"Up it is, then," says Gala, her eyes narrowing. The thumb and forefinger of her right hand rub the inside of her eyelids, squeezing the bridge of her small nose, as he neck bends down.
She has made a decision, and her fingers curl into fists, open up again, spalyed as wide as her small hands allow. She shivers, and shakes off her elven form. She is not subconscious about the transformation into a jackal, or if she is she doesn't show it. Yip, yip, she barks, and races up the spiral staircase sliding past Henry -- when he bursts out, she wants to be with him, to keep him covered.
__________________ DIASPORA: hard science fiction role-playing with fate
Wendigo races up the stairs after Henry and Gala. Taking deep breaths, he prepares to face the murderers of his people. As they reach the top of the stairs, the monk calls upon the power of his magical vestments.
ooc
I'll use the power of my stoneskin robes before combat starts.
Gloomblade, having kept silent during this time in an effort to gauge the bravery and possibly stupidity of his assigned fellows, follows behind Wendigo.
__________________ He knows the score... he gets the women... and he kills the bad guy. If you hire him to kill the bad guy... better make damn sure the bad guy isn't you! EN World Community Supporter
Currently running "In the Shadow of Giants" [OOC] | [IC] | [RG]
The group lines itself up for their exit into the monastery above... Henry, Gala, Wendigo, Gloomblade, Dorn and Tregar. The fighter at the top of the small stairs places his hand against the trap, the other one squeezing his halberd tight. He glances down at his compatriots and nods once, then with a heave, pushes the trap up and over... the door slamming hard on the far side of its hinges. Henry Butcher then springs into action, rushing up the last few steps into the large octagonal building... and immediately searches for greenskins with which to engage.
One by one, the others follow suit.
(This is the surprise round for this encounter. Everyone is considered running up the stairs and out the trap, finding their bearings, scouting the enemies, and then finishing their move in the direction where they want to go.
To symbolize this, I am giving each character one Move action (no Standard or Charge actions allowed) starting from their choice of O19 or P19. The squares on the dais that have the triangle symbols are considered difficult terrain going up or down. The four sections where the pews are located is five feet below the level of the main walkways, the outer upper ledge is fifteen feet above the level of the main walkways. There are four colors of orc enemies, but for this surprise round I will not describe how they look or what their wield (since the entire action is your characters moving up from the trap and scouting the area as quickly as possible before advancing).
Once each of you has posted your move action and where your character ends up... I will then roll initiative for Round One for everybody.)
Gloomblade moves from the trapdoor across the floor to a relatively safe spot behind some pews (K20).
__________________ He knows the score... he gets the women... and he kills the bad guy. If you hire him to kill the bad guy... better make damn sure the bad guy isn't you! EN World Community Supporter
Currently running "In the Shadow of Giants" [OOC] | [IC] | [RG]
As soon as Gala pops her head up, she regrets not being more insistent about trying to lure some of the orcs down to where they had the advantage from the terrain. they are all so spread out here, she thinks to herself, as she leaps towards the first orc she sees.
Gala knows that speed is her advantage, and if she can leverage it to advantage, that will be best.
to the trained nose, the smell of orcs is distinctive: you can tell the heirarchy, based on the fear they feel of each other. There is one, perhaps two, in this room who do not reek of the orcish stench of subservience, and Gala is going to make her way towards him.
actions
Gala wants to strike hard and quick. With her move of 8, she can make O12, I think. when she can act, she will shift (to O11) and attack with Predator's flurry, and (if successful) shift five squares to get another attack on P6. She will then have her move action to move towards one of the others (one of the red ones if they look like snipers, or else the light blue one).
If she misses with either, she will use her Elven accuracy, and of course if anyone tries to shift away, her predator's armour kicks in. If she can travel initially to O10, she'll do that (I was wondering about making a leap over the steps, but I'm not sure with the change i altitude it's worth the risk.
Hope this is clear!
__________________ DIASPORA: hard science fiction role-playing with fate
Henry leads the charge out of the trap door, and turns west to head in the direction of the monastery’s front door. He knows that at the very least, they’ll want to make sure no greenskins get in our out of this place.
