The hobgoblin's longsword slashes Vigan's arm as his glaive misses its mark. With no other enemies around, the goliath ignores his defenses and swings his glaive wildly at the hobgoblin.
Attack 1: 14
Damage 1: 8
Attack 2: 22
Damage 2: 9
OOC - assuming this kills the hobgoblin...
Wiping the blade of his glaive clean of blood, Vigan surveys his surroundings. Giving a satisfied nod at body count so far, he takes off towards the keep. "We're not done yet, come on!"
(Three guards remain atop the wall. There is no gate on the western side of the Keep. It's roughly 700' to the eastern side of the village, which means the four of you--Andor, Carrow, Ladrian, and Vigan--will need 12 rounds to dash the necessary distance.)
To the west of the Keep, the four adventurers bring a close to their battle with the goblins, hobgoblins, and ogres. Hoping to rejoin Rixton as soon as possible, they dash around the southern perimeter of the village toward the eastern gate.
Inside the Keep, the two individuals standing outside the inn have looks of dismay on their face, but they heed Rixton's advice and scurry through the inn door. The halfling continues its run westward, and the frost giant turns slowly and locks eyes with Rixton. "Go and live," he utters in Common.
RIxton steps past the fallen guard, draws the two halves of the gate together, and slides the locking mechanism into place (3 rounds pass). The frost giant watches for a moment before turning to eye the three guards approaching from the west. The giant doesn't seem particularly troubled by the closing of the gate or the nearness of the guards. He then returns his focus to Rixton, and says with a chuckle, "The runt wishes to know Kaltivar's business."
From within the stables, the telltale signs of a struggle erupts. Rixton recognizes the snarl of at least one bugbear; additionally, a deep, male voice can be heard, saying something harsh in Dwarvish. (a 4th round passes). The three guards have drawn within 60' of the giant, but stop there (K22), trying to read the situation with their hand crossbows at the ready. Kaltivar lowers himself to one knee, peers into the stable and says, "Put him in the sack" (a 5th round passes).
The burly half-orc again reappears from the inn, cautiously trying to see what's taking place. Two bugbears then emerge from the stables; they're dragging something rather large in a burlap sack. Whoever, or whatever, is in the sack is moving about, seemingly trying to kick its way to freedom (a 6th round passes).
I move a few steps forward, clutching my bow but not yet drawing an arrow. On the wall the guards have stopped firing, indicating the fighting has stopped outside the wall. I run some quick estimations. It will be a while before anyone who survived that fight gets to the gate. I need to stall.
Then the bugbears stuff a dwarf, of all things, into a sack. My mind races and the pieces start to fall into place, just a little. "Ah," I say to the giant. "You need him, a smith perhaps, to put it all together." The gears whir more. "The weevil!" I exclaim.
I draw an arrow but do not nock it on my bow. To the guards keeping their distance, I say, "They are here for the dwarf who worked in the stables. He may have gone by 'the weevil' and is wanted, apparently by more than just the law. Save your bolts for him instead of the giant, if you must."
As the burly half-orc comes out of the tavern again, I catch his attention. "You," I say, "Half orc. Be ready to open the gate. Some trustworthy blades will be here soon. Let them in then lock the gate again."
"Kaltivar," I say to the giant. "You need the dwarf alive. If you cannot give us a compelling reason to let you leave with him, then you will return to your leader as a failure."
(Rounds 7 and 8 pass during the course of the above post)
Kaltivar, seemingly uninterested in Rixton's commentary, picks up the sack and slings it rather easily over his left shoulder. Then pointing to the guards with the enormous axe in his right hand, the giant says, "Fire on me and I'll set a hundred angry swords upon you."
Whoever is in the sack continues to struggle and bark angry words in Dwarvish. The half-orc--whose apron suggests she works at the inn--blurts out, "Nay, that's no Weevil, not at all! That's Larg, my new stablehand! What are you doing?!" She then says something insulting in Orcish at the giant before she nods to Rixton and makes her way toward the gate.
After threatening the guards, Kaltivar turns toward Rixton, and with a sinister grin on his face responds, "Compelling reason?"
