"No really, I think you should do what the nice bard says. That bear will bite your face off otherwise. I've seen him do it!"
The two blue skinned frog warriors take a few steps back as Dacknar, Dur and D'Nateh try to convince them to surrender. Lilly starts to translate Toki's words as well, but before the minotaur gets halfway through, a great cacophony of croaks and ribbits erupts from the shadows and entryways surrounding the courtyard.
Grinda stands atop the fallen corpse of Volg raising her bloody club and smashing it down upon the dead ogres pulverized head. Frenzied passion and fiery hatred burn within her eyes as she points at the two warriors. Holding up her own scar riddled arms along with her bloody club she charges the blue guards with guttural cry of "Schaphigroadaz!"
Dozens of frogfolk emerge and join Volg's former victim in bid for revenge. There is nothing to be done to stop the rampage as the two traitors warriors who helped enforce the worst of the ogre's tortures and punishments are swarmed by the mob. Within moments their bloodied heads are raised high on their own spears and chants of "Schaphigroadaz, Schaphigroadaz!" begin among the several dozen gathered frogkin.
But the celebration is cut short as a large door slams open with a boom.
A half dozen more blue skinned frogkin come slinking out the door followed by a tall creature seemingly of giant and orcish heritage. He wears heavy mail and carries a blackened trident with ivory inlays along the handle and polished jade stones set in the base of each tine.
"Well, well, well. Who's gone and stirred up the rabble." He growls, fierce red eyes surveying the yard and the fallen Volg. He also spots the likes of Beordt, Rilkus, Toki and Lilly. All who easily stand out and above the gathered frogkin. Although badly outnumbered, the muscle bound leader does not seem worried or concerned. "Ah. So. You are the ones who entered the slave pens I assume." He grumbles. "And now you've given these croaking fools some back bone or foolish hope as well." He feigns a heavy sigh. "It was time to do a little house sweeping anyway. So let us begin...Rastra, if you please."
From inside the doorway, another voice is heard. This one is feminine, pleasant even. Yet the chanting words spoken are harsh and send chills down the spines of everyone gathered. Worried gurgles and groaks can be heard among the gathered frogkin. As the chant continues, Volg's body twitches and pulses several times. Suddenly an eldritch purple glow illuminates the dead ogre's broken and burnt eye sockets. A ear chilling moan escapes its broken jaw as it slowly begins to push itself upright.
Several frogkin frantically leap away from the animated body, while others grab anything they can to use as a weapon.
Qwerbrac and Grinda both shout "Schaphigroadaz!" and wave their weapons in the air preparing to charge.
Dur whispers very quietly to Toki. "I'm going to see if I can go after the mage. I'm small, he didn't seem to notice me." Dur, who already was about the size of a frogfolk, and is used to being overlooked as nothing more than an overgrown rat attempts to skulk around the edges of the courtyard, hiding in the shadows, making his way towards the supernatural darkness.
Toki smiles, not making eye contact with Dur, I'll make the distraction!
Toki bursts up the stairs and slaps his axes together!
EDIT: I can at least hit 3 of them plus Verrack.
When any translation is met out. Beordt moves foward toward the line of frog kin. Beordt calls back daring the warlord into the fray. For all his animal fury Beordt's years by Toki's side are showing. He did not only challenge the Warlord but struck at his power. Giving any who would make an appeal to the remaining frogs that now is the time to strike.
Beordt approached the one of the outside blueskinned frog folk.
He brought his sword in an deadly arc followed by his beastial fury.
Silently Rilkus advanced, the opposite of Beordt's frenzied attack. The gearforged felt nothing but disgust for what stood before him. To raise the dead as such was an abomination and deserved to be punished, just like the slavery practiced. He did not know why the warriors stood before him. Was it greed, malice or fear? Regardless, they were in the way of justice and would be treated as such.
"Well that way is block even more." Dacknar mumbles as he sees his companions rush forward.
Dacknar turns as sees Volg trying to get up.
"Oh no you don't, the dead needs to stay dead!" he calls out just as he plunges his blades in to the corps.
If any hits and a there is a frog man on our side next to Volg, or I can get the surprise attack.
Then he fades away in the shadows
N'Dateh the hyena goes for the closest frogkin, unmoved by the many speeches.
