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There isn't an obvious way for Deor to help, so he'll hold off for the moment and make sure that these creatures are not reinforced by their allies.
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Ceol grits his teeth, focusing on his devotion to Eonwë as he attempts to fight through the agony and nausea which are wracking his body. He murmurs a prayer as he braces himself, in case his foe is able to strike again.
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Drindoleth will begin changing to his bear form to help fight back the pale monstrosities. Since he can still cast some in this form, it will hopefully not prove to be too much of a hindrance.
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The two opponents are coming up the stairs so flanking in of the question. However the swords seem to grow less in the light of Belethil .
Ceol's swing drop the injured foe and the axes of the Dwarves do serious harm to the other. His sword bites deeply through Bitur's armor though and does 10 points of regular damage and an additional 11 points of soul wrenching agony for 21 points total.
Gil-Gandel sends 5 +3 arrows through this foe and finishes him off. The monster tumbled backwards down the stairs as a horrible bloodcurdling howl is heard.
Gil-Gandel pales a bit and know immediately, Werewolf! Horror of the past. Dread offspring of Draugluin. This was not expected. Sala soils himself and flees up the stairs. Luzi also flees higher.
Gilraen has rushed to Ceol and uses a Cure Serious Wound and heals him completely.
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Seeing that Gil-Gandel is otherwise engaged, Thoroncir will stand his ground, guarding the two prisoners. He would welcome Sala and Luzi's help, so that he might turn his attention to any other doors upstairs.
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Seeing as the main fighters are being patched up, Rorimac draws his cloak about him, steels himself and heads down the first few stairs to see below and to give warning should anything come up the stairs.
"Back up, give everyone room should whatever that is down there come up."
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A werewolf! It would take a singer of Tom's own calibre, or Princess Luthien herself, to soothe one of those. I believe extreme violence will be necessary. Deor, stand ready with your fiery spells. I will Faerie Fire it on sight and if my arrows then seem to have no effect, I will flame my two swords and go to hand-to-hand with a Mirror Image on me. And the sooner Sir Thoroncir is relieved of his charges and able to join us here, the better.
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Ithilneth's ears crawl from sound of the evil beast. She hopes her companions can handle such a thing and wonders if the courtyard needs guarding after all.
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Ceol nods to Gilraen. "Thank you, milady. The wound inflicted by that...being...was most foul, and shook even my resolve for a moment. But, with your help, it is now naught but a passing memory."
He steps back a bit from the stairwell, and girds himself for the expected onslaught by the werewolf.
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Will Fireballs light the building on fire, or cause too much collateral damage? Deor will ready them, but may be limited to Burning Hands. In any case, he'll cast Protection from Evil 10' Radius to cover the whole area and all of our fighters.
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If Sala and Luzi will guard the prisoners, Sir Thoroncir will move to join Gil-Gandel and find out what just happened.
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As the sword hits Bitur, his first thought is to simply shrug off the minor wound. This, however, is followed closely by quite possibly the worst pain he's ever encountered in his long years as his very essence seems to be rended. But his resolved is steeled as he hears the howl of the wolf. The enemy will not take him out of the fight so easily.
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From outside Mulligan hears the howl and wonders what manner of creature is held there. Her hand strays to the bullets that were so effective against the Wargs and wonder what use they might be against such a foul entity.
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Luzi agrees to guard for both as Sala appears to be shaken very badly. He is mumbling in his native tongue, "Not again, oh lord, not again."
Fireball should be safe if thrown lower. The building is stone and not wood.
Gilraen encourages Bitur to back up a bit so she can cure him. When he backs up two steps she uses a curelight for 18 leaving him down only 3 points.
Thoroncir quickly takes post at the top of the stairs with Ceol, the Dwarves and Rorimac. They form a defensive wall against this fresh horror.
Deor, Gil-Gandel, Gilraen and Drindoleth are ready behind the lines.
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With an rush too fast to react to the werewolf lunges up the stairs. It seemingly beelines for Thoroncir and bowls him over, shredding his flesh in a horribly swift fashion, Gilraen shrieks even louder than Thoroncir who is on the ground and unable to defend himself.
Gil-Gandel sees that faerie fire will be of no help this time and sends his +3 arrows into its hide. He is relieved when the first bites deeply. Two more also strike true.
Rorimac strikes twice in all and has the beast bleeding.
Bitur's Battle Axe cuts deeply once and shallow the second time. His shield seems to be of little affect.
Gwaelur's hits once with his axe and once with his shield.
