The Roc's Roost started cooking breakfast just before the crack of dawn.  Most of the patrons who visited were less inclined to spend a lazy morning lounging at the inn than they were to get an early start on the road.  It was well-accepted that if you found yourself at the Roc's Roost by the time the hour of noon had come, you might as well stay another night.  Starting into the mountains that late in the day was folly, and few were the people who wanted to camp in the jungle after night had fallen.

And so the smell of frying potatoes and eggs wafted up into the second story guest rooms to assail the sleepers just beginning to rouse; as a way of saying 'Good Morning, but it might be time to get back on the road.'  A few patrons already had seated themselves in the dining area during the pre-dawn hour, early risers and those who wanted to finish breaking their fast as soon in the day as possible.

*thump*

A loud and decidedly not regular morning-sound was heard, quite all-of-a-sudden.  Some rousing chatter followed on it's tail, as those already awake curiously wondered what that was.

*thump*thump*

More was heard, coming from outside.  Now it was intermixed with shouting from the people outside; guards on the end of their night-shift no doubt.  Unintelligible but clearly alarmed shouting.

*THUMP*

The building shook as though it had taken a heavy impact.  Anyone not already awake was startled from their sleep by this impact.  More shouting from outside, and then a clattering bell that sounded all too much like an alarm.

*CRASH*

The building shook again and a loud crashing noise was accentuated by the wall in the dining area buckling as a boulder the size of a human's head splintered the wood.  It smashed into a table, overturning it before hitting the ground and rolling to a stop at the far side of the dining area.  The few patrons already seated jumped up with alarmed shouts.

Clearly, this was not a usual morning at the Roc's Roost.

Zassil was awake and just finishing breakfast. He had had to wait for the inn staff to wake up and cook before he could eat. He didn't mind, though. He sketched the sunrise while he waited and it had been a beautiful one indeed. The thought of it made him smile slightly.

But then a loud thumping noise interrupted his thoughts. He frowned as it repeated and got more numerous or closer? It was hard to tell, but there was shouting which was concerning. He grabbed up his gear and strode outside, full of purpose and wanting to see what was going on, barely ahead of the boulder's arrival.

"That's not good."

"Trebuchet?"  The thump had not been what she thought it might have been.  That was quite fortunate - the good news one might say.  The bad news ... well, large rocks smashing through walls do rather present themselves as bad news without elucidation.

Bunny, as was her custom, had been up before the dawn could light.  By the light of a candle, she sat studying the notes and designs she had penned in her book with the spoked wheel of Guyver laid out nearby.  It was a near to crazy thought, but she got the sense that the spoked wheel approved when she'd go over her own work, or, upon occasion, pen down some new idea, or, even when she was just thinking new and innovative thoughts.

Now, ever ready to skitter out at a moments notice, she had her full kit when she exited the inn to catch a gander at what might be chucking rocks at Roc's.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:16, Sun 16 Feb 2020.

Merrick had been sitting off in a corner, alone.  As he drank, ever so slowly, a steeping herbal mixture he propped up his head in his free hand and groaned as the sounds outside began to grow in volume.  It's going to be one of those days...

He hadn't drank that much the previous night but his head throbbed just enough to let him know that, perhaps, it still was a bit too much.  That he had pulled himself from his sleep was feat enough to be proud of, but the way the day had progressed so far was having the young man question his own judgement in rolling out of bed.  As the thumping grew, and it became clear it wasn't limited to inside his skull, Merrick put down his cup and began to glance around.

When the boulder breached the wall the young man jumped up from the table quickly grabbed his things.  He strode meaningfully to the nearest employee and looked them straight in the eye.  "Which way to the backdoor?"

For reasons of both personal attachment and mutual security, it was rare for Claissa to be apart from Niri, her tiger. This presented problems in places like crowded inns, of course, so when Claissa had arrived last night, she'd settled on paying for some sleeping space in the loft of the stable while Niri bunked with the other animals. Even that didn't always go over well, but Claissa was good at getting people to see things her way when she put her mind to it.

The young sorceress had gotten up early to pick up some breakfast to eat with Niri, as she didn't plan on lingering long. The inn was a waypoint for bigger things to see. She was standing at the counter, already cleaned up and dressed for travel, when she heard the thumps that were soon followed by the rock crashing into the inn. Claissa jumped a little in place at that, considering she couldn't help but be surprised, but her thoughts quickly turned practical. She rushed out the door to where Niri was waiting and gestured for her to come to her, as she moved to the far side of the inn. Whatever was happening here, unless the building was surrounded, it would be better for her if that building was between her and whatever was causing these rocks to be airborne.

Lissabytta cracked an eye open at the first low thump.  Her dirty blonde mop was shaken vigorously as she tried to clear the cobwebs from the previous nights revels.  Her lip burgundy lips were pressed thin into a tight disdainful moue as the quality (or lack there of) of the inn's wine was causing her some mental consternation.

Her pack was still next to her, everything still appeared to be in order. So, she was pretty sure that her account of last night was in order.  The dwarves had been in a good mood after the Kataaran and his dragon straight man had played the crooked constable.  Lissa had been impressed enough to send the pair an extra flagon on her tab.  And she remembered discussing Professor Clarke's rather focused fixation on the roots of the ancient necromantic crusade that was one of the early unifying cultural events for the region.  It seemed that he held the rather unpopular view that it was both a seminal event and held more cultural importance than other prominent scholars cared to give it.  Well, that and his next expedition was based on following a number of clues with respect to it; she suspected, at least.  The letters she'd received were both brief and guarded in any references.  But, Lissabytta knew better and she did feel compelled to at least allude to some of what they might be getting into.  Hunting around old ruins had its inherent dangers.

The second louder thump did give the young D'Argento scion more than enough motivation to re-focus her efforts.  It sounded closer, Much closer, and from the activity around her that it was starting to generate in any adjoining rooms it couldn't be good.  Lissa brushed the hair from her eyes and sat up.  She shrugged into her tunic and vest as well as heavy suede travelling breeches over her lighter hose before slipping on her leather boots.  The vest and its harness straps were unfastened for the moment, she'd have to lace it later.

Lissbytta had just finished fumbling with her wide leather belt straps and was slipping on her buff coat when the third heavy thump sounded.  Deciding that dying alone wasn't in her plans, she grabbed her pack with her oilskin-wrapped rifle fastened to it and passed her arms through the two bandolier loops that held a number of ammunition cartridges for her.

Puffing down the stairs, the blonde scholar noted to no one in particular and anyone that was still listening, "That was close!"  The urgency in her voice was apparent behind that quasi-casual tone and the slightly breathless vocalization.  She spent another moment properly lacing up her vest and compression straps before slipping on the ammunition loops across her chest and loosing the rifle from its secured housing.  Stuffing the oilskin into the side pocket and shouldering the backpack, Lissabytta caught sight of Bunny bolting from the inn.  The erudite blonde followed suit.

"Better out than inn..." she goaded the patrons and staff alike that remained in the common room as she herself beat feet.  Motioning and shepherding who she could out the door.  Lissa did nick a piece of bread and cheese on her way.

Cradling her firearm in the crook of her elbow, Lissa trotted over to her dark-haired companion while casting about.  "Where's Marco?" she prompted the pistol-packing Guyver acolyte, between chews of her makeshift breakfast.

"Marco?"  Bunny's head took a turn around the inside of the palisade, her eyes did not search solely for the big man.  "We gotta find ourselves some high ground, Lissa," she said.  "Some place that will give us a look over the wall.  That must surely be where the boulders are coming from."

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
OoC:
Bunny Cotillion rolled 15 using 1d20+5.  Knowledge Engineering. Basic Ballistics.
Bunny Cotillion rolled 12 using 1d20+10. Perception. To find where the boulders are coming from.

---

In the commotion, Zassil found himself joined at the front of the eatery with the pair of women; Lissabytta and Bunny.  Few other patrons had reacted so quickly to see what was happening, prefering instead to stay inside the building and hunker at the far wall from where the boulder had smashed through.

There was something of a panic within the walled compound that was the Roc's Roost.  It was too early in the morning to see well; the sun had just cracked over the mountains before the attack began and light was dim.  There were no other guests outside in the courtyard, but Bunny, Lissa, and Zassil could see just ahead of them one of the guards of the Roc's Roost.  He was atop a raised platform and pointing outward wildly.

"Giants!" the shout came out from the guard.  He only seemed to be able to manage that one word at the moment, but it was the only word needed to get the point across.

The trio could see several boulders, similar in size to the one that crashed through the inn, scattered about the courtyard on the west side.  As they watched and the guard shouted, another lobbed rock flew in a high arc over the palisade to land with a loud THUMP about ten feet behind them and to their right.

Meanwhile, Merrick quickly ascertained from a frightened serving girl that there was a back entrance through the kitchen.  Taking direct, he pushed passed a startled morning cook and made his way outside.  There he was surprised to find an juvenile tiger waiting patiently behind the building and watching him curiously.

Before Merrick could become alarmed, Claissa emerged through the same back door right behind him and immediately approached the tiger.  Niri, for her part, had been obediently waiting underneath the window to Claissa's upstairs room during the night.

"[Language unknown: Mo om erene mipras moth il hemo se!]"  A loud, deep, voice shouted, carrying from over the palisade.  "[Language unknown: Tionc weriv an adteti!  As nere mi hisng!  Alle anttedore!  Red artbutons!]"

The guard atop the platform took a shot with his crossbow out into the dim beyond the palisade.  Whatever good it might have done could not be seen.

Map Key
X = Solid Wall (Palisade, Building, etc)  D = Doorway  r = Road  f = Open-Air Forge
s = Stair Steps  g = Gate  G = Guard  R = Rooster  h = Hole p = Platform (Over palisade)
B = Bunny  C = Claissa  L = Lissabytta  M = Marco  MT = Merrick  N = Niri (Tiger)  Z = Zassil
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:35, Tue 18 Feb 2020.

Drawn to the shouting guard and the booming voices, Bunny turned in the direction of the western gate.  "Maybe it's about time Ah expanded the realm of possibilities around here," she said, and the spoked wheel clenched in her left hand pulsed with a beat of bright blue.

She gave one more look around for Marco - all she could spare - then she mounted the stairs up to the eastern wall, lifting her skirt to take them two at a time to reach the platform where the guard stood on the wall of the palisade.  "Come on," her drawl had taken on the quick and clipped tones of urgency.  "That sounds like giants.  But from what Ah am lead to understand, giants most commonly prefer to raid in silence.  We need to see what's goin' on."

