[Completed] - Rhodri/Second Finger - 18 April, 1 VC

[Spartakos]

Rhodri follows Kennit, giving the she-wolf a wide berth and a wary look, but moving onward.

[Keehnelf]

As the group turns the corner, sound suddenly and chaotically returns! Perhaps fifteen feet ahead, the passage opens into a chamber, from which are emanating the sounds of pitched battle: snarling wolves are battling goblins up ahead, in the left side of the room. It is impossible to be certain how many combatants are involved, but it seems clear that there are at least three goblins.

[Spartakos]

Clearly relieved to be able to speak--and incant spells--once more, Rhodri urges Kennit forward, occasionally darting glances over his shoulder. "Best we see what's happening up there. Numen, guard the rear, but stay close to us." With an arrow still nocked to his bow, Rhodri prepares to follow Kennit's lead down the hall.

[Mister-Kent]

Numen stays close and watches the rear with his bow, but is eager to find out what is causing all the noise...

[KingOfCowards]

Kennit enters the chamber, first looking around to make sure there aren't goblins around the corners of the room, and then advancing towards the combat.

[Keehnelf]

Goblins get 4 initiative and wolves get 3 (rolls made earlier).

As the party emerges into the room to get involved in the melee, the sounds of battle continue. The goblins have taken up a position near a doorway leading out of the chamber in the middle of the left wall, and with swords and spears are attempting to stop the wolves from fleeing by force. There are four total in all, three of which are attacking the lead wolf and one attacking a wolf slightly to the side. The three grouped up manage a devastating series of attacks, and when combined with malnourishment and previously-sustained injuries, these are enough to lay the beast low.

Goblin attacks [1d20] = 17, [1d20] = 6, [1d20] = 20
Goblin damage [1d6+6] = 1+6 = 7

The second wolf also sustains significant injuries from a spear-thrust, injuring it enough that is slumps to the ground, leaving only one of the beasts standing.

Goblin attack [1d20] = 14
Goblin damage [1d6] = 3

The last wolf, too weak, timid or unnerved by being outnumbered, is unable to do anything against the goblins in return.

Wolf vs goblin [1d20] = 2, damage [1d6] = 2

Goblin 1: 3
Goblin 2: 5
Goblin 3: 6
Goblin 4: 1

Wolf 3: 8 HP

There are sounds of movement and perhaps combat echoing to the chamber from somewhere else, perhaps beyond the massed goblins.

Actions and Initiative!

[KingOfCowards]

Kennit will wade into battle against the goblins.
Initiative: [1d6] = 1
Attack with Sword: [1d20+1] = 3+1 = 4

[Spartakos]

With a look of grim resignation, Rhodri slings his bow and shoves his arrow back in the quiver. Drawing the curved chopping sword he got from Orrin, he follows Kennit into combat.

Attack with chopper: [1d20] = 7, damage: [1d6] = 2
Initiative: [1d6] = 4

[Mister-Kent]

Bearing the black blade Hope, Numen charges forth to strike at the closest goblin.

Hope attack: [1d20+1] = 16+1 = 17
Hope damage: [1d6+1] = 6+1 = 7

[Keehnelf]

Sorry for the lack of linked rolls: posting from my phone.

Wolf init 5, goblins 4:

The lone remaining wolf seems buoyed by the arrival of the party on the scene, after they had released the wolves from their captivity. It lunges at the goblin in front of it, knocking it to the ground, and quickly tears out its throat.

The party rushes into the room as the remaining goblins converge on the wolf, not yet quite aware of the change in the situation: as Hope flies free of its scabbard, the keening wail it emits overwhelms one of the remaining goblins, fixing him in place as he clutches in panic and pain at his ears, dropping his short sword to the ground.

The party wades into the thick of things, but Kennit and Rhodri both miss their targets. Numen, buoyed with the exaltation of wielding the black-blade sword, buries it deep in the neck of one goblin, which collapses to the ground with a gurgling cry. The third goblin thrusts his spear into the exposed shoulder of the wolf as it stands over the body of its slain enemy, now injured but still standing. The goblin seems shaken by watching his comrades fall in rapid succession, but seems determined to fight on.

A sound of snarling comes from beyond the goblin, and the clash of metal on stone. It seems that Mammon must be fighting one or more of the other goblins down the hall: from the sounds it, doing well.

Goblin 1: 3 HP
Goblin 2: 5 HP

Wolf 3: 6 HP

Actions and Initiative!

[Mister-Kent]

Numen swings his black blade again--stirred by his initial success, he is somewhat more frenzied on the second attack...

