Lefrik tried to think skinny thoughts as he slipped past the drow guard. His boot scuffed the ground at exactly the same time the drow guard coughed from a tickle in his throat. It was the break Lefrik needed to slip past and into the large cavern.
Calla smiles, feeling like something good inexplicably must have just happened.
As the drow creeps past Bruendor and Lefrik, the dwarf smiles grimly and slowly advances upon the positions of the remaining drow sentries. As he approaches the bridge, he bites his lower lip in thought. In the end, he chooses to play it safe, and keeps an eye on where his feet fall while heading towards his goal.
Bruendor moved southwards, trying to get to the drow's backup before any fight was instigated. As he proceeded down the beach, he noticed a fourth drow high on the central platform, crouching down behind the big pillar of rock. There are no traps on the bridge ramps, as far as Bruendor can tell, but his first step elicits a rather large creaking sound.
Here's the map.
Note: Each platform is about 10' higher than the one before it, so the platform at N11 and N8 are about 20' from the water level, which is about 10' below the "beach". The platform at J10 is about 30' above water level.
Calla continues to wait for a signal from Bruendor.
Bruendor stopped in his tracks for a moment as the wood creaked beneath his feet, noticing a third drow on the central platform. Nothing for it but to go forward, he thought, and continued towards his prey.
Still taking 10 on Stealth to reach N9, that much hasn't changed. With the +20 from invisibility, that's a 38, minus whatever the bridge gives me. Once I get there, I'll attack the drow with sneak attack.
enemies
anklebiter
kelendra
bruendor
calla
lefrik
Bruendor made his way up the wooden ramps between the platforms, wincing to himself at every creaking board. Fortunately for him, the sound of the water fall in the north of the cavern drowned out almost every one. The dwarf's heart raced as one particularly loud creak brought an indigo head looking over the highest central platform straight at him, but the elf soon shook his head and went back to watching the entrance.
Preparing himself, Bruendor threw the thunderstone behind his target, then dove his blade into the drow guard's chest in the ensuing confusion. The drow looked at Bruendor in surprise before pulling his free arm in and covering the hideous wound. Everyone else rushed the nosy guard at the entrance to the cavern, hoping to finish him off in a quick rush, as planned.
Everyone is up (Bruendor already went) for a surprise round.
"Simul clamo, simul moris!" Anklebiter intones as he points at the lone guard at the entrance to the larger cave. A hideous cacophony sets up in the Drow's skull -- a shrieking only he can hear!
Lefrik steps for a better view of one of the fellows from a distance.
Then he hurls a javelin at the fellow
Moving forward to get the closest drow in range, Calla snaps off a shot with the small hand crossbow.
"Let's see how you like a taste of your own medicine, darkie!"
Kel calls upon the blessing of Desna to aid her companions.
Bruendor's distraction was enough to let the others attack with impunity, though Lefrik's javelin still flew wide of his target. Anklebiter and Calla managed to severely injure their target, and Kelendra's blessing filled all near her with vigor.
The drow were quick to respond, though, attacking from their defensive positions with their hand crossbows. One rushes Bruendor, hoping to pin the dwarf between himself and the injured guard.
Bruendor gets an AoO on the one that flanked him.
Bruendor takes 5 damage and 4 damage
Initiatives:
drow (already gone)
group
"Simul clamo, simul moris!" Anklebiter chants, filling the sentry's head with hideous noises once again. "Lefrik, go help Bruendor! Hurry!"
AC 18, touch 12, flat-footed 18
Fort +7, Ref +4, Will +9
CMD 14
HP 29/29
Divine retribution (DC 13) 4/6; Judgments 1/2
Arrows: 0/18; cold iron arrows 0/20; bolts 2/20
Spells: 0/4 (first-level); 1/2 (second level)
Effects: bless
Calla scowls and quickly throws another bolt into the crossbow before taking aim and again firing it into the enemy.
Calla advances and seeing Bruendor's dire situation, quickly calls on her goddess' favor, targeting the closest drow for misfortune.