Almost immediately, Gala springs past him in jackal form, crossing the dais and bounding down the steps. Henry feels a pang of regret as his gaze following her now comes upon the prone forms of the dwarves, humans, and other mortals who lie dead upon the walkway.
One by the one, the others all rush up and spread out. Wendigo travels north and stands tall above the three orcs wielding clubs who are rummaging around the broken pews down in the seating area, while Gloomblade heads south and drops himself into the southern seating area himself… taking a bit of cover behind the pews that still stand there.
Tregar and Dorn both take the opportunity to put their backs against the altar to shield them, and the dwarf goes so far as to drop down behind it entirely. Both the bard and the invoker are now covered from the possible attacks from the west… although Tregar is covered fully.
The orcs within the monastery all do a double-take (or in some cases, a triple-take) as this mass of humanity rushes up from the floor of the dais, and one orc in particular to the northeast (who wears chainmail and carries a long, tall glaive) begins barking out orders and points to all of the party. The other orcs cry out and the battle is joined!
Gala smells the carnage, even before her eyes take in the vastness and the horror of the scene. She has run towards the nearest Orc she had seen, and she is ready for him to go down.
She knows she is fast, but in the periphery of her vision, she sees the orcs around the perimeter acting even faster! Awoooo!
actions
Same actions as in post 290, assuming I'm not taken out by the snipers. After the initial attack, Gala will move to anyone within a movement range of 8. If more than one is available, she will move towards (a) a bolt thrower who has hit her already, if she can get there, (b) the witch doctor, (c) a bolt thrower who has not hit her (in that order of preference). If none of those three targets are within a range of 8 after she has (hopefully) taken out two drudges, she will activate Fleet Pursuit, and move 13 to the nearest target of the three above.
__________________ DIASPORA: hard science fiction role-playing with fate
Dorn calls to the orcish leader, calling into question its orchish-hood and it ability to lead. The words cut the orc to the quick, and its staggers forward in pain and rage, falling into the pews!
Gloomblade, seeing an advantageously unaware Orc Drudge close by, hurls a shiny steel shuriken at it.
Actions
Standard Action: Use Disheartening Strike and throw a Shuriken at the Orc Drudge (M25): 1d20+8=13 vs AC. On hit, 1d6+2d8+8=19 damage and the Orc Drudge (M25) is rattled (-2 attack penalty until the end of Gloomblade's next turn).
__________________ He knows the score... he gets the women... and he kills the bad guy. If you hire him to kill the bad guy... better make damn sure the bad guy isn't you! EN World Community Supporter
Currently running "In the Shadow of Giants" [OOC] | [IC] | [RG]
From within the pit and crouched behind the pew, Gloomblade, seeing an advantageously unaware Orc Drudge close by, hurls a shiny steel shuriken at it. Unfortunately, the drudge is able to duck the spinning blade and it flies past him, careening off the back wall of the monastery. (Disheartening Strike vs Orc Drudge AC 16: [13] *miss*) Cursing his wide throw, the rogue remains crouched down to maintain some semblance of cover. (+2 to AC)
Dorn calls to the orcish leader, calling into question its orchish-hood and it ability to lead. The words cut the orc to the quick, and its rushes forward to go after the bard… leaping uneasily into the pews and trying his best to scramble over them. (Cutting Words vs. Orc Sergeant AC 19: [20] + 6 = 26 *crit* / 13 + [2] = 15 psychic damage / Orc Sergeant pulled to W20)
The two orcs that stand guard high above the floor of the monastery shout warnings as the party swarms throughout the room. Each of them wields an impossibly large crossbow, and they each take it in turn to raise it up and fire a large bolt at the advancing group. The orc to the northwest targets the jackal rushing towards his compatriots and as the bolt is let lose, it impacts Gala in her flank, sending her sprawling backwards and up a step on the dais. (Orc Bolt Thrower U4 vs Gala AC 20: [16] + 8 = 24 *hit* / [5] + 2 = 7 damage / Gala pushed 1 square to N13) The southwestern orc spots Henry following along behind and it too fires… but his bolt trails the fighter that is crossing his firing arc. (Orc Bolt Thrower D10 vs Henry AC 19: [8] + 8 = 16 *miss*) Both orcs then spend the precious seconds necessary to reload their large ballista. (Move action to reload bellybow)
Gala smells the carnage, even before her eyes take in the vastness and the horror of the scene. The odor of all the monks’ blood mixes with the scent of her own, and she immediately springs forward again, moving towards the front doors. (Shift to O12) With a howl, her claws rake the orc drudge as she passes him, sending him sprawling, (Predator’s Flurry vs N11 Ref 12: [13] + 8 = 21 *hit* / dead / Gala may shift 5 squares) then she continues forward to the next one. (Shift to P7) This time she leaps up and wrenches a huge chunk out of the neck of the orc, and he also tumbles to the floor dead. (Predator’s Flurry vs P6 Ref 12: [6] + 8 = 14 *hit* / dead)
Henry throws an angry look up at the orc who fired upon him, but he knows that he’d never reach him in hand-to-hand right away. Instead, with both of the drudges down for the count, the only orc remaining on his side of the room at ground level is a hideous orc crone dressed in tattered rags, screeching and spitting foul curses on the invaders. The fighter quickly decides what to do.
