Ceol is not quite as badly injured as his fellow knight, but is seriously burned, all the same. He staggers backwards, grunting in pain. When he sees how badly wounded Sir Thoroncir is, he instinctively moves in the Sea-Knight's direction, and uses the blessings of Eonwë to heal his friend (lay on hands).
"Hmm, looks like the protection detection wards are on the trapdoor, although we have probably tripped any detections by now. Let's get it open and see what we have." Mulligan will open the trap door.
"Oh and out of curiosity, perhaps you can answer this Drindoleth. The Fire beast, would there be something being used by the cultists here to control it?"
Given that they are likely to need some healing potions and that the tower is likely to be protected, Rorimac will head across invisibly to leand some aid to Ceol and Thoroncir.
Thoroncir, staggering back to (relative) safety, would appreciate any assistance that is offered. He's hurting.
Ceol has healed his friend 12 points and now he is down 57 and in terrible pain. Gilraen is rushing forward to her beloved. She beats Rorimac to the pair.
Gilraen will be casting a Cure Serious shortly as Rorimac offers what potion to Ceol?
Drindoleth does think it is likely the cultist have some item or spell to control the fire beast.
Gil-Gandel sings a song that makes a panic rise in the archers and 3 of them flee in fear dropping their bows as 2 more just shiver in horror. One is ready to fire though unless someone does something to stop them.
Meanwhile what are the Dwarves doing?
Bitur quaffs a potion of Superheroism and says to his gravely injured companions:
"Go! You are of little use to us this injured, and there is no glory to be gained in staying here to die. Gwaelur and I will hold to at least give you time to escape."
With that being said, he nods at Gwaelur and attacks the foe with even more determination than before.
Rorimac will use his extra healing potions curing 3d8+3 offering them to both Ceol and Thoroncir as they are going to need it.
Mulligan will open the trapdoor in the roof.
"Yes, I believe the cultists quite likely have a spell or item to control the Fire Beast," Drindoleth agrees.
Ithilneth puts a Protection from Evil 10-ft Radius on Bitur, and then sends as many of her best arrows into the fire spirit as she can.
Ceol will drink the potion given to him by Rorimac. "Thank you, my friend."
He will then look for a defensible position.
Gwaelur, who has been uncharacteristically quiet recently, continues his silence. He nods to Bitur, glowers and with a grunt rushes forward to the attack.Quote:
Originally posted by Hoopy Frood
That last archer can have a Stunning Discord all to himself he has to be 6th level to get a save; fail or N/A and he's KOd for 2-8 rounds if he's 7th level or lower. Then the fire beast gets the arrows as noted before.
Gilraen cures Thoroncir 42 points as she leads the men away from the battle. He is only down 15 now. He drinks the potion from Rorimac and is full.
Ceol quaffs the proffered potion and heals 18 points. He is down 30 now.
The Dwarves charge forth, Bitur benefiting from his potion having him act at 11th level with 39 extra hit points. They cross the distance at a charge just after the Protection from Evil 10-ft Radius goes up on Bitur. Their axes chop deep into the flames as their shield stop the flaming blows. It reels from the unexpected blows. Bitur takes 2 more points for 18 total now.
Ithilneth sends 6 +3 arrows toward the fiery foe. She hits 6 times. By the end of the round the Dwarves hit again and the creature as taken a lot of damage and is backing off.
Gil-Gandel uses Stunning Discord to finish off the archers. He drops instantly.
Mulligan can use a hand opening the door as it is very heavy but with Drindoleth's help it is no problem. Looking into the top floor a steep wood stairs lead down and startled looking lady looks up at the sudden addition of light. She is dressed in silken robes of purple and green and appears to be in her 20s with long dark hair. At her waist is a sharp thin knife. She is chanting over a Pentagram and a fiery brazier.
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Gilraen calls Ceol over to cure him. By the end of the round he will be full.
As the Dwarves drive the foe into the tower, Sala slips in avoid the flames. He sees a man in black robes and makes short work of him with blades moving nearly to fast to see.