He then looks at the two bugbears to his right and says, "Shut his mouth."
(Rounds 9 and 10 have passed)
Each of the bugbears takes a javelin in hand and steps toward Rixton...
Initiative:
Bugbears and Kaltivar: 8
Rixton: 13
(Rixton may take his action for round 11; refer to map below)
Rixton draws first blood, firing on Kaltivar and striking the giant in the leg. The three guards rush forward to put themselves within range of the bugbears, and each fires a bolt...
Guard 1, hand crossbow attack on bugbear 3:14| Piercing damage:7
Guard 2, hand crossbow attack on bugbear 3:4| Piercing damage:2
Guard 3, hand crossbow attack on bugbear 4:8| Piercing damage:6
To put themselves within range of the bugbears, however, the guards simultaneously put themselves within Kaltivar's range. The giant drops his prisoner, strides forward, and takes two swings with his greataxe...
Greataxe attack against guard 1:19| Slashing damage:21
Greataxe attack against guard 2:20| Slashing damage:20
Each guard misses his shot, unable to hit the moving bugbears as they pursue Rixton. Two guards pay dearly for their bravery; both of them sustain massive damage from Kaltivar's axe. They stagger backwards momentarily, seemingly ready to stay in the fight.
The two bugbears dash toward the tree (bottom right corner of N22), where one of them (#3) remains, seeking cover from Rixton's bow. The other rushes past the tree with shield in one hand and javelin in the other. It stands approximately 20' north of Rixton.
(Round 11 concludes. Rixton may take his round 12 action, followed by the guards, then Kaltivar and the bugbears)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Rixton:
I just need to delay as long as possible. Rather than accept the challenge of the bugbear north of me, I dart west to the bugbear hiding behind the tree and slash at him with my short sword.
Short sword (+1) Attack: 12 Damage: 8
I follow this with a forceful kick to its midsesction.
Bonus action - unarmed Attack: 18 Damage: 6
"Hey, Kaltivar," I say. "They should have sent the fire giants. Those guys actually completed their mission."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Rixton's sword clanks off the bugbear's shield, but he is able to place his boot squarely into the monster's stomach; Rixton hears the bugbear grunt in pain as its breath is forced out of its lungs.
Too close to Kaltivar to continue using crossbows, the guards draw their scimitars, and each in turn attempts to wound the massive giant that looms over them...
Guard 1, scimitar attack:13| Slashing damage:4
Guard 2, scimitar attack: 9| Slashing damage:5
Guard 3, scimitar attack:21| Slashing damage:7
Kaltivar, unphased by the three quick-moving blades before him, rears back with his greataxe again, and then again...
Greataxe attack on guard 1: 23 | Slashing damage:36
Greataxe attack on guard 3: 26 | Slashing damage:21
Guard #1 is nearly hewed in half by the giant's blade; blood splatters for dozens of feet, and the guard collapses to the ground. Guard #3 staggers sideways, trying to regain his balance after the formidable blow.
Bugbear #3 takes a quick stab at Rixton with his javelin, and bugbear #4 moves a few feet to his left before throwing his javelin...
Upon reaching the gate to Xantharl's Keep and finding it locked, Vigan rattles the gate in frustration, the momentum and adrenalin gained from defeating an army of goblins, hobgoblins and ogres quickly dissipating as a result of a barred gate.
"Rixton! Anyone? Open up!"
The goliath puts his shoulder to the gate and attempts to ram it open.
@DM - Feel free to make this a futile attempt, or let me know if you want me to roll something.
Panting as he ran to catch up with the Goliath, now shouldering the towns large gate, he lays a hand on Vigans back "Stay strong friend, we do not know what is on the other side"
Vigan smashes against the gates; they rattle loudly but do not open. A moment later, the gates swing open and the four adventurers stand face to face with an enormous half-orc. She dons an apron and a terrified look on her face. On the ground next to her lies a slain guard, and in the distance a frost giant and two guards are engaged in melee combat.
