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If the plan calls for us to hold the stairs then that's what we'll do - melee fighters formed up together near the foot of the stairs and all the ranged attackers in an arc further back where they can focus plenty of firepower on anything coming down. We'll wait until Meriadoc's party report back before actually going and looking for trouble.
Thoroncir believes this plan is sound.
"Would it help if I took a peek a bit further up the stairs to see what's around?", asks Mulligan.
Deor's ready to hold the stairs. He's got Fire Wall ready, as long as the floor, walls, and ceiling aren't flammable.
Ithilneth is concerned that the stairs are not tenable place to place defense. "Given that the walls hinder us and not our foes, wouldn't it be better to find a position where we can group more tightly, instead of this long line?"
"You know what I hate about stairs", says Rorimac, "people rolling things down them at you. I agree with Ithilneth, the bottom of the stairs is rarely the best place to try and defend them."
Sala is more than willing to advance up to hold the top instead, "We can probably hold the top and still support the other group."
Gilraen, "I am uneasy about splitting up any further. Though if we do, Ceol and I should split between the top and bottom group."
We could certainly all advance to hold the top. The one advantage to holding the bottom is the easy choke point. I can fill the stairwell with Webs very easily.
Is there room at the bottom of the stairs for us to form a bottleneck for any opponents, while allowing our archers and casters to work from a distance (as Gil-Gandel suggests)? If so, that would be Ceol's preference. He agrees with Gilraen that further splitting of the party may not be wise.
The stairs themselves would be the only bottle neck as they rise up out of the middle of a large roundish chamber. Also the flight is largely open to both sides outside of brass hand rails.
I believe the melee fighters should surround the stairs in sort of a "shield circle/semi-circle" while the archers back them up behind.
Deor is ready-- this staircase gives him chances for Web that will not be equaled.
"Well, Gil-Gandel is in charge", says Mulligan, "so, I guess everyone form up and get ready for anything. Hopefully the other party will not be too long. Dwarves to the front, large men to the side with archers ready to fire overhead."
Gwaelur mutters to Bitur, "In the front again. Is it because we're the best fighters, or because we are of smaller stature and the archers can fire over us easily? Or... is it because we're the most expendable?" He says the last with a smile...
Rorimac nudges Gwaelur, "Who are you calling small again?"
You have not been expended yet, so stop grumbling against orders or something bad will happen to you. :D
"... if not at the hands of the enemy, then from our testy Elf-captain!," Thoroncir laughs.
"Does anyone else get the feeling this castle has ben completely abandoned by everything?"
Just as Mulligan completes saying the above everything happens fast. Fighting erupts over by the cells and with barely a warning ghouls of various types pour down the steps. Gilraen is fast to blast them but she only affects about half their numbers. It appears there was more than one type of ghoul. There is at least a dozen coming down swiftly. One leaps into the middle of the party and actually lands on top of her, knocking her to the ground. Arrows fly towards those advancing down. They hit with good effect but these ghouls appear to be tough. It takes 3 arrows to drop them in most cases.
Does the front line hold and wait or surge upwards? What do the spell casters do?
"Typical, " sighs Mulligan and rolls her eyes. From where she is at the back she blindsides the one who has jumped on Gilraen, hoping to give her respite.
Rorimac switches from his bow to his swords and joins the front line, waiting for the oncoming horde.
Deor will fill the stairwell with Webs in hopes of slowing them down. That done, he'll try to stay away from walls and clear of any fighting.
Ithilneth will cast Protection from Evil 10'-foot Radius on Gilraen and then switches to her sword and knife to engage any enemies who are within our ranks.
"I get the message," Gwaelur mutters. "Mouth shut, axe swinging." His axe does indeed swing.
Ceol wades in against the ghouls with his swords. "May Eonwë grant us strength in battle!" His intent is to hold the line, and prevent any more ghouls from breaking through, unless ordered to do otherwise.
Thoroncir gasps to see Gilraen knocked down, but knows he cannot open a gap in the line by coming to her aid. He stands fast and, with sword and shield, does his utmost to strike down the ghouls.
Deor’s Web brings respite by trapping 6 ghouls and leaving only 5 on the lower side of the stairs and the 2 already among the party.
Ithilneth’s Protection from Evil 10'-foot Radius does nothing to the ghoul trying to eat Gilraen’s lovely face but does prevent the only other ghoul within the lines of party from getting to her. Ithilneth then hits this ghoul. Missy turns visible as she starts shredding the back of the ghoul’s head and neck. Freyja leaps into action to assist by shredding the fiends’ back. Mulligan fails to hit the ghoul for damage the first strike but follows with a solid hit. Gilraen has taken 12 points of damage.
Gwaelur’s axe and war shield make short work of the first ghoul to reach the defenders. It could not get past his guard.
Ceol strikes a foe four times and chops and drops it. It failed to hurt Ceol through his finely made Chain Mail of Aglarond.