"Ah see three out here," she called down rather loudly.  Her voice, even shouted as it was, carried in its tones, a great deal of the skepticism that accompanies peculiar or otherwise abnormal situations.  "Ogres.  And they look particularly organized."

"Can someone, please, run across to the western wall and tell me what you see over there?"

OoC:
Cast Comprehend Languages.
Move to Z9

Active spells:
Comprehend Languages: 30min

This message was last edited by the player at 16:17, Tue 18 Feb 2020.

Zassil looked at the nearest gate and platform but one of the women from the inn was already scrambling up to the platform and the gate looked to be closed and locked. He let out a small sigh.

He raised his voice just enough to be heard up on the nearby platform. "He said that we have many things and they want them. The road is blocked. They want our food, animals and metal."

He shook his head. It didn't look like the locked gate would be opened any time soon unless the giant-speaking boulder-throwers smashed it in. So he looked around for a moment and then hurried in to the nearby building to try and get to a window facing the nearest giant/ogre-threatened wall to see if he could find a place where he could see the enemies and possibly fire his crossbow at them if needed.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:36, Wed 19 Feb 2020.

Marco was falling behind the action due to his heavier Armour, he grumbled and pulled his cloak off and grabbed his shield. He trudged up the palisade after Bunny, she was looking for him, he wished he was closer trying to keep stoic.

"Aye, lass on me way, just got a little caught up in the rush...Bringing back some bad memories." he said as he walked up behind her.

OCC: Moving to Z10
This message was last edited by the player at 03:10, Wed 19 Feb 2020.

Kimaiyo had been the proprietor of the Roc's Roost for 30 years.  He built everything from one small roadside inn, and now everyone called him the Rooster.

During the years the location had been attacked by raiders out of the jungle, monsters out of the mountains.  He even had an arrangement with some of the local giants to leave his inn alone.  Or so he had thought.

He had been dressing for the morning in his own bedroom when the first loud impacts were heard outside.  Kimaiyo cursed under his breath before adorning his usual attire with a red sash at his waist.  He quickly went to his wall and grabbed a pair of pistols from a rack hung up there.  Loading the firearms, he tied the rest of his powder and shot to his sash.  Then finished by thrusting the pistols into the sash, followed by a scimitar.

He heard patrons shouting and grimaced.  It was going to be one of those days.

He rushed out in time to hear the giants shout their demands.  That was new.  Then he heard a high female voice declare that the inn was attacked by ogres.  Kimaiyo grimaced again, attacking the Roost was not something ogres did.

"[Language unknown: Caitnd t tioeraera essom en omos!]"  He shouted in response to the giants, "[Language unknown: Ckna wa weain m lin ere are tin!  Unave conthuder!  Aveme teno pr con werkornot!]"


Kimaiyo cursed, these ogres were too organized.  Something was not right.  He ran to the door to his guards' barracks and threw it open.  "Get out here, we are attacked!"

Position I 9
This message was last edited by the player at 13:53, Wed 19 Feb 2020.

"Ah do not believe that will work with these ... gentlemen," Bunny called back to the proprietor of Roc's Roost.

"Oh, Marco.  There you are," she added, as she turned to see who, if anyone, might be headed to the western wall.  "There are three ogres some one hundred paces from the gate.  Ah can just make them out in the dimness of the morning.  The burly brute is the one throwing the projectiles.  There's a second with a very large club and, I believe, a pair of javelin.  The third appears to be wearin' a robe.  Have you evah heard the like?  And it carries with it something of a shillelagh."

OoC:
Position: Z9

Active spells:
Comprehend Languages: 30min

Merrick froze for a moment when he came face to face with the tiger. "Ok, good kitty," he commented involuntarily before the creature's master came forward to tend to the animal.  Hearing the continued commotion from the rest of the grounds he sighed as he pulled a deck of cards from his pockets.  "Not exactly how I expected to spend my morning," he muttered as he cast a simple spell.

"Not sure about you," the young man addressed the nearby woman, "but I'm not about to start hurling boulders back over the wall.  I suggest we find someplace safe to get the lay of the land."

OoC: Cast Mage Armor; 3 hours

Lissabytta nodded to Bunny's request for eyes on the west wall.  But before she started on her way, it came to light that the bulky saurian could understand their assailant's language.  "Food, Animals and Metal?" the blonde scholar reiterated, "That's all they want?"  She knew that the ogre's negotiation skills sucked (and they weren't inclined to improve them necessarily), but that didn't mean that the residents of the Roost needed to resort to violence in return - to lower themselves to their level.

"Perhaps," she posited, "we should attempt to parley?"  It was just a suggestion, and they might be beyond a diplomatic solution at this point with the boulders already flying.  But, talking might give them a chance to see who was in charge of the ogres; who was pulling the strings and what they really wanted.  She shrugged, letting Zassil and Bunny decide on how they wanted to proceed.

She saw Rooster trying to rouse the guard and saw the glimmer of recognition cross the man features.  She gambled that he seemed to understand the language being used - which given the frontier nature of the inn, was not necessarily surprising.  As Lissa trotted towards the west wall, she passed the innkeeper and tapped him on the shoulder, "You're with me.  Let's see what is on the west side..."  The erudite blonde gesticulated urgently, hoping that he (and perhaps some guards) would follow and made her way to the palisade platform on the western wall.  It was time to see how many more of these brutes - and how organized - they were.

---

[OOC:  Perception in the morning light?  And perhaps recalling anything about ogres?

  10:20, Today: Lissabytta D'Argento rolled 20,16 using 1d20+5,1d20+10.  Perception/Wis and Know(Nature/Arcana)/Int check, just in case.. - [roll=1582136419.30526.339432]

Not sure which, Knowledge skill is more appropriate, but Lissa's bonus with either is +10 (and it wasn't a great roll anyways...).]

As he hurried up the platform to follow Bunny, Marco saw the guard already standing there begin to crank his crossbow, shake his head at it, then set it down.  This guard grabbed up his bardiche and moved down from the platform, allowing Marco to take his place.  There is an unloaded heavy crossbow and a case of bolts at Marco's feet.

The Rooster turned as Lissabytta drafted him into her service, "Of course, m'Lady."  He turned back to make sure his men we're armed and heading out of the barracks.  Satisfied when one of the men exited, he trotted after Lissabyta.  "It is bad for my reputation if any guests are harmed during their stay!"  Kimaiyo took a place next to Lissabytta on the platform looking over the palisade, sending the guard down to the gate.

Zassil assessed the situation and decides to dash back into the inn.  He startled the guests huddled in the dining area but pays them no mind as he bolted upstairs to get into one of the bedrooms.  It is a 10x10 room with a bed, a trunk, and a nightstand, but he is after the window looking out over the palisade, giving him a clear view of his enemy.

"[Language unknown: Eau iv thers!]"  A response to Kimaiyo the Rooster is shouted from the distant ogre in the burlap robe.  Bunny, Marco and Zassil can see it thump the base of its carved-club into the dirt as it continues, "[Language unknown: El lar wa ter ca asarpl ica!  A ne der eraiv wasnotine!]"


Bunny, Marco, and Zassil watch the robed giant throw its hand into the air.  Everyone sees a sudden, large, bright flash of light that bursts in the air dozens of feet above the ground.  It blankets the area in light for a scant few moments before the light level fades back to the dim early-morning gloom.

That seemed to be a signal.  The other two giants in the East look up and begin advancing quickly towards the palisade gate.  Lissabytta watches as the two-giants on the West side do the same thing.

OoC:  The area around the gatehouse is lit with torches.  The area outside the palisade gates is in dim-lighting, any attacks against the approaching ogres suffer 20% miss chance from concealment

We are moving to combat, the Ogre's have an Initiative of 10.  Anyone who rolls 10 or higher can make a combat post.  Make sure to designate which square you move to if you move during your action.  The ogres are approaching from off the map (I didn't want to make it too large).  The approaching ogres (East and West) are 100 feet from the palisade.  The robed ogre is on the East side and is 150 feet from the palisade.

14:48, Today: Xand rolled 10 using 1d20-1.  Ogre Initiative.

Map Key
X = Solid Wall (Palisade, Building, etc)  D = Doorway  r = Road  f = Open-Air Forge
s = Stair Steps  g = Gate  G = Guard  R = Rooster  h = Hole p = Platform (Over palisade)
B = Bunny  C = Claissa  L = Lissabytta  M = Marco  MT = Merrick  N = Niri (Tiger)  uZ = Upstairs Zassil  w = window

"What in the nether worlds?"  All she could do was to stare in disbelief.  "Why don't they just buy it like everyone else?"

OoC:
Bunny Cotillion rolled 7 using 1d20+5.  Initiative.

Position: Z9

Active spells:
Comprehend Languages: 30min

Zassil saw the one "robed" ogre do something that...looked like an awful lot like spellcasting, actually. Almost of their own accord, Zassil's hand fired the aimed crossbow at the ogre following right after the flash of light, trying to capitalize on the light's aid in hitting the target.

He heard the giant-speak and he muttered to himself, "Here. I'll give you some metal, just a bit at a time, then." The crossbow sailed out in to the dim light, and it was difficult to tell if it had struck its target or not at this distance.

"What was that?"  Kimaiyo looked behind when the flash of light engulfed the area.  He looked back over the palisade and cursed.  "Here they come!"

Meanwhile, the guards of the Roc's Roost continued trying to move into position.

OoC:
Initiative: 3

Position: A13

"Why don't I lay up here for a few days.  Get some rest.  Nothing wrong with that," Merrick muttered under his breath as he moved along the path between the walls and buildings to try and get a vantage point around the corner at the western gate.

OoC: Initiative: 10
Position D2

Active Spell: Mage Armor
This message was last edited by the player at 17:28, Thu 20 Feb 2020.

Lissa stood on the palisade and watched the light show for a moment; the flashes in the sky generating fanciful shadows that played lightly across her angular features.  Her musket was still cradled in her hands and arms.

Rooster's call to arms pulled her out of her reverie.

And when Lissbytta looked back down at the West Gate and the road leading up to it, the two massive ogres were already well into their charge.  So much for diplomacy... the blonde scholar thought ruefully.  Her hands felt clammy, as her burgundy lips pressed thin and her knuckles turned white as she gripped the longarm tighter in anticipation.  She barely remembered the beasts crossing the intervening distance...

---

[OOC:  Initiative!

