Thaddeus smiles grimly, winking at Jacques. He will drop the signal mirror, pick up his crossbow, and reload it.
No need to scare them off now that the leader is dead! Just need to goad them up into charging up here before the bull's strength and magick oils wear off...
"Hey! Are you going to cower down there all day like a bunch of elves? Or are you going to come up here and fight?", delivered in loud goblin, with just the right touch of scorn.
As he hears Belric then Thaddeus bellow at the Gnolls in some incomprehensible tongue, Agathon will assume that the plan is working…
Doing a quick peek from his cover, he will attempt to spot the Gnoll who is now in command…
A Spot roll to see if he can pick the next in command: (1d20+5=13)
“Hmmm, that guy yelling behind that tree with the big bear scratch on it looks important…”, he will think as he leans out once again and sends another arrow down range…
To his companions he will shout, “The Elm with the big scratch on it!” hoping that they will understand what he means and see his own arrow flying in that direction…
A shot at the most "in charge looking" Gnoll: (1d20+11=17, 1d8=7)
Belric wiggles aboot some to get more confortable againts the granite rock he is using for cover. He yells out additional colorful derogatory comments and says to the others
" Lads tis a bit o a worry that we may hae ta skoot down dae hill and settle dis matter now"
Belric waits to see if they wish to charge.
Jaques, focusing intently on the gnolls , launches another sling attack with one of Belrics stones. He targets any one that seems to be giving orders, and in the alternative, one that seems to be bringing a missile weapon to bear. I doubt that gnolls have battlefield order of command succession, the loss of that leader type is likely going to draw a disorganized charge on our position any second now.
Your shots miss, the gnolls charge. Not recklessly but towards cover. See email photo.
1, 2, 3 have partial cover behind the tree. They are aiming at you all with longbows, but had to move too far to have shots readied, so you are pretty sure they'll fire on their turn.
4,5,6,7 disappared from view by diving behind a boulder after charging up the hill.
8, 9, 10 are visible but charging up the hill
11, 12 like wise
13-14-15 scampered on top of a rocky outcropping and have crouched down on one knee, each digging through a pouch, longbow in the other hand.
Those three on the rocks should be my focus. They are readying something other than arrows. Signaling, maybe? Could they be medics? Or are they readying thunderstones or some other minor magicks?
I must not take any chances with my own magick. The battle is too close now, and if I fail in my control again I will surely pass out. I can scarcely stand now as it is.
Thaddeus will cast manyjaws at whichever of gnoll 13, 14, or 15 is the most wounded. If they are all the same, cast at #13: Manyjaws damage (5d6=17).
Seeing Thaddeus attention turn, Jaques decides it best to concentrate on what Thaddeus percieves as the most immediate threat. He launches a sling attack at the one of the three on the rocky outcropping, with another of Belrics stones. They are moving to interdict us from flanking positions. They are awfully well organized for a group that just lost it's leader. Jaques also tries to spot if there is any new "leader" directing the group. Jaques will attempt to use his monk abilities to deflect any incoming missile fire that comes too close.
Seeing the enemy advance, Agathon will note their coordination and seek out which Gnoll seems to be leading them now…
A Spot roll to see whoever is leading the Gnolls now: (1d20+5=8)
Glancing about quickly about and unable to spot a clear leader, Agathon will fire on of the Gnolls with bows upon the rock… To keep things simple, he will aim at the one in the middle .
Another shot at one of Gnolls on top of the rock: (1d20+11=15, 1d8+1=2)
“They are going to charge for certain, and that ‘magic oil’ didn’t do anything to improve my aim!… Agathon will think.
After his shot, he will hunker down under as much cover as the tree allows and prepare himself mentally for the coming onslaught.
Belric will keep an eye out for any spell caster and hit them with hold person. If no spell caster presents itself he will use it on the nearest gnoll that is attacking, then go for a coup de grace.
Spot check 1d20+4=5 His quick glance resulted in seeing trees.
Agathon misses. Jacques hits #14 with his sling bullet. He's not sure, but possibly one of the temporarily unsighted gnolls might have yelled a command a second ago. Belric holds his spell. Thaddeus 'manyjaws' hits #14 and he goes down, falling off the rock in a screaming flailing mess of gnashing magical teeth.
