-
___Tree ___Tree __---__Tree ______ ___Tree ___ __Tree _
__Tree __Tree ___---_Tree ______-------___Tree _____Tree _
___Tree __---__Tree ___Tree MAA12 MAA11__Tree ___Tree
Ithilneth _____Tree _______Tree Flail03__Tree __Tree
Rorimac___Tree _______Tree __MAA10___Tree _----__Tree
Gil-Gandel _____Tree _________Rod02_(-38)-__Tree _\\__Tree
_____Tree ______Tree _____MAA09 MAA08__Tree ___Tree
_______Tree ______--____Tree Flail02__Tree ___Tree
_______Tree ______--____Tree MAA07 MAA06____Tree ___Tree
___Tree _____Tree _-_Tree---- Huge Sword____Tree ___Tree
____Tree __Tree _--____Tree MAA05 MAA04____Tree ___Tree____
___Tree ______Tree ____Tree _________Tree _____Tree _
__Tree ______Tree ____Tree __MAA03
________Tree _____Tree ____Crowned Skull (-35)Tree Thoroncir Tree Luzi____
_____________ ___Ceol**MAA02 Flail01**__Tree
______Tree ___Tree _ TreeSalaMAA01 Tree***__Tree Hound Gilraen
_____Tree _________Tree__**Sh. Bow02***_Tree
_Tree _____Tree _____Tree ____***____Tree _________
_______________Tree ______Sh. Bow01
____Tree ______Tree ____TreeGwaelur BiturTree _____Tree __
__Tree ______Tree ____Tree _________Tree _____Tree ___
Tree ______Tree ____Tree _________Tree _____Tree ____Tree __
___Tree ____Tree ____Tree __------___Tree ___Tree ____Tree __
____ Tree________ Tree __________Tree ____________ Tree Tree
Tree ______Tree ____Tree ---- -Tree ______Tree ____Tree
Tree ____Tree _-__Tree Deor Mulligan Tree ____Tree ____Tree --
Tree __Tree __Tree _Tree _____ ____Tree ____Drindoleth__Tree -----_
Gwaelur hits with a pair of +5 Mithril Bolts and Bitur with a +4 Bolt. They do 29. Then it is time for axe work.
Gil-Gandel Entangles 7 of the men. (Shown in purple). He follows this with Sonic Discord on the third flail user. He saves but MAA10 fails and is stunned. MAA12 is knocked unconscious.
Deor completely webs MAA04 & MAA05 and cuts the enemy group in half effectively.
Mulligan's Smoke bombs causes confusion in the front ranks amid MAA01 and then two quick bullets in the lead bowyer for 23 more.
Drindoleth's Entangle overlaps Gil-Gandel's at the Priest with the Huge Sword. Shown in Green.
Ithilneth and Rorimac send 9 arrows first at Flail03 killing him with 6 and then 2 more between them at Rod02 who is slowed by Gil-Gandel's entangle. Rorimac succeeds in a critical hit though causing great pain.
The front 6 surge forward and the Dwarves quickly finish off Sh. Bow01.
Thoroncir and Luzi fall on the Crowned Skull priest as he is leaving the entangle. A trust from his Rod drops Luzi immediately but Thoroncir hits twice for 35.
Sala and Ceol chop through the webs at the struggling MAA02 & MAA01. They are both killed.
Rod02 tosses a Flame Strike down on Rorimac and Ithilneth for 12 and 15 points of damage each.
Gilraen is racing to Luzi with Hound at her side.
The battle is going poorly for the cultists.
-
"Guess who just became target no.1", thinks Rorimac to himself as he continues to fire at Rod wielder who just kept his attention.
Mulligan is keeping an eye out across the battlefield and looks round to see if she needs to lend a hand anywhere. Seeing Luzi down in one blow and Gilraen heading across, she decides her assistance may be required. She slips on the ring and heads in to provide some extra unseen cover.
-
Gwaelur smiles as he sees the damage his bolts have done. He looks over at Bitur, smiles and nods with satisfaction, grabs his axe and screams something guttural and frightening in dwarvish that is entirely incomprehensible even to Bitur and charges the nearest enemy.