  14:50, Today: Lissabytta D'Argento rolled 4 using 1d20+2.  Initiative/Dex. - [roll=1582239045.31332.339432]

Well, not much initiative ... :D  I think that the dice roller has it out for me ... ]

After her initial reaction - or lack thereof, Bunny glanced in the direction of the distant western gate, noting Lissabytta's inaction.

"It appears that she and Ah mahght share something in common here," she muttered.  "In addition to our use of fahrarms."

---

OoC:
Bunny Cotillion rolled 7 using 1d20+5.  Initiative.

Position: Z9

Active spells:
Comprehend Languages: 30min

Covering his eyes when the burst of light exploded into the air, Marco instinctively drew his own crossbow.  Aiming quickly, he took a snap shot which buried itself in the dirt near one of the advancing giants.

OoC:
Initiative: 10

Move Action: Draw Light Crossbow
Standard Action: Shoot at Approaching Ogre: Natural 1 (Miss)

Xand, on behalf of Marco, rolled 10 using 1d20+1.  Initiative.
Xand, on behalf of Marco, rolled 82 using 1d100.  20% Concealment.
Xand, on behalf of Marco, rolled 5 using 1d20+4.  Crossbow shot.

Position Z10
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:35, Fri 21 Feb 2020.

For her part, Claissa was quickly putting together that the situation wasn't just bad, it was bad from all sides. Not something she'd be able to easily sit out, not that she necessarily would anyways. Creatures hurling boulders right into buildings just seemed rather out of her league. "Agreed," she answered Merrick between her spells. She had a similar thought to the man, who seemed to be a fellow spellcaster, as she was putting her own Mage Armor on herself and then Niri. She was doing her best to seem calm in this strange situation, though Niri was giving the occasional soft growl and lashing her tail behind her.

01:42, Today: Claissa Silver rolled 14 using 1d20+2.  Init.

She didn't follow after Merrick immediately, though. There was only so much she could do with the gate closed, since it meant she couldn't see the rock-throwers or light-summoners(?) at all regardless of whether she moved or not. Instead, she waited to see whether things might change to her benefit.

OOC: Just going to Delay for now.
Previous actions were the two Mage Armors, but I don't think there's much Claissa can do this round despite getting a good init.

Zassil's crossbow bolt flew into the darkness; it looked to the Dracil that his aim was true, but he saw no reaction from the robed giant to indicate whether he had scored a telling hit or not.

Merrick skirted around behind the buildings to get eyes on the West gate.  He watched as a second guard ran up to assist the first one, both setting their bardiches at the ready in case the gate was breached.  Merrick was suddenly surprised by loud movement right next to him and the door to one of the inn's outer rooms opens to reveal that same old white-haired dwarf he had interacted with last night.  Now he wore some hastily-donned chainmail and was wielding a battleaxe in both hands.

"Eh!"  Brego grunted as he saw Merrick there, "What in the nine hells is going on out here?!"

At the East Gate, the signal sent the burly ogre into something of a frenzy.  With a blood-curdling shriek the giant charged straight at the gate.  It looked to all the world as though the beast intended to smash it open.  The armed ogre advanced slightly more slowly, running forward 30 feet before hurling its javelin up at the people on the platform above the wall.  The huge spear struck the short crenellations that Marco and Bunny stood behind, clattering harmlessly back down.

At the West Gate, the ogre's seemed slightly less frenzied.  The big burly fellow on the West side already had a rock in hand so he threw it at the people atop the platform before starting to run toward the gate.  The armed ogre next to him ran forward similar to the one at the East gate and threw his own javelin.  Both rock and javelin went long, flying well overhead of the wall and landing harmlessly in the courtyard.

The robed, spellcasting ogre did nothing.  Seemingly content to observe for now.

OoC:
West Gate: The Ogres are now 60 (Burly, unarmed) and 70 (Armed) feet away.  They are still in concealment due to the dim lighting (Unless Lissa has Darkvision/Low-Light Vision I don't know about)

East Gate: Armed ogre is 70 feet away and still in concealment (Barring Low-Light Vision).  Burly ogre is directly in front of the gate and looks ready to smash it next round.  He is not in concealment thanks to the lighting at the gatehouse.

Robed ogre is still 150 feet away.

Xand rolled -1 using 1d20-3.  Ogre Javelin Throw at Lissa (-2 for Cover). Miss
Xand rolled 11 using 1d20-3.  Ogre Javelin Throw at Marco (-2 for Cover). Miss
Xand rolled 2 using 1d20-5.  Rock Throw at Rooster. Miss

Map Key
X = Solid Wall (Palisade, Building, etc)  d = Doorway  r = Road  f = Open-Air Forge
s = Stair Steps  g = Gate  G = Guard  R = Rooster  h = Hole p = Platform (Over palisade)
B = Bunny  C = Claissa  L = Lissabytta  M = Marco  MT = Merrick  N = Niri (Tiger)  uZ = Upstairs Zassil  BR = Brego  w = window  O = Ogre  BO = Burly Ogre
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:46, Fri 21 Feb 2020.

Kimaiyo did not even flinch as the ogres hurled their spears and their rocks at him atop his wall.  He knew well enough that ogres were as clumsy and uncoordinated as children.  Them throwing their toys was the least of his trouble.  Where they became dangerous was when they got close.

"I hope you know how to use that longarm m'Lady."  The Rooster said to Lissabytta next to him as he drew one of his pistols from his sash.  "I do not think that these beasts want to negotiate."

He leveled his pistol and aimed at the edge of the torchlight before his gatehouse.  Kimaiyo did not want to risk a blind shot at the distance the ogre's were currently at, but he knew he could not miss once the giants drew close.

OoC:
Move Action: Draw Pistol 1
Standard Action: Ready (Shoot once an ogre steps into the light of the gatehouse)
Attack Roll: 12 vs Touch AC; Damage: 1


Kimaiyo the Rooster rolled 12 using 1d20+5.  Rooster Readied Shot against Ogres.
Kimaiyo the Rooster rolled 1 using 1d8.  Readied shot damage.

"OGRE AT THE EAST GATE!" Bunny Cotillion shouted from her position atop the wall.  The shout was followed closely by the distinctive click and explosive report made by the fall of a hammer onto a frizzen, striking the sparks to fire her weapon of choice.

"Cranberries," she swore, it was a poor shot, there was no denying, but that was less the reason for her expletive.  As she reached into her pouch for a paper cartridge to reload she found nothing but the fact that she had neglected to prepare any.  Raw powder and shot - this would have to be done the hard way.  Quick as she was, this would take time that she might not have to spare.

---

OoC:
Standard Action: Fire at Burly Ogre at East Gate
Move Action: Reload.
Free Action(s): None

Bunny Cotillion rolled 10.  Fire at Ogre +1 Point Blank Shot.
Bunny Cotillion rolled 2.  Pistol Damage +1 Point Blank Shot.

Position: Z9

Active spells:
Comprehend Languages: 30min

Shots used: 1

This message was last edited by the player at 13:56, Sat 22 Feb 2020.

Zassil couldn't tell if he had hit the robed Ogre or not. He narrowed his eyes and then shook his head. He quickly shifted his aim and tried to line up another shot, but this time at one of the closer Ogres. He let the bolt loose but it smacked off the palasade a little and didn't come close to hitting its target. Zassil let out a curse and debated whether or not to stay where he was or head downstairs for when the Ogres got past the gate.

15:05, Today: Zassil rolled 9,32,7 using d20+5,1d100,1d8 with rolls of 4,32,7.  Light Crossbow at Burly Ogre.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:25, Sun 23 Feb 2020.

"Ah, Master Dwarf," Merrick exclaimed in a somewhat relieved voice.  "Ogres apparently!  Attacking the Inn," he explained as he pointed to the gate as he held back for a moment to see what the dwarf would do.

OOC: Just going to delay and/or follow the meatshie...er...dwarf.

As the ogres approached, the young, raven-haired scholar whispered a quiet homily to the Silver Fox, and called upon the Mistress of Fortune to smile upon her, if possible.

Lissabytta simply smiled lightly, when the Rooster asked about how good a shot she was.  The thin, erudite gun mage took in a deep breath and tried to remember what her father had taught her about shooting.  The butt of the musket's stock was firmly tucked up against her shoulder and she lined up the large bulky humanoid charging the gate in her sights.  "There you are..." she intoned softly, as she reached the bottom of the breath cycle.  The long, straight barrel pointed the way and as she exhaled, Lissa could feel the catch of the trigger as it struck the flint to ignite the powder.

The acrid smell of sulfur hit her nostrils as the kick from the musket jolted her shoulder and her arms moved in time to deflect the recoil.  Her eyes narrowed as she strained to see past the smoke at where the solid metal bullet might have flown.  Still, Lissabytta had liked the way it had come out of the barrel and could only presume that it had struck true.

Her expression was still rather dispassionate, not allowing her time to dwell on the previous shot.  Who knew when she'd get a chance to shoot again though.  The fun part of reloading a longarm in the middle of a battle was now upon her...

---

[OOC:  Fire at will!
[list]
Position:  A14

Swift Action:     Activate Archaeologist's Luck (Duration: 3 rounds due to Lingering Performance)
Standard Action:  Fire musket at the same target as the Rooster (presumably the first ogre in range)
Move Action:      Held, if possible (?)

  16:22, Today: Lissabytta D'Argento rolled 24,7 using 1d20+7,1d12+1.  Attack/Damage (MW Musket): Against west ogre 1! - [roll=1582417347.84369.339432]

Maybe that should have been a called shot!  Oh, well.  It's gonna take some time to reload ... Too bad you can't half complete actions like in Rolemaster ... :D  'cause then, Lissa could start reloading this round and finish up next round.]

Claissa emerged from behind the building where she'd been taking cover, Niri close behind, and tried to take stock of the situation. It seemed like there were a fair number of ranged fighters on the platforms, and they would be in trouble if the gate was breached. As would Claissa herself, of course.

"I'll try to hold them back if they do get through the gate," she said aloud as she held her hands up, ready to cast a spell. "Just don't go running out, please."

Move action: Move to X3, Niri moves to X4
Standard action: Ready to cast Entangle if the gate is breached. If I'm reading the map right, I think Claissa would have line of sight to cast it diagonally past the ogres to hit them and not the defenders, by centering it somewhere off the map in like the 19-20 rows... If not she'll just keep moving around the building this round to get a better line of sight :)

The giant was already at the gate, Marco abandoned his crossbow and drew his sword.  Four feet of cold iron flashed downwards and stabbed the ogre in the collar.