Rorimac espies a man just beyond the battle in the doorway appearing to be ready to cast. Deor also sees him. Ithilneth moves up and sends more arrows streaming into the foe. The axes of the Dwarves seem to be causing the creature great anguish.
Thoroncir takes a round to clear his head but he is ready by the end to return to battle.
What do Mulligan and Drindoleth do?
Thoroncir gives Gilraen a quick kiss of thanks and love, draws his longsword and returns to the fray, in full support of the Dwarves. He is now of course without a shield, and knows his armor and accoutrements will need more work later.
Ceol bows to Gilraen. "Thank you, milady. Your skills in the healing arts are a true blessing to us."
He then averts his gaze when Thoroncir kisses Gilraen, then draws his swords as he accompanies Thoroncir back to the melee.
"We have a score to settle with these evil ones, Sir Knight. Let us hope that our friends have left us one or two." He flashes a brief grin to his friend.
Deor will entangle the enemy mage with a Web.
This is why Mulligan handed Drindoleth a vial. She throws one of her smoke bombs into the enclosed room, hopefully before the woman has a chance to react and then leans back out of the way to swig down the vial which lets her see through the smoke. Next turn, she will be down there with a drawn dagger to cause havoc and stop her spell casting.
Admittedly the woman may have stopped spellcasting due to the coughing fit she is about to have.
Rorimac fires at the mage through the door with his bow, knowing full well that he is likely protected somehow.
Drindoleth downs the vial he'd been handed and moves in behind Mulligan. Since the hobbit has already drawn a dagger, he'll focus his attention on the brazier to see if he can determine what sort of spell-casting was being done. Does it feel evil? Does it seem likely to be controlling the Fire Beast?
Thoroncir says, "Judging by the size of this tower, and the fiery reception we had upon our arrival, I suspect there will be no lack of foes to meet our blades, brave Ceol."
"Thanks to your lady's skill, we are both ready to resume the fight. Let us meet these foes with honor and bravery, and let them be very certain that the sons of Gondor and Rohan cannot be so easily deterred."
Thoroncir bows. "I could not have said it any better than that, my friend. Come, then, and let us do deeds about which songs may long be sung!"
Rorimac's arrow flies and shockingly the magical +4 arrow hits the caster solidly. Then he is engulfed in the Webs of Deor's spell.
The Dwarven Axes chop into the main foe as arrows for Gil-Gandel & Ithilneth pour into it. The Dwarves both find themselves giving the ancient war cry of their people, "Baruk Khazâd! Khazâd ai-mênu!" or as Gil-Gandel at least knows is "The axes of the dwarves! The dwarves are upon you!" The beast falls with Bitur taking another 2 points of damage. But this is off his magical bonus from the potion.
Sala is engaging a half armored foe and winning but gives cry, "To me warriors, to me, I hear the foes coming quickly."
Thoroncir and Ceol charge into the tower to lend aid.
The Druid is sure the caster is using a spell to control the element of fire. Something he himself should be able to do eventually.
Mulligan slips in behind her and stabs her doing 28 points of damage. She falls forward but is still breathing from what Mulligan can see.
Does Drindoleth feel confident it should be safe to physically interrupt the elements of this spell? Does he think that dismantling the elements of it might end the spell itself? If so, he would do so.
Drindoleth suspects disrupting the spell will release the elemental but it could either continue to fight, turn on those that summoned it or cause it to leave swiftly.
If there are no targets, I will follow Thoroncir and Ceol to see what is troubling Sala.
"Given the amount of protection on this place, I was thinking I would have to dodge it on the way back." Rorimac grins and goes up to make sure the mage is no longer a threat to the rest of the group.
Mulligan has a brief look around the room through the smoke to make sure they are undisturbed, then proceeds to subdue and tie up the mage. If she struggles, point out to her how very dead she will be if she continues to struggle.
Drindoleth weighs his options carefully, then decides to disrupt the spell.
