Rondald turns. Figuring that time has run out, he raises his shield and heads back to the door, where he can be just inside to hit any that enter but out of line of attack for those outside with bows.

"I will help hold them a little longer"
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:41, Sun 21 Apr 2019.

On all sides of the room, the action seems to be flaring.  At the front, both doors now are shouldered open and men surge inward one after another, their weapons bared as they move toward the norther wall, three now in all.  Bjorn steps forward to attack the first as he plows through, though the man glances the axe off the length of his blade, stepping forward to meet Terri as the latter steps backwards, an arrow already grasped in her hand and making its way to the bowstring.

twang, Twang, TWANG

Three bowstrings hum in near harmony, the shafts streaking through the doorway.  Two of the things shatter against the far wall, though the last lands with a high pitched clink! through the scales of Terri's armor right in the meat of her shoulder, causing her to shriek and send her own arrow high and wide of its mark.

At the back of the room, Rondald seems to think his efforts are now fruitless and he leaves his station, rushing off towards the front to join the others.  Magnus however, stays there at the back, his nostrils flaring with effort as he knocks piece after piece backwards and into the adjoining room, the work somewhat more productive now that the hole has been started.  Brick by brick the opening widens, now just big enough to fit a narrow set of shoulders if positioned perfectly.

Judoc meanwhile, has set his sights on the high windows, through which he can now see not one, but three sets of body parts, boots, hands or torso, climbing slowly upward.  The first foot he had noticed steps gingerly away, though Judoc aims at the farthest man, hurling his flame just as the man puts the whole of his weight on the sill and the missile strikes true right at the shin, the fireball bursting on impact into a gush of heat and fire.

The man's scream rings clear through the open window and Judoc watches as his body falls away, back towards the ground below.  A sickening thud follows from outside, though the scream only pauses for a moment at impact.

Gustav, finally finding himself with an open avenue to attack, slings his broadsword in an overhand swing, catching his foe completely by surprise.

Crunch!

The broadsword slices through the man's leather helm, crackling the skullbone and sending the man crumpled to his knees, his axe clattering to the ground below him.

OOC:   Terri has sustained a moderate injury to the shoulder and 3 has sustained a moderate injury to the skull, resulting in him falling to the floor and losing his weapon.  1 and 2 are still in full fighting form.  There are also archers that Terri, Bjorn, and Rondald can see outside that are shooting through the doorway into the melee.  Judoc has also caused some significant harm to another man outside, enough to make him fall, though it's hard to tell just how bad the damage is.  Magnus is now doing decent work on the rear wall.  It's big enough for a small person (Terri or Judoc) to make it through with a DX or acrobatics roll, though still too small for the larger adventurers to even think about making it through.

Gustav shifts to the man in front of him, swinging again to try and eliminate him as well. Terri's scream bodes no good and he sets his mind to kill or incapacitate as many as he can...
This message was last edited by the player at 22:34, Sun 21 Apr 2019.

Magnus could feel his strength already fading. It was amazing to him how a person could carefully conserve their energy to burn throughout the day, or seemingly use it all up in what seemed like a matter of seconds, but with the cacophony of battle behind him and his friends lives on the line, it was not an exaggeration to say that he was swinging for everything he was worth.

Clack! Clink! Crunch!

The assault on the wall continued and his eyes stung with sweat, he could feel it dripping from his chin now. He heard screams, the thudding of what he assumed were arrows. The talking had stopped.

"Almost there!" he bellowed as he worked, then risked a glance behind himself and saw the feathered shaft protruding from Terri's shoulder. "Terri! you're first!"

Rondald steps in front of the injured Terri, shield up, swiping his mace angrily at the torso in front of him.

"Terri, get back! Back where that prick can't hit you again! Magnus, you might want to make sure there is noting worse in there first!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:09, Tue 23 Apr 2019.

