Jysson is still waiting to see who comes into the animal pens.
They come from the wooden gate to the east. First a frustrated rattling before the gate is sundered whole by what looks like a half-bear, half-owl monstrosity. It's wrists are chained and held by 2 orcs each, while behind a hobgoblin screams orders to attack.
Surprise Round:
Jysson <--UP
then,
Round 1:
Jysson
Enemies
All
Surprise!
Jysson fires his bow twice, once at each orc.
Then he fires two more again, and again one at each.
Jysson's pull arm is a little tired from all the sheep handling, though he does manage to connect with one of them. [ooc]Orc red is 10/15hp, 13 AC[ooc] The group of enemies advances, but is not quite within melee before the rest of the group has a chance to react.
Round 1:
Jysson
Enemies
All PCs <--UP
Stepping back a few feet, focusing a small ball of energy in between my fingers.. A quick tuning note to get the harmony of the ball just right. and bam!
"Well that is a odd group.. I hope I didn't make it worse"
A heat mirage flashes in the corner of your eye before witnessing the hunger of fire ravage the small group. The 4 orc and the hobgoblin are blown apart immediately, freeing the captive owlbear who screels a piercing note. As it flaps its powerful winged biceps, the chains glow a deep red from the burn.
Without saying a word, Molok moves towards the owlbear and swings his maul at the monstrosity.
Attack:
Damage:
Attack: (Crit)
Damage: (re-roll 1's = 21
The screeching beast doesn't even realize Molok has approached, its screeching too loud, only at the last second it turns "..whoo?" before getting mauled, its beak splintering like a walnut shell.
Urth could not believe it. Before he could even react, the guardians with a magical beast were destroyed. He was in powerful company and hoped that he could fight at their level.
"Good show, my friends! Excellent work. Now let's see where they came from."
With his bow still drawn and ready, Pindleton will sneak past the burning mound of their enemies and scout just inside that wooden gate they entered from.
The walls of this filthy room are made of packed mud with logs jutting out of them. The river seeps through a gash in the north wall and forms a stream that cuts across the eastern half of the area before spilling out through a hole in the south wall, tumbling down logs as it goes. A creaky wooden bridge spans the stream at one point. Smaller rivulets also seep into the room and connect to the wider stream, but they are narrow enough to step over. Timber pillars caked in mud support the 30-foot-high ceiling, which has three circular holes cut into it, leading up to the longhouse perhaps. Crisscrossing wooden beams cover these holes, though the beams are far enough apart that a creature can fit through them without having to squeeze.
Two 10-foot-high earthen ramps lead down to the chamber’s sunken floor, with fences erected around lower tunnels that lead elsewhere. Scores of fat pigs snort, waddle about, wallow in the mud, and gorge themselves at wooden troughs overflowing with slop.
You can count seven bugbears and an ettin spread out in here. The bugbears seem to be shoving greedy pigs around at the troughs, trying to ensure they all get a share.
"Well it looks like things about to get real. Any ideas? Try to pelt them from a distance?"
Jysson nocks another arrow, ready for the team to make the call to attack.
Seeing the scene under the longhouse, Urth offers, "I came here to kill giants. Any interest in burying this lot under the burning longhouse?"
F@~@ yes, Jysson agrees. He sheaths his arrow and slings his bow.
Taking out a torch, he lights it and starts setting the longhouse on fire.
Jysson climbs the wall up to the ceiling, which is the floor of the longhouse, poking his torch about...
Despite the timbers being mud-caked, they eventually alight with a smoky blaze. This immediately gets the attention of the pig farmers. Screaming and pointing, they start to assemble to attack. However, one of them flips a grappling hook up to one of the holes above and begins a climb.
Round 1:
Jax, Molok, Pindleton, Jysson, Urth <--UP
Enemies
Sohar, Dymmathy
We should leave now; let them deal with the fire and the escaped sheep. Maybe do another assault from the other side.
Jysson prepares to leave, tossing the torch on the wood piles outside the cave.
"Yes. We could shut and block these gates. There's another ridge above longhouse entrance where we could take cover and fireball the wooden roof. When they attempt to escape, we can kill them all." Urth suggests. The last bit coming out more bloodthirsty than he has been before, probably channeling the revenge of the slaughter of his former crew.