"Gala! The bows!" Hoping that Gala understood, Henry started running. Realising the danger from the bowmen and the witch he resolved to get as close as possible to the witch and, if possible out of sight of at least one of the bellyboworcs.
Pushing his strength to the limits he set off at a full run, skipping down the steps as he did so. The breath starting to wheeze in his throat he continued running until he felt safe from the left hand archer. Then, glaring evilly at the witch, he activated the power of his armour.
An appalling din, like the wailing of souls in hell, erupted from the mouths which appeared on the scales of his armour.
OOC
Two Run actions to get to D12. Activate Screaming Armour on Witch (within 5) giving her -2 to attacks till end of my next turn. Unfortunately the Run actions give enemies CA against Henry till start of my next turn
Last edited by The Digger; 17th September 2009 at 09:08 PM..
Henry pushes his strength to the limit and sets off at a full run, skipping down the steps and across the floor until he gets beneath the upper balcony to avoid the southwestern bellybowman. (Double Run to D12) Then, glaring evilly at the witch, he activates the power of his armor. An appalling din, like the wailing of souls in hell, erupts from the mouths which appear on the scales. (-2 to attack vs Henry until end of his next turn)
As the screams echo across the chamber, they are soon joined by the angry shouts of the orc sergeant. Wanting to go after Dorn Tirae, but with Brother Wendigo in his path, he settles on scrambling up onto the walkway and attacking the shifter with his long glaive from range. (Move action to W19) The blade cuts with a wide arc and catches Wendigo across his leg! (Glaive vs Wendigo AC 17: [10] + 10 = 20 *hit* / 11 damage)
From his prone position behind the altar, Tregar makes his move.
22 Gloomblade
18 Dorn
17 Orc Bolt Thrower U4
17 Orc Bolt Thrower D10
16 Gala 27/34
16 Henry granting CA
16 Orc Sergeant -15
15 Tregar prone
15 Orc Drudges
10 Orc Witch Doctor -2 to attack vs Henry until end of his next turn
9 Wendigo 23/34
Tregar stands from his defensive position and survey's the battlefield. Seeing Wendigo on trouble, he points his staff at the orcs in the rubble and a blast of lightning envelops them. The dwarven Invoker drops again to the ground.
OOC
Move: Stand
Standard: Vanguard's Lightning Centered on t23 (Burst 1) - +7 vs Ref on each of the drudges; 1d6+5 damage
Minor: n/a
Free: Fall prone again
MiniMe
Tregar—Male Dwarf Invoker 3
Initiative: +1, Low-Light, Passive Perception: 15, Passive Insight: 20
AC: 18, Fort: 18, Reflex: 15, Will: 18— Speed:5
HP: 41/41, Bloodied: 20, Surge: 10, Surges left: 10/10
Action Points: 1, Second Wind: not used
Powers - Vanguard's Lightning
Divine Bolts Channel Divinity
Thunder of Judgement
Offering of Justice Summon Angel of Fire
Wall of Light
Dwarven Chainmail +1
Linear Mode
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