kwll wrote: ↑Tue Jan 03, 2023 3:14 pm
Jargian is surprised and his first move is to follow the praxian to try and help him. But he he realizes something and says to Eda: "Careful, he might have fallen prey to an illusion. Let's move cautiously and keep our eyes and other senses open." Then he asks Arniz to go look for Alemeda, and follows him from a distance.
Eda hefts her equipment and advances cautiously into the cleft
From ahead can be heard the thud of metal against leather and Arniz, never one to get trampled shoots past heading away from the noise and up the rocks, climbing an almost invisible path clearly much too narrow for him but somehow passable!
Jargian, now at the rear, follows on.
Sounds of combat can be heard from somewhere out of sight - but Eda can be seen at the opening of the path into some form of "Room" fending off two spears - who is wielding them isn't at all clear, but she is definitely on the defensive.
The spears continue to pen Eda in the path - a small and wiry (and exceedingly ugly) creature can be seen wielding one, who wields the other isn't clear. She's using her axe to parry the spears when you realise that there is a third assailant attacking her - A huge stone club strikes Eda's shield and throws her backwards, landing on her back at your feet. She scoots backwards, leaving you as the first line of defence as the small spearman advances slightly, holding you at bay (it hopes). The second spear-wielder is suddenly revealed. Tall, and just as ugly.
Alemeda killed one but is battling another. He needs help! comes from the floor by your feet.
The path is one person wide and they have you bottled up. Neither has a shield and both are sporting fire-hardened spears about as long as yours. Eda is down, but they appear to be concentrating on you - she'll be able to stand next round - but has an axe and broken shield and her arm may be injured. The guy with a big club isn't visible, but is somewhere to the immediate left of the entrance.
kwll wrote: ↑Thu Jan 05, 2023 4:26 pm
Jargian brings out his weapons and readies himself to fight. "Who are you, and why do you attack us?" he says, half curious and half trying to stall.
The creature looks puzzled at the question, but continues to try to drive you off the prone Eda, viciously jabbing with his stick. His companion (behind him) tries to get his spear around both his companion and your shield! Please roll for a parry, an attack, a hit location (d20) and damage!
The fight from beyond these two blockers seems to be ongoing - with Alemeda still, loudly, proclaiming the imminent doom of his opponents.
The battle is joined. Both are constrained by the narrowness of the defile - the long spears keeping the two participants at a distance from each other.
The ugly creature stabs first, catching Jargian at waist height but doing nothing to him directly as the shield is strapped to his arm at the critical point - That though makes an ominous "Crack" as it absorbs what would have been a disabling wound. In an almost identical move, Jargian catches the nearest (shieldless) arm of the front spear-wielder, piercing the flesh and running up the bone - rendering the limb all but useless. There is a keening wail as the beast jumps back and obstructs the attack of his colleague. (That beast entirely failed to find an opening to make an effective attack)
The distance between the two opens slightly before Eda, scrabbling behind Jargian, manages to gain her feet in the ground Jargian has won.
A part from the planks of Jargian's shield drops to the floor as he recovers from the shock of the violent exchange.
From Jargian's left, and out of sight on the top of the rocks, the sound of a hissing snarl can be heard from Arniz. It's significance is awkward to determine.
A successful animal law roll might give a better interpretation of Arniz' state of mind.
Eda seems to be intent on casting some form of magic behind you
You can advance or stand - the two beasts before you appear to be about to swap places - the injured one wanting to go backwards (but can still fight if pushed); the uninjured (who actually seems slightly better equipped as he's got a wicker shield) wants to press forward. A sharp attack would prevent this, but would push both out into the open area behind - where Eda got bashed earlier.
An indication of next turn's tactics and another set of combat rolls would be appreciated please.
Jargian bravely faces the second spearman as the first retires out of the gulley
The Broo rushes forward, seeking to get in a quick strike before Jargian is prepared - but miss-reads Jargian's determination and preparedness. A quick block sees Jargian turn the spear past himself while a return strike against the Broo's left leg is likewise parried by the Broo's own shield.
The hissing and yowling from above sounds like Arniz is fighting something...though no sounds of shouting or cursing from whatever it is (and no yelps of pain from Arniz) suggest that this is a stand-off rather than a hand-to-tooth struggle.