OoC:
Free Action: Drop Crossbow
Move Action: Draw Bastard Sword
Standard Action: Attack Burly Ogre (27 to hit, 14 damage)

Xand, on behalf of Marco, rolled 14 using 1d10+4.  Damage to BO.
Xand, on behalf of Marco, rolled 27 using 1d20+10.  Attack Burly Ogre with +1 from High Ground.

Everything quickly became more chaotic.  Brego the dwarf responded to Merrick by saying "Ogres?"  Then the retort of a few firearms exploded into the dawn.  The dwarf nodded, "Ogres."  Then he moved into a jog, heading directly towards the West gate.  Merrick followed right after, keeping pace with the slow but mail-clad dwarf was easy.

At the West Gate, the bigger of the two ogres shouted and charged.  Both Lissabytta and Kimaiyo released their shots the moment it came close.  Both bullets struck the large target easily, but the damage did nothing to stop the mass of muscle.  The ogre smashed bodily into the West gate which creaked and pressed inward...but miraculously did not break.  Whether it could survive another such assault was anybody's guess.

At the East Gate, Bunny's shot barely scratches the giant.  It's a hit, but the ogre does not seem to notice at all.  It does notice Marco's sword plunging down into its collar, drawing a stream of blood as he withdraws the blade to strike again.  Zassil's shot with his crossbow fails to pierce the ogre's thick hide.

The big beast isn't stopped by the attacks against it.  It reeled back and smashed its body into the gate, splintering the barrier as though it were made of matchsticks.  It steps into the space the gate formerly occupied and shouts again; a loud blood curdling cry that promises brutal death to anyone it gets its hands on.  The guard who had been at the gate is ready and slashes with his bardiche, but the second was not prepared for the monster to get through so quickly.

Meanwhile, Claissa and her cat dart forward; getting closer to the battle so that she can provide support with her magic.  But not close enough that she is threatened by the giant.


Armed Ogre (West) is 40 feet from the Palisade.
Armed Ogre (East) is 40 feet from the Palisade.
Caster Ogre is 150 feet from the Palisade and in Concealment.

Party
Lissa: Attack 24; Hits BO West for 7 Damage (Against Touch AC)
Bunny: Attack 10; Hits BO East for 2 Damage (Against Touch AC)
Marco: Attack 27; Hits BO East for 14 Damage
Zassil: Attack 9; Miss BO East

Ogres
Xand rolled 19 using 1d20+14.  BO West; Burst Gate. Failure
Xand rolled 26 using 1d20+12.  BO East: Burst Gate. Success
Xand rolled 15 using 1d20-1.  Ogre West Javelin Throw at Lissa. Miss (Barely)
Xand rolled 10 using 1d20-1.  Ogre East Javelin Throw at Bunny. Miss

NPCs
Xand rolled 20, using d20+5.  East Guard Readied attack w/ reach.
Xand rolled 4 using 1d10+3.  Guard Damage.
Rooster: Readied Attack 12; Hits BO West for 1 Damage (Against Touch AC)


Map Key
X = Solid Wall (Palisade, Building, etc)  d = Doorway  r = Road  f = Open-Air Forge
s = Stair Steps  g = Gate  G = Guard  R = Rooster  h = Hole p = Platform (Over palisade)
B = Bunny  C = Claissa  L = Lissabytta  M = Marco  MT = Merrick  N = Niri (Tiger)  uZ = Upstairs Zassil  BR = Brego  w = window  O = Ogre  BO = Burly Ogre
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:33, Sun 23 Feb 2020.

It was with a flutter of skirts that Bunny hopped down from the platform to the ground below the palisade wall.  "Greetings," she drawled to the red-head with the disturbing pet.  For the briefest of moments, she hesitated from a desire not to startle the tiger, and thereby precipitate an attack upon her person.  But one must trust to some extent, and the threat that was certain pressed more greatly than the threat that was potential.

Bunny heard the hammer click as she locked it back.  Pushing from her mind the threat of the nearby tiger, she extended her arm and pulled the trigger.  Through the smoke she saw the ogre's head jerk back, spraying gore against the wood of the palisade wall.  And then, even before seeing whether the lumbering giant had dropped, she was reloading from powder and shot once again.

---

OoC:
Free Action(s): 5ft step to Y8
Standard Action: Fire at Burly Ogre at East Gate
Move Action: Reload.

Bunny Cotillion rolled 28 using 1d20+8.  Fire at Ogre +1 Point Blank Shot.
Bunny Cotillion rolled 10 using 1d20+1.  Critical Threat - Success based on last round's successful hit.
Bunny Cotillion rolled 19 (2,3,3,7)+(4*1=4).

Position: Y8

Active spells:
Comprehend Languages: 30min

Shots used: 2

Zassil let out a cheer as one of the Ogres dropped. He sighted and fired his crossbow one last time before tossing it on to the nearby bed. He then, with a wide grin, stepped up in to the window while pulling out his morningstar. He jumped up and out of the window, arms and legs spread wide...and he glided over the palisade wall and landed on the ground outside.

He called out loudly to the Ogre not too far away. [Language unknown: "Seto hiil arilpr, tamoprie? Artof ati mopa ce! Be still pl k siati wh ekur soncomess ol wh mirut!"] He let out a roaring laugh.

Action: Fire crossbow at Ogre (Hit AC 17, 5 damage if that hits).
Free Action: Drop Light Crossbow (tossing on the bed was just flavor).
Draw morningstar as part of the move.
Move Action: Moving/Gliding to...well, sorry, outside your current map, but like the box after ZZ and row 8. =)

23:27, Today: Zassil rolled 17,5 using d20+5,1d8.  Light Crossbow (I think Ogre is in 60ft of Zassil's darkvision now).
This message was last edited by the player at 18:17, Sun 23 Feb 2020.

Claissa was caught slightly off guard by the woman with the exotic weapon jumping down in front of her. "Morning," she said almost reflexively, before she flinched as the woman summoned a small explosion from it. Niri didn't care for that much either; her ears went back and she bared her teeth slightly as she looked at the woman. Claissa had trained her better than to attack just from that, though.

The sorceress was caught much more off guard by the sight of a huge, winged black figure flying overhead a moment later. "Wha...?" she said, shocked, as she looked up. It seemed to be on their side, though, which was good - but with the battle joined in melee now, it would be too high-risk to throw an entangling spell into the thick of it. Apparently that flying person had been too high up to hear her request, or else thought it knew better. Oh, well.

Instead, Claissa decided to offer up a new target and roadblock in hopes of drawing attention from the poor guards. With Niri keeping an eye out, Claissa began working a spell, focusing her attention on a spot in front of the attacking giant.

OOC: Casting Summon Monster I, so that'll take effect at the start of her next round.

"You think they'll wipe their feet when they come in," Merrick jested darkly from behind the dwarf as he fiddled nervously with his cards.

OOC: Going to follow behind dwarf, ready an action to evil eye the first one that comes through the gate.  DC 15 (Hex: Saves)

"Good shot."  Kimaiyo complemented Lissabytta as they both fired into the charging ogre.  He grimaced as the bullets had almost no effect, only to watch the giant smash into his gate.  "He is as strong as a battering ram!"

Against all odds, the West gate held, but Kimaiyo was not willing to bet on the next assault.  Drawing his second pistol, the dark-skinned man aimed downward and pulled the trigger.

A small explosion wracked the gun he held and black smoke billowed from the barrel.  "Damn, now?!"

Meanwhile, the guards at the East gate took advantage of the giant's collapse and brought their bardiches down to ensure it was well and truly dead.


Free Action: Transfer Pistol 1 to Left hand
Move-Action: Draw Pistol 2
Standard Action: Fire at BO West (Natural 1)

Result: Pistol 2 gains Broken condition.

Guards at East Gate Coup-de-Grace BO East

Kimaiyo the Rooster rolled 6 using 1d20+5.  Fire Pistol 2 at BO West.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:51, Sun 23 Feb 2020.

Lissabytta simply grimaced as she continued to reload her musket; whether it was due to Rooster's misfortune or the length of time required to tamp down the ball and powder with the barrel rod none could really say.  It was likely an overall combination of things.

"Bottleneck them at that gate!" she called down to the guards, though she knew it would be a tall order (no pun intended).  Still, facing only one ogre at a time seemed infinitely better than two or more.  "You must hold," the blonde Rembaran scholar urged them, "Facing one is daunting..." Lissa freely admitted, but then added as incentive, "... but facing two side by side is suicide..."

She cast a glance over the side just to assess the progress of their opponents.  If they could bottleneck the beast and just get them to stop - even momentarily - at the gate closure, then perhaps she had a minor dwoemer that could aid them.

---

[OOC:  If allowed ...

Position:  A14

Move Action:      Held from previous; start reloading musket with powder & ball ...
Free Action:      Call down to guards, check position of charging ogres
Standard Action:  Finish reloading (tamp that charge down)!
Move Action:      Held (otherwise, this is required to finish loading ...)

Buffs:  Archaeologist's Luck (Duration: 2 rounds due to Lingering Performance)

If the guards can hold the ogres, Lissabytta can cast Unwitting Ally on the trailing ogre ... it's not much of buff, but if the two guards (and Brego + Merrick get involved, there could be a lot of flanking then ...  Or she could just shoot next round.]

Bunny's shot took the massive ogre in the face mid-shout.  It changed from a blood-curdling promise of death to a gurgling mess as ogre skull fragments and brain tissue explode out the back of the giant's head.  It collapsed right into the gatehouse, where the two terrified guards brought their poleaxes down to sever the remains of the ogre's head; ensuring that it was very dead.

Zassil loosed his crossbow bolt at the remaining giant on the East of the palisade.  The bolt struck the ogre, and when the dim-witted brute tried to find who shot it, it saw the dracil gliding to land in front of the palisade wall.  It shouted a challenge at him, raising it's massive club and charging the black-scaled dragon.  The club connected, but barely; Zassil is staggered a moment by the force of the blow but realizes that his tough scales must have absorbed the worst of the impact.

Marco, upon seeing the giant charge so close to the wall; leaps down himself to assist the assaulted dracil.  A heavy slash from his bastard sword draws an arc of blood from the giant, who roars from the pain and gets ready to swing again.

On the West side of the inn, Lissabytta watched the brute of an ogre raise a giant, meaty fist to smash against the gate.  It shook and pushed inward, but held.  Soon after it was joined by the next ogre running in to kick the gate with a muscled leg; but miraculously the gate holds up to the continued assault by the pair of giants.

Brego the dwarf continued jogging, Merrick on his heels, to stop just before the gate.  The old dwarf held his axe at the ready, "Come in and get the axe; damnable ogres."

