IC XV

[Wyzard]

Severi Silvertongue, Elf

"CLOSE THAT GAP! KEEP FIRING! TODAY WE GIVE DEATH TO THOSE WHO HAVE OPPRESSED YOU!"

Eyes wild, Severi orders his troops to seal the breach, and rain arrows on the wargs.

Unit 12 moves into the space formerly occupied by 25. 13 moves into the space occupied by 12. 14 moves into the space occupied by 13. All units fire on the warg currently located in 69.55

[phil285]

Vanco shouts encouragement to nearby units to continue despite the destruction of the nearby townsfolk.

Stand and fire, concentrating on the wargs.

[thirdkingdom]

Round Eleven

Severi and Vanco quickly order additional troops forward as the warg continues it's charge towards the massed troops. The goblins mounted atop the dire wolves drop their bows and draw wicked looking curved swords as they collide with the dwarven unit anchoring the end of the line. The wolves' jaws snap, saliva flying and the goblins hack against the dwarven shields.

In recklessly attacking, the mounted goblins left their flank unprotected; a barrage of arrows cuts into the attackers, followed by a unit of townsfolk that wades in with clubs swinging. The mounted goblin unit is quickly dispatched. However, the second unit of wolf-riders moves in on the first's heels, within range of the elven bows. The arrows fail to have an impact, however, and the wargs look like they intend to continue their charge.

Unit 15 takes 1 uhp damage. I think ordinarily I would not allow archers to fire at units engaged in melee combat, but I'd like to get this combat wrapped up quickly. Al, Koren, the warg riders are rapidly approaching your units. If you could get the map posted showing your troop arrangements -- or let me know what they are -- we can get this all wrapped up.

[Wyzard]

Severi orders his men to hold fast and fire on the wargs as they approach.

[Alethan]

Round Eleven

Al, Koren, the warg riders are rapidly approaching your units. If you could get the map posted showing your troop arrangements -- or let me know what they are -- we can get this all wrapped up.

I thought I did. Or is that not what you were looking for?

After Unit 4 grabs the chest, Rhys directs all of the units of Division A into formation, headed south towards the gate and the approaching warg patrol.

2 - Moves to 73.31
3 - Moves to 72.31
4 - Moves to 73.32
5 - Moves to 72.30
7 - Moves to 71.30
8 - Moves to 70.30

Once the warg is within range of bows and crossbows, any troops that are able to will fire a volley at it.

Let me know if that doesn't quite catch us up and I need to offer more directions.

[Koren n'Rhys]

I thought we were set with those positions as well. Units set to meet the charge and fire arrows as soon as they come into range.

[thirdkingdom]

Round Eleven

Al, Koren, the warg riders are rapidly approaching your units. If you could get the map posted showing your troop arrangements -- or let me know what they are -- we can get this all wrapped up.

I thought I did. Or is that not what you were looking for?

After Unit 4 grabs the chest, Rhys directs all of the units of Division A into formation, headed south towards the gate and the approaching warg patrol.

2 - Moves to 73.31
3 - Moves to 72.31
4 - Moves to 73.32
5 - Moves to 72.30
7 - Moves to 71.30
8 - Moves to 70.30

Once the warg is within range of bows and crossbows, any troops that are able to will fire a volley at it.

Let me know if that doesn't quite catch us up and I need to offer more directions.

Oops. Missed that. I blame Halloween and a nagging cold.

[Atlictoatl]

Tev Meren, Round #12

Tev orders his units to fall back into ranks. He doesn't want them presenting too attractive a target for a charge from the warg riders.

#19 to 73.52
#21 to 72.52

[MonsterMash]

Thurgan, dwarf

Thurgan readies his units to face the last of the warg riders. "When these fall it is time to withdraw inside the walls".

[phil285]

Vanco Basou, cleric
Vanco looks to the state of his units, and continues to encourage them.

Is there much Vanco's units can achieve? I think unit 24 has bows still, so they could move to 71.53 and fire? If that's correct, then 22 moves to where 24 was, and 23 to where 22 was.

[thirdkingdom]

Rounds Twelve and Thirteen

North of Threshold, the wolf-riders crash into the wing of the party's forces. The men in Rhys's units successfully fend off the snapping jaws of the wolves, but are hit hard by the wicked curved blades the goblin's brandish. They vie back and forth for the upper hand, with the men of Threshold giving as good as they get. Finally, the superior numbers and ranged weaponry of the adventurers bring down the enemy with no major losses, although Rhys's men are nursing multiple wounds.

