Remnants of the Horde:Storming the Walls...

[doghead]

ooc: assuming Tsu'koka didn't get to move up through the crowd to the door (post #7)

As the crowd surges towards the door, Tsu'koka hooks his mace to his belt and casts Glitterdust at the largest cluster of of bat riders, or any particularly effective spellcasters. Then he pulls his bow and knocks an arrow. He doesn't intend to stay out here much longer - but its going to take a while for everyone to get through the door. And he's damned if he is going to trample others to get there, although Blood would have little difficulty pushing through all but the giants. He yells to Sroka as he readies his bow.

"Shoot the vermin! Give something to think about!"

As soon as he is ready, Tsukoka begins shooting.

ooc: * Glitterdust (2ndlevel) 200ft range, 10' radius effect, blinds. +1 Elfbane Short Comp Bow (+2 Str) +11, 1d6+3, 70ft.

 

[Capellan]

Wekerak nudges Frostbite into the shadow of the wall and clamly scans the sky, looking for the leader of the enemy. As he does, he clamly pulls an elfbane arrow from his quiver.

"Good eating, this night." he remarks.

Even as he speank, the goblin's mind is half on the door. As soon as he has the door is open, he looses his arrow, then speeds toward cover.

 

[deadestdai]

(OOC: Apologies, I had thought I had already written that Vespazian had given orders for the goblin engineers to open the doors? Nonetheless.)

Hardly wincing as the death rained down from above upon the gathered troops, Vespazian calls for the troops to open the doors. The sooner they are into the castle, the quicker the force can get away from the ariel attacks, all the while whipping at passing orcs and such to get moving and stop from standing out in the open and being totally useless. He also yells at Sroka to bring the troops to support him, using their bows to shoot at the bats&riders as they move and waits to see if the ogre with the makeshift flail can get those gates open.

 

[Uriel]

Wekerak can't make out which Drow are giving the orders, as there seemto be many Darkness spells in effect, the bats flying in and out of these.

OoC:Your '2' Spot roll didn't help either.

Krong moves up, swinging is Flail at the door...

...which bursts asunder, torn from it's hinges on one side and smashed to a ruin on the other.

The Hobgoblins move in, Vespazian and Tsu'koka with them,Wekerak at the rear, having found a target, sending a low flying Drow to his death, his bat confused and swooping off, it's now-dead rider flailing listlessly to and fro.

OoC:1 Elfbane used, one Drow Wizard who was moving in with a Burning hands dead.

Wekerak was suddenly hit with the Ironic sense of fighting elves...whether lofty high elves on Giant Owls or Drow of Dire Bats, they died all the same when a good,strong arrow found their throat.

*******************************************************


Inside a minute later, the band found itself in a small Guardroom, with an adjoining armory. Vespazian could hear the sound of Krong and the Orcs killing whatever had been waiting in there (having fled the smashed door, no doubt).

Many dead now lay upon the walls, the remains huddled inside the chamber, the Fire Giants at the rear still.

One Giant steps forward, looking down at Vespazian and says 'I will stay here and hold off enemies, for the Glory of Zuregath. Do not fail him, Captain Vespazian...'
The other Giants, all arrow-struck and burned by spells intone a low,rumbling note, setting the ears of all who listen twitching with it's reverberation. The Rearguard Giant stays quiet, eyes looking rearwards,his hands clenching a hundred pound chunk of rock, testing it's weight.

*******************************************************
Tsu'koka knew that note.
the Giants had just sung the Death Keening of one of their fallen brethren. To them, he was already dead, and indeed, they no longer looked upon him at all, turining to face the Captain and what lay beyond.

********************************************************

OoC:Total dead coming when I get home from work, and I will havea Map up early tomorrow or perhaps after work as well.
Most of the dead are orcs and goblins, as the fireball did the most damage, and they were at the front of the group.

 

[doghead]

Once inside, Tsukoka scans the room for threats. Seening that they have been dealt with, he turns to the giant crouched at the door and if he is wounded, will heal him of some of it. Tsu'koka says quietly under his breath as he does (in Giant)*:

"You may be leaving us. But there is no need to be in a hurry to do it. I have some mojo that might help, if you are interested."

Once done, Tsukoka moves through the room seeking out Vesparsian. Where necessary, he helps get the troops into order and uses his wands to restore some HP to any of the seriously injured (less than half?).

Eventually, he presents himself to the Captain.

"Where to now?"

ooc: *not sure what the form is here, assuming that that any of this doesn't conflict with their traditions: will use up to 5 charges of CMW wand, will cast Blur (10 minutes, 20% concealment) if the giant give any sign of accepting the offer.

ooc: deadestdai and capellan, take a look at the ooc thread and let me know what you think. I think we need to get some organisation going.

 

[doghead]

Tsukoka also makes his way to Wekerak and Sroka, sounding each out on ideas as to how to proceed.

Goblins to the fore to scout. Manticore and Gargoyles (if any came back) with them for punch and airpower in larger rooms. They could also be useful for cutting off retreats and preventing messengers from getting away. Some engineers with the Orcs behind, then the Hobgoblins in the van with the Giants in the rear. We move fast and hit hard. Then move on. Let the defenders worry about where we are?

 

[Capellan]

Wekerak grins, showing teeth filed to sharp points.

"Move fast, hit hard. Good plan. Time to put the maggots to work." he shrugs, "Listen for screaming, find Durgo eventually."

 

[doghead]

Tsu'koka grins at the goblins summation of the situation. He whistles over Blood and swings up onto the giant beasts back.

"Right, lets get moving. I'm with you."

 

[deadestdai]

Vespazian did his best to remember what little he knew of the layout of the castle. If Zuregath were still alive, then he would probably be in his throne room or some other defensible area as befitted his stature.
The human scanned over his troops, the orcs and goblins now thinned in number, though Sroka and his hobgoblins were still intact. Orcs and goblins were expendable.

He looked to the ugly gob who sat upon a huge Winterwolf, Wekerak, take your scouts forward and chart the areas ahead of us so we may not be ambushed.

Then the giant's words were taken in. Good, some time for the group to move on would be much needed. He nodded at the huge man and turned away, to look for Krong. Muragar, lead these orcs ahead of the troops, but behind the goblin scouts - they will need your leadership if we are to stop them from running away.

Lastly, Vespazian searched out Tsu'koka and was happy to see the bard was with the scouts. He was starting to irritate the human and Vespazian was sure his attentions were better suited to helping the scouts.

Once more getting his bearings, the captain made sure the troops had his attention and he waved them on.

 

[Uriel]

One Square equals 5 feet...

OoC:Map. Bigger and prettier one coming, but this will do for now.

Total Dead are 23 orcs, 21 Goblins (3 of them engineers, the rest Scouts), 2 Gnolls and a Bugbear.