage room, as he hunches over struggling for breath.

Right outside, Fenyx nods in response to Tyne, hoping to instill a bit of courage in the man. Though, in all honesty, he appreciated having another body nearby to draw any yet to be revealed threats. "Keep a spare eye on the opposite side of the bridge if you would, Tyne."

"Halak", seeking to direct the newly conscripted arrivals to the massive melee unfolding inside the lodge, uncurls a finger to point at the nearest of the men that spilled out from their tents. Addressing him in a guttural roar as the man approaches the steps he yells "Get that blasted door open!" Scant steps beyond, the lifeless if not motionless form of Yvonne continues smashing into the door with reckless abandon.

Having failed at trying to latch his grappling hook on the cabin's tower, Marcellano instead tries a different tactic - following everyone else's lead. Loaded musket in hand, Marcellano leaves his safe spot and jumps in one of the already broken windows, determined to get into the battle instead of trying to flank from above.

As he jumps into the cabin, he yells at the top of his lungs, "For Thrune!", not letting the Andoran nationals take all of the glory in this fight.

The lodge has descended into complete and utter chaos. The hunters once secure within the structure now feel trapped by its very walls. Cornered by Dig Dann, one of the hunters brings his fouled musket up and smashes it against Dann's jaw, sending the tall man stumbling back with one hand grasping at his now bloodied mouth. Deeper into the lodge, the two hunters who are now surrounded in the kitchen have little recourse. Taking a step back away from the battle, his back pressed to the side of the staircase to the balcony.

Drawing the rifle's ramrod out of a narrow tube below the barrel, the hunter quickly begins packing in a new round and filling the breech with black powder from a horn swinging at his waist. Meanwhile, his compatriot takes a step away from the table Ar'Zarrcal and Talavuc are crouched behind and tries to fire point-blank at Styvanus.

The Captain springs into action, knocking the barrel aside with his gauntleted hand and swings his shield up to smash under the already bruised and wounded hunter's throat, knocking him clear off of his feet and sending him crashing to the floor, unmoving.

Back at the front of the lodge, Payday wipes blood from his nose and mouth and lunges in at Rasso. The merman raises his claws to shield himself, but the boxer is able to pry his chitinous arms aside and land one smashing blow against his brow, shattering Rasso's eidolon like shards of ethereal glass. Suddenly, Rasso wobbles and staggers backwards, crashing onto the floor as his crustacean armor begins to dissolve like ice in the heat, revealing the fish-tailed merman within.

As much as he would enjoy snapping the merman's neck for what he did to him, "Payday" can't turn his back on the ferocious orc warrior bearing down on him. This one was powerful enough to elude his hunters, gain reinforcements, and return... and somehow work out a deal with Halak? If he survived this, Payden would have to figure out how the hell that happened.

Stepping over Rasso's prone form, Payden ducks into the storage room and lands a powerful gut-punch against Ordrud, sending him reeling back into the shelves with a noisy clatter. Spitting blood onto the floor, Payden follows up with a tremendous right hook that blacks Ordrud's vision out for a moment, returning with blotches of light fading in and out. Nearly felled by these two blows alone, the ferocious warrior of Lastwall and Belkzen heritage remarkably remains standing.

"Thought you coul' get away from me, eh? M'gon f*ckin' gut you," Payden curses, his heels sliding through pooling blood on the floor, both his own and Rasso's.

So much had happened in scant seconds. Ordrud’s heart soared when Captain Gwynn burst from her underground jail. Oh, Captain! My Captain! caught in his throat. The cries of ‘Andoran’ did nothing for him, but the sight of her did. She was the first to give him the respect of a simple warrior. He had finally felt free of the position of student and noble hostage that politics had sealed him in Lastwall. His first companions followed her lead and treated him as a fellow soldier, so the last few weeks had been a new beginning. All those emotions returned in a flush.

Then, around the hulk of a man called ‘Payday,’ he glimpsed the hunters who had pursued him for days. They shot at him, unsuccessfully tracked him like an animal, and finally returned here. These memories of hunger and paranoia had been simmering, since the arrival of his new companions. They boiled over each time he found another old companion dead. This had been a long day.

Now, this ‘Payday’ just dropped the lobster and knocked him a couple of times. The merman looked different on the ground unconscious. Ordrud could not understand why in the instant. But the torrent of pain from the two fists felt familiar. His mother had used pain to teach and focus him. Oruk would just beat him for fun. Pain pushed everything from his mind until it was clear, and he grinned with blood dripping from his mouth, ”You should have killed me. Now, it’s my turn.” The words hiss like air drawing inward before an explosion. ”FOR PAYBACK!"

