(IC) A Hard Time in Harrowdale

[crazy_monkey1956]

Selua steps around the trees and tries to strike down the wounded gnoll.

Mechanics

Attack and damage (1d20=15, 1d8=3)

[Rhun]

Fayne continues his attacks, hoping to help Evanar, but the rapidly changing melee keeps his polearm from striking true.

Combat Info

AC: 15, Hit Points: 10/10

5' step NE

Attack vrs Gnoll 2: 08
Damage vrs Gnoll 2: 05

[Arkhandus]

Selua, Evanar, and Fayne all move in to hack at the wounded gnoll, which manages to dodge Selua's strike and block Evanar's, then hop away from Fayne's falling glaive! By sheer luck, the gnoll is still standing.

Abrielle and Abde'ragman, however, manage to graze the other gnoll with an arrow and bolt, neither inflicting any kind of serious wound but drawing blood nonetheless. It snarls at them in return, blood trickling down from one arm where the wizard's crossbow bolt cut through its armor, and more blood oozing from the cut on its right cheek where Abrielle's arrow zipped by.

The first gnoll cheers up a bit and snarls at your group as you see the other gnoll hack into Storn yet again, this time with its hatchet, the dwarf barely blocking its battleaxe with his own waraxe. The dual-axe-wielding gnoll growls at Storn and barks at the other gnoll, apparently goading it on. The dwarf staggers under a powerful blow from the hatchet, ripping through his fine armor and cutting a notch into the side of his wooden shield.

Meanwhile, Tarven hustles around the trees and foliage to enter the clearing, maneuvering around the gnoll to help Storn. However, the gnoll lunges to the side and closer to Storn as Tarven gets close.

Round 7 Ends

Round 7 Initiatives:
22 Merrick (7 damage)
18 Gnoll 2 (9 damage, fighting defensively)
17 Selua
15 Abrielle (still has Constitution damage)
14 Gnoll 3 (dying)
15 Abde'ragman
13 Gnoll 4 (dying)
12 Gnoll 5 (dying)
11 Evanar
6 Gnoll Sentry (DEAD)
6 Fayne
6 Storn (12 damage)
4 Tarven (3 damage)
3 Gnoll #6 (4 damage)

Selua moves around the trees and attacks gnoll #2, but misses due to the gnoll's extra AC from fighting defensively.

Abrielle moves and shoots at gnoll #6, grazing it for 3 damage.

Abde'ragman moves in and also shoots at gnoll #6, grazing it for 1 damage.

Evanar steps in to attack gnoll #2 again, but misses.

Fayne also moves in to attack gnoll #2, but misses.

Storn attacks gnoll #6, then steps southward. Natural 1!

Tarven double-moves to get behind gnoll #6.

Gnoll #6 attacks Storn again, with both axes. Rolled a 16 for the battleaxe, missing, and a 23 with the handaxe, dealing 6 damage with the handaxe. Steps southwest afterward, gaining partial cover from the tree against Abrielle and Fayne, but mostly just to avoid getting flanked too soon.

The map, at end of round 7..... Up is NORTH.
* X X X X * X X X X X * X X X X X * X X X * X X X X * X X * C
X X * X X X X * X * X X X X X * X X X X X X X X * X X * S C C
* X X * X X X X X X * X X X * X X X X * X X * X X X a * 2 C C
X * X X X X X * X X X X * X X X X * X X X X A X M * X E C C C
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m X X X X X * X X X X X X X X X X * X X X X X * X X X * s C C
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* X X * X X X X * X X X X * X X X X X X * X X * X X X * C C C
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A = Abde'ragman, a = Abrielle, E = Evanar, F = Fayne, M = Merrick, m = mule, S = Selua, s = Storn, T = Tarven, 1-6 = gnolls, C = empty 5-foot space of grassy clearing, X = empty 5-foot space of light undergrowth, * = tree (half cover, effectively light undergrowth for moving through the space)

Merrick shakes his head a bit to clear it, and moves around the trees to find the gnoll who cut him down, stepping in for some sweet revenge.......but his swing is way off, as his vision blurs and a bit of vertigo strikes from the sudden, quick movement and turning. Merrick frowns and takes a moment to regain his sense of balance, still a bit woozy from blood loss.

The gnoll, for its part, ignores him and turns, slashing at Selua but just grazing her armor with the axe, before the gnoll lunges past her to escape the others, turning back just in time to raise its battleaxe on guard again. It snaps and snarls at you, angry at its wound and its struggle just to stay alive.

Round 8 Begins

Round 8 Initiatives:
22 Merrick (7 damage)
18 Gnoll 2 (9 damage, fighting defensively)
17 Selua
15 Abrielle (still has Constitution damage)
14 Gnoll 3 (dying)
15 Abde'ragman
13 Gnoll 4 (dying)
12 Gnoll 5 (dying)
11 Evanar
6 Gnoll Sentry (DEAD)
6 Fayne
6 Storn (12 damage)
4 Tarven (3 damage)
3 Gnoll #6 (4 damage)

Merrick moves to flank with Selua, and attacks gnoll #2. But I rolled a total of 7 for his attack roll, so he misses.

