(011) The Expedition North

[waysoftheearth]

verhaden wrote:
Mads the Fair

"Olaf, Taines, let's chops this tree's trunk!" he roars, moving in low and swift, aiming to take out this creature's lumbering "legs" with his axe, and hopefully staying clear of incoming missile fire.

[waysoftheearth]

eris wrote:
Olaf will continue to try to keep the swamp thing away from the casters and ranged attackers while trying to get in a whack or two with his sword.

[waysoftheearth]

coffee wrote:
Dieter will fire his sling at the vile thing, aiming so that he doesn't endanger the rest of the party in case he misses.

[waysoftheearth]

danhem wrote:
Ulric continues his hissing chants summoning more arcane fire to burn the beast, unless he risks injuring any of the warriors.

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tonneau wrote:
Gustave opts for moral support at this stage. "Now we have him boys!", he yells perhaps overly optimistically, noting the minor success of missile weapons and magic have against the creature. He looks to Boris and Fix, "You two - see if you can flank it", he says, gesticulating wildly at the forest, "ill hold it here", he adds cryptically, brandishing his knife.

[waysoftheearth]

heartless wrote:
"Lets see how this big mouth tree likes burning arrows", shouts Padrig. Padrig fires flaming arrows into the swamp beast.

[waysoftheearth]

tombowings wrote:
Flewellen, already in the front lines with the fighting-men, hacks with his dagger at the horrible creature.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Caine (1d20=14), Anwyn (1d20=20! Two in a row!), Dieter (1d20=11), Padrig (1d20=1) and Victor (1d20=4) unleash a storm of dealy missiles into the churning melee (odd numbers are randomly targetted). Anwyn's arrow finds a crack between thick plates of bark on the creature's front of writhing tendrils of leaf and vine (2dd=2,3) but delivers just 1 hit point, while Caine's arrow and Dieter's sling stone thunk and crack into the monster's thick back for (1dd=2) 1 hit point and (1dd=5) 2 hit points, while Padrig's fiery arrow misses the beast entirely and instead pierces Mads' gambeson but miraculously misses his flesh. Victor's crossbow bolt splits the air between Olaf and Taines, but somehow misses the steaming and burning tree-giant.

Michele finishes reloading his great arbelast ready for next round, while Gustave charismatically orders Fix and Boris to move into flanking positions, and the pair hasten to do so, eager to please Gustave perhaps -- or else to be away from the monster's front.

Meanwhile, Mads, Olaf, Taines and Flewellen engage the lumbering thing in a contest of melee. Initiative is rolled (1d6; Mads=5, The Foe=4, Olaf=3, Taines=3-1, Flewllen=2). Mads circles low and hews mightily at the tree like legs of the shambling swamp-thing (1d20=20!) and lands a savage blow (3dd=3,3,5) for 3 hit points. But the fell thing of night and swamp retaliates immediately, (1d20=9) catching Mads with a telling back-hand blow that delivers (8dd=2,2,2,3,3,4,5,6) a frightening 6 hit points. Taines (1d20=13), Olaf (1d20=8) and Flewellen (1d20=5) see their opportunity to counter, but only Taines makes effective contact (2dd=2,3+1) for 2 hit points.

As the melee unfolds, Ulric attempts to continue conjuring his sorcerous fire (1d20=7) but in all the noise and frantic action, the ancient sylables that make up the anthracite sufference have slipped his mind, and he finds himself unable to summon them to lip again.

Your intentions for next round, if you please...

[waysoftheearth]

tonneau wrote:
Gustave, charisma expended for the moment, decides action is warranted, and runs after the hirelings to flank the beast. En route, he visits his pack to exchange his dagger for sword, if possible.
Even in this, his silk-underware-clad figure, dashing through the trees, aglow in the firelight, is a source of great inspiration for the combatting troops (he is sure).

[waysoftheearth]

verhaden wrote:
Mads the Fair

Mads fumbles around on the ground, rolling away from the beast. He sits up wild-eyed and coughs up some blood as he grabs around his gambeson. Rethinking his decision to assault the beast close and personal, he attempts to make his way back to his sleep site and grab his bow and quiver.