His monstrous roar could clearly be heard by Fenyx outside. Ordrud finds his stance moving his cold iron greatsword into the high guard position that had been drummed into him at Lastwall. Ordrud's blade moves like a chirugeon's scalpel, cleaving up under Payday's ribcage before the boxer even realizes he's been gutter. Using leverage, Ordrud forces Payday back against the wall and completes the brutal Belkzen fighting maneuver, twisting the sword upwards like a lever, holding it by the grip backhanded. The blade slides clean through Payden's left arm at the shoulder, even as it tears open his belly, using the wall behind him like a cutting board. Then, dropping to one knee, Ordrud drives the length of the blade down along Payden's thigh and splits it in two.

He's dead before he hits the ground.

Bedlam dominated the interior of the lodge. Friends and enemies alike fell, gunfire rang out, and magic was hurled. Ar’Zarrcal looked about with disdain. Though it may have been a natural state, Ar’Zarrcal had been raised and re-raised to despise chaos and crave order and discipline. Turmoil and discord inspired in Ar’Zarrcal a fierce need to impose structure upon it. Though his teeth were clenched tightly together, his lips curled into a grimace. The best way to bring harmony to the current situation was to kill all the hunters who opposed them. He could not do it alone and even as he searched the interior he had difficulty discerning friends from foes. Those near the stairs however proved clear enemies. Enemies not hindered by the upturned table. They would be his targets. To Ar’Zarracal’s delight the masked elf seemed to have the same thought as him. Take out the humans on and by the stairs. Perhaps they might even be able to work in concert.

He was not shaped the same as Teladon. Whereas the ambassador of the Mordent Spire was tall and lithe, marked with the gracefulness of a bird or the flying fish sometimes found off the coast of Greater Shalast, Ar’Zarrcal was more like a bison – sure and steady, possessed with a fearsome charge. He let the elf lead the way and then followed in his shadow. Raising his shield up, Ar’Zarrcal charged at the pajama garbed hunter with nary a shout. His battle cry was not the name of his country, his lord, or the Goddess he now served, but rather the ominous clanging of his armor and the heavy footfalls of his rushing feet. As he ran at the soldier, his hand closed about the haft of the Warhammer he himself forged in distant Xin-Shalast. Pulling it free, he let his arm slip outward to his side as he rushed the man. Unceasing in his forward momentum, he smashed thrust his shield forward and up even as he brought his arm around and guided the Warhammer’s head toward the hunter’s hip, with the intent shattering bone with the impact of the strike.

Fortunately for the unarmored hunter, Ar'Zarrcal had not seen that overly large mink in his path until the last moment. Having to do a hop and a spinning turn, he was unable to regain the proper momentum to deliver the crippling blow he had intended, his hammer instead smashing into the wood of the staircase banister and scattering splinters and chunks of wood upon the floor. At the very least his action would cause the hunter to be of less threat to his allies and prevent him and the man of the stairs from double-teaming Teladon.

With Ar'Zarrcal moved, Talavuc gives a snap of her fingers and points in the direction of the hunter that Dann is engaged with. A quick whistle is all it takes to send the mink bounding around the hearth, his claws scraping across the hardwood floor. He barrels right past Gwynn and leaps through the air, seemingly coming out of nowhere as he snatches the hunter by the throat and takes him, screaming, to the ground. Naasvit gives a few wild jerks of his head back and forth with teeth sunk in, and the hunter stops moving after the first couple.

Following suit, Talavuc springs forward while sliding her quarterstaff out of its fastening at her back. She maneuvers over to Ar'Zarrcal's side and lunges in with a jab of her staff to the brow of the hunter, causing him to stagger past the hearth and mantle, clutching his bleeding brow with one hand.

This was it. Teladon thought while gritting his teeth. This was the moment he had waited for. To his right he could see the ensorcelled merman fall to the crushing blows of the human. Behind him, the half-orc roared in fury. Somewhere in the distant part of his mind, Teladon knew that this was the moment when everything stood in the balance. Either they would win here or die. Thankfully, Teladon had kept his power in reserve. He knew that all there was going to be a long road ahead from the moment they started out from the village. His foresight had served him well once again. Teladons side hurt. The human on the stairs above him had used a wand with some skill and the magus recognized the spell. He needed to be dealt with.

Breathing out sharply, the elf focused through the pain. He let go of it. Let it fall away from him like the first winters snow upon a tree branch. The pain did not matter. This moment did. Letting all of his concerns and worry flood out of him, Teladon focused. Quietly and quickly he whispered the words to the 23rd incantation of empowerment. Abruptly the magus’s black ancient scimitar flooded with blue light, elven runes for Rejection and Malice streaming out from inside of the blade. At the same moment Teladon shuttered. That was the last of his reservoir that bonded him to the blade.

Raising the blade up he pointed it towards the staircase where the man with the wand stood. Through the slits in his mask, Teladon narrowed his eyes. He would deal with that one. Reaching deep down within side of himself, Teladon began to whisper. This was the last of the offense spells he had prepared for the day. At last he had found a worthy reason to use it. In harsh clipped whispers and lilting sing-song, Teladon recited the 7th invocation of entrancement. As he completed the spell he thrust his blade forward and from the tip of the sword a cone of swirling azure blue, verdant green and sickly yellow light flooded outward towards the man atop the stairs.

