Sunday, 26th Anyas, 528 NR, Mid-afternoon, Part Three
The tide had turned, and the battle's potential outcome no longer favored the companions. The odds had been evened, at best. Though the enemy's numbers had thinned, the wounded Irontooth had entered a raging frenzy that bordered on insanity. In a desperate attempt to re-gain control of the situation, Paget moved into flanking position and hit Irontooth with a perfectly timed Sly Flourish. The goblin leader was left bleeding from multiple open wounds, and still suffered from the burning acid of Raxil's arrow. But then, a wyrmpriest stepped out from the shadows and uttered a dark prayer to Orcus, and Irontooth and his cohorts appeared to be instantly refreshed and ready to face another round head on. The friends rose to the challenge.
Raxil drew out his wand and, aiming it carefully, fired an inerrant Ray of Frost into Irontooth's flank. Though the blow was partially absorbed by the wyrmpriest's blessing, the wizard still managed to deal a critical amount of damage, and the insane goblin was slowed in his tracks by the bitter cold. Phoebe drew upon her second wind, pushed herself beyond her normal limits to take another action, and lit a Sacred Flame at the feet of her foe. The flames rose up around Irontooth, but quickly faded, seeming to have no effect. Hissing in agony as Raxil's Acid Arrow seared away more flesh and sinew, the goblin flailed about wildly with both axes in a dizzying attack that narrowly missed Paget, but clipped Gildras hard, leaving him bloodied. Also calling upon a second wind, the warlord counterattacked from a flanking position with a savage Viper's Strike that took Irontooth full in the gut. Bakbuk followed up with a failed Spinning Sweep (which he later claimed was expertly faked), and came around a second time with the aid of his tiefling friend's Tactical Presence to land a tremendous Reaping Strike. Irontooth would not be able to take much more!
Both dragonshields and the remaining skirmisher forced their way into the melee in a mad attempt to save their leader. Bakbuk faltered under the dragonshields' merciless, constant ringing blows against his armor, and Paget was bloodied by a sharp jab from the skirmisher's spear. The halfling looked up and saw one of the wyrmpriests scamper past the group and disappear through the mists of the waterfall, screaming that Kalarel must be warned of the might of these intruders. A moment later, searing flames washed over Paget's back as the second wyrmpriest snuck up behind him and unleashed its Dragon Breath. Bakbuk tried to protect his friend with his shield, but only managed to receive a shortsword thrust through his thigh, from one of the dragonshields, for his heroic effort. Both companions were left singed, bloodied, and near death.
All Five Companions Were Bloodied!
Mustering up every ounce of strength he had remaining in his small, frail body, Paget cried out in pain and anguish, "Retreat! We can't win this. Escape to the forest while we're still able!" Running past Irontooth, the halfling flicked his daggers out in a weak attempt to shed a little bit more goblin blood, then he plunged through the waterfall and disappeared from view. Raxil didn't hesitate to follow his friend's cue. The wizard fired a Magic Missile towards Irontooth, and the magical energy blast struck home. With a sly grin, Raxil turned and sprinted towards the raging torrent, and launched a second Magic Missile almost blindly over his shoulder as he vanished through the waterfall. He never saw the blast tear a steaming chunk of flesh from the crazed goblin's side. Bakbuk was almost too weak to move, so Phoebe moved forward and lit a Sacred Flame between the dwarf and Irontooth. The fire seared the goblin, causing it to begin wobbling on its feet, while at the same time it helped Bakbuk to rise and start moving. Seeing what was, most likely, her last opportunity to make a difference, Phoebe called upon Bahamut once last time to light a second Sacred Flame right in front of Irontooth. As the spark grew, and the heat intensified, Bakbuk ran out through the waterfall. The goblin's skin withered and cracked, and with a strangled, dying breath, Irontooth cried, "Kalarel, I have failed you. Orcus, prepare my way!" With that, the goblin crumpled to the ground, and died.
The tide had turned, and the battle's potential outcome no longer favored the companions. The odds had been evened, at best. Though the enemy's numbers had thinned, the wounded Irontooth had entered a raging frenzy that bordered on insanity. In a desperate attempt to re-gain control of the situation, Paget moved into flanking position and hit Irontooth with a perfectly timed Sly Flourish. The goblin leader was left bleeding from multiple open wounds, and still suffered from the burning acid of Raxil's arrow. But then, a wyrmpriest stepped out from the shadows and uttered a dark prayer to Orcus, and Irontooth and his cohorts appeared to be instantly refreshed and ready to face another round head on. The friends rose to the challenge.
