Gromff turns to his attacker and stands up in the driver's seat, drawing his shield and Morningstar. "We just sent a group of cultists and forest drake runnin and ye want to pick a fight with us?"
When Gromff stands and readies himself for combat, the bandit leader loses his battle lust. He stands there with arms out, palms up.
"We are defeated. I should never have attacked you. I apologize. We simply wanted to get out of here with our skins intact, with our possessions that we've worked so hard for."
The bandit nearest him in the wagon drops his sword. The bandit in the tower lowers his bow.
Tessandriel and Gromff both see red eyes come into view, coming down the path. The red eyes seem to be about 200' away from camp, and look back and forth as if searching. A flash of firebreath from the beast ever-so-briefly illuminates what is behind those red eyes--a large black dog and a monstrous ogre in spiked armor, making their way up the path toward you.
You are unsure if you've been seen yet, but you assume that you have not, as there are no light sources to illuminate you. Behind you the tower and shed cast little light, as their fires have burned down to mostly collapsed piles of coals and glowing embers.
Locking eyes with the beady red ones moving through the forest, Gromff says slowly and quietly to the bandit, "Hand the hammer to the lad and get in the tower."
Louder and to Roland, "Lad. Front and center. Ye got yer wish here comes the ogre and he's in the way. Best make this fast. I got another spell for ye too."
Miro feels fear coursing through him at the sight of the red eyes, his fear increasing as the large beasts come into view. He attempts to swallow it back down, taking up a position about 15 feet behind Gromff and Roland, his shield still donned and sword still out. He would attempt to do his part in this fight, but it would take a bit of nerve for him to get close enough to strike.
"The ogre! Ready yourselves!"
Tessandriel's bow is at the ready with an arrow nocked. She does not loose it just yet as she wants to time it with Roland's attack.
Taking a quick look around she tries to see if anything else is about that might be a threat.
Roland looks around him, searching where Miro, Catcher, Tess and the two vips are, certain that they would be top priority, and then resumes the business with the other ones. "Don't you think you should save some spells to heal yourself and me? Plus, it would be nice to have a dwarf shining ahead, cause I can't see well in this darkness, remember?"
He moves to greet the surrendered guy, seeking to exchange earthbreakers with one. His, broken, for the loser's Masterwork one. "I think you just made the worst mistake of your life kid, but if you try to fix it helping us to kill the dogs I'm sure we won't mind it, much."
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Edit:
At the sight of the ogre, Catcher silently urges Aerseni and the Walker to hide again, and stay out of the harm’s way, with exaggerated motions and not so easy to understand body language. In her mind, however, it made perfect sense what she just did, and what the gesture means.
The mage then, proceeds to drawing her great sword, knowing that there’s not much more she can do in this situation, she was worn out, the drake fight had squeezed almost everything out of her, with the exception of some simpler tricks, which she now, hopped to make it worth.
Then, remembering her new spell, she proceed into a low chant, aiming to transform herself into another race, a dwarf, which in turn would make her a bit stronger and able to see in the dark.
A stout dwarf, with a magnificent beard, resembling a lot Gromff says in a thick, accented voice ”Ye all be knowing I’m spent, the durned drake fight took everything me had.”
The would-be bandits take Gromff's advice, sensing imminent danger, and climb the wooden rungs of the guard tower. Two of them pick up their shortbows for good measure. The leader who now holds Roland's busted hammer looks cowed but firm nevertheless.
Roland now holds a new shiny earthbreaker in his hands. It feels good. Real good.
Gromff blesses his friend's new hammer with the energy of pure goodness, the energy of heaven itself.
Miro readies himself for battle, unsure of his prowess but bravely standing firm with his companions.
Tessandriel makes a final perceptive sweep of the area to ensure there are no surprises. She finds none. Everything seems as it appears. --3 men in the tower, all her friends nearby, an ogre and a large hound on the way.
Catcher magically alters her physical form into that of a hardened dwarf, boosting her arm strength in the process. Her greatsword is held with anticipation.
Walker and Aersensi back off to the wood's edge, hiding among the bush.
Roland evaluates the weight of his new Earthbreaker and believes the thing to be more than simply well made. It seemed to be magical. He moves into a position from which he cannot be seen from the trail, and waits.
"Catcher, give us some light. Tess, send them a message," he says with a smile.
"I liked you better when you looked like a lady, Catcher! Now I have two stubborn dwarfs around me!"
I have placed everyone on the map somewhat according to your wishes. If you would like to change positions, please do so before Wednesday lunchtime, Pacific Standard Time.
There was just a bit of lull in posting around the time combat ended last time, and so I'm going to make an executive decision that goes somewhat contrary to what I said previously about how much time had gone by.