A scream erupts from Thuldrin as the corsucating wave of dissonant colors assails his senses. His vision blotches, head swims and he is caught in a wave of seemingly endless vertigo. Somewhere along the line, Thuldrin dropped his wand and his sword, both clattering at his feet at the top of the stairs as he pawed at his eyes. "Augh! You son of a-- I'll kill you!"

Beside the stairs, the hunter caught in the blast of color screams one gurgled scream and simply collapses to the ground clutching his head. He kicks and twitches for a few moments, then falls completely motionless, having blacked out from exposure to the spell's violent energy.

Without waiting to see his successes, Teladon leaped to his left over a nearby couch and then ran towards the stairs. Each step was a bound and in seconds he was atop the stairs, facing the now stunned man beyond.

Head throbbing and arms trembling, Thuldrin looks up to see the masked countenance of Teladon staring him down with sword readied. He can see Payday's bloodied carcass mangled beyond recognition in the storage room, and all of his remaining men have been defeated. Something still pounds at the door, and all Thuldrin can imagine is that Halak is actually out there.

"I surrender," is a pathetic mirror to what happened here years ago. Making the inacccurate assumption that the elf is Andoran and follows the same code, Thuldrin drops to his knees and keeps his hands cradled near his face. "I surrender!" It's louder this time, and he hopes it is enough over the chant of Andoran driving nails of shame into his spine.

"Andoran!"

"Andoran!"

"Andoran!"

"I surrender!" is Thuldrin's screaming, desperate, tearful plea. As if he were trying to say make them stop.

"Andoran!"

"Andoran!"
 
 
 
 
 
 
    << ENCOUNTER RESOLVED | XP AWARD: 1,000xp per character >>
 
 
 
 
 
Hearing Thuldrin's surrender and seeing no other fight, Gwynn makes a weary and broken noise at the back of her throat. On catching sight of Styvanus Rozier on the other side of the lodge, a smile crosses her face, and then she collapses to her knees, falling forward onto her shackled hands and exhales a ragged, weary sob. Just the one, because she survived.

Dann grips his axe tighter, still hearing the zombie hammering mindlessly on the door outside and has half a mind to put it down. The men outside have gone closer to the door to help bring it down, but don't seem to want to close in on the zombie now that they've recognized her as someone they knew in life. Thuldrin's cry of surrender echoes outside, and Tyne can't help but hiccup out a laughed cry of disbelief. Eyes welling up with tears, he sniffles and scrubs at his face with one gloved hand and gives a look of bewildered joy to Fenyx.

It was finally over, Tyne thought. That may have been a bit premature. There was still much to do. But for now, the battle was won.

The war was just beginning.

_____________

Talavuc, Move: Move to M12
Talavuc: Quarterstaff @ Hunter: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15 (hit)
>> Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Naasvit, Move: 40' move to I9
Naasvit, Standard: Attack Hunter
Naasvit: Bite @ Hunter: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13 (hit)
>> Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9



Thuldrin: Will Save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7 (fail; stunned for 1 round)
Hunter: Will Save: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (4) - 1 = 3 (fail; unconscious, blinded, and stunned for 2d4 rounds, then blinded and stunned for 1d4 rounds, and then stunned for 1 round. )
>> Unconscious, Blinded, and Stunned: 2d4 ⇒ (4, 1) = 5
>>> Blinded and Stunned: 1d4 ⇒ 2


@Talavuc: Have you gotten caught up yet? If not that's okay and I can take another turn for you, but if you're good I'll let you resume control :)


If Ar'Z rolls above a 9 it may be a sign of the apocalypse.


No worries, take your time. Just glad to know you're back!


Thuldrin is also present at L12 at the top of the stairs.


The remaining, standing hunters are at L11 and H10


But another strike would not be needed. Gurgling out a mouthful of blood, Payden staggers forward in one defiant stride. Then, belching out a gout of blood onto the floor, he staggers to the side and collides with the wall, then falls backwards out the door and onto the floor, his eyes unblinking as he stares up to the ceiling. An enormous pool of blood begins swiftly spreading out from beneath the slain pit-boss, and "Payday" has fought his last battle.

____
Payday is DOWN!


I think it'll wind up being on a case-by-case basis. But we'll see. The last thing I want is for there not to really be a "fear" of death because there's a revolving door of stand-ins waiting in the wings. But on the other hand, later on in levels you'll potentially have access to resurrection magic, so it'll be less of a concern.


Oh snap, color spray!


Rasso is down! Ordrud-wan Kenobi, you're his only hope!


The lodge has descended into complete and utter chaos. The hunters once secure within the structure now feel trapped by its very walls. Cornered by Dig Dann, one of the hunters brings his fouled musket up and smashes it against Dann's jaw, sending the tall man stumbling back with one hand grasping at his now bloodied mouth. Deeper into the lodge, the two hunters who are now surrounded in the kitchen have little recourse. Taking a step back away from the battle, his back pressed to the side of the staircase to the balcony.

