Fin stalks forward at a prodigious pace using the speed granted by her spell. Most of the others can do little more than keep up while attempting some semblance of stealth. Our valiant heroes slink quickly out from beneath the trees and race through the open expanse of waist-high wheat between the tree-line and the small circle of trees from which the fell sounds come. Only as they approach the midpoint in the field do they catch sight of the occupants of the sinister glade...
The morning light plays tricks on your eyes, flattening perspective. At first, the scene appears to be a group of bulky and ugly men towering over a pony amongst a set of somewhat modest trees. To one side is a cookfire with a spit. As you get marginally closer, you realise the truth. Each 'man' is over 10' tall and one is near on 13'! They surround a horse with a curious horn on its head. Multiple cruel ropes lash the beast between the trees by leg, waist, and neck. As you watch, appalled, two of the 'men' expertly lasso the noble neck and forelimb of the shining silvery creature while others, with hungry eyes, prepare to despatch their breakfast. She cries in protest, in an almost human voice, before adding a horse-like whinny.
Fin debates whether to abort her charge when fate steps in. Behind her, hidden by the deep wheat, a dry tree limb cracks loudly under the footfall of one of her less stealthy compatriots. All eyes in the glade turn. Committed now, Fin charges while the faint element of surprise is still on their side. She goes for the tallest creature, noting in passing that it turns TWO heads on her. She sprints through the wheat, sword high, and slams the blade into the side of the creature as it turns. It is a powerful blow that carves a 3' groove in the creature's hide and makes Fin's hands ache from the blow. But the creature doesn't falter as it turns... bringing an unmatched set of heads but an identical set of flails around.
F's Stealth
J's Stealth
U's Stealth
S's Stealth
P & J Stealth
E P
G P
O P
F's Init: 9
J's Init: 24
U's Init: 22
S's Init:
P & J's Init:
U Init:
E Init:
G Init:
O Init:
ORDER:
Map: Man Eaters?
Ushari takes in the scene before her in an instant. Time slows and then stops for her. Her first thought is to use her divine power to immobilize one of the giant humanoids, but which one? Seeing Fin complete her charge successfully, she turns her attention to the largest foe she can see. She realizes while he may not be the leader of this group, his club would be devastating powerful, if it should happen to connect.
The decision made, time resumes. Ushari holds her hand up, and her birthmark glows as she points at the largest humanoid at the far side of the glade. The giant soon feels her divine power, threatening to freeze him in place.
After she casts her spell, she then points at the unicorn and softly utters to Skitter, "Please free her."
Seeing Findelgwing rush headlong into the two-headed freak, Jayse knows he can't leave her in there alone, and he pursues. Alarm rises as her magically-enhanced strides begin to out-distance his own, but he digs deep, pulling on a source of power... something he didn't realize was there but at the same time knows he's been trained to use. Warmth floods his legs, and he overtakes the elf, crashing into the creature at the same time, his blue blade flaring to life as it seeks the freak's lifeblood.
Jayse follows his vicious charge by slipping into a graceful series of strikes, thought floating abandoned in the Calm.
Inhale. Pivot slash threatening the closest head then reversing to a gut-level slash. The body dips, allowing for a final vertical toe-to-shoulder slash. Exhale. A sliding step to the right, forcing the creature to make a decision between targets.
Ushari tosses the plucky little box down which bounces on its bladed legs and scuttles forward looking to free the bound unicorn. Ushari casts her spell and the giant freezes in the act of picking up a rock the size of a small moon!
Jayse sprints across the field and lashes out with his mental blade. It carves a deep and bloody furrow through the creature's hide. It roars its pain loud enough to startle birds from the forest.
Straehan curses and casts a spell, trying to protect his bold comrades. A shower of golden sparkles rain down on the two-headed creature and his closest compatriot, painting them like cheap whores. Both creatures look up at the strange phenomena and catch eyefuls of the strange dust. The screech in disapproval and claw at their eyes.
The little gnome advances a few feet and grimaces, I hope that's enough.
Saves:
Ettin
Ogre
Warriors that they are, Jax and Porter hold position to protect Straehan and Ushari while firing their bows at the blinded and raging 2-headed beast. A single arrow penetrates the beast's hide, almost unnoticed. The other bounces off its pebbly skin.
Shortbow (20/3x) HIT DAM
Shortbow (20/3x) HIT DAM
Jayse lashes out at the flailing creature but its tough hide and swinging flails (the size of tree trunks) repulse two of his attacks. His third blow cuts deep into he creature's massive knee but doesn't drop it.
Following his mistress' order, Skitter crabs at a remarkable speed toward the closest tree used to tie down the unicorn.
ORDER:
Map: Man Eaters?
Ushari knows she needs to be close to her companions in order for her healing channels to have an effect. Plus there was a new spell she wanted to try out...but first things first.
