INTO THE RIFT!!! (G2 - Part 1)

[Cwreando]

Understood, I will try and be more precise. Sorry for the confusion. Please place Lorath north of Flambeau and south of A, G, and M. So in between the groups.

Lorath says, "We staying and fighting or moving out? We will be cut off shortly if we don't back out of here soon?"

Lorath almost disappears as he shifts to the form of a white hummingbird Pegasus as he blends into the surrounding, but there are two of him.

Lorath cast Farie fire on the second frost giant just behind the one directly in front of Olaf and Rommel to give them better odds at hitting the giant.

[saalaria]

Hollis shepherds Vorsyin south of the breach in the wall (ie to the southern wall) as they back up - to minimise the chance of being hit by anything flung by a giant through the steam.
"Lets move quicker now."
They will move around back to the ledge.
"I think we should stay here to prevent us being hemmed in from behind, unable to get back out of the rift. If any giants follow us you might want to fireball them."

[saalaria]

Marcus begins to fall back with Arqos and Gaerys

"Whats the plan ? Back out to the ledge?"

[Magnus]

Round 5

The party takes a narrow initiative (1 seg - it matters), and begins to show the giants truly what these heroes are capable of...though the giants do a bit of that on their own!

Gaerys grits his teeth and leaps with a great flourish, whipping Giantbane in a diagonal arc upward, and then back down again. This precise, yet brutal, pair of strokes tears open the throat of the giant spearman. It falls to the cavern floor in a heap. A river of blood soaks that part of the cavern floor.

Arqos lays his hands upon the ranger, priming him for the next round. Nothing comes forward from the steam, so the paladin and ranger are left to move into the steam or follow Marcus.

Gaerys recover 18 damage

Marcus heeds the words of Gaerys, the more experienced fighter, and files out towards the cavern entrance. He holds his spear in readiness, awaiting further orders while maintaining an important tactical position.

Olaf and Rommel combine to absolutely gut the frost giant facing them. Flambeau begins calling upon the healing warmth of the Lord of Light to heal Rommel's critical wounds...

CCW has an 8 seg casting time.

A yet untouched blackguard spearman responds with a vicious surge forward towards Rommel. He plunges his spear through the body of the black knight, destroying his heart and lungs with a point as large as a man's leg and lifting him high above the cavern floor. His body drops with a crash, and the painted warrior screams in recognition of his unholy victory!

ROMMEL 20 DAMAGE!!! ROMMEL IS AT -17 AND DEAD!!!! HE WILL NEED A RAISE DEAD, ETC. TO RECOVER!!!

The two giants facing the tunnel, a blackguard and juggernaut, let loose with blocks of ice -- one at Olaf and one at Flambeau. Their aim is true, and each man hurts from the crushing blow.

Olaf - 8 damage
Flambeau - 10 damage/spell spolied - (note that I play that you do not lose the spell, it is just not cast)

Lorath shifts shapes again to a "white hummingbird Pegasus" and casts a glowing aura over the blackguard spearman, who is now easier to target.

It has not mattered, but note that it takes a half-round to shift and you can only cast in human form. Checking the spell description, that actually ends the spell. I will happily handwave prior actions and this round, but you'll need to shift to human form to cast again.

The remaining giants, shouting to each other in the Old Tongue, move the boulder, then file out towards -- or onto -- the shelf, ending within engagement distance of Marcus. When not consumed by bloodlust, the frost giants are reasonably intelligent and tactical. When the bloodlust sets in, however, there is nothing but the opponent in front of them.

Hollis and Vorsyin move backwards through the steam and eventually find themselves at the mouth of the yeti cavern. They - along with the rest of the party- note that the the ledge outside the cavern is extremely treacherous -- particularly where it is only 7'-10' wide. It is icy and slopes downward. Hollis and Vorsyin need to be very careful...without crampons or boots of the winterlands, they face a chance of falling, particularly if they do not take an extra round to be careful!!! (Indeed, Olaf and Rommel both risked falling, but both made it!) Vorsyin could also attack from a distance...

Moreover, a firm blow from a giant might move a party member back 10' or so...though the party could somehow turn that to their advantage.

