Gromplejak grunts at the noise of the alarm being sounded. "Come back in here, little 'uns. Many red men will come now, we should face them from this bulwurk where their numbers provide them no boon." he says, slapping the stone doorway he stands in. The giant moves back to provide room for the 'little uns' to retreat should they heed his advice.
The bard questioned the giant's wisdom -- it seemed to Hjalvar that the best course of escape would be to simply run for it. Holing up seemed like a surefire way to become overwhelmed by the enemy and once again be put in irons. Now, however, was not the precise moment to make that decision.
Seeing his new friends engaged with the guard, he didn't see any way to engage their enemy without exposing his flank to unnecessary vulnerability so he decided on a more rash decision -- he was going to throw his club at the guard from a distance.
While maintaining his rousing ditty, he tossed the club at the remaining guard, doing his best not to peg either of his fellow escapees.
After the sudden throw, he reached down and took the first slain guard's weapon as his own.
"And let them eventually overrun us?" Will scoffs as he leaps over the other guard and strikes.
The Ranger deftly cuts the horn blow short with a slash to the mans windpipe.
Staying here was insane. Running, less so. Keep on the move and your enemy will have to keep up. In his case it was easy enough to get away but the others were another story. All he knew was that their chances dropped to zero if they stuck around. "We need to leave. Now more than ever. Stay if you want."
He then grabs the now fallen weapon and tosses it to the giant. It looked like a shortsword in his hand but at least it was a weapon. He also grabs the horn. A distraction could by them some time.
"Damn horn. Leave? Where to? Which door? Listen to the Jotun. Let's regroup, and survive their initial response. We still have the magic window and chimney as bolt holes." Óbjarni responds to his companions.
He drags the body and shield of the dead guard back toward the giant.
"Will is right," Sonja says. "For all we know, we are in the middle of a damned garrison. We can't fight off an entire Roman Legion. We need to get out of here, and fast!"
Kellan walks to the other side of the door, still prepared to attack anyone that comes from the other side.
But he stops to listen if there's any noise on the other side of the door he is guarding.
"Damm'd be if dying here." he says to himself and then to others "We ne'd to leave. Now!"
"Do you even know what the window does?" Will says hotly. They didn't have time to argue over this.
The howling of dogs can be heard from outside in response to the horn, as well as shouts of alarm from various surrounding parts of the fort. "PRISONER ESCAPE!" the guard roars at the top of his lungs.
Sonja again lashes out, moving to give others a position to attack. The weight of the longsword continues to throw her off, however, and she misses again.
Gromplejak grunts at the noise of the alarm being sounded. "Come back in here, little 'uns. Many red men will come now, we should face them from this bulwurk where their numbers provide them no boon." he says, slapping the stone doorway he stands in. The giant moves back to provide room for the 'little uns' to retreat should they heed his advice.
The bard questioned the giant's wisdom -- it seemed to Hjalvar that the best course of escape would be to simply run for it. Holing up seemed like a surefire way to become overwhelmed by the enemy and once again be put in irons. Now, however, was not the precise moment to make that decision.
Seeing his new friends engaged with the guard, he didn't see any way to engage their enemy without exposing his flank to unnecessary vulnerability so he decided on a more rash decision -- he was going to throw his club at the guard from a distance.
"And let them eventually overrun us?" Will scoffs as he leaps over the other guard and strikes. The Ranger deftly cuts the horn blow short with a slash to the mans windpipe. Staying here was insane. Running, less so. Keep on the move and your enemy will have to keep up. In his case it was easy enough to get away but the others were another story. All he knew was that their chances dropped to zero if they stuck around. "We need to leave. Now more than ever. Stay if you want."
"Damn horn. Leave? Where to? Which door? Listen to the Jotun. Let's regroup, and survive their initial response. We still have the magic window and chimney as bolt holes." Óbjarni responds to his companions.
He drags the body and shield of the dead guard back toward the giant.
"Will is right," Sonja says. "For all we know, we are in the middle of a damned garrison. We can't fight off an entire Roman Legion. We need to get out of here, and fast!"
Kellan walks to the other side of the door, still prepared to attack anyone that comes from the other side. But he stops to listen if there's any noise on the other side of the door he is guarding.
"Damm'd be if dying here." he says to himself and then to others "We ne'd to leave. Now!"
