SESSION 38: FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS
The party stack up around the door and final preparations are made.
Uthalin coordinates the assault. "Dedrik, Ansic and Lorah on me. Thomas you cover our rear with Ghislain and Penn. Halee and Risandor, get ready to get us out of this if it all goes bad" the big dwarf grumbles.
"You ready Ansic?" he asks.
The giant fighter just nods in acknowledgement.
Just then Uthalin stops. "Wait, remember the priest". He puts his ear to the door to listen for dogs.
It's a DC 5 Perception check to hear a conversation through a closed door. Uthalin rolls a 13 + 1 Perception skill = 14. He can clearly hear Magor and what sounds like a female on the other side talking about something.
He nods to Ansic that it's go time.
Uthalin will give assistance to Ansic to boom the door. He rolls a 3 + 3 < 10 required and doesn't provide assistance. Ansic booms the door. He rolls a 4 + 5 = 9 which is less than the 13 required. BOOM!!! Nothing happens.
Halee sighs and resolves that she's going to buy a practice door for these two clowns. Strong as ox's they may be but they just can't seem to boom a door in one go.
They try again. Uthalin again rolls a 3 and fails but Ansic rolls a 11 + 5 = 16 > 13 and they succeed.
BOOM, CRACK!!!!
The door only partially opens and inside they see the seething Magor and his remaining partner waiting for them. Weapons ready.
ROUND 1A – THE ASSUAT GOES IN
Initiative – Party 13, Magor 5
• Ansic quickly scans the two foes. Magor is heavily armoured, wearing chain mail and using a large shield for defence and a heavy mace for attack. The matriarch is armoured in standard orc studded leather and wields a deadly falchion. He instantly stabs at Magor with his long sword but Magor pushes aside Ansics' blow with his shield.
• Before Uthalin can act, Halee thinks about throwing a tangle foot bag at the unengaged matriarch. The DC for throwing a splash weapon or equivalent at a square is DC 5 (page 202 Throw Splash Weapons) and the range increment is 10ft (page 141 Thrown Weapons), range increment penalty is -2 per range increment (page 144 Weapon Qualities Range). A tangle foot bag is a ranged touch attack weapon with a range increment of 10ft (page 160 Tanglefoot Bag). Halee knows she's on -10 to hit the orc (ie one range increment and two in intervening characters) and being practical she decides to hold back the tanglefoot bag and instead fires an arrow at the matriarch but she misses.
• Howling with rage and frustrated that Magor and his mate have restricted their attack angle and numbers, Uthalin advances 5ft to the south east and attacks. He figures if he can take out the female quickly they'll be better able to surround Magor and hack the big deadly male down. He brings his war axe down on the matriarch and hits her in left leg. It's a deadly blow and causes 8pts of damage. Only her ferocity keeps her up.
• Risandor has range and arc to the female and decides to try to Daze her to protect Uthalin as best he can. It's a Will DC 13 to save. The matriarch rolls an 18 – 1 Will save = 17 and easily passes the test.
• Recognizing the danger that Uthalin is in, Dedrik 5ft steps to the west and gets ready to pull out the dwarf should he get smashed. He yells to the others to leave the space behind him clear so that he could immediately do it if required.
• Hearing the shouting and din of battle, Thomas starts to shake and Baby Cord starts to salivate.
• Asmara considers casting Cause Fear on the matriarch but decides to keep the spell for later as it might be better used on Magor if the fight goes sour.
ROUND 1B – DEVASTATING COORDINATION
• The matriarch bleeds out 1pt.
• Seeing his last remaining mate under attack, Magor lashes out at Uthalin with his mace and smashes him in the left shoulder for 11pts of damage.
• The large female slashes with her giant falchion and hits the dwarf for 11pts of damage. She howls with pleasure at the dwarf slumps to the ground.
ROUND 2A – CRITICAL CONDITION
• Uthalin rolls to stabilise. He needs a DC 10 + 10 for his wounds = 20. He rolls a 3 + 1 Con modifier = 4 and bleeds out another point. He is in critical condition. Currently at -11 hp and bleeding out if he goes to -12 he will die.
• Dedrik grabs his fallen body and pulls him back 5ft.
• The brave Ansic immediately 5ft steps forward at slashes at the deadly female with his long sword hitting her in the right leg for 10pts of damage. It's enough to put her down for good and she slumps to the ground dead.
• Lorah 5ft steps to the west and stabs at Magor with his long sword but misses.
• Asmara pushes her way through Halee and Risandor and casts Rebuke Death healing back 1d4+1 damage. She rolls a 2 + 1 = 3pts of damage. She can only do this to creatures with HP below 0 and she can do this 3 + 1 Wis modifier = 4 times a day. Uthalin stops bleeding.
• Risandor cannot get a good angle on Magor to cast Daze so he 5ft steps to the south east to give Dedrik a clear path to pull Uthalin back more in the next round.
• Halee waits patiently. Her time will come soon for revenge.
ROUND 2B – MAGOR RESPONDS
• Magor knows that he's at risk of being surrounded and he attacks Ansic to try to put down the big human as quickly has he can but he misses with his mace strike.
