Unrak flies into his customary rage, and attacks the elemental.
Unrak deals two heavy blows, but cannot fell his foe.
"I am already here, thank you. Your shouts were more than enough to disturb my studies. You make quite a racket," a voice floats back from above.
Round IV
1. Captain, Fire Elementals (inside 47 damage)
2. Gozrek (standard), John (61/76 hp, armor broken), Augrym (shield broken), Unrak (90/110 hp, Reflex), Taranis (67/82 hp, Toth 57/76 hp), Bytor
3. Guards (some wounded), Giants
JOHN!! Help me take the elemental down, I need some breathing room!!
Gozrek runs down stairs, still invisible, "Found the other guards, they're coming down from the next level."
Augrym hears Unrak's call for help and heads over to strike. He moves, studies his elemental opponent and attacks.
The elemental slams a burning fist into Augrym's face as he closes.
THREAT
normal
plus plus
Augrym gives about as good as he got, but still he cannot bring down the elemental!
Round IV
1. Captain, Fire Elementals (inside 57 damage)
2. Gozrek, John (61/76 hp, armor broken), Augrym (83/95 hp, shield broken, Reflex), Unrak (90/110 hp, Reflex), Taranis (67/82 hp, Toth 57/76 hp), Bytor
3. Guards (some wounded), Giants
Haste to R7
Satyr to R9
white/green @ 6 dmg
grey @ 14 dmg
black @ 17 dmg
yellow @ 11 dmg
purple @ 24 dmg
Bytor maintains his inspiring courage and casts cure moderate wounds on Unrak.
”The bigger the giant, the harder they fall! Let’s see them come down, my friend!”
Bytor embraces his inner cleric.
Round IV
1. Captain, Fire Elementals (inside 57 damage)
2. Gozrek, John (61/76 hp, armor broken), Augrym (83/95 hp, shield broken, Reflex), Unrak, Taranis (67/82 hp, Toth 57/76 hp), Bytor
3. Guards (some wounded), Giants
John unleashes a rain of arrows so fierce that it feels like an indoor windstorm!
for
for
for
for
John finally puts down the elemental, which disappears in a puff of smoke. The nearest giant howls in anger and pain as arrows slam into its back.
While the guards outside wait for a shot, the ones on the second floor tumble down the stairs, the first running full smack into an invisible Gozrek.
"Huh?! One's invisible or something!" He slashes wildly with his blade.
MISS
The giant by the door picks up some pieces of the shattered wood and comically attempts to lay them against the door frame.
"Get that idiot outta the way! Get in there and beat them to pulp!"
Another giant pushes past the one at the door---ignoring the broken splinters put up against its passage---and slams another club into Toth.
HIT
Meanwhile, the captain in the back growls in frustration. "Get in there!" he shouts to the other elemental, reaching for a bow himself.
HIT
MISS
"Are you going to do something or just float there?"
"Oh, I think I can solve your conundrum easily enough," answers a familiar voice. A robed figure alights near the captain. "Lintworth, be ready with the wall."
A massive bolt of lightning rips through the huddled Huntsmen, arcing from one body to the next.
Round V
1. Captain, Fire Elemental, Imeckus Stroon
2. Gozrek (AoO, invisible), John (Reflex, 61/76 hp, armor broken), Augrym (Reflex (x2), 83/95 hp, shield broken), Unrak (Reflex), Taranis (Reflex, 67/82 hp, Toth Reflex 31/76 hp, Satyr Reflex), Bytor (Reflex)
3. Guards (some wounded), Giants (red @ 55 dmg)
Bytor dodges aside from the lightning as fast as he can.
Unrak is unable to dodge the lightning and is well cooked. Instead of rushing forward, he casts a defensive spell to better prepare for the engagement...
He inhales deeply, then exhales forcefully, extending one claw-like hand in front of him. As he does, the muscles all over his body clench and bulge, to the point where he looks nearly deformed by the magical enhancement. He pounds his now-swelling chest with a mighty fist a couple times, then moves forward to assist Toth.
CURRENT CONDITIONS
Iron Skin +5 AC
Long Arm +5' reach
Haste +1 AC
Inspired +2/+2
"Satyr! Clean up after Toth!"
Taranis then begins another complex spell...
Toth continues to slash and bite his way through the giants:
THREAT
for
for
for
for and
for
Gozrek, unwilling to let go of his biggest advantage moves quickly to a better spot....
Toth lays into the giant, nearly ripping it to shreds. Unrak casts a defensive spell while Gozrek hurries out of the way.
Round V
1. Captain, Fire Elemental, Imeckus Stroon
2. Gozrek (invisible), John (Reflex, 61/76 hp, armor broken), Augrym (Reflex (x2), 83/95 hp, shield broken), Unrak (96/136 hp), Taranis (47/82 hp, Toth 31/76 hp, Satyr 4/44 hp), Bytor (55/75 hp)
3. Guards (some wounded), Giants (red @ 55 dmg, black @ 71 dmg)
The satyr ushes to the bottom of the stairs and weaves a spell of Fear, sending the waves of magic up the stairs.