Hearing Sala's cry, Bitur addresses Gwaelur:
"Hurry old friend! Further glory awaits!"
Bitur runs to Sala's aid.
Sala is standing at the bottom of a broad staircase leading up. Armored men are rushing down. The Dwarves start to head that way and then see the flames of torches coming up from stairs leading below ground. They head that direction to hold the stairs.
Thoroncir and Ceol followed by Gil-Gandel are swiftly inside. They head for Sala and go to either side. Gil-Gandel has time to bow or spell.
Rorimac sees the mage is trying to free himself from the magic webs.
Drindoleth disturbs the brazier and rubs out part of the pentagram. Nothing bad happens to Drindoleth.
Mulligan quickly ties up the caster and then sets about making sure the knots will hold.
Luzi Mati, the scout, shouts to Deor and Ithilneth, "We're safer inside then outside now."
Sir Thoroncir, who feels good despite his armor still being more than a little crisped around the edges, looks about alertly. He will charge with his longsword any foe who crosses his path.
"We are here, friend Sala! For Eonwë! For Rohan!" Ceol's swords are ready, as he stands with Sala and Thoroncir at the foot of the stairs.
Rorimac looks at the struggling mage wondering if he could be understood. Unfortunately, getting too close to the Webs would be counterproductive. If Luzi Mati does come past ask her to tell the mage to stop struggling.
Once Mulligan has finished securing her prisoner, she will look around to see what exits there are and what trouble may be coming this way.
If there is a group of foes suitable for another Stunning Discord, Gil-Gandel will treat them to one, but if enemies pop up one or two at a time then archery will do very well.
"...well, hopefully that didn't make anything worse," muses Drindoleth. The Druid will follow Mulligan's lead in seeking out exits.
Mulligan and Drindoleth spot the door out of the room. It is of heavy wood planks and iron and barred and locked from their side. Apparently the sorceress was not to be disturbed.
Gil-Gandel looks at the men coming down and decides to send some arrows into them. Ceol, Thoroncir & Sala are ready for the rush. The first two down are well armored in banded mail of fine quality. Sala is thankful they have only caps and not full helms. He lets Ceol and Thoroncir take the brunt of the attack with their heavy armor. On a charge, a spear is blocked by Thoroncir and a Hand & a Half sword glances off of Ceol's chain mail.
Thoroncir strikes true with Arcirist and does 16 points. This is the man that Gil-Gandel already put a +3 arrow into for 13. Thoroncir then hits a second time as a second arrow strike this foe. He is trying to block Thoroncir with his spear. Gil-Gandel misses once but his last arrows strike through the opponents shoulder. 69 points down. He looks pained.
Ceol hits with both weapons on his off-balanced foe. He does 31 damage. Sala strikes with his rapier and cuts the man cheek. Ceol hits again with his Long Sword and Sala strikes twice more. The man drops, probably dead.
The Dwarves form a shield wall to stop those coming up. They are surprised to see the ones coming up appear to be Orcs. The first 4 Orcs up the stairs are cleaved, bashed, chopped and spiked to death swiftly and the rest seem to be in no hurry to come up against this pair.
Luzi relays Rorimac's message but the man does not stop struggling.
Ithilneth, Deor and Gilraen are inside.
Ducking inside, Deor brandishes his wand and prepares to flame anyone necessary.
"Well done, my friends!" Thoroncir says. "I suggest, O Elf-captain, now that our entire party is inside, that we have a contingent hold this entryway, while the rest of us go below and clean out that nest of orcs. Then we may all ascend the stairs and meet up with our friends above."
There are more men coming down the stairs.
"Deor, how long will those webs last for?" shouts Rorimac and to Luzi Mati, "Stay here, guard him. If he starts coming free, then restrain him if you can, kill him if you can't. If you need a hand, yell." He notches an arrow to his bow and goes to support the others.
~~~
"Time to leave, Drindoleth and see what more havoc we can cause from behind. Oh, I don't like leaving live enemies behind me, and as the others disapprove of wanton killing, I guess we had better take her with us. Think you can carry her down?"