Drawing the rifle's ramrod out of a narrow tube below the barrel, the hunter quickly begins packing in a new round and filling the breech with black powder from a horn swinging at his waist. Meanwhile, his compatriot takes a step away from the table Ar'Zarrcal and Talavuc are crouched behind and tries to fire point-blank at Styvanus.

The Captain springs into action, knocking the barrel aside with his gauntleted hand and swings his shield up to smash under the already bruised and wounded hunter's throat, knocking him clear off of his feet and sending him crashing to the floor, unmoving.

Back at the front of the lodge, Payday wipes blood from his nose and mouth and lunges in at Rasso. The merman raises his claws to shield himself, but the boxer is able to pry his chitinous arms aside and land one smashing blow against his brow, shattering Rasso's eidolon like shards of ethereal glass. Suddenly, Rasso wobbles and staggers backwards, crashing onto the floor as his crustacean armor begins to dissolve like ice in the heat, revealing the fish-tailed merman within.

As much as he would enjoy snapping the merman's neck for what he did to him, "Payday" can't turn his back on the ferocious orc warrior bearing down on him. This one was powerful enough to elude his hunters, gain reinforcements, and return... and somehow work out a deal with Halak? If he survived this, Payden would have to figure out how the hell that happened.

Stepping over Rasso's prone form, Payden ducks into the storage room and lands a powerful gut-punch against Ordrud, sending him reeling back into the shelves with a noisy clatter. Spitting blood onto the floor, Payden follows up with a tremendous right hook that blacks Ordrud's vision out for a moment, returning with blotches of light fading in and out. Nearly felled by these two blows alone, the ferocious warrior of Lastwall and Belkzen heritage remarkably remains standing.

"Thought you coul' get away from me, eh? M'gon f*ckin' gut you," Payden curses, his heels sliding through pooling blood on the floor, both his own and Rasso's.

______

Hunter, Standard Action: Attack Dann with Improvised Weapon (rifle)
Attack @ Big Dann; Improvised: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (14) - 2 = 12 (hit)
>> Rifle Butt; Improvised Club: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Hunter, Full-Round Action: Reload
Hunter, Free Action: 5-foot step
Hunter, Standard Action: Fire @ Styvanus (Provokes)
Styvanus: Attack of Opportunity: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21 (hit)
>> Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 (hunter unconscious)
Loaded musket dropped in O8
Payden, Flurry of Blows attack #1: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26
>> Damage: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11 (Rasso unconscious at -9/-20; dying)
Payden, Free Action: 5-Foot Step
Payden, Flurry of Blows attack #2: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25
>> Damage: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Payden, Flurry of Blows attack #3: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
>> Damage: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Total Damage to Rasso: 11; putting Rasso at -9 and dying. He may make a stabilization check on his turn. If Rasso reaches -20, he will die.
Total Damage to Ordrud: 19; Ordrud is still up

 
 
 
 
Ar'Z, Talavuc, Ordrud, Teladon; you're up!


Yep, both are open.


Teladon Azuth wrote:
Rasso wrote:
Edit: Lucent, you said that this is our first "boss" encounter. Is Payden the "boss", or is that Thuldrin? Or both? -_-
Probably both. Next round they are going to do some sorta crazy merge from Final Fantasy and unleash their ultimate.

Spontaneous and inappropriate six winged angel explodes out of lodge, shrieking-latin choir from nowhere.

Rasso suddenly effeminate fifteen year old boy with a sword the size of a fallen tree.


Marc, we're waiting on you before the hunters can go. Don't want to skip you in case you kill one of them, or otherwise do something to save Rasso's crabby hide.


Payden is the actual "boss" encounter, Thuldrin is just a bother. Unless he gets set up to cause real havoc, which-- he's situationally awful.


Glad you guys are enjoying the fight, I was worried it was going to be too tough with how I upscaled it but I think it's going swimmingly so far. It's a heck of a mess! :D


Also, I rolled Talavuc and Tyne's actions into the recap so I didn't have to write their actions twice.


Talisa Gwynn has entered the battle.
 
Rasso, Fenyx and Marcellano, you're up!


 
 
 
 
      ROUND II RECAP
 
 
 
 
 
In the dark of his private chambers, Thuldrin anxiously rifles through his backpack, the sounds of bursting windows and shouts below causing his hands to shake. But above all it is the sound of Halak proclaiming the termination of their arrangement that has tipped Thuldrin over into a fit of panic. He knows that there is no bargaining with the druid. After retrieving a thin, iron wand from his backpack, Thuldrin grabs the handle of his sword where it hangs in its sheath on the back of his chair. With a fluid motion, he draws the blade and turns towards his door.

There is only one way out of this altercation, and the way out is through.