The party needs to move tactically here...many party members are at essentially full strength, but one is dead and another faces three opponents, each of whom could bring him down -- or kill him -- with one shot! Some artillery or creative magic might help here as well.

MAP:

Glacial Rift (11).jpg (449.98 KiB) Viewed 669 times

*********************************
HP:
Arqos: 40/91
Gaerys: 62/69
Rommel: DEAD!!!!
Olaf: 11/75!!!
Flambeau: 64 / 75
Marcus: 48/48
Lorath 43/43
Hollis: 52 /52
Vorsyin 52 / 52
*********************************

Magic:

Lorath:

Polymorph
Faerie Fire
Mirror Image (1)

[OGRE MAGE]

Can Flam target all three Giants in front of Markus with his Flame Strike, or are they too spread out?

[Magnus]

Can Flam target all three Giants in front of Markus with his Flame Strike, or are they too spread out?

You can do so.

[OGRE MAGE]

Flambeau moves to the side a bit in order to try to get out of the direct flight path of the flying ice blocks. As he moves he begins chanting the phrases needed to rain down the fire of R'hllor on the three Giants to the south that are throwing the ice rocks at us. Flamestrike

[Zhym]

Gaerys rushes to Marcus's side. "Fall back behind me!" he calls out. Gaerys takes a position just inside the choke point of the entrance. Positioned correctly, there should be room for one giant in the entrance, Gaerys hopes, with Marcus able to attack with spear from behind.

Intended positioning of Gaerys, Arqos, and Marcus after movement:

Giants.png (146.25 KiB) Viewed 654 times

Gaerys attacks the first giant who approaches his position.

Giantbane (THAC0 12) (vs. true giant): [1d20+3] = 3+3 = 6 Dmg: [1d12x2] = 11x2 = 22+12

[GreyWolfVT]

Olaf falls back to where Gaerys and Marcus are just back around the corner of the ice passage wall. indicated in Zhym's map.

He will attack any giant that comes near them swinging mightily with skullsplitter.

Olaf Skullsplitter [1d20 +4] = 16+4 = 20 to hit [1d12 +8] = 8+8 = 16 s/m dmg [3d6 +8] = 13+8 = 21 lrg dmg

[Magnus]

Vorsyin is a key move here...he could target Giants on the ledge with ranged attacks. Hollis could too, or either rush to the battle with a decent risk of falling (and +2 to hit). Or take his time, with a low chance of falling, and enter the battle next round.

[Zhym]

Arqos follows Gaerys to the entrance, quaffing a potion of extra healing as he goes.

Potion of extra healing: [3d8+3] = 14+3 = 17

[Cwreando]

Lorath moves toward Marcus but not too close. Just enough to see past the fighter to cast his Ice storm spell. He moves toward Marcus and he shifts into a Wildling form similar to a dwarf . This should give him the ability to cast spells and a possibly a boost to his AC. He says, "Ice Storm." He then cast Ice storm using the hail version for damage no save. He positions it so that none of his party are not within the area of effect and as many giants are hit as possible.

[Computer +1]

Vorsyin is scared. His action could doom them all but so could his inaction. He quickly assesses his choices and decides upon the course he thinks is best. He uses his wand to fire a Lightning Bolt at the Giants moving to engage Marcus. He targets whichever Giant is furthest from Marcus and hopes the splash damage will not strike his ally.

[saalaria]

Hearing Gaerys shout, Marcus moves behind him but not exposing his back to attack.

[saalaria]

Hollis keeps watch back through the yeti cave and back up the path for anything coming in behind the party.

[Magnus]

Round 6

The giants, smelling blood (lots of it), take a wide initiative.

first segment to 6th segment.

The blackguard brandishes its jagged obsidian spear and moves forward to attack Olaf. The pale, but painted giant viciously thrusts his weapon forward, again piercing, armor, bone, and organs. Olaf goes limp and slides off of the tip of a spear motionless. He collapses in a heap.

OLAF DOWN!!! UNLESS FINISHED, HE WILL LOSE 1 HP/round until dying at -10.

Meanwhile, the two giants in the rear rain additional ice chunks down upon on Flambeau. The cleric steps aside from one, but the other catches him squarely in the chest. It is unclear whether the giants can see Lorath, but they would certainly not view a hummingbird, Pegasus, or some combination thereof as a threat.

