Third Time's the Charm

[Magnus]

ROUND 8

Sensing victory, the party takes the initiative.

Gaerys lashes out with Giantbane, badly wounding the hornfoot attacking him. The hornfoot's response* is weak - Gaerys easily blocks it aside, and then ends the cruel savage's life with another stroke of his blade.

Antheris causes his creeping mass of fire ants to move forward and engulf the hornfoot leader! The druid then begins to cast a spell to boost his comrades' combat effectiveness**.

Ethan battles toe-to-toe with Nosra as a second hill giant attacks the knight. The knight's swing is easily parried away by Nosra with a flick of his spear...and in one smooth motion, the obese but shockingly quick giant plunges his spear deep into Ethan's abdomen. Ethan cannot hold back as a scream as his entire body sears with pain. Ethan is distracted by the wound and simply cannot avoid another strike from the hill giant's axe. He tries feebly to strike again at Nosra but the Chief gleefully swats away the blow and smiles as he prepares to end yet another character's life.

Out of the corner of his eye, Ethan sees Marcus scale the east gate...hopefully help is on its way...

ETHAN TAKES 30 DAMAGE!!!

Natural 20 from Nosra and natural 1 from Ethan...not what you need here...you can attack next round...your situation is dire enough

Hollis bravely bounds forward to attack the ogre coming from the north. The cleric hefts his heavy mace and slams it into the chest of his opponent. It howls with pain and tries to strike back with a swing from its maul. The cleric masterfully parries away the heavy blow.

Vorsyin unsheathes a dagger and looks in the glassy eye of the held ogre as he coldly slits the throat of the brute. Its life dribbles away in front of the mage.

I am out of time and unable to post an update tomorrow. I assumed that you did this given your question. You may change if you like.
*******************************************

*I recently read that a character's second attack always come at the end of a round.
** PfF does not help anyone here, so I let it go. Sorry if I misinterpreted intents with that spell.

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

Shield - X rounds
Summon Insects - 4 rounds
XXX

**************************
Antheris: 30/48
Vorsyin: 48/48
Gaerys: 23/60
Hollis: 27/50

Ethan: 4/71 !!!!
Marcus: 35/35
**************************

Map:

Courtyard Round 6.jpg (233.12 KiB) Viewed 784 times

[Computer +1]

No prob Magnus, its what I was planning!

[NJWilliam]

No problem here with pff either.

[NJWilliam]

Antheris (30/48)[/ooc]

Once he completes casting Faerie Fire, he will shapechange into a giant eagle and take off into the air above the courtyard.

Antheris, healing from shapechange: [1d6] = 5 x 10% heals 9 out of 18

hp 39/48

[Zhym]

Gaerys sees Ethan take a vicious hit and swears to himself that he will not allow another member of the party to fall. He raises his sword high before him and attacks Nosra, shouting, "DIE!"

Magnus, can Gaerys charge from just over 10' away? If not, then everything but the charge still holds.

Giantbane (vs. true giant): [1d20+3] = 6+3 = 9 Damage: [1d12x2] = 3x2 = 6+11 Hits AC 2 on a charge, AC 4 otherwise (if faerie fire isn't yet in effect)

[Magnus]

It is a hit due to Antheris's spell. Don't need to look up the charge rule.

[saalaria]

Pleased with himself, Hollis swings again:

mace Attack [1d20+2] = 9+2 = 11 Damage S [1d6+3] = 2+3 = 5 L [1d6+2] = 6+2 = 8

If someone can help with this ogre, I can try to move to heal Ethan...not sure if that's possible as we're I know we're all busy!

[drpete]

Gravely wounded, his doom upon him, Ethan tries for one final blow, hoping for a miracle.

To Hit giant with Frostfell (ThAC0 11)[1d20+6] = 5+6 = 11 damage [1d12+6] = 7+6 = 13

He then tries to spring away to save his skin:

StumbleRoll(must gethigherthan 16): [1d100]= 75

Should he get a second attack (by surviving to the end of the round and still being engaged:

To Hit giant with Frostfell (ThAC0 11)[1d20+6] = 10+6 = 16 damage [1d12+6] = 6+6 = 12

[Zhym]

It is a hit due to Antheris's spell. Don't need to look up the charge rule.

Charging also has first-strike advantages (although Nosra would get to strike first, then Gaerys, because of weapon length), but it's also subject to double damage from spears set against a charge (which ought to be declared before the charge begins—i.e., setting a spear is preparatory, not reactionary). Is that your interpretation as well? I.e., to set his spear against a charge, Nosra would have to decide to stop attacking Ethan and set his spear against a charge from Gaerys before Nosra knew Gaerys was charging?

Also: if Gaerys deliberately attacked with a poor defensive posture (say, +1 or +2 AC penalty) to make a more inviting target to Nosra, would that have any chance of working even if Nosra wins initiative?

[Computer +1]

Vorsyin has only one offensive spell left and he is out of range to use it. Even if he got closer the risk of hitting a ally who is engaged in melee is too great. Still, he knows that if the party doesnt take down the giants quickly they might all still perish.

Vorsyin closes the distance to the rest of the party and moves closer to Hollis while casting Protection from Evil on himself.

