(IC) A Hard Time in Harrowdale

[Scott DeWar]

[sblock=ooc]

OOC: I thought trees cost 1.5, not two. then he may not get to the mule when he expected. I was going to bring the mule closer to the center of the clearing (center of map?) if I am wrong on the clearing locatin, then he would probably have left the mule alone. sorry for any confusion.

[/sblock]

 

[Voda Vosa]

Abde'Ragman tumbles as he keeps moving in the direction he was heading. He curses under his breath and casts a spell with a pair of dwarven words. He lifts his crossbow, ready to shoot.

OOC: Move Northwest Casting True Strike

 

[Arkhandus]

[sblock=ooc]Scott, you know how to make spoiler blocks, so please do so instead of leaving OOC questions out in the open of the IC thread. There IS an OOC thread for questions or discussion, after all, if you'd rather not bother with spoiler blocks.

The map is clear enough, if you'd read the map key that I always put under it. You are in the woods, with everyone else. Only the gnolls are in the clearing, way off to the east, which is where the gnolls are coming from. The mule is off to the west, in the woods, roughly 95 feet away from the clearing. If you want to change your action, do so now.

Rhun, you can change your action as well if you wish, since your turn hasn't come up yet. I'm posting the gnolls' and NPCs' actions after Scott makes up his mind.[/sblock]

 

[Scott DeWar]

[sblock=Arkhandus]once again I am sorry. I would like to accept your generosity an change my action at this time. thank you.pm me if there any further problems, please?[/sblock]
In accordance with map on 244 to make readjusted move, evenar takes a double move action for 60 feet mvmt to end up just north of tarvan to get to gnoll 2

 

[Arkhandus]

Gnolls! Round 4 Begins

Abde'ragman moves closer and incants a spell.

Evanar looks back towards the mule and considers going back to move it, but changes his mind and moves in to try helping against the gnolls.

Two more gnolls burst into the woods from the clearing, sniffing around, tongues lolling, and searching for intruders. They see one of their group attacking the closest human and another just reaching a second human, so one moves in closer to that second human (Tarven) and the other moves a bit further into the woods, looking for other victims or perhaps a way around to Tarven's rear. Both notice Selua behind Tarven.

Fayne does something.......

Storn hustles closer to the new battle, but his short dwarven legs don't carry him very far, so he lags behind Evanar in approaching Merrick's and Tarven's foes. "Agh, don't wait fer me! Kill them bassards!" the dwarf huffs out.

Tarven slashes at the first gnoll to reach him, but is too hasty and it easily evades, having just gotten close while he was swinging. Glancing behind and seeing the elf maiden behind, with no melee weapon in hand, he decides to stand his ground rather than shift position. "Back, you!" he grits out, baring his teeth at the gnolls with their much-more-fearsome-looking fangs and jaws.
[sblock=Round 3 Ends]Round 3 Initiatives:
22 Merrick (8 damage)
18 Gnoll 2
17 Selua
15 Abrielle
14 Gnoll 3
15 Abde'ragman
13 Gnoll 4
12 Gnoll 5
11 Evanar
6 Gnoll Sentry (DEAD)
6 Fayne
6 Storn
4 Tarven
*note: misplaced gnolls 4 and 5 in the initiative order, given their initiative rolls, now fixed

Abde'ragman I moved northeast, since northwest would move him away from the battle and put more trees in his way. If you don't want that, say so. However, you might want to change your mind about casting True Strike this round; you still need to reload your crossbow and move into a position where you could actually stand a chance of hitting something other than a tree.

Well, as it is, your new position is enough to give gnoll #3 half-cover against you (assuming you take a 5-foot step forward before shooting, otherwise you'll have 2 trees in the way), which isn't too bad, but since it's also in melee with Tarven you'd take a -4 on the attack roll in addition to the gnoll getting an AC bonus for half-cover. For a decent hit chance, you'll want to move a bit closer to a spot where you have a clear shot and only suffer the -4 for shooting into melee (one more move-action heading southeast would do it). So if you'd rather just double-move this round, then load and cast next round (or move and load this round, move and cast next round), just say so before your next turn comes up.

Gnoll #4 enters the woods and moves in on gnoll #3's target, Tarven.

Gnoll #5 enters the woods, further south of Tarven, and looks for targets.

Storn double-moves closer to Evanar and Merrick.

Tarven attacks gnoll #3, rolls a 9 to hit, missing. Durnit.

The map, at the end of Round 3 excluding Fayne's action..... 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 *
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 * A X X * X X X X * X X * X X X X * C C
X * X X X X X * X X X X * X X X X * X s X X E X M * X X C C
X X X X * X X X * X X X X X * X X X X X * X X X X 2 X X C C
m X X X X X * X X X F X X X X a X * X X S T 3 * X X X * C C
X * X X * X X X * X X X X * X X * X X * X * 4 X X X X X 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 X C C
* X X * X X X X * X X X X * X X X X X X * 5 X * X X X * C C
X X * X X X * X X * X X X X * X * X X X X * X X X * X * 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, 1-5 = 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)[/sblock]
Merrick tries to hack at the gnoll that just maimed him, but his fresh wound makes it hard to swing and his sword just chops a branch off of a bush, then he swings his sap at the gnoll but it easily steps back from the leather club filled with weights. Merrick curses in Chondathan and staggers around the tree, putting it between him and the thrice-damned-lucky gnoll.