Outside, Dann watches the emergence of one of the undead villagers with a paled expression. Yvonne, he thinks to himself, watching the woman's ragged body lope through the snow. He had not known her well, but his daughter had played with Yvonne's son by the river on several occasions. Now, seeing her hollow shell, Dann is filled with a rage he had thought died out long ago. Halak knew better than to parade the undead through the lodge, knew better than to spark the smoldering pride of the andorans back into an inferno. That fire was now relit.

Yanking his wood-splitting axe out of the ground beside him, Dann storms towards the front door of the cabin with a scowl painted across his face. The other men, seeing Dann take up arms against Thuldrin, return to their tents to grab their weapons and join the fight.

Inspired by Dann's choice to become involved, Denek raises his bow and draws back the arrow he'd retrieved earlier. Standing steady beside the fire, the archer watches for signs of movement from the windows, hoping to give Dann and the living dead a clear path to take down the door.

Inside the lodge, in the dark and the cold, the sound of windows shattering and raised voices from above inspire more than just Dann and the conscripts. The sound of rattling chains accompanies movement, followed by the clunk of wooden stairs and a grunt of effort. With the slam of one shoulder, wood creaks and a lock rattles but neither budge. "Motherf--" the curse turns into a groan and another slam of the trap door, followed by a strangled scream of frustration. "Come on, come on!"

Cornered in the storage room, Rasso can hear the sounds of someone smashing against a wall or floor in the lodge, and the muffled sounds of rattling chains and a woman's voice.

Inside the storage room, Rasso briefly looks at the contents of the shelves with Payden standing ready to fight in the doorway. I bet thar's a whole lot o' useful in here. But I can't afford ter be readin' any bottles at the moment, the merman thinks. His years of combat instincts take over and he steps forward quick as a striking snake, lashing out with both his claws and teeth. He what strikes first often strikes last boy-o, he thinks grimly to himself.

The merman warrior's assault is furious and primal. His knobby claws lash out, aimed at snipping Payden's femoral arteries. With the lower strike offering a distraction, Rasso lunges forward with his wide open mouth, trying to bring his rows of triangular serrated teeth down on Payden's face as hard as he can.

His claws clamp down on the boxer's thighs, shredding the flesh and causing the human brawler to drop his guard long enough for the merman's jaws to clamp down hard on his face. His teeth scrape along the thug's skull, shredding flesh and leaving Payden's forehead, cheeks and jaw in bloody tatters. Rasso shoves the human back a half step and brings his claws up to shoulder level held wide. He roars with all the fury he's been penning up since they got this sh*t mission. Payden's blood coating his claws gleams in the light of the oil lamps, that combined with shreds of human face hanging from Rasso's teeth make him look terrible indeed.

Fenyx watches Talavuc's gestures with curiosity, momentarily puzzled as to when she had managed to find someone well versed enough in the arcane arts to instruct her in the applications and execution of a dweomer as advanced as... wait. The mink was far too large to be her familiar. No, she likely meant something else with the motion. Empty? Curious. Or perhaps the sick men are invisible? No. That's preposterous! Her motioning turns more frantic, though it is far too late to matter when Fenyx understands what she is indicating with her hurried gestures. Turning over his shoulder to look behind, the air seems disappointingly devoid of anything to warrant suspicion or alarm. Perhaps the exhaustion has gotten to her. Or perhaps she is gifted with sight that pierces the veils made manifest by illusory magic, and we are surrounded by flying, invisible sick men.

Regarding the windows of the lodge's front side, Fenyx resolves to imitate Denek in his commendable tactics. A wise course. Perhaps these yokels are not as addle-brained and hopeless as I had previously assumed. His light crossbow is raised in preparation for any attempts from within to thwart the advancing tide of zombie and Big Dann against the front doors. As he stands ready, weapon raised, Fenyx speaks calmly and soft enough that only Denek and Tyne can hear him. "Your sick friends seem to have vanished, friends."

Seeing a whirlwind of action burst around him as he was reloading, Marcellano notices that, as far as he can tell, the group has the place surrounded entirely. With that, Marcellano decides to flank the cabin in one direction that the other's haven't yet covered - the top. Having finally reloaded his musket, Marcellano retrieves his grappling hook hanging from his belt, lets the grappling hook slide down his grip until he has enough room to get a good spin going, and throws it at one of the tower's windows.

Lets see them expect someone from above, eh? Unfortunately, the distance, darkness and slippery slope of the lodge's roof provides little surface for Marcellano's grappling hook to attach to. It comes skittering back down with a trail of loosened snow following it, landing on the ground next to the lodge.

The interior of the lodge is in chaos. Intruders have not only breached the storm wall but managed to get all the way inside the lodge. Halak himself appears to be attacking, and the bewildered, fatigued and unarmored hunters are caught wholly unaware. It is the exact inverse of the ambush that waylaid Gwynn's unit not long ago.

The irony is lost on them.