Bruendor turns to thrust at the drow behind him, but his attack is wide of the mark, and catches nothing but air. "Lefrik!", he shouts to the Ulfen barbarian. "I need you here!" Delay a bit, Bruendor, give him time to get into position... Bruendor feints for the drow's body, but then strikes the man's hand with the flat of his blade, trying to force him to drop the weapon.
Fighting defensively, which gives me a +3 to AC for this round (total AC 19). Attacking the same drow I injured last round, attempting a disarm.
Lefrik nods and moves across the bridge hastily to join Bruendor, his speed serving him well.
Kel fires at the drow...
...and misses badly.
Anklebiter's scream pounded inside the drow's head, and the dazed drow looked confusedly as the two women unloaded crossbows in his direction. His staggering was beneficial to him, though, as neither quarrel hit its target.
Bruendor received a minor injury as the remaining drow converged on him. Surrounded on all sides, the dwarf engaged in a furious defense, taking only a single wound as he tried to disarm one of his opponents. Help was just an axe blow away, though, as Lefrik thundered up the ramp to the first platform.
AC 18, touch 12, flat-footed 18
Fort +7, Ref +4, Will +9
CMD 14
HP 29/29
Divine retribution (DC 13) 4/6; Judgments 1/2
Arrows: 0/18; cold iron arrows 0/20; bolts 2/20
Spells: 0/4 (first-level); 1/2 (second level)
Effects: bless
"Blast it, this is taking too long!" Calla growls as she quickly reloads the crossbow and fires again at the drow blocking their way.
Right where I want them, Bruendor thinks as Lefrik's approach causes the bridgework to shudder. He comes out of his defensive position and attacks the drow before him, stabbing at him with a blow to his midsection.
Attacking the drow in N8 again, back to my regular AC.
Now behind the two dark elves, Lefrik draws on his rage, his nostrils widen, his sinews seem to expand. In short, he goes berserk!
And then he whips the greataxe his friends gifted him with, hoping to cleave into both dark elves before him.
Kel quickly reloads and fires a second bolt at the drow before her and Calla.
"Quit complaining!" Anklebiter shouts. "I'm doing my best! Simul clamo, simul moris!"
Again, the hideous din sets up in the Drow guard's tortured skull...
Bruendor pierces his opponent, sending the wounded drow to die on the planking of the ramp. He spun, just in time to see Lefrik's axe rip through the drow between them and bury itself deep in the newest combatant's chest. The hideous ly wounded drow doesn't quite fall to the ground, though it looks as if his body is seriously contemplating it. On the shore, the women and Anklebiter finish off their opponent.
The beleaguered elves on the platforms fought back bravely, despite their injuries. One stabbed Bruendor in the left arm, drawing a deep cut in the dwarf's flesh. The other cut across Lefrik's cheek, sending a flap of skin to hag precariously, and bleed copiously. Suddenly Lefrik felt a pressure in his mind. The suggestion was simple, and it made complete sense. Just walk off the ramp into the waters below. A surprise attack that no one would see coming.
From the shoreline, Calla, Kelendra, and Anklebiter can see a drow female standing on the water underneath the platforms, chanting a spell (K9).
Bruendor takes 6 damage.
Lefrik takes 5 damage.
Lefrik needs to make a DC 16 will save or take a swim.
Initiatives:
group
drow
"No, you don't, no, you don't!" Anklebiter shouts at the Drow female as he barrels forward.
The Goblin comes to a screeching halt right at the shoreline and throws out his green, clawed hand at the Elf. "Solum unctum!" he chants, and a puddle of rancid grease wells up underneath the Drow woman's feet.
In his rage, Lefrik barely notices the bleeding he's doing, more focused on the bleeding he's causing. Still, an idea occurs to him even in his rage...
But who needs ideas when you've got an axe!
"You! Die! NOW!" He informs the one that wounded him, and attempts to lop off his head.
AC 18, touch 12, flat-footed 18
Fort +7, Ref +4, Will +9
CMD 14
HP 29/29
Divine retribution (DC 13) 4/6; Judgments 1/2
Arrows: 0/18; cold iron arrows 0/20; bolts 4/20
Spells: 0/4 (first-level); 1/2 (second level)
Effects: bless
Stepping forward as she reloads, Calla quickly takes aim at the spellcasting drow and fires off a shot with the weapon she stoll from its kin.
