"So, finish the search of this side, then move on to the other side?"
Yash nodded and set about looking around the area, picking up anything small enough to stuff into his pack that looked valuable, or at least shiny, including a finger wrenched off of one of the dead bugbears.
You advance down the hall and are confronted with a choice – cross the moat again on a narrow bridge or head up a staircase.
"Well, let's get on with this. The city isn't going to sit there waiting for us forever."
Lady Sable takes the stairs up to have a look around.
Senna follows Sable up the stairs, there being safety in numbers. They see an empty East-West corridor. "Maybe we scared them all. Right now, they are probably piling up the cargo and their treasure for us."
Yash took a moment to refresh the light spell on his armor, before scooping up Mama Cookie (and Lady) with his free hand and following Sable and Senna up the stairs.
"We should check to the right first. That direction doubles back toward the bridge so it should be a smaller areas."
Sabelina goes that way.
While Sable and Senna check the area leading to the bridge, Yash and Cookie stalk the hall in the other direction.
Cookie rides easily on Yash, but keeps an eye open for danger as they approach and then round a left hand bend in the hall.
Setting Mama down, Yash took a few steps before turning his head to look back at the halfing woman. "Stay here." He proceeded a little ways farther down the hallway before calling back. "Rugs. Furniture."
Lady Sable assumes the route she's taking crosses over to the other side of the water, an area they've decided to check after finishing the side they're already on. She turns about to join Yash and Mama Cookie.
Xing follows her new friend-sisters over to the bridge, where she stands sniffing the air. When Sabelina turns back, Xing pats Senna on the shoulder, then follows.
At the corner where Mama waits, she gives her a nod as she follows Yash into the new area.
Xing smells something musty and animal-like near the bridge but the scent quickly fades as she moves to join the party.
Our heroes stand on the threshold of the room. The room has fading (but quality) carpets, a salt-water-stained barrel and crate, a large trestle table with benches. The table has various good and food (including a severed hand) upon it… and a couple bugbears who have put aside their meal to kill the intruders. Yash was so fixed on the bugbear across the room from him that he failed to notice the one practically standing next to him until Xing growls a warning.
Round 1
ORDER: Sable, Yash, Cookie, Bugbears, Xing, Senna
HPs
Cookie: 32/32
Sable: 36/36
Senna: 31/31
Xing: 25/30
Yash: 26/30
Wasting no time, Yash stepped forward into the room, around the corner, and drives his greataxe towards the bugbear's shoulder.
Mma deftly slides down to the ground and waits for the new threat to distract it from its inevitable counter attack.
-
While she waits, she stares the Hobgoblin down, giving him the Evil Eye!
Lady Sable trails behind Yash, using his great bulk to cloak her presence. When he stops to engage the bugbear, she takes an extra couple of steps and springs out from behind him, attacking from the side with her rapier aimed at the bugbear's ribs.
Yash swings around the corner and his fierce axe blow bites deep, only stopping when the edge of the blade hits (then chips) the wall. The strength of the stone wall is the only reason the bugbear’s arm is still attached. The bugbear lets out a long screech of shock and pain.
The monster’s blank white eyes widen in surprise as Sable slithers into the room then drives her sword to burrow into the skulking bugbear’s guts.
Cookie throws the force of her will against the bugbear as well, taking whatever fight he had left out of him. He shrieks in horror.
Round 1
ORDER: Sable, Yash, Cookie, Bugbears, Xing, Senna
HPs
Cookie: 32/32
Sable: 36/36
Senna: 31/31
Xing: 25/30
Yash: 26/30
Dragging his cloven arm, the grievously injured bugbear launches a feeble and useless counter-attack on Yash. The other bugbear throws himself across the table at Sable, scattering plates and ‘food’ in his wake. She negligently slaps aside his heavier weapon.
Given their luck so far, both bugbears start yelling - presumably for help.
Round 1
ORDER: Sable, Yash, Cookie, Bugbears, Xing, Senna
HPs
Cookie: 32/32
Sable: 36/36
Senna: 31/31
Xing: 25/30
Yash: 26/30
Senna circles the team and puts a glancing arrow into the uninjured bugbear’s shoulder.
Arrows: xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xx
Blunts: xxxxx xxxxx
Perfect Strike (3): x
Ki Pool (4): xxx
1st Spells (6): xx
Blood Intensity (1):
Dancing Lights (3):
Inspired (1):
Effects:
Mage Armor = +4 AC for 3 hours
Xing leaps to the far side of the room and slashes the second bugbear with her claws as she works her way towards a flanking position.
Round 2
ORDER: Sable, Yash, Cookie, Bugbears, Xing, Senna
HPs
Cookie: 32/32
Sable: 36/36
Senna: 31/31
Xing: 25/30
Yash: 26/30
Lady Sable shifts back slightly with the second bugbear's arrival, trusting Yash to finish what they started. She turns on the newer one, striking with her rapier.
With a grunt and a snarl, Yash swung his greataxe again.
And Cookie's spear darts in again, inhibiting the Bugbear's defense!
With Cookie’s well-timed help, Yash’s axe strikes true! The bugbear’s head rests on the axe blade that is now buried in the wall. The rest of the body falls to the floor.
The roar of the axe smashing into the wall throws off Sable’s aim. Her rapier misses the other bugbear by half a hair.
Round 2
ORDER: Sable, Yash, Cookie, Bugbears, Xing, Senna
HPs
Cookie: 32/32
Sable: 36/36
Senna: 31/31
Xing: 25/30
Yash: 26/30
The bugbears’ call for help yield results as you all hear the jingle of armor, the clatter of weapons, the scratching of claws, and an unearthly howl that sets your teeth on edge.
A bugbear running at full speed, bounces off a wall as it rounds the corner of the northern corridor. Approaching from behind Xing. More metal clatter is heard from that direction as well.