"Do you even know what the window does?" Will says hotly. They didn't have time to argue over this.
================================
Óbjarni contines to drag the body and shield of the dead guard back toward the giant.
"Gromplejak, I'll stand with you. I brought supplies." He says as he passes behind him.
"Do you even know what the window does?" Will says hotly. They didn't have time to argue over this.
"fjandinn það!" The bard cursed when Kellen said they were already set upon.
"It seems we have little choice but to find out exactly what that window does, and fast. Whoever is holding it, I suggest you use it. Maybe back there, by Gromplejak."
Hjalvar moves back with Objarni and Gromplejak, unsure of what comes next.
"Damnit!" Sonja curses, seeing the others fall back into the other chamber. She begrudgingly follows them, signaling for the others to follow. "We either work together or fall alone. Let's set up a blood bath for the bastards at the door while the others figure something out."
She then turns and dashes back into the stairwell, and turns just around the corner, prepared to slash any Roman that comes through.
Will looks at the door and back in the direction the others were retreating. There was no exit that way. They were only going to get trapped. He then looks down at the horn and one of the other doors nearby. Thinking quickly, and possibly stupidly, he heads for the door to the south west, opens it and heads through.
”Be dammed if knew.” Kellan says moving back to the stairs ”Got no other entrance. Mabbe holdin’ ‘em here? If no can do it, we use the window?” he tries to argument. In any event, being there in that hallway was something that would not be good of any of them.
Óbjarni contines to drag the body and shield of the dead blue guard back toward the giant. "Gromplejak, I'll stand with you. I brought supplies." He says as he passes behind him.
The giant smiles a hideous grin and hefts the fallen guard's shield and sword. "Thank you, friend."
Kellan informs them of the coming guards, "Dey commin' dis way."
"fjandinn það!" The bard curses when Kellen says they were already set upon. "It seems we have little choice but to find out exactly what that window does, and fast. Whoever is holding it, I suggest you use it. Maybe back there, by Gromplejak." Hjalvar moves back with Objarni and Gromplejak, unsure of what comes next.
"Damnit!" Sonja curses, seeing the others fall back into the other chamber. She begrudgingly follows them, signaling for the others to follow. "We either work together or fall alone. Let's set up a blood bath for the bastards at the door while the others figure something out."
Will looks at the door and back in the direction the others were retreating. There was no exit that way. They were only going to get trapped. He then looks down at the horn and one of the other doors nearby. Thinking quickly, and possibly stupidly, he heads for the door to the south north west, tries to open it, and finds it locked.
"Be dammed if knew." Kellan says moving back to the stairs "Got no other entrance. Mabbe holdin’ ‘em here? If no can do it, we use the window?" he tries to argument. In any event, being there in that hallway was something that would not be good of any of them.
As Kellan's words fade, two of the hallway's side doors burst open. From the west side comes Decanus Lactuca, from the east another group of guards. Lactuca says, "Toete den!" pointing at Will.
One guard runs for Will, another covers the doorway to the stairwell. These guards are fully alert, and have their swords and shields ready.
================================
Hjalvar resumes his weapon song, once again imbuing everyone's blades with magical enhancement. He stared hard at the guard 10' from him, throwing daggers with his eyes.
Óbjarni grabs and readies the shield of the dead guard back. "Gromplejak, take the guard's longsword."
He readies to strike the guard if he steps into their kill box.
”Leavin’ other one b’hind? ” Kellan asks are everyone enters except for will, and the guards reach the door, blocking their passage.
Chanting some works, Kellan conjures his blessings to give a small boon Hjalvar, near him.
Sonja also prepares to lash out at the first Roman to step through the door.
Hjalvar resumes his weapon song, once again imbuing everyone's blades with magical enhancement. He stared hard at the guard just feet away from him, throwing daggers with his eyes.
Óbjarni readies to strike the guard if he steps into their kill box.
Will swings his sword at the guard near him, but the Roman deflects the blow with his shield.
”Leavin’ other one b’hind?" Kellan asks are everyone enters except for will, and the guards reach the door, blocking their passage.
Chanting some works, Kellan conjures his blessings to give a small boon to Hjalvar, near him.
Sonja also prepares to lash out at the first Roman to step through the door.
