Thwack! One solid hit cracks across heavy’s jaw.
"Kining, I will not be much help on this, old hands don't have the stregnth. We will meet on the other side."
He starts to move and then looks at the elemental and considers. No, putting him in harms way would not be right.
"Woza. Ake siwele leli bhuloho ngenkathi singakwazi. Abanye, abanamandla kunami, bangamsiza."
"Come along. Lets get over this bridge while we can. The others, who are stronger then me, can help her."
Solace will move up to help Daniil.
Olivia starts crossing the bridge.
"Will you two be able to cross without the bridge?"
Elyas swings wide around the heavy hobgoblin, then darts in to help Falcon. He swings his longsword as he steps in behind the (hopefully) distracted creature.
Sander moves to the center of the bridge, urging the stragglers on. "Get to the forest!!!
Calling out to Daniil and Solace: "Can you swim?!?"
:: Assault on Phaendar Bridge ::
Solace and Daniil heave on the pulley wheel. Daniil slips and sputters as he struggles with the wheel, but Solace gets a firm grip and pulls. The scaffold shudders from the force and you can hear wood creak, but the scaffold remains in place. A few more pulls like that you think and it will come down.
At Claustipher's comment the earth elemental looks a bit confused as he keeps up with Claustipher. "Usizo? Kuthiwani ... usizo?" The ability to empathize with others is clearly deep within the creature but not something that comes naturally.
All the townsfolk but Kining continue to sprint to the trees, a few people at the forests edge coming out and encouraging them to move faster. Huffing, Kining turns and starts getting across the bridge. "Should've just run." She mutters as she looks over her shoulder to see more hobgoblins coming towards the bridge.
"We should take after them, no point in dying here as the little one says." Lirosa says to Taidel before the pair start running.
"Falcon, its time we get to safety. The forest calls us!" Malcolm says before running.
Seeing the others leaving, and realizing he can't run again, Talgrum stands his ground and moves to help Falcon and Elyas.
"I couldn't help at Oreld's... I can help here." Talgrum mutters while swinging his blade. The strike hits the hobgoblins shoulder, but she shrugs it off along her pauldron and appears unfazed.
As Talgrum's strike fails, Ian's missile strikes her face, eliciting a cry and a bloody nose.
Falcon's strikes land hard and fast, but don't harm get through the heavies guard. They do distract her enough that Elyas can snake his blade in and score a hit. The heavy looks pained and desperate.
Sander and Olivia head out across the bridge as well.
Talgrum being the most injured, and Falcon being impossible to hit , he becomes the target of the heavies next strike. Her scimitar snakes forward as she steps and strike Talgrum in the chest. Talgrum's armor holds though and he is merely winded/
"Me peame midagi tegema!" One of the hobgoblins in the shed yells.
The hobgoblins in the shed move out across the grease, carefully and uncertainly. One of them slips and cries out, landing prone on their back.
A second group of hobgoblins, about 14 - 15 in total sets out after the first group from the market green. An even larger force is being organised in the Market Green still but hasn't set out yet.
Seeing the second group of hobgoblins - trained soldiers whose numbers rival their group plus everyone they've saved - Ian's last ounce of courage fails him and he turns tail and runs, making it all the way across the bridge and catching up with the non-combatants.
Daniil saw the display of strength from Solace and readjusts his grip but still struggles to help the Half Orc.
Looking back and seeing the larger group getting closer Claustipher again activates the wand sending a missile of force at the closest hobgoblin in green armor. As soon as the missile leaves the wand her turns again, talking as he goes.
While moving he continues to talk to the elemental.
Solace will strike again at the supports, knowing that the fleing townsfolk safety is dependent upon their actions.
Falcon takes advantage of the heavy’s distraction and changes tactics. His sansetsukon snakes out at the heavy’s legs.
The heavy crashes to the bridge. Falcon brings his weapon down on the hobgoblin.
heavy’s AC is -4 for being prone
”You go, pa. I have to hold the bridge until Dannill and Solace get clear.”
Elyas gets a hit in and stands back as Falcon takes a turn and drops the heavy to the ground. Elyas then steps back in and stabs down at the prone hobgoblin.
If the hobgoblin is dead, Elyas will start backing across the bridge towards the retreating townsfolk for his move action.
Seeing that the fight is not over, Olivia walks back up closer to Falcon and waits.
:: Assault on Phaendar Bridge ::
Claustipher fires a missile at green and it strike the hobgoblin in the head, killing it.
At the crane wheel, Solace and Daniil throw their backs into turning it again, Daniil slips a second time, but Solace manages to give it a solid yank. The sound of timber creaking and straining can be heard. A sharp crack echoes and you can hear a splash as something hits the water. The bridge remains fairly stable, but you think a couple more solid pulls will do it.
Kining, Malcolm, Lirosa, and Taidel all get across the bridge and take off after the other townsfolk.
