Vael's spell continues to soften up Hamilton's foe. Tulia finishes what Ushyle was so close to doing, dropping the penultimate giant!
Round 2:
Whistle Pig: Hits
Raen: Move and dismiss
Ushyle: Hit!
Vael: Magic and missiles
Hamilton: Run
Doxon: Go
Giants: TBD
Red: 92
With no foe to fell, Doxon frantically plows through the mud and rushes towards the last giant.
With no foe, and the shaman too occupied to fold space to get him there, Doxon hustles the hard way.
Meanwhile, the fire giant can tell this is a final stand. He forgets about the gate and turns on Hamilton! The greatsword cuts a terrifying path:
for
for
for
Round 3:
Whistle Pig: Go
Raen: Go
Ushyle: Go
Vael: Go
Hamilton: Go
Doxon: Go
Giants: TBD
Red: 92
Ham is knocked from his mount, and is down and dying!
(The Yellow Hill Giant never hit Ham, because Ham caused 10 points of unaccounted for damage on the way down and killed him first. Purple hit. Then these hits from my new friend, leaves him at -3)
The half-elf makes his way across the mud pits and moves as fast as his feet will move him toward his fallen companion, taking a moment to study the giant in his seething hatred along the way.
The giant's blade drops Hamilton. Raen immediately has flashbacks to the icy cave. Ushyle rushes forward, making a leap like a tiger. He closes quickly
Round 3:
Whistle Pig: Go
Raen: Go
Ushyle: Move!
Vael: Go
Hamilton: Stabilize
Doxon: Go
Giants: TBD
Red: 92
Vael flies forward, deep concern when he sees Hamilton fall. That's not good at all...
Knowing that getting Doxon to the giant quickly is key, he siphons a bit of his magic to amplify some of his shamanic power. Swirling starlight surrounds the warpriest, sending him closer to the foe!
Tulia zips across the cavern with incredible speed! The blur of her butterfly wings carries her near Hamilton, ready to administer what aid she can.
Doxon suddenly finds himself a lot closer. Apparently the shaman was close enough!
ound 3:
Whistle Pig: Go
Raen: Go
Ushyle: Move!
Vael: Shaman fu
Hamilton: Stabilize
Doxon: Go
Giants: TBD
Red: 92
Whistle Pig closes as much as he can and lets fly with a stone that strikes true!
ound 3:
Whistle Pig: Go
Raen: Go
Ushyle: Move!
Vael: Shaman fu
Hamilton: Stabilize
Doxon: Go
Giants: TBD
Red: 114
Raen's heart stops and she curses herself a thousandfold for allowing even a shred of confidence. The giant grunts as the halfling's stone strikes him, but he does not falter. The terrible blade rises again for the killing stroke. No time to think -- only to act.
Two spells erupt from the Varisian, weaved together in rapid staccato.
.
Despite the giant's fortitude, the spell is too much. Raen's ray of disintegration leaves the giant a pile of ash!
Momentarily forgetting that she is still invisible, Raen rushes to Hamilton's side. A enormous wave of relief washes over her when she finds him still breathing. She hurries to stem the flow of blood onto the porous cavern floor.
SUCCESS
Tulia pouces on Hamilton, immediately drawing from her innate magic to heal him.
Doxon rushes to Hamilton and Raen.
He places his steel hand on Hamilton's chest and begins a low chanting. As he does, the steel begins to glow a dull red as the warmth of Torag's forge flows through Doxon and into Ham.
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Pig sees the giant turn into a pile of ashes. For a moment he thought his bullet caused the damage, but instantly knew it was Raen. He is impressed and scared of the growing power of the wizard...
WP rushes the fallen riders side. finding him alive he tries to do what he can but finds that something is happening already. He puts two and two together and kneels besides Ham. "You know you saved his life don't you? ...thank you." WP sighs and stands up to go and comfort and calm sammi while everyone else rushes to Ham's aid.
The party quickly converges on the brave roughrider. When his eyes flutter open, there's a circle of friends looking down...
WP rushes to the fallen rider's side. Finding him alive, he tries to do what he can but finds that something is happening already. He puts two and two together and kneels besides Ham. "You know you saved his life don't you? ...thank you." WP sighs and stands up to go and comfort and calm sammi while everyone else rushes to Ham's aid.
