Dragon's Egg - Act II

[Steerpike]

((Blast. You overshot the wolf, Ankari. With that kind of damage behind the arrow it would have made an interesting case of friendly fire . I'll update the thread in just a little while; gotta get some work out the door)).

 

[Steerpike]

((No new map since I'm at work, but I think everything looks the same as before except that there is a goblin standing in front of Baldhart)).


The Battlefield

Baldhart strikes at the goblin, but even in its fear the creature is able to twist away from the attack. Cadell is breathing heavily beside her, facing off against the wolf that took his hand. One of Anakari's arrows flies over the wolf, the fletching jutting from the snow on the other side of the creature. Cadell summons as much strength as he can muster and makes one fantastic lunge with his sword, extending it with his off-hand. The wolf is too slow and the blade pierces its eye, sinking deep into its brain. The creature shudders, then falls to the ground. Cadell pulls himself back up to to his full height, then turns to Baldhart, words of inspiration on his lips. No sooner does he utter them than he goes even whiter than usual and pitches face first into the snow, where he lays unconscious. His mount nuzzles him, making a whickering sound.

Matthew tries to calm the wounded wolf, attempting to address its wounds. The creature is having none of it, however, and as soon as Matthew is within range it snaps at him, albeit weakly:

Wolf Attack [1d20-2] = 3-2 = 1

The attack is completely ineffective, and is followed up by an almost inaudible growl.

Rydh attacks one of the wolves gnawing on the downed dwarf. His attack strikes home and the creature yelps and spins swiftly to face him, attacking in a blur of teeth and pink tongue. The wolf-rider follows his mount's action with a coordinated spear thrust:

Wolf Attack [1d20+2] = 9+2 = 11
Goblin Attack [1d20+1] = 4+1 = 5

Rydh reacts quickly in the face of both attacks, ducking the spear thrust and knocking the wolf's head aside as it snaps at him.

The gobin in front of Baldhart licks its lips nervously, then snaps its spear forward in attack. As it does so, it inches closer to the helpless Cadell:

Goblin Attack [1d20-1] = 6-1 = 5

Baldhart knocks its attack aside effortlessly.

The dwarf between Cadell and Rydh swings his hammer in a powerful arc, catching the wolf before him across the top of one leg, which gives way with a sickening snap. The wolf drops forward into the snow, then growls as it attempts to right itself, its useless leg dead against the ground. The goblin on its back raises up as best he can and thrusts with his spear once more. The dwarf tries to block the shot with his shield, but the spear tip just clears the top of the shield and digs a long furrow along the dwarf's cheek.

The third dwarf brings his hammer down on his opponent once more, and this time the wolf's spine is broken. The creature is driven into the snow and ice, where it lays, dead.

At the Temple

Events at the temple are still calm. It is clear to Aliron that the battle will not leave the field outside so long as any of the party members remain standing. He communicates this to the others.

Burnbright looks thoughtful as Aliron counsels her. She nods and gets out her crossbow. "I don't know if I can hit anything with this, but I'll try!"

Mauve brandishes her spear in a fighting stance.

 

[Phietadix]

I try again to calm to wolf.

It looks like he is settling down and I can begin to treat his wounds.

 

[SeverinR]

"Burnbright looks thoughtful as Aliron counsels her. She nods and gets out her crossbow. "I don't know if I can hit anything with this, but I'll try!"

"That is all we ask. Practice with sword until your arm is tired, practice with crossbow until your arms is tired, it will build up the muscles, and you will be learning in the process. Also practice in full armor, as the armor will tire you out also. My armor is light, I only have to get use to the way it moves and how it slows down an attack even in the slightest, the heavy armor does more to slow you down, and restrict your movement compared to unarmored strikes. When we rest, pull the sword swing it, when you tire, sit down and care for the blade that will save your life someday. Never ignore the blade, no matter how tired."

I glance at her, then back to the battle.
"First rule in crossbow, never point it at a friend and if you fire make sure a friend is not in line of the target. simply, don't shoot me in the back. Remember we have friends below, make sure you know who you are shooting if shooting at the stairs. The wizard has enough problems with her own abilities,without getting shot by a friend."