ROUND 3A – SAFETY IN NUMBERS
• Dedrik pulls Uthalin back 10ft.
• Risandor sees his opportunity and moves forward 15ft to the north west and casts Daze upon Magor. If this works the party will quickly be able to surround the big orc and hack him down. Magor needs to make a DC 13 Will save. He rolls a 19 – 1 Will save = 18 and easily passes.
• Ansic 5ft steps to the west and stabs at Magor with his long sword but he misses the deadly foe.
• Lorah 5ft steps to the west and slashes at Magor with his long sword but also misses.
• Halee 5ft steps to the north west and takes a shot with her bow. She knows it's not going to be easy firing into a melee with Magor who is also getting partial cover from the corner but she also knows that going toe to toe with a monster like that will likely get her killed. She fires and misses (she needed a natural 20 to hit).
• Asmara 5ft steps to the east and casts Rebuke Death again, holding her more powerful healing spells for later. She heals Uthalin back 2pts, slowly reviving him.
• Dedrik resolves that he'll jump into the fight next round to try to help his friends.
ROUND 3B – STUPID LITTLE HALFLING
• Magor hates that little halfling. Always casting those nasty spells and hiding behind his companions. He also knows he cannot get out the secret door as he had it reinforced and spiked it to protect himself from the party attacking from that direction. He weights up his odds. 1-3 he'll 5ft step to the north east and attack the halfling, 4-6 he'll stay put and attack either of the human fighters. He rolls a 2 and 5ft steps to the north east. He knows this is practically suicide but he also knows that he's basically dead anyway and he's decided to try to take as many of these intruders with him as he can.
• He swings his mighty mace at Risandor and hits the plucky little halfling in the left shoulder for 13pts of damage. Risandor screams out and drops to the ground and starts to bleed out. Magor roars with the pleasure of combat.
ROUND 4A – TOUGH
• Risandor attempts to stabilise. He needs a DC 10 + 4 wounds -1 con bonus = 13. He rolls a 9 and bleeds out another point.
• Asmara knows that the brutal orc warlord is just as likely to coup de gras Risandor as to attack a fresh target in the next round. She decides that the only thing to do is to move forward and try to pull Risandor out of harms way. She knows she might get hit with an attack of opportunity but figures it's worth the risk. She yells to Dedrik to come forward and block Magor after she's pulled Risandor free and then she goes for it. She moves 5ft to the east and grabs Risandor and starts to pull him back. This prompts the attack of opportunity. Magor swings his mace and misses Asmara. She pulls Risandor 10ft back, effectively clearing him from the combat.
• Dedrik duly moves forward 10ft to the south west and attacks Magor. Magor is flanked now by Dedrik and Lorah. He stabs at Magor with his long sword and misses the big orc.
• Ansic 5ft steps to the south east and attacks Magors' flank and also misses.
• Lorah flank attacks Magor with his long sword and also misses.
• Halee knows that if she moves she'll open up an escape route for Magor and also expose the unconscious party members to a potential attack from him. She also knows that she's finally got a decent Sneak Attack set up and decides to go for it. Drawing her mace she aims a blow at the big orc but misses him. She yells for Thomas to come and help.
• Shaking with anticipation Thomas hears the cry for help. He was fearing this. If this goes wrong and the other orcs attack he'll be surrounded again. He taps Penn on the shoulder to follow him and leaves Ghislain behind as the lone defender of the corridor. Rounding the corner he is horrified at what he sees. Uthalin and Risandor are down and a the massive Magor is ½ way up the corridor. He aims with his bow and fires a round at the monster hoping to slow it down, at least a bit but he cannot penetrate the orcs chain mail and the arrow bounces off.
ROUND 4B – RELENTLESS
• Having withstood a myriad of attacks and seeing the invaders retreating from his powerful blows, Magor decides to press home his attack to the east and try to kill as many of the scum as possible, rejoin his clan and come back to finish off the rest.
• He attacks 1-3 Halee, 4-6 Dedrik. He rolls a 2 and decides to attack Halee. Raising his mighty mace he smashes her in the head for 10pts of damage. Halee slumps to the ground and starts to bleed out as Magor 5ft steps over her unconscious and bleeding body.
ROUND 5A – CAULDRON
• Halee rolls to stabilise. She needs a DC 10 + 1 for her wounds -1 for her Con = 10. She rolls a 15 and stabilises. Risandor needs a 14 to stabilise and he rolls a 3 and bleeds out another point.
• Asmara yells to Thomas to pull Uthalin back out of harms way. Thomas grabs Uthalin and pulls him back a double drag move of 20ft.
• Asmara grabs Risandor and does the same. She cannot help Halee. Hopefully Magor doesn't focus on her next round.
• Thomas yells to Ghislain to come forward and block the progress of Magor.
• Ghislain double moves to a blocking position but cannot attack.
• Frustrated that they just can't hit the monster Ansic 5ft steps to the north east and attempts to stab Magor in the back but he once again misses.
• Desperate, Lorah 5ft steps to the north east and swings at Magor and hits the beast in the groin for 8pts of damage.
