Against the Shadows VII - A Faded Glory Story Hour (Re-Updated - 5/17)

[Old One]

Hehe...

Gnolls everywhere. Rowan hates gnolls.

Worse ... a fresh army of gnolls between us and our expensive new horses. Rowan got the wise idea of going to get the horses only to see the fresh army of gnolls approaching in battle lines. Sharp, coordinated battle lines.

Rowan hates gnolls.

Then Rowan gets the wise idea to do something plum crazy with a battle souvenir quintus had planned to keep.

*shudder*

Hah!

~ Old One

 

[Old One]

Thanks!

Truly Awesome Skirmish Old One!

How lucky were the PCs or was it just a case of the RBDM losing his edge?

Broc,

Thanks for stopping in! This was about as close to a TPK as we had come since the very first session. Drusilla and Sextus were down, the only thing keeping Rose on his feet was rage, Cragen was in single-digit hit points and both Quintus and Rowan were held !

I think I made an off-hand remark about everyone getting their back-up PCs ready for play !

Rose's crit came at a critical (pun intended) juncture, plus Quintus finally shook off the Hold Person spell and started blowing things up again...

All-in-all, a very close affair!

~ Old One

 

[Old One]

That's right...

The RBDM actually made it sound like we won this fight!
OK, technically, we did win that skirmish, but MAN, it's not like we really won.

<SNIP>

And, I hope I get this part right...Add to that that when we look around for Rowan, he's no where near us! Rowan decided that he hates Gnolls enough (The Ranger's chosen enemy I believe) that he goes up to the group like the Outlaw Josie Wales approaching the Indians with his bow out and drew a line in the sand. And, THAT'S just about where the RBDM decides to stop for the day!

Talk about your emotional sessions!

TFL

Hehe...

I don't know if I have a knack for it, or it just occurs naturally, but fully half of our sessions end in unbelievable cliffhangers !

The five most hated words around our gaming table are "That's a good stopping point."

Part of it is my time discipline...I tend to get an earful from my non-gaming spouse if the session runs late, so I try to pace the game and encounters so that we don't get into anything really big right before quitting time. That said, pausing inbetween two big things work great !

This is compounded by the fact that we only play 1/x per month, so the anticipation until the next event can be a bit excruciating!

~ Old One

 

[Piratecat]

Aside: Old One, I tried to email you twice today and your work email bounced both of them. will you please email me with your home email?

Thanks!

 

[Old One]

Done...

Aside: Old One, I tried to email you twice today and your work email bounced both of them. will you please email me with your home email?

Thanks!

PKitty,

Check your in-box!

~ Old One

 

[Darklone]

Blood and Ashes
...
Skilorn’s attack passed close enough to Röse’s head to buss his cheek with a metallic kiss. The bandit chief staggered forward, following the force of his blow. The Brigante pivoted on groaning legs and whipped his own axe around with the last of his fading strength. The blade hit the huge gnoll at the juncture of neck and shoulder, shearing through Skilorn’s upper torso before lodging his breastbone. The gnoll dropped without so much as a whimper and lay still. After a moment of stunned silence, howls of dismay rent the air and the pack surged toward the tottering barbarian.

(DM’s Note: Great Axe + Raging Barbarian + Critical = Dead Bandit Chieftain !)

Ugha-ugha-ugha!!!
Darklone dances a barbarian war dance on his office table!
Yihaaa! Tortoise: "Crit happens."

Love it. That's why I love greataxes. Whenever you need them...

Tomas “The Bull” Nacalius released the sorcerer’s hand and spun on his heel, stalking back towards the jumble of wagons. Quintus and Rowan shared a knowing smile. Cragen looked at the pair and shook his head, muttering in dwarven, “Humans!”

Sweeeeeeeet. Just sweeeeeeeet.

Quintus’s head snapped to the south as he felt a surge of emotion from Severus. The sorcerer’s jaw dropped and his eyes narrowed. Rowan followed his friend’s gaze and his heart sank. A crescent-shaped line of gnolls, clad in brown leather and green cloaks, was descending purposefully from the southern heights above Greenspires. Enormous wolves on chain leashes, preceded most. Weak cries of alarm rose about the square as the weary defenders prepared for battle once more.

To Be Continued…

Next: Session 22 (Part Six) – Mysteries and Explanations

~ Old One

Hey, they're only gnolls. Hehehehehehehehehehehe!

Great update, Old One. Love it. Forgot Severus.

 

[Old One]

Ugha-ugha-ugha!!!
Darklone dances a barbarian war dance on his office table!
Yihaaa!

Tortoise: "Crit happens."

Love it. That's why I love greataxes. Whenever you need them...

Sweeeeeeeet. Just sweeeeeeeet.

Hey, they're only gnolls. Hehehehehehehehehehehe!

Great update, Old One. Love it. Forgot Severus.

Darklone,

Thanks for stopping by! This was about the most emotionally draining battle for the PCs (I think) since the barbarian tribesmen chased them into the abandoned legion fort. When Rose chopped Skilorn down, just about everyone around the table jumped up and cheered while thumping John on the back. For his part, John did an arm-pumping, sugar-induced happy dance !

Of course...I only gave them a few mintues to savor their victory before raining on their parade with the fresh gnollish force...what a jerk am I !

~ Old One

 

[Rel]

Of course...I only gave them a few mintues to savor their victory before raining on their parade with the fresh gnollish force...what a jerk am I !

No, no, Old One. You're not a "jerk". You're just a Rat Bastard DM. A jerk wouldn't have given them the few minutes to savor their victory, he would just skip to the part where they're screwed.

It's a subtle distinction but it works for me.

 

[Lela]

I'm wondering where all these Gnolls are coming from. Something is running deeper here. . .

 

[Tramp4life]

I'm wondering where all these Gnolls are coming from. Something is running deeper here. . .

Actually, considering the Humans Cragen has met...he almost prefers the company of Gnolls! At least the gnolls are honest in their contempt!

Anyone want to join a pool on how long it's going to be before I kick hell out of Sgt Brother Fortian or that Petroclian guy? They're on my list of guys in need of an a$$ whoopin!

TFL