Party Actions

Bunny: Attack 28; Threat 17; Critical Hits BO East for 19 Damage; BO East is killed
Zassil: Attack 17; Hits Ogre East for 5 Damage

Ogres

Xand rolled 16 using 1d20+12.  BO West - Burst Gate vs DC 23.  Failure
Xand rolled 13 using 1d20+12.  Ogre West - Burst Gate vs DC 23.  Failure

Result: West Gate does not break open

Xand rolled 9 using 2d8+7.  Damage to Zassil.
Xand rolled 21 using 1d20+9.  Ogre East Charges Zassil.  Hit

Zassil is hit for 9 points

Marco

Move Action: Hop over wall into ZA 10
Standard Action: Attack Ogre East

Xand, on behalf of Marco, rolled 12 using 1d10+4.  Damage to Ogre East.
Xand, on behalf of Marco, rolled 20 using 1d20+9.  Attack Ogre East w/ Bastard Sword. Hit

Result: 12 Damage to Ogre East

Conditions
Ogre East has taken 17 Damage
BO East is Dead
BO West has taken 8 Damage
Ogre West is Uninjured

Zassil has taken 9 Damage


Map Key
X = Solid Wall (Palisade, Building, etc)  d = Doorway  r = Road  f = Open-Air Forge
s = Stair Steps  g = Gate  G = Guard  R = Rooster  h = Hole p = Platform (Over palisade)
B = Bunny  C = Claissa  L = Lissabytta  M = Marco  MT = Merrick  N = Niri (Tiger)  Z = Zassil  BR = Brego  w = window  O = Ogre  BO = Burly Ogre

"Well, that went bettah than expected."  Through the curling wisps of gun smoke, the dark-haired girl gave the red-head with the tiger a smile of the fashion that says she's just as surprised as anyone at the result.  "Stay safe, you heah," she added before skirting the outer reach of the young lady's feline pet and once again mounting the stair to the platform.

Down below a scene of primal contest lay in the light of the flickering torches that flanked the shattered eastern gate.  The black lizard-man looked bloodied, but so was the ogre.  And there was Marco, the steel of his sword dark and dripping.  "Fire in the hole," Bunny cried the warning before extending her arm, touching off another shot in a gout of pistol fire and smoke.  Again, the ogre was struck in the head, this time, the pistol ball tearing through the giant's lower jaw, making a mask of red gore of his lower face.

---

OoC:
Move Action: Move to Z9.
Standard Action: Fire at Ogre at East Gate
Free Action(s): None

Note: Have Precise Shot for firing into melee.

Bunny Cotillion rolled 28.  Fire at Ogre +1 Point Blank Shot. Critical Again!
Bunny Cotillion rolled 18.  Threat roll. Confirmed.
Bunny Cotillion rolled 12 using 4d8+4 ((1,1,2,4)) Critical Pistol Damage w/PBS.

Position: Z9

Active spells:
Comprehend Languages: 30min

Shots used: 3

Zassil grinned as the ogre took the bait....the bait being him. He let out a grunt as the ogre swung in to him. It hurt, but he stayed strong and standing tall. He unleashed a wild flurry of attacks, swinging his mace and clawed hand, followed by a snapping bite, but he was maybe a bit too wild.

08:44, Today: Zassil rolled 12,8,15 using d20+5,d20+4,d20+1.  Mace, Claw, Bite on Ogre.
09:06, Today: Zassil rolled 8,5 using d8+4,d6+3.  Mace and Bite damage in case either hit.

Since she was already finishing loading, Lissabytta handed a paper cartridge to the pistol-brandishing innkeeper next to her; so, that he had easy access to more ammunition and could simply reload the one working pistol that he still has in hand.

For her own part, the young woman took aim with her longarm over the wall and down towards the burly ogre that was in front of her and assaulting the gate.  The groans from that wooden logs with each blow told her that the structure wouldn't last much longer.  It was amazing to her that it had lasted as long as it had; fortune had smiled upon them in that respect.  But, her Lady of Fortune still required them to work for their survival; She might tip the scales slightly, but only if ones courage held.

"Focus on the burly in front..." the blonde musketeer urged between gritted teeth, "Be ready.  That gate won't hold much longer."  And as the last of the breath left her lips, Lissa started to squeeze the trigger again.

---

[OOC:  Once more into the breach, dear friends ... Firing since they aren't in.  Yet.

Position:  Remain at A14

Move Action:      Hand Rooster a paper cartridge to reload ... (Down 2 now).
Free Action:      Call down to guards, check position of charging ogres
Standard Action:  Aim and fire at Burly West Gate Ogre (AA-AB/11-12)

  11:23, Today: Lissabytta D'Argento rolled 23,7 using 1d20+7,1d12+1.  Attack/Damage (MW Musket): Against West BO (AA-AB/11-12). - [roll=1582658600.94493.339432]

Buffs:  Archaeologist's Luck (Duration: 1 rounds due to Lingering Performance)

Guess I should potentially look into some called shots, since I have higher ground and their heads should be closest...]

"Hey now!  That's not thinking positively, Merrick retorted to the gunner on the pallisade.  The longer the gate held the longer he didn't receive an answer to the age old question: exactly how many bones can an ogre break with a single swing.

(OOC: Ready Action: touch of bloodletting if any injured Ogre makes it through the gate. Ranged Touch for me; DC 16 Will; only if injured though.)

"Thank you m'Lady."  Kimaiyo dropped the broken pistol and accepted the advanced paper cartidge from Lissa.  He quickly loaded his remaining pistol with it before firing the powder and sending a bullet down into the gatecrashing ogre.

That done, Kimaiyo took a step back from the firing platform and called to his nearby guards, "You, get up there and bring your axe!"  He pointed to the spot he had vacated.

The guard ran to comply, stomping up the platform and striking downward at the ogre.  The blade made a thump against the giant's hide but nothing else.

From the barrack, a few more of the inn guards appeared.  They had their bardiches but were not even in armor.  Kimaiyo shook his head, this attack had quite literally caught his inn with its pants down.

Rooster

Free Action: Drop Broken Pistol
Move Action: Reload Pistol 1 with Paper Cartidge from Lissa
Standard Action: Shoot BO West with Pistol 1
Free Action: 5-Foot step to B14

Kimaiyo the Rooster rolled 7 using 1d8.  Damage to BO West.
Kimaiyo the Rooster rolled 10 using 1d20+5.  Shoot at BO West

Guard

Move Action: move to A13
Standard Action: Attack Ogre with High Ground (11; miss)

Xand rolled 11 using 1d20+6.  Guard attacks Ogre West w/ high ground.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 21:33, Tue 25 Feb 2020.

Claissa wasn't prepared for how quickly the defenders scythed through the attacking ogres on her side, especially the woman with the firearm, and she had to think through her options quickly even as she focused on casting her spell. Finally when she was ready, she settled on summoning another magical defender next to herself instead. With that done, she wasn't sure what else to do, since even her magical armor wouldn't necessarily do much against a huge boulder if she made herself a target. She moved closer to the west gate to keep a lookout without exposing herself to danger for now. "The dog is on our side!" she called out as she went.

OOC:
Free: Finish casting Summon Monster 1, summon a celestial dog next to her. Duration 3 rounds.
Full: Double move to M10 with animals in tow.

Bunny once again climbed to position on the platform over the palisade and leveled a shot at the giant just outside the wall.  The ogre was fending off an assault from Zassil, absorbing his mace on its tough hide and stopping his claws by smacking with a meaty hand.  Bunny's shot then took it in the jaw, shattering the bone and leaving the ogre dazed; whereupon Zassil seized the distraction and tore a bloody hole in the giant's throat with his own teeth.

The ogre toppled to the ground with a thump, followed soon by Marco's blade slamming down into it's chest.  The giant was dead.

At the West Gate, Lissabytta and Rooster continued harassing the ogre's as they pounded on the gate.  Lissabytta's shot from her musket struck home, followed by Rooster's pistol shot.

Right afterward, the armed ogre smashed its massive club into the gate and it finally caved in.  The big brute stepped into the gatehouse, to be met by a series of readied attacks; unfortunately Merrick's spell card managed to somehow flit between the behemoth's legs.  Brego chopped with his axe but the old dwarf only managed to notch on of the palisade stakes.

The giant went straight at the gate guard who managed to stick his bardiche deep into the monster's chest, but this only enraged it.  In a mad pummel, the giant slammed a huge fist atop the guard, followed by grabbing hold of the man and bringing him up to its mouth for a bite with crushing jaws.  It then slammed the guard onto the ground, before picking him up and slamming him down on the other side.  It was a bone-crunching and bloody affair that he could not have possibly survived.

The armed giant watched the furious display for the seconds that it went on, then pointed and shouted at the guard's corpse, "[Language unknown: Mentintra!]"  It picked up the destroyed corpse to carry.  Then it turned to it's side and blinked, as though seeing the people attacking it from atop the wall for the first time.

Claissa moved closer to the suddenly bloody melee with the Western Giants, her Celestial Dog not even getting a second glance from the scrambling guards.  They had much larger things to worry about.


Party Actions
Bunny: Pistol 28; Threat 18; Critical Hit for 12
Zassil: Mace 12; Miss - Claw 9; Miss - Bite 15; Hit for 5; Ogre East is killed
Lissa: Rifle 23; 7 Damage to BO West

Marco
Full-Round Action: Coup-de-Grace Ogre East
Free Action: 5-Foot Step to Z11

Ogres
Ogre West
Standard Action: Burst West Gate: 30 vs DC 23; Gate is destroyed
Move Action: Pick up Pummeled Guard

Xand rolled 30 using 1d20+10.  Ogre West - Burst Gate vs DC 23.

BO West
Free Action: 5-Foot Step into gatehouse
Full-Round Action: Full Attack on Inn Guard
2 Attacks: Slam; 21 to hit; 13 Damage - Bite; 25 to hit; 9 Damage
Special Attack: Pummel; Extra 19 Damage Dealt to Guard

Result: Inn Guard takes 41 Damage and is killed

Xand rolled 25 using 1d20+8.  BO West attacks Guard (Bite).
Xand rolled 21 using 1d20+10.  BO West attacks Guard (Slam).
Xand rolled 13,9,19 using d6+8,d6+4,2d6+8.  Damage to Guard.