The sound of his fireball roasting an enemy would normally cheer Judoc, but their position is quickly being overrun. ”There are too many!” he calls out. ”We need to fall back!” He begins conjuring another fireball to hurl at whatever target might present itself.

OOC: Concentrate.

Here we can kill them as they come thru the door .... if we let them in, we'll die trying to get through that hole

Magnus continues to hack away at brick after brick, each bit of loose stone and mortar that crash through making the opening just a little larger, now the hole is big enough, perhaps for Magnus himself to get through if he turns his horns just the right way and has a lucky go of it, though it seems the group is split on whether the hastily made exit will be of any use, for Gustav argues vehemently that they must stand their ground.

The swordsman hacks again at his already downed foe, slashing a mean stripe of red across the man's back and producing a short-lived shout before the man slumps into unconsciousness.

Bjorn too seems to be committed to the defense, or perhaps just overly committed to his attack, for he arcs his axe in a swing so wide that his shield too comes out of position.  Bjorn hits his foe with a brutal strike rending a deep gash just below the man's armpit, though at nearly the same time the Wazifi sword strikes true, cutting deeply into Bjorn's side and hip.

[Language unknown:  "Er!"]  Bjorn shouts, stumbling backwards a step as blood flows freely from the wound.  Though somehow the Northman manages to keep his feet, which is more than can be said for the swordsman, who crumbles to the ground, blood pouring in gushes to the ground below him.

ZZZzz! Arrows fly through the window again one after another, one coming so close to Rondald's arm that sailor flinches in anticipation!

Meanwhile, Rondald battles back and forth with his own foe, his mace flashing forward, though the swing is batted aside.  Rondald catches the return blow with his shield, though the sword hacks entirely through the upper planks, cleaving a foot or more off the top which clatters to the ground below!

Terri, stunned for a moment as Rondald pushes past her, turns at the sound of Magnus's voice, rushing at full speed towards the back of the room with her bow tucked against her body, blood still trickling out of the wound at her shoulder.

At the front of the room, another man pushes his way through the door, a giant of a man, as tall as Magnus with a barrel chest and gut.  His arms are massive, with biceps like watermelons.  He peers over the rim of his medium shield and shouts as he clears the two crumpled forms of his comrades.

[Language unknown: "Elprmo!"]  The single word rings out like a gong, his axe gripped menacingly in preparation.

OOC:  Judoc hasn't had a clear shot as of yet and still has a 2 point fireball ready.  He hasn't noticed any others climbing up the windows, nor have any of those who climbed attempted to enter the room through the small portals.  Bjorn traded blows with his foe and has taken a major wound to the torso though he does not seem to be out of the action.  1 and 2 both took significant wounds and are currently incapacitated and out of the fight.  Rondald has managed to fend off a few blows, though I had to use one of your hero points to avoid you being skewered through the arm with on of the arrows coming through the door.  Magnus has made the small hole in the back large enough for just about everyone to make it through with varying amounts of effort.  Terri can probably easily hop through, while Magnus would take some delicate positioning of the horns and a difficult DX roll.  Go ahead and give me another two seconds of action.

Gustav uses the door and swings down at the Brutes back, aiming high for his neck or head.

Magnus, with his efforts bent on smashing his way out of the siege, had little idea of what was going on behind him. He knew there had been injuries on both sides, he knew Terri had taken and arrow, and he knew that while the enemy had taken casualties it had been no where near the dozen Judoc had referenced.

He was torn, torn between turning and joining the line as it seemed that Gustav was determined to stand his ground, and clearing the way for Terri and the others to get to a better position, or to perhaps escape entirely. Gustav and the others were skilled and competent above most others he had met in his life, but hold long could they really hold against three or even four times their number?

He took a few more swings, making sure that even the burly Rondald would be able to follow after his wife, and decided to worry about everything else later

Rondald was not about to leave his comrades at the front.

"If the hole is big enough, fall back to it!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:29, Mon 29 Apr 2019.

