(012) Beneath the Gatehouse

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Thorgrim and Ulric hasten into the ante chamber while Dieter -- covered in scratches and splatters of black gore -- crosses it toward them. The big fighting-Man has to shove past Padrig and Pelenwin to gain access to the grim passage, but they wisely make as much room as they can for the red-faced fighter before they themselves escape into the ante-chamber.

As this is happening Gustave drags the sorely wounded Olaf to the relative safely of the short passage leading up to the double door -- and is soon assisted by Ulric, who thankfully brings with him the illumination of his lantern to defeat the gloom. As Padrig arrives, he spies Olaf's condition, and begins to search out his spells scrolls...

Meanwhile at the far end of the passage, Mads and Caine make a bold fighting retreat, attempting to delay the grisly Ogre so that the remainder of the company have a moment to organise themselves in the ante chamber.

The hulking brute eyes them side ways, dragging sparks off the flinty stone wall with its thick axe blade as it thuds forward, and snarls, "Ar'm gunna rip yer guts out, Worms!" with utter malice. Given the circumstances, this alone would be sufficiently intimidating to turn an ordinary Man's bowels to ice -- but Mads and Caine somehow hold their nerve, only edging back with weapons ready. The Ogre bellows suddenly, and bounds into the brave Men as a bull into a china shop!

Initiative is rolled (1d6; Ogre's 1st attack=5, Caine=2(+1), Mads=2(+1), Ogre's 2nd attack=1)

The Ogre's impact is calamitous, dashing Mads' defensive axe with all force, smashing flags into a thousand shards, and striking showers of sparks off the walls as it pounds the defenders back! (Roll for 1st target 1-3 Caine, 4-6 Mads; 1d6=1) Caine pries keenly for any opening in the assault, through which to stab the monster with his dagger, flitting dangerously in and jumping aside at the last possible moment, but then finds himself over-reached, and (1d20=17) the Ogre strikes at him with aberrant accuracy and (4dd=3,3,5,6) deadly force, dealing the lithe fellow 6 hit points, splitting his skull with an audible crack and flinging him against the wall as if he were a child!

Mads can hardly gasp as he is forced yet further back under the ferocious battery as the Ogre tramples Caine's distraught form in its eagerness for greater carnage.

Something shifts, and Mads suddenly drives the intensity up a notch. He ducks and weaves manically, then counters with shrewd speed taking the attack back up to the monster. Whatever this new strength, Mads lets his axe soar, hacking and slashing high and fast, and with a gritty parry, sees his opening (1d20=20!) and lands a perfect counter-strike (3dd=5,4,4) for a savage 8 hit points -- a blow that would surely slay a Man, but not an Ogre!

"Raauurrrghh!" roars the Ogre, blasting Mads with snot and phlegm and stunning rats in the walls. Again the tide of battle shifts, the Ogre slashing brutally and repeatedly at Mads now (1d20=9) but without beating his defense -- their axes clashing wildly in the semi-dark!


Woe, the scourge continues! Caine lies broken upon the field!

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
The Ogre is locked in combat with Mads half way up the passage, and Dieter will reach them (and engage) this upcoming round if desired.
Everyone else who yet lives is in the ante chamber.

Mads has 2 of 9 hit points.
Dieter has 6 of 12 hit points.


What do you intend for next round?

[waysoftheearth]

verhaden wrote:
Mads the Fair

"Here's where the fun begins!" Mads remarks amidst a fury of feints and parries, upon seeing both Caines ruined form and the terror that is Dieter. He rears up with his great war axe and brings it down upon the Ogre.

[waysoftheearth]

coffee wrote:
Dieter moves up alongside Mads, still covered in the ichor of the other ogres.

"Sorry I'm late," he says. "Had to take care of the other two."

Then he looks the last ogre in the eye.

And he smiles.

(Let the battle be joined!)

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Dieter's presence, at the very least, will restrict the Ogre to 1 attack per round.

[waysoftheearth]

coffee wrote:

Dieter's presence, at the very least, will restrict the Ogre to 1 attack per round.

(That's the other reason I wanted to be there...)

[waysoftheearth]

tombowings wrote:
"Too bad none of them had my armor, I am vulnerable without it." says Pelenwin. "It irks me that two of your company must die to save but my pitiful existence."

[waysoftheearth]

eris wrote:
Olaf wheezes from his position on the floor!, "Get me up! I have to get back in the fight!"

[waysoftheearth]

heartless wrote:

Olaf is lying down on the job...gurgle, gurgle! [img]images/smiley/smiley.png[/img]

Olaf is able to drag himself 1" per round and gasp for help.

Olaf wheezes from his position on the floor!, "Get me up! I have to get back in the fight!"

"I really like your spirit Olaf, just give me a second to heal thee", says Padrig.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
The bulk of the company are in the gloomy ante chamber with the stinking corpses of two huge Ogres as well as those of Anwyn and Michele.

Loud sounds of clashing steel and swearing descend from the passage, but in the relative peace and safety Padrig takes one knee beside Olaf and begins to read aloud from his musty scroll in the unmistakable yet unknowable Old Elvish tongue. Soon his chant rises to a softly sung hymn made of intertwined melodies both uplifting and vaguely melancholy. During this he splashes Holy water from the farthest and purest springs of the Ivory Wold upon Olaf's wounds, and upon his lips, and the chant continues...

Meanwhile at the end of the passage Dieter shoulders into the tight passage along side Mads, joining the tumult.

Initiative is rolled (1d6; Dieter=2(+1), Mads=4(+1), Ogre=4)

Mads deflects an early swing of the Ogre's axe with his own, then slashes forward (1d20=11) but the Ogre is swifter than he reckoned and twists aside in the nick of time, then replies with an open-handed punch then swiftly a slashing arc of its axe to throw the two Men off balance before bounding into a genuine thrust with all its mighty brawn (1-3=Mads, 4-6=Dieter;1d6=6, 1d20=13) clobbering the just arrived Dieter over his shield with such force that he sustains (4dd=2,3,4,5) 5 hit points and is battered back a step or two. Dieter attempts to regain his position in the tight passage, but even his huge muscles are blazing with fatigue and misuse -- he seems neither to find the right space nor balance in the tight passage and his numerous feints and thrusts (1d20=3) are all spoiled before they come to anything.

In the ante, as Padrig finishes his verse his scroll crumbles into a thousand tiny motes of moonlight which whirl and swan in the dusty air for a moment before vanishing from sight entirely. Olaf stares and gasps with wonder, for his hurt is miraculously healed of (1d6=4 +1) 5 hit points. He is well enough to jump to his feet!


Mads has 2 of 9 hit points.
Dieter has 1 of 12 hit points.
Olaf has 4 of 10 hit points.

Padrig has 2 scrolls of The Supplication of Medicant Requite remaining.