Readied Actions

Guard Attacks BO West with Readied Bardiche: 25 to hit; 11 Threat; 7 Damage
Brego Attacks BO West with Readied Battleaxe: 8 to hit; Miss
Merrick Casts Readied Spell: Touch Attack Natural 1; Miss

Xand rolled 11 using 1d20+5.  Guard Threat Roll vs BO West.
Xand rolled 25 using 1d20+5.  Guard Readied Attack vs BO West.
Xand rolled 7 using 1d10+3.  Damage to BO West.
Xand rolled 8 using 1d20+6.  Brego Readied Attack vs BO West.

Conditions
Ogre East is dead
BO East is Dead
BO West has taken 29 Damage
Ogre West is uninjured

Zassil has taken 9 Damage


Map Key
X = Solid Wall (Palisade, Building, etc)  d = Doorway  r = Road  f = Open-Air Forge
s = Stair Steps  g = Gate  G = Guard  R = Rooster  h = Hole p = Platform (Over palisade)
B = Bunny  C = Claissa  L = Lissabytta  M = Marco  MT = Merrick  N = Niri (Tiger)  Z = Zassil  BR = Brego  w = window  O = Ogre  BO = Burly Ogre  CD = Celestial Dog

It did not take but a glance behind to verify what she knew to be true.  The crack of wood under explosive impact had been sufficient announcement, had the bestial roars of the ogre, and the wet sounds of spilled blood not been enough.  A glance into the rising light of the east revealed the flight of the robed giant.  Now fled after having initiated the attack.  Or so it seemed.

"MARCO!" Bunny shouted over the top of the palisade wall.  "They have broken through the otheh gate!"  Then, lifting her skirt, she ran, catching up with the girl and her tiger.  Now, surprisingly, accompanied by a dog all aglow with an inner light.

---

OoC:
Move Action: Full round Move to N10. (60ft)
Standard Action: Move
Free Action(s): None

Position: N10

Note: Pistol unloaded.

Active spells:
Comprehend Languages: 30min

Shots used: 3

Zassil looked surprised with the bullet blasted in to the Ogre in front of him, spraying him with gore, throwing off his aim on his mace and claw, right before his bite sunk in to the creature. He blinked a few times and then peered ahead but didn't see the ogre mage one anymore.

He sighed, turned and started running back inside towards the other gate to help out.

OOC: Double Move unless he can run. I think with a double move (running has to be in a straight line, right?) Zassil will end up around S-11 or so.

Merrick groaned as the card flittered through the Ogre's legs.  Flicking his hand up he waited for it to magically circle round and return to his grasp.  "Alright let's try this again, without embarrassing ourselves," Merrick muttered as he readied another attempt.

"Master Dwarf? Mind giving me a better view to the one in the back?"

OOC: Hold Action: Until Lissabytta and Brego have gone
Action: Ranged Touch; Stricken Heart - Nat one yet again.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:47, Thu 27 Feb 2020.

Claissa's eyes widened in shock as she watched the guard's gruesome end, but she tried to keep her composure. She wasn't going to go toe to toe with that thing, that was for sure, and she wasn't about to let Niri do so either. The celestial dogs were a whole other matter, though, since their true lives were secured far from here, and so she quickly decided to add another one to the cause. "Keep close, Niri," she murmured as the other combatants rushed around her. Then she began casting another summoning spell.

OOC:
Full round: Start casting Summon Monster 1.
Ongoing: Mage armor x2, Summon Monster 1 (celestial dog) duration 2/3 rounds (hopefully it'll charge or something).

"Eh? Better view?"  Brego swung his axe and took the ogre in the knee, resulting in a howl of fury from the giant.  "You painting a picture?"

The dwarf stepped back, just as a glowing dog charged at the giant.  The ogre batted it away with a thick backhand, sending the celestial dog skidding back towards Claissa before it left the world in a flash, returning to the plane from which it came.

Brego
Standard Action: Attack BO
Free Action: 5-Foot step to C10

Brego Barksplitter rolled 4 using 1d8+2.  Damage.
Brego Barksplitter rolled 20 using 1d20+6.  Brego attacks

Celestial Dog

Full-Round Action: Charge BO

Interrupt

Attack of Opportunity: BO attacks CD; 27 to hit; 10 Damage

Result: Celestial Dog is killed

Xand rolled 10 using 1d6+8.  Damage.
Xand rolled 27 using 1d20+10.  BO AoO vs Celestial Dog.

Kimaiyo grimaced as one of his guards was smashed like a child's toy.  That's going to make hiring replacements difficult.  "Damn."

He shook his head as he stepped off the stair, reaching to his side for his powder and shot before loading his pistol.  He then drew the scimitar at his side.  The giant looked on its last legs as it bled from so many wounds.

It was death or glory time.

The guard atop the wall attempted to bring his poleaxe down on the giant again, foiled once more by the beast's tough hide.

The other guards moved into position.

Free Action: 5-Foot step to C14
Standard Action: Reload Pistol
Move Action: Draw Scimitar

Guards take up position D11 and D12

Xand rolled 10 using 1d20+6.  Guard attacks BO with High Ground. Miss

This message was last edited by the player at 07:31, Sat 29 Feb 2020.

Lissabytta took a deep breath, as she knew that she needed time to reload.  But the with the gate breached, it likely wasn’t going to happen right now.  Peering carefully over the palisade slats, she uttered “Yabba, dabba, do...” and pointed at the armoured ogre behind the burly one at the gate,  It was a simple dweomer, but with any luck, it would help her allies take down the literal enemy at the gate.  It should help them maintain a flanking position - even as she wished that no had to engage these beast directly.

Then the dirty blonde scholar slunk down the platform steps and looked for a decently safe place to reload her rifle,  As she passed Rooster, Lissa gave the innkeeper (and seemingly de facto leader of the town) a sheepish, if commiserating, smile.  She hated to see people hurt.  But also didn’t want to get hurt herself,.  The swiftness and brutality with which that unfortunate town guard had been dismantled (literally) drove that point home with a sympathetic sharpness.  She kept to the building walls in an attempt to keep herself... less conspicuous.  As inconspicuous as a musket-toting gun mage could be, that is.

---

[OOC:  Uh, strategic retreat?!?!?!  With just a (very, very) little parting shot ...

Position:  G14

Standard Action:  Cast Unwitting Ally on Armoured Ogre (AA-AB/13-14):  Will DC 13
Swift Action:     Activate another (lingering) round of Archaeologist’s Luck, ‘cause you never know...
Move Action:      Slink down stairs and into doorway G14, if possible.

Buffs:  Archaeologist's Luck (Duration: 3 rounds due to Lingering Performance)

Run away!  Run away!...]

With the ogres threatening the East gate slain, the defenders there hurried to assist the West gate.  Bunny hopped back down from the palisade to jog up to where Claissa was channeling another spell next to her protective tiger.  Zassil rounded the gatehouse and reentered the fort in time to see the two guards take up position in the ruined gatehouse.  Marco, with a clear view of the enemies at the gate ran as fast as his cumbersome armor would allow.

At the West gate, Merrick was showing a significant amount of difficulty in his card-dealing.  Fortunately, nobody seemed to acknowledge him as a threat quite yet.  The big burly brute of an ogre stomped after Brego when he moved backwards to make some room.  In its rampage, the ogre punched downward at the dwarf, who only just managed to step away from the clumsy swing; directly into a massive headbutt from the rampaging giant.  The dwarf staggered a moment but quickly regained his footing to press his attack.

The new guards finally got into position with their poleaxes.  They had not even had a chance to don armor, but their bardiche's were finally in position to strike.  As they moved up, Lissabytta vacated the firing platform atop the wall and moved behind them.  Lissa stood next to the closed barn door leading into the stable; she could hear the sounds of animals inside and chances were many of them were panicking due to the sounds of fighting.

With a massive smash, the armed ogre beside the wall brought his giant club down after securing the body of the slain guard.  It came down directly atop the arm of the guard still atop the wall before he could withdraw his weapon after his downward attack.  A terrible scream escaped him alongside the sound of breaking bone as his arm snapped from the impact.  The bardiche dropped from his grasp.

The bigger giant continued to rampage, even though it bled profusely from many wounds.  It did not look like its body could survive more punishment, but that only seemed to increase its rage.

Party Actions
Merrick: Touch Spell vs BO; Natural 1 (At least Merrick doesn't play Dice!)
Lissa: Unwitting Ally vs O; DC 13 vs 10; O fails save and flanks BO

Xand rolled 10 using 1d20+3.  Ogre Will vs Unwitting Ally.

Marco
Full-Round Action: Run 80 feet to K11 (Medium Armor)

Ogres

BO: 5-Foot Step towards Brego; Full Attack on Brego
2 Attacks: Slam 16 to hit; miss - Bite 20 to hit; 10 damage

O: Attack Guard atop wall; 25 to hit; 15 damage

Xand rolled 15 using 2d8+7.  Damage to Guard.
Xand rolled 25 using 1d20+7.  O attacks guard atop wall.

Conditions
Ogre East is dead
BO East is Dead
BO West has taken 33 Damage
Ogre West is uninjured

Zassil has taken 9 Damage

Map Key
X = Solid Wall (Palisade, Building, etc)  d = Doorway  r = Road  f = Open-Air Forge
s = Stair Steps  g = Gate  G = Guard  R = Rooster  h = Hole p = Platform (Over palisade)
B = Bunny  C = Claissa  L = Lissabytta  M = Marco  MT = Merrick  N = Niri (Tiger)  Z = Zassil  BR = Brego  w = window  O = Ogre  BO = Burly Ogre  CD = Celestial Dog

Zassil's eyes narrowed. It was a long distance to the ogres across the way. He cursed his own foolhardiness in both abandoning his perch and leaving his crossbow behind. Had he but know the power and accuracy of that woman and her firearm. But he hadn't.

He let out a sigh before drawing in a deep breath and doubling down on his running and his momentum, not that he had a straightaway of sorts. He ran straight at the large ogre inside the fort, blasting past Marco and the guards to reach his large enemy.

OOC: Running up to the Burly Ogre, which is less than the 120ft I could run, but that's assuming Marco and the Guards will 'let Zassil pass them'

Will end in A-11.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:38, Sun 01 Mar 2020.

"Mah apologies for upsetting your tigah," Bunny Cotillion said as she stepped into the road next to the red-headed girl.  With astonishing speed she executed the cumbersome task of loading the flintlock from powder and shot.  "But Ah am afraid this is necessary," she added.  Then, with the frizzen locked down, she pulled back the hammer.

"MARCO, SHOT ON YOUR LEFT," she warned, and then extended her arm and fired.  Through the resultant cloud of smoke she thought she saw a momentary spray of blood from the shoulder of the rampaging giant, but there was so much blood already, that it was difficult to say for sure.

