Whistle Pig can't connect, but the giant is getting ever closer...
Round 2:
Vael: Go
Ushyle: Go
Hamilton: Go
Raen: Go
CRUSHER: TBD
Whistle Pig: TBD
Doxon: TBD
CRUSHER: 5
An eagle appears in a burst of feathers and cawing south of Vael. The shaman gestures at the giant, and the bird lets out a final caw before flying straight at the creature before it tries to bite it!
Vael then moves south towards the water and around the barrier so he's closer to the action.
The eagle appears, and the giant wastes no time going after it smacking it with a broken chain
Before the eagle even gets a chance, the giant smashes it into a pile of feathers.
Round 2:
Vael: Eagle has landed
Ushyle: Go
Hamilton: Go
Raen: Go
CRUSHER: TBD
Whistle Pig: TBD
Doxon: TBD
CRUSHER: 5
With a bellow, Hamilton and Applejack charge!
FOR TRUNAU AND RODRIK GRATH!
Lance:
Damage on Hit:
Splashing water with his steed, Hamilton drives forward with everything he's got. The lance drives home, turning the Hopespring waters red.
Round 2:
Vael: Eagle has landed
Ushyle: Go
Hamilton: CHARGE!
Raen: Go
CRUSHER: TBD
Whistle Pig: TBD
Doxon: TBD
CRUSHER: 17
Ushyle hears Rodrik's name as he hurries along the shore, and he feels the sorrow well up in him. Too young, he thinks, and regrettably trusted the wrong people.
The sorrow morphs into a righteous rally within, erupting in a protective burst that washes over the defenders of Trunau who stand with him now, seeking to protect the town they love. By the bloody rose of Milani!
Ushyle brings forth the Everbloom's blessing to aid the party.
Round 2:
Vael: Eagle has landed
Ushyle: Bless
Hamilton: CHARGE!
Raen: Go
CRUSHER: TBD
Whistle Pig: TBD
Doxon: TBD
CRUSHER: 17
On a good day, anyway... :)
"And slow, in every sense of the word," Raen adds with contempt. "Eat magic, you insipid cretin!" she shouts at the lumbering interloper. She doesn't bother translating into the creature's own tongue.
Its pulse of magic expended, her hand finds her crossbow.
The giant roars with the pain of the missiles, but Hamilton still stands in front of him... , and slaps the water by the Ranger. and the second goes overhead!
-Posted with Wayfinder
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WP sees the magic bullets hit the giant and looks at Raen, "you need to show me how to do that! let's see what this does
WP moves to a better vantage point. Loads his slings and lets the bullet fly!
after watching the bullet make a critical hit to the water, WP wonders what the hell is wrong with his sling...
WP sees the magic bullets hit the giant and looks at Raen, "you need to show me how to do that! let's see what this does
"Sure! Just put down the sling... pick up a book..." Raen says in a deadpan.
Doxon continues down the beach.
Raen's magic missiles strike true as Doxon continues his hustle down the beach.
Whistle Pig misses, as does the giant.
Round 3:
Vael: Go
Ushyle: Go
Hamilton: Go
Raen: Go
CRUSHER: TBD
Whistle Pig: TBD
Doxon: TBD
CRUSHER: 27
As Doxon stands on the shore of the reservoir, water gently lapping at his boots, he stares out across the pond and marvels at the sight of his friend on horseback, sitting nearly as tall in the saddle as the giant he's facing alone out in the cool mountain waters. His body reflexively shifts slightly right and left, back and forth, in pantomime of the melee between the two. His hands grasp the handles of his picks tighter as he watches in fascination at the combatants.
Hamilton leads Applejack away.
Come and get us, Ugly!
Withdraw action.
Hamilton pulls back, hoping to lead the giant ashore...
Round 3:
Vael: Go
Ushyle: Go
Hamilton: Withdraw
Raen: Go
CRUSHER: TBD
Whistle Pig: TBD
Doxon: TBD
CRUSHER: 27
Vael moves toward Whistle Pig. "Friend, ye cou' use a bit of luck." The shaman takes a moment to focus his mind, imagining the rattling sound of dice in a cup.
Round 3:
Vael: Fortune
Ushyle: Go
Hamilton: Withdraw
Raen: Go
CRUSHER: TBD
Whistle Pig: TBD
Doxon: TBD
CRUSHER: 27
Ushyle notches an arrow in his bow and let's fire!
The arrow plunks uselessly into the water.
Raen takes a long shot over the heads of her companions and reloads.
threat nope
Despite his own blessing, Ushyle misses the giant.