Suffice it to say that Walker and Aersensi have been roused from their hiding spot deeper in, they're now on the outskirts of camp hiding; Catcher was able to stabilize the female cultist; the few tense moments with the bandits have passed--
After all of that, I am going to say there are 4 more rounds of remaining buffs left of the original 3-minute duration buffs cast. These 4 rounds will begin as soon as combat is engaged.
This means Gromff has the following buffs, which die off one round at a time: Protection From Evil, Shield of Faith, Resist Energy, Bless.
I believe Roland should have Bulls Str and Bless for four rounds.
Everyone should have Bless for 4 rounds.
I would appreciate it if everyone will please put what buffs they're under and with what duration left, on every combat post. It helps for me keeping track without having to look back over a million posts.
On to business! What is your plan of attack? Any particular order? Contingencies? Ranged attacks before he notices you? I will take a lack of posting as a sign meaning you choose to do nothing for a surprise round and we'll roll initiative when he takes notice of you.
Miro will load his sling with a bullet and wait for Tess to let fly. Noting the conversation from earlier, he will aim for the dog.
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"I liked you better when you looked like a lady, Catcher! Now I have two stubborn dwarfs around me!"
”Ye durned fool! Looking like a grumpy dwarf in this situation is bad enough without ye pointing it out!” says the dwarf, he them pick up a small stone in the ground, and cast light on it, throwing it in the enemies direction, to allow a clear shot from the Elf.
"Lad? Every heard of a dwarven sandwich? Catch the enemy between a dwarf and a hard place," he says pointing to the two of them then the bushes on either side of the path. When they are in position he nods at Tessandriel. Hopefully she would trust them to stop the hell hound before it got to her.
Taking careful aim, Tessandriel lets loose an arrow at the ogre.
Come get me you devil! Your wretched existence is at an end!" she yells loudly to the evil monster.
In a previous post I said you'll have two rounds to prepare. I'll stick with that.
That means Catcher has time to light the stone and throw it, and Tess has time to pop off 2 shots before initiative. Tess go ahead and make a 2nd attack roll.
I know its not quite rules as written, but we're factoring for distance here!
Gromff and Roland, make me some stealth checks. I'll factor in lighting into the opposed perception rolls. Are you two readying an action? If so remember that its only a standard action so you won't get to move to engage and attack unless you charge.
It doesn't look like anyone touched the map so far, so I hope the positions I put you in will be satisfactory.
I think not moving counts for something as well as distance.
Roland quickly hides behind a tree, but is impressed on how much noise the dwarf can make, even when remaining still. At least he would be a nice decoy.
He prepares to hit whoever comes within range of him, raging at that precise moment, taking extra attacks if the opportunity presents itself, and knowing that the orc won't be able to go too far from him with his huge size.
+3bab; +8str; +1bless; +1MW; +1Focus; -1PA;
! +12str +3PA;
+3bab; +8str; +1bless; +1MW; +1Focus; -1PA;
! +12str +3PA;
-Surprise Round(s)-
Catcher the dwarf flings her enchanted stone onto the path, lighting the area, giving Tessandriel the much needed illumination to properly aim her shots. When the stone lands, the ogre and hound stop short. The ogre smiles, revealing massive upthrust sharp tusks, and yells out "Play time? It play time! Get 'em Stinky!"
The ogre lets go of the leash at precisely the moment an arrow dives into his shoulder. The shaft remains sticking out of the ogre but he seems to take no notice. He and the hound move forward with surprising speed. A 2nd arrow pierces the ogre's armor, also staying lodged in flesh. Miro flings a stone with typical halfling accuracy, bonking Stinky on the flank.
As the ogre and hound move steadily down the path in Tessandriel's direction, the unseen dwarf and human heroes burst from the bushes with weapons raised! Roland's overenthusiastic swing glances off of the hellskin ogre's spiked armor, while Gromff lands a well-timed blow on Stinky, breaking flesh.
Initiative Rolls
Order:
-Party
-Grolmgor and Stinky
Round 1. Go!
I figured the Hellhound was going to charge ahead so I attack whoever comes in range first.
Now that he has contributed his minimal damage, Miro will launch into another song, backing away from the ogre further as he drops his sling and draws his blade.
The Barbarian really wanted to focus on the ogre, but his mind was prepared to go for the dog, as it needed to be put out swiftly, before it attacked anyone! So he risked being open for the Ogre's blow, but still took a step forward and attacked the dog with everything he got!
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x DC 7 (Scrolls CL +1)
Grumpyff, the dwarf, takes know better than face bigger threats.
Instead of rushing into the danger, he used one of the Tylz scrolls, conjuring a line of energy to damage his foes.
Reflex DC 14 to take half.
Not willing to put his alliers in danger, Grumpyff the dwarf, cast true strike, preparing to join the fray, and move a bit foward.