"NOOOO! They'll kill us all!!" The front two soldiers begin screaming, dropping their swords and fleeing back up the stairs! The two behind them quake with fear, but keep advancing.
Round V
1. Captain, Fire Elemental, Imeckus Stroon
2. Gozrek (invisible), John (Reflex, 61/76 hp, armor broken), Augrym (Reflex x2, 83/95 hp, shield broken), Unrak (96/136 hp), Taranis (47/82 hp, Toth 31/76 hp, Satyr 4/44 hp), Bytor (55/75 hp)
3. Guards (some wounded, some fleeing), Giants (red @ 55 dmg, black @ 71 dmg)
Haste to R7
Satyr to R9
white @ 6 dmg
green @ 6 dmg, SHAKEN
grey @ 14 dmg FLEEING
black @ 17 dmg
yellow @ 11 dmg FLEEING
purple @ 24 dmg, SHAKEN
Knowing that the best way to stay alive in this fight is to keep his companions healthy, Bytor casts yet another Cure Moderate Wounds on Unrak.
"We are looking surrounded my friend, I trust this helps . . all of us!"
As the battle gets close, Bytor puts away his bow and draws his sword!
5 foot step, study, attack.
Knowing that he needs to get a line on the spellcaster outside, John tries to drop enough of the enemy to give Toth a path forward:
THREAT
for
for
for
Bytor keeps up the same spell, though he cannot keep up with the damage that even just Unrak is taking. Augrym slashes one of the guards, who turns tail and flees, while John puts arrows between the eyes of two giants.
Two guards scream up the stairs, while the others advance cautiously into the room. One crosses swords with Augrym.
HIT
On the other side of the room, another giant comes to take the place of the fallen.
HIT
Still others file in behind. The captain takes another couple of potshots at Toth, but the cat's armor holds. "Don't let them escape!"
MISS
MISS
"Oh, I do not plan to," the mage chuckles darkly. Without warning, a thick curtain of crackling energy appears across the back of the room, a blast of oxidized air emanating from its surface to zap the limbs of all but Augrym.
Unable to bear the shock, the satyr disappears from this plane.
Round VI
1. Captain, Fire Elemental, Imeckus Stroon
2. Gozrek (43/52 hp, invisible), John (28/76 hp, armor broken), Augrym (30/95 hp, shield broken), Unrak (100/136 hp), Taranis (34/82 hp, Toth 4/76 hp), Bytor (42/75 hp)
3. Guards (some wounded, some fleeing), Giants
Haste to R7
Satyr to R9
white @ 6 dmg
green @ 6 dmg, SHAKEN
grey @ 23 dmg FLEEING
black @ 17 dmg
yellow @ 11 dmg FLEEING
purple @ 24 dmg, SHAKEN
"WITHDRAW!"
Taranis finishes his spell, hoping to get some coverage. He then casts a spell on Toth and starts the withdrawal through the wall.
Gozrek gives a parting blow to the closest giant:
for
Unrak heeds his brother's call. He prepares to help Toth through the electricity wall--one way or another.
Huntsmen!! WE ARE LEAVING!!!
Taranis hurries to stem the worst of Toth's bleeding while Gozrek sends a snowball to coat a rime of ice around the lead giant's legs. The three of them sound the retreat, echoed by Unrak, and plow through the energy wall to the relative safety of the basement.
The near giant takes a swipe at Toth as the big cat flees but misses!
The crackling wall of lightning is not so easily avoided.
A piteous howl comes from the far side, as the mighty tiger collapses from the pain. Still breathing---but barely---Toth's limp body slides to the bottom of the stairs.
Round VI
1. Captain, Fire Elemental, Imeckus Stroon
2. Gozrek (17/52 hp), John (28/76 hp, armor broken), Augrym (30/95 hp, shield broken), Unrak (100/136 hp), Taranis (11/82 hp, Toth -12/76 hp, bleeding out), Bytor (42/75 hp)
3. Guards (some wounded, some fleeing), Giants (grey @ 18 dmg, speed halved)
Bytor sheaths his longsword and leaps through the wall of electricity and down the stairs to find safetly with his brothers.
The old man howls as he leaps through, his hair standing on end when he reaches the other side. He nearly trips over the slumped body of Toth.
"NO! They're getting away!" the captain roars.
The wizard snorts. "Doubtful! We'll find fried corpses on the other side, I do assure you. My evocations have a strength you can only dream of."