To the south of the city, the oncoming wargs overrun the already injured dwarven unit, but are themselves cut down with the combined missile and melee might of the astutely arrayed adventurers. Seeing the second of two mounted units fall in a matter of minutes convinces the remaining goblin forces that they have urgent business elsewhere, and they begin to flee south.

Off in the distance, in the direction of Tarnskeep, a single horn blows a fanfare that echoes across the fields followed by the faint drumming of hoofbeats. Rhys and Quint observe the oncoming ogres and gnolls pause in their charge and look around, confused and uncertain.

Finally, someone failed a morale check! Unit 15 is destroyed, unit 3 down by 3 uhp.

[Alethan]

"Quick!" Rhys calls out, "scavenge what you can, then it is time to head back to the safety of the walls!"

Rhys leads his remaining units through the gates after they spend a round searching the dead. They do not leave the chest behind...

[MonsterMash]

Thurgan, dwarf

"Time to withdraw now we have killed so many. Let us heal the wounded and mourn the dead now".

[Koren n'Rhys]

Quint Kacie
"Quickly now! Work with the others and let's gather what we can. You men have all done yourselves proud today. Time to get back to safety and reassess the situation."

Quint urges his men to help Rhys' loot the warg unit and then make for the town gate.

[Wyzard]

Severi Silvertongue, Elf

Severi surveys the carnage, and finds that his lust for blood and treasure is still unsated.

"The Fleshtearers have left their camp unguarded! We cannot pursue them without cavalry, but we can go to their camp and find their hoard of treasure. Further, our continued presence on the field of battle forces the more powerful troops besieging the keep to look in two directions at once. Forward! To the unguarded camp!"

[thirdkingdom]

None of the fleeing goblins appear to be dragging a large, treasure-laden chest.

[MonsterMash]

Thurgan, dwarf

Thurgan calls his troops to a halt. "yes let us loot the camp, but before try and put the besiegers from the castle to flight".

[thirdkingdom]

The Aftermath

Rhys and Quint withdraw their remaining troops behind the safety of the town walls whilst the southern units head for the Flesheater camp, intent on looting it for everything that it is worth. Another large chest is found within the largest tent, but there is otherwise nothing of value. The orcs, gnolls and ogres continue to converge, but before long there is a thunder of hooves and a dozen riders on heavy horse emerge from the northwest, galloping towards Threshold. Seeing the remaining enemy forces, the riders change direction slightly and charge at the monsters. Seeing as they are caught between a small army of battle-hardened adventurers and several units of heavy cavalry, the helpless humanoids turn tail and flee towards in the southwest. Rather than giving chase, the horsemen trot up to the adventurers.

"Much obliged," says one of the warriors, mounted on a roan stallion, "we were too outnumbered to try a sortie; your actions provided the distraction we needed to break the blockade. Name's Badan, acting captain of the Baronial guard." Badan and his men are gaunt and disheveled; most bear minor wounds of one sort or another, whilst a few appear to be badly injured. "We got word with morning the Baron's on his way north with a full company, but he is likely still a few days out, and having to fight his way through the enemy."

The walls of Threshold are lined with smallfolk, banners and makeshift flags waving in the breeze. A mighty "huzzah" rises from the onlookers, and townsfolk stream from the gates to abuse the dead and praise those who fought -- and those who died.

[thirdkingdom]

The first two chests are unlocked via keys scavenged from the corpses of the goblin commanders. The first contains 600 silver coins, 200 gold coins and thirty small ivory figurines, each carved in the shape of a goblin. Each small figurine looks to be worth ten gold coins. The second chest contains a several pelts from what appear to be unusually large weasels. The lot of them are probably worth 500 gold coins.

There is no key for the final chest, so Severi prizes open the lid, only to get a face full of noxious green gas that immediately puts the elf to sleep. He wakes in a little less than an hour. The chest contains 900 gold coins.

[Wyzard]

"Good morning, Badan, and well met. Pleased to be of service. We've a great many priests present. Perhaps some of them could see to your men, and take the edge off of their injuries." Severi looks out over the men following him. "I think it would be a fine time to have a feast. However much in the way of beef, beer, bread, and bacon has not been eaten up already, I think we ought to treat these brave folk to. And yourselves, as well."

"On a more mercenary note, did any of the area's magicians manage to make it into the keep? We require the services of one able to divine the enchantments on a number of objects in our possession. And, of course, we assume the baron's laws about magic inside the walls have not been relaxed."