"That said, if she doesn't kill herself first, she might be a mighty mage someday."

[What is the count of fallen? Goblin, dwarf and friendly? Basically, all I can see is who is standing, who is staggering, and who has fallen.]
I will relay this information to the others.

 

[Nihal]

The hooded man's words confuse me. Why are they not coming back? Are they winning?

Are they dying?

I sprint to the courtyard, stopping along the wall to watch the battle with my own eyes. I try to rationalize the whole situation, still clutching at the spear and full of dark thoughts.



((I know he's not a man.))

 

[Sparkie]

Fighting alongside these dwarves feels natural, like training at the Armory. These stout men get straight to the point; they hit fast and hard, no feints. This is what I love, what I live for. This is worship.

I take another swing at the wolf. First the beast, then its rider.

Unless an 8 is a hit, this is a miss. Oh, who am I kidding? It's a miss.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Cadell raises his bloody stump. The very sight inspires me to focus on the task at hand and strike true!

I swing at the goblin…

((19 - overkill))

…and hit him hard…

…enough to send his corpse soaring through the air!

But… Cadell falls face first in the snow! "Cadell!" And Sir Matthew is playing with one of the wolves! "Matthew?" Ugh—men and their love of dogs! I try once more to get medical attention for Cadell—"Rydh!"—then contemplate my next move.

(("Steerpike!" That's me asking for a body-count. Is it 3 wolves left, counting Gummy?))

 

[Ravana]

"I do not believe they will be able to bring the battle back to us as I had hoped." I announce to those below.

Hiljikki decides this means the battle is unlikely to reach the courtyard whether her newfound companions intend to bring it there or not—in short, that they must be prevailing—and that since no enemy is there to be impressed or intimidated, she might as well give her arms a rest.

I sprint to the courtyard, stopping along the wall to watch the battle with my own eyes. I try to rationalize the whole situation, still clutching at the spear and full of dark thoughts.

Hiljikki watches the shaky wizard stagger ((excuse me: "sprint")) past. She considers Mauve's action to be unwise, especially in her condition, but says nothing of it.

Täplä, his services apparently not being immediately required after all, wraps himself around her neck inside her hood, where it's warmer. His nose pokes out beneath her chin as he maintains vigilance.

 

[Ankari]

No thanks to me, the threat to Cadell is gone. I loose another arrow at the threat facing Rydh.

[url=http://www.unseenservant.com/Default.asp?do=showone&id=9364]Longbow Attack: [1d20+3] = 16+3 = 19 (Goblin, say hello to my little friend!)[/URL]

[url=http://www.unseenservant.com/Default.asp?do=showone&id=9365]Arrow Damage: [1d8+3] = 7+3 = 10 (From a treehugger, with love)[/URL]

 

[SeverinR]

[no posts today?]

 

[Steerpike]

((New Map. Big version here: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2578171/snowfield5.jpg )).

 

[Steerpike]

The Battlefield

Matthew tries once again to calm to wolf as it lays in the snow. The creature doesn't bite again, but it seems far from calm. It growls low, its eyes fixed on Matthew. Its breathing is coming fast and shallow now, but still it follows Matthew with its head, not looking friendly.

Rydh misses the wolf in front of him. Even with a goblin on its back, the animal exhibits speed and agility, pulling back just out of reach of Rydh's blade. Even as the wolf does so, however, Ankari's arrow whistles past, striking the goblin rider in the chest. The creatures slumps forward onto the mount, black blood mixing with the wolf's fur.

Baldhart launches a vicious attack at her foe, keeping the frightened goblin from getting closer to the fallen Cadell. The force of her blade as it crushes through the goblin's ribs actually lifts the small creature from its feet and casts it almost ten feet away.

The dwarf nearest Cadell's prone form brings his hammer around again - another strong blow at the wolf before him. He connects again and this time it finishes the creature. The goblin on its back leaps free as the animal falls, thrusting its spear toward the dwarf's face. This time, however, the dwarf is fast enough with his shield and the spear tip passes harmlessly above him.