Jysson spies the climber out at 200 ft, but the range makes it a tricky shot over the distractions of the pig herd and advancing combatants despite the bugbear's predictable path.
|
Jax will use his last level 3 spell slot, casting slow on as many enemies as he can, getting yellow, blue, orange and the ettin. Your joints hurt and your feet are getting tired
An affected target's speed is halved, it takes a -2 penalty to AC and Dexterity saving throws, and it can't use reactions. On its turn, it can use either an action or a Bonus Action, not both. Regardless of the creature's Abilities or Magic Items, it can't make more than one melee or ranged Attack during its turn.
If the creature attempts to Cast a Spell with a Casting Time of 1 action, roll a d20. On an 11 or higher, the spell doesn't take effect until the creature's next turn, and the creature must use its action on that turn to complete the spell. If it can't, the spell is wasted.
A creature affected by this spell makes another Wisdom saving throw at the end of its turn. On a successful save, the effect ends for it.
Molok watches the bugbears and ettin and listens to the others talk about their plan. While not very honorable, it does deal with the threat in a quick and safe manner. He nods in agreement and starts to leave with the others.
Invisible threads of temporal energy pierce the bugbears joints and feet, the ettin's bearded head however ponders "What was that?" and its second, clean shaven head responds "Pssh, just a trick, move those legs..." it points with its morningstar forward as the legs do what was asked of them.
Jax has given a good opportunity to escape. The wooden gates could be shut, but the bar is on the inside.
Pindleton will take a shot at the climber for what it’s worth and then follow everyone else out.
”I’m all for wiping out all these giants, but it might be useful to find out why they keep attacking and try to prevent future attacks. Just a thought,” Pindleton says with a smile.
Another arrow streams by the climber, who snortles and continues the ascent slowly. The bugbears and the ettin cautiously advance, seemingly using the pigs as cover.
Round 1:
Jax, Molok, Pindleton, Jysson, Urth
Enemies
Sohar, Dymmathy <--- UP
Looking around as everyone backs up.. "Um. ok!"
Dymm pulls out his wand of magic missles and releases 5 charges into the biggest creature he can see coming up the hill.
Dymm then steps back out of the gate. And would like to inspire whoever is going to going to deal with the gate.
Urth positions himself, so he can see the ettin approaching. If they cannot get the gate closed, he will make sure the ettin believes that it is closed and on fire, when he gets in range.
Urth, at the sight of your illusion the ettin doubles back, perhaps towards another exit or to grab a water trough for dousing the flames.
Some things that might happen if you dilly dally: 4 bugbears will encircle the sheep in an effort to herd them back, escorted by a hill giant. The fire will seem to be snuffed out, releasing a lot of smoke from behind the wooden gate. A humanoid riding a wyrven will land, perched on the rocks outside the main entrance of the longhouse.
If we see the bugbears and giant trying to herd the sheep, that'll be a great place to attack next.
We should hit them there. That group is away from everyone else. One less giant.
Molok moves towards the creatures trying to herd the sheep, readying his maul to attack.
"You big idiot! Are you out of breath!?"
Then I turn and look at the group. Seeing the other halfling is a bit damaged. "Hey fellow halfling, here is a little for the road"
Jysson eyes the Hill Giant, a smile emerging on his face. Now this is more like it. Oi! F!#! face! Over here!
He advances towards the giant as far as he can, bringing out his shield and flail.
A very low pitched hum accelerates into an intense high pitched scream before becoming inaudible, rocks on the ground explode into dust spraying violently everywhere. The bugbear's iron morningstars ring in resonance as their noses bleed from the shock wave. A sheep loses its stance and tumbles awkwardly down to the ground.
The giant cocks its head to the left, looking at Dymm as it listens to the hurtful words "N-no...me not out of breath...you're the one who out of breath..." it mumbles pathetically as its brains dissolve inside, distracting the brute from Jysson's advance.
Round 1:
Jysson, Dymm, Jax, all other PCs <--UP
Enemies
Urth smiles and announces, "fuego!" A red bead of energy erupts from his longsword and rushes between the giant and two bugbears.
Sword-like white hot flames rip apart the bugbear's flesh, cooking them in their armor--they fall grasping their faces. The giant avoids the brunt of the shock just by pure dumb luck.
The distant wyvern rider takes flight, rapidly approaching.
Molok makes for the giant, and with a powerful swing slams his great maul into the brute.
Attack:
Damage:
Attack:
Damage:
Just as the giant recovers from Urth's explosion, a Molok rock sandwich flattens his neanderthal profile.