(057) Dawn Patrol

[waysoftheearth]

Outside the Walls (The Unkempt Orchard)

| The ref makes a morale check for the wolves and throws 10; they (unwisely) fight on... |

Whether they are compelled by some unknowable force or driven by their own natural savagery, the remaining four wolves spot Dorgan and Gustave heading toward them and bound to attack!

From behind them, Wen and Olaf loose missiles 2d20=20,2, one hit; 1d6=4 damage; ref rolls 1st wolf's hit points 1d6=6 and Wen lands a withering hit on the largest wolf.

| As Ulric's sorcery has created an unnatural "break" in the fighting, this will count as the first turn of a "new" engagement, and thus Gustave and Dorgan will have the first opportunity to strike. |

Then combat is joined once more! Gustave and Dorgan meet them head on with axe and sword 2d20=13,4, one hit; 1d6+1=4; ref rolls 2nd wolf's hit points 1d6=6 and Gustave fells the wounded wolf with swift blow and injures a second.

Now the remaining three wolves are snapping and growling among them Ref dices to determine who is attacked; 1-3=Gustave, 4-6=Dorgan; 3d6=1,3,6; 3d20=16,13,4; no hits. but cannot penetrate our stalwart heroes' defense. And then our pair deliver their remaining attacks 6d20=15,19,2 and 16,10,11; two hits by Gustave and one hit by Dorgan; 2d6+2=9 hit points and 1d6+1=3 hit points; total 12 hit points; ref rolls hit points for 3rd and 4th wolves 2d6=8 and all three wolves are slain.

It is a brutal affair, over almost as soon as it is begun, but at last a calm descends upon the unkempt orchard. Dorgan and Gustave take a moment's breather to admire their handy work, as--behind them--Ulric and Beringar commence the grisly labour of stabbing the stinking, sleeping wolves through eye and throat to slay them as swiftly as they may.

Those perched precariously in the wiry apple trees now feel safe to descend...

[waysoftheearth]

Within the Walls

Dieter casts an eye quickly about the burned out courtyard and--having dispatched any immediate resistance--strides back to the wall and sheathes his sword so that he can toss his grappling hook and rope up to Desmond/Mondes.

The dual-headed hobbit has one pair of eyes on Dieter and surrounds, and the other on the nearby body of the first black-robe to be gutted upon Dieter's silvered-blade. Kneeling (careful to avoid the pooling blood), he gingerly unveils the face of the black-robe and sees therein the face of a plain, middle-aged woman. There is a somewhat disturbing look of shock and anguish frozen upon her pale face...

From his elevated position, Desmond/Mondes spies the high bell-tower immediately to his left, then further beyond that the chapel-proper, with its broken windows and altar end nearest him. To his right, the wall curves around behind the unexplored buildings of the abbey. between these building and the chapel is the burned-out yard, which at one time appears to have been a vegetable garden.

| Ref will provide mud-map shortly |.

[waysoftheearth]

Here's a very rough map:

  Code:

............................................................
..............__Bell________________________................
..Orchard...//+-Tower-----------------------\\..............
...........//.|..|......|..............|.....\\.............
........../d..+--+......|...Chapel.....|......\\............
.........||__...........|..............|.......\\...........
.........||..\..D........-------||----..|....Infirmary......
.........||...|.................Bridge..|.......||..........
.........||...|.........................|     ..||..........
..........\\...\............Guntram's...|Library||..........
...........\\...\............Breach.....|.......//..........
............\\...\-------------XXXX-----+......//...........
.............\\.................|.............//............
..............\\................|.Cloister...//.............
...............\\__________________________. H..............
.................--------------------------H................
...............................................Front Gate...
............................................................

d Desmond/Mondes
D Dieter

[Tonneau]

"By my tally, it stands at a draw, my good dwarf", says Gustave with a grin, wiping his blade on a still-warm pelt and returning it to its sheath, "though ill warrant opportunity will knock again ere the day is out", he adds with an eye to the wall.

"Come, my worthy adversary", he continues, with a slap on Dorgan's shoulder, "let us join our eager comrades and see what now lies within our goal."

[ehiker133]

Is there any obvious access to the bell tower from the wall? Maybe with the grapple?

[waysoftheearth]

Is there any obvious access to the bell tower from the wall? Maybe with the grapple?

The bell tower is built adjacent to the wall, so Desmond could skirt along the wall-top and then come into physical contact with the tower. It is very narrow--there is probably room for a single vertical ladder inside it, which is accessed only from the ground, below. At its top there is an open, but roofed, platform wherein the bell is housed. The bell itself looks to be about the size of a good helmet.

Yes, the outside of the tower could be scaled with rope and grapple--or by a cunning thief without any such assistance...

[ehiker133]

Ooc: oh, right...

Desmond secures the grapple on the wall and drops the rope down for the others on the outside of the wall to use. Then he moves to the bell tower and carefully climbs his way up so he can get a better look inside...

[danhem]

Ulric finishes his unsavory chore then cleans his dagger.

"A good start," Ulric says. "Now let's get over the wall before they can organize a defense."

Ulric goes to the wall and waits for the rope, going up early in the climbing order to provide support from the top of the wall.

[Olroda]

"Aye," says Beringar and nods at Ulric.

After making sure that all foes are dead and his belongings are in good order, Beringar will round up some arrows for Olaf. Should he spot Armando's boot, he'll fetch it as well.

[sully]

"By my tally, it stands at a draw, my good dwarf", says Gustave with a grin, wiping his blade on a still-warm pelt and returning it to its sheath, "though ill warrant opportunity will knock again ere the day is out", he adds with an eye to the wall.

"Come, my worthy adversary", he continues, with a slap on Dorgan's shoulder, "let us join our eager comrades and see what now lies within our goal."

Dorgan retorts, "I'm not so sure 'bout yer math but no point in arguing. Ya redeemed yerself at the end there. Least we can take our time climbing them walls. I ain't as spry as I wuz in my youth..."