Gnoll #2 attacks Selua, still fighting defensively, but I only rolled a 10 total to hit, so it misses. Steps northeast to get away from everyone else.

Everyone, please post your actions for round 8. You'll be happy to know this fight is almost over! Gnoll 2 is just stubbornly holding out.

The map, after gnoll #2..... Up is NORTH.
* X X X X * X X X X X * X X X X X * X X X * X X X X * X X * C
X X * X X X X * X * X X X X X * X X X X X X X X * X X * S 2 C
* X X * X X X X X X * X X X * X X X X * X X * X X X a * C C C
X * X X X X X * X X X X * X X X X * X X X X A X X * X E M C C
X X X X * X X X * X X X X X * X X X X X * X X X X X F X C C C
m X X X X X * X X X X X X X X X X * X X X X X * X X X * s C C
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A = Abde'ragman, a = Abrielle, E = Evanar, F = Fayne, M = Merrick, m = mule, S = Selua, s = Storn, T = Tarven, 1-6 = gnolls, C = empty 5-foot space of grassy clearing, X = empty 5-foot space of light undergrowth, * = tree (half cover, effectively light undergrowth for moving through the space)

[Scott DeWar]

Evenar moves North east to follow the movement of the gnoll and takes another wack at it:

1d20+6=25, 1d10+6=11

A mighty blow is dealt as he finds a space in an unprotected flank!

crit confirm:
1d20+6=19, 1d10+6=16

Vital organs and rib bone is slashes throught by the heavy blade!

[Myth and Legend]

Abrielle was sure the wounded Gnoll would fall soon, but the leader was giving Storn some serious trouble.

"It looks to be much stronger than a regular Gnoll." The Elven lass grabbed her bow and ran past Evanar and Merrick, winking at the men as she rushed by to reach the unoccupied clearing to the east, that would give her a good line of sight towards the dual wielding Gnoll. She drew her bow again and made sure to draw the string further and deal much more damage to the monster this time. However, her hand trembled as she released the arrow, and the shot missed by a foot or so.

Spoiler:

Shortbow vs Gnol 6: 6+2=8, Damage: 6

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X X X X * X X X * X X X X X * X X X X X * X X X X X F X C C C
m X X X X X * X X X X X X X X X X * X X X X X * X X X * s C C
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[Voda Vosa]

The calishite sprints to the south (3 squares) and readies his crossbow again. Ehm, his deadly crossbow! Making use of his mortal aim, Abde'Ragman shoots another bolt, that sticks in the other arm of the gnoll, making another superficial wound. "Aha!" he says

21 to hit for 2 dmg

[Rhun]

With Selua and Evanar engaged with the closest gnoll, Fayne moves to help Storn. As he nears the gnoll, he adjusts his grip and aims a powerful cut at the furred brute. This time, his glaive strikes true.

Combat Info

AC: 15, Hit Points: 10/10

10' move South

Attack vrs Gnoll 6: 25
Damage vrs Gnoll 6: 11

[Arkhandus]

Selua cuts down the gnoll that has defied her and Evanar thus far, dropping it with a slash of her sword across its midsection. The gnoll topples over as its guts spill out, losing consciousness thanks to that and the earlier wound.

Abrielle moves into the clearing and launches an arrow at the gnoll leader, but her aim is off. Abde'ragman does slightly better, grazing the gnoll leader with another crossbow bolt.

Evanar turns around to face the last gnoll standing, and he moves in to help Storn, delivering a mighty blow that almost cuts the gnoll leader in half! Still, the gnoll staggers, crying out in pain, and remains standing, for just a second or two longer as Fayne moves in from the other flank, finishing the job with his halberd! The area is quiet finally, as the gnoll leader falls to the ground in two pieces and nothing more springs at our heroes.

"We.....we won?" Merrick mutters.

End Combat

Round 8 Initiatives:
22 Merrick (7 damage)
18 Gnoll 2 (DEAD)
17 Selua
15 Abrielle (still has Constitution damage)
14 Gnoll 3 (DEAD)
15 Abde'ragman
13 Gnoll 4 (DEAD)
12 Gnoll 5 (DEAD)
11 Evanar
6 Gnoll Sentry (DEAD)
6 Fayne
6 Storn (12 damage)
4 Tarven (3 damage)
3 Gnoll #6 (DEAD)

Forgot until today that CrazyMonkey is offline for about a week, so I'm handling Selua's action as an NPC for this round.

Selua attacks the wounded gnoll, rolling a total of 19 to hit, for 7 damage (wow!). The gnoll drops. Selua moves closer to the other fight.

Abrielle moves closer and takes a shot, but misses.