---

OoC:
Free Action(s): 5ft step to M11
Move Action: Reload from powder and shot.
Standard Action: Fire at BO -4 at 2 range increments.  Burn two grit points to resolve against Touch AC.

Note: Precise Shot for firing into Melee.

Position: M11

Bunny Cotillion rolled 9.  Fire at Ogre -4 for 2 range increments.
Bunny Cotillion rolled 2.  Pistol Damage.

Active spells:
Comprehend Languages: 30min

Shots used: 4
Grit 2/4

This message was last edited by the player at 03:57, Mon 02 Mar 2020.

Merrick knew better than to curse a Goddess; at least out loud.  He had a few choice words for his luck rattling around for the Lady where he hoped she couldn't hear them.  As the card returned he placed it with the others and cut the deck.  "You know what?  Fine then," he retorted to no one in particular.

Flicking a card out he caught it and turned over the Avalanche.  Rather than toss the card a third time, Merrick glared down at the ogre as he raised the card to his left eye, facing inward.  'Seeing' the Ogre through the card he focused on bringing that superimposed misfortune upon the beast.

OOC: Evil Eye: AC Targeted.  DC 15 will to reduce to one round; otherwise 7 rounds.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:32, Sun 01 Mar 2020.

Claissa flinched when there was another explosion right next to her, and did her best to focus on her ongoing spell as Niri growled again next to her. Fortunately this was hardly her first time spellcasting under duress and she managed to keep it together, but she still shot Bunny a chiding sideways glance before finishing her arcane invocation and gestures. Still, the woman was contributing more to the fight than Claissa herself, so once her voice was free she added a quick "S'aright."

She didn't know what new emergencies could yet arise in this fight, so rather than continue burning quickly through her limited spells, she decided to fall back on a staple. With its much shorter range, She was also concerned about leaving herself exposed if the defensive line collapsed, though. "In there, Niri," she said as she rushed toward the building to their southwest. She gestured Niri ahead of her and took cover as best she could - mostly hoping the vertical size of the building would obstruct a massive club swing - before casting a more directly offensive spell, hurling a blob of acid at the huge ogre while her summoned dog attacked it.

OOC:
Free: Finish summoning celestial dog (duration 1/3 rounds). If I'm reading the map right, B10 should do the trick.
Move: Move to G14, Niri moves to F14
Standard: Cast Acid Splash on BO.
00:57, Today: Claissa Silver rolled 10 using 1d20-1.  Acid Splash (ranged touch, -4 shooting into melee).
Also, the dog bites:
00:58, Today: Claissa Silver rolled 10 using 1d20+2.  Celestial dog bite attack. Thinking that's a miss.

Kimaiyo aimed his newly loaded pistol at the rampaging giant, but before he could pull the trigger another shot rang out.  The giant took the hit, a seemingly weak shot to the shoulder, but it appeared to be enough.  It staggered forward in an attempt to press its attack, but its body could no longer keep up and the beast collapsed.

With a relieved sigh, Kimaiyo diverted his attention to the last of the giants.  Climbing back up to the firing platform, he pointed downward and shot.  The bullet pierced the giant's thick hide and drew a first blood.

Move Action: move to A14
Standard action: Shoot Ogre; 16 to hit; 3 Damage

Kimaiyo the Rooster rolled 3 using 1d8.  Damage.
Kimaiyo the Rooster rolled 16 using 1d20+5.  Shoot at Ogre.

Xand rolled 19 using 1d20+3.  Ogre Will vs Evil Eye

Brego watched the giant stagger and finally fall, landing right in front of the old dwarf.  He had just recovered from the punishing headbutt that the ogre smashed him with, and the dwarf was ready to pay it back.

"Damn ogres!"  He leveled his axe over the fallen giant's neck, "I'll be taking that head!"  With a heavy downward chop, the dwarf's axe severed the giant's head cleanly from its body.

Meanwhile, Claissa's newest celestial dog flashed into being.  Seeing the ogre before it slain, the creature rushed out the gate to harass the remaining one.  It quickly ducked the ogre's greatclub and tried to bite the giant, but could not penetrate the beast's thick hide around its ankles.

Full-Round Action: Coup-de-Grace vs BO; 30 damage

Xand rolled 30 using 3d8+9.  Coup-de-Grace damage to BO.

Interrupt

Ogre AoO vs Celestial Dog: 10 to hit; miss

Celestial dog attacks Ogre: 10 to hit; miss
This message was last edited by the player at 08:42, Mon 02 Mar 2020.

Lissabytta felt a surge of relief as the ogre in front fell from its wounds.  The crunch of dwarven axe in the beast was satisfying, but there was still work to be done.  Rummaging in her backpack for a moment, she pulled out a scroll case with a blue ribbon around it.  Unfurling the parchment, the blonde scholar started to read from it.  Casting a glance at the ogre and pointing towards the burly foe, she recited a simple trigger, “Noisufnoc!”. She pursed her lips, it wasn’t perfect, in fact, Lissa was unsure if the creature would be affected at all.

She couldn’t do much more directly, as she was not about to engage the huge monster toe-to-toe - even though she carried a thin pig-sticker.  And she had yet to reload her main weapon, her musket.  So, she set about getting ready to drop the scroll case for the moment and then start reloading at the next opportunity.  Assuming there was one...

---

[OOC:  Well, she’ll try to cast Lesser Confusion on the ogre.  With a 50/50 chance of affecting it pretty much, and a 25% that it will still be able to act normally.  Sorry, best she can do for now.

Position:  G14

Move Action:      Pull Scroll of Lesser Confusion from pack
Free Action:      5’ step onto roadway G12, if possible (to make sure she has LOS on the remaining armoured ogre).
Standard Action:  Cast Lesser Confusion on Armoured Ogre (AA-AB/13-14):  Will DC 14

Buffs:  Archaeologist's Luck (Duration: 2 rounds due to Lingering Performance)

]

The fall of the gatecrashing ogre created a surge from the defenders of the Roc's Roost.  The assault was almost completely repelled and Zassil charging out of the gate to sally against the remaining giant made the guards step up themselves and press the attack.  The giant, under the affects of a malicious hex, leaned towards the sweeping poleaxes instead of away and took one of the blades into its stomach which otherwise might have been avoided.

The giant was startled by the sudden approach of so many enemies and made to run away; clearly it considered survival more important than continuing it's attack.  But it stopped suddenly while making ready to sprint.  The giant blinked its eyes, shook it's head, and looked around at the armed people surrounding it.

Then brought its club up and slammed itself in the forehead.

Party
Bunny: Touch Attack vs BO; 9 to hit; 2 Damage; BO is killed
Merrick: Hex vs Ogre; DC 15 vs 19; Ogre Saves; AC -2 for 1 round
Lissa: Lesser Confusion vs Ogre; DC 11 vs 7; Ogre is Confused for 1 Round

Xand rolled 7 using 1d20+3.  Ogre Save vs Lesser Confusion.

Marco
Full-Round Action: Run to AB 12

Guards
Guard 1 attacks Ogre: 8 to hit; Miss
Guard 2 Attacks Ogre: 16 to hit; 8 Damage

Xand rolled 8 using 1d10+4.  Guard Damage to Ogre.
Xand rolled 8,16 using d20+5,d20+5.  Guards attack Ogre.

Ogre
Full Round Action: Confusion: Ogre Damages Self; 6 Damage Dealt

Xand rolled 6 using 1d8+5.  Ogre Damages Self in Confusion.

Conditions
Ogre East is Dead
BO East is Dead
BO West has is Dead
Ogre West has taken 17 Damage; Hex for -2 AC until end of Round; Confused until end of Round

Zassil has taken 9 Damage

Map Key
X = Solid Wall (Palisade, Building, etc)  d = Doorway  r = Road  f = Open-Air Forge
s = Stair Steps  g = Gate  G = Guard  R = Rooster  h = Hole p = Platform (Over palisade)
B = Bunny  C = Claissa  L = Lissabytta  M = Marco  MT = Merrick  N = Niri (Tiger)  Z = Zassil  BR = Brego  w = window  O = Ogre  BO = Burly Ogre  CD = Celestial Dog
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:52, Tue 03 Mar 2020.

Bunny Cotillion turned from the commotion at the western gate, and gave the ostensibly quiet east a long and measured stare of wary suspicion.  Then, with aplomb, she strode up the street until she drew nigh of her recently met northern traveling companion.

"Lissa," she said, almost as if greeting her for the first time this terrible and chaotic morning.  Then, holstering up her pistol she added, "Wonda where the otheh one went?"

---

OoC:
Move Action: Move to G11.
Standard Action: Sheathe Pistol
Free Action: Talk

Bunny Cotillion rolled 23.  Perception.  Looking back.

Position: G11

Active spells:
Comprehend Languages: 30min

Shots used: 4
Grit 2/4

Zassil stepped towards the Ogre, a look of grim anticipation on his draconic face. He swung out with one claw, the Ogre easily was missed by. He swung out the with the morningstar from the opposite way and managed to connect squarely. He dove in with his teeth as well, biting the damn creature, acid dripping from his mouth as he chomped on it.

[Language unknown: "Ameastnde n eiday whi aiouho chnd? Diac ri menll redthihou ac p ticpe?"]

OOC: 5ft step southward to Ogre.
Full attack on Ogre (Hit AC 24 for 7 damage and AC 15 for 7 damage, DC 14 Con save vs Nauseated).

23:01, Today: Zassil rolled 24,6,15 using d20+5,d20+4,d20+1.  Morningstar, Claw, and Bite on Ogre.
23:02, Today: Zassil rolled 7 using 1d8+4.  Morningstar damage (correctly).
09:40, Today: Zassil rolled 7 using 1d6+3.  Bite Damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:50, Tue 03 Mar 2020.

Claissa gave a wordless, questioning murmur from her position near the fight when the giant unexpectedly hit itself in the head. She quickly put things together, though, and realized she should probably keep up the attack, even if at least one of the other defenders seemed to be withdrawing. That large figure was still going toe-to-toe with it, after all. She still didn't feel comfortable sending in Niri alongside, but she did conjure up another blob of acid to attack it while her dog kept up its biting.

22:45, Today: Claissa Silver rolled 14 using 1d20-1.  Acid Splash (ranged touch, -4 shooting into melee).
22:46, Today: Claissa Silver rolled 2 using 1d3.  Acid Splash damage.
22:46, Today: Claissa Silver rolled 6 using 1d20+2.  Celestial dog bite attack.