Take Bjorn, he's hurt

Chaos! As one enemy falls, more step forward to take his place! Judoc grimaces as Bjorn takes a nasty hit and knows the Northman cannot bear too many more wounds of that magnitude. Then a giant of a man shoulders his way forward, filling the entire doorway, calling for their surrender. Judoc’s valor flinches, and for a brief moment, he considers yielding to the enormous foe’s demand. Perhaps surrendering would lead be best. The odds are nearly two to one against them, Bjorn and Terri are already injured, and Finn is off doing God knows what.

But what kind of Imperial battle mage will Judoc make if he gives up when the battle turns against him? What would his father say, weighing Judoc and once more finding him wanting? And can they trust the mercy of these men, bent on engulfing Megalos in fire and death? No, surrender is still an option, but it is not the only one.

”Gustav, Rondald, Magnus, cover our retreat! Bjorn, fall back!” Judoc cries. The mage looks for a target for his fireball so he can begin to cast another spell.

OOC: If Judoc has a clean shot, throw the fireball. Take one step back toward the hole.

At the front of the room the battle rages!  Rondald swings out with his magical mace, which hits with a clang against the steel sword before being guided off course.  The man slashes back, a vicious swing which Rondald neatly evades, thought the blade catches the edge of his shield, splintering and rending off the bottom planks!

Rondald swings back again in anger, though the swordsman again manages to escape the blow, slashing back with a cut that surprises the sailor.  Though he steps backwards and away, the blade just cuts a neat ribbon out of the flesh of his bicep, bleeding freely.  Ronald grimaces at the sting, though it inwardly he is thankful that the wound is not worse.

Bjorn too seems to take no time to even think about retreat, for while his blood flows in torrents down his leg, he nevertheless swings his axe anyway, an attack which goes well wide of his sizable target.  The man snarls his distaste, swinging his own axe back upon the northman, who stumbles backwards, taking the blow off his shield which protest the blow with a hearty thunk!  Gustav, too, swings his sword in anger, though the bear-sized man bats the blow away with the face of his shield.

Bjorn and Gustav swing again, this time their attacks much more finely placed.  The giant man takes Bjorn's axe off his shield, and jumps back from Gustav's sword, though he has no time to even think as Judoc's fireball flies towards him, hitting him smack upon the leathers on his chest.

The man screams!  His eyes burn red with determination as he steps back into the room, swinging his axe at Bjorn, who smacks the blow neatly away with the rim of his shield!

[Language unknown:  "Esce!"]  Someone shouts from outside, though so much is happening so much closer it seems hard to give the single word much thought.

Meanwhile, Magnus, knocking the last few bricks out of place on the wall, brings his axe down just in time, for Terri, bow in her left hand, pack on her shoulders, and arrow still buried just above her chest, launches herself hands and headfirst through the opening, tucking as she passes through.

OOC:  The map is largely unchanged, with the notable exception of Terri no longer being on it.  Magnus, the hole is now large enough for you to comfortably force yourself through in a couple of seconds unless you make an acrobatics roll, in which case you can do it in one.  Rondald has sustained a moderate slash to the right arm, the bear-sized man with the axe and shield has sustained a heavy burning injury to the chest.  He does not seem deterred.  Rondald, your shield is also significantly damaged.  It may take another hit or two before it is completely destroyed.

One quick item on admin as well.  I don't mind if you guys roll your own dice, however please keep in mind that what you put in the comments of the roll, is how I take it.  You cant put "attack" in the dice roller and then specify in your post that you are going for the head.  Likewise, if you roll against "dodge" then I will not allow a retreating dodge if you state it that way in your post.  You have to specifically roll against "Retreating Dodge".  This is probably annoying, but if you want to make sure I do the right thing for you, then I am happy to roll your dice with your in character direction.

With the injury, Rondald goes fully defensive, not even offering a strike as he recovers from the wound and falling back at the first melee strike.

