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The dwarves gather around you as you explain the plan; they look nervous, but grimly determined to get out of this trap, no matter what happens. Since the primary campsite that the dwarves have been using is in a central depression under an inner ring of stones, you think it will be a while before the ogres notice that they've gone. To delay that discovery, a couple of Flurry Squad recruits cannily construct the campfire so that it will continue to burn long and steadily through the night.
Khitt calls on the shadows rise up around you again, and you head down the ramp toward the main ogre camp. Cutting quickly to the right, you move toward the northern slope of the canyon, following it west and out. The last pair of contestants are wrestling against one another, much to the enjoyment of the crowd.
Umikh struggles to remain quiet, his chainmail jingling with every step. There is one particularly harrowing moment when, not quite halfway through the canyon, he stumbles in the snow and crashes into a small boulder. As fate would have it, this is just the moment that the wrestling match comes to a spectacular end and an enormous cheer rises from all the watching ogres, who begin chanting for their favourite: "Van-u-kar! Van-u-kar! Van-u-kar!"
The dwarves all stare daggers at Umikh (the eladrin just rolls his eyes dramatically), who regains his balance, looking sheepish.
There are no further incidents as you traverse the canyon and exit to the northwest.
Khitt, can you find us a place to set down to rest without fear of discovery? Turq whispers more harshly than he intends...
Looking to the dwarves who hopefully know the area much better than we do, Know of a good hiding spot fer us?
Looking to the dwarves who hopefully know the area much better than we do, Know of a good hiding spot fer us?
Lieutenant Ogathoin, glancing frequently over her shoulder, responds: "Nothing that can hide 21 people; or, at least, nowhere that puts us in a better position than the one we just left. I'm not anxious to be trapped in another dead end..."
"Sir?" a young dwarf with a black beard pipes up, "What about that patch of trees to the north?" One of their squad-mates elbows them in the ribs, and you hear a whispered: "What're you, an elf? Hidin' in the trees..."
"Shut it," growls Ogathoin. Then, musing, to Umikh: "That's not a lot of cover, and it's a good 3 or 4 hours away, but I can't really think of a better spot. At least it's on the way back to the Cairn."
We can make it, but it'll be a cold night o' rest. Don't dare have a fire ta warm our bones, Turq muses. Khitt, ya think Rodalas and yerself could whip us up a good blind?
I can try and I can help, but I imagine that the goblin is better at it that I am the eladrin responds.
The ogres will eventually figure out the dwarves are gone. I’d rather put as much distance between us and then as possible.” Khitt turns to regard the company of dwarves. ” Sides that, I thought these dwarves were training to be a company of soldiers. I’d wager a forced march won’t hurt em much.”
Khitt looks back at the sky. ”We can make for the trees for some cover out of the wind for a bit and we can take stock o how all and us are doin. I’ll leave the ranger magic up to cover our trail but I think we can speed it up a bit from here. ”
Aye, but they have also been cold, starved, and lacking proper sleep. You have a point though, let's show 'em what the Dale folk are made of, eh? Turq tossed a grin at the Sargeant. Let us continue a forced march, until we have a league, or more from these giant rats...
"Whatever get's the most distance between us and the things that want to smash us into tiny meat pieces, i'm fine with." Quominar prepares for the trek.
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Once you've exited the gorge and turned a corner or two, you deem it safe enough to increase your speed. Khitt's spell still works to hide you from sight while it lasts, though the sound of your marching is more evident now.
The dwarves keep pace with you, though it's obvious that the increased speed is having a toll -- you don't hear any grumbling, but those of you familiar with dwarves can read the strain through their body language -- the clenched jaws, the rhythmic march. As Turq rightly judged, they are exhausted.
It is well past midnight when you reach the clump of small trees; you are all exhausted.
Turq sits quietly, breathing heavily with the exertion of their march, I'll take first watch, unless the spellcasters want ta take it so's they have a full night's rest?
"I can take first watch. A full night's rest sounds great to me."
