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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Tellerian Hawke" data-source="post: 7365661" data-attributes="member: 6790669">Post-Gary-Con-X-Update!INTERLUDE: ON THE TOP OF THE CLIFF FACE.Travis: "Yep, this definitely looks like the work of either adventurers or mercenaries. Normal travelers don't take this kind of care with securing their campsite. And these tracks are fresh, perhaps only minutes old. We just missed them."Leonard: "Hey, look over here, someone's been digging a tunnel. Looks like the work of a spell. The digging is too neat and precise to have been done by hand. This is even better than a Dwarf could have done."Sir Duncan considered the words of his new-found comrades-in-arms carefully, and then turned to his heart-mate, giving her a questionable look. "What do you think?"Lady Ebony: "It's still worth investigating. Who knows if they're even still alive? The band is obviously large, judging by the way the campsite is laid out. If they are experienced mercenaries or adventurers, they may have already put a sizable dent in the Steading's defenses. Of course, there's always the possibility..."Sir Duncan smiles, and finishes Ebony's sentence, "...that they've suffered losses, and need reinforcements. Or that they're all dead. Either way, some of the work has already been done for us. I see where your thoughts are going, my sweet. We should not let these people steal all of the glory for themselves. We should find them, and join with them. Or if need-be, pick up where they left off."Travis: "Don't get yer hopes up, Duncan. Anyone that has the spellpower to dig a tunnel like this is no slouch. We're way beyond 'hired help' at this point. These guys mean business. My guess is, they will prove to be our equals, or perhaps even our betters. We shouldn't underestimate them."Leonard: "Besides, we don't even know if they want our help. Or even if they won't see us as crashers, and attack us. I don't know if it's worth going down there at all." Duncan considers Leonard's words, and replies, "You're too cautious, Lenny. Perhaps even timid. I should think that anyone taking violent actions against this Steading is probably doing so out of a sense of justice, and duty. Most mercs wouldn't touch a commission like this; the risk to life and limb is too great. No, this sort of thing requires heroics and idealism. They won't attack us. I'm sure of it. I trust my instincts, because they have never led me astray. Let us follow this tunnel down, and see how close we can get to the fort. I have a feeling that we should act now, and quickly. I fear that time may be of the essence. There's no time to debate the 'what ifs'; if there is glory to be had, and a reputation to be made, we have to strike now, while the iron is hot."Lenny frowns at being called timid, and retorts, "That's not fair, Duncan, and you know it. You've seen this axe of mine in action. You know what my brother and I are capable of. You're just trying to goad us into doing things YOUR way."Travis: "You're not being fair, either Len. Duncan has a point, we ain't exactly farm hands, you know. This is exactly the chance we've been waiting for, a chance to prove ourselves, and to establish a reputation. We shouldn't let it slip through our fingers... Besides, it took us three days travel to get out here, I don't intend to return to Hochoch without having something to report. The mayor will be non-plussed if we chicken out now. And that, my dear brother, will RUIN our reputation, rather than establish it."Duncan and Ebony watch Lenny's face closely, as he ponders the pros and cons for a moment; both of them smile as a look of resignation finally crosses his face.Lenny: "Fine, fine. Let's go. But don't let your guards down, ok? We have no idea what could be waiting for us down there."Travis: "Agreed."Duncan and Ebony, almost in unison: "Agreed."Travis: "Besides, I'm tired of getting rained on. That tunnel is nice and dry."The four adventurers, all of them former caravan guards, make their way down the tunnel, into the staging area near the fort. They take a few moments to ready themselves, casting various preparatory spells on themselves, and allowing themselves to enjoy a few more moments of dryness, before plunging back outside into the torrential downpour.