-
As things turn against the cultists, Drindoleth will start to move, coming out closer to them so that he has better range, but then seeing Gwaelur's charge he decides against another Entangle, not wanting to accidentally work against his own party. Instead he will change to his Bear form to attack, using his Bear Hug on the first of the cultists he can reach.
-
Captain Sir Thoroncir shouts in dismay as Luzi falls wounded, and redoubles his efforts to slay the enemy priest (and anyone else who might try to attack Luzi while she's down), his Numenorean longsword Arcirist rising and falling with deadly effect. He will wave off, or order away, Gilraen or any other healers if there is any danger to them in trying to come heal Luzi now.
-
Moving effortlessly through the dense undergrowth, I shall go to bow and add first to Rod02's woes and then to any other of the nearby cultists. If any of them can actually approach me faster than I can back off in this sort of country, he's a better Elf than I am. :) Start with the good ammunition and work my way down.
-
Given the success of the Webs so far, Deor will keep casting them and will try to hit spellcasters this time.
-
___Tree ___Tree __---__Tree ______ ___Tree ___ __Tree _
__Tree __Tree ___---_Tree ______-------___Tree _____Tree _
___Tree __---__Tree ___Tree MAA12 MAA11__Tree ___Tree
Ithilneth ___Tree _______Tree Flail03__Tree __Tree
RorimacTree _______Tree __MAA10___Tree _----__Tree
____ ------ _Tree Gil-Gandel Rod02_-__Tree _\\__Tree
_____Tree ______Tree _____MAA09 MAA08__Tree ___Tree
_______Tree ______--____Tree Flail02__Tree ___Tree
_______Tree ______--____Tree MAA07 ____Tree ___Tree----MAA06
___Tree _____Tree _-_Tree---- Huge Sword____Tree ___Tree
____Tree __Tree _--____Tree MAA05 MAA04____Tree ___Tree____
___Tree ______Tree ____Tree _________Tree _____Tree _
__Tree ______Tree ____Tree __MAA03
________Tree _____Tree ____Crowned Skull Tree Thoroncir Tree Luzi____
_____________ ___Ceol**MAA02**__ Flail01Tree DrindolethGilraen
______Tree ___Tree _ TreeSalaMAA01TreeMulliganTree Hound
_____Tree _________TreeBiturSh. Bow02***_Tree
_Tree _____Tree _____TreeGwaelur***____Tree _________
_______________Tree ______Sh. Bow01
____Tree ______Tree ____TreeTree _____Tree __
__Tree ______TreeDeor Tree _________Tree _____Tree ___
Tree ______Tree ____Tree _________Tree _____Tree ____Tree __
___Tree ____Tree ____Tree __------___Tree ___Tree ____Tree __
____ Tree________ Tree __________Tree ____________ Tree Tree
Tree ______Tree ____Tree ---- -Tree ______Tree ____Tree
Tree ____Tree _-__Tree Tree ____Tree ____Tree --
Tree __Tree __Tree _Tree _____ ____Tree __ ____Tree -----_
Rorimac, Ithilneth and then Gil-Gandel swiftly fill the Rod user with arrows before he can flame strike again. MAA11 is moving towards the archers and is also swiftly dropped.
Gwaelur and Bitur get the second bowman as he is pulling out of the entangle. He is screaming I surrender, I surrender but neither Dwarf understands. Sala shouts, “Dwarves, he is surrendering.” The bowman is already injured pretty badly and has tossed down his bow.
Sala and Ceol finish of the struggling men at arms 1 & 2.
Thoroncir hits once and then is hit by the rod. He feels his body stiffening but then he feels Kálthalion warm up on his side and swings and hits again. The Huge Bear swiftly follows Hound and Gilraen, He goes through he entangle just past the web and grabs the dark priest into a deadly hug. He squeezes and the victim’s 4 wounds gushes blood allover and the rod drops to the ground. He is howling in pain and then is no more.
Gilraen is attending to Luzi, she is unsure of what happens and decides to immediately cast a Dispel Magic.
Deor moves up and to the side a little and webs the Two Handed Sword user that is making good use of his sword to try and cut through the entangle. The webs subdue him.
Mulligan gets Flail01 in the back with her injection dagger. She only does 20 but also puts the choking, teary eyed shaman to sleep.
MAA06 makes it clear of the Entangle and runs. Hound immediately pursues.