Ceol's Holy Sword removes an ear and leaves his front left paw lame. His short sword also strikes once.
The wolf is taking a beating but so is Sir Thoroncir.
Something more is coming up the stairs and fairly fast.
Deor sees only magic missile could safely strike the wolf but a fireball might discourage the creatures following the fiendish wolf.
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Discourage them? I'll block them-- Wall of Force ought to hold them back.
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While the others fight the werewolf, Drindoleth will attempt to dive down and pull Thoroncir free since he cannot defend himself.
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Ceol attempts to interpose himself between the werewolf and his fallen friend. He does not recall having ever before faced such a fearsome foe. Seeing that his holy sword seems to be particularly effective, Ceol focuses on attacking with it, using his short sword more for parrying.
"For Eonwë! For Rohan and all goodly people!"
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Thoroncir will do his best to push the werewolf off, hack at it with his sword, stab it with his dagger, or simply protect his vital organs.
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Rorimac moves round behind the werewolf and starts trying to impale both swords in its back. "Bitur, Gwaelur, shield push him off Thoroncir."
Hearing Gilraen scream, Mulligan swoops down to a ground floor window. If its not open she will smash one open.
If its open, and she can see the fight, she will snap off a long range shot with one of the silver bullets, otherwise she will fly in and ready a shot for the next turn.
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Lindorn thrums like a toccata on the bass harp-strings, pumping every +3 arrow Gil-Gandel has into any square inch he can see of the loathsome beast, his elvish skill with rapid fire straining to the utmost!
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Gwaelur goes back for the attack with his axes and shield, doing his best to put himself in between the beast and Thoroncir.
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The Wall of Force is perfect and isolated the werewolf. Drindoleth weighing now more then the werewolf and most of the fighters together barrels into the wolf and pushes it back. He takes some nasty wounds but give two deep rakes himself. Gilraen pulls Thoroncir back with the strength of panic and then quickly calms herself with a low chant and begins to clean the wounds and prepares to heal him.
The fighters hack and slash at the beasty. Arrows pierce his ancient hide and soon the wolf is downed and then beheaded. The Axes of the Dwarves bit deeper then the wolf today and the Swords of Man and Hobbit proves most grievous to this foe. Blood is pouring from Thoroncir and Ceol realizes this might be filled with disease.
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What can we see through the Wall of Force? What do the beasts down below look like?
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Thoroncir grits his teeth against the agony of his wounds and slips into unconsciousness, his last sight the sweet face of his beloved Gilraen, striving to heal him.
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If there is no imminent threat, Ceol moves to where Gilraen is tending to Thoroncir.
"Milady...I fear that the bite of the werewolf may have infected Sir Thoroncir with disease, in addition to the gravity of the wounds themselves. Eonwë has granted me the ability to cure such infirmity, and I would gladly use it here."
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There appears to be some fierce looking undead on the other side of the Wall of Force .
Gilraen looks up at the Knight of Eonwë and replies, "Yes, please." As Ceol drives out the diseases Gilraen casts a Cure Serious for 37 points of healing. She then casts a second for 33 and his two major wounds are healed over. Thoroncir is now down only 12 points.
The Wall of Force has bought the party much time from what should be the worst this place has to offer.
At this point in the courtyard, guards are trying to force open doors and some start coming out windows.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b1...hMarshFort.jpg
Inside, Deor sees a figure on the other side of the Wall of Force casting. He strongly suspects the figure is attempting to dispel the wall.
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He wants to dispel the Wall? Let him. The instant it falls, Deor will drop a fireball on the caster. He takes his staff in his left hand, his Ruby in his right, and prepares a Fireball of maximum damage. (If I'm calculating that correctly, that's 11d6+11 maximized, or 77, damage to everyone within the rather confined radius of the blast.) That might knock out the walking dead or the caster, but it's worth keeping an arrow nocked to finish the job.
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After using Cure Disease on Thoroncir, and seeing that Gilraen has healed most of his wounds, Ceol says a prayer of thanksgiving. He then stands, and takes up his blades once more, preparing for the next assault.
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"You know Thoroncir, perhaps we should put you at the back." Rorimac smiles as the Knight stirs.
Mulligan heads back out and starts flying around the courtyard. Anyone putting themselves out of a window is likely to get clubbed back through the window by an invisible hobbit.
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"You know Thoroncir, perhaps we should put you at the back." Rorimac smiles as the Knight stirs.