Falcon trips and slays the heavy, panting as the heavies body goes limp. Elyas takes the chance to start backing away, following after Ian.
Talgrum had made up his mind to stay and help. With the heavy dead he looks around for more trouble. Seeing the hobgoblin moving on the people at the crane, he charges it. Not suspecting the attack, the hobgoblins guard is down and Talgrum gets a cut in.
The prone hobgoblin stands and carefully moves out of the grease. The hobgoblin charged by Talgrum retaliates with a weak blow that Talgrum knocks aside with his shield.
The two groups of hobgoblins bear down on the bridge, one moments away with the otehr soon to follow. An even larger force is being organised in the Market Green still but hasn't set out yet.
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Claustipher moves the rest of the way off the bridge and waves the want again while he speaks to the elemental.
"Ukusiza .... kahle uma idwala likhulu kakhulu ukuba lingaphakanyiswa. Ngomngane ungayiphakamisa. Lokho kusiza."
Helping.... well if a rock was too big to lift yourself. With a friend you could lift it. That is helping.
Looking back over his shoulder, he watches his father arrive safely at the trees. Malcolm pulls up to look back at his son, and the two of them share one long look, before Falcon turns towards the approaching hobgoblins.
”Talgrum, step to your left!” he shouts, and then delays until after Talgrum in order to charge.
”FOR PHAENDAR!!!”
Daniil finally gets a good grip on the crane wheel and cranks it for all he is worth.
Olivia sighs as Falcon charges into the hobgoblins, running after him.
Elyas sees the oncoming horde of hobgoblins and yells at Daniil and Solace We have to go!! You're going to have to leave it! There are too many for us to hold off!
He moves to a position that he can charge in if needed, but is ready to run across the bridge as soon as possible
Sander steps into line with Elyas on the bridge, and echoes his cry. "Friends, time to flee! They are too many to hold!"
Ian nods vigorously. "Come on guys, what are you doing? We need to go!"
Pointing his wand, he attempts to unleash a bolt of energy at one of the hobgoblins threatening Falcon, but he finds that no energy comes out. He frowns, asking Claustipher, "Why isn't my wand working?"
Solace attempts to pull the crane wheel again.
...and curses.
:: Assault on Phaendar Bridge ::
As Solace heaves at the wheel again, Daniil throws his back into it. While Daniil's timing was spot on Solace slipped. The scaffolding shuddered a little bit but there was no creaking or cracking of damaged timber. Still, it should only take another couple solids pulls to bring down the scaffold.
"Ukuphakamisa ... noma ukumisa ukushiya ... Ngisiza!" The elemental exclaims to Claustipher as CLaustipher's missile strikes the hobgoblin. The elemental then glides through the earth to Solace and Daniil, cupping their feet to steady them.
Talgrum side steps and swings at the hobgoblin. Talgrum's blow is serious, and Falcon's finished the hobgoblin.
With an outraged cry the last hobgoblin from the shed steps froward to attack Falcon. Falcon blocks, but his arm feels numb from the blow.
The first group of reinforcements arrives south of the bridge, with another group close behind. At the Market Green a significant force is nearly mustered, there must be at least thirty creatures in it.
Thinking the elemental is really a good lad Claustipher blanches when the reinforcements arrive. Ratteled he forgets what language to yell in as he triggers the wand again at the last close hobgoblin.
"Qalisa lapha"
Run there here!
"We're almost there, I'll help!", Olivia will aid the two pulling the wheel.
Falcon lands two solid blows on pink, then takes a five foot step over the corner of the greased area towards the crane.
”Talgrum, get out of here!”
With the elemental securing his feet Daniil is able to use the leverage to his advantage and continued to pull on the wheel.
Knowing that there isn't anything else he can possibly do, Ian cups his hands to his mouth and shouts,
"Go, I got this," Daniil yelled to his companions.
COME, LEAVE IT!! Elyas yells at the group on tge wrong side of the bridge.
THERE ARE TOO MANY! WE CAN'T WIN THIS ONE! DON'T WASTE YOU'RE LIVES, OUR PEOPLE NEED US!
Elyas yells in frustration, but knows there is no more he can do. He turns and runs across the bridge, knowing that delaying won't solve anything and will waste the sacrifice his companions seem determined to make
Sander back into the center of the bridge as the first reinforcing line of goblinoids approaches. "Damned fools..." he mutters. "Forget the bridge -- we can lose them in the forest!"
:: Assault on Phaendar Bridge ::
Solace backs towards the bridge and fires an arrow at the hobgolbin while Claustipher shoots a missile at it. Solace's arrow misses while Claustipher's hits.
With the help of the earth elemental, Daniil and Olivia heave on the crane wheel again. A great rending and grinding sound is heard, along with the splash of debris hitting the water. The bridge stays firm still, though a severe storm would be able to knock it over not. Assessing the damage, one last pull should cause it to fall.