In one of the bedrooms, the hunter pinned by Styvanus struggles with the Captain from the floor. His chest aching from bruised ribs and the snow-covered, heavily armored Andoran knight above him backs him into both a proverbial and literal corner. Raising his loaded musket he trains his aim point-blank on the Captain. At this range, however, all the rifleman is doing is leaving himself open. Styvanus swats the barrel of the gun aside, and before the rifleman can fire, he's smashed across the face with the flat of the shield. He goes limp, dropping his musket, sprawled out on the floor with a bloodied bruise on his forehead.

In a larger communal room, the sounds of the battle on opposite sides can be heard clearly. Three hunters spring into action with their muskets, the first one out the door shouldering it open as he dashes out into the common room. He follows the wall, hearing the sounds of a struggle in the adjacent room where Styvanus is manhandling his comrade. Another rifleman at his back dressed in a button-down suit of long underwear comes to a stop by the kitchen table when he spies Ar'Zarrcal's form peering through a window.

The musket explodes with muzzle flash and the roar of gunfire, blasting the window by the dwarf ope and taking a chunk of the water barrel out. Splinters of glass and wood clatter off Ar'Zarrcal's shield, but the shot missed him entirely. "We're surrounded!" The hunter screams, as if his warning could make a difference.

In an adjacent bunk to the common room, one of the hunters can clearly see Dann and the zombie making an approach to the door. "You son'f a b*%%%," he mutters, smashing out the window with the butt of his rifle. Leveling it out to aim at Dann, the hunter fails to notice Halak until a stray arrow fired by Denek sticks into the window frame beside his head.

"What the f--" is all the hunter can say as he spies "Halak's" haunting form beyond the glow of the campfire, right before a crossbow bolt splits the hunters forehead open and sends his lifeless body sprawling back into the dark of his room.

A third hunter moves out of the communal barracks in Payden's direction, finding the towering brute already advancing into the storeroom. "Boss! Boss! What's going on!?" Payden cannot hear the hunter over the sounds of his own screams of pain and rage, and the sight the hunter walks in on is a gruesome one.

Pulling himself free from Rasso's shark-like maw, Payden moves with quickness when he hears his hunter's call. Trying to duck out of the way, Payden expects to hear the crack of a musket and Rasso's screech. Instead, all he hears is a whuff of an improperly loaded musket misfiring and the muffled curse of the hunter behind him.

Snarling, blood running down his mangled face, Payden smashes a closed fist into an open palm and then snaps into a sudden burst of motion. Stamping his lead foot on the floor, Payden thrusts forward with a powerful blow against the dead center of Rasso's chest. The impact is hard enough the send fractures through his chitinous armor and nearly knocks the wind out of the summoner entirely. Within seconds, Payden follows up with a right hook across Rasso's face that shatters away part of his eidolon's head covering into ephemeral motes of shimmering light and semi-solid energy. A third strike comes immediately after with a palm-thrust under Rasso's jaw, but the merman is able to jerk his head back, vision blurring and legs wobbling as he does. The pain inflicted on his crustacean exterior now translates directly to his body through the link he has with his eidolon, pain enough to cause him to momentarily black out, barely able to stay up.

Payden is stunned to see Rasso still standing, and the pit-boss of the Lumber Consortium slams a fist into his open palm again and takes a readied stance. "I'ma rip yer jaw off an' beat you t'death wiv it."

Ordrud watched the huge bruiser pummel the merman. He had briefly thought to go inside another window, to revenge himself on those weaker hunters. However, the lobster won't last another few moments. Lastwall taught him to never ever leave a companion. The fight in the door-frame would be tough, but necessary.

He climbs through the broken window. His spiked gauntlets and boots breaking even more glass. He shifts next to the merman, dropping his sling on the floor and silently drawing his greatsword from its waist sheath, as if he was going to sharpen it.

Ordrud keeps his rage in check in order to thread his greatsword over the merman and avoid glancing the door. Not much power, but maybe enough of distraction for his companion. Lastwall also taught him to always sacrifice power for accuracy, but he enjoyed forgetting that lesson.

The blade slides down in a delicate slice into Payden's left arm, carving a deep gash enough to scrape the bone of his bicep and elicit a howl of agony from the boxer. Reeling from the cut and recoiling, the blade draws out with a pulse of blood that dribbles on the floor, and Payden seems as unable to keep his footing as Rasso, bleeding from horrifying injuries that -- even if he survives -- will leave him maimed for life.