Mulligan heads back out and starts flying around the courtyard. Anyone putting themselves out of a window is likely to get clubbed back through the window by an invisible hobbit.
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Heroes fight at Gondor's need
Ne'er to fight in vain;
Though a mortal foe indeed,
Yet the Wolf is slain.
Come the folk of magic fell
Learned at dreadful altar:
Black though be their Morgul-spell,
Hearts shall never falter!
Drawn our sword and ready bow,
We, by Valar gifted,
Stand prepared to lay them low -
Courage be uplifted!
Songs of power shall strengthen all,
Prayer our cause shall favour:
Hearken, Gondor's heroes tall,
None were ever braver!
Follow the Bardic chant with a blast on Glinras, and when the Wall of Force goes, the first human-looking enemies through the door can be treated to a song of Fear.
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Bitur will instruct the frontliners to form up a shield wall (or two depending on how close the quarters are) and once the wall drops and the fireworks start to mop up the remains and keep a barrier between the caster/archers and the enemy.
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Thoroncir returns to consciousness with a start. His spirits are lifted both by Gil-Gandel's rousing song and Gilraen's lovely face, as she beams in joyous welcome. He clambers to his feet, aching and a little unsteady, and kisses the princess's hand. She quickly tells him what happened, and he says, "Thank you, my lady, and stalwart Ceol, for healing me, and thank you, Gil-Gandel, for your inspiring tune, of which I am surely unworthy. The Valar have indeed favored me, far beyond my merit, and I am indebted to you all yet again."
He takes up his sword and his shield, looks down at his damaged armor and replies to Rorimac's jest, "I will go where our Elf-captain thinks best, but as ever, would prefer to be at the front."
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The wall comes down but just as quickly Deor's fireball blasts them and destroys several and leaves the rest injured. He also disrupts at least one spells being cast back.
Bitur and Gwaelur form a shield wall with Ceol and Thoroncir ready to aid. Gil-Gandel's Fear song sends one human running and stumbling down the stairs. The wave of undead pushes up and his fought off well and safely. 4 horrid charred foes fall.
Outside Mulligan is harassing well and Ithilneth sleeps 5 that came pouring out.
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Rorimac will be using the ring to shine a light in dark places and disadvantage the undead that come forth.
Mulligan will continue to harrass outside unless she sees Gonung trying to get to safety with any other guards.
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Thoroncir, just glad to be alive, will guard the Dwarves' flank and lay on with his longsword as needed. Elendil!
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Pleased with himself, Deor readies himself, hoping to conserve spells but ready to cast another Fireball if really necessary. Otherwise, he'll simply fight defensively if he can't disengage entirely.
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Ceol nods to his cousin. "Well done, Deor...that took much of the fight out of them."
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Still looking for archery targets, especially anyone who's looking like a "tall poppy", but if not, then anyone really...
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Still in his bear form should it be needed, Drindoleth will aid in guarding the Dwarves' flank as well.
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Ithilneth is cheered by the news brought by Gil-Gandel's song and is happy to provide a rearguard to the troop.
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The undead cannot get through the wall of shields, axes, swords and bear claws. Gil-Gandel is ensuring the living are distracted if the peer around the stairs.
Outside, Mulligan is relieved to see Gorung exiting a building with one that must be his brother. He begins to shout in the local language. "Cast off the yoke of the dark ones, time to be free, dare to be free!"
Ceol senses another great evil is approaching.
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"Something new is coming...something strongly evil. Let us be wary!"
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Thoroncir tightens his grip on his longsword Arcirist and, with a glance at the lovely Gilraen, prepares for whatever draws nigh.
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Following Gorung's cues, Ithilneth will refrain from sleeping anyone who is not openly hostile to him.
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Drindoleth prepares for the next onslaught.
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Mulligan will leave Gonung alone and anyone else answering his call. If anyone looks like attacking him, Mulligan will run interference.
Rorimac checks to make sure everyone is alright and hands out a healing potion if necessary, easy than asking Gilraen to waste her spells when they may be more necessary later. After that, prepare to face the oncoming evil, Belethil gleaming brightly.
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Deor will hold his fire, scanning for the approach of this evil that Ceol warns of. If something worthwhile shows up, he'll let loose with spells if it seems necessary.
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Something very heavy is trudging slowly up the stairs. The only sound from it is the thumping and groaning of each step as it creaks heavily under a weight nearly too great.
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"Does anyone have a spell that could warp, weaken, or destroy the wooden stairs that the beast is walking on?"