[Magnus]

ROUND 9

Things turn dire for the party as Ethan takes near-mortal wounds from Nosra. Perhaps as a omen of hope, Antheris's faerie fire takes effect, illuminating Nosra and the Hornfoot leader, making each of them easier to hit.

Perhaps not though...the giants take initiative!

Nosra's sadistic grin widens as he fakes a thrust and then swings the back end of the spear around to try and hit Ethan in the face, a blow that would surely knock the fighter unconscious. The chief, however, slips on the muddy ground, spins completely around and knocks into the other Hill Giant. The Chief's bulk throws the other giant off, causing its battle axe to thump into the wet ground.

[1d20] = 1!!!
[1d20] = 2!!!!!
[Nosra to act last next round due to critical miss. He gets a little slack since Ethan did as well.]

Ethan notices a horrible frostburn on the back of Nosra's forearm...from a blow that was parried. Ethan realizes the cold-based energies of Frostfell are responsible for the wound, despite the hit not drawing blood.*

*DM's correction of mistake.

Seeing an opening, Ethan slashes Nosra's upper arm to the bone as he springs back towards Marcus. The younger knight advances and with a "Take This, my Lord" pours a healing potion down the throat of his severely wounded leader.

Ethan recovers 10 HP.

Gaerys moves forward, Giantbane high overhead. The fabled sword sings as it cuts through the air and deep across the Chief's back. He growls with agony as his flesh is torn open with a vicious blow.

Nosra.jpg (72.16 KiB) Viewed 721 times

The ogre strikes at Hollis with his maul, but once again Hollis deflects the strike away with his shield. Hollis returns with a heavy body blow to the ogre. The cleric hears the sound of ribs cracking as his heavy mace strikes the brute's scarred, hairy body.

Antheris takes to the air and regains some strength. From his new vantage point, he does not see anything unexpected.

Vorsyin casts an additional protective magic on himself and moves closer to Hollis.

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

Shield - 48 rounds
Summon Insects - 3 rounds
PfE - 20 Rounds
XXXX

**************************
Antheris: 39/48
Vorsyin: 48/48
Gaerys: 23/60
Hollis: 27/50

Ethan: 14/71
Marcus: 35/35
**************************

No map this round.

[Zhym]

Gaerys raises Giantsbane and drives it through Nosra's bulbous body, aiming for the heart.

Giantbane (vs. true giant): [1d20+3] = 8+3 = 11 Damage: [1d12x2] = 2x2 = 4+11 Hits AC 0 w/ faerie fire
Giantbane (vs. true giant): [1d20+3] = 3+3 = 6 Damage: [1d12x2] = 3x2 = 6+11

[NJWilliam]

Antheris-Eagle, (hp 39/48, fly 360')

Antheris-Eagle soars high enough for a dive attack (60'), and which an echoing screech plummets into a dive attack on the foe nearest Hollis.

Antheris-Eagle Dive Attack THAC0 16 :to hit [1d20] = 17+4, [1d20] = 18+4, [1d20] = 8 Without Faerie Fire, hits AC -1, 0, 8

Antheris-Eagle Dive Attack Damage: [2d6] = 8, [2d6] = 4, [2d6] = 3

[Todd Spengo]

Tybalt (hp 46/46)

Tybalt rides hard towards the North Gate.

Not sure where I am in relation to everybody else. If there's something in range to charge, I'll do so and update with hit rolls/damage.

[Magnus]

Let's just say that you are at the (closed) North Gate.

[drpete]

Ethan Blacktyde

Ethan nods seriously to Marcus as he consumes the potion. Not sure he believes it he tells Marcus "Thank you. Help Hollis. I'll be alright."

Seeing an opening it the giants' defenses, Ethan commits to another attack. He leaps back into the fight, slashing at the giants, then jumping away (with lots of pain raining down on Nosra, can Ethan attack him, or if he's down, go street the other giant on his turn?)

StumbleRoll(must gethigherthan 16): [1d100]= 22

: To Hit giant with Frostfell (ThAC0 11)[1d20+6] = 7+6 = 13 damage [1d12+6] = 11+6 = 17


If he is engaged by an enemy at the end of the round, he'll attack again.



de: To Hit giant with Frostfell (ThAC0 11)[1d20+6] = 8+6 = 14 damage [1d12+6] = 2+6 = 8

[Todd Spengo]

Let's just say that you are at the (closed) North Gate.

Can I see see any openings besides the closed gate? Any signs of combat?

[Magnus]

Let's just say that you are at the (closed) North Gate.

Can I see see any openings besides the closed gate? Any signs of combat?

You can hear the combat for sure. You would have to inspect the gate to see if you could see anything through or around it.

[Computer +1]

Vorsyin will summon the mystical energies and cast Burning Hands at the Ogre engaged with Hollis. He will hold off casting unless he gets a clear shot without hitting Hollis. If the opportunity does not present itself he will hold off this round.

[Todd Spengo]

You can hear the combat for sure. You would have to inspect the gate to see if you could see anything through or around it.

Tybalt (hp 46/46)

Tybalt rides up to the gate and pushes it with his boot to see if it gives way.