Fettered again, Jugag snarled and put his might against the plant that held him. He would squeeze it to death!
Ozak struggles with the brambles around him. "Bloody thorns!"
He breaks free! He shuffles to one side and With a single chop he strikes at the Brambleblight.
Arkhan laughs; cackling madly as his flames beautifully blacken the cursed branches.
Arkhan Silvinesti: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Choot Othul: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12
Jugag: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
Kern Dead-Eye: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Ozak: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
Thoku Blood Drinker: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Brambleblight: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Jugag Giantspawn twists in the vines encircling his body and grabs tight, pining its thrashing tendrils in his mighty arms! Cords of steel bulge in his muscles as the witch-wood succumbs to his might!
ya, no
Beside him the Mouth of Zagresh breathes deep the cold death of the Doombringer and welcomes his entry to the Destroyer's Horde. Black flames grasp the creature, and it collapses to dust, freeing the shaman as it withers away!
Arkhan is grappled. That's -2 to attack and -4 to Dexterity (net -4 to ranged attacks). He rolled at 20-4 = 16 for his ranged attack. This is against TOUCH attack, though, so BWAHAHAHAHA it's hit! Now you can burn things, like Link with the Flame Rod from Link's Awakening!
First bursts from the Storm-Brother's hand once more. Once more Kern's Rull-flame burns at the massive tangle of vines and thorns at the end of the room which has caused so much of their frustration. Once more the beast thrashes in pain as black smoke bursts from its vines!
Ozak pulls himself free of the vines coiling about his legs and swings at the bramblelbight with his axe. But, for once, the vine's wood is too strong for his orc-steel and he cannot make it bleed its rich sap.
Jugag's bramble is going to try to attack
hit
Kern's bramble is going to try to attack
miss
Arkhan's vines are going to attack
Thoku's bramble is going to try to attack thoku
hit
Brambleblight is going to put the hurt on everyone by launching a barrage of thorns, targeting the most hurt
thoku miss
Choot miss
Arkhan Miss
thoku miss
The brambles and their master assail the Tribe of the Bleeding Storm. Four of them bring their vines to bear and thrash and flail at the tribe, but only Arkhan and Thoku feel their sting. StormBrother feels life slipping from his fingers, and the Blood-Drinker's sacred flesh begins to fade away exposing his mortal body withing.
The Brabmbleblight, their hated foe launches a volley of swords into the air, in a desperate attempt to end the battle, with is life near gone. But, its war-rain is futile, and trees sprout from no flesh.
Behind them, Ewigga, long forgotten in the battles begins chanting the tongue of Sezelrian from her position on the stairs.
Thoku: Blinded, entangled, Grappled(controller)
Ozak:
Arkhan: Grappled
Jugag: grappled (controller)
Kern: Entangled, grappled
Choot: Entangled,
Kern and his pets attempt to finish off the plant they've been cutting down.
Thoku bites at the bramble....[dice=bite]1d20+9
[dice=damage]1d6+6
[dice=if it can take bleed]1d6
[dice=and i dont know yhe rules on triping while grappling but...]1d20+10
-Posted with Wayfinder
-Posted with Wayfinder
Arkhan Silvinesti: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Choot Othul: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12
Jugag: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
Kern Dead-Eye: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Ozak: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
Thoku Blood Drinker: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Brambleblight: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
At Kern's command, his beasts grip both sides of the bramble and pull with a mighty flex of their great thews. The wytch-wood thrashes in the air in pathetic weakness. Then, with a great splintering and cracking sound, the wyrd-wood shatters into a thousand pieces. It quickly collapses into dust as the splinters fall to the rotting floor.
The Dead-eye, free from the bramble's vines, turns on the bramble attacking the Mouth of Rull and strikes at it with his great bone-beak. Orc-steel cuts deep into the wood, hewing it into a thousand pieces with a single, mighty swing.
he just needs to maintain grapple, thing he gets a free damage roll
that's a maintain
-5 hardness = 6 (sorry no bleed)
Dread Thoku flexes his mighty thews, crushing his foe to his breast in a powerful double-locked hold. Then, he brings his fangs down on the creature, crushing wooden vines between his mighty tusks!