The gnoll, however, proves just how lucky it really is, following his movement by rushing back around the tree and bringing its axe around in a high, horizontal arc......smacking into Merrick's head and splitting his skull, sending the young guardsman toppling over into the bushes, blood gushing forth from his head-wound......it doesn't look like he's ever getting back up without immediate medical attention.

Tarven hears the strike and sees his fellow guard topple over backwards, blood gushing from his head, and cries out "NOOO!" in surprise and terror. The gnoll just grins and cackles in glee at its easy victory over the puny human.
[sblock=Round 4 Begins]Waiting on Rhun's action for Fayne in round 3, and for Abrielle's, Selua's, and Abde'ragman's actions in round 4, before I'll post actions for the other gnolls.
Round 4 Initiatives:
22 Merrick (19 damage, unconscious, dying)
18 Gnoll 2
17 Selua
15 Abrielle
14 Gnoll 3
15 Abde'ragman
13 Gnoll 4
12 Gnoll 5
11 Evanar
6 Gnoll Sentry (DEAD)
6 Fayne
6 Storn
4 Tarven

Merrick attacks gnoll #2 with longsword and sap, rolling a natural 1 for the sword and a total of 7 for the sap. What the heck's up with my d20?!?! Merrick takes a 5-foot step around the tree.

Gnoll #2 pursues, but puts the tree between it and Evanar. Attacks Merrick with battleaxe, rolled a total of 20 to hit, for 11 damage. WTF?!?! Merrick falls unconscious and is near death. Dangit. He's the more combat-capable of the two guards.

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 *
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 * A X X * X X X X * X X * X X M X * C C
X * X X X X X * X X X X * X X X X * X s X X E X X * 2 X 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 X C C
m X X X X X * X X X F X X X X a X * X X S T 3 * X X X * C C
X * X X * X X X * X X X X * X X * X X * X * 4 X X X X X 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 X C C
* X X * X X X X * X X X X * X X X X X X * 5 X * X X X * C C
X X * X X X * X X * X X X X * X * X X X X * X X X * X * 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, 1-5 = 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)[/sblock]

 

[Scott DeWar]

Evenar is in battle mode as he sees only gnoll 2 in his vision. he moves east 10 feet and south east 5 feet then takes a swing at the dog faced beast. He grunts as he puts extra muscle into the swing (power attack)

1d20+5=25, 1d10+7=8
Crit!
1d20+5=16, 1d10+7=9
(is 16 a hit? if so crit confirmed!)

 

[crazy_monkey1956]

Selua watches in shock and horror as Merrick goes down. Memories of her village and the slaughter there come rushing back to her...and of the foolish order to stand their ground rather than retreat.

She moves carefully around the battle to Merrick and casts a minor healing spell to stabilize him, then yells out "We should fall back!"

[sblock=Mechanics]Swapping create water for cure minor wounds.[/sblock]

 

[Rhun]

Fayne, Round 3

Fayne moves eastward, moving from tree to tree as he goes to keep some amount of cover.


[sblock=Combat Info]
Changed his movement slightly based on the gnoll's positions. And sorry for the confusion, but having split initiatives where his actions depend on the enemy often lead to that!

AC: 15, Hit Points 10/10

Move 40 east, 5' south (should be 45' of total movement - double move) to stand behind a tree
[/sblock]

 

[Myth and Legend]

Abrielle shrieked - she was a kindhearted girl and despite her age of 109, she had not seen anyone die before. "Dear Correlon, is he dead now?" The Elf wanted to help her fallen comrade, and decided that she would be more useful that way than trying to hit a Gnoll with her bow, with so many trees in the way. She rushed forth with all haste, to reach the spot where Merrick was bleedin to death.

[sblock]
Double move. She goes past Selua's and Tarven's spaces without problem then? Anyway, this is the path Abby takes:

* X X X X * X X X X X * X X X X X * X X X * X X X X * X 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
* X X * X X X X X X * A X X * X X X X * X X * X X M X * C C
X * X X X X X * X X X X * X X X X * X s X X E X X * 2 X 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 X C C
m X X X X X * X X X F X X X X a X * X X S T 3 * X X X * C C
X * X X * X X X * X X X X * X X * X X * X * 4 X X X X X 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 X C C
* X X * X X X X * X X X X * X X X X X X * 5 X * X X X * C C
X X * X X X * X X * X X X X * X * X X X X * X X X * X * 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
[/sblock]

 

[Arkhandus]

Gnolls! Round 4 almost finished...