Seeing the effect of his aid, the earth elemental happily mutters, "Ngiyakusiza! Ngiyakusiza!".
Sander, Elyas, and Ian fall back to help those in the forest while Talgrum and Falcon do battle to try and give the others time to either destroy the bridge or get away.
"I've made my peace Falcon." Talgrum states. "I should have helped more people at Oreld's..."
Talgrum swings his blade the the hobgoblin, catching it in the arm and injuring it. Distracted by the pain, the hobgoblin lets Falcon land two mighty blows, killing it.
With that hobgoblin dead, Talgrum steps in line with Falcon to defend those working the crane.
The four hobgoblins that just arrived charge the two defenders while the bug bears try to work their way around for a flank.
Falcon's skill and training pay off as he deflects and side steps the blows the hobgoblins rain down on him.
Talgrum is not so lucky. While he puts in as valiant effort, both hobgoblins land large gouges in Talgrum's upper arms. Talgrum cires out in pain.
The next wave of reinforcements arrives at the bridge. Those looking can see a large group, at least 50 soldiers, leave from the Market Green marching towards the bridge.
Falcon delays until after the people on the crane.
Seeing the enemy upon them Daniil puts all he has into cranking the wheel.
Solace will double move and start crossing the bridge.
"Oh dear, oh dear.
"You as well my friend."
Maybe I can call forth more grease once they move.
Claustipher holds his position and fires another missile, this time at the the Hobgoblin in green armor.
He holds his position hoping to slow down the hobgoblins a bit more.
Solace looks at the elemental and then at Claustipher. "I don't suppose that thing can weaken the earth and stone of the bridge, can it?
As Daniil gets a good pull, Olivia steps to help Falcon and Talgrum retreat.
"The bridge will fall! Lets retreat!"
She readies her bardiche to intercept an incoming strike.
If Danilo is able to start moving this round, Falcon will turn, say, ”Wrong way, friend,”, pick up Olivia (provoking AoOs and move 30 feet across the bridge, shouting for Talgrum to move out.
Ian is dashing towards the forest with the other non-combatants...
:: Assault on Phaendar Bridge ::
Solace starts running across the bridge as Daniil makes one final pull on the wheel. With a great rending noise followed by a lot of splashing the scaffolding falls away. As it does, the stones of the bridge grind as it lurches to the north.
The violence of the movement makes Solace fall prone, while Sander barely stays upright. The bridge remains traversible for the moment but will soon fall into the river.
Claustipher fires another missile in defense of his companions, scoring a hit on one of the hobgoblins by Talgrum.
Still standing Sander moves across the bridge towards the forest, following Ian, Elyas, and the townsfolk.
Seeing that everyone else is making an escape, the elemental follows Daniil out as he runs.
Falcon turns and grabs Olivia. Seeing Falcon's back turn, the hobgoblins try their luck. Both of them manage to take advantage of the opening. Olivia manages to block one of the attacks but the other hobgoblin deals a devastating blow to Falcon.
Despite the wound, Falcon manages to pick up Olivia and move to the bridge.
"Definitely time to leave, friend. I will cover you. Your to injured to continue!" Talgrum says as he places himself directly between Falcon and Olivia, and the bulk of the hobgoblin forces. "It was nice seeing you again."
Closing with the fleeing group, one of the bugbears risks the bridges edge to stop the trio and closes with Olivia, dodging her strike at him..
The other bugbear and the hobgoblins press into Talgrum and Falcon.
Panicked by the nearness of the collapsing bridge the flanking bugbear and the hobgoblins struggle to hit the group. The last hobgoblin manages to strike a final blow against Talgrum, knocking him unconscious. The second flanking bugbear steps through the gap cause by Talgrum's fall, takes a hideous wound that nearly kills him from Olivia, and attacks Falcon.
Falcon remains conscious but is not fully coherent.
The force on its way from the Market Green looks on in dispair as it hears the bridge begin to fall. Knowing it has failed.
”The river,” Falcon says. He drops Olivia to her feet as far from the enemy as he can and painfully staggers straight north east along the diagonal to avoid AoOs (just withdrawing).
he had 10 feet of movement left, he he clears ten feet of horizontal distance from the edge of the bridge. He takes a deep breath on the way down and after hitting the water, lets himself sink low to avoid floating wooden debris.
He stays conscious.
just trying to stay under, so not sure if this is needed.
Daniil puts his head down and runs for all he is worth.
Elyas moves towards the river bank to help any swimmers get out and to provide healing.
Choosing to save the want resources Clautipher spends some more of his internal energies to fire a bolt of force form his hand at the nearest hobgoblin in yellow armor.
"Now is the time my young friend. Flee with us."
Possibly foolishly Claustipher stands his ground on the far side of the bridge thinking he may send one more missile as a parting shot as the other retreat.