Thoku: Blinded, entangled, Grappled(controller)
Ozak:
Arkhan: Grappled
Jugag: grappled (controller)
Kern: Entangled
Choot: Entangled
The Dead-eye, free from the bramble's vines, turns on the bramble attacking the Mouth of Rull and strikes at it with his great bone-beak. Orc-steel cuts deep into the wood, hewing it into a thousand pieces with a single, mighty swing.
Angerly drawing his falchion, the druid swings down at the foul fey.
[
Jugag flexed this thews, trying to crush the plant that seized him into a pulp.
Finally free of the entanglement of a lesser creature, Choot aims his unholy symbol for the monster master (big monster) and once more pours pure entropy into his foes!
"DIE!"
Channel Ray Ranged Touch -
Damage
Ozak twirls his axe again, striking with both ends.
"Die you overgrown weed!"
The Fist turns their might upon the Brambleblight. Arkhan hurls the last of his Rull-flame at his hated foe. Smoke quickly rises from the heart of the spirit wood as its dry wood catches fire. Beside him, the Mouth of Zagresh summons the cold emptiness of the Destroyer's own cave. Dark insects made of absolute emptiness wriggle up from the ground and devour the witch-wood's vines, feasting on its life. where they tread, the vines hollows and collapse into dust. The thing thrashes in the air, preparing another devastating volley of thorns. But, the Badaxe is ready! He brings his double-headed orc-blade in a powerful overhanded chop that splits the tangle of thorns in twain! Flames quickly engulf the rest of the wood, sending smoke up to the ceiling of the spirit-cave, as the thing's witch-wood slaves crumble to ash about the Tribe, leaving them, and the crone Ewigga, alone in the cavern.
Within the ashes, the Tribe spots a truly massive sword: Varg's Thorn. It is a mighty blade crafted of a dark iron and glistens wetly in the light of the spirit-sun, as though it has recently been bathed in blood. It has three sets of spikes coming from the sides at even intervals up the blade. Images of strength and orc dominance line one side of the blade, runes sacred to the Chiefs in Fire and Blood ascend the other.
Well done, Mighty Chief! You and your warriors are powerful indeed! The skalds shall sing praise of your deeds at the cook fires! The Flood Truce shall ring of your prowess and strength for years to come! Ewigga limps forward on her crone's legs. Her eyes glisten and her fingers reach out towards the Thorn. Yes, powerful indeed to have won such a hoard!
Ah, the sweet smell of burning fey!
"CRONE! The weapon belongs to the Bleeding Storm! Nary did I see you raise a hand in aiding us, hands off of our prize..." His voice as menacing as he can muster in his current injured state.
As Choot glares at the Crone, the vegetation that just attacked the group turns to ash, a sudden wind blows in the space seemingly from nowhere. The winds turns into a swirling vortex of the very ash that the once living plant life has become. The vortex strikes Choot who falls to his knees and cries out.
The activity ceases as quickly as it began. The ash appears to have vanished, consumed somehow by the evil Cleric?
Choot is on his knees breathing heavily, the sound of his skin crackling can be heard from beneath his mask and his clothing, as the Orc rarely shows skin. He throws up his head in triumph, the phylactery on his head flashes in both darkness and light, "Yes. Yes! I understand my Lord".
His voice drops to a whisper, "Thank you for so blessing me..."
On the ground his hands pass by some buried treasures which he picks up and dusts off...
"CRONE! The weapon belongs to the Bleeding Storm! Nary did I see you raise a hand in aiding us, hands off of our prize..." His voice as menacing as he can muster in his current injured state.
"Hahahahahaha! Touch the Thorn, she! I will take your life for mighty Thoku!" Jugag said cheerfully, training a pair of arrows on Ewigga.
Arkhan grins wickedly. His black booted feet kicking at the blackened ash that was foul fey.
The Storm Druid laughs. He lifts his hands to the sky.
Lightning Lord, further empower Your servant to bring more glory and gore to The Bleeding Storm!
Peering amongst the ash, Arkhan comes upon a metal rod, frosty and cold to the touch.