[gm] Damionte, your characters have three rounds worth of buffs, so decide what spells get cast, and let me know in LINE chat. Your characters would not want to waste more time than that, because they feel a foreboding sense of urgency about the matter. [/gm]The four friends make their way to the back gate, where they find it slightly ajar. Opening it slowly, they find the courtyard empty, except for a single Hill Giant, wrapped in a huge, wool cloak, who is slumped up against the inner wall. At first, Duncan wonders if the Giant is simply asleep, but then he notices that the Giant is sitting in a rather sizable pool of blood.The four friends make their way across the courtyard, in through the large, double doors on the rear, Northern wall of the Steading. It obvious to all four of them that someone has opened these doors quite recently, and that they are close on the heels of something very significant. They make their way inside, glad to finally be out of the rain.As soon as the four are inside, the din of battle can be heard from up ahead! It sounds loud, even at a distance, and the smell of burning flesh hangs heavy in the air! Screams and shouts, in both the Common and the Giantish tongues, can be heard, as well as the shrieking of frightened, non-Giant females. All four of you rush down the hallway, eager to find the source of the raucous!As you are all moving down the hallway, Travis says, "Fireball. I'd bet my life on it."As you all turn the corner, you find the source of all the noise: there is a MASSIVE battle going on in the room up ahead, and there is a group of what appear to be adventurers, barricaded in the hallway, facing (of all things) a Drider! Lenny and Trav lead the charge, without a moment's hesitation, true to their warrior heritage!"What in the Nine Hells is this thing?!?" Travis asks, as he brings his broadsword down on the horrid beast. The Drider turns its body into Travis, bumping him slightly, causing the blow to glance away."Looks like a big spider man thing to me, brother!" Lenny answers, as his battle axe meets with the same tactic. The Drider gets a panicked look in its eyes, as it sees the stiff resistance that is suddenly appearing at its rear flank!Dame Ebony is the only one of the four who does not close to melee range; instead, she fires her bow, hoping to skewer the foul thing. Her arrow connects, but fails to penetrate the chitinous carapace. However, the Drider is losing ground against its on-rushing attackers, and it seems unlikely that its luck will hold against such a relentless barrage![gm]Travis attack: 29 (hit); Damage = 5 pts.Lenny attack: 28 (hit); Damage = 8 pts.Duncan attack: 29 (hit); Damage = 7 pts.Ebony attack: 25 (hit); Damage = 7 pts.The Drider has taken a total of 27 pts. of damage.[/gm]Duncan says, "Hail there, in the hallway! We've come to help, by order of the Lord Mayor of Hochoch!"The whole party notices the sudden appearance of new combatants in the hallway (although Thallok and Dewydd cannot see all four of them.) They appear to be attacking the Drider.[gm]Somewhere out of your sight, Elder Kurok takes another action, doing something that you cannot see.[/gm]Elder Kragg pauses a moment, as if listening to an unheard voice. He nods, and says, "Evet kardeşim. Bir kerede geliyorum!"[sblock=If you speak Giant]"Yes, my brother. I am coming at once!"[/sblock]Elder Kragg waves his hand, causing a gap to appear in the northern wall, just as his brother did just a short time ago. He then moves North through the gap, into another room, and then East through an open doorway! That must be where his brother went!Current Position of All Combatants:[ATTACH]95095[/ATTACH]THALLOK: Elder Kragg has fled North! There are new combatants in the hallway, who say they're here to help! You are still deeply mired in mud! What do you do?[sblock=Initiative Order / DM Housekeeping]Initiative Order:3rd Round:Respen: 25[9 Damage]Kleborn: 22Nelvandra: 21Dewydd: 20Tam-Tam: 19aLathir: 19b [16 Damage]Sylvar: 19c [26 Damage]Priestess Vulka (W): 19d1Huge Drider (D): 19d2Chief Nosnra (N): 17aDuncan and Ebony: 17bLenny and Trav: 17cElder Kurok (S2): 16aElder Kragg (S3): 16bThallok: 16c1 [21 Damage]Hill Giant Guests: 16c2Ogre Guards (All Except Chefs): 15Hill Giant Commanders (2,3): 13Vale: 10 [9 Damage]Ogre Chefs (1,2): 9Orc Servants: 7Hill Giant Guards (4,5,6,7,22): 0 (DEAD LAST)Ogre Chef (#1) = Severely Wounded (63) Half Move 24 HrsOgre Sous (#2) = Injured (8) + (9 Non-Lethal = 17 Total) Half Move 24 HrsOgre Sous (#3) = DeadOgre #4 = Moderately Wounded (11) Half Move 24 HrsOgre #6 = DeadOgre #7 = DeadOgre #8 = Gravely Wounded (25) Half Move 24 HrsTiny = DeadBison = DeadThe Drider =Severely Wounded (27) Nosnra = Severely Wounded (118) 1 Negative Level Half Move 24 HrsVulka = Grievously Wounded (228) 1 Negative Level Half Move 24 HrsDelliak = DeadDarris = DeadElder Kanor (S1)= DeadElder Kurok (S2)= Injured (38) 1 Negative Level Elder Kragg (S3)= Injured (3) H1 =DeadH2 =Moderately Wounded (56) Half Move 24 HrsH3 =Moderately Wounded (59) Half Move 24 HrsH4 =Moderately Wounded (44) Half Move 24 HrsH5 =DeadH6 = Dying (-1)H7 =Injured (18) Half Move 24 Hrs, FatiguedH8 =Injured (5) Half Move 24 HrsH9 = Moderately Wounded (46) Half Move 24 HrsH10 = Moderately Wounded (46) Half Move 24 HrsH11 = Grievously Wounded (90) Half Move 24 HrsH12 = Grievously Wounded (93) Half Move 24 HrsH13 = Moderately Wounded (67)H14 = Severely Wounded (76)H15 = Grievously Wounded (91)H16 =Injured (4)H17 =Moderately Wounded (47) Half Move 24 Hrs, FatiguedH18 =Significantly Wounded (63) H19 =Injured (1) Half Move 24 HrsH20 =Injured (1) Half Move 24 HrsH21 =Injured (3)H22 =Moderately Wounded (47)[/sblock]</blockquote>

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