Each of the guards sees the futility of their situation. Knowing that additional guards are approaching from the west, the two wounded guards turn and flee; the giant seems perfectly content to let them do so. He turns to face the four new faces that have entered the village.
The two bugbears continue their scrape with Rixton as commanded by their giant leader...
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Rixton:
My concentration breaks as I see the gates open to let my comrades in. "Thank the gods!" I say. "Andor. By the stables. A sack." One of the bugbears skewers me in the side with their javelin. I grimace and attempt to end the fight with that particular enemy.
Short sword (+1) Attack: 11 Damage: 6
I follow up my attack with another forceful kick to its chest.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Andor
Hearing Rixton shouting something about a sack Andor looks around for one but takes the opportunity to launch a quick spell at the closest of the bugbears. Casts Ray of Frost9 for 10 cold damage. After casting the spell goes off he draws some of the energy inside him and readies it for use later.
Andor then moves towards them and away from the giant, getting near or to O23.
Bonus action to convert a level 2 spell slot into 2 sorcery points.
Vigan
The hobgoblin's longsword slashes Vigan's arm as his glaive misses its mark. With no other enemies around, the goliath ignores his defenses and swings his glaive wildly at the hobgoblin.
Attack 1: 14
Damage 1: 8
Attack 2: 22
Damage 2: 9
OOC - assuming this kills the hobgoblin...
Wiping the blade of his glaive clean of blood, Vigan surveys his surroundings. Giving a satisfied nod at body count so far, he takes off towards the keep. "We're not done yet, come on!"
OOC - Can we see any way in to the settlement? I'm assuming the gate is closed, can we see the guards on top of the wall still?
Vhon - Level 2 Warlock - What shall become of the Drunken Sailor?
Lyreis - Level 6 Elf Fighter - Eberron: Omega
DM - Dzenda: The Cracks - DM - Dzenda: Whispered Tales
(Three guards remain atop the wall. There is no gate on the western side of the Keep. It's roughly 700' to the eastern side of the village, which means the four of you--Andor, Carrow, Ladrian, and Vigan--will need 12 rounds to dash the necessary distance.)
To the west of the Keep, the four adventurers bring a close to their battle with the goblins, hobgoblins, and ogres. Hoping to rejoin Rixton as soon as possible, they dash around the southern perimeter of the village toward the eastern gate.
Inside the Keep, the two individuals standing outside the inn have looks of dismay on their face, but they heed Rixton's advice and scurry through the inn door. The halfling continues its run westward, and the frost giant turns slowly and locks eyes with Rixton. "Go and live," he utters in Common.
Rixton:
"I'm sorry," I say to the giant, closing the second gate. "We just have a few things to talk about before you dash off."
I set about locking the gate, either with a bar, locking mechanism, or my chain or rope as necessary. I silently pray for my comrades to be close.
"My name is Rixton. What brings you to Xantharl Keep? What I mean is, what is the item you seek from this place?"
RIxton steps past the fallen guard, draws the two halves of the gate together, and slides the locking mechanism into place (3 rounds pass). The frost giant watches for a moment before turning to eye the three guards approaching from the west. The giant doesn't seem particularly troubled by the closing of the gate or the nearness of the guards. He then returns his focus to Rixton, and says with a chuckle, "The runt wishes to know Kaltivar's business."
From within the stables, the telltale signs of a struggle erupts. Rixton recognizes the snarl of at least one bugbear; additionally, a deep, male voice can be heard, saying something harsh in Dwarvish. (a 4th round passes). The three guards have drawn within 60' of the giant, but stop there (K22), trying to read the situation with their hand crossbows at the ready. Kaltivar lowers himself to one knee, peers into the stable and says, "Put him in the sack" (a 5th round passes).
The burly half-orc again reappears from the inn, cautiously trying to see what's taking place. Two bugbears then emerge from the stables; they're dragging something rather large in a burlap sack. Whoever, or whatever, is in the sack is moving about, seemingly trying to kick its way to freedom (a 6th round passes).
Rixton:
I move a few steps forward, clutching my bow but not yet drawing an arrow. On the wall the guards have stopped firing, indicating the fighting has stopped outside the wall. I run some quick estimations. It will be a while before anyone who survived that fight gets to the gate. I need to stall.