Round 3:
Vael: Fortune
Ushyle: Miss
Hamilton: Withdraw
Raen: Go
CRUSHER: TBD
Whistle Pig: TBD
Doxon: TBD
CRUSHER: 27
Raen manages to wing the giant, though if he registered the wound, you can't tell.
Crusher pushes through the water after Hamilton, swinging his massive chain at the mounted warrior , but again Hamilton stands tall in the saddle.
Round 3:
Vael: Fortune
Ushyle: Miss
Hamilton: Withdraw
Raen: Hit
CRUSHER: ATK
Whistle Pig: Go
Doxon: Go
CRUSHER: 29
Doxon double moves
Vael turns his gaze to Hamiltonn. "Friend, ye cou' use a bit of luck too." The shaman takes a moment to focus his mind, and re-imagines the rattling sound of dice in a cup in his head.
He them moves closer to Ushyle.
Hamilton thrusts out his lance.
Lance:
Fortune Lance:
Damage on Hit:
Whistle Pig makes good on his called shot, knocking teeth out with a stone! Doxon gets ever closer, almost in melee range.
Hamilton, however, can't get the lance on target through the giant's defenses.
Round 4:
Vael: Go
Ushyle: Go
Hamilton: Miss
Raen: Go
CRUSHER: TBD
Whistle Pig: TBD
Doxon: TBD
CRUSHER: 38
Ushyle nods in gratitude to Vael as he moves over to the boulder just breaking the waterline past the shore. It provides a good vantage point to get closer to the giant.
After the shot he drops his bow (Free) and glances over his shoulder at his greataxe...
Vael covers Ushyle in good fortune, and with the grace of Milani shoots the giant in the groin!
The giant's wounds are severe, and while it looks good for the party, a wounded cave giant can be VERY dangerous.
Round 4:
Vael: Fortune
Ushyle: Miss
Hamilton: Miss
Raen: Go
CRUSHER: TBD
Whistle Pig: TBD
Doxon: TBD
CRUSHER: 43
Raen circles about for a better shot.
Raen moves in as the giant raises his arms to come crashing down. Now in reach of multiple targets, the addled giant goes after Ushyle, for the half-orc hit him last!
for
for
While both are glancing blows, they certainly leave Ushyle badly injured.
Round 4:
Vael: Fortune
Ushyle: Miss
Hamilton: Miss
Raen: Move
CRUSHER: ATK
Whistle Pig: Go
Doxon: Go
CRUSHER: 43
With a shout, Doxon rushes the giant, eager to engage with such a fearsome for. As his legs churn the water to close with the giant, Doxon's glowing pick swings in, hoping to pierce the giant.
AoO Vs. The Giant:
Damage on Hit:
Hamilton thrusts the lance forward, taking the beast in his unprotected side as it closes in with the party.
Whistle Pig's bullet cracks the giant in the throat, collapsing it. The giant stumbles and falls into the water, splashing half the party.
It is done.
From the outskirts of the battle dozens of veterans shout their disbelief. It's done! Trunau is saved!
Indeed for the first time in what feels like months, you are not in a battle. You have saved Trunau!
With the immediate threat of the orc raid past, the tunnel opened by Crusher in the side of Bloodmarch Hill draws your attention. Kurst Grath rides up to break your thousand yard stares. Afoot he addresses you, tired yet resolute. "Trunauan guards saw a lone humanoid accompanied by wolves dash into the tunnel almost immediately after the giant opened it, followed shortly after by another humanoid figure. We have no reason to think there is another way out, but I've posted who I can around the town. For now we shall guard it. Get some rest, please. In the morning I will once again lean on you more than I have a right to. When the sun rises, please enter the tunnel, secure whatever’s inside, and apprehend or flush out whoever’s hiding within."
The sight of Kurst live and breathing brings a smile to Raen's tired face. "Get some rest yourself, Kurst!" she shouts from the waters edge, beaming. Death and ruin lie all around her, but she takes this moment to be glad she's still alive.
"We've got breakfast with Othdan in the morning, if you can join us!"
She falls asleep as soon as her head hits her pillow -- miraculously where she left it so many hours ago -- and she doesn't wake until sunrise.
Vael smiles briefly at both Kurst and Raen's words, but the moment is short-lived. With so many passing to the Boneyard for judgement, Vael feels the spirit of life is lessened in Trunau. He trudges home.
The small, thatched roof building is intact, with only minor cosmetic damage. He takes the time to board up a broken window, then gets a roaring flame going in his fireplace. Sitting in the lone chair by the heat, Tulia perched on his shoulder. Vael thinks back frequently to the battle. After a long silence, the familiar speaks.
"You know the dangers beyond Trunau are ever-present, that this could happen again?" she asks.
"Aye," the brewer answers. He blows a puff of smoke from a cigar.