Initiative: [1d6] = 3
Hope attack: [1d20+1] = 2+1 = 3
Hope damage: [1d6+1] = 3+1 = 4

[KingOfCowards]

Kennit swings wildly at the goblin, but the dim lighting contrasts poorly with the bright torch he carries, and the humanoid easily ducks away from his blade.
Initiative: [1d6] = 1 Shoot. Missed that Kent already rolled. Ignore this.
Attack with Sword: [1d20+1] = 1+1 = 2

[Keehnelf]

Just waiting on Rhodri to resolve this round.

[Spartakos]

Moving to the flank, Rhodri takes advantage of one of the goblins' momentary distraction and brings his heavy blade down into the hollow of its shoulder.

Attack with chopper: [1d20] = 19, damage: [1d6] = 6
Initiative: [1d6] = 5

[Keehnelf]

Enemy Initiative [1d6] = 6

The party continues its struggle against the two remaining goblins. The lone wolf snaps at the one that stabbed it just before, but is off-balance due to the injury to its leg. The goblin twists the spear in the wound, holding the wolf in position and off-balance.

Wolf vs goblin [1d20] = 4, damage [1d6] = 3
Goblin vs. Wolf [1d20] = 17, damage [1d6] = 2

The second goblin attacks Numen, but the sight of the black-bladed sword, dripping with unstable power seems to unnerve him and his attack is easily parried. Numen counter-attacks clumsily, over-confident in the match-up. Rhodri circles around the goblin injuring the wolf and buries his curved sword in the creature's neck. It slumps to the ground with a cry of pain.

Goblin vs. Numen [1d20] = 8, damage [1d6] = 6

Kennit, anxious about the close quarters and the mounting corpses, gets in his own way with the torch and it clatters to the ground, plunging the chamber into darkness as it fizzles out.

From the rear, the party hears the sound of battle die down and the party heads the sound of padding feet in the darkness as something approaches, and Rhodri and Numen watch as the massive black wolf treads into the chamber, black fur cold against the black stone and his red-rimmed eyes glimmering the darkness. Mammon can be heard whining in the distance.

On the opposite side, Numen and Rhodri are horrified to see a handful of ghouls charge forth into the chamber. Following them come two dwarves, one clad head-to-toe in heavy plate armor with a massive two-handed axe in hand, and one dressed only in a night-shirt with a short-bladed knife clutched in one fist.

The scantily-clad dwarf raises his knife in one fist and cries out, "Back to your greasy little burrows, you foul wretches! These are, and always shall be, my friends! You'll have to go through me!" The voice is instantly recognizable as belonging to Orrin.

Orrin charges forward and stumbles, planting his short-bladed knife straight into the back of one of the ghouls, which falls almost soundlessly to the ground in a heap. The plate-attired dwarf simply stands in place in the doorway, axe held in clenched fists. "You!" He cries. "The Black Beast! Foul murderer and villain!"

Alongside that dwarf stands the mutilated form of the cleric Jem, head lolling to one side and missing his right arm. He seems uninterested in any of the proceedings.

Actions and Initiative!

[Spartakos]

Rhodri is unnerved by the arrival of dwarves, ghouls and the notorious black wolf all at the same time; his face is anxious for a moment, and then falls into an expression of sublime depression...as if this dangerous showdown is the ultimate culmination of bad luck he's been heading towards.

He slashes at the last goblin, as though resigned to his fate, the malaise clearly showing in his combat performance.

Attack with chopper: [1d20] = 6, damage: [1d6] = 5

[KingOfCowards]

Kennit retreats from combat to relight his torch amidst the pitch blackness.
Initiative: [1d6] = 4

[Mister-Kent]

After the initial shock of the new arrivals, Numen strikes the last goblin, looks quickly to the Black Wolf, then calls out to the dwarves.

"Lighthammer!" he shouts to Orrin, brandishing Hope.

Hope attack: [1d20+1] = 20+1 = 21
Hope damage: [1d6+1] = 6+1 = 7

WHOO! Now that's what I'm taking about! A crit and max damage? I'm sure that's gotta be an impressive display

[Spartakos]

This post is a summary of some action that took place over numerous private posts; it combines posts from all parties involved, though I've restructured them a little bit so the narrative flows smoother. With zorroroaster busy and Numen as an NPC, we all figured this was the quickest way to get it all onto the thread.