The Storm Druid cackles with glee.
Rull, the Wise! Hahaha...hehehe!
Lying underneath, Arkhan finds vestments; with a storm motif.
He nods.
"CRONE! The weapon belongs to the Bleeding Storm! Nary did I see you raise a hand in aiding us, hands off of our prize..." His voice as menacing as he can muster in his current injured state.
The crone hisses but turns pulls her hands away. What know you of the strength of warriors, or the gifts of the Fire God? His Smokes are far greater than you can know! No doubt it will drink your life when you read its smokes! She cackles and speaks scabrous words, smoke billows from the slits of her mask, and form long-taloned claws. They stretch from her mouth and undulate through the air like a living fog. They reach Thoku and dig deep into his sacred flesh, scratching and tearing deep within him. They rip his ruined eyes from his skull tossing them to the ground, where they burst into flame. Then, the smoke rushes into the voids, filling the gaping wounds with the power of the Fire God. The Chief of the Bleeding Storm blinks, and he can see once more.
It is done, dread Chief!
Choot cackled at her, "My Lord is the end of all things wizened creature, do you think fire will continue to exist? When the time is ripe even the elements shall be snuffed out when Zagresh so wills it! Fire holds no fear for me... one death is as good as the next. Mighty Chief. Claim the Blade whether you wield it or not it is a symbol for others to Rally to!"
Varg's Thorn is no mere blade. It is a greatsword, true, and of strongest steel. It is a tool of the Drowning Sand tribe, their standard is on the pommel. It has the power to command any giant it strikes!
The blade can but command up to three giants. The wielder of Varg's Thorn must thrust the blade into a giant, and break off one of the three sections, lodging the metal in its flesh. After this, if his will is strong enough, the warrior may bend the giant to his will.
Arkhan's moment with his deity finishes.
The Druid lowers his arms. A smile seems to be pasted to his already unsettling expression.
He bows before the Chief.
Bloodied One, may I attempt to examine this prize!
Arkhan raises the offered sword to the sky.
Mighty Rull. Grant your servant sight and Guidance!
Choot casts Detect Magic and studies the Storms prize.
Choot turns to Thoku, "Truly this is a weapon that is a gift from Zagresh himself...." he whispers.
"Chieftan, if you wield this blade only to use against Giant foes it shall be worthy of the sacrifices in blood we paid to claim it!"
Thoku looks around with his renewed sight, the mighty chief roars victory as small flames erupts from his face. His fist look at the bloodied one now where once he had blood red eyes are small smoldering fires. Thoku looks at his tribe "the trial is completed my sight has been returned and now we command even greater power" He grabs once of the fey skulls that hand from his belt "you thought taking my sight would bring the bloodied one low, all it did was grant me new power!' Thoku lets the head fall back to its hanging place.
He walks forward to take the great blade into his hands feeling to power in this blade his nods "i great prize indeed, now let us rid ourselves of this weak plane and leave it in ashes" Thoku begins to walk out holding the blade in his massive claws...
Cackling under his breath, Arkhan follows his Chief.
Guide your servant, Rull!
Ewigga follows a respectful distance behind the Fist of the Bleeding storm as mighty Thoku leads his tribe from the spirit-realm. The spirit-path opens and the tribe marches across the bridge of Fire and Smoke. They appear in the swamp, and are greeted by the assembled tribe.
The warriors roar in triumph and and cheer the name of Chief Thoku. Slaves are roasted, and drums pound as the Fist returns.
Arkhan raises his arms to the sky.
Behold; The Bleeding Storm is the howling wind that tears apart its enemies!
Gorrek slams his axe-hand to his chest and lifts it into the air, as the tribe roars behind him. Strength to Thoku, Chief! The warriors line behind Gorrek and slam their war-metal on their shields. The Rull-noise rises with the smoke of the torches hanging thick over the horde.
Although the Bleeding Storm clearly has the favor of Zagresh, Choot will request a few slaves of the Chieftan to please the Lord of the End of Everything - their hearts and warm blood will please Choot's Dark Lord.