In the kitchen, glass, chunks of splintered wood and a mist of frigid water spray against the heavily armored form of Ar’Zarrcal. That first shot missed, but he was not confident that the next one would. Looking to the torch in his hand, two options presented themselves to the dwarf. One was to drop the torch into the snow and take advantage of the darkness to carefully circle the lodge and find a safe point of entry. The other was to expose himself to risk, but join the fray and aid his unlikely companions. For whatever else he was, Ar’Zarrcal was not a coward. Somewhere deep down in that rune-scarred form beat the stout heart of a courageous dwarf. Though he no particular fondness for the merman or the Andoran captain, they were a part of this team and could still prove valuable assets. Seeing more hunters flood into the room and with the potential to overwhelm the two Andoran officers, Ar’Zarrcal sneered at the hunter who had fired at him and with a battle cry that was a garbled and confused mess of thassilion and dwarven he dropped the torch in the snow beside him and thrust his shield forward at the already shattered glass of the window, hoping to break away what little remained of the framing wood.

With a hand now free, the ungraceful armored dwarf climbed through the broken window, stumbling and creating a further ruckus with the splintering window frame, the shattering of glass and the loud bang of the heavy barrel being overturned and kicked to side. Once inside the room, Ar’Zarrcal raised his shield and rushed toward the wood table. Upon reaching it he quickly slipped his hands (and shield arm) underneath the long table and attempted to flip it over onto its side, hopefully providing the short dwarf substantial cover from the musket fire that would come his way. Undoubtedly this would create further commotion with the breaking of tableware and the spilling of utensils and food.

Hearing the sounds of fighting inside, gunshots and screams ringing out into the night, Talavuc looks to Naasvit and makes a very displeased expression. A moment later she takes a half step back and hurls herself through the picture window at the front of the empty bed chambers in the lodge, arms crossed over her face. Talavuc lands with a crash on the floor, broken glass showering around her. Glass bristles from her sleeves and hair, thin rivulets of blood run down her forehead where a small piece cut her scalp.

Rising up to her feet, she whistles sharply and hustles towards the door. A moment later Naasvit bounds through the open window and trots along at Talavuc's heels. On her way through the darkenes room, Talavuc can see the empty beds, tangled with blankets, and ralizes that the room is rife with the stink of vomit and sweat. Regretting her decision to come into the room, she shoulders the door open to the kitchen to see Ar'Zarrcal crouched behind an overturned table and two rifle-wielding men bearing down on him.

With a scream, Talavuc hurls her spear over the table and skewers the hunter on the other side. The impact of the spear sends him sprawling back to slam against the door behind him, spear wedged between his pectoral and shoulder. His scream is muffled by the sudden slam of the door against his back as Styvanus pushes out into the hall and sends the hunter stumbling forward against the upturned table. Lunging forward, the Captain brings his shield down at the hunter, only to narrowly miss as the injured man slides out of the way. Styvanus' shield takes a notch out of the table's edge instead of the hunter's head.

Naasvit, coming skittering into the room, leaps into the air and latches on to another hunter's shoulder, trying to drag him to the ground. The rufleman knocks the massive mink back with the stock of his musket, but the mink takes a chunk out of the man's shoulder in ragged strips of flesh on parting.

Fleet as a kingfisher as it flew along the surf, Teladon rushed along the side of the cabin, still out in the icy winds and snow. To his right, though the broken window, he could make out the form of Rasso grappling with a giant of a man and Ordrud by his side. The three were locked in combat and traded blow after blow against each other. From the opposite side the elf's keen hearing could make out the sound of a rifle shock as it cracked out into the freezing wind.

Dashing along the snow covered ground, Teladon saw a open window and what looked like an unoccupied room beyond. Gritting his teeth, the elf grabbed his obsidian blade from its scabbard and charged at the glass. The magnus knew it would hurt, but at least his mask would protect him from the worst he thought in a detached manner, just as he was in mid leap into the window.

With another loud crash, he landed into the room and rolling, rose to his feet. There was another door ahead of him and he could see light streaming out from below the door jam. Taking two quick strides, Teladon threw the door open and strode into the great room. To his left he could see two men who were engaged with the dwarven ambassador. To his right he could see the shape of Rasso in a doorway as he fought against the man. Making a snap decision the elf moved toward Ar'Zarrcal and Talavuc. Hopefully the man would have good enough sense to take advantage in the change of station.

Outside the lodge, hearing the sounds of chaos and death, Tyne edges around the fire and comes to stand beside Fenyx with his bow drawn. Looking to the disguised wizard Tyne manages a crooked, though nervous, smile and notches an arrow in his bow, waiting for signs of movement on this side of the lodge to fire.
 
 
 
 
 
     << Encounter: Siege of Talon's Hill | Round III | Dim Illumination | Encounter Map: Talon's Hill Lodge >>
 
 
 
 
 
 
Attempting to slip out of his room unnoticeed, a figure emerging on the balcony in a crouch draws the attention of Talavuc, Teladon, Styvanus and Ar'Zarrcal with creaking floorboards and clomping footsteps. Giving up on an attempt at a stealthy approach, the figure swiftly stands up with one arm outstretched, brandishing a long iron wand. "You f*ckers f*cked with the wrong bloody f*cking man!" The screeching voice of a thus-far unknown figure rings out over the kitchen. Standing up straight, Thuldrin Kreed is a short and stocky man with swept back, wavy, graying blonde hair, a broad face and wide-set eyes.