Olaf: 12 damage! OLAF DOWN!!!!
Flambeau: 11 damage!!!

The three giants on the ledge close in on (poor) Marcus. The juggernauts bring axe, spear, and club upon the young warrior. The latter catches him across the jaw, stunning him. An axe follows, paralyzing Marcus as it cracks across his back. The spear is next, tearing the man open from gut to chin with a long, upward slice. The club-wielding giant beats the prone body again and again, leaving nothing but crimson paste and shards of metal mashed into the ice.

Marcus: 60 DAMAGE!!! DEAD!!!!

[4d6] = 19, [4d6] = 19, [4d6] = 22

An additional 4 giants file out onto the ledge, obviously intending to block the ways out.

Nothing emerges from the steam...Gaerys looks down and notices that meltwater fills the area covered by steam, which Hollis and Vorsyin notice as well. Some sloshing can be heard from in the steam.

Gaerys then springs forward and chops at a giant, missing - particularly against the more heavily armored juggernauts.

Arqos quaffs a healing potion and moves shoulder-to-shoulder with Gaerys.

A recovers 17 HP

Flambeau wisely moves out of the line of fire of the giants and begins casting. Lorath follows, reverts to a humanoid form, and also begins casting.

flamestrike will go off in seg 1 of round 8 (8 seg casting time). You can't act this round, unless you cancel the spell. Man, that is a long casting time.

ice storm will go off in seg 3 of round 7 (4 seg casting time). You get an action in round 7 too.

Nice move transforming into a form that allows you to cast without killing polymorph spell. Bonus, if any, to AC TBD.

Hollis and Vorsyin move purposefully onto the ledge. Hollis maintains a staunch watch, while Vorsyin lets loose a lightning bolt from his wand. A BOOM resonates and echoes throughout the Rift as a blinding flash of lightning strikes two of the giants who had just killed Ethan. One is caught dead on, and seems left at about half strength. The other avoids most of the shock, but is nonetheless burned.

And, so a giant spearman is headed towards the rear flank of the party, having just taken down Olaf. Two untouched giants stand behind, having been throwing ice chunks and rocks. About 7 giants, most of them untouched, stand on the ledge blocking the party's exit. And an unknown number rest (or are lost) in the mist created by the party's magical fires...

Does the party have what it takes to prevail in this soon-to-be-legendary battle?!?

DECLARE ACTIONS!!!

*********************************
HP:
Arqos: 57/91 (-15)
Gaerys: 62/69
Rommel: DEAD!!!!
Olaf: -1/75!!!
Flambeau: 53/75
Marcus: DEAD!!!!
Lorath 43/43
Hollis: 52 /52
Vorsyin 52 / 52
*********************************

PS - I am not able to map this round today. Would rather advance action without it, but will post one if necessary. Really, folks are just reacting to what is in front (or behind) them...

[GreyWolfVT]

Nope this player is fresh out of characters at the moment.

[Computer +1]

Am I a total paint in the ass if I ask for a map before Vorsyin does his action? If yes then I will go without.

Dont hate me Magnus

[Zhym]

Gaerys and Arqos attack something.

Gaerys:
Giantbane (THAC0 12) (vs. true giant): [1d20+3] = 7+3 = 10 Dmg: [1d12x2] = 1x2 = 2+12
Giantbane (THAC0 12) (vs. true giant): [1d20+3] = 5+3 = 8 Dmg: [1d12x2] = 6x2 = 12+12

Arqos:
Sunfire vs. evil (THAC0 12): [1d20+4] = 2+4 = 6 Dmg [1d8+4] = 8+4 = 12 (S/M) [1d12+4] = 2+4 = 6 (L)
Sunfire vs. evil (THAC0 12): [1d20+4] = 14+4 = 18 Dmg [1d8+4] = 5+4 = 9 (S/M) [1d12+4] = 9+4 = 13 (L)

[Magnus]

Am I a total paint in the ass if I ask for a map before Vorsyin does his action? If yes then I will go without.

Dont hate me Magnus

In the holiday spirit, here is a rough map, in which I have adjusted the position of the party members and giants on the ledge.

Glacial Rift (11).jpg (449.74 KiB) Viewed 586 times