As the enemy flow through the broken gate, Al draws his bow back and fires into the hoard of gnolls.
Attack:
Damage:
Sneak (if it applies):
Valghaz and Conner each down another gnoll adding to their dead. Mistra swings her staff striking and injuring another gnoll. Aladair fires an arrow but it flies past the injured gnoll. Penance throws another bolt of fire at the nearest gnoll hitting it squarely in the face. The gnoll howls in pain as the fire burns it alive.
Unable to sustain any more damage you hear the large gnoll in the back bark loudly and the gnolls that remain retreat into the woods.
”Let ‘em flee!” Valghaz called. ”Their leader lives, and once in the woods they can rally.”.
To the militiamen around him, Valghaz said ”Man the walls and get the gate closed while I make some repairs.”
Mistra spins the staff widdershins, bringing it to rest in front of her and leaning on it. She catches her breath, looking around at the devastated gate and remains of the attacking force. Wow. That's an interesting experience. This happen often to you folk? Her question is not addressed to any specific creature; she's mostly just voicing out her reaction to the attack.
Conner wipes his weapons clean, then peers at the retreating Gnolls.
We've pushed them back for now, but they'll be back. Can we sure up the gate?
You watch as the bestial creature begins to revert back into Odo Bristleback. His clothes are shredded and you can see the holes with the spear points stabbed through. He talks to you while he looks at the wounded guards. "You have my thanks for turning back these dogs. The gate and the guards are usually enough to stop whether bandits or monsters from trying to attack us, but that is not always the case." he returns his attention to the wounded guard. "It's alright the dogs were routed. Samis and Poldor take Delvin to Ulman as well. See if he can stitch him up."
Standing up he dusts off what remains of his clothes and looks at the shattered gate. "We need to get that fixed as soon as possible. I'd be grateful if you could help. The longer that gate stays broken the more likely something else will decide to come in."
Watching Valghaz take charge Odo nods, "Alright everyone listen to the dwarf. It would seem he knows what he is talking about."
”Aye then. Lads, the gems are being held at the jeweler’s. I’ll be busy here, so one of yeti finish that business.” Then turning to the militia ”Right! Let’s do this.” Valghaz got to work. He had never made or fixed a gate before. His craft was with the making of arms and armor, both from steel and leather. But he had enough functional knowledge. That, and he could use his divine powers to mend what he could. Holding the bits together while he worked his runes would help with much of it. He figured that this was a matter of time and patience. Two things he had at the moment.
Mistra watches the bustle around the gate, then flexes her very un-spectacular muscles. Yep, not much I can do to help here. I'll go back to the finish our business with the gem merchant, as Valghaz suggests. Does anyone else want to come along? She is relieved that the gate held and the attack was rebuffed, but has the feeling this town might not be healthy to stay in longer than the minimum necessary - and getting those gems turned into something more useful would be a fine first step to getting out of here and on their way again!
Yeah, I will stay and help with the gate. Seems they may be needin' a strong back for this work
Penance follows along with Mistra while Conner and Aladair stay at the gate to assist where needed. Aladair climbs the tower and takes watch as Valghaz does his best to direct the town guard into helping fix the gate. It takes almost two hours to raise the broken gate and secure it to the wall. Several logs are cut and then used to brace the gate.
"We'll only be able to open the gate partially for now. Fortunately most of the traffic comes down the river but we'll need to make arrangements for those wanting to travel west an alternate spot to unload. You did us a great help all of you. The least I can do is provide you some free room and board until you move on. Where is it are you headed for?" Odo asks while he leads you to the inn.
Mistra and Penance head to the shop where they see a dwarf with spectacles waiting for them. He opens the door to the shop and lets them in.
"You did a noble job there helping out the town. I saw some men dragging one of their injured to the necromancer. I hope the poor boy will be alright. You've come to settle the affairs of your companion I take it?"
Mistra smiles at the dwarf, doing her best to be charismatic with the dwarf. Yes, Master Lapidarist. I believe we were discussing the value of the gems we recovered in our travels. This is another of my companions. She gestures towards Penance, but it is a quick movement, designed to keep attention focused on herself. Mistra turns towards the counter, then pauses for a moment. Necromancer? While Mistra is not going to pass judgement, she is quite curious about how a necromancer could be involved.
"Well as I said I'd be willing to give ye 33 gold monarchs for all the gems." straightening his spectacles, "The necromancer. That would be Ulman the Dark. The man is all business and true to his word. So you got to respect that. Guess he be a practitioner of the arts. He's even been known to bring back a person or two from the dead."
At the gate, Valghaz worked to direct the flow of men performing repairs. It wasn’t easy work, but it was honest work. And that made him happy. He quietly sang a prayer to the Forge Father as he went about his business, glad to be in his element.
Mistra looks at the gem merchant, and then back to the gems.
That would be acceptable, master Lapidary. Are they hoping the necromancy can revive the fallen?
Mistra's questioning keep the focus on her; she has noticed Penance's attemps to stay in the background and is trying to do what she can to subtly assist.
The dwarf nods at Mistra. "Ulman can brew some tonics as well to heal the wounded. Man is quite a miracle for this town. Specially since there aint no priest or shrine located this far from the cities." Penance does her best to stay close to the door away dron the merchant and Mistra. "We have a deal then? The gens for the 33 gold monarchs?" The dwarf does not seem to be deceiving Mistra at all as he starts to count out 33 gold coins.
The gate now fixed as it is going to be Odo leads you back to his inn. " Well we'll be able to open the gate partially for now. Fortunately most of the traffic comes down the river but we'll need to make arrangements for those wanting to travel west an alternate spot to unload. You did us a great help all of you. The least I can do is provide you some free room and board until you move on. Where is it you are headed for?"
"Yes, 33 gold monarchs for the gems. I hope this Ulman is able to help the townspeople. We are all lucky that Odo was able to hold the defenses together." Mistra's tone becomes questioning at the end of her statement, inviting the dwarf to comment but not pressing for information the craftsman might consider sensitive.
Kalgor hands Mistra the gold coins in a small pouch and takes the gems. "Odo has kept Zelkor's thriving and alive just like his fathers before him. Must almost be a hundred years since Zelkor's Ferry was founded by the Bristleback family. Take more than a few foolish humanoids from the wild to end that legacy. Zelkor's Ferry is the only gem of civilization in this unforgiving region."
Still cursing his bad aim during the fight, Aladair helps repair the gates and looks over the locking mechanism and if there might be any way to further protect the gate, or maybe add some sort of defensive traps to help if ever besieged again.
Please remove from gameplay boards