The guard steps into the stairwell, leading with his shield. Sonja's attack deflects off the shield, but Objarni snaps his club into the man's knee, shattering his kneecap. The guard grunts in pain, and then tries to stab the skald. His slice is made awkward by the pain and he misses Objarni, hitting the stone of the stairs instead.
The Decanus moves to support the wounded guard. The other two try to kill Will, slashing at him with their swords. The Scotsman blocks one sword, but takes a nasty wound on his leg from the other. Blood begins flowing red and hot towards the floor.
Gromplejak roars, and lunges over Hjalvar's head at the wounded guard. The longsword, though small in his hand, is devastating when powered by the giant's strength. The guard's head explodes like a melon inside its rent helmet, and he falls to the floor.
================================
______________________________________________
Miss
Miss, Hit
Outnumbered two to one Will decides to opt for defense. He backs up a step and opens the door, all the while keeping his blade moving in front of him to deflect attacks.
Seeing the familiar shape of the Decanus at the doorway, Sonja's desire for revenge overwhelms her battle logic, and she steps in to attempt to fell the Roman that dared to scar her.
__________
Óbjarni grits his teeth as Sonja steps up and removes their tactical advantage. He steps up to replace her trying to make room for the Jotun to reach over her.
He pinches a bit of wool with his left hand from his stolen guard's tunic and says, "Decanus, the gods are coming for you." The pinch of wool ignites and burns away.
Chanting some works, Kellan conjures his blessings to give a small boon to the giant, near him.
When fighting with two weapons, use the lower attack bonus of the two weapons. If you score one hit, you also score a hit with your off-hand weapon. If you have Improved Two-Weapon Fighting and score two hits, you also score a second hit with your off-hand weapon, for a total of four. If you have Greater Two-Weapon Fighting and score three hits, you also score a third hit with your off-hand weapon, for a total of six.
Critical Hits with Two-Weapon Fighting: If you threaten a critical hit when using Two-Weapon Fighting, roll a single confirmation roll using the lower attack bonus among the two weapons. If you confirm, you score one critical hit with each weapon, so long as the initial roll threatened a critical with both weapons. For example, if you're fighting with a rapier and a light pick, roll an 18 on your initial attack roll, and confirm the critical hit, you score a critical hit with only the rapier. However, if you roll a 20 and confirm, you score a critical hit with each weapon.
Hjalvar let his angry stare change into full-blown raging challenge, lined with a palpable threat.
"Den boreíte pragmatiká pistév̱o̱ óti tha kerdísei af̱tón ton agó̱na , étsi den eínai? To aíma sas tha anamichthoún me tous adelfoús sas."
---------------
Outnumbered two to one Will decides to opt for defense. He backs up a step and opens the door, all the while keeping his blade moving in front of him to deflect attacks. He kicks the door open revealing the fort's courtyard and gatehouse.
The courtyard of the fort is adorned by a small fountain. The fountain’s centerpiece is a statue of one of the Christians' patron saints -- St. George the Dragonslayer. In his outstretched hand is a sword that points to the fort's central keep. At the base of his statue is an inscription in latin: “Sic fieret iustitia.”
Will can see the gatehouse has multiple arrow slits, and that there is at least one guard on the walls training a bow on the doors he just opened. There is another guard opening the door to what appears to be a kennel. The thunderous barking of Roman war dogs can be heard coming from inside.
Seeing the familiar shape of the Decanus at the doorway, Sonja's desire for revenge overwhelms her battle logic, and she steps in to attempt to fell the Roman that dared to scar her. She slashes below his chainmail hauberk with her sword, hitting his knee and causing him to lurch low enough for her to jam her dagger behind the mail's collar, into the flesh behind the Decanus's clavicle. A bloody mist follows the knife out of Lactuca's torn lung as she withdraws the dagger, grinning.
Óbjarni grits his teeth as Sonja steps up and removes their tactical advantage. He steps up to replace her trying to make room for the Jotun to reach over her.
He pinches a bit of wool with his left hand from his stolen guard's tunic and says, "Decanus, the gods are coming for you." The pinch of wool ignites and burns away.
Chanting some works, Kellan conjures his blessings to give a small boon to the giant, near him.
