Chapter 5: The Doom That Came to Briarsgate

[AleBelly]

Pelias is half-mad with shame and grief. He helps Grothnak with the barrel. He will move out if the others do, staying close to Grothnak, Bo and Telkis, attacking anything that attacks him first.

Attack with long sword (THAC0 19) [1d20] = 2, damage [1d8] = 6

[Inferno]

Day Four
An Abandoned Barn, Village of Briarsgate
Late Night. Wednesday, October 19th, 576 CY
Cold, mist





The adventurers, weary of body and spirit, seek refuge in an abandoned Decrepit Barn (17) on the edge of Briarsgate. Near the end of the second watch, as Grothnak and Pelias stand guard, the barn is suddenly, unexpectedly under attack!

SKRAASH! FWOOSH!!



Instantly, seemingly out of nowhere, four raging bonfires suddenly explode into existence inside the dry barn, near the south and north doorways! The hungry, oil-borne pyres greedily consume hay, loose pieces of wood and the dry, wooden stall walls, illuminating the barn interior in a fierce and undulating light as thick, roiling smoke plumes rise up to loom over the party like black ghosts.

Grothnak and Pelias believe the trajectories of the flaming oil came from east of the doors, in or near the cornfield! The sleeping adventurers awaken in confusion from the sound of broken glass, flames, and angry shouts. The two horses scream and kick their stall walls in wild-eyed terror.

Avril and Hoom gather their belongings and begin to don their armor. The flames spoil Avril's infravision's ability to see outside the north and south doors.

Hoom scans the walls for weakspots from which to escape, but his view is blocked by the horse stalls that shield the walls with wood and shadow. His eyes land momentarily on the the flame-threatened stall that holds within it the body of Elden Vodarte, and his enchanted Axe of Obad-Hai.

Mouser draws out his sling and crouches in the shadows outside the stall where his horse is. "We need to get out of here!" he yells, not for the first time since entering Briarsgate.

Telkis grabs a pitchfork and uses it to push half a burning bonfire out the northern doorway, but not before its flames take root in the nearby horse stall. "Someone help me!" he cries as he pushes the flaming hay into a rain puddle, soaking its bottom even as the top roars with fire.

Long Bo gathers his possessions and helps Telkis push the rest of one bonfire out the northern door. He and Grothnak both separately look out from the barn to the 7' tall cornfield that extends for acres, east and south of the barn. There are pathways visible among the stalks.



Deep within those rain-soaked fields, Bo and Grothnak spy motion and scant fire light.

• ...near the yellow areas on this map. Light blue represents the corn field.
  Your barn is the large building south of the farmhouse (17). The Gades' place is 19.

  

  SE Briarsgate Map 1.jpg (137.67 KiB) Viewed 1065 times

Ingrid awakens and races to the body of her friend Vodarte. She offers a brief prayer and a heartfelt farewell. Then she slings all her belonging onto her horse and yells, "Let the barn burn... we should break through and regroup somewhere else!"

Grothnak moves east around the fires near the southern door to race outside. He grabs a large oaken rain barrel and begins to roll it back to the doorway. Pelias, half-mad with shame and grief, helps. Together they dump it over, trying to extinguish the bonfires by the south door, with terrible results. Oil and water don't mix. The result is an raging conflagration!
VROOSH!!!

(Sorry. This is a little similar to fighting a grease fire with water.

Here's a description of what occurs:

• • "The reaction is so violent because water and oil don’t mix. When the water is poured into the beaker of burning oil it sinks to the bottom and, due to the intense heat, vaporizes into steam almost instantaneously. With this phase change from a liquid to a gaseous state the water expands by up to 1700 times and forces the fire above it upwards. This oxygenates the oil and creates the huge flame you can see in the video."

So, the water will combust the flaming oil. But the water will also hamper free flames from catching onto new, non-oil fuel, similar to how the rain-soaked exterior of the barn has some protection from the flaming oil. I hope that's clear.

I'll rule that Pelias and Grothnak aren't caught in the fireball, being at least a barrel's length away.

The combusting inferno roars straight up, sparing Grothnak and Pelias, but not the hayloft above; beginning to set it, and its hay, ablaze! Barrel water soaks the barn's ground floor and surrounding hay, preventing fire from traveling across the floor to other flammables.

