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Post by Semaj The Silent on Feb 7, 2008 15:20:23 GMT -5
Sog replies "I'm not comfortable with the rear attack idea since we don't know for certain what defenses they've made there. We could set fire to the wood barricade and launch an attack that way, thus driving them toward the creature.
"But yes, I can also animate dead if needs be."
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Post by trp2fan on Feb 7, 2008 16:38:19 GMT -5
"We also don't know if that eye-thing-creature isn't somehow allied with the bugbears" shrugs Calhagn. "Likely not, but you never know. Anyway, if we could take out the barricade, then I'd prefer going that way. We've been fighting in confined spaces for long enough, and I'd like to have some real maneuvering room."
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Post by AxeMental on Feb 7, 2008 22:39:33 GMT -5
OOC: I'll assume the group goes with this plan (frontal attack).
The group retreats out, not wanting to mess with crossing whatever it was Subdolus saw, remains of bugbear pieces suggest this might not be something easily defeated. The group retreats outside and behind a snow bank to think and observe.
Tiberious suggestion of finding undead is a bit tricky, but is answered by Subdolus who, with a snap of his fingers, remembers some complete rotting corpses he'd seen in the bottom of the sludge of the pit trap in the Hall of the Onocentuar. Some other complete skeletons are found and eventually 4 zombies and 5 skeletons made. Fletcher and Zargon take the strange oxen like beast and their sled to the tree line a mile away and return after a few hours with several felled trees to use for a makeshift bridge.
The scouts once again go first, crossing the moat with Subdolus's magical rope. Then the fighters run forward dropping 3 logs across the moat side by side, which everyone then crosses.
The bugbear guard on the otherside of thge wood pile sound an alarm. the fighters dodge to the side as arrows come flying out, allowing instead Sogathan's undead to clear the wood pile. Not having a clear shot threw the tangle of firewood, only 3 of the zombies and 2 skeletons are killed before its clear enough to enter (though most are damaged badly by this point).
As the skeletons disappear inside(once they finish tunneling threw) all that is seen are small bones flying out, testiment to the ability of the bugbear on the other side. Still you hear some grunts of pain as the zombies take one bugbear down and begin eating him.
The fighters charge next! Initiative is rolled (Group 3, monsters1). As the group enters the courtyard they are surprised to see it filled with bugbears in a panic. In the back you see their chief climbing out of a steaming mud bath (apparently dug from the ground and filled with melted snow ... likely the magical bone thats always hot has been stuck within it. A pile of gold and jewelry stick out of bags in the wagon for all to see.
The expert slayers come in and start butchering, Fletcher is especially pleased to kill these scoundrals. in the first round 2 are killed and another 2 look wounded.
The monsters counter with axesand javalines as well as several crossbows. zargon is hit for 4 by an axe, and Sogathan is hit by a bolt for 3. The sheer ability of your men cuases the bugbears to begin to back away as you push them forward.
Initiative: Monster 4group5. You now stand firmly in the entrance to the keep, and begin to push foward shouting war cries, all the time slaying with incredible furry (the fighters kill 3 more as the push foward in a cresent formation) and waiting for the main counter attack to begin. You notice the leader still covered in mud grabs one of the large sacks and throws it over his shoulder, his scrawny side kick bugbear and another bugbear (much bigger and in plate) grab the crystal holding the princess and head to the back and into shadow behind the coming Bugbear hord charging the party (toward the back 5 more bugbear are in plate start stepping back. what do you wish to do?
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Post by zargonthelucid on Feb 8, 2008 7:03:24 GMT -5
Until someone smarter than Zargon tells him different, he's going to exterminate as many bugbears as he can.
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Post by The Master on Feb 8, 2008 7:55:37 GMT -5
Since Fletcher gets his damage bonus against these guys, he is going to melee. Let's keep formation and push back in.
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Post by AxeMental on Feb 8, 2008 13:49:19 GMT -5
This is going to be a hack n' slash blood fest. I'll need to role this entire battle out (32 bugbear vs the group) and then their are the chiefs personal guard in the back (another 10). If something happens that requires a decision I'll break from it and ask (otherwise I'll assume the group follows Fletchers advice of pushing toward the back in formation and killing anything in your way).