Hjalvar let his angry stare change into full-blown raging challenge, lined with a palpable threat. "Den boreíte pragmatiká pistév̱o̱ óti tha kerdísei af̱tón ton agó̱na , étsi den eínai? To aíma sas tha anamichthoún me tous adelfoús sas." The Decanus doesn't appear to speak Greek, but looks shaken nonetheless.
Gromplejak bellows again, and uses his shield arm to shove Hjalvar and Sonja to the left side, crashing them into Objarni and Kellan as he charges past. The giant rams through the doorway, slamming into the Decanus with his shoulder. The Roman's is a skilled swordsman and brings his blade up to catch the giant. His does nothing to stop the Jotunn's momentum from sending Lactuca flying back into the hallway.
"Hilfe mir!" Lactuca screams at his underlings, which abandon Will and turn to help their commanding officer. He slashes Gromplejak again and steps back.
The two guards charge forward to intercept the roaring giant. The Jotunn lashes out and slices one of the men clean in two, destroying the romano saxon's chainmail shirt as if it were a dry autmun leaf. Blood sloshes across the hallway in a great wave, and the other guard pisses himself as he swings his sword in pure animal terror. His fear lends stength to the blow, and it cleaves through Gromplejak's thick hide into his leg.
Outside four arrows streak towards Will. Two from the walls, and two from arrow slits in the gatehouse. One of the arrows catches the Scotsman in the thigh. Meanwhile, the guard at the kennel throws the door open and two massive war dogs with spiked leather collars come running out, snarling and bearing their teeth.
================================
_____________________________________
Hit
crit
confirmed
Miss, Hit, Miss, Miss
Will doesn't have time to glance out the open door. He doesn't see the archers. And he certainly doesn't see the arrow streaking for his back until it is protruding from his front. It hits just under the shoulder with enough impact to throw him forward a step. He looks at it confused before falling to the floor.
"Quit currere, Decanus, non servitute vos solutum accipit tamen!" Sonja snarls as she pursues Lactuca. As she approaches, she raises her sword for what she hopes to be a killing strike...
__________
Óbjarni follows the charging Jotun and moves around Gromplejak beside Sonja. If Sonja hasn't already killed the Decanus, he swings his club at him.
If the Decanus is already dead, Óbjarni grabs a shield.
&
With the narrow hall so crowded with combatants, there was little the bard could do to help. He knew the magic of his song could still change their fate for the better, so he kept singing and kept on yelling at the decanus leader.
"Miles quidam gigas sputa deterget manes carnes tuas te miserum ducem praebuit."
---------------
With the ogre and enemies blocking his way, Kellan can do nothing more than continue to assist his fellows prisoners, hoping they are capable of dealing with all other foes.
Will doesn't have time to glance out the open door. He doesn't see the archers. And he certainly doesn't see the arrow streaking for his back until it is protruding from his front. It hits just under the shoulder with enough impact to throw him forward a step. He looks at it confused before falling to the floor.
"Quit currere, Decanus, non servitute vos solutum accipit tamen!" Sonja snarls as she pursues Lactuca. As she approaches, the guard lashes out at her with his sword. She parries the attack. Then she raises her sword for what she hopes to be a killing strike, and chops the Decanus's head off.
Óbjarni follows the charging Jotun and moves around Gromplejak beside Sonja. He reaches down and grabs a shield from one of the fallen guards.
With the narrow hall so crowded with combatants, there was little the skald could do to help. He knew the magic of his song could still change their fate for the better, so he kept singing and kept on yelling at the remaining guard. "Miles quidam gigas sputa deterget manes carnes tuas te miserum ducem praebuit." The guard looks terrified.
With Gromplejak and enemies blocking his way, Kellan can do nothing more than continue to assist his fellows prisoners, hoping they are capable of dealing with all other foes.
Gromplejak attacks the final guard in the hallway. He bashes the guard in the face with the pommel of his sword, denting in the man's helmet and crushing one side of his face.
The guard holds up his shield and tries to escape. Sonja and Objarni are not inclined to let him do so. Sonja hits his armor, but Objarni finishes the work of caving in the man's skull with his club. The guards outside seem to be waiting for the prisoners to emerge.
The hounds in the meantime charge into the hall. One of them snaps at Objarni's leg under his shield. The skald bashes the war dog aside with his lindenwood defense.
================================
_________________________