PERCEPTION CHECK DC 15:
The towers on the other side of the bridge show no sign of being inhabited. There are no huts on the other side of the bridge.
Plans?
To the Kannonfodder brothers, I translate the words of the orc-blood and the elf,
To the man who is guiding us, I ask, "You 'ave not told us yer name or rank. I am Klyndak o' Janderhoff."
(in orc)Hru says to Rellios and Klyndak "We can probably hold the other side of that bridge from this lot" once again gesturing toward the boneman and "other"
"I just wonder if there's a reason they're not over on that side,(vaguely to Klyndak)you seem to get on with Mucky-muck here...ask him, maybe they're at war with those bat riders, for doubtless they could have come here as easy as the river."
Clareg, who wasn't listening, says "So what's all this about eating?"
"Hru and Rellios thinks they might be wanting to be having us stay for dinner," answers Dareg.
"Well!! That'd be mighty nice of them!" beams Clareg.
... "It's a double entendre ya idjeet!"
"Double entendre? Isn't that an Elven version of the Urgosh?"
"Ya. Pretty much."
To the Kannonfodder brothers, I translate the words of the orc-blood and the elf, ** spoiler omitted **
To the man who is guiding us, I ask, "You 'ave not told us yer name or rank. I am Klyndak o' Janderhoff."
"Greetings, Klyndak o' Janderhoff," answer Mucka-muck "I am The-One-Who-Has-Slept-With-the-Dead. I am the shaman of this village. That man over there is the new chief. ... It seems we have a bit of a problem. He says you will not be allowed to cross the bridge as that would violate the promise he has made to those that dwell in the spires."
Several people have begun washing the body hung by the hut, cleaning the mud and paint off of it that created the 'boneman' appearance.
Hru does his best to speak orcish smooth and calmly
"Can he tell us what he made his bargain with? I'd ask "meself" but he's shot me the eye a couple times-the whole bone thing and all."
If "Sleeps w/Death" shaman sheds some more details on what's going, that's great...but if it looks like the conversation is lagging or going nowhere:
Rellios will casually make his way over to our gear..under the pretense of "checking" some equipment - to see if he spots or hears anything from the two fellows arguing next to the bridge.
"The new chief is afraid that if we allow you to cross the bridge the goblins will make war with us again. We lost many adults in the last battle and their bodies were taken from us, an even bigger loss. We have since agreed to guard this bridge but never cross it. You will not be allowed to cross."
As he is talking, the new chief barks some commands and a group of ten adults leave off what they are doing and head towards a hut.
"If you are to go, go quick. The one who dwells in the tower makes death a curse, where I make it a blessing."
Taking his words to be an encouragement to leave, I motion to the Kannonfodder brother's to pick up the gear and hefting my already full pack, I head calmly and purposefully towards the bridge.
"Lets be a goin'," I say, and I swing my still loaded crossbow off my back, "A thanks fer the 'ospitality but our mission can't be 'eld up by any deal wit' gobbos."
Rellios glances around at his comrades at the shaman's last words, querying them to see what the feeling is for the next action.
Upon seeing Klyndak's reaction, he continues with his original thought of strolling over to "casually" check the gear near the bridge. Watching to spot any usual action on the part of the bone people.
For now, sword will be at the ready.
Rellios glances around at his comrades at the shaman's last words, querying them to see what the feeling is for the next action.
Upon seeing Klyndak's reaction, he continues with his original thought of strolling over to "casually" check the gear near the bridge. Watching to spot any usual action on the part of the bone people.
For now, sword will be at the ready.
As soon as Rellios, Klyndak, and the Kannonfodders move the chief of the 'others' shouts out a command. The two 'others' at the bridge move to block your path.
As the tension rises, the shaman cackles:
"From the lowlands came a goblin thief,
Seized a spire and proclaimed himself chief,
But what happen next stretches belief,
He died like me -- 'all too brief'!"
Rellios will make his charge towards the bridge, and make a move to take out one of the guards without killing him.
He uses the butt of weapon to conk the man out...if possible:
Hru follws Rellios' lead and shoulders the rest of his equiptment as quickly and calmly as possible then, drawing his massive battle blade starts after the dwarves. He begins a low prayer in orcish: Gorum, watch over your servant and my companions, fresh blood and souls will be yours."