Thereafter, Choot will organize members of the Tribe who have knowledge of the location and ascertain what if any defensive weaknesses the Fort may have. Though Choot is no battle tactician, he has a plan in mind...
Six warriors, each with the roaring visage of the dire bear of the Destroyer flayed from the flesh of their skulls and faces, march forward. Their metal warskins are covered in spikes and razors, sealed completely, without clasp or buckle, and they bare double-headed bone-beaks on their backs. They hold banners of human skin, each proudly proclaiming the sign of the Bleeding Storm, lashed to poles made of bound bones. Between them, six slaves struggle to carry Mighty Thoku's Seat of Bones above them. They bow down, nearly double as though the chair is of an impossible weight, even for six brawny slaves as these. They carry the chair upon pallet of swords and axes, the weapons of fallen warriors. Stout chains connect the pallet to collars about their necks. The warriors stop in a line behind the throne, planting the standards deep into the earth, as the the slaves gingerly set the pallet on the earth. The warriors draw their axes and stand guard behind the throne, the meaning is clear: they live and die for the Chief who sits upon the Seat of Bone. The slaves cower in fear in a rough circle about the throne, curled into balls, so nothing but their heavily-scarred muscled backs are visible to the horde.
The Croen shuffles forward and snaps her fingers. Three warriors stomp forward, each dragging a slave behind them. These, she points to the warriors, have been to the red lake. Ask them your questions. She points to the slaves. They caught these in the wilds while you entered the spirit realm. They offer them to you as gifts to the Chiefs in Fire and Blood
The warriors slam their fists to their chest and speak of the defenses of the Red Lake Fort. They say the spirits of the dead do not rest in the fort, and slay any who displease them. The orcs are led by General Karrguk who worships Nulgreth and serves Grendelsek only because he has not found a way to betray her. The shaman Droja is his concubine. They command the Twisted Nail at the fort, but they hate ogres and giants who fight under Grendelsek's banner. A dam holds back the water of the lake, keeping it from filling the moat within the fort's walls. The Twisted Nail make camp in the dried out moat.
"Draw us a map in the dirt," Ozak commands the slaves.
"Show us the plan of this fort. What its defenses are."
Ozak watches as they begin.
"And the dam too. What is the dam made of? Perhaps we can breach the dam and flood the fort."
"Spirits of the dead in a state of unrest, you say? Grave tidings. We will destroy them, if need be."
Arkhan stares lightning at these witnesses. The druid listens with rapt attention to their report.
Yes, why yes, we need to hear more about this dam. Yes, we do..hehehe!
One of the warriors nods, and quickly sketches the fort. Shugash never saw in fort. Only giants allowed in fort. He points to the inner circle between upraised mounds of earth. This dry moat. Orcs here. He points to the first raised circle. This wood wall, tall as a giant and thick. He points to the inner circle. This stone wall, even taller.
Another orc, Groomahk, names a few other places on the map. He places a stone where the dam is. It is weak work, made by the tuskless. It is puny, Varg would crush any who built this. He draws an x on three places on the map, one in the west, one to the south, and another to the north. The western x he says is a grate and leads to a tunnel that reeks of man-piss. The northern x he says is the "Witch's Tent." The southern x he says belongs to "General Karrguk", leader of the Twisted Nail at Redlake Fort.
All of the warriors who came from Redlake Fort agree that the orcs hate the giants, and wish to be rid of them.
Arkhan studies the crude map carefully. He points to the area of the dam.
Your servant, Chief, with the might of Rull, could crumble that dam and flood the orcs!
"Perhaps we turn the Twisted Nail against the Giants and have them attack their own fortress?!
Mighty Chieftain, if we by way of the Darkness attack the Giants while away from the Fort, the magic of our new prize would put you in firm control of them!
Use that magic to force them to attack the Dam. It will look as if they turned on their own allies. As they attack one another we come afterwards and slay and enslave the survivors...".
Thoku walks up to his throne with a his new great blade resting in a patch work sheath made of human faces. The bloodied one removes the great blade setting it besides him. As Thoku sits on his throne the bones seam to pulse as if they recognizes they're rightful ruler......