• Penn moves 10ft to the west and attacks the monster with his long sword but misses.
• Finally Dedrik attacks Magor and also misses.
ROUND 5B – WOUNDS
• Magor emits a ferocious howl of rage as he brings his mace down on 1-3 Ghislain, 4-6 Penn, ie the two that are in his way of freedom. He rolls a 2 and decides to attack Ghislain. The mighty mace hits home, smashing Ghislain in the chest for 12pts of damage. The blood drains from Ghislains' face as he stands there, just.
ROUND 6A&B – NOTHING TO FEAR BUT FEAR ITSELF
• Risandor attempts to stabilise and needs to roll a 15. He rolls an 18 and stabilises.
• Ghislain needs to take a morale check for being wounded for the first time in combat. He needs a 15 – 1 for Thomas' Diplomacy/Cha modifier (Halee and Risandor are down and he doesn't know Asmara and Thomas is the next party member with the best Cha/Diplomacy skill level) – 2 for having fought successfully with the party in the previous combat = 12. He rolls a 16 and passes. None the less Ghislain knows that he's combat ineffective and takes a 5ft step to the south east.
• Thomas moves 10ft to the west to protect Uthalin, he draws an arrow and fires at Magor but just misses due to Magor being in a swirling combat.
• Dedrik realises the danger of Magor getting loose and 5ft steps to the north east to block Magors' escape route. He stabs at the beast with his long sword but misses.
• Penn also attacks Magor but also misses.
• Lorah stabs at Magor but also misses.
• Ansic slashes at Magor and hits the monster in the right shoulder for 7pts of damage. Realising that Magor might cut his way through the men at arms, Ansic 5ft steps to the east in preparation to try to move in front of the orc in the next round.
• Asmara 10ft steps to the west to protect the fallen Risandor and decides to cast Cause Fear to get some respite from the rampaging Magor. She is in range and casts the spell. It's a DC 12 Will save. Magor rolls a 6 -1 Will save = 5 and fails. He becomes frightened for 1d4 rounds. A 3 is rolled on 1d4. He must flee and all party members in contact get an Attack of Opportunity. He runs to the south west 30ft and will end up in the south western corner of his room.
• Dedrik misses, Penn misses, Lorah misses and Ansic misses.
• During his turn (ie Round 6b) Magor hides in the corner.
ROUND 7A&B – BRINGING DOWN THE BEAST
• A Fear Token is removed from Magor.
• Dedrik drags Halee 10ft to the east and away from the still dangerous orc.
• Thomas advances 20ft to the west and fires an arrow off at the monster but he misses.
• Ansic gets nice and close and tosses a tanglefoot bag at the creature. He rolls a ranged touch attack roll of 16 + 2 dex + 1 bab = 19 against the Magors touch armour class of 11 and hits the monster. The bag bursts. Magor must make a DC 15 Reflex save or be glued to the floor. He rolls a 20 + 1 dex -2 for the gluey bag -2 for being frightened = 17 and makes the save. None the less he is covered in the sticky substance and will suffer -2 to attack rolls and -4 penalty to dexterity.
• Lorah pulls out his short bow, not wanting to get any closer to the monster than he needs to, and fires a shot. He just hits Magor because the beast is tangled. The shot hits the orc in the left shoulder for 3pts of damage.
• Asmara Channels Positive Energy healing Penn, Ghislain, Halee, Uthalin and Risandor by upto 6pts of damage.
• Penn advances 15ft to the south west to a relatively safe position behind the bed and fires a shot at Magor but he misses.
• Ghislain advances 20ft to the west, just inside the door and fires a shot at Magor but he misses.
• Halee stands up and gets her bearings.
• Magor continues to cower in the corner.
ROUND 8A&B – A BLOOD LETTING
• A fear token is removed from Magor.
• Asmara Channels Positive Energy again and heals back 2pts of damage to Halee, Risandor, Uthalin and Ghislain. This will be her last Channel Positive Energy for the day.
• Ghislain moves 15ft to the north western corner of the room and fires an arrow at Magor. With determined aim he hits the beast in the groin for 1pt of damage.
• Penn 5ft steps to the south and fires an arrow at Magor and also hits the monster, this time in the stomach for 1pt of damage.
• Lorah moves 20ft to the west and south and fires an arrow at Magor and he is hit again, this time critically. The arrow pasts cleanly through the orcs chain mail armour and buries itself deep in his stomach for 10pts of damage. The big orc warlord starts to bleed out, only its ferocity keeping it on its feet.
• Thomas fires an arrow at Magor and misses.
• Halee advances 15ft to the west and fires an arrow at Magor and also misses.
• Dedrik advances 20ft to the west and fires and arrow at Magor and hits it in the right leg for 3pts of damage, almost bringing the beast down.
• Magor bleeds out a point as he cowers in the corner.
ROUND 9A&B – BLOODY CONCLUSION
• The last Fear token is removed from Magor.
• Seeing his strength fading away as he bleeds out the party watches and takes no action.
• Magor dies of his wounds and blood loss.
DEW
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