The dwarf flanking Rydh's opponent slams his hammer into the wolf, and there is an explosive cross between a woof and a whine as air is forced from the creature's lungs. The wounded animal does not go down, however, nor does he turn from the threat that is right in his face. Almost desperately, the creature lunges at Rydh, white teeth seeking to tear his flesh:

Wolf Attack [1d20+2] = 13+2 = 15
Wolf Damage [2d4] = 6

The frenzied beast get its flesh, tearing into Rydh as best its can, shaking its head when as it grabs hold. It backs away, growling and dripping blood from its wet muzzle.

Cadell lays in the snow, unmoving. In all the fighting it is unclear whether he is breathing or not. The cold snow seems to have slowed the the blood flow from his stump. Or maybe he's just running out of blood.

The Temple

Burnbright continues to pay attention to Aliron's teachings, though she is glancing out the window the whole time, watching events nervously and biting her lip. "Is that...is Cadell...is he dead?" From the window, Cadell looks prone in the snow, along with two motionless dwarves and the bodies of dead goblins. One goblin remains, as does a single wolf that can still fight, though the wolf near Matthew appears to be alive.

Mauve runs through the courtyard to the edge of the field and stares out at the battle. Ankari is only about thirty feet from her, and she sees him loose his arrow into the chest of the goblin.

Hiljikki is in the temple room with her creature companions, having been abandoned by Mauve and Burnbright alike. She can see Mauve at the end of the courtyard, but knows of the battle only what Aliron calls down.

 

[Phietadix]

I turn my attention away from the wolf. This is getting me nowhere and I should concern myself with the battle. I take a Javelin and throw it at the wolf that's still fighting.

A hit, ((I think)) And for damage.

((This should make up for my 'wolf tickling'))

 

[Ankari]

My companions are falling like decayed trees in a stiff wind. The ancient knight appears near death and the man that can save her appears in desperate need of aid. I advance to get a better shot at the wolf threatening Rydh's life. The arrow sails form my bow.

[url=http://www.unseenservant.com/Default.asp?do=showone&id=9396]Longbow Attack: [1d20+3] = 15+3 = 18 (what's the forcast today?)[/URL]

[url=http://www.unseenservant.com/Default.asp?do=showone&id=9397]Arrow Damage: [1d8+2] = 4+2 = 6 (partly cloudy with scattered pain)[/URL]

 

[Ravana]

Burnbright continues to pay attention to Aliron's teachings, though she is glancing out the window the whole time, watching events nervously and biting her lip. "Is that...is Cadell...is he dead?"

((I'm hoping Burnbright spoke loud enough Hiljikki could catch that, even if Aliron doesn't mention it—which I assume he would, if he's calling out anything at all. Since the battle noises are both a bit aways and shielded by the courtyard walls, it doesn't seem totally unreasonable she'd hear it.))

"Right."

Hiljikki whistles for Hirvi, then mounts up as he comes into the front of the courtyard. She calls over her shoulder "Taevataat! Come!" The raven launches itself from the statue, then paces her overhead… being too clever a bird to try a landing on a reindeer-mounted companion whose steed is rapidly working up to a gallop. Especially not one whose slim shoulders are at present further narrowed—if only marginally—by having a vihmakissa draped over them inside her hood.

Not many people expect reindeer to be as fast as horses.… She yells out to Mauve: "One side!" and rides past, looking for bodies in the snow.

There seem to be quite a few of them. Fortunately, they are all pretty close together. I'll figure out which one is Cadell once I am nearer. A quick head count seems to indicate that, apart from the dwarves, he's the only friendly down.

She spends the ride trying to remember where she saw the nearest source of berries.…

 

[Sparkie]

He looked down at his broken arm, and chortled. "Pain is powerful, Volarion, but temporary."

Volarion scoffed at his friend. "Temporary? Did not our General himself have a leg wound that agonized him and made him limp until the end of his days?"