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Despite having seen traces of owlbears the last time you paused in these woods, your night passes uneventfully -- probably the sheer size of the group was enough to deter them. Many of dwarves are slow to get going in the morning, and you hear a mix of cajoling, harsh words, and kicks at bedrolls. The Captain and Lieutenant get their charges breakfasted and packed up without too great a delay. Everyone is looking forward to a slow-but-steady march north to their homes; the contrast to a frightened scramble through the dark toward uncertain refuge is cheering.
Unfortunately, life is never quite so simple.
Having broken camp, you begin your trek squeezed on the narrow track you followed earlier: forest to the left, mountain to the right, the remains of the avalanche that killed Peroll at your backs (three trainees having been sent back to retrieve his body).
Rodalas, having scouted ahead, returns to advise you that, hidden from your view by the hilly terrain, but just over the next rise, are two hill giants and three dire wolves just breaking camp and headed in your direction.
Conferring with the dwarven commanders, Marblehead and Ogathoin convey that, despite their exhaustion and injuries, they would like to deal with this threat head on, rather than running again: "We've a maneuver that we've been practicin' -- be good fer th' youngin's ta see against real foes. We can shave off th' wolves an' deal wit 'em first, but that'll leave the giants fer you lot."
Umikh is ready to bash some large heads.
The dwarven company quickly moves off to one flank, getting into position just as the wolves crest the hill ahead of the giants. With taunts and missiles and some elaborate "wounded bird" deceptions to trigger their chase instincts, the dwarves quite adeptly induce the dire wolves to chase them.
That does, however, leave you facing two hill giants.
"Sure, but for now, I'm still hungry."
Initiative
Round 1
Netzer
Khitt
Quominor
Rodalas
Umikh
Hrugh
Turq
Reegah
Iniative
Iniative 1d20+3
Is he able to act befire aby of tbe giants or the wolves?
Khitt draws his bow and whistles to Khat to hold at his side for the moment. Just before letting arrows fly, Khitt pauses to consider a question. ”how long will the ogres wait for thier hill giant buddies before they realize that they are not coming?”
He will fire at the giant that the goblin attacked
p
sneaky attack
Action:
Bonus Action: Spiritual Weapon cast next to the one not yet attacked.
(to clarify targets, Firebolt is going into the one that Khitt hit, and the Spiritual weapon is going into the other one)
IC: Quominar lets a bolt of fiery energy burst forth from his hand , spiraling and striking the hill giant opposite Khitt, before then closing his eyes and summoning a large ethereal warhammer above the other one, slamming the weapon down on it's head.
Netzer watches the dwarves' maneuvre wistfully, then rolls his shoulders, hefts his greataxe, and takes a step toward the enemy, then another -- building momentum and rage with each step until he's charging toward the giant, howling with anger.
Firing at the giant looming over Netzer, Khitt's first arrow bounces off the creature's thick skin; the second finds purchase, however, eliciting a bellow, which quickly becomes as roar as Rodalas and Quominar hit with their own missiles.
Shrugging, Umikh follows Netzer, blithely:
Like Netzer, Umikh manages to land the first blow, but the backswing bounces off the tough hide.
Having had enough of these insults from such puny foes, Hrugh retaliates with a swing of her greatclub, targeting one of the dwarves at her feet (Netzer):
The first swing slams into Netzer, but he dodges the second.
Round 1 (cont'd)
Netzer (-16)
Khitt
Quominor
Rodalas
Umikh
Hrugh (-61)
Turq
Reegah (-5)
Turq moves in hacking at the hamstring of Reegah!
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Reegah seems very amused, seeing his companion get pummeled by dwarves -- he's much less amused when Turq's axe chops into his legs!
He retaliates with blows of his own:
Round 2
Netzer (-8)
Khitt
Quominor
Rodalas
Umikh
Hrugh (-63)
Turq (-21)
Reegah (-24)
Umikh runs up and hacks at the first ogre he encounters!
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