Gnolls 1, 2 and 3 fire at Thaddeus. Only one arrow hits for 5 points of damage.
4-10 charge, 4 ends his charge in melee distance with Jacqeus, but cannot attack as he had to run uphill in rough terrain.
Belric now goes on the gnolls' initiative, as he casts hold person on #4, who fails his save and is held in place.
11 and 12 soak arrows in pitch and light them on fire.
13 and 15 drink potions of some sort and then ready arrow shots.
Time slows for Thaddeus as he sees the three arrows lazing towards him. He knows that one of them will hit him, without knowing how he knows...limited prescience? Analysis? How he knows is not important; what is critical is that he knows his body will experience pain and must prepare his mind to deal with it. He walls off the portion of his mind controlling the manyjaws spell, defending it against the onslaught of pain that is to come, to be resumed when the pain is past. DC18 concentration check (1d20+9=27)
The arrow slices a gash in his arm, the initial sting passes quickly and is replaced with a more manageable throbbing pain. Real time returns and Thaddeus resumes the manyjaws spell, this time on gnoll #13. manyjaws round 2 (5d6=19)
Thaddeus will then take his move action to move left on the map into good cover and put more distance between himself and the advancing melee gnolls. He isn't actively casting spells, just concentrating on one, so he should have near total cover.
"Agathon, we have need of your sword. May Pelor's light shine upon you!"
As the Gnoll’s begin their charge, Agathon finally notices how horribly out of position he is!
“What are you thinking, boy!?” He will roar to himself in his mind…
Agathon will move quickly behind the others to take up a position to Jacques left rear. As he gets close to the monk, he will loose a final arrow at one of the Gnolls.
Moving quickly, Agathon will move behind and down the line of his comrades. Noting with great relief as he hears Belric casting a spell, he will square his jaw. Seeing the Gnoll in front of Jacques begin to stiffen in response to Belric's deft divine power, Agathon will act instinctively, forgetting to offer a slight prayer as is his custom, and lash out one more time with his bow.
A point blank bow shot at Gnoll # 5: (1d20+11=23, 1d8=4)
Seeing the arrow strike home, he will mentally scream to the bow, “Finally! Now you work just as you have become useless to me!”
Flinging the bow to the ground, he will surprise himself at the ferocity with which he yanks ‘Ole Blue from its sheath. He clenches his jaw and brings the great blade up and back for his first swing…
"Aye!", He will shout to Thaddeus as he begins to maneuver the gleaming blade...
Recalling his painful lessons in how he is not equipped to charge into the fray against an enemy with numerical superiority, Jaques holds his movement to counter incoming enemy infantry. It takes all his willpower to not immediately attack the gnoll in front of him, but he knows that the arched back, stiffened arms, and crazed, fixed, stare are some effect of the prayer Belric is rumbling behind him. paralyzed.. he thinks. Still seeing his mission as the last line of defense for the mage, he will attack any gnoll that comes approaches him or tries to pass him going for our rear echelons. When a gnoll positions himself to be attacked, he gets a flurry of blows from Jaques.
Seeing the enemy rush at Jaques, Belric will intone to his Lord, “Moradin, cannie dunt me foe into stillness!” Upon finishing his prayer he sees the Yapper freeze in place right in front of Jaques.
Aye me Lord Moradin, ye favor me greatly! WHAT! Jaques tis not beating upon ye beastie. Ach, he must be o that silly belief o fair play o such.
Belric will rush over to Jaques position and put his waraxe down, spit into his palms, rub vigorously heft his weapon up (in a 20th century batter stance) and wait til his most opportune time to land a killing blow!
“Lads leave dis one ta ma loving axe!” Belric will yell out as he sizes up his hairy victim’s soft spots to place his axe.
Agathon moves as indicated, striking gnoll #5 with his arrow shot.
Jacques readies his action.
Gnoll #13 joins his fellow dead gnoll below, falling off the rock as the manyjaws snap, crackle and pop his bones....but, at the same time, 11, 12, 13 and 15 (yes 13, he got his arrow off) fire at Thaddeus. 2 arrows strike for 8 points of damage, plus one of them is on fire and Thaddeus takes 2 more points of fire damage.
