Assault on the Great Hall

[Zhym]

Gaerys will also ask the treant to start tearing an opening in the wooden wall.

Let me know if someone else should ask. I think it makes sense for the treant to start now in parallel to the wall of fire and stone shape trick. Antheris is big and might get stuck in a 3'2" diameter hole, the fireplace might have thicker stone than 1', and the shaped stone might not pierce the thick logs that make up the outer wall of the steading. Also, Magnus told us a while back that warp wood would not create much of an opening in the wall; the logs are too huge.

[Magnus]

[Need Vorsyin to call the spell to move forward...wall of fire, stone shape, or something else...]

[Computer +1]

Vorsyin closes his eyes and speaks the words to draw energy from around him to create a wall of fire. He creates the wall across the opeing to the room to help keep out and enemies until they can escape.

Once the wall is up he will immediately move to begin work on creating their exit.

The wall will last 11 rounds without him concentrating on it, how long until the whole room is an inferno, I dont know.

[Oddfellow]

Ethan flips the north table on it's side, and pushes it to barricade the entrance to the trophy hall, avoiding the area that might soon be filled with fire.

Exactly what I was going to do as I was catching up on the thread. Not necessary now, I guess!

Kjelti moves to join whoever else will take up vigil near the burning entrance to the room, claymore and shield in hand. Her pace is slowed slightly, and although her face may not betray this, she is shaken. All she can think of is her companion, and how quickly the holy man was taken from the ranks of their company. Her jaw clenches compulsively.

Another time and she may have sought some spirited words to give heart to her brothers in arms, but alas, she remains silent as she stands guard.

[Magnus]

I resolved most of the round, but need attack rolls from Kjelti and Gaerys based on what went down. Medium-sized non-giant creatures are the targets.

[Zhym]

That doesn't bode well...

Giantbane (vs. S/M): [1d20+2] = 15+2 = 17 Damage: [1d8+2] = 6+2 = 8
Giantbane (vs. S/M): [1d20+2] = 10+2 = 12 Damage: [1d8+2] = 7+2 = 9 (Hits AC 2)

[Magnus]

I rolled for KJ and will update shortly.

[Magnus]

Date: Autumn, 432 ca., Campaign Day 1
Time: 21:12.1
Weather: 40 degrees, partially cloudy
Location: STEADING OF THE HILL GIANT CHIEF, Trophy Hall
Nearest Safe House: First of the First Men, 5.5 miles southeast

Magic in Effect:

Antheris:
- Call Lightning (expires in 1 turn)
- Protection from Fire (cast on treant)
- Detect Animals (wolves)(expires in 5 rounds)

Vorisyn
- Detect Evil (expires in 9 minutes)
- Interposing Hand

Gaerys
- Potion of Speed (expires???)

**********************************************
The party, having moved into the trophy room, moved to make their preparations for an escape. Before Vorsyin's first arcane words can be muttered, the double doors to courtyard door fly open. The first to step through is the giant who fled. He is, hilariously enough, immediately consumed by the swarm of horseflies summoned by the party druid. Paralyzed, he stands blocking one side of the entrance.

[Giants win initiative, and act in first segment...gulp...]

Immediately thereafter, a pack of mangy, snarling direwolves begin to stream in to the hallway one at a time. After the first few lead the way, their keeper, a particularly thickly built giant dressed in the leather armor of a huntsman and bearing a crossbow in one hand and a whip in the other, jogs in with the direwolves.

The fast-moving beasts charge towards the party. Kjelti and Gaerys, both having moved up to defensive positions, are able to swing at the first two to reach the party just as the wolves snap at them. Kjelti fends off her attacker, while Gaerys is caught in the arm. For their part, each of the warriors return the favor with deep stabs into direwolf flesh. The beasts remain fighting but are badly injured.

[Gaerys - 6 damage.]

Another wolf joins the fray. It snaps at Ethan just as he starts to push the very heavy table across the room alone. The warrior kicks at the beast to keep it at bay.

The keeper makes his way down the hallway just far enough to have a shot with the crossbow. He lines up a shot at Ethan and fires, catching him in the shoulder. Ethan feels an odd numbness in the wound, but manages to somehow shake it off the stronger effects of whatever substance caused the numbness.

[Ethan: 9 damage, but makes save versus poison!]

Vorsyin completes his incantation and the wall of flame bursts into being. The crackling flames immediately consume two of the wolves that have not reached the party. The smell of burning fur and giant flesh wafts over the party, as the true potency of their mage's arsenal is again made apparent. The party is on one side of the wall with 3 wolves

Antheris applies a weak healing spell to Blue. The druid's magic is not very effective. The nature spirits are apparently not pleased that several wolves, albeit dire, have been killed.

[Blue: 2 HP recovered. (I rolled but you should roll for the effects of your spell in the future.)]

The treant had already approached the Steading wall before the uncharismatic ranger's ham-handed attempt to order the intelligent woodland spirit around. Its tendrils appear to wind into the wall, extending behind the fireplace.

The party was left to make their escape...

[Zhym]

Gaerys continues to cover the party's escape, attacking the wolves.

Giantbane (vs. S/M): [1d20+2] = 11+2 = 13 Damage: [1d8+2] = 8+2 = 10
Giantbane (vs. S/M): [1d20+2] = 5+2 = 7 Damage: [1d8+2] = 1+2 = 3 (Hits AC 7)

If the giant charges through the wall of fire before Gaerys attacks, he'll attack the giant instead.
Damage if attacking giant: [1d12x2] = 9x2 = 18+10

The treant had already approached the Steading wall before the uncharismatic ranger's ham-handed attempt to order the intelligent woodland spirit around.