Kel steps forward with Calla, but instead of her crossbow she directs the might of Desna against the floating drow as burning motes of stars race from her fingertips to explode about their foe.
Bruendor shoves the drow off of his rapier, spinning just too late to avoid the strike from the dark elf behind him. "Tables have turned, you damned indigos," he spat. "First you, then your whole operation." He stabs at the drow directly between himself and Lefrik.
Attacking the drow at N9, assuming Lefrik hasn't killed him yet. If he's dead, then assume I'm going after the drow at M9 - subtract 2 from the roll, and he doesn't have to worry about my sneak attack. Finally, if the attack against the flanked target misses, then I'll activate my Assault Leader rogue trick and have Lefrik swing on him again!
Lefrik
damage
Lefrik and Bruendor distract the opponent between them, Lefrik finally landing a hard blow under Bruendor's guidance. The drow went down hard, and his companions looked up with true fear in his eyes. The drow's rapier flicked out at Lefrik, but the drow's blood loss and fear made it fairly ineffective.
In the water, the drow continued to cast another spell as she weathered the minor acid burns and fire damage. Staring at Lefrik through gaps in the planking, she once again sent out a mental command. Step from the ledge!
"Fungus-eating, ugly, purple-eared..." Anklebiter growls as he backs up a step. "Just you wait! Anklebiter will get you! Elf-girls, cover me!"
Anklebiter -- leaps across the water, his raggedy robes fluttering behind him as he sails through the air. Catlike, he lands on the stone island on hands and feet, Goblin teeth bared in a ferocious expression.
"Anklebiter will get you!" he repeats. "Exhalatio ignis ventique!"
The little Goblin inhales deeply -- and sneezes, a cone of flame and wind lashing out at the Drow spellcaster!
Bruendor turned aside at the last moment, and felt the hot splash of the drow's blood upon his face as Lefrik's axe rent the elf's body in twain. He advanced upon the final drow, shaking his head. "This is normally the part where I ask you to surrender," he says, raising his blade. "We both know that's not happening, though."
Attacking the last drow up here (M10).
AC 18, touch 12, flat-footed 18
Fort +7, Ref +4, Will +9
CMD 14
HP 29/29
Divine retribution (DC 13) 5/6; Judgments 1/2
Arrows: 0/18; cold iron arrows 0/20; bolts 4/20
Spells: 0/4 (first-level); 1/2 (second level)
Effects: bless
Calla bares her teeth as she misses again. Reloading the crossbow, she gives a grunt of disgust before she fires.
"Perhaps a little misfortune instead..."
She gestures with her holy symbol toward the drow spellcaster and gives a cold, mirthless smile as a piece of the decking falls toward her.
Kel reverts back to her crossbow, firing on the floating drow.
Time for a victory swim, or so it seems, as Lefrik, despite his rage, steps from the ledge and..well, gravity does the rest.
Lefrik blinked twice and then stepped from the ramp, falling the fifteen feet or so into cold water. The water closed over him, but a few strong strokes were enough to bring his head to the surface. It was about that time when a curved black dorsal fin broke the surface of the water. A huge swell accompanied a large black form as the orca broke through the depths of the cavern's flooded basin and swerved unerringly for Lefrik. The orca's powerful jaws tore into Lefrik and the barbarian felt a few ribs snap as the beast hurled him into the air to land with another terrible splash.
Beneath the platforms, standing on the water's surface, the dark elf female, scowled as Bruendor dispatched the last of her guards. She made a hand motion and called something in her native tongue and one of the support beams holding the structure Bruendor was standing on snapped with a gut-wrenching noise. The dwarf desperately struggled to hold his balance as the walkway pitched and juddered. Calla's judgement took effect at that moment, and a large timber swung down to smash into the drow's face. Blood gushing from an obviously broken nose, the indigo-skinned female glared at the inquisitor, completely ignoring Kelendra's crossbow bolt.
Anklebiter, please feel free to resolve both a new Round 4 action and a Round 5 action here.
Lefrik takes 21 damage
Bruendor needs to make a DC 20 reflex or fall into the water as the bridge collapses beneath him.
Initiatives:
group
drow