Raen steps away from Hamilton as Tulia and Doxon arrive, knowing the roughrider is now in much better hands the hers.
The illusion of Raen at the other end of the chamber disappears, and the Varisian herself melts into view beside Whistle Pig. She reaches out, hesitantly, and gives his shoulder a gentle squeeze. No words are exchanged, but the gesture has the feel of both contrition and gratitude. Perhaps the two better understand one another now.
After a moment of silence, Raen takes to the air again and moves to inspect the various giant corpses littering the cavern.
As Vael sends his healing power into the roughrider, Ushlye is alongside to help Ham back to his feet. Desperate foes are often the most dangerous, he sasy, his grin belying his admonishment. Someday you'll learn that.
As Vael sends his healing power into the roughrider, Ushlye is alongside to help Ham back to his feet. Desperate foes are often the most dangerous, he sasy, his grin belying his admonishment. Someday you'll learn that.
Hamilton coughs and stands.
Oh, don't I know it! I knew it was stupid, Ush. But I had to pin him down long enough for y'all to catch up. It wasn't brash, it was a choice. Had to trust in my arm to protect me, and my friends to catch up. But I wasn't gonna let him run and get reinforcements. That's all of us dead instead of me knocked on my rear.
Raen sees little of value. In fact, these giants seem completely devoid of valuables beyond their arms and armor... like they knew it might be a last stand.
Other than the roof which you opted not to cave in on them, there's little of interest here.
Raen turns her attention to the gates. She spends a long time standing before the stone doors, while the others attend to Hamilton's wounds behind her.
Vael eventually catches up with the others, happy to see that Hamilton is alive. He takes a moment to renew the life link with the man, then says, "Alright, let's see what we can do about those wounds."
He places a hand on his shoulder, then calls upon the spirits of life to provide their most powerful curative magic. Within moments he is Healed.
Raen finds nothing of note. The party then turns and looks back at the room and the lowest level of the mountain. There's little left in their swath. The only place to go is up.
The two gates are easily circumvented when not under pressure.
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The illusion of Raen at the other end of the chamber disappears, and the Varisian herself melts into view beside Whistle Pig. She reaches out, hesitantly, and gives his shoulder a gentle squeeze. No words are exchanged, but the gesture has the feel of both contrition and gratitude. Perhaps the two better understand one another now.
instinctively the halfling tenses but instantly relaxes. He reaches up and puts his hand on top of Raen's for a moment. He wants to wheel around and hug her. A fierce hug. A hug that would crush all the things that were said and done into nothing. But Raen's not ready for that. A touch is all she is ready for. The control Pig has to use to fling himself on her is almost too much. The only thing that shows the struggle is a small hot tear that runs down his face.
With that the moment passes and the gates need to be passes.
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Seeing the gesture of friendship between Raen and Whistle Pig, Doxon walks over to them.
I had a dream of this exact moment. Except we were all holding our teeth in little bags.
He gives the two a smile, a nod, and walks away towards the exit.
The party leaves the floor with Doxon's quip. Whistle Pig leads the way up. The foul air from below eventually gives way to a more normal smelling cave complex. After a mile of walking, the path splits. Whistle Pig scouts a bit and comes back to report.
To the left, seems to be training facilities and barracks for many score giants. Even with the fantastical magic and might the Heroes wield, they would be too much.
Continuing upward Whistle Pig gets the impression that the area is more important Certainly less packed, though the giants look well trained and well equipped. The party opts for this route, and continues ever upward.
Finally, an easy league beyond the ruined base of the mountain, the scenery change and Whistle Pig calls a halt. He eplains that just around the bend is a checkpoint. It's a worked rectangular room and is separated into north and south areas by a row of angled spikes in the floor. The north wall holds an open portcullis, and the west and east walls each have a closed wooden door. Two fire giants guard the passage north.
Raen listens carefully to Whistle Pig's report. After a moment's consideration, she weaves a spell to grant a view into the fabric of reality a short distance away.
Raen sees an empty bunk room with beds on only one side.
Satisfied, Raen dismisses the spell. "The door to the left remains unknown," she announces quietly, "but the egress to the right yields only an empty bunkroom."