Toki steps forward and unleashes a thunderous burst that is echoed back by the storm above. Perhaps a momentary bit of approval from the thunder god himself. Stones crack and random boards and debris scatters away from the mighty blast. The bard looks up with a smile on his face ready to witness the devastation wrought, only to have his smile turn into a frown. The frogkin warriors still stand, spears at the ready, as does Verrack wearing a toothy grin of his own.
"A fine bit of flatulence, perhaps you should try less dairy in your diet." The big half giant says with a chuckle.
But the banter is lost as Beordt, Rilkus, and two dozen frogkin led by Qwerbrac and Grinda charge forward.
Beordt and Rilkus hit the line of warriors first. The bearkin slashing and biting into the frog warrior at the apex of the arc surrounding Verrack. The gear forged tries to slip past the warrior's guard, but these are no ill-trained rabble. The frogkin parries the hammer blow, sending wide to the right.
Dacknar attacks the rising undead Volg. The elf's first attack misses badly as his short blade gets caught in the zombiefied ogre's tattered armor. But his dagger slips through and slices away a few bits of still warm flesh before he slips back into the crowd of onrushing frogkin.
Seeking another angle of attack, Dur slips back into the shadows of the nearest wall and the scattered crates, barrels, and other junk scattered about the rundown fort.
Meanwhile D'Nateh charges the frogkin warriors with Beordt, Toki, and Rilkus. The giant hyena lunges at the warrior engaged with Beordt, but he slaps her big nose aside with his spear.
Lilly unleashes yet another burst of radiant energy against Verrack, but the half giant steps aside and avoids being engulfed in the holy fire.
About half of the frogkin charge the warriors and Varreck while the others attempt to swarm the risen Volg. Using everything from makeshift clubs to spears to obsidian knives, the newly emboldened and enraged frogkin press the attack. But their makeshift weapons and obviously lessor skills are not as effective against the blue skinned warriors loyal to Verrack and the absent Grumph. A few blows slip through the determined defense, but most miss or are easily parried.
Against zombie Volg, the attacks are much more effective as the lumbering undead ogre does little to defend itself and the tattered remains of its armor are mostly ineffective even against the most rudimentary weapons. While most of the frogkin engage in tough hand-to-hand combat, a few take up positions leaping up onto the broken balconies and ledges of the walls surrounding the courtyard. From that vantage point they rain down a barrage of arrows or darts upon the zombie or Verrack and his allies.
Having weathered the initial storm, the defenders rally. The warrior engaged with Beordt and Rilkus manages to slip his spear past the bearkin's defenses and opens a cut along Beordt's thigh. The other blue skins all attack the charging frogfolk. All but one land solid blows. On the end of the arc, the final warrior runs his spear into a charging frogkin and pierces the poor creatures lung. The rebel frog falls hard to the rain soaked ground bleeding out as his comrades continue the fight.
Volg's undead body unleashes an unholy, hellish roar the rattles the ancient stones of fortress. His massive bloodied hands still grip the long iron bar and it comes crashing down upon one of the rebelling frogkin. The creature's head burst like a crushed melon under the sickening strength of the blow. Bits of skull and brain explode across the poor frogkin's allies.
Behind the line of warriors, Verrack advances a few steps and uses the reach of his long trident to lash out at Beordt and Rilkus. The crafty half giant uses his ally as both cover and distraction. Although his first blow bounces off of Rilkus' hard iron frame, Beordt doesn't have such sturdy defenses. Verrack lunges unexpectedly low against the bearfolk and the tines of the trident pierce deep into Beordt's side.
Verrack: 100/100
Volg: 62/85
Frog Warrior #1: 15/30
Frog Warrior #2: 26/30
Frog Warrior #3: 26/30
Frog Warrior #4: 19/30
Frog Warrior #5: 30/30
Frog Warrior #6: 30/30
Toki growls at the half giant's joke, You're one to talk! Your breath is making my eyes water!
psychic damage. Failure means damage and disadvantage on the next attack.
"Growl!" manages N'Dateh as she tries to burry her teeth into a Frogkin's belly.
Ignoring the leader for the moment, Rilkus swung his hammer at the last standing frogkin warrior. No matter how strong the warlord was, Rilkus was certain that he would fall once he was alone and surrounded. But to achieve that, his allies had to be removed. With only one left standing, the dwarf turned gearforged swung his hammer with all of his might at the warrior.
His sword jammed in the armor, Dacknar give a quick twist and a pull
And his sword slips from his fingers, jammed with in the armor.
But with out missing a beat Dacknar draws is other dagger and gets back to work on the undead creature.