Knowing his true strength was in his ability to stir the hearts and minds of his friends and not in his sword arm, Miro starts up a fresh new shanty, an old tavern favorite down in Maiden's Wharf called the Pig and the Pirate! Though the song was silly, Miro had a talent for making any old song into a performance, inspiring those near him to feats of glory.
Like a pair of blacksmiths hammering on a single anvil in tandem, Roland and Gromff deliver punishing blows to the hellhound back to back. Roland's new earthbreaker comes down unmercifully, audibly cracking the hound's back... then Gromff delivers the powerful deathblow to its head, mixing the steel of his morningstar with the dog's brains. It falls to the ground in a heap, unconscious and likely dead.
Catcher doesn't beat around the bush and decides upon a mighty weapon in her arsenal--the magical scroll of lightning bolt found in the late wizard Tylz' backpack. She unfurled the scroll and finished the incantation... the air becomes charged, the smell of ozone hovers briefly, then a sudden arc of conjured lightning springs from her dwarfy hands to the dying hellhound and straight through to Grolmgor. Briefly Catcher feels a red flag--this monster has resistance to magic! Focusing her willpower, she perseveres, allowing the magic to do its work.
While doing little more than causing convulsions in the limp hound, the blow hits the ogre hard. He reels back in pain.
Knowing his true strength was in his ability to stir the hearts and minds of his friends and not in his sword arm, Miro starts up a fresh new shanty, an old tavern favorite down in Maiden's Wharf called the Pig and the Pirate! Though the song was silly, Miro had a talent for making any old song into a performance, inspiring those near him to feats of glory.
Like a pair of blacksmiths hammering on a single anvil in tandem, Roland and Gromff deliver punishing blows to the hellhound back to back. Roland's new earthbreaker comes down unmercifully, audibly cracking the hound's back... then Gromff delivers the powerful deathblow to its head, mixing the steel of his morningstar with the dog's brains. It falls to the ground in a heap, unconscious and likely dead.
Catcher doesn't beat around the bush and decides upon a mighty weapon in her arsenal--the magical scroll of lightning bolt found in the late wizard Tylz' backpack. She unfurled the scroll and finished the incantation... the air becomes charged, the smell of ozone hovers briefly, then a sudden arc of conjured lightning springs from her dwarfy hands to the dying hellhound and straight through to Grolmgor. Briefly Catcher feels a red flag--this monster has resistance to magic! Focusing her willpower, she perseveres, allowing the magic to do its work.
While doing little more than causing convulsions in the limp hound, the blow hits the ogre hard. He reels back in pain.
The freaking dice roller is weird too. I click the preview button after I make rolls so that I can narrate the results after saving throws and such. When I clicked preview earlier, it showed that Catcher made her caster check with flying colors, and that the ogre failed his reflex save badly. When I clicked post, it showed the rolls opposite, but now they're correct?? I don't know if that is a bug from the site being clunky? I've never see it do that before.
What's weird is, look at my 2nd post.. it reverses the rolls back to where they're supposed to be.
Bottom line, ruling is: Catcher bypassed the spell resistance and Grolmgor failed his reflex save, taking full damage.
Taking aim again, Tessandriel lets loose another arrow at the ogre.
"Stinky?!!" The ogre's eyes glow red with anger. He cracks a long fanged whip that blazes to life, bursting into flame! At the same moment his eyes burn and his head becomes wreathed in fire. He steps back, pulls out a large black sword in his offhand, and cracks his flaming fanged whip at Gromff's feet, knocking him prone.
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Round 2, everyone may act now.
Roland barely noticed the dwarf on the ground, and even if the cleric was dead he couldn't do anything about it other than keeping up the pressure!!
"Yooooooooooooooooouuuuuuuuuuuuuur!"
!
Miro keeps his head as the dwarf gets tripped up. Not being in the melee, he can see Gromff collecting his wits and preparing to reenter the fray. Of more concern to Miro is the large black sword. It looked like it could create a rather nasty wound. Miro stops singing and chants, waving his arm about.
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Roland steps up to the large ogre, standing toe to toe, not an ounce of fear in him. He delivers a raging blow that breaks armor and skin, a spray of blood bursting from the bruised broken skin.
Catcher and Miro throw out magical grease to trip up the ogre. He staggers briefly but maintains his balance. the effort was focused on remaining upright, so when the grease coated his sword he simply wasn't ready for it. It slips out of his hand with a whoop! sound and falls to the leafy ground.
Also my action really was to douse him in water to put out the flames on either his weapon or his head. I think we established a DC 13 vs Ref.
Gromff conjures a huge glob of floating water and douses the flaming ogre with it. A pronounced hiss and sizzle briefly dims the firelight, but doesn't stop the flame. They roar back to full size in mere moments.