Belric, Jacques and the gnolls other than those that had readied arrow shots go next. #5 charges up to Jacques and misses as Jacques breaks his neck and kills him. Belric moves into position.
Gnolls 1,2 and 3 fire arrows at Belric. One hits for 3 points of damage.
Gnoll #8 hits Jacques for 6 points of damage.
Gnoll #9 hits Agathon for 7 points of damage
Gnoll #6 hits Belric for 7 points of damage.
As the Gnolls charge up to him, Agathon attempts to block the Gnoll’s thrust while twisting his large frame to the left.
“Blast!”, he will cry out as the Gnoll’s weapon pierces his side despite his best dodging.
As the heat of his injury begins to swell, he finds himself off balance and his sword bounces uselessly off the shoulder greave of the Gnoll who hit him.
A hit on Gnoll #9 with the Great Sword: (1d20+11=14, 2d6+6=11)
“Thaddeus! Stay behind me!” He will yell to the wizard over his shoulder…
Thaddeus sees the four arrows coming towards him and realizes two of them will hit. This is going to hurt...
His mind spins into the same drill as before, erecting a wall around the part of his mind that is maintaining the manyjaws spell. The onslaught of pain threatens to overwhelm his defenses, but his concentration holds...barely. DC23 concentration check (1d20+9=23)
The last attack of manyjaws goes on #11 and is hopefully a good one: Manyjaws, last round (5d6=24)
With his remaining move action, Thaddeus will douse any flames that have caught on himself. Anyone who looks will see that he is bleeding from three solid arrow hits and is swaying unsteadily on his feet.
To Agathon, as forcefully as he can manage: "Give 'em hell, big guy!" At least I held long enough to put three of them down.
Jaques hears the thumps and grunts of pain from his friends. He doesn't turn to look. Unable to fully dodge the attack, he twists to make the gnolls strike hit a less lethal part of his body. He passes the pain as unimportant focusing on one thing at at time. Slow is smooth, smooth is fast He focuses his attacks on the gnoll attacking him.
As the blow lands on Belric clipping his helm and causing a momentary derrrrrr in his mind, Belric will concentrate on his frozen enemy and will aim for the Gnoll's neck slaming his ax home!
Crew Da Gras (1d10+4=12, 1d10+4=10, 1d10+4=6)
Watching his foe's head pop off with a most satisfactory snick sound of the neck being severed. Belric will shout out in Goblin "There's more o that fer tha rest o ye!"
Agathon misses.
The many jaws takes out #11, just as 11, 13, and 15 fire arrows at Thaddeus--one hits for 4 points of damage.
Belric, Jacques and the rest of the gnolls go at the same time.
Belric destroys #4 and Jacques snaps another gnoll's neck. (#4 and #8 respectively)
6 and 7 attack Belric and both miss. 8 attacks Jacques and misses.
9 and 10 attack Agathon. One hit for 9 points of damage.
1, 2 and 3 scramble down the hill behind the boulder manned by #15. You lose sight of them.
Jaques whirls on #9, seeking vulnerable points to jab, and strike, in his next flurry of blows. Agathon needs to be able to concentrate on one target. This one needs to go down fast. If I can even the odds here, I may be able to run down those ones attacking from range, and let Thaddeus concentrate on that next spell.
As Jacques slams his fists into the Gnoll on the right , Agathon will bring ‘Ole Blue around again over his head and down onto the head of that same enemy .
A hit on Gnoll number 9: (1d20+11=22, 2d6+6=15)
A cleave attack on Gnoll number 10: (1d20+11=25, 2d6+6=15)
Smarting a bit from the jarring stop of the blade upon the bones of his target, Agathon will finally remember to pray…
“Pelor oh shining light! Power my weapon with your spirit!
To the group, he will shout… “Yonder runners seek reinforcements!”
Reinforcements...yes, probably. It's hard to think clearly.
Thaddeus brings up his crossbow for a shot at #12, but he is too weak to hold the weapon steady and the shot goes wide. crossbow shot at #12 (1d20+5=11)
He will then drop his crossbow and pick up his signal mirror. I have to trick them into withdrawing. If the other thirty of them come up the hill, I'm done for.