[OOC: I was expecting arrows, hence I just used Dodge, for which retreating dodge is not applicable. In this case, he will obviously only use retreating dodge for the first melee attack.]
This message was last edited by the player at 22:57, Mon 29 Apr 2019.

Magnus processed Judocs commands right as he felt confident that every member of their expedition could fit through the gap he had created. Even though they were still incredibly vulnerable, the knowledge that they had an escape route allowed the anxiety and fear in his mind to ease like an unclenching fist.

Terri was the first to take advantage, and Magnus turned to expect the others to begin their retreat. He was rewarded by seeing Rondald falling back with what looked like a wound of his own, although Bjorn looked like he was stubbornly holding out.

The Minotaur spun his axe around in his grip, the back of the head now covered in dings and caked masonry, and looked to join the retreating line in support.

Although not yet a soldier in the armies of Megalos, Judoc knows that this battlefield is important nonetheless. If they fall here, then the necromancer's apprentice will be free to continue his mad quest to unleash the horrors held prisoner here. However, dead they can do nothing, so Judoc continues to fall back toward the new exit Magnus and Rondald have excavated.

Seeing the chance opened up by Bjorn, Judoc launches his flaming missile straight at the behemoth, and as the flames splash against the man's leathers, Judoc smiles grimly. Again he begins weaving magic to channel mana into flame.

OOC: Take a step back. Concentrate.

OOC - OK, Gustav will let the GM do the rolling ...

His plan is to attack and then do a retreating defense, set up and attack the next fighter in range, then do the retreating defense again.

OK, We all fall back side by side together, or someone is going to die...

Chaos reigns in the small room!  Rondald leaps backwards, an arrow slamming into his shield face nearly at the same time as his foe attacks again.  The twin threat seems to take Rondald off balance and this time the swordsman slashes out in a devastating blow that Rondald only barely manages to catch off the face of his shield.  The thin wood frame is slashed across the center in a blow that splits the wood from rim to rim, half of the thing falling to the ground in a clatter!  Off balance and useless, Rondald drops the thing to the ground, gripping his mace all that much tighter in his grasp.

Meanwhile, Gustav and Bjorn take a swing each on the largest foe.  Bjorn's axe clangs off the shield, rending a large splinter of wood off the face and Gustav's attack too falls short as the massive man reels backward in defense.  Immediately after, however, the man returns with a swing from his own weapon, one that Bjorn cannot seem to duck out of the way from.  The axe crashes into Bjorn's leg, severing his armor and cutting deep into the muscle.  Blood vomits from the wound and each leg of his leathers is now soaked with gore!

Somehow, the northman keeps his feet however, staggering backwards as he howls in pain!

Magnus too runs forward to the fight, but before he can make good on his intent, flames spring up ahead of him, a large campfire sized blaze that immediately begins moving its way forward towards the two attacking Wazifi.

The fires rush ahead, spreading towards the walls as they dance onward, forming a wall between our heroes and the two attacking men!

"Come on!"  Terri screams from the other room, her face peering through the hole in the Western wall.  "I'll cover you!"

Along the northern wall, the ancient and shattered bed frames begin to smoke and smolder under the heat of Judoc's conjured wall of flames...

OOC:  Mostly a stalemate back and forth with a few notable exceptions.  Firstly, Rondald barely made his first defense thanks to his shield and retreat, though the damage done to the flimsy defense was enough to put it out of commission entirely.  It is now beyond repair and in two large, separate pieces.  Second, Bjorn did miss his defense, taking a moderate (non-crippling) blow to his right leg.  Somehow, the northman is still on his feet, though his combined wounds now put him in a state of fighting to stay conscious.

The fires conjured by Judoc haven't really made it to the walls yet, though they have created a wall about 13 feet wide that covers most of the width of the room.  The bear sized man and the other seem to be retreating from it for the moment, though it does not seem impenetrable by any stretch of the imagination.

If you guys want to take this opportunity to all run, let's do four rounds of action this time, though I may cut that short if you opt to press the fight.