Fayne moves in closer, ducking behind a tree as he approaches the gnolls.

Selua moves over to the fallen guardsman and stabilizes him with a touch and a prayer to Sehanine Moonbow. She calls for a retreat.....

Abrielle moves in towards Merrick as well, but is further away so she doesn't lend any aid just yet.

The gnoll that first approached Tarven now takes a swipe at him with its battleaxe, snarling and missing. That gnoll shifts position closer to Evanar to threaten him with its axe.

Abde'ragman......does something again.....

The two gnolls further south move up, one stepping northward to where its comrade had just been, and this one delivers a powerful strike to the guardsman! Tarven staggers back as the axe cuts through his chainmail and looses a spray of blood from his left shoulder, making him cry out and stagger.....but unlike Merrick, he doesn't fall, just barely lucky enough to avoid a deadly stroke. Tarven gasps out "Kah....kill 'em first! We....we can still fight!"

Meanwhile, the other gnoll south of the group moves around the trees to reach Fayne and slash at him....but Fayne's polearm affords him superior reach, and the gnoll's attack is thrown off by the southerner's own strike. The gnoll buries his axe in the tree for the moment, swinging too early in a futile attempt to intercept Fayne's glaive.

Evanar moves in to attack, and hews mightily into a gnoll's shoulder and ribcage, making it howl in pain as it drops!

Storn moves in to help Tarven, seeing that Evanar is headed for the other murderous gnoll. Storn bellows out "Yeh die now, yeh bassard!" He cuts one of the gnolls down with a brutal stroke of his own waraxe, hacking through the beast's guts and spilling some of its steaming innards....
[sblock=Round 4 Continues]Round 4 Initiatives:
22 Merrick (18 damage, unconscious, stable)
18 Gnoll 2
17 Selua
15 Abrielle
14 Gnoll 3
15 Abde'ragman
13 Gnoll 4
12 Gnoll 5
11 Evanar
6 Gnoll Sentry (DEAD)
6 Fayne
6 Storn
4 Tarven (10 damage, disabled at 0 HP)

Selua moves close enough to stabilize Merrick with her spell.

Myth, the small "s" on the map is Storn, but yes, you can move through allies' spaces unhindered. Abrielle reaches Merrick's side.

Gnoll #3 attacks Tarven. Rolls an 11, missing. Steps northward to threaten Evanar.

Going to move ahead with gnolls #4 and 5 just to keep momentum up. Post Abde'ragman's action when you can, Voda Vosa. Also need Fayne's action for round 4, now (see below for gnoll 4 and 5 actions). And I need a decision by Evanar (see below).

The map, after gnoll #3, for Abde'ragman's reference..... 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 *
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 * A X X * X X X X * X X * X a M X * C C
X * X X X X X * X X X X * X X X X * X s X X E X S * 2 X C C
X X X X * X X X * X X X X X * X X X X X * X 3 X X X X X C C
m X X X X X * X X X X X X X X X X * X X X T X * X X X * C C
X * X X * X X X * X X X X * X X * X F * X * 4 X X X X X 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 X C C
* X X * X X X X * X X X X * X X X X X X * 5 X * X X X * C C
X X * X X X * X X * X X X X * X * X X X X * X X X * X * 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

Gnoll #4 steps north to follow gnoll #3. Attacks Tarven, rolling a 22 to hit, for 10 damage. Tarven is disabled but still standing and conscious. Evil dice!

Gnoll #5 moves around the trees to reach Fayne and attacks him. Rolled a natural 1 to hit! Yeesh, only the NPCs are getting mauled! *sobs for his NPCs* Fayne gets an attack of opportunity though.

Evanar moves in and attacks, but will suffer an attack of opportunity from gnoll #3 if he does move. Do you still want to move first? Otherwise I will assume you attack gnoll #3 before moving. You do score a crit, and the gnoll falls unconscious. If you attack gnoll #3, you won't suffer an AoO, and can move safely to reach gnoll #2.

Storn moves in and attacks gnoll #3, or gnoll #4 if Evanar KOs gnoll #3. Rolled a 23 to hit, for 12 damage, rendering the gnoll unconscious.

The map, at the end of the round, excluding whatever movement Fayne, Abde'ragman, or Tarven will make, and I haven't removed either fallen gnoll yet since I dunno what Evanar, Abde'ragman, or Fayne will do, and haven't determined Tarven's action yet as appropriate..... 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 *
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 * A X X * X X X X * X X * X a M X * C C
X * X X X X X * X X X X * X X X X * X X X X X X S * 2 X C C
X X X X * X X X * X X X X X * X X X X X * s 3 X X E X X C C
m X X X X X * X X X X X X X X X X * X X X T 4 * X X X * C C
X * X X * X X X * X X X X * X X * 5 F * X * X X X X X X 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 X 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
X X * X X X * X X * X X X X * X * X X X X * X X X * X * 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, 1-5 = 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)[/sblock]