Belric seeing the arrows striking home, knows that it is time to create cover,taking a step back he intones "Moradin me Lord, hide us in ye mists o ye steaming forges!"
"Lads me Lord has granted us cover, Thaddeus me boy I be comming ta ya"
Belric will move to where he last had seen Thaddeus to heal him.
Agathon kills #9 and #10.
Thaddeus misses.
Belric casts his spell. #7 hits for 6 point of damage. Belric's concentration check succeeds and the obscuring mist goes off.
Belric moves over to Thaddeus.
His target, no longer there, Jacques moves 10 feet next to Belric and attacks #7, missing.
The rest of the visible gnolls disappear. You hear yapping and howling from the pass below. Jacques hears a bugle down the pass, maybe a mile away.
Shrugging off the hit from the gnoll that he though he had safely stepped away from, Belric grunts and scoots over to Thaddeus. "Now lad, dinnae be sooch a quine aboot some splinters in ye hide," Belric tries to bring a spark to Thaddeus and get him a littled riled. "Ye favorite dwarf be here wit da make ye hail, so no dae resist ma Lord's healing powers!"
Belric will pull the arrow out of Thaddeus, and quickly with deft,yet caring touch place his holy symbol on the wound and intone the prayer for healing.
"Aye, dat be a good lad, ye see accept Moradin in yer heart and ye feel da full power o his greatness"
Belric will look around looking for his next victim to ax. Listen and spot (1d20+5=9, 1d20+4=5)
"Ma mist tis a bit thick"
Jaques gamely attacks #7 again, determined to bring down this last foe. Jaques mistakes the gnolls anatomy, and strikes hard bone. Damnit that hurt, be using a kick on the next strike to spare the hand. Belric is talking about the mist, it must be his doing, nice respite from the missile fire
As his two opponents fall, Agathon will step up to his next set of targets. Seeing Jacques smack the one Gnoll before him a couple times, Agathon will stand next to Jacques and say, "Thanks for the help! may I return the favor?"
At which point, he will swing the great sword once again up high and down onto the other Gnoll near Jacques...
A hit on the Gnoll standing next to the Gnoll that Jacques hit: (1d20+11=23, 2d6+6=17)
In case that blow kills the Gnoll, here is a cleave attack on the one in front of Jacques:
Having taken the head of his first target, Agathon grimaces as 'Ole Blue thuds its way through the next bones of the Gnoll. As he tries for a follow through hit upon Jacques' foe, the delay in his swing allows the Gnoll to deflect the blow with his shoulder armor.
Thaddeus looks much better. "Thanks be to the Soul Forger...and his servants.", he claps Belric on his shoulder. "Let's round up the others and get back to the horses, eh?"
"Agathon, please keep an eye on that mist in case a gnoll was caught in it and stumbles out. The rest of you, let's do a quick search on the bodies here in the trees for valuables. Nothing far away, mind. Then let's go back through the woods, behind that ridgeline and back to the horses. We can take advantage of Belric's mist and all the noise they're making to secure our escape. Attacking forty gnolls may have been a bit ambitious on our part."
Agathon destroys the remaining gnoll, sparing Jacques the ignoble fumble he rolled. The mist rolls around the area, twice as big as on the map. You all are able to escape back up the path towards where the horses are.
About halfway up the slope of the pass before you reach the horses, you look back. The mist is going strong still, about 2-3 minutes left. There are definitely more gnolls in the pass below. You also see several of them across the pass on the other side, scrambling and running, possibly to cut you all off or keep pace with you--hard to say at this point.
Another bugle call....the horses are still 2 minutes away....
350 xp each
Thaddeus sees Agathon look around at the gnolls on the hillside and grip his sword instinctively. He will push the larger man's shoulder towards the hill where the horses are, gasping out encouragement.
"Run! Forest!"
The wizard is visibly fatigued and is probably about the same speed as Belric right now. His crossbow is slung and he has a thunderstone in one hand.
I have two bags of caltrops on the mule, and we have enough tools to start a landslide if we only get the time!
Jaques hears Thaddeus command to Agathon and groans. There goes the loot, damn. He heads back up the hill in the direction indicated, trying to balance speed with some concealment back up the now familiar path.
