Immersive Ink

waysoftheearth wrote:

mushgnome wrote:

tombowings wrote:"Highbough, run to assist Mads and the others, Boris and I can take these two," shouts Pelenwin as he lets out another cry of valor and trusts his pole axe at opponent number 6, careful to remain between his enemies and Dieter.

The wounded Highbough heeds Pelenwin's call and moves to Mads' aid. He fights defensively (forgoing his attack for improved AC) because he knows cutting into the creature is suicide. The best he can hope is to distract it and possibly get it to waste an attack.

Pelenwin's plan is fearless indeed. But should he turn his attention to foe #6, foe #5 will strike at his back a second time.

And Highbough has just loosed the foul guts of foe #6 leaving it enraged. Should he now turn to seek a new opponent #6 will attack him from behind -- unless Pelenwin (wielding a slow pole-axe) can finish it off first.

It would seem far less risky for Highbough to draw #6 on so that Boris can then flank attack it, while Pelenwin turns to deal with #5.

heartless wrote:
Wibert will go and help Gustave, and try to back stab a creature. If he is unable to sneak around then he will try throwing some of his knave daggers at a creature if there is no chance of hitting any friends. Failing that Wibert will attack with short sword and dagger. Bring it on! Today is a good day not to die.

danhem wrote:
Ulric decides firing his sling again would be too risky.

"Pelenwin, Highbough, Boris! Finish those two. I'll see to Dieter!"

Ulric moves quickly along the edge of melee toward Dieter in an attempt to bandage the worst of his wounds. Ulric suddenly wishes that he had a nice suit of ring mail or even a shield.

I must learn to summon frost, he thinks to himself.

mushgnome wrote:
A little voice in Highbough's head (wis 15) convinces him to go after #6 instead. He fights defensively.

tombowings wrote:
Pelenwin was well aware of the risks, but heard a scream from Mads that didn't fair well. If the option were viable, he would grave Dieter and run, but alas Pelenwin lack the fighting-man's strength.

waysoftheearth wrote:

tombowings wrote:Pelenwin was well aware of the risks, but heard a scream from Mads that didn't fair well. If the option were viable, he would grave Dieter and run, but alas Pelenwin lack the fighting-man's strength.

I think the screams from Mads are mostly goading curses flung at the enemy; he has already sent two of the monsters back to the fire with his cold iron axe, and is now fighting along side Koch; two versus two.

tombowings wrote:
OOC: My bad, it's Desmond and Gustave who are outnumbered. Regardless, Pelenwin wouldn't complain if Highbough stuck around--just that they might need the help more.

waysoftheearth wrote:
The melee spills into a 4th round.

Ulric slinks along the wall toward Dieter, trying to stay clear of the melee. Wibert judges there's nothing for it, and charges into the combat to assist Gustave and Desmond.

Initiative is rolled (1d6; Pelenwin=3(-1), Desmond=1(+1), Gustave=5, Koch=2, Mads=1(+1), the Foe=1).

After feinting otherwise, Pelenwin turns abruptly upon his heel to face the foe rending at his back and rips his terminal cleaver about in a vorpal arc at waist height (1d20=17) contacting solidly with the ghoulish terror's chest for (3dd=4,5,2) 5 hit points, slashing out the majority of the monster's heart, lungs and a good deal of gore which all spontaneously combust before flying more than a foot away -- the fiend squealing awfully as it is consumed in a tornado of caustic flames.

(Saving throws 1d20; Pelenwin=16; Dieter=1!) Time freezes before Pelenwin's eyes...

He sees hot globules of burning fat and spatter coming on ahead of a torrent of incinerating anguish. He already knows he can turn away from the hellfire in time... but Dieter is hopelessly exposed! In aching slow motion Pelenwin the Brave, Fist of Seyal, Knight of the Seal, and Sentinel of the Hollow Citadel makes his choice...

---

(Tombowings! Will Pelenwin evade the flames, or shield Dieter with his own flesh?)

waysoftheearth wrote:
Back in real time, Highbough draws his foe back guarding himself with great care, hoping to create an opportunity for Boris who is already closing. The monster launches itself careless at the aged Elf (1d20=9), but his defence is still sharp enough and Boris comes bullying in from its flank with his thick mace raised high and swinging (1d20=15) to crack the gutted fiend over the skull (2dd=4,3) for a brutal 4 hit points, collapsing the upper part of its grotesque head.

It staggers dumbly for a moment before being torn apart by flames that curl violently up from its feet to enshroud it and the air about it entirely! (1d20; Highbough=19, Boris=20!) Highbough and Boris are both ready for the flames and pull away quickly enough to avoid them.

Across the room Mads, Koch, Gustave and Desmond all strive to flay their respective enemy in a cacophonous melee! (1d20; Mads=10, Koch=6, Gustave=13 and Desmond=4) but only Gustave is able to make his effort count, puncturing the monster before him with a deep, swooning stab through its belly dealing (2dd=4,5) 6 hit points as he drives the blade fiercely in. Flames spill disproportionately from the wound, causing it to split suddenly wider and the monster gives a hideous squeal as it bursts into a flash of impossible fire! (1d20=2) The Gustave cannot avoid the burst and is scorched for (1dd=2) 2 hit points as he pulls his blade free!

waysoftheearth wrote:
At the same moment Wibert arrives at Gustave and Desmond's sides to join in the battle. He screams a Halfling battle cry as he plunges his gleaming blade at the demon-thing (1d20=12) and pierces it through the groin with Sigmund's curved dagger (1dd=5) dealing a ferocious cut for 5 hit points. The grievously wounded thing retaliates in kind (1d20=7) but the Halfling is too subtle by far and ducks past the clumsy attacks.

And the remaining horrors continue their fanged and clawed assault against Mads, Koch and Desmond (3d20=20,5,9). The others miss clumsily, but Mads' axe is deflected aside and then the ghastly fiend is suddenly inside his reach, latching onto his shoulders with hissing black talons, scorching hot! Before he can shake it the thing sinks its vicious fangs into the base of his neck with horrific lust. The brave fighter attempts to fling the monster aside but (2dd=4,5) its porcupine bristles are everywhere hindering him and razor sharp! The fiend tears a hot bloody clot of flesh from poor Mads' neck for the cruellest 5 hit points.

An arterial squirt sprays up from the horrible wound before the fiend pushes Mads' dismissively away -- the Man's life smeared all over its gory fangs and barbed beard. Mads clatters to the ground like a discarded doll and the demon throws its head back and gives a blood curdling cry of glee.

Woe is come! Mads the Fair is slain!