"Efulvati!" Thuldrin screams as a glowing point of emerald light flares to life a the head of the wand, and with a flick of his wrist two screeching bolt of energy rocket through the air and slam into Teladon like bullets.

Outside, Dann watches the zombie smash at the door, splintering wood and pounding against the barricade. His heart sinks on seeing Yvonne's corpse used in such a fashion. He considers his axe for a moment, considers putting her down, but the screams and sounds of carnage inside make him reconsider. Instead, Dann excises himself from the situation, running into the now vacant open window beside the door. Climbing through the smashed out window, Dann hustles through the bedroom, stepping over the corpse of one of the hunters before slamming his shoulder into the closed door.

Dann emerges in the foyer to screams and furious combat. Spotting one of the hunters preparing to reload his musket, Dann winds up with his axe and takes a wild swing, but the hunter ducks out of the way of the swing, and Dann's axe takes a huge chunk out of the wall. "Andoran!" Dann bellows, joining the earlier cries of the Eagle Knights.

Thunk

Dann hear's something behind him, and the woodsman turns sharply to see the bearskin rug on the floor jump up a foot. Bewildered, Dann grips his axe tighter, only to hear another loud thump and the rug leaps up again. Silently mouthing a curse in confusion, Dann readies himself for the unknown just as a third and final thump turns into a resounding crash as a trap door is burst open, flinging the rug up in the air. Dust and mildew-stinking air flood the foyer, and from a concealed basement hatch strides a dirt-smeared blonde haired woman in a tattered black military uniform, hands shackled at the wrist.

Blue eyes stare ferociously at Payden, Dann and the hunter she can see. Bruises blotch the woman's face, rope marks around her neck indicate attempts at strangulation and a cut on her forehead has only partly healed. Gripping the chains of her shackles tightly, Knight-Captain Gwynn looks ready to kill everyone in the room if she has to.

Outside, Denek draws another arrow and draws it back in his shortbow, waiting for another hunter to come into view. Swallowing nervously, he can only hope that his choice to join the fight was not premature. Then, out fo the corner of Denek's eye, he spies the other conscripts coming out of their tents with shortswords in hand, screaming at the top of their lungs.

"Andoran!"

"Andoran!"

"Andoran!"

Denek's doubt passes, and his voice joins the others.

"Andoran!"
________________

Talavuc: Throw Spear @ N8 Hunter: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22 (hit)
>> Spear: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Naasvit: Bite @ M10 Hunter: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16 (hit)
>> Bite: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Hidden Dice Roll:

Talavuc: Fort Save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13 (pass)
Naasvit: Fort Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14 (pass)

DM Note:

Cholera
Type disease (injury); Save Fortitude DC 13
 
Onset 1d3 days; Frequency 1/day
 
Effect 1d2 Con damage; as long as a character suffers Con damage from Cholera, he is fatigued.


Thuldrin, Move Action: Move to balcony (stealth)
Thuldrin: Stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
Thuldrin, Standard Action: Use Wand
Thuldrin: Use Magic Device (Activate Wand): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (13) + 15 = 28 (success)
>> Magic Missile; Two Missiles @ Teladon: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (2, 2) + 2 = 6
Big Dann, Move Action: Move into lodge
Big Dann: Acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 (fail, 2x move cost to enter window)
Big Dann, Standard Action: Axe a hunter a question
Big Dann, Woodsplitting Axe @ Hunter: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7 (miss)
????, Standard Action: Break door
????: Strength Check to Burst Lock: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13 (success!)
Gwynn, Move Action: Climb stairs
Denek, Standard Action: Ready Action (Fire arrow at visible enemy)
__________________
INITIATIVE
Thuldrin: ⇒ 23
Big Dann & Villagers: ⇒ 19
Denek: ⇒ 18
Gwynn: ⇒ 16
Rasso: ⇒ 16
Fenyx: ⇒ 14
Marcellano: ⇒ 13
Hunters: ⇒ 12
Ar'Zarrcal: ⇒ 12
"Payday": ⇒ 11
Talavuc: ⇒ 10
Ordrud: ⇒ 9
Teladon: ⇒ 9
Tyne: ⇒ 9
Styvanus: ⇒ 6


Once Teladon posts I can wrap up with Talavuc and Tyne and move us to next round.


Updated the map and added some markers for the broken windows. I'll update it again when I get home and turn the table icon for the kitchen on its side to accurately show cover.


Excellent use of the environment, Ar'Z! Creating cover for yourself is a great idea against these opponents.


Styvanus Rozier wrote:

Post on the way soon!

Also, today's my 22nd birthday!

woo!

Happy Birthday, man! :D


Payden is looking extremely bad. One more good hit should do him in.


Sorry guys, won't be able to run anything tonight! Gotta run some errands and won't be home until later. See you all next week for more "Lynizia pulls all the aggro" action ;)

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