"Exactly," he replied. "We all die sometime, do we not?"

And Volarion said "Whether or not death interceeds is of no relevance. Pain is in the mind, and what enters the mind cannot leave. Once you know pain you know it forever. The ghost of it lingers, becomes fuel for the fire of our retribution."

1st of Battles - Codex 4:207-209

*****​

I hear Baldhart shout my name again urgently as my strike misses the wolf. Ankari's arrows seem to whisper to the winds, however, and the goblin rider falls dead. I see my chance, so I begin to back away from the wolf slowly...

((Rydh begins to Disengage.))

...I fail to see the other wolf lunge for me, and he tears at the flesh of my leg. I doesn't even seem real, until I try to move. Then the pain comes full force. I wince, and my eye tears up involuntarily. I try to ignore the the searing waves eminating from the ribbons of flesh now hanging from my thigh as I continue to move backwards, hoping to see what Baldhart was yelling about.

I see it now. Cadell is down...

((Rydh moves over to Cadell. He cannot cast until the next round. By the way, Rydh has just 1 HP left. [gulp]))

 

[Nihal]

I mentally weigh the risks and the gains all over again as a way of furthering my resolve. It feels like if I've done this a thousand of times now, even if I'm standing there, watching and thinking for a few seconds only.

Not many people expect reindeer to be as fast as horses.… She yells out to Mauve: "One side!" and rides past, looking for bodies in the snow.

"Eh?" I look back and jump aside before being hit by the reindeer. I could have used a ride. What does "one side" even means?!

... enough!

My backpack falls on the snow with a soft thump. I keep only the bandages and the flask with wine, stuffing them on my pouches.

I run. My body feels light, so does my head, and I know it's not because I've dropped some dead weight. I run as fast I can, with the unpleasant thought that maybe those fallen enemies are still alive. My final destination is nicely marked by red snow, on the far end of the battle.

((Rydh moves over to Cadell. He cannot cast until the next round. By the way, Rydh has just 1 HP left. [gulp]))

((1 HP? Mwahahaha!))

 

[SeverinR]

I relay the what I see, then realize the two people below are running towards the battle.

"Child, they might need help, the enemy count is low, so shall we go see if we can help?" I say replacing the arrow and move towards the stairs. "The fight will probably be over by the time we get there, but we can show you how to dress a wound."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Rydh! Not him! Not him!

I dash between Rydh and the hell hound whose fangs run with Rydh's blood!

With one arm, I pull Rydh to safety so he can get to Cadell risk-free...

STR ((attempt to give Rydh additional movement so he can heal Cadell on this turn without taking a free hit from the wolf))

...and I strike the wolf with the other arm...

HIT ((penalty for one-handed swing))

...I hope!

DAMAGE ((if that -2 didn't screw me out of hitting the wolf))

 

[Steerpike]

Matthew's javelin and Ankari's arrow strike the wolf that bit Rydh in quick succession, both sticking from its hide like quills as the wolf tumbles onto its side and lays motionless and leaking blood into the snow. The wolf near Matthew continues the low growl emanating from its chest, but it is in no condition to act.

The dwarf facing off against the goblin lets out a deep cry, loud even in the open field, and swings his hammer in an overhand arc. The heavy weapon caves the goblin's skulls, and it staggers back a step then falls to the ground, its head unrecognizable.

The battle is won. Two dwarves remain standing, one dripping blood from numerous wounds. Cadell remains in the snow, bleeding out, and Rydh makes his way over, half under his own volition and half as a result of Baldhart's pull.

Party members from the temple enter the battlefield, one after another. Mauve runs toward the fallen combatants, passed halfway there by Hiljikki, who sits atop a swift reindeer. As Mauve gathers her bandages from her pack, Aliron sprints from the courtyard and onto the icy field, Burnbright hot at his heels.

The two dwarves breathe heavily, surveying the carnage with appearances of thinly muted rage. The dwarf closest the dying wolf tightens his grip on his hammer and begins stalking in that direction, ignoring Matthew, who stands near the creature.