If the door is not wizard locked or have other magic on it, Mulligan will unbar and unlock it. Chances are the sorceress has a key on her. Then it will be quietly move down the stairs and deal with any in the next floor down, if there are any.
Ah, thanks. I thought it was just two from above, and the orcs below.Quote:
Originally posted by What Exit?
Thoroncir will stand and fight all comers.
Assuming there isn't anything to prevent him from doing so, Drindoleth will pick up the sorceress and follow Mulligan once they have an open passage.
After Mulligan relieves her of her keys, Drinoleth throws the sorceress over his shoulder and follows Mulligan. They proceed out the door and Mulligan carefully looks around. She hears some commotion from the floor below and sees the stairs heading down. She also sees 2 stunned archers laid out on the floor near the front arrows ports.
Deor does not answer Rorimac's question but stands ready to support the Dwarves.
The orcs are not willing to advance until a scream of agony is heard from below and then they surge forth all at once. It must be at least 10 foes. They are greeted with killing flames from Deor's wand. The first 4 run in 13 points of fire damage. Two of them drop and the Dwarves quickly finish off the other pair and halt the rush killing 2 more. The orcs keep coming pulling their fallen out of the way. One gets a lucky spear thrust into Gwaelur for 7 points of damage but the poison on it fails against Gwaelur's constitution. Exceptional even among Dwarves. Gwaelur strikes back with his axe and drives him backwards and dead with his shield. Bitur injured his foe. A large orc who cannot cleave the Dwarven plate. The last 2 orcs are short work for Rorimac, the Hobbit Ranger's +4 arrows.
Two more men are coming down towards the Ceol & Thoroncir. Before they reach the arrows of Gil-Gandel and Ithilneth each hit these fresh foes. Thoroncir and Ceol are a bit harder pressed. This pair is more highly skilled and the one on Ceol has what is probably a magic Long Sword. Ceol is struck soundly for 16 points but gives back a strike with both Long & Short. They are both pained.
Thoroncir is missed and strikes a mighty blow with Arcirist doing 44 points with a blow to the man's neck. Another arrow for Gil-Gandel hits him and he falls dead. Ceol is hit again (29 total) but hits again with his Long followed by an arrow from Ithilneth and a strike by Thoroncir and Sala. The man dies.
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The Dwarves are left without foes.
Thoroncir and Ceol hear some shouting above them. Then oil comes pouring down the stairs in a fair large quantity.
Deor can use a Wall of Force to hold the oil back and keep the oil down here separate from the oil above if the enemies above fire it.
Ceol, who had been preparing to back away from the oil, nods to Deor. "Good thought, my cousin. I'd rather not be lit aflame twice in an hour." He then takes a moment to catch his breath, and thanks Eonwë for his blessings.
Thoroncir flinches for just a moment as the oil comes down, but then, impressed, says, "Many thanks, Deor! Can you divert or throw the oil off to one side?"
If Ceol cannot heal himself, the Sea-knight suggests he step back from the line of battle for Gilraen to attend to his wounds.
Thoroncir wonders if an orc-serjeant or chieftain spurred the reluctant orcs to attack. Can any more foes be seen below?
Mulligan will tie and gag the two downed archers, while gesturing at Drindoleth to watch the stairs down in case of company. They are probably a little less dangerous than the sorceress we are carrying around.
Eyes and ears open for any fresh developments...
To Gwaelur:
"I think we should aid our friends on the upper side of the stairs."
*Starts walking backwards up the stairs, keeping an eye out for any more surprises from the lower levels.
Drindoleth will move to watch down the stairs while Mulligan ties up the archers. He'll move down a bit, cautiously, to see if he can get a view or better idea of what's going on below.
The Wall of Force blocks the oil and shortly after the flames that followed it. Going up is blocked for a bit, Deor can say at least 19 rounds.
Drindoleth hears some shouts from below. No one is coming up though, the shouts seem to moving further away.