Combat, Round 1
Lucky Edlin, stymied by the logjam created by his companions at the broken-down door, stands his ground and waits with the words of a spell readied upon his lips.
Before Gadeann can react, the grizzled guard dogs have crossed the room, and the animals leap at the duskblade with snapping jaws! The first dog's fangs close in a painful bite around the Shoanti's thigh, drawing first blood. The second dog snaps at Gadeann, but the rail of the stairs leading up to the catwalk keeps that one from injuring him.
(Gadeann: 5/10 hp)
Hemmed in now on all sides by dogs, allies, and stairs, Gadeann cannot bring his long poleaxe to bear in counterstroke. With a curse, he drops his favored weapon and pulls forth the dogslicer he carries as a trophy. With a clean slash, he cuts the throat of the animal which drew his own blood. With nary a whimper, the animal collapses to the floor, dead.
Outside, Girri prepares her healing 'dung poultice' for its moment of need, even as Coldan slams his sunrod into the side of the building. Bright light as the noonday sun streams into the room from without, illuminating the scene and revealing a floor slick with seawater, bits of seaweed, and fish blood. The wooden catwalks to the north and south appear to allow access to the western part of the fishery, but the floor here is only five feet above the river below; an open bay to the south allows direct access to the sloppy, muddy water. To the northwest stands an immense ten-foot-tall wooden vat, its sides caked and waterproofed with tar. Inside is a foul-looking mixture of chum, seawater, and who knows what else. To the east are stacked many barrels and crates, each marked in paint with a fish. At least two dozen small hammocks hang from under the catwalks, each with its own ratty blanket and pillow...and occupant. Filthy children of various sizes and ages react with shock and terror as the sounds of battle and sudden light awaken them. Some scream, some cry, some just stare mutely.
"Stay calm children! We are here to help!" Orman's words avail little in the chaos of children screaming, as he leaps through the doorway.
"Down cur!" he shouts as he stabs the second dog with a coldly efficient rapier thrust. The dog yelps and collapses with a deadly wound in its side.
Edlin now sees his opportunity with Orman out of the way. He moves carefully to the foot of the entry stairs, and takes in the sight within, wide-eyed. Then, he murmurs the words of a protective magic, as a barely-visible shimmer of protective force envelops him.
Karastro enters the large room next, his crossbow loaded and ready...only to see that both of the guard dogs already lay dead.
Just then, the door at the top of the northern catwalk slams open and a burly half-orc with a flail and shield lurches into the room. The half-orc's face is marred by a line of pucker-shaped scars that leave his mouth in a sneering grin. He thunders down from the catwalk at the terrified children,
"Foxes in the roost! Up and fight ya brats, or it'll be a visit to Gobblegut for the lot of ya, hee hee!"
[sblock=Crunch]
Edlin delays
Dog #1 moves and attacks Gadeann, bite hits for 5 damage.
Dog #2 moves and attacks Gadeann (behind cover of stair rail), misses.
Gadeann drops poleaxe, draws dogslicer, attacks Dog #1, hits for 9 damage, kills Dog #1.
Girri readies Cure Light Wounds spell.
Coldan retrieves and activates Sunrod.
Orman moves and attacks Dog #2 (avoids AOO due to cover of stair rail), hits for 6 damage, killing Dog #2.
Edlin moves and casts Mage Armor on himself.
Karastro moves and readies attack with Crossbow.
New combatant enters, Half-Orc.[/sblock]
INITIATIVE ROUND 2
15: Gadeann (5/10 hp)
14: Girri
14: Coldan
10: Orman
10: Edlin (Mage Armor, +4 AC)
10: Karastro
??: Scarred Half-Orc
OOC: I hope that the liberties I took were acceptable, especially regarding Gadeann's decision to drop his poleaxe. There just wasn't anywhere for him to go to find his range without incurring attacks of opportunity. The dogslicer worked pretty well in this case, anyway. But, Rhun, if you would have preferred something different, feel free to let me know, if even for future reference.