Stopping for a moment, I aim my crossbow for the enemy the elf is not attacking.
Crossbow under the affects of a bless: (1d20+1+1=14)
damage: (1d10=10)
Then, I slide my crossbow back onto my back and begin moving towards the bridge as I attempt to once more loosen my warhammer from my belt.
"Ta the other side lads," I order the Kannonfodder brothers. And then I break into a trot.
I stop and aim my crossbow at the man the elf is not attacking.
Crossbow under the affects of a bless: (1d20+1+1=14)
damage: (1d10=10)
Then, with a grunt of satisfaction, I stow the crossbow back onto my back next to my heavy pack and break into a dignified trot towards the bridge.
The party's semi-co-ordinated attack takes the primitives by surprise.
The guard Rellios attacked wasn't even holding his spear, having put it down so that he could look through your equipment for anything he could put to better use than you could. He responds by trying to disarm Rellios.
Klyndak's crossbow takes out the other guard.
Clareg and Dareg run past and block the bridge, preparing to defend your escape route.
Hru has got the rest of the equipment.
The group of adults that were sent into the hut emerge with spears hearing the commotion. They had intended to get the jump on you.
Others, unarmed, begin to move towards you.
Your initiative rolls from before (and Klyndak's new one) give you the initiative.
Initiative Order:
Klyndak
Rellios
Hru
Clareg
Dareg
'the others'
"Move yerselfs ta the other side o' the bridge!" I tell Dareg and Clareg as I move past them, taking my own advice. "Better ta 'ave the gulf be'ind them than us!"
Hru attempts to get to the other side of the bridge
Rellios attempts to give the surprised villager a one-two punch of rapier and fist.
Rapier 1d20=19 Rapier Damage (1d6+2=8)
Rapier Critical (1d20=15) Rapier Critical Damage (1d6=3)
Fist (1d20=7)Fist Damage (1d3+1=4)
Once that is over, he'll grab any leftover gear and also make way across the bridge - slowing if needed to keep pace with Klyndak - following in the wake of the Kannon bros and Hru.
Rellios takes out the guard with his rapier and then misses with his fist as the guard falls to the ground before his punch can connect.
The entire party is on the bridge with the Kannonfodders in the lead.
Once you step foot on the bridge the unarmed primitives hesitate to step onto it. Those ten who had grabbed spears run forward launching their first volley from a distance.
Ten spears fly through the air.
...
Clareg and Dareg have run ahead as ordered and are almost on the other side of the bridge.
Once the entire party has reached the bridge, their pursuers hesitate. The unarmed primitives have no way to reach you. Those ten who had gone for spears throw despite the range.
Rellios is the closest but manages to avoid two of the spears being thrown at him. Perhaps, his unnatural beauty shook the nerves of the spearthrowers. Only one grazes his neck.
The poorly armoured mage, Klyndak, takes two spears but neither manages to make it through the layer of ‘muscle’ that protects him. .
Hru takes the worst of it. A well-thrown spear catches the half-orc between his shoulders. It propels him forward and gives him more incentive to run but he feels the spear’s stone head bite deep.
The mass of primitives stands, hesitating to cross the bridge.
The Muckamuck looks smugly at the mess. Although you know him to be quite mad, you can't help but think he's won something or at least thinks he's won something.
The 'new chief' gives Muckamuck his prize -- A punch square in the face. This is followed by a bellowed order to the spearthrowers that can only mean one thing: 'KILL THEM!'.
ROUND 2
Since it seems we need a little more breathing room...(based on the diagram):
Rellios reaches into his pouch and throws out a wad of caltrops across the bridge path - hoping that he would have noted if these folks were barefooted, or at least wearing poor shoes.
I move towards the end of the bridge as fast as possible.
"'Old the end of the bridge while we regroup," I tell Dareg and Clareg.
Once past the two brothers, I turn and reassess in the situation
Hru lopes to the end of the bridge and turns to stand fast with the Kannonfodders. When everyone is within 30' he calls out to Gorum in orc. "Unleash your energy, hear me! Your grag calls! Blood and Souls, for Gorum!! and a gleam of divine energy shoots up the length of his massive battleblade, then ripples out in a 30ft burst.
