"What now?"
Malize's question is answered as the temple door opens and a quartet of duergar start to enter. "Get that in place fast! We don't want them sending the skeletons up after us."
They were not expecting anyone to be in the place and none of the group heard them approaching, so both groups stare at each other for a moment, before one of the dark dwarves says "Drow! Kill them."
The dwarves are all in chainmail and carry warhammers and crossbows, however, they are not ready for combat. D1 has no weapon in hand as he had opened the door, D2 has his crossbow in hand. 3 and 4 are carrying a large wooden cask between them, and, now, from the open door, you can hear the sounds of many feet in the tunnel at the bottom of the hill outside.
One of the dwarves, after yelling, starts to set down his end of the cask, but can't do anything other than that.
With weapon drawn, Kevaras advances towards the duergar.
He raises his sword and shouts at the duergar, "More souls for the Lady of Letherna!"
"They aren't the ones you should be worrying about!" Ovid ducks around Corpus and barrels into the druegar.
Santander approaches unsure of the duegar's intentions, he raises his quarterstaff awaiting their next move.
"Company. How lovely."
Vernal turns a lazy gaze on the duergar.
Keveras advances to block the duergar's entrance and Santander moves up to support. Then Ovid darts in and his spear takes one in the throat. Blood spurting the dark dwarf dies.
However, when Ovid's attack also pushes the other rear dwarf back, the barrel falls...
...but does not break!
"Nobody smash the barrel!" shouts Kevaras. "I claim it in the name of the Raven Queen!"
"Nobody smash the barrel!" shouts Kevaras. "I claim it in the name of the Raven Queen!"
"She can half of your share."
"On second thoughts, the duergar probably found a keg of horrible dwarven ale and sneaked in here to get drunk." Kevaras talks about the duergar as if they weren't there, just like Malize would.
Malize strides forward with contempt and lazy conjures forth a cloud of stinging ice crystals that lingers on.
"How appropriate. Your very presence chills them."
Vernal applauds languidly.
The icy cloud seems to annoy the dwarves a little bit. "Drow foolishness." one says.
One of the Duergar, knocked back by Ovid pulls out his crossbow and fires at Malize.
The dwarf aims true, and the bolt hits the wizard in the side.
Corpus moves up to D2 slasing at his face and then spins around delivering a chop to D4's head.
Move to H25 and use dual strike. D2 & D4 are marked by me.
D2, attack vs ac, , damage = Crit damage = 13
D4, attack vs ac, , damage =
Singing, “Corpus’ silver axes come down upon their heads…”
Corpus's seeminly crazed attack hurts both dark dwarves, D2 the most. As he reels back under the assault, he ducks away from Corpus. He fires at Kevoras, but that is not all he does. Hair from his beard fire at Corpus like needles, even as he screams from the pain ignoring the paladin brings.
On his last legs, the dark dwarf calls out for Torog's blessing. His crossbow bolt strikes the paladin of Lolth, and his needle like beard causes the revenant to feel the burn of toxin.
Imediate Interrupt:
Because D2 is marked by corpus and shifed, Corpus get a basic attack.
Also because someone died within 5 squares of me I can use my Dark Reaving power to add an additional 1d8+3 necrotic damage.
D2, attack vs ac, , damage =
Corpus Grins widely, "Hurts, yes?"
Ok, my mistake, I missed the marks by Corpus.
D2's actions stand, with this amendment.
As the dwarf back off, the drow swings at him. And the axe misses, barely. "It doesn't." snarls the dwarf as his crossbow fires and his beard attacks.
"And what do you think you can see now, eartheater?"
Vernal strolls forward.
"Dead drow!" replies the dwarf as he glows with bright light.
D4 pulls his warhammer out and it bursts into flame as he attack Corpus.
Much like Corpus' own attack, however, the dwarf, too, barely misses his foe.
.
Kevaras advances to H23 and lunges at D2 from I24 using Virtuous Strike.
.
.
"Let's give that beard a trim."
The longsword further hurts the dwarf as the power of the Queen of Spiders settles onto all the duergar.
Santander moves to within striking distance and launches a fiery bolt grazing one duergar on the way to the intended target.
The flames shoot over the closer dwarf, burning him, while damaging the farther one more.
Ovid quickly darts between the druegar and swings his spear mercilessly.
Malize snarls in pain and moves away to reconsider.
1d20+4
1d20+4;1d8+4
Malize snarls in pain and moves away to reconsider.
The mental attack finishes off the dark dwarf, leaving just one. That dwarf snarls and attacks Ovid, even as the dark flames from Keveras burns into him.
The dwarf's attack hits Ovid hard, the monk still up, but hurt badly.
Shift to I26 and use Supriseing stab.
Attack vs Reflex, , damage = 4
If I hit target grants CA to me EMOMNT and I can make a second attack.
Attack vs AC, , damage =
D4 is now marked by me.
Vernal looks on placidly as his more alert allies demolish duergar.
"Interesting. I can't see any dead drow yet, unless one counts Corpus."
"Interesting. I can't see any dead drow yet, unless one counts Corpus."
I tap the flat of my sword against my shield in mock applause.
"Distressingly active, isn't he? There must be shadar-kai blood in there somewhere."
"Wasn't Ovid standing next to Corpus when the former got bloodied?"
"I think it's what our church inquisitors call blood splatter."
I forgot the poison save,
Save vs Poison =
The last dwarf falls.
After the last duergar falls, and after the drow joking ends, you can hear movement. Lots and lots of movement. Ovid and Corpus initially, and the rest of you after a moment, can see what's causing it.
There's an army moving towards Gateway - duergar, undead, orcs, grimlock, and strange shadowy dogs are among. A few grell float over head, and there are other things you can't quite make out. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of troops.
Your little position on the top of the hill seems to be a very minor objective, which is fortunate for all of you. However, it is likely to be attacked soon, so you should get ready.
I spend two healing surges to return to full health.
I move to H22 and try to recall the proper invocations to the Raven Queen for preparing a protective ward.
Ovid kneels behind a pew, hoping to catch the oncoming army off-guard.
Malize gazes out and sneers at the attackers, "Pathetic vermin." she drawls.
She concentrates on the power they all sensed in the temple earlier...
Vernal lounges towards the barrel the duergar were carrying so carefully.
"And what do we think is in this? If it's explosive, that might be terribly entertaining. I do love mass destruction. It's so time-saving."
Santander starts dragging pews about to form a barricade behind which he can stand and dismantle the raiding army from afar with cover.
I forgot the poison save,
Save vs Poison = 1d20 = 13
Corpus will help Vernal check out the contents of the barrel hoping it contains something flammable.
I'll spend one HS to get almost back to full HP.HP: 28/31
Surges: 11/12
AP: 1/1
Status: none
PS: what gear did the duergar have?
Intelligence check for the barrel, or Arcana if you have the alchemy feat. Dwarves had crossbows and warhammers.
Vernal smiles at the barrel, willing it to give up its secrets.
Assist =
"Maybe we should just stick a torch in it."
Kevoras calls upon the Raven Queen's power and she listens. A small raven flutters down, lands on his shoulder and vanishes and he feels his Queen aiding him.
Santander gets part of his barricade made, and Ovid shelters behind it, crouched down.
Malize seems to connect to whomever the temple was devoted to. Power flows through the drow and she channels it over the group.
Vernal and Corpus invesigate the barrel. Vernal can tell that is has many markings for 'danger' on it and it has a strange fungal smell. Additional investagation has to wait, however, as enemy approach.
The two barrel checkers can see skeletons heading for the group. Three with sword, and two with bows.