She chants a quick spell, and soon her foot speed increases to match that of Fin. She waves for Porter and Jax to stay back guarding Straehan, then sets off towards the huge tree being used to anchor the unicorn fast.
Ushari races diagonally across the field, leaving her guard in the dust.
Jax jumps in alarm, and yells plaintively, "Woman, I'm supposed to protect you!"
The unicorn bucks but cannot escape her captors.
Straehan gives Jax and Porter another heart attack by rushing forward. "I've got to get closer to use some of my spells. Come on!"
The gnome mutters angrily to himself. Despite his run, he's still out of range for his most useful spells. He settles for an old standby and a set of thin beams of force arc from his hand and strike at the ettin. The beams enrage the weakening creature but don't drop it.
RANGE: 100' +10'/lv
EFFECT: Missile #1 DAM; Missile #2 DAM
ORDER:
The Ettin roars and whips its flails around at the two gnats who hurt it most...
The first swing, a horizontal blow, nearly snaps Fin in half. Only Jayse's viper-like reflexes allow him to dodge below the flail as it whips towards him after smashing the tall elf. Jayse's forced exhalation as he bends over backwards to avoid the blow is enough for the blind giant to locate him. It drops its other flail straight down on the monk's position. Jayse throws himself sideways to avoid the blow which slams into the ground like a felled redwood.
<- HIT
Flail HIT (Fin) CRIT?
Confirm? <-Yes
DAM
<- HIT
Flail HIT (Jayse) DAM
<- MISS
CLEAVE (Jayse) DAM
Will Save vs DC:17
The giant struggles against the hold of the small cleric's spell and slowly begins to move!
Will
Jax chases after Ushari sprinting all the way. Thankfully, Porter has a shorter distance to go. He stops beside Straehan, knocks an arrow and fires it, sinking it into one of the Ettin's throats. The head lolls over, barely conscious it seems.
Porter growls, "Dammit! What's it gonna take for this thing to lay down and die already."
Shortbow (20/3x) HIT DAM
Fin staggers from the blow and drives her massive blade at the Ettin. Unfortunately, it just barely misses the mark - scarring but not penetrating its thick hide.
Whoosh (19-20×2) HIT: DAM:
The blinded ogre lashes out at the only target it knows, the leggy elf. It's blow goes wide and it wipes at its eyes to clear the dust but its bulky hands aren't up to the task.
Greatclub HIT DAM
Will Save vs DC:17
Most of the ogres lumber towards the newcomers. Only one sets about killing their breakfast. His blow nearly snaps the unicorn's spine.
Greatclub HIT DAM
ORDER:
Jayse continues his lethal dance, sliding from strike to deadly strike in one fluid, graceful series of motions. His blade flows like liquid ice, leaving a scarlet trail.
The cartwheeling monk appears as little more than a blur - a whirling pinwheel of blue blade. The monk-pinwheel bounces up and strikes both heads from the ettin, then floats down out of the way of the falling corpse only to cut a vicious line across the belly of the ogre.
Ushari curses silently as the ogre moves up to block her path. She wonders if she can slow it down using her goddess’ touch. She feels a sense of affirmation on the thought and knows she can affect him.
As she reaches over to touch the hulking brute, she glances over to the unicorn and her heart constricts in fear. She will not survive another blow like that! I must help her! She smiles at the ogre and says, ”I am sorry but our dance will have to wait!” She then bows to him, before she then backflips away from him. Once clear, she lets her healing light engulf the battlefield!
Blessed with the luck of her deity, Ushari's acrobatic skills are barely enough to pull her out of path of trouble. She retreats close to her teammate and graces the battlefield with holy energy, revitalizing Fin and the unicorn.
Skitter scuttles up the trunk and leaps on the thick rope. His bladed legs slash at the tangled strands, making headway but not quite severing the line. He chirps in irritation.
DAM:
With her free rear leg, the unicorn kicks a sharp hoof at the groin of the ogre. The poor beast nearly collapses, bound as she is.
Hooves HIT DAM
Seeing the opening in their flank, Straehan fills the gap. He rushes up next to Jax, signaling Porter to follow along. His arcane gesture conjures a ravening beam of flame down upon the ogre who wanted to play with Ushari. The beam narrowly catches the creature on its shoulder, cooking the flesh.
ORDER:
The giant roars orders in its incomprehensible language and then lumbers past the unicorn, ignoring the whipping horn that stabs into its thigh. The giant palms a very large boulder in one hand and drags its club with the other. It stops near a tree, having a good vantage point to see most of the little hors d'oeuvres in the field. Its beady eyes and small brain look for a target.