And then bounces out of the reach of the undead.
Beordt continues to press the ring of frogfolk.
[dice=Last traitor frogkin1d20+5
[dice=Damage]1d8+5
Dur continues to sneak, hoping to get to the mage as soon as he can.
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Lily is now ready for this big battle. She casts "Bless" on Beordt, Rilkus, and D'Nateh. (Add 1d4 to all attack rolls and saves for one minute).
She then tries to position herself so that when an opening appears she can make an attack on the witch stirring up so much trouble.
Verrack's eyes blur and he shakes his head as he attempts without success to drive Toki's magic from his mind. As the bard provides a solid distraction Dur is able to slip past the far end of the warriors and the confused Verrack to slip into the utter darkness of the room beyond the arch.
Beordt and Rilkus team up to pummel the frog warrior at the apex of the arc. The blue skinned frogkin falls under the onslaught of blade and hammer and an opening manifests before the two bold companions. Just to Beordt's left the bearfolk hears a familiar growl as D'Nateh sinks her big hyena jaws into one of the frog warrior's arms. A quick shake of her big canine head leaves the limb torn and bleeding.
With an opening cleared to Verrack, the three front line warriors suddenly feel a rush of holy energy pass through their bodies and spirits. Lilly's blessing creates a momentary aura of light around the three granting them extra strength and courage to defeat the evil they face.
On the opposite side of the courtyard, Dacknar bedevils the undead Volg along with a dozen or so frogkin allies. Giving up his sword for the moment, the elf draws his last remaining dagger and uses it to continue cutting away at the risen corpse.
The frogkin rebels continue to press the blue warriors, but the better armed and trained defenders hold and inflict more casualties on the frogkin as another falls to a defenders spear.
The rabble has more success against the lumbering undead ogre. They continue to hack away at Volg's animated corpse, but the cost is high as the big beast swings the iron bar and crushes the midsections of a pair of his harassers. The two hapless frogkin only manage to crawl a few feet before expiring.
At the head of the courtyard, the frog warrior engaged with D'Nateh lands another blow with his spear, piercing the druid-hyena in the shoulder yet again. The warriors try to shift and close the gap opened by their comrades fall, but an attack against Rilkus fails as a spear simply glances off his hardened armor.
Although slowed by Toki's magic, Verrack still lashes out with his trident. An unlucky frogkin rebel catches the blow as he steps forward and the trident pierces his throat. Blood fountains from the gasping dying creature as it collapses to the ground. His vision clearing, the half giant pulls back, pivots, and catches a second frogkin right in the chest with the wicked trident and another ally falls to Verrack's prowess.
"Ahahah! What's this? A little rat, trying to slip into my larder?" The voice says. Feminine. Filled with mirth and dripping with poisoned honey. "Let us see if you can find the cheese little mouse."
Your stomach suddenly churns and it feels like you are falling as your senses whirl and twirl in the darkness.
Verrack: 100/100
Volg: 30/85
Frog Warrior #1: 0/30
Frog Warrior #2: 17/30
Frog Warrior #3: 26/30
Frog Warrior #4: 19/30
Frog Warrior #5: 30/30
Frog Warrior #6: 23/30
Pushing his way through the line, Rilkus strode towards Verrack. As he did so he pointed his hammer at the warlord in a challenge, banged it against his shield, and then swung it at Verrack's shoulder.
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Beordt tears up toward Verrack trusting that his demise would end the struggle. He brings his terrible sword in and follows it with his all his bestial fury.
N'Dateh ignores the pain, trusting in nature's regenerative power, and presses the Frogkin, snapping at his legs.
N'Dateh immediately follows up, all fur and teeth, snapping at the next Frogkin.
Toki follows the others in, using them as cover, and tries to slip in behind Verrack to see the spellcaster behind!
Dacknar springing on the undead ogre his dagger held high to plunge into the unholy creature.
And they stab down just as the creature starts to turn missing the mark that Dacknar was aiming for.
Then bounds away out of reach of the undead.
Dacknar springing on the undead ogre his dagger held high to plunge into the unholy creature.
[dice=Dagger attack]1d20 + 5
[dice=Per. Damage]1d4 + 3[dice=Offhand Dagger attack]1d20 + 5
[dice=Per, Damage]1d4[dice=Sneak attack]1d6
And they stab down just as the creature starts to turn missing the mark that Dacknar was aiming for.
Then bounds away out of reach of the undead.
