DM Carbide's Giantslayer

Game Master John Woodford

Is that the plan?

Trianne took a deep breath and nodded to Svarog, motioning him and Jarrek on. As the men crept away, she fished a rod off of her belt and skulked forward. Drawing up at the closest door, she studied it for a few moments, its condition, swing, and handle mechanism.

She then snapped the rod out from her side, and it flashed dully with a sky blue hue. Then she bent to elongating it and shaping it to serve as a means to bar the door when the time came. She didn’t know how long it would hold against rampaging orcs, but she knew it was her best bet.

She nodded at Kira and Haftor that she was ready and reached for the handle. Slowly and quietly she opened the door to what awaited beyond.

I don’t have anything better if we’re engaging them in/around this building, but if someone else wants to offer anything else up, feel free. Trianne shapes her Traveler’s Any-Tool for the function of barring the door and then begins to stealthily open the door. When seen, her intent is to look frightened then shut the door and bar it.

Let me know if these positions look reasonable.

My position suits. Windy Escape ever at the ready should the need arise.

Sure, why not.

Surprise Round:

Initiative order
Triane
Kira
Svarog
Jarrek
Haftor

Trianne throws open the door and sees two orcs in the hall.

Party up!

Trianne stuck to the plan, almost. She heard Kira moving up behind her, and with surprise on their side, Trianne gambled on the timing. She gave Kira a few moments to launch one of her projectiles down the hall.

Adrenaline ready though, Trianne prepped to yank the door closed and bar it in place immediately after the alchemist struck.

Delaying to let Kira strike if she wishes. Move action to close the door and standard to bar it with her tool, unless Kira does something counter to that behavior, to which I would amend Trianne’s actions.

Remember that this is a surprise round, so you may not get that standard action before the orcs act.

As Trianne and Kira opened the near door, Svarog threw open the door at the other end of the house and ushered Jarrek in, nocking an arrow as the half-orc passed him.

Move into the hall behind Jarrek... with no support from the rest of the party? *gulp*

Svarog throws open the door to reveal a third busily looting orc only a few feet away! It hasn't really registered your presence yet.

Jarrek can hit it without doing more than going into the doorway.

Seeing an opportunity, Svarog took it. He fired an arrow at the orc from behind Jarrek, expecting that their own half-orc would take his chance as well.

comp.longbow + PBS + DT + FE (vs flat-footed?): 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 5 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 18
dmg + PBS + FE: 1d8 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 2 = 5

"Keep it from getting out," he growled at Jarrek, already pulling another arrow from his quiver with tough fingers.

Svarog, it's a move action to open the door, and this is still the surprise round. You can take your shot next round.

Taking the opportunity offered by Trienne, Haftor fires his crossbow, then drops it in the doorway, expecting an orc charge.

crossbow att 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14 damage 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 assumes PBS

Surprise Round:

Initiative order
Triane-acted
Kira
Svarog-acted
Jarrek
Haftor-acted

Haftor's bolt is on target, but hits a thicker part of the orc's armor and does it little damage.

Jarrek and Kira up!

Jarrek moved up and swung hard at the nearest orc.

Falchion: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
Damage: 2d4 + 6 ⇒ (3, 1) + 6 = 10

Jarrek misjudges his angle of attack, and his blade glances off of the orc's armor.

Botting Kira:

Sticking to the plan, the alchemist reaches forward and pulls the door shut.

Round 1:

Initiative order
Party
Orcs

Everyone can act again!

Trianne heard the sounds of combat from the other side of the building and knew their timing was less than ideal. The others were already engaged. Still, Haftor had drawn the attention of at least one of the orcs, and perhaps more that had remained unseen would head this way. She chose to stick to the plan.

Using her magically fashioned tool, she forced it into the workings of the door to bar it as best she was able. Then she gave ground, falling back to the cover of the nearby building and sighting down the length of her raised crossbow.

Standard to bar the door. Move action W, W, SW.

Round 1 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Trianne-acted
Everyone else-
Orcs-

Trianne bolts the door and heads around the building. A moment later, there is a rattling at the door, accompanied by Orcish cursing.

Jarrek grunts as his swing misses and turns the backswing into another swipe, his sword kindling with arcane power as he strikes. He growls at his target in its own coarse language. "Time to meet your cursed gods!"

Swift action to activate Arcane Strike.

Falchion PA: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
Damage: 1d4 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Round 1 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Trianne-acted
Jarrek-acted
Everyone else
Orcs

Jarrek's blow leaves the orc staggered and bleeding, barely clinging to life.