Then the bugbears stuff a dwarf, of all things, into a sack. My mind races and the pieces start to fall into place, just a little. "Ah," I say to the giant. "You need him, a smith perhaps, to put it all together." The gears whir more. "The weevil!" I exclaim.
I draw an arrow but do not nock it on my bow. To the guards keeping their distance, I say, "They are here for the dwarf who worked in the stables. He may have gone by 'the weevil' and is wanted, apparently by more than just the law. Save your bolts for him instead of the giant, if you must."
As the burly half-orc comes out of the tavern again, I catch his attention. "You," I say, "Half orc. Be ready to open the gate. Some trustworthy blades will be here soon. Let them in then lock the gate again."
"Kaltivar," I say to the giant. "You need the dwarf alive. If you cannot give us a compelling reason to let you leave with him, then you will return to your leader as a failure."
Deception: 9
(Rounds 7 and 8 pass during the course of the above post)
Kaltivar, seemingly uninterested in Rixton's commentary, picks up the sack and slings it rather easily over his left shoulder. Then pointing to the guards with the enormous axe in his right hand, the giant says, "Fire on me and I'll set a hundred angry swords upon you."
Whoever is in the sack continues to struggle and bark angry words in Dwarvish. The half-orc--whose apron suggests she works at the inn--blurts out, "Nay, that's no Weevil, not at all! That's Larg, my new stablehand! What are you doing?!" She then says something insulting in Orcish at the giant before she nods to Rixton and makes her way toward the gate.
After threatening the guards, Kaltivar turns toward Rixton, and with a sinister grin on his face responds, "Compelling reason?"
He then looks at the two bugbears to his right and says, "Shut his mouth."
(Rounds 9 and 10 have passed)
Each of the bugbears takes a javelin in hand and steps toward Rixton...
Initiative:
(Rixton may take his action for round 11; refer to map below)
Rixton:
I nock my (+1) arrow. "Fire on the bugbears!" I shout to the guards. "We will have help soon!" I sound more confident than I feel.
I eye Kaltivar, looking for a weakness in his armor and his movements.
Bonus action - Insightful fighting (contested by deception): 13
I tap activate my amulet and the world snaps into predictable patterns again. I draw back my shot, aiming for the weakness I've detected, and fire.
Shortbow attack: 16, Damage: 8 + 1 (I forgot the arrow bonus), Sneak Attack damage (if applicable): 7
I move south (to the lower right corner of O23), swapping my bow for my bloody short sword.
Deception check for Kaltivar: 10
Rixton draws first blood, firing on Kaltivar and striking the giant in the leg. The three guards rush forward to put themselves within range of the bugbears, and each fires a bolt...
To put themselves within range of the bugbears, however, the guards simultaneously put themselves within Kaltivar's range. The giant drops his prisoner, strides forward, and takes two swings with his greataxe...
Each guard misses his shot, unable to hit the moving bugbears as they pursue Rixton. Two guards pay dearly for their bravery; both of them sustain massive damage from Kaltivar's axe. They stagger backwards momentarily, seemingly ready to stay in the fight.
The two bugbears dash toward the tree (bottom right corner of N22), where one of them (#3) remains, seeking cover from Rixton's bow. The other rushes past the tree with shield in one hand and javelin in the other. It stands approximately 20' north of Rixton.
(Round 11 concludes. Rixton may take his round 12 action, followed by the guards, then Kaltivar and the bugbears)
Rixton:
I just need to delay as long as possible. Rather than accept the challenge of the bugbear north of me, I dart west to the bugbear hiding behind the tree and slash at him with my short sword.
Short sword (+1) Attack: 12 Damage: 8
I follow this with a forceful kick to its midsesction.
Bonus action - unarmed Attack: 18 Damage: 6
"Hey, Kaltivar," I say. "They should have sent the fire giants. Those guys actually completed their mission."