Cookie is vaguely aware of a hulking, dark, presence coming from the southern corridor . She turns around fully to see the corridor blocked by the largest and blackest wolf imaginable. It is fully the size of a great steed and its fangs are long as daggers. It skids to a stop and looms over the halfling, long runnels of saliva dripping alarmingly close to Cookie. Then it howls, alerting everyone else to its presence.
A calculating look flares across the bugbear’s mug as it faces off against Sable. It swings its morningstar but even the change in circumstances doesn’t prevent Sable’s body from responding on instinct. She leans away, avoiding the blow.
Round 2
ORDER: Sable, Yash, Cookie, Bugbears, Xing, Senna
HPs
Cookie: 32/32
Sable: 36/36
Senna: 31/31
Xing: 25/30
Yash: 26/30
Cookie's spear swings around on reflex just in time to scratch the wolf on its way in!
Cookie bravely smacks the wolf on the muzzle!
Senna slides next to Sable and casts a spell, sending a sheet of flame roaring past Cookie and into the hallway filled with wolf. The beast’s hair and flesh burn. When the smoke clears, the wolf looks a little wounded and a lot angry.
Arrows: xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xx
Blunts: xxxxx xxxxx
Perfect Strike (3): x
Ki Pool (4): xxx
1st Spells (6): xxx
Blood Intensity (1):
Dancing Lights (3):
Inspired (1):
Effects:
Mage Armor = +4 AC for 3 hours
Round 2
ORDER: Sable, Yash, Cookie, Bugbears, Xing, Senna
HPs
Cookie: 32/32
Sable: 36/36
Senna: 31/31
Xing: 25/30
Yash: 26/30
Xing tries to finish the nearest bugbear while the team has the numerical advantage. Her blows can’t penetrate the bugbear’s defenses.
Round 3
ORDER: Sable, Yash, Cookie, Baddies, Xing, Senna
HPs
Cookie: 32/32
Sable: 36/36
Senna: 31/31
Xing: 25/30
Yash: 26/30
Taking her cue from Xing, Sabelina also tries to finish off their nearest opponent. Her results are no better.
"NO COOKIE!" Yash shouted, a bellowing war cry that echoed off the chamber walls as he side stepped past her, bringing his great axe down on the wolf.
As Yash steps around her shoulders, Cookies sweeps her spear up in an arc to intercept any incoming attacks form opportunistic foes.
She then uses the built up momentum to strike at the dog and distract its defense.
Soft Cover: Creatures, even your enemies, can provide you with cover against ranged attacks, giving you a +4 bonus to AC.
Moving Through a Square: When you move through a square occupied by a friendly character, that character doesn’t provide you with cover.
Sable slides on some wrecked crockery sending her blade skittering off the hobgoblin’s armor.
Yash races around his allies to confront the wolf, daring the hobgoblin’s wrath. The monster smashes the half-orc’s knee, nearly buckling his leg. Pressing on, Yash faces the wolf and delivers a deep slash to the wolf’s muzzle.
Round 3
ORDER: Sable, Yash, Cookie, Baddies, Xing, Senna
HPs
Cookie: 32/32
Sable: 36/36
Senna: 31/31
Xing: 25/30
Yash: 25/36 (non-rage 19/30)
All Hell breaks loose…
Another bugbear comes another the corner of the northern corridor as his nearest ally closes and attacks Xing from behind. A blank wall in the room slides open. Emerging from it is a large bugbear in banded mail wielding a blackly-glowing kukri. Flapping out of the same secret door is some tiny bat-winged, blood-red, vaguely-humanoid creature.
The attacks come fast and furious. Distracted briefly by the new threats, Sable’s enemy manages to barrel through her defenses to land a bone-splintering morningstar blow to her ribs.
Xing blocks the swing from the bugbear on her flank.
Yash easily sidesteps the snapping jaws of the massive wolf, even as the demonic flyer flaps a short distance away, enjoying the show. Its sickly yellow eyes – filled with delight and malice – relish in the bloodletting. The kukri-wielding bugbear whispers a quick incantation (girding itself in a grey light) while it advances on Yash and Senna. It whips the kukri with clear expertise, carving a deep bloody gash below Yash’s ribs and nearly slicing into Senna on his follow-through. The tiny demon’s squeaky laugh is unnerving and irritating.
The warleader raises the blood-smeared kukri and growls in the common tongue, ”Blood and flesh for my Lord Andirifkhu!”
Round 3
ORDER: Sable, Yash, Cookie, Baddies, Xing, Senna
HPs
Cookie: 32/32
Sable: 25/36
Senna: 31/31
Xing: 25/30
Yash: 10/36 (non-rage 4/30)
Senna fires a slew of arrows at the warleader. Two penetrate his formidable armor.
Arrows: xxxxx xxxxx xxxxx xx
Blunts: xxxxx xxxxx xxx
Perfect Strike (3): xx
Ki Pool (4): xxxx
1st Spells (6): xxx
Blood Intensity (1):
Dancing Lights (3):
Inspired (1):
Effects:
Mage Armor = +4 AC for 3 hours
Round 3
ORDER: Sable, Yash, Cookie, Baddies, Xing, Senna
HPs
Cookie: 32/32
Sable: 25/36
Senna: 31/31
Xing: 25/30
Yash: 10/36 (non-rage 4/30)
Xing slides into the corridor trying to protect the team’s flank. Her claws almost blur, her strikes coming so fast. The first bugbear stumbles back, heavily claw-carved.
Round 4
ORDER: Sable, Yash, Cookie, Baddies, Xing, Senna
HPs
Cookie: 32/32
Sable: 25/36
Senna: 31/31
Xing: 25/30
Yash: 10/36 (non-rage 4/30)