Expedition - Lug/Exploration - May 20, 1 VC

[Spartakos]

As soon as the door opens and Galen can clearly identify the brutish faces of the orcs, Galen whirls his sling and lets fly. He then immediately drops his sling and unlimbers his mace, ready to close to fight if needed.

Attack with sling: [1d20+1] = 9+1 = 10, damage: [1d4] = 4
Oy vey, we had a terrible first round.

[hedgeknight]

Krysta Kane

Emboldened by her god, Krysta steps forward to meet the first creature that comes through the door.
"PELOR!"she shouts as she crushes something with her mace.

Mace attack: [1d20+1] = 20+1 = 21, [1d6+1] = 3+1 = 4
Does she get max dmg or double dmg for a crit? If max, that's 7 pts! Or if I get a choice, like Zhym says, stunning is always good

[Zhym]

Finally—someone hits!

I believe you can choose between (1) max damage or (2) minimum damage with a special effect (stunning for a short time, disarming for a round, etc.).

[Keehnelf]

Yes, you can cause your target to lose a round of actions with a crit at minimum damage if you so desire.

[Keehnelf]

Enemy Initiative [1d6] = 2

The enemy is startled for only a moment--the party, holding its position, waits to see what the goblinoids will do, and one of the fierce orcs in the front rank points at the adventurers within and shouts something in the craggy chaotic tongue:

In Chaotic:

"In we go! Remember to keep a weak one as a prisoner, but kill the rest!"

With that, he and the other orc pile into the room, seeming to rush straight toward Niles, who unleashes his magic against the assembled group as they begin to advance while Galen's sling stone whizzes harmlessly over the advancing orcs' heads. The orc speaker, the female orc, and the pike-wielding gnoll all slump to the ground, unconscious, leaving the other orc charging forward alone. The party members converge on him, but he manages to deflect nearly all the incoming blows, though he leaves himself exposed to Krista's well-placed mace strike that catches him on the back of the neck and staggers him before he can make any attacks against the party. (he misses his planned attack action for this round)

Meanwhile, the massive shadow from the hall outside moves to fill the doorway and one large arm reaches inside to grab one of the adventurers standing near the door:

Who to grab? 1-3 Lug, 4-6 Bertram [1d6] = 6

Bertram, having stepped out from behind the door, is more exposed from the side at which the creature is attacking, and the hand grabs him by one leg, dragging him from the ground and out into the hall with a terrible wrenching. (Bertram takes 6 damage and is unable to move--though he can still attack or take other stationary actions--until he breaks free)

Grab! (thac0 17) [1d20+2] = 18+2 = 20, damage [1d6] = 6

As he reorients himself to his new surroundings, he finds himself staring up into the leathery face of what seems to be either a very large ogre or a small hill giant crouching inside of the tunnel!

Combatants:
Orc warrior: 6hp (inside the room and surrounded)
Orc warrior: unconscious in doorway
Female orc warrior: unconscious in hallway
Gnoll with pike: unconscious in hallway
Giant: uninjured in hallway (has Bertram grabbed)
Others in the hall: ?

Actions and initiative!

[Zhym]

Is Lug able to get at the giant?

[Keehnelf]

Yes, he's the only one with a clear line of attack through the doorway.

[Zhym]

Lug can't help but grin at the sight of the giant. Or ogre. Whatever it is. That thing is even bigger than he is!

He leaps at the creature and swings Reason at it. "Pick on someone your own size!" he yells.

Reason (Claymore) (THAC0 18): [1d20+2] = 11+2 = 13 Dmg: [1d10+2] = 1+2 = 3

Someone roll the first initiative try, please.

[KingOfCowards]

Nearly about to be eaten, Bertram's day goes from bad to worse as he tries to bring his magic sword down on the giant's arm.
Attack with Longsword: [1d20+2] = 1+2 = 3, Damage: [1d8+2] = 5+2 = 7
Initiative: [1d6] = 4

[Marullus]

Initiative [1d6] = 6

Niles tries to circumnavigate the skirmish, reaching the closest fallen orc and slitting its throat without involving himself in the battle.