She takes a moment to describe her battle plans. She will move Hamilton, Doxon, and Sammi through a dimensional door to close with the giants. Vael, if he wishes, might warp Ushyle forward as well. Raen will attempt to prevent the giants from closing the portcullis. She waits a moment for objections or amendments, as well as to allow others to cast any preparatory spells they might wish.
When they reach the very cusp of the bend, Raen herself weaves an extended mirror image to generate copies of herself. She then casts haste to accelerate the entire group. Finally, she brings two distant places in the weave together, opening a door to pass through.
An instant later, the four *pop* into existence next to a fire giant.
The party sees that Raen's mind is set, and they prepare for a fight! The giants are taken completely by surprise.
Surprise Action:
Hamilton: Go
Whistle Pig: Go
Raen: Go
Doxon: Go
Ushyle: Go
Vael: Go
Round 1:
Hamilton: Go
Whistle Pig: Go
Raen: Go
Doxon: Go
Enemy: TBD
Ushyle: TBD
Vael: TBD
Surprise Round
Raen weaves a spell, keeping her somatic motions tight and precise. Behind the giants, the bars of the portcullis slide silently down until the gate is shut fast.
SUCCESS
Whistle Pig lets fly. All but one of his bullets lands The giant is severely wounded, but has plenty of fight left in him.
Surprise Action:
Hamilton: Go
Raen: Go
Doxon: Go
Ushyle: Go
Vael: Go
Round 1:
Hamilton: Go
Whistle Pig:
Raen: Go
Doxon: Go
Enemy: TBD
Ushyle: TBD
Vael: TBD
Red: 99
Vael moves forward, Tulia following closely behind him.
Surprise Action:
Hamilton: Go
Doxon: Go
Ushyle: Go
Vael: Go
Round 1:
Hamilton: Go
Whistle Pig: Hits
Raen: Go
Doxon: Go
Enemy: TBD
Ushyle: TBD
Vael: TBD
Yellow: 99
Ushyle moves forward, studying both giants as he hurries. He stops adjacent to Vael and gives the Shaman a nod.
Okay... Hoping we can drop this giant so I can get a charge in during round 1. I'm not going to risk the move, as I think these guys are Fire Giant Special Forces, and likely to have quick enough reflexes to smack me down. So! Sammi and Ham attack!
Power Attack with Heartspit 2 Handed:, Damage on Hit:
Sammi BITE:, Damage on Hit:
Surprise Rnd
Doxon once again calls on the might of Torag to aid him in the fight.
Round 1
Doxon gleefully brings his implements of war to bear on the giant.
Hamilton immediately thrusts with Heartspit. He nearly fells the giant before the giant can even turn his head to see the threat! Unfortunately Sammi bites only armor.
Ushyle takes the time to end around. Doxon uses magic to prepare.
Doxon's first hit comes right after Hamilton's and the giant falls to the ground with a massive crash!
Round 1:
Hamilton: Go
Whistle Pig: Hits
Raen: Go
Doxon: Move action remaining
Enemy: TBD
Ushyle: TBD
Vael: TBD
Doxon will swift cast Grace then move over to the other fire giant.
Hamilton Round 1
Sammi screeches a bloodthirsty cry, and Hamilton urges her forward at full speed, tilting at the giant with Heartspit at blurring, hasted speed.
Two-Handed Power Attack Charge:, Damage on Hit:
Doxon hustles over, and Hamilton charges. His lance buries itself deep in the giant's belly! A quick follow up from the others might be enough!
Round 1:
Hamilton: Charge!
Whistle Pig: Hits
Raen: Go
Doxon: Move
Enemy: TBD
Ushyle: TBD
Vael: TBD
Giant: 98
Raen spreads a bit of butter over the weave of reality beneath the wounded giant's feet.
She then flits over to stand opposite Doxon, drawing her hopeknife as she goes.
The giant slips and falls in the grease. Raen approaches, but the prone giant still attacks: , but cuts only a figment.
More afraid of the magical woman, the giant swings from the prone position:
Round 1:
Hamilton: Charge!
Whistle Pig: Hits
Raen: Grease
Doxon: Move
Enemy: ATK
Ushyle: Go
Vael: Go
Giant: 98
Vael wastes no time consuming some of his spirit magic to send Ushyle forward!
He then moves forward, holding his longspear ready.