"You know this fight is yours, and there's few who can help, right?"
"Aye."
Tulia cocks her head to the side, then makes a gesture that could only be the avian equivalent of a shrug. "We'll train and prepare tomorrow morning then."
Gossamer cobwebs hang from the ceiling of this rough tunnel, and the misty spray from the Hopespring’s waterfall outside glimmers faintly on strands of spider silk. Chunks of rubble lie scattered on the floor amid piles of dirt.
Ham leaves the Hopespring strangely manic, and refuses to quit when there's still work to do. He and Applejack get right back to work, guiding stray folk back to triage. After that, he starts at any odd job or task he can. He doesn't want to stop.
Kurst catches him, some time later, trying to goad Applejack to haul a fallen, burnt beam away from a destroyed home. He's nearly exhausted, and he falls to one knee into Kurst's arms.
Kurst knows better than to try to get at him with anything other than duty.
"Renaud! Longhouse. NOW. That's not a request. I want you in that hole at first light, you get me?"
"I... Get you, sir!", he snaps back and staggers off to his bunk at The Longhouse.
Kurst unhitches the grateful Applejack and stares off at Ham's back. He speaks, in a voice too low for Hamilton to hear.
"Yer ma would be proud of you, Ham"
Ham somehow finds his way to the longhouse and falls face forward onto his bunk. He sleeps a dreamless sleep. His training snaps him awake in the hour just before dawn, and he's packed and out the door. He stops briefly at the stables and checks on Applejack, thankful to whomever saw to the return and stabling of his horse.
Not today, My girl. Get some rest. I'll check on you later and tell you about the hunt.
Then he's off to the hole next to Hopespring to meet up with his friends. There's work to do.
The tunnel's air is wet, and beyond the morning sun, there is no light within...
As the group leaves the Hopespring, Doxon makes his way to the triage area and puts his training to use, helping with the injured.
As night falls, Doxon returns to Ramblehouse and collapses in exhaustion.
In the morn, Doxon accompanies Wistle Pig to pick up some gear. He is humbled and overjoyed at the generous gift the party bestows on him. He wastes no time in donning the armor, an extra strut in his step and standing a little taller as he walks out in the green dragonhide armor.
He rejoins everyone at the tunnel, eager to put an end to this last threat to Trunau.
Ham cracks a sunrod and stands in front, at the mouth of the cave.
Vael nods towards the hole. "I dinna ken about some of ye, but I ken see in tha darkness just fine. Raen, have ye got a trick ta shed light for those that need it?"
The air in this cavern is humid but cool, and a thin sheen of condensation coats its rocky walls. A narrow passage exits the cavern to the west. To the south, the floor drops away into darkness, while a bridge of stone leads to another cavern to the east. The sound of trickling water echoes through the cavern.
They're practically on top of you when you see it, but you immediately flash back to the Plague House. A squirming and squeaky mass of rats with rotting flesh, torn and matted fur, and reddish blazing eyes moves toward you. Their semi-translucent skin shows discolored bones and muscle.
Shadow Rats! A swarm of them!
(Darkvision 60')
(Darkvision 60')
---> (LLV)
(Darkvision 60')
(Extra +2 if Mountains/Hills)
Round 1:
Hamilton: Go
Shadow Rat Swarm: TBD
Raen: TBD
Ushyle: TBD
Doxon: TBD
Whistle Pig: TBD
Vael: TBD
Ushyle feels relief, but no true joy, at the victory. He has a hard time even calling it one, considering what Trunau has lost. So many fallen, he thinks time and again. So many.
The morning sun brings with it a chance for reflection, and he is quiet as he stares out the window looking over the town that took him in so many years ago before breakfast with Omast. Many lost, yes, his thoughts ramble on, but a defense dearly bought is no less a defense, is it? Trunau is bent, but not broken; these wounds will leave scars, but they are not yet enough to fall. He remains subdued, but somewhat less troubled, as he sits awkwardly with Omast to eat.
This day, the discovered tunnel beckons.
You know what would be useful right now?
Hamilton turns a dead stare at the others.
Magical Explosives.
He snarls and contemplates what do do next.
Somebody has some alchemists fire, yeah?
Hamilton moves to the side of the cave, away from the party and readies an attack with his longsword if the swarm comes in range. Sunrod was dropped.
The rats skip the lone target and opt for the mass of feeding opportunities. They swarm over Ushyle, Doxon, and Vael.
They slide under armor and clothing to start biting their way through:
AND AND I need a FORT save from each
Round 1:
Hamilton: Move
Shadow Rat Swarm: Warm
Raen: Go
Ushyle: Go and FORT
Doxon: Go and FORT
Whistle Pig: Go
Vael: Go and FORT