-
Deor will hold his fire from here on out unless someone's life is really in danger. This looks like it's under control.
-
Anyone looking at Thoroncir would see him affectionately pat his scabbard as he steps out of the huge bear's way. If no ally in his line of sight needs help, the knight-errant will stand guard as Gilraen attends to Luzi.
-
On to Flail02 and then the MAAs - our centre has the enemy front well under control.
-
Mulligan calls out to Thoroncir to also mind the Shaman she just put to sleep before running off after Hound to make sure it prevents the MAA from getting away.
Rorimac begins aiming at the Flail user, as the MAAs are likely to break if their leaders go down.
-
Ithilneth will send arrows into the remaining mage until she risks hitting one of her comrades. She'll then draw her melee weapons and close to support Gil-Gandel.
-
Since there are still enemies actively engaged with his allies, Bitur pummels his target with the flat of his axe, intending to knock him out of the fight, but not kill him. He instructs Gwaelur to do the same.
-
Drindoleth notes the movement of MAA6 off to the side, but does not pursue as he's sure Hound has the situation well under control for the moment. Instead he will go for the MAAs who are still close at hand.
-
Ceol will gesture to Sala to follow him as he advances towards man-at-arms #3-#5.
-
Thoroncir shouts to the hobbit, "Thank you, good Mulligan, for the reminder!" If Gilraen is in no danger from any other nearby foes, he will securely bind and gag the sleeping shaman.
-
With no further injuries to the party, the rest of the enemy are subdued or killed.This leaves many enemies for potential questioning and a problem of what to do with them.
Gilraen is preparing herbs to help Luzi and calls for Rorimac and Deor to aid her. "She should recover fully, we were in time, it was a very evil spell that felled her though. It attacked her Fea or spirit directly. It immediately caused paralysis, but a paralysis that would have stopped her heart soon after. I believe Athelas should be enough with the Dispel Magic to cure these attacks."
-
Mulligan comes back with a long face as she reports on the demise of the MAA who ran off. At least no-one would be reporting out but she was hoping he would surrender. It seems he had other ideas about escaping though and between Hound and herself, he wasn't able to. She did check him over for any valuables and hid the body as best she could. The animals in the swamp will likely eat him before long.
Rorimac comes across to see what aid he can lend to Gilraen.
-
Ceol moves to where Gilraen is tending Luzi. "I do not know if my abilities can help her, but I am willing to try."
-
How many prisoners is many?
-
Rorimac asks Gilraen, "Do you need a small fire to help?"
-
Gilraen does need a small fire. The main reason she called Deor over but also his alchemy skills and magical knowledge are often very useful in these cases. The is little for Ceol to do to help in this case. But if Rorimac and Deor can get some water boiling, Gilraen can begin using Athelas to help bring Luzi back to consciousness.
In the end 7 prisoners were taken including two of the spell casters. Several are injured but Gilraen is busy tending to Luzi.
It takes Gilraen a good 30 minutes tending to Luzi, but in the end she completely cures her aside from Luzi needing to rest. Gilraen says, "We will need to make a camp near here, I don't want to move her too far."
-
Rorimac asks, "If we are going to be camping near here, have you considered asking Deor to idenitfy the rod to work out what happened and if anything else needs to be done?"
-
Gilraen, "That sounds like an excellent plan, but I would be afraid to touch it. It is probably evil."
Ceol can quickly confirm the Rod is strongly evil. As is the other Rod and the large 2-Handed sword.
-
Unless anyone objects, Drindoleth will tend to the injuries of their prisoners. Killing in battle is one thing, but he finds himself somewhat uncomfortable ignoring the wounds.
-
Mulligan will be removing all items of magic from the prisoners and then from the dead, as well as seeing what else they may have. A map of the area would be nice, be she isn't hoping that much,
Oh and she wil be watching out for evil artifacts, possibly asking Ceol to check them out first once found.
-
Ceol will assist Mulligan in looking for tainted items. He will strongly suggest that the rods, the sword, and any other such items be destroyed as soon as we are able to determine it is safe to do so.
-
Deor will first help with the wounded, then help gather magical items. Folca will fly cover, looking for escapees or reinforcements.
