(038) The Concourse Catacomb

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Sat Aug 04, 2012 12:56 pm

heartless wrote:
Rufus finds himself at the rear. If he can get a shot he will let fly an arrow on one of the creatures furthest from Mads. The last thing he wants is to shot a friend in the back so he will play it safe. Rufus will keep a look out for the spider ready to shoot it if it comes back from behind the group.

If everyone rushes in to attack Rufus will sneak in the shadows for a back stab.

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Sun Aug 05, 2012 9:19 am

waysoftheearth wrote:
Combat is joined!

Mads flicks his motile candle-flames into the faces of the nearest thugs immediately as he launches his attack. A surprise check is allowed (1d6=1) but the hunched enemy are already wary of anything from a "wizard", and duck their heads and side step the buzzing flames...

Initiative is rolled (1d6;Mads=6, Dugal=1, Enemy=3(-1 for avoiding the candles)).

...but Mads is upon them before they know it (1d20=13) and plunges his pretty short sword into the belly of the nearest (2dd=2,5) for 5 hit points.

"Oowapphh!" he grunts, and doubles over Mads' sword, collapsing in a flatulent heap.

His mate's eyes bulge wildly at the sight of this as he lurches to thump Mads across the noggin with his hand axe (1d20=5), but the young warlock dodges aside just in time and the axe blow instead strikes a spark form the flagstones.

"Outta my way!" huffs Dugel as he tops the stair and simultaneously utters an unknowable phrase of Dwarvish dialect. There is a sharp crack as the ceiling stone of the passage splits and a great load of heavy rocks and a choking cloud of dust tumble onto the rearward pair from above!

Mads has to retreat violently and shield his face to avoid being suffocated, but only the single thug is left!

Rufus can't shoot over the top of stair through Wendel and Dugel, and nor can he see any targets from his position. However, by the sound of all that racket, it's likely a good thing!

What now?

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Sun Aug 05, 2012 12:19 pm

heartless wrote:
Rufus will take a quick look back for any spider first, then head in for a backstab in the shadows on the foe.

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Sun Aug 05, 2012 2:03 pm

verhaden wrote:
Mads the Enlightened

Mads will attempt to disarm and subdue the remaining thug. "I'll turn you into a slug if I have to!" he says menacingly.

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Mon Aug 06, 2012 12:29 pm

waysoftheearth wrote:
The last of the hunched thugs makes a morale check (2d6=11!) and even faced wizards and seemingly impossible odds he plunges on -- maddened by the sudden slaying of his fellows.

"You killed them!" he howls as he launches himself at Mads.

Initiative is rolled (1d6; Mads=6(+1), Thug=6) but despite his viper-like speed, Mads finds an uncanny alacrity and (1d20=16) deals him a startling whack to the face with the flat of his blade (2dd=5,5) for 10 subdual points -- it could so easily have been a killing blow!

But even knowing he should be slain, the gaudy hobgoblin (for hobgoblins these thugs are) is carried by his momentum -- indeed he would scarcely pull the blow even if he could! -- (1d20=7) but Mads artfully bats the curved blade aside, disarming his opponent and simultaneously allowing the onrushing rogue to smack his head against the wall and falling into a hopeless tangle of limbs.

(No need to roll for subdual, since the Hobgoblin has suffered more than 100% subdual damage).

"Pleeeeease don't turn me into a sluuug!" grovels the bested Hobgoblin pathetically, clambering its huge hands over its head as Dugel strides up, clearing the clouds of dust with sweeping arms.

"What's this piece of filth?!" snorts the Dwarf, seeing the Hobgoblin...

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Mon Aug 06, 2012 1:37 pm

verhaden wrote:
Mads the Enlightened

"I won't turn you into a slug..." Mads says calmly, as he lays the edge of his blade across the hobgoblin's neck. "But I might slit your throat if you don't answer my questions." He presses the blade a little to draw a little blood. "Who's Ruglud and what are you doing in these tunnels?"

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Mon Aug 06, 2012 1:52 pm

waysoftheearth wrote:
Meanwhile, at the back of the group on the stair... Rufus thinks he spies something blacker than the swallowing darkness behind them moving ever so slowly closer. But no matter how hard he stares at the dark, he can't get a fix on anything. Maybe it's just his nerves..?

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Mon Aug 06, 2012 2:16 pm

waysoftheearth wrote:
Mads impresses his authority upon his captive.

The hobgoblin whimpers and whines, begging grotesquely all the while.

"Who's Ruglud? who's Ruglud?" it blathers incredulously, "Ee's tha big boss o' tha mountains, o yesss tha big boss. Ee's meaner 'n' tougher than's fair, an' we's waitin' 'ere fer a bunch o' 'is boyz to show,"

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Mon Aug 06, 2012 2:28 pm

verhaden wrote:
Mads the Enlightened

"What for?" he spits, eyes narrowing on his captive.

Post by **waysoftheearth** » Mon Aug 06, 2012 2:34 pm

waysoftheearth wrote:
The dejected villian swallows desperately, grimacing as his adam's apple bobs past the edge of Mads' blade.
"You knowzz, same az alwaaayzz," pawns the hobgoblin, "They comez by, regular like, ta collect Ruglud'z payment,"