Chp. 6 - Deeper and Harder

[Pulpatoon]

Porphyry: "The ship did not prove especially defensible to either us or its tentacled inhabitants. And we do have they physical remains of our companions to deal with.

"Besides, as eager as I am to visit hell upon my captors, I just realized that in towns there are beds. And I am now having a difficult time imagining anything in all the world more desirable than sleeping in a real bed. With pillows. And linen sheets. O Gods of Pleasure and Desire, grant me linen sheets, this evening. And a featherbed!"

The satyr looks lost in contemplation of overwhelming luxury.

[AleBelly]

"Yes, back to the keep!" exclaims Wulfhart, who smiles for the first time in quite awhile. "We'd better have a plan for those norkers on the way out, though. Are there magics available to deal with large groups of foes? I doubt we can defeat them in hand-to-hand combat in our current condition."

[dok-el]

"Me make Norkums go sleepybies," growls Eryndir as he continues to loot the corpses of his fallen comrades.

[Grognardsw]

Carrying their dead comrades, the adventurers wearily proceed back up the sloping passageway, past bones in the wall and dead flail snail, then up and past alien and obscene carvings. They pause before the chamber with the maddening ceiling, and pass through quickly with eyes averted. They ignore the child-like pleadings coming from the north door, which is still ajar.

The party enters the west-side of the portcullis chamber. It is closed. They see the lever in the north wall and know it will open the portcullis. No norkers can be seen. The exit is about 200' ahead on the right, turning down the south corridor to the outside (see map.)

Eryndir the elf has his sleep spell at the ready.

[AleBelly]

Before leaving, Wulfhart remembers Boddin's ring of invisibility and takes it if still available. When reaching the portcullis, he pushes his sword through to the other side and, using his watery form, squishes through to the other side where he lifts it for his comrades. He quickly puts his armor back on and grabs his sword.

I'm assuming that, according to the map, the only levers are on the other side of the portcullis.

[greyarea]

Asherrion notes Wulfhart's transformation and watches keenly for any norkers, not wanting his comrade to have to face them alone if they reappear.

Nice job, aquaman.

[OGRE MAGE]

Fingal follows along with the rest in hopes that they can escape without any action in his weakened state

We need to be careful as I'm sure that Tayne guy still lurks somewhere nearby.

[Grognardsw]

The adventurers move cautiously along the corridor, reaching the south turn. They peek around the corner. Five norkers are making their way north toward the party!

[greyarea]

Asherrion

Asherrion puts on his Scorpion Ring and draws his long sword. He whispers, We fight on, right guys?

[dok-el]

"Make pet skullmuncher dance a jig for little Norkums, goat-arse," Eryndir grunts at Porphyry. Then he raises his hand ready to cast his sleep spell as soon as the Norkers come into view.

Roll for sleep HD [2d8] = 3

And there it is. Time to die

[OGRE MAGE]

Fingal stays near the back of the fracas, avoiding combat if possible.

[Hotgoblin]

Groyn and Bene will stay back with Fingal. He keeps his weapon ready for use.

[thesniperknight1]

Gagel takes a back step as he carries Easia but is ready to put her down and fight if necessary

Attack: [1d20] = 6, Damage: [1d8] = 8

he keeps his sword ready just in case a norker attacks him.

[AleBelly]

Wulfhart jogs over to Fingal and places something in his hand while whispering. He then jogs back to the front, Fang of Cuthbert drawn.

Attack w/Fang of Cuthbert (THAC0 18) [1d20+2] = 7+2 = 9 damage [1d8+2] = 3+2 = 5

[Pulpatoon]

Porphyry fixes one of the advancing Norkers with a focused glare, extends his arms with hands curled as though clutching something, and spits out a single, harsh syllable

Porphyry casts Choke.

Choke
Level: 2
Duration: 1 round per level Range: 90'
This spell causes a pair of spectral hands to clasp the throat of a single target and to begin choking them. Each round of the spell the victim suffers 1d4 damage and makes attack rolls at -2. The victim is allowed a saving throw when the spell is cast, with success reducing the choking damage by half (rounded up).
Due to the ghostly nature of the choking hands, it is not possible for the victim to wrench them away. However the choke is negated if the caster is killed or knocked unconscious.

[Grognardsw]

Escape? - Round One

Eryndir the elf intones magick words and on the final syllable peeks around the corner. He eyes the norkers and flicks a bit of sand. Three norkers fall into a sorcerous somnolence.

From cover of the corner Porphyry the satyr invokes dark forces. Spectral hands materialize around the throat of a norker, chocking the monster.

The others rush forward to kill the two awake norkers. Asherrion's scorpion tail darts out but misses; the elf is still getting use to handling it. Wulfhart the northern warrior swings his wicked Fang of Cuthbert but the axe is blocked by the norker's massive spiked club.



Gagel the thief jumps into the fray but can't get off a successful strike in the crowded corridor.

Then Groyn the dwarf slides in low, hacking with his axe on the choking norker. The blade shatters a knee cap! His dog Bene growls and bites hard in the thigh, finishing the norker off!

One norker defiantly remains. He swings the spiked club at the large muscled northman Wulfhart. The barbarian parries it with his axe.

Actions for Round Two!

Party gets surprise.
52488 Keep DM The Keep in the Borderlands Norker club on Wulf [1d20] = 11, [1d6] = 6 2/28/2015 5:33:28 PM
52486 Keep DM The Keep in the Borderlands Groyn axe [1d20] = 15, [1d8] = 3. Bene [1d20] = 15, [1d6] = 3 2/28/2015 5:14:36 PM
52485 Keep DM The Keep in the Borderlands Ash tail [1d20] = 13, [1d8] = 6 2/28/2015 5:10:49 PM
52484 Keep DM The Keep in the Borderlands Ash tail or sword z50/50 [1d100] = 36 2/28/2015 5:10:05 PM
52483 Keep DM The Keep in the Borderlands Norker save vs. Choke [1d20] = 1 2/28/2015 5:09:07 PM
52482 Keep DM The Keep in the Borderlands Porphyry choke spell [1d4] = 3 2/28/2015 5:08:18 PM

[Pulpatoon]

Porphyry keeps choking the Norker, which sounds dirty, but isn't.

[AleBelly]

"Swing at me, will you, bastard? Taste my steel!"

Attack w/Fang of Cuthbert(THAC0 18) [1d20+2] = 16+2 = 18 damage [1d8+2] = 6+2 = 8

[doughx99]

Niles with his sword drawn will guard the rear

[dok-el]

Eryndir stabs one of the sleeping Norkers in the face,

"Wakey wakey Norkums. Oops no sorry you dead..." he says, chuckling in a rather sinister way to himself.

Administers coup de grace.