-
Not only do I not object to your caring for the wounded, Drindoleth, I positively encourage it. What prisoners do we have who are in a condition to talk?
-
Ceol will volunteer to use his ability to detect lies when we interrogate the prisoners. While he cannot speak their language, he does now have a helm which allows him to Comprehend Languages for over an hour.
-
Gilraen also has the ability to detect lies using her Rod of Kanotir.
Thoroncir will guard her and Drindoleth as they cure our captives, and will then ensure that the prisoners are securely bound and gagged. We should interrogate them out of the hearing of each other.
-
Once Rorimac has got a small fire going, he will start scouting round for a better place to camp, while Luzi recovers and the captives are questioned.
-
Gwaelur pulls out his axe and takes position near the prisoners (who I am assuming have been restrained, if not, he will start by restraining them.) in preparation for the interrogation. He doesn't plan to ask a lot of questions, but he will be happy to encourage answers.
-
Rorimac finds about 800' off a fairly nice camp location. It is on a slightly raise area and dry. Plenty of wood for a fire if desired. The nearby trees and plants could be affected nicely by a Druid spell to form a protective barrier. Some of the trees would make excellent lookout posts for elves at least and maybe Mulligan.
Of the prisoners, all 7 are stabilized, on the mend and secured. They includes 2 of the Flail users, the second short bow using scout and 4 of the men at arms.
Items and valuables found: Showing who had the items and then the items.
Crowned Skull: Evil Rod, magic ring, Hard Leather Boots, Dark Robe with evil taint
Huge Sword: Evil 2-Handed that can flame, Elven Chain +2, very ancient and actually Elven made, Boots Hard Leather Boots
Rod02: Evil Rod, Dark Robe with evil taint
Flail01: Magic Banded, Flail
Flail02: Magic Banded, Flail.
Flail03: Magic Banded, Flail
Sh. Bow users: 18 arrows
MAA’s: 2 Scimitar, 6 Spears, 1 Long Sword, Also 12 suits of non-magic Banded.
Treasures: An abundance of gaudy gold jewelry with a heavy preference for rubies. In all a large pouches amount worth maybe 9,000 gold.
732 GPs, 1245 SPs and even many coppers.
-
Right then. Thoroncir will ask each of them, separately and with truthfulness being ascertained by our party members who have such talents:
- What is your name?
- Why were you going to attack us?
- Who sent you?
- Who is your lord or lady, the person whom you ultimately are bound to obey?
- Who or what do you worship?
- What other traps or ambushes lie ahead of us?
Any other questions he ought to ask?
-
"Where did they come from?"
-
Prisoners: 2 of the Flail users (shamans/priests), the second short bow using scout and 4 of the men at arms.
- What is your name?
- Why were you going to attack us?
- Who sent you?
- Who is your lord or lady, the person whom you ultimately are bound to obey?
- Who or what do you worship?
- What other traps or ambushes lie ahead of us?
- Where did they come from?
One of the MAA’s makes extremely rude remarks about telling you what you want to know for some time with your camp girls. He likes the way your outfit operates, bringing relief with you. So far this is mostly directed at Gilraen as she is nearby detecting lies.
The evil priestly types refuse to cooperate. One tries to command Ceol to free him but Ceol ignores the command.
Another MAA is feigning a memory lost but both Ceol and Gilraen confirm he is lying about it.
So far the scout is the most willing to cooperate. “I will answer your questions if you promise to release me and give me a chance to rescue by younger brother from the stronghold.”
The other two MAA are just refusing to answer for now.
Meanwhile, is there anything being done with the items found?
-
Ceol gives the "camp girls" MAA an exceptionally withering look (his vows likely prevent him from outright decking the man, but maybe Sir Thoroncir would want the honors of doing so).
-
"5 mins with a camp girl. I'm pretty sure he would be spilling his guts after 5 minutes with me", remarks Mulligan in a low matter of fact tone to herself.
-
Thoroncir grasps the rude man-at-arms by the shirtfront, stares at him and snaps, "I suggest you keep a civil tongue in your head, sir, unless you'd like it cut out. As you see, there is a lady present as you speak such filth."
What is the alignment of the scout who's willing to cooperate? If he's not evil and is telling the truth, I'm sure we could come to an accommodation.