Lissabytta glanced in Bunny's direction as the pistol-packing lass approached her.  Another furtive glance saw the dazed and confused ogre rended by the massive bipedal dracil.  The dirty blonde scholar pulled a paper cartridge from her belt started to reload her musket.  Just in case, really.  The immediate danger appeared to over.

Except for what Bunny had just said.  Her right eyebrow cocked upwards until in partly disappeared under the brim of her tricorne; distantly hoping that it was her companion's drawl that she was misinterpreting.  "What 'other one'?" Lissa half-reiterated and half-prompted, letting only a touch of urgency and a bit of incredulity enter her tone.

Having finished her reloading, the musket was once more cradled between an elbow and a shoulder.  Even as she picked up the scroll case from the ground and tucked it back into her pack.  Standing and dusting off her buff coat for a moment, Lissabytta gestured to Bunny to 'lead on'.  Either towards the newly fallen enemies at the West Gate or the East Gate.

"There was a third one over to the otheh side," Bunny replied.  "Wearin' a robe," she then elaborated.  The look of puzzlement that had captured her expression dimpled the corners of her mouth in a tight frown.  "And have you eveh heard of ogres wantin' metal?  Ah admit to havin' little direct exposure to them, but that flies in the face of everything that Ah have read on the subject."

Bunny's boots crunched in the stones of the road as, still worrying at the problem, she turned her steps toward the western gate.  "It is a puzzlement, Lissa," she said, then, before seeming to temporarily relinquish her pursuit of immediately unanswerable questions.  "Lets go see if Marco has taken any injury.  Ah must say, he acquitted himself quite well against those giants."  But even in the midst of her praise, Bunny let escape a small sigh along with an equally small shake of her head.  Both were signs of a problem along completely different lines that the mystery of the metal hunting giants.

The addled ogre made no response to Zassil's taunts, staring dumbly at its club as the dracil brutalized it with mace and tooth.  The giant went down with a spout of blood and a spray of acid.


There was a moment of utter silence when the last of the giants collapsed.  Just a moment, then followed by a sudden cheer from Rooster atop his wall.  His guards shouted a cheer with him, then the two holding to East gate took it up as well.

"Beasts!  Giant fools!"  Kimaiyo called down at the bodies, "You wanted our metal and we gave it to you!"  He swept up his broken gun from where it had been dropped and tucked the weapon back into his sash, alongside the already holstered on and his sword.  The barrel still billowed with a light trail of black smoke.

Kimaiyo walked back down from the wall and through the gatehouse. He clapped Marco on the back as he passed, then Zassil when he approached the body of the slain giant, "Thank you my friends."  He took in the mangled body of his slain guard, fixed to the giant in a crude rope harness.  "Bad way to die."  The proprietor of the inn shook his head, "The beasts wanted metal...were they after his armor?  And weapons?  That makes no sense!"

Drawing his scimitar, he cut loose the harness that held the body.  The scimitar went back into Kimaiyo's sash.  "At least he won't become an ogre's meal."

"You men, get into your armor."  He pointed at the recently arrived guards.  "And find the other two!  By the gods if they are sleeping off drink I will have their hides!"  Kimaiyo's two unarmored guards hastily ran back into their barracks.

Across the courtyard, the two guards remained in the shattered gate to keep watch.  The man who had his arm smashed by the ogre merely a minute before sat gasping for breath on the steps leading up into the general store.  He had ran there in a panic, but now that the fighting was over he sat holding a very mangled left arm with his right.

OoC:

Ogres Loot:
2 Size Large Greatclubs
4 Suits Size Large Hide Armor
4 Size Large Javelins
1 Whet Bone (Covered in Ogre Slobber)
4 Days worth of questionable meat-based rations (8 Days for Medium Creatures)
4 Size Large Waterskins (Half-Filled)

Zassil has Taken 9 Damage

Kimaiyo walked into the central courtyard as a few folks began to filter out of the main building to see the carnage that had taken place.  He approached Bunny and Lissabytta as the two ladies were discussing the ogres.  "What luck that so many men and women of," he glanced at the guns each woman toted, "caliber happened to be staying here at such a time as this."

"Tell me," He addressed Bunny, "you know something of the ogres, yes?  At the very least I have gathered that you understand some of their speech."  Kimaiyo spread his arms to gesture around at his inn, "In all my decades here I have never seen ogre's so brazen as to attack the Roost.  Travelers and caravans, yes.  But a walled compound?"  He shook his head, "It is not...their way."

"And did you hear what they demanded?"  The dark-skinned proprietor shook his head again, "Food and animals I understand.  But metal?  I have never heard of an ogre with a use for metal.  Except maybe the odd shiny coin or polished jewelry."

The battle over, Brego's booted foot kicked the severed head of the ogre before him.  The dwarf snorted in derision as the head rolled away from him, "Every one of you dimwitted beasts loses his head, this world is a better place."  He looked around at the mess, then up at the palisade, "Still, good thing ye came at us here than on the road.  Even wood walls are a better defense than no walls."  He kicked the headless body, "As you found out!"

Brego turned around, seemingly started to see Merrick still there.  "Ye did not run away, eh?"  He shrugged, "I'll give you that much to say in your favor."  He eyed the deck of cards curiously, "Not sure what you were plannin' ta do with those cards though.  Gamble your way out of here?"

The old dwarf stretched in his armor and there was a loud pop.  "I am too damned old for this."

As soon as it seemed that the danger had passed from the slain ogres, and with those that had been atop the platforms giving no indication of more attackers or others that had gotten away, Claissa was moving again. First she went toward the slain guard, on the off chance that he still had any life left at all, but the conduct of those around him seemed to rule out the possibility. So she detoured, with Niri right at her heels, to the man with the mangled arm. She was no healer herself and didn't try to examine the injury, but perhaps there was someone else that could handle it and had overlooked him. "Hang in there," she said to him in an undertone as she stepped close, before raising her voice. "Are there any magical healers staying here? This man is badly injured."

She'd give him a potion if she had to - a one-armed guard could lose his whole livelihood - but hopefully there would be a less expensive solution available.

Merrick watched the ogre's head roll a few inches with the Dwarf's assistance.  Lovely... the young man thought as he realized that particular image would stick with him through breakfast; his earlier hangover more or less forgot in the rush of battle.  Coming back to reality Merrick glanced at the Dwarf and shrugged.  "But where would I run to Master Dwarf," he replied, deflecting the praise with pained smile as he gestured to the other gate.

The young man cut the deck with a one-handed flourish at the Dwarf's question.  "Magic, Master Dwarf." he sighed as he placed the harrow deck back amongst his many pockets.  "Sadly, it does requires me to hit an Ogre as big as the broad side of a barn," he lamented self-deprecatingly.  "On that note, if you'll give me just a moment," the young man requested politely before he looked at the sky and pointed an accusing finger.  "You realize Figment is right there yes?  Ok.  Good.  We'll just leave it at that then," Merrick huffed before looking back to Brego.  "Apologies.  Just a little blasphemy between the bloodletting and breakfast," the young man explained with a shrug.

Hearing Calissa's question Merrick shook his head sadly.  "Not unless he's dying, and even then not much."

"Ah was just noting that," Bunny Cotillion answered in reply to the proprietor of Roc's Roost.  "Also of note is the disappearance of the one who mahght have instigated this attack, Suh.  There was an ogre wearing a robe watchin' in the distance.  Ah did not notice his departure.  But he must have left once the fracas had begun, as Ah did not see him after that."

It was the call from the red-headed girl that put pause to her conversation with the Rooster.  She heaved a sigh of resignation, even though, in fact, the decision had not been that hard.  "Ah suppose Ah have drawn enough attention already," she muttered under her breath.  "Not much harm done from a little more."

"Excuse me, Suh, could you please gather your men around," she requested of the proprietor.  "Ah believe Ah can provide redress for their injuries.  And if you mahght hand me that broken firearm as well, Ah believe Ah can also fix that too."

With folks gathered all around, she lifted the Spoked Wheel of Guyver high in her hand.  A soft blue light began leaking from between the fingers that clasped that symbol of the mechanist god.  Then, of a sudden, the light ran like water down her arm to bathe Bunny in a spectral glow.  *bamph* *bamph*bamph*.  Three times the light exploded outward to envelop those gathered about.  And when the light had receded, returning into the gem at the center of the Spoked Wheel, all those in attendance had been healed.

---

OoC:
Channel Energy 3 times for a total of 12hp healing.  Should be enough to bring Zassil to full.

Bunny Cotillion rolled 4 using 1d6.  Channel Energy.
Bunny Cotillion rolled 3 using 1d6.  Channel Energy.
Bunny Cotillion rolled 5 using 1d6.  Channel Energy.

Active spells:
Comprehend Languages: 30min

Shots used: 4
Grit 2/4
Channel: 1/4

This message was last edited by the player at 15:21, Wed 04 Mar 2020.

"A robe?"  Kimaiyo became pensive as he considered the implications, "And that bright flash before the assault...damn."  He shook his head, but was distracted from continuing when Bunny asked him to call his people around.

"You are a divine healer?"  The inn proprietor asked with some surprise.  This pistol-packing woman did not fit his image of a priestess, but he was not one to argue.  With a whistle he called the attention of the guards at the East gate, gesturing at the injured guard.  One of the men helped the man with the mangled arm up and walked him to Bunny.

The injuries sustained during the attack were mended by Bunny's blue light.  The guard whose mangled arm was bathed in the healing light sighed in relief, moments before passing out as the relief of the pain caused an intense loss of adrenaline.  He was taken back into the barracks.

"You are a Guyver-Priestess.  I understand,"  Kimaiyo observed the holy symbol that Bunny channeled divine power through, then bowed respectfully to the young woman, "And I thank you for all of your assistance today, Lady Priestess."

At Bunny's request, he drew the still-smoking pistol from his sash, "This?"  Kimaiyo looked at the broken firearm, "It is no good."  He thought a moment, shrugged, then handed the pistol to the brunette, "If anyone can make use of it, it would be a priestess of Guyver."

"But back to the matter of the assault.  You said the ogre was wearing a robe?  Not usual attire for one of the giants."  He drew his scimitar and idly tested the edge as he spoke, "That might explain the unusual behavior.  A leader, a patriarch or matriarch strong enough to get the others in line.  And crafty enough to plan an attack.  Dangerous.  Very dangerous."

"Before the assault it said that the road was blocked...hmm."  Kimaiyo looked around at his gathered guests.  "You are all very capable.  I don't suppose I might ask a favor?"