Rixton's sword clanks off the bugbear's shield, but he is able to place his boot squarely into the monster's stomach; Rixton hears the bugbear grunt in pain as its breath is forced out of its lungs.
Too close to Kaltivar to continue using crossbows, the guards draw their scimitars, and each in turn attempts to wound the massive giant that looms over them...
Kaltivar, unphased by the three quick-moving blades before him, rears back with his greataxe again, and then again...
Guard #1 is nearly hewed in half by the giant's blade; blood splatters for dozens of feet, and the guard collapses to the ground. Guard #3 staggers sideways, trying to regain his balance after the formidable blow.
Bugbear #3 takes a quick stab at Rixton with his javelin, and bugbear #4 moves a few feet to his left before throwing his javelin...
Meanwhile, Andor, Carrow, Ladrian, and Vigan approach the gate to Xantharl's Keep and find it closed and locked...
(All players may take their actions for round 13)
Rixton:
I dodge both bugbears with ease, then strike at the wounded one again with my short sword, followed by a jab to the bugbear's nose.
Short sword (+1) Attack: 20 Damage: 7
Bonus action - Unarmed Attack: 25 Damage: 6
Vigan
Upon reaching the gate to Xantharl's Keep and finding it locked, Vigan rattles the gate in frustration, the momentum and adrenalin gained from defeating an army of goblins, hobgoblins and ogres quickly dissipating as a result of a barred gate.
"Rixton! Anyone? Open up!"
The goliath puts his shoulder to the gate and attempts to ram it open.
@DM - Feel free to make this a futile attempt, or let me know if you want me to roll something.
Rixton:
"Let them in, man!" I yell to the half-orc.
Carrow
Panting as he ran to catch up with the Goliath, now shouldering the towns large gate, he lays a hand on Vigans back "Stay strong friend, we do not know what is on the other side"
Cure Wound Level 2: 17
Andor
"You think they are trying to keep them in? I'd imagine you'd want a Frost Giant to leave if you had one visit your town."
Vhon - Level 2 Warlock - What shall become of the Drunken Sailor?
Lyreis - Level 6 Elf Fighter - Eberron: Omega
DM - Dzenda: The Cracks - DM - Dzenda: Whispered Tales
Vigan smashes against the gates; they rattle loudly but do not open. A moment later, the gates swing open and the four adventurers stand face to face with an enormous half-orc. She dons an apron and a terrified look on her face. On the ground next to her lies a slain guard, and in the distance a frost giant and two guards are engaged in melee combat.
Each of the guards sees the futility of their situation. Knowing that additional guards are approaching from the west, the two wounded guards turn and flee; the giant seems perfectly content to let them do so. He turns to face the four new faces that have entered the village.
The two bugbears continue their scrape with Rixton as commanded by their giant leader...
(Round 13 concludes; all players may take their round 14 actions)
Updated map (1 square = 20'):
Rixton:
My concentration breaks as I see the gates open to let my comrades in. "Thank the gods!" I say. "Andor. By the stables. A sack." One of the bugbears skewers me in the side with their javelin. I grimace and attempt to end the fight with that particular enemy.
Short sword (+1) Attack: 11 Damage: 6
I follow up my attack with another forceful kick to its chest.
Bonus action - Unarmed Attack: 10 Damage: 4
Andor
Hearing Rixton shouting something about a sack Andor looks around for one but takes the opportunity to launch a quick spell at the closest of the bugbears. Casts Ray of Frost 9 for 10 cold damage. After casting the spell goes off he draws some of the energy inside him and readies it for use later.
Andor then moves towards them and away from the giant, getting near or to O23.
Bonus action to convert a level 2 spell slot into 2 sorcery points.
Vhon - Level 2 Warlock - What shall become of the Drunken Sailor?
Lyreis - Level 6 Elf Fighter - Eberron: Omega
DM - Dzenda: The Cracks - DM - Dzenda: Whispered Tales
Ladrian
Quickly following Andor, Ladrian fires at the same bugbear (with sneak attack due to Rixton's presence) and moves to O23 as well
Attack: 16 Damage: 15
"What have you gotten into now Rixton?" he shouts at the rogue.