Round VI
1. Captain, Fire Elemental, Imeckus Stroon
2. Gozrek (17/52 hp), John (28/76 hp, armor broken), Augrym (30/95 hp, shield broken), Unrak (100/136 hp), Taranis (11/82 hp, Toth -12/76 hp, bleeding out), Bytor (13/75 hp)
3. Guards (some wounded, some fleeing), Giants (grey @ 18 dmg, speed halved)
On the other side of the wall, Bytor bends down and casts Cure Light Wounds on the great cat!
Option 1:
Augrym 5 ft steps through the wall, casts invisibility on the other side, and heads downstairs.
Option 2:
Double move downstairs.
Bytor tends to Toth, giving the tiger just enough life force to return to consciousness.
Augrym pushes through the wall to make his escape. His fencing partner makes a feeble jab, but misses.
MISS
The wall, however, takes its toll.
Augrym takes a deep breath, and some of his wounds close.
He then plunges into the wall a second time, taking the stairs.
Barely conscious, the half-orc stumbles to join Bytor and the others.
Round VI
1. Captain, Fire Elemental, Imeckus Stroon
2. Gozrek (17/52 hp), John (28/76 hp, armor broken), Augrym (4/95 hp, shield broken), Unrak (100/136 hp), Taranis (11/82 hp, Toth -12/76 hp, bleeding out), Bytor (13/75 hp)
3. Guards (some wounded, some fleeing), Giants (grey @ 18 dmg, speed halved)
John hurls himself through the wall! and keeps going
Zapped but on his feet, John makes it through to the other side.
Round VI
1. Captain, Fire Elemental, Imeckus Stroon
2. Gozrek (17/52 hp), John (4/76 hp, armor broken), Augrym (4/95 hp, shield broken), Unrak (100/136 hp), Taranis (11/82 hp, Toth -12/76 hp, bleeding out), Bytor (13/75 hp)
3. Guards (some wounded, some fleeing), Giants (grey @ 18 dmg, speed halved)
Unrak also pushes through the wall, not yet letting his rage abate while they withdraw.
He moves toward their exit but holds, once again demanding to be last--in case anyone needs to be carried, or a holding action is necessary.
Unrak, too, makes it across.
Upstairs, the lead giant expresses sincere confusion.
"No you moron! Argh, just drop the wall Stroon."
"Very well." The wall disappears behind Unrak.
"Yes, yes, get after them!"
Round VII
1. Captain, Fire Elemental, Imeckus Stroon
2. Gozrek (17/52 hp), John (4/76 hp, armor broken), Augrym (4/95 hp, shield broken), Unrak (78/136 hp), Taranis (11/82 hp, Toth 0/76 hp, staggered), Bytor (13/75 hp)
3. Guards (some wounded, some fleeing), Giants (grey @ 18 dmg, speed halved)
Taranis urges Toth back through. taranis catches up with a spell of Cure Light Wounds on his companion
Gozrek retreats with the others.
”Let’s take advantage of the giant’s confusion and get out of here. Do we know where this leads? ”
Bytor follows the others deeper in.
Taranis makes it back to one of the secret doors, still an inch or two ajar.
Round VII
1. Captain, Fire Elemental, Imeckus Stroon
2. Gozrek (17/52 hp), John (4/76 hp, armor broken), Augrym (4/95 hp, shield broken), Unrak (78/136 hp), Taranis (11/82 hp, Toth 12/76 hp), Bytor (13/75 hp)
3. Guards (some wounded, some fleeing), Giants (grey @ 18 dmg, speed halved)
John rushes towards the exit, almost catching up to his son.
Augrym quickly casts Second Wind before hustling to catch up . Unrak also hustles to his brother.
The Huntsmen make their escape as quickly as they can, fleeing into the woods north of town.
"BLAST! That was terrible! Alas, there's no use trying to unsplit wood. Our presence is known and the enemy is ready. We must be better about opening and closing doors. For now though we should try to rest. I can provide us a hard to find shelter. Huntsmen, can we turn our spells towards stealth on the morrow? I want to get back in.... somehow."
"My Lord, Taranis, I can offer spells of invisibility in the morning, but I also can try to soothe wounds of those who are hurt. To accomplish more would take more time, but as always, I am happy to offer you my services."
Unrak rumbles I don't have any magic for stealth--just for combat. But I'll be sure to use that when the time is right.
Bytor, how long does your Invisibility spell last?
"Once I casts the spell, you would have exactly eight minutes to sneak about. It is not the longest duration, but it may be enough to do the job."
"Use all the healing we have. I'll build us a place to sleep tonight. Hopefully they conclude that we'd be INSANE to come right back. In the morning, let's work subterfuge and try to get to the top of that tower to reconnoiter."
Taranis casts Web Shelter in a back corner of the ceiling in the cave beyond the gate.
The night passes uneventfully. To the best you can tell, you were not followed.
Hopefully they conclude that we'd be INSANE to come right back.
Heh. That's exactly what I was thinking!