The four archers move carefully along the top of the wall until they reach their positions. Staying low, they creep out, set themselves, and draw back their bowstrings, sighting down on their targets... and then Tybus' finger slips on his string, cutting his finger and causing him to give a startled yelp. Five of the corbies in the courtyard look up, seeing not only the magus but all four of his companions as well.
Seeing themselves exposed in the middle of the yard, the three corbies in the courtyard's center dash toward the gatehouse, disappearing inside of it.
Callomeleth looses an arrow at one of the western pair of crebain, already pulling a replacement as the first is in the air.
Attacking what I believe to be E11, the corby most southeasterly of the western pair.
Tybus grits his teeth and sends an arrow at the Corbie on the right.
Tristan grins and sends two arrows in rapid succession at any corbie that is wounded but still standing.
,
,
Lamsfel winces as Tybus yelps, no doubt startling the dire corbies. Peering over with his bow, he sees one group disappearing and another standing still in that momentary shock of discovery. As the others let fly their arrows, the elf swings his aim to match and lets his missile join the flight.
Both of Tristan's arrows miss, but the other three find their target, and one of the corbies has already fallen. Its fellow, stunned for a second by the unexpected attack, dives for the cover of the stable, then peeks around the corner to spot the attackers.
Suddenly, the door of the tower on the western end of the gatehouse bursts open, and the group of three corbies appears there, just a few feet away from Lamsfel.
"Too many blasted ladders, I knew I had forgotten something."
Lamsfel will drop/toss his bow in the general direction of Gan, draw a pair of wakizashi, and bow to the dire corbies before stepping up to, but not into the doorway so the first creature has to stand in the doorway to reach the bladeslinger.
"And here they come!", Callomeleth cries as the crebain begin to swarm them. Rather than fire again, he holds his holy symbol aloft and sings a song to the Heavens. A soft light red glow emanates from him, and he smiles to the sky in thanks. "The Rose will protect us, just stay close if you can!"
Using my deflection aura ability to create a 20' spread. All allies within it get a +2 to AC and CMD.
Tristan will move past Gan to shoot at any approaching corbies.
Tybus decides to risk a shot at the corbies appearing on their level.
Tybus' shot goes high as he tries avoid shooting Callomeleth in the back, while Tristan moves to the other side of the tower in case a flanking attack occurs from that direction.
Down in the courtyard, the corby lurking behind the stables moves out and starts sprinting toward the wall. Similarly, the corbies near the eastern garden run up to the wall of the gatehouse and simply climb up it to the gatehouse roof, forgoing the niceties of ladders.
Seeing the bottleneck, the nearest corby actually moves to the outside of the wall and begins crawling down it and sideways, trying to circumvent Lamsfel's blockade entirely. A second corby does the same thing on the other side, while the third rushes forward, leaping high into the air in a full-on charge.
The corby lands a little off-balance, though, so it can only swipe at Lamsfel with one claw.
Tybus nocks another arrow and shoots at one of the corbies climbing up the wall. Okay, maybe this wasn't the best idea! I didn't know they could climb like this!
After loosing the arrow, he drops the bow and draws Song of Sparrows.
Without looking back, "Aye! If I had known, I would have re-thought my block here!"
Tybus' arrow and Lamsfel's blades all find their marks, but the corbies continue their advances undeterred.
Tristan takes a shot at the sprinting corby.
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"Aye, this ambush was not the most well-thought out! We've no place to run to! Stand and fight, my friends!" Callomeleth pulls another arrow and fires at one of the crebain climbing up the wall, then shoulders his bow, preparing to pull his glaive and enter the melee.
Firing at one of the wounded corbies climbing after us.
Callomeleth's arrow joins Tybus' in one of the corbies, and it falls off the wall, mortally wounded. Tristan's arrow also finds its mark, but the corby doesn't slow its approach. Gan sees one still alive below him and stabs, but the corby seems quite comfortable dodging attacks while climbing, and has no difficulty avoiding the blow.
The remaining corbies continue their advances. The ones furthest away rush across the gatehouse roof, readying themselves to attack or begin climbing across the walls as well, while the nearer ones move to attack.
"The dance continues! There will be no running, but we could retreat to limit their angles of attack. If you do so, I will follow!"
Well, they don't seem to have the sense to wait for us to get in a better position. I guess we'll make do.
Tybus switches to a one-handed grip and gestures with his off hand while reciting arcane words. Then he slashes with the blade at the corbie coming at him from the interior of the castle.
plus
plus
Gan channels more power into his weapon, trying to knock his foe off the building with the butt of his spear.
Callomeleth finishes freeing his glaive and thrusting it at one of the crebain swarming up to Tybus. The thrusts aren't to damage, but to distract, setting Tybus up to land a death blow.
Attacking one of the corbies on Tybus to assist him, granting him a +2 to his attack.
Three strikes from Lamsfel's swords turn out to be enough to drop his current foe, while Tybus' spell-charged blade cuts a second one, sending a mystic necrosis through its flesh. Gan cannot seem to connect with his spear, but his attempts to knock Tybus' target off the wall leave him open to a counterstrike from the corby's claws. Wrapped in the aura of Woke Qing, however, Gan is as nimble as his foe, easily avoiding the awkward blow.
Tristan stashes his bow, draws his sword and swings at the corby.
,
Tristan's massive blade finishes off that corby as well, leaving only three of them alive. The one being targeted by Gan and Tybus decides to move on around the tower in search of an easier access - it moves quickly across the wall, climbing up in front of Tristan instead.
The other two atop the gatehouse join in the fight. One charges Lamsfel, leaping into the air first in the characteristic way the dire corbies have.
The other runs to the wall, climbs down and across it, coming up on Callomeleth's flank and slashing at him with a claw.
Both of Lamsfel's blades find their mark, and the corby shouts in pain.
Tristan shakes the blood off his blade and takes another swing.
,
Switching back to a two-handed grip on the crackling blade, Tybus keeps the attack going on the wounded corbie within his reach.
Callomeleth winces as the crebain's claw scrapes against his armor, causing a horrible shrieking sound. Fortunately, the soft red aura coming from him protected him from harm. He frowned as he realized he was too close to use his glaive effectively, and dropped his weapon, pulling his black metal mace and striking at the filthy birdman before him.
Dropping my glaive and striking the one at R8 (also, the only one I can reach).
Seemingly aware of the potency of their foes, the corbies fight more carefully than they have done before, and only Lamsfel manages to fight past their defenses.
Seeing Gan move away into the tower, the climbing corby heads that way across the wall.
On the other side of the tower, the corby that faces Gan and Tristan decides to test the defenses of the newcomer rather than trying to cut through Tristan's armor again.
Lamsfel's foe, battered, wounded and unable to strike out effectively, nonetheless continues its assault, hoping to find a weakness in the elf's bladework.
With another pair of lethal strikes, Lamsfel ends the life of that corby as well. He also manages to catch the climbing corby with a slice from one of his blades as it climbs away.
Tybus slashes downward at the maneuvering corbie, his blade still crackling with energy ready to discharge.
If there's another within reach, he'll keep up the attack.