The elf woman would be tasty and man would make a nice sized meal but they're fighting my boys and that makes for a tough shot. Them others are around the tree. Hmmm... the small woman, not much meat on her but she ain't mixing it up with my boys yet.
Decision made, a muscle-bound burly arm hurls the rock like a missile, intent on turning Ushari into a tasty condiment i.e. JAM. The rock smashes through some tree branches, taking a good deal of force off it, but it still smashes into the delicate woman like a battering ram.
ORDER:
Rock HIT DAM
Porter jogs towards Straehan and Jax, amid the flapping of his kilted suit of studded leather armor. His bow sings as does Jax's, seeking the eyes of the cooked ogre. The arrows bounce harmlessly off it's thick hide.
Jax drops his bow and pulls his sword, preparing for the ogre's anticipated attack. He slaps the blade against his chest armor, "Come'on, you fat git! Bring it!"
Shortbow (20/3x) HIT DAM
Shortbow (20/3x) HIT DAM
ORDER:
Fin steps forward, her blade singing a song of death for the blinded ogre. Sadly, her song is slightly off-key. Her blow bounces off a massive warty carbuncle on the creature's chest.
Whoosh (19-20×2) HIT: DAM:
The ogres roll in... one charging the valiant Jax, the other rushing Fin and striking over the body of the fallen Ettin. Both attacks fall short. The blinded ogre wipes at its eyes attempting to clear them and swings its club to fend off the elf devil. Fin easily dodges the awkward blow. At the order of the giant, the blind ogre staggers back a few feet.
Overcome by the furious and flurrious monk assault, the final ogre tries to punt the blue-bladed human. His kick is so ponderous, Jayse merely steps out of the way of it.
Greatclub (Fin) Miss <51 HIT DAM Miss!
Greatclub (Fin) HIT DAM Miss!
Greatclub (Jayse) HIT DAM Miss!
Greatclub (Jax) HIT DAM Miss!
End Blindness? DC:17
ORDER:
Jayse watches the boulder smash into his friend, "USHARI! HOLD ON!
His dance continues, blue blade continuing in its dangerous, rhythmic pattern seeking the brute's lifeblood. He knows he has to get to that giant before it can do any more damage.
Ushari feels the boulder slam into her, and for an instant she wondered whether she had fallen flat on her back, due to the force of the blow. Seeing herself still alive and in one piece (relatively speaking anyway) she wonders wryly in response to Jayse, What does he want me to hold on to?
She notes Fin is still looking the worse for wear.
Two swift horizontal slashes by Jayse gut the ogre. The monk flows across the battlefield, disappearing into the trees.
Ushari again calls on the powers of her deity to return strength to the limbs of the wounded.
Skitter saws through the rope. It snaps audibly. He immediately jumps down and proceeds north looking for another rope to sever.
DAM:
ORDER:
The silvery beast strains the ropes holding her. With a powerful lunge she snaps one of them!
Unfortunately, it was the rope Skitter was heading to cut. The little metal crab hops up and down and scolds the unicorn with a torrent of squeaks and the grinding of gears.
Rope?
Straehan conjures another beam of fire which only hits the ogre through the grace of Ushari's deity. It is enough. The blast engulfs the ogre and parboils it.
The little gnome slaps his guards on the back. "Let's get on the battle line." He hitches a thumb in the direction of the main battle and heads in that direction at a jog.
Scorching Ray
EFFECT: Ranged Touch DAM
The giant delays, opting to time his attack with his boys.
ORDER:
Jax and Porter race to join Fin and Straehan on the line.
Fin lunges at the nearest ogre driving her blade towards it. She stumbles and her blow goes wide.
Whoosh (19-20×2) HIT: DAM:
The giant ambles forward. His massive arms drive his iron-studded club against the two obvious targets - the elf and the little gnome.
Straehan's small size prevents the club from taking off his skull. Fin isn't so lucky. The massive club catches her across the shoulders spinning her like a top even as it slams fully into Jax - nearly driving the life from the warrior.
Seizing on her stunned state, the nearby ogre who was recently her target, slams his own club into the elf's back. Fin falls to her knees then collapses.
The blind ogre finally clears the dust from his eyes and attacks the unicorn. But she is girded in a spell of protection from all evil and it is just enough to thwart the ogre's attack.
Giant Greatclub (Fin) HIT DAM Cleave!
Giant Greatclub (Straehan) HIT DAM
Ogre Greatclub (Fin) HIT DAM
Ogre Greatclub (Unicorn) HIT DAM
End Blindness? DC:17
Bonus:
CLEAVE (Jax) HIT DAM
Giant Perception (v J's Stealth 16)
ORDER:
-7|49
42|42
27|30
37|37
4|27
27|27
Jayse tries to settle back into a rhythm, but has trouble overlooking the sheer brutish size of his opponent. The Calm wavers... his strikes messy.