BTW you see the bugbear chief in the back barking commands at his guard who start grabbing more treasure bags.
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Post by AxeMental on Feb 9, 2008 5:34:21 GMT -5
OOC: This is the updated map. Room 34 (bottom right) was the last one you explored with the gobbler and strange black skeleton on pillar.
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Post by AxeMental on Feb 9, 2008 6:25:24 GMT -5
The real battle begins as the bugbears organize and counter attack (now armed with pole arms, bows, crossbows, axes, swords of all types etc.). The 34 bugbears use superior military bugbear training (supplied by their chief) in an attempt to fight off the charging PCs. After 6 incredible rounds of combat all are dead, torn to ribbons the hall is now filled with Arms, legs heads entrails, and many other gastly parts all in a wash of blood.
Group damage as follows: Ermanaric -27 (is at 19) Zargon -35 (is at 16), Cal -13 (is at 41), Sog -9 (at 18), Fletcher -11 (at 52), Tiberious -5 (at 21), Subdolus -9 (at 21).
When you reach the back of the courtyard hall, you find the 10 elight bugbear guard in plate, their fat chief (naked and still covered in mud you think) and subchief (the scrawny one) all gone along with all the treasure. Fletcher sees their footprints and tells the thieves to avoid several traps (2 pit and 2 strings which fire poison bolts. They seem to have taken the secret door that leads straight out (marked bear) and likely headed toward the kitchen or room 17 (where you encountered the frost giant king). Does the group wish to follow immediately, or take a few rounds healing (in battle Sog used up 2 healing already, one on Zargon and one on Ermanaric) so he has 4 CLW left (along with some higher level spells).
Fletcher checks on the prisoners. All of the orc have been eaten and only 9 humans remain alive (4 children, 2 women and 3 men) 2 dwarves (both badly beaten) as well as 1 half orc (who looks to be in good shape but pleads for help). It seems the rest were eaten or killed (some worked to death digging for treasure, others simply beaten to death because the bugbear were bored.
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Post by Ska on Feb 9, 2008 21:00:16 GMT -5
OOC: Axe, are the bugbears heading for the area where the one eyed creature was seen? IF so I would suggest we follow to continue the squeeze of the fleeing bugbears. I do think we should heal up if we can quickly, as if the bugbears battle the new creature and injure it, perhaps our group can then finish it off.
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Post by subdolus on Feb 9, 2008 21:14:05 GMT -5
Subdolus nods in agreement with Tiberious. If they can press the the bugbears they are sure to push them into one of problems from earlier in their travels. He then grips his scimitar and concentrates on using its healing power.
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Post by zargonthelucid on Feb 10, 2008 2:25:02 GMT -5
Zargon, too, wants to make sure all the bugbears are dealt with, whether he's beaten up a bit in the process or not.
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Post by AxeMental on Feb 10, 2008 8:14:09 GMT -5
4 or 5 minutes behind the fleeing bugbears, the group quickly agree to push on to keep the preasure up. You find the secret door closed and prints cleared away (hurredly) still Fletcher is certain they passed threw it. When the door is opened Fletcher points out an area to the right avoided by the bugbear (another trap of some sort he thinks) which Sub locates and disarms; the group then enters the hexigonal room (finding a dead bugbear in plate with a bolt in his back (Sub locates a firing tube... shaking his head with a slight grin"looks as if this one ran into one of their own traps") until reaching the split in the hallway where the majority of the prints head toward the kitchen (and the eye sub earlier spotted), screams of horror and the sound of battle can be heard from behind the thick door now closed. Another set of tracks (2-3 individuals from the looks of it) head toward the frost giant kings chamber, what do you wish to do?
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Post by subdolus on Feb 11, 2008 19:20:05 GMT -5
Subdolus recommends that one of them stay at the door incase any of them make it out alive. If it seems after a while that things have settled then they can return to the group.
OOC: Axe, last post I used the heal ability on the scimitar. How many hp did Sub recover?
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Post by AxeMental on Feb 11, 2008 22:48:39 GMT -5
OOC: Subdolus heals 15 pts. So who wants to stay behind near the door?
OOC: SKA I think you have one potion of extra healing left (is that what you have)?
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Post by The Master on Feb 13, 2008 8:54:11 GMT -5
Fletcher will stay at the door
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