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Edit: Dacknar bravely stands his ground against the creature, even though every fiber of his being screams get away.
"Y'know," Dur says matter of factly, "My family wanted me to be a mighty wizard. I lived under Demon Mountain, and served the great masters."[b] He draws his rapier, and closes his eyes, focusing on identifying the source of the voice around him. [b]"It's going to take a little bit more than a bit of cheese and a pretty voice to distract me."
Toki's magic once again crashes into Verrak's mind causing the half giant to falter and stumble. Struggling to regain his balance, Verrack isn't prepared as Beordt breaks through the line along with Rilkus. Two hundred pounds of angry bear and steel come crashing down upon the enemy. Beordt's sword cleaves across the half-giant's chest slicing through steel chain and flesh. An entire section of his chain shirt falls away to the ground as he howls in pain and agony from the massive hit. Not finished, the bearkin nabs a bit of Verrack's in his teeth and rips another bit of flesh free before the stumbling giant can step away from the bearfolk's fury. Unfortunately, he steps right into Rilkus who punishes the mistake with another bone jarring hit with his silver coated hammer.
Along the line, the warriors are forced back a step. D'Nateh rips into the frog warrior facing her. Blood flows from her jaws as she catches the creatures arm and hears the satisfying snap of the bone. Moments later a pair of the rebels slip knives into the warrior and he falls to the ground. D'Nateh tries to pivot and attack the next warrior in the line, but the dying frogkin gets caught beneath her feet and her follow up attack misses badly and she is forced to catch her balance of fall.
Dacknar continues to carve into Volg's undead corpse. Although huge portions of the ogre are now little more than bones with pits and chunks of flesh hanging from them, the thing continues its rampage. The punishment starts to take its toll as several rebel frogkin lie dead or dying upon the wet stone of the courtyard. Although they continue to press the fight, caution causes their blows to miss and even a few decide to flee, making their way toward the gates.
Seeing Verrack under attack, some of the frog warriors pivot to help defend their leader. Spear tips once again bounce off of the hard iron body of Rilkus. Beordt dodges another blow, but doesn't see the third come slipping in from behind. The sharp tip stabs him in the back.
Verrack's vision starts to clear, moving his hands up the handle of the trident, he wields it more like a quarterstaff for the moment. Although wounded, he is still very much a dangerous threat and that is about to be proven as he spots an opening in the gearforged dwarf's defense. He lunges forward only to have the lingering effects of Toki's magic blur his vision at the last moment. His killing strike goes wide and catches nothing but air. He pivots around trying to catch Beordt with the return blow, but bearfolk is more nimble than his size might attest and that strike misses as well.
Volg continues to reap frogkin like wheat in a field. Another falls to his iron bar as the undead ogre brings it crashing down across his shoulder. The frogkin stumbles, falls backward into the pit of hot coals where. Flesh sizzles and smokes and his dying screams are blessedly cut off moments later as his spirit drifts toward the embrace of Schaphigroadaz.
Verrack: 63/100
Volg: 17/85
Frog Warrior #1: 0/30
Frog Warrior #2: 0/30
Frog Warrior #3: 22/30
Frog Warrior #4: 19/30
Frog Warrior #5: 30/30
Frog Warrior #6: 23/30
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Toki drops his axes and pulls the long whip off his waist and attempts to catch the half-giant's ankle with it and leaps off the edge of the stair to use it for leverage against Verrack and attempting to yank him off of his feet!
But the Northman, just looks silly pulling ineffectually on the villain's leg!
Beordt howls in fury. Striking out again with his greatsword and biting at the giant.
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With the enemy warlord reeling, Rilkus continued his assault. In this, it was an easier matter because Beordt's ferocity. The sheer amount of damage that the Grizzlehide could cause was devestating. Against such ferocity, Rilkus' hammer paled in comparison. It meant that when given a decision on who to focus on, it wasn't Rilkus' hammer. However, that was not to say that Rilkus was weak, or that his hammer wasn't dangerous. Far from it. A point that he proved by slamming it into the foe once more.
A flash of one blade then another as Dacknar tries to stop the undead ogre.
His blades slashing at the undead flesh.
N'Dateh recovers easily, then snaps as she lunges, aiming for where sensitive male parts usually hide.
[/s] [/s]
Dur fumbles around blindly, cursing his over-reliance on darkvision. He draws his rapier as he does so. "I don't suppose you'd be interested in settling our differences by punching each other?"