Seeing the Gnolls in their attempt to cut the party off… Agathon instinctively grasps his sword with the intention of doing a bit of cutting of his own…
From behind him, he feels a weak push and "Run! Forest!", from Thaddeus. Agathon has never heard the wizard this weak and out of breath. Releasing the grip on his sword Agathon will say to Thaddeus and Belric “Follow me!” as he scoops up his bow.
Being ever mindful of Thaddeus and Belric’s over land speed, Agathon will lead the way toward the horses.
Keeping an eye out for enemies upon the path and within missile weapons range, he will lead the group at best speed…
A spot roll for ambushing enemies on the way toward the horses: (1d20+5=20)
"Thaddeus looks terribly beaten. I will carry him if needs be. Brother Belric looks hurt as well; but, I have heard of Dwarves to marching humans in the ground while terribly injured..."
The horses are skittish and very nervous as you arrive back at their location. There are gnolls across the pass from you setting up a position on an overlooking hill. Looking back down towards the obscurement, there are about 10 gnolls on your trail now; one of them has a hyena on a chain and it's sniffing the ground and making strange laugh-chortling-howl noises.
Thank the gods I made it up the hill! My legs feel like they're made of lead! Calm...calm now. We're safe for the moment. Think! What needs to be done?
Thaddeus stands up straighter. "Jacques, I think it would be best if you kept a lookout on the pass below. We're in a good position but it would be good to have an idea of where the remaining gnolls are before we decide what to do next."
"Agathon and I will calm the horses before they spook and run away. That hyena will definitely have to be killed before we can disengage; it can track us by scent so they could find us eventually."
Thaddeus (and Agathon, if he goes) will approach the horses. The wizard puts on his best "calm and confident human" act for the horses, taking the reins of two of the warhorses. "Hey! Shhhh! Why are two big bad warhorses like you afraid of a bunch of filthy gnolls? Huh? The people are back and we'll take care of you. Settle down now, the mules are laughing at you. Shhhhhh...."
This was a 'handle animal' check. It seemed the most appropriate. Try to calm horses (1d20+3=21)
Jaques raises one eyebrow as he receives the instruction from Thaddeus. The mage is in bad shape. We need to seek a position where the terrain gives us tactical advantage or at least minimizes our exposure. We need to do it quickly before we face attack from both sides, everyone is now injured. Flight uphill would put distance between both the pursuing group with the hyena, and the group on the opposing hillside, forcing them to come to us serially, rather than as two separate groups. "We need to be in a better position to absorb the attack", he whispers to Thaddeus. Then he turns to watch the pass below, moving quickly to a nearby spot that gives the best view. While watching for advance from below, he binds the wound on his forearm, and then drops a bullet into his sling.
Agathon will accompany Thaddeus to the horses and will attempt to calm them as well…
A Handle Animal Roll: (1d20+1=19)
“Whoa there now… I’m back Triple Sox…” Agathon will gently coo as he offers a bit of dried fruit to his horse patting her gently on the neck. Seeing Belric’s step up for some as well, he will offer what he has left. “There there… you're safe now too!”
He will then move to the mules and make sure that all their tack (horses and mules) and straps are correct and ready for riding.
Looking about, something does not seem right.
A Knowledge Nature roll to determine the horse's reason for nervousness: (1d20+2=21)
Seeing Jacques take up a position to watch, he will say to the wizard, “Thaddeus. Though my long bow is well made, I am simply no archer. However, I shall try again should that be your advice."
At Thaddeus' nod, he will pull out his bow once again. With a derisive look at it as he strings it, he will say under his breath, "I will merely be giving our foes a supply of new arrows to fire back upon us”
“The horses are ready for us….” He will say to the group in general, as he too takes up a position to fire upon the Hyena.
Agathon will step up next to Thaddeus and whisper, “Get down… This is an ambush!”
He will then pull ‘Ole Blue with a ring and assume a ready position next to the wizard and be ready for the springing of the trap… As the sword comes clear of its sheath, he will say to the others in a loud voice, “Ambush!”
Slapping Agathon's paw away, "Laddie ye might be thinking a bit o that, next time it'll be ma ax doing da slappin!" Belric will huff out his mustachios, looking the others over.
"Lads right now would probably be a good time ta get some healing in, so who needs it?" 1d8+4=7
Laying hands upon his comrade's wound, Belric prays to Moradin to heal the pain and stop the bleeding.