-
The rude man-at-arms does not understand Thoroncir until someones translates. It leaves him confused at first. Then he laughs at Thoroncir. "Fool, you will all die soon when the great one gets his revenge on you for daring to interfere with his servants."
The cooperative one does not detect as strong evil and no one appears to have Know Alignment memorized. When asked he hesitates, "I have done evil in service to Blahoth, but I don't consider myself evil, just a soldier doing his duty. What soldier has not done evil in battle?"
-
We try not to (Gil-Gandel interjects) but, for all that, many a soldier has done in duty's name what he would never do to his neighbour. It is worth much if you do not take pleasure in what must be done, and more if you show whatever mercy your duty allows. As we do now. To some foes, I will not deny it, there has been no mercy we could show save to grant a swift end that let them keep what honour they had left. To others, we have done rather better, and some there are alive and well and seeking a land of their own who would have seen our heads on pikes had matters fallen out so as to allow it. Therefore speak fully. Much is forgiven him who does only as he must for the safety of his own brother.
-
Rorimac comes back and reports privately to Gil Gandel on the glade he has found and if he wants to start moving the horses and Luzi there.
-
The scout speaking truthfully answers all the questions and adds a bit more. This is of course all in the common southern language but people can translate in both direction.
"I go by the name Gonung, but I was named Bilfoon by my parents. They died long ago and my brother and I survived as we could before being hired by Blahoth. I as a scout and my brother as a guard, though I think he is as much hostage as guard if you know what I mean. Somehow the clerics got word of your being in the woods and we were sent out from the fortress in the swamp to ambush you. Several times the lead cleric would stop and converse in an odd tongue with some unseen creature that by the sounds of it had flown in and then back out. As far as I know Blahoth himself sent us out. Nerum was the third most powerful cleric and the youngest of the high clerics and thus the best to lead such a mission. He was the one with the Rod with the Crown of Morgoth on top.
The high priest Blahoth rules the fort and the temple. The clerics worship Morgoth as do some of the men at arms. I worship none though I see the power of Morgoth and it is great. I am not aware of any other ambushes unless you get close to the fortress itself. Then there are many traps, though I know two routes in that will not trigger any traps and but no way that won’t set off an alert once you are within 1 mile.
I believe that many of the guards would rebel against Blahoth if you’re group looks strong enough. This would at least help your efforts. Be wary though, Blahoth can have the swamp itself attack those close to the fort and there are many mires that will suck down a man or horse in the great marsh. Then there are the foul dead that prey on the unsuspecting, especially at night in during dark storms.”
-
"It seems we should beware the skies," Ithilneth thinks out loud, scanning above her. "This prisoner, at least, will be useful for a while. One prisoner, we can easily bring with us. What of the others?"
-
Good work, Rorimac. Please carry on - we will be along shortly.
-
Would one of our mages memorize Detect Alignment once we're settled in for the night, please? We should confirm all of our prisoners' alignments, but if the helpful Gonung isn't evil, we could offer him employment as a guide. His desire to see his brother freed, which we can help him see realized, would be an added inducement.
I don't want to bring the others along as prisoners, but we can't really trust them if released. If we leave them behind us, tied up, they would be helpless when animals come sniffing around. Any better ideas?
-
Rorimac checks quietly around to see who wishes to help set up the new camp and help move Luzi. The questioning almost over, and the only discussion left what to do with the prisoners.
Mulligan to Thoroncir, "If you are feeling righteous, you can always give them a sword and a fighting chance against us. You know, see how many of us they can kill in noble hand-to-hand combat in the name what they believe in." and muttered under her breath, so only those with excellent hearing (the elves) can hear, " and practicality says a swift, unwelcome end to the matter instead. Misguided Orcs are one thing, but those who cannot be convinced any other way are another."
Realising something from earlier, Mulligan then starts looking and listening around for anything invisible flying around, while holding onto one of the globes with anti-invisibility smoke.
-
"I can detect some manner of an evil aura from Gonong, though it is not particularly strong. Based on his words, compared to the others, I have hopes that he can be redeemed, if treated with respect, and shown that the path of Light is true. He does need to earn our trust, but I would support giving him that opportunity."
"As for the others, we cannot be cruel, but I do not think that we can let them go free, either."