Botting Svarog, using his roll from last round, and botting Kira:

Round 1 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Trianne-acted
Jarrek-acted
Svarog-acted
Kira-moved and holding
Haftor-
Orcs-

Svarog puts an arrow into the already-wounded orc, hastening its demise but not quite taking it out of the fight. Kira rushes around the building to its third door, and prepares to fire on any orc that emerges.

Held attack, incl. PBS: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 3 + 1 = 16
Damage, incl. PBS: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Haftor to go!

Orcs: AC 13 T 10 FF 13
Blue*: -14 HP Salmon: -0 HP Red: -0 HP Green: -0 HP

Haftor moves north, along the wall of the building. He turns the corner and heads toward the NE door, pulling a throwing axe from his belt as he moves.

He should be adjacent to Kira.

Trianne, Haftor, and Kira first hear a rattling at the door, and then it's knocked off of its hinges by an orc bursting through. Kira hastily retargets and shoots the orc, staggering it.

The rear orc facing Jarrek hurls a javelin at the half-orc and nearly hits, but the bard ducks just in time. However, the bleeding orc facing him manages to hit him solidly for 10 HP.

Round 2:

Initiative order
Party-
Orcs-

Party up!

Orcs: AC 13 T 10 FF 13
Blue*: -15 HP Salmon: -0 HP Red: -0 HP Green*: -7 HP

Trianne’s eyes flashed wide as the door smashed off its hinges. She had hoped it would hold for more than a few seconds. Then her features tightened as she exhaled and squeezed the trigger on her crossbow.

"B~#~#," she complained under her breath as her adrenaline addled shot zipped wide. The momentum of the shot pushed her backwards, but she shifted gears on her feet with fierce efficiency. Long, loping strides sent her hurtling toward the tower.

“Here they come,” she announced to Haftor as she slipped between him and the corner of the building.

Standard ranged attack. Move 6x N and NE. Windy Escape ever at the ready.

Lt. Crossbow ranged attack vs. AC 13: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Lt. Crossbow damage: 1d8 ⇒ 5

Round 2 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Trianne-acted
Svarog-acted
Haftor-
Kira-
Jarrek-
Orcs-

Svarog arrow to Red, incl. cover: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Arrow damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Svarog puts an arrow into the throat of the fresh orc. It doesn't go down, but it's running on rage and bleeding profusely. Then he drops his bow and readies sword and shield.

Orcs: AC 13 T 10 FF 13
Blue*: -15 HP Salmon: -0 HP Red*: -11 HP Green*: -7 HP

The big half-orc grins back at the bleeding orc, almost crazed by the heavy blow. "Say hello to Gorum for me!"

Inimidate check to Demoralize, DC 10+HD+Wis mod (11?): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (6) + 16 = 22 Target Shaken (–2 to attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks) for 1 round +1 round for every 5 over DC. If the DC was 11, this orc is Shaken for 3 rounds.

Jarrek, you have the option of taking a 5' step back to let Svarog in. From his current position Svarog can either move to where the orc has cover against him, or draw an AoO moving past the door to where the orc doesn't have cover.

Jarrek will take that 5' step. I moved him on the map.

The wounded orc is left shaken by Jarrek's taunt.

Botting folks:

Kira saves her dwindling supply of crossbow bolts and throws a javelin at the newly-emerged orc. Her lack of recent experience shows, though, and the missile misses.

Javelin to orc, incl. PBS: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 1 = 9

Haftor charges the same orc and lands a glancing blow on it.

Hammer time, incl. charge: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 5 + 2 = 14

Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

The green orc swings at Haftor and misses. Its wounded counterpart at the other door staggers forward and tries without success to follow up its successful attack on Jarrek.. Finally, the last unwounded orc tries to get past Haftor and attack the dwarf. However, it fails to pass the door unscathed; the dwarf's ready hammer meets it and leaves it staggered.

Round 3:

Initiative order
Party-
Orcs-

Everyone can act!

Orcs: AC 13 T 10 FF 13
Blue*: -16 HP Salmon: -6 HP Red*: -12 HP Green*: -11 HP

Trianne dropped back a little to get line of sight on both melees. She knew they needed to end this engagement quickly before they were spotted by other raiders. She stood shoulder to shoulder with Kira and whipped one arm forward, shaping the latent energies of the combat into a focused point.

”Keep down!” she warned, as the shockwave lanced out and over Haftor’s shoulder, thumping into the orc facing him with a resounding thud.

Telekinetic Fist ranged touch attack into melee vs. AC 10 Green: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 3 - 4 = 10
Jolt damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Barring unforeseen circumstances, those numbers just hit. Move W, SW.

Round 3 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Trianne-acted
Svarog-acted
Rest of Party-
Orcs-

Trianne's telekinetic fist cracks a rib on the already-wounded orc, hastening (but not fully accomplishing) its demise.