He then prepares to face the primitives.
Two spears reach the mage only to be deflected by his magical protection.
As the heroes reach the other side of the bridge, just shy of the two stone towers, they turn to see what has happened to their pursuers.
The half-naked primitives hesitate at the foot of the bridge and it does not seem to be out of concern for the possibility of their poor bare feet being sliced to shreds by the caltrops Rellios threw in their path.
They launch a volley of spears that falls laughably short of their mark but for one which is deflected by the half-orcs armour.
Whether it be oath or fear that is holding them back, it does not last long. The primitives roar and charge the bridge.
ROUND 3
Hopefully by now, Rellios has had time to pull his bow.
Once he does so, he lets loose with a shot at the lead primitive:
Hru will ready a full attack on any "boner" that approaches,
"GORRUUMM!! BLOOD AND SOULS FOR GORUM!!" Hru bellows in a gutteral hoot
Clareg and Dareg wait until the primitives are almost upon them and then throw their axes at the nearest. Clareg's axe hits but only after knocking Dareg's off course.
"You be jealous enough of me to ruin my perfect throw for yer own glory little brother?" complains Dareg drawing his waraxe and preparing for the onslaught.
"Leave off with the 'little' and make yer next shot count," responds Clareg drawing his own waraxe with a look of absolute glee. "We'll be gettin' blood on our beards tonight!"
The caltrops spread across the bridge slow the onslaught of primitive somewhat. Four of them stumble in their pursuit. Six manage to make their way to the throneseekers. One is rewarded for his bravery by being struck down by Hru. Another takes an arrow from Rellios but keeps coming. A third has an ear removed by Clareg's axe but is undeterred. Of the five spears thrust at the party, not one bites flesh.
"HAHAHA!! GORRRUUUMM!!
Rellios fires again at the oncoming group, but the crowding seems to have caused him hesitate in his shot.
Bow shot (1d20+3=7)Damage (1d8=1)
Dareg seems to intentionally jostle his brother as swings his waraxe. His own axe meets its mark and takes down an opponent but his brother's swing gets no where near its target.
Turning, I raise my warhammer and unleash a telekinetic fist at one of the primitives.
Turning, I raise my warhammer and unleash a telekinetic fist at one of the primitives.
I take a quick glance at the towers to see what I can notice about them and then from my spot behind the combatants I unleash another magical attack. I really need to learn on doing one thing at a time and doing it right, I tell myself as my arcane shot goes high.
Telekinetic Fist: (1d20+1+1=5)
You see only empty windows in the tower. A couple of human heads dangle from one of them in a gruesome decoration.
Three of the primitives stab at the throneseekers again but none strike home.
NEW ROUND
You see only empty windows in the tower. A couple of human heads dangle from one of them in a gruesome decoration.
"Arrgh! You fools!" I shout at the brothers and my displeasure at their antics makes me miss yet another time.
Telekinetic Fist: (1d20+1+1=8)
"Move back as ye attack, so there's room fer the rest of us to be 'elpin'! And quit yer squabblin'"
You see only empty windows in the tower. A couple of human heads dangle from one of them in a gruesome decoration.
You see the hint of a gaping hole where a door would be on the side of the tower facing away from bridge. The towers were obviously constructed to allow defense of the bridge.
"Blood and souls! GORUM!!" (in orc)
Clareg does as he's told and backs up, taking the time to pull a vial from a side pouch and slam it back.
Dareg takes the knees out from another opponent leaving him wounded but conscious.
A command is shouted out in the strange language of the others and then again in common: "HOLD! LEAVE OFF!"
Those wounded by caltrops are mostly still standing and fall back.
At the other end of the bridge, the bone-decorated shaman has entered. He holds in his right hand a long bone staff from which dangles a gruesome marrionate figure of a human-looking skeleton but made of the bones of a much smaller creature. In his left hand, he holds a dagger.
He walks towards the party calling out: "Leave them alive."
He grins widely. With blood dripping from his broken nose the skeletal face looks particularly odd.
Rellios focuses on trying to take out some of the advancing natives coming in behind the melee front. He'll try focusing on someone who looks injured or is hobbling from the caltrops.
Ooops