Rondald, shield now gone, needs no further invitation. He backs away, ensuring he does not have anything else to dodge, before he turns and runs back through the opening. He will them put his mace on his pack, and draw his crossbow, still cocked and loaded, before readying it to cover those retreating (but leaving enough gap to let them through).
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:34, Thu 02 May 2019.

Gustav sees the opportunity and backs away as quickly as he can while covering Bjorn...
Someone help Bjorn, he has been seriously hurt.

Magnus stepped up to do just that.

"Got'em!"

Letting his axe hang in it's lanyard, he took hold of the back of Bjorn's belt and gently urged the man back. If he did indeed lose his senses, Magnus was prepared to physically drag the man to safety if it came down to it.

"BJORN! FALL BACK!" Judoc watches in horror as his companion hemorrhages blood. Bjorn needs healing immediately, but Judoc’s concentration is on the fire barrier he has erected to keep their enemies at bay. Still, the talented mage nearly reaches his staff out to heal Bjorn, despite the difficulty of focusing on multiple spells simultaneously, but when Magnus steps up, Judoc nods his head. Keeping his focus on his wall of conjured fire, Judoc takes a few more steps back toward the hole Magnus and Rondald made in the wall behind him.

OOC: Continue to move, taking one step each round, toward the hole. Keep watching the fire.

Everyone seems to agree on the decision to fall back, even Bjorn for as the flames sprout chest-high in front of his face and Magnus grabs him at the back he seems to lose what little fight is left in him.  He steps back cautiously, his shield held ready in front of him for several moments.

The rest too seem to make only tentative motions backwards, hesitant to let their guard fall even for a moment, however Judoc's conjured wall of flame seems to be holding their foes back for the moment.

[Language unknown:  "Ekwa Comwhiter te Wiloveble!"]  The huge man shouts from behind the fire.

At the northern wall, the piles of wooden flotsam and broken bits of bed seem to be catching fire, for grey smoke begins to cloud the air, weaving upward towards the and ceiling and obscuring the view to the other side of the room all the more.

After a moment, Rondald turns and runs, leading the others towards the small opening and stepping through first.  The sailor then helps Bjorn who trails large, angry splotches of blood at each step.

Each of the adventurers follow in turn, Magnus holding the trail of the group.  In the moments before he too pushes himself through the small hole (made only all the more awkward by the footlong horns on his head) he is holding his elbow against his face to attempt to keep the smoke and heat away from his face.

"I need..."  Bjorn mutters as he stumbles to a knee in the small bedroom, shaking his shield off, the effort causing him to slump over on his injured side.  "I need a rest.".  What little support Bjorn has gives way, and the Northman collapses to the ground, unconscious.

OOC:  I just went ahead and fast forwarded for about 30 seconds of action.  Nice tactic on holding your foes at bay Judoc.  You guys can go ahead and start posting normal 1 minute posts.  You are now in the left half of room 10 on the map, though an IQ roll will tell you it's probably not the best place to stay with the building on fire (even with the thin stone wall between you).  Realize that you guys are working a timetable with Finn so I might hold you for a bit based on his actions (in case they might affect your thread).

Magnus lumbered towards the door breathing heavily, the shaggy fur around the ruff of his neck speckled in ancient masonry dust from where he had squeezed through the gap. Not too far away the road and crackle of flames along with the all too familiar scent of smoke reminded him that they were by no means out of danger yet.

He still had Bjorn loosely by the belt when he saw the man's legs begin to give out and he helped the north man to the floor as he called out his name in concern. "Bjorn? Bjorn! Stay with u...God damn it..." he cursed as he heavy, armored warrior slumped and went limp

"Judoc" Magnus's head raised up. "Can you help him? I don't think we can try to patch him up really, not here...we might just have to go and find a safer place...the stables maybe?"

Directly after he looked over at Rondald. "You got that door alright?" he asked and shot yet another concerned glance to Terri. The whole group was starting to look pretty ragged.