Ham handed? Order? Well! I did say that Gaerys "asked" the treant to open a hole in the wall. What's so bossy about that? Except for the fact that a request by someone with a charisma of 6 comes off like a clumsy order. Stupid low charisma.

Blue: 2 HP recovered. (I rolled but you should roll for the effects of your spell in the future.)]

Especially when the DM rolls like that.

[NJWilliam]

Antheris, Druid and Blue the Polar Bear

Antheris winces as he smells the burning flesh of the wolves, but steps over to cover Vorsiryn - putting himself between the mage and their enemies - calls Blue to his side, and pulls his spear from off his back readying it against any opponent who might charge.

He shouts to Vorisyn, "Stoneshape!"

He will not strike against the wolves unless they make it necessary by attacking him or approaching Vorisyn or attacking Blue. In the event any enemies do any such thing:

Antheris, spear melee THAC0 16: to hit, [1d20] = 13; damage [1d6] = 1 / [1d8] = 1 (hits AC 3) (double damage when set against a charge)

Blue follows Antheris lead, and does not take any affirmative offensive actions, unless opponents attack him, his druid, or the mage behind them.

Blue (polar bear) paw, paw, bite (THAC0 11): [1d20] = 11, [1d20] = 6, [1d20] = 7 (hits AC 0, 5, 4)
Blue (polar bear) damage: [1d10] = 7, [1d10] = 6, [2d6] = 4 | hug: [3d6] = 10

[Magnus]

V - I am not going to sweat the math w/r/t the volume of stone effected (within reason), but the exact description of how you shape the stone is going to matter!

[Magnus]

The treant had already approached the Steading wall before the uncharismatic ranger's ham-handed attempt to order the intelligent woodland spirit around.

Ham handed? Order? Well! I did say that Gaerys "asked" the treant to open a hole in the wall. What's so bossy about that? Except for the fact that a request by someone with a charisma of 6 comes off like a clumsy order. Stupid low charisma.

[/ooc]

[Computer +1]

V - I am not going to sweat the math w/r/t the volume of stone effected (within reason), but the exact description of how you shape the stone is going to matter!

In that case can you please describe the walls and the way the logs are set? Are the logs of the wall horizontal, vertical?

[Magnus]

Horizontal, like an old-school log cabin. The below shows the outside wall that the party is going to breach.

Steading.jpg (142.49 KiB) Viewed 921 times

[Zhym]

There's no chimney for the fireplace! That can't be safe.

[drpete]

Ethan Blacktyde (13/71)!

Face set with grim determination, despite his near fatal wound, Ethan slashes at the wolf, then leaps away if it is still alive.

To Hit (s/m) (ThAC0 11) [1d20+4] = 19+4 = 23 damage [1d8+4] = 4+4 = 8

To Hit (s/m) (ThAC0 11) [1d20+4] = 8+4 = 12 damage [1d8+4] = 6+4 = 10

StumbleRoll(must gethigherthan 16): [1d100]= 12

Oh no!

[Computer +1]

Vorsyin moves closer to the fireplace and begins work on creating an exit, hoping his comrades can handle the threat of the wolves.

He speaks the arcane words and summons the energy to shape the stone. He pulls stone from the chimney and twists it into a wedge shape which he drives between two logs. He then uses the powerful magic to push the wedge deeper to create an opening . As the wedge creates space he solidifies the stone behind it to make an archway to hold the opening and grant them their exit. He will work the stone until the opening is large enough for the largest of the members of their party, ideally the bear, can fit through.

How reasonable does that sound within the confines of the spell?

[NJWilliam]

Antheris and Blue

When they see Ethan stumble, if they are not engaged by wolves and none are approaching Vorsyin, they will step forward to cover their prone comrade. Both letting out fearsome bellows, though the druid's is completely obscured by the wall of sound that explodes from Blue's maw.

[Magnus]

Ethan picks a good time to stumble -- his efforts, combined with the efforts of Gaerys and Kjelti, leave two dead wolves at their feet of the party before the beasts can even act.

Antheris and Blue subdue the remaining dire wolf. The wolf's strong hierarchy and survival instincts kick into the party's favor due to the druid's knowledgeable handling. The wolf is now tame and will follow the party out of the Steading.

[Antheris gains one dire wolf follower (20 HP). Please record on your character sheet.]
Vorsyin concentrates intently while manipulating a block of firm clay. The stone fireplace twists and wedges, eventually grinding in a way that defies the laws of physics. The poor hill giant masonry crumbles with the handling, leaving a mess of sand and loose rock on the ground, but making more room for the party's exit. Eventually the wood behind the Steading creaks, groans, and snaps! The treant yanks a series of broken timbers away from what was the fireplace. A wave of chilling night air fills the party's lungs. The mage can see that the way looks clear!

[Party has a "squeeze" exit (movement reduced to 1/4 of normal) from the Steading.]

The party takes a breath and realizes that the Trophy Hall is quiet, save for a distant muffled growl or bark. The small (though secure) exit makes a measured retreat an inevitability. It is time to be thoughtful about the party's next few steps.

[Zhym]

Gaerys suggests, in a thoughtful way, that the party's next steps be the hell out of there. He estimates that the greatest threat is from giants figuring out what's going on and coming around on the outside, so he offers the following exit order: Gaerys, Antheris, Blue, Ethan, Vorsyin, Kjelti. The treant can exit when it finishes ripping a hole in the wall (assuming it can't fit through the stone shaped hole).

Did Ethan still want to collect trophy shields?