Raxil drew out his wand and, aiming it carefully, fired an inerrant Ray of Frost into Irontooth's flank. Though the blow was partially absorbed by the wyrmpriest's blessing, the wizard still managed to deal a critical amount of damage, and the insane goblin was slowed in his tracks by the bitter cold. Phoebe drew upon her second wind, pushed herself beyond her normal limits to take another action, and lit a Sacred Flame at the feet of her foe. The flames rose up around Irontooth, but quickly faded, seeming to have no effect. Hissing in agony as Raxil's Acid Arrow seared away more flesh and sinew, the goblin flailed about wildly with both axes in a dizzying attack that narrowly missed Paget, but clipped Gildras hard, leaving him bloodied. Also calling upon a second wind, the warlord counterattacked from a flanking position with a savage Viper's Strike that took Irontooth full in the gut. Bakbuk followed up with a failed Spinning Sweep (which he later claimed was expertly faked), and came around a second time with the aid of his tiefling friend's Tactical Presence to land a tremendous Reaping Strike. Irontooth would not be able to take much more!
Both dragonshields and the remaining skirmisher forced their way into the melee in a mad attempt to save their leader. Bakbuk faltered under the dragonshields' merciless, constant ringing blows against his armor, and Paget was bloodied by a sharp jab from the skirmisher's spear. The halfling looked up and saw one of the wyrmpriests scamper past the group and disappear through the mists of the waterfall, screaming that Kalarel must be warned of the might of these intruders. A moment later, searing flames washed over Paget's back as the second wyrmpriest snuck up behind him and unleashed its Dragon Breath. Bakbuk tried to protect his friend with his shield, but only managed to receive a shortsword thrust through his thigh, from one of the dragonshields, for his heroic effort. Both companions were left singed, bloodied, and near death.
4E Meta: At this point, all five PCs were Bloodied. In other words, their wound totals were more than 1/2 their maximum HP totals. Paget was very near death, had no healing surges remaining, and Phoebe had used up all of her pure healing prayers. It was a truly dire situation!
All Five Companions Were Bloodied!
Mustering up every ounce of strength he had remaining in his small, frail body, Paget cried out in pain and anguish, "Retreat! We can't win this. Escape to the forest while we're still able!" Running past Irontooth, the halfling flicked his daggers out in a weak attempt to shed a little bit more goblin blood, then he plunged through the waterfall and disappeared from view. Raxil didn't hesitate to follow his friend's cue. The wizard fired a Magic Missile towards Irontooth, and the magical energy blast struck home. With a sly grin, Raxil turned and sprinted towards the raging torrent, and launched a second Magic Missile almost blindly over his shoulder as he vanished through the waterfall. He never saw the blast tear a steaming chunk of flesh from the crazed goblin's side. Bakbuk was almost too weak to move, so Phoebe moved forward and lit a Sacred Flame between the dwarf and Irontooth. The fire seared the goblin, causing it to begin wobbling on its feet, while at the same time it helped Bakbuk to rise and start moving. Seeing what was, most likely, her last opportunity to make a difference, Phoebe called upon Bahamut once last time to light a second Sacred Flame right in front of Irontooth. As the spark grew, and the heat intensified, Bakbuk ran out through the waterfall. The goblin's skin withered and cracked, and with a strangled, dying breath, Irontooth cried, "Kalarel, I have failed you. Orcus, prepare my way!" With that, the goblin crumpled to the ground, and died.
4E Meta: Everyone was using up their action points before running away.
Seeing their mighty master fall was too much for the remaining kobolds. Demoralized, and afraid for their lives, they dropped their weapons and scattered in every direction. Phoebe and Gildras made a few half-hearted attempts to dispatch one or two of them as they ran by, but the wounded companions were too exhausted, and too badly hurt to do any real damage. The pair clung to each other, as if for dear life, for several moments before they dragged themselves outside to fetch the rest of their friends. The five helped each other as they staggered and stumbled back into the relative safety of the now-abandoned cave, and all as one they collapsed into the mud. Not one of them spoke, and soon, they were all fast asleep. Even in their dreams, the pain and terror of the afternoon's events tormented them.DM Note: Had I kept the second wyrmpriest in play, and had I decided to have both wyrmpriests, both dragonshields, and the remaining skirmishers pursue the PCs, I could have fairly easily wiped out most of--if not the entire--party at the end of this battle. But, D&D isn't DM vs. PC's. The decision to ease off a bit was a reward for some very smart decisions made by the players, a touch of beneficial drama to coincide with some wildly lucky dice rolls, and simple mercy. TPK's are never fun. Well, almost never! So far, our adventure together has been very fun, and I want to keep my players encouraged!
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