Abde'ragman reloads, fires, then takes a 5-foot step southward. He grazes the gnoll leader for a light wound. Please remember that it takes a move-action, half your turn, to reload the crossbow.

Evanar changes targets, moving southeast to reach the gnoll leader and attacking it. The critical hit nearly kills it, but it barely remains standing.

Fayne moves in from the other side and finishes off the gnoll leader.

Battle over! I'll give out XP and loot in the OOC thread soon.

The map, at end of battle..... Up is NORTH.
* X X X X * X X X X X * X X X X X * X X X * X X X X * X X * C
X X * X X X X * X * X X X X X * X X X X X X X X * X X * C C C
* X X * X X X X X X * X X X * X X X X * X X * X X X X * C C C
X * X X X X X * X X X X * X X X X * X X X X X X X * X X M C a
X X X X * X X X * X X X X X * X X X X X * X A X X X X X C C C
m X X X X X * X X X X X X X X X X * X X X X X * X X X * s E S
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X X X X X X * X X X X * X X X X X X * X X X X X * X X X C C C
* X X * X X X X * X X X X * X X X X X X * X X * X X X * C C C
X X * X X X * X X * X X X X * X * X X X X * X X X * X * C C C
* X X X X * X * X X X X * X X X X X X * X X X * X X X X * X *
A = Abde'ragman, a = Abrielle, E = Evanar, F = Fayne, M = Merrick, m = mule, S = Selua, s = Storn, T = Tarven, 1-6 = gnolls, C = empty 5-foot space of grassy clearing, X = empty 5-foot space of light undergrowth, * = tree (half cover, effectively light undergrowth for moving through the space)

[Voda Vosa]

"We did indeed. Congratulations for you all my friends, you delivered quick dead to these foul creatures. Much more, I'm afraid, than what they do with their own enemies." says the wizard, resting his crossbow over his shoulders.

[Myth and Legend]

Abrielle's hands were trembling, her slender fingers still clasping the bowstring. She did not have any gloves or even a thumbring on and the string had placed cuts on the tips of her fingers, the stinging pain now apparent after the fight was over.

This was her first fight - Evermeet was much too civilized for her to have the opportunity to experience such brutal slaughter.

"Oh dear... Is everyone alrgight? We should grab any equipment of value and find the hostage before more Gnolls return."

[Scott DeWar]

The last hit from the heavy sword hit solid bones, sending shocls down the steel weapon. Evenar is breathing heavily from the effort, but some how ...un scathed? he cleans the blade and sheaaths the bastard sword, and then shakes his hands to undo the tingling left from the hard hit.

finally he gets to helping the group, if any need help carrieing, he will gladly do so. but first he walks over the guard Merrik.

"how ya doin' Sir?"

[Rhun]

Fayne uses some clothing from one of the dead gnolls to clean the blade of his glaive, and then moves from corpse to corpse, searching them for anything of value.

[Arkhandus]

Merrick stutters out "I-I'm okay. Th-that was a close one...... Oh, hey...." He fishes around in his belt pouch and withdraws a vial of blue-white liquid. The guardsman steps over to Abrielle and holds out the vial. "Ya gave me a healin' potion, right....? Take this. I owe ya one in return."

Tarven executes any gnolls that haven't already died, with a quick stab through one of the eyes with his longsword, then goes into the clearing to keep an eye out for any other gnolls while the others dust off, settle their nerves, and all. "More gnolls than I would have expected."

Storn congratulates Evanar and Fayne on how they did in the fight, and is jovial despite his serious injuries.

[Voda Vosa]

OOC: Sorry, but with WD back on the boards, shouldn't he be using storm?

[Rhun]

"Indeed," answers Fayne to Tarven. "The question is: Is this all of them, or are their more gnolls remaining? They must have left at least one to guard the prisoner, assuming he still draws breath."

[Myth and Legend]

"No payback necessary." Abrielle smiled, but took the potion nevertheless. "I say we go get the lad and return to Harrowdale. We are in need of rest and healing." Despite the fact that Elves did not need to sleep, Abby was in desperate need of a long bath and a soft bed.

[Rhun]

After finishing with a search of the gnoll bodies, Fayne will move east through the trees, trying to discern where the gnoll's came from, and if their lair is nearby.

[Voda Vosa]

"This one seemed to be some sort of leader or champion" The wizard pokes the leader with his staff "The other gnolls cried out when he came here and started howling. Much like the dogs they are" the wizard grins.

[Arkhandus]

Fayne moves east through the trees, entering the clearing like most of the group has.......

The clearing is around 30 to 40 feet wide from east to west, a bit wider from north to south. In the middle lies the gnoll's tents, six of them encircling a firepit, in which only ashes and rocks lie. Each tent looks big enough for one or maybe two people. Next to the firepit is a plain tarp, covering something.

[Voda Vosa]

"We might be too late I'm afraid..." says the wizard as he beholds the camp.