Bitur matches Gwaelur blow for blow and another Ghoul drops.
Sir Thoroncir strikes with Cirist and drops the ghoul with his first strike. He is able to spin and hit the other ghoul that had dropped behind the line and finishes it off.
Rorimac feels Belethil encouraging him to let it blaze forth with light to make the undead recoil. He blocks a blow from the ghoul as he cuts into its undead flesh 3 times and drops it. Kkósal bane was of course extra effective.
Sala is swiftly on the one attacking Gilraen. His rapier and spike whip around faster than the ghoul can track and the ghoul finds itself swiftly sliced to pieces.
Gil-Gandel puts two arrows through the ghouls behind the fighters before Thoroncir finished it off.
The battle happened fast for Drindoleth, faster than he could decide what to do.
The fort is largely wooden, burning the webs is likely to set the fort on fire again.
The Webs will eventually expire. Until then, I suggest that the archers in the group use the ghouls as target practice, and if the others return before the magics binding the Webs break down, I'll see if I can't counterspell them. There's no sense doing it right now while we still want that staircase blocked off.
Mulligan helps Gilraen back to her feet checking to see how badly injured she is.
Gilraen looks shook up and she is scratched and has one long jagged cut.
The archers know their arrows will not penetrate the magic webs. The ghouls are slowly pulling the webs apart.
Ithilneth readies an arrow in case any of the ghouls make themselves an available target. "Patience. Once they free themselves, we either will destroy them or can follow them to their lair."
"Well, if someone has a spare light spell, I think Gwaleur's helm may come in useful here." Rorimac gestures at the trapped ghouls which should be in good range to all be hit in one go.
Gwaelur takes the suggestion and uses his Helm of Brilliance to cast a Light Blast toward the trapped ghouls.
Ithilneth will recharge the Helm.
The blast of light goes off in a 30' radius from Rilthol . The 6 ghouls are all seriously injured in the web.
Just as Ithilneth completes charging the helm, a torch drops down onto the webs and lights the webs on fire swiftly. The wooden stairs will be quite vulnerable to going up with it though.
Huh. That's no good. Can Fireball be reversed, quenching flames within the blast radius? That might be effective at stopping the conflagration.
Is Bjorn within yelling distance? He has proved able to extinguish fire before now. Pyrotechnics would do it as a side effect, but it is beyond my skill until I have advanced further.
He is in shouting distance actually. Good thought. Also Drinoleth is fire proof and maybe as an Uber-Bear be able to beat it out.
Seeing the ghouls aflame and ensnared, at least for the moment, Thoroncir tells those to either side of him that he is withdrawing from the battle-line. He sheathes his sword and turns to see if he can help Gilraen, taking her in his arms and soothing her as he calls for a healer to come to her aid.
Ceol nods to Thoroncir, striking fiercely to keep the ghouls at bay for a moment, before following the knight to Gilraen's side.
Drindoleth will shift to his bear form and once the transformation is complete see what he can do to smother some of the flames until Bjorn can better contain them.
Being lighter and smaller than the others, Rorimac will head up the stairs with Drindoleth to assist with the ghouls, although maybe not with the fire.
Gilraen needs some help but she heals the main damage to herself.
Drindoleth proves to be an excellent firefighter and the magic webs burn very swift. The ghouls are injured and now burnt and only feebly fighting. Bjorn completes the casting of a spell and the fire goes out abruptly. He then rushes over to the Princess.
The Dwarves are next to follow and wade into and kill the last 4 injured ghouls. Another mixed set of ghouls is poised to attack though.
Gilraen destroys the greater ghouls as some rocks bounce off the huge bear smothering the stairs. One lesser ghoul exposes itself to Gil-Gandel's arrows and then Rorimac strikes swiftly and drops a pair of the heavily injured ghouls.
Since most of Deor's offensive spells are fire-based or susceptible to fire, he'll stick to Magic Missile if he gets a chance.
Ithilneth exclaims, "Are we going to advance or defend this location? Either way, let us stay near." She keeps her bow at ready and keeps near Gilraen.
You on the stairs, edge back in good order so that rocks cannot be dropped on you. Archers, keep up your fire on these ghouls. Stand firm! *blows encouraging blast on Glinras*
Thoroncir stands ready, guarding and comforting Gilraen. In his thoughts, however, he berates himself for having twice recently failed to keep her from harm - at the portal to the dark tower in Old Hatha, and now this.
"At this point it'd probably be best for us to push up the stairs. It'll negate the high ground advantage these undead have."
"Since when did the undead start throwing rocks at us? I always thought they were more of a shamble forward and attack type?"
Gilraen reports, "There is some stronger presence above us. I fear they may burn the fort down on top of us."
"That's not good news", says Mulligan, "is it worth someone heaidig off and informing the other group about this, while we try and stop them burning the place down?"