SKRAASH! SKRAASH! A second barrage of flaming missiles flies from the eastward cornfield, raining another dozen deadly, fiery projectiles near Long Bo and Telkis to the north and Grothnak and Pelias to the south! Two bottles enter the southern door and violently combust inside the barn, but the wet ground stops their flames from spreading across the floor. Luckily, none of the adventurers near either doorway are hit or splashed with flaming oil!

But the crackling, roaring flames above spread quickly across the hayloft, over the heads of Grothnak, Pelias, Mouser and his panicking, kicking, screaming horse, and begin to move north! The situation is dire.

Ceiling fire.jpg (262.2 KiB) Viewed 1065 times

Actions!
Ingrid, please Save vs. Wisdom on 4d6 to calm the horse you are holding.

Barn Map 1.jpg (510.16 KiB) Viewed 1065 times

DM Notes:

Barn Map: Each square is 5 feet. The horses are marked by an "H."

Rolls:
Initiative: Party: [1d6] = 4, Monsters: [1d6] = 3 Party wins.
Attack: N first six, S second six: [1d20] = 5, [1d20] = 13, [1d20] = 7, [1d20] = 13 All miss.
[1d20] = 2, [1d20] = 1, [1d20] = 15, [1d20] = 7 One fumble, one hit.
[1d20] = 7, [1d20] = 10, [1d20] = 20, [1d20] = 4, One hit, critically, forming a double sized bonfire.
Fumble result: [1d8] = 3 Distracted.
Two hits on South doorway: 25% chance per hit to splash heroes near doorway:
Splash Grothnak? (25%): [1d100] = 62, [1d100] = 61 No.
Splash Pelias? (25%): [1d100] = 37, [1d100] = 64 No.

Status:
Avril Hollysword, Half-Elf Fighter/Cleric 1/1: AC 7, HP 9/9, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl
Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 1/2: AC 4, HP 10/10, Spells: 1/1 1st lvl. Slightly groggy (-1 to hit)
Grothnak Uthglukh, Half-Orc Fighter 2: AC 4, HP 9/17
Hoom Feethos, Elven Magic-User/Thief 1/2: AC 3, HP 6/8, Spells: 0/1 1st lvl
Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 3: AC 3(1), HP 14/16, Spells: 0/4 1st lvl and 2/3 2nd lvl. Groggy (-2 to hit)
Long Bo, Human Druid 2: AC 6, HP 5/15, Spells: 2/4 1st lvl and 0/2 2nd lvl
Pelias Blanchflower, Human Paladin 2: AC 2(0), HP 9/19, Laying Hands: 0/1
Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 2: AC 0, HP 15/19 Groggy (-2 to hit)

Magic:
Protection from Evil (Pelias): -2 to AC and +2 to saving throws against evil, in a 10 foot radius around Pelias.


Map of Briarsgate
NPC List for Briarsgate

[ChubbyPixie]

Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter

Telkis hears the roar of flames from the Southern end of the barn even as new flames explode around him and the druid. If a complete thought could be conveyed in a single look, the look Telkis gives Bo at this moment might be interpreted to say "this isn't going to work, is it?" "Are we ready?!" he cries. "They'll be looking to the open doors, ready to shoot us down or burn us! I propose we ready ourselves, then burst though the Eastern door and confront them head on, Fighting types in front! Grothnak, Pelias, Ingrid! Perhaps we can smash through the door if we all rush it at once!" Telkis figures even if the door is barred on the outside, considering the state of the wood, their combined force should be able to break it at a run. He throws down his pitchfork and runs for the center of the barn.

[Zhym]

Grothnak utters another guttural orcish curse. "Gruumsh wants this barn to burn, it'll burn. So we fight!"

He charges through any available door toward the northernmost light source, Vadok in hand ready to strike down any who oppose him.

Roll for if he gets to an enemy this round:[/ooc]

Vadok (Halberd +1) (THAC0 19): [1d20+2] = 3+2 = 5, Dmg [1d10+4] = 4+4 = 8 (S/M) [2d6+4] = 8+4 = 12 (L) Add another +2 to hit because of charging, not that it will make a difference.