Eda finishes muttering her enchantment and shouts: Right - Lets get 'em.
Sadly, she's just as stuck behind you as the Broo are behind their champion.
Next round: You can stand or fall back a bit. Neither change the situation much. Eda can climb up (left or right) or wait behind in case you fall. Alemeda is clearly still fighting - although the verbal challenges have stopped. The injured Broo headed to the right as he left the defile.
Hints are coming to Jargian, difficult to interpret for the most part. However, he decides to concentrate on his immediate foe, in an attempt to put him out of combat as quickly as possible. To that end, he motions Eda to climb on his left and have the higher ground to combat the broo.
The Broo in the Defile tempts Jargian into a strike, parries it and Jargian strikes the canyon wall with considerable, jarring force. The riposte though is completely miss-timed and passes Jargian completely.
Eda manages a fantastic leap, stepping from ledges on each side of the rocks and gains the top in a single elegant and fantastic effort - the grace and elegance of which Jargian is too busy to have seen! Arniz is holding one off up here!
From beyond the spearman in the gulley, Jargian hears some guttural commands - Something is happening. Whatever it is, though, includes a keening followed by a crash. And a cry of That's better - just die you scum from Alemeda - followed by a ringing clash of weapons.
Behind the spearman, a small Broo steps into sight, draws a bow and as he does so the bow twists in his grip and tangles in his boot-top. The arrow, probably intended for Eda, drops and the extras held in his grip fall and scatter across the quarry floor.
Well the dice have had highs and lows this round! Eda's fantastic leap was offset (dice-wise) by the Broo's fumble with the bow.
Jargian's position is not much changed - though the head of his spear might now be loose after being parried into hitting the wall.
Eda and Arniz have thwarted the Broo's flanking attempt, for the moment. She should be able to see Almeda shortly.
Jargian makes a successful strike against the Broo in the gully - The bones strapped to the Broo's leg divert some of the force, but it is a definite strike and the Broo winces visibly. The Broo makes a stab and, again, strikes Jargian's shield arm as Jargian realises his own blow has left his left side open. Again, the shield and armour take the brunt of the attack, leaving Jargian unbloodied.
The strike against the Broo seems to have discouraged it and it withdraws out of the Gully mouth - Jargian can follow or take a break!
Behind the spear-wielder, the archer is gathering dropped arrows.
From above him, a furry typhoon lands on the head and shoulders of the retiring broo - raking the creatures face with sharp talons, but unable to maintain a grip, Arniz lands on the ground between the two fighters. Eda makes the sounds of a hefty swing - including a thud that sounds like a hit and a cry that sounds like it was mutual! Nothing Serious! she calls. A scrabbling crash suggests that the hit dislodged her opponent from the rock-face.
Alemeda seems to be in a furious exchange from the clang of blade upon blade when Eda reports Almeda's down!
Nor sure I have a good view of the whole picture. How far is Jargian from Almeda? Is it possible to go help him, or is it required to dispatch the closest broos first?
kwll wrote: ↑Fri Jan 13, 2023 4:22 pmNor sure I have a good view of the whole picture. How far is Jargian from Almeda? Is it possible to go help him, or is it required to dispatch the closest broos first?
Your viewpoint is terrible! You are in a gulley and Almeda is in the open area into which it opens. You can see straight ahead and think the space is little under 5m across - you have no idea how long it is. Eda and Arniz have seen the layout - and Arniz is with you - but he's never been particularly good at communication beyond "Why isn't that fish mine?" and seems about to flee past you.
From the sounds alone, you'd put Almeda between 5 and 10m from you...off to the left. There are two broo in sight. One (slightly injured and standing just inside the open area - threatening attack but wary of you) with a spear; One near the back wall scrabbling on the floor for dropped bow and arrows.
You are aware of one more, somewhere to your right, nursing a shredded forearm and one to the immediate left of the entrance that fell of the cliff when Eda went to/actually hit him. There is one that hit Eda earlier (Big Club) that could be anywhere to the left and one fighting Almeda with a metal weapon. From Almeda's comments there are also some corpses to the left too.
What is to the right isn't clear at all.
Eda might tell you if asked - or she might leap to Almeda's aid. Or just defend the high-ground.