Spot and listen checks (1d20+4=12, 1d20+5=18)
"Not sure if this be an amboosh or not, but ma gut be a warning me aboot something not be right!" Belric will tell the others.
No ambush spotted, the horses appear nervous from the hyena whose noises echo off the mountains and hills. As you grab the horses and head higher, the gnolls spot you and begin giving chase, yelling across the pass at the other gnolls.
2 minutes of breathless scrambling uphill finds you in a more level area. There are some draws and boulder formations nearby that give you protection and would funnel attackers into a narrow area.
Judging from the gnolls speed behind you and their spirited chase, it really looks like you will have to mount your horses to ride away to escape the gnolls.
Or put up a fight or keep going higher?
Thaddeus plods along behind Agathon, his feet leaden and his mind numb. Gracious Rao, give me a sign! I know there is a way to defeat the gnolls in detail if I could only think of it!
Jacques, up ahead, stops in a draw and looks at the others expectantly. Agathon observes that we'll never outrun the gnolls dismounted, and that we should risk riding our horses on the slope. Belric scowls at both of them and sits on a rock, pulling off a boot and shaking out a small stone. His muttered dwarven curse reaches Thaddeus' ears.
The dwarves are said to have five hundred descriptors for rocks, murmurs a corner of his mind. They have a word for the stones that somehow get in your boots, a word for the rock that falls on your head when you're marching down a tunnel. Rikkit, I think they call that one.
He looks up. The rock that falls on your head. "Belric, did you memorize soften stone today?". Hearing the dwarf's grumbling assent, a plan crystallizes in his mind. Thaddeus forgets his fatigue and examines the structure of the boulders, draws, and rock formations for a suitable location. Engineering roll (1d20+5=22)
Right there! Thank you, Gracious One. We will survive this day with reason...and steel...with a bit of guts behind it. "I know how to beat them! We'll prepare a surprise for our pursuers! Come this way!", his energy renewed, Thaddeus will lead the party to the right spot and pull the two bags of caltrops and a crowbar off his mule.
"I'm going to scatter these caltrops here in the part of this draw where they're most likely to walk. When some of them step on the caltrops, they will stop and bunch up. At that point Belric will cast soften earth on the middle part of that outcropping, so the end of it will fall into the draw and hopefully crush a good number of them. Agathon and Jacques can wade in during the confusion, with Belric and myself in support."
"Belric, I'm thinking from that small tree up there, diagonally down to that quartz formation, and then out at a forty-five degree angle. It should fall by itself."
Thaddeus hands the crowbar to Jacques. "I think you should climb up there and be ready to pry the rock out if it doesn't fall on its own. You can get down the fastest to support the fight and will also have a good vantage point. I would do it but I have not the strength."
Thaddeus will scatter the caltrops in the appropriate place and then go with Agathon to hide the horses somewhere a few hundred feet away. While Agathon is occupied securing the horses, Thaddeus will take the wand of undead creation and the scroll case of animate dead from his mule, and slip them into his pack. Sleight of hand (1d20+3=17) I hope to have no use for such foul magicks, but if Belric and Agathon go down it may be the only way for us to survive.
He will take the proffered thunderstones and tanglefoot bags from Agathon. "Let's get back and find a place to conceal ourselves." As a last action he will load his crossbow.
- find a narrow draw either with a rock outcrop or boulders...someplace we can drop rocks on somebody
- scatter 2 bags of caltrops in the draw on the likely travel path
- hide the horses a couple hundred feet away
- Jacques helps the rest of us find good hiding places
- Jacques hides up on the rock outcrop with a crowbar in case the rock doesn't fall by itself
- when the gnolls get into the caltrops and enough of them get into the kill zone, Belric casts soften earth
- boulders or part of the rock face fall on the gnolls in the kill zone. Jacques will pry it out if it doesn't.
"Ach laddie, yer brain sure be on fier! Great thougts, ma spell ta soften da earth can work if da spirits will it! So show ma were it shood be, and aye will place it!
