(079) What a Gnome Knows

[acodispo]

"Let's head down here till we find a branch, and see if it looks familiar, eh?" says Wetzel, standing in the right-hand passage, beckoning to his comrades. "I've a good feeling about it..."

He looks ahead down the passage, looking for light sources.

[Tonneau]

"As you say, long-legs," says Zax with some scepticism. "Lead on."

[waysoftheearth]

Wetzel leads the way onward, choosing a passage the curves somewhat to the right, while easing through a shallow descent. The passage itself is more accurately a tunnel, being approximately round in cross-section and about 7--8ft broad.

The company pass several spent torches--afixed to the walls with crude brackets--and two widely spaced instances that still burn, creating a medley of light and shadow in the rough concourse. It is barely a couple of minutes before Wetzel and Zax (up front) spy another chamber perhaps 40ft ahead. It must be lit by torch or lantern (impossible to tell from here), and is busy with activity. Goblin voices bark commands, and figures lurch momentarily across the narrow field of view. it seems a concerning goblin force is making hasty preparations for action...

Turn 11

What orders for turn 12?

[acodispo]

"Back!" murmurs Wetzel, giving a start at the sight ahead. "If we fight, let's fight where we can't be so easily encircled..."
He begins to retreat up the passage, keeping a wary over his shoulder.

[Tonneau]

Zax shivers as he suppresses a powerful urge to charge into the massed greenskins, then nods to Wetzel and retraces his steps.

"Greenies ripe for ambushin'," he says by way of explanation to those behind, "back to the last room".

[sirravd]

Gerhard barely restrains a squeal of terror.

[waysoftheearth]

The company turn about and beat a hasty retreat back toward the ambush intersection; the van becoming the rear-guard.

Not even half-way back they become aware of the regular beat of many marching feet in the tunnel behind them; shukka, shukka, shukka...

The sound is intimidating in its regularity and its persistence. The echo of marching feet gives everyone the impression that the goblins are coming in force...

The ambush intersection is soon reached, but the goblin force can only be a couple of minutes behind. There's little time for fuss...

Turn 12 was consumed retreating to the ambush intersection.
The player options appear to be: take an alternative passage, await a decisive battle, something else..?

So then, what order for lucky 13th turn?

[Tonneau]

Zax motions for the group to fan out around the tunnel mouth, placing himself to one side of the opening and flipping a throwing-axe into one hand. He places an ear against the rock wall and attempts to guestimate numbers while also guaging the perfect moment to lob his axe at the lead greenskin.

Zax could barely restrain himself from diving into the mass of gobbos before; he is not going to retreat any further. He will pop out and lob an axe as soon as practical, then wait to stick his ice-pick into the first gobbo to emerge from the opening.

[coffee]

Karl loosens his sword in his scabbard. He still has his bow drawn.

He'll take one shot with the bow then follow up with sword in the general melee.

(That's his plan, anyway...)

[acodispo]

Leaning his spear & shield against the wall beside him, Wetzel hurriedly readies his horsebow.

"Crowd the entrance and don't let too many come at us! If they press us," he mutters, "let us fight a retreat up the left passage, rather than getting swarmed here in the chamber. Yes?"

He peers down the passage, ready to take a single shot as soon as the enemy is within short range, and then stow his bow to take up spear and shield.

Wetzel will engage in one volley with the horsebow, then switch to spear and shield for melee. If possible he'll fight from the second rank with his spear, perhaps stabbing over the head of the gnome.