[DadsAngry]

Hoom Feethos:

As the flames of the south grow even higher and the loft explodes in flames, Hoom rethinks his decision. With one arm, his left, already threaded through the leather protection, he uses it hold the flailing protection close to his body. With his right hand he scoops up his pack and weapons and dashes for the open door to the north, seeking clearer air.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnfbhdELQLA

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo gets away from the open door and readies himself to follow the fighters out of the middle door.

Ingrid! If your friend has items that will help in our mission, it is best to take them now! I'm afraid this barn will be his funeral pyre before this is all over.

We must try to stick together this time! They will surely target any lone stragglers!

He then readies a spell of entanglement for any groups they encounter once they charge from the burning barn.

[dmw71]

Sensing the impending danger, Avril collects her possessions as quickly as possible and sneaks out of her stall and out the nearest door on the eastern wall, opening it herself if necessary. Once through, she will do her best to keep low and present as little a target as possible to any potential threats awaiting on the outside. Her plan is hug the barn wall and head north to meet up with those that are exiting through the door on that side.

[Grognardsw]

Grey Mouser, thief

As the others head out the east door, Mouser yanks out his horse by the reins. He leads it to the door, gets to the left of Pelias, and whacks the horse along, staying to its right to use as cover, with Pelias to his left. Keeping low hoping to reach shadows and safety.

[Fulci]

Ingrid Esthof, cleric

Ingrid tries to gain control of her trusty steed.
Save vs. Wisdom (18): [4d6] = 11

I think it's logical to assume that Vodarte's stuff wasn't carried with his body, but was put, for example, on Ingrid's horse while transporting the body.

If not, Ingrid rushes back to the stall to get Vodarte's most priced possession: the battle axe.

Ingrid will follow the others through the northern door, ready to cast "Hold Person".

[AleBelly]

Pelias will rush out with the others, holding his shield such that the top edge us just under his eyes. If there's one to be had, he will grab a flaming piece of wood to act as a light source out in the darkness.

[dmw71]

Avril, struggling to open the eastern door, concludes that it must be locked from the outside. Aware of her physical limitations, and uncertain of her chances of forcing her way through the barred door, looks north and south... and observes the abundance of flames sprouting up near both entrances. Looking quickly at Bo and Mouser, she shrugs, and takes a few steps back, towards the western side. After a few purposeful deep breaths, she rushes at the eastern door, leading with her shoulder... and bounces off it like light off a mirror. "It's really stuck," she sighs; rubbing her shoulder as she rises back to her feet and collects herself.

Open Doors (1-2): [1d6] = 6

She squints as she studies the northern and southern sides of the barn, trying to ascertain which, if either, will make for an easier escape route.

[OGRE MAGE]

Bo steps up to the stuck door and stretches out his long frame for maximum leverage. He pushes against the door with all his might.

Open Doors (1-2) [1d6] = 2

Hold on there Avy. I think it's giving way.

[Grognardsw]

Grey Mouser, thief

While others break the door open, Mouser cracks open the east window shutter barely enough to look outside. His infravision seeks out lurking bodies to the east waiting to attack, or watching, as well as any traps that may be waiting for those who rush out.

Horse attempt failed on 4d6.

[Inferno]

Day Four
An Abandoned Barn, Village of Briarsgate
Late Night. Wednesday, October 19th, 576 CY
Cold, mist





The Decrepit Barn (17) that served as the heroes' sanctuary is under attack! Eager, ravenous flames spread like wildfire across the hayloft over the adventurers' heads as they urgently try to escape the burning barn amid much shouting!

loft fire.jpg (125.2 KiB) Viewed 1012 times

The southern door is impassable, blocked by a newly blazing holocaust.

Before the heroes can act...
SKRAASH!! SKRAASH!!! ...a third barrage of flaming missiles rains onto the northern doorway! Two more bonfires explode into being, blocking the northern door as well! Luckily neither Bo nor Telkis, who stand near the doorway, are hit or splashed with flaming oil!

Telkis runs to the east door, shouting, and then turns back north!
Mouser opens a stall door and his panicked horse rears up and bolts, nearly trampling the little thief to death! The steed gallops wildly around the center of the barn, screaming, kicking and frantically searching for any way out of this blazing inferno!