[Zorroroaster]

Snarling, Orrin presses in closer to the Orc, jabbing hard with his sword.

{Longsword} Attack: [1d20 +1] = 10+1 = 11, Damage: [1d8+1] = 6+1 = 7

[hedgeknight]

Krysta tries to attack again, but this time she is ineffective.

Mace: [1d20+1] = 2+1 = 3, [1d6+1] = 6+1 = 7

[Spartakos]

Hefting his mace, Galen swiftly joins Orrin and Krysta in fighting the orc, hoping to dispatch it quickly so they can find a way to aid beleaguered Bertram.

Attack with mace: [1d20] = 8, damage: [1d6] = 5

[Keehnelf]

Orrin's initiative stands.

Enemy Initiative [1d6] = 4

It turns out half of your group have an initiative bonus--very strong!

Bertram pulls his arm back awkwardly to hack at the giant's arm, but unfortunately he forgets that the giant has another hand and the massive beast snatches the blade from his grasp as he does so! The sword falls with a ringing clatter to the ground nearby as Bertram flails wildly with his fist trying to get the thing to release him.

Lug steps forward confidently, hoping to overcome the monster before it can do too much harm to its captive, but his sword blow goes just wide: the giant barely avoids injury by deflecting the blow to one side with a heavy iron bracer wrapped around one meaty forearm.

Meanwhile, inside the chamber, Galen leads the charge against the sole standing orc, but the monster understands the odds and seems content to weather the storm while the giant behind it does as much damage as possible. He deflects the cleric's mace-blow with his shield, and does the same with both Orrin's and Krista's attacks. He snarls an oath in orcish and calls out to the others:

In Chaotic:

"I've got them--time to advance!"

With that, he whirls around to attack Lug, but the large man is anticipating the second front and neatly side-steps the overhand strike.

Orc Attack [1d20+1] = 9+1 = 10, damage [1d8+1] = 4+1 = 5

Out in the hallway, Bertram's day goes from worse to terrible as the giant grabs him by the other leg and attempts to tear him in half! Thankfully, the creature is unable to get as firm a purchase on the other leg as he wishes due to just having blocked Lug's sword-stroke, and Bertram is able to wriggle that leg free, though he is still held upside down by the other.

Giant Tear (thac0 17) [1d20+3] = 3+3 = 6, [2d6] = 4 damage

Back in the room, Niles circles around and drives his dagger through the throat of the sleeping orc. There is a clamor of other goblinoids hoping to join the fight out in the hall.

Combatants:
Orc warrior: 6hp (inside the room and surrounded)
Female orc warrior: unconscious in hallway
Gnoll with pike: unconscious in hallway
Giant: uninjured in hallway (has Bertram grabbed)
Others in the hall: ?

Actions and initiative!

[Zhym]

"I said let him go!" cries Lug.

Reason (Claymore) (THAC0 18): [1d20+2] = 17+2 = 19 Dmg: [1d10+2] = 1+2 = 3

Uh oh. Judging by Lug's previous attack missing, that's a small hill giant, not an ogre.

[KingOfCowards]

While hanging upside down, Bertram pulls his handaxe free from his belt and swings at the giant holding him.
Attack with Handaxe: [1d20+1] = 17+1 = 18, Damage: [1d6+1] = 5+1 = 6
Initiative: [1d6] = 1
You're going to want to re-roll that intiative, though.

[Zhym]

Initiative: [1d6] = 5

[Keehnelf]

"I said let him go!" cries Lug.

Reason (Claymore) (THAC0 18): [1d20+2] = 17+2 = 19 Dmg: [1d10+2] = 1+2 = 3

Uh oh. Judging by Lug's previous attack missing, that's a small hill giant, not an ogre.

You are correct. This is a small hill giant.

[Spartakos]

Did I read correctly that the orc turned his back on 3 attackers, in order to strike at Lug?

[Keehnelf]

Yes, but there's no such thing as facing in B/X. The quarters are close enough that he didn't need to retreat (nor could he have, if that had been his desire) since there is no space.