Jargian warily presses his advantage, risking moving forward to get a better view.
The Bree is spooked by this and attempts an attack, but Jargian manages to parry that easily. His need to assess the surroundings seems to break his concentration and his own attack goes adrift.
As he deftly wards off the broo's strike, he can finally see properly into the bowl - or perhaps the two joined bowls. The left hand area slopes down to a pool at the end, and has various niches carved into the walls. There are four broo on the ground, and Almeda, and three standing creatures that seem to be intent on dealing with the recumbent figure. There are small huts, which Almeda is using to scurry around that seem to have shelves for pots - a granary or larder?
Of the 4 downed figures, two lie near Almeda (nearly 15m from Jargian), and one halfway to thatposition (about 8m from Jargian). The fourth is to Jargian's immediate left, and is scrabbling to his feet, his right hand nearly severed at the wrist and hanging on by a thread. His weapon re-appears from above, thrown with some accuracy, but with insufficient power to pierce his helm. (Eda's contribution).
Almeda is parrying blows as fast as he can - Two large Broo and a smaller companion. The largest carries an impressive two-handed club made of a stone head and a handle made from the trunk of a sapling. It looks like the one that threw Eda on her back earlier. The other larger Broo is armed with a conventional short sword and has pieces of ill-fitting Lunar and Sun-County armour and a fancy hourglass shield. The smaller broo has hides and a wiggly spear wielded two-handed. The armoured Broo seems to be limping. As you watch, the stone club demolishes the hut Almeda was using as shelter and as a prop for climbing, while the short-swordsman's blow is turned by a neat parry by Almeda.
Ahead are the two broo seen earlier - the spearman being engaged, and the bowman who is finally standing and appears to be readying himself to re-join the affray. But, he is now within striking range of a well thrust spear - should that be attempted in preference to the injured spearman.
To the right (in a bown about 15m around), accompanied by a sound of grinding boulders, stands a Broo clad in fine robes - but who is facing Almeda, but seems beset by an invisible foe that he cannot strike, while his legs are sinking slowly into the gravel and rocks underfoot. Beyond that is a well-clad Plainsman uttering an almost eerie chant and waving his arms majestically.
(Yes, the spearman you injured earlier still isn't visible)
Little did Jargian think he would be in such a furious battle just one day ago. He has no time to reflect on himself, though, and motions for Eda to continue fighting the spearman close at hand, while he attempts to strike the the bowman before he can intervene. He also looks for Arniz from the corner of his eyes.
Jargian's looking round and trying to catch Eda's eye clearly distracts him from both striking and parrying! Fortunately, both the Broo to his front are also distracted (see below) - Eda's leap from the top of the rocks (Yelling at the top of her lungs) sees her land ingloriously on all-fours on the ground - but the rash move does mean that the archer has missed, his arrow sailing off into the distance. The Broo nursing an almost missing hand scuttles past Jargian, dashing away from the battle only to find himself facing an enraged Arniz. He dodges and sprints away from the battle down the path that Jargian and colleagues first entered (i.e. he's heading North to where the rest of your party wait.).
Eda will be to Jargian's shield side; the Archer dead ahead of Jargian, backed up against the wall, and the injured Spearman moving to his right and looking for an opening - whether to strike or run is unclear.
The three Broo that are fighting Almeda are surprised by his agility and, although they have smashed another structure, fail to get a clean hit. By comparison, Almeda has regained his feet and snuck in a minor hit - a strike against the mace-wielder's arm that draws a small smear of red.
The odd happenings to the right see the struggling Broo in real trouble. The ground has swirled further and what looks like a giant hand has gripped the Broo's leg. The snap as it breaks is sickening. The associated scream is terrible to hear! It is this scream that distracted the Broo fighting Almeda enough to sneak in his strike and those fighting Jargian. On the bowl's rim, the chanting plainsman continues to weave and dance and struggle.
As Jargian stepped forward to strike the Archer, another pathway was revealed (heading west), and a body, staked to the ground and eviscerated almost against the North Wall. Who the poor, unfortunate was isn't clear.
There is a bit too much action for the taste of Jargian. He decides to concentrate on the foes in front of him. Leaving the archer to Eda, he attempts to strike the spearman again, if anything to make him decide to flee as well.