Quickly gathering their possessions, Grothnak, Hoom, Ingrid, Pelias and Telkis move north to escape but stop dead in their tracks before the roaring furnace of flames now across the northern door! Their path as sealed as their doom, they turn back!

Timbers in the hayloft creak ominously overhead as burning embers fall from the fiery ceiling above!

ceiling fire 2.jpg (368.39 KiB) Viewed 1012 times

Avril, Bo and Mouser hurriedly gather their belongings and race to the eastern door and find it held tight from the outside! Flames and smoke surround them, closing in like a noose. Avril can't break the door open. Long Bo readies to slam his giant frame against it when suddenly...

"STOP!" cries Mouser. The wily, suspicious thief had just peeked out a shuttered window on the east side and found the eastern door and windows were surrounded by another wall of fire! Mouser spied dark shapes laid at its scorching foundation, fueling this oil-borne deathtrap! Had anyone broken down the eastern door, their momentum would have carried them into the burning wall of flames! Because of the light, heat and noise inside the barn, the fire outside it went undetected, until now!

All three exits are barred by raging flames! Smoke and fire close in on our brave heroes!
Everyone, please Save vs. Poison or take 1d3 damage for smoke inhalation.

Actions?!?

Barn Map 2.jpg (527.09 KiB) Viewed 1012 times

DM Notes:

Initiative: Party: [1d6] = 4, Enemy [1d6] = 6 Enemy wins.
North, to hit: [1d20] = 18, [1d20] = 9, [1d20] = 3 One hit.
North, to hit: [1d20] = 20, [1d20] = 7, [1d20] = 10 One hits and it's a critical hit, creating a double sized bonfire.
Splash Telkis? (25%): [1d100] = 83, [1d100] = 42 No.
Splash Bo? (25%): [1d100] = 30, [1d100] = 39 No.

Status:
Avril Hollysword, Half-Elf Fighter/Cleric 1/1: AC 7, HP 9/9, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl
Grey Mouser, Half-Elf Magic-User/Thief 1/2: AC 4, HP 10/10, Spells: 1/1 1st lvl. Slightly groggy (-1 to hit)
Grothnak Uthglukh, Half-Orc Fighter 2: AC 4, HP 9/17
Hoom Feethos, Elven Magic-User/Thief 1/2: AC 3, HP 6/8, Spells: 0/1 1st lvl
Ingrid Esthof, Human Cleric 3: AC 3(1), HP 14/16, Spells: 0/4 1st lvl and 2/3 2nd lvl. Groggy (-2 to hit)
Long Bo, Human Druid 2: AC 6, HP 5/15, Spells: 2/4 1st lvl and 0/2 2nd lvl
Pelias Blanchflower, Human Paladin 2: AC 2(0), HP 9/19, Laying Hands: 0/1
Telkis Brassfang, Gnome Fighter 2: AC 0, HP 15/19 Groggy (-2 to hit)

Magic:
Protection from Evil (Pelias): -2 to AC and +2 to saving throws against evil, in a 10 foot radius around Pelias.


Map of Briarsgate
NPC List for Briarsgate

[DadsAngry]

Hoom Feethos:

Save vs Poison 13 [1d20] = 13 Damage [1d3] = 3
Made it.

[Zhym]

Save v. Poison (14): [1d20] = 10 Dmg: [1d3] = 2

[Grognardsw]

Grey Mouser, coughing violently, backs up from underneath the burning hayloft lest it fall on him. He avoids the wild horses.

"Crash the west wall!" the thief says as the others discuss magic means of escape.

- Save vs. Poison [1d20] = 6
- Smoke inhalation [1d3] = 1

[dmw71]

Avril
Save vs Poison (10): [1d20] = 15

[AleBelly]

"Grothnak!" yells Pelias over the roaring flame. "Can you hack an opening in the west barn door with that great axe of yours? I will be the first out to face whatever danger is upon us."

Save vs poison [1d20] = 3, damage [1d3] = 3

[Fulci]

Ingrid Esthof, cleric

Save v. Poison (10): [1d20] = 5 Dmg: [1d3] = 1 HP: 13/16

Ingrid starts coughing.

Are there any windows or openings on the west wall? Any weak spots?