Party: Initiative: [1d6] = 4
Wolves: Enemy Initiative [1d6] = 5
Goblins: Enemy Initiative [1d6] = 3
Ghouls/Dwarves: Enemy Initiative [1d6] = 1

After the initial shock of the new arrivals, Numen attacks the last goblin before it can kill the injured wolf. He drives the point of Hope straight through the creature's chest, spraying blood over the pair of wolves and Rhodri.
Hope attack: [1d20+1] = 20+1 = 21
Hope damage: [1d6+1] = 6+1 = 7

As the body slides free of the blade, he glances at the Black Wolf, then calls out to the dwarves.

"Lighthammer!" he shouts at Orrin, brandishing his strange black sword. "Stand down!"

No one pays any heed to Numen's words. The Black Wolf responds to the dwarf's cry with a low rumble. "I thought I smelled fresh dwarf meat," the creature nearly purrs, his rich bass voice rumbling. He follows it up with a handful of syllables, "Xith hadlaric snjoi'shin". The elves recognize it as magic and feel a shiver in the air. The dwarf in plate chuckles in response. "You'll have to try harder than that, miserable cur."
Enemy saving throw [1d20] = 14

As Kennit gets a new torch lit near the passage from which the party entered the room, Orrin rushes forward, snatching up a fallen goblin spear from near the melee and scurrying across to the doorway near the halfling. To the adventurers, he calls out, "There's no time to explain, this is the King under the mountain, returned. He must be protected! To me! Help me flank the beast, it can't attack us all at once!"

Before any of the group can react to Orrin's plea, the axe-wielding dwarf rushes forward into battle against the wolf, and the ghouls alongside him. The thing that used to be Jem merely stands in the doorway, aloof and silent. Mobbed by enemies in this way, though all his enemies are dwarf-sized, the black wolf seems somehow diminished. The ghouls rake at his fur-like-iron-spikes with their talons, lacerating the wolf in several places. Finally, the plate-wearing dwarf himself wades into the thick of the melee and lands a powerful blow with his two-handed axe upon the wolf's back. There is a horrible crack as the blade meets flesh and the mighty, bear-like form of the wolf slumps down the ground. A brief gust of wind accompanied by a sigh like the creaking of a willow tree passes through the chamber.
Ghoul vs BW [1d20] = 1, [1d20] = 16, [1d20] = 10
Ghoul vs BW [1d20] = 6, [1d20] = 18, [1d20] = 8
Ghoul vs BW [1d20] = 19, [1d20] = 7, [1d20] = 5
Ghoul damage [3d3] = 7
Fangir vs. BW [1d20+1] = 17+1 = 18, [1d8+1] = 3+1 = 4

The dwarf turns to the party; now that he is near and and in light, they can see that his hair is wild and matted, sticking up at odd angles over a cloth or bandage worn entirely over his eyes. His beard is mangled and close-shorn, patchy in places as though it's been burned away or torn out. And everything on him, skin and armor alike, apart from the shining and blood-drenched blade of his axe, is caked in a smeared layer of soot and ash.. "Consorts of demons--explains yourselves before this blade meets your necks as well."

Kennit, gaping at the scene before him in his newly kindled torchlight, nods wordlessly at Orrin, then to the motionless body of the great wolf. "Is it dead?" The halfling's face is overtaken with an expression of horror as he notices Jem. "Jem?...what...what happened?" An eerie look crosses his mind, and he swiftly looks at the ghouls to see if they in any way resemble his former traveling companions. He is reassured (slightly) that they do not; they appear to be all dwarves.

Orrin starts to berate Numen for raising his weapon against a friend, but the words stick in his throat as Numen, with seeming reluctance, lowers his magic sword and rushes to the side of the Black Wolf, sliding to his knees as he reaches him. The huge beast is still clinging barely to life, bleeding from its many wounds. As everyone looks on wordlessly, the fire-haired elf raises a hand to the dwarf with the axe and says, "Please...allow me..." He then whispers something in the harsh Chaotic tongue, and draws Hope's blade across the Black Wolf's throat to end him, spilling his blood on the stone.
Orrin watches this with a mix of strong emotions on his face; the armored dwarf's expression shows only cold fury. Rhodri barely glances at it; his own eyes are fixed on the dwarves.

While this is happening, the last wolf slips away into the tunnel, and Mammon pads quietly into the room, a long bloody gash showing on his pale jaw. "This creature was the enemy," Orrin says weakly, breaking the silence. Seeming to regain his composure, he holds a hand to the armored dwarf. "This is Fangir Firedeep, last Thane of his clan. He had fought through flame and ash to come here and reclaim the home of his people."

Rhodri maintains a blank expression as he squares his shoulders and faces the strange dwarf to answer him, wiping the blood from his face.
"I came here following rumors of gold, and meant to wrest some from the goblins I'd heard had taken over these halls. We killed some goblins, but found ourselves caught up in a fight between the two-legs and the four-legs. I've been trying to get us clear without getting killed. I've no quarrel with you, and I'm much obliged to you for your aid." At this, he does look dubiously at the ghouls and the zombie.