Belric will scoot to where Thaddeus will point [ooc} DM he has a 35 foot range for 40 square feet to loosen earth{/ooc]
Jacques and Belric climb the ridge of the draw to get into position for their plan. Agathon and Thaddeus are returning from hiding the horses when they realized the gnolls have arrived sooner than desired.
The hyena is laughing hysterically in the direction of the draw and there is a gnoll you cannot see in the hill near N-3 (see photo in email) yelling at the dozen plus gnolls moving through the trees. He's probably yelling out your position.
Initiative....
Thaddeus hears the hyena ahead and the shouting to his left, and surmises that our position has been discovered prematurely. Realizing he and Agathon are in danger of being cut off from the rest of the party, he will tell Agathon quietly, "Back to the others! Ignore the leader for now!"
Initiative (adjusted for fatigue) (1d20+6=23)
Thaddeus will hustle into defensible terrain in the clump of trees upslope near I-3. He's fatigued so he can't run, but he can hustle for a 60' move.
"Jaques we need ta hid til they hit our trap.1d20-4=0 "Why are ye looking at me that way, ma skills not be in skull duggery and ye know it!"
Belric tries to hide, and stay silent 1d20-4=-3
"Ach what be the use! " Belric grumbles in disgust as he kicks over a rock sending it down hill. He keeps his weapons ready and his shield firmly strapped.
As Thaddeus shouts the plan, Agathon changes his course to follow the wizard toward the hill where Belric and Jacques are hiding. In doing so, he nearly twists his left knee in his haste to shield his friend from the oncoming Gnolls
Wincing as he clearly hears Belric talking to Jacques (although he can not make out what was being said), his attempt to see the leader on the hillock to the left is spoiled as he sees the Dwarf's helmet pop up on the right out of hiding drawing his attention.
On the run, Agathon will pull his bow and be ready to fire once the Gnolls begin to press closer. In the mean time, he will keep himself between the Gnolls and Thaddeus in an attempt to give him some cover from arrows...
Jaques stares at Belric, his mouth hanging slightly open. He closes his eyes momentarily squinting them, but says nothing. His mouth closes as he expells air from his nostrils. He moves needlessly, to run both hands through his hair kneading his scalp. Oh why try? Really? "Belric, if they see us and approach directly, lets drop the rock on them as they try to clamber up to us from whichever side they come from. It's better than nothing." I will use sling fire until they get in melee range, and then fight open handed. From up on this rise, Belric and I will be have the advantage of fighting down at them, as they attempt to climb up to us.
Initiative order: Thaddeus, Belric, Gnolls, Jacques, Agathon.
Thaddeus hustles to the tree stand at I-3.
Belric readies himself for action. As the gnolls come rushing towards him and Jacques, they make combined STR checks to roll the rock towards the hyena, gnoll 1 through 5 as they charge up the hill towards them. The hyena and gnolls 3,4 and 5 manage to avoid the rock. Gnoll #1 is crushed to death and gnoll #2 is wounded.
Gnolls 6 through 9 take up position on hill K-6 and ready bow shots for next round.
Gnolls 10 through 14 cut Agathon off, but can't attack.
Jacques helps roll the boulder down towards the gnolls.
Agathon realizes he will be melee in seconds, so he keeps his sword in hand as gnoll #10 closes with him, he swipes at him on the run, missing. Agathon ends up in square J-2. He knows he will be up his ass in gnolls next round.
Agathon will blow air out of his mouth releasing a low whistle as he skids to a halt cut off from the others…
Shifting his hand from the bow to the sword as he sees he will not make the hill and is about to be buried in Gnolls, he will do the only thing he can…
He forgets the bow, yanks out ‘Ole Blue , emits his very best battle yell and steps into the first Gnoll’s attack with one of his own…
A hit on Gnoll number 13: (1d20+10=25, 2d6+6=10)
Thaddeus will get out a thunderstone and heave it at the archer gnolls on the small hilltop on the K row (no numbers in the picture). His intention is to get 3 of them in the area of effect if possible, preferably centered on #8. If a 5' step is required to get a better angle, that's fine.
Seeing the archers set up on the other ridge, Belric will move to the other side of his ridge blocking their view of him.
"Lad get down from there" Belric will yell at Jaques as he takes up position to wack the nearest gnoll.
As any gnoll gets with in range 1d20+6=9, 1d10+3=10