Thoku sits silent as the warrior speaks...sitting back the chief responds in a low growl "You come to me and speak quick words offering me weak meat so tell me why should i believe any of what you say is true as my blood..."
Thoku ponders "we could test them shatter the wall and those orcs who still live could be worthy to join the Bleeding Storm." he turns to his doomspeaker "Tell me do the shadows hold favor for the fist or do the gods call for us to wage open war against the twisted nail so we could smash them further into the earth"
Choot shrugs at the Chieftain, "Let the Crone read the bones in this Mighty Thoku. The Lord of the End of All speaks through me but none other of the Gods can for only his voice is in my soul.
Best to split our enemies alliance asunder. Those that survive both against each other and against the might of the Bleeding Storm will prove themselves worthy in battle. The weak will be culled and the strong battle tested, what have we to lose with such a gambit? If all perish they would have weakened not strengthened our Tribe had we given them leave to join without being first blooded!"
Thoku sits silent as the warrior speaks...sitting back the chief responds in a low growl "You come to me and speak quick words offering me weak meat so tell me why should I believe any of what you say is true as my blood..."
The warriors are strong, and do not cower beneath the gaze of the Chief of the Bleeding Storm. They each bare their necks to Mighty Thoku, yet their eyes are steel and firm as they stare him in the eyes. They accept his dominance over them, but do not fear. The one called Shugash speaks again, Dread Chief, we came from the fort with that stain Skreed. He spits a great wad of phlegm far away from Thoku. The weak orc you unmanned and slew, claiming this tribe as yours. We few, and Skreed, were from the she-giant's fort. The others are from the hills surrounding the human-town, brought to Skreed by Gorrekk, who serves as your champion. All are loyal to your strength by right of combat. They pound their chests thrice with their fists.
The crone, hearing her name on the doom-speaker's tongue steps forward, dragging a sobbing human slave behind her by its hair. Naked save for a loincloth, the human is covered in runes and symbols sacred to the Fire God. It wears its fingers and tongue on a braid of hair about its neck. I shall read the bones, Mighty Chief, and see the weird of the tribe. Two wyrd-sisters step forward, their masks full fangs and thorns, and grip the human's shoulders and legs. As the crone bears her arm and cuts deep, allowing blood to drip into the human's mouth. He tries to spit it out, but she grips his maw tightly, forcing it open. She mumbles words to low to hear, and produces a dagger of bone which she digs into her wound, coating it in blood. She forces his mouth closed and then flays open the human's right forearm, baring the bone beneath.
Green smoke sacred to Sezelrian billows from the wound and those assembled can see runes burned into the human's bones. The same marks appear in the swirling smoke above their heads. The human screams in agony, but the crone grips his head and forces it towards the smoke. He breaths, and the smoke enters him. Speak the weird, so the Chief my know his doom.
A hollow voice echoes from the depths of the slave's chest, words given voice without tongue. A river branches thrice. One a rapid that destroys all in its wake as the siege engines of the Iron god. One, a mire that brings confusion that slows all who do not have guile. One a swift stream that sweeps all who are not sure and strong. All return to the sea. A lake of blood as axe fells trees, and trees crush axe. The storm rages and grows. The slave gasps falling back to the ground, sweaty, crying. The crone severs the the arm at the elbow with a wet "pop", flays it clean, and then quickly chews the meat into a wet pulp she spits into a hollowed skull. Then, she pours the mess into the human's mouth, shutting it tight. He tries to fight, but eventually swallows and the wound seals over to a smooth stump. The crone stands, brushes off her knees and drags her stumbling, slave away.
the three options you've mentioned will all meet with success, but there are challenges.
1) Breaking the dam requires some skill, and if you're not careful it could drive the orcs to work with the giants, as well as just make things harder for yourselves.
2) Manipulating the orcs to go against the giants could be slow going, but it'll be successful if you're crafty enough. But, if you're not, then you've surrounded yourselves with enemies.
3) Besieging the place could work too, but it unites everyone against you, and that makes everything that much harder.
However, number 2 probably has the most likely chance of success and will strengthen Thoku's horde the most.