"Orrin there," he gestures to the other dwarf, "can tell you I was headed here in search of treasure; he was coming with me, for a time, as well as that poor dead chap standing alongside you. He says you're the King Under the Mountain, and I shan't dispute it. I met with some of your kin, a time back...dwarves of the Firedeep Clan? They offered friendship and gratitude to them as would help in clearing goblins from your old halls." His voice is neutral, but there is an unspoken question behind the words.

The armored dwarf, Fangir, is far from placated by the elf's explanation. His hands shake with suppressed rage on the handle of his axe. "So you came here, too, to loot the corpse of my clan when the opportunity first presented itself? Indeed, all the men and elves of Vaul are snakes full who would turn out their own mothers' pockets for a few coppers! You speak of hoping to aid us in reclaiming our land--there is nothing to reclaim, there are none to reclaim it, and you come to these halls in the company of the one who brought our final ruin? I will see my ancestors' spirits well avenged before I allow you one step further into these halls."

Rhodri's jaw tightens, but he does not otherwise flinch from the dwarf's words. In a monotone, he says, "I came here in the company of my two friends, Kennit and Numen." He motions to each. "Demons and wolves walk where they will, and are not friends to any civilized folk. I was ignorant of the state of this place until I entered it--save that it was held by goblins, your enemies and mine--and last I saw your kinfolk they were hale. If you and your clan have suffered misfortune, I neither knew of it nor had anything to do with it. My condolences."

"I've no grudge with your clan, and I never lifted hand or blade against them. If you don't want us to take another step, so be it...we'll leave your halls and trouble you no further." He gives a stiff bow.

In the midst of this exchange, Numen suddenly leaps to his feet and bolts down the hall into the darkness; Mammon slips silently after him as his footsteps recede in the distance. Fangir says nothing, either in response to Numen's flight or to Rhodri's words, his face a grim mask. Orrin, though stirs as the elf flees. "Huhn? Numen, wait!" he calls, but it is too late. "It's that damned blade, I tell you. Has he been like this since we parted?"

Kennit recovers from his shock and adds, "Begging your pardons, Thane. You want us to leave, and we'll shove off. But that's three less to help you finish off the goblins." He gives Orrin a good long look, along with his undead company of dwarven ghouls and decides to ask, "You coming with us, Orrin?"

Orrin looks to Kennit, sadness displayed clearly on his face and in his voice. "Truly, it is Jem. Much has happened to us since we parted ways. We were taken prisoner by the current...occupant of the mountain, and he has done terrible things to those of us who survived."

In response to Kennit's offer to aid against the goblins, Orrin smiles. "I am not sure of the best course of action. Fangir escorted me here so that I could escape, though I too wish to stay and help. As you can see, I'm ill equipped for a fight, and sorely injured to boot. Only a few days ago I was at death's door. I will stay and fight if I can scrounge some equipment and perhaps rest a bit before continuing on. That is, if Fangir will have me." He looks towards the Thane.

Fangir looks flatly at Orrin. "You cannot help here, and you are needed elsewhere. Remember our conversations, my--my friend." He makes no further response to Rhodri, but turns and leads his undead retinue back into the tunnel.

Rhodri watches Fangir's departure before answering Orrin about Numen.

"He's always been an odd duck, but I have to admit he's been madder than usual lately. Could be the sword. Could be something else. Don't know what in Sheol possessed him to take the Black Beast's side." He sighs heavily and mutters, seemingly to himself, "Well, I guess it's reassuring in a way when life confirms your thinking."

Rhodri pulls out some rope and ties it to the Black Beast's hind legs. "Kennit, help me haul this carcass out of here. Last I knew, there was a bounty on his hide." To Orrin, he says, "I'd grab a weapon, if I were you; I doubt their armor would fit you, but maybe you can find a pair of boots that won't hurt you too bad."

Kennit shakes his head at Rhodri's suggestion to haul the great wolf out of the complex. "That thing must be as big as a bear. We're going to have to skin it and takes its hide."

Rhodri shakes his head impatiently. "Outside, then; we can skin it there." To Orrin, he adds, ""While we're getting out of here, you want to tell us about your smoky friend and what happened?"

[Keehnelf]

I can confirm that these are interactions that took place in private threads that were transcribed into this one, just in case such an assurance was necessary.

The time stamp in this thread is now April 29, 1 VC - 1:10pm

Numen has fled the area and at mister-kent's request has become an NPC.