Svarog cuts down the badly wounded orc threatening him and Jarrek.

Svarog vs. blue: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 5 + 2 = 16

Orcs: AC 13 T 10 FF 13
Blue*: dead Salmon: -6 HP Red*: -12 HP Green*: -14 HP

Is Salmon the only one left up?

No, but it's the only one who isn't running on ferocity and bleeding to death.

Jarrek pulls out one of the orcs' own javelins, takes a step to the side, and throws it at the orc just inside the door.

Javelin at Red: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Jarrek's aim is just slightly off, but at that is better than Kira's. Haftor, however, puts his orc down. Then the remaining orc facing him staggers forward and hits him solidly for 8 HP. The last orc at the other door likewise staggers forward, but can't attack.

Kira javelin to green, incl. PBS: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 1 = 5
Haftor hammer to green: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Hammer damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Round 4:

Initiative order
Party-
Orcs-

Party up!

Orcs: AC 13 T 10 FF 13
Blue*: dead Salmon: -6 HP Red*: -13 HP Green*: dead

Just to clarify, Svarog doesn't use a shield - he wields his sword two-handed.

This wasn't going as Svarog had expected... but then, it wasn't exactly going badly. The important thing was to cut down these orcs before they summoned reinforcements. Fortunately, orcs saw calls for help as weakness, so that might buy them a bit of time.

Unable to get behind the orc facing him and Jarrek, he did his best to draw its attention... preferably for its last sight on this earth.

MW longsword + FE + DT: 1d20 + 5 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 2 + 1 = 27
2h dmg + FE: 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 = 8

confirm: 1d20 + 5 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 2 + 1 = 10 Aw.
2h dmg + FE: 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 2 = 10

Svarog drops the last of the orcs at that door.

To be fair, if the one orc hadn't crushed its STR check to break down the barred door, your tactical situation would have been much better. As it was, it only cost them a round.

Sweet!

With a nod to the wounded half-orc by his side, Svarog turned and barreled toward the others, prepared to defend them from the last orc.

Forgetting about his poor showing a moment ago, Jarrek ran after Svarog and let fly another javelin at the last remaining orc.

Javelin throw: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 ...wow
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

When the dice module finally sees fit to give you a decent roll to hit, Jarrek, don't forget that you add your STR bonus to damage with thrown weapons.

With the tide of allies swarming Trianne’s way and back around the building, she moved to give them ample space to navigate and to line up better angles on the remaining orc.

She lashed out with magic again as she moved, but the erratic energies crackled into the door jamb overhead with a snap. At the very least she hoped the sizzling efforts were distracting the raging brigand.

Move action to relocate SSWish on the map and a Standard Jolt attack for naught.

Jolt ranged touch attack into melee vs. AC 10: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 3 - 4 = 6
Jolt damage: 1d3 ⇒ 3

Haftor returns a solid blow to the last visible orc, and Kira finally gets the range with a looted javelin. The orc is sufficiently shaken that it can't manage to connect with Haftor.

Haftor hammer: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Hammer damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Kira javelin, incl. PBS: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 3 + 1 = 14
Javelin damage, incl. PBS: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Round 5:

Initiative order
Party-
Orcs-

Party up!

Orcs: AC 13 T 10 FF 13
Blue*: dead Salmon*: -13 HP Red*: dead HP Green*: dead

Again Trianne lanced out with her magic as she circled, looking to lash the orc without catching any of her allies in the discharge. This time the bright crackle of energy arced into the raider with a sizzling hiss.

Jolt ranged touch attack into melee vs. Salmon AC 10: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 3 - 4 = 18
Jolt damage: 1d3 ⇒ 3

The orc convulses in shock. Its primal rage keeps it upright, though...barely.

Circling around the orc near Kira, Svarog stepped in to slash at the heavily-bleeding foe, his step and swings measured in the manner of the dwarves. He seemed to have no care for the billowing smoke or the spray of blood - indeed, he seemed in his element.

MW longsword + FE + DT: 1d20 + 5 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 5 + 2 + 1 = 20
2h dmg + FE: 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 2 = 11

When it fell, he wasn't even breathing heavily. He nodded at Jarrek. "Do you need to return to the barricade for your wounds to be seen to?" He bent to scoop up the javelin that had missed its mark, and tossed it back to the half-orc.

And the last orc falls.

Out of combat!

Jarrek shook his head and nodded at Haftor. "Nah, we've got that wand. I should be good. Let's keep this rolling."

You recover the usual few coppers, filthy armor, crude but effective falchions, and javelins from the slain orcs.